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Article compiled by Chris Bailey, Edward Bailey's great-grandson, 2008

Edward Bailey

1866-1931



Edward, the second of six children, was born to John and Ellen Bailey on the 25th June 1866 at Cranford St John and was the last in my direct family line of Cranford natives.

Bailey family tree

Edward Bailey

Born  -  25th June 1866 – at Cranford St John

Married -  29th August 1892 – at The Baptist Chapel, Burton Latimer

Died  -  29th March 1931 – at 65 Finedon Street, Burton Latimer

Buried – 2nd April 1931 – at Burton Latimer Cemetery

  • 1871 Census for Cranford St John records Edward aged 4 as a Scholar.
  • 1881 Census for Cranford St John records Edward aged 14 as an Ironstone Miner.
  • 1891 Census for Cranford St John records Edward aged 24 as an Ironstone Clerk.

Lucy Sturman

Born - December 1866 – at Burton Latimer

Died – 20th October 1952 – at St Mary’s Hospital, Kettering

Buried – at Burton Latimer Non Conformist Cemetery

  • 1871 Census for Burton Latimer records Lucy aged 4.
  • 1881 Census for Burton Latimer records Lucy aged 14 living at Bakehouse Lane and a Scholar.
  • 1891 Census for Burton Latimer records Lucy aged 25, single, and working as a General Servant at “The Mills”.  Her parents William and Charlotte are recorded as living in Duke Street.

Edward and Lucy

  • 1901 Census for Burton Latimer records Edward aged 34 living in Alexandra Street and married to Lucy aged 34 along with three children.  His occupation is recorded as an Ironstone Company Clerk. 

Edward was a native of Cranford St John however, after his marriage, he resided at Burton Latimer until his death on March 29th 1931.  He married Lucy on August 29th 1892 after Banns at Burton Latimer Baptist Chapel in the presence of William Sturman, the bride’s father, and Susannah Bailey the groom’s sister.

Between 1893 and 1911 Edward and Lucy produced 10 children.  Unfortunately two died in infancy and two were born blind.  Another spent the majority of his years in St Crispins,  a mental institution formerly known as the Northampton County Lunatic Asylum!  Edward’s fifth child, my Grandfather, Frank Edward Bailey (1902 – 1993) and his son, my Father, Roy Bailey (1926 - 2015) were both born at Burton Latimer.

Edward was a man of many activities in the town and earned the highest esteem and regard of those he came into contact with, both in his private life and the business and public duties of the town he was so proudly connected with.

The Cranford Ironstone Company

The 1881 census for Cranford records Edward, age 14, already at work as an Ironstone Miner and clearly, as shown by the 1891 census, he had learnt to read and write enabling him to progress to the position of company clerk.  In fact Edward worked for the Cranford Ironstone Company for over fifty years and, according to his obituary, he "earned the highest confidence and trust of his employers, and the greatest esteem and regard of the ironstone workers and others with whom his duties brought him into contact".

Ancient Order of Foresters  -  Rose of Northamptonshire

The Ancient Order of Foresters was formed in 1834, although its origins lie in a much older society called the Royal Foresters formed in the 18th century.  In 1834 the parent court became dictatorial and insisted that changes in the rules governing the Courts of the Royal Foresters should be in their hands.  The majority seceded and the Ancient Order of Foresters was formed.

Edward was a leading Forester in the town and was described as an invaluable brother and officer of the Court “Rose of Northamptonshire”.  The annual Foresters Directory confirms that he was the treasurer from 1905 until 1932.

Anecdotal evidence suggests that Edward was a generous man and if he had a ‘spare penny’ in his pocket it would be passed on to someone less fortunate.

Marriage of Kathleen Mary Bailey to Walter Miller in 1925 at Burton Latimer Baptist Chapel

The Marriage of Kathleen Bailey to Walter Miller.
Left/Right: Evelyn Bailey, Frank Edward Bailey,
Walter Miller,Kathleen Bailey, Edward Bailey, Lucy Bailey.
The boy standing is thought to be Maurice Smith.

