Gloucestershire, England Genealogy

Gloucestershire or Gloucester is an inland but partly a maritime county located in the central part of England.

Jurisdictions
= Parishes =

Cerney, North
North Cerney is a Parish and a Village



North Cerney Parish is located on a hill across the street from North Cerney Village. A small light shines through a stained glass window, bidding travelers welcome.

"It is worth spending a short time walking round the outside of this little church, which has been described as one of the prettiest in rural Gloucestershire. Pearched on a hillside overlooking the village, which is across the main road.  All Saints is a typical Churn valley church, with a lovely old slate roof and a charming low saddle-back tower.  The grass in the churchyard is cropped in Spring and Summer by sheep."

(All Saints Church, North Cerney (Church brochure) Rewritten by Mrs. V. A. Patuck, 1989, from information gathered by Canon A. James Turner, Vicar of North Cerney Church from 1952 to 1973.)

North Cerney Banner



Inside the All Saints Church, a regal banner with scarlet side borders and vibrant blue embroidered letters introduces the North Cerney Parish and the Holy Mother Mary, holding baby Jesus.

"Cerney (North), a parish in Cirencester district, Gloucester; near Ermine-street, 4 miles N of Cirencester r. station. It includes the tythings of Calmsden and Woodmancote; and has a post-office under Cirencester. Acres, 4,158.  Real property, (pound)5,194.  Pop., 692. Houses, 153.  The property is divided among a few.  Cerney House is the seat of the Croomes.  The living is a rectory in the diocese of Gloucester and Bristol.  Value, (pound) 654.  Patron, University College, Oxford.  The church is very good." (The Imperial Gazeteer of England &amp; Wales, page 390)

Calmsden

"Calmsden is a tithing and small hamlet, 2 miles east, and near the old Roman Rossway. A curious old wayside dial-cross stands here over a copious and perennial spring.  The village consists of two or three farms and a few cottages.  Parish Clerk, Henry James Mason."

(Kelly's Directory of the County of Gloucester, 1914; Farmily History Library, British 942.41, E4ke)

"The hamlet of Calmsden, in an isolated position in the valley in the east part of the parish, had evidently been established by 852. (7, Grunday, Saxon Charters, 56.) The hamlet was formed around a small green and a spring, from which the two inhabitants surnamed atte well in 1327 were presumably named.  Nine people were assessed for the subsidy at Calmsden in that year, (8), Glos. Subsidy Roll, 1327, 10.) and 18 people for the poll-tax in 1381, (9, E 179/113/35Arot. 13; E 179/113/e1Arot.2.) and the hamlet had its own chapel of ease in the Middle Ages.  Calmsden was said to comprise only 6 houses c. 1710 (10), Atkyns, Glos. 324.) and it has remained small, comprising two manor-houses and a few cottages, including a row of 6 with rustic details built in the early 19th century.(11, See plate facing p. 45.) a medieval stone cross, put up before 1401, (12), Staffs, R. O., D 641/I/4M/2.) still stands above the spring.

(The Victoria History Of The Counties of England, The History of Gloucester, Edited by N. M. Herbert, Volume VII, Page 151)

Woodmancote

"Woodmancote is a hamlet 1 mile north-west. Here is a Plymouth Brethren Mission hall." (Kelly's Directory of the County of Gloucester, 1914; Farmily History Library, British 942.41, E4ke)

"Woodland recorded on Gilbert son of Turold's manor of Cerney in 1086 (80) [Com. Bk. (Rec. Com.), i. 168v.] evidently lay in the north-west part of the parish, where Woodmancote hamlet takes its name from a woodman's cottage. (81) [P.M. Glos. i. 148.]" (The Victoria History Of The Counties of England, The History of Gloucester, Edited by N. M. Herbert, Volume VII, Page 150)

Cerney Downs

"The slopes of the Churn valley, above the narrow belt of meadow-land in the valley bottom, and much of the Calmsden area were formerly cultivated as open fields while the high and level ground on the east side of the valley was occupied by extensive downland. In the early 18th centurh Cerney Downs were said to be famous for hawking, hunting, coursing, and racing (86) [Bodl. MS. Top. Glouc. c. 3, f.214.] and they were long the venue for the annual Cirencester races. (87) Glouc. Fnl. 5 May 1752; Rudder, Glos. 325.) (The Victoria History Of The Counties of England, The History of Gloucester, Edited by N. M. Herbert, Volume VII, Page 150)

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 Jurisdictions:

Deanery:          "The Church belongs to the Deanery of Cirencester, and is dedicated to All Saints."

