Willisford surname of Lydney c1900 ?? (General)

by Jefff @, West London, Middlesex, Tuesday, January 27, 2015, 23:41 (3581 days ago)

While searching "Lydney" within the Welsh newspapers site I found the following article which I wanted to share as it relates good news for a change. However, despite my best efforts searching this site's PRs, GlosBMD, FreeBMD and Ancestry, I cannot seem to find any people within Lydney, or even the Forest, of the Willisford surname ?!.
Please can other more gifted forum members put me out of my misery, am I missing an obvious spelling variation, or what ?. Thanks in advance.

From the Cardiff Evening News, 10th March 1900

"HONOURS FOR A LYDNEY LADY.
Early in January, when the principal stream in Lydney. Gloucestershire, was in fall flood, owing to heavy rain, Miss Willisford, of Highfield, was attracted by the cries of a group of little children. Proceeding towards them, she learned that a three-year-old boy, named Fawney, had fallen into the stream. Miss Wil1isford at once ran alongside the water until she came up to the drowning child, and then plunged into the stream and brought the child safely to bank. On Thursday evening a meeting was held in the National School, when Miss Willisford was presented by the vicar of the parish (the Rev. J. C. O. Besant), on behalf of the Royal Humane Society, with the society's certificate in recognition of her brave deed."

http://welshnewspapers.llgc.org.uk/en/page/view/3374013/ART185/lydney%20willisford


Five years earlier the newspapers reported a Mrs Willisford was prominent at the annual meeting of the Lydney Cottage Hospital, ".... was held on Wednesday, Mr G. B. Keiling presiding. Among others present were Mrs Willisford, Miss Bathurst, and Miss Tarleton (the Park), Mrs Keiling, Mrs Woodruff,..." etc etc.
see http://www.forum.forest-of-dean.net/index.php?id=42828


A few years before that,

Cardiff Times, 22nd April 1893

"LYDNEY.
PRESENTATION TO MRS AND MISSES TROLLOPE.
Mrs Willisford and Miss Bathurst, Lydney park, on behalf of the inhabitants of Lydney, proceeded to Cheltenham on Tuesday, where they presented Mrs and Misses Trollope with a purse containing 84 sovereigns. The purse was the special offering of Mr H. P. Turner. It is understood that aportion of this sum will be set aside for a memorial brass, to be placed in St. Mary's Parish Church at Lydney, in memory of the Rev. J. J. Trollope, who was vicar of the parish for 20 years, and who died at the beginning of the year. The matter was carried out by the churchwardens, Messrs A. W. Harrison and F. S. Hockaday. The scholars in the Misses Trollope's Sunday-school classes also presented their teachers with an Oxford Bible each, and the teachers themselves also made a present in the shape of a valuable timepiece, accompanying it being a neatly-framed address with the names of the subscribers. These gifts were presented by Miss Keeling. The death of the late vicar, which is now followed by the loss to the parish of Mrs Trollope and her daughters, is much regretted by all classes of society, the young ladies having identified themselves with all useful parish institutions."

http://welshnewspapers.llgc.org.uk/en/page/view/3429850/ART145/lydney%20willisford


And finally,

Cardiff Evening Express, 12th February 1894

"Technical Instruction at Lydney.
The annual meeting of the Lydney Technical Institute was held on Saturday, Captain Marling in the chair. - The hon. secretary's report and the financial statement was adopted. The total income was £582 13s, and there was a balance to carry forward of £ 116 5s lld. - It was stated that £1,700 was required to provide the needed accommodation for the science and art classes, towards which the county council had promised £3OO, the tin-plate workers at Lydney £100, and the proprietors of the mills (Messrs. Rd. Thomas and Co)., also, £100; Mrs. Willisford, £100 and Captain Marling, Mr. Bathurst, and "Anonymous," £50 each. — Mr. N. W. Colchester Wemyss gave away the prizes (121) to the successful students."

http://welshnewspapers.llgc.org.uk/en/page/view/3242095/ART89/lydney%20willisford


The Willisfords were seemingly quite prominent in Lydney affairs for some years, yet still seem to have eluded the Census, I hope I'm wrong and they can be found. Re their aforementioned address, does anyone know of "Highfield", Lydney ?.

Is it a "posh" part of town ? Was it the home of a well-to-do family, such as Mother and Daughter Willisford ?
Maybe yes, if it's this rather attractive-sounding Listed Building ?

"Detached dwelling. c1820. Good sandstone ashlar over plinth and with eaves band, box eaves to low pitched hipped welsh slate roof, 4 stacks at eaves with moulded cappings, all in ashlar. Two storeys, 3-windowed, 12-pane sashes with stone cills, plain sandstone lintols, central 6-panel door under slightly pointed 4-centre arch and decorative fanlight. Some modern extensions, but a very elegant facade set at an angle to the road."

http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-354466-highfield-lydney-gloucestershire

Also see here http://forest-of-dean.net/fodmembers/index.php?mode=thread&id=19717

Willisford surname of Lydney c1900 ??

by Mike Pinchin @, Bedford, England, Wednesday, January 28, 2015, 00:12 (3581 days ago) @ Jefff

Well, there is this one. Don't know how it relates though, or what they were doing in Lydney at the time.

