Person:Thomas Moles (1)

Childhood

Thomas Moles was born on 2nd September 1838 at Willian in Hertfordshire, son of a straw plaiter named Hannah Moles, formerly Pratt, and her husband William Moles, an agricultural labourer. Thomas was the fifth of seven children, although one of his older sisters had died as a baby. When Thomas was born, three of his grandparents were still alive and living in Willian; only his maternal grandfather had died. Thomas's maternal grandmother Elizabeth Norman (late Pratt, originally Copps) died in 1839 when Thomas was still a baby.

The 1841 census finds Thomas living with his parents and siblings in Willian, and next door to his paternal grandparents, Thomas and Mary Moles. Young Thomas was still living in Willian with his parents and siblings by the time of the 1851 census.

Thomas's paternal grandfather Thomas died in Willian in 1853. Thomas's mother Hannah died in 1857, when Thomas was eighteen years old.

Adulthood

By 1860 Thomas had left Willian and moved to The Riddy in the nearby parish of Hitchin. The Riddy was a group of cottages which stood in open fields to the south-east of the town. Thomas was married in Hitchin on 29th September 1860, aged 22, to Fanny Worbey, who was eighteen and had lived her whole life at The Riddy. At the time of their marriage Thomas was working as a labourer.

A few weeks after their marriage Fanny gave birth to a son, John Thomas Moles. The 1861 census finds Thomas, Fanny and their baby son living at The Riddy, next door to Fanny's widowed father and family. Meanwhile Thomas's father William was still living back in Willian, whilst Thomas's surviving grandmother had gone to live in Offley, a few miles to the west, where she died later in 1861. Sadly Thomas and Fanny's baby son John died the month after the census. Thomas and Fanny went on to have a daughter named Eliza the following year, but she too died before she was a year old.

Having seen their first two children die as babies, Thomas and Fanny then went on to have another eight children, all of whom lived to adulthood. The 1871 census finds Thomas and Fanny still living at The Riddy, with Thomas working as an agricultural labourer and Fanny as a straw plaiter.

Some time between 1873 and 1876 the family left The Riddy. Indeed, the cottages at The Riddy appear to have been demolished about this time; they are not shown on the 1881 1:2,500 Ordnance Survey map, nor do they appear to be listed in the 1881 census returns. The family moved to The Folly (also called Ippollitts Folly or Osier Bed Cottage), just over the boundary into the neighbouring parish of St Ippolyts on Blackhorse Lane.

Meanwhile, Thomas's father William died in 1879. He died at the workhouse in Hitchin, but was buried back at Willian.

The 1881 census finds Thomas, Fanny and their children living at Ippollitts Folly. Thomas's occupation on this occasion was given as "agricultural labourer (mole and rat catcher)".

In 1891 Thomas's first known grandchild was born, being his daughter Annie Maria's daughter. Thomas therefore became a grandfather at the age of 52. The 1891 census find Thomas, Fanny, their children and baby granddaughter living at 'The Common' in St Ippolyts, which appears to be the same place as Ippollitts Folly and Osier Bed Cottage.

Thomas died on 27th November 1895 on Blackhorse Lane in St Ippolyts of tetanus. He was 57 years old. He was buried at St Ippolyts on 2nd December 1895. Fanny survived him by 27 years.

1. ↑ Birth certificate, in General Register Office. England and Wales Civil Registration. (London: General Register Office).

   Registration District: Hitchin
   1838 BIRTH in the Sub-district of Baldock in the County of Hertford
   No. Two hundred and twenty two
   When and where born: Second day of September 1838 at Willian
   Name: -
   Sex: Boy
   Father: William Mole, Labourer
   Mother: Hannah Mole, formerly Pratt
   Informant: William Mole, his X mark, Father, Willian
   Registered: 3rd September 1838

   This birth certificate has been linked to the Thomas Moles who married Fanny Worbey on the basis of the baptism two months later confirming his name as Thomas, the fact that the adult Thomas after his marriage consistently gave his place of birth as Willian, and Thomas and Fanny's marriage certificate which gives his father's name as William.

