december 24th 1908 unknown to miss brooks

bridport, dorset

0 miles

the message

Blank

the sender

Anonymous

the recipient

The recipient could be one of three Miss Brooks at this address in 1908. All three are the daughters of Frederick Barrett Brooks (1863-1897) and Sarah Louise Whitfield (1863-1941). Frederick was a Carpenter and Joiner by trade. After Frederick’s death Sarah became a Laundress.

The three candidates are Annie Elizabeth Brooks (1887-1971) who was 21 when the card was sent, Ethel Louisa Brooks (1888-1963) who was 20, and Ada Florence Brooks (1895-1970) who was 13.

In 1901 Annie was working with her mother as a Launderess. In 1910 she married William Albert Kingman (1885-1958). William was a Carpenter and Joiner like his father in law.

In 1911 Ethel was living with her mother and sister Ada but no occupation was given. In 1939 she was also living with her mother and also her brother William Whitfield Brooks (1889-1967) who is listed as Incapacitated although in the 1911 census he was a Royal Engineer in the army and he served in WWI. Ethel never married.

In 1911 Ada is listed as a Dressmaker. In 1925 she married William John Page (1887-1974). William was a Painter and Decorator but also served in the Royal Navy during WWI and WWII.

the tree

the places

Bridport, Dorset

what the card says to us

This card is a bit of a mystery. It is obviously a Christmas card as the picture is festive and it was posted on Christmas Eve. But why isn’t it signed and why isn’t it properly addressed. Its as if the people in the household are assumed to know who it is for and who it is from.