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John Notley and Frances Isaac © A reference for a baptism on the 25th May, 1816, of John Notley, the son of Isaac Nottley and Elizabeth (Bettey) Ember, has been located in Britford, Wiltshire, but has not been sighted as yet1. A small village, Britford is set in the lush pastureland and water-meadows of central Wiltshire. The water meadows have a long history, with many built in the 17th Century to divert water from the river through a series of ridges and furrows, to flood or ‘drown’ the fields to give the pastures nutrients and promote plentiful and healthy growth. Located within sight of the spire of Salisbury Cathedral, Britford is thought to have once been a Roman Settlement, Britford, meaning ‘Britons-Ford’. The manor was held by Edward the Confessor in 1065, but by the time of the Domesday survey in 1086 Britford was noted as ‘Bretforde’, the church was held by Osbern, a priest, and the population at this time would have been around 200 people. During the Middle Ages there were many names for Britford including: Brytford, Brutford, Brudefort, Burtford and Burford. It was not until the latter part of the Middle Ages that Britford came into regular use. The discovery in the early 1900s, on farmland at Britford, of ‘Little Woodbury’ an Iron Age settlement, is said to have been as important to British Archeaology as the discovery of the Tomb of Tutankhamen was to Egypt. We do know that on the 4th May, 1840, John married Frances Isaac in the Independent Chapel, Endless Street, Salisbury, Wiltshire2. John and Frances were married according to the 'Rites and Ceremonies of the Independents after notice by me', it is assumed 'me' means the Officiating Minister, but it is not clear just who this was. According to the marriage certificate John's father was Isaac Nottley, a Labourer, and Frances' father was James Isaac, also a Labourer. Both John & Frances were of 'Full Age'. John, a Bachelor, gave his occupation as Gardener of Castle Street, in the Parish of St Edmund, in the city of Salisbury. Frances, a Spinster, gave her occupation as a Servant of High Street, in the Parish of St Thomas, in the city of Salisbury. Both made their mark, and the witnesses were Joseph Laver, Elizabeth Nottley, John Burfett and George Sidford (Registrar). It is thought Elizabeth Nottley was John's mother. The Presbyterian or Independent Church in Salisbury dates from 1662, with the congregation meeting in various private houses until 1702, when a chapel was built in Salt Lane. Disagreements over doctrine led to a group breaking away and building the Congregational Chapel, in Scots Lane, in 1757. In 1806 a secession from the chapel led to the founding of the Congregation chapel in Endless Street, which was registered in 1810. The Scots Lane chapel was enlarged in 1829 by the addition of schoolrooms and a vestry. In 1860 the Scots Lane and Endless Street churches reunited and the larger Endless Street chapel, with 800 sittings, was chosen as the meeting place. In 1879 a new Congreational Church was built in Fisherton Street and the Endless Street chapel was sold to help pay for this. Frances Isaac was the daughter of James Isaac and Elizabeth Shergold, and she was baptized on the 2nd May, 1813 in St Giles Parish Church, Great Wishford, Wiltshire3. The 1841 Census4 shows John & Fanny living in Castle Street, in the Parish of St Edmond, in the city of Salisbury. John is a 25year old Labourer, Frances is 28, with no occupation listed, both are said to have been born in Wiltshire. By 18514, John & Fanny are living in Fisherton Street, Fisherton Anger, Wiltshire. John is now a 33year old Gardener, his birthplace listed as Britford, Wiltshire. Fanny is 38, and her birthplace is recorded as Wishford, Wiltshire. With them are children: Keyesth (Elizabeth) 10; Thomas James 8; Fanny 6; Julia 4; and Frank 2. John & Fanny had another daughter, Dinah in 1851, she married Edwin Robinson 1872; and another son George 1853–1854. John entered the County Lunatic Asylum, Devize on the 14th April, 18575. The reason for John’s entry into the workhouse is not known, but records show the costs of his keep were to be charged to Fisherton Anger Parish. Just over a year later, John died in the Workhouse on the 25th June, 18586, his age was recorded as 40, a Gardener, late of Fisherton Anger. The cause of death was given as General Paralysis, and the death was registered by Henry Dowse, who was present at the death. General Paralysis, also known as General Paresis and Dementia Paralytica, is a disease of the central nervous system caused by widespread destruction of brain tissue. Characterized by mental deterioration, speech defects, progressive paralysis, and mental changes which can include a gradual deterioration of personality, impaired concentration and judgment, delusions, loss of memory, disorientation, and apathy or violent rages. Convulsions are not uncommon, and while temporary remissions sometimes occur, untreated paresis is eventually fatal. This could explain John’s admission to the Workhouse. It is not known where John is buried. Fanny is still in Fisherton Street, Fisherton Anger at the time of the 1861 Census4. Although she was only 48, this record describes her as a 66year old widow, her occupation a Laundress. With her are children: James (believed to be Thomas James) 17, a Bricklayers Labourer; Fanny 15, a servant; Julia 13, a nursemaid; Frank 11; and Dina 9, a scholar, Dina married Edwin Robinson 1872. According to the 1871 Census4, Fanny was living by herself at 13 Hardings Court, Fisherton Anger. She is now recorded as a 57year old Pauper and she is listed as a Widow. Fanny died at Highfields, Devizes Road, Fisherton Anger, Wiltshire on the 11th November, 18756. The death certificate states she was 64years old, but this is thought to be incorrect as other documentation indicate she was 61. Her occupation was listed as Widow of John Notley, Gardener; the cause of death Effusion of the Brain, 3days; and the Informant was her son James, who was present at her death. Effusion of the Brain is a collection of fluid trapped between the surface of the brain and its outer lining, and is a complication of bacterial Menengitis, which is caused by the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord becoming infected. Meningitis is generally caused by Infection from viruses, bacteria, fungi, or parasites. Certain anatomical defects, or a weak immune system, may also be linked to recurrent bacterial Meningitis. Highfields was possibly a hospice or asylum of some description. Fanny was buried at St Paul's Parish Church in Fisherton Anger, on 15th November 18757.
References: 1. Baptism Record via Ancestry.co.uk https://www.ancestry.co.uk 2. Marriage Certificate 3. Parish Baptism Record Via Wiltshire Record Office 4. UK Censuses via Ancestry.co.uk https://www.ancestry.co.uk 5. Fisherton Anger Workhouse Records Via Wiltshire Record Office 6. Death Certificate 7. Parish Burial Record via Ancestry.co.uk https://www.ancestry.co.uk
Other Sources: Dictionary.com http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/general+paralysis+of+the+insane FamilySearch https://www.familysearch.org/search/ MedilinePlus https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001422.htm Wiltshire Community History http://history.wiltshire.gov.uk/community/ |
