george holt

Subject Name :  George Holt (ca1814 – d1888)

Researchers : Mike Brock and Carol Thompson 

George Holt had a tough life, working as a labourer on low wages.  He was a devoted husband, caring for his paralysed wife for many years despite having health problems of his own.

George was born around 1814 in Chiddingfold, a fair-sized village on The Weald some ten miles (16km) south of Guildford.  The son of labourer John and Hannah Holt, George was baptised at the village church of St Mary on 22nd May 1814 1.  He was the third of six children, all baptised at the same church 1, 2.  

Chiddingfold has a long history.  A wooden church on the present site is thought to date to 978 AD 3. The Crown is one of the oldest inns in England, claiming to have been established in 1285, with the present building dating to 1383 4.

The Holts were a long-established family in Chiddingfold.  St Mary’s Church parish registers record a marriage of a ‘Catheryn Holt’ in 1594 5, and the family may go back there further still. 

However, at some stage George left Chiddingfold and moved 7 miles (11km) north to Godalming, where he worked as a labourer.

George married widow Mary Stedman at Godalming’s St Peter & Paul Church on 3rd June 1839 6.  Although the marriage certificate does not give their ages, George would have been about 25, while his wife was at least 36, having been baptised as Mary Terry in Ewhurst, Surrey on 30th January 1803 7.  Both George and Mary “made their mark” on the certificate, indicating that neither of them could read or write.   Mary’s first marriage had taken place on 5th March 1823 to John Stedman in Hascombe, just south of Godalming 8.  They had had four children 9.  No record has been found as to what happened to Mary’s husband John.

In 1841, labourer George and his wife Mary were living in the Northbourne area of Farncombe, at that time a hamlet outside the boundary of Godalming 10.  George had taken on the three youngest of Mary’s children from her first marriage – Mary 15, William 11, and Abraham 8.  

There are no records to show that George and Mary had any children of their own.  Mary’s daughter Mary Ann died in 1845, being buried on 30th March at the St Peter & St Paul Church, almost exactly 19 years after her baptism there 11. 

George, aged 40, was still working as a labourer in Farncombe in 1851 12.  Mary, 48, had just one of her children, 18-year-old Abraham, still living with them.  He was a sawyer, which would likely have been a step up from a labourer.  Mary’s mother Jane Terry, an 84-year-old widow, was lodging with them too.

In 1861, labourer George and wife Mary were living in Farncombe Street 13.  Abraham had by now married and moved 15 miles (24km) north to Windlesham 14.  William also married that year, and stayed in Godalming 15.  Abraham moved back to Farncombe in 1863/4 with his family – his daughter Minnie was baptised there in February 1864 16. 

George and Mary would no doubt have been very grateful to have family support around, as their health was deteriorating badly.  Between 1864 and 1871, George received regular aid from the Guildford Union for Mary, who was described as ‘paralysed’ 17.   A couple of the entries in the Guildford Union Poor Law Accounts for this period noted that George too was ‘partially disabled’. 

There are no comparable records before 1864 or after 1871, but it is certain that George would have continued to receive help for Mary and indeed himself when needed.  The small amount of money, payments in kind, and medical expenses would have been enough to keep them with a roof over their heads and out of the Workhouse.  We don’t know how Mary came to be paralysed – it could have been an injury, or possibly caused by a stroke or other illness. 

In the 1871 Census, George was noted as an agricultural labourer 18.  Mary was listed as a former laundress, but there is no reference elsewhere to support this.  Given their infirmities, and the aid they were receiving, it is unlikely either of them were actually working.  They had moved a short distance from Farncombe Street to Upper Church Road, and were now living alongside Mary’s son Abraham (a carpenter), his wife Mary and their seven children 19.

George’s wife Mary passed away on 12th November 1878 in the Guildford Union Workhouse aged 75, after nearly 40 years of marriage 20.  She was buried three days later at Godalming’s Nightingale Cemetery 21.  We don’t know how long Mary had been in the Workhouse, as there are unfortunately no admissions registers still in existence.  There are no indications that she would have been there as a destitute pauper, more likely she was taken to the infirmary when her family were no longer able to care for her at home.  She had suffered for an awfully long while – her death certificate gave cause of death as ‘paraplegia many years and exhaustion’.

We also don’t know if George was in the Workhouse at the time of Mary’s death.  However, he was there as an ‘inmate’ on the 1881 Census 22, probably remaining there until his death of ‘decay of age’, on 2nd February 1888 aged 75 23.  He was buried four days later at the same cemetery as Mary 24.

