Notes for Henry Francis ADKINS While at Rossall School he won a book prize of Dickens' Curiosity Shop
which is endorsed 'Rossall School H. F. Adkins 1st Arithmetic
examination Xmas 1896 from CBD'. The book has been returned to the
school for its historic archive. Frank's ambition was to be an
accountant. However, his father wanted him to become a solicitor so he
joined up with Douglas Wenham, a relation of his brother in law (sister
Evelyn's husband). As independent solicitors they were not successful and
the partnership failed, perhaps also because his heart was not in it. He
then took the opportunity to become an accountant under the management of
his brother in law William Wenham. He provided accounting services for
various people and companies and was paid secretary of Oulton Golf Club.
He moved the family to Ottery St Mary on the outbreak of war in order
to protect them from the danger of bombing. From then on he was frequently
away from home in the week. The family had a presence in that part of
Devon until 2000 when his son Dennis moved up to Cheshire. [10]
Frank obtained a coat of arms
in 1923. The principle feature was reproduced as a monogram in two rings,
one for himself and the other for his son Dennis. On Henry's death Dennis
took to wearing his father's ring, and later gave his own to his nephew,
Tim Boddington. Regrettably, Henry's ring was lost while Dennis was in
care and Tim replaced it with a copy made from his. On Dennis's death
(2005) this ring went to another nephew, Jonathon Boddington. [11]
Notes for Ida Laura TOWNSEND Ida joined the Adkins family sometime after 1912 as governess to the
children. When Frank's first wife, Barbara, died young, he married his
children's governess, Ida. On the death of Frank she moved to the
Vicarage, Ottery St Mary, Devonshire UK and later to (another cottage),
Ottery St Mary. She was brought up in Staffordshire. The picture (left
above) was taken at a family gathering on the lawn at Mickleover Vicarage
(her step-daughter Pat's home) in 1948 when she was 59. The girl behind is
her daughter Evelyn then aged 23. It is regrettable that Ida and her own
child, Evelyn Adkins, were never fully accepted by some of the Adkins
children as being a full part of the same family.
Sources | 8. | Document, Evelyn GOODMAN research |
| 10. | Census, 1881 British Census, Kings Norton, Worcestershire, England |
| 11. | Interview, 21 July 2001, Dennis Adkins, Interviewed by STB |
| 46. | Interview, Dennis Adkins |
| 95. | Personal information, Tim Boddington (STB, Webmaster) |
|
