Elsie Lilian Lozuet was born – 16 October 1907

Elsie was the fifth daughter of John Lozuet and Clara Anna Mabey. With her the chance for the Lozuet surname to continue ended. Elsie was born in Jersey but spent most of her life in Birmingham, England. From here she wrote many letters to her sister Clara (my great grandmother). Within the letters you get a fascinating insight into their lives, including such comments as the following:

” …Thank you for the cake it was lovely the cakes over here are rotten.”

She even refers to my grandfather, her sister Clara’s son:

“… how’s kenny, still got his shop?’

These little details are great because they confirm the fact that my grandfather had a shop of which I was aware of. This then will help you to determine the date or thereabouts. She continues to say that she hopes Clara has got a nice lodger in, as it is better than being alone (so we now know this must have been after her husbands death in 1931).

In other letters (most addressed from Perry Bar, Birmingham) Elsie thanks Clara for the Calendar she has sent, the marg (margarine) and another cake. She is looking forward to the Spring and hopes they both have a nice summer like ‘last year’. She finishes in one letter saying the following:

“Well I’m afraid I’ve no news I never go anywhere but shopping….Elsie xxxx”

I love these snippets into their lives, it gives you the little treasures of information that archive records can’t give you. Here is her timeline:

1907 – Elsie Lilian Lozuet is born on the 16th October. Her parents were living at 3 Colomberie Cottages, St. Helier at the time.

1911 – Elsie is living with her family: her father John, a ‘foreman’, her mother Clara and siblings Clara, Ada, Violet and Mabel.

1931 – Elsie’s father dies. I wonder if she went back for his funeral?

1936 – Elsie marries Norman Norton of Birmingham.

1939 – Elsie gives birth to a son, Michael about 4 months before the start of World war 2.

1944 – Elsie’s husband Norman dies from Tuberculosis. Elsie is now bringing up a five year old on her own in the midst of a war.

1966 – Elsie dies in Birmingham.

I wonder if she ever returned to Jersey to see her sisters or if they ever travelled to see her?