Marlow Heroes no. 7 - John Langley

 When little John Langley was born in the poor and populous Dean Street in the 1850s, his parents probably did not imagine he would one day become such a wealthy and well respected man. John - or Jack as he was usually known - occupies a fairly unique position in Marlow history as someone who had a great deal to do with the lives of both the richest and poorest of Marlow's past residents. It's his dealings with the latter that has earned him a place in our series saluting the actions of Marlow heroes. I will refer to him from hence onwards as Jack to differentiate him from his father John although the latter was also known as Jack or Johnnie in his lifetime. What's survived in the popular memory is that Jack was a bookmaker or as it was referred to at the time a "turf commission agent". We may imagine someone in this occupation and from a more modest background may have struggled against numerous stereotypes held by our Victorian forebears. But we may be making assumptions to some extent. Association with gambling was obviously frowned upon by very many but Jack was described by the Vicar of Marlow as a "fine straightforward man" for example, bookie or no. It was certainly not regarded as barrier to election to the town council. The thing that seemed to stand out most to his contemporaries was the fact Jack continued to mix with they may have thought as the "common man" despite becoming well off. It should also be born in mind that like many of our Victorian forebears, Jack had more occupations providing his income than is recorded on census returns. (Generally the main one or two get listed but by cross referencing other sources we can find this often gives only a partial picture of how many actually earned their bread and butter. Jack was probably just as associated by many with his fruit dealing as book making as he did that longer, although some of his sons followed in their fathers bookmaking footsteps)

Langley & Son

Jack was the son of John and Ann Sarah Langley, publicans of the Royal Exchange and then the Verney Arms, both in Dean Street or Well End as it was still then popularly known. (Not to be confused with Well End, Little Marlow.) John was also a fruiterer, timber merchant, market gardener and farmer - you can see what I mean about multiple occupations held at once! Jack's Langley grandparents Thomas and Elizabeth were agricultural labourers/ skewer makers* and in the grandma's case, a lace maker. All typical Dean Street area occupations of the time. It was recalled that young Jack was often to be seen walking about the area with his tame fox cub trotting at his heels like a dog. He had apparently found and trained the fox himself. Eccentricity no 1! Childhood didn't last long in those days, and Jack was soon helping his father in the various family business concerns. In fact they became officially partners as publicans, market gardeners, timber merchants and fruiterers trading as "Langley & Son". The area around Dean Street formerly contained many little orchards and fruit grounds, some of which the Langley's probably cropped themselves, but as fruiterers they would also have bought in stock from others locally. The fruiterer business was formerly associated with Marlow and especially Dean Street, although the link is long forgotten now. This involved the wholesale trade in fruit, usually to London. So the Langley's did not have a fruitmongers shop in Marlow itself although they no doubt supplied some of them. In 1878, the father and son decided to dissolve their business by mutual consent although both continued working in the same areas. John (born 1826) made his mark on the document by the sign of the cross, but Jack signed his own name. John farmed numerous areas of Marlow (he occupied 230 acres in 1881, with 50 men and numerous boys in his employ in the farming line. This included New Barn Farm.) 

Jack fights a fire

1878 was the year Jack started in business in his own right and also the year that he committed his first heroic act. He, and father John, saved the lives of two infants in a Dean Street house fire. The Sawyer children were the grandchildren of John Langley so Jack was their uncle. The youngsters had been left alone in the house upstairs asleep (common then and not something that stood out as neglectful behaviour to the witnesses) but a fire had started. The house was seriously alight when the smoke was noticed by a passer by. The two fought through a then "raging" fire to free the crying pair from their bedroom. The children appear to have been largely unharmed. (You can read more about John's son in law Owen Sawyer in a post here)

Jack's dad John Langley senior was one of the founding donors to the Marlow volunteer fire brigade and was on the commitee that set it up. He seems to have taken a keen interest in firefighting overall and was credited with helping put out a number of blazes either before the fire brigade arrived or alongside  them. When he was the landlord of the Crown, the fire engine was housed next door to him, with the fire bell outside. If anyone knew it was rung, it would be John. He hired to the brigade the horses that pulled the engine. These usually grazed in the Crown Meadow (Riley Park) which was also put to use for fire brigade training exercises and drill competitions. Jack continued his father's interest in the brigade, sponsoring prizes in their drill competitions and donating to the cost of new equipment. 

