Emma Jennings Paulin to Charles Wilfrid Paulin, 1940

2/510 Birchfield Rd

Monday 30^th Dec. 1940

Dear Wilf [Charles Wilfrid Paulin]

Received your Most Welcome letter, it had been examined, OK, yes dear we have been through the mill. Very near to us, 3 lots of fronts and windows blown out. Have been staying with Hilda the last two weeks. She is out of danger area. Got worn out staying in the cellar for 7 to 8 hours nightly. 11 hours one night, then a land mine dropped a short distance from PB Station. So I packed up in the morning. Have to come back for rations and to see my sister, who is in the Infirmary (89 Years of Age). Time flies. Would like to see you, as family man, also George, perhaps some day, you will let us have a family group, also of George and his wife. Have sent your letter to Hilda. She will be so pleased. Do you remember helping me with the under garments- it was a great pity I had to sacrifice the shop, after working so hard. Almost gave the stock away. Never mind, I have my pension of 22/6 weekly and the best children in the world.

I am living in a 3 room cottage, up the passage in front of the old shop- we are having a lull now- so staying home.

We hear planes going over at Hilda’s and get heavy gunfire, shakes the windows, but they go to bed

[second page]

or could not carry over Hilda working over her certificate, Grace Public Assistance, Norman and his daughter are at Dunlop’s.

I thank you very much and George for the kind offer to help. We are OK, many things rationed, but can find something to take their place, can assure you we are far from starving, as Hilda would have you believe. Have only been to town once since the Raids- promised to meet Hilda in lunch hour- but the sights upset me, cause straight back- Poor Brum- this is no secret- published in the papers and I guess you have seen it in News pictures, my sister had- You little know how brave everybody is- bombed shops open next morning without windows and some have their goods outside. Still carry on and will do so until Hitler is wiped off the map. May it be soon- Give my love to your wife and children, also George and wife, the same to Uncle Fred and family when you see them. Lyn does predictions have all come true so far thought it might interest you- writing over to save bulk. Wishing you all a very happy New Year. Thank you for remembering us

Hugs and love from

Aunt Emmie

[Emma Jane Paulin nee Jennings]

October 11, 2019 0

Jennings in the press – 19th Century

Wolverhampton Chronicle and Stafford Advertiser, 13 September 1848 page 3

Marriages

On the 6^th instant, at Gretna Green Hall, Scotland, Benjamin Willis, third son of A Jennens, Esq of Birmingham to Elizbeth, second daughter of Mr. Jennings, of Yardley.

Ari’s Birmingham Gazette, 8 April 1833 page 3

Yardley Association for the Prosecution of Felons

The members of this association, and all other persons who are desirous to attend the annual meeting at the house of Mr. Isaac Jennings, the Swan Inn, in Yardley, on Friday the twelfth day of April instant, by order of the Treasurer, Mr. John Dolphin.

Thomas Colmore, Solicitor

NB Dinner on the table at half past one o’clock, Yardley, April 6, 1833

Coventry Herald, 30 October 1846, page 4

Deaths

On Sunday last, aged 24, Mary, daughter of Mr. S Jennings, of the Swan Inn, Yardley.

Ari’s Birmingham Gazette, 14 March 1836, page 1

Genteel Apartments

A single gentleman, of serious habits, may be accommodated in a small regular family, where there are no children. The house is detached, and situated three and a half miles from Birmingham. A stable and gig-house if required. Enquire of Mrs. Jennings, Swan Inn, Yardley.

October 9, 2019 0

Hilda Curtis to Oliver & Helen Pauline, 1984

Letter Hilda Paulin Curtis to Oliver & Helen Pauline, 16 Jan 1984

16 Jan 1984

Dear Oliver & Helen

Just a few lines to let you know that Jack passed away on Dec 19^th, he caught a very bad chest cold which was all over the ward even the staff got it, & that was when it took him. He died very peacefully. I was thankful for that, lately he had not been able to talk or hear, it was due to hardening of the arteries so he had really nothing to live for. He was 93 so had had a long

[2]

Life & I feel a happy one, although we had to work hard but we enjoyed life. It is always a blow no matter how much one expects it, but I am happy for him to be at peace.

Hope you are both keeping well

Love HIlda

October 3, 2019 0

Ernest Paulin and the Oliver Typewriter Co, 1899

Ernest Alfred Paulin worked for the Oliver Typewriting Company in Birmingham in 1899 as a commission salesman.

For more about the company look here: Wikipedia

or here: oliver typewriters

In trying to find out what the typewriter Ernest used, I think it was this one…..

which dates from 1896, and was manufactured in the US. They didn’t start making them in the UK until the 1920s.

September 22, 2019 0

Louise and George,c.1891

This is an image of Louise Mary Paulin Rutherford and her son, George Frederick Andrew Rutherford, aged 2 years 7 months, which means it was taken in 1891 in Birmingham.

September 17, 2019 0

Ernest Paulin to Frederick Pauline, 1899

Letter Ernest Paulin to Frederick Pauline, 18 Oct 1899

[Typewritten]

“Hillside” Farquhar Road, Moseley

Oct’r 18^th 1899

My Dear Fred

I will not attempt to express how thankfull I was to receive your kind enclosure, coming as it did unexpected and just at a time when any pecuniary assistance was more than usually valuable. I should like to have some good news from you and am looking forward to your promised next.

