Research Forum

Marsh Farm & Unity Farm, Berrow Charles Washer early 1800's
published by on Sat, 05/04/2014 - 15:28
Hi I'm trying to understand why my direct line ancestors (below) said in old NZ and Bristol newspaper articles they were from Marsh Farm Berrow when the census's c.1850 -70 list them as employing workers on Unity Farm? (about 2km away). Were both these farms part of the same property prior to Marsh Farm being largely built out by the current village of Berrow today?


14. CHARLES WASHER (Marsh Farm Berrow, Somerset, UK) 1799-1866
Born: 1799
Family: Five brothers and five sisters all born in Berrow UK.
Married: To Elizabeth Washer (Nee Hawkins)
Died: 1866 buried in Berrow Somerset
Notes:
• Two of Charle's Brothers: George (born 1798) and James (born 1805) immigrated to Dunedin NZ and Auckland NZ respectively. George is the father of Ben Washer in Dunedin. James is the father of Edwin Washer in Auckland.
• John the eldest brother (1794) went to the USA.


15. ELIZABETH WASHER nee Hawkins (Berrow) abt 1808-1864
Born: 1808 in Berrow UK
Family: nee Hawkins
Married: To Charles Washer (above Marsh Farm Berrow)
Died: 1864 buried in Somerset
Notes:
• Children, Jane 1833, Elizabeth 1835, George 1836, Edward 1838, Priscilla 1839 (Priscilla married a widower named Palmer with a son John and daughter Sarah. Priscilla’s brother Charles Washer married Sarah Palmer) William 1841 (went to Waikato NZ), Charles 1844, James 1846 (Cardiff), Sophia 1848,Alfred 1851 (Tauranga), John 1855 (USA)

16. CHARLES WASHER (Marsh Farm Berrow (census says Unity Farm) /1876 family travelled to Auckland/Inaha in NZ) 1844-1932
Born: 1844
Family: - Charles had six brothers and three sisters all born in Berrow UK.
- Eldest brother (George) born 1836 stayed in Berrow
- 2nd eldest brother (Edward) born 1838 owned the "Ham Farm" on Ham Road at Berrow
- Two other younger brothers also left for NZ.

17. SARAH WASHER Nee Palmer (Marsh farm Berrow / Inaha) 1848-1898
(Greatx3 Grandmother)
Born: 1848 in Berrow.
Married: To Charles Washer (above)
Died 20th Jan 1897 in Hawera aged 48
Notes
• Departed Berrow, Somerset in 1876 on the Clipper Dunbritton

Comments ..


Submitted by Pat Hase on Sun, 06/04/2014 - 1:35

If you look at the image of the 1871 census you will see that Charles WASHER (schedule 36) is not living at Unity Farm - this is occupied by William HARRIS (schedule No 29) entered on the previous page from Charles WASHER.  None of the entries following William HARRIS have actual addresses on the census until you get to Schedule No 39 - Pusey Lodge.

On the 1851 Census Charles WASHER senior is entered at Schedule 49 - address South Road - no mention of any farm name, although he is said to be farming 70 acres.

On the 1861 Census Charles WASHER's address is simply "Village" again no farm name.

Does Marsh Farm appear on birth certificates as the place of birth for the children?

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Submitted by on Tue, 08/04/2014 - 15:39
Thank you very much for the information. I do not have their birth certificates but th family always said in newspapers they we from Marsh Farm Berrow. Do you have any information on Marsh or Unity Farms Berrow in the 1870's, I.e who owned the farms, etc? I'm trying to understand why my family who seemed to have a comfortable life in Berrow immigrated to NZ in 1876 on the Clipper Dunbritton.

On the 1851 Census Charles WASHER senior is entered at Schedule 49 - address South Road - no mention of any farm name, although he is said to be farming 70 acres and had 2 labourers"..

The 1861 Census lists "Charles WASHER senior & Elizabeth Washer South Road Farmer of 127 acres in Village" - the village name is not provide but it could be Berrow.

The 1871 Census lists "Charles II Washer (23 years old) and Sarah Washer lived at Unity Farm Berrow". Unity Farm is about 2km north west from Marsh Farm.

I understand Marsh Farm was later built on by the Berrow Village township near the church and a remaining 30 acre section became Marsh Farm and Homestead (36 Barton Road) today.
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Submitted by Pat Hase on Wed, 09/04/2014 - 0:23

You stated :

The 1861 Census lists "Charles WASHER senior & Elizabeth Washer South Road Farmer of 127 acres in Village" - the village name is not provide but it could be Berrow.

Yes, it's Berrow, the Parish Name of Berrow is omitted from this page but as it is on every other page there is no reason to suppose that it could be anywhere else.

