William Edwin Morris – a man of inexhaustible energy

Newspaper proprietor William Edwin Morris, eldest son of Advertiser founder William Morris, lived at Frampton Villa, home to this branch of the Morris family for more than twenty years.

Like his father William Edwin was at the forefront of Swindon society involved in various commercial and public duties. William had worked on his father’s newspaper for more than twenty years before becoming Town Surveyor, a position he held for another twenty years.

A man of apparently inexhaustible energy, William served on both the New and Old Swindon Local Boards. He was a member of the School Board for Rodbourne Cheney and a member of the Highway Board until its abolition in 1894. One of the first members of the Swindon Volunteer Fire Brigade, William served as Captain of the Brigade for more than twenty years. A Freemason, a Forester and an Oddfellow, William was also a member of the Wilts Rifle Volunteers and a life governor of Swindon Victoria Hospital.

Death of Mr W.E. Morris, of Swindon

The death took place on Tuesday, in last week at his residence, at Frampton Villa, Devizes road, Swindon, after a prolonged and painful illness, of Mr. William Edwin Morris. The deceased gentleman, who was born on March 28^th, 1848, in Swindon, was the eldest son of the late Mr William Morris, and at an early age entered the printing business carried on by his father, in which he took a part until 1880, when he was appointed surveyor to the Old Swindon Urban District Council. He was for several years a member of that Council, and resigned in order to undertake the duties of the surveyorship. He was also a member of the New Swindon Local Board up to the time that its place was taken by the Urban District Council. He was a member of the Rodbourne School Board previous to the absorption of Rodbourne into the Swindon School Board district, and held a seat on the old Highway Board.

Together with the late Mr William Affleck, Mr Morris was instrumental in forming the Swindon Fire Brigade, he was captain for a number of years, and in that capacity took part in many Lord Mayors’ Shows. An ardent Volunteer, the deceased gentleman for a long time held the rank of Sergeant in the Old Swindon Corps, and was one of the best and most successful shots in the detachment.

He was one of the early members of the Gooch Lodge of Freemasons, and held the post of first Grand Master of the “Castle” Lodge of Odd Fellows, being also Secretary of the Lodge for some time. He was a liberal subscriber to the Victoria Hospital, the Horticultural Society, and many other organisations, and took a warm interest in everything that affected the welfare of the town of Swindon, with which he had been so closely identified all his life.

He married in 1876 a daughter of Mr George Summers, of Romsey, and has had 13 children, of whom ten survive, with the widow, to mourn his loss. Mr Morris’ health has been a serious cause for solicitude to his family for a considerable time past, and some months ago he took a trip to Morocco and the Canaries. He returned very little if anything the better for the holiday, and a visit to Scotland was similarly disappointing in its results. His condition gradually grew worse, and he had been confined to his room practically since Christmas. On Tuesday he passed suddenly, but peacefully away.

The funeral took place on Saturday afternoon amidst every sign of respect. At the parish church the first portion of the service was conducted by the Rev. Prebendary W.B. Pitt, rector of Lydington, Wilts, who officiated at the graveside in the cemetery. The mourners included Messrs. W. Summers Morris, M.F. Morris, G.S. Morris, and S.H. Morris (sons), S.P. Morris, E.J. Morris, and F.A. Morris (brothers), John Morris, Dover, (uncle), Sydney Watmore (Hampton Hill), F.W. Watmore (Portsmouth), S.E.C. Price (Teddington), and W. Willes (cousins), E.E. Morris (nephew), W.E. Smith, and A.H. Walters (brothers-in-law). Besides these, there were some 20 members of the Fire Brigade in full-dress uniform. Deceased had been captain of the Brigade for over 20 years, and had only recently resigned. A large number of the “Swindon Advertiser” employes, of which firm deceased was senior partner, and a goodly number of the tradesmen of the town, also attended. The floral tributes included many beautiful wreaths from sympathising friends.

The Wiltshire Advertiser Thursday, May 1, 1902.

William Edwin Morris died on April 22, 1902 at the aged of 54. He was buried on April 24, in grave plot E7951. He is buried with his wife Bessie who died in 1939 and their daughter Nellie who died in 1958.

William’s modest, somewhat neglected, kerbstone grave marker is in stark contrast to that of his father’s in the churchyard at Christ Church.

Zacharias Peskett – Medical Fund Society Treasurer

Saturday July 8 sees Swindon celebrate the 75th anniversary of the NHS with the Mechanics’ Institution Trust. Events in the Emlyn Square area include an exhibition in the Central Community Centre with a talk on the GWR Medical Fund by Adam Busby at 4 pm. Visit the Railway Village Museum open 11-3 and join a walking tour of the Railway Village focussing on ‘Health.’ The Bakers Café will be open for refreshments.

And read below about one of those pioneering members of the GWR Medical Fund Society.

