Helen (1835-1912)
James (1836-
Caroline (1839-1909)
Charles (1833-1869)
The map shows where the family lived at the time of the 1841 Census. The Wotton road runs across the bottom of the image,
Reproduced with the permission of the National Library of Scotland
The four Parker children led unusually static lives, compared to the rest of the cohort. James spent all his adult life in Comb, just over the hill from Nibley, Caroline lived all her life in Nibley, as did her brother Charles (until his marriage and death). Ellen was the outlier, marrying a successful builder and moving to Gloucester.
William and Deborah Parker lived with their 10 children in the woods at the far eastern end of Nibley parish. Nothing now remains of the house. In fact, the family lived nearer to St Mary’s church in Wotton than to St Martins in Nibley, so St Marys is where they were baptised.
William was a gamekeeper and both he and Deborah were born in Coaley. In 1851 they were still living at the Ridings, with their 11th and final child, Deborah, and Ellen (also recorded as Helen), James, and Caroline. Charles (a shoemaker) was living with his elder sister Sarah and her husband and daughter at the bottom of Breakheart Hill in Nibley. In ’61, William had retired, and was living in Waterley Bottom with Deborah, Charles and Caroline.
In 1865, Charles married Mary Ann Whatley in Avening, Gloucestershire, and they had a daughter, Florence Kate, in 1869. Charles died later that year.
From the Stroud News and Gloucestershire Advertiser 29th October 1869
ODD-FELLOWS FUNERAL – On Thursday last the remains of Mr Charles Parker…were interred in Forest Green Chapel…About 20 of the Odd-Fellows belonging to the Loyal Prince of Wales Lodge, followed, as did 20 of the Nailsworth Volunteers. The deceased was much respected by all who knew him.
Mary married George Iles the following year and had eight children with him before dying in 1905.
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James married in 1858, when he was 21, and, in 1861, he was living with his wife and her parents in Comb, Wotton under Edge. He was a labourer, and became a dyers labourer. James lived in the Comb area for the rest of his life. He and his wife had no children. He died some time after the 1921 Census, but I can’t find a record of his death.
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In 1871, Caroline was living in Waterley Bottom as housekeeper to her widowed father and brother John. Ten years later, she was boarding with Matthew Robinson (her brother-in-law) and his family in Waterley Bottom, and she was still living with them in 1891. In 1901 she was boarding with Ephraim Woodward at the Round House in Nibley. She died in 1908, aged 69, and was buried in the churchyard of St James, Dursley.
What was unusual was that she was never recorded as having an occupation, which I’ve never otherwise found among unmarried women of her class.
From the Stroud Journal 1st July 1871
ASSAULT – At the petty sessions … Rebecca Mary Ann Bloodworth was charged with assaulting Caroline Parker. It appears that on the above day Caroline was proceeding home from Dursley, and on her way was met by defendant, who assaulted her by tearing off her hat and throwing it on the road, then stamped on it, and called her a ‘nasty cat’. Plaintiff retaliated and, as alleged, struck Rebecca with her umbrella, causing visible marks of the blow. During the hearing, it transpired that a feeling of jealousy existed between the belligerents as to the claim of a young man, and a letter had been received by Rebecca, which she believed had been sent by Caroline, the contents of which were not read. But Caroline said…that she could neither read nor write, and therefore could not have possibly sent the offensive missive. However it was thought from the vague answers given by Caroline as to her knowledge of the letter, she knew something about it: and the bench, therefore, dismissed the case.
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In 1859, Ellen married Albert Estcourt in St Mary’s, Wotton under Edge. Albert became important enough to have his own Wikipedia page, which can be seen here Albert was also Mayor of Gloucester three times. Ellen and Albert went on to have 10 children and Ellen died in 1912.
From The Gloucester Echo 20th December 1912
LOCAL WILLS
MRS E ESTCOURT, GLOUCESTER
The will, dated Feb 24, 1908, of Ellen Estcourt, widow of Mr Albert Estcourt, JP, who died at Falkland House, Gloucester, has been proved….The value of the free estate is returned at illegible . Testatrix makes bequests of articles to each of her 6 sons and illegible daughters. Her late husband’s mayoralty is recalled by the facts that to her son ? William she leaves the trowel presented to his Worship when he laid the foundation stone of the Gloucester Free Library, and to her daughter Julia Mabel the portrait of the Mayor in his robes, painted by the artist Walter J Lifton.
The rest of the estate was equally divided between her children. I wonder what happened to the trowel and the portrait?
The east window of St Catherines Church, Gloucester was dedicated to Albert and Ellen in 1914.
Falkland House, on Denmark Road. The back garden is to the left of the picture, completely overshadowed by the ornamental trees (perhaps Wellingtonia, a Victorian favourite). Their size means that they were probably planted by Albert and Ellen.
The gatepost, where, if you look hard, you can make out ‘Falkland’.
North Nibley One-Place-Study 