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Albert Tye of Ashley, 1856 - 1941: His Life and his Family Colin Lindzey Photos courtesy Colin Lindzey August 2017 This is the remarkable story of Albert Tye, an ordinary Box family man, who lived in an ordinary Box house. But he left a remarkable record both in his own values and those of his family. Albert Tye was born on 5 March 1856 at 1 The Barton, Ashley. At the age of 15 he was working as a labourer and sometimes he described himself as an agricultural labourer or gardener. For most of his life he worked as a stone sawyer for the Bath and Portland Stone Firms. He died, aged 84, on 15 February 1941 but he left an enormous historic legacy to the village and his family. Albert's grandfather, Charles Tye, came from Painswick, Gloucestershire, but his grandmother, Elizabeth Howse, was born in Box and family connections may have led them to the village. Right: Albert Tye seen on the occasion of his 79th birthday in 1935 standing proudly outside his home at 1 The Barton, Ashley. |
Albert's Parents and Grandparents
Charles and Elizabeth's elder children, Joseph, Harriett and William, were christened at Bathford, but their address was recorded as Kingsdown and it is clear they lived in the parish of Box, where Charles was working as an agricultural labourer. Elizabeth remained there after her husband's death, and in 1861 she was living a few doors down from her son Joseph, market gardener, his wife and his sister.
Their second son, William, was Albert's father and it appears that the connection with Ashley came from Albert's mother, Sarah Chivers, daughter of William Chivers, labourer who William married in 1845. The baptism records of all their children give the address as Ashley. They survived as best they could but the census of 1861 shows how hard life could be when their sons Edwin (aged 12) and Eli (aged 9) were both listed as agricultural labourers. By 1881 after Sarah's death, William moved in with his daughter Eliza and her husband Robert Newman, living next door to Albert and his family.
Life at Ashley
We get some idea of the respect in which Albert was held from his obituary notice published in the middle of wartime Box.[1] Born at The Barton, Ashley, he was the youngest son of Mr and Mrs Tye of Box, and he had lived at The Barton all of his life. The obituary speaks of his passing away after much suffering. As well as loving tributes from his family, village residents of all levels attended his funeral: Prosser Chaffey, Giddings, Betty Ford, Emily Skidmore, Major Pollard, Vezey, Currant, Hulbert and Lloyd families. These were mostly residents, neighbours and friends from Ashley, as befitted a shy, reserved man.[2]
Charles and Elizabeth's elder children, Joseph, Harriett and William, were christened at Bathford, but their address was recorded as Kingsdown and it is clear they lived in the parish of Box, where Charles was working as an agricultural labourer. Elizabeth remained there after her husband's death, and in 1861 she was living a few doors down from her son Joseph, market gardener, his wife and his sister.
Their second son, William, was Albert's father and it appears that the connection with Ashley came from Albert's mother, Sarah Chivers, daughter of William Chivers, labourer who William married in 1845. The baptism records of all their children give the address as Ashley. They survived as best they could but the census of 1861 shows how hard life could be when their sons Edwin (aged 12) and Eli (aged 9) were both listed as agricultural labourers. By 1881 after Sarah's death, William moved in with his daughter Eliza and her husband Robert Newman, living next door to Albert and his family.
Life at Ashley
We get some idea of the respect in which Albert was held from his obituary notice published in the middle of wartime Box.[1] Born at The Barton, Ashley, he was the youngest son of Mr and Mrs Tye of Box, and he had lived at The Barton all of his life. The obituary speaks of his passing away after much suffering. As well as loving tributes from his family, village residents of all levels attended his funeral: Prosser Chaffey, Giddings, Betty Ford, Emily Skidmore, Major Pollard, Vezey, Currant, Hulbert and Lloyd families. These were mostly residents, neighbours and friends from Ashley, as befitted a shy, reserved man.[2]
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Albert clearly had no wealth and he rented his home in The Barton. After his death, it was sold by owners, H Pimbury (deceased) and Miss Blay in 1946. But he appears to have been literate and brought his children up to be educated.
