The first three generations of this branch of the Coles family shown here all came from Somerset, a few miles south of Bristol and from villages within a few miles of each other. John Coles, born c.1808 in Chew Magna, married Elizabeth Templar from Publow. Elizabeth’s parents were Isaac and Martha both born c.1762/3, Martha hailing from Stanton Drew; they married on 9 Nov 1788 at the church of St Augustine The Less in Bristol and in 1841, according to the census, were living at Hitching Thord, Chew Magna. Isaac died in 1849 in Clutton, Somerset.

 

John and Elizabeth had four children:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

William Coles and Charlotte Russell (both from East Harptree) married and moved to Manchester between 1876 and 1878. Their first two children, Mary Ann (later known to the family as Polly) and George (who died in his teens) were both born in Pontypool, Monmouthshire, the three later children all being born in Manchester. William was a railway policeman (the 1891 and 1901 censuses merely state ‘police constable’) but was sacked for drinking too much!

 

When William Coles died in 1909 Charlotte went to live with their daughter Emma. Emma had been a dressmaker and had married Joseph Webb who worked for the Daily Mail; they lived on Chelford Street off High Street in Altrincham; Joseph pre-deceased Emma so Emma went to live with their daughter Ethel.

 

Mary Ann married Robert Roberts who had a successful haulage business. They had a son who was also called Robert and who worked with his father. When Robert Roberts senior died, Mary Ann went to live with her son and his wife off Upper Brook Street, Manchester, but the haulage business then failed. Robert and his wife didn't want to have to look after Mary Ann so asked Emma, her sister, to have her; Emma said she would but only if Mary Ann took her pension book with her!

 

Elsie had been going out with Edward Crisp Royle when she died of TB. In due course Edward turned his attention to Ada. Ada, a milliner, married Edward on 14 August 1914; it would have been earlier but Edward refused to have Ada’s mother, Charlotte, to live with them. Presumably it was therefore after Emma agreed to have her mother, that they got married. The wedding was postponed again because of the coming war but Edward refused to postpone it any further. They had planned to go to Ilfracombe for their honeymoon, but because of the war, went to St Anne's instead. After their honeymoon they rented a  house  in Cecil Street, Manchester.