Joseph was born on the 15th January 1849 in Wymeswold and baptised on the 18th, his parents were Samuel & Sarah Wootton (nee Warner). Her original family name is used as a middle name by quite a few of the Woottons. Joseph was born just a few months before his Father died of Consumption or Tuberculosis, his Mother made a living from working as a Seamstress.
Tuberculosis or TB, also known as the "white death" and consumption is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) bacteria. It was one of the most common diseases of the 18th & 19th Centuries. The last stage was known as consumption in the Victorian era and was usually fatal.
Joseph is noted in the 1851 Census, aged just 2. The family are living at Goddards Yard, Wymeswold. He is living with his Mother Sarah, she is employed as a Lace Worker. Also there are Joseph's Brother William, age 8 and Sister Emma, age 6. It must have been difficult for Sarah at this time after being made a widow and having three children to care for.
Joseph was earning money as early as age twelve, he is noted as working as a Plough Boy in the 1861 Census and the family have moved to Clay Street. Later on he would earn a living as a builder, the building trade became a Wootton tradition with many branches of the Woottons becoming builders. Many people will know of Woottons the builders in Wymeswold, Joseph Wootton followed his Brother who was already working as a bricklayer, their Father had actually been a shoemaker, but their Grandfather was involved in the building trade. Joseph built and owned houses all over Wymeswold, he also built Jubilee Cottages where I grew up, situated at the bottom of Clay Street, you can see a picture of this being built below.
Ellen Smith (Nell to us) wrote several excellent books on Wymeswold and the Wootton family. She was Joseph & Mary's Granddaughter.
*Extract from 'Memories of a Country Girlhood' by Ellen Smith :-
*When i was eleven years old, my grandfather Wootton asked me if i would collect the rents from the dozen or so cottages that he owned and let to families of various sizes. The rent for most of these cottages was 1/6d per week, but for two of them it was only 1/3d per week. When Grandfather died the cottages were sold. Grandfather had two new large cottages build called Jubilee Cottages. (2/4 Clay Street) These had two large front rooms, a large kitchen and a pantry that was down some brick steps.*
As well as being a builder in several directories, Joseph was also noted as being a Cottager (small holder) and Grazier (cattle or sheep farmer), although it was primarily his wife Mary along with her daughters Sarah and Florrie who looked after the livestock, as well as taking care of domestic duties.
*Extract from 'Memories of a Country Girlhood' by Ellen Smith :-
*In her young days Grandma Wootton, along with her daughters Sarah and Florrie, worked terribly hard. She had a large flock of poultry and a herd of cows which she milked herself. She used to drive into Nottingham, a matter of twelve miles to sell the butter and Colwick cheese she had made, along with eggs and poultry which she killed, plucked and dressed.*
Mary Mills was born in 1851 in Wymeswold. When she was young she lived in an area known as Little London at one end of London Lane, Wymeswold. In 1861 she is age 9 and living there with her Father Henry Mills, an Agriculture Labourer and her Mother Ann Mills. By the time of the 1871 Census she is 20 years old and working at home as a housekeeper for her Father in Little London, he is noted as a Grazier of 17 acres, her Mother had passed on the year before in 1870.
Quite a few branches of my family worshiped under the Baptist faith. Joseph and Mary married at the General Baptist Chapel in Baxter Gate in the nearby town of Loughborough on the 2nd of March 1872. It was in 1753 that a small group of Baptists first met in a house in the town and seven years later the first pastors for the growing Church were appointed. The first dedicated Church building was erected on Wood Gate in 1792. In 1828 the present building on Baxter Gate was erected which was needed because of the increasing membership, this is where Joseph and Mary were married. They were extremely strict with their children and Grand children. If Mary caught any of them reading books other than the Bible on Sunday they would be in deep trouble.
*Extract from 'Memories of a Country Girlhood' by Ellen Smith :-
* Grandfather and Grandma Wootton were both extremely strict with us children in every way. We dared not step into their house without taking off our boots or cleaning them thoroughly, and we always had to wash our hands before sitting down to eat. We girls were made to sit properly in our chairs, never lounge, nor cross our knees or even our feet, and we were constantly ordered to sit with our knees together. We were told always to be ladylike and behave well when we were out. *
In the Census of 1881 Joseph is aged 30 and his profession is noted as a Builder & Grazier. They are still living in Clay Street, also there at the property are Mary, Joseph's wife, age 29 and Daughters Sarah Ann, age 8, Son Thomas, age 7 and young Florence aged 1. They are noted as living at Clay Street until in the Census of 1901, where they have moved to Swifts Lane. In the 1911 Census it does record that they have had a total of 4 children with 3 alive. I presume the 4th child died at a very young age.
