Farming to Quarrying Era: The Little Family of Box & Biddestone
Virginia Higgins January 2024
Virginia Higgins January 2024
The recording of family details on headstones was an attempt by the living to ensure that ancestors were remembered accurately. But, as time passes, memories fade and the dead are forgotten in people’s memories. The headstones also enable us to see the story of these families in a new way, highlighting the social history of individual families.
The Little monument inn Box Churchyard is Grade II listed (courtesy Carol Payne)
The Little family of Box and Biddestone were wealthy farmers who occupied a place in Georgian Anglican society in both locations. Their record in Box starts in the churchyard of St Thomas a Becket with a Grade II listed chest tomb.
James Little (1733-1816) and Hester Light Little (1733-died 1812)
James Little (1733-1816) was the son of another James Little and Margaret Jones who had married on 4 May 1722 at Biddestone. They were a Biddestone family and James junior had been baptised on 24 April 1733 at Biddestone and married Hester Light there on 9 March 1754. He inherited £150 from his father in 1766 and by 1801 he was recorded in the census as a yeoman farmer at Henley, which was confirmed by the probate for his will a year after his death in 1816.
James and Hester were buried in the chest tomb in Box Churchyard, both annotated in the parish records as Anglican. But this was at the start of a revolution of industry in Box which we can see through the lives of James’ and Hester’s children, particularly their youngest son Francis (1766-1821) who was baptized in 1766 at Biddestone and died in Box on 12 January 1821.
Francis Little was nearly 50 years of age on 2 March 1815 when he married Anna Maria Arnold (1780-1860) at Box, who was fourteen years his junior. Their children included Eleanor Little (born 3 January 1815, baptized on 2 March 1815 in Box, died 1822); James Little (born 24 July 1817, baptized 17 August 1817); and Mary Little (baptized 30 July 1820). The baptismal records for each of these children show Francis as a farmer but this appears to mark the end of a period of husbandry for the family. Francis died shortly after the birth of Mary and was buried on 12 January 1821 at Box. The Administration Bond for his will was signed by his wife Ann Little, widow and relict, George Arnold, and Joseph Noble in 1823.
James Little (1733-1816) and Hester Light Little (1733-died 1812)
James Little (1733-1816) was the son of another James Little and Margaret Jones who had married on 4 May 1722 at Biddestone. They were a Biddestone family and James junior had been baptised on 24 April 1733 at Biddestone and married Hester Light there on 9 March 1754. He inherited £150 from his father in 1766 and by 1801 he was recorded in the census as a yeoman farmer at Henley, which was confirmed by the probate for his will a year after his death in 1816.
James and Hester were buried in the chest tomb in Box Churchyard, both annotated in the parish records as Anglican. But this was at the start of a revolution of industry in Box which we can see through the lives of James’ and Hester’s children, particularly their youngest son Francis (1766-1821) who was baptized in 1766 at Biddestone and died in Box on 12 January 1821.
Francis Little was nearly 50 years of age on 2 March 1815 when he married Anna Maria Arnold (1780-1860) at Box, who was fourteen years his junior. Their children included Eleanor Little (born 3 January 1815, baptized on 2 March 1815 in Box, died 1822); James Little (born 24 July 1817, baptized 17 August 1817); and Mary Little (baptized 30 July 1820). The baptismal records for each of these children show Francis as a farmer but this appears to mark the end of a period of husbandry for the family. Francis died shortly after the birth of Mary and was buried on 12 January 1821 at Box. The Administration Bond for his will was signed by his wife Ann Little, widow and relict, George Arnold, and Joseph Noble in 1823.
Social Change in Box
Anna Maria married again four years later when she was described as widow in the Old Sarum Licence Bond on her marriage to Anthony Wiltshire (1768-1831), yeoman, on 5 July 1825 at Box. The Wiltshire family were some of the wealthiest working people in Box, occupying considerable land at Box Hill, some of which came from Anthony’s first marriage to Elizabeth Sumsion, daughter of the Box Hill quarry-owning family on 18 August 1796 at Colerne. Anthony died living at his residence at Box Quarries on 12 November 1831.
A year later in 1832 Anna Maria was mentioned again when four plots owned by Mr Gale (comprising three cottages and a quarry) were put up for sale near the great Turnpike Road leading from Bath to London.[1] The tenants of each cottage were listed as Robert Newman, Robert Shell, and the widow Wiltshire with the cottage described as having a small Court in front. All the tenants appear to have had family connections with the quarry industry and new family names had become important, particularly the Wiltshire and Strong families at Box Hill, running quarry businesses, owning residential property for themselves and their employees.
