Augustine Wynnall and Elizabeth Knighte

Great St Helen's Street, London, EC3
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © David Hallam-Jones - geograph.org.uk/p/3406231
The Grade II-listed 12th century Church of "St Helen's, Bishopsgate" occupies the centre space. This was William Shakespeare's parish church when he lived in the area in the 1590s.

Augustine Wynnoll (sic) and Elizabeth Knighte (though I suspect the final 'e' is superfluous) - who were a pair of my 9th great-grandparents - married on 12 May 1634 at St Helen's Church, Bishopsgate (one of only a few churches in the City of London to survive both the Great Fire of 1666 and The Blitz). 

Augustine and Elizabeth appear to have five children:

1. Mary Winnall b. Monday, 17 Feb 1634, Mary daughter of Augustine Winnall of Blackwall, Waterman bap. 20 Feb 1634 at St Dunstan and All Saints, Stepney (at 3 days old).
2. Elizabeth Winnall b. Tuesday, 29 Aug 1637, Elizabeth daughter of Augustine Winnall of Blackwall, Waterman bap. 6 Sep 1637 at St Dunstan's (at 8 days old). Elizabeth daughter of Augustine Winnall of Blackwall, Waterman, was buried at St Dunstan's on 24 Feb 1640.
3. Amy Winnall b. Friday, 1 Nov 1639, Amy daughter of Augustine Winnall of Blackwall, Waterman & Elizabeth bap. 6 Nov 1639 (at 5 days old)
4. John Winnall b. Wednesday, 23 Mar 1642, John son of Augustine Winnall of Blackwall, Waterman and Eliz., bap. 31 Mar 1642 at St Dunstan's (at 8 days old).
5. Rachell Winnall bap. 19 Oct 1643. Rachel daughter of Augustine Winnall of Blackwall, Waterman & Elizabeth, buried 20 Nov 1643.

Sadly, almost all the records of the Company of Watermen prior to 1666 were destroyed in the Great Fire of London so finding these records of a waterman from before that time, is gold. That it's my direct ancestor, breath-taking.

Their only son, John Winnall, who was my 8th great-grandfather, therefore, was born in the same year as the start of the English Civil War.

Augustine Wynnall of Blackwall, Waterman was buried, on 2 Feb 1642, at St Dunstan's, Stepney. (Which either means Rachel was a posthumous child, baptised very late, or (more likely) the date of her baptism, which only appears on the transcript of her burial, is incorrect. Perhaps it was 1641?)

Anthony Tompson of Blackwall, Sawyer, aged 26 years married Mary Winnall aged 20 years, at St Dunstan, Stepney, on 13 Feb 1654.

Buried on page 408 of the Calendar of the Quarter Sessions Papers: pt. 1. 1591-1621, is the following item: 

If this is the same Augustine Wynnall (and, with the same fairly unusual name, just seven years before the above marriage, I imagine it must be), then several conclusions may be drawn: he appears to have been wanted to appear before the Quarter Sessions for some reason that I have yet to discover; he probably originally hails from Buckland, Gloucestershire and he was a Labourer.

More interestingly, however, is that among the notable burials at St Helen's Church, Bishopsgate is the tomb of Sir Thomas Gresham (1519-1579), royal agent to King Edward VI (1547–1553) and Queens Mary I (1553–1558) and Elizabeth I (1558–1603) and founder of the Royal Exchange, whose father, Sir Richard Gresham (1485-1549), Lord Mayor of London, and Member of Parliament, who served as a commissioner under Henry VIII, had both held the manor of Buckland. One imagines, therefore, that Augustine Wynnall may have come to London in the service of their descendants.

Blackwall and the Watermen

Samuel Pepys, who commuted by water from his home to his job at the Admiralty, refers to the death of his waterman in his diaries of 1665 revealing the particular vulnerability of Thames watermen to infection. 

On Sunday 20 August 1665, he writes, "And I could not get my waterman to go elsewhere for fear of the plague."

