|
Vera Doris
|
This directory contains the information we have about Kate and Anthony Clarke's 9th child Vera Doris.
For details of Kate's life, see her own directory.
For details of Kate’s very interesting first husband Anthony, including his families with other wives, see the AJCheeper/Clarke directory.
Vera's birth certificate shows her as being born on 27 November 1898, in while the family was at 27 Oliver Grove, South Norwood, Croydon. Her father was shown as Anthony Clarke, Commercial Traveller, and her mother as Kate Clarke formerly Davidge. The birth was only registered 6 weeks later, on 6 January 1899.
She appears in the 1901 Census entry (page 1, page 2) as Vera D., daur., 2, born Nunhead (which is nearby).
She appears in the 1911 census, as Vera, aged 13, born Nunhead, with her mother and younger brother, in the household of her brother-in-law and eldest sister Violet (who was 13 years older).
p1. Francis Edward BEDFORD, through much of the 1920s.
He was 30 years older than Vera, he in his 50s, she in her 20s.
In 2005, Gordon provided Anne Kratzmann with this photo
of Vera and Francis.
Francis was b. Sep qtr 1867, in Little Waltham, Essex (5km N of Chelmsford).
He was the 3rd of 6 children of John Bedford (1826-1871/81) and Caroline (1832/33->1881).
She appears in the 1881 Census as Widow and Retired Baker, so perhaps that was John's occupation.
In the 1871 Census, Francis was a 3yo, with the family still at Little Waltham.
In the 1881 Census, he was a 14yo Grocer, with his widowed mother and siblings in Little Waltham.
In the 1891 Census, he was a 23yo Grocer's Assistant, with the Copper brothers at 42 Marsham St Westminster.
In the 1901 Census, he was a 33yo single Grocer, and a Boarder at 45/4 George St Richmond.
In the 1911 Census, he was a 43yo single Stores Manager, by then Head at 44 and 45 George St, Richmond.
Vera and Francis had children 1 and 2 in 1923 and 1928,
details below.
Although unmarried, Francis succeeded in having their children's birth entries
recorded with the surname Bedford.
On the second child's birth certificate and marriage certificate, Francis is
shown as a (furniture manufacturer's) cost accountant.
Vera and Francis presumably separated some time after the birth of their second
child in late 1928, and 1934.
Francis d. Sep qtr 1936, aged 67 (really 68/69).
m2. Harold E.V. SHAW, June qtr 1935, in
Edmonton, when Vera was 36.
She states on that certificate that she was a spinster named Clarke (not a
widow named Bedford).
From my aunt Enid Clarke's address-book in the 1990s, I understand that the
family lived at 178 Park Rd, Crouch End N8.
Vera and Harold had children 3 and 4, Anthony in 1936, and Gloria V. in 1938. Details are below.
The following photos were provided by Gordon in 2005:
Harold d. when Gloria was about 12, so about 1950.
Vera was referred to as 'tough' by everyone who knew her. With the start that she had, it was a valuable trait.
Vera's death certificate states that she passed away on 7 January 1996, at the age of 97, at St Thereas's, 6/8 Queen Anne's Gardens, Bush Hill Park. She was shown as the widow of Harold Edward Victor Shaw, Barber, of the same address. The informant was her son, Oliver Kenneth Bedford, then 67, of 1b Uplands Park Road, Enfield.
Several photos are above.
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Her wedding? c.1960? | With Paul, 2017 | With Zayra, 2013 | With Pepper, 2017 |
In 2005, Gordon provided Anne with these photos:
Several further photos are listed above.
This a page within Roger Clarke's Family Web-Site
Contact: Roger Clarke and/or Anne Kratzmann
Created: 6 October 2005; Last Amended: 15 August 2008 + 1901 and 1911 Census 1 Sep 2009, Vivian's notes 9 Feb 2013, Anne's notes re Gloria 28 Feb 2013, Gordon's memorial and marriage, plus Julie Linsell and Edward Bedford on 1-5 Mar 2013, Paul and Dean Shaw added on 7 Jul 2013, info from Paul Nugent on 14 Aug 2015, Gloria's and Tony's deaths added 31 Jan 2019
