Heal, Ernal Carpenter (1882-1956)

The mysterious Mr Heal aka Frederick Hamilton.....(He would have loved the internet fame!).

The mysterious Mr E Heal. He is wearing a Silver War Badge which was distributed from Sept 1916 so this photograph was no doubt taken after that date. I have yet to find his WW1 service record.

I write this blog tentatively, not least in the fear that skeletons may come tumbling out of my great grandfather's closet. Ernal/Earnal Carpenter Heal is one of those family members that makes genealogy so frustrating and fascinating. He also teaches one the importance of the old adage 'always speak to family members first before trying to beat your head against a brick wall'.

From Heal to Hamilton.
The larger family mystery of my maternal grandfather was solved when speaking with a 2nd cousin who had been researching the family history. She had also lived with and known Ernal ( Fred) when she was a youngster. As far as I knew, my mum was born a Hamilton and her dad and his siblings were all born Hamilton. Ina ctual fact, the man that was married and died as Frederick Hamilton was born Ernal Carpenter Heal. The son of John and Margaret Heal.

Genealogists are only too aware that names can get mistranscribed on historical records. Dunbavin's can become Dunbavand's which in turn can become Dumbarton's, a Miller becomes a Mellor (or vice versa), a Bramwell can become a Brambell and so on. More often than not this can be a genuine mistake by the person transcribing the record for cataloging, the mishearing of a name from the census taker at the time or the recording of a cleric who thought it best to spell the name otherwise at the time of birth, marriage or death especially if the person being recorded was unable to read or write. They never considered that us folks may be blundering along 200 years from then trying to find our Davies who had been recorded a Davis.
This was obviously not the case for Ernal. Frederick Hamilton does not sound nor look anything like Ernal Heal.

It was no big surprise that it took sometime to find him and even then only through meeting with
my 2nd cousin. She even had a copy of his father's last will and testament which confirmed all stating he was leaving all to his son 'Earnal Carpenter Heal, professionally known as "Frederick Hamilton."'  I have been told Earnal was a singer and performer who had at some point ventured over to the States with the bright lights of Broadway calling. Possibly visiting his brothers and sisters who emmigrated to America there in the early 1900's. Frederick Hamilton would certainly have been his stage name but it was also a name he carried over into his married life and passed on to his descendants.

Part of the last will and testament of Earnal's father, John Heal, written in 1923 by John's solicitor. The will clarifies the names which Earnal is known by.

A salubrious family rumour of why Earnal may have changed his name, other than for 'professional' reasons, tells a story of Ernal leaving his Bolton birthplace not long after he was 18 following the discovery of a body in the railway tunnel near home. Some folks put 2 and 2 together to get 6. I have been wading through newspaper records and have yet to find any proof of a body being found or of Ernal's involvment in any such but I continue to search. I have to admit that I do find it difficult to talk of ancestors in less than glowing terms, especially when it feels like it hasn't been such a long time since their death (1959), however, from what has been gathered from family talk, Ernal was a bounder, a cad, a charmer and not necessarily in the nicest of ways.

Early Years.

On 14th June 1882 Ernal Carpenter Heal was born in Bolton, Lancashire to parents John and Margaret Ann Heal (nee Guthrie). Both parents had moved to Bolton from different parts of the country. John Heal (b.1855) came from the South West of England, from the town of Bradninch, Devon.  Margaret Ann Guthrie (b.1856) hailed from the North East, more specifically Lemington, Newcastle Upon Tyne which, back in the day, was in the county of Northumberland.

Birth record of 'Earnal Capinter'.

Ernal was the oldest born son and the fourth eldest child of 10 (that I know of) - Annie Regina (b.1875), Maria Jane (b.1877), Margaret (b.1880), Blanche Lucy (b.1885), Jessie (b.1886), Wilfred (b.1887), Sidney James (b.1890),  Kenneth (b.1893) and Daisy (b.1895).




Ernal (Ern) first appears in the 1891 England Census. He was was living at 7 Arthur Street in Farnworth, Bolton with mum, dad sisters Annie, Maria, Margaret and Blanche and brother Wilfred.

1891 Census - Ern Carpenter the Carpenter part of his name likely to be taken from the maiden name of John Heal's mother who was Ann Carpenter.

Ernal was still living with his parents in 1901 living at 30 Clarence Street, Farnworth, Lancashire along with his sisters, Margaret, Blanche and Daisy and brothers Wilfred, Sidney and Kenneth. By this time his elder sister, Annie Regina, had married a local chap, James Stephens and was living in Vernon Street, Farnworth, Bolton. His other sister Marie Jane and married a William Henry Roylance and was living on Bolton Rd, Clifton, Lancashire.

