John Tytheridge A Publican at The Marlborough Head In London

Ann Bennett (nee Tytheridge) sister of John Tytheridge 

I first came across John Tytheridge’s name 30 years ago when manually searching probate records. I could find nothing about John other than he was publican at The Marlborough Head public house in central London. In those days there were no Internet records and looking for John among the London Records was like looking for a needle in a haystack.

This week I decided it was time to investigate again, aided by all the online records now available. This blog recounts what I have learnt and illustrates what an amazing amount of information can be found online 

John Tytheridge’s Parents in Mitcham

John’s parents were John Tytheridge and Ann Sprules who married at Christ Church, Spitalfields on 3 November 1816. They were recorded as of this parish and a bachelor and a spinster. At the marriage John signed his name and Ann, unable to write, put her mark. 

John and Ann moved to Lower Mitcham in Surrey where John was employed as a gardener. Ann was from Mitcham, baptised in Mitcham, St Peter and St Paul on 2 July 1786, daughter of William Sprules.

In 1818 John and Ann’s son was born, he was also called John. His baptism took place in the strangely named church of “City of London Lying-In Hospital” situated in City Road, Finsbury. The baptism records for 31 May 1818 show John baptised, son of John and Ann Tytheridge of Lower Mitcham, John is shown as a gardener. The City of London Lying in Hospital was a maternity hospital for the wives of working men and it had a chapel attached to it. I do not know why John was born and baptised here 10 miles from Mitcham. In 1821 John’s sister Ann was born. She was baptised in the local parish church of Mitcham, St Peter and St Paul, on 8 April 1821. Her parent’s residence is recorded as Mitcham and John shown as a gardener. Their surname in this record is written as Tetheridge.

In these day Mitcham was a Surrey village, about nine miles from London, although now it is a suburb of London. There were many large houses in Mitcham where John could have been employed as a gardener. It is also possible he was employed in the growing of lavender, since the area around Mitcham has grown lavender since the 1500s. The famous company Potter and Moore was set up in Mitcham in 1749 to extract lavender oil.

John and Ann Tytheridge in Wavendon

Sometime before 1832 John and Ann and family had moved to the small village of Wavendon, Buckinghamshire,  where John worked as a gardener. The evidence for this comes from an apprenticeship certificate for son John. John died on 26 March 1839 in Wavendon age 61. His age given suggests he was born about 1778. The cause of death was consumption (tuberculosis). His death was registered by Sarah Chance not by his wife. He was buried in the parish church of Wavendon on 29 March 1839, records show he was “husband of Ann”. 

Ann Tytheridge in Woolley

Ann, now a widow, moved to Woolley in Yorkshire. It is unknown whether she moved to find work or to be near a relative. She died 7months after John, her age was given as 53 or 55 in two different records. She was buried on 7 October 1839 in Woolley Parish church, her residence was shown as Woolley Park. Woolley Park is now a Grade ll listed building and was home of the Wentworth family. The transcription of her burial record shows her surname as Tetheridge.

The Index to Death Duty Registers suggest both John and Ann died intestate, with Ann granted administration of John’s estate and John (the son) administration of Ann’s estate. It looks like tax was due on their estate, tax was due on any estate over £20.

John Tytheridge’s Life 

While John junior’s early life was spent in Mitcham later the family moved to Wavendon. At the age of 14 John was sent to London to be an apprentice to David Francis Powell a citizen and patternmaker of London. An indenture was signed on 17 December 1832 and the basis of the agreement was David Powell would provide food, clothes, lodging for John and teach him his craft. In return John would work for David and learn the trade. During John’s apprenticeship there was a list of things he could not do including gambling, haunting taverns and playhouses and he could not get married. This indenture was binding for 7 years. John would have finished his apprenticeship just after his mother died.

On the 1841 census 21 year old John and his 18 year old sister Ann were living together at The Minories in London, residing with James and Elizabeth Miller. John is listed as a tailor and Ann is shown as no occupation. The Minories was a street that ran north from the Tower of London. London Land Tax Records show John paying tax at The Minories, Portsoken, City of London from 1844 to 1848. In the Post Office directory of 1845, he is shown as a tailor at 139 The Minories.

