Forest of Dean FHT Forum - WATKINS of The Manse, Ruardean.

WATKINS of The Manse, Ruardean. (reply)

slowhands — Thu, 09 Jan 2025 14:16:47 +0000

This is a branch of our late Dave WATKINS tree:-

1939 The Manse Ruardean
Ernest Watkins 18 Apr 1874 Male Colliery Hewer - Retired Married 19 1
Elizabeth A Watkins 09 Apr 1877 Female Unpaid Domestic Duties Married 19 2
William J Watkins 23 Dec 1904 Male Coal Miner Below Ground Single 19 3
Clifford E Watkins 08 Jun 1912 Male Chauffeur Gardener Single 19 4
Dennis V Watkins 24 Mar 1916 Male Baker's Salesman Single 19 5

1921 The Manse Ruardean, Ross, Herefordshire, England
Watkins Ernest 1874
Watkins Elizabeth Ann 1877
Watkins Gilbert Ralph 1897
Watkins Audrey Mildred 1902
Watkins William John 1905
Watkins Maurice Milton 1911
Watkins Ernest Clifford 1912
Watkins Bertie Edna Maude 1914
Watkins Dennis Verdell 1916
Watkins Sarah Ann 1853

1911 Perrys Court Ruardean
Ernest Watkins Head Married Male 36 1875 Coal miner hewer Glos Shire Ruardean
Elizabeth Ann Watkins Wife Married Female 33 1878 - Glos Shire Ruardean
Gilbert Ralph Watkins Son - Male 14 1897 Coal miner hodder Glos Shire Ruardean
Daisy Millicent Watkins Daughter - Female 10 1901 School Glos Shire Ruardean
Audrey Mildred Watkins Daughter - Female 9 1902 - Glos Shire Ruardean
William John Watkins Son - Male 6 1905 - Glos Shire Ruardean
Maurice Milton Watkins Son - Male 0 1911 - Glos Shire Ruardean

1901 The Square Ruardean
Ernest Watkins Head Married Male 26 1875 Coal miner Ruardean, Gloucestershire, England
Elizabeth Ann Watkins Wife Married Female 23 1878 - Ruardean, Gloucestershire, England
Gilbert Ralph Watkins Son - Male 4 1897 - Ruardean, Gloucestershire, England
Daisy Millicent Watkins Daughter - Female 0 1901 - Ruardean, Gloucestershire, England

1891 Petty Croft Ruardean
John Watkins Head Married Male 51 1840 Coal miner Ruardean, Gloucestershire, England
Anne Watkins Wife Married Female 50 1841 - East Dean, Gloucestershire, England
Alfred Watkins Son Single Male 25 1866 Coal miner East Dean, Gloucestershire, England
Herbert Watkins Son Single Male 20 1871 Coal miner East Dean, Gloucestershire, England
Elizabeth Watkins Daughter Single Female 18 1873 - Ruardean, Gloucestershire, England
Ernest Watkins Son Single Male 16 1875 Coal miner Ruardean, Gloucestershire, England

1881 Petty Croft Ruardean
John Watkins Head Married Male 41 1840 Coal miner Ruardean, Gloucestershire, England
Ann Watkins Wife Married Female 40 1841 - East Dean, Gloucestershire, England
Thomas Watkins Son Single Male 19 1862 Collier East Dean, Gloucestershire, England
Alfred Watkins Son Single Male 16 1865 Collier East Dean, Gloucestershire, England
William Watkins Son Single Male 14 1867 Collier East Dean, Gloucestershire, England
Herbert Watkins Son Single Male 11 1870 Scholar East Dean, Gloucestershire, England
Elizabeth Watkins Daughter Single Female 9 1872 Scholar Ruardean, Gloucestershire, England
Ernest Watkins Son Single Male 6 1875 Scholar Ruardean, Gloucestershire, England

1871 Petty Croft Ruardean
John Watkins Head - Male 31 1840 Coal miner Ruardean, Gloucestershire, England
Ann Watkins Wife - Female 30 1841 Wife East Dean, Gloucestershire, England
Thomas Watkins Son - Male 9 1862 Son East Dean, Gloucestershire, England
Alfred Watkins Son - Male 6 1865 Son East Dean, Gloucestershire, England
William* Watkins Son - Male 4 1867 Son East Dean, Gloucestershire, England
Herbert Watkins Son - Male 2 1869 Son East Dean, Gloucestershire, England