In the 1901 census Ernal was 18 years old. He was called 'Ernest' on the census, which is probably more to do with the census takers understandable translation of the unusual name of Ernal. He was working as a Coal Miner.

'Ernest' Heal - 1901 Census

A move to Wales and married life.
By the 1911 census, Ernal was living as Frederick Hamilton, married to Margaret Ann Michael and living in Ystradgynlais in South Wales and they already had 2 children Ena and Sidney (my grandad). It is difficult identify when (and why) Ernal made his way down to South Wales. He was working as a coal miner in one of the pits close to Ystradgynlais.

Frederick Hamilton - 1911 Census. Now married with 2 children.

Ernal married Margaret Ann Michael on 17 July 1909 and a week later their first daughter, Ena, was born. Sidney (my grandfather) came along the next year on 31 Dec 1910.

Ernal and Margaret went on to have more children and lived in Ystradgynlais until my grandad was about 15 years old. Family legends state that Ernal/Fred was a bit of a ne'er do well who had a roaming eye. It is understood Fred left the family and moved back up North. Margaret later went to find him before calling all the children up to Bolton, Lancashire where the family settled for good and Ernal/Fred went on to have more children.

Back up north.... Ernal's mother, Margaret, died in 1923 with his father, John, dying in 1925. At the time of his death, John Heal was living in the family residence of 21 Darley Grove, Farnworth which is where Ernal, Margaret Ann and their children eventually settled for many, many years to come.

Ernal/Fred and wife Margaret Ann (nee Michael)

Once living back up north, 21 Darley Grove became the much loved home for the 'Hamilton' family for many, many years to come. The 1939 register shows Ernal/Fred and his family residing at Darley Grove. At this time, Ernal stated that his occupation was as a 'fertiliser mixer' which a cousin astutely stated could be translated into 'shit stirrer'......

1939 Register, 21 Darley Grove - Frederick Hamilton 'Fertiliser Mixer'

The American Link
During my search for Fred/Ernal I discovered that some of his siblings had emigrated to the USA.  Annie, Blanche, Sidney and Kenneth all travelled to the USA between 1911-1924 and settled in Rhode Island, New England. It has been said that Ernal (as Fred) travelled over to the States and had even performed on stage musicals. The search still continues in this respect. His son Kenneth (my grandad's brother) was also a musician, singing in many clubs in the 60's and himself travelling over to the USA.

Death
Ernal Heal died at home on 20 April 1959 from a 'coronary occlusion due to atheroma'. He was 76 years old and his death was recorded under his 'professional' name of Frederick Hamilton. His wife continued to live in the family home up until her death in April 1970, a couple of months before her 80th birthday.  The search for more information about Ernal Heal continues.....

Timeline and facts:

Monarchs (1882 - 1959);  Queen Victoria, King Edward VII, King George V, King Edward VIII,
King George VI, Queen Elizabeth II.

Known addresses:
1882 - 7 Arthur Street, Farnworth, Bolton, Lancashire (Birth certificate).
1891 - 7 Arthur Street, Farnworth, Bolton, Lancashire (1891 Census).
1901 - 30 Clarence Street, Farnworth, Bolton, Lancashire (1901 Census).
1909 - Garden House, Cwmgiedd, Ystradgynlais, Brecon, South Wales (Marriage certficate).
1910 - 3 Pelican Street, Ystradgynlais, Brecon, South Wales (Birth certificate - son Sidney).
1939 - 21 Darley Grove, Farnworth, Bolton (1939 Register).
1942 - 21 Darey Grove, Farnworth, Bolton (Marriage certificate - son Sidney).
1959 - 21 Darley Grove, Farnworth, Bolton (Death certificate).

Known employment:
1901 - Coal Miner, Farnworth, Bolton, Lancs (1901 Census).

1909 - Coal Miner, Ystradgynlais, South Wales (Marriage certificate).
1911 - Coal Miner, Ystradgynlais, South Wales (1911 Census).
1939 - Fertiliser Mixer, Farnworth, Bolton, Lancs (1939 Register).
1959 - Inspector Royal Ordnance Factory, (Retired) (Death certificate).

Fred Hamilton aka Ernal Heal (centre) with my grandad Sidney Hamilton. Probably taken sometime in the 40's.