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Maria Elizabeth Chappell

SHIRLEY THOMAS nee WYATT

THE WOMEN WHO MADE ME, - MY PATERNAL GREAT GRANDMOTHER

Maria Elizabeth Chappell b 1875  jan-feb-march,  quarter, West-Harptree,  Somerset.

Baptised St Mary's Church, West-Harptree on the 16th May 1875.

Maria was the daughter of Thomas Chappell and Mary Chappell ( nee Dix)

They were married on the 16th October 1866, Saint John’s Church, Bedminster, Somerset.

Maria was one of eight children born to Thomas and Mary.

Francis Thomas b 1866

Emma b 1869

Arthur b 1872

Maria Elizabeth b 1875

George H b 1877

Walter J b 1879

James b 1882

Sarah A b 1887

All born in West-Harptree, Somerset.

In the 1881 census Maria is age 6. The family are living on Compton Road, West-Harptree. Her father, Thomas is a farm labourer.

There are three brothers at home, Arthur age 9, George age 4, Walter age 2.

Her eldest brother Francis age 16 has left home and is a Farm Worker Indoors.

Emma her eldest sister age 13 also left home and working as a servant.

In the 1891 census there is Walter age 12, James age 9 and Sarah age 4, who are living at Fair Ash, West-Harptree with Thomas and Mary. Thomas is an Agricultural Labourer and Mary a Bonnet Maker.

Maria has now left home and is age 16. She is working for Frederick Moden (master butcher) North Street, Bedminster. Maria is a general servant and butcher's assistant.

 Maria Elizabeth married William James Wyatt on the 14th May 1893 St Marys, West-Harptree.

The marriage certificate gives her name as Elizabeth Maria Chappell age 19.

(Witness at the marriage, John Travis and Samuel Wyatt.)      

 Maria and William had six children, three sons and three daughters.                                 

In the 1901 census they are living at Roundhills, West-Harptree.

William is an Agricultural Labourer.

There are four children Gertrude age 7, b 1893.( born with two thumbs on one hand)

Francis H age 5, b 1895.

Alice Mabel age 4, b 1897.

Elizabeth Mary age 1, b 1899.

In the census completed on the 2nd April 1911. The family are living at Sutton Wicks, Bishop Sutton. William is a Farm Labourer age 38

Maria age 37

Alice age 14

Elizabeth age 11

Samuel age 9

Walter age 7

There is also Maria's brother James Chappell age 28 and a lodger Charles Veal.

What a housefull for Maria to look after.

Marias son Francis (Frank) age 15 is living with his grandmother Mary Chappell at Compton Road, West-Harptree. He is a Butcher's Labourer

Her daughter Gertrude age 17 is a domestic servant for Farmer Walter Fear, Bishop Sutton.

Some of Maria's brothers and sisters also married and had children.

 Francis Thomas (always known as Thomas) remained single. He moved to Wales and was a coal miner.

Emma married George Harris. The 1891 census shows them living at 1 The Batch, Bishops Sutton. There are two children, Edith b 1886 and Thomas b 1889. It looks as though Emma died in 1893 at the birth of her son John George.  The two eldest children remained with their father and the baby John went to live with his grandmother Mary Chappell.

 The 1911 census shows Arthur married Alice and had four children. Arthur Thomas, b 1890, Ethel M, b 1895, William G, b 1895 and Ernest H, b 1900.

George married Rhoda in 1901. The 1911 census shows he is a farm labourer, living at Hinton Blewitt. They have two daughters, Irenia age 5 and Annie May age 6 months.

Walter married Augusta in 1904. The 1911 census shows them living at 88 Cooks Lane, Clutton. Occupation Coal Miner. Three children living, Ivy age 6, Florence age 3 and Lucy 6 months. A son deceased Walter.

James who was living with his sister Maria and family in 1911 also had a family. He married and had five children. Ken, Arthur,Tom, Mary and Kath. They lived at Fairash, West-Harptree.

Sarah married Arthur Dix, they had a son, William John b 1912 who died 1995 in Aberystwyth Wales.

So Maria had quite a few nieces and nephews who were also first cousins to her children. She had also lost her sister Emma and a nephew Walter.

Maria was always busy and did beautiful crochet. She made chair back covers. Maria also did embroidery. The favourite cake for her grandchildren was Aniseed. Also Maria's mother Mary Chappell sold sweets.

