Person:Mary Lies (1)

Childhood

Mary Dingley Lies was baptised on 2nd May 1821 at Evesham in Worcestershire, daughter of a shopkeeper named Ann Maria Lies, formerly Dingley, and her husband John Lies, a shoemaker. Mary was clearly given her mother’s maiden name as a middle name. Mary was the second of seven children. The family appears to have lived on Bridge Street in Evesham; John was listed there in a trade directory from the year before Mary’s birth, and the family was still living there in 1841.

Mary's father John died in 1839, when Mary was 18 years old. Mary’s youngest brother, Richard, was only about seven years old when their father died. The 1841 census finds Mary living with her widowed mother and siblings on Bridge Street in Evesham, and Mary was working as a shoe binder.

First marriage

Two months after that census, on 9th August 1841, aged twenty, Mary married a man named Thomas Castle, who worked as a hatter and cordwainer. They did not marry in Evesham but 25 miles to the west at Ledbury in Herefordshire. At the time of their marriage they were both living on the street called The Southend in Ledbury.

Mary and Thomas returned to Evesham shortly after their marriage. They had a daughter, Emma, born in Evesham later in 1841. Emma was followed in 1844 by a son called John.

John died when only a few months old, being buried at Evesham on 18th April 1845. Less than five months later, Mary’s husband Thomas also died, being buried at Evesham on 12th September 1845. He was said to be 25 years old. Mary was therefore left a widow at the age of 24, with her daughter Emma, who was not yet four years old, to look after.

Second marriage

In January 1848, Mary’s mother died. Less than three months later, on 5th April 1848, Mary remarried. Her second husband was a Richard Keyte from Broadway, a few miles from Evesham. His parents, William and Sarah Keyte, moved from Broadway to Evesham sometime between 1841 and 1851, so it could be that Richard moved with them. However, Mary and Richard married and settled in Richard’s native Broadway. Richard’s sister Sarah Sophia and her husband Walter Morris witnesses the marriage.

Mary and Richard had seven children together in Broadway between 1849 and 1869. By the time their youngest daughter was born, Mary was 47 years old. Somewhat confusingly, Mary and Richard’s youngest daughter was called Emma Elizabeth, when Mary already had a daughter called Emma from her first marriage. Whilst their elder children were baptised into the Church of England, from 1857 they started using Broadway’s Catholic Church, and the family appears to have converted to Catholicism.

Each census from 1851 to 1891 finds Mary and Richard living at either China Square or Springfield Road - quite likely they lived at the corner of those two streets. Mary worked as a boot and shoe binder, whilst Richard was a slater and plasterer.

Mary’s eldest daughter, Emma Castle, went to live at a Catholic convent in Birmingham, where she died as a young woman in 1870, aged 28.

Mary’s son John married in 1871, and Mary’s first grandchild was born the following year. She had at least 44 grandchildren born in her lifetime, all born in or near Broadway, although some died young.

Richard died in 1895, aged 72. His will, written a couple of weeks before his death, left Mary two cottages in Broadway with gardens, outbuildings and an orchard. Richard’s will describes one cottage as being in his own occupation, and the other being in the occupation of his son Walter William.

Mary’s daughter Mary died in 1896, aged 36.

The 1901 census finds Mary living alone at China Square, with her son Walter and his family living next door on one side, suggesting that these were the two cottages Mary inherited from Richard. Mary’s daughter Emma and her family were living next door on the other side.

Mary’s daughter Ann died in 1910, aged 54.

By the time of the 1911 census, Mary was living with her youngest daughter Emma and her family.

Mary died on 1st July 1915, having reached the remarkable age of 94. Her will, which she had written on 4th October 1904, appointed her daughter Elizabeth Crump and a builder named Arthur William Davies (who had witnessed Richard’s will) as trustees of her estate, charged with selling everything and splitting the proceeds equally amongst her children, or grandchildren where her child had died (as was the case with her daughters Mary and Ann). The year after her death, the two cottages she had owned were put up for auction, at which time one was occupied by her son Walter and the other by her son-in-law Albert Clarke, Emma’s husband.

1. ↑ Baptisms register, in Church of England. Parish Registers of All Saints, Evesham. (Worcester: Worcestershire Archive and Archaeology Service).

   BAPTISMS solemnized in the Parish of All Saints Evesham in the County of Worcester in the Year 1821
   No.	When Baptized	Child's Christian Name	Parents' Name		Abode	Quality, Trade, or Profession	By whom the Ceremony was performed
   			Christian	Surname
   249	1821 May 2d	Mary Dingley	John & Ann	Lies	All Saints Evesham	Shoemaker	H.P. Cooper, Vicar

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 1207; Book 7; Folio 13; Page 19, 6 Jun 1841.

   Address: Bridge Street, All Saints, Evesham, Worcestershire
   Ann Lies, female, 50 [1786-91], Shop keeper, born in county
   Mary Lies, female, 20 [1816-21], Shoe binder, born in county
   George Lies, male, 17 [1823/4], Shoe m[aker] ap[prentice], born in county
   Elizabeth Lies, female, 16 [1824/5], born in county
   John Lies, male, 14 [1826/7], M[ale] S[ervant], born in county
   William Lies, male, 11 [1829/30], born in county
   Richard Lies, male, 7 [1833/4], born in county
   John Ralston, male, 25 [1811-16], Shoe m[aker], not 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 2044; Folio 433; Page 9, 30 Mar 1851.

