George Albert GUMBLETON

At the age of 8 he was recorded in the 1861 census, living with his parents and siblings in Long Crichel. He was a "scholar" and his father was recorded as an agricultural labourer. Ten years later, in the 1871 census, he had left school and was himself working as an agricultural labourer. The family's address was given as "Farm Middle", Long Crichel.

On 27 Dec 1877, George, now aged 24, was married to Emily Hiscock, at Hampreston, Dorset (which is about 10 miles from Long Crichel). He was described as a bricklayer of St Saviour, Southsea, so by this date he had moved on from agricultural work to learning a trade as a builder.

In the 1881 census, George Gumbleton, bricklayer, and his wife, Emily, were living at 23, St Vincent Rd, Porsea. They also had two lodgers, who were both bricklayers. Ten years later, the census shows them still living in Portsea, but now with 3 sons and a daughter.

By 1901, the family were living at 57, Newcome Rd, Portsmouth, Hampshire, and George was described as a foreman of buildings in the docks. Ten years later, George was aged 57 and described as a house builder, living at "Crichel", Lynton Grove, Copnor, Portsmouth.

In all, George and Emily had nine children (5 boys, 4 girls). Two of them died young, but the others survived. The family lived in a succession of small terraced houses in Portsmouth, Copnor and Southsea, which George had built himself. Some of his houses can still be seen in Milton Rd, Southsea.

Emily, George's wife, died in 1931. The Portsmouth Evening News published a notice in its Deaths column: "Gumbleton—Suddenly on 26th October, at Lavington, Winter Road, Southsea, Emily, the dearly loved Wife for 54 years of George Albert Gumbleton." Emily left a will and on 16 Nov 1931, probate was granted to her son-in-law, George Victor Max Hamer, solicitor.

George himself died in 1944, in St Martins Hospital, Bath, Somerset. Probate for his will was granted to his son, Leonard George Gumbleton.