Ralph Skeate Ponting Senior
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The Ponting Family
Verity Jeffery (nee Ponting) December 2014 This is the story of my Box ancestors. Until recently I hadn't realised they were such well known local characters and that many people still recall them. They were owners of the Queen's Head and ran shops in the Market Place. At times, they were an important part of the village community and I am delighted to share my family anecdotes about them. Photos courtesy Verity Jeffery and Victoria Corbett (nee Ponting). |
Speck Family
The story starts, not with the Pontings but with the Speck family, who lived in Box for twenty years in the mid 1800s. James Speck was my great-great-grandfather who was born in 1810 at Chudleigh in Devon and he left there after an enormous fire in the village for which he received compensation and Poor Relief of £3.16s.11d.
He came to Somerset and married a local girl, Sarah Veal, from Walcot, Bath on 9th May 1833. In 1841 they lived at Prior Park where James was a gardener and in 1851 he was working as a gardener at Babington House, near Frome. No-one knows where he got the money to buy the Queen's Head, Box in 1858.
James and Sarah had nine children: Frederick John; Jane Jemima; William; Eliza; James Henry; Edwin; Joseph Edwin; Sarah; and Bertha. My family story comes through the line of the youngest child, Bertha, and several of the children died early. Eliza (1841 - 1905) married Henry Keeling. Both are buried in Box. James Henry was a cooper at Widcombe and was killed aged 21 when a wall fell on him at work causing severe fracture of his skull and back injuries.[1]
James owned the pub for twenty years until his death on 5 February 1879.[2] He had made quite a lot of money from his time at the Queen's Head and, in addition to the premises itself, he owned the stables opposite the Queen's Head and two messuages (properties) substantially-built and delightfully situated Freehold Messuages situated at Townsend, Box.
The story starts, not with the Pontings but with the Speck family, who lived in Box for twenty years in the mid 1800s. James Speck was my great-great-grandfather who was born in 1810 at Chudleigh in Devon and he left there after an enormous fire in the village for which he received compensation and Poor Relief of £3.16s.11d.
He came to Somerset and married a local girl, Sarah Veal, from Walcot, Bath on 9th May 1833. In 1841 they lived at Prior Park where James was a gardener and in 1851 he was working as a gardener at Babington House, near Frome. No-one knows where he got the money to buy the Queen's Head, Box in 1858.
James and Sarah had nine children: Frederick John; Jane Jemima; William; Eliza; James Henry; Edwin; Joseph Edwin; Sarah; and Bertha. My family story comes through the line of the youngest child, Bertha, and several of the children died early. Eliza (1841 - 1905) married Henry Keeling. Both are buried in Box. James Henry was a cooper at Widcombe and was killed aged 21 when a wall fell on him at work causing severe fracture of his skull and back injuries.[1]
James owned the pub for twenty years until his death on 5 February 1879.[2] He had made quite a lot of money from his time at the Queen's Head and, in addition to the premises itself, he owned the stables opposite the Queen's Head and two messuages (properties) substantially-built and delightfully situated Freehold Messuages situated at Townsend, Box.
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The connection with Box
continued when two of his daughters, Bertha and Sarah, married two local
brothers, Ralph Skeate Ponting, publican, and John Edward Ponting,
draper and grocer. Ralph Skeate Ponting (right)
was my great grandfather and John Edward Ponting was my great-great uncle.
In James Speck's will he declared that the premises should be sold but not without offering the Queen's Head Inn, its stock-in-trade and fixtures first to his daughter Bertha at market price, and without valuing any goodwill for the pub. This was achieved by putting all of James' assets up for sale at auction on 31 March 1879. He goes on to say that, if any of his daughters is married, the property shall be paid into their proper hands so that it could be enjoyed and disposed of as their separate property free from their husband's control. This issue is probably the reason why Bertha married Ralph Skeate Ponting at Box on 12th May 1879 after all the business transactions were completed. Perhaps James had reservations about his new son-in-law. |
Ralph Skeate Ponting Senior as a young man
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Ralph Skeate Ponting, Publican
Ralph Skeate was born at Whitley in 1843 but he became a well-known village resident. He had worked as an assistant in the draper's shop owned by his brother, John Ponting, in the Parade, Box in 1861 and 1871. The pub gave him a chance to run his own business. Bertha and Ralph Skeate had three children: Minnie, Ralph Skeate Jnr and Robert Henry (my grandfather).
