John was baptised in Pitney on 14th January 1855, the first child of Jacob & Emma (nee Ball).
He was just 7 in the 1861 census, living in Pitney with Jacob & Emma and his two younger sisters, he was a scholar.
In the 1871 census he was still in Pitney with Jacob, Emma, and 2 of his siters and 3 brothers, he was 16 and an agricultural labourer.
On Sunday evening 2nd June 1872 John has admitted to housebreaking – he broke into the house of Charles Webb in Pitney, whilst Charles and his family were at Chapel, and stole money. He was caught and admitted to having been there and taken more money before.
The following document details the crime from the witness statements taken at Somerton Police Station:
(click here).
On 2nd July 1872 John was at court in the Somerset Midsummer Assizes in Taunton. He pleaed guilty to “housebreaking” and was sentenced to 9 months imprisonment/hard labour.
I have looked for his prison records but could not find any.
By 1881 he was still in Pitney with Jacob, Emma, 3 brothers and 1 sister. He was an unmarried 25 year old, a labourer.
On 24th July 1888, aged 35 years, John married Caroline Rayes (nee Smith), a 47 year old widow, at the Register Office in Bridgend. At the time they both lived in Tynewydd. He was a Blacksmith.
In the 1891 census returns, John is found living with his wife, Charlottle (although I believe this should be Caroline! It does appear to be the same wife), aged 50, living in Somerton, Somerset. His occupation was “Gas Works”. She was apparently from Ashcott in Somerset. Living with them were her 3 children aged 14,12 and 9.
John died on 11th April 1898, aged 46 years old at Holton Road in Barry, Glamorgan. He had suffered a “Cerebral Tumour ” and a Coma. The death was registered by R Spear. John’s occupation was given as Blacksmith (journeyman).