This week’s #52ancestors prompt is ‘Witness to History’. I had a few ancestors I thought I could use for this one but I settled on Charles Frederick Barnes b. 1900. Charles was the Beadle of Westminster Abbey and participated in the coronation of King George VI in 1937.
The first time I spoke to my husband’s English family about their family history they mentioned Charles Barnes. Charles was my husband’s great-grandfather and there was a bit of a mystery surrounding his life. They knew that he had poor health and that he had worked in Westminster Abbey. There was also a story that he had travelled to Canada as a child and somehow ended up alone before returning to the UK.
So what was Charles’ full story?
Charles Frederick Barnes was born on the 21st January 1900, 124 years ago today(1). He was the 4th child of Henry Barnes, a stoker, and Matilda Hawkins, though he was their first son(2). He had a younger brother, 2 years his junior(3).
The family was living in Battersea at the time of his birth and he was baptised in the parish of St Stephen(4). By 1906 the family had moved to Westminster to the Millbank Estate and Charles attended the recently built Millbank School(5). There is a lot of information on Millbank Estate and School on this A London Inheritance page. The King, George the V, even visited the Millbank Estate in 1909 and local children were allowed to leave early. It is possible that Charles went to see him as many kids did.
Oral history said that he had travelled to Canada with an uncle who then abandoned him, forcing him to get by picking up jobs such as selling newspapers. I managed to find the passenger list showing him heading to Vancouver via Quebec in August 1913 reporting himself as 14, and I expanded the family tree to include his aunts and uncles (including by marriage), but I could not find a relative accompanying him(6).
There was an attempt made by him to travel from Vancouver to L.A., again he seemed to be travelling alone and stated that his ‘uncle’ had his money(7). He was denied entry though, due to having ‘pink eye’ which was classed as a contagious disease. We were a bit stumped for a while but then I found his younger brother, Henry, travelling to Canada 7 years later. Henry’s passage was paid for by a C. Cummings, reported as an uncle who he would be staying with in Canada(8). I couldn’t find a C. Cummings on the passenger list, but there was a H. Cummings, who lived in Vancouver and was a Baker(9).
This proved to be the lead we needed. I looked back at Charles’ passenger list and sure enough there was a Henry Cummings, who lived in Vancouver and was a Baker(10). Looking at Henry Barnes’ travels more I saw that he travelled to Vancouver again in 1925 to stay with his Uncle Harry Cummings, who he had previously stayed with(11). It seems that Mr Cummings was the uncle that had been spoken of, although not a blood relation, and that, despite the reported abandonment of Charles, Mr Cummings maintained good relations with the Barnes family. It’s possible that Charles and his uncle were accidentally separated as they travelled from Quebec to Vancouver.
I still don’t know when Charles returned to the UK, but by 1921 he is living with his father, brother-in-law, sister and niece in Westminster, working as a cleaner (I believe) in Westminster Abbey(12). His brother-in-law was also working at Westminster Abbey but as a labourer. He married Daisy Dorothy Violet Denyer, the daughter of a builder, in 1923 and they welcomed their first child, Joyce Daisy Barnes, in 1925 followed by twins, Sheila May and Charles, in 1932(13,14,15).
There is a photo in the family of Charles in full regalia with a note that says ‘Royal Wedding November 29th 1934’. This would have been the wedding of Prince George Duke of Kent and Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark. It is clear that by this time Charles had stepped into a more official role in Westminster Abbey. Oral history says that his eldest daughter, my husband’s grandmother, attended this wedding.
By the time of the Coronation of King George VI Charles was working as a Beadle in Westminster Abbey. He is listed in the procession as ‘Beadle – C. Barnes’(16,17). Unfortunately, I cannot find a picture of him at the coronation and the video of the procession entering and leaving all seem to start after he has passed.
In the 1939 register Charles is listed living with his brother-in-law, niece and father, still in Westminster(18). He is listed as a Beadle at Westminster Abbey here. Daisy and the children had gone to Margate(19). I can find no record of Charles serving during World War II, I don’t know if this was due to his role at the Abbey or due to ill health. It is believed that he contracted tuberculosis (TB) sometime in the 1940s and he retired early from his service at Westminster Abbey.
We do not know when the below picture was taken but there seems to be a glint of pride in his eyes, which makes me wonder if there was a royal ceremony happening.
Following his illness Charles and Daisy moved to Hockley in Essex where they were visited by their grandchildren. He kept some pigs and chickens and was said to be an animal lover. I do not know much of his later life, only that he passed away in 1961 whilst he was in hospital(20).
I sometimes wonder what would have happened if Charles had been allowed entry to L.A., he had no intended address at the time, I can’t even begin to think what his intention was. Would his life have taken a completely different course? What led him to Westminster Abbey, was it his brother-in-law? I’ll keep digging and hopefully find something to shed more light on his life, his time in Canada and who he was.
Genie Dans
References
1 ‘Ancestry.Co.Uk – 1901 England Census’ <https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageviewer/collections/7814/images/LNDRG13_449_450-0594?pId=3496015> [accessed 22 January 2024].
2 ‘Ancestry.Co.Uk – 1901 England Census’.
3 ‘Ancestry.Co.Uk – 1911 England Census’ <https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageviewer/collections/2352/images/rg14_00470_0347_03?pId=1446602> [accessed 22 January 2024].
4 ‘Ancestry.Co.Uk – London, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1923’ <https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageviewer/collections/1558/images/31280_197982-00233?pId=4064605> [accessed 22 January 2024].
