Family of William MEARS and Lucy BLIGH

Husband:
William MEARS (c. 1837- )
Wife:
Lucy BLIGH (c. 1843-c. 1932)
Children:
Caroline MEARS (c. 1865- )
Harriet MEARS (c. 1867- )
Anne MEARS (c. 1869- )
Robert John MEARS (c. 1870- )
Frederick J MEARS (c. 1873- )
George MEARS (1875- )
Ethel A MEARS (c. 1878- )
Albert J MEARS (c. 1880- )
Jane E MEARS (c. 1882- )
Caroline E MEARS (c. 1890- )
Marriage Banns:
2 Oct 1864
Tibenham¹
other dates were 09.10.1864 and 16.10.1864
Marriage:
23 Oct 1864
Tibenham^2,3
witnesses were Robert RINGER and Judith RINGER

Husband: William MEARS

Name:
William MEARS
Sex:
Male
Father:
John MEARS (1806-1890)
Mother:
Elizabeth GOODRUM (c. 1802-1878)
Birth:
c. 1837
Tharston
Baptism:
22 Oct 1837 (age 0)
Tharston⁴
Census:
1841 (age 3-4)
Tharston⁵
living with parents John (35, agricultural labourer) and Elizabeth (40), siblings George (12, agricultural labourer), John (9), James (7) and Unknown (2mths), and Daniel MEAR (60, agricultural labourer)
Census:
1851 (age 13-14)
Tharston⁶
Address: Parish House, Tharston

agricultural labourer, living with mother Elizabeth (48), siblings John (19, agricultural labourer), Henry (9) and Harriet (7, scholar), and great uncle Samuel (73, agricultural labourer)
Census:
1861 (age 23-24)
Moulton⁷
Address: Warton Hall Farm, Moulton

servant carter, living in the household of James BECKETT (47, farmer of 233 acres employing 6 men), and his cousin Ann MEARS (16, servant housemaid)
Census:
1871 (age 33-34)
Tibenham⁸
Address: East End of Longrow, Tibenham

labourer, living with wife Lucy (26) and children Caroline (6), Harriet (4), Anne (2) and Robert (6 mths)
Census:
1881 (age 43-44)
Fritton⁹
Address: The Common, Fritton

agricultural labourer, living with wife Lucy (35) and children Caroline (16, servant out of place), Ann (12, scholar), Robert (9, scholar), Frederick J (8, scholar), George (5, scholar), Ethel A (3) and Albert J (1)
Census:
1891 (age 53-54)
Moulton St. Michael¹⁰
Address: Green Lane, Moulton St. Michael

team man, living with wife Lucy (46) and children Ann (22), Robert (20, agricultural labourer), Frederick (19, agricultural labourer), George (17, agricultural labourer), Albert J (11, scholar), Jane E (9, scholar) and Caroline E (1)
Census:
1901 (age 63-64)
Forncett St. Peter¹¹
Address: Near Sand Pit Farm, Forncett St. Peter

carter on farm, living with wife Lucy (57) and children George (25, agricultural labourer), Ethel (23), Albert (19, agricultural labourer) and Jane (19)

Wife: Lucy BLIGH

Name:
Lucy BLIGH
Sex:
Female
Father:
-
Mother:
-
Birth:
c. 1843
Tibenham
Census:
1871 (age 27-28)
Tibenham⁸
Address: East End of Longrow, Tibenham

living with husband William (36, labourer) and children Caroline (6), Harriet (4), Anne (2) and Robert (6 mths)
Census:
1881 (age 37-38)
Fritton⁹
Address: The Common, Fritton

living with husband William (39, agricultural labourer) and children Caroline (16, servant out of place), Ann (12, scholar), Robert (9, scholar), Frederick J (8, scholar), George (5, scholar), Ethel A (3) and Albert J (1)
Census:
1891 (age 47-48)
Moulton St. Michael¹⁰
Address: Green Lane, Moulton St. Michael

living with husband William (48, team man) and children Ann (22), Robert (20, agricultural labourer), Frederick (19, agricultural labourer), George (17, agricultural labourer), Albert J (11, scholar), Jane E (9, scholar) and Caroline E (1)
Census:
1901 (age 57-58)
Forncett St. Peter¹¹
Address: Near Sand Pit Farm, Forncett St. Peter

living with husband William (59, carter on farm) and children George (25, agricultural labourer), Ethel (23), Albert (19, agricultural labourer) and Jane (19)
Census:
1911 (age 67-68)
Forncett St. Peter¹²
widow, needlework, livinf with boarders Arthur Standley MATTHEWS (8) and Maurice MAYNARD (9)
Death:
c. 1932 (age 88-89)¹³

