The Ancestry of John R G Bland - A South Lincolnshire Family:Information about Bertha Alice Beagles Bailey

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Bertha Alice Beagles Bailey (b. 19 June 1885, d. 28 June 1970)

Bertha Alice Beagles Bailey (daughter of William Morton Bailey and Sarah Anne Beagles) was born 19 June 1885 in Skegness, Lincolnshire, and died 28 June 1970 in Peterborough, Northamptonshire. She married (1) Isaac Mitcham. She married (2) John Thomas Glenday Bland on 1916 in Peterborough, Northamptonshire, son of John Glenday Bland and Susannah Searle.

Notes for Bertha Alice Beagles Bailey:
Despite her brothers squandering their inheritance away, Bertha was most careful with money and would always write down if she had lent anyone a penny and would not forget it untill it had been repaid. Even into her 80's she insisted that the rents from the houses be collected by family members and brought back for her to count and record. This was despite the fact that some of the houses had belonged to Mr Bland and were therefore her son's by right.

Bertha was a proud hard working devoted mother and grandmother. She always sent her son a weekly parcel containing the local Peterborough papers and a change of underwear, whilst he was in the army in World War 2. She also had to care for her grandchildren, Rita, Billy, Ruth and Jean when she was in her late 50's. This was after the death of her daughter Ruie, mother of Billy and Rita, and the divorce of her other daughter Babs. Ruies husband was called up for military service during the War,and Babs joined the NAAFI, whilst her ex husband was a farmer, so neither parent had the time to care for their children. Bertha did the whole lot with first Mr Bland being a father figure, and later her son Bill. Two of her grandchidren still talk of her laying out two settings for Christmas Dinner, the first for the children, the second for the adults.

Bertha liked to keep up with the events in the news, and the family ordered the first Radiogram set to be sold in Peterborough. Bill would also sit up late into the evening listening to the wireless.

Bertha was extremly proud of her background, and would not have known of the times before her father built up his fortune. Whether she kept in contact with her extended family in Whaplode Drove is unknown. Her Grand daughter recalls stopping at a fenland pub for tea on the return of the family's annual holiday trips to the static caravan in Hunstanton brought by Mr Bland. Whether this was at the Pub run by Mr Bland's sister and her husband, or a pub in Whaplode Drove/Holbeach Drove cannot be recalled.

More About Bertha Alice Beagles Bailey:
Burial: Unknown, Peterborough, Northamptonshire.
Census 1891: 1891, RG12/1227/ Scholar, with Parents, Swan Inn, Peterborough.
Census 1901: 1901, Student, Rheanor College, Hunstanton.

Marriage Notes for Bertha Alice Beagles Bailey and Isaac Mitcham:
Bertha married Isaac Mitcham, the eldest son of a large local farming family. Unfortunately Isaac was not a model husband and had eventually the only solution was for his father and my Grandfather to provide funds to him so that he could find a new life in Canada. This was around the start of the Great War.

More About Bertha Alice Beagles Bailey and John Thomas Glenday Bland:
Partners: 1916, Peterborough, Northamptonshire.

Marriage Notes for Bertha Alice Beagles Bailey and John Thomas Glenday Bland:
J T G Bland was named executor in the Will of William Morton Bailey. He was always known as Mr Bland, or simply "Mister" Even his son referred to him as "Mister" . "Mister" had seperated from his wife with whom he had two daughters Maud and Hilda. He paid his wife maintenance and this continued to be paid after his death.

Bertha became Housekeeper to "Mister" and eventually in 1918, this couple had one son. Despite the 27 year age gap, Bertha was devoted to Mr Bland and when he died Bertha said that he had given her the happiest 20 years of her life.

Children of Bertha Alice Beagles Bailey and Isaac Mitcham are:

Murial Sarah Bailey Mitcham, b. 8 April 1907, Peterborough, Northamptonshire, d. 1978.
Rachel Ruth Mitcham.

Children of Bertha Alice Beagles Bailey and John Thomas Glenday Bland are:

+John William Bland, b. 16 July 1918, Peterborough, Northamptonshire, d. 6 April 1984, Yaxley, Cambridgeshire.