The Wythes family
of
Ravensden House
Wythes family
The Wythes family were living in Ravensden House by 1851. This is a substantial house and in the 1911 census it was recorded that the house had 14 rooms.
Who were the Wythes and where had they come from ?
Francis Wythes, born around 1816 in Hadson in Worcestershire may have grown up in Worcestershire. In the 1841 Census it is possible that he was in Kelvedon, Essex as an unmarried railway contractor.
In the last few months of 1841 he was in Yorkshire when he married Sarah Ann Aspinall in the Halifax area. Sarah Ann had been born in Brighouse in Yorkshire.
It is not known where the couple settled at first but it is known that they had a daughter Jane born in Stafford in the June qtr of 1850.
Moving to Ravensden
By the time of the 1851 census the family had moved into Ravensden House and Francis was listed as a farmer of 99 acres employing 10 labourers. The family was rich enough to employ four servants who lived in the house – a nursemaid, a house servant, a cook and a gardener. Also on census night were Sarah’s two brothers William and Alfred Aspinall and a visitor. During the 1850s Francis prospered and in the 1861 censushe was listed as a farmer of 300 acres employing 15 men and 8 boys.
Children
Francis and Sarah had one daughter when they arrived in Ravensden and during the 1850s the couple had two more daughters and a son - Sarah Ann (b. 1851), Louisa (b. 1853) and Francis Aspinall Wythes (b. 1857).
The early years of the 1860s were not happy for the Wythes family as two daughters died. The eldest daughter, Jane, died just after Christmas in 1860 and was buried in Ravensden Churchyard and her younger sister Louisa died in May 1863 at the age of 10 years. Now there were just two children, a daughter Sarah and a son Francis.
1871 Census
This census recorded that Francis was a farmer of 285 acres and it is possible that he had sold off 15 acres. Now he employed 9 men and 8 boys, as well as 3 servants inside the house.
1871-1881– 2 marriages and a death
- late 1872 - Sarah Anne married Thomas Aspinall and the couple moved to Yorkshire. In 1881 they can be found at The Manor House in Hipperholme cum Brighouse.
- May 1878 - Francis, senior, died at the age of 62 years and was buried in Ravensden Churchyard.
- 1880 - Francis Aspinall W. Wythes married Gwendoline Maria Jesopp (born in Waltham Abbey) and the couple moved into Brook Farm, near to Ravensden House. In the 1881 census Francis was a farmer of 85 acres and a brickmaker employing 10 men and 3 boys.
Death of Sarah Ann in 1885
Sarah Ann Wythes continued to live in Ravensden House after her husband’s death and it is possible that her son Francis and his family moved in during the 1880s. Sarah Ann died in January 1885 and was buried with her husband in Ravensden Churchyard.
Children of Francis and Gwendoline -
-Francis Vivian, born in 1880
-Claude Aspinall, born in 1885
1891 Census
Francis Aspinall Wythes was now living in his family home of Ravensden House with his family and 4 servants. Francis was listed in the census as a JP and living on his own means. His son Francis was visiting his widowed sister Sarah Ann Aspinall in Brighouse at the time of the census, but his younger son Claude was at home.
1901 census
Little had changed by 1901 when Francis and Gwendoline were still living at Ravensden House with 4 servants, although both sons were living away. Francis Vivian was boarding with a metal moulder in Jarrow, Durham, listed as an apprentice engineer, while his brother Claud(e) was boarding at Cheltenham College in Gloucestershire.
1908
Francis Vivian Wythes married Nora Kingsley Fellows in the South Shields area and in 1911 Nora was living in Gateshead, with a son Francis Ernest Wythes.
1911 Census
Francis and Gwendoline were still living at Ravensden house in 1911 with 3 servants and Francis was listed as a JP of Private Means. While their son Francis Vivian was married and settled in Gateshead, their younger son Claude had entered the army and in 1911 was in the United Province in India as a 25 yr old single Lieutenant in the 4th Worcestershire Regt.
The Great War
Both Francis and Claude served in the war and Captain Claude Wythes was killed in action near Krithia, in the Gallipoli Peninsula on 28thApril 1915, aged 29 years. He gained the British Medal, the Victory Medal and the 1914-15 Star. Claud(e) is mentioned on the family tomb at Ravensden Churchyard and on the Helles Memorial.His older brother Francis was in the Royal Engineers but does not appear to have joined the army until Sept 1918.
