7 ST MARY STREET

Jane Harris - the 1861 Census shows the house occupied by Jane Harris, an unmarried lady aged 40 from Thornbury.  We are not sure about the accuracy of her age in this census.  We think  Jane was baptised on 25th December 1813, the daughter of Thomas Harris, a drover and his wife, Jane.  Her mother died aged 67 and was buried on 17th May 1840.  The 1841 Census shows Jane was living with her father in St Mary Street.  Thomas was listed as an agricultural labourer and Jane as a female servant.  In 1851 Thomas was in the workhouse - he was described as 'formerly a dealer in cattle' aged 72.  We can't locate Jane in that census.   Thomas died in the Thornbury Poor House aged 74 and was buried on 8th April 1852.  Jane died aged 54 and was buried on 1st April 1866.

Charlotte Davis - the 1871 Census and the 1876 Rate Book show the house was occupied by Charlotte Davis.  The census shows Charlotte was a widow aged 70 from Stone and she was living with her married daughter, Mercy Gardner aged 28 from Thornbury. 

We understand that Charlotte was baptised in Stone on 11th May 1800, the daughter of Daniel and Sarah Shipway.  She married to George Davis, a cordwainer (shoemaker) who was born on 17th November 1798, the son of John Davis, a shoemaker and his wife, Betty.  They had at least 8 children, all baptised in Thornbury:  Hester baptised on 21st May 1820, Ann on 12th May 1822, Alfred on 4th July 1824, Bryant on 10th September 1826, Ellen on 27th November 1828, George on 30th November 1830, Fanny on 19th March 1834, Mercy on 13th March 1839 and Edwin on 18th May 1842.

In the 1851 Census George and Charlotte were living further up St Mary Street , we think it was at the house which late became 37 St Mary Street.  Of their children, Brian, a groom aged 24,  Fanny a seamstress aged 17 and Mercy and Edwin were still living with them.  By 1861 they were still living in the same house.  George had given up shoemaking to become a post office messenger and only Mercy was living with them.  Mercy married John Gardner in 1868.  George died aged 67 and was buried on 7th December 1865.  Charlotte died aged 77 and was buried on 18th November 1877.

Ann Nelmes - The meeting of the Trustees of Thornbury Grammar School dated 12th November 1877 resolved that as Charlotte Davis had died, the vacant house should be let to Ann Nelmes.  George Hodges was instructed to carry out the necessary repairs.  The rent was one penny a week.  In the 1881 Census the house was occupied by Ann Nelmes, a widow aged 82 from Rockhampton.  Ann had been married to John Nelmes, a labourer and they had lived at Morton.  John died aged 69 and was buried on 20th April 1856.  Ann moved to this almshouse in Thornbury where she died aged 88.  She was buried on 2nd January 1883.

Eliza Fowler - the 1885 Rate Book shows the almshouse was occupied by 'Sarah Fowler'.  We think this is a mistake as the 1890 Rate Book shows Eliza Fowler and the Mayors Accounts Book has a reference of a meeting on 16th January 1883 which says that 'Eliza Fowler was selected as the occupant of the vacant almshouse in the place of  (blank) Nelmes deceased'.

We think Eliza had been married to William Fowler who was an agricultural labourer.  In 1861 they were living in Back Street (now called Rock Street) with their son, Edward aged 8.  Eliza was a seamstress at this time.  In 1871 they are listed in  Upper Bath Road (which is also now called Rock Street) with Edward now working as a labourer.  Eliza was a laundress and William is an unemployed labourer  - sadly the comments columns notes that he was a lunatic.

We haven't found a record of William's death, but in the 1881 census Eliza 'Vowler' is listed as a widowed charwoman aged 58 living in part of Old Rectory House. The 1876 shows she had been living there at that time.  The 1891 census shows Eliza Fowler, a widowed laundress aged 68.  Eliza died aged 77 years and was buried on 9th January 1900.  We know from a newspaper article dated 10th January 1900 that 'Mrs Fowler met an untimely death by being burnt to death'.    It explains that she had been in an almshouse at 12 in the morning where she had been in the care of a young 12 year old girl called Thorn.   The girl explained that Mrs Fowler had sat in front of the fire whilst the girl went to sleep on a nearby bed. The lady must have fallen on the fire as she fell asleep.

Harriett Hewlan - the 1901 Census shows the house was occupied by Harriett Hewlan, a widow aged 77 from Aust.  We don't know anything about Harriett.

Mary Ryan - the 1905 Rate Book shows Mary occupying the house.  She died in December quarter 1907 aged 66.  The 1881 census shows Mary was born about 1840 in Cork, Ireland.  She was married to William Ryan, a hawker aged 50, also from Cork.  They were living in 51 St Mary Street with their daughter, Mary aged 13 born in Birmingham and their son, John, who was aged 6 and born in Thornbury.  The 1876 and 1885 Rate Books show William Ryan in St Mary Street.  In 1891 William and Mary were living in Crossways where William is shown as a hawker. His age is clearly shown as being 82 which seems inconsistent with other records.  Mary is aged 60.  William died on 30th January 1896 aged 70.  In 1901 Mary Ryan is listed as a widowed licenced hawker living in Silver Street.  She died on 21st December 1907 aged 66.

We know that on 19th October 1889 William and Mary's daughter, Mary, married Joseph Davis, another hawker and that on 8th November 1880 Ellen, another of their daughters, married Job Loveridge, a labourer.

Hannah Comely - the 1910 Rate Book and 1911 census show Hannah is occupying the house.  On 5th December 1870 Hannah White married William Comely, the son of William and Mary Ann Comely who had lived in Horseshoe Lane.  Click here to read more about the Comelys