Thames watermen and ferries: "Wherries could be hired at many stairs that led down to the Thames. Watermen gathered at each, jostling for custom, crying “oars oars sculls”. Working a passenger wherry, ferry, or barge on the Thames in all weathers and tides required knowledge and skill, with tides used to achieve remarkably quick journeys up and down river. The men who operated such craft, as well as those who transported goods by barge or lighter, were a special breed, whose families undertook the same work for generations."

Blackwall had a proud maritime tradition and both Raleigh and Nelson are said to have had homes here. The first colonists of Virginia sailed from Blackwall in 1606 and later the East India Docks - a group of docks in Blackwall, east London - brought thriving inter­na­tional trade.

Blackwall Yard was famous for building East Indiamen, which vessels were often called Blackwallers. Built in 1614, it was the first wet dock in the port of London and was the East India Company's principal shipyard, "... residential development at Blackwall commenced in earnest during the 1620s and 1630s, and it continued throughout the century as both the shipyard and overseas trade prospered and the demand for labour in the area increased." 

Thomas Henry Richards Gardner and Mary Ann Watkins

St George Hanover Square
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Stephen Richards - 
geograph.org.uk/p/7728390

Thomas Henry Richards Gardner, bachelor, servant, then of Brook Street, Mayfair (bap. 25 Dec 1825 in Dursley, Gloucestershire), who listed his father as Thomas Richards Gardner, Carpenter, but was actually the son of Mary Ann Gardener, Single woman (and very likely a Mr Richards), married Mary Ann Watkins (b. ~1829 in St George, Hanover Square), spinster of Swan Passage, daughter of James William Watkins, Coachman, and Mary Wells, at St George, Hanover Square, on 30 Jan 1854. Witnesses were James William Watkins and Mary Watkins, presumably the bride's parents.

Thomas Henry Richards and Mary Ann Gardner had seven children:

1. Thomas James Gardner b. 17 Mar 1854 (1854 J Quarter in SAINT GEORGE HANOVER SQUARE Volume 01A Page 171), bap. 28 May 1854 (as Thomas James Charles Augustus Gardner) at St George, Hanover Square. Evidence of a marriage in 1885. Died at 39 in 1892 M Quarter in POPLAR Volume 01C Page 612
2. Henry James Gardner b. 23 Jan 1856 (1856 M Quarter in BETHNAL GREEN Volume 01C Page 320), bap. 11 May 1856 (as Henry James William Gardner) at St George, Hanover Square. Died at 29 in 1885 J Quarter in POPLAR Volume 01C Page 416
3. Charles Albert Gardner b. 31 Mar 1859 (Registered 1859 J Quarter in SAINT GEORGE HANOVER SQUARE Volume 01A Page 183), bap. 7 May 1859 at St George, Hanover Square. (Died in 1901).
4. Ann Gardner b. 1862 M Qtr in POPLAR UNION Vol 01C Page 630. (No further records found, so assume died shortly after birth or in infancy.)
5. Albert Edward Gardner b. 1864 S Quarter in POPLAR Vol 01C Page 596. Died aged 3 in 1867 S Quarter in POPLAR Vol 01C Page 407
6. Mary Ann Gardner b. 1867 S Qtr in POPLAR UNION Vol 01C Page 604. Died at 63 in 1931 J Quarter in STEPNEY Vol 01C Page 240 
7. Albert Gardner b. 19 Jul 1870 in POPLAR UNION Vol 01C Page 623

On all of the registrations the mother's maiden name is WATKINS.

In 1861, Thomas Gardner (31) Ship builders labourer, Mary Ann Gardner (32), Henry Gardner (5) and Chares Gardner (3) were living in the household of Thomas' brother, James Gardner (28) Sawyer from Gloucestershire and his wife Barbara Gardner (24) from Norfolk, at 4, Maud Place, Bromley, Poplar. Thomas Gardner (7) was staying with his grandmother, Mary Watkins (67) Widow, at 5, Swan Cottages, St George Hanover Square.

