Frank Ivall (1901-86), Professional Singer

Frank Ivall was born on 4 November 1901 in Hackney. I don’t know the names of his parents. He was adopted by William Frank Ivall, a descendant of Charles Ivall (1779-1832). Adoptions at this time were either arranged by adoption societies or privately between individuals, a formal system was not introduced until 1927. An article about the life of William Frank Ivall is on this blog.

School records show that Frank was admitted to Eleanor Road School, Hackney on 28 January 1907, aged 5. His address was 342 Mace Street, which is in area of East London called Globe Town. He left the primary school on 22 August 1910 (aged 8) and transferred to the boys’ school on the same site.

The 1911 census lists William Frank Ivall (aged 39, a postman), his wife Sarah Jane (42) and Frank (9, their adopted son) living at 64 Navarino Rd, Dalston, Hackney. 

The family were living at the same address in the 1921 census, and William was still a postman. Frank, aged 19, was an instrument maker working for the Patent Lighting Company, Narrow St, Limehouse.

In 1924, Frank married Dora Gardner Crocker in Hackney. They were both aged 22.

Frank became a professional singer. He appeared in a musical comedy revue called “Stunts of 1924” which toured the UK. The Gloucestershire Echo, 30 December 1924 had the following item under the heading “Cheltenham Amusements”.

Coliseum Theatre

“Stunts of 1924” presented by Mr George Perry’s company at the Coliseum this week, provides one of the brightest and most enjoyable entertainments that we have the pleasure of seeing for quite a long time. It is a comparatively new show, and one that is certain to have a successful run. Much cleverness is shown in its construction. While it embodies the revue element, it also contains much that is original and novel, combined with scenes that approach very closely to the spirit of pantomime, and it is these features that give the performance its chief distinction, and lifts it both in tone and colour above the average revue level. An astonishing amount of entertainment is crowded into the performance. There are about fourteen scenes in all, and many of them are picturesquely mounted and dressed. Grand opera sung to rag-time, pretty vocal scenes symbolical of toyland, a charming butterfly scene by Miss Pauline Stone and the “Pearl Girls”, graceful dancing by little girls, and excellent singing and dancing by Miss van Biene, Miss Stone, Mr Louis du Cane, Mr Frank Ivall, and other members of the company, are some of the chief features of the show. Miss van Biene is also an accomplished cellist, and Mr Ivall reveals a phenomenal voice almost soprano-like in tone and flexibility. A breezy humour runs through the performance, and some sparkling comedy is seen in the several sketches in which Mr Perry, Mr Du Cane, Mr Glenroy, Mr Pat Allen and Mr Ivall collaborate.

The Aberdeen Journal dated 24 February 1925 refers to “Frank Ivall’s male soprano singing” saying that “Mr Ivall has a remarkable falsetto, which he uses to excellent purpose.”

The Era (a British weekly newspaper noted for its theatrical content) dated 23 May 1925 contained the item below.

The Era dated 18 May 1927 says Frank Ivall’s fine voice is heard to advantage in “Perhaps You’ll Think Of Me” and “Forgive Me” which he is featuring at The Palace, Blackpool this week with enormous success.

Electoral Registers for 1924 and 1927 show Frank Ivall living at 64 Navarino Road, Hackney with his parents William and Sarah Ivall. In 1928 the voting age for women was reduced from 30 to 21. The 1929 and 1934 registers show Frank’s wife Dora also living at this address. Frank Ivall is listed in the telephone directory at 64 Navarino Road between 1928 and 1934. Not many people had telephones at this time, so this seems to indicate that Frank was comfortably off.

Electoral registers show that Frank and Dora moved to 124 Graham Rd, Hackney (which is near Navarino Road) in 1935 and were still living there in 1963. Records indicate that they had no children.