(Historical, Monumental &amp; Genealogical Collections of Gloucester, British: Q Area, 942.41, .v26, 1786.)

Hundred:          Rapsgate

Union:               Cirencester Union

Archdeaconry: Archdeaconry of Cirencester and diocese of Gloucester.

(Kelly's Directory of the County of Gloucester, 1914, British 942.41, E4ke)

Probate:           Bishop of Gloucester, (Episcopal Consistory) and Perogative Court of the Archbishop of         Canterbury

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North Cerney Village

"North Cerney Village stands in the centre of the parish on the east bank of the river Churn. The church stands by itself on the opposite bank, probably because it was founded by the owner of an estate which passed to the honor of Gloucester and included the land of Woodmancote tithing west of the river, while the village and land adjoining on the east of the river belonged to a manor held by the archbishops of York.  From a crossing-point on the Church the village developed up the hillside on the road leading up to the White way near Nordown; a small green was formed at the junction with the Calmsden road.  The only large house is the former manor-house, Cerney Manor (formerly North Cerney Farm), at the bottom of the village.  The village is formed mainly of stone cottages of the late 17th and 18th centuries, several of which were restored and modernized in the 1960's and 1970s when some new houses in reconstructed stone were built at the top of the village."

(The Victoria History Of The Counties Of England, The History of Gloucester, Edited by N. M. Herbert Volume VII, Brightwells Barrow and Rapsgate Hundreds, Oxford University Press 1981,)

(Note: Pictures of Cerney Manor and North Cerny Farm to be added, along with pictures of village homes.)

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School

Village School: (Gloucestershire County Council) North Cerney (Voluntary Controlled),

'''CE Primary School. '''(Photos to be uploaded)

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Agriculture and Livestock

The North Cerney Farm

(Pictures of North Cerney Farm to be uploaded)

Live Stock - Sheep

"For many centuries the county of Gloucester has held a prominent place in the agriculture of the kingdom, originally by reason of the native breed of sheep which takes its name from the Cotswold HIlls. The wool of this variety was once highly valued for the production of the fine fabrics that were formerly in great demand, not only in this country, but on the continent of Europe, and numerous large flocks were maintained in the country, which was for a long period the centre of the English wool trade." (The Victoria History Of The Counties Of England, The History of Gloucester, Edited by N. M. Herbert, Volume VII, Brightswells Barrow And Rapsgate Hundreds, Oxford University Press 1981, British Q Area, 942 H2svg, V. 2, Page 239.)

Agriculture and Live Stock

"Until the closing years of the eighteenth century the greater part of the arable land was cultivated on the unfenced, open-field system, it being the exception for agricultural holdings to be divided into fields by fences, or held, as it was then termed, 'in severalty.' There were generally two or three large arable fields in each parish divided into acre or half-acre strips among the tenants." ("The three tithings, Cerney, Woodmancote, and Calmsden, had their separate open fields. The north and south (or upper and lower) fields of Cerney, which comprised mainly the lands of the archbishop's manor, were recorded from 1401; they occupied the slopes on the east side of the Churn. (79) [Glos. R.W., D 2525, N. Cerney man, 1713-32, partition 1712.]  The two large Calmsden fields lay north and south of that hamlet. (80) [Ibid. Q/RI63]  Woodmancote tithing appears to have had at least four open fields." (The Victoria History Of The Counties Of England, The History of Gloucester, Edited by N. M. Herbert Volume VII, Brightwells Barrow and Rapsgate Hundreds, Oxford University Press 1981, page 156))  Owing to the absence of fences the whole of each field was of necessity in the same crop, and in the Vale the usual course was to plant two successive corn crops followed by a fallow, while on the lighter land of the hills a fallow followed each crop of corn. Adjoining the village were crofts or pastures attached to each holding of arable land, which were mown for hay, or a meadow, of which every tenant might mow a portion, and in some cases a sheep or cow common, where the stock might graze at such times as there was no other pasturage available, which would be during the late summer and autumn. Turnips not having been introduced, the fallow field was sometimes sown with rye-grass to be fed, but even if left uncroped there was a quantity of couch-grass and weeds which was fed off until June or July, when the land was ploughed for wheat. After harvest the stubbles were thrown open, as well as the grazing common, and as the season advanced the live stock was brought home, and, when the lattermath of the pasture was gone, was as far as possible carried through the winter on hay. This system was terribly wasteful. The divisions, or baulks, in the arable fields occupied a considerable area of surface and bore no crop, while the absence of turnips, and consequent scarcity of winter food, made it impossible to carry the whole of the live stock through the winter. It was therefore necessary either to sell, or put out to agistment, every autumn, animals that should have been maintained on the holding. Beyond this the cultivation of the narrow detached strips entailed great waste of time, and these small holdings required a far larger strength in men, oxen, or horses, than would have been the case if they had formed part of a larger farm divided into fields and fenced. While each occupier's land lay in scattered strips all over the parish, any amelioration of the soil by drainage was impracticable, and it was hopeless to attempt any improvement in live stock so long as the sheep were sent out in a common flock, and the cattle in a common herd, to graze under the care of a common shepherd and herdsman respectively, the male animals being in some cases providd by the lord of the manor, and in others by the tenants. Under these conditions it was improssible to deal with the contagious diseases of live stock, and it will cause no surprise to find in the Agricultural Survey of Gloucestershire, drawn up by Rudge in 1805 for the Board of Agriculture, scab, or shab, described as 'a disease of the skin to which long-wolled sheep are more or less subject.'"

