Illustration of a surgeon from St Thomas Old Hospital
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Back to the Past:
A Personal Journey Ian Chandler March 2015 Ian's journey from Kent to Wiltshire to find his Chandler ancestors who were local schoolmasters and possibly surgeons All photos Ian Chandler; maps courtesy Wilts History Centre. |
Setting Out
I have recently been on a trip to the villages in Wiltshire where my Chandler ancestors came from. This all started just a couple of weeks ago in my local pub having a drink with a friend of mine. He told me he had researched his family tree back to the 1700s. He offered to help me find out about my family.
Over the next few days, every time I saw him, he had traced more about my family. He went back to 1769, a hamlet in Wiltshire called Wilsford and the villages of Box and Milton Lilbourne. I hate to admit that I had never heard of any of them. On reading through my family tree, I knew immediately that I had to go to Wiltshire, to see the villages and walk in my ancestors' footsteps.
I decided to start by first going to Box where John and Betty Chandler my four times great grandparents lived in 1790. The 140 mile journey was a pleasure. My first glimpse of Box was from a long way off as I drove down the A4. Box is situated at the foot of a long hill, it was beautiful scenery and I had to stop to take a photograph. I did not think for a moment that I was going to find any hard evidence of my ancestors' existence. How wrong could I have been !
I have recently been on a trip to the villages in Wiltshire where my Chandler ancestors came from. This all started just a couple of weeks ago in my local pub having a drink with a friend of mine. He told me he had researched his family tree back to the 1700s. He offered to help me find out about my family.
Over the next few days, every time I saw him, he had traced more about my family. He went back to 1769, a hamlet in Wiltshire called Wilsford and the villages of Box and Milton Lilbourne. I hate to admit that I had never heard of any of them. On reading through my family tree, I knew immediately that I had to go to Wiltshire, to see the villages and walk in my ancestors' footsteps.
I decided to start by first going to Box where John and Betty Chandler my four times great grandparents lived in 1790. The 140 mile journey was a pleasure. My first glimpse of Box was from a long way off as I drove down the A4. Box is situated at the foot of a long hill, it was beautiful scenery and I had to stop to take a photograph. I did not think for a moment that I was going to find any hard evidence of my ancestors' existence. How wrong could I have been !
Introduction to Box
My first stop was at the Parish Council offices to meet Mrs Carey, the Parish Clerk. She looked out the burial records for the cemetery, and said that my three times great grandparents, Isaac and Elizabeth Chandler are buried there. I knew already that they were identified as school teachers in the 1841 census of Box. I enquired if the village school was still in existence. She showed me the Church of England School. I couldn't believe it, and took a number of photographs.
My next stop was St Thomas à Becket Church to see if I could find any Chandlers. There were many ancient graves but most were too weathered to read. I went into the church and imagined the different generations of my family sitting there in the pews. I saw the font where their children were baptised. By now I was getting tired but I had to go to the cemetery. I knew the location of their final resting place. Again, there were quite a few ancient headstones but they were weathered too. But this was the place. I said a silent prayer and blessed them..
Later while reading an article about the school I discovered that it wasn't built until 1875 so this could not have been the one after all. But on further examination of the Cemetery records I was very pleased to find there were three more members of the family there: my four times great grandfather, John died 1853: Isaac's second wife Ann died 1875: and Isaac's uncle Thomas died 1859. I went to bed that night pleased, but had trouble sleeping because my brain was still working overtime.
My first stop was at the Parish Council offices to meet Mrs Carey, the Parish Clerk. She looked out the burial records for the cemetery, and said that my three times great grandparents, Isaac and Elizabeth Chandler are buried there. I knew already that they were identified as school teachers in the 1841 census of Box. I enquired if the village school was still in existence. She showed me the Church of England School. I couldn't believe it, and took a number of photographs.
My next stop was St Thomas à Becket Church to see if I could find any Chandlers. There were many ancient graves but most were too weathered to read. I went into the church and imagined the different generations of my family sitting there in the pews. I saw the font where their children were baptised. By now I was getting tired but I had to go to the cemetery. I knew the location of their final resting place. Again, there were quite a few ancient headstones but they were weathered too. But this was the place. I said a silent prayer and blessed them..
