The Marlow British Schools *Updated September 2025*

 If you try and find what schools your ancestors went to in any town, you will quickly come across references to both "British" and National schools, and later "Board" schools as well. The National schools, run under principles of the Church of England, are well known in Marlow, as they survived a long time. Marlow's British Schools didn't last long enough to leave much record behind, and so it was once thought that Marlow never had any. These were schools established by the "British and Foreign School Society for the Education of the Labouring Classes of Every Religious Persuasion"  - in reality they appealed to non conformist families. Given that Marlow had a number of non conformist places of worship and they had a tradition of promoting education, it did not seem likely that no British school was established in our town. So I began a search and can now confirm we had both a Boys and Girls British school in Marlow in the 1850s. They may not have lasted decades but there would have been a small group of children who had most of their education in one of the schools. 

A meeting was held at the Salem Chapel (aka the Independent Chapel/Congregational Church, now the Christchurch URC, Oxford Rd) in 1852 to discuss the desirability of setting up a British School. The response was positive, and fund raising began immediately. The supporters were naturally from mostly non conformist families, and those who were identified as supporters of the liberal political  fraction (the two tend to go hand to hand in Marlow). The latter is probably why the use of the town hall, which was under the control of the conservative MP, was refused for the meeting. The fact a prominent guest was the unsuccessful Liberal candidate in the recent election, Jacob Bell, probably didn't help either. Later the school idea was identified as proceeding from the supporters of Bell. Although he was not a Marlow man, to his credit he maintained an interest in the school for this place he was not in the end elected to represent. No doubt he had half an eye on future election opportunities here. But he had campaigned on the extension of the vote (including to women) and he said such voting rights would be meaningless if not backed by good quality non sectarian education for the voters. 

In February 1853, a second meeting was held, to proudly announce that support had been sufficient to allow for the establishment of the boys school which would open on the 1st March. The meeting was said to have far outstripped any similar public one "as regards numbers or respectability". After the meeting proper, there was a fundraising tea and exhibition of penmanship and drawings from the pupils of the British School High Wycombe. The ladies organising the tea provided the food to the school for free, so every penny of the sale of tickets could be regarded as profit. 

It was always intended to begin one for the education of girls too, but they decided to start with boys because it was there they could, at the time, be most confident of generating enough demand to support the school. They also intended to build a permanent dedicated school building but until then they would use a temporary home. I am not certain which building(s) they adopted at first. I can see references to places they held various events and meetings such as public examinations and special teas but I can't pin point the location of the boys hired school rooms beyond the fact that they were located somewhere in the High Street in 1856.  I don't believe the British school were able to realise their dream of a permanent specially built school building but this is still being researched. I can say for certain that they had not erected or purchased one by August 1856 as it was noted that £10 raised towards this was sitting untouched in a bank account. A plea was put out to raise the remaining amounts needed in order to save the schools the ongoing cost of room hire. 

A few months after opening, the Boys British School had 71 pupils, a number that had exceeded initial expectations. This encouraged the supporters to move quickly ahead with the girls branch. They were confident it would meet with equal success. In April the list of potential female pupils was fast filling up. Then in August 1853, a fundraising "aquatic excursion" to Medmenham Abbey was organised in aid of the girls, with 500 supporters gathered in the grounds. I believe the girls branch opened shortly after. Jacob Bell addressed this meeting too. Miss Garrett is the first schoolmistress I have found record of as having charge of the young ladies. By 1857 she had been succeeded by Mrs Fincham, the wife of the master of the boys British school. At that point the girls school was located at Albion House of which see below. Mrs Fincham promised a well rounded education including vocal music, water colour painting, drawing, plain and fancy needlework plus all the usual academic subjects. In addition the Finchams offered short courses of lessons in a wide variety of subjects in the form of evening classes at Albion House. For example evening scholars could learn double entry book keeping in 16 lessons or do a short course in higher maths or chemistry. "Terms exceedingly moderate."

Sir William R Clayton gave some medals to the first scholars for good attendance in the first few months of the school's life as well as medals for making good progress in their studies. I wonder if any have survived? 

The mentions of the activities of the schools while they lasted, create an impression of a happy bunch of scholars kindly treated and taught with an enthusiasm that extended beyond teaching them the bare basics of the 3Rs and scripture. For example, the school started a choral society which provided free vocal and instrumental training to the children. This was quite extraordinary for a school catering for working class children and suggests that initial financial support was good. The children's Choral Society met every Thursday to pour forth "beautiful strains that are calculated to gladden and enliven the heart." The children gave a number of performances to the public. Other subjects the children were examined in include history and geography. Rev Thomas Styles of the Independent Chapel took care to test the youngsters religious knowledge. (The first examination took place in the Wesleyan Chapel and endearingly the musical pupils began with a song, and performed another between the tests for each subject. No doubt this provided a happier atmosphere for their equivalent of exam day! The readiness and accuracy with which the youngsters have their answers was regarded as "truly astonishing". The day ended with the choir singing the National Anthem followed by a public tea. The conductor was Mr Teale, organist at the Roman Catholic church who provided his services each week entirely free of charge.)

In September 1857, the boys enjoyed two treat days. On the first they gathered at the "large rooms" in Albion House (known as the Albion Rooms, used by the breakaway congregation of the Salem Chapel, a Catholic School and Borlase at different times, among others. As mentioned above it was in use by the girls British school at this time). Here they gathered for a "bountifully provided" tea accompanied by much laughter and singing. The boys are said to have enjoyed a large helping of cake in particular. They then gave cheers of appreciation for those providing the goodies. Later the boys gathered in Mr Middleton's meadow to play a cricket match. They marched there carrying a flag and a school banner. This seems to be the favoured method for the children arriving anywhere, ideally accompanied by song. It is nice to see how happy many of the occasions enjoyed by the little pupils were. They seem to have played a number of cricket matches, and also went, as a school, to watch others -  yes, marching all the way. 

The last mention I can find of the schools, as yet, dates from 1858. The children were giving their traditional summer recitation to an approving audience, with a prize giving afterwards. Then things go quiet. Thorough listings of existing schools in the 1860's do not mention either of the British Schools. I think a possible explanation is the fairly recent opening of the Oxford Lane infants school, which expanded general schooling provision in the town, although this was a National school and ran along side the British for several years.  There was also a possible indication of falling numbers amid a disagreement among families supporting the British Schools. In 1855, at a celebration tea at the Salem Chapel following the public examination of the pupils of both schools, one of the speakers told the audience to pay no heed to those who would find fault as they seldom contributed anything in their own right and so would not be missed if they left. The school had prided itself in considering applications from teachers of any denomination, including the Church of England. In January 1857, this lead to the appointment of Mr Fincham of London University as master of the boys school. There had been 15 applicants, and Fincham was regarded as the best. But he was a member of the Church of England. This may have upset some parents. Perhaps they thought their children may as well attend the National schools, although Fincham was bound to respect the broad base required for the religious teaching at the school. Nine months later, a different master is recorded, a Mr Baxter*. Another indication of turmoil? Perhaps there were not enough families to support the schools long term in any case. In 1857, when Mr Milne of the Borough Road Institution came to examine the boys, he spoke of the credit that should reflect on the master "for the care taken in providing under great disadvantages a liberal and unsectarian (qv) education" to the youth of the town. The disadvantages spoke of might be lack of sufficient support or perhaps no permanent classroom. The schools clearly had their struggles. 

As a footnote, newspaper reports from 1865 reported a rumour that a British School would again be brought to Marlow.  It was said that land suitable for the erection of a school house and masters residence had already been purchased. Unfortunately there does not seem to have been any truth in this. However a night school was established by the Congregational church in the same year, with 40 pupils enrolling on the first day. Another newspaper in 1868 mentions the want of a British school in Marlow and says it's long been talked of.  There's also a passing reference or two to a day school at the Wesleyan Methodists chapel, separate to the Sunday schools, started about 1858 and still running in 1870. This then might have started around the time the British School was fading, but mentions of it are slim and again it appears in no local guides or directories I've yet encountered. The Primitive Methodists also started a night school for boys and men in 1867, running 3 days of the week in winter only. 

