Tag: Uzzell family

Another chapter in the Uzzell family history

And this time I need some help identifying a couple of photographs.

We’ve already met David Uzzell – the inspiration behind the work of war poet Edward Thomas, so now let’s meet his brother John.

John married Rachel Bennett on Christmas Day 1864 at the parish church in Cirencester. He worked as a baker and in 1871 lived with Rachel and their two children Emily 6 and Frank 4 in Gloucester Street, Cirencester. His parents lived in nearby Factory Yard alongside his brother David and his wife Fanny and their son William.

John and Rachel went on to have a large family of at least nine children. Four sons – Frank, Harris, James John and Raymond and five daughters – Emily Rosina, Edith Ellen, Mabel Harris, Mary Maria and Minnie Bennett. In 1881 they lived in Ashton Keynes; in 1891 they were at 27 Stepstairs Lane, Cirencester and in 1901 they were in South Cerney.

At the time of her death in 1907 Rachel was living at 17 Ipswich Street, here in Swindon. A couple of her married daughters had moved to Swindon, which maybe how she came to be here. She was buried in grave plot B2754 on November 12, 1907.

John survived her by 15 years. He died aged 79 at the Purton Infirmary and was buried with Rachel on September 12, 1922.

And now those photos.

Is this John and Rachel with their children? Or is it John Uzzell the elder with his wife Sarah and their children? Unfortunately, the photograph is undated.

And who is this? John Uzzell the elder or the younger? Is this Rachel? Again, undated.

Still in search of little Lily

Sometimes it feels as if Radnor Street Cemetery is one big family reunion.

Yesterday’s blogpost Maurice Uzzell, Louisa and little Lily proved popular with readers. Shane messaged to say he’d hit a brick wall with his Uzzell research while Duncan confirmed the Scott/Uzzell family connection.

Mary Ann Scott was the daughter of Henry and Hannah Uzzell and featured in yesterday’s blogpost, living at 67 Jennings Street in 1891 with her husband Jesse Scott and where her three brothers Charles, Maurice and Fred Uzzell were boarding.

Jesse Scott, like Mary Ann Uzzell, was born in Christian Malford. The couple married at the Wesleyan Chapel Baptist Mills, Barton Regis on October 2, 1881 when Jesse was working as a railway signalman at the Stapleton Road Station. The UK Railway Employment Records 1833-1963 state that Jesse entered the Great Western Railway employment in October 1878 shortly before his 19th birthday working as a Policeman (railway guard) at Stapleton Road. In 1881 he became a signalman, also at Stapleton Road before moving to Swindon a year later where he worked as a switchman. In 1891 he was working as a passenger guard at Swindon and in 1907 he was a platform inspector.

In 1901 the family were still living at 67 Jennings Street. At the time of the census that year Mary was there with five of her children while Jesse can be found at the Railway Mission Convalescent Home in St. Leonards on Sea, Sussex.

By 1911 the family had moved to 73 County Road where Mary states on the census returns that they had been married 29 years and had 7 children but that sadly one had died. In 1911 Jesse and Mary had three adult children living at home and two that were still at school. Mary’s widowed mother Hannah Uzzell also lived with them – oh, and they had a boarder as well!

Mary Ann Scott died the following year and was buried in grave plot D1322 on June 26, 1912. By the 1930s Jesse was living at 60 Eastcott Hill where he died on January 23, 1935. Probate of his will was granted to his brother-in-law Maurice Uzzell and his son William Scott.

The couple’s two daughters are buried with them. Violet Lillian Mary Whitworth who died in the December quarter of 1936 aged 35 and Elsie Hannah Scott who died on November 29, 1939 at 61 Clifton Street, the home of her uncle Maurice Uzzell.

I feel this could be a continuing family history story – I’m sure to find little Lily at some point.