My great grandfather Ernest Stroud.

               .Ernest  Stroud. 1865-1954

                                     

My great grandfather Ernest Stroud was born at Whitstable Kent in 1865, and at the early age of ten he started work as a fisherman under the guidance and instruction of his father,who lived to be 85.

When he was thirteen years old he found work at Ramsgate with the North Sea Fishing Smacks,and three years later, he was one of the crew of a coasting ship.

Coasting ships were glorious old sailing craft that played so big a part in building up the maritime strength and commercial wealth and prosperity of England ,and he lived and sailed on these for many long eventful years. As a young man, he did not neglect to make such provision as he could against misfortune and ill health in the future, and at the age of eighteen joined The Ancient Order of  Foresters. He served on the committee of that organisation for well over fifty years and was treasurer for forty years until his retirement.
                                                                                               
In June 1887 he married Florence Mary Foreman,and together they had eight children,but in1896,two of the children died. Tragedy struck again in 1902 His wife,eldest son,and new born daughter,died within ten days of each other,leaving Ernest with four children.  
As well as being a fisherman,he was also a pub landlord and was hard put to it as you can well imagine. In June 1903 he married Lucy Elizabeth Smith, she was a young girl of 19 years old that had helped in the bar when necessary,and they together went on to have nine children.

In 1889 he was appointed to the post of Fishery officer  for the Kent and Essex Sea Fisheries Board, a body formed for the protection of the oyster fisheries and the interest of the men engaged in them. That appointment, Ernest held for fifty seven years, and for the last twelve years of that long period of time, he was head Fishery Officer for Kent.

In the public life of Whitstable he was a prominent figure. Elected a member of the urban district council in 1910, he assisted in the founding of the Whitstable & Tankerton hospital, and helped in drawing up the plans for the war memorial in the town. In 1930 he became Chairman of the Whitstable Urban District Council, a post to which he was elected to. Ernest also served many years with the Voluntary Fire Brigade, and in 1934, Captain Fisher and other members of the brigade showed their appreciation by presenting him with a watch. He resigned from the Fire Brigade at the outbreak of World War II.

In his fishing smack “ Game Cock”, which was built in 1907 seven of his sons saw their first sea service under him. Three of them later went on to served on yachts in the J-racing class. Harold. Sid. and Jack, became officers on King George Vs famous yacht “ Britannia

Frederick Stroud:   Email:-familystroud1@gmail.com

Ernest Stroud 1865-1954 and Florence Mary Foreman  

                1869-1902  Married in June 1887
     

                                                 Florence Mary Foreman.        


The sons and daughters of Ernest and Florence

There are no photos of those highlighted in red below.

NAME                  BIRTH                     DEATH

Ernest                  1888                         1902

Florence               1889                         1969

Mabel                   1890                         1896

Alfred                   1892                    Unknown. (Stroud, Alfred, Seaman, RNR, 3384A)

Norah                   1895                         1896  March

Albert “Skipper”   1898                         1982 November

Clara                    1899                          Unknown

Dora                    1902                           1902

First wife of Ernest died                       1902

In June 1903 Ernest was remarried to Lucy Elizabeth

Smith 1884-1958 and went on to have nine more children.

             Name                    Birth                         Death

            Harold                   1903                         1964

            Stanley                 1904                        1906

            Sidney                  1907                         1986 

            Harry Ernest       1908                  Unknown

           Jack                      1910                           1999

           Gertrude              1911                           1980

           Winifred              1913                            2013

            Fred                     1917                            1942  

            Ellen                    1920                            2007