Ralph Skeate was born at Whitley in 1843 but he became a well-known village resident. He had worked as an assistant in the draper's shop owned by his brother, John Ponting, in the Parade, Box in 1861 and 1871. The pub gave him a chance to run his own business. Bertha and Ralph Skeate had three children: Minnie, Ralph Skeate Jnr and Robert Henry (my grandfather).
Bertha Ponting (nee Speck)
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The pub obviously thrived
and they became quite wealthy. In 1891 they had two servants at the pub to help
them.
When Ralph Skeate died on 11 November 1923 he left all his property to Bertha which was valued at £4,768. He owned shares in the GWR railway company, St Aldhelm's Villa and Lorne House. Bertha died in 1935 and they are both buried in Box Cemetery. The lives of the children were less happy. Minnie was a gifted young pianist who died of pneumonia aged 22.[3] Her piano playing annoyed the pub's customers and she played in the upper rooms of the building which were damp and unheated. There she may have caught her fatal illness. |
Ralph Skeate Jnr enlisted in the Army
Service Corps in the First
World War, an experience that affected him deeply.[4]
The life of my grandfather, Robert Henry, was also troubled.
Robert Henry Ponting, married Florence Marion Daniell who was born in 1893. She was the daughter of his next-door neighbours, the Daniell family, who farmed at Manor Farm.
They owned a number of farms: Saltbox Farm, Rudloe Farm and Honeybrook Farm at Slaughterford. But Robert Henry wasn't a hands-on farmer and he was possibly inexperienced to deal with the problems that arose in agriculture after the First World War.
As a gentleman farmer, he appears to have been incapable of making the farms profitable and probably became deeply depressed.
He used Saltbox Farm as a drinking and gambling hideaway. He was a special constable but a rather secretive man who took refuge in his study at home and you didn't dare go in there. By the time of his death in 1969, the family assets had been squandered.
Picture right: Florence with baby Robert (Sonny) at Rudloe Farm
They owned a number of farms: Saltbox Farm, Rudloe Farm and Honeybrook Farm at Slaughterford. But Robert Henry wasn't a hands-on farmer and he was possibly inexperienced to deal with the problems that arose in agriculture after the First World War.
As a gentleman farmer, he appears to have been incapable of making the farms profitable and probably became deeply depressed.
He used Saltbox Farm as a drinking and gambling hideaway. He was a special constable but a rather secretive man who took refuge in his study at home and you didn't dare go in there. By the time of his death in 1969, the family assets had been squandered.
Picture right: Florence with baby Robert (Sonny) at Rudloe Farm
John Edward Ponting, Draper and Grocer
John Edward Ponting was born in Corsham in 1836. By 1861 he had moved to Box and was trading as a draper with his younger brother Ralph Skeate and sister Ann in a shop at the Parade. The shop prospered and by 1871 he was employing Ralph, two men and a boy.
John Edward Ponting was born in Corsham in 1836. By 1861 he had moved to Box and was trading as a draper with his younger brother Ralph Skeate and sister Ann in a shop at the Parade. The shop prospered and by 1871 he was employing Ralph, two men and a boy.
Pontings shop was a major part of the Parade in the Market Place.
In 1874, John Edward married Sarah Speck from the Queen's Head, who had been born in 1850 at Mells, Somerset. They had two sons, Henry Edward born in 1876 and William born in 1882. The shop continued to expand: by 1881 it is described as Draper and Grocers employing two men and two boys and an advert in the Western Daily Press in 1886 Wanted A hand for Provisions and Grocery trade outdoors.
John Edward died in 1890 and was buried in Box. His wife, Sarah, and two sons took over the business, all calling themselves Drapers and Grocers. John Edward left £2,044.2s.8d with his brother Ralph Skeate as sole executor. The property and real estate was left in trust.
John Edward died in 1890 and was buried in Box. His wife, Sarah, and two sons took over the business, all calling themselves Drapers and Grocers. John Edward left £2,044.2s.8d with his brother Ralph Skeate as sole executor. The property and real estate was left in trust.
Henry Edward Ponting
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Sarah
and the two boys continued the business and at some point they acquired a
second premises at Queen Square
on Chapel Lane.
This was held in the family trust. When Sarah died in 1924 at the Parade, the
administration of her personal estate (excluding the trust) was granted to
William Ponting, grocer, and was worth £1,926.11s.9d.
