13th June 1905 unknown (possibly Gertrude KAte Bance nee watkins) to julia ann hill nee watkins
aldershot, Hampshire to ebley, stroud, gloucestershire
73 miles
the message
“? J
Many thanks for mag & nice long letter. A grand day here last thursday. King, Queen, Princess Victoria & King of Spain all came to a review of the troops. I did not go to the review but saw them pass in state.
Am writing this in nursery 6.30 am. Baby awake since 5.10 Trials of being a m you see!!
Love from G K
X”
the sender
It is not possible to be 100% sure about the identity of the sender, but the most likely candidate is Gertrude Kate Bance nee Watkins (1870-1940).
Gertrude was born in Painswick, Gloucestershire. Her parents were George Price Watkins (1842-1933) and Ellen Trow (1843-1903). George worked in the Pin Manufacturing Industry eventually becoming a Managing Director (Watkins and Okey). Ellen was a Dressmaker.
In 1871 Gertrude was living with her parents in Painswick. The same is true in 1881. In 1891 Gertrude was in Cirencester, Gloucestershire working as a Governess. In 1897 she got married in Stroud to Frederick Robert Bance (1867-1952), a farmer from Newbury, Berkshire. They were together in 1901 and 1911 in Newbury and still in 1939.
Gertrude’s death is recorded in Newbury in 1940.
the recipient
Julia Ann Hill nee Watkins (1857-1930) was born in Stroud, Gloucestershire. Her parents were Peter Watkins (1816-1901) and Mary Price (1818-1888). Peter was a Pin Manufacturer.
In 1861 Julia was living with her parents in Painswick. This was still the case in 1871. In 1878 Julia married Charles Albert Hill in Stroud. Charles was an Ironmonger’s Assistant. In 1881 they were living in the Rodborough district of Stroud. By 1891 they had moved to Painswick. In 1901 they were living in the house called Hillthorpe in the Cairncross district of Stroud. to which the card was sent in 1905. In September 1906, according to the Gloucester Citizen there was an incident involving Charles Albert being drunk and causing damage to the property of Hillthorpe which was owner by Julia’s brother George Price Watkins (see above). The outcome was a separation being granted to Julia and a conviction for Charles. Charles died in 1908. In 1911 Julia was living with her brother George Price Watkins and his family in Painswick.
Julia’s death is recorded in Stroud in 1930.
the tree
the places
Aldershot, Hampshire to Ebley, Stroud, Gloucestershire
Aldershot, Hampshire
Ebley, Stroud, Gloucestershire showing Foxmoor Lane
what the card says to us
The picture is entitled “In Committee” and shows four puppies. It’s cute but it has no link to the family or the message.
The card was posted in Aldershot which is about 27 miles from Newbury which is where Gertrude Kate Bance lived. That is quite a long way in 1905 and raises a question mark over the identity of the sender. So does the reference to “baby” as Gertrude had a son called Frederick Watkins Bance (1899-1980) who would have been 5 or 6 at the time. Hardly a baby.
Elsewhere the message is quite revealing with regard to Royal Family namechecks. The King in question was Edward VII (1841-1910) The Queen was Queen Alexandra (1844-1925) and their daughter Princess Victoria (1868-1935) was also present. The King of Spain mentioned was Alphonso XIII (1886-1931), the last king until 1975.