Frank's Life Story: Gent Family Photographs 1850-1930

There was a box in the hall of my grandparents' farm, Mons Hall. It was a cube about 60cm each way, of oak, and almost certainly made by one of the Misses Wagstaffe. It was used to store many old family photographs, but unfortunately the hall was very damp, and this reached the photographs and ruined many of them, before I was allowed to rescue them by my grandmother, and dry them out as best I could. This would perhaps have been in the 1980s. At a later date I sorted the photographs, and placed them in an album, and annotated many of the photographs to the best of my ability. I have today photographed the album and reproduced it here. Some photographs are poor copies of pictures in another important Gent family album that my grandmother gave to my cousin Helen Sanders of Appledore.

I have reproduced dorso inscriptions with the initials of the writer: FJG is myself, FTG is my great grandfather.

A copy of a silhouette of Mary Gent. I never saw a photograph of her.

On the right is the Methodist church, built in 1864, and opened on 11th May 1865, which later lost its spire. This is an original photograph.

This is an original photograph.

Astbury parish church and Astbury Marsh. This is an original photograph.

I visited this church in the 1960s with my grandfather and saw the family graves. Sadly when I returned a few years later the stones had been moved and laid flat, and the mounds levelled. I could not find our family tombstones. This is an original photograph.

The family of Dr Henry Wagstaffe lived at Peartree House Knutsford. The children (including several who died in infancy) bore the additional forename of Vaudrey.

Wagstaffe Eliza Vaudrey Altrincham 19 13
Births Dec 1850

Mary, 3rd d/o Henry & Hannah WAGSTAFFE,
of Pear Tree House, Knutsford, 1 Jan 1841- 9 Feb 1909
Sarah Vaudrey eldest daughter, 18 Feb 1838 - 30 Jan 1918
Eliza Vaudrey WAGSTAFFE, 1 Nov 1850 - 19 July 1930

Correspondence of the Shufflebotham family

This record is held by Cheshire Archives and Local Studies

Reference: D2363
Title: Correspondence of the Shufflebotham family
Description:

The letters are mainly those received by and kept by Henry Wagstaffe, surgeon, of Knutsford, who married Hannah daughter of Matthew and Mary Shufflebotham of Wincle
Date: 1822-1916
Shufflebotham family of Knutsford, Cheshire
Wagstaffe family of Wincle, Cheshire
Physical description: 42 Items
Subjects:
Wagstaffe, Henry, fl 1837-1852
Wagstaffe, Hannah, fl 1822-1865

Estate of Miss Wagstaffe, dec

This record is held by Cheshire Archives and Local Studies
Reference: DSC/2976/17
Title: Estate of Miss Wagstaffe, dec
Date: 1852-1917

A last photograph of Esther Gent, née Warburton, taken in Alexandra Park, Manchester, who died February 1900.

Mary Ann Williams, née Warburton, of Dorking. They lived at the Quaker meeting House in Dorking. She was the sister of Esther Warburton.

Joseph Williams.

Joseph Lea Warburton of Liverpool, brother of Esther.

Marriages Sep 1874WARBURTON Joseph Lea Altrincham 8a 281
Marriages Jun 1886WARBURTON Joseph Lea W. Derby 8b 689
Deaths Dec 1894 (>99%)Warburton Joseph Lea 53 W. Derby 8b 375

Son of Mary Ann Williams née Warburton, cousin of Frank Turner Gent.

Sarah Warburton was first cousin of her husband George Frederick Gent

A rather sad photograph of Fred, Sarah and presumably their daughter Edith.

I guess this is Sarah with her son John. This may be the Eastholm in NW11 as John spent his life in London. I believe she died in Barnet in 1935.

Edith was thought not to have married, because of her appearance being damaged by a failed operation, but I discovered that she did marry James Blears in 1920, lived in London, but died only seven years later aged 42.

This photograph sadly shows the worst effects of the damp damage.

James Francis Turner Gent

One of my great grandfather's homes in Manchester: 37 Mytton Street, August 1886.

Another of my great grandfather's homes in Manchester.

