|
Hemmings Family Carl Vivash November 2017 It is curious how social attitudes change for no apparent reason and no cause. Perhaps the most ingrained ethical dogma of middle class Victorian Britain was the attitude to sex, marriage and child-rearing. The language used to enforce morality was pejorative: "illegitimate", "bastard" and "out of wedlock". This belief has now substantially disappeared, preferring loving relationships to legal formalities, and, of course, a respect for what people achieve in their lives rather than who their parents were. For family history researchers, children born without a paternal name have brought extra problems. This makes Carl Vivash's article about his Hemmings family connections even more impressive. Right: The only known picture of William and Millie serving beer as stewards at the Box Horse Show in the 1950s (courtesy Phil Martin) |
|
My grandfather Richard Vivash was born in Box in 1908 and lived there until World War 2. There is a picture of him at the Swimming Club. His mother was Millie Elizabeth Vivash but the identity of his natural father was a bit of a mystery! She eventually married William Hemmings at the United Methodist Church, Box, in 1919 but Richard never took his name, so I am a Vivash today.
William Hemmings and Millie Elizabeth Vivash
In researching my family tree I discovered a connection between the Vivash, Hemmings and Hancock families but it was difficult to unravel. I found that they were all living at Box Hill in 1891: Henry Charles Hemmings, a freestone miner, lived next door to James Vivash, Millie's father and the Hancock family ran the Quarryman's Arms pub nearby. But there was no mention of Millie's husband William Hemmings and the only relevant person I could discover was in the Chippenham workhouse in 1891 !
There were local anecdotes connecting the three families. Long-term Box resident, Bob Hancock, recalled the time when his uncle Bill Hemmings from Box Hill and his wife, Millie, lived at the Comrades Club (now Hardy House). Bob described Millie Hemmings as a lovely lady, small and dark-haired. My father also remembered them. Millie lived with my grandfather Richard Vivash for the last few years of her life in the front room of his house in Chippenham.
William Hemmings and Millie Elizabeth Vivash
In researching my family tree I discovered a connection between the Vivash, Hemmings and Hancock families but it was difficult to unravel. I found that they were all living at Box Hill in 1891: Henry Charles Hemmings, a freestone miner, lived next door to James Vivash, Millie's father and the Hancock family ran the Quarryman's Arms pub nearby. But there was no mention of Millie's husband William Hemmings and the only relevant person I could discover was in the Chippenham workhouse in 1891 !
There were local anecdotes connecting the three families. Long-term Box resident, Bob Hancock, recalled the time when his uncle Bill Hemmings from Box Hill and his wife, Millie, lived at the Comrades Club (now Hardy House). Bob described Millie Hemmings as a lovely lady, small and dark-haired. My father also remembered them. Millie lived with my grandfather Richard Vivash for the last few years of her life in the front room of his house in Chippenham.
|
The Hancock Connection
From census and birth records it appears that William's mother, Sarah Ann Hemmings, was born in Corsham in 1861, the illegitimate daughter of Louisa Hemmings (who later married James Hayward). Sarah had three children of her own: Alice Maud Hemmings born 1881 in Box; Mary Ann Hemmings born 1886 at Corsham; William Hemmings born 1890 at Corsham. We can't be certain of Sarah Ann's background. She was illiterate but she ensured all the children were baptised at Chippenham. Later she named her father as James Hemming, a stonemason, but I have found no further information about him. The family fell on hard times and Sarah Ann and the children were all together in the 1891 census of the Chippenham workhouse. In 1891 Thomas Hancock and his wife, Julia Ellen, were running The Quarryman's Arms, Box Hill, where Thomas was the publican. They had four children: Florence born 1884; Lottie 1886; Fred 1889; and Ada F born 1890. In September 1894 Julia died aged 33 years, leaving Thomas with four children under ten years whilst trying to run his business as a publican and quarryman. Left: Sarah Anne Hancock (courtesy Bob Hancock) |
Florence continued the Hancock tradition with the Quarryman's Arms. She married Bill Stevens, who became the landlord there, and they had three children, Arthur (known as Rubble), Phyllis and Gladys.[1] Gladys married Bert Tinson who later became the landlord until 1964, continuing a family tradition going back eighty years.
Thomas and Sarah Ann appear to have become a couple by 1895. It suited them both as they were the same age, both born in 1861. Sarah Ann could provide for the domestic needs of Thomas' family and he offered her a route out of the workhouse. By 1901 Thomas and Sarah Ann were together at the Quarryman's Arms with seven children, the four children of Thomas and Julia and three born to Thomas and Sarah Ann: Tom M born 1896; Elsie F 1897; and Herbert M born 1901. I haven't been able to find what happened to the children from the workhouse but Sarah Anne and Thomas appear to have married in 1904. In the 1911 census, they were still at the Quarryman’s Arms with two additional children of their own: Nellie born in 1902 and Percy in 1905.