Convicted Rioter

John Langley was politically active for the radical/liberal concern in his younger days. This would lead to Jack's involvement in one of the most well known of Marlow's election riots, of 1880. The liberals lost, and those who supported them regarded the election as unfair. Jack was regarded by some as one of the ringleaders of the ensuing wide scale destruction, but it was also argued he was in fact a peacemaker whose conviction was politically motivated. A fund was set up to raise money to pay for a presentation to Jack in protest at what they said was his wrongful conviction and subsequent short prison term. A nice engraved London made silver coffee set was the result. The witness statements do tend to support Jack's role in trying to quell the riot more than instigating it although he was obviously vocal in his dismay at the result when first announced! A full post about the riot is available here

King of The City 

 John senior obviously set his son an active example of looking out for the working man especially those in his employ. John was well known for contributing to charity and hosting Christmas dinners for dozens of poor and elderly residents of Dean Street and around. In 1865 it was said that there was not a man in the parish more "industrious, energetic or enterprising" than John Langley. The South Bucks Free Press reporting on the marriage of John seniors daughter Alice (Jack's sister) said that John was known as the King of The City (a slang term for the Dean Street area). They thought that probably "the enormous amount distributed by him amongst the wage earning class is the proof that he is the medium of conferring a large amount of good upon a very large number of persons."

 Jack would soon follow in his footsteps in this regard. (He was also the one time publican at the Verney although for a relatively short period. However as we know he was frequently in London engaged in his other business it was - as so often the case - his wife Ellen who would generally be found looking after the pub.)

 The Langley family had suffered many misfortunes amidst their success and perhaps it was this consciousness that motivated them to help those who had misfortunes of their own. For example, 13 year old Sarah, (b 1857, daughter of George) fell through the ice when trying to skate or slide on the frozen Thames in 1870. Despite a frantic search, she was not found for a month. Then John Langley senior had a severe fire at New Barn farm in 1882 which totally destroyed a large barn and overall did £1000 worth of damage, at least partially covered by insurance. Similarly John's second wife Susan of The Crown Hotel, committed suicide less than a year after their marriage. John would die in an accident at the hotel a few years later. You can read more about this and poor Susan, in a post here. 

In 1881 Jack suffered the death of his toddler daughter Nellie, and a break in at his then Oxford Rd home the following year. Then his sister Kate Verney Langley died aged just 19 in 1887. So yes Jack knew misfortune too.

 In 1901 he defines himself as a turf commission agent on the census for the first time, although he was still engaged in both the fruit trade and farming. He was also going well enough to buy and sell property and land. As someone now comfortably off, Jack was frequently invited to sit on various committees eg the executive committee for organising the 1902 Coronation celebrations in Marlow. No doubt they knew they could count on him to reach into his pocket when asked to support a charitable cause. (More on the celebration here)

Jack and the Hospital

There are numerous philanthropic causes that Jack especially helped with. The first was the establishment of the Marlow Cottage Hospital in Glade Rd. The former one was cramped and small and the medical staff were desperate for a new modern premises. I have covered the sometimes bad tempered debate as to whether to go ahead with a new building or not in a post here. But the main fear was that not enough funds would be raised to either build it or maintain it on a voluntary basis  so it might get put "on the rates". One of those who thought the doctors would just have to make do with their old site was previously one of the bigger donors to the hospital, Ed. Riley. When the exhausted and exasperated medical staff threatened to resign en masse unless proper facilities were provided, Riley threatened to withdraw a association and financial support to the hospital. Jack Langley was outraged and said he would personally make up any deficiency in funds resulting from Riley's threat. He had already offered to sell some land in Glade Rd at a much discounted price for the building of the hospital. Subsequently Jack decided to offer the same land entirely free of charge, providing building was actually started within an agreed time frame. This was a spot in a prime area of development for handsome villas so it was in no way an unattractive parcel of land he would be pleased to just get rid of. This was also in addition to financial contributions to the funds. Furthermore Jack also offered that if the hospital managers should find a different and better site, he would provide a loan and extra money to allow for its purchase. In the end, the hospital was built on Jack's land where it stands today. 

