Blackmore: Speller family

Received 2 October 2011

Hello Andrew I am researching the Speller family who lived in around Billericay.  I have noticed that there is a Charles Speller included on the war memorial. There could be a match to the Charles Speller on my family tree but only by name and year of birth match so it is a little tenuous. I am happy to share what I know.

Charles Speller b 1876 was the son of Henry Speller b 1837 Vange(?) d 1895 and his mother was Eliza Speller (Law) b 1838 (Pitsea?). 

He had a number of siblings, Louisa b 1857 Henry T Speller b 1858 Eliza Speller b 1860, Mary Ann Speller b 1865, George Speller b 1866,  Frederick William Speller b 19/01/1867 (my great grandfather) Emma C Speller b 1868 and Rachel M Speller b 1871.

According to the 1891 Census Charles was 15 and was known as Charley. He is described as a general labourer. He was living at 87 Back Lane Great Burstead Billericay

According to the 1901 census Charles was 25 and living with wife Ellen age 22 b 1879 and daughter Fairy age 1 b 1900 at 117 Wyatt Green Blackmore Essex. Charles was a haybinder and agricultural worker.

I haven't found them in the 1911 census yet.  Are there parishes other than Great Burstead that would cover Billericay and its surrounding areas?

Thank you for the job you are doing on the research and for making it so publicly available.  It makes fascinating reading.

kind regards

Graham Speller

Replied 8 October 2011

Dear Graham,

Thank you for your e mail.  Charles Speller is a name the War Memorial Research Project came across, as living in Blackmore at the outbreak of the First World War.  He is on the Electoral Roll in 1914.  Baptism records show three further children.  He is not remembered on the Blackmore War Memorial, which was unveiled in 1920.  Our tribute page to him can be found on http://www.blackmorehistory.co.uk/ww1_charles_speller.html.

His service details say, erroneously, that he was born in Blackmore.  Your information confirms that he was not born here.

Wyatt(s) Green was a hamlet of Blackmore, now a built up area.  “117” refers to a census entry not address.

I have not checked the 1911 Census for Charles Speller. He may have been living at Blackmore, not Great Burstead near Billericay.

Best wishes

Andrew

Received 10 October 2011

Andrew thanks very much for your reply and for sharing your information.  I have now found Charles Speller on the 1911 census. The reference is Essex, Blackmore 11 Page 60. The family had four children all living, and he was employed as a haybinder. His wife was Ellen b 1880 and they were married in 1899. They lived in four rooms at Nelson Cottage Blackmore nr Ingatestone

best wishes

Graham

Replied  13 October 2011

Good news!  Nelson Cottage is just along the road from the centre of Blackmore village in Ingatestone Road.  Today six people living in four rooms would be overcrowding but then, of course, that was the norm.

Andrew