Forest of Dean FHT Forum - Wheelwrights in Woolaston

Wheelwrights in Woolaston (reply)

DianneM — Tue, 26 Apr 2022 15:08:52 +0000

Hallo John,
not quite sure how you are related, but the picture shows Thomas Edward Clark 1883 - 1968 on the left. According to his granddaughter Joyce the young man in the middle is his son Thomas Edward (1913 - 1985). The man on the right is probably one of the brothers, but we don't know who was the partner. It could be Percy or William. It's definitely not Francis George, who was my grandfather and who went into a different line of business. And the youngest, Leonard, wasn't a carpenter either. In the 1911 census Percy is carpenter's apprentice. William is just a news boy but he was a coach builder later. Clark Bros. could mean all three and not just two brothers.
In the 1921 census there is an apprentice named William Cooper, aged 15. Percy married William's older sister 3 years later.
In the photo is a small child, too. Thomas Edward junior had a little sister, who was 11 years younger. If the photo was 1928, the child would be 4 and Thomas junior 15 - do you think that feasible?
It would be nice to hear from you
Dianne

Wheelwrights in Woolaston (reply)

pclark — Sun, 28 Dec 2014 16:21:34 +0000

Hi,

The John William Clark is my great grandfather and was an only child to John Robert and Ann. John Robert was the only surviving sibling of five children three of which died in 1840 and the fifth one has never been found.
Charles Stephen Clark was my grandfathers brother and died in August 1939 at The Radcliffe in Oxford from spinal cancer. My particular Clark line as far as I can tell has no connection the Wheelwright Clarks of Woolaston. Ann came back after leaving her husband.

Hope this helps separate the two lines.

Pete

Wheelwrights in Woolaston (reply)

jfsmclark — Tue, 23 Dec 2014 12:08:23 +0000

Many thanks to M P Griffiths, Mike Pinchin And Jeff for your replies to my Wheelwrights query. They sort out my problem and give me additional, very interesting information. William Edward and Thomas Edward were more versatile than I had thought. I had them down as carpenters and funeral directors! John Clark

Wheelwrights (Clarks) in Woolaston (reply)

Mike Pinchin — Mon, 22 Dec 2014 20:08:05 +0000

This entry confirms Thomas Edward’s presence in 1914:-

Kelly’s Directory of Gloucestershire, 1914

WOOLASTONE

COMMERCIAL

CLARK, Thomas Edward, Carpenter, Brook End

Wheelwrights (Clarks) in Woolaston (reply)

Jefff — Mon, 22 Dec 2014 00:52:46 +0000

Thanks Mike, looks like the word "journeyman" is key here, as I suspect John already knows, he's probably seen this too;

"Two tanners and a glover were recorded in 1608, a bark house stood at Grange Pill in the late 18th century, and there were occasional references to tanners between those dates. Tan House Orchard at High Woolaston in 1769 was perhaps associated with James Hammond (d. 1819), tanner of that hamlet. At Brookend a house known as Tan House in 1771 was bought from the Hammond family by John Barrow in 1806 and converted between 1808 and 1833 by William Packer into a house with leather-room and drying loft. It was sold in 1849 to Francis Clark, a Chepstow currier, whose business there was recorded up to 1876. The tannery closed c. 1925 but some of the buildings remain."
http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/glos/vol10/pp109-114

Wonder if it's this successfull Carrier business which encouraged a carpenter relative to settle nearby and specialise as a wheelwright ?

The 1876 Morris Trade Directory for Woolaston shows the Tanner link;
"CLARKE Francis, tanner and currier, Brookend; and at Chepstow"
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cbennett/woollaston1876.htm

As did Kellys in 1870.
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cbennett/woolastone1870.htm

NOT the Carrier/Tanner, but the father of this Francis is a Woolaston Carpenter;

Record_ID: 68667
Entry_Number: 203
Year: 1889
Month: Jan
Day: 13
Parents_Surname: CLARK
Child_Forenames: Francis George
Fathers_Forenames: William
Mothers_Forenames: Annie
Mothers_Surname:
Residence: Woolaston
Occupation: Carpenter
Officiating_Minister: William Somerset Rector
Event: Baptism
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register_Reference: P376 IN 1/11
Page_Number: 26
Parish_Chapel: Woolaston
Soundex: C462

In case John hasn't searched the rest of this site yet, I suggest;

1. This photo of Sgt Charles Stephen Clark RAF of Woolaston, died just before WW2 started, training accident perhaps, sadly cannot find him within the CWGC site ?.
www.forest-of-dean.net/gallery/woolaston/pages/page_2.html

From this site's PRs;

