Arthur Wade – 13 Eight Acres

In 1911, Arthur Wade was a 16 year old baker’s assistant living at 13 Eight Acres with his father John Thomas Wade (a horsekeeper) and his stepmother, Eliza. Perhaps he worked for the baker on the street.

His mother was Mary (nee Brittain) of King’s Cliffe in Northamptonshire who had died in 1905 after 23 years of marriage. Mary had an illegitimate daughter before she married and 11 or 12 children with John Thomas Wade – Arthur was one of the youngest and had two younger siblings when their mother died.

Eliza Firkins (nee Baker) was widowed in 1907 and married Arthur’s father in 1908 which was probably when they moved into 13 Eight Acres.

Arthur’s father was born in Stamford; Arthur and some of his siblings in King’s Cliffe but the family seem to have moved around a good deal so he did not grow up in the town. There are many Wades in Stamford and in the surrounding villages but it has not been possible to link this family directly with any of the others nor to find any service record for Arthur.