I have to confess, there's something curious about my great grandmother Florence Maxted. When young she worked as a barmaid in the port of Southampton, during which time she became pregnant. An older man, Percy Spencer, from far away Essex, who worked on the boats, married her in a registry office just two weeks before her baby Eileen was born. It brings up a big question for me. Was Percy really the father of her child? Or had he kindly taken her on to save her from the consequences of being a single mother in times when this was much frowned upon and would otherwise have put her in desperate poverty? This is potentially quite a family skeleton, firmly shut in the cupboard. When Percy took Florence back to his family they never ever really accepted her, she of the red hair, appearing as if out of nowhere, with her red haired daughter. He was away on the boats, so how could they have married sooner, they declared. Not one more of their children would have the red hair of the mother. Red hair was simply not in Percy's family, so it was said, until later cousins were born with red hair, and the matter was forgotten.
Florence Maria Maxted was born in London on March 8th 1895, her father William being a boiler maker for the railway, whose family originally came to London from rural Kent, and her mother Mary Dolan was from Ireland. There were already three children in the family: Sarah Kathleen, aged 8, (born in Hammersmith), William Charles, aged 6, (born in Darlington in Devon in 1889) and Mary Jane, aged 5, (born in Sunderland in 1890), such distant places of birth revealing the families earlier travelling years, since which they'd settled back in the Chiswick area of London.
1895 8th March, 67 Windmill Road, Turnham Green, Florence Maria, daughter of William Maxted and Maria Maxted formerly Dolan, fathers profession: boiler maker, registered by W Maxted, father, 67 Windmill Road on 17th April
Florence was affectionately known as Florrie. She had red hair, very likely the same as did her Irish mother, and was a chubby bonny lass.
Florence's father, William, had a much scarred body, from back in his teenage, at the age of 16, when as a young boiler maker, working for the south western railway, a bar of tar ignited and dreadfully burned his body all over, an accident he had not been expected to survive and yet did.
Florence's first home, the place of her birth, was at 67 Windmill Road in the area of Turnham Green. In 1897, when Florence was two, a younger brother, Henry Charles, alias Harry, was born. In 1898, when Florence was aged three, the family lived at 3 Western Terrace, Black Lion Lane, in Hammersmith. It was two years after this, in 1900, that firstly, in the spring, a sister was born, Lilian Norah and then, in the summer, Florence's older sister Sarah Kathleen, being by now aged 13, departed life in a local convent from heart failure. The shock at losing a dear child impelled the family to move elsewhere, to begin a life afresh. They temporarily returned up north to Sunderland, where Florence was put into a convent school, for it was so that the children when being brought up, at least earlier in their lives, were under the influence of their Irish mothers Roman Catholicism. The teachers in Sunderland were Irish nuns, known as the Sisters of Mercy.
Roman Catholicism in Sunderland, an early experience for the Maxted children for their having an Irish mother
Florence's English grandparents and substantial extended family, for all this time, lived south of the Thames at Lambeth, and there Florence's family would move too, seeking the company of close extended family, when she was nearly six. Roman Catholic roots were passed up now for a church of England education, as on her 6th birthday, 18th March 1901, Florence was registered into the Springfield School, situated in an area of the poor, at Fountain Street, Lambeth, which was but steps away from where her family lived. Springfield School, Lambeth, Florence Maxted, daughter of William Maxted, a boiler maker, of 18 Springfield Place, born 8th March 1895, former school marked at first as none, then later was added The Convent, Sunderland
As a young girl Florence went to the Springfield School of Lambeth
1901 Census Lambeth, London 18 Springfield Place Florence (Florrie) is aged 6 living at 18 Springfield Place with her family, her father William Maxted, being a boilermaker, her mother Maria being from Ireland. Her uncle George Maxted lives with them, working as a press cutter in printing. Florrie's siblings are William, Mary, Harry, and baby Nora.
The Maxted family in Lambeth in 1901
In 1904, when Florence was aged 9, her school was revealed to be a place of bullying, so seriously so that a girl but a year younger than her would die as a consequence. The bullies who perpetrated the violence were never outed:
VIOLENT SCHOOL CHILDREN While at Springfield School, South Lambeth, one day last August, Grace Smith, aged 8 years, was pushed down the steps at the school. She complained of pains in her head; but the mother did not find any mark of violence. On 20th October, however, she again complained, saying another child had struck her head on a desk. In more detail, another schoolgirl had 'pulled her hair until her head struck the desk'. Eventually she died in St Thomas's hospital, from pressure on the brain set up by an abscess, 'of delirium and hemorrhage', the abscess having formed behind her ear. At the inquest, the class teacher and one of the school managers, a curate of All Saints, South Lambeth, was called. The teacher said she did not hear anything about the pushing downstairs. The curate said he had been unable to obtain any trace of the children who pushed Grace or struck her head on the desk. He quite understood the possibility of pushing taking place on the stone steps, as there was only one exit for 500 children, and much crushing was inevitable. The jury found a verdict of death from misadventure.
