Ernest Edward Eley, Farmer of Tortworth, Kingswood and Berkeley
THE ELEY FAMILY OF THE VALE OF BERKELEY
(?) James Eley (-1688) and Mary (-1686)
of Thornbury
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(?) James Eley (1644-1719) and Elizabeth (1650-1723)
of Thornbury
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James Eley I (1688–1754) and Elizabeth Morgan (–1747)
of Thornbury
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James Eley II (1736-1803) and Ann Taylor (-1799)
Exciseman of Ledbury, Leominster, Birmingham, Banbury etc
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James Eley III (1762-1831) and Elizabeth Greenwood (1763-1814)
Linendraper of Thornbury
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Thomas Eley (1794-1864) and Sarah Park (1806-1859)
Farmer of Lower Morton
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James Eley IV (1836-1874) and Ann Shield (1837-1934)
Farmers of Lower Morton, Kingswood and Tortworth
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Ernest Edward Eley (1869-1950) and Emily Yarnold (1866-1951)
Farmer of Berkeley, Kingswood and Cranham
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Grace Margaret Eley (1897-1940) and William Edward Terrett
ERNEST EDWARD ELEY, Great Grandfather of Richard Barton
Son of James Eley IV and Ann (nee Shield)
Husband of Emily Yarnold
Father of Grace Margaret Terrett
Also Father of Annie Florence Janet Durn, James Ernest, Dorothy Frances Harman, Daisy Mary, Norah, John Shield, Phyllis May Wyatt and Ethel Emmie Randall
James Shield Eley (1867-1945), Ernest Edward Eley (1869-1950) and Walter Henry Eley (1868-1959) – Children of James Eley and his wife Anne, nee Shield. Photograph by Arthur Holborn of Thornbury (1875c) Copy of an original belonging to Ken Marling. From left to right: Shield, Ernest, Walter (annotated by Ken Marling)
Ernest Edward Eley was born on 26th November 1869, at Lower Morton, Thornbury, the third son of James and Anne Eley. In 1874, his parents moved from their farm at Lower Morton to Merryford Farm, Kingswood, Wotton-under-Edge. Sadly his father died of Typhoid in the September 1874.His mother continued to farm at Merryford until 1892 when she moved to Tortworth. Ernest Edward was baptised on 28th October 1881 at St Mary’s Church, Kingswood with his brother John Park Eley. On the evening of the 1891 census he was at home at Merryford Farm, Kingswood, with the family and he was described as a twenty-one-year-old farmer’s son.
In 1892 his mother moved to Tortworth Farm where she farmed with her sons, Shield and Ernest. On 4th April 1893 Ernest Eley married Emily Yarnold at Tortworth Parish Church. He was described as a twenty-three-year-old farmer of Tortworth, the son of James Eley, Farmer. Emily was described as of Wotton-under-Edge, the twenty-seven-year-old daughter of James Henry Yarnold, a builder. The witnesses were James Brown (her uncle), J. Shield Eley (his brother) and F.M. Eley (Florence Mary his elder sister).
In the 1881 census and again in the 1891 census Emily was living and working as an assistant for her uncle, James Brown, a Watchmaker of Long Street, Wotton-under-Edge. She was there from at least the age of sixteen until her twenty-seventh birthday and it was in this shop that they are said to have met. The address on a Marriage memento is given as Brook Farm, Tortworth.
Dursley Gazette 8th April 1893:
Marriage – Eley-Yarnold – at Tortworth Parish Church by Rev. P. Arthur Rector. Ernest 3rd son of late James Eley of Maryford Farm, Kingswood and Mrs Eley now at Tortworth Farm. To Emily second daughter of James Henry Yarnold of Gloucester and niece of Mr. James Brown of Wotton-under-Edge.