Jack pays out for twins

The second cause we should especially remember Jack for was his help and support for slate clubs and any fundraising aimed at helping the unemployed and poor. As mentioned above, Jack hosted free Christmas dinners for dozens of the poor. It was hardly a once a year act for him. He made donations to boost the funds of many of the town's Slate Clubs. These were sort of friendly societies and saving clubs that provided sickness and unemployment benefit for working men in exchange for a small weekly payment. (See posts linked below to read about the clubs and poverty in Jack's Marlow.) He was therefore an honoured guest at many of their annual share outs. And he was not above throwing himself into the entertainment contributing songs and comic recitations. His sons Jack and Walter often came along too, Jack junior specialising in an "unusual" whistling performance apparently. (Walter accompanied on a piano if available**) My favourite way that Jack supported one of the Slate Clubs at the Clayton Arms, was to offer a bonus payment from his own funds if any member's wife had a set of twins or triplets. He was called upon to pay that out at least once! He actually offered to pay if any new member with twins joined even if their children were a few years old already. It was noted of  Jack in 1906 that unusually when fortune had smiled upon him "instead of becoming more selfish as most men did when they became rich, Mr Langley delighted in helping his fellow men more than ever." Jack replied that he thought it the duty of every man to enjoy life and to help your fellow man to do the same. 

Veterans Supporter

Then we have Jack's generosity to the Marlow's Rifle Volunteers and to the fundraising to care for those serving in the South African and First World Wars and their bereaved families. Several of his sons spent time as a volunteer. His son Jack in particular is remembered as a casualty of the First World War. Jack junior was a veteran of the South African wars too, as a member of what was then known as the Imperial Yeomanry. Trooper Langley returned from South Africa in 1902 and his efforts are comemorated on the plaque on the Armoury in Institute Rd. (See here ) He was one of those who won a ballot to attend the 1902 Coronation as a representative of the Yeomanry - I believe the only Marlow resident to be successful in the draw.  Trooper Langley was not so fortunate in the First World War, and he died in Egypt in 1915. The news was recieved in Marlow in August that year, when it was reported the soldier's death was due to fever. At this point Jack senior, who was a councillor for some years, had been elected chair of the Marlow Urban District Council. He was also elected head of the Marlow Tribunal which considered applications for compulsory military service to be delayed or cancelled due to certain permitted circumstances. Jack was praised for his untiring work during these years. He was unfortunately injured in a blackout while on a visit to London in 1917. He was in Paddington station at the time and actually fell from the platform onto the rails. He was forced to remain in hospital for some weeks, returning to his then home, Bridge House, Marlow in early 1918. (Jack bought Bridge House in June 1913.) The rumour was he never fully recovered from these injuries or his son's war time death, and he died in 1924.  Marlow really lost a kind benefactor then. There isn't room to list all of Jack's charitable deeds in this. I especially like Jack for his visits to the Union Workhouse at Saunderton, and the workhouse school at Bledlow, and his frequent gifts to every Marlow resident in either. Sweets and buns for the children and money for the adults was the usual order of the day.  For example he gave 5s each to every Marlow pauper boarded out in other Poor Law Unions for Christmas 1920. Out of sight was definitely not out if mind for Jack. And he provided for 40 poor children to attend the Marlow cinema in 1914, paid to have trees replaced on the Causeway, donated land in Glade Rd free of charge so that the road could be widened in the interest of safety, subsidised soup kitchens, provided prizes at sporting contests ..the list goes on. 

There isn't space here either to list all of Jack's involvement with sporting interests in the town either so I'll just mention one aspect of his life that doesn't seem to be well known. He actually kept race horses as well as being involved in the track through his bookmaking. I have found that they raced at local courses such as Windsor and Ascot, and the most successful seems to have been "Tokey" in the Edwardian era. I must also mention that Jack played for Marlow FC and Marlow Victoria FC in their early years, as well as for the Cricket Club, rowed at the regattas, headed up the 1920s bowls club, and was an all round accomplished athlete who competed in amateur athletics events regionally. Dad John was in the Marlow cricket team in the 1850s and 60s with his "masterful" left handed underarm bowling credited for many a victory. 

NB. Jack's wife Ellen died in 1905 and he remarried widow Frances, former wife of Hedley Foster who drowned in the Thames at Marlow. Read more in the post here. See the grave of Ellen Here. His stepson Roy Foster was also a First World War casualty. 

Written and researched by Kathryn Day. 

FURTHER INFORMATION

Jack lived at various times in Dean Street, Oxford Rd, Glade Rd, at New Court, Caldwell Lodge (Station Rd) and Bridge House. 

To find all mentions of an individual or family, see the A-Z person index in the top drop down menu. 

*More about skewer making and the industries of Dean Street here

**A passion for entertaining seemed to run in the Langley family. Another of Jack's sons, Frank, was the manager of a travelling theatre and cinema. Frank also served in the First World War, in the air force. 

