Vera Gertrude Pullum nee Taylor (1916-2002)

Vera was a sister of my father, Eric William Taylor (1913-2003). This profile contains information from Vera’s daughter Valerie.

Vera was born on 22 February 1916 in Abbey Wood, Erith. She was the second child of William Taylor and his wife Gertrude (nee Wilkins). They also had two boys, Eric (b1913) and Ronald (b1918).

In 1919 William, Gertrude and their children were living at 51 Charles St, Woolwich, which was the address of Gertrude’s older sister Ethel Suter nee Wilkins (b1881), whose husband had died in 1914. Ethel had a daughter, Doris (b1903), and a son, Herbert (b1906).

Herbert Suter died of influenza on 12 February 1919 aged 12. A week later, Vera’s mother Gertrude also died of influenza, aged 29. They were victims of a pandemic that killed many millions of people across the world.

In 1920 William married Ethel Suter in Woolwich. He was 30 and she 39. William and Ethel had a daughter, Betty Ethel Taylor, who was born in 1921. William and his family continued to live at 51 Charles Street until 1933 although in 1921 it was renamed 16 Brewer St. The house was at the northern end of Brewer Street, not far from St Mary’s Church. The site of the house is now occupied by John Wilson Street, a dual carriageway that forms part of the South Circular Road (A205).

In 1922, when aged 6, Vera contracted diptheria and was in hospital for over 1 year. She was back in hospital aged 8 years for an operation to treat mastoiditis (a serious complication arising from ear inflammation), which left her totally deaf.

Vera told Valerie some childhood memories. She recalled sitting at the dining table with Eric and Ron eating a meal and was not aware that a row was taking place until a shoe thrown by her stepmother Ethel at her father William, passed her face! Also, Vera and her brothers were made to play in the street every day and so used to pray for rain so they could go indoors! Ethel died in 1933 aged 51, when Vera was 16.

Vera attended Oak Lodge School for the Deaf in Clapham, London, first as a day pupil, then as a full time boarder. Vera recalled that on her first day at Oak Lodge, her father took her on the bus, leaving her to return on her own. She got lost and finally arrived home to find her father standing in the middle of the road outside their house in the dark looking for her. She was very clever, despite her disability, attaining a scholarship. Vera was taught dressmaking, like all the girls at the school. She then worked as a dressmaker near Piccadilly Circus for a few years.

Vera and her family moved to 105 Brookhill Road, Woolwich in 1933, where her father ran a confectioner’s shop. The house was close to the junction with Angelsea Road. It no longer exists, its site is now occupied by the garden of a block of flats.

On 11 September 1937, Vera married Frank Adolphus Pullum at All Saints Church, Newington in South London. He was a French polisher aged 24, she a dressmaker aged 21. Frank was also deaf. They lived at 43 Bannockburn Road, Plumstead and then purchased 111 Willersley Avenue. Sidcup on 26^th February 1941 for £462-7-6d.

Their daughter Valerie was born in 1944. They had another baby girl who lived only a few days (Vera also had several miscarriages). Vera and Valerie were evacuated to Leeds for a number of months in 1944 to get away from bombing in London.

Frank, Vera and Valerie c1946

Vera’s husband Frank died of bronchopneumonia in 1964 aged 51. She continued to live at 111 Willersley Avenue, with her daughter Valerie. Vera worked at the dressmakers “Rhodes”, The Oval, Sidcup until 1981, when she retired aged 65.

In May 1979 Vera moved to 126 Greenvale Road, Eltham with Valerie and her second husband. They lived there until June 2000 when they moved to Tankerton, near Whitstable in Kent. Vera died on 10 December 2002 aged 86.

Valerie and Vera in 1988

I remember Vera as a small, pleasant lady. Because of her deafness, she wasn’t able to hear her own voice, which made it difficult for her to speak clearly. However, she could lip read well and seemed to enjoy life (with the help of Valerie) in spite of her disability.

Harriett Jane Himbury nee Taylor (1881-1947)

Harriett was my great aunt, she was an elder sister of my grandfather William Taylor. This profile of her life contains some information and photos supplied by Christine Hughes, her granddaughter.

