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b.1853-d.1909
Jane was born in Ashburnham East Sussex, situated west of Battle. It takes its name from Ashburnham Place, now a Christian conference and prayer centre. The parish church is dedicated to St Peter and the local stream is the Ashbourne where Ashburnham Place in turn takes its name.
The village was in the iron making district of the Weald and its blast furnace was the last in Sussex which closed in 1831. One of its settlements has the unusual name of Brown Bread Street and this is where we find our family living in the 1861 Census
Jane’s birth was registered in the 3rd quarter 1853. I haven’t identified a baptism. Jane’s parents were John Winchester born 1820 in Ashburnham and Sarah Dengate 1828 in Crowhurst. John and Sarah’s marriage took place at Ashburnham parish church on 18 October 1843. John of full age, a labourer, son of Thomas a labourer and Sarah 18, daughter of Thomas also a labourer.
I have found 11 children born to the couple.
- Levi John 1844
- Harriet 1846
- Mark 1849
- George Thomas 1851
- Jane 1853
- Female 1856-1856
- Hannah 1857
- Mercy Martha 1867
- James 1870-1870
- Elizabeth 1872 – 1872
- Stephen 1873
There is a 10-year gap from Hannah’s birth to Mercy Martha. The last 4 births are to be found on the General register as Winchester mother’s maiden name Dengate. So, I believe they are late births to the couple, Sarah being 48 when she had Stephen. The thought had crossed my mind that they could be illegitimate children of Harriet. I am unable to positively identify her after 1871.
The first 3 children, Levi, Harriet and Mark were baptised in Ashburnham, but I can find no further baptisms for the later children. Although, there are several other Winchester family baptisms in the parish records.
The 1851 Census finds John and Sarah and their first four children, Levi, Harriet, Mark and George living in Mags Hole in Ashburnham. John is listed as an Agricultural Labourer.
By 1861, the couple have moved to 63 Brown Bread Street in Ashburnham. John aged 40 still working as an Agricultural Labourer and Sarah aged 34, John (Levi). Mark, George are joined by our subject Jane and Hannah. Harriett has left home and is a servant in Battle age 14.
Jane from 1871
The 1871 Census shows Jane was now living independently from her family; I believe I have found her as a visitor of John Trollope and his family at 26 Charlotte Terrace, Islington. She is listed as unmarried aged 20, born in England, working as a Tie Maker. There is a slight difference in age as she would have been 18.
Going forward another 10 years, the 1881 Census shows Jane was working as a housekeeper, unmarried; again the age is incorrect, now 26 should be 28, born in Ashburnham. Head of house was Thomas Chamley, married aged 42, a Building Surveyor, born in Kendal, Westmorland. They are residing at 26 Sandys Road, Claines, approx. 3 miles north of Worcester.
I haven’t been able to track down a marriage, however by the 1891 Census Jane was living at 19, Chetwode Road, Streatham with Thomas Chamley as his wife. Now listed as aged 48 instead of 38. From Ashburnham. Thomas Chamley 52, a surveyor from Kendal. There are two visitors, Louisa Winchester 20 and Hannah Winchester, 11. Both were born in London.
Was Jane’s age an error or given to make the couple’s ages appear more compatible?
Who were Louise and Hannah Winchester?
Jane’s brother John (Levi) and his first wife Louisa had a daughter Louisa of the same age although she was born in Sussex not London. She married in 1895 in Camden. Father noted as John , a gardener, the same occupation as Levi John.
I haven’t been able to confirm Hannah’s birth. Jane’s brother Mark had a daughter Hannah although she is listed with her parents in this census year aged 13, it could potentially be her.
Jane’s decline in health
On 14 August 1900, The Echo London reported this. I found this newspaper article in which Jane is said to have been drunk. This coincides with Jane’s admission record into the Horton asylum, drink being the cause of her mental state.
In the 1901 Census, I found a possible census return for Jane, but it is not the clearest of records.
Living in Queens Buildings, in 178, Scovell Road, Borough. This matches the address in the newspaper report. She is on her own, she is listed as aged 38, when she should be 48. I am unable to read whether she is married or not, her occupation as an Organist (music) and it looks like own means (At home). Born in Battle Sussex.
This census and a newspaper report shows that Jane has now become confused. Maybe she was able to play the organ but there is nothing in her previous records. Her age is wrong as in all her census returns.
Jane’s mental health takes a further decline and the following year on 31 October 1902, Jane was admitted into Southwark Workhouse and she was transferred on 6 November to Horton Asylum.
Reception Order, St Saviour, Newington Workhouse, Westmorland Street, Southwark
Completed by William Gibson Bott and his assistant John Frederick Williams a medical Practitioner of 56 Camberwell Road. 31 October 1902.
Being satisfied that Jane Chamley is of unsound mind.
Statement of particulars:
Jane Chamley. Female, 47yrs, married, no profession. C of E, previous address, Newington Workhouse. First attack. 6 months, not previously in an asylum. Supposed cause, Drink. Not suicidal. Not harmful to others. No other family afflicted. Relative of the patient, sister, Mrs H Moore, 80, Hatcham Park Road, New Cross. This is her sister Hannah.
Certificate of medical practitioner John Frederick Williams, 1 November 1902.
Jane Chamley a person of unsound mind. His written report below.
