In Q1 1893 the birth of Edward William Waller was registered in West Ham, Essex. I believe he was born on 25 November 1892.

In the 1901 Census they are living in Canning Town West Ham. Edward A. Waller is aged 45 and a Dock Labourer, Jane is 45, Amelia is 17, George J. is 14, Christopher J. is 10, Edward W. is 8 (i.e. birth year 1892) and Eliza is 6.

In the 1911 Census they are still in Canning Town. Edward “Ancell” Waller is 55 and a Stevedore, Jane is 55 (birthplace “Beventon Chisher” rather than Bebington Cheshire), Christopher John, 20, is a Soldier in the Dragoon Guards, Edward William, 18, is employed at an India Rubber Works, and Eliza Annie is 16.

On 21 January 1917 Edward William Waller, 25 (he was 24), Labourer, of 42 Cundy Road, Father Edward Ansell Waller,( Labourer), married Mabel Sarah Mary Holloway, 19, of 237 Prince Regent’s Lane, father Francis William Holloway (deceased), Labourer, in the Parish of St. Andrew, Plaistow. In the presence of Francis William and Priscilla Holloway. 42 Cundy Road was his older sister Amelia Hunt’s home.

On further scrutiny, Mabel’s father was actually Francis James Holloway, who died in 1905. Francis William, born 1889, was her older brother and Priscilla (née Jay) was the wife of her brother Walter James Holloway.

Mabel gave birth to Edward William’s son, Edward William Lewis Waller, on 14 June 1917. He was baptised on 4 July 1917, mother’s name recorded as Mabel Sarah May rather than Mabel Sarah Mary.

In the 1939 register taken on 29 September, they are living at 83, Brock Road, Canning Town, Essex. Edward William aged 47 (I think he was 46), date of birth 25 November 1891 (I believe it was 1892 as his birth was registered in Q1 1893), was recorded to be a “Conough Bell Tremaker” Heavy Worker. I imagine he was a “belt remaker”, possibly conveyor belts? Mabel S.M. Waller’s date of birth was 28 February 1898. Edward William Lewis Waller was a carpenter, born 14 June 1917.

On 10 May 1941, a Saturday (at the very end of the Blitz), Edward William Waller of 83 Brock Road died at 237 Prince Regent’s Lane, his wife’s family home. He is recorded on the CWGC website as Civilian War Dead. His age is stated to be 44, but he was 48. The death register has his name incorrectly as William E Waller and again aged 44.

Also killed were his wife Mabel’s mother Mary Ann (known as Polly) Thurston, and her stepfather William Henry Thurston.

Mabel Sarah M. Waller’s death at the age of 79 was registered in Havering in Q1 1977.

Edward William Lewis Waller’s death (aged about 86) was registered in Havering in Q3 2003.