From Yorkshire to Pasadena

Lawrence Eastwood

 

A CHRONOLOGY OF HIS LIFE

IN WORDS, PHOTOS AND POSTCARDS

1884-1911

 

1884, April 20 Lawrence was born in Ripponden near Halifax, West Riding, Yorkshire,

to David and Hannah Eastwood; the youngest of nine children that lived to adulthood.

 

 

The following are views of Ripponden

 

  

 

 

 

When Lawrence left school (probably around age 15) he went to work on the

Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway.

 

          

 

The Rishworth Branch. This branch line went right up the Ryburn Valley through Ripponden

where he grew up. On this line they operated trains that were very much like our streetcars,

valuable experience. At the ripe old age of nineteen he cashed in his retirement money and

bought a ticket to the U.S.A. - $23.

 

 

 

 

 

1904, June 30  Arrived in Boston, MA with Riley Howarth (Jackie Shaw’s Uncle)

who later returned to England.

 

A postcard, on back: 1904 where I landed

 

 

 

He lived in Philadelphia, PA with his Cousin Ernest Eastwood for two years.

 

 

          1904- Where I Lived                                      Ernest Eastwood, family, friends

 

 

 

 

 

In Philadelphia he worked as a motorman for the Philadelphia and West Chester Trolley.

 

 

Postcard, on back: 1907 the car I drove

 

 

 

Pennsylvania, Philadelphia in particular must have been a fascinating place.

See the following postcards

 

 

 

 

     

 

 

 

 1907   he visited Niagara Falls possibly on his way back to England

 

 

 

               .

 

Dated 1907

 

1907    Returned to England aboard the “S.S. Lusitania”

The sinking of the “Lusitania” in 1917 brought the USA into the war in Europe.

 

 

 

 

 

S.S. Lusitania

Built by John Brown & Co. of Clydebank, Glasgow, launched in 1906

The first British four stacker, first quadruple screw steamer

First ship to exceed 30,000 tons

Maiden voyage on September 7, 1907, the largest ship in the world

Lusitania set westbound crossing records in October 1907,

July 1908, August 1908 and September 1909

Eastbound record in October 1907

 

On May 7, 1915, while heading east off of Old Head, Kinsdale, Ireland

Lusitania was sunk by the German submarine U-20

761 were rescued, 1198 perished

1908    finds Lawrence working as a motorman for the South Lancashire Tramways Co.

 

 

He proposed marriage to boyhood sweetheart Florence Hamer.

 

FLORENCE HAMER born May 11, 1885 in Rishworth (next to Ripponden)

Daughter of George Hamer.

 

1909, April 9   Married Florence Hamer at Harrison Road Congregational Church, Halifax

 

 

 

 

1909, April 16 They left England for America, destination Chicago

where he had lined up a job running streetcars.

 

 

 

1910, May 15  Son, George born in Chicago

 

 

        George and his parents                            Mr. & Mrs. Sabey & Charles, friends

 

1911, July 4    Florence died in Chicago from tuberculosis ¿Did she bring it with her in 1909?

She is buried in Rosehill Cemetery, Chicago.

 

Her sister came from England; she had sailed on the “R.M.S. Carmania”

just a few day before Florence died.

 

 

R.M.S. Caramania

 

Built by John Brown & Co. of Clydebank, Glasgow, launched February 1905

Operated by the Cunard Line

Maiden voyage December 2, 1905, Liverpool to New York

In October 1913, Carmania distinguished herself by being one of nine ships to

Rescue a total of 521 (0ut of 654) people onboard the burning

Canadian Northern ship Volturno

 

In August 1914, Carmania was requisitioned as an armed merchant cruiser

In that capacity she sank the German armed liner Cap Trafalger

(disguised as Carmania) off Trinidad, September 1914

She remained in Cunard service until she went to the breakers in 1932

 

 

- o -

 

Lawrence, his sister-in-law and the baby returned to England.

He left George in the care of the Hamer family at Cockcroft, Rishworth.

 

 

George was well accepted by the family, he was raised in Rishworth, the family attended

Parak Nook Congregational Church (Chapel).

 

 

Parak Nook Congregational Chapel

 

Lawrence stayed for a while in Manchester with Cousin Rowland Eastwood.

One Sunday he went “walking” with Rowland, his girlfriend and her friend Frances Simcock.

 

 

Frances about 1911 in Manchester

 

Lawrence must have been really taken with Frances,

when he returned to the States he corresponded with her.

 

1911, Dec. 21  Departed Liverpool aboard the “RMS Arabic”

 

 

R.M.S. Arabic

 

Built by Harland and Wolff, Belfast, launched December 1902

Operated by the White Star Lines

Maiden voyage June 26, 1903, Liverpool to New York

Until WWI she was on the New York or Boston runs

 

On August 19, 1915 she was torpedoed with out warning

By German U-24 off Old Head, Kinsdale, Ireland

390 were rescued, 44 perished

 

 

 

1911, Dec. 30  Lawrence arrived New York, returned to Chicago