In the midst of Euro 2012, and watching Royal Ascot, join me in commemorating the birth of Jessie May Staden, born this day in 1897 - coincidentally, another Royal Diamond Jubilee year - the fourth of twelve children of Alfred Staden and his wife Catherine (nee Derby).
My second cousin twice removed, our common ancestor is my great-great-great grandfather John Thomas Staden, Jessie was born in Cambridge but moved with the family to Steeple Bumpstead in Essex before the 1901 census. Within a couple of years, though, they were back in the metropolis and next appear (in 1911) in Sedgwick Street.
Jessie married carpenter Reuben Rutter in Cambridge in 1928 and the couple moved to Reuben's stamping ground of Tottenham, where they lived in Seaford Road until his death in 1952. Jessie returned to Cambridge and died in Cambridge in 1961.
Random find to finish: whilst researching a friend's family the other day I came across my "favourite" occupation so far ...... in the 1851 census, beside a single woman (no names, no pack drill!) were the words "Pauper-Prostitute"!!
More soon.
