Inherited Craziness
A place to share all the nuts found on my family tree

Showing posts with label Blacksmith. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Blacksmith. Show all posts

Friday 17 November 2023

Benjamin Blackmore and Mary Goff

Culmstock : The Culm Valley Inn
The former Railway Hotel, now the Culm Valley Inn
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Lewis Clarke - geograph.org.uk/p/7381769

Benjamin Blackmore (bap. 3 Feb 1856 in Kentisbeare, Devon), Blacksmith, son of Samuel Blackmore and Elizabeth Jeffery, married Mary Goff (bap. 6 Nov 1859 in Kentisbeare), daughter of Charles Goff and Elizabeth Lock, at the parish church of St Mary's, Kentisbeare, on 11 Jan 1882.

Witnesses were John Goff and Hannah Goff, latter who was most likely to have been Mary's younger sister, Anna - she was also listed as Hannah on the 1881 census. The marriage record is on the same page and is therefore presumably the first wedding celebrated in the church since that of Mary's brother, William Goff and Sarah Jane Rowe, the previous September.

Ben and Mary had four daughters:
  1. Lilian Elizabeth Blackmore b. 9 Mar 1882 (1882 J Quarter in WELLINGTON Volume 05C Page 334) Couldn't find a baptism, presumably because of the proximity to the wedding.
  2. Florence Annie Blackmore b. 18 Oct 1885 D Quarter in WELLINGTON Vol 05C Page 310, bap. 15 Nov 1885 at All Saints Church, Culmstock
  3. Amy Goff Blackmore b. 1889 M Quarter in WELLINGTON Volume 05C Page 313, bap. 7 Apr 1889 at All Saints Church, Culmstock
  4. Gladys May Blackmore b. 17 Sep 1890 S Quarter in WELLINGTON Vol 05C Page 307, bap. Gladys Mary, 19 Oct 1890 at All Saints, Culmstock
The three baptism records all list their father's occupation as Blacksmith.

In 1886, Benjamin Blackmore of Culmstock won a prize for skill in shoeing.

In 1891, Benjamin Blackmore (34) General smith, was living in Station Road, Culmstock, with Mary Blackmore (32), Lilian Elizabeth Blackmore (9), Florence Annie Blackmore (5), Amy Goff Blackmore (2), Gladys May Blackmore (0) - 6 months - and William Windson (19) Apprentice.

R. D. Blackmore, the famous novelist best known for Lorna Doone, lived in Culmstock from 1835-1841 [Source], while his father, John Blackmore, was Curate of All Saints Church, Culmstock. In 1894, "Culmstock became the Perlycross in Blackmore's novel of that name. Perlycross includes detailed descriptions of local places and living conditions at that time." [Source

In Gregory's Directory of Culmstock, also of 1894, Ben Blackmore, is listed as "smith & machinist". In Richard Doddridge Blackmore's 1894 novel, "The only man with a clue to the mystery is a blacksmith who has been called up late at night by a mysterious party with a cart." Was there any link between Benjamin Blackmore and R D Blackmore? :) That would be research for another day.


In 1901, Benjamin Blackmore (45) was Innkeeper and Blacksmith at the Victoria Hotel, Culmstock with Mary Blackmore (42), Florence Blackmore (15), Amy Blackmore (12), Gladys Blackmore (10), Edith Brown (19) General domestic servant; Jonas Hooper (22) Blacksmith and Samuel Blackmore (17) Nephew, Blacksmith Apprentice. Lilian E Blackmore (19) Dressmaker, was a boarder at the Girls Friendly Society Lodge, 32, East Southernhay, Exeter.

Mary Blackmore died, aged 45, in 1905 J Quarter in WELLINGTON SOMERSET & DEVON Volume 05C Page 197 and Mary Blackmore (née Goff), wife of Benjamin Blackmore, Innkeeper, of The Railway Hotel, Culmstock, was buried, on 5 Apr 1905, in her native Kentisbeare.

So, Benjamin Blackmore (49), Widower, Licensed victualler, son of Samuel Blackmore, Farm Bailiff, married Clara Blackmore (47) Widow, daughter of Charles Dennett, in Wellington, Somerset on 23 Sep 1908. Clara gave her address as 26 Rockwell Green, Wellington (this address is a Post Office). 

