CHESTERMAN & Hastoe House, Tring

circa 1838 - 1901

 

Notes on entries in William Brown's Account Book

Folio 105 refers to arrangements made by James Chesterman's widow, shortly after his death, relating to Hastoe House.

 

I knew nothing about James Chesterman, or Hastoe House, and decided to see what I could find out about his connection with Tring and the history of the house from the Bucks Herald (online in the British Newspaper Archive) and normal genealogical sources. What emerged was a complex picture which involved Tring Park and people connected with William Brown himself. Two of the tenants died shortly after taking the tenancy. I give a brief summary followed by a detailed time line of the evidence. The whole provides a good example of how much can be found out by combining evidence from different sources.

1838 Rothschild's hounds in kennels at Hastoe.
1841 Hastoe House occupied for a short time by Thomas Lake Crommelin and his family - possibly as a tennant.
1843 Baron Rothschild in Hastoe House - possibly being used as a hunting lodge.
1848 Estate, including Hastoe House sold, and apparently purchased by Rev, James Williams (of Tring Park) who clearly owned it at a later date.
1851 House apparently unoccupied at the time of the census
1852 William Brown makes arrangements to let the house for the Rev James Williams. James Chesterman took it at the end of May or early June, purchasing the furniture, and died on 1st July.  Mrs Chesterman approaches William Brown to let the house and sell the furniture. However the rent continues to be paid until 1856 by James Chesterman's executors.
1853 The widow, Mrs Chesterman, married William Brown's brother at Tring
1856-7 William Brown advertises the house to let for the Rev. James Williams, but is clearly not let as (William?) Bridges is paid for taking care of it.
1857-8 It would appear that a William Burns took the house towards the end of 1856 and promptly died!
1859-60 Two children were born at Hastoe to the wife of the Rev. Robert Sutton.  As Robert Sutton was the son of William Sutton, of nearby Rossway, Berkhamsted, and his wife was the daughter of the Bishop of Chichester, it is almost certain that they rented Hastoe House.
1860 William Brown sold the furniture in Hastoe House for the Rev. James Williams.
1861 At the time of the census the house was occupied by three servants - but identity of the head of household is not known. They may have been in residence until about 1868
1870-72 Approximate dates for John Cowper, a "retired squatter" from Australia and his family.
1873 William Brown & Co advertised the sale of live and dead stock at Hastoe House - possibly triggered by a change of occupant. The use of company name is because William Brown had acquired a partner, Septimus Gifford Foulkes
1873-80 The house is occupied by William Brown's partner, Septimus Gifford Foulkes, who move to Tring Vicarage in 1880.
1881-7 House occupied by Henry M Cumberledge and family.
1887-99 House occupied by John Wilson Walter
1901 A bachelor, Algernon Robert Peel, 39, living on own means, born Bayswater, London.

Time Line Notes

 

1830s onward Wikipedia

"During the 19th century Hastoe became closely associated with the Rothschild family.Nathan Rothschild had began to rent land and properties in the area as early as 1833, including Hastoe House, a large property in the centre of the hamlet. Nathan's son, Lionel de Rothschild like most of the family was said to be obsessed with hunting and set up his own kennels at Hastoe in 1838. Subsequently, Hastoe being as part of the Tring estate, came into the hands of Lionel de Rothschild acquiring it at auction in 1872."
1841 Census
CROMMELINE, Harriet F 20 1821    
CROMMELINE, Thomas M 1 (16 months) 1840    
ALLEN, Elizabeth F 20 1821 Female Servant Hertfordshire
BUCKLAND, Sarah F 20 1821 Female Servant  
GOTHWAITE, Mary F 25 1816 Female Servant  
HOLLIS, Alexander M 25 1816 Male Servant Scotland
   

The above census return would appear to be Hastoe House, as the only house with domestic servants. Thomas Lake Crommelin married Harriet Ann Millard in 1839, and the birth of Thomas Henry Crommelin was registered in Kensington in January-March 1840. In the 1851 census the family were together at Elm Place, Nether Street, Finchley, where Thomas Lake Crommelin was described as a 40 year old fund holder born in Bengal. They would appear to have only been at Hastoe a short time as the birth of their next child, Anne Isabella Crommelin, was registered in Marylebone July-September 1842.
14th January 1843

