In April 1891, Emma Trask, a twenty-year-old Elementary School Teacher, resided with her widowed mother at 366 Hill End.

Emma, born at Closworth in 1870, was the youngest daughter of George and Harriet Trask. Her father was a farm labourer from East Chinnock who lived at Hardington as a young man and returned there after Emma’s birth. He passed away at Hardington on 9 December 1890, aged 58. Emma’s mother followed ten years later, on 30 March 1900, aged 68.

Marriage

On 19 February 1901, Emma married John Willy Matraves at St Peter’s church, Bournemouth. John was the son of Thomas Matraves of Moulton’s Farm, Haselbury.

John began work in his father’s Hardington forge. He then moved to Streatham to work as a coach smith, a trade he pursued for the rest of his life. The 1921 census records his employment with Fairey & Charles Motor Body Builders of Hayes, Middlesex.

Life in Streatham

John and Emma’s first home was a four-room house at 8 Cunliffe Street, Streatham.

They lived in Streatham for the remainder of their lives. In April 1911, they lived at 78 Dahomey Road. By 1919, they were at 26 Corsehill Street and, by 1933, at 130 Ribblesdale Road.

John died on 7 March 1941, aged 67, leaving an estate valued at £766-19s-6d.

Emma died on 2 May 1952, at 51 Castallen Avenue, Romford, the home of their son, aged 81. In her will, she left an estate valued at £2,637-6s-11d.

Emma and John’s two children, Gladys and Victor, achieved remarkable academic success, graduating from King’s College, London and becoming teachers.