William Hutchings (1802 - 1865)

Born 22 Mar 1802 in Banbury, Oxfordshire, England, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Died 29 Sep 1865 at age 63 in Banbury, Oxfordshire, England, United Kingdom

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Biography

William Hutchings was born on 22 March 1802 at Banbury in Oxfordshire. He was the son of John and Ammarita Hutchings of Banbury. He was baptised at the Great [Presbyterian] Meeting at Banbury, along with his brothers and sisters, on 8 September 1806, by the minister of the Bloxham and Milton Presbyterian church. ^{[1] [2]}

There is a fundamental conflict between William's date of birth (22 March 1801), recorded at the time of his baptism, and that of his sister Ammarita (14 November 1800), recorded at the time of her baptism at Northampton in February 1801. If one discounts the possibility that Amaritta was unrelated—unlikely given that her parents had the same name as William's, and one of William's own children was given that name—then one birth date must be wrong. It seems reasonable to conclude that Amaritta's was recorded accurately, since it was recorded just 3 months after her birth. The date of her baptism in Northampton is also secure within the sequence of dates in the register, and makes a birth for William at Banbury in March 1801 less likely. It should also be pointed out that William's recorded age on every subsequent occasion is consistent with a date of birth in March 1802.

His wife Mary was born in Buckinghamshire; her maiden name was presumably Mary Thompson. ^[3] Their children were born in Buckingham.

In 1841 William Hutchings was living in North Bar Street in Banbury with Mary Hutchings (presumably his wife) and their children. His age was given as 35, implying a birth date between 1801 and 1802. His birthplace was said to be in Oxfordshire. He was a basket maker. ^[4]

In 1851 William Hutchings was still living in North Bar Street with his wife Mary and their children. His age was given as 49, implying a birth date in 1801 or 1802. His birthplace was given as Banbury, Oxfordshire. He was High Bailiff of the County Court and a basket maker. ^[2]

Note: BN C133441. By 1851 William Hutchings was the High Bailiff of the Banbury County Court. 1854 Post Office Directory also shows William Hutchings was a Sarjeant at Arms, Ale Tasters & Inspector of Weights & Measures.

In 1861 William Hutchings was still living in North Bar [Street] with his daughter Harriett, who was his housekeeper. His age was given as 59, implying a birth date in 1801 or 1802. His birthplace was given as Banbury, Oxfordshire. He was Bailiff of the County Court and a basket maker, employing 7 men. ^[5]

William Hutchings, High Bailiff of Banbury County Court, died near Banbury on 29 September 1865, at the age of 63. ^{[6] [3]}

According to the inquest held by the Northamptonshire coroner after his death, he died after being struck by a train about a mile north of Banbury station; the jury were unable to say how that had happened. At the time he lived at Grimsbury with his wife. He had been somewhat low in spirits in the days before his death, and some fellow passengers had become concerned for him during a railway journey he took on the day he died. He was found by a Superintendent Thompson, who said he was his brother-in-law. ^[3]

Sources

1. ↑ Deposited register of Bloxham and Milton Presbyterian church: The National Archives of the UK: reference RG 4/1721; folio 16: Ancestry Record 2972 #341144
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} England and Wales 1851 census (Banbury, Oxfordshire): The National Archives of the UK: reference HO 107/1734; folio 359: Ancestry Record uki1851 #4225728
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2} "Dreadful Death on the Great Western Railway", Oxford Times, 7 October 1865, page 7, column 3
4. ↑ England and Wales 1841 census (Banbury, Oxfordshire): The National Archives of the UK: reference HO 107/873; book 1; folio 33v: Ancestry Record uki1841 #9331356
5. ↑ England and Wales 1861 census (Banbury, Oxfordshire): The National Archives of the UK: reference RG 9/918; folio 47: Ancestry Record uki1861 #18292457
6. ↑ General Register Office, death registration index online (https://www.gro.gov.uk/); accessed 13 February 2021: HUTCHINGS, WILLIAM; GRO Reference: 1865 Oct-Dec Quarter in BANBURY registration district; Volume 03A Page 447; age at death: 63