Lucy Ann Holmes was born 08 Nov 1860 in Birmingham, and was christened on 29th Sept 1861 at St Thomas, Birmingham, to William Holmes, a brushmaker, and Caroline née Whateley. Her mother died when she was only 7 and her father when she was 11, when she was looked after by Susannah, herself only 16. By the time of her father’s death, the remaining family has moved to Worcester, where William was born. She was still living with Susannah after the latter’s marriage, in Worcester.

She married William Henry Pullen, a gardener, at St Clement’s Worcester, on 13 May 1883. He was born on 18 Apr 1857 at Frooms Hill, Herefordshire, to Benjamin Pullen and Mary Ann née Bishop. They lived first at Worcester, but in 1891 they were living at Suckley, Worcestershire. By 1901 they were at Wick, near Pershore, Worcestershire, where William became head gardener to the Hudson family, at Wick House. They lived in Dorinda Cottage. 

There were references to Lucy’s poor health from the early 1900’s and she stayed away at Susannah’s at least once for a time. Lucy died on 07 Nov 1906 at Pershore of a paralytic seizure.

Their children were:-

William Henry Pullen b Jun quarter 1886 in Worcester. Known as Will. He married Margaret Fisher in 1917 in Ashford, and maybe divorced, and had mental problems in later life. He was in Ashford Hospital, when it was a workhouse. He apparently died in St George’s Hospital, Tooting in the 1930’s though his death has never been found. He suffered from epilepsy, and twice enlisted in the army during WW1, though he was discharged each time due to his epilepsy.

Florence Pullen b Sept quarter 1887 in Worcester. She was a schoolteacher before marriage in Staines. She married Edward Ernest Whittaker in October quarter 1912 in Staines. They had one son, Edward E W G Whitaker (or maybe Edward E W C Whitaker). Florence died in 1975 in the Reading/Wokingham district.

Ada Pullen b 4th October 1889 in Suckley, Worcestershire. She married Frederick Douglas in Jan quarter 1913 in Willesden. She was a seamstress, and he was a baker. She was my grandmother, and they had five children, of whom four survived. Ada died in 1984after a spell in a nursing home, and Frederick had already died in 1953 in Egham. See there family here.

William Henry Pullen sen moved to Staines, apparently with some employers, between 1907 and 1913, living in Claremont Villas, Moor Lane until at least 1915. He was working at Duncroft  at least part of this time. He remarried to a widow called Ada Crockford, whose maiden name was Wyatt.  Ada had a daughter Hilda from her first marriage, Hilda married Albert Watts. In about 1917, William and Ada moved to Tongham in Hants. William took part in an ill fated business as a coal merchant there.

William played the cornet and was a bandmaster in Wick, Staines and Tongham.

WHP 4th from right in Pershore Town Band (above) and Staines Band (below)

Will, Florrie and Ada

Left to right: Ada Pullen, Cicely, William, Ada (2nd wife), Hilda (Ada’s daughter), and Freddie	Left to right: Ada Pullen, (top) Doreen, Ken, Ada (2nd wife), Cicely, William

 

		Will Pullen when in the army

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