Emma Peasgood (buried 1935)

At a glance

At a glance
Image of headstone for Emma Peasgood
Surname: 
Peasgood
First name: 
Emma
Other Christian names: 
Gender: 
Female
Children: 
Yes
Burial number: 
1626
Born: 
0/9/1844
Died: 
27/12/1935
Buried: 
30/12/1935
Occupation: 
Apple grower.
Distinction: 
Apple Tree Propagator
Heene Hallmark: 
Yes
Commonwealth War Grave: 
No

The Grave

The grave
Cemetery area: 
SES
Cemetery row: 
13
Cemetery plot: 
3
what3words location: 
https://what3words.com/scenes.slam.levels
Burial remains: 
Unknown
The headstone
Endowed grave: 
No
Headstone inscription: 
Sacred to the memory of John Francis Peasgood late of Stamford died 19th May 1920 aged 79. Also of Emma his wife died 27th December1935 aged 91.

Life story

Life story

Emma Peasgood 1844 - 1935 Apple Tree Propagator Heene Hallmark

Emma Manby was born in Spittlegate, Lincolnshire, in 1844, September quarter; her parents were, William Manby, 29yrs, Writing Clerk, and Elizabeth, 36yrs. She had a brother, George, born 1843. When Emma was just sixteen, she planted 5 apple pips of an unknown variety and accidentally created a famous cooking apple, (full story below).

Emma, 21yrs, married John Francis Peasgood, 24yrs, on 24th October 1865 at Grantham, Lincolnshire, they had 4 children, Arthur Francis b.1866, Emma Francisca, (died in infancy), 1868, Annie Francisca b.1870, and William Francis b.1874. In 1871 John was manager of a drapery shop in Stamford High Street, Lincolnshire, but by 1875 he had moved the business to Upper Street, Islington, where he advertised as John Francis Peasgood, London/Paris House, and had what appeared to be a successful drapery business. Over the next ten years he moved on from the drapery trade but ended up in the bankruptcy court in 1886.

Emma and John  moved to Croydon with their family, (1891-1901) and in 1911 they were living in Hounslow, London, at some later point they moved to Worthing, Sussex, where John died, on 19th May 1920, aged 79yrs. In 1921 Emma was staying as a visitor at a lodging house called Wynnestead, The Steyne, Worthing, which was run by her brother-in-law, Frederick Peasgood and his wife, Julia. Emma appears to have then moved along the coast and she died in Hove on 27th December 1935, aged 91yrs.

Burial researcher: 
Maggi Martin

Further information

Birth
Date born: 
00/09/1844
Marriage
Maiden name: 
Manby
Marriage 1
Spouse one first names: 
John Francis
Spouse one last name: 
Peasgood
Marriage one date: 
24/10/1865
Marriage one address: 
Grantham, Lincolnshire, England

Death

Death (details)
Date of death: 
27/12/1935
Age (at time of death): 
91
Cause of death: 
Unknown
Address at time of death: 
Hove, Sussex, England

Census and miscellaneous information

Census information
1851 census: 

Living at London Road, Spittlegate, Lincolnshire. William Manby, 35yrs, Writing Clerk, wife, Elizabeth, 44yrs, son, George, 7yrs, and daughter, Emma, 6yrs.

1861 census: 

Living at Bridge End Road, Spittlegate, Lincolnshire. William Manby, 45yrs, Clerk in Iron Foundry, wife, Elizabeth, 56yrs, son, George, 17yrs, Turner and Fitter, daughter, Emma, 16yrs, no calling.

1871 census: 

Living at 56, High Street, Stamford, Lincolnshire. John F. Peasgood, 29yrs, Draper and Town Councillor, wife, Emma, 26yrs, 2 children, Arthur F. 4yrs, Annie F. 11month, plus 1 domestic servant.