Another Blackmore! That can't just be coincidence, can it? 

Clara Dennett bap. 21 Apr 1861, at Gussage All Saints, Dorset, daughter of Charles Dennett and Eliza Robertson, had married her first husband, John Tom Blackmore (b. 1860 in Gillingham, Dorset), son of Charles Blackmore and Mary Ann Wadman, at Gussage All Saints on 16 May 1887

In 1891, listed as Thomas Blackmore (33) Coachman from Gillingham, Dorset and Clara Blackmore (30), they were living at 114, Pavilion Road, Chelsea, (a mews just off Sloane Square). In 1901, Thomas Blackmore (40) Coachman and Clara Blackmore (40) were listed, along with a long list of coachmen, grooms, etc., at 1, Blue Ball Yard, St James Westminster. "The earliest reference to Blue Ball Yard itself dates to when the site was sold by King Charles II in 1672, by which time it was already a developed site of stables and housing, probably for servants working in the palace." It's clear from the addresses that John Tom Blackmore had worked in some high places.

Then John Tom Blackmore died, aged 45, in 1905 D Quarter in HATFIELD Volume 03A Page 360 and was buried, on 11 Dec 1905, in The Parish of Bishops Hatfield (St Etheldreda), Hertfordshire. This church is in the old village of Hatfield, "close to the walls of Hatfield House, once a royal palace [...] so is exceptionally grand for a parish church." His abode was listed as Hatfield Park. One assumes he had brought dignitaries there.

But what link there could be between the Dorset Blackmore families and their Devon counterparts, if there was one, there is nothing to indicate it.

In 1911, Benjamin Blackmore (53) Hotel Proprietor was at the Railway Hotel Millmoor, Culmstock with Clara Blackmore (50), Amy Blackmore (22) Draper's Assistant; Gladys Blackmore (20) Miliner; Rose Troake (16) Servant and Thomas Walls (29) Stonemason, Boarder. Florence Blackmore (28) was a Domestic cook in the household of Maurice Michael (58) Watch importer at 19 Lydford Road, Cricklewood NW, London.

Clara Blackmore died, at 66, in 1927 D Quarter in WELLINGTON Volume 05C Page 307. And Benjamin Blackmore died the following year, at 69, in 1928 M Quarter in WELLINGTON Volume 05C Page 329.

  • Lilian Elizabeth Blackmore married George Henry Hansford, in Wellington (Somerset), in 1906. That same year, they emigrated to Canada. They appear to have had two children. Lilian Elizabeth Hansford died, at 92, in Victoria, British Columbia, in 1975.
  • Florence Annie Blackmore married William Herbert Owen Denness in Hendon, Middlesex, in 1912. They had three children. In 1939, William H O Denness, Hotel Proprietor, Florence A Denness were at 10-11 St George's Place, Llandudno - a quite grand, sea front location. Their younger daughter, Gladys, was Hotel Receptionist; also living in were a Hotel Boots, two Waitresses, a Chambermaid and a Cook. Florence Annie Denness died, aged 73, on 2 Dec 1958 and was buried, on 5 Dec 1958 in Llanrhos, Caernarvonshire.
  • Amy Goff Blackmore married Douglas Wilfred Brentnall, in Wellington (Somerset), in 1917. They had one son quite late after their marriage, John Douglas Brentnall (1934-2010). Amy G Brentnall died, aged 77, in Weston-Super-Mare, in 1967.
  • Gladys May Blackmore married Henry Cowper Giles (b. 12 Aug 1889, in Bristol), son of Francis Frederick Giles and Florence Maria Avent, in Wellington (Somerset), in 1917. They had one son, Roland Henry Giles (1918-1968). In 1939, Henry C Giles, Sports Outfitter and Gladys May Giles were living at 56 Chepstow Road, Newport, Monmouthshire, Wales. Gladys May Giles died on 11 Apr 1992, at the grand old age of 101 years 6 months and is buried at Holy Trinity Church, Christchurch Road, Newport, Wales.