Harriett was born on December 21st 1881 in India, while her father George Taylor, who was a soldier in the Royal Artillery, was serving there. Her mother was Margaret Taylor nee Smiles. Harriett was the fourth of their ten children (seven boys and three girls). The GRO index of regimental births spells her name as Harriet, but most other documents that refer to her record it as Harriett, so this is what I shall call her. Harriett was baptised on January 22nd 1882 in Nowgong, a town which was an important centre during British rule of India. Nowgong is in central India, 550 km SE of New Dehli. The baptism record says that George Taylor was a Corporal.

George left the army in about 1886 and moved to Charlton (in SE London). The 1891 census shows George Taylor (aged 41, a labourer) and Margaret (36) living at 9 West Street, Charlton with their children George (14), Ernest (12), Harriett (9), Charles (6), Margaret (4) and Thomas (2) and William (10 months). From their address and George’s occupation, it seems that the family didn’t have much money.

By 1901 the family were living at 7 West Street, Charlton and consisted of George (aged 50, a labourer local board), Margaret (47), George (24, a covering machinist), Harriett Jane (19, a covering machinist), Charles (16, a covering machinist), Margaret (14, a daily servant), William (10), Samuel (9) and May (6). Margaret’s father died in 1903 aged 54.

Harriett married Edwin Alfred Himbury on August 18^th 1910 at All Saints Church, Plumstead. They were both aged 28. Edwin was born in Woolwich and was a milkman. The 1911 census shows the couple living at 141 Sellincourt Road, Tooting and Edwin as a “milk roundman”. Electoral registers show them at 137 Sellincourt Road in 1913 and 1915.

Harriett and Edwin in 1910

Edwin joined the army on 12^th November 1915 to fight in the war. As this was before conscription was introduced, he must have volunteered. By then he had three children, Edwin Terence (1911-99), Percy (1913-69) and Lucy Gertrude (1915-2000).

Edwin Alfred, Percy, Edwin Terence, Harriet Jane and Lucy Gertrude Himbury in 1915.

Edwin was wounded in the leg during the war, but survived and was discharged from the army in 1919. He moved to 86 Princes Road, Plumstead where he and Harriett had three more children, Alma Margaret (1920-82), Leslie John (1921-83) and Frank Leonard (1923-99). 

The 1921 census shows Edwin (aged 38), Harriett (39), Terence (9), Percy (8), Lucy (6) and Alma (1) Himbury at 86 Princes Road. Edwin was a general labourer in the Royal Artillery Stores at Kidbrooke.

Apparently Harriett was a strong character. She was quite small but ruled her household with an iron fist ! She kept her sons in order and also told her husband what to do.

Electoral registers show Edwin and Harriett at 86 Princes Road until 1938 (when their children Edwin and Percy were also listed here).

The 1939 Register records that Edwin (a fitter's labourer) and Harriett were living at 68 Charlton Park Lane in Charlton. The 1945 Electoral Register shows that shows that their son Frank and his wife Alice were also living at this address.

Harriett died in 1947 aged 65 at St Alfege’s Hospital, Greenwich. She was buried in Charlton Cemetery. The grave (Q / 62) has kerbstones which are inscribed

In loving memory of a dear wife and mother, HARRIETT JANE HIMBURY who died 5^th July 1947 aged 65 years.

In loving memory of Dad, EDWIN ALFRED HIMBURY who died 10^th August 1965 aged 83 years.

The grave of Harriett and Edwin Himbury (in 2012)

Probate records state that authority for administration of Harriett's estate (£296) was granted to her husband Edwin, a retired armourer’s assistant. The fact that probate was required shows that she had some money registered under her own name. Edwin continued to live at 68 Charlton Park Lane until he died in 1965. He was buried in the same grave as his wife.

David Herbert Cornwell (1829-87), tailor

David Herbert Cornwell was a son of James Cornwell (1791-1870), who was a brother of Job Cornwell (1780-1869), my great, great, great grandfather on my father’s side.

David was born during 1829 in the Essex town of Kelvedon and baptised on 7 June 1829 in St Mary’s Church. He was the fourth of six children born to James Cornwell, an agricultural labourer who had married Mary Martin in 1823. James is thought to be one of the gang of men who destroyed the village cage (prison) in 1809 and he later spent time in prison for fraud and theft.¹

The 1841 census of Kelvedon records James Cornwell (aged 50, an agricultural labourer) in the same household as his wife Mary (45) and their children David (11), Jonah (9) and Charles Cornwell (7).

