Caroline was baptised on the 7th April 1833 in
the small village of Uley, which nestles in the beautiful Cotswold area of Gloucestershire. Entered in the register of the parish church as the illegitimate daughter of Charlotte Shelton. The 1841 census of Uley shows both Charlotte and her daughter Caroline living with Samuel Shelton (spelt Shilton) and his wife Elizabeth. Relationships were not usually shown in this census but somewhat unusually the enumerator had noted 'wife' against the name of Elizabeth, perhaps due to both Elizabeth and Charlotte having 'independent' being noted by their names. By the time of the 1851 census both Samuel and Elizabeth have died and Charlotte and Caroline are not found to be in the Gloucestershire census. Their whereabouts in 1851 remained unknown to me for 30 years. |
I now know that Charlotte married Thomas Chandler and started a new family as they are
found in the 1951 census in London and Caroline, Charlottes first daughter is with them, her whereabout before had been a mystery along with that of her mother. The dates of birth of the children in the unfolding census years show that the first two were born at Wheatenhurst in Gloucestershire so she lived there for about four years after her marriage. The next two children were born at Bridgewater in Wiltshire where they stayed for about another four years. Moving then to St.George in the East in London where their final three children were born.
In 1861 Caroline is living with the Hill family who can be seen on the Hill chasing page on
this site as I had thought they must be related in some way but that remains unproved.
In 1871 Caroline is now married to Richard Polding senior and living in Chiswick where she
was to remain for the rest of her life. There are many questions that will remain unanswered such as how much did she have to do with her mothers second family, did they all know each other and visit each other. Did Carolines children know of their half aunts and half uncles. Nothing of this was handed down through the family and all my own aunts and uncles are now passed on so the thrill to me of being able to tell them about this extraodinary finding is denied to me and to them of knowing of it. What a shame that is. |
Within two years Caroline and her husband are found to be living at 3 West Place, Turnham
Green, Chiswick and they have started to produce their family of eight children. Richard, who had worked for Thorneycrofts Boat Builders, started his own Dairy business with their unwanted cattle when they moved their premises.
Richards milking cows were grazed on Chiswick Back Common and milked in a shed adjacent
to The Swan Public House - and Swan Farm Dairy was therefore born.
WILLIAM born 1864 - married and had six children before dying in 1928
JOSEPH born 1865 - married and had eight children, dying in 1955 at the age of 90 years
CAROLINE born 1868 -unmarried, a laundress living at home. She died in 1932
GEORGE born 1869 - married and produced five children. And died in 1948.
RICHARD born 1870 - inherited the Dairy Business, married and had seven children. D.1935
HENRY born 1872 - A milk seller in the business, and a keen cricketer. Suicide in 1914
EMILY born 1873 - married to an Italian restauranteer, had 3 children. Died in 1926
ELIZABETH born 1876 - married and had 3 sons and died of heart failure when giving birth to a dead 8th month
term baby girl. A handed down story was told that she had died from a self induced abortion but her death certificate.says differently. |
The Funeral of Caroline in 1900 was as victorian as those times produced - A
glass hearse coach, plus three further coaches with pairs of horses. Further described was the strong oak coffin, french polished with brass handles and name plate, and with lid ornaments, the interior lined and embossed - in fact what would in these days be a very grand affair cost them £14 which would be £873 today - however this type of funeral now would cost a great deal more. |
A COPY OF THE WILL OF CAROLINE POLDING nee SHELTON
This throws up an interest in who the two witnesses to this Will are in relation to Caroline
and the MARY HILL who married SAMUEL SHELTON, junr. in Uley, he being presumerably the brother of Charlotte and Carolines Uncle.
This is the last Will and Testament of me Caroline Polding of 3 & 4 West Place Turnham Green in the county of Middlesex made this sixth day of July in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and ninety six. I hereby revoke all wills made by me at any time heretofore. I appoint my daughter Caroline Polding of 3 & 4 West Place, Turnham Green aforesaid to be my Executor and direct that all my debts and funeral expenses shall be paid as soon as conveniently may be after my decease I give and bequeath unto my daughter Caroline Polding all my money deposited in my name in the Post Office Savings Bank and all the rest and residue of all I may die possessed of or become entitiled to for her now absolute use and benefit
signed by the said Testators in the presence of us present etc., have subscribed our
names as witnesses -
1st witness - HARRIET SOPHIA HILL
2nd witness - CAROLINE HILL (spinster)
Both of 22 Park Road, Wimbledon, Surrey
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RICHARDS WILL AND WITNESSES
As Carolines husband Richard Polding had made his own Will on the 20th
February 1900 naming his wife as a beneficiary it does not seem that it was expected that Caroline would die in just five and a half months time.
Richard, also had the same witnesses for his own Will as Caroline had done,
which seems to point to a relationship as the two ladies had a new address, were they perhaps regular visitors ? did Richard await their visit that they may witness his Will as well ? or did they just happen to be there by co-incidence on each occasion.
1st witness - HARRIET SOPHIA HILL
2nd witness - CAROLINE HILL
Both of 13 Hurst Road, Eastbourne.
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At Hammersmith, Richard Polding of West-place, Brentford, was summoned at the instance
of the Sanitary Authority of Chiswick for causing a nuisance in the house by overcrowding. Mr.Finnis, clerk of the Board, said the proceedings had been taken to prevent the outbreak of an epidemic
There were eight children with the parents living in the place, with only 1,000 cubic feet of
air. The defendent did not appear, but he was represented by his wife, a short robust little woman. Mr.Moore, the Medical officer of Health for Chiswick, said there were only two habitable rooms in the house. All the family slept in one room.
The wife said not now. She could not get another house as she had so many children. What
could she do with the children ? If they were turned out, they would have to go to the workhouse. Mr.Finnis, in reply to a question from the magistrate, said the Sanitary Authority had done their duty, and were content to leave the case in his hands. Mr.Bridge said epidemics arose, as he understood, through the physique of persons being lowered by sleeping in crowded places, but in this case the parties were all healthy and not predisposed to disease. He dismissed the summons. |
AT THIS TIME
Richard and Caroline's family consisted of the following children -
William aged 13 years
Joseph aged 12 years
Caroline aged 9 years
George aged 8 years
Richard aged 7 years
Henry aged 5 years
Emily aged 4 years
Elizabeth aged 1 year
Thankfully for all concerned no more children appeared on the scene after the
court appearance, perhaps the housing situation proved to be an excellent contraceptive. To have all these children living in such conditions, and to have them survive to adulthood was indeed remarkable for those times. Charlotte must have been every bit as sturdy as her photograph shows her to be and to have passed those genes on as well.
The 1881 census, just over 3 years later, shows them living at 3 and 4 West Place
so they presumerably were able to rent the house next door to them as well and one hopes that by these means there were more rooms habitable than in just the one house.
At a point between 1896 when Caroline made her Will and dying in 1900 the
family had moved to live at 13 Acton Lane, from where they also ran the Dairy Business. |
A NEWSPAPER REPORT
shows that the family were living in very cramped conditions
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Who were the Hill ladies who signed the Wills - would I find Caroline and Charlotte with them ? I found Caroline >
and I now know where Charlotte was - see Finding Charlotte >
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This page last modified on Sunday, March 01, 2009
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