George AND arthur woodger

Subject Names :  George Woodger      (b 1820 – d 1894)                  
                              Arthur Woodger        (b 1876 – d 1934) 

Researcher :        Pauline Sieler

George Woodger and his young son Arthur were forced to spend many years in the Guildford Union Workhouse due to George’s blindness and then his wife’s early death.

George Woodger was born on 11th April 1820 in Wisley, Surrey, the fifth child of labourer James Woodger and Jane née Sawyers 1, 2.  He was baptised at Wisley’s Parish Church on 7th May. 

By 1841, George was living at Hyde Farm, Wisley, with his next elder brother James, both noted as agricultural labourers 3.  Their parents, James and Jane, were also living separately at Hyde Farm, with four of the younger siblings 4. 

The Woodger family name can be traced back to at least the 1780s in Wisley 5, and even further back to 1669 in the nearby village of Effingham 6.  In 1841 there were three Woodger households recorded at Hyde Farm, plus two at the next door Wisley Pond Farm, and one more at Wisley Farm, all no doubt related to each other, and all farm labourers 7, 8, 9.

George married 30-year-old Woking-born spinster Harriet Norman on 24th June 1857 at Ripley Church 11 ,16.  He was recorded as aged 33 on the certificate although he would have been 37, perhaps disguising the age difference with his new wife.  He maintained a similar age discrepancy for the rest of his life.

Harriet was already the mother of twins. Clara and Harriett Norman had been born in April 1856 at her home in Ripley Lane 12.  No father was named on the birth certificate, nor at their baptism at Ripley’s St Mary’s Church 13.  Clara Norman passed away in February 1857, and was buried at St Mary’s 14.

George and Harriet’s first son William arrived in 1860 15. At the time of the 1861 Census the family were still living in Ripley Lane 16.  George was 38 (actually almost 41) and an agricultural labourer, wife Harriet was 33, with children 5-year-old Harriett – with the Woodger surname – plus William, 1.  Daughter Esther was born the following year at Ripley Lane 17.

In August 1865 all three children were baptised together at Wisley Church, with the family’s address given as Pyrford 18.  This was the second baptism for 9-year-old Harriett, but now as a Woodger.

Sometime before these baptisms, however, George had lost his sight.  It is not known exactly when this had happened, but the Guildford Union Poor Law Accounts showed that between September 1863 and March 1864, George of “Wisley, Pyrford” was suffering from ‘blindness’, had received more than £10 from the Union in money and ‘in kind’ (provisions) enabling him and his family to remain at home and out of the Workhouse 19.  

George received a similar amount over the following six months but somewhat less in the next half-year, with no record of him or the family receiving anything from the Guildford Union over the two years between September 1865 and September 1867.

This might possibly be explained by where they were living.  Although the local ecclesiastical parish was Wisley with Pyrford, the village of Pyrford came under the Chertsey Poor Law Union 20, 21.  Wisley was the other side of the River Wey, which marked the border with the Guildford Union.  So if George was receiving poor relief while living in Pyrford, it could have come from the Chertsey Union.  It is also of course possible that the family was surviving by their own means despite George’s blindness.

The family were certainly living in Pyrford when George and Harriet’s second son Arthur was born on 6th August 1867 22.  

Not long after Arthur’s birth, around New Year 1868, George and the four children became inmates of the Guildford Union Workhouse 23.  As George had been born in Wisley, Guildford Union would have been responsible for him and his family.  However, George’s wife Harriet was not with them.

Why this apparent split in the family had happened is not known.  Harriet had fallen pregnant again and was suffering from anaemia.  This combination was to have fatal consequences for her as on 30th April 1868, she passed away during childbirth aged 40 at the Chertsey Union Workhouse some 10 miles (16km) north of Guildford 24.  She was buried at St Peter’s Church, Chertsey 25. There is no record of the child, who would have been premature, surviving the birth. 

Things became even worse for George when less than six months later in December 1868, his son William died aged 7 from typhoid fever in the Guildford Union Workhouse 26.  William was buried in Wisley 27.

The Poor Law Accounts showed George and his children were now permanent inmates of the Guildford Union Workhouse 28.  Daughter Harriet left the Workhouse aged 13 around the end of 1868 to go into service 29. The 1871 Census listed the remaining children as Esther, age 11 (actually only 9), and William, 4, although this of course was Arthur, William having passed away in 1868 30.   On this census, George was noted as blind ‘from since stroke’.

