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Frances Ann Pickford

SHIRLEY THOMAS nee WYATT.

THE WOMEN WHO MADE ME, -  MY PATERNAL GRANDMOTHER.

Frances Ann Pickford b 1899 15th December, Camerton, Somerset.

Frances was the twelfth and youngest child of Robert George Pickford and Ellen Harriet Pickford nee Cox.

They were married on the 17th August, 1879,in The Wesleyan Chapel,Shepton Mallet,Somerset.

Living at Quarr (Quarry cottages?) Shepton Mallet,Somerset. Occupation Labourer.

In the 1881 census the Pickford family are living with Ellen's mother and stepfather William and Louisa Coles. Charlton Street, Kilmersdon,Somerset.

George and Ellen with their daughter Alice(spelt Ealles on the census) Age 1 Born Shepton.

William Coles and George Pickford occupation Coal Miners

In the 1891 census George and Ellen are living at The Garden Cottages, Camerton, Somerset. His occupation Sinker ( evacuates or drills the shafts for coal mining).

They have six more children.

Alice now age 11

Emily age 9, born Charlton.

Eliz M (Mildred?) age 7, born Radstock.

Jasper W age 5, born Radstock.

Hannah age 3, born Radstock.

Mary age 2, born Radstock.

Ida (Ada?) age 6 months, born Radstock.

The 1901 census shows the Pickford family living at Bengrove,Camerton, Somerset.

Robert George ( known always as George) age 46, occupation Coalminer Hewer.

Ellen age 42.

William (Jasper William) age 15 occupation Coal Mining carting Boy,born Radstock.

Mary age 12, born Radstock.

Ada age 10, born Camerton.

George age 9,born Camerton.

Grace age 3, born Camerton.

Frances age 1, born Camerton.

This census was taken in April 1901.

On the 27th July 1901 Robert George Pickford died age 46. Cause of death Phthisis 5 months. Present at time of death in Camerton. Emily J Pickford,daughter.

Phthisis is tuberculosis of the lungs TB.

In all this time George and Ellen had twelve children but some did not live long. Frances said that they outgrew their strength.

Alice 1880-1959

Emily 1882-1904

Mildred Elizabeth 1883-1921

Jasper William 1885-1963

Hannah 1887-1967

Mary 1889-1971

Ada 1890-

George 1891-1916

Frances Ann 1893-1895

Samuel 1895-1898

Grace 1898-1922

Frances Ann 1899-1979

It seems that George and Ellen moved about the district wherever there was work.

When they first married and lived at Shepton Mallet,George may have been a Labourer at The Quarry.

They then moved to Kilmersdon, Charlton, Radstock and Camerton. At these places George working at The Coal Mines.

At the time of George's death Ellen had Six children at home.

Ellen married again it was all she could do.

On the 20th June 1903 she married John Emery age 34, Ellen age 44. They were married at The Register Office, Bath, Somerset. John living at Dunkerton, occupation Coal Miner. Ellen living at 4 Oldfields Park Road, Bath.

They had one daughter Louisa Emery( known as Louie) b 1902 Apr-May-June,Clutton district.

Frances Ann at such a young age had lost her father and now had a stepfather.

The 1911 census shows John Emery, age 42, Miner Hewer,Camerton Colliery.

Living at Tunley Hill, Tunley, Nr Bath, Somerset.

Ellen age 52

Mary Wilcox, step daughter, age 22,visiting.

Tom Wilcox, husband, age 26, visiting.

George stepson, age 19, Miner Carter.

Grace step daughter, age 13.

Frances step daughter, age 10.

Louisa daughter, age 8, born Camerton.

At this time the children of school age would have gone to Camerton Church School.

There has been a school there since 1846.

Frances eldest sister Alice married Charles Parfitt in 1900

Emily married Edward Biggins 1901,after her death Mildred married Edward Biggins 1911

Jasper William married Lena Howe in 1911

Hannah married Albert Taylor in 1908

Mary married Tom Wilcox

Ada married Walter George Cane 1922

George never married. He died in the 1914-18 war on the HMS Queen Mary,The Battle of Jutland, 31 May 1916. He was a private in the Royal Marine Light Infantry based at Portsmouth.

