Robert Heard (1836-1892)

At the time of the 1841 Census, Robert lived with his parents, James and Sarah, and his five older siblings, in a house opposite St Martins church, circled in blue below.

Reproduced with the permission of the National Library of Scotland

Both of Robert’s elder brothers, and his father, were carpenters. All children, including four other siblings not at home in 1841, were baptised in St Martins. Robert became a carpenter in due course, as that was his profession recorded in the ’51 Census, when he was visiting his sister and brother-in-law, in Charlton Kings.

James, Robert’s father, had been born in Slimbridge, and he and James’ mother had moved there by the time of the ’51 Census. He had, however, moved back to Nibley by 1853, as he is buried in the churchyard.

Robert is absent from the next two Census records, presumerably because he is away on military service.

In 1881, Robert, an army pensioner, is lodging in Gloucester in the house of his sister Sarah and her husband. In 1891 and 1901, he is living with his niece Harriet Middleton at the same address – 8 St Catherine Street.

Robert died in Gloucester Union in 1902, aged 66.