   Address: Church Street, Broadway, Worcestershire
   Richard Keyte, head, married, male, 28 [1822/3], Slater and Plasterer, b. Broadway, Worcestershire
   Mary Keyte, wife, married, female, 29 [1821/2], Boot Binder, b. Evesham, Worcestershire
   Emma Castle, daughter in law, female, 9 [1841/2], b. Evesham, Worcestershire
   John Keyte, son, male, 2 [1848/9], b. Broadway, Worcestershire

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 2103; Folio 31; Page 18, 7 Apr 1861.

   Address: China Square, Broadway, Worcestershire
   Richard Keyte, head, married, male, 38 [1822/3], Slater & Plasterer, b. Broadway, Worcestershire
   Mary Keyte, wife, married, female, 40 [1820/1], Boot Binder, b. Evesham, Worcestershire
   John Keyte, son, unmarried, male, 12 [1848/9], Plasterer’s Lab[ourer], b. Broadway, Worcestershire
   Elizabeth Keyte, daughter, female, 9 [1851/2], Scholar, b. Broadway, Worcestershire
   Ann Keyte, daughter, female, 6 [1854/5], Scholar, b. Broadway, Worcestershire
   Joseph Keyte, son, male, 4 [1856/7], Scholar, b. Broadway, Worcestershire
   Mary Keyte, daughter, female, 1 [1859/60], b. Broadway, Worcestershire

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 3061; Folio 34; Page 22, 2 Apr 1871.

   Address: China Square, Broadway, Worcestershire
   Richard Keyte, head, married, male, 49 [1821/2], Slater and Plasterer, b. Broadway, Worcestershire
   Mary Keyte, wife, married, female, 49 [1821/2], Shoe Binder, b. Evesham, Worcestershire
   Ann Keyte, daughter, unmarried, female, 16 [1854/5], Gloveress, b. Broadway, Worcestershire
   Joseph Keyte, son, male, 14 [1856/7], Lab[ourer], b. Broadway, Worcestershire
   Mary Keyte, daughter, female, 11 [1859/60], Scholar, b. Broadway, Worcestershire
   Walter W. Keyte, son, male, 6 [1864/5], Scholar, b. Broadway, Worcestershire
   Emma M. Keyte, daughter, female, 2 [1868/9], b. Broadway, Worcestershire

6. ↑ England. 1881 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 RG11; Piece 2927; Folio 37; Page 21, 3 Apr 1881.

   Address: Springfield Road, Broadway, Worcestershire
   Richard Keyte, head, married, male, 58 [1822/3], Slater, b. Broadway, Worcestershire
   Mary Keyte, wife, married, female, 59 [1821/2], formerly Shoe Binder, b. Evesham, Worcestershire
   Ann Keyte, daughter, unmarried, female, 26 [1854/5], Servant (domestic), b. Broadway, Worcestershire
   Walter W. Keyte, son, unmarried, male, 16 [1864/5], Slater’s Labourer, b. Broadway, Worcestershire
   Emma M. Keyte, daughter, female, 12 [1868/9], Scholar, b. Broadway, Worcestershire
   George P. Keyte, grandson, male, 3 [1877/8], Scholar, b. Broadway, Worcestershire

7. ↑ England. 1891 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 RG12; Piece 2337; Folio 111; Page 25, 5 Apr 1891.

   Address: China Square, Broadway, Worcestershire
   4 rooms occupied
   Richard Keyte, head, married, male, 68 [1822/3], Slater & Plasterer, employer, b. Broadway, Worcestershire
   Mary Keyte, wife, married, female, 70 [1820/1], b. Evesham, Worcestershire
   Ann Keyte, daughter, single, female, 36 [1854/5], Gloveress, employed, b. Broadway, Worcestershire
   George Keyte, grandson, male, 13 [1877/8], b. Broadway, Worcestershire
   William Keyte, grandson, male, 6 [1854/5], Scholar, b. Broadway, Worcestershire

8. ↑ England. England. 1901 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 RG13; Piece 2790; Folio 127; Page 2, 31 Mar 1901.

   Address: China Square, Broadway, Worcestershire
   3 rooms occupied
   Mary Keyte, head, widow, female, 79 [1821/2], b. Evesham, Worcestershire

9. ↑ England. 1911 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 RG14; Piece 17706; Schedule 35, 2 Apr 1911.

