John Hudson was born at 44 Church Street, New Normanton, Derby, on 13th July 1878, the son of John and Frances Hudson. John’s father was a joiner.

As a child, John lived with his parents at Church Street and attended school in the area but by April 1901 he was working for George Meakin as a farm wagoner at Merry Bower farm, a short distance from Twyford. At this time, his grandfather John Hudson, who had been a gamekeeper for the Calke Estate, was living at Twyford, and John may have lived with him since the early 1890’s: on 1st April 1894 John was presented with a Bible from his grandfather.

John Hudson’s Bible with the inscription
‘-John Hudson- From his Grandfather, Twyford, April 1st 1894’

John was living in property owned by the Calke Estate and in the early 1900’s, Mary Ann Cox, a daughter of the local blacksmith, was sent to the property as housekeeper. John and Mary’s relationship blossomed and in September 1904, banns of marriage were read for them at St Andrew’s Church, Twyford, both being ‘of this parish’. They were married in a double wedding ceremony at St Andrew’s Church on 19th October: the other wedding was between Mary’s younger sister Edith Ellen Cox and George William Ernest West.

John and Mary Ann Hudson, 19th October 1904

Mary Ann wore a silver-grey wedding dress, while her sister Edith wore white. Mary’s brother Herbert Cox was one of the witnesses for her marriage, while her sister Ethel Cox was one of the witnesses for the marriage of her sister Edith. The Cox and Hudson families were well known to each other, with Mary Ann’s older brother Herbert Cox having married John Hudson’s aunt in 1889.

Mary Ann was born in Newton Solney on 8th May 1873, the daughter of John and Sarah Cox. She grew up with her parents in Twyford and after leaving school, Mary Ann worked in domestic service. In the late 1880’s she is thought to have been a nurse or nanny to the Greensmith family who lived in Derby. At the time of the April 1891 census and aged 17, Mary Ann was in Smalley at the home of her brother Herbert and his wife.

On 26th August 1892, Mary Ann was given a gift by her friend Annie Dawn. The gift was a small book called Red Letter Days - A register of Anniversaries and Birthdays by Frances Ridley Havergal. The book contained the dates of the year and for each one there was a Bible quotation and a verse, together with three blank lines. Over 100 entries were made in the book. Mary Ann recorded the names of family members and friends on the entry for their birthday, and often invited them to inscribe their name themselves. She kept this gift throughout her life.

‘Best Wishes for the future, Kind memories of the past, Remembrance in the present, and friendship to the last’

By April 1901 Mary Ann was working as a domestic cook, although she was visiting her married sister Gertrude at Old Parks Farm, Smisby, at the time of the census.

Mary Ann Cox, circa 1895

John worked as a farm labourer and after their marriage they lived for a short time at Heathend Farm. Their first child Gertrude Mary was born on 5th May 1905, three days before Mary Ann’s birthday, and by the time she was baptised on 11th June at St James’ Church, Smisby, the family had moved a few miles further south to Old Parks Farm. Mary’s sister Caroline married Arthur Pegg in December 1905 and they spent their honeymoon at the home of John and Mary and their infant child Gertrude.

John and Mary’s second child, Florence Annie, was born in May 1906 and baptised at St James’ Church, Smisby, on 17th June. However, Florence died aged 5 months and was buried in St James’ Churchyard on 3rd October 1906.

Between 1906 and 1907 John, Mary Ann and their daughter Gertrude moved further south, this time to a property on the Catton Hall Estate, near Swadlincote, where John continued to work as a labourer. Their third daughter, Frances, was born on 4th August 1907 and baptised at St John the Baptist’s Church, Croxall, on 15th September. Sixteen months after Frances, their first son John was born on 10th December 1908, and baptised at Croxall on 21st February 1909.

By 1910 the family had moved to Smalley, living in a cottage (demolished in the late 1930’s) opposite Smalley Hall. Their home was close to where Mary Ann’s parents were now living in retirement. It had a well near to the back door which provided the family with water. John worked at Mapperley Colliery as a horse keeper below ground, and for a short time Mary Ann worked as housekeeper for Thomas Beedham Charlesworth of Smalley Vicarage.

Their fifth child Lucy was born on 29th April 1910 and baptised on 19th June at St John the Baptist’s Church, Smalley. However Lucy died just over one year later. She was buried in the churchyard at Smalley on 9th August 1911.

John and Mary Ann Hudson with their son John and daughter Lucy. May 1911

Their daughter Gertrude recalled that around 1911 the three children - Frances, John, and herself - contracted scarlet fever which, being contagious, caused them to be taken by horse drawn ambulance to the Ridgeway Isolation Hospital at Heage (also known as the Belper Isolation Hospital). Their father walked to see them every Saturday afternoon, but had to be content with seeing them through the hospital windows since visitors were not allowed inside.

The cottage where the family lived was condemned, so while the children were in hospital, John and Mary Ann moved to a house called The Beeches, about one mile down the road, at Smalley Green. After the children had recovered, their father John and an uncle collected them in a large open horse drawn cart. It was winter so the children were wrapped in blankets and a bed of straw put down on the floor of the cart. When they arrived in Smalley the children first spent some time with their grandparents at Field View Cottage before moving into their new home. The children were excited about their new home since it had a water pump in the yard. Their grandmother Sarah Cox would often visit, bringing with her an orange for each of the children.

The Hudson’s home at Smalley Green

John and Mary Ann’s son Arthur was born on 1st October 1912 and baptised at St John the Baptist’s Church, Smalley, on 5th January 1913. John’s occupation was recorded in the parish register as being an ostler.

John and Mary Ann’s last child William was born at The Beeches on 24th June 1915 and baptised on 15th August also at St John the Baptist’s Church. John was working as a colliery labourer at this time.

At the time of the 1921 census, John and Mary Ann were still living at The Beeches at Smalley Green. John was still working as a labourer ‘above ground’ for Mapperley Colliery. Their sons John, Arthur, and William were living with them, together with Mary Ann’s nephew Reginald Ernest Cox who was working as a school teacher in the village.

This wall clock originally belonged Joseph Clower of Abbots Farm until it fell off the wall and the glass broke. Mary Ann's father John Cox bought it for 5 shillings, repaired it, and gave it to Mary Ann as a present.

In 1929 Mary Ann’s father returned to Twyford to live with his daughter Gertrude Meakin and her family. John, Mary Ann, and their children moved into Field View Cottage which would later become the home of their son William and his family until 1976.

John and Mary Ann Hudson with children John (‘Jack’), Arthur, Frances (‘Cissie’), William (‘Bill’), and Gertrude (‘Gertie’). The dog was called Floss. July 1924

In 1930 an appeal to residents of Smalley raised £233 towards the restoration of the organ at St John the Baptist’s Church. The list of subscribers to the Organ Renovation Fund included ‘Mr. & Mrs. John Hudson and Family’ who contributed £1.

John Hudson died on 15th July 1938 aged 60 and was buried in the churchyard of St John the Baptist’s Church, Smalley, on 18th July. His memorial can be seen here.

After her husband’s death, Mary Ann continued to live at Field View Cottage. She was known as ‘Granny Hudson’ to her grandchildren, and in old age became deaf.

Granny Hudson’s rolling pin - still being used in 2022

Mary Ann lived to be 89 years old, and died on 3rd January 1963. She was to be interred at Smalley with her husband, but January 1963 was the coldest month since 1814, with an average temperature of -2.1°C. Heavy snow and solid ground made a burial impossible, so the family arranged a cremation.

John and Mary Ann Hudson were my great-grandparents.