In 1908, when Florence was thirteen years old, the family upped and left the Nine Elms Lambeth area of London, and moved to the Hampshire coast, to the town of Eastleigh, near Southampton, this being in response to the Locomotive Works, which employed Florence's father, also changing location to there.
1911 Census Eastleigh, Hampshire Florence, called Florrie, was 16 years old, living at 94 Chamberlayne Road, a house of 6 rooms, with her family, her father William being a boiler maker for the Locomotion Works. Her mother Maria (Mary) does not give away her Irish origins, saying that like William she is from Lambeth. The oldest child, Florence's brother William junior, is a builder. Other siblings are Florence's older sister Mary Jane, and the younger siblings are Harry Charles and Lilian Norah. Two children, not named, are reported as having already died. One would be Sarah Kathleen, and the other was Emma Maria who had died when she was one year old.
1911 Census for the Maxted family living at 94 Chamberlayne Road
Florence grew up to be a round faced, jolly young lady, who was by nature never nonplussed by anything. She was caring, the one to help others when they got hurt. And she loved her food, both cooking it, with quite some skill, and then eating it. Florence became a great cinema goer, her favourite film star being John Boles, whose photo she liked to keep in a silver frame.
In 1914 Sister Mary Jane married her beloved Lionel Brown. I can guess Florence was close to her sister, who was older by five years, because she chose her as her witness when she herself later married.
Florrie in her youth
Florence was a barmaid in Southampton during the 1st world war when it was one of the busiest ports of the conflict, with seven million troop movements, and the exporting of horses, mules, vehicles and tonnes of millions of supplies. Up to eight troop trains were arriving at the docks every hour and up to 18 ships a day sailed across the channel. Imperial garrisons were also arriving from places like India and Egypt to join the fighting, and there were incoming wounded soldiers and refugees. Many departing soldiers would die abroad in the war. Florence became pregnant during the war, in her time as a barmaid, and this does present a mystery as to who was the father. Could it have been Percy Spencer, head chef on the boats, who she married in a registry office just two weeks before her daughter Eileen was born? Or was it one of the many soldiers or sailors passing through? Genealogical dna testing has yielded no cousins from the Spencer family, which would suggest the latter. Florence was still living with her parents at the time at 206 Market Street in Eastleigh, her father William Maxted registered as being a plater for the railways, and her mother Mary, as we know, being Irish.
American soldiers in Southampton in 1917
Arriving troops from the beginning of the war in 1914 to 1919, were stationed on Southampton Common till came their time to go down to the Southampton Docks. Local people set up for these men, to enjoy some last comforts, the Soldiers and Sailors Recreation Room in the hall of the United Reform Church, and there they were looked after pleasantly before having to go off to war, given for free tea and food, stationary for writing letters home, and cigarettes, all donated to by a sympathetic public. Lady volunteers would serve them, and do their laundry and mending. The men could wash and shave there and get their clothes dry. As one soldier did later say of the place: 'I came into the hut feeling bad. It was bright and warm. There was plenty of good food, and the ladies were like friends and spoke to you as if you were a gentleman. Gawd bless Avenue Hall and everybody that worked there and gave new life to us poor chaps.'
Soldiers at the church hall
Temporary soldier community
Percy Spencer was the one to marry Florrie in a registry office in 1918, two weeks before Florrie's baby daughter Eileen was born. He worked on the ships as a chef and was twelve years older than Florrie. The story they gave to the family is that he was away at sea and did not know till returning that he was to be a father. It could be that over drinks in a Southampton bar, Percy saw the serving girl was due to have a child, with the real father playing no part, and that he himself took on rather nobly that duty. The story they gave may be true though and he may indeed be the father. But this remains a question mark.
