William Norton Easter

A Mater with the Trawler Speculator. William died on 9th of November 1914 at the age of 62.

Born at Aldringham in 1852, a son of Thomas Norton and Jemima Easter. He was baptised at Aldringham on 8 August 1852. In 1861 his family lived at Aldringham cum Thorpe. In 1871 they lived at Aldringham and William was a mariner. 

In 1883 William married Caroline Goddard this was registered in the Blything district. In 1891 they lived at Youngman's Buildings, 7 Southwell Road, Lowestoft. By 1901 they were living at 13 Southwell Road and this was still their home in 1911 when William worked as a blacksmith (unemployed). Later Caroline lived at 15 Southwell Road. 

The trawler Speculator, LT 1050, was last seen between 4 and 5 p.m. on 9 November 1914 fishing in the Yarmouth field near Smith's Knoll. The Skipper of the trawler Achieve reported that he heard an explosion around 8 p.m. that evening and it was presumed that this was the sound of the Speculator being blown up by a mine. The next day wreckage from the Speculator was found. 

See: World War One – History of Lowestoft's Fishing Industry (wordpress.com)

William's son Thomas died in 1918 while serving with the Royal Engineers.