John Newman Palmer was born 23 Dec 1883 at 28 Broomfield Road, Swanscombe, Kent, a terraced house which still exists (2011). The 1891 census shows him as the fifth of eight children, his siblings were Thomas Henry (15, a general labourer), Louisa Kate (13), George Ernest (11), Emily Eliza (9), Alice Sylvia (5), Charles William(3) and Frank Edward (6 months). The address was given as 2 Wellard Cottages, Lascelles Terrace, Swanscombe. At 6 Wellard Cottages was the Bolton family, with 3 children who were cousins to the Palmers.
In 1901 John (17) was a domestic page in the city of London working for a bank manager and his family of 3 children, a cook and a maid also worked at the address. I imagine that his ambition may have been to become a butler. Until I purchased John's marriage certificate I hadn't known that he was previously married, he married Mary Elizabeth Squires on March 20th 1905 at the age of 21. He was described as a shopkeeper and his address as 153 Fulham Palace Road. Mary's age was given as 32, Mary died 15th March 1906 Death cert Carcinoma of the intestines (Bowel cancer). Her husband was the informant with the address given as 201 Fulham Palace Road, his job was "a plate cleaner at a club"
In 1911 John's occupation was given as a valet, he was living with his younger sister (Alice Sylvia Firth) who had married John Firth in Fulham in 1907, the address wasDaisy Cottage, Stanhope Road, Swanscombe. Alice went on to have 7 children and died 15 Jun 1955 in Swanscombe)
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