Walter White and Hannah Blazey

Thorpe St Andrew Parish Church
The church, which was once reported to be the smallest church in Norfolk, was the subject of a Vestry meeting in 1862. It was decided at this meeting that the church needed to be enlarged and then in 1864 it was a agreed that a new one should be built. The new church was consecrated on 31st May 1866 by the Bishop of Norwich [just in time for Walter and Hannah's wedding the following year]. The remains of the medieval church still exist in front of the Parish Church.

Walter White (b. 16 Nov 1845 in Thorpe, Norfolk), youngest son of William White and Ann Francis, married Hannah Blazey (b. 17 Jun 1845 in Heigham, Norfolk), daughter of Francis Stephen Blazey and Hannah Minns on Sunday, 31 Mar 1867 at the Parish church of St Andrew, Thorpe St Andrew, Norwich. Witnesses to their marriage were Samuel Blazey, the bride's brother, Hannah White, the bridegroom's sister and an Elizabeth Blazey (unsure which).

Walter and Hannah shortly added two children to the family:

1. Walter White b. 1869 S Qtr in BLOFIELD UNION Vol 04B Page 179
2. Laura Elizabeth White b. 15 Oct 1870 (1870 D Quarter in BLOFIELD UNION Volume 04B Page 185)

On 4 Jun 1870, The Norfolk Chronicle and Norwich Gazette reported that Walter White, of Thorpe St. Andrew's, gardener, was summoned by Hannah White, his wife, for unlawfully assaulting her on the 25th ult. [i.e. the previous month] Complainant said that she asked her husband for the money to pay the gas rate with, on which he flew into a violent passion, and beat and kicked her in the back. Defendant said he might have kicked her, but not to have hurt her, but it was under great provocation. Defendant was fined 5s, and 15s costs. 

In 1871, Walter White (26) Gardener, Hannah White (26), Walter White (1) and Laura White (5 months) were living at Thorpe Grove, Thunder Lane, Thorpe St Andrew. In the next-door household was a Robert Knivett (53), also a gardener. Also living at Thorpe Grove, was William Birkbeck (1832–1897), banker and landowner, whose former property in Thunder Lane, now named The Cottage is currently a pub and restaurant. One presumes these gardeners were employed on Birkbeck's then quite large estate.

Walter White, Gardener, of Globe Street, Heigham, Norwich, died, aged 26 on 5 Jan 1872 (M Qtr in NORWICH Vol 04B Page 130) from Smallpox. The death certificate states that H White [Hannah] was present at his death. 

As yet, I've been unable to work out what happened to Hannah, whether she remarried; I've found no death record, but feel, sadly, that's more likely, as in 1881, Walter and Laura, were living with their maternal grandmother.

John Parsons and Emma Burrows

Shillingford : Village Sign & B3227
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Lewis Clarke - geograph.org.uk/p/3283397

John Parsons (b. 24 Jun 1850), son of William Parsons and Harriet Norman, married Emma Burrows (b. 1856), daughter of James Burrows and Martha Perry, at St Michael & All Angels, Bampton on 31 Mar 1878. Witnesses were Samuel Burrows and Eliza Burrows, Emma's elder brother and his wife.

A report in The Western Times on 19 Jun 1874, tells us that Emma Burrows was, at that time, a servant at the Barleycorn Inn, Shillingford, Bampton.

John and Emma had nine children:

1. James Burrows Parsons b. 7 Aug 1878 S Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 436, bap. 1 Sep 1878 at St Michael & All Angels, Bampton
2. Lucy Emma Parsons b. 19 May 1880 D Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 424, bap. 12 Dec 1880 at St Michael & All Angels, Bampton
3. William Parsons b. 4 Jul 1882 S Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 443, bap. 30 Jul 1882 at St Michael & All Angels, Bampton
4. Sarah Ann Parsons b. 16 Jan 1884 in TIVERTON Vol 05B Page 439, bap. 10 Feb 1884 in Bampton. Died, aged 16, in 1900 S Qtr Vol 05B Page 267, buried at Petton Chapelry on 27 Jul 1900.
5. Harriet Parsons b. 18 Apr 1886 (1886 J Qtr in TIVERTON Vol 05B Page 444), bap. 23 Apr 1886, at St Michael and All Angels, Bampton. Died in 1886 J Qtr in TIVERTON Vol 05B 320 and buried at Petton Chapelry on 12 May 1886, with age listed as 24 days.
6. Samuel Charles Parsons b. 23 Apr 1887 (1887 J Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 428), bap. 5 Jun 1887 in Bampton. Died, aged 11, in 1898 J Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 275 and was buried at Petton Chapelry on 8 May 1898.
7. Sydney Parsons b. 7 Feb 1889 M Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 438, bap. 10 Mar 1889 at St Michael and All Angels, Bampton
8. Florence Annie Parsons b. 3 Feb 1891 M Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 424, bap. 8 Mar 1891 at St Michael and All Angels, Bampton
9. John Parsons b. 20 Jul 1894 S Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 408, bap. 26 Aug 1894 at St Michael and All Angels, Bampton

All of the children were born in Shillingford (although the registration district was TIVERTON). Many of the dates of birth are those listed when the child was registered at the Shillingford And Petton County Primary School.

