Cynthia's paternal grandfather was Obadiah Roebuck, who was born on 31 July 1853 at Warren, near Ecclesfield, between Sheffield and Barnsley. His biblical name followed a tradition from his mother's family, the Oldfields. Methodism was in revival at that point in many places including Yorkshire. Obadiah married Ellen Holliday on 29th December 1875 at Wellgate Chapel in Rotherham, South Yorkshire. Ellen was born on 23rd February 1851 at Barton, Lincolnshire, which is on the banks of the River Humber.
Obadiah was a coal miner, and it was said that he worked hard and drank hard, especially on Friday after his shift, and his wife had to feed the family with what was left (source: Grace). Obadiah did actually die from injuries received in a pit accident, when a shaft ceiling fell on a group of men. Rescuers got them out, and Obadiah lay injured for a few days, before dying on 4th December 1917 in Rotherham Hospital. Somewhere we have a copy of this account from the local newspaper at the time, and will add it when found. Ellen died in December 1930 at Rotherham.
Left: Amazingly we can only find one photo of Obadiah in this collection, although we are sure there are more somewhere. Here he is on the left, with wife Ellen, a major guest at his son Fred's wedding in 1916. His suit is typical early 20th century: all three pieces of the same colour. Ellen is dressed fashionably, as skirts and blouses have replaced dresses, and light-coloured blouses came in with the new century too. Her blouse has a lacy collar, and she is wearing a brooch at her throat.
Right: This studio photograph of Ellen in late middle age really shows some family resemblances - the mouth: Grace. General face shape and eyes: Cynthia (senior). The blouse is late Victorian style, denoted by its dark colour, but has had an Edwardian lacy collar added. The style of photo is very late Victorian, in that the backdrop is very vague, she is pictured in head and shoulders only, and an oval white surround called a vignette has been put around the picture, seen more clearly at the bottom.
Left: This picture of Ellen was taken from a group including George Thomas Roebuck II and Evelyn Sellars before they were married (1924), therefore probably 1920. In the 1920s ladies were still not allowed to show their ankles, hence Ellen's long skirt, and she would also have worn thick black stockings and sensible shoes or boots.
Right: This picture of Ellen was taken at George Thomas II and Evelyn's wedding in 1924. Although her coat is dark, she has a light coloured blouse on, and an Edwardian "big hat".
Left: This photo of Ellen is estimated to date from the 1920s. More of the same trademarks fashion-wise. The back garden setting suggests that this is probably the work of one of her Roebuck grandsons.
Right: This photo of Ellen is extracted from the "four generations" photo taken on Blackpool seafront of Ellen, George Thomas I, Grace and Kenneth. It is not dated, but Kenneth was born in 1927 and looks three or so years old. This is therefore one of the last photos of Ellen before her death in 1930. She is now wearing a "costume", and her hat is more modest than her earlier Edwardian one.