Chapter 1.

Families with the name “Glassby” originate predominantly in Yorkshire, and names such as Denaby, Mexborough, Hooton Roberts, Dewsbury, Pontefract, Doncaster, Sheffield, Rotherham etc crop up many times. But it is Denaby and Mexborough where the earliest concentrations of the family seem to have been. This work describes the life and times of the forebears and descendants of Robert Glassby (1835-1892), who started life as a humble shoemaker’s apprenctice in Mexborough and rose to become Queen Victoria’s sculptor.

Research has determined the family tree back to the beginning of the 18th Century, both from Parish Records and from two gravestones to be found in the grounds of St. John the Baptist Church in Mexborough.

The Glassby gravestones in St John the Baptist Church, Mexborough
Photo by M. J. Piper

Transcription of Gravestone 1

IN MEMORY
Of Mary the Daughter of
Richard & Bettey Glafsby
who died Novr 28th 1780 aged 7
Years Alfo  Ann their Daughter
died May 10th 1781 aged 3 years.
And of John their Son who died
Sepr 5th 1788 aged 7 Years.
Likewise Betty Wife of the above
Richd Glafsby who died March
the 14th 1791 aged 46 Years.
Alfo (father of?) Richard Glassby
who died ______ 1819 aged 70 years
And of William their Son who
died Augst 23rd 1797 aged 12 years.
Alfo the Remains of Richard
Glafsby Junr son of the above
Richard & Bettey Glafsby who
died May 18th 1814 aged 39 years.
Farewell vain World my Life is gone
I’ve left a tender wife to mourn
Not Health or Riches can Content her mind
I am gone and she is left behind.
Bettey the wife of John Lilford
Died May 19th 1830 Aged 57 Years

Transcription of Gravestone 2

In memory of
WILLIAM the son of
ROBERT and MARTHA GLASSBY
Who died Auguft 21ft 1811
aged 21 months.
Alfo MARY their Daughter who
died January 16th 1812
aged 2 months.
Alfo ROBERT their Son who died
Decr 9th 1820 Aged 21 years.
Also of Richard their Son
who died Augt 4th 1825
Aged 28 Years.
Also of Befsy their Daughter
who died Octr 31st 1827
Aged 20 Years.
ALSO of John their Son
who died Janry 6th1845
Aged 28 Years.
ALSO of ROBERT GLASSBY
who died Febry 7th 1849
Aged 73 Years.
And he was the Parish Clerk 49 ½ years
ALSO Martha Glassby Wife of
Robert Glassby who died Novr 27th
1853 AGED 78 YEARS

Descendants of Richard Glassby b. ~1722

It is difficult to be certain about relationships before 1720, but there is quite good information starting with Richard Glasby, born circa 1722 in Mexborough. He married Esther Carr (who was baptized in Sheffield on 25th November 1724) in Wath upon Dearne on 2nd February 1747, and they had five children:-

Esther Carr died in 1767, and it is thought that Richard Glasby remarried to Martha Rigley on 21st January 1768 in Mexborough. The computerized IGI records have this marriage recorded under “Richard Clasby”.

Richard and Esther's first son, Richard Glassby (b 1748), married Elizabeth Darley (born in Doncaster in 1751) in Denaby on 15th June 1772. They had 6 children:-

All of the baptisms took place in Mexborough. No record of the birth or the baptism of Richard (b. ~1775) has been found in the IGI records. His existence is implied from National Burial Index data and the fact that two sisters from Mexborough, Martha and Elizabeth Jackson, married a Robert and a Richard Glassby from the same small town. The implication is that Richard and Robert were brothers; the chances of the two sisters finding prospective husbands of marriageable age with the same (unusual) surname in Mexborough without the two being brothers is quite small.

At about the same time two other children were born i.e.

At first sight it appears that Isaac and Abraham were also sons of Richard (b. 1748) and Elizabeth Darley. However they married on 15th June 1772 and Isaac and Abraham were born on 28th September 1772; Elizabeth would have been heavily pregnant at the time of her marriage if this were the case. It seems more likely that Isaac and Abraham were sons of Richard (b. 1722) and his second wife Martha Rigley. Martha would have been about 36 years old at the time Isaac and Abraham were born.

Robert Glassby was born in Mexborough in 1775 and lived there until he died in 1849 at the age of 73. He married Martha Jackson on 24th November 1796 in Doncaster. Martha Jackson was the fifth child of Robert Jackson and Hannah Roebuck, who were married in Hooton Roberts on 22nd February 1764. As mentioned above, Richard Glassby (b ~1775) married Martha's elder sister, Elizabeth Jackson.

Robert was for 49½ years the parish clerk of Mexborough, and school master in the same village.

Robert Glassby, Parish Clerk, (60) and Martha (60) are shown in the 1841 Census under the listing for the Township of Mexborough, along with their grandson Robert (5). They are listed as “Glasby’s” rather than “Glassby’s”.

(Note that ages for people over 15 were rounded down to the nearest 5 in the 1841 Census, so although they were both listed as “60” they could have been between 60 and 64).

