Gloucestershire, England Genealogy

Gloucestershire or Gloucester is an inland but partly a maritime county located in the central part of England.

Jurisdictions
Parishes

Cerney, North

North Cerney is a Parish and a Village



North Cerney Parish is located on a hill across the street from North Cerney Village. A small light shines through a stained glass window, bidding a traveler welcome.

"It is worth spending a short time walking round the outside of this little church, which has been described as one of the prettiest in rural Gloucestershire. Pearched on a hillside overlooking the village, which is across the main road.  All Saints is a typical Churn valley church, with a lovely old slate roof and a charming low saddle-back tower.  The grass in the churchyard is cropped in Spring and Summer by sheep." (All Saints Church, North Cerney (Church brochure) Rewritten by Mrs. V. A. Patuck, 1989, from information gathered by Canon A. James Turner, Vicar of North Cerney Church from 1952 to 1973. page 622)

Calmsden

"Calmsden is a tithing and small hamlet, 2 miles east, and near the old Roman Rossway. A curious old wayside dial-cross stands here over a copious and perennial spring.  The village consists of two or three farms and a few cottages.  Parish Clerk, Henry James Mason."

(Kelly's Directory of the County of Gloucester, 1914; Farmily History Library, British 942.41, E4ke)

"The hamlet of Calmsden, in an isolated position in the valley in the east part of the parish, had evidently been established by 852. (7, Grunday, Saxon Charters, 56.) The hamlet was formed around a small green and a spring, from which the two inhabitants surnamed atte well in 1327 were presumably named.  Nine people were assessed for the subsidy at Calmsden in that year, (8), Glos. Subsidy Roll, 1327, 10.) and 18 people for the poll-tax in 1381, (9, E 179/113/35Arot. 13; E 179/113/e1Arot.2.) and the hamlet had its own chapel of ease in the Middle Ages.  Calmsden was said to comprise only 6 houses c. 1710 (10), Atkyns, Glos. 324.) and it has remained small, comprising two manor-houses and a few cottages, including a row of 6 with rustic details built in the early 19th century.(11, See plate facing p. 45.) a medieval stone cross, put up before 1401, (12), Staffs, R. O., D 641/I/4M/2.) still stands above the spring.

(The Victoria History Of The Counties of England, The History of Gloucester, Edited by N. M. Herbert, Volume VII, Page 151)

Woodmancote

"Woodmancote is a hamlet 1 mile north-west. Here is a Plymouth Brethren Mission hall." (Kelly's Directory of the County of Gloucester, 1914; Farmily History Library, British 942.41, E4ke)

"Woodland recorded on Gilbert son of Turold's manor of Cerney in 1086 (80) [Com. Bk. (Rec. Com.), i. 168v.] evidently lay in the north-west part of the parish, where Woodmancote hamlet takes its name from a woodman's cottage. (81) [P.M. Glos. i. 148.]" (The Victoria History Of The Counties of England, The History of Gloucester, Edited by N. M. Herbert, Volume VII, Page 150)

Cerney Downs

"The slopes of the Churn valley, above the narrow belt of meadow-land in the valley bottom, and much of the Calmsden area were formerly cultivated as open fields while the high and level ground on the east side of the valley was occupied by extensive downland. In the early 18th centurh Cerney Downs were said to be famous for hawking, hunting, coursing, and racing (86) [Bodl. MS. Top. Glouc. c. 3, f.214.] and they were long the venue for the annual Cirencester races. (87) Glouc. Fnl. 5 May 1752; Rudder, Glos. 325.) (The Victoria History Of The Counties of England, The History of Gloucester, Edited by N. M. Herbert, Volume VII, Page 150)

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 Jurisdictions:

Deanery:   "The Church belongs to the Deanery of Cirencester, and is dedicated to All Saints."

(Historical, Monumental &amp; Genealogical Collections of Gloucester, British: Q Area, 942.41, .v26, 1786.)

Hundred:          Rapsgate

Union:               Cirencester Union

Archdeaconry: Archdeaconry of Cirencester and diocese of Gloucester.

(Kelly's Directory of the County of Gloucester, 1914, British 942.41, E4ke)

Probate:           Bishop of Gloucester, (Episcopal Consistory) and Perogative Court of the Archbishop of         Canterbury

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North Cerney Village

"North Cerney Village stands in the centre of the parish on the east bank of the river Churn. The church stands by itself on the opposite bank, probably because it was founded by the owner of an estate which passed to the honor of Gloucester and included the land of Woodmancote tithing west of the river, while the village and land adjoining on the east of the river belonged to a manor held by the archbishops of York.  From a crossing-point on the Church the village developed up the hillside on the road leading up to the White way near Nordown; a small green was formed at the junction with the Calmsden road.  The only large house is the former manor-house, Cerney Manor (formerly North Cerney Farm), at the bottom of the village.  The village is formed mainly of stone cottages of the late 17th and 18th centuries, several of which were restored and modernized in the 1960's and 1970s when some new houses in reconstructed stone were built at the top of the village."

