The Family of Thomas and Florence Dawn - Sheffield

The 1901 Census has this entry for the family of Thomas and Florence Dawn. They were living at 23 Coningsby Road in the Firth Park district of Sheffield. Thomas and Florence have 2 children living with them, an 8 year old daughter Norah and a 1 year old son Sidney  

But the 1901 Census does not tell the full story. The 1911 Census gives a far fuller picture. By that time Thomas and Florence had been married for 19 years during which time they had a total of 15 children. Of the 15 a total of 8 had died and only 7 were still alive.

I do not know how the 8 children who died met their premature ends apart from one, OLIVE DAWN who was three years old in 1900. This is a report of the inquest that took place to enquire into her death 

At the Children’s Hospital, Western Bank, yesterday, the City Coroner held an inquest respecting the death of Olive Dawn, aged three years, daughter of Thomas Dawn, engine tenter, of 23, Coningsby Road, Pitsmoor, who died in the institution on Sunday from burns. About two o’clock in the afternoon of Friday, the mother of the child left the house to go across the yard, leaving deceased and a baby in the house alone. A few minutes later she heard deceased bang the door, and afterwards heard her scream. On going back to the house the mother found deceased on the hearth with her clothing on fire. With the assistance of a neighbour the mother put the flames out, and she was conveyed to the Children’s Hospital half an hour later, where she died on Sunday morning. A verdict of “Accidental Death” was returned.

But Olive's death was one of many. The following is report dated 8th June 1901 and it gives a graphic illustration of the dangers that faced young children in the Victorian home. But this "appalling loss of juvenile life" had persisted for many years and the authorities did very little to ensure the safety of young children.  

And due to the excellent work of the Sheffield Indexers we have been able to identify another 5 children that Thomas and Florence prior to 1911 - 4 were prior to the 1901 census including Olive and 2 were after 1901. Apart from Olive all the other 5 died in infancy that is under 1 year of age. They are all buried together in Sheffield's Burngreave Cemetery. 

DAWN, Thomas Alfred (Son of T Dawn, age 2 months). Died at 23 Conningsby Road; Buried on January 4, 1894 in General ground; Grave Number 42, Section L of Burngreave Cemetery, Sheffield. Parent or Next of Kin if Available: . Remarks: 13546.

DAWN, William Henry (son of T. Dawn, age 9 months). Died at 23 Coningsby Road; Buried on March 24, 1896 in General ground; Grave Number 42, Section L of Burngreave Cemetery, Sheffield. Parent or Next of Kin if Available: . Remarks: 13546.

DAWN, Olive (Daughter of T Dawn, age 3). Died at 23 Conningsby Road; Buried on February 8, 1900 in General ground; Grave Number 42, Section L of Burngreave Cemetery, Sheffield. Parent or Next of Kin if Available: . Remarks: 13546 Officiating Minister, E R Eslick.

DAWN, Herbert (son of T Dawn, age 19 days). Died at 23 Coningsby Road; Buried on January 9, 1901 in General ground; Grave Number 42, Section L of Burngreave Cemetery, Sheffield. Parent or Next of Kin if Available: . Remarks: Officiating Minister, C G Holt.

DAWN, Howard (Son of S Dawn, age 8 months). Died at 27 Coningsby Road; Buried on September 26, 1904 in General ground; Grave Number 42, Section L of Burngreave Cemetery, Sheffield. Parent or Next of Kin if Available: . Remarks: Officiating Minister, C G Holt.

DAWN, Leonard (son of T Dawn, age 8 months). Died at 7 Coningsby Rd; Buried on October 25, 1905 in General ground; Grave Number 42, Section L of Burngreave Cemetery, Sheffield. Parent or Next of Kin if Available: . Remarks: ~ Officiating Minister, C G Holt.

The following three people are also buried in the grave but they were interred in the 1870's - I am unsure as to whether or not they are related

HOLBERRY, George Albert (Son of Thomas Holberrry, age 6 mths). Died at 3 Penistone Road; Buried on August 7, 1871 in General ground; Grave Number 42, Section L of Burngreave Cemetery, Sheffield. Parent or Next of Kin if Available: . Remarks: Reopened 13546. 

HOLBERY, Harriet (dau of Thos. Holbery, age 3 months). Died at Penistone Road; Buried on August 4, 1875 in General ground; Grave Number 42, Section L of Burngreave Cemetery, Sheffield. Parent or Next of Kin if Available: . Remarks: reopened 13546.