Mary became ill after a series of strokes. Joseph employed a housekeeper to look after them but that did not work out so Florrie, their Granddaughter became their full time carer. When Mary became very ill Florrie and her Aunt Sarah (my Great Grandmother) took turns looking after her until she passed away on the 16th April 1924.
Joseph faded away after Mary passed on and he himself died the year after on the 17th March 1925. Joseph is buried at the Rempstone Road Cemetery, Wymeswold along with Mary.
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Joseph Wootton (1849-1925)
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Born 15th January 1849 Wymeswold, Leicestershire.
Baptism 18th January 1849 Wymeswold, Leicestershire.
Census 1851. Joseph Wootton Age 2.
Address - Sch 102. Goddards Yard, Wymeswold.
Living with Mother Sarah Wootton
Age 44. Profession - Lace Worker.
Brother William(8) & Sister Emma(6).
Census 1861. Joseph Wootton Age 12.
Profession - Plough Boy
Address - Sch 155. Clay Street , Wymeswold.
Living with Mother Sarah Wootton (54)
Profession - Seamstress
Brother William(18) (Bricklayer)
Grand-Daughter Eliza(1).
Census 1871. Joseph Wootton Age 22.
Profession - Bricklayer.
Address - Clay Street , Wymeswold.
Living with Mother Sarah Wootton (64) (Housekeeper).
Married General Baptist Chapel, Baxter Gate, Loughborough
on the 2nd of March 1872. Aged 23.
Present were Henry Mills Junr & Sarah Miller.
Census 1881. Joseph Wootton Age 30.
Profession - Builder & Grazier.
Address - Sch 100. Clay Street , Wymeswold.
Living With Wife Mary Wootton(29)
Daughters Sarah Ann(8) & Florence(1)
Son Thomas(7).
Directory of Leicestershire 1888
BUILDERS, &C.
Wootton Joseph, & cottager, Clay Street
Directory of Leicestershire 1888
COTTAGERS AND COWKEEPERS
Wootton Jph, & bricklayer, Clay Street
Census 1891. Joseph Wootton Age 42.
Profession - Builder & Grazier.
Address - Sch 96. Clay Street , Wymeswold.
Living With Wife Mary Wootton(40)
Daughters Sarah Ann(18) & Florence(11)
Son Thomas(17).
Kelly's Directory of Leicestershire & Rutland 1900
Wootton Joseph, bricklayer, Brook st
Census 1901. Joseph Wootton Age 51.
Profession - Builder.
Employer working at home.
Address - Sch 174. Swifts Lane , Wymeswold.
Living With Wife Mary Wootton(49)
Daughters Sarah Ann(28) & Florence(21)
Son Thomas(27).
Kelly's Directory of Leicestershire & Rutland 1908
Wootton Joseph, grazier
Census 1911. Joseph Wootton Age 62 - Grazier
Address - Swifts Lane , Wymeswold.
Living With Wife Mary Wootton (59).
Total Children : 4 Still alive : 3
Kelly's Directory of Leicestershire & Rutland 1912
Wootton Joseph, grazier
Census 1921. Joseph Wootton Age 72 4 Months
Grazier - Own account - at home
Address - Wymeswold. Leicestershire
Living With Wife Mary Wootton (70 1 Month).
Joseph Wootton died 17th March 1925 Nanpantan, Leicestershire.
Burial Rempstone Road Cemetery, Wymeswold.
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Mary Mills (1851-1924)
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Born 1851 Wymeswold, Leicestershire.
Census 1861. Mary Mills Age 9.
Profession - Scholar
Address - Sch 116. Little London , Wymeswold.
Living With Father Henry Mills(44) - Ag Labourer
Mother Ann Mills(46).
Census 1871. Mary Mills Age 20.
Profession - Housekeeper
Address - Sch 42. Little London , Wymeswold.
Living With Father Henry Mills(55)
Profession - Grazier 17 acres.
Married at General Baptist Chapel, Baxter Gate, Loughborough
on the 2nd of March 1872. Aged 21.
Present were Henry Mills Junr & Sarah Miller.
(Brother & Sister-in-Law)
Census 1881. Mary Wootton Age 29.
Address - Sch 100. Clay Street , Wymeswold.
Living With Husband Joseph Wootton(30)
Daughters Sarah Ann(8) & Florence(1)
Son Thomas(7).
Census 1891. Mary Wootton Age 40.
Address - Sch 96. Clay Street , Wymeswold.
Living With Husband Joseph Wootton(42)
Daughters Sarah Ann(18) & Florence(11)
Son Thomas(17).
Census 1901. Mary Wootton Age 49.
Status - nullworking at home.
Address - Sch 174. Swifts Lane , Wymeswold.
Living With Husband Joseph Wootton(51)
Daughters Sarah Ann(28) & Florence(21)
Son Thomas(27).
