Samuel Wootton (1808-1849)
Sarah Warner (1807-1895)

Samuel Wootton and Sarah Warner are my 3rd Great-Grandparents on the Wootton family line. Samuel was born in 1808 in Wymeswold, the 4th Son of Thomas and Sarah Wootton (nee Cooper). In 1808 the current Monarch is George III. At the start of March the slave trade is finaly abolished in all of Britain's colonies as per the agreement of the Slave Trade Act 1807. At the Battle of Zealand Point British ships defeat those of Denmark and Norway, and on the 6th May Spain passes under the control of Napoleon, the Anglo-Spanish War (1796–1808) effectively ends as the United Kingdom allies with Spain and Portugal against the French in the Peninsular War. Later in the year the original Theatre Royal in Covent Garden, London is destroyed by fire. 

Samuel worked as a Cordwainer or a Shoemaker in Wymeswold or the older spelling of Wimeswould. A Cordwainer produced leather goods such as shoes and other items such as leather bottles. Originally, a cordwainer was a worker skilled in crafting cordwain or cordovan leather. Cordwain was a type of high-quality leather produced in Moorish Córdoba, Spain during the Middle Ages. The name comes from the Old French word “cordoan”, which means “leather of Cordova”, the Spanish city whose leather was celebrated for its quality. Samuel is also mentioned in the 1935 Pigot & Co.'s National Commercial Directory as being a Boot & Shoe Maker in Wimeswould.

His future Wife was called Sarah Warner, she was from Knowle, Warwickshire, born to William and Hannah Warner. She was born in 1807. The name Warner was used as a second name for several of the younger generations of Woottons. 1807 saw Britain continue in its involvement in the Napoleonic Wars and Anglo-Spanish War, in the Battle of Montevideo the British capture Montevideo from the Spanish Empire, as part of the invasions of the River Plate. Between the 2nd and 7th of September the Battle of Copenhagen takes place, the Royal Navy bombards Copenhagen with fire bombs and phosphorus rockets to prevent the Dano-Norwegian navy from surrendering to Napoleon. One third of the city is destroyed and two thousand citizens killed. On the 2nd September Anglo-Russian War (1807–1812) proceeds with Russia declaring war on the United Kingdom.

Samuel and Sarah are married at her local parish church in Edgbaston, St Bartholomew, Warwickshire on the 8th November 1830. They would have at least 8 children. Starting with 3 girls, Sarah in 1831, Mary, 1834 and Hannah in 1837. Samuel and his family appear in the Census of 1841 living on Far Street Wymeswold, he is aged 32 and his profession is noted as 'Shoe Maker'. He is living with Wife Sarah, aged 33 and their Daughters Sarah, age 9, Mary, age 7 and Hannah, age 4.

They had a boy called Charles in December of 1840 but he unfortunately died as an infant in January 1841. A 2nd Son was born in 1842 called William. He along with his Wife Betsy Haywood would have many children including Tom Wootton who emigrated to the USA. Then 2 more girls came along, Emma in 1844 and Esther in 1846, unfortunately Esther would pass away as an infant too, in 1847. Last came a Son Joseph Wootton in 1849, my Great Grandfather, he followed his Brother William into the building trade constructing many houses in Wymeswold and surrounding area.

Samuel passed away on the 18th July 1849 at Wymeswold and was buried on the 20th. He died of Tuberculosis or Consumption as it was known then. TB was a major killer in the nineteenth century. It is caused by a bacillus, modern name is mycobacterium tuberculosis. It is commonly spread through the air especially as the sufferer coughs up copious phlegm. The bacilli also settles on the floor where is it later stirred up. If a person is fairly fit the bacillus that enters the lungs can be fought off by the immune system but circumstances such as malnutrition, crowded rooms, no ventilation, dirty floors etc. can cause the disease to take hold. When Samuels passed away  his Wife Sarah was present, she made her mark x on the certificate, so it looks like she could not read and write.  The official Cause of death was Consumption, 2 years certified.

