To everyone who has aid e d and a b e t t e d me i n the p u r s u i t o f my f a m i l y h i s t o r y , p a r t i c u l a r l y

: my mother, E i l e e n Evans and h e r youngest s i s t e r , P h y l l i s Courtney - I ' d never have s t a r t e d t h i s w i t h o u t you J

: Rose F i s h e r (nee I n a Rose Varney) - f o r l e a d i n g me t o Les and Rene Brake.

: Rene Brake - f o r p a t i e n t l y w r i t i n g down Les' c h i l d h o o d memories, e s p e c i a l l y o f Mr Pughe, and f o r i n t r o d u c i n g me t o G i l l i a n Farmer.

: G i l l i a n Farmer ( d a u g h t e r o f C i s s i e Brake) - f o r p r e s e r v i n g y our m o t h e r 1 s c o l l e c t i o n o f p o s t c a r d s .

: Gladys Selby ( d a u g h t e r o f Jim Varney) - f o r f i l l i n g i n some gaps i n the h i s t o r y .

THANK YOU

I f you c o n s i d e r t h a t genealogy i s concerned w i t h f o l l o w i n g t h ^ male l i n e o f descent then pages 1 t o 25 t r a c e t h i s Varney f a m i l y h i s t o r y , f r o m Joseph Varney b o r n c. 1793 a t Cheltenham to A l f r e d C h a r l e s Varney who d i e d i n 1953.

I have a t t e m p t e d t o r e c o r d t h e l i f e and t i m e s of members o f . t h i s p a r t i c u l a r f a m i l y whether male or female, and I hope t h a t descendants o f t h i s Varney f a m i l y w i l l take up tfie^~" f a m i l y h i s t o r y c h a l l e n g e - a good s t a r t m i g h t be t o j o i n the G l o u c e s t e r s h i r e F a m i l y H i s t o r y S o c i e t y - and j o i n t h e i r s t o r i e s w i t h t h a t o f my grandmother's, F l o r e n c e Varney, which i s covered on pages 20-23 and her c h i l d r e n ' s on pages 26-34.

ANN LYNN (nee Evans)

As a c h i l d , E i l e e n Thorogood l i v e d w i t h h er g u a r d i a n , Mrs F o s t e r , a t Sonning Common, B e r k s h i r e .

When E i l e e n was about 11 years o l d h er mother, F l o r e n c e Thorogood, and a young woman c a l l e d Queenie came t o t a k e h er t o London. However,it seems t h a t F l o r e n c e Thorogood persuaded Mrs F o s t e r t o keep E i l e e n and E i l e e n remained w i t h Mrs F o s t e r f o r a n o t h e r 3 y e a r s .

I n January 1933 E i l e e n was s e n t t o London. She was p u t i n the care o f t h e guard a t Reading S t a t i o n and was met i n London by Queenie and h e r husband, Fred C o n s t a b l e . They took E i l e e n t o her p a r e n t s ' home, a one bedroom f l a t i n Greyhound Mansions, Fulham. The f l a t was overcrowded w i t h Queenie, Fred, F l o r e n c e and her husband ( J i m Thorogood), P h y l l i s ( t h e i r youngest d a u g h t e r ) and' then E i l e e n . Queenie and Fred moved away l a t e r i n 1933 and l o s t c o n t a c t .

Why d i d E i l e e n l i v e w i t h Mrs F o s t e r ? Who was Queenie?

E i l e e n had no w i s h t o r e t u r n t o Mrs F o s t e r so she d i d n ' t r i s k a s k i n g awkward q u e s t i o n s . P h y l l i s d i d t r y t o ask b u t never r e c e i v e d s a t i s f a c t o r y answers.

E i l e e n i s my mother; J my g r a n d p a r e n t s , F l o r e n c e and Jim Thorogood, d i e d b e f o r e I was b o r n i n 1952. I n 1979 I d e c i d e d t o a t t e m p t t o f i n d t h e answers t o t h e q u e s t i o n s and by February 1981, w i t h P h y l l i s 1 h e l p , I had enough i n f o r m a t i o n t o c o n t a c t Queenie and Fred C o n s t a b l e .

I t t o o k me two ho u r s t o compose a s h o r t l e t t e r o f i n t r o d u c t i o n - i t "is d i f f i c u l t t o w r i t e t o a s t r a n g e r who may n o t w i s h t o be found

a f t e r almost 50 y e a r s . F o r t u n a t e l y Queenie r e p l i e d e n t h u s i a s t i c a l l y a s k i n g t o be c a l l e d by her p r o p e r name, I r e n e .

We ( E i l e e n , P h y l l i s and m y s e l f ) met I r e n e i n February 1981 and she e x p l a i n e d t h a t she had been b o r n "out o f wedlock" i n 1911 t o Florence Varney ( l a t e r known as F l o r e n c e Thorogood). I r e n e had a l s o been b r o u g h t up by Mrs F o s t e r b u t had l i v e d a t R o s e h i l l Cottage i n Caversham. I r e n e had never known her f a t h e r b u t she r e p e a t e d t o us what Mrs F o s t e r had t o l d h e r : her f a t h e r ' s name was Pughe, he had been"something t o do w i t h t h e c h u r c h " and he and F l o r e n c e Varney were t h e p a r e n t s o f a n o t h e r daughter, Gladys, who had d i e d when she was young.

A t that f i r s t m e e t i n g I r e n e s a i d she would l i k e t o know more about her f a t h e r and l i i s -family: and I o f f e r e d to look i n t o i t f o r h e r .

Whilst "looking f o r Mr Pughe" I c o l l e c t e d some i n t e r e s t i n g information regarding the Varney family and thus became absorbed i n t r a c i n g ray -family h i s t o r y . r ̂

A l t h o u g h i n t e n d to c o n t i n u e my researches, to d a t e I have back-i t r a c k e d j i o .the y arney^ . l i v i n g at"Dbwdeswell , G l o u c e s t e r s h i r e i n the mid-1800}s. I f you .know of any e r r o r s ; o m i s s i o n s o r anecdotes r e g a r d i n g ^ h i s branch" o f the Varriey f a m i l y I would be p l e a s e d to amend or add to t h i s h i s t o r y .

ANN LYNN (1986)

CONTENTS

Joseph Varney (1793-1860) 1.

Dowde swe11 2.

1840-49 ' 4.

1850-59 5.

1860-69 6.

1870-79 9.

1880-89 11.

1890-99 12.

Summary 13.

Varney f a m i l y t r e e 14*

The c h i l d r e n o f John Varney 15.

The c h i l d r e n o f F l o r e n c e Varney 26.

Pughe f a m i l y 35.

JOSEPH VARNEY ( b o r n about 1793 a t Cheltenham) m a r r i e d E l i z a b e t h H i c k s a t Tewkesbury (approx. 5 m i l e s n o r t h o f Cheltenham) on 30 December 1821 - b o t h were o f t h a t p a r i s h . ( 1 ) T h e i r m a r r i a g e t o o k p l a c e a f t e r Banns and was w i t n e s s e d by Anne Baker and Ch a r l e s H o l d e r .

Joseph Varney and h i s w i f e E l i z a b e t h seem t o have l i v e d a t C h a r l t o n Kings i m m e d i a t e l y a f t e r t h e i r m a r r i a g e and l a t e r moved t o Dowdeswell (? 1 8 2 8 ) . I t appears t h a t t h e y had e i g h t , or perhaps n i n e , c h i l d r e n - i t has been d i f f i c u l t t o a s c e r t a i n whether E l i z a b e t h C h a r l o t t e and C h a r l o t t e were two s e p a r a t e c h i l d r e n b u t v a r i o u s r e c o r d s have p r o v i d e d t h e f o l l o w i n g i n f o r m a t i o n : EVENT: NAME: VARNEY PLACE: B a p t i sm 14 A p r i l 1822 Sarah M a t i l d a *k ^ C h a r l t o n K i n g s )

19 Oct. 1823 E l i z a b e t h C h a r l o t t e 7 ^ ii H ) (2) M 20 Nov. 1825 Joseph 1°T 1 ! 1 1 )

B i r t h 1827 C h a r l o t t e >< 1 1 T I (3) Baptism 10 Feb. 1828 Mary Ann ^ & Dowdeswell ( 4 )

* i 31 Jan. 1830 Abraham V̂-V * t ( 4 ) it 22 Mar. 1832 John u ( 4 ) ti 8 Nov. 1834 Anna M a r i a . • tt ( 4 ) 1 1 31 Jan. 1836 Emma ^ (\ it ( 4 )

Three o f t h e i r c h i l d r e n were b u r i e d a t Dowdeswell: Anna M a r i a aged 18 days J 28 Nov. 1834 ( 4 ) Emma aged 18 months i / 7 J u l y 1837 ( 4 ) Abraham aged 8 y e a r s y 6 Jan. 1838 ( 4 )

( 1 ) G l o u c e s t e r s h i r e Records O f f i c e - Tewkesbury P a r i s h Records ( 2 ) I . G . I . Records ( 3 ) Year o f b i r t h deduced from 1851 Census ( 4) G l o u c e s t e r s h i r e Records O f f i c e - Dowdeswell P a r i s h Records

DETAILS OF THE AREA OF DOWDESWELL TAKEN FkOM 1838 T i t h e Map

N

tWcUswgK Wood

DQWDESWELL 1

4

)

DOWDESWELL i s d e s c r i b e d i n o l d d i r e c t o r i e s o f G l o u c e s t e r s h i r e as a "very s m a l l v i l l a g e " a p p r o x i m a t e l y 4 m i l e s SE o f Cheltenham.

