Rawlings & Hobbs Families:
Tragedies Still Remembered David Rawlings Photos courtesy David Rawlings unless otherwise stated February 2016 This is the story of the Rawlings and Hobbs families who lived at Coles Farm in the 1800s and were comfortably well-off. But tragedy repeatedly interrupted their lives. The families became neighbours when Thomas Rawlings moved to Coles Farm; and two marriages between them brought the families close. Tragedy struck the families of the two youngest boys from the Rawlings branch when they moved to Bath and started their own families. One died early of consumption and left five young orphans to be taken care of, whilst the other lost his beloved twin sons in an accident. His wife then killed herself because she could not bear the heartache. But that was not the only suicide in the family. |
The Earliest Family in Box
There is a plaque in Box Church (see photograph left) to John Rawlings who died in 1709 aged 75 years but I have never been able to definitely associate him with my family who lived in Box from 1825. My great great grandfather, Thomas Rawlings, moved from Weston, Bath, to Coles Farm around that year.
Thomas appeared in the Box churchwardens accounts in 1825 when he contributed £1.8s.0d and continued to appear until 1843. A survey of all the lands in the parish of Box was made in 1827 and showed that Thomas paid an annual rent of £67.5s.0d to Mr Webb for Coles Farm. |
Family Before Box
Thomas was baptised in Calne in 1774 and was living in Cherhill when he married Mary Dixon at Bath in 1810. I am not aware of any previous family connection with Box as Thomas' father and grandfather all lived around Cherhill and Compton Bassett.
I also noticed a grave in Box cemetery for Robert Rawlings late of Cherhill who died in 1875 aged 54 so there may be some family link between the villages. A review of family names in Britain found that the Rawlings name was established in Shropshire
and Somerset but there were four times as many in Wiltshire and, at that time, the neighbourhood of Calne was the home of the name.[1]
Thomas Rawlings
Thomas' first wife, Mary, died in 1828 and was buried with their first daughter, Mary Ann, who died in 1817, at Weston Church. After the death of his wife Thomas continued living at Coles Farm with two children of his first marriage, John (b 1817), and Mary Ann (b 1819).[2] Interestingly, Thomas had the two children of his first marriage re-baptised at Weston in November 1832 and I wonder if this was done for some legal reason to confirm their status.
The family still has a letter that ten-year old Mary Ann wrote to her father from her school in Calne on the 7 June 1830. The handwriting is extremely neat and I suspect it was written as part of a school exercise. Mary Ann says that she sincerely hopes that the improvement she has made since her residence in Calne will meet with his expectations. She also mentions that she was very sorry to hear of poor John Holdway's death. John was a friend of theirs from Weston.
Thomas was baptised in Calne in 1774 and was living in Cherhill when he married Mary Dixon at Bath in 1810. I am not aware of any previous family connection with Box as Thomas' father and grandfather all lived around Cherhill and Compton Bassett.
I also noticed a grave in Box cemetery for Robert Rawlings late of Cherhill who died in 1875 aged 54 so there may be some family link between the villages. A review of family names in Britain found that the Rawlings name was established in Shropshire
and Somerset but there were four times as many in Wiltshire and, at that time, the neighbourhood of Calne was the home of the name.[1]
Thomas Rawlings
Thomas' first wife, Mary, died in 1828 and was buried with their first daughter, Mary Ann, who died in 1817, at Weston Church. After the death of his wife Thomas continued living at Coles Farm with two children of his first marriage, John (b 1817), and Mary Ann (b 1819).[2] Interestingly, Thomas had the two children of his first marriage re-baptised at Weston in November 1832 and I wonder if this was done for some legal reason to confirm their status.
The family still has a letter that ten-year old Mary Ann wrote to her father from her school in Calne on the 7 June 1830. The handwriting is extremely neat and I suspect it was written as part of a school exercise. Mary Ann says that she sincerely hopes that the improvement she has made since her residence in Calne will meet with his expectations. She also mentions that she was very sorry to hear of poor John Holdway's death. John was a friend of theirs from Weston.
Marriage to Hobbs Family
In 1831, at the age of 57, Thomas married Emma Hobbs who was only 19 years old at the time. They married at St Pauls, Bristol, and it seems a bit odd that they would travel so far to get married unless it was to avoid any local scandal with the age difference. Emma was the daughter of John and Elizabeth Hobbs, farming neighbours at Alcombe, Ditteridge. Interestingly, Mary Ann, Thomas' daughter from his first marriage, also chose to marry at St Pauls, Bristol, when she marrried Humphrey Edwin Hobbs in 1849, as did David, Thomas' eldest son from his second marriage when he married Maud Harries in 1869.
In 1831, at the age of 57, Thomas married Emma Hobbs who was only 19 years old at the time. They married at St Pauls, Bristol, and it seems a bit odd that they would travel so far to get married unless it was to avoid any local scandal with the age difference. Emma was the daughter of John and Elizabeth Hobbs, farming neighbours at Alcombe, Ditteridge. Interestingly, Mary Ann, Thomas' daughter from his first marriage, also chose to marry at St Pauls, Bristol, when she marrried Humphrey Edwin Hobbs in 1849, as did David, Thomas' eldest son from his second marriage when he married Maud Harries in 1869.
John Hobbs lived to a good age and the Bath Chronicle of 1 October 1863 contained the following entry under the Deaths column Sept 27 at the residence of his son, Coles Farm, Box, Mr John Hobbs aged 96. John Hobbs had eight children of which the three youngest were Harriet (b 1807), who married William Nash in 1849; Humphrey Edwin (b 1809); and Emma (b 1812). I think John Hobbs may have got his age slightly wrong because the parish register shows him as baptised in 1772 so I guess he was about 92 years old, which is still a good age.