Monday 6 November 2023

George Hockley and Eliza Crow and William Bloomfield

St Mary the Virgin, Great Dunmow, Essex - Chancel
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © John Salmon - geograph.org.uk/p/1304114

George Hockley, son of Daniel Hockley and Sophia Mason, married Eliza Crow, daughter of William Crow and Judith Doe on 6 Nov 1843 at St Mary the Virgin, Great Dunmow. The marriage record shows that George, as well as both fathers' were labourers and witnesses were John and Jane Burton.

George and Eliza's children included: 

  1. William Crow bap. 17 Nov 1842 at St Mary the Virgin, Great Dunmow
  2. Tamer (sic) Hockley b. 1844 (Tamar as a female given name) 
  3. Daniel Hockley b. 1845, bap. 12 May 1850 
  4. Elizabeth Hockley b. 1847, bap. 9 Aug 1857 
  5. James Hockley b. 24 Apr 1849, bap. 10 Jun 1849
  6. Emma Hockley b. 1851, bap 13 Apr 1851
  7. Lucy Hockley b. 1852, bap. 8 Aug 1852
  8. Charles Hockley b. 1854, bap. 9 Jul 1854
  9. Alice Hockley b. 1855, bap. 11 Nov 1855
  10. Sarah Ann Hockley b. 1857, bap. 9 Aug 1857
On the baptism record for William, son of Eliza Crow, Single Woman, her address was listed as "Dunmow Union House", i.e. the workhouse. Listed as William Crow, at 19, he married as and thereafter used William Hockley

Tamer's (sic) birth is listed at the GRO with the mother's maiden name as Crow, but there are no further mentions of her: not on a census, no baptism, nor record of a death, so my hunch is that this child died in infancy. 

The only Daniel Hockley registered in Dunmow in 1845 has the mother's maiden name listed as "Cross". Probably just a transcription error.

George Hockley, Agricultural Labourer, died on 12 Jul 1857, aged just 42, at Halfway House, from the all-too-common cause then, Phthisis (Tuberculosis (TB)) and was buried on 17 Jul 1857, in Great Dunmow.

In 1861, we find widow, Eliza Hockley (40), living at Phreaders Green, Great Dunmow with sons, William Crow (19) and Daniel Hockley (14), both Agricultural Labourers, seemingly supporting their mother and their younger siblings: Elizabeth Hockley (12), James Hockley (10), Emma Hockley (8), Lucy Hockley (7), Charles Hockley (6), Alice Hockley (5) and Sarah (3). 

In 1871, at High Street, Park Corner, Great Dunmow, there were Eliza Hockley (39) - erm, nope, she was 50 - Charwoman, with Charles Hockley (16) Farm Lab and Sarah Hockley (12) Domestic Servant. Daniel Hockley (21) Groom, was living at The Cottage, Great Canfield, Dunmow. Emma Hockley (19) was General servant to Samuel Knight, Architect at Maitland Park Villas, St Pancras, London. Lucy Hockley (19) was a Housemaid at 38 Upper Park Road, Belsize Park. Alice Hockley (14) was a domestic servant to William Stacey, Photographer and Florist, in The Causeway, Great Dunmow.

Eliza Hockley, daughter of William Crow, Labourer, married William Bloomfield, widower, son of Robert Bloomfield, in Felsted, on 20 Apr 1872.

It hasn't been possible to find William Bloomfield's baptism, however, he had previously married Mary Ann Harsant (bap. 1 Apr 1821 in Peasenhall, Suffolk), in 1839, in Blything registration district. In 1841, William Bloomfield (20) Blacksmith, Mary Ann (20) and their daughter Lucy (1) were in the High Street, Moulsham, Chelmsford. In 1851, William Bloomfield (32) Blacksmith, with Mary Ann (30) and Lucy (11) were back in Stoven, Blything, Suffolk. In 1861, William Bloomfield (43) Jobbing smith (with wife listed as Maria and daughter as Lizzie: probably misheard) were living at Bridge End Road, Great Bardfield, Dunmow. And by 1871, William Bloomfield (50) Blacksmith, Mary Ann (49) and Lucy (29) had moved to Church End, Great Dunmow. Then Mary Ann Bloomfield died, aged 49, and was buried, on 26 Aug 1871, at Holy Cross, Felsted. (Lucy Bloomfield just disappears.)

