Admin/biog history
Albert Beagley was the youngest child of George Beagley and his wife Elizabeth (nee Vincent).
The other children of George and Elizabeth were James (b.1849), Ellen (b.1850), Elizabeth Fanny (b.1853), George (b.1857), William Joab (b.1859) and Robert (b.1861)
Albert was born in Alresford, Hampshire and was baptised in Alresford on 1 May 1864.
The 1871 census shows Albert living at Broad Street, Alresford with his parents George and Elizabeth and siblings Ellen, George, William and Robert. His father George is a baker, grocer employing 2 men. Daughter Ellen, aged 20 is shown as a grocer’s assistant, while the four younger children are at school. Henry Hodges, aged 21, bakers assistant is also part of the household. The oldest child of George and Elizabeth, James
In 1881 the family are still residing at Broad Street, Alresford. Father George is a baker and provision merchant employing two men and a boy. Son William, aged20 is shown as assistant to his father, as is son Robert, now aged 19. Albert, aged 17 is working as a draper’s assistant. Daughter Ellen, aged 30, is now living in Old Alresford with her husband Ernest Broad and 4 year old son, Alfred E Broad and 8 month old daughter Margaret.
By 1891, Albert is living at High Street, Bedford with his brother James and James’ wife Mary. Both James and Albert give their occupations as tailor, hosier and hatter. The household also includes William R Thomas, nephew, age 7, George Shakespeare, hosier’s assistant, Arthur Reynolds, hosier’s clerk, Herbert Hopkins, hosier’s assistant, Bertha Woods, housemaid and Ada Sawford, cook-domestic servant.
Albert married Flora Randall at Bedford on 26 June 1896. Flora was born c.1873 in St Pancras, Middlesex to James Randall and his wife Eliza.
In 1881 the Randall family were living at St. Cuthbert’s Street, Bedford. James Randall is a brickmaker employing 10 men and 2 boys. There are six children and 2 servants in the household. All the children are shown as being born at St. Pancras, though James Randall was born at Marston, Bedfordshire, and his wife at Maulden.
The 1891 census shows Flora living at Shakespeare Road Bedford with her parents, 5 siblings and a general servant. James Randall’s occupation is given as brickmaker and farmer.
On marriage, Albert and Flora set up home at Ellesmere Lodge, Bushmead Avenue, Bedford.
By the time of the 1901 census, the couple have a daughter, Dorothy (b.1897). Albert’s occupation is shown as ‘Gents Outfitter Shopkeeper’. The family are at the same address on the 1911 census, with the addition of son James Robert Beagley, (born 1901) and a servant. James, aged 19 is a medical student and living with his uncle John Franc in London.
In 1921 Albert, Flora and Dorothy are still residing at Ellesmere Lodge; Dorothy, aged 23 is a music teacher.
Daughter Dorothy married James Wooding in 1926.
Albert Beagley died 30 May 1936 and is buried at Foster Hill Road Cemetery.
Flora Beagley died 6 Jul 1949 at Salisbury, Wiltshire Unitary Authority, Wiltshire and is buried at Foster Hill Road Cemetery, Bedford.
The couple spent their entire married life at Ellesmere Lodge.
Albert and his brother James were proprietors of J.& A. Beagley Ltd. The business traded at 5 High Street, Bedford from 1887 until 1963, and from 31 St Peters until at least 1976.
The earliest receipts in this collection are from soon after the marriage of Albert and Flora when they were purchasing household items to set up their home. The receipts provide a snapshot of family life during the period, including purchases of food, clothing, shoe repairs, furniture, household items, household maintenance etc.
The receipts are made out to A Beagley, Mrs A Beagley and sometimes B Beagley, suggesting that Albert was familiarly known as Bert.