Jane Wiltshire Suggested by Ilse Van den Driessche August 2023
Rookery Nook where Jane Wiltshire probably lived with her mother before her marriage in 1826 (courtesy Carol Payne)
We get few glimpses of quarrying in Box before the great expansion in the mid-Victorian period. Even rarer, is the role of women in the industry the late Georgian/ early Victorian period. Much has been written about the Victorian concept of “separate spheres” with women taking on domestic and motherhood duties deferring status, wealth and educational opportunities to their husbands. This article details the experience of Jane Wiltshire and her mother Elizabeth during that time.
Jane Wiltshire (1808-1888) married Robert Pinnell (1796-1870) on 30 January 1826 in Box. This was at the start of the massive expansion of the stone quarry trade in Box and Robert from Warminster was mentioned as a mason in Box in the will of his uncle Samuel Pinnell in 1825. After the marriage, he was referred to as a (free) stonemason in some censuses and at the birth of his children. The family were part of the quarrying fraternity in Box and one of the witnesses at the marriage was Lydia Haynes, married to John Haynes, quarryman. But the Wiltshire family were not typical uneducated quarry workers because the other witness was George Mullins, Box schoolmaster who lived at The Wilderness.
Box Poorhouse where the top floor was used as a charity school (courtesy Carol Payne)
The Wiltshire family were well-off landowners. We can fill in some details about Jane’s family going back to her grandparents. She was a daughter of John Wiltshire (1762-1816) and Elizabeth (1769-1843), maiden name unknown. It is very likely that this John Wiltshire was the eldest son of John Wiltshire senior (1722-1788), a freemason (stone mason), and his wife Martha Smith, Jane's grandparents. On his deathbed in November 1788, John Wiltshire senior settled his various properties. His houses at Millsplatt, which jad been acquired from the estate of his late brother William, were left to Richard Broad, carpenter in Bath. John's own property was left to his children including closes (cottages and gardens) at Danbys, Box Hill, and pieces of ground now used as three or more Freestone Quarrs (one called Broads Quarry). The quarry rights went to his son William but the surface farm land and buildings were left to his son Anthony Wiltshire with a prohibition to sell to third parties. This was a complicated arrangement and, as discussed later, became the subject of family litigation. His three daughters, Mary, Martha and Sarah, received cash and small parcels of land and tenanted property.
Jane's parents and uncles appear to be mentioned in the Militia Census of 1803 when John Wiltshire junior was listed as a volunteer to fight against Napoleon and described as mason. He was marked in the category of having more than two children. We cannot be certain if this is Jane’s father but the details fit. Also mentioned on the list are probably two of Jame's uncles, William Wiltshire (yeoman) and Anthony Wiltshire (mason). William Wiltshire, was one of the wealthiest working people in Box. He occupied considerable land at Box Hill including that held by the Calstone Church Trust, which had been established for the education of children in a charity school. The family connection may have also been through Martha Lydia Wiltshire, a pupil in the girls’ school run by Mary Jane Mullins, George Mullin’s daughter in 1841, but this is uncertain.
Jane's parents and uncles appear to be mentioned in the Militia Census of 1803 when John Wiltshire junior was listed as a volunteer to fight against Napoleon and described as mason. He was marked in the category of having more than two children. We cannot be certain if this is Jane’s father but the details fit. Also mentioned on the list are probably two of Jame's uncles, William Wiltshire (yeoman) and Anthony Wiltshire (mason). William Wiltshire, was one of the wealthiest working people in Box. He occupied considerable land at Box Hill including that held by the Calstone Church Trust, which had been established for the education of children in a charity school. The family connection may have also been through Martha Lydia Wiltshire, a pupil in the girls’ school run by Mary Jane Mullins, George Mullin’s daughter in 1841, but this is uncertain.
