Allam grave in All Saints Parish Church.
Alfred Allam died October 26th 1888 age 51 years
Also Sarah Tilleard Allam
Also Charlotte Hoare, died - 17th ? 1890
Also Charles Frederick Allam died Jan 29 1940 age 7(2?) years.
Research notes:
Alfred Allam in true Victorian shopkeeper fashion managed to be a fishmonger, fruiterer, potato merchant, hirer of pony and traps, minor farmer and gravel seller all at once with premises on Spittal Street plus a field at Hillside. Census entries suggest he was born Wooburn or Wooburn Green. Alfred's father Francis had also been a fishmonger. Although the business was left to Alfred's mother, she agreed to give it up to him subject to his paying her an allowance. He fell out with older brother Absalom about this arrangement, and other business dealings. Alfred in 1863 sued his brother for withholding money earned by him for selling fish on Alfred's behalf. Absalom said he'd done so because Alfred was keeping a watch that belonged to him and also had withheld goods due to him under his father's will.
In 1876 Alfred was prosecuted for renting out a windowless wooden hovel not fit for human habitation to the large Moody family. This wasn't his only brush with the law. Both he and his son Alfred junior seem very ready to get into fights with others.
At one point some thought the family had got on the wrong side of a far more unusual foe than your standard Marlovian- an "evil spirit".
The back windows of the family premises were repeatedly broken by "unseen hands". At one point breakages were occurring every few minutes. Constables and neighbours were baffled and the household frightened for several weeks until it all suddenly stopped. This was an age of intense interest in Spiritualism and inevitably some people insisted only a spirit could be responsible for the broken windows. Myself I think someone Alfred had had a dust up with was likely having a little fun at his expense.
The Sarah on the grave above was Alfred's wife who ran the fishmonger's shop after his death. She was assisted by her sons Alfred and Charles Frederick the latter of whom is also on the gravestone. Sarah was born Sarah Tilleard Hoare in 1840 to Charles and Charlotte Hoare.
Charlotte Hoare on this gravestone was her mother. She was born circa 1815 according to census but we believe that she was baptised in Marlow 1814 nee Tilleard, to parents William and Elizabeth. She ran the Three Horseshoes Gun Lane, The Traveler's Rest Dean Street and The Bear, Chapel Street with husband Charles who predeceased her. He owned gravel pits in Marlow which probably explains Alfred Allam's gravel sideline.
Poor Charlotte's death came from shock after she fell over in her yard and fractured her hip [Reading Mercury 30th August 1890 and Buckinghamshire Examiner 28th August 1890. Copies held at British Library. Accessed via the BNA ]. She lived with her widowed daughter Sarah Tilleard Allam at the time who gave evidence at the inquest. Reports of this inquest tell us that though she is memorialised in All Saints graveyard she was a worshipper at the Wesleyan Chapel at the time of her death. The alarm that she had fallen was raised by neighbour Emma Carter who heard Charlotte scream.
Charlotte's death report in the paper called her a much respected woman of the town. [To read about dramatic events at The Bear just before Charlotte gave it up, see the post Here]
Additional research by Charlotte Day.
©Marlow Ancestors. You may freely reproduce the grave images for family or local history purposes if you credit this blog.
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