Thomas' marriage to Emma appears to have been a happy one because they had a further five children; three girls Harriet, Emma, and Jemima; and two boys, David (b 1835), and my great grandfather, Edwin Charles (b 1839). The three girls all married and moved away from the area but the two boys stayed in Bath and both had great tragedies in their lives.
Thomas' marriage to Emma appears to have been a happy one because they had a further five children; three girls Harriet, Emma, and Jemima; and two boys, David (b 1835), and my great grandfather, Edwin Charles (b 1839). The three girls all married and moved away from the area but the two boys stayed in Bath and both had great tragedies in their lives.
Burials in Box
Thomas Rawlings died in 1845 and was buried in Box churchyard, near the small cottage on the left of the gate. The family still has the agreement with the stonemason, John Newman, for the erection of a tomb for the sum of £5 similar in all respects to one on the east side of Box churchyard as fixed on with the names of Gibbon and Little on it.
The top of the tomb was to be of the best blue pennant (stone from South Wales) and the rest of the best Box freestone. John Newman signed with an “X”. The Hobbs tomb is next to Thomas' so even in death they remained close neighbours. The top of the Hobbs' tomb has inscriptions for Elizabeth Hobbs, died 1846, age 73, and her husband, John, who died in 1863, age 96.
Thomas Rawlings died in 1845 and was buried in Box churchyard, near the small cottage on the left of the gate. The family still has the agreement with the stonemason, John Newman, for the erection of a tomb for the sum of £5 similar in all respects to one on the east side of Box churchyard as fixed on with the names of Gibbon and Little on it.
The top of the tomb was to be of the best blue pennant (stone from South Wales) and the rest of the best Box freestone. John Newman signed with an “X”. The Hobbs tomb is next to Thomas' so even in death they remained close neighbours. The top of the Hobbs' tomb has inscriptions for Elizabeth Hobbs, died 1846, age 73, and her husband, John, who died in 1863, age 96.
Above left the Hobbs memorial and Right: the Rawlings tomb (courtesy Carol Payne). See appendix below for further details.
Mysterious Visitor
The last burial in Thomas' tomb was his granddaughter, Harriett Hobbs (youngest child of Mary Ann and her husband Humphrey Hobbs) who died on 13 January 1951 aged 97 years. When I first visited the tombs around 1980 an old couple came out of the nearest cottage and told me they were paid five shillings so the cortege could use their pathway to reach the grave. I guess that the graveyard was too congested to allow an easy path to the tomb so they passed the coffin over the boundary wall from the cottage. It must have been a difficult burial because there is very little space around the grave and they must have manhandled the best blue pennant lid off the grave and taken the box tomb apart so they could dig a hole for the coffin.
The same couple from the cottage also told me that a lady used to visit the graves regularly in the 1950s and early 60s. She would take a taxi from Bath and keep it waiting whilst she sat by the tombs. She even paid for a path to be laid up to the tombs in the churchyard to make her visit easier. Also, as I found out later, she was a visitor to the Box Cemetery on the A4 road to Bath. It was several years before I discovered who this mysterious visitor was.
Problems with Thomas' Will
Thomas' will gave a lot of problems because he changed his mind about the disposal of his property. His original will was made in 1842 (three years before his death) and said that his property at Weston should be left to the two surviving children of his first marriage, John and Mary Ann. But, on the very day he died, Thomas apparently said to his brother-in-law and executor of his will, Humphrey Hobbs, that he now wanted his surviving wife and each of his seven children to share equally alike in property. His wife, Emma, was present in the room and sent for Mary Ann to write down Thomas' revised wishes on some paper, which Thomas then signed with a cross, being too ill and feeble to write his name. The paper was witnessed by Humphrey Hobbs and his niece Eliza Hobbs, and became a codicil to the will.
It is very easy to imagine this scene in the big back bedroom at Coles Farm because all those involved were required to sign an affidavit in April 1846 describing exactly what had occurred that day. This was because the Prerogative Court of Canterbury refused to accept the will and codicil without further investigation and the view of a lawyer. There is much correspondence, and several bills from Edward Webb & Sons of Bath for trying to sort matters out but the codicil was eventually accepted. When reading the papers you can't help but wonder if Thomas was of sound mind when he made the decision to change his will, or whether his wife and her brother may have exerted undue influence on him as he lay dying, because his second family certainly benefited from the change made in the codicil.
I have various letters and bills from his solicitors, Edward Webb & Sons of Bath, for trying to sort matters out.[4] Thomas' widow, Emma, was only 33 years of age when he died but she never re-married. I guess that she gave up the tenancy of Coles Farm after Thomas' death because in 1851 she was living with her children at Alcombe and described as Retired Farmer in the census. In 1861 she was living with her eldest son, David, now 26 years old, at 39 Broad St, Bath, when her occupation was given as Farmer's widow.
By 1881 she was living with her widowed sister, Harriet Nash, at Keynsham Terrace, Cheltenham where she died on 19 April 1881, age 70, and was buried in an un-marked grave in Cheltenham cemetery. The Trustees Account for the estate of the late Thomas Rawlings for 1882 showed a reimbursement of £14.10s.6d to Mrs Nash for the funeral expenses of her sister.
The last burial in Thomas' tomb was his granddaughter, Harriett Hobbs (youngest child of Mary Ann and her husband Humphrey Hobbs) who died on 13 January 1951 aged 97 years. When I first visited the tombs around 1980 an old couple came out of the nearest cottage and told me they were paid five shillings so the cortege could use their pathway to reach the grave. I guess that the graveyard was too congested to allow an easy path to the tomb so they passed the coffin over the boundary wall from the cottage. It must have been a difficult burial because there is very little space around the grave and they must have manhandled the best blue pennant lid off the grave and taken the box tomb apart so they could dig a hole for the coffin.
