|
Box Masons' Work in
Georgian Period Jane Hussey June 2021 This article looks at the Georgian families who operated quarrying and masonry businesses. Their story has only been sketched out previously, somewhat lost after the increase in quarrying because of Box Tunnel. However, we can see how important stonemasons were before the Victorian period from the photograph here, one of the few plaques hung outside the south wall of Box Church. The plaque reads: Robert Newman died June 1st 1788 aged 80 years; Mary his wife died Febry 28th 1800 aged 88 years; Eleanor daughter of Robert & Eleanor Newman died July 22nd 1814 aged 24 years; Robert Newman died July the 2nd 1818 aged 70 years; Eleanor the wife of Robert Newman died March the 25th 1818 aged 70 years. The plaque to the Newman family on the south wall of the south aisle built in 1834 (courtesy Carol Payne) |
|
Early Newman Family
My Newman family were long-time quarrymen in Box. The first one I have traced was Robert Newman (1706-1788) who married Mary Sympsion (about 1712-1800). We know a considerable amount about Robert who was born in Somerset and in 1722 apprenticed to William Scrill of Box, a freemason of Box and freeholder elector of Wiltshire, who died in 1754.[1] Robert wasn’t the only apprentice that Scrill took on, but we don’t know what happened to the others. These are some of the earliest named masons in Box and show the importance and wealth of the stone industry a century before the Box Tunnel revealed the quality of stone in Box Hill.
My Newman family were long-time quarrymen in Box. The first one I have traced was Robert Newman (1706-1788) who married Mary Sympsion (about 1712-1800). We know a considerable amount about Robert who was born in Somerset and in 1722 apprenticed to William Scrill of Box, a freemason of Box and freeholder elector of Wiltshire, who died in 1754.[1] Robert wasn’t the only apprentice that Scrill took on, but we don’t know what happened to the others. These are some of the earliest named masons in Box and show the importance and wealth of the stone industry a century before the Box Tunnel revealed the quality of stone in Box Hill.
| will_of_robert_newman.docx |
Robert (sometimes called the Elder) obviously flourished and his will refers to investments of £848.12s.5d 3% Consolidated Stock (worth in today’s money £130,000), two 5% bills of credit (loans) worth £25 each (£4,000 today). There is no specific mention of his owning a house but it may be inferred as part of the residue of his estate. After his wife’s death his assets were to be divided equally between his two sons, Robert (1748-2 July 1818) and Amos (1751-1837). Both Roberts were posthumously recorded on the exterior wall of Box Church, pictured above, but not Amos’ branch of the family. That a member of the Newman family had stock market investments, signifies the exceptional position of masons in the labour force.
Robert Newman (1748-1818)
Robert Junior was a Georgian stonemason sufficiently established to work for the parish authorities for some 28 years from 1771 to 1799. Robert owned a quarry and produced building stone, undertook masonry work for new and repair work, and also sold stone for road maintenance. As such he was of great use as the village began to remodel itself in stone and he became an important stone mason in the years before the exploitation of stone under Box Hill. Robert became an important person in the village, a trusted supplier to the parish vestry, the overseer of the poor and the highways surveyor.
Because Robert is one of the earliest stonemasons for whom we have records, it is worthwhile to record the services he provided:
08 Jun 1771 John Gaisford (Surveyor of the Highways) paid Robert Newman 5s.3d. for 21 loads of stones to repair various roads in the parish.[2]
22 Sep 1773 Box Overseers paid Robert Newman's bill for stones £1.17s.0d.[3]
16 Feb 1774 Box Overseers paid Robert Newman for 28 yds. of stone at 3d. a yard, 7s.0d. And then for 63 waggon loads of stones at 6d. £1.11.6d.