Later while reading an article about the school I discovered that it wasn't built until 1875 so this could not have been the one after all. But on further examination of the Cemetery records I was very pleased to find there were three more members of the family there: my four times great grandfather, John died 1853: Isaac's second wife Ann died 1875: and Isaac's uncle Thomas died 1859. I went to bed that night pleased, but had trouble sleeping because my brain was still working overtime.
Box Cemetery
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Box Church with Schoolmaster's house behind
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School and Schoolmaster's House
I started my second day a little disappointed about not finding the old charity school, but on the other hand I had found the final resting place of five of my ancestors, which until a few weeks ago I had never even known about. I returned to Margaret Carey to find their burial locations and to inform her that the Box Church of England School wasn't the school after all. She then put me in touch with the people from Box Community History who told me that my ancestors' school still exists and is called Springfield House. I had actually passed it on my way to the church. It is a large three storey building with an attic, first built in 1708 as the Box and Ditteridge Workhouse, a place feared by most people.
I was told that in 1729 the top floor was made into a charity school by the Rev George Miller to give a very basic education to the children of Box. Adjoining the building was a house that was set back, this was the school master's house. The school gave the boys lessons in reading, writing and arithmetic, hoping they may be able to get a trade or go into industry. The girls were taught sewing, mending and housework, hoping they may get employment in one of the big houses or estates that surround the village.
I returned excitedly to the village to see Springfield. There it was standing before me, a very imposing place. I stared up at the third floor and imagined hearing my grandfather's loud, stern voice coming from an open window. Nobody messed with him, or you would be in serious trouble. I went past the building towards St Thomas à Becket Church and there was their house.
I couldn't believe that I was looking at the very place where they lived and had four children. It had a large front garden and again I could visualize seeing their children: Caroline, Henry, Agnes and Edward playing. Through their garden they had their own private entrance to the churchyard, These were highly respected people, God-fearing and well-mannered. They would be important members of the congregation and had to be seen every Sunday, Easter and Christmas.
I started my second day a little disappointed about not finding the old charity school, but on the other hand I had found the final resting place of five of my ancestors, which until a few weeks ago I had never even known about. I returned to Margaret Carey to find their burial locations and to inform her that the Box Church of England School wasn't the school after all. She then put me in touch with the people from Box Community History who told me that my ancestors' school still exists and is called Springfield House. I had actually passed it on my way to the church. It is a large three storey building with an attic, first built in 1708 as the Box and Ditteridge Workhouse, a place feared by most people.
I was told that in 1729 the top floor was made into a charity school by the Rev George Miller to give a very basic education to the children of Box. Adjoining the building was a house that was set back, this was the school master's house. The school gave the boys lessons in reading, writing and arithmetic, hoping they may be able to get a trade or go into industry. The girls were taught sewing, mending and housework, hoping they may get employment in one of the big houses or estates that surround the village.
I returned excitedly to the village to see Springfield. There it was standing before me, a very imposing place. I stared up at the third floor and imagined hearing my grandfather's loud, stern voice coming from an open window. Nobody messed with him, or you would be in serious trouble. I went past the building towards St Thomas à Becket Church and there was their house.
I couldn't believe that I was looking at the very place where they lived and had four children. It had a large front garden and again I could visualize seeing their children: Caroline, Henry, Agnes and Edward playing. Through their garden they had their own private entrance to the churchyard, These were highly respected people, God-fearing and well-mannered. They would be important members of the congregation and had to be seen every Sunday, Easter and Christmas.
Box Workhouse where the charity school was on the third floor.
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Charity schoolmaster's house at rear of churchyard.
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More Questions: No Answers
I went into the local pub, The Queens Head, and was introduced to Gordon who had lived in Springfield Cottage for forty years, my ancestors' house, He now lives in a retirement apartment in Springfield House itself, what used to be the old workhouse. It is lovely to think the old, dreaded place is now helping the community.
I returned to the very comfortable Northey Arms Hotel, where over dinner, I made a toast to my ancestors with a good bottle of red wine. I began to ask myself, who were these early Chandlers? They were certainly exceptional people. Back in the late 1700s, when my five times great grandfather John Chandler lived, people's life expectancy was not very long. He lived for 81 years, a good age even by today's standards. Ordinary people had no education and were unable to read or write. So how did his son Isaac become a schoolmaster ? Who had educated him? Could it have been his father John?
