Martha Dimmock was born August 5th, 1862 at St Albans, Hertfordshire, the ninth child of Mary Adams & David Dimmock, a timber carter/labourer.
By 1871 the family were living at Lattimore Rd, Tyttenhanger, St Albans. Her 3 brothers were still at home as were 2 of her sisters.
In 1881 Martha was living with her parents at Lattimore Rd, St Albans & working as a hat woman (not straw). Her older sister Lizzie was still at home.
Martha married Edward Gentle on September 3rd, 1883 at the Parish Church of St Pancras, London. Edward, a carpenter, was born October 26th, 1862 at St Albans, the son of Caroline & James Gentle, a licensed victualler. Witnesses at the wedding were David Dimmock & Martha’s sister Lizzie who made her mark.
In 1891 Martha & Edward were living at Park St, St Albans & Edward was working as a carpenter. They had 3 children by this time – Percy (4), Herbert (listed as Ernest in census) (2) & Ellen (10 months).
In 1894 a tragic accident occurred to son Percy John. While on his way to school Percy ran out from behind a cart & was run over by a brewer’s dray pulled by 2 horses. He died from fracture of the skull & loss of blood. (Herts Advertiser, February 3rd, 1894)
Martha & Edward were still living at Park St in 1901 & Edward was now described as a foreman builder. The children at home were Herbert (12), (Ellen) May (11), Frank (8), Edie (7), Minnie (5) & Stanley (2). They also had a boarder Mostyn Frederick Lloyd Tringham (27), a gold blocker (binder).
In 1911 Martha & Edward were living at 2 Stanley Villa, Park St, St Albans & Edward was now described as a carpenter. Edward’s sister Ellen (50) was living with them & they had 7 children at home in their 6 roomed house who were Herbert, a clerk in the County Council building department, Ellen May, a dressmaker working from home, Frank, a builder’s clerk, Edith Mary, a teacher for the County Council, Minnie, an assistant in a stationery shop, Stanley, a scholar & Cyril George (9). It was noted on the census that Martha & Edward had had 10 children only 7 of whom were still alive.
In 1919 son Frank married his cousin Beatrice Kate Harding in Epsom, Surrey. Beatrice was the daughter of Fanny Dimmock [d.11]. In 1939 they were living in Wandsworth, London with daughter Dorothy J & Frank was a builder’s clerk.
Daughter Ellen May married Albert Parmenter in 1920 in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk. In 1939 they were living in Cambridge & Albert was a brewery engineer.
Son Stanley also married in 1920. He married Annie E Wallace at St Albans & in 1939 they were living in Park St, St Albans where Stanley was a carpenter.
Son Cyril married Mabel Annie Hester in 1928 at St Albans & in 1939 they & their family were living in Chorleywood, Herts & Cyril was a Lloyds Insurance clerk.
In 1934 daughter Edith Mary married John Hornett at Frogmore, Herts. John died on April 8th, 1939 at St Bartholomew’s Hospital, London & at the time of the 1939 census widowed Edith was living in St Albans where she was a retired school teacher.
Son Frank was co-executor of his uncle’s (Ralph Harding, husband of Fanny Dimmock [d.11]) will in 1935 when he was still working as a builder’s clerk.
The 1939 register shows Martha & Edward living at 41 Park St, Frogmore, St Albans & Edward was described as a builder’s foreman, retired. Daughter Minnie was living in Barnes, Surrey in 1939 & was manageress of a bookshop & stationers. She married Eric H Leggett in 1945 in Cambridge.
Edward died May 9th, 1947, aged 84, at 41 Park St, St Albans. Probate was granted to sons Herbert, assistant building foreman, & Stanley, a carpenter. His effects were £1,302.18s.6d.
Martha died on June 4th, 1954, aged 91, at 41 Park St, St Albans. Probate was granted to son Herbert Gentle, a retired assistant clerk of works & her effects were £2,089.11s.
The children of Martha Dimmock & Edward Gentle were:
d.13.1 Edward James Gentle born November 30th, 1883 at St Albans & christened January 16th, 1888 at Frogmore, Herts; died January 16th, 1888 at St Albans
d.13.2 Ernest Gentle born April 19th, 1885 at St Albans & christened January 20th, 1888 at Frogmore, Herts; died January 21st, 1888 at St Albans
d.13.3 Percy John Gentle born September 24th, 1887 at St Albans & christened May 6th, 1888 at Frogmore, Herts; died Jan-March 1894 at St Albans
d.13.4 Herbert Gentle born November 28th, 1888 at St Albans & christened February 3rd, 1889 at Frogmore, Herts; died December 1956 in St Albans
d.13.5 Ellen May Gentle born May 6th, 1890 at St Albans & christened July 6th 1890 at Frogmore, Herts; died November 1st, 1939 at Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge
d.13.6 Frank Gentle born June 3rd, 1892 at St Albans & christened November 6th, 1892 at Frogmore, Herts; died September 5th, 1947 at 80 Epsom Lane South, Tadworth, Surrey
d.13.7 Edith Mary Gentle born January 19th, 1894 at St Albans & christened March 4th, 1894 at Frogmore, Herts; died September 17th, 1978 at 41 Park St, St Albans
d.13.8 Minnie Gentle born September 7th, 1895 at St Albans & christened December 1st, 1895 at Frogmore, Herts; died 1949 in Yarmouth, Norfolk
d.13.9 Stanley Gentle born October 17th, 1898 at St Albans; died March 31st, 1980 at 43 Alder Close, Park St, St Albans
d.13.10 Cyril George Gentle born January 19th, 1902 at St Albans; of 153 Ringwood Rd, Walkford, Christchurch, Dorset died April 28th, 1978 at Swindon Wilts