Springfield Villa where Mary Mullins held the girls’ school in 1841 (courtesy Carol Payne)
It is interesting to see the extent of the land occupied by William Wiltshire, yeoman, in the 1840 Tithe Apportionment records. This was not prime agricultural land but much of the area going up the new turnpike road on Box Hill, some of which was quarry land or that with development potential. The land he held and the Tithe Apportionment refences, were: 31 Little Field, 32 Sandy Leaze, 32b Barn & Barton, 38 Ten Acres, 39 Bosom Tyning, 40 Upper Box Field, 41 Lower Box Field Tyning and Quarry in Lower Box Field Tyning, 42 Great Tyning, 42a Beer Shop (the Rising Sun pub), 62 Long Close, 73, 74 Barton Barn, 74a, 74b, 75 Quarr Close, 76, Froghill, 77 Little Froghill, 94 Flat Mead Calstone Church Lands, 94 Half Brook Calstone, 95 Fogham Wood Calstone, 96 Great Craw Leaze Calstone, 97 Little Craw Leaze Calstone, 98e Rising Sun Inn, 101 Little Mead Calstone, 103 Hood Close Calstone, 370 Lower Darnley, 371 Upper Darnley, 372 Stable Yard, 373, 374 Fogham Wood, 375 Fogham Mead, 390 Old Quarry, 391 Little Tyning.
The field at Great Tyning and the surrounding area was the subject of a significant court case tracing the history of the assets held by the Wiltshire family.
The field at Great Tyning and the surrounding area was the subject of a significant court case tracing the history of the assets held by the Wiltshire family.
1840 Tithe Apportionment map showing the land occupied by William Wiltshire below the words Box Quarries in the centre (courtesy Know Your Place)
Court Case
The property, to the right of the land under Great Tyning, belonged to William Wiltshire and land next to Great Tyning (and more particularly a quarry under this land) was later contested in a lawsuit. The case was called "Wiltshire v Strong" between Martha and Mary Wiltshire (William's descendants) and the descendants of Anthony Wiltshire (William's brother) who were part of the Strong family.[1] The judge ruled in favour of the descendants of William. Tracing the precise connection between the Strong family and Anthony Wiltshire is difficult. Anthony married Elizabeth Sumsion at Colerne in 1796 but no family line is apparent.
However, the case indicates that there was a significant connection between the Wiltshire family (the Georgian owners of much of the Box Hill land) and the Strong family (one of the earliest Victorian Box quarry-master families). The subsequent history of the land after the Strongs owned it leads into the Pictor family when they bought the property from the estate of Robert Strong. Interestingly, much of the land occupied by William Wiltshire was later bought from the Calstone Church Trust by Cornelius James Pictor, quarry-owner and son of Job Pictor, to build his ornate Gothic mansion, Fogleigh House, the site of the house peviously owned by Thomas Strong.[2]
The property, to the right of the land under Great Tyning, belonged to William Wiltshire and land next to Great Tyning (and more particularly a quarry under this land) was later contested in a lawsuit. The case was called "Wiltshire v Strong" between Martha and Mary Wiltshire (William's descendants) and the descendants of Anthony Wiltshire (William's brother) who were part of the Strong family.[1] The judge ruled in favour of the descendants of William. Tracing the precise connection between the Strong family and Anthony Wiltshire is difficult. Anthony married Elizabeth Sumsion at Colerne in 1796 but no family line is apparent.
However, the case indicates that there was a significant connection between the Wiltshire family (the Georgian owners of much of the Box Hill land) and the Strong family (one of the earliest Victorian Box quarry-master families). The subsequent history of the land after the Strongs owned it leads into the Pictor family when they bought the property from the estate of Robert Strong. Interestingly, much of the land occupied by William Wiltshire was later bought from the Calstone Church Trust by Cornelius James Pictor, quarry-owner and son of Job Pictor, to build his ornate Gothic mansion, Fogleigh House, the site of the house peviously owned by Thomas Strong.[2]
Jane Wiltshire's Family
Jane's father John (1762-1816) married Elizabeth probably around 1791. Their children included William (1792), Martha, Ann, Mary and Sarah Gale (all born before 1801), Elizabeth (1803-), John (1805-), Jane herself (1808-), Eliza (1810-) and James (1813-1836). Jane’s mother Elizabeth Wiltshire (1769-1843) held several cottages on Box Hill in 1840, including a ruined cottage occupied by Ann Gale (reference 387f), now renovated and called Ash Cottage, with a garden opposite (ref 387b), both close to the Quarryman’s Arms pub. Elizabeth lived in central Box in a tenanted cottage and garden owned by Job Pictor (ref 470), the father of the quarry-owning dynasty. This house was Rookery Nook, Townsend, a Grade II Listed building dated late 1700s or early 1800s. Nowadays it is a single property but in 1840 it was divided into four separate cottages. The 1841 census listed Elizabeth’s occupation as ‘Ind’, meaning that she was of “Independent Means”, widowed and living with her daughter,
Mary Emery.