Maria and William lived in a large tied cottage on the Bristol Road, West-Harptree. It was owned by Farmer King whom William worked for as a farm labourer.

The children grew up and some had children.

Gertrude married Robert Hoddinott June 1918. They had one son David R Hoddinott b apr-may-jun 1933.

Frank married May Hoddinott June 1927. They had two sons, William F (Bill) b Sep 1930 and Walter John (John) b June 1933.

 Robert and May Hoddinott were brother and sister. Frank and Gertrude Wyatt were brother and sister. So these two families were really close to each other.

Both Robert and May were one of a twin. Roberts twin was Stanley and Mays twin was Lily. There were only two years between each set of twins.

Alice had a daughter Ivy L Wyatt b 28 Sept 1916. 10 Sherwood Road, Keynsham. Alice then married the father Archibald Brizzell,  oct-nov-dec 1916. It is possible as Archibald was called up for service the 1914-18 war that he was a soldier stationed nearby. They met when Alice was in service and living away from home. They also had a son Archibald William born apr-may-jun 1918 Bristol.

Alice husband Archibald died age 45 in Dec 1933, West Derby, Lancashire. Alice married Harry Barlow, March 1939 Liverpool, Lancashire.

Elizabeth (Lizzie) married Frederick Reginald Flower ( Pat) June 1925. They had one son b June 1926. Laurence A Flower, he died Sept 1926.

Samuel married Frances Pickford the 2nd April 1923. They had two sons Samuel Thomas (Tom) b 19th March 1924 and William James (Jim) b 28th January 1928.

Walter James Wyatt died age 23 June 1930. He liked to drink but cause of death meningitis.

Lizzie's husband was always known as Uncle Pat. He worked as a foreman for Bristol Waterworks. They were given the use of a large house by the side of the lakes. He was presented to The Queen when she officially opened the Chew Valley lakes.

Lizzie's sister Alice would visit from Liverpool and bring her daughter Ivy and grandaughters Beryl and Eunice.

Betty and Jim can recall staying in Liverpool with Aunt Alice and her husband Harry Barlow.

They were met off the train by Alice's son Archibald William (Bill). Betty and Jim had a wonderful holiday. Ivy and her husband took them to a dance. (They lived in Speke).  Bill took them to the cinema.  Also Betty can recall that Harry Barlow was an interesting man and told them wonderful stories. They can also recall that Ivy and her husband had a tandem. They once rode from Liverpool to West-Harptree.

So Maria had five grandsons, Tom, Jim, Bill, John and David.  Whom she saw  often as they lived nearby. Her only granddaughter, Ivy lived in Liverpool along with her brother Archibald William (Bill).

Maria was able to visit her daughters Gertrude and Elizabeth. Also her sons Frank and Samuel.

Her sadness at the loss of her third son Walter age only 23. Also her daughter Alice living so far away with her two children.

The war years were difficult for all, but living in a village was a bit easier. They grew fruit and veg in the gardens and there were chickens for the fresh eggs. William, Maria's husband was head cowman at Tiley Manor. Jim can recall being sent with his grandad's lunch,a drink and some jam sandwiches. William had a moustache, as he finished his lunch would lick his lips and wipe his mustache. Jim would look on wishing he could also have some jam sandwiches.

Maria was so worried as her grandson Tom joined the Royal Navy. The other grandsons who lived in Somerset were too young. Jim met and started going out with  Betty Guy. He would take her around to meet all the family. Betty can recall that Maria was a very pretty woman. There was a photo on the wall at Maria's house. It was a photo of a couple who looked just like William and Maria. This we think was of Williams parents, James and Dinah Wyatt.. The chair backs and embroidery was also greatly admired. Maria showed Betty the beautiful spider stitch that she used on her embroidery.

In May 1943 William and Maria celebrated 50 years of marriage. Maria married age 19, so was now age 69. Unfortunately Maria was ill in bed. Betty and Jim can recall going upstairs to the bedroom to see Maria. She died Sept 1946. William went to live with his daughter Gertrude when he became ill. After the wedding of Betty and Jim in Oct 1947, they all went to see William as he was lying in his bed. He died in June 1950. Jim can recall all William's grandsons carried the coffin into the church.  Maria and William are in a marked grave at the back of St Mary's Church, West-Harptree.

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