Robert Mackness (my great-grandfather) was born on Boxing Day 1861 in Stepney, East London. In the 1881 census , as a 19 year old, his occupation was recorded as “printer”. In the 1891 census he was a "printer's pressman" and in 1901 he was a “printers’ machinist” living in West Ham. In 1886 he married Eliza Ann ("Annie") Eacott (born 8 May 1866, Cirencester, Gloucestershire) - they had eight children. Robert Mackness died in 1949 aged 87 his wife Eliza Ann died in 1951. The eight children of Robert and "Annie" Mackness were:

(1) Ada Louisa (born City Road, London, 1887) was married in 1910 - otherwise nothing is known about Ada Louisa.

(2) Maud Annie (born Leyton Road, Essex, 1889) married William Fowlser in 1912. Believed to have remarried Mr. Bennett.

(3) Ethel Daisy (born Finsbury, London, 1891) married a Mr. Gordon in 1911 - she may have emigrated to Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.

(4) Hilda Mabel (born West Ham, 9 March 1893) was my grandmother. On 27 July 1916, aged 23, she married my grandfather Willie Hepworth Clegg (1880-1960) who was then aged 36. They had two children, one of whom was my father. Hilda died on 23 October 1924 from tuberculosis, aged 31.

(5) Florence Kate (born West Ham, 1894) married Gurbo O Nauta (also known as Nauts) in West Ham in 1921. Believed to have remarried Mr. Crook. May have emigrated to Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.

(6) William (born West Ham, 1897) married Violet E Knee in 1915. They had one child.

(7) Elsie Edith (born West Ham, 19 September 1898) married Henry A.B. Green in West Ham in 1919. Subsequently remarried Mr. Morton. She died on 27 March 1996 aged 97.