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Samuel Booth Story
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The following text is taken from letters and meetings with Frank Booth Relatives.
My father died in 1988 aged 68. It was only after his death that I felt I did not know him very well and wished I had made more effort to get to know him better.
Now it was too late, all the questions I wanted to ask him about his earlier life had not been answered. I decided to try and do a bit of research and try and trace his side of the family.
Dad did not talk to me about his childhood and for whatever reason he had not made contact with any of his family since the end of the war.
My Father Francis Booth born 3 Sep 1919 at 19 Barkwell lane Mossley.
His father was Samuel Booth and mother Rachel Pacey formerly Kendrick.
This at the time was the only information I had and it came from my fathers birth certificate. My mother could not help me as she had not met any of her in-laws.
To help with my research I wrote a letter to the local newspaper in Manchester to see if they would publish my letter to help with locating my fathers lost family.
I was lucky I received three letters all giving information which helped in my research.
The first letter was from Trudy Whelan. An extract from her letter is shown below, 4th Aug 1992. From Trudy Whelan 7 Cheshire St. Mossley 4th Aug 1992:
'I was most interested to read your letter in 'In Touch' Saturday August 1st 1992. Unfortunately I cannot help in your search for your immediate relations but as I read your letter a curious incident from long ago was brought vividly to mind and confirmed my belief that somewhere in Manchester lived three cousins and their families, whom I had met this one occasion only.
So that you may fully understand the basis of this story I will start at the very beginning as I know it. My father John Booth was the youngest of four children born in Mossley (a small town about 10 miles N. E. of Manchester) To John Booth and his wife Jane nee Milhench. The eldest Samuel born 1884, Annie 1886, Frederick 1891, John 1895. mum Jane died in 1900, dad John senior in 1926
Samuel Married Eliza Schofield, in 1913 a daughter Alice was born to them, sadly Alice died in 1917. Samuel served in the army and on returning home on leave sometime during the war years he found that Eliza was having an affair with his younger brother Frederick. So Sam left them to it and went on his own way.
Meanwhile my father and mother started their family. John born 1920, Mary born 1922, and myself Trudy (full name Gertrude) 1924.
We lived in a small house with only one bedroom in Upper Mossley until April 1929 by which time the family had the addition of twin boys born 29 Aug 1928 so I am sure the event which I speak must have taken place before the end of Aug 1928.
My brother and sister and myself shared a double bed in one bedroom of the house. On awakening one morning I was filled with amazement and not a little puzzled, for there at the bottom of our bed fast asleep lay three little boys dressed in our spare sets of pyjamas.
I have no other memory of that day because I was too young at the time to understand what wad going on, but that picture has remained impressed on my mind. I learned much later from my mother that what had happened was that uncle Sam, of whom nothing had been heard for years had suddenly turned up on our doorstep with his three little boys and their mother completely destitute having been evicted or done a moonlight ( which was commonplace in those days because everybody was so poor.) from their house in Manchester.
My father who was always very sympathetic to his elder brother Sam when Fred stole Eliza, could not condone his actions in what he considered to be the same situation i.e. living over the brush with another mans wife, so Sam, his three little boys and their mother were given sanctuary for one night only, I never set eyes on my strange bed mates again as far as I know.
I have no recollection of what any of their faces were like or of their mother. I vaguely remember seeing uncle Sam at least once after that and he was alone, why I know I must have seen him again is because I know he was very similar to my dad, in fact just an older version, same in looks and height about 5' 3' or 4' whereas uncle Fred was much taller.
My dad was only 5 when his mother died he had a pretty rough life as a child, being sadly neglected by his father (who found consolation in drink after the death of his wife.) had to fend for himself much of the time, so he could hardly be blamed for his puritanical beliefs in the sanctity of marriage, besides which divorce was unheard of in those long ago days amongst the poorer classes and attitudes different altogether.'
The family Trudy was referring to was in fact my dads family it was his father Samuel, his mother Rachel the children were himself and his two brothers Sam and Johnny. I needed to find out more from Trudy who had been a Teacher and research volunteer with the local council. We met and slowly the pieces started to fit together. I now had a link from my father and his paternal line.
