NEWLANDS CHAPEL
Charing Kent:
geograph-2259115-by-Oast-House-ArchiveNewlandsFarm
My 3x Great Grandfather Thomas Pye was resident and farmer at Newlands Farm, Charing. Kent at the turn of the 19th century. Within the locality of the farm is a medieval Chapel known as Newlands Chapel. The Unusual Source in the context of this blog is the current owner of this Chapel, who during the renovation discovered an unusual piece of graffiti linking the chapel to the Pye family. Whilst researching the history of the Chapel, she had noticed a post I had made on the Rootchat website. Private messaging me, this lovely lady provided me with the photo of what is believed to have been 19th century graffiti on a stone higher up in the chapel.
So who was J.Pye, the 'Banksy' of the past, well we need to be aware that in WW2, soldiers were billeted in and around the chapel, but we will look at the Pye's living at Newlands in the early 1800's.
Thomas Pye married the widowed Maria Cromp/e nee Weeks on 16th Oct 1810 at Westminster Middx. Their first born daughter, Maria was baptised at Bredgar Kent in 1811, but their second born, Mary was baptised at Charing in 1812. These two were followed by Thomas, 1814, James 1816, William 1817, George 1819 and Jane 1823, all baptised at Charing Kent. It would appear that the family home was at Newlands Farm, from around the time of Thomas' wedding in 1810 to his death in 1833, after which newspaper notices show that the contents and stock of the farm were auctioned.
Valuable Live and Dead Farming Stock
Wrinsted Court Frinsted
To be sold at auction by Smith and Drayson
On Tues 8 Oct 1833 on the premises of Wrinsted Court by the executors of the late Mr Thomas Pye
The farming stock, implements etc.
Comprising 150 lambs, 328 ewe, and wether tags of the Marsh breed. 10 fatting bullocks. 2 cows. 6 draft horses. Sow and 9 pigs, wagon tug 2 carts 2 drills ploughs harrows iron-bound roller 1 wood ditto wagon and plough harnesses and various other implements of husbandry.
The sale to commence at 11 o’clock in the forenoon.
I find these auction advertisements are always worth viewing, the above transcription relates to farm stock but another includes the household effects also being sold. This can also give a good background to the life of the ancestors. In the case of Thomas Pye, his effects for sale: From Kentish Gazette Mar 11 1834.
The Furniture
Consists of four post and tent bedsteads and furniture, goose and other feather beds, servants beds and bedding. mattresses, blankets and counterpanes, mahogany secretary and bookcase, piano-forte, mahogany dining and other tables, ditto and other chairs, ditto chest of drawers, dressing tables and basin stands, a barometer, looking glasses, an 8 day clock, some excellent paintings in good preservation, china, glass and earthenware brine tubs, and brewing utensils, with a variety of culinary articles.
So who was the J.Pye, who carved their name for posterity?
Well as Jane the youngest child would have been around 10 years old when the farm was sold, the most likely culprit, would be James Pye, the brother of my 2xGreat Grandfather, George Pye and thereby yet another family mystery is uncovered.
James Pye alongside his 6 siblings received an equal share of his father Thomas' estate on his death in 1833, which appeared to include a number of Insurance policies and shares.
On Sept 18th 1837 James married Jane Kelsey a farmers daughter herself from Wormshill, Kent. James cites himself as a farmer in Wichling Kent.
In 1841 James and Jane are living at Court Lodge, Wichling, James' sister Jane appears to be living with them, alongside a 2 year old, William, William Henry James Pye, their firstborn.By the 1851 census, 2 daughters have been born, Emma 1843 and Maria 1845. The family continue to live at Wichling Court Lodge, James, farmer is employing 25 men.However by 1859, James is no longer the occupier of Wichling Court Lodge as now a Major Murton is registered there, from The Poll of the Knights of the Shire.
And this is when he completely disappears! Where did he disappear to? I have no definite clues amongst on-line records at present. We do know that by 1872 Jane sought a divorce from James on the grounds of desertion, stating that James had deserted the family in Jan 1854. It appears that this divorce had been declined as dates for the degree nisi or absolute are left blank. Unfortunately the 'Ancestry' document does not appear to be fully uploaded, so whilst searching for the same document via The National Archive website, I was interested to find a document Kelcey v Kelcey dated 1856, titled Documents Bill: Interrogatories, Three Answers - where James Pye and his wife Jane Pye are named amongst numerous members of the Kelc/sey family. Unfortunately the document has not been digitalised and access cannot be made at present due to the Pandemic. It would be interesting to read what this may be about as just this small snippet indicates the James may have been in the area in 1856.
This post is about who the J.Pye scribed on the wall could be, but as James disappears so his wife, Jane, may have a story of her own after the desertion. Then disproving the assertion that lightning never strikes twice, James and Jane's daughter Emma, also experiences her husband deserting her in their marriage, but these are seperate stories for another time.
The exercise of writing about your ancestors is a most useful tool in reminding you of all those ancestors that have been left in limbo, in the hope that one day a piece of paper that will unlock the whole mystery will be found via archives or released online.
If you would like to read more about the history of Newlands Chapel, this is an interesting link listing it's history from 834AD to the present day.
In 1841 James and Jane are living at Court Lodge, Wichling, James' sister Jane appears to be living with them, alongside a 2 year old, William, William Henry James Pye, their firstborn.By the 1851 census, 2 daughters have been born, Emma 1843 and Maria 1845. The family continue to live at Wichling Court Lodge, James, farmer is employing 25 men.However by 1859, James is no longer the occupier of Wichling Court Lodge as now a Major Murton is registered there, from The Poll of the Knights of the Shire.
And this is when he completely disappears! Where did he disappear to? I have no definite clues amongst on-line records at present. We do know that by 1872 Jane sought a divorce from James on the grounds of desertion, stating that James had deserted the family in Jan 1854. It appears that this divorce had been declined as dates for the degree nisi or absolute are left blank. Unfortunately the 'Ancestry' document does not appear to be fully uploaded, so whilst searching for the same document via The National Archive website, I was interested to find a document Kelcey v Kelcey dated 1856, titled Documents Bill: Interrogatories, Three Answers - where James Pye and his wife Jane Pye are named amongst numerous members of the Kelc/sey family. Unfortunately the document has not been digitalised and access cannot be made at present due to the Pandemic. It would be interesting to read what this may be about as just this small snippet indicates the James may have been in the area in 1856.
This post is about who the J.Pye scribed on the wall could be, but as James disappears so his wife, Jane, may have a story of her own after the desertion. Then disproving the assertion that lightning never strikes twice, James and Jane's daughter Emma, also experiences her husband deserting her in their marriage, but these are seperate stories for another time.
The exercise of writing about your ancestors is a most useful tool in reminding you of all those ancestors that have been left in limbo, in the hope that one day a piece of paper that will unlock the whole mystery will be found via archives or released online.If you would like to read more about the history of Newlands Chapel, this is an interesting link listing it's history from 834AD to the present day.
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