I went into the local pub, The Queens Head, and was introduced to Gordon who had lived in Springfield Cottage for forty years, my ancestors' house, He now lives in a retirement apartment in Springfield House itself, what used to be the old workhouse. It is lovely to think the old, dreaded place is now helping the community.
I returned to the very comfortable Northey Arms Hotel, where over dinner, I made a toast to my ancestors with a good bottle of red wine. I began to ask myself, who were these early Chandlers? They were certainly exceptional people. Back in the late 1700s, when my five times great grandfather John Chandler lived, people's life expectancy was not very long. He lived for 81 years, a good age even by today's standards. Ordinary people had no education and were unable to read or write. So how did his son Isaac become a schoolmaster ? Who had educated him? Could it have been his father John?
Glimpses of the Past
An amazing insight into my family came on a subsequent visit to Box when I discovered the importance of the 1840 Tithe Apportionment record, said to be the biggest land ownership record in England since the Domesday Book. First of all, we found the names of three of my ancestors: Thomas, Isaac and John. The record read:
An amazing insight into my family came on a subsequent visit to Box when I discovered the importance of the 1840 Tithe Apportionment record, said to be the biggest land ownership record in England since the Domesday Book. First of all, we found the names of three of my ancestors: Thomas, Isaac and John. The record read:
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Reference
372 492 353 |
Occupier
John Chandler Thomas Chandler Isaac Chandler |
Landlord
Elizabeth Wiltshire and Mary Emery Thomas Tuckey; owner Northey family Thomas Watson; owner Northey family |
Property
Cottage and Garden Cottage and Garden House and Garden |
The next stage was to find these properties on the detailed maps of Box in 1840. We searched hard, located the sites and puzzled over where they might be situated in modern Box. They were shown on separate maps, each one recording house by house and track by track where people lived in 1840.
References 492 at The Ley and 353 just off The Market Place
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Reference 372 north of Hazelbury Quarries
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Having found their approximate location, the final step was to trace the actual places in the village today. Amazingly, we could find all three locations and properties that they might have lived in, walls that they probably touched, and roads and hills they would have walked on a daily basis. It was a fantastic feeling to touch the physical objects that they would also have known.
492 now called Mead Cottage
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353 now called Townsend Cottage
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372 once Rose Cottage, now Fairlight Cottage
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Of course, we can't be absolutely sure that the houses haven't been restored and their original residence lost, but it seems more likely that they occupied just part of these properties and that we had, indeed, made contact with them. I found out more about Isaac and his first wife, Elizabeth, from the census records covering three decades of Box's history.
In 1841 Isaac was recorded as Schoolmaster, Box Village. It was the same in 1851 except that Elizabeth is now called Schoolmistress, possibly not at Springfield charity school but at the girls' charity school started in Henley by the wife of
Rev Horlock. By 1861, Elizabeth had died and Isaac re-married. He retired from the school and appears to have been awarded a pension, and is listed as Clerk, Chapel Plaister Church, Box. Thanks to the kindness of local Box residents I was able to see inside the beautiful, medieval chapel which is open for services but locked at most other times.
In 1841 Isaac was recorded as Schoolmaster, Box Village. It was the same in 1851 except that Elizabeth is now called Schoolmistress, possibly not at Springfield charity school but at the girls' charity school started in Henley by the wife of
Rev Horlock. By 1861, Elizabeth had died and Isaac re-married. He retired from the school and appears to have been awarded a pension, and is listed as Clerk, Chapel Plaister Church, Box. Thanks to the kindness of local Box residents I was able to see inside the beautiful, medieval chapel which is open for services but locked at most other times.
Above: the historic chapel which was once a stopping point on the pilgrims' way to Glastonbury.
Right: the beautiful interior of Chapel Plaister |
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Having done all we could to find my ancestors in Box, the next step was to find why one branch of the family, John and his wife Betty, left Box and moved to another Wiltshire village.