   
2. ↑ Baptisms register, in Church of England. Willian Parish Registers.

   No.264
   When baptised: 3 Nov 1838
   Name: Thomas
   Parents: William & Hannah
   Surname: Mole
   Abode: Willian
   Father's occupation: Laborer

3. ↑ 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 437; Book 11; Folio 4; Page 1, 6 Jun 1841.

   Address: Willian, Hertfordshire
   Thomas Moles, male, 60 [1776-81], Lab[ourer], not born in county
   Thomas Moles jun[io]r, male, 13 [1827/8], Lab[ourer], born in county
   Mary Ann Moles, female, 59 [1781/2], not born in county
   Eliza Moles, female, 15 [1821-6], born in county
   ~ next house ~
   W[illia]m Moles, male, 35 [1801-6], Lab[ourer], not born in county
   George Moles, male, 10 [1830/1], Lab[ourer], born in county
   Eliza Moles, female, 8 [1832/3], born in county
   Thomas Moles, male, 3 [1837/8], born in county
   Hanah Moles, female, 35 [1801-6], born in county
   Maria Moles, female, 13 [1827/8], born in county
   W[illia]m Pratt, male, 20 [1816-21], Lab[ourer], born in county

4. ↑ 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 1709; Folio 137; Page 7, 30 Mar 1851.

   Address: Village, Willian, Hertfordshire
   William Moles, head, married, male, 47 [1803/4], Ag[ricultural] Lab[oure]r, b. Stotfold, Bedfordshire
   Hanah Moles, wife, married, female, 46 [1804/5], Platting, b. Willian, Hertfordshire
   Elizar Moles, daughter, unmarried, female, 18 [1832/3], Platting, b. Willian, Hertfordshire
   Betsy Moles, daughter, unmarried, female, 9 [1841/2], Platting, b. Willian, Hertfordshire
   Hannah Moles, daughter, female, 2 [1848/9], b. Willian, Hertfordshire
   Thomas Moles, son, unmarried, male, 12 [1838/9], b. Willian, Hertfordshire

5. ↑ 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 819; Folio 106; Page 22, 7 Apr 1861.

   Address: The Riddy, Hitchin, Hertfordshire
   John Worboys, head, widower, male, 54 [1806/7], Ag[ricultural] Labourer, b. Hitchin, Hertfordshire
   James Worboys, son, male, 12 [1848/9], b. Hitchin, Hertfordshire
   Emma Worboys, daughter, female, 10 [1850/1], b. Hitchin, Hertfordshire
   ~ next house ~
   Thomas Moles, head, married, male, 22 [1838/9], Ag[ricultural] Labourer, b. Willian, Hertfordshire
   Fanny Moles, wife, female, 19 [1841/2], b. Hitchin, Hertfordshire
   John Moles, son, male, 6 months [1860], b. Hitchin, Hertfordshire

6. ↑ 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 1368; Folio 88; Page 23, 2 Apr 1871.

   Address: 1 The Riddy Mow, Hitchin, Hertfordshire
   Thomas Moule, head, married, male, 33 [1837/8], Ag[ricultural] Lab[ourer], b. Willian, Hertfordshire
   Fany Moule, wife, married, female, 29 [1841/2], Straw Platter, b. Hitchin, Hertfordshire
   Herbert Moule, son, male, 7 [1863/4], b. Hitchin, Hertfordshire
   George Moule, son, male, 5 [1865/6], b. Hitchin, Hertfordshire
   John Moule, son, male, 2 [1868/9], b. Hitchin, Hertfordshire
   Annie M. Moule, daughter, female, 2mos [1871], b. Hitchin, Hertfordshire
   Emma Worbey, sister, unmarried, female, 20 [1850/1], Straw platter, b. Hitchin, Hertfordshire
   Clara Worbey, neice, female, 10mos [1870], b. Hitchin, Hertfordshire

7. ↑ 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 1420; Folio 62; Page 8, 3 Apr 1881.

