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Phelps the Blacksmiths: Family Story Updated Julie Evans (nee Phelps) August 2017 In a previous issue, Janice Cannings wrote the story of Worthy George Phelps, the blacksmith at Pye Corner, Devizes Road, who cared for his ten children when his wife became blind in 1901. He was christened "Worthy" and he lived up to his name with his kind, gentle character despite his imposing physique. Julie Phelps wrote to us asking for more details because she was descended from Worthy's son, Henry John Phelps. This is the story of her family in and out of Box. Right: Worthy George Phelps seen in the photograph right in 1909 (courtesy Janice Cannings) |
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The Phelps Family
The Phelps were an extensive family in Victorian Box. Although the father George Phelps came from Warminster, he married a local girl, Caroline Allen, and they settled in the village. They had at least eleven children, all boys, who were born in Box between 1845 and 1868.
I have discovered a little about the family, particularly Worthy's younger brother Frank, a stone miner, who lived in Steam Mill Cottages, the Market Place, about whom more later. Frank attended the funeral of Worthy George in 1925.[1] The service was conducted by the Rev George Foster at Box Church but was unusual with a request for no flowers and an address by the Box Foresters Society, whose official title was the Box's Bold Robin Hood Court of the Ancient Order of Foresters. The Foresters were a social club, an insurance society and a way that rural craftsmen could emphasise their integrity. Worthy aged 72 was the oldest representative and one of the founding members of the Box Court.
As well as caring for his blind wife and their ten children, Worthy's obituary goes on to say that he had been unable to leave his house for ten years, suffering from rheumatism. It is a sad end for such a caring man and makes me very proud of him.
The Phelps were an extensive family in Victorian Box. Although the father George Phelps came from Warminster, he married a local girl, Caroline Allen, and they settled in the village. They had at least eleven children, all boys, who were born in Box between 1845 and 1868.
I have discovered a little about the family, particularly Worthy's younger brother Frank, a stone miner, who lived in Steam Mill Cottages, the Market Place, about whom more later. Frank attended the funeral of Worthy George in 1925.[1] The service was conducted by the Rev George Foster at Box Church but was unusual with a request for no flowers and an address by the Box Foresters Society, whose official title was the Box's Bold Robin Hood Court of the Ancient Order of Foresters. The Foresters were a social club, an insurance society and a way that rural craftsmen could emphasise their integrity. Worthy aged 72 was the oldest representative and one of the founding members of the Box Court.
As well as caring for his blind wife and their ten children, Worthy's obituary goes on to say that he had been unable to leave his house for ten years, suffering from rheumatism. It is a sad end for such a caring man and makes me very proud of him.
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My Phelps Ancestors I am descended from Worthy George Phelps and his story is similar in lots of ways to the story of his grandson, my granddad. Worthy's son, Henry John Phelps, moved to Cardiff in the 1920s, but we aren't sure of the reason for the move. Like Worthy, Henry John was a giant of a man but his wife was quite short. My granddad Cecil, took after his mum and was only around 5ft 5inches. Henry John had a reputation for being rather authoritarian at home, unfortunately, so he doesn't sound like Worthy in that respect. Henry set up a small smithy in Cardiff for a time and my granddad helped him there as a blacksmith until he married my grandmother and he then went to work on the railways. My granddad could turn his hand to anything though, he made my brother and I a model train set that took up our entire front room. Right: This is believed to be a photo of Worthy George Phelps (courtesy Julie Evans) |
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When my grandmother was in her early 50s she had a series of strokes that left her paralysed pretty much from the neck down. My granddad refused to allow her to be put in a hospital or home and he became her carer, working tirelessly around the clock caring for her until her death in 1978. I was only a child at the time but remember being so proud of how hard he worked.
After my grandmother died, granddad had lots of spare time on his hands and he would make remote-control boats and trains that he would give to his grandchildren or neighbours children. He was very much loved by people in his community for his gentle ways. He died in 1983.
The only thing my mum had ever heard about Worthy was that my great-grandfather once told her that in a pub in Box at one time there was either a plaque dedicated to Worthy or some sort of stained glass window in a pub depicting him. We aren't completely sure that this is correct. Can anyone help with more details?
After my grandmother died, granddad had lots of spare time on his hands and he would make remote-control boats and trains that he would give to his grandchildren or neighbours children. He was very much loved by people in his community for his gentle ways. He died in 1983.
