JAMES TICKNOR (Tickner)

Subject Name :  James Ticknor (Tickner) (b 1832 – d 1890)

Researcher : Diann Arnfield

James Ticknor (Tickner), head of his family at just 15, faced a constant struggle, narrowly avoiding imprisonment.  Later, the premature death of his wife saw him again battling to look after his own children before being forced into the Guildford Union Workhouse.

James was born in 1832 in Godalming, Surrey, and baptised on 29th July at St Peter & St Paul’s Church, Godalming 1. His parents, William and Sophia Tickner née Knight had married in Godalming earlier that year on 2nd April 2, and went on to have three more children – Sarah Elizabeth, who was baptised in 1834 but died less than two years later 3, 4, Harriet in 1836 5, and Mary in 1837 6. The family were living in Ockford Lane, Godalming.

James’s father William was a framework knitter, a skilled trade which involved making clothing such as stockings.  Once a well-established industry in Godalming, it went into decline in the early nineteenth century, and by 1833, half the frames in Godalming were standing idle 7.  However, William seemed to have remained in work as the 1841 Census showed the 27-year-old as a ‘stocking maker’, living with his wife Sophia, 30, and their children James, 9, Harriet, 6 and Mary, 4, in Ockford Road 8.  James’ mother Sophia was actually much older than 30, as her baptism and death records showed that she would have been in her mid 40s in 1841 9,10. 

Sadly, William passed away in 1847 at the early age of 35 from ‘convulsions’ 11.  He had also suffered from gout for three years. He was buried on the 19th May at the St Peter and St Paul’s Church where James’s sister Sarah had been buried eleven years earlier 12. 

15-year-old James therefore found himself as the main breadwinner for the household.  This must have been a tough time for him, his mother and two younger sisters.  On 25th September 1847, the Guildford Poor Law Union Minute Books recorded that ‘Mr Colebrook – Relieving Officer for Godalming – Paid Outdoor Relief to:- James Tickner £1 6s 7d’ 13.  ‘Outdoor’ meant that James was not living in the Guildford Union Workhouse but needed help to get by to remain out of the institution. 

Things became worse on 21st December 1850 when James, now 18, was committed for stealing a piece of iron in Godalming 14.

The case was adjourned as the prosecutor Edmund Hammond was too ill to attend, so James was held in the County Gaol in Newington for over a month until 3rd February 1851 15.

Fortunately for James, he was released by ‘Bill not Found’, meaning that there was insufficient evidence to convict him. The ‘N’ next to his age on documentation indicated that he could not read or write.

A couple of months later, the 1851 Census showed James, aged 19, lodging in Mill Lane, Godalming with his mother Sophia, 56, and youngest sister Mary, 14 16.  Both his mother and sister had ‘no occupation’ so the responsibility of earning money was still purely down to James. He was a ‘Pit Labourer’, so he was probably working at one of the sand pits in the area 17.

On 3rd September 1859, James married spinster Elizabeth Chalcraft at the St Peter and St Paul Church 18.  Both were of ‘full age’, making their marks on the certificate as they were unable to sign their names.  James was now stepfather to Elizabeth’s 7-year-old daughter, Jane 19.

Within a year, James and Elizabeth had a child of their own, George, born on 26th June 1860 and baptised at the same church on 12th August 20, 21. They were living in Ockford Lane/Road (the name appears to be interchangeable) at the time of the baptism, but had moved to London Road when the 1861 Census was taken in April 1861 22.

The family then seems to have settled for a while back in Ockford Lane, as this was the address given on the baptisms of their second son James (31st August 1862) and third Alfred (2nd September 1866) 23, 24.  The one constant was the St Peter and St Paul’s Church.

Misfortune had come to the young family when, before the birth of Alfred, the Guildford Union Accounts Book for September 1865 to March 1866 noted that 34-year-old James had suffered an unspecified accident and had received ‘outdoor relief’ 25.  This funding, although relatively small, would have enabled them to remain out of the workhouse, and paid for him to receive medical assistance.

The following year saw James having to seek outdoor relief again, this time for ‘wife & children fever’ 26.

It appears that by 1871 the family’s fortunes had improved somewhat as labourer James, 38, was no longer the only source of income 27.  Still living in Ockford Road, the Census showed that wife Elizabeth (40) and stepdaughter Jane (18) were both employed as ‘rag cutters’ in the paper making industry.  They would have cut up rags into small pieces for other workers to beat into a pulp for one of the nearby paper mills on the River Wey 28.  Although they would not have earnt much money from this, it was enough to keep them and the three children George (10), James (8) and Alfred (5) out of the workhouse for the time being.

In April 1872, James and Elizabeth had their fourth son, Walter, but he died just three weeks later at Ockford Road of ‘immaturity and debility’ and was buried at Godalming’s Nightingale Cemetery on 26th April 29, 30.