The 1871 Census lists "Charles II Washer (23 years old) and Sarah Washer lived at Unity Farm Berrow".

This is not correct - do look at the original image. As I mentioned before, Charles WASHER is NOT at Unity Farm in 1871 (and he is aged 27).  The census transcription is inaccurate - there is no address given for Charles & Sarah WASHER.  William HARRIS is living at Unity Farm and is farming 137 acres and employing 2 men.

Interestingly in a book entitled The Story of Berrow and Brean by William St J Kemm whilst discussing life in Berrow during Victorian times he writes: 

"The number of baptisms in Berrow and Brean until modern times have always exceeded the number of burials.  Surplus children had alway had to leave the village when they grew up and this was still more the case when the agricultural depression set in after 1850.  The WASHER family in 1851 had six sons and four daughters living in what is today, Mead Farm. Presumably the daughters married. Of the oldest boys George inherited the farm, though there is no trace of him in the 1881 census;lucky Edward married Ellen TALBOT and worked her father's farm - the largest in the village, William, aged 11 in 1851, Charles aged 9 and little Alford 2 months, later all emigrated to New Zealand, Charles only dying in 1932 at the fine old age of 90.  Their descendents today are prosperous dairy and sheep farmers. James aged 5 in 1851 emigrated to California".

Unfortunately this book does not have references to its sources but it looks as if someone from your family may well have given some information, although I'm intrigued by his mention of Mead Farm.  It does describe some of the reasons for the agricultural depression.  Bad harvests coupled with the advent of the railway contributed to the hard times,  The railway allowed Somerset farmers to send their produce to market more quickly but it also allowed for imported grain, New Zealand lamb and Australian wool to be brought to Somerset - thereby harming the home market.

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Submitted by uphill on Fri, 11/04/2014 - 23:16

Hello - Charles Washer was my 3X GT grandfather via daughter Jane  - did not realise some of her brothers went to NZ.

Best wishes S.

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Submitted by on Mon, 05/05/2014 - 14:55
Hi from NZ

I am putting together a Washer family book - It would be great if you could provide a few words on what happened to Jane Washer? - I understand she married a Mr Cook and had a 4 children locally as outlined below? Most of the family who lived at Marsh Farm, Berrow and a servant went to NZ abt 1876. They named their NZ house and NZ farms "Brent Knoll" which after 138 yrs in NZ we now know where this comes from...

Have you ever heard of a local "Birkenwood"? or maybe pronounced Burtonwood? as this place name below has eluded me

FYI: Copied below is the Berrow to NZ direct line history which included our shared GGG Grandfather

9. GEORGE WASHER (Berrow, UK) abt 1700-17
Born: abt 1700 in England.
Family: George's brother was Richard Washer "Chudliyh Cleric us" Vicar of Hemisk who married Alice Champneys at Topsam in Devon 1708.
Married: To Joan Washer (Nee Drake - Please refer to Sir Francis Drakes brother (life long sailing partner) commentary above).
Died: Living 1700's.
Notes:
• Owned 13 acres of land at Berrow, Somerset.
• (Greatx7 Grandfather of Laura)

JOHN WASHER (Birkenwood) 1720-1799
Born: 1720 in Bircham Wood, near Newland village near Crowcombe England.
Family: John the eldest inherited the Bircham Wood farm and James Washer became a Farrier in Berrow (below)
Married: To Priscilla Washer (Nee unknown).
Died: 1799.
Notes:
• Yeoman (farmer and land owner) in Bircham Wood.
• (Greatx6 Grandfather of Laura Washer).

