William Guilford Hamshar -

24^th August 1844 - 30^th November 1919

William Guilford Hamshar is the earliest in the Hamshar line born after the start of national registrations of birth in 1937. He was born in Brighthelmston (a region of Brighton, Sussex) on 24^th August 1844 and he was christened on 6^th October 1844 at St Peter’s Church, Brighton (information from Family Search). According to his birth certificate his parents were William Hamshar, a baker, and his wife Ann (nee Guilford) of 1, Bond Street Row, Brighton.

Ann Guilford has been found on the 1841 census living in Kemptown Brighton with her father, 60-year-old Nathaniel Guilford.  Nathaniel lived to a ripe old age and can be found on the censuses for 1851 (23, Park Cottage) and 1861 (27, Wellington Terrace) living with his daughter Mary and her husband Charles Golding in Brighton.

 

 

However, a marriage certificate for William Hamshar & Ann Guilford cannot be traced. There is a marriage certificate for William Hamshar and Ann Lush who were married in the Parish Church Preston (Brighton outskirts) on 23^rd October 1842, which would seem to fit as everything tallies with the later 1859 marriage certificate for William Hamshar and Elizabeth Collis-Hill, his second wife. Perhaps Ann was married briefly to Mr Lush, although the marriage certificate has her as ‘spinster’?

1841 Census - William Hamshar

In the 1841 census a 25-year-old William Hamshar was living in Western Road with John Nunn and family. Western Road is a main shopping street in Brighton and the premises may well have been a baker’s shop and bakery owned by John Nunn with living accommodation above

As no marriage certificate can be found for William Hamshar and Ann Guilford and as William had left home by the time of the 1841 census I cannot trace the Hamshar line further back using online sources.

1844 - William Hamshar and Family

According to the birth certificate of William Guilford Hamshar, by 1884 William Hamshar (31) was married and he and his young wife Ann (21) were living with their new baby at 1, Bond Street Row - an alleyway in central Brighton. William was a baker – probably working in a bakery nearby. On 6^th October William Guilford was christened at the new St Peter’s Church. This is the large church in the centre of Brighton, which was designed by Charles Barry (the architect who designed the Houses of Parliament) and consecrated in 1828. The priest at the time of the christening was doubtless the Reverend Thomas Cook who was priest for 45 years from the consecration until St Peter’s became Brighton Parish Church in 1873. The present marble font was given to the church as a memorial after Rev. Cook’s death so William Guilford would have been christened at a different font.

The census of 1851

finds William Guilford Hamshar aged 6 living at 41 Hanover Terrace, Brighthelmstone, Brighton with his father William (aged 37) his mother Ann (aged 28) and his younger brothers Henry (4), and Edward (2). (This 1851 census has his father’s age as 37, at odds with later censuses which all have him 2 years older. Also in this census record the name is given as Hampshire.) William Guilford and his brothers were born in Brighton, as was his mother. William senior however is listed as born in Preston, Sussex (just north of Brighton). His occupation is given as Scavenger and Ann’s as Laundress. A scavenger appears to have been the equivalent of a dustman. Scavengers were employed in towns to keep the streets clean when everyone threw their rubbish (and excrement) out in the open. It was a public appointment and some scavengers were responsible for keeping wandering pigs (who ate rubbish) in order. On WG’s birth certificate, occupation of father is given as Baker. However, the change to ‘scavenger’ in the 6 intervening years does not seem to be a sign of a fall in fortunes of the family as the new address 41, Hanover Terrace is a pleasant house with a small front garden. Hanover Terrace is one of a number of adjacent ‘Hanovarian’ terraces (named Crescent, Terrace, etc) in central Brighton. Staying with the family on census day is a visitor, Dianah (?) White, aged 39 who is also a laundress – perhaps a friend of Ann.

The laundry connection persists down the generations – Emma Vincent ran the laundry in West Norwood at the start of the twentieth century.

