9 Pullins Green

Occupants

James Willshen - the 1841 census shows the house was occupied by James Willshen, an attorney's clerk aged 32 and his wife, Catherine aged 40.  Both were born in  Marylebone London.  They had two daughters, Mary Ann aged 9 and Sophia aged 5.  It is possible that James was working for Thomas Crossman, the solicitor, who was shown as owning the property in the 1840 Tithe Survey.

In 1855 Mary Ann married William Embley, a saddler.  In 1860, Sophia married John Griffiths Hughes, a chemist.

James is listed in various trade directories from 1849 to 1856 as a Fire and Life Insurance Agent for the Atlas Insurance Company.  His two daughters were listed as trading in a Berlin Repository in 1856.  

Berlin wool work is a style of embroidery.  Typically it is executed with tapestry wool on canvas, in petit point stitch only. It was traditionally executed in many colours and hues producing intricate three-dimensional looks by careful shading. The design of such embroidery was made possible by the great progresses made in dyeing in the 1830's and made very popular by the Great Exhibition of 1851.

In 1861 James and Catherine were living in High Street.  He was a solicitor's managing clerk aged 52.  She was aged 64 born in Sutton Benger, Wilts.  Catherine died 8th July 1867 aged 70 and James died 20th September 1871 aged 62.  Both are buried in St Mary's Churchyard.

John Eyres - in 1851 John lived in the house with his wife, Sarah.  John was a Baptist Minister of Thornbury Chapel aged 47 born in Westbury Leigh, Wiltshire.  Sarah was aged 36 born in London.  They had three children: John aged 11, Sarah Eliza aged 12 both born in Otley, Suffolk, and Edwin J aged 9 born in Uley, Gloucestershire.

Nicholas Cornock - in 1861 the house was occupied by Nicholas described as a landed proprietor aged 83 born in Thornbury.  He had three unmarried daughters living with him: Ellen aged 48, Mary aged 45 and Anne Frances aged 33, all born in Thornbury.

Nicholas had been born in Thornbury about 1778.  He married Mary Comely in Thornbury on 4 June 1801.  They had several children:  Nicholas Comely Cornock born on 17 April 1802 and baptised at Oldbury on 31 May 1802, Ellen born on 4 September 1807 and baptised at Oldbury on 27 December 1807, Mary born on 21 March 1810 and baptised at Oldbury on 23 June 1811, Henry baptised at Oldbury on 14 March 1813, James Comely baptised at Oldbury on 27 April 1817 and Anna Frances baptised at Oldbury on 1st April 1820.  The baptism records show Nicholas as a 'Gentleman' living in Oldbury.

Nicholas's wife, Mary, died on 6 October 1850 aged 69.  Nicholas died on 25 February 1863 aged 87.  Both are buried at Oldbury.  Ellen died 20 January 1898 aged 90 and Mary on 16th June 1903 aged 93.  A son, Henry, had died on 16th May 1850 aged 43.

John Matthews - in 1871 John was living in the house with his wife Ann Elizabeth.  John was a Mi.nister of the Baptist Church aged 55 born in Oxford.  Ann was aged 45 born in Norwich.   John had married Ann Elizabeth Bowles in Norwich in December quarter 1854.

Francis James Williams - the 1881 census shows the house occupied by Francis J. Williams, a surveyor and sanitary inspector, and his family.  We spent a lot of time trying to unravel the confusion caused by the fact that there were two Francis James Williams living in Thornbury in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, both born around the same time.  One of these was a sanitary inspector and surveyor, the other a seedsman and assistant overseer.  To make matters worse, one of them was a registrar of marriages and the other the deputy registrar of marriages! Click here to read more about Francis James Williams, the sanitary inspector 

George Mansell and Sarah Williams  - George and Sarah were living in the house in the 1891 and 1901 censuses and continued there until at least 1921, in the case of George, and 1935, in the case of Sarah.  There is no apparent connection between George and the Francis Williams who had lived in the house before George.  Click here to read more about George and Sarah

Edith Carver - Edith was the widow of Morley Carver and lived in 9 Pullins Green from about 1930 to about 1950.  For some of this time, she shared the house with their married daughter, Frances Lillian Trotman and her husband, Rupert.  Click here to read more about the Carvers and Trotmans

Florence Lavinia Hall - Florence lived in the house from about 1954 until her death.  She was listed in the electoral registers of 1954 and 1957 but not in 1965.  Her maiden name was Florence Pegley, but she became Florence Wilcox by marrying Charles Henry Wilcox and then Florence Hall by marrying George Herbert Hall.  Click here to read more about her

John and June England - in the late 1960/70's's the house was occupied for some time by Alexander John and Dorothy June England.  They had moved to the area from Tunbridge Wells and lived for a short time in 'Greenstede' in Crispin Lane.  They left the house and district in 1975 to move to Coleford.  Both John and June were members of the URC Church and John had served as Treasurer from 1972 - 75.

 This page was last updated: 23/06/2008