Sarah was now a widow with a large family, she made a living working originally as a Lace Worker and later as a Seamstress. Working with lace was a cottage industry that had been around for centuries, it is extremely skilled and time consuming work, girls would train for years to become proficient.  Lace was probably made in the Eastern Counties of Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire prior to 1563, these were and still are flax growing areas, but the craft was introduced to England at large in the late 16th century and gained popularity with the arrival of Protestant Huguenot refugees from continental Europe, the first wave of lacemakers from the continent came in from 1563 to 1568. Bobbin lace developed into a thriving cottage industry, particularly in Devon, where Honiton lace was made and in the Midlands counties where styles like Bucks Point and Bedfordshire lace evolved. Lace-making was typically done at home by women and children, providing an important source of income for many rural families. They would be working away for 10 to 12 hours a day, typically earning 1 penny per day, in some cases such as in Northampton, they could earn between 1 penny 6d to 2s per day. Bobbin lace, also known as pillow lace, involves plaiting threads around pins on a supporting pillow, using thread wound around bone or wooden bobbins. There were about 150,000 persons engaged in pillow lace in 1800, there was also a lot of exploitation of the young girls who worked long hours and for little money in the lace schools, where the owners were able to sell the product at a good price. The 18th and 19th centuries saw bobbin lace reach peak popularity, widely used in fashion, church linen and household decoration. However, the second half of the 19th century saw a decline due to the invention of lace machines, leading to a steep decline in the craft. From 1820 to 1860, the hand-operated lace frames were gradually replaced by steam-driven, factory-based machines. The pillow lace industry in the villages lost volume, and had practically disappeared by 1860.

Sarah lived and worked in Wymeswold initially, in 1851 she is at Goddards Yard with her young Sons Joseph Wootton and William Wootton and her Daughter Emma, she is working as a Lace Worker at that time. By 1861 she had moved to Clay Street, where they are joined by her Grand-daughter Eliza, Sarah is noted as a Seamstress, rather than a Lace Worker, an occupation that would have declined by that time. In 1871 it is just her and her Son Joseph left at Clay Street,  she is now 64 years of age and noted as a widow, rather then still having an occupation, and by 1881 she had moved to Swifts Lane, Wymeswold, living with Brother-in-Law Thomas Wootton and family.

By the early 1890's Sarah has moved to Thorpe in The Glebe, which is just over the border in Nottinghamshire. She is living with Daughter Sarah Miller and family. Thorpe in the Glebe, sometimes called Thorpe in the Clottes in the 14th Century, has now disappeared and no longer exists as a village, with only scattered farms remaining.  Signs of abandonment was evident by 1500's and the area described as a ruin in 1534. The local church tower was still standing in 1810 but by 1844 only overgrown ruins remained, all that now remains of the church is a grass-covered mound on the south side of the Chapel Close and to the north west of Church Site Farm. Some earthworks remain of the village and surround the Church Site Farm, these are registered as a protected scheduled monument.

Sarah passed away on the 4th March 1895 in Thorpe in the Glebe. Joseph, her Son was by her side.

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Samuel Wootton (1808-1849)

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Born  c1808 in Wymeswold, Leicestershire

Baptised. 30th January 1808, Wimeswold
Father Thomas Wootton
Mother Sarah

Marriage. 08 Nov 1830 Samuel Wootton to Sarah Warner. By Banns.
Edgbaston, St Bartholomew, Warwickshire
Signed by Samuel Wootton, Sarah made her mark x

1835 Pigot & Co.'s National Commercial Directory - Wotton Samuel, Wimeswould. Boot & Shoe Makers.

Census 1841.   Samuel Wootton Age 32.  

Profession - Shoe Maker

Address - Far Street, Wymeswold.

Living with Wife Sarah(33) 

Daughters Sarah(9), Mary(7), Hannah(4).

His name is stated on the Birth Certificate of Joseph Wootton 15/1/1849 (Samuel Wootton)  - Occupation Cordwainer

His name is stated on the Marriage Certificate of Joseph Wootton  2/3/1872 (Samuel Wootton -Deceased)- Occupation Shoemaker.

Died.   18th July 1849 in Wymeswold.    

Buried in Wymeswold 20 July 1849  Age 41

*to view more details on Samuel's passing click here

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Sarah Warner (1807-1895)

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Born  c1807 in Knowle, Warwickshire

Name Sarah Warner
Event Type Baptism
Baptism Date 26 Jul 1807
Baptism Place Knowle, Warwickshire, England
Parish Knowle
Father William Warner
Mother Hannah Warner

Marriage. 08 Nov 1830 Samuel Wootton to Sarah Warner. By Banns.
Edgbaston, St Bartholomew, Warwickshire
Signed by Samuel Wootton, Sarah made her mark x

Census 1841.  Sarah Age 33. 

Address - Far Street, Wymeswold.

Living with Husband Samuel Wootton (32).  Profession - Shoe Maker

Daughter Sarah(9), Mary(7), Hannah(4)

Her mark was made on the birth Certificate of Joseph Wootton (Registered 10/2/1849)

Census 1851.  Sarah Age 44. Profession - Lace Worker.

Address - Goddards Yard, Wymeswold.

Living with Sons Joseph Wootton (2) & William Wootton(8) 

Daughter Emma (6).

Census 1861.  Age 54. Profession - Seamstress.

