Family of Victor Ernest PETTIT and Selina May BARKER

Husband:	Victor Ernest PETTIT (1892-1962)
Wife:	Selina May BARKER (1894-1965)
Children:	May BARKER (1923-2001)
Marriage	5 Jun 1922	St. Nicholas Church, Deptford

Husband: Victor Ernest PETTIT

Wife: Selina May BARKER

Child 1: May BARKER

Note on Husband: Victor Ernest PETTIT - shared note

1. He was born at 65, Queen Elizabeth Street, Horselydown, Bermondsey in 1892. A transcript of his birth certificate can be seen at www.familychest.co.uk/History/Data/BthVP_01.htm

 

2. In the 1901 census he is still living with his father's family. See transcript at www.familychest.co.uk/History/Data/Cen01_007.htm

 

3. In the 1911 census he is living with his mother (a widow) and 8 more of her children. See census transcript at www.familychest.co.uk/History/Data/Cen11_009.htm

 

4. In the 1921 census he is living at 34 Fair Street, Bermondsey with his mother Annie Pettit and 3 other siblings. He is a General Labourer and gives his employer as Butlers Wharf Ltd. [ Curious ? I thought that all dock labourers were employed day-to-day on a casual basis. ] A transcript of the census record can be seen at www.familychest.co.uk/History/Data/Cen21_002.htm

 

5. I have a copy of his marriage certificate (1922) which gives his profession as Casual Labourer. His address is still 34 Fair Street, Horselydown, Deptford SE1. A transcript of the certificate can be seen at www.familychest.co.uk/History/Data/MarPB_01.htm

 

6. Worked in the early part of his married life as a Crane driver at Butler's Wharf, Bermondsey. At the time of the birth of his daughter May he lived at 7 Kerry Road, Deptford North. His profession was given as Wharf Labourer.

 

6. I only knew him in later life when he suffered from severe depression, whereas Uncle Frank remembers him in younger days as a bit of a practical joker. However, we both have the same impression that his wife Selina May was very much in charge in the family. Frank even hinted that he couldn't quite see how a determined lady like May married a drip like Victor. My impression of the affair is much the same - but remember that there was a bit of a shortage of men around after the 1st World War.

 

7. Died at Queen Mary's Hospital, Sidcup, Kent on November 30, 1962. At this time he lived at 41 Willersley Avenue, Sidcup, Kent.

Note on Wife: Selina May BARKER - shared note

1. She was born at 12 Pepler Road, Trafalgar Road, Camberwell in 1894 A transcription of her birth certificate can be seen at www.familychest.co.uk/History/Data/BthSB_01.htm

 

2. At the time of the 1901 census she was still living with her parents. See transcript at www.familychest.co.uk/History/Data/Cen01_005.htm

 

3. The 1911 census also shows her living with her parents. See www.familychest.co.uk/History/Data/Cen11_004.htm

 

4. In the 1921 census she (and all her sisters) are still living with their parents at 289 Evelyn Street, Deptford. Her occupation is given as "Insurance Agent". A transcript of the census record can be seen at www.familychest.co.uk/History/Data/Cen21_003.htm

 

5. I have a copy of her marriage certificate (1922), at which time she lived with her parents at 289 Evelyn Street, Deptford. A transcription of the certificate can be seen at www.familychest.co.uk/History/Data/MarPB_01.htm

 

6. At some point (presumably early 1930's) she moved to 41, Norfolk Crescent, Sidcup. The story is that she was able to surrender an insurance policy which raised £10. With this she had £5 for a deposit on the house, and £5 for removal expenses, which was sufficient to make the move. (When I say that Grandma Pettit did this or that, it gives away my impression that is was Grandma who ran this household. Perhaps I am being unfair to Granddad Pettit, who suffered from severe depression in his later years; perhaps he was different when younger.]

 

7. At the time of her death in 1965 she lived with her daughter May and family at 41, Willersley Avenue, Sidcup, Kent. A transcription of her death certificate can be seen at www.familychest.co.uk/History/Data/DthSP_01.htm

 

8. She was always known as May. Even in the 1901 census the Selina has already been dropped and she is down as May only.