I have been telling the story in my blog of the Vernon Smith/Rich families of Liverpool and in particular Joe Vernon Smith and his wife, Sarah Banks Rich. I wondered what else could be added to their story? Fortunately there are quite a few photographs and items in the wonderful personal archive of my mother in law that we inherited. These tell the story of a working class family from Liverpool who lost two children in infancy, one aged 17 and a son aged 23 at Gallipoli. Henry was widowed when his wife Sarah was just 43, leaving him with four daughters aged 8 - 17. Sarah was the 17 year old who took over the running of the house and bringing up her sisters.
I believe this is Henry's wife, Sarah. She seems unwell in
this photograph. She had 8 children who survived childbirth
the first when she was 23 and the last aged 39. She died four years later
Henry was born in Liverpool in 1861. According to his baptismal certificates his father Thomas was a shipwright. I have found Thomas on census returns and Henry's grandfather was also a shipwright. As Henry did not have any sons, he was the last of his family to carry out this trade.
Henry Banks Rich. Henry worked at the port of Liverpool
However, I have found him on the crew lists of transatlantic liners.He appears
to be on board a ship in this photo.
He must have spent many months at sea, away from his family.
Indeed he went to sea the year of his marriage in 1889
We have the badges that show that Henry was a member
of the Shipwright Association.
We have a LOT of photos of the family! Here are some of his children - the daughters before they married and his son Tom, before he emigrated to Australia - to die at Gallipoli in 1915.
Doris and Sarah as girls
Mabel, who died aged 17
Grace, the youngest, is centre. I think she is with Sarah and Doris.
Grace lived to be 112!
Doris and Lilly worked in a family general store.
I think this is in the Great War years.
The four sisters. Tom can just be seen driving the car!
Tom emigrated to Australia just after his mother died in 1910
He was doing well (we have some letters he sent home to "my dear old dad") and
was hoping to train as a vet. Sadly, he died in 1915 at Gallipoli.
His younger sister, Grace, lived to be 112 and spoke about the moment
that her father received the telegram of his death. He had to leave the room
as he had broken down in tears.
The family remained incredibly close; although Sarah and her husband, Joe, emigrated to the USA in 1929, they came back three years later. Sarah missed Liverpool and her family! Below are some photos of the family before and after their various marriages. I have 100s and they are all wonderful!
The gang's all here! Henry, his four daughters and son.
I don't know who the man on the left is but could it be
one of Henry's brothers?
The gang's all here - plus additions! Henry is seated left. The older man
on the right is his son in law's father. We have all four daughters plus various
children!
And here are more photos of this happy family. Henry had such tragedy in his life. Losing four children and his wife before he was 55. And yet his family seem to have included him in many holidays, day trips and family get togethers. He died at the age of 71 - quite an age for someone born in 1861 and who lived a very hard life at sea and at the docks. He lived to see all of his daughters married and his many grandchildren.
There are so many family members in these wonderful photos. I have so many more that my next blog will feature ones that show more of this "ordinary" and yet "extraordinary" family. One that had links to WW1, Liverpool trades, emigration. WW2, the Lusitania, a Military Medal and what was an obviously very close family life.
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