Category Archives: Tearle Stories UK

From England we are able to research the history of the Tearle Family. Here we will share what we have found in our research, and our travels around England, to find Tearle sites and Tearle graves.

18Mar/15

Sarah Tearle nee Bishop, 1829, Oxon, UK

Buckinghamshire, UK, , , , , , , , ,

I am now going to have a look at the story of Sarah Bishop b1829 of Little Milton, Oxfordshire. I don’t have the 1841 census return because she would have been 12 so possibly at home in Little Milton and there are three Sarah Bishops there. Without the marriage certificate, I can’t be sure I have the right one.

HOWEVER – in 1851, Sarah is a servant for a farmer in Slapton, Bucks and there she meets our handsome John.

1851 = Sarah Bishop 1829 Oxon servt to Thomas Ginger Slapton

In 1861 Sarah and John have a lovely family, John is a maltster and Sarah looks like she can afford to stay home and look after the children.

1861 = John 1825 Dagnall Sarah 32 William 8 George 6 Jabez 5 Sarah A 3 Louisa B 1 in Slapton

John dies in 1867 and times get very difficult. William goes to live with Uncle George in Watford (John’s brother) while George becomes apprenticed to a grocer in Dunstable. By 1871 Sarah is called a victualler and has only Jabez, Sarah and Anna left at home, while Louisa is a nursemaid in the household of Alfred Gurney, a malster of Slapton. Perhaps he works for Sarah… But I suppose there is more than one pub in the village. Sarah is running the Carpenter’s Arms.

1871 = Sarah 1829 Oxon Jabez 16 Sarah A 13 Anna F 7 in Slapton

In 1881, Sarah is a publican and grocer. Another example of just how strong and determined our Victorian mothers were. It looks as though the business has grown. Sarah Ann is a dressmaker, possibly working from the store, as is Louisa, now back home with Mother. Anna is a pupil teacher. In the 1880s a pupil teacher was a teacher apprentice (sort of) and was working to get onto the teaching staff as opposed to an assistant teacher, who helped out, but would never become a teacher.

1881 = Sarah 1829 Oxon Sarah A 23 Louisa B 21 Ann T 17 in Slapton

In 1891, Sarah and dau Sarah Ann are running the business in Leighton Rd, Slapton in a property called a “public house and grocer” by the census enumerator. Sarah Ann is running her dressmaking business from the premises, probably helping Mother in busy times. Sarah calls herself an Innkeeper and grocer. She is 62, still working.

1891 = Sarah 1829 Oxon Sarah A 35 in Slapton

In 1901 Sarah and Sarah Ann are in Ivinghoe! Sarah, at 72 is now a retired grocer and Sarah Ann is still a dressmaker “on own account” meaning she is not on parish relief. They are living next door to George and Susan Ginger. He is a lock-keeper on the canal and I wonder if it is this pair who has drawn Sarah to Ivinghoe. We may never know, but Sarah has well deserved a quiet and gracious retirement.

1901 = Sarah 1829 Little Milton Oxon Sarah Ann 43 in Ivinghoe.

Here is the last chapter in the story of Sarah nee Bishop. Pat Field sent me this picture from the Ivinghoe Churchyard. She says:

“Have today found a Tearle Gravestone in Ivinghoe. The details on the stone were “In Loving Memory of Sarah Ann Tearle who died Aug 19th 1910 aged 52yrs also Sarah Tearle Mother of above who died Oct 5 1915 aged 87yrs.”

She certainly did have a nice long retirement.

Sarah Tearle headstone, Ivinghoe

Sarah Tearle headstone, Ivinghoe

18Mar/15

Thomas Tearle, 1830, Dagnall, UK, and Jane nee Draper

Edelsborough, UK, , , , , , ,

This is the headstone of Jane nee Draper, wife of Thomas born 30 Sept 1830 in Dagnall.

