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John Clarke and Ann Gibbs ©

It is believed John Clarke was born in Bretforton, Worcestershire, in 1814.  The son of Thomas and Hannah (nee Hartwell) he was baptized in St Leonards, the Bretforton Parish Church, on September 18^th, 1814¹.  

The next record we have of John is when he marries Ann Gibbs, also in St Leonards, on the 28^th November, 1839².  John, of Full Age, states he is a Bachelor, and his occupation a Labourer.  Ann also of Full Age, was a Spinster, no occupation was given.  Both John and Ann gave their place of residence at the time of their marriage as Bretforton.  They were married by Joseph Harling, Curate, according to the Rites and Ceremonies of the Established Church after Banns.  John made his mark and Ann signed her name.  The witnesses were John Gibbs, possibly Ann's father, and Sarah Clark, possibly John's sister.  John gives his father as Thomas Clarke, Labourer and Ann's father is listed as John Gibbs, Carpenter.        

Ann was baptised in St Leonard's Parish Church, Bretforton on 11^th August, 1816, the daughter of John and Mary Gibbs of Bretforton¹.  Parish records indicate Ann's mother's maiden name was Goddard.

Bretforton is a rural village in Worcestershire, 7.1km east of Evesham, in the Vale of
Evesham, near the steep western edge of the Cotswold Hills where much of the local
honey coloured stone is quarried³.  It is also the largest farming village around the area.  The village name has changed little over the centuries, with the earliest record of the town, being in a charter of 709, recorded as Bretforton, the Saxon 'Ton' a modern spelling of the Saxon / Germanic 'tun' which meant enclosure or village.  It was also recorded in a Saxon deed from 714, which states the town's name as 'Brotfortun', meaning 'the ford with planks', possibly referencing the footbridge which stands alongside the ford.  The village once owned as outlying farmland of Evesham Abbey, has a distinguished but unusual system of land ownership.  In the 16^th century, following the dissolution of the monasteries, including Evesham Abbey in the 1540s, the Manor was sold to the tenants and a new class of land-owning yeomen was set up.  Some of them built the houses, either of stone with mullioned windows or timber-framed, that are still standing in the village today.  Unusually for a village of its size, Bretforton has three substantial large gentry dwellings including: a Jacobean manor house; a Gothic hall and a Grange.  Other noteworthy features of the settlement are several dovecotes, one dating to 1630, and another containing some 800 holes.  There are also two other historical focal points of Bretforton: Saint Leonard's, the parish church, and its famous pub, the Fleece Inn.  The church is the oldest building in Bretforton, with the original stonework
dating from the 12^th Century. The chancel was probably built between 1282 and 1295 and the Font is over 600years old.  The Fleece Inn, a beautiful 'black and white' timber-framed structure, was originally built around 1400.  Initially a farm house, where the farmer and his livestock both lived under the same roof, it later became a village Public House and was re-built in the 17^th century³.

John, age 25, and Ann, age 20, appear on the 1841 Census⁴, living in New Street,
Bretforton.  John's occupation is recorded as Agricultural Labourer, there is no
occupation listed for Ann.  Living with them at the time are Ann's parents John Gibbs, a 70year old Carpenter and Mary, age 60, there is no occupation listed for Mary.

To date only one child for John & Ann has been found: Sally Ann 1842, she married William Smith 1864.

According to the 1851 Census⁴ John, age 34, an Agricultural Labourer and Ann, age 32, a Glover, are living in Bretforton, although there is no address listed it is assumed they are still in the same house in New Street.  Ann's mother Mary Gibbs, a Widow age 67, a Field Worker, is recorded as living with them at the time of the Census.  John and Ann had a daughter Sally Ann in 1842, but at the time of the 1851 Census she is recorded as a Visitor, age 9, in the household of a nearby neighbour. 

On the 1861 Census⁴, John & Ann are still in Bretforton, but now the address is given as 'Village', John is recorded as a Labourer, age 46, there is no occupation listed for Ann, but her age is given as 49.  Their daughter Sally Ann, age 18, is living with them, as is Ann's mother Mary Gibbs, a 77year old Widow.  There are no occupations listed for Sally Ann or Mary Gibbs. 

The 1871 Census⁴ show John and Ann were still living in the Village, Bretforton, now
recorded as near the Manor House, so probably still in New Street.  John, is age 56, his occupation Agricultural Labourer, Ann is age 54, and living with them is their grandson Herbert David Clarke, age 9.

Ann died of an ongoing Heart Condition on the 24^th October, 1880, at Bretforton⁵, her daughter Sally Ann was the Informant and was present at her death.  Ann's age was given as 64, the wife of John Clarke an Agricultural Labourer.  The cause of death is recorded as Heart Disease, 3years, Jaundice, 2months, General Anasarca, 1month and was certified by H. E. Haynes M.R.C.S.  General Anasarca refers to general swelling, or massive Oedema, and is often a common sign in people who are very sick.  In Ann’s case as she was also Jaundice she may have been suffering from liver disease as well as having a heart condition⁶.

Ann was buried in Bretforton on the 27^th October, 1880⁷.  It is not known if she was buried in St Leonards Churchyard or in the local cemetery, or if there is a marker for her grave.

Living at Howlet End, Bretforton, at the time of the 1881 Census⁴, this record gives John’s age as 66, a Widower, and his occupation is still recorded as Agricultural Labourer.  Interestingly his place of birth on this record is recorded as Badsey, Worcestershire.  John is recorded on the 1891 Census⁴ as living with his grandson Herbert David Clarke and family in Bridge Street, Bretforton.  He is listed as a Widower, age 78, his occupation is given as Agricultural Labourer, and his birthplace is once again recorded as Bretforton.  

John died, at the age 86, in the Evesham Union Workhouse on the 18^th July, 1900, his occupation is recorded as Formerly a Farm Labourer of Bretforton⁵.  Cause of death is given as Senile Decay, certified by A. H. Markin M.R.C.S., the Informant was the Master of the Workhouse, William Girvin.  John was laid to rest in Bretforton on the 19^th July, 1900⁷.  As for Ann it is not known if this was in the Churchyard or the local cemetery, or if his grave has a marker or headstone.

References:
1. Parish Baptism Record via Worcestershire Record Office
2. Marriage Certificate
3. Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bretforton & Personal Knowledge

4. UK Censuses via Ancestry.co.uk https://www.ancestry.co.uk
5. Death Certificate
6. WebMD https://www.webmd.com/
7. Parish Burial Record

Other Sources:

Jim Clarke Bretforton 

Mike & Jenny James NZ

Oral & Written Family History
Personal Knowledge
Philip Jelfs Bretforton

Please contact me for further information