14 ST MARY STREET

Occupants

An abstract of title for the two houses mentions two previous occupants of the houses whom we have been unable to find out when they lived there and who they were - they were William Gough and Maria Russell.  The only clue is that they lived in the two houses at some time before William Withers and Mrs Walker.

Henry Martin - the 1851 census shows the house was occupied by Henry Martin, an ostler aged 23 from Wotton Under Edge and his wife, Ann a dressmaker aged 26 from Thornbury and daughter, Fanny baptised on 29th December 1850.   In 1859 the family moved to 17 St Mary Street.  Click here to read more

William Walker - the 1861 census shows William Walker was living in the house.  William was a thatcher aged 63 living with his wife Sarah, a semptress aged 56 from St Mary Redcliffe in Bristol.  William died aged 69 and was buried on 1st July 1866.  The 1871 census and the 1876 Rate Book show that Sarah continued living in the same house.  She was described as a widowed tailoress and living on her own.

Trull - the 1880 Rate Book shows the name of 'Trull' as the occupant of the house.  We know nothing more to identify this person.

James Smith - the 1881 Census shows James was a shoemaker aged 50 from Chippenham living with his wife, Harriet a seamstress aged 31 from Thornbury and children: Bertha Parsons aged 10, Dorcas Smith aged 2, and Elias Smith aged 1.

In 1885 James was charged with aggravated assault against Harriett and the case heard at the Petty Sessional Court on 16th April.  On 9th October he appeared in court charged with attempted murder. He had gone out on the Tuesday morning and did not return until the Friday night.  Jayne Payne wife of William Payne of Crossways gave evidence that she had seen him by her house and he had told her that he was going home to kill his wife  and she seems to have advised him against it. 

When he got home James had a slight injury to his head and Harriet  asked him how he had got it.  James's response seems to have to attack his wife with his shoemaker's knife plunging it at her abdomen, but when she stepped back the knife passed through her dress and stays and so only made a slight wound.  When he withdrew the knife he slashed her arm.  Their son then aged only ten ran to the door and cried "murder" Harriett then escaped to the Horseshoe beer house opposite.

James Smith was found the next morning exhausted in a shed near the railway station.  He seemed to have fallen while climbing over the wall near the shed and had struck his head and bled copiously.

James was convicted and fined £6 with 4/6 costs or two months imprisonment with hard labour.  On 17th April 1884  the newspaper reported that James Smith was fined £6 and costs and the court awarded a judicial separation.  James was made to pay 10s a week towards the maintenance of his three children.

It is not clear how long the "judicial separation" lasted in practice. The 1885 Rate Books show that John Smith was occupying the house.

On 19th March 1888 there was a report that James Smith, a shoemaker, had assaulted his wife and caused three wounds to her head.  Harriet was too ill to appear in court as the attack had only taken place the day before the court appearance.   On 7th July of that year there was a more detailed report of the attack.  James Smith then said to be 67 (which surely should be 57) was charged with wounding Harriet "with intent to do grievous bodily harm" on March 17th.  James had been drinking heavily the night before and threatened Harriet.   The next morning she was lighting the fire and he struck her on the head with a stick, inflicting three wounds, one of which was said to be serious.  Harriet said the argument was due to the fact that she had refused to give him some tea and  added that "he had always been a good husband."  James was sentenced to six years penal servitude and as he left the dock  he shouted "goodbye" to his wife and told her to take care of the children.

By 1891 James was listed as a convict in Gillingham prison in Kent.  Harriett was then living in her three room house in Silver Street with her children: Dorcas now aged 11, John Fisher an errand boy aged 15, Elias aged 10, George aged 9, Alfred Merrett aged 4 (who was described as 'dumb'), a boarder. Ellen Baker who was a widowed charwoman aged 48 and a nurse child, Ellenor Curtin aged 5 months.  The census record suggests Alfred Merrett is Harriett's son, but the baptism record shows Alfred was the son of Ann Merrett who was residing at the Workhouse.  We believe that Harriett may have provided a home for children in need of short term care. 

By 1901 James had been released from prison, but he does not seem to have returned to the family home.  Harriet was still living in Silver Street.  She is described as a charwoman living with her children: George a builder's labourer and Nellie aged 7, and a boarder, John Harris, another general labourer.  In 1911 census she was living at 4 St Mary Street.  The census describes Harriett as married aged 50 and she was living there with her daughter, Eleanor Smith, a domestic aged 30 born in Thornbury and a lodger, John Harris, a coal haulier aged 46 who was born in Thornbury and two 'nurse children': Frederick Powell aged 2 and Ellinor Webb aged 1, both born in Thornbury.  The 1916 Prewett's Street Directory also shows Mrs Smith as living in St Mary Street. 

Luke Higgs - the 1890 Rate Book and the 1891 census shows Luke as occupying the house.