Poor Elizabeth Wiltshire seems to have come to a tragic end. In February 1843, an inquest reported that her daughter (presumably Mary) heard her scream and came to see her mother in flames. Elizabeth died later of burns.[3] In the newspaper article announcing her death she was remembered as esteemed and respected.[4] She and Mary also owned four cottages in a row at London Terrace, Box Hill, let to quarrymen listed as William Wiltshire, likely to be Elizabeth's son (stables and yard); William Bradfield (cottage and garden); William Clarke (cottage and garden); and John Chandler (cottage and garden).[5]
Jane's father John (1762-1816) married Elizabeth probably around 1791. Their children included William (1792), Martha, Ann, Mary and Sarah Gale (all born before 1801), Elizabeth (1803-), John (1805-), Jane herself (1808-), Eliza (1810-) and James (1813-1836). Jane’s mother Elizabeth Wiltshire (1769-1843) held several cottages on Box Hill in 1840, including a ruined cottage occupied by Ann Gale (reference 387f), now renovated and called Ash Cottage, with a garden opposite (ref 387b), both close to the Quarryman’s Arms pub. Elizabeth lived in central Box in a tenanted cottage and garden owned by Job Pictor (ref 470), the father of the quarry-owning dynasty. This house was Rookery Nook, Townsend, a Grade II Listed building dated late 1700s or early 1800s. Nowadays it is a single property but in 1840 it was divided into four separate cottages. The 1841 census listed Elizabeth’s occupation as ‘Ind’, meaning that she was of “Independent Means”, widowed and living with her daughter,
Mary Emery.
Poor Elizabeth Wiltshire seems to have come to a tragic end. In February 1843, an inquest reported that her daughter (presumably Mary) heard her scream and came to see her mother in flames. Elizabeth died later of burns.[3] In the newspaper article announcing her death she was remembered as esteemed and respected.[4] She and Mary also owned four cottages in a row at London Terrace, Box Hill, let to quarrymen listed as William Wiltshire, likely to be Elizabeth's son (stables and yard); William Bradfield (cottage and garden); William Clarke (cottage and garden); and John Chandler (cottage and garden).[5]
The 1840 Tithe Apportionment map showing four cottages at reference 470 (courtesy Know Your Place)
Mary Emery’s will of 1850 is important in confirming some of the family members. Her bequests include her sister Ann Bligh, sister Elizabeth Waite and brother-in-law John Waite, sister Martha Pender, sister Sarah Bush, sister Jane Pinnell, brother John Wiltshire, and her nieces Mary Emery Waite and Elizabeth Ann Waite. She did not leave anything to her brother William Wiltshire (he was wealthy enough) but appointed him and John Waite as executors. In addition to household goods, furnishings and wearing apparel, her assets included silver items, including wine decanter, spoons, sugar spoons, tankard, and a set of spirit containers. She also listed two cottages situate at Box Quarries one in the occupation of Gingell, the other Mr Samson. The cottages were assigned to her nieces Mary Emery and Elizabeth Ann. Not long after Mary’s death in June 1851 her nieces Mary Emery (10 years) and Elisabeth Ann (8 years) both died of scarlet fever. In July 1851 their mother Elizabeth Waite died of apoplexy.
Other members of Jane Wiltshire’s family appear to have held considerable land in 1840. Ann occupied a Box Hill cottage and garden (ref 379) part owned by Francis Little and John Gale, and a garden (ref 379a) owned by Anthony Wiltshire (in the vicinity of the Rising Sun). Martha Wiltshire owned three cottages and gardens (ref 238a) at Alcombe and John Wiltshire owned a substantial pasture field and brook entitlement at Ashley (ref 294). In 1841 Sarah and her husband John Bush were living at Lower Swainswick with their children and sister Ann Bligh.