Wilsford
I made one last visit to the cemetery, said goodbye and was on my way to the next part of my adventure at Wilsford. I headed towards Devizes, a market town set high on a hill. As I approached I was intrigued by a sign pointing to the Caen Hill Locks. I had to have a look. It is one of the great wonders of the canal building era, a masterpiece of engineering by John Rennie. It consists of a flight of 29 locks carrying the canal up 237 feet in just 2 miles. It is incredible.
Wilsford
I made one last visit to the cemetery, said goodbye and was on my way to the next part of my adventure at Wilsford. I headed towards Devizes, a market town set high on a hill. As I approached I was intrigued by a sign pointing to the Caen Hill Locks. I had to have a look. It is one of the great wonders of the canal building era, a masterpiece of engineering by John Rennie. It consists of a flight of 29 locks carrying the canal up 237 feet in just 2 miles. It is incredible.
St Nicholas Church, Wilsford.
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Inside St Nicholas
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As I drove on I was thinking how did John and Betty make this journey? it had taken me over an hour in a modern car. The small hamlet of Wilsford is just off the A342 in the Vale of Pewsey a stunning area of rolling hills, one of which has got the famous White Horse carved into it. The hamlet consists of approximately twenty mostly thatched cottages, a simple church and two very fine manor houses.The population today is about seventy.
I went first to St Nicholas Church. This was the very path that my five times great grandfather John Chandler walked up on his wedding day in 1769. I began in the Churchyard looking at all the ancient weathered headstones.
I went first to St Nicholas Church. This was the very path that my five times great grandfather John Chandler walked up on his wedding day in 1769. I began in the Churchyard looking at all the ancient weathered headstones.
I wondered which was theirs. It was a fine day, the birds were singing and in the adjoining field a very loud cockerel was cock-a-doodle-dooing. Nothing had changed a bit since my grandparents' day. I went through the porch and entered the Church. It was just as it was, simple but beautiful. I gazed in disbelief at the very altar where the young John Chandler and Elizabeth Higgins made their vows. I said a prayer. I looked at the font where their children John, Thomas, Ann, Jane and Charlotte were later christened.
I slowly walked around looking at plaques on the walls. My eyes nearly popped out of my head when I looked up at a very fine marble plaque next to the altar, inscribed Sacred Thomas Chandler, Surgeon who departed this life February 13th 1797 aged 37 years. Also Sarah wife of Thomas Chandler who departed this life December 24th 1800 aged 47 years. I was completely flabbergasted. A surgeon in the family in the 1700s ! I left the church in a state of shock.
I slowly walked around looking at plaques on the walls. My eyes nearly popped out of my head when I looked up at a very fine marble plaque next to the altar, inscribed Sacred Thomas Chandler, Surgeon who departed this life February 13th 1797 aged 37 years. Also Sarah wife of Thomas Chandler who departed this life December 24th 1800 aged 47 years. I was completely flabbergasted. A surgeon in the family in the 1700s ! I left the church in a state of shock.
Thomas Chandler Memorial.
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Detail on the Memorial.
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Milton Lilbourne
Time now was going fast and I still had to get to Milton Lilbourne about ten miles away. Milton Lilbourne is beautiful, and by the look of the fine houses, a very wealthy village. There is an impressive manor house, some other large houses, thatched cottages and a very fine church, St. Peters, which is where I started looking. I began by investigating the headstones for any Chandlers. The church is where John and Betty Chandler (my four times grandparents) attended between 1804 and 1851 with their six children, three of whom, Stephen, Daniel and William, were christened there.
I strolled about the village, admiring the houses and wondering which one was theirs. I don't know what John did or why they moved there in 1804. Was he by any chance a clergyman? But the church booklet disproved that. Perhaps I will never find out too much about John and Betty. Also in those day's people didn't travel much further than the next village. So how or why did John and Betty move more than thirty miles away to Milton Lilbourne in 1804 when he was 32 years old?
It was by now late afternoon, I was tired and I had the drive home. Friday night traffic is always bad and the M25 is a real nightmare. I started off but soon realised that it was dangerous to continue, so I booked into a hotel for the night in a village called Ogbourne St George. I returned home on Saturday afternoon feeling very satisfied with my journey of discoveries.
