James Telling
Various records show different spellings of the surname of James and Phoebe Telling who lived at what later came to be 28A Castle Street in Thornbury. The name can be shown as either Tilling or Telling. On one occasion it was said to be Tilley. Purely for convenience, we have opted here for the spelling of Telling.
The 1881 census for 28A Castle Street describes James Telling as being born in Ashton Keynes in Wiltshire and aged 52. It also says that he worked as a general labourer. Phoebe Telling his wife was a 59 year old cook from Cumberland.
We know from the marriage record of St Mary’s Church in Thornbury that James Telling was the son of a stone mason called Henry Telling. However the 1841 Census shows James Telling with his family. Here Henry said to be an agricultural labourer living with his wife Mary, also a labourer and their four children, James the eldest shown as 15, William 13, Ellin 11 and Elizabeth 7.
The 1851 Census shows that James had left Ashton Keynes and moved to Malmesbury. Here he is said to be 23 years old and lodging at an inn called “The Horse and Jockey”. In this census he is a groom, but not an employee of the Inn. By the 1861 Census James was shown as a groom at Thornbury Castle.
On 21st April 1868 James Telling married Phoebe Stubbs daughter of Charles Stubbs a farmer. Please note that this record showed James as ‘James Tilling’. James was a groom at the time of his marriage.
In the Census of 1841 Phoebe Stubbs had been a female servant in Thursby, Cumberland. She was not living with her parents. By the Census of 1851 she had moved to Thornbury where she had become a kitchen maid at Thornbury Castle. By the Census of 1861 Phoebe had become a cook at the castle.
In the 1871 Census James and Phoebe Telling were living in Oldbury Naite. James was a farmer and Phoebe was said to have been born at Abbey House in Cumberland. They had a lodger, William Woodward Cullimore.
This occupation did not appear to last very long, as by the 1881 Census they were living in Thornbury in a cottage on the site of what is now 28A Castle Street and James was a general labourer. Phoebe was born in Holme Cultram, Cumberland which does have an Abbey mentioned in the previous census.
James must either have been doing general labouring on Thornbury Castle Estate or he returned to work for Thornbury Castle soon after the census because the photograph of the castle servants dated 1882 in Thornbury Museum shows James Telling amongst the members of staff. An extract of this is shown above with what is believed to be James Telling.
The rate book of 1885 confirms that James was living in 28A Castle Street owned by T Eddington.
Phoebe Telling died in 1888 and was buried in the churchyard of St Mary’s church in Thornbury. The memorial inscription shows:
“PHOEBE wife of James Telling who was for many years a faithful and valued servant in family of Henry Howard of Greystoke and Thornbury Castle died December 20th 1888 aged 67 years. …. Also of JAMES TELLING died November 2nd 1907 aged 81 years. Peace Perfect Peace“.
After the death of his wife, James continued to live at what is now 28A Castle Street and to rent it from the Eddington family. By the 1891 Census James was aged 63 years and described as a coachman and groom. He was said to be a widower from Charlton in Wiltshire. The electoral rolls and rate books confirm that he continued to live in this house but by 1901 the Census describes him as a ” retired coachman and groom”. The house was said to have three rooms. James died on 2nd November 1907 aged 81 and was buried with his wife Phoebe.