Record_ID: 50871
Entry_Number: 990
Year: 1939
Month: Aug
Day: 9
Surname: CLARK
Forenames: Charles Stephen
Residence: The Reddings Woolaston.
Age_at_death: 27
Officiating_Minister: J B Moore curate Lydney
Event: Burial
Cause_of_death:
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register_Reference: P376 IN 1/18
Page_No: 124
Parish_Chapel: Woolaston
Soundex: C462

2. Another possible ancestor of John, certainly of Charles Stephen above (same address) from within this site's Wills Section;

Details of Will

Surname CLARK
First Name Ann
Abode The Reddings Woollaston
Occupation Widow
Year Proved 1904
Page Number 44
Year of Death 1904
Month of Death Jan
Day of Death 25
Value Under £250
Document Will
Notes
Will Number Will_03437

3. Within the Inquests section a Jesse Clark of Woolaston, policeman, appears as witness a couple of times c1887;
http://www.forum.forest-of-dean.net/inquests/php2/popup.htm?../images/C281.png
http://www.forum.forest-of-dean.net/inquests/php2/popup.htm?../images/C319.png
http://www.forum.forest-of-dean.net/inquests/php2/popup.htm?../images/D496.png

Quite possible there are more Woolaston Clarks within the 76 "Clark" Inquest witnesses on the database, see
http://www.forest-of-dean.net/index.php/resources/inquests

4. Here's another Woolaston CLARK who was born in Wimbledon in 1868, John William Clark.
http://www.sungreen.co.uk/Woolaston/Clark_Woolaston.html
Another "wheelwright" link, his fatherinlaw was the blacksmith.
"He was born in Wimbledon. To Ann Clark nee Barber of Woolaston and John Robert Clark of Brixton. Johns mother Ann left London for unknown reasons and came back to Woolaston in 1891. John at sometime followed her. There he met and married Kate Phoebe Thorn the daughter of William and Phoebe Thorn nee Shillam. William Thorn is the Blacksmith of the Blacksmith Arms Pub in Alvington."

Finally my last "hit",

5. "Clark, Ethel M (b1909), diarist of Woolaston."

http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/c/F247627

I see this Collection is held at Brunel University which is abt a mile from my home.

----

I realise not all specific to John's original query, but I hope it's of some interest.

Wheelwrights in Woolaston (reply)

Mike Pinchin — Sun, 21 Dec 2014 20:34:58 +0000

Here they are in the 1891 Census, Portskewett, Mon.

William E. CLARK, Head, Mar, 36, Journeyman Carpenter, b. Glos. Hewesfield (sic)
Ann, Wife, Mar, 34, b. Devon, Church Stanton
Thomas E, Son, 7, b. Surrey, Wimbledon
Aida V, Dau, 5, b. Monmouth, Newport
Gladys b, Dau, 3, b. Gloucester, Woolaston
Francis G, Son, 2, b. Gloucester, Woolaston

Wheelwrights in Woolaston (reply)

Jefff — Sun, 21 Dec 2014 19:57:56 +0000

Hi John, welcome to the forum and website,

Mike, according to FreeBMD not too many Thomas Edward CLARKs born in the UK around 1884ish, but there is this one;

Surname Given Name District Volume Page Transcriber
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Births Dec 1883
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Clark Thomas Edward Kingston 2a 306 Curly

Kingston District included Wimbledon http://www.ukbmd.org.uk/genuki/reg/districts/kingston.html

Maybe the 1881/1891 Census' reflect this address ?.

--------------

Searching for Mrs Workman, music teacher, gave these hits
This photo of Woolaston School staff c1926 includes Edith Workman.
http://www.forest-of-dean.net/gallery/woolaston/pages/page_6.html

Also http://www.sungreen.co.uk/Lydney-Glos/Woolaston-Teachers-1926.htm

From this site's PRs,

Record_ID: 49272
Entry_Number: 548
Year: 1892
Month: Jul
Day: 6
Parents_Surname: WORKMAN
Child_Forenames: Edith Matilda
Fathers_Forenames: [not stated]
Mothers_Forenames: Clara
Mothers_Surname:
Residence: Newnham
Occupation: [not stated]
Officiating_Minister: W.G.Baillie Vicar
Event: Baptism
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register_Reference: P228 IN 1/11
Page_Number: 69
Parish_Chapel: Newnham
Soundex: W625

BUT From FreeBMD, she didnt marry !.

