15 St John Street

William Young Sainsbury

William was born in 1841, the son of John Sainsbury (Junior) and his wife Elizabeth.  In 1851 they had been running a farm of 200 acres in Tytherington.  By 1861 William had become a farmer and was helping his widowed mother run the farm of 188 acres (which is now referred to as 'Edwards Farm').

We are not sure what led William to quit farming and leave Tytherington.  He was married in Gloucester in 1864 to Elizabeth Hannah Drew.  After the marriage they seemed to settle in Thornbury where their son, Albert Edward was born in 1865.   Albert's baptism record dated 5th August 1865 shows that William had become a Relieving Officer.  A daughter, Florence Emily was baptised on 1st May 1867.  An 1867 trade directory shows that William was living in St John Street.

The 1871 census shows the family were living in 15 St John Street.  The house was occupied by William Young Sainsbury again shown as a relieving officer aged 29 and his wife, Elizabeth Hannah aged 28, both of whom were born in Tytherington.  They had two children: Albert Edward aged 5 and Florence Emily aged 3, both born in Thornbury.

A Relieving Officer was employed by the Board of Guardians to receive applications for poor relief, to make payments approved by the Board, and to issue orders to admit people to the workhouse.  His full title was 'Relieving & Vaccination officer (No.1 District, Thornbury Union), Collector to the Guardians and School Attendance Inquiry Officer'.

The relieving officer had to keep detailed accounts of all money and material given in out door relief. The account had to be authenticated by the clerk and approved by the Board of Guardians. He was expected to reside in the relief district to which he was appointed "devoting his full time to the performance of the duties of his office." This in effect meant that he could not have any other trade, profession or business. The Poor Law Commissioners were trying to prevent a situation arising where the relieving officer’s objectivity and partiality could be compromised by customers or clients attempting to "conciliate his favour." They believed that the relieving officer should possess the same qualities as a policeman, "he ought to possess firmness of mind, so as to be enabled in the discharge of his duty to resist intimidation from whatever quarter it might come."

In 1881 William and Elizabeth were still living in house in St John Street.  They now had one extra child, William Young born in 1872 (baptised on 13 November 1872).

In 1889, William and Elizabeth's daughter,  Florence Emily married John Howell Hosgood, an engineer from Barry, South Wales.  They moved away to Merthyr Dovan , near Barry. 

By 1891 the rest of the family had moved to The Coombe, the imposing detached house built in Gloucester Road, opposite the Workhouse.   Albert Edward, now aged 25, had become a saddle and harness maker.  William (Junior) had become an accountant.

By 1901 William and Elizabeth were living alone at The Coombe, except for one servant, Sarah A Riddle aged 14. 

They continued living there until their deaths.  Elizabeth Hannah died on 6 June 1912 aged 70 years.  William died on 27 May 1921 aged 80 years.

Albert Edward Sainsbury
In 1894, William Young Sainsbury's son, Albert Edward married Elizabeth Young Jones, the daughter of John Ford Jones, a railway officer from Alveston.  Albert moved to a harness and saddle shop on the High Street between the Methodist Church and the Bank on the Plain.  The 1901 census shows they had had one daughter, Florence Beatrice born in 1896.

Elizabeth died in 1902 aged just 28 years.  Albert re-married in 1905, this time to Cecilia Annie Price, aged 28 the daughter of Henry John Price, clerk.

Albert Edward died in 1908 aged 42 years.  His daughter, Florence went to Miss King's Private School before joining the Council School and then going on to the Grammar School.  She must have moved to The Coombe to live with her grandfather, William, as she was shown at that address when she married in 1920.  Her husband was Ivor Henry Alsop from Roath, the son of Edward Alsop, managing director.  Witnesses included William James Jones and George Sainsbury Hosgood, presumably her cousins.  

This page was last updated: 23/06/2008