"The remedy for this state of affairs was to consolidate the various occupations, allotting to each the equivalent in value of the former holdings, not in detached strips, but in compact blocks that might be enclosed within fences. Acts of Parliament were obtained to effect this change, the first Inclosure Act dealing with land in the county of Gloucester being that relating to the parish of Farmington, passed in 1714.  Inclosures in the county did not, however, become general until the end of the eighteenth century, more than eighty Acts having been passed between 1760 and 1800." (The Victoria History Of The Counties of England, The History of Gloucester, Edited by N. M. Herbert, Volume VII, Page 239-240)

"Inclosure of the Cerney fields had begun by the early 18th century, when Henry Combe's portion of the demesne farm included some newly inclosed arable, (8) Glos. R.O., D 2525, N. Cerney man. 1713-32] and was evidently completed by the Bathursts later in the century; new inclosures taken out of the south field were mentioned in 1751.  Inclosure of the south part of Cerney Downs was in progress in 1755 (9) Ibid. N. Cerney leases 1715-89.] and by 1807 72 a. in the north part had also been inclosed and ploughed up.  The remaining 244 a. of the downs were attached to North Cerney farm in 1807 (10) Ibid. D 1388, tithe papers, N. Cerney.] and comprised the land laying east of the White way bounded on the north and south by the roads from Calmsden to North Cerney and from Calmsden to Perrott's Brook.  All pasture rights in that land apparently then belonged to the farm but other occupiers had furze-cutting rights. Those rights were apparently extinguished and inclosure of the downs compleed by Lord Bathurst in the 1830s. (11) Ibid. D 2525, N. Cerney drarft leases 170-1833; cf. ibid. P 70A/PC I/I, entry for 1898.] (The Victoria History Of The Counties of England, The History of Gloucester, Edited by N. M. Herbert, Volume VII, Page 157)

"Gloucestershire shared in the agricultural prosperity of the kingdom from 1853 to 1874 due to the expansion of trade and manufactures, the gold discoveries in Australia and California, and the generally favorable seasons. In spite of deplorable losses from rinderpest, pleuro-pneumonia, and foot-and-mouth disease, the numbers of cattle and sheep increased and agriculture flourished.  Wages, however, did not rise as quickly as the prices of commodities, and in the early seventies there were numerous strikes of farm labourers that were unprofitable both to employer and employed and created much ill-feeling on either side."

"The general depression in the price of cereals, owing to imports from the United States, combined with the wet seasons, culminating in the disasterous year of 1879, occasioned great losses among arable farmers. In the Vale, in order to meet the altered circumstances, much of the heavier clay arable land was laid down to permanent pasture." The Victoria History Of The Counties Of England, The History of Gloucester, Edited by N. M. Herbert Volume VII, Brightwells Barrow and Rapsgate Hundreds, Oxford University Press 1981, page 242-243)

"...c. 1899 the lease to a new tenant of North Cerney farm made particular allowances in respect of several fields that had degenerated to a foul condition. (39) [Glos. R.O., D 2299/1585.] The farms attempted to mitigate the effects of the slump in cereals by building up their flocks and introducing more beef and dairy cattle: ...("The Victoria History Of The Counties of England, The History of Gloucester, Edited by N. M. Herbert, Volume VII, Page 158])

