There are a number of ancestors who you can visualise and weave a story about from the few facts you discover which may or may not be near the truth. Unfortunately with my great grandfather, Henry Ross Bird, this is not the case and he has a lot of aspects to his life which are still blanks but, hey ho, here we go .........
Henry was born on 18th January 1854 in Chessington, Surrey, almost exactly 100 years before me !
On the 1861 census he is living with his parents and three older siblings at Chessington Court Farm. On the 1871 census he is still at the farm although he is now working as a clerk in a mercantile office.
Henry was born on 18th January 1854 in Chessington, Surrey, almost exactly 100 years before me !
On the 1861 census he is living with his parents and three older siblings at Chessington Court Farm. On the 1871 census he is still at the farm although he is now working as a clerk in a mercantile office.
As recorded in his father’s Will, sometime prior to 1879, George Bird of Chessington Court Farm, had “some time since given to my said two sons all my farm and agricultural implements and all my carts, horses and all other things whatsoever necessary to carry on the farm with and which business my said two sons now carry on together, I having given up all my interest therein to them.” It seems my great grandfather and Georgie must have taken over responsibility for Chessington Court Farm but I haven't found any evidence of them farming here.
At some point before 1881 Henry became the owner (or perhaps manager) of Sutton Whitmore Farm in Surrey (photo on the left from 1970) (now called Whitmore Farm, Church Road, Windlesham, Sutton Green, Woking, Surrey GU20 6BH) which is not far from Worplesden Golf Course where, in 1931, Alick Benson died on the links (read his story in Week 2). This farm is about 28 miles from Chessington, about half way to Hook, Surrey.
At some point before 1881 Henry became the owner (or perhaps manager) of Sutton Whitmore Farm in Surrey (photo on the left from 1970) (now called Whitmore Farm, Church Road, Windlesham, Sutton Green, Woking, Surrey GU20 6BH) which is not far from Worplesden Golf Course where, in 1931, Alick Benson died on the links (read his story in Week 2). This farm is about 28 miles from Chessington, about half way to Hook, Surrey.
Twenty five year old Henry married twenty one year old Louisa Maria Pim Wareham on 9th October 1879 at St Paul’s Church, Hook. Her father was a wealthy merchant and a "dealer in works of art" living in “Whitehall”, also called “The Manor House”, in Hook. This was a 9 bedroomed mansion with a coach house and a gardeners cottage.
On the 1881 census, they are living at Sutton Whitmore Farm.
On the 1881 census, they are living at Sutton Whitmore Farm.
Henry and Louisa had three children :
Florence Mary Bird – she was born in August 1880 and died four and a half months later of “Convulsions Sudden”. The Family have only recently found out about Florence's existence from the 1911 census which said the couple had two living and one dead child. It's sad that she may have been forgotten about had I not been looking at this branch of my tree and it makes you wonder how many other 'births and deaths' between censuses occur which are never recognised by the historian.
Percy Hyde Bird, my grandfather, was born in May 1883 (see Week 44). Henry is now described as a "corn merchant" living at 'Fairlight', Cadogan Road, Surbiton.
On the 1891 census, Louisa and Percy are living with her cousin, George Wareham. I have never been able to find Henry on this census.
Leslie Bird was born in September 1894, eleven years after Percy (see Week 38).
Florence Mary Bird – she was born in August 1880 and died four and a half months later of “Convulsions Sudden”. The Family have only recently found out about Florence's existence from the 1911 census which said the couple had two living and one dead child. It's sad that she may have been forgotten about had I not been looking at this branch of my tree and it makes you wonder how many other 'births and deaths' between censuses occur which are never recognised by the historian.
Percy Hyde Bird, my grandfather, was born in May 1883 (see Week 44). Henry is now described as a "corn merchant" living at 'Fairlight', Cadogan Road, Surbiton.
On the 1891 census, Louisa and Percy are living with her cousin, George Wareham. I have never been able to find Henry on this census.
Leslie Bird was born in September 1894, eleven years after Percy (see Week 38).
By the time of the 1901 census, Henry, Louisa and their youngest child, Leslie, had moved to 'Homeleigh', Wells Road in Bristol.
In 1911 they had moved to 54 Royal Parade, Eastbourne with two servants. This must have been a large house as there were 9 rooms.
In March 1926, Henry, now of 'Kenmore', 36 Upper Avenue, Eastbourne died aged 72 of “Cardiac Valvular Disease”. His death was reported by his son, "Major P.H.Bird". His Estate, according to his Will, was valued at £2,391 (£108,000 in today’s terms RPI). Basically, he left the house and contents to his wife, Louisa, to live in for the rest of her life, but then after her death, very strangely “to my son Leslie thus carrying out my promise of his 21st birthday.” Everything else is 50:50 between the two boys and both are Executors.
What was this promise all about ? A 21st birthday gift - fair enough, but then why didn’t Percy, the older son, get the equivalent value of half the property ? Had he already received another major gift during Henry’s lifetime or was there some other reason for his omission ?
In 1911 they had moved to 54 Royal Parade, Eastbourne with two servants. This must have been a large house as there were 9 rooms.
In March 1926, Henry, now of 'Kenmore', 36 Upper Avenue, Eastbourne died aged 72 of “Cardiac Valvular Disease”. His death was reported by his son, "Major P.H.Bird". His Estate, according to his Will, was valued at £2,391 (£108,000 in today’s terms RPI). Basically, he left the house and contents to his wife, Louisa, to live in for the rest of her life, but then after her death, very strangely “to my son Leslie thus carrying out my promise of his 21st birthday.” Everything else is 50:50 between the two boys and both are Executors.
What was this promise all about ? A 21st birthday gift - fair enough, but then why didn’t Percy, the older son, get the equivalent value of half the property ? Had he already received another major gift during Henry’s lifetime or was there some other reason for his omission ?
Five years later in 1931, Louisa died aged 73. Her death was reported by her cousin F.J.Welch. I also have her Will, she was still living at “Kenmore” and both Percy and Leslie are Executors. Her estate was comparatively small and apart from a few monetary bequests she also gave gifts to various relatives. One daughter in law received “my large single stone diamond ring, my diamond crescent brooch, my green beads and music stool, my stone marten fur and my neck stole” and the other received “my second size diamond ring and my black and white beads”. One grandson received “my mahogany chest of drawers”, another "my silver tray and my gold ring set with one diamond” and the youngest got “the couch in my spare room”. The only other bequests were a “mourning ring and brooch set with emerald and pearls and my silver purse” to a cousin and, thoughtfully, "to Nurse Upshire, who is at present acting as Nurse to me £30".
I feel that I haven't done justice to Henry but sometimes not everyone leaves tracks of their lives in places where a genealogist can find them. Hopefully, one day, I may be able to fill in the gaps and give his life some vitality.
Acknowledgment : 1970 photo of Sutton Whitmore Farm http://www.exploringsurreyspast.org.uk/collections/getrecord/SHILL_CC1101_3_160_322