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

Showing posts with label Cook (occupation). Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cook (occupation). Show all posts

Sunday 23 July 2023

Henry William Stone and Sarah Snow and Jane Tarr

Huntsham : All Saints Church
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Lewis Clarke - geograph.org.uk/p/6039979

Henry Stone, second son of my 2x great-grandparents, Henry Stone and Mary Ridgeway, born in Ashbrittle, Somerset, in 1856, was found at home with his parents - no surprise, aged 4 - at Court Place, Ashbrittle, in 1861. And in 1871, aged 13, I believe it is this Henry Stone, who is employed as an Indoor Agricultural Labourer working for Richard Poole (62) a Farmer of 170 acres, employing 7 labourers and 1 boy, at Bathealton, Somerset.

On 27 Feb 1879 Ellen Stone Snow was born at Putson Cottages, Blundells Road, Tiverton to Sarah Snow, a Domestic Servant and in 1881, this child was living with Henry Stone and Mary Ridgeway, listed as their granddaughter. 

Only two of Henry and Mary's sons looked likely to be this child's father and I was about to cast more aspersions upon the character of John Stone, until I discovered the marriage of Sarah Snow and William Henry Stone (baptised Henry William) on 23 Jul 1879 at All Saints' Church, Huntsham. Witnesses were John Voisey and the bridegroom's sister, Mary Ann (Marrianne).

But Sarah Stone, wife of Henry Stone a Farm Labourer, died on 22 Jan 1880, from Phthisis acuta (Acute tuberculosis), at Huntsham. Emma Maunder, sister, was present at her death. This explains why, in 1881, Henry Stone, was a widower, aged just 24, living alone at Little Fair Oak, Uplowman. 

At that same time, in Henry Stone and Mary Ridgeway's household were two visitors: Mary Ann Tarr (27) and Jane Tarr (22), who were daughters of William Tarr, a Hostler, and his wife, Jane Wood, of Marsh Bridge Road, Dulverton, Somerset. Clearly they were there preparing for a wedding, because in Q2 of 1881, William Henry Stone married Jane Tarr.  

Henry and Jane had two further children: 
  1. Frederick Henry Stone born 1885, bap. 26 Apr 1885, son of Henry and Jane, at St Mary’s churchUffculme (died 1887, see below)
  2. Louisa Jane Stone born 1888, bap. 26 Feb 1888 as Louisa Mary Jane Stone, at St Mary’s churchUffculme.

On 29 July 1887 The Western Times reported on the inquest into the accidental death of Frederick Henry Stone, 2½ yrs old, of Wellington Road, Uffculme, whose clothes caught fire, causing burns over his whole body, as did the Exeter and Plymouth Gazette. This report of the inquest, which was held in the cottage where they lived, is hard reading.

THE SHOCKING DEATH OF A CHILD NEAR UFFCULME

The inquest touching the death of the child, Frederick Henry Stone, aged 2½ years, son of a labourer residing at Brickyard Cottage, Wellington Road, near Uffculme, was held by Mr. F. Burrow, district coroner, on Saturday, when the evidence of the mother, Mrs Potter, a neighbour, and Dr. Morgan, of Uffculme, was taken. It appeared that about 8 a.m. on Friday the mother, having lighted the kitchen fire, placed the child, which was wearing its night-dress, in a chair by the side of it. Her back was turned for a few moments, and in the meantime the nightdress, a long one, became ignited by a burning stick which fell out of the grate. On hearing the child scream the mother ran into the kitchen, and finding the nightdress in flames, endeavoured to smother them by throwing some woollen material around the child. Failing, however, in this attempt, she and her little girl called for assistance, Mrs Potter then came in and, according to her statement, found the child in the middle of the floor, getting up into its knees and enveloped in "a mass of flames from head to foot." With the exception of fragments, the nightdress and undergarments were then completely charred. She extinguished the flames upon what remained and then, with the assistance of other neighbours, the burns were treated with linseed oil and lime water. In the meantime Dr. Bryden, of Uffculme, was sent for, as also was Dr. Morgan. The latter arrived first, but not until the child had expired. In his evidence, Mr. Morgan said he entirely approved of the remedies applied and even had he been there more could not have been done. The extent and nature of the burns, involving as they did the whole body were sufficient to cause death. -- The father of the child was present at the earlier part of the enquiry, but as he persisted in interposing remarks he was ordered by the Coroner to withdraw. Subsequently he was recalled and allowed to make a statement, the Coroner holding that he was not in a fit state to be sworn. Stone complained very strongly that Dr. Bryden although called twice and promised to come down did not do so until it suited his convenience in the course of his usual round as parish doctor, which was an hour or more after death. Mentioning incidentally that Dr. Bryden had attended on previous occasions he said he owed him 7s 6d, which he declared he would never pay. -- The Coroner remarked that that was a matter between himself and Dr. Bryden. -- It transpired that the child was insured in the Prudential Insurance Company. -- The jury returned a verdict of "Accidental death."
William Henry Stone, Farm Labourer of Halberton, died, aged 33, on 11 Aug 1889, at the Infirmary Tiverton from Cardiac disease and oedema of the lungs (Pulmonary edema is often caused by congestive heart failure.)

