Harry Colley

Harry Colley c1907

My Great Grandfather, Harry Colley was born in December 1877, at 32 Harworth Street, Walkley, Sheffield. He was the sixth of ten children born to William and Eliza Colley (nee Ratcliff of Birmingham, Warwickshire). And, like his father before him, he was an Edge Tool Grinder.

In the early months of 1887, Harry's mother died. Harry was just nine years old.

His family then spent the next few years living in the home of his sister, Louisa and her husband Walter Ibberson at 115 Fulton Road, Walkley. In 1891 there was eleven of them under the same roof.

I assume that when he was old enough, he moved out because by 1899 he was living in 4ct 3h Eldon Street, Sheffield.

On Christmas Day 1899, 22 year old Harry married neighbour, Edith Annie Armitage (b. Sept 20, 1877), the youngest of four daughters born to John and Jane Armitage of Sheffield.

Edith Annie Colley circa 1930

They had seven children, Harry (b. Nov 1900-Sept 1901), Sydney (b. Dec 1901), Percy (b. Jan 1904), Harry (b. Oct 1906), Gertrude (b. Jun qtr 1912) and two others who died young. (Just found that out!)

Harry with children circa 1907

In 1901, Harry, Edith, and Harry jnr were living at 53 Ball Street, Sheffield with Harry's’ elder brother John, staying with them. Eternal bachelor, John, may only have been visiting because he seems to have spent all his life living with his sister Louisa.

1901 was a mixed year for the family, son Harry died in September but  December saw the birth of  Sydney (my Grandfather) and January 1904 heralded the birth of another son, Percy.

October 1906 saw the birth of yet another son, who once again, was  called Harry.

According to the 1911 census Edith had given birth to two other children that had died. No dates, no names and no ideas, unfortunately

Home, in 1911, was 170 Marcus Street, Pitsmoor.

A year later, in the Jun qtr of 1912, daughter Gertrude arrived.

By 1914 and the outbreak of war, they seem to have gone full circle and moved back to Eldon Street, to number 52. This remained their home address until at least the 1930's, although not for Harry.

 April 1915 saw the departure of Harry, firstly to France, then Belgium, never to return.