The same couple from the cottage also told me that a lady used to visit the graves regularly in the 1950s and early 60s. She would take a taxi from Bath and keep it waiting whilst she sat by the tombs. She even paid for a path to be laid up to the tombs in the churchyard to make her visit easier. Also, as I found out later, she was a visitor to the Box Cemetery on the A4 road to Bath. It was several years before I discovered who this mysterious visitor was.
Problems with Thomas' Will
Thomas' will gave a lot of problems because he changed his mind about the disposal of his property. His original will was made in 1842 (three years before his death) and said that his property at Weston should be left to the two surviving children of his first marriage, John and Mary Ann. But, on the very day he died, Thomas apparently said to his brother-in-law and executor of his will, Humphrey Hobbs, that he now wanted his surviving wife and each of his seven children to share equally alike in property. His wife, Emma, was present in the room and sent for Mary Ann to write down Thomas' revised wishes on some paper, which Thomas then signed with a cross, being too ill and feeble to write his name. The paper was witnessed by Humphrey Hobbs and his niece Eliza Hobbs, and became a codicil to the will.
It is very easy to imagine this scene in the big back bedroom at Coles Farm because all those involved were required to sign an affidavit in April 1846 describing exactly what had occurred that day. This was because the Prerogative Court of Canterbury refused to accept the will and codicil without further investigation and the view of a lawyer. There is much correspondence, and several bills from Edward Webb & Sons of Bath for trying to sort matters out but the codicil was eventually accepted. When reading the papers you can't help but wonder if Thomas was of sound mind when he made the decision to change his will, or whether his wife and her brother may have exerted undue influence on him as he lay dying, because his second family certainly benefited from the change made in the codicil.
I have various letters and bills from his solicitors, Edward Webb & Sons of Bath, for trying to sort matters out.[4] Thomas' widow, Emma, was only 33 years of age when he died but she never re-married. I guess that she gave up the tenancy of Coles Farm after Thomas' death because in 1851 she was living with her children at Alcombe and described as Retired Farmer in the census. In 1861 she was living with her eldest son, David, now 26 years old, at 39 Broad St, Bath, when her occupation was given as Farmer's widow.
By 1881 she was living with her widowed sister, Harriet Nash, at Keynsham Terrace, Cheltenham where she died on 19 April 1881, age 70, and was buried in an un-marked grave in Cheltenham cemetery. The Trustees Account for the estate of the late Thomas Rawlings for 1882 showed a reimbursement of £14.10s.6d to Mrs Nash for the funeral expenses of her sister.
Second Rawlings-Hobbs Marriage
There was a second marriage between the Rawlings and Hobbs families when Thomas' eldest daughter, Mary Ann, married Humphrey Edwin Hobbs in 1849 in Bristol. Edwin was the brother of her step mother and the two families became very close.
The 1851 census shows them living at Alcombe, the next door property to her step mother, and farming 40 acres but by 1861 they had returned to Coles Farm and were farming 140 acres, employing four men and two boys.
Humphrey Edwin and Mary Ann had three children, Edwin Thomas born in 1850, Frederick born 1855, and Harriett born 1857. Frederick and Harriett never married but Edwin Thomas married Matilda Vezey in Bristol in 1881. Matilda (born 1853), was the daughter of Edwin Vezey who kept the Lamb and Flag Inn at Batheaston. As will be seen from other articles on the Vezey Family they were a prominent family in Box. Edwin's brother, James Vezey, kept the Chequers Inn and Edwin was one of the executors of his will when James died in 1865.
There was a second marriage between the Rawlings and Hobbs families when Thomas' eldest daughter, Mary Ann, married Humphrey Edwin Hobbs in 1849 in Bristol. Edwin was the brother of her step mother and the two families became very close.
The 1851 census shows them living at Alcombe, the next door property to her step mother, and farming 40 acres but by 1861 they had returned to Coles Farm and were farming 140 acres, employing four men and two boys.
Humphrey Edwin and Mary Ann had three children, Edwin Thomas born in 1850, Frederick born 1855, and Harriett born 1857. Frederick and Harriett never married but Edwin Thomas married Matilda Vezey in Bristol in 1881. Matilda (born 1853), was the daughter of Edwin Vezey who kept the Lamb and Flag Inn at Batheaston. As will be seen from other articles on the Vezey Family they were a prominent family in Box. Edwin's brother, James Vezey, kept the Chequers Inn and Edwin was one of the executors of his will when James died in 1865.
Above left: Humphrey Edwin Hobbs and right: his wife Mary Jane Hobbs (photos courtesy Charles Rawlings of Liskeard, Cornwall).
Pillinger Family
There is a newspaper report on the golden wedding anniversary of Mr and Mrs James Pillinger, aged 74 and 75 respectively.[5] James Pillinger said that he had commenced work at the age of 10 (about 1870) and was employed by Mr Humphrey Hobbs at Coles Farm, Box. His employment consisted of sheep minding and bird starving for which he received 1s.6d a week. By 1871 census Humphrey Hobbs was still at Coles Farm but now only farming 120 acres with two labourers and one boy, presumably James Pillinger!
James was born Henry James Pillinger and was the son of Daniel Pillinger. An auction notice of 1886 for Alcombe Farm shows that Daniel Pillinger occupied a cottage on the farm. The farm house appears to have been split into two residences with part occupied by the farmer, Aubrey Andrews, and part occupied by Mrs Nimmo who also had the ornamental garden. I guess that the farm house now forms part of Alcombe Manor.
