PART ONE: LOADER FAMILY TREE

CURRENTLY BEING REVISED IN AUGUST 2020

Text below may change on a daily basis as information is added or deleted in line with new research.

The earliest Loaders in our family seem to have come from Witchampton, Dorset and moved into nearby areas such as Moor Crichel and Wimborne Minster. The occupations of the males mostly involved working with timber, such as carpenters, joiners and sawyers, but there were also a few labourers prior to 1900. These occupations did not tie people to a piece of land and required them to move from place to place to where their skills were in demand. Hence families tended to move around over time.

Map showing locations where early Loaders lived: most within 5 miles of Wimborne Minster

Most members of the Loader family from the late 1700's were able to sign their names on their marriage registrations indicating at least some literacy skills, which was unusual at that time. From the late 1800's, most males moved into skilled occupations. Below is a diagram of the Early Loader Tree going back to the 1600's. The later Loader Tree can be found in Chapter 14.0 below.

1.0 Early Loaders of Witchampton

There are records listing members of the Loader family living in Witchampton in the second half of the 1600's. However, without more information it is hard to work out where they fit into our Loader family. The records include:-

On the 20 May 1660 Edward Loader was one of about fifty male parishioners who signed a note in the Witchampton Parish Record.
Edward Loader was buried 2 Feb 1673. Probate granted on his will 1676
Mary Loader "a poor maid" buried on 2 Jan 1680
Martha Loader daughter of John and Mary Loader baptised 6 Jan 1680
William Loader son of John and Mary Loader buried 7 Apr 1689

1.1 GGGGGGGGP John Loader (c1675-1723) & Mary Unknown (c1675-1730)

Not much is known about John and Mary Loader. Going by the birth of their two known children, who were named after their parents, they would have been married about 1700 in Witchampton. That would mean that John and Mary were most likely born around 1675. John Loader may have been the first born son of "John and Mary Loader" mentioned in 1.0 above (brother of Martha and William).

John and Mary had two known children; GGGGGGGF John Loader b1701 and Mary Loader b1705. There were probably more children, but some of the pages from the Witchampton Parish records are missing.

GGGGGGGGF John Loader may have died in Witchampton in 1723. If that is correct, he was most likely around 50 when he was buried on 23 May 1723.

GGGGGGGGM Mary Loader, widow was buried on 28 Jan 1730 in Witchampton. She was most likely in her fifties.

1.2 GGGGGGGP John Loader (1701-1761?) & Unknown (?-?)

Very little is known about John Loader b1701 and his wife, and as records are rather sparse, the information available may be inaccurate.

Original Entry: "John the son of John Loader & Mary his wife baptised at Witchampton Mar 22 1701/2:AD 1702"

GGGGGGGF John Loader was baptised at Witchampton on 22 Mar 1702 by his parents, GGGGGGGGP John and Mary Loader. He had at least one sibling; Mary Loader, baptised in Witchampton on 1 Sep 1705. John's (b1701) father GGGGGGGGF John Loader c1675 may have died in Witchampton on 23 May 1723.

GGGGGGGF John Loader b1701, married an unknown woman around 1723 and the couple moved 5 miles to nearby Wimborne St Giles, where they had a family of at least three children; Elizabeth Loader bap 26 Dec 1723, John Loader bap 1 Nov 1727 and GGGGGGF Thomas Loader bap 27 Dec 1731. See records of the three baptisms at Wimborne St Giles below in 1.3.

No other definitive records have been found showing the marriage or burials of GGGGGGGP John Loader b1701 and his unknown wife. However there are some possibilities below.

Possibility 1: Unlikely

John Loader 23 possibly married Elizabeth Lock at nearby Canford Magna on 23 July 1724 (seven miles from Witchampton and ten from Wimborne St Giles). The first two children of this John Loader and his wife were named after their parents (Elizabeth and John). However their first baby was baptised on 26 Dec 1723 and was probably born a month or two earlier; almost one year prior to their marriage. Births to unmarried mothers were usually noted at the baptism, so this record cannot be regarded as reliable.

Possibility 2: Probable Ancestry

GGGGGGGF John Loader b1701 may have married a woman named Ann around 1723. Some time after the birth of their three children at Wimborne St Giles, the couple may have moved 9 miles to Wimborne Minster, which was 5 miles from Witchampton, where John was born in 1701.

"Ann Loader wife of John" was buried in Wimborne 5 Dec 1748

Ann ("wife of John Loader"), died in Wimborne in 1748. This fits in with the death entry below which lists John Loader dying in Wimborne in 1761.

March the first 1761: Middle Entry; John Loader buried 5 March 1761

GGGGGGGF John Loader was probably buried at Wimborne Minster on 5 March 1761. If this is correct, John b1701 would have been 60 years old. On the same day he was buried, a "George Loader", possibly related, was also buried.

Alternatively John Loader may have died in his forties at Witchampton and was buried there on 28 Oct 1743. If this is the case, his wife was named Mary (perhaps a second wife), and she died as a widow in Witchampton in 1751 and was buried there on 13 Nov 1751.

These records fit very well with known facts about our Loader family, including Witchampton and Wimborne being places of abode of later generations. These locations are 5 miles apart.

1.3 Three Children of GGGGGGGF John Loader (1701-1761?) & Unknown Wife

Three children are listed in the Wimborne St Giles baptism record with a father named as John Loader, but no mother is listed (see 1.3 below). Other people with the Loader surname listed were:-

Robert Loader buried 25 Oct 1727
Elizabeth Loader baptised by John and Margaret Loader 1735
Elizabeth Loader baptised by Robert Loader 1726
Thomas Loader married Mary Loader 1749. Not our Thomas who was too young to get married at this time.

1.3a First Child: Elizabeth Loader (1723-?)

Elizabeth Loader the daughter of John Loader was baptised 26 Dec 1723
Elizabeth Loader was baptised at Wimborne St Giles by her father John Loader and his unnamed wife on 26 Dec 1723. No other information is known.

1.3b Second Child: John Loader (1727-1802)

John son of John Loader baptised 1 Nov 1727 at Wimborne St Giles

Son John Loader was baptised in Wimborne St Giles on 1 Nov 1727. On 3 Jan 1749, at the age of 22, he may have married Mary Pope at Wimborne Minster and had the following children; John Loader 1750, Joseph Loader Sep 1754, Susanna Loader Jul 1757 and Mary Loader b28 Jan 1760.

Son John Loader b1727 aged 75 may have been buried in Wimborne St Giles on 22 Jun 1802

1.3c Third Child: GGGGGGF Thomas Loader (1731-?)

GGGGGGF Thomas the son of John Loader was baptised 27 Dec 1731 at Wimborne St Giles

GGGGGGF Thomas Loader was baptised in Wimborne St Giles on 27 Dec 1731. He married GGGGGGM Mary Lanning at Chalbury (five miles from his home) on 11 Oct 1760. See 3.0 for details of their lives.

2.0 GGGGGGP Thomas Loader (1731-?) & Mary Lanning (1736-1798)

All Saints Church Chalbury; where GGGGGGP Thomas Loader & Mary Lanning were married in 1760

Thomas and Mary Loader nee Lanning were born and raised twenty miles apart in the small Dorset hamlets of Wimborne St Giles and Kington Magna, and were married in All Saints Church, Chalbury.

Thomas Loader was baptised at Wimborne St Giles by his parents GGGGGGGF John Loader and unknown wife on 27 Dec 1731 (see above). According to the marriage registration record he had moved the few miles to Chalbury in the years prior to his marriage.

GGGGGGM Mary daughter of Richard & Phyllis Lanning baptised 25 Jan 1736 at Kington Magna

GGGGGGM Mary Lanning was baptised in Kington Magna (20 miles from Chalbury) on 25 Jan 1736. Her parents were GGGGGGGP Richard and Phyllis Lanning nee Parsons (See 3.0 below). Sometime before her wedding, her family must have moved 20 miles to the parish of Wimborne, because that is where she was living at the time of her marriage. Mary's siblings included John Lanning 1731, Robert Lanning 1740, Thomas Lanning 1743-1815 and William Lanning 1747-1748, who were all born in Kington Magna.

Thomas Loader resident of Chalbury married Mary Lanning (resident of the parish of Wimborne) at Chalbury in 1760

GGGGGGP Thomas Loader was 28 and Mary was 24 when they were married. The marriage was recorded in the published Banns of Chalbury (5 miles from Wimborne) and listed Thomas Loader, a resident of Chalbury Parish marrying Mary Lanning of Wimborne on 11 Oct 1760. Neither signed their names and 'made their mark' instead. Sixty years later, on 4 Sep 1821 grand-daughter Hannah Loader 32 married George Kail (b1791), at Chalbury. This suggests that members of the Loader family attended the Chalbury church over several generations, whilst they were living at nearby Moor Crichell (2 miles).

The only known child of GGGGGGP Thomas Loader and Mary Lanning was GGGGGF John Loader who was born in Moor Crichel in 1765. Mary's surname was later given as a middle name to her grandson GGGGF Robert Lanning Loader (see 9.0)

Mary Loader nee Lanning inherited 12 pounds from her father's will in 1769. No definitive death records have been found for GGGGGGP Thomas and Mary Loader nee Lanning. However, Mary Loader, widow, died in Wimborne Minster on 9 May 1798. If this was our ancestor she would have been 62 when she died. Her husband Thomas may have died soon after the birth of their only son in the mid 1760's, which would explain why the marriage produced only one child. He would have been in his thirties.

2.1 GGGGGF John Loader (1765-1841)

The only known child of GGGGGGP Thomas Loader and Mary Lanning (married in Chalbury in 1760) was GGGGGF John Loader, who was baptised in Moor Crichel on 18 Aug 1765 (Loader spelt Loder). According to the 1841 census John was born in Gussage, but as this was less than 2 miles from Moor Crichel there is no contradiction. He became a carpenter and married Ann Lovell in 1789.

He is the first member of the Loader family, that records show, had the occupation of carpenter, but it is highly likely that these skills were handed down by his ancestors. We know that his grandfather, Richard Lanning, was a carpenter and many of his descendants were too. See 3.0 below for more information about his life.

3.0 GGGGGGGP Richard Lanning (1707-1769) & Phyllis Parsons (1709-1789)
The ancestral families of Mary Lanning's parents; Richard and Phyllis Lanning nee Parsons, were living in Kington Magna from at least the mid 1600's.

GGGGGGGF Richard; son of Richard & Mary Lanning baptised on 20 Jun 1707 at Kington Magna

GGGGGGGP Richard Lanning was baptised by his parents Richard and Mary Lanning nee Butler on 20 Jun 1707 at Kington Magna. A few months later, a member of the Parsons family, Ann Parsons, was also baptised (see above). She was probably a cousin of Richard's future wife. Richard Lanning had at least five siblings.

Phyllis, daughter of GGGGGGGGP Moses & Mary Parsons was baptised in Jan 1709 at Kington Magna

GGGGGGGM Phyllis Parson's baptism appears on the next page (after her future husband's baptism) of the Parish Record. She was baptised by parents Moses and Mary Parsons in Jan 1709. A few months later another 'Parsons' relative was also baptised. The extended 'Parsons' family made up a significant number of the local residents. Phyllis was one of at least seven children born in her family. (See below)

Bottom Entry: Richard Lanning married Phyllis Parsons 28 Dec 1730 at Kington Magna

GGGGGGGF Richard Lanning 23 married Phyllis Parsons 21 on 28 Dec 1730 at Kington Magna. They had the following children; John Lanning 1731-?, GGGGGGM Mary Lanning 1736-1781, Robert Lanning 1740-?, Thomas Lanning 1743-1815 and William Lanning 1747-1748. As all children (except Thomas) were baptised in Kington Magna, it appears that the family lived their whole lives in the area near this hamlet. Son, Thomas, was baptised at East Stour; less than three miles from Kington Magna. Richard's will, written in 1766, tells us he was a carpenter.

Thomas son of Richard Lanning baptised 27 Nov 1743 at East Stour (3 miles from Kington Magna)

In 1736 Phyllis Lanning nee Parsons inherited one shilling from her father's will (see 3.3 below).


GGGGGGGF Richard Lanning was buried at Kington Magna on 28 Feb 1769

GGGGGGGM Phyllis Lanning nee Parsons was buried on 13 Nov 1789 at Kington Magna

GGGGGGGF Richard Lanning died at the age of 62 and was buried at Kington Magna on 28 Feb 1769. GGGGGGGM Phyllis Lanning nee Parsons survived her husband by twenty years and died at the age of 80. She was buried on 13 Nov 1789 at Kington Magna.

Richard wrote his will in 1766. It tells us that Richard was a carpenter and confirms the names of his children. The beneficiaries in the will were:-

His wife- bequeathed during her life, his house and the adjoining "little meadow lying in Ryland, Kington Magna" and after her decease the same to
His eldest son John Lanning and "to his heirs forever" and payments to
to son Robert Lanning 6 pounds
to my daughter (GGGGGGM Mary Lanning) 10 pounds
to son Thomas Lanning 12 pounds
to son William Lanning 12 pounds

The will mentions that Richard had been granted the lease on the house for "three lives" under Edward Wallis Esquire. All the rest of Richard's goods and chattels were bequeathed to his wife who was named as the sole executrix. The will was dated 28 Mar 1766 and Richard signed it by making his mark.

3.1 GGGGGGGGP Richard Lanning (1679-1764) & Mary Butler (1678-1743)

GGGGGGGP Richard Lanning's b1707 parents were GGGGGGGGP Richard and Mary Lanning nee Butler.

Bottom Entry: Richard son of Richard & Elizabeth Lanning was baptised on 13 Jul 1679 at Kington Magna

GGGGGGGGF Richard Lanning was baptised on 13 Jul 1679 at Kington Magna by his parents GGGGGGGGGP Richard and Elizabeth Lanning (See 3.2). He appears to have grown up in the village of his birth and married Mary Butler, who probably grew up 20 miles away in Moor Crichel.

Mary Butler was baptised there on 23 Aug 1678 by her parents GGGGGGGGGP Daniel and Elizabeth Butler. A sibling named Sarah Butler was baptised at the same place in 1682

Top: Richard Lanning married Mary Butler 18 Oct 1705 at Kington Magna.

GGGGGGGGP Richard Lanning and Mary Butler were married on 18 Oct 1705 at Kington Magna. Two years later in 1707, a possible cousin, John Lanning, married Ann Adams.

GGGGGGGGP Richard and Mary Lanning nee Butler had the following children; Mary Lanning b1705, GGGGGGGF Richard Lanning 1707, John Lanning 1709-1763, William Lanning 1710, Robert Lanning 1712-1722 and Thomas Lanning 1718-1763. All children were baptised in Kington Magna, which suggests the family lived there during their lives.

1742/3 was a bad time for the Lanning family when 3 members of the family were buried at Kington Magna

During the winter of 1742/3, three members of the Lanning family were buried at Kington Magna. They could well have been GGGGGGGGM Mary Lanning nee Butler and two of her adult sons John and Thomas Lanning. The fact that their deaths were within four months of each other could mean the cause was either a harsh winter or perhaps a contagious disease. There was also a burial for a Mary Lanning in 1744.

GGGGGGGGP Richard Lanning died at the age of 85 in 1764 and was buried on 1 Jan 1764 at Kington Magna.

A Lanning Relation?

There is a 1707 will for Richard Lanning of East Orchard (7 miles from Kington Magna) who seemed to be unmarried and quite wealthy. In his will he bequeathed sums of money to "the poor of East Orchard", his godsons Richard Ludwell, Maurice Morgan and John Brayne, his cousins John ?, Richard Lambert, William Moult and Mary Symonds ("to buy both of them a ring they being my next kindred") and also Elizabeth Morgan. He is likely to be related to our Lannings in some way, but not directly as there is no mention of a wife or any children in his will.

3.2 GGGGGGGGGP Richard Lanning (c1655-1717) & Elizabeth Coombe (1660-1692)

No baptism records have been found for either Richard Lanning or Elizabeth Coombe, but going by the date of their marriage and the birth dates of their children, it seems they were probably born in the mid 1650's. Elizabeth may have been baptised on 17 Jan 1660 in Sherborne which was about 10 miles from Kington Magna. If so, she was the daughter of William Coomb and was aged 18 when she was married

Richard Lanning married Elizabeth Coomb at Kington Magna on 1 Apr 1678

GGGGGGGGGP Richard Lanning married Elizabeth Coomb at Kington Magna on 1 Apr 1678 and had at least four children; GGGGGGGGF Richard Lanning 1679-1763, Damaris Lanning (daughter) 1681-1702, Thomas Lanning 1682-1708 and Robert Lanning 1684-?

Bottom: Elizabeth; wife of Richard Lanning was buried on 6 Mar 1691/2 at Kington Magna

GGGGGGGGGM Elizabeth Lanning nee Coomb died in 1692, probably in her early 30's, and was buried at Kington Magna on 6 Mar 1692. GGGGGGGGGP Richard Lanning died in 1717 and was buried at Kington Magna on 1 Apr 1717.

3.3 GGGGGGGGP Moses Parsons (1678-1736) & Mary Unknown (?-1738)

GGGGGGGM Phyllis Parsons was baptised by parents Moses and Mary Parsons in Jan 1709.

Moses son of Richard & Elizabeth Parsons was baptised on 8 Apr 1678 at Kington Magna

GGGGGGGGP Moses Parsons was baptised on 8 Apr 1678 at Kington Magna by his parents Richard and Elizabeth Parsons. His siblings included Unknown Parsons 1673, Dorothy Parsons 1676 and Edward Parsons 1681. Judging by the birth dates of his siblings, Moses' parents GGGGGGGGGP Richard and Elizabeth Parsons nee Unknown would have been married about 1670, but no record has been found.

GGGGGGGGF Moses Parsons married Mary Unknown around 1700 and together they had at least seven children including two sets of twins; Judith Parsons 1703, Moses and William Parsons (twins both baptised in Jan 1707 and both died shortly after), Moses and Mary Parsons (twins baptised Dec 1707 and both died shortly after), GGGGGGGM Phyllis Parsons 1709, and Moses Parsons 1714 (first two Moses' died as infants). As all children were baptised in Kington Magna the family must have lived in that area all their lives. Of the seven children, only GGGGGGGM Phyllis Lanning nee Parsons, Moses Parsons b1714 and possibly another unknown daughter who married Henry Mead seem to have survived their father.

In 1736 GGGGGGGGF Moses wrote a detailed handwritten and quite legible will. The following extract confirms the names of some members of his family. "....I Moses Parsons of Kington Magna, yeoman 25 Jul 1735, do give all my goods and chattels... to my wife Mary Parsons except for 2 horses I give to my son Moses Parsons .... I give to my son-in-law Henry Mead? one shilling, I give to my daughter [GGGGGGGM] Phyllis Lanning [nee Parsons] one shilling, I give to my grand-daughter Mary Mead ... shilling a year for two years to be paid by Mary Parsons my wife whom I make my sole executor......"

GGGGGGGGP Moses Parsons died shortly after making his will and was buried on 17 Jul 1736 at Kington Magna. GGGGGGGGP Mary Parsons died a few years later in either 1738 or 1739

4.0 GGGGGP John Loader (1765-1841) & Ann Lovell (1769-1846)

The baptismal record above confirms that GGGGGF John Loader was baptised on 18 Aug 1765 at Moor Crichel, so he must have moved two miles to Gussage some time before his marriage.

NOTE: In the late 1760's and 1770's most of the occupants of the hamlet of Moor Crichel were moved two miles to Witchampton by the owner of the estate, Humphrey Sturt. He then built an artificial lake on the site occupied by the former residents. (See 4.2) This may have been the reason why John Loader's family relocated to Gussage. Humphrey Sturt of Horton, Wimborne, inherited More Crichel in 1765. He was an ancestor of the famous explorer of Australia, Charles Sturt.

From 1780 to 1782 John Loader was listed as paying land tax in the Wimborne Borough, which probably encompassed Moor Crichell. John Loader occupied the land. The amount paid (18s) was above average, so his land holding would have been larger than most. This suggests that he was reasonably well off. The fact that he could sign his name also suggests that his parents had enough money to pay for his education.

At the age of 24, John Loader married Ann Lovell 21, in her home town of Moor Crichel (2 miles from Gussage) on 13 Apr 1789. A witness at the wedding was John Sims. John Sims was a witness to many other marriages and other documents listed him as the Parish Clerk. Interestingly both Ann and John signed their own names, rather than using an 'X' to make their mark, which indicates they may have had some education. GGGGGM Ann Lovell had been baptised at Moor Crichel on 14 May 1769 (probably born in 1768) by her parents GGGGGGP William and Mary Lovell. (See 7.0)

John Loader of the Parish of Gussage All Saints married "Ann Lovell of this Parish" (Moor Crichel) in 1789

Within a few months of the wedding, babies started to arrive and their place of birth indicates the family were living in Moor Crichel during the 1780's. Hannah Loader was baptised in 1789, John Loader 1792, Elizabeth Loader 1796 and GGGGF Robert Lanning Loader b1801. The first four children were baptised at Moor Crichel. GGGGP John and Ann Loader nee Lovell had three more babies, who were baptised at Wimborne Minster. These were Thomas Loader (1803-1803), Thomas Loader (b1804) and George Loader b1807, who was baptised, when mother Ann was in her late 30's. The first Thomas Loader born c1803, died soon after birth, before he could be baptised (see below). The other two children Thomas b1804 and George b1807 both confirmed their place of birth as Moor Crichel in later censuses.

The family were probably living in the Manswood Cottages, which is about 6 miles from Wimborne. Manswood is a picturesque terrace of twelve thatched cottages in the Moor Crichel area that still exist today. (See 4.1)

Witchampton land Tax 1817:John Loader & Robert Young are listed as "proprietors".

In 1817 John Loader was listed as a "proprietor" and occupier of land in Witchampton. His property was adjacent to one owned by Robert Young. This listing could be referring to John Loader snr b1765 or his son John Loader jnr b1792. However it is likely to be the former, since the younger John was living in the Poole vicinity at around this time. Witchampton is just one mile from Manswood and Moor Crichel.

In 1819 son John Loader b1792 married Catherine Fry at Poole and daughter Elizabeth Loader b1796 married James Wadham at Moor Crichel. In 1821 daughter Hannah Loader b1789 married carpenter George Kail at Chalbury and in 1823 son GGGGF Robert Lanning Loader b1801 married Ann Smith at Moor Crichel. In 1828 son Thomas b1804 married Sarah Hutchins at Sturminster Newton.

The electoral registers of 1839-1841 listed GGGGGF John Loader as living in Moor Crichel. His property was listed as leasehold and described as “Hardings Living” (a name of a field at Moor Crichel). He was one of nine men from Moor Crichel who was entitled to vote because of their land holdings.

1841 census: John Loader 70 carpenter, Ann Loader 65 & George Loader 30 sawyer, Manswood Cottages, Moor Crichel

The 1841 census tells us that GGGGGF John Loader was 70 (really 75) and his occupation was carpenter. Living with John in the hamlet of Manswood Cottages, Moor Crichel were wife GGGGGM Ann Loader nee Lovell 65 (really 71) and son George Loader 30 (really 33), sawyer. Ages were rounded down in that census. They were living a few doors away from son GGGGF Robert Loader 35 and his family.

Although not involving our ancestors (who were neighbours), they would have been very aware of the following incident. On 10 Sep 1842 there was an inquiry to determine the cause of death of Sarah Jane Stay held at the house of William Pinney of Manswood, Moor Crichel by Coroner Thomas George Robson, gentleman. The verdict concluded that she had died as a result of being burnt. This record is held at the Dorset History Centre and may have included evidence from our relatives.

GGGGGF John Loader age 76 died, and was buried during November 1841 (EDI). It appears that Ann Loader nee Lovell lived at Manswood for the rest of her life. Son George moved out of the family home in the early 1840's for work reasons and married Mary Ann Snook at Hampreston in 1844.

George Loader and wife Mary Ann returned to settle down at Manswood (probably living in the family home), where they had most of their children. See 5.7 for more information about George Loader.

GGGGGM Ann Loader nee Lovell 76 died and was buried on 27 March 1846. GGGGGP John and Ann probably died at home at Manswood, but both deaths were registered at nearby Wimborne.

GGGGGF John Loader left a will written a few months before his death, which confirmed the names of his children. It reads as follows: "The last Will and Testament of John Loader of Manswood in the Parish of More Crichell; Aug 18th 1841. I, John Loader bequeath to my wife Anne Loader all my property as well as my house for her life provided she continue as a widow.... And after her life I bequeath the same to my children Hannah Kail, John Loader, Betsy Waddam (Elizabeth Loader nee Wadham b1796), Robert Loader (GGGGF Robert Lanning Loader), Thomas Loader, George Loader to be parted equally amongst them or to be disposed of by action as the greater number may agree. Signed John Loader ....."

NOTE: The use of the words "all my property as well as my house" suggest that John Loader was reasonably well off. Another document attached to the will provides information about the death of GGGGGM Ann Loader nee Lovel "And Whereas the said Anne Loader departed this life on or about the twenty seventh day of March in 1846 ..."

4.1 Notes about Manswood

Manswood is a picturesque terrace of twelve thatched cottages in the Moor Crichel area that still exist today. Manswood may be connected to the medieval settlement Chetterwood from 1215, although the earliest building there now is a farmhouse dated 1725.

Manswood Cottages today

The earliest records connecting the Loader family to Manswood were those relating to Hannah Loader b1789 who listed Manswood as her place of birth on the 1861 census. Sister Elizabeth Loader b1796 was also born there. She married James Wadham in 1819 and probably lived in her parent's house (or close by) after her marriage, and that is where she had her first three babies over the following years. In 1841, GGGGP John and Ann Loader were recorded as living there with son George Loader 30. There are many other records linking the Loaders to Moor Crichel, which is so close, as to be a generic term for the Manswood area, so Loaders were living at Manswood since the 1700's starting with GGGGGM Ann Loader nee Lovell born at Moor Crichel in 1769. See 7.7.

The 1911 census informs us that one of the cottages is known as 'Loaders Cottage' and this is very likely named after our family. The family that were inhabiting the five roomed 'Loaders Cottage' in 1911 was that of William Frank and Rose Mitchell nee Christopher. They had lived there since their marriage in 1886. In fact Rose Christopher was born in one of the Manswood cottages in 1864 and her parents had originally moved there around 1832

Frank Mitchell & his family occupied Loader's Cottage, Manswood in 1911

The Christopher family would have known the Loaders well. In 1841, Rose Christopher's parents Reuben and Mary Christopher, were living two doors from GGGGGP John, Ann and son George Loader, and on the other side, a few doors from GGGGP Robert and Ann Loader and their family. The Christophers were living next door to William Pinney. On 10 Sep 1842 there was an inquiry to determine the cause of death of Sarah Jane Stay held at the house of William Pinney of Manswood, Moor Crichel by Coroner Thomas George Robson, gentleman. The verdict concluded that she had died as a result of being burnt [by accident]. This record is held at the Dorset History Centre and may have included evidence from our relatives.

In 1851 the Christopher family were living two doors away from GGGP Robert and Ann Loader, and in 1861 their cottage was eight doors from George Loader 54 and Mary Ann Loader nee Snook 40. The 1871 census describes the Christopher's residence as 'Sims Living' and this was adjacent to 'Loaders Living', presumably named after our Loaders. The Christopher's house was next door to George (son of Elizabeth Wadham nee Loader) and Hannah Wadham nee Adams.

From 1881 onwards there does not seem to be any of our extended family living in Manswood, but as indicated in the 1911 census their name lived on, in the form of the house known as 'Loaders Cottage'.

4.2 Notes about Moor Crichel
Moor Crichel, Dorset has several different spellings such as More Crichel, Critchel and Crichel Moor (in various documents). Moor Crichel was a village which stood until late in the 18th century near St. Mary's Church. It had a mansion set in 400 acres of parkland, with a crescent-shaped lake covering 50 acres.

Crichel House, church & lake in 1800's

The original Tudor house was largely destroyed in an accidental fire in 1742. John Bastard of Blandford and Francis Cartwright rebuilt Crichel for Sir William Napier after the fire, and when Humphrey Sturt inherited the estate in 1765 he extensively remodelled the house. The remodelling involved moving the village a mile to the south and many of the villagers were moved to 'New Town', Witchampton. The original site of Moor Crichel is now submerged beneath the lake leaving only the church (rebuilt in 1850) and a carefully contrived landscape in front of the classical mansion. Only a few residents were able to remain, if their farm cottages were away from the site of the lake.