1918 Marriage by licence on April 27th Registry Office of South Stoneham District, Southampton Percy John Spencer, age 34, chief cook on a hospital ship, address 26 Oakland Road, Dovercourt, son of George Richard Spencer, a mariner, and Florence May Maxted, age 22, address 206 Market Street, Eastleigh, daughter of William Maxted, a plater - Witnesses are Mary Jane Brown (Florence's already married sister) and V M Holland
Young Percy Spencer
Florence's husband Percy Spencer
Percy Spencer, known by the nickname of Dick, was twelve years older than Florence, and was a rebel, daredevil and prankster. Unusually for the times he had a pet monkey although this had to be put down after not bit someone. His way, especially in his youth, was to live for the day. As a boy, he so often played truant, that he was forceably retained in an industrial school. He found his path in life through cookery. His cooking skills were much admired. When asked what was his secret he would reply 'pepper and salt and common sense'. He was a skilled food decorator, making his radishes look like roses. He loved to garden, growing all his own vegetables, and he would harvest fish, oysters and crabs from the sea. He was said to be an easy going fellow with a great sense of humour.
Florence's sister Mary Jane's husband, Lionel Brown, was in Italy during the war, and by early 1918 was wounded there, though was recovering well, so it was reported in the Hampshire Advertiser.
And I return to the curious question, who then was the father? Could it be a soldier, gone to war, never to return. I actually did find something to look up about, a man named Bert Wellstead, with an affiliation order served on him to support the child of a Florence Spencer, this having been made against him in 1920. But looking into this I saw it was for a different Florence, an unmarried one who remained home, keeping house for her father, at Bursleden. Percys family back on the Essex coast, in Dovercourt, took an instant disliking to Florrie, when he brought her and the new daughter Eileen home. It was too out of the blue for them. She and her daughter, both with red hair. It was years before the family would accept them. As for Percy, he doted on little Eileen, and so did Florrie. Eileen was such a beauty.
1918 On the 11th May, just two weeks after the wedding, Eileen Florence Spencer was born, a red haired, and to be much beloved daughter.
Eileen Florence Spencer
Young Eileen Spencer
Other children would be born, in 1919 at Dover (Florence and Percy's first home together) Victor John, alias Johnny, in 1921 at Parkestone near Harwich, Alice Mary, alias Molly, in 1923 Joyce M (Maria?), and in 1924 George Raymond. From Southampton, to Dover, to Parkeston, to Dovercourt where they settled. In the Harwich area the family lived firstly on the Parkstone Road, then 26 Oakland Road, and then at the quite grand Silberton Villa's, 2 Lee Road.
The closest of the adjoined cottages by the bridge was where Florence and Percy lived when a young family in the Dovercourt-Harwich area
Florence aged 25 in the 1921 census with her 37 year old husband Percy Spencer, little children Eileen and Johnny, and her brother Henry living at Parkeston
While Percy was often at sea, sometimes all night, as a chef on the ferry boats, Florence did her own part in helping the family survive, taking in lodgers. Their house in Oakland Road was cramped and crowded, there not only being six children living there, but also two lodgers. Whereas their final home, Silberton Villa, was semi detached and large, with a good garden.
In a way, Florence and Percy did their own separate things, and it was generally only food that was their common focus, both being good at it. Percy was used to cooking for loads of people, being chief chef on a passenger boat which prided itself on fine dining. Whenever Percy was home from work, he would do all the cooking for the family, busy in the kitchen, regardless of the time of day. The family ate pies and casseroles, stew, mashed potatoes, soup, sausages and currant buns (which Percy always made two dozen of), all filling food, prepared in bulk.
1925 On July 14th at Parkeston Florence's youngest child was born, Arnold Arthur Maxted, who would be as much of a favourite as had been the pretty first born, red haired Eileen, Arthur being blonde haired and blue eyed.
Arnold Arthur Spencer as a baby
Arnold Arthur Spencer as a toddler
Family life for the Spencer family was very communal, laid back and jolly, with lots of games between the children, such as ping pong, board games and competitions. They were a self contained group in a small world. The brothers and sisters were as if a team, part of the Lee Road clique. The Spencer girls were not quiet violets, being just as involved. They were an active group, laughing and competitive. By understanding, they had their own special area of the sea to swim in. All the children learnt to swim when young, being self taught; all knew when there would be high tides and when it was best to swim. In the meadow they played cowboys and Indians and at home the dining table transfomed into a ping pong table, the dart board was in the open shed, and there were lots of rooms for hide and seek. Florence was cool with it all. Florence was generous and kind, and always smiling, welcoming all her childrens friends. If it was meal time she would put out another plate and the food was always good. Percy was popular with the children, as when he'd been abroad he would return with large quantities of peanuts, which, on having roasted them in their shells, he would bring home and share freely. It was nearly always someones birthday and Florence would put on a splendid deal, Silberton Villa being such a good place for parties.