His sister Ann signed her marriage certificate in 1869, even though her husband, Edward Currant, blacksmith, only made his mark, brought up before education became more easily available after Box Schools were opened in 1875. Marriages Albert married twice. His first wife was a local girl Jane Bull, daughter of Frederick Bull, labourer, whom he married at St Thomas à Becket Church on Christmas Day 1877. They were both 21 years of age and went on to have eight children. After her death, Albert married another local woman, Anne Maria Weeks, spinster, on 12 March 1898. She was 37 when they married, the daughter of William Weeks, carpenter. She took on four children under 10 years and they had three children of their own, including twins Elsie and Nellie. Right: Albert's second wife Anne Weeks (sometimes called Annie) |
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Girls of First Marriage
Eight of the children were girls. Most went into domestic service and married into local Edwardian families. They were obviously a very close family. Between the wars, Lilian Tye was in service at Townsend to the elderly Miss Sarah Vezey, sister of the candle factory owner who was in her mid-seventies in 1911. As the only servant, aged 24 in 1911, in a rambling nine-roomed house, Lilian was overloaded with work. It caused her to be admonished by her elder sister Bertha for lack of communication in 1909: Just a line to see if you are still alive as I have not heard from you for about 6 weeks. Lilian appeared to have good marriage prospects, engaged to Montague Prosser Chaffey of Bulls Lane, Box, who was a mason and nephew of Herbert Prosser Chaffey, the local manager of the Bath and Portland Stone Company.[3]
Eight of the children were girls. Most went into domestic service and married into local Edwardian families. They were obviously a very close family. Between the wars, Lilian Tye was in service at Townsend to the elderly Miss Sarah Vezey, sister of the candle factory owner who was in her mid-seventies in 1911. As the only servant, aged 24 in 1911, in a rambling nine-roomed house, Lilian was overloaded with work. It caused her to be admonished by her elder sister Bertha for lack of communication in 1909: Just a line to see if you are still alive as I have not heard from you for about 6 weeks. Lilian appeared to have good marriage prospects, engaged to Montague Prosser Chaffey of Bulls Lane, Box, who was a mason and nephew of Herbert Prosser Chaffey, the local manager of the Bath and Portland Stone Company.[3]
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Left: Clara's two oldest children, Clara and Henry; and Above Right Lilian Tye |
Clara was a general domestic servant in Bath until she met Albert Sydney Arthurs, a barman. She had nine children in 18 years and died aged 40 in 1920, sadly buried in a common grave with four unrelated others. Bertha was in domestic service to a retired officer in London at the start of the century until in 1903 she married Sidney Albert Cannings, who was working as an engine cleaner at Paddington Station. Sydney rose up the GWR ranks becoming a shunter and eventually a fireman first class. He died suddenly in 1945.
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Above left: Back Lilian (daughter) and Joe Dancey, Front row Dolly Dancey, Gladys Robbins, Lilian Chaffey and Marjorie Plenty (daughter).
Above right: Cecilie Plenty
Above right: Cecilie Plenty
Sixteen year-old Dorothy Kate (known as Dolly or Dar) went into service in 1911 for the branch of the Vezey family who were butchers at the Chequer's Inn, Box. She worked as a general servant to William and Mabel Vezey at 2 Elmsleigh Villas, London Road, Box, the only domestic staff, so we might imagine that she did all of the domestic work. She married Ernest Godfrey (known as Joe) Dancey. In 1939 the couple were living at 1 The Barton with their daughter Lillian, who was working at a Filling and Packing Mill, presumably for the military.
Cecilie was Colin's grandmother and, like her sisters, she went into domestic service. In 1911 she was a housemaid at Lyncombe, Bath, to David Harris, retired chemical manufacturer, and his family from Edinburgh. He had run various rubber plantations in Malaysia and was a well-known Scottish figure, benefactor of various charities such as the Edinburgh Discharged Prisoners' Aid Association and the Mars Training Ship for homeless and destitute Dundee boys.[4] He was in poor health in 1911 and died a year later. Aged 25, Cecilie married Frederick William Plenty, a carter and son of a farm carter from Claverton Down, in June 1913.
Cecilie was Colin's grandmother and, like her sisters, she went into domestic service. In 1911 she was a housemaid at Lyncombe, Bath, to David Harris, retired chemical manufacturer, and his family from Edinburgh. He had run various rubber plantations in Malaysia and was a well-known Scottish figure, benefactor of various charities such as the Edinburgh Discharged Prisoners' Aid Association and the Mars Training Ship for homeless and destitute Dundee boys.[4] He was in poor health in 1911 and died a year later. Aged 25, Cecilie married Frederick William Plenty, a carter and son of a farm carter from Claverton Down, in June 1913.
Boys of First Marriage
Of the boys, Percy Reginald Tye had perhaps the saddest life. As a young man in 1905 he was involved in a street brawl outside the Bear Inn but the case against him was dismissed and his assailants John Gale, George Weeks and Frederick and George Moodey were fined.[5] He married Mabel Ethel Shergold in Bath in 1908 and they had two children. Percy was employed as a farm labourer at Marshfield in 1911 and moved to Cheney Court, Ditteridge, the following year. He died suddenly of lockjaw (tetanus) caused by a cut to his thumb.[6] Probably fearing the cost of a doctor's visit Mabel had delayed calling Dr Martin from Box until Percy's sister, Dorothy Kate, insisted. Dr Martin initially failed to diagnose tetanus and, by the time they got Percy to hospital, he died within hours. The coroner's inquest found no blame to Dr Martin, but the suspicion of negligence remained.