STENNETT, Joseph (Labourer, age 48). Died at 3 Penistone Road; Buried on November 17, 1870 in General ground; Grave Number 42, Section L of Burngreave Cemetery, Sheffield. Parent or Next of Kin if Available: . Remarks: .

1901 Census

NAME: Thomas Dawn
AGE: 28 ESTIMATED BIRTH YEAR: 1873
RELATION TO HEAD: Head GENDER: Male
SPOUSE: Florence Dawn
BIRTH PLACE: Sheffield, Yorkshire, England 
CIVIL PARISH: Brightside Bierlow ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH: Pitsmoor Christchurch COUNTY/ISLAND: Yorkshire COUNTRY: England
REGISTRATION DISTRICT: Sheffield SUB-REGISTRATION DISTRICT: West Brightside ED, INSTITUTION, OR VESSEL: 28 PIECE: 4376 FOLIO: 116 PAGE NUMBER: 16 HOUSEHOLD SCHEDULE NUMBER: 99 
HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS: 
Name Age
Thomas Dawn 28
Florence Dawn 28
Norah Dawn 8
Sidney Dawn 1

1911 Census

NAME: Thomas Dawn 

AGE IN 1911: 58 (transcription error Thomas was 38 and not 58)
ESTIMATED BIRTH YEAR: 1853
RELATION TO HEAD: Head GENDER: Male
BIRTH PLACE: Sheffield, Yorkshire, England
CIVIL PARISH: Sheffield COUNTY/ISLAND: Yorkshire-West Riding COUNTRY: England
STREET ADDRESS: 27 Coningsby Rd Pitsmoor Sheffield
MARITAL STATUS: Married
OCCUPATION: Assistant In Forge
REGISTRATION DISTRICT: Sheffield REGISTRATION DISTRICT NUMBER: 510 SUB-REGISTRATION DISTRICT: West Brightside ED, INSTITUTION, OR VESSEL: 29 PIECE: 27952
HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS: 
Name Age
Thomas Dawn 58 (38)
Florence Dawn 39
Nora Dawn 18
Jessie Dawn 11
Sidney Dawn 10
Harry Dawn 9
Albert Dawn 3
Tom Dawn 1
Nellie Dawn 9/12 months

Thomas and Florence are buried together in Sheffield's Burgreave Cemetery along with some of their children and one grandchild Colin the son of Nora. Their son Tom who was just 9 months old in 1911 died in a road accident in 1966

DAWN, Albert (Retired, age 67). Died at 50 Masters Road; Buried on November 4, 1975 in General ground; Grave Number 405, Section KK of Burngreave Cemetery, Sheffield.  Remarks: Removed from Sheffield Parish.

DAWN, Colin (son of Nora, age 3).Died at 27 Conningsby Rd; Buried on July 14, 1926 in General ground; Grave Number 405, Section KK of Burngreave Cemetery, Sheffield.  Remarks: Officiating Minister, S.Sandercock: Removed from Sheffield Parish.

DAWN, Florence (Housewife, age 79). Died at 27 Coningsby Road; Buried on August 1, 1952 in General ground; Grave Number 405, Section KK of Burngreave Cemetery, Sheffield. Remarks: Officiating Minister, ~: Removed from Sheffield Parish.

DAWN, Nora (Spinster, age 39). Died at 12 Herries Rd; Buried on July 23, 1931 in General ground; Grave Number 405, Section KK of Burngreave Cemetery, Sheffield. Remarks: Officiating Minister, Alfred E Farrow: Removed from Sheffield Parish.

DAWN, Thomas (Labourer, age 80). Died at 27 Coningsby; Buried on March 28, 1953 in General ground; Grave Number 405, Section KK of Burngreave Cemetery, Sheffield. Remarks: Officiating Minister, ~: Removed from Sheffield Parish.

DAWN, Tom (Railway Worker, age 57). Died at Barnsley Road; Buried on July 14, 1966 in General ground; Grave Number 405, Section KK of Burngreave Cemetery, Sheffield. Remarks: Road Accident: Removed from Sheffield Parish. Plot Owner: of . Page No

It is perhaps fitting that both Thomas and Florence died at their home of many years 27 Conningsby Rd - the road is still there but the house has been demolished

Sources

Sheffield Daily Telegraph

UK Census

Sheffield Indexers

Free BMD

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