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Edlesborough and Dagnall are very close together. After Jane died, Thomas married Bethia Smith and moved to Dunstable, where he died in 1909. Thomas is on the branch of Thomas 1737

This is another story of the grandchildren of Fanny Tearle. Her son, Abel 1797 of Edlesborough, married Hannah Frost of Tilsworth, near (very near) Stanbridge. Hannah died in 1839 and you can see Abel with his second wife, Ann Jones, living in Dagnall in the 1841 census. Abel and Hannah’s son Thomas b1830 in Dagnall, is not living with Abel and Ann because he is staying and working (Man Servant) at the house of Benjamin and Charlotte Johnson, farmer at Church End, Totternhoe.

1841 = Thomas 1830 (not born Beds) in the house of Benjamin Johnson in Totternhoe. This Benjamin Johnson (b1816) is Fanny’s son by her second husband, William Johnson of Northall. Benjamin went on to become a Morman and his family moved to Utah after his death.

In 1848 Thomas married Jane Draper and this is how I first became interested in this family. Elaine and I went to Edlesborough to have a look at St Mary’s, Edlesborough. We found the headstone (above) for Jane, the beloved wife of Thomas Tearle of Dagnall, who died in 1886, at 59 years. We wondered who they were. Thomas must have been pretty successful, because a headstone was expensive, and one this size even more so. We were entranced by the deep love expressed by the memorial and the erudition of its sentiment.

I found the story of Abel, Hannah and Ann, as well as Thomas and Jane, in the censuses from 1841 to 1901, and from them the connection of Thomas and Jane to the rest of the Tearle family. Thomas followed in Abel’s footsteps as a maltster; he was the head brewer for James Batchelar in Dagnall and must have been good at it. Calling himself Thomas Tearle of Dagnall is in itself a statement of self-confidence. The 1861 census is the best picture of this family and you can see that the names of the first three children – Susannah, Abel and Fanny – do help to add substance to the story that Fanny 1770 was a child of Thomas 1737 and Susannah nee Attwell. It would certainly suggest that this family was close to Thomas and Susannah.

1861 = Thomas 1830 Dagnall p1 Jane 34 Susan 12 Able 10 Fanny 7 Joseph 5 in Dagnall.

1861 = Thomas 1830 Dagnall p2 Elizabeth 3 John 1 in Dagnall

The 1871 census shows that Jane’s father, who is living with them at the time, was Abraham Draper of Little Gadsden, Herts. She was a lady of great heart, because her father spent his last years as an “Imbicile with age.”

Thomas married Bethia Smith from Pitstone (near Ivinghoe) in 1888 after Jane died. Thomas is buried with Bethia in Dunstable; I think the one at Priory Church, but possibly the Dunstable public – I haven’t found the memorial yet. I think that Thomas intended to be buried with Jane, hence the room left on the memorial, but events did not work out that way, it seems. It is also worth noting that Thomas is the brother of Susanna Tearle 1827.

18Mar/15

Peter Frank Tearle 1927, Edlesborough, UK

Edelsborough, UK, , , , , ,

This headstone belongs to Peter Frank 1927 of Edlesbrough. He married Iris Patricia Galpin in Luton in 1948. His father was Frank 1898 of Eaton Bray who married Selina Gore in 1921. His grandfather was George 1861 Edles and his g-grandparents were George 1831 EB and Hannah Maria nee Janes. George’s parents were Jabez 1792 of Northall  and Mary nee Green and that means Peter is on the branch William 1749 (and Mary nee Prentice).

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Frank was the brother of Jeffery 1891 EB who was killed in France in 1914. This makes Peter Jeffery’s nephew.

18Mar/15

Louis/Lewis, 1890, Edlesborough

Edelsborough, UK, Tearle Stories UK, , , , , , ,

I have uncovered the story of Louis Tearle. I have previously researched Jane Tearle, nee Draper, and now it was the turn of Louis. I started with this headstone: Louis, died 1935 aged 45, so born 1890, had a wife Mary Jane and a son Aubrey, born 1910.

1901 = William 1852 Edles Ann 49 Louis 11 in EB

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I started with the 1901 census and there Louis was, 11 years old, born in Eaton Bray, (EB) living next door to the Baptist Chapel (built 1835) in Edlesborough with father William 1853 Edles and his wife Ann 1852 Edles. William was a “cattleman on a farm” and the enumerator’s overseer added William to the generic group Ag Cattle.