Crichel House was a mansion that employed many local people as staff members. The 1881 census listed the occupants as Lord and Lady Alington and their six children. They employed over 30 servants to run the house, stables and laundry!

5.0 Seven children of GGGGGP John Loader (1765-1841) & Ann Lovell (1769-1846)
The records show that John and Ann's children were quite close. They frequently lived nearby, visited each other, named their children after family members and witnessed each other's weddings. Having a printed copy of the Loader Family Tree available (see above) will make the following chapters easier to follow. Males in the extended family were often carpenters or joiners and a few were sawyers.

It is interesting to note that all six of GGGGGP John and Ann's surviving children signed their names on their marriage registrations. Although born prior to 1807, they all had been taught to write and presumably to read. Such literacy was uncommon at that time. As both of their parents were also literate, these skills may have been imparted by them.

5.1 Hannah Loader (1789-1863) & George Kail

Hannah was baptised in 24 Oct 1789 at Moor Crichel (soon after her parent's wedding). At the 1861 census she listed her actual place of birth as Manswood (Cottages). At the age of 30 she was a witness at her younger sister Elizabeth’s wedding in 1819. (See 5.3)

1817 Land Tax Witchampton: George Kail owned and occupied one block of land and leased another from Henry Sturt Esq.

At some stage, Hannah (probably in her late 20's) met her future husband George Kail, who lived in nearby Witchampton. George was a prosperous carpenter, who owned and occupied one Witchampton property in 1817 and leased another from Henry Charles Sturt Esquire, whose family owned Crichel House. Elizabeth Loader may have met George Kail through her father who was also a carpenter. On 29 Jun 1820 George Kail and Hannah Loader (along with sister Sarah Kail), were witnesses at a wedding in Witchampton. The occasion was the marriage of George's sister Maria to Joseph Gilbert.

Hannah Loader married George Kail in Chalbury 1821

On 4 Sep 1821 at Chalbury (about 2 miles from Moor Crichel) Hannah Loader 32 married George Kail (b1791), carpenter of Witchhampton. Hannah's grandparents (GGGGGGP Thomas Loader and Mary Lanning) had also been married at Chalbury whch suggest this church was used by members of the Loader family over several generations, whilst they resided at nearby Moor Cruchel.

They settled in Witchampton and had five children named Eliza (25 Apr 1824), Amelia (14 Jan 1827), Sophia (9 Mar 1828), Sarah (7 Feb 1830) and George Kail (1835-1835). In 1841 the family was living at Witchampton and consisted of George Kail 45 master carpenter, Hannah Kail 50, Sophia Kail 13 and Sarah Kail 11. Son George had died as an infant and oldest daughter Eliza Kail 23 married George Henderson 26, excise officer in 1847 in Witchampton. On the wedding registration George Kail was described as a master carpenter.

1851 Census Witchampton

In 1851 George's carpentry business was doing very well and he was employing fourteen men. The family consisted of George Kail 59 master carpenter, Hannah Kail nee Loader 61, Sophia Kail 23 and Sarah Kail 21. Visiting the family at this time was Hannah's unmarried niece Hannah Wadham 23 dressmaker. This visit must have been very short, because Hannah was also listed as living at home at the time of this census (See 5.3b below). The family had two weddings in 1854. In March daughter Sarah 24 married George Meaden 23 shipwright, and in June, daughter Sophie Kail 28 married William Adams 26, carpenter in 1854. The weddings were at Witchampton and George Kail was listed as father and a master carpenter. On both occasions one of the witnesses was brother-in-law George Henderson (see above). Sophie was also a witness at sister Sarah's wedding.

In 1861 things were much the same. George 69 was employing seven men and seven boys in his carpentry business and living with wife Hannah Kail 71, but their address was now Mt Pleasant [Cottages], Witchampton. Hannah listed her birth place as Manswood. Their adult daughters had left home and were now living elsewhere. Hannah Kail nee Loader died in late 1863 aged 74.

Eight years later, in 1871, George Kail was a 79 year old widower and had expanded his business to include carpentry and wheelwright work (fixing carriage wheels). At this time he employed seven men and four boys. The business was now located at Step House (built in the 17th century) and living with George was his married daughter Sarah Meaden nee Kail 41 and three grandchildren. One of these; George R Henderson 16, was working for his grandfather as a carpenter and wheelwright. George senior was well off enough to employ a servant, who also resided in the house. They were living next door to sister-in-law Elizabeth Young nee Loader aged 74 (See 5.3).

Possible Carriage Entrance to Crichel House. The thatched building on the right may be where George Kail resided in 1871

On October 13, 1871 the 'Western Gazette' gave an indication of the location of the Kail residence, when it reported that "On Wednesday, the post-office of this place was removed from near the school-house to a house fitted up by H. Gerard Sturt, Esq., M.P., adjoining Mr. George Kail's, and in close proximity to the carriage entrance of Crichel Park". (See Moor Crichel above)

George Kail died on the 1 Jan 1876 aged 85 and was buried at Witchampton. Probate was granted to son-in-law William Adams with effects valued at under £800.

5.2 John Loader (Jnr) (1792-1864)

John was baptised on 14 Jan 1792 at Moor Crichel, but probably born in 1791.

John Loader married Catherine Fry 1819 at Poole

By 1819 John was living in Poole (14 miles away), where at the age of 27 he married Catherine Fry, 17 (b1802). Witnesses at the wedding were John and Fanny Fry (possibly Catherine’s siblings).

John and Catherine had six children by 1838; Eliza Loader 1825 (according to the 1841 census), Fanny Loader baptised 30 Jan 1828 at Blandford (father listed as John Loader carpenter), Charles Loader baptised 10 Feb 1830 at Blandford (John Loader, carpenter), Ann Loader baptised 30 Apr 1832 in Poole, Elizabeth baptised in Poole 30 Oct 1835 (father was John Loader, joiner) and Selina Loader baptised 22 May 1838 in Poole.

1841 Christchurch Rd Poole: John & Catherine Loader nee Fry & 6 children

In 1841 the family was living in Christchurch Rd, Poole. There were John Loader 45 carpenter, Catherine Loader 40 and their children Eliza Loader 15, Fanny Loader 13, Charles Loader 10, Ann Loader 7, Elizabeth Loader 5 and Selina Loader 3. By 1851 John 58 and Catherine 49 had moved to Hancocks Alley (aka Thames Alley), Poole, with their children Charles Loader 20, Ann Loader 19, Elizabeth Loader 14 and Selina Loader 11.

John b1792 was a carpenter like his father and his own son Charles. In 1851, daughter Fanny Loader was an unmarried dressmaker aged 22, lodging with unmarried Charlotte West 22 (bSixpenny Handley) and her family, in Strand St, St James, Poole. Sadly Fanny Loader died on 19 Sept 1853 aged 24. Her sisters Eliza b1825 and Ann b1832 possibly also died at a young age, as no other records have been found.

In 1861 there were two marriages in the family. Son Charles Loader, 30 year old joiner, married Eliza Bryant at Hamworthy and daughter Selena 21 married John Keynes, butcher in St James Poole. Her father was listed as John Loader carpenter and joiner and the family were living in West Shore at this time.

1861 Census: West Shore, Poole. Catherine Loader 63 "carpenter's wife" living with adult children Charles & Elizabeth

By 1861, John Loader snr, now 68, had moved to Kinson (near Bournemouth) to live away from his family. His occupation was given as carpenter and he was listed as a married man lodging with the Ramsey family (presumably it was a temporary shift for work reasons) in the Five All Inn. In the meantime, the 1861 census recorded that Catherine Loader nee Fry 63, carpenter’s wife, was living at West Shore Rd., Poole (she was not listed as head of the family which implies John was still head of the family, but temporarily absent). Also in the house were unmarried offspring Charles Loader 29 also a carpenter and daughter Elizabeth Loader 23 (b1838) domestic servant (probably working for a nearby family).

Unfortunately John Loader b1792 died three years later on 5 Oct 1864, aged 75 and was buried in St James, Poole. As this was prior to the next census we cannot tell whether he got back together with his family again. Catherine Loader nee Fry died in 1875 aged 77, and was buried 23 Apr 1875 with her husband at St James Poole, in the same church that she was married in.

In 1879 daughter Elizabeth Loader 38 year old spinster married 30 year old widower John Green at Poole. One of the witnesses was brother-in-law John Keynes.

5.3 Elizabeth Loader (1796-1873) & three husbands

Elizabeth was baptised on 18 Nov 1796 at Moor Crichel. At the age of 23 in 1819, she met and married James Lambert Wadham (b1800 Tarrant Hinton) at Moor Crichel. Her older sister Hannah Loader was a witness at the wedding. All parties signed their names.

Marriage Reg of Elizabeth Loader & James Wadham 1819, witnessed by sister Hannah Loader

Five children were born as follows: Ellen Wadham baptised 6 Dec 1919, Jane Wadham b4 Nov 1821, Ann Wadham b11 Jan 1824, George Wadham b1825 (named after Elizabeth's brother) and Hannah Wadham b1827 (named after Elizabeth's sister). The first three children were born in Manswood cottages and the latter two were listed as being born at Moor Crichel (but probably still Manswood). Sadly, husband James Wadham died at a young age (before 40), sometime between 1828 and 1841 and daughter Jane appears to have died in that period too, leaving Elizabeth to raise four children by herself.

By 1841, the now widowed Elizabeth was still living at Moor Crichel with three daughters; Ellen Wadham 20, Ann Wadham 17 and Hannah Wadham 13. (Elizabeth’s son George Wadham 15 was visiting friends; sisters Mary and Catherine Moody in nearby Long Crichel).

Marriage registration of John Adams & Ellen Wadham at Moor Crichel 1843

On 23 Feb 1843 daughter Ellen Wadham 23 married John Adams 30 carpenter at Moor Crichel. James Wadham was listed as Ellen's father and witnesses were Ellen's sister Ann Wadham b1824 and uncle George Loader b1807 (brother of Ellen's mother).

On 31 Aug 1844 Elizabeth's brother George Loader married Mary Ann Snook at Hampreston (8 miles from Manswood). Witnesses were Elizabeth's daughter (George's niece) Ann Wadham (b1824; and John Ford. Four years later in 1848, Ann Wadham married John Ford .

Elizabeth Wadham nee Loader b1796 married William Readhead. Witnesses John Ford & niece Elizabeth Loader b1825

In 1845 Elizabeth Wadham nee Loader 49 was working as a milliner, when she met shoemaker William Redhead 53, whose wife, Mary Readhead nee Clench, had died in their Horton home in October 1841. As Horton is only 3 miles from Moor Crichel, Elizabeth possibly met William when she needed some shoes repaired. Romance blossomed and on 4 Dec 1845 they were married in Horton. The marriage register included the names of both fathers: Edward Readhead, shoemaker and GGGGGF John Loader, carpenter. Witnesses at the wedding were future son-in-law John Ford (daughter Ann's husband) and Elizabeth Loader (probably brother GGGGF Robert Loader’s daughter b1825, who did not get married herself until 1854; see 12.2). The marriage expanded Elizabeth’s family to include William’s three children by his first marriage: John Readhead 22, Robert Readhead 16 and Jane Readhead 11.

1851 Census: William & Elizabeth Readhead nee Wadham nee Loader at Horton with their blended family

In 1851 the expanded family were still living in Horton, but William Readhead 58, had changed occupations and was now a baker. Elizabeth Readhead (nee Wadham and Loader) was 54. Robert Readhead 22 (stepson) had taken up his father’s previous occupation of shoemaker, Son George Wadham 25 was a woodsman, Hannah Wadham 23 was a dressmaker and visiting them was nephew Charles Loader 3 (son of brother GGGGF Robert Lanning Loader see 12.10).

The following year in Horton, on 14 Mar 1852, daughter Hannah Wadham married her stepbrother Robert Readhead (not blood relatives). Both parties signed the marriage registration indicating some literacy skills. A few months later, tragedy struck with the death of Elizabeth’s second husband William Readhead at the age of 59 on 24 October 1852 in Horton.

Marriage Reg. for John Young & Elizabeth Readhead nee Wadham nee Loader. Witnesses: Robert Readhead & Ann Ford

Two years later on 8 Aug 1854 Elizabeth married her third husband, widower John Young 56, labourer, in Horton. Witnesses to the wedding were stepson and son-in-law Robert Readhead and daughter Ann Ford nee Wadham 30. John Young's previous wife had been Sarah Kail (b1803 Witchampton; d1852), whom he had married in 1822 in Witchampton. Sarah Kail was the sister of George Kail who married Elizabeth's sister Hannah b1789 in 1821 (see 5.1). The two Loader sisters ended up being married to two Kail siblings, who they would have known for many years. As Elizabeth's previous husband and John Young's previous wife both died in 1852, they would have comforted each other in their grief, and this shared experience may have lead to their romance.

Once again Elizabeth gained a bigger family with the inclusion of John’s children by his earlier marriage; John Young jnr 14 and Henry Young 9. Elizabeth 63 moved in with John Young senior 63 at Witchampton (4 miles from Horton) and they were living there in 1861 with John's sons; John Young jnr 21 labourer and Henry Young 14, carpenter. Lodging in the house with them was George Duke 20 (b1840, Corfe Mullen), blacksmith. The family was living next to Elizabeth's sister Hannah Kail nee Loader 71 and her husband George Kail 69. (See 5.1)

1871 Census; George Kail widower living next to sisterinlaw Elizabeth Young nee Loader and her husband John Young

John and Elizabeth Young nee Loader were at the same address in 1871 but were both thenlisted as being 74. The year of death for Elizabeth is unknown. Her husband, John Young, died in 1880 aged 83 (death registered at Dorchester). An Elizabeth Young died at Hampreston, Wimborne in 1873 at the age of 82, but it appears that she was the widow of husband Joseph Young who had died many years before.

NB There are variations in the spellings of Wadham (sometimes Waddem), and Readhead (sometimes Redhead).

5.3a George Lambert Wadham (1825-1911)

George Lambert Wadham was baptised in Moor Crichel on 5 Feb 1825 and was the fourth child of Elizabeth Wadham nee Loader (see 5.3) and James Lambert Wadham. He was probably named after Elizabeth's brother. Sadly, George's father, James Lambert Wadham, died sometime between 1828 and 1841, leaving his mother Elizabeth Wadham nee Loader to raise four children by herself. In 1841, the widowed Elizabeth was still living at Moor Crichel with her three daughters; Ellen (Jane had changed her name to Ellen) Wadham 20, Ann Wadham 17 and Hannah Wadham 13. Son George Lambert Wadham 15 was visiting friends; sisters Mary and Catherine Moody in nearby Long Crichel.

In 1845 George's mother was working as a milliner, when she met widowed shoemaker William Redhead 53 and on 4 Dec 1845 they were married in Horton. The marriage register included the names of both fathers: Edward Readhead, shoemaker and John Loader, carpenter. Witnesses were cousin, Elizabeth Loader b1825 (uncle Robert Loader’s daughter see 12.2) and future brother-in-law John Ford (sister Ann's husband). The marriage expanded the family to include William’s three children by his first marriage: John Readhead 22, Robert Readhead 16 and Jane Readhead 11.

In 1851 the expanded family were still living in Horton, but William Readhead 58, had changed occupations and was now a baker. Elizabeth Readhead (nee Wadham and Loader) was 54. Robert Readhead 22 (stepbrother) had taken up his father’s previous occupation of shoemaker, George Lambert Wadham 25 was a woodsman, Hannah Wadham 23 was a dressmaker and visiting them was cousin Charles Loader 3 (son of brother Robert Loader see 12.10).

Raston" GGGGGGM Mary King's family were the earliest known ancestors to live in Wimborne.

6.2 GGGGGGGP William Lovell (1689-1761) & Mary Jane Arnold (1695-1760)

Milton Abbas: Lovell: July 24 (1689) was baptised William Lovell son of Francis Lovell & Margaret his wife.

GGGGGGGF William Lovell was baptised at Milton Abbas by his parents Francis and Margaret Lovell nee Wolbridge.

Milton Abbas: Arnold; Mar 8 (1695) was baptised Mary Arnold daughter of James & Mary his wife.

GGGGGGGM Mary Arnold was baptised in 1695 at Milton Abbas by parents James and Mary Arnold. Having been raised in the same village since birth, William Lovell and Mary Arnold would have known each other all their lives and were married around 1713 (when Mary was 18), but no marriage registration has been found.

GGGGGGGP William and Mary Lovell nee Arnold had at least eleven children; John Lovell 1714-1714, Mary Lovell 1715, Benjamin Lovell 1717, Andrew Lovell 1720, Elizabeth Lovell 1722, James Lovell 1724, Robert Lovell 1727, GGGGGGF William Lovell 1730, Ann Lovell 1732, Jane Lovell 1735 and John Lovell 1738. All children were born at Milton Abbas with the last child born when Mary Lovell nee Arnold was in her early forties.

Son GGGGGGF William Lovell married Mary King in Wimborne in 1747.

Milton Abbas: Lovell 18 Jul 1761: William Lovell was buried

GGGGGGGM Mary Lovell nee Arnold 65 died in 1760 and GGGGGGGF William Lovell died 18 Jul 1761 aged 72. Both were buried in Milton Abbas. Three years after his father's death, youngest son John Lovell married Honour Tucker. John signed his name as did one of the witnesses named Sarah Loader, who may have been related to our Loader relatives

6.3 GGGGGGGGP Francis Lovell (1657-1736) & Margaret Wolridge (1657-1738)
Francis Lovell was the son of Benjamin Lovell and Mellior Dunning (?-1709).

Francis & Robert the sons of Benjamin & Melior Lovell were baptised the 25th day of October 1657; @ Winterbourne

Francis Lovell appears to have been a twin with his brother Robert Lovell as they were baptised at the same time on 25 October 1657 at Winterbourne Houghton. He had at least six siblings, the last being born three miles away at Milton Abbas, indicating that his parents may have moved the family there by the early 1670's. It was there he met his future wife who was a resident of that hamlet. GGGGGGGGM Margaret Wolridge was baptised on 16 Apr 1657 at Milton Abbas by her parents William Wolridge and Frances Child. (See 6.5)

On the 20 Mar 1683 GGGGGGGGF Francis Lovell 26 married Margaret Wolridge 26 at Milton Abbas. Francis and Margaret had eight children; Mary Lovell 1684-?, Robert Lovell 1686-?, Elizabeth Lovell 1687-?, GGGGGGGF William Lovell 1689-1761, Francis Lovell 1691-1725, Andrew Lovell 1694-?, John Lovell 1696-? and Benjamin Lovell 1699-?

GGGGGGGGF Francis Lovell died at the age of 79 and was buried in Milton Abbas on 2 Mar 1736. He must have been reasonably well off, because he left a will and probate was granted to his eldest son Robert Lovell of West Morden (15 miles from Milton Abbas). GGGGGGGGM Margaret Lovell nee Wolridge died two years later and was buried at Milton Abbas on 19 Feb 1738.

6.4 GGGGGGGGGP Benjamin Lovell (1620-1712) & Melior Dunning (c1634-1709)
Benjamin was born to Joan Lovell, and baptised on 17 Sep 1620 at Winterbourne Houghton (see below)

Benjamin son ...... Lovell was baptised ... day of September 1620 (at Winterbourne Houghton)

Melior Dunning was born around 1634 in Milton Abbas to father Robert Dunning and his unknown wife.

Lovell-Dunning: 7 of March (1755) was married Benjamin Lovell & Mellior Dunning.

Benjamin and Melior married around 1654 and had at least seven children; Joan (Jone) Lovell 1655-?, Robert Lovell 1657-1662, GGGGGGGGGF Francis Lovell 1657-1736, Margaret Lovell 1659-1732, John Lovell 1661-1661, Elizabeth Lovell 1663-? and Mellior Lovell 1672-?

Lovell; 13 of March was the birth-day of Jone Lovell daughter of Benjamin Lovell of Houghton & Mellior his wife

The baptism record of their first daughter Joan confirmed that Benjamin came from nearby (3 miles) Winterbourne Houghton. As all children were baptised at Milton Abbas the family must have settled in that area (or at least attended that church).

GGGGGGGGGM Melior Lovell died in 1709 and was buried at Milton Abbas on 2 Jul 1709.

Milton Abbas; Hard to read entry says "Lovell: May the 26th; was buried Benjamin Lovell"

GGGGGGGGGF Benjamin Lovell was buried in the same place on 26 May 1712.

6.5 GGGGGGGGGP William Wolridge (c1626-1685) & Frances Child (c1629-1690)

William Woolridge was born around 1626 and Francis Child was born around 1629.

GGGGGGGGGF William Woolridge married Frances Child on 29 May 1651 at Milton Abbas and they had nine children over the next twenty years; William Wolridge 1652-?, Mary Wolridge 1654-?, Baby Girl Wolridge 1655-1655, GGGGGGGGM Margaret Wolridge 1657-1725, Baby Girl Wolridge 1659-1659, Elizabeth Wolridge (Vater)1661-?, John Wolridge 1666-?, Christopher Wolridge 1669-1670 and Christopher Wolridge 1672-?

26 Apr 1685 Bottom Entry: "Wolridge..... was buried William Wolridge" at Milton Abbas

Extract from Inventory of Goods & Chattels of William Wolridge dated 14 May 1685

GGGGGGGGGF William Woolridge died 26 Apr 1685 and was buried in Milton Abbas. The above extract from the "Inventory of all goods and chattels of William Wolridge" indicates he was reasonably well off, as it included a full page of items valued at many pounds.

"Woolbridge December 19 was buried Frances Wolridge widow"

GGGGGGGGGM Frances Wolridge nee Child, 61 year old widow, died and was buried in Milton Abbas on 19 Dec 1690.

7.0 Children of GGGGGGP William Lovell (1730-1782) & Mary King (1722-1799)

The children listed below are possibly those of William and Mary Lovell nee King. The three children born at Wimborne and Moor Crichel (Mary b1750, Soloman 1753 and Ann Lovell 1769) are most likely our family, but there is a question mark over those born six miles away at Tarrant Keyneston. The gap of 16 years between birth of Soloman and Ann and the fact that GGGGGM Ann Lovell (see 7.7) was born in 1769, when mother GGGGGGM Mary Lovell nee King was around 46 years of age also raises a query. (However, Ann may have been born a year or more before her baptism)

One link between some of the children lies in the fact that sisters Mary Lovell b1750 and GGGGGM Ann Lovell b1769 both signed their names when they were married. Literacy was not widespread in the 1700's.

Four children born at Tarrant Keyston to William and Mary Lovell were William Lovell 1755, John Lovell 1756, Mary Lovell 1760 and Elizabeth Lovell 1764. These are likely to have been a different family because the first child was named Mary and there was already a child named Mary (above). Alternatively Mary and Solomon listed in i) and ii) were from a different family.

7.1 Mary Lovell (1750-1820)
Mary Lovell ("Lovell, Mary daughter of William") was baptised on 8 Oct 1750 at Wimborne when her mother was 28. She was born three years after her parent's marriage.

Middle entry: Baptism of "Lovel, Mary; Daughter of William (Lovell) 8 Oct 1750"

On 28 Oct 1771 Mary married John Davis at Wimborne Minster. Mary signed her name, but John made his mark.

At the age of 21, on 28 Oct 1771, Mary Lovell, married John Davis at Wimborne. Both were "of this parish". Witnesses were brother Solomon Lovell and James King, who was most likely related to Mary's mother Mary Lovell nee King. Apart from Mary's husband all parties signed their names. John and Mary Davis nee Lovell had the following children; William Davis 1772, Mary Davis 1774, Susannah Davis 1784 and Sarah Davis 1788. All were born in Wimborne and Mary would have been 38 when her last child was born.

The date of death for John Davis is not known. Mary Davis nee Lovell had two children and died in Wimborne in Feb 1820 aged 71.

7.2 Solomon Lovell (1753-1796)

Solomon ("son of William Lovell") was baptised on 26 Dec 1753 at Wimborne and possibly was a witness at his older sister's wedding in 1871. There was a burial for "Salome Lovell" at Wimborne Minster 30 Sep 1796, which is likely to be him at the age of 43. No more is known about his life.

7.3 William Lovell (1755-?)
William ("son of William and Mary Lovell") was baptised on 24 Apr 1755 at Tarrant Keyneston. William 28 probably married Elizabeth Lambert on 8 Feb 1784 in nearby Spetisbury. No more is known.

7.4 John Lovell (1756-?)
John ("son of William and Mary Lovell") was baptised in Nov 1756 at Tarrant Keyneston. John may have married Mary Maidment in Moor Crichel (6 miles from his birthplace) on 16 May 1785. No more is known

7.5 Mary Lovell (1760-?)
Mary was baptised on 24 Aug 1760 at Tarrant Keyneston. The baptismal record indicates "Mary, daughter of William & Mary Lovell; alias Saunders". The alias 'Saunders' and the fact that the first born daughter was also named Mary and survived childhood throws doubt on the connection of the five children born at Tarrant Keyneston being children of our William and Mary Lovell.

At the age of 19, Mary Lovell b1760, may have married Thomas Hancock at Tarrant Keyneston on 26 Jan 1779. Mary died in Tarrant Keyneston and was buried there on 25 Sep 1841 with a listed age of 82

7.6 Elizabeth Lovell (1764-?)
Elizabeth ("daughter of William and Mary Lovell") was baptised on 4 Mar 1764 at Tarrant Keyneston. This baptism also includes the note 'alias Saunders'. Elizabeth may have died unmarried at Canford Magna in 1830 with a listed age of 65.

7.7 GGGGGM Ann Lovell (1769-1846)
Ann was born in Moor Crichel in 1769 to GGGGGGP William and Mary Lovell nee King, when her mother was in her mid forties. She was baptised in Moor Crichel (5 miles from Wimborne) on 14 May 1769.

Centre entry: "May 14th GGGGGM Ann Daughter of GGGGGGP William & Mary Lovell" baptised in Moor Crichel

GGGGGM Ann married GGGGGF John Loader in 1789. (See 4.0 for more about their lives). Although there were a handful of 'Lovells' baptised in Moor Crichel in the 1700's, Ann was the only one born to William and Mary Lovell. This suggests the family moved there a year or two prior to her birth, making her our earliest relative born in the Moor Crichel area.

8.0 Ancestors of GGGGGGM Mary King (1723-1799)
Mary King’s family appear to be the earliest of our ancestors to live in the Wimborne area. See 6.1 for more about her married life with GGGGGGF William Lovell.

Marriages for William King in the vicinity of Wimborne.

Our William King is likely to have been the first man listed below. If his first wife died in 1720 though, he may have married again in 1721. He would have had two or three young children and would have found it very difficult to care for them while he earned an income. It is also possible that our William King died in 1724 and was buried at Wimborne (the year after GGGGGGM Mary King was born).

William King married Mary Willis on 27 Nov 1715. Mary (b1690 Canford Magna) possibly died in 1720.
William King married Mary Collis 1 Apr 1721 at Canford Magna (2 miles from Wimborne)
William King married Hannah Gregory Dec 1727
William King married Mary Mitchell 15 July 1729
William King married Honor Hayter 25 Sep 1730

8.1 GGGGGGM William King (c1700-?)

Mary King's father was GGGGGGGF William King. There were twelve children baptised with a father named William King, at Wimborne Minster in the early 1700's. The baptism records are not in good condition, are hard to read, and raise several questions. The baptisms records are shown below.

Bottom: King, Ann Daughter of William .......man 26 Aug 1716

CHILD 1- 1716-1726. Ann King was the earliest child baptised at Wimborne to a William King. Her baptism occurred on 26 Aug in 1716. This child was likely the daughter of William King and Mary Willis who married in Wimborne on 27 Nov 1715. William and Mary would have been born around 1690. The notation "man" appears at the end of the entry. Ann may have died in Wimborne in 1726 at the age of 9. The burial notation reads "Ann King daughter of William was buried 14 Apr 1726".

CHILD 2-1717. John King baptised at Wimborne in Sep 1717 by William King of Holt.

Bottom Entry appears to be crossed out but reads; King, Richard son of William 3rd Dec 1717

CHILD 3- 1717 Richard King was baptised in Dec 1717. His name is crossed out, so the entry may be an error. The notation "Man" may be written at the end of the entry.