Of the boys, Percy Reginald Tye had perhaps the saddest life. As a young man in 1905 he was involved in a street brawl outside the Bear Inn but the case against him was dismissed and his assailants John Gale, George Weeks and Frederick and George Moodey were fined.[5] He married Mabel Ethel Shergold in Bath in 1908 and they had two children. Percy was employed as a farm labourer at Marshfield in 1911 and moved to Cheney Court, Ditteridge, the following year. He died suddenly of lockjaw (tetanus) caused by a cut to his thumb.[6] Probably fearing the cost of a doctor's visit Mabel had delayed calling Dr Martin from Box until Percy's sister, Dorothy Kate, insisted. Dr Martin initially failed to diagnose tetanus and, by the time they got Percy to hospital, he died within hours. The coroner's inquest found no blame to Dr Martin, but the suspicion of negligence remained.
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The youngest son, Walter Edgar, lived in Ditteridge most of his life, working for the Goulstone family at Hill House Farm. He became their head farm carter. He married Winifred (known as Fanny) Carter from Bath and they settled at Rose Cottage, number 4 Middlehill, in the row of cottages opposite Ben Mead, Middlehill. Their only child, Ernest Walter Tye, married a local girl, Edith Ethel Margaret Osborne, daughter of Thomas Osborne, senior, of Hill View, Ditteridge on 13 July 1940. Theirs was a local wedding of note, attended by almost all residents in the area, including bridesmaids little Miss Marion Pillinger, the bride's cousin, and Miss Mavis Northey, daughter of AW Northey of Cheney Court, lord of the manor.[7] After the war Ernest worked for the Bath and Portland Stone Firms, and the couple lived at the Wharf, Box.
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Winifred and Walter, Christmas 1945
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Children of Second Marriage The twins, Eleanor May (known as Nellie) and Elsie Winifred Tye never married and continued to live at 1 The Barton after their parents' death. They ran a Post Office in the house during the Second World War and went around Ashley collecting 6d per week subscription to National Savings for the war effort. At the age of 85 in November 1983, it was claimed that they may have been the oldest living twins.[8] Their lives were centred on Ashley and, because of their longevity, they became the source of knowledge and memory about the hamlet. And they were the greatest supporters of the Ashley area and its people that you could wish for. Albert's last child, Gladys Evelyn, had a rather volatile life. She married Frederick William Robbins when she was 34 in 1938 and, after serving in the RAF in the 1920s, he was trying to establish a home for himself and his family in Ashley. Left: The twins Nellie and Elsie |
He had bought Totney Bungalow, Kingsdown, believing that the tenant, Norman Coles, would vacate it in January 1939. A property became vacant for the Coles to move into at Pleasant View, Kingsdown, but objected. Trying to get vacant possession of their house, Frederick Robbins brought a court case against the Coles but it was unsuccessful because of the condition of Pleasant View, which the judge described as a small cottage, with one room downstairs and a lean-to in which washing could be done ... upstairs a (single) bedroom.[9] The judge doubted that a more untidy quarter existed in the whole of Wiltshire than the yard surrounded by other cottages ... there being a state of indescribable filth. It was harder still to find accommodation when war broke out and in September 1939 Gladys and her one year-old son were obliged to live with Albert at 1 The Barton, already occupied by several others in the family. Gladys died before the war ended in 1944 and Frederick married again to Alice Tucker.
Albert with his family, as he liked to be, for the marriage of Gladys and Frederick Robbins in 1938. Seen left to right
Back row: Walter, Elsie, Gladys, Eleanor, Arthur; Front row: Cecilie, Lilian, Annie, Albert, Bertha, Dorothy.
Back row: Walter, Elsie, Gladys, Eleanor, Arthur; Front row: Cecilie, Lilian, Annie, Albert, Bertha, Dorothy.
Conclusion
So what was it that made Albert special? He was, after all, a rather ordinary man who lived in an ordinary Box house and neither aspired to, nor achieved, much in his life. He probably never had much money and had to continue working to survive with his young family. In his late 50s he was employed by the District Council as a road man, probably filling in holes with stone chippings that he broke up himself. Not a pleasant job!
