The Pianoforte Tuner's Daughter

 

Annie Lucas was born in Yatesbury, Wiltshire, in 1871. Her employer at the vicarage was Reginald Peacock, a widower with three children. Annie had worked as a servant for several years. In 1901 she worked in Chippenham for solicitor George White. Ten years earlier, she was in Clevedon, Somerset. There, she worked for Alfred Pickering, a pianoforte tuner. 

Annie's father, Thomas, was an agricultural labourer. With wife Jane Pictor, he had at least nine children. At least one son served in the First World War. George was killed in France in 1918.

I wasn't able to trace who sent Annie the card – I was hoping she would marry and the groom's name would fit the signature. Alas, she died a spinster in 1921, age 50.

Photos of Ireland

 

A few months before this postcard was sent in 1911, Margaret Knight lived with her widowed mother and her unmarried brother, Richard.

The siblings had at least one other brother and sister, and a brother was bricklayer. Their father, George, died in 1887. When he married Mary Pratt in 1849, his occupation is also given as bricklayer.

Richard, who was also at the address on the card in 1911, was a coachman. In 1881, he worked as a groom.

With more research I know I would be able to discover who sent the card. However, for the moment I think it's lovely to read about the sender taking photos. Now we never give it a thought, but in 1911 it was still something that many people could not practice.

Crossing a Barrister

Charles Lyttleton Chubb lived at the address in the message on this card with his family. Usefully the sender of the card has marked with a cross the actual house – which is still there today. Charles was a barrister. His father and father-in-law were also solicitors. Presumably Charles sent the card, although the handwriting isn't clear.

Charles was born in Malmesbury, Wiltshire in 1850. With his wife Blanche, he was the father of six children, including Noel who emigrated to Australia.