Henry Timpson (TE6) 1832 –
Henry was born in Apethorpe, Northamptonshire being the sixth and last child of Henry and Ann Timpson née Eagle and the second to be named Henry. The older Henry was born in 1829 and died in 1831. In those times it was quite common to name a child after one that had died.
Although he was not baptised until 1833 we are able to deduce from various records that he must have been born in 1832. Civil registration commenced 1 July 1837 in England.
Henry’s Baptism took place on 10 February 1833 at St Leonards Church, Apethorpe.
The Baptism was conducted by the Rev George Nankivell, Stipendiary Curate of Apethorpe and Woodnewton.
1841 Census
The next time Henry is recorded is in the 1841 census taken on 6 June 1841 where Henry is living at home with his parents. All his older siblings must have left home looking for work.
The 1841 Census does not give much information and ages were not accurate.
The family surname is spelled “Timson” as it must have sounded to the enumerator.
They are described as living at Apethorpe with no actual address but would be in a cottage supplied by Henry Snr’s employer being the local landowner the Earl of Westmoreland.
As a boy growing up Henry would have been made well aware of what was right and wrong by his parents. A constant reminder would have been the stocks and whipping post in the village centre.
Henry working as an “Ag Lab”
Henry next appears in the 1851 Census which was taken on 30 March 1851. This is the first reasonably accurate census. The family is now living in Cottage 31 on the Oundle – Kings Cliffe road. Henry is shown as an “Ag Lab” (Agricultural Labourer) as are his two brothers Thomas and John both back no doubt for the busy planting and sowing season on the estate.
Unlike their father they would have worn wide cut shirts, waistcoats, breeches, jackets and hats. Henry Snr is now a shepherd and would be living in a moveable shepherd’s hut, with the sheep as it was the lambing season.
Records show that at the time of the 1851 Census in Northamptonshire Henry and his brothers would have been earning 9 shillings per week and their father, 11 shillings a week as a shepherd.
Henry Meets Ann
Henry continued to work at Apethorpe for some years.
It was usual for people looking for work or unmarried people to attend local fairs either to pick up work or find a partner to marry.
So in 1859 at Kings Cliffe Fair held on 29 October each year Henry was attracted to a young woman named Ann Wheelband and they started talking. He told her he was 27 and Ann being interested in this handsome young man told him she was 20.
There was a quick courtship and Ann accepted Henry’s proposal of marriage provided Henry received the approval of her father.