The National Register prepared in September 1939 lists Frank, a vaudeville artist, and Dora at 124 Graham Road. He is a shown as a member of the Police War Reserve, which was introduced in 1939. War Reserve Constables (WRCs) were volunteers, who were part of the British Police Force and were given the full powers of a police officer. Duties of a WRC included the usual activities of a Constable, as well as enforcing blackouts, combating black market activity, assisting in evacuations and air raids, and capturing deserting soldiers. Uniform and equipment was the same as a regular Constable, with the exception of uniform epaulettes which were detailed WRC. Despite British police traditionally being unarmed, during the war officers were armed with rifles for protection from enemy action, enemy sabotage and to assist with the armed forces.

Frank’s mother Sarah died in 1943 and his father William in 1953. Perhaps surprisingly, the administration of his father’s estate was not performed by Frank but by his father's housekeeper, Annabelle Beatrice Cohen, who was the main beneficiary of his (incomplete) will. Some china and an oil painting were left to Frank.

Frank died in May 1986 aged 84 in the Epping Forest registration district. His wife Dora died 5 years later aged 89. Probate was not issued on either of their estates.

Ann Maria Cheek / Howe nee Ivall (1865-1946)

The subject of this biography was a great grand-daughter of Charles Ivall (1779-1832), who was a brother of my ancestor Thomas Ivall (1781-1835). This posting is based on information supplied by Ann Maria’s great grand-daughter, Mary Harrison.

Ann(ie) Maria Ivall was born on 6 April 1865 in Basingstoke, the fourth of seven children of Henry Charles Ivall and his wife Mary Ann (nee Palmer). In 1871 they were living in Winton Road, Basingstoke. The family consisted of Henry (43, a carpenter and joiner), his wife Mary Ann (36) and their children Ellen Louisa (12), Alice Emma (8), Ann Maria (6), Henry Charles (3).

By 1881 the family had moved to Church Street, Dorking and Annie was a servant at West Lees Farm, Logmore nearby. She went to Leyton in the East End of London where she married Benjamin James Cheek on 12th May 1887 at Leyton Parish Church. Annie was 22, he was 26.  Benjamin, who was born in Great Dunmow in Essex, had moved to the East End looking for gardening work. He had a troubled childhood, his father was a parish clerk and a cabinet maker (like her own father) but Benjamin's father became a drunk and seemed to be suffering from a mental disorder. It was reported in the local paper that he had threatened to kill Benjamin.  He ended up in a lunatic asylum as did Benjamin's sister. By the time Annie and Benjamin were married both his parents had died.

Annie and Benjamin's first child was born on 12 June 1888. She was called Florence Annie Melita (known as Flo), their address then was 1 Sidney Terrace, Park Road, Leyton.  It wasn't long before they were on the move, as was to be the pattern for their life together. Benjamin had put an advert in the Times on 7 August 1890 looking for work. It shows his address then as The Lodge, Sheppey Court on the Isle of Sheppey, Kent. A family story has it that, as an under gardener, he would get the sack first when times were tough. The next move was to Lichfield in Staffordshire where the 1891 census shows they lived at the Friary Cottage and where their son George Henry was born in Q2 1891. Within four years the owner of the Friary died and they moved to Calne in Wiltshire where their daughter Nellie Beatrice was born on 5 October 1894 (at The Green, Calne) and Mary’s grandfather Alfred William Reginald was born on 17 May 1898 (at London Road, Calne). Benjamin worked for Miss Gabriel who was a well-known local benefactor. During this time Annie and Benjamin lost their son George. He was found drowned in the River Marden (which runs through Calne), coincidentally the same year 1899 as David and William Crouch (Louisa Ivall's sons), who also died in a drowning accident. A report in the Devizes and Wiltshire Gazette dated June 1^st 1899 said that Benjamin had sent his son to the river. Benjamin vehemently refuted this in a response in the following week's newspaper.

Miss Gabriel died in 1900 and Benjamin and Annie were on the move again, this time to Hampshire - 120 Clayhall Road, Alverstoke (near Gosport). The 1901 census shows Benjamin (40, a gardener, domestic), his wife Annie (35) and their children Florence (12), Nellie (6) and Alfred (2) at this address. This stay didn't last long either. Mary has a piece of paper that is thought to list of the places where they lived - there were several on the Isle of Wight mentioned. Happiness did not come to Annie’s family as Benjamin died of phthisis (TB) aged 45 on 25 May 1906. Their address then was 33 Cecil Avenue, Shirley.