The p o p u l a t i o n o f Dowdeswell grew from 195 i n 1801 t o 249 i n 1841. The m a j o r i t y o f i t s i n h a b i t a n t s were a g r i c u l t u r a l l a b o u r e r s . The main crops were r e c o r d e d as b e i n g wheat, b a r l e y and t u r n i p s .

The 1838 T i t h e Map shows t h a t t h e p a r i s h o f Dow d e s w e l l i n c l u d e d Dowdeswell Wood, L i n e o v e r Wood, Pegg l e s w o r t h , A n d o v e r s f o r d (which p r o v i d e d an i n n f o r Dowdeswell r e s i d e n t s ) and Sandywell Park (which l a t e r became a " l u n a t i c asylum f o r t h e upper c l a s s e s " ( 1 ) , as w e l l as Dowdeswell and Upper Dowdeswell.

The church o f St M i c h a e l a t Dowdeswell has two g a l l e r i e s approached by e x t e r n a l s t a i r c a s e s . The g a l l e r i e s were b u i l t around 1840 and p r o v i d e d p r i v a t e access f o r t h e Manor and R e c t o r y . The Regi s t e r o f Baptisms f o r Dowdeswell r e c o r d s t h a t " t h e seat under t h e g a l l e r y f o r the c l e r k t o s i t i n was p u t by Mrs Rogers and Rev. C. C o x w e l l , R e c t o r " i n November 1841,

A r c h i v e s r e l a t i n g t o Dowdeswell h e l d a t G l o u c e s t e r County Records O f f i c e i n d i c a t e t h a t i n 1843 a Sunday School Room was e r e c t e d a t Upper Dowdeswel1 a t t h e expense o f H e s t e r Rogers and Rev. Charles Coxwell, Rector. The f o u n d a t i o n stone had been l a i d on Tuesday 14th March and the Sunday School opened i n June 1843.

Du r i n g t he l a t t e r h a l f o f the 1800's t he o f f i c e s o f p a r i s h Rector and p a r i s h M a g i s t r a t e were h e l d by W i l l i a m Rogers Coxwell Rogers and R i c h a r d Rogers Coxwell Rogers r e s p e c t i v e l y .

The church c o n t a i n s monuments t o men o f the Rogers f a m i l y and the arms o f t h a t f a m i l y a re d i s p l a y e d on the gates t o the ch u r c h y a r d .

JOSEPH VARNEY, my m a t e r n a l grandmother's p a t e r n a l g r a n d f a t h e r , worked as an a g r i c u l t u r a l l a b o u r e r f o r t h e Rogers f a m i l y a t Dowdeswell d u r i n g t h e mid-1800's.

(1) G l o u c e s t e r s h i r e Post O f f i c e D i r e c t o r y 1863 ( G u i l d h a l l , London)

DOWDESWELL; 1841: CENSUS:

L i v i n g a t COLD COMFORT ( 1 ) Joseph VARNEY aged 45^\ Ag.Lab. ( A g r i c u l t u r a l Labourer E l i z a b e t h " » 4 5 / Joseph " » 14 Mary " " 12 John " " 8 -\\

L i v i n g a t ? FARM Sarah VARNEY aged 19

L i v i n g a t DOWDESWELL HOUSE: (Manor) H e s t e r ROGERS aged 78 Independent ^ , Edward " 32 Anne " " 30 and 5 s e r v a n t s .

S h a r i n g t h e d w e l l i n g w i t h t h e Varneys a t Cold Comfort were the Organ f a m i l y , and a l s o l i v i n g a t Dowdeswell i n 1841 were t h e Long and B a y l i s f a m i l i e s • 20 years l a t e r , i n 1861, we f i n d 3 young men -John Organ, Henry Long and Joseph B a y l i s - l o d g i n g i n t h e same house as John Varney (son o f Joseph and E l i z a b e t h ) a t Cheltenham.

(1) COLD COMFORT i s i n d i c a t e d on maps accompanying t h e d i r e c t o r i e s f o r G l o u c e s t e r s h i r e as an ar e a s o u t h o f Dowdeswell i n t h e v i c i n i t y o f Upper Dowdeswell up t o 1858 b u t a f t e r t h a t d a t e Cold Comfort has been o m i t t e d f r o m t he maps. A t the p r e s e n t time (October 1986) t h e r e i s a Guest House named O l d Cold Comfort on t h e roa d between P e g g l e s w o r t h and A n d o v e r s f o r d .

5"

DOWDESWELL

1850 cl 0 16th June - b a p t i s m o f "base b o r n " c h i l d , Emma Varney,of

C h a r l o t t e Varney ( d a u g h t e r o f Joseph & E l i z a b e t h )

1851 CENSUS

L i v i n g a t COLD COMFORT: James Organ, h i s w i f e and f i v e c h i l d r e n .

L i v i n g a t Dowdeswell ( u n c e r t a i n whether t h i s s h o u l d be i n c l u d e d under Pegglesworth Farm or Cold C o m f o r t ) :

JOSEPH VARNEY aged 58 Gardener b o r n Cheltenham E l i z a b e t h " 59 " Winch combe John " " 19 Ag, Lab. " Dowdeswell Emma " " 10 months " Dowdeswell

L i v i n g a t PEGGLESWORTH FARM: Ann Craddock aged 60, a farmer o f 690 acres employing 18 s e r v a n t s , i n c l u d i n g : C h a r l o t t e VARNEY aged 24 bo r n Cheltenham

L i v i n g a t DOWDESWELL HOUSE: Ri c h a r d C Rogers aged 57, M a g i s t r a t e , and h i s f a m i l y .

L i v i n g a t Dowdeswell: R i c h a r d Bee, far m e r o f 210 acres employing 7 l a b o u r e r s and: Mary VARNEY aged 23 Gen. Farm born Dowdeswell

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - _ _ Servant 1852 22nd August - b a p t i s m o f "base b o r n " c h i l d , Thomas Varney, o f

Mary Ann Varney ( d a u g h t e r o f Joseph & E l i z a b e t h ) .

9 t h Nov. - b u r i a l o f Thomas Varney aged 4 months

DOwDESWELL:

1860 B u r i a l o f JOSEPH VARNEY (husband o f E l i z a b e t h ) A headstone i n t h e c h u r c h y a r d a t Dowdeswell r e a d s :

•\Q

JOSEPH VARNEY A f o r many y e a r s an o l d and f a i t h f u l s e r v a n t i n the Rogers f a m i l y . He d i e d suddenly on t h e 27 t h June 1860 aged 67 y e a r s . T h i s stone i s e r e c t e d by h i s master as a mark o f r e s p e c t f o r h i s f i d e l i t y and l o n g s e r v i c e s ,

1867 B u r i a l o f ELIZABETH VARNEY (widow o f Joseph) 2 1 s t March 1867.

JOHN VARNEY, son o f Joseph and E l i z a b e t h , moved from Dowdeswel1 t o Cheltenham between 1851 and 1860.

CHELTENHAM :

1860 M a r r i a g e o f JOHN VARNEY aged 27 t o Ann W i l l i a m s aged 24 at St Paul's Church, Cheltenham on 14 May 1860. ( T h i s church was demolished i n the 1980's).

13th December - b i r t h o f E l i z a b e t h Ann t o John and Ann Varney a t 19 St George's S t r e e t , Cheltenham.

J

CHELTENHAM :

1861: CENSUS - 19 S t George's S t r e e t :

PLACE OF RELATIONSHIP BIRTHi NAME: TO HEAD: OCCUPATION: AGE: R o c k f i e l d E l i z a b e t h BRYAN Wife _ 35 Cheltenham Amelia " Daughter Scholar 8 Birmingham Thomas J " Head Gen.Labourer 34 Cheltenham Thomas W " Son Scholar 8

u Henry LONG Boarder Butcher 19 Naunton Joseph BAYLIS ii Stonemason 19 Brockwor? John ORGAN Tl Butcher 18 Winchcombe Thomas MINCHIN Head Stonemason 36 B i r d l i p C h a r l o t t e " Wife 24 Cheltenham Rosetta " Daughter Schol a r 2

n E l l e n " I I - 7 months Dowdeswell JOHN VARNEY Head Sawyer 28 R o c k f i e l d ANN » Wife - 24 Cheltenham ELIZABETH " Daughter - 3 months

20 y e a r s l a t e r we f i n d the Varney family l i v i n g next door to another family of Minchins at F a i r f o r d . E l i z a b e t h Bryan and Ann Varney both came from R o c k f i e l d (near Monmouth) - they may have been s i s t e r s .

By August 1862 John and Ann Varney had moved t o R o s e h i l l S t r e e t , C h a r l t o n K i n g s .

C h a r l t o n Kings i s r e c o r d e d i n a Post O f f i c e D i r e c t o r y (1863) as a v i l l a g e 2 m i l e s SE o f Cheltenham:

1861 - P o p u l a t i o n = 3,443 1861 - Acres = 3, 120

The houses i n R o s e h i l l S t r e e t were t w o - s t o r e y e a r l y 1 9 t h c e n t u r y a r t i z a n houses.

JOHN and ANN VARNEY produced t h e f o l l o w i n g c h i l d r e n i n the 1860*s a t R o s e h i l l S t r e e t :

1862 9 August C h a r l o t t e Ann 1864 28 August(Twins)Emma M a r i a & Sarah M a t i l d a 1865 3 0 September Rosena Jane 1867- 9 October John "William 1868 19 October Joseph W i l l i a m H a n s e l l

I n 1867 t h e i r f i r s t son John W i l l i a m d i e d . I n 1868 on 2 7 t h December t h e i r son Joseph Wl1m H a n s e l l was b a p t i s e d a t C h a r l t o n K i n g s .