David was apprenticed as a tailor. The 1851 census shows James (aged 60), his wife Mary (50) and their son David (21, a tailor) living in Kelvedon. The address is not given but was probably Church Hill (from comparison with information in the 1861 census).

On 22^nd June 1854 David married Ann Braybrook (who was born in Great Braxted, near Kelvedon) at St Mary Stratford by Bow, Poplar. He was aged 25 and she was 36, the daughter of a gardener. They had three children namely Charles (b1855), Eliza (b1856) and Alfred (b1858).

The 1861 census shows David H Cornwell (aged 31, a tailor employing 1 man and 1 boy) with his wife Ann (42) and their children Charles (6), Eliza (5) and Alfred (3), living in High St, Kelvedon.

John Nichols (1820-89, a land steward) and his brother Henry Nichols (1829-1902, a builder and carpenter) lived in Kelvedon and took many photos of Kelvedon and its inhabitants between 1858 and 1871. The Essex Record Office has 198 of their glass plate negatives. Photographs from these are printed in a book “Victorian Kelvedon”.² One is a street scene (shown below) which includes David Cornwell standing next to a horse and cart. His right hand is touching the wide-brimmed hat (known as a “wide-awake”) he is wearing.

 In 1871 David (aged 41) was listed as a tailor (employing one man) and a seedgrower of 13 acres (employing one man and 2 boys). Also at his address in High St, Kelvedon were his wife Ann (51) and children Charles (16, a carpenter’s apprentice) and Eliza (14). The soil and climate of Kelvedon were particularly favourable to growing seeds for flowers, which were becoming increasingly popular in the suburbs of large towns. A number of farmers and smallholders chose to produce seeds and often ran another business at the same time.³

David Herbert Cornwell, tailor is recorded in the Kelvedon section of Kelly’s Directories for Essex issued in 1871, 74, 78, 82 and 86. The 1886 edition also lists David Cornwell, seed grower.

Apparently David also used his skills to sew up flesh wounds and his most regular client for this service was Mr James Gerard, who ran a butcher’s shop nearby ! This story was told by his grand daughter to Graham Wheldon, a local historian.¹

In 1881, David Cornwell (aged 51, a tailor) is listed as living in Church Street, Kelvedon. In the same household were his wife Ann (63) and son Alfred (23, a seed grower). Also listed were Clara Braybrook (6), a visitor (who was presumably related to Ann) and two boarders.

David’s address is given as High Street in 1861 and 71, Church Street in 1881. Examination of the names of nearby properties in the census shows that the address referred to is the same one in each case, being in what is called St Mary’s Square at the western end of the High Street. David’s house was approximately opposite the Angel Inn and was between London Road and Church Street, roads that lead off St Mary’s Square. The censuses do not say whether where he lived was also where he ran his tailoring business, but it seems likely that it was.

David died at Kelvedon in 6 April 1887 aged 58. He had made a will in 1874 in which he left everything to his wife Ann and appointed her as the sole executrix of his estate. However, the probate records describe David as a widower and say that Ann died in his lifetime. Administration was therefore granted to his son Alfred Cornwell of Witham, a tailor. The gross value of David’s personal estate was £578 15s which is equivalent to about £250,000 now (estimated in relation to average earnings then and now).                                                             

Information Sources

1. G H Wheldon (1999) Church Street Chronicles

2. G H Wheldon and R V Carter (2005) Victorian Kelvedon : The Photography of the Nichols Brothers

3. J Colquhoun (2001) A Short History of Kelvedon and Feering

James Cornwell (1791-1870), convict

James Cornwell was a younger brother of my great, great, great grandfather Job Cornwell (1780-1869).

James was born in 1791 and baptised on 13 March 1791 at St Mary, Kelvedon in Essex. His parents were Job (1756-1806) and Hannah Cornwell. He was the sixth of their seven children.