In the 1911 census Annie (aged 45) and her children Nellie (16) and Alfred (12, known as Reg) were living at 51 Francis Avenue, Southsea. Annie ran her home as a boarding house. Flo had two rooms there, having just married Robert West. Annie moved again several more times. Mary understands that her grandfather Reg had rickets and was often hungry. He told Mary's mother that he was brought up by his elder sister Flo.

On September 27th 1914, Annie married Walter Thomas Howe at All Saints Church, Leyton. He was aged 51, a widower and  a postman from Walthamstow in East London - perhaps he worked with William Frank Ivall (also a postman), Annie's brother. She was aged 49. The address on their marriage certificate was shown as 127 Skeltons Lane Leyton.

Annie Maria (56) and Walter Thomas Howe (58) were living at 150 Guildford Road, Fratton, Portsmouth on the 1921 census. Annie's occupation was described as Home Duties and Walter was shown as a retired Postman. They were occupying one room at the property.

Annie and Walter Howe eventually settled in Southsea, Hampshire. The national register compiled in 1939 shows Annie and Walter (a retired postman) living at 18 Graham Road, Southsea.

Annie and Walter at their home in Graham Road, Southsea

Annie passed down a pedigree that showed she was related to the Wests who had set up a charitable trust for the poor and Christ’s Hospital school. We don't know whether she availed herself of any benefits from that. She also passed on the story that she was related to the Palmers of biscuit fame, but this is unconfirmed.

Annie Maria Howe with her grand-daughter Joyce West, c 1935

Annie’s house was damaged by bombing during WW2 and so she moved back to Alverstoke. Walter her second husband died in 1941 aged 78 and Annie died aged 80 on 9 January 1946. Probate records show that her final address was 27 Village Road, Alverstoke and that administration of her estate (£809 3s 7d) was granted to Florence West, her daughter. Walter and Annie are buried in Highland Road Cemetery, Southsea (plot B, row 22, grave 19). There is no marker on the grave.

William Frank Ivall (1871-1953), postman

William Frank Ivall was a great grandson of Charles Ivall (1779-1832) who was an elder brother of Thomas Ivall (1781-1835), my great great great grandfather.

William was born 10 May 1871 in Basingstoke in Hampshire, the sixth of seven children (six girls and two boys) born to Henry Charles Ivall (1827-1893, a carpenter and joiner) and his wife Mary Ann (b1834).

In 1881 William’s family were living in Church Street, Dorking and consisted of Henry (53, a carpenter), Mary (45) Henry (13) and William Ivall (9). The records of Dorking British School contain an entry dated 19 May 1881 stating exam results. Among those listed were W Ivall, who achieved the grade of "good" in the 1st grade freehand drawing exam.

British Postal Service Appointment Books show that William was appointed as telegraph messenger in March 1886, when he was aged 14. In July 1889 he became a sub postman and in December 1891 he was a postman in London Zone II. The London Gazette of 20 August 1889 contains a list of appointments including that of William Frank Ivall as a London postman.

The 1891 census shows that William (aged 19, a postman) was a boarder at 18 Ireton St, Bromley by St Leonard, Bow. In 1901, William (27, a postman) was living at 98 Eleanor Road, Hackney. At the same address were his brother Henry (33), Henry’s wife Ellen (31) and their 5 children plus two boarders.

The 1911 census lists William Frank Ivall (aged 39, a postman), his wife Sarah J (42) and their adopted son Frank (9) living at 64 Navarino Rd, Dalston, Hackney. Also at the address were William’s stepfather David Rendall (80) and a boarder. The census says that William and Sarah had been married for 4 years. In fact William did not marry Sarah Jane Coxall (b1867) until 1916. The wedding was in Hackney, he was 45 and she was 49. Records indicate that they had no children (apart from Frank).

