Rushden Research Group: Abbott, F V

From the late Ruth Abbott's notes, photographs and papers.

Frederick Victor Abbott

& family

William and Ellen Abbott came from Mears Ashby, and had been living at Irthlingborough where they had a daughter, Edith Ellen in 1887. After moving to Chelveston where their son, Frederick was born in 1894, another move brought the family to Rushden.

Grave F486 Rushden Cemetery:

In loving memory of Ellen the beloved wife of William Edward ABBOTT who passed away Feb 14th 1937 aged 70 years. Safe in the arms of Jesus. Also William Edward ABBOTT passed away Jan 12th 1939 aged 73 years. (vase) ---

In 1901 Frederick Victor Abbott was aged 7 and the family was living at 86 Wellingborough Road, Rushden.

c1902

Frederick was taught at Alfred Street Boys School. He must have been a studious boy, as he had a Certificate of Honour for his attendance '416 times' in 1906, and a Certificate of Merit for 'Reporting on Alcohol and Digestion'.

School Attendance

Later that year Fred also completed the Pitman's Theory and Practical Shorthand course, having gained a full certificate for shorthand in 1905.

Fred was awarded 3rd prize in the Co-op Education department for shorthand in 1907.


Reporting	Pitman's Courses		3rd Prize

When he left school Fred worked as a clerk in a boot factory.

In 1915 he went to Kettering to attest for service during the war, and was immediately transferred to the Reserve. By then he was living at 25 Brookfield Road, and shoetrade was deemed as a reserve occupation. But in 1918 he was called up.

He was away when the 1918 Register of Electors was compiled as he is listed as an absent voter.

Fred's spoon giving his service number - 26229 RAMC 9th Co.

In August 1918 Fred was examined and declared as Grade Two, and Dr Davies signed a medical certificate that Fred was suffering from "disordered action of the heart." In September he was granted temporary exemption, following a tribunal hearing, and was transferred again to the Army Reserve in December 1918.

In 1922 Fred married Ethel Smith. Ethel was born in St Pancras, London on the 3rd July 1995. Her parents were Frederick and Martha, and in 1911 Frederick was working as a railway passenger guard at Wellingborough. Ethel was aged 15, working as a shorthand typist for a shoe manufacturer, and she had a brother, Arthur aged 10.

Fred and Ethel moved to a new house at 93 Spencer Road, where they had a daughter Ruth in 1930.

Business card with new address

The Band of Hope Medal - for 'Long and Faithful Service'.

C of E Band of Hope

undated photo captioned:

'On the side of the brook. Mrs Abbott, Spencer Road. The willow trees now cut down, but cutting taken by Paul Wix and resited in the new cut of brook by the School Sports Field.'

Tree and Mrs Abbott of Spencer Road. Paul Wix took a cutting set it near the brook outside the park.

93 Spencer Road decorated for the 1953 competition

Teaspoon given by RUDC in 1937 was kept
in a souvenir pencil tin

This tea caddy was given as 3rd prize for a
'Best Decorated House' - 93 Spencer Road in 1953

Frederick died on 24th January 1970, and he is commemorated on Cemetery Wall No 7. Ethel died in 1974.