Robert Glassby appeared as a witness at Sheffield Intermediate Sessions in 1842 and was mentioned briefly in the press:-

The Sheffield and Rotherham Independent
21st May 1842

An entry in the Parish Vestry Minutes book dated January 1849 also refers to Robert Glassby:-

Courtesy of Mexborough and District Heritage Society

Whilst this is difficult to read it appears to say:-

Robert’s death was reported in the Sheffield & Rotherham Independent on 17th February 1849:-

Martha was still alive in 1851 and appears in the 1851 Census aged 75; she died on 30th November 1853.

A 1. Richard Glassby (1797-1825)

Richard was born in 1797 and died on 5th August 1825 aged 28.

A 2. Robert Glassby (1799-1820)

Robert Glassby, baptised on 21st July 1799, died on 12th December 1820 aged

A.3 Martha Glassby

Martha Glassby was born in Mexborough 1802, and married Joseph Hague on 4th December 1822. She remarried to John Schofield on 6th October 1828, presumably upon the death of Joseph Hague. In 1852 the then Martha Schofield married Edward Worrall, ref. Q2 1852 Sheffield 9c 230. Martha and Edward then appear in the 1861 Census:-

1871 Census -100 Lord Street, Municipal Ward of Park, Sheffield
Name	Rel	Age	Birthplace	Occupation
Edward Worrall	Head	44	Sheffield	Silversmith
Martha Worrall	Wife	68	Mexborough
Mary Glassby	Niece	16	Mexborough	Servant Domestic

It seems that in 1861 Edward and Martha had Martha’s neice A 8.8 Martha Glassby (born in 1851) staying with them, but by 1871 Martha Glassby had left and her sister, A 8.9 Mary Glassby had moved in with Edward and Martha Worrall as their Domestic Servant. This would explain why the age is quoted as “16” which is consistent with Mary who was born in 1854. Mary only lived for 3 years after the 1871 census as described in A 8.9 below.

Martha Worrall died in 1873 at the age of 70 (Ref: Q2 1873 Sheffield 9c 258). Edward Worrall was shown as a widower in the 1881 Census, living with his housekeeper.

A 4. Hannah Glassby (1805- )

Hannah Glassby, born in 1805, married Thomas Middleton in Mexborough on 22nd April 1822 They had two children, Robert Glassby Middleton, baptised on 28th September 1823, and Richard Middleton, baptised on 23rd October 1825, both in Mexborough.

A 5. Bessy Glassby (1807-1827)

Bessy Glassby, born 1807, died in Mexborough on 3rd November 1827, aged 20.

A 6. William Glassby (1809-1811)

William, born 1809, died on 22nd August 1811 aged 15 months.

A 7. Mary Glassby (1811-1812)

It is possible that they had an eighth child, Mary born between William in 1809 and William Jackson in 1813. The Burial Index records show the death of Mary Glassby, daughter of Robert and Mary (but this could be an error and could be Robert and Martha as nowhere in the records have I come across a “Robert & Mary”) 17th  January 1812 , aged 1, in Denaby.
 
A 9. John Glassby (1817-1845)

John Glassby was born in 1817; the IGI records show John Glassby, son of Robert and Martha Glassby, being christened on 13th March 1817 in Mexborough.  The IGI records also show the marriage of John Glasby on 10th January 1836 in Rotherham, to Sarah Scholey. The 1841 Census shows John and Sarah Glassby, both aged 20, living at Fishponds, Mexborough. It is thought that he died at the age of 28, as there is an entry in the Burial Index Books for a John Glasby who died on 8th January 1845.

William Jackson Glassby, born 1813, married Elizabeth Gill in Mexborough on 19th July 1835. She was born in 1813, like William, and was 22 years of age. The Gill’s were quite a prominent family in Mexborough at that time. At the time of the 1841 Census, Elizabeth’s parents were shown as Thomas Gill (62), a mason, and his wife Hannah. Elizabeth’s brother Andrew Gill, christened on 30th July 1816, is shown in the Census aged 25 and also a mason.

Due to a transcription error in the computerized version of the 1841 Census, William, the head of the family, is listed as “William Geazbey”. Examination of the hand-written original shows it to be “William Glasbey”. He is shown with his wife Elizabeth and their second son, Thomas. (Their first son, Robert, was living with his grandparents in Mexborough) The record shows:-

“Little Britain” is next to “Upper Canada” in the 1841 Census list, and close to Don Pottery and Swinton Wharf. Giles Bearley of Swinton Heritage Society explains:-

“These fanciful names were generated by the Canal people. The South Yorkshire Cut and the Dearne & Dove Canal were put through the town circa 1780. Employment on the canals was quite extensive with all the local industry. Some were short runs and some were long runs. Others used to set off on "the wander" where they would go anywhere they could get a cargo It was not as fanciful as being on the ocean wave but names from sea voyages filtered back as nicknames for different places. Particularly where there was a turning circle or a boatman’s mission where they could get religion and supplies. In Wath-on-Dearne (the next town) for example was the "Bay of Biscay". Families residing there used the same names to describe where they were which was picked up in early censuses.”

William and Elizabeth were both born in 1813, and would have been about 28 years old in 1841; with the “rounding down” rule their ages would have been shown as 25. They are shown in the 1851 Census living at Quarry Lane, Mexborough, and their son Thomas is shown to be 13 i.e. 10 years older than he was in the 1841 Census which ties in. By 1851 they had had 4 other sons, Richard, John, William and Andrew. It seems that the “Robert Glassby” who was 5 in the 1841 Census and was living with his grandparents Robert and Martha, was William and Elizabeth’s first child, but why he was living with his grandparents is not known.