The book “Church Street Chronicles” written by Graham Weldon and published in 1999 by the Feering and Kelvedon Local History Museum recounts the following story. In 1809 (or thereabouts) Isaac Warwicker, a Kelvedon man got drunk, swore at James Tumner, a local constable and tried to punch him. Tumner overpowered Warwicker and marched him off to the village cage, a small building used to temporarily imprison those who disturbed the peace. Later a group of Warwicker’s friends led by Bob Foster lifted the cage off its brick plinth and overturned it, causing irreparable damage and allowing Warwicker to escape. Foster foolishly boasted to Tumner that the cage was destroyed and was subsequently tried before a local magistrate. He refused to give the names of his accomplices and was sentenced to 14 days in goal. The story was investigated by the Reverend Francis Hay MA, vicar of Kelvedon from 1891 to 1922. Hay understood that one of the gang was James Cornwell, who was 18 in 1809.

In 1823 James married Mary Martin in Kelvedon. He was 32 and she 23. They had six children namely Charlotte (b1824), Maria (b1825), Job (b1827, died as an infant) David Herbert (b1829), Jonah (b1830) and Charles (b1833) Cornwell.

Weldon writes that James Cornwell had served 6 weeks imprisonment for fraud and 6 months in Springfield Goal for theft by his early forties. The Essex Criminal Registers show that a James Cornwell was convicted of fraud in 1832 and sentenced to 6 weeks in prison.

The 1841 census of Kelvedon records James Cornwell (aged 50, an agricultural labourer) in the same household as Mary (45), James (29), David (11), Jonah (9) and Charles Cornwell (7).

The 1851 census shows James (aged 60), his wife Mary (50) and their son David (21) living in Kelvedon. The address is not given but was probably Church Hill (from nearby addresses).

James’s wife died sometime between 1851 and 1861 as he is listed as a widower in the 1861 census. He is shown as an agricultural labourer aged 70 at Church Hill, Kelvedon with Frances Rutkin aged 58 as his housekeeper.

James Cornwell died in 1870 aged 79. 

Herbert George Wilkins (1888-1951), cable maker

Herbert George Wilkins was a brother of my grandmother Gertrude Taylor nee Wilkins (1890-1919). Herbert signed Gertrude’s marriage certificate as a witness, so seems to have been close to his sister. However, I never heard his name mentioned by either my grandfather or father, so presumably they lost touch with him after her death.

Herbert was born on 10 Mar 1888 in Woolwich, the seventh of nine children born to Henry Wilkins (b1850 in Bethnal Green, London) and Jane Wilkins nee Cornwell (b1851 in Kelvedon, Essex).

The 1891 census shows Henry Wilkins aged 41, a grocer, living at 31 Kidd St (a shop), Woolwich Dockyard with his wife Jane (40) and their children Elizabeth (15), Albert (13), Alice (11), Ethel (9), Cecilia (7), Annie (5), Herbert (3) and Gertrude (1).

By 1901, the family were living at 11 Church St, Woolwich and consisted of Henry (aged 50, now a coffee house keeper), Jane (49), Albert (23), Alice (21), Ethel (19), Bessie (16), Annie (15), Herbert (13), Gertrude (11) and Mabel (9).

Herbert enlisted with the Army on 10^th November 1902 at Woolwich, aged 14 years and 8 months, signing on for 12 years with the Colours. His record can be viewed in the British Army WW1 Pensions database on the Ancestry website. He joined the Army Service Corps as a saddler. At this time the British Army relied on horses to move their equipment. Men were needed to look after and drive the horses. The file contains a note from Herbert’s father giving permission for his son to enlist. There is also a letter from the headmaster of Herbert’s school (St Michael’s Boys’ School, Woolwich) saying “He is thoroughly well behaved, industrious and likely to make a good soldier. When he left school he had passed the seventh standard.”

Herbert was stationed at Woolwich. His army rank changed from Boy to Driver on 10 March 1906 when he reached the age of 18. In September 1907 he was transferred to Dover, then to Shorncliffe in February 1908. On 18 December 1909, Herbert (aged 21) married Mary Allan Kennedy (aged 20, born in Silvertown, West Ham) at Woolwich Register Office.

 Herbert was transferred back to Dover in February 1910. The 1911 census shows him (aged 23, a driver harness maker in the Army Service Corps) and his wife Mary (aged 21) as boarders at 14 Oxenden St, Dover. He left the Army on 27 May 1911 at Dover. His transfer document gives his intended place of residence as 350 Albert Rd, North Woolwich and his desired employment was “Stacker in Automotive Works”.