Time now was going fast and I still had to get to Milton Lilbourne about ten miles away. Milton Lilbourne is beautiful, and by the look of the fine houses, a very wealthy village. There is an impressive manor house, some other large houses, thatched cottages and a very fine church, St. Peters, which is where I started looking. I began by investigating the headstones for any Chandlers. The church is where John and Betty Chandler (my four times grandparents) attended between 1804 and 1851 with their six children, three of whom, Stephen, Daniel and William, were christened there.
I strolled about the village, admiring the houses and wondering which one was theirs. I don't know what John did or why they moved there in 1804. Was he by any chance a clergyman? But the church booklet disproved that. Perhaps I will never find out too much about John and Betty. Also in those day's people didn't travel much further than the next village. So how or why did John and Betty move more than thirty miles away to Milton Lilbourne in 1804 when he was 32 years old?
It was by now late afternoon, I was tired and I had the drive home. Friday night traffic is always bad and the M25 is a real nightmare. I started off but soon realised that it was dangerous to continue, so I booked into a hotel for the night in a village called Ogbourne St George. I returned home on Saturday afternoon feeling very satisfied with my journey of discoveries.
St Thomas Hospital
A few days later, I re-visited the Old St Thomas Hospital Operating Theatre in St Thomas Street, London because there was a surgeon here by the name of Chandler. The theatre was built in 1822. In 1862 the hospital moved to Lambeth and the old theatre was sealed up. It lay undisturbed until 1956 when it was rediscovered. It is just as it was, a true theatre with a centre stage, in the middle of which is the old operating table. It is surrounded by four rows of viewing galleries.
A few days later, I re-visited the Old St Thomas Hospital Operating Theatre in St Thomas Street, London because there was a surgeon here by the name of Chandler. The theatre was built in 1822. In 1862 the hospital moved to Lambeth and the old theatre was sealed up. It lay undisturbed until 1956 when it was rediscovered. It is just as it was, a true theatre with a centre stage, in the middle of which is the old operating table. It is surrounded by four rows of viewing galleries.
The Old St Thomas' Hospital, Southwark.
At
this moment I have been unable to prove definitely that Thomas
Chandler, Surgeon is a direct relative. But considering Wilsford is such
a tiny hamlet, I think it is a very good possibility that he is
related somehow. I am researching the matter further.
On the wall is a board, The Regulations of the Theatre, listing who may stand on each level of the gallery. It is signed by the three surgeons of 1822: George Chandler, Benjamin Travers and Joseph Henry Green. So this was George Chandler. I met the museum's curator, Karen Howell who produced a book, St Thomas Hospital by E M McInnes which lists Southwark surgeons. John Chandler was recorded as being a surgeon there 1783 to 1822. There was also George Chandler there in 1822.
Thomas Chandler was not recorded. Karen told me he may have been at one of the other early London Hospitals. She thought it highly likely that the Chandler surgeons were related as there was a lot of nepotism in that profession; the father would pass on knowledge and techniques. I have been unable to find any record of baptism, marriage or burial for Thomas. What I did discover was that he died Intestate, rather strange for a man in his position, but more than likely he didn't think he was going to die so young.
On the wall is a board, The Regulations of the Theatre, listing who may stand on each level of the gallery. It is signed by the three surgeons of 1822: George Chandler, Benjamin Travers and Joseph Henry Green. So this was George Chandler. I met the museum's curator, Karen Howell who produced a book, St Thomas Hospital by E M McInnes which lists Southwark surgeons. John Chandler was recorded as being a surgeon there 1783 to 1822. There was also George Chandler there in 1822.
Thomas Chandler was not recorded. Karen told me he may have been at one of the other early London Hospitals. She thought it highly likely that the Chandler surgeons were related as there was a lot of nepotism in that profession; the father would pass on knowledge and techniques. I have been unable to find any record of baptism, marriage or burial for Thomas. What I did discover was that he died Intestate, rather strange for a man in his position, but more than likely he didn't think he was going to die so young.
George Chandler's 1822 Regulations.
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Indenture of Anatomy signed by George Chandler.
