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Nellie marked X is third from left in the 3rd row c1912
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Nellie Croot was born in 1902. Although she is not registered at Alfred Street School, this picture is similar to others in the school gallery.
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c1912 Nellie Croot is 3rd row, 3rd from the left.
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Nellie attended a wedding in 1916, as a bridesmaid for Alice Chapman.
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Nellie seated c1914
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"My mother Nellie Sadie Croot Bridesmaid"
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Photos sent from Australia by Brian Cleaves - his mother wrote the caption on the back.
Brian thinks Nelllie is seated left in the picture above left - 1916 at the wedding of Arthur Berrill to Alice Chapman.
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Nellie married William Charles SPAUL on 13 December 1924 in the Baptist Church on Park Road, Rushden. It was interesting that my mother Doreen May Christian CLEAVES (nee SPAUL) always thought that her father was a born and bred Rushden man. However, he was born in London.
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Note: When the 1921 was taken in Rushden, Kenneth R Spaul was aged 8 and his birth place was 13 South Terrace, Rushden. His mother Emma L aged 37 was born at Campton BDF, and her two older children were William C aged 18 and Mary J aged 17, both born in London. They were now living at 13 South Terrace, and they had a lodger, Florence E Croot aged 42 who said she was single and born at 12 South Terrace, and her three children were noted as boarders. Nellie aged 18 and Christopher aged 14 had been born at 3 South Terrace, and Olive aged 11 had been born in Milton Place. (William John Spaul married Emma Louisa Francis in 1902 in London.)
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Emigration - Florence and her 3 children, Nellie, Christopher and Olive travel to Australia in 1925 aboard the good ship S. S. Desmonthes. I was told that they came to Australia on the pretext of Florence helping her younger sister Lily FOX (nee PARTRIDGE) with her young family. What else was interesting is that Nellie came out using her maiden name. Her husband, my grandfather, did not emigrate to Australia until 1928 aboard the S. S. Mooltan. There was never any reference made about Florence’s first husband Charles William CROOT. I understand that he died in the Rushden area in 1936.
The CROOT connections all settled in the Melbourne, Victoria suburb of Preston. Christopher married Elva Ewing and Olive married Ronald Ewing, a double brother and sister combination.
In 1933 Florence married Frederick James NEVILLE. Florence was to die only 3 years later on 19 June 1936.
Nellie and William (Bill or known to me as Pop) raised 2 children; my mother, Doreen May Christian SPAUL and Russell William SPAUL.
Doreen married Albert James CLEAVES on 20 September 1947 in the Regent Methodist Church.
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Nellie Sadie Croot Spaul
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Over time I take the opportunity to look at my family photos. One of the photos I have of Nellie really touches me; she looks like a very kind lady. Interestingly my mother wrote on the back of a photo of her and her mother “What a wonderful mother” - what a lovely sentiment.All the people in the above story have all passed away now. I really don't know very much about their lives in Rushden which is disappointing as I never got to know my grandmother Nellie, as she passed away on 6 November 1952, just 4 years after I was born.
I never really knew any of my grandparents very well except for William Charles SPAUL (Pop). Pop came to live with my family in about 1986/87. He was living with us at the time of the birth of our youngest son in 1987. Pop and his great grandson were inseparable up until Pop’s death in 1996 at the age of 93; how special is that!
Notes: Samuel Croot was buried in Rushden Cemetery on 24th January 1910 aged 59 in Grave C999:
| In loving memory of Samuel beloved husband of Jane CROOT who died January 20th 1910 aged 59 years. Weep not dear wife but be content, for I to you was only lent, your loss I know will be my gain, strive to meet me in heaven again. |
Jane Croot was buried on 8th March 1924 aged 71 in Grave C71.
Charles Wm Croot died in 1936 aged 61.
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