18 Sep 1779 Box Overseers paid Robert Newman for stones £2.7s.6d.
21 Sep 1780 Box Overseers paid Robert Newman's bill for 10s.0d.
14 Sep 1782 Box Overseers paid Robert Newman 49 loads of stone £1.4s.6d.
18 Sep 1783 Box Overseers paid Robert Newman 59 loads of stone £1.9s.6d.
09 May 1784 was paid 4s.9d. for stone for gravestones by Box Overseers of Poor[4]
26 Jun 1784 Box Overseers paid Robert Newman for 36 loads of stones 18s.0d.[5]
23 Jun 1789 Box Overseers paid Robert Newman for stones 17s.6d.[6]
21 Jun 1790 Box overseers paid Robert Newman for stones £1.0s.6d.
12 Mar 1792 Box Overseers paid Robert Newman for stones at 4d. 12s.0d.
Easter 1792 Robert Newman for stone and bill for masonry £1.14s.0d.[7]
Easter 1799 Pd. Robert Newman and Bill 5d.6d.
We know some details about Robert personally. He married Eleanor Gibbons (1747-1818) on 4 February 1779 and they had at least five children. He was a ratepayer paying dues of 1s.10½d in 1791 on land valued as £5 which increased in 1792-4 when his rentable value became £12 and he was charged 3s.0d, presumably because he took on more land. In 1803 during the Napoleonic Wars, Robert volunteered to serve in the militia, ready to defend the country in the event that there was an invasion from France and he also served as a local constable.[8]
In his deathbed will of 1818 Robert (then called the senior because his son was another Robert) recorded his assets and possessions as:[9]
Robert Newman Senr. of Box, Wilts. is possessed of two Freehold Houses and a piece of Land adjoining near half an Acre, one house he lives in - the other my son Robert lives in - I intends [sic.] giving my working Tools to my son Robert - The Furniture of the House I lives [sic.] to my Daughter Mary after her Mother's decease. The two Houses and Garden attached to each and the Land to my Wife during her life and the use of the Household furniture and all my Personal property, after her decease, the House I lives in with the Garden now occupied with it to my Daughter. Mary, the other House, the Garden attached to it and the piece of Land late an orchard to my sons George and Robert as Tenants in common I lent my son George Twenty Pounds if not paid it must be deducted out of his share to his Brother and Sister, if my Book debts is not sufficient to pay what I owe, to be paid by my two sons and Daughter if more to be divided between them.
I appoints George & Robert Newman Executors.
Witness my Hand this 28 day of Jan: 1818 [Signed] Robert Newman
in the presence of Wm. Ayliffe, Mary Evans, S. Ayliffe
Amos Newman (1751-1837)
The second brother Amos was also a stonemason and we get similar information about his involvement in the trade but it seems that his business did not succeed in the same way as his brother’s. It had occasional mentions of trade with the parish authorities, including:
05 Jan 1794 Amos Newman present at the Vestry meeting and presented a bill for stone craft to the Poorhouse by order of George Mullins, which was refused because it was not by order of vestry. George Mullins then promised Amos that he would pay him and apply for permission to take the stone away.[10]
09 May 1800 Supplied stone for repairs of Box church for which he was paid 13s.6d.[11]
At a time when most of the population rented rather than bought houses, it was exceptional that the Newman family were owners and parliamentary electors in Box. This further signifies their elite position but their status appears to have been in decline. There are several mentions of non-payment of rates in 1829 he was assessed to be liable for rates of 1s. 11d. was not exonerated in full (satisfied by payment of the residue or balance remitted).[12] In March and April.1824 Amos paid rates on his house and a quarry called Manor Quarry but was listed as poor and owing 7s.0d.[13] In the early 1800s he was a member of the church vestry and an elector in Box but by 1829 his status had fallen so low that he was in receipt of poor relief from Box parish and the death of his children brought an end of this branch of the family, leaving the inheritance to go to Robert’s children.[14] This story was replicated throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries with fortunes made and lost in the quarry trade and inheritances lost by deaths in risks involved in the industry.