The Burton Latimer Co-Operative Society Committee 1913
G.Linnell S.Mason  C.P.Granger  D.W.Sturman  C.A.Wilson
C.Stokes   Edward Bailey  G.Perkins

The black mantle clock presented to Edward when he retired as President of the Burton Latimer Co-Operative Society
The plaque affixed to the mantle clock
The mantle clock presented to Edward Bailey on his retirement
as President of the Burton Latimer Co-Operative Society now in the
care of his grandson Chris

Kettering Guardians 1919–1922

For three years he sat as a member of the Kettering Guardians.  A 1926 directory entry shows him as one of four Overseers of the Poor.  It’s ironic that 100 years earlier Edward’s Great Grandfather George was in receipt of Poor Money! 

 

Burton Latimer Baptist Church

Both Edward’s marriage and funeral services took place at the Baptist Church but his association with that place of worship was much deeper.  In addition to being a member of the Finance Committee for many years, he trained and led the choir for a period of 15 years.  A special service was held when he resigned the leadership.

All of his children were born at Burton Latimer, and given his strong ties to the Baptist Church, it is probable that they were all baptised there.  This includes his son Harold (1894-1895) who was given a private baptism on the 16th February 1895 and who died the next day.

At least three of Edward's children were married at Burton Latimer Baptist Chapel. The picture to the left shows his daughter Kathleen on her wedding day.                       

Burton Latimer Co -Operative

Perhaps Edward’s chief and greatest interest in the town was in the Co-operative movement.  He was elected to the first presidency of the Burton Latimer Co-operative Society in 1899 and remained in that position for a period of 22 years, being re-elected year after year unopposed.  He was still a member of the committee at his decease.                           

When Edward retired from the position in 1920 the Society suitably recognised the unswerving loyalty he had shown to the cause and his untiring efforts on its behalf.  He was presented with a black mantle clock. 

The clock has/is to be handed down from generation to generation and is presently in the custody of Roy Bailey.

* After researching the picture of the Burton Latimer Co-operative Society it transpires that I am related to two people in the picture.  My Great Grandfather’s son Edward married May Granger, who was the daughter of Charles Patrick Granger (also a Society member) and who is standing directly behind Edward. So two Great Grandfathers in one picture!  Charles’s brother, Albert, was also a resident of Burton Latimer and an account of village life dictated by him is recorded in the History and Development Section.       

Parish Council 1919–1927

Edward was elected as a Labour Co-operative member of the Parish Council in 1919, became Vice Chairman in 1921 and re-elected again in 1922 and honoured with the Chairmanship of the Council.  Burton Latimer secured Urban powers in 1923 and Edward went to the polls with the Liberal candidates and was re-elected as an Urban District Councillor.  He did not seek office at the 1927 election.

One of the proudest days of his life’s activities must surely be when he presided over the enormous assembly at the unveiling of the town’s War Memorial on the day following the sixth anniversary of the signing of the Armistice.  His Chairmanship of the Council that year gave him a distinguished position at this auspicious occasion.   It was one of the greatest assemblies the town had ever seen and a full account is recorded under War Memorial Dedication 1922

An Appreciation written by Mr. S Mason.

Mr. Grove has asked me to write a few lines in memory of the passing away of Mr. E. Bailey, the first president of the Burton Latimer Co-operative Society, in which capacity he faithfully served for over 20 years, with a devotion and courage that was admired by all who knew him best and worked with him in public affairs.

            As one who had the pleasure of working with Mr. Bailey for over thirty years in co-operative and town affairs.  I always found him a stalwart supporter of anything which he felt would be of benefit of those whom he was trying to serve.  But I think I can safely say that the co-operative cause had a very warm place in his heart at all times, and he certainly did his part towards making the Burton Latimer society the success it is to-day.  One can truly say of him that he did his best to leave the world a little better for those who were left behind, by his labours.

            Those of us who are left must try as he did to carry on the work.  Our committee and management will be the poorer for his absence, and none will miss his help and support at our meetings more than myself.  I feel that the chain that bound the old committee has at last been severed and only myself left on the committee as it was when I was first elected.

            Let us take one of his sayings as our guide.  “If a thing is worth doing, it is worth doing well.”  I shall personally miss him as a sincere friend and a true supporter of our cause.

S. Mason  (President)

As an amateur genealogist I have found it very rewarding to find and gather information on the first person in my direct family line who was not an agricultural labourer and could actually read and write.

Chris Bailey


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