5 ‘Ancestry.Co.Uk – London, England, School Admissions and Discharges, 1840-1911’ <https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageviewer/collections/1938/images/31949_214879-00026?pId=9178691> [accessed 22 January 2024].
6 ‘Canada Passenger Lists, 1881-1922; Https://Familysearch.Org/Ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-615S-QP5?cc=1823240&wc=36T1-B8F%3A981985501%2C982166101%2C982025802’ <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-615S-QP5?i=25&cc=1823240&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3A2HGQ-WST> [accessed 22 January 2024].
7 ‘Ancestry.Co.Uk – U.S., Border Crossings from Canada to U.S., 1895-1960’ <https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageviewer/collections/1075/images/m1464_274-0978?pId=3189213> [accessed 22 January 2024].
8 ‘Canada Passenger Lists, 1881-1922; Https://Familysearch.Org/Ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-X9N9-5V6?cc=1823240&wc=36Y9-F9X%3A981985501%2C982145301%2C982174501’ <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-X9N9-5V6?i=37&cc=1823240> [accessed 22 January 2024].
9 ‘Canada Passenger Lists, 1881-1922; Https://Familysearch.Org/Ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-X9N9-RFQ?cc=1823240&wc=36Y9-F9X%3A981985501%2C982145301%2C982174501’
<https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-X9N9-RFQ?i=38&cc=1823240> [accessed 22 January 2024].
10 ‘Canada Passenger Lists, 1881-1922; Https://Familysearch.Org/Ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-615S-76M?cc=1823240&wc=36T1-B8F%3A981985501%2C982166101%2C982025802’ <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-615S-76M?i=28&cc=1823240> [accessed 22 January 2024].
11 ‘Ancestry.Co.Uk – Canada, Incoming Passenger Lists, 1865-1935’ <https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageviewer/collections/1263/images/CANIMM1913PLIST_2000908381-00384?pId=2945890> [accessed 22 January 2024].
12 ‘1921 Census of England & Wales Image | Findmypast.Co.Uk’ <https://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=GBC/1921/RG15/00470/0497&parentId=GBC/1921/RG15/00470/0497/01> [accessed 22 January 2024].
13 ‘Ancestry.Co.Uk – Canada, Incoming Passenger Lists, 1865-1935’.
14 ‘Ancestry.Co.Uk – England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1916-2007’ <https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageviewer/collections/8782/images/ons_b19252az-0074?pId=38634312> [accessed 22 January 2024].
15 ‘Ancestry.Co.Uk – England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1916-2007’ <https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageviewer/collections/8782/images/ons_b19322az-0066?pId=29389983> [accessed 22 January 2024].
16 ‘Dundee Evening Telegraph, ,12 May 1937, Page ,4’ <https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL/0000563/19370512&page=0004&article=018&stringtohighlight=c%20barnes%20beadle,%20coronation> [accessed 22 January 2024].
17 ‘The Scotsman 12 May 1937 Page 8 | Findmypast.Co.Uk’ <https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0000540%2F19370512&page=8&article=678&stringtohighlight=c+barnes+beadle,+coronation> [accessed 22 January 2024].
18 ‘Ancestry.Co.Uk – 1939 England and Wales Register’ <https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageviewer/collections/61596/images/tna_r39_0621_0621d_016?pId=9313215> [accessed 22 January 2024].
19 ‘Ancestry.Co.Uk – 1939 England and Wales Register’ <https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageviewer/collections/61596/images/tna_r39_1753_1753c_022?pId=16552212> [accessed 22 January 2024].
20 ‘Ancestry.Co.Uk – England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1995’ <https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageviewer/collections/1904/images/32858_611411_1990-00086?pId=17789939> [accessed 22 January 2024].
This was an interesting and enjoyable read. I am also struck by how much my mother-in-law, Joyce Gibbs, looked like her father in this picture!
Thank you, I’m glad you enjoyed it.
Hi I found westminster Abbey post really interesting Charles Barnes was my grandad im one of shelias daughters
Nice to hear from you, Andrea! Your Mum and one or two of your siblings came to Graham’s funeral in May 1996. Did you attend? I shall never forget your Mum’s lovely gesture of bringing giant sized bottle of ketchup to the funeral in memory of Graham. Apparently she remembered Graham being particularly fond of ketchup as a child. 😊💜😊
Hi Andrea,
I’m glad you found it interesting. It’s really nice to gather all the details about ancestors in one place and see their story. Hopefully I’ll have more from the Barnes line.
Dans
Hi kirsty,it was nice to hear fom you,it was lovely of you remember my mum’s lovely gesture. I didn’t attend Graham’s funeral, but I heard all about it. I agree with you about the photo of Charles looking like Joyce
I hope you are all well. Maybe we will have a chance of meeting up one day? I have kept in touch with two of Uncle Peter’s daughters who live in Bristol, even though we have not met in person for a few years. All the best!
Hi kirsty I’m not too bad thanks I have had breast cancer like Joyce I have had a left mastectomy and now I have mobility problems I hope your okay and if your in the chester area it would be lovely to meet up love Andrea
Hi Genie
What a lovely article. I really enjoyed reading it. Charles was my paternal grandfather (my father was Shiela’s twin Charles Peter Frank Barnes).
I’ve visited the Abbey a number of times and have enjoyed private visits due to some work connections there. The librarian there knew of Charles as soon as I said his name! I havr some interesting memorabilia too. His position was important ceremonially. The Barnes name is even engraved in a plaque on the wall of of the enclave. Always happy to help you more about what I know.
I re-read this after seeing Andy’s comments this morning. What a thoroughly researched and beautifully written piece, well done Dans!