Dursley Gazette 8th April 1893:
Wedding – On Tuesday at Tortworth Parish Church the marriage took place of Miss Emily Yarnold, niece of Mr James Brown of Wotton-under-Edge with Ernest, 3rd son of the late Mr. James Eley of Maryford Farm, Kingswood and Mrs. Eley, now of Tortworth Farm. The bridegroom is already a tenant on Earl Ducie’s Estate at Brook Farm. The Rector of Tortworth, Rev. p. Arthur, officiated. The bride’s uncle, Mr. Brown, gave her away and she was attended by Miss Eley and Miss Kate Eley (sisters of the bridegroom) and Miss L. Dean of Stroud as bridesmaids. She wore a white dress… Mr Shield Eley accompanied his brother as best man.
The wedding was pretty… bells rang out, organ etc…
After the wedding the party drove over to Wotton-under-Edge to the residence of the bride’s uncle for the wedding repast. Mr Arthur was present, Mr and Mrs Yarnold (father and step-mother), Mr and Mrs Shield of Over, Mr James Shield of Maryford, Mrs Isaacs, Miss Alice Yarnold (sister of bride), Mr Yarnold of Thornbury (brother of bride), Mr Smith Jnr. Crockleaze, Tortworth, …
Later the couple left for Devonshire. Wedding presents…
Shield married in 1896 and their mother Annie Eley retired from farming in that year and moved to Bristol. It is likely that at this time Ernest and Emily moved to Hengaston Farm, Berkeley Road, Berkeley, where their third daughter Grace was born in July 1897. Certainly by 1900 Tortworth Farm was being farmed by Shield and Minnie Eley.
There is confusion as to the location of Tortworth Farm and its relationship with Brook Farm.
The Bristol Times and Mirror reported in its pages on 31st July 1897 that Ernest Ely (sic) a Farmer of Cam, was summoned by the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals for working a horse in an unfit state on 14th July. Evidence was given on behalf of the prosecution by PC Fowler of Newport, Walter Unite, Inspector of S.P.C.A. and Henry Hobbs, Vet nary Surgeon of Newnham. The Bench considered the offence not wilful and dismissed the case.
The Bristol Mercury and Daily Post for 15th December 1899 reported from the Berkeley court that Edward Eley and Thomas G. Powell each had to pay2s 6d for allowing horses to stray’.
From before 1900 until about 1912 Ernest and Emily were farming at Park Farm, Pedington, Berkeley.
In the 1901 census return Edward and Emily Eley were at Park Farm, Pedington. Ernest was described as a thirty-year-old Farmer, an employer, born at Morton. Emily was a thirty-one-year-old born in Gloucester. Their children were Annie, aged seven-years, born in Tortworth; James aged five years and born in Berkeley; Dorothy aged four years and born in Berkeley and Grace aged three years and born in Berkeley. Their servants included Martha Clements, aged sixteen, a general servant and domestic, born in Berkeley; Samuel Woodward a servant of seventeen, born in Oldbury and William Waite, aged forty-nine-years, a farm labourer, born in Falfield.
In 1911 the family was living at Park Farm, Pedington, Berkeley. Ernest Eley was a Farmer and employer born at Morton, Gloucestershire. Emily Eley his wife was born in Gloucester and aged forty-three-years. They had been married for eighteen years and had nine children born alive of which one had died. These included Annie aged seventeen doing daily (or dairy?) work and born at Tortworth; James aged fifteen working on farm and born at Tortworth; Dorothy aged fourteen at school and born at Tortworth; Grace aged thirteen and born at Berkeley; Daisy aged nine and born at Berkeley; John aged six and born at Berkeley; Phyllis aged three and born at Berkeley and Ethel aged two and born at Berkeley. Servants included Helen Hobbs, a domestic servant, aged nineteen and born at Upper Cam and Gilbert Pain aged twenty-one, a farm labourer born in Birmingham. The house had nine rooms.
