Vincent Froud Haskell

Grandparents

Vincent’s paternal grandparents were Edward Froud Haskell and Elizabeth Abbott. Edward was born in Dorset about 1831 and Elizabeth in Bromsgrove about 1827. Edward was a stone mason. They had 5 children, Mary, born about 1861, Agnes, born about 1863, Edward George, born about 1866 (Vincent Froud’s father), John William, who was born and died in 1868, and Vincent, born about 1870 (Vincent Froud’s uncle). All the children were born in Bromsgrove. In 1871 and 1881 the family lived at Rock Hill, Worcester Rd, Bromsgrove.

His maternal grandparents were John Duffill and Sabina George. John was born in Bromsgrove about 1826 and Sabina in Eckington, Worcs, about 1830. They married on 8 June 1856 at St Clement’s church, Worcester. John was a nail maker and Sabina a laundress. In 1861 they lived at High St, Bromsgrove, with 2 children, one aged 3 whose name is indecipherable, and Eliza, aged 1. By 1871 they had moved to Perry Cottages, Kidderminster Rd, Bromsgrove, with Eliza, 11, Mary, 9, Sarah, 7, Martha, 5 (Vincent Froud’s mother), and Henry, 1. In 1881 they were at the same address with Henry, 11, Ellen, 9, and John, 6. John Snr died about 1882 and Sabina about 1917.

Parents

Edward George Haskell was born in Bromsgrove about 1866. He was a boot and shoe maker. Martha Lizzie Duffill was born in Bromsgrove about 1867. Lizzie was baptised in Bromsgrove on 24 February 1867. In 1881 she was a domestic servant for a 61-yearold widow at New Rd, The Crescent, Bromsgrove. From 1891 until 1901 Edward and Lizzie lived at 15 Lapwing Lane, West Didsbury. Lizzie was still there in 1911 but Edward did not appear in that census. The couple had 8 children, of whom 7 were alive in 1911. Those we have identified were Elsie, born about 1892, John E (possibly appearing later as Edward), born about 1893, Vincent Froud, George, born about 1895, Edith, born about 1899, and Gertrude, born about 1904. All the children were born in West Didsbury. In 1901 the family had a servant. In 1915 Lizzie was living at 13 Lyth St, Ladybarn. Lizzie died in Manchester about 1953. One source suggests that Edward died in 1926 but we could find no trace of him in the 1911 census, although Lizzie was still said to be married at that time. Edward’s name does not appear on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website entry concerning Vincent’s death in 1915.

Vincent Froud

Vincent was born in West Didsbury about 1893. By 1911, still living in Lapwing Lane with Lizzie, he was described as a butchering assistant. He enlisted in the Army in Stockport in 1912 and was a member of the 1st Battalion of the Cheshire Regiment, service number 9831. He was sent to Ebrington Barracks in Londonderry but in 1913 he deserted. Two newspaper reports appeared in the Derry Journal and the Belfast News-Letter of 3 February 1913. He and Private Charles Jones had deserted from the barracks on 29 January and were found in a deserted cottage at Tamlaght on 31 January. Vincent is quoted as saying “I’m fed up of the army.” Desertion seems to have been a common problem in Londonderry at that time. Vincent was returned to barracks and later went on to serve in France with the 2nd Battalion of the Cheshires. He died in action on 3 October 1915, probably at the Battle of Loos. He is commemorated on the Loos Memorial, Pas de Calais, Panels 49 and 50.