I wrote to George a week or two ago, which letter you might have seen, lettering you know that I have taken a Commission job on the introduction of a new typewriter, the “Oliver” on one which I am writing this short note; as there are thirteen typewriter agencies in Birm’m most of them with a ten years start or more you can imagine that there is not much in it but hard and disappointing work; when I tell you that it has taken me nine weeks to draw £4 you can fairly calculate the up the hill job it is. Nevertheless I have every confidence in the machine and eventually may be better; of course during the disastrous cycle boom here every body was in the cycle trade & every one had typewriters, so now that scores of the mushroom companies are gone, the market is glutted with typewriters of various degrees of perfection and price and these naturally very much handicap the sale anything new, and will do so for some time to come; but “Nil Desperendum”

You may tell the Dad that Red Cliffe House matter is concluded and that by to-morrow at latest I shall forward to him all the particulars of the transaction and hope he will found my stewardship of his interest satisfactory. As my letter to the Dad will be somewhat lengthy

-over-

[2]

I can embody any further items of interest in it, which no doubt the Dad will permit you to peruse. If you could have witnessed the relief that your kindness brought into our almost proverbially empty house, I feel sure that it would have amply repaid you for your kind thoughtfulness. I hope you and yours are well and that Piercy’s trip to Dawson will prove lucrative. Permit me to again express the hope that you kept on the near side of the Klondyke business and that your usual care and tactical discretion will leave your transactions well on the right side.

Emmie wishes me to convey her sincerest thanks to you and the little kiddies, who of course benefitted by your kindness have reminded me several times not to forget Uncle Fred’s present and tell him that now we have got new boots, we are going to school again and they will black their boots every morning and see how long they can make them last.

With kindest love and a hope that I shall get some news from Victoria again shortly,

Your affectionate Brother

Ernest

September 12, 2019 0

Farquhar Road, Moseley – residence

And so the google searches for family addresses continues. Today I present Farquhar Road in Moseley, Birmingham, where Ernest and Emma Paulin lived in October of 1899. I don’t have the house number, just the name “Hillside” which doesn’t work in google maps. So here is a street view of the road, which again features the same kind of late Victorian row housing, narrow, and two stories.

September 10, 2019 0

New to the page – VR Pauline’s diary, 1918

New on the web site – Victor Pauline’s diary, 1918

Cathy Jansen has obtained images from the diary of Victor Reginald Pauline from the BC Aviation Museum. They were donated to the Museum by Kathleen Paulin, Cathy’s aunt. The diary has not been fully transcribed yet – a job for later, but I was able to do a few pages as a start.

Notice the early part of the diary, January 1918 when he visits the family of Ernest and Emma Paulin. He talks a lot about his cousin Hilda, and also about Grace, and his aunty Emmy.

August 24, 2019 0

Ernest A Paulin to Frederick Pauline, 19 June 1898

Letter Ernest A Paulin to Frederick Pauline, 19 Jun 1898

257 Frederick Road, Aston

June 19^th, 1898

[Note top corner]

Emmie is waiting to go for a stroll

Domestic pen, ditto ink

Dear Fred,

I received your long and very welcome letter yesterday + hasten to reply, not as fully as I should like to, but to save as much time as possible. We hear from Amy (Mrs T) that a Captain Worsnop is coming over, and is to bring Harold. I thought it strange you should not have mentioned the fact and can only surmise that you are unaware of anything of the kind. You mention Appleby coming home to fetch Cissy + youngsters back and if this story of Mrs T is

[2]

Unfounded, I should be in the seventh heaven of delight if some arrangement could be made to let Harold come with him. Unfortunately I cannot send the necessary funds just now, but nevertheless I should be very disappointed if an opportunity of getting my little flock together once again under the altered circumstances, should be allowed to pass. The Dad’s letter I have not answered yet, but shall do fully in a day or two + I shall also make a point of sending you a more interesting

[3]

Letter as well. At this time it will be sufficient for me to assure you that both the “Fry” matter and the needle maker matter shall have my earned attention. I have written Fry to make an appointment to meet me, but, as usual get no reply from him. It is my intention to go fully into the matter with Fry and shall write you the result and at the same time you can rely upon my using all discretion but without losing sight of the fact that there is something wrong + that it is my determination to find it out.

[4]

You shall have all the news in my next, but I am sending this note so that the question of Harold’s coming home may be guided by yourself. Emmie is writing to Mrs Archibald to advise her of the likelihood of an opportunity of getting him with us again and will at the same time suggest that you represent her (Emmie) in the matter. Emmie has infinite trust in you + I personally shall be very proud if you will interest yourself in our behalf.

Kind love to all + again promising another letter in a few days

Your affectionate Brother

Ernest

August 21, 2019 0

107 Whitehead Road, Aston

In transcribing the letters from Ernest Paulin to his brother Frederick Pauline in Victoria, I noticed the return address 107 Whitehead Road, Aston between 1896 and 1897. This is likely where my grandfather was born. His birth is mentioned in one of the letters with this return address.

August 19, 2019 0