16th december 1913 margaret to clara susannah woolham

bradford, yorkshire

0 miles

the message

“Dear Clara

Wishing you many happy returns. Hop you live to see 100.

Yours sincerely

Margaret”

the sender

There are no clues as to who Margaret was.

the recipient

Clara Susannah Woolham (1885-1990) was born in Bradford. She was the only child of Joseph Henry Woolham (1859-1895) and Fanny Smith (1861-1946). In the 1891 census Joseph is listed as Grinder in a Combing Shed. Fanny is listed as a Drawer in a Woollen Mill. After Joseph’s death, Fanny married Henry Ward (1867-1922), who is listed in 1911 as Warehouseman in Worsted at a Spinning Mill.

In the 1891 census Clara is living with her parents in Bradford. In 1901 she is with her widowed mother in Bradford and working as a Worsted Spinner while Fanny is a Weaver. In 1911 Clara is living with her mother and step-father. She is working as a Binder & Mender Piece Manufacturer. Also living with them is Fanny’s widowed father Thomas Smith (1834-?), a Farm Labourer. Their address is 48 Rugby Place, Bradford and this is the address to which the card was sent in 1913.

In 1914 Clara married Tom Lawson (1886-1953) who in 1911 was an Engine Tender at a Woollen Spinners.

In the 1939 Register, Clara and Tom were living with Fanny at the same address in Rugby Place. Tom is still an Engine Tender in the textile industry. Tom and Clara did not have any children.

Clara died on her 105th birthday in Bradford.

the tree

the places

Bradford, Yorkshire

Bradford showing Rugby Place

what the card says to us

This is a simple birthday card wishing “Hearty Birthday Greetings” with the additional hope that Clara, 28 at the time, would live to be 100. She actually managed to reach 105. And she seems to have lived in Bradford all her life.

The other thing revealed by the background to Clara’s life is how many people worked in the textile industry and how many different roles there were.

It may never be revealed who Margaret was, but she does appear to have been a prophetess.