"Dairying and cattle-raising were still important elements in the agriculture of the parish in the later 1970s, though the number of sheep had increased again to the late 19th century level and the two big farms, Calmsden and North Cerney, were devoted largely to growing cereal crops. (43) [Agric. Returns 1976; local information.]) "The Victoria History Of The Counties of England, The History of Gloucester, Edited by N. M. Herbert, Volume VII, Page 159]

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Vocations

"Though predominantly agricultural, North Cerney parish usually had a fairly substantial number of tradesmen. Eight tradesmen, including the tucker mentioned above, were listed in 1608 compared with 21 men employed in agriculture, (55) [Smith, Men and Armour, 252-3] and trade supported 33 families in 1831 compared with 90 supported by agriculture. (56) [Census, 1831]  With the exception of the man described as parchment-maker in 1751 and glue-maker in 1778, the tradesmen found recorded during the 18th and 19th centuries were the usual village craftsmen together with a few small shopkeepers. (57) Glos. R. O., D 2525, N. Cerney leases 1715-89, 1749-1825; H.O. 107/1968; Kelly's Dir. Glos. (1856 and later edns.).]  Carpenters were perhaps represented in more than usual numbers for a rural parish in 1851 when 12 lived in the parish; the 9 slaters and masons formed the next largest group while other trades had only one or two representatives. (58) [H.O. 107/1968.] Weavers were occasionally recorded in the parish (59) [Glos. R.O., D 326/E, abs. of title to cott. at Calmsden; Hockaday Abs. cxliii, 1816.] and in the early 19th century it presumably had a number of cloth-workers; the increase from 16 to 33 tradsman families between 1811 and 1831 (60) [Census, 1811-1831.] may be partly explained by developments at Perrot's Brook mill. (See Perrot's Brook mIll below.) A few crafts survived into the mid 20th century: in 1939 Cerney village still had a boot repairer and Calmsden a blacksmith, (61) [''Kelly's Dir. Glos. ''(1939), 62.] and a firm of tailors established at Woodmancote before 1906 (62) [Ibid. (1906), 55.] remained in business in 1978. From 1927 a quarry beside the railway in the east corner of the parish was worked by the Fosse Lime and Limestone Co. which burnt lime for agricultural and building purposes; the firm employed 30 men in 1936 and remained at the site until at least 1959. (63) Glos. R.O., D 2299/5816; W.I. hist. of Chedworth (1959, TS. in Glos. Colln.), 70.] (The Victoria History Of The Counties Of England, The History of Gloucester, Edited by N. M. Herbert, Volume VII, Brightswells Barrow And Rapsgate Hundreds, Oxford University Press 1981, British Q Area, 942 H2svg, V. 2, Page 159)

Developments at Perrot's Brook mill

"A new mill built on the Cerney manor estate by Richard Painter c. 1715 (49) [Glos. R.O., D 2525, N. Cerney man. 1713-32.] was probably Perrott's Brook mill c. 600 m. upstream of the Perrott's Brook bridge. In 1799 John Radway, a wool-stapler, became lessee of Perrott's Brook mill (50) [Ibid. D 182/III/203.] and he was succeeded there by Giles Radway before 1809, when the mill was described as formerly a grist-mill (51) [Ibid. D2525, N. Cerney leases 1804-62.] and had perhaps been converted to cloth-making.  In or shortly before 1824 Giles Radway built a new cloth-mill south of the old mill (52) [Ibid. loose deed 1824; Bryant, Map of Glos. (1824).] and he was still working it in 1837. (53) [G.D.R., T 1/45.]   In the later 19th century it was used as a corn mill. (54) O.S. Map 6", Glos. XLIII. SE. (1884 edn.)] Both the old and new mills survived together with some cottages in 1978 when the newer mill was used as a farm build for Perrott's Brook farm, which had its other buildings and its recently built new farm house at the site." (The Victoria History Of The Counties Of England, The History of Gloucester, Edited by N. M. Herbert, Volume VII, Brightswells Barrow And Rapsgate Hundreds, Oxford University Press 1981, British Q Area, 942 H2svg, V. 2, Page 159)

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Church Records

Family History Library Catalogue

Christenings

Extracted Christening Records

Marriages

Extracted Marriages.