Sarah Jane had a son, Charles Randolph Coxall, who had been born in 1891 in Hackney. His birth record has a blank for "mother's maiden name", so it seems that she was not married to his father. Charles joined the army in 1914 and was a Corporal in the Machine Gun Corps on 11 January 1918, when he was killed in France.

The census in 1921 lists William (50, a postman at Hackney Sorting Office), Sarah (52) and Frank (19, an instrument maker) at 64 Navarino Road, Hackney.  

On 9 May 1931 William, retired as a postman aged 60. The London Postal Archive has the letter sent to the Treasury stating his pension entitlement. On his retirement, William’s salary was £119.19.8 per year. The value of his uniform was assessed at £2.10.0 per year, making a total of £122.9.8. His pension was 60% of the total ie £73.10.0 per year. The letter gives his absence record in the last 5 years of his employment. It shows that he was absent due to illness 16 days in the year up to 10 May 1927, 26 days in 1928, 47 days in 1929, 33 days in 1930 and 31 days in 1931. This seems like quite a lot ! William had worked as a postman for 41 years and 8 months was recommended for an Imperial Service Medal which was a long service award to junior staff in the civil service who had an unblemished record and at least 25 years service. It is a silver circular medal bearing the effigy of the reigning monarch on one side, and the motif of a naked man resting after work with the legend 'For Faithful Service' on the other side. The name of the recipient is engraved on the rim. It is suspended on a ribbon of crimson with a blue central stripe. The London Gazette of 23 June 1931 reported that the medal was awarded to William on 9 June 1931.

The 1929 and 1933 Electoral Registers for Hackney Central show William and Sarah still at 64 Navarino Rd. Also in the household were Frank Ivall and his wife Dora Gardner Ivall.

The 1939 national register lists William (a retired postman) and Sarah Ivall at 64 Navarino Road.

William’s wife Sarah died 1943 aged 76 in Hackney and was buried in Abney Park Cemetery. William died in 1953 aged 81. The probate record reads

“William Frank Ivall of 64 Navarino Rd, Hackney died 18 Jan 1953 at Hackney Hospital. Administration (with will) to Annabelle Beatrice Cohen, spinster £750.”

William’s will is handwritten and doesn’t seem to be have been completed. It is signed but not dated or witnessed and no executors are named. The will reads

“I give and bequeath to my housekeeper Beatrice Cohen everything. Sydney Crewdson is to have my gun, Frank Ivall Graham Rd is to receive my Wife’s astijus (?) china in the cellar. Frank Ivall Graham Rd E8 is to receive my oil painting of old Dad. Frank Ivall Leyton is to receive my oil painting in the cupboard in the hall. I also”

The will ends at this point ! Sidney Greenhow Crewdson was living at 64 Navarino Road with William in 1949. Frank Ivall Graham Rd is William’s adopted son Frank (1901-86). Electoral registers for 1946 and 1954 show him and his wife Dora living at 124 Graham Rd, Hackney. Frank Ivall Leyton is probably Henry Frank Ivall (1896-1962), William’s nephew whose daughter was married in Leyton during 1956.

Henry Frank Ivall (1896-1962), wood machinist

Henry Frank Ivall was a descendant of Charles Ivall (1779-1832), who was a brother of my ancestor Thomas Ivall (1781-1835).

Henry was born on 29 January 1896 in Hackney, the fourth of the seven children born to Henry Charles Ivall (1867-1935) and his wife Annie nee Johnson (1866-1949). He was baptised on 12 April 1896 in St John's Church, Hackney. His father was a cook who lived at 98 Eleanor Road, Hackney

School records show that Henry was admitted to Eleanor Road Infants School on 14 May 1900. The 1901 census lists Henry Ivall (aged 33, a pastry cook), his wife Annie (34) and their children Margaret (9), Jessie (8), Dorothy (6), Henry Frank (5) and Nellie (Ellen, 3) living at 98 Eleanor Rd, Hackney. Electoral registers show that they were still living there in 1905.