Of the 9 children, more is known about Robert (A 8.1), Richard (A 8.4), John (A 8.5), William (A 8.6) and Andrew (A 8.7), as detailed in separate sections below.

Nothing is known about Thomas Gill Glassby (A 8.2), except that he was baptized on 11th February 1838. There is an entry in the National Burial Index for the death of Thomas Glasby, aged 15, on 14th January 1854, St John the Baptist, Mexborough which is probably him.

It seems likely that Hannah died young. There is a death entry for Hannah Glasby aged 10 months who died in Mexborough on 12th January 1841, which could be her.

There is a John Glasby present in the 1871 Census for Doncaster, listed as a glass blower aged 26, which would make his birth year 1845. There is an entry for John Glassby, 46, in the 1891 Census who was shown as staying with the Belk family in Whiston. There is no record of him marrying.

Martha Glassby (A 8.8) married John White in 1871 in Sheffield. She is referred to as “Mrs. White of Crewe” in the obituary for Robert Glassby (A 8.1) in the Mexborough and Swinton Times in August 1892. She is also listed as a subscriber in William J. J. Glassby’s book, "Memorials of Old Mexboro'" (Sheffield 1893, John Fillingham, Printer & Bookbinder).

Mary Glassby (A 8.9) is mentioned under the section "A 3. Martha Glassby". Mary died in 1873 and her death was recorded in the press as follows:-

The Sheffield and Rotherham Independent
3rd May 1873

Elizabeth Glassby (née Gill) died in 1856 in Doncaster, and William Jackson Glassby married again in 1858. The marriage certificate shows the marriage solemnized in the Parish Church in the Parish of Sheffield on 29th August 1858. William Jackson Glassby is shown as a widower aged 45, a (stone) mason of Clarence Street and son of Robert Glassby, schoolmaster. His new wife was Hannah Barker, 42, a spinster also living at Clarence Street and the daughter of George Barker, a sailor.

It appears that, like his father Robert Glassby Snr, William Glassby was also Parish Clerk of Mexborough for some time. An article appeared in the press in 1934 making reference to an Elizabethan Bible, once owned by William Glassby and passed to the Epworth family.

The Times
Friday January 12th 1934
A TUDOR BIBLE

An excellent view of the Elizabethan Bible which, as reported in our last issue, is in the possession of Mrs. Epworth (in the picture), widow of Mr. John Epworth, Rose Villa, Park Road, Mexborough, into whose family it came over a century ago from Mr. William Glassby, then Parish Clerk of Mexborough. The imprint shows the Bible to have been printed in 1588.

William Jackson Glassby died in 1864 in Doncaster some 3 years before his son Richard married. His death is confirmed on Richard’s marriage certificate, where he is listed as “William Glassby (Deceased)”.

Robert Glassby (1835–1892) is perhaps the most famous Glassby listed in this research, and carried the title of “Queen Victoria’s sculptor” in later life. Robert Glassby was born in Mexborough, Yorkshire, on 17th December 1835 in The White House (also known as Odd House Farm) Windsor Castle Hill, off Church Street, Mexborough which was the house of Mr. Gill, his maternal grandfather. His parents were William Jackson Glassby and Elizabeth Gill, both born in Mexborough in 1813, who married on 19th July 1835. Robert was baptized on 27th December 1835 and the International Genealogy Record confirms that his parents were William and Elizabeth Glassby.

Windsor Castle Hill is no longer there in Mexborough, but recently when land to the rear of the Alms Houses was being cleared the gable end of the “White House” was discovered. In September 2013 Mexborough Charity Trust, responsible for the administration of the Alms Houses, erected a plaque in honour of Robert Glassby.

The Commemorative Plaque and the White House gable end – September 2013
Photos by M. J. Piper

At a very early age Robert Glassby became friendly with John Reed of Rock Pottery in Mexborough and is thought to have had free access to his pottery works.

John Reed, owner of Rock Pottery, Mexborough
Photo courtesy of Mexborough and District Heritage Society

We learn that in his early days he was continually giving proof of his artistic talent, sketching, painting, or carving letters and designs in stone. One of his earliest works known to survive today is a “Grotesque” which is thought to have been done in 1845.

Frances Yeo, Senior Curator & Collections Manager, Museums, Galleries & Heritage, Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council commented on the dating and attribution of this work to Robert Glassby in an email to the author of 4th July 2011:-

After his grandfather died in 1849 at the age of 73, Robert remained with his grandmother and he is shown in the 1851 Census for Mexborough with her as a shoemaker’s apprentice, aged 15. In that year he became apprenticed to Joseph Barlow (listed as a quarry owner in Whites Directory of 1833), and stayed with him for about four years. He disliked his employer intensely and suffered from ill-health, but he finally obtained release from his apprenticeship and moved to Wolverhampton, where he became stonemason in the yard of his uncle, John Gill.