George’s blindness would have almost certainly meant that he remained in the Guildford Union Workhouse for the rest of his life.  The 1881 Census showed him there with his son Arthur, 13 31.  Daughter Esther, like her sister Harriet, would have gone into service upon reaching 13 around 1875 32.

By the time of the 1891 Census, George was alone in the Guildford Union Workhouse, passing away there on 3rd November 1894 from ‘General decay Exhaustion’ 33, 34.  He was 74, although his death certificate put him as six years younger.  George was buried at Wisley’s Parish Church four days later, having been a workhouse inmate for some 26 years 35.   

Arthur Woodger – a bachelor life

George’s son Arthur entered the Guildford Union Workhouse as a baby, grew up there including going to the Workhouse school.  He would have left soon after the 1881 Census around 13, probably being found a work placement nearby.

By 1891, he had become a ‘carman’, a driver of a horse-drawn vehicle for transporting goods.  The Census for that year showed unmarried 24-year-old Arthur was boarding in Lewisham, Kent with his sister Harriett and her family 36.

Ten years on, Arthur was still working with horses but now as a ploughman on a farm, lodging just outside Lewisham in the village of Southend 37.  Arthur had remained single and adopted a middle initial of ‘T’.

Arthur did not stay in Kent, but returned to Surrey to live and work in West Clandon.

In June 1934 the Surrey Advertiser reported on the sudden death of ‘Arthur Thomas Woodger’ on the Clandon Estate 38.  The inquest heard that Arthur, aged 66, had been cutting grass alone on the estate when he was found dead.  A local policeman said that Arthur had been well known in the village (West Clandon) for 56 years having come from the Warren Road Institute – previously known as the Guildford Union Workhouse – as a child before working on farms.  The policeman added that Arthur had left the area before returning to the district. 

The inquest concluded that Arthur’s death was by natural causes, adding that they had been unable to trace any of his relatives.

Information found since that time shows that Arthur’s sister Harriett, with whom he had lodged in Lewisham, had been an inmate of the Lewisham Workhouse and then the Ladywell Institution accommodating the elderly poor and infirm, from at least 1911 until her death in 1940 39, 40, 41.  

George’s other sister Esther, after a brief spell in Canada, had lived in Kent with her family from the mid-1890s until her death in 1943 42, 43, 44.

December 2019, updated November 2024

References

Note : the source is Ancestry.co.uk unless otherwise noted. Spellings are as per original documents.