His testament is that for 84 years until his death, Albert gave stability and continuity in a world which was rapidly changing, mostly worsening, through two World Wars and economic recession. His contribution to the history of Box was his survival according to his own standards. There is an argument that sometimes it isn't the personal success we strive for in our lives that is important, but rather the moral and ethical standards that we pass on to friends, family and future generations.
So what was it that made Albert special? He was, after all, a rather ordinary man who lived in an ordinary Box house and neither aspired to, nor achieved, much in his life. He probably never had much money and had to continue working to survive with his young family. In his late 50s he was employed by the District Council as a road man, probably filling in holes with stone chippings that he broke up himself. Not a pleasant job!
His testament is that for 84 years until his death, Albert gave stability and continuity in a world which was rapidly changing, mostly worsening, through two World Wars and economic recession. His contribution to the history of Box was his survival according to his own standards. There is an argument that sometimes it isn't the personal success we strive for in our lives that is important, but rather the moral and ethical standards that we pass on to friends, family and future generations.
Family Tree
Albert's Grandparents
Charles Tye (b 1792 in Gloucester; d at Kingsdown 29 February 1853) married Elizabeth Howse of Box (1797 - 1874). Children:
Joseph (b 14 November 1816);
Harriett (b 1819);
William (1822 - 1891), Albert's father;
Edwin (2 January 1824 - 1 August 1881);
Isaac (b 19 September 1826);
Charlotte (16 January 1829 - 1903) who applied for an order in bastardy against James Tiley in September 1848;[10]
Alfred (1832 - 25 July 1881);
Jeremiah James (1836 - 22 January 1846);
Caroline (b 1840);
Emily (b 1845);
James Jeremiah (b 1847).
Albert's Parents
William Tye (1822 - 1891), agricultural labourer, married Sarah Chivers of Ashley (died before 1871) in 1845. Children:
Ann (1847 - 1873), who married Edward Currant, blacksmith on 2 January 1869;
Edwin (b 1849), quarryman, married on 30 May 1871 to Maria Ford, daughter of Jacob Ford, labourer;
George (1850 - 1860);
Eli (1852 - 1872);
Eliza (b 1855), married on 25 December 1876 to Robert Newman (b 1852), mason;
Albert (5 March 1856 - 15 February 1941).
Albert Tye
Albert Tye (5 March 1856 - 15 February 1941) married twice. First Jane Bull (29 January 1859 - 2 September 1896) in October 1877. They lived at 1 The Barton.
Children:
Annie Elizabeth (Bertha) (14 September 1879 - 8 September 1960) married Sidney Cannings (b 1882) in 1903;
Clara Lucy (Clare) (7 April 1880 - 1920), married on 21 February 1902 to Albert Sydney Arthurs (9 October 1881 - 1964);
Percy Reginald (22 May 1882 - 22 January 1912) worked as a carter (contractor) in 1901;
Lilian (4 April 1885 - 23 April 1982) married on 24 April 1915 to Montague Prosser Chaffey (18 August 1885 - 11 January 1971);
Cecilie (1 December 1887 - 6 December 1983) married on 7 June 1913 to Frederick William Plenty (b 17 November 1887 - 23 December 1968), Colin's grandparents;
Arthur Albert (20 May 1889 - 21 June 1977), a mason's labourer in 1911 married in June 1923 to Olive May Singleton (1903 - 1985);
Walter Edgar (31 March 1891 - 9 April 1986), a farm labourer at Ditteridge who married Winifred May (Fanny) Carter (25 February 1891 - 15 June 1966);
Dorothy Kate (Dolly) (24 May 1894 - 15 April 1959) married in 1917 to Ernest Godfrey Dancey (b 27 December 1892);
His second marriage in 1898 was to Annie Maria Weeks (20 September 1859 - 6 May 1947). Children:
Elsie Winifred (15 May 1899 - 26 December 1985);
Eleanor May (Nellie) (15 May 1899 - 22 December 1988);
Gladys Evelyn (25 May 1904 - 11 September 1944) who in 1938 married Frederick Robbins (23 August 1906 - 23 May 1959).
Colin's Grandparents
Cecilie and Frederick William Plenty had five children:
Phyllis Lilian Agnes (8 June 1915 - 19 November 1976) who married Stephen George Steel;
One child who died young;
Marjorie May (b 12 May 1921) who married Norman Arthur Derrick Lindzey (20 May 1922 - 9 October 1968) Colin's parents;
Doris Winifred (29 May 1923 - 16 December 2002) who married Cecil Ronald Cook (24 November 1920 - 12 December 1978);
William Arthur (1 July 1926 - 18 March 1995)
Albert's Grandparents
Charles Tye (b 1792 in Gloucester; d at Kingsdown 29 February 1853) married Elizabeth Howse of Box (1797 - 1874). Children:
Joseph (b 14 November 1816);
Harriett (b 1819);
William (1822 - 1891), Albert's father;
Edwin (2 January 1824 - 1 August 1881);
Isaac (b 19 September 1826);
Charlotte (16 January 1829 - 1903) who applied for an order in bastardy against James Tiley in September 1848;[10]
Alfred (1832 - 25 July 1881);
Jeremiah James (1836 - 22 January 1846);
Caroline (b 1840);
Emily (b 1845);
James Jeremiah (b 1847).
