Albert Ernest Patterson 1868-1945

Albert Ernest was born in 1868 in Bradford..

The 1871 census recorded Albert Ernest as a 2-year-old, the youngest in the family of William Patterson 1816 and Mary Ann nee Byram 1835. They were living at 36 Calcutta St (no longer in existence) in a family of 5 plus 3 boarders -

William Patterson 55 Plasterer, born Clayton West

Mary A Patterson 36 Weaver, born in Horton

Martha E Patterson 7, born in Shelf.

Wallace Patterson 5, born in Shelf

Albert E Patterson 2, born in Shelf

Mary J Gorry 20, boarder, Weaver, born in Liverpool

Charlotte Whittleston 19, boarder, Weaver, born in East Ardsley, Yorks.

Annie Dyson 18, boarder, Weaver, born in Huddersfield.

In 1881, the census shows him at the same address. Albert, now 12, was already working in a woolen mill as a Worsted Doffer, the boy who removed the bobbins containing the spun yarn. His schooling seems therefore to have ended early.

William Patterson 66 Plasterer, born Clayton

Mary A Patterson 45 Worsted Weaver, born in Bradford

Martha E Patterson 17, Worsted Weaver, born in Shelf.
Albert Ernest Patterson 12, Doffer, born in Clayton

Mary Rosalie Patterson 7, Scholar, born in Clayton

Florence Patterson 1, born in Bradford, Yorks.

He was still living with his father & mother & sisters Mary Rosalie & Florence in Calcutta St (but now at number 15) for the 1891 census. His older brother Wallace and his wife Lydia (née Sunderland) were living next door.

William Patterson 76 Supported by family, born Clayton

Mary A Patterson 56 born in Bradford

Albert E Patterson 22, Worsted weaving Overlooker, born in Clayton

Mary R Patterson 17, Worsted Weaver, born in Clayton

Florence Patterson 11, Scholar, born in Bradford, Yorks.

Albert Ernest married Mary Isabella Jackson in Bradford in 1894 (BMD).

The1901 census records him as living with his wife Mary Isabella and their first two children at 21 George St, Shipley (still exists) in the following household -

Albert E Patterson 32, Insurance Company Superintendant Assistant, born Shelf

Mary J Patterson 31, born Bradford

Doris Patterson 6, born Bradford.

George E Patterson 2 months, born Saltaire

Mary A Patterson 66, widow, born in Horton

Florence Patterson 21, sister, Cloth Burler and Mender, born in Bradford.

Albert Ernest's older brother Wallace Patterson was also in Shipley at this time and working in insurance.

According to his grandson Brian Brown (son of Doris Patterson) the family moved to Rushden, on the A6 between Bedford and Kettering, sometime after 1901. At some point, he and his wife were active in the Society of Friends (Quakers). Their association could well have started at Rushden, where there was an Adult School Movement establishment. Subsequently, they moved to Luton where they were recorded in the 1911 census. The Quaker connection continued with his daughter Doris, who married a member of a prominent Quaker family, Richard Marks Brown.

They may have lived initially in Upper George St, Luton, then moving to 19 Dunstable Rd. After retiring he bought 'The Retreat', a large house at 142 Old Bedford Rd. I (Brian Patterson) well remember this house, because his daughter, my Aunt Doris, kept a strawberry patch in the garden. Although family relations were not close, the strawberries had a powerful attraction for me as a 7-year old. I and a friend once turned up there uninvited asking "to help pick the strawberries". We two scruffy kids were treated very kindly This property was sold about 1996, demolished and the site redeveloped as flats.

They had 3 children:

Doris Patterson 1895-c.1980

George Ernest Patterson 1901-1966

Joyce Patterson 1913-2004