Robert Henry Heads was born May 3, 1877 and Baptized on June 10, 1877 at the Parish of St. Thomas Charterhouse in Middlesex, London, England. The church was demolished in 1909, but was located just north of St. Paul Cathedral.
Robert’s parents, Henry and Eliza (Mary Eliza) Heads listed their abode as 9 Eagle Place on Bunhill Road on his baptism record. Robert’s father, Henry, was a Boot Finisher and 25 years old at the time. Robert’s mother, Eliza was 21. Robert was the third child and the second son when he was born. His older sister Ann Matilda Heads was 4 years old and his older brother John Henry James Heads was 2.
Robert is considered a true Cockney as he was born within the sound of Bow Bells. St Mary-le-Bow church is located within a mile of where Robert was born and baptized. He was born so close to the bells that even with the modern ambient noise levels which have reduced the area where the bells can be heard, he would still be considered a true Cockney. Since there are no maternity units within the area, the likelihood of any “true” cockneys being born after the 2012 sound map was produced, is reduced significantly.
The 1881 census, shows that the family is now located at 26 Central St. in Finsbury area of London. Robert is 4, Annie 8, John 5 and there is new little sister named Eliza aged 1. Robert’s father Henry (29) is still listed as a Boot Finisher and Robert’s mother Eliza is listed as a 26-year-old Sorter (Wastepaper).
At the age of 11, Robert visited Scotland, it had a profound impact and he talked about this visit most of his life.
The family moves once again prior to the 1891 census, they now live in Shoreditch Parish of the municipal ward of Hoxton at 9 Ebenezer Street. Father Henry is a Boot Finisher and 39, mother Eliza at 37 is a Paper Sorter. Annie is 18 and a Paste Board Liner (someone who passes cardboard into a pasting machine), John 17 and Robert 14 are both Boxmakers, Eliza 12 and Henry 10 are listed as Scholars. The youngest Heads, are George 4 and Richard 3 months.
I am not able to find the 1901 England census for Robert Heads. However, there is a Robert Heads listed as a Boot Finisher, born in England, who is a boarder at 22 Gellatly St. in Dundee, Scotland as part of the 1901 Scotland census. It is possible he returned to Scotland after Robert’s mother Eliza (Mary Eliza) died in 1899 and his father Henry Heads remarried. Robert’s step mothers name was Elizabeth (like his own mother) and she had a daughter, also named Elizabeth (Boney). By the 1901 census, Robert’s father lives with his new wife and step daughter. Robert’s brothers and sisters all went on to different lives.
The next official document for Robert Heads is when he marries Alice Maud Mary Bond on Feb 7th 1904 at the Parish Church of St. Sepulchre in Northampton. Robert, age 26, is a Machinist living at 30 Park St. Alice Maud Mary Bond is living at home on 48 Earl St. Prior to living on Earl Street, Alice’s family lived at 24 Park St., which is probably where Robert met Alice. I assume Robert moved to Northampton to pursue a career in the Boot and Shoe Industry which was growing quickly in Northampton at the time. Witnesses at the wedding were Violetta Beatrice Wilson (the bride’s sister-in-law) and Ada Emily Bond (the bride’s sister).
On July 26, 1904, Emily Ellen Heads is born. And by the 1911 census Robert’s family lives at 7 Somerset St. Northampton. Robert is 33 and a Shoe Finisher. His wife Alice is 28, Emily is 6, son Albert is 4, daughter Alice is 3. There were 2 children that died in 1911, Annie and John were twins less than a year old.
1914-1918 WW1. Currently unknown how Robert served during WW1. On Feb 19, 1918, Gladys Irene was born.
In the 1939 register, Robert (age 62) and Alice (age 57) are living at 61 Bryant Rd. Kettering. Robert is listed as a commercial traveler in shoe trade accessories government controlled. Gladys, age 21 is living with them. She is a Wholesale Confections Clerk and about to marry Ted Tite in 1940.
Robert is part of the Home Guard during WW2 from 1940-1944.
At the end of WWII, in 1944, Robert took his granddaughters, Joy and Janet to London to walk around and see what had happened to London during the war. The Bow Bells were bombed in May 1941 and did not ring again until December 12, 1961, after Robert died. They stopped by The Elephant and Castle Pub, to pick up some beer before visiting Robert’s sister Eliza Howatt and her daughter Dolly at 68 Cropley St., London. When the buildings began to be knocked down in about 1958, Eliza and Dolly moved across town to Clinger Court, an 11 story building (considered a high rise at the time).
Robert dies on Jan 6, 1961 at the age of 83 and is cremated on Jan 10 in Northamptonshire. While the official probate is shown below, all of the children and grandchildren received something upon his death.
Chance Objects 