Category: Chicklade: People

Wednesday 27th February 2013:

Narelle \Twigg writes:

Hello, I am researching my family tree. My ggg grandfather was John Ford born in Chicklade in 1803 to (according to his death certificate) David Ford and Ann Holden. As you know, Chicklade was very small at that time, so when I came across your website dannyhowell.net I was interested to read that a David Ford was buried in Chicklade cemetery in 1806, who was a 28 year old father of two young children:

“JOHN PORTNALL and DAVID FORD. The former left a pregnant widow and six small children, and the latter left a widow and two children. Portnall and Ford were privately interred by their friends at about 11 o’clock in the evening, having that day been executed on the Drop erected in the Court of the County Gaol in Fisherton Anger (Salisbury), for stealing seven sheep and seven lambs, the property of Mr John Giles of Stockton and Mr Henry Phillips senior of Boyton.”

I believe this could be my ggg grandfather. I was wondering if you had any other information about this man, e.g. his wife’s name, to see if it is the same David Ford. I would appreciate any assistance.

Danny Howell replies:

Unable to 100% confirm if the David Ford you mention is the same person who was hanged. But it is a highly likely possibility that the answer is yes. The Marriage Registers for Chicklade include the marriage of a David Ford to an Ann Holden on 11th May 1803. The marriage took place by licence. David Ford’s details record him as a 24 year old bachelor, of the parish of Chicklade, and that he signed his name on the register. Ann Holden is recorded as being a 21 year old spinster, of the parish of Chicklade, and she marked her name with an X on the register. This makes for a very slight discrepancy: David Ford was 24 years old when he married Ann in 1803. Three years later, the David Ford, hanged for sheep stealing, was recorded as 28 years of age when he was buried at Chicklade on 5th August 1806. Only a slight discrepancy in age but not enough to dismiss the connection. And, two children could have been born between May 1803 and August 1806. I will try and ascertain some more details about this.

From Chicklade And Pertwood, A Short Parish History by E.R. Barty, M.A., Chicklade, Old Rectory, first published December 1955:

THE MEMORIAL TABLETS
We know little of the lives of those people whose names appear in documents relating to the Church and the Parish down the years and even centuries. Some names keep recurring and during the short period of the Rev. Benjamin Blatch’s incumbency (1780-1786) of which we have fuller records than of any other period until modern times, the names of proprietors and others become so familiar that we feel we ought to know more about them, what kind of characters they bore and what kind of lives they led.

Some are commemorated on monumental Inscriptions of which Colt Hoare describes two –

I. On the north side of the Chancel (of the old Church) a Memorial Tablet to Margaret, wife of Luke Sympson, Rector of this place, second of the name. She was the daughter of John Barron and Margaret of Meare of a noble family, sister to G. Parrish D.D. of ever blessed memory. She died October 17, 1685.

When the new Church was built (1832) this Tablet was placed in the exterior east wall of the Chancel. The Barrons were an old family resident at Meare. On the north exterior wall of the present edifice is a Tablet to the memory of Captain John Barron son of Margaret of Meare. He died October 16, 1685. The sister, therefore, died on the day after the demise of her brother.

II. “Under the Communion Table are deposited the remains of Elizabeth, daughter of Hanry and Alice Dowle and wide of Nathan Wright. She departed this life on July 10, 1769.”

Tablet II. was in the old Church.

There is another Memorial Tablet from the old Church now within the Nave, on the south wall, inscribed thus:-

Richard Randall buried at Hindon of which place he was Chaplain and Rector of Monkton (Dorset) died 1743 aged 50. Also of Mrs. Susanna Randall relict of the above and daughter of Mr. John Bennett of Smallbrook in the Parish of Warminster. Also, of Anne, wife of Richard Randall of this Parish and daughter of Thomas Warren of Warminster who died in 1809 aged 72. Likewise of the said Richard Randall, son of Richard Randall, Clerk, who died Octr. 1810 aged 73 years.

Richard Randall II. was for many years a churchwarden and overseer. An infant daughter died aged 20 months – recorded in the oldest register.