Address - Clay Street , Wymeswold.

Living with Sons -

Joseph Wootton (12) (Plough Boy) 

William Wootton(18) (Bricklayer).

Grand-daughter Eliza(1)

Census 1871.  Age 64. Profession - Widow.

Address - Clay Street , Wymeswold.

Living with Son Joseph Wootton (22) (Bricklayer). 

*(Eliza, age 11, living with her Uncle Thomas at Swifts Lane)

Census 1881.  Age 74. Profession - Widow.

Address - Swifts Lane , Wymeswold.

Living with Brother-in-Law Thomas Wootton(70)

And Thomas's Nephew Tom(15) & Niece Eliza(21).

Census 1891.  Age 84. Profession - Widow. Born - Nole, Warwickshire

Address - Thorpe in The Glebe,  Nottinghamshire .

Living with Daughter Sarah Miller(60) - Widow

And Sarah's Son George E Miller(15) & Niece Eliza(31).

Arthur Freeman(23) - Farm Servant

Died.   4th March 1895  Thorpe in the Glebe Aged 88 years.

*to view more details on Sarah's passing click here

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 Notes on Children :

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SARAH WOOTTON (1831-1903)

b   c1831, Wymeswold, Leicestershire

m.  Married - Mr William Miller. 29 Sep 1870

d.  20 Sep 1903, Wymeswold, Leicestershire. (Sarah Miller)

n.  Lived at Thorpe in the Glebe with husband.

    Later known as Aunt Miller.

    Children - George Ernest Miller

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MARY WOOTTON  (1834-1920)

 b.   1834, Wymeswold, Leicestershire

 bap. 6 Oct 1834, Wymeswold, Leicestershire.  Father Samuel Wootton  Mother Sarah

 m.   (1) John Gill    Bet. Oct -Dec 1857 in Southwell, Nottinghamshire.  

 m.   (2) Edmund Price 16 Jul 1871 Sutton in Ashfield, St. Mary Magdalene, Nottinghamshire.

 m.   (3) William Pike Bet. Jul - Sep 1871 in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire.

 d.   Bet. Jan - Mar 1920 in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. (Mary Pike)

 n.   Was widowed three times. Worked as a Laundress in Mansfield.

        Children - Sarah, Emma & Joseph Gill

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HANNAH WOOTTON  (1837-1872)

 b.  c 1837, Wymeswold, Leicestershire.

 m.  Mark Tucker 19 Feb 1867 in Sandiacre,Derbyshire

 d.  21 Aug 1872, Sandiacre,Derbyshire. (Hannah Wootton)

 n.  Children - Charles William Tucker

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CHARLES WOOTTON  (1840-1841)

b.   11 Dec 1840, Wymeswold, Leicestershire. 

bap. 10 January 1841 Wymeswold, Leicestershire.  Father Samuel Wootton  Mother Sarah

d.   3 Feb 1841, Wymeswold, Leicestershire.

Bur. 7 February 1841 Wymeswold, Leicestershire.

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WILLIAM WOOTTON  (1842-1937)

b. 28 Dec 1842, Wymeswold, Leicestershire.

bap. 22 Feb 1843, Wymeswold, Leicestershire.  Father Samuel Wootton  Mother Sarah

m. Betsy Haywood 26 Jul 1864 Wymeswold, Leicestershire.

d. 27 Sep 1937, Nottingham.

n. Children - Tom, Charles, Samuel, John, Annie, William Henry, Caroline, William, Lizzie Wootton

  * Tom Emigrated to the US with his wife Hannah (aka Annie) in 1889

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EMMA WOOTTON  (1844-1923)    

b.   5 Dec 1844, Wymeswold, Leicestershire.

bap. 29 Dec 1844, Wymeswold, Leicestershire.  Father Samuel Wootton  Mother Sarah

Bap. 29 December 1844 in Wymeswold

d.   Bet. Sep -Dec 1923, Shardlow,Derbyshire.

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ESTHER WOOTTON  (1846-1847)  

b.  9 Nov 1846, Wymeswold, Leicestershire.

d.  29 May 1847, Wymeswold, Leicestershire.

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JOSEPH WOOTTON  (1849-1925)

b.  15 Jan 1849, Wymeswold, Leicestershire.

bap. 18 Jan 1849, Wymeswold, Leicestershire.  Father Samuel Wootton  Mother Sarah

m.  Mary Ann Mills 2 Mar 1872 Baptist Chapel, Baxter Gate, Loughborough

d.  17 Mar 1925, Wymeswold, Leicestershire.

n.  Children - Sarah Ann, Florence Harriet & Thomas Wootton

{See main descendant page - Joseph Wootton}

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