Tag: Littleport

New Documents: William of Littleport (d. 1699)

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Today’s post is simply an announcement that I have attached a new document showing the descendants of William Caseborne of Littleport, who died in 1699. William is the common ancestor of the family I have called the “Peterborough Casbons,” as that is where many of William’s descendants settled in the 19th century. You will find a link to this report in the Documents section of the blog.

I have written a number of posts about this branch of the family: “How doth your garden grow?,” “Pleasure Gardens and the Temperence Movement,” “Stepping Back: Thomas Casborn of Littleport (~1732-1780),” “Two Children Drowned,” “A Family Outing,” “Origins: The Earliest Ancestors from Littleport,” and “Financial Difficulties.”

The report is privatized, meaning I have attempted to block the identities and personal information of living people, who are simply listed as “Living”_[Last Name]. Family members may contact me through this blog if they would like a non-privatized version of the report.

Enjoy!

Littleport drawing
Littleport, Cambridgeshire street scene. Adapted from “Littleport Town Team,” Littleport Life
(http://www.littleportlife.co.uk/2015/09/littleport-town-team/)

Financial Difficulties

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We haven’t visited the Peterborough Casbons in a while, so let’s check in on them. For a refresher, this branch of the family arose in the area of Littleport, Cambridgeshire, and over the course of two generations, ended up in Peterborough sometime before 1851.[1] By 1870, the third generation of gardeners consisted of two brothers, John (1832–1885) and Thomas (1840–1887) Casbon.[2] Thomas was living in Peterborough, and John was in nearby Spalding.[3]

Apparently, John wasn’t doing as well as his brother, as evidenced by this article in The Lincoln, Rutland, and Stamford Mercury of October 14, 1870.[4]

Stamford Mercury 14Oct1870 John Casbon bankruptcy court
(Click on image to enlarge) Newspaper image © The British Library Board. All rights reserved. With thanks to The British Newspaper Archive (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk). 

We don’t know what events preceded John’s bankruptcy. It seems from the tone of the article that the proceedings were somewhat amicable, with the creditors meeting in a hotel and agreeing to settle the affair “by arrangement” rather than through bankruptcy court. The fact that John’s brother Thomas was involved in the process also suggests to me that the creditors were willing to settle the matter in as friendly a manner as possible. Of course, being a fellow gardener, Thomas had the right expertise to assess the value of John’s business holdings and to ensure that fair prices were paid as those holdings were liquidated. John was also fortunate in that imprisonment for debt had been abolished in the United Kingdom in 1869.[5]

The bankruptcy explains why it was necessary for John’s business to be sold at auction in 1871.[6]

Casbon John bankruptcy auction 1871 Stamford Mercury
(Click on image to enlarge) Newspaper image © The British Library Board. All rights reserved. With thanks to The British Newspaper Archive (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk). 

The auction would have been a pretty traumatic event for John, his wife Rebecca (Speechly) and their five children, especially as the household furnishings were sold off.

My curiosity got the best of me when I read that they were also selling one-half acre of “Mangel Wurzels.” I had to look this one up. A mangelwurzel or mangold wurzel is a large white, yellow or orange-yellow beet, used “as a fodder crop for feeding livestock.”[7]

Garden_and_farm_seeds_(16371756162)
By A. Currie & Company.; Henry G. Gilbert Nursery and Seed Trade Catalog Collection. [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0) or Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons.

Wikipedia also informs us that “the mangelwurzel has a history in England of being used for sport.”[8] Somehow this seems like a very British thing to do. Interested readers are highly encouraged to visit The Mangold Hurling Association webpage for further enlightenment.

Humor aside, John recovered from his financial woes. He moved back to Peterborough and established a new gardening business, as evidenced by these 1876 ads.[9],[10]

Casbon John and son ad 1876 PBoro advertiserPlants ad 1876
Newspaper image © The British Library Board. All rights reserved. With thanks to The British Newspaper Archive (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk). 

After John’s death on August 18, 1885, his estate was valued at £212 9s. 10d.[11] Today that would be equivalent to about £25,725.[12] He had been given a second chance, and made the best of it.

