Part of the Earley family tree
Family background and early life
Amy Rebecca Peers was born on 28 October 1871 in Great Stanmore, Middlesex (now in the London Borough of Harrow). She was the fourth of five children born to Thomas Peers (1836-1874), a painter & decorator, and his wife Rebecca née Bignell (1840-1924). Amy was baptised at St. John the Evangelist Church, Great Stanmore on 1 December 1872.
Amy’s father died on 10 June 1874, when she was two years old. Her only brother, Thomas Emanuel Peers, was born two months after his father’s death, leaving Rebecca Peers as a widow aged 31, with five children aged nine or under.
At the 1881 census, 9-year old Amy was living with her mother and two siblings at the corner of Green Lane and High Street (now Uxbridge Road), Great Stanmore. Rebecca was with “no occupation”. Ten years later, they were at the same address (referred to as “Bright’s Square”), although the elder daughter, Alice had now married and left the family home. Rebecca gave her occupation as “Nurse sick”, while Amy had no occupation. Her brother, 17-year old Thomas, was working as a plumber’s labourer.
Children and the Workhouse
On 11 February 1896, 24-year old Amy (now a charwoman) was admitted to Hendon Union Workhouse (at Burnt Oak), nine months pregnant. Her baby was born two weeks later, on 25 February. His birth was registered under the name Clifford Joseph Carter; this was presumably after his father, although no father was named on the Register of Births.
Amy returned to the workhouse on 1 April 1896 with baby Clifford, but was discharged at her own request later the same day. Later that month, she obtained an affiliation order against Joseph Carter, a blacksmith’s assistant, who was ordered to pay her 2s 6d per week.
On 29 June 1899, Amy was again admitted to the workhouse in an advanced state of pregnancy. Her second son was born in the workhouse on 24 July; he was registered as William Walter Graham, but with no father named on the register. Amy’s usual residential address was recorded as Upper Square, Great Stanmore.
Amy and Walter returned to the workhouse on 22 March 1900, where they remained for four months until they were discharged on 23 July.
At the 1901 census, Amy was living with her mother at Great Stanmore (now Upper Square), both of whom are working as charwomen. Also living with them was her 5-year old son, now referred to as Alfred Peers. Her younger son, Walter, is not recorded.
Marriage and later life
On 28 August 1910, 38-year old Amy married 25-year old Arthur Williams, a chauffeur, originally from Brighton, at St John the Evangelist Church. Their ages were shown on the Register of Marriages as 32 and 29 respectively, reducing the apparent age difference by 10 years. The witnesses at the marriage included Amy’s niece, 18-year old Kate Alfreda Branch.
Amy and Arthur Williams remained together until the end of her life. At the 1911 census, they were living at 12 Peel Road, Wealdstone (Harrow), where Arthur was working as a coachman (jobmaster). In 1921, the couple were living at 9 Bamford Cottages, Harrow Weald, where Arthur was working as a labourer.
At the 1939 Register, the couple were living at 8 Green Lane, Harrow; 54-year old Arthur was now working as an office cleaner for the Metropolitan Police Motor Works.
Amy died on 9 July 1945 at the Shenley Mental Hospital in Elstree, aged 73; the cause of death was cardiovascular degeneration. At the time of death, her home address was 1 Penn Court, Colindale Avenue, Hendon.
Other family members
Her son, Alfred (originally Clifford) continued to live with his grandmother, Rebecca until her death in 1924. At the 1921 census, they were living at Top Square, Green Lane, Stanmore, where 25-year old Arthur was employed as a baker’s assistant at Parsons Bakery.
It has not been possible to trace his later life, nor that of Amy’s husband, Arthur Williams.