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

Showing posts with label Carter on Farm. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Carter on Farm. Show all posts

Sunday 29 October 2023

Charles Stone and Emma Middleton

Interior of St Peter's Church, Tiverton, Devon
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Derek Voller - geograph.org.uk/p/3683165
This church is famous (or infamous depending on your point of view) in that upon its organ, seen left of picture, was played for the very first time, the tune that was destined to send shivers up the spine of many a strong man. It was of course ... (intake of breath) "The Wedding March". On June 2nd 1847, at a wedding ceremony here, Felix Mendelssohn's composition ushered the bride and groom out of the church as man and wife. The couple were, I believe, friends of the composer.

Charles Stone (b. 8 Apr 1869 in Ashbrittle, Somerset), son of Henry Stone and Mary Ridgeway, married Emma Middleton (b. 6 Aug 1862 in West Anstey, Devon), daughter of Jane Middleton, on 29 Oct 1896 at St Peter’s Church Tiverton and were my great-grandparents. They both gave their address as 111 Chapel Street, Tiverton, which was that of Charles' younger sister, Lucy Jane and her husband, William Bridle, who were their witnesses.

In 1891, Emma Middleton (26) was a Domestic Servant to William Heywood (27), Farmer (son of Robert Heywood of Spurway Barton), at West Spurway Farm, Oakford, Devon. (Emma's illegitimate son, William Henry Middleton, b. 4 Nov 1888 (1889 M Quarter in TIVERTON Vol 05B Page 435), was then living with his grandmother, Jane Howe, in Stoodleigh.) Charles Stone (20), was Farm Servant to William Gale (69), at Courtney Farm, Washfield.

No idea why she later chose to change her name from Emma to Emily (fashion perhaps?), but she didn't seem to be trying to hide her son William Henry's illegitimate status, but might have been trying to play down her own, because Emma (Emily) "invented" a father called William Middleton for the marriage certificate. As we now know Middleton was not only hers, but also her mother's maiden name, so that couldn't be her father's name. Emma (Emily) had an older brother and an uncle William Middleton, both of whom she never met as they died as infants, whose name she was clearly borrowing.

Well, I say she wasn't trying to hide William Henry's true origins, but clearly someone came up with a story later, because my father was always under the mistaken impression that William Henry Middleton, his "Uncle Bill", was the product of Emily's "first marriage". Of course there was no such alliance.

1 Silver Street, Tiverton where my grandfather was born on 6 Jun 1898

Charles and Emma (Emily) Stone added four more children:

  1. Charley Stone b. 6 Jun 1898 at 1 Silver Street, Tiverton (1898 S Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 401), bap. 20 Jul 1898 at St Peter’s Church Tiverton, clearly listed as son of Charles and Emma.
  2. Albert Stone b. 18 Jan 1900 (1900 M Qtr in TIVERTON Vol 05B 399)
  3. Emily Stone b. 2 May 1901 (1901 J Qtr in TIVERTON Vol 05B 387)
  4. Henry Stone b. 17 Nov 1902 (1902 D Qtr in TIVERTON Vol 05B 375)
All of the GRO registrations list the mother's maiden name as MIDDLETON.

Only Charley was baptised, most probably because they moved out to Lower Washfield, which would have been a very long walk to any church.

Woodgates, Lower Washfield, Tiverton, their address in 1901

In 1901, Charles (30), Agricultural Labourer, and Emily (33 - really 39 - the gap between fiction and reality getting bigger) were living at Woodgates, Lower Washfield, with their two sons, Charley (2) and Albert (Bert) (1).

Charles and Emma with their children:
Charley (rear right), Albert (rear left),
Emily, (front right) and Harry (front left)
Then in 1911, we find them in Hayne Lane, Bolham. Charles (40) was then a Carter on Farm. Emily had lost another couple of years to reach 41 (actually 49) and they'd added another two children: Emily and Harry. The photo (right) was taken at the side of the house at 4 Hayne Lane, Bolham.