It was usual for quarry families to inter-marry and this happened when Eliza Wiltshire (1797-), daughter of Antony and Elizabeth, married William Strong in 1823. William continued as a mason but they left Box to live in Swindon by 1851 after Robert Strong sold the local quarries to the upcoming Pictor family of quarry-owners.
The 1840 Tithe Apportionment record gives a further insight into the changes which had occurred in the early Victorian period, a generation or so after James and Hester. We can see that wealth was no longer concentrated with farmers and landowners, but had drifted towards construction and the quarrying areas at Kingsdown and Box Hill:
Anna Maria continued to live on Box Hill and, in her seventies, was still describing herself as of independent means. In 1851 she was living with her 30-year-old granddaughter Anna Burton and receiving rent from a family of quarry labourers who lodged in the house. She died a few years later in 1860, aged 80.
We can speculate on other possible members of the family. It seems possible that James Little (1756-1817), the son of James and Hester, inherited the property at Henley. After the death of James at Henley in 1817, this branch of the family is lost. More speculatively, who was Ann Little, the victim of a murder by Isaac Smith in 1841? The records of census and baptisms give Ann Little (born 1801) living at Kingsdown, Box, with base born (illegitimate) children George Little (1826-), Thomas (1827-), James (1833-) and Isaac (1840-). Living with the family was William Smith (1827-), quarryman, and next door lived Isaac Smith (1811-), quarryman. Could these be the family of poor Ann Little?[3]
Anna Maria married again four years later when she was described as widow in the Old Sarum Licence Bond on her marriage to Anthony Wiltshire (1768-1831), yeoman, on 5 July 1825 at Box. The Wiltshire family were some of the wealthiest working people in Box, occupying considerable land at Box Hill, some of which came from Anthony’s first marriage to Elizabeth Sumsion, daughter of the Box Hill quarry-owning family on 18 August 1796 at Colerne. Anthony died living at his residence at Box Quarries on 12 November 1831.
A year later in 1832 Anna Maria was mentioned again when four plots owned by Mr Gale (comprising three cottages and a quarry) were put up for sale near the great Turnpike Road leading from Bath to London.[1] The tenants of each cottage were listed as Robert Newman, Robert Shell, and the widow Wiltshire with the cottage described as having a small Court in front. All the tenants appear to have had family connections with the quarry industry and new family names had become important, particularly the Wiltshire and Strong families at Box Hill, running quarry businesses, owning residential property for themselves and their employees.
It was usual for quarry families to inter-marry and this happened when Eliza Wiltshire (1797-), daughter of Antony and Elizabeth, married William Strong in 1823. William continued as a mason but they left Box to live in Swindon by 1851 after Robert Strong sold the local quarries to the upcoming Pictor family of quarry-owners.
The 1840 Tithe Apportionment record gives a further insight into the changes which had occurred in the early Victorian period, a generation or so after James and Hester. We can see that wealth was no longer concentrated with farmers and landowners, but had drifted towards construction and the quarrying areas at Kingsdown and Box Hill:
- Aaron Little (1796-possibly 1867), journeyman carpenter, was the occupier of house, outbuildings, stable and garden owned by Job Pictor, plot 357 (now called Stanley House in the centre of Box village);
- Ann Little (1796-1841) - the granddaughter of James and Hester and the daughter of James and Ann - owned a cottage and garden plot 547 (now called Primrose Cottage, Kingsdown), and garden, plot 538a (Ivy Cottage, Lower Kingsdown Road);[2]
- Francis Little owned a cottage and garden occupied by Hannah Brinkworth, plot 379 (now called Valley View, Box Hill); a cottage and garden occupied by Ann Wiltshire, plot 379 (adjacent to Valley View, Box Hill); and a cottage and garden occupied by Robert Newman, plot 380 (now called Fairlight Cottage, Box Hill). Presumably these three cottages were bought from Mr Gale who sold them in 1832.
Anna Maria continued to live on Box Hill and, in her seventies, was still describing herself as of independent means. In 1851 she was living with her 30-year-old granddaughter Anna Burton and receiving rent from a family of quarry labourers who lodged in the house. She died a few years later in 1860, aged 80.