As if things couldn't get any worse, in 1891, both Jane Stone and daughter Louisa Mary Jane are listed as inmates at the Tiverton Union Workhouse

Then Louisa Mary Jane Stone, sadly, simply disappears.

Ellen Snow (12) was still (or again) living with her grandfather in 1891, going by her mother's surname, Snow, even though her parents had subsequently married, which I imagine was so that the records matched up when she was enrolled at school. In 1901, however, she was using her father's surname, listed as Ellen S Stone (22), working as Cook Domestic, at a Private Girls School at 19, St Peter Street, Tiverton, Devon. Ellen married in 1901

Jane Stone remarried to William Staddon in 1899. 

In 1911, in Kitwell Street, Uffculme were William Staddon (52) Basket Maker, from Uplowman, Devon, with wife Jane (52) from Dulverton, Tom Staddon (32) and Henry Wright (45) boarder. (William Staddon previously married Leah Parr (m. 1871) - and the mother's maiden name on Tom's birth registration is Parr to confirm this - who had died, aged 51, in 1897.)

William and Jane Staddon appear to have been living in Halberton, in 1921.

As yet, I've been unable to find the deaths for either William or Jane Staddon.

Saturday 20 May 2023

James Wood and Mary Ann Melhuish

Broadhembury
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © David Stowell - geograph.org.uk/p/6855

James Wood, son of James Wood and Harriet Gollop, married Mary Ann Melhuish on 20 May 1883 at St. Mary’s church, Kentisbeare. The spaces for Mary Ann's father are left blank on the marriage certificate, which lends more circumstantial evidence for accepting an illegitimate birth of a Mary Ann Melhuish (who said she was born in Clayhidon, Devon), in 1863 J Quarter in WELLINGTON SOMERSET AND DEVON Volume 05C Page 445. Without buying the certificate, we cannot even tell who her mother was, but I have a sneaking suspicion she may turn out to be the daughter of Mary Jane Melhuish, who James' elder brother Henry had married.

James and Mary Ann had 11 children:
  1. Robert Wood b. 1883, bap. 12 Jul 1885 in Kentisbeare (Baptism record notes that he was 18 months old.) 
  2. Sarah Ann Wood bap. 12 Jul 1885 in Kentisbeare
  3. Edith Maud Wood b. 24 Jul 1887, bap. 14 Aug 1887 in Kentisbeare
  4. Harriet Mary Wood b. 23 Nov 1888, bap. 13 Jan 1889 in Kentisbeare
  5. George Wood b. 30 Aug 1890, bap. 5 Oct 1890 in Broadhembury
  6. Unnamed male Wood b. Q1 1893 (Died in the same quarter)
  7. Eldred James Wood b. 15 Mar 1894, bap. 1 Apr 1894 in Broadhembury
  8. Mabel Wood bap. 8 Aug 1896 in Kentisbeare (Died at 21 days old, buried 23 Aug 1896, also in Kentisbeare)
  9. Roland Ashford Wood b. 25 Jan 1898, bap. 13 Mar 1898 in Kentisbeare. 
  10. Reginald Leonard Wood b. 8 May 1901, bap. ? 1901 in Blackborough
  11. Mabel Frances Wood b. 1904 (Died at 26 days old, buried 17 Jan 1904 in Blackborough)
In 1891 the family were living in Broad Road, Broadhembury, Honiton with James Wood (32) Agricultural Labourer, Mary A (29), Robert (7), Sarah A (5), Edith M (3), Harriet M (2) and George (0).

