I was thrilled to find a 1924 letter from one of my Great Grandmother Alice's sisters, Anna "Annie" Vince Frankland, my 2nd great-aunt. I thought it was the only one I had but I dug through the boxes and found one more from 1919 and two postcards dated 1906 & 1914.
Feeling inspired, I searched for photos of her. I knew the photo above was Anna, but was unsure of other unmarked photos. I flipped through scanned images, placing them side by side across my screen, desperate to find at least one that was an aged version of the sweet girl above. I focused on the turned up corner of her mouth and a slight drop to her eyes. I found the one below that must be her. And the curiously curly hair led me to another of which I am less certain. How I wish the names had been written on all images!
Anna "Annie" Vince 1877-1932. Photo by Mann & Adock Norwich UK
Anna Vince (I think, but very uncertain.) Photo by John White Ipswich
Before reading the letters, I was able to learn the following from clues in census, birth, marriage, death and probate records found on Ancestry.com and FindMyPast.com .
1877 - Anna was born 27 Jan in Shipdham Norfolk England
1907 - Married Frederick Frankland (1879-1917)
1911 - Frederick's occupation was an Ironmonger Oil & Color Merchant. Anna's mother, Hannah Maria Meachen, age 79, widow, was living with her & her husband Frederick.
1912 - Hannah died 28 Mar
1915 - Frederick enlisted in the British Army
1917 - Frederick died during WWI of wounds at France & Flanders. He served in the Norfolk Regiment 9th Battalion Hingham and was decorated with British War Medal & Victory Medal.
1932 - Anna Vince Frankland of 16 South Quay Great Yarmouth, widow, died 25 January 1932 at the Great Yarmouth Infirmary Caister-road Great Yarmouth (Probate Norwich 10 March to Elizabeth Betsy Vince widow. Effects £251 13s. 11d) - She was a few days shy of her 55th birthday.
Below are the four items of correspondence. Like everything I uncover, there are always more questions than answers, and more clues than I can pursue from my computer. Someday, I hope to enjoy an extended visit to England to further research the Vince & Pinborough relatives and seek answers they may have left behind.
1906 postcard from The Promenade, Hunstanton.
London Bazaar Series No. 2149
1906 May 12 - Darling Sis, My last letter was all nonsense. Am sending parcel by post tonight so you receive monday morning. I felt irritated because you had been so long waiting to me & I worry so. Your own little AV.
1914 postcard Real Yarmouth Bloaters
1914 Jul 7 - A, So pleased to hear from you. We are all well except colds. The weather here is so changeable. Hope you will send photos as soon as you can. Small one will do. Will write you a letter soon we are busy paper hanging. When nap come rests. Entirely with you & near to all. AF
1919 Letter from Anna in North Walsham UK to Alice in Salt Lake City
c/o Mrs. Appleton
Station Road
North Walsham
8.10.1919
My Dear Sister,
I was delighted with our dear Mother's photograph. Thank you very much. I have taken a situation here for a little while but still keep a house on with Mrs. Beard so when you write please send the letter there as I go home every two weeks.
it is in the drapery here the fact is I thought a change of scene would be beneficial to me for a little while. If the cold is to much for me I shall drop back to Mrs. Beards until the spring. I was very sorry to hear of little Walter's accident I hope he will soon be all right. I saw brother Bill at Yarmouth races a fortnight ago. he looked well
& prosperous. Poor Willie is still missing did you know he was married? Well Alice dear I feel very sad & lonely sometimes but Mrs. Beard makes up for a lot - I wish dearest I could see your dear sunny face but I must cheer up and look on the bright side. I have a bad cold today so feel a but down. Peggy wrote to Mrs. Beard to know about
me but I wrote to her at once & she has not replied. I feel sorry for Walter's daughter perhaps she will get better. As far as I know they have got her baby girl. I am sure you will excuse more now my cold is so queer. I will write you again soon. Give my love to Fred & your dear children & accept the same from your loving sister, A. Frankland.
XXXX Real ones one day. Love.