Other members of Jane Wiltshire’s family appear to have held considerable land in 1840. Ann occupied a Box Hill cottage and garden (ref 379) part owned by Francis Little and John Gale, and a garden (ref 379a) owned by Anthony Wiltshire (in the vicinity of the Rising Sun). Martha Wiltshire owned three cottages and gardens (ref 238a) at Alcombe and John Wiltshire owned a substantial pasture field and brook entitlement at Ashley (ref 294). In 1841 Sarah and her husband John Bush were living at Lower Swainswick with their children and sister Ann Bligh.
Pinnell Family
Jane's husband, Robert, was the son of Robert Pinnell senior (1761-1819) and Fanny Warren (1776-1816). Robert senior was a clothier in Warminster but he had gone out of business in 1803, probably due to the riots in the cloth industry between 1801-1803. Robert junior had to change career and he was listed as a mason in Box whe he married Jane in 1826. In the same year he received quite a good inheritance from his uncle Samuel Pinnell. Uncle Samuel seemed to have had several houses and shops in Warminster, including a Blacksmith’s Shop, Bakehouse and new Oven, in and near Brook Street (Warminster Common) and in West End (now West Street).
Robert and Jane did not stay in Box but moved to Warminster West End, near the corner of West Street and Frome Road (now Victoria Road). They had five children, all born in Warminster West End: Mary (1828-1835), Samuel (1829-1829), Samuel (1831-1833), Samuel Wiltshire (1835-1895) and James Wiltshire (1837-1904). Throughout his life, Robert identified as a (free) stonemason, although he was also for a short period a shop keeper in one of the shops in Brook Street. Between 1838-1842 Robert sold all the houses and shops situated in Warminster Common and in 1846 he registered the whole family to the Wiltshire Friendly Society. Robert died in 1870, leaving some land near West Street to his two sons. Shortly before her death in 1888 Jane was living on her own in Back Street. We know she had some income from investments because she was called annuitant in the census of 1881.
Jane's husband, Robert, was the son of Robert Pinnell senior (1761-1819) and Fanny Warren (1776-1816). Robert senior was a clothier in Warminster but he had gone out of business in 1803, probably due to the riots in the cloth industry between 1801-1803. Robert junior had to change career and he was listed as a mason in Box whe he married Jane in 1826. In the same year he received quite a good inheritance from his uncle Samuel Pinnell. Uncle Samuel seemed to have had several houses and shops in Warminster, including a Blacksmith’s Shop, Bakehouse and new Oven, in and near Brook Street (Warminster Common) and in West End (now West Street).
Robert and Jane did not stay in Box but moved to Warminster West End, near the corner of West Street and Frome Road (now Victoria Road). They had five children, all born in Warminster West End: Mary (1828-1835), Samuel (1829-1829), Samuel (1831-1833), Samuel Wiltshire (1835-1895) and James Wiltshire (1837-1904). Throughout his life, Robert identified as a (free) stonemason, although he was also for a short period a shop keeper in one of the shops in Brook Street. Between 1838-1842 Robert sold all the houses and shops situated in Warminster Common and in 1846 he registered the whole family to the Wiltshire Friendly Society. Robert died in 1870, leaving some land near West Street to his two sons. Shortly before her death in 1888 Jane was living on her own in Back Street. We know she had some income from investments because she was called annuitant in the census of 1881.
Children of Jane and Robert
Their oldest surviving son Samuel worked most of his life as a glazier and painter in Salisbury. For several years he was also the licensed victualler of The Pheasant Inn in Salt Lane, Salisbury. The younger son James worked as a stone mason, just as his father, but his life was less fortunate. James was involved in a significant court case in 1879. Most quarry workers were self-employed at a time before social security covered those who were sick and unable to earn a living. So, workers frequently paid weekly sums into friendly societies to cover emergencies. His father had registered James already at the age of 9. So James was a Friendly Society member for 30 years but fell foul of the regulations covering sick payments for flagrant misconduct. James tried to sue the Wiltshire Friendly Society for arrears of £17 (today worth £2,400).[6] But he had been seen drinking in the canteen of the Warminster Volunteers Militia in August 1878 and persistently and repeatedly visiting public houses or beer shops. Not mentioned in the case was the prosecution of James in January 1878 for being drunk and disorderly.[7] He died in 1904 of a weak heart in the Union Workhouse Warminster.