(?) Supposedly Ernest Edward Eley (1869-1950), Great Grandfather, with his men. This is a copy of a post card sent to Mrs. G. Caple, Kendleshire Farm, and was dated 22nd September 1910. The original belonged to Ken Marling. Nobody is clearly recognisable but the young man second from the right could be James Edward Eley (1895-1952), Great Uncle, and the man on the extreme right could be Ernest Edward Eley!
In 1913 they were farming at Haroldsfield Farm, Kingswood, and advertising for a cowman and offering him a good house and garden. Ernest’s great aunt Mary Park, nee Witts, was born at Haroldsfield and her nephew, Charlie Witts, took the farm at Tortworth after Grandma Eley left. Mary Park’s late husband, John Trotman Park, had farmed at Merryford until his death in November 1873. It is said that Ernest and Emily demolished the old ‘Gothic’ ruin at Haroldsfield, which some attribute to being part of Kingswood Abbey, because it might encourage courting couples!
Their fourth daughter, Daisy, was killed by a swing in the schoolyard and was buried on 29th October 1919 at Kingswood. She was only seventeen years old. In 1921 Ernest Edward bore his Uncle Henry Shield’s coffin with his brother John Park Eley.
Ernest and Emily were at Haroldsfield until 1926 when they moved to Wick House Farm, Berkeley, where Eleys were still listed as late as the 1939 Kelly’s Directory. At some point Ernest also farmed at Overtown Farm, Cranham.
Ernest Edward Eley (1869-1950), Great Grandfather, and his wife Emily (1865-1951) (nee Yarnold) with their eldest daughter Annie Florence Durn (1894-1956), Great Aunt
Finally Ernest and Emmie retired and moved around his children spending time at Nibley House. He died on 6th February 1950 at Coopers Hill Farm, Brockworth, his daughter Phyllis’s home and was described on his death certificate as an eighty-year-old Retired Farmer of Nibley House Farm, near Dursley. The cause of death was Cerebral Thrombosis and Arterio Sclerosis and was certified by M.I. Cookson M.B. Ernest H. Poole, Registrar, registered the death on 7th February 1950 and the informant was C.M. Wyatt, Son-in-law, who lived at Coopers Hill Farm, Brockworth, and was present at the death.
Ernest Eley was buried on 9th February 1950 at St Mary’s Kingswood.
According to probate records Ernest Edward Eley of Coopers Hill Farm, Brockworth, Gloucestershire, died on 6th February 1950. Probate was granted at Gloucester on 10th May to James Ernest Eley and John Shield Eley, Farmers. Effects were valued at £500.
Emily Eley died on 22nd November 1951 at her son Jim’s farm at Woodmancote, Cirencester and her body was cremated at Cheltenham. The ashes were buried in her husband’s grave at St Mary’s Kingswood on 26th November 1951.
Cards:
‘Ernest Edward Eley with his Mother’s fondest love & best wishes for his welfare for time & eternity. Hoping etc he receives this & may be a child of God. A.Eley’ (Probably for his baptism in 1881)
‘Emily Yarnold & Ernest Edward Eley with Mr And Mrs Ernest E. Eley’s compliments. Brooke Farm, Tortworth April 4th 1893’
Extracts from Walter Eley’s Journal of 1900:
‘After staying for a short time we resumed our journey, and it began to rain when we got to the main road; however, it did not last long. We drove through the village of Stone. Turning to the left our carriage soon pulled up at cousin Ernest’s Park Farm, Peddington. Here we stayed about half an hour and all except myself had more “zider”.’