T h i s i s t h e s t y l e o f house b u i l t a t S t . George's S t r e e t , Cheltenham d u r i n g t h e e a r l y 1800's.

John and Ann Varney and t h e i r d a u g h t e r E l i z a b e t h Ann were l i v i n g a t No 19 i n A p r i l 1861 They shared t h i s narrow house w i t h 2 o t h e r f a m i l i e s and 3 l o d g e r s b e f o r e moving t o R o s e h i l l S t r e e t , C h a r l t o n K i n g s .

imnn

CHELTENHAM

1871 S t r e e t D i r e c t o r y f o r Cheltenham l i s t s JOHN VARNEY as a Sawyer o f R o s e h i l l S t r e e t , Char1 t o n K i n g s ,

29th March - b i r t h o f A l f r e d James* t o John and Ann Varney a t R o s e h i l l S t r e e t .

1876 qfi^ 21st November - de a t h o f Mary Varney ( s p i n s t e r ) a t Eton Cottage, P r e s t b u r y Road, Cheltenham. She made a w i l l i n f a v o u r o f her nephews and n i e c e s - Joseph and John Varney and Sarah ( w i f e o f Thomas B u r f o r d ) and C h a r l o t t e Varney, t he sons and daughters o f her deceased b r o t h e r , Joseph Varney o f Dowdeswell. Mary Varney' s e s t a t e was v a l u e d a t under £100.

At some time between 1871 and 1873 JOHN and ANN VARNEY moved from C h a r l t o n K i n g s t o E a i r f o r d , Glos. ( a p p r o x . 16 m i l e s SE o f C h a r l t o n K i n g s ) . I n 1861 a Post O f f i c e D i r e c t o r y r e c o r d s F a i r f o r d as h a v i n g a p o p u l a t i o n o f 1,654 and i t s p a r i s h e x t e n d i n g t o 3,879 acres -a more spacious and l e s s crowded town than t h e v i l l a g e o f C h a r l t o n K i n g s .

FAIRFORD

C h i l d r e n b o r n t o JOHN and ANN VARNEY:

1873 E l i z a Mary 1876 31 August A l f r e d C h a r l e s * 1879 Susan Mary

These c h i l d r e n were b a p t i s e d a t St Mary's, F a i r f o r d i n 1873, 1877 and 1879 r e s p e c t i v e l y .

* John and Ann Varney r e g i s t e r e d these two sons w i t h t h e f i r s t name A l f r e d a l t h o u g h A l f r e d James was known as J i m and A l f r e d C h a r l e s as Fred by t h e i r f a m i l y .

PAIRFORD around 1870

The Cottage H o s p i t a l i n C a l c u t S t r e e t opened i n 1867 - i t was moved t o The C r o f t i n 1887.

The Workhouse a t The C r o f t was demolished i n 1870.

Census 1871: Moor Farm, East End, F a i r f o r d : Thomas M i n c h i n (49) f a r m e r o f 160 acres w i t t i h i s w i f e E s t h e r , daughter C.N. (15) and son Thomas ( 1 2 ) .

The East G l o u c e s t e r s h i r e Railway Co. opened a branch l i n e a t F a i r f o r d i n 1873.

1877 - F a i r f o r d H e r a l d b e i n g p u b l i s h e d .

Post O f f i c e D i r e c t o r y f o r 1879 n o t e s t h a t F a i r f o r d was l i g h t e d w i t h gas. The F a i r f o r d Gas & Coke Company was founded i n 1852.

Farmor's School, b e s i d e St Mary's Church, had opened i n 1738 a f t e r t h e w i l l o f an E l i z a b e t h Farmor had bequeathed £1,000 f o r a f r e e s c h o o l a t F a i r f o r d .

The R i v e r Coin d i v i d e d F a i r f o r d i n t o t h e t i t h i n g s o f M i l t o n End and East End.

FAIRFORD:

1880 - 27 October - b i r t h o f F l o r e n c e t o John and Ann Varney a t East End.

Census 1881: Moor Farm, East End, F a i r f o r d : Place o f B i r t h : Dowdeswell Monmouth Cheltenham

F a i r f o r d ti ti ti

Name: VARNEY JOHN ANN E l i z a b e t h Emma Rosena W i l l i a m James El i z a A l f r e d Susan F l o r e n c e

O c c u p a t i o n C a r p e n t e r

Domestic-out o f employ General Servant it ii Sc h o l a r

A g e

47 41 20 16 15 12 10 7 4 1

months

On one s i d e o f the Varneys l i v e d E s t h e r M i n c h i n , a widow, aged 55, who d e s c r i b e d h e r s e l f as a fa r m e r o f 210 acres employing 5 men and 1 boy, w i t h h e r son and da u g h t e r , Thomas and C a t h e r i n e M i n c h i n .

John and Ann Varney had shared a house w i t h a M i n c h i n f a m i l y a t Cheltenham i n 1861.

A l s o i n F a i r f o r d , L o n d o n 6treet»were George Symmons White ( D i s t r i c t A u d i t o r ) and h i s f a m i l y w i t h CHARLOTTE ANN VARNEY (18) as Cook -daughter o f John and Ann Varney o f East End, F a i r f o r d .

So i n t h i s one census we can account f o r 10 o f the Varneys 11 c h i l d r e n - Sarah M a t i l d a , h a s n o t been t r a c e d a t t h i s t i m e .

There was a p a t i e n t , Henry Varney aged 11 a t t h e C o t t a g e H o s p i t a l b u t h i s p a r e n t s a r e not known.

A l s o i n F a i r f o r d a t t h a t t i m e was a L i z z i e Varney (18) who d e s c r i b e d h e r s e l f as the Head o f the household l i v i n g w i t h her b r o t h e r s George and Edward (10 & 9 y e a r s ) . These Varneys had a l l been b o r n i n M i d d l e s e x .

1884 - 7 t h October - b i r t h o f George t o John and Ann Varney a t East End.

1887 - 6 t h December - BURIAL OF JOHN VARNEY aged 56 ( r e c o r d e d as b e i n g " o f M i l t o n End") a t F a i r f o r d Church.

FAIRFORD:

1893 - ELECTORAL REGISTER f o r F a i r f o r d shows t h a t a l t h o u g h n o t a l l o w e d t o v o t e , ANN VARNEY was re c o r d e d as t h e Head o f the household and l i v i n g i n C a l c u t S t r e e t . The C o t t a g e H o s p i t a l was moved t o The C r o f t i n 1887 and t h e b u i l d i n g i n C a l c u t S t r e e t was c o n v e r t e d i n t o f o u r c o t t a g e s . The Varney f a m i l y moved i n t o one o f these c o t t a g e s . C a l c u t S t r e e t was l a t e r renamed Park S t r e e t and the Varneys l i v e d a t No. 15

1894 - BAPTISM o f F l o r e n c e and George Varney, t h e youngest c h i l d r e n o f JOHN (deceased) and ANN VARNEY a t F a i r f o r d Church on 17th September.

1894 - MARRIAGE on 2 4 t h November o f C h a r l o t t e Ann Varney ( d a u g h t e r o f JOHN (deceased) and ANN VARNEY) t o George Palmer a t F a i r f o r d Church, Witnesses: Joseph W i l l i a m H a n s e l l Varney and Rosena Jane Varne

1896 - MARRIAGE on 2 4 t h F e b r u a r y o f Rosena Jane Varney ( d a u g h t e r o f JOHN (deceased) and ANN VARNEY)to James Brake a t F a i r f o r d Church. Witnesses: A l f r e d C h a r l e s Varney and E l i z a b e t h Ann Varney,

13

To v e r y b r i e f l y summarise t h i s h i s t o r y so f a r :

JOSEPH VARNEY and h i s w i f e E l i z a b e t h l i v e d a t C h a r l t o n Kings and Dowdeswell, Between 1822 and 1836 they had a t l e a s t e i g h t c h i l d r e n : Sarah M a t i l d a , E l i z a b e t h C h a r l o t t e , Joseph, Mary Ann 9

Abraham, JOHN, Anna M a r i a and Emma.

JOSEPH s e n i o r d i e d i n June 1860 a t Dowdeswell, Glos. ELIZABETH s e n i o r d i e d i n March 1867 a l s o a t Dowdeswell.

T h e i r son, JOHN, m a r r i e d Ann W i l l i a m s i n May 1860 a t Cheltenham and d u r i n g t h e f o l l o w i n g 24 ye a r s they produced 13 c h i l d r e n .

JOHN d i e d i n 1887 a t F a i r f o r d , aged 57.

As t h e f o l l o w i n g s e c t i o n shows, 12 o f t h e i r c h i l d r e n s u r v i v e d t o a d u l t h o o d .

I n a d d i t i o n t o t h e b a s i c b i r t h , m a r r i a g e and death d a t a a v a i l a b l e from p u b l i c r e c o r d s , I have i n c l u d e d anecdotes r e c o l l e c t e d by r e l a t i v e s wherever p o s s i b l e t o add more d e t a i l t o each o f t h e c h a r a c t e r s .

