Thomas and Ellen Gabb

Thomas (1834-1907)

Ellen (1937-1902)

At the time of the ’41 Census, Thomas and Ellen were living with their parents, Thomas and Catherine in the village on Barrs Lane. Ellen, aged 4, was the youngest of the couples’ ten children, five of whom were living at home at the time.

reproduced by permission of the National Library of Scotland

The blue circle indicates the house (still standing) where the family lived.

Thomas was a butcher and publican by profession. In the 1851 Census, Thomas, now a journeyman butcher, and Ellen, were the only children living at home. Six years later, aged 23, Thomas married Hester Swimmings at Holy Trinity church in Bristol.

Thomas’ signature on his wedding certificate.

In 1861, Thomas, Hester, and their two daughters were living on Frog Lane, in the parish, but Hester died later that year. In ’71, he was living with his cousin Edward Owen in St Andrews Holborn, London, working as a porter. Elizabeth Catherine, his elder daughter, was helping on her uncle’s farm in Charfield and Sarah Ann, her younger daughter, died in 1863.

In 1876, Thomas married Eliza Ann Hunt at North Nibley church. She was the widow of another of the cohort, James William Smith . In 1881, they were living in Smarts Green, in the house now known as Westridge, with a son from Eliza’s previous marriage. In ’91, the family was joined by Eliza’s mother, Edith. In 1901, Thomas and Eliza were living with a boarder.

Thomas died in 1906, aged 74, and was buried in St Martins churchyard, in the village. Eliza died in 1929.

Ellen was living with her widowed mother, Catherine, at the Royal Oak in North Nibley in 1861. Catherine was recorded as being a beer house keeper and butcher. Ellen was a servant. In 1871, she was helping at George Cornock’s farm in Charfield, along with her niece, Elizabeth. In ’81, she was in the same place. In ’91. she was working as a general servant, in the household of Emily Owen, a retired governess, on Bradley Street, Wotton under Edge.

In 1901 Ellen was living on Sunnyside, Charfield, in a four-roomed cottage. She died in 1902, aged 65, and was buried in the churchyard in North Nibley.