In the 1891 census for Eaton Bray, there he was, one year old, son of William 1853 Edles and Ann 1852 Edles as well as an older brother, Albert, 17yrs, so it would seem that William and Ann had been in Eaton Bray for at least 17 years. Both father and son were Agricultural Labourers while Ann supplemented the family income as a Straw Plaiter.

1891 = William 1853 Edles Ann 39 Albert 17 Louis 1 in Eaton Bray

I looked up the 1881 census for Eaton Bray and the family was there; William 1853 Edlesborough, Ann 1852 Edles, Albert 7, so 10 years younger, but there was a Louisa, aged 2. Well. This probably means that Louisa had died by 1891, and in trying to keep the name alive, William and Ann named their new boy Louis. I paused for thought and asked one of my colleagues at work. He didn’t think it was at all odd – names are often recycled, he said.

1881 = William 1852 Edles Ann 29 Albert 7 Louisa 2 in EB

Louis’ mother was Ann nee Bird and William his father was the first son of George 1831 of Eaton Bray and Hannah Maria nee Janes, who were married 13 Nov 1852 in Edlesborough. George was the son of Jabez 1792 of Northall and Mary nee Green. Jabez was the son of William 1749 of Stanbridge and Mary nee Prentice. Thus, Louis is of the branch William 1749.

You will notice that Jeffery 1891, of the Dunstable WW1 memorial, and Louis share the same grandparents; Louis and Jeffery are first cousins.

18Mar/15

Workers at Sun Engraving and Sun Printers, Watford, UK

Hertfordshire, UK, , , , , , , ,

Annotated by Ewart Tearle, Apr 2011.

Thanks to Rosemary Tearle of Auckland, New Zealand.

Sun Engraving and Sun Printers was a large printing company in Watford in the 20th Century. Here is their company history page and the link below is to a list of employees. I have extracted the Tearle names from this list and attempted to identify them from the information already held in the Tree. The annotation is beneath the company listing, in italics.

Note the two military men in the list –

David Philip Tearle, Gunner, Royal Artillery and

Herbert Lewis Tearle, Sgt, Royal Engineers.

I can find no further information on the military service of these two men, but WW2 service is no small thing.

 

The names below are on a single page of a large number of employees of the company:

Tearle, Anne (Miss) (daughter of Tearle, Donald) (m 1963, Worth, Colin) Production Cost Analysis; Prod Control w S.Print (1959-65); ph; src sn/Jun63, Sum65, Aut65, Aut67; Impr v8/3; Wood, JG

Anne Tearle 1944 Watford, dau Donald Edward T 1922 and Roma Monica nee Braham. G-grandson of Jabez 1844 and Susannah nee Payne.

Tearle, Anthony E. (Tony) Engraving, jnymn w S.Print 1967-85} ; src sn Aut 67; Wardlow, Adrian; Dryburgh, John; NSList

Antony E Tearle 1951 of Watford, son of Donald Edward Tearle 1922 and Roma Monica nee Braham.

Tearle, D. Finishing w S.Print (1981- } ; src snn/87

UNK

Tearle, David P. (Dave), Gnr. (R.A.)Letterpress m/c, asst w S.Engrv, S.Print (1932-71); src SaW/2/4; SWn Aug 42, Christmas 42, May 43; snn/23

David Philip Tearle 1909 of St Albans, son of Edward Joseph Tearle 1879 and Emma Elizabeth nee Warner. Brother of Leslie James 1896 who was killed in France 1915.

Tearle, Donald (Batman) (father of Tearle, Anne) Letterpress m/c, asst w S.Print ?; src Wood, JG

Donald Edward Tearle 1922 of Watford, son of Edward George Tearle 1898 and Nellie E nee Boultwood. Grandson of Edward Joseph 1874 and Jane nee Picton.

Tearle, Herbert L. (Bert) (1912-90), Sgt. (R.E.) Block Process w S.Engrv { 1939-45} ; ph; src SaW/1/2/4; SWn Aug 42, May 43; Everly, Marian

Herbert Lewis (aka Lewis Herbert) Tearle 1912 of Watford. Grandson of Levi 1852 and Jane nee Packard. Married Freda M Minter.