‘Passing through “The Eaves” by the Kennels, we were treated to the music of the foxhounds therein, all howling together in chorus. That also was an old sound. We passed through Ham, where I noticed that the Common was all railed in, up the field leading to the Great Park, through the wicket gate in the wall, and we were inside. Had a look at the old cradle tree on the way. We were delighted – hundreds of deer about and that was another old sight. It is a beautiful old place. We made our way down to some sheds under the Park Wall. On the other side was Ernest Eley’s orchard. We managed to get astride the wall, but it was an 8 or 9 foot drop. It was no trouble in our boyhood days to drop that distance, but I was no longer young and did not consider it prudent to try it. It was quite another thing for Lancie. I was 56 and he was 12. He landed on the other side easy enough and left me perched on the wall while he fetched a short ladder. It was not very comfortable and I thought he was gone a long time. I had arranged with nephew Frank Marling to meet him at Ernest’s for tea and so I was not surprised to see him and Lancie coming through the orchard to me. But no ladder. Frank explained that cousin Ernest had gone to Bristol for the day and Mrs. Ernest and the youngsters were in their Dudds. Would I excuse her not asking me in. Of course there was every excuse at a farmhouse on a Saturday afternoon.
They helped themselves to some apples, the trees were loaded, and then gave Lancie a lift over the wall and we decided to walk across the Park on to Bevington’
Notes from Kenneth Marling:
‘My mother (wife of F.G.M.) took me to Kingswood to see “Aunt Park” widow of John Park, who was a brother of Sarah Park. Aunt Park, nee Mary Witts was born at Haroldsfield later the home of Ernest Eley. Her nephew Charlie Witts, took Tortworth Farm after Grandma Eley left’
Extract from Betty Randall’s letter to Ken Marling:
‘Ted was christened at Wotton-under-Edge Church and we went to Esk House to tea afterwards to your Mother & Dad’s. They used to visit us at Michaelwood Farm when the boys were little I expect some day you would like to have your parents’ photo. I have a lovely photo of them. They lived at Bank House, Sharpness at that time. I paid a visit to your parents with my Mother and Dad. I even remember we had a blackcurrant tart for our Sweet. I was not very old then and we went by train. Dad got out at a stop for a few moments and lo and behold the train went off without him and he had our tickets and we were very worried but the ticket officer said we had “honest faces” and let us continue. Dad arrived late to your home. Funny the things we remember.
I have heard Dad say when they lived at Mereford Farm, Kingswood, they used to get up to all manner of mischief & his Mother used to give them all the strap so as to be sure of getting the right one, sound logic?? I left Park Farm, Berkeley, at the age of 3, I think to go to Haroldsfield & moved to Wick House when I was 16. I was brought up on my many sisters’ love affairs & used to ride on Gilbert Durn’s shoulders. I think (Father’s) grandmother was buried in the Kingswood Chapel Yard.
Dad bought a nice small farm at Wick when I was 17 and my boy friend lived at Manor Farm, the next farm from Wick House Farm. We were friends when I was 14 years of age at Haroldsfield and fell in and out many times but we married when I was 19. Bernard was 6 years older than I.’
Extract from Page 38 of ‘And did those Feet…’ by David Tandy:
‘Eventually our journey would have taken us to Upper Wick past a Farm known as Wick House Farm, but by some as “Dolls House” because of its appearance.’
Cheltenham Chronicle, Saturday 18th September 1896:
James Brindsley and Edward Niblett of Tortworth were summoned by Ernest Eley of Tortworth for threatening and using abusive language towards him on 4th August last. Brindsley had absconded. Niblett was fines 5s and bound over to keep the peace for six months.
The Citizen, Wednesday July 23 1902 and Gloucester Journal, Saturday July 26 1902:
Berkeley Petty Sessions, Wednesday, before Mr. T.G. Matthews (in the chair) and Col. Monckton…. Ernest Edward Eley, for driving without a light attached to his cart on 17th July, at Berkeley, was fined 5s and 7s costs.
