Biographical notes:
Occupation: Needle labeller (1851).
Addresses: At 1841 census - Fox Lydiate, Tardebigg, Webheath, WOR; At 1851 census - Britten Street, Redditch, WOR; At 1881 census until 1924 - Market St, Wotton under Edge, GLS.
Freda Deacon (Mrs Jack Lang) is the source for much of the under.
Jehu and Maria came to Wotton-under-Edge from Birmingham ca 1864-5 with 2 or 3 of their children - at first they lived in Wortley Road, then Waterloo Yard, then to a house in Market Street- the old Stone Chipping and next door to the Star Inn; they lived there some years and then moved to Victoria House also in Market Street;(Market Street once called Market Place); they had a garden at the Allottments with an orchard and market garden; they grew apples, pears, gooseberries, raspberries, vegetables and flowers
Their house- Victoria House was part home, part shop, part factory- D wonders if some of the children of the large family worked for the business when living at home; Jehu was a shoemaker not a cobbler- there was a difference the former being skilled work; he made footwear for the gentry- for the Duke of Beaufort/ Badmington Hunt;
Religion- they and the family always worshipped at the The Tabenacle- a Congregational Chapel founded by the Rev Rowland Hill in 1771; several family members are buried there; Photo of family outside the Tab's Manse) (in 1991 Dalece saw several of the family headstones in the churchyard).; Jehu was known as a good Christian and taught the married couples at the church; he provided Sunday Dinner for the poor at his home and for any of the poor who came to him he gave relief and permission to stay as long as they needed; Freda said he did alone what the Salvation Army did later; some stayed weeks at a time 'they were safe with him'.
Maria was very shrewd and quick, though not well educate, she could add up very quickly etc; she took charge of the business side of things; she had a wealthy sister who owned a big emporium in Redwich Redditch (written down from what Freda said- never spelt) which sold jewellery as well;
JEHU JUN
In 1865 their baby son Jehu died; they were living at Waterloo Yard at the time; Freda said that Maria claimed 'the doctor killed him'
PRIMROSE
In March 1904 their daughter Lizzie died leaving a baby called Primrose- (born ? 1903) who came to live with Maria and Jehu; according to Freda, she was spoilt rotten
CLARA
Maria had a washer woman who was paid 6 pence a week and a 'companion' to help her- a Clara Wintle- we have a photo of her; (Clara Wintel had some connection with Dame Clara Butt- possibly went to school with her) (Butt was the first musician to be knighted- 1922
Victoria House- a 3 storeyed dwelling- its description given to Dalece by Freda Lang (Deacon) when aged 90 from memories as a child of up about 10- we have a drawing of the plan that Freda made; on the Ground Floor was the Living Toom that led through to the shop next door; here too was a washhouse/ scullery.and an area of back yard
On the 1st floor (under the stairs the apples were stored and Freda remembers still their smell); the Sitting Room at the front with a mantle piece and lovely nick nacks on it- Freda wasn't allowed in there; she remembers a stuffed owl- this room was used like a best parlour; it had a bead curtain- the beads were made from rolled up nmagazines (Note- Dalece recals Freda having such a curtain in the Lang House in Dulwich); next to this was Maria and Jehu's bedroom; behind this was the cutting room (sharp edges) where the huge rolls of leather were stored, this room too had a smell; there is more detail in Dalece's rough notes but its very hard to read ( Freda's memory was fragmented after all this time and Dalece was unable to question her further or in more detail then or later as Freda had a stroke shortly after this interview); there is detail about the leather being soaked in the wash house and the smell penetrating the sitting room; the leather being cut and stretched tightly over a last, bees wax being rubbed into it; the work rooms were over the wash house at the rear of this floor.
Top Floor- attic; Freda slept up here in the big room with a window; there were curtains ^ around the low side and the other side making 'rooms'; she has drawn several beds in 2 of these attic rooms, but also says the men worked i one of the rooms with the machinery and the women in another- doing the stitching and eyeleting. (were these the family?)