Tearle, K. Gravure m/c, jnymn w S.Print (1954-67); src snNov67

UNK

18Mar/15

Alfred George Tearle, 1872, Watford, UK

Hertfordshire, UK, , , , ,

I have been having a look at the Alf Tearle of Watford correspondence of December 2006, as a result of an enquiry by Ian Tearle.

There were two Alfred George Tearle births registered in 1872; one was in Leighton Buzzard, while the Watford Alfred George is here:

Name: Alfred George Tearle

Year of Registration: 1872  

Quarter of Registration: Jan-Feb-Mar  

District: Watford  

County: Hertfordshire  

Volume: 3a  

Page: 400

And here is his marriage to Minnie Cyster in 1892:

Name: Alfred George Tearle

Year of Registration: 1892  

Quarter of Registration: Oct-Nov-Dec  

District: Watford  

County: Hertfordshire  

Volume: 3a  

Page: 922

In 1901, Alfred George (who was 29, a carpenter) and Minnie were living at 29 Sutton Rd, Watford. The whole family is recorded as having been born in Watford.

1901 = Alfred G 1872 Watford Minnie 29 Beatrice 7 Gertrude 5 Alfred E 3 Alice 2 Rosie 2m Susannah mother wid 60 John L bro 24 Samuel H bro 19 in Watford. Sadly, young Alfred E, the 3-year-old above, would enlist for WW1 and be killed.

As you can see, living with them are Alfred’s mother, Susannah and his brothers John Leonard 1876 Watford and Samuel Haws 1882 Watford. Although the birth registration of Samuel has him as Howes, the correct spelling is Haws. The name comes from his grandmother, Annie Haws 1819 of Dagnall, who was the wife of George 1818 of Dagnall. Alfred’s parents were Jabez Tearle 1844 of Borehamwood and Susannah nee Payne. In 1891, the family is living in 12 Elury (I cannot make it out properly) Rd, Watford. Susannah is already a widow and she is working as a laundress. Alfred is a carpenter’s apprentice, Edward is a stonemason’s apprentice and young John is an errand boy.

1891 = Susannah 1841 Watford Alfred 19 Edward 17 John 14 Samuel 9 in Watford

In 1881 we find out that Jabez 1841 of Borehamwood is the father of this family. This famous name – quite numerous amongst the Tearles – was first used for Jabez 1745 of Stanbridge, one of the family of Thomas 1710 and Mary nee Sibley. He never married nor had children, but he seems to have been very well-known amongst his extended family and his name is perpetuated throughout the 19th Century Tearles. Mind you, it’s not so uncommon as names go: 1500 Jabez were married between 1881 and 1891 in England.

1881 = Jabez 1845 Borehamwood Susannah 40 Alfred G 9 Edward J 7 John L 4 in Watford

Jabez is a brewers labourer and the family is living at 23 Albert St Watford.

Jabez and Susannah are in Watford for the 1871 census. He is a brewers labourer, she is a dressmaker and they are living in Birches Lane, Watford. I assume he says he was born in Elstree because in the 1851 census, when Jabez was 6yrs, George and Ann were living in Elstree.

1871 = Jabez 1845 Elstree n Susannah in Watford

Here are Jabez and Susannah getting married.

Name: Jabez Tearle

Year of Registration: 1870  

Quarter of Registration: Apr-May-Jun  

District: Pancras (1837-1901)  

County: London, Middlesex

Volume: 1b  

Page: 73

Which brings us back to Jabez’ parents, George 1818 of Dagnall and Annie nee Haws, whose youngest son William Haws Tearle 1858 of Borehamwood, went off to Australia and started the families of the Australian Tearles.

George’s parents were Abel 1797 of Edlesborough and Hannah nee Frost. And Abel’s mother was the famous Fanny Tearle 1780.

18Mar/15

Tearle, Frank, 1898, Eaton Bray, UK (RASC)

Edelsborough, UK, Tearle Stories UK, War Stories WW1, , , , , , , ,

Tearle, F  Private, RASC

This is Jeffrey’s brother, Frank, born in Eaton Bray in 1898, son of George 1861 of Edlesborough and grandson of George 1831 of Eaton Bray and Hannah Maria nee Janes. The parents for George 1831 were Jabez 1792 and Mary nee Green and Jabez’ parents were William 1749 and Mary nee Prentice.