Grace married Henry Arnold in 1921

Louisa (Louie) married Sydney Lasbury

So before Frances married her older siblings had married and some had children almost the same age as herself.

Frances had endured much heartbreak the death of a father and of some of her brothers and sisters.

From the twelve children only six including Frances lived to an old age.

 Before she married, Frances had TB, she was sent to work with cows, it was said to be good for people with TB. Frances also went into service at the manor house West-Harptree.

During the 1914-18 war Gournay Court, West-Harptree was taken over as a convalescent hospital for the wounded soldiers. Frances was aged 14 to 18 years old. She became a cook. It was said that the soldiers were fed very well.

See a video clip about Gourney Court. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01xtjjw

Frances learnt to cook many dishes these included,

Ox Tongue.

Pig's Head for Brawn.

Pigs Chitlin

Stuffed Heart.

Rabbit.

Frances also made delicious pastry and her apple pies were amazing.

At this time Samuel Wyatt worked opposite Gournay Court. He worked for Farmer King at Tiley Manor as did his father William Wyatt. Frances must have also known the Wyatt family as when Maria Wyatt became ill (Samuel's Mother) Maria asked for Frances to look after her

Frances and Samuel knew each other for some time before they married. The 2nd April 1923, at St Mary's Church, West-Harptree.

They had two sons, Samuel Thomas(Tom) born 19 March 1924 and William James(Jim) born 28 January 1928.

The first cottage they lived in as a family was a tied cottage on the Bristol Road, West-Harptree. It belonged to Farmer Teddy King. One day Frances was sat outside the cottage on the stone step. She was holding her baby son William. A very impressive car stopped, a chauffeur got out . Inside the car was a well dressed lady. The chauffeur approached Frances and said his mistress wished to buy William. Frances was shocked and refused. On one occasion Frances was in a pony and trap with Mrs King ,they passed a field with prisoners picking thistles in a field without wearing gloves. Frances was shocked to see this but Mrs King said that ” When their hand are full up with thistles they will be Ok”

Samuel fell out with Farmer King they had to move, so rented a cottage on Wells Way near West-Harptree. This was quite a walk for the boys to get to the village school. Samuel found work as a labourer at Weston-Super-Mare. He worked on the airfield runway and building factories.

One day there was not a coach to bring the workers home and Samuel had to walk from Weston-Super-Mare to West-Harptree.

Samuel's parents William and Maria Wyatt lived in a tied cottage on the Bristol Road West-Harptree. The boys would love to visit them  Maria would look, at the boys and say “ I know what is the matter you need a piece of my cake” .If they misbehaved at church. Frances would not let them visit that day as a punishment. Frances mother and step-father lived at Tunley. To visit her family Frances would put the boys in a pushchair and walk. She would walk to Bishops Sutton then to Clutton and finally Tunley.It was a long way. In the evening Samuel would come and fetch them in a pony and trap. To earn extra money Frances worked at The Crown Inn,West-Harptree.. She would leave her sons tucked up in bed together with a promise if that they were good she would bring them a packet of crisps.

They were offered a council house in West-Harptree. No 14 The Council Houses,West-Harptree. Next door lived Samuels elder brother and his family. Francis (Frank) , May and their sons William(Bill) and Walter(John).

Samuel worked as a labourer for Civil Engineers, Ireland's at Bath,working on building the Keynsham bypass. Then he worked for Bristol Water Works until his retirement,working on The Chew Valley Lakes.

During the war 1939-45 Frances took on an evacuee called Davey Jones. He loved staying with the Wyatts and was well looked after. William(Jim) and Davey used to play together and get up to mischief.  One day the boys sat on the tractor with the farm worker while he ploughed the field. The soil in Somerset is usually a dark red and the boys were covered from head to toe.

Frances took one look at them gave them a bath and sent them to bed without any food. They were so hungry and had to wait for breakfast the next day. Frances and Samuel enjoyed dancing and Samuel taught country dancing. Frances also appeared in the local Christmas pantomimes. There is a photo in a book and Frances is dressed as a policeman. Samuel and Tom were enlisted into The Home Guard..They had to work all day then train in the evenings.