List of Verney Arms landlords/history timeline: here

Slate Clubs and poverty in Marlow here

Index of posts related to the First World War in Marlow and general Marlow history here

SOURCES

Parish Assessment, 1833, from the original notebook in our possession.

Census for Great Marlow, transcribed from the originals by Jane Pullinger and Charlotte Day. 

London Gazette, June 14 1878. 

Bucks Herald 9th February 1878, British Library Archive. 

Bucks Advertiser and Aylesbury News, 26th August & 7th October 1882, as above

South Bucks Standard 13 July 1905,  24 April 1913, as above. 

Reading Mercury 28th August and 11 September 1915 - Reading Libraries. 

Windsor and Eton Express 13th May 1871, & 26 March 1870 - Slough Borough Libraries. 

Kelly's Directory of Buckinghamshire 1899, 1911 & 1915 

British Nationals Armed Forces Deaths 1796-2005. GRO. (Ref ARR1, Volume C2, page 133)

Marlow Guide 1905. 

© MarlowAncestors. 

Pass The Punchbowl - The Abbotts Of The Greyhound Marlow

 

George Abbott took over the historic Greyhound Inn in 1848 in very inauspicious circumstances. Located within Spittal Street and now entirely demolished, the half timbered inn with its very large hanging sign was a sight everyone living in Marlow would have known. The Abbott's predecessor was Henry Hyatt / Hiatt - a man who was cruelly driven to financial ruin for daring to vote against his landlords political interest. You can read about Hyatt's extraordinary experience and his (innocent) involvement in one of the most talked about fraud cases of the era in a post here. Many people were rightly enraged about Hyatt's treatment and it can not have been easy for the Abbotts to take over in such circumstances. They would also have taken on a damaged and stripped bare premises, the result of the campaign to intimidate Hyatt. 

George and wife Mary Ann, and their children  lived at the inn, usually with an ostler and servant. A son George would be born a few years after the families arrival in Marlow. The inn was at this point regarded as one of the two chief ones then in town, the other being The Crown in nearby Market Square. Formerly one of the major boarding places for stagecoach services, the Greyhound still had plentiful stabling and a good size yard. It was now serving as a place to board the horse drawn omnibus service to Maidenhead (then the nearest Great Western station) and Windsor (to connect with South Western trains). Other services took both passengers and parcels to High Wycombe and Henley (two days a week each), and to London via Maidenhead and Slough (also twice a week.) As the services did not necessarily start at their advertised time, and were first come first served, there was a good chance to gain refreshment at the Greyhound while you waited to board or meet someone. As a "posting house" you could also hire horses there to make an independent journey. 

A few years before the Abbott's tenure, the local branch of the Oddfellows Friendly Society, known as the Loyal Orphans Hope Lodge had opened with their headquarters in Marlow at the Greyhound. This was an organisation that had it's quirky and ceremonial side but one that made a great practical difference to those working men and their families who were members. Paying a weekly sum entitled the "Brothers" to sick pay and funeral payments should the worst occur. The inn hosted the Brothers annual dinner which usually followed a parade to and from church. They had a club room at the Greyhound, but it was shared with the smaller Royal Britain Benefit Society which formed there in 1851. I'm not sure when the club room was added (if not part of the original old structure) but it was big enough to host 70 guests or more. Perhaps it was hosting these feasts that helped cement the Abbott's reputation as excellent hosts and the premier place to go for organised works and society dinners and suppers. Sometimes the large groups catered for were local such as the employees of the Wethered brewery. On other occasions the guests were employees of large companies based elsewhere who came to Marlow for their "beanfeasts". The meadow at the back is also mentioned as a venue for large gatherings in the 1850s. Tents were provided out there for the celebrations, the whole decorated with flowers and evergreens. 

In 1859 host Abbott and wife Mary were themselves the guests of honour at the Greyhound dinner held for their benefit. Benefit dinners were usually held for those who'd suffered some kind of financial setback to help them recover their funds, however they were also given in Marlow and elsewhere to celebrate a host in more general terms. I believe the Abbott's dinner was of the second character. All the 50 plus guests brought something fine to eat or drink, so no costs was involved to the family in hosting their many friends. We are told the dessert consisted of "monster pears, oranges and apples". 