Albert's Parents
William Tye (1822 - 1891), agricultural labourer, married Sarah Chivers of Ashley (died before 1871) in 1845. Children:
Ann (1847 - 1873), who married Edward Currant, blacksmith on 2 January 1869;
Edwin (b 1849), quarryman, married on 30 May 1871 to Maria Ford, daughter of Jacob Ford, labourer;
George (1850 - 1860);
Eli (1852 - 1872);
Eliza (b 1855), married on 25 December 1876 to Robert Newman (b 1852), mason;
Albert (5 March 1856 - 15 February 1941).
Albert Tye
Albert Tye (5 March 1856 - 15 February 1941) married twice. First Jane Bull (29 January 1859 - 2 September 1896) in October 1877. They lived at 1 The Barton.
Children:
Annie Elizabeth (Bertha) (14 September 1879 - 8 September 1960) married Sidney Cannings (b 1882) in 1903;
Clara Lucy (Clare) (7 April 1880 - 1920), married on 21 February 1902 to Albert Sydney Arthurs (9 October 1881 - 1964);
Percy Reginald (22 May 1882 - 22 January 1912) worked as a carter (contractor) in 1901;
Lilian (4 April 1885 - 23 April 1982) married on 24 April 1915 to Montague Prosser Chaffey (18 August 1885 - 11 January 1971);
Cecilie (1 December 1887 - 6 December 1983) married on 7 June 1913 to Frederick William Plenty (b 17 November 1887 - 23 December 1968), Colin's grandparents;
Arthur Albert (20 May 1889 - 21 June 1977), a mason's labourer in 1911 married in June 1923 to Olive May Singleton (1903 - 1985);
Walter Edgar (31 March 1891 - 9 April 1986), a farm labourer at Ditteridge who married Winifred May (Fanny) Carter (25 February 1891 - 15 June 1966);
Dorothy Kate (Dolly) (24 May 1894 - 15 April 1959) married in 1917 to Ernest Godfrey Dancey (b 27 December 1892);
His second marriage in 1898 was to Annie Maria Weeks (20 September 1859 - 6 May 1947). Children:
Elsie Winifred (15 May 1899 - 26 December 1985);
Eleanor May (Nellie) (15 May 1899 - 22 December 1988);
Gladys Evelyn (25 May 1904 - 11 September 1944) who in 1938 married Frederick Robbins (23 August 1906 - 23 May 1959).
Colin's Grandparents
Cecilie and Frederick William Plenty had five children:
Phyllis Lilian Agnes (8 June 1915 - 19 November 1976) who married Stephen George Steel;
One child who died young;
Marjorie May (b 12 May 1921) who married Norman Arthur Derrick Lindzey (20 May 1922 - 9 October 1968) Colin's parents;
Doris Winifred (29 May 1923 - 16 December 2002) who married Cecil Ronald Cook (24 November 1920 - 12 December 1978);
William Arthur (1 July 1926 - 18 March 1995)
References
[1] Bath Weekly Chronicle and Herald, 15 and 22 February 1941
[2] See Ashley Lane
[3] Separate article Edwardian Courting to follow
[4] Bath Chronicle and Gazette, 7 September 1912
[5] The Wiltshire Times, 6 May 1905
[6] The Bath Chronicle, 3 February 1912
[7] The Wiltshire Times, 13 July 1940
[8] Western Daily Press, 2 November 1983
[9] The Bath Chronicle, 11 February 1939
[10] The Wiltshire Independent, 28 September 1848
[1] Bath Weekly Chronicle and Herald, 15 and 22 February 1941
[2] See Ashley Lane
[3] Separate article Edwardian Courting to follow
[4] Bath Chronicle and Gazette, 7 September 1912
[5] The Wiltshire Times, 6 May 1905
[6] The Bath Chronicle, 3 February 1912
[7] The Wiltshire Times, 13 July 1940
[8] Western Daily Press, 2 November 1983
[9] The Bath Chronicle, 11 February 1939
[10] The Wiltshire Independent, 28 September 1848