In 1881, living in Shillingford, Bampton, Tiverton, Devon, were John Parsons (30) Carpenter from Bampton, Devon; Emma Parsons (25) from Clayhanger, Devon; John B Parsons (2) and Lucy Parsons (0).

In 1891, living at Turnpike Gate House [Shillingford], Bampton were John Parsons (40) Carpenter; Emma Parsons (35), Lucy Parsons (10), William Parsons (8), Sarah A Parsons (7), Samuel C Parsons (3), Sydney Parsons (2) and Florence A Parsons (0). Eldest son James (12) was working as a servant for the Chanins at Landrake, Cove.

John Parsons died, aged 43, on 26 Oct 1894 (1894 D Qtr in TIVERTON Vol 05B Page 283) and was buried at Petton Chapelry on 31 Oct 1894.

In 1901, Emma Parsons (45) Widow was living in Shillingford, Bampton, Tiverton, Devon, with James Parsons (22) Labourer on farm who appears have moved back home to support his widowed mother and grandmother; Sydney Parsons (12), Florrie Parsons (10), John Parsons (6) and Martha Burrows (76) Widow. Lucy Parsons (20) was working in Clifton, Bristol as a domestic servant, and William Parsons (18) was Stockman at Mill Head, Bampton.

In 1911, Emma Parsons (55) Charwoman was living in Shillingford with her daughter Florence Parsons (21) Kitchenmaid. James, Lucy and William had all married, Private Sydney Parsons (22) was with the 2nd Battalion, Devonshire Regiment at St George's Barracks (Pembroke Army Garrison), Malta and John Parsons (16) was an Agricultural Labourer at Teal Farm, Bampton, Devon.

Four Sons on Active Service: The Western Times of 1 Dec 1916 reported that, "Corporal Sydney Parsons of the Devons, who was also wounded in France, has been spending a week-end at his home, Shillingford, Bampton. He is the third son of the late Mr John Parsons and of Mrs Parsons, and has two older and one younger brother on active service. He is a good marksman, having won at Malta the cup for shooting at 600 yards; also a medal for the highest score at 200 yards. He has served for six years at Malta and Egypt, and expects to take a further part in the great campaign."

The Western Times 9 May 1917 communicated that, "Sergt Sydney Parsons, son of Mrs Parsons of Shillingford, is reported missing."

The Western Times of 9 Nov 1917 reported: "Mrs E Parsons, of Shillingford, Bampton, has received the news that her second son, Corpl. Wm. Parsons, of the Devons, was killed in action [during the Battle of Broodseinde] on the 4th October last and has had a very sympathetic letter from Lieut. J W Chandler, deceased's Company officer, saying "his loss will be felt, both as a soldier and a friend." Corpl Parsons, who in peace time was engaged on the G.W.R. at Bristol, leaves a widow and two children. His elder brother, James, is attached to the Royal Engineers and his youngest brother is a prisoner of war in Germany. Another brother, Sergt Sydney Parsons, is reported missing. Much sympathy is evinced towards the mother, who is a widow."

Have been unable to find the record relating to James Parsons serving in the Royal Engineers, but he survived the war; William Parsons is buried at Tyne Cot Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery, outside Passendale, near Zonnebeke in Belgium; records sadly confirm that Sergeant Sydney Parsons of the 1st Battalion, Devonshire Regiment had been killed in action on 23 Apr 1917 [during the Battle of Arras] and is one of 35,942 soldiers with no known grave commemorated on the Arras Memorial; Corporal John Parsons of the Devonshire Regiment, Machine Gun Corps had been captured at Frankreich Serre [Serre-lès-Puisieux] on 16 Nov 1916 and various records show him constantly being sent from one German POW Camp to another, including Laz Mülheim, Dülmen, Minden, Aachen and Cambrai.

Sydney and William Parsons are commemorated on Bampton War Memorial.

In 1921, Emma Parsons (65) was still living in Shillingford, with her youngest son, John Parsons (26) General Labourer for Tiverton Council.

Emma Parsons died at 69 in 1926 M Qtr in TIVERTON Vol 05B Page 539.