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THE CHILDREN OF JOHN AND ANN VARNEY

THE LIVES OF THE CHILDREN OF John and Ann VARNEY

ELIZABETH ANN ( B e s s i e ) was born 13 December 1860 a t Cheltenham. Worked i n domestic s e r v i c e - was Head Cook a t t h e Araleum H o t e l a t Eastbourne f o r many y e a r s . I n 1937, soon a f t e r t h e death o f her s i s t e r L i z z i e , w h i l e l i v i n g a t Watts Lane, Eastbourne she made her w i l l . She l e f t e q ual shares o f her e s t a t e t o h e r godson Leonard George H e r r i o t t , h e r nephew H a n s e l l Leonard Saunders, her n i e c e P h y l l i s Thorogood and her g r e a t - n e i c e Joan Saunders. She had never m a r r i e d and d i e d a t t h e age o f 90 i n June 1950 l e a v i n g an e s t a t e w o r t h £155.

CHARLOTTE ANN ( L o t t i e ) was born 9 August 1862 a t Cheltenham. Worked i n domestic s e r v i c e - was Cook f o r Mr & Mrs Symmons White i n London S t r e e t F a i r f o r d (see Census 1881). L o t t i e m a r r i e d George Palmer a t F a i r f o r d Church on 24 November 1894. She s a i d she was 30 ( n o t 321) and gave no o c c u p a t i o n . George Palmer, aged 33, was a s t r i k e r w i t h t h e Great Western Railway, and was l i v i n g a t 174 Rodbourne Road, near Swindon. H i s f a t h e r was a b o i l e r maker. U n f o r t u n a t e l y George d i e d about 2 y e a r s a f t e r t h e i r m a r r i a g e - he i s s a i d t o have been h i t on t h e head by a c r i c k e t b a l l . L o t t i e 1 a t e r l i v e d w i t h another George, George Saunders, a t B e x h i l l where she d i e d aged 86 i n 1948, l e a v i n g two sons -Sidney and Leonard ( H a n s e l l Leonard) Saunders.

EMMA MARIA (Emmie)was born a t 2.00am on 28 August 1864 ( t h e t w i n o f T i l l y ) . She worked as a housemaid and d i e d a s p i n s t e r on 26 December 1907 a t U x b r i d g e Road, K i n g s t o n , S u r r e y . I t has been s a i d t h a t she d i e d o f a h e a r t a t t a c k a t a s e r v a n t s ' C h r i s t m a s B a l 1 .

SARAH MATILDA ( T i l l y ) t w i n o f Emmie, b o r n 28 August 1864 a t Cheltenham. L i k e her s i s t e r s she p r o b a b l y worked " i n s e r v i c e " . I n 1915 when she was 52 she m a r r i e d a man 10 y e a r s younger than h e r s e l f - George P r a g n e l l t h e v i l l a g e postman a t West T y t h e r l e y , W i l t s h i r e . T i l l y d i e d i n 1921 and i s b u r i e d w i t h her husband a t th e church o f West T y t h e r l e y amongst t h e many o t h e r P r a g n e l l s , George s u r v i v e d T i l l y by 26 y e a r s .

19-

ROSENA JANE (Rose) was bo r n 30 September 1865 a t Cheltenham.

Jshe m a r r i e d James Brake, a w h e e l w r i g h t from S t o c k l i n c h , Somerset, a t F a i r f o r d Church on 24 November 1896, Rose and James l i v e d a t B i c k e n h a l l , Somerset, and had f o u r c h i l d r e n : V i v i a D o r r i s ( C i s s i e ) 1897; Ray 1900 - d i e d i n i n f a n c y ; L e s l i e ( B o y s i e ) 1902 and Roy 1907.

The f o l l o w i n g i n f o r m a t i o n has been t a k e n from p o s t c a r d s sent t o Rose by her s i s t e r Sue: POSTED: 30.12.? F a i r f o r d

6. 9.1904 E a i r f o r d

13,10.1904 F a i r f o r d

11.11.1904 F a i r f o r d

25.11.1904 F a i r f o r d

3. 2.1905 F a i r f o r d

MESSAGE: J u s t a l i n e t o t e l l you we r e c e i v e d p a r c e l s a f e l y . Thank you v e r y much. I w i l l w r i t e a l e t t e r i n a day o r so, w i s h i n g you a l l a b r i g h t and happy new yea r . Hoping you are a l l w e l l . Yours w i t h l o v e , S u i e .

Dear Rose, thank you f o r sending our u m b r e l l a s , t h e y came q u i t e s a f e . None the worse f o r t h e j o u r n e y . F e l t a b i t t i r e d t h i s morning. Emma has t o go back tomorrow, expect I s h a l l miss her, w i t h l o v e , y o u r s a f f e c t . Suie.

Dear Rose, Glad t o g e t your l e t t e r t o hear C i s s i e was b e t t e r . I w i l l w r i t e t o you on Sunday. V i o l e t went t h i s morning, th e o t h e r s go ne x t Wednesday. They a l l send t h e i r l o v e t o you. Hopes you are w e l l , l o v e t o C i s s i e & Boy s i e . T h i s w i l l do f o r C i s s i e * s book, I w i l l send h e r a l e t t e r soon. Suie ( P i c t u r e p o s t c a r d o f F a i r f o r d Church)

I am wondering how you a r e a l l g e t t i n g on a l l t h i s t i m e . Anxious t o know how C i s s i e i s , hope she i s g o t a l r i g h t a g a i n . W r i t e soon, y o u r s w i t h l o v e . ( I expect you know t h i s d o n ' t you, i t w i l l do f o r C i s s i e ' s b o o k ) , S u i e . ( P i c t u r e p o s t c a r d o f F a i r f o r d Church

i n t e r i o r )

To Miss C Brake. Can you see any one you know here? I expect Mammie can. T h i s i s t h e gun which t o o k f i r s t p r i z e a t one o f o u r c a r n i v a l s . How many p o s t c a r d s have you g o t now. I w i l l w r i t e you a l e t t e r soon. Suie. ( P i c t u r e p o s t c a r d o f C a r n i v a l a t F a i r f o r d )

To Mi s s C Brake. We were s o r r y t o hear you a r e a l l so p o o r l y and hopes you w i l l soon be b e t t e r , t e l l Mammie we g o t t h e b a s k e t a l r i g h t t h i s m o rning and thanks h er v e r y much and I w i l l w r i t e i n a day o r two. Glad t o say mother i s b e t t e r . Suie.

J u s t b e f o r e C h r i s t m a s 1906 Rose's youngest s i s t e r , F l o r r i e , came t o s t a y a t B i c k e n h a l 1 . F l o r r i e gave b i r t h t o a g i r l , Gladys Naomi, i n January 1907 and i t i s b e l i e v e d t h e baby was l e f t w i t h Rose a t B i c k e n h a l l . A f t e r her conf i n e m e n t F l o r r i e r e t u r n e d t o Bromley.

Rose r e c e i v e d a p o s t c a r d :

POSTED: MESSAGE: 23. 2.1907 Love t o a l l . A u n t i e F l o r r i e . Bromley

I n 1908 James Brake d i e d s u ddenly, l e a v i n g Rose i n charge o f f o u r young c h i l d r e n . I t i s s a i d t h a t Mrs Pughe,(?Rose 1 s ex-employer), who o r i g i n a l l y came from S t o c k l i n c h , d i d t r y t o h e l p Rose a f t e r James 1 d e a t h by f i l l i n g up the l a r d e r when she v i s i t e d Somerset.

By Christ m a s 1909 Rose was p r o b a i y f e e l i n g the e f f e c t s o f h a v i n g no husband t o h e l p s u p p o r t h e r and t h e c h i l d r e n . She r e c e i v e d t h i s message from h e r s i s t e r L i z z i e :

POSTED: , MESSAGE: Dear Rose, I w i l l t r y and send you something a f t e r C h r i s t m a s . I am v e r y s h o r t o f cash j u s t now, hope you a r e a l l w e l l . Best o f l o v e t o a l l . L i z z i e .

Rose d i e d on 1 6 t h October 1912..

The c h i l d r e n , B o y s i e , Gladys and Roy went t o l i v e w i t h t h e i r grandmother and A u n t i e Sue a t Park S t r e e t , F a i r f o r d , w h i l e the e l d e s t , C i s s i e , went t o work.

Rose and James Brake a r e b u r i e d a t B i c k e n h a l l , Somerset. T h e i r grave marked w i t h a headstone which reads " e r e c t e d by p a r i s h o n n e r s and f r i e n d s " .

24.12.1909 Eastbourne

JOHN WILLIAM b o r n 9 October 1867 a t Cheltenham. A f t e r h a v i n g f i v e d a u g h t e r s i t i s a p i t y t o f i n d t h a t John and Ann Varney's f i r s t son d i e d b e f o r e he was t h r e e months o l d .

JOSEPH WILLIAM HANSELL born 19 October 1868 a t Cheltenham. He grew t o be a man w i t h a grand name who seems t o have e a r n t h i m s e l f t h e t a g " b l a c k sheep" b u t no f a c t s have been found t o prove o r d i s p r o v e t h e l a b e l , At some t i m e he a p p a r e n t l y worked as a groom a t the s t a b l e s o f Baron R o t h s c h i l He i s a l s o s a i d t o have been m a r r i e d and had s o n ( s ) who sang i n t h e c h o i r a t St P a u l 1 s C a t h e d r a l . D u r i n g t h e f i r s t World War he worked a t Woolwich A r s e n a l Ammunition F a c t o r y . I n h i s l a t t e r y e a r s he p a i d I s . (5p) a n i g h t f o r a bed i n a men's h o s t e l i n London. D u r i n g t h e e a r l y 1950's he was i n h o s p i t a l a t Hammersmith and h i s n i e c e , I n a Rose, used t o v i s i t him. She remembered w i t h embarrassment how h i s f e l l o w p a t i e n t s would ask h e r n o t t o b r i n g him wrapped sweets as he had a h a b i t o f r u s t l i n g them i n t h e m i d d l e o f t h e n i g h t j He d i e d i n March 1951.