13. JAMES WASHER (Berrow, Somerset) 1769-1855
Born: 1769 in Crowcombe Somerset.
Family: Had ten children (5 boys and girls).
Married: To Elizabeth (aka Betty) Washer (Nee Hawkinas) 1769-1844.
Died: 1855 buried in Berrow, Somerset UK.
Notes:
• James was a Farrier (Blacksmith) in Berrow. He was the second eldest son and the Bircham Wood farm went to his older brother John Washer (born 1763 - died 18 Oct 1833) who first married Anne (3 children: William 1790, Chas 1792, James 1794 to 1826). John Washers 2nd wife Mary Hewitt (1 child: John Washer 30th Oct 1796 married Sarah who died in Berrow 1870).
• Greatx5 Grandfather of Laura.
• THE EIGHT CHILDREN OF JAMES & BETTY WASHER ARE LISTED BELOW:
• 1) John Washer (born 1794) went to the USA.
• 2) George Washer (born 1798) is the father of Benjamin Washer in Otago, NZ. George moved to Winscombe, Somerset. George's son Benjamin (born 1837, Winscombe, Somerset) went to Australia and then Port Otago, NZ in 1862 for gold - Ben's obituary 1904 (Died Dunedin) is below.
• 3) Ann WASHER (born 1802) married James ASHLEY (A stone mason). Anne was born . abt. 1802 in Berrow, Somerset, England Father: James Washer Mother: Betty Clothier. Ann was married: 20 Dec 1828, in St. Michael's Church, Bristol, England. Died. 5 Jan 1877 in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, England. Buried. 9 Jan 1877 (Wrington Parish register) - Wrington is a small village c.20km north west of Berrow in Somerset Wrington, Somerset, England.
• Notes: 1841 Census, Wrington:- James Ashley , 35 , Mason , Wrington Ann (nee Washer), 40 , Wife, Jane , 12 , Daughter , Warington Edward , 10 , Son , " Elizabeth , 8 , Daughter , " Thomas , 6 , Son , " Fred , 4 , Son , " Ruscombe , 2 , Son ,".
• 1851:- Census, Wrington: James Ashley, 46 , Mason, Ann (nee Washer), 49 , Straw bonnet maker, Jane , 22 , Shoe binder Elizabeth , 18 , Shoe binder, Fred , 13 , Son Ruscombe , 11 , Son, Sophia , 9 , Daughter, Emma , 5 , Daughter.
• 1861:- Census, Wrington: James , 57 , Master Stone Mason, Ann (nee Washer) , 59 , Wife, Ellen Tudor (son's wife's child) Orphan , age 7 . Scholar , born Coate , Wiltshire
• 1871:- - Census, Wrington: Wrington is a small village c.20km north west of Berrow in Somerset, James , Married , Head , 67 , Retired Stone Mason, Ann (nee Washer), 69 , Wife, Emma White , ( grand-daughter ) , under , 15 , Gen. Dom. Servant , B. Aberdare
Arthur . E . Ashley , grandson , 7 , scholar , B. Bristol, Walter . J . Ashley , grandson , 5 , scholar , B. Bristol.
• James Ashley first appears in the tax records for Wrington in 1825 , the year after his father's death , owning and occupying a property for which he was paying the sum of - 5- 7 1/2 in taxes. Whether this is his father's old property. In 1826 and 1827 , this property is described as houses and garden and he paid - 4 6 that year in tax.
• From 1828-1831 James Ashley owns the same property but it is occupied by a Jenkins and others . Jenkins could possibly be an uncle or cousin , as there was a John Jenkins in town , at this time , who owned a small property. In 1832 James is back owning and occupying his property for which he still paid - 4 6 , in taxes.
• 4) William Washer 1794.
• 5) the late Charles Washer 1799 - Direct ancestry line - lived at Marsh Farm Berrow
• 6) James Washer 1805, James is the father of Edwin Washer who was in Whangarei in 1880 (Married to Emily) and Parnell Auckland, NZ in the 1881 census.
• 7) Sophia Washer 1808.
• 8) Charlotte - Recorded as born 14 Mar 1818 WASHER, Charlotte, d.o. James & Elizabeth, Berrow, Blacksmith.

15. CHARLES WASHER (Marsh Farm, Berrow, Somerset) 1799-1866
Born: 1799.
Family: Five brothers and three sisters all born in Berrow (see above).
Married: To Elizabeth Washer (Nee Hawkinas).
Died: 1866 buried in Somerset. Marsh-Farm is at 60 Barton Road Berrow.
Notes:
• Born at Marsh-farm Berrow, Somerset County, England in 1799, and his wife in 1809. They were married about the year 1829 and the death of Charles occurred in 1866, two years after that of his wife. They never left Berrow.
• The local paper the Bristol Mercury Bristol, England, 4th Apr 1874, Births, Deaths, Marriages and Obituaries - Married "Gabriel Palmer, of ,layliold-houss, Ltighbridge, auctioneer and estate agent, married. to Priscilis, third dautghter of the late Mr. Charlee Washer, n . of Marsh-farm, Berrow".
• Greatx4 Grandfather of Laura.

