Summary
To be completed.
Parents and family
The registration of Henry's second marriage indicates that his father was
William CURTIS, a clothier. From the Census details it would appear that
his mother was named Maria.
Birth
About 1829 and in Shepton Mallet, Somerset, based upon the 1841 and
1851 Censuses.
Childhood and education
The detail is unknown, but this was a time of severe decline in the
fortunes of Shepton Mallet.
“Local mill owners,
dismayed by the resistance to modernisation, simply closed their mills
altogether and set up business elsewhere. Key craftsmen packed their
bags and followed them, and soon the fine mansions stood empty. In the space of just a few years, from 1830-1840, the
population of Shepton Mallet halved, and the once proud factories and
mills were either burned by gangs of disgruntled navvies or were left
to crumble into bleak ruins” [The Shepton Riots. Shepton
Mallet Town Council, 2012. Online:http://sheptonmallet.info].
Employment
On the 1841 Census there appears to be a single entry for a Henry CURTIS
whose age and date of birth match that of the Henry of later Census
records. He is at
Garston
Street, Shepton Mallet, Somerset. At which time his family comprised
-
- Maria CURTIS, 50, Ind[ependant], born in county
- William CURTIS, 14, Shoemaker's Ass[ or App], born in county
- Henry CURTIS, 12, Labourer, born in county
It is likely that the much older Maria CURTIS recorded here is Henry's
mother, but, as the 1841 Census does not record relationships, this
remains uncertain.
On the 30 March 1851 the Census list Henry CURTIS in
Cowl
Street, Shepton Mallet, Somerset, with the JENNETT family.
- Frances JENNETT, Head, Wid[ower], 56, Grocer, Somerset, Shipham
- L A JENNETT, Daur, U[nmarried], 23, Dress Maker, Somerset, Shepton
Mallet
- E JENNETT, Daur, U, 20, Power Loom Weaver Crape, Somerset, Shepton
Mallet
- C JENNETT, Son, , 16, Shoemaker App[rentice], Somerset,
Shepton Mallet
- Henry CURTIS, , U, 23, Groom, Somerset, Shepton Mallet
The same Census lists an Eliza CURTIS, namesake of his wife, elsewhere,
residing at "Gardens," Maidens Bradley, Wiltshire.
- Mary YEATS, head, wid, 54, agri Labourer, Wilts Bradley, deaf
- Eliza CURTIS, dau, mar, 25, agri Labourer, Wilts Bradley
- William B YEATES [sic], Son, U, 19, agri Labourer, Wilts Bradley
This same Mary YEATS appears on the 1861 Census (see below), as a 64
year old visitor in the household of Henry CURTIS and his wife Eliza,
aged 33, and born in Maiden Bradley. There seems to be some relationship
between Henry CURTIS and this Eliza CURTIS, but he is listed as
unmarried and yet she is listed as married. It is possible that she is
the same Eliza who appears later as his wife.
Marriage
An elusive first marriage
Henry's first daughter was born, according to her Christening records,
on 23rd April 1851 (see below). This suggests he married around 1850-1.
The later 1861 Census shows Henry married to a lady named Eliza, who was
then aged 33, and recorded as born in Maiden Bradley. However, no good
candidates can be found for such a marriage. A check of the parish
registers for Maiden Bradley has revealed individuals called Eliza were
born in c. 1828 to the following surnames: JONES; COOMBES; YOUNG.
None of these seem to load to possible marriages.
On 27 July 1851, Mary Eliza D'r of Henry & Eliza CURTIS was
Christened at Shepton Mallet. At which time her date of birth was given as
23rd April 1851, their abode was Garston Street and his occupation was
Groom (N.B. The year on this page of the register looks like 1857, but
following the register forward the next year is 1852).
On 14 Aug 1853 one William Henry was Christened by Henry CURTIS and
Eliza his wife at All Saints, Castle Cary, at which time Henry gave his
occupation as Servant. Castle Cary is covered by the Wincanton
registration district and there is a registration there for a William
Henry CURTIS (1853 Sep Q 5c 507).
On 7 Jan 1854 one Mary Eliza was Christened by Henry CURTIS and Eliza
his wife at All Saints, Castle Cary, at which time Henry gave his
occupation as Servant. There is a probable registration for a Mary Eliza
CURTIS under Wincanton (Dec Q 1854 5c 511).
On 27 July 1857, Mary Eliza D'r of Henry & Eliza CURTIS was
Christened at Castle Cary. At which time her date of birth was given as
23rd April 1857, their abode was Garston Street, and his occupation was
Groom.
On 29 Nov 1857 one Lavinia Maria was Christened by
Henry CURTIS and Eliza his wife at All Saints, Castle Cary, at which time
Henry gave his occupation as Servant. There is a probable registration for
a Lavinia Maria CURTIS under Wincanton (Dec Q 1857 5c 510).
A marriage that is possibly of significance takes place on 21 Oct
1860, at St Jude, Bristol, between HENRY CURTIS, a bachelor and
servant, residing at West Street, father William,a clothier married an
and Eliza YEATES, aged 34, spinster, residing at West Street, father
John YEATES, labourer. The registration appears to be Dec Q of 1860
Clifton district (vol. 6a, pg. 200). This could be a subsequent
re-marriage, but, at present, it is not clear quite how this might
fits in (if it does at all).