Bucks Herald

Harcurt Arms Hotel, Tring, Baron Rothschild, Metcalfe, Burke, Nixon, Dewsbury, Faithful, Pope, Hall, Colby, Bent, Hastoe House, Aston Clinton, Hemel Hempstead, Aylesbury, Weedon Lodge, Corner Hall, Weippert's Band, Ball
   

Baron Rothschild took advantage of the newly opened railway to Tring and was regularly  stag hunting in the area from the Autumn of 1839.  He also organised social events - the first Ball at the Harcourt Arms (later the Royal Hotel) at Tring Station, being organised in January 1841. The above advert shows that by this date Baron Rothschild's Tring address was Hastoe House.  Baron Rothschild was also involved in the first Tring Steeplechase in 1844
3rd January 1846 Reading Mercury

On the 30th ult., at Ashampstead Church, by the Rev. John Holding, James Chesterman, Esq., of Reading, to Hannah, only daughter of Mr. John Hunt, of Ashampstead.
2nd July, 1848 The Era

    It seems from the evidence below that it was purchased by the Rev James Williams, who clearly was farming the land in the 1850s.
1851 Census There is no obvious candidate for Hastoe House - but one house was recorded as vacant. Longcroft is the only house employing servants near "Astoe" but this can be ruled out on other grounds.
1851 Census James Chesterman (farmer, born St Marylebone, Middlesex, circa 1805) and his wife Hannah (born Ashampstead, Berkshire, circa 1821) were living in Greenford, Middlesex, with one 11 month old child Elizabeth Sarah Chesterman.
28 March 1852 Bells Life

March-May 1852 Folio 68 (Rev James Williams)

16th June 1852 Folio 68 (Rev James Williams)

7th July, 1852 London Standard On the 1st inst, at Hastoe House, near Tring, Hertfordshire, Mr. James Chesterman, aged 47.
7th July, 1852 Tring Burial Register James Chesterman buried
   

Inscription recorded from his grave stone at St Peter & St Pauls Graveyard

In memory of James Chesterman of St. Mary le Bone, London. He was born Sept 15th 1804 and died Died at Hastoe House July 1st 1852.
August 1852 Folio 105 (Mrs Chesterman, Hastoe)

31st December 1852 Folio 68 (Rev James Williams)

20th July 1853 Tring Marriage Register

23rd July 1853 Bucks Herald

On the 20th inst, at Tring, Herts, by the Rev. John Yelloly, Mr James Brown, to Hannah, relict of the late James Chesterman, esq., of Hastoe House, Tring.

  

James Brown was born in circa 1801 at Okeford Fitzpaine, Dorset, and was the brother of William Brown, estate agent of Tring. In the 1851 census James was with living with the eldest brother, John Brown, at Tring Brewery, with other members of the Brown family. In about 1857 he moved to Pix Farm, Boxmoor. They had a large family and in 1881 he was farming 400 acres  and employing 12 men and 2 boys.
26th March 1856 Folio 255 (Rev James Williams)

21st June 1856 Bucks Herald

16th May 1857 Folio 273 (Rev James Williams)

17th July 1857 Folio 274 (Rev James Williams)

This was probably William Bridges, agricultural labourer, of nearby Wiggington (1861 census)
12th December 1857 Bucks Herald BURN. - On the 6th inst., at Hastoe, near Tring, Herts, suddenly, William, the eldest son of Samuel Burn, Esq., of Blomfield-crescent, Westbourne-terrace, North.
30th March 1858 Folio 282 (Rev James Williams)

    The 1851 census shows that William Burn was born c 1814, unmarried (in 1851) and the son of Samuel Burn, retired distiller(?), of Blomfield Terrace, Paddington. As the death notice appeared in at least three papers, Hastoe House is the most like address within Hastoe, the rent of £40 being paid by a relative after his death.
    The 1861 census shows Mary Tompkins (78, widow) was an ironmonger and baker in the High Street, Tring, with her sons Thomas (47) and Henry (45).
16th March 1859 The Times On the 13th inst., at Hastoe, the wife of the Rev. Robert Sutton, of St. Leonard's, Tring, of a daughter.
25 February 1860 Bucks Herald SUTTON. - On the 21st Inst, at Hastoe, the wife of the Rev. Robert Sutton, of St. Leonards, in this county, of a son.

