Orphaned. A Hard Life: Annie Pitts, grandmother of Eileen, Peggy, Nancy and Thelma. Family Tree 1816-1916.
Ann/Annie Pitts 1857-1916.
Mother of Bill Minchin and grandmother of Eileen, Peggy, Nancy and Thelma.
Ann Pitts. At two she lost her father, at eight her mother. Who cared for her during her 11 orphan years before she wed John Minchin at 19? This photo shows her around the time of her marriage. She worked as a laundress – a washerwoman – and life would continue to be hard until her death in the middle of the 1914-18 War. She bore nine children in 16 years, between 1878 and 1894.
1857: Birth, April, Stow on the Wold. Daughter of Charles and Ann Pitts (nee Neale).
1859: Father Charles Pitts dies, age 33, Stow. Ann age two.
1861: Census: Residence, Stow, age 4. The household consists of Ann Pitts, 44, Head of Household, Widow, Mother; and three daughters – Hannah, 12, Jane, 10, Ann, 4 – called Annie probably to distinguish her from her mother. (In 1851 Census, two other daughters listed – Emely, then 6, and Sarrah, 4. Now working or in service?)
1865: Mother dies, age 49, Stow. Ann age 8 is an orphan.
1876: Marriage to John Minchin, 21 October, registration district Stow on the Wold. Age 19. Called Annie. Now Mrs Annie Minchin.
1878: Gives birth to Thomas Henry (d 1952).
John Minchin in middle age.
1881: Census: Residence, Sherbourne St, Bourton on the Water. Age 25. Wife. Household includes John Minchin, Head, 31, Gardener, born Naunton; Thomas, son, 2; Emma Bromage, niece, 7, scholar, b Stow on Wold.
1881: Gives birth to Beatrice (d – ).
1883: Gives birth to Arthur John (d 1911).
1885: Gives birth to William Victor (d 1974).
1887: Gives birth to Mabel Annie (d – ).
1890: Gives birth to Helen (d 1981) and Nellie (d – ).
Sherborne Terrace, Sherborne Street, Bourton. In the 1880s it would have been an overcrowded nest of poverty, nothing like these fashionable residences today. Annie took in washing and John worked as a gardener to maintain their growing family. Without much birth control, big families were the norm. It also meant parents had someone to look after them in an age without pensions or state welfare. It may have been changed circumstances – a lack of work, illness – which made the Minchins move to Nethercote.
1891: Census: Annie. Residence, Sherbourne St, Bourton on the Water. Age 35. Wife. Laundress. Also John Minchin, Head, 44, General Labourer, born Westfield; Thomas, 12, scholar; Beatrice, 9, scholar; Arthur, 7; William, 6; Annie, 4; Nelly, 1.
1892: Gives birth to Alfred John (d 1955).
1894: Gives birth to Florence Emma (d 1987).
1970: Florence – known as Floss – with Bill and May at their Golden Wedding.
1901:Census: Residence, Sherbourne St, Bourton on the Water. Age 44. Wife. Also John Minchin, head, 53, General Gardener (domestic), b Glos. Bourton on W; Beatrice, 20; William, 16, Grocers Porter; Nellie, 11; James, 9; Florence, 7.
1911: Son Arthur John (born 1883) dies age 26.
1911: Census: Annie Minchin, Street address: Nethercote, Bourton on the Water. Household members: John Minchin, head, 64, Gardener (Domestic), married 35 years; Annie Minchin, 53, wife, laundress; Hellen Minchin, 21, Single, Assisting in Business Laundry; James Minchin, 19, Single, Plumber, (Builder); Horace Heathfield, visitor, 23, Single, GWR Servant (Porter).
(JD: William, 26, may still be at Sherborne Cottages, near mill and bakery where he was working. 1911 Census shows May Wood, 18 (future May Minchin) is living in Bourton as children’s nurse to Dr Moore. SEE ARTICLE MAY WOOD AND BILL MINCHIN: DRAMA OF THE EARLY YEARS. James Minchin is Alfred J Minchin 1892-1955; Helen 1890-1981. Nethercote is south side of Rissington Road, on eastern edge of Bourton. Eileen Dale says she doesn’t recall any mention of this. JD says as a child he was pointed out a house where someone said Bill Minchin had grown up. But, apart from that, ages and details on the 1911 Census fit exactly.)
1911- : Son William begins courtship with May Wood, childrens nurse at Dr Moore’s home. In the close community of Bourton, Annie would no doubt have got to know her.
1914: Outbreak of the Great War. As a baker William, 29, is in a reserved occupation and saved from the slaughter on the Western Front. Annie must have been extremely relieved, especially when the casualty lists began to include Bourton boys. By the end of the war, there would be 27 dead from this tight-knit community, from families Annie would have known well.
1916: Death. Age 59, 22 May, Stow on the Wold, in the middle of the 1914-18 War. From humble beginnings, and after a difficult start to life, Annie could feel proud of what she had achieved. She had seen her large family come of age, with even her youngest Florence now turned 22, and most would go on to raise successful families of their own. In 1920 William will marry May Wood and they will have their first daughter Eileen in 1921, just in time for her to be held by her grandfather John. Eight months later he will follow his wife to the grave.
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Charles Pitts 1826-1859.
Father of Annie Pitts and great-grandfather of Eileen, Peggy, Nancy and Thelma.
1826: Birth, Great Barrington, Glos. Son of Richard and Hannah Pitts. (JD: Although identifies his parents, there is conflict in some of Richard and Hannah’s dates. Still researching.)
1841: Census: Residence, Great Barrington, age 15. Household members: Richard Pitts, 35, Labourer, b Gloucestershire; Hannah Pitts, 35; Charles Pitts, 15; Sarah Pitts, 14; George Pitts, 14; James Pitts, 9; William Pitts, 7.
1846: Marriage to Anne Neale, 1 August, Parish Church, Daglingworth, Cirencester. Age 20.
Daglingworth Parish Church where Charles Pitts and Anne Neale married on 1 August, 1846,
1851: Census: Residence 112 High Street, Stow on the Wold. Age 26. Head, Labourer. Household members: Anne, Wife, b North Serney; Emely, 6; Sarrah, 4; Hannah, 2; Jane, 2 months.
1857: Birth daughter Ann/Annie.
1859: Death, Evesham, March. Age 33.
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Anne Pitts/Pits (nee Neale).
Mother of Annie Pitts, great grandmother of Eileen, Peggy, Nancy and Thelma
1816: Born Anne Neale, North Serney, Glos. Parents unknown.
1841: Census: An Anne Neale, 25, at Rosamond Green, Frampton Upon Severn. Not sure if same one.
1846: Marriage to Charles Pitts, Parish Church, Daglingworth, Cirencester. Age 30. Present: Anne Neale, Charles Pitts, Richard Tibbalds, Martha Townsend.
1851: Census: Residence 112 High Street, Stow on the Wold. Household: Charles, Head, 26, Labourer; Anne, Wife, b North Serney; Emely, 6; Sarrah, 4; Hannah, 2; Jane, 2 months.
Stow High Street
1857: Birth of Annie. Children (original spellings): Emely Pits 1845- ; Sarrah Pits 1847- ; Hannah Pits 1849- ; Jane Pitts 1851- ; Annie Pitts 1857-1916.
1859: Widowed, with death of Charles Pitts.
1861: Census: Residence Stow on the Wold. Household: Ann Pitts, Head, 44, Mrs, Mother; Hannah Pitts, 12; Jane Pitts, 10; Ann Pitts, 4.
1865: Death, age 49, Stow on the Wold.