Answers

  EVANS, Puttenham, 19th century

February 2002

Misty  (Mistyhawk12 @t worldnet.att.net) is looking for any information on Thomas Evans who was born September 24, 1796 in Hertfordshire. I know he married Sophia _____, who was born on February 2, 1808 in Hertfordshire. One of their children was named Emily and Emily married Henry William Long on October 6, 1887. Emily was born June 18, 1853 and died April 22, 1927. [Original query on Rootsweb Boards > Localities > United Kingdom and Ireland > England > Hertfordshire > General]

The family of Thomas and Sophia Evans were living in the tiny rural parish of Puttenham (total population 142) in the hamlet of Astrope (which had 86 of the 142 people) in the 1851 census.

Thomas Evans

Head

52

Agric Lab

Buckland, Bucks

Sophia Evans

Wife

40

 

Eaton Bray, Beds

Betsey Evans

Dau (Unm)

17

Straw Plaiter

Puttenham

Mary Evans

Dau (Unm)

14

Straw Plaiter

Puttenham

Hannah Evans

Dau (Unm)

12

Straw Plaiter

Puttenham

George Evans

Son

10

Straw Plaiter

Puttenham

Joseph Evans

Son

5

Scholar

Puttenham

Sarah Evans

Dau

2

 

Puttenham

All the male heads of households in Puttenham were either farmers or worked on a farm, with the exception of Thomas Gray who was a sawyer and parish clerk. The nearest towns to Puttenham are Tring, Herts, and Aston Clinton, Bucks. Buckland was immediately over the county boundary into Bucks, while Eaton Bray was a bit further away in Bedfordshire.

Misty  (Mistyhawk12 @t worldnet.att.net)  replied That could very well be them. Some names of the children vary a little from my family bible but then, we all know how census goes when it comes to names. The only thing that conflicts is the age of Thomas and Sophia. My Thomas would have been 54-55 in 1851 and my Sophia would have been 42-43. Here are the names as listed in my family bible:

Thomas Evans - born September 24, 1796
Sophia Evans (his wife) - born
February 2, 1808
Their Children:

1. Mary - married and went to New Zealand
2. John - Joined the Army and was killed in India
3. Bessie - married name Archer
4. George
5. Anna (was a teacher) - married name also Evans, had a dtr. named Carrie
6. Lottie - died very young
7. Maria - Died very young
8. Joseph - married but no children
9. Sarah - born November 11, 1849, married name Kempster
10. James - born July 21, 1852
11. Emily - born June 18, 1853 and died April 22, 1927 (married name Long)

I hope this helps someone...my main goal is to find Thomas' parents, and hopefully Emily's maiden name.

In the 1881 census Thomas Evans was still living in Puttenham - next door to the Mapole/Mapley family - so presumably in the same house as in 1851:

Thomas Evans

Head

84

Farm Lab

Buckland, Bucks

Sophia Evans

Wife

72

Straw Plaiter

Eaton Bray, Beds

Emily Evans

Dau (Unm)

26

Straw Plaiter

Puttenham

I also found several members of their families. Daughter Bessie would appear to have been widowed by 1881. She was living in Wilstone, which is in the parish of Tring, immediately to the east of Puttenham.

William Stevens

Head

79

Ag Lab

Cheddington, Bucks

Elizabeth Stevens

Wife

79

Plaiter (Straw)

Long Marston

Elizabeth Archer

Lodger, widow

51

Plaiter (Straw)

Astrope

Son George had moved to London and was at 1 Rogers Court, St George, Hanover Square:

George Evans

Head

39

Gentlemans Coachman

Pottenhead [sic], Herts

Rebecca Evans

Wife

36

 

Hurlstone, Northants

Rebecca Evans

Dau

8

Scholar

Crouch End, Middlesex

Son Joseph was living in Wilstone, but with a lot of children:

Joseph Evans

Head

34

Ag Lab

Puttenham

Mary Evans

Wife

38

 

Cheddington, Bucks

William Evans

Son

14

Ag Lab

Wilstone

James Evans

Son

12

Ag Lab

Puttenham

Harry Evans

Son

10

Ag Lab

Wilstone

Emma Evans

Dau

8

Straw Plaiter

Wilstone

Fred Evans

Son

5

Scholar

Wilstone

Albert Evans

Son

3

Scholar

Wilstone

Ernest Evans

Son

1

 

Wilstone

 Joseph & Mary Evans had a mass christening of their children at Tring on 21 May 1876 (no further children of theirs were christened at the church before 1885) [Source BVRI]:

  • James Evans, born 3 September 1868
  • Harry Evans, born 23 December 1870
  • Emma Evans, born 11 Feb 1873
  • Fred Evans, born 19 May 1875

Daughter Sarah was living over the county boundary at Mill End, Wingrave, Bucks:

Joseph Kempster

Head

34

Farm Lab

Wingrave, Bucks

Sarah Kempster

Wife

23

 

Astrope

Albert Kempster

Son

12

Scholar

Wingrave, Bucks

George Kempster

Son

11

Scholar

Wingrave, Bucks

Ada Kempster

Dau

9

Scholar

Wingrave, Bucks

Emily Kempster

Dau

8

Scholar

Wingrave, Bucks

Mary Kempster

Dau

7

Scholar

Wingrave, Bucks

Alfred Kempster

Son

4

 

Wingrave, Bucks

Lilly Kempster

Dau

2

 

Wingrave, Bucks

Daisy Kempster

Dau

   

Wingrave, Bucks

You may find the web pages on Straw Plaiting useful.

December 2004

Ray Bridges (ray.bridges @t tesco.net) wrote: Emily Jane Kempster (10-01-1872 to 10-02-1941) was my mother's grandmother. She was married to Fred Holder (1875-1914)who came from Chislehampton in Oxfordshire. If you want more details let me know.

Thanks - I have forward you message to Misty (but unfortunately the address is now invalid and message was returned)

There is a web page for Puttenham

If you can add to the information given above tell me.

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