My other contact was from Elizabeth Dudley a relative of Rachel Pacey nee Kendrick
Elizabeth Dudley saw the article and said that she was a cousin of Rachel two daughters Lily and Lucy Pacey. The maternal side I was trying to find was in fact Rachel Pacey nee Kendrick.
She told me Rachel married Ernest Pacey and they had two children Lily born 1912 and Lucy born 1914. Rachel then met up with Samuel Booth. Elizabeth did not know my father but she knew his brothers Sam and Johnny and the youngest child Rachel Booth.
I don't know how my grand father met Rachel Pacey but from my research he had left his wife because of her affair with Fred, Rachel was living alone with her two children Lily and Lucy.
I can understand why my grandfather would start living with a married woman.
Rachel's husband Ernest Pacey was fighting in Europe in 1914 during WW1, Rachel had notification that her husband was missing in action and presumed dead.
It was some time later that Rachel was inform by the army that they had been notified by the German authorities that her husband Ernest had not been killed in action but now a prisoner of war in Germany
it was now 1917 she had met Samuel and they were now living together, Rachel informed her husband that she was now with Samuel, Ernest then stopped the POW war allowance that was paid to his wife.
Letter from Sheila Newbury nee Pacey
I received a letter from Sheila Newbury she was the daughter of Lucy Pacey she met my father just after WW2 about 1948.
I made arrangement to meet Dad relatives in Manchester, Dads half sister Lucy Pacey, Elizabeth Dudley, Keith and Maureen Goldstraw, Sheila and Don Newbury and family, we chatted about the past and I was able to put together and link my dad relatives to my Family.
Her mother was ill but said that she may be able to help with my research. This was great news, my father’s half sister could possibly give me all the information I was trying to research.
I wrote back to my three contacts and arranged a meeting with them in Manchester, I also sent a thank you to the Newspaper for publishing the article in their newspaper.
Unfortunately Lucy could not give me very much information. She was then 81 and not very well, however, she did confirm that the story about Samuel Booth meeting her mother, this is what she said.
Shortly after the war Samuel met her mother Rachel. Samuel came from Mossley he had some family problems and that his daughter died whilst he was away fighting in the war. This information Lucy gave me backed up the information I got from Trudy and Elizabeth. Sadly Lucy died soon after and I was not able to get any other information.
Research Success.
I can now confirm my dad's mother was Rachel Pacey formerly Kendrick, father Samuel Booth, the children were Francis (my dad), Sam (he married Hilda Turner unfortunately Sam died 1943 fighting against the Japanese).
Johnny (was a romantic he had a couple of marriages, I have met two of his daughters, Johnny died of a chest complaint).
Gurtie, James, Kenneth, Alice and Thomas (all died soon after birth)
Then there was Rachel (she was the last child she was only five when her mother died I have no idea what her father Samuel was doing at this time). Lily and Lucy did try and bring the children up but Sam, Johnny and Rachel were put into care.
My dad who was too old to go into care went off and joined the army.
Times were hard in those days and when Samuel worked he was employed in the Cotton mills, his hobby was clog dancing he would earn extra money travelling the local area around Mossley Clog dancing.
Rachel died at the age of 41, she had 11 Children in all. Two from her marriage to Ernest Pacey, and nine with Samuel Booth
All the link's helped with my research, however I will never find out why my father lost contact with his relatives. I have contacted most and they are very nice people my family have met some of them and plan to keep in contact.
I have since started to research other branches they are the Amor, Booth, D'Cunha, Milhench, Griffiths and Kendrick families
The life of Frank Booth
Samuel Booth, b. 08-Mar-1883 in Mossley Ashton, married Eliza Schofield in 1917, they had one child Alice. Samuel Booth who was serving in the army was informed his daughter Alice Booth had died.
Samuel came back for the funeral where he discovered his wife Eliza had an affair and was in love with his brother Fred. Samuel left Eliza and later met up with Rachel Pacey born 1893 whom he set up home and had his other children.
