Phoebe, minnie
& harriet hartnup

Subject Names :  Phoebe Hartnup          (b 1855 – d 1891)                  
                              Minnie Hartnup            (b 1874 – d 1950) 
                              Harriet Jane Hartnup   (b 1876 – d 1912)

Researcher :        Diann Arnfield

Why Phoebe Hartnup and her two daughters Minnie and Harriet found themselves in the Guildford Union Workhouse in April 1881 remains a mystery, with only Minnie going on to have a long family life outside of the workhouse.

Phoebe’s Story

Phoebe Ann Hartnup was born in 1855, the first child of James Hartnup, a sawyer, and Jane née Worsfold of Nutfield, near Redhill 1, 2, 3.  She was baptised at the local church in May that year.  

A sister Mary Jane was born two years later on New Year’s Eve 1856, but she only survived for 11 weeks, succumbing to bronchitis 4, 5.  

Phoebe’s father James had passed away from consumption (tuberculosis) just five weeks earlier, leaving Phoebe’s mother Jane a widow at the age of 24 6, 7.

In February 1860 Phoebe’s mother Jane gave birth to a son, Jesse Hylands, in Reigate 8.  The birth certificate intimated that Jane was married to Jesse junior’s father Jesse Hylands, a gardener, however no record of the marriage has been found.  The relationship did not last as by 1861 Jane was back living in Nutfield as Jane Hartnup, with her children 5-year-old Phoebe Hartnup and one-year-old Jesse H Hartnup 9. 

10 years later in 1871, 16-year-old Phoebe had left the family home and was working as a domestic servant for a carpenter and his family in St Pancras, London 10.  Her mother Jane was still in Nutfield where she was working as a live-in domestic servant.  Phoebe’s half-brother Jesse was a scholar boarding in Reigate 11, 12.

By 1874 Phoebe had returned to Redhill. On 7th September, the unmarried 19-year-old gave birth to a daughter, Minnie, in the Reigate Union Workhouse, situated in Earlswood Common, Redhill, which covered the village of Nutfield 13, 14.

Phoebe had a second daughter, Harriet Jane, on 13th January 1876, also in the Reigate Union Workhouse 15.  No details of either father were given.   

A short stay in Guildford for Phoebe and her daughters

Five years later the 1881 Census, taken on Sunday 3rd April, recorded 24-year-old domestic servant Phoebe with her children Minnie, 6, and Harriet, 4, as inmates of the Guildford Union Workhouse that night 16.

There are no existing records to shed any light as to why they were there, some 20 miles (32km) from Nutfield, nor has any link to Guildford been confirmed subsequently.  It is possible that one or more of them needed medical attention, requiring all three to be admitted for a short time to Guildford.  If they were in the Guildford Union Workhouse for any length of time, they would have been returned to the Reigate Union Workhouse in their home parish, but no admission or discharge records for Guildford or Reigate exist to confirm or otherwise 17.

Return to Reigate

Whatever the circumstances, they were back in their home parish by 1883 when Phoebe married James Smith in Reigate 18.  James was some 13 years older than her, a tanner born in Redhill 19. 

James and Phoebe went on to have three children – Alice in 1884, Frederick William in 1886, and Jesse in 1889 – step-siblings to Minnie and Harriet Jane 20.  

In the 1891 Census, James, Phoebe and the four youngest children Harriet Jane, Alice, Frederick William and Jesse were living in Grove Road, Redhill 21.   Phoebe’s eldest daughter Minnie, 16 was close by working as a domestic servant in South Nutfield 22.

Phoebe passed away six months later on 20th October 1891 at 17 Grove Road, age 36, in childbirth 23.

Following his wife’s death, James clearly struggled to look after his family, with himself, Alice and Jesse ending up as paupers in the Reigate Union Workhouse by 1901 24.  Frederick William had died in that workhouse of measles in 1893, age 7 25.  James probably remained in the workhouse for the rest of his life, passing away there in 1913 age 70 26.

Minnie Hartnup and Alice Smith – a shared life

Phoebe’s eldest daughter Minnie married newsagent George Henry Archer in Camden in February 1895 27.  She named her father on the marriage certificate as ‘James Hartnup (deceased)’ – the name of her grandfather, or a combination of her step-father’s first name and her own surname.  She was probably trying to avoid the stigma, as it was seen at that time, of having being born illegitimate.

Minnie and George, along with her half-sister Alice Smith, moved around north London before eventually settling at 19 Sunnyside Road, Islington, raising a family of seven children along the way 28, 29. 

