7 St John Street
Charles Putley - omnibus proprietor
No. 1 St John Street
No. 1A St John Street
No. 3 St John Street
No. 5 St John Street
No. 7 St John Street
No. 9 St John Street
No. 11 St John Street
No. 13 St John Street
No. 15 St John Street
No. 17 St John Street
No. 19 St John Street
No. 21 St John Street
No. 23 St John Street
No. 2 St John Street
No. 4 St John Street
No. 6 St John Street
No. 8 St John Street
The 1891 census shows Charles Putley is occupying 7 St John Street. He is described as a widowed retired bus proprietor aged 76 years from Monmouth.
Charles was born about 1815. We are slightly puzzled by his place of birth. In the 1861 and 1871 censuses, it suggests he was born in either Lursley, Gloucestershire (which we think must mean Dursley) or Wotton Under Edge. However the 1881 census says he was born in Lydney, Gloucestershire.
Charles's marriage to Hannah Poole is registered in Bath in the December quarter 1840. We cannot find them in the 1841 and 1851 censuses.
Charles is first mentioned in Thornbury in the 1856 Trade Directory in which he is described as a shopkeeper in the High Street, but also operating an omnibus to Bristol on Monday, Thursday and Saturday of each week at 8am. The Brown's Almanack 1877 shows that Charles was then running a daily omnibus from the High Street to the Full Moon, Bristol leaving at 8.20am. the fist motor omnibus did not appear in Thornbury until about 1906. This "omnibus" was pulled by a horse.
In the 1861 census, Charles and Hannah were living in High Street, Thornbury, next to the Bank. Charles was a coach proprietor aged 46 and Hannah was aged 45 born in Tytherington. Also visiting them were Sarah Poole unmarried aged 50 from Tytherington and her son, Charles Poole. When young Charles was born in 1852 his mother's address was the Thornbury Union.
On 27th June 1866 there was an advertisement for the sale of "all that Freehold Dwelling House and Shop in the High Street of Thornbury of Mr Charles Putley, General Shopkeeper and Omnibus Proprietor. The Property comprises Shop, sitting room, kitchen, five bedrooms, cellar, stable, Bakehouse, Lofts, Brewhouse, Yard, etc and are centrally situated and well adapted for business purposes."
the 1867 Rate book still shows that Charles Putley occupied a house and yard in the High Street and the 1876 Rate book makes it clear that he not only occupied it but owned it.
In 1871 Charles and Hannah were still in the High Street. Charles was an omnibus proprietor. Living with them were the same Sarah Poole, a general domestic servant, and Charles Poole, formerly a mail cart driver.
By 1881, just Charles and Hannah were still living in the same house - he was a grocer and mail contractor and she was a grocer's wife. In 1884 he sold the house and about 1885 he began to rent a house from Mark Crossman Meredith which we believe is now7 St John Street.
Hannah died and was buried on 1 January 1886 aged 70 years. Charles died aged 80 - his death was registered in December quarter 1895 in Gloucester.
This page was last updated: 23/10/2008