October 2020, updated July 2024

References

  1. George Holt Baptism 22 May 1814. Surrey History Centre, Woking, Surrey, England; Surrey Church of England Parish Registers; Parish Baptisms, St Mary’s Chiddingfold 1830-1860, Reference: CHID/4/1, page 5.  FindMyPast.co.uk
  2. Elizabeth Holt Baptism 10 Sep 1809. Surrey History Centre, Woking, Surrey, England; Surrey Church of England Parish Registers; Parish Baptisms, St Mary’s Chiddingfold 1801-1812, Reference: CHID/1/4, page 24.
    John Holt Baptism 8 Mar 1812.  Surrey History Centre, Woking, Surrey, England; Surrey Church of England Parish Registers; Parish Baptisms, St Mary’s Chiddingfold 1801-1812, Reference: CHID/1/4, page 32.
    Hannah Holt Baptism 6 Apr 1817.  Surrey History Centre, Woking, Surrey, England; Surrey Church of England Parish Registers; Parish Baptisms, St Mary’s Chiddingfold 1813-1860, Reference: CHID/4/1, page 15.
    Henry Holt Baptism 20 Jun 1824.  Surrey History Centre, Woking, Surrey, England; Surrey Church of England Parish Registers; Parish Baptisms, St Mary’s Chiddingfold 1813-1860, Reference: CHID/4/1, page 42.
    Sarah Holt Baptism 3 Aug 1828.  Surrey History Centre, Woking, Surrey, England; Surrey Church of England Parish Registers; Parish Baptisms, St Mary’s Chiddingfold 1813-1860, Reference: CHID/4/1, page 61.
    FindMyPast.co.uk
  3. St Mary’s Chiddingfold Our History StMarysChurchchidd.org.uk
  4. The Crown Inn, Chiddingfold Centuries of History TheCrownChiddingfold.com
  5. Catheryn Holt and Johan Bowth Marriage 6 Feb 1594 Family Search; England Marriages 1538-1973; Parish Marriages; Chiddingfold, Surrey. FindMyPast.co.uk
  6. George Holt and Mary Stedman Marriage 3 Jun 1839. Surrey History Centre, Woking, Surrey; Surrey Church of England Parish Registers; Parish Marriages, St Peter & St Paul, Godalming 1837-1851.  Reference GOD/2/4, page 30.  Ancestry.co.uk
  7. Mary Terry Baptism 30 Jan 1803  Surrey History Centre, Woking, Surrey, England; Surrey Church of England Parish Registers; Parish Baptisms, St Peter & St Paul, Ewhurst 1720-1811, Reference: EWH/1/2.  Ancestry.co.uk
  8. Mary Terry and John Stedman Marriage 5 Mar 1823 Surrey History Centre, Woking, Surrey; Surrey Church of England Parish Registers; Parish Marriages, St Peter, Hascombe, 1813-1837. Reference HAS/2/1.  Ancestry.co.uk
  9. John Stedman Baptism 18 Jun 1824 Surrey History Centre, Woking, Surrey, England; Surrey Church of England Parish Registers; Parish Baptisms, St Peter, Hascombe 1813-1869, Reference: HAS/3/1, page 21.
    Mary Ann Stedman Baptism 18 Mar 1827 Surrey History Centre, Woking, Surrey, England; Surrey Church of England Parish Registers; Parish Baptisms, St Peter & St Paul, Godalming 1813-1833, Reference: GOD/4/1, page 204.
    William Toft Stedman Baptism 24 Jun 1830 Surrey History Centre, Woking, Surrey, England; Surrey Church of England Parish Registers; Parish Baptisms, St Peter & St Paul, Godalming 1813-1833, Reference: GOD/4/1, page 252. 
    Abraham Toft Stedman Baptism 4 Sep 1833 Surrey History Centre, Woking, Surrey, England; Surrey Church of England Parish Registers; Parish Baptisms, St Peter & St Paul, Godalming 1813-1833, Reference: GOD/4/1, page 300.
    Ancestry.co.uk
  10. George, Mary, Mary, William, Abraham Holt 1841 England Census, Northbourne, Farncombe, Godalming, Guildford, Surrey. Reference HO107; Piece: 1073; Book: 2; Folio: 24; Page: 12. Ancestry.co.uk
  11. Mary Ann Stedman Burial 30 Mar 1845 Surrey History Centre, Woking, Surrey, England; Surrey Church of England Parish Registers; Parish Burials, St Peter & St Paul, Godalming 1842-1880, Reference: GOD/5/2, page 29. Ancestry.co.uk
  12. George, Mary, Abraham Holt; Jane Terry 1851 England Census, Farncombe, Guildford, Surrey. Reference HO107; Piece: 1594; Folio: 700; Page: 53. Ancestry.co.uk
