Chapter 4: WILLIAM THE LABOURER

William was living in Tetbury when he married Rebeckah Ann Cox in that parish on 10 July 1796. Both partners signed their names with a cross. Their first child, John, was born less than four months later. In an age before universal pensions and welfare services those who could not look after themselves in old age often ended their days as paupers relying on parish charity or working in the union, i.e. workhouse. Children who could look after their aged parents provided a means of avoiding that fate. Thus it was that many couples married with the bride in advanced stage of pregnancy. What better way for the couple to prove their mutual fertility to each other, and hence their long term well being? So says one theory anyway!

John served time in Gloucester Gaol for his involvement in the stealing of poultry in Slimbridge. He was initially held in the Gaol from 29 October 1821 until his trial on 16 January the following year. He was charged, along with George Hill, with stealing seven Guinea fowl and several chickens from the premises of Edward Neames and two drakes and three ducks from a Daniel Philimore’s stable. He was found guilty as charged and sentenced to one year in gaol. His committal papers describe him as 5’41 " tall, with dark brown hair, grey eyes and a fresh complexion. He had several distinguishing scars including large scars on his right arm and right ankle, and smaller scar on his right knee.

A second son, William (chapter 5), arrived three years after John. By the time Rebeckah Ann was born in 1803, the family had left Tetbury and had moved to Churchend in Slimbridge. Other children, namely Hannah, Thomas (chapter 6), Jane and James, arrived at regular intervals in the proceeding eleven years. Their father was throughout this period an agricultural labourer, employed on Berkeley estate farms. Between 1803 and 1841 the family moved to Shepherds Patch at the other end of the village. They had moved back to Churchend by 1851.

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St John the Evangelist, Slimbridge's Parish Church

James, the couple’s youngest son, became a sawyer following a period as an agricultural labourer. He will have worked as part of a team who cut logs into beams or planks fit for a carpenter to use. Their usual tool was a two-man pit saw. An upper sawyer lifted the saw, the lower sawyer who was positioned in a pit beneath the timber being cut, pulled and guided the saw down on its cutting stroke. Even in the early nineteenth century the work was described as very laborious yet financially rewarding, two industrious men earning from twelve to eighteen shillings a day.

Cottages at Churchend, Slimbridge

James married Kezia or Kezeah from Berkeley. In 1851 they were living at 71 Churchend with their lodger, George Niblett. Between 1854 and 1861 the couple had three children, Emma Jane, John James and Charles George. Emma Jane was born in Slimbridge but in the mid-1850s the family moved a few miles north, to Fretherne, where the two boys were born. In 1881 James was still a sawyer but then lived at 2 Ham Bridge in Saul, a neighbouring parish to Fretherne, with Kezia. Charles George was by then working as an engine cleaner whilst lodging at 56 Winsor Place, Wotton Ville, Gloucester, in the home of Mary Anderson who’s son was also an engine cleaner. At this latter date James and Kezia also had a lodger, Mathew Spencer, who was a sawyer.

William and Rebecca’s second son, William (chapter 5) followed his father as an agricultural labourer. Nothing is known of Rebecca Ann. She may have died in childhood or gone into service in another village or a town. Hannah married Joseph Simmons in nearby Hempstead, but lived all her married life in Slimbridge. One of Hannah and Joseph’s children emigrated to Australia where he raised a family of his won. Thomas (chapter 6) became a shoemaker.

Jane married William Antill in St Mary de Lode church in Gloucester City. Perhaps she was working in that city. Jane had at least eight children between 1836 and 1851. The family worshipped in St Nicholas church in Gloucester. With the exception of Jane junior, Jane and William's children; Sarah, Mark, Eliza, Emma, Mariam or Marrianne, Elizabeth and Ralph, appear to have survived infancy.