Surname Given Name Age District Volume Page Transcriber
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Deaths Mar 1957
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WORKMAN Edith M. 77 Gloucester C. 7b 469 demijohn44

------------

BUT can also find THIS music teacher

Record_ID: 34142
Entry_Number: 426
Year: 1925
Month: Aug
Day: 20
Grooms_Surname: WORKMAN
Grooms_Forenames: Charles Roy
Grooms_Age: 31
Groom_Condition: Bachelor
Grooms_Occupation: Teacher of Music
Grooms_Residence: Alvington
Grooms_Fathers_Surname: Workman
Grooms_Fathers_Forenames: Seth Moses
Grooms_Fathers_Occupation: Grocer
Brides_Surname: LEWIS
Brides_Forenames: Hildagarde Mary Elizabeth
Brides_Age: 32
Brides_Condition: Spinster
Brides_Occupation: [not stated]
Brides_Residence: Woolaston
Brides_Fathers_Surname: Lewis
Brides_Fathers_Forenames: John Joseph
Brides_Fathers_Occupation: Tailor
Licence_or_Banns: Banns
Date_of_Banns:
Signature_or_Mark: Both sign
Witness_1: John Joseph Lewis
Witness_2: S M Workman
Other_Witnesses:
Officiating_Minister: W F A Lambert Rector
Event: Marriage
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register_Reference: P376 IN 1/12
Page_Number: 213
Parish_Chapel: Woolaston
Soundex_Groom: W625
Soundex_Bride: L200

Record_ID: 1000907
Entry_Number: 1370
Year: 1980
Month: Jul
Day: 29
Surname: WORKMAN
Forenames: Charles Roy
Residence: The Orchards Netherend
Age_at_death: 86
Officiating_Minister: Roy A Norman rector
Event: Burial
Cause_of_death:
Memoranda: burial of ashes in existing grave
Notes:
Register_Reference: P376 IN 1/18
Page_No: 171
Parish_Chapel: Woolastone
Soundex: W625

Wheelwrights in Woolaston (reply)

Mike Pinchin — Sun, 21 Dec 2014 19:35:41 +0000

The Gloucester Journal of Sat 23 April 1932 reports the wedding of William H. CLARK, son of the late Mr and Mrs W.E. CLARK, Tan House, Woolaston. (Incidentally, the organist was a Mrs Roy Workman, apparently a well-known music teacher in the area.)

Concentrating on William H. CLARK Glos BMD gives this,

CLARK Daisy Maria CLARK CLARK BOALCH 1891 Forest of Dean Chepstow, Lydney 21 347
CLARK Francis George CLARK CLARK BOALCH 1888 Forest of Dean Chepstow, Lydney 20 362
CLARK Gladys Beatrice CLARK CLARK BOALCH 1887 Forest of Dean Chepstow, Lydney 20 146
CLARK Leonard Joseph CLARK CLARK BOALCH 1899 Forest of Dean Chepstow, Lydney 25 385
CLARK Mary Caroline CLARK CLARK BOALCH 1893 Forest of Dean Chepstow, Lydney 22 225
CLARK Percy John CLARK CLARK BOALCH 1894 Forest of Dean Chepstow, Lydney 23 71
CLARK William Henry CLARK CLARK BOALCH 1895 Forest of Dean Chepstow, Lydney 23 350

General Register,

Ann BOALCH married William Edward CLARKE in 1882, Taunton District.

And then from GR 1911 Census, Tan House , Woolaston, Nr Lydney, 4 rooms.

Ann CLARK, Head, 55, Widow, b. Churchstanton, Devon (sic)
Thomas Edward, Son, 27, Single, Carpenter, b. Wimbledon
Mary Caroline, Daughter, 18, Single, Help at Home, b. Woolaston
Percy John, Son, 16, Carpenter’s apprentice, b. Woolaston
William Henry, Son, 15, News Boy, b. Woolaston
Leonard Joseph, Son, 11, Goes to school, b. Woolaston

20 years the marriage, 9 children born, 9 alive.

So there was a Thomas Edward in the family but he seems to have been born outside the Forest.

CLARK : Wheelwrights in Woolaston (reply)

MPGriffiths — Sun, 21 Dec 2014 14:39:20 +0000

Here's the family (I think) (Marriage/baptism records on Forest of Dean, Woolastone)

Ancestry Probate

CLARK: William Edward of Woolastone, Gloucester - Coach Builder - died 24 June 1902.

Adminstration Gloucester 5 October to

Thomas Edward CLARK - Carpenter and Wheelwright.

Effects: £176 14s

---

Marriage at Woolaston

25 July 1911

Thomas Edward CLARK, age 26, Bachelor, Carpenter, residence: Woolaston
father: William Edward - Carpenter

married

Liliam May THOMAS, age 23, Spinster, residence: Woolaston

father: Abraham THOMAS, Gentleman

witnesses: William George THOMAS and Frances George CLARK

Wheelwrights in Woolaston

jfsmclark — Sun, 21 Dec 2014 13:39:04 +0000

I have a picture with the subscript Wheelwrights Shop, Clark Bros, Woolaston. There is the name Roy Workman, Woolaston in the rh corner. The clothing suggests that it was taken between the wars but I'm not sure. My family had a close connection with Woolaston, having owned the Tan House from 1849 to 1951. Any information about these wheelwrights would be very welcome. I am virtually certain that they are part of our family but I lack conclusive proof. John Clark