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Church End - WTPC-0166 C1905.
John Edmonds (1787-1875) "storekeeper" and his wife Mary (Nee Sanders, 1776-1855) "beer retailer" lived in Church End. While the precise location of their store remains unknown, it is documented that their business was operational for over three decades in the 19th century. There was a break in their retail operations in Weston Turville when John and Mary became landlord and landlady of the New Inn at Buckland Wharf.
John and Mary married in Weston Turville and had a daughter Caroline in 1812 also christened in Weston Turville.
In August 1833, Mrs. Mary Edmonds, of Weston Turville made an application for a license which was denied due to a lack of signature.[1] She applied again the following month but did not appear when called.[2]
This image was generated by KREA AI from a Buckland Wharf postcard.
In 1839, they were the proprietors of the newly built "New Inn", at Buckland Wharf where in addition to being a publican victualler, John is a hay-binder and dealer in hay, straw, coal, lime and ashes. At the licensing session in September that year, John's application for a spirit license is refused.[6]
John and Mary were both called as witnesses at a bizarre inquest of Mr. John Chowles a farmer who who died on the night of 21st or morning of 22nd October 1839. He had bought coal and lime from John Edmonds and been drinking at the New Inn. John is described as the Landlord and Mary as the Landlady.[4]
They were back in Weston Turville in 1840 (possibly at a new location) and there is a report in Bucks Herald 11 Jul 1840 that alerts us to their store in Weston Turville was also selling beer.
"On Wednesday night or early on Thursday morning some evil designed person or persons took a pane of glass out of a window in the house occupied by Mrs. Edmonds, of Weston Turville, a beer retailer, and stole therefrom a quantity of half-pence and some beer.
On the same night some villain attempted to break into the dwelling house of Mr. T. Floyd, the Chequers Public House, by wrenching the window open, but was fortunately frustrated; it is supposed that the parties are the same who broke into Edmonds's. Suspicion is attached against a party whom, we trust, will be brought to justice."[3]
From the 13 March edition of the Bucks Gazette.
In March 1841, we find John Edmonds listed as an Insolvent Debtor. Possibly a victim of the failing Wendover Arm Canal? What ever the Hertford issue was, Edmonds Store in Weston Turville seems to be quickly back in operation.
In the 1841 census, taken on 6th June, John and Mary are living about a mile from the New Inn, at Green End Street in Aston Clinton, together with their granddaughter Emma Montague (aged 10) who is already a plaiter.
29th July, 1843, Mary Edmonds of Church End is found guilty of having in her possession deficient weights. Four weights out of ten deficient. Convicted and fined 2s 6d. each measure, and 12s 6d costs - £1 2s. 6d.[5]
John Edmonds, appears in historical directories as a shopkeeper from 1847 to 1864. In 1851, at the age of 64, he was recorded as an agricultural labourer, while his wife Mary, aged 75, was a lace maker. They lived in Church End with their granddaughter Emma Montague.
Sadly, Mary passed away in 1855. By the census of 1861, John, then a widower and 74 years old, worked as a hay tier and lived with his daughter Caroline Montague.
John died 1875.
This real estate auction notice may be offer a key for future research, to determining the property location.
This notice is from Bucks Chronicle 23 Jun 1855References
References
^ Bucks Gazette 07 Sep 1833
^ Bucks Gazette 05 Oct 1833
^ Bucks Hearld 11 Jul 1840
^ Bucks Gazette 26 Oct 1839
^ Bucks Gazette 05 Aug 1843
^ Bucks Gazette 07 Sep 1839
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