We can speculate on other possible members of the family. It seems possible that James Little (1756-1817), the son of James and Hester, inherited the property at Henley. After the death of James at Henley in 1817, this branch of the family is lost. More speculatively, who was Ann Little, the victim of a murder by Isaac Smith in 1841? The records of census and baptisms give Ann Little (born 1801) living at Kingsdown, Box, with base born (illegitimate) children George Little (1826-), Thomas (1827-), James (1833-) and Isaac (1840-). Living with the family was William Smith (1827-), quarryman, and next door lived Isaac Smith (1811-), quarryman. Could these be the family of poor Ann Little?[3]
Elijah’s headstone in 1901 recorded his closest relatives: husband of Jane, son of Ann. (Courtesy Carol Payne)
Elijah Little (1835-1901) and Jane Little (1837-1911)
The precise connection of Elijah with the rest of the family is uncertain. He was the son of Aaron Little (1796-1867) and Ann Fluester (1810-) from Biddestone. The parents were local, having married at Slaughterford in 1841. Aaron Little was a journeyman carpenter who was an invalid by 1861. To pay the rent of their house in central Box, Ann worked as a charwoman and laundress and took in lodgers. In later years she moved in with her brother, Benjamin Fluester, until his death in 1872 and was later buried with him.
In 1841 Elijah and Ann were living next door to quarryman Job Pictor and his wife Mary Fluester. Ten years later they were described as next door to the Elliott family of carpenters at Roseland Villa, Box. Elijah’s siblings included; Mary Ann (born 1831; baptised 15 April 1832 at Biddestone-); Louisa Jane (1839 at Box-); John James (born 1843, baptised 5 May 1844-); and Alfred (baptised 8 October 1848 at Box-).
Elijah married Jane Stout from Tidcombe, Wiltshire (near Hungerford) in 1863 when she was working as a domestic servant in Kensington, London. They always lived in central Box Village on The London Road near Bull Lane, in the area of Vine Cottage (now destroyed and rebuilt as Vine Court). Elijah was involved in a curious legal case in 1897.[4] Passers-by saw him ejected from The Bear Hotel hopelessly drunk and unable to stand. They complained to the police about the inhumane treatment dished out by the landlord, Peter Henry Pinchin, who was charged with allowing Little to get drunk on the licensed premises.
The evidence was contradictory and the case dismissed.
Elijah and Jane’s first child, Louisa Jane (known as Louie), was one of the best known of the Little family in Box after her marriage to Arthur Chaffey on 21 March 1888. The circumstances of life symbolised how far working life in the village had altered since the time of James and Hester. Arthur was a mason, sometimes in a partnership called Chaffey & Norkett, founder member of the Box Parish Council, captain of the Box Fire Brigade. It was the tragedy of Louisa’s death that brought the deepest grief to local people. On her death in 1935, she was described as a shy person, a committed Methodist and devoted to her family.
The precise connection of Elijah with the rest of the family is uncertain. He was the son of Aaron Little (1796-1867) and Ann Fluester (1810-) from Biddestone. The parents were local, having married at Slaughterford in 1841. Aaron Little was a journeyman carpenter who was an invalid by 1861. To pay the rent of their house in central Box, Ann worked as a charwoman and laundress and took in lodgers. In later years she moved in with her brother, Benjamin Fluester, until his death in 1872 and was later buried with him.
In 1841 Elijah and Ann were living next door to quarryman Job Pictor and his wife Mary Fluester. Ten years later they were described as next door to the Elliott family of carpenters at Roseland Villa, Box. Elijah’s siblings included; Mary Ann (born 1831; baptised 15 April 1832 at Biddestone-); Louisa Jane (1839 at Box-); John James (born 1843, baptised 5 May 1844-); and Alfred (baptised 8 October 1848 at Box-).
Elijah married Jane Stout from Tidcombe, Wiltshire (near Hungerford) in 1863 when she was working as a domestic servant in Kensington, London. They always lived in central Box Village on The London Road near Bull Lane, in the area of Vine Cottage (now destroyed and rebuilt as Vine Court). Elijah was involved in a curious legal case in 1897.[4] Passers-by saw him ejected from The Bear Hotel hopelessly drunk and unable to stand. They complained to the police about the inhumane treatment dished out by the landlord, Peter Henry Pinchin, who was charged with allowing Little to get drunk on the licensed premises.
The evidence was contradictory and the case dismissed.
Elijah and Jane’s first child, Louisa Jane (known as Louie), was one of the best known of the Little family in Box after her marriage to Arthur Chaffey on 21 March 1888. The circumstances of life symbolised how far working life in the village had altered since the time of James and Hester. Arthur was a mason, sometimes in a partnership called Chaffey & Norkett, founder member of the Box Parish Council, captain of the Box Fire Brigade. It was the tragedy of Louisa’s death that brought the deepest grief to local people. On her death in 1935, she was described as a shy person, a committed Methodist and devoted to her family.
Louisa’s funeral cortege at Box Cemetery in 1935 (courtesy The Wiltshire News, 5 April 1935)
Her family wanted to honour her passing in an appropriate way and her eldest daughter, Elsie Chaffey, went to a Bath store to buy a suitable outfit when she was struck down by a heart attack and died. The deaths shocked local people who lined the external wall of the Cemetery to bid farewell to mother and daughter.