Swindon

Obituary

The death occurred on Thursday morning at his residence, 6, Milton Road, Swindon, of Mr Zacharias Peskett, an old and highly respected resident of Swindon. For the long period of 44 years he had been in the service of the GWR Company, and for over 30 years he had uninterruptedly held office as treasurer of the GWR Medical Fund Society. He was generally esteemed as an upright and honourable man, and was a valued servant of the company. He was in his 70^th year.

Western Daily Press, Bristol, Friday, May 29, 1914.

The Late Mr Z. Peskett,

Funeral

The esteem in which the late Mr Zacharias Peskett, of 6, Milton Road, Swindon, was held by his former colleagues in the GWR Works and by the officials of the GWR Medical Fund Society – an organisation with which his name had been prominently associated for more than 30 years – was exemplified on Tuesday afternoon, when the funeral took place at Swindon Cemetery amid every manifestation of sorrow and respect.

The cortege left Milton Road at 3.15 and proceeded to St. Mark’s Church, where a short but impressive service was conducted by the Rev. Lionel Calway.

The coffin, on which was a large cross of white flowers from the family and other beautiful floral tributes, was conveyed on a four-wheel bier, Messrs J. Lawrence, E. Griffiths, W. Sansum, T. Jackson. R.A. Zebedee and Humphries (representatives of the Medical Fund Society) acting as bearers.

Then followed a hand-bier on which were placed the wreaths, and in charge of Mr Peskett’s personal staff – Messrs. T.H. Westbury, C.E. Knapp, J. Clark and Angle. Behind the mourning coaches walked the Rev. H.J. Parker (pastor of South Street Baptist Chapel, where deceased formerly worshipped), representatives of the Medical Fund Society and the Sick Fund Society and many old friends and former colleagues of the late Mr. Peskett.

Long list of mourners …

From St. Mark’s Church the coffin was borne to the Cemetery, the route chosen being Cambria Bridge Road, Radnor Street and Clifton Street. The Blinds at many of the houses on the way to the Cemetery were drawn as a mark of respect to the deceased.

At the graveside the cortege was joined by a large number of sympathisers, and the service was impressively conducted by the Rev. L. Calway. The coffin was of polished elm, with heavy brass furnishings, and the breast plate was inscribed as follows:-

Zacharias Peskett,

Died May 28^th, 1914.

Aged 69 years.

Many beautiful floral tributes were sent by relatives and friends…

The funeral arrangements were satisfactorily carried out by Messrs. H. Smith & Sons.

Extracts from the North Wilts Herald, Friday, June 5, 1914.

Zacharias Peskett was buried on June 2, 1914 in plot D1297, a grave he shares with his wife Annie who died in December 1924.

Ann Elizabeth Harvey – Inn Keeper

Image of William Street with Park Hotel on the corner published courtesy of Local Studies, Swindon Central Library.

The licensing trade was a close knit community in Swindon during the late 19^th and early 20^th century. You might even say it was something of a family affair. However, running a pub probably didn’t feature in Ann Harvey’s plans for the future when she moved here in the 1860s.

Ann Elizabeth Ford married engine fitter William Harvey in the parish church of St Philip & St Jacob, Bristol on October 6, 1856. In 1861 the young couple lived at 4 Regent Terrace, Bristol with their three year old son William John. By 1871 they had moved to Swindon and were living at 20 Gloucester Street when William died in 1877 leaving Ann with five young children to raise.

That same year Edwin Harvey, builder and beerseller, was landlord at a beerhouse, a property he most probably built himself, and which later became known as Park Hotel. According to an application for a beer and cider license made by Edwin in 1879, the beerhouse had previously been owned by his deceased brother William, Ann’s husband. In 1879 Edwin applied for the license. He states “of which premises the trustees of the will of the late William Harvey, deceased, are the owners …” Presumably he was unsuccessful as he tried again in 1880 when it was reported in the Swindon Advertiser “Removal of the license of the King of Prussia Inn in High Street, Swindon, from the premises now occupied, to premises now occupied by Edwin Harvey, at present with an out-door license, and known as the Park Tavern, in William Street, Kingshill.“

By the time of the 1881 census Ann Elizabeth Harvey was in charge and Inn Keeper at 1 Cambria Bridge Road. Living with her were her sons, Ozias 19, a carpenter and George 17, a riveter’s apprentice. Her daughters were Emma Mary 15 who worked in the business as a barmaid and Isabella Ann 12 and Elizabeth Alice 10 who were both still at school. Lodging with them was William Crombey.

In due course Ann’s son Ozias would briefly take over the Park Hotel/Inn and in 1901 Ann, aged 64, was living with her daughter Isabella Groves who was the landlady at the Ship Hotel, Westcott Place.

Ann died later that year and was buried on October 23 in grave plot D17a alongside the cemetery chapel. Her eldest daughter Emma Mary Linsell was buried with her following her death in 1921.

Ann’s three daughters married men who all worked in the licensing trade while her sons Ozias and George worked alongside her at Park Hotel. A family affair.