• THE ELEVEN CHILDREN OF CHARLES & ELIZABETH ARE LISTED BELOW:
• 1) Jane Washer (born 1833 - the eldest) married into the Cook family. She had two boys and two girls. One Emma Jane Sherrin lived at Swansea and the other at Weston-Super-Mare, Somerset. Jane married John Cook in 1861 and had 4 children - 1. George Cook 1862, married Eleanor Saunders Durston and had 7 children. 2. Elizabeth Esther 1864, married John Raines and had 2 children. 3. Edward 1867 married Ada Gould and had 3 children. 4. Emma Jane 1874 married LLewellyn Vaughan Sherrin and had 4 children. Jane's ancestors still live in Somerset.
• 2) Elizabeth Washer (born 1835) married a William Gilling and settled at Auckland NZ. She received £60 from George Washer's estate. Her daughter got £92 from Priscilla Washer's estate in 1923. Herbert, George and Bessie her children got £108 from Edward Washer's estate.
• 3) George Washer (born 1836), Eldest son stayed in Berrow and died a bachelor. Being the oldest boy, George inherited Marsh Farm, though there is no trace of him in the 1881 census.
• 4) Edward Washer (born 1838), 2nd eldest son - Edward Washer luckily married Ellen TALBOT and worked her father's farm - the largest in the village. They lived on "Ham Farm" possibly on Ham Road 3.3 miles inland from Berrow near Brent Knoll (see above). He was married but had no children. In 1918/19 during the war (aged 80) Edward sent a letter to his four Washer siblings who went to NZ asking them to please return to Brent Knoll to keep the Washer family name alive in Berrow. Edward said he would make it worth their while to return to Brent Knoll but none of the four NZ Washers took up the offer. Edythe Washer in a typed letter said Edward owned a nice house in Brent Knoll village.
• 5) Priscilla Washer 1839 (5th eldest) married a widower (Gabriel Palmer) who already had son John Palmer and daughter named Sarah Palmer. Charles Washer her brother (# 6 below direct line) who immigrated to Mangere, NZ married this Sarah Palmer his non blood relative. Charles then travelled to NZ in 1876 aged 32 with his wife Sarah (nee Palmer) and their 4 eldest children.
• 6) Charles Washer 1844 - 1932 direct ancestry line and wife Sarah (nee Palmer) left for New Zealand in 1876 on the clipper ship "Dunbritton" (See below). They had 5 sons and 3 daughters all who lived in Taranaki.
• 7) William Washer 1841 3rd eldest son born 1841-1926 (established the Waikato /Horotiu Washer's (see section below). Arrived in Auckland on 31 Jan 1870 on the ship “City of Auckland' and lived at Horotiu (near Hamilton) until 1926. The late William Washer was married to Jane Clow in Papatoetoe in 1871. They lived in Papatoeoe and Horotiu and had 11 children. The Horotiu Washers' owned the farm land on which the Horotiu AFFCO Meatwork's now sits until 1915 when they sold part of it and kept two corner blocks. The Horotiu/Te Puke Washer's eldest son went to Gallipoli.
• 8) James Washer 1846 left Berrow for Cardiff, UK 20km away across Bristol Channel. He had one daughter (Mrs Millie Tiplin) who then had two sons (Jack and Gilbert) and they all lived at Cardiff.
• 9) Sophia Washer 1848 - married into the Hodges and lived at Brent Knoll, Somerset and had 6 children. Sophia and two of the children (Frank and Ada) both drowned in the English Channel. One of her other children married but had no children. Gertrude had three girls. Nellie and Anne lived at Brent Knoll and Annie was blind. remained in Brent Knoll, Somerset. Sophia Washer was drowned while crossing the English channel.
• 10) Alfred Washer born 1851 and arrived at Port Otago, NZ on the ship "Undaunted" in 1869. He moved to Opotiki and then established the Tauranga Washers' who later owned the GM car dealership in Tauranga in the 1950's. Alfred had seven children: George, Alfred, Fred, Victor, Harold, Charlie and Ethal. Dennis Washer is the grandson of George, son of Alfred Washer born 1851. I.e. Alfred Washer- George Lemon senior - George Lemon junior - Dennis. It was George senior who settled in Whakatane in 1929. There was a very popular pie cart on Shortland Street in central Auckland in the 1950's. This pie cart, known as the White Lady, was set up in the 1950s by George senior's son Bryan Alfred and still operates today (2014) under the ownership of Bryan's son Peter.
• 11) John Washer 1855 - the youngest went to Bangor Township near Bay City, Michigan. USA in 1872. His children were Charles and Myrtle and then by another marriage had a son Edward C. Washer. ARTICLE: Among the American citizens of English birth and parentage who have helped to make Bay County USA prosperous and progressive, we find Mr. Washer, who lives on section 8, Bangor Township. His parents, Charles and Elizabeth Washer (John parents), were born at Marsh-farm Berrow, Somerset County, England, the former in 1799, and the latter in 1809. They were married about the year 1829 and the death of the father occurred in 1866, two years after that of his wife. John's parents never left their native home. John was born February 16, 1855 at Berrow, Somerset County, England and when seventeen years old came to this country, reaching American April 18, 1872. He worked for E. B. Dennison for four or five years and made his home on a farm in Kawkawlin Township for several years. He had a farm of ten acres which he had under good cultivation. His marriage which occurred November 17, 1880 united him with Ada D, daughter of Freeman Curtiss a resident of West Bay City. They had two children, Charles F., who was born October 23, 1881, and Myrta Elizabeth who came to them September 21, 1883. For three years he has been Supervisor of the township, and for three years prior to that time he was Township Clerk. Socially he belonged to the Independent Order of Foresters.