(The Victoria History Of The Counties Of England, The History of Gloucester, Edited by N. M. Herbert Volume VII, Brightwells Barrow and Rapsgate Hundreds, Oxford University Press 1981,)

(Note: Pictures of Cerney Manor and North Cerny Farm to be added, along with pictures of village homes.)

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School

Village School: (Gloucestershire County Council) North Cerney (Voluntary Controlled),

'''CE Primary School. '''(Photos to be uploaded)

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Live Stock

"For many centuries the county of Gloucester has held a prominent place in the agriculture of the kingdom, originally by reason of the native breed of sheep which takes its name from the Cotswold HIlls. The wool of this variety was once highly valued for the production of the fine fabrics that were formerly in great demand, not only in this country, but on the continent of Europe, and numerous large flocks were maintained in the country, which was for a long period the centre of the English wool trade." (The Victoria History Of The Counties Of England, The History of Gloucester, Edited by N. M. Herbert, Volume VII, Brightswells Barrow And Rapsgate Hundreds, Oxford University Press 1981, British Q Area, 942 H2svg, V. 2, Page 239.)

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Vocations

"Though predominantly agricultural, North Cerney parish usually had a fairly substantial number of tradesmen. Eight tradesmen, including the tucker mentioned above, were listed in 1608 compared with 21 men employed in agriculture, (55) [Smith, Men and Armour, 252-3] and trade supported 33 families in 1831 compared with 90 supported by agriculture. (56) [Census, 1831]  With the exception of the man described as parchment-maker in 1751 and glue-maker in 1778, the tradesmen found recorded during the 18th and 19th centuries were the usual village craftsmen together with a few small shopkeepers. (57) Glos. R. O., D 2525, N. Cerney leases 1715-89, 1749-1825; H.O. 107/1968; Kelly's Dir. Glos. (1856 and later edns.).]  Carpenters were perhaps represented in more than usual numbers for a rural parish in 1851 when 12 lived in the parish; the 9 slaters and masons formed the next largest group while other trades had only one or two representatives. (58) [H.O. 107/1968.] Weavers were occasionally recorded in the parish (59) [Glos. R.O., D 326/E, abs. of title to cott. at Calmsden; Hockaday Abs. cxliii, 1816.] and in the early 19th century it presumably had a number of cloth-workers; the increase from 16 to 33 tradsman families between 1811 and 1831 (60) [Census, 1811-1831.] may be partly explained by developments at Perrot's Brook mill. (See Perrot's Brook mIll below.) A few crafts survived into the mid 20th century: in 1939 Cerney village still had a boot repairer and Calmsden a blacksmith, (61) [''Kelly's Dir. Glos. ''(1939), 62.] and a firm of tailors established at Woodmancote before 1906 (62) [Ibid. (1906), 55.] remained in business in 1978. From 1927 a quarry beside the railway in the east corner of the parish was worked by the Fosse Lime and Limestone Co. which burnt lime for agricultural and building purposes; the firm employed 30 men in 1936 and remained at the site until at least 1959. (63) Glos. R.O., D 2299/5816; W.I. hist. of Chedworth (1959, TS. in Glos. Colln.), 70.] (The Victoria History Of The Counties Of England, The History of Gloucester, Edited by N. M. Herbert, Volume VII, Brightswells Barrow And Rapsgate Hundreds, Oxford University Press 1981, British Q Area, 942 H2svg, V. 2, Page 159)

Developments at Perrot's Brook mill

"A new mill built on the Cerney manor estate by Richard Painter c. 1715 (49) [Glos. R.O., D 2525, N. Cerney man. 1713-32.] was probably Perrott's Brook mill c. 600 m. upstream of the Perrott's Brook bridge. In 1799 John Radway, a wool-stapler, became lessee of Perrott's Brook mill (50) [Ibid. D 182/III/203.] and he was succeeded there by Giles Radway before 1809, when the mill was described as formerly a grist-mill (51) [Ibid. D2525, N. Cerney leases 1804-62.] and had perhaps been converted to cloth-making.  In or shortly before 1824 Giles Radway built a new cloth-mill south of the old mill (52) [Ibid. loose deed 1824; Bryant, Map of Glos. (1824).] and he was still working it in 1837. (53) [G.D.R., T 1/45.]   In the later 19th century it was used as a corn mill. (54) O.S. Map 6", Glos. XLIII. SE. (1884 edn.)] Both the old and new mills survived together with some cottages in 1978 when the newer mill was used as a farm build for Perrott's Brook farm, which had its other buildings and its recently built new farm house at the site." (The Victoria History Of The Counties Of England, The History of Gloucester, Edited by N. M. Herbert, Volume VII, Brightswells Barrow And Rapsgate Hundreds, Oxford University Press 1981, British Q Area, 942 H2svg, V. 2, Page 159)

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Genealogy

North Cerney Parish Memorial Wall Plaques

Honoring early Painter Family parishoners (Note:  Pictures of plaques to be uploaded.)