The first child of Herbert and Mary was Herbert Bryce Wilkins, born 28 July 1911 in Woolwich. They went to have five more children namely John Kennedy (born 1914), Bessie M (born 1916, died the same year), Marjorie (born 1923), Mary (born 1925) and May (born 1929) Wilkins, all born in the Dartford registration district.

Herbert was at the wedding of my grandparents Gertrude Wilkins and William Taylor in 1912. The  photo below of Herbert is extracted from a group photo taken then.

Britain declared war on Germany on 4 August 1914 when Herbert (aged 26) was still in the Army Reserve. He was called up on 17 August 1914 and sent to France to serve in the Army Service Corps as part of the British Expeditionary Force. Army rules required Herbert to extend his period of service by 12 months if Britain was at war when the term of his enlistment expired. He was therefore obliged to stay in the Army until November 1915, which he did. Herbert was discharged from the Number 1 Depot Company of the Army Service Corps on 9 November 1915 at Aldershot. His rank was Driver (Saddler), age 28 years 8 months, height 5 feet 3 inches. His intended place of residence was 60 Stapley Road, Belvedere, Kent (which is in the Dartford registration district). Herbert’s discharge papers describe him as a “sober and reliable man, accustomed to care and management of horses” and his military character as “exemplary”. As a result of his war service, Herbert was awarded the 1914 Star, British War and Victory campaign medals.

Herbert in 1915

I have a newspaper clipping describing the funeral of my grandmother Gertrude Taylor nee Wilkins, who died of influenza in 1919. It says that Herbert and Mary were there.

The 1921 census shows Herbert (aged 33), Mary (30), Herbert (9) and John (7) Wilkins living at 60 Stapely Road, Upper Belvedere. Percy George Page (26) was also listed at the address as a boarder. Herbert was out of work, his last job being to operate a cable stranding machine for cable making at Callenders Cable & Construction Company, who had a factory in Lower Belvedere. Percy had a job at the same site.

Electoral registers show Herbert and Mary Wilkins living at 60 Stapley Road from 1919 to 1951. The house still exists and is a modest mid-terrace property. It is close to the The Fox pub and a parade of shops in Nuxley Road. Herbert and Mary’s children are also listed (when they had reached the age of 21) at this address - Herbert Bryce Wilkins 1934 to 1937, John Kennedy Wilkins 1935 to 1940, Marjorie 1945 to 1948, Mary in 1946 and 1947.

The national register compiled in 1939 shows Herbert, a copper wire winder at a cable works, living at 60 Stapley Road with his wife Mary and son John (a capstan lathe hand), daughter May (at school) and Percy G Page (a builder's labourer).

Marjorie Wilkins married George Frederick Marsh in 1947 at All Saints Church, Belvedere. The marriage register gives the occupation of her father (Herbert George Wilkins) as “Factory Hand”.

Herbert and Mary in 1947

Herbert and Mary’s youngest child May Wilkins married Ernest William May in 1948 and became May May ! The marriage was witnessed by Herbert who signed the marriage register. His occupation is given as “Cable Maker”. He probably worked for British Insulated Callenders Cables Ltd, which had been formed in 1945 from the merger of the Callender Cable and Construction Company with British Insulated Cables. May and Ernest lived at 60 Stapley Road after their marriage.

Herbert died on March 21st 1951 aged 63 in Belvedere. In 1952, his widow Mary married Percy George Page, a long term boarder at 60 Stapley Road. He was living there in 1921 and electoral registers show him at the address from 1932. Mary lived at 60 Stapley Road until she died in 1967 aged 77. Administration of her estate (£210) was granted to her daughters May and Marjorie.

Herbert is buried in Erith Cemetery, Brook Street, grave DD38. I visited the grave in 2015. 

Herbert's grave in 2015

The gravestone was inscribed

In Loving Memory of

Herbert G Wilkins 1951

Herbert B Wilkins 1955

Percy G Page 1961

Mary A Page 1967

Forever in our thoughts

Herbert B Wilkins was the eldest son of Herbert and Mary. The grave has recently been refurbished by Herbert's grandson Philip May.

The grave in 2018

May and Ernest May continued to live at 60 Stapley Road until 1973.