Gloucester Journal, Saturday January 21st 1905
Berkeley Petty Sessions. Wednesday before Mr. T.G. Matthews (in the chair) and Mr. H.B. Winterbotham. John Eley of Kendalshire Farm, Frampton Cotterell, was summoned for unlawfully committing a trespass in search of game at Bevington on December 26th. Defendant pleaded guilty – Charley Nicholls, gamekeeper to Lord Fitzhardinge, dep… that on the day in question he was on duty at Park Farm, Bevington, with Mr. Ernest Eley, (the tenant) and party rabbit shooting. Just before the close of the sport a pheasant was seen to go to roost near a hay-rick. When they finished ferreting, defendant said he would go and have a look round the tuffets and Mr. Ernest Edward Eley told him to have a look around the rick. Being suspicious, witness hung about and eventually heard a shot near the rick, and saw the flame from a gun going in an upward direction. Defendant returned, and said he had shot at a rabbit and missed it. Later witness asked defendant for the pheasant, and at the same time took it from his coat. He subsequently offered witness something to say nothing about the matter. Defendant said he had nothing to say why a fine should not be inflicted. The penalty would be nothing as compared with the trouble the matter had given him and his friends and the reflection cast upon his brother. The Bench imposed a fine of £1 and 9s-6d costs.
Gloucester Journal, March 26th 1910:
Ernest Eley, Berkeley, failed to apply for his exemption and had to pay 2s 6d, the cost of his neglect.
The Citizen, Thursday November 7 1912:
Berkeley Petty Sessions – Wednesday before Mr. T.P. Parnell (in the chair), Mr Croome Jackman, Mr. Charles Bennett and Mr. D. Garland
William James, farm labourer, summoned Ernest Edward Eley, farmer, for 18s wages for work done. Defendant disputed the amount earned and also complained of the way in which the work was done. The Bench dismissed the case because the evidence was so conflicting.
Gloucester Journal, November 21st 1936:
Former Berkeley Huntsman – Funeral of Mr William Gilbert of Sandfields Farm, North Nibley, who died aged fifty-nine. Present….. Mr Ernest Eley
Gloucester Journal, February 14th 1903:
Dursley County Court –
William King, Stone, sued Ernest Eley, farmer, Pedington, for £1-17s-6d loss of his ferret which was injured (and afterwards died) whilst in defendant’s possession. Defendant said the ferret was ill when he hired it. His
…….. for the plaintiff for 17s 6d. Before Judge Ellicott on Friday.
EMILY ELEY, Great Grandmother of Richard Barton
Daughter of James Henry Yarnold and Frances (nee Brown)
Wife of Ernest Edward Eley
Mother of Grace Margaret Terrett
Also Mother of Annie Florence Janet Durn, James Ernest, Dorothy Frances Harman, Daisy Mary, Norah, John Shield, Phyllis May Wyatt and Ethel Emmie Randall
Emily Yarnold was born on 12th January 1865, the fourth child and third daughter of James Henry Yarnold, a Carpenter (Journeyman) of Gloucester and his wife Frances. The birth certificate records that they were living at London Road, Gloucester and from before 1869 they were at 2 Philip Street. Tragedy struck the family and Emily’s mother, Frances, died on 14th February 1879. By this time they were living at 4 Berkeley Villas and her father was described as a Cabinet Maker Foreman.
Already in 1871 Emily Yarnold was staying with her Uncle James Brown and his wife, Jane, in Wotton-under-Edge. She was described as a six-year-old scholar and her uncle was a watchmaker. Emily was only thirteen years old when her mother died and by the time of the 1881 census she was working as a shop assistant for her uncle, James Brown, by then a Watchmaker of Long Street, Wotton-under-Edge. She was then about 16 years old and it was in this shop that they are said to have met her future husband. Emily was still working in the shop in 1891. On 4th April 1893 Ernest Eley married Emily Yarnold at Tortworth Parish Church. It was said that he met her in her uncle’s shop.
On 4th April 1893 Ernest Eley married Emily Yarnold at Tortworth Parish Church. He was described as a twenty-three-year-old farmer of Tortworth, the son of James Eley, Farmer. Emily was described as of Wotton-under-Edge, the twenty-seven-year-old daughter of James Henry Yarnold, a builder. The witnesses were James Brown (her uncle), J. Shield Eley (his brother) and F.M. Eley (Florence Mary his elder sister).