  1. James Woodyer & Jane Sawyers 9 Jun 1808 Marriage Surrey History Centre, Woking; Surrey Church of England Parish Registers; West Horsely St Mary, 1754-1812; ref HW/2/1-2
  2. Maria Woodyer 9 Sep 1810 Baptism, 19 Aug 1810 Birth
    Jane Woodyer 28 Jun 1812 Baptism, 25 May 1812 Birth
    John Woodger 6 Mar 1814 Baptism, 28 Jan 1814 Birth
    James Woodger 26 Apr 1818 Baptism, 29 Apr 1818 Birth
    George Woodger 7 May 1820 Baptism, 11 Apr 1820 Birth
    Harriett Woodger 15 Dec 1822 Baptism, 15 Nov 1822 Birth
    Mary Woodger 5 Sep 1824 Baptism, 7 Aug 1824 Birth
    Frederick Woodger 22 Jan 1826 Baptism, 14 Dec 1825 Birth
    Amelia Woodger 3 Feb 1828 Baptism, 2 Jan 1828 Birth
    Thomas Woodger 6 Dec 1829 Baptism, 6 Nov 1829 Birth
    Surrey History Centre, Woking; Surrey Church of England Parish Registers; Wisley, St Mary, 1798-1812 and 1813-1917; ref WIS/1/2 and WIS/2/1
  3. James, George Woodgyer 1841 England Census for Hyde Farm, Wisley, Surrey; Class HO107; Piece 1080; Book 16; Enumeration District 1; Folio 5; Page 2
  4. James, Jane, Harriet, Frederick, Amelia Thomas Woodgyer 1841 England Census for Hyde Farm, Wisley, Surrey; Class HO107; Piece 1080; Book 16; Enumeration District 1; Folio 5; Page 3
  5. Richard Woodger Occupier 1785 Surrey History Centre, Woking; Surrey Land Tax Records; Wisley (1781-1831)
  6. John Woodger & Jane Stephen 24 Jun 1669 Surrey History Centre, Woking; Surrey Church of England Parish Registers; Effingham, St Lawrence, 1565-1725; ref EFF/1/1 FindMyPast.co.uk
  7. William, Sarah, Jemima, James, Richard William Daniel Woodger
    Richard Woolger
    1841 England Census for Hyde Farm, Wisley, Surrey; Class HO107; Piece 1080; Book 16; Enumeration District 1; Folio 5; Page 3
  8. James, Mary, James, Mary, Ellen, Caroline, William, Jane Woolger
    John, Ann, William, Mary, Emma, Daniel, Ellen Woodger
    1841 England Census for Wisley Pond Farm, Wisley, Surrey; Class HO107; Piece 1080; Book 16; Enumeration District 1; Folio 5; Pages 4 & 5
  9. Richard, Ann Woolger 1841 England Census for Wisley Farm, Wisley, Surrey; Class HO107; Piece 1080; Book 16; Enumeration District 1; Folio 5; Page 5
  10. James, Jane Woodger 1851 England Census for Wisley Common, Wisley, Surrey; Class HO107; Piece 1594; Folio 246; Page 49
  11. George Woodger & Harriet Norman 24 Jun 1857 Marriage Surrey History Centre, Woking; Surrey Church of England Parish Registers; Ripley, St Mary, 1840-1893; ref RIP/2/1
  12. Clara Norman & Harriett Norman 29 Apr 1856 Civil Registration Birth Index; Apr-Mar-Jun 1856; Guildford, Surrey, volume 2A; page 38. Digital copy (Harriett only) from Government Register Office GRO.gov.uk
  13. Clara & Harriet Norman 19 Jul 1856 Baptism Surrey History Centre, Woking; Surrey Church of England Parish Registers; Ripley, St Mary, 1813-1874; ref RIP/4/1
  14. Clara Norman 1 Mar 1857 Burial Surrey History Centre, Woking; Surrey Church of England Parish Registers; Ripley, St Mary, 1813-1893; ref RIP/5/1
  15. William Woodger 1860 Civil Registration Birth Index; Jan-Feb-Mar 1860; Guildford, Surrey, volume 2A; page 45
  16. George, Harriett, Harriett, William Woodger 1861 England Census for Ripley Lane, Ripley, Surrey; Class RG9; Piece 425; Folio 154; Page 19
  17. Esther Woodger 1862 Civil Registration Birth Index; Apr-May-Jun 1862; Guildford, Surrey, volume 2A; page 43. Digital copy from General Register Office GRO.gov.uk
  18. Harriett, William, Esther Woodyer 20 Aug 1865 Baptism Surrey History Centre, Woking; Surrey Church of England Parish Registers; Wisley, 1813-1917; ref WIS/2/1
  19. George Woodyer, wife, 3 children Half Year ended 1864 Lady Day – Half Year ended 1865 Lady Day Surrey History Centre, Woking; Guildford Poor Law Half Yearly Accounts 1864-1871; ref BG6/33/1
  20. Wisley with Pyrford wisleywithpyrford.org
    Parishes: Pyrford, Advowson British History Online British-History.ac.uk
  21. Poor Law Unions After 1834, Guildford Surrey, Chertsey Surrey Workhouses.org.uk
  22. Arthur Woodger 6 Aug 1867 Civil Registration Birth Index; Jul-Aug-Sep 1867; Chertsey, Surrey, volume 2A; page 32. Digital copy from General Register Office GRO.gov.uk
  23. Thomas (sic, actually George), Harriet, Esther, William, infant Woodyer Half Year ended Lady Day 1868 Surrey History Centre, Woking; Guildford Poor Law Half Yearly Accounts 1864-1871; ref BG6/33/1
