Henry’s father died when he was just three months old. They were living in small village of Stogumber at the time. He had two older brothers George and John Charles. After his father’s death the family moved to the tiny village of Vellow one mile away. His mother Mary Anne married James Bryant also living in Vellow on 14 March 1852. They had one daughter Ann Bryant, who died when she was 15 years old in 1867. James died a few years after they were married in 1860. Mary Anne then married her brother-in-law, James Milton in 1861. He was the widower of her late sister Sarah Bacon. Mary Anne and James had no children together. Marrying the sister of a deceased wife was illegal in Victorian England.
In the 1861 Census it lists Henry as a step-son including his two brothers and half-sister Ann also James Milton’s four children from his marriage to Mary’s sister Sarah. They are living in the parish of St. Decuman’s in Somerset. Henry is 12 years old.
In the 1871 Census Henry is 22 and still living with his mother and step-father James and they have taken on three lodgers. Henry is now employed as a blacksmith.
On the first of June 1875 Henry marries Sarah Routley Tuckfield at St. Andrew’s Church in Wiveliscombe. His job is now a “Railway Company’s Servant”.
St. Andrew’s Church in Wiveliscombe 2017
Banns & marriage document for Henry and Sarah. Notice they both were able to sign their names which was unusual for my family at this time because most ancestors signed with an X. The witnesses were Henry John and Maria Jane Payne, Sarah’s sister.
Sarah Routley Tuckfield was born in 1855 in Wiveliscombe and was baptized on Christmas Day in 1855. She was the seventh child in a family of eight. Her father James was the Sexton at St. Andrew’s church and her mother was Maria Routley.
Somerset & Devon area map with some of the places the Gore family lived
In 1875 their first child is born, George Ernest Gore. He only lived for seven months before he died on 2 May 1876.
George Ernest's church burial record
Sarah became pregnant with their second child in 1877 and delivered a little girl on 15 Oct named Edith Mary Gore. Unfortunately she only survived for 1 yr. 8 mos. months.
Edith Mary's church burial record
There were many diseases in England during this time that may have accounted for these children's deaths
– Typhoid, TB, Smallpox, and Scarlet Fever to name a few.
Two months before their next child arrives Henry moves his family to Venn Cross station where he is a booking porter and they stay for almost two years. On 19 Dec 1879 a healthy baby boy is born – Francis George Gore who lives for 74 years!
Francis George's church baptism record
Henry Gore’s railway employment records from the Great Western Railway
Venn Cross Station
1881 Census
Henry & Sarah's fourth child Maud Annie is born on the 16 Dec in 1881. She lives to be six years old and dies in Devon but is buried in Wiveliscombe.
In September of 1881 Henry is a Booking Porter for the railway in Molland near Bishops Nympton in Devon. Here Sarah has five more children while living in the Railway Station.
Henry James is born 14 Feb 1884 and Edith Lillian is born on the 13 Jun 1887. Twins were born next – my grandmother Violet Elizabeth Bacon and her sister Daisy Margaret Routley were both born on the evening of 21 Apr 1890. And in 1891 Ethel Rose “Rosie” was born at the station house on the 1st of June. Henry becomes the Station Inspector (police) in Molland-Bishops Nympton in June 1890 as seen on his employment records and children's birth records.
Violet Elizabeth Bacon Gore's certificate of birth - my paternal grandmother - 1890
Part of the old train station in Molland-Bishops Nympton station in Spring 2017
1891 Bishops Nympton, Devon Census
From the census you can see that the Black Cock Inn is next door to the train station in the 1891. Richard Elworthy is the owner of the pub and is listed as a Licensed Victualler which is one who sells food along with drinks. My grandmother Violet and her twin sister Daisy are both one year old at the time. I also noticed that at the “Bridge End” was the School Mistress Emma Halse. I am thinking that she was probably the teacher to the Gore children who were of school age.
When Mr. B and I traveled there in 2017 we stopped in at the Black Cock Inn and met the owners. I wanted to ask some questions about the history of the area. Unfortunately the owners were brand new and knew nothing about the area or the train station or the history of their building. It was pouring rain within several minutes of taking the photo above so I was only able to capture a few photos of the old railroad station. It is now several residential homes.
You can still see the railroad arches beneath the tracks and most of the old station buildings are in use today.
*Note: Thorne was originally Thornfalcon then changed its name to Thorne then back to Thornfalcon which is what the town is known as today.
Sarah and Henry's last two children are born in Ruishton (near Thorne). Harold Edwin Tuckfield was born on the 17 Jan 1893 and Ronald Upham was born on the 29 August 1897.
The two oldest Gore sons, Francis & Henry James are working for the Great Western Railway as well as their father. When the boys turned 14 years of age they became “Lad Porters”. Francis began working at the Norton Fitzwarren station in September 1894 until 1898. He was then transferred to Bridgwater in 1898-1900. His younger brother Henry began work in Bridgwater in March of 1898 – 1900 and resigned in February of 1901.
The house (in the center) above was the house they were living in Bridgwater.
This photo was taken in Bristol about 1895 as Ronald has not been born yet
Henry died on 14 February 1898 from pneumonia after an 8 day illness. It was just 3 days after his 49th birthday. Francis and Henry James had to keep working to help support the family.
Note that Francis was present at the time of death and was the informant. He was 19 years old.
Henry was buried in the St. Andrew’s churchyard in Wiveliscombe, Somerset, England.
The 1901 Census shows that Sarah R. Gore is widowed and is now the Head of the family and they are now living in Bristol at 33 Richmond Street in the tan home shown below.
Harold is a “Paper Agent” in a shop and Ronald is a scholar. So everyone is helping to support the family. Sarah’s eldest son Francis is not on the 1911 Census because he is included on a different Census. He was married in 1907 to Eliza Bond and has two children. They are living next door to the Gore family at 26 Richmond Street (the pink house). The Gore family is at 24 (the white house) and Francis is still working for the railway.
The area where the Gore’s are living is known as Totterdown and is a suburb of Bristol. It is named Totterdown because its streets are so steep that you might just totter down them!
Violet Gore, John Crawford & Sarah Gore in Montreal
If you would like to see how Henry & Sarah fit into my family tree click HERE!
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