Henry PENNY & Jessie ROWLAND family

[LockeLad]

I am trying to trace the tragedy which split up the family of Henry Penny of West Camel, Somerset (1853- ) and Jessie Rowland of Upottery,Devon (1859-1936) who lived in the Yeovil area. The children were Lucy Ann Penny (1882-1955), (Henry Penny 1884-), Edwin 'Ted' John Penny (1885, killed WW1), Albert Rumsey Penny (1886-) who emigrated to Canada, Adelina Bessie Penny (1889-1926) married Arthur Oliver Tucker, Silas W. Penny (1880 killed WW1), Ernest F. Penny (1892, killed WW1), Alice Clara Penny (1895- ) married Will Craig, Reginald Penny (1898, killed WW1), Frank Penny (1899- ) gassed in WW1. Family correspondence indicates that Frank, Reg and Clara were separated from the other children when small but the reason was not stated. A later tragedy was that four of the seven brothers were killed in WW1. Letters refer to a Mary (White?) who may be a close relative or foster mother. Lucy Ann Penny (my ancestor) married George Lock/Locke and founded the Kingweston Lockes. Any information or corrections gratefully received. 

[lizdb]

Hello and welcome!
Before we start hunting around, can you confirm what you already have - have you found the family in any censuses? The parents marriage? Children's birth registrations?

Dont want to duplicate effort and do what has already ben done!

[avm228]

Hi and a warm welcome

The family was intact in 1901: RG13/2303/146/2

Have you looked for them in 1911?

Anna

[avm228]

At least some of the children were registered as PENNEY:

Adelina Bessie PENNEY Sep 1888 Yeovil 5c 441
Silas Walter PENNEY Sep 1890 Yeovil 5c 431
Ernest Fred PENNEY Sep 1892 Yeovil 5c 413

[LockeLad]

Thank you. I have searched exhaustively census returns, BMD records, family contacts etc to build up or confirm what is known about these siblings. It was a jigsaw puzzle. The enigma of the tradgedy remains and to where the children were dispersed. Family letters only provide clues but not the underlying story.

In reply to Anna, yes, indeed the family was intact in 1901 at Blackford, Wincanton but not in 1911.  (Note Evelina B. in 1901 appears to be Bessie in 1891 and Adelina Bessie in BMD!)

[avm228]

In reply to Anna, yes, indeed the family was intact in 1901 at Blackford, Wincanton but not in 1911.  

OK then - who is missing in 1911?  Are both parents still around and if so which children do they have with them?

[avm228]

I must say, I'm struggling to find any of the five WW1 casualties on www.cwgc.org or other relevant WW1 databases.  Might the family have changed its surname? (Or have you already found military records for them?)

[LockeLad]

Thanks for reminder that Penny may be same family as Penny.

I didn't pay to view the 1911 census but used combinations of various family member names to decide between possibilities. No family group was found. Two examples of returns but not with clear evidence of siblings:
HOUSEHOLD, PENNY HENRY Male dob1852 age59 Yeovil, Somersetshire
HOUSEHOLD, PENNY JESSIE F approx  dob 1863 age48 Chelsea, London

A Henry Penny died Yeovil district Oct-Dec quarter of 1905 vol 5c page 269. So maybe this large family split up then if this was Dad. Some of the lads may have gone into the army and could be some seen listed as MILITARY. But the mystery still remains!

[LockeLad]

In summary I located, as possibilities:

a) Name: Edwin Penny Birth Place: Glastonbury, Som. Residence: Devizes, Wilts Death Date: 4 May 1915 Enlistment Location: Yeovil, Som. Rank: Private Regiment: Dorsetshire Regiment Battalion: 1st Battalion. Number: 7338 Type of Casualty: Killed in action Theater of War: Aldershot

b) Ernest Reginald Penny Birth Place: Yeovil Residence: Pontypridd Death Date: 23 Apr 1917 Enlistment Location: Treforest, Glam. Rank: A/Corporal Regiment: Devonshire Regiment Battalion: 1st Battalion. Number: 9933 Type of Casualty: Killed in action Theater of War: Aldershot
1911 census MILITARY establ. PENNY, ERNEST dob 1890 age21 Isle of Wight, Hampshire

but nothing for Silas Walter Penny or Reginald or Frank (gassed)