ALFRED JAMES ( J i m ) was b o r n on 29 March 1871 a t Cheltenham. Jim l i v e d i n F a i r f o r d as a c h i l d and j o i n e d up t o serve i n the Boer War a t Lech l a d e . He was a s e r g e a n t . Jim m a r r i e d E l i z a C a u l i n g a t St MaryL's Church, Rodbourne Cheney i n March 1904. They had f o u r c h i l d r e n : C h r i s t o p h e r 1904; H a r o l d 1906; F l o r e n c e Gladys 1909 and Reg i n a l d 1911. Jim worked on t h e r a i l w a y a t Swindon u n t i l he d i e d a t the age of 52.

ELIZA MARY ( L i z z i e ) was b o r n a t F a i r f o r d i n 1874. B e f o r e the f i r s t World War L i z z i e was engaged t o a German boy b u t when her youngest b r o t h e r was k i l l e d i n a c t i o n she br o k e i t o f f and never m a r r i e d . She worked w i t h h er e l d e s t s i s t e r , Bessie, a t t h e Araleum H o t e l , Eastbourne, as Head W a i t r e s s . She r e t i r e d from t h e h o t e l i n about 1935 and p u t her savin g s i n t o a j o i n t b u s i n e s s v e n t u r e t o r u n a g r o c e r ' s shop b u t t h i s was u n s u c c e s s f u l . I n 1937 she bought a f l a t a t B e x h i l l b u t u n f o r t u n a t e l y she d i e d on 14 October b e f o r e moving i n . She l e f t no W i l l b u t her s i s t e r Bessie h a n d l e d t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n o f h e r e s t a t e w o r t h £287.13s.6d.

ALFRED CHARLES (Fred ) was born on 31 August 1876 a t F a i r f o r d . He f i r s t worked as an engine d i r v e r on a farm, p o s s i b l y a t F a i r f o r d , and l a t e r worked w i t h h i s b r o t h e r J im on the Great Western Railway a t Swindon, Fred m a r r i e d Lucy Brake i n l a t e 1906. Lucy Brake was the s i s t e r o f James Brake who m a r r i e d Fred's s i s t e r Rose i n 1896. Fred and Lucy had e i g h t c h i l d r e n : W i n i f r e d Mary 1907; James 1908; D o r o t h y P h y l l i s 1910; George 1912; In a Rose 24 June 1913 (my godmother); Lucy 5 November; C h a r l e s Roy 1919 and O l i v e Grace 1922.

Fred Varney d i e d a t Swindon i n 1953i

SUSAN MARY (Sue o r Sui e ) was b o r n i n 1879 a t F a i r f o r d . Sue seems t o have s t a y e d a t home i n Park S t r e e t , F a i r f o r d and taken i n washing t o earn a l i v i n g . I n 1903 she gave b i r t h t o a boy; she named the baby H a r r y b u t the f a t h e r ' s name has not been r e c o r d e d . Sue's c h i l d d i e d aged 12 hou r s and was b u r i e d a t F a i r f o r d Church on 22 June 1903. In 1912, a f t e r t he death o f her s i s t e r Rose a t B i c k e n h a l l , Sue and her mother, Ann Varney, t h e n aged 75, t o o k charge o f Rose's c h i l d r e n , i n c l u d i n g Gladys. I n 1927, a f t s : Rose's c h i l d r e n had moved away and Gladys had {?[ d i e d ( i n 1926), Sue m a r r i e d a widower, W ; i l l L i n a k e r a t F a i r f o r d Church. From then u n t i l h e r de a t h i n June 1959 she l i v e d near B o l t o n , L a n c a s h i r e . j

FLORENCE ( F l o r r i e o r F l o ) was b o r n on 27 October 1880 a t East End, F a i r f o r d . I t has been s a i d t h a t when h e r s i s t e r Rose g o t m a r r i e d i n 1896, F l o r r i e t o o k Rose's p l a c e as L a d i e s Maid, w o r k i n g f o r the Pughe Family a t R u t l a n d Lodge, Bromley (see Pughe s e c t i o n ) .

J u l y 1906: F l o r r i e a t R u t l a n d Lodge. Received p o s t c a r d from her f r i e n d Amy. The message on the p o s t c a r d r e f e r s t o F l o r r i e ' s b r o t h e r * s wedding ( J i m Varney t o Lucy B r a k e ) .

December 1906: F l o r r i e a t B i c k e n h a l l , Somerset w i t h h er s i s t e r Rose. F l o r r i e r e c e i v e d a p o s t c a r d f r o m Amy:

"J u s t t o wish you a Happy Xmas and New Y e a n . I hope you are f e e l i n g b e t t e r by t h i s t i m e . I g e t on a l r i g h t as housemaid, I l i k e i t much b e t t e r than P.work. L i z z i e and I p l a y Ludo n e a r l y e v e r y n i g h t . "

XI

December 1906: F l o r r i e a t B i c k e n h a l l , Somerset r e c e i v e d p o s t c a r d from Bromley:

"Dear F. Hope you a r e f e e l i n g b e t t e r today, w i t h l o v e . Do you l i k e those b i s c u i t s , l e t me know. Yours."

13 January 1907: F l o r r i e gave b i r t h t o Gladys Naomi Varney a t B i c k e n h a l l , No f a t h e r ' s name has been r e c o r d e d , F l o r r i e l e f t Gladys i n the care o f her s i s t e r Rose a t B i c k e n h a l 1 .

23 -February 1907: F l o r r i e s e n t p o s t c a r d f r o m Bromley t o B i c k e n h a l l "Love t o a l l "

August 1909: F l o r r i e a t Egham, Surrey w i t h her nephew Boysie and Mr Pughe, Boysie sent a p o s t c a r d t o h i s s i s t e r :

"My dear C i s s i e , I am w r i t i n g a few l i n e and I a r n t ready t o go home y e t , t h e r e i s a n i c e r i v e r here and a l o t o f steamers and b o a t s and Mr Pughe g o i n g t o t a k e me on one day. A u n t i e sent her l o v e t o you and a u n t i e has a v e r y bad t h r o a t and be sure t o l e t us no when you a r e coming. Now I must w i t h much l o v e from Boysie l o v e t o a l l , "

Boysie a l s o sent a c a r d t o h i s mother Rose a t B i c k e n h a l l : "My dear Mama, I hope you are q u i t e w e l l and a u n t i e had a v e r y bad t h r o a t and se n t you 100 k i s s e s and t o you and the ba b i e s too and Boysie sent you much l o v e , now I must c l o s e w i t h l o v e . "

(SEE PAGE 21 - Postc a r d s sent from Boysie (Les Brake) aged 7) 6 May 1911: F l o r r i e gave b i r t h t o I r e n e K a t h l e e n Varney a t Cookham, B e r k s h i r e . No f a t h e r ' s name has been r e c o r d e d .

1912-1916: F l o r r i e i s b e l i e v e d t o have worked a t a h o t e l near Croydon Aerodrome.

18 March 1919: F l o r r i e gave b i r t h t o E i l e e n a t Cookham. T h i s t i m e she gave her name as Fl o r e n c e Thorogood and the f a t h e r ' s name as James Edwin T h o r o g o o d j F l o r r i e d i d n o t keep E i l e e n w i t h h e r -when.:fehe went back t o London.

No m a r r i a g e between F l o r e n c e Varney and Jim Thorogood can be t r a c e d . ( J i m Thorogood m a r r i e d L a v i n i a Dunstan i n t h e C i t y o f London i n December 1900 and they had a daughter i n 1903).

F l o r r i e and Jim had a n o t h e r d a u g h t e r , P h y l l i s Thorogood, i n November 1922. A t t h a t t i m e t h e y were l i v i n g i n one room above the S i n g e r Sewing shop i n Fulham Road, London. They l a t e r moved t o Greyhound Mansions, Fulham where the l a n d l o r d would o n l y a l l o w one c h i l d per f l a t . J i m Thorogood was a t a x i - d r i v e r , F l o r r i e worked i n domestic s e r v i c e and they p a i d 10s.(50p) a week f o r t h e i r d aughter E i l e e n t o be c a r e d f o r by Mrs F o s t e r a t Sonning Common, B e r k s h i r e . I t seems t h a t as F l o r e n c e was n o t m a r r i e d t o Jim Thorogood she c o u l d n o t c l a i m any p e n s i o n a f t e r h i s death i n 1947. F l o r r i e d i e d i n London on 1 November 1948.

