Annie Mansfield
Posted by Jo Mottershead in Mansfield, Mottershead, Statham
"The love between a mother and daughter exists in a special place…where "always" always lasts and "forever" never goes away." ~ Laurel Atherson.
The closeness of the relationship I had with my mother goes beyond words; it extends into the depths of feelings, emotions, and an unconditional love, the likes of which I didn't think could ever be repeated, until I had children of my own.
When I gave birth to my first child, a son, I told my mother, "Now I understand how you feel about me". I corrected that statement when my daughter was born, telling her "Now I really know how you feel about me!" The bond between a mother and daughter cannot be explained in words, only feelings.
It's been eighteen years since I last saw my mother, but she never really left me; she can't. There's an invisible golden thread that holds us together, for all eternity. A thread that can never be broken…
My mother was pure love….an indescribable love….a forever love. Jo.xxx
Annie Mansfield, born Bredbury, Cheshire, England.
June 5, 1921 ~ August 30, 1993.
Annie on the left, with a school friend, 1933.
Annie was confused as a child, constantly wondering who all the men were in her house! She knew one of the men, her father, Walter Mansfield, but as for the others, she wasn't sure. She knew them by name, and they would visit her home often. It wasn't until she grew older that she understood the structure of the family she had been born into….
Annie was the eldest daughter born to Walter Mansfield and Edith Lillian Statham Potts Mansfield. Her younger sister, Edith, came along three years later.
Her father had previously been married to Martha Shaw and they had eight children. Martha passed away in 1915, and by the time Walter had married Edith, and Annie was born, Walter still had five surviving adult sons.
Annie on the right, with her friend, Lily, who remained a life long friend, taken 1935.
Her mother, Edith, had been married to John Lowe Potts, who had also passed away in 1915, leaving Edith with two young sons and a young daughter. From Annie's earliest memories, the two boys were teenagers, so it was little wonder that she felt surrounded by men! Annie adored her big sister Lily Potts (the only girl) and always had an understanding that Lily was her sister.
During the first ten years of Annie's life she vividly recalled the days she spent with her mother. She often reminisced about their regular trips to Yorkshire, to visit family, and her carefree days playing on the Yorkshire Moors. She had not a clue who the people were she visited in Yorkshire; all she knew was she was loved and safe when she was with her mother.
Her brothers lived nearby to her home and she
With the Mottershead family, 1942.
remembered going to visit her brother, Walter Mansfield, to collect newly killed chickens, which she carried home and was expected to prepare for cooking. In her older years, she would shudder at the recollection of plucking chickens!
She also vividly recalled the day she was christened, being dressed up in her "Sunday Best" and walking to the local St. Mark's Church in Bredbury, situated next door to the school she attended, where her christening took place.
Annie on the left, with her father and younger sister, Edith.
She had a particularly close relationship with one of her brothers, Bill Potts, a son from her mother's first marriage. Bill joined the army and spent much of his time in India and he later moved away from Cheshire to live in the south of England, but during all of his travels, he and Annie constantly stayed in touch with one another.
When Annie's mother took ill, she knew something was terribly wrong. There came a time when she was forbidden to go upstairs to spend time with her mother, and was delighted one day when one of her brothers told her that he would take her upstairs to see her "Mam", as she called her.
She hadn't bargained on the sight of her
Annie, August 1943.
mother, laying still and cold in the bed, and even though at ten years of age she did not understand the concept of death, she felt petrified. Annie later recalled the terror she felt, and realised that she had run downstairs, even though she didn't feel her feet hit the stairs, such was her freight.
Unfortunately that was the day that Annie's idyllic childhood ended. Whether through grief, or another emotion unknown to Annie, her father would often leave her alone at night, coming home in a state of drunken stupor, which he would have no recollection of the next day. Annie had also become cook and housekeeper for her father.
At age fourteen, Annie was invited by a friend, Harold Barton, to go to the local "Guy Fawkes Night" celebrations, on November 5, 1935, where they would eat treacle toffee, see the fireworks and keep warm by the huge bonfire. Harold introduced Annie to his cousin, Sam Mottershead, who had come from Manchester for the night.
On Sam's bike, 1951. Annie never had a licence to drive anything!
Sam and Annie were inseparable, from that night on.
Another huge blow hit Annie when, two years later, she lost her beloved sister, Lily Potts, through complications of diabetes. Sam also had become great friends with Lily, and the two took her loss very hard.
