Henry “Harry” Wood CARTNER (1897 - 1956)

Henry “Harry” Wood CARTNER (1897 - 1956)

Harry's childhood

My wife's great grandfather Henry Wood CARTNER, better known as "Harry", was born on the 13th of April 1897 at Bank Street, Longtown in Cumbria (formerly Cumberland). Harry had a brother two years older than him at the same address when he was born. Longtown is an English town very close to the Scottish border. His father, James, aged 33 was Scottish but was born only a short distance across the border in Half Morton. He was working as a railway labourer but had been living in Cumbria since at least 1881 as he was an indoor farm servant on that years census.

His mother was Margaret "Maggie" CARTNER nee WOOD was also 33. She too was Scottish but came from further away from Harry's birthplace then his father. She was born in the coastal village of Cullen in the North of Scotland. It is likely that she moved to Cumbria when married to be close to her husband's work and family. So far I have been unable to find the parish record for the marriage of Harry's parents.

Historically the town of Longtown was relatively poor, its financial livelihood connected to weaving for manufacturers in Carlisle and later work came from labouring on the railway which is probably what attracted Harry's father.

By the night of the 1901 census the family were still living in Longtown and the family consisted of Harry, his brother Thomas and their parents James and Maggie. On the 14th of April 1903, the day after Harry's 6th birthday, his sister Ada was born. By this point Harry had been promoted to railway station porter. For some reason the birth happened not at the family home but in nearby Swan Street.

On the 10th August 1907 Harry's sister Mary Ellen was born at the family home on Bank Street. Harry's father was still a porter at the railway station.

On the night of the 1911 census the family are still living in Longtown. Harry by this point was 13, his brother Thomas 16 and sisters Ada aged 7 and Mary Ellen just 3. His parents were now both 47 and Harry's father was still a porter at the railway station but now James had joined him there to work as a “Railway Checker”. His older brother Thomas worked as a brick yard labourer.

The First and Second Balkan Wars and WWI

On the 8th October 1912, when Harry was 15, the First Balkans War began when Bulgaria, Greece, Montenegro and Serbia attacked the Ottoman Empire. On 30th May the following year the Treaty of London was signed dealing with changes in territory during the war. The countries involved our unhappy with the distribution and on 17 days after signing the treaty, on 16th May 2013 the Second Balkan War began. On 10th August 1913 the Second Balkan War ended.

On the 28th June 1914 Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir presumptive of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, was assassinated. On the 4th August Britain, Harry was aged 17 and Britain was at War.

In 1917 Harry, age 20 years 2 months, was listed in the WWI Record of Service Paper as living at 1 Graham St, Longtown, Cumbria. His trade or calling was listed as Clerk. He served under the Royal Engineers, Inland Waterways and Dock Companies.

Harry, aged 21, saw a truce declared on 10th November 1918.

Meanwhile on the 16th January 1919 in the United States of America prohibition began.

On the 28th June 1919 the controversial Treaty of Versaille was signed.

Marriage and fatherhood

At some unknown point Harry got a job as a male nurse and lived at the Ministry of Pensions in Thierstonland.

This was his job and residence when, on the 2nd January 1928 Harry, aged 30, he was married at the Kirkburton parish church in Huddersfield to 26 year old Ellen SHINGLETON. Ellen was living at Smiths Croft in Highburton. By this point Harry's father James was working as a labourer and his new father-in-law, John Edward SHINGLETON, was a gas regulator. Witnesses to the wedding were George Alfred CAXTON and Herbert Cox E. GRIFFITHS.

A little later his first daughter was born at a place called Stocksmoon, Thurstonland in Kirkburton where the family lived. At that time Harry was employed as an asylum attendant.

At some point the family moved to Linfit Fold in Kirkburton where, in 1929, Harry's second daughter was born. Harry was still employed as an asylum attendant.

In 1949 Harry's youngest daughter, aged 19, married a 26 year old estate agent in Taunton where she was living. This was only 5 days after Harry's 52nd birthday and by this point was working as a wardmaster (what this actually is I don't know!)

In 1952, Harry aged 55 became a grandfather for the first time when his youngest daughter gave birth to her first son. Also on the 9^th of May he was listed in the UK & Ireland Nursing Register under the “Mental Register” as having an R. M. P. A. certificate. R. M. P. A. stands for Royal Medico-Psychological Association which would later go on to be come the Royal College of Psychiatrists.

In 1954 Harry's eldest daughter, aged 26 and working as a saleswoman, married a 37 year old Hotelier in Cornwall. They had one child, a daughter (year of birth to be confirmed). Harry was at this point 56 and working as a civil servant.

In 1955 Harry aged 58 became a grandfather for the second time when his youngest daughter gave birth to her second son.

On 26 October 1956, aged 59, Harry's died. His death was registered in the Liverpool South district of Lancashire and the probate the following year showed his last residence as 133 Brodie-Avenue, Mosley Hill, Liverpool. He left to his widow Ellen £743 18s, which based on inflation would be worth around 25 times higher today, equating to around £18.6k.