Page 73 - ‘A Blaker Family History’ The family history of Joseph Blaker (1916-2007; ‘Joe’)

© The Blaker Society
© The Blaker Society

• William Henry: b. 27 June 1915, Penarth, Glamorgan, Wales
• Alfred Edwin: b. 5 October 1918, Penarth, Glamorgan,
Wales

It is evident that ‘Lily’ was pregnant at the time of her marriage, as her
first son, Thomas Charles was born just 4.5 months after her marriage to
Thomas Charles Hayes.

‘Lily’ and Thomas initially lived at 14 Cunliffe Street, Streatham, where
their first two children were born. Thomas was working as a ‘General
Labourer’. The house in Cunliffe Street has since been demolished and a
block of flats now sits on the site.

Contemporary View of 14 Cunliffe Street, Streatham

The family then moved to Penarth, Cardiff, Wales, where the rest of their
family were born.

In the 1911 Census, ‘Lily’ and Thomas were recorded living with their first
3 children, in 2 rooms, at 39 Howell Street, Cogan, Penarth. Thomas was
working as a ‘Dock Labourer’ in Penarth Docks, close to Cardiff.

39 Howell Street, Penarth, Wales: Contemporary View

Based on information on their childrens’ birth certificates, the family then
moved to 31 Harriett Street, Penarth, and then to 32 Hewell Street,
Penarth. Within these records, Thomas is described as a ‘Dock Labourer’
or a ‘Pontoon Labourer’, or as a ‘General Labourer’.

31 Harriett Street, Penarth, Wales: Contemporary View

With the exception of the birth certificate for Edward George, ‘Lily’ was
recorded in the other documents as ‘Lillian Ethel’. In the case of Edward’s
birth certificate, ‘Lily’ was recorded as ‘Lavinia Hetty’. It is not known why
‘Lily’ briefly reverted to her original Christian name.

No definitive records have emerged for either ‘Lily’ or Thomas after 1918,
when their youngest son, Alfred Edwin, was born. Lily Caswell recalls that
she and her first husband, ‘Alf’ Foster visited her aunt near Cardiff –
putting this at some time after 1942 – when Lily Blaker and ‘Alf’ Foster
were married. Lily Caswell also recalls her aunt visiting her parents, ‘Alf’
and Mary Blaker in Wolfington Road, West Norwood. Lily Caswell recalls
that her aunt ‘Lily’ survived her husband, and that she then worked as a
‘Housekeeper and Companion’ to an elderly gentleman somewhere in
Wales.

It has not been possible to trace ‘Lily’ Hayes via any of her children or
their relatives – unfortunately, ‘Hayes’ is a very common surname in