From Chicklade And Pertwood, A Short Parish History by E.R. Barty, M.A., Chicklade, Old Rectory, first published December 1955:

DOWN HOUSE
I. The Rev. John Thaine Frowde lived in Chicklade for about fifty years (1784-1834). He was Vicar of Kemble also and signed himself “Curate of Chicklade.” We are indebted to the Vicar of Kemble for the following information regarding the Rev. J.T. Frowde. He was inducted as Vicar of Kemble in September, 1787, on the cession of the Rev. John Parker. The latter remained at Kemble as Frowde’s Curate, invariably signing all entries in the Register and receiving £30 p.a. as his Curate’s stipend. According to the Sarum Episcopal Visitation Records Frowde resided “at Sarum” (probably this means in the diocese of Sarum).

John Thaine Frowde was the son of James Frowde, Gentleman of Sedgehill, Wilts. He matriculated at Oriel College, Oxford, 28.11.1770 aged 18. He was Vicar of Kemble from 1787 till his death on 7th February, 1826 (vide Foster’s Alumni Oxoniensis). The reason is not known why John Parker ceded the Incumbency to Frowde and then remained on as his Curate. It seems probable that there was some family relationship between the Parkers and the Frowdes. Parker named two of his daughters Susannah Frowde Parker and Mary Thaine Parker. Mr. and Mrs. Frowde had a large family of 9 children all born between 1786 and 1799.

John baptised 1787.
Ann baptised 1790.
James baptised 1790.
Ellen baptised 1791.
Jane baptised 1791.
Susannah baptised 1791.
Octavia baptised 1796.
Sarah baptised 1800.

The Rev. J.T. Frowde continued to pay the rates till the year of his death, 1826. Mrs. Frowde afterwards lived in Bath. She paid the rates till 1832 in which year she died at Bath. Of their large family we know the later history of two only. Octavia, as related elsewhere, married the Rev. John Phelps and we infer that they lived at Chicklade House till they moved to Harrow. Ellen died at the age of 40 and was buried at Chicklade.

MONUMENTAL INSCRIPTIONS
‘Near this spot of N.E. side of the Church lie interred in one grave the remains of Ellen, daughter of the Rev. John Thaine Frowde and Elizabeth his wife, who died Jan. 18, 1830, aged 40 years, and of Elizabeth, only child of John Brickinden of Wincanton, Somerset and relict of the above Rev. John Thaine Frowd who died 1832.’

‘The Rev. John Thaine Frowd lived here for fifty years, a respected inhabitant of Chicklade.’

The Rev. J.T. Frowd was buried at Sedgehill Feb. 15, 1826, aged 73 years.

II. Down House. The Rev. – Baker probably bought Down House and let it to John Dyer. An inscription on a tombstone reads In memory of Elizabeth Dyer (Elizabeth Wren) and Mary Dyer, daughter of Elizabeth.

Baker, Dyer and Frowd all paid the same rates so all probably lived at or owned Down House.

We hope that we have been able to interest our readers in this account of some former inhabitants of Chicklade. Alas that we can know so little of their lives and characters. Perhaps some reader may find a forgotten or unknown ancestor among them.

‘A Clare or a Randall, a Russ or a Wright,
A Dowle or a Hull, a Candy or Knight.’

In conjuring up pictures of life at Chicklade in olden times we think of lively and busy lives of various landowners and their families. The large families of Frowds, Fabers; later the Hallidays, young people growing up and leading the free life on the open downs, must have brought much cheer to the village.

From Chicklade And Pertwood, A Short Parish History by E.R. Barty, M.A., Chicklade, Old Rectory, first published December 1955:

SOUTHRIDGE AND OTHER HOUSES
In early Victorian times “Mr. Millet lived in the last house in Hindon on the Salisbury road (now Southridge). He went to the house in 1817 and was a Churchwarden (1819-1827). David Mead met with a carriage accident turning the corner there in which he was severely injured and obliged to be put to bed in the Millett’s house where he was laid up for some time. Miss Millett attended him during his illness and afterwards he made her his wife. Mr. Millett was a Solicitor.”