Samuel and Rachel first born child was Francis born 3 Sep 1919. Rachel was not married to Samuel Booth and when Rachel registered the birth the surname of Pacey was recorded on the birth certificate.
It would seem that Samuel was concerned his son did not have his surname and attended the register office with Rachel and re registered the birth to change the surname to Booth as shown on Francis Booth Birth Certificate.
Rachel died in 1934 at the age of 41, Samuel worked in the Cotton Mills as a Self Acting Minder, his hobby was clog dancing and used to spend his spare time Clog dancing in the clubs and pubs died in 1935 and is buried in Manchester Southern Cemetery
My dad's parents Sam and Rachel died when Frank was quite young and his half sister Lucy took over the management of the home despite being partially blind.
It was a big responsibility looking after her siblings and the youngest were put up for adoption, Rachel was the youngest and she was adopted, Johnny was put with foster parents, Young Sam and my dad Frank were too old and at the age of 13 and 14 were now working on a farm. .
When my dad was 18 years old he joined the army on the 10 Sep 1937. His enlistment was in the Border Regiment and on completion of his training he was posted to Palestine, to cope with the troubles in the country.
His main task was to carry out policing duties mainly at night as there was a curfew which was in place by the government.
The army commander was Orde Wingate who commanded the troops from 1936 to 1939, he was also the commander of the Burma Campaign from 1942 to 1944 and the troops known as the (Chindits).
At the start of WW2 dad was shipped out to India, His regiment had changed from the Border Regiment to The Manchester Regiment. It was feared that the Japanese would attack India via Burma so jungle training was introduced to the troops
Dad spent some time in the Jungle training in Ceylon where he contracted a fever and was shipped back to a hospital in Pune India.
Dad's brother Sam was conscripted into the Kings Regiment in 1942 a couple of months after marrying Hilda Turner, what he did not realize that the regiment was due to go to Burma as the Japanese were making fast progress fighting in the Burma jungle making their way to Northern India. With basic training completed Sam was off to join Wingate Chindits.
In Burma Sam was captured and made a Prisoner Of War (POW). I have no records of Sam's army record but I am sure he must have suffered he died as a POW in 1944.
Sam was buried in Rangoon and a memorial stone shows his name. (Rangoon Memorial, Myanmar faces 5). Sam would be entitled to the medals issued to soldiers including the Burma Star, however I am not sure if they have been claimed? Sam gave his life so that we can live our lives in safety.
My Aunt Tess lived in Kirkee and was married to a Warrant Officer Bill Watts, Tess was the Matriarch in the family who loved to have a big party. She organized a party where dad was invited and met up with Mavis Amor my mother.
They fell in love and married 16 Feb 1942, Heather was born 30 Dec 1943, Colin 15 Mar 1945, Darrell, 15 May 1946, Shirley 05 Aug 1947.
In 1947 the British troops in India were all making ready to be relocated back to England, The Indian Government was pushing the English to get their Independence following being under foreign rule for 150 years.
There were widespread demonstrations throughout the country, the British government didn't want their troops involved in the demonstrations and all the British troops had left India by the end of 1948.
It was 1947 when mum dad and four children arrived in Southampton we were found a hotel whilst dad travelled to Manchester to be discharged.
On dad's arrival back to Southampton the army authorities had the responsibility to house all the families in the towns of their choosing.
My dad decided that he did not want to go back to Manchester and choose what was promised to be a new city of Coventry following the bombings during WW2.
Our first home in Coventry was a place call Bagington Field hostel on the edge of the city center, it was a disused army blocks that had been converted for the returning forces, We were promised it would only be a short stay in the hostel but we were there for a couple of years waiting for the new homes to be built.
Early 1950 Mum had her fifth child my sister Sandra born 14 March 1950 very soon after and dad was offered a lovely 4 bedroom house in the new Tile Hill council estate.
Uncle George from Aldershot with Colin, Heather, Darrell, Shirley and Sandra
later photos when living at number 4 Wheate Croft Tile Hill North Coventry.
A Family meeting was arranged for Mum to Meet Dads relatives Maureen and Keith Goldstraw and sister Sheila Newbury for the first time in Huddersfield in 1998