These cottages were originally built for the workers on the Knightshayes Estate - Home Farm, Knightshayes is at the end of Hayne Lane - for whom Charles then worked. I imagine the image was probably taken for the bosses to show their loyal servants with their lovely new accommodations.

In 1921, Charles Stone (51) General Farm Labourer was living in West Manley, Tiverton, Devon, working for Mr A Farrant, Farmer of West Manley Farm. Emily Stone was claiming to be 31 - she was actually 59 - with Harry Stone (18) General Roadman For District Council, still at home. Charley Stone (24) [i.e. still maintaining he was a year older than he really was], Corporal RMLI, was with the Royal Navy, Armed Forces Overseas (he was in Queenstown (Cobh), Ireland). Albert Stone (21) Private RMLI was with H.M.S. Ramillies in Cawsand Bay, Plymouth. Emily Stone (20) was working as a General Domestic Servant in the household of the Managing Secretary of the Cooperative Society Ltd, at 27, St Andrew Street, Tiverton

Charles Stone died on 13 Jun 1930, aged 61. Emily Stone died 2 Jun 1936.

4 Hayne Lane, Bolham in 2016

Sunday 1 October 2023

Robert Gillard and Eliza Tooze

Sampford Peverell : Grand Western Canal
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Lewis Clarke - geograph.org.uk/p/2812039

Robert Gillard (bap. 9 Feb 1845 in Skilgate, Somerset), son of Robert Gillard and Jane Slowman, married Eliza Tooze (bap. 5 Aug 1849 in Holcombe Rogus), daughter of Thomas Tooze and Mary Summers, in 1870.

Between them, they had eleven children:
  1. Emily Tooze b. 20 Feb 1869 M Quarter in WELLINGTON-SOMERSET AND DEVON Volume 05C Page 403. Mother's maiden name blank - i.e. and illegitimate birth. Baptised, as Emily Gillard on 3 Sep 1871 in Sampford Peverell, her parents listed as Robert and Eliza. 
  2. John Thomas Gillard b. 15 Apr 1871 J Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 437, bap. 3 Sep 1871 in Sampford Peverell.
  3. Lucy Gillard b. 18 Jun 1875 S Quarter in WELLINGTON SOMERSET Volume 05C Page 333, bap. 27 May 1877 in Holcombe Rogus
  4. Bessie Tooze Gillard b. 11 Feb 1877 M Quarter in WELLINGTON, SOMERSET Vol 05C Page 346, bap. 27 May 1877 in Holcombe Rogus
  5. Mary Jane Gillard b. 1879 M Quarter in WELLINGTON SOMERSET AND DEVON Volume 05C Page 339. Died 1879 S Quarter in WELLINGTON, SOMERSET AND DEVON Volume 05C Page 202
  6. Henry William Gillard b. 1880 S Quarter in WELLINGTON, SOMERSET Volume 05C Page 342, bap. 15 Aug 1880 in Holcombe Rogus
  7. Mary Jane Gillard b. 1882 S Quarter in WELLINGTON, SOMERSET AND DEVON Volume 05C Page 333, bap. 25 Jul 1883 in Holcombe Rogus
  8. Alfred James Gillard b. 1884 S Quarter in WELLINGTON SOMERSET AND DEVON Volume 05C Page 315. Died, aged 20, in 1905 M Quarter in WELLINGTON SOMERSET AND DEVON Volume 05C Page 241 and was buried on 2 Feb 1905 in Holcombe Rogus
  9. Rosa Annie Gillard b. 1886 J Quarter in WELLINGTON, SOMERSET AND DEVON Volume 05C Page 333
  10. Sidney Robert Gillard b. 1888 M Quarter in WELLINGTON, SOMERSET AND DEVON Volume 05C Page 319
  11. Loveday Fanny Jackson Gillard b. 1891 J Quarter in WELLINGTON, SOMERSET AND DEVON Volume 05C Page 316
In 1871, living in a Cottage, Sampford Peverell, were Robert Gillard (25) Farm Labourer, Eliza Gillard (22) Labourer's wife and Emily Tooze (2) described as Wife's Daughter. My feeling is that baptising her as Emily Gillard later that year was an attempt by Robert to adopt her, but I think the wording on this census very much suggests that he was not Emily's biological father.

