TWO WIVES: 46 CHILDREN

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19454, 13 October 1937, Page 10

TWO WIVES: 46 CHILDREN

WOULD NOT DO IT AGAIN FAMILIES IN SAME TOWN KENTISH RECORDS LONDON. Aug. 19. Mrs. T. Lucas and Mrs. J. T. Goldsmith, both Tonbridge, Kent, housewives married in Boer War days, have given birth between them to a grand total of 46 children. Dr. S. N. Galbraith, medical officer of health, mentioned this record at a meeting of the South-West Kent Joint Health Committee to-day. "No one," said he, "would point the finger "of scorn at these families." Cannot Remember Name of One When a reporter mentioned the doctor's words to Mrs. Lucas, wife of a brickworks labourer, in the parlour of the five-bedroomed house just bought for her by the Tonbridge council, she said tartly:— -"I should think not." Mrs. Lucas began to count over the names of her 24 children. Eighteen are still living. Of the six dead, three were killed during the war. "First there was Edward," she began. "'Then came Thomas, Reginald, Edith. Charlie, Mary William, Fred, John, George and David (twins). Kathleen, Leslie, Emily, Percy and Ernest (second twins'), Erie, Florence and James (third twins), Ronald, Rita, Patricia, and Peggy." "But you've missed one out, Mrs. Lucas," I interposed. "There are only 23 here." We went over the list a second, and a third time. Mrs. Lucas, deep in thought, counted on her fingers. Then her face cleared. "Oil, there's the boy who came between John and the twins, George and David," she said. "He died of measles when he was three weeks. I cannot just call his name to mind. ... It may come to me." But it didn't. "Always Paid Our Way" "My first husband died. I married

Mr. Lucas. We added another 10 to our brood, making 24 in all. "We always paid our way and never got into debt. Eight of the children are married now. I've 20 grandchildren and hopes of more. "Three lots of twins. Think oi it, concluded Mrs. Lucas, reminiscently. "Patricia, the youngest, is 11. If 1 had my time over again I wouldn t have so many. Twelve would be a nice number. ..." ~ On the other side of the town, Mrs. Goldsmith, wife of a railway bridge repairer, in Hadlow road, had heard of Mrs. Lucas. "My family were only 22—two fewer," said Mrs. Goldsmith. "If I had my time over again I don't think I'd have any children at all I've given nearly 40 years of my life to the family—22 children in 25 years."