Family Story & Photo'sWe were quite shocked to discover that Ronald & Lois Bastin had more sisters (Ethel Maud & Edith Mary), & brothers,(George, Albert, Frank & Wilfred). It was vaguely known that Joseph was killed on the railways, & any further detail is still unknown. He died Oct 21 1905, Leafe St., Castleford. Wilfred in attendance, and causes listed as Scoliosis and Epilepsy. (have death cert) The most disturbing news was that the family was broken up. We think Ron & Lois went into Charlton Children's Home, & that Appalyna (known as Abigail) maybe put into the workhouse! We all know what terrible places they were.Wilfred James BASTIN born about 1884 Robinson Row, Altofts, south of Leeds, West Yorkshire. As a boy he used to ride on the horses pulling barges along the Aire & Calder Canal. Later, he worked on the barges, where he met his wife, Ann KIRBY. She came from a hops farm near Tadcaster, at a place called Aberford. In Tadcaster there are a lot of breweries. They used to also travel the Wharfe River. Castleford had brewing industries too, so they must have brought hops down to Castleford, where Wilfred and Ann would have met. Denise, Wilfred's granddaughter, said that Ann married at about 16 years old, about 1912. Ethel BASTIN, their first child, was born July 1912 now 89 yrs old. Harry BASTIN, born June 11, 1914 died Oct 1982. Wilfred went to war in 1914 and missed the birth of his son Harry. Ann went back to the KIRBY's farm at Tadcaster. Wilfred went to war & until the end, 1918. Corps: Yorkshire Light Infantry Machine Gun Corps 5th King Own Yorks. Light Infantry (KOYLI) Regiment No. 499, 131258, 1499 Rank: Private Catalogue Ref WO 372/2 When he came back he went to live in Castleford, & worked at the Wheldale Coal Mine. Wilfred died at about age 63 because he got gangrene from shrapnel in his leg. He had his leg removed, but later died from the shock. Ethel at 18yrs went to work at the cotton mills Keithly. Her marriage to first husband Harris Fielding, lasting 30 years until he ran off with another woman. She remarried and had her first child at age 49! A daughter Beverley (now Greenwood) was born 1961. Ethel now lives at Hebden Bridge near Halifax. She is now 89 years old (2001). Ann Kirby used to work at the Elkwood Woolen Mills and lived at Locklane, Allerton Bywater, near Castleford. She was very good at handicrafts. She used to weave rugs out of old clothing! Ann Kirby died 6 months after Wilfred. Ann was a big lady and when she died, she was 26 stone! Ann Kirby was buried at St Johns Catholic Cemetery Allerton Bywater. Wilfred and Ann adopted a little boy when he was about 3 months old(Warren). Wilfred and Harry were both quiet people, they liked to read. Wilfred used to sit on the step and smoke a pipe. But when angry they would lash out. Wilfred had an allotment at the canal side at Ferry Bridge Road. Wilfred and Ann had a clock on the kitchen wall, it had Roman numerals and a pendulum, like a railway waiting room clock. This could have belonged to Joseph Bastin. When Warren sold it to a Pawnshop, Harry was very annoyed! Harry married Ilene. Her maiden name was Willoughby-Newton. Ilene’s father was called William James. Hunt is related on the mother's side also. Ilene's parents didn't like her marrying Harry, and didn't even go to their wedding. Her parents were from a wealthy family and didn't like Ilene marrying Harry because he was poor! This side of family had blonde hair & brown eyes. Harry had curly blonde hair, & went bald early. Harry, according to Denise, was named after his uncle Harry (KIRBY?)who lived in Rotherham,he worked on the Railways & had no children. ? Harry Bastin b. 1914, died October 1982. On the way back from a rugby match, he didn't feel very good and went to order a beer, then collapsed and died from a massive heart attack. Ilene died October 5th 2001 from a brain hemorrhage, (she suffered from a bleeding nose) She was living on 16 West St Castleford just down the road from Whitwood Mere where most of the Bastin’s lived. George Bastin b. 1892 Altofts, Yorkshire Worked as a coal miner, & also in a pub called the Golden Cock Hunt Street, Whitwood Mere. It had a sign with a red cockerel. George was known as "George the basher"! He had a daughter called Madge. George married Florence Portman, formerly Tolson, as her first husband, George B Tolson was killed WWI. Her brother Lewis Portman married her George's sister Lois Bastin (my grandmother always referred to them as Uncle Lou and Auntie Lou Lou). Memories of George & Florence - (Granddaughter, Kathleen Bowden) says that when she was very