Family Vignette—A story of cousins running wild

 
Julia Phoebe Mullender was the eldest daughter of Benjamin Thomas Mullender 1838-1907 and Caroline Elizabeth Colby 1838-1906.  All five of Benjamin and Caroline Mullender’s children were born and baptized in Kirkley, Suffolk, England. Julia was born on March 12, 1864.  Randal Louis was born next on July 26, 1867. Gertrude Maria Rachel followed her brother and was born on February 9, 1870.  The last two children of Benjamin Thomas and Caroline Elizabeth were William Benjamin, born on April 14, 1872 and then Caroline Charlotte born in February 1875. 

Benjamin Thomas Mullender was a fisherman and both of his sons became fisherman, starting as early as 12 years of age.  His three daughters married fisherman.

Julia, the eldest daughter married John Henry Martin, a fisherman from Pakefield.  They were married on December 24, 1888 at the Parish Church of Pakefield.  By 1906, John Henry and Julia had six children, four boys and two girls.  William Randal Martin was born in April 1892.  By the time he was twelve years of age, his older brother Benjamin John Martin was already 15 years old and was away from home for the past couple years, helping his father on the fishing boats.  Without a role model to guide him and with his father away from home most of the year during fishing season, he became a rambunctious youth and was prone to trouble.

Gertrude Maria Rachel Mullender married James Frederick Adams, a local fisherman from Pakefield, on February 8, 1892 and the brother of “Pikey” Adams.  (James Frederick Adams was mentioned in a previous post as the skipper of the vessel Loch Fyne which was destroyed by a German mine on September 6, 1915 and is commemorated on the Mercantile Marine Memorial Tower Hill, London)  By 1901, James Adams and Gertrude, along with their three children, Randal, Ernest and William, were living at 12 Pakefield Street which adjoins the house of her parents Benjamin and Caroline Mullender living at 13 Pakefield Street. 

Gertrude and James Adams had seven children.  The oldest son was Randal James Frederick Adams who was born on October 7, 1893 in Pakefield.  (You may also recall his story which was posted previously.  He joined the Royal Naval Reserve and died of spinal meningitis while on duty on December 7, 1918)  Their second son was Ernest William Adams, born on June 30, 1895.  While his older brother was around for much of his childhood and was likely a role model for his younger brothers.  But, Ernest was a boy who could be easily influence by others.  After Ernest, there was William Bertie born on November 14, 1896 followed by the only girl in the family.  Gertrude was born on April 21, 1901,  Then came Frederick James, born January 26, 1906, John George born on March 19, 1908 and finally Benjamin William born in July 1910.  Unfortunately, tragedy would strike this family when Benjamin died in July 1924 at the young age of 14.

It is entirely possible that Ernest William Adams, 8, began to hang out with his older cousin, William Randal Martin, 12,after school and also on the weekends.  William Randal had a knack for trouble and this seemed to intrigue his younger cousin.  It wasn’t long before they both had an encounter with the police.

Around 5 a.m. on Saturday morning on August 29, 1903, both boys broke into a house and stole some cigarettes.  They were apprehended by the police, but the victim refused to prosecute the boys. Police Superintendent Shipp placed the blame on the parents for allowing the boys to roam about the streets all night.  Both boy’s fathers were away at sea.  The boys were held overnight and were to be release to their mothers on Sunday morning.  However, when William Randal’s mother came to pick him up, she was intoxicated and Superintendent Shipp refused to let his mother take him that day.

It seems doubtful that the two boys learned any lesson from their weekend escapade, because on the following weekend, the boys were apprehended by police constable Borley, who arrested the youths for burglarizing a house with intent to commit a felony.

At the Lowestoft Police-court on September 7, 1903 the boys appeared before Mr. J. Beckett and other magistrates.

William Martin (11), Kirkley, and Ernest Adams (8), Pakefield, were charged with burglariously entering the dwelling house of Maria Jones, shopkeeper, of No. 1 Coronation Terrace, Pakefield Street, Kirkley, on September 5^th.

Complainant, who is a widow, stated that she kept a general shop.  On the 5^th of September she shut up her shop at a quarter to twelve, and went upstairs to bed.  About three o’clock next morning she heard the window of the front sitting room being opened, and then shut again.  She went downstairs, and was just in time to see a boy getting out of the window, and saw the two prisoners running away.  Witness searched her premises, but found that nothing had been taken.  She noticed the lads were standing near the shop, all the previous evening, and becoming suspicious, went and asked them what they were doing.  The window had never been opened before, as the varnish had stuck to the frame.  She afterwards gave information to the police.

After their arrest, both boys admitted the offence, and explained that they were going after some sweets.  The knife produced was used by Martin in unfastening the window.  There were fresh marks on the window frame.

After some discussion on the part of the magistrates, the lads were dealt with summarily.  They pleaded guilty and had nothing to say.

In answer to the Chairman, Police constable Borley stated that the boys were out all Saturday night and also Friday night of the week before.  He had been asked by Martin’s mother to find him.

The magistrates ordered Martin to receive five strokes with the birch, and Adams was remanded to the Workhouse for one week.

Ernest William Adams enrolled in the Royal Naval Reserve on December 24, 1914 at age 19 and served until January 14, 1919 when he was demobilized at the end of World War I.  For his service, he was awarded his Chevrons in 1915 and his first Good Conduct Badge in 1917.  He was also awarded the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal upon discharge.  Six months prior to Armistice Day, Ernest married Ethel May Nichols on May 18, 1918. Ernest remained a fisherman the rest of his life.  Their son, Arthur Ernest Adams was born on December 4, 1919 in Lowestoft and by 1939 he was working as a Boatbuilder’s Apprentice.  Ernest William Adams died in Yarmouth in July 1972 at the age of 77 years.

William Randal Martin was still working as a fisherman in 1921, together with his father.  He is not known to have married and he died at age 37 on April 26, 1930.

 

Genealogy:  William Randal Martin 1892-1930 was the son of Julia Phoebe Mullender 1864-1943 and her sister was Gertrude Maria Rachel Mullender 1870-1943 and her husband was James Frederick Adams 1869-1915 and his brother was George "Pikey" William Welch-Adams 1867-1940.

Genealogy: Ernest William Adams 1895-1972 was the son of James Frederick Adams 1869-1915 and his brother was George "Pikey" William Welch-Adams 1867-1940.