2 . . . William THORNHILL b.1770 d.1860 m.Rebecca/Rebeckah Ann COX
3 . . . . .John THORNHILL b.1796 d.1881
3 . . . . .William THORNHILL (Chapter 5) b.1799 d.<1891m.Ann(e) ?COOPER
3 . . . . .Rebecca Ann THORNHILL b.1803
3 . . . . .Hannah THORNHILL b.1806 d.1900 m.Joseph SIMMONDS
4 . . . . . . Ann SIMMONDS b.1828 d.>1851
4 . . . . . . Thomas SIMMONDS b.1831 d.1910 m.Elizabeth FIELD
5 . . . . . . . Jospeh William SIMMONDS b.1869 d.1931 m.Albertha Catherine JOHNSON
6 . . . . . . . . .Elsie Olive SIMMONDS m.Leo DOYLE
6 . . . . . . . . .Una Josephine SIMMONDS
6 . . . . . . . . .Rita Elizabeth SIMMONDS m.Luke MIDDLETON
6 . . . . . . . . .Dorothy Jean SIMMONDS m.Herbert MAQUIRE
6 . . . . . . . . .Ruby May SIMMONDS
6 . . . . . . . . .Edna Kathleen SIMMONDS b.- d.2003 m.George STRICKLAND
5 . . . . . . . Thomas Edward SIMMONDS b.1871 d.1959 m.Katherine May PASLEY
6 . . . . . . . . .Albert SIMMONDS b.1903 d.1987 m.Ada PLUIS
7 . . . . . . . . . . Basil SIMMONDS m.- -
8 . . . . . . . . . . . Lynda SIMMONDS m.- FINN
7 . . . . . . . . . . Russel SIMMONDS
7 . . . . . . . . . . Graham SIMMONDS
6 . . . . . . . . .Eva SIMMONDS b.1905 d.1988 m.Perce ROUT
7 . . . . . . . . . . Robert ROUT
7 . . . . . . . . . . Geoffrey ROUT
6 . . . . . . . . .Thomas SIMMONDS b.1906 d.1983 m.Elsie REEDY
7 . . . . . . . . . . Audrey SIMMONDS
7 . . . . . . . . . . Kevin SIMMONDS
7 . . . . . . . . . . Daniel SIMMONDS
7 . . . . . . . . . . David SIMMONDS
7 . . . . . . . . . . Helen SIMMONDS
7. . . . . . . . . . Gregory SIMMONDS
6 . . . . . . . . .Robert SIMMONDS b.1908 d.2002 m.Rayna CONSTABLE
7 . . . . . . . . . . Colleen SIMMONDS
7 . . . . . . . . . . Robyn SIMMONDS
7 . . . . . . . . . . Carolyn SIMMONDS
7 . . . . . . . . . . Beth SIMMONDS
7 . . . . . . . . . . Terry SIMMONDS
7 . . . . . . . . . . Desmond SIMMONDS
7 . . . . . . . . . . Peter SIMMONDS
6 . . . . . . . . .female SIMMONDS b.1910 d.1910
6 . . . . . . . . .Hilda SIMMONDS b.1911 d.2001 m.James MAGILL
7 . . . . . . . . . . Pauline MAGILL
7 . . . . . . . . . . Barbara MAGILL
7 . . . . . . . . . . Peter MAGILL
6 . . . . . . . . .Edley SIMMONDS b.1913 d.1942
6 . . . . . . . . .James Mountain SIMMONDS b.1914 d.1942
6 . . . . . . . . .Gladys Edith SIMMONDS m.Frederick CARTWRIGHT
7 . . . . . . . . . . Annette CARTWRIGHT
7 . . . . . . . . . . Suzanne CARTWRIGHT
7 . . . . . . . . . . Elizabeth CARTWRIGHT
7 . . . . . . . . . . Margaret CARTWRIGHT
6 . . . . . . . . .male SIMMONDS b.1918 d.1918
6 . . . . . . . . .Laurence Edward SIMMONDS b.1919 d.1932
6 . . . . . . . . .Elva Maude SIMMONDS m.Finley TOMLINSON
7 . . . . . . . . . . James TOMLINSON
7 . . . . . . . . . . Edmond TOMLINSON
7 . . . . . . . . . . Deanna TOMLINSON
7 . . . . . . . . . . Jann TOMLINSON
7 . . . . . . . . . . Richard TOMLINSON
6 . . . . . . . . .Walter Joseph SIMMONDS m.Margaret BAKES
6 . . . . . . . . .Oliver William SIMMONDS m.Ella MURRAY
7 . . . . . . . . . . Christopher SIMMONDS
7 . . . . . . . . . . John SIMMONDS
6 . . . . . . . . .Marie Katherine SIMMONDS m.John MURRAY
7 . . . . . . . . . . Jennifer MURRAY
7 . . . . . . . . . . Robert MURRAY
5 . . . . . . . James Mountain SIMMONDS b.1872 d.1960
5 . . . . . . . Charles Valley SIMMONDS b.1875 d.1883
5 . . . . . . . Emily Jane SIMMONDS b.1877 d.1910 m.William Thomas CONSTABLE
6 . . . . . . . . .Edley Harold CONSTABLE b.1897 d.1939
6 . . . . . . . . .William Joseph CONSTABLE b.1899 d.1965
6 . . . . . . . . .Ernest Edwin CONSTABLE b.1901 d.1907
6 . . . . . . . . .Olive Emily CONSTABLE m.Roy HALPIN
6 . . . . . . . . .Muriel CONSTABLE m.James DARWIN