It may be that the brothers, Henry Edward (left) and William (below) could not resolve how to split their two shops; the Parade shop was clearly substantially bigger than the Chapel Lane shop. After Sarah died, a law case was brought in the Court of Chancery between William Ponting (plaintiff) and Edward Ponting (defendant). The court decreed that an auction at The Bear Hotel, Box was needed for various trust properties and this happened in June 1928. |
The properties listed were extensive: 1 and 2 Townsend Villas (both let); four cottages in Queen Square with their extensive gardens; the dwelling house and shop listed as in the High Street (presumably the Chapel Lane shop); two buildings used as a carpenter's shop; and five acres of pasture land called Powell's Little Ashleaze.[5]
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William (Squeaker) Ponting
Some older residents in the village still remember William Ponting as an elderly man, whom they called Squeaker Ponting.[6] Presumably he bought the Chapel Lane shop in 1928 because he was trading there in the 1950s and 1960s. His brother continued to trade from the Parade which was a general store and drapers, and later it became an off licence. William married Louisa Goulstone Tanner at Bathford in November 1915. They had a daughter, Mildred, who was born in 1916 and in October that year he enlisted for service in the Great War. In 1939 Mildred married Robert W. Taylor at Box and in 1941 Louisa died at Grange Farm, Charlcombe, Bath at the home of her daughter. William (pictured right and below) continued to run the shop until he passed away in 1965. |
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The Chapel Lane shop was pulled down to build
Queen's Square car park. With William's death the Speck and Ponting family
tradition came to an end in Box after just over 100 years. Their memory lives
on and many of the people mentioned in this article are buried in Box Cemetery
because this is where they lived and worked all of their lives.
I should be delighted if this story of my family interests the people of Box and particularly if they can add to our knowledge of my ancestors.
I should be delighted if this story of my family interests the people of Box and particularly if they can add to our knowledge of my ancestors.
William and Louisa Ponting with infant, Mildred
Family Trees
Speck Family
James Speck (1810 - 1879) married Sarah Veal (d July 1876). Both are buried at Box.
Children: Frederick John Speck (b 1834) Jane Jemima Speck (1836 - 1869); William Speck (b 1839); Eliza Speck (1841 - 1905); James Henry Speck (1844 -1865); Edwin Speck (1845 - 1846); Joseph Edwin Speck (1846 - 1853); Sarah Speck (b 1850); Bertha Speck (1853 - 1935)
Several of the children died before their parents but others stayed in the Box area.
Eliza (1841 - 1906) married Henry Keeling. Both are buried in Box.
James Henry was a cooper at Widcombe and was killed aged 21 when a wall fell on him at work causing severe fracture of his skull and back injuries.
Ponting Families
Parents
Edward Ponting (1814 - 1878) of Melksham married in 1834 Elizabeth Butler (1814-1906)
Children: Catherine (1834-1834); Mary (b 1835); John Edward (1836 - 1890); Jane Skeate (b 1838); William Butler (b 1840); Ralph Skeate (1843 - 1923); Ann Tugnell (b 1844); and Robert Henry (b 1849).
Ralph Skeate Ponting, Publican
Ralph Skeate Ponting (1843 - 1923) married Bertha Speck (1853 - 1935) on 12 May 1879
Children: Minnie Ponting (1880 - 1902); Ralph Skeate Ponting Jnr (1884 - 1958); Robert Henry Ponting (1887 - 1969)
Ralph Skeate Ponting Jnr (1884 - 1958) married Kathleen Mary Rose
Child: Ralph Herbert (1924 - 1997)
Robert Henry Ponting (1887 - 1969) married Florence Marion Ponting (b 1893):
Children: Robert Ponting (1914-1989); Stuart Ponting ( 1916-1999); Dick Ponting (1920-2008)
Robert Ponting (1914-1989) married Amelia Lewis
Children: Elizabeth; Victoria
Stuart Ponting married Winnie Church
Children: Patricia; Felicity
Dick Ponting (1920-2008) was my father. He married Edna Grace Friend (my mother).
Children: Terrence Michael Ponting (b 1945); Heather Marilyn Ponting (b 1947); Verity Ann Ponting (b 1953).
John Edward Ponting, Draper & Grocer
John Edward Ponting (1836 - 1890) married Sarah Speck (1850 - 1924)
Children: Henry Edward Ponting (1876 - 1936); William (Billy) Ponting (1882 - 1965)
Henry Edward Ponting (1876 - 1936) never married
William (Billy) Ponting (1882 - 1965) married Louisa Goulstone Tanner (? - 1941)
Children: Mildred (1916 - ?)
Speck Family
James Speck (1810 - 1879) married Sarah Veal (d July 1876). Both are buried at Box.