Later Tom enlisted into the navy. He got promotion, he lost part of a finger and was by the side of a friend when this man was shot and died. Jim wanted to join the marines towards the end of the war when he was old enough but his Dad somehow put a stop to this.

With the farmer Samuel worked for they claimed that he was needed on the farm. Jim was upset by this but Frances and Samuel did not want another son in the war. At this time the owners of Gurney Court were Lord and Lady Hippsley-Cox. He was a judge and sentenced people to death. They had two sons. One of the sons shot the church weather vane with a rifle and damaged it.

A widow and her young daughter came to live in the village. Lizzie and Betty Guy. Frances learnt that the cottage that they lived in did not have a bathroom. Frances offered the use of hers which was gladly accepted.

Betty and Jim met at the village school and when they finished school went out together. They went to the village dances and also appeared in the pantomimes. Frances was happy for her son and liked Betty and her mother Lizzie.  Lizzie always called them Mr and Mrs Wyatt and she was always Mrs Guy. Very formal. In fact Frances always called her husband Father and Samuel called his wife Mother. Frances did not have much schooling but enjoyed reading her weekly magazine The Red Star. She would get her husband to write letters as she said that her spelling was not so good. Frances also knitted socks and would redo the heals when worn through.

Frances and Samuel had a smallholding, the field and yards at the back of the council houses. They kept cows. They also rented a field at Fair Ash by The Blue Bowl pub.There was also another field down Whistley lane. This was a lane which has disappeared, it was situated between the road to Bishop Sutton and the road to East Harptree.

Frances said many years later that they should have been well off financially. She claimed that Samuel enjoyed going to the pub at West Harptree and drinking the Somerset cider(scrumpy). They must have had arguments about this as Jim could recall,when a child sitting on his Mother's lap one day when this occurred.

Frances was a good mother and always fed her family very well. With a husband and two sons to feed it was lucky  that she was such a good cook. As a family they did not go on holidays. The boys would have gone to Weston-Super-Mare on a sunday school outing. Occasionally Frances would travel to Bristol to purchase things that she could not buy locally. She was careful with her money which on one occasion upset her son Jim. Frances was given a pair of cricket trousers which she dyed. They turned out the colour purple and made Jim wear the trousers. He was not very happy.

At last the second world war was over and there were great celebrations all over the country including West-Harptree. Frances son Tom came home from the navy and Frances was overjoyed. Jim asked Betty Guy to marry him. Frances and Samuel gave their permission as he was only nineteen. The wedding was held at St Mary's Church,West-Harptree in October 1947. Frances wore a suit, a smart hat and her best real fox fur stole. The young couple went to live in a tied cottage, Little Stoke, Near Bristol. Jim had work with a Farmer Davis.

To visit her son Frances would have to catch a bus to Bristol and then another to Patchway near Little Stoke. Jim and Betty when first married had a tandem bike.They would ride out to visit Frances and Samuel. On a visit during 1948 Frances was delighted to be told that she was to become a Grandmother for the first time in early 1949.

Frances loved babies and children. She said later on in life that she would have loved to have had more children. There was great delight when Frances granddaughter Shirley was born in Jan 1949. She was the first female Wyatt baby for a generation. A great fuss was made of this by Frances and Samuel. Frances went out and bought the baby a Teddy Bear. She did this with all her grandchildren. Then Jim and Betty decided to emigrate to Australia. Frances and Samuel were devastated but did not stop them. It was a sad day when they visited the young family just before they left for Australia. Little did they know that within a year her loved ones would return and stay with her until Jim got his old job back.

On returning from Australia Shirley age 4 became ill with the Measles. Frances looked after her so well. Kept the curtains drawn and the bedroom warm and cosy.To light the fire upstairs, Frances would carry live coals in the shovel and light a fire in the small bedroom grate.

Janet also age 4 had Measles when staying with Frances and Samuel. Janet was found with her pillow soaked with blood .Dr Pearson came at once and plugged her nose. It was the result of the Measles. It was strange that both little girls had The Measles at the age of 4 but were so well looked after by their grandmother. Frances also had lovely feather beds and as you lay in them sank into the middle. So warm and cosy.