Child 1: Caroline MEARS

Name:
Caroline MEARS
Sex:
Female
Birth:
c. 1865
Tibenham
Census:
1871 (age 5-6)
Tibenham⁸
Address: East End of Longrow, Tibenham

living with parents William (36, labourer) and Lucy (26), and siblings Harriet (4), Anne (2) and Robert (6 mths)
Census:
1881 (age 15-16)
Fritton⁹
Address: The Common, Fritton

servant out of place, living with parents William (39, agricultural labourer) and Lucy (35), and children Ann (12, scholar), Robert (9, scholar), Frederick J (8, scholar), George (5, scholar), Ethel A (3) and Albert J (1)

Child 2: Harriet MEARS

Name:
Harriet MEARS
Sex:
Female
Birth:
c. 1867
Gissing
Census:
1871 (age 3-4)
Tibenham⁸
Address: East End of Longrow, Tibenham

living with parents William (36, labourer) and Lucy (26), and siblings Caroline (6), Anne (2) and Robert (6 mths)

Child 3: Anne MEARS

Name:
Anne MEARS
Sex:
Female
Birth:
c. 1869
Gissing
Census:
1871 (age 1-2)
Tibenham⁸
Address: East End of Longrow, Tibenham

living with parents William (36, labourer) and Lucy (26), and siblings Caroline (6), Harriet (4) and Robert (6 mths)
Census:
1881 (age 11-12)
Fritton⁹
Address: The Common, Fritton

scholar, living with parents William (39, agricultural labourer) and Lucy (35), and children Caroline (16, servant out of place), Robert (9, scholar), Frederick J (8, scholar), George (5, scholar), Ethel A (3) and Albert J (1)
Census:
1891 (age 21-22)
Moulton St. Michael¹⁰
Address: Green Lane, Moulton St. Michael

living with parents William (48, team man) and Lucy (46), and siblings Robert (20, agricultural labourer), Frederick (19, agricultural labourer), George (17, agricultural labourer), Albert J (11, scholar), Jane E (9, scholar) and Caroline E (1)

Child 4: Robert John MEARS

Name:
Robert John MEARS
Sex:
Male
Birth:
c. 1870
Tibenham
Census:
1871 (age 0-1)
Tibenham⁸
Address: East End of Longrow, Tibenham

living with parents William (36, labourer) and Lucy (26), and sisters Caroline (6), Harriet (4) and Anne (2)
Baptism:
20 Apr 1873 (age 2-3)
Tharston¹⁴
Census:
1881 (age 10-11)
Fritton⁹
Address: The Common, Fritton

scholar, living with parents William (39, agricultural labourer) and Lucy (35), and children Caroline (16, servant out of place), Ann (12, scholar), Frederick J (8, scholar), George (5, scholar), Ethel A (3) and Albert J (1)
Census:
1891 (age 20-21)
Moulton St. Michael¹⁰
Address: Green Lane, Moulton St. Michael

agricultural labourer, living with parents William (48, team man) and Lucy (46), and siblings Ann (22), Frederick (19, agricultural labourer), George (17, agricultural labourer), Albert J (11, scholar), Jane E (9, scholar) and Caroline E (1)

Child 5: Frederick J MEARS

Name:
Frederick J MEARS
Sex:
Male
Birth:
c. 1873
Tharston
Census:
1881 (age 7-8)
Fritton⁹
Address: The Common, Fritton

scholar, living with parents William (39, agricultural labourer) and Lucy (35), and children Caroline (16, servant out of place), Ann (12, scholar), Robert (9, scholar), George (5, scholar), Ethel A (3) and Albert J (1)
Census:
1891 (age 17-18)
Moulton St. Michael¹⁰
Address: Green Lane, Moulton St. Michael

agricultural labourer, living with parents William (48, team man) and Lucy (46), and siblings Ann (22), Robert (20, agricultural labourer), George (17, agricultural labourer), Albert J (11, scholar), Jane E (9, scholar) and Caroline E (1)

Child 6: George MEARS

Name:
George MEARS
Sex:
Male
Birth:
2 Jun 1875
Tharston¹⁵
Baptism:
4 Jul 1875 (age 0)
Tharston¹⁵
Census:
1881 (age 5-6)
Fritton⁹
Address: The Common, Fritton

scholar, living with parents William (39, agricultural labourer) and Lucy (35), and children Caroline (16, servant out of place), Ann (12, scholar), Robert (9, scholar), Frederick J (8, scholar), Ethel A (3) and Albert J (1)
Census:
1891 (age 15-16)
Moulton St. Michael¹⁰
Address: Green Lane, Moulton St. Michael

agricultural labourer, living with parents William (48, team man) and Lucy (46), and siblings Ann (22), Robert (20, agricultural labourer), Frederick (19, agricultural labourer), Albert J (11, scholar), Jane E (9, scholar) and Caroline E (1)
Census:
1901 (age 25-26)
Forncett St. Peter¹¹
Address: Near Sand Pit Farm, Forncett St. Peter

agricultural labourer, living with parents William (59, carter on farm) and Lucy (57), and siblings Ethel (23), Albert (19, agricultural labourer) and Jane (19)

