(First cousin twice removed of the author)
Henry Ernest Pearce Troke, the illegitimate son of Ernest Pearce (1852-1931) and Louisa Troke (1855-1928), was born on 4 May 1873 in East Howe, Kinson, Dorset. His birth was registered under the name Ernest Pearce Troke. His father moved to Southampton and married Fanny Collins Rowe in the spring of 1877. Louisa married Simeon Gale on 20 May 1875 in Kingstone [Kinson], Dorset. Ernest, called Henry by his family, was raised by his grandparents in West Howe, Kinson and is shown living with them, his aunt Harriet (19) and uncles Frederick (12) and Martin (10) in the 1881 census.
On 3 April 1891 when the census was taken Henry was living in Milford-on-Sea with his aunt Harriet, her husband John Warren and his cousin Florence Coakes (shown on the census as Florence Warren daughter of Harriet and John). He was employed as a blacksmith as was John Warren. In 1891 there were 9 blacksmiths recorded living in Milford – an extraordinary number for its size. There was a blacksmith’s shop in the village and it is likely that John and Henry were employed there. Hurst Castle is close to Milford and the smithy may have got work from the garrison.
Henry married Ethelanda Sophia Golden from Milford on 29 August 1896 in Poole, Dorset. The couple settled in Milford-on-Sea where four of their children were born (Frederick, Fanny, May and Gladys). Sadly all three girls died in infancy. Henry, Ethelanda and their children were still in Milford in 1901 but some time between the death of their daughter Gladys in 1902 and the birth of their daughter Fanny at the end of 1903, Henry and Ethelanda moved to Wallisdown in Dorset where the Warrens had been living since the early 1890s. In 1904 Henry is recorded as a lodger of John Warren paying 5 shillings a week for 4 unfurnished rooms in Wallisdown. Three years later Henry was an Occupation Elector living in Wallisdown i.e. he was no longer a lodger but owning or renting a dwelling-house in his own name.
At the time of the 1911 census on 2 April Henry and his family were living in a five room dwelling on Bankes Heath close to the Gypsy Encampment and the W.H. Saunders Homes of Rest (Six cottages erected in 1908 by a local builder who felt that he would like to help the poor of the parish. The occupants of the cottages were allowed to live rent free.). Henry was working as a blacksmith for the Gas and Water Co.
Henry and Ethelanda’s son Fred was killed on 29 September 1918 near Épinoy, a small village between Cambrai and Douai, in northern France.
Henry was still living in West Howe at the time of the 1921 census. He was employed as an engine driver at the Water Works. During the following year the family moved to The Mount, East Howe. Henry and Ethelanda lived there until Henry’s death in 1942. They named their home “Epegnoye” a phonetic spelling of the English pronunciation of the name Épinoy.
When the 1939 UK Register was taken on 29 September 1939 Henry was listed as a retired engine driver. He died on 30 March 1942 in East Howe, Kinson. Probate was granted to Stephen John Luther Farmer and Charles Chieveley Williams Solicitor on 15 June 1942 in Llandudno.
Ethelanda Sophia Golden was born on 5 December 1874 in Keyhaven, Hampshire. She died in 1963 in Bournemouth.
Ethelanda and Henry had the following children:
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Frederick Charles Troke (1898-1918). Frederick was born in Milford and died on 29 September 1918 in France.
Fanny Louisa M Troke (1899-1901). Fanny was born in Milford and died there in 1901 before the census was taken on 31 March.
May Troke (1900-1901). May was born in Milford and died there in 1901 after the census was taken on 31 March.
Gladys Troke (1902-1902). Born and died in Milford. Her birth and death were both registered Q3 1902.
Fanny Paulina Troke (1903-1971). Fanny was born on 23 December 1903 in Kinson. She married Arthur Edwin Damen Q1 1928 in Poole. She died in Bournemouth.
Winifred Ivy Troke (1910-1998). Winifred was born on 7 May 1910. She married George J Pascoe Q3 1957 in Bournemouth. Winifred died Q3 1998 in Worthing, East Preston, Sussex, England.
Phyllis Mary Troke (1915-1998). Phyllis was born on 25 December 1915. She married Alec Charles Cosser Q4 1934 in Poole and died Q3 1998 in Bournemouth C.B.
George Troke (1907-1907). George was baptised on Wednesday 6 March 1907 in Talbot Village, Dorset, England. The Trokes were Wesleyan so a weekday, Church of England baptism would suggest that George was not expected to survive and received a private baptism. In the 1911 census Ethelanda stated that she had had 6 children born alive and 3 were still living. It is possible that he was still-borne and baptised by a compassionate vicar prior to burial.