There is a newspaper report on the golden wedding anniversary of Mr and Mrs James Pillinger, aged 74 and 75 respectively.[5] James Pillinger said that he had commenced work at the age of 10 (about 1870) and was employed by Mr Humphrey Hobbs at Coles Farm, Box. His employment consisted of sheep minding and bird starving for which he received 1s.6d a week. By 1871 census Humphrey Hobbs was still at Coles Farm but now only farming 120 acres with two labourers and one boy, presumably James Pillinger!
James was born Henry James Pillinger and was the son of Daniel Pillinger. An auction notice of 1886 for Alcombe Farm shows that Daniel Pillinger occupied a cottage on the farm. The farm house appears to have been split into two residences with part occupied by the farmer, Aubrey Andrews, and part occupied by Mrs Nimmo who also had the ornamental garden. I guess that the farm house now forms part of Alcombe Manor.
Hobbs Family Remembered
By 1881 Humphrey Hobbs and his family had moved to Cheney Court Farm. Humphrey died in 1882 and his youngest son, Frederick, was the tenant in 1901. Frederick's brother, Edwin, appears to have taken over the tenancy by 1910 and was mentioned in the report of the silver wedding celebrations of George Northey when a dinner was held in the garage of Cheney Court for tenant farmers. By 1911, Frederick and his sister, Harriett, had moved to Twinfield Farm, Woolley Lane, Charlcombe. The 1911 census shows Edwin Thomas Hobbs, age 61, Farmer, his wife, Matilda, and their daughter, Lilian, living in The Bungalow, Ditteridge. Edwin and Matilda Hobbs were buried in Box cemetery. By 1924 the Hobbs family gave up farming and the tenancy of Cheney Court Farm was taken up by the Goulstone Family, whose story is given separately on the website. Their daughter, Lilian M Hobbs, moved to Bath and died, age 83, on 8 April 1965.
I later discovered that it was she who was the visitor to the family tombs in St Thomas a Becket churchyard and to Box Cemetery. She left a Trust Fund to the vicar and churchwardens of Box Church for the maintenance of Box Cemetery, Charity Commission No 266685, and requested they keep the grave of her parents and herself in good repair and keep the lettering thereon legible. The grave is of white marble with a cross and can be easily spotted to the right of the cemetery chapel from the main road.
By 1881 Humphrey Hobbs and his family had moved to Cheney Court Farm. Humphrey died in 1882 and his youngest son, Frederick, was the tenant in 1901. Frederick's brother, Edwin, appears to have taken over the tenancy by 1910 and was mentioned in the report of the silver wedding celebrations of George Northey when a dinner was held in the garage of Cheney Court for tenant farmers. By 1911, Frederick and his sister, Harriett, had moved to Twinfield Farm, Woolley Lane, Charlcombe. The 1911 census shows Edwin Thomas Hobbs, age 61, Farmer, his wife, Matilda, and their daughter, Lilian, living in The Bungalow, Ditteridge. Edwin and Matilda Hobbs were buried in Box cemetery. By 1924 the Hobbs family gave up farming and the tenancy of Cheney Court Farm was taken up by the Goulstone Family, whose story is given separately on the website. Their daughter, Lilian M Hobbs, moved to Bath and died, age 83, on 8 April 1965.
I later discovered that it was she who was the visitor to the family tombs in St Thomas a Becket churchyard and to Box Cemetery. She left a Trust Fund to the vicar and churchwardens of Box Church for the maintenance of Box Cemetery, Charity Commission No 266685, and requested they keep the grave of her parents and herself in good repair and keep the lettering thereon legible. The grave is of white marble with a cross and can be easily spotted to the right of the cemetery chapel from the main road.
Family of David Rawlings
The will of Lilian Hobbs led to me discovering a long lost branch of the Rawlings family in Cornwall and learning about the way orphans were treated by the Victorians. My great grandfather, Edwin Charles, had a brother David, also born at Coles Farm, who was four years older than him. David became a successful builder in Bath and his building work is often mentioned in newspaper reports of the period. In the 1871 census he is shown as a Master Carpenter employing four men and four apprentices. By the end of 1878 he owned a fine house at 17 Lambridge Place, Bath (on the high pavement by Clevedon Bridge traffic lights) and had five lovely children (one boy and four girls) aged between two and eight years old.
Unfortunately David had not been in good health for some time and on 3 December 1878 he died of consumption, aged 43. Following David's death, application was made for the three youngest children to enter the Infant Orphan Asylum at Wanstead in north east London (now Snaresbrook Crown Court). The school was founded specifically for fatherless children under the age of seven years descended from the necessitous middle classes. It was a very successful school and went on to become the Royal Wanstead School which closed in August 1971. The school's Annual Report of 1869 noted the painful fact that more than a fourth of children admitted to this Asylum are the off-spring of consumptive parents.
The will of Lilian Hobbs led to me discovering a long lost branch of the Rawlings family in Cornwall and learning about the way orphans were treated by the Victorians. My great grandfather, Edwin Charles, had a brother David, also born at Coles Farm, who was four years older than him. David became a successful builder in Bath and his building work is often mentioned in newspaper reports of the period. In the 1871 census he is shown as a Master Carpenter employing four men and four apprentices. By the end of 1878 he owned a fine house at 17 Lambridge Place, Bath (on the high pavement by Clevedon Bridge traffic lights) and had five lovely children (one boy and four girls) aged between two and eight years old.