Information relating to Robert Glassby’s time as an apprentice shoemaker appeared in the press in 1936:-

At that time there was a huge demand for stone masons in Doncaster. St George’s Church had been destroyed by fire in 1853 and masons were required for its rebuild. We learn from the Doncaster Minster website:-

All did not go well with the rebuilding and on 4th October 1854 it was reported in The Times that the stonemasons had been on strike for two months and that Mr. Ireson, contractor for the new parish church, “has, during the last week, obtained several new hands, and, although he has not got the number he had before the strike, he has sufficient to carry on the work quite fast as is desirable in its present stage.” The article goes on to say “With regard to the personal loss of the contractor, he is undoubtedly something out of pocket, from expenses incurred in obtaining workmen from various parts of the country; but as he has the support of the building committee, he will of course obtain proportionate indulgence with respect to the term of his contract. The loss of the operatives themselves will be much greater than that of the contractor, as many of them have remained in Doncaster since the commencement of the strike on the trade allowance of 10s per week.”

St George’s, Doncaster

At the same time, work was progressing on Hyde Park Cemetery, with its associated chapel and lodge, with the need for more stone masons. Robert Glassby went to work for a firm of stonemasons in Doncaster, Messrs Anelay & Co, where he assisted in the masonry work for the Doncaster Cemetery Chapel, Carr House Road.

Prior to 1856 almost all burials took place in the 10-acre churchyard at St. George’s, but there was increasing concern about the lack of space. The Metropolitan Internment Act of 1850 allowed for the provision of publically-funded cemeteries in London, and the subsequent Burial Act of 1853 extended this provision nationwide. The Doncaster Cemetery Act was passed on 3rd July 1854 made provision for a cemetery in Doncaster, and a site overlooking Doncaster Carr was picked. R. J. Johnson of Newcastle was chosen as the architect, and Messrs Anelay of Doncaster carried out the work. There were two chapels (one for the Established Church and one for the Nonconformists) connected by an arch, as well as a Lodge and boundary wall, also with an arch. Anelay were established as stone masons in 1747, and by coincidence it was the present day company “William Anelay Limited” which was appointed in 2004 to undertake £170,000 worth of repairs to the chapel. It is interesting that Robert Glassby was working on a project with arches, and this could have been where he got the idea and the skills needed to build the “Glassby Arch” for John Reed in Mexborough in 1859.

Chapel and Lodge, Hyde Park Cemetery, Doncaster
Photo by M. J. Piper

Arch at entrance to Hyde Park Cemetery, Doncaster
Photo by M. J. Piper

In September 1856 Robert Glassby left Doncaster to work for Joseph Hadfield, at the Norfolk Lane Marble Works, Sheffield. In March, 1857, he entered the Sheffield School of Art to study drawing, but the master chancing to see some modeling which had been executed asked for further specimens, and on being shown a portrait model and other work was convinced of the talent of the rising young sculptor. He was now advised to take a course of lessons in modeling, and made a copy from the antique, showing great ability in the modeling and exactness. While thus making much progress, one evening leaving his work he slipped while closing the door, his head striking the glass window of the door, and causing a severe wound. After a rest of two days his pluck and perseverance caused him to again set to work and compete for the prizes that he was trying for, and he received two bronze medals (the highest achievable) for his efforts.

Joseph Hadfield advertisement – 1871 Trade Directory

Robert Glassby was in good company whilst he was at Hadfield’s and the Sheffield School of Art. An article appearing in the press in 1899 following the death of sculptor Thomas Gregory gives an insight:-

Robert Glassby’s achievements at the School of Art in Sheffield were recorded in the press at the time:-

The Sheffield Independent
6th February 1858

During the following 18 months he executed no less than twelve portraits in his spare time, and in May 1858, commenced to study landscape painting under the direction of Mr. Christopher Thompson, of Division Street, Sheffield. His health now was very bad, and having a bad attack of inflammation of the lungs he returned to Mexborough in July, when he made a painting of Mexborough Parish Church, and a street scene in Mexborough, which was purchased by Miss Pearson, of Ackworth, for £1 2s., and four other paintings, which were purchased by Mr. John Reed, his first patron, who also commissioned the young artist to model 18 heads and other works. He now decided to study in Paris, and from the sale of his works to Mr. Reed he was enabled to leave home on 2nd November 1858. He spent a day in London at the National Gallery and South Kensington Museum, and the following day he arrived in Dieppe, en route for Paris. He studied there independently, modeling and copying the pictures by the great masters in the Louvre and elsewhere. On his return to England in 1860 he stayed for a week in London with Reuben Townroe, an old co-student of the Sheffield School of Art, then the principal assistant of Alfred Stevens, artist.

In 1860, at the age of 24 he carved the Glassby Arch as a garden ornament for John Reed. It stood in the garden of Prospect House (Mexborough House), Market Street, Mexborough until 1966 when the house was demolished. The arch was moved to Fern Villa, Church Road, Mexborough, where it stands today.

Front and Rear Views of The Glassby Arch at Fern Villa, Mexborough, circa 1991.
Photos courtesy of Cris Ruhen Caird, New South Wales, Australia

 

				.
	Detail of the carving on the Glassby Arch Photos by M. J. Piper

Cris Ruhen Caird, now living in Australia, lived in Prospect House as a child, and from a letter written to Mexborough Heritage Society in 2004 we get a glimpse of the history of the property:-

Prospect House.
Photo courtesy of Mexborough & District Heritage Society

The Glassby Arch was then moved to Fern Villa, Church Street, Mexborough and actually appeared for sale on eBay in March 2004. The Doncaster Free Press reported on Thursday March 25th 2004 that the arch had been granted a preservation order:-

The arch was left in a derelict state and by 2013 it was in great danger of collapse.

