Ann Alice Older (1876-1958) née Sykes

Biography

Ann Alice Sykes was born on 12 August 1876 in Slaithwaite, the daughter of shoemaker Joshua Sykes and his wife Rebecca (née Taylor), and was baptised on 30 March 1877.

She married stoker Charles William Older of Golcar, son of quarryman James Older, on 14 April 1900 at St. James's Church, Slaithwaite. The couple then moved to Honley where Charles found work at a cloth dyeworks.

Suffrage

Ann Alice was a Suffragette and a member of the Huddersfield branch of the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU).

She was one of 50 women arrested on Tuesday 11 February 1908 for "disorder in the vicinity of the House of Commons", along with Miss Ellen Brook.[1] Both were sent to Holloway Prison, but Older soon fell ill and the WSPU took steps to secure her early release.[2]

It has been suggested that she was related to fellow Suffragette Ellen Beever, although this appears to be an error — Ellen's relatives were the similarly-named Ann Sykes (niece) and Annie Maria Sykes (niece-in-law), both of whom were also WSPU branch members.

Later Life

The couple were residing at Wood Royd, Honley, at the time of the 1911 Census and had no children. Their daughter Muriel was born on 10 January 1915.[3]

By the 1950s, the couple were residing at 83 Hall Ing Lane, Honley.

Charles William Older died in April 1956, aged 78.

Ann Alice Older died on 16 February 1958, aged 81, leaving an estate valued at £4,523 16s. 1d.

Further Reading

Notes and References

  1. "The Suffragist Raid" in London Daily Telegraph & Courier (13/Feb/1908).
  2. "The Suffragists" in Hampshire Telegraph (22/Feb/1908).
  3. Muriel married Harold Illingworth in 1940. She died on 14 February 2011 in Holmfirth.