Unfortunately David had not been in good health for some time and on 3 December 1878 he died of consumption, aged 43. Following David's death, application was made for the three youngest children to enter the Infant Orphan Asylum at Wanstead in north east London (now Snaresbrook Crown Court). The school was founded specifically for fatherless children under the age of seven years descended from the necessitous middle classes. It was a very successful school and went on to become the Royal Wanstead School which closed in August 1971. The school's Annual Report of 1869 noted the painful fact that more than a fourth of children admitted to this Asylum are the off-spring of consumptive parents.
Children were usually admitted to the school by election which meant they had to raise 1,000 votes, costing half a guinea each, from various benefactors. One of David's children was admitted by election but the other two were Admitted by Purchase which meant the whole fee was settled in advance by some person or institution so an election was not necessary. The middle class subscribers were quite happy to educate those they saw as deserving, which was entirely different to the alarming idea of educating poor children above their station.
Unfortunately David's wife, Maud, was also consumptive with a weak chest and bad eye sight. She died nearly a year after her husband, aged just 32 years. The 1881 census shows the three youngest children living at the Infant Orphan Asylum at Wanstead and the eldest daughter, age 11, who was too old for the asylum, was boarding (with a retired prison warder) in Taunton while her sister seems to have found another asylum which had a higher age limit. David's son, Charles Rawlings, was given the usual books when he left the school in February 1888, age 14 years and 11 months, and in June 1888 he wrote a grateful letter to the school referring to the benefit he had received from them.
In January 1889 Charles was given a grant of £10 from a fund set up to assist ex-scholars and he was apprenticed to a grocer in Tiverton. The 1891 census shows Charles as a grocer's apprentice in Tiverton. Two of his relatives were grocers so that may be why that trade was chosen. I do find it puzzling that, in a family which appeared to be so close, none of the relatives took the children in following the death of their parents, especially as my own great grandfather, Edwin Charles, had stood surety for Charles when he was accepted into the asylum. In 1898 Charles married Beatrice Kingcome at Plymouth and moved to Wadebridge where he had his own grocer's shop; so began the Cornish branch of the family, which I never would have discovered had it not been for a bequest in Lilian Hobbs' will.
Unfortunately David's wife, Maud, was also consumptive with a weak chest and bad eye sight. She died nearly a year after her husband, aged just 32 years. The 1881 census shows the three youngest children living at the Infant Orphan Asylum at Wanstead and the eldest daughter, age 11, who was too old for the asylum, was boarding (with a retired prison warder) in Taunton while her sister seems to have found another asylum which had a higher age limit. David's son, Charles Rawlings, was given the usual books when he left the school in February 1888, age 14 years and 11 months, and in June 1888 he wrote a grateful letter to the school referring to the benefit he had received from them.
In January 1889 Charles was given a grant of £10 from a fund set up to assist ex-scholars and he was apprenticed to a grocer in Tiverton. The 1891 census shows Charles as a grocer's apprentice in Tiverton. Two of his relatives were grocers so that may be why that trade was chosen. I do find it puzzling that, in a family which appeared to be so close, none of the relatives took the children in following the death of their parents, especially as my own great grandfather, Edwin Charles, had stood surety for Charles when he was accepted into the asylum. In 1898 Charles married Beatrice Kingcome at Plymouth and moved to Wadebridge where he had his own grocer's shop; so began the Cornish branch of the family, which I never would have discovered had it not been for a bequest in Lilian Hobbs' will.
What Became of David's Daughters?
I have also traced what became of David's four daughters. Maud Elizabeth, the eldest, was shown as a Mission Woman, C of E, in Durham, Sunderland, in the 1901 census. In 1911 she seems to be in a hospital and died in 1914. The next eldest, Emma Sophia, became a governess to a wealthy family in Derbyshire and she also died in 1914 without ever getting married. She left her effects to her brother Charles in Cornwall.
The two girls who managed to get into the Infant Orphan Asylum seem to have fared slightly better. Edith Kate was the only daughter to marry. She married Walter Franklin in 1909 and they had a draper's shop in Cardiff. They had one daughter, Florence (b 1912) who married an elderly widower in 1944 and had no chidren of her own.
Mary Harries became a drapery assistant in Essex and returned to Bath to live with her cousin, Lilian M Hobbs, and died in 1959.
It is interesting to note how many of the women who were widows or unmarried returned to live with sisters or cousins for the last years of their lives; no doubt because of financial constraints as well as any family bonds.
I have also traced what became of David's four daughters. Maud Elizabeth, the eldest, was shown as a Mission Woman, C of E, in Durham, Sunderland, in the 1901 census. In 1911 she seems to be in a hospital and died in 1914. The next eldest, Emma Sophia, became a governess to a wealthy family in Derbyshire and she also died in 1914 without ever getting married. She left her effects to her brother Charles in Cornwall.
The two girls who managed to get into the Infant Orphan Asylum seem to have fared slightly better. Edith Kate was the only daughter to marry. She married Walter Franklin in 1909 and they had a draper's shop in Cardiff. They had one daughter, Florence (b 1912) who married an elderly widower in 1944 and had no chidren of her own.
Mary Harries became a drapery assistant in Essex and returned to Bath to live with her cousin, Lilian M Hobbs, and died in 1959.
It is interesting to note how many of the women who were widows or unmarried returned to live with sisters or cousins for the last years of their lives; no doubt because of financial constraints as well as any family bonds.