The address on a Marriage memento is given as Brook Farm, Tortworth.
Dursley Gazette 8th April 1893:
Marriage – Eley-Yarnold – at Tortworth Parish Church by Rev. P. Arthur Rector. Ernest 3rd son of late James Eley of Maryford Farm, Kingswood and Mrs Eley now at Tortworth Farm. To Emily second daughter of James Henry Yarnold of Gloucester and niece of Mr. James Brown of Wotton-under-Edge.
Dursley Gazette 8th April 1893:
Wedding – On Tuesday at Tortworth Parish Church the marriage took place of Miss Emily Yarnold, niece of Mr James Brown of Wotton-under-Edge with Ernest, 3rd son of the late Mr. James Eley of Maryford Farm, Kingswood and Mrs. Eley, now of Tortworth Farm. The bridegroom is already a tenant on Earl Ducie’s Estate at Brook Farm. The Rector of Tortworth, Rev. p. Arthur, officiated. The bride’s uncle, Mr. Brown, gave her away and she was attended by Miss Eley and Miss Kate Eley (sisters of the bridegroom) and Miss L. Dean of Stroud as bridesmaids. She wore a white dress… Mr Shield Eley accompanied his brother as best man.
The wedding was pretty… bells rang out, organ etc…
After the wedding the party drove over to Wotton-under-Edge to the residence of the bride’s uncle for the wedding repast. Mr Arthur was present, Mr and Mrs Yarnold (father and step-mother), Mr and Mrs Shield of Over, Mr James Shield of Maryford, Mrs Isaacs, Miss Alice Yarnold (sister of bride), Mr Yarnold of Thornbury (brother of bride), Mr Smith Jnr. Crockleaze, Tortworth, …
Later left for Devonshire… Wedding presents…
The address on a Marriage memento was given as Brooke Farm, Tortworth. Shield married in 1896 and their mother Annie Eley retired from farming in that year and moved to Bristol. It is likely that at this time Ernest and Emily moved to Hengaston Farm, Berkeley where their third daughter Grace was born in 1897. Certainly by 1900 Brook Farm was being farmed by Shield and Minnie Eley.
From before 1900 until about 1912 Ernest and Emily were farming at Park Farm, Pedington, Berkeley. Her uncle, James Brown, became Publican of The Salutation Inn, at Ham, Berkeley, close to his niece Emily Eley and her family at Park Farm, Pedington. His wife, Jane Brown, died on 8th April 1906 at Pedington – ‘late of Wotton-under-Edge’. Her burial took place from Berkeley Parish Church on 13th June 1906. Uncle James Brown later remarried.
In the 1901 census return Edward and Emily Eley were at Park Farm, Pedington. Ernest was described as a thirty-year-old Farmer, an employer, born at Morton. Emily was a thirty-one-year-old born in Gloucester. Their children were Annie, aged seven-years, born in Tortworth; James aged five years and born in Berkeley; Dorothy aged four years and born in Berkeley and Grace aged three years and born in Berkeley. Their servants included Martha Clements, aged sixteen, a general servant and domestic, born in Berkeley; Samuel Woodward a servant of seventeen, born in Oldbury and William Waite, aged forty-nine-years, a farm labourer, born in Falfield.
In 1911 the family was living at Park Farm, Pedington, Berkeley. Ernest Eley was a Farmer and employer born at Morton, Gloucestershire. Emily Eley his wife was born in Gloucester and aged forty-three-years. They had been married for eighteen years and had nine children born alive of which one had died. These included Annie aged seventeen doing daily (or dairy?) work and born at Tortworth; James aged fifteen working on farm and born at Tortworth; Dorothy aged fourteen at school and born at Tortworth; Grace aged thirteen and born at Berkeley; Daisy aged nine and born at Berkeley; John aged six and born at Berkeley; Phyllis aged three and born at Berkeley and Ethel aged two and born at Berkeley. Servants included Helen Hobbs, a domestic servant, aged nineteen and born at Upper Cam and Gilbert Pain aged twenty-one, a farm labourer born in Birmingham. The house had nine rooms.