17. CHARLES WASHER (Marsh Farm/Auckland/Inaha) 1844-1932
Born: 1844 (Greatx3 Grandfather of Laura)
Family: Charles Washer (4th youngest) had six brothers and three sisters all born in Berrow UK. He immigrated to NZ in 1876 on the Dunbritton aged 32 with his wife Sarah and 4 eldest children.

Married: Charles married Sarah Washer (Nee Palmer) below. Had eight children
Died: Charles died in 1932 and is buried in Hawera.
Notes:
• Departed London on 6th May 1876 on the Dunbritton (see below). Charles would have had Sarah and four of their children marked in bold below with them on the ship from England (3 months voyage): Ernest Alfred 1870, William Gabriel 1871, Minnie Palmer 1872, Albert Edgar 1874, Caroline Harding 1877, Charles Henry (known as Harry) 1878, Elsie Maud 1881, Sidney Victor 1888 and William.
• The cost of a fare from London to NZ one way was c.£30/family - equivalent to £25,190/family 138 years later at a 5% discount rate.
• Farmed near Little Black Bridge, Auckland and provided milk to the Mangere Dairy Factory near the Auckland Airport for 18 years.
• C Washer is noted as the winner of the heaviest dozen duck eggs of 31lbs at the local Mangere Produce Fair in the Auckland Star paper, Volume XXII, Issue 264, 6 November 1891, Page 3.
• A fifteen-acre cemetery reserve is established at Mangere. On 24 October 1890 trustees are appointed to manage this, the Mangere Public Cemetery. These include some well-known Mangere names: James Robertson (then chairman of the Mangere Road Board), Mathew Middlewood Kirkbride, Joseph Ambury, Charles Washer, and William Ferguson Massey. The cemetery is opened on 1st September 1893.
• The Washers all came to New Plymouth in 1894 on the SS Gairlock departing from Onehunga Wharf (see newspaper article below). They took numerous horses and 80 head of cattle on the steamer.
• Charles Washer swam his cattle to shore off New Plymouth but one started to swim to Australia so he had to jump in the water to turn it around. He then had pneumonia (probably from the cold water) but still walked the cattle and horses 83km to Inaha Manaia over the next week.
• Leased a 158 acre dairy farm from The McCracken Bros at Inaha, called "Langside Farm" which his son Sydney Victor Washer later brought freehold.

18. SYDNEY VICTOR WASHER (Hawera) 1888-1971
Born: 1888 - Great Great Grandfather of Laura
Married: To Edythe Washer (nee Barleyman)
Family: Charles Gordon 1918, Sydney Jack 1919 (died of leukemia at 16), James Victor 1921 (Jim), Edward Palmer 1923 (Ted), Alfred Saxon 1925, (died in infancy)
Died 10/05/71 Hawera
Notes
• Brought a 158 acre dairy farm at Inaha Mania called "Langside" (this is the farm his dad Charles leased) off the McCracken Brothers for £100 per acre (vendor financed) which was the highest land price paid in Taranaki at the time. During the Great Depression the McCracken Brothers allowed Sydney to "pay what he could".

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Submitted by Pat Hase on Mon, 05/05/2014 - 23:52

If you look at the transcriptions of the Berrow marriages on this site you will find their marriage in May 1861.  Censuses will tell you where their 4 children were born and in fact you can find the christenings of 3 of them in the Bleadon Baptisms on this site.  It certainly looks as if John COOK was a successful farmer in Bleadon for many years.  Jane is still there as a widow in 1911.

on FreeBMD there is this death which certainly looks like a possibility

Deaths  Sep qrt. 1918
Cook  Jane A    83    Axbridge    5c     499

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Submitted by Pat Hase on Sun, 13/04/2014 - 15:17

You've obviously done an enormous amount of research - congratulations.

There is a marriage of a John WASHER to a Priscilla GRIDLEY in Crowcombe in 1757.  Transcriptions of Crowcombe parish registers can be seen on the web page of West Somerset Parishes which is maintained by Martin Southwood. Click on Parish Register Transcriptions and then scroll down until you reach Crowcombe.

You write that John died in 1799 and there is a burial in Crowcombe in that year of a John WASHER - if this is the same same John WASHER that you are related to then there are several children baptised to him and Priscilla including a James in 1769 which fits your tree.  If I am reading it correctly you write that James was the only known son of John although you later mentioned John's eldest son (another John) inheriting the Farm. Could it be that Birkenwood was in the Crowcombe area?  There is a Bircham Wood just due north of village of Crowcombe.