1851 ruardean Woodside
John Watkins Head Married Male 40 1811 Coal miner Ruardean, Gloucestershire, England
Comfort Watkins Wife Married Female 43 1808 - Bicknor, Gloucestershire, England
Sarah Watkins Daughter Unmarried Female 17 1834 - Ruardean, Gloucestershire, England
Esther Watkins Daughter Unmarried Female 13 1838 - Ruardean, Gloucestershire, England
John Watkins Son Unmarried Male 11 1840 Coal miner Ruardean, Gloucestershire, England
Eve Watkins Daughter Unmarried Female 7 1844 Scholar Ruardean, Gloucestershire, England
Jane Watkins Daughter Unmarried Female 5 1846 Scholar Ruardean, Gloucestershire, England

1841 High Beech
John Watkins Male 30 1811 -
Comfort Watkins Female 30 1811 -
Elizabeth Watkins Female 9 1832 Gloucestershire, England
Sarah Watkins Female 7 1834 Gloucestershire, England
Hester Watkins Female 3 1838 Gloucestershire, England
John Watkins Male 1 1840 Gloucestershire, England

John WATKINS married Comfort COLE

The Manse, Ruardean. (reply)

gillmac — Fri, 20 Sep 2019 02:44:57 +0000

Thank you Mike...clear as mud but will try and take that all in. Ernest Watkins was my great-grandfather and I see he is mentioned. His sons Clifford & William (Billy) lived there for many years, Billy finally moving out to the retirement houses (St Johns Road) in the 1970's. I think by then the council had condemned The Manse as uninhabitable
Thank you again for taking the time to shed some light
regards Gill

The Manse, Ruardean. (reply)

MPGriffiths — Thu, 19 Sep 2019 19:58:15 +0000

Ernest WATKINS aged 65, is on the 1939 Census, living at The Manse Ruardean, along with his family.

WATKINS

Ernest - dob - 18 April 1874, Coal Hewer, retired
Elizabeth A - dob - 9 April 1877, Unpaid Domestic Duties
William J - born 23 December 1904 - Coal Miner below ground
Clifford E - bporn 8 June 1912, Chauffeur - Gardiner
Dennis V - 24 March 1916 - Baker's Salesman

next door
Church Villa

WATKINS

Cyril - dob - 5 Feb 1900- Weighing and dispatching Cooper Wire at Cable Works
Blanche G - dob 8 September 1897 - Unpaid Domestic Duties

two records officially closed

Rhoda - dob 6 April 1870 Unpaid Domestic Duties
Queenie V - dob 23 August 1909 Incapicated

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Using the Advance Search - there are a number of burials, residence: The Manse, Ruardean

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John ONIONS referrred to in the Newspaper Article :

Burial at Ruardean, 19 May 1932

John ONIONS, aged 74, residence: Ruardean Woodside

Officating Minster: George R NEWMAN, Vicar of Holy Trinity Dean Forest.

George R NEWMAN on the 1939 Register, dob 11 Mar 1890 is living at The Vicarge, Lydney, Gloucestershire -
Vicar of Tidenham and Beachy.... Royal Army Chaplain T A Reserve of Officers

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ONIONS John of Rock Cottage, Ruardean Woodside, near Ruardean, Gloucestershire, died 15 May 1932
Probate Gloucester 5 July to Oswald John ONIONS, colliery Manager and Owen George ONIONS, Miner.

