In April 1881, Cornelius Wakely was a baker living with his parents at Lyatts.

Early life at Hardington

Cornelius was born at Hardington on 20 September 1864, the first son of John Wakely and his wife, Emma.

On 13 November 1864, Cornelius was baptised at Odcombe, where his mother was born.

As a child, he lived at Lyatts, where his father pursued various occupations, including lime burner, smallholder, and road contractor.

In April 1881, when aged 16, Cornelius was a baker, probably employed by Abraham Partridge or Albert Squire.

Life in South Wales

By April 1891, Cornelius had moved to Cardiff, boarding at 46 Richard Street, St John, the home of John Rendell, a carpenter from East Chinnock, and working as a “fireman”. As his later jobs were all on the railway, this presumably means he was a fireman on a locomotive. It is unclear whether he became a railway employee before or after moving to Cardiff.

On 7 March 1893, he married Martha Jones, a domestic servant, at Cardiff St Andrew. She was the daughter of John John, a coal miner.

Their first child was born at Clydach Vale on 23 February 1894, and their second at Aberdare on 17 July 1898. In March 1901, their address was 77 Wind Street, Aberdare, and Cornelius’s occupation was “Railway Engine Stoker”.

By 6 April 1903, when their third child was born, they lived at Llandaff, probably at 32 Hawthorne Road, which would be their home for the remainder of their lives.

By April 1911, Cornelius was a railway engine driver. By June 1921, he was an engine repairer employed by the Taff Valley Railway Company.

The 1939 Register gives his occupation as “Loco Driver GWR Retired”.

Martha died on 19 October 1943, aged 72. Cornelius died on 30 December 1957, aged 93, leaving effects valued at £44 7s 3d. He appointed his daughter, Juletta, as his executor.

Cornelius and Martha had three sons and three daughters.