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Postscript at Wilsford
Regarding Wilsford, on a later visit, I spent a fair bit of time trying to find Lake Farm that is listed in Wilsford British History Online as being leased to a Richard, Joseph and Thomas Chandler in the late 1700's. There is no sign of the farm today but I found it on an 1878 Ordnance Survey map and later I also discovered from the Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre the 1842 Tithe Map of Milton Lilbourne showing plot 158 belonging to Stephen Chandler ( John and Betty's son).
Regarding Wilsford, on a later visit, I spent a fair bit of time trying to find Lake Farm that is listed in Wilsford British History Online as being leased to a Richard, Joseph and Thomas Chandler in the late 1700's. There is no sign of the farm today but I found it on an 1878 Ordnance Survey map and later I also discovered from the Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre the 1842 Tithe Map of Milton Lilbourne showing plot 158 belonging to Stephen Chandler ( John and Betty's son).
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I managed to make one incredible find and an unbelievable number of friends at Wilsford. I was so flabbergasted the first time that I saw the marble plaque to Thomas Chandler, that I completely overlooked a plaque on the wall directly opposite. It was to another of my Chandler relatives.
Although very faint, is inscribed, Underneath are deposited the remains of Elizabeth, Daughter of Thomas Chandler of Market Lavington Surgeon Who died February 1794. This is only 3 years before Thomas's death. Could it possibly be connected? Also, his wealth must have gone to someone who erected two very ornate plaques and placed them on the walls of St. Nicholas. Left: Plaque to Elizabeth daughter of Thomas Chandler surgeon |
Wilsford Church in Danger of Closing
After I had discovered the second Thomas Chandler plaque in the church, I went for a walk round the village. Outside the village hall was a notice with a picture of the Church and big red letters across saying Church Closed. There was to be a meeting to discuss how it could be kept open. I was very upset at the prospect of it closing for good. I thought the meeting must have already taken place. But on reading further, saw the meeting was at 7.00 pm that very day. I decided to attend.
In the afternoon I walked over the stunningly beautiful Downs above the White Horse and looked down to where Elizabeth Higgins came from. At 6.50 pm I was back at the village hall. The first person I bumped into was the church warden, Richard Lowe. I sat at the back of the full hall and was very pleased to see such a good turn out. It looked like most of the residents of the village had come.I listened to Richard outline the critical position the church was in, both financially and also the problem with such poor attendance numbers. He asked for suggestions what could be done to save it. Many people came up with fund raising ideas and there was talk of getting more of the congregation to attend regularly. I was heartened by such enthusiasm.
At the end Richard announced that there was a special person that had come a very long way to this meeting, and introduced me. I am not used to public speaking, especially when I don't know anyone, but I plucked up courage and went to the front.I told them who I was, where I came from, and why I was there, and about my five times great grandparents being married in St. Nicholas Church on 18 January 1769. I said that the church had seen so much history and it had played a major part to every family in Wilsford and it must be saved. I finished by saying it had only taken me 246 years to find, so for goodness sake, please don't let it close now ! This brought thunderous applause, and I was treated like a true Messiah.
After the meeting was closed everyone wanted to talk to me. They were all very friendly. What a journey of discovery I have had with my Chandler ancestors. Thank you all who have helped me.
After I had discovered the second Thomas Chandler plaque in the church, I went for a walk round the village. Outside the village hall was a notice with a picture of the Church and big red letters across saying Church Closed. There was to be a meeting to discuss how it could be kept open. I was very upset at the prospect of it closing for good. I thought the meeting must have already taken place. But on reading further, saw the meeting was at 7.00 pm that very day. I decided to attend.
In the afternoon I walked over the stunningly beautiful Downs above the White Horse and looked down to where Elizabeth Higgins came from. At 6.50 pm I was back at the village hall. The first person I bumped into was the church warden, Richard Lowe. I sat at the back of the full hall and was very pleased to see such a good turn out. It looked like most of the residents of the village had come.I listened to Richard outline the critical position the church was in, both financially and also the problem with such poor attendance numbers. He asked for suggestions what could be done to save it. Many people came up with fund raising ideas and there was talk of getting more of the congregation to attend regularly. I was heartened by such enthusiasm.
