Biography of Caroline Emily Brooks (Caroline Emily Joyce)

Caroline was born on 17 February 1884 to William & Emma, while living at 54 Church Row (renamed Durham Row before 1912), Limehouse.

On 3 Juy 1885 Caroline, together with her sisters Emma, Theresa & Eliza, were admitted to Bromley Workhouse; observation recorded as 'Deserted'. In the Stepney Union Admission & Discharge Register, all 4 sisters were admitted on 3 July 1885 from Poplar House; Emma was transferred to the sick asylum the same day; Theresa, Eliza & Caroline the following day 4 July 1885. On 16 July 1885 all 4 sisters were admitted to Bromley House, and the following day taken by their father (William).

On 1 April 1887 Caroline, together with her sisters Emma, Theresa & Eliza, were admitted to Bromley House in St Leonard's Street (formerly known as Stepney Union Workhouse) from Poplar House. Caroline was discharged to parents on 23 May 1887; her sisters to Sutton (Brighton Road School, part of the South Metropolitan District School for workhouse children, near Belmont Station, Surrey) on 5 April 1887. According to another Bromley House record, all 4 girls were deserted by their father. See also Stepney Union Admission & Discharge Register 1 July 1887.

In the 1891 census age 7, Caroline's living with her parents William & Emma at 31 South Grove, East Ham, London, with sisters Emma (14), Martha (Thirza) (11), & Eliza (9), & brother William (2).

Caroline was admitted (or readmitted) to Knapp Road School on 11 May 1891 - and recorded as leaving 29 August 1890. Her address is recorded as 14 Shepherd Street (now renamed Toynbee Street, Spitalfields), next to the Duke of Wellington pub. Her date of birth is recorded as 7 December 1884.

By 1901 age 17 she's living with her parents at 13 Florence Road, East Ham, London, with sister Maud (8) & brother William (12). In the 1911 census age 27 & unmarried, she's living with her parents at 18 Bendish Road, East Ham, less than a mile from the home of her future husband George Thomas Brooks at 41 Benson Avenue, East Ham. George & Caroline were married on 22 August 1914 at the Emmanuel Church in Sheffield: it's not clear if they eloped, or how George found work (as a lead burner) there. At the time of their marriage both lived in Sheffield very near to each other (& the Emmanuel Church), George lived at 33 Baldwin Street, and Caroline at 75 Warren Street. In the 1911 census one of the marriage witnesses (Winifred Spendlove) was living with her husband & 3 children at 33 Baldwin Street. There are some discrepancies on the marriage certificate: George was 22 (not 25) & Caroline 30 (not 29); George's father's middle name may have been Robert (not Richard).

Caroline & George had 4 children: Herbert, George, Arthur & Betty. In the 1939 census Caroline is living at 264 Badsley Moor Lane, Rotherham with her daughter Betty & Gwendoline Vickers (soon to marry Caroline's son Herbert). At the same time (1939), Caroline's husband is staying with the Shaw family at 28 Henry Street, Scunthorpe, maybe for work (he's described as a Chemical Plumber Lead Burner).

Caroline died in 1968 age 83.