Introducing… Violet Elizabeth Fordham née Potter (1897 – 1956)

Violet Elizabeth Fordham née Potter (1897 – 1956)

A couple of days ago I updated my chart and created a profile page for my Great Grandmother Violet Elizabeth Fordham nee Potter.  Like my Fordham ancestors, my Potter ancestors spent at least a few generations living round the Islington area of London.

I’d done some research on Violet before but trying to put together a profile page on her made me realise how hard it is to know something of the personality of our housewife ancestors.  From certificates and census I can find no record of her having a profession (as was the norm) so much of her identity is derived from her father and later her husband.  I understand that historically the status and identity of women was closely tied to their male relatives but she must have had opinions, personality and a brain of her own so if not surprising this is very frustrating!  To understand her a little better I have started looking into other general topics influencing her life. 

The changing home

For everyone living between 1897 and 1956 conveniences in the home changed a lot and this was especially important for the lives of housewives.  Violet would have lived through the uptake of the refrigerator, entertainment and other gadgetry.  In many ways the home change into what we can recognise as a modern home during Violet's lifetime.

The role ad rights of women

Violet lived through the campaigning of the suffragettes.  She would have started life with relatively few rights and ended her life with great legal and political freedom.  It is important to remember that many, at least at the beginning, did not agree with the activities of the suffragettes or with votes for women (including Queen Victoria!)  I would love to find what Violet's viewpoint was.

The major historical events

Much of how we picture people's lives is defined by the events that they lived through.  Violet would have seen changes in the monarchy, multiple political leaders come and go and survived two World Wars.  These events were the backdrop of her day to day life and with her husband in the Royal Marines military events would play a huge impact on her life.

In the next couple of days I hope to update her husband and son’s profiles to include information on Violet’s life and start looking at her mother in law.  In the meantime if anyone can think of more ways to research housewife ancestors please leave a comment or drop me an email.