In 1874, Emily Gillard (b. 20 Feb 1869) was enrolled at Holcombe Rogus (Webber's) School, with her father listed as Robert Gillard. John Gillard was enrolled at the same school in 1877 and both Lucy and Bessie in 1880.

In 1881, in Fore Street, Holcombe Rogus, Devon were Robert Gillard (34) Ag Lab, Eliza Gillard (30), Emily Gillard (12), John Thomas Gillard (9), Lucy Gillard (5), Bessie Gillard (4), Henry William Gillard (0) and Mary Tooze (78) Mother-in-law - Eliza's widowed mother.

Mary Jane Gillard was enrolled at Holcombe Rogus (Webber's) School in 1885 and Rosa Annie Gillard in 1889.

In 1891, Robert Gillard (44) Agricultural Labourer, was living the the Village, Holcombe Rogus with Eliza Gillard (40), John Gillard (19) Agricultural Labourer; Henry W Gillard (10), Mary J Gillard (9), Alfred J Gillard (6), Rosa A Gillard (5) and Sidney R Gillard (3). That year Emily Gillard (21) was a General Servant in the employ of Nathaniel B Grigg (55) Surgeon General Practitioner at Pearclose, Holcombe Rogus; Lucy Gillard (16) was a General Domestic Servant in the household of William D Haddon (42) Draper at 71, High Street, Wellington and Bessie Gillard (14) was a General Servant to Joel Lee (62) Dairyman at Fenton Green, Holcombe Rogus.

Loveday Fanny J Gillard was enrolled at Holcombe Rogus (Webber's) School in 1894, again her father listed as Robert Gillard.

In 1901, Robert Gillard (54) Carter on farm; Eliza Gillard (50), John Gillard (29) Carter on farm; Jennie [Mary Jane] Gillard (18) Housemaid domestic; Frederick [Alfred James] Gillard (16) Blacksmith; Rose [Rosa Annie] Gillard (15) Servant domestic; Robert S [Sidney Robert] (13) Horseboy on farm and Loveday Gillard (9) were at 26, Village, Holcombe Rogus.

Eliza Gillard died at 55 in 1906 M Quarter in WELLINGTON Volume 05C Page 205 and was buried on 29 Jan 1906 in Holcombe Rogus.

In 1911, Robert Gillard (65) Widower, Carter on farm was at 24 Fore St Holcombe Rogus with Robert Gillard (23) [Sidney Robert] Mason's labourer.

Robert Gillard died at 83 in 1928 J Quarter in WELLINGTON.

Thursday 15 July 2021

Frederick James Stone and Jessie Ann Crook

Combe Florey : Grassy Field
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Lewis Clarke - geograph.org.uk/p/6259044

Frederick James Stone (b. 27 Mar 1888), son of Frederick James Stone and Loveday Jane Land, married Jessie Ann Crook, daughter of Samuel Crook and Elizabeth Hill of Mariansleigh, near South Molton, in Q2 of 1926. 

Frederick and Jessie appear to have had two children: 
  1. Alfred Stone born 30 Apr 1928, died Q3 2004
  2. Daughter born 1936, who may still be living.
There are two entries on the 1939 Register for Frederick J Stone (b. 27 Mar 1888) and Jessie A Stone (b. 26 Sep 1900), one at West View, Bishops Lydeard and the other at C&B Cottage, Combe Florey, near Taunton. My guess is they moved from one to the other close to the date that the register was prepared. On both, Frederick's employment is Farm Carter.

Frederick J Stone died in 1968, aged 79. Jessie Ann Stone in 1984.