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| The Graziers Arms in the early 20th century when the public house was run by Phipps Brewery. Image reproduced from the Phipps Archive by permission of Northamptonshire Archives. |
Stephen Bottrill (bap. 30 Mar 1803 in Scaldwell, Northamptonshire), son of John Bottrill and Alice Farndon, married Mary Thompson (bap. 14 Dec 1807), daughter of Solomon Thompson Jnr and Maria Willis (sister of Daniel Thompson), at St Andrew's Church, Cransley, on 2 Nov 1830.
The only children of the marriage that I can find records for are:
- Daniel Botterill, bap. 20 Dec 1831 in Cransley, Northamptonshire
- Alice Botterill, bap. 4 Mar 1838 at Scaldwell, St Peter and St Paul (Died, aged 18, 1856 J Quarter in DAVENTRY Volume 03B Page 73, and was buried on 7 Jun 1856 at All Saints, West Haddon.)
- Stephen Bottrell (sic) b. Oct 1840 (1841 M Quarter in DAVENTRY UNION Volume 15 Page 262), bap. 3 Apr 1844 in West Haddon
- Mary Ann Bottrell b. 1844 D Qtr in DAVENTRY UNION Vol 15 242
Mother's maiden name: Stephen's is TOMPSON; Mary Ann's THOMPSON.
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| Wesleyan Chapel in West Haddon. Image provided by West Haddon Local History Group Being located by both Baptist and Methodist Chapels in the 1840s probably wasn't ideal and conducive to business, which might account for the move to The Graziers Arms. |
In 1841 Stephen Bottrill was a Publican in West Haddon. This will have been at The Bell Inn. A later article says, "The Bell Inn no longer exists at West Haddon, although the old thatched house, with its picturesque gables, which bore the title, still stands opposite the Wesleyan Chapel." At that time, Solomon Thompson (b. 1802), brewer, was staying with the Botterills, while his own wife, Elizabeth (née York) and family were at their home in Cransley. This Solomon Thompson, must be related to Mary, but not discovered how.
Mary Bottrel (sic) (née Thompson) died, aged 37, in 1845 M Quarter in DAVENTRY UNION Volume 15 Page 207. The death notice, which appeared in The Banbury Guardian of Thursday, February 27, 1845, read, "February 12, at West Haddon, Warwickshire, Mary, the wife of Mr. Stephen Bottrell, of the Bell Inn, aged 38; deeply lamented by all her friends." And in The Northampton Mercury, it adds that, "Her illness was short, but she bore it with great firmness and contentment." Whatever that means. Mary Bottrell was buried at All Saints' Church, West Haddon, on 18 Feb 1845.
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| Graveyard, All Saints Church, West Haddon cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Tim Heaton - geograph.org.uk/p/2106752 |
Stephen Botterell, widower, son of John Bottrell, Farmer, married, Elizabeth Newton, widow, daughter of John Dunn, Sheep Drover, at Christ Church, Watney Street, St George in the East, London, on 24 July 1845. Witnesses were John Blackett and Maria Blackett, Mary's sister. (Elizabeth Dunn had previously married Samuel Newton, on 9 May 1834, in West Haddon. Samuel Newton had died at 45 and was buried in West Haddon, on 4 Nov 1843.)
In 1847 and 1849 Stephen Bottrel was listed at the The Bell Inn. The Banbury Guardian of 13 Sept 1849, reported that at the Daventry Petty Sessions, Stephen Botterell was charged with keeping his house open after 10pm and allowing gaming. On this occasion the case was dismissed.
In 1851, Stephen Botterill was listed as Victualler Farmer of 140 Acres, with new wife Elizabeth Botterill (b. 1804), daughter Alice Botterill (13), son Stephen Botterill (10) and niece, Eliza Newton (9).
In 1854 Stephen Bottrel was listed at The Graziers Arms, victualler.
Elizabeth Botterill died, aged 55 (1858 S Quarter in DAVENTRY Volume 03B Page 68), and was buried on 26 Aug 1858, also at All Saints, West Haddon.
In 1861, Stephen Bottard (sic), Widowed, was a Farmer Of 147 acres Employing 3 men & 3 boys (In the trade directory he was a Beer retailer and farmer). Eliza Newton was still living in his household.
The Northampton Mercury of 5 Apr 1862 reported that William Blunsom, veterinary surgeon, was claiming the sum of £13. 17s. (£1,764.89 in 2021) from Stephen Botterill in the County Court.
The London Gazette of 30 Nov 1867, reported that Stephen Botterill was declared bankrupt. There are several reports in the Northampton Mercury of Stephen Botterill being fined for 'Unjust measures': 15 Oct 1864 (2s + 18s costs), on 15 Feb 1868 (£4), 12 Sep 1868 (fined £5 for 4 quart jugs deficient in
measure), and again on 13 Feb 1869 (£5). He blamed his bankruptcy on the 'badness of trade', but one has to wonder if poor judgement was as much, or perhaps more, to blame. Did it not occur to him these things might be linked? (Rhetorical question.) Nevertheless, Stephen Boterill was discharged from bankruptcy on 7 Feb 1868 (Northampton Mercury 28 March 1868).
By 1871, Stephen Boterill (66), Widowed, was a farm labourer and lodger in the household of Thomas Bull, in West Haddon.
Stephen Botterill died, aged 73, in 1878 S Quarter in DAVENTRY Volume 03B Page 74. He was buried on 8 Sep 1878 in West Haddon.
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| The Graziers Arms from above. Image provided by West Haddon Local History Group |
With gracious thanks to Wendy Raybould, Archivist at the West Haddon Local History Group for many of the photos; for identifying the names of the pubs that Stephen Botterill was associated with and pointers towards many other records of his life. See also her: A brief history of West Haddon (PDF)