Notes - 

A meeting to set up a Bucks Association of Teachers in British Schools in 1839 listed a teacher from Marlow amongst the attendees, a Mr Greenwood. He was presumably working outside of Marlow, unless there was another short lived British School at this earlier decade? Food for thought. 

The Commitee appointed to organise the foundation and erection of the school were as follows: 

W P Gaskell, J Wright, F Wright, J Meakes, W H Mane, Richard Gibbons, Thomas Fullicks, W Wigginton, Thomas Butler, W Almond,Thomas Wellicome, H C Curtis, Ralph Spicer, George Brangwin, Henry Stallwood, T Ware, W Humphreys jun, G Kidd, J Morgan

* I have traced three further teachers, Mr George Verney, Mr J N Nash and Mr Ringsell. Mr Verney may well be the same man who opens a boys day school in 1856. The Mr Verney of the British school resigned at the same time.  For more see here

To find other education related posts, see our listing here

Written and researched by Kathryn Day. 

 Sources include:

The Education Magazine - Vol 2, 1839, digitised by Google. 

Report of The British Schools Society 1856. 

Berkshire Chronicle 26 February 1853. From the British Library Archive, accessed via the BNA. 

Reading Mercury, 26 February 1853, 6 August 1853, 18 August 1855, 10 January, 25 July & 12 September 1857, 26 June 1858, as above. 

South Bucks Free Press - 30th January & 30th March 1857, November  1865, 20th March 1868 

Mussons & Craven's commercial directory 1863. 

©Marlow Ancestors

The Sorrow of Mary English

Mary English was nee Sneath, the third daughter of prominent Marlow surgeon and apothecary William Sneath and his wife Elizabeth. Her father was in partnership with George Trash for some time, the two working out of William's home. After William's death, George continued the practice, eventually moving it to his own home. Mary was therefore a member of a respected and comfortably off family. But even so, her life was touched by much sorrow. 

William Sneath would have had a room at home set up as a surgery in the most literal sense, and reports suggest that a room also functioned as the apothecary shop. Surgeon and apothecary was the usual pairing of roles in the Georgian era - for more how this worked in practice see our post Call the Apothecary here.  Her mother ran a boarding school for young ladies from their home too, a common "respectable" occupation for genteel ladies to take up for extra income. Some of these schools took just a handful of pupils - most in Marlow were of this type. 

Young Mary was bought up to attend the parish church, but later became a non conformist. Religion featured heavily in her life, and was it seems both the cause and solace of many of her sorrows. As a young girl, she is said to have been affected by the death of a sister who on her death bed exhorted Mary to be mindful of the scriptures. This sister cautioned 12 year old Mary against novel reading in particular. This may seem an innocent occupation to warn against, but it was not uncommon for it to be considered "unsafe" for young women who it was feared could get "ideas" or become over excited. Others approached novel reading as just an indulgence and waste of time that could be better spent on more improving pursuits such as Bible reading. Still others thought it would make girls look less attractive (hunched shoulders!) or would hurt their eyesight. There were a number of booksellers in Marlow High Street that the Sneath girls could be tempted by. These operated as circulating libraries too, and were open for borrowing by members who paid a subscription. One advertised that all the books he offered had been personally approved as suitable for young women by the vicar! This attitude lingered a long time, and was one of the reasons that when Marlow got its first literary Institute with library, so few of those who borrowed books were female. It does not seem little Mary needed much warning however. A later "memoir" written about Mary described her as a child with "uncorrupted morals" and a mild character. 

Later curiosity led Mary to attend the services of some evangelical and independent ministers, principally Rowland Hill who was visiting Wooburn in 1774. Rowland is an interesting man in his own right, a famous preacher in his day. He was an advocate for the smallpox vaccine amongst other things  His arrival was likely to have attracted lots of those wanting to see a well known speaker in person but in Mary's case, his words were said to have struck a chord. He remained in contact with her ever after. It is likely that Mary attended Marlow's own Salem Chapel at this time. In any case she came in contact with non conformists and Quakers, and through the former she met her future husband pastor Thomas English. 

Thomas was born in 1751 in Oxford, to a family of worshippers at the established church. He also counted his transference to the non conformist community to the experience of hearing a preacher who struck a spiritual cord with him. In his case he was just 14, and sent to live in London to learn a trade. It was later said the young Thomas had experienced physical, emotional and verbal abuse from the family he lodged with at this time. They found his new found piety a source of amusement and an excuse to ridicule him. But he succeeded in becoming ordained in 1775, the same year he married his first wife Susannah Evans. After serving in a number of locations, Thomas & Susannah moved from Gosport in Hampshire to Wooburn. But within weeks tragedy struck, and Susannah died. 

Thomas would go on to marry our Mary Sneath in 1779. Of the couple's 5 children, only two Eliza/Elizabeth and Thomas, survived their mother. Two of the lost children died within days of each other, one while the funeral of the first was ongoing. This terrible loss was difficult for Mary to recover from. "Her countenance very strongly depicted the most affecting expressions of grief." The children had suffered painful lingering deaths, and Mary's faith was tested. She began to question if she had missed something in their care that may have made the difference between life and death. There was nothing any could do, but the poor mother could not rest. It was said that she couldn't stay quiet for long before breaking out in fresh remembrance of the children's suffering. The force of her "accumulated distress" was causing a nervous collapse as they termed it. It seems that Mary's voicing of her anger at God and fear that she was being punished for some unknown sin, was believed by some to be the voice of the devil speaking through her. And Mary began to believe the same. She is said to believe the devil had bargained for her soul, and that God was too disappointed in her to claim it back. It sounds as though she suffered a total mental collapse. Afraid to receive sacrament in case it prompted a "satanic assault", Mary must have been terrified. Poor Thomas did what he could for her, and she also befriended a group of Quakers in Maidenhead who were said to give her some comfort. At last Mary regained enough strength to travel to Brighton to take the sea air and waters. It was a fashionable place for invalids to go although the future city was nothing like the size it is now. The sea cure certainly worked its charm on Mary, and after some time she was able to return home. Of course, such grief as she had experienced as well as her spiritual trauma, could not really disappear overnight, and she continued to suffer some episodes of acute mental distress. But at least she enjoyed one period of "sweet serenity of mind". 

Mary died on the 2nd October 1794. She caught a cold (as they thought it) during a visit to Bristol with her husband. This affected her severely and she scarcely made it home. She never recovered, suffering a broken blood vessel and then a painful final illness. Thomas was said to leave her side as little as possible and he was there, along with her sister, when she finally went to her rest.

***

Her mother Elizabeth's will was published on this blog here. Elizabeth was nee Webb - more about her family here.

Mary's sister Sarah's will is on the blog here

To find all mention of your ancestors here, use the A-Z person index in the top drop down menu. 

More Marlow church, chapel religious history content can be found on the menu under Church Related.

Written and researched by Kathryn Day. 

©Marlow Ancestors.

Sources include: 

The Evangelical Magazine, May 1795. 

Christian Herald, June 19 1815 - digitised by Google. 

Memoir of Rev Thomas English, digitised by Google. 

The Annual Register (Longman, Green 1801)

 

The Eagles Have Landed- in Spittal Street!

 Joseph Eagle or sometimes "Eagles" ran a grocery shop in Spittal Street Marlow. This was close to the old Greyhound Inn. Sadly neither building still exists. Joseph was on the premises by 1833.

He and his wife were worshippers at the Salem Chapel now known as Christ Church (United Reformed) in Quoiting Square. Their daughters Charlotte and Elizabeth were baptised there in 1811 and 1812 respectively (but born 1809 and 1811). There was also a known daughter Harriet born circa 1818. I didn't see her baptism in the microfilm images I was studying but I may have missed it, ditto the son William and daughter Ann who appear on the censuses or other known daughter Keziah. They were probably just on another reel of film.

The register gives Elizabeth and Charlotte's mother as an Elizabeth which is puzzling as their father appears as married to an Ann on the census and a Joseph and Ann Courtney married in 1809, before the births of Charlotte or Elizabeth. 

