RALPH, William Norton
William Norton Ralph was born at Manningtree, Essex in 1855, son of William Ralph (c1814-1883), basket maker & shoe dealer, and his second wife Charlotte, his first wife Maria Vice, whom he married on 3 June 1836 had died 'after a long illness' at Manningtree on 24 November 1849. In 1861, young William was a 6 year old, living at High Street, Manningtree with his parents, 47-year-old William and 37-year-old Charlotte, with two siblings, Henry Stephen 8 and newly born Charlotte Fanny, both born at Manningtree. Young William started his working life as a shop assistant in Manningtree but by 1881 was an outfitter, living at 25 Westgate Street, Ipswich with a 70-year-old housekeeper and by 1891 a 35-year-old 'artist in drawing' boarding at Silent Street, St Nicholas, Ipswich, the home of George Kidby and his family. He married at West Ham, Essex in 1897, Martha Louisa Lawford and in 1901, a 46-year-old artist painter, living at 9 Brandon Grove, Ilford, Essex with his 32-year-old wife Martha, who was born at Ringwood, Hampshire and their 1-year-old daughter Agnes, born at East Ham, Essex. By 1911, a 'tin ticket maker writer' living at 17 Station Road, Ilford with his wife a daughter and in 1921 a caretaker living at Nursery Lane, Forest Gate, West Ham, Essex with his wife and daughter. William Norton Ralph died at West Ham, Essex in 1928.