After over 7 years living in the UK I finally made the pilgrimage to visit my grandfather's childhood home up in Hull, Yorkshire. Born in 1903 my grandfather was the second youngest of 9 children. His father died tragically when my grandfather was only 9 years old. My great-grandmother moved the family to the USA shortly after his death.
It was a bit of a scavenger hunt trying to locate some of the specifics of his parents, my great-grandparents, but we managed to visit my grandfather's home, his primary school, the church where my great-grandparents were married, the place where my great-grandfather would have worked and the site where his grave was.
Standing in front of my grandfather's childhood home in central Hull was a surprisingly emotional experience. I have come full circle.
129 Welbeck Street, Hull, Yorkshire, England, the home of John and Annie Crofts and their 9 children!
Holding a copy of the 1911 census filled out by my great-grandmother, signed and dated with their address, 129 Welbeck Street
The house numbers are not original, and were replaced in the late 80's when my aunt visited with my grandpa and grandma. They asked the owners at the time if they could take the house numbers (and replace them with new ones). So my aunt in California has the original house numbers. Such a treasure!
The first visit to this place of the youngest generation of Hyrum Crofts descendants. I actually think this house has probably seen a lot of visitors over the years, with 9 children there are a lot of John William & Annie Crofts descendants out there that share this history.
129 Welbeck Street, Hull, Yorkshire, England--house just to the left of the silver car, with the schoolhouse at the end of the road. Not a bad school commute!
With the kids in front of what would have been my grandpa's primary school, holding a book that very likely came from that school.
Trevon holding a book that in all likelihood came from this school. It is stamped "City of Hull Education Committee" with my grandfather's name handwritten in my great-grandmother's script inside. It's a Shakespeare for kids book, and now Trevon is reading it.
Grandpa's primary school
This is the "road" where my great-grandfather, John William Crofts, would have worked, Neptune Street. He was a signalman at the railroad that had once run through this section of town leading to the docks.
I was really keen to locate my great-grandfather's grave. His life and death set into motion a new path for my great-grandmother and their children. I wonder how things would have been different if his life hadn't been cut short. I visited the Hull History Centre to do some research, and records there indicate that he was buried at the Hessle Road Cemetery. That cemetery suffered decay and ruin over the years and was cleared where this open recreation field now stands.
This is St. James's Church, and where I believe my great-grandparents were married.
Short article published in the Hull Daily Mail on 19 October 1912 with details on the death of my great-grandfather. He was clearly a stubborn and hardworking man. I know his stubbornness has carried through the gene pool!
Death notice of my great-grandfather in the Hull Daily Mail
Having seen all we wanted to see in Hull we looked at what else we were close to to see that afternoon. We headed over to the coast and visited the beautiful Bempton Cliffs
After the cliffside visit we drove west to York, had a nice evening wander around old York, had dinner and then continued onto our hotel nearer to the Peak District.
The next day we drove into the gorgeous Peak District National Park. It was a very windy day, but what a great day we had exploring all over this park.
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