Robert (born 1785) and George Newman (1781-1853)
None of the records state where these quarries were located and there is no other documentary reference to Manor Quarry. In the absence of information to the contrary, it is assumed to be rented from the Northey family, lords of the manor. We can pick up details from the 1840 Tithe Apportionment records about the next generation, Robert (born 1785) and George (1781-1853).
Robert (born 1785) married Sarah Sibbins (1791-1881) on 30 March 1813 and between 1820 and 1824 he paid 3s annually for rates on a quarry that he leased in addition to 9d for his own house. At times the quarry was called Manor quarry, presumably sub-tenanted from his uncle, who wasn’t able to make a living from it and was in arrears on the rates.[15] In 1827 he rented a house and premises from Rev E Northey value £3.10s. and a quarry valued at £6.[16]
It is sometimes asserted that the south aisle of the church was built to accommodate a larger congregation of quarrymen after the discovery of fine building stone under Box Hill in 1834. However, there is evidence that the aisle was built earlier than this, by public subscription of the Georgian leading residents. It comes in the minutes of the parish registers for 1831, detailing who paid for the extension and the seating they were allocated now that this extended into the south aisle. Details can be seen in the transcription below.
Robert Newman (1748-1818)
Robert Junior was a Georgian stonemason sufficiently established to work for the parish authorities for some 28 years from 1771 to 1799. Robert owned a quarry and produced building stone, undertook masonry work for new and repair work, and also sold stone for road maintenance. As such he was of great use as the village began to remodel itself in stone and he became an important stone mason in the years before the exploitation of stone under Box Hill. Robert became an important person in the village, a trusted supplier to the parish vestry, the overseer of the poor and the highways surveyor.
Because Robert is one of the earliest stonemasons for whom we have records, it is worthwhile to record the services he provided:
08 Jun 1771 John Gaisford (Surveyor of the Highways) paid Robert Newman 5s.3d. for 21 loads of stones to repair various roads in the parish.[2]
22 Sep 1773 Box Overseers paid Robert Newman's bill for stones £1.17s.0d.[3]
16 Feb 1774 Box Overseers paid Robert Newman for 28 yds. of stone at 3d. a yard, 7s.0d. And then for 63 waggon loads of stones at 6d. £1.11.6d.
18 Sep 1779 Box Overseers paid Robert Newman for stones £2.7s.6d.
21 Sep 1780 Box Overseers paid Robert Newman's bill for 10s.0d.
14 Sep 1782 Box Overseers paid Robert Newman 49 loads of stone £1.4s.6d.
18 Sep 1783 Box Overseers paid Robert Newman 59 loads of stone £1.9s.6d.
09 May 1784 was paid 4s.9d. for stone for gravestones by Box Overseers of Poor[4]
26 Jun 1784 Box Overseers paid Robert Newman for 36 loads of stones 18s.0d.[5]
23 Jun 1789 Box Overseers paid Robert Newman for stones 17s.6d.[6]
21 Jun 1790 Box overseers paid Robert Newman for stones £1.0s.6d.
12 Mar 1792 Box Overseers paid Robert Newman for stones at 4d. 12s.0d.
Easter 1792 Robert Newman for stone and bill for masonry £1.14s.0d.[7]
Easter 1799 Pd. Robert Newman and Bill 5d.6d.