Child 7: Ethel A MEARS

Name:
Ethel A MEARS
Sex:
Female
Birth:
c. 1878
Flordon
Census:
1881 (age 2-3)
Fritton⁹
Address: The Common, Fritton

living with parents William (39, agricultural labourer) and Lucy (35), and children Caroline (16, servant out of place), Ann (12, scholar), Robert (9, scholar), Frederick J (8, scholar), George (5, scholar) and Albert J (1)
Census:
1901 (age 22-23)
Forncett St. Peter¹¹
Address: Near Sand Pit Farm, Forncett St. Peter

living with parents William (59, carter on farm) and Lucy (57), and siblings George (25, agricultural labourer), Albert (19, agricultural labourer) and Jane (19)

Child 8: Albert J MEARS

Name:
Albert J MEARS
Sex:
Male
Birth:
c. 1880
Flordon
Census:
1881 (age 0-1)
Fritton⁹
Address: The Common, Fritton

living with parents William (39, agricultural labourer) and Lucy (35), and children Caroline (16, servant out of place), Ann (12, scholar), Robert (9, scholar), Frederick J (8, scholar), George (5, scholar) and Ethel A (3)
Census:
1891 (age 10-11)
Moulton St. Michael¹⁰
Address: Green Lane, Moulton St. Michael

scholar, living with parents William (48, team man) and Lucy (46), and siblings Ann (22), Robert (20, agricultural labourer), Frederick (19, agricultural labourer), George (17, agricultural labourer), Jane E (9, scholar) and Caroline E (1)
Census:
1901 (age 20-21)
Forncett St. Peter¹¹
Address: Near Sand Pit Farm, Forncett St. Peter

agricultural labourer, living with parents William (59, carter on farm) and Lucy (57), and siblings George (25, agricultural labourer), Ethel (23) and Jane (19)

Child 9: Jane E MEARS

Name:
Jane E MEARS
Sex:
Female
Birth:
c. 1882
Fritton
Census:
1891 (age 8-9)
Moulton St. Michael¹⁰
Address: Green Lane, Moulton St. Michael

scholar, living with parents William (48, team man) and Lucy (46), and siblings Ann (22), Robert (20, agricultural labourer), Frederick (19, agricultural labourer), George (17, agricultural labourer), Albert J (11, scholar) and Caroline E (1)
Census:
1901 (age 18-19)
Forncett St. Peter¹¹
Address: Near Sand Pit Farm, Forncett St. Peter

living with parents William (59, carter on farm) and Lucy (57), and siblings George (25, agricultural labourer), Ethel (23) and Albert (19, agricultural labourer)

Child 10: Caroline E MEARS

Name:
Caroline E MEARS
Sex:
Female
Birth:
c. 1890
Pulham St. Mary Magdalen
Census:
1891 (age 0-1)
Moulton St. Michael¹⁰
Address: Green Lane, Moulton St. Michael

living with parents William (48, team man) and Lucy (46), and siblings Ann (22), Robert (20, agricultural labourer), Frederick (19, agricultural labourer), George (17, agricultural labourer), Albert J (11, scholar) and Jane E (9, scholar)

Note on Husband: William MEARS

Some confusion over actual year of birth

Sources

1.: Parish register - banns. Tibenham. Cit. Date: 2 October 1864.

2.: Parish register - marriage. Tibenham. Cit. Date: 23 October 1864.

3.: Civil Registration - marriage. 1864 Q4 Depwade 4B 657. Cit. Date: Q4 1864.

4.: Parish register - baptism. Tharston. Cit. Date: 22 October 1837.

5.: 1841 Census. HO107 757 7 9. Cit. Date: 1841.

6.: 1851 Census. HO107 1821 659 11. Cit. Date: 1851.

7.: 1861 Census. RG09 1234 7 16. Cit. Date: 1861.

8.: 1871 Census. RG10 1837 155 24. Cit. Date: 1874.

9.: 1881 Census. RG11 1968 7 8. Cit. Date: 1881.

10.: 1891 Census. RG12 1546 6 5. Cit. Date: 1891.

11.: 1901 Census. RG13 1864 23 1. Cit. Date: 1901.

12.: 1911 Census. RG14 PN11460 RD230 SD3 ED6 SN138. Cit. Date: 1911.

13.: Civil Registration - death. 1932 Q3 Depwade 4B 215. Cit. Date: Q3 1932.

14.: Parish register - baptism. Tharston. Cit. Date: 20 April 1873.

15.: Ibid. Cit. Date: 4 July 1875.