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Rev Dr WARREN - mentioned in the Newaper Article:

Had a look for him - there is a death: 23 June 1931 of Elizabeth Jane TIPPINS aged 62

Officating minger:

R WARREN, Independent Minister

The Manse, Ruardean. (reply)

MPGriffiths — Thu, 19 Sep 2019 19:48:38 +0000

1911 Census,

Manse, Ruardean, Glos

Lawrence Wm HIGH aged 43 - Head Teacher, Church of England, born Herts
Marion HIGH - wife aged 43, married 17 years, no children Assistant Teacher

England, United Grand Lodge of England Freemason Membership Register 1751-1921

Lawrence William HIGH
Initations Age: 41
Birth Year: abt 1868
Initiation Date: 11 February 1909
First Payment Year on Register: 1909
Year Range: 1887-1909
Profession: Schoolmaster
Lodge: Royal Forest of Dean Lodge
Lodge Location: Newham-on Severn
Lodge Number : 1067
Folio Number: 184

The Manse, Ruardean. (reply)

Mike Pinchin — Thu, 19 Sep 2019 19:45:40 +0000

This report suggests that The Manse was built and owned by the Congregational Church rather than St John the Baptist. Old maps generally refer to the residence of the minister of St John’s as The Rectory.

BNA Gloucester Citizen - Saturday 10 January 1931

TRUSTEE AND A MANSE
APPLICATION THAT FAILED
UNUSUAL POINT AT LITTLEDEAN
An interesting ejectment case, in which the Pastor of Ruardean Congregational Church was concerned, was heard at Littledean Court yesterday, the applicant being John Onions, a trustee of the church, and the respondent Ernest Watkins. Mr. W. W. Wadeson (Mitcheldean) appeared for the applicant, and Mr. P.J. Bretherton (Gloucester) was for the respondent.
Mr. Wadeson said the case was a little out of the ordinary of tenant cases. The building known as The Manse, Ruardean, was built for the pastor, but during the time there was no pastor it had been let to respondent on a three-monthly tenancy at 18s 10d. per month. This tenancy expired on November 1st. Since the pastor arrived in the district the arrangement was that he should have The Manse in which to live. In the meantime the church had taken another house, and the pastor was living in that house, for which he had pay 8s. per week. That house was available to the respondent, and was now offered as alternative accommodation.
John Onions gave evidence.

The Defence
Mr Bretherton said the house had been referred to as The Manse, but the trust said that the rent for the house should go toward the stipend of the minister. No proof of the trust had been given. Mr Onions was a trustee, and was only a landlord by virtue of his trusteeship. To say that the Rev Dr. Warren was in the whole-time employment of the church was not say that he was in the whole-time employment of Mr Onions, who was one of the six or seven deacons. He submitted, therefore, that the application must fail. Mr. Wadeson submitted that, for the purpose of the application, Mr. Onions was "the church." In reply to the Clerk, Mr. Wadeson said he could produce a resolution in which Mr. Onions was authorised make the application but the magistrates dismissed the case on the ground that insufficient evidence had been given.

The Manse, Ruardean. (reply)

MPGriffiths — Thu, 19 Sep 2019 19:33:54 +0000

Have checked with

Llloyd George Survey of Land Values: Gloucestershire

https:www.glos1909survey.org.uk

The Manse, Ruardean (GA/D2428/1/49,26)

GA/D2428/1/49 - Hereditament Number 26

Place: Ruardean

Income tax parish: Guardian

Occupied by: HIGH, L, W

People Holding property:

Chapel Trustees (trustee)

Property:

Description: house & garden

Address: The Manse, Ruardean

Poor Rate:

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Burial at Ruardean : 26 May 1932

Lawrence William HIGH aged 64, residence: Ruardean, Woodside

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Size: 20 perches
Gross Value: £7 15s
Rateable Value : £7

Should be on the maps on the website

The Manse, Ruardean. (reply)

shepway — Thu, 19 Sep 2019 15:48:03 +0000

I see that you are in Australia and it is possible that the information you require may be held in documents held at Gloucester Archives. See this webpage - https://bit.ly/2mpaLRs
Unless someone can look this up for you I would suggest you make contact with the Archives: https://www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/archives/plan-your-visit/where-we-are-contact-us/
Mike

The Manse, Ruardean.

gillmac — Thu, 19 Sep 2019 11:29:14 +0000

Wondering if anyone knows the history of The Manse, Ruardean. It was the family home of my great grandfather, who was the organist at St Johns for many years .Was the house owned by the church? Was it a grace and favour house?
Any information would be greatly appreciated