Daughters Harriet and Elizabeth did not marry and acted as assistants in their father's shop during his lifetime. In 1840 a bad shilling was passed in payment to Harriet but the Marlow constables were already on the trail of the culprit and caught him while he was still in Eagle's shop.

Three years later a boy called Thomas Plumridge was sentenced to three days in jail for stealing a piece of pork from the shop.

Joseph died in 1871. Elizabeth and Harriet took charge of the business in his place. In 1879 Benjamin Green* appeared in court charged with stealing a bottle of sweets and a bottle of sherbet from them while Harriet was on duty behind the counter. He had moments earlier in the same courtroom been jailed for 3 months for poaching so the second charge was not pressed.

Elizabeth died in 1880 after which Harriet carried on with the assistance of her young niece Ann Cheer (daughter of her sister Ann AKA Annie). Harriet died in 1893. 

Her sister Charlotte married James Sawyer the baker at the age of 17. She ran the Sawyer's bakery in West Street for many years as a widow. See an image of the site of those premises and read more about Charlotte  here

Keziah Eagle's husband Jason Povey got into trouble for accepting a bribe to vote a certain way during one of Marlow's many notoriously corrupt elections. More on that and Jason in future.

For other shopkeeping Marlow families see the Biographies Of Families option on the top drop menu. And for other post related to shops see the Specific shops, schools etc option on the same menu.

Researched and written by Charlotte Day. 

*Benjamin Green went on something of a one man crime wave in 1879. Early in the year he was acquitted of a charge of stealing a substantial amount of money from his employer Harriett Anthony of the High Street. At the same session he was also acquitted of stealing a pair of boots from Battings. However both the boots and the money were found later, secreted in the stables where Benjamin had worked.  He had claimed to have seen a man run out of the garden at the time of the robbery but it was a lack of footprints on bare soil to support his story that caused the police to be suspicious in the first place. 

Sources:

Bucks Herald 14th March 1840 and Bucks Gazette 11th March 1843. Reading Mercury 1st February 1879. Copies held in the British Library archives and accessed via the BNA March 2021.

My transcription of images of Salem Chapel baptisms on microfilm #007765132. Provided by the LDS church, Intellectual Reserve Inc.

1883 Kelly's Post Office Directory  published by Kelly's Directories Limited

1839 Robson's Commercial Directory. University of Leicester Archives.

1853 Mussons and Cravens Directory. University of Leicester Archives.

1844 Pigotts Commercial Directory.

Census 1841-91

1833 parochial assessment. Original handwritten notebooks held by my family and transcribed by me.

©Marlow Ancestors. You are very welcome to use my research for family or local history purposes with credit to this blog and a link here so that the sources listed above don't lose credit for contributing.

Pig's Feet For A Shilling Or A Whipping- Your Choice!

 

UPDATED AND CORRECTED NOVEMBER 2024

Text and research by Charlotte Day, Image by Kathryn Day.

From at least the 1820s until around 1901 the Sawyer family ran a bakery here.

Robert Sawyer came first. By 1833 he had given over the business to his son James (born 1803) and gone to run a pork butcher's shop nearly opposite it. Robert's wife died after getting a piece of food, probably a piece of bread, stuck in her throat (thanks to Stephen Martin for this information).

In the handwritten 1833 parochial assessment notebooks which my family has Jame's premises were described as a house, yard, flour lofts and sheds and had an annual value of £12. Only two doors away was another baker's shop operated by Henry Menday.

In 1851 a Henry Howard received six weeks hard labour for stealing a 2lb loaf from the shop.

After James' death his widow Charlotte took on the helm but she had been behind the counter long before that. In 1879 her scales were found to be slightly deficient during a routine inspection. Nearby baker Owen Wright who had taken over Menday's premises was similarly found wanting*.

As well as bread Charlotte had a line in pig feet, or at least she did in 1859 when an 11 year child James Harris stole one from a dish on her shop counter. The price was a shilling - or for little James, a whipping. The judge in the case decided to be "merciful" and thus ordered that the punishment could be carried out in private rather than in the usual public manner. As well as pig feet Charlotte had a sideline in other groceries and vegetables.

A definitely more merciful sentence was handed down to a "girl" Emma Anderson who stole a 4lb loaf of bread from Charlotte in 1872. She only had to suffer a day in jail.

After Charlotte retired her son James ran the bakery business but she continued to live with him on the premises. You can read more about James (unfortunately it's not a happy read!) and another son Owen in a post here. I will just add here that under the stewardship of James the family suffered a serious fire on the premises when heat from a bread oven caused part of the timber structure of the building to catch fire. James was just a stone's throw from the fire bell which could be rung to summon the Marlow Fire Brigade. Both the fire and water damage to the building were severe with the family losing much of their furniture and it was feared that only demolition of the premises would be an option. That however seems to have been avoided. A few years later James sold his business to baking rival Charles Carter who did not intend to operate from the premises.

The Morgan family owned the actual building of the bakery. It had once belonged to the church.

Charlotte Sawyer, the wife of James Senior was the daughter of Spittal Street grocer Joseph Eagle and Elizabeth his wife. (Read more about them here) Her birth family were worshippers at the Salem Chapel in Quoiting Square now known as Christ Church. There she was baptised at the age of 2 in 1811. She married her husband aged 19. 

* Many thanks to Stephen Martin for providing information and corrections for this post*

For the involvement in political bribery of Charlotte's brother in law Jason Povey see here

James Sawyer Senior's brother ran the Ship Inn in West Street close to the bakery.

Researched and written by Charlotte Day, photo by Kathryn Day. 

* Many thanks to Stephen Martin for providing information and corrections for this post*

To find other West Street content see the "Specific Shops, Streets Etc" option on the menu. For all mentions of any individual on the blog see the Person Index *As of August 2023 over 7,500 Marlow-linked people are mentioned here*

Sources:

*Bucks Herald 27th November 1875. Via the BNA and British Library archives.

Reading Mercury 12th Feb 1859. As above.

Bucks Herald 12th April 1851. As above.

South Bucks Standard 6th August 1897, as above.

Census 1841-1901. Transcribed by Jane Pullinger and Charlotte Day from microfilm. All census information is Crown Copyright.

Salem Chapel baptisms transcribed by me from microfilm #007765132 images supplied by the LDS church, Intellectual Reserve Inc.

1833 parochial assessment. Original handwritten record held by my family and transcribed by me.

Stephen Martin's family history research.

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

Occupants From 1702 - Corner House, Marlow

 Updated July 2023

The oldest references to this house usually call it The Corner House but it doesn't seem to have gone by that name for a while. It is on the corner of West Street, in Market Square / High Street. Not to be confused with a later property known as the Corner House on the corner of Institute Road and the High Street. ( For more on that building see the post here ). The property had three rooms per floor in its early days.

In 1702 until at least 1705 the property pictured was occupied by chapman Richard Greydon.

In 1719 Richard Langley made the place his home. He may just have used it as an alehouse.

Joseph Webb, butcher, along with his wife Ann bought the premises in 1743 from the heirs of Thomas Constable, a merchant linen draper from Reading who had owned the property for some years. The grand asking price? £40! At that time a Thomas Wright was the tenant. However Joseph himself occupied the house at the time of his death in 1756. He left the premises to his wife Ann but two years later upon the death she asked her son in law William Sneath the Marlow surgeon to organise the sale of them on her behalf. The property was supposed to belong to Ann only for her lifetime and then descend to her and Joseph's son John and his heirs but she had the consent of her son to sell it (or she would have been illegally selling entailed property)!

The premises were auctioned off at the nearby Crown inn to the highest bidder.

Ann's sole heir was her daughter Elizabeth Sneath which suggests that her son John was dead by then. The will of Elizabeth Sneath herself can be read here. There was an unmarried daughter Mary in Joseph's will too. She, Elizabeth and John were that will's joint executors.

