Part of the Earley family tree (Great-great-grandfather)
In researching the family tree, John Earley has proved very difficult to pin down. In particular, it has not been possible to positively identify his parents, nor his dates of birth or death. The first time that I can definitely find him on an official record is when he married Elizabeth Halliday on 25 December 1837, when he is described as a “minor” on the marriage register. At that time, a minor was under 21 years old; thus John must have been born after December 1816. On the census in June 1841, John gave his age as 20, suggesting that he was born between June 1820 and June 1821, but this would have made him only 16 or 17 when he was married.
Many family genealogists have suggested that John was the John Earley who was baptised at Harbidge (a tiny hamlet, a few miles south of Fordingbridge) on 17 November 1816; if this is correct, John would have passed his 21st birthday shortly before his marriage.
On both the 1851 and 1861 censuses, John’s age as recorded suggests a date of birth in 1819, which is the date I have adopted in the absence of something more definite. This would have made him about 18 when he married.
Family background
As explained above, nothing is known about John’s early life or parentage until his marriage.
Marriage and children
On Christmas Day, 25 December 1837, John married 23-year old Elizabeth Halliday at St Mary the Virgin church, Fordingbridge in Hampshire. Both John and Rebecca are recorded as resident at Sandhill Heath (now Sandleheath). John’s father is recorded as Stephen Earley, a labourer; Elizabeth’s father is Giles Halliday, a turnpike gate keeper.
The couple’ s first child, Edward William was born at Sandhill Gate on 18 September 1838 and baptised at Fordingbridge on 12 October 1838. He was followed two years later by William Henry, who was born at Sandhill Gate on 4 December 184 and baptised at Fordingbridge on 25 December 1840.
At the first national census in June 1841, Elizabeth and John were living at Sandhill Heath turnpike gate with their two young sons. Elizabeth’ s age was recorded as 25, while John was recorded as aged 20.
Four further children were born over the next ten years:
Charles John, born at Sandhill Gate on 6 February 1842, baptised at Fordingbridge on 15 May 1842
Emily Eliza, born at Picket Post on 23 June 1844, baptised at Fordingbridge on 19 July 1844
Elizabeth Jane, born at Sandhill Heath on 4 February 1847, baptised at Fordingbridge on 7 March 1847
George Stephen, born at Sandhill Heath on 20 July 1849, baptised at Fordingbridge on 23 September 1849
At the 1851 census, Elizabeth was living at Picket Post turnpike gate, near Ringwood, with her five youngest children. Her occupation was recorded as “gatekeeper’ s wife”. John was back at Sandhill Heath with his eldest son, Edward, who were living close to the turnpike gate; John was now working as an agricultural labourer.
The couple had two further children:
James George, born at Picket Post on 13 February 1852 and baptised at Church of St Peter and St Paul in Ringwood on 9 May 1852
Frank, born at Leigh, near Wimborne, on 13 April 1854 and baptised at Wimborne Minster on 25 May 1854.
By the 1861 census, John had ceased working as a turnpike gatekeeper and was again working as an agricultural labourer; the family were living at Longham Street near Hampreston in Dorset, four miles east of Wimborne. Living with their parents were William, Charles, Elizabeth, James and Frank. By now Edward had emigrated to Canada while Emily, aged 17, was working as a servant in the home of 75-year old Thomas Hewer, a retired merchant, and his family at Holdenhurst, about seven miles from the family home. George cannot be traced on the census, and had presumably died, although no record of his death has been located.
By 1871, Elizabeth and John had moved to the Hangersley & Poulner Hill area, a mile east of Ringwood, where they remained for the rest of Elizabeth’s life. Living with them in 1871 were William Henry, James and Frank, none of whom ever married. John’ s occupation was now recorded as nurseryman, while the two younger sons were agricultural labourers. William was not working, and was described as a “cripple from birth”.
Ten years later, John was now a gardener; Frank was still with his parents and was employed as a labourer for the London & South Western Railway, while James was lodging in a beerhouse at Charlton Adam, near Yeovil, where he was working as a farm labourer.
Elizabeth died at Poulner on 15 January 1889, shortly before her 75th birthday.
At the 1901 census, John was still at Poulner Hill where he was described as a retired general labourer. Living with him were William (recorded as Henry, a self-employed rag & bone man), James (a carpenter) and Frank (a general labourer).
It has not been possible to verify John’s date of death. Some family genealogists have suggested that he died in the Ringwood area in 1909, but I can trace no supporting evidence.
Turnpike gate keeper/toll collector
At various times, John was working as a turnpike gate keeper. When his second son was baptised in December 1840, John was the gate keeper at what is now Sandleheath, on the Cranborne Chase and New Forest Turnpike. The turnpike gate was located just east of the present village stores, at GPS co-ordinates 50.93247, -1.82365.
He stayed at Sandleheath for about three years, before moving to Picket Post, near Ringwood, on the Romsey and Ringwood Turnpike (present day A31). The gate was a few hundred yards west of the present Picket Post service area at GPS co-ordinates 50.85182, -1.73576.
He appeared to have alternated between these two appointments: when Charles was baptised in February 1842, John’s address was recorded as living at Sand Hill Gate, but at the baptism of Emily in July 1844, he was at Picket Post. When Elizabeth was baptised in March 1847, John was back at Sand Hills, as he was at the baptism of George in September 1849. At the 1851 census, John was recorded at Sand Hill Gate, although Elizabeth was at Picket Post, described as the gatekeeper’s wife. James was baptised in May 1851, when John was again recorded as living at Picket Post.
At the baptism of his last child, Frank, in April 1851, John had moved to Wareham and was gatekeeper on the Leigh Road, on the Ringwood, Longham and Leigh Turnpike, at 50.79800, -1.98350
Note
John’s age was recorded very erratically on the successive ten-yearly censuses: in 1861 his age is recorded as 42, which would be correct assuming a birth year of 1819. In the next four censuses, his age is recorded as 50, 65, 79 and, in 1901, 90.