James George Merricks has already appeared on our radar, thanks to Rhonda and her Astill family history research.
She tells us that Amy Maud Astill’s husband Arthur Mills was assistant to Mr Merricks of Gilbert’s Furniture shop in Newport Street, Swindon in 1900, becoming a partner in the business in 1923 and moved the shop to Bridge Street, Swindon and renamed it Mills and Merricks – of course Gilberts is still trading in Newport Street to this day, perhaps Arthur and James became partners in an independent venture.
Now I need someone to fill in a few more gaps, such as how did James end up in South Africa in 1891 and what was Alice doing there?
In 1881 Alice was working as a governess for farmer Walter G. Cloke at Wiltshire Farm in Wokingham. Meanwhile James was working as a draper’s assistant in Bath. But by 1891 they were getting married in South Africa where their four sons were born Eric George in 1892, Edward Alfred in 1893, Lionel Marten in 1896 and John Gordon in 1901.
James George Merricks
By 1901 James and Alice had returned to Swindon and were living at 42 St. Margarets Road, possibly where this photograph was taken in the back garden.
James George Merricks was a member of the Baptist Tabernacle, acting as Treasurer for 21 years. In 1934 shortly before his death, Mr J.G. Merricks presented a complete set of individual Communion bread plates to fit the cups previously given by his great friend and associate Mr. E.J. Lay. The two men are pictured together here.
There is still more to be learnt about this man. Especially how he came to spend such a lengthy spell in South Africa. Could this have been to do with the Baptist Tabernacle, I wonder?
James George Merricks died aged 75 years at his home 38 Devizes Road. He was buried on April 20, 1935 in grave plot E7574, joining his wife Alice who died in November 1923.
When Joseph Horne returned from South Africa for a visit in 1931 the North Wilts Herald reported:
‘It has often been said that Swindonians can be found in almost every part of the globe.’
In 1894 Joseph Horne embarked for South Africa where he first worked as a carpenter in a goldmine and later lived in Johannesburg and the Transvaal. He was the eldest of five brothers who had at various times joined him in South Africa. At the time of his visit he was in business with his brother George in a general printing press they had established in 1914. Youngest brother William, a builder, was still living in Maritzburg in 1931. David had spent just three years in South Africa before returning to Swindon and a job in the GWR.
The adventurous Horne brothers were the sons of Herbert and Sarah Ann Horne who married at St. Martin’s Church in Birmingham on Boxing Day 1865. By 1881 they had moved to Swindon and were living at 14 Gooch Street.
How difficult must it have been to wave those sons off to South Africa? Did Herbert and Sarah Ann suspect they might never see them again? Perhaps they hoped their boys would eventually return home, and of course David did.
Herbert died in 1927 but Sarah Ann lived to see her eldest son Joseph on his return to Swindon in 1931. She died in 1934 aged 95 when the North Wilts Herald published another instalment in the Horne family history.
Believed to be Swindon’s oldest inhabitant, and certainly the oldest follower in the Borough of the Baptist faith, Mrs Sarah Ann Horne died on Friday at 26 Cheney Manor Road, the residence of her son, Mr. David Horne.
Mrs Horne, was 95 years of age, having celebrated her 95th birthday on 5 September last.
Death has given the finishing blow to her hopes of living longer thanher grandfather, who, having served in the Battle of Waterloo, lived to within five days of his 100th birthday.
Mrs Horne was active to the last and in full possession of all her faculties. In fact, she did her own mending without the aid of glasses.
Married in Birmingham
She was a native of Frome, and in December 1865, at Birmingham, she married Mr. HerbertHorne, who died at the age of 87, seven years ago. He was, in his time, the oldest railway guard in Swindon, being a link with the old days when, before the introduction of sandboxes, the guards had to be on the footplates and throw sand under the wheels of the engines.
They were married on a wage of 13s a week, and came to Swindon to live first in Gooch Street.
Mr Horne was a prominent official, and at one time the president of the Amalgamated Railway Servants’ Union, now the NUR.
On his retirement, they lived for 20 years at Lower Stratton, until nine years ago, when both cameto live with their son in Cheney Manor Road.
Mrs Horne prided herself on a wonderful memory, and used to recall an incident which occurred when she was a girl in Bath.
For a wager, a man sailed down the Avon in a tub drawn by swans. As he passed under Bath Bridge, the crowd rushed to the opposite parapet to see him. The strain was too great and the parapet gave way, resulting in several spectators being drowned in the river.
