George Allen

1870-1939

George was born in Flagg, Derbyshire on 5th November 1870 ⁽¹⁾, the 4th child ⁽²⁾ of William and Mary, (but wasn't baptised till 3 years later at St John the Baptist's in Chelmorton ⁽³⁾). In April of the following year he appears in the census ⁽⁴⁾ as a 5 month old baby, along with his parents and three older brothers William, Samuel and Joseph, in the family home in Flagg.

His sister Martha Ann was born when he was about 5 ⁽⁵⁾ and the whole family can be seen together for the only time in the 1881 census ⁽⁶⁾, where George is shown as 10 year old schoolboy. Soon after this his next elder brother Joseph died ⁽⁷⁾ aged about 13.

By April 1891 he had moved out of his parents home, but was still in Flagg, living on Highfield House Farm, where both he and his elder brother Wiliam, were working for Joseph Needham ⁽⁸⁾.

At St John the Baptist's in Chelmorton, on 19th October 1898, he married Mary Hodgkinson ⁽⁹⁾, a Flagg girl who he would have known since childhood, although she had been working as a live-in domestic a few miles away seven years earlier ⁽¹⁰⁾, so its not clear if or when she moved back to Flagg prior to their wedding, The marriage certificate gives his occupation as labourer ⁽⁹⁾. This may well have been something of a "shotgun wedding" as their first child Fred was born just 5 months later, by which time the family had set up home at Back O'th' Hill in Flagg, and George is described as a farm labourer. ⁽¹¹⁾. They were still there in March 1901 (3 months after the birth of their second child, George), when the census shows that Mary's father Matt also lived at Back O'th' Hill Farm, ⁽¹²⁾ so it would seem likely that he had taken in his daughter's husband and family, and given George a job. George had also advanced from a farm labourer to a "W. Farmer" - it's not clear what the W stands for but it presumably differentiates him from his father-in-law, and indeed all the other farmers in the village, signifying that he was a "junior" farmer of some description. Their living arrangements are not clear as the census shows two different households, but both at the same address. A map ⁽¹³⁾ from around the time doesn't shed any light on whether there were two seperate "abodes" at the farm.

In 1902 Mary's uncle, Thomas Needham, bought Highfield House Farm in Flagg (where George had worked as a teenager) and rented it to George and Mary ⁽¹⁴⁾. George lived there for the rest of his life.

His mother died in 1904 ⁽¹⁹⁾, and then his father in 1913 ⁽²⁰⁾.

Over the next 20 years George and Mary had another 9 children. Strangely George and Mary are said not to have gone to any of their children's weddings ⁽¹⁴⁾ but the reason is unknown!

George was one of the "school managers" in Flagg from 1913 to 1921 ⁽¹⁵⁾

George died at Highfield House on 25th September 1939, aged 68, from a cerebral haemourhage ⁽¹⁶⁾ and was buried at Taddington three days later ⁽¹⁷⁾. Mary survived him by nearly 10 years ⁽¹⁸⁾. Years later, after Mary died and their estate was settled, he was seen to have been 'reasonably' well off in comparison with his parents with each of the eleven children's shares being equal to £479 7s 1d. Part of this was raised from the sale of Kidd Barn Farm and land at "Cro'shi" ^(14)(22)

• Fred was born in 1899 in Flagg. In June 1918 he joined the Signal Section of the 4th Leicester Reserves, but as the war ended soon afterwards, he only served until the following February, before returning to the family farm in Flagg. He joined the police in 1924, and was posted to South Normanton for training. The following year he married May Flint at Taddington Church, and not too long afterwards was posted to Repton. Whilst stationed there, he and May had three children, Joyce, Fred and Dorothy, before he died aged just 30 in 1929. May survived him by 50 years.
• George was born around the end of 1900 or the beginning of 1901 ⁽¹²⁾. He never married. He lived in Sheldon all his life, where died on 23rd April 1992.⁽¹⁴⁾
• Edith Mary was born on 1st July 1902. In about 1922 she married Ben Gregory. At some point in life they lived in Miller's Dale. They had (at least) 4 children, Annie, Mary, Harold and Doris.⁽¹⁴⁾
• Martha married Herbert Furness, and they lived on Riley Farm at Eyam. They later lived in Wheston, and had children Peter, Elsie, George and Stanley.⁽¹⁴⁾
• Ernest was born about 1906. He married May Palfreyman and they lived at Brushfield. They had children Geoff, George and Jean. Ernest died on 9th July 1986.⁽¹⁴⁾
• Ann was born about 1907. She married John Frost, the brother of her sister Doris' husband. When first married the two couples lived together on a farm in Sheldon. They had children Ethel, John, Phylis and Margery.⁽¹⁴⁾
• Matthew William was born on 23rd February 1909. He married Harriet Elizabeth Riley. At one time they lived on the only farm in Cressbrook. Later they moved to a farm in Brampton, Chesterfield. They had children George William, Elizabeth Maureen, Sheila, Brian, David and Ken. He died on 17th March 1988⁽¹⁴⁾
• John Thomas was born about 1912. His wife was called Elsie, and they lived at Brushfield. Their children were called Fred, Norman and Peter. He died on 5th March 1989.⁽¹⁴⁾
• Joseph was born in 1913. He married Elizabeth Bagshaw Wheeldon in 1940. They lived on a farm at Lea near Matlock and had children Ralph and Betty. He died on 24th August 2000. ⁽¹⁴⁾
• Doris May was born about 1917. She married Henry Frost, brother of her sister Ann's husband. When first married the two couples lived together in Sheldon. Her children were Kath, Joan, Eileen, Henry, Bernard, Elsie and David. She died on 26th September 1992.⁽¹⁴⁾
• Norman was born about 1920. He married later in life to a nurse called Audrey, and they settled on a farm in Holloway where they had 4 sons, Paul, Mark, Graham and Garth. He died in 1987.⁽¹⁴⁾