Thomas and Sarah Ann appear to have become a couple by 1895. It suited them both as they were the same age, both born in 1861. Sarah Ann could provide for the domestic needs of Thomas' family and he offered her a route out of the workhouse. By 1901 Thomas and Sarah Ann were together at the Quarryman's Arms with seven children, the four children of Thomas and Julia and three born to Thomas and Sarah Ann: Tom M born 1896; Elsie F 1897; and Herbert M born 1901. I haven't been able to find what happened to the children from the workhouse but Sarah Anne and Thomas appear to have married in 1904. In the 1911 census, they were still at the Quarryman’s Arms with two additional children of their own: Nellie born in 1902 and Percy in 1905.
William Hemmings in Box
These were difficult times for William, growing up on his own as a child. He was ginger-haired and rather reckless in his youthful character. At the age of sixteen in 1906 he was mixing with a rebellious crowd and unlawfully gambling in a public place, as this newspaper extract shows:[2]
Edward Stinchcombe, Albert Dancey, Frank Dancey, Herbert Simpkins, Ernest Phelps, Herbert Mould, William Bray, William Hemmings, Albert Wootten, Frank Simpkins and Harry Simpkins, all of Box, were charged with gaming in a public place. PC Sims stated that on Sunday afternoon July 15th, he was in the wood at Box Hill, known as Little Firs, when he saw two groups of young men playing pitch and toss ... throwing coins in the air. Thomas Hancock who was engaged in the game stated that he lost 5d, corroborating the evidence of the constable.[3] Stinchcombe, Tinson and Bray, who were the elder of the defendants, were each fined 2s.6d and the others were ordered to pay 1s each.
Interesting mix of names there, many from my family tree: Hemmings, Simpkins, Wootten and Hancock.
These were difficult times for William, growing up on his own as a child. He was ginger-haired and rather reckless in his youthful character. At the age of sixteen in 1906 he was mixing with a rebellious crowd and unlawfully gambling in a public place, as this newspaper extract shows:[2]
Edward Stinchcombe, Albert Dancey, Frank Dancey, Herbert Simpkins, Ernest Phelps, Herbert Mould, William Bray, William Hemmings, Albert Wootten, Frank Simpkins and Harry Simpkins, all of Box, were charged with gaming in a public place. PC Sims stated that on Sunday afternoon July 15th, he was in the wood at Box Hill, known as Little Firs, when he saw two groups of young men playing pitch and toss ... throwing coins in the air. Thomas Hancock who was engaged in the game stated that he lost 5d, corroborating the evidence of the constable.[3] Stinchcombe, Tinson and Bray, who were the elder of the defendants, were each fined 2s.6d and the others were ordered to pay 1s each.
Interesting mix of names there, many from my family tree: Hemmings, Simpkins, Wootten and Hancock.
Amazing photo of the fire at Browning's Garage (courtesy Margaret Wakefield)
Fire at Browning's Garage
William was involved in a curious incident in 1934 when he was accused of setting fire to Browning's Garage, Devizes Road.[4]
A motor driver, he had been employed by J & G Browning in 1924 and taken into partnership with the firm in 1929 on payment of £60. William himself gave notice to terminate the partnership on 31 March 1934 and threatened to set up business on his own. But before then, on 25 March, the garage was destroyed by fire.
William was the last person to leave the garage at ten minutes to eight that morning when he took a delivery of coal to Atworth, leaving half a gallon of petrol in a tin inside the building. When he returned at nine o'clock, the garage had been destroyed. On two occasions he admitted to setting fire to the garage (You know I done it), including a statement to the police at Corsham when he said he had thrown a lighted match into a waste paper basket.
However, that was not the end of the matter.[5] A work colleague, driver Raymond Ford of Kingsdown, said that William had been in his sight all the time and he did not light a match. His defence at his trial in June claimed that he suffered bouts of malaria which affected his mental condition, substantiated by several local people: Cecil Lambert, a friend; Richard Vivash, defendant's stepson; and Mrs (Millie) Hemmings. His defence lawyer called his confessions Pure Imagination. The jury returned a verdict of not guilty and William was discharged.
William was involved in a curious incident in 1934 when he was accused of setting fire to Browning's Garage, Devizes Road.[4]
A motor driver, he had been employed by J & G Browning in 1924 and taken into partnership with the firm in 1929 on payment of £60. William himself gave notice to terminate the partnership on 31 March 1934 and threatened to set up business on his own. But before then, on 25 March, the garage was destroyed by fire.
William was the last person to leave the garage at ten minutes to eight that morning when he took a delivery of coal to Atworth, leaving half a gallon of petrol in a tin inside the building. When he returned at nine o'clock, the garage had been destroyed. On two occasions he admitted to setting fire to the garage (You know I done it), including a statement to the police at Corsham when he said he had thrown a lighted match into a waste paper basket.
