John Travers Cornwell "The Boy VC" b 1900 Leyton (West Ham RD)

[drm1947]

I am struggling to ascertain the mother of the above and his siblings. Various biographies, obits and newspaper articles mention Alice Carpenter and Lily King. Does anyone have, or have access to, any source documentation that would help.

With grateful thanks, David

[KGarrad]

Is this him?

1901 census: Class: RG13; Piece: 1619; Folio: 24; Page: 40
Clyde Cottage, Clyde Place, Leyton, Essex

Cornwell, Eli  Head  M  47  Tram Driver  b Bathsham Lede, Cambridgeshire
Cornwell, Lily  Wife  F  29  b Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire
Cornwell, Arthur F  Son  M  13  b Stratford, Essex
Cornwell, Alice M  Daughter  F  11  b Poplar
Cornwell, Ernest E  Son  M  3  b Stratford
Cornwell, John T  Son  M  1  b Leyton

[olleym]

The 1901 census shows mum as Lily


Mark

[olleym]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Cornwell

Mark

[KGarrad]

Does anyone have, or have access to, any source documentation that would help.

Yes! His birth certificate!

March qtr 1900
West Ham district     vol 4a, page 364

Cornwell, John Travers

[Jolee]

Eli Cornwell married Alice Carpenter born 1865 in 1884, the first two children Arthur 1888 and Alice appear with this couple on the 1891 census,  Lily (King) born 1871 by 1911 says they married in 1894 but I cant find a marriage for these two or a death for Alice, by 1901 all the children are given as Lily's, but if I am correct the relationship on census at this time referred to the father not the mother.
Maybe Alice died or they separated for some reason

[Flattybasher9]

http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/355594/CORNWELL,%20JOHN%20TRAVERS

Regards

Malky

Added :- http://www.walthamstowmemories.net/pdfs/Bill%20Bayliss%20-%20Jack%20Cornwell-VC.pdf

[drm1947]

Thanks for all the info, folks, but I was really wondering if anyone perhaps had certified copies of the relevant birth certificates of John and his siblings.

Thanks, David

[Redroger]

Sorry no! But as John Travers (Jack) Cornwell VC was the first cousin of my maternal grandfather (Samuel Ayres 1868-1935) I am perhaps in a closer position than most to confirm the information given, and to add a little family background. Eli; Jack's father was the second son, and third child of Samuel Cornwell and Elizabeth Harvey; the second child was my great grandmother Emily Cornwell (1850-1941) Up to Eli's birth all of the family on both sides had been born in the vicinity of Cambridge (usually Bottisham/Lode) and with a few exceptions were farm labourers; also with a few exceptions they were adherents of the Strict Baptist group which practised in the area.
Sometime before his marriage Eli left the agricultural scene which was in serious long lasting decline, and moved to London, where he met and married his first wife,Alice Carpenter in Christ Church West Ham on 21st September 1884. They appear to have had two children together Arthur Frederick 1887-1918, and Alice Maud b1889.
His first wife, Alice died in London in 1895.
Sometime prior to 1898 Eli remarried to Lily King,and they had 4 children together.Much of the detail of Jack's VC award to widely known and I shall not mention it here; suffice to say that he died in Grimsby District Hospital on 2nd June 1916 due to "intestinal perforation due to wound received in action" His father Eli died  25th october 1916 due to bronchitis and cardiac failure. Plus in my opinion no doubt a high level of depression after the traumatic events earlier in the year, compounded by Jack's second (state) funeral on 29th July 1916.
When I was a boy he was highly revered by my mother and her two older sisters, and in particular my grandmother who had been very close to Lily.
I hope this is helpful.