On the 1861 Census Henry and his family are listed at
Fore
Street, Castle Cary, Somerset, which at that time comprised -
- Henry CURTIS, Head, Mar[ried], 33, Ag Lab, Somerset,
Shepton Mallett
- Eliza CURTIS, Wife, mar, 33, , Wilts, Maiden Bradley
- William CURTIS, Son, 7, Scholar, Somerset, Castle Cary
- Mary Eliza CURTIS, Daughter, 5, Scholar, Somerset, Castle Cary
- Lavinia M CURTIS, Daughter, 3, Scholar, Somerset, Castle Cary
- Mary YEATES, Visitor, W[idow], 64, , Wilts, Maiden Bradley
On the 1871 Census they are listed a few at
Ansford
House, Castle Cary, Somerset, where they are in service.
- Grace SNOOK, Head, Wid[ow], 58, Annuitant, Wilts, Maiden Bradley
- Henry CURTIS, Serv[ant], Mar[ried], 44, Gardener,
Somerset, Shepton Mallet
- Eliza CURTIS, Serv, Mar, 45, General Servant, Wilts,
Maiden Bradley
- Fanny CURTIS, Serv, , 5, , Somerset, Castle Cary
Their children are listed a couple of families earlier in Ansford
Lane, Castle Cary, Somerset, where they are on their own.
- Mary CURTIS, Daur, Un[married], 16, , Somerset, Castle Cary
- Lavinia CURTIS, Daur, Un, 13, , Somerset, Castle Cary
- John CURTIS, Son, Un, 9, , Somerset, Castle Cary
Today the village has no Ansford Lane, only an Ansford Road. According to
the
A short walk around Castle Cary
& Ansford section of the Town Council's 2008 Castle Cary
Tourism Leaflet, Ansford House was built by the WOODFORDE family in the
late 18th C and is in Crumnock Road near the north end of Ansford
Road.
In 1872 the death of an Eliza CURTIS, aged 46, was registered in
Wincanton, the registration district for Castle Cary. (Dec Quarter 1872,
Vol 5c, Pg 331). This appears to be the death of Henry's wife, as the
Eliza Ann CURTIS on later census records was born in Castle Cary, Somerset
rather than Maiden Bradley, Wiltshire.
Re-marriage to Eliza Ann JACOBS
The Free-Reg lists a marriage at All Saints, Castle Cary on 11 May 1876
(reg. no. 393) and with the following details:
- Groom: Henry CURTIS of Castle Cary, widower, of full age, occupied
as a gardner, son of William CURTIS, clothier;
- Bride: Eliza Anne JACOBS of Castle Cary, spinster, of full age,
daughter of George JACOBS, wheelwright;
- Witnessed by: Thomas JACOBS and Sarah Anne JACOBS.
Probable marriage registration is Henry CURTIS & Eliza Ann JACOBS,
Wincaton 1876, June Q 5c 733. The 1871 Census has one Eliza A JACOBS, an
unmarried daughter, aged 30 and born in Castle Cary, living in Woodcock
Street, Castle Cary, and listed on the same page as Henry & his first
wife, Eliza.
On the 1881 Census they are listed at
Church
Street, Castle Cary, Somerset. At which time their family comprised:
- Henry CURTIS, Head, M[arried], 50, Gardener D., Somerset,
Shepton Mallett
- Eliza A. CURTIS, Wife, M, 40, Gardener D. His Wife, Somerset, Castle
Cary
- Sarah A. CURTIS, Daug, , 3, , Somerset, Bruton
On the 1891 Census they are listed in
Woodcock
Street, Castle Cary, Somerset. At which time their family comprised:
- Henry CURTIS, Head, M[arried], 56, Gardener, Shepton
Mallet, Som't
- Eliza Ann CURTIS, Head, M, 50, , C. Cary, Som't
- Sarah Augusta CURTIS, Daur, S[ingle], 14, , Bruton, Som't
- Ethel Mable CURTIS, Daur, S, 9, Scholar, C. Cary, Som't
Last Will and Testament
Unknown
Death
Probable death registration in Wincanton (Castle Carey is a sub-district)
Jun Q 1895, 5c, 313. Age given as 66 which give birth abt 1829.
The 1901 Census has yet to be checked for Henry's widow and there appear
to be no obvious death or marriage registrations associated with her.
Burial
Henry and his first wife are both buried in the churchyard at All Saints,
Castle Cary. The headstone is a large and imposing one.
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The inscription is
"In affectionate remembrance
of
ELIZA CURTIS
who departed this life
November 25th 1872
Aged 46 Years.
She has bid this world a glad farewell.
She has done with suffering now.
And never more one passing grief
Shall shade her peaceful brow.
Also of
HENRY CURTIS.
Husband of the above
Who died June 20th 1895
Aged 68 Years" |
 |
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Descendants and notable relations
To be continued...
Any transcripts and images on this page are Copyright R I Kirby 2005
unless stated otherwise.
