Albert Edward Fry [f.2.6.8.4]

Albert Edward Fry was the fourth child of Albert Edward Fry & Harriett Annie Grove born December 8th, 1884 at Brookshill Farm, Hartfield.

In 1889 the family moved to Chartners farm, Hartfield but within a year his father (Albert Edward Snr) had died. In 1891 Albert was living with his widowed mother Harriett & brothers & sisters at Chartners.

Following the death of his mother in 1893 Albert went to the London Orphan Asylum where on November 24th, 1899 he was presented with a prayer book.

In 1901 Albert was a boarder at 7-8 Bread St, All Hallows, City of London. He was training as a wholesale draper.

Albert became a travelling salesman and visited many parts of the country, including Leeds, as evidenced in the postcard below which he (initialled A.E.F.) sent to his cousin Emily Heasman (who had married Richard Dartnall Young) in 1907. Albert seems to have kept close contact with his cousin Emily who had been the informant of his mother, Harriett’s death.

Postcard courtesy of Sue Owen (great great granddaughter of Phoebe Fry f.2.6.2)

By 1911 Albert had moved to Hampstead & was lodging with the Reynolds family, the head being Arthur Reynolds, a grocer's manager. Albert was one of 5 boarders at 210A West End Lane, Hampstead. His occupation was ‘salesman at a drapery warehouse'.

Albert married Rose Marion Barnett on July 20th, 1912 at the parish church Reading. Albert’s profession was given as a traveler & warehouseman & his address at the time of the marriage was 139 West End Lane, West Hampstead.

West End Lane, Hampstead

Rose was the fourth child of Arthur George Barnett & Kate Webster & was born May 20th, 1882 at Dunsden, Oxford. Rose’s address was given as 18 Wantage Rd, Reading, & her profession was a teacher. Witnesses at the wedding were Kate Barnett, Rose’s mother, Arthur Reeve Barnett, her brother & Frederick Samuel Fry, Albert’s brother.

Their first child, Stella Kathleen, was born January 6th, 1914 at 10 Bentcliffe Lane, Moortown, Leeds. Alan Barnett was also born at Leeds in 1915, followed by Anthony in May 1921. Albert (known as Bertie) & Rose lived at 90 North Park Avenue, Roundhay, Leeds from the 1920s till at least 1954. Albert was a traveling salesman selling ‘ladies underwear’.

An article in the Yorkshire Post & Leeds Intelligencer of January 17th, 1927 quotes Albert Edward speaking at the annual meeting in Bradford of the Yorkshire District Federation of the United Commercial Travellers’ Association. He was advocating a system of identification to mark cars of commercial travelers. Business was often necessitated parking in narrow streets which sometimes lead to confrontation with police. In 1930 Albert was elected Chairman of the newly formed Leeds United Commercial Travellers’ Association Motor Club (Yorkshire Post & Leeds Intelligencer, May 9th, 1930).

The 1939 register shows Albert & Rose living at 90 North Park Avenue, Roundhay, Leeds & Albert was described as a corset manufacturer’s representative. With them was son Anthony who was a University student.

Left: 90 North Park Ave, Roundhay. Right: Bertie, Rose & grandson David c1950

Albert, a heavy smoker, died on June 2nd, 1954, aged 69 at St James Hospital, Leeds. Probate was granted at Lincoln on July 15th, 1954 to daughter Stella Kathleen, now married to Denys Horton. Albert’s effects were £3,139.11s.2d.

In her latter years Rose lived with daughter Stella & husband Denys at Gordon House, Billinghay, Lincoln before being admitted to the Lawn Hospital nursing home in Lincoln where she died on December 23rd, 1958 aged 77. Probate was granted at Ipswich on January 22nd, 1959 to son Alan Barnett Fry, a flight lieutenant in the RAF. Rose’s effects were £3,229.1s.

The children of Albert Edward Fry & Rose Marion Barnett were:

f.2.6.8.4.1 Stella Kathleen Fry born January 6th, 1914 at Moortown, Leeds; died January 10th, 2003 at Lincoln
f.2.6.8.4.2 Alan Barnett Fry born June 30th, 1915 at Moortown, Leeds; died November 3rd, 2004 at Bracknell, Berks
f.2.6.8.4.3 Anthony Fry born May 22nd,1921 at Leeds; died Jan-March 1995 at Leeds