Minnie’s husband George and her half-sister Alice, passed away there around 1937 30, 31.  Minnie remained at Sunnyside Road until her death in November 1950 31, 32.

Harriet Jane (Lillian/Lily/Levinia) Hartnup – a traumatic marriage  

Phoebe’s second daughter, Harriet Jane, also married in 1895.  As ‘Lillian Hariett Jane Hartnup’ her marriage to George Arthur Blunt took place in Redhill in June 33.  However, her life could not have been more different to that of her older sister Minnie and younger half-sister Alice.

‘Lily Blunt’, the name now used on most official records, and her husband George, a labourer, moved constantly around the Redhill area.  Their children were baptised in Merstham, Salfords, Horley and Bletchingley 34.

In early 1909, the family was living in Lower St John’s Road, Earlswood, Redhill, when George was charged with violently raping a 14-year-old girl who had been living in their house.  He was found guilty and sentenced to 18 months hard labour 35.  At his trial, the judge said George had ‘ruined the girl for life’.

The Blunt family, including the recently released George, was in St John’s Road when the 1911 Census was taken 36.  That Census, completed by George, said that his wife ‘Levenia’ had borne twelve children during their 16 years of marriage, of whom just three were still alive – Emma, Minnie and William.  Only seven children have been traced in records, so it is likely that the others were miscarried or stillborn.  This reasoning is based upon the cause of death recorded for their daughter Annie when she passed away age 4 months in the Reigate Union Infirmary in 1907, which was ‘congenital syphilis’ 37.

‘Lily Blunt’ died in the Reigate Union Infirmary on 4th March 1912 of ‘mitral heart disease’, age 36, although the death certificate noted her as 40 38.  Her husband George, now of Victoria Road, Redhill, was in attendance.

After his wife’s death, George and his children Emma, Minnie and William, moved to the Royston area of Hertfordshire, where George was originally from 39, 40, 41, 42.

Jesse Smith

Sometime after leaving the Reigate Union Workhouse in the early 1900s, Phoebe’s youngest child, Jesse Smith, went to live with Phoebe’s half-brother Jesse Hylands Hartnup.  In 1911 Jesse junior was living at 23 Garlands Road, Redhill, with Jesse Hartnup and his family 43.  Young Jesse, 22, was a grocer’s porter.

No record has been found to show what Jesse Smith’s role in World War 1 was, but at age 25 when the war broke out it seems certain that he enlisted or was called up.

After the war, Jesse was boarding in Redhill in 1921 with a Smith family from Sussex, though they were probably not closely related 44.  Living at Warwick Terrace, he was a warehouseman for a local J Sainsbury shop, which at that time sold fresh food and groceries 45.  He married Florence Fly in 1925, and their daughter Sheila was born in 1930 46, 47.

By 1939 Jesse was a warehouseman for Boots Chemists, living at 44 Stuart Road, Redhill 47. 

He died at East Surrey Hospital, Redhill, on 11th March 1956, age 66, the youngest and last child of Phoebe Ann Hartnup to pass away 48.

 