1924 – death of Gwendoline
Gwendoline, wife of Francis A.Wythes, died at the age of 66 years in January 1924 and is buried in the family tomb at Ravensden Churchyard.
1942– death of Francis
Francis Aspinall Wythes died in 1942 at the age of 85 years. He is not listed on the family tomb in Ravensden and this would appear to be the last link with the village of Ravensden and Ravensden House.
Where is he buried ?
What happened to Francis Vivian Wythes ?
Very little can be found about Francis VivianWythes or his family. The death of his wife Nora cannot be found and no trace of any marriage or death of his son. It appears that Francis Vivian may havemarried again, in the Jun qtr of 1944 to Gladys Ivy Wythes in the Brentford area.He then died ashort time later (death recorded in the Thanet area of Kent in Sep qtr 1944) and Gladys died in the Richmond area in 1977.
Reference Notes for the Wythes family of Ravensden
Marriage of Francis and Sarah Ann -
Francis Wythes / Dec qtr 1841 / Halifax / Yorkshire - West Riding, WestSarah Ann Aspinall / Dec qtr 1841 / Halifax / Yorkshire
In the 1841 Census it appears that Francis may be in Kelvedon, Essex as an unmarried railway contractor.
1851 Census
Wythes / Francis / Hd / M / 34 / Farmer of 99 Acres empl 10 labs / WOR / HadsonWythes / Sarah A / Wf / M / 32 / Farmers Wife / YKS / Brighouse
Wythes / Jane / D / - / 1 / STS / Stafford
Brat / Francis / Sv / - / 25 / Nurse Maid / STS / Houff
Denis / Warner / Vis / 22 / Builder / BDF / Bedford
Aspinall / Willm / BL / - / 27 / Stone merchant / YKS / Brighouse
Aspinall / Alfred / BL / 34 / Gentleman / YKS / Brighouse
Taylor / Jane / Sv / - / 23 / House Servant / CHS / Henbery
Peck / Elisabeth / Sv / - / 31 / House Servant & Cook / BDF / Eaton Socon
Braiser / John / Sv / - / 28 / Gerdener / BDF / Cople
Registered births –
Jane Wythes / 1850 / Apr-May-Jun / StaffordshireSarah Ann Wythes / 1851 / Jul-Aug-Sep / Bedfordshire
Female Wythes / 1853 / Jan-Feb-Mar / Bedfordshire
Male Wythes / 1857 / Jul-Aug-Sep / Bedfordshire
1861 Census
Wythes / Francis / Hd / M / 44 / Farmer of 300 Acres empl 15 men 8 boys / WOR / HadsonWythes / Sarah A / Wf / M / 42 / YKS / Brighouse
Wythes / Sarah A / D / - / 9 / BDF / Ravensden
Wythes / Louisa / D / - / 8 / BDF / Ravensden
Wythes / Francis A / S / - / 3 / BDF / Ravensden
Wythes / James / Vis / - / 46 / WOR / Hadson
Aspinall / George / Vis / - / 34 / YKS / Brighouse
Mayes / Caroline / Sv / - / 30 / Cook / BDF / Ravensden
?? / Mary / Sv / - / 25 / House maid / BDF / Pavenham
Thomas / Rachel / Sv / - / 18 / Nursing maid / BDF / Northill
Billington / Charles / Sv / - / 26 ? / Groom / BDF / Biddenham
Registered Deaths -
Jane Wythes / Mar qtr 1861 / Bedford / BedfordshireLouisa Wythes / Jun qtr 1863 / Bedford / Bedfordshire
The Wythes tomb in Ravensden churchyard lists the deaths of these two children –
IN AFFECTIONATE REMEMBRANCE OF
JANE, ELDEST DAUGHTER OF
FRANCIS AND SARAH ANN WYTHES
OF RAVENSDEN HOUSE
BORN 22ND DAY OF MARCH 1849.
DIED 30TH DAY OF DECEMBER 1860.