This romantic episode is described in a manuscript work in Devizes Museum :Library, entitled “Monumental Inscriptions” Vol. IV. ‘Chicklade’ collected by Canon Goddard.

From the “Monumental Inscriptions” we learn that “Charles Millett, Esq. died Feb. 22 1854 aged 75 years and Hannah his wife June 21 1861 aged 84 years.” (Tombstone on North side). Also “in memory of Caroline Hannah, relict of the Rev. David Mead M.A. – and younger daughter of Charles Millett, Esq. who died June 7 1859.” (Tombstone on South side).

From the same volume we learn that Dr. William Dawe lived in the house lately owned by John Locke, Esq. (i.e. Chicklade House).

Lydia Dawe, his widow, died 1852, aged 68 years.

John Pople rented the farm at the East End of the Parish, now the Manor Farm. He died in 1862.

“The family of Hull lived at the farm near Knoyle Down.” (Knoyle Down farm occupied now and for many years by the Warren family). It is not in Chicklade Parish. We have already noted in ‘Parish Plan and Award’ that Thomas Hull was one of the chief proprietors in the parish about the year 1783. The initials ‘T.H.’ and date 1818 are above the doorway of the house now known as “The Last Thatch,” formerly Seymour Farm House. There is a tombstone inscription in the Churchyard at Chicklade “Thomas Hull, 1832, Son of Thomas and Elizabeth Hull, aged 71.”

We may presume that the Hulls of different generations belonged to one family or were related.

From Chicklade And Pertwood, A Short Parish History by E.R. Barty, M.A., Chicklade, Old Rectory, first published December 1955:

Should the reader wish to memorise the names of some families connected with Chicklade, perhaps the following couplet may help:-

“The Milletts, the Meads, the Fabers and Frowds,
The Poples, the Daws, and the Stills of Clowdes.”

From Chicklade And Pertwood, A Short Parish History by E.R. Barty, M.A., Chicklade, Old Rectory, first published December 1955:

Among those to whom the Church and Parish owe so much we must not forget those who served in a humbler capacity.

Lavinia Russell became a cleaner of the church in 1873 and was appointed annually for many years but only on condition of good behaviour. We have to report that she was dismissed in 1892. Known as “Vinie” she must have been a village “character”; she lived in a cottage that was little more than a mud hovel, and the most conspicuous article of her attire was a thick net bonnet.

John Hayward, Clerk and Sexton, resigned in 1884 after having served from 1852, a long period of 32 years.

To the names of those who from time to time have been mentioned as churchwardens must be added Dr. Blythe of Southridge House. He succeeded Miss Godolphin Osborne in 1897, in 1900 he was sole churchwarden and he continued in office till 1909.

Mr. Garland Senr. was in office 1894-1902; Sexton in 1899.

In 1909 Mr. Halliday proposed and Mr. Garland Senr. Seconded the appointment of Charles T.J. Clarke as churchwarden.

After the union of the ecclesiastical parishes of Chicklade and Hindon in 1921 there is a hiatus in the church records. No minutes of Vestry meetings at Chicklade are recorded for a period of 17 years but it is known that Mr. Garland served as churchwarden from 1909 until 1947, a period of 38 years, which constitutes a record in our annals. Charles Clarke Garland died in 1947 – “a man greatly beloved.”

From Chicklade And Pertwood, A Short Parish History by E.R. Barty, M.A., Chicklade, Old Rectory, first published December 1955:

MERVYN MEMORIALS AT CHICKLADE
Although there are only two memorials of the ancient family of Mervyn in Pertwood Church, the Rev. J.C. Faber found at Chicklade under the Churchyard turf several tombstones to the Mervyn family, many stones now with the inscriptions obliterated may be some of them (Monumental Inscriptions, Vol. IV., Goddard).

(1) Elizabeth Mervyn, wife of Ambrose Mervyn, d.1647.

(2) Ambrose Mervyn (1656).

(3) Nicholas Mervyn, son of Nicholas Mervyn, 1692.

(4) Mr. John Mervyn, of Fonthill, 1712.

(5) John Mervyn, 1714.

(6) Two others with date 1638.

