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Thomas Avery memorial.

  • Thread starter Thread starter Wendy
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Wendy

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Thomas_Avery.jpg
I called into Key Hill today and saw that memsafe had re errected this memorial. It isn't the scale's man.

In loving memory of Thomas Avery died July 30th 1901 aged 75 years and Margaret his wife died November 19th 1895 aged 67 years. Also Mary Ann died January 5th 1859 aged 5 years. Lucy died December 28th 1873 aged 12 years. Esther Ann died January 9th 1874 aged 2 years. John Christopher died January 16th 1874 aged 8 years. Margaret died January 17th 1874 aged 6 years.

This is such a sad memorial I can only think an epidemic of some sort swept the house between Dec 1873and Jan 1874. I don't have any more info on this family as yet. I am glad the memorial has been re instated though.
 
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Hi Wendy, That headstone certainly does tell a sad tale....to have lost all of those children must have been heartbreaking for the family, bad enough Mary Ann in 59, but to have lost all those others so close together...tragic.. I had a look for the family in the census, but have only found them in 1861 so far.. (EDIT, I changed sites and managed to track Thomas through the census to 1901, although some of the children that were left make it a bit confusing to say the least !!. Thomas originally came from Kenilworth...if you would like the details let me know)

It is amazing how the "Fixers" manage to get those big stones back up !! Do you know how they do it ??
 
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Lindyloo this is a very sad memorial but I have to say there are many more like it. It must have been an awful time for families. I have done a bit of research and came up with what you did. I must look further:blush:.

The "fixers"..lol are stonemasons who do this work around the country these lads are from South Wales and seem to enjoy their work and are interested in the history of the cemetery...I know unusual.:rolleyes:

Here's a photo of the hoist they use to lift the memorials it's all very controlled because of health and saftey.
 
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Hi Wendy, Do you try and find a bit of history for all of the graves..it would take forever I imagine, but interesting though..

I noticed a post on FB about the drilling and pinning so I must go back and have a look in a bit.....the Fixers do a grand job !! I could imagine that trade becoming a dying art (no pun intended) lol
Thanks for posting the photo..:)
 
Thomas Avery's occupation in 1891 is listed as a steam thrasher..I think. I have no idea what that was. In 1901 he is listed as a retired ironmonger. I do try and get a bit of info on as many as possible but to do everyone would take forever. I do it randomly.
 
I don't know about steam thrasher Wendy but when the age of steam came in they had machines called steam threshers.
 
I'd written "Steam Thrasher" down too Wendy, I googled it and apparently the modern day version of the word is Thresher. I guess he was working on a Farm at the time because the main definitions found were relating to The old fashioned steam driven Thrashing/Threshing machines used to separate grain from stalk.
Thomas seems to have had a variety of careers and moved a lot !!
1841 possibly...Green Lane but cant make out his occupation properly
In 1851 at what looks like Rose and Crown Yd, Moor Street he was lodging with John Stanley and family who I think were possibly Thomas's wife's relatives (Thomas Avery m Margaret Stanley 1851) Margaret wasnt there. Thomas was a Porter..
1861, Castle Street, Chambers Offices..Wine Merchants Cellarman,
1871, 41 High St,.. Empty Cask Dealer,
1881, Sherlock Street, Ironmonger
So I reckon he could definitely be classed as a Jack of All Trades !!
The IGI has a T A born 3 June 1826, christened 2 July 1826, Kenilworth... parents William and Anne

Sorry Wendy, I got a bit carried away lol I think what you are doing is wonderful !!!
 
There is a similar one to that at St Alphege's Church in Solihull for the Chattock family.

John Chattock died 12th November 1820 aged 51 and Harriet Mary his widow died 26th June 1825 aged 54.
Also Thomas Chattock dieds 17th September 1811 aged 17. Anne Mary Chattock died June 1812 aged 14.
Richard Chattock died 12th June 1824 aged 27. Charles Chattock died 19th April 1825 aged 25.