October 2022, updated October 2024

References

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

  1. Pheby Ann Hartnup Apr-May-Jun 1855 England & Wales Civil Registration Birth Index 1837-1915; Reigate, Surrey; vol 2a; page 117
  2. James Hartnup & Jane Worsfold 20 Sep 1853 Marriage Surrey History Centre, Woking, Surrey; Surrey Church of England Parish Registers; Nutfield, St Peter and St Paul, 1837-1924; ref P26/5/7
  3. Phoebe Ann Hartnup 27 May 1855 Baptism Surrey History Centre, Woking, Surrey; Surrey Church of England Parish Registers; Nutfield, St Peter and St Paul, 1848-1906; ref P26/5/8
  4. Mary Jane Hartnup 31 Dec 1856 England & Wales Civil Registration Birth Index 1837-1915; Reigate, Surrey; Jan-Feb-Mar 1857; vol 2a; page 116. Digital copy from General Register Office GRO.gov.uk
  5. Mary Jane Hartnup 20 Mar 1857 England & Wales Civil Registration Death Index 1837-1915; Reigate, Surrey; Jan-Feb-Mar 1857; vol 2a; page 86. Digital copy from General Register Office GRO.gov.uk
  6. James Hartnup 18 Feb 1857 England & Wales Civil Registration Death Index 1837-1915; East Grinstead, Surrey; Jan-Feb-Mar 1857; vol 2b; page 71. Digital copy from General Register Office GRO.gov.uk
  7. Jane Worsfold 24 Mar 1833 Baptism Surrey History Centre, Woking, Surrey; Surrey Church of England Parish Registers; Nutfield, St Peter and St Paul, 1813-1848; ref P26/5/4
  8. Jesse Hylands 23 Feb 1860 England & Wales Civil Registration Birth Index 1837-1915; Reigate, Surrey; Jan-Feb-Mar 1860; vol 2a; page 141. Digital copy from General Register Office GRO.gov.uk
  9. Richard, Ann, James, Matthew Worsfold; Jane, Phoebe, Jesse H Hartnup 1861 England Census; Nutfield, Surrey; Class RG 9; Piece 444; Folio 182; Page 16
  10. Phoebe Hartness sic 1871 England Census; St Pancras, London; Class RG 10; Piece 239; Folio 45; Page 19
  11. Jane Hartnup 1871 England Census; Claremont Green, Nutfield, Surrey; Class RG 10; Piece 835; Folio 77; Page 25
  12. Jesse Hartnup 1871 England Census; Garland Rd, Reigate Foreign, Surrey; Class RG 10; Piece 831; Folio 120; Page 36
  13. Minnie Hartnup 7 Sep 1874 England & Wales Civil Registration Birth Index 1837-1915; Reigate, Surrey; Jul-Aug-Sep 1874; vol 2a; page 160. Digital copy from General Register Office GRO.gov.uk
  14. Reigate, Surrey English Poor Law Unions Workhouses.org.uk
  15. Harriet Jane Hartnup 13 Jan 1876 England & Wales Civil Registration Birth Index 1837-1915; Reigate, Surrey; Jan-Feb-Mar 1876; vol 2a; page 170. Digital copy from General Register Office GRO.gov.uk
  16. Phoebe, Minnie, Harriet Hartnupp 1881 England Census; Guildford Union Workhouse, Stoke Next Guildford, Surrey; Class RG 11; Piece 778; Folio 91; Page 3
  17. The Settlement Act 1662 Poor Law History, The Old Poor Law. Workhouses.org.uk
  18. Phoebe Hartnup & James Smith 1883 Marriage England & Wales Civil Registration Marriage Index 1837-1915; Reigate, Surrey; Oct-Nov-Dec 1883; vol 2a; page 320.
  19. James, Phoebe, Alice, Frederick, Jesse Smith; Harriet J Hartnupp 1891 England Census; Grove Road, Reigate, Surrey; Class RG 12; Piece 578; Folio 79; Page 15
  20. Alice Smith 1884 England & Wales Civil Registration Birth Index 1837-1915; Reigate, Surrey; Oct-Nov-Dec 1884; vol 2a; page 164
    Frederick William Smith 1886 England & Wales Civil Registration Birth Index 1837-1915; Reigate, Surrey; Apr-May-Jun 1886; vol 2a; page 168
    Jesse Smith 1889 England & Wales Civil Registration Birth Index 1837-1915; Reigate, Surrey; Apr-May-Jun 1889; vol 2a; page 173
  21. James, Phoebe, Alice, Frederick W, Jesse Smith; Harriet J Hartnupp 1891 England Census; Grove Road, Reigate, Surrey; Class RG 12; Piece 578; Folio 79; Page 15
  22. Minnie Hartrusp (sic) 1891 England Census; 1 Weymouth Villa, South Nutfield, Surrey; Class RG 12; Piece 581; Folio 12; Page 18
  23. Phoebe Smith 20 Oct 1891 England & Wales Civil Registration Death Index 1837-1915; Reigate, Surrey; Oct-Nov-Dec 1891; vol 2a; page 113. Digital copy from General Register Office GRO.gov.uk