William Painter and Ann Mustoe (3 generation wall plaque)

Reads: "In this churchyard lie the bodies of William Painter and Ann (Mustoe) his wife, who both died in September 1727, both aged 65, also

Joseph Painter, their son, died May 1799, aged 85, and Hannah, his wife, daughter of George and Margaret Townsend, of North Cerney, buried 3rd January 1788, aged 71.

Also John Painter, son of Joseph and Hannah, died 1800 aged 51, and

Elizabeth, his first wife, daughter of Jacoband Sarah Heaven,'of Frocester, died May 1783, aged 34.

In Piam Memoriam Proavorum Posuit A.C.P. MCMXIV."

Additional Family Information: North Cerney Parish Christening, Marriage, and Burial records provide vital information regarding the Painter family members honored on the plaque. William and Ann, married North Cerney Church 6 Jul 1703, christened 7 children between May 7, 1704 and 17 Nov. 1715. Their names were Richard, William, John, Ann, Martha, Joseph, and Thomas.

Joseph and Hannah, married 14 Jun 1740, North Cerney, christened 8 children between 15 Mar 1740/1 and

8 Aug 1758. Their names were: Ann, William,  Mary, Richard, Hannah, John, Margaret, and Betty.

John and Elizabeth, married 25 Oct 1772, North Cerney, christened 4 children between 11 Apr 1773 and 15 May 1781. Their names were: Joseph, Richard, William, and Thomas.

Richard Painter and Joyce Stockwell Wall Plaque. (Photo to be uploaded)

"Near this place lyeth the bodys of Richard Painter Sen. and Joyce, his wife, Daughter of Phillip and Prudence Stockwell. He died Aug:  the 14, 1749, aged 75 years.  She died December 15th, 1757, aged 85 years. "

"Here in the dust our bodys lyes, Till trumpet sound the dead arise. Then soul and body shall unite, in hopes of everlasting life." "This was erected by Richard Painter, their younger son."

Additional Information about Richard and Joyce.

North Cerney Christening records provide birthdates for 4 of Richard and Joyce's children, christened betinning 14 Sep 1701 through 26 May 1710. The children's names are: John, Prudence, Daniel, and William. Richard, jr., who erected the wall monument, is not listed in the Christening records.

The Victoria History of Gloucester gives additional information on Richard Painter:

"A new mill built on the Cerney on the Cerney Manor Estate by Richard Painter c. 1715 was probably Perrott's Brook Mill c. 600 m. upstream of the Perrott's Brook bridge."

(The Victoria History Of The Counties Of England, The History of Gloucester, Edited by N. M. Herbert, Volume VII, Brightwells Barrow and Rapsgate Hundreds, Oxford University Press 1981, British Q Area, 942. H2svg, V. 2. page 159.)

"The river Churn bisets the parish from north to south in a deep valley. From south of North Cerney village to near Perrott's Brook a straight channel was but in 1824 alongside the original meandering course of the river to supply a newly built cloth-mill (Glos. R.O., D 2525, loose deed 1824.)  But in 1978 the new cut was dry and had been partly filled in."

(The Victoria History Of The Counties Of England Gloucester, Edited by N. M. Herbert, Volume VII, Brightwells Barrow and Rapsgate Hundreds, Oxford University Press 1981, British Q Area, 942 H2svg, V. 2, page 150)

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Websites:

Census Returns for Gloucestershire: 

http://www.genuki.org.uk

(Gloucestershire - Census Returns 1801-1901)

(Genuki- "&lt;FreeCEN&gt; is an ongoing volunteer-based project to provide a free to view' online searchable database of the 19th century UK census returns. Volunteers are being sought to assist with transcribing - visit the &lt;FreeCen Project&gt; page to see each county's status as well as a FAQ for volunteers.")

(Genuki - "Index of names, and downloadable images of Census 1841-1901 are available from&lt; Ancestry.co.uk&gt;

Access is by Annual subscription, or Pay-per-View. A subscription includes access to other Ancestry resources.

Probate:

Gloucestershire Probate Jurisdictions Parishes C through F

FindMyPast.com

Search for Ancestors:

Familysearch.org

www.worldvitalrecords.com

Maps:

Map of North Cerney

British Towns and Villages Network

School:

North Cerney CE Primary School, Gloucester

Church:

North Cerney Parish Church

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