   Address: Ippollitts Folly, Ippollitts, Hertfordshire
   Thomas Moules, head, married, male, 42 [1838/9], Agr[icultura]l Lab[oure]r (Mole & Rat Catcher), b. Willian, Hertfordshire
   Fanny Moules, wife, married, female, 39 [1841/2], b. Hitchin, Hertfordshire
   Herbert Moules, son, unmarried, male, 17 [1863/4], Agri[cultural] Lab[oure]r, b. Hitchin, Hertfordshire
   George Moules, son, unmarried, male, 15 [1865/6], Agri[cultural] Lab[oure]r, b. Hitchin, Hertfordshire
   John Moules, son, male, 13 [1867/8], Scholar, b. Hitchin, Hertfordshire
   Annie M. Moules, daughter, female, 10 [1870/1], Scholar, b. Hitchin, Hertfordshire
   James Moules, son, male, 8 [1872/3], Scholar, b. Hitchin, Hertfordshire
   Ernest Moules, son, male, 5 [1875/6], Scholar, b. Hitchin, Hertfordshire
   Julia Moules, daughter, female, 3 [1877/8], Scholar, b. Ippollitts, Hertfordshire

8. ↑ 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 1108; Folio 71; Page 1, 5 Apr 1891.

   Address: The Common, St Ippollitts, Hertfordshire
   5 or more rooms occupied
   Thomas Moles, head, married, male, 56 [1834/5], Agricultural Labourer, employed, b. Willian, Hertfordshire
   Fanny Moles, wife, married, female, 51 [1839/40], b. Hitchin, Hertfordshire
   John Moles, son, single, male, 22 [1868/8], Agricultural Labourer, employed, b. Hitchin, Hertfordshire
   Annie M. Moles, daughter, single, female, 20 [1870/1], General Servant, b. Hitchin, Hertfordshire
   James Moles, son, single, male, 17 [1873/4], Agricultural Labourer, employed, b. Hitchin, Hertfordshire
   Ernest Moles, son, single, male, 15 [1875/6], Agricultural Labourer, employed, b. Hitchin, Hertfordshire
   Julia Moles, daughter, single, female, 12 [1878/9], Scholar, b. St Ippollitts, Hertfordshire
   Minnie Moles, daughter, single, female, 7 [1883/4], Scholar, b. St Ippollitts, Hertfordshire
   Ellen Moles, grand daughter, female, 4mo [1890/1], b. St Ippollitts, Hertfordshire

9. ↑ Death certificate, in General Register Office. England and Wales Civil Registration. (London: General Register Office).

   Registration District: Hitchin
   1895 DEATH in the Sub-district of Hitchin in the Counties of Hertford and Bedford
   No.379
   When and where died: Twenty seventh November 1895, Blackhorse Lane, Saint Ippollitts R.D.
   Name: Thomas Moles
   Sex: Male
   Age: 61 years
   Occupation: Day Laborer
   Cause: Traumatic twenty four [hour?] Tetanus, Certified by Chas. J. Grellet, M.R.C.S.E.
   Informant: X the mark of Fanny Moles, widow of deceased, present at the death, Black Horse Lane, Saint Ippollitts
   Registered: Twenty seventh November 1895

   
10. ↑ Burial register, in Church of England. St Ippolyts Parish Registers.

    BURIALS in the Parish of St Ippolyts in the County of Herts in year One thousand eight hundred and ninety five
    No. 290
    Name: Thomas Moles
    Abode: Blackhorse Lane
    When buried: 2nd Dec[embe]r 1895
    Age: 61 years
    By whom the Ceremony was performed: E.J. Larcy[?], Vicar