James & Thomas King were both baptised as sons of a William King in June 1719, but two days apart.

CHILD 4 & 5: 1719. In 1719 there were two male babies baptised as sons of William King. They were baptised on different days; (22 and 24 of June) so they were fathered by different men with the same name. After each man's name is what appears to be his place of residence; "Man...", which may in fact be Manswood (about 6 miles from Wimborne Minster) and "Holt" (3 miles from Wimborne). James may have been may have been the brother of GGGGGGM Mary King b1723, because a James King was a witness at her wedding.Thomas King from Holt may have died at the age of 4 in Wimborne. The burial record reads "Thomas King was buried 19 Jan" 1724.

Bottom Entry: Baptised King, Catherine Daughter of William (King) 30 Sep 1720

CHILD 6: 1720 Catherine King was baptised on 30 Sep 1720. Two days prior to this baptism (28 Sep 1720) "Mary King wife of William was buried". As no more is known about Catherine, perhaps she died shortly after too. If this is correct, the later children may have been fathered by a remarried William King.

King, Mary; daughter of William King (baptised) Jan 17 1723 at Wimborne Minster

CHILD 7: 1723: GGGGGGM Mary King was baptised on 17 Jan 1723. She was most likely the daughter of William and his second wife Mary Collis. GGGGGGM Mary King married William Lovell in 1747. See 6.1

Top Entry (faint) King, Eliz. daughter of William baptised 2 Mar 1725 (badly written 1725)

CHILD 8: 1725-1725: Elizabeth King was baptised on 2 Mar 1725. Elizabeth died as an infant on 23 Mar 1725 and was buried in Wimborne.

King, Jane, daughter of William King 12 Mar 1726

CHILD 9: 1726-1726 Jane King was baptised on 12 Mar 1726 by William King. Sadly Jane King "daughter of William" died a month later and was buried in Wimborne on 15 Apr 1726. The fact that Jane died a few days after CHILD 1 above suggests that the girls may have been sisters and died from infectious disease.

King, William son of William ....man 22 Mar 1730

CHILD 10: March 1730: William King was baptised on 22 Mar 1730. William King married Martha Grey, widow, in 1757. Also a William King cordwainer married Sarah George in 1765 in Wimborne. James King was a witness at the latter wedding and along with the groom both signed their names.

King, Ann daughter of William King of Parish of .........near Blandford, baptised 17 Sep 1730

CHILD 11: Sept 1730: Ann King was baptised on 17 Sep 1730 and the record makes clear that this William came from the Blandford area. A 'William King' died in Blandford Forum in 1741.

Bottom Entry: King, Elizabeth daughter of William 8 Mar 1733

CHILD 12: 1733: Elizabeth King was baptised in 1733. On 26 Dec 1857 she married Robert Hayward. Both were of the parish of Wimborne. Her younger brother, William King, was a witness. Both men signed their names but Elizabeth made her mark.

There appears to be three men living in the Wimborne area named William King, who fathered the children above. Their families appear to be as follows:-

Child 11 was fathered by William King from Blandford (d1741) and the birth date is too close to child 10
Children 1, 3, 4, 7, 9 & 10 with birth years; Ann King b1716, Richard King b1717, James King 1719, GGGGGGM Mary King 1723, Jane King 1726 and William King 1730 are likely to have been in the same family. Child 3 was crossed out and the record may be an error. Most have a note after the father's name in the baptism record that ends in "man", which suggest these children may have resided at Manswood. Supporting this theory is the fact that later family members did live at Manswood and brother James King was a witness at GGGGGGM Mary's wedding. Also no names are repeated and the birth years are at regualar intervals.
Children 2, 5, 6, 8 and 12 with birth years; John b1717 (@Holt), Thomas b1719 (@Holt), Catherine b1720, Elizabeth 1725 (died young) and possibly Elizabeth b1733.

GGGGGGM Mary King's parents were probably born before 1700, but without more information it is difficult to identify them.

9.0 GGGGP Robert Lanning Loader (1801-1851) & Ann Smith (1803-1881)

GGGGF Robert Lanning Loader b1801 was the fourh child born to John and Ann Loader nee Lovell.

9.1 Early Life of GGGGP Robert Lanning Loader (1801-1851)

Robert was baptised on 27 Jul 1801 in Moor Crichel. The bishop’s transcript recorded his name as “Robert Leeming Loader son of John and Ann Loder”. It is likely that 'Leeming' was a mis-writing of Lanning, which was his paternal grandmother’s maiden name. (Maternal maiden names were often taken as middle names; a precursor to today’s hyphenated surnames). He used his middle name 'Lanning' in some later documents, such as on his son GGGF James Smith Loader’s wedding registration. Like his father, GGGGF Robert Loader was a carpenter and like most Loaders from the 1700's onwards he could sign his name.

9.2 Early Life of GGGGM Ann Smith (1803-1881)

Ann (b1803, Maisemore) was one of ten children born to GGGGGP Richard Smith (b1773 Maisemore) and Elizabeth Wellavize (b1780 Hardwicke, Gloucestershire). At some point before 1823 she moved around 90 miles to the Moor Crichel area in Dorset, which was very unusual, as most relationships at this time were struck up between people living just a few miles apart. Later census documents confirm her place of birth. At the age of 20 she met and married GGGGF Robert Lanning Loader at Moor Crichel. See 11.3 for more information about her early life and 7.3 for details of her married life.

9.3 GGGGP Robert Lanning Loader (1801-1851) & Ann Smith (1803-1881)

On 20 May 1823, Robert Loader 22 married Ann Smith 20 in Moor Crichel. Robert signed his name, but Ann made her mark (an “X”).

GGGGF Robert Loader married GGGGM Ann Smith at Moor Crichel in 1823

Nine children arrived almost like clockwork every two years as follows; GGGF James Loader 1823, Elizabeth Loader 1825, Thomas Loader 1827, John Loader 1829, Alfred Loader 1831, Mary Ann Loader 1834, Mark Loader 1838, Harry Loader 1842 and Charles Loader 1847 (when Ann was 44). However, two babies (John and Harry) died before they reached the age of one. From 1825 onwards, the baptismal record of several of their children nominated 'Manswood' as the family residence and "labouring carpenter" as the occupation of their father Robert Loader.

GGGGP Robert & Ann Loader's address on the 1841 census

Manswood Cottages probably remained the family home until after GGGGP Robert Loaders' death in the 1850's. The 1911 census of Manswood refers to "Loader's Cottage", which may have been the cottage that Robert's family occupied. (See 4.1).

1841 census Moor Crichel: Robert (a carpenter) & Ann Loader nee Smith & 6 children

The 1841 census listed the family living at Moor Crichel as GGGGP Robert Loader 35 carpenter, Ann Loader 35, GGGF James Loader 18, Elizabeth Loader 15, Thomas Loader 14, Alfred Loader 7, Mary Loader 6 and Mark Loader 3.

Manswood's thatched cottages today

In 1851 the family were living at Manswood Cottages, Moor Critchel and included Robert Loader 49 (b1802), Ann Loader 48 (b1803), Mary A Loader 16 (b1835) and Mark Loader 13 (b1828). Son Charles (aged 4) was visiting his aunt Elizabeth Readhead nee Loader (see 5.3).

Lower Entry: 1851 census at Moor Crichel. GGGGP Robert & Ann Loader nee Smith at Manswood with two children

Soon after the census in April 1851, GGGGF Robert Lanning Loader died at the age of 50 (EDI) and was buried at Wimborne, leaving Ann to raise three children under the age of 17 alone. When son Charles Loader was married in 1878, he listed his father's occupation as 'cabinetmaker', so Robert Lanning Loader must have moved into that more specialised field later in life.

On census day in 1861, GGGGM Ann Loader nee Smith with youngest son Charles 13, was visiting son-in-law Stephen Ferret (b1835 Farnham) and daughter Mary Ann Ferret nee Loader (see 12.7) Rooks Hill, Hinton Martell (3m from Moor Crichel). In 1863 tragedy struck again, when eldest son GGGF James Smith Loader died at the age of 38 (see 13.2).

1871 census: GGGGM Ann Loader nee Smith (mother) living with son Thomas (Thos.) & Katherine Loader and family

In 1871 Ann was 68 and living with her son Thomas Loader 43 and his wife Katherine Loader 44 in Pendock, Gloucestershire just a few miles from where Ann was born. Also in the house was grand-daughter Eliza Loader 11 (daughter of deceased son Alfred). By 1881 Thomas and Catherine had moved back to Dorset, so Ann moved 17 miles to live with her youngest son Charles Loader 33, clerk, and his wife Selina Loader 30 who lived at 1 Norton Cottages, Springfield Rd, Stroud, Gloucestershire. The fact that two of her sons had moved back to where she was born, suggests that there may have been employment or other opportunities arising from her extended family in the area. GGGGM Ann Loader nee Smith died at Stroud, Gloucestershire in 1881 at the age of 78.

10.0 Ancestors of GGGGM Ann Smith (1803-1881)

GGGGM Ann Smith was born to parents GGGGGP Richard Smith (1773-?) and Elizabeth Wellavize (1780-?) at Maisemore. See below.

10.1 GGGGGP Richard Smith (1773-1853) & Elizabeth Wellavize (1780-1847)

GGGGGF Richard Smith was born to GGGGGGP Joseph Smith and Ann Butt and baptised on 20 Jun 1773 at Maisemore. At some point he met his future wife who lived 7 miles away in the vicinity of Hardwicke. As a farm labourer, perhaps Richard moved from farm to farm as work became available.

GGGGGM Elizabeth Wellavize’s parents were listed as GGGGGGP William Wellaviz (spelt Willavais) and Elizabeth Wellavize when she was baptised at Hardwicke on 23 Apr 1780.

Middle: Baptism of GGGGGF Richard Smith to GGGGGGP Joseph & Ann Smith nee Butt on 20 Jun 1773

GGGGGF Richard Smith of Maisemore and Elizabeth Wellavize of Hardwicke, Gloucestershire were married 31 September 1798 at Hardwicke, and both "made their mark". Witnesses to the wedding were James Clifford and Sarah Wellavize (a sister born 1778?). See 10.3.

GGGGGF Richard Smith of Maisemore married GGGGGM Elizabeth Wellavize of Hardwicke, Gloucestershire

Richard and Elizabeth Smith nee Wellavize settled in Maisemore to have their family. The first three children were daughters born at Maisemore and were given almost identical names. The first born Mary Ann Smith was born in 1798 but died the following year in 1799. The second was named Ann Smith and she was born in 1800 but passed away in 1802. GGGGGP Richard and Elizabeth Smith nee Wellaviz must have been overjoyed when their third child GGGGM Ann Smith was born in 1803 and went on to live a long and eventful life. (See 11.3 for more details). Naming babies after deceased ones was a common way of moving on from the grief that comes with the loss of a child.

Before 1814 Richard and Elizabeth moved a few miles to Quedgeley. Richard and Elizabeth had seven more babies at Quedgeley over the next fourteen years. Their last child was John Smith born in Dec 1827 and baptised at Quedgely on 27 Jan 1828. At least six of their ten known children died as infants before the age of one.

GGGGGP Richard and Elizabeth Smith have not been found on the 1841 census, but they were probably still living in Quedgeley. GGGGGM Elizabeth Smith nee Wellavize died on Christmas Eve, Dec 24, 1847 aged 66 at Quedgeley.

1851 Census: Richard Smith fatherinlaw living with daughter Eliza & her husband William Phillips at Standish Moreton

In 1851 GGGGGF Richard Smith 77 (b1773, Maisemore), widowed former farm labourer, was living with his daughter Eliza Phillips nee Smith 32 (b1818 Quedgely), her husband William Phillips 41 ag lab and grandchildren, Charles Phillips 10, Henry Phillips 7, Elizabeth Phillips 4 and Sarah Phillips 2 at Standish Moreton Farm, Gloucestershire. All grandchildren were born at Standish, which is 3 miles from Hardwicke.

Cemetery at Quedgeley where GGGGGP Richard and Elizabeth Smith nee Wellavize are buried

GGGGGF Richard Smith died in 1853 at home in Hardwicke and was buried at Quedgely (less than 2m from Hardwicke) on 11 Jan 1853 aged 79.

At one time the canal network was a very busy transport network.

NOTE: In 1793, work began on the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal which passed through the Quedgely parish. This was opened to traffic in 1827. Swing bridges were built to cross the canal along Sims Lane and Elmore Lane. In 1801, there were 203 people living in the parish. This rose to 297 in 1831 and was 401 by 1851. Accompanying this rise in population was an increase in the number of houses, many of which were built of brick, along the Bristol Road in pairs or as detached houses. Although Richard was described as a farm labourer, perhaps he also worked on the construction of the canal, which was all done by hand. He was 20 when construction started.
10.1a Sarah Wellavise (1778-?)

Sarah Wellavise was the sister of GGGGM Elizabeth Wellavise who married GGGGF Richard Smith (See above)

Sarah Wellavise was baptised by parents GGGGGP William and Sarah Wellavise nee Watkins on 4 Jan 1778 at Hardwicke.

Thomas Verlin married Sarah Wellavize at Hempstead 28 Jun 1801

Sarah Wellavise 23 married Thomas Verlin? at Hempstead (4 miles from Hardwicke) on 28 Jun 1801. Both were residents of the hamlet of Littleworth at the time, which was 30 miles from where Sarah was born. Son, John Verlin, was baptised the following year on 31 Jan 1802 at St Mary de Crypt, Gloucester. No more is known about their lives.

10.2 GGGGGGP Joseph Smith (1744-1795) & Ann Butt (1736-1811)
GGGGGP Richard Smith’s parents were GGGGGGP Joseph Smith and Ann Butt. They were married at Hartpury on 3 Apr 1771. According to the baptisms of their children, they moved to Maisemore after their marriage, and other records indicate they spent the rest of their lives there. Their first child was Ann Smith, baptised on 29 Dec 1771, about nine months after their marriage.

GGGGGGF Joseph Smith of Maisemore & Ann Butt, spinster (of Hartpury) were married on 3 Apr 1771 at Hartpury

Son GGGGGF Richard Smith was baptised on 20 June 1773 and daughter Sarah Smith was baptised on 29 Aug 1779 (when her mother was 44). All three children were baptised at Maisemore.

GGGGGP Richard Smith's father could have been one of several Joseph Smith's born in that area of Gloucester around 1750, but the most likely one is GGGGGGF Joseph Smith born at Minsterworth, which is less than four miles from Maisemore and about five from Hartpury. He was baptised on 27 Jan 1744 and his parents were GGGGGGGP John and Ann Smith.

Joseph Smith was buried 5 Sep 1795 at Maisemore, Gloucestershire after having his leg amputated

GGGGGGF Joseph Smith had a serious accident in Sept 1795, causing his leg to be fractured badly enough to require amputation. He died on 5 Sep 1795, as a result of complications from the operation. The record says he was aged 51 at the time and was buried at Maisemore.

Ann daughter of Richard Butt and Ann his wife was baptised on 28 Oct 1736 at Hartpury, Gloucestershire

Ann Smith nee Butt was the daughter of Richard and Ann Butt. She was baptised in Hartpury on 28 Oct 1736. She died in Maisemore and was buried there with her husband on 11 Mar 1811 aged 73.

The old Maisemore Bridge with the village in the background

NOTE (from Wikipedia): Maisemore is a village in Gloucestershire on the west bank of the River Severn. The parishioners of Maisemore were, by ancient custom, liable for the repair of Maisemore Bridge, but this apparently proved beyond their means as in 1709, they were fined £200 for non-repair. At the same time the County Justices voted £200 towards "a good substantial brick and stone bridge". The latter was destroyed by great floods and in 1777 trustees were established to build a new bridge in place of a temporary wooden one which had been built lower down the river. A new two-arch brick bridge was begun in 1785 by Thomas Badford, the cost being defrayed by tolls levied by the trustees until 1795. The Smith family resided in Maisemore at this time and would have experienced the "Great Flood" and the dramas surrounding the Maisemore Bridge.

10.3 GGGGGGP William Wellavize (1753-1801) & Sarah Watkins (1744-?)
GGGGGM Elizabeth Wellavize’s parents were listed as GGGGGGP William Wellaviz (spelt Willavais) and Elizabeth Wellavize when she was baptised at Hardwicke on 23 Apr 1780.

"Elizabeth the daughter of William & Elizabeth [should be Sarah] Willavais" baptised 23 Apr 1780.

There do not seem to be any other children born in Hardwicke to this couple, but there was a William Wellavais (1753-1791) who married Sarah Watkins (1750-?) on 6 Nov 1876, who had babies either side of the 1780 baptism in Hardwicke. The facts below suggest that the minister made a mistake when recording GGGGGM Elizabeth's mother's name (confusing it with the daughter). This was not a rare occurrence.
a) It was unlikely that there were two William Wellavizes living in Hardwicke, who were married and had children at about the same time.
b) The Hardwicke records are quite intact and there are no other records referring to either another William or a wife named Elizabeth.
c) The fact that all the Wellavize children were born at regular intervals a few years apart suggest that they came from the same mother i.e Sarah Watkins.

GGGGGGF William Wellavise was possibly baptised by his unmarried mother, Beata (Beatrice) Wellavise on 3 Mar 1753 at South Cerney about 20 miles from Hardwicke.

William Wellavies [Wellavize] and Sarah Watkins were married Nov 6 1776 at Hardwicke

At some stage William 23 must have moved to the Hardwicke area where he met his future wife; GGGGGGM Sarah Watkins.

Sarah the daughter of William Watkins & Hannah his wife was baptised on 29th Decenmber 1744 at Hardwicke

Sarah Watkins was born in Standish and baptised there by her parents William and Hannah Watkins nee Harman on 29th December 1744. She probably moved to Hardwicke sometime prior to her marriage. GGGGGGP William Wellavise and Sarah Watkins were married in Hardwicke on 6 Nov 1776.

GGGGGGP William and Sarah Wellavise nee Watkins had at least four children; Sarah Wellavize 4 Jan 1778, GGGGGM Elizabeth Wellaviz b1780, William Wellavize b16 Mar 1783 (died 1837) and John Wellavize 5 Jun 1785.

From the place of birth of their children we know that GGGGGP William and Sarah Wellavize nee Watkins lived in Hardwicke until at least the mid 1780's but their lives after that remain a mystery. William was possibly buried at St John the Baptist, Gloucester on 22 Oct 1801. If this is so, he would have been 48 years old.

10.4 GGGGGGGP William Watkins (c1715-1780) & Hannah Harman (c1717-?)
William Watkins was born in the early 1700's. Hannah Harman was born around 1717

Nov 27 1738 "William Watkins & Hannah Harman/Harmer" were married at Pitchcombe. Two docs list the marriage

William Watkins married Hannah Harman at Pitchcombe on 2 Nov 1738 and they lived in that hamlet for their first year together.

20th May 1742 John son of William Watkins & Hannah his wife was baptised

Sarah the daughter of William Watkins and Hannah his wife was buried April the 17th 1747 at the age of 3

Mary the daughter of William Watkins and Hannah his wife was buried March 13th 1746 at Standish

Their first baby was born in Pitchcombe about 9 months later. They then moved around 5 miles to Standish where another four children were born. Their children were; William Watkins Aug 1739-?, John Watkins 1742-?, Sarah Watkins 1744-1747, Mary Watkins 1746-1746 and GGGGGGM Sarah Watkins 1754. Sadly two of their baby girls died as infants.

Son John Watkins reached the ripe old age of 80 and was buried in Standish on 24 Dec 1822

Standish Burials 1780

GGGGGGGF William Watkins was buried in Standish on 26 Nov 1780. He was probably in his sixties.

11.0 Ten children of GGGGGP Richard Smith (1773-1853) & Elizabeth Wellavize (1780-1847)
Ten children were born to parents Richard and Elizabeth Smith nee Wellavize. The first three were born at Maisemore, Gloucestershire and the next seven were born at Quedgely, which was about 5 miles away. Of the ten children at least seven and perhaps eight, died as infants before the age of one.

11.1 Mary Ann Smith (1798-1799)
Mary Ann was baptised at Maisemore on 21 Apr 1799 but died as an infant.

11.2 Ann Smith (1800-1802)
Ann was baptised at Maisemore on 30 Nov 1800 but died as an infant.

11.3 GGGGM Ann Smith (1803-1881)
GGGGM Ann Smith was baptised on 18 Sep 1803 at Maisemore, Gloucestershire and of her nine siblings, she was the first child to survive infancy and one of only two known children that reached adulthood. As was common at the time, Ann was given a similar name to her predecessors.

Hard to read 1803 baptism at Maisemore. Second line says; "Sep 18; Ann, Daughter of Richard & Elizabeth Smith".

At some point before 1823, for an unknown reason, Ann moved around 90 miles to the Moor Crichel area, where she married GGGGF Robert Loader on 20 May 1823. Later censuses confirm her birthplace was Maisemore. For more information about their married life see 9.3.

NOTE: Why and how Ann Smith moved to Moor Crichel is one of the biggest puzzles in our tree. Women sometimes moved 10 miles or so, to pick up work as a domestic servant, but for a 20 year old single woman to move 90 miles to a fairly isolated rural area was extremely unusual. Unlike today, communities received very little information about people and places beyond the local area. At this time (pre-1823) there were no railways, which later became the impetus for people moving around the country. She would have had to travel by one or more horse drawn coach services. No other members of her family seem to have moved with her, or to any other distant parts.

The most likely explanation is that Ann Smith gained employment with a wealthy employer near her home in Gloucestershire. A wealthy person was more likely to move around the country. She then accompanied that person/family when they moved house or went on a trip to the south of England. She may have met Robert Loader when he did some carpentry work for her employer.

11.4 Eliza Smith (1814-1814)
Eliza was baptised on 5 Jan 1814 in Quedgley and died as an infant on 31 July 1814 aged six months.

11.5 Hannah Smith (1815-?)
Hannah was baptised at Quedgely on 9 July 1815, and as no more is known about her life she presumably died as an infant.

11.6 Eliza Smith (1817-1887)
Eliza was born at Quedgely (5m from Maisemore) on 14 Jun 1818 and named after her deceased sister. At the age of 22, Eliza was a spinster working as a servant, when she married bachelor William Phillips 29, on 11 Nov 1839 at St Nicholas Church in the city of Gloucester. Her father was listed as Richard Smith 77, labourer. William signed the marriage registration and so did Eliza’s father, but Eliza made her mark. Witnesses to the wedding were Richard Smith (possibly her father) and Sarah Merrick. At his own wedding, forty years earlier, Richard did not sign, but 'made his mark', so he must picked up some literacy skills during that period.

Eliza Smith 22 married William Phillips 29 in 1839 at St Nicholas, Gloucester

In 1841 the family was listed as William Phillips 30, Eliza Phillips 20 (really 22) and son Charles Phillips 10 months. They were living at Standish Moreton. In 1851 the address was the same but the household included William Phillips 41 ag lab, Eliza Phillips nee Smith 32, children Charles Phillips 10, Henry Phillips 7, Elizabeth Phillips 4 and Sarah Phillips 2. Also living with them was GGGGGF Richard Smith 77, former farm labourer born at Maisemore in 1773.

1851 census (Bottom): Richard Smith widowed 77 year old father-in-law to William Phillips. labourer, born at Maisemore

By 1861 William and Eliza's family had grown by two more children. There were William Phillips 51, Eliza Phillips nee Smith 42, Charles Phillips 20, Sarah Phillips 12, Hannah Phillips 9 and George Phillips 4. Apart from the three youngest children who were attending school, all the others were listed as agricultural labourers.

Most of the children had left the family home at Standish Moreton by 1871. Living there at that time were William Phillips 62, Eliza Phillips 52 and son George Phillips 14. All three were still working as farm labourers. The house was probably available for their use, on condition of them working on the farm.

Eliza's husband died in 1875, so by 1881 Eliza 63 was a widow (still listed as a farm labourer) living with her daughter Hannah Mitchell nee Phillips 27 and son-in-law Thomas Mitchell 23. They were living at Little Haresfoot, less than a mile from Eliza's old home at Standish. Eliza Phillips nee Smith's date of death is unknown, but she may have died 30 miles away from her home in Bristol in 1887 with a recorded age of 71.

NOTE ABOUT STANDISH MORETON: "Between Putloe and Standish hamlet are eleven houses strung out along Standish Lane, in the area called Standish Moreton. The oldest house there, the Quintons, was formerly Standish Moreton farm-house until a new L-shaped brick farm-house was built just to the east in the late 18th century, and the Quintons was divided into two cottages. It is a rectangular building, the western part timber framed with a cruck pair in the gable-end, the eastern part added in stone when the western part was refronted in stone. The stone part bears the date 1698 and the initials of, apparently, William and Hannah Lediard." From the British History Website .

11.7 William Smith (1821-1821)
William was born and baptised at Quedgeley on 16 Jan 1821. He was buried four weeks later on the 12 Feb 1821 aged 26 days.

11.8 Emmanuel Smith (1821-1822)
Emmanuel was born and baptised at Quedgely on 25 Nov 1821, but died at the age of 3 months and was buried at Quedgely on 26 Feb 1822. The fact Emmanuel was born in the same year as his deceased brother was very unusual, but may have been possible because his mother was not nursing a baby.

11.9 Hester Smith (1823-1823)
Hester ("daughter of Richard and Elizabeth Smith") was born in early April and baptised at Quedgeley on 13 Apr 1823. Hester died at the age of ten weeks and was buried on the 23 June 1823 at Quedgeley.

11.10 John Smith (1827-1828)
John was born in Dec 1827 and baptised at Quedgely on 27 Jan 1828. He died at the age of two months. He was buried at Quedgeley on 20 Feb 1828. If Elizabeth Smith nee Wellavize was his mother she would have been 46 or 47 when she gave birth.

12.0 Ten children of GGGGP Robert Lanning Loader (1801-1851) & Ann Smith (1803-1881)
Of Robert and Ann's ten children, three (John, Mary and Harry) died as infants. Another five died before they were forty-five; James aged 39, Alfred 29, Mary Ann 38, Mark 45 and Charles 40. Only Elizabeth (died aged 78) and Thomas (died aged 87) made it to old age. As their father Robert Lanning Loader also died young at the age of 50, there is a possibility the cause may have been inherited!

The children who reached adulthood seemed to be very close to each other. Documents show that they were often witnesses at each other''s weddings, looked after each other's children, named children after their siblings and frequently visited each other. The males of the family often had the occupations of carpenters or sawyers.

12.1 GGGF James Smith Loader (1823-1863)
James was born in Moor Crichel in 1823 (according to later censuses) and was living with his parents and siblings in 1841. Being the first born he was given his mother’s surname as his middle name. His father died in April 1851, and at about this time James 28 was living in Horton with his future wife, GGM Elizabeth Symes 29, and her two illegitimate children; Walter and Francis Symes.

On 29 Nov 1851 GGGF James Smith Loader married GGGM Rose Elizabeth Symes at Horton. They had four children together. See 13.1 for more information about James’ marriage to GGGM Rose Elizabeth Symes (1822-1883).

Old map of Moor Crichel, Handley, Manswood, Woodlands, Horton & Chalbury which are all just a few miles apart

12.2 Elizabeth A Loader (1825-1901)

Elizabeth was baptised on 29 May 1825 at Moor Crichel. The family residence was given as Manswood and father Robert Lanning Loader's occupation, was given as "labouring carpenter". In 1841 Elizabeth was living with her parents and siblings. The 1851 census listed her as being a visitor at the Charlton Marshall home of her brother Thomas Loader and his wife Catherine Loader nee Moxam, and her occupation was domestic servant. Not long after returning home to Moor Crichel, Elizabeth formed a relationship with Eli Oates who came from nearby Rawston Blandford. On 16 Feb 1854, Elizabeth 28 (a servant) married Eli Oates 26 (coachman) at Moor Crichel with her sister Mary Ann Loader being a witness. All parties signed their names.

Elizabeth Loader married Eli Oates at Moor Crichel in 1854. Siblings George Oates and Mary Ann Loader were witnesses

In 1861 they were living on the Island of Jersey in the Channel Islands where Eli was a coachman. In 1871 Elizabeth and Eli were living in a shared house with three other couples at 6 Alfred St, Whippington, Hampshire. Eli was an out of work gardener, which explains why they had to live in the cramped conditions of a shared house. In 1881 they lived at Woodlands Lodge, Slad Rd., Painswick, Gloucestershire, not far from where Elizabeth’s widowed mother GGGGM Ann Loader nee Smith and brother Charles Loader were living in Stroud. Eli’s occupation was gardener/domestic servant and Elizabeth worked as a seamstress to try and make ends meet.