At the end Richard announced that there was a special person that had come a very long way to this meeting, and introduced me. I am not used to public speaking, especially when I don't know anyone, but I plucked up courage and went to the front.I told them who I was, where I came from, and why I was there, and about my five times great grandparents being married in St. Nicholas Church on 18 January 1769. I said that the church had seen so much history and it had played a major part to every family in Wilsford and it must be saved. I finished by saying it had only taken me 246 years to find, so for goodness sake, please don't let it close now ! This brought thunderous applause, and I was treated like a true Messiah.
After the meeting was closed everyone wanted to talk to me. They were all very friendly. What a journey of discovery I have had with my Chandler ancestors. Thank you all who have helped me.
Family Trees
1. John Chandler (d 1818)
John Chandler of Manningford Bohune, Wilsford, married Elizabeth Higgins of Alton Barnes at St Nicholas Church, Wilsford, in 1769. They married by special licence, possibly because they were unable to attend the calling of the banns at the church each of the four weeks prior to the marriage. John signed the register; Elizabeth only marked an X.
Children: a. John (1772 - 1853); b. Thomas (1779 - 1828); c. Ann (1782 - 1836); d. Jane (1785 - 1793); e. Charlotte (b 1789).
John's death is registered at St Nicholas Church in 1818; Elizabeth also at St Nicholas Church a year later.
2. John Chandler (1772 - 1853)
John Chandler (1772 - 1853) married Betty. They lived in Box from 1790 to 1803, when they moved to Milton Lilbourne.
Children: John (b 1794); Isaac (1796 - 1861); Elizabeth (b 1798) all born in Box. Stephen (b 1803); Daniel (b 1815); William (b 1819) all born in Milton Lilbourne.
3. Isaac Chandler (1796 - 1861)
Isaac Chandler (1796 - 1861), schoolmaster, married Elizabeth (1795 - 1859). They lived in Box.
In 1860 he married again to Ann (b 1809).
Isaac is recorded as schoolmaster living in Box village in 1841 and 1851; and as clerk in 1861.
His first wife, Elizabeth, is recorded as schoolmistress in 1851.
Children: a. Caroline (1821 - 1896) born Colerne; b. Henry (1827 - 1901) born Box; c. Agnes (b 1830) born Box; d. Edward (1833 - 1855?) born Box.
a. Caroline (1821 - 1896) is recorded as born at Colerne in 1821 and a house servant in 1851. In 1860 she married John Hardy. By 1881 she called herself a retired teacher living with her brother Henry in Acton.
b. Henry Chandler (1827 - 1901) married Ann Richen (b 1824). He lived in Box until 1851 when they moved to Alperton, Middlesex, where he worked as a carpenter. Children: Francis (b 1849); Edward (1851 - 1895); Alfred; William (1855 - 1861); Charles (b 1856); Elizabeth; Albert (b 1862); Arthur (b 1861); and Henry. .
4. Percy Stanley Chandler Family Tree
Ian asked us to research if Percy Chandler, Manor garage, Box is related to his family. These are the details we have and it is case unproven. Can anyone help with more information about Percy Chandler?
Percy Chandler's Grandparents
I have not traced the grandfather but there are several references to the widowed grandmother, Ann Chandler. She was born in 1823 and a widow by 1851 when she lived with her parents Robert (b 1784) and Ann (b 1786) Difford (possibly Clifford) and Henry (b 1852); Mary A (b 1853); and Lydia (b 1855) at Stanley Street, Devizes. Ann described herself as laundress.
Parents
Henry Chandler (b 1852) and Sarah (b 1849).
In 1871 Henry (stone cutter) was living with his widowed mother, Ann (b 1823), who was a nurse (wet nurse?) looking after an infant, Joseph Aust (b 1870). They were living in Townsend (close to Bulls Lane) possibly in a house with eight other families.
By 1881 Henry had married Sarah and was earning a living as a baker and grocer at Box Quarries.
By 1891 Henry (baker) and Sarah appear to live in or near Bath View, Box Hill.
By 1901 Henry described himself as Grocer and Baker.
By 1911 Henry was still at Box Hill but described himself as Car Proprietor and Grocer.
