The Holley family

Frederick John Holley was born in Puriton, Somerset about 1868.  The 1871 census shows him living in Puriton with Jean Gibbs, an annuitant aged 86 born in Stogursey, Ann Holly a widowed grocer aged 46 born in Puriton and Susannah Maria Holley an unmarried dressmaker aged 24 born in Shapwick.  We had initially assumed that Frederick was the son of Susannah Maria, but the 1881 census shows Frederick living in Puriton with his mother, Ann a grocer aged 56.  Further research discovered Ann was the daughter of Jean Gibbs and she had married Isaac Holly in the Bridgewater area in June quarter 1860.  Isaac died in December quarter 1860 aged 40.

Frederick married Hannah Myers in Bridgewater in December quarter 1891.  Hannah was born in Bridgewater about 1869. 

They had children, Bessie Ellen (known as Nellie) born in Bristol in 1896, Beatrice Annie born in Thornbury on 11th June 1898, and Frederick George born in Thornbury in 1900 and Wilfred Herbert was born in 1905.  Nellie died in 1902 aged 6 years.

When Frederick and Hannah moved to Thornbury they appear to have lived first the house we now know as 4 Pullins Green.  They were shown as living there in the 1901 census when Frederick was a baker and confectioner, presumably employed by English's in St John Street.

We know that the Holley family moved from Pullins Green to number 6 Crispin Lane.   We are not sure when this happened but from the Council School records it appears to be between 1902 when the family were still living in St John Street (aka Pullins Green) and 1905 when they are shown in the school records and the electoral register as being in "Mutton Lane" which is another name for Crispin Lane.  They were still living in 'Mutton Lane' at the time of the 1926 Rate Book.

The photo on the right shows the Holley family.  We know from other sources that Fred was a member of the Thornbury Brotherhood, a men's social club associated with the Baptist Church and a member of the Castle Cricket Club.  We have seen one report of a dinner of the cricket club in which Fred recited 'An Absent-minded Beggar'.  In another concert he presented 'A Humorous Recital in Somerset Dialect'

Frederick died in 1928 aged 59 years.  After Frederick's death, Hannah went to live with her daughter, Beatrice Annie and her husband, Ernest Frank Biddle in their house at 21 Pullins Green.  She is shown in the electoral registers as living with them in 1935 through to 1954.  Hannah died in Thornbury hospital on 15th January 1955 aged 85.

Wilfred Holley - the son of Frederick and Hannah seemed to follow in his father's footsteps.  We have  seen an account of a funeral of a Robert Perkins in 1918 in which Wilfred was one of the mourners.  Robert Perkins was also employed as a baker and confectioner at English's bakery in St John Street.

Beatrice Annie - was educated at the Council School before being awarded a free place at the Grammar School.  She was admitted to the school on 19th September 1909 and remained there for 6 years.  When she left on 28th June 1916 she had achieved Cambridge Junior exam in July 1914, Cambridge Senior exam in July 1915 and supplementary qualifications in George in December 1915 and History in July 1916.

  This page was last updated: 04/06/2011