  24. Harriett Woodger 30 Apr 1868 Civil Registration Death Index; Apr-May-Jun 1868; Chertsey, Surrey, volume 2A; page 24. Digital copy from General Register Office GRO.gov.uk
  25. Harriet Woodger 4 May 1868 Burial Surrey History Centre, Woking; Surrey Church of England Parish Registers; Chertsey, St Peter, 1842-1888; ref CHY/5/2
  26. William Woodyer 10 Dec 1868 Civil Registration Death Index; Oct-Nov-Dec 1868; Guildford, Surrey, volume 2A; page 45. Digital copy from General Register Office GRO.gov.uk
  27. William Woodger 14 Dec 1868 Burial Surrey History Centre, Woking; Surrey Church of England Parish Registers; Wisley 1815-1994; ref WIS/4/1
  28. Thomas (sic, actually George), Harriet, Esther, William, infant Woodyer Half Year ended Lady Day 1868- Half Year ended Michaelmas 1871 Surrey History Centre, Woking; Guildford Poor Law Half Yearly Accounts 1864-1871; ref BG6/33/1
  29. Harriet Woodyer ‘Clothes on going into service’ Half Year ended 1869 Lady Day Surrey History Centre, Woking; Guildford Poor Law Half Yearly Accounts 1864-1871; ref BG6/33/1
  30. George, Esther, William (sic, actually Arthur) Woodger 1871 England Census for Guildford Union Workhouse, Stoke Next Guildford, Surrey; Class RG10; Piece 813; Folio 81; Page 8
  31. George, Arthur Woodger 1881 England Census for Guildford Union Workhouse, Stoke Next Guildford, Surrey; Class RG11; Piece 778; Folio 94; Page 9
  32. Inquest at Lower Sydenham 7 Apr 1888 Sydenham and Penge Gazette; page 5 British Newspaper Archive / FindMyPast.co.uk
  33. George Woodyer 1891 England Census for Guildford Union Workhouse, Stoke Next Guildford, Surrey; Class RG12; Piece 560; Folio 200; Page 3
  34. George Woodger 3 Nov 1894 Civil Registration Death Index; Oct-Nov-Dec 1894; Guildford, Surrey, volume 2A; page 53. Digital copy from General Register Office GRO.gov.uk
  35. George Woodger 7 Nov 1894 Burial Surrey History Centre, Woking; Surrey Church of England Parish Registers; Wisley, 1815-1994; ref WIS/4/1
  36. Alfred, Harriett, George, Emma, Rose, Mary, Daisy Butcher, Arthur Woodger 1891 England Census for 72 Miall Rd, Lewisham, London; Class RG12; Piece 523; Folio 40; Page 34
  37. Charles, Eliza, Albert, Mathias G, Florence A Jackson; Arthur Woodger 1901 England Census for 3 Vine Cottages, Southend, Lewisham, London; Class RG13; Piece 552; Folio 41; Page 37
  38. Labourer Found Dead “Natural Causes” Verdict at Inquest 9 Jun 1934 Surrey Advertiser & County Times; page 2 Ancestry.com / Newspapers.com
    Arthur Thomas Woodger 4 Jun 1934 Civil Registration Death Index; Apr-May-Jun 1934; Surrey South-Western, volume 2A; page 422. Digital copy from General Register Office GRO.gov.uk
  39. Harriett Butcher 1911 England Census for Lewisham Workhouse, London; Class RG14; Piece 2806; Page 4
    Harriett Butcher     1921 England Census for Ladywell Institution, Lewisham, London; Class RG15; Piece 02957; Page 4; District RD 29 RS 4 ED 46
    Harriett Butcher 1939 England and Wales Register for Ladywell Institution, Lewisham, London; Class RG101/4091; Enumeration District AOUY
  40. Ladywell Institution St Olave’s Union, Surrey Workhouses.co.uk
    Ladywell Lodge     Lost Hospitals of London ezitis.myzen.co.uk
  41. Harriett Butchers 1940 Civil Registration Death Index; Apr-May-Jun 1940; Lewisham, London; volume 1D; page 1271.
  42. Esther Woodger & Ernest Russell 15 Jul 1893 Marriage Institut Généalogique Drouin, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Drouin Collection; Methodist  Centenary Church, Pointe-St-Charles Ancestry.com 
  43. Ernest, Esther, Elsie, Primrose, Ernest Russell 1901 England Census for 6 Penge Lane, Penge, Kent; Class RG13; Piece 651; Folio 148; Page 43
    Esther, Elsie, May, Violet, Ernest Russell 1911 England Census for 123 Maple Rd, Penge, Kent; Class RG14; Piece 3414; Schedule 130
    Esther, May Russell 1921 England Census for Raleigh Road, Penge, Kent; Class RG15; Piece 03526; District RD 39 RS 5 ED 1
    Esther, May Russell 1939 England and Wales Register for 11 Parish Lane, Beckenham, Kent; Class RG101/1220G; Enumeration District CJBZ
  44. Esther Russell 1943 Civil Registration Death Index; Apr-May-Jun 1943; Bromley, Kent; volume 2A; page 922.