The census of 1861

William Guilford who would be aged 17 is not living with the family in 1861. In fact he is not recorded in that census at all as he was out of the country at the time. Information from his soldiers record book (in my possession) tells that he enlisted in the 4^th Battalion, The Princes Grenadier Guards at Chichester in March 1958 at the age of 13 years and 6 months and was serving in Malta from 22^nd of August 1858 until September 1863 when he moved to Gibraltar. Also in the record book it states that when he enlisted he was 4ft 9in in height (he was only 13 years old and later grew to 5ft 7in) with brown hair and brown eyes. His religion is given as C of E and his trade before enlisting as ‘Shoe Maker’ – although as he was only 13 when he signed up he couldn’t have been doing that for long.

Information about William Guilford Hamshar from soldier’s record book

Front cover - 690 William Hamshar 4^th Bⁿ Rifle B^r

Inside front cover – 690 William Hamshar 4^th Battⁿ The P. G. G. Rifle B^de Leeds Yorkshire

Page 13

 Soldier’s Name and Description

William Hamshar

Enlisted for the Rifle Brigade on the 4^th March 1858 at Chichester in the County of Sussex at the age of Thirteen years Six months.

Born in the parish of Brightelmstone in or near the Town of Brighton, in the County of Sussex

Trade or Calling – Shoemaker

Last permanent Residence (not entered)

Size – four Feet nine Inches

Complexion – fresh

Eyes – brown

Hair – brown

Chest – 30 inches

Religion - C of E

Marks (signature) W^m Hamshar

Soldier’s Number - 690

Page 14

Amount of Bounty received by the Soldier in Cash - £2

Services Abroad

·      Embarked at Portsmouth 10^th August

·      Landed at Malta 22^nd August 1858

·      Landed at Gibraltar 21^st September 1863

·      Canada (Montreal) from 21^st July 1865

·      Landed in England on 18^th September 1867

Promotions or Reductions in Rank

·      Promoted Corporal 22^nd January 1867

Opposite p14

Measurement of No 690 Wm Hamshar

1870 – Head 22 - Chest 37 - Waist 33½ - Feet 8/1 - Height 5 feet 7 inches

1871 – Head 22 - Chest 37 - Waist 33½ - Feet 8/1 - Height 5 feet 7 inches

Further information

There are many pages of details about monthly settlements for clothing and savings accounts.

Additional information from these shows that, when in Canada (1865-1867) WGH was stationed in Montreal. He received a Canadian General Service medal at this time (Tom Govier has this) – the bar reads ‘FENIAN RAID 1866’. The medal was almost certainly received for WGH’s participation in the repulsion of the Pigeon Hill invasion by the Fenians on Saturday June 9^th 1866. This was a non-event really as although the British forces marched to Pigeon Hill and prepared to defend against the Fenians they never showed up apart from odds and sods of whom 6 were killed and 16 captured. See account overleaf.

 

Once back in England WGH served at Leeds (1868), Aldershot (1870) and Shorncliffe (1871) – the last entry is for June 1871 suggesting that William left the army in July 1871 (aged 27).

1861 Census - William Hamshar

In 1861 William Hamshar senior, now again with the occupation of Baker, is living at 60, Albion Street, Brighton, with a new wife, Elizabeth (44). Albion Street is very close to the previous address of Hanover Terrace but when we visited in 2008 it was modern housing the old terraced street having been demolished.

William (a widower) and Elizabeth (Collis-Hill) were married in 1859 at St Nicholas Church in Brighton, Ann presumably having died in the years between 1851 and 1859 (although I cannot find a record of her death). There are also two more children, Elizabeth (9) and Frederick (1). Presumably Elizabeth is a stepdaughter to William born to her mother, also Elizabeth, in a previous marriage (on the marriage certificate it states that Elizabeth Collis-Hill is a widow). There is also a lodger, Henry Hill (17) (unmarried) a fishmonger’s servant from Chelsea, Middlesex. The ages of Henry and Edward are in accordance with the 1851 census. Perhaps the new marriage was part of the reason that William Guilford joined the army in 1858 – maybe he and his (future) stepmother did not get on.