We know some details about Robert personally. He married Eleanor Gibbons (1747-1818) on 4 February 1779 and they had at least five children. He was a ratepayer paying dues of 1s.10½d in 1791 on land valued as £5 which increased in 1792-4 when his rentable value became £12 and he was charged 3s.0d, presumably because he took on more land. In 1803 during the Napoleonic Wars, Robert volunteered to serve in the militia, ready to defend the country in the event that there was an invasion from France and he also served as a local constable.[8]
In his deathbed will of 1818 Robert (then called the senior because his son was another Robert) recorded his assets and possessions as:[9]
Robert Newman Senr. of Box, Wilts. is possessed of two Freehold Houses and a piece of Land adjoining near half an Acre, one house he lives in - the other my son Robert lives in - I intends [sic.] giving my working Tools to my son Robert - The Furniture of the House I lives [sic.] to my Daughter Mary after her Mother's decease. The two Houses and Garden attached to each and the Land to my Wife during her life and the use of the Household furniture and all my Personal property, after her decease, the House I lives in with the Garden now occupied with it to my Daughter. Mary, the other House, the Garden attached to it and the piece of Land late an orchard to my sons George and Robert as Tenants in common I lent my son George Twenty Pounds if not paid it must be deducted out of his share to his Brother and Sister, if my Book debts is not sufficient to pay what I owe, to be paid by my two sons and Daughter if more to be divided between them.
I appoints George & Robert Newman Executors.
Witness my Hand this 28 day of Jan: 1818 [Signed] Robert Newman
in the presence of Wm. Ayliffe, Mary Evans, S. Ayliffe
Amos Newman (1751-1837)
The second brother Amos was also a stonemason and we get similar information about his involvement in the trade but it seems that his business did not succeed in the same way as his brother’s. It had occasional mentions of trade with the parish authorities, including:
05 Jan 1794 Amos Newman present at the Vestry meeting and presented a bill for stone craft to the Poorhouse by order of George Mullins, which was refused because it was not by order of vestry. George Mullins then promised Amos that he would pay him and apply for permission to take the stone away.[10]
09 May 1800 Supplied stone for repairs of Box church for which he was paid 13s.6d.[11]
At a time when most of the population rented rather than bought houses, it was exceptional that the Newman family were owners and parliamentary electors in Box. This further signifies their elite position but their status appears to have been in decline. There are several mentions of non-payment of rates in 1829 he was assessed to be liable for rates of 1s. 11d. was not exonerated in full (satisfied by payment of the residue or balance remitted).[12] In March and April.1824 Amos paid rates on his house and a quarry called Manor Quarry but was listed as poor and owing 7s.0d.[13] In the early 1800s he was a member of the church vestry and an elector in Box but by 1829 his status had fallen so low that he was in receipt of poor relief from Box parish and the death of his children brought an end of this branch of the family, leaving the inheritance to go to Robert’s children.[14] This story was replicated throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries with fortunes made and lost in the quarry trade and inheritances lost by deaths in risks involved in the industry.
Robert (born 1785) and George Newman (1781-1853)
None of the records state where these quarries were located and there is no other documentary reference to Manor Quarry. In the absence of information to the contrary, it is assumed to be rented from the Northey family, lords of the manor. We can pick up details from the 1840 Tithe Apportionment records about the next generation, Robert (born 1785) and George (1781-1853).
Robert (born 1785) married Sarah Sibbins (1791-1881) on 30 March 1813 and between 1820 and 1824 he paid 3s annually for rates on a quarry that he leased in addition to 9d for his own house. At times the quarry was called Manor quarry, presumably sub-tenanted from his uncle, who wasn’t able to make a living from it and was in arrears on the rates.[15] In 1827 he rented a house and premises from Rev E Northey value £3.10s. and a quarry valued at £6.[16]
It is sometimes asserted that the south aisle of the church was built to accommodate a larger congregation of quarrymen after the discovery of fine building stone under Box Hill in 1834. However, there is evidence that the aisle was built earlier than this, by public subscription of the Georgian leading residents. It comes in the minutes of the parish registers for 1831, detailing who paid for the extension and the seating they were allocated now that this extended into the south aisle. Details can be seen in the transcription below.
| extract_of_box_parish_register_book.docx |
Situation in 1840
In the 1840 Tithe records, Robert lived in a cottage and garden Plot 380, which was owned by Francis Little, trustee for John Gale. He also occupied a quarry on Box Hill from the Northey family at a rateable value of £7.0s.[17] He and his wife Sarah were there in the 1841 census with 2 grown up children, 1 grandchild and 3 quarry workers.
