1 St John Street

The Sealys

Alfred William Sealy was born in Tetbury in September quarter 1876.  He was the son of Alfred Thomas Sealy, an ironmonger, and his wife, Ellen.  In 1881 the family were living in Church Street, Tetbury. Alfred Thomas was aged 40, Ellen aged 33 and they had George Edward aged 3 and James Sparks aged 2.   Alfred Thomas died in 1883 aged 42.  In 1891 Ellen was living in Back Lane, Tetbury.  She was living on her own means with Alfred William, a printers apprentice aged 14 and his brother James.

In 1899 Alfred married for the first time.  His wife was Mary Matilda Harris, the daughter of Charles Harris, a labourer.  They married in Thornbury St Mary's. In 1901 census they were living at 12 Paul Street, St Pauls, Bristol - they were sharing the house with a widow Lydia H Bailey who was working as a "paper boy" aged 55.  Alfred was described as a Printer and Refreshment Room Keeper. He was aged 24, Mary was 34 born in Stanton Drew.  Living with them was their son, George Alfred Charles aged 10 months, Alfred's brother, James, a general labourer, two boarders and a servant, Ella W Gough aged 17 born in Thornbury.

It would appear that Alfred and Mary had a least two more children.  Gilbert Hughes Harris was born in 1903 and Sarah Ellen Mary was born in 1906.

There is a possibility that the family lived for some time in Berkeley.  Their son, George was admitted to the Council School in 1903 when his guardian was given as his uncle George Hughes living in St John Street.  He left in same year to go to Berkeley.

Mary died on 25 January 1913 aged 46 years.   She was buried in the same grave as her two sisters, Sarah Ann who had married George Hughes and Selina.  Sarah Ann had died 2 days before Mary.

During the First World War, Alfred served with the Army.  He was "with his Regiment at Northampton" when his sister-in-law, Selina, died in March 1915.

Alfred married for a second time - this time to Alice May.  We are not sure when the marriage took place - but Alice and Alfred were together in 1 St John Street in the 1925 electoral register.  We cannot be sure of Alice May's maiden name, but there is good chance it was 'Watts'.  Looking through the few 'Alice Mays' born in Thornbury in 1893/4, there was an Alice May Watts born in June quarter 1893 who was the daughter of George Nathaniel Watts - normally we wouldn't be able to link any particular name, but we noticed that on 22 May 1925, Alfred's daughter from his first marriage, Sarah, married Edward George Watts, coal merchant and son of George Nathaniel Watts, haulier of Morton. Edward was aged 29 and Sarah aged 20.  Thus there is a good chance that Alfred's second wife had a brother who was also her son-in-law!

Alice died on 13 February 1940 aged 46 years.  Alfred married his third wife on the 15th March 1941.  She was Charlotte May E Eacott, the daughter of Philip Edward Eacott, a labourer.  At the time of their marriage, Alfred was aged 64 and Charlotte aged 38.

Alfred worked as a printer for Prewetts and Francis White thought there was a connection with the Horder family.

Alfred died on July 11th 1954 aged 78 years.  His widow, Charlotte, continued to live at number 1 for another 34 years.  The electoral registers shows that a Mary E Phipps was also living with Charlotte in 1954 and 1957.  We believe Mary was a sister of Charlotte's who came from Oldbury.

In 1988 Charlotte sold the house and moved into Quaker Court, the sheltered housing just across the road from number1. She died there on June 22 1992 aged 89 years.

This page was last updated: 23/06/2008