The Aslett name

• The Aslett surname has ancient origins linking back to Norman Saxon times. It is Norman-Viking and as such,  pre 8th century, and not recorded in England until after the 1066 invasion. It derives from the early German 'Azo' through to the Norman-French 'Ascelot' and as such was used as a baptismal name. The Normans, who were originally Vikings, those that marched rather than sailed, had 'borrowed' it from the German tribes that they vanquished as they plundered their way from Scandanavia to France in the later 'Dark ages'. 'Azo' was a popular name which is also found in the surnames - Ace, Aslin, and Ashlin. The modern surname spellings of Aslie, Aslet, Aslett, Aslott, and Astlett all have the same meaning of 'the son of Azo' or perhaps 'Little Azo'. The earliest recordings, although not as a surname, are probably Rogerus filius Aselot in the Curia Regis rolls of Lincoln in 1191 during the reign of Richard 1st, known as 'Lionheart', and Johannes filius Ascelot in the Oxford Rolls of 1221 in the reign of King Henry 111.  (Information source Name Orgin Research www.surnamedb.com)

Haslett

The similarity in spelling might indicate that there is a connection between Aslett and the name Haslett. Since the year 1414, records of southern England refer to a piece of land known as Haslett Coppice, or Copse. It can be found near Compton, at Upmarden, ref 792.127 (SU 71).

Descendants of Thomas Aslett

Generation No. 1

1. Thomas4 Aslett (Thomas3, Thomas2, Thomas1) was born 23 May 1824 in Isleworth, Middlesex., and died 1854 in Isleworth. He married Jane Skendall 1846 in Hampton, Middlesex., daughter of Thomas Skendall and Charlotte. She was born 06 May 1827 in Whitton, Middlesex, and died Jan 1899 in Woking, Surrey.

Thomas Aslett was christened on 13 June 1824 at Isleworth.

His occupation was shown as Brewers Servant on his son Thomas' Birth Certificate.

Census 6 June 1841, the family was residing at Worton Lane, Isleworth.

 Notes for Jane Skendall:

In the 1861 Census, Thomas' widow, Jane, was recorded as the wife of Henry Hart, a railway fireman, residing at Coles Buildings, London Rd, Twickenham. Emily Aslett aged 11 and Thomas Aslett aged 9 resided with them.

Children of Thomas Aslett and Jane Skendall are:

i. ELLEN5 ASLETT, b. 1848.

ii. EMILY ASLETT, b. 1850.

2. iii. THOMAS ASLETT, b. 12 Dec 1851, Coles Building, London Rd,Twickenham, Middlesex.; d. 11 Oct 1920, 402 Hackney Rd, Bethnal Green, London..

Generation No. 2

 2. Thomas5 Aslett (Thomas4, Thomas3, Thomas2, Thomas1) was born 12 Dec 1851 in Coles Building, London Rd, Twickenham, Middlesex., and died 11 Oct 1920 in 402 Hackney Rd, Bethnal Green, London.. He married Emma Sophia Symington 09 Mar 1881 in Saint Mary's Church, Lambeth, London., daughter of William Symington and Emma Taylor. She was born 28 Feb 1858 in Aldeburgh, Suffolk., and died 23 Mar 1960 in Bungay, Suffolk.

 Notes for Thomas Aslett:

According to George Aslett, his father Thomas Aslett met Emma Symington when they both worked at Benhall Lodge. George said his father was a carer for Old Squire Hollond.

At the time of his marriage to Emma in 1881, his occupation was recorded as a beer house keeper, residing at Tyres Street Lambeth. Later he was recorded at 73 Wyndham Road, Camberwell, then in 1888, Thomas was at 139 Vauxhall Walk, SE London, and, 1891 he was at 86 Cambridge Road, East London.

The 1901 Census finds Thomas Haslett, now a 49 year old traveller born at Twickenham, Middlesex, lodging at 402 Hackney Rd. Bethnal Green, London.