In the 1840 Tithe records, Robert lived in a cottage and garden Plot 380, which was owned by Francis Little, trustee for John Gale. He also occupied a quarry on Box Hill from the Northey family at a rateable value of £7.0s.[17] He and his wife Sarah were there in the 1841 census with 2 grown up children, 1 grandchild and 3 quarry workers.
The 1840 Tithe Apportionment map (courtesy Wiltshire History Centre)
In the 1840 Tithe Apportionment records George owned two cottages 604 and 605a in Kingsdown, which we might speculate was the quarry owned by his father Robert (1748-1818). George’s son another Robert (1818-1892) was variously described as Mason Journeyman (1851), mason (1861), Quarryman (1871) and Stone Quarry Foreman (1881), all of which reflected how physically demanding the industry was. In 1842 son Robert Newman tenanted a cottage at Box Field from Job Pictor. We get a better idea of where he lived from the censuses: 1851 Box Quarries, 1861 Box Field Quarries and 1871 Quarry Hill and it is possible that these were all the same place. By 1881 probably too old to earn much of a living in the quarries, Robert and his second wife Sarah were living in Box School House, where Sarah was working as caretaker, and boarded two lady teachers.
We know that the quarry industry in Box existed before the opening of Box Tunnel in 1841. The building trade and the quarry industry were both prone to short-term economic swings but it was a more general architectural trend towards stone for even ordinary cottages and the development of steam power for extraction and lifting which encouraged the Georgian industry in Box. By 1831, the use of the stone was sufficiently commonplace for extensive public use and widespread subscription for the building of Box Church's south aisle.
One of the differences between the Georgian and Victorian stone industry was in the amount of stone extracted and the wealth generated by quarriers as evidenced by the difference between the Pictor and Newman families. Partly it was a social trend to build more properties out of stone and partly economic trends which enabled cheaper extraction and transportation of stone.
The early quarriers used opencast methods conveyed by horse carriage; the Victorians operated steam-powered cranes and the railways.
One of the differences between the Georgian and Victorian stone industry was in the amount of stone extracted and the wealth generated by quarriers as evidenced by the difference between the Pictor and Newman families. Partly it was a social trend to build more properties out of stone and partly economic trends which enabled cheaper extraction and transportation of stone.
The early quarriers used opencast methods conveyed by horse carriage; the Victorians operated steam-powered cranes and the railways.
Family Trees
Newman Family Tree
Robert Newman (1706-1788) married Mary Sympsion (about 1712-1800). Robert was apprenticed to William Scrill, mason of Box. Children:
Robert (1748-2 July 1818); Amos (1751-1837)
Amos (1751-1837) married Hannah Gibbons (1752-1830) on 12 November 1787. Children:
Anna (1788-1857); and Amos (1794-1826)
Robert (1748-2 July 1818) married Eleanor Gibbons (1747-1818) on 4 February 1779. Children:
James William (-1830); George (1781-1853); Mary (1783-); Robert (1785-); and Eleanor (1789-1814)
Robert (1785-) married Sarah Sibbins (1791-1881) on 30 March 1813. Children:
Mary (1816-); John (1818-); Edward (1822-)
George (1781-1853) married Lydia Smith (1786-1850). Children included:
Thomas Newman (6 May 1812-1861); Ann (1815-); Robert (1818-1892); Lydia (1832-); Jane (1835)
Thomas (6 May 1812-1861) further details in Part 3
Robert (1818- died 1892 at Batheaston) who married Catherine Yeo (1821-75) on 26 August 1841 and, after her death, Sarah (1831?). Children with Catherine:
Mary Ann (1843-); Anna (1846-); George (1849-1926); Henry (1850-1872); William (1852-); Anna Maria (1854-1855); and Ellen (1855-).
