Charles Hallworth: born 1864

Charles was born in Ampthill, Bedfordshire, 1864 when his parents John & Eliza Hallworth (read about them here) were millers.  He moved with them to Heath & Reach, Swallowfield, and then to Folly Farm, Wokingham - certainly he was living there at the age of 16 (1881).




Where did our Charles go to work after 1881?

...Charles was a Coachman
The Census of 1891 shows a Charles Hallworth (27, born Amphill {sic}, BEDS); working as a Coachman, living alone in rooms over the Coach House in Chepstow, Wales. Note he is still single.
The employers were presumably Mr & Mrs Smith of Mount House, Chepstow.

Mount House was used for many different purposes over the 20th C., and was developed from Autumn 2008 to become many residential properties. This page has been set up by an Archeology group - about Mount House, Chepstow - as it was before the developers' work. Some fascinating photos, and also information that Mrs. Smith also owned the tiny parish of St. Kingsmark, in the north of Chepstow. (See this contemporary directory for more on St. Kingsmark.) The lovely Chepstow Castle is just nearby on the riverbank.

The old developers' marketing page can perhaps still be viewed here, it mentions a coach house and is described as "formerly a Merchant's residence" (in the 1891 census, Mr. Smith Esq. 's occupation was Wine Merchant)! The flats in the main Mount House will have the benefit of wine cellars in the basement.
More up-to-date marketing by the Bovale group can be viewed here; lots of great photos. Also a page about the re-opening in 2009- a grand event, it seems. Spot the cake in the shape of Mount House!



In 1901...A coachman and family man
A Transcription of the 1901 Census for Charles Hallworth, Co. Durham:
Address: White Houses, Sockburn. (Sockburn All Saints, S.E. Durham)
No. of rooms occupied: 4

Charles Hallworth, aged 36, born Hamptill {sic - not in current gazeteer}, Bedfordshire; a Coachman (Domestic)
Kate C. Hallworth (Wife), aged 34, born London, St. Lukes
and their children, all born in the Yorkshire village of Over Dinsdale (actually it is right on the border with Co. Durham):
Lilian M., (6);
Florence, (4);
Charles G., (3);
William H., {our Harry} (1).

More on White Houses in a later posting (or you could just keep scrolling down if you are looking thru all the Hallworth Posts).
But in essence, it seems to make sense that Charles was coachman at the nearby Sockburn Hall.

SO – Harry's father, Charles Hallworth was born in approximately 1865 {precisely 1864, actually; Thanks Peter}. He is remembered for a fondness for the horses on which his trade relied (at that time!).

There was some confusion, as another son was remembered - "Uncle George". At first I simply presumed that George was younger than William - as he does not appear on this census, and that is how he was remembered.
More recently, however, in the birth registry details I saw that one of William's older brothers was named Charles George Hallworth. As it seems unlikely that two sons would both have the name George, we now have it straight.
*** Latest*** Peter has been in touch - he is a descendant of Charles George Hallworth & confirms that he was the brother known as George.
Phew.

We know that George remained in the area, and that there are certainly descendants around from both George and Florence - if you think you may be one of them then please do leave a comment on this site, or visit the guestbook!!

More details are available on where Charles was working by 1911. See this other post.