On 7 May 1845 27-year-old John married Jane Short in Walthamstow, St Peter in the Forest, Essex. There were no children from the marriage. 

From 1846 to 1851 John is shown on the electoral register for Bow, living in a house on the High Street. On the 1851 census John and Jane are living at 1 High Street, Stratford le Bow. It shows John age 32 from Mitcham, a victualler living with Jane his wife age 30 from Bristol. Also living with them are two servants and a niece, Mary Ann Short. The Post Office Directories show that the pub they ran was called the Black Swan, probably situated on the corner of Bow High Street and Bow Street.  

In 1852 a newspaper advert shows the lease on The Marlborough Head, 32/33 Great Marlborough Street was for sale. John was granted a licence to run this pub in March 1893. The pub was situated in central London near Regent Street, near Liberty’s, probably at the top of Carnaby Street and opposite The London Palladium. The pub was still there in 1966 although had been rebuilt but it has now been replaced with modern buildings. 

John Tytheridge’s Death

John and Jane lived at The Marlborough Head until John’s death on 27 December 1858 age 40. He was buried at Brompton Cemetery on 31 December 1858 after a service at Westminster, St James. He was buried in Grave B71, a map of the cemetery shows plot B is just to the right of north entrance.

John's will was written in 1854 and left everything to his wife Jane. Probate records show the estate was worth under £1500, (probably around £1400).

In March 1859 Jane put the lease of the Marlborough Head pub up for sale. Jane is missing from the 1861 census but in 1871 lodging at Stanley Villas Chelsea with William Nailer and wife and describes herself as a publican. On the 1881 census Jane is living with William and Mary Titmus (her niece) and family at 5 Cavendish Villas, Richmond. Jane died on 4 July 1886 at 1 Maple Villas, Maple Road Penge, age 67. 

As John and Jane had no children the Tytheridge surname died out from this line. 

The Tytheridge Surname Lives On

Despite John having no children the Tytheridge name has been preserved to the current day by the family of John’s sister Ann who was very proud of her Tytheridge surname.

On 16 April 1841 Ann Tytheridge married William Bennett in St Catherine Creechurch, both were of full age and from Jewry Street. Ann was probably only 20 and her father is shown as John Tytheridge but it doesn’t mention he is deceased. Her brother was one of the witnesses at the wedding. 

William and Ann Bennet had 4 children born in London.
• William Bennett born 1842 died 1843
• John Edward Bennett born 1845 died 1860
• Elizabeth Bennett born 1846 died 1851
• Isabella Bennett born September 1849 died Dec 1848

On 1851 census they were living in Stepney. In October 1852 they emigrated to Australia with their only surviving son, John. They sailed on the Koh I Noor, leaving London and sailing to Port Phillip, Victoria. In Australia Ann had 5 more children

• George Bennett born 1853 died 1853
• Maria Bennett born 1854 died 1934
• Charles Henry Bennett born 1858
• Ann Bennett born 1860
-• Frederick William Bennett born 1863 died 1926

Four of the children survived, but John who had travelled with them from England died in 1860. Ann died in Yarra, Victoria on 12 October 1902, her husband William died in 1904. 

At least one of Ann’s grandchildren were given the middle name Tytheridge, Frederick William Tytheridge Bennett. This Christian name has been handed down the generations and is still in evidence today. Also, a piece in the local newspaper showed that the family house of Frederick Bennett was called “Tytheridge”.

Looking for John Tytheridge Senior

Unfortunately, despite finding out so much about the children John and Ann Tytheridge, the origin of their father John Tytheridge born around 1778 remains a mystery. He is not related to the Tytheridge family of Hampshire. But the questions remain

• Is John related to the Tytheridges in Sundridge Kent?
• Is John a Titheridge who migrated from Hampshire then misspelt his surname?
• Is John a descendant from a family in Westminster who spelt their surname Titteridge, Tutteridge and many other variations, who were present in London in the early 1700s but have no known descendants?

None of the records currently available online provide a possible John Tytheridge born in 1778, so if you have come across someone who fits the bill please get in touch and solve the mystery.