• James Burrows Parsons married Mabel Mary Hayward (b. 1883) at St Peter’s Church, Uplowman on 21 Oct 1908. They had five children: Robert John Parsons in 1910; Doris Annie Parsons in 1911; Beatrice Mabel Parsons 1916; Rosie Florence Parsons 1920 and Malcolm James Parsons 1922. James Burrows Parsons died on 7 Nov 1956 and Mabel Mary Parsons on 24 Sep 1969. They are buried together at St Bartholomew's Church, Lyng, Somerset.
• Thomas Kingdom (b. 1876), son of Isaac Kingdom and Ann Hayward, married Lucy Parsons on 30 Apr 1903 at St Michael & All Angels, Bampton. They had three children: Albert Thomas Kingdom in 1904; Ivy Florence Kingdom in 1909 and Sydney John Kingdom in 1913. In 1911 they were in Petton, Bampton, where Lucy was a Sweet Shop Keeper. Thomas Kingdom died, at 43, on 28 Jan 1920. Lucy was still in Petton in 1921 and remarried to a Samuel Wright in 1922. In 1939 they were living at North Down, South Molton. Samuel died on 14 May 1952 and Lucy on 17 Sep 1970, at 89.
• Frank Cottrell (b. 16 Feb 1886) married Florence Annie Parsons in 1919. In 1921, Frank Cottrell (34) Woodman and Florence Annie Cottrell (30) were living at Lugh Barton Cottage, Skilgate, Somerset and in 1939, at 3 Rocknelle Cottage, Bampton, Tiverton. They don't appear to have had any children. Florence Cottrell died on 5 May 1965 at Belmont Hospital, Tiverton.
• John Parsons married Bessie Grace Bird (b. 8 Jul 1888), daughter of William Bird and Mary Dunn, in Crediton, Devon, in Q3 1922. They had twins: Francis John Charles Parsons and Elsie Betty Emma Parsons born 30 Nov 1922. All four members of the family were at Haddon View, Dulverton, Somerset in 1939. Both John Parsons and Bessie Grace Parsons died in Q3 of 1973.

Charles Trevail and Mary Fleming

St Margaret, Westminster
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © John Salmon - geograph.org.uk/p/4749411

Charles Trevail (b. 2 Aug 1851 in Luxulyan, Cornwall), son of Joseph Trevail and Jane Rundle, married Mary Fleming (b. 1853), daughter of Henry Fleming and Edith Arding, at St Margaret's, Westminster on 31 Mar 1874. Both listed their address at the time of the marriage as 3 Artillery Terrace. Witnesses were Henry Fleming, bride's father and Dahlia Trevail, groom's sister.

Charles and Mary Trevail had five children:

1. Charles Frederick Trevail b. 1874 D Qtr in LAMBETH Vol 01D Page 481
2. Herbert Fleming Trevail b. 1877 M Qtr in LAMBETH Vol 01D Page 503 
3. Edwin Fleming Trevail b. 1880 J Qtr in LAMBETH Vol 01D Page 486
4. Lily Mary Trevail b. 11 Apr 1885 J Qtr in LAMBETH Vol 01D Page 426
5. Daisy Fleming Trevail b. 23 Apr 1893 J Qtr in LAMBETH Vol 01D 439

In 1881, Charles Trevail (29) Engine Fitter, was living at 13, Meadow Terrace, Lambeth (at that time Charles' brother, Joseph, lived at 6, Meadow Terrace) with Mary (26), Charles F (6), Herbert F (4) and Edward (sic) F (0). (On the 1881 census, Mary claimed to be from Barnstaple, Devon, born around 1855. In 1891, London; in 1901, Westminster and 1911, London City. One would normally trust the earliest records, but it transpires her father, Henry Fleming, tailor, was from Barnstaple, while her mother, Edith was from Middlesex, City (i.e. London). On the 1871 census where Mary (17) was living with her parents at Artillery Terrace, St Margaret, Westminster, says she was born in Soho, Middlesex. She was listed in Strand Registration District.)

By 1891, they had moved to Osborne Terrace, Lambeth. With Charles (38) Engine Fitter, were Mary (36) Pattern Maker, Charles F (16), Herbert F (14) Messenger, Edwin F (10) Scholar and Lily M (5).

And in 1901, at 195, South Lambeth Road, Lambeth, we find Charles Trevail (48) Engine Fitter, Mary (46), Edwin (20) Carpenter, Lily (15) and Daisy (7). 

In 1911, Charles Trevail (59) Engineer, Mary (57), Frederick (37) widower (he married Charlotte Ada Land in Camberwell, in 1898), Daisy (17) and Arthur Trevail (11) Grandson, had moved to 10 Elgin Road, Wallington, Surrey.