21 Wellington Road
Gt. Yarmouth
20.2.24
My Dear Sister
You letter containing good wishes for my birthday safely received it cheered me up very much to know some one was thinking of me. Poor sister Peggy never once forgot the 27th Jan even up to last year. well dear sister
I have been very worried in this house & still am it's too expensive for me & you cannot get a house unless you can purchase one. I sent to London for Lizzie & she came down on Valentine's day with her sister & Gracie. 13. they could only stop one night and when they went
I was no forwarder only they helped me a bit financially. Lizzie's accident certainly was terrible she has to wear a wig but she is as cheerful as ever, she told me she had heard from you. I have heard no more from Newmarket so I suppose Walter is just the same. Mr. Heaseman promised to
notify me of any change. Whatever can Percy & Ethel be thinking of Ivy is just a (flapper) Fancy dear Hilda & Johnny picked by the Church as missionaries they must be two dears. Is Winnie engaged yet. What is the matter with the Yankee boys! I am sure by their picture my
nieces are (pretty) enough for anything oh you bad old aunt. Thank you dear Alice for offering me a house in Utah but I do not feel I can come so far at my time of life. After all I have been through really enough to kill a horse. You must admit but still I am fairly well
I see in one of your letters your Dr. advises an operation in your case Alice why won't you risk it? Mrs. Beard refused and even after she was gone her Dr. said she might have lived ten more years. Its always wise to obey doctors
and dear girl I am sure your husband & family need you. and although so far away I like to feel you are alive (darling). We are having a very cold winter in England this year. How is it in Utah? You will be sad to hear Cousin James has lost his only son. 32. left one child.
Poor James. he always say how is Alice when I see him. I will inquire about the knives you mentioned if you wish. but i am sure they are no cheaper here and such a palaver when you send parcels. i remember when i mailed the sweets, now dearest I will close with all good wishes for you all for 1924 & love from your affec sister
A Frankland.
(Bill's Annie postponed her visit until the summer.)
Notes on the Letters
1919
- c/o Mrs Appleton Station Road North Walsham was such a nice clue to research Anna's stay there. In the 1911 Census, there were a LOT of Appleton family members living in North Walsham. On Station Road - there were two families John (71) & Ellen (70) and Walter (40) & Ada (38). It is reasonable to guess that Anna moved in the the Appleton family in 1919 to assist as housekeeper, cook or caregiver for the aging John & Ellen or Walter & Ada. Possibly in addition to her work "in the drapery"
- My cousin & I are uncertain of which image among the dozens we have is Alice & Anna's mother, but at least this date, 1919, gives me a clue to when one might have been captured that I can hunt for.
- Who was Mrs. Beard? Did Anna also help care for her home? Was she a fellow widow? Is it Mrs. Beard or have I read it wrong and it is Mrs. Ward?
- What accident did young Walter Pinborough have in 1919?
- Brother Bill is William Vince. Willie "missing" must be his son Percy William, maybe he did some time in the service. He must have been found as he lived until 1988.
- "I feel sorry for Walter's daughter perhaps she will get better. As far as I know they have got her baby girl." - This must be in reference to Walter's daughter Ethel Rose (1894-1981) Her daughter Betty was born in 1919. Perhaps Ethel had some trouble in childbirth.
1924
- "Poor Sister Peggy" passed away the previous year in 1923.
- Lizzie from London is most likely Elizabeth Betsy "Lizzie" Thomas (1870-1953), wife of Anna's brother William Vince (1865-1922). Gracie 13 is Grace M. Vince (1910-2006) and Lizzie's sister is either Sarah, Emma or Ann.
- I haven't a clue what accident Lizzie had that required her to wear a wig.
- Mr. Heaseman could possibly be Walter's employer or landlord. On a rather curious note, I found Walter listed as Deaf from Birth on the 1881 England Census, yet I did not see it noted on other census records. Perhaps it was his sister, Margaret "Peggy" (the name below) who was deaf, though this is also not noted anywhere else...Most interesting.
- Percy & Ethel were the brother and sister of Ivy Vince, all the children of Anna & Alice's brother Walter Vince (1861-1928) and his wife Emma Richardson (1861-1921) .
- Ivy was a flapper? How fun. I can't wait to find more photos of her!
- Hilda, Johhny and Winifred are Alice's children. Hilda is my grandmother.
- I do not know what troubles Anna went through that were "enough to kill horse," and will continue to search for details. I suspect it was the early loss of her husband that left her heartbroken and perhaps why she never re-married
- I am not aware of Alice's illness, yet.
- Who is Cousin James!?
- I learned a new word - Palaver - synonyms are: fuss, commotion, trouble, rigmarole, folderol.
I can't wait for 2021 when the 1921 UK census is released as I know more clues will be tucked within!
So much more to learn! Thank goodness I'm headed to RootsTech to learn more research tricks and find more tools to assist in my pursuit.
Until next week,
Happy Genealogy Hunting!
Laurie