‘She is strange is her behaviour and very incoherent. Is very obstinate & resistive and requires constant supervision & care. She (requires) is quite unable to take care of herself and is not fit to be at large.
Sadly, Jane spent the next 6 years in Horton, and her death is registered on 25 March 1909. There is no evidence at this time as to whether her family visited, Jane’s sister Hannah being mentioned in her admission report.
Her Death certificate states she died of GPI, (General Paralysis of the Insane) and Carcinoma of the Cervix uteri ( cervical cancer) for a few months.
Jane was laid to rest in Horton cemetery, in a pauper’s grave, number 341b
Thomas Chamley
Thomas Chamley, Jane’s ‘so called’ husband. I cannot find a marriage for the couple as he was already married and his wife Matilda was still alive; I would imagine that Jane and Thomas were living as husband and wife.
Thomas Riding Chamley was born on 24 March 1839 in Kendal, Westmorland. He married Matilda Ponting on 12 May 1866 in Islington, and they were still together in 1871 occupying the same building as Matilda’s family in Portsea, Hampshire. I have found no children being born to the couple.
By 1881 Thomas was with Jane, she being the housekeeper. Matilda was listed as married, a housekeeper for a widow and his two small boys in the Kings Head Inn Portsea. The couple were clearly living apart.
On 29 Sept 1885, Thomas joined the Freemason’s Lodge of Faith. He is a surveyor residing at 19 Chetwode road, Upper Tooting.
As we have seen by 1891 Thomas was now living as man and wife with Jane.
Matilda was now at 31 East Street, Andover, Hampshire, a small market town. Matilda was born in a village just outside Andover so the area would have been very familiar to her. Declared as married, head of house with two male boarders. Her brother Philip was a well-known businessman in the town.
By 1901, for unknown reasons, Thomas was back with his wife Matilda, who had left Andover and the couple were in Croydon. He was a builder’s surveyor’s manager. A worker. With them is Elizabeth aged 85, mother of Thomas who was a widow. Elizabeth’s death was registered in 1904. Also, at the address Edith Gardiner a servant- cook/ domestic.
The 1911 Census shows Thomas Riding Chamley is now married to Rosa and they have a daughter Ilene Riding Chamley. They were living at 9 Acacia Road in Norbury. He was now 71, an invalid and gave his occupation as a retired grocer.
The marriage had taken place on 27 September 1902 at St Andrews, Holborn. The bride was Rosa Beatrice Elkins aged 31. Thomas was 63 years old at this point. He gave his name as George Chamley. The father’s name is correct – John Chamley deceased.
Thomas had a brother George who died in 1900. Did Thomas use his departed brother’s name to hide a bigamous marriage?
What had happened to Matilda?
By 1911 Matilda was living at Woodhouse where she was born. Just outside Andover, it is a small rural settlement. She is still saying she is married and has a young lady visitor with her.
In 1912 Thomas’s death was registered in the 1st quarter, Wandsworth.
I am unable to identify Matilda in the 1921 census however there is a death in Andover 1923 of a Matilda Chamley. The death certificate reveals she died on 23 January 1923 still the legal wife of Thomas Chamley. Her nephew Wilfred Ponting registered the death.
Jane’s family
I will keep to the minimum.
Her parents, John and Sarah along with Jane’s two siblings Mercy Martha and Stephen Frederick emigrated to New York; Sarah leaving first with the children in late October 1885, followed by John in July 1886. From New York they travel over a thousand miles to Utah, Salt Lake City and the surrounding area.
Could they have converted to Mormon beliefs and that being the reason I couldn’t find the later children’s parish baptisms?
Mormonism was being preached in east Sussex at this time and from the 1850’s many people across the country were taking the treacherous route to Utah, many dying on the way on the two-month wagon trains. There are many online reports of the hardships during these journeys.
Sadly, John and Sarah didn’t live long after their arrival and both are buried in Centerville Cemetery Utah, both dying in the year 1888.
Mercy Martha had two marriages, and Stephen Frederick also married, there are family trees online with photos of both families and research documents completed in 1968 in England regarding the ancestral family.
Levi mainly used his name John; he was a gardener. He married twice, his death in Ashburnham and burial on 5 May 1916.
Harriet, the last record found is the 1871 Census. She is a domestic servant with the family of George Body, a Farmer. I cannot find any further information.
Mark married Lucy Ballard and the couple had 8 children; he was a farm labourer. In 1921, they are living in Bexhill, he was a gardener, his death was on 22 April 1922.
George married Alice Anderson, a farmer; George lived to the good age of 97.
Hannah who married James Moore lived in New Cross in London. She was the next of kin on Jane’s admission to Horton. I am unable to establish a positive death Moore being a popular surname name.
James, Elizabeth and a female baby all 3 were infantile deaths.
Authors thoughts
Jane came for a large family; some remained in the East Sussex area. Jane moved away for what-ever reason, maybe work. Is this how she met Thomas Chamley? Did she become his housekeeper or was this just to make their situation seem respectful.
I am unable to find a marriage. It would have been bigamous. Thomas did later make a bigamous marriage in 1902 to Rosa by using the name George instead of Thomas. No divorce papers have been found.
Jane turned to drink, was this possibly due to Thomas’s behaviour? Or was this the reason why he left her. This will never be known.
Jane must have suffered at the end of her life having cervical cancer for a few months. It’s sad that she had GPI on her death certificate as her admission states the cause was her drinking.