GEORGE ( J a c k ) was b o r n on 7 October 1884 a t East: End, F a i r f o r d . Jack worked as an engine d r i v e r on farms b e f o r e j o i n i n g t h e G l o u c e s t e r s h i r e Regiment as a P r i v a t e t o serve i n t h e f i r s t World War. He d i e d i n a c t i o n a t t h e B a t t l e o f Loos i n June 1916 and h i s named i s engraved on t h e cenotaph a t F a i r f o r d . H i s army number was P r i v a t e 23589 w i t h 1 s t B a t t a l i o n and he i s b u r i e d a t t h e Loos B r i t i s h Cemetery i n France.The f o l l o w i n g e x t r a c t i s t a k e n from "The G l o u c e s t e r s h i r e Regiment i n t h e War;"1914-1918" by E v e r a r d W y r a l l :

"The B a t t l e o f Loos 2 5 t h September - 8 t h October 1915"

"The B a t t l e o f Loos...saw t h e 1 s t B a t t a l i o n once more i n t h e t h i c k o f t h e f i g h t . The p r i n c i p l e drawbacks t o t h i s e x i s t e n c e were t h e l a c k o f b a t h i n g f a c i l i t i e s and o f new c l o t h e s f o r the men , and t h e enormous amount o f d i g g i n g and c a r r y i n g t h a t had t o be done...on one o c c a s i o n ^ f o r seven n i g h t s i n s u c c e s s i o n , the whole B a t t a l i o n was employed d u r i n g t h e hours o f darkness i n making a l i n e 200 y a r d s i n f r o n t o f t h e i r f r o n t l i n e . . . " "On t h e 18th (September), work o f an e n t i r e l y d i f f e r e n t n a t u r e s was c a r r i e d o u t by t h e B a t t a l i o n - t h e c a r r y i n g o f gas c y l i n d e r s t o t h e f r o n t l i n e . . . m o n t h s had been spent e x p e r i m e n t i n g w i t h d i f f e r e n t k i n d s o f gas and t h a t f i r s t adopted was a m i x t u r e o f c h l o r i n e . I t was a n t i c i p a t e d t h a t t h e gas would be so deadly

no-one s h o u l d e n t e r a German t r e n c h , dug-out or c e l l a r w i t h o u t h a v i n g h i s smoke helmet p r o p e r l y f a s t e n e d , . . . no f o o d or water f o u n d i n German t r e n c h e s s h o u l d be used as i t w i l l be p o i s o n e d . "

At 6.30am on 25 September 1915 t h e a t t a c k began, the gas c y l i n d e r s had been thrown about 40 m i n u t e s p r e v i o u s l y , b u t t h e wind was u n s u i t a b l e and t h e fumes blew back i n t o the B r i t i s h t r e n c h e s a f f e c t i n g many B r i t i s h men.

Jack s u r v i v e d t h i s event b u t d i e d j u s t b e f o r e h i s group was sent t o t h e Somme.

The Varnpy f a m i l y a t F a i r f o r d

T h i s branch o f the*Varney f a m i l y were based a t F a i r f o r d ,

G l o u c e s t e r s h i r e from about 1873 u n t i l 1927,

John and Ann Varney had moved from C h a r l t o n Kings t o F a i r f o r d

c. 1873 w i t h s i x c h i l d r e n and a l t h o u g h John i s r e c o r d e d

as b e i n g s a w y e r / c a r p e n t e r i t i s s a i d t h a t he was a f a r m

b a i l i f f , perhaps f o r E s t h e r M i n c h i n o f Moor Farm a f t e r her

husband d i e d . By 1884 John and Ann Varney had i n c r e a s e d

t h e i r f a m i l y by an o t h e r f i v e c h i l d r e n .

John Varney d i e d i n 1887; Ann c o n t i n u e d t o 1 i v e a t F a i r f o r d

u n t i l her death i n 1921. T h e i r daughter Sue l i v e d a t No 15

Park S t r e e t , F a i r f o r d t a k i n g care o f her orphaned n i e c e s and

nephews, the Brake c h i l d r e n , u n t i l 1927 when she m a r r i e d and

moved away. By t h a t time a l 1 the o t h e r Varney c h i l d r e n had

l e f t F a i r f o r d .

The e l d e s t son o f John and Ann Varney, John U i l l i a m , d i e d i n

i n f a n c y ; c h i l d r e n o f t h e i r second son, Joseph \- i l l iam Hansel 1,

have been i m p o s s i b l e t o t r a c e and t h e i r youngest son, George,

was k i l l e d i n a c t i o n d u r i n g the 1st U o r I d \*.ar. But d i r e c t

descendants o f t h i s Varney f a m i l y o f G l o u c e s t e r s h i r e a r e s t i l l

t o be found i n and around the county today because two o f t h e

sons o f John and Ann Varney A l f r e d C h a r l e s and A l f r e d Jam^s

m a r r i e d and r a i s e d t h e i r f a m i l i e s near Swindon.

THE CHILDREN OF FLORENCE VARNEY

31-

GLADYS NAOMI

born 13 J a n u a r y 1907 t o F l o r e n c e Varney a t B i c k e n h a l l , Somerset.

No f a t h e r ' s name r e c o r d e d .

Gladys was b r o u g h t up by her mother's s i s t e r Rose and her husband

James Brake as one o f the Brake f a m i l y a t B i c k e n h a l l , Somerset.

There were t h r e e c h i l d r e n o f Rose and James Brake:

C i s s i e ( 1 8 9 9 ) ; Les ( B o y s i e 1902) and Roy ( 1 9 0 7 ) .

Sadly James Brake d i e d i n 1908 and Rose Brake d i e d i n 1912.

The Brake c h i l d r e n , i n c l u d i n g Gladys, went t o F a i r f o r d , G l o u c e s t e r h s i r e

t o l i v e w i t h t h e i r mother's s i s t e r Sue Varney,

A f t e r Gladys l e f t s c h o o l and s t a r t e d work she was found t o have

a weak h e a r t , She then s t a y e d a t home i n Park S t r e e t , F a i r f o r d

w i t h her A u n t i e Sue who took i n washing t o earn a l i v i n g . Les went

to work away from F a i r f o r d and he would send h i s washing t o

A u n t i e Sue each week and Gladys would v r i t e him a l e t t e r t o

accompany h i s c l e a n washing when i t was r e t u r n e d t o him.

Some e x t r a c t s from those l e t t e r s :

Summer 1925: "My dear Les, I t h o u g h t I would w r i t e a few l i n e s t h i s week t o show you I am g o t q u i t e a l r i g h t a g a i n . Thank you v e r y much f o r t h e l e t t e r s you s e n t me and a l s o those l o v e l y f l o w e r s . I was v e r y p l e a s e d w i t h them. What g l o r i o u s weather we a r e h a v i n g . I t s r e a l l y t o o h o t t o go o u t i n the a f t e r n o o n , I expect you f i n d your work v e r y t r y i n g now. I suppose you w i 11 soon be " c r y i n g o u t " f o r r a i n . Dear Les, you w i l l be s o r r y t o hear t h a t Mr Derry a t the Park i s v e r y i l l and has been i n bed f o r two o r t h r e e weeks. Also Mr B r i n d l e he has had t o go t o O x f o r d t o have something take n out o f h i s l i p and he l o o k s v e r y i l l . So i t i s poor "doos" up t h e r e .

c o n t i n u e d . . ,

THE CHILDREN OF FLORENCE VARNEY

A u n t i e F l o r r y and P h y l l i s went back y e s t e r d a y . They b o t h looked b e t t e r f o r the change and hopes t o come a g a i n b e f o r e summer i s ove r . A u n t i e and Roy are both v e r y w e l l . Now I w i l l c l o s e h o p i n g you are q u i t e w e l l I remain, your l o v i n g s i s t e r Glad xxxxx

P. S, Dear Les are you coming f o r the C a r n i v a l . 11 i s on J u l y 11th t h i s y e a r . G l a d . "

W r i t t e n underneath G l a d y s 1 l e t t e r i s a note from A u n t i e Sue; "Dear Les, Glad wanted t o w r i t e t h i s week. I am g l a d t o say she i s keep i n g b e t t e r b ut I have t o make her r e s t t h i s h o t weather. > How do you g e t on w i t h t he h e a t , i t makes me f e e l v e r y t i r e d . Dear Les I have n o t heard from London j u s t l a t e l y . I s h a l l be g l a d when i t i s a l l s e t t l e d up. F l o r r i e went y e s t e r d a y . They d o n 1 t seem t o get on any b e t t e r b u t w i l l t e l 1 you more when I see you. Dear Les I have done your w a i s t c o a t and your washing comes t o I s l l ^ d t h i s week. Goodbye. I t was c l u b l a s t n i g h t so I p a i d i t . Goodbye. Sue"

My d e a r e s t Les, Thought I would w r i t e a l i n e t o l e t you know a l l s w e l l a t home am ple a s e d t o say. 1 g e t a b i t f e d up a t home sometimes what w i t h t h e weather and n o t enough t o do a t home b u t A u n t i e says I must c o n t e n t m y s e l f a t home t h i s Winter and see what I can do i n the S p r i n g . . . . f r o m your l o v i n g s i s t e r Glad x x x x x "

Sue added a n o t e : "My dear Les thank you ever so much f o r the e x t r a pence you send every week. A u n t i e Sue. P.S. dear Les your washing i s 8d t h i s week"

September 1925: "My d e a r e s t Les...you w i l l be s o r r y t o hear t h e l a s t t i m e A u n t i e heard from A u n t i e Lucy Uncle Fred was v e r y p o o r l y and had t o go on the Club a g a i n . H i s l e g s are so bad....Uncle Jim's g i r l , Gladys, has gone o u t t o s e r v i c e as 3 r d housemaid a t Wxoughton. She wrote and t o l d A u n t i e she was v e r y happy t h e r e . . . t h e y keep 9 s e r v a n t s beside her Glad x x x x x "

Sue added t o t h i s l e t t e r : "Dear Les, j u s t a l i n e t o send back washing. Hope you w i l l get i t s a f e . Thank you dear Les f o r the money you send me. Glad t o say a l l w e l l a t home and G l a d d i e seems b e t t e r . I make her go slow and I am g l a d you t o l d her she must st a y home w i t h me t h i s w i n t e r . George i s s t i l l h e r e . I t o l d Roy what you s a i d bu t I t h i n k he knows what' he i s and wont take any n o t i c e . I dont know how l o n g he i s s t a y i n g b u t daresay he w i l l stop, a month. I go t o bed every n i g h t w i t h G l a d d i e and Roy w a i t s f o r him. I t o l d him s t r a i g h t I must l o o k a f t e r G l a d d i e . Mr Bosher came t o see me b e f o r e they went away. Fondest l o v e from A u n t i e Suexxxx"