In 1881, William Bloomfield (62) Blacksmith, born in Dunwich, Suffolk, and Eliza Bloomfield (55), were living at Cottage Farm, Banister Green, Felstead.

In 1891, William (73) and Eliza Bloomfield (64) were at Cock Green, Felsted

William Bloomfield died, aged 76, in 1893. 

In 1901, Eliza Bloomfield (it claims 75) widow living on children, Felsted. 

Eliza Bloomfield died in 1906. She will have been 86.

Wednesday 4 October 2023

William Joseph Buzzacott and Martha Wykes

St. Paul's Church, Deptford
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Mike Quinn - geograph.org.uk/p/1498616

William Joseph Buzzacott (b. 1853 in Greenwich), son of William Phillips Buzzacott and Elizabeth Edwards, married Martha Wykes (b. 1853) daughter of William Wykes and Elizabeth Thompson, in Woolwich, London, in 1872.

In 1861, William (8) was living with his grandparents in Broomfield Place, Deptford, while his parents William Buzzacott (31) Blacksmith and Elizabeth (30) from Ireland, were living at 4, Wellington Street, Greenwich East.

In 1871, William Buzzacott (18) Boiler Smith, along with his father William Buzzacott, Engine Smith and mother Elizabeth Buzzacott, were living in the household of Alexander Buzzacott (82) - William Jnr's grandfather - from Devon, in Hamilton Street, St Paul, Greenwich [Deptford]. 

William Phillips Buzzacott and Elizabeth Edwards had married, in Lewisham, in 1849. William Phillips Buzzacott b. 10 Aug 1829, had been baptised, in Deptford, on 30 Aug 1829, the son of Alexander Buzzacott and Sarah Stanley, who, in turn had married on 4 Sep 1817 in Lee, Kent. Alexander Buzzacott had been baptised in Honiton on Otter (Honiton, Devon) on 25 Dec 1789, and was the son of Julius Buzzacott and Agnes Phillips, who, in turn, had married on 20 Nov 1785 at St Peter's Church, Tiverton, Devon.

In 1881, Martha Buzzacott was staying with her mother, Elizabeth Wykes, at 249, Evelyn Street, St Paul Deptford. Her husband was not listed.

William and Martha's daughter, Maud Elizabeth Buzzacott was b. 23 Jun 1885 in South Africa and bap. on 8 May 1892 at St Paul's, Deptford

In 1891, Martha Buzzacott (38) and Maude Buzzacott (4), were visitors in the household of Ernest J Burch (32) at 20, Evelyn Street, St Paul Deptford, whose wife Elizabeth Burch (30) was Martha's younger sister. Again, William Joseph Buzzacott is not listed, even though Martha is listed as married.

I've found no further records for William Joseph Buzzacott and can only surmise from the birthplace of their daughter, that he remained, and died, in South Africa. There is a declaration by Martha O'Toole dated 17 Jun 1895, which I think is regarding this, but it's written in Afrikaans.

Martha Buzzacott, widow, married John O'Toole, bachelor, born in Ireland, on 15 Jan 1895, in Boksburg, Heidelberg, Transvaal, South Africa.

In 1901, Martha was once again a visitor in her sister Elizabeth Burch's household in Deptford, listed as Martha O'Toole (48). 

John O'Toole, Carpenter, died at 54, on 12 Aug 1904, at 13 Station Street, Woodstock, Cape Town and was buried at Maitland Cemetery on 14 Aug 1904. The informant, present at his death, was John Wardrop. 

Martha O'Toole married John Wardrop on 20 Jul 1909 in Woodstock, Cape Town, South Africa. John Wardrop, Harness Maker, of 33 Warwick Street, Woodstock, South Africa, born in Scotland, died on 16 Dec 1918, aged 62.

Martha Wykes Wardrop died at 91 on 7 Aug 1944 at Pinelandsa South African Garden City. She is buried in Maitland Cemetery. The record of her death lists her as a Widow and that John Wardrop was her 'last husband'.

