Edith May Le Marquand – 24 December 1896

On the 24th December 1869, my great grandmother Edith May Le Marquand was born, in the parish of St. Peter, Jersey.

I have a brief memory of visiting her when I was young. She was sitting in a wheelchair.

Here is Edith’s timeline to the best of my knowledge:

1896 – Edith is born to her parents are Marie E. Le Gresley and Phillipe Le Marquand. A perfect present in time for Christmas!

It appears that Edith already has a half brother called J S Le Gresley, born in St. Peter’s in 1880. I have yet to confirm this detail.

1897 – Edith’s sister, ‘Dot’ Dorothy Maud Le Marquand is born in St. Peter.

1899 – Edith’s sister Iris Ellen Le Marqaund is born in St. Peter.

1901 – According to the 1901 census, Edith is still living in St. Peter at 66 Overdale with her father Phillipe Jn. aged 38, a merchant and farmer of his own account. Her mother, Marie, aged 41, sisters Lilian aged 10, Dorothy M., Iris Ellen and stepbrother J.S. Le Gresley, aged 21, a carpenter. Edith’s auntie, Jane A. le Gresley (who was born in St. Ouen and is living on own means) is also residing with the family the day the census is taken.

(This census also tells me that Edith had an older sister, born 1891)

1911 – Edith is living at Angora House, St. Peter. She is single and is working as a farmers daughter doing dairy work (likely on her father’s farm). She is living with her father, mother and sisters, Dorothy maud, and Iris E. who are at school. There are 10 rooms in the dwelling which is quite a large to my mind.

1914 – It is the first year of World War One and Edith is now working in a munitions factory in Penryn, Cornwall, England. This must have been a huge culture shock and change of lifestyle compared to her dairy farming on a quiet little island. Such a brave move or maybe a welcome adventure.

1919 – In November, Edith married Alfred Bouchere at St. Peters parish church. She is 4 months pregnant. According to family notes, Edith was living at Les Sixbulls in St. Ouen when she married Alfred.

1920 – Edith gives birth to her first child, my grandmother, Edith May Bouchere on the 10th May in St. Helier. Is May the baby’s middle name as this is the month she is born? Exact address unknown unless she is at the address where she has her next child Barbara, the next year.

1921 – Edith gives birth to daughter, Barbara Elize on the 28th January at Bas du Mont au Pretre, St. Helier, Jersey.

Edith gives birth to daughter Joyce.

Edith gives birth to daughter Margaret.

1924 – Edith gives birth to son, Kenneth Alfred on the 27th January.

Daughter Elizabeth is born.

Son Malcolm is born.

Daughter Ruth is born.

Daughter Rosemary is born.

Daughter Jennifer is born.

1937 – Edith has her eleventh child. Her son Patrick is born.

1941 – Edith is living at Penryn, Chestnut Avenue, Jersey. Is the name of the house in memory of her times working in the munitions factory at Penryn, Cornwall? That would imply that Edith saw this time in her life as something worth remembering.

1941 – World War 2 rages through Europe and Jersey is occupied by German forces.

1987 – Edith dies at the grand age of 84. With eleven children this is pretty impressive and shows what a strong woman she must have been, not forgetting that she also lived through two world wars! (Date amended from 1981 to 1987)

She is buried at St. Saviours Cemetery.

Here is Edith standing at the front with 9 of her 11 children:

Thanks for stopping by and Merry Christmas!