Notes
Note N1417
Index
I have seen his application for a land grant dated March 16, 1911. It was sworn in Stettler. He said that he was living in Erskine. More particularly, it was for the NW quarter Section, of Section 5, Township 33, Range 1, North of the 4th Meridian. All five family members are noted.
Notes
Note N1418
Index
On the marriage registration, May gives her name as Trevor and says that she was born in Ireland. She also says that she is 33 years old, which would make her born in 1833. The presiding officiant was a A or O Thomson of 169 Greene.
Notes
Note N1419
Index
According to Ardeth Neale, John was a captain in the Imperial Army. He married Lucinda Shephard, the daughter of Dr, Shephard, a sugoen in the Army.
Notes
Note N1420
Index
The parish baptismal records for Cherrington show that William Timms was christened on April 23, 1806 in Cherington, son of John and Judith Timms. I am now certain that he was my great x3 grandfather. As I generally do, I am using this date for the birth date. His parents are shown as being from Stourton but he was baptised in Cherrington. He was buried in Cherrington but the burial is registered in the parish of Whichford, next door.
Initially I wondered if this man was perhaps not the father of 1831 John Timms, but another relative; for example, an uncle. However, after reading his will, his brother's will, and much other information, I am as certain as one can be that he is my great x3 grandfather. Among other things, my aunt Vera had his funeral card in her photo album. Although Shipston on Stour - the place where his death was registered - is now in Warwickshire, then it was in Worcestershire. He was interred at Cherrington on April 17, 1880. The death registration for William shows him as "gentleman". He is believed to have "died of fever after 21 days of internal haemorrhage, substantially, certified by William .... , surgeon." How did he become a gentleman? It seems a farmer could be a gentleman as he would be a landowner.
The "informant" for the death registration is one John Bateman. John Bateman shows up on the 1861 census for Cherington as: Head of house, age 49, Farm Bailiff, born at Todenham, with wife Hannah, 44, "likely" born in Tredington. His death is recorded as September 1898; he is shown as being born in 1810 and his wife Hannah was born December 16, 1812 and died August 15, 1880. Was she a Timms? I have not found a Hannah Timms born in that year. According to various sources, a farm Bailiff was like a foreman, so perhaps he was that for William Timms, or more likely William's brother John. He also shows up on the 1891 census, page 22, as: Widower, age 80. As well, he appears in the will of John Timms, William’s brother, as a beneficiary.
I now know that William’s father John died when he was only one month old. His mother did remarry in 1813 to John Whitehead. I expect that life was a struggle for Judith with two young children. I don't know whether William being a step-son led to his apparent move to London in his 20s or to his emigration to the United States in 1832.
I know that he and his wife Sophia and my great x2 grandfather, John Timms, arrived in New York City on April 20, 1832 on the Ship "Florida" which had departed from London, England. It would appear as if William and his wife came without any other relatives.
I could not find the family in the 1840 US census for quite some time. Then in August 2010, I found them in the 14th Ward, Southern District for New York City. They are found on page 330. The census that year was ostensibly done on June 1, 1840. Only the head of the house was named. Everyone else was shown by gender and age category. William and Sophia were both in the 30 to 40 age category. The two boys, John and William, were shown in the 5 to 10 and under 5 age categories. Sarah is shown in the under 5 category. William is shown as employed in the trade/manufacturing sector.
In the 1850 New York Census, done on August 15, 1850, William and his children are living in Ward 19 p. 072. He is noted as age 40 which is off by four year. His children are John, age 18, a silver plater; William, age 14; Sarah , age 12; Augustus, age 9 and Sophia, age 7. There is also a Sarah Burbanks, age 39 living there. William is shown as a "fisherman." In 1853, there was a William Timms, fish dealer at 163 Eighth Avenue. He lived on Tenth Avenue near West 51st Street. The same entry appears in 1856 and 1857 except that it merely says "fish". In 1859, there is no entry for his trade but he still lives on Tenth near 51st. The same address is noted for John Timms, plater, for 1863.
I believe that I may have found William at various locations in New York City between 1836/37 and 1859. The first entry was in 1836 for William Timms, laborer, living at 143 Forsyth. He shows up again in 1839/30 as William Timms, baker, living at 93 Pitt. Then it is 1843/44. where he shows no occupation but he is living at 82 Ridge. The next entry if for 1844/45 where again there is no occupation listed but he is living at 293 West 19th Street. By the 1845/46 entry, he is listed again as a baker; I cannot tell whether he is working or living at 164 8th Avenue. There is then a gap until 1848/49 when he is listed as a butcher with his shop at 62, 8th Avenue and his residence at the corner of 51st Street and 10th Avenue W.
In 1853, there is a William Timms, fish dealer, at 163 Eighth Avenue. He lived on Tenth Avenue near West 51st Street. The same entry appears in 1856 and 1857 except that it merely says "fish". In 1859, there is no entry for his trade but he still lives on Tenth near 51st. I have reason to believe that William had gone back to England by then and that the William listed here is his son William. The same address is noted for John Timms, plater, (his other son and my great x2 grandfather) for 1863.
