Ephraim Hedges (1800 - 1855)

Born 23 Feb 1800 in Highworth, Wiltshire, England

Ancestors

Husband of Alice (Drew) Hedges — married 8 Jun 1823 in Berkshire, England, United Kingdom

Descendants

Died 1855 at about age 54 in Brentford, Middlesex, England, United Kingdom

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Biography

Ephraim was born some time before 23 Mar 1800, Abingdon, Berkshire^[1]

Ephraim married his first cousin Alice Drew on the 6 June 1823 in Ashbury, Berkshire, and at that point he was a grocer, presumably involved with or having taken over his father's business. Pigot's 1830 Directory of Wiltshire shows Ephraim as a grocer and tallow chandler in Highworth. His first for children were born there.
A report in the Hampshire Advertiser of 25 October 1834 states that one William Darley was sentneced to six weeks in prison and fined ten shillings at Wiltshire Quarter Sessions "for ill-using Ephraim Hedges at Highworth". The London Gazette reported in 1837 the dissolution of the partnership as maltsters between Ephraim hedges and Thomas Ackling. This must have been another part opf his business.
The 1841 census^[2] shows the family living at 7 Aylesbury Street, Clerkenwell, where Ephraim was a tallow chandler.

• Extensive Fire in Clerkenwell - Yesterday morning, shortly before daybreak, a fire burst forth on the premises and manufactory belonging to Mr Hedges tallow chandler and melter in Aylesbury Street, Clerkenwell, the whole of which were in a short space of time totally consumed, It commenced in the manufactory, which was situated at the back of the dwelling house, in which there were several coppers for melting tallow, besides a large quantity of grease, and in a spacious warehouse above were deposited turpentine, oil, paint and other inflammable commodities, the whole being a brick building of two stories high and extending a considerable depth from the dwelling house and shop. The engines of the brigade establishment were extremely expeditious in their arrival and getting to work at those spots where the best command of the flames could be obtained. They continued their operations, and by six o’clock the fire was completely got under, although it had, at one period, threatened destruction to the surrounding dwellings. The damage done is very extensive, for, in addition to Mr Hedges’s manufactory and warehouses, his dwelling house is nearly destroyed, together with the furniture and contents. He is insured in the Sun Fire Office, but not, it is understood, to a sufficient amount to cover his loss. The adjoining houses in the occupation of Mr. Beaumont and Mr. Aldridge are reported to be very severely injured by the fire, both internally and externally. The loss here will fall on the Royal Exchange and Phoenix insurance offices. The actual loss will exceed 2,000l.
  (from Morning Post, 27 July 1843)
• Destructive Fire in Clerkenwell – Yesterday morning, the premises of Mr Hedger, oil and colourman, of No. 7 Aylesbury Street, Clerkenwell, was completely destroyed by a fire which broke out at four o’clock. The parish engine from St Sepulchre’s, two engines from St James’s, Clerkenwell, the Farringdon Street brigade, a Watling Street engine with Mr Braidwood, the Superintendent; the others from Whitecross Street, the West Of England station in the Waterloo Road, from Crown Street, and Chandos Street, arrived in succession, and went to work with an immediate and abundant supply of water. In saving the houses on either side belonging to Mr Beaumont and Mr Oldridge they were successful, but their attempts to quench the fire in Mr Hedger’s premises failed, the building with stock having been consumed in about two hours. Mr Hedger was insured in the Sun.
  (from Caledonian Mercury, 29 July 1843)
  

Ephraim next appears as the licensed Victualler at The Sun, Sun Street, Bishopsgate and on 3 December 1844 he was granted the Freedom of the City of London in the Company of Innholders by redemption^[3]. It is ironic that 12 days later Lloyd's Weekly London Newspaper reported that Ephraim Hedges and Samuel Rand of the Sun were fined 10s. and costs for giving short measure.
Nevertheless Ephraim was going up in the world. He had two more children between 1846 and 1850 and in the 1851 census^[4] he is a builder living at 8 Canonbury Villas. This is not the Canonbury Villas that we know today, which was built later. It is what is now the A104 between Canonbury Street and Ashby Grove. Just round the corner in Canonbury Street is a row of semi-detached houses called Westrop Villas. Given Ephraim's connection with Westrop in Highworth it is tempting to suggest a connection, but there is no proof.
When he wrote his will in 1854 he was living at South Cottage, Hounslow, well out into the suburbs. He described himself as a gentleman. He was buried at the Chapelry, Hounslow. This chapel, consecrated in 1836, was destroyed by an arson attack in 1943. Although we do not know how much he was worth, he left everything to his wife and she appeared to be quite well off. In 1861 she was described as a house proprietor.^[5]

Sources

1. ↑ Parish record, National Archives, Kew RG4/2395
2. ↑ National Archives, Kew , HO107/861/4/20
3. ↑ Freedom admissions papers, 1681 – 1930. London, England: London Metropolitan Archives. COL/CHD/FR/02
4. ↑ National Archives, Kew , HO107/1502/259/36
5. ↑ National Archives, Kew , RG9/727/54/17