[1] Jon Casbon, “How doth your garden grow? Part 1,” Our Casbon Journey, 22 Sep 2016 (https://casbonjourney.wordpress.com/2016/09/22/how-doth-your-garden-grow-part-1/ : accessed 25 September 2017).
[2] Casbon, “How doth your garden grow? Part 2,” Our Casbon Journey, 27 Sep 2016 (https://casbonjourney.wordpress.com/2016/09/27/how-doth-your-garden-grow-part-2/ : accessed 25 September 2017).
[3] Casbon, “How doth your garden grow? Part 2,” Our Casbon Journey.
[4] “Peterborough Bankruptcy Court,” The Lincoln, Rutland, and Stamford (England) Mercury, 14 Oct 1870, p. 5, col. 4; accessed through “British Newspapers,” database with images, findmypast (https://search.findmypast.com/bna/ViewArticle?id=BL%2F0000237%2F18701014%2F052%2F0005&browse=true : accessed 25 September 2017).
[5] “United Kingdom insolvency law,” Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Kingdom_insolvency_law : accessed 26 September 2017), rev. 14:27, 7 Sep 2017.
[6] “Sales by Auction,” The Lincoln, Rutland, and Stamford (England) Mercury, 8 Dec 1871, p. 1, col. 7, 4th listing; accessed through “British Newspapers,” database with images, findmypast (https://search.findmypast.com/bna/viewarticle?id=bl%2f0000237%2f18711208%2f038 : accessed 25 September 2017).
[7] “Mangelwurzel,” Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mangelwurzel : accessed 25 September 2017), rev. 08:05, 9 Jul 2017.
[8] “Mangelwurzel,” Wikipedia.
[9] Advertisement, “Surplus Stock of Fruit Trees,” The Peterborough (England) Advertiser, and South Midland Times, 26 Feb 1876, p. 2, col. 3, 8th listing; accessed through “British Newspapers,” database with images, findmypast (https://search.findmypast.com/bna/ViewArticle?id=BL%2F0001629%2F18760226%2F064%2F0002&browse=true : accessed 25 September 2017).
[10] Advertisement, “Plants! Plants!! Novelties in Plants,” The Peterborough Advertiser, 3 Jun 1876, p. 2, col. 4, 29th listing; findmypast (https://search.findmypast.com/bna/viewarticle?id=bl%2f0001629%2f18760603%2f066 : accessed 25 September 2017).
[11] “Find a Will,” accessed as “Wills and Probate 1858-1996,” database, GOV.UK (https://probatesearch.service.gov.uk/Calendar#calendar : accessed 26 September 2017), 2d page, John Casbon.
[12] “UK Inflation Calculator,” (http://www.in2013dollars.com/1885-GBP-in-2017?amount=212.50 : accessed 26 September 2017).

Origins: The Earliest Ancestors from Littleport

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Reader be forewarned! This is one of those strict genealogy posts – all names & dates – no interesting stories. I won’t be offended if you decide to pass on this one. With this post, I intend to summarize my research into the origins of what I have called the “Peterborough Casbons”, so named because the family eventually settled in that area, and members of the family remain there today.

In an earlier post (see “How doth your garden grow? Part 1”) I described how Thomas Casborn (~1776–1855) left Littleport, Cambridgeshire, and how his son Thomas (~1807–1863) settled in Peterborough, where he had a gardening business. Working backwards, I traced “1776 Thomas” back one generation to his father Thomas (see “Stepping Back: Thomas Casborn of Littleport (~1732-1780)”). Here is a diagram of the sequence I just described.

Fullscreen capture 6202017 22416 PM
3 generations of Casbons, from Littleport & Peterborough. (Click on image to enlarge)

Now I’ll start with Thomas (~1732-1780)”) and work my way back. His baptismal record of October 15, 1832 shows that his parents were Thomas and Anne Caseborne.[1]

Thomas C bp 1732 Littleport
Detail from LIttleport (Cambridgeshire) parish register, Baptisms, 1732. “Thomas of
Thomas & Anne Caseborne _ _ (October) 15.” (Click on image to enlarge)

Who were Thomas & Anne? The Bishop’s Transcripts of 1720 show the marriage of Thomas Casebourne and Anne Kendale on October 6th.[2]

Thomas Casebourne M Anne Kendale 1720 Littleport
Detail from Bishop’s Transcripts, Littleport, Marriages 1820. “Thomas
Casebourne & Anne Kendale October 6.” (Click on image to enlarge)

Looking further back, there is a baptismal record for Thomas Casborne, son of William & Alice, May 29, 1695.[3] He is the most likely candidate for the Thomas who married Anne Kendale, and father of Thomas (b. ~1832). I have not found a baptismal record for Anne.

Besides Thomas, there are records of six other children born to Thomas and Anne: William (baptized 1721), Elizabeth (1722), Mary (1727), Abraham (1729, died 1734), another Mary (1734), and another Abraham (1739).[4],[5],[6],[7],[8],[9],[10] Anne’s death is recorded in 1750, and Thomas’ in 1751.[11],[12] You can also see that Thomas’ burial record gives his occupation as “Labourer”

Thomas C bp 1795 Bu 1751
Detail from Bishop’s Transcripts, Littleport, burials 1751. “Thomas Casborne, Labourer.—Sept:r 27.” Note that his son William’s burial is the next entry, on October 13th. (Click on image to enlarge)

Here is a family tree of Thomas and Anne (Kendale) Caseborne, showing their relationship to the Peterborough Casbons.

Thomas 1695 fam tree
(Click on image to enlarge)

I’m able to trace this family back one more generation. As mentioned above, Thomas (baptized 1695) was the son of William and Alice. There are baptismal records for three other children born to William and Alice: William (baptized 1687), Alice (1592), and John (1699).[13],[14],[15] There may have been a fourth child, Mary, for whom there is a burial record on the same day as John in 1699, but no baptismal record.[16]

Who were William and Alice? I don’t know. I cannot find a marriage record for them, nor can I find a baptismal record for William. There are no baptisms, marriages or burials with the Casb(*) surname recorded in Littleport between 1620 (burial of Robert Casborn, widower) and 1687 (baptism of William – see previous paragraph).[17]

Here is a family tree of William and Alice, the earliest generation I have been able to trace back from the Peterborough Casbons.

Wm d 1699 fam tree

Where did this family come from before William? It’s impossible for me to say. There are Casb(*) records in nearby Ely and Stuntney, but not enough information to make familial connections.