Newman Family Tree
Robert Newman (1706-1788) married Mary Sympsion (about 1712-1800). Robert was apprenticed to William Scrill, mason of Box. Children:
Robert (1748-2 July 1818); Amos (1751-1837)
Amos (1751-1837) married Hannah Gibbons (1752-1830) on 12 November 1787. Children:
Anna (1788-1857); and Amos (1794-1826)
Robert (1748-2 July 1818) married Eleanor Gibbons (1747-1818) on 4 February 1779. Children:
James William (-1830); George (1781-1853); Mary (1783-); Robert (1785-); and Eleanor (1789-1814)
Robert (1785-) married Sarah Sibbins (1791-1881) on 30 March 1813. Children:
Mary (1816-); John (1818-); Edward (1822-)
George (1781-1853) married Lydia Smith (1786-1850). Children included:
Thomas Newman (6 May 1812-1861); Ann (1815-); Robert (1818-1892); Lydia (1832-); Jane (1835)
Thomas (6 May 1812-1861) further details in Part 3
Robert (1818- died 1892 at Batheaston) who married Catherine Yeo (1821-75) on 26 August 1841 and, after her death, Sarah (1831?). Children with Catherine:
Mary Ann (1843-); Anna (1846-); George (1849-1926); Henry (1850-1872); William (1852-); Anna Maria (1854-1855); and Ellen (1855-).
References
[1] NJ Williams, Wiltshire Apprentices and Their Masters, 1710-1760, Wiltshire Record Society, Vol XVII, 1961, p.109
[2] Box Overseers Accounts, WRO 1719/11
[3] Box Overseers Accounts, WRO 1719/12
[4] Box Overseers Accounts, WRO 1719/18
[5] Box Overseers Accounts, WRO 1719/12
[6] Box Overseers Accounts, WRO 1719/13
[7] Box Overseers Accounts, WRO 1719/2
[8] Box General Armament Schedule B, WRO 1719/30 Schedule B 1803
[9] Wills, inventories, admons, bonds, W.22
[10] Box Overseers Accounts, WRO 1719/5
[11] Box Overseers Accounts, WRO 1719/17
[12] Box Land Tax, WRO A1/345/45
[13] Box rates, WRO 1719/19, 5 March 1824 and 17 April 1824
[14] Box Overseers Accounts, WRO 1817/16
[15] Box rates, WRO 1719/19
[16] Box Land Survey 1813-1827, 1789/29 1827 Survey & valuation of all properties in Box based on survey of 1813, Plot 87 Robert Newman, Rev. E. Northey (owner) house & premises £3.10s., 1 quarry £6.
[17] Box Tithe Map & Apportionments, 1838-1842. Assumed this Robert Newman and not Robert the son of George.
[1] NJ Williams, Wiltshire Apprentices and Their Masters, 1710-1760, Wiltshire Record Society, Vol XVII, 1961, p.109
[2] Box Overseers Accounts, WRO 1719/11
[3] Box Overseers Accounts, WRO 1719/12
[4] Box Overseers Accounts, WRO 1719/18
[5] Box Overseers Accounts, WRO 1719/12
[6] Box Overseers Accounts, WRO 1719/13
[7] Box Overseers Accounts, WRO 1719/2
[8] Box General Armament Schedule B, WRO 1719/30 Schedule B 1803
[9] Wills, inventories, admons, bonds, W.22
[10] Box Overseers Accounts, WRO 1719/5
[11] Box Overseers Accounts, WRO 1719/17
[12] Box Land Tax, WRO A1/345/45
[13] Box rates, WRO 1719/19, 5 March 1824 and 17 April 1824
[14] Box Overseers Accounts, WRO 1817/16
[15] Box rates, WRO 1719/19
[16] Box Land Survey 1813-1827, 1789/29 1827 Survey & valuation of all properties in Box based on survey of 1813, Plot 87 Robert Newman, Rev. E. Northey (owner) house & premises £3.10s., 1 quarry £6.
[17] Box Tithe Map & Apportionments, 1838-1842. Assumed this Robert Newman and not Robert the son of George.