 
    Could these two births refer to a short-term tenant. The Rev. Robert Sutton was the son of Robert Sutton Esq. of nearby Rossway, Berkhamsted? He married Lucy in 1858 and was visiting William Lownes at nearby Chartridge in the 1861 without his wife was  staying with her father, Ashurst Turner Gilbert, Bishop of Chichester, with two children, Lucy Harriet (b Tring 1859) and Robert (b Tring 1860). Circa 1861  the Rev Robert Sutton became the vicar of Shenfield, Sussex. With such social contacts any child born in Hastoe would be in a not insignificant house, which could have served as a temporary home after the marriage - the house becoming empty shortly after the birth.
16th June 1860 Bucks Herald W. Brown will be selling In the Month of July, Upon the Premises, the HOUSEHOLD Furniture and effects, at Hastoe House, near Tring.
1861 Census

Hastoe House

KIMBER, Ann

Housekeeper

Unmarried

F

21

House Keeper

Crendon, Buckinghamshire

KIMBER, Sarah

Servant

Unmarried

F

23

Housemaid

Crendon, Buckinghamshire

PHILBEY, John

Servant

Married

M

60

Groom

Great Missenden, Buckinghamshire
    Who were the tenants who employed the above - and possibly occupied the house throughout most of the 1860s? A James Fulks was at the farm during this period, but it was not him.

In 1851 John Philby was a night watchman living in Brookend, Tring. I had hoped that by 1871 either Ann or Sarah Kimber were still unmarried, and were still working for the same employer, but from a different address. However a census search proved negative.
1871 Census

Hastoe

COWPER, John Head M 37 retired squatter London, Middlesex
COWPER, Marion C C Wife F 30 retired squattee St Claire's, Worcestershire
COWPER, Louisa Susan Daughter F 6 Scholar NSW, Australia
COWPER, Alexandrina Julia Daughter F 2   Meopham, Kent
HALES, Caroline Governess F 17 Governess London, Middlesex
EDWARDS, Ann Servant F 20 House Maid Weybridge,Surrey
FLEED, Mary Servant F 20 Cook Beerwood, Berkshire
JIBSON, Elizabeth Servant F 20 Under housemaid London, Middlesex
1871 Census Septimus G Foulkes, surveyor, living at The Laurels, Station Road, Tring, next door to William Brown.
January 1872 Bucks Herald William Brown & Co. adverts start to refer to "at the offices of Messrs. Brown and Foulkes, land agents and surveyors."
1873   The Cowpers leave Hastoe. The 1881 and 1901 censuses shows later children. In particular Jack S. Cowper was born in Hastoe / Tring in 1852 while Gertrude I Cowper was born in South Hampstead, London in 1873.

See Family Tree on Ancestry (but nothing extra on Tring area)
22nd March 1873 Bucks Herald

5th April 1873 Bucks Herald Wanted, Man and Wife to live in the house of a cottage; if the former, wife to do the Housework and Plain Cooking. Man to loook after Horse and Carriage, also Cow, Pigs, &c., and do the Garden. Address Mr.S. G. FOULKES, Surveyor, Tring.
30th January 1875 Bucks Herald FOULKES. - At Hastoe House, Tring, on the 27th inst., the wife of Septimus Gifford Foulkes, of a daughter.
1878 Directory Foulkes, Septimus Gifford, Hastoe House
7th September, 1878 Bucks Herald FOULKES. - At Hastoe House, Tring, on the 1st inst., wife of Septimus Gifford Foulkes, of a son.
15th February 1879 Bucks Herald THE ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. - Mr. S. G. Foulkes, of Hastoe House, Tring, and the Rev. H. R. Peel, of Abbot's Hill, Hemel Hempstead, have been elected members of this society.
19th April 1879 Bucks Herald EXPERIENCED NURSE WANTED, on the 3rd May, for a quiet country place, - Address, stating wages, to Mrs GIFFORD FOULKES, Hastoe House, Tring
10th April 1880 Bucks Herald