Littleport map
Detail of 1945 Ordnance Survey map showing Littleport and Ely (This work is based on data provided
through http://www.VisionofBritain.org.uk and uses historical material which is copyright of the
Great Britain Historical GIS Project and the University of Portsmouth). (Click on image to enlarge)

I’ve said before that there is no evidence that the Peterborough Casbons, hence the Littleport Casborns, are related to my branch, the “Meldreth Casbons.” It’s still fascinating to me that the many variants of our surname are concentrated so heavily in the part of England known as East Anglia. Perhaps there was a common ancestor many generations before, or maybe there was just a common reason for so many people to have the same name (see “a term of reproach …”). Would DNA be able to help sort this out?

[1] LIttleport Parish (Cambridgeshire, England), Bishop’s Transcripts 1599–1832, unnumbered page (image 271) showing baptisms, 1732, Thomas Caseborne, 15 October; browsable images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-892X-HQHF?i=270&cat=976859 : accessed 15 September 2016); citing Family History Library (FHL) microfilm 2,206,070, (unnumbered) item 1.
[2] LIttleport Parish (Cambridgeshire), Bishop’s Transcripts 1599–1832, unnumbered page (image 253) showing marriages, 1720, Thomas Casebourne & Anne Kendale, 6 October.
[3] LIttleport, Bishop’s Transcripts 1599–1832, unnumbered page (image 201), baptisms, 1695, Thomas Caseborn, 7 July.
[4] LIttleport, Bishop’s Transcripts 1599–1832, unnumbered page (image 253), baptisms, 1720/21, William Casebourne, 9 March.
[5] LIttleport Bishop’s Transcripts 1599–1832, unnumbered page (image 256), baptisms, 1722, Elizabeth Casebourne, 16 December.
[6] LIttleport, Bishop’s Transcripts 1599–1832, unnumbered page (image 263), baptisms, 1727, Mary Caseborne, 10 September.
[7] LIttleport, Bishop’s Transcripts 1599–1832, unnumbered page (image 267), baptisms, 1729, Abraham Caseborne, 21 December.
[8] LIttleport, Bishop’s Transcripts 1599–1832, unnumbered page (image 276), burials, 1734, Abraham Caseborne, 3 December.
[9] LIttleport, Bishop’s Transcripts 1599–1832, unnumbered page (image 275), baptisms, 1734, Mary Caseborne, 2 August.
[10] LIttleport, Bishop’s Transcripts 1599–1832, unnumbered page (image 281), baptisms, 1738/39, Abraham Caseborne, 14 February.
[11] LIttleport, Bishop’s Transcripts 1599–1832, unnumbered page (image 305), burials, 1750, Ann Casborne, 20 May.
[12] LIttleport, Bishop’s Transcripts 1599–1832, unnumbered page (image 307), burials, 1751, Thomas Casborne, 27 September.
[13] LIttleport, Bishop’s Transcripts 1599–1832, unnumbered page (image 194), baptisms, 1687, William Casborne, 4 November.
[14] LIttleport, Bishop’s Transcripts 1599–1832, unnumbered page (image 199), baptisms, 1692, Alice Casborne, 26 March.
[15] LIttleport, Bishop’s Transcripts 1599–1832, unnumbered page (image 213), baptisms, 1699, John Casebourne, 14 May.
[16] LIttleport, Bishop’s Transcripts 1599–1832, unnumbered page (image 213), burials, 1699, Mary Casebourne, 20 August.
[17] LIttleport, Bishop’s Transcripts 1599–1832, unnumbered page (image 47), burials, 1619/20, Robert Casborne, 29 February.

Stepping Back: Thomas Casborn of Littleport (~1732-1780)

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In my post “Stepping back: Thomas Casbon, 1743-1799” I introduced the Genealogical Proof Standard and how it is applied when tracing one’s ancestry back in time. With this post I will step back one generation in the family I previously labeled “The Peterborough Casbons.”

This family originated in village of Littleport, about 6 miles north of Ely.


Map showing Littleport and Ely, Cambridgeshire

My series, “How doth your garden grow…” started with Thomas (1776-1855), a gardener, who left Littleport, and whose sons settled in Peterborough. I’ll use his baptismal record of 1778 to start the stepping back process. [1]

Ann Thos Rebecca C bp Littleport 1778
Ann Casborn daug.r of Tho.s & Mary _ _ _ _ _ _(July) 26
Tho.s Casborn son of Tho.s & Mary _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _    26
Rebecca Casbonr daug.r of Tho.s & Mary _ _ _ _ _ _  26
(Click on image to enlarge)

This record provides an unexpected bonus, since it also shows that two of Thomas’ sisters were baptized on the same day. This was a fairly common occurrence at the time. Unfortunately, it does not tell us when the children were born or in what order. My estimate that Thomas was born in 1776 is based on his reported age of 65 on the 1841 Census. [2]

This record gives us the names of Thomas’ parents as Thomas and Mary Casborn. Looking back a few years in the Bishop’s Transcripts, I found this marriage record. [3]

Thomas C bp 1732 m Mary Diamond 1762 Littleport
“Thomas Casborn of this Parish Single-man and Mary
Diamond of the same Single-woman were married by
Lycence June the Eleventh 1762” (Click on image to enlarge)

There is no conflicting information to resolve. This was the only Thomas living in Littleport at the time. Looking back further, I found this baptism record from 1732. [4]

Thomas C bp 1732 Littleport
“Thomas of Thomas & Anne Caseborne _ _ (October) 15.” (Click on image to enlarge)

This lists Thomas’ parents as Thomas and Anne Caseborne. Again, there is no conflicting data, so this is most likely the same Thomas who married Mary Diamond in 1762.