Joseph Titheridge – From Rags to Riches

Winchester Cathedral 

 “How does a poor man become a wealthy gentleman?” that is the question addressed in this blog. 

Joseph Titheridge from Winchester was shown on the censuses up to 1881 as someone who looked after horses at the Royal Hotel, Winchester. His will shows that when he died in 1891 he was a gentleman with extensive wealth. The gross value of his estate was £8795 10s 9d. Looking at websites that workout the value of this money today suggests that Joseph left equivalent to one million pounds! His life story follows and tries to answer the question “Where did Joseph’s money come from?” 

Joseph Titheridge’s Will

Joseph’s will was made on 14 January 1891, 7 days before he died and revealed the extent of his wealth, property and investments.

This is how he divided his estate.

• To Emily Bliss, niece of his wife £200
• To Royal Hants County Hospital at Winchester £100
• To the Convalescent Home in Isle of Wight in connection with the said hospital £100
• To the Winchester Dispensary £100
• To the Royal Lifeboat Institution £100

The 10 leasehold houses called Ashley Terrace and the cottage called Ashley Cottage in Winchester are to be sold and the money used to pay any expenses and legacies and the remainder to be divided into 5 equal parts

• One fifth to brother Charles Titheridge
• One fifth to brother Thomas Titheridge
• One fifth to sister Eliza Wheeler
• One fifth to sister Elizabeth Bell
• One fifth to the two children of his late brother William 

To his brother Thomas he gives his gold watch and chain

To his wife, Emily (also known as Emma), he left his plate, linen, china, glass, books, prints, pictures, wines, liquors, fuel, consumable provisions and other household effects

All freehold property is to provide rents and annual income to Emily, his wife, during her life and for as long as she remains a widow. After her death or second marriage all the property is to be sold. The money from the sale is to be divided as shown

• £1000 to niece Emily Bliss
• £200 to the children of Mrs Towne his wife’s late sister
• £200 each to Adam Blackman, George Blackman, John Blackman and Honor Knight (widow) brothers and sisters of his wife. If they die before Emily dies or remarries – their children are to take their share.

Any remaining money to be divided among his family Charles, Thomas, Elizabeth, Eliza and William’s children.

One interesting line in the will is “The share of each of my said sisters to be received and enjoyed by them as her separate estate, without the control or interference of any present or future husband.”

Joseph Titheridge in the Newspapers

What happened between 1881 and 1891 to change Joseph’s fortune is mystery. Once a servant and ostler, he becomes a gentleman with a gold watch, books, prints, pictures and property. I have searched local papers for Joseph and despite finding several articles in the newspapers about Joseph, nothing explains the source of his wealth.

His first mention in the newspapers is in 1881 when he is a witness in a trial of someone stealing money from Winchester Racecourse, at this time he is listed as an employee of The Royal Hotel. In the 1880s there are references to him buying shares or property at auctions in Winchester, but the articles don’t specify what was purchased. By 1882 he is the owner of 10 houses in Ashley Terrace, Winchester where it is reported he had to pay for drainage to be installed since there were no sewers. By 1883 he had shares in Didcot, Newbury and Southampton Railway, but research shows this company never paid any dividends. In April 1885 the Royal Hotel Tap caught on fire but by this date, although run by Joseph, he wasn’t living there. The fire was extinguished but there was extensive damage to the buildings and contents which was covered by insurance. In 1890 newspapers reported Joseph was owed money from an advanced on a mortgage of £420 on a property. From 1881 onwards he is playing bowls for Hyde Abbey Bowling team. There are two reports of him donating money, one for a prize for the Winchester Show in 1883 and in 1881 he donated two guineas to the Royal Hants County Hospital.

The Source of Money

I have considered the various options for where his money came from. He certainly couldn’t have earnt that amount of money and there is no evidence that it was obtained illegally by criminal activity. It is most unlikely that he inherited his wealth from his parents or family members since they were poor. He went to the races, so it is possible he won some money from betting and gambling. One option is that his wife inherited money and he took control of it. In these days any money made by a woman, e.g. inheritance, instantly became the property of her husband. (This inequality was only properly addressed by the 1882 Married Woman’s Property Act). Emma’s father, Charles Blackman, was a blacksmith who died in 1857. Emma’s mother, Mary Blackman (nee Woodnut), is shown on the 1861 census as a widow living on Church House Farm, Waltham Chase recorded as a “Landed Proprietor”. The 1871 census shows that Mary owned her house in Swanmore. Mary Blackman died in 1878, but there is no sign of probate being applied for and no will has been found for her or husband Charles.

