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| St Mary's Church, Hitchin cc-by-sa/2.0 - © John Lucas - geograph.org.uk/p/989956 |
Squire as a boy's name is of Middle English origin, apparently.
Squire and Sarah had 6 children, baptised at the Hitchin, Back Street Meeting (The Independent Meeting House at Back Street, Hitchin):
- John Day b. 27 Dec 1820, bap. 25 Mar 1821
- George Hobbs Day b. 27 Feb 1822, bap. 31 Mar 1822
- Martha Hobbs Day b. 26 Feb 1826, bap. 20 May 1827. Died, aged 12, in 1838 J Quarter in THE HITCHIN UNION Volume 06 Page 411
- Alfred Day b. 17 Jun 1828, bap. 14 Sep 1828
- Phoebe Emma Day b. 4 Mar 1830, bap. 18 Apr 1830
- Elizabeth Hobbs Day b. 22 Jun 1833, bap. 26 Jan 1834
Sarah Day must have died between 1833 and 1837, but no record identified.
Squire Day, Widower, son of George Day, Carpenter, then married Mary Ann Dear, Spinster, said to be daughter of William Dear, Carpenter, both of Back Street, Hitchin, at the Parish Church of St Mary's, Hitchin, on 20 Jul 1837.
Squire and Mary Ann added another four children:
- Martha Dear Day b. 1839 M Qtr in HITCHIN UNION Vol 06 Page 500
- Mary Ann Day b. 1841 M Qtr in HITCHIN UNION Vol 06 Page 540
- Squire Day b. 1843 S Qtr in HITCHIN UNION Vol 06 Page 534
- Sarah Elizabeth Day b. 1846 M Qtr in HITCHIN Vol 06 Page 578
In 1841, in Back of Street, Hitchin, were Squire Day (40) Grocer [1], Mary Ann Day (35), John Day (20), George Day (18), Martha Day (3), Mary Ann Day (0), Mary Kofford (20) Female Servant and John Taylor (20), who in perfect nominative determinism, was a Tailor. They were living next door to John Gascoine, Victualler, but that's probably unremarkable because these streets appear to have been full of now lost pubs. Also among their closest neighbours were a Fish Monger, two Bakers and a Shoe Maker.
[1] First wife Sarah's father, Samuel Emly Hobbs, had also been a grocer, declared bankrupt in 1829, so he may have taken over this business.
Back of Street, or Back Street, is described in this document on Hitchin Conservation Area (PDF): "A subsidiary road developed parallel to the market place on the east side of the River Hiz, probably from the 12th century onwards. Formerly called Back Street, and at its southern end, Dead Street. Biggin Lane and Portmill Lane connected the market place with Back Street and Dead Street respectively. Their name was changed to the more salubrious Queen Street in the 19th century. Queen Street was also the site of many houses, cottages and other buildings which were located close to St Mary’s Church, and which were swept away in the slum clearance of the 1920s.
In 1851, in Back Street, Hitchin, were Squire Day (52) Grocer from Ickleford, Hertfordshire; Mary Ann Day (47) from East Barnet, Hertfordshire; Martha Day (12), Mary Ann Day (10), Squire Day (8) and Sarah Day (5).
In 1861, Squire Day (63) Upholsterer and lodging house keeper was running the Travellers Rest, Back Street, Hitchin, Hertfordshire with Mary Ann Day (56), Mary Ann Day (20) Bonnet Sewer; Squire Day (17) Boot and shoe makers apprentice; Sarah Day (15) Bonnet Sewer and 19 Lodgers.
In 1871, Squire Day (74) Upholsterer and lodging house keeper, was still in Back Street, Hitchin with Mary Ann Day (65), Mary Ann Day (29) Bonnet Sewer; Sarah E Day (25) Milliner; Alfred J Day (19) Reporter and Arthur S Day (15) Photographic Artist, these last two grandsons, sons of John Day.
Squire Day died, at 81, in 1878 S Quarter in HITCHIN Volume 03A Page 228.
In 1881, M A [Mary Ann] Day (76) Lodging house keeper was still running the Traveller's Rest in Back Street, Hitchin with Mary A Day (39) assistant; Susan White (44) General Servant, Henry White (10) and 13 Boarders.
Mary Ann Day died at 79 in 1884 M Qtr in HITCHIN Vol 03A Page 256.