The Glassby Arch, September 2013
Photo by M. J. Piper

Discussion had been ongoing for some time between the relevant authorities for permission to move the Glassby Arch to a more suitable position. Things came to a head rather suddenly in February 2014 when thieves were spotted dismantling the Arch and removing pieces. Fortunately the police became involved and tracked down the thieves, forcing them to return the pieces of the Arch that they had removed. The situation was reported in the local press:-

The South Yorkshire Times

27th February 2014

Efforts were made to save the arch, but the finances were not available and the owner, being on the Wanted List by the police for alleged drug offences had fled to Spain. Thieves broke into the house and started to dismantle and take away pieces of the stonework of the arch. Fortunately a neighbor realized what they were doing and alerted the police. The thieves were apprehended and virtually all of the stolen pieces were recovered. This led to a renewed effort to save the arch, and co-operation between Mexborough Charity Trust, led by Giles Brearley, Doncaster Council and the Economic Crime Command of the National Crime Agency resulted in the arch being dismantled and re-erected in a new position next to the Alms Houses in Church Road.

Photo courtesy of Mr. Ron James, Mexborough

Photo courtesy of Mr. Ron James, Mexborough

Photo courtesy of Mr. Ron James, Mexborough

Photo by M J Piper

	The initials “RG” for “Robert Glassby” carved into the Arch	The initials “JR” for “John Reed” carved into the Arch

From the sale of works to John Reed, Robert Glassby was able to study for a period in Paris. He travelled to London and spent a day at the National Gallery and the South Kensington Museum, and the following day he arrived in Dieppe, en route for Paris. He studied there independently, modeling and copying the pictures by the great masters in the Louvre and elsewhere. On his return to England in 1860 he stayed for a week in London with Reuben Townroe, an old co-student of the School of Art, then the principal assistant of Alfred Stevens, artist.

Mexborough Parish Church 1860 by Robert Glassby
Photo courtesy of The Clifton Park Museum, Rotherham

St John the Baptist Church, Mexborough
Photo by M. J. Pipe

From the 1861 Census we see that Robert Glassby was a “Boarder” at Backfields, Ecclesall Bierlow, Sheffield, and he was described as a “Marble Carver”.

After a short time with Hadfield’s in Sheffield, Robert Glassby advertised in a Liverpool paper for a position in a studio as an improver in carving. He was at once sent for a trial by Mr. E. E. Geflowski .

Emmanuel Edward Geflowski (1834 – 1898) was a Polish sculptor working in Liverpool. In 1863, about the time that Robert Glassby worked for him, he did an elaborate Gothic tabernacle for St George’s Church, Everton incorporating a portrait roundel to the memory of Walter Fergus MacGregor who died in 1863. Another of his works was the statue of Sir William Fairbairn which stands in Manchester Town Hall. But perhaps the best known of Geflowski’s work was the 1881 statue of Queen Victoria. A six foot high statue in Sicilian marble, which was given by the Chinese community in Singapore to Sir Cecil Smith, then Governor of the Straits Settlements, which is said to be one of the most life-like statues of Queen Victoria ever done. The statue was placed in the State Room until the 1960s. It was then moved to the Victoria Memorial Hall and subsequently to the National Museum store in the mid-1980s. When removed from the store in 1994 the statue was found to be damaged, and was subsequently repaired in 1995 by a specialist from the Victoria & Albert Museum in London. It is now housed in a gazebo near a rectangular lily pond within the Istana grounds in Singapore.

Queen Victoria by E. E. Geflowski

As part of his trial, Geflowski put Robert Glassby to work at a marble recumbent figure. Mr. Geflowski said “After a few days’ absence from my studio on business I returned to find that the young man who wished to improve in carving should have advertised for a position as an accomplished carver. I was delighted with his excellent work, so much so that a month later, on his wishing to leave owing to the bad lodgings in Liverpool, I offered him a lodging free in my own home, where he was treated as a friend. He remained with me for 18 months, and then went to London, where had he obtained one commission to start, and enable him to work entirely on his own account he would have become one of the most celebrated sculptors of the day.”

One wonders why Robert Glassby left Liverpool as he was obviously treated well by Geflowski, but it could have been due to Geflowski falling on hard times and being unable to afford to employ Glassby further. Geflowski went bankrupt in 1864, although he recovered and went on to do many important sculpture commissions.

The Liverpool Mercury
5th November 1864

Sculptors, The Albert Memorial, by J. Birnie Philip
Image from old postcard in the possession of M. J. Piper

After a course of study in the North London School, he obtained a scholarship in the Royal Academy Schools in December 1864, where he was a student for nearly three years meeting with much success. Wishing for a better opening he applied to Baron Marochetti, and was immediately engaged by the Baron as a carver and modeler. The Royal Academy of Arts Library and Archive still holds the leather-bound hand-written ledger  “Students Admitted to The Royal Academy Since 1830” in which Robert’s entrance to the Academy was recorded as 22nd December 1864:-

The Royal Academy of Arts Student Intake Book
Photos by M. J. Piper
Courtesy of The Royal Academy of Arts Library and Archive©

There is a story which has been handed down through the family that Robert modeled the Lions in Trafalgar Square. Bernard Collier, a descendent, recalls:-

The story of the plan for the “Lions for Nelson’s Monument” was reported in The Times on 25th August 1863 .  As Robert Glassby worked for Baron Marochetti between 1864 and 1868 it is quite likely that he was involved in the modeling and casting in bronze of the Lions. The Lions were modeled by Sir Edwin Landseer, but his model was a mere 6 to 7 foot long; it was Marochetti’s studio that had the job of building scale models in clay 20 foot long. It is quite possible that Robert Glassby was engaged in this.