  24. James Smith 1901 England Census; Reigate Union Workhouse, Reigate, Surrey; Class RG 13; Piece 628; Folio 93; Page 7
    Alice Smith 1901 England Census; Reigate Union Workhouse, Reigate, Surrey; Class RG 13; Piece 628; Folio 93; Page 4
    Jesse Smith 1901 England Census; Reigate Union Workhouse, Reigate, Surrey; Class RG 13; Piece 628; Folio 93; Page 5
  25. Frederick William Smith 14 Jun 1893 England & Wales Civil Registration Death Index 1837-1915; Reigate, Surrey; Apr-May-Jun 1893; vol 2a; page 110. Digital copy from General Register Office GRO.gov.uk
  26. James Smith 1913 England & Wales Civil Registration Death Index 1837-1915; Reigate, Surrey; Jan-Feb-Mar 1913; vol 2a; page 297
  27. Minnie Hartnup & George Henry Archer 3 Feb 1895 Marriage London Metropolitan Archives; London Church of England Parish Registers; Camden, St Andrew Haverstock Hill, 1887-1904; ref P90/AND/008
  28. George H, Minnie, George A, David Archer 1901 England Census; 96 High Street, Camden Town, London; Class RG 13; Piece 147; Folio 78; Page 5
    George Henry, Minnie, George Abbott, David, Fredrick, Annie, Beatrice, Mable Archer; Alice Smith 1911 England Census; 148 Elthorne Rd, Upper Holloway, Islington, London; Class RG 14; Piece 808
    George Henry, Minnie Archer 1919 19 Sunnyside Rd, Islington London Metropolitan Archives; Electoral Registers, Islington Tollington Ward
    George Henry, Minnie, Frederick, Annie Minnie, Beatrice Nelly, Doris, Mable Archer; Alice Smith 1921 England Census; 19 Sunnyside Road, Islington, London; Class RG 15; Piece 00873; Schedule 277 FidMyPast.co.uk
  29. George Albert Archer Apr-May-Jun 1895; Pancras, London; vol 1B, page 174
    David Archer Jul-Aug-Sep 1900; Pancras, London; vol 1B, page 115
    Annie Minnie Archer Apr-May-Jun 1903; St Pancras, London; vol 1B, page 107
    Beatrice Nellie Archer Oct-Nov-Dec 1905; St Pancras, London; vol 1B, page 91
    Frederick Archer Oct-Nov-Dec 1907; Islington, London; vol 1B, page 174
    Mabel Agnes Alice Archer Jan-Feb-Mar 1911; Islington, London; vol 1B, page 177
    Doris Archer Jan-Feb-Mar 1917; Islington, London; vol 1B, page 310
    England & Wales Civil Registration Birth Index 1837-1915;  
  30. George H Archer 1937 England & Wales Civil Registration Death Index; Apr-May-Jun; Islington, London; vol 1B, page 245
  31. Beatrice Emma, Frederick, George Henry, Minnie Archer; Alice Smith 1935
    19 Sunnyside Rd, Islington London Metropolitan Archives; Electoral Registers, Islington Tollington Ward
    Beatrice Emma, Frederick, George Henry, Minnie Archer (no Alice Smith) 1937 19 Sunnyside Rd, Islington London Metropolitan Archives; Electoral Registers, Islington Tollington Ward
    Minnie, Doris, Frederick, Beatrice E Archer 1939 England & Wales Register; 19 Sunnyside Road, Islington, London; Reference RG 101/265J (Alice Smith not found)
  32. Minnie Archer 14 Nov 1950 death, 14 Dec 1950 Probate Principal Probate Registry, London; Calendar of the Grants of Probate and Letters of Administration made in the Probate Registries of the High Court of Justice in England; National Probate Calendar; Index of Wills and Administrations (1858-1995)
  33. Lillian Harriet Jane Hartnup & George Archer Blunt 2 Jun 1895 Marriage Surrey History Cnetre, Woking; Surrey Church of England Parish Registers; Reigate, St Mary, 1889-1898; ref P49/1/20
  34. Lavinia Elizabeth Ellen Blunt 1898 England & Wales Civil Registration Birth Index; Jul-Aug-Sep; Reigate, Surrey; vol 2A, page 189
    George Charles Blunt 14 February 1900 Baptism (born 2 February 1900) Surrey History Centre, Woking; Surrey Church of England Parish Registers; South Merstham, All Saints, 1898-1917; ref 7653/1/1
    Emma Annie Blunt 5 March 1901 (born 18 February 1900) Baptism Surrey History Centre, Woking; Surrey Church of England Parish Registers; Merstham, St Katharine, 1843-1902; ref P23/1/6
    William Archer Blunt 30 December 1906 Baptism (born 1904) Surrey History Centre, Woking; Surrey Church of England Parish Registers; Salfords, Christ the King, 1906-1917; ref 7880/1/1
