Person:Matthew Wood (2)

Matthew Wood was baptised on 5th March 1837 at Stilton in Huntingdonshire, son of a baker called Henry Wood and his wife Sarah. Matthew appears in both the 1841 and 1851 censuses living with his parents and siblings on the main road (High Street / North Street) through Stilton, which formed part of the Great North Road from London to York and Edinburgh. Stagecoach traffic was vital to Stilton's economy when Matthew was young, but that changed rapidly following the opening of the railways, particularly the Great Northern Railway in 1850.

On 12th September 1860, aged 23, Matthew married Catherine Cox. She was from Barnack, about fifteen miles to the north-west of Stilton. They married at Barnack, but returned to Stilton after their marriage. Matthew worked as a baker, following his father's trade.

Matthew and Catherine went on to have four sons at Stilton between 1861 and 1871. The 1861 and 1871 censuses each find the family living on the main road in Stilton.

In 1871 Matthew was described as a glover's assistant rather than a baker. It is possible he was already ill by that time and so was unable to do the more physically demanding work as a baker. He apparently suffered a 'long affliction', and died at Stilton on 15th June 1871, aged 34. Catherine appears to have been pregnant when Matthew died; their youngest son would not be baptised until three months after his death. Catherine outlived Matthew by about 62 years. She did not remarry.

1. ↑ Stephenson, M. (Mike); Church of England.; and Parish Church of Stilton (Huntingdonshire). St. Mary's : baptisms, 1604-1970; marriages, 1604-1970; banns, 1754-1797, 1824-1947; burials, 1604-1885: Stilton Parish Council register of burials, 1884-1970. (Huntingdonshire Family History Society, c2001).

   ch. 5 Mar 1837: WOOD Matthew s. of Henry & Sarah, baker

2. ↑ England. 1841 Census Schedules for England and Wales, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. (
   Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom:
   The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.)
   Class HO107; Piece 452; Book 22; Folio 4; Page 6, 6 Jun 1841.

   Address: High Street, Stilton, Huntingdonshire
   Henry Wood, male, 35 [1801-6], Baker, born in county
   Sarah Wood, female, 35 [1801-6], born in county
   Henry Wood, male, 15 [1821-6], born in county
   Robert Wood, male, 14 [1826/7], born in county
   Mary Wood, female, 12 [1828/9], born in county
   Charles Wood, male, 10 [1830/1], born in county
   Edward Wood, male, 8 [1832/3], born in county
   James Wood, male, 6 [1834/5], born in county
   Matthew Wood, male, 4 [1836/7], born in county
   Charlotte Wood, female, 2 [1838/9], born in county
   Lucy Wood, female, 3 months [1841], born in county

3. ↑ England. 1851 Census Returns for England and Wales. (
   Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom:
   The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.)
   Class HO107; Piece 1747; Folio 111; Page 7, 30 Mar 1851.

   Address: North Street, Stilton, Huntingdonshire
   Henry Wood, head, married, male, 48 [1802/3], Baker, b. Stilton, Huntingdonshire
   Sarah Wood, wife, married, female, 45 [1805/6], b. Stilton, Huntingdonshire
   George Wood, son, unmarried, male, 23 [1827/8], Bakers Son at home, b. Stilton, Huntingdonshire
   Mary Berry, daughter, unmarried, female, 22 [1828/9], b. Stilton, Huntingdonshire
   James Wood, son, unmarried, male, 15 [1835/6], b. Stilton, Huntingdonshire
   Matthew Wood, son, unmarried, male, 14 [1836/7], Scholar, b. Stilton, Huntingdonshire
   Lucy Wood, daughter, female, 10 [1840/1], Scholar, b. Stilton, Huntingdonshire
   Sarah Ann Wood, daughter, female, 8 [1842/3], Scholar, b. Stilton, Huntingdonshire
   Rachel Wood, daughter, female, 4 [1846/7], b. Stilton, Huntingdonshire
   Robert Wood, son, male, 2 [1848/9], b. Stilton, Huntingdonshire

4. ↑ England. 1861 Census Schedules for England and Wales, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. (
   Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom:
   The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.)
   Class RG9; Piece 964; Folio 86; Page 5, 7 Apr 1861.

   Address: North Street, Stilton, Huntingdonshire
   Matthew Wood, married, male, 24 [1836/7], Baker, b. Stilton, Huntingdonshire
   Catharine Wood, wife, married, female, 24 [1836/7], b. Barnack, Northamptonshire
   Robert Wood, brother, male, 12 [1848/9], Scholar, b. Stilton, Huntingdonshire

5. ↑ England. England and Wales. 1871 Census Schedules. (
   Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom:
   The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.)
   Class RG10; Piece 1514; Folio 87; Page 5, 2 Apr 1871.

   Address: High Street, Stilton, Huntingdonshire
   Matthew Wood, head, married, male, 34 [1836/7], Glover's assistant, b. Stilton, Huntingdonshire
   Catherine Wood, wife, married, female, 34 [1836/7], b. Barnack, Northamptonshire
   Henry Wood, son, male, 9 [1861/2], Scholar, b. Stilton, Huntingdonshire
   Matthew Wood, son, male, 7 [1863/4], Scholar, b. Stilton, Huntingdonshire
   Arthur Wood, son, male, 1 [1869/70], b. Stilton, Huntingdonshire

6. ↑ Deaths index, in General Register Office. England and Wales Civil Registration. (London: General Register Office).

   d. Matthew WOOD, June Quarter 1871, Peterborough Registration District, Volume 3b, page 127, aged 34 [1836/7]

7. ↑ Stephenson, M. (Mike); Church of England.; and Parish Church of Stilton (Huntingdonshire). St. Mary's : baptisms, 1604-1970; marriages, 1604-1970; banns, 1754-1797, 1824-1947; burials, 1604-1885: Stilton Parish Council register of burials, 1884-1970. (Huntingdonshire Family History Society, c2001).

   bur. 18 Jun 1871: WOOD Matthew 34 [1836/7]

8. ↑ Stamford Mercury, in United Kingdom. The British Newspaper Archive
   Page 4, 16 Jun 1871.

   DIED.
   At Stilton, on the 15th inst., Matthew Wood, after a long affliction, aged 34. Friends will please accept this intimation.