The first Lion was completed in March 1866 and attracted a visit by Queen Victoria to Marochetti’s studio for an inspection, as reported by The Pall Mall Gazette:-

The Pall Mall Gazette
26th March 1866

A month later disaster struck in the form of a fire in Baron Marochetti’s studio, again reported by The Pall Mall Gazette:-

The Pall Mall Gazette
16th April 1866

The fire was not as serious as first thought, and Baron Marochetti commented in The Pall Mall Gazette the following day:-

The Pall Mall Gazette
17th April 1866

The first Lion was erected in January 1867:-

The Pall Mall Gazette
25th January 1867

The “Lion Project” had been controversial and lengthy from start to finish, and there was yet another sting in the tail as both Landseer and Marochetti were criticized:-

The Pall Mall Gazette
9th February 1867

Landseer working on models for the Lions of Trafalgar Square by Ballantyne

Lion in Trafalgar Square

Robert Glassby was mentioned in a press report in 1867 for the Royal Academy exhibition:-

Robert Glassby worked in the studio of Joseph Edgar Boehm at 76 Fulham Road (originally the studios of Carlo Marochetti) from 1870 until Boehm’s death in 1890. Boehm was one of the best know and best connected sculptors in England, and was famous in court circles for his statue of Queen Victoria installed at Windsor Castle in 1869.

It was common in those days to caricature people in the press, and a caricature of
Joseph Edgar Boehm with a bust of John Ruskin drawn by Leslie Ward (who signed
himself as “Spy”) appeared in Vanity Fair magazine in 1881

Four years in to his tenure with Edgar Boehm, Robert Glassby was involved with the statue of John Bunyan, which stands in St Peter’s Square in Bedford which was erected in 1874.

J. Edgar Boehm's Statue of John Bunyan, Bedford
Presented to the Borough of Bedford by Hastings IX Duke of Bedford June 10th 1874
Photo by M. J. Piper

	Christian losing his burden at the cross P hoto by M. J. Piper	Christian fighting with Apollyon Photo by M. J. Piper
	Christian at the wicker gate Photo by M. J. Piper

Robert Glassby was involved with this statue, as we learn from The Bedfordshire Times, 25th May 1956:-

Robert Glassby in his studio
Photograph from The Bedfordshire Times 25th May 1956

Robert Glassby married in 1866. The marriage certificate states that the marriage was solemnized at the Parish Church in the parish of St George, Hanover Square on 1st July 1866. Robert Glassby, full age, a bachelor and a sculptor resident at Hobart Place, Eaton Square is listed as the son of William Jackson Glassby, a stone mason. Mearea Mercy Davis, full age and a spinster, also resident at Hobart Place, Eaton Square is listed as the daughter of John Blackburn Davis, a Job Master. The certificate was issued in the presence of J.B. Davis and Ellen Sophia Bentley. The origin of the name “Mearea” is not clear, but in subsequent years it was recorded as “Maria M.” They resided in London, where they had 10 children between 1867 and 1887.

What is interesting here in the 1871 Census is that 80A George Street was shared by two families, the second being Maria M Glassby’s parents and her sister:-

In 1875 Robert Glassby was proposed and accepted as an Associate Member of the Sheffield Society of Artists, as reported in the press at the time:-

The Sheffield and Rotherham Independent
19th June 1875

Robert was elected as a full committee member of the Society at their second annual meeting:-

The Sheffield and Rotherham Independent
26th January 1876

Robert and Maria are shown in the 1881 Census with 6 children and a servant, living at 15 Hobury Street, Chelsea:-

The Daily News, London, 2nd April 1883, published an article “IN THE STUDIOS” describing art being prepared for exhibiting in the various studios, including a section on Robert Glassby i.e.

The Daily News
2nd April 1883

The article goes on to mention the work of many other accomplished sculptors and artists such as Mr. Hamo Thorneycroft, Mr. E. J. Poynter, Mr. C. E. Halle, Mr. Luke Fildes etc

The Nursing Record, 9th August 1888 reported that the Women’s Jubilee Group had commissioned a statue of the Prince Consort for Windsor Park, which Robert Glassby was involved with the modeling and casting:-

The Belfast News-Letter, 13th May 1890 reported the unveiling of the statue by Queen Victoria, and the statue can be found today adjacent to the Smith's Lawn Polo Field, Great Windsor Park.

Prince Albert, the Prince Consort, in Great Windsor Park
Photo by M. J. Piper

Robert and Maria appear again in the 1891 Census, listed in the computerised records as "Robert Glarsby" due to a transcription error from the handwritten original, and living at 28 Lamont Road, Chelsea.