Sadly, the day after Walter’s funeral, Elizabeth herself passed away from tuberculosis age 42 and was buried at the same cemetery 31, 32. This left James with the three boys – George, James and Alfred – to care for.  His stepdaughter Jane had married in January that year and he may well have asked if she could help look after his children so that he could continue working 33.

It was not long, though, before James again sought outdoor relief, and on 2nd December 1876 he received the sum of 16 shillings 34.

There are no records to show when James and possibly his sons went into the Guildford Union Workhouse, but his eldest son George passed away there of phthisis (tuberculosis) on 4th September 1877, age just 17 35.

The 1881 Census confirmed that James was a Workhouse inmate, aged 48, a widowed agricultural labourer 36.  His two sons James and Alfred were no longer with him.  James, 19, was a hospital patient at the North Road General Infirmary, Hertford, Hertfordshire 37.  No mention was given of his condition, but his occupation was noted as a groom.  Unfortunately, no further records for him have been found.  Meanwhile Alfred, 15, was living at Eashing, Godalming and working at a paper mill 38.

James’ widowed stepdaughter Jane Mitchell was also in the Workhouse in 1881 with two young children 39.

Whether James senior remained in the Guildford Union after the 1881 Census is not known, but quite likely as on the 2nd January 1890, he passed away there age 58 from heart disease and ‘syncope’ (fainting) 40.  He was buried on the 6th January in the Nightingale Cemetery 41. 