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Submitted by on Sun, 13/04/2014 - 22:32

Hi Regan

Jane Washer was my 2 x Gt Grd Mother. She married John Cook in 1861 and had 4 children -

1. George Cook 1862, married Eleanor Saunders Durston and had 7 children.

2. Elizabeth Esther 1864, married John Raines and had 2 children.

3. Edward (My Gt Grd Father) 1867 married Ada Gould and had 3 children.

 4. Emma Jane 1874 married LLewellyn Vaughan Sherrin and had 4 children.

Let me know if you want to know more.

Richard from Bristol, UK

 

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Submitted by on Sun, 27/04/2014 - 14:35
Hi Richard James Wallis,

We have ancestors in common. I am working off a handed down 130 year old family tree diagram which looks accurate - just the one place name seems to incorrect for Bircham Wood. In particular I'm interested in the first Washers in Berrow (George and Joan Washer 1700 below) Do you have any further information on the following which are also your ancestors?:

5. JOHN WASHER (Over Stowey, Somerset ) abt 1580
Born: About 1580 - (9x Great Grand Father of Laura Washer).
Married: 30th Oct 1617 in Over Stowey.
Died: unknown.
Notes:
• Yeoman (land owner - farmer) of Over Stowey, Somerset.

6. ANNE WASHER Nee Leaves (Over Stowey, Somerset ) abt 1580
Born: TBC - (9x Great Grand Mother of Laura Washer).
Married: 30th Oct 1617 at Over Stowey, Somerset..
Died: 1600's - Married to John Washer above.

8. JOHN WASHER (Over Stowey or Berrow?) 1672
Born: Living 1672 location unknown (Parents lived at Over Stowey and son lived a Berrow)
Family: Son George
Married: Priscilla
Died: 1700's buried UK
Notes: (Great x8 Grandfather of Laura)
LOCAL EVENTS AT THAT TIME - The English Civil War (1645 to 1651),

9. GEORGE WASHER (Berrow, UK) abt 1700-17
Born: abt 1700 in England.
Family: George's brother was Richard Washer "Chudliyh Cleric us" Vicar of Hemisk who married Alice Champneys at Topsam in Devon 1708.
Married: To Joan Washer (Nee Drake - Please refer to Thomas Drake commentary above).
Died: Living 1700's.
Notes:
• Owned 13 acres of land at Berrow, Somerset.
• (Greatx7 Grandfather of Laura)

10. JOAN WASHER nee Drake (UK) abt 1700's-1730's
Born: abt 1700
Family: Joan Drake's mother was Katherine Stone (married 1698)
Married: Joan was married to George Washer in the early 1700's (above) who owned 13 acres at Berrow.
Died: TBC
Notes:

• Greatx7 Grandmother of Laura
• 5th Generation daughter of Sir Francis Drake's brother and lifelong sailing partner (Thomas). Sir Francis Drake had no children.
• Joan had five siblings
• Joan Drake's 2 brothers were scalped by Indians in North Carolina in 1733 - See red font below.
• Farway Devon (where her father lived) is 32km south from Over Storey where George Washer was brought up. Georges brother Richard was Vicker of Hemisk.
• Bamfield Drake (her father) served as Rector of Farway in Devon and was married twice. Bampfylde also referred to as "Bamfield Drake" a clerk in the Holy orders. The Reverend Bamfylde Drake of Buckland Devon, matriculated March 18, 1688-89 Exeter College, Oxford and received his BA on March 24, 1693/94. He was Rector of Treboro, Somerset, 1696 and of Farway, Devon (Foster "Alumni Oxoniesis," 1891) His will was proved 07-09-1729. the Exeter ordination register shows that he was ordained priest on January 19, 1695/96 and that he was admitted to the rectory of Farway on May 2, 1700. Reverend Bampfield Drake was the Rector of Farway, Devonshire.

Sir Francis Drake's brother and lifelong sailing partner was Thomas Drake - Edmund below was one of his sons and the 5th generation included Joan Drake who married George Washer in the early 1700's.

