Ancestors of Mandy Willard

Alfred Nathaniel Leggett WHITE (1859-1928)

and Sophia BACK (1866-1936)

Alfred Nathaniel White and Sophia Beck married in the third quarter of 1887 in the Steyning, Sussex registration district.  (They were not my direct ancestors.  Sophia was the sister of my great grandmother Annie Willard, nee Back.)

Alfred Nathaniel Leggett White was born in the second quarter of 1859 in Shoreham-by-Sea, Sussex.  He was the son of Alfred John White (c1839-1868) and Charlotte Clara Robinson (1838-?).  His death was probably registered in the fourth quarter of 1928 in the Steyning registration district as 68 year old Alfred N. White.  The 1861 census recorded that he was 2 year old Nathaniel White and he was living with his parents in the High Street, Shoreham.  His father was then a shipwright.  In 1871 he was 11 years old and living with his 32 year old widowed mother and younger sister Florence, aged 2, in Ship Street, Shoreham.

Sophia Back was born on 29 May 1866 in Preston, Sussex and baptised on 21 July 1871 at the Church of Annunciation, Brighton.  She was the daughter of John Simmons Back (1843-1898) and 5 3 Jane Spicer (1842-1885).  Sophia died aged 70 years and her death was registered as Sophia White in the third quarter of 1836 in the Hove registration district.  The 1871 census recorded that she was 5 years old and living with her parents at 87 Coleman Street in Brighton.  In 1881 she was a 14 year old domestic servant in the household of John Foley in Hove.  Sophia was referred to as "Aunt Soaf" in a postcard from my Grandfather (William Charles Willard) to his mother (Annie Willard, nee Back), sent sometime during WW1.

When the 1891 census was recorded the couple and 2 sons (Alfred and William) were living in 6 Sheldale Road, Portslade.  Alfred was then a 30 year old tailor and Sophia was 24.  He gave his place of birth as Shoreham and she as Brighton.

By 1901 they were living in 5 Gardener Street, Portslade and Alfred was a bootmaker.  Also with them on census night was widowed sister-in-law, 32 year old Florence Henly who had been born in Shoreham and 6 year old niece Kathleen Henly who had been born in New South Wales, Australia (their surname may have been Henty).  Florence was Alfred's sister and in the 1881, 12 year old Florence C. White was living with her mother Charlotte Clara and step father Charles Wells.

Alfred White and Sophia Back had 5 known children:

1. Alfred John White was born in the first quarter of 1889 in Portslade.  In 1891 he was 2 years old.  He was a 12 year old attending school in 1901.

2. William White was born about 1890 in Portslade.  He was a year old in 1891.

3. Charles White was born about 1891 in Portslade.  He was a 10 year at school in 1901.  In 1911 he was a 20 year old baker and living with his uncle Mark Goatcher.

4. Thomas White was born about 1893 in Portslade, possibly in the second quarter of 1893.  He was a 7 year old at school in 1901.

5. Florence White was born about 1895 in Portslade.  She was a 5 year old in 1901 and attending school.

1871 Census - 87 Coleman Street, Brighton, Sussex (RG10/1078, folio 62, page 57)

Elizah Gambling, Head, Mar, 34, Bricklayer, born Linchmere, Sussex

Fanny Gambling, Wife, Mar, 35, Ironer, born Brighton, Sussex

Jane Ann Gambling, Daur, Unm, 17, Domestic Servant, born Brighton, Sussex

John Simmons Back, Head, Mar, 28, Bricklayer, born Brighton, Sussex

Jane Back, Wife, Mar, 28, born Brighton, Sussex

Jane Back, Daur, Unm, 7, born Brighton, Sussex

Sophia Back, Daur, Unm, 5, born Preston, Sussex

John Back, Son, Um, 2, born Preston, Sussex

Annie Back, Dau, Unm, 4d, born Brighton, Sussex

(2 families sharing 1 small terraced house)

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