Frederick Percival MORRIS (1898–1918)
Frederick Percival Morris was born in Headington on 19 September 1898, the son of Frederick Morris (baptised at St Andrew’s Church on 27 December 1863) and Sophia Jane Coleman (born in Headington in 1865/6, registered first quarter of 1866).
His parents were married in haste at St Andrew’s Church on 1 August 1886 and had eleven children, including the following:
- Mabel Caroline Morris (born in Headington on 27 February 1887 and baptised at St Andrew’s Church on 10 April 1887)
- Edith Morris (born in Headington on 29 November 1888 and baptised at St Andrew’s Church on 27 January 1889)
- Gilbert John Morris (born in Headington on 11 August 1890 and baptised at St Andrew’s Church on 5 October 1890)
- Mildred Morris (born in Headington on 21 January 1893 and baptised at St Andrew’s Church on 26 March 1893)
- Lucy May Morris (born in Headington on 30 May 1895 and baptised at St Andrew’s Church on 28 July 1895)
- Frederick Percival Morris (born in Headington on 19 September 1898 and baptised at St Andrew’s Church on 20 November 1898)
- Elsie Morris (born in Headington on 8 December 1899 and baptised at St Andrew’s Church on 4 March 1900)
- James Andrew Morris (born in Headington in 1902, died aged 2 months, buried Headington Cemetery on 1 January 1903)
- Daisy Sophia Morris (born in Headington on 6 October 1902 and baptised at St Andrew’s Church on 4 January 1903).
Frederick’s father was a shoemaker and his mother was a servant in Headington at the time of their wedding.
The 1891 census shows Frederick senior at home in St Andrew’s Road with his four-year-old daughter Mabel, while his mother was visiting her parents, John & Matilda Coleman, at 55 Magdalen Road in east Oxford with Edith and baby Gilbert.
From 1898 Frederick’s father is described as a gardener rather than a shoemaker, and by the time of Elsie’s birth in 1899 the family had moved to 11 Westbourne Terrace on the London Road. This is now the Shanghai House takeaway at 127 London Road (right).
The 1901 census shows Frederick’s parents at home in Westbourne Terrace with their six children, including Frederick, who was then two years old.
Below: Westbourne Terrace in about 1916, when the present shops were still houses with front gardens
By the time of the 1911 census the family had moved to 9 New High Street in All Saints’ parish, and Frederick Percival (12) was still at school.
In the First World War Frederick Percival Morris served as a Private in the 9th Battalion of the Devonshire Regiment (Service No. 31553). He died of wounds in France on 10 November 1918 (the day before Armistice Day) at the age of 20 and is buried in the Busigny Communal Cemetery extension (II.B.16). He is listed on the roll of honour of All Saints’ Church, Highfield.
The grave of his parents (below) has the words along the side:
”ALSO OF FREDERICK PERCIVAL THEIR YOUNGEST SON DIED OF WOUNDS RECEIVED IN ACTION NOV-10-1918 AGED 20”
Postscript
Frederick’s parents
- Mrs Sophia Jane Morris died at 9 New High Street at the age of 56 and was buried at Headington Cemetery on 22 November 1922.
- Frederick Morris was buried with his wife in 1933 (shown on above grave, but not entered in cemetery register).
Frederick’s siblings
- Lucy May Morris (born in 1895) married Jack W. Spencer in the Headington registration district in the third quarter of 1920.
- Daisy Sophia Morris (born 1902) married Percy A. Blake in the Headington registration district in the fourth quarter of 1923.
See also
- CWGC: F. P. Morris (confirmed by FindMyPast as having been born in Headington)
- “The Long, Long Trail”; The Devonshire Regiment