Kate had two sisters. Eliza was four years her senior and Georgina was two and a half years younger than Kate. Their mother was a dress-maker. I wonder if the girls were taught to make their own clothes at home?
Their twin brothers George and Louis were born when Kate was six. It is likely that once Eliza went into service Kate would often have been responsible for the boys.
We do not know which school the Ching children attended, but all the children were educated. They lived about equidistant from Belstone and Sticklepath. Both had Dame schools at times. Miss Martha Gillard had her day school in Belstone and I suspect the children went to her. Martha Eliza Gillard (b.1838) was of Irish extraction, but began her private school in Weigelia Cottage, Belstone by the age of 19. She is in William White’s directory 1878-9. At times it seems her mother Letitia ran the school, between them the school continued for 53 years, ending in 1910. Miss Gillard had a wooden leg, but that didn’t stop her. She lived to the grand age of 91 years.
Weigelia Cottage (Later Stoneycott) with the next generation of the Ching Family (George and Rose).
Miss Gillard is said to have used an ebony cane. After punishing a child she would wrap their hand in cobwebs to stem the bleeding and ease the pain.
For some children at that time Sunday school was their only opportunity to learn to read and write. The Ching Family were Methodist. Sticklepath chapel was very popular and a school room was added, opening in 1866 which must have been exciting for the 6 year old Kate. The bell was added at the same time, very unusual for Methodism. It rang for well over 100 years, calling people in to worship.
Auntie Kate, my alter ego, is telling Tales of Sticklepath School at the #AllAboutThatPlace event. So who was Auntie Kate? Born Kezia Ching, she lived from 1860 to 1933. My Grandmother’s Aunt and then Stepmother, but always known as Auntie Kate. Surprisingly her first husband was known by his surname – Uncle Middle. Perhaps a sign of respect. But let’s start at the beginning.
Hugh Pyke, registrar of births and deaths kindly registered Kate’s birth as described by her mother, with his clear handwriting and an accurate transcription is found at The General Register Office, now available almost instantaneously in digital format.
https://www.gro.gov.uk/ accessed 7 Sept 2023 under new digital format (£2.50) GRO Reference: 1860 S Quarter in OKEHAMPTON Volume 05B Page 369
It shows that Kezia Huxtable Ching was born to George Ching, driver of an omnibus, and his wife Eliza who was previously a Huxtable. This strongly suggests George and Eliza were married. Kezia was born on Sixth of September 1860 at Coombe Head (a farm) Sticklepath, Sampford Courtenay Parish. Mum went to register the birth on 15th September, which suggests she was in good health. Kezia already had an older sister Eliza.
The Ching Family lived at Coombe Head Farm Sticklepath, Devon with Eliza’s parents.
In all George and Eliza Ching had three daughters and twin sons. They are well spaced. I wonder if George travelled a lot with his work?
Name
Born
Died
Married name
George Ching
1826
1897
Eliza Huxtable
1827
1911
Mrs George Ching
Eliza Ellis Ching
1856
1918
Kezia Huxtable Ching
1860
1933
Mrs Albany Finch 3rd Mrs William Middle
Georgina Ching
1863
1917
Mrs Albany Finch 2nd
George Edwin Ching
1867
1926
Louis Richard Huxtable Ching
1867
1927
In the 1861 census we find that Kezia’s grandparents were John Huxtable, agricultural labourer (75 years old) and his wife Kezia Huxtable a dress-maker (67 years old). Her father George is now a ‘Higgler’.
A higgler was an itinerant trader, buying and selling items such as butter, cheese, poultry and eggs. Perhaps he would travel to the coast to sell his wares and return with fish. Higglers like peddlers and badgers (who sold corn and grain), needed a licence. Unfortunately I have not yet found any evidence of this.
Kezia is in the centre of the back row:
The Ching Family c.1880
In 1871 George, now a Carrier, is head of household with Eliza his wife. Daughter Kezia is aged 10 years. William White’s History, Gazetteer & Directory of Devon 1878-9 (accessed through the Leicester University special collections online) shows George Ching as Farmer and Bus Proprietor. This type of directory took several years to prepare, so information was often out of date. Unfortunately in 1878, when George would be 54 years old, the newspaper suggests the family hit hard times, selling the omnibus and market trap and ‘declining business’:
Western Times – Friday 05 July 1878 accessed via BritishNewspaperArchive.co.uk Sept 7 2023.
HIGHER COOMBEHEAD, near STICKLEPATH. MR. W. FEWINS will SELL by Auction WEDNESDAY, the 10th of July, at 3 p.m., 17 Acres of Corn and Grass, 1 very useful Farm Horse, 1 Heifer Yearling, Omnibus, Market Trap, Farm Implements, and a portion of the Household Furniture, the property Mr. George Ching, declining business.
In 1881 George and Eliza have sister-in-law Kezia Huxtable staying with them at Higher Coombe Head. Kezia really was a family name, both grandmother and Aunt! In 1881 George is described as an Ag Lab, but by 1891 George is described as a ‘small farmer’ again, still living at Higher Coombehead farm.
Now did you see what I did – started talking about Kate and went off on a tangent to her father’s occupation. This sort of diversion is a constant risk for all family historians! Important to setting the scene here perhaps.
Do you say gene-a-logy or gene-o-logy? Both seem to be correct (as pronunciation not spelling!)
#ÅllAboutThatPlace event is coming soon. 22nd Sept for 10 days. This FREE mega-event is spearheaded by the Society of Genealogists, alongside the Society for One-Place Studies, Genealogy Stories and the British Association for Local History.
IF you read yesterday’s brief blog and followed the link you will already know a little about SoG.
Today’s challenge is to find out something new about SoG. Explore their website.
Do they hold any resources about That #OnePlace you are interested in?
The schedule for #AllAboutThatPlace will be released very soon. I am looking forward to hearing what Else Churchill has to say about the Society of Genealogists and how to find resources for your place…
Sticklepath a Village and its People 