“THY WILL BE DONE”
ALSO OF LOUISA, THIRD DAUGHTER OF THE ABOVE
BORN DEC 16TH 1852
DIED MAY 2ND 1863
1871 Census
Wythes / Francis / Hd / M / 54 / Landowner and occupier of 285 Acres employing 9 men 8 boys / WOR / HadsorWythes / Sarah Ann / Wf / M / 52 / YKS / Bridgehouse
Wythes / Sarah Ann / D / - / 19 / BDF / Ravensden
Wythes / Francis A / S / - / 13 / Scholar / BDF / Ravensden
Hall / Annie / Sv / - / 22 / Cook etc / N.K
Newton / Elizabeth / Sv / - / 20 / Housemaid / N.K
Marriage of Sarah Anne and Thomas Aspinall -
Thomas Aspinall / Dec qtr 1872 / Bedford / BedfordshireSarah Anne Wythes / Dec qtr 1872 / Bedford / Bedfordshire
The couple moved to Yorkshire and in 1881 they were living at The Manor House in Hipperholme cum Brighouse. Thomas had been born in Shoreditch.
Registered Deaths -
Francis Wythes / abt 1816 / 1878 / Bedford / BedfordshireThe Wythes tomb in Ravensden churchyard lists the death of Francis –
IN LOVING MEMORY OF
FRANCIS WYTHES,
OF RAVENSDEN HOUSE
DIED MAY 14TH 1878
AGED 62.
Marriage of Francis and Gwendoline in 1880 -
Francis Aspinall W Wythes / 1880 / Bedford / BedfordshireGwendoline Maria Jessopp / 1880 / Bedford / Bedfordshire
Gwendoline had been born in Waltham Abbey.
In 1881 Francis and Gwendoline were living at Brook Farm in Ravensden with their young son Francis Vivian. Francis was a farmer of 85 acres and a brickmaker employing 10 men and 3 boys.
Francis and Gwendoline had two sons in the 1880s –
Francis Vivian Wythes / 1880 / Oct-Nov-Dec / BedfordshireClaud Asplnall Bedford Wythes / 1885 / Oct-Nov-Dec / Bedfordshire
1881 Census – Ravensden House
Wythes / Sarah Ann / Hd / Wid / 60 / Landowner occupying part of Property / YKS / BrighouseWingrove / Ada J W / Vis / - / 39 / Income derived from Mortgages / SRY / Old Kent Road
Denton / Mary Ann / Sv / - / 32 / Cook – Dom Servant / BDF / Harrold
Denton / Ellen / Sv / - / 22 / Housemaid – Dom Servant / BDF / Carlton
Registered Deaths -
Sarah Ann Wythes / abt 1819 / 1885 / Bedford / BedfordshireThe Wythes tomb in Ravensden churchyard lists the death of Sarah Annunder her husband Francis –
ALSO OF
SARAH ANN WYTHES,
WIDOW OF THE ABOVE
WHO DIED JAN 3RD 1885
AGED 66
1891 Census
Wythes / Francis A W / Hd / M / 32 / J.P. Living on own means / A / BDF / RavensdenWythes / Gwendoline M / Wf / M / 32 / ESS / Waltham Abbey
Wythes / Claude A / S / - / 5 / BDF / Ravensden
Jessopp / Annie B / SiL / - / 28 / BDF / Bedford St Marys
Gavin / Ann B / Vis / Wid / 31 / Living on own means / IRL
Jessopp / Frederick C.C. / Vis / - / 29 / Solicitor / A / ESS / Waltham Abbey
Trueman / Julia / Sv / - / 33 / Domestic Servant / BDF / Bromham
Jarvis / Esther / Sv / - / 35 / Cook Domestic Servant / BDF / Harrold
Goodwin / Verderina / Sv / - / 16 / Domestic Servant / BDF / Ravensden
Cooke / James / Sv / - / 16 / Farm Servant / BDF / Colmworth
In 1891 young Francis Vivian was with his widowed aunt Sarah Aspinall in Yorkshire in Brook House in Brighouse.