The death of Thomas Aslett of 400 Hackney Rd. Bethnal Green, Paper Bag Traveller, was recorded on 11 October 1920. Cause of death - Bronchitis. Age recorded as 72 by informant Dr. O'Leary, actual age 68.

 Notes for Emma Sophia Symington:

Birth recorded as Emma Sophia Simongton, No. 79, 5th March 1858, Aldeburgh, District Plomsgate, Suffolk

According to George Aslett, his Mother was employed as tutor at Benhall Lodge prior to her marriage to Thomas Aslett in 1881. Emma left Thomas, a publican in London, in 1888 and returned to Benhall, where her Mother, Emma Miller, was residing.

Emma Sophia Aslett and three of her children, Winifred, Percy and George were residing at 80 The Green, Benhall, Suffolk, in March 1891, according to the Census taken at that time. They were living next door to her Mother and stepfather, Emma and James Miller, and her brother John Simington.

Shortly after this, Emma and her children moved to Ivy Cottage, Benhall, where she resided until shortly before her death at Bungay in 1960. Ivy Cottage was built in 1787.

Mrs E.S.Aslett was appointed to Benhall School on 1 May 1888 and retired 31 August 1922.

Benhall School Records, August 2nd, 1922. Mrs. E.S.Aslett, who terminated her engagement here today, after 34 years service, was presented with a silver plated tea service, by the Managers, Teachers and Scholars (past and present). The Correspondent E.R.Hollond Esq. made the presentation. (The presentation was made just prior to the school closing for Summer Holidays).

Emma fell and broke her hip when she came in from the garden at Ivy Cottage. She then went to live with her daughter Win at 7 Flixton Rd. Bungay. She died at Bungay a year later, just after her 102nd birthday. She was cremated at St. Faith's Crematorium at Norwich on 26 March 1960.

Children of Thomas Aslett and Emma Symington are:

3. i. THOMAS6 ASLETT, b. 21 Dec 1881, 73 Wyndham Rd, Camberwell, Surrey.; d. Jul 1966, Ipswich, Suffolk..

ii. WINIFRED EMMA ASLETT, b. 09 Sep 1883, Lambeth, Surrey.; d. 26 Nov 1969, Bungay, Suffolk.

 Notes for WINIFRED EMMA ASLETT:

Census, 31 March 1901, 80 The Green, Benhall, Suffolk.

Win was the headmistress of the infant and junior school of the Bungay Board School in Wingfield Street, Bungay, Norfolk, until her retirement about 1943. Now called the Bungay Primary School, the school was established in 1877 and in earlier years had seperate enterances for boys and girls.

She used to ride an upright bicycle to school and wore leather gauntlet style gloves covering her hands and wrists to protect her from the cold. Win was a regular worshiper at the Bungay Holy Trinity Church, a beautiful old building with a saxon round tower.

She resided at 7 Flixton Road Bungay, which she owned with the adjoining No.5.

Win suffered a severe stroke and was hospitalised for some months. She was cremated at St. Faith's crematorium, Norwich on 2 December 1969.

4. iii. PERCY FRANCIS ASLETT, b. 25 Jan 1885, Lambeth, Surrey; d. 1978, Gt. Yarmouth, Norfolk..

5. iv. GEORGE EDMUND ASLETT, b. 13 Jan 1888, Benhall, Suffolk; d. 21 Apr 1987, Townsville, Queensland.

Generation No. 3

 3. Thomas6 Aslett (Thomas5, Thomas4, Thomas3, Thomas2, Thomas1) was born 21 Dec 1881 in 73 Wyndham Rd, Camberwell, Surrey., and died Jul 1966 in Ipswich, Suffolk.. He married Jane Elizabeth Lees 1904 in Ipswich, Suffolk.. She died 31 Dec 1960 in Eye Hospital, Suffolk.