By 1833 Henry Menday / Mendy (born circa 1795) had a bakery in the Corner House. The premises then comprised a garden and yard as well as the main building. The annual value of the property was assessed at £12 then. Henry also occupied a garden and yard opposite with an annual value of £2. His shop was only two doors down from Sawyer's bakery- more about that business here.

Henry continued in the Corner House for some years before he retired in middle age and went to live further along West Street with his wife Mary. He died in 1869.

Owen Wright the baker was in Menday's old premises by 1853 until at least 1884 when there was a failed attempt to break into the shop. Marlow was enduring a little crime wave at the time.

In 1879 when Owen heard that fellow shopkeeper Ann Badger had had a pair of boots stolen from her business he went off in hot pursuit of the suspect, retrieved the boots and handed the man over to the police. Playing cricket probably helped keep him fit!

Owen was no stranger to appearing in court. He twice had to sue men who owed him money. John Jones hadn't paid for £1 worth of bread in 1855, while "MacMillan" owed a whole 4p for flour in 1865. Most Marlow bakers in the 1800s also acted as flour dealers.

In 1879 during a routine inspection Owen was found to have be selling bread at less than the advertised weight, though only marginally so. Near neighbour and fellow baker Charlotte Sawyer was similarly guilty along with a host of other retailers whose scales were found to be in less than perfect working order. You typically were fined for this.

Owen died at home on the premises in 1884 aged just 54. He and his family were worshippers at the Salem Chapel, Quoiting Square which is now called Christ Church. 

The Corner House premises were used for most of the late Victorian period and earlier 20th century as a refreshment rooms or cafe. George Fryer decided on the slightly posher "refreshments caterer" for his occupation when filling out the 1891 census. He listed himself as having a coffee house in the Kelly's 1903 and 1911 trade directories. George was the subject of a number of thefts from his premises, usually of food. One of the most ambitious was the theft of a four and a half pound portion of a German sausage taken from the window in 1887. That was some sausage! The guilty party, a tramp from Aldershot, was seen to put it under his coat and was caught with it still there a little later. His snatch cost him 14 days jail time. 

George and his wife Sarah suffered the death of their eldest child Florence aged 13 in 1893 and insolvency the next year. I'm not sure who occupied the premises immediately afterwards but it was still an eatery.

This blog focuses predominantly on pre 1920s Marlow so we'll leave it there!

To find other High Street / West Street content please see the "Specific, Shops, Streets Etc" index here. All mentions of an individual can be found under the A-Z Person Index options on the menu. Thousands of Marlow people are listed.

Sources:

Will of Joseph Webb 1756, PCC. Copy from National Archives, Kew. Also Ann Webb 1771 and Thomas Constable 1729 as above. All transcribed by me.

Commercial Gazette 15th August 1894. British Library Archives.

1833 parochial assessment original handwritten notebooks, held by my family and transcribed by me.

1841-1891 censuses reels, transcribed by me. 

Property deeds Buckinghamshire Archives.

Kelly's Directory of Buckinghamshire 1883, 1903 and 1911 by Kelly's Directories Limited. Via the University of Leicester.

GRO death index online.

Ipswich Journal 7th January 1758. Bucks Herald 18th October 1879 and 14th April 1855. Copies held at the British Library Archive and accessed by me via the BNA March 2021.

Buckingham Express 2nd August 1884. As above.

©Marlow Ancestors. You are welcome to use this research or the image for the purposes of family or local history research if you credit this blog and provide a link here.

The Troubles Of Minister George Edwards

George Edwards was the Minister of what we now call Christ Church in Quoiting Square between 1806 - 25. (The current building dates from after his time).

The year he took over, his congregation raised over £11 to support the work of missionaries abroad. Seems like he was off to a good start with them but things didn't always go so well.

In 1823 George got into quite some bother after he criticised one of his Sunday School teachers during a service. When I first heard about this case I thought that when it was said  he had "impugned her virtue" that he was referring to some romantic entanglement. But actually his criticism centred upon her allegedly giving her pupils leave not to attend the Sunday School. Margaret was a disgrace to the school he said and if another child was given her permission to be absent she should be banned permanently from the school premises.

You might wonder why George didn't just dispense with her services straight away if he was so unhappy. The court case details reveal however that this was not in his power to do. The school was run by a committee of ladies. This committee was voted for by the church members as a whole. George had one vote like everyone else but no more than that and certainly no power of veto or dismissal.

If George felt this difficult situation would be solved by a public admonishment he was wrong. Some of his congregation were up in arms. Margaret of course was upset. She said that only once had children been given leave not to attend and that was because their mother needed them to watch younger siblings so that she could attend her own church which was the Wesleyan Chapel.

Margaret appealed to Joseph Wright, deacon of the church. He called a meeting of members. How would you feel if a "defenceless female" perhaps your own daughter (Margaret was 24) had been publicly humiliated this way, he asked. Margaret's brother in law Samuel Washbourn asked for a formal and public apology to be made but George refused. Joseph and George exchanged "warm words" but Joseph's motion of censure against George was not seconded. Joseph would later allege that following the meeting he heard George call Margaret a "lying hussey", language which startled him.

Someone tipped off the local papers who presented events as George having lost the goodwill of the entirety of his flock by his actions. The Times newspaper took up the story so it received nationwide attention. Their report said that he had abused his position by using the pulpit for personal invective. That was too much for George and he sued the Times (but not it seems the local papers) for slander on the grounds that he had not lost the goodwill of his congregation or been unprofessional. The sum of 40 shillings damages came his way but the ruling acknowledged that the newspaper version of events was not entirely inaccurate.

The lawsuit had the unfortunate effect of renewed coverage of the original events, and in fact wider coverage than before as local papers from around the country picked it up as an interesting case. In the 1800s these papers routinely filled out their pages with non - local but interesting stories.

Whether Margaret Fair remained as a Sunday school teacher or not I cannot say but George was two more years Minister of the church before he resigned.

Members of the congregation that gave witness to what George said about Margaret were a Miss Smith, Eliza Holding, Mary Anne Stone, Samuel Washbourn, Sarah Puddifant and "John Ceilings" (perhaps John Snelling?). 

All kinds of personal factors were probably at play in this case. Samuel Washbourn admitted he had gone bankrupt previously and that the Minister was one his creditors. Their relationship was no longer good.  Margaret said that George had never been one of her favourite preachers. Perhaps he had discerned that fact and felt upset. Perhaps the fact she was aiding a Wesleyan worshipper rankled with him, or his falling out with her brother in law Washbourn meant he had less patience than otherwise with that family. 

It's a pity as the school was a pet project of George's and Margaret had been willing to be an unpaid regular teacher there since she was only 17. Everyone but George thought she was a lady of "spotless virtue". He and she could have been a great Sunday School team!

George died in Stonehouse near Plymouth Devon in 1833. His obituary said he had been ill for a number of years but still sometimes preached sermons in the Plymouth area. It is possible that this ill health contributed to him leaving Marlow. At the time of the 1823 court case he was said to be a married man with 5 children. The Manse he lived in at Marlow was in Chapel Street and was acquired during his tenure as was an additional small meeting place in the village of Bisham near Marlow.

Something about the other people in the case:

John Ceiling (Snelling? Selling?) said in his evidence that he was 80. When George Edwards was new in town it was John whose house he first visited. John obviously considered this a sign of distinction.

Samuel Washbourn was a children's clothing manufacturer and embroiderer who lived in Chapel Street next to the Manse at first. Later he moved to Quoiting Square right by the church, probably taking over the home of his deceased brother. A kind and charitable man, as was his brother John. Both suffered bankruptcy in their life.

Joseph Wright was of Marlow Mills. See my post on the Wane family published in April 2021 for a Joseph Wright's further involvement in church troubles. 

Sarah Puddifant- there's a post all about her and her husband James on the blog here

To find other people of interest to you that are mentioned in the blog use the Person Index option on the drop down menu. As of December 2021 there is 3,000 individuals from or connected to Marlow listed there. 

Researched by Charlotte Day. Most of the Salem Chapel/Congregational Church ministers have biographies here on the blog - see the menu  here to find them all. 