At some point, between 1850 and 1861, he and his three youngest children came back to England. I have found the entries for Edward Augustus and Sophia coming to England as "aliens" in 1857. They had departed from New York and were on the ship American Eagle. Edward was listed as a butcher. I have not been able to find the return of William or Sarah. I do know that all of them came to back to England as they are there in the 1861 census and because I am able to track them after that.
However, when William returned to England with the younger children after Sophia's death, the John born in 1831 and his brother William born in 1835/36 stayed in America. The John born in 1831 then married Mary Trevor. I now know that John married Mary Trevor in 1854 in NYC. He was in Boston at the time of the birth of their son John in 1857. John shows up in New York City directories in 1858 and 1863. He was in Canada by the 1871 census in West Nissouri, but was not there in 1881. Where had he gone to by 1881? Did he go back to England? I know that his son John born in 1857 was in England with his grandparents for a time, as he is shown as being baptised in Cherington on November 27, 1864 in the baptism register on page 69, number 550. Perhaps 1857 John went alone, at age seven, to England to spend some time with his grandparents. That seems unlikely. It is more likely that he went back with his grandfather whenever that was1860. That leaves open the question as to how and when he came back to North America.
In looking at the 1861 census for Stourton Parish, which was done April 7/8, 1861, I found a William Timms, head of house, age 55, farmer with 16 acres, Stourton. His wife was listed as Jane, age 58, born in Silverton, Devon. The daughter is Sarah Timms, age 22, born in America. I could not find them in the 1851 census for Stourton; that seems obvious since I have determined that William was living in New York City with his children in the 1850 American census, which was done May 31, 1850.
By the 1871 UK census, he was shown as retired and only he and Jane were living together. He was 64 and she was 67. The census took place right around his birthday.
On August 7, 1997 I received a letter from an Alfred Woodward in Shipston on Stour. He went out and looked at the tombstones in the churchyard at Cherington. He found the one for this William who he died April 13, 1880 at age 74. He was interred on April 17, 1880. The tombstone also refers to his first wife "Sophia", who died in New York on August 15, 1848 at age 40 and his second wife Jane who died November 14, 1880 at age 80. This latter age is at odds with her age on the 1861 and 1871 censuses; it may be that once I read the original census, I will clear up that discrepancy. The microfiche MI's from St. John the Baptist Church in Cherrington has the same information as that given to me by Mr. Woodward. The parish records for Cherrington are also the same. Finally, I also made a trip to the cemetery and confirmed Mr. Woodward's observations.
Cherrington, Warwickshire, England
Stourton is in Warwickshire. The river Stour (from whence the town takes its name) is obviously also in Warwickshire; it flows into the Avon river. Cherington is located about two miles to the west. Shipston on Stour - where William's death is registered - is found perhaps 5 miles to the north west. They are all very close to Stratford on Avon, which is further to the north west - about 11 miles. My aunt Vera's note refers to John Timms' uncle (which John?) being the secretary to the Marquis of Huntley. I don't know which John Timms she meant. According Burke's Peerage, the Marquis of Huntly (note Spelling) was in the Aberdeen area. What this means for family lore, I don't know.
I now have the will of William Timms which sets out the five children on the family page. Until I read the will, I had not known of Edward and Sophia. The only son concerning whom there is a mention of a wife is John - unfortunately she is not named.
Here is the will:
This is the last Will and Testament of me William Timms of Stourton in the parish of Whichford in the County of Warks, Gentlemen. In the first place I direct that all my just debts funeral and testamentary expenses may be paid by my Executors hereinafter named as soon as conveniently may be after my decease out of my personal estate. I give devise and bequeath all and singular my real and personal estate and effects whatsoever and wheresoever and of what nature or kind soever unto to John Cooper Greenhill of Shipston on Stour in the County of Worcester Grocer and William Winnall of Shipston on Stour aforesaid Brewer [hereinafter called my trustees] Upon the trusts and for the intents and purposes following [that is to say] Upon trust to pay to or permit and suffer my wife Jane Timms to have and receive the interests dividends and annual produce of my said real and personal estate for and during the term of her natural life and from and immediately after her decease Upon further trust to call in collect and convert into money such part or parts of my personal estate which may not consist of money or cash in hand. And as to my real estate Upon trust immediately or as soon as conveniently may be after the decease of my said wife to make sale and absolutely dispose of the same either together or in parcels and either by Public Auction or by Private Contract or partly by Public Auction and partly by Private Contract with full liberty to buy in and resell the same or any part or parts thereof and to make and enter into any special conditions or stipulations relative to the Title of the same or any part thereof and on receipt of the sale monies to convey and assure the same to the purchaser or purchasers thereof. And I direct that my said Trustees or the survivor of them or the heirs executors administrators or assigns of such survivor or other Trustee or Trustees for the time being of this my Will do Stand possessed of the monies produced and to be produced by the conversion into money of my personal estate and of monies to arise from or be produced by the Sale or Sales of my said real estate and on the Stocks funds Mortgages and other Securities which I may be possessed of or entitled to at the time of my decease Upon further trust in the first place to pay thereout to my son William Timms a legacy or sum of Five Hundred pounds. And as to the residue after payment of the said legacy