Descendants of Edmund SIMMONS and Clara PULLEN in Australia

The Family of Edmund John SIMMONS and Clara Alice PULLIN

[Home Page]       [Edmund John SIMMONS]       [Clara Alice PULLIN]       [their family]      
Please click on the symbols to link to the RootsWeb WorldConnect database

Edmund John SIMMONS

Edmund John SIMMONS was born in Birmingham England in ~1882.

His father John SIMMONS was born in ~1856 in Birmingham, Warwick England.
His mother Mary EDWARDS was born in ~1855 in Birmingham, Warwick England.
His parents married in 1876 in Aston, Birmingham England, and had the following children:

• Edith Kate (~18xx-)
• Edmund John (~1882-)
• Elsie M (~1890-)
• Eleanor M (~1892-)

The UK census, held every ten years, shows that:

• At the time of the 1881 census this family were living at “8 Richardsons Buildings”, Birmingham Warwickshire England, with their eldest daughter Edith Kate (1877-). The father John was working as an Iron Galvaniser, and mother Mary as a Brushmaker.
• At the time of the 1901 census, the family were living at "4 Mapplebeck Buildings" in Dugdale Street, Birmingham. Father John was working as a "Tube Drawer" (maker of steel tubes), and 19 yr old son Edmund was working as a "Brass Presser". There were two more children, Elsie M (~1890-) and Eleanor M (~1892-), and a grandson William John COATES (~1898-).

Clara Alice PULLIN

Clara Alice PULLIN was born in Barton Regis, Bristol Gloucester England on 30-May-1883.

Her father Harry PULLIN was born 12-Dec-1843 in Clifton, Bristol, Gloucester, England.
Her mother Emma ADLAM was born in ~1847 in Temple, Bristol, Gloucester, England.
Her parents married in Feb?-1868 in Keynsham, Gloucester, England. They had the following children, all born near Bristol:

• Emma Matilda (~1868-)
• John Gould (~1870-)
• Harry (~1876-)
• Joseph (~1879-)
• Clara Alice (1883-)
• James Edward George (~1885-)
• Albert T (Bertie) (~1888-)

The UK census, held every ten years, shows that:

• At the time of the 1881 census, this family were living at “Brandon Buildings”, Clifton Gloucester England; there were five children - Emma Matilda (1869-) John Gould (1871-) Harry (1876-) Joseph (1879-) and Clara; the father Harry was working as a Stoker at the Gas Works Factory, and mother Emma as a Tailoress.
• At the time of the 1891 census, the family were living at 112 Gt Francis Street, Aston, Birmingham Warwickshire England. The father Harry was working as a Foreman at the Gas Works, daughter Emma as a "Dyer's Presser", and son Harry as a "Printer's Boy". Two more children had been born; James Edward George (1886-) and Albert T [Bertie] (1888-)
• At the time of the 1901 census, the family were living at 101 Phillimore Road, Aston Birmingham. The father Harry was working as a Stoker at the Gas Works, sons John Gould also working as a Gas Stoker, Joseph as a Fitter's Labourer (possibly fitter=coal broker), Clara as a Dyer's Dress Finisher, James as a Compositor Printer (ie setting the type ready for printing). The eldest daughter Emma had married William DANCE, and was living at 101 Bennett Road Aston; her husband William was also born in Bristol, and was working as a Gas Stoker. The second son Harry had married Annie ??? and was living at 113 Phillimore Road Aston, with their 2yo son Harry (1899-); he was working as a Timekeeper at the Gas Works.

The family of Edmund John SIMMONS and Clara Alice PULLIN

In late 1909 when Edmund was aged 27 years and Clara 26 years, they married, in Aston, Birmingham England. Their first two children were born in Birmingham:

• Elsie Clara (b.15-Apr-1910)
• Edith Emma (b.1912?)

Elsie recalled that the family lived in a hotel (pub?) in Birmingham. There were pigeons in the attic, and there was a gasworks nearby with tarpits. When Elsie got a cold, she would be taken to the gasworks to inhale the smell from the tar. There was an eel pond at the back of the hotel, into which went the sullage (probably a fairly common practice). The hotel was called "The Blacksmiths(?) Arms". [may have been a very small hotel]. Elsie's parents ran the pub.

In approx 1914 the family migrated to Victoria Australia. They settled in Maidstone near Footscray. They established a poultry business, and held a stall at the Victoria Market, selling live and dressed chooks, turkeys and ducks. They would also deliver to restaurants & guest houses. Edmund (snr) also worked for the biscuit company, Swallow & Ariel.

Three more children were born :

• Maude Mary (b.1914)
• Edmund John (b.1917)
• Harry (b.1921)

In about 1926 at the age of 43, Edmund (snr) suffered serious burns during an accident at Swallow & Ariel. He recovered from the burns, but died soon after from a seemingly minor infection. Clara and the five children continued the poultry business, with the children working each night after school and on weekends.

(to be continued ...)

[Top of Page]     [Home Page]
This page was last updated on Saturday, 30-Jul-2011 03:02:08 MDT.