11. JOHN WASHER (Bircham Wood) 1720-1799
Born: 1720 in Bircham Wood, very near New Newland village, near Crowcombe Village, Somerset England. This is about 4 miles from Over Stowey Village.
Family: Two known sons John and James Washer.
Married: To Priscilla Washer (Nee unknown).
Died: 1799.
Notes:
• Yeoman (farmer and land owner) in Bircham Wood. The family farm was handed to John's eldest son John (indirect line) and James Washer the 2nd eldest (direct line - see below) was a Farrier in Berrow.
• The Bircham Wood Farm went to Jame's older brother John Washer (born 1763 - died 18 Oct 1833) who first married Anne (Children: William 1790, Chas 1792, James 1794 to 1826). John Washers 2nd wife Mary Hewitt (Children: John Washer 30th Oct 1796 married Sarah who died in Berrow 1870).
• (Greatx6 Grandfather of Laura Washer).
12. PRISCILLA WASHER nee Gridley (Bircham Wood, Newland Village ) abt 1729-1793
Born: 1729
Family: Unknown.
Married: To John Washer in 1756 - see above.
Died: 1793.
Notes: (Greatx6 Grandmother of Laura Washer). There is a marriage of a John WASHER to a Priscilla GRIDLEY in Crowcombe in 1757. Transcriptions of Crowcombe Parish registers can be seen on the web page of West Somerset Parishes which is maintained by Martin Southwood. Click on Parish Register Transcriptions and then scroll down until you reach Crowcombe.
13. JAMES WASHER (Berrow, Somerset) 1769-1855
Born: 1769 in Crowcombe Somerset.
Family: Had ten children (5 boys and girls).
Married: To Elizabeth (aka Betty) Washer (Nee Hawkinas).
Died: 1855 buried in Berrow, Somerset UK.
Notes:
• James was a Farrier in Berrow. He was the second eldest son and the Birkenwood Farm went to his older brother John Washer (born 1763 - died 18 Oct 1833) who first married Anne (3 children: William 1790, Chas 1792, James 1794 to 1826). John Washers 2nd wife Mary Hewitt (1 child: John Washer 30th Oct 1796 married Sarah who died in Berrow 1870).
• Greatx5 Grandfather of Laura.
• THE EIGHT CHILDREN OF JAMES & BETTY WASHER ARE LISTED BELOW:
• 1) John Washer (born 1794) went to the USA.
• 2) George Washer (born 1798) is the father of Ben Washer in Dunedin
• 3) Ann WASHER (born 1802) married James ASHLEY (A mason). Anne was born . abt. 1802 in Berrow, Somerset, England Father: James Washer Mother: Betty Clothier. Ann was married: 20 Dec 1828, in St. Michael's Church, Bristol, England. Died. 5 Jan 1877 in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, England. Buried. 9 Jan 1877 (Wrington Parish register) - Wrington is a small village c.20km north west of Berrow in Somerset Wrington, Somerset, England.
• Notes: 1841 Census, Wrington:- James Ashley , 35 , Mason , Wrington Ann (nee Washer), 40 , Wife, Jane , 12 , Daughter , Warington Edward , 10 , Son , " Elizabeth , 8 , Daughter , " Thomas , 6 , Son , " Fred , 4 , Son , " Ruscombe , 2 , Son ,".
• 1851:- Census, Wrington: James Ashley, 46 , Mason, Ann (nee Washer), 49 , Straw bonnet maker, Jane , 22 , Shoe binder Elizabeth , 18 , Shoe binder, Fred , 13 , Son Ruscombe , 11 , Son, Sophia , 9 , Daughter, Emma , 5 , Daughter.
• 1861:- Census, Wrington: James , 57 , Master Stone Mason, Ann (nee Washer) , 59 , Wife, Ellen Tudor (son's wife's child) Orphan , age 7 . Scholar , born Coate , Wiltshire
• 1871:- - Census, Wrington: Wrington is a small village c.20km north west of Berrow in Somerset, James , Married , Head , 67 , Retired Stone Mason, Ann (nee Washer), 69 , Wife, Emma White , ( grand-daughter ) , under , 15 , Gen. Dom. Servant , B. Aberdare
Arthur . E . Ashley , grandson , 7 , scholar , B. Bristol, Walter . J . Ashley , grandson , 5 , scholar , B. Bristol.
• James Ashley first appears in the tax records for Wrington in 1825 , the year after his father's death , owning and occupying a property for which he was paying the sum of - 5- 7 1/2 in taxes. Whether this is his father's old property. In 1826 and 1827 , this property is described as houses and garden and he paid - 4 6 that year in tax.
• From 1828-1831 James Ashley owns the same property but it is occupied by a Jenkins and others . Jenkins could possibly be an uncle or cousin , as there was a John Jenkins in town , at this time , who owned a small property. In 1832 James is back owning and occupying his property for which he still paid - 4 6 , in taxes.
• 4) William Washer 1794.
• 5) Charles Washer 1799 - Direct line.
• 6) James Washer 1805, immigrated to Auckland. James is the father of Edwin Washer in Auckland, NZ.
• 7) Sophia Washer 1808.
• 8) Charlotte 1818.

14. BETTY WASHER nee Clothier (Berrow, Somerset) abt 1769-1884
Born: 1769 in Berrow, UK.
Family: Had nine children (above).
Married: To James Washer (above).
Died: 1844 buried in Somerset.
Notes:
• See James Washer above.
• Greatx5 Grandmother of Laura Washer.