Freda, Jim and Eliza used to come here for 5 weeks holiday while Jehu and Maria went away for a rest; they, as well as the companion- Clara Wintel would take care of things; (Alf and Will were married by then)
In 1967 Victoria House was bought by Peter Pritchard and he was given the deeds and some other documents; in 1991 when he was in the process of renevating Victoria House Dalece and John were able to enter it; after hearing of Dalece's visit Peter sent her copies and a couple of photographs; he said some excitement had been experienced when the workmen found a door that had been covered up years ago when the House had been divided into 2 flats, and that under the floor boards the workmen had found pieces of leather- Peter had no idea of the former use if the house; D thinks he also mentioned findin a small boot or shoe.
So from Peter we now have a photo copy of a document dated 19/Feb/1914; in which Maria solemly declares that for many years her husband Jehu carried out a business from Victoria House, Market Street, Wotton-under-Edge, but that she was the tennant of the premises and had for years paid rent to a Mrs Shaw of Gloucester- the owner of said premises; (Freda said that the house was owned by 2 maiden ladies living in the North of England and that the agent for the rent disappeared). One day /Jan /1900 Maria received a letter (marked M.H.I) from a Mr F. Page-from Abercregan, Llangollen, Wales- brother of Mrs Shaw which informed Maria that Mrs Shaw had died and that Mr Page should receive the rent from Victoria House due to Xmas; Maria sent the rent and received a receipt (M.H.2); in this letter he acknowledges that Maria had approached Mrs Shaw re buying Victoria House and asks Maria to make him an offer for consideration if she was still interested in the purchase; BUT from the day that letter arrived until this she never heard again of F. Page or had any claim for further rent and had lived undisturbed in the property from then until now (Feb 1914); she goes on to say that from that day on she has paid all rates and taxes, insurance and repairs and acted as sole owner; (Freda said Maria would pit aside the rent money each week in case it was ever asked for); as a result of this declaration and after further inquiries Maria became the legal owner of Victoria House (this was said to have 'been like winning the pools').
We also now have a photo copy of Maria's will also dated 19/ Feb/ 1914; in this Maria appoints as one of the executors her son-in-law Benjamin Mortimer; she bequeaths to her son William a pair of bronze vases, a carved table and an oil painting; to her daughter Mary Ann an arm chair and 2 small oil paintings; to her son Albert a carved music cabinet and an oil painting; to Eliza a gold brooch- (whereabouts now unknown); to Mary Jane a large photo of Lizzie (her dead sister) and a religious picture; to Ted the piano; to Kate a couch and easy chair; and to her granddaughter Lizzie Primrose (daughter of Maria's dead daughter Lizzie) the full sized bed, its bedclothes, 4 oil paintings and a picture of her mother (Lizzie)- all to be held in trust by Mary Jane until Primrose became 18 years old; to her companion of many years Clara Wintle an oil painting and a head of Tennyson; Ted also received free-hold Victoria House-( he had suceeded to the business and looked after his parents in their old age until they went to the Almshouses); the rest of the goods and chattels were to be sold and the proceeds divided amogst the 7 children.
In their old age Maria and Jehu lived in the Rowland Hill Almshouses in Wotton which Dalece & John visited in 1991 and a photo taken by them of the Almshouses and the room said by Freda Lang (Deacon) to have been where they resided (Photo in Hunt Album). (The Almshouses were named after the inventor of the Penny Post who was a frequent visitor to Wotton).
Probate record reads:
"HUNT Maria of Victoria House Market-street Wotton-under-EdgeGloucestershire widow died 12 January 1925 Probate Gloucester 24 February to Benjamin John Thomas Mortimer printer. Effects L355 18s."
Reference documents:
1841 census return (William Kemp).
1851 census return (William Kemp).
1857 marriage registration index record.
1857 marriage certificate.
1861 census return (Jehu Hunt)
1871 census return (Jehu Hunt - listed as John Hunt).
1881 census return (Jehu Hunt).
ca 1890 - photograph.
1891 census return (Jehu Hunt).
1901 census return (Jehu Hunt).
1911 census retrun (Jehu Hunt).
1918-1924 electoral roll records.
1921 census return.
1925 death registration index record.
1925 probate record.