(Maud Elizabeth Buzzacott married Woldemar Ludig in Pancras, London in 1912. However, tragically, she died at 28 in 1913 D Quarter in GREENWICH Volume 01D Page 1044, having given birth to twin girls on 13 Oct 1913: Florence Julia Ludig and Lilian Martha Ludig (1913 D Quarter in GREENWICH Volume 01D Page 1841). In 1921, Woldemar Ludwig (sic) from Pernau (Pärnu), Estonia was living in the household of Gordon Wycliffe Noakes and his wife, born Florence Emma Burch, daughter of Ernest James Burch and Elizabeth Wykes. Elizabeth being his mother-in-law, Martha's sister, Florence Emma was his late wife's cousin. Woldemar Ludig remarried to Florence Noakes, who was Gordon's sister, in 1922. They had a son, Valedemar Ludig in 1923. Florence Julia Ludig married Norman C Lovell in 1936.)

Thursday 5 May 2022

Winship Soppit and Ann Hall

Framwellgate Bridge, Durham
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © David Robinson - geograph.org.uk/p/6271900

Winship Soppit (b. 1842), elder son of Joseph Soppit and Catherine Winship, married an Ann Hall in Durham, in the 4th quarter of 1871. (There's more than one Ann Hall born in the relevant area, so it would require more clues.)

Winship and Ann had six children, but I'm not sure any survived:
  1. Winship Soppit b. 1872 M Quarter in HOUGHTON-LE-SPRING Volume 10A Page 475, died in the same quarter, 1872 M Quarter in HOUGHTON-LE-SPRING Volume 10A Page 345
  2. Catherine Soppit b. 1873 S Quarter in DURHAM Volume 10A Page 448, again died in the same quarter, 1873 S Quarter in DURHAM Volume 10A Page 240. There's a baptism of a Catherine Soppit, whose parents were Winship and Ann, in Durham, on 13 Oct 1874. A posthumous baptism, or perhaps more likely that the year has been transcribed incorrectly?
  3. Joseph Soppit b. 1877 M Quarter in DURHAM Volume 10A Page 396, died aged 1, in 1878 M Quarter in DURHAM Volume 10A Page 197
  4. John Winship Soppit b. 1879 M Quarter in DURHAM Vol 10A Page 373
  5. Margaret Soppit b. 1881 J Quarter in DURHAM Volume 10A Page 385, died again in the same quarter, 1881 (Volume 10A Page 181)
  6. Edith Annie Soppit b. 1885 S Quarter in GATESHEAD Vol 10A Page 795
In 1881, Winship Soppitt (sic) (38) Blacksmith at colliery, was living at Colliery Houses, 22, Framwellgate, Durham with wife Annie (29), John W (2) born at Framwellgate Moor; Margaret (0) and Annie Pallister (9) Niece.

Then Winship Soppit died, aged 48, in 1890 in Morpeth, Northumberland.

In 1891, Annie Soppitt (sic) (39) widow, was Housekeeper to John Scott (42) Deputy At Coal Mine, at Long Row, Harraton, Durham

But in 1901, Ann Soppit (49) widow from South Hetton, Durham, was listed as a Pauper Inmate in Preston Lane, Tynemouth, Northumberland - the Tynemouth Parish Workhouse was in Preston Lane, North Sheilds.

Then she just dissapears: there are no further records on the next census and I cannot find a record of her death. Also, sadly, I can find are no further records relating to either John Winship (b. 1879), nor Edith Annie (b. 1885).

Monday 9 August 2021

William Northcott and Emma Jane Wood

Fore Street, Cullompton with the grade II listed White Hart
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Stephen McKay - geograph.org.uk/p/5497724

William Northcott married Emma Jane Wood (b. 1871), daughter of Henry Wood and Mary Jane Melhuish from Kentisbeare, Devon, in 1896. Five years earlier, in 1891, William Northcott (19) Blacksmith, had been a lodger at The White Hart, Fore Street, Cullompton, but I've not found him before that. 