15 Hobury Street, Chelsea
Photo by M. J. Piper

15 Hobury Street is an end property on the corner of Hobury Street and Lamont Road, and abutts 30 Lamont Road. By the time of the 1891 Census Robert and his family had moved three doors down the street to 28 Lamont Road. Later we will see a letter written by William J.J. Glassby in December 1892 from 15 Hobury Street, so it is possible that the Glassby's move to 28 Lamont Street was a temporary one. It is also possible, however, that with Robert's poor health the family became financially stretched and were forced to move to cheaper accommodation.

Corner of Hobury Street and Lamont Road, Chelsea
Photo by M. J. Piper

Boehm died suddenly on 12th December 1890, and was duly reported in the press:-

Sir Edgar Boehm’s funeral was reported in The Times on 22nd December 1890. The newspaper reported that the cortege comprised of five mourning carriages and several private carriages, and Robert Glassby, along with two other professional staff of Sir Edgar were in the fifth mourning coach:-

Alfred Gilbert's involvement in the aftermath of Edgar Boehm's deat endeared him to the Queen, but at the same time this led to bad feeling between Rober Glassbyand Alfred Gilbert. The details of this disagreement are reported in Richard Dorment's book "Alfred Gilbert" published by Yale Uiversity Press in 1985:-

We know from William J. J. Glassby’s “Sheffield Miscellany” that his father Robert had been engaged on the marble statue of Emperor Frederick, and this had just been completed at the time of Sir Edgar Boehm’s death.

Robert Glassby was put in charge of mounting the statue in St. George’s Chapel, Windsor, and by command of Queen Victoria he attended the unveiling ceremony on the 18th December 1890. The event was recorded in The Times the following day:-

The Times 19th December 1890 THE LATE EMPEROR FREDERICK The Queen unveiled at Windsor Castle, yesterday, the memorial of the late Emperor Frederick which she has had placed in St. George’s Chapel. The ceremony took place shortly before noon in the presence of the Court and an assemblage of ladies and gentlemen connected with the Palace. The mournful interest in the function was heightened by the recent sudden death of Sir. Edgar Boehm, who was to have been present at the uncovering of his last work, the mounting of which he had never seen. The memorial is of white marble, and about 10 ft. high. It stands under the Canon Pearson window in the south aisle, and is in close proximity to the subway leading to the Royal vault beneath the famous Albert Chapel. The statue had been draped with blue cloth previous to the ceremony, and in the space immediately opposite chairs had been arranged for the Queen, the Royal Family, and suite. A small table stood near her Majesty’s chair, and from this a light cord was carried to the covering of the memorial. Several floral gifts had been forwarded to the Castle, and these were laid near the Lincoln Chapel. The Queen’s wreath consisted of tastefully arranged white camellias, chrysanthemums, and other blooms and foliage, and was tied with broad white silk riband. That sent by the Empress Frederick was formed of palms and flowers. The Empress Augusta Victoria, wife of Kaiser Wilhelm, sent a wreath similar to the Queen’s, its white silk bows bearing her name and the Imperial Crown stamped in gold. The largest and most noticeable wreath was that from the Emperor William. It was made of thickly-woven laurel leaves, interspersed with innumerable bunches of golden berries, and bound with broad white silk, the words “Weissenburg,” “Worth,” “Koniggrätz,” and “Sedan” being embossed in gold letterings upon the folds of the riband, and the bows adorned with a monogram and crown. The Queen, and the Prince of Wales, the Duke and the Duchess of Connaught, and Prince Henry of Battenberg, attended by Lady Churchill, General Lynedoch Gardiner, and Colonel the Hon. W. Carington, drove from the Castle to the Albert Chapel, and on alighting at the cloister entrance, proceeded to the east aisle, where they were received by the Very Rev. Randall Davidson (Bishop Designate of Rochester). The Prince of Wales placed himself on her Majesty’s left hand, the Duchess of Connaught being on the right, while the Duke of Connaught, Prince Henry of Battenberg, and Prince Arthur and the Princesses Margaret and Victoria Patricia of Connaught occupied positions close at hand. Princess Beatrice, who has only just recovered from the severe cold which has confined her for several days to the Palace, was not present. Seats immediately behind the Royal party were provided for the Court, a special place being reserved for General von Wittich, who wore a German military uniform and several decorations, and had been specially deputed by the Emperor William to represent his Imperial Majesty. The members of the Royal Household included General Sir H. F. Ponsonby, Major General Sir John Cowell, the Earl of Romney, Viscount Bridport, Sir Fleetwood Edwards, Dr. Reid, Miss M’Neill, the Hon. Rosa Hood, the Hon. Miss Lambart, Major Holmes, Mr. Muther, Colonel Egerton, Lady Cowell, Lady Biddulph, Mrs. Randall Davidson, and others. Major Burslem, the Governor, and the military and naval knights of Windsor were stationed in the east aisle. Mr. R. Glassby, Sir Edgar Boehm’s principal assistant, under whose supervision the statue had been mounted, was also present, by command of her Majesty. The Very Rev. Randall T. Davidson officiated, and was assisted by Canon Eliot (Dean Designate of Windsor) and Minor Canons Gilbert, Edwards, Tahourdin, Treherne, and Marshall. The choral portions of the service were sung under the direction of Mr. Walter Parratt, by the choir of St. George’s Chapel. The ceremony opened with the hymn, “Praise my soul the King of Heaven,” after which the Dean read a lesson consisting of several verses selected from the book of Ecclesiasticus, and the prayers. The Queen then pulled the cord and the drapery fell, disclosing the statue, which was clearly discernible in the pale noonday light streaming through the windows. Then floating through the aisle came the soft voices of the surplice choristers singing, to Gounod’s beautiful music, the anthem, “Send out Thy light,” which brought the brief ceremony to an end. The Queen, who had been visibly affected by the sad recollections aroused by the service, waited till the anthem was over, and then, assisted by the Duke and Duchess of Connaught, Princess Margaret, and General von Wittich, proceeded to dispose the wreaths about the pedestal. Her Majesty, before leaving the chapel, took leave of General von Wittich, and then returned with the other members of the Royal Family to the Palace.

