James Bristow (buried 1914)

At a glance

At a glance
Surname: 
Bristow
First name: 
James
Other Christian names: 
Gender: 
Male
Children: 
Yes
Burial number: 
737
Born: 
0/0/1826
Died: 
09/03/1914
Buried: 
13/03/1914
Occupation: 
Mill owner
Heene Hallmark: 
No
Commonwealth War Grave: 
No

The Grave

The grave
James Bristow (buried 1914) headstone
Cemetery area: 
NES
Cemetery row: 
5
Cemetery plot: 
4
what3words location: 
https://what3words.com/wires.slips.swing
Burial remains: 
Unknown
The headstone
Endowed grave: 
No
Headstone inscription: 
In loving memory of James Bristow who was called from us March 9th 1914 aged 88 years "Peace perfect peace" and of Mary Anne Wontner his wife who was re-united with him 4th March 1917 aged 78 years "Then are they glad because the are at rest"

Life story

Life story

James was born in 1826 in Isfield to James and Ann Bristow.  Not much is known of his early life but he married Mary Anne Wontner Edenborough on 16th July 1862 in Surrey. 

They had 4 children-

James Frank born 1863 Carshalton died 1900 Ewell Surrey 

Frank born 1866 Carshalton 

Beatrice May born 1869 died 1870 Carshalton Surrey 

Fanny Elizabeth Born 1875 Carshalton Surrey died 1932 Sussex 

In 1871 James and his family are living at North Street Carshalton Surrey.  James is working at Carshalton mill Surrey for Robert Linton Charrington. Then in 1881 James and his family are still living in North Street, Carshalton, Surrey, but James has obtained a 21 year lease on the Carshalton Mill, at an annual rate of £330. James had difficulty in working the mill for profit, as five years later on 22nd February 1886 he entered into an agreement with his landlords whereby he occupied the mill for a further two months for the rent of £27.10s. 

Merton Abbey Mills

On the 1891 census it shows that James Bristow had moved to 113 Merton Road Wimbledon Surrey. James took over the Merton mill in Wimbledon in 1887, in the directories it shows that the mill is being run by James Bristow and Son (which was possibly James Frederick, who was himself a miller. James retired in 1896 and moved to 5 Heene villas, Worthing. 

The 1901 census it shows that James is living on his own means, so he must have turned his business into profit. 

By 1911 James, Mary Anne and his Daughter Fanny had moved to Windlands Ham Road Worthing 

James died on 9th March 1914 in Worthing and his Wife Mary Anne died on 4th March 1917 in Worthing

Burial researcher: 
Jackie Rooney

Further information

Birth
Date born: 
00/00/1826
Marriage
Marriage 1
Spouse one first names: 
Mary Ann Wontner
Spouse one last name: 
Edenborough
Marriage one date: 
16/07/1862
Marriage one address: 
Christchurch, Surrey, England

Death

Death (details)
Date of death: 
09/03/1914
Age (at time of death): 
88
Cause of death: 
Unknown
Address at time of death: 
Ham Road, Worthing, Sussex, England
Personal effects
Executors: 
Fanny Elizabeth Bristow: Frank Hinds status:
Probate pounds: 
£2,073

Census and miscellaneous information

Census information
1871 census: 

6 North Street Carshalton Surrey

James Bristow (Head) age 45, Marianna (Mary Ann) (Wife) age 32, James Frederick Bristow (Son) age 7, Frank Bristow (Son) age 5, plus 2 servants

1881 census: 

North Street Carshalton surrey

James Bristow (Head) age 55, Mary Anne (Wife) age 42,  Frederick F (Son) age 17, Frank (Son) age 15

1891 census: 

113 Merton Road Wimbledon

James Bristow (Head) age 65, Marianna (Mary Anne) (Wife) age 52, plus 1 servant

1901 census: 

1901 census 5 Heene Villas Worthing Sussex

James Bristow (Head) age 75, Marianna (Mary Ann) (Wife) age 62, Fanny E (Daughter) age 25

1911 census: 

Windlands Ham Road Worthing Sussex

James Bristow (Head) age 85, Mary Anne (Wife) age 72, Fanny Elizabeth (Daughter) age 35, plus 1 servant

Miscellaneous information

Map of Merton Mills
Map of Merton Mills

Merton Mill, Wimbledon, Surrey (run by James Bristow)

Merton Mill produced corn and was situated on the River Wandle about 400 yards north of Merton Bridge, where the present Byegrove Road crosses the River, and where the last mill building on the site still stands, now converted to housing accommodation. The original mill on the site may have been one of two mills recorded in the Domesday book of 1086. Hugh Lingard occupied the property from the early 1550s. The ownership of the mill passed hands many times. James Bristow (buried in the cemetery) took over as proprietor of the corn mill from 1887 until 1890. The mill was taken over by one of his sons, who retained the name and worked there until approx. 1918.

The passing of the Upper Mill from Robert Linton Charrington to James Bristow in 1881
The passing of the Upper Mill from Robert Linton Charrington to James Bristow in 1881

He was succeeded by James Bristow, who was named as the proprietor in directories from 1887 until 1890. He had taken over the mill soon after he left the Upper Mill in Carshalton in April 1886. From 1898 until 1913 the name listed in directories was James Bristow and Son. James Bristow retired in 1896 and moved to Worthing where he died on 9 March 1914 at the age of 88. The management of the mill had been taken over by one of his sons, who retained the name, and worked there until about 1918. An occasional reference has been made in this account to calico printing works situated a little way downstream from the corn mill, which were also part of James Perry's estate. In about 1838 these were converted into a leather japanning works, which by 1851 were occupied by James Paxton and James and Henry Paxton until at least 1895. The works was taken over by Connolly Brothers, leather dressers, who were there by 1905. In 1919 following Bristow's departure, Connolly Brothers took over also the corn mill, and converted it to their purposes. The brothers were Samuel Frederick and John Joseph Connolly, who had set up as leather dressers in London in 1878. They came to specialise in preparing leather for use in motor cars, especially the Rolls Royce and Jaguar models. The firm continued in operation at Wimbledon for some 75years, latterly trading as Connolly Leather Ltd.