In 1911, the family were living (in 6 rooms) at 11 Chesterfield Rd, Leyton in NE London. At this address were Henry Charles (43, a pastry cook) his wife Annie (43) plus their children Margaret (19, a sewing machinist), Jessie (18, a clerk), Dorothy (16), Henry (15 who worked in a cutting room making underclothing), Nellie (13), Lillian (9) and Sidney (7) also Henry Johnson (80), Annie’s father.

On September 5th 1914, soon after the outbreak of the First World War, Henry joined the 7th Battalion Essex Regiment, which was part of the Territorial Force. His service record is available in the British Army Pension Records section of the Ancestry website. Henry's attestation form gives his age as 18 years 9 months, his occupation as sawyer and home address as 5 Markhouse Avenue, Walthamstow (in NE London). He was 5 foot 7.5 inches tall, chest 34 inches, of average physical development and with good vision. He was examined by a medical officer on the day he enlisted and passed as fit. However, he was assessed by a medical board held at Norwich on November 13th 1914 and deemed medically unfit for further service. It is not stated why. Perhaps he had an illness or accident during his army training ? Henry was discharged from the army on 28 November 1914 after only 84 days of service, all in the UK. He was awarded the Silver War Badge, the medal given to those honourably discharged due to wounds or sickness during World War 1. The cause of his discharge is stated as "Med.Unfit. T.F.Regs 156(11)."

On 15 September 1923 Henry married Lillian Hewitt in West Ham. He was 27 and she was 21. They had one child, Mary Lilian, who was born in 1932. Henry’s father died in 1935.

 Henry Frank Ivall

The 1939 national register shows Henry (a wood machinist) and Lilian Ivall living at 64 Lindley Road, Leyton. Lillian became ill with a genetic disorder which meant that she could not keep her weight down. As a result, she became housebound.

After Henry's mother died in 1949, probate for her estate (£321) was issued to Henry, whose occupation is given as “wood machinist”.

Henry's daughter Mary Lilian Ivall married Kenneth George Coates in 1956.

Henry's daughter Mary (1932-2015) with Henry's sister Lilian Alice Roberts (1901-1984).

Henry died on 13 January 1962 aged 65 in the SW Essex registration district. There is no record of probate being granted on his estate, or that of his wife who died in 1965. They are buried in Walthamstow Cemetery in a double grave that includes plots IA 2905 (Henry) and IA 2906 (Lilian). The inscription reads

In loving memory of 
HENRY FRANK IVALL 
who died 13th January 1962 
aged 65 years. 
LILIAN IVALL 
who died 24th June 1965 
aged 63 years.

Henry Ivall's grave (photos supplied by Barry W)

Anna Ivall (1827-1899)

Anna Ivall was a granddaughter of Charles Ivall (1779-1832) who was a brother of my ancestor Thomas Ivall (1781-1835). Her baptism record gives her name as Ann, as does a Court of Chancery document in 1867. Her name is given as Anne in the 1851 census and in the record of her second marriage. All other records that I have found (the censuses of 1861, 1871, 1881, 1891, her first marriage and her death) give her name as Anna.

She was born on 11 September 1827 in St Pancras, London and baptised on 15 November 1827 at Normandy Street Independent Chapel (a non conformist church), Alton, Hampshire. Anna was the eldest of three children born to John Ivall (b 1802 in Wield, Hampshire) who had married Mary Collier on 24 July 1825 at St Andrews, Holborn. Anna’s siblings were Susan (1829-54) and Charles (1833-81). John was a coachmaker, an occupation that several members of the Ivall family followed. It is quite likely that John worked for his uncle David Ivall (1795-1850), who had a highly successful coachmaking business at 158 Tottenham Court Road (near St Pancras).

Anna’s father John Ivall seems to have died sometime between 1833 and 1837. The census in 1841 shows Mary Ivall with her children Susannah and Charles living with Mary’s parents John and Hannah Collier at Poultry House, Ingestre, which is four miles east of Stafford. I have not found a record of Anna in the census.