In 1901, they were back in Kentisbeare at Hollis Green, with James Wood (43), Mary A (39), Edith (13), Harriet M (12), George (10), Eldred J (7) and Roland A (3). I've been unable to find either Robert or Sarah Ann. 

In 1911, at Cobblers Hall, Kentisbeare, were James Wood (53), Mary Ann (49), Sarah Ann Wood (25) Servant Cook, and Reginald Leonard Wood (9).

James Wood died in 1918, aged around 61.

In 1921, Mary Ann Wood (58) Widow, was living at Downlands, Kentisbeare, Devon with Roland Ashford Wood (23) & Reginald Leonard Wood (20) Farm Labourers; Sarah Ann Edmond (36) Widow; James Roland George Edmond (8) Grandson; Arthur Cecil Ronald Edmond (6) Grandson; Constance Mary Helen Edmond (4) Granddaughter and Robert Wood (37) Visitor.

In 1939, Mary Ann Wood, Widow, was living at 15, Blackborough with her youngest son, Reginald Leonard, then employed as a Rabbit Trapper. 

Mary Ann Wood died in 1955, aged 91.

  1. Eldred J Wood served in the Devonshire Regiment during World War I.
  2. Roland A Wood married Cicely Butt in 1939. That year they were living at Bodmiscombe Wood, where Roland was a Farmer on his own account. Roland Ashford Wood died on 28 Feb 1975.
  3. Reginald Leonard Wood of 15 Blaydon Cottages, Blackborough, died on 18 Jun 1954 at Tiverton and District Hospital. As he left his effects to his widowed mother, we can probably conclude he had not married. 

Sunday 9 April 2023

Francis Stone and Frances Mary Jerred

Cottages, High Street, Halberton
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Roger Cornfoot - geograph.org.uk/p/1177578
44 High Street, Halberton, is the blue cottage in the centre

Francis Stone (Frank) (b. 1 Feb 1867) son of Henry Stone and Mary Ridgeway, married Frances Mary Jerred (b. 3 May 1869), daughter of John Jerred and Frances Ann Orchard, always known to my father as "Aunt France", although if we were being pedantic, she was his father's aunt, his great-aunt. The couple married at St Peter’s Church Tiverton on 9 Apr 1902. Witnesses were the bride's father, John Jerred and a Bessie Louisa Corrick. Francis and Frances, at 34 and 33, respectively, married late by the standards of the day, and this may have been a factor toward the couple not having children.

In 1911, Frank Stone (42) Farm Labourer and Frances Mary Stone (42) were living at Middle Pitt, Sampford Peverell. 

In 1921, still at Middle Pitt Westleigh, Wellington, Sampford Peverell, Devon were Francis Stone (53) Farm Carter and Frances Mary Stone (52).

Francis Stone, of Middle Pitt Cottage, Sampford Peverell, died on 18 Nov 1937, aged 70, leaving £517 13s 11d to Frances Mary Stone. 

In 1939, Frances Mary Stone, Old Age Pensioner, was living at 2 Sunnidale, Willand, Devon.

Frances Mary Stone, of 44 High Street, Halberton, Devon died on 11 Aug 1962 at the ripe old age of 93. She didn't have much money left (~£75). 

Francis and Frances are buried together in the churchyard at Uplowman.

