100 Years Ago

 Happy New Year and here’s hoping 2021 is better than 2020.

To start the new year I thought I would review what was happening to our family members 100 years ago, in 1921. 

Birth Marriages and Deaths

1921 saw the birth of 14 family members, (2 Titheradges, 10 Titheridges, 1 Tidridge and 1 Tutheridge). There were 12 marriages during the year (4 Titheradges, 7 Titheridges and 1 Tytheridge) and there were just 4 deaths (3 Titheridges and 1 Tytheridge). 43% of the events were in Hampshire, 40% in London and 17% in other parts of the country.

Census

1921 was a census year and I had hoped that I would be able to review the census, however the government have decided that details of the 1921 census will not be released until January 2022.

British Newspapers

With no census to write about I turned to the newspapers for my inspiration. Newspapers are my favourite genealogy source and give us a fantastic information into life in the past. It is not just the big stories that spark interest but also the little bits of local news and trivia that give us an insight into the lives of our ancestors. So here is some newspaper trivia from 1921.

• Madge Titheradge, the actress, continued to be a big source of news. She had spent 1919 and 1920 in California making films and these were being shown at cinemas throughout the country. The films were Gamblers All, Her Story, David and Jonathon, Love in the Wilderness, Husband Hunter and Temporary Gentleman. She also appeared on stage in plays and in April she was cast as Desdemona in “Othello”, in September she appeared in “If” and in November in “Duburau”. In one article her views were sought on the opening theatres on Sunday, her response was that it was “iniquitous and highly improper”.

• Madge’s brother Dion Titheradge was occasionally mentioned in the newspapers too. He was mentioned for his revues and his new play “The K.C.”.

• Rigger Titheridge of HMS Alexandra won a prize in a Whist Drive organized by  the Royal Yacht Sports Club.

• In Bishops Waltham Miss Titheridge helped organize a garden party at The Thickets, with tea, folk dances and a whist drive.

• At the horticultural Show at Baltonsborough (near Glastonbury) B Titheridge won 3rd prize for the children’s wildflower collection and Kenneth Titheridge won a prize for his wildflower collection in the under 8 age group.

• In Portsmouth Christine Titheradge, a contralto, performed at a concert being run by the District Free Church Women’s Committee.

• At Shedfield there was a dedication of the monumental cross, at Fords Corner crossroads, in memory of the “42 gallant men of the village of Shedfield” who gave their lives in WW1 (among the names A G Titheridge).

• At Winchester a memorial to the fallen bell ringers was unveiled in the belfry of Winchester Cathedral. It was dedicated to the 56 members of the Diocesan Guild of Bell ringers who fell in the Great War and in whose memory two bells were added to the peel (Titheridge of Shedfield was among the names) 

• In Bishops Waltham Mrs Titheridge was elected to the committee of the Women’s Institute.

• In Shedfield, St John the Baptist, Dorothy Gladys Titheridge youngest daughter on Noah Titheridge of Acadia was married to Mr Cecil Vear. The bride wore brown velvet and had a bouquet of chrysanthemums. There were no bridesmaids and the best man was Walter Titheridge, the bride’s brother 

• In Southampton St Marks Church Mr W Tidridge was the bass soloist in a rendering of the “Messiah” and later in the year performed in Stainer’s “Crucifixion”.

Australian Newspapers

The Australian press also provided some interesting articles / trivia

• In Adelaide, South Australia Wallace Sutton Titheradge was charged with unlawfully obtaining money from a shop keeper by deception, he pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 6 months in prison.

• In Ballarat, Victoria the company Titheradge and Growcutt, situated on Main Street, held regular auctions.

• In Molong, New South Wales there were references to both J Titheridge and Len Titheridge acting as referees at football matches.

• In Marrickville, New South Wales the marriage of Noel Bennett was recorded. He was the youngest son of Mr and Mrs Bennet of “Tytheridge”, Albermarle Street, Marrickville.

• In Wellington, New South Wales there was an obituary of Mrs Phyllis Titheradge who died aged 36 years old, leaving a husband, Frederick, and 6 children.

• Mr Titheridge from Orange, New South Wales took his homing pigeons to Wellington 60 miles away for a race to Orange.

• At Cumnock ,New South Wales Mrs Lote Titheradge had the misfortune to sustain serious scalds as a result of spilling a kettle of boiling water over her leg and foot. 

• In Vaucluse, New South Wales the estate of the late George Sutton Titheradge, actor, was put up for auction, described as Lot 9 and 10 Grand View Estate.

• Mrs Herrick Knowles (daughter of George Sutton Titheradge and sister of Madge) was cast in the role of Nerissa in The Merchant of Venice.

I wonder what future generations will make of our 2021 newspapers in 100 years time?

Happy New Year to all.