William and Emma's children included: 
  1. Maud Wood, Emma's illegitimate daughter, b. 1894 and baptised on 19 Feb 1895, when she was 14 months old, in Kentisbeare
  2. William Henry Northcott b. 8 Mar 1897 (not seen after 1911)
  3. Arthina Northcott b. 14 Oct 1898, bap. 2 Nov 1898 in Cullompton
  4. Elizabeth Northcott b. 1900 (died 1900 aged 0)
  5. Charles John Northcott b. 23 Feb 1902, bap. 23 Mar 1902
  6. Albert James Northcott b. 30 Aug 1903, bap. 16 Sep 1903 in Cullompton (died 1904, aged 0)
  7. Florence Northcott b. 25 Oct 1907, Emma's illegitimate daughter

In 1901, William Northcott (31) Blacksmith Journeyman from Branscombe, Devon (not identified relevant birth), wife Emma Jane (30) from Kentisbeare, along with Emma's daughter, Maud Wood (7), William Henry Northcott (4) and Arthenia Northcott (2) were living at Church Cottages, Cullompton.

William Northcott (33) died and was buried on 15 May 1904, in Cullompton.

Charles John Northcott was registered at Elmore School, Tiverton in 1908, with his address as Elmore Workhouse. In 1911, Emma Northcote (sic) (37) Widow, Laundress was living at 7 Rices Court, West Exe South, Tiverton with William (14) Errand Boy, Arthina (12), Charles (9) and Florence (3). 

In 1917, Emma Jane Northcott remarried to Arthur Southcott. What were the chances? Arthur Southcott, born 30 Jul 1883, bap. 9 Aug 1883 at St Peter’s Church Tiverton, therefore 12 years younger than his wife, was the son of Frederick Southcott and Eliza Harris

Charles John Northcott (17) joined the Royal Tank Corps on 19 Aug 1919.

In 1921, Arthur Southcott (39) Married, Private in the Army 4th Defence Batt Devon Regt, from Tiverton, Devon was at 5, Homefield Place, Fore Street, Exeter, Devon. Charles John Northcott (19) Army Private was at Hare Park Camp, Curragh, Ireland.

Arthur Southcott died in 1935, in his early 50's.

In 1939, Emma Jane Southcott, Widowed again, was living at 7 Bartows Causeway, Tiverton with Dorothy A Evans (Arthina Northcott married Ernest F J Evans in 1918), Laundress, and Dorothy Florence Northcott (b. 16 Nov 1916, mother's maiden name Northcott, so appears to be Arthina's illegitimate daughter), who worked at the Lace Factory and one other person. 

Emma Jane Southcott died in 1947. 

Monday 2 August 2021

Mark Bridle and Maud Lucy Medcalf

Victoria Street, Exeter
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Derek Harper - geograph.org.uk/p/293678

Mark Bridle (b. 9 Jan 1876), son of Henry Bridle and Emma Lucas, married Maud Lucy Medcalf (b. 20 Mar 1882 in Peckham, London), daughter of Arthur Charles Medcalf and Eliza Dale, in St Pancras, London, in 1905. Wonder how they met? Maud's father was from Ballingdon, then in Essex (now a suburb of Sudbury in Suffolk) and her mother from Kensington. 

In 1911, Mark Bridle (35) Blacksmith, Maud Lucy (29); Mark's parents, William Henry (66), Emma (62); nephew, Harry (3) and Elizabeth Deroney (72), were living in Stoke Canon, Devon. Could it be that they also moved away from Stoke Canon as a consequence of the strike at the paper mill, in which his brother John had been caught up in, in 1915?

Their only child, Arthur Albert Mark Bridle, was born on 18 Mar 1917.

In 1921, Mark Bridle (46) Motor Driver; Maud Lucy Bridle (38) and Arthur Albert Mark Bridle (5), were living at 68 Victoria Street, Exeter, Devon.

In 1939, Mark Bridle, Chauffer / Gardener, wife Maud Lucy and son Arthur Albert Mark Bridle, Electrician, were still at 68 Victoria Street, Exeter. 

Maud Lucy Bridle died in Exeter, in 1957, aged 75. 

Mark Bridle of 49 West Grove Road, Exeter died on 25 Feb 1958, aged 82, at 200 Woodwater Lane, Exeter, leaving his effects to Arthur Albert Mark Bridle.

Arthur Albert Mark Bridle died on 19 Jun 2005, also in Exeter.