Alfred John Southwell

Part of the Earley family tree (Great-grandfather)

Family background and early life

Alfred John Southwell was born in East Dean, Hampshire in about 1833. No record can be traced of his baptism, nor confirmation of the full date of birth. He was the second of seven children born to William Southwell (1799–1867) and his wife Martha née Pritchard (1801–1885).

At the first national census in 1841, aged 8, he was living with his parents and five siblings at Lockerley Green, where his parents ran a grocer’s shop. Ten years later, the family were at the same address – 18-year old Alfred was now employed as a bricklayer’s assistant.

In January 1859, he appeared as a witness at the inquest into the death of his sister, Ann, following the birth of  her only child, when he told the coroner that he had walked five miles each way in  the middle of the night to Whiteparish in a vain attempt to get the doctor to come to assist in the delivery of the afterbirth.

In 1861, despite now being 28 years old, Alfred was still living with his parents and two youngest sisters at Lockerley Green, although his occupation was now given as carpenter.

First marriage and children

On 13 August 1862, Alfred (aged 29) married 30-year old Sarah Ann Rogers at St Michael & All Angels Church, Lyndhurst. Sarah was the daughter of James and Sarah Rogers originally from Mottisfont. James Rogers was a carpenter, and possibly Alfred’s employer.

There were four children of this marriage:

Sarah Ann Southwell, born at Mottisfont on 15 August 1863;

William James Southwell, born at Mottisfont on 13 January 1865;

twins Annie Margaret and Emma Kate Southwell, born at 68 St Mary’s Road, Southampton on 14 June 1870. Emma Kate died on 30 June; the cause of death was marasmus (malnutrition) from birth.

Sarah Ann died 3 months after her daughter at 68 St Mary’s Road, Southampton on 7 October 1870, aged 37.  The cause of death was “typhoid, 3 weeks”.

At the 1871 census, Alfred (now a 38-year old widower) and his eldest daughter were still living at 68 St Mary’s Road, Southampton (described as the Rag & Bone store). [Rather paradoxically, Alfred’s occupation was recorded as “Baker & confectioner (master)”.]

His son, William, aged 6, was living with his uncle and aunt, Henry (a master blacksmith) and Mary Swaine at Houghton, while Annie, aged  9 months, was living with her uncle and aunt, Henry (a draper) and Jane Dewey Southwell at Lockerley Green.

Second marriage and more children 

On Christmas Day 1873, Alfred (now 40) re-married to 31-year old Ellen Pembroke, née Osman, a widow with a 2-year old daughter Annie, at the Ebenezer Chapel at Tote Hill, near Lockerley, “according to the Rites and Ceremonies of the Baptists”. On the marriage register, Alfred’s occupation is again given as carpenter.

Ebenezer Chapel

Following their marriage, the couple settled initially at Farley, near Salisbury, where their four children were born:

Harry Edward Southwell, born 18 January 1875

Alfred Tom Southwell, born  4 March 1877

Martha Mary Southwell, born 30 August 1879

Ellen Keturah Southwell, born 6 January 1887

At the 1881 census, Alfred and Ellen, with 10-year old Annie Pembroke and their three eldest children were living in Farley village, where he was working as a carpenter. 17-year old Sarah Ann  was at nearby Pitton, where she was a servant in the home of Ann Hooper, a 73-year old widow.

Ten years later, in 1891, the family were at West Grimstead, Alfred (a 58-year old carpenter) and 48-year old Ellen, with their youngest three children. 14-year old Alfred Tom was now working as a shepherd.

In 1901, Alfred and Ellen, remained at West Grimstead, where they were living with their youngest child, 14-year old Ellen Keturah. Alfred’s occupation was now recorded as “Carpenter (employer)”.

Dispute with Revd. Shenton

See Shenton vs. Southwell for a full report on the court cases

As well as working as a carpenter, Alfred Southwell served as the village undertaker for the small number of funerals held at the parish church each year. In April 1908, Alfred was sued by the newly-appointed Rector of St John’s Church, West Grimstead, the Revd. George Darnell Shenton, who claimed an increase in the fee of 5 shillings paid for burials in the churchyard to 9s 6d. Alfred was supported in his defence of the claim by several parishioners, including Tom Earley, described as the sexton. The case was found in favour of Alfred and shortly afterwards Revd. Shenton left the parish to take up a post in Colchester, to be replaced by Revd. John Hubert Wilkinson.

Later life

At the 1911 census, Alfred and Ellen were now living alone, still at West Grimstead, where 78-year old Alfred gave his occupation as “Old age pensioner, retired carpenter)”.

Ellen Southwell died, aged 73, at home at West Grimstead on 31 January 1916. The cause of death was recorded as “Arterio Sclerosis & Gangrene of the legs”. She was buried on 31 January at St John’s Church, West Grimstead.

Following Ellen’s death, Alfred moved to live with his son, Alfred Tom, at 104 Robinson Road, Mitcham, Surrey where he died, aged 85, from a stroke on 30 November 1918. He was buried at Merton cemetery on 5 December 1918.