Their oldest surviving son Samuel worked most of his life as a glazier and painter in Salisbury. For several years he was also the licensed victualler of The Pheasant Inn in Salt Lane, Salisbury. The younger son James worked as a stone mason, just as his father, but his life was less fortunate. James was involved in a significant court case in 1879. Most quarry workers were self-employed at a time before social security covered those who were sick and unable to earn a living. So, workers frequently paid weekly sums into friendly societies to cover emergencies. His father had registered James already at the age of 9. So James was a Friendly Society member for 30 years but fell foul of the regulations covering sick payments for flagrant misconduct. James tried to sue the Wiltshire Friendly Society for arrears of £17 (today worth £2,400).[6] But he had been seen drinking in the canteen of the Warminster Volunteers Militia in August 1878 and persistently and repeatedly visiting public houses or beer shops. Not mentioned in the case was the prosecution of James in January 1878 for being drunk and disorderly.[7] He died in 1904 of a weak heart in the Union Workhouse Warminster.
The story of the Wiltshire family is a vital part of the history of Box Hill. It shows how one branch of the family passed their quarries by marriage to the Strong family who later sold their assets to the Pictor family. The quarry age opened the local area to greater social mobility and relocation than had been possible previously. Agriculture labourers had the opportunity to change jobs and make considerable wealth, some even owning their own houses. As the article shows this was also true for the women in Box. Quarrying enabled Robert Pinnell to move his location and to exploit his skills in the late-Georgian and early-Victorian period.
Family Tree
John Wiltshire senior (1762-1816) and Elizabeth (1769-1843). Children:
Martha (baptised 15 February 1795-);
Mary (1796-1850) married Charles Emery at Norton St Phillip on 18 August 1816;
Ann (baptised 26 March 1797-) married John Bligh at Widcombe in 1822;
Sarah Gale (baptised 14 July 1799-possibly 1863) married John Bush on 24 October 1817;
Elizabeth (19 or 23 June 1803-) married John Waite in 1839;
John junior (6 October 1805-); and
Jane Wiltshire (1808-1888) married Robert Pinnell (1796-1870) on 30 January 1826.
John Wiltshire senior (1762-1816) and Elizabeth (1769-1843). Children:
Martha (baptised 15 February 1795-);
Mary (1796-1850) married Charles Emery at Norton St Phillip on 18 August 1816;
Ann (baptised 26 March 1797-) married John Bligh at Widcombe in 1822;
Sarah Gale (baptised 14 July 1799-possibly 1863) married John Bush on 24 October 1817;
Elizabeth (19 or 23 June 1803-) married John Waite in 1839;
John junior (6 October 1805-); and
Jane Wiltshire (1808-1888) married Robert Pinnell (1796-1870) on 30 January 1826.
References
[1] The Wiltshire Independent, 16 August 1849
[2] The Wiltshire family who lived in nearby Shockerwick House were extremely wealthy but these may have been a different family as the name was quite common at this time.
[3] Salisbury and Winchester Journal, 25 February 1843
[4] Devizes and Wiltshire Gazette, 2 March 1843
[5] Mary Emery refers to Jane and her other sisters in her will of 1851
[6] Trowbridge Chronicle, 11 October 1879 and The Wiltshire Times, 14 February 1880
[7] The Wiltshire Times, 5 January 1878
[1] The Wiltshire Independent, 16 August 1849
[2] The Wiltshire family who lived in nearby Shockerwick House were extremely wealthy but these may have been a different family as the name was quite common at this time.
[3] Salisbury and Winchester Journal, 25 February 1843
[4] Devizes and Wiltshire Gazette, 2 March 1843
[5] Mary Emery refers to Jane and her other sisters in her will of 1851
[6] Trowbridge Chronicle, 11 October 1879 and The Wiltshire Times, 14 February 1880
[7] The Wiltshire Times, 5 January 1878