William Barrington

Marriage: 3 Mar 1861 St Bartholomew, Salford, Lancs.
James Barrington - 36, Cotton Spinner, Widower, Wharton St
Ann Burton - (X), 32, Spinster, Wharton St
Groom's Father: William Barrington, Cotton Spinner
Bride's Father: Luke Burton, do [Cotton Spinner]
Witness: Charles Barrington; Mary Barrington, (X)
Married by: James Moore
Register: Marriages 1846 - 1869, Page 103, Entry 206
Source: LDS Film 1786463

Marriages Jun 1851
Barlow David Manchester 20 529
Barrington Emma Manchester 20 529

Marriage: 27 Apr 1862 St Bartholomew, Salford, Lancs.
Ralph Shepherd - 28, Rope Maker, Widower, Bignall St. Ordsall Lane
Emma Barlow - (X), 28, Widow, Bignall St. Ordsal Lane
Groom's Father: Thomas Shepherd, Labourer
Bride's Father: William Barrington, Spinner
Witness: William Barrington; Harriet Diggles, (X)
Married by: Thos. Wade Curate
Register: Marriages 1846 - 1869, Page 124, Entry 247
Source: LDS Film 1786463

Marriage: 21 Sep 1862 St Bartholomew, Salford, Lancs.
William Barrington - 22, Bachelor, Bank St
Harriet Diggles - 19, Spinster, Hope St
Groom's Father: Wm. Barrington, Spinner
Bride's Father: Thos. Diggles, Weaver
Witness: John Hough; Elizth. Abbott, (X)
Married by Banns by: Robert L. Armstrong Off. Minister
Register: Marriages 1846 - 1869, Page 128, Entry 256
Source: LDS Film 1786463Baptism: 22 Mar 1863 Christ Church, Salford, Lancs.
Sarah Ann Barrington - [Child] of William Barrington & Harriet
Abode: 4 Canal St.
Occupation: Cotton Turner
Baptised by: W. C. Cave
Register: Baptisms 1854 - 1872, Page 110, Entry 879
Source: LDS Film 1786366

Deaths Dec 1870
Barrington Sarah Ann 7 Salford 8d 54

William Barrington

I believe this is Harriet Diggle (or Diggles). The lily of the valley framing is repeated in another photograph.

I believe they had a son called Roy who was born in 1915 and who died in 1978 in Providence, Rhode Island. I believe he also had a wife named Ellen, and a daughter.

I do not know the identities of the people in these next three photographs.

I think this may be my great grandmother Florence née Barrington with her youngest child Harry, but she seems very stout.

I do not know the identities of these five ladies.

This picture has the same lily of the valley frame as a previous photograph.

My great grandfather as a young man.

My grandfather, with his sister Florence Mabel, and Dora in the pram.

Add caption

The story of Charlie Peace is well known.

My grandfather with Lily McLoughlin.

Perhaps Mabel.

Perhaps Dora.

Also possibly of Dora.

Florence Gent née Barrington.

Add caption

Florence when she was dying.

I cannot identify these girls.

I think this is Dora.

Again I cannot identify, but born 1896 suggests Mabel, though this could be a name, as in the next photograph.

Elsie Wilkes was my grandfather's cousin, who married Ernest Gresty.

Randle Gent

I think this is Dora with her friend.

Olive and Joyce Shaw, Mabel's first children.

Mabel with Olive and Joyce.

Joyce Shaw.

Frank Turner Gent

My great grandfather is in second row from back, second from right,

My grandfather in the front in the middle. He was an agent for refuge Assurance.

My grandfather told me he committed suicide with a cutthroat razor. This may have been in 1905.

My great grandfather owned property in Portman St. I believe he lived in one for a while.

4th July 1949: on the left can be discerned my great grandfather on crutches following his accident when he was knocked down and run over by a tram. He owned houses in Bishop St: my grandfather lived in one with his wife and children, and his daughter Dora lived next door with her husband Dan McAvoy.

I guess this would be when my grandfather returned from the war. My grandmother Eva Neild was best friends with Mabel and Dora, and married their older brother.

I believe this is Butter Hill, Dorking. I have a drawing of this scene by W. H. Dinnage, who was married to Mary Williams, my great grandfather's cousin.

21 St Chad's Rd was my great grandfather's last home. His neighbour Mr Travis won a prize for his garden. My father wanted to buy the house after the war but felt that his uncle Harry deliberately thwarted this as he thought this would be too advantageous to my father.

Frank Turner Gent at the seaside towards the end of his life.

My grandfather at the front, with his pals when he signed up.

My grandfather always talked of a photograph of a child who died in a fire, and I wonder if this is it. Actually, it is ogf my father's cousin Barry Shaw, who was born in 1932.