15. CHARLES WASHER (Marsh Farm, Berrow, Somerset) 1799-1866
Born: 1799.
Family: Five brothers and three sisters all born in Berrow (see above).
Married: To Elizabeth Washer (Nee Hawkinas).
Died: 1866 buried in Somerset. Marsh-Farm is at 60 Barton Road Berrow.
Notes:
• The local paper the Bristol Mercury Bristol, England, 4th Apr 1874, Births, Deaths, Marriages and Obituaries - Married "Gabriel Palmer, of ,layliold-houss, Ltighbridge, auctioneer and estate agent, married. to Priscilis, third dautghter of the late Mr. Charlee Washer, n . of Marsh-farm, Berrow".
• Greatx4 Grandfather of Laura.

• THE ELEVEN CHILDREN OF CHARLES & ELIZABETH ARE LISTED BELOW:
• 1) Jane Washer (born 1833) (the eldest) may have married into the Cook family. She had two boys and two girls. One Emilie Sherrin lived at Swansea and the other at Weston-Super-Mare, Somerset. married John Cook in 1861 and had 4 children - 1. George Cook 1862, married Eleanor Saunders Durston and had 7 children. 2. Elizabeth Esther 1864, married John Raines and had 2 children. 3. Edward 1867 married Ada Gould and had 3 children. 4. Emma Jane 1874 married LLewellyn Vaughan Sherrin and had 4 children.
• 2) Elizabeth Washer (born 1835) married a Gilling and settled at Auckland NZ. She received £60 from George Washer's estate. Her daughter got £92 from Priscilla Washer's estate in 1923. Herbert, George and Bessie her children got £108 from Edward Washer's estate.
• 3) George Washer (born 1836), Eldest son stayed in Berrow and died a bachelor. The oldest boy George inherited Marsh Farm, though there is no trace of him in the 1881 census;
• 4) Edward Washer (born 1838), 2nd eldest son - Edward Washer luckily married Ellen TALBOT and worked her father's farm - the largest in the village. They lived on "Ham Farm" possibly on Ham Road at 3.3 miles inland from Berrow near Brent Knoll (see above). He was married but had no children. In 1918/19 during the war (aged 80) Edward sent a letter to his four Washer siblings who went to NZ asking them to please return to Brent Knoll to keep the Washer family name alive in Berrow. Edward said he would make it worth their while to return to Brent Knoll but none of the four NZ Washers took up the offer. Edythe Washer in a typed letter said Edward owned a nice house in Brent Knoll village.
• 5) Priscilla Washer 1839 (5th eldest) married a widower (Palmer) who already had son John Palmer and daughter named Sarah Palmer. Charles Washer her brother (#6 below direct line) who immigrated to Mangere, NZ married this Sarah Palmer his non blood relative. Charles then travelled to NZ in 1876 aged 32 with his wife Sarah (nee Palmer) and their 4 eldest children
• 6) Charles Washer 1844 - Direct line and wife Sarah left for New Zealand in 1876 on the Clipper ship Dunbritton (see below).
• 7) William Washer 1841 3rd eldest son born 1841 (established the Waikato /Horotiu Washers' ). Denise Washer in New Plymouth is related to these Washers. The Horotiu Washers' owned the farm land on which the Horotiu AFFCO Meatwork's now sits. (there are two separate Washer roads one in Te Puke and another in Horotiu, 5km north from Hamilton). The Horotiu/Te Puke Washer's eldest son went to Gallipoli (below).
• 8) James Washer 1846 left Berrow for Cardiff, UK 20km away across Bristol Channel. He had one daughter (Mrs Millie Tiplin) who then had two sons (Jack and Gilbert) and they all lived at Cardiff. They all later apparently went to California.
• 9) Sophia Washer 1848 - married into the Hodges and lived at Brent Knoll Somerset and had 6 children. Sophia and two children (Frank and Ada) both drowned in the English Channel. One child married but had no children. Gertrude had three girls. Nellie and Anne lived at Brent Knoll and Annie was blind. remained in Brent Knoll, Somerset
• 10) Alfred Washer born 1851 established the Tauranga Washers' who owned the GM car dealership in Tauranga in the 1950's. The Tauranga Washer's owned the large GM car dealership in Tauranga, NZ in the 1940's. Seven children George, Alf, Fred, Victor, Harold, Charlie and Ethal. There was a Washer (maybe one of these sons) who owned a very popular pie cart on Shortland Street in central Auckland in the 1950's.
• 11) John Washer 1855 - the youngest went to Bangor Township near Bay City , Michigan, USA in 1872. His children were Charles and Myrtle and then by another marriage had a son Edward C. Washer.

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