(Didn't find any birth / baptism record for James Gardner, but he was presumably also a 'natural' son of Mary Ann Gardner. In 1871, James Gardner (38) Manager of Sawmills from Dursley, Gloucestershire, was living in Udimore Road, Rye, Sussex with Barbara Gardner (33). Then James Gardner died, aged 43, in 1876 M Quarter in RYE Volume 02B Page 3 and was buried on 6 Mar 1876, in Rye, Sussex. In 1881, Barbara Gardner (44) Widow, Laundress, was living in Cinque Ports Street, Rye, Sussex. Barbara Gardner died at 76 in 1913 M Quarter in HAILSHAM Volume 02B Page 137.)

In 1871, Thomas Gardner (42) Gas Fitter from Dursley, Gloucestershire was living in Guilford Road, Bromley, Poplar with Mary Ann Gardner (40), Thomas Gardner (17), Henry Gardner (14), Charles Gardner (11), Mary Ann Gardner (3) and Albert Gardner (8 months).

In 1881, at 34, Guildford Road, Bromley, Poplar, were Thomas Gardner (50) Gas Fitter; Mary A Gardner (49), Thomas Gardner (27) Gas Fitter; Henry Gardner (25) Slater; Charles Gardner (22) Slater; and Albert Gardner (11). 

In 1891, Thomas Gardner (62) Gas Fitter was at 12, Bloomfield Road, Mile End Old Town, with Mary Ann Gardner (66) and Albert Gardner (20) Printer.

In 1901, Thomas Gardner (75) Gas Fitter was living at 150, Queens Road, West Ham with Mary A Gardner (73) Shirt maker; Mary A Gardner (32) Shirt maker; and Albert Gardner (30) Post Office porter.

Thomas Henry Richard[s] Gardner died, aged 86, in 1907 D Quarter in WEST HAM Volume 04A Page 51.

In 1911, Mary Ann Gardner (84) was living with son Alfred Gardner (40) Printer porter and his wife Susannah (40) at 268 Devons Road, Bow, Poplar (Alfred Gardner had married Susannah Mary Brown in 1908), with Mary Ann Gardner (42) Shirt machinist; and Albert and Susannah's daughter, Rosetta Mary Gardner (6 months). On this census it lists that Mary Ann Gardner had seven children, of whom five had died and only two were then still living. 

Mary Ann Gardner died at 88 in  1917 M Quarter in MILE END OLD TOWN Volume 01C Page 489.

Walter Robert Thomas Parry and Emma Hockley

Holy Trinity Church, Hartland Road, London NW1
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © John Salmon - geograph.org.uk/p/1292924

Walter Robert Thomas Parry (bap. 16 Apr 1851 at St Mary's Church, Charlton Kings, Gloucestershire), son of Walter George Parry and Annie Arnott, married Emma Hockley, daughter of George Hockley and Eliza Crow, at Holy Trinity Church, Haverstock Hill (Haverstock) on 1 Dec 1872. 

The year before, Emma was working as a General servant to Samuel Knight, Architect at Maitland Park Villas, St Pancras. Walter R Parry (20) Carpenter & Joiner, had been Lodging at Collyer Cottages, High Street, Camberwell.

Walter and Emma had one daughter:

1. Annie Emma Parry b. 1873 M Qtr in ST PANCRAS Vol 01B Page 178, who died, aged 5, in 1878 S Qtr in PANCRAS Vol 01B Page 111

In 1881, Walter R Parry (28) Joiner from Gloucestershire, Emma Parry (28) from Essex were at 152, St Pauls Road, St Pancras, London with Walter's aunt, Elizabeth White (56) Widow from Somerset living with them.

Then Emma Parry died, aged 37, in 1889 S Quarter in Cheltenham.

Walter Robert Thomas Parry remarried, in 1892, to Sarah Ann Burrows, in Northleach, Gloucestershire.

And went on to have two further daughters: 

2. Clara Daisy Parry b. 1895 J Qtr in NORTHLEACH Vol 06A Page 378
3. Frances Lily Parry b. 1896 S Qtr in CHELTENHAM Vol 06A Page 400

The family were living in Charlton Kings, Cheltenham, in 1901 and 1911. 

Walter Robert Thomas Parry of 3 Daisy Bank, Charlton Kings, Cheltenham, died, aged 77, on 24 Jul 1928. Probate was granted to Clara Daisy Williams (wife of Francis Herbert Williams) and Frances Lily Hatherall (wife of John William Hatherall), his two daughters from his second marriage.