We already know from the 1778 baptismal records that Thomas and Mary had children named Ann, Thomas, and Rebecca. A records search shows the baptisms of three other children: Thomas (baptized and buried in 1766); [5],[6] Elizabeth (baptized 1769); [7] and Sarah (baptized 1772). [8]

Based on this information, here is a simple family tree for Thomas and Mary.

Thomas C bp1732 1 gen descendant chart

Of their children, I have not been able to find any other records for the daughters Elizabeth, Sarah, or Rebecca. Ann, who was baptized in 1778, had a daughter Esther, apparently out of wedlock. Esther was baptized in 1798. [9] Ann later married a widower named Samuel Handly in 1806. [10]

I haven’t been able to find any other records for Mary Diamond. There are no baptismal records for her or any other Diamond family members in Littleport or nearby areas. Nor is there a death record for her as Mary Casborn.

Thomas, the father, was buried on December 27, 1780 in Littleport. [11] With the departure of his son Thomas, baptized in 1778, The Casbon/Casborn family name also departed from Littleport.

I will continue stepping back into the family history in Littleport with future posts.

[1] Church of England, Parish of LIttleport, “Bishop’s transcripts for Littleport, 1599-1857.” FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-892X-HQHY?mode=g [accessed 17 December 2016]
[2] “1841 Census of England, Wales & Scotland.” find my past http://www.findmypast.com [accessed 21 September 2016]
[3] “Bishop’s transcripts for Littleport, 1599-1857.” FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-892X-HQWS?mode=g [accessed 20 September 2016]
[4] “Bishop’s transcripts for Littleport, 1599-1857.” FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-892X-HQHF?mode=g [accessed 20 September 2016]
[5] “Bishop’s transcripts for Littleport, 1599-1857.” FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-892X-HQXQ?mode=g [accessed 20 September 2016]
[6] “Bishop’s transcripts for Littleport, 1599-1857.” FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-892X-HQDZ?mode=g [accessed 20 September 2016]
[7] “Bishop’s transcripts for Littleport, 1599-1857.” FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-892X-HQDX?mode=g [accessed 20 September 2016]
[8] “Bishop’s transcripts for Littleport, 1599-1857.” FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-892X-HQZM?mode=g [accessed 20 September 2016]
[9] “Bishop’s transcripts for Littleport, 1599-1857.” FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-892X-HQ6W?mode=g [accessed 20 September 2016]
[10] “Bishop’s transcripts for Littleport, 1599-1857.” FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-892X-HQQ3?mode=g [accessed 15 December 2016]
[11] “Cambridgeshire Burials”, findmypast http://search.findmypast.com/record?id=gbprs%2fd%2f403372851%2f1 [accessed 15 September 2016]

How doth your garden grow? Part 3

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After a brief interlude, it’s time to resume and conclude this series on the Casbons of Peterborough.

Generation 4, Children of John Casbon (1832-1885): Thomas (1854 – 1910), Sarah (1855-1859) Mary (1860 – ?), Elizabeth (1861 – ?), John (1863 – 1925), and Sarah Jane (1865 – ?) Casbon

If you’re keeping track, Thomas, born 1854 in Peterborough, is the sixth Thomas I’ve mentioned in this series, beginning with Thomas Casborn (Generation “Zero”) of Littleport. His son Thomas (Generation 1) was the first gardener. Thomas (G1) had two sons (Generation 2) named Thomas: the first died in childhood; the second was the first to reside in Peterborough. His sons (Generation 3) were Thomas and John. The final Thomas (Generation 4) is John’s son.

5 Generations of Thomas Casbon
Diagram showing five generations of Thomas (Click on image to enlarge)

Thomas (Generation 4) was also a gardener, the final generation of gardeners in the family. He married Elizabeth Pettifor in Peterborough in 1876.[1] They probably lived briefly in Yorkshire, since their first child, Emily, was born in Huddersfield, Yorkshire in 1878.[2] In 1881 they were living on Green Lane in Peterborough[3] with Emily and their son Charles Arthur (also known as just “Arthur,” b. 1880 in Peterborough[4]).

Thomas and family were living in the village of Hemingfield, Yorkshire in 1891,[5] but returned to Peterborough, where they were again residing in 1901.[6] Elizabeth died there in 1906[7] and Thomas died in 1910.[8]

It seems that Thomas was an active member of the Methodist church, occasionally preaching in and around Peterborough.[9]

Stamford Mercury 7Jul1905 T Casbon Preaches Deeping St James
(Click on image to enlarge) Newspaper image © The British Library Board. All rights reserved. With thanks to The British Newspaper Archive (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk). 

John (Generation 3) Casbon’s first daughter Sarah was born in Peterborough 1855.[10] She died in an accidental drowning in 1859.[11]

Mary Casbon, oldest daughter of John, was born 1860 in Peterborough. She was married to John Thomas Cornwall in 1880,[12] and had at least nine children.[13],[14] As of 1911, she and her family were still living in Peterborough. I have not located a record of her death.