From Chicklade And Pertwood, A Short Parish History by E.R. Barty, M.A., Chicklade, Old Rectory, first published December 1955:

ADVOWSONS
(The Right of Presentation to a vacant Benefice).
It would appear from the list of Patrons of the Benefice given by Colt Hoare that the lord of the Manor was not necessarily the Patron and that the Advowson might be gifted or sold. It may be of interest to note a few of the Advowsons quoted by Colt Hoare:

(18th Sept. 43 Elizabeth) William Pyke died seised of 3rd part of Manor of Chicklade, and of the Advowson of the Church, the gift of Margaret Pyke, widow.

(4th. Ed. VI.) William Pyke died 24th April last past. William Pyke was his son and heir aged 27.

(3rd Sept. 1648) Susanna Hyde spinster, one of the daughters of Henry Hyde of Pirton, and Robert Hyde of Dinton seem to have been proprietors of one of the Manors.

(4th Dec. 1689) Henry, Earl of Clarendon appears to have been lord of the Manor and he (29th Jan. 1690) granted the Manor and Advowson to Thomas Rees Esq. in fee.

(4th August 1703) Thomas ap (son of) Ries devises same to his wife for life and afterwards to his only daughter Elizabeth in fee who (10th Sept. 1713) sold the above tenement to Henry Barnet and probably then sold the Manor and Advowson to Mr. Edgell of Standerwick.

(21st Geo. III.) An Act was passed enclosing the common fields of Chicklade. The Rev. John Russ was lord of the Manor and proprietor of certain lands there and Henry Edgell Esq. was entitled to the Advowson.

From Chicklade And Pertwood, A Short Parish History by E.R. Barty, M.A., Chicklade, Old Rectory, first published December 1955:

LATER OWNERS AND TENANTS OF DOMINICK
The name Dominick is derived from Fr. Dominique, lat. Dominicus, ‘pertaining to the Lord.’ St. Dominic was the founder of the Dominican Order of Black Friars.

Robert Clare Dominick as noted above, rented Dominick from the Benett family. An Inquisition on Christopher Benett, Hindon (13 Charles I. 1638) runs as follows:

‘Thomas Benett, father of Christopher Benett was seised of one messuage, tenement or farm called Chicklade Rudge alias Chicklade Farm late in the tenure of Robert Clare Dominick.’

Randall Dominick, referred to above, c.1647, may have been an ancestor of a later generation of Randalls whom we may be justified in thinking of as lords of the Manor and owners or tenants of Dominick. The Rev. John Russ is stated by Colt Hoare to have been lord of the Manor in 1783. He may have let the Manor to Richard Randall, a member of the vestry for many years, officiating as churchwarden and overseer. He was responsible for the upkeep of the north wall of the churchyard (Terrier 1783). The death of an infant daughter is recorded in the oldest parish register (beginning 1721). His mother was a Benett of Smallbrook. All these facts seem to point to his ownership of property (cf. Parish Plan 1783) on which he lived in Chicklade. He died in 1810.

John Russ married Mary Frowd 24 April, 1771, at E. Knoyle, in presence of William Blake and Honor Mary Blandford.

Rev. John Russ was Curate of Sedgehill till 1771 and afterwards Lord of the Manor of Chicklade; he presumably lived at Dominick.

John Candy is stated by Colt Hoare to be a descendant of the Rev. John Russ and to have inherited the Manor from him. Robert Candy, gentleman, was his father and was a churchwarden (1800-1813). John Candy’s long years of service to the Parish and Church have been noted elsewhere (1829-1853). John made a second marriage in 1846. The entry in the marriage register runs: “John Candy, son of Robert Candy, gentleman, married Charlotte Knight, daughter of John Knight, March 1846.” The Rev. J.C. Faber officiated. When the banns were published in 1845, Charlotte was 21. They had a daughter, Hannah, baptised in 1847. After John Candy retired he “abode in Bath.” He died in 1859.

In Kelly’s Directory (1867) Miss Candy is mentioned as “Lady of the Manor.” The Manor afterwards passed to Alfred Morrison, Esq., and was sold by him to J. Halliday, Esq. Soon afterwards the old house was demolished.