1881 Census

The Vicarage, Tring

FOULKES, Septimus G

Head

Married

M

38

Land Agent & Surveyor

Shebbear, Devon

FOULKES, Wilhelmina S

Wife

Married

F

33

Land Agents Wife

Edinburgh, Scotland

FOULKES, James L

Son

Single

M

8

Scholar

Tring, Hertfordshire

FOULKES, Eva E

Daughter

Single

F

6

Scholar

Tring, Hertfordshire

FOULKES, Noel M

Son

Single

M

4

Scholar

Tring, Hertfordshire

FOULKES, Peter G

Son

Single

M

2

  

Tring, Hertfordshire

TARDIF, Isabella J

Governess

Single

F

23

Teacher Governess

Guernsey, Channel Islands

GARNER, Mary Ann

Servant

Single

F

30

Domestic Servt (Cook)

Waddesdon, Bucks
BARNES, Frances E Servant Single F 22 Domestic Servt (Housemaid) Wrestlingworth, Beds

WILLIS, Elizabeth

Servant

Single

F

19

Domestic Servt (Nurse)

Hazlemere, Bucks

[This family will be the family living at Hastoe House before 1880]
1881 Census

Hastoe House

CROSLEY, Charles Head Single M 22 Groom  
WELCH, Lucy Jane   Single F 24 Housemaid Fosters Booth, Bedfordshire
CHILDS, Clara   Single F 24 Cook (Dom) Felden
    Henry M Cumberledge was born in Abbots Langley circa 1851, the son of an Architect - the 1891 census showed he was living on his means with childen born in Bedfordshire (1880), Tring (registered 1881 & 1884) and Lichfield (1888). In the 1881 census he, his wife and infant child were with her parents. They presumably moved into the house late in 1880 or early 1881, and employed the above staff.
11th March 1882 Bucks Herald STANHOPE PHÆTON FOR SALE, the property of a Gentleman. Almost new, and in perfect order. Colour dark Green, Patent Break, Lamps, &c., by first-rate London Maker. Price only 40 gs. - H. C., Hastoe House, Tring
5 August 1882 Bucks Herald Mr & Mrs Cumberlege attended the annual prize meeting of the Berkhamsted Lawn Tennis Club.
1884 Ordnance Survey Map

2 May 1885 Bucks Herald TRING - Formation of a Conservative Association. ... ... Committee ... H. M. Cumberlege (Hastoe) ...
2 August 1885 Bucks Herald CUMBERLEGE. - At Hastoe House, Tring, on the 27th ult., the wife of Mr. H. M. Cumberlege, of a daughter.
22 October 1887 Bucks Herald WANTED a HOUSE and Parlour-Maid. Age between 25 and 30. Small famikly. Good personal character required. State wages. - Apply to Mrs WALTER, Hastoe House, Tring.
26 May 1888 Bucks Herald GOOD PLAIN COOK WANTED for the Country. Small Dairy and Baking. Two in family. - Apply by letter to Mrs WALTER, Hastoe House, Tring.
1890 Directory John Wilson Walter, Hastoe House

1891

 Census

Hastoe House

WALTER, John W

Head

Married

M

42

Living On Own Means

Birkenhead, Cheshire

WALTER, Lydia J

Wife

Married

F

44

Living On Own Means

Cork, Ireland

IVEY, Francis D

Servant

Single

F

38

Domestic Servant Cook

Illogan, Cornwall

GARNER, Rebecca

Servant

Single

F

30

Domestic Servant Housemaid

Hawridge, Bucks
1899 Directory  John Wilson Walter, Hastoe House
1901 Census By 1901 John Wilson Walter was a widower and living in Cornwall.
1901 Census

Hastoe House

PEEL, Algernon Robert

Head

Single

M

39

Living On Own Means

Bayswater, London

WHITE, Emma

Servant

Single

F

56

House Keeper (Domestic)

St James, London
OWEN, Sarah Jane Servant Single F 23 Housemaid Domestic Rotherhithe, London
WHITING, Janes Servant Single M 20 Valet Domestic Upper Lyde, Herefordshire
1911 Census House appears to have been subdivided into three cottages.
1923 Ordnance Survey Map

21st c Google Street View

21st c Google Satellite View

     
August 2013   Page Created