You would not just find George and Mary Ann serving delicious food and drink from the Greyhound itself. They took out occasional licences that allowed them to provide refreshments at booths at big local events. For example they provided the canteen facility for the Bucks Rifle Volunteers when they were in camp at Medmenham Abbey in 1873.  And they did a roaring trade at the Danesfield rural fete in 1860, an event that saw vegetables and fruit on show, country dancing on the lawns, and games. The event did not end happily for the Abbotts however. As they were coming home down Red Pits Hill in a wagon with the booth within, the horse bolted. They attempted to turn into Spinfield Lane opposite Gyldernscroft in order to check it's pace but instead the wagon fell over. The Abbott's 4 children inside were flung out. William age 10 was thrown headfirst into an iron gate, resulting in a much cut about head. He was brought quickly home and attended by medical men. The initial reports suggested the poor little lad was in a precarious state, but I'm happy to report he did survive. Whether he suffered any lasting injury is hard to say. 

Just two years later, George would be dead. He was only 54. His widow Mary Ann continued on for nearly 20 years and the inns reputation was undiminished in her experienced hands. Praise for a large dinner catered for by Mary Ann at the end of her first year without George stated that the catering was of the type "calculated to sustain the high reputation of the Greyhound as a first rate provider" with excellent wines and plentiful bowls of punch. 

When Mary Ann passed away, her Marlow born and yet unmarried son George Sheppard Abbott would take over. His two teenage siblings Mary Ann and William lived with him along with two young live in servants. George junior was only 21 himself, and although he must have grown up learning the ropes, it was a big establishment for him to take on. He seems to have done well in all aspects but yet again, an untimely death would take George away. He died in 1876 when in his mid 20s. His wife Jeanette was granted the equivalent of a hold-over licence so she could continue legally trading until the next annual licencing day, when she gave the Greyhound up and Job Palmer took over. The Abbott family had been in charge of the inn for more than 30 years..

More information:

List of landlords for the Greyhound and timeline - here

Index of other posts about pubs, inns etc here

You will find every mention of an individual and family here on the A-Z person index on the top drop down menu. 

Written and researched by Kathryn Day. 

SOURCES

1851, 1861, 1871 and 1881 census from the transcripts transcripts made of the originals by Jane Pullinger and Charlotte Day. 

Slater's Commercial Directory 1852. 

South Bucks Free Press 14 & 21 Jan 1859, 4 August 1860, 24 Jan 1862 & 29 November 1862 British Library Archive. 

Royal County Directory (J G Harrod & Co, 1876)

Chief Register of Friendly Societies, GB House of Commons, HMSO 1878. 

© MarlowAncestors

Will Summary John Rolls Proved 1857

 John Rolls of Great Marlow, coal and timber merchant. Written 1854. Proved 1857. See codicil below too. I found this will quite hard to read. I have done my best but recommend you obtain your own copy from the National Archives if this will is particularly important to your family.

Wants just debts and funeral expenses paid.

John Rolls Hoare and Thomas Rolls Hoare sons of my sister Ann Hoare 1 shilling each to mark my ....e of their....

My brother and I occupy a freehold property at the foot of Marlow Bridge in the parish of Bisham Berkshire which formerly belonged to our father. It comprises grounds, warehouses, ....., a meadow and gardens bounded in the North by the River Thames, and in the East by the Compleat Angler's Inn and in the South partly by the road to the Compleat Angler's Inn and partly by the old road called Bisham Lane and in the West by Church Meadow or land belonging to ...Davenport Esq. This property is being used by the brothers in their joint business partnership as coal and timber merchants. This all to my brother's use for his life, him keeping the buildings in good repair. Afterwards estate to go to Reverend Green of Shepton M...w in Gloucestershire who was the son of Mary Green who used to live in Great Marlow and his heirs. If he has none then estate to Osmund Rolls Green another son of Mary Green. If Osmund has not disposed of the said property in his life or in a will and has no legal heirs then property to the eldest of my bothers or sisters then living.

Dial Cottage on the Causeway which is in the occupation of Frederick Berger under a lease assigned by me to Robert Collins is willed to "the said" John Green (the Revd?). If John has no heirs, and has not disposed of it in his lifetime or by a will then to Osmund Rolls Green and his heirs. If he too has no heirs and has not disposed of the property in his lifetime or by way of a will then property to the eldest then living brother or sister of mine.

£10 each to brothers Thomas, Charles and George Rolls. Thomas's is in addition to what he is left as a thank you for being an executor of the will.

Sisters Ann, wife of John Hoare, and Jane Rolls £10 each.

£10 to be equally distributed between the sons and daughters of my bargeman Thomas Sparkes late of the Barge Pole pub. [More on Thomas here]

Executors £10 each as thank you.

My residual estate to the said John Green with one moiety of it left to Osmund Rolls Green.