Villagers outside of Box Cemetery (courtesy The Wiltshire News, 5 April 1935)
The quarry industry has gone from Box Hill and all of the quarry families that depended on it have left the village. We can see the results of their activity throughout the area with neat, ashlar stone buildings grouped around the quarry faces and roads and services built to provide for their needs. But it is through the burial memorials recording their ancestors that we can best see the people behind the family names.
Little Family Tree
James Little (1733-1816) married Hester Light (1733-1812) on 9 March 1754. We have only outline details for some of their children:
Aaron Little (1796-1867), a carpenter was sometimes said to be born in Wiltshire and sometimes in Bristol, who married Ann Fluester (1810-) from Biddestone in 1831. In 1841 the family lived in Box next door to quarryman Job Pictor and 10 years later they were described as next to the Elliott family of carpenters at Roseland Villa, Box. Children included:
Elijah Little (1835-1901) married Jane Stout (1837-1911) in 1863. Children included:
James Little (1733-1816) married Hester Light (1733-1812) on 9 March 1754. We have only outline details for some of their children:
- James (baptised 15 February 1756 at Biddestone-14 February 1829 at Box) married Ann;
- Aaron (baptized 1757 at Biddestone-1818);
- Frances;
- Hester Little (baptised 23 May 1762 at Biddestone-1825 at Atworth, buried at South Wraxall) who was married on 4 July 1785 at Corsham to John Collett (1765-1812) John was a butcher from South Wraxall and the couple settled there;
- Elizabeth (Bettey) (born 1764 at Biddestone);
- Mary who married William Gibbons at Corsham in 1785;
- Francis (baptized in 1766 at Biddestone-12 January 1821 at Box) who married Anna Maria Arnold on 2 March 1815 at Box.
- Ann (born 1769-); and
- Margaret (born 1 January 1776 at Corsham-1846) married at Hullavington on 11 May 1806 to John Marsh gentleman (-1830, aged 68), the brother of Aaron Marsh, blacksmith, brazier and glazier, of Thornbury, sometime mayor. They had no children.
Aaron Little (1796-1867), a carpenter was sometimes said to be born in Wiltshire and sometimes in Bristol, who married Ann Fluester (1810-) from Biddestone in 1831. In 1841 the family lived in Box next door to quarryman Job Pictor and 10 years later they were described as next to the Elliott family of carpenters at Roseland Villa, Box. Children included:
- Mary Ann (born 1831; baptised 15 April 1832 at Biddestone-);·
- Elijah Little (1835-1901) married Jane Stout (1837-1911);
- Louisa Jane (1839 at Box-); John James (born 1843, baptised 5 May 1844-); and
- Alfred (baptised 8 October 1848 at Box-).
Elijah Little (1835-1901) married Jane Stout (1837-1911) in 1863. Children included:
- Louisa Jane (1864-1935) who married Arthur Chaffey;
- Mary Ann (1867-1896), known as Annie, a dressmaker;
- Albert Edward (1868-1928), clerk, married Alice Mary Matthews at Frome in 1901. They appear to have inherited the family house as they were recorded as living on the Bath Road in 1911 between The Clock House and Stanley House. Albert’s death was recorded as: He passed over on September 26 1928 after a long and painful illness aged 60.[5] His place of death was recorded as Roundway County Mental Asylum;
- Harry F (1871-), sawyer;
- John James (1876-1952), mason, buried in plot MF13 along with his wife Winifred Hester (1879-1963);
- Alice M (1878-), ladies’ maid domestic; and
- Dora May (1883-), dressmaker.
References
[1] Devizes and Wiltshire Gazette, 8 March 1832
[2] Roger Evans, Wiltshire Tales of Mystery & Murder, reported Ann as the sibling of another Hester and James
[3] Roger Evans, Wiltshire Tales of Murder and Mystery, suggested Ann (1896-1841) was the daughter of James and Ann with siblings Hester and James.
[4] The Wiltshire Times, 2 October 1897
[5] The Wiltshire Times, 6 October 1928
[1] Devizes and Wiltshire Gazette, 8 March 1832
[2] Roger Evans, Wiltshire Tales of Mystery & Murder, reported Ann as the sibling of another Hester and James
[3] Roger Evans, Wiltshire Tales of Murder and Mystery, suggested Ann (1896-1841) was the daughter of James and Ann with siblings Hester and James.
[4] The Wiltshire Times, 2 October 1897
[5] The Wiltshire Times, 6 October 1928