Job Cornwell (1780-1869), agricultural labourer

Job Cornwell was my great, great, great grandfather. He was the father of George Cornwell (1817-1907), who was the father of Jane Wilkins nee Cornwell (b1851), who was the mother of Gertrude Amy Taylor nee Wilkins (1890-1919), who was the mother of my father, Eric William Taylor (1913-2003).

Job was born in 1780 and baptised on 6 July 1780 at St Mary, Kelvedon in Essex. His parents were Job (1756-1806) and Hannah Cornwell. He was the second of their seven children.

Job went to work at sea. In 1798 Commodore Sir Sidney Smith was manning his fleet to attack the French in Egypt. A press gang from the Commodore’s flag ship seized Job on board a coal ship. He refused to be sworn and was made a prisoner. Being an apprentice on board a coal brig, his captain claimed him and he was released.

On 21 October 1805, Job married Mary Butler (b1785), a local girl, in Kelvedon. He was aged 25 and she was 21. Parish records show that Ann Cornwell Butler was born on 8 July 1805 and baptised on 11 August 1805 at Kelvedon. Her mother’s name is given as Mary Butler with no father’s name. It seems likely that Job was her father. Perhaps he had not been able to marry Mary before Ann’s birth because he was he was away working at sea ? Job and Mary went on to have ten more children : Mary (1807-87), Phoebe (1808-85), Job (1811-66), Amelia (b1812), Charles (b1815), George (1817-1907), Jane (b1819), Emma (b1821), Harriet (b1823) and Rebecca (b1825).

The 1841 census shows Job, an agricultural labourer aged 60 living in Kelvedon with his wife Mary (55) and their youngest children Harriet (18) and Rebecca (15). Job’s wife Mary died in 1843 aged 58.

The 1851 census for Kelvedon lists Job Cornwell, aged 71 an agricultural labourer, with his daughter Amelia (37) and her husband William Freeborn (36, an agricultural labourer). Also in the household were Job’s daughter Rebecca Cornwell (25, a servant) and his grandsons George  (11) and Charles Cornwell (9).

By 1861, Job (aged 81) was living in Kelvedon with William (48) and Amelia (48) Freeborn and their daughter Harriet (8).

Job died on 28 May 1869 aged 89 and was buried in Kelvedon parish churchyard on 6 June. A newspaper item recording his burial says that he left behind 7 children, 42 grandchildren and 80 great grandchildren!

George Cornwell (1817 - 1907), coal merchant

George Cornwell was my great, great grandfather - he was the father of Jane Wilkins nee Cornwell (1851-1934), who was the mother of Gertrude Amy Wilkins (1890-1919), who was the mother of my father, Eric William Taylor (1913-2003).

Records indicate that George Cornwell was born, lived and died in Kelvedon, which is a small town in Essex between Chelmsford and Colchester. George’s ancestors, going back at least three generations, also came from Kelvedon.

George was baptized on 16 March 1817 at St Mary, Kelvedon. His date of birth was probably during February 1817, as children were normally baptized about 1 month after they were born. He was the seventh of eleven children (three boys and eight girls) whose parents were Job Cornwell (1780-1869) and his wife Mary Cornwell nee Butler (1785-1843).

George Cornwell married Elizabeth Frankling (born 1818 in Black Notley, a village nearby) on 11^th  August 1838 at St Mary, Kelvedon. He was 21 (a labourer) and she 20 (a servant). The parish record of the marriage indicates that he wasn’t able to sign his name. Their first child was born during the last 3 months of 1838 and so Elizabeth was pregnant when they married – this was quite common then. They went on to have ten children namely Charles (1838-97), George (1840-1912), Elizabeth (1842-1907), Jane (1845-9), Henry (born 1848), Jane (1851-1934), Rebecca (born 1854), Joseph (1856-7), William (born 1858) and Eliza (1861-3). At least three of their children died in infancy.

The census in April 1841 lists George Cornwell, an agricultural labourer aged 25 in Kelvedon living with his wife Elizabeth (24) and their children Charles (3) and George (1).

Kelvedon was on the road between London and Norwich and contained four coaching inns, where the coach horses were changed. One of the first railway lines in SE England was built to cover this journey. By 1843 the line went from London to Colchester and a station at Kelvedon was open. It made journeys to and from London much easier and had a major effect on the town.