Children: Emily Elizabeth (b 1877); Mary (b 1879); George H (b 1880); Frank (b 1882); Cecilia Sarah (b 1884); Arthur Thomas (b 1886); Sydney (b 1888); Percy Stanley (b 1894).
Percy Stanley Chandler (b 1895).
In 1911 Percy was described as Apprentice Tailor - Outfitting.
1. John Chandler (d 1818)
John Chandler of Manningford Bohune, Wilsford, married Elizabeth Higgins of Alton Barnes at St Nicholas Church, Wilsford, in 1769. They married by special licence, possibly because they were unable to attend the calling of the banns at the church each of the four weeks prior to the marriage. John signed the register; Elizabeth only marked an X.
Children: a. John (1772 - 1853); b. Thomas (1779 - 1828); c. Ann (1782 - 1836); d. Jane (1785 - 1793); e. Charlotte (b 1789).
John's death is registered at St Nicholas Church in 1818; Elizabeth also at St Nicholas Church a year later.
2. John Chandler (1772 - 1853)
John Chandler (1772 - 1853) married Betty. They lived in Box from 1790 to 1803, when they moved to Milton Lilbourne.
Children: John (b 1794); Isaac (1796 - 1861); Elizabeth (b 1798) all born in Box. Stephen (b 1803); Daniel (b 1815); William (b 1819) all born in Milton Lilbourne.
3. Isaac Chandler (1796 - 1861)
Isaac Chandler (1796 - 1861), schoolmaster, married Elizabeth (1795 - 1859). They lived in Box.
In 1860 he married again to Ann (b 1809).
Isaac is recorded as schoolmaster living in Box village in 1841 and 1851; and as clerk in 1861.
His first wife, Elizabeth, is recorded as schoolmistress in 1851.
Children: a. Caroline (1821 - 1896) born Colerne; b. Henry (1827 - 1901) born Box; c. Agnes (b 1830) born Box; d. Edward (1833 - 1855?) born Box.
a. Caroline (1821 - 1896) is recorded as born at Colerne in 1821 and a house servant in 1851. In 1860 she married John Hardy. By 1881 she called herself a retired teacher living with her brother Henry in Acton.
b. Henry Chandler (1827 - 1901) married Ann Richen (b 1824). He lived in Box until 1851 when they moved to Alperton, Middlesex, where he worked as a carpenter. Children: Francis (b 1849); Edward (1851 - 1895); Alfred; William (1855 - 1861); Charles (b 1856); Elizabeth; Albert (b 1862); Arthur (b 1861); and Henry. .
4. Percy Stanley Chandler Family Tree
Ian asked us to research if Percy Chandler, Manor garage, Box is related to his family. These are the details we have and it is case unproven. Can anyone help with more information about Percy Chandler?
Percy Chandler's Grandparents
I have not traced the grandfather but there are several references to the widowed grandmother, Ann Chandler. She was born in 1823 and a widow by 1851 when she lived with her parents Robert (b 1784) and Ann (b 1786) Difford (possibly Clifford) and Henry (b 1852); Mary A (b 1853); and Lydia (b 1855) at Stanley Street, Devizes. Ann described herself as laundress.
Parents
Henry Chandler (b 1852) and Sarah (b 1849).
In 1871 Henry (stone cutter) was living with his widowed mother, Ann (b 1823), who was a nurse (wet nurse?) looking after an infant, Joseph Aust (b 1870). They were living in Townsend (close to Bulls Lane) possibly in a house with eight other families.
By 1881 Henry had married Sarah and was earning a living as a baker and grocer at Box Quarries.
By 1891 Henry (baker) and Sarah appear to live in or near Bath View, Box Hill.
By 1901 Henry described himself as Grocer and Baker.
By 1911 Henry was still at Box Hill but described himself as Car Proprietor and Grocer.
Children: Emily Elizabeth (b 1877); Mary (b 1879); George H (b 1880); Frank (b 1882); Cecilia Sarah (b 1884); Arthur Thomas (b 1886); Sydney (b 1888); Percy Stanley (b 1894).
Percy Stanley Chandler (b 1895).
In 1911 Percy was described as Apprentice Tailor - Outfitting.
References
[1] EM McInnes, St Thomas Hospital, p.265
[1] EM McInnes, St Thomas Hospital, p.265