Of John’s daughter Elizabeth, I have even less information. She was born 1861 in Peterborough. In the 1881 census she was either living or visiting at the household of her brother Thomas, and employed as a dressmaker.[15] She married either William Buxton or Albert Edward Swain in 1907.[16]

John’s son John, born 1863 in Peterborough, married Jane Rolfe in 1884.[17] They had three daughters: Edith, Lillian, and Nellie.[18] Edith was born in Rochdale, Lancashire,[19] so it seems likely they lived there for a time. In the 1891 census, John’s occupation was Grocer,[20] but from 1901 on he was listed as a cab proprietor.[21] John died 1925 in Peterborough,[22] and Jane died in 1947.[23]

John and Thomas C 1910 directory PeterboroughExcerpt from 1910 Peterborough city directory, showing Generation 4 brothers John and Thomas Casbon (Click on image to enlarge)

Finally, John’s daughter Sarah Jane was born 1865 in Peterborough.[24] She married Alfred Clark in Peterborough 1886.[25] They lived in Peterborough and had three children.[26]

Generation 4, Children of Thomas Casbon (1840-1887): Charles W (1866 – ?) and Edith Emily Casbon

Recall that Thomas Casbon (b.1840) married Emily Cantrill in 1865, and she filed for divorce in 1868. The children then grew up with their mother in London.

Charles W. Casbon was born in Peterborough in 1866.[27] He appears with his mother in the 1871 through 1891 censuses. In 1901 he is listed on the census as a visitor in the home of Marian Carter. His occupation is listed as Photographer’s Draughtsman. This is the last record I’ve been able to find of Charles.

Charles C b1866 Pboro 1901 census Hornsey
1901 Census for Hornsey, London, England. (Click on image to enlarge)

Edith Emily Casbon was born in Camden Town, a part of London, in 1868. Given the location, she was probably born after her mother separated from Thomas. She is recorded in the 1871 through 1891 censuses with her mother and brother. Edith married Paul Alexandre Taupenot in Tendring, Essex, 1897.[28] There is a separate marriage record for them in Paris, France, 1899.[29] Since I can find no further records of her in England, I suspect that she remained in France.

Edith Emily C b.1868 M Paul Taupenot Paris 1899 b
Marriage record of Paul Taupenot to Edith Emily Casbon
1899, Paris. (Click on image to enlarge)

This concludes the series on the Peterborough Casbons. It does not conclude their role in the Casbon Journey. They are the forebears of some of today’s Casbons. They may pop up from time to time in future posts, as may their descendants. If any of their descendants read this post, I hope they will leave a comment and hopefully fill in a few blanks.

[1] “England and Wales Marriage Registration Index, 1837-2005.” FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2DP8-LQ4 [accessed 28 September 2015]
[2] “England and Wales Birth Registration Index, 1837-2008.” FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2XF7-6L5 [accessed 28 September 2015]
[3] “1881 Census of England and Wales.” FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q27C-CXMT [accessed 2 August 2016]
[4] “England and Wales Birth Registration Index, 1837-2008”, FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2XV7-CM1 [accessed 28 September 2015]
[5] “1891 Census of England and Wales.” FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:7FV6-GT2 [accessed 2 August 2016]
[6] “1901 Census of England and Wales.” FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X9YN-ZRV [accessed 2 August 2016]
[7] “England and Wales Death Registration Index 1837-2007.” FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2NYG-DFX [accessed 28 September 2015]
[8] “England and Wales Death Registration Index 1837-2007.” FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2J7C-BFN [accessed 2 August 2016]
[9] Stamford Mercury – Friday 07 July 1905. The British Newspaper Archive http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000237/19050707/034/0004 [accessed 29 September 2016]
[10] “England and Wales Birth Registration Index, 1837-2008.” FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2N48-MWD [accessed 26 September 2016]
[11] “Peterborough…Two Children Drowned.” The Cambridge Independent Press, Huntingdon, Wisbech, Ely, Bedford, Peterborough, & Lynn Gazette, 21 May 1859 The British Newspaper Archive http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000418/18590521/128/0007 [accessed 25 September 2016]
[12] “England and Wales Marriage Registration Index, 1837-2005.” FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2DRD-P85 [accessed 22 September 2016]
[13] “1901 Census of England and Wale.” FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X9YN-RDJ [accessed 22 September 2016]
[14] “1911 England, Wales & Scotland Census.” findmypast http://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=gbc%2f1911%2frg14%2f08695%2f0199%2f1 [accessed 22 September 2016]
[15] “1881 Census of England and Wales.” FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q27C-CXMT [accessed 2 August 2016]
[16] “England and Wales Marriage Registration Index, 1837-2005.” FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2DDN-PZR [accessed 22 September 2016]
[17] “England and Wales Marriage Registration Index, 1837-2005.” FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2DV5-N7F [accessed 20 October 2015]
[18] “1901 Census of England and Wales.” FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X9YN-YCQ [accessed 2 Aug 2016]
[19] “England and Wales Birth Registration Index, 1837-2008.” FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2XGT-5D6 [accessed 26 September 2016]
[20] “1891 Census of England and Wales.” FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:4LX8-9ZM [accessed 2 August 2016]
[21] “1901 Census of England and Wales.” FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X9YN-YCQ [accessed 2 Aug 2016]
[22] “England & Wales, National Probate Calendar, 1858-1966”, Ancestry http://www.ancestry.com [accessed 10 August 2016]
[23] “England and Wales Death Registration Index 1837-2007.” FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVCQ-FH1Q [accessed 29 October 2015]
[24] “England and Wales Birth Registration Index, 1837-2008.” FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2XMP-GB5 [accessed 22 September 2016]
[25] “England and Wales Marriage Registration Index, 1837-2005.” FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2DD9-XBN [accessed 24 September 2016]
[26] “1901 Census of England and Wales.” FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X9YN-TND [accessed 24 September 2016]
[27] “England and Wales Birth Registration Index, 1837-2008.” FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2X9G-QWX [accessed 26 September 2016]
[28] “England and Wales Marriage Registration Index, 1837-2005.” FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:26MZ-CG6 [accessed 27 September 2016]
[29] “Paris, France & Vicinity Marriage Banns, 1860-1902.” Ancestry http://www.ancestry.com [accessed 27 September 2016]