It appears that whatever the source of his initial money Joseph was a shrewd businessman and invested what he had wisely. There are two reports of him buying shares at auctions, perhaps some proved good investments. We know he lent money to mortgage property, perhaps with good returns. He invested in property, perhaps bought and sold at a profit. Whatever the route to wealth he certainly accrued a lot of money.

Joseph Titheridge’s family

Joseph was the son of Joseph Titheridge and Elizabeth Simpson, who had married in Winchester St Thomas on 27 June 1820. On his marriage Joseph was shown as a post chaise driver, and later as a horse keeper or ostler. The family were not rich with Elizabeth working as a laundress to help support the family. The evidence now available shows that Joseph was born in Alresford in 1789 and was the brother of the infamous Dickey Dung Prong.  

Joseph and Elizabeth had 7 children, all born in Winchester over a 20-year period. The children were

• Charles born in 1821, died 1894
• Elizabeth born in 1824, married William Bell, died 1913
• Eliza born in 1827, married Arthur Griffin and later Edward Wheeler, died in 1906 
• Thomas born 1830, married Susan Allen, died in 1897
• Joseph born in 1834, married Emma Blackman, died in 1891
• Edward born in 1837, died in 1837
• William born in 1841, married Ellen Newman, died in 1877

They seem to be a very close family and across the censuses various siblings live together, and nieces and nephews are often living with the families too. 

Joseph Titheridge’s Life

Joseph was born in 1834 and was baptised on 4 May 1834 at Winchester St Maurice. Seven-year-old Joseph can be found in the 1841 census with his parents, brothers Thomas and William and married sister Elizabeth. The family were living at Upper Brook Street, Winchester, a road just off the High Street. On the 1851 census Joseph is still living at Upper Brook Street with his parents and brothers Thomas and William. Joseph and his brother, Thomas, are now both working as grooms.

Joseph married Emma Blackman on 21 July 1854. Emma was from Bishops Waltham and Swanmore. They had one child George who was baptised in Bishops Waltham on 6 December 1854, Joseph is described as labourer at the baptism. Sadly, George died in the same month and they had no other children.

In 1857 Joseph’s father died in the Winchester Union (poor house) age 70 and Joseph’s mother, Elizabeth, died in 1869 age 72. 

The 1861 census shows Emma and Joseph living at 23 Parchment Street, this street is off the High Street in the heart of Winchester. Living with Joseph and Emma is their niece, Emily Bliss, age 8, daughter of Emma’s widowed sister Honor. Joseph’s occupation is given as ostler. An ostler took care of people’s horses when they stopped at an inn.

On the 1871 census Emma is visiting her mother in Swanmore, while Joseph is in Winchester living in 10a Parchment Street, The Royal Hotel Tap. Also, at the same property are Eliza Griffin his sister, who is head housekeeper while Joseph is head Ostler. A Tap is a place where beer is served (and sometimes food), it is often part of a brewery. This one was attached to the Roya Hotel situated in the parallel street.

The 1881 Census shows Joseph and Emma living in 10a Parchment Street at the Royal Hotel Tap. Joseph is shown as an ostler, with inn servant written beside it. The 1889 Kelly’s directory shows Joseph Titheridge had moved to 70 Parchment Street.

Joseph died on 21 January 1891 aged 56. On the 1891 census Joseph’s widow Emma is still living at 70 Parchment Street with her sister Honor Knight and niece Emily Bliss. Emma died 3 years later on 10 February 1894.  Emma is known as “Emma” all the way up to the 1881 census and then suddenly changes her name to “Emily”. Her name appears as Emily in Joseph’s will, on the 1891 census, on the registration of her death and her will.

Joseph Titheridge's home
70 Parchment Street, photographed in 2020

If you can add anything to this story and help explain where this wealth came from please get in touch.