Chattock family tablet - St Alphege's Church, Solihull by ell brown, on Flickr
 
lindyloo said:
I'd written "Steam Thrasher" down too Wendy, I googled it and apparently the modern day version of the word is Thresher. I guess he was working on a Farm at the time because the main definitions found were relating to The old fashioned steam driven Thrashing/Threshing machines used to separate grain from stalk.
Thomas seems to have had a variety of careers and moved a lot !!
1841 possibly...Green Lane but cant make out his occupation properly
In 1851 at what looks like Rose and Crown Yd, Moor Street he was lodging with John Stanley and family who I think were possibly Thomas's wife's relatives (Thomas Avery m Margaret Stanley 1851) Margaret wasnt there. Thomas was a Porter..
1861, Castle Street, Chambers Offices..Wine Merchants Cellarman,
1871, 41 High St,.. Empty Cask Dealer,
1881, Sherlock Street, Ironmonger
So I reckon he could definitely be classed as a Jack of All Trades !!
The IGI has a T A born 3 June 1826, christened 2 July 1826, Kenilworth... parents William and Anne

Sorry Wendy, I got a bit carried away lol I think what you are doing is wonderful !!!
Click to expand...

That's a great piece of info thanks Lindyloo I can add it to the records thanks. Never worry about being carried away...lol
 
ellbrown said:
There is a similar one to that at St Alphege's Church in Solihull for the Chattock family
Click to expand...

Another sad story of tragedy ellbrown, I expect there are many similar in most places.. unfortunately :( Great photo though and a well preserved stone, I have probably passed by it on several occasions but never noticed it.
 
Wendy said:
That's a great piece of info thanks Lindyloo I can add it to the records thanks. Never worry about being carried away..
Click to expand...

Thanks Wendy, it is as accurate as I know how, but you may want to check it when you have time..!!
I do love to search, it keeps the old grey matter in trim lol
and I will try not to worry...being carried off by the men in the white coats is my main concern lol
 
Hi Wendy,

many thanks for Posting the Pic of KH O 85 Thomas Avery - been a busy week -There are 14 memorials being done this week in Key Hill - they will be there today & tomorrow still.

This was an additional one chosen to make up the weeks work, when planning the 3 'Boxes' - Whittal & Wilkinson which were put up a month ago, and Siviter Smith - going uip today/tomorrow.

It is a path side memorial so helps enhance the view as you enter - and has such a lovely look - especially the scroll top!



View attachment 69732 View attachment 69731 View attachment 69730
 
Hi Brian, I hope you and yours are keeping well.
14 !!! that's brilliant...Looking forward to seeing the photos.
I'm sure the Avery's would be well chuffed to know their memorial is once again upright. It looks grand.
I do like the scroll top and also the quote on the base
 
Brian I wish I could do more to help you put me to shame! It was lovely to see the cemetery looking so good with so many memorials being reinstated. I have forwarded the Pryse photo's to the person concerned. I will give him your email if that's ok. I am so looking forward to seeing the Siviter Smith memorial put back. Wendy x
 
the thing about the mid- Victorian epidemics especially in children was that it could have been any of the modern childhood ailments, dyptheria, measels, scarlet fever,croop, the victorians had no antibiotics so once in a family could wipe out all the children no matter what ages.
paul
 
That's very true Paul my great grandparents first child died aged one of Diphtheria in 1856. I think if there had been other children this would have swept through the house. It's very sad to read these memorials.
 
I know Wendy, my sister died of whooping cough in the epidemic of1947, in the Birmingham children's hospital, I had it too but somehow survived, I also lost a friend in the Polio epidemic of 1956, and the Asian Flu epidemic in 1958/59 both i Birmingham.
paul
 
Brian the memorial looks great now. I can't wait until they re erect the Siviter Smith one.

Paul that must have been awful for you to loose a sister in that way. We forget families today still loose children to awful illnesses like leukemia etc thank goodness so many now have been eradicated, thanks to doctors and scientists. At least the family memorial is back upright as it should be, I hope one day someone finds a connection.
 
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