A last posting from me on Oliver Wethered's possible family roots :)
Of George Wethered (possible father of Walter and Oliver) I now find (at
http://tinyurl.com/5535e7 in the Mechanics Magazine) that he was something
of an inventor ?
"WETHERED, GEORGE, of Maidenhead, Berks, coal merchant. Improvements in
machinery or apparatus for shaking straw. Application dated February 17
1854. (No. 384)
This invention consists in arranging a series of bars or shafts, having a
perforated plate or strips of wood, or wire gauze of a peculiar form,
attached to them."
(But on page 264 I read "WETHERED - straw shaker - 260" in a column headed
"Provisional Specifications not proceeded with".)
Access to the Kelly's directories for Berkshire would be the next way to go
for anyone chasing up George Wethered as a coal merchant.
IF Farmer William Wethered is coal-merchant George's father (possibly a bit
more likely if George was interested in trying to improve straw-shaking :)
there's a bit more:-
Willam's Pigeon House Farm (actually between Little Marlow and Flackwell
Heath) still exists. There's a photo of the entrance driveway here:-
http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/719728
and a view to the farm across farmland here:-
http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/902444
In Michaelmas 1818 Farmer William is shown in the "Access 2 Archives"
website as being a witness to a crime:-
"R. v John Montagu (carter and thresher), ?Gt. Marlow, Ann Wilsden (wife of
Joseph Wilsden, keeps a public house at Sheepridge), J.M. Grand larceny
(wood and beans). A.W. Receiving stolen goods. Witnesses: William Wethered,
Montagu's employer, of Pigeon, House Farm. (R.v Rich'd Hatwell - running
away from family)Thomas Blizard, an accomplice. Joshua Philips John Snoud
Guilty - J.M. - 12 months' imprisonment (hard labour), and to be whipped 100
yds. in street at Gt. Marlow on market day. A.W. - 6 months' imprisonment."
Ouch ...
I don't anywhere see obvious links from these Wethereds to Wethered the
brewers of Great Marlow. Maybe they're further back (if they exist at all)
in records that don't show up on my internet searches.
John in the 7am Yorkshire rain (but no more snow yet :)
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