Record_ID 40131
Entry_Number 1365
Year 1870
Month Aug
Day 30
Parents_Surname WILLESFORD
Child_Forenames Mary Sophia
Fathers_Forenames Francis Thomas Bedford
Mothers_Forenames Charlotte
Mothers_Surname
Residence Ivedon Awliscombe Honiton Devon
Occupation Vicar of Awliscombe
Officiating_Minister F.T.Bedford Willesford Vicar of Awliscombe
Event Baptism
Memoranda
Notes
Register_Reference PFC209 IN 1/5
Page_Number 171
Parish_Chapel Lydney

Willisford surname of Lydney c1900 ??

by Jefff @, West London, Middlesex, Wednesday, January 28, 2015, 00:24 (3581 days ago) @ Mike Pinchin

Crikey Mike that was quick !.

Thanks very much, looks like yet another fundamental spelling error on my part, oops !

Does seem a heck of a commute !

Willisford surname of Lydney c1900 ??

by Mike Pinchin @, Bedford, England, Wednesday, January 28, 2015, 00:30 (3581 days ago) @ Jefff

And this entry from GR 1901 Census, Lydney, Highfield,

Charlotte WILLESFORD, Head, Wid, 70, Living on own means, b. Yorks, Burwick in ?
Mary S. WILLESFORD, Dau, Un, 30, B. London, Cambridge Terrace

Plus 2 servants

Willisford surname of Lydney c1900 ??

by Mike Pinchin @, Bedford, England, Wednesday, January 28, 2015, 00:42 (3581 days ago) @ Jefff

This is why the Vicar of Awliscombe was there,

Record_ID: 20472
Entry_Number: 467
Year: 1869
Month: Sep
Day: 8
Grooms_Surname: WILLESFORD
Grooms_Forenames: Francis Thomas Bedford
Grooms_Age: Of full age
Groom_Condition: Bachelor
Grooms_Occupation: Clerk
Grooms_Residence: Awliscombe Devonshire
Grooms_Fathers_Surname: WILLESFORD
Grooms_Fathers_Forenames: Francis
Grooms_Fathers_Occupation: Engineer
Brides_Surname: BATHURST
Brides_Forenames: Charlotte
Brides_Age: Of full age
Brides_Condition: Spinster
Brides_Occupation: [not stated]
Brides_Residence: Lydney Park
Brides_Fathers_Surname: BATHURST
Brides_Fathers_Forenames: William H
Brides_Fathers_Occupation: Clerk
Licence_or_Banns: Licence
Date_of_Banns: [not stated]
Signature_or_Mark: Both sign
Witness_1: W A Bathurst
Witness_2: Charles Bathurst
Other_Witnesses: John Clarke
Officiating_Minister: William A Bathurst
Event: Marriage
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register_Reference: P209 IN 1/15
Page_Number: 234
Parish_Chapel: Lydney

Willesford m Bathurst of Lydney Park in 1867

by Jefff @, West London, Middlesex, Wednesday, January 28, 2015, 01:17 (3581 days ago) @ Mike Pinchin

Thanks Mike, so Miss Willesford was definitely moving in the best of Lydney's social circles !

This Marriage is included within this Peerage site.
http://www.thepeerage.com/p14431.htm

As might be expected Charlotte Bathurst has been covered within this prior post
www.forum.forest-of-dean.net/index.php?id=3755


The 1891 census for Miss Willesford and Mrs Charlotte Willesford, "niece & sister" of Mr Charles Bathurst at his Lydney Park residence, does indeed suggest a fine home;

Given Name Surname Relationship Gender Age Estimated Birth Year Birth City or District Birth County Birth Country
Charles Bathurst Head Male 54 1837 Barwick in Elmet Yorkshire England
Mary G Bathurst Daughter Female 24 1867 London England
Charles Bathurst Son Male 23 1868 London England
Arthur H Bathurst Son Male 18 1873 London England
Charlotte Willesford Sister Female 60 1831 Barwick in Elmet Yorkshire England
Mary S Willesford Niece Female 20 1871 London England
Viseount Domaraile Visitor Male 24 1867 Scotton Lincolnshire England
Claude Schuster Visitor Male 21 1870 Pendleton Lancashire England
Francis S Cokarpre Visitor Male 19 1872 Putney Surrey England
Margaret A Binglle Visitor Female 26 1865 Edinboro
Frances L Peter Visitor Female 16 1875 Portishead Somerset England
Helen Galbraith Servant Female 38 1853 Edinboro
Annie M Collins Servant Female 28 1863 Easdon Royal Wiltshire England
Agnes Wareham Servant Female 26 1865 Moxtinee Berkshire England
Sarah Hickley Servant Female 26 1865 Cottam in the Elmo Staffordshire England
Etter S Dayne Servant Female 18 1873 Redgrave Suffolk England
Evelyn Glass Servant Female 20 1871 Hanley Staffordshire England
Edith L Liot Servant Female 17 1874 Farnham Royal Buckinghamshire England
Mary N Best Servant Female 16 1875 Bramshaw Hampshire England
Thomas Everall Servant Male 20 1871 Minstreley Shropshire England
Arthur J Black Servant Male 16 1875 Toronto Canada
John Fowler Servant Male 46 1845 Macclesfield Cheshire England