Sources:

Evening Mail, 7th July 1823. Copy held at the British Library Archives. Accessed by me March 2021 via the BNA.

The Statesman (London). 7th July 1823. As above.

Reports Of Cases Argued And Determined In The English Courts Of Common Law, Volume 8 by H.C Carey and Lee, 1824. Digitized by Google. Accessed March 2021.

The Evangelical Magazine And Missionary Chronicle, 1833. As above.

History of the Congregational Churches in the Berks, South Oxon and Bucks Association. 1905. WJ Blackett, Newbury.

©Marlow Ancestors. 

*DO YOU HAVE AN ANCESTRAL CONNECTION TO CHRIST CHURCH IN MARLOW? IF SO WHY NOT COMMEMORATE YOUR ANCESTOR BY SUPPORTING THE CHRIST CHURCH PATH OF LIGHT FUNDRAISING EFFORTS - SEE   Here FOR MORE INFORMATION**

The Men Who Built Marlow Part One.

William Bond, a carpenter, architect  and builder born circa 1755, lived in this house in the High Street Marlow by 1822. Access to his yard behind the building was a little before it as you came down the High Street.

He was resident in the the town and working as a carpenter and builder by 1784, I just am not sure if he was in these premises then. Between 1804 and 1805 William built two new buildings for the Royal Military College in West Street [modern Remnantz] for which he was paid over £1000, a fortune for the time. He also carried out building repairs at the college and did carpentry work on Marlow's new Town Hall. 

William died in 1828. He left his business and all his tools like turning lathes, other turning tools, stock of wood and "ironmongery" to his son William Junior. His widow Ann was left his watch and chain, and all their household furniture, plate, china, linen and wearing apparel. She was also to receive profit from the business and act as one of the trustees for other parts of husband's estate. This included a property in Chapel Street Marlow. This no longer exists, it would be under where Waitrose is now, soon to be a Lidl. Ann moved out to Prospect House in Marlow in 1831 to live with her married daughter Rose Faulkner whose husband ran a boys' boarding school there. It is possible that she assisted in the school though she is listed as gentry. 

Anne was the sole executor and one of the residual legatees of the will of her friend Hester Sawyer proved 1830. She also received a silver teapot and other tea accessories from Hester in that will. To read a full transcription summary of Hester's will see this post

After Ann's daughter Rose Faulkner died she moved out of Prospect House to a home in St Peter's Street. A peculiar criminal incident occurred at her home there not long afterwards. While she was away a man disguised as a woman turned up at her house, barged in and started unpacking clothes. This person told Rose's servant Jane Pinner that she was the advance party for a couple and more servants coming to stay with Ann as old friends. The servant knew nothing of such plans and told the other "maid" she was not under any circumstances going to share a bed with her that night as had been suggested. The "maid", "master and mistress" and other uninvited servants refused to leave the house even after others of Ann's employees said they were not known in the household and should leave. Eventually someone found a gun and used it to force the group to leave. Ann on her return confirmed she had never heard of the "master and mistress" who had presented themselves as her old and dear friends. They were never traced. The motivation for this crime is baffling. Burglary seems to be what was suspected at the time but it seems something of an elaborate scheme. Free accommodation?? If the "maid" had not been a man in disguise a lot less suspicion of the group's motives would have occurred. We'll never know I suppose!

 Ann died in 1835.

 On the 1833 parish assessment the main family property in the High Street (photographed above) as lived in by William Junior consisted of a house, yard, workshops, counting house and shed. He also had a wharf down by the river which he probably used to receive timber deliveries.

That year a George Ilsley was jailed for 3 months for stealing a piece of elm timber from William.

As well as carpentry and building William Junior did surveying. He

was one of the building contractors who worked on Marlow's new suspension bridge which was finished after a protracted and very vexatious process in 1832. I have previously written a post all about this where you can read more, see here.

Getting paid for work on the bridge was at times like getting blood from a stone. William Junior would have further trouble later in his life getting paid by a Samuel Tupper and Company for work [I think in London]. He took that case to Chancery.

He was also the builder responsible for the Parish Church in Marlow finished in 1834. The previous 1600s building was, controversially for many locals, knocked down to make way for it.

William built the new Salem Chapel / Congregational Church in Quoiting Square 1839-40 too.

William Junior did not marry. He died in 1856. At the time he owned 12 cottages in Pinkneys Green, 1 in Cadmore End, a large fruit, flower and vegetable garden in Marlow complete with hot houses intended for growing grape vines [This property was called New Field. It seems to have been close to what we now call Glade Road, perhaps on or very near Foxes Piece. But that's just speculation on my part. There was also pig and cow keeping buildings there and a cottage all belonging to William. His dad had owned a garden at "Town End" which may be the same one] plus a meadow with stables, piggeries etc in Spittal Street entered by an archway [Later these were run down and considered an eyesore. This property seems to have been near to where the Methodist Church is now].

Extra note: William Bond the Elder, builder, and William Bond the younger, builder, were appointed executors of the will and trustees of some property of John Rance Lovegrove plumber and glazier of Marlow in 1828.

Ann Bond was a witness to the will of Catherine Allnutt in 1819.

Other children of William Senior and Ann as per William's will=  Sarah wife of William Clabbon, Mary- Ann wife of Daniel Pitt, Martha (then deceased) wife of John Wells, Elizabeth wife of William ?Crove and Ann wife of Edward Bond (yes Bond).

The Men Who Built Marlow Part Two deals with the Corbys and can be found here. Part three is about Young Lovell and is available here

Photographed November 2020.

Sources:

Wills of William Bond, Hester Sawyer and Catherine Allnutt. PCC. Transcribed by me. They are at the National Archives.

1833 Parochial assessment. Original records in the custody of my family. Transcribed by me. 

Reports of cases in Chancery, Kings Bench, and Common Pleas volume 25 Part 1. Digitized by Google. Accessed March 2021.

Bucks Gazette 1st March 1833. Copy at British Library Archives and accessed by me via the BNA March 2021.

Bucks Herald, 18th October 1856, accessed as above.

John Bull, 30th April 1832, accessed as above.

Piggotts Commercial Directory 1831. Copy held by University of Leicester.

Journals of the House of Commons volume 61.

Great Marlow Bridgewardens' papers and accounts, Centre for Buckinghamshire Studies.

England and Wales Censuses transcribed by me from microfilm.

©Marlow Ancestors. You are welcome to use this original research and image for family or local history purposes with credit to this blog and a link here so that the sources listed above remain credited.

James and Sarah Puddifant

James and Sarah (née Tregoe) were a married couple by 1786 when their daughter Ann was baptised at the Salem Chapel (now Christ Church URC), Quoiting Square, Great Marlow. They didn't have far to walk to get to that church living as they did just around the corner in West Street (modern 42). See below.

Sarah was born 1755, the daughter of barber surgeon and peruke maker Timothy Tregoe and Mary his wife. Her family was of Amersham origin.

James was a pawnbroker. On the 1798 posse commitatus (list of those men of fighting age in each town and village) he is stated as lame so his likelihood of being called up to do any fighting was slim.

He was obviously a religious man being a long term subscriber to the biblically inspired poetry of William Lane (on Google Books but really if you haven't read it you are not missing a lot!) as well as being a member of the Marlow branch of the British and Foreign Bible Society. In 1812 he donated £1 2 shilling to them for instance.

James died in 1816- Sarah would live on for another 24 years. Death notices give her age then as 85 so she was born circa 1755.

In his will James calls himself a gentleman. The majority of his personal possessions went to his "dear wife" Sarah and daughter Ann Millard but his sisters Mary, Susannah and Hannah also got a legacy of £10 each, his brothers John and Thomas £2 2 shillings each with bequests also to niece Mary Gray and nephews William Godfrey and James L...b..

There was another daughter Keziah (biblical name, once common) baptised at the Salem Chapel to James and Sarah. Perhaps she did not survive her childhood as neither she or any likely descendants are mentioned in her father's will.