"My d e a r e s t Les, .... I am g l a d t o t e l l you Mr D e r r y i s much b e t t e r . I seen him down s t r e e t one day. But s t i l l he doesnt l o o k up t o much. Dear Les what do you t h i n k o f t h i s l i t t l e bag I c u t o u t f r o m the D a i l y Express. I l i k e i t v e r y much indeed. I t i s 10/- p o s t f r e e . From Swan & Edgar L t d . P i c c a d i l l y C i r c u s , London Wl. When you send your washing n e x t week t e l l me what you t h i n k o f i t . "

October 8 1925 "My dear Les, I am j u s t w r i t i n g a few l i n e s t o put i n w i t h your washing. Hoping t h i s w i l l f i n d you w e l l as I am g l a d t o say i t l e a v e me A . I . I went t o a B i r t h d a y P a r t y on Monday and enjoyed m y s e l f v e r y much. I t was M i l l y ' s b i r t h d a y she was 18 y e a r s . Les she has her h a i r bobbed and she l o o k s v e r y w e l l . I am g o i n g t o have mine done as soon as I can. ...Glad x x x x "

12 November 1925 "My d e a r e s t L e s , . . . . A u n t i e L i z z i e has been home a week. She has b r o u g h t h e r camera so we have had our photos t a k e n . I had 1 taken h o l d i n g Smut, 1 by m y s e l f , 1 w i t h M i l l y and 2 i n my Guides c l o t h . • , . I have t o go t o Guides t o n i g h t . I went t o church l a s t Sunday w i t h them. We p u t a w r e a t h on t h e Memorial. A u n t i e made a beauty and p u t on. Well dear Les c a n ' t s t o p t o w r i t e more e l s e I s h a l l be i n d a r k n e s s . . . Glad x x x x "

3 0

October 1925 "My dear L e s , . . . I am g l a d t o t e l l you we are a l l v e r y w e l l a t home and Gl a d d i e k e e p i n g b e t t e r she was v e r y pleased w i t h the bag poor kid,,. I t r u s t she w i l l be spared t o wear i t o u t . , . . George i s s t i l l h ere b u t I sh o u l d t h i n k he would soon be g o i n g back as he has been here a month and I t h i n k we s h a l l a l l be v e r y g l a d t o see t h e back o f him as you know how funny he can be and he i s s t i l l t h i c k w i t h a few about here so I hope he w i l l soon go.,.ever your l o v i n g A u n t i e Sue x x x x " P.S. Your washing i s 1\ t h i s week. Goodbye.

December 10 1925 "Dear Les.... I am t h a n k f u l t o say G l a d d i e i s b e t t e r a g a i n and ge t s down every day. I do hope and t r u s t she w i l l go on f o r a t i m e as i t s so bad f o r h e r t o have t o s t a y i n bed so much. Are you coming f o r Xmas Les we s h a l l a l l be g l a d t o see you... F l o r r i e and P h y l l i s a r e s t i l l h e r e . . . . . . . A u n t i e Suexxxxx"

December 22 1925 "My d e a r e s t Les, j u s t a few l i n e s t o w i s h you a Happy Ch r i s t m a s . I wish you were coming home t o be w i t h us as I expect we s h a l l be by o u r s e l v e s . We a r e h a v i n g v e r y w i n t e r y weather down her e . I t has been snowint here a l l day. I t i s k e e p i n g me i n so and I want t o g e t o u t , b u t i t i s q u i t e C h r i s t m a s weather. R o y : i s v e r y busy j u s t now. He was w o r k i n g t i l l 10.30 l a s t n i g h t . I t i s a s h o r t week f o r them as they are c l o s i n g down here f r o m Thursday n i g h t t i l l Tuesday. ... Glad xxx. P.S. So g l a d t o t e l l you I am f e e l i n g b e t t e r and hope I s h a l l keep so."

"My d e a r e s t Les, j u s t a l i n e t o thank you v e r y much f o r t he money you sent me f o r Xmas.... I t seemed funny n o t h a v i n g anyone b u t we enjoyed o u r s e l f s v e r y much. Roy had h i s p a l i n t o t e a one day and I had M i l l y so we g o t on v e r y w e l l . . . . . Thank you so much f o r those l o v e l y crysantheums you s e n t me. They made t h e t a b l e l o o k l o v e l y f o r C h r i s t m a s and dear Les I have s t i l l g o t them i n water...Glad x x x "

3l_

21 January 1926 '"My clearest Les, I am v e r y p l e a s e d t o be a b l e t o s i t down and w r i t e a few l i n e s t o you t o l e t you see t h a t I am b e t t e r . I went down f o r t h e paper on Tuesday and a dog f r i g h t e n e d me and made my h e a r t bad a g a i n . I went t o bed and stayed t h e r e a l l day y e s t e r d a y , b u t am g l a d t o say I am b e t t e r and am d o w n s t a i r s a g a i n t o d a y . I w i l l t e l l you a l l about t he do when I see you which I hope w i l l be v e r y soon on your motor b i k e . Have you go i t y e t . Roy 1s been wondering what make you are. h a v i n g . We are a l l l o n g i n g t o see you come down t o see us on i t . Dear Les I want t o thank you so much f o r my b i r t h d a y l e t t e r and t h e money you sent me. I t w i l l be v e r y u s e f u l t o me. We were a l l v e r y p l e a s e d t o see Ciss and had a n i c e t i m e t o g e t h e r . ...your l o v i n g s i s t e r Glad x x x x x x . P.S. A u n t i e i s s a v i n g a pudding f o r when you come home."

Sue w r o t e on the back o f t h i s l e t t e r : "My dear Les, j u s t a l i n e i n w i t h Glad's. I am so t h a n k f u l t o say she i s b e t t e r a g a i n a n d " i s a b l e t o g e t down; h e r h e a r t changed a g a i n y e s t e r d a y and so she soon f e l t b e t t e r so dear Les I d i d n o t have t o send f o r F l o r r i e . . . . A u n t i e Sue x x x "

26 January 1926 "My dear Les, I am j u s t w r i t i n g a few- l i n e s f o r A u n t i e t o l e t you know the a p p l e s a r r i v e d s a fe t h i s morning. A u n t i e was very p l e a s e d w i t h them. She has never had so many g i v e n her i n her l i f e b e f o r e nor such l o v e l y ones e i t h e r and she thanks you ever so much...Dear Les have you been a b l e t o have your motor b i k e y e t . We s h a l l e x p e c t you every weekend t i l l you come now. . . . w e l l dear Les I don't t h i n k I have any more news now b u t s h a l l be h o p i n g t o see you soon coming down on your motor b i k e . . G l a d x x x x 1

5 February 1926 "My d e a r e s t Les, I suppose i t has been t o o wet f o r you t o t r y y o u r motor b i k e . Make h a s t e and come down as I am d y i n g t o see i t . Dear Les A u n t i e says I was t o say we are e n j o y i n g your apples everso, t h e y a r e n i c e c o o k e r s . . . . I am g o i n g down t o M i l l y ' s home t o n i g h t t o hear a b i t o f music. A u n t i e i s coming as w e l l . They have t h e p i a n o and gramaphone down t h e r e so I am w e l l away Glad x x x "

32.

Gladys d i e d aged 19 y e a r s i n February 1926 - she was never t o l d t h a t her " A u n t i e F l o r r i e " was r e a l l y her mother who always came t o F a i r f o r d from London when Gladys was taken i l l . Her " A u n t i e F l o r r i e " was w i t h h e r when she d i e d . She never saw Les on h i s m o t o r b i k e .

IRENE KATHLEFN born on 6 May 1911 t o F l o r e n c e Varney a t Alwyn Cottage, Alwyn Road, Cookham, B e r k s h i r e . No f a t h e r 1 s name i s rec o r d e d .

I r e n e l i v e d w i t h a Mrs Fo s t e r a t R o s e h i l l Cottage, Cookham and a t t e n d e d Emmer Green Scho o l . Mrs F o s t e r t o l d I r e n e t h a t h er f a t h e r 1 s name was Pughe and he was "something t o do w i t h t h e c h u r c h " . Mrs Fo s t e r warned I r e n e a g a i n s t t r a c i n g her mother when I r e n e went t o London f o r work - she s a i d I r e n e would rue the day she found her mother. But I r e n e d i d f i n d F l o r e n c e Varney who was then l i v i n g w i t h Jim Thorogood and t h e i r d a u g h t e r P h y l l i s a t Fulham, London.

I r e n e m a r r i e d Edward F r e d e r i c k C o n s t a b l e i n December 1932 and c o i n c i d e n t a l l y I r e n e T s mother, F l o r e n c e Varney had been born at F a i r f o r d i n 1880 w h i l e a t about t h a t t i m e her husband's u n c l e s , b o t h C o n s t a b l e s , were coach b u i l d e r and shoe maker a t London S t r e e t , F a i r f o r d . I r e n e r e c a l l e d n o t b e i n g i n v i t e d t o go t o F a i r f o r d i n 1927 when her mother's s i s t e r , Sue Varney, m a r r i e d a t F a i r f o r d Church.

I r e n e l o s t c o n t a c t w i t h her mother i n t h e 1930's and d i d n o t see her a g a i n .