Prior to this,
1871, Ivedon House, Awliscombe, Devon;
Given Name Surname Relationship Age Estimated Birth Year Gender Birth City Birth County Birth Country
F T Bedford Willesford Head 63 1808 Male Tavistock Devon England
Charlotte Willesford Wife 40 1831 Female Barwick in Elmet Yorkshire England
Mary Willesford Daughter 8 Months 1870 Female Terrace Hyde Park Cambridgeshire England
Elizth Patch Servant 34 1837 Female Ottery St Mary Devon England
Ellen Hill Servant 18 1853 Female Tavistock Devon England
Sarah James Servant 15 1856 Female Lydney Gloucestershire England
Eliza Briggs Servant 40 1831 Female Southwark London England

and still there in 1881;
Given Name Surname Relationship to Head Marital Status Age Estimated Birth Year Gender Occupation Birth City Birth County Birth Country
Francis Thos. Bedford Willesford Head Married 73 1808 Male Vicar Of Awliscombe Tavistock
Charlotte Willesford Wife Married 50 1831 Female Barwick Rectory Leeds Yorkshire England
Mary Sophia Willesford Daughter 10 1871 Female Scholar London, London Middlesex England
Enid Hayton Boarder 8 1873 Female Scholar Shildon Durham England
Susan Nicholson 20 1861 Female Governess Birkenhead Chester
Jane Banks Servant 22 1859 Female Cook Sydney Gloucestershire England
Lucy Ann Bush Servant 24 1857 Female Parlour Maid Whimple
Georgina Male Servant 24 1857 Female Housemaid Shepton Beauchamp

Ivesdon House looks another fine old house in beautiful surroundings, http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-87006-ivedon-house-awliscombe-devon
http://www.awliscombeparishcouncil.co.uk/local_information/history.html


Miss Willesford eventually becomes Mrs Parker;

1911, "Hurstleigh", Witton Villas, Falmouth;
Name Relation to Head Birth Date Age Gender Marital Status Years Married Occupation Birth Place Address
John Lesley Parker Head 1874 37 Male Married Clergy Man Abergavenny, Monmouthshire
Mary Sophia Parker Wife 1871 40 Female Married 4 London, England
Charlotte Amelia Parker Daughter 1908 3 Female London, England
Charlotte Willesford Mother-in-law 1831 80 Female Widowed 12 Barwick, Yorkshire
Daisy Ellen Martin Servant 1885 26 Female Single Cook Hastings, Sussex
Sabina Williams Servant 1878 33 Female Single Parlourmaid Silverwell, Cornwall
Clara Boynes Hicks Servant 1893 18 Female Single Nurse Falmouth, Cornwall

From FreeBMD, in another fine address;
Surname First name(s) District Vol Page
Marriages Mar 1907 (>99%)
PARKER John Lesley Kensington 1a 240
Willesford Mary Sophia Kensington 1a 240

Surname First name(s) District Vol Page
Births Jun 1908 (>99%)
Parker Charlotte Amelia Mt. Bosworth 7a 504
(Market Bosworth is in Leicestershire, not "London")

Surname First name(s) Mother District Vol Page
Births Jun 1912 (>99%)
Parker Catharine M Willesford Falmouth 5c 261


I think Mary and her mother both lived the rest of their days in Cornwall;

Surname Given Name Age District Volume Page Transcriber
Deaths Dec 1930
Parker Mary S. 61 Liskeard 5c 59 vickiuk

Surname First name(s) Age District Vol Page
Deaths Dec 1921 (>99%)
Willesford Charlotte 91 Falmouth 5c 178

Surname First name(s) Spouse District Vol Page
Marriages Sep 1930 (>99%)
Parker Charlotte A Spencer Plymouth 5b 673
Spencer Almeric A W Parker Plymouth 5b 673

Googling this unusual name suggests Spencer was an "old soldier", perhaps ?
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/27406/page/939/data.pdf
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/27645/page/941/data.pdf

Marriages Dec 1940 (>99%)
Parker Catherine M Royle Liskeard 5c 163
Royle Malcolm D B Parker Liskeard 5c 163

I cannot find John Lesley Parker's death, but he is listed in the 1939 Kelly's Directory as Rev'd at Lanteglos Vicarage, Fowey, Cornwall; midway between Falmouth & Liskeard (above).
Also as an arrival at Southampton on 24th Jan 1950, on a ship from Mozambique.

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