The MALVERN surname (General)

by jackmalvern, Friday, November 06, 2009, 17:35 (5568 days ago) @ malverna

Dear Alan,

Thank you for your message. We seem to be distant cousins. My tree also goes back to Simon MALVERN of Oxenhall (died 1714). I have quite a lot of information about your ancestor (my fourth great uncle) Thomas MALVERN (b 1795).

(Deep breath.)

He was named third in the will of his father, Charles (b 1792), and was due to inherit £100. His brothers John and Charles were named ahead of him.
He lists his occupation as "builder" in the non-parochial birth record of his son, John, in 1836.
The 1837 edition of Robson's Commercial Directory of Newent lists "Malvern, Thomas, builder".
According to the 1851 census, Thomas and his family were in Tewkesbury by 1835 because his first son, Charles, was born there. The same census suggests that he had moved to in Cheltenham by 1842 because his third son Thomas was born there.
The 1858/59 edition of Slater's Commercial Directory of Cheltenham lists three Thomas Malverns:
A builder, of 2 Portland Street;
A house agent, of 8 North Street; and
A County Court high bailiff.
I speculate that our Thomas, then 63, had branched out from building and become a house agent and/or a bailiff. I think that he was an auctioneer in the sense that he sold off seized property rather than fine art, but I cannot know for certain. I suspect that the builder listed at the different address was the son born in 1842, now 16, who followed his father into the building trade.
The vaultstone of Thomas (b 1795) is at the Wesleyan Chapel at St George's Street, Cheltenham. It reads:
"Sacred/ to the memory of/ Thomas Malvern,/ who died Dec. 23rd 1870,/ aged 75 years./ Also Elizabeth,/ wife of the above/ who departed this life/ August 2nd 1877/ aged 70 years./ "Made perfect through suffering."/ Also of/ Thomas Malvern,/ who died/ April 13th 1867, aged 25 years./ Remember not thy Creator in the/ days of thy youth./ Also of C. Louise,/ the beloved wife of the/ Rev. J. Malvern,/ of Dover, N.H., U.S. America/ who died Oct. 11th 1870/ aged 24 years."

My research into Thomas's son Charles (b1835) also suggests he was a builder. In the 1881 census he lists his occupation as "builder employing 8 men and 3 apprentices".

Anyow, rather than fire more information at you, I could let you have access to the full tree I've created on geni.com. The easiest way of doing this is if I can slot you into it, which will require me to know your direct ancestors. I have five sons for Charles (b 1834), namely twins Thomas and Charles G (both born 1863), Walter J (b 1865), Alfred (b1870) and Ernest E (b 1874). Could you tell me how you are linked to one of them? I'll also send you a private message, which should allow you to send me your e-mail address privately so I can get geni.com to show you the tree.
I hope this all makes sense.

Jack