The only thing my mum had ever heard about Worthy was that my great-grandfather once told her that in a pub in Box at one time there was either a plaque dedicated to Worthy or some sort of stained glass window in a pub depicting him. We aren't completely sure that this is correct. Can anyone help with more details?
Frank Phelps in Box
The mystery may have been solved when I discovered the story of Frank Phelps, Worthy's younger brother. Frank's second son was called William born in 1879. I believe it was he who was the landlord of the Lamb Inn, Devizes Road, Box in 1939. The pub was next door to 1 Pye Corner where Worthy lived in 1911 and next door again to Worthy's blacksmith shop. William described himself as a police pensioner in 1939 but I haven't traced where he served. He appears to have taken over the pub in October 1927 and ran it until 1941. My mum's reference to a pub memorial to Worthy two years after his death, make the story an intriguing possibility that t a tribute existed in The Lamb Inn. The pub closed in October 1967 and has since been restored into a private house. Does anyone have any further details about this please?
The mystery may have been solved when I discovered the story of Frank Phelps, Worthy's younger brother. Frank's second son was called William born in 1879. I believe it was he who was the landlord of the Lamb Inn, Devizes Road, Box in 1939. The pub was next door to 1 Pye Corner where Worthy lived in 1911 and next door again to Worthy's blacksmith shop. William described himself as a police pensioner in 1939 but I haven't traced where he served. He appears to have taken over the pub in October 1927 and ran it until 1941. My mum's reference to a pub memorial to Worthy two years after his death, make the story an intriguing possibility that t a tribute existed in The Lamb Inn. The pub closed in October 1967 and has since been restored into a private house. Does anyone have any further details about this please?
Below: The Lamb Inn in about 1910. Worthy is third left in bowler hat. Could any of the group be the 1927 licensee William Phelps?
Photo courtesy Bath Cancer Unit Support Group.
Photo courtesy Bath Cancer Unit Support Group.
We have tried to find more details about the Phelps family and the pub plaque or window that Julie mentioned with no luck.
Can anyone help?
Can anyone help?
Phelps Family Tree
George Phelps (b 1820 in Warminster, d 1899) married Caroline Allen (b 1828 in Box, d 1902) in 1844. George was described as Agricultural Labourer, living in Box Hill Hamlet, next door to Box Quarries. The family later moved into Steam Mill Cottages in the Market Place. Children all born in Box:
James (b 1845); Joseph (b 1846); Thomas (b 1848); Alfred (b 1850); Worthy George (b 11 July 1852); Frank (b 1855); William (b 1856); Harry (details unknown); another William (b 1862); Charles (b 1866); Albert (b 1868).
Worthy George Phelps (baptised 11 July 1852 in Box and died 1925) married Jane (born 1855 in Monmouth). They had ten children: Mary E (born 1878 in Monmouth); Henry John (known as Jack), Julie's great grandfather, (born 1879 in Box); William G (born 1883); Albert Harold (born 1886), who was a chauffeur and lived at 6 Barn Piece in 1939; Beatrice M (born 1888); Edith A (born 1890); Florence (born 1894); others who died in childhood.
George Phelps (b 1820 in Warminster, d 1899) married Caroline Allen (b 1828 in Box, d 1902) in 1844. George was described as Agricultural Labourer, living in Box Hill Hamlet, next door to Box Quarries. The family later moved into Steam Mill Cottages in the Market Place. Children all born in Box:
James (b 1845); Joseph (b 1846); Thomas (b 1848); Alfred (b 1850); Worthy George (b 11 July 1852); Frank (b 1855); William (b 1856); Harry (details unknown); another William (b 1862); Charles (b 1866); Albert (b 1868).
Worthy George Phelps (baptised 11 July 1852 in Box and died 1925) married Jane (born 1855 in Monmouth). They had ten children: Mary E (born 1878 in Monmouth); Henry John (known as Jack), Julie's great grandfather, (born 1879 in Box); William G (born 1883); Albert Harold (born 1886), who was a chauffeur and lived at 6 Barn Piece in 1939; Beatrice M (born 1888); Edith A (born 1890); Florence (born 1894); others who died in childhood.
Reference
[1] The Wiltshire Times, 28 March 1925
[1] The Wiltshire Times, 28 March 1925