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Genealogy

North Cerney Parish Memorial Wall Plaques

Honoring early Painter Family parishoners (Note:  Pictures of plaques to be uploaded.)

William Painter and Ann Mustoe (3 generation wall plaque)

Reads: "In this churchyard lie the bodies of William Painter and Ann (Mustoe) his wife, who both died in September 1727, both aged 65, also

Joseph Painter, their son, died May 1799, aged 85, and Hannah, his wife, daughter of George and Margaret Townsend, of North Cerney, buried 3rd January 1788, aged 71.

Also John Painter, son of Joseph and Hannah, died 1800 aged 51, and

Elizabeth, his first wife, daughter of Jacoband Sarah Heaven,'of Frocester, died May 1783, aged 34.

In Piam Memoriam Proavorum Posuit A.C.P. MCMXIV."

Additional Family Information: North Cerney Parish Christening, Marriage, and Burial records provide vital information regarding the Painter family members honored on the plaque. William and Ann, married North Cerney Church 6 Jul 1703, christened 7 children between May 7, 1704 and 17 Nov. 1715. Their names were Richard, William, John, Ann, Martha, Joseph, and Thomas.

Joseph and Hannah, married 14 Jun 1740, North Cerney, christened 8 children between 15 Mar 1740/1 and

8 Aug 1758. Their names were: Ann, William,  Mary, Richard, Hannah, John, Margaret, and Betty.

John and Elizabeth, married 25 Oct 1772, North Cerney, christened 4 children between 11 Apr 1773 and 15 May 1781. Their names were: Joseph, Richard, William, and Thomas.

Richard Painter and Joyce Stockwell Wall Plaque. (Photo to be uploaded)

"Near this place lyeth the bodys of Richard Painter Sen. and Joyce, his wife, Daughter of Phillip and Prudence Stockwell. He died Aug:  the 14, 1749, aged 75 years.  She died December 15th, 1757, aged 85 years. "

"Here in the dust our bodys lyes, Till trumpet sound the dead arise. Then soul and body shall unite, in hopes of everlasting life." "This was erected by Richard Painter, their younger son."

Additional Information about Richard and Joyce.

North Cerney Christening records provide birthdates for 4 of Richard and Joyce's children, christened betinning 14 Sep 1701 through 26 May 1710. The children's names are: John, Prudence, Daniel, and William. Richard, jr., who erected the wall monument, is not listed in the Christening records.

The Victoria History of Gloucester gives additional information on Richard Painter:

"A new mill built on the Cerney on the Cerney Manor Estate by Richard Painter c. 1715 was probably Perrott's Brook Mill c. 600 m. upstream of the Perrott's Brook bridge."

(The Victoria History Of The Counties Of England, The History of Gloucester, Edited by N. M. Herbert, Volume VII, Brightwells Barrow and Rapsgate Hundreds, Oxford University Press 1981, British Q Area, 942. H2svg, V. 2. page 159.)

"The river Churn bisets the parish from north to south in a deep valley. From south of North Cerney village to near Perrott's Brook a straight channel was but in 1824 alongside the original meandering course of the river to supply a newly built cloth-mill (Glos. R.O., D 2525, loose deed 1824.)  But in 1978 the new cut was dry and had been partly filled in."

(The Victoria History Of The Counties Of England Gloucester, Edited by N. M. Herbert, Volume VII, Brightwells Barrow and Rapsgate Hundreds, Oxford University Press 1981, British Q Area, 942 H2svg, V. 2, page 150)

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Websites:
Census Returns for Gloucestershire: 

http://www.genuki.org.uk

(Gloucestershire - Census Returns 1801-1901)

(Genuki- "&lt;FreeCEN&gt; is an ongoing volunteer-based project to provide a free to view' online searchable database of the 19th century UK census returns. Volunteers are being sought to assist with transcribing - visit the &lt;FreeCen Project&gt; page to see each county's status as well as a FAQ for volunteers.")

(Genuki - "Index of names, and downloadable images of Census 1841-1901 are available from&lt; Ancestry.co.uk&gt;

Access is by Annual subscription, or Pay-per-View. A subscription includes access to other Ancestry resources.

Probate:

Gloucestershire Probate Jurisdictions Parishes C through F

FindMyPast.com

Search for Ancestors:

Familysearch.org

www.worldvitalrecords.com

Maps:

Map of North Cerney

British Towns and Villages Network

School:

North Cerney CE Primary School, Gloucester

Church:

North Cerney Parish Church

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