Family of Edwin Charles Rawlings
Edwin Charles trained as a carpenter but moved to Bath where he married a widow, Mary Jane Hodges, and became a greengrocer in Margaret's Buildings, off Brock Street. Mary Jane had already experienced bereavement because her first husband, William Hodges, had died in 1869, aged just 32 years. Edwin and Mary Jane had six children: Sidney Herbert (b 1874); Albert Edwin (b 1876), who inherited the greengrocer's shop; Edgar Charles (b 1878); Ralph Edmund (b 1880); and they were overjoyed when they had twin sons, Frank Mattick and George Elliott, in 1883. The twin sons were regarded with special affection and given Mary Jane's maiden name and the maiden name of her mother, as second names. Tragedy struck in September 1887 when their twin sons died in an accident, which was reported as: The little fellows, who are twins and four-and-a-half years of age were in a bedroom at the top of the house, and while leaning over a flower box it gave way and both fell from the window on to an iron grating over the area at the back of the house.[3] The boys were badly injured; one died two days later and the other, four days after his brother. |
Mary Jane never recovered from the blow and hung herself in the area of the shop in 1894 age 55. This was not the first tragedy to visit her family because her father, Daniel Mattick, had also committed suicide age 50. Daniel was a farmer at White Ox Mead, Wellow, and hanged himself in one of the stable lofts. The newspaper report of the inquest said he was a respectable farmer and there was no evidence of the cause which led him to the crime.
Another Suicide and the Blitz
Unfortunately these were not the only suicides in this branch of the family. Their eldest son, Sidney Herbert (my grandfather) had a son, Sydney Frank Rawlings, who joined the Royal Flying Corps and then the RAF in early 1918. He experienced poor mental health and depression in his later years, which was thought to be a result of his experiences in the First World War. He tried to gas himself in the early 1930s and was treated at Wells Asylum but to no avail. He committed suicide in 1940 by placing his head in a gas oven. It may have been that the thought of another war was more than he could bear. Sidney Herbert did well in business and started a firm of plumbers and gasfitters along the Julian Road in Bath, where he also had a shop. He also served on the Bath City Council as a representative for Lansdown Ward. Unfortunately Sidney lost everything in the blitz of 25 April 1942.There was an article in the Bath Chronicle of 9 July 2001 when a lady who lived in a flat over his shop described the night of the raid. She said they had four raids that night but it was the last one that did the damage. She had been down to the shelter earlier but had returned to her flat, when there was a loud bang and she decided it was no longer safe to stay there so had to run the 40 yards to the shelter in the middle of a raid. She describes running down the middle of the road because there were a lot of shops that had been hit. |
She said the bombers would come first and the fighters would come behind. I was running down the road and the fighter was so low that I could see the pilots head quite clearly. She shouted at the pilot You missed, you want some more practice! and wanted to stop to pick up the bullet but others encouraged her to get to the shelter quickly. The courage of those people who lived through the blitz never ceases to amaze me.
Sidney Herbert did a lot of good works for charity and he had left a charity box full of money given for the Royal United Hospital in his office, which was now destroyed. His son, Reg, obtained special permission to search among the debris and, after many hours of digging, the box was discovered. On being opened it was found to contain £91 which was immediately handed to the secretary of the Bath Regional Hospital scheme.
Sidney Herbert was killed just a few months later in July 1942 when he was helping an old lady to a public shelter after the sirens had gone, and came into collision with a cyclist who knocked him over, breaking a blood vessel in his back. His obituary in the Bath Chronicle of 17 July 1942 said He joined the City Council in 1929 and gave all his energies to the work, over which he took infinite pains. In the care of the old, the sick, and the poor, he gave his best service. A large civic procession accompanied his funeral cortege including the deputy mayor and various city officials carrying the city staves, the city sword and the maces.
My own parents were living in a flat over his workshop that was destroyed in the blitz but happened to be away that night as my mother was expecting my sister, Margaret, to arrive and she was born on 3 May 1942. I was born five years later as part of the baby boom.
Sidney Herbert did a lot of good works for charity and he had left a charity box full of money given for the Royal United Hospital in his office, which was now destroyed. His son, Reg, obtained special permission to search among the debris and, after many hours of digging, the box was discovered. On being opened it was found to contain £91 which was immediately handed to the secretary of the Bath Regional Hospital scheme.
Sidney Herbert was killed just a few months later in July 1942 when he was helping an old lady to a public shelter after the sirens had gone, and came into collision with a cyclist who knocked him over, breaking a blood vessel in his back. His obituary in the Bath Chronicle of 17 July 1942 said He joined the City Council in 1929 and gave all his energies to the work, over which he took infinite pains. In the care of the old, the sick, and the poor, he gave his best service. A large civic procession accompanied his funeral cortege including the deputy mayor and various city officials carrying the city staves, the city sword and the maces.
My own parents were living in a flat over his workshop that was destroyed in the blitz but happened to be away that night as my mother was expecting my sister, Margaret, to arrive and she was born on 3 May 1942. I was born five years later as part of the baby boom.
Appendix: Inscriptions on the Tombs in Box Churchyard
Rawlings' Tomb
On the top of the tomb: Sacred to the memory of Thomas Rawlings who died September 16 1845 aged 71 years. In loving memory of Harriett Hobbs who died January 13 1951 aged 97 years RIP.
On the left hand side: In loving memory of Humphrey Edwin Hobbs, youngest son of the above John and Elizabeth Hobbs, who departed this life September 21 1882, aged 72 years to be with Christ which is far better.
On the right hand side: In loving memory of Marry Ann Hobbs, widow of Humphrey Edwin Hobbs and daughter of Thomas Rawlings, who entered into rest October 8 1905, aged 86 years. He giveth his beloved sleep.
At the bottom end: In loving memory of John Rawlings, son of the late Thomas Rawlings, died November 27 1872, aged 55 years. His end was perfect peace.
At the top end: In loving memory of Frederick John, younger son of the late Humphrey Edwin and Mary Ann Hobbs, died August 30 1926, aged 75. Thy will be done.