I r e n e d i e d i n May 1986 a f t e r b e i n g r e u n i t e d w i t h her s i s t e r s , E i l e e n and P h y l l i s , f o r f i v e y e a r s a t t h e end o f her l i f e .

EILEEN born on 18 March 1919 a t Alwyn Cottage, Alwyn Road, Cookham, B e r k s h i r e . Her f a t h e r 1 s name i s recorded as James Edwin Thorogood and .her mother as F l o r e n c e Thorogood ( f o r m e r l y Varney) a l t h o u g h no m a r r i a g e between James and F l o r e n c e has been t r a c e d .

E i l e e n r e c a l l s a bungalow known as "Alwyn" a t Peppard Road, n r . Sonning Common where she l i v e d w i t h a Mrs F o s t e r , and t h a t Mrs F o s t e r was n o t a good woman - she would complain about t he l a c k o f money b e i n g sent by F l o r e n c e Thorogood and she would c o n f i s c a t e t o y s f o r no apparent reason. Mrs F o s t e r a l s o beat E i l e e n - she once h i t her w i t h the i n n e r tube o f a b i c y c l e and marked E i l e e n b a d l y and then k e p t E i l e e n away from school u n t i l t h e i n j u r i e s had h e a l e d . Reports o f such i n c i d e n t s must have reached t he t e a c h e r s a t E i l e e n * s s c h o o l because they o f t e n asked E i l e e n whether Mrs F o s t e r i l l - t r e a t e d her b u t E i l e e n was t o o a f r a i d t o t e l 1 t he t r u t h .

A boy named L e s l i e W i l s o n a l s o l i v e d w i t h E i l e e n and Mrs F o s t e r . He went t o l i v e w i t h h i s grandmother a t Reading a t about t he same time as E i l e e n was sent t o her p a r e n t s i n London (January 1933); i t was these memories which prompted my i n t e r e s t i n f a m i l y h i s t o r y .

PHYLLIS born November 1922 i n Fulham, London. Her f a t h e r 1 s name i s a l s o r e c o r d e d as James Edwin Thorogood. P h y l l i s 1 i v e d w i t h her p a r e n t s and she r e c a l l s h e r mother making up p a r c e l s " f o r a n o t h e r l i t t l e g i r l " and wondering who t h i s g i r l was. P h y l l i s s t a y e d w i t h her mother's l i s t e r s a t a h o t e l a t BexhlLll'.one summer when she was about 7 y e a r s o l d and she was warned t h a t i f anyone asked her about her s i s t e r she s h o u l d deny h a v i n g any s i s t e r I Her a u n t s must have been aware o f e i t h e r Gladys, I r e n e o r E i l e e n because t h e y q u e s t i o n e d P h y l l i s about her s i s t e r , and a t t h a t t i m e P h y l l i s f o u n d i t v e r y c o n f u s i n g J

P h y l l i s knew t h a t her f a t h e r had been m a r r i e d t o someone b e f o r e her mother and when I r e n e s t a r t e d v i s i t i n g h er f a m i l y P h y l l i s assumed t h a t I r e n e was her f a t h e r ' s d a u g h t e r . I t wasn't u n t i l 1981 a f t e r we had t r a c e d I r e n e t h a t t h e t r u t h was known,

F l o r e n c e Varney ( o r Thorogood) never t o l d Gladys t h a t she was her mother; she never t o l d I r e n e , E i l e e n and P h y l l i s t h a t they were a l l s i s t e r s , and she never t o l d E i l e e n why sh<=> had t o l i v e w i t h Mrs F o s t e r . A p a r t from P h y l l i s , F l o r e n c e seems t o have t r i e d t o h i d e her daugh t e r s from her r e l a t i v e s and they were supposed t o be unaware o f one another b u t J t l o r e n c e ' s n i e c e , I n a Rose, t o l d me a f t e r I had begun d e l v i n g i n t o t h e f a m i l y h i s t o r y t h a t she had known t h a t Gladys was E l o r e n c e ' s d a u g h t e r b u t wasn't sure whether E i l e e n was F l o r e n c e ' s or J im Thorogood 1s da u g h t e r and c o u l d h a r d l y be convinced t h a t E i l e e n was b o t h !

F l o r e n c e had c e r t a i n l y managed t o f o o l some o f the people some o f t h e t i m e !

I began t h i s h i s t o r y by l o o k i n g f o r I r e n e ' s f a t h e r ' s f a m i l y and t o b e g i n my search I used I r e n e ' s memories o f what Mrs "'Foster had t o l d h e r : h i s name was Pughe and he was something t o do w i t h t h e ch u r c h .

I have found t h a t F l o r e n c e Varney was a t R u t l a n d Lodge, Bromley a t the same time as C h a r l e s Reay Pughe r e n t e d t h a t house. Charles Reay Pughe i s re c o r d e d as b e i n g a C l e r k i n Holy Orders. F l o r e n c e Varney was w i t h Mr Pughe a t Egham i n 1909 - Pughe had r e l i n q u i s h e d the l e a s e a t R u t l a n d Lodge i n 1908, and he d i e d a t Egham 13 days a f t e r I r e n e was born i n 1911.

I r e n e never met her b r o t h e r and s i s t e r s on t h e Pughe s i d e -Charles Reay Pughe ( J u n i o r ) , F l o r e n c e , Kaud and G e r t r u d e Pughe who were b o r n between 1878 and 1890 t o F l o r e n c e Pughe (nee Stephens) and Ch a r l e s Reay Pughe.

PUGHE FAMILY :

1861 - C l e r g y L i s t : Kenneth M'Kenzie Pughe - Curate o f St M a r t i n s - i n - t h e - F i e l d , L i v e r p o o l ,

1877 - MARRIAGE o f : C h a r l e s Reay Pughe ( 2 4 ) , C l e r k i n Holy Orders o f Hales 0wen( son o f Kenneth M'Kenzie Pughe^ C l e r k i n Holy O r d e r s , t o F l o r e n c e Stephens (22) o f S t o c k l i n c h , Her f a t h e r i s r e c o r d e d as b e i n g a gentleman. The M a r r i a g e was p e r f o r m e d by A l f r e d Stephens a t S t o c k l i n c h P a r i s h Church.

1878 - BIRTH o f : F l o r e n c e J u l i e . Pughe t o Charles Reay Pughe and F l o r e n c e Pughe a t The V i c a r a g e , W b i s t l e y H u r s t , Berks,

1879 - BIRTH o f : Maud H a r r i e t t Pughe (as above)

1890 - BIRTH o f : C h a r l e s Reay Pughe t o C h a r l e s Reay Pughe and F l o r e n c e Pughe a t C a s t l e Eaton, H i g h w o r t h , W i l t s .

1896 - Rev. C h a r l e s Reay Pughe t a k e s up r e s i d e n c e a t R u t l a n d Lodge, Bromley.

1901 - C h a r l e s Reay Pughe J u n i o r goes t o W b i t e l a d i e s , Royal Worcester Grammar School.

1904 - Postcaaid sent t o C.R. Pughe J u n i o r from Bromley,

1907 - BIRTH o f : ( i n J a n u a r y ) Gladys Naomi Varney t o Fl o r e n c e Varney a t B i c k e n h a l l , Somerset, N o ' f a t h e r ' s name r e c o r d e d .

1907 - 23 Feb r u a r y : P o s t c a r d sent by F l o r e n c e / f r o m Bromley t o her s i s t e r Rose a t B i c k e n h a l l .

1908 - Rev. C h a r l e s Reay Pughe g i v e s up r e s i d e n c e a t R u t l a n d Lodge, Bromley.

PUGHE FAMILY c o n t i n u e d . .

1909 - P o s t c a r d sent by Boysie from Egham: "My Dear C i s s i e I am w r i t i n g a few l i n e and I a r n t ready t o go home y e t . There i s a n i c e r i v e r here and a l o t o f "steamers and boats and Mr Pughe g o i n g t o t a k e me on one day, A u n t i e sent her l o v e t o you and she has a v e r y bad - t h r o a t and be sure t o l e t us ho when you are coming. Now I must w i t h much l o v e from b o y s i e "

Boysie (Les Brake - nephew o f F l o r e n c e Varney) r e c a l l e d t o me i n 1982 how he was a t Egham w i t h h i s A u n t i e F l o r r i e and Mr Pughe was the man h i s mother Rose had p r e v i o u s l y worked f o r .

1909 - P o s t c a r d sent by Boysie from Egham t o h i s mother a t B i c k e n h a l l , Somerset.

1911 - 6 MAY: BIRTH OF IRENE KATHLEEN VARNEY t o FLORENCE VARNEY a t Alwyn C o t t a g e , Alwyn Road, Cookham, Berks. No f a t h e r ' s name re c o r d e d . This I r e n e K a t h l e e n i s t h e Queenie I began t h i s h i s t o r y w i t h .

1911 - 19 MAY: DEATH OF REV. CHARLES REAY PUGHE a t St Aubyns, Runnymede Road, Egham, Surrey. He had n o t made a wi1 1 b u t r e c o r d s show t h a t h i s w i f e , F l o r e n c e Pughe, renounced t h e proceeds o f h i s e s t a t e w o r t h £278.18s7d. and h i s son, C h a r l e s Reay Pughe J u n i o r i n h e r i t e d i t .

1925 - F l o r e n c e Reay Pughe d i e d . Her e s t a t e was w o r t h £575,2s.8d She l e f t her v a l u a b l e s t o her c h i l d r e n F l o r e n c e J u l i a , Maud H a r r i e t t , G e r t r u d e A l i c e and C h a r l e s Reay Pughe.

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