Page16 - The 1911 Census.

1911 Census

The 1911 Census shows the family still living at 97 Russell Scott Buildings, Cherry Street, Bermondsey, London SE., this confirms the family presence at the same address for at least 20 years going back to the 1881 census.  Annie Pettard lived until 1928 and with her son Fredrick unmarried, we can only speculate whether either will appear in the 1921 census at this address.

Joseph Henry Pettard is now deceased 1908 with the household consisting of; Alfred Pettard now listed head of household a widower aged 39, his daughter Agnes Elizabeth is now 15 years of age and still with her father.  Fredrick and Joseph Thomas Pettard aged 41 and 33 respectively are also still living at the family address.

Occupations quoted for household show Alfred is still a Tin Worker, Fredrick and Joseph Thomas are sharing the same line of work, namely Labourers General and Agnes is a Factor Hand.

One wonders why Alfred is stated Head of House bearing in mind that his brother Fredrick is 2 years older, maybe a matter of who was paying the rent.  Equally puzzling is the fact that their mother Annie Pettard is not listed has a household member, born 1847 she would have been 64 years of age and lived until 1928.

The 1911 census was remarkable for the absence of thousands of women not being recorded; this was a mark of support for the suffragette movement and the right for woman to vote.  Subsequently many women refused to be counted some preferring to be elsewhere for the day of the census.

The census shows that a H. Pettard is recorded as a boarder of 6 Polock Place, Kipling Street, Bermondsey, head of household is a Ellen Piner  a widow aged 53 years.   This could possibly be our Henry Joseph Pettard son of Joseph Henry and Annie Pettard, both date and place of birth stated, i.e. 1868 and Bermondsey would be correct for Henry Joseph Pettard.  If this is the case then it poses the question of his whereabouts for 30 years between the 1881 and 1911 census. No record of Henry Joseph Pettard appears in either the 1891 or 1901 census, nor to date are we aware of any details pertaining to his death.