In 1932, Parkeston Quay, where Percy's boat journeys began, underwent a huge expansion, built by the London north-east railway, which advertised its job vacancies nationwide. So it was, that along came a young Welshman, George Harrison, seeking work. Percy met George at the quay and took him home to be a lodger. The children thought George to be strange, for having never met a Welshman before. He spoke in so strange an accent and some of his words they could not understand. With the family being so accommodating, George was soon absorbed into the family, and with Eileen being the oldest of the children he and she became close. Johnny, who found work at the quay at the same time, persuaded George to watch the Harwich and Parkeston football, after which he became an ardent lifelong supporter. As far as rugby was concerned, for George the Welsh were always the champions.
It was in 1938 that George married Eileen, on April 16th. He was ten years older than Eileen, she being still 19, going on 20, and in the summer of 1939 their first child, David, was born, Florences's first grandchild to dote over, a son to carry on the redhead tradition. Eileen adopted as a role model her mothers style of matriarchy, doing much good for others and cooking for everyone, providing another benevolent and homely family atmosphere, a focal point for all to come together.
Marriage of daughter Eileen to the Welsh lodger, George Harrison
Florence's first grandchild, David Spencer Harrison
1939 Register Dovercourt, Harwich 2 Lee Road Florence M Spencer, wife, born 8th March 1895, unpaid domestic duties Percy J Spencer, born 7th February 1884, ships chef. SS Malines weekly articles Joyce M Spencer, daughter, born 6th February 1923, unpaid domestic duties George R Spencer, son, born 29th February 1924, butchers errand boy George Harrison, son in law, married, born 11th January 1909, bricklayer, added notes: DC squad. HMS Ganges Shotley (daughter Eileen, and baby grandson David, were in Wales with George's Welsh family)
Florence and her sailor sons Arnold and Johnny (photo I have coloured)
The arrival of war with Germany truncated and brought the splendid little family atmosphere to a halt, the older boys going off to war. It was at this time that Florence and Percy departed from Dovercourt, moving to Florence's old town of Eastleigh near Southampton, there where they had originally met. After Percy's ship was bombed, having grounded safely in Southampton he was done with such work. He never went back on the boats and forever more the family remained in Eastleigh.
In 1943 tragedy struck, as daughter Joyce contracted tuberculosis. It was war time and the family was in Eastleigh, and there Joyce had joined in with the war effort, submerging metal for planes in salt baths. The poison of the baths contaminated every part of her body, making her so very weak, and it was in hospital that she was observed to be in an advanced state of tuberculosis. Being put into an isolation hospital, laid out with others on the cold balcony, it was there on the Queens birthday, April 21st, that she died. The only time her father Percy ever cried was in response to her death. She was only 20 years old. With her parents so distressed, it was for sister Eileen to be the strong one to go and identify her body, just as I would one day do when my own sister died.
Joyce Spencer who died at the age of 20 from tuberculosis
Five years later, in 1948, Florence's husband, Percy, died, even though only aged 64. Maybe grief for his lost daughter helped him on his way; as I would imagine he felt some measure of guilt for having pushed his girls to work in the factories, and denying them permission to go in the forces. Regardless, his health had not fared too well over the years. Like others who worked on the boats, he had the habit to drink, for which he would suffer greatly a gastric ulcer. Florence herself never touched alcohol.
Florence had always taken in lodgers for extra money, both in Dovercourt and then in Eastleigh, where she also ran a fruit and vegetable shop on Desborough Road. At Desborough Road they lived first at number 158 and then 229. Florence is remembered for her routine of making a big bowl of soup on Saturdays, a day when everyone would come to her house to make their bets on the horses and dine on her soup, an event that was always fun. She was known for her soups, which she made plentifully. Sometimes she made money on the horses, though she never bet very much on them.
Florence at the wedding of her son Arthur in 1950
The above wedding photo: Son Johnny, Florence, daughter in law Kaye, son Arnold and his bride Gladys (never would they have children)
Florence's granddaughter, Lorraine Harrison, remembers visiting her in Eastleigh twice a year as a child, travelling from Dovercourt with the rest of the family, and of Florence's sister Lilian Norah being blind (due to a stroke). Florences sight was also quite bad and Lorraine would be asked to read out the list of the horses for her. 1975 Florence's time was up, she dying of a stroke at home at Eastleigh at the age of 80 on October 6th.