1881 census: 

Living at 17, Stavordale Road, Islington, London. John F. Peasgood, 39yrs, Manager of Drapery, wife, Emma, 35yrs, 3 children, Arthur F. 14yrs, Annie F. 10yrs, William F. 7yrs, mother-in-law, Elizabeth Manby, 74yrs, boarder, Joseph Holdom, 25yrs, Theology Student.

1891 census: 

Living at 4, Maberley Road, Croydon, Surrey. John F. Peasgood, Agent for Saddlery, wife, Emma, 46yrs, son, Arthur F. 24yrs, Stock Jobbers Clerk, daughter, Annie F. 20yrs, son, William F. 17yrs, Auctioneers Articled Clerk, mother-in-law, Elizabeth Manby, 84yrs, visitor, Ada Patchett, 19yrs, Milliners Assistant.

1901 census: 

Living at 21, Sunny Bank, Croydon, Surrey. John F. Peasgood, 59yrs, Secretaryof Joint Stock Co., wife, Emma, 56yrs, son, William, 27yrs, Estate Agent.

1911 census: 

Living at 104, Bath Road, Hounslow, London. John F. Peasgood, 69yrs, Promoter and Manager of Exhibitions, wife, Emma, 66yrs.

Miscellaneous information

Peasgood Nonsuch apple tree
Peasgood Nonsuch apple tree

Emma Manby

was the accidental creator of the Peasgood Nonsuch apple. She was born in Grantham, Lincolnshire in 1844. When she was 16, she planted 5 pips of an unknown cooking apple variety in her garden. Only one pip germinated but it grew into a healthy tree. 5 years later she married John Francis Peasgood and moved to Stamford taking her still fruitless tree with her. The tree didn't produce any apples until 1870 but when it did eventually fruit each apple was of such a size; each one over a pound in weight that on 6th September 1872 Emma entered the apples in the Agricultural show at Burghley Park. She won first prize. The fruit was presented to the Royal Horticultural Society and was awarded a first-class certificate. The notoriety of the fruit increased and during a show at the Guildhall, London a specimen weighing 1lb 12 Oz was presented to Queen Victoria. Laxton's marketed the fruit from 1872 and described it as "one of the most handsome apples in cultivation".

The Lincolnshire Chronicle – September 2nd, 1870

Stamford Petty Sessions, Saturday, August 27. Before the Mayor and Mr. Paradise. -Frank Galgani and Richard Lightfoot, each only nine years of age, were charged with stealing a quantity of apricots, apples, and pears from the garden of Mr. John Francis Peasgood, on Sunday the 7th August. Mr. Atter appeared for the prosecution and proved the case by the evidence of two boys named Bowden and Wade, both somewhat older than the prisoners. It was tolerably clear, however that the lad Wade had participated in the spoil. Mayor, addressing the prisoners, told them they were found guilty of the charge; and although they were so young, the Bench were determined that they should not escape without some punishment. They would be confined in gaol until night, and on their release their parents would be requested to chastise them severely. Mr. Peasgood's garden was so protected that the prisoners must have known they were committing theft. With regard to Wade, he was almost as bad as the others, and his worship cautioned him as to his future conduct.

Email from Denis Smith

Hello Sue, I wrote the synopsis for the apple Peasgood Nonsuch for the website fruitid, but I have to say you have done a fantastic job with your research, as for there being an original tree still about, it’s highly unlikely. We did some research on this and it was reputed that the original tree resided at a property in Bath Row by the River; the reason for this was, as far as we know, there was no garden behind the shop in the High Street. We could never find the Peasgoods living at this property but we did find a foreman for W &J Brown, the nurserymen who bought the scionwood of the Peasgood Nonsuch, at the property, living there at a later date; as Brown’s bought their shop from John Peasgood we assume that this house in Bath Row went with the shop, and so it’s highly likely that at some point the Peasgood family did live in Bath Row, but still to be proven. Surprisingly, there are very few PN found locally, in 20 years of apple research I think I have found one in a Stamford allotment, but they did make it all over the world, even New Zealand. It’s a great thing that you are doing and and I will tell our friends at "fruitid" about it. Yours, Denis Smith.