WILLIAM YOUELL 1807-1882
THE JOURNEY FROM KIRBY CANE, NORFOLK TO CAMBERWELL, LONDON
My 3x Great Grandfather, William Youell was one of 8 children, the 3rd son of Joseph Youell, a carpenter and Sarah nee Easter.
Font at Stockton Simon Knott - norfolkchurches.co.ukHe was baptised at St Michaels and All Angels, Stockton Norfolk on 28th June 1807. Stockton is a very small village and in the 1831 census, there were 17 inhabited dwellings where 22 families and 110 persons were living, mostly employed in agriculture.
In the 1845 History, Gazeteer and Directory of Norfolk as transcribed by Pat Newby, the population was 129, but of more interest is that most of the land belonged to John Kerritch Esq, Lord of the Manor of Stockton-with- the-soke, which comprised not only of this parish, but also, Kirby Cane, Ellingham, Geldestone and Gillingham, all parish names associated with the YOUELL family.
genuki.org.ukStockton is the outlined parish, map also shows Hales and Kirby Cane.
On 11th of July 1831, William married Eliza Hall, the daughter of Thomas and Mary Ann nee Savage, at St Mary's church Ellingham, Norfolk.
Simon Knott - norfolkchurches.co.uk
As their first 3 children were baptised in St Margarets Hales church, incidently the churchyard where William's mother was buried in 1822, it would appear that the couple made their home here in the early years of their marriage.
Their first child, a son Thomas William was born in 1834, followed by Charles in 1837 and Maria in 1839.
Perhaps with his father and brothers Joseph, Henry and himself all trying to make a living as carpenters within a small catchment of villages, it may explain why in 1841, we find William, Eliza and their young family have moved to Wanlip, a small village in Leicestershire, as identified in that years census.
From what I have been able to research online about Wanlip, it would appear to have been a small village within an estate much like their previous home in Norfolk, in this case, Wanlip Hall. The 900 acre estate and Hall was owned by the Palmer family, Baronets. Further research suggests that the Palmer family were 'controlling' of the villagers. Nonetheless, William and family moved here around 1840 and it is probable that some of his work would have been related to Wanlip Hall, but more significantly in 1840, Lady Palmer was patron to the building of The National School in Wanlip
History, gazetteer, and directory of Leicestershire...:- William White 1846
In 1842, my 2x Great Grandfather, Edward was born, followed by George in 1847 and Harriet in 1849. Sadly Harriet was a premature birth on 1st November and died the following day.
William and his family are still living in Wanlip at the time of the 1851 census, but by 1852, the family made the move to London and this is when the Youell family came to live in and around the Camberwell area. This must have been a bit of a culture shock moving from small rural communities to urban sprawl.
Their final child William Howchin Youell was born in 1851 in Wanlip, but died 15 months later at 12, New Road, Bermondsey from smallpox, being unvaccinated. The young William's burial service taking place in the Bermondsey Southwark Chapel.
By the 1861 census, William and family had moved to 46 Smyrks Rd, Bermondsey. Both addresses were described on William Booth's Poverty Maps as 'Fairly comfortable. Good ordinary earnings.'
William Booth Poverty Maps and Notebook entry.
Checking the 1861 census, a total of 548 people were living in Smyrks Road, over 4 times the number of people the family were used to being surrounded by in their previous home parishes. With larger populations living in more confined conditions, so infectious diseases become more prevelant, as shown with the death of the young William Howchin. So too, their daughter Maria, a dressmaker, living at home, died from Pthisis of 9 month duration on 16th September 1861, aged 22.
The family were still living in Smyrks Rd, when William's wife Eliza died on the 15th August 1868 from Uteritis. She was buried at the All Saints Cemetery, also known as Nunhead Cemetery, perhaps the least known of the 7 'big' cemeteries in London, such as Kensal Green, Brompton and West Norwood. In the present day Nunhead Cemetery is a nature reserve.
Unfortunately I have been unable to find William in the 1871 census and have found nothing for the intervening years until a marriage document for 14th April 1879, the widowed William Youell, Carpenter of Bermondsey married Widow, Sarah Hall, also of Bermondsey. However it would appear that Sarah was still married to her previous husband, George Richard Westcott, who appears to have 'disappeared' in the 1860's.
George Richard and Sarah Westcott's story can be read here George Richard Westcott 1831-1882 & Sarah Hall 1833-1902 (mypynthdev.blogspot.com)
By the 1881 census, William, Sarah and her son Frank, now using the surname, Youell are living at 45 Alderminster Rd. There appears to be quite an age gap between William and Sarah and the census indicates that William has managed to lose a number of years to his age, perhaps for the benefit of the census enumerator.
On 15th May 1882 William Youell, carpenter of 45 Alderminster Rd, died at St Thomas' hospital aged 74. The cause of death being Arterial disease and gangrene in Left leg. Sarah was the informant to the death. He was buried at Southwark cemetery on 19th May. His will was proved the following month and William's estate ran to just over £100.
This is the first part of a Youell trilogy, next week I will be writing about William's granddaughter, whose story fits the 'Tragedy' theme.
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