1. Birth Certificate from Registration District of Bakewell states:

   When and where born	Name	Sex	Name and surname of father	Name, surname and maiden surname of mother	Occupation of father	Signature, description and residence of informant	When registered
   Fifth November 1870, Flagg	George	Boy	William Allen	Mary Ann Allen, formerly Wood	Lead Miner	William Allen, Father, Flagg	First December 1870

2. See his parents' pages for details
3. Baptism entry in Parish register of St John the Baptist's, Chelmorton reads:

   When baptized	Child's Christian Name	Parents Christian Name	Parents Surname	Abode	Quality, Trade or Profession
   1873 Nov 16st	George son of	William & Mary Ann	Allen	Flagg	Labourer

4. Census of 2nd April 1871 reads:
   Place: Flagg
   

   William Allen	Head	Mar	37	Farmer of 10 acres	Derbyshire, Flagg
   Mary A Do	Wife	Mar	36	Farmer's wife	Do, Sterndale
   William Do	Son	.	9	Scholar	Do, Do
   Samuel Do	Son	.	7	Do	Do, Flagg
   Joseph Do	Son	.	3	Do	Do, Do
   George Do	Son	.	5 Mo	.	Do, Do

5. The 1881 census ⁽⁰⁶⁾ gives her age as 6, and the index of registrations of births shows that a Martha Ann Allen was registered in the fourth quarter of 1874 in Bakewell district. However, she wasn't baptied until 1878 in Chelmorton:
   

   When baptized	Child's Christian Name	Parent's Christian Name	Parent's Surname	Abode	Quality, Trade or Profession
   Dec 8	Martha	William & Mary Ann	Allen	Flagg	Labourer

6. Census of 3rd April 1881 reads: (Note that Martha Ann has been mis-entered as Mary Ann)
   Place: Flagg
   

   William Allen	Head	Mar	47	Lead Miner	Derbyshire, Flagg
   Mary Ann do	Wife	do	46	do do's wife	do, High Needham
   William do	Son	Unm	19	Lead Miners Son	do, Flagg
   Samuel do	do	do	16	do do do	do, do
   Joseph do	do	do	13	Scholar	do, do
   George do	do	do	10	Scholar	do, do
   Mary Ann do	Dau	.	6	do	do, do

7. Burial entry from parish register of St Michael's, Taddington reads:
   

   Name	Abode	When buried	Age
   Joseph Allen	Taddington	April 13th [1881]	13

8. Census of 5th April 1891 reads:
   Place: Highfield House, Flagg
   

   Joseph Needham	Head	M	55	Farmer	Flagg, Derbyshire
   - various other -	-	-	-	- people in -	- the household -
   William Allen	Serv	S	28	Farm Servant	Flagg, Derbyshire
   George do	Serv	S	18	do do	do, do

9. Marriage Certificate from Registration District of Bakewell states:

   1898 Marriage solemnized at Chelmorton in the parish of Bakewell in the County of Derby

   When married	Name and Surname	Age	Condition	Rank or Profession	Residence at the time of marriage	Father's name and Surname	Rank or Profession of father
   Oct 19 1898	George Allen	27	Bachelor	Labourer	Flagg	William Allen	Labourer
   	Mary Hodgkinson	21	Spinster	-	Flagg	Matthew Hodgkinson	Farmer

   Married in the Church of Chelmorton according to the Rites and Ceremonies of the Church of England after banns

   in the presence of Matthew Hodgkinson, Jane Hodgkinson

10. Census of 5th April 1891 reads:
    Place: Torr Farm, Middleton, Youlegreave
    

    William Needham	Head	M	39	Farmer	Derbyshire, Sterndale
    - various other -	-	-	-	- people in -	- the household -
    Mary Hodgkinson	Serv	S	14	General Servant (Domestic)	Derby, Hubberdale