 

The 1871 census

finds Corporal William (Guilford) Hamshar (26) (unmarried) in barracks in Cheriton, Kent. I know from his record book that he left the army in July 1871 (aged 27).

Henry and Edward also appear to have left home, as in 1871 William senior (59) is living at 36, St Martin’s Place, Brighton (just a stone’s throw in the other direction from Hanover Terrace) with just his wife and the remaining two children, Elizabeth and Frederick. The property is also occupied by another family. William senior is still working as a Baker, his wife Elizabeth as a Charwoman and young Elizabeth is now a Laundress. Young Fred is perhaps still at school, although the census record does not list him as a Scholar.

 

The 1871 census almost ends the connection of the direct line with Brighton. William G Hamshar has started his own household in Brixton by 1881 and William senior is living with his son’s family. This move was presumably made after the death of William’s wife, Elizabeth, in 1874.

However, at least one branch of the family remained in Brighton. William Guilford’s step-sister, Elizabeth (married in Brighton to William Clowser in 1875) registered the death of her step-father William senior in Brighton on 4^th January 1889. Prior to his death he had been living with the Clowser family at number 14, St Martin’s Place. The Clowsers later moved back to Hanover Terrace – in the 1901 census Elizabeth was living with her husband William and 7 children a 46, Hanover Terrace.

The 1881 Census

finds William Guilford Hamshar (36) head of his own household at 26, Effra Parade, Brixton. His occupation is listed as ‘agent for laundry machines’.  Living with him is his wife, Emma (33) born in Winchester, Hants with an occupation given as Laundress and four children, William (7), Ada (6), Harold (2) and Letitia (1) – all born in Lambeth. Although young William and Ada are listed as son and daughter I have been told that they are in fact stepson and stepdaughter, being Emma’s children from her first marriage and having the surname Hoare. William Hamshar married Emma Hoare (widow) on 4^th October 1877.

 

 

Also living with the family in 1881 is the widowed William senior, now aged 69 and listed as Retired Baker. Elizabeth his wife is recorded as having died at the age of 57 in December 1874 (Brighton Deaths Volume 2b page 158)

 

Ernest Hamshar - 25^th September 1884 – 12^th August 1918

Ernest Hamshar was born on 25^th September 1884.

 

 I cannot find a baptism record.

The 1891 Census

finds the family living at 3A Effra Parade. This I know to have been the premises of a commercial laundry owned and run by the family with the two eldest children working there alongside their parents. 

William (Guilford) Hamshar (46) is now listed as a laundryman, as is his son William (Hoare) (17) and Emma and Ada are listed as laundresses. The younger children Harold (12), Guilford (mis-spelled on the 1891 census form) (9), Letitia (11), Vincent (7) Ernest (6) and the baby Alexander (1) were all born in Lambeth. Alex died in 1892.

 

William Hamshar (snr) died in Brighton on 4^th January 1889 (at the age of 77). Prior to his death (after 6 days of acute bronchitis) he had been living with his married step-daughter Elizabeth (surname now Clowser) who registered the death on 8^th January. Elizabeth and family were living at number 14, St Martin’s Place.

The 1901 Census

shows William and Emma still at 3A, Effra Parade and ‘working at home’  confirming that this was the address of the laundry. However none of the children are living with them at this address but instead, Ada, Harold, Vincent and Ernest are to be found at number 12, Effra Parade. Here Ada is listed as a Laundress also working from home – perhaps the laundry now spanned several premises?

 

 

 

William Hoare (27) and his wife Rose (26) are living at 32, Royal Terrace, Southwark with their baby son William, aged 10 months.  Will was a milkman and his wife Rose was a cousin to Isabel Hale. It was at a party at their house that Isabel (Bella) met Ernest (1905).  Staying with them on census day was Guilford Hamshar (20) – brother to Ernest and stepbrother to Will Hoare. He is listed as a ‘visitor’.

 

 

In 1901 Elizabeth Clowser (William Guilford’s step-sister, Elizabeth - married in Brighton to William Clowser in 1875) was living with her husband William and 7 children a 46, Hanover Terrace in Brighton.