As a young man,Thomas Aslett changed his name to Haslett. He was married as Thomas Haslett.

Children of Thomas Aslett and Jane Lees are:

i. KATHLEEN LEES7 HASLETT, b. 15 Aug 1904, Ipswich, Suffolk.; d. 1991; m. MAURICE SHUTE, 1931, Benhall, Suffolk.; d. Jul 1963, Ipswich, Suffolk..

ii. THOMAS REGINALD HASLETT, b. 25 Mar 1906, Ipswich, Suffolk.; d. Apr 1992, Camborne, Cornwall..

4. Percy Francis6 Aslett (Thomas5, Thomas4, Thomas3, Thomas2, Thomas1) was born 25 Jan 1885 in Lambeth, Surrey, and died 1978 in Gt. Yarmouth, Norfolk.. He married Laura Phillips 1910 in Gt. Yarmouth, Norfolk., daughter of George Phillips and Flora. She was born 1886 in Hertfordshire, and died 1971 in Norfolk.

Child of Percy Aslett and Laura Phillips is:

i. JOYCE WINIFRED7 ASLETT, b. 19 Jun 1911; m. ALOIS (ALAN) HILLYER, 04 Jan 1946, Gt. Yarmouth, Norfolk.; b. 30 Jun 1911, Wolverton, Bucks.; d. 09 Nov 2001, Gt. Yarmouth, Norfolk..

5. George Edmund6 Aslett (Thomas5, Thomas4, Thomas3, Thomas2, Thomas1) was born 13 Jan 1888 in Benhall, Suffolk, and died 21 Apr 1987 in Townsville, Queensland. He married Josephine Aletha Garrard 1924 in St.James Anglican, Townsville, daughter of Edward Garrard and Mary Harrigan. She was born 03 Jun 1900 in Kynuna Qld, and died 10 Oct 1987 in Townsville.

 George Aslett attended the Benhall Village School where his Mother was Infant Mistress. At the age of fourteen he was apprenticed for six years to Robert Woods Wooltorton, Watchmaker at Saxmundham, at a wage of two shillings and sixpence a week, rising to fifteen shillings a week in his last year. Mr Wooltorton died in 1906, and George's indenture was transferred to Harry Ernest Jolly for the remainder of his apprenticeship.

George completed his apprenticeship in 1909 and two years later, booked his passage for Canada. As his qualifications were not recognised in Canada he was required to complete a further course at Toronto to work at his trade. For a time he worked at Vancouver then at Lower Fort George on the Fraser River in British Columbia.

He returned home to England in 1913, before booking his passage on the "Orsova" to go to Australia. He arrived in

Sydney early in 1914. Frank Chambers, one of his boyhood friends from Benhall came out at the same time.

In 1916 he moved to Townsville to work for Horn & Petersons. He left there and moved to Brisbane for a time before he returned to Townsville and set up his own business as a Watchmaker and Jeweller.

Children of George Aslett and Josephine Garrard are:

i. WINIFRED MERLE7 ASLETT, b. 02 Feb 1925, Townsville, Qld.; m. TREVOR MILTON HOWARD, 08 Feb 1946, St James Anglican, Townsville; b. 12 Feb 1923, Longford, Tas.; d. 01 Mar 1997, Launceston, Tas..

ii. GEORGE SYMINGTON ASLETT, b. 20 Aug 1926, Townsville.

iii. MARION JOSEPHINE ASLETT, b. 04 Nov 1931, Townsville; m. PHILIP GORDON SEFTON, 19 Feb 1955, St. James Anglican, Townsville; b. 02 Dec 1927, Sydney; d. Oct 1985, Ingham, Qld..

iv. GEOFFREY GARRARD ASLETT, b. 23 May 1938, Palms Hospital, Townsville, Qld.; m. DILYS JANE FRANCIS, 04 Jun 1960, St. Pauls Anglican, Charters Towers.; b. 09 Aug 1940, Charters Towers, Qld..