5 . . . . . . . Elizabeth Annie SIMMONDS b.1878 d.1899 m.Herbert Wilfred HODGES
6 . . . . . . . . .Stanley Herbert HODGES b.1899 d.1899
5 . . . . . . . Edith Elizabeth SIMMONDS b.1883 d.1949 m.Arthur ALLPORT
4 . . . . . . John SIMMONDS b.1833 d.>1901 m.Elizabeth Veal/Keal MILLS - SEE 1881 SAVED
5 . . . . . . . Ann(ie) SIMMONDS b.c1858 d.>1891
5 . . . . . . . Caroline SIMMONDS b.1860 d.>1861
5 . . . . . . . Joseph SIMMONDS b.1863 d. 1873
5 . . . . . . . Edith SIMMONDS b.1865
5 . . . . . . . Ada SIMMONDS b.1866
5 . . . . . . . Alice R. SIMMONDS b.1877 d.>1891
5 . . . . . . . Amy SIMMONDS b.1880 d.>1901
5 . . . . . . . Matilda SIMMONDS b.1882 d.>1901
5 . . . . . . . Hilda E. SIMMONDS b.1885 d.>1901
4 . . . . . . Eliza SIMMONDS b.1836
4 . . . . . . James SIMMONDS b.1839 d. 1881
4 . . . . . . Joseph SIMMONDS b.1841 d.1841
4 . . . . . . Charles SIMMONDS b.1843 m.Fanny -
5 . . . . . . . Albert E. SIMMONDS b.1863
5 . . . . . . . William SIMMONDS b.1870
5 . . . . . . . Frances A. SIMMONDS b.1873
5 . . . . . . . Fred SIMMONDS b.1876
5 . . . . . . . Charles H. SIMMONDS b.1879
5 . . . . . . . Joseph J. SIMMONDS b.1880
4 . . . . . . Ellen SIMMONDS b.1849 m.William SAVAGE
5 . . . . . . . Joseph William SAVAGE b.1869
3 . . . . .Thomas THORNHILL (Chapter 6) b.1807 d.1881 m.Ann HARRIS
3 . . . . .Jane THORNHILL b.1810 d.1858 m.William ANTILL\ANTEL
4 . . . . . . Sarah ANTEL b.c1836 d.>1851
4 . . . . . . Mark Ruben ANTEL(L)/ANTILL b.c1838 d.<1891 m.Hannah JONES
5 . . . . . . . Francis William ANTILL b.1867 d.>1901 m.Eliza Alice BARNETT
6 . . . . . . . . .Frank Capel ANTILL b.1896 m.Nellie FAULKNER
7 . . . . . . . . . . John Anthony ANTILL b.1921 d.1921
7 . . . . . . . . . . Margaret Elizabeth ANTILL m.Jack THOMAS
8 . . . . . . . . . . . Jill THOMAS m.David JOHSNTON
6 . . . . . . . . .Amy Constance ANTILL b.1899 d.>1901
5 . . . . . . . Archie J. ANTILL b.c1869 d.>1891
5 . . . . . . . Amy H. ANTILL b.1870 d.>1891
4 . . . . . . Eliza Augusta ANTEL/ANTILL b.c1840 d.>1881 m.Raymond Henry HOWELL
5 . . . . . . . Raymond Walter HOWELL b.c1863 d.>1881
5 . . . . . . . Ralph Henry HOWELL b.c1866 d.>1881
4 . . . . . . Emma J. ANTEL/ANTILL b.c1842 d.>1861
4 . . . . . . Mariam\Marrianne ANTILL\ANTEL(L) b.1844 d.>1861
4 . . . . . . Jane ANTEL/ANTILL b.7 June 1846 d.<1851
4 . . . . . . Elizabeth Jane ANTEL/ANTILL b.c1848 d.>1871
4 . . . . . . Ralph ANTILL/ANTEL b.1850 d.>1891 m.Clara FINCH
5 . . . . . . . William Finch ANTEL/ANTILL b.c1877 d.>1901 m.Jessie Ann GILLARD
6 . . . . . . . . .Jessie ANTILL b.c1899 d.>1901
6 . . . . . . . . .William Ralph ANTILL b.1900 d.>1901
5 . . . . . . . Ralph Reuben ANTILL b.1879 d.>1901
5 . . . . . . . Albert ANTILL b.1880 d.>1901
5 . . . . . . . Ada ANTILL b.c1882 d.>1901
5 . . . . . . . Clara ANTEL b.c1883 d.>1901
5 . . . . . . . Frank ANTEL b.1886 d.>1901
5 . . . . . . . Ernest ANTEL b.1886 d.>1901
5 . . . . . . . Edith ANTEL b.1888 d.>1901
5 . . . . . . . Frederick (known as Fred) ANTILL b.1895 d.>1901
5 . . . . . . . Ethel May ANTILL b.1897 d.>1901
3 . . . . .James THORNHILL b.c1812 d.>1891 m.Kezia\Kezeah
4 . . . . . . Emma Jane THORNHILL b.1853 d.>1901 m.Edwin John T. SILVEY
5 . . . . . . . George H. SILVEY b.c1877 d.>1901
5 . . . . . . . Edwin SILVEY b.c1881 d.>1901
5 . . . . . . . Reginald SILVEY b.c1892 d.>1901
5 . . . . . . . Lionel SILVEY b.c1896 d.>1901
4 . . . . . . John James THORNHILL b.1857 d.1870
4 . . . . . . Charles George THORNHILL b.1861 d.1927 m.- -
5 . . . . . . . Ethel THORNHILL b.c1895 d.>1901
3 . . . . .Eliza THORNHILL b.1817