Grandma Aspin's 70th Birthday Party
Alfred Uriel Aspin
Singing Elizabeth and Thomas
Came along from Pellon way,
Whistling Wilfred, romping Emily,
Noisy Harold, and Florence May,
Bonny Lily, happy Herbert,
Laughing Irvine, and James Albert,
Winning Violet, bashful Joe
All to Grandma's party they did go.
Louis, Norman and their Arthur
Did not in this party share,
Annie and the little twins,
But if another they'll be there.
No excuse from them was sent.
They were eager, so they went
Round the table, they were sat
Boys and girls, in merry chat
Tables laid in fancy style
Just what made the children smile
Fancy tarts and Eccles cakes
Buns all clothed in sugary flakes
Gripped by fingers, then Hello
In a moment, down they go.
After tea they'd lots of games
Known by strange and funny names,
Kissing games and Drop Glove Drop
Then came fruit and ginger pop,
Postman's Knock and Blind Man's Buff,
Till they all had had enough.
Then with tired and weary feet
They went homeward, down the street,
Chatting in their merry way
Of the fun they'd had that day.
Then with tired and sleepy heads
Their mothers took them to their beds
Tucked their tiny little feet
Nice and snug beneath the sheets
And a loving watch did keep
Till they all had gone to sleep. |
|
Alfred penned this poem about Grandma Aspin's Party.
The party would appear to be in honour of Ann Aspin (nee Wildman), his mother - and would have occurred in 1902, almost certainly at Ann's home at 28 Hough Shaw Road, Halifax.
It mentions by name many of the grandchildren who attended (and some who couldn't). They have here been placed into their family groups with their probable ages in brackets. See also the tree chart below - those grandchildren included in Alfred's poem appear in scrolls.
Alfred Uriel's own children
James Albert (7), Joseph Whiteley (bashful Joe) (4), and Louis (3). Doris would not have been born at this time.
The children of his brother Samuel Abraham (deceased)
Elizabeth (14) and Thomas (7)
Alfred tells us that they travelled from Pellon, and indeed the census from the previous year tells us that they lived at 1 Carlisle Street, Stretchgate Lane.
The children of his brother William
Wilfred (12), Florence (9), Harold (7), Herbert (5), and Annie (3). The twins mentioned are Edith and Ernest Edward who were born in December 1901, and who would therefore be just a matter of months old.
The children of his brother Christopher
Emily (11), and Lily (7). There is another sibling, Thomas who appears to have died before the party aged abt 1 yr.
The children of his brother Antipas
Irvine (4), Norman (2) and Arthur (1)
Violet therefore is the only child not currently identified and accounted for.
|
|
This item will be of most interest to Aspin family members