 Her son Tom married Dorothy and later they had a son. Frances was overjoyed with her first grandson named Ronald (Ron).

Frances had eight grandchildren.

Tom and Dot had  Ron, David and Tina.

Jim and Betty had  Shirley,Janet,Valerie,Susan and Dawn.

Frances enjoyed visiting Jim and Betty and her granddaughters.When Shirley was about 4 years old and Janet was still a baby Frances and her sister-in-law May came to visit. When it was time for them to go home Shirley packed a small bag with her pyjamas and her teddy and insisted on going with them.There were many times that Shirley and later Janet stayed for a few days with Frances and Samuel. Sometimes Betty would put them on the West Harptree bus in Bristol and Frances would meet them.

Tom and Dot also lived in West-Harptree so it was easier to see Ron,David and Tina.

When Tina was young Dot had to go in hospital and Frances looked after her granddaughter Tina. The little girl had an illness whilst her mother was in hospital and Frances looked after her very well. When Dot came out of hospital Frances would go to the house every Monday morning and help Dot do the washing.

When Betty and Jim had three little girls they asked Frances and Samuel to go on holiday with them to the Isle of Wight. They all stayed in a large caravan.Betty's Mum Lizzie also came and they had a great time on the beach and touring the island.

Frances always worked or took in lodgers. Anyway she could to earn some extra money.

She worked for the village Doctor, Dr Pearson and his family.Frances helped with the cooking and cleaning.She did not have far to go to the house as it was at the end of the road. Mrs Pearson's mother who lived with the family always had a pot of vegetables cooking on the hob .Frances enjoyed cooking with Mrs Pearson and her mother.The Dr and his wife had a daughter named Fleur.

Another time Frances took in a lodger called Dave Hill he drove the cattle lorrys for Weeks.

On another occasion Frances had a lodger Peter Wood and he became a Battery Chicken Farmer. Samuel helped him build his first chicken sheds. Frances did not approve of chickens being kept in this way. For many years whenever there was a news item regarding chickens the local TV would interview Pete.

Frances was by then in her seventies and would scrub the stone floors at The Crown Pub. Then rush home to prepare a meal for Pete.It was said that this was the beginning or her heart problems and that it was too much work.

Samuel did part time gardening in the village when he retired.

Jim and Betty would try and visit Frances and Samuel as much as they could usually at the weekend. Frances would keep chocolate bars for her grandchildren in a cupboard drawer. The ice-cream man would come in his van and Frances would give the girls money to buy an ice-cream.The children would go out in the garden and see what vegetables that their granddad was growing and try to peek into his garden shed. This shed was on wheels and at one time was a chicken shed. It was on wheels, so when the grass had been worn, the shed  could be moved to another place in the field. The girls would try and ride their grandparents bikes.These were two very large old police bikes.There was also a very large clothes mangle just outside the back door.They would try and turn the handle but it was too hard.Sometimes the grownups would go next door and play cards with Frank and May Wyatt.

At one time Samuel had a car. It was a small box type car, very old with the passenger door missing. He had been taught to drive by his son Jim. The family decided to go for a drink at the Pub in Priddy. There was not enough room for all in Jim's car so Samuel decided to drive. Frances said “I am not going in that”. So Shirley volunteered.It was a great adventure driving along without a car door. Needless to say the grownups were worried and advised to hang on tight.

The girls would also like to walk up to Tom and Dots house and play with their cousins.

Samuel had a cousin called Arthur Chappell and Shirley would play with his daughter Alison.

At that time there were many family from Samuels side of the family living in the Village. Most  Frances side of the family lived at Tunley.

One day Shirley, Janet and Valerie ( who was only about age three)  went to visit Ron and David.They all went into the field behind Ron and David's house to play in the den that they had made in the hedge.They decided to climb up through the den into the next field. Across the field came a very angry bull, the children ran as fast as they could. Shirley looked back as little Valerie could not run as fast as them.They only just jumped down into the den in time with Shirley pulling Valerie safely down.The bull was snorting angrily as he tried to push his head down through the hole in the hedge.