Grave of Francis Stone and Frances Mary Jerred in Uplowman Churchyard

Tuesday 8 June 2021

Dahlia Trevail, Frederick Mackness, Henry Charles Orton

St Mark's Church, North Audley Street, London W1
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © John Salmon - geograph.org.uk/p/1536122

Dahlia Trevail, daughter of Joseph Trevail and Jane Rundle, in 1871, was cook, in the household of Thomas William Bramston, Conservative Member for South Essex, at the family estate of Skreens, Roxwell, Chelmsford, Essex. Then, in Q3 of 1876, aged 27, she married Frederick Mackness (bap. 14 Feb 1827), a sawyer, son of George and Susanna Mackness, at St Mark, North Audley Street (St Mark's, Mayfair) - now home to Mercato Mayfair, a cultural hub and sustainable community market. The marriage was short-lived, because in the 4th quarter of that same year, Frederick died, aged 49. 

In 1881, Dahlia Mackness (31), widow, was once again employed as a cook, in the household of Sir William Miller, 1st Baronet in London, at 1, Park Lane. 

In the 3rd quarter of 1881, Dahlia Mackness married Henry Charles Orton at St George's, Hanover Square. It was "third time lucky" for Henry, son of Charles Orton and Mary Leach, born in Warwickshire in 1838. Henry had first married Elizabeth Neal on 11 Oct 1863 in Leamington Spa, but Elizabeth died, aged 31, in 1867, in Shipston-on-Stour. That marriage didn't produce any children. Henry then married widow, Ellen Reynolds (née Carpenter), in 1869, in what was then Aston, Warwickshire. Their daughters: Florence Mary Orton, was born in 1870, in Southam; Nellie Rose in Warwick in 1873 and Lizzie in Watford in 1877. Ellen Orton died, aged 47, also in Watford, where Henry C Orton (42) Builder's foreman, was living at 6, Church Road, in 1881.

Henry and Dahlia had two children, both born at 6, Church Road, Watford:
  1. Charles Orton b. 3 Jul 1882, bap. 24 Sep 1882 at St Andrew's, Watford
  2. Emily Maud Orton b. 21 Sep 1884, bap. 2 Nov 1884 at St Andrew's
In 1891, Henry C Orton (52) Carpenter, wife Delia (sic) (42), Florence (21), Charles (8), Maud (6), plus boarders: Samuel Cos (21) and Albert Batchelor (19) were living in London at Worcester Street, St George Hanover Square.

Then Henry Charles Orton died in the 4th quarter of 1892, aged 54.

Various newspapers in Apr 1893 reported on:
DAMAGES FOR THE LOSS OF A HUSBAND

The case of "Orton v. Simpson" came before Judge Bayley and a jury at Westminster County Court for a partition of the damages. Mrs Dahlia Orton and her children claimed £280 under the Employers' Liability Act from Messrs. Simpson and Company (Limited), engineers, of Pimlico. The husband was an engineer, and on 3 Dec last was killed whilst in the employ of the defending company through the bursting of a defective cylinder. The plaintiff had two children, aged eight and ten years, and there were two children of the deceased by a former marriage, aged 18 and 21. The defendants admitted their liability and paid £210 into court, which sum the plaintiff accepted, at Westminster County Court yesterday applied under Lord Campbell's Act for a partition of the damages. The jury awarded the plaintiff £50, the two children by a former marriage £5 each, and the plaintiff's two children £75. 

In 1901, Dahlia Orton (52) widow, was living at 16, Balfern Grove, Chiswick with Charles Orton (18), Emily M Orton (16) and three boarders: Alfred Hooke (22), Thomas Willcox (25) and Albert Clarke (27).

In 1911, Dahlia Orton (62) was staying with her daughter and her husband, William Charles Creedon (27) Licenced Victualler at the Builder's Arms8 Wyvil Road, Lambeth. (William Charles Creeden and Emily Maud Orton married, in Brentford, in 1907 and, in 1910, William Charles Creedon had been the landlord of the Oxford Arms, 77 St Peter Street, Bethnal Green.)

In 1921, Dahlia Orton (72) Widow was once again living with her daughter and son-in-law, this time back at 16, Balfern Grove, Chiswick, Middlesex.

Dahlia Orton died in 1925, aged 76, in Brentford.