1901 Census
Wythes / Francis A.W. / Hd / M / 43 / Living on own means / BDF / RavensdenWythes / Gwendoline M. / Wf / M / 43 / ESS / Waltham Abbey
Collins / Rose / Sv / - / 24 / Housemaid Domestic / NTH / Wellinboro’
Wiles / Amelia E. / Sv / - / 18 / Cook Domestic / BDF / Ravensden
Greenwood / Lilian L. / Sv / - / 20 / Under Housemaid Domestic / HRT / Hatfield
Molding / Alfred / Sv / - / 29 / Groom / W / SSX / Fiddleworth
In 1901 Francis Vivian Wythes was boarding with a metal moulder in Jarrow, Durham. He was listed as an apprentice engineer. His brother Claud(e) was boarding at Cheltenham College, Gloucestershire.
Marriage of Francis Vivian and Nora -
Francis Vivian Wythes / Sep qtr 1908 / South ShieldsNora Kingsley Fellows / Sep qtr 1908 / South Shields
1911 Census -286 Duston Road Dunston, Gateshead
WYTHES, Nora Kingsley / Head / Married3 years / F / 26 / 1885 / Durham Hebburn
WYTHES, Francis Ernest / Son / M / 1 / 1910 / Durham Hebburn
COWPERWAITHE, Edith / Servant / Single / F / 18 / 1893 / General Servant Domestic / Durham
In 1911 Claude was in the United Province in India as a 25 yr old single Lieutenant in the 4th Worcestershire Regt.
1911 Census
The 1911 census records that Ravensden House had 14 rooms.
WYTHES / Francis Aspinall Wythes / Hd / Mar / 53 / Private Means J P Beds / E / BDF / RavensdenWYTHES / Gwendoline Maria / Wf / Mar 31 yrs / 53 / ESS / Waltham Abbey
PRIGMORE / William / Sv / Single / 24 / Manservant Domestic / BDF / Souldrop
WATTS / Alice / Sv / Single / 26 / Cook Domestic / LIN / Frodingham
ROBINS / Kate / Sv / Single / 17 / Housemaid Domestic / HUN / Great Staughton
Gwendoline died in 1924 aged 66 years.
Gwendoline M Wythes / Mar qtr 1924 / Bedford / BedfordshireThe Wythes tomb in Ravensden churchyard lists the death of Gwendoline on one end–
IN LOVING MEMORY
OF
GWENDOLINE MARIA WYTHES
WIFE OF
FRANCIS ASPINALL WYTHES WYTHES JP
WHO DIED
JANUARY 2ND 1924
The Great War
Both sons served in WW1
Claude died in 1915 and Francis served in the Royal Engineers.
Commonwealth War Graves Commission -
WYTHES , CLAUDE ASPINALL / Captain / 28/04/1915 / 29 / Worcestershire Regiment / United Kingdom / Panel 104 to 113. / HELLESName: / WYTHES, CLAUDE ASPINALL
Initials: / C A
Nationality: / United Kingdom
Rank: / Captain
Regiment/Service: / Worcestershire Regiment
Unit Text: / 4th Bn.
Age: / 29
Date of Death: / 28/04/1915
Additional information: / Son of Francis Aspinall Wythes Wythes, J P., of Ravensden House, Bedford.
Casualty Type: / Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: / Panel 104 to 113.
Memorial: / HELLES MEMORIAL
The Wythes tomb in Ravensden churchyard lists the death of Claud on the opposite endto his mother –
SACRED
To the MEMORYOF
CLAUD ASPINALL WYTHES
CAPT WORCESTERSHIRE REGT;
KILLED IN ACTION NR KRITHIA
GALLIPOLI PENINSULA,
APRIL 28TH 1915, AGED 29
YOUNGER SON OF F. A. WYTHES,
RAVENSDEN HOUSE
Medal cardsof Claude and Francis
Francis died in 1942 aged 85 years.
Francis A W Wythes / Sep qtr 1942 / Bedford / BedfordshireFrancis Vivian Wythes married Gladys Wythes in 1944 -
Francis V Wythes / Wythes / Apr-May-Jun 1944 / Brentford / MiddlesexGladys I Wythes / Wythes / Apr-May-Jun 1944 / Brentford / Middlesex
No obvious children can be found for this couple.
Possible death of Gladys -
Gladys Ivy Wythes / 1894 / 1977 / Richmond Upon Thames / Greater LondonPossible death of Francis Vivian Wythes.
Frances V Wythes / 63 years / Sep qtr 1944 / Thanet / Kent1