December 2019, updated March 2024

References

Note :  the source is Ancestry.co.uk unless otherwise stated

  1. James Tickner 29 Jul 1832 Surrey England, Church of England Baptisms, Godalming St Peter and St Paul 1813-1833; ref God/4/1; page 281; entry 2244.
  2. William Tickner & Sophia Knight 2 Apr 1832 Marriage Surrey Church of England Parish Registers; Godalming, St Peter and St Paul 1813-1837; reference God/2/3, page 191.
  3. Sarah Elizabeth Tickner 15 Jun 1834 Surrey England, Church of England Baptisms, Godalming St Peter and St Paul 1833-1877; ref God/4/2; page 11; entry 83.
  4. Sarah Tickner 23 Jan 1836 Surrey England, Church of England Burials, Godalming St Peter and St Paul 1813-1842; ref God/4/2; page 228; entry 1184.
  5. Harriet Tickner 24 Jan 1836 Surrey England, Church of England Baptisms, Godalming St Peter and St Paul 1833-1877; ref God/4/2; page 35; entry 280.
  6. Mary Tickner 5 Jul 1837 Surrey England, Church of England Baptisms, Godalming St Peter and St Paul 1833-1877; ref God/4/2; page 56; entry 445.
  7. The Godalming Framework Knitting Industry Surrey History Vol IV No I, Surrey Local History Council 1989/90, published by Phillimore and Co, Chichester
  8. William, Sophia, James, Harriet, Mary Tickner 1841 Census Return for Godalming, Guildford, Surrey. Public Record Office reference HO 107, piece 1073, folio 8, book 3,
    page 11.
  9. Sophia Knight 31 Aug 1794 Surrey England, Church of England Baptisms, Godalming St Peter and St Paul 1793-1812; ref God/1/5.
  10. Sophia Tickner (age at death 69) 1867 Jan-Feb-Mar England and Wales Civil Registration Death Index 1837-1915, Guildford, Surrey, volume 2A, page 40.
  11. William Tickner 14 Feb 1813 Surrey England, Church of England Baptisms, Godalming St Peter and St Paul 1813-1833; ref God/4/1; page 1; entry 7.
    William Tickner 15 May 1847 Jan-Feb-Mar England and Wales Civil Registration Death Index 1837-1915, Guildford, Surrey, volume 4, page 152.
    Copy original certificate from General Register Office GRO.gov.uk
  12. William Tickner 19 May 1847 Surrey England, Church of England Burials, Godalming St Peter and St Paul 1842-1880; ref GOD/5/2; page 56; entry 447.
  13. James Tickner 25 Sep 1847 Guildford Poor Law Union Minute Books 1836–1918), reference BG6/11/7, page 39. Surrey History Centre, Woking, Surrey.
  14. James Tickner Quarter Session 31 Dec 1850 Surrey, England, Calendar of Prisoners 1848–1902. Surrey Sessions and Assizes 1848-1880; Newington, Surrey; Ref QS3/4/1.
  15. James Tickner Quarter Session 3 Feb 1851 Surrey, England, Calendar of Prisoners 1848–1902. Surrey Sessions and Assizes 1848-1880; Newington, Surrey; Ref QS3/4/1.
  16. Sophia, James, Mary Tickner 1851 Census Return for Godalming, Guildford, Surrey. Public Record Office reference HO 107, piece 1594, folio 733, page 53.
  17. Historic Development, Godalming Crownpits Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan, Waverley Borough Council Waverley.gov.uk
  18. James Ticknor & Elizabeth Chalcraft 3 Sep 1859 Marriage Surrey Church of England Parish Registers; Godalming, St Peter and St Paul 1851-1875; reference God/2/5,
    page 115.
  19. Jane Chalcraft 1852 Jul-Aug-Sep England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915; Guildford, Surrey; volume 2a; page 41.
  20. George Tickner 26 Jun 1860 Jul-Aug-Sep England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915; Guildford, Surrey; volume 2a; page 53.
  21. George Ticknor 12 Aug 1860 Surrey England, Church of England Baptisms, Godalming St Peter and St Paul 1833-1877; ref God/4/2; page 69; entry 550.
  22. James, Elizabeth, Jane, George Tickner 1861 England & Wales Census Return for Godalming, Guildford, Surrey. Public Record Office Class: RG9; Piece: 429; Folio: 57; Page: 66.
  23. James Ticknor 31 Aug 1862 Surrey England, Church of England Baptisms, Godalming St Peter and St Paul 1833-1877; ref God/4/2; page 90; entry 719.
  24. Alfred Ticknor 2 Sep 1866 Baptism Surrey Church of England Parish Registers; Godalming, St Peter and St Paul 1833-1877; reference God/4/2, page 130, entry 1035.
  25. James Tickner Lady Day 1866 (Sep 1865-Mar 1866) Outdoor Relief, Guildford Poor Law Union Half Yearly Accounts 1864–1871; ref BG6/33/1. Surrey History Centre, Woking
  26. James Tickner Lady Day 1867 (Sep 1866-Mar 1867) Outdoor Relief, Guildford Poor Law Union Half Yearly Accounts 1864–1871; ref BG6/33/1. Surrey History Centre, Woking
  27. James, Elizabeth, Jane, George, James, Alfred Tickner 1871 England & Wales Census Return for Godalming, Guildford, Surrey. Public Record Office Class: RG10; Piece: 814; Folio: 108; Page: 68.
  28. Rag Cutter Dictionary of Old Occupations FamilyResearcher.co.uk
  29. Walter Tickner 24 Apr 1872 Apr-May-Jun England and Wales Civil Registration Death Index 1837-1915, Guildford, Surrey, volume 2A, page 46.
    Copy original certificate from General Register Office GRO.gov.uk
  30. Walter Tickner 26 Apr 1872 Burial Nightingale Cemetery, Godalming, Surrey. Nightingale and Eashing Cemetery Burial Records 1857-2022, reference N2/1116, page 5, plot 1662. Godalming-tc.gov.uk
  31. Elizabeth Tickner 27 Apr 1872 Apr-May-Jun, England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1837-1915, Guildford Surrey, vol 2a, page 46. Ancestry.co.uk
    Copy of original certificate from General Register Office GRO.gov.uk
  32. Elizabeth Tickner 1 May 1872 Burial Nightingale Cemetery, Godalming, Surrey. Nightingale and Eashing Cemetery Burial Records 1857-2021, reference N2/1118, page 5, plot 1332.  Godalming-tc.gov.uk
  33. Jane Chalcraft & William Mitchel 7 Jan 1872 Marriage Surrey Church of England Parish Registers; Shackleford, St Mary 1866-2010; reference 9453/1, page 8.
  34. James Tickner 2 Dec 1876. Guildford Poor Law Union Minute Books 1836–1918; ref BG6/11/19, page 35. Surrey History Centre, Woking
  35. George Tickner 4 Sep 1877 Jul-Aug-Sep, England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1837-1915, Guildford Surrey, vol 2a, page 40.
    Copy of original certificate from General Register Office GRO.gov.uk
  36. James Tickner 1881 England & Wales Census Return for Guildford Union Workhouse, Stoke, Guildford, Surrey. Public Record Office Class: RG11; Piece: 778; Folio: 91; Page: 3.
  37. James Tickner (son) 1881 England & Wales Census Return for North Road General Infirmary, Hertford St Andrew, Hertfordshire. Public Record Office Class: RG11; Piece: 1425; Folio: 36; Page: 32.
  38. Alfred Tickner 1881 England & Wales Census Return for Eashing, Godalming, Surrey. Public Record Office Class: RG11; Piece: 779; Folio: 6; Page: 6.
  39. Jane Mitchell 1881 England & Wales Census Return for Guildford Union Workhouse, Stoke, Guildford, Surrey. Public Record Office Class: RG11; Piece: 778; Folio: 91; Page: 3.
  40. James Tickner 2 Jan 1890 Oct-Nov-Dec, England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1837-1915, Guildford Surrey, vol 2a, page 61.
    Copy of original certificate from General Register Office GRO.gov.uk
  41. James Tickner 6 Jan 1890 Burial Nightingale Cemetery, Godalming, Surrey. Nightingale and Eashing Cemetery Burial Records 1857-2021, reference N3/2922, page 45, plot 1463.  Godalming-tc.gov.uk