young George used to say to her 'come here and I'll give you some chin pie' and then he used to rub his stubbly chin on her face and make her squeal! Florence lived with Marjorie Bastin after George died. She always used to have a pack of Arrowroot biscuits on her side table,and she didn't believe in taking medicine - if she was ill all she would do was eat oranges. She was also fond of the odd flutter on the horses. George went to war with Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry. Florence and George Tolson did have children (Benjamin) George Bastin had a daughter called Madge, now deceased, who married George BOWDEN. George Bowden died age 79 yrs, 5 Oct 1993.His father was Italian(father John Deprato). They had a son Michael Bowden b. about 1936. He died 30 Dec 2001. And a daughter Kathleen. George died about 1958 - possibly 1959, think he could have been cremated at Lawnswood in Leeds. Lois Bastin was born November 5, 1898 at Woods Buildings Normanton. (have copy of birth certificate) She married Lewis Portman.They had no children. They lived at the Potteries, Castleford. Lewis b. 1901, Whitwood Mere, was a Postman. Lewis was a kindly man - a typical down-to-earth Yorkshire man! - who always wore a flat cap wherever he went, whilst Lois always appeared quite severe, apparently towards the end of her life she became fiercely religious!Lewis died 84 yrs, 28 Ap 1985, address 101 Townville Dr, Castleford. Edith Mary Bastin married Alexander Speight 1906, Castlford area. They lived at 22 Temple St. Albert b. 1888 was 5' 6" with brown eyes and brown hair. He worked for Briggs Colliery & Hunts Chemicals, then joined the army reserves in 1906, Pontefract. Albert Bastin died Wednesday 5 May 1915 No grave, name on Menin Gate panel 36 & 55 (I have Photo)Probably blown up by heavy bombardment, 2nd Battle of Ypres, Belgium 3/1926 Ist Bn.York & Lancs Regiment, Private Cat. ref WO 37212 He was 27 yrs old. Ethel Maud Bastin died young 29yrs, 1918 Leeds, maybe due to Flu epidemic? Frank also died Dec 1918 age 21yrs, Huddersfield. Ronald BASTIN b. May 1903, Pontefract, may have gone into Charlton Childrens Home after 1905? Worked at a Glass Factory as a child. A Granny Patterson, took him in, & later took him to Gateshead. Married Margaret MacDermott Aug 1925.Had son Ronald, my father, 2 Sept 1926, & a daughter, Margaret, now SMITH in Canada. Worked on railways from the age of 14. When he retired he moved back to Knaresborough abt 1949. He died 12 May 1972 Knaresborough, 69 yrs. Joseph died, Oct 21st 1905, railway accident, probably hit his head,as he died from spinal scoliosis & epileptic fit. Epilepsy,if not inherited, is due to abnormal electric activity in the brain cells. Could be caused by eg. a brain tumour, or damage to the brain from a head injury. His address given as 1 Leaf St, Castleford, son Wilfred witness. Death Index December 1905 Joseph Bastin aged 54. Appalyna (may have been)put into workhouse, then probably Pontefract(Tanshelf) Union Workhouse, think Ronald went there also?. Between 1911 -1915 she worked in Leeds as a housekeeper in Byron St & Leopold St, at an aged care home for Jews. Appalyna died 28 Jan, 1935, age 73 at 4 Phillips St, George was witness.
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Appalyna Bastin (mother) b 1861
Appalyna(nee Nicholson), born 1861, parents were-: Mary Lumb b.1843 West Ardsley James Nicholson b 1841 Rothwell. James was a coal miner They lived Low Common Altofts in 1881 Both James & Mary died around 1886/7, unknown why? She was 5 ft tall, brown hair and brown eyes. She could read and write. Her occupation given as Housekeeper. Around 1911 to 1915 she worked in Byron St & Leopold St. for A Jewish Aged Care Home. From 1915 she lived at 4 Phillips St Whitwood Mere. She died 1935. |
Ronald Bastin b 1903 Castleford
Ronald Bastin born 1903 March 31st, 10 nicholson St, Castleford. He was the last of 6 children born to Joseph & Appayna Bastin. By Oct 21st 1905 Joseph died and Ron could have been placed in a childrens home? Later a Granny Patterson, adpted him & they moved up to Gateshead, Durham. By 14yrs he was working on the railways, until retiring. He married Margaret McDermott around 1920. Then he resided Knaresboro', Yorkshire, until his death in 1971. |
Ronald Bastin b 1903 Castleford
George worked as a coal miner & at night in a pub called The Golden Cock, Hunt St Whitwood Mere, now demolished. From the photo it looks like he had an alottment. He only had one child with Florence Portman, Marjory b. 1918 Private Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infintry |