Census 1911. Mary Wootton Age 59.
Address - Swifts Lane , Wymeswold.
Living With Husband Joseph Wootton(62) - Grazier
Total Children : 4 Still alive : 3
Census 1921. Wife Mary Wootton Age 70 1 Month.
Address - Wymeswold. Leicestershire.
Living With husband Joseph Wootton (72 4 Months)
Grazier - Own account - at home.
Mary Wootton died 16th April 1924 Wymeswold, Leicestershire
Burial Rempstone Road Cemetery, Wymeswold.
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Notes on Children :
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b. 21 June 1872, Wymeswold, Leicestershire.
m. Harry Sheppard 1st July 1908 at St Marys Church, Wymeswold.
d. 25 September 1948, Wymeswold, Leicestershire
Child: Ronald Wootton Sheppard (1909-1992)
*See direct descendant main page.
--- --- ---
Thomas Warner Wootton (1874-1954)
born 21 Jan 1874 Wymeswold
married Mary Ellen Hardy 25 Jun 1901 Wymeswold
died 29 Jul 1954 Hastings House, Loughborough
Children :
Thomas & Mary had 7 Children
including Bill who continued the Wootton's building tradition
& Ellen (Nell) who wrote the books on life in Wymeswold.
Joseph Warner Wootton
born 08 Dec 1901 Wymeswold
Florence May Wootton
born 31 Aug 1903 Wymeswold
Lottie Wootton
born 15 May 1905 Wymeswold
Ellen Wootton (Nell)
born 06 Jan 1907 Wymeswold
Edna May Wootton
born 1909 Wymeswold
John Wootton
born 3 Nov 1912 Wymeswold
William Wootton (Bill)
born 01 Aug 1919 Wymeswold
--- --- ---
Florence Harriet Wootton (1879-1943)
born 04 Oct 1879 Wymeswold
married John Thomas Eggleston 1902
died 29 Oct 1943 Woodhouse Eaves
Children :
Ivy Eggleston
born 25 Jan 1903 Woodhouse Eaves
Elsie Mary Eggleston
born 27 Jan 1904 Woodhouse Eaves
Mabel Eggleston
born 1 Oct 1907 Woodhouse Eaves
Kathleen Eggleston
born 22 Jul 1911 Woodhouse Eaves
Above : Joseph Wootton.
Above : Joseph & Mary Wootton (nee Mills).
Above : Joseph & Mary Wootton (nee Mills).
Taken 1st July 1908 at their Daughter Sarah's marriage to Harry Sheppard.
Above : Original wooden pie moulds that belonged to Joseph & Mary Wootton (nee Mills).
Marked with JW & M.
Above : Joseph Wootton and his men building Jubilee Cottages (2/4 Clay Street) Wymeswold.
Joseph is 2nd from the left. I believe it may be William Hardy on the far right. c 1897
Above : Clay Street Wymeswold. Taken from original glass negative.
Note on the left the Memorial Hall is yet to be built,
on the right the newly built Jubilee Cottages (2/4 Clay Street) can be seen.
Taken around 1900 by Philip Edward Brown.
{Care of Christopher Brown}
Above : Another image of Clay Street. On the right the Jubilee Cottages (2/4 Clay Street) can still be seen and on the left the property is where the Wootton family lived. Wymeswold folk may remember it as a large white rendered building before it was demolished. It was actually originally three cottages knocked into one. It has been known as Lavender Cottage and also 'The Pillars" after three large pillars were added to protect it against any World War II bombing and subsidence from the clay soil under the foundations. Taken around 1900 by Philip Edward Brown.
{Care of Christopher Brown}
Above : A modern view of Jubilee Cottages (2/4 Clay Street) Wymeswold.
Above : Thomas Warner & Mary Wootton (nee Hardy).
Thomas was Joseph & Mary Wootton's Son.
Below : The Children of Thomas Warner Wootton. Grand-Children of Joseph & Mary Wootton (nee Mills).
Above : Ellen (Nell) Wootton.
Author of the books on Wymeswold life
& the Wootton family.
Above : One of Ellen Smith, nee Wootton's original books gifted to my Mum and the Sheppard family.
Above : Ellen (Nell) & John Sidney Smith
and family.
Above : Edna May Wootton.
Above : Off Motorbiking ... !
2nd - Edna May Wootton, 4th - Lottie Wootton
Above : On a stroll ... !
2nd - Lottie Wootton, 3rd - Edna May Wootton,
Above : John Wootton.
Above : John Wootton on his wedding day.
Bill Wootton, his Brother on the right.
Above : A young Bill Wootton with Miss Simpson.
Taken in Clay Street, Wymeswold , outside the shop she ran with her Aunt Miss Wood. Take in the early 1920's.