Former Netherne Hospital administration building, converted to housing in 2002.
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Ian Capper - geograph.org.uk/p/5962277

Mary Trevail died on 28 July 1938, aged 85 (1938 S Quarter in SURREY MID-EASTERN Volume 02A Page 194). The probate record says Mary Trevail of 62 Milton Road, Wallington, Surrey (wife of Charles Trevail) died at Netherne Hospital (formerly The Surrey County Asylum or Netherne Asylum: a psychiatric hospital), Coulsdon, Surrey, leaving effects of £300 to Charles Trevail of no occupation and Lord Harold Graves, builder. (Lord was a given name, not a title - he married Daisy Fleming Trevail in 1917.)

In 1939, Charles Trevail, Refridgerating Engineer Retired, was living with his daughter, Lily M Townsend (she had married William Dring Townsend in Croydon, in 1904) at 23 Dalmeny Road, Sutton, Surrey. 

Charles Trevail died, aged 94, in 1946 M Quarter in SURREY MID-EASTERN Volume 02A Page 255.

Richard Wilton and Mary Robinson

St Mary, Sawston - East end
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © John Salmon - geograph.org.uk/p/4970953

Richard Wilton (b. 1737), son of Henry Wilton and Martha Douse, married Mary Robinson on 30 Mar 1762 in Sawston, Cambridgeshire, where there are records of Wiltons, going back to the early 1600s, still to research. 

Richard & Mary had four children, all baptised at St Mary's Church, Sawston.

1. Elizabeth Wilton bap. 4 Jul 1762
2. Henry Wilton bap. 30 Oct 1768
3. Stephen Wilton bap. 25 Dec 1777
4. Hannah Wilton bap. 7 Jun 1779 (buried 17 Aug 1779)

They also had a daughter, Martha Wilton (for whom I found no baptism record), who I only know exists because Henry Wilton (b. 1868) mentioned her as his sister, Martha Root (Martha Wilton, who had married John Root, on 25 Jan 1791 in Sawston, Cambridgeshire) in his Will in 1839. 

Mary Wilton, wife of Richard, died and was buried on 10 Apr 1780.

Richard Wilton, Widower, was buried in Sawston, Cambridgeshire, in 1797.

Sawston, Cambridgeshire is notable as one of the very few industrial villages in the county that take advantage of the clean water supply, one of the principle industries being leather. There are two sites in Sawston which support or have formerly supported Tanning facilities and there may have been leather-workers in the parish in the Middle Ages. This very likely explains why Henry Wilton (1768) and his nephew, Henry Wilton (1809) became saddlers and my 3rd great-grandfather, Richard Wilton, a harness maker.

The River Cam (or Granta) near Sawston
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © John Sutton - geograph.org.uk/p/2860358

John Cook and Sarah Burdett

Photo © Philip Halling (cc-by-sa/2.0)

Broughton church, Saturday, 9 August, 2014

Photo available for reuse under this Creative Commons licence.

John Cook (bap. 25 Apr 1742 at All Saints’ Church, Pytchley), son of William and Mary Cook, married Sarah Burdett (bap. 21 May 1744 at St Andrew's Church, Broughton), daughter of Henry Burdett and Mary Baker, at St Andrew's Church, Broughton on 30 Mar 1772.

John and Sarah Cook appear to have had seven children:

1. Mary Cook bap. 11 Oct 1772 at St Andrew's Church, Broughton
2. William Cook bap. 2 Aug 1773 at All Saints’ Church, Pytchley
3. Elizabeth Cook bap. 24 Jan 1775 at All Saints’ Church, Pytchley
4. John Cook bap. 16 May 1776 [1]. Buried 9 Jan 1777, in Pytchley
5. Sarah Cook b. ~1779. Buried 16 Aug 1779, in Pytchley [2]
6. John Cook bap. 26 Dec 1781 at All Saints’ Church, Pytchley
7. Sarah Cook b. ~1783 in Pytchley, Northamptonshire [3]

[1] Yet to see baptism record for John Cook in 1776.

[2] Allegedly, church records state 1780. Transcript at FMP says 1779.

[3] Yet to see baptism record for Sarah Cook in 1783.

John Cook died on 26 Aug 1813, aged 70-71, in Pytchley, Northamptonshire and was buried, on 29 Aug 1813 in All Saints Churchyard, Pytchley. It is clear from the fact that there's a headstone, that he must have been a cut above the average labourer. Listed in the Northamptonshire And Rutland Probate Index, John Cook's will lists his occupation as a farmer. 

Sarah Cook died on 7 May 1826, and was also buried at All Saints, Pytchley, on 11 May 1826, with her late husband.