Here is what National Roll of the Great War  says:

Tearle Frank RASC National Roll

Below is his army medals card:

Frank Tearle M279390 WW1 army medal rolls

Frank Tearle M/279390 record card from the WW1 army medal rolls

You can see that it is woefully thin. He has served in the army from 3 Aug 1916 until 12 Sep 1919 and he gets no recognition at all. He will have been separated from his family for some time, on army duty, but because he was never posted overseas, all of this counts for nothing. Now, what I cannot do, is guess what his sickness was, but we know from this card that he was given a Para 392 discharge as “Not fit enough to be an efficient soldier.” He will have been sent to England, and possibly his own home, some time before 12 Sep 1919, because when it was determined that a Para 392 discharge was applicable, he would probably have been allowed to return to his own home, but still tied to army regulations until his discharge date.

What National Roll does not say was that Frank was the recipient of the Silver War Badge, which was given to those who, through injury or sickness, caused by active service, were unable to continue in active service. This is what the army recorded:

  • Name:  Frank Tearle
  • Discharge Unit:  R.A.S.C
  • Regiment Number:  M/279390
  • Rank:  Pte
  • Badge Number:  B307103
  • Unit: Royal Army Service Corps (Woolwich)
  • Piece:  3226
  • List Number:  RASC 4351-4600
  • Record Group:  WO
  • Record Class: 392
Frank Tearle WW1 Silver War Badge

Frank Tearle 1898 WW1 Silver War Badge

The central column in blue ink records the serial number of the War Badge that was awarded to him, and the right-most column reinforces the clear inference from his army medals card that he never served “overseas”. Ireland was counted as Home, not overseas, so it never counted as war service.

Frank married Selina Gore in 1921 and they are the parents of Peter Frank Tearle, whose headstone is in the graveyard of Edlesborough Church.

18Mar/15
Susanna Tearle, 1827 Dagnall headstone in Dunstable Cemetery.

Susanna Tearle, 1827, Dagnall, UK

Bedfordshire, UK, , , , , ,

This is the memorial to Susanna, born 28 May 1827, in Dagnall, Bucks, not far from Edlesborough. Her parents were Abel 1797 Edlesborough and Hannah nee Frost. Abel was the son of the famous Fanny Tearle who is the ancestor of several families in Australia. Fanny is very likely to be the daughter of Thomas 1737 Stanbridge and Susannah nee Attwell. Thus Susanna, then, is of the branch Thomas 1737.

Susanna Tearle, 1827 Dagnall

Susanna Tearle, 1827 Dagnall

Susanna Tearle, 1827 Dagnall

Susanna Tearle, 1827 Dagnall, headstone in Dunstable Cemetery.

Here are the 19th Century census returns I have found for her: I’m afraid I can’t find her before 1861. The story of her brother Jabez is extensively told in John L Tearle’s groundbreaking book Tearle, A Bedfordshire Surname

1861 = Jabez 1837 Dagnall Susannah 30 housekeeper in Dunst

1871 = Susanna 1830 Dagnall serv for Benjamin Bennett in Dunst

1881 = Susanna 1827 Dagnall housekeeper in Dunst

I do wonder who erected this beautiful memorial to her.

I am still looking for the memorial to Thomas and Bethia. I have heard that their memorial is in the public cemetery, but I have not been able to find it

18Mar/15

Levi Tearle, 1855, Thorn, UK

Bedfordshire, UK, Tearle Stories UK, , , , , , ,

If you thought Chalgrave was small, then Thorn, where Levi was born, is little more than a scattering of farm buildings. As you leave Dunstable on the A5 going north down Chalk Hill, you will see the A505 left to Stanbridge. A couple of hundred metres along to the right is Thorn Rd. Thorn is a couple of kilometres on your left. Levi’s parents are William 1815 of Chalgrave/Tebworth and Hannah nee Pratt. William’s parents were Richard 1778 of Stanbridge and Mary nee Pestel, and Richard’s parents were Joseph 1737 of Stanbridge and Phoebe nee Capp. Thus Levi is of the branch Joseph 1737. You can follow his progress through the 19th Century censuses below. He married Mary Summerfield of Dunstable in 1874.