Hobbs' Tomb
Hobbs Memorial
The top of the tomb reads :
Sacred to the Memory of Elizabeth Hobbs wife of John Hobbs who departed this life August 28th 1846 Aged 73 years Followed by scripture... ... ... (illegible)
John Hobbs died September 27th 1863 aged 96 years Followed by scripture... ... ... (illegible)
Also George, second son of the above, died June 21st 1878 aged 75 years Followed by scripture... ... ... (illegible)
Also in loving memory of ..........win, youngest son ................ Elizabeth Hobbs
This last entry is largely illegible because the stone has flaked off. The inscription is in memory of Humphrey Edwin Hobbs, youngest son of John and Elizabeth Hobbs. who died September 21st 1882, aged 72 years. The inscription is repeated in full on the left hand side of Thomas Rawlings tomb next door.
The side of the tomb reads :
Also Sarah, wife of the above George Hobbs who died October 4th 1887 aged 80 years.
Rawlings' Tomb
On the top of the tomb: Sacred to the memory of Thomas Rawlings who died September 16 1845 aged 71 years. In loving memory of Harriett Hobbs who died January 13 1951 aged 97 years RIP.
On the left hand side: In loving memory of Humphrey Edwin Hobbs, youngest son of the above John and Elizabeth Hobbs, who departed this life September 21 1882, aged 72 years to be with Christ which is far better.
On the right hand side: In loving memory of Marry Ann Hobbs, widow of Humphrey Edwin Hobbs and daughter of Thomas Rawlings, who entered into rest October 8 1905, aged 86 years. He giveth his beloved sleep.
At the bottom end: In loving memory of John Rawlings, son of the late Thomas Rawlings, died November 27 1872, aged 55 years. His end was perfect peace.
At the top end: In loving memory of Frederick John, younger son of the late Humphrey Edwin and Mary Ann Hobbs, died August 30 1926, aged 75. Thy will be done.
Hobbs' Tomb
Hobbs Memorial
The top of the tomb reads :
Sacred to the Memory of Elizabeth Hobbs wife of John Hobbs who departed this life August 28th 1846 Aged 73 years Followed by scripture... ... ... (illegible)
John Hobbs died September 27th 1863 aged 96 years Followed by scripture... ... ... (illegible)
Also George, second son of the above, died June 21st 1878 aged 75 years Followed by scripture... ... ... (illegible)
Also in loving memory of ..........win, youngest son ................ Elizabeth Hobbs
This last entry is largely illegible because the stone has flaked off. The inscription is in memory of Humphrey Edwin Hobbs, youngest son of John and Elizabeth Hobbs. who died September 21st 1882, aged 72 years. The inscription is repeated in full on the left hand side of Thomas Rawlings tomb next door.
The side of the tomb reads :
Also Sarah, wife of the above George Hobbs who died October 4th 1887 aged 80 years.
Family Trees
Rawlings Family Tree
Thomas Rawlings (1774-1845), married twice:
a) Mary Dixon at Bath in 1810. Mary died at Weston, Bath in 1828.
Children: Mary Ann, senior, (1813 - 1817); John (1817 -1872) never married; Mary Ann, junior, (1819 - 1905) married Humphrey Edwin Hobbs (step uncle).
b) Emma Hobbs (1812-1881) at St Paul's in Bristol in 1831.
Children: Harriett (1833 - ) married Isaac John Bridges; David (1835 - 1878) married Maud Harries at Bristol; Emma (1837 - 1875) married Henry Howard, Edwin Charles (1839 - 1904) married Mary Jane Hodges (nee Mattick); Jemima Rosina (1843 - 1899) married Edmund Gibb
Children shown below for sons, David & Edwin Charles only:
Children of David & Maud : Maud (1870 - 1914) never married; Emma Sophia (1872 - 1914) never married; Charles Alexander (1873-1939) married Beatrice Kingcome, lived in Cornwall; Edith Kate (1874 - 1951) married Walter Franklin & had a daughter Florence; Mary Harries (1876-1959) never married.
Children of Edwin Charles & Mary Jane: Sidney Herbert (1874 - 1942) married Lydia Matilda Webber (my grandparents); Albert Edwin (1876 - 1947) married Sarah Jane Hamilton; Edgar Charles (1878- 1880); Ralph Edmund (1880 - 1945) never married; Twins Frank Mattick (1883 - 1887) and George Elliott (1883 - 1887) died in accident.
Notes
a) Thomas Rawlings, his daughter, Mary Ann, and son, David, all got married at St Paul's in Bristol.
b) Memorials on Thomas' tomb in Box churchyard to: Thomas Rawlings, John Rawlings, his eldest son, Mary Ann Rawlings, his eldest daughter, Humphrey Edwin Hobbs, his son-in-law and Mary Ann's husband. Frederick John Hobbs, his grandson by Mary Ann, and Harriett Hobbs, his grand-daughter by Mary Ann.
c) Thomas' second wife, Emma, died 1881 and is buried in an unmarked grave in Cheltenham.
Hobbs Family Tree
It appears that the Hobbs family had arrived in Ditteridge about 50 years before Thomas Rawlings. John Hobbs' father, Francis, was born in 1736 in Bathford. He married twice, first to Hannah Cannings in 1760; Hannah died in 1761 and then he married Jane Brooks in 1762. They had four children in Bathford between 1763 and 1770 and must have moved to Ditteridge around that time because John Hobbs was baptised at Ditteridge in 1772. Francis and Jane had a further three children in Ditteridge, making eight in all. Francis died in Ditteridge in 1818.
John Hobbs (1772 - 1863) married Elizabeth Smith (1773-1846) in 1793.
