4 Pullins Green

Occupants

Edwin Bevan - In 1851 the house was occupied by Edwin Bevan, a journeyman stonemason, his wife, Elizabeth, a visitor, her widowed brother, Samuel Trotman an agricultural labourer aged 24 and their two eldest children.

Edwin was born in Thornbury about 1823 (baptised in 1827), the son of James Bevan, a tailor and his wife, Anne.  Elizabeth was born in Chewton Magna about 1820, the daughter of William and Sarah Trotman who had moved to Oldbury

Edwin and Elizabeth had married in Thornbury in 1845.  They had several children: Edwin born about 1847, Elizabeth born about 1850, Alfred born about 1853, twins, Frank and Jane, born about 1855, Mary Jane born about 1860, Arthur born 1861, Ernest born about 1862 and another Arthur born about 1865. 

By 1861 the family had moved to 32 Castle Street where they remained.   By 1871 Edwin junior had become a mason like his father, Frank had become a writer, and Jane was a servant,  By 1881 there was just Edwin and Elizabeth living at their home in Castle Street.

Thomas Vowles - in 1861 the house was occupied by Thomas Vowles, a journeyman plasterer aged 50 years.  Thomas was married but his wife was not at home at the time of the census.  He was aged 50 born in Wickwar.  Also living there were a visitor, Hannah Franklin, a sempstress aged 68 from Wickwar and two boarders, Robert and Mary Weeks aged 10 and 8 respectively.   

The 1871 census shows that Thomas's wife was called Jane and she was then aged 70 and born in Yate.  She and Thomas were living in the house on their own.  The 1876 and 1880 Rate Book show that Thomas was still living in 4 Pullins Green.

In the 1881 census he had moved to Bulls Lane and was living in the house of James Moxham, an agricultural labourer aged 65.

John Roberts - the 1881 census shows that John Roberts, a fireman on the Midland Railway, aged 26 was living in the house on his own.  John was described as a 'British Subject born in France''.  The 1891 census shows John was now living in 24 Back Cooper Street, Runcorn in Cheshire.  He was still unmarried, but now working as a sailor.

Joseph Underhill - the 1890 and 1894 Rate Books and the 1891 Census show the house in Pullins Green was occupied by Joseph Underhill, a coachman aged 50 and his wife, Elizabeth aged 39.  Joseph was the son of Joseph Underhill, who had also been a coachman and his wife, Hester. 

We are indebted to Janice Jackson of Thornbury for some of the following details of the Underhill family.

Joseph was born in Thornbury in 1839.  In the Censuses of 1841 and 1851 Joseph had been living with his parents in 1 Saw Mill Lane, Thornbury.  He married Elizabeth Gosling in the December quarter of 1870.  Elizabeth had been born about 1854 in Sundays Hill.   Unfortunately we can't find any sign of him in the censuses of 1861 and 1871.  The 1881 Census shows Joseph as a groom living with his wife, Elizabeth, in Bagstone and their one year old son, Joseph who appears to have been born in Bagstone.  Joseph's birth was registered in the Chipping Sodbury district in the March quarter of 1880.

 By 1891 Joseph and Elizabeth had three children living with them: Joseph aged 11, George Donald R aged 9 and a daughter, Evia  aged 2. The Free BMD website says that she was registered as Vevia Margaret  in Chipping Sodbury in the Sept quarter of 1884.  They had another child shortly after the Census, Dora Edith Maud born in December 1891; another Jessie Elizabeth Underhill had been born in 1886 but she died as a baby aged only ten months and was buried on 18th December 1886.

The children seem to have attended the National School, which is now called St Mary's School.  Our records show that Dora Underhill started the school in March 1898 and that the family's address at that time was Upper Bath Road.  She left the school in 1899. It is also noticeable that one of Joseph Underhill's references when he joined the police force came from the former headmaster, Thomas Fill who was said to have known Joseph for six years.  This may indicate the length of time Joseph was at the National School.

By 1901  the Underhill family had moved to Castle Street, Thornbury, old Joseph, still a coachman, was then 61. Joseph Underhill died in April 1907. His wife Elizabeth died October 23rd 1929 aged 75 years.  Their tombstone in Thornbury Cemetery also mentions George Donald Underhill their son who died in Montreal on March 16th 1926 aged 44 years and was buried at Montreal Royal Cemetery Montreal Canada.   There is also an inscription to Vevia Underhill their eldest daughter who was cremated at Guildford on June 1st 1969 aged 84 years.

Of their children;

Joseph Underhill junior who was born in 1880 was a boarder at 14 Ellenborough Place, Bristol in the 1901 Census.  He was a baker by trade.   He joined the 1st Royal Dragoons when he was about 21 years old.  The first Royal Dragoon Gaurds were stationed in Lucknow in India from about 1904.  The police record of Joseph Underhill says he served last in Lucknow and left in 1909.  He must have left the army about the time his regiment was transferred to Muttra. 

Joseph appears to have returned to Thornbury.  His record on entering the police force in December 1909 shows that his address was Laburnum Cottage.  This may have been in Gloucester Road as what is now number 16 was called Laburnum Cottage about that time.  At the time Joseph Underhill became a policeman he was said to be aged 29 and five feet and nine and a half inches tall.  He had a chest measurement of thirty seven and a half inches.  He seems to have left Thornbury on 2nd May 1910 and gone to Ebbw Vale   He was transferred to Cwm on 1st November 1910 and then to Tredegar in December 1910.  He returned to Cwm in July 1911.  Here he married Agnes Jane Craig on 19 August 1915 at St Paul’s Church, Cwm, Ebbw Vale.  At that time Joseph was 34 and a police constable living at The Police Station, Cwm.

Joseph was promoted to police sergeant in September 1925 and remained in the Monmouthshire Constabulary until his retirement on 31 March 1943.

Frederick John Holley - the 1899 Rate Book and the 1901 Census shows the house was occupied by Frederick John Holley and his wife, Hannah - Click here to read more about the Holley family.

James English - the 1905 and 1910 Rate Books show the house was occupied by James English.  Click here to read about James and his family

The next family we know to have lived there is that of Samuel Spill.  Click here to read about the Spills.

In more recent times, the house has been occupied by Arthur Hill and then Jenny Evans.

This page was last updated: 01/03/2010