    Annie Elizabeth Blunt 28 April 1907 (born 6 April 1907) Baptism Surrey History Centre, Woking; Surrey Church of England Parish Registers; Salfords, Christ the King, 1906-1917; ref 7880/1/1 (also baptised same day at Horley, St Bartholomew, ref 4215/1)
    Emma Annie & Minnie Miriam Blunt 12 May 1907 Baptism (Emma Annie born 18 February 1901; Minnie Miriam born 2 August 1902) Surrey History Centre, Woking; Surrey Church of England Parish Registers; Salfords, Christ the King, 1906-1917; ref 7880/1/1
    Phyllis Eva Blunt 1910 England & Wales Civil Registration Birth Index; Oct-Nov-Dec; Reigate, Surrey; vol 2A, page 190
    Phyllis Evelyn Blunt 6 July 1910 Baptism Surrey History Centre, Woking; Surrey Church of England Parish Registers; Bletchingley, St Mary, 1906-1917; ref 3925/1/8
  35. Serious Charge 23 January 1909 Dorking & Leatherhead Advertiser, page 7
    A Well-Deserved Sentence 6 March 1909 Dorking & Leatherhead Advertiser, page 5
    British Newspaper Archive / FindMyPast.co.u
  36. George Archer, Levenia, Emma, Miriam, William Blunt 1911 England Census; 68 St John’s Rd, Earlswood, Redhill, Surrey; Class RG 14; Piece 3226
  37. Levina Elizabeth Ellen Blunt 1899 England & Wales Civil Registration Death Index; Jan-Feb-Mar; Reigate, Surrey; vol 2A, page 119
    George Charles Blunt 1900 England & Wales Civil Registration Death Index; Jan-Feb-Mar; Reigate, Surrey; vol 2A, page 166
    Annie Blunt 25 August 1907 England & Wales Civil Registration Death Index; Jul-Aug-Sep; Reigate, Surrey; vol 2A, page 108.  Digital copy from General Register Office GRO.gov.uk
    Phyllis Eva Blunt 1910 England & Wales Civil Registration Death Index; Jul-Aug-Sep; Reigate, Surrey; vol 2A, page 113.
  38. Lily Blunt 4 March 1912 England & Wales Civil Registration Death Index; Jan-Feb-Mar; Reigate, Surrey; vol 2A, page 296. Digital copy from General Register Office GRO.gov.uk
  39. George Archer, Ellen Blunt 1921 England Census; 2 York Terrace, Royston, Hertfordshire; Class RG 15; Piece 07066; Schedule 169 co.uk
  40. Emma A Blunt & Albert L Cole 1921 England & Wales Civil Marriage Index; Apr-May-Jun; Bromley, Kent; vol 2A, page 1284
    Joyce Lilian Elizabeth Cole 1921 England & Wales Civil Birth Index; Jan-Feb-Mar; Royston, Hertfordshire; vol 3A, page 1126
    Albert L, Emma A, Phyllis E, Stanley E Cole (+ 3 other children redacted) 1939 England & Wales Register; 16 Briary Lane, Royston, Hertfordshire; Reference RG 101/1624I
  41. Minnie M Blunt & George F Burton 1927 England & Wales Civil Marriage Index; Jan-Feb-Mar; Hitchin, Hertfordshire; vol 3A, page 1076
    Minnie, Joy, George A, George F Burton 1939 England & Wales Register; 46 Gaping Lane, Hitchin, Hertfordshire; Reference RG 101/1615A
  42. William A Blunt & Elizabeth M Cole 1928 England & Wales Civil Marriage Index; Apr-May-Jun; Royston, Hertfordshire; vol 3A, page 1836
    William A, Elizabeth M, Blunt 1939 England & Wales Register; 20 Stake Piece Rd, Royston, Hertfordshire; Reference RG 101/16241
  43. Jesse, Amy, Beatrice, Cecil Hartnup; Jesse Smith 1911 England Census; 23 Garlands Rd, Redhill, Surrey; Class RG 14; Piece 3225
  44. William, Edith, Gladys, Joan Smith; Jesse Smith 1921 England Census; 11 Warwick Terrace, Redhill, Surrey; Class RG 15; Piece 03319; Schedule 182 FindMyPast.co.uk
  45. Sainsbury’s Wikipedia.org
  46. Jesse Smith & Florence EE Fly 1925 England & Wales Civil Marriage Index; Apr-May-Jun; Reigate, Surrey; vol 2A, page 535
  47. Sheila J Smith 1930 England & Wales Civil Birth Index; Oct-Nov-Dec; Reigate, Surrey; vol 2A, page 353
  48. Jesse, Florence EE Smith 1939 England & Wales Register; 44 Stuart Rd, Reigate, Surrey; Reference RG 101/1918E
  49. Jesse Smith 11 Mar 1956 death, 5 July 1956 Administration Principal Probate Registry, London; Calendar of the Grants of Probate and Letters of Administration made in the Probate Registries of the High Court of Justice in England; National Probate Calendar; Index of Wills and Administrations (1858-1995)
    Funeral of Mr J Smith 23 March 1956 Surrey Mirror, page 8 British Newspaper Archive / FindMyPast.co.uk