Executors brother Thomas, John Green as above, Osmund Rolls Green as above, Edward Mason of Thames Side Windsor, coal merchant.

Witnessed by MJ Rippingham Great Palson Street London and Charles Tompkins of 20 Colet Road, Commercial Road, East London.

CODICIL. WRITTEN 1855.

John Green my gold ring and the rest of my jewellery to Osmond Rolls Green.

The legacy given to the children of Thomas Sparkes to be divided equally between John and Osmond above.

Codicil witnessed by Ralph Spicer*, solicitor of Great Marlow, and William Weaver, clerk to Mr Spicer.

The will was proved by three executors only. Edward Mason had renounced his role as executor.

Transcribed and summarized here by Charlotte Day from the original will at the National Archives, Kew.

*biographical post on Ralph Spicer here

©Marlow Ancestors.

Shelton Grave Bisham

 "Sacred to the memory of Mr Richard Shelton. 

Richard sadly slit his throat in a "most determined manner" with a penknife in March 1845. 

He was the steward for the Bisham Abbey Estates of the Vansittart family. He also kept a farm there. 

Richard was executor of the will of Bisham inn landlord Thomas Smith 1833. For more see here.

©Marlow Ancestors. 

To find other grave images see the index here

To find every mention of an individual or family here check the A-Z Person Index in the top drop down menu. 

Hawkins Farm Occupiers and Timeline

 Mixed farm on the road to Frieth. 1833= 93 acres. There was a long history of gypsy families pitching their tents on a piece of rough grassland next to the farm and its environs were also a magnet for blackberry pickers coming up from Marlow in the 1800s. Hares were once abundant in this vicinity.

Occupiers of Hawkins Farm (who are not normally the owners) Gaps in dates are gaps in my knowledge. I will endeavour to fill them all in as I wade through my old research notes or do new research=

1833= RH Russell. Owned by William Robert Clayton of Harleyford. 

1841= Richard Russell (census). His aunt Martha and sister Emma live with him. Note this is clearly the Henry Richard Russell mentioned below going just by "Richard".

1842= Henry Richard Russell. Henry seems to own the Coach and Horses pub in Marlow.

1851- Henry R Russell (census). Wife Susannah, aunt Martha Russell, sister Emma Russell and nephew Charles Russell also present and three live in servants.

1854- Henry Russell (Kelly's Directory).

1855-65. Richard Blackwell. Tenant. He may have given up Hawkins following the damaging fire at the farm which saw two horses burned to death in his stables and building damage. [Reading Mercury 23rd September 1865, British Library Archives, via the BNA]. Does not appear to have resided in the farmhouse.

1865-77 Thomas Elliot who went bankrupt. Tenant. Wife Mary.  Grew corn, wheat. Raised cattle, pigs. In 1875 his 13 year old worker Stephen Higgs was killed by a runaway cart while gathering hay at the farm. 

1882-87 William Creswell / Cresswell tenant to Mr Crossman. William was a troublesome man himself and it seems that his workers weren't much better= William Swadling his carter was fined for being drunk in the Hand and Flowers, Thomas Bird his carter was warned for prolonged blocking of the road with his cart in Marefield and John Jones his general agricultural labourer was fined for working a horse with an open pressure wound under its collar. Full biography of William Cresswell / Creswell here.

1901-02 (probably by 1897). Henry Brown, a cattle dealer. Wife Mabel. They moved to Harleyford Farm by 1911.

1924= Miss Potts?

1939= Sidney Keene. The Keene family seem to have remained in possession till at least the 1950s but that is beyond the limit of our blog.

To find all mentions of any individual on this blog see the A-Z Person Index. Thousands are mentioned. Other Marlow and Little Marlow farm histories and occupier posts on this blog are indexed here.

Census information is my transcription or that of Jane Pullinger from microfilm. Census information remains Crown Copyright.

©Marlow Ancestors. You are very welcome to use this information for family or local history purposes with credit to this blog.

From Work-House to Convict Ships - The Brothers Frith

Today's subjects are three young boys who caught my eye amongst the many young residents in the Great Marlow Workhouse in 1841. Charles, Alfred and Abraham Frith aged approximately 15, 13 and 9.  The two eldest are our focus here. There were a number of other Friths resident there then.  Young Charles and Abraham were the sons of John and Maria Frith, and most likely Alfred is their brother baptised 1827. It appears the boy's mother Maria was dead. Their father was not, but he was not with them in the parish house. It was not unusual for children left without a mother to end up in such a place, but sometimes this was only a short lived experience until perhaps the father remarried or another relative could help care for the children. At other times a child or two from a large poor family might be taken in temporarily to relieve the pressure on the household budgets if the breadwinner was out of work. In the end the same reason is behind every admission to the workhouse: poverty. At this time the work house managers were the Reeves, who you can read about in a dedicated post from Charlotte here. The buildings of the former still remain in Munday Dean Lane, just beyond Berwick Road.