How doth your garden grow? Part 2

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I’ve been trying to decide how to best proceed with the story of the Peterborough Casbons. Part of the challenge is in deciding how much or how little information to include. The other part is in trying to turn limited information into a narrative that will be interesting to somebody besides myself. The nice thing about a blog, however, is that if a particular post doesn’t interest you, you don’t have to read it!

That said, the format I am using is a loosely structured version of a traditional descendant report, listing relevant details about successive generations. At some point in the future I hope to add a separate page with genealogical summaries of the various families as a reference for interested viewers.

I just subscribed last week to The British Newspaper Archive and have been downloading like crazy. I’ve found a lot of information that will be great fodder for future posts.

The previous post “How doth your garden grow? Part 1” covered the family’s origins in Littleport, Cambridgeshire, and two generations of the family beginning with Thomas Casborn (1776-1855). We now proceed to:

Generation 3. John (1832 – 1885), Sarah (1834-1904) and Thomas (1840 – 1887) Casbon

Thomas Casbourn (Generation 2) had three children: John (b. abt 1832), Sarah (b. abt. 1834), and Thomas (b. 1840), all born in Somersham, Huntingdonshire.[1]

After moving with his family to Peterborough, John Casbon married Rebecca Ann Speechly in 1853. John and Rebecca had five children: Thomas (b. 1854),[2] Sarah (1855 – 1859[3],[4]), Mary (b. 1860),[5] Elizabeth (b. 1861),[6] John (b. 1863),[7] and Sarah Jane (b. 1865).[8] In 1861 John was working as a gardener in Peterborough.[9]

John C b1832 Somersham 1861 census Peterborough
John Casbon in 1861 England and Wales Census, Peterborough, Northhamptonshire. (Click on image to enlarge)

In the 1860s, John moved to Spalding, Lincolnshire, about 16 miles north of Peterborough. There he was listed as a “fruiterer, greengrocer, seedsman & florist.”[10]

John C b1832 Somersham 1868 Spalding directory
1868 Post Office Directory of Lincolnshire (Click in image to enlarge)

He was still living in Spalding in 1871, where he was listed on the census as a “Nurseryman.”[11] From this ad, it appears he decided to sell his business in Spalding later in 1871.[12]

Stamford Mercury 15Dec1871 Sale of J Casbon nursery Spalding
(Click on image to enlarge) Newspaper image © The British Library Board. All rights reserved. With thanks to The British Newspaper Archive (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk).

By 1881 all the children were gone, and John and Rebecca were back in Peterborough.[13] John died in 1885 at the age of 53[14] and Rebecca died 1 year later. She was 63.[15]

Sarah appears in the 1851 census as a household servant in Chatteris, Cambridgeshire.[16]

Sarah C b1834 Somersham 1851 census Chatteris
(Click on image to enlarge)

She married a house painter named Richard Baker in 1857,[17] lived in Peterborough, and had at least 8 children.[18] Sarah died 1904 in Peterborough.[19]

Thomas was also a gardener. He appears in the 1841, 1851, and 1861 censuses with his parents. He married Emily Cantrill in London 1865[20] and had two children, Charles (b.abt 1866 in Peterborough) and Emily (b. abt 1869, Camden Town, Middlesex). In 1868 Emily applied for divorce.[21] I don’t know if the divorce was granted, but it appears that Emily took the children and never lived with Thomas again. In the 1871 census, Thomas is listed as married, occupation gardener, and living alone in Peterborough[22], while Emily, and the two children were living in London with her parents.[23]

Thomas C b1840 Somersham 1871 census Peterborough Emily Charles Edith Casbon 1871 census London
(Click on image to enlarge)

Thomas died 1887 in Peterborough.[24] Emily retained the Casbon surname and was listed as married in the 1871 and 1881 censuses.[25] She is listed as a widow in 1891.[26] She died in 1891 at the age of 44.[27]