The 1851 census lists Anne (aged 23) as a house servant at Ingestre Hall in Staffordshire. An 1851 Directory of Staffordshire says that Earl Talbot was living at Ingestre Hall “a large ancient mansion standing in the midst of a verdant park of 300 acres”. It is now a residential arts centre.

In 1854 Anna (aged 26) married William Goodfellow  in St Peter’s Church, Pimlico in London. The marriage record shows that William was a widower and he worked as a servant. They moved to Reading where their son William was born in 1855 followed by a daughter Mary Susanna in 1856. Anna’s husband William died in 1858 at Cookham, Berkshire.

The census of 1861 shows Anna Goodfellow, a widow aged 34 living at 3 Victoria Hill, St Giles, Reading with her son William aged 6, daughter Mary aged 4 and a house servant. Anna’s occupation is given as “Proprietor of houses”. Next door at 2 Victoria Hill was Thomas Aust (aged 42, an upholsterer), his wife Sarah and their 5 children. Anna’s son William died in 1865 aged 10.

On 12 July 1867, Ann filed a “Bill of Complaint” (a misleading name) at the Court of Chancery. The document can be viewed at the National Archives at Kew. It describes Ann as the widow of William Goodfellow, late of White Waltham, Berkshire, farmer, and explains that William Goodfellow’s will (made in 1857) appointed Charles James Butler, William Gillett and Charles Ivall (Ann’s brother) as executors and trustees. The will left the rents and profits from his real estate (houses in Reading and in the hamlet of Whitley near Reading) to his wife Ann during her life but did not allow her to sell the properties. William Goodfellow was liable at his death “under a recognisance dated 5^th of April 1854 entered into by him as surety for Alfred Hobbs Lovegrove.” As a result, £143 10s 5d was due from William’s estate.  The executors did not have assets to pay this sum so Anna paid it herself. Hence it was owing to her from the late husband’s estate and it would be necessary to sell the house at Whitley to raise the money. Anna’s “Bill of Complaint” requested that the estate of William Goodfellow be administered by the Court of Chancery in order that the debt to her be settled. The case was heard on 22 July 1867. The court instructed that inquiries be made to establish the assets and debts due on William’s estate. It gave approval for property to be sold to meet the debt due to Anna.

On 16 July 1868 Anna (aged 40) married her next door neighbour Thomas Aust (aged 49) whose wife had died in 1867. They married in St Giles church in Reading and had a son, Henry Ivall Aust, in 1869.

The 1871 census shows Thomas and Anna living at 4 Whitely Rd, Reading. The household consisted of Thomas Aust (52, an upholsterer), his wife Anna (43), daughter Kate (25, a governess), stepdaughter Mary S Goodfellow (14), son Henry (1) and mother-in-law Mary Ivall (64, formerly a poultry keeper). Anna’s mother Mary Ivall died in 1879 aged 72 in Reading.

Thomas (61, an upholsterer’s assistant) and Anna (53) Aust were still at 4 Whitely Rd in 1881. Also living there were Thomas’s son Henry Aust (11), step daughter Mary Goodfellow (24, a teacher), his grandson Henry Webster (3) and a domestic servant.

In 1891 Thomas (72, living on own means) and Anna Aust (63) were living at 4 Whitely Place, Reading with Thomas’s widowed sister Elizabeth Nightingale (80).

Anna died in 1899 aged 72 in Reading. The Probate Index for 1900 has the following entry

“Aust Anna of 4 Whitely Place, Reading (wife of Thomas Aust) died 31 December 1899. Administration Oxford 15 February to the said Thomas Aust, retired upholsterer. Effects £108 14s 9d.”

Her second husband Thomas died in 1903 aged 84. The Probate Index for 1903 says

“Aust Thomas of 1 Grand Parade Portsmouth, retired upholsterer died 1 May 1903. Probate Winchester 12 June to Thomas Aust, commercial traveller. Effects £657 6s 3d.”