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Joseph Robinson and Harriett Vowles ©

According to information gleaned from documentation already held, Joseph Robinson was born around 1802, in Staunton, Worcestershire.  A probable baptism of a Joseph Robinson, in Staunton, Worcestershire, on the 25^th February, 1803¹, has been located.  This indicates that Joseph parents were likely to  have been Joseph Robinson and his wife Mary. 

Originally included in the ‘Forest of Corse’, Staunton lies  approximately 20km west of Gloucestershire, in the Forest of Dean.   In 1347 Robert de Staunton, then Lord of the Manor, obtained a grant of a Wednesday market at Staunton and for a fair of four days at the feast of St James, but by the 17^th Century the earlier prosperity of Staunton had all but disappeared.  Cider and Perry were produced in large quantities at Staunton, but because the soil produced good crops of more profitable wheat, beans and barley, by the end of the 18^thCentury the apple and pear cider making industry had all but died out. Formerly in the County of Worcestershire, Staunton has been a civil parish since 1894 and was transferred to County of Gloucestershire in 1931. 

Joseph Robinson married Harriet Vowles, by Banns, on the 7^th April, 1834, in the  St  Michael Bedwardine Church, Worcestershire².  The marriage record shows Joseph was a Bachelor and Harriet a Spinster, both were of the Parish and both made their mark.  The officiating Minister was George Williams and the witnesses were Timothy & Hannah  Robinson.  It is not known what, if any, the relationship between Joseph, Timothy & Hannah was.  A medieval church, St Michaels Bedwardine was originally established as a Cemetery Chapel to the Worcester Cathedral.  A new church was built in 1843 and the original was demolished shortly after, its existence now only marked by the Ledger-stones near the War Memorial.

The probable birthdate of Harriet is based on records held, which indicate she was born around 1811 in Blagdon, Somerset.  Again a possible baptism has been located which suggest she may have been the daughter of William Vowles and his wife Ann and that she was baptised in Hinton Blewitt, Somerset on 4^th August, 1811¹, but this record is barely legible and I am relying on a transcription, this also has not yet been proved to be my Harriett.  Hinton Blewitt is about 6km south-west of Blagdon and approximately 88km south of Staunton.

The 1841 Census³ shows Joseph, age 45, living in Staunton, an Agricultural Labourer, born in Worcestershire.  With him are: wife Harriet age 30, not born in County; and children: Mary Ann 1835; William 1837-1846; and George 1839-1863, all born in the County.    

In 1851³, the family is still in Staunton and has grown with the addition of sons: Edwin 1842, he married Dinah Notley 1872; Auther (as spelt on Census) 1844; Joseph 1848; and William 1850.  Joseph is now recorded as age 51, his place of birth is given as Staunton, Worcestershire, but no occupation is listed.  Harriet is listed as 'Harriea' age 40 and her birthplace is given as Blagdon, Somerset.  Records indicate Joseph and Harriet had three other children: Melina 1847-1847; Eliza (twin to Joseph) 1848-1848; and Sarah 1851.  No other record of Sarah has been located so it is assumed she also died young.

Joseph and Harriet are by themselves on the 1861 Census³, still in Staunton, but the address is now listed as Pike Lane.  Age 60, no  occupation is listed for Joseph, while Harriet, age 50, is a Charwoman, their birthplaces are as recorded on the 1851 Census. 

The 1871 Census³ shows that Joseph and Harriet are still living in Staunton, with the address now recorded as near Old Pike.  Joseph is listed as a 67year old Farm Labourer, Harriet a 60year old Farm Labourer’s wife.  They have been joined by their grandson Ernest Challinger, age 13 listed, as a Scholar, along with Charles Ruffell, age 40, and Elizabeth Cula, age 10, who are both recorded as visitors.

To-date neither Joseph nor Harriet have been located on the 1881 Census.  A probable burial has been found for Joseph in Staunton in 1880⁴, but not yet confirmed as our Joseph.  As for Harriet, to-date no death or burial records have been located.

References:

1 Parish Baptism Record via Worcestershire Record Office and via Ancestry.co.uk https://www.ancestry.co.uk

2. Parish Marriage Record Worcestershire Record Office
3. UK Censuses via Ancestry.co.uk https://www.ancestry.co.uk
4. Parish Burial Record

Other Sources:

Ancestry.co.uk http://www.ancestry.co.uk/

British History Online  http://www.british-history.ac.uk/

FamilySearch https://www.familysearch.org/search//

Parish Records Via Worcestershire & Somerset Record Offices

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