   Address: Springfield Road, Broadway, Worcestershire
   4 rooms occupied
   Mary Keyte, head, female, 89 [1821/2], Widow, b. Evesham
   Albert Clarke, son in law, male, 46 [1864/5], married, General Labourer, worker, b. Dumbleton, Gloucestershire
   Emma Clarke, wife, female, 42 [1868/9], married 22 years, 8 children born to marriage, 8 children still living, b. Broadway, Worcestershire
   Albert Clarke, son, male, 18 [1892/3], single, Groom domestic, worker, b. Broadway, Worcestershire
   Ernest Clarke, son, male, 13 [1897/8], School, b. Broadway, Worcestershire
   Helen Clarke, daughter, female, 11 [1899/1900], School, b. Broadway, Worcestershire
   Hilda Clarke, daughter, female, 8 [1902/3], School, b. Broadway, Worcestershire
   Margaret Clarke, daughter, female, 4 [1906/7], School, b. Broadway, Worcestershire

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

    d. Mary Dingley KEYTE, September Quarter 1915, Evesham Registration District, Volume 6c, page 176, aged 94 [1820/1]

11. ↑ Roman Catholic Church. St Saviour's Catholic Church Registers. (Worcester: Worcestershire Archive and Archaeology Service).

    Anno 1915 die 12 mensis Julii Maria Dingley Keyte ex Broadway aetatis 94 in communion S. Matris Ecclesiae animam Deo reddidit Sacramentis munita, cujus corpus die 5 mensis Julii sepultum est in Coemeteris SS Salvatoris Broadway
    Urbanus Young C.P.
    Mies Apust

12.   England. National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations),1858 onwards. (Ancestry.com).

    1915
    KEYTE Mary of Broadway Worcestershire widow died 1 July 1915
    Probate Worcester 18 August to Elizabeth Crump widow Effects £230.

13.   Registered copy of will (Principal Probate Registry, London).

    This is the last Will and Testament of me Mary Keyte of Broadway in the County of Worcester Widow I appoint my daughter Elizabeth Crump and Arthur William Davies of Broadway aforesaid Builder to be Executors and Trustees of this my Will I give devise and bequeath all my real and personal estate whatsoever and wheresoever and of what nature or kind soever unto my said Executors and Trustees upon the trusts following that is to say upon trust to sell convert receive collect and get in the same and out of the proceeds to pay my debts funeral and testamentary expenses and to hold and stand possessed of the net proceeds upon trust for all my children in equal shares Provided always that if any child of mine shall have died or shall die in my lifetime the share which such child or dying child would have taken if living at my death shall go to or belong to his or her children equally In witness whereof I the said Mary Keyte the Testatrix have hereunto set my hand this twenty fourth day of October in the year of our Lord One thousand nine hundred and four
    
    Signed by the said Mary Keyte the Testatrix as and for her last Will and Testament in the presence of us who in her presence at her request and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses.
    Mary Keyte
    Tho[ma]s Cox, Solicitor, Evesham
    Oliver Hunt, His Clerk
    
    On the eighteenth day of August 1915 Probate of this Will was granted at Worcester to Elizabeth Crump, one of the Executors.
    
    BE IT KNOWN that Mary Keyte of Broadway, in the County of Worcester, Widow who at the time of her death had a fixed place of abode at Broadway aforesaid within the District of Worcester died on the 1st day of July 1915 at Broadway aforesaid.
    AND BE IT FURTHER KNOWN that at the date hereunder written the last will and Testament of the said deceased was proved and registered in the District Probate Registry of His Majesty’s High Court of Justice at Worcester and that administration of all the estate which by law devolves to and vests in the personal representative of the said deceased was granted by the aforesaid Court to Elizabeth Crump of Laverton, Buckland in the County of Gloucester, Widow, the Daughter of the said deceased, one of the Executors named in the said Will - Power reserved of making the like Grant to the other Executor named in the said Will.
    
    Dated the 18th day of August 1915
    
    Gross value of Estate £230: 0: 0.
    Net value of Personal Estate: £10: 0: 0.
    
    Further Grant Manchester 15.2.1977

14.   Evesham Standard & West Midland Observer, in United Kingdom. The British Newspaper Archive
    Page 4, Saturday 15 Jul 1916.

    BROADWAY, WORCESTERSHIRE.
    TO BE SOLD BY AUCTION, BY
    E.G. Righton & Son.
    At the SWAN HOTEL, BROADWAY, on THURSDAY, July 20th, 1916, at Five for Six o’clock in the Afternoon, subject to Conditions, and by order of the Executors of the late Mrs. Mary Dingley Keyte,
    The Undermentioned Valuable FREEHOLD PROPERTY, comprising
    TWO STONE BUILT & SLATED COTTAGES,
    with necessary Offices, Gardens and Piggeries, in the occupation of Messrs. Albert Clarke and Walter Keyte as monthly tenants at 2s. per week each.
    STONE-BUILT & SLATED BUILDING,
    Let to Mr. Wilfred Burrows, Baker, as Yearly Tenant, at 7s. 6d. per week rent; and the
    VALUABLE ORCHARD (in hand) adjoining.
    The Landlord pays the Rates.
    The Cottages are supplied with Tap Water and well Drained, and there is also a Well of Water.
    The above forms a compact Property with a Building Frontage to the Springfield Road of about 100 yards.
    To View, apply on the Premises.
    Further particulars may be obtained from Ernest E. Wood, Solicitor, Winchcomb; or from the Auctioneers, Evesham, Alcester, and Pershore.