Some of the workhouse residents would go on to better things and never return there but unfortunately they were the minority. And none of our three young men were amongst those fortunate few. Abraham reached adulthood but seems to have died young after numerous minor brushes with the law mainly for vagrancy, and just after finishing a 6 month sentence for robbing a cottage in Rotherfield Greys. And both Charles and Alfred would end up as convicts sentenced to transportation. 

Charles goes sheep stealing

Charles received his first conviction for sheep stealing when he was around 16. I'm unsure of his sentence then but it was likely several months in gaol. A youthful age was little defence in the eyes of the authorities. 

To be caught a second time was extremely serious. Charles would have known this as several Marlow men had already been sent to Tasmania as result of the two strike rule. 

Unfortunately in December 1846 Charles and his friend 17 year old Charles Lomax decided to pay a visit to Little Marlow of an evening. While they were there they caught and killed a sheep belonging to farmer William Simmonds of Monkton Farm, butchering it near the scene (more on Monkton Farm and the occupants of it in Charlotte's post here). This was a common practice as it was easier and more discreet to cart away cut up meat than to drive sheep away through the lanes. They did not remove all of their bounty straight away but took some back to Marlow and hid the rest in a bag amongst some bushes. They probably thought it safer not to be carrying too obvious a load all at once. I have read accounts of hundreds of local poaching incidents and this gradual extraction of stolen meat seems quite common, despite the obvious risks of constantly returning to the scene! Frith took some of his share back to John Badger's beer-house in Chapel Street, Marlow where he was probably lodging. He asked the daughter of the house, Jane, to cook him some of the mutton for his dinner. Most recovered stolen meat ends up sold to the likes of butchers and beer houses prepared not to ask too many questions. Eating some yourself, except some of the offal, was less common it seems. It doesn't mean those stealing it weren't hungry but may be because the sold meat could generate more food if  the profit was then invested in cheaper ingredients. 

The two men were seen near the farm but not immediately with any sheep so although their presence was noted as somewhat unexplained, they were not instantly challenged. Later the sheep were missed. A search for them found a skin marked with "S" for owner Simmonds in a copse adjacent to the farm. Aaron Simmonds, the nephew of farmer William, was the one to make this discovery. He said the animal had been badly - that is unprofessionally - butchered,  and the mark was partially obscured so he could not positively identify it but unfortunately for the Friths, the other witnesses could. The skins, always marked, were usually left behind as they were the most incriminating evidence to be found on your person. A more thorough search uncovered the Frith's bag of stolen meat. After some consideration about the best thing to do it was decided to return the bag to its hiding place and watch, with the aid of one of the parish constables, to see who would come back to claim it and in doing so proclaim their guilt. The brothers were therefore observed as they pulled the bag out of the hedge and were known by name to those watching so escape was unlikely. They were not however arrested immediately, perhaps it was the intention to follow them a little in case they lead the way to any other accomplice. If so this was ruined when Richard Clark, engaged in hedging near the copse, was seen by the Friths during their exit. They were clearly surprised, and now carrying a suspicious bag, they panicked and immediately began to run. Richard called out for them to stop, declaring that he knew them well so fleeing  was pointless although he said the latter to their fast disappearing backs. Of course they did not stop, but ran towards Great Marlow. It was now rapidly getting dark and perhaps they hoped any identification would be vague. Then about three quarters of a mile from Little Marlow and in Marlow Fields their flight ended in the arms so to speak of Marlow Parish Constable Richard Davis. He had been alerted about the thefts earlier. He saw Lomax first, who was searched with nothing untoward found upon him. Frith, slowed down by carrying the bag, had now caught up, but on hearing Davis had tried to drop the incriminating bag. As it was now dark he might have hoped this action would not be seen, but in the quiet, it was heard. A knife and cords (for tying animal legs) was found on Frith, and Davis soon found the dropped bag as Frith had had no real opportunity to hide it. With the help of Parish Constable Thomas Walker,* the two were taken into custody. 