Dorothy, Grace Margaret, James Ernest and Annie
In 1913 they were farming at Haroldsfield Farm, Kingswood, and advertising for a cowman and offering him a good house and garden. Ernest’s great aunt Mary Park, nee Witts, was born at Haroldsfield and her nephew, Charlie Witts, took the farm at Tortworth after Grandma Eley left. Mary Park’s late husband, John Trotman Park, had farmed at Merryford until his death in November 1873. It is said that Ernest and Emily demolished the old ‘Gothic’ ruin at Haroldsfield, which some attribute to being part of Kingswood Abbey, because it might encourage courting couples!
Their fourth daughter, Daisy, was killed by a swing in the schoolyard and was buried on 29th October 1919 at Kingswood. She was only seventeen years old.
Ernest and Emily were at Haroldsfield until 1926 when they moved to Wick House Farm, Berkeley, where Eleys were still listed as late as the 1939 Kelly’s Directory. At some point Ernest also farmed at Overtown Farm, Cranham.
Finally Ernest and Emmie retired and moved around the homes of their children spending time at Nibley House. Ernest died on 6th February 1950 at his daughter Phyllis’s farm at Cooper’s Hill, Brockworth, and was buried on 9th February at St Mary’s Kingswood.
Emily Eley died on 22nd November 1951 at her son Jim’s farm – Manor Farm, Woodmancote, North Cerney, Cirencester. She was described as the eighty-five-year-old Widow of Ernest Edward Eley, a Farmer. The cause of death was given as Coma, Cerebral Thrombosis and Arterio Sclerosis and was certified by F.C. Gladstone M.B. H. Williams, Registrar, registered the death on 23rd November and in informant was J.E. Eley, Son, of Manor Farm, Woodmancote, who was in attendance at the death.
Her body was cremated at Cheltenham. The ashes were buried in her husband’s grave at St Mary’s Kingswood on 26th November 1951.
GRACE MARGARET TERRETT, Grandmother of Richard Barton
Daughter of Ernest Edward Eley and Emily (nee Yarnold)
Wife of William Edward Terrett
Mother of Four children
According to her birth certificate Margaret Grace Eley was born on 30th July 1897 at Hengaston, Berkeley Road, Berkeley, the third daughter of Ernest Edward Eley, a farmer, and his wife Emily (formerly Yarnold). Her mother registered her on 11th September. According to the Kingswood Confirmation Register she was baptised at Tortworth on 12th September 1897. In the 1901 census return Grace was at home aged three years and born in Berkeley. In 1911 Grace was at home aged thirteen and born at Berkeley. Grace was confirmed at Kingswood on 15th April 1913. She was described as aged fifteen and living at Haroldsfield Farm, Kingswood.
On 17th October 1925 Grace married William Edward Terrett at St Mary’s Bathwick, Bath. At the time she was aged 28 years and was described on the marriage certificate as of no occupation. She lived at 11 St George’s Road, Fairfield Park, Bath. Her husband was described as a Watchmaker of 7 Forester Avenue Bath. The witnesses were George Edward Jotcham and Ernest Edward Eley.
From about 1927 until 1936 William and Grace Terrett had a Watchmaker and Jewellery business at 7 Church Street, Tetbury, – ‘Repairs a speciality’. He was a Member of the National Association of Goldsmiths of Great Britain & Ireland – A Union of Licensed Gold & Silversmiths, Jewellers, Watchmakers & Opticians.
Their four children were born between 1926 and 1931. However, Grace died in Gloucester Royal Infirmary on 4th September 1940 and was buried at North Nibley Cemetery. A gravestone was erected in 2005 incorporating a marble flower vase given by her children sixty-five years earlier.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS FAMILY CONTACT: btsarnia@gmail.com
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