However, that was not the end of the matter.[5] A work colleague, driver Raymond Ford of Kingsdown, said that William had been in his sight all the time and he did not light a match. His defence at his trial in June claimed that he suffered bouts of malaria which affected his mental condition, substantiated by several local people: Cecil Lambert, a friend; Richard Vivash, defendant's stepson; and Mrs (Millie) Hemmings. His defence lawyer called his confessions Pure Imagination. The jury returned a verdict of not guilty and William was discharged.
Later Lives
After the Second World War the Comrades Club became the meeting place for ex-servicemen to reminisce and an important therapy for those mentally and physically affected by the war. Bill must have listened to the same stories hundreds of times.
There was a determined effort to move on from the hardships of wartime and in 1945 local people started the Box Horse Show in the field at the bottom of Valens Terrace. Bill and Millie ran the bar at the show which lasted over ten years.
William became a valued member of the community undertaking various civic duties, commanding respect and totally overcoming his background. He was the steward at the Comrades Club for two decades and he regularly cut the grass on the Recreation field. To improve the condition of the land, he picked up the grass cuttings which he gathered together into a stinking heap in summer. At the back of the Comrades Club on Box Recreation Ground, at the lower end of the top field where three trees are now planted, is where Bill had a shed to keep the 36-inch Auto-Mower, made in Norton St Phillip, which belonged to Box Cricket Club. By then he had overcome his background and youthful indiscretions.
After the Second World War the Comrades Club became the meeting place for ex-servicemen to reminisce and an important therapy for those mentally and physically affected by the war. Bill must have listened to the same stories hundreds of times.
There was a determined effort to move on from the hardships of wartime and in 1945 local people started the Box Horse Show in the field at the bottom of Valens Terrace. Bill and Millie ran the bar at the show which lasted over ten years.
William became a valued member of the community undertaking various civic duties, commanding respect and totally overcoming his background. He was the steward at the Comrades Club for two decades and he regularly cut the grass on the Recreation field. To improve the condition of the land, he picked up the grass cuttings which he gathered together into a stinking heap in summer. At the back of the Comrades Club on Box Recreation Ground, at the lower end of the top field where three trees are now planted, is where Bill had a shed to keep the 36-inch Auto-Mower, made in Norton St Phillip, which belonged to Box Cricket Club. By then he had overcome his background and youthful indiscretions.
William and Millie integrated into Box village society in their later years, the legitimacy of William's parentage deemed irrelevant. He was a serviceman in the First World War and had the backing of his own family and of notable Box resident, Cecil Lambert, in his trial. The Hemmings became pillars of the Box community, running the Comrades Club, offering support to ex-servicemen and supporters of the Box Horse Show. Surely the actions of people legitimise them more than any certificate of marriage.
Family Trees
Hemmings Family
Henry Charles Hemmings (b 1864 in Corsham) married Selina Harriet (b 1866 in Priston). Children:
Florence Gertrude (b 1893); William Francis (b 1895) who joined the Royal Navy; Emmeline Victoria (b 1898)
William Hemmings (1890 - 20 December 1957) married Millie Elizabeth Vivash (1887 - 1964) at the United Methodist Church, Box, on 7 June 1919 when they lived at Box Hill, allegedly in the huts at Box Fields.
Vivash Family
James Vivash (b 1855), quarryman, married Eliza (b1859 at Westwells). Children:
Florence (b 1882); Laura (b 1885); Millie Elizabeth (1886 - 1967); Lilian (b 1889); Dorothy (b 1890)
Hemmings Family
Henry Charles Hemmings (b 1864 in Corsham) married Selina Harriet (b 1866 in Priston). Children:
Florence Gertrude (b 1893); William Francis (b 1895) who joined the Royal Navy; Emmeline Victoria (b 1898)
William Hemmings (1890 - 20 December 1957) married Millie Elizabeth Vivash (1887 - 1964) at the United Methodist Church, Box, on 7 June 1919 when they lived at Box Hill, allegedly in the huts at Box Fields.
Vivash Family
James Vivash (b 1855), quarryman, married Eliza (b1859 at Westwells). Children:
Florence (b 1882); Laura (b 1885); Millie Elizabeth (1886 - 1967); Lilian (b 1889); Dorothy (b 1890)
References
[1] Courtesy Bob Hancock
[2] Wiltshire Times and Trowbridge Advertiser, 4 August 1906
[3] Thomas Hancock was probably the first son of Sarah and Thomas and William Hemmings' half brother.
[4] Bath Weekly Chronicle and Herald, 28 April 1934
[5] Bath Weekly Chronicle and Herald, 2 June 1934
[1] Courtesy Bob Hancock
[2] Wiltshire Times and Trowbridge Advertiser, 4 August 1906
[3] Thomas Hancock was probably the first son of Sarah and Thomas and William Hemmings' half brother.
[4] Bath Weekly Chronicle and Herald, 28 April 1934
[5] Bath Weekly Chronicle and Herald, 2 June 1934