11. Son Fred's Birth Certificate from Registration District of Bakewell states:

    When and where born	Name	Sex	Name and surname of father	Name, surname and maiden surname of mother	Occupation of father	Signature, description and residence of informant	When registered
    Fourteenth March 1899, Back-oth-Hill, Flagg, RD	Fred	Boy	George Allen	Mary Allen, formerly Hodgkinson	Farm Labourer	Mary Allen, Mother, Back-oth-Hill, Flagg	Third May 1899

12. Census of 31st March 1901 reads:
    Place: Back O'th Hill, Flagg
    

    Matt Hodgkinson	Head	Widr	70	Farmer	Employer, Own Acc	at home	Greensides
    Matt Hodgkinson	Son	S	31	Farmer's Son	Worker	.	Hubberdale, Flagg, Derby
    William Hodgkinson	Son	S	22	do do	Worker	.	do do do
    Thomas Hodgkinson	Son	S	20	do do	Worker	.	do do do
    Jane do	Daug	S	16	Farmer's Daughter	Worker	.	do do do
    .	.	.	Different	household at the same	address	.	.
    George Allen	Head	M	30	W. Farmer	Own Acc	.	Flagg, Derbyshire
    Mary do	Wife	M	24	.	.	.	do do
    Fred do	Son	S	2	.	.	.	do do
    George do	Son	S	3 months	.	.	.	do do

13. Ordnance Survey map of 1897
14. Information from living relatives.
15. Apparently in school log book, which is archived at DRO. I have not verified this.
16. Death Certificate from Registration District of Bakewell states:

    When and where died	Name	Sex	Age	Occupation	Cause of death	Signature, description and residence of informant	When registered
    Twenty-fifth September 1939, Highfield Farm, Flagg, Bakewell, RD	George Allen	Male	68 years	Farmer	(a) Cerebral haemourhage Certified by Walter J Bagot MB	E Allen, Son, Present at the death, Brushfield Farm, Taddington	Twenty-seventh September 1939

17. Burial entry from parish register of St Michael's, Taddington reads:
    

    Name	Abode	When buried	Age
    George Allen	Highfield Farm, Flagg	September 28th 1939	68 years

18. Wife Mary's Death Certificate from Registration District of Bakewell states:

    When and where died	Name	Sex	Age	Occupation	Cause of death	Signature, description and residence of informant	When registered
    Twenty-first March 1949, Back o'th'Hill Farm, Flagg, Bakewell, RD	Mary ALLEN	Female	72 years	of Moor View Flagg, RD. Widow of George Allen, a farmer	I (a) Myoconditis (b) Influenza Certified by Hugh S Watson MB	E M Gregory, Daughter, Present at the death, Back o'th'Hill Farm, Flagg	Twenty third March 1949

19. Death Certificate from Registration District of Bakewell states:

    When and where died	Name	Sex	Age	Occupation	Cause of death	Signature, description and residence of informant	When registered
    Twenty Seventh November 1904, Flagg, RD	Mary Ann Allen	Female	70 years	Wife of William Allen, a General Labourer	Broncho Pneumonia (5 Days), Fatty Heart (2 years 6 months), Certified by [Astable?] Wood MRCS	X The mark of William Henry Allen, Son. Present at the Death. Flagg	Twenty ninth November 1904

20. Death Certificate from Registration District of Bakewell states:

    When and where died	Name	Sex	Age	Occupation	Cause of death	Signature, description and residence of informant	When registered
    Found dead Sixteenth March 1913 Slipperlow Taddington RD	William Allen	Male	75 years	Labourer	Exposure following injuries received in accidental fall	Certificate received from Sydney Taylor Coroner for the Hundred of High Peak re Inquest held Seventeenth March 1913	Eighteenth March 1913

21. Census of 2rd April 1911 reads:
    

    George Allen

    Head

    40

    Married

    Farmer

    own account

    at Home

    Derbyshire, Flagg

    Mary Allen

    Head

    34

    Married

    12

    7

    7

    none

    Derbyshire, Flagg

    Fred Allen

    Son

    12

    School

    Derbyshire, Flagg

    George Allen

    Son

    10

    "

    Derbyshire, Flagg

    Edith Mary Allen

    Daughter

    8

    Derbyshire, Flagg

    Martha Anne Allen

    Daughter

    7

    Derbyshire, Flagg

    Ernest Allen

    Son

    5

    Derbyshire, Flagg

    Annie Ellen Allen

    Daughter

    3

    Derbyshire, Flagg

    Matthew William Allen

    Son

    2

    Derbyshire, Flagg

    Ann Ellen Dicken

    Lodger

    63

    Single

    Dressmaker

    own a/c

    at Home

    Derbyshire, Flagg

    Number of Rooms: 8
    Postal Address: Highfield Farm, Flagg, Buxton
22. National Probate Calendar entry reads:
    Allen, George of Highfield Farm Flagg near Buxton died 25 September 1939. Administration London 1 December to Mary Allen widow and George Allen farmer. Effects £2273 13s 8d.

Find details of his children's baptisms - none were baptised in Chelmorton. (or Monyash or Taddington)
Confirm details of school log books at DRO