John Amsden was born on 27th September 1817 in Tring, the son of Thomas and Arnold Amsden

 

1851 Census Frogmore Street, Tring

AMSDEN, John	Head	Married	M	34	Brewer & Plait Dealer	Tring, Hertfordshire
AMSDEN, Jane	Wife	Married	F	32	Domestic	Thame, Oxfordshire
AMSDEN, John	Son		M	10	Scholar	Tring, Hertfordshire
AMSDEN, Sarah Jane	Daughter		F	7	Scholar	Buckland, Buckinghamshire
AMSDEN, Helen Arnold	Daughter		F	4		Tring, Hertfordshire
AMSDEN, Frederick	Son		M	3		Tring, Hertfordshire
AMSDEN, Hephzibah	Daughter		F	0 (11 MOS)		Tring, Hertfordshire

The 1851  Hertfordshire Post Office Directory records John Amsden as a beer retailer, shopkeeper, & plait & chip manufacturer in Frogmore Street. The 1855 Directory records him as a beer retailer & plait dealer, Frogmore Street -(but the information was probably collected in the latter part of 1854)

The Bucks Herald of 31st March 1855 reported the following case, heard at the Aylesbury County Court on March 29 before J. W. Wing, Esq. Fleet v. Amsden, Tring. - Claim of £12 10s., for rent. Defendant had paid £7 into court and disputed the rest, on the ground that plaintiff had pulled down a stable during his tenancy, but on being cross-examined, admitted that he afterwards consented to it, if the plaintiff put up another. - Verdict for the plaintiff; payment forthwith.

Executors of James Grout's Account - Folio 276 - receipts

[This probably refers to James Amsden - see The Black Poplars of the Wilstone Area.]

 

The Bucks Herald of  25th December, 1858, includes an account relating to the theft of coal  from the wharf at Tring Station, belonging to John Amsden, of Tring. John Amsden and Henry Rolfe his employee, gave evidence, Henry saying "My master being the sole agent for Greesley Wood Coal."  The full trial was reported in a number of papers including the Hertford Mercury of 8th January, 1859.

 

1861 Census  - East Park Street

AMSDEN, John	Head	Married	M	43	1818	Plait And Coal Merchant	Tring, Hertfordshire
AMSDEN, Jane	Wife	Married	F	41	1820		Thame, Oxfordshire
AMSDEN, John	Son	Unmarried	M	19	1842		Tring, Hertfordshire
AMSDEN, Sarah C	Daughter	Unmarried	F	17	1844		Buckland, Buckinghamshire
AMSDEN, Ellen	Daughter		F	14	1847		Tring, Hertfordshire
AMSDEN, Frederick	Son		M	10	1851	Scholar	Tring, Hertfordshire
AMSDEN, Hephzibah	Daughter		F	10	1851	Scholar	Tring, Hertfordshire
AMSDEN, Emily	Daughter		F	8	1853	Scholar	Tring, Hertfordshire
AMSDEN, Albert	Son		M	7	1854	Scholar	Tring, Hertfordshire
AMSDEN, Oliver	Son		M	4	1857	Scholar	Tring, Hertfordshire
AMSDEN, Gertrude	Daughter		F	2	1859		Tring, Hertfordshire

1866 Directory: John Amsden, coal merchant, Park Street

1871 Census - Coal Merchant, Park Street

1881 Census - Coal Merchant, Park Street

1882 and 1886 Directory - John Amsden, Coal Merchant & rate collector, 3 Park Street

1889 - John Amsden died aged 72

1890 Oliver & Edward Amsden were coal merchants at 3 Park Street