The 1851 census shows George and Elizabeth Cornwell living in Kelvedon with their children Charles (aged 12), George (10), Elizabeth (8), and Henry (3). Their daughter Jane Cornwell (my great grandmother) was born on 2 October 1851. The birth certificate indicates that her mother, Elizabeth, was illiterate.

In 1861, George and Elizabeth are listed at High St, Kelvedon with their children George (now aged 20 and a blacksmith), Henry (12), Jane (9) Rebecca (6) and William (2).

British tariffs on imported cereals were abolished in 1846. Mechanisation and the development of new farmland meant that large amounts of wheat could be efficiently produced on the American prairies. Improvements in transport (new railways and steamships) made export cheaper. As a result, from about 1870 onwards, significant and increasing amounts of wheat were imported into Western Europe, which resulted in falling grain prices and a decrease in demand for agricultural labourers in Britain. This had a big impact on the countryside and many people migrated to London and other large towns in search of employment. Most of George’s children moved away from Kelvedon. His son, Charles moved to Wells in Somerset and later to Erith, his son George to Camberwell, his daughter Elizabeth to Erith, his daughter Jane to Woolwich and his son William to Australia returning to Kelvedon, then to Erith.

The Chelmsford Chronicle dated August 11th 1871 reported on the Kelvedon Horticultural Society Annual Show. George won second prize in the "Best cultivated allotments" section and first prize in the "Best six parsnips", "Best collection of vegetables", "Best 1 lb of red currants" and "Best 30 gooseberries" categories.

By 1871, only William (now aged 12) was living with George and Elizabeth in High St, Kelvedon. Up to 1871, the occupation of George Cornwell is given as an agricultural labourer. However, from 1881 onwards his occupation is given as a coal dealer / merchant. In 1881 there was just George (64) and Elizabeth (63) in the household, still in High Street, Kelvedon.

The 1884 Franchise Bill gave George Cornwell (as the male head of a rural household) the vote for the first time.

The 1890, 94 and 98 Kelly’s directories for Essex list “George Cornwell, coal merchant” in their Kelvedon section.

Elizabeth, George’s wife, died in 1889. The 1891 census shows George, a widower, living alone in High St, Kelvedon. By 1901 George, then aged 84, was living with a housekeeper, Florence Robinson (22) who was the stepdaughter of his late son Charles (who died in 1897). George was listed as retired.

High Street, Kelvedon c 1900

All of the censuses from 1851 to 1901 give George’s address as High St, Kelvedon. However, none of them give street numbers. Households are listed in order along the High St and are numbered as follows in the 1901 census

78        Freemason’s Hall + Caretaker Cottage

82        George Cornwell

91        Kingsthorpe House

96        White Hart Inn

98        Angel Inn

George Cornwell’s house was therefore between the Freemason’s Hall and Kingsthorpe House, both of which are still there - on the south side of the High St, at its western end. It seems that George’s house has been demolished as more modern housing is where I would expect it to have been. Using the approach above with other censuses indicates that he lived in the same house between 1851 and 1901. My sister Evelyn and her family stayed in a flat over a shop (The Aerial and Satellite Centre) in Kelvedon for short time in the 1980s. By co-incidence (she didn’t know it then) this is approximately the site of where George Cornwell lived.

George Cornwell died in Kelvedon on the 16 July 1907 aged 90. He was buried on 20 July in the same grave as his wife, in the churchyard of St Mary, Kelvedon. Essex Family History Society have prepared a list of monumental inscriptions in the churchyard and a map showing burial locations. I have located George’s grave using this. The gravestone (which is now barely legible) reads :

In loving memory of Elizabeth the beloved wife of George Cornwell / who died 9^th Feb 1889 aged 71 years. / Now she is gone but not forgotten, never shall our memory fade / Sweetest thoughts shall ever linger, around the spot she is laid / Her end was peace / Also of the above George Cornwell / who died 16^th July 1907 aged 90 years / Thy will be done

The gravestone of George and Elizabeth Cornwell

His will (made in 1903) divided George’s estate, which was £121 15s 1d (equivalent to about £7,000 now), equally between his daughter Elizabeth, his son George, his daughter Jane and his housekeeper Florence Robinson. The executor was George’s friend Francis Nichols. Elizabeth died in 1907, shortly before George.