Catalogue description PHOTOGRAPHS RELATED TO THE FAMILY OF CONSTANCE FRANCIS

Francis, Constance, b 1917, of Stretford, Manchester

• Sheffield, Yorkshire
• Stretford, Lancashire

Father's family history:-

The donor's father, Charles Mottram (aged 7) and his elder sister Emily were adopted by their father's brother Henry. They came to live with Henry and his wife in Bacup from their home in Sheffield where their immediate family fell victim at various times to T.B. Henry Mottram (born in 1843) worked as a "pupil-teacher", trained for his teacher's certificate at Westminster College, taught at schools in Northwich and Wolverhampton and, finally, became headmaster of the Mount Pleasant Wesleyan School in Bacup in 1872 where he remained until his retirement in 1908. He married Alice Parkinson from Bacup who also trained at Westminster College. Charles Mottram followed his uncle into the teaching profession. He was indentured at 14 as a pupil-teacher, and won a Queen's Scholarship and entrance to Westminster College in 1894. After leaving Westminster in 1896, 1896-1898 Warwick St. Wesleyan School Pimlico. 1901 Edge Lane Wesleyan School Stretford. Charles went as headmaster to a Wesleyan school in Pimlico, and two years later he came as head to the Wesleyan School in Bristol in 1898-1900 Langton St. Bristol. He remained in Stretford until he retired in 1938. Charles married twice. His first wife was Florence Pickles whom he married in 1903. They had one child, Winifred Alice, born in 1904. Florence died in 1910. In 1914 Charles married his second wife, Jessie Rogers, and they had one daughter Constance, the donor, born in 1917.

Mother's family history:-

Helen Williams, fifth child and third daughter of John and Betsy Sophia, of Chester, was baptised on 13 April 1818 and married William Guy Shearing, druggist, on 9 November 1843. They had two daughters Frances (baptised 14 November 1844) and Helen (baptised 25 June 1846). Helen married a man called Highett late in life. William Shearing died before 1848 and Helen married Theophilus Jones, also a druggist, on 15 November 1848. They had 4 children, George, Theophilus, Walter and Eliza Annie. George became a sailor, married a girl called Rebecca and they had 8 children. Theophilus became a chemist and died in Liverpool aged 27. Walter became a dispenser in Liverpool, married Annie Cooper and had one daughter Florrie. Eliza Annie became a teacher, married David Rogers and had a daughter Jessie, born 10 May 1885. She obtained her teachers certificate at Fishponds Training College, Bristol. She married Charles Mottram, headmaster of Victoria Park School, a widower with one daughter, Winifred. Charles married Jessie Rogers in July 1914, and their daughter Constance, the donor, was born on 4 April 1917. The Mottrams lived at 12 Sandy Lane, Stretford until 1924 when they moved to Llanbedr, North Wales. Charles stayed with friends during the week and went to Wales at weekends. However there was so much unexpected expense that the house had to be sold, and everyone returned to Stretford, living for some years at 49, Barton Road and then at 177 Urmston Lane.