John Henry Footitt

Census Address: 39 North Street
Place of Birth: c Grantham
Date of Birth: 1897
Enlistment Address: --
Regiment: --
Service Numbers: --
Place of Death: -
Date Died: 1951
38 and 39 North Street, Stamford

Arthur Seth Footitt – 39 North St

Joseph Footitt (the father of John Henry & Arthur Seth) was born in Gosberton, Lincs in 1863: his wife Eliza in Stamford in 1860. They moved around a good deal living in Gelston, Hough-on-the-Hill, Grantham and Newark before 1911. In that time they had had 12 children although 2 had died. The family has not been located in 1901 but one of the children, Mary Elizabeth aged 17 years, was a servant at Cumberland Grocers, 4 High St, St Martins.

In 1911 Joseph was a labourer in the paint shop at Blackstone’s and living at 39 North St. There were 5 children living at home.

John Henry

John Henry was born in Grantham in 1897 and did not come to Stamford until at least 1901. In 1911 he was an errand boy for a jeweller. He joined up early in the war but by that time it seems his father had died and his address was probably where hi mother given as 10 Mount Street, Newark where his mother was living. He had been working for Gilston Earp Co. as a maltster’s labourer.

He joined the 8th Notts & Derby Regiment (Sherwood Foresters) in October 1914. He served in France from June 1915 to October 1918. He was awarded the British and Victory Medals and the 1914-15 Star.

His demobilisation address in Jan 1919 was RoseLea, Ryhall and he married Ethel Annie Sismore at about the same time. They had 4 children between 1919 and 1929 and must have stayed locally because they were all registered in the Stamford area. John Henry died in 1951.

Arthur Seth Footitt

He was born in Newark in 1900 and was still at school in 1911. He joined the 29th Durham Light Infantry probably towards the end of the war. He was awarded the British and Victory medals.

He married Lily Pywell of Ufford in 1928 and they had 2 daughters born locally. He died in the Peterborough area in 1964.