[1] “1841 England, Scotland and Wales census.” findmypast http://www.findmypast.com [accessed 3 August 2016]
[2] “England and Wales Birth Registration Index, 1837-2008”, FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2NH4-CCV [accessed 2 August 2016]
[3] “England and Wales Birth Registration Index, 1837-2008” FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2N48-MWD [accessed 26 September 2016]
[4] “Peterborough…Two Children Drowned.” The Cambridge Independent Press, Huntingdon, Wisbech, Ely, Bedford, Peterborough, & Lynn Gazette http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/ [accessed 25 September 2016]
[5] “England and Wales Birth Registration Index, 1837-2008.” FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2NCD-QQQ [accessed 22 September 2016]
[6] “England and Wales Birth Registration Index, 1837-2008.” FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2NZY-3Z4 [accessed 22 September 2016]
[7] “England and Wales Birth Registration Index, 1837-2008.” FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2616-QHQ [accessed 28 September 2015]
[8] “England and Wales Birth Registration Index, 1837-2008.” FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2XMP-GB5 [accessed 22 September 2016]
[9] “1861 census of England and Wales.” FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M75L-YW6 [accessed 2 August 2016]
[10] Kelly, E.R. “The Post Office Directory of Lincolnshire.” [1868] University of Leicester Special Collections Online http://specialcollections.le.ac.uk/cdm/compoundobject/collection/p16445coll4/id/167125/rec/4 [accessed 22 September 2016]
[11] “1871 census of England and Wales.” FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VRXT-FQZ [accessed 2 August 2016]
[12] Advertisement in Stamford Mercury, 15 December 1871. The British Newspaper Archive http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000237/18711215/067/0002 [accessed 26 September 2016]
[13] “1881 census of England and Wales.” FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q27C-CF7D [accessed 3 August 2016]
[14] “England and Wales Death Registration Index 1837-2007.” FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2J6S-1SB [accessed 10 Aug 2016]
[15] “England and Wales Death Registration Index 1837-2007.” FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2JTX-DQD [accessed 14 Sep 2016]
[16] “1851 census of England and Wales.” FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:SGCY-JDV [accessed 4 August 2016]
[17] “England and Wales Marriage Registration Index, 1837-2005.” FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2DQ8-H82 [accessed 22 September 2016]
[18] “1881 census of England and Wales.” FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q27C-CQJL [accessed 22 September 2016]
[19] “England and Wales Death Registration Index 1837-2007.” FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2N5P-P1K [accessed 26 September 2015]
[20] “England and Wales Marriage Registration Index, 1837-2005.” FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2D7G-RM1 [accessed 22 September 2016]
[21] “Divorce Court File: 787. Appellant: Emily Casbon. Respondent: Thomas Casbon.” The National Archives http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ [accessed 26 September 2016]
[22] “1871 Census of England and Wales.” FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VFF9-HH8 [accessed 26 September 2016]
[23] “England and Wales Census, 1871.” FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VB68-ZPD [accessed 22 September 2016]
[24] “England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1966.” Ancestry http://www.ancestry.com [accessed 27 September 2016]
[25] “1881 census of England and Wales.” FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q27Z-6MFY [accessed 26 September 2016]
[26] “1891 Census of England and Wales.” FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q66C-H6Z [accessed 26 September 2016]
[27] “England and Wales Death Registration Index 1837-2007.” FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2JN4-CYX [accessed 26 September 2016]

How doth your garden grow? Part 1

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In the course of my web ‘wanderings’ I came across these two items.

Charley Casbon flower description 1871
Casbon florist ads Gardening Illustrated Vol X 1888

The first item is from a Washington, D.C. “Descriptive catalogue of new, rare and beautiful plants, dahlias, chrysanthemums, geraniums, fuchsias, carnations, verbenas, phloxes, &c. for spring, 1871.”[1] The Charley Casbon flower described is listed under “New Zonale and Nosegay Geraniums” that “comprise the very finest of their classes, sent out by the best growers in England and the Continent.”[2] Charley (or Charlie) Casbon is mentioned in a variety of English gardening journals published between 1870 and 1876.

The second item is a series of advertisements from “CASBON Florist” and “T. CASBON” from an 1888 gardening magazine.[3] Such ads are common, mainly in the 1880s, although references to “Messrs. Casbon & Son, Peterborough,” Nurserymen, can be found as early as 1866.[4] Clearly there was a well-established family business in Peterborough, an important city in Northamptonshire (since then it has become part of Cambridgeshire).

These two items will serve to introduce another family with the Casbon surname. I’ll call them the ‘Peterborough Casbons.’ As far as I can tell, there is no relation to my own family (the ‘Meldreth Casbons’). As can be seen, the Peterborough Casbons were a family of gardeners and florists. It’s tempting to believe that they were responsible for developing the Charley Casbon flower. I’m afraid I can’t say for sure, but later I’ll provide some evidence that supports the theory.

The Casbon name doesn’t appear in Peterborough until the 1850s. The family originated in Littleport, a large village near the cathedral city of Ely in Cambridgeshire. In Littleport, the surname is almost always spelled with an “r” before the “n” – Casborn, Casbourn, Caseborn, Casebourne, etc. Records of the family in Littleport go back to the early 1600s.


Use this interactive map to visit locations mentioned in this post

Generation 1. Thomas Casborn (1776-1855)

I’m numbering each generation, to make things simpler to follow. As you’ll see, each generation has a Thomas, and it’s easy to get them confused. I’ll start with this Thomas, because he was: 1) the one who left Littleport and started the journey that eventually led to Peterborough; and 2) the first member of the family known to be a professional gardener.

Thomas Casborn was born about 1776 in Littleport, and baptized in 1778, the son of Thomas (yes, another one!) and Mary (nee Diamond).[5] He married Ann Dolby in 1800[6] and had five children between the years 1800 and 1808. Two of the children, Mary and Thomas, died in early childhood, and as was the custom, the next girl and boy born after their deaths were given their names. The three surviving children were Mary (b. abt. 1802)[7], Thomas (b. abt. 1807),[8] and Elizabeth (b. abt. 1808)[9]

Sometime after 1808, Thomas left Littleport. The next record I have is the 1841 England and Wales Census. At that time, Thomas, his wife Ann, and daughter Elizabeth were all living in Needingworth, a small village in Huntingdonshire, about 20 miles southwest of Littleport.[10]

Thomas C b1776 1841 census Needingworth
1841 England, Wales & Scotland Census, Needingworth, Huntingdonshire (Click on image to enlarge)

This census is also noteworthy because it lists Thomas’ occupation as Gardener.