Painswick Village 1855. Eli & Elizabeth lived in Painswick in the 1880's

In 1891 they lived in ‘Pages Cottages’ in the village of Walmer, Kent. Eli was still a gardener. Elizabeth Oates nee Loader died in 1901 at Dartford aged 78 and Eli died in 1910 at Taunton in Somerset. There were no known children.

12.3 Thomas Loader (1827-1913)

Thomas was baptised on 27 Apr 1827 at Moor Critchel and probably lived in Manswood Cottages with his family. At the time of the 1841 census he was 14 and living with his parents and siblings. He became a carpenter like his father and grandfather.

Thomas Loader married Catherine Moxam at Tarrant Hinton in 1849. Witnesses were John Moxam & Elizabeth Loader.

On 9 Jun 1849 Thomas 22 (a carpenter) of Moor Crichel married Catherine Moxam 21 (b1826 Tarrant Monkton) in her home town (6m from Moor Crichel). Siblings of the married couple, Elizabeth Loader and John (Isaac) Moxam (b1830) were witnesses to the wedding. Brother Alfred Loader later married Mary Moxam who was Catherine's sister. Fathers listed on the registration were Robert Loader, carpenter and Henry Moxam, labourer. Thomas signed his name but Catherine and her brother John made their mark. (See 12.5e for information on Catherine Moxam's ancestry)

Soon after the marriage, the couple moved to nearby Charlton Marshall. In 1851 living in their house were Thomas Loader 23 carpenter, Catherine 24, their son Henry 1 and Thomas’ sister Elizabeth Loader 26, visitor (see 12.2).

1861 census: Thomas & Catherine Loader nee Moxham & 2 children & sister Mary Loader nee Moxham & 2 children

By 1861 they had moved 100 miles northwards to Pendock, Worcestershire. The family now consisted of Thomas Loader 34, Catherine Loader 35 and children Harry Loader 11 (named after Catherine's father Harry Moxham) and Robert Lanning Loader 8 (named after his grandfather; see 9.0). Also in the house as lodgers, were Catherine’s widowed sister Mary Loader nee Moxam (Alfred’s wife, see 12.5) and her children John Loader 3 (b1858 Guildford) and Eliza Loader 1.

Ten years later, in 1871, the census listed the family members living in Tewkesbury Rd, Pendock, Worcestershire as Thomas Loader 43 carpenter, Katherine Loader 44, Robert 18, GGGGM Ann Loader nee Smith 68 (widowed mother see 10.0 above) and Eliza Loader 11 niece (daughter of deceased brother Alfred), who was a student and appeared to be living with them on an ongoing basis.

1871 Census: Thomas 43 & Catherine 44 in Pendock with son Robert, mother Ann Loader nee Smith & niece Eliza Loader

The censuses in 1881 and 1891 record that Thomas and Catherine Loader had moved to Stapehill Rd, Hampreston (3 miles from Wimborne) and were living alone, not far from sister-in-law Mary Loader nee Moxam, her second husband Henry Maidment and son Robert Loader and his family. Thomas was employed as a “market carpenter” into his sixties.

The following year on 28 Mar 1901, Thomas’ wife Catherine Loader nee Moxam died at Hampreston. Thomas remained at Stapehill Rd, Hampreston, where at the age of 75 he was a self-employed wheelwright working from home. He was sharing his house with his brother-in-law Henry Maidment 59, (second husband of deceased sister-in-law Mary Maidment nee Loader, nee Moxam) who was also self-employed and working as a gardener. The census records that Henry Maidment had been a cripple since childhood.

1911 census: Thomas Loader 84, widowed "Grandpa" living with grand-daughter Margaret & husband Arthur Baker

In 1911 Thomas was 84 and living with his grand-daughter Margaret Baker nee Loader 28 (daughter of son Robert Loader b1852 (See 12.3a below) in Bournemouth, Margaret’s husband Arthur Baker 37, their son John Baker 9 and Margaret’s unmarried sister Beatrice Loader 21 (a waitress). Thomas Loader died on 13 Dec 1913 whilst living at 18 Parley Rd., Moordown, Bournemouth at the age of 87.

12.3a Robert Lanning Loader (jnr) (1852-1894)
Thomas and Catherine’s second son was Robert Lanning Loader (jnr), named after his grandfather, who had died the year before.

Robert Lanning Loader baptism 1852

Robert was baptised on 5 July 1852 in the Parish of Charlton Marshall, but his parents were living in “Spetisbury Charlton” according to the baptism register. The bishop’s transcript listed his name as "Robert Lanning Loader" with birth registered at Blandford (two miles from Charlton Marshall). The use of the middle name “Lanning” was passed down from his grandfather, GGGGF Robert Lanning Loader (see 9.0). The note on the left reads "P.B. (Private Baptism; probably at home) Received into the Church 12th. Sunday after Trinity (Sept 3) 1854."

Robert was listed as "Robert L. Loader 28 year old carpenter" in 1881

Robert did not go by his full name often, but in the 1881 census he was listed as "Robert L. Loader" and on at least one of his children's baptismal records he was listed by his full name.

Robert Loader b1852 married Julia Hokins in 1878 in the Parish of St Mary de Lode, Gloucester

In 1878 Robert married Julia Hopkins who was aged 21 (b1858, Worcestershire) at Gloucester. Robert’s father Thomas Loader’s occupation was listed as ‘wheelwright’. By 1880 they had their first child, Kate E. E. Loader, born at Eldersfield, Gloucester. In 1881 they moved back to Spetisbury where Robert worked as a carpenter like his father.

1891 census: Robert Loader 38, Julia 33 & six children all living in a 4 roomed house

In 1891 Robert was a 38 year old carpenter and Julia was 33. They lived in Stapehill Rd., Hampreston (3 miles from Wimborne) and their family had grown to include Kate Loader 11, Lillie Margaret Loader 9 (born in Spetisbury), Tom Robert Loader 7 (b Spetisbury), Ewart William Loader 5 (b Spetisbury), Beatrice Bessie Louise Loader 2 and Ella Loader 2 months. (Lillie). Daughters Margaret Baker nee Loader and Beatrice Loader lived with their grandfather Thomas during his latter years. (See 12.3)

On 20 Jan 1894 Robert Lanning Loader jnr b1852 died at the young age of 42 whilst living at Stapehill Rd, Ferndown. He was buried in Hampreston.

12.4 John Loader (1829-1830)
The fourth child born to GGGGP Robert Lanning Loader (1801-1851) & Ann Smith (1803-1881) was John Loader, who unlike his siblings, was baptised at Long Crichell on 2 Aug 1829. However the family residence was still nominated as Moor Crichel and they were still probably living in Manswood Cottages. Interestingly, the ceremony was conducted by the same person (Moss King) who officiated at many of the other family baptisms.

John Loader son of GGGGP Robert & Ann Loader, baptised at Long Crichel 2 Aug 1829

The family may have had a preference for Minister King and he probably rotated between the little churches on a rostered timetable. Sadly baby John Loader died before he was 1 year old year on 27 Jun 1830.

12.5 Alfred Loader (1831-1860)

Alfred was baptised on 25 Aug 1831 at Moor Crichell. The family residence was listed as Manswood Cottages. In 1851 at the age of 19 he was working as a labourer and lodging with the Hopkins family just a few doors away from older brother Thomas and his family in Charlton Marshall.

(NOTE: I can find no connection between this Hopkins family and nephew Robert Lanning Loader’s wife, Julia Hopkins. See 12.3a). When older brother Thomas married Catherine Moxam in 1849, Alfred possibly met Catherine’s 15 year old sister Mary Moxam. He may have been impressed by what he saw. As soon as Mary Moxam was 21 (b1834 Blandford Forum), Alfred 24, labourer, proposed, and they were married on 2 Sep 1855 at Lytchett Matrevers, 7m from Charlton Marshall.

The fathers of the couple were listed as Robert Loader, carpenter and Henry ‘Moxiam’. Alfred’s sister Mary Ann Loader was a witness to the wedding. (See 12.5e for information on Mary Moxam's ancestry)

Alfred and Mary Loader moved to Guildford Surrey, where they had two children, John Alfred Loader b1857 and Eliza Loader b15 Mar 1860. Tragically, around the time of the birth of Eliza, Alfred died at the age of 29 (before the 1861 census in April), leaving Mary a widow with two young children. The only record I can find in the EDI list, is an unknown male with the surname Loader who died in early 1860 at Guildford, and is probably our Alfred.

1861: Mary Loader nee Moxham & children living with sister Catherine Loader nee Moxham and her family

Initially (in 1860/1861) the widowed Mary went to live with her brother-in-law and sister; Thomas and Catherine Loader nee Moxham (see 12.3) in Pendock, Worcestershire with her two young children John 3 and Eliza Loader 1, where she was listed as a widow in the 1861 census. In late 1862 Mary unexpectedly became pregnant (around two years after the death of her husband) and temporarily moved back to Guildford to give birth (perhaps to minimise any scandal). See 12.5b below.

12.5a Alfred’s widowed wife Mary Maidment nee Loader nee Moxam
On 20 Nov 1870 at Hampreston, Mary Loader 36 nee Moxam (widow) married (William) Henry Maidment 28 (bachelor) who had been “a cripple from childhood” according to the census.

Mary Loader nee Moxham married William Henry Maidment in 1870. Witnesses were James and Sophia Penton

The witnesses were the mysterious James Penton (Mary's daughter Clara, later hints James was her father) and James Penton’s wife, Sophia Penton. The marriage made Henry Maidment a brother-in-law to Thomas Loader (see 12.3) and stepfather to Mary’s children John 13, Eliza 10 and Clara Loader 7.

1871 census: Henry & Mary Maidment nee Loader nee Moxham with Mary's children and Henry's relatives

The 1871 census at Stapehill Rd., Hampreston listed the family as Henry Maidment 29, Mary Maidment nee Loader nee Moxam 36 and two of Mary’s children; John Loader 13, (Eliza 11 was staying with her Uncle Thomas and Aunt Catherine Loader; see 12.3) and Clara Loader 7. Interestingly Mary had Clara baptised on 5 May 1872 at Wimborne. The baptism registration stated that Clara was "7 years old and her father was deceased". (see below) This fact supports the alternative theory that her uncle James Loader was indeed her father, because James Loader died in 1863 and James Penton did not die until 1900. Of course Mary may have said Clara’s father was deceased, purely for the reason that she didn’t want anyone delving into the facts about how Clara came to be conceived. At the time of the baptism Mary and her family were living at Cole Hill, Wimborne. (See below)

In 1871 a relative of Henry's (Mary Jane Maidment b1838; see below) and her three children were also staying in the house. The children were there on a long term basis as they were 'boarding', whilst their unmarried pregnant mother, Mary Jane Maidment 32, who was a laundress, was only visiting.

In 1881 Henry Maidment 39 and Mary Maidment nee Loader 47 were still living at Stapehill Rd., Hampreston (not far from brother Thomas and Catherine Loader nee Moxam, who had also moved into Stapehill Rd.) but by 1891 they had moved to 34 Ringwood Rd., Longham, Hampreston. Mary Maidment nee Loader nee Moxham died in 1899 with the death registered at Wimborne (EDI). In 1901 Henry Maidment was a widowed lodger living in widowed brother-in-law Thomas Loader’s house, as Thomas’ wife Catherine Loader nee Moxam had also died. (See 12.3)

NOTE 1: William Henry Maidment was born to unmarried mother Harriett Maidment (b1821) at Woodlands, Horton on 10 Feb 1842. He usually went by the name Henry.
NOTE 2: Mary Jane Maidment was born at Longham between 1833-1839 and usually worked as a laundress. She was an unmarried mother to Walter 1865, Annie 1866 (both baptised 5 Nov 1866 at Longfleet), William (Willie) b1868, Kate b1871-1872, Kate b1875 and Charles Maidment b1879.

12.5b Clara Loader (1863-1901) Daughter of Alfred & Mary Loader nee Moxam/Maidment
Clara Loader was born to Alfred’s widow Mary Loader (later Maidment see 12.5), about August 1863 in Guildford, Surrey (EBI) two years after her 'father's' death. In April 1871 according to the census, Clara was 7 and going to school. NOTE: Clara's age was given as 7 at the census in April 1871 and also a year later on her baptismal certificate dated 5 May 1872! At her baptism, no father was listed for Clara!

Clara Loader, born in 1863 and baptised 5 May 1872. A note on left says she was 7 years old (really 8). No father was listed

At the same time as Clara was baptised, two of her stepfather's (William Henry Maidment) sister's children were baptised. They were Kate and Willie Maidment who were children of Henry Maidment's unmarried sister Mary Jane Maidment. All three children (Clara 9, Kate 5 months and Willie 3) had been born out of wedlock. Sadly, baby Kate died a few months later, and was buried at Wimborne on 28 Jul 1972 aged 8 months.

Kate & Willie Maidment were baptised at the same time as Clara. Both were born to unmarried Mary Jane Maidment

In 1871 Clara was living with her mother Mary Maidment nee Loader nee Moxam 36 and stepfather Henry Maidment 29 in Hampreston, Dorset along with boarders Walter Maidment 5 (b1866 Howe, Dorset), Annie Maidment 4 (b1867 Wimborne), Willie Maidment 2 (b1869 Christchurch) and their unmarried mother, visitor Mary Jane Maidment 32 (b1839 Wimborne), occupation laundress (Probably a distant relative Henry Maidment; see below).

In 1881 Clara was a domestic servant in Dorset aged 17. Clara 23 married John Ingram 22 (b1859) labourer at Hampreston on 13 Sep 1886. John’s sister Mary Anne Ingram (called Annie in 1891) was a witness at the wedding. Clara listed her father as "James Penton Loader, sawyer", which is a bit of a puzzle (see 12.5c).

In 1886 Clara Loader 23 married John Ingram 22. Mysteriously she listed her father as James Penton Loader, sawyer

There is no census record for Clara and John Ingram in 1891, and Clara died in early 1901 aged 38 at Christchurch. John Ingram was listed as a widower in the 1901 census which was taken 31 Mar 1901 and it appears the couple had no children.

In 1901, Clara’s husband John Ingram was listed as being 37 and a widowed baker. He was lodging with the Hunt family in Osborne Rd, Winton (near Bournemouth). By 1911 he was 45, had a new wife named Emily Ingram 34 and they lived in Wimborne Rd, Winton, Bournemouth. John died in Jun 1938 at Bournemouth (EDI) aged 74. His given age after 1901 is inconsistent.)

12.5c Mystery of Clara Loader’s father
Clara Loader was born about August 1863 (EBI) which indicates she was conceived about Nov-Dec 1862. Alfred was definitely not the father as Mary was a widow on census night 7 April, 1861. Later on, when Clara married, she listed her father as “James Penton Loader”, whose occupation was given as “sawyer” (See above). The records suggest two possible people as the father. When Clara’s mother remarried in 1870 (7 years after Clara’s birth), witnesses to the wedding were James and Sophia Penton. The similarity of the name and the fact that James Penton’s occupation was sawyer, makes him the most likely candidate. The second possibility is her uncle (by marriage), GGGF James Loader whose occupation was also sawyer. James was imprisoned in October 1862 for the crime of “leaving his family”. On leaving jail, it is possible he went to stay at his brother Thomas’ house (where Mary was also staying at the time). The relationship may have been consensual or possibly not, as the jail term places some doubt over James’ ethics. Both of these men fit the facts, except they do not have the full name Clara gave (“James Penton Loader”). Clara may have added “Loader” as a surname on her marriage registration to explain how she came by the “Loader” surname.

12.5d Evidence that James Penton was possibly Clara’s father
James Penton was born in 1816 and was living at Holt Wood, Wimborne in 1841. He married Jane Bailey at Wimborne in 1844 and they had five children over the next few years in hamlets near Hampreston.

James Penton's 1st marriage to Jane Bailey in 1844

James Penton was a sawyer like Mary's brother-in-law GGGF James Loader and probably knew Mary Loader through the work connection (the two men may have worked together). Sometime between 1859 and April 1861 Mary became a widow, when her husband Alfred Loader died. At this time GGGF James Loader b1823 and his family were living at 5 West Row Wimborne. James Penton and his family were living two miles away at Colehill, Wimborne.

On becoming a widow Mary may have sought support from her brother-in-law James Loader and may have met James Penton on one of her stays at James’ Loader’s house. Penton’s wife Jane Penton nee Bailey gave birth to her last child Henrietta in Hampreston in 1855. At the age of 38 Jane Penton nee Bailey died on 12 May 1862. Having recently lost his wife, James Penton may have sought female companionship and advice about his little girl Henrietta, from Mary Loader. In the 1861 census Mary and her children were staying with her sister Catherine and her husband; brother-in-law, Thomas Loader (see 12.3). When James Penton’s wife Jane Penton nee Bailey died in May 1862, perhaps Mary travelled back to Wimborne to try and comfort him.

Clara Loader was conceived around Nov 1862 and the circumstantial evidence suggests that James Penton may have been the father. Certainly Clara gave a strong hint of this when she listed “James Penton Loader” as her father on her marriage registration.

After this time, Mary Loader and James Penton went their own ways. Mary Loader married Henry Maidment (see 12.5a) in 1870. James Penton married Sophie (Sophia) Chinchewin 42, in Dec 1863.

James Penton 2nd marriage to Sophia Chinchin in 1863

The fact that James Penton and his second wife Sophia were witnesses at Mary Loader’s marriage to Henry Maidment in 1870, is also evidence of some sort of connection between James Penton and Mary Loader nee Moxham. In 1871, at age 55, James Penton, sawyer, was living at Holt Wood, Wimborne with his wife Sophia Penton 49 (b1821, Worth), and daughter Henrietta Penton 16. As there are no known descendants of Clara Loader, even DNA information (if it was available) would not be able to solve this mystery.

12.5e Moxham Sisters? (Not Direct Ancestors; related through marriage)

When Thomas Loader married Catherine Moxham in 1849, his brother Alfred Loader possibly met Catherine’s 15 year old sister Mary Moxham. As soon as Mary was 21 (b1834 Blandford Forum), Alfred 24 labourer proposed, and they were married on 2 Sep 1855 at Lytchett Matrevers, 7 miles from Charlton Marshall.

Were Catherine Moxam and Mary Moxam sisters?

The reasons for some doubts about Catherine and Mary's family connection include inconsistencies in records pertaining to them, including their different birth locations and baptismal registrations listing fathers with different Christian names and different surnames. However the evidence suggests that these variations in the records are a result of errors and that the two women were indeed sisters. Gathering the evidence to support this contention was made more difficult, because of quite a few errors in some records and also because of the variety of spellings used for Moxham eg. Moxam, Moxiam and Moxon. Henry was illiterate. He depended on others to write his name and work out the spelling.

Henry (Harry) Moxham (1802-1879) & Ann Poor (1802-1838). The parents of Catherine and Mary Moxham.
Henry Moxham (spelt Moxam) son of Isaac and Jane Moxam was born on 19 Dec 1802 and baptised on 18 Jan 1803 at Tarrant Gunville, Dorset. When he was a child, Henry's family moved three miles to Tarrant Monkton. There they struggled to survive, and in 1812, "Removal Orders of the Poor" were put in place at Tarrant Monkton for parents Isaac and Jane Moxham and their children Henry 10, Ann 8 (b1805), Edith 6, Sarah 3 and John 2.

Harry (Henry) Moxham ('h' added to name) married Ann Poor 1826 at Tarrant Monkton. Witness sister Sarah Moxham

The first major inconsistency in the records started at the time of Henry's wedding, when he started to go by the name Harry. Harry Moxham, bachelor of Tarrant Monkton 24 married spinster Ann Poor of Tarrant Monkton on 28 Jan 1826 at Tarrant Monkton. Harry made his mark, but Ann signed her name. Ann Poor was the daughter of John Poor and had at least one sibling named William Poor (b1818, Tarrant Monkton). Henry's younger sister Sarah Moxham 17 b1809 was a witness at the wedding and made her mark.

Children started arriving soon after Henry and Ann's marriage; Catherine Moxham was baptised 16 Apr 1826 at Tarrant Monkton (parents: Harry and Ann Moxam), John Isaac Moxam baptised on 1 Jun 1828 (Parents: Harry and Ann Moxam), John (really Samuel, see below) baptised on 7 Nov 1830 (Parents Harry & Ann Moxam) and James Moxam baptised on 23 Sep 1832 (Parents: Harry and Ann Moxham. The 1841 census indicates a child named Samuel Moxam was born at Tarrant Monkton in 1830. The baptismal record cited above incorrectly named him as John. Place of birth for all children was listed as Monkton.

The family moved four miles to Blandford Forum before 1834 where two more children were born; Mary Moxam was baptised on 4 June 1834 (parents Henry & Ann Moxiam) and William Moxham baptised on 19 Nov 1836 (Parents: Henry and Ann Moxham). Henry's name change back to 'Henry' after the move may be because the new minister knew him by his birth name or even insisted that the record show his birth name.

Ann Moxham nee Poor died on 9 Nov 1838 at Blandford Forum aged 36 (b1802), two years after birth of her last child, leaving Henry to look after the family which included three children under ten.

NOTE: Although the EDI lists her as Ann Moxam, the Parish register lists her as "Mary, wife of Henry Moxham of Blandford". Perhaps she was 'Mary Ann' or this could be another error to cause confusion!

Henry Moxham (Moxon) 45 year old widowed thresher (of grain) with 6 children at Damory Farm. Blandford Forum

The 1841 census helps confirm that Harry was indeed Henry Moxham because it listed him with the latter name, living at Damory Farm, East St, Blandford Forum with his children. The family was listed as Henry Moxham (spelt Moxon) 45 thresher, Caroline (Catherine) Moxham 15 (b1826), John Moxham 13 (b1828), Samuel Moxham 11 (b1830), James Moxham 8 (b1832), Mary Moxham 6 (b1834) and William Moxham 4 (b1836). In the census Samuel Moxham was given his correct name, but Catherine was called Caroline by mistake (by the enumerator). Also at this census, Henry's deceased wife's parents, John 80 (b1760) and Ann Poor 65 (b1775) and their son William Poor 20 (b1818), were still living at Tarrant Monkton.

Henry's wife's death may have prompted the move back to Tarrant Monkton, where Henry may have had more people to support him and his family. On 9 Jun 1849, daughter Catherine Moxham (spelt Moxam) 24 (b1826 Tarrant Monkton) married Thomas Loader 22 (a carpenter) of Moor Crichel (6 miles from Moor Crichel). Catherine was living at Tarrant Monkton at the time; probably with her family. Siblings of the married couple, Elizabeth Loader and John Moxam (b1830) were witnesses to the wedding. Fathers listed on the registration were Robert Loader, carpenter and Henry Moxam, labourer. Thomas and Elizabeth signed their names, but Catherine and her brother John (Isaac) Moxham b1828) made their mark.

1851 census at Tarrant Monkton

The 1851 census confirms that Henry Moxham had moved back to Tarrant Monkton. Living there were Henry Moxham (spelt Moxam) 49 (b1802 Tarrant Gunville, Dorset) widowed labourer, Mary Moxam 16 ( b1834 Blandford Forum) and William Moxam 14 (b19 Nov 1836 Blandford) shoemaker apprentice. The following year in 1852 Harry 'Moxiam', widower married widow Susan Fiander nee Dennis 41 (bCompton Valance 1811) with the marriage registered at Blandford (EMI).

On 2 Sep 1855 daughter Mary Moxham (spelt Moxiam) 21 (b1834 Blandford Forum) married Alfred Loader 24 labourer at Lytchett Matrevers (eleven miles from Tarrant Monkton). The fathers of the couple were listed as Robert Loader, carpenter and Henry ‘Moxiam’. Mary Ann signed her name with an 'i' in the surname. Alfred’s sister Mary Ann Loader was a witness to the wedding. From this point on, Henry Moxham and his second wife usually used the 'Moxiam" spelling for their surname.

The 1861 census records Henry Moxiam 59 ag lab, (b1802 Tarrant Gunville) and second wife Susan Moxiam nee Fianders 51 (b1811 Tarrant Hinton) living at Tarrant Monkton. Henry Moxham (spelt Moxam) died on 28 May 1870 and was buried at Tarrant Monkton aged 68. In 1871 the widowed Susan Moxiam 61 (b1810 Tarrant Hinton) was living at Tarrant Monkton with James Poor 36, unmarried lodger (b1835 Monkton and probably her nephew). They were living next to William Poor (b1818 Tarrant Gunville) widower (Henry's first wife's brother). Susana (Susan) Moxiam 71 was still in Tarrant Monkton in 1881 living alone. Her date of death is unknown.

NOTE: No birth record has been found for Ann Moxham nee Poor (b1802). But it seems that her parents, John and Ann Poor moved from Tarrant Gunston to Tarrant Monkton after the birth of son William in 1818 because their next child, Caroline Poor, was born 8 Dec 1821 and daughter Ann Poor married Henry Moxham in 1826; both at Tarrant Monkton.

12.5f Maidment Family Not Ancestors, but related through marriage.

i) Who Was Henry Maidment?

William Henry Maidment was born to single woman Harriet Maidment (b1821 Horton; to John and Harriet Maidment) and baptised at Woodlands, Horton on 10 Feb 1842. The following year on 10 Aug 1843, mother Harriett Maidment, spinster, married George Wort, bachelor, in Horton, The fathers were listed as George Wort and John Maidment. Witnesses were William and Jane Maidment, who both signed their names.

In 1851 the Wort family was living in Horton and William Henry was going by his middle name (which he did for most of his life) and had a baby sister, The family comprised George Wort 33, Harriett Wort 29, Henry Maidment 9 and Keziah Wort 9 months. Henry was listed as 'son-in-law' which should have been 'stepson'.

By 1861 the family home on Horton was bursting at the seams, because Harriett had given birth to another six children during the decade since the last census. Living in the home were parents George Wort 43 and Harriet Wort 26 and children Henry Wort (Maidment) 19 (b1842 Woodlands), Kezia Wort 10, Eliza Wort 9, Charles Wort 7, Mary Wort 5, George Wort 3, Betsy Wort 1 and Tom Wort 1 month. Harriett had one more child and lived to the ripe old age of 83. She was buried in Wimborne in 1904.

On 20 Nov 1870 at Hampreston, (William) Henry Maidment 28 (b1842) bachelor who had been “a cripple from childhood” according to the census married Mary Loader 36 nee Moxam (widow).

The 1871 census at Stapehill Rd., Hampreston listed the family as Henry Maidment 29 b1842 Woodlands), Mary Maidment nee Loader nee Moxam 36 and two of Mary’s children; John Loader 13 and Clara Loader 7. (Eliza 11 was staying with her Uncle Thomas and Aunt Catherine Loader; see 12.3)

In 1881 Henry Maidment 39 and Mary Maidment nee Loader 47 were still living at Stapehill Rd., Hampreston (not far from brother Thomas and Catherine Loader nee Moxam who had also moved into Stapehill Rd.) but by 1891 they had moved to 34 Ringwood Rd., Longham, Hampreston. Mary Maidment nee Loader nee Moxham died in 1899 with the death registered at Wimborne (EDI). In 1901 Henry Maidment was a widowed lodger living in widowed brother-in-law Thomas Loader’s house, as Thomas’ wife Catherine Loader nee Moxam had also died. (See 12.3)

ii) Mary Jane Maidment 1838-1911

NOTE: Unmarried mother Mary Jane Maidment was visiting Henry and Mary Maidment nee Loader nee Moxham in 1871. She was probably a relation of Henry, but I am yet to discover the link.

Mary Jane Maidment was baptised on 27 May 1838 at Melbury Bubb to parents Jasper and Jane Maidment nee Share (Jasper Maidment, widower of Wimborne married Jane Share of Hampreston in 1833 at Puddletown). Tragically Mary Jane's father Jasper Maidment died and was buried on 14 Oct 1838 at Melbury Bubb at the age of 46 (when Mary Jane was five months old). Soon after, the family moved 40 miles to Longham, Hampreston and Mary Jane named this as her place of birth throughout her life. She also switched between Mary and Jane for her Christian name.