Wife Sarah and a Timothy Tregoe were the will's executors. This was Sarah's brother Timothy Tregoe the watchmaker. By the time the will was proved it was a bit out of date as Timothy had died a few months previously. Sarah was the executor of Timothy's will too and inheritor of all her brother's Marlow property as although he had married Timothy apparently had no surviving issue. What that property consisted of isn't itemised in the will but contained at least one house rented out for profit. Sarah was asked by Timothy to pay out of her rental income 15 shillings a year to a faithful servant he had had.

Sarah continued to live in West Street. From the obituary given to her in the Reading Mercury when she died we know that she spent much time doing good during her life in Marlow. The paper said she had been for over half a century as a member of her church an "exemplar" "an excellent woman" and "attentive friend to the poor". The Aylesbury News agreed that she was well known for her benevolence  and generosity and that she had been every ready to spend time at the bedsides of the sick. "A lady more revered for her kindness" could not be found. 

In 1825 she was amongst those present when the minister of her church, George Edwards, criticised a young Sunday School teacher for allowing children to skip Sunday School, with him implying that this was down to her immoral character. The allegation was seen as extraordinary by many in his congregation including Sarah as was the use of the pulpit to make such a complaint. The falling out of minister and flock over this caught the attention of local and national newspapers. George sued the Times for slander over the nature of their coverage of his troubles. In that slander case Sarah Puddifant was one of those who gave evidence in a London Court about what she had heard the minister say and the aftermath. You can read more about this case in a post specifically about it here

Sarah's will was written in 1838 and proved in 1840 when she was approx 83. She appointed as executors and trustees of her personal property John Gibbons, a fellow West Street resident, and Jabez Millard of Grays Inn London.

The main legatee named was her granddaughter Sophia Harris, wife of John Harris who "by her husband's civil conduct lives with me". Not sure what was going on in that situation! Was Sarah being sarcastic??  As well as the interest from Sarah's investments Sophia got half the household furniture in their home and all residual property Sarah possessed. Grandson Alfred Millard got the rest of the furniture, a share of the principle of the money Sarah had invested and her leasehold property in the village of Penn near High Wycombe (her paternal grandmother Mary had come from Penn).

The rest of the principle of the money she had invested went to her granddaughter Ann Burton.

Witnesses to the will were High Street chemist Robert Footitt, Hezekiah Groom a linen draper of Woolwich and one Daniel Groom.

Extra notes= James and Sarah were both witnesses to the will of Mary Crompton written 1786. Sarah was also witness to the will of Catherine Allnutt written 1819.

Timothy Tregoe was one of the executors of the will of Thomas Ollis landlord of the Three Tuns next door to the Puddifants.

More pub content can be found by looking at the Pub Related option on the menu. All mentions of someone on this blog can be found on the Person Index. To read about others who ran businesses in West Street see the "Specific Shops, Streets...Etc" option on the menu.

Researched and written by Charlotte Day.

**DO YOU, LIKE THE PUDDIFANTS, HAVE A FAMILY CONNECTION TO CHRIST CHURCH? IF SO, YOU MAY LIKE TO COMMEMORATE YOUR ANCESTOR BY SUPPORTING CHRIST CHURCH WALK OF LIGHT FUNDRAISING EFFORTS - SEE  Here FOR MORE INFORMATION**

Sources:

Will transcriptions by me of the wills of James Puddifant, Sarah Puddifant, Catherine Allnutt and Mary Crompton. All wills obtained from the National Archives.

The Report of the British and Foreign Bible Society, 1812. Digitized by Google.

Property records held by my family.

The English Reports [law] volume 130. W Green. 1912.

Reading Mercury. January 25th 1840. Copy held in the British Library and accessed via the BNA.

Baptisms of Ann and Keziah Puddifant Microfilm of Independent Chapel Great Marlow baptismal registers, library of the LDS church.

Posse Comitatus from Jane Pullinger who went to the LDS Family History Library.

©Marlow Ancestors. You are very welcome to reuse content for family or local history purposes if you credit this blog and link here. Thanks.

Irving / Morgan the Drapers

The above Marlow High Street premises (photographed in March 2021) have a long history of selling clothes and drapery.

The first certain occupier of the premises was William Irving linen draper who was in situ there by 1824.

In the 1832 Post Office Directory by Kellys the business is listed as operated by William and Mary Irving. Whether Mary was William's wife or other relative it doesn't say. As well as being linen and woollen drapers they were mercers (that is sellers of silk and satin) and fire insurance agents.

William at least was still there in 1833 when his premises consisted of a shop (which would be part of the house), house and garden together worth £20 a year.

There is an excellent chance that William was a descendant of the Christopher Irving linen draper and chapman of High Street Marlow who died insolvent in 1778. The use of the name Christopher stretched back generations in the Marlow Irvings. 

They were members of the Congregational Church / Salem Chapel in Quoiting Square as were the next occupiers of the premises (by 1840), the Morgans who ran the business for decades. They too sold insurance as well as drapery.

First came John Morgan baptised at an Independent Chapel in Newport Pagnell in 1800 to William and Elizabeth Morgan. John and his wife Eliza were in Marlow by 1833.

Mr John Morgan the draper's son, while playing at sliding in the slippery High Street (the town's roads being famously bad at that time) was run over by a manure cart in 1840. Thankfully he was not badly injured. This child must have been either James (born 1836) or Joseph (1834) both of whom went on to assist their father in his business. James eventually took over as the proprietor after John retired. Joseph withdrew from the business in 1869.

In 1843 19 year old Harriet Shurley of Littlewick was found guilty of stealing a shawl and parasol from John Morgan's premises. She had come in on a rainy day and asked permission to sit down and shelter there. This was granted. When she left the articles were gone. John went to Charles Susan the pawnbroker a few doors down from him and found that Harriet had tried to pledge the items. Seeing that they were brand new, Charles felt suspicious and would not take them. They were later found, after Harriet was caught and admitted the crime, hidden in a rainwater tub in the yard of William Bond the builder (a post on him here). This was on the other side of the High Street. Harriet had two previous theft convictions in Berkshire so was transported for 7 years. She fainted when she heard the sentence.

It wasn't only in the shop that John Morgan had to watch out for thieves. Isabella Quelch the 16 year old servant girl he employed in his and Eliza's home at the Parsonage in St Peter's Street stole a large number of articles from him and his family in 1873 including 2 gold rings, 2 brooches, some rolls of calico, a pair of sleeves, 15 yards of lace,3 pairs of gloves and some odd ones, 5 pairs of stockings, 4 yards of brocaded silk, a kettle holder, 3 collars, 4 China cups and saucers and somewhat more strangely to us, a quantity of hair (probably for stuffing a mattress or chair.) She was sentenced to one month in jail with hard labour. Her mother Sarah Quelch of Wooburn Common received the same sentence for handling some of the stolen goods. Some of the stolen property belonged to to Morgans' married daughter Elizabeth Greenwood.

As time wore on the Morgans sold more and more ready made clothing as well as the traditional drapery and accessories. They always kept up with the latest fashions and when cycling took off James Morgan was quick to advertise material suitable for being made up into cycling costumes as well as ready made cycling gloves. At Christmas they also added dolls and toys to their offerings. 

By 1903 they were listing themselves as boot and shoe sellers, hosiers, milliners and hatters as well as drapers and outfitters. If you wanted mourning supplies you could also go to them, ditto for blankets or sheets. They were also agents for Dr Jaeger's Sanitary Clothing. Dr Gustav Jaeger from Germany had been making a stir for some years with his assertion that people were routinely being poisoned by wearing non - woollen clothing, especially if dyed a dark colour. Baldness, indigestion, spots on the body, chills, inability to keep up with your dance partner? Your insane wearing of linen is likely to blame. In rare circumstances camel hair was acceptable but otherwise woollen underwear, worn under further layers of wool was the only safe bet. To completely be safe you would also need to have woollen curtains, woollen carpets, woollen chair seats, woollen handkerchiefs etc.

James had married Fanny Havell Wright in 1861. The couple, their son William and daughter Alice were all fundraisers for the town's 1887 Queen Victoria's Jubilee celebrations (of which much more in future). James and Fanny were amongst the organisers of the celebrations as well as fundraisers towards them.