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This handsome headstone in Dunstable General Cemetery is to Mary nee Summerfield and Levi 1855.

This handsome headstone in Dunstable General Cemetery is to Mary nee Summerfield and Levi 1855.

1861 = William 1815 Teb Hannah 42 Charles 20 George 18 Elizabeth 15 Ann 10 Levi 6 Mary A 2 in Dunstable

1871 = William 1815 Chal Hannah 52 Charles 30 Elizabeth 25 Anne 19 Levi 16 Mary 12 in Dunstable

1881 = Levi 1855 Thorn p1 Mary 27 William 5 in Dunst

1881 = Levi 1855 Thorn p2 Ada A 3 Alice M 2 Sydney G 7m in Dunst

The young couple were both involved in the straw hat industry – Levi as a plait dyer, and Mary as a hat sewer.  

1891 = Levi 1855 Dunst Mary 37 William 15 Ada 13 Maud 11 George 6 Edward 2 in Luton

Levi and family have moved to 13 Melson St, Luton. Levi calls himself a Plait Dyer and Bleacher and he seems to be earning enough such that Mary does not have to work. As you know, Luton was the centre of the straw hat industry, and even to this day, Luton Town football team is called The Hatters and Luton still has an active and world-renowned hat industry.

1901 = Levi 1855 Thorn Beds Mary 46 Alice M 21 Sidney G 14 Edward J 11 in Luton

This is the last view we have of Levi and his family. He is at the same address and still a Plait Dyer.

He died 19 April, 1925.

18Mar/15

Tearle, John Gates, 1890, Wolverton, UK

Northampton, UK, War Stories WW1, , , , , , , ,

I’d heard that there was a Tearle memorial in Cosgrove Church and it took me two trips there even to find it. However, the adventure was worth the trouble because this is a fascinating story. You can see below the memorial to “Those who served” in WW1 and amongst the names was John G Tearle.  His parents were Charles 1859 of Stanbridge and Lizzie nee Gates. They called him John Gates Tearle.  He had the service number 1469 and he fought with the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry.

WW1 Memorial on the wall of St Peter and St Paul, Cosgrove

WW1 Memorial on the wall of St Peter and St Paul, Cosgrove

Now, Lizzie Gates was the daughter of Ephraim Gates and Sarah nee Tearle 1837 Stbg, and Sarah’s parents were Abel 1810 Stbg and Martha nee Emmerton. This means she is on the branch Joseph 1737 via William 1769 and Sarah nee Clark. You can see the marriages of both Abel and Sarah in the Stanbridge banns register.  Thus Lizzie is on the branch Joseph 1737.

Charles’ parents were William 1832 Stbg and Catharine nee Fountain. William was the brother of my gg-grandfather James 1827 Stbg so Charles was a cousin of my g-grandfather Levi, the blacksmith of Wing. This puts him on the branch John 1741.

You can see John just 10 months old, in the Wolverton census of 1891.

1891 = Charles 1860 Stbg Lizzie 32 Rose L 7 John G 10m in Wolverton. Charles is a railway worker, like his father, and is living amongst a group of railway employees, possibly employee accommodation.

And then we see them one last time in the Wolverton census of 1900.

1901 = Charles 1860 Stbg Lizzie 42 John 10 Nellie 6 in Wolverton. Charles is a railway platelayer and is living at 524 Glyn Sq, Wolverton. So I’m now fairly sure this was tightly-packed worker accommodation.

John married Violet Elmore in 1913 and they had a son in 1914 who they called Richard Elmore Tearle. This is where John’s story becomes very sad. Richard was working in Coventry during the Blitz of 1940 and he was tragically killed in a bombing raid. You can see his story on the WW2 page.

List of men from Cosgrove who served in WW1

List of men from Cosgrove who served in WW1

Detail of the list, showing John G Tearle

Detail of the list, showing John G Tearle