Mary Jane Maidment grew up in poverty. In 1841 she was living with her widowed mother and four siblings at Longham, Hampreston. The household consisted of mother Jane Maidment 31 (b1810) pauper and children George Maidment 14 [b1827 Kingston; stepson of deceased father's previous marriage to Sarah Frampton (b1817 in Wimborne). Sarah Maidment nee Framton aged 35 died in 1828 at Kingston], Richard Maidment 9 (bapt Nov 1833 at Puddletown), Jasper Maidment 8 (bapt Nov 1833 Puddletown), Catherine Maidment 5 (b1836 Melbury Bubb) and Mary Maidment 3 (b1838 Melbury Bubb). Young Mary had to move out of home and go to work at a very young age, to earn her way. In 1851 Mary Jane Maidment 13 (b1838 Longham) was living and working as a house servant for an innkeeper in Thomas St, Lymington.

By 1861 Mary Jane 22 had moved to Poole where she was working as a domestic servant at the 'Rising Sun' in Fish St, Poole for widowed 'licenced victualler' Mary White and her unmarried son George White 20. Sixteen years later in 1877, Mary Jane's 41 year single sister Catherine Maidment (b1836 and living in Poole) married the much younger Sidney Smith 22 at Poole, and innkeeper Mary White was one of the witnesses; so they must have kept in contact with the Maidments for a long time. Possibly this was because her son George White may have been the father of some of Mary Jane's children. (George White died in Poole in 1878 aged 37).

During the next decade the unmarried Mary Jane had three babies; Walter 1865, Annie 1866 (both baptised 5 Nov 1866 at Longfleet, Poole) and William (Willie) Maidment b1868.

At census time (April) 1871, unmarried Mary Jane 32 was pregnant with her fourth baby and was visiting Henry Maidment and his wife Mary Maidment nee Loader nee Moxham (b1834), probably for their support during the birth. Mary Jane's three older children were possibly living there for a period of time, as they were listed as 'boarding' with Henry. Mary Jane Maidment 32, was listed as a laundress. Mary Jane gave birth to her next baby Kate later that year and in May 1872, Mary Jane's younger children; Willie and Kate, were baptised at Wimborne, along with Clara Loader (all with no fathers listed). Sadly baby Kate died at the age of eight months in Jul 1872).

In 1876 Mary Jane gave birth to another little girl, who she named Kate after the earlier Kate and in 1879 she gave birth to her last child named Charles. By 1881 Jane Maidment 48 (b Longham), laundress had settled in West Row, Wimborne and was living there with children Willie Maidment 12 errand boy, Kate Maidment 4 and Charles Maidment 2. Mary Jane was at the same address in 1891 and the family was listed as Jane Maidment 53 (b1838 Longham) single, laundress, William Maidment 23 general dealer, Charles Maidment 13 errand boy and Frank Maidment 7 scholar. At the turn of the century in 1901 Mary J Maidment 62 (b1839 Longham) was still at West Row and living with sons William Maidment 36 horse slaughterer and Charles Maidment 22 coal ?

Mary Jane Maidment did not have an easy life. Her father died when she was an infant and she had to go to work and be independent from a young age. She was an unmarried mother to Walter 1865, Annie 1866 (both baptised 5 Nov 1866 at Longfleet), William (Willie) b1868, Kate b1871-1872, Kate b1875 and Charles b1879. She died in early 1911 at Wimborne aged 72.

iii) Catherine Maidment (1835-1901)

Catherine Maidment was born and baptised on 6 Dec 1835 at Melbury Bubb to parents Jasper and Jane (Jean) Maidment and was a sister of Mary Jane Maidment (see above). Catherine's father Jasper Maidment died and was buried on 14 Oct 1838 at Melbury Bubb at the age of 46 (when Catherine was three years old). Soon after, the family moved 40 miles to Longham, Hampreston and Catherine grew up in poverty. In 1841 she was living with her widowed mother and four siblings at Longham, Hampreston. The family consisted of widowed mother Jane Maidment 31, and children George Maidment 14, Richard Maidment 9, Jasper Maidment 8, Catherine Maidment 5 (b1836) and Mary Maidment 3 (b1838)

In 1851 aged 15, Catherine was probably working as a servant, possibly at Newington, Surrey, although this was over 100 miles from her birthplace. From 1861 to 1871 Catherine was listed as 25 then 35 and working as a servant for the Durrell family in 'New Orchard', Poole. A fellow worker was Anne Sennick 57 who would later be a witness at Catherine's wedding in 1877.

On 3 Mar 1877 whilst living in Poole, Catherine Maidment 41 year old (b1836) spinster, married the much younger Sidney Smith 22 at Poole. Catherine listed her father as Jasper Maidment, deceased labourer. One of the witnesses was innkeeper Mary White nee Senneck (b1810 Southampton). Mary White was sister Mary Jane Maidment's employer in 1861 and shortly after the census Mary Jane became pregnant. Mary White must have kept in contact with the Maidments over a long period. Possibly this was because Mary's son George Smith b1841, was the father of some of Mary Jane Maidment's children.

In 1881 Catherine 46 and husband Sidney Smith 27 were running the Anchor Inn at Eling, Hampshire and living with two of sister Mary Jane's children; nephew Walter Maidment 16 and niece Annie Maidment 14. All were born in Wimborne. By 1891 Sidney 37 horse dealer and Catherine Smith 55 had moved to New Orchard, Poole. Annie Cains 41, book keeper, was visiting at this time. Sydney Smith died at Wilksworth, Wimborne in 1893 aged 39. Catherine Smith nee Maidment died at Poole on 2 Jan 1901 aged 66.

12.6 Mary Loader (1833-1834)

Mary was the sixth child born to GGGGP Robert Lanning Loader and Ann Smith. She was born in 1833 and baptised 18 Sep 1833 at Moor Crichel, but died when very young. Both Mary and her similarly named sister Mary Anne (see 12.7), who was born the following year, were listed in the Moor Crichel Parish Baptism Register. Parents Robert and Ann Loader possibly came to terms with their grief at losing Mary by giving Mary Anne a similar name.

12.7 Mary Anne Loader (1834-1872)

Mary Anne was born in 1834 at Manswood Cottages and baptised on 24 Aug 1834 at Moor Crichel. (Her name was spelled Marianne). Mary lived with her parents and siblings until she married Stephen Ferrett 21 on 29 Sept 1855 at Moor Crichel. Both were aged 21 and both were residents of Manswood prior to their wedding. Mary Anne was a servant and Stephen Ferrett a bricklayer. Their fathers were Moses Ferret and GGGGF Robert Loader, carpenter.

Marriage of Mary Ann Loader to Stephen Ferret

By 1861 the couple had moved to Rooks Hill, Hinton Martell where the census listed Stephen Ferrett 26 bricklayer, Mary A Ferrett 26, Tom Ferrett 4, Emma Ferrett 1, Emma Ferrett 66 (Stephen’s mother), GGGGM Ann Loader nee Smith 58 (Mary’s mother) and Charles Loader 13 (Mary’s brother see 12.10) mortar boy. Charles' occupation suggests he may have been working for his bricklayer brother-in-law, Stephen Ferret.

1871 census: Stephen & Mary Ann Ferret nee Loader and five children living in Waddon Marsh Rd, Croydon

By 1871 the family had moved to Croydon and there were now five children. Stephen Ferrett was 36, Mary Ann Ferrett 36, Tom Moses Ferrett 14, Emma Anne Ferrett 11, Henry Charles Ferrett 9, Jonas A Ferrett 6 and John S Ferrett 2 (b1869). Mary Ann Ferrett nee Loader died the following year on 12 May 1872 at Croydon, Surrey (EDI) aged only 37; three years after the birth of youngest son John. Stephen was left with four young children under the age of 12. He remarried in 1875, and had more children by his second wife and died in 1901.

12.8 Mark Loader (c1837-1882)
Mark was born in 1838 (registered at Wimborne) according to EBI, various censuses and marriage records. However he was baptised much later on 5 June 1842 at Moor Crichel at the same time as his younger brother Harry (see 12.9). A note in the Baptism register states that the baptism was done privately, which probably meant in the home. This may have been done as Mark was now a bit too old to baptise in the church. Alternatively it may have happened because his brother Harry who had recently been born, was too sick to baptise in the church (he died the following year), so both baptisms were done together in the home.

Mark & Harry Loader were baptised at Moor Crichel. There were two notes in Mark's entry that are hard to read

Mark was living with his parents at the time of the 1841 and 1851 censuses. On 28 Aug 1859 at the age of 22, he married Dinah Ellen Street at Upton On Severn (EMI). Two years later in 1861, Mark was a labourer working in a coal yard. He was married, but lodging with the 'May' family in Bury St., Guildford, Surrey. His wife Ellen now 24 was staying in Berkshire with her parents Richard Street 48 and Harriett Street 50, and her siblings Rhoda Street 21 and Mary A Street 8. The separation appears to be because Mark was looking for a house for the family to move into in Guildford, which they did by the time of the next census.

1871 census: Mark & Ellen Loader nee Street with 3 children at 14 Bury St, Guildford

In 1871 they were back together and living at 14 Bury St, Guildford, Surrey. The family had grown to include Mark Loader 34 bricklayer's labourer, Ellen Loader 35, Charles Loader 8, Elizabeth Loader 6 and Mark Loader 2. In early 1873 Ellen gave birth to Alfred Loader and then in 1875 her last baby named Harry Thomas Loader was born, but sadly he died at the age of 7 months. The family were still living in Bury St at that time.

By 1881 they had moved next door to 15 Bury St., Guildford and living in the house were Mark Loader 44, Ellen Loader 44, Elizabeth Loader 16, Mark Loader 12 and the youngest child was now Alfred Loader 8.

Mark died the next year in July 1882 at Guildford aged 44 (EDI). In 1891 Ellen was a widow living at 6 Mill Mead Farm, Guildford and was working as a charwoman to bring in some income to support her family. Her grandson Charles Loader 8 was living with her. Ellen Loader nee Street died 1895 at Guildford at the age of 59.

12.9 Harry Loader (1842-1843)
Harry was baptised on 5 June 1842 at Moor Crichel. See baptism registration above. He died the following year (1843) aged 1 and was buried in Wimborne (EDI)

12.10 Charles Loader (1847-1887)

Charles was the last of Robert and Ann Loader’s children. He was baptised on 13 Jun 1847 at Moor Crichel, with his abode listed as Manswood. At the age of 3 in 1851, Charles was visiting his aunt Elizabeth Readhead nee Loader, nee Wadham and her family (see 5.3 above).

In 1861 Charles aged 13 was staying with sister Mary Ann Ferret nee Loader (see 12.7 above) at Hinton Marshall with his mother Ann Loader nee Smith. He may have been working as a mortar boy for brother-in-law Stephen Ferret who was a bricklayer.

Marriage Reg: Charles Loader & Selina Birch. Witnesses; sister Elizabeth Oates nee Loader & her husband Eli Oates

Charles seems to have been missed in the 1871 census, but on 3 Dec 1878, Charles 31, married Selina Birch 28 in Slad, Gloucestershire, where both were living at the time. Charles gave his occupation as clerk. His father was listed as Robert Lanning Loader, cabinet maker. Witnesses at the wedding were sister Elizabeth Oates nee Loader and her husband Eli Oates who lived closeby in Painswick (See 12.2).

In 1881 Charles 33, clerk and Selina 30 (b1850) were living at 1 Norton Cottages, Painswick, Gloucestershire along with Charles’ mother Ann Loader nee Smith 78. Selina gave birth to three babies; Florence May Loader b Jun 1881, Emily Elizabeth Loader (baptised 29 Oct 1882) and Walter Charles Loader (b1886 Kings Norton). Father Charles Loader must have died in the late 1880’s. There is an EDI record listing Charles Loader born 1846, as dying in 1887 at Kings Norton, Gloucestershire and this is probably him. Selina became a widow with 3 young children and worked as a seamstress and hosted two boarders to make an income to survive on.

1891 census: Selina Loader 40 widow & her three children living at Lottie Rd, Kings Norton

By 1891, Selina, 40 year old widow, had moved to Lottie Rd, Kings Norton, Worcestershire. She was still working as a seamstress and supporting her three young children Florence M Loader 9, Emily E Loader 8 and Walter C Loader 5. Sadly young son Walter died at the age of 12 in 1998. In 1901 daughter Florence May Loader 19, was working as a servant in Edgbaston.

In 1905 Florence 23 married the much older 37 Ernest Fincher, farmer and they had at least two children; Dorothy and Harry. In 1911 Selina was living with unmarried daughter Emily Elizabeth Loader 28, elementary school teacher. She reported that she had given birth to three children and one (Walter) had died. Selena Loader nee Birch died in 1924 in Kings Norton, Worcestershire aged 74. Florence May Fincher nee Loader died at Ledbury in 1970 aged 88.

13.0 GGGP James Smith Loader (1823-1863) & Rose Elizabeth Symes (1822-1883)
According to the census, James Smith Loader was born in 1823 at Moor Crichel, Dorset. The Parish register included entries for his siblings Elizabeth (1825) and Thomas (1827), but although his parents were married in Moor Crichel and lived there all their married lives, there is no record for James’ birth. Either he was not baptised or he was baptised elsewhere. Interestingly, he named 'Crichell' as his place of birth on the 1851 and 1861 census and the ages given suggest a birth year of 1823.

The middle name ‘Smith’ was his mother’s maiden name (it was common for maiden names to be used in this way). He used his full name on his wedding registration and on at least one census. James started work as an agricultural labourer when living at Moor Crichel with his parents. Although the 1841 census listed his age as 15, ages were often rounded down, so he was more likely around 18 at the time. At this census he was living in Manswood Cottages with his parents and five siblings. He must have had at least a basic level of schooling because he was able to sign his name in quite a confident hand (see marriage registration below).

13.1 GGGF James Loader met GGGM Rose Elizabeth Symes
James’ future wife, GGGM Rose Elizabeth Symes, was born on 13 Jan 1822 at Horton cum Woodland (EBI) , 3 miles from Moor Crichel. Her baptism record listed her parents as GGGGP John Symes, blacksmith and Rose (Rosanna) Elizabeth Symes nee Hayter. In 1841 she was living at Horton Heath with her parents and the household consisted of parents GGGGP John Symes 60 and Rosanna Symes 55 and children Benjamin Symes 20, Elizabeth (Rose) Symes 19 and James Symes 14. (See 25.1)

The Horton Inn as it is today. GGGF James probably downed a pint or two here.

In Dec 1845 James Loader possibly attended the wedding of his aunt, Elizabeth Wadham nee Loader (see 5.3) to her second husband, William Redhead in Horton. William’s house was not far from Rose Elizabeth Syme’s house and perhaps GGGF James Loader met Rose Symes (his future wife) at or after the wedding. His brother Charles sometimes stayed with Aunt Elizabeth Wadham so it is quite possible that James stayed there too from time to time in the late 1840’s.

Sadly Rose Symes’ father GGGGF John Symes died in 1848 and then her mother GGGGM Rose Symes nee Hayter died in January 1851. Rose had been living with her parents (and she and her two illegitimate children were probably supported by them too). After their deaths she was left with two children under 10, no husband, and was probably struggling to put food on the table. According to the census in March 1851, GGGF James Loader, sawyer, was an unmarried 'visitor' staying with Rose and her two illegitimate children; Walter and Frances Symes (from earlier relationships- see 25.2). James may have been visiting for some time, because Rose conceived her third illegitimate child in February that year and gave birth to daughter Rose on 10 Nov 1851.

Local landmark; Horton Tower

Soon after the birth of baby Rose Symes (later Loader), on 29 Nov 1851, GGGF James Loader married GGGM Rose Elizabeth Symes at Horton. The marriage registration named the fathers of GGGP James Loader and Rose Symes as GGGGF Robert Lanning Loader, carpenter and GGGGF John Symes, blacksmith. Both James and Rose signed their names, which indicated they could both read and write.

Marriage Registration for GGGP James Smith Loader & Rose Elizabeth Symes at Horton, 29 Nov 1851

The baptism registration for baby Rose was dated 30 November 1851, and listed the baby as "Rose Symes, now Loader" so she must have been born prior to her mother's marriage, but baptised after it.

Wimborne High St, 1910

In the early 1850’s the family moved to Wimborne and GGGM Rose Loader nee Symes gave birth to two more children; John Loader in 1855 and GGF Edmund Loader in 1857. In 1861 the family was living at 5 West Row, Wimborne and included James Loader 38 (b1823) sawyer, Rose E Loader 39 (b1822) and children Rose Loader 9, John Loader 6, Edmund Loader 3, Walter W Symes 18 woodturner (b1843) stepson and Frances J Symes 15 (b1846) stepdaughter with the occupation maid. James' children were all scholars (students).

13.2 GGGF James Loader’s Final Years 1862-1863
Rose’s final child Fanny Loader was baptised in Feb 1862 at Wimborne, but everything seemed to be too much for husband James, because on 14 October, 1862 at the age of 40, he was jailed at Dorchester Prison for the crime of ‘leaving his family’.

Dorchester prison 1862: James loader 40 year old charged with "leaving family".

The term of imprisonment was not mentioned, but the record noted it was his first transgression, so it was most likely a short custodial sentence. His physical description provides a clue as to his appearance. He was tall at 5 foot 10, had brown hair, grey eyes, sallow skin, and quite a few physical injuries; probably due to his occupation as a sawyer, which included a cut on the right eye and missing last joint of first finger on the right hand. He was listed as married with four children.

Dorset County Chronicle 23 Oct 1862

An article mentioning James "leaving his family" was published in the local newspaper as a result of the court case.

He was possibly unwell at this time, because he died at the age of 40, one year later in Oct 1863 at Wimborne (EDI). See 13.4 for the possibility that on release from prison James may have had a brief relationship with his widowed sister-in-law Mary Loader, which resulted in the birth of Clara Loader.

Wimborne High St, 1800s

13.3 GGGM Rose Elizabeth Loader nee Symes after James Loader’s Death

Following James’ death, Rose and her children went through some very tough times (see 13.3). When James died, the family were destitute and the 1871 census listed Rose as widow and pauper with four young children to care for. The family had moved around the corner to Redcotts Lane, Wimborne and consisted of Rose E Loader 49 widow and pauper, daughter Rose Loader 19 servant, John Loader 16 coachsmith assistant, Edmund Loader 13 errand boy and Fanny M Loader 9 scholar. Rose had taken on a young lodger, Isaac H.S.Frampton (b1850, Somerset), 21 year old bricklayer to earn some income.

1871 Census; Rose Loader with children Edmund, John & Fanny living in West Row, Wimborne

Rose Loader was difficult to find in the 1881 census, (needed a manual search through Wimborne census; page 52 below), but she was listed as Elizabeth Loader (hard to read) 61 (really 59) living in Leigh Rd (the last listing at the Poole Rd end, next to the Greyhound Inn), Wimborne with unmarried sons Edmund 23 ostler (horse handler) and John 26 ag lab.

1881 Census: Rose (Elizabeth) Loader with children John & Edmund.

Daughter Rose Loader was being cared for at Colney Hatch Asylum at this time. The location of daughter Fanny is unknown. GGGM Rose Elizabeth Loader nee Symes may have been unwell because she died less than two years later in 1883 (EDI) at the age of 62. The death registration listed her residence as Redcott's Lane so she must have moved back there after the 1881 census. Rose was buried in Wimborne.

13.4 GGGP James Loader & sister-in-law Mary Loader nee Moxam

James Loader’s sister-in-law Mary Loader nee Moxham (wife of Alfred) was living with his older brother Thomas and family in Pendock, Worcestershire in 1861, after the death of her husband. In late 1862 Mary unexpectedly became pregnant and gave birth to daughter Clara in August 1863 (EBI) (see 12.5b). Clara listed her father on her marriage registration as “James Penton Loader, sawyer”.

Interestingly, at her mother’s second marriage in 1870 (seven years after James’ death) the witnesses on the marriage registration were James and Sophia Penton. Although James Penton was probably Clara's father, it is also possible that Clara’s uncle, James Loader was her father (although it does not explain why “Penton” was given as a middle name). James was imprisoned on 14 October 1862 for the crime of leaving his family and would have been released a week or two later. On leaving jail, it is possible he went to stay at his brother Thomas’ house in early November (where Mary was also staying at the time). She would have conceived Clara around November or December to give birth in August 1863. The relationship may have been consensual or possibly not, as the jail term places some doubt over James’ ethics. (see 12.5 for other possibilities). Mary left the area to have Clara in Guildford, possibly because of the scandal of a widow giving birth two years after the death of her husband.

14.0 Four children of GGGP James Smith Loader (1823-1863) & Rose Elizabeth Symes (1822-1883)
NOTE: Rose also had two illegitimate children from prior relationships. See 25.2

14.1 Rose Loader (1851-1934)
Rose was the first child recorded as being born to James and Rose Elizabeth Loader, although her mother had had two children from previous relationships. Rose was born on 10 Nov 1851 and baptised as Rose Symes on 30 Nov 1851, at Horton, the day after her parents GGGP James Loader and Rose Elizabeth Symes were married.

Baptism: Rose, daughter of Rose E. Symes (single woman), "now Loader". Note on left says "Born the 10th (Nov)" 1856

The register has the note “now Loader” to make her name change official, but listed her mother GGGM Rose Elizabeth Symes as a "single woman" (making it clear that she gave birth prior to marriage). It also does not record the name of the father, so it may or may not be James. However the evidence suggests it was him, because he was living in the same house as GGGM Rose Elizabeth Symes when the census was taken on 30 March 1851, and Rose would have been conceived early in 1851.

In 1861 Rose 9, was living at 5 West Row, Wimborne with her parents GGGP James Loader 38 (b1823), sawyer and Rose E Loader 39 (b1822) and siblings John Loader 6, Edmund Loader 3 and step-siblings Walter W Symes 18, woodturner (b1843) and Frances J Symes 15 (b1846), maid. James' children were all scholars (students). In 1871 at the age of 19, Rose was living with her mother (father deceased) in West Row, Wimborne and listed her occupation as domestic servant. All was not well in Rose’s life.

Rose Loader 27 was admitted to Colney Hatch Asylum on 10 Mar 1878 and discharged on 2 Feb 1886

On 10 Mar, 1878 Rose was admitted to Colney Hatch Asylum, London as a pauper (and presumably unable to care for herself). Detailed admission records are available which would explain her circumstances at the time, but I have not located these. She was discharged on the 2 Feb 1886 which implies she had at least partially recovered, but by 1891 she was admitted as a '39 year old' patient to Leavesden Asylum, London. Her place of birth was listed as Wimborne and she was single.

Leavesden Asylum, London c1900

The 1901 census listed Rose as a “lunatic” patient at Leavesden Asylum and the record indicates she was born in Horton with the previous occupation of domestic worker. Everything fits, except her age is given as a badly written 64 (or perhaps 54), when in fact she was around 50 (perhaps her illness gave her the appearance of a much older woman or alternatively an error was made with her age). Rose Loader died in 1934 in the asylum at Wandsworth at the age of 83. (EDI) Details of the cause of death are unknown.

14.2 John Loader (1854-1907)
The second child born to James and Rose Elizabeth Loader was John Loader, whose birth was registered in January 1855, at Wimborne. There was a John Loader baptised at West Parley (5 miles from Wimborne) on 17 Sep 1854 with parents; James and Elizabeth Loader. These details fit, but usually the baptism happened after the birth was registered. Perhaps it took father GGGP James Loader some time to get the paperwork completed! Later John named West Moors as his place of birth (5 miles from West Parley).

NOTE: Place of abode (place of birth) on the baptismal registration appears to say "Manington Common-????" Manington is about 3 miles north of West Moors and about 10 miles north of West Parley. All these locations are about 5 miles from Wimborne. As a sawyer, perhaps James' family moved from place to place depending on work available and they happened to be at West Parley when they decided to baptise baby John.

John Loader: Parents GGGP James & (Rose) Elizabeth Loader nee Symes 17 Sep 1854. Note on right says 'Privately"

John was six and living in Wimborne with his parents in 1861 at 5 West Row. The family included parents GGGP James Loader 38 (b1823), sawyer and Rose E Loader 39 (b1822) and siblings Rose Loader 9, Edmund Loader 3 and step-siblings Walter W Symes 18, woodturner (b1843) and Frances J Symes 15 (b1846), maid.

1861 census: No 5 West Row Wimborne: GGGP James & Rose Loader nee Symes, 2 Symes children & 3 Loader children

John was living with his widowed mother during the 1871 census. His occupation in 1871 was coachsmith assistant. John Loader was difficult to find in the 1881 census, but is listed with his mother Elizabeth Loader nee Symes 61 (see 13.3) and unmarried brother Edmund 23 ostler living in Leigh Rd, Wimborne. John was 26 and worked as an agricultural labourer.

1901 census: Wimborn Union Workhouse: John Loader formerly General Labourer born West Moors

There is then a gap in the records for twenty years until 1901 when John, 47 year old single man (not a widower and formerly a labourer), was listed as living in the Wimborne Union Workhouse. The workhouse was the safety net for the destitute, so this suggests the gap in the records may be due to the fact that he had been homeless for a number of years. Possibly he had been unwell for many years as well, because the EDI shows that he died on 9 May 1907 at Wimborne aged 53.

14.3 GGF Edmund Loader (1857-1932)
Edmund was the third child of GGGP James and Elizabeth Rose Loader and was born in 1857 and baptised on 7 February 1858 at Holt Chapel, Wimborne Minster. He is the only one of GGGP James and Rose Elizabeth Loader’s family who is known to have had children. He married GGM Anne Marie White in 1882 and appeared to have a long happy marriage, which resulted in twelve children. See more details in 16.0

14.4 Fanny Mary Loader (1861-?)

GGGP James and Rose Elizabeth’s last child was Fanny Mary Loader who was born in Oct 1861 (EBI) and baptised on 9 Feb 1862 at Wimborne. The registration listed her father as a 'sawyer'. Not long after her birth, her father abandoned his family and was jailed for this action. Then the following year, her father died leaving the family in desperate circumstances.

Baptism of Fanny Mary Loader 1862 at Wimborne

In 1871 Fanny Mary Loader 9 scholar was living with her mother in Redcotts Lane, Wimborne. Although there was an 1881 census record for Fanny's mother and brothers, none has been found for her. In 1891, Fanny Loader, 29 year old single woman, was living at 129 New Barn St, West Ham in Essex working as a housekeeper, for James Monks 34, machine driller from Ireland. Fanny's place of birth was given as Wimborne, which was 140 miles away, so this may be a different person. There is no record of a marriage, no known children and details of her death are unknown.

14.5 Was GGGP James & Rose Elizabeth Loader’s family dysfunctional?

There is much evidence in the records to suggest unhappiness in the lives of GGGP James and Rose Elizabeth Loader and their children. If this is so, did it arise from their characters and behaviour, or was it a result of circumstances they found themselves in? The evidence is outlined in the next few paragraphs.

GGGM Rose Elizabeth Symes had three children out of wedlock, probably by three different men (see 25.2). This suggests she possibly had difficulty maintaining relationships or was taken advantage of, when she may have been vulnerable. James appears to have been the father of at least one of her illegitimate children and may have been “pressured” into a marriage he did not want to commit to. There is some evidence that he may have had an affair with his widowed sister-in-law (see 13.4). Later in life, James was jailed for “leaving his family”, and soon after (1863) he died, leaving his wife Rose Elizabeth Loader to cope with her young family alone. His early death may have been the result of alcohol abuse. Often a male child was given his father’s christian name. Although their first daughter inherited her mother’s Christian name, neither of their sons inherited the name “James”. This may also suggest some discord in the relationship.

Three of the four children had lives that suggested serious social, health or other problems. Daughter Rose was admitted to an asylum at the age of 27. Her mental health could have been influenced by being raised in dysfunctional circumstances. John Loader was living in the poorhouse at the age of 46, which suggests an inability to look after himself, and he died early at the age of 53. GGF Edmund was jailed for assaulting a constable at the age of 20 (the same year his sister was admitted to the asylum). A propensity to behave violently could be a result of alcohol abuse or a violent upbringing. The fourth child Fanny, may have had a happier life, but the records do not provide any information about her life after the age of 29.

Rose Elizabeth Loader nee Symes died on 23 Feb 1883 (EDI) whilst living at West Row and was buried in Wimborne. The fact that she died at the relatively young age of 62, suggests that she may have suffered from ill health at least in her later years.