By this time, living with her father had become unbearable for Annie. She told Sam of her misery and he questioned her in disbelief, as he had great respect for Annie's father. Annie asked Sam to stay with her at home one night until her father arrived, to witness what she knew would happen.
True to form, her father arrived home, and in his drunken state, found no kind words for Annie, who apparently reminded him of her mother.
Annie holding new born daughter Annette in 1942.
Sam, in total horror, ordered Annie to come to his home, where she was welcomed with open arms by Sam's parents. She remained living with the Mottershead family, right up until just after her and Sam were married, in 1939.
In 1941, with Sam in the army and overseas fighting during the Second World War, and their first child on the way, Annie moved home to be with her aging father.
Annie and Sam's first born child, Annette Mottershead, came into the world on February 16, 1942, born in the same room and bed in which Annie herself had been born, twenty years before. The midwife had been called, but didn't arrive in time. Annette was born with only Annie's seventeen year old sister Edith present at the birth.
The family in 1946.
Annette became "big sister" to Christine, on April 29, 1945, during the same year in which Sam was discharged from the army. Sam had spent so much time away that when he finally came home for good, Annette didn't realise that he was her daddy. When Annie told Annette to kiss Daddy goodnight, she followed their usual routine, which was for her to climb up onto a chair to kiss the photo of Daddy on the sideboard!
On June 26, 1946, Annie and Sam's third daughter, Vivien, arrived and in 1951, the family of five immigrated to Sydney, Australia.
Christine's wedding dress and Joanne's flower girl dress were both made by Annie.
When they arrived in Australia, one of the first purchases Annie made was a "Pfaff" sewing machine. She had been taught how to sew by her Auntie Lily, a sister of her mothers, and she made all of the clothes for her three daughters using the sewing machine. When the girls were married, Annie made a wedding dress, bridesmaid dresses and flower girl dresses herself, along with doing all of the catering for the weddings.
When Annie and Sam's fourth daughter Joanne came along, Annie continued with the tradition of sewing beautiful clothes for her to wear. As Joanne also showed an interest in learning to sew, Annie patiently spent hours at a time, teaching Joanne everything she knew about sewing, (between multiple cups of tea!) on her trusty "Pfaff" sewing machine.
A new dress for Joanne.
To this day, Joanne still has her mother's one and only sewing machine, bought way back in 1951.
After all the girls had left home and Sam and Annie had moved to the far north coast of New South Wales, Annie found more time to pursue her other interests, cake decorating and crochet.
She claimed herself to be a "Jack of all trades and master of none". Just take a look at these photos, showing the skills she was capable of. I think you will agree that she underestimated her own abilities profusely!
Annie and Sam celebrated fifty years of marriage in 1989, with Golden Wedding Anniversary celebrations at the home of their daughter, Vivien. Photos taken on the day can be seen by clicking here….
After the death of her mother, whilst she was still a child herself, Annie lived what some would term a hard life, but she never gave up on pursuing her dreams. Her strength of character saw her conquer the most trying of times, as she continued to care for her family with love, strength and compassion when others might have given up the fight. Annie was the driving force in keeping her family happy and close, the one who everyone turned to if they needed a shoulder to lean on, and an ear to listen to their woes. Annie always had time for those she loved ~ always.
At the christening of grandaughter Emma, in 1993.
Annie left us on Monday, August 30, 1993, but the family traditions she created during her lifetime have remained. Sam said the memory of his wife lived on, every time he looked into the eyes of one of their daughters.
The names of the descendents of Annie Mansfield, along with further stories of her life with her husband, Samuel Rubery Mottershead can be found by clicking here…
Sam and Annie, 1962.
"My mum is a never ending song in my heart, of comfort, happiness, and being. I may sometimes forget the words but I always remember the tune." ~ Graycie Harmon.
3 thoughts on "Annie Mansfield"
What a remarkable woman your mother was, Joanne. No wonder she was confused about her relationships with all her half-siblings! It looks to me like she beautifully mastered multiple roles and trades and her legacy lives on in you and your sisters.
Thank you so much Barbara. My mother was remarkable, strong and full of energy, and I really admired her ability to master any task she set her mind to. She was one determined woman! 🙂
Pingback: Object Biography – Pfaff 30 Sewing Machine | The Family of Jo Mottershead