Wife's Great Grandmother: Florence LAMBSHEAD nee MITCHELL (1891 - 1977)

Florence LAMBSHEAD nee MITCHELL (1891 - 1977)

Florence's childhood

My wife's great grandmother Florence MITCHELL was born in 1891 in the Cornish district of St. Columb.  Florence was the fourth child, with a 3 year older sister Mary, 2 year older sister Agnes and 5 year older sister Lilian all born in Cubert, Cornwall.  Florence's 25 year old mother Mary Jane MITCHELL nee LAWER, was originally from Cubert herself.  Florence's 32 year old father, William Webber MITCHELL was a father born in the nearby Kenwyn.

In 1894 Florence's sister Annie was born in Cubert.

In 1899 Florence's sister Ada was born in Cubert.

In 1899 Florence's brother William was born in Cubert.

In 1901, on the night of the census, Florence aged 9 was living with her 42 year old father, still a farmer, 34 year old mother and 6 siblings with ages ranging from 1 to 13 in Cubert.

In 1905 Florence's brother Henry was born in Cubert.

In 1907 Florence's brother Edward was born in Cubert.

In 1910 Florence's brother Kenneth was born in Cubert.

I have been unable to locate Florence, aged 19, on the 1911 the census.  She appears not to be living with her parents who were still living in Cubert now with 7 children.

The First and Second Balkan Wars and WWI

On the 8th October 1912, when Florence was 21, 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, Handsford was aged 22 and Britain was at War. 

Marriage, motherhood and London

On the 9th April 1917, when Florence was 25 she was married at the Cubert parish church in Cornwall to 30 year old Handsford LAMBSHEAD.  Florence was living in Cubert and her new husband Handsford was working as a grocer, living in Tooting in London.  Her new father-in-law's profession was listed as Gentleman and her father was still working as a farmer.  The witnesses at the wedding were her brother William Mitchell and a William Pascoe.  

On her husband's service record from 1916 to 1918 he was working as an Air Engineering Mechanic  on HMS President II, a shore establishment of the Royal Navy Reserve used primarily for accounting.  His record states that on 24th July 1916 he was involved in hostilities though more information is lacking.  His was described as 5 foot 6 inches tall, with a 38 inch chest, brown hair, blues eyes and a fresh complexion.  He also had a scar on his right forearm.  Throughout his service his character was listed as Very Good and his ability as Satisfactory.

In the third quarter of the 1918 the birth of Florence's first son was registered in the London district of Croydon.  Her husband was listed on the electoral register for Wandsworth.

Florence, aged 27, saw a truce declared on 10th November 1918.

In 1919 Florence's husband was listed on the electoral register for Wandsworth.  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.

In the last quarter of 1919 the birth of Florence's second son was registered in the Wandsworth district of London.

In 1919 Florence's husband Handsford was listed on the electoral register in Wandsworth.

In 1921 Florence and Handsford were listed on the electoral register in Wandsworth.

In 1922 Florence and Handsford were listed on the electoral register in Balham and Tooting and Central.

In 1923 Florence and Handsford were listed on the electoral register in Wandsworth.

In 1924 Florence and Handsford were listed on the electoral register in Wandsworth.  The death of her father-in-law, Thomas, aged 83, was registered in the same year in the nearby district of Croydon.

In 1925 Florence and Handsford were listed on the electoral register in Wandsworth.

Move to Plymouth

At some point after 1925 Florence's family moved to Plymouth in Devon where, in 1927, Florence's third son was born.  This was 8 years after the birth of her second son.

In the third quarter of 1929 Florence's fourth and last son was born in Plymouth.

In the first quarter of 1934 the death of her youngest son, aged only 5, was registered in Plymouth.

Move to Cornwall

At some point Florence and her family moved to her home county of Cornwall.

In the third quarter of 1943 Florence's eldest son was married in the Truro district of Cornwall.

On the 13th June 1944 the London Gazette published a list of medal recipients which including Florence's second son who, as a Sergeant in the Kings Shropshire Light Infantry (Newquay) was awarded the Military Medal.

In 1944 Florence became a grandmother for the first time when the daughter of her eldest son was born in Cornwall. 

In 1947 Handsford became a grandmother for the second time when the son of her eldest son was born in Cornwall.

On the 18th April 1949 Florence's second eldest son was married to a ten year younger wife at her local parish church St. John, in Taunton, Somerset.  Her son was working as an estate agent and lived at Whyteleafe, Arundel Way, Newquay, Cornwall.  Florence's husband Handsford at this point was listed as retired.

In 1950 Florence's sister-in-law died aged 73.

In 1952 Florence became a grandmother for the third time when the son of her second son was born in Cornwall.

In 1955 Florence became a grandmother for the fourth time when the son of her second son was born in Cornwall.

In the second quarter of 1958 Florence's third eldest son was married in the St. Austell district of Cornwall.  And at some point their son was born (year and location to be confirmed) and Florence became a grandmother for the fifth time.

In 1958 the death of Florence's brother-in-law Percie was registered in the Wandsworth district of London.

In 1963 Florence became a grandmother for the sixth time when the daughter of her youngest son was born in Cornwall.

In 1963 the death of Florence's husband, Handsford, was registered in the St. Austell district of Cornwall.

In 1977 the death of Florence was registered aged 86.