Children: Frederick John Speck (b 1834) Jane Jemima Speck (1836 - 1869); William Speck (b 1839); Eliza Speck (1841 - 1905); James Henry Speck (1844 -1865); Edwin Speck (1845 - 1846); Joseph Edwin Speck (1846 - 1853); Sarah Speck (b 1850); Bertha Speck (1853 - 1935)
Several of the children died before their parents but others stayed in the Box area.
Eliza (1841 - 1906) married Henry Keeling. Both are buried in Box.
James Henry was a cooper at Widcombe and was killed aged 21 when a wall fell on him at work causing severe fracture of his skull and back injuries.
Ponting Families
Parents
Edward Ponting (1814 - 1878) of Melksham married in 1834 Elizabeth Butler (1814-1906)
Children: Catherine (1834-1834); Mary (b 1835); John Edward (1836 - 1890); Jane Skeate (b 1838); William Butler (b 1840); Ralph Skeate (1843 - 1923); Ann Tugnell (b 1844); and Robert Henry (b 1849).
Ralph Skeate Ponting, Publican
Ralph Skeate Ponting (1843 - 1923) married Bertha Speck (1853 - 1935) on 12 May 1879
Children: Minnie Ponting (1880 - 1902); Ralph Skeate Ponting Jnr (1884 - 1958); Robert Henry Ponting (1887 - 1969)
Ralph Skeate Ponting Jnr (1884 - 1958) married Kathleen Mary Rose
Child: Ralph Herbert (1924 - 1997)
Robert Henry Ponting (1887 - 1969) married Florence Marion Ponting (b 1893):
Children: Robert Ponting (1914-1989); Stuart Ponting ( 1916-1999); Dick Ponting (1920-2008)
Robert Ponting (1914-1989) married Amelia Lewis
Children: Elizabeth; Victoria
Stuart Ponting married Winnie Church
Children: Patricia; Felicity
Dick Ponting (1920-2008) was my father. He married Edna Grace Friend (my mother).
Children: Terrence Michael Ponting (b 1945); Heather Marilyn Ponting (b 1947); Verity Ann Ponting (b 1953).
John Edward Ponting, Draper & Grocer
John Edward Ponting (1836 - 1890) married Sarah Speck (1850 - 1924)
Children: Henry Edward Ponting (1876 - 1936); William (Billy) Ponting (1882 - 1965)
Henry Edward Ponting (1876 - 1936) never married
William (Billy) Ponting (1882 - 1965) married Louisa Goulstone Tanner (? - 1941)
Children: Mildred (1916 - ?)
References
[1] The Bath Chronicle of February 1865 records: An inquest was held at the Guildhall on Saturday, before the City Coroner, on the body of a young man named James Speck, the employ of Mr Edward Pratt, cooper, Widcombe. The deceased, it appears, was on Wednesday engaged in the workshop, which is situated at the back of Waterloo-buildings, when the back wall of the premises suddenly fell, burying the unfortunate man beneath it. He was removed to the back [newspaper text MISSING] from the effects of which he died on Friday. The premises were rather old, and the fall of the wall could not be accounted for except through the sudden thaw. The deceased was a steady, persevering and industrious young man. The jury returned a verdict of Accidental death.
[2] See Queen's Head article for details of the sale.
[3] See Queen's Head
[4] See http://www.boxpeopleandplaces.co.uk/in-memoriam.html
[5] Western Daily Press 2nd June 1928[
[6] Some say that his cash till made the noise when he had a customer, in later years a rather infrequent event.
[1] The Bath Chronicle of February 1865 records: An inquest was held at the Guildhall on Saturday, before the City Coroner, on the body of a young man named James Speck, the employ of Mr Edward Pratt, cooper, Widcombe. The deceased, it appears, was on Wednesday engaged in the workshop, which is situated at the back of Waterloo-buildings, when the back wall of the premises suddenly fell, burying the unfortunate man beneath it. He was removed to the back [newspaper text MISSING] from the effects of which he died on Friday. The premises were rather old, and the fall of the wall could not be accounted for except through the sudden thaw. The deceased was a steady, persevering and industrious young man. The jury returned a verdict of Accidental death.
[2] See Queen's Head article for details of the sale.
[3] See Queen's Head
[4] See http://www.boxpeopleandplaces.co.uk/in-memoriam.html
[5] Western Daily Press 2nd June 1928[
[6] Some say that his cash till made the noise when he had a customer, in later years a rather infrequent event.