5 West Row appears to be the red building in the left

Unlike the children of James’ parents (see 12.1 to 12.10 above), who frequently visited each other, were witnesses at each other’s weddings and often lived close by, there is no evidence of any close relationship between James Loader’ own children.

15.0 GGF Edmund Loader (1857-1932)

Feb 7th 1858; Edmund son of James & Elizabeth Loader baptised at Holt Chapel; abode Hampreston

Edmund had a very rough start to life, but once he married Ann Marie White he went on to have a large family and his children, in the main, seemed to have had happy stable lives.

Original Horton Heath Chapel. Replaced 1877. GGF Edmund Loader was baptised here in 1857.

Edmund was the third child of GGGP James and Elizabeth Rose Loader and was born in 1857 and baptised on 7 February 1858 at Holt Chapel, Wimborne Minster. At the time, the family were listed as living in Hampreston (about 5 miles from Holt).

In 1861 the family was living at 5 West Row, Wimborne and included parents James Loader 38 (b1823) and Rose E Loader 39 (b1822) and children Rose Loader 9, John 6, GGF Edmund 3 and step children Walter Wilcox Symes 18 (b1843) and Frances J Symes 15. In 1863 when Edmund was only 6, his father GGGF James Smith Loader died at Wimborne. By 1871 his mother Rose E Loader (now a pauper) had moved the family around the corner to Redcotts Lane, Wimborne; Edmund was 13, Rose Loader 19, John 16 and Fanny was 9.

Edmund’s rough life during his early years must have had an impact on him. In his teens, his mother Rose was struggling with her circumstances, not only economically, but her eldest daughter Rose was admitted to an asylum in Mar 1878.

Two pages relating to Edmund (bottom entry on both) & his co-accused when charged with assault in 1878.

It is not surprising that Edmund’s behaviour started to get out of hand. On 9 Nov 1878 Edmund aged 20 was sentenced to 6 weeks jail for assaulting a constable. His two co-accused, who were much older, were only sentenced to 4 weeks jail, which suggests that the main culprit was Edmund. He was discharged from Dorchester jail on the 19 Dec and appears to have led a more law abiding life after that.

Dorchester Prison c1900

15.1 GGP Edmund Loader (1857-1932) & Ann Marie White (1862-1944)
In 1881, Edmund 23 ostler was living in Leigh Rd, Wimborne with his mother and brother John 26.
In early 1881 GGM Ann Marie White 19 was living less than one mile away in New Borough Road (listed as New Rd), Wimborne and was a servant for an elderly widow named Rachel Frampton 70 (c1811, Salisbury, Wilts, died 1887). She probably met her future husband Edmund when she moved to Wimborne, because just over a year later on 18 Jun 1882, at the age of 21, she and Edmund 24, were married in the Wimborne parish church.

Marriage Registration: GGP Edmund Loader 24 & Annie White 21

At that time of their marriage, Edmund was a 24 year old groom living at the Corn Market and Annie was a 21 year old spinster living just around the corner in West St. Both parties signed the document.

Edmund lived in this area in 1882. The buildings remain similar but horses would replace the car.

At the time of their marriage GGM Ann (Annie) was living in West St, which is just around the corner from Leigh Rd. The marriage registration listed their fathers as GGGF James Loader, sawyer (deceased) and GGGF James White, bricklayer. (See 41.4 for information about Anne Marie White's early life.)

The couple moved to Sixpenny Handley (where GGM Ann Marie’s family originated) and started their family. Sons Edmund Arthur Loader (born in Oct 1882, four months after their wedding) and William George Loader (b1884) were the first children. GGF Edmund’s occupation was given as “ostler” (man who looks after horses e.g. for people staying at an inn). The baptism register listed the parents as Edwin (should be Edmund) and Annie Maria Loader.

Old Rd, Wimborne in modern times

In the mid 1880's the family moved to Old Rd, Wimborne and more children arrived: Charles b1885, Frederick b1886, GF Walter b1888 and Bertram 1890. In 1891 the three roomed house in Old Rd, Wimborne was getting a bit crowded with GGF Edmund Loader 34 labourer, GGM Annie Loader 29, Edmund Arthur Loader 8, William George Loader 4, Charles Henry Loader 6, Frederick James Loader 4, GF Walter Frank Loader 3, Bertram Sidney Loader 9 months and Anna Marie’s father GGGF James White 59 bricklayer, widower. All sons were attending school.

1891: GGP Edmund & Annie Loader, 6 sons & Annie's father GGGF James White living in a 3 roomed house in Old Rd

Through the 1890’s more children were born at Old Rd Wimborne: Harold John Loader 1892, Owen Alfred Loader 1893, Annie Elizabeth Loader 1896 (the first girl after seven sons) and Herbert Douglas Loader 1899.

1901 census; 18 Old Rd Wimborne: Edmund & Annie Loader with 4 sons (another 4 children were on the next page)

By 1901, although some of the children had moved out, the house was still crowded with GGF Edmund Loader 44, GGM Annie Loader 39, Charles 15, Frederick 14, GF Walter 13, Bertram 10, Harold 8, Owen 7, Annie 4 , Herbert 1 and mother Annie was heavily pregnant with Ellen, baby number eleven. Their house was eleven doors from 'The Green Man Hotel'. The three oldest boys were all working as ‘postal errand boys’ to help supplement the family income, and as they were not listed as ‘scholars’ had probably left school by the age of 12. On 27 July 1907 Edmund and Annie baptised their twelfth baby, Beatrice Dorothy Loader, but sadly she died at the age of one and was buried at Wimborne on the 15 Aug 1908. For a few years GGP Edmund and Annie thought that having babies was a thing of the past, and then to their surprise in 1910, young Percival arrived when Annie was 48 years old!

1911 census: GGP Edmund & Annie Loader, 6 sons & 2 daughters living at 18 Old Rd.

In 1911, 18 Old Rd was bursting at the seams with eight children and two adults crammed into five rooms (which included the kitchen and living rooms, so at the most there were 3 bedrooms). The family included Edmund Loader 53 labourer, Annie Loader 49, Charles 25 labourer, GF Walter 23 milkman, Harold 18 errand boy, Owen 17 errand boy, Annie 14, Herbert 11, Ellen 10 and little Percy 1. Eldest son Edmund Arthur Loader had his name crossed off the census because he was away serving in the navy at that time. The census tells us that Annie had given birth to 13 babies, but only 12 were still alive and that she and Edmund had been married for 28 years by 1911.

Soldiers march through Wimborne during WW1, possibly on their way to the fron.

Hopefully they were one big happy family, but that was soon to end as the shadows of the Great War were beginning to build in Europe. All the older boys enlisted and most served overseas (see entries below for details). It must have been a very traumatic time for Edmund, Annie and the younger children, especially when news began to filter through of the thousands of troops that were being slaughtered on the various fronts. Our family was not spared; four of their ten sons were killed or wounded. The first to die was Charles Loader in 1916 and the following year William Loader was also killed. Both young men were killed in the trenches in France and never returned home. Two other sons were wounded in France during the fighting; Harold, was wounded by shrapnel in the shoulder in 1916, leaving him with a permanent physical injury and Owen was discharged from the army in 1918 due to the severity of his wounds.

After the end of the war, people tried their best to resume normal lives. From 1919-1921 Edmund and Annie Loader were listed as still living at 18 Old Rd, on the Electoral Roll, but by now the house was less crowded. They probably lived there in retirement until Edmund passed away in Sep 1932 aged 74. In 1939 GGM Annie Loader nee White 77, widow, was living, at 4 West Row, Wimborne with unmarried son Herbert Loader 40 gardener. Eighty years earlier Annie's deceased husband Edmund had moved into next door at 5 West Row as a child with his family and lived there for a few years. Annie Marie Loader nee White lived on to witness another world war and passed away in Wimborne on 3 Aug 1944 at the age of 82.

GGM Annie Marie Loader nee White 1941

16.0 Thirteen children of GGP Edmund Loader (1857-1932) & Ann Marie White (1862-1944)

Members of the Loader Family Tree 1800 to 2020. See diagram above for earlier ancestors.

Twelve of Edmund and Annie's children survived childhood. Ten of the twelve children who survived to adulthood were boys, so the girls in the household must have felt very outnumbered. Apart from the two sons who were tragically killed in WW1 and the youngest son Percy (who died at the age of 42), all the children lived into their sixties, with three making it into their eighties and Great Aunt Annie survived to the ripe old age of 95. Members of Edmund Loader's family occupied 18 Old Road for over forty years, from the early 1880's into the 1920's.

Most, if not all, of the Loader children were baptised in the Church of England. However, at some point the family started attending the Wimborne Baptist Church, and that became the family place of worship. Members of the Northover family, particularly Walter Loader's wife Ethel Maude's father Richard Northover, were also active in the Baptist Church.

Interestingly, although GGP Edmund and Annie had thirteen children themselves, they ended up with very few grandchildren. Only five of their offspring are known to have had children; Edmund (3 children), Frederick (1 child) Walter (3 children), Owen (1 child) and Ellen (1 child). One major factor that contributed to this drop in fertility was WW1. Apart from the deaths it caused, it also meant that Edmund’s surviving children were separated from their partners during the main ‘child bearing’ ages. The war was also so devastating, that it possibly had a psychological affect making people doubt the wisdom of bringing children into a world where such evil things happen.

This poem is dedicated to GGP Edmund & Annie's sons most of whom are mentioned by their Christian name.

There is a long poem titled "Patriotism in Wimborne - A True Story", held in a collection at 'The Priest's House Museum', Wimborne Minster, which graphically describes the war experiences of six our Great Uncles in the Loader family. The poem was thought to have been recited by Dorothy Cotton at St John's Parish Hall (Wimborne) 10 January, 1917 and was written by 'S.P.' from 23 Leigh Rd, Wimborne. The poem was written after the death of Charles in June 1916, but before the death of William in Apr 1917. It mentions by name "Teddy" (Edmund), William, Charlie, Bertram, Harold and Owen. (Brothers Walter and Frederick were included by the phrase "and two others as well". The poem provides some detail about the war service of the six Loader men; particularly Charles who developed a fever in the trenches, was gassed, sent home to recuperate and then, when he returned to the trenches at the front, was killed by a 'sniper's bullet'.

The Wimborne Minster Parish Magazine reported in 1917 that, ‘There are few districts in the kingdom which have supplied so large a number of volunteers as the Old Road, in Wimborne, has done; and Sergeant Rossiter is the seventh inhabitant, from a road which contains only 24 cottages, who has given his life for King and country’

A hundred years later Gill Horitz wrote another poem about the sacrifices made by those living in Old Rd. The poem was titled, "Anthem for Old Road"

Through the doors and down the path

Through the gate and down the road

the Loaders and the Barrows went

the Harveys and the Gollops went

the Rossiters, whose sons

left home so daringly.

The postman brought letters from boys

he knew. “What are they telling us?”

as through the letter box they fell

of number six and number twelve

of number ten and eighteen

as parents in the living rooms

read their news, not knowing…

what was unspoken of, not knowing

who, who, who will not come back

here, where we walk down the same road,

passing the roses, the light

on the windows, thinking, “This door,

this path, this gate, this hearth

this old road remembers

the Loaders and the Barrows

the Harveys and Gollops and

the Rossiters, remembers

their sons leaving home so daringly.”

Owen and Charles [the Loader boys]

Arthur and Harold

Ernest and William

Frederick and Ralph…

16.1 Edmund Arthur Loader (1882-1972)

Edmund Arthur Loader was born on 16 October 1882. He was baptised at Sixpenny Handley on 31 Dec 1882 and the EBI registered his birth as January 1883 at Wimborne (13 miles away). Edmund and his father; who he was named after, had their names incorrectly listed as Edwin.

Training Ship HMS Impregnable

In 1891 Edwin (Edmund) was living in Wimborne with his parents, but as soon as he could, on 1 May 1900 aged 17, he joined the Royal Navy. In 1901 he was a first class able seaman on the training ship 'HMS Impregnable'. His navy record tells us that at the age of 18 he was 5ft 4 inches tall with black hair, grey eyes and a ‘fresh’ complexion. On his left arm he had a mysterious tattoo which read ‘I love E.M.D.’ His occupation prior to enlistment was given as ‘page boy’, but this is crossed out and replaced with 'dealer’. In 1911 he was on board ships in the South China Sea and during WW1 served on numerous ships, but most frequently on ‘HMS Victory 1’. His Navy Record lists his last service date as 6 Jun 1921, when he was 38 years old.

Service Record: Edmund A Loader includes physical description including mysterious tattoo & 1st ship

During his naval service he managed to get leave in 1912 to marry his sweetheart. With WW1 looming on the horizon Edmund married Dorothy Schummacher (b1890 Winchester) at Christchurch (EMI). Dorothy was the daughter of Siegfried Schumacher (a hotel doorman and Swiss national) and his wife Jane. The family lived in Bournemouth and Dorothy worked with her mother in their home-based business selling clothes.

Edmund and Dorothy Loader had three children; Dorothy Loader (1913-1985), Gladys Loader b2 Dec 1914 at Poole) and Edmund Frederick Loader (1925-1994). In 1939 Edmund A Loader (wrongly listed as Londer) and wife Dorothy were living at 719 Christchurch Rd, Bournemouth with children Gladys 25 and Edmund Frederick Loader 24. Edmund snr was working as a hotel door porter (like his father-in-law earlier). Dorothy Loader nee Schumacher 69 of Sterte Rd, Poole, died on the 22 Oct 1959 at Bournemouth Club Pier. Probate was granted to husband Edmund Arthur Loader with effects valued at £1700.

According to the EDI, Edmund Loader aged 88, died in 1972 at Poole, with his date of death listed as the first quarter of 1972.

16.2 William George Loader (1884-1917)

William was born in 1884 in Wimborne (EBI) and baptised on 27 Jul 1884 in Sixpenny Handley. In 1891 he was living in Wimborne with his parents, but at the age of 17 he moved to London and in 1901 he was living in the suburb of Willesden with his uncle Walter White’s family (see 41.9), working as an electric light shop worker (it was the very early days of public electricity systems).

1901 Census: William Loader living with uncle Walter G White & family in a 4 roomed house, 8 Avondale Terr, Willesden

By 1903 he had had enough of city life and moved back to 18 West St Wimborne, where he took up lodgings with the Ewance family. Close by at 17 West St., lived the Butler family with their attractive daughter Beatrice Annie Butler (who William was to later court). He picked up a job in the local brewing company as a bottle filler with Edward Ewance who also worked there.

1911 Census Wimborne: William Loader lodging with his future parents-in-law at 18 West St Wimborne

Whoever filled in the 1911 census got William’s middle name wrong, but all the other details fit. The listing is as follows: William Edward Loader (middle name wrong) 27 (b1884 Wimborne) single and a lodger, occupation bottler filler.

The following year (1912) was a bad one for William, and the incident was recorded in the Western Gazette Newspaper Apr 1912 in two articles. The first gave the details of a trial under the headline “A Bridegroom’s Temptation at Wimborne- A chance of Atonement”. William G Loader, was charged with breaking and entering the offices of his employer of nine years George Habgood brewer (probably Julian's brewery, West St) and stealing £25 on 4th April. In court it was revealed that William was due to marry his sweetheart Beatrice on the very day of his court appearance. William eventually admitted to Beatrice that he had stolen the money to pay for furniture for the rooms of the house they were going to occupy after their wedding. Fortunately for William, his employer regarded him highly, saw the incident as an act of desperation based on ‘opportunistic temptation’ and decided not to pursue the charges. He even offered to re-employ William and give him another chance. This statement led to wild applause in the courtroom, which caused the presiding judge to announce, that if it happened again, the court would be cleared. (Coming from such a large family, there were probably many people in the courtroom to support William.) The outcome was that William had to repay a sum of money to his employer and he was let off with a warning that if he appeared before the court again the judgement would be reviewed.

The second article gives more details of the crime and police investigation under the headline “Eve of Wedding Arrest” (a hint of tabloid journalism).

William George Loader married Beatrice Annie Butler on 30 Jun 1912 at Wimborne

Two months later on 30 Jun 1912, William George Loader 28 finally got to marry his sweetheart Beatrice Annie Butler 26, dressmaker. Their address was given as West St, Wimborne (probably Beatrice’s family home at 17 West St.) Witnesses at the wedding were brother Bertram Loader and Beatrice’s widowed mother Mary Jane Butler. Interestingly, William’s father Edmund Loader (wrongly listed as Edward), who usually was listed as a bricklayer had his occupation listed as painter so he must have tried his hand at whatever work was going.

William and Beatrice had a few short years to enjoy married life, but tensions were building on the political stage. In 1914 the British Government declared a state of war and called for men to join the war effort. William now 30, enlisted in the Dorsetshire Regiment. A few months later in May 1915, he was in the trenches on the front in France, a long way from the peaceful rural landscape he had grown up in. William found himself involved in a mechanised and deadly warfare of a type the world had never seen before. Somehow he managed to survive the carnage and on 26 Sept 1916 he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for gallantry and promoted to Lance Corporal. The citation reads “He carried messages over 120 yards of open ground under heavy machine gun fire. Several messengers had already been killed or wounded in this space”.

On the 5 Apr 1917 William’s luck ran out and at the age of 32 he was killed in action in France and was buried in St Souplet British Cemetery, France. William’s name is inscribed on Wimborne War Memorial and that website adds the following information. “His remains were found in 1922 buried with two other unknown soldiers. His remains were identified by a pocket book containing the entry L/Cpl Loader W. G. Dorset Regt, Wimborne”. He was then buried in St Martin’s Military Cemetery Extension, St Quentin, before later being exhumed to his current resting place.”

William George Loader

In May 1918 the Wimborne Parish Magazine reported that "Mrs Loader (West Boro’) widow of Lance-Cpl W. G. Loader has received the Distinguished Conduct Medal, which had been awarded to her husband".

Grave of George W Loader, St Souplet, France

William's young bride Beatrice only had a few short years with William and must have been devastated by his death. In 1920 aged 34, whilst living at 17 West St, Wimborne (the Butler family home) Beatrice Loader nee Butler married Alfred Reginald Chase 26, whose occupation was a police constable (he was probably too young to be involved in the investigation of William’s earlier crime, but the surname Chase is a good one for a policeman). Later the couple moved to Poole. In 1953 Beatrice possibly attended her brother-in-law Walter's funeral and was listed in the newspaper as "Mrs B. Loader of Parkstone". Beatrice lived to 1979 and died at the age of 84 in Weymouth.

16.3 Charles Henry Loader (1885-1916)

Charles was born in 1885 (EBI) at Old Road, Wimborne and baptised on 6 Sep 1885 in Wimborne. He was living with his parents in 1891 and 1901 in Wimborne. He was still living with his parents at 18 Old Rd Wimborne in 1911 and working as a labourer. Like most of his brothers, he joined the army soon after war was declared in 1914. He enlisted in the Dorsetshire regiment on 25 Oct 1914.

Whilst on leave for a short time in 1915, he married Winifred Lucy Mary Cobb at Wimborne. (Regisered Oct 1915: EMI). In 1911 Winifred Lucy Loader 15, tailoress, had been living at 524 Pamphill, Wimborne with her mother and grandparents. Perhaps Charles met Winifred Lucy when he needed some clothes altered!

Charles H. Loader

Sadly Charles and Winifred only had a few weeks together before Charles returned to the front lines in France. He must have had a premonition that things may not turn out well, because on 29th Dec 1915 he wrote out an informal will, in which he left all his possessions to his young wife. Six months later on 20 Jun 1916 he was killed in action. The War diary for his battalion on that day recorded that "Company Headquarters were hit by heavy T.M. One O.R. killed and one wounded”. Charles was buried in the military cemetery at Authuile, Somme, France, but is remembered on the Wimborne War Memorial. See information about Winifred's later life below.

Grave of Charles Henry Loader aged 31, Authuile, Somme, France

NOTE: There is a long poem titled "Patriotism in Wimborne - A True Story", held in a collection at 'The Priest's House Museum', Wimborne Minster, which graphically describes the war experiences of six of our Great Uncles in the Loader family (See above). The poem was written after the death of Charles in June 1916 but before the death of William in Apr 1917. The poem provides some detail about the war service of the six Loader men; particularly Charles who developed a fever in the trenches, was gassed, sent home to recuperate and then when he returned to the trenches at the front, was killed by a "sniper's bullet".This account differs from the official war records listed above.

Authuile Cemetery: Great Uncle Charles was one of thousands of young men who died in WW1

16.3a Winifred Lucy May Cobb (1895-1974)
There were two Winifred Cobb's born in the Wimborne area around 1890. One was born at Holt, Wimborne in 1889 but died at Holt at the age of 17 in 1906. Winifred Lucy May Cobb was born on 19 Aug 1895 at Kingston Lacy (baptised at Wimborne on 8 Nov) to parents Albert Cobb, blacksmith and his wife Elizabeth. From 1901 to 1911 she was living at 524 Pamphill, Wimborne with her mother and grandparents. In 1911 she was a 15 year old tailoress. At that time her father Albert Cobb was living separately from his family at 34 West Boro, Wimborne.

As described above, Winifred 20 married Charles Henry Loader in 1915, but sadly he was killed the following year whilst serving in France during WW1. It would have broken Winifred’s heart to receive that dreaded telegram informing her of her husband’s death. As thousands of widows had to do, she managed to keep going, and gradually life regained some normality.

In her mid-twenties Winifred found herself in love again, with someone she had probably known for some time. Charles’ younger brother GF Walter Loader had married GM Ethel Northover (see 16.5 below) in August 1914 and Winifred would have met Ethel Northover’s side of the family at the wedding, including Ethel’s unmarried brother Richard M Bertie Northover. After Charles’ death, perhaps Bertie provided caring support for her. In time they grew close together and in 1921 he proposed. They were married in Oct, 1921 at Wimborne. (See 84.5 for more about Richard M Bertie Northover's life.)

Winifred and 'Bertie' went on to have three children. Richard Northover was born in 1923, Raymond was born in 1929 and Elizabeth Lucy May Northover was born in Dec 1939. In early 1939, the family was living at Poole, where Richard worked on the railways and eldest son Richard worked as a gardener. Winifred's widowed mother Elizabeth Cobb b1874, was also living with them. Winifred Lucy Mary Northover nee Loader nee Cobb died at Poole at the age of 79 in 1974 (EDI).

16.4 Frederick James Loader (1886-1957)
Frederick was born in Old Rd., Wimborne in 4 Oct 1886 (EBI) and baptised on 5 Dec 1886.

Baptism of Frederick James Loader 5 Nov 1886 at Wimborne

He was living with his parents in Wimborne for the 1891 and 1901 census. Before 1911 he moved 1.5 miles to Pound Farm, Hillbutts, Pamphill, where he was a boarder with Peter and Rosina Kimber and their family, who occupied one of the farm cottages. Frederick was working on the farm as a milk carrier.

The Kimber family had been working on this large dairy farm since well before 1901 and their daughter Ellen Kimber had been born there on 16 Nov 1887 (EBI). It wasn’t long before Frederick fell in love with Ellen and in early 1912 he married Ellen E. Kimber (EMI). The couple only had a short time together before Frederick enlisted in the Dorsetshire Regiment (Enlistment no 3262) and joined the war effort. Frederick and Ellen had a daughter, Ellen Maud Loader, born 14 Oct 1913. From 1915-1920 the electoral roll listed Frederick and wife Ellen Loader living at 45 West Boro, Wimborne. However, after the war in 1921, they were listed as living at 627 Hillbutts in the same house as Ellen’s parents Peter and Rosina Kimber.

Frederick & Ellen Loader nee Kimber, daughter Ellen & sister-in-law Daisy Kimber living at 7 Leigh Park Wimborne 1939

The 1939 Register for Wimborne Minster listed the family living at 7 Leigh Park as Frederick J Loader, cordite worker R.N.C.F., Ellen E Loader, domestic duties, Ellen M Loader (aged 26), tomato packer and Daisy B Kimber 46 , domestic duties. Frederick's brother and niece also worked at the cordite factory. At this time the country was mobilising for a possible war and there was a need for people to work in essential industries such as food and munitions production.

Frederick survived until 1957, when he died at Poole (probably Poole Hospital) aged 70 (EDI). Ellen Loader nee Kimber died in Sep 1981 in Poole at the grand age of 94.

16.5 GF Walter Frank Loader (1888-1953)
Walter was the fifth child of GGP Edmund and Annie Loader nee White born on 15 Feb and baptised on the 6 May 1888 in the Church of England, Wimborne Minster.

GF Walter Frank Loader was born on 15 Feb in the family home at Old Rd & baptised on 6 May 1888 at Wimborne

It was Walter's marriage on 2 Aug 1914 to GM Ethel Maud Northover (two days before war was declared) that brought the Northover and Loader families together in our family tree. See 17.0 for more information about his life and his family.

Wimborne around 1900?

16.6 Bertram (Bert) Sidney Loader (1890-1953)
Bertram (Bertie) was born on 27 Jun 1890 at Old Rd., Wimborne and baptised on 2 Aug 1890 at the Church of England, Wimborne Minster.

Baptism of Bertam Sidney Loader 2 Aug 1890 (born 27 Jun 1890)

In 1891 and 1901 he was living in Wimborne with his parents, but by 1911 he had moved to 31 Orchard Street, Dorchester where he lived as a boarder with the Loveless family. His occupation was saddler and harness maker. Like most of his brothers, he enlisted in the army soon after the outbreak of war and joined the Army Ordinance Corps. He was sent to France on 22 Jan 1815. The electoral roll listed him as being an absent voter serving in the army from 1918-1819 but gave his address as 18 Old Rd Wimborne along with younger brother Owen.

Bertram married Madeline Isobel Jeans (b1894 North Stoneham) in July 1918 at Portsmouth (EMI) and in 1920, the Electoral Roll listed the couple as living at 9 Old Rd, Wimborne, just a few doors from where Bertram was born. After the war, Bertram tried to resume his career as a saddler and moved to Market Place, Somerset where he advertised his work in Kelly's Directory in 1923. We do not know how successful that was, because there are no other records about his saddlery work.

In 1938 Bertram was listed as a shopkeeper and postmaster at 360 South Mead rd, Westbury on Trym, Bristol

Hard to read 1939 Register: Madeline & Bertram Loader, retired sub postmaster

In 1939 Bertram a retired sub postmaster and Madeline Loader (b16 Jan 1894) were living in Southampton with two of Madeline's relatives; Madeline's widowed mother Annie Jeans, (b1865) and unmarried brother Edgar Jeans (b1906).

The 1946-1954 phone books have Bertram S Loader listed as living at Cocker Kennels, Amberwood, Somerset. Perhaps he found running a kennels was a more profitable career. Bertram and his wife attended brother Walter's funeral in 1953 and his address was given as Romsey (outskirts of Southampton). Bertram died later that year in Dec 1953 at Southampton (EDI). There are no records showing that he and Madeline had children. Madeline was living at 181 Bitterne Rd, Southampton when she died on 24 Oct 1963. Probate was granted to Edgar Jeans, newsagent (younger brother) with effects valued at £3434.

16.7 Harold John Loader (1892-1959)
Harold was born at Old Rd, Wimborne towards the end of 1892 and was baptised on 17 Feb 1893. From 1901 to 1915 he was living at 18 Old Rd Wimborne with his parents. In the 1911 census he was aged 18 and gave his occupation as an errand boy for a grocer. He enlisted in the army at the age of 22 on the 1 Jan 1915 and his military record indicates that his height was 5 ft. 5inches. His occupation at that time was listed as 'milkman' and his residence was 18 Old Rd.

Attestation papers for Harold John Loader, dated 1 Jan 1915

He served in France in 1915 with the Dorsetshire Regiment until he was wounded on 14 Jul 1916. after sustaining shrapnel wounds to his left shoulder and arm. The medical report estimated his ability to work had been reduced by 25% because of his injuries.

Extract from medical report for Harold John Loader

As a result of his wounds, Harold was discharged from the army on 10 Apr 1917 and was granted a pension. The extract from his medical report above includes the following information: General Shrapnel Wound to left shoulder, sustained whilst on active service in France. Permanent disability reducing his capacity to earn a living by 25%. Harold was still listed on the absent voters list during the period 1919-1921, but his home address was given as 18 Old Rd with parents Edmund and Annie Loader.

In March 1926 Harold married Edith Emily Georgina White 33 (born 1893) at Wimborne (EMI). Edith had grown up in 3 West Row Wimborne, so the two had probably known each other for years. Edith's family had lived in West Row since the 1880's and Harold had grown up a short walk away in Old Rd.