James Shopland and Loveday Jane Stone

Bridge and Uplowman church
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © David Smith - geograph.org.uk/p/4097757

James Shopland (b. 1885), son of James Shopland and Caroline Sydenham, married Loveday Jane Stone (b. 6 Apr 1884), daughter of Frederick James Stone and Loveday Jane Land, at St Peter’s Church, Uplowman on 2 Nov 1904. Witnesses were Mary Ann Stone and Frederick James Stone. 

James Shopland's father, James Shopland (1850-1908), was a Wheelwright and Carpenter of Chevithorne Village. In 1901, James Shopland (16) had been employed as a Dairyman's Labourer to Samuel B Thornton, residing at The Island Cottage, Lowman Green, Tiverton. Then, on 8 Jun 1901, adding two years to his age and claiming to be 18 years and 3 months, James Shopland, enlisted for Short Service in the Devonshire Regiment and served until 7 Jun 1913, when he was discharged at the end of his first period of engagement. James' record says he passed classes as Mounted infantry, Certified. From 23 Jul 1902 until 21 May 1903, James served in South Africa, in the aftermath of the Second Boer War. From 22 May 1903, until his discharge, he was assigned to Home, presumably actual home, as a reservist.

James and Loveday had five children:

1. Frederick James Shopland b. 19 Nov 1905, bap. 17 Dec 1905 at St Peter's Church, Tiverton, as the family's address at the time was 3 Adam's Court, Barrington Street, Tiverton. In 1927, he married Elizabeth A P Cox and in 1939, they were living at 131 Eden Grove, Bristol. Frederick James Shopland died in 1971, in Weston-super-Mare.
2. Loveday Jane Shopland b. 14 Feb 1907, bap. 17 Feb 1907 at Cove. In 1928, Loveday Jane Shopland married Leonard Southcott in Bristol. Their address in 1939 was 34 Pylle Hill Crescent, Bristol. Leonard Southcott died, aged 47, in 1950, in Bristol and in 1952, Loveday Jane Southcott remarried to a James J Basten-Rank. James J B Rank died, aged 68, in 1966, in Weston-super-Mare. Despite this, her death in 1995, in Taunton Deane, is registered under Loveday Jane Southcott. 
   
3. Albert Geoffrey Shopland born 21 Jul 1908. In 1930, Albert Geoffrey Shopland married Annie Richards in Bristol and in 1939 were living at 3 Chessington Avenue, Bristol. Albert G Shopland died, in Bristol, at 35.
4. Sidney Arthur Shopland bap. 27 Feb 1910 at Bickleigh. On 13 Jun 1929, Sidney Arthur Shopland enlisted in the Royal Artillery. Unable to find a marriage, but Sidney A Shopland died, aged 58, in 1968, in Bristol.
5. John James Shopland born 1911. There is more than one John Shopland in the relevant areas and none specifically listed as John James, so it hasn't yet been possible to isolate subsequent records for him.

In 1911, living at New Cottages, Seckerleigh Farm, Halberton, were James Shopland (27) Farm Labourer, Loveday Jane (27), Frederick James (6), Loveday Jane (4), Albert Geoffrey (3), Sidney Arthur (1) and boarder, Robert Charles Harris (38) Farm Labourer, from Penzance, Cornwall. 

In 1921, James Shopland (35) was working for the Great Western Railway at Temple Meads Station, Bristol, and was living at 34, Pylle Hill Crescent, Totterdown, Bristol, with Loveday J Shopland (37), Frederick J Shopland (15) Machanist (Printing); Loveday J Shopland (14) Out of work; Albert J Shopland (12) and Sidney A Shopland (11).

In 1939, Loveday Jane Shopland (née Stone) was still at 34 Pylle Hill Crescent, Bristol, with her daughter, Loveday Jane Southcott. She was listed as married, but there was no sign of James. Loveday Jane Shopland died, aged 56, in 1941, in Taunton, Somerset. James Shopland died, in Bristol, in 1955.