They appeared before the magistrates which at that time met in a hired room in the Crown hotel. They were then sent to Aylesbury Gaol to await trial at the Quarter Sessions. The verdict was inevitably one of guilty for both men. The Berkshire Chronicle described Frith as a "notorious thief and sheep stealer" on his arrest although it appears he was suspected of being involved in more offences than he was ever convicted of. Lomax did not have a previous conviction for sheep stealing and so he received a 12 month prison sentence. But things were quite different for Charles Frith. A previous conviction meant an inevitable sentence of transportation, in this case for 10 years. Of course this was the same as a life sentence in many ways. I can find no evidence that Charles Frith ever came back to Marlow. He was transported on the convict ship Eden under Captain Murdoch, which left on the 30th September 1848 and arrived in Hobart, Van Diemens Land on the 21st January 1849.

Alfred Frith Follows 

Charles may have beaten Alfred to the convict ships, but it was Alfred who had actually troubled the courts for longer. 

In 1843 the Union Workhouse at Saunderton was opened to replace the local workhouses. Before long Alfred would be only too familiar with its interior. He was there in 1844 when he was accused of damaging the stove inside, alongside another youth. The boys defence was not recorded in the sources that I found. But their efforts were rewarded with 2 weeks in prison. It appears he flitted in and out of the workhouse, presumably between periods of employment. 

In 1846, Alfred was back in the Wycombe Union house. But not I suspect very willingly! For before long he was wanted on the charge of absconding from the place. Alfred was far from alone in making his escape without obtaining official permission. He was supposed to get clearance if he wished to leave for a range of specific purposes eg to look for work or attend a funeral. Or he could give notice of his intention to leave but the authorities would want assurance that he could support himself if doing so (and legally.) The other problem was that Alfred had left wearing a set of clothes belonging to the union. This was regarded as theft. He did not remain at large for long as he was picked up on suspicion of begging (he argued that he was in fact selling combs) and so arrived before the magistrates to receive a 2 month prison sentence. On his arrest he was described by one source as "notorious" but it seems that like his brother, he was suspected of involvement in more petty crime than he was actually convicted of. Those like Alfred who spent at least some time as an itinerant seller were often treated with much suspicion. 

Alfred saw the magistrates again early in 1847 for vaguely described "misbehaviour" in the Wycombe Union Workhouse. He had a co accused, and both were sentenced to 6 weeks imprisonment. It's fair to say Alfred was not going to settle quietly into life in such a place. 

Alfred's official job was as a tailor. But it does not seem he had much luck with maintaining this employment! 

In 1848, 20 year old Alfred would get into much more serious trouble. He had previously served a months sentence for a theft of turnips from a field in 1845. Now he was found guilty along with a 22 year old accomplice James West, of stealing three heifers from Benjamin Reeves of High Wycombe. Theft of livestock was not treated lightly, and although both plead not guilty, the case was regarded as an open and shut one. They were sentenced to 7 years transportation each. James West was quickly transferred to the Defence Hulk at Gosport to await a space in convict transport ship. Rebellious Alfred stayed initially in Aylesbury Gaol but his conduct there was regarded as "troublesome". It was considered that he was "unfit" to be put in solitary confinement so he was transferred to the larger and harsher Millbank prison in London in late 1849. The prison suffered a severe cholera outbreak shortly afterwards and a number of inmates were transferred to a "convict station" or temporary prison at Thorncliffe Barracks in Kent. He was still there at the time of the 1851 census. It could take some time for convicts to leave. I have not been able to trace which ship he left on (records are not complete) but I will update this post if I recover this info or any further information. 

FURTHER INFORMATION:

Other posts related to Great Marlow convicts, and law and (dis)order can be found in the index here

To find all posts mentioning a family or individual here, see the A-Z person index in the top drop down menu. There's over 6,000 people listed there. 

*More about parish constable Walker here

Written and researched by Kathryn Day. 

Sources include:

1841 census and parish register transcripts from the microfilm and originals by Jane Pullinger 1970. 

Bucks Advertiser &Aylesbury News, November 1846,  January & March 1847, February 1849 - British Library Archive and accessed via the BNA Partnership. 

Bucks Gazette February 1845 & 1847, as above

Bucks Herald September 1849 & January 1850 as above. 

Oxford Chronicle and Reading Gazette January & February 1850

Berkshire Chronicle December 1846, as above. 

The National Archives (TNA) : HO 11/15, pp.333-347

Australian Joint Copying Project. Microfilm Roll 92, Class and Piece Number HO11/15, Page Number 333 (168)

© MarlowAncestors