In 1939 Harold 47, a munitions worker at RNCF, and Edith Emily Loader were living at 3 Julians Rd, Wimborne. The Royal Navy Cordite Factory, Holton Heath, (RNCF), was set up at Holton Heath, in World War I to manufacture cordite for the Royal Navy. It was reactivated in World War II to manufacture gun propellants for the Admiralty. Harold's brother Walter, and niece Mary Loader, both worked in the munitions factory as well.

Harold attended brother Walter's funeral in 1953. Harold John Loader died in Jun 1959 at Poole aged 67 (EDI) and Edith Loader nee White died in Poole in 1973 aged 79. There were no known children.

16.8 Owen Alfred Loader (1893-1968)

Owen was born on 28 Oct 1893 at Old Rd., Wimborne and baptised 24 Jan 1894. He continued to live with his parents through to 1911. At the age of 17 in 1911 he was working as an errand boy for a grocer alongside his older brother Harold. In Jan 1914 (prior to war being declared) at the age of 21, Owen enlisted in the Dorsetshire Regiment. During his years of service he achieved the ranks of sergeant and Lance Corporal. He served in France from 18 Dec 1914 onwards and his record indicated that he was discharged on 2 Sep 1918 at the age of 25, due to the severity of his wounds.

The absent voters list had his address as 18 Old Rd Wimborne but a note in the margin says c/o Mrs Kent 4 Bayfog Lane, Poole. His address in 1919 was given as 18 Old Rd with brothers Bertram and Harold Loader.

Owen Alfred Loader 25 married Jessie Maud Hatchard at Hamworthy on 9 Jun 1919. Sister Annie Loader was a witness.

On the 9 Jun 1919, Owen Loader 25, married Jessie Maud Hatchard 20 at Hamworthy, Poole. Owen’s occupation was given as steel worker. His sister Annie Elizabeth Loader was a witness at the wedding along with Jessie's brother James Henry Hatchard. The fathers were listed as Edmund Loader, labourer and James Hatchard, slate layer. The couple had one child, William Owen Loader, born 26 July 1927 at Bournemouth.

Owen's family were living on Blandford Rd Poole in 1939

In 1939 the family was living at Blandford Rd, Poole and consisted of Owen 46, labourer, Jessie 40, Jessie's widowed father James Hatchard 81, retired plate layer, Jessie's unmarried brother, brickworker and son William Owen Loader 12, student. Owen Alfred Loader attended brother Walter's funeral in 1953 and his address was given as Hamworthy, Poole. Owen Alfred Loader died in March 1968 at Poole.

Jeaneatte Evans has kindly shared the following information about Owen's son "I have a small piece of information to add to the history since Owen & Jessie Maud Loader, née Hatchard, did have one child (my father), William Owen (known as Bill to friends and family), who was born on 26th July 1927 in Hamworthy, near Poole. Interestingly, like many of his ancestors, Bill was also a carpenter. He died, aged 70, on 25th June 1998 in Southampton Hospital".

16.9 Annie Elizabeth Loader (1896-1991)
Annie was born in Wimborne on 31 Oct 1896 and baptised on 28 Jan 1897 at Wimborne Minster. Her father Edmund was incorrectly named Edwin.

Baptism record for Annie Elizabeth Loader. Parents GGP Edmund & Annie Loader. Edmund incorrectly listed as Edwin

Her parents must have been overjoyed, because after eight sons, they finally had a daughter. She was listed as living with her parents at both the 1901 and 1911 censuses. The electoral roll 1919-1921 listed her as continuing to live at 18 Old Rd with parents GGP Edmund and Annie. In 1919 she was a witness at brother Owen’s wedding in Hamworthy. I cannot find any record of her marrying or bearing children, and she appears to have died in 1991 aged 95.

NOTE: Annie married and had children according to the following unsigned request left on the Genealogy.com website in 2002. (It appears to have several errors) "I am trying to trace the family of my Grandmother Annie Elizabeth Loader, born 31st October 1896, in Wimborne. Her father was Edmund Loader, Builder and Cartman. She came from a large family, but lived in Yorkshire whilst married. Most of her brothers were killed in the first World War. I believe William J Loader may have been one of her brothers."

16.10 Herbert Douglas Loader (1899-1981)

Herbert was born on 19 Nov 1899 at the family home in Old Rd, Wimborne and baptised on 21 Feb 1900. His parents were listed as Edmund Loader laborer and Annie Loader nee White.

Herbert Douglas Loader born 19 Nov 1899 & baptised 21 Feb 1900

The 1901 and 1911 census listed him as living with his parents in Old Rd Wimborne. Due to their young age, Herbert and younger brother Percy were the only sons that did not join the army in WW1. The 1921 Electoral roll listed him as continuing to live at 18 Old Rd with parents Edmund and Annie Loader.

Herbert Douglas Loader 40, living at 4 West Row, Wimborne with widowed mother Annie Loader 7

In 1939 Herbert 40 was a gardener living at 4 West Row, Wimborne. Members of the Loader family (including Herbert's father) had lived in West Row off and on since the late 1850's. Herbert was living with his widowed mother GGM Annie Loader nee White 77.

Herbert attended brother Walter's funeral in 1953 and died in Jun 1981 Poole EDI aged 82. There is no record of a marriage or children.

16.11 Ellen (Nellie) Victoria Maude Loader (1901-1982)
Ellen was born on 16 Mar 1901 and baptised on 12 Jun 1901.

Ellen Victoria Maude Loader was born on 16 Mar 1901 and baptised on 12 Jun 1901 at Wimborne

Ellen Victoria Long nee Loader

In Dec 1925 she married Keith Montague Long at Wimborne (EMI). Keith was born in Wimborne in 1902 and lived close by at Hampreston to at least to 1911. Keith served in the Navy from 1918 to 1928.

Keith Long Snr

The couple had one son, also named Keith. Ellen Long nee Loader died on 23 Mar 1982 aged 81 at Portsmouth (EDI). Keith M. Long died at Portsmouth few years later on 10 Mar 1886.

16.12 Beatrice Dorothy Loader (1907-1908)

On 27 July 1907, Edmund and Annie baptised their twelfth baby, Beatrice Dorothy Loader.

Sadly she died at the age of one and was buried at Wimborne on the 15 Aug 1908.

Baby Beatrice died on 15 Aug 1908 at Wimborne

16.13 Percival Nicholson Loader (1910-1952)

Percy was the last of Edmund and Annie Loader’s children and the tenth boy. As Annie was close to the end of her child bearing days and it was three years since her last baby, this pregnancy was probably very unexpected. Annie was 47 when she gave birth to Percy in Jan 1910 at Wimborne.

Percy 29 married local girl Doris Irene Smith (b1914 Wimborne) at Leigh, Wimborne, with the marriage registered at Blandford on 30 Jul 1939. Doris was listed as living alone with her parents at 3 Leigh Park, Wimborne on the 29 Sep 1939 Population Register. Her occupation was listed as a nursey worker.

Burial of Percival Nicholas Loader 28 Jan 1952

Percival was living at 25 Grove Rd, Wimborne when he died in 1952, aged 42, and was buried on 29 Jan 1952 at St John the Evangelist, Wimborne. Doris Loader died in Wimborne on 1 Dec 2000. I have found no record of any children.

17.0 GP Walter Frederick Loader (1888-1953) & Ethel Maud Northover (1889-1953)

The Ancestors and Descendants of Walter Loader and Ethel Maud Northover

Walter was born on 15 Feb 1888 at Old Rd Wimborne and baptised on 6 May 1888. From 1891-1911 he lived with his parents at 18 Old Rd., Wimborne. The 1911 census records that when he was 23, there were eight children/young adults and two parents living in their five roomed house. Excluding the kitchen and living room, that left three bedrooms shared between them. Nancy later described it as a "very small cottage". Walter was a milkman at the time of the census, but by the time of his marriage he had changed jobs to become a brewery worker. He was probably working in the same brewery as his older brother William. (See 16.2)

GF Walter Frederick Loader married GM Ethel Maud Northover on 2 August 1914 at the Baptist Church in Grove Rd, Wimborne, just two days prior to war being declared. Walter was 26 and living at 18 Old Rd, Wimborne. Ethel Maud was 25 and living in her family home about one mile away at 7 Station Rd. There were three witnesses to the wedding; Charles Henry Loader (brother), Edwin George Northover (brother) and Annie Louise Northover (sister; later Trowbridge). The fathers were listed as GGF Edmund Loader, labourer and GGF Richard Northover, railway goods checker.

GP Walter Loader & Maud Ethel Northover rode to the church in a hired Hansom Cab similar to this one

Nancy wrote in her memoirs that Ethel Maud's parents "were not happy about her marrying Walter Loader". She felt the reason was that GGF Richard Northover was a "bit of a snob because he was a book-keeper on the railways and young Walter was only a labourer". But "Ethel Maud was determined and they married anyway". The bride's brother (probably Edwin) 'gave Ethel Maud away' and even hired a 'hansom cab' for the couple to ride to the wedding. Although Nancy wrote that GGF Richard Northover was not thrilled with the marriage of his daughter, she also wrote that her mother GGM Ethel Maud Loader nee Northover was very close to her brothers and her sister and stayed that way until their deaths.

GM Ethel Maud Loader with daughter Louisa Northover 1917

After GP Walter and Ethel Maud’s wedding they moved into their own house at 8 Julians Rd., Wimborne. Twelve months later, on 11 Dec 1915, even though his wife was heavily pregnant with Louisa (born 30 Jan 1916), Walter joined the Army Reserve. On enlistment, his occupation on one form was given as brewery worker, but on another 'lorry driver'. Perhaps he drove a delivery van for the brewery. His height was 5 ft. 6 inches and he weighed 118 pounds (54kg). At first he served in the Army Reserve, but on 16 Apr 1917 he was given the rank of Private and mobilised. Two of his older brothers had been killed whilst serving overseas, so Walter was quite brave, knowing that he might also make the ultimate sacrifice.

GF Walter Frederick Loader in uniform c1919

His record indicates he served in France from 3 May 1917 to 22 Feb 1918. On 19 Nov 1919 he was posted to a 'concentration' Camp at Cologne. I assume he was there to guard German Prisoners of war until they were freed to go home and the term ‘concentration camp’ had a different meaning to the one most commonly used today.

GP Walter and Ethel Maud Loader with daughter Louisa 1918

After the war had finished, Walter remained in the army awaiting demobilisation. He must have been impatient to get home, because he got into trouble for taking three weeks off (absent without leave) and was admonished and forfeited 3 weeks’ pay. Finally on his discharge on 22 Dec 1919 GP Walter and Maud moved into 17 Old Rd next door to Walter’s parents (GGP Edmund 63 and Annie Loader).

Wimborne Minster Church Honout Board lists the 2 Loader boys killed in WW1 (as well as the 2 Northover brothers)

The following year they moved into 67 Leigh Rd. possibly due to the needs of their expanding family with the birth of Mary Loader b1921. (Today 67 Leigh Rd is occupied by a church). At some stage prior to 1926 they moved to 1 Old Rd, because that was the address that Ethel Maud gave on her mother's (GGM Hannah Maria Northover nee Palmer) death certificate in 17 Jan 1926.

Later that year in 1926, after the death of her mother, GP Ethel, Walter and their two daughters moved back into the house at 7 Station Rd to look after Ethel Maud’s ageing father. In his will written on 10 July 1926, Ethel Maud’s widowed father GGF Richard Northover wrote “Mrs Maud Loader who has made my home and her own home with me”. (He was referring to his home at 7 Station Rd.)

On New Year’s Eve in 1928 the family was distracted from the countdown to midnight by the birth of their youngest daughter Nancy Elizabeth Loader. They had two reasons to celebrate that night. Ten years later in 1938 they had another reason to celebrate, on the occasion of Louisa's wedding to Ernest Bartlett.

Loader family at Louisa's wedding in 1938. My guess is from L to R
Ernest's parents, Nancy Loader 10, GGM Annie Marie Loader nee White, Best Man, Ernest Bartlett, Louisa Loader, GF Walter Loader, GGF Richard Northover, Mary Loader and GM Ethel Maude Loader nee Northover

The 1939 Register for Wimborne Minster listed the family living at 7 Station Rd as GGF Richard Northover, retired railways goods checker, Walter Frank Loader, worker at Royal Naval Cordite Factory and Ethel M Loader, unpaid domestic duties. The factory (Holton Heath Cordite Factory) was nine miles from Wimborne, so Walter and daughter Mary had to cycle there and back everyday as well as putting in a full day's work. Mary and her father were so tired when they got home, they did not go to the bomb shelter but collapsed into their beds hoping to get enough sleep to do it all again on the following day. (See 18.2 for more information about work in the cordite factory)

This accident happened in 1931 & shows how brave GF Walter & Mary Loader were, working in an explosives factory

The peace, contentment and normality of the 1930’s came to an abrupt end, when tensions in Europe lead to the outbreak of war with Germany in 1939. GM Ethel Maud had been very impacted by the loss of her two brothers and two brother-in-laws in WW1. When WW2 broke out, she went out of her way to help and care for soldiers stationed in Wimborne, who were away from their homes and loved ones. She offered to billet US troops in her home while they waited for the D Day Invasion and often used her dressmaking skills to repair or alter uniforms for the soldiers.

Thousands of US troops were billeted at Corfe Castle, 3 miles from Wimborne and other localities nearby, during the lead-up to D-Day. Weymouth and Portland saw the biggest embarkation of men and equipment, primarily American, as nearly half a million men and 140,000 vehicles passed through these two ports on their way to the front.

GM Ethel Maud Loader nee Northover 1942

Our grandparents would welcome visitors to their very modest house and when their daughters brought home prospective partners, they were welcomed with open arms. After the war, Ethel Maud continued offering her warm and friendly manner to the many displaced ‘foreigners’ who had been placed in camps about the district, while they awaited resettlement elsewhere. (These men could not return to their countries of origin in the ‘Eastern Block’ for fear of reprisals from the communist governments which had taken over.) Youngest daughter, Nancy Elizabeth Loader, met one of these men; Novo Djurovich, and the two struck up a relationship. When she took him home to meet her parents, GP Ethel Maud and Walter Northover welcomed this ‘stranger’ into their home and treated him like a son. Youngest daughter, Nancy Elizabeth Loader, married Novo Djurovich in Feb 1949, at Wimborne Baptist Church.

Nancy & Novo's wedding 1949. GP Walter & Ethel Maude Loader to the right of Nancy

A cynic may be tempted to think they were looking at the possibility of marrying off their daughters, but I suspect it was more to do with the possibility of gaining some sons in the family. I believe GM Ethel lost at least one son as a baby and she would have been thrilled to gain some sons through marriage.

GM Ethel Maud with grandson Peter and daughter Nancy c1951

Novo with mother-in-law GM Ethel Maud Loader nee Northover c1951

Our grandparents rarely (if ever) travelled any distance. I believe the furthest distance they may have traveled, was to the beach at Bournemouth or Weymouth (apart from GF Walter’s time in the army). However the following photo may disprove that statement, although it is at an unknown location.

Mary & Charlie with GM Ethel Maud at unknown location 1940's

GP Walter, & Ethel with the daughters Nancy, Louisa and Mary 1948

The Loader daughters Nancy, Mary and Louisa with their husbands Novo, Charlie & Ernest 1948

L to R: Charlie Lindup, GM Ethel Maude Loader, Louisa Bartlett, Ann Bartlett, Ernest Bartlett, GF Walter Loader, Mary Lindup, Novo Djurovich, Andrew Djurovich, Nancy Djurovich c1951

GM Ethel Maud Loader nee Northover outside 7 Station St, 1950

GM Ethel Maud passed away on 24 Jan 1953 and GF Walter passed three days later, from (as was reported in the local paper) a “broken heart”, on 27 Jan 1953.

Newspaper article reporting the deaths of GP Walter and Ethel Maud Loader nee Northover

A newspaper article published on 31 Jan 1953 tells us that the couple had been married for 39 years.

“They had been married two days before the outbreak of WW1 and so Walter had to go away and fight. He served in France and Germany fighting for freedom and the wife he had left behind. When the fighting ceased he was able to come home to his Ethel and the couple lived happily for 34 years until Saturday at 7 Station Rd Mrs Loader died of a heart attack. Walter’s three married daughters tried to help him, to keep him going, but he missed his wife so much; it was so strange without her about the house, and he pined for three days. Then on Tues when she was to have been buried, Walter died- ‘of a broken heart’ the doctor said. Thus to the little Baptist Church the old couple were taken for their last journey on Thursday, but they were together again.”

The funeral notice added further information. "Only the previous Sunday week Mrs Walter Loader had been present at the church for the dedication of her little grandson Peter. Chief mourners included Mr and Mrs E Bartlett (daughter), Mr and Mrs C Lindup (daughter), Mr and Mrs N Djurovich (daughter), Messrs George and Bert Northover (brothers), Mr and Mrs T. Trowbridge nee Northover (sister), Miss Betty Northover (niece), Mrs B. Loader of Parkstone (Beatrice; sister-in-law), Mr and Mrs Bertram Loader (brother) of Romsey. Messrs Herbert and Harold Loader (brothers), Mr Owen Loader of Hamworthy (brother), Mr Vojvodich, Mr and Mrs John Bartlett and Miss Ann Bartlett (grand-daughter). Mr and Mrs R. Tilley also attended."

Grandad Walter Loader asleep in lounge at 7 Station Rd. My guess is that this cheeky photo was taken by Grandad Walter Loader asleep in lounge at 7 Station Rd. My guess is that this cheeky photo was taken by Nancy.

18.0 Three daughters of GP Walter Frederick Loader (1888-1953) & Ethel Maud Northover (1889-1953)

A gathering of the Loader family, possibly for Ann's Christening 1941 (Nancy was 12

18.1 Louisa Annie Maud Loader (1916-2000)
Louisa was born on 30 Jan 1916 at Wimborne during the traumatic time of World War One. She was born at home in 8 Julians Rd., Wimborne. Her father, GF Walter Loader 27, had joined the Army Service Corps (Army Reserve) one month earlier. Hopefully he was given leave to support GF Ethel Maud during her confinement. On 16 Apr 1917 he was given the rank of Private and mobilised. His record indicates he served in France from 3 May 1917 to 22 Feb 1918. On 19 Nov 1919 he was posted to Germany. So for her first four years Louisa would have seen her father just for short periods, when he was given leave.

Louisa Loader as a toddler c1919

On 22 Dec 1919 GP Walter and Maud moved into 17 Old Rd next door to Walter’s parents (GGP Edmund 63 and Annie Loader). The following year they moved into 67 Leigh Rd. possibly due to the needs of their expanding family with the birth of sister Mary Loader b1921. At some stage prior to 1926 they moved to 1 Old Rd and were living there, when Louisa's grandmother [GGM] Annie Northover nee Palmer died. In 1926 after the death of her mother, GP Ethel, Walter and their two daughters moved back into the house at 7 Station Rd to look after Ethel Maud’s ageing father; GGF Richard Northover.

Louisa Loader; a teenager c1930

On New Year’s Eve in 1928 the family was distracted from the countdown to midnight by the birth of their youngest daughter Nancy Elizabeth Loader. They had two reasons to celebrate that night. Ten years later in 1938 they had another reason to celebrate; on the occasion of Louisa's wedding to Ernest Bartlett.

Louise Loader in 1930's

In 1938, Louisa 22 married Ernest G. Bartlett at Wimborne Baptist Church where Louisa was a Sunday School teacher and Ernest a member of the choir. The bridesmaids were Misses Mary and Nancy Loader. Miss Pearl Tilley played the organ. The reception was at New Boro Restaurant and was attended by about 40 people. Louisa and Ernest had one daughter.

Loader family at Louisa's wedding in 1938. My guess is from L to R

Ernest's parents, Nancy Loader 10, GGM Ann Marie Loader, Best Man, Ernest Bartlett, Louisa Loader, GF Walter Loader, GGF Richard Northover, Mary Loader and GM Ethel Maude Loader nee Northover

Ernest and Louisa Bartlett nee Loader 1954

Ernest and Louisa had one daughter. Ernest died on the 15 Sep 1998 and Louisa Bartlett nee Loader aged 84 died in Feb 2000.

18.2 Mary K. E. Loader (1920-2013)

Mary with big sister Louisa and cousin Ron c1933

Mary was born in late 1920, at Wimborne. On 9 Aug 1941 she married Guardsman Charles Lindup (Grenadier Guards) at the Wimborne Baptist Church in a ceremony that was reported in the local paper. The bride was given away by her father GF Walter Loader of 7 Station Rd., Wimborne. The reception was held across the road at 32 Station Rd., Wimborne in the home of Mary's Uncle and Aunt (probably the Northover side). The bridesmaid was Miss Joan Clothier and Miss P Tilley played the organ.

Mary and Louisa c1933

Mary as a young woman c1940

As Charlie was in the army during the war, Mary stayed on, in the family home. She contributed to the war effort by joining her father Walter (in his mid fifties) working in a local munitions factory where the main job was filling shells with the highly explosive cordite. The factory (Royal Navy Cordite Factory at Holton Heath) was nine miles from Wimborne so Walter and Mary had to cycle there and back everyday as well as putting in a full day's work. Mary and her father were so tired when they got home, they did not go to the bomb shelter but collapsed into their beds hoping to get enough sleep to do it all again on the following day. Mary said that if "I was going to be killed I might as well do it in comfort".

The type of work Mary Lindup was doing at the cordite factory

The factory was bombed a few times, but the closest bomb landed just inside the main gate and nobody was hurt. The main reason the factory survived the war was that several decoy sites had been built close by. This plan was put to the test on the night of 3 June 1942, when bombers dropped hundreds of bombs on one decoy site, practically destroying the village of Arne, but leaving the Cordite Factory unscathed. The following morning, no fewer than 206 bomb craters were counted on the Arne peninsula, while many more bombs fell into Poole Harbour. The fires burned at Arne for the next six weeks and the village became almost uninhabitable. As a result, the decision was taken to evacuate Arne: those villagers who remained were given just a month’s notice, until 10 August 1942, to leave their homes.

An example of how dangerous this workplace was, occurred on 23 June 1931. An explosion in a nitroglycerin preparation chamber, killed 10 and injured 19. Three buildings were destroyed and a storage tank was ruptured, spilling sulphuric acid into the area. The explosion, which occurred at 10.45 am, was heard 20 miles away and people working outdoors two miles away were knocked over by the blast wave. Houses situated on the main road approximately 1 mile from the blast suffered extensive damage. In her memoirs Nancy confirms the explosion was heard in Wimborne.

Charlie & Mary Lindup and Louisa Bartlett (Ernest must be the photographer)

After the war Mary and Charlie moved to Chertsey on the outskirts of London (Charlie had originated in London), but later moved back to Dorset where they spent the rest of their lives. Mary died in 2013.

Charlie and Mary Lindup nee Loader during the war years

18.3 Nancy Elizabeth Loader (1928-2000)

Nancy was born in 1928 at 7 Station Rd, Wimborne to a very loving family. She was the 'baby' of the family and had two older sisters; Louisa 12 and Mary 8.

Nancy as a toddler c1931

Her birth was just prior to 'The Great Depression', when it was a struggle for most folk to survive economically. In many families, breadwinners lost jobs, and when rents or mortgages could not be repaid, they lost their homes. However, Nancy wrote that despite these conditions, she had a happy upbringing, even though her parents never had much money. The family “never went hungry and there was always a present at Christmas and birthdays”.

The Loaders did not feel the full brunt of the depression, because Nancy’s father had a government job on the railways (which was an essential service). They rented a council house at 7 Station Rd and the economy in rural Dorset was largely based on food production, which also had to be maintained for the health of the country. The Loaders would have been living a frugal life prior to the depression (as generations had done before them) and when shortages of non-vital food happened they would have hardly noticed this.

5 year old Nancy playing with her dolls c1933

Nancy’s earliest memories were of herself at the age of four or so “playing with a doll’s house in the back yard” and wishing she had doll’s furniture to play with. At that time Nancy’s family were living at 7 Station Rd, with her grandfather (GGF) Richard Northover, and had been doing so since before Nancy’s birth, when her parents had “given up their own little house to take care of him”.

Nancy as a young girl c1935

The family had many friends in the town and among these were the Bradleys. This couple ran the small corner store at the start of Station Rd., and they knew Nancy all her early life. In fact Nancy owed her life to Mr Bradley. When she was quite young, the army was on manoeuvres and a tank came around the corner The driver could not see the road very well and did not notice that Nancy had run onto the road. Mr Bradley, in his sixties, saw the impending tragedy and grabbed Nancy just in time.

‘The Bradleys’ were Joseph David (b1867, Wimborne) and Louisa Emily Bradley who ran their grocery store at 1 Station Rd. Later during WWII Nancy’s family took shelter in the Bradley's bomb shelter during bombing raids (see below). Nancy says “as a young child she had a habit of getting away from her mother who was often caught up in her busy tailoring business”. When she did ‘escape’ she would make straight for the Bradley's shop when tomatoes were in season and eat his tomatoes. He used to have a shelf outside the shop displaying seasonal fruit and vegetables. Later when son "Andrew was little, he would get a little bag of sweets from Mrs Bradley just for smiling at her".

Nancy’s School Years
Nancy started school at the age of four, attending in the afternoons. From all accounts she was a very active ‘strong headed young girl’ and her parents were probably very happy to have her ‘occupied’. One of her earliest memories was how cold it was in the schoolrooms. The children were given milk by the government (in the depression many families could not afford to buy it) and it was heated in front of the classroom open fire. To Nancy’s disdain the children had to drink it, but by the time she was ten, if they paid 2½ pence they could buy some ‘Horlicks’ to add to the milk. When her parents could afford this luxury it “bliss” for Nancy. She wrote that even in later adult life she “hated hot milk”, but could drink it, if it was flavoured with malt or coffee.

The 1930’s “were a carefree time” from a youngster’s point of view. Although Wimborne was a large town, it was surrounded by a rural fringe. Nancy wrote that a "gang of us would spend their days blackberrying, picking primroses and bluebells, cowslips etc and walking for miles dreaming of making fortunes selling their finds". Of course most edibles were eaten long before they got home. One of their favourite haunts was the railway line on edge of the town which has since been turned into a ring road bypass.

In those days Nancy liked to live dangerously. She recalled one particular incident when the gang of friends were playing on the edge of the river (the confluence of the River Stour and River Allen was about 200 metres from her home) catching tadpoles. On this occasion Nancy fell in. The Stour is quite a large deep river and Nancy could not swim. In her panic she swallowed a lot of water, but luckily for her, one of her cousins managed to drag her to safety. (Possibly cousin Ron, who was about her age)

Canford Bridge built over the River Stour in 1848, was just 200 metres from Nancy's home

In 1938 sister Louise married Ernest Bartlett, and Nancy was so “proud to be a bridesmaid along with sister Mary". Nancy’s mother Ethel Maud, a qualified (and very talented ‘tailoress’) made all the bridal and bridesmaid dresses.

Nancy aged 10 at sister Louisa's wedding in 1938
Another dressmaking job that Ethel Maud had, was making all dresses for the girls at the local convent. Nancy used to accompany her mother to the fitting sessions. She later wrote that "being a Baptist, she felt in awe” entering the very different ‘mysterious spiritual’ world of the Catholic School and was “terrified of the Mother Superior”.

Nancy and religion
Nancy was raised as a ‘Baptist’ and her family attended the local Baptist church where family baptisms, marriages and funerals were conducted. This connection to ‘non-conformist’ religion (the bulk of the population was Anglican) seems to go back a few generations with some of our ancestors. In our family GGF Richard Northover was a deacon in the local Baptist Church and he used his ‘authority’ to ensure family members were kept “on the straight and narrow”. Nancy regularly attended Sunday School followed by the Church Service. However she wrote that “the children were allowed to leave prior to the sermon, thank goodness!” I gather that baptist sermons tended to be full on ‘fire and brimstone’ type discourses. Nancy said that “she was a bit of a heathen….. and really didn’t listen, spending the time making words out of the religious text written on the wall above the pulpit”. When she was attending secondary school she would often be taken to an evening church service and on Tuesday there was ‘Christian Endeavour’, a kind of Christian activity group for young people.

