Crosswell, John Tracey

John Tracey was baptised on 21st February 1897 at Mickleton, Gloucestershire and the official noted his date of birth as 15th January, in the margin of the register. His mother was Millicent Ellen Crosswell, living at Hidcote Bartrim, and his father was unknown.

Millicent married Edward Boulton in the 4th quarter of 1897, in the parish of Shipston on Stour, Warwickshire. At the time of the 1901 census, the family was living at Broadway Road, Weston Subedge in Gloucestershire and consisted of Edward and Millicent (recorded as Ellen), John, Henry Lewis (2) and Alfred Edward (5 months). There was also a boarder who was a farm labourer. Edward Snr. is recorded as a carter, on farm.

By the time of the 1911 census the family had moved to Welford Hill Cottages, Welford on Avon where Edward Snr. continued to work as carter and John Tracey was working as a ploughboy.

The family appear to have moved into Warwick sometime before 1916, when Edward Snr. is listed in the Spennell’s Trade Directory as a labourer living at 16 Bridge End. In the 1918 Directory he is listed at 39 Pickard Street.

John’s step brother, Harry Boulton, also died