10 Pullins Green

Thomas Underhill

The 1871 census shows that 10 Pullins Green was occupied by Thomas Underhill, born in 1845, the son of John Underhill and Louisa Hopkins of Kington. 

In the  1851 census the family were living in Kington.  John was an agricultural labourer.  Elizabeth Hopkins, his grandmother was living next door - she was a gardener's assistant aged 69 years!  Ten years later they were still in Kington.  The 1861 census shows Thomas had moved to the house next door to live with his grandmother, Elizabeth Hopkins.  He was a carpenter aged 16.  His parents were still living in the same house.

By 1871 Thomas had married and moved to live in Pullins Green, Thornbury.   His wife, Anne was aged 24 and born in Bridgend, Wales.  (It is interesting to see that in the later censuses she gave her birthplace as Thornbury).  Thomas and Anne had three children: John aged 4, Lily aged 2, and Elizabeth aged 1.   Eventually the family grew to a total of eleven children.

The 1881 census shows Florence aged 8 years, Rosina aged 6 years, Frederick aged 4 years, Matilda aged 3 years, and Kate aged 1 year in addition to John, Lily and Elizabeth.  Later they had two more children Louisa born 1882 and Alice in 1888.  Despite the cramped conditions (the house only had four rooms altogether) the children seemed to thrive.  Only two, Alice, the last born, and Henry, who had been born in 1875, died in infancy.

In 1891, Thomas and Anne were still living in Pullins Green.  By this time only four children were living at home.  These were; Frederick, an errand boy, Matilda, Kate and Louisa.  In 1901, Thomas and Anne were living with Kate, a dressmaker aged 22 and Louisa who was described as 'at home' aged 18.

Thomas died in 1911 aged 66 years.  Ann died in 1920 aged 73 years.  Following their deaths, their daughter continued living in the house for a short time.

Of the other children, we know that:

Frederick moved to Horninglow near Burton on Trent where he worked as a railway brakeman.

John was a signalman on the railway and in 1895 he married Jessie Lamont, daughter of blacksmith John Lamont.   Jessie was a domestic servant working for Mrs Geraldine Mundy at Thornbury House and Mrs Mundy attended the wedding service.   In 1901 they were living in Great Oakley, Northamptonshire.

Rosina (Rose) was born in Thornbury on 20th May 1873.  She was baptised on 6th July 1873.  On 23rd November 1895, she married Alfred Thomas Harvey.  Alfred was a blacksmith, the son of mason Henry Harvey from Old Down.  By 1901 they were living in Cheltenham.  We understand that Rosina became known as 'Granny Chicken'  by younger members of the family.  Alfred died in Cheltenham on 6th September 1941 and Rosina died there in 1955.  The photo on the right is of Rosina.

Lily married a groom by the name of John Thorne who was born in Neath, Glamorgan.  By 1901 they were living in Basingstoke where John was recorded as a coachman.

Matilda married Horatio James Stephens in Bristol in 1900.  Their family continue to live in this area.

Click here to see details of the other occupants of the house.

This page was last updated: 15/12/2009