Ann died in 1843.[11] In 1851, Thomas is listed as “retired Gardener,” residing in Colne, about 3 miles from Needingworth.[12]

Thomas C b abt 1876 LIttleport 1851 census Colne
1851 England, Wales & Scotland Census, Colne, Huntingtonshire (Click on image to enlarge)

Thomas died in 1855.[13] I have no further confirmed records of daughters Mary or Elizabeth.

Generation 2. Thomas Casbourn (about 1807-1863)

Thomas, the son born in Littleport about 1807, also became a gardener. By 1841, he was married to Jane (surname unknown) and had three children: John (b. abt 1832), Sarah (b. abt. 1834), and Thomas (b. abt. 1840).[14] At that time Thomas and his family were living in Warboys, about 6 miles from his parents in Needingworth.

Thomas Casbourn b1806 1841 census Warboys
1841 England, Wales & Scotland Census, Warboys, Huntingtonshire (Click on image to enlarge)

By 1851, Thomas and his family had moved to Peterborough. His name is misspelled as Gasborn in the 1851 census.[15]

Thomas C b 1806 LIttleport 1851 census Peterborough
1851 England, Wales & Scotland Census, Peterborough, Northamptonshire (now Cambridgeshire)
(Click on image to enlarge)

This is the earliest record of the Casbon family in Peterborough. Thomas, Jane, and son Thomas also appear in the 1861 census, where he is listed as a “Nurseryman.”[16] The elder Thomas died 1863 in Peterborough.[17] Jane appears in the 1871 census, living with her daughter Sarah, now married to a man named Richard Baker.[18] Jane died in 1874.[19] Oddly, I have been unable to find any other record of Thomas the son, after the 1861 census.

With the move to Peterborough, the Casbon gardening business finally had a home. I leave you with this entry from this 1854 post office directory.[20]

Thomas C b1806 Littleport 1854 directory Peterborough
(Click on image to enlarge)

The next post will pick up where we left off, beginning with Generation 3.

[1] Saul, J. “Descriptive catalogue of new, rare and beautiful plants, dahlias, chrysanthemums, geraniums, fuchsias, carnations, verbenas, phloxes, &c. for spring, 1871.”Page 30.  Washington, D.C. Internet Archive https://archive.org/details/descriptivecatal18john [accessed 13 September 2016]
[2] Saul, J. “Descriptive catalogue…” Page 29. [accessed 13 September 2016]
[3] Gardening Illustrated, Vol. X No. 470, page 22. 10 March 1888. London. Google Books https://books.google.com/books?id=oilIAAAAYAAJ&source=gbs_navlinks_s [accessed 20 September 2016]
[4] “The Gardeners’ Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette,” No.14, page 311, 7 April 1866. Google Books https://books.google.com/books?id=S7szAQAAMAAJ&source=gbs_navlinks_s. [accessed 20 September 2016]
[5] Church of England, “Bishop’s transcripts for Littleport, 1599-1857.”FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-892X-HQHY?i=387&cat=976859 [accessed 20 September 2016].
[6] “Bishop’s transcripts for Littleport, 1599-1857.”FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-892X-HQDS?i=467&cat=976859 [accessed 13 September 2016].
[7] “Bishop’s transcripts for Littleport, 1599-1857.”FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-892X-HQ44?i=480&cat=976859 [accessed 13 September 2016].
[8] “Bishop’s transcripts for Littleport, 1599-1857.”FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-892X-H3Y1?i=510&cat=976859 [accessed 13 September 2016].
[9] “Bishop’s transcripts for Littleport, 1599-1857.”FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-892X-H3Y1?i=510&cat=976859 [accessed 13 September 2016].
[10] “1841 census of England, Wales & Scotland.” Findmypast http://search.findmypast.com/record?id=gbc%2f1841%2f0448%2f0148&parentid=gbc%2f1841%2f0005795608&highlights=%22%22 [accessed 14 September 2016]
[11] “England and Wales Death Registration Index 1837-2007.” FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2JQ4-ZRJ [accessed 13 September 2016]
[12] “1851 census of England and Wales; digital image, FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:SGR7-6LS [accessed 9 August 2016]
[13] “England and Wales Death Registration Index 1837-2007.” FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2NLY-2KB [accessed 20 September 2016]
[14]  “1841 England, Scotland and Wales census.” findmypast http://www.findmypast.com [accessed 3 August 2016]
[15] “1851 census of England, Wales & Scotland.” findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com [accessed 5 August 2016]
[16] “1861 England, Scotland and Wales census,” findmypast http://www.findmypast.com [accessed 5 August 2016]
[17] “National Burial Index for England & Wales.” findmypast http://www.findmypast.com [accessed 15 September 2016]
[18] “1871 census of England and Wales.” FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VFF9-6R7 [accessed 3 August 2016]
[19] “National Burial Index for England & Wales.” findmypast http://www.findmypast.com [accessed 15 September 2016]
[20] “”Post Office Directory of Berkshire, Northamptonshire and Oxfordshire; with Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Huntingdonshire.” [1854], p. 478. University of Leicester Special Collections Online http://specialcollections.le.ac.uk/cdm/compoundobject/collection/p16445coll4/id/167099/rec/7 [accessed 13 Sep 2016]