RootsChat.Com
England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Kent => England => Kent Lookup Requests => Topic started by: Guy Bagnall on Monday 18 November 24 14:54 GMT (UK)
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I am trying to trace details of an Appleton family from Kent, from the late 19th to the late 20th Century. RJW Appleton (1910-93) was a racing driver in the 1930s, and the Managing Director of a company called ESA, the third generation in that position, going back to 1883. JMW lived at 14 Bird-in-Hand Lane, Bickley, Kent, his wife's name was Mary, and he was known as Johnny.
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Ronald John Walter Appleton of that address died on 6 October 1994 per the probate register.
He married Hylda Ayloffe Baker in 1936.
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He was b 1910 Lewisham per www.freebmd.org.uk & his mothers maiden name was Roberts
Parents Llewellyn Appleton & Annie Edith Muriel Roberts married 19.5.1907 St Paul Forest Hill
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XWDW-6GW
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In 1921, Ronald John Walter Appleton, born in Forest Hill, London, was at Windlesham House School, Portslade by Sea, Sussex
In 1939, born on 23rd April 1910, he was staying at the Cromwell Hotel, 25 High Street, Stevenage.
Occupation is slightly obscure but looks like Director in charge of woodworking for armaments for the Admiralty.
He was also a Hertfordshire Special Constable.
Some articles in newspapers:-
In 1954, he was sacked as Director of the Educational Supply Association, but came back with a share bid.
Married Susan Ayloffe Baker in 1936.
Mentions of motoring offences.
David
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He married Hylda Ayloffe Baker - not Susan - in 1936. See reply by Shaun above
She was actually b Hilda - not Hylda in 1908
There is a tree on Ancestry
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Here's the marriage report - so was Hilda/Hylda known as Susan, or is it a mistake?
https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-share/331027e2-4420-4ab7-abef-cf1434b88a41
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Error in newspaper
Per freebmd & GRO online
Births June qtr 1908
Hilda Ayloffe Baker Bishop Stortford. 3A 783 mmn Atkinson
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In 1911 she is Hylda Ayloffe Baker parents Edmund Ernest & Henrietta Amy
Henrietta was b in Calcutta & marriage was in India
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RJW's parents most likely Llewellyn Appleton and Annie Edith Muriel Roberts. Married in Swansea in 1907
Image https://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=GBPRS%2FWAL%2F4266573%2F00146&parentid=GBPRS%2FM%2F858048603%2F1
His father was Walter Pewtress Appleton. The family business was envelope manufacturing.
See https://pastonglass.wordpress.com/2020/10/01/a-house-through-the-ages-s2-ep5-changing-names/
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It's uncertain exactly what type of info Guy is looking for & what his connection is to the family.
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Strange about the first name of RJW's wife. When the engagement was announced, she was also called Susan Ayloffe Baker to Mr. John Appleton, elder son of Mr. Llewellyn Appleton, of Whitecroft, Beckenham. She was Hylda in Kingswood Hoe, Colchester, 1921 and when she died in 1994.
Llewellyn was also recorded as having been director of the Educational Supply Association, when his will, £31,427 (net personality £24,299), was reported in 1940. He died in a nursing home on 22nd December 1939, younger son of the late Walter P. Appleton
Also reports on driving offences, as was another son, Robert Llewellyn, although all might have been the same person with first name omitted.
David
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I just wanted to thank everyone that has replied - very generous of you all. My interest is that I am working on a book and modest exhibition about a particular moment in the history of the factory where Appleton was MD - ESA (Educational Supply Association), and together with the ESA designer, they embarked on a most remarkable effort - Project X - as it was known in the factory - the two men's response to the wartime experience of making Mosquito wings at ESA, a radical change for their war effort, and one which made a big mark on the two men. Appleton was the best-known 'amateur' racer of the 30s, but I have not been able to trace if he had children or whether any relatives are still around. He was the third generation to have been MD of ESA - and the circumstances of his sacking and his motoring offences are of great interest! Any further help most gratefully accepted! Appleton raised over $4m at today's prices for Project X, an extraordinary amount in 1945/6 - and the book and show is about the designs for that project - of which one chair went on to sell over a million copies and millions of British bums sat on that chair and some are still in use today.