The Morgan family were also actively involved in local politics and their church. John, Joseph and James were amongst the main supporters of Liberal parliamentary candidate Captain Edmund Verney in his unsuccessful attempt at becoming the member for Great Marlow in 1868. He presented himself as an evangelical Christian and friend of the working man. Many of his supporters in town came from the Quoiting Square congregation. John was one of those on the hustings with Verney when the disappointing result of the election was announced.

Verney was eventually elected years later as an M.P for a different place. He was however expelled from parliament after being caught attempting to procure a young prostitute. How sad the devout Morgans would have been if they had successfully helped to elect such a representative!

Speaking of devotion Joseph Wright Morgan was one of those members of his church who took umbrage when minister Thomas Styles decided in middle age to marry a much younger woman. He and other worshipers broke away and held their own services elsewhere in protest. Initially they used hired rooms called the "Albion Rooms" but in 1861 Joseph Morgan organised the building "at considerable expense" of what was later known as the Music Hall or Lecture Hall in St Peter's Street as a place of worship for these breakaway Congregationalists. (Architect Charles Carter). He however opened it to hire for a set low fee to any local or philanthropic group regardless of religious or political affiliation. The fact it was well lit by gas, unlike the town hall at the time, was a major selling point and Joseph generously waived making an extra charge for the gas which was not a given back then! Today this building is the Masonic Centre. The breakaway church members returned to the main congregation in Quoiting Place / Oxford Road after Thomas Styles retirement in 1864. It seems all was eventually forgiven between the two men as when Joseph left Marlow in 1872 and thus his role as superintendent of the Congregational Sunday School, Thomas was one of those invited to his farewell celebration at the school and spoke of how the cause would feel his loss. If you want to read more about Thomas Styles see my post here.

Joseph was also fond of engaging in debates with others via the letters section of the local press about matters theological and political. He served as an overseer of the poor for Marlow and a chairman of the local Sanitary Authority. Eventually he moved to Enfield and worked as a printer.

John Morgan died in 1882, Eliza died in 1873, James in 1903 and Fanny in 1919. The South Bucks Standard reporting the funeral of James said that most businesses in the town shut between 2pm and 4pm as a mark of respect for James that day. The paper said "every sect and creed was represented at his funeral ..the business man, the working man, the nobility and gentry".

The business was then turned into a private company, with William, the son of James in charge. He had already acted as under manager for his father.

After the Morgans came the McIllroys (trading still under the Morgan name for a bit) and then WJ Daniel was in the premises.

Below is the shop in an advert from 1905.

Morgan Grave Photos:

Grave of John and Eliza Morgan in the graveyard Quoiting Square:

John Morgan d Jan 1882 age 82, Eliza d Nov 11 1873 aged 77.

Above: Grave reads:

In loving memory of dear little Ernest, the darling son of Joseph and Mary Jane Morgan, died May 29th 1869 aged 2 years and 9 months. 

Researched and written by Charlotte Day. Photos by Kathryn Day. 

Use the A-Z Person Index option on the drop down menu to search for other people on this blog.

Sources:

GRO Marriage Index from the General Registry Office, online.

The Builder, December 1860 

Property records in my family transcribed by me.

1832, 1869 and 1903 Kelly's Post Office Directories for Bucks etc, by Kellys Directories Limited. University of Leicester Archives.

Mussons and Cravens Commercial Directory 1853. University of Leicester Archives.

Pigotts Directory 1844.

My transcription from microfilm of census for Great Marlow.

Windsor and Eton Express 26th December 1840. Copy held at British Library and accessed by me via the BNA.

South Bucks Standard Feb 8th 1895 and 21st August 1896 as above.

Berkshire Chronicle 3rd June 1843, as above.

 Death Registration Index

Bucks Free Press 26th September 1873, Bucks Free Press Archives.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_Edmund_Verney,_3rd_Baronet

Newport Pagnell baptism. England and Wales Non-Conformist Record Indexes (RG4-8 Public Record Office London) https://family search.org/ark:/61903/1:1FW6B-24M

Andrew Mearns -Marlow Hero no 2

Andrew Mearns was the Minister of the Congregational Church AKA the Salem Chapel in Quoiting Square Great Marlow (now known as Christ Church) from 1863 to 1866.

He was from Ayrshire in Scotland and a member of the General Council of the University Of Glasgow. Andrew started out in life as a teacher before he followed his vocation into the church.

The first thing Andrew did when he took over from Thomas Styles was to set about trying to clear the church's debts accrued following a programme of repairs and alterations that had seen the church closed for some weeks. This he apparently did very quickly. He was also credited with healing divisions  between church members caused by the with some unpopular marriage of former minister Thomas Styles. You can read more about this dispute in my post on Thomas Styles available here

In 1865 Andrew married at Maidenhead Congregational Chapel Annie Knapp from that town. His uncle the Rev. P Mearns of the Coldstream Guards helped conduct the ceremony.

Shortly after the marriage Andrew began advertising for live in pupils to come to him for a "physical, mental, and moral education". Parents were reassured that each boy would be carefully attended- and have his own bed! There were some very poor quality little boarding schools about with pupils crammed in and barely educated or fed so such reassurance was more necessary than you might think. (In 1866 he was living at the house known as the Deanery in St Peter's Street.) He promised both a classical and commercial education, fitting the young gentleman for either trade or further study. A live in tutor was also employed - fellow Scotsman David Muir Connor MA. 

Andrew pops up all over the place as an invited giver of sermons, he was clearly talented in that respect. So much so that he was headhunted away from Marlow by Chelsea Congregational Church in Markham Square London. He had given some sermons there while the church's usual minister was away. Andrew made so great an impression on the congregation that when their minister died suddenly they knew exactly who they wanted to replace him. Two men were dispatched to Marlow to see if Andrew might be open to the idea of moving on. He said that he liked Marlow but couldn't give up the opportunity to work in so large and needy a parish as was being offered to him so Marlow lost him. But Marlow's loss turned out to be many people's gain, as you will see below.

Andrew resigned from the Chelsea church in the 1870s in order to become the secretary of the London Congregational Union, a post he occupied for over 30 years.

Whilst in the post Andrew wrote one of the most influential and important works on the subject of London's suffering poor in the 1800s- The Bitter Cry of Outcast London (1885). Andrew's inquiry into and exposure of the depth of misery experienced by the poor inspired many, many people of all denominations to partake in relief efforts. The profits of the sale of the work went to the London Congregational Union for its work in that field. It's a sad read but well worth it if you are interested in history. It is now in the public domain and can be read for free at https://en.m.wikisource.org/wiki/The_bitter_cry_of_outcast_London

I was already familiar with this work but no idea the author of it had once lived in Marlow. 

Andrew published it anonymously. Another minister William Barton later claimed that he was the author so Andrew had to take action to correct that. Much of his writing was quoted by the sensationalist magazine The Pall Mall Gazette. Andrew was worried this would cause some people to dismiss the work as an exaggerated semi fiction- the magazine was known for such things. But he needn't have worried. Once his name, which carried weight, was known to be attached to the work the right people- those not content to read about suffering without trying to alleviate it- knew it had been compiled by a genuine man.

As I said above a great many people were moved to help London's slum dwellers because of his writing, as well as his speeches.

Andrew and his wife were also instrumental in setting up a convalescent home in East Cliff, Folkstone for needy Londoners. The home was known colloquially as Mrs Mearn's Home. They rightly reasoned that recovering from serious illnesses in homes with no ventilation, overcrowding and in some cases not even any bed to sleep in would be impossible. The sea air was believed to aid recovery and lift spirits too. By 1895 over 3,000 people had passed through the doors of the home. 

Andrew remained in contact with Marlow and advised his former church there when they needed to choose a new Minister. Another sign of his continued place in the affections of his former flock was the fact that he was asked to travel up to Reading to perform the marriage ceremony of William Wright of Marlow to Ellen Silver of Reading in 1874.

Researched and written by Charlotte Day.

