So far in this series of Blogs, I have allocated the great majority of the space to the search for my Flack ancestors. It’s now about time I published what we know about another remarkable family – the Haywards.

Our mother Barbara Flack nee Hayward was born on  28 December 1915 in Middlesborough, Yorkshire England, the second eldest of five daughters to Ernest Hayward and May Hayward nee Chambers.

The only photograph I have of the family is the one below taken about 1962.  From the Left are Ernest and May Hayward, Jill Maddocks, Joan Jacobs (nee Hayward), Philippa Jacobs and Margaret “Peggy” Maddocks (nee Hayward). Seated is Susan Shaw (nee Hayward) with her son Andrew. Missing are Geraldine Buckenham (nee Hayward) and Barbara Flack (nee Hayward).

1957 Geraldine Hayward on Brighton Beach

Ernest Hayward and May Chambers were married in 1909 in Middlesbrough. It is not clear why Ernest was in Middlesbrough, although it appears that his father, Matthias was a traveling salesman and it seems possible that the family spent some time in Yorkshire where Matthew met and married May Chambers.

I have copied the 1891 Census return for 1 Grange Road Rochester, which lists:

• Matthias Hayward, Lodger, aged 40, “Traveller”, born Hampshire, Gosport;
• Margaret Hayward, Lodger, aged 32, born Cheshire, Weaverham;
• Ernest Hayward, Lodger, aged 3, born Southport and
• Arthur Hayward, Lodger, aged 1, born Southport;

The 1901 Census return for  64 Leonard Street Warrington lists Margaret Hayward (“own means”), wife, aged 43, born Weaverham and Ernest Hayward, son, aged 13, born Southport Lancs.

The 1911 Census lists Ernest Hayward, aged 23, born Southport, a Clerk in Wire Works and May Hayward, aged 19, born Middlesboro,  as living at 8 Lonsdale Street Southport with their 1 month old daughter Margaret May Hayward, born Middlesboro (Yorks).

A search of the few World War service records that do exist revealed that Ernest Hayward served in the 595th Company, Royal Engineers first in the Territorial Army, enlisting on 29 January 1912 rising to the rank of Warrant Officer Class 1 as “Supervising Clerk” at Chatham Barracks where he was discharged “fit” on his own request on 15 November 1919.

Ernest Hayward Military Records p3

The family oral tradition is that Ernest Hayward joined the Southport Borough before the Second World War and rose to become the Town Clerk of Southport before retiring in the 1950s. He was a keen philatelist and book collector. He was proud to show visitors to their Blundell Drive Southport address his “Penny Black” stamp.

Ernest Hayward died at Southport on 26 August 1965. A simple Death Notice and Return of Thanks appeared in the Southport Newspaper.

Ernest Hayward’s siblings were:

• Harold Hayward
• Edgar Hayward
• Arthur Hayward, born 1890 Southport, Lancashire
• Elsie Hayward born 1893 Southport, and
• Clarice Hayward born 1895 Southport

Arthur Hayward served in the Territorial Army before World War 1  and served in Egypt during the was rising to the rank of Captain in the Royal Field Artillery.

After the war he became quite a famous artist with pictures recognised by the Royal Academy.

The Cornwall Artists Index provides a summary of his work.Arthur HAYWARD _ cornwall artists index

Clarice Hayward never married.

Elsie Hayward

Ernest Hayward’s father was Matthias Hayward who was born the 4th son of James Hayward and Suzanna Hayward nee Taylor, in 1851 in or near Gosport, Hampshire.

The 1851 Census shows James Hayward and family resident at 1 Galimony (?) Street Portsmouth Hampshire and in 1871 resident at London Yard, Banbury, Oxfordshire as follows:

This Hayward page will be updated as more information becomes available.