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)

Page Updated January 20054