or sum I direct that my Trustees do divide the same into four equal parts or shares Upon Trust as to one fourth part to stand possessed thereof and to invest the same in their or his names or name in the Public Stocks or funds of Great Britain or on real Government or other good security in England and to pay the dividends interest and annual produce arising therefrom unto my daughter Sarah Jarrett the wife of Stephen Jarrett for and during the term of her natural life. And from and immediately after her decease Upon further trust to pay the said one fourth part or share to the child or children of the said Sarah Jarrett if more than one in equal proportions when and as they shall respectively attain the age of twenty one years. And as to one other fourth part thereof Upon trust to invest the same in their or his names or name in the securities before mentioned and to pay the dividends interest and annual produce arising therefrom unto my daughter Sophia Shepherd the wife of William Shepherd for and during the term of her natural life. And from and immediately after her decease Upon further trust to pay the said one fourth part or share to the child or children of the said Sophia Shepherd if more than one in equal proportions when and as they shall respectively attain the age of twenty one years. And as to one other fourth part thereof I direct my said trustees to invest the same in their or his names or name in the securities before mentioned and to pay the dividends interest and annual produce arising therefrom to my son Edward Timms for and during the term of his natural life and from and immediately after his to decease Upon further trust to pay the said one fourth part or share to the child or children of my said son Edward Timms if more than one in equal proportions when and as they shall respectively attain the age of twenty one years. And as to the remaining one fourth part or share I direct my said trustee to stand possessed thereof upon trust to invest the same in any of the securities before mentioned and to pay the same to the child or children of my son John Timms by his present wife if more than one in equal proportions when and as they shall respectively attain the age of twenty one years. I direct that any legacy or sum of money payable under this my Will to any person who may be a married woman that the same may be paid into her own proper hands in order that the same may be enjoyed and disposed of by her or as her separate property and entirely free from a control of any present or future husband. I devise all real estate's vested in me as Trustee or Mortgagee to my said Trustees subject to the trusts and equities affecting the same respectively. Provided always and I hereby directed and declare that a shall be lawful for the Trustees or Trustee for the time being of this my Will to call in receive transfer and disposed of all or any part or parts of the trust monies Stocks funds and Securities which for the time being Shall be subject to the trusts of this my Will and to invest or layout the monies so called in or received or to be produced by any such sale or other disposition as aforesaid in the like or any other of the Public Stocks or funds of Great Britain or in the Capital Stock of the Bank of England or as interest upon Government or real securities in England or Wales and so from time to time and when and so often as occasion shall require it may be deemed expedient or to continue any present existing securities Provided always and I hereby further declare that the receipts in writing of my said Trustees or Trustee for the time being for the purchase monies of premises sold or for any sum or sums of money payable or to be paid to them or him under or by virtue of this my Will or upon or for any of the trusts or purposes hereinbefore expressed shall be good and effectual discharge for the same monies respectively or for so much as in such receipts shall be acknowledged to be received and that the person or persons to whom the same shall be given his her or their heirs Executors administrators or assigns shall not afterwards be answerable or accountable for the loss or misapplication thereof. I declare that if my said Trustees or either of them or any person or persons to be appointed under this clause shall die or be unwilling or incompetent to execute the trusts of this my Will it shall be lawful for the Trustees or Trustee for the time being [if any] whether retiring from the office of Trustee or not or [if none] for the executor and administrator of the last surviving Trustee or Trustees to substitute by writing under their or his hands or hand any fit person or persons in whom alone or as the case may be jointly with the surviving or continuing Trustee my trust estate shall be vested and the Trustee or Trustees for the time being of this my Will shall be competent to exercise the powers and discretions given to the Trustees herein named. And exonerated every Trustee of my Will from liability for lofses occurring without his own wilful neglect or default and that one of them shall not be answerable or accountable for the other of them but each for his own acts and deeds only. And lastly I do hereby nominate constitute an appoint the said John Cooper Greenhill and William Winnall Executors of this my Will hereby revoking all former Wills and Codicils by me at any time heretofore made. I do hereby declare this to be my last will and only will. In witness whereof I the said William Timms have to this and the three preceding sheets of paper set my hand this thirteenth day of December one thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.
Signed published and declared by the said
William Timms as in for his Will and
Testament in the presence of us present at the
same time who are at his request in his presence
and in the presence of each other have
hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses
Edward Vere Nicoll
Solicitor
Shipston on Stour
John Tobias
Shipston on Stour
Proved at Birmingham on the tenth day of May of 1880 by the
Oaths of John Cooper Greenhill, grocer, and William Winnall, brewer, the
Executors to whom Administration was granted
The testator William Timms was late of Stourton in the
Parish of Whichford in the County of Warwick Gentlemen
and died on the 13th day of April 1880 at great Wolford in the
County of Warwick
Under 2000
Edward Nicoll
Sol Shipston on Stour