Old Age Pensioner
A recipient of the old age pension since its introduction, she saved all of it up until she had sufficient to buy the land in Radnor Street Cemetery for her grave.
She always protested that she would not “liecomfortable” at Stratton Cemetery which she claimed was damp, but that in the sand of Radnor Street Cemetery she would rest peacefully.
She was buried there, with her husband, in the grave she purchased for them both.
Therewere five children of the marriage – all sons and four of them today are in Africa. Mrs Horne also had 14 grandchildren, and 19 great grandchildren.
Her final illness lasted only a few days.
North Wilts Herald, Friday, 19 January, 1934.
Sarah is buried with Herbert in grave plot E8676 where they were later joined by their son David who died in 1954 and his wife Emily who died in 1956.
I wouldn’t wish to question the redoubtable Mrs Horne, but I don’t think the soil is ‘sandy’ in Radnor Street Cemetery.
Samuel James Christelow was born in 1883 the son of John Christelow,- a boilermaker, and his wife Priscilla. He was baptised at St Mark’s Church on November 30, 1879 and grew up at 42 Wellington Street, a property that remained the family home for more than 70 years.
After several years working in the railway factory, Samuel Christelow travelled to Zimbabwe where he was ordained. In 1938 the Rev Christelow returned to Swindon for an extended holiday with his family. A reporter from the North Wilts Herald interviewed Rev Christelow at the home of his sister and brother in law in Goddard Avenue.
Home From South Africa.
Archdeacon’s Five Months’ Leave
Native of Swindon
After a trip from South Africa aboard the Llanstephan Castle, the liner inwhich a mystery illness caused four deaths on the way, Archdeacon SamuelChristelow, of Southern Rhodesia, has arrived in Swindon on five months’ leave.Swindon born and bred – he is an old Sanford-street scholar – ArchdeaconChristelow has been working in the mission field in South Africa for 30 years,that time being spent in periods of five years in the Dark Continent broken upby spells on leave.
Plenty of Travel.
The diocese of Southern Rhodesia includes part of Bechuanaland, Mashonalandand Matabeleland, and the Archdeacon is also Director of Missions for the wholediocese. This mission work affords him plenty of travel – chiefly by car –throughout the whole territory in which are one and a half million natives and65,000 whites. The whites are chiefly concentrated in Salisbury and Bulawayo.A good deal of translation work occupies Archdeacon Christelow’s attention,for he has an excellent knowledge of the languages of the country. He speaksChishona, the language of Mashonaland, Zulu in Matabeleland, and Sechuana,which is spoken in Bechuanaland.“I learned the languages fairly quickly,” he told me. “I used to have to gooff on trips lasting several weeks with natives who could not speak a word ofEnglish, so of course I had to learn. Most of my journeys then were done onfoot, although I sometimes had a horse, but these animals were inclined to gethorse sickness. We had to take all food with us to last for journeys of severalhundred miles, covering about 25 or 30 miles each day. Occasionally, of course,I was able to shoot some game.”
Native Problems
Of the changes which had taken place in his 30 years’ experience of thecountry, Archdeacon Christelow said: “The attitude of the Government towardsmission work has changed. It is much more sympathetic and shows it in variousways; among them it has started a scheme for providing medical aids for thereis very little medical work indeed, most of it having been done by themissionaries, who also had to fill the roles of dentists, builders andcarpenters.“The Government has also begun a series of clinics.Extracts from the North Wilts Herald, Friday, 4 March, 1938.
Widowed and retired he returned to Swindon where he lived with his sister Rosa at 125 Goddard Avenue. He died in St Margaret’s Hospital in 1972 and is buried in plot D1587.
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Up at the Castle
Lewin Tom Clark was one of five children born to Tom and Sarah Jane Clark. His father died in 1891 after which his mother married Joseph Peart, an Printer Compositor, in 1900 and the couple went on to have two children. Lewin trained as a Bootmaker Clicker and served a five year apprenticeship with Swindon boot and shoe manufacturer W. Reynolds.
He served in the 2nd Vol Bat Wilts Regt and on January 10, 1902 he enlisted with the Imperial Yeomanry. His attestation papers reveal that he was 20 years and 1 month old, 5ft 5ins tall and weighed 129 lbs (just over 9 stones). He had a chest measurement of 34″ with a maximum extension of 36″. He had a fresh complexion, brown eyes and brown hair.
He served 118 days at home before being sent to South Africa where he served from May 8, 1902 to October 17, 1902 – a total of 163 days.
