Florence Allen née Underwood, born 1867 at Brighton, was the seventh child of John Harmer’s sister Zilpah and her husband Henry Underwood. This makes her John’s niece.
As a toddler Florence lived at 11 Pelham Square, then for less than a year at 93 Upper North Street until the Underwood family settled at 99 Upper North Street in 1871. Her father died of cancer in 1874 when she was just five, followed by her mother (who died of consumption) in October 1881. In the census of April 1881 13 year old Florence was at school. After the death of Zilpah Snr., Florence’s 23 year old sister Zilpah doubtless became something of a mother figure to her.
Marriage
Florence married Walter Douglas Allen (born August 17th 1867 at Hampstead) in Sep Q 1889 at Brighton. Walter was the son of Mary Ann and Joseph Allen, and his father was a chemist. His parents, who were living at Coleshill House, Hampstead Hill in 1868, waited nearly a whole year to have him baptised, on September 2nd at St. Saviour’s, Hampstead.
In the 1891 census we find Florence living with Walter, 23, who is described as a stationer and newsagent at 46 New England Road. Walter was running his shop at no. 46, and they would have been living in the flat upstairs. The couple moved to London that year, and had two sons who were born at St. George, Hanover Square in South Belgravia; Arthur Frank Walter Allen (May 4th 1894) and Phillip William Eustace Allen (October 20th 1895). Strangely the boys were not baptised until July 19th 1896, at St. Mary’s Church, The Boltons, West Brompton. Their baptismal records inform us that Florence and Walter were living at 4 Barker Street, and that Walter was working as a waiter.
Move to Birmingham
By 1901’s census the family had moved to 90 Shinstone Road, Lady Wood, Birmingham. Walter was by then working as an accountancy clerk – his third career since 1889! By 1911 the Allens had moved again, but this time just round the corner to 1 Paignton Park Road. Walter now had a fourth career on the go – working as a commercial traveller within the German silver trade. Arthur, 16, was working as an office boy for a paper manufacturers, and Phillip, 15, was an office boy for a silversmith – presumably a contact of his father’s. Walter and Arthur were still living there in 1922, when they appear in the electoral roll.
Death
Florence passed away at Birmingham between July and September 1921. She was 54 years old. Walter died almost ten years later in 1931, also at Birmingham, when he was 63.
Children
Arthur Frank Walter Allen (1894 – 1987)
Working out Arthur’s marriages and children has proved to be a very thorny task! But it does seem that he had three wives, and at least three children. He was either a bit of a playboy, or a diehard romantic!
Arthur’s first wife was Elizabeth Goodwin, whom he married at Birmingham in Jun Q 1926. They do not appear to have had any children. In the 1939 Register Arthur (46) is to be found at 156 Redstone Farm Road, Solihull. He was still married, but living with Murielle E. Nicholas who was just 2 years his junior. Arthur worked at a brass foundry at Holloway, and also as a wall boarding representative. I have not been able to ascertain whether Elizabeth died, or if they divorced – but the latter seems most likely.
Arthur remarried at Solihull in early 1947, to Evelyn M Cossins or more likely Charles (the register is unclear as to her maiden name). Three children were born with the surname Allen to a mother with the maiden name of Charles, in the Sutton Coldfield registration district who are potential offspring of their marriage; Stephen (1954), Peter (1956) and Martin (1957). If you are one of these children, please get in touch!
An Evelyn Mabel Allen (born 4th August 1914) died at Birmingham in Sep Q 1973 aged 59; she may well have been Arthur’s second wife and these children’s mother.
In Oct Q 1974, when he was 80, Arthur married Alice Will at Solihull. When Arthur passed away on 24th July 1987, aged 93, he was still living at Cartref, 156 Redstone Road Farm, Hall Green, Birmingham.
Phillip William Eustace Allen (1895 – 1958)
In contrast to Arthur, Phillip’s romantic life seems to be have been fairly straightforward. In April Q 1918, when he was about 23, he married May Dorothy Rodgers at Aston, near Birmingham. There is one obvious candidate for a daughter of theirs; Joan K. Allen, born March 1928 in south Birmingham. In the 1939 Register Phillip, May and one child whose name has been redacted (but who we can just make out was an apprentice of some sort) were living at 10 Buttery Road, Smethwick. Phillip was working as an aluminium, metallurgical and alloying supervisor. When Phillip died aged 63 at The General Hospital, Birmingham, on 11th January 1958, his £2972 estate passed to his widow May. May was still living at 10 Buttery Road when she passed away on 4th April 1975 aged 80.
Their daughter Joan married Eric J. Tilly at Smethwick in June Q 1959. They moved to Sutton Coldfield and had at least two children; Elizabeth A. Tilly in 1960, and Alan J. Tilly in 1963. If you are related to any of these people, I would love to hear from you!
