The Family of
Frederick Challis (1864 – 1945)
I am grateful to Clifford Moore for some of the information on this page.
He was born 17 June 1864 at Ousden and baptised 21 August 1864 at Ousden, a son of George Challis (of Little Ousden, labourer) and Sarah formerly Crack. He seemed always to have been just Frederick, but in his mother’s will and probate he is referred to as Frederick George.
He was born 17 June 1864 at Ousden and baptised 21 August 1864 at Ousden (of Little Ousden, labourer). He was married to Julia (Julia Minnie) Cockerils (she signed as Cockle) at Depden, on 18 January 1890, after banns. He was aged 25, a bachelor and labourer of Depden. Father George was a carrier. Julia was aged 20, a spinster of Depden, the daughter of William Cockeriles, a labourer. The witnesses were H. Cook and Jane Alcock.
On 23 December 1893, Frederick (labourer of Depden) had a bill hook stolen. It was traced to Charles Crick of Hargrave and at the Thingoe and Thewastre Petty Sessions, second court, held at Bury, Wednesday 4 January Charles was fined 5s.
In the 1901 census of By the Green, Depden, Frederick was aged 36, an agricultural labourer, born at Ousden. His wife, Julia Minnie was aged 31, a tailoress, working at home, born at Rede and their children were George Frederick, aged 10, Daisy Edith aged 4 and Hilda Sarah aged 2 weeks, all born at Depden.
In 1911 at Haw Bush, Stradishall, Fredrick (sic) was aged 46, a labourer on farm and born at Ousden, Julia, his wife, was aged 41 and born at Rede. They had been married for 21 years and had had four children one of whom had died. Their children were George was aged 20, a labourer on farm and Hilda was aged 10, both were born at Depden. Daisy Edith aged 14 was elsewhere in Risbridge.
Fred may have worked at the mill at Depden. They lived at Primrose Cottage, (facing the mill and to the right of it on the Green.
In the 1939 register at Cut Bush, Thorns Corner, Wickhambrook, Frederick was a retired labourer with a birth date of 17 June 1864. Julia was a school cleaner with a birth date of 21 July 1869.
He seems to have died by 1948. His death registration (as Frederick Challis) was in the Newmarket district (included Depden from 1938) in the December quarter 1945. He was aged 81.
Frederick and Julia’s children were:
George Frederick Challis, baptised 25 May 1890 at Depden (labourer). He married Rae from Yorkshire and they lived most of their life near York. They have a son
Desmond Challis, married Gladys French.
Daisy Edith Challis, born 1 February 1897 in Depden and baptised 4 April 1897 at Depden (labourer). She married Charles Moore (born 15 February, in Denston, son of Amelia Moore). He lived all his life in Denston or Wickhambrook.
Hilda Sarah Challis, born March/April 1901 at Primrose Cottage, Depden and died in 1980. She married John (Jack) Cooper from Melbourn, Cambs. They had one son:
Alan Cooper. He was a van driver for Robert Sayles in Cambridge (later John Lewis department store) and was unmarried. He died August 2000 and lived at Melbourn.
Posted December 2016