Hello
One of my Grandfather's Brothers, or should I say Wife bore him 13 children! I recall Fred with a sparkle in his eye and accounts of his Railway career (mostly forgotten), when he came and stayed with his Sister, my Great Aunt!
He was a 'Top Link' steam locomotive driver and worked two shifts for the London Midland Scottish Railway.
A Signalling failure allowed two locomotives to collide head on, his Fireman and the Driver and Fireman of the other locomotive were killed. Fred was unconscious for 6 weeks and after hospital went away to convalesce, then had to work his way back up to a 'Top Link' driver.
He was a proud friendly man and one of Drivers nominated to drive the Royal Train, although the Train was unlikely to ever use the routes he was usually qualified for.
He told me that the LMS employed a chap that went round with a pole and tapped the bedroom windows
of their employees starting early, to wake them up!
My Great Aunt who died at 95 told me their children were well turned out and shoes always polished, apparently his first job home from work - the SHOES of the younger children and check the others!
Mark
Added: Only seen reference to 'issue' in Wills and in John or Bernard Burke's Genealogical works.
"Issue" means a person's lineal genetic descendants