Children: Charles (1795 -); John (1797 -) may have died in infancy; Charlotte (1799 -); George (1802 - 1878) married Sarah Rebecca Salway; Mary Ann (1805 -); Harriett (1807 -) married William Nash; Humphrey Edwin (1809 - 1882) married Mary Ann Rawlings in 1849; Emma (1812 - 1881) married Thomas Rawlings; Jemima (1814 -)
Children shown below for Humphrey Edwin only:
Humphrey Edwin & Mary Ann Hobbs: Edwin Thomas (1850 - 1935) married Matilda Vezey in 1881, one daughter, Lilian; Frederick (1855 -1926) never married; Harriett (1857- 1951) never married.
Children of Edwin Thomas & Matilda: Lilian Madeline (1882 - 1965) left a bequest for upkeep of cemetery.
Note
Memorials on John Hobbs tomb for: John Hobbs; Elizabeth, his wife; George, his second (?) son; Sarah, his daughter-in-law and wife of George Humphrey Edwin, his youngest son - later repeated on Thomas' tomb.
Rawlings Family Tree
Thomas Rawlings (1774-1845), married twice:
a) Mary Dixon at Bath in 1810. Mary died at Weston, Bath in 1828.
Children: Mary Ann, senior, (1813 - 1817); John (1817 -1872) never married; Mary Ann, junior, (1819 - 1905) married Humphrey Edwin Hobbs (step uncle).
b) Emma Hobbs (1812-1881) at St Paul's in Bristol in 1831.
Children: Harriett (1833 - ) married Isaac John Bridges; David (1835 - 1878) married Maud Harries at Bristol; Emma (1837 - 1875) married Henry Howard, Edwin Charles (1839 - 1904) married Mary Jane Hodges (nee Mattick); Jemima Rosina (1843 - 1899) married Edmund Gibb
Children shown below for sons, David & Edwin Charles only:
Children of David & Maud : Maud (1870 - 1914) never married; Emma Sophia (1872 - 1914) never married; Charles Alexander (1873-1939) married Beatrice Kingcome, lived in Cornwall; Edith Kate (1874 - 1951) married Walter Franklin & had a daughter Florence; Mary Harries (1876-1959) never married.
Children of Edwin Charles & Mary Jane: Sidney Herbert (1874 - 1942) married Lydia Matilda Webber (my grandparents); Albert Edwin (1876 - 1947) married Sarah Jane Hamilton; Edgar Charles (1878- 1880); Ralph Edmund (1880 - 1945) never married; Twins Frank Mattick (1883 - 1887) and George Elliott (1883 - 1887) died in accident.
Notes
a) Thomas Rawlings, his daughter, Mary Ann, and son, David, all got married at St Paul's in Bristol.
b) Memorials on Thomas' tomb in Box churchyard to: Thomas Rawlings, John Rawlings, his eldest son, Mary Ann Rawlings, his eldest daughter, Humphrey Edwin Hobbs, his son-in-law and Mary Ann's husband. Frederick John Hobbs, his grandson by Mary Ann, and Harriett Hobbs, his grand-daughter by Mary Ann.
c) Thomas' second wife, Emma, died 1881 and is buried in an unmarked grave in Cheltenham.
Hobbs Family Tree
It appears that the Hobbs family had arrived in Ditteridge about 50 years before Thomas Rawlings. John Hobbs' father, Francis, was born in 1736 in Bathford. He married twice, first to Hannah Cannings in 1760; Hannah died in 1761 and then he married Jane Brooks in 1762. They had four children in Bathford between 1763 and 1770 and must have moved to Ditteridge around that time because John Hobbs was baptised at Ditteridge in 1772. Francis and Jane had a further three children in Ditteridge, making eight in all. Francis died in Ditteridge in 1818.
John Hobbs (1772 - 1863) married Elizabeth Smith (1773-1846) in 1793.
Children: Charles (1795 -); John (1797 -) may have died in infancy; Charlotte (1799 -); George (1802 - 1878) married Sarah Rebecca Salway; Mary Ann (1805 -); Harriett (1807 -) married William Nash; Humphrey Edwin (1809 - 1882) married Mary Ann Rawlings in 1849; Emma (1812 - 1881) married Thomas Rawlings; Jemima (1814 -)
Children shown below for Humphrey Edwin only:
Humphrey Edwin & Mary Ann Hobbs: Edwin Thomas (1850 - 1935) married Matilda Vezey in 1881, one daughter, Lilian; Frederick (1855 -1926) never married; Harriett (1857- 1951) never married.
Children of Edwin Thomas & Matilda: Lilian Madeline (1882 - 1965) left a bequest for upkeep of cemetery.
Note
Memorials on John Hobbs tomb for: John Hobbs; Elizabeth, his wife; George, his second (?) son; Sarah, his daughter-in-law and wife of George Humphrey Edwin, his youngest son - later repeated on Thomas' tomb.
References
[1] Henry B Guppy, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain, which gives an analysis of farmers listed in Kelly's Post Office Directories of 1890
[2] This was the second use of the name Mary because the family re-used Mary Ann's name from an earlier deceased daughter
[3] The Bath Chronicle, 8 September 1887
[4] Edward Webb was also the owner of Coles Farm at the time.
[5] The Bath Chronicle, 30 September 1933
[1] Henry B Guppy, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain, which gives an analysis of farmers listed in Kelly's Post Office Directories of 1890
[2] This was the second use of the name Mary because the family re-used Mary Ann's name from an earlier deceased daughter
[3] The Bath Chronicle, 8 September 1887
[4] Edward Webb was also the owner of Coles Farm at the time.
[5] The Bath Chronicle, 30 September 1933