Another occasion was when Shirley was on her own and she called for Ron and David.They went up into the den to secretly try out cigarettes. Shirley had a go but did not like it much.Then she returned home to her grandmother. Frances took one look at her and said ” Have you been smoking, you look green”.

Frances delighted in buying presents for her grandchildren. Although Frances and Samuel did not buy birthday and christmas presents for their sons when they were children.

On one occasion Frances bought Shirley and Janet matching pale green dresses with small lace collars. Pinned on each dress was a broach of a ballerina.The girls loved the dresses and Shirley still has the broach.

The years passed and Shirley became engaged to Ray. At that time Frances enjoyed a game of bingo at the village hall.She won useful household prizes and always gave them to Shirley for her (bottom drawer). There was a possible job for Shirley and Ray at Gournay Court.They had an interview with the owners. Later the gardener at Gournay Court was sent with a message to Frances. Shirley and Ray were successful, but they declined. Frances had been excited at the possibility that the young couple would have come to live in West-Harptree but it was not to be.

There was a family holiday in 1966. Frances and Samuel joined Betty and Jim and all the family. It was to a holiday camp Butlin's, Pwllheli, North Wales.There were two cars, Jim hired one and let Ray drive his car. Ray had not long passed his driving test, at the age of 17 drove his mother Edith,Shirley,Frances and Samuel all the way to Pwllheli.Jim had Betty her mother Lizzie and Janet,Valerie and baby Susan.

The holiday was a great success and there is a photo of Frances and Lizzie looking worried riding on a cable car. On the journey home the drivers were able to use the recently opened Severn Bridge.

Shirley and Ray were married in Sept 1967. Frances and Samuel were proud grandparents. Frances wore a smart navy suit with a navy and white hat .After the couple had left for the honeymoon all the family went to Betty and Jims to celebrate.

In December 1969 Frances and Samuel became great grandparents .Shirley gave birth to a daughter named Julie. Frances and Samuel came to visit them in hospital. When Julie was a baby, Shirley and Julie went to stay with Frances and Samuel for a few days.  Frances enjoyed having a baby to stay helping with bathtime and having cuddles. One day when Julie was a toddler Shirley made a surprise visit. She walked into the house through the open back door. Frances appeared for a moment shocked but then explained. “ I thought it was you and your Mother coming in the house “.

It was about that time Frances decided not to take her heart tablets.Then she got a dog called Larky. This dog was always jumping about and quite a handful. Jim and Betty were surprised that Frances had decided to have a dog. Frances and Samuel had not had dogs for many years. Then the news came Frances was in hospital with heart problems. She recovered and was looked after by a very kind neighbour just a few doors from her house.

Frances was also fond of a couple who lived opposite, Mr and Mrs Rogers and helped them with their young son.

To make life easier for Frances it was decided she was to move into a retirement bungalow. One became vacant and it was situated at the bottom of their garden in the village. Frances and Samuel moved in. Tom and Dot moved into their old house for a while. It was just a bit too close so Tom and Dot moved back to another house in Ridgeway Close in the village.

The family in Bristol continued to visit. Now there were many great grandchildren.They would love to visit and play in the nearby park called The Wreck. There would always be a chocolate bar kept in the drawer.

There was Julie, Laura, Joanne, Jennifer and Matthew. Also Catherine, Sarah and Christopher who lived near West-Harptree.

Frances enjoyed watching TV and loved the programme “Colombo” a detective series set in America. Samuel enjoyed tending the garden at their bungalow. When the family came to visit they would really enjoy Frances homemade Apple Pie.They called it Harptree Pastry it was so delicious.

Frances must have known how ill she was. She bought new clothes for Samuel. The trousers he liked with buttons not a zip. After her death her sons found in a drawer the money for her funeral.

In 1979 Jim went out to West-Harptree and stayed with his parents. Frances had become ill with a stroke and required nursing.She was taken into hospital Glenside Bristol. Frances died 30th April 1979 aged 79.

Tom arranged the funeral to be held at St Mary's Church, West-Harptree on 4th May.

The ashes of Frances and later Samuel are close to the church entrance.

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