Related posts: 

Take a look at the Church Related option on the menu here There is also a Graves option to find more grave photos and an A-Z Person Index in the top drop down menu. 

See Here for a post about fellow Christ Church Minister Thomas Styles. 

And for fellow campaigning Congregational ministers of Marlow Frederick Tavender see here (Education, temperance and church rates) and Revd James Mountain (church rates) here

And here for another post on some other local heroes. 

Poverty in Victorian and Edwardian Marlow here

Sources:

The Congregationalist Volume 10 edited by Robert William Dale and James Guiness Rogers, 1881. Digitized by Google and accessed by me March 2021.

West Middlesex Advertiser and Farm Journal 1866. Copy held in the British Library Archive and accessed by me via the BNA March 2021.

South Bucks Free Press 6th January 1865. As above.

Chelsea In The Olden And Present Times by George Bryan. 1869.

A Portrait of Christ Church 1693-2003 by Jean Ashford. Thank you to Martin Ashford for a copy of this book.

The Quiver, 1895. Digitized by Google. Accessed March 2021.

The Story of Christ Church, Quoiting Square Marlow 1693 - 1986 by Arthur Macarthur. Thank you to Martin Ashford for giving my sister and I a copy of this book.

©Marlow Ancestors. You are very welcome to reuse this research if you credit this blog and link here so that the sources listed above do not lose credit for the information they provided.

**DO YOU HAVE AN ANCESTRAL CONNECTION TO CHRIST CHURCH IN MARLOW? IF SO WHY NOT COMMEMORATE YOUR ANCESTOR BY SUPPORTING THE CHRIST CHURCH PATH OF LIFE FUNDRAISING EFFORTS - SEE   Here FOR MORE INFORMATION**

Thomas Styles Grave and Research

 

Thomas was the minister of the Congregational Church AKA Salem Chapel or Independent Chapel in Quoiting Square, between 1825 and 1863.

On the 1833 Parochial assessment he is living in Chapel Street, next door to one of his prominent congregation members Samuel Washbourne who had both a house and a manufactory dedicated to baby linen on his own premises. Thomas occupied a house and garden with an assessed annual value of £12. Samuel would move in the next few years to a house right by that church. 

In 1839 the first stone of new church building was laid by Rev John Burnet of Camberwell. Despite atrocious weather, attendance was large. Minister Thomas Styles kicked off the event with a hymn, 3 psalms and a "solemn and impressive prayer", before all decamped to a spacious tent to hear further addresses. The words of Thomas and the Rev. Burnell were, according to contemporary reports, "gladdening and inspiring to a large company" - who were probably a little soggy at this point. 

The new building was ready in 1840. Thomas Styles took out a notice in the Reading Mercury to tell the public that his "neat and commodious place of worship, denominated Salem Chapel, will be opened by Divine permission on Wednesday the 1st July 1840". Three sermons would be preached that day in aid of the building fund. Afterwards there was to be a fundraising dinner at the Town Hall. Price 2s 6d.

In 1854 Thomas married a much younger woman, Eliza Ball. Some of his congregation left because of this, hiring their own building for separate worship having failed in attempts to force him to resign. In 1861 Joseph Wright Morgan went as far as to complete their own meeting room- the so called lecture room in St Peters Street, now the Masonic centre. If you have ever wondered at the buildings quasi chapel like appearance, that is the reason why. (Previously they used the Albion Rooms) How this can have made the minister and his wife feel can only be imagined.  But Thomas had many supporters including ministers of other Independent places of worship locally. The Bucks Chronicle, while noting that the wedding of Thomas had caused "much excitement", was clearly supportive too. They branded those who had left the church as those who would be "more than his master" and said the events had inspired "liberty minded and liberty loving gentleman" of the district to get up a testimonial, in part to make up for a potential reduction in income caused by a diminished congregation.

In 1855 the testimonial to show support and sympathy for Thomas was presented to him in the Sunday schoolroom. They gifted him £30, it  also acting as a wedding present.  When Thomas retired he had an annual income of the same sum so that £30 testimonial was worth a great deal. It was noted that donations were not limited to those attending his chapel.

Prominent congregation member Isaac Wane of Barmoor Farm and Red Barn farms lead support for Thomas. In 1860, things would come to a head again. At this point the Albion Room congregation had at least 50 members according to the numbers attending their Good Friday tea that year. The Rev J Rowland of Henley, accompanied by one of his Deacons, was called to the main chapel in his capacity as member of the Bucks and Berks association of Independent Churches and Ministers. He said their attention had been drawn to rumours that not only did Thomas wish to resign, but that his congregation wished to see him go. Thomas replied that he had no knowledge that his ministry was regarded as unsatisfactory, and he would call a special meeting to get to the bottom of the issue. This followed in September 1860 with Sunday School superintendent Mr Fullicks in the chair. Isaac Wane immediately submitted a resolution that far from wishing Thomas to leave, they would earnestly entreat him to continue his labours. This was rapidly seconded and when put to the meeting as a whole, it was found there was not one voice out of the 100 or so present to dissent. Thomas did resign at last in 1863. 

He continued to live with Eliza in Marlow until his death in 1881 age 83. He was described then in obituaries as a beloved, highly respected and eloquent preacher. He was followed as minister by Andrew Mearns.

Eliza moved back to Burnham in Bucks where her parents came from. But after the loss of these and that of her married sister, Eliza decided to return to Marlow. She initially maintained her own household but then went to lodge with the Death family who ran a bakery in West Street. (Elizabeth and Ernest) She was receiving £15 a year from the Ministers Retiring Fund at this point. In her widowhood Eliza chose to attend the Baptist Chapel in Glade Road rather than her husband's old place of ministry. She was much involved in the Baptist Sunday School there. 

She died in 1895 following years of poor health. As her death was sudden it was the subject of an inquest. At this event it was revealed Eliza did not much like any doctors and certainly would not be treated by any Marlow man. A bran and turpentine poultice on the chest was all she would consent to try to treat her chronic bronchitis.

The death was ruled natural.

For more on fellow congregational minister Andrew Mearns, see here

Please also use the Person Index drop down menu to find people of interest to you.

Post researched and written by Charlotte Day with additional research by Kathryn Day. 

Sources:

1833 Parochial assessment, original handwritten notebooks held by my family and transcribed by me. These are being slowly transcribed onto this blog.

The Congregationist (journal) Volume 10 p891. Digitized by Google. Accessed March 2021. [Andrew Mearns info] 

The following newspaper copies held at the British Library Archives and accessed via the BNA March 2021=

Reading Mercury 6th Jan 1855. [Testimonial info] and 27th June 1840 [Church opening]

South Bucks Standard 9th and 15th February 1895. [Long details about the inquest into Eliza Styles]

Windsor and Eton Express 13th July 1839 [first stone laid], Maidenhead Advertiser 16 March 1881 [Thomas obituary], Bucks Chronicle 25th November 1860 [Resignation sought] South Bucks Free Press 14 April 1860 [public tea]

GRO Marriage Registration Index.

1851-91 Censuses, transcribed by me from microfilm except 1881 which was from Familysearch.org. Accessed February 2020.

A Portrait of Christ Church 1693-2003 by Jean Ashford, 2003. [Info on years of Thomas's ministry]. Thanks to Martin Ashford for a copy of this book.

©Marlow Ancestors. You are very welcome to use this research and image for family or local history purposes. Please credit this blog and link here so that our sources listed above remain credited for the information they provided.

**DO YOU HAVE AN ANCESTRAL CONNECTION TO THIS CHURCH? IF SO, YOU MAY LIKE TO COMMEMORATE YOUR ANCESTOR BY SUPPORTING CHRIST CHURCH PATH OF LIGHT FUNDRAISING EFFORTS - SEE   Here FOR MORE INFORMATION**

A post on Thomas's successor Andrew Mearns is available here

And one on the Morgans here. Other minister biographies and information about other chapels, churches etc can be found in the index here

A post on Issac Wane is available here

Another of the church's Ministers George Edwards had a lot of trouble with his congregation too. You can read about it here