On October 26, 1902 he was discharged ‘at his own request.’ His conduct and character were recorded as very good and he was awarded the South Africa 1902 medal.
He returned to his mother and step-father’s house at 19 Lansdown Road in Swindon and a job in the GWR Works, but who was to know his state of mind or what he had witnessed during his time in South Africa.
Swindon Man Killed at Aldershot
Found Dead on the Railway
A Mysterious Affair
A man named Lewin Tom Clark, of Swindon – his parents reside at 19 Lansdown Road – was found killed on the railway at Aldershot on Friday.
Deceased, who was 22 years of age, had been employed in the GWR Works at Swindon.
It still remains a mystery why the young man journeyed from Swindon toAldershot, and why his life should have come to such a tragic end. When the body was searched, no money was found upon him, nor any articles of value. His head was terribly smashed, and he had sustained other injuries, which caused immediate death.
The body was at once removed to the mortuary, and deceased was quickly identified by means of papers found upon him. These included a discharge paper, which showed that he had served a year in the Imperial Yeomanry in South Africa. He had a medal for war service, and was discharged with a good character. The Aldershot Police communicated with Sup. Robinson and Inspector Everett at once saw the relatives of the deceased, whose step-father, Mr Joseph Peart, proceeded to Aldershot on Friday night, and identified the body.
The Inquest
Was held at Aldershot on Saturday. The first witness called was Joseph Peart, compositor, of 19 Lansdown Road, Swindon, who identified the body as being that of his stepson. He was a single man, 22 years of age. He served in the Imperial Yeomanry in South Africa, and was discharged in October, 1902. Witness did not know why deceased left Swindon, where he had been employed in the GWR Works. Witness did not think deceased was in any trouble. He had seen him a day or two previous with his young lady. Witness had never heard him express a wish to go to Aldershot.
Josiah Marshall, guard on the South Western Railway and living in London, said he was guard in charge of a passenger train which left London at 3.5 a.m. on Friday for Aldershot, where they arrived an hour later. He returned with the empty coaches to Woking, which he left again at 4.12 a.m. When passing the tunnel at Aldershot he was looking out – it was a bright morning – and when about 250 yards from the tunnel, towards London, he saw the body of a man lying by the side of the line. Witness did not stop the train, but afterwards reported the matter to the police.
A Military Funeral
The funeral of the deceased took place in Swindon Cemetery on Tuesday evening last, when the remains of deceased were laid to rest with full military honours.
Despite a great downpour of rain, there was a very large number of people who followed the solemn cortege to the graveside. The members of the local Companies of the Volunteers, F and G and K and M Companies, under Lieut. D.C.A. Morrison, mustered in strong force to pay a last tribute to their deceased comrade. The coffin was enshrouded in a Union Jack, and on it were placed deceased’s busby and belt. Members of the Volunteers acted as bearers. The firing party, under Sergeant A.C. Woolford, marched with rifles reversed, and the Bank, under Bandmaster Sergeant Jago, with muffled drums. On the way to the Cemetery, the Bank played the “Death March.” Large crowds of people lined the route to the Cemetery, and the spectacle was a most impressive one, the sombre aspect of the black uniforms and muffled drums, being added to by the continuous drizzle of rain.
In consequence of the very inclement state of the weather, the last solemn service was taken in the Cemetery Chapel, only a brief committal prayer being offered at the graveside.
During the firing of a volley over the grave one of the sisters of the deceased was seized with hysterics, and had to be assisted from the graveside.
The service was conducted by the Rev H.M. Hull, and the local arrangements for the funeral were in the hands of Mr F.J. Williams, of Bath Road. The coffin was of polished elm, with brass furniture, and the inscription on the plate was: “Lewin Tom Clark, died June 10th, 1904 aged 22 years.”
Extracts from The Swindon Advertiser Friday June 17, 1904
Lewin Tom Clark was buried in plot B1173, a public grave, with two other unrelated persons. As is the case with public graves, there is no headstone to mark the spot.
Swindon born and bred – he is an old Sanford-street scholar – Archdeacon
Christelow has been working in the mission field in South Africa for 30 years,
that time being spent in periods of five years in the Dark Continent broken up
by spells on leave.
Widowed and retired he returned to Swindon where he lived with his sister Rosa at 125 Goddard Avenue. He died in St Margaret’s Hospital in 1972 and is buried in plot D1587.
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Radnor Street Cemetery 