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Edward Jacob Walter of Babcary, Cheltenham and Reading

A genealogical account of the family of Edward Jacob Walter and Eliza Gillett

Edward Jacob Walter

Edward Jacob Walter at Edward Ernest's wedding

Edward Jacob Walter (1849-1924), known as Jacob, was the son of Walter Walter and Ann Leach Penny (see Walter Family of Babcary). Aged 12, he is listed in the 1861 census at Greenhill Farm, Babcary, Somerset. In 1871 Jacob is listed as Edward Walter (21) grocer's assistant in a long established business then headed by Elizabeth Beckingsale at 426 High Street, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire.

On July 21 1874 Edward Jacob married Eliza Gillett (1840-1925) at the Presbyterian Church, Cheltenham (commonly known as Cheltenham Chapel, now in secular use and next to Jenner Gardens). See Cheltonia for a superb description of the area and its history - and a picture of Cheltenham Chapel. Witnesses at the wedding were: Robert Scuse Gillett (Eliza's older brother), Susanna Walter (Jacob's younger sister), William Allen Walter (Jacob's second cousin?), and Ann Elizabeth Walter (probably daughter of Jacob's first cousin George Walter who had a Temperance Hotel at 1 Crescent Place, Cheltenham). Eliza was the daughter of John Gillett a member of the Quaker Gillett family of Brailes. Jacob was described as a grocer's assistant of 430 High Street, Cheltenham. They moved into what was probably a house rented by Eliza's family, 11 Albert Place, Cheltenham (subsequently re-numbered 16 and now a listed building).

Jacob and Eliza had one child, Edward Ernest Walter (1878-1938).

By the 1881 census they had moved to 429 High Street, Cheltenham (next to a large grocery run by Edwin Silk at 430-431, included in the block renumbered under the 1954 scheme to 38-42 High Street and now the Strand pub). Perhaps not surprisingly, given the neighbouring competition, on June 25 1888, Jacob Walter, grocer, petitioned for a receiving order at the court in Cheltenham (grocer and baker in the Bristol Mercury). In the Gloucester Citizen of August 11 1888, under Cheltenham News we find the following statement:

BANKRUPTCY PROCEEDINGS.- Jacob Walter, grocer, came up for public examination on Thursday, at the County Court, which was adjourned for the production of a deed of gift related to furniture presented to his wife

He paid 2 shillings and a fraction over 3 pence for every Pound owed to his creditors at the Official Receiver's Office in Gloucester on October 12 1889 as a first and final payment. This was less than an eighth of the money owed.

In 1891 they kept the 'Old Keinton Shop' in Castle Street, Keinton Mandeville, near Babcary, a village with a significant quarrying industry. The census entry appears immediately after the Three Castles Inn. Jacob was listed as a draper in the census. As well as Jacob, Eliza and Edward Ernest, a servant Florence Cannon aged 13 from Babcary and two-year-old visitor Ivy Hayes (Jacob's niece and daughter of sister Susanna) from Street are listed. At some point between then and 1901 they moved to Oxford Road, Reading, Berkshire and subsequently to 29 Cannon Street, Reading by the time of the 1911 census when Jacob was an insurance agent.

Oxford Road, Reading - 1902

Oxford Road, Reading - 1902

Edward Ernest Walter

In 1901 Edward Ernest was working as a draper in Fulham, living in a boarding house owned by Aberdonian George Mearns at 9 Upper Porchester Street, Paddington. Edward Ernest married Elizabeth Horne on September 12 1905 at St Stephen's, Careby, Lincolnshire (her father, Henry Horne was butler to the rector). Edward Jacob was a witness. Edward Ernest and Elizabeth lived at 80 Silver Crescent, Gunnersbury, London, W4 and had two sons: Edward Henry (1909-1982) and Kenneth Gillett (1911-1996).

Following the First World War, when he joined the Royal Flying Corps, Edward Ernest returned to the drapery trade in London. He died in St Margarets, Twickenham, Middlesex in 1938. Edward Henry married Katherine Bath in 1937 and had no children. Kenneth Gillett married Kathleen Prossl in 1947 and had two daughters, (living).

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More Genealogy Articles

Genealogy Articles

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Your Family History
Genealogy Information
Organizing Family History
The Victorian Apprentice
The Victorian Character Reference
Victorian Appointments - including the Admiralty and Custom House
More Victorian Appointments - including the Inland Revenue, Post Office, Bank of England and East India House
A Victorian Domestic Servant
The Victorian Employment Relationship

Family Histories

Walter Walter Family - Babcary, Somerset
Lucy Penny nee Leach
Daniel Walter Family - Babcary, Somerset
Philip Walter and Susannah Trotman
William Gillett - Brailes, Warwickshire
John Gillett - Brailes and Cheltenham
The Family of Mary Walter and Edwin Oliver Locke
Albert Walter - Illinois
Hugh and Robert Walter - Kansas
David Walter - Babcary and Swansea
Family of Thomas Rosser of Coychurch, Glamorgan
Caroline Walter and William Whittle
Benjamin Walter - Slough and Eton
Gaius Penny Walter - Somerton and Southsea
Susanna Walter and Philip George Hayes
Jacob Walter and Eliza Gillett
Henry Walter - Liverpool
Jacob Walter - London and Liverpool
Harold Philip Mcleod Walter
Horne Family - Careby, Lincolnshire
The Horne Family of Combe, Oxfordshire
Caroline Williams - St Hilary, Glamorgan
William Thomas Davies - Brynaman, Glamorgan and Perth, WA
Davies Family - Lower Brynaman, Glamorgan
John James, Grosmont
James Price and Jane James - Cwmyoy and Grosmont
Tom James Price and Rosa Madia Thomas, Llanfihangel Talyllyn
John Walter Price and Lilian Jenkins, Abercanaid, Merthyr Tydfil
William and Mary Williams, Cayo
John and Susanna Davies, Llansadwrn, Cayo
Arthur Price and Elizabeth Ann Davies, Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen
Thomas family, Oakfield, Llanfihangel Talyllyn
Prosser family, Talgarth
John Jones and Rebecca Thomas, Cwmaman
Thomas and Jemimah Jones - Brynaman, Glamorgan
Thomas Family - Banwen, Glanaman, Carmarthenshire
John Jones and Mary James, Clydau, Cilrhedin, Llanelli
Rees Rees of South Wales, Illinois and Iowa
Samuel and Sarah Jones - Llanelli, Ebbw Vale, Glanaman
Hannah and William D John - South Wales and Scranton, Pa
Daniel Jones and Anne Rees
Mary Jones and Watkin Williams
Lillicrapp Furrier
Barber Family of South Stoneham
Letter from Elizabeth Saffhill 1927
Saffhill Family Tree

Babcary Holy Cross

Babcary, Somerset


Hugh Penny Walter

Hugh and Robert Walter in America


Gaius Walter's shop, Somerton

Family of Gaius Walter and Mary Adelia Carter


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