Summarising her religious experience Nancy wrote that “On the whole I don’t think [religion] hurt me at all. In fact I know it didn’t. My parents and grandfather taught me to be honest and tell the truth always, which I hope I have done and I hope I have passed these values on to my children.”

Nancy & her Grandfather GGF Richard Northover 1856-1940
A look at the photo of Nancy as a young girl and knowledge of her behaviour gives the distinct impression that she was rather ‘spirited’ and perhaps even ‘feisty’. In her memoirs she admits that her behaviour sometimes frustrated her grandfather (GGF Richard Northover). As she got older, she said she developed a “closer relationship to him”. Yet "she must have annoyed him at times because sometimes, he would go into the garden and pick a ‘twigger’ from a hazelnut tree and catch me around the calves if I was cheeky to him, but being young [and quick] I would snatch it, break it in half and hide it behind my mother’s dresser, in the living room”. When her mother came to redecorate, she would find a pile of sticks hidden behind the dresser, but by then of course Nancy’s misdemeanor had long since been forgotten.

A typical Wimborne bus from the period

Another recollection related to GGF Richard Northover’s habit of taking snuff (powdered tobacco sniffed through the nose). Nancy’s grandfather would ask her to go to the shop to buy some. Nancy would agree on the proviso he gave her one penny for the bus ride. After a while she said she would “blackmail him into giving her 2 or 3 pence so her friends could accompany her. By the time he paid for the snuff and the bus fares it must have cost him twice the price”

On reflection of her behaviour she says “Looking back I must have been ‘a cheeky so and so’. I think it must have been bravado….as normally I was a very timid person and would blush at the least provocation.”

World War II 1939-1945
War was declared in 1939 when Nancy was eleven. She remembered the moment quite clearly “my mother, father and grandfather were all crying as it was broadcast (on the crackly radio) on Sunday at lunchtime. Being young, I had no idea of the horror it was to bring to so many people. Of course my parents were remembering their beloved [four] brothers that had been killed in WW1” and the horror of what the family lived through twenty five years earlier in 'the war to end all wars'.

"We had soldiers billeted with us from early in the war because they had not had time to build camps." The family got to know these young men quite well and Nancy's mother treated them as she would have wanted others to look after her sons (if she had some). "Two boys that I remember, were John (nickname Squid) and Norman. In May 1940, I clearly remember Dunkirk and the huge emergency evacuation of thousands of troops from the beaches of France. Our friend John never returned from France, but Norman was lucky and came back after Dunkirk just in time to attend my grandfather’s funeral in June 1940."

An example of an Anderson Air Raid Shelter installed in many suburban backyards

Although Dunkirk was “England’s darkest hour”, to Nancy’s eleven year old mind, the sudden hustle and bustle around the town was one big adventure. Often at night the air raid siren would wail, and "our family would rush to the 'Anderson Air Raid' shelter in Bradleys’ garden". The Anderson shelters were primitive bunkers designed to shield around ten people from shrapnel in a bombing raid. They offered no protection in case of a direct hit (or even a reasonably close one). "Once a month Mrs Bradley would bring a bag of sweets to the shelter and let everyone choose what they wanted, to try and brighten everyone’s day." Nancy said her favourite was Fry’s Cream bars. At that time many foods were rationed or hard to get, so the family felt very special.

Another memory of this time was that Nancy’s mother took up knitting whilst they were in the shelter, to make the time productive. They could tell how many hours they spent in the shelter each time, by counting the number of rows that she knitted, as her rate was ten rows per hour.

Waves of German planes dropped their bombs on targets in England. Many flew over Wimborne

Luckily Wimborne was not high on the target list for German bombing raids, but there was always a chance that bombs could be dropped to terrorise the inhabitants or a bomber could drop its load if it was in trouble or if a raid was suddenly called off. During the six years of the war only a few hundred bombs were dropped near Wimborne, including incendiary bombs, but as far as Nancy recalls they all did minimal damage. But still, it must have been terrifying, to hear the whistle of a descending bomb and not know where it would land. One town that was viciously attacked was Coventry which was a manufacturing centre and ended up being destroyed with thousands of lives lost. Nancy recalls seeing wave after wave of bombers fly across the sky to drop their deadly cargo on the poor folk that lived in that city.

The city of Coventry was almost completely destroyed by waves of German bombers

During this time Nancy was still attending school and after staying in the shelter all night she did not want to go to school the next day. Mr Bradley would sometimes suggest that she stay at home and offered to ‘square it off’ with the headmistress, as he was on the school board.

Towards the end of the war, Britain started preparing for the D-Day invasion of Europe. Wimborne, normally a very quiet rural town, was now filled with young enlisted men, many from the U.S, looking for entertainment and young women. In 1943 Nancy aged 14, left school and got a job at Tilley’s Photography Shop, touching up and hand colouring photos. She was kept very busy, as all the soldiers wanted photos to send back to their families.

Mr Reg & Mrs Amy Tilley at the time of their 40th anniversary 31 May 1956

She loved working for the Tilleys who were very kind to her. Their shop still exists but is used for something else now. However it can still be found in the Wimborne Model village, looking just like it did in Nancy’s day. The war with Germany ended on 7 May 1945 and Nancy recalled that to celebrate the end of hostilities, every shop was colorfully decorated and people were celebrating with great relief. The day before this, a school friend named Freda E. Head had married an American G.I. (as many local girls did) named Carl A Bonfiglio, and she later moved to the US with her husband. Many years later on a trip home, in an incredible coincidence, Nancy ran into Freda Bonfiglio nee Head who happened to be making a visit to Wimborne at the same time.

US Soldiers at nearby Weymouth readying to board ships to sail to France as part of D-Day 1945

Nancy at Tilley's Photography Studio

Nancy loved working at Tilleys and enjoyed applying her skills and the creative side of her work, as well as serving in the shop. I believe the Tilleys had no children and treated Nancy like their own daughter. Nancy's family would have known Reginald and Amy Tilley well, as during the 1920's they were neighbours living just around the corner at 39 New Boro Rd. They remained very close friends when Nancy started her own family.

Nancy as a teenager c1946

After the war, Wimborne gradually returned to being a quiet country town, however with the war deaths of hundreds of thousands of young English soldiers, along with huge civilian casualties, there was a shortage of men to work on the farms and in rural industries. Dorset was a largely a farming area and desperately needed young men to provide labour, so the solution was to bring in thousands of displaced people from Europe. By the end of 1947 hundreds of displaced ‘foreigners’ were placed in camps (usually old military bases) about Dorset while they awaited resettlement elsewhere. (These men could not return to their countries of origin in the ‘Eastern Block’ for fear of reprisals from the communist governments which had taken over.)

One of these camps was close by at Corfe Mullen, which was about two miles from Wimborne. As with the American G.I.’s earlier, the town of Wimborne was once again enlivened by a the arrival of hundreds of young men, looking for a distraction from the horrors they had experienced during the war and of course the company of young women. The only difference this time, was that most of them spoke very little English (but there was plenty of motivation to learn fast).

Nancy c1947

Soon Tilleys little photography shop was very busy as these men were keen to have photographs taken to send home to their families, who in many cases had not seen them for years (or even knew if they were still alive). One of these gentlemen who needed a photo was a man named Danilo and he brought with him as a translator, a friend named Novo. Nancy wrote; "I think Danilo thought he was a cross between Prince Danilo from the ‘Student Prince’ and a heart throb of the old silent screen”. All the girls in the town had been warned to be careful of those "foreigners" up at the camp.

Nancy c1948

Back then ( especially in rural areas), anyone who spoke, or looked different, was regarded with some suspicion, even if they just came from the next town. However Nancy was the sort of girl that made up her own mind. If someone told her not to; she was just as likely to do it anyway.

Tivoli Cinema, West Borough was a key social meeting place during the 1940's & 1950's

“Not long after this I went to the cinema (on my own), and who happened to be outside; Novo and Danilo. I started to walk home and Novo started to follow me. I thought, if he comes near me I am going to the police station. He didn’t approach me but ‘happened’ to be going in the same direction and was casually walking down the other side of the road. My sister Louie’s house was on my way so I headed in that direction, and when I got near I decided I would stop and ask Novo what he wanted. He said he had a letter from Danilo inviting me to go out. I declined but said I would go out with Novo if he wished. So on the 5th March, 1948 I started dating Novo and another chapter of my life began.”

Novo on one of their bicycle trips in the countryside c1948

At first Nancy attempted to keep their going out a secret, (although in Wimborne where everyone knew everyone else’s business that was nigh on impossible.) Nancy was a bit worried, because her mother had warned her, that her father would be very unhappy if he caught her out with boys. Well eventually the confrontation occurred. Nancy and Novo were sitting on a seat holding hands, when down the road came Nancy’s father. Although he was of slight build and only half the height of Novo, she was worried about what her father would do. As it happened, her father invited Novo home to meet the family.

After he was introduced to Nancy’s family, Novo soon became an ‘adopted’ son and part of the extended family. (Nancy’s mother had always wanted a boy and I believe she may have lost one as a baby.) In his later years Novo would often recount stories and fond memories from this period. See the following chapter for more about Nancy's married life

The three Loader sisters with their respective husbands

19.0 Nancy Elizabeth Loader (1928-20) & Novo Djurovich (1925-2009)

Andrew, Mary, Nancy, Peter & Novo, Weymouth 1953

On the 5th March, 1948 Nancy started dating Novo Djurovich and another chapter of her life began. Nancy and Novo's twelve month courtship was full of young love and the excitement of weekends filled with activities. These included going to the cinema, picnics in the countryside and visits to the beach.

The beach was a popular destination

For Nancy, like other young people at the time, there was the freedom of adulthood without the restrictions forced on people living under war conditions. For Novo, who had spent the last few years stuck in camps full of males (and living the horrors of war before that), there was the excitement of vivacious female company and the freedom to make his own choices. Nancy particularly liked the camaraderie and the dare-devil antics of these exciting 'foreigners'.

Nancy, Novo, Mary & Charlie c1949

Novo bought a bicycle for travelling to work. On weekends he and Nancy would explore the

countryside cycling for miles and making trips to the seaside on the train line (now closed). There were trips to historic sites and of course the cinema where it had all begun.

Nancy & Novo at historic Corfe castle

Sandbanks & Lulworth were favorite coastal sites

Nancy and Novo's courtship lasted almost 12 months.Then on 26 Feb 1949, Nancy and Novo were married at the Baptist Church in Wimborne.

Ann was Nancy's bridesmaid & Walter was a very proud father.

It was not long before children started arriving. Andrew was born in Sep 1949 and Peter in Dec 1952. Both boys were born at Poole Hospital; some of the first children in the family tree not born at home.
I believe their first house was in Barnes Crescent, Wimborne.

Andrew 'with friends' in the backyard of the Barnes Crescent house

After Andrew was born, Novo added a sidecar to his bicycle, so the three of them could still make weekend trips.

Novo and Andrew in bicycle sidecar.

Peter 9 months and Andrew nearly 4 at Lulworth 1953

Fatherhood brought on responsibilities.

Andrew & Peter 1954, 12 New Borough Rd

For years after the war, food rationing continued and supplies of some necessities were restricted. I believe the Bradley's were generous to Nancy during her pregnancies and made sure she had regular supplies of the basic necessities. As a married couple they were provided with a council house and Novo looked for jobs that paid well. In the early 1950's the family was living at 12 New Borough Rd.

Cousin Ann and Andrew aged 2 at the back of 12 New Borough Rd, 1951

As would be the pattern for the rest of his life, Novo was totally focused on providing for his family. He was very determined that his children were going to have better opportunities than he did. He achieved this by an incredible work ethic. He always took on jobs that paid the most and rarely refused overtime. He worked long hours and mostly did jobs that involved hard physical labour. Many times he worked 6 or 7 days a week, leaving before dawn and returning home in the dark. He worked in a tile factory and a cheese factory doing long hours to save money for his young family. In 1951 Novo's wages had grown to such an extent he was able to upgrade their mode of transport to a BSA motorbike and a sidecar so he could take the family on trips further afield.

Novo, Nancy & their two boys at Lulworth Aug 1953

Although Nancy and Novo’s early married life was exciting and social, there was one aspect that ate away at Novo and to some extent Nancy. England, particularly in the rural south was still dominated by the class structures of the past. At the top were the titled people and the rich landowners. The next level included small business owners, professionals and skilled workers. At the lower end came the unskilled workers and poor people and then below them were “foreigners”. Novo could see this structure forever limiting his ambition and Nancy hated the idea of 'class' too.

Andrew aged 5, a few months before departure to Australia at 12 New Borough Rd

The Move to Australia

At this time the Australian Government was undertaking a program designed to build up the population. They wanted labour to help build huge developments such as the Snowy Mountain Scheme, and were advertising heavily in England for potential migrants; even offering English people passage on ships for 10 pounds (later named ‘Ten Pound Poms’).

Novo, Nancy, Danilo & Audrey

The idea of emigrating appealed to the young couple, but Nancy could not bring herself to leave her ageing and beloved parents. One of Novo’s mates, Danilo, had married another Wimborne girl named Audrey Lambourn and they had already sailed to Australia to join Audrey’s parents who had migrated some time before. Audrey often sent letters to Nancy telling of the benefits of living in Australia. Sadly, Nancy’s parents passed away within three days of each other in early 1953 (See 17.0). Now a whole new life beckoned, and the following year, Nancy and Novo set sail on the ship RMS Orontes for Australia. Unfortunately Novo, not being English, had to pay the full fare. He was allocated a bunk bed in the cabins reserved for single males. However, I believe he managed to spend many (if not all) of his nights in Nancy's cabin.

RMS Orontes a regular passenger liner bringing migrants to Australia

In late 1954 with all their worldly possessions in a couple of trunks, they sailed to Italy, stopping off in Naples, then through the Suez Canal to Sri Lanka stopping in Columbo, then on to Perth, Adelaide and finally Melbourne. Memories of the journey include Novo, taking his and Nancy’s full ‘cigarette allowance’ (imports were limited), into Naples and selling them on the black market, to make a few extra pounds. Novo also joined many other male passengers and made the sightseeing trip into Pompeii to see the ghoulish, reminders of the real people who lost their lives in the disastrous volcanic eruption in 79 AD. There were no ‘bodies’ of course. Plaster of Paris had been poured into the cavities left in the lava, where bodies had decomposed leaving the shape of a living human being, as it was at the time of death! At the time, females were not allowed on this day trip due to the gruesome nature of the site and also because the tour included frescoes displaying the 'goings-on' inside a brothel (considered unsuitable for female perusal).

As the ship passed through the Suez Canal, vendors wearing Fez hats rowed up to the ship and sold fruit and souvenirs from their small canoes. The ship also stopped briefly in Aden and Columbo, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). Passengers were allowed ashore for a few hours to explore the sights in these two cities. Once again there were opportunities to buy souvenirs, but most passengers were shocked by the levels of poverty that they saw. The ship then turned south on its journey across the Indian Ocean. As it crossed the Equator, the traditional ‘line crossing celebration', run by ‘King Neptune’ (a sailor in costume) was held, where passengers (particularly children) were invited to wear fancy dress. Although the ship was not anyway like a luxury cruise there was some entertainment, dances etc. There was even a child minding service for adults to have some time to themselves. On one such occasion five year old son Andrew managed to ‘escape’ the creche and wandered off. There was a brief panic until he was located exploring the decks looking for his mum and dad.

Well before land was sighted, Nancy said she could smell the eucalyptus in the air, as the coast of WA got closer. After a short stop at Fremantle, the ship sailed to Adelaide, where Nancy and Novo made a day trip to visit Yugoslavian friends who had settled there. There was more panic when they realised they were going to be late getting back to the ship, but luckily their taxi made it just in time. The boat trip from England, which took around five weeks, finally ended when the RMS Orontes docked at Station Pier, Melbourne on 19 Dec 1954.

Orontes at Station pier Melbourne

NOTE: RMS Orontes built in 1929, was operated by the Orient Shipping Line. It served as a troop ship in WWII and was refitted as a single class passenger ship in 1948. It then served on the England to Australia route from 1948 to 1962. In March 1958, Orontes was involved in a collision with SS Empire Baltic in the River Thames and was scrapped at Valencia, Spain in 1962. (Wikipedia)

20.0 Early Life of Novo Djurovich (1925-2009)

Early Life

Novo was born on a small farm on the outskirts of a village in the mountains of Montenegro (part of the former Yugoslavia). His parents were Stanko Djurovic and Begica Jovovic. He had two older stepsisters and an older brother who he idolised. Life involved hard work as the family subsisted on whatever they could produce with their own hands and there were few luxuries to be had. From very early on, Novo had to pull his weight by helping out with farming chores, such as looking after the animals or preparing and harvesting crops. By today’s standards, his childhood sounds deprived, but in fact he often recounted fond memories of these times. Like many boys he regularly got up to mischief, and then paid the consequences. “Spare the rod and spoil the child”, was the tradition in his household and he felt the slap of a hand many times.

Although Novo’s community was financially poor, his family valued education, and made sure he went to primary school and then to secondary school. This was not as straight forward as it is today—he had to walk several kilometres to school each day, often through rain and snow. Academic standards in school were strictly maintained by regular exams and oral tests. To proceed to the next level, student’s had to pass each assessment, or it was back to life on the farm. By all accounts he was a very good student academically, and particularly enjoyed mathematics, biology and history. He eagerly soaked up information and had the potential to enter a white collar career if world events had not conspired against him.

As was the case in his home, school discipline was maintained by physical control. He often felt the brunt of the teacher’s anger through various forms of punishment including having one’s ear pulled. He endured these punishments and often admitted that they were deserved– they kept him focused on his work and controlled his cheeky dare-devil nature. In the playground he would never back down and (as was the case in later life) he let it be known when he was offended. As you can imagine, he was often involved in disputes and fights in his younger days.

Unfortunately his promising education was interrupted by World War 2. In Yugoslavia, the war was more complex than elsewhere, because the country had not only been invaded by the Germans and Mussolini’s fascist Italian Army but at the same time had dissolved into civil war. During the war, soldiers known as Chetniks had been fighting for the King and trying to defend their country not only against the invading Germans and Italians, but also the powerful communist army. The communists under Marshal Tito had quickly become a powerful force, when they offered a dream of a new sort of country without a privileged royal family and rich landowners. Tito promised a future with a more even spread of the county’s wealth, and everyone sharing ownership of the land and doing equal work for equal pay. (Of course the promised dream evaporated after the war, as the country turned into a communist dictatorship where members of the communist party did very well and the ordinary man had reduced freedoms and lost the right to own their own land).

Novo’s family were small subsistence farmers who had owned and farmed their small landholding for generations. They were angered at the thought of the state taking ownership of their family farm. Therefore Novo’s family remained loyal to the king and joined the Chetniks or royalists. However the consequences were tragic. Novo’s older brother, whom he idolised, was killed in a German or Italian air-raid on the coast, and his father was shot dead on the family farm by local Partisan supporters (possibly disgruntled neighbours). I believe Novo heard the fatal gunfire and was the first to find his father’s body. Although he did not often talk about it, these losses were extremely painful for him and haunted him for the rest of his life.

Front Cover of Novo's Military Unit ID

According to Novo's Chetnick Military Record Book he belonged to Brigade 4. The document was written in Serbian Cyrillic script, but Google translate helped decypher, that Novo finished Form 5 at secondary school and officially joined the Brigade on 25 Mar 1942. The document was stamped by the office of the Commander of Yugoslav Army on 1 May 1943 (4 months before Novo's 18th birthday).

Civil wars are often the most vicious of all wars, and Novo saw things that no person should see. As a 17 year old in the early 1940's he felt he had no choice but to join the Chetniks, as his world was collapsing around him. He left secondary school and joined the Chetnik army. However the Partisans with their propaganda promises, gradually gained in strength and the Chetniks were driven back. Novo had to walk away from his mother, stepsisters, his farm and the world he knew, to an unknown future full of danger.

At first the Chetniks had been supported by Britain and the allies, as western countries didn’t want to help the communists. However, half way through the war, the allies realised that the communist army was far stronger than the Chetniks, and in their desperation to halt the Germans, they switched their support to the Communists. Without the support of the allies, the Chetniks had no hope. The communists were getting stronger and by now were not only taking a toll on the invading Germans and Italians, but were also slaughtering any Yugolsavs who supported the King. The Chetniks had to escape and the only way out was by foot over the mountains to Italy. All the while the Chetniks were fighting against a remorseless communist enemy, that took no prisoners (thousands of men who were captured were summarily executed and buried in mass graves).

Novo aged 19 in 1945

Along with thousands of others, 19 year old Novo was forced to cross snow covered mountains on foot, with little in the way of food and supplies. Many succumbed to starvation, the cold or lack of medical attention. Novo's lifelong friend and relative Branko Vojvodich, collapsed on the journey and was carried part of the way by him.

In 1943 the allies invaded Italy, and by 1945 had regained control of most of the country from the Italian Fascist Army. At about this time the remnants of the Četnik army arrived on the Italian border. Some 20,000 former soldiers were transported to southern Italy. They were housed at a camp in Eboli (85km south of Naples). The Chetniks were fed and given medical attention. However the new communist government in Yugoslavia applied political pressure on Britain to return the Chetnik refugees (fearing they would agitate against the newly established communist government). Small groups of men (mainly officers) were forcibly returned by Britain and most were either executed or jailed for long terms.

Red Cross ID document issued in Naples

The remaining Chetnik soldiers were now displaced persons with no country to call home. The International Red Cross, Naples Division supplied them with officially recognised Civilian Identification Documents. Novo's ID document dated 18 Jul 1946 stated that he had arrived in Italy as a refugee in July 1945 and wished to travel to the U.S.A! However at a later date, Lessertrase (Hamburg, Germany) was penciled in on the front cover of this document as his actual next destination. The document is in French and includes a physical description of auburn hair, light brown eyes, regular nose and height of six foot. It includes names of parents 'Stanko Djurovic' (father) and Begica Jovovic (mother), place of birth (Vis, Yugoslavia), photo and fingerprint. Interestingly it also includes his 'occupation', which he listed as 'Trader or Merchant'.

ITALY

On arrival in Italy, Novo's health was in desperate need of attention. The journey through the mountains in winter had caused him to succumb to pleurisy and at times he was close to death. His lungs were filling up with fluid and slowly drowning him. Fortunately the camp doctor managed to obtain scarce supplies of penicillin, and this combined with the draining of fluid from his lungs saved his life. By 1946 he had recovered enough to resume a normal life (as normal as it could be under the circumstances). In the camps the Chetniks were not prisoners and were free to come and go, and this is where Novo picked up a reasonable knowledge of the Italian language as he mixed with the local population in the villages near the camp and in nearby Naples. He ended up spending over two years in Italy.

Chetniks in the camp at Eboli Apr 1947. Novo bottom left. Danilo 2nd from Bottom Right

The Allies were unsure of what to do with tens of thousands of displaced people (not only in Italy, but throughout Europe). In 1947 it was decided that the former Chetniks would be transported nearly 2000 km by train to Germany while the Allies tried to find countries that would accept them. They couldn’t go back to Yugoslavia, as the new Communist Government would have jailed or executed them. As Eboli was under British command, it was decided that the inhabitants of that camp were to be transferred to the British zone of occupation in northern Germany. In the spring of 1947 the plan was carried out. From 19th of April until 10th of May some 12,000 Serbs were moved a thousand miles north and one of the Serbs described the process as follows;

"The day has dawned when I have to leave Eboli camp. We were ready to go at 5am. I went to the station to prepare the carriages ..... There were 28 freight carriages. We decorated it with flowers and wrote on the sides in Italian “Long live King Peter II — down with Tito!” At last ... we were leaving Eboli. But where are we going?" (From Petar Pavasovic website)

Chetniks at Eboli waiting for the trains to come in May 1947

Another website describes the mood at the time as follows; "Unlike the mild Mediterranean climate of southern Italy that greeted the Serbs in the area of Naples, the climate reminiscent of their native region, the grey sky of northern Germany offered neither comfort nor hope. The ever-present rain or wind-driven drizzle depressed these young men reared in the vicinity of the Adriatic, and enhanced their sense of nostalgia and longing for their native land." (From website)

Chetniks aboard the train that took them to Germany in 1947

The train arrived at Grossenbrode (140km north of Hamburg) on 17 May 1947 and Petar Pavasovic wrote "The floor is made of concrete and there are four windows. The hut is very draughty. We chiefly occupy ourselves by reading and learning languages. We rarely speak to each other. We do play cards and we regularly listen to the radio news. We rarely go for walks and usually only to the bathroom or toilet. The toilets are very primitive and uncomfortable.

Our camp routine is as follows: We rise at 7am and have breakfast at 8 (tea with milk). There’s a roll call at 10am and dinner at noon (one course although we get a little piece of cheese on Sundays). We’re at rest from noon to 3pm when there is another roll call except for Sundays. At 4.30pm we get tea and something called pudding (a sort of barley porridge with a little dried fruit). Supper is at 8pm and is similar to dinner. Lights-out is at 9pm.

Our rations are 28 grams of soap, 2 razor blades, half a stick of shaving soap, and 20 cigarettes a month. After the relaxed regime at Eboli these harsh conditions are difficult to bear, but this is how we’ve had to live for the last two months."

Novo's 'Control Commission for Germany British Zone' Identity Card 1947

In September a group of refugees including Novo were sent to Geesthacht (30 km east of Hamburg) in the British controlled zone in Germany, so their future could be assessed. Novo was issued with a new ID, dated 17 Sep 1947. Apart from the normal ID details, it contained the very significant stamp from the Ministry of Labour, stating "Accepted as Suitable for Employment in Great Britain" (subject to a satisfactory medical report). The group returned to Grossenbrode, where a few months later, a Medical team examined each of the refugees. On 17 Nov 1947, Novo's medical report gave him a clean bill of health.

At this time Britain had a severe shortage of manual labourers and offered to take 40,000 of the refugees. A week or two later Novo, along with many other displaced Yugoslavs, travelled by train to the coast and ship across the English Channel to the port at Harwich. Petar Pavasovic kept a diary of his experiences and described conditions as follows;

"At 11am, we boarded two luxury coaches and set off for Havant and arrived at 2pm. Havant isn’t far from the Portsmouth naval base. The camp was built by the Americans. It’s in two parts. In the first are small wooden huts comprising six little rooms, and each hut has a toilet and bathroom. In the other section are large metal huts, covered with tar inside and out, and nicely furnished. About 15 men were put in each hut and there were around 150 in total including a YMCA, a music hall, two bathrooms, two laundry huts, and two huge kitchens. The pathways are all paved. The surrounding area is lovely. Havant is ten minutes away and on the other side, right next to the camp, is Bedhampton."

Petar Pavasovic described their situation as follows; We’ve been put in the first part of the camp, Hut 119, which has four per room. Each room has two bunk beds with four old blankets, a fire and one chair per person. They’ve told us we’ll each get five shillings (25p) pocket money every Monday. We’re fed four times a day: breakfast, dinner, tea and supper. We have the chance to learn English and there are recreational facilities as well as information films telling us about work. We’ve had to register once again. I’ve been allocated farm work. After registration we were given coupons for clothing and food, and identification papers.

The Yugoslavs were set to work digging ditches, doing farm work and helping with planting and harvesting. Novo's group were housed at 'Bedhampton Camp', Havant, Hampshire and his ID document was stamped by the Fareham Constabulary on 15 Dec 1947 (45 miles from Wimborne) to indicate his new address.

NOTE: After Bedhampton Camp closed (as military infrastructure) it was used as a Displaced Persons camp for the peoples who escaped to the west at the end of the war. Also part of the Camp was converted into class rooms for Stockheath Primary School

Novo's Medical Card at Corfe Mullen

In early 1948, Novo's group were moved to the Y.M.C.A. hostel at Corfe Mullen, Wimborne, and he was issued with a British Medical Insurance Card dated 5 Feb 1948. Once again they spent their weekdays working on farms and getting paid a basic wage. At the age of 22, after seven years of terrible wartime experiences, being transported across Europe and having his ability to move freely restricted, at last he had a taste of freedom. A chance to do what he wanted during his free time. See 19.0 above for information about how Novo met his future wife and their life afterwards in England.

21.0-24.0 For Future Use

Our Loader & Northover Family Trees from Dorset, England.

Wednesday 1 May 2019

PART 1:LOADER FAMILY TREE

Loder, Thomas of John & Ann (at Holt) 21 Sep 1804

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