Women in BSC Information
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Lavinia Forbes was born on 4 August 1877 and baptised at 23 Sept 1877 St Marks, Woodhouse. She was one of twelve children born to her parents William, a brush-maker, and Mary Ann/Hannah Fell. (See their Marriage Certificate below). The family lived in Ganton Terrace and Doris Grove, Leeds.
She married Harry Astley in July 1906 – (see Marriage Certificate below). They lived at 33 Wilshire Place, Hunslet, no children can be found.
Lavinia is listed in the 1911 Census, with her husband of 4.5 years, both aged 32 years are shown as having no children, living at 21 Wiltshire Place, Hunslet, Leeds. Harry a Tube Drawer born in Birmingham and Lavinia a Machinist in the tailoring industry, born Leeds.
Lavinia Astley died as a result of a motor accident. She worked in Hunslet at the National Projectile Factory making ammunitions. Little about her death can be found in the newspapers, probably because this was during WW1.
Skyrack Courier – Friday 09 February 1917, Page 6, column 6 Reports:
STOURTON
"Mrs Lavinia ASTLEY (33) [sic], of Wilshire [sic] Place, Thwaite Gate, a munition worker, died in the Leeds Infirmary, from injuries received in January 23rd, through being knocked down by a motor van."
Lavinia was buried in Beckett Street Cemetery on the 7th February 1917, aged 66 years. Recorded as being of 33 Wiltshire Place, Hunslet, the Wife of Harry Astley, buried in unconsecrated grave 26223 with her parents.
In the 3rd quarter of 1920 Harry Astley remarried, to Florence E Davis in his birth town of Birmingham.
The following year the birth of their daughter Edith J. Astley is recorded in the 2nd quarter of 1921 in Hunslet.
In the 1921 Census Harry, aged 42 years and 3months, a Brass and Copper Tube Drawer, at the Yorkshire Copper Works Ltd. Stourton, and his wife Florence Eliza Astley, aged 31years and 3 months, born Birmingham are shown as living at 33 Wiltshire Place, Hunslet, together with their daughter Elsie Joan Astley, aged 2 months. This address being the same house listed on Lavinia burial register entry at the time of her demise.
A further child, Jack Astley, is listed in the 1st Quarter of 1923 in Hunslet, again the mother’s maiden name is Davis. Jack’s death is listed in the same year and quarter of his birth, still in the district of Hunslet. Entry 34056, 30th Mar 1923 of the General burial register of Hunslet Cemetery records the burial of Jack Astley, aged 12 hours, of 32 Wiltshire Place, Hunslet. This address being only a few doors away from number 21 (the matrimonial home of Lavina and Harry in 1911) and 33 the abode recorded on Lavinia’s burial record and the home of Harry, Florence and their daughter Edith in 1921.
Harry Astley (born 26 Mar 1879) is listed in the 1939 Register living at 71 Arthur Place, Birmingham, a Weigher of non-ferrous metals. At the same address is his wife Florence E Astley (b. 29 Mar 1890) a Polisher of Jewellery and Elsie J. Astley (later Roper) (born 14th April 1921) a solderer of Jewellery.
His death is registered on the Government Record Office database in the first quarter of 1946, at Birmingham aged 66 years. A corresponding burial entry can be found on the Birmingham City Council website (https://birminghamburialrecords.co.uk), in March 1946 at Lodge Hill Cemetery.
On the National Probate Calendar of 1946, Harry, of 11 Arthur-Place Birmingham is shown as dying on the 9th March 1949. Administration taking place in Birmingham 10th May, by his widow Florence Eliza Astley.