  13. George & Mary Holt; Mary Stedman (visitor, age 6) 1861 England Census, Farncombe St, Godalming, Guildford, Surrey. Reference RG9; Piece: 429; Folio: 30; Page: 11. Ancestry.co.uk
  14. Abraham, Mary Ann, Alfred W, Naomi S Stedman; Harry, George Ruff (stepsons) 1861 England Census, Windlesham, Chertsey, Surrey. Reference RG9; Piece: 423; Folio: 75; Page: 20. Ancestry.co.uk
  15. William Steadman and Jane Mary Kethro Marriage 28 May 1860 Surrey History Centre, Woking, Surrey; Surrey Church of England Parish Registers; Parish Marriages, St Peter & St Paul, Godalming, 1851-1875. Reference GOD/2/5, page 125. Ancestry.co.uk
    William, Jane M, Alice M, Amy R, Harry Stedman 1871 England Census, Pound Lane, Godalming, Surrey.  Reference RG10; Piece: 815; Folio: 13; Page: 20.  Ancestry.co.uk
  16. Minnie May Steadman Baptism 28 Feb 1864. Surrey History Centre, Woking, Surrey, England; Surrey Church of England Parish Registers; Parish Baptisms, St John, Farncombe 1848-1865, Reference: FNC/1/1, page 92. Ancestry.co.uk
  17. George Holt of Godalming, Farncombe Godalming. Surrey History Centre, Woking, Surrey; Guildford Poor Law Half Yearly Accounts, BG6/33/1
    Half Year Ended Lady Day 1864 page 32; Half Year Ended Michaelmas 1864 page 30 & 32;
    Half Year Ended Michaelmas 1864 page 32; Half Year Ended Michaelmas 1865 page 31;
    Half Year Ended Lady Day 1866 page 31; Half Year Ended Michaelmas 1866 page 19;
    Half Year Ended Lady Day 1867 page 19; Half Year Ended Michaelmas 1867 page 18;
    Half Year Ended Lady Day 1868 page 18; Half Year Ended Michaelmas 1868 page 18;
    Half Year Ended Lady Day 1869 page 18; Half Year Ended Michaelmas 1869 page 17;
    Half Year Ended Lady Day 1870, page 18; Half Year Ended Michaelmas 1870 page 17;
    Half Year ended Lady Day 1871 page 16; Half Year Ended Michaelmas 1871 page 17 
  18. George & Mary Holt 1871 England Census, Upper Church St, Farncombe, Godalming, Guildford, Surrey. Reference RG10; Piece: 814; Folio: 41; Page: 15 Ancestry.co.uk
  19. Abraham, Mary, Alfred, Naomi, Abraham, Eliza, Minnie, Fred, Fanny Steadman 1871 England Census, Upper Church Rd, Farncombe, Godalming, Guildford, Surrey. Reference RG10; Piece: 814; Folio: 41; Page: 14 Ancestry.co.uk
  20. Mary Holt 12 Nov 1878 Death England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1837-1915, December Quarter 1878, Guildford Vol 2a Page 53 Ancestry.co.uk
    Copy of death certificate from Government Register Office GRO.gov.uk
  21. Mary Holt Burial 15 Nov 1878 Surrey History Centre, Woking, Surrey, England; Surrey Church of England Parish Registers; Parish Burials, St John, Farncombe 1850-1882, Reference: FNC/4/1, page 85. Ancestry.co.uk
    Mary Holt 15 Nov 1878 Burial Nightingale Cemetery, Godalming; Book N2; Entry 1743; page 37; plot 1315. Godalming-tc.gov.uk/burial-records
  22. George Holt 1881 England Census, Guildford Union Workhouse, Surrey. Reference RG11; Piece: 778; Folio: 91; Page: 4 Ancestry.co.uk
  23. George Holt Death 2 Feb 1888. Surrey History Centre, Woking, Surrey, England; Surrey Guildford Union Workhouse Deaths 1887-1914, Reference: BG6/38/1, page 4.
    2 Feb 1888 Death England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1837-1915, March Quarter 1878, Guildford Vol 2a Page 63 Ancestry.co.uk
    Copy of death certificate from Government Register Office GRO.gov.uk
  24. George Holt Burial 6 Feb 1888 Surrey History Centre, Woking, Surrey, England; Surrey Church of England Parish Registers; Parish Burials, St John, Farncombe 1882-1904, Reference: FNC/4/2, page 28. Ancestry.co.uk
    George Holt 6 Feb 1888 Burial Nightingale Cemetery, Godalming; Book N3; Entry 2731; page 35; plot 1380. Godalming-tc.gov.uk/burial-records