Statue of the Emperor Frederick III of Germany
(The Graphic, 20th December 1890)
(Although originally placed in St. George’s Chapel,
Windsor, it was moved to the Royal Mausoleum,
Frogmore, in 1950.)

In January 1891 Queen Victoria commissioned Robert Glassby to make a bust of the late Sir Edgar Boehm, and the completed bust was delivered to Windsor Castle in July of that year. Both events were recorded in the press:-

Lloyds Weekly Newspaper – 5th July 1891

Robert Glassby died in Chelsea on 3rd August 1892, and a short Obituary appeared in The Times on 5th August:-

We are fortunate that a much more detailed write up of Robert Glassby’s life appeared in the Mexborough and Swinton Times in August 1892, extracts of which are given below:- (Courtesy of Mexborough & District Heritage Society)

The Mexborough & Swinton Times article above makes reference to the fact that Robert Glassby completed the memorial to Mr. Becket of Leeds upon the death of Baron Marochetti. This refers to William Beckett (1784-1863) who was the principal partner in the banking firm of Beckett & Co. He was M.P. for Leeds from 1841 to 1852 and for Ripon from 1852 to 1857. He married Frances Adelina, the sister of H. C. Meynell Ingram, in 1841 and eventually retired to live in Brighton. He died on 26th January 1863 at the age of 78, and was buried in Kensal Green Cemetery. The sculpture in his memory was completed in 1865 and was placed in St Peter's Church, Kirkgate, Leeds. The monument, over 16 feet in height, rests upon a grit-stone pedestal, which has let in to it a marble medallion and inscription, and consists of a group of figures. Chief in this group stands a dignified, beautiful and graceful figure representing Charity, with two small boys looking up at her face.

Charity by Carlo Marochetti c 1865
Photo by M. J. Piper

William Beckett
Photo by M. J. Piper

IN AFFECTIONATE REMEMBRANCE OF
WILLIAM BECKETT, ESQ.,
LATE BANKER IN LEEDS,
WHO REPRESENTED LEEDS IN PARLIAMENT FOR MANY YEARS.
HE WAS BORN IN THE YEAR OF GRACE 1781, FIFTH SON OF
SIR JOHN BECKETT, BART.,
BY MARY, DAUGHTER OF DR CHRISTOPHER WILSON,
BISHOP OF BRISTOL.
HE MARRIED FRANCES ADELINE, THIRD DAUGHTER OF
HUGO MEYNELL, ESQ.,
AND THE HONOURABLE ELIZABETH INGRAM, DAUGHTER AND COHEIRESS OF
VISCOUNT INGRAM, OF TEMPLE-NEWSAM.
HE DIED ON 26TH JANUARY, 1863, AGED 78,
WITHOUT LEAVING ISSUE
AND HIS REMAINS ARE CONSIGNED TO THE CEMETERY IN
KENSALL-GREEN.
EMINENTLY DISTINGUISHED BY UNCEASING READINESS TO PROMOTE
ALL PLANS
OF BENEVOLENCE AND GENERAL UTILITY, HE ALSO TOOK
AN ACTIVE PART
IN ALL THAT CONCERNED THE WELFARE OF LEEDS.
THE FOUNDER OF SEVERAL SCHOOLS, HE SOUGHT TO ADVANCE
AND EXTEND
THE EDUCATION OF THE PEOPLE ON CHRISTIAN PRINCIPLES.
A FAITHFUL BUT TOLERANT MEMBER OF THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND,
HE GAVE TO THAT CHURCH ON ALL OCCASIONS HIS
SUBSTANTIAL SUPPORT,
LARGELY CONTRIBUTING TO THE REPAIRS AND CONSTRUCTION
OF ITS SACRED EDIFICES.
IN BUSINESS HE WAS LIBERAL, JUDICIOUS, AND PUBLIC SPIRITED
AT A PERIOD OF GREAT LOCAL PRESSURE
HE MERGED HIS OWN INTERESTS, AND SAVED THE CREDIT
OF THE TOWN.
IN PARLIAMENT HE WAS AMONGST THE FOREMOST IN SUPPORTING
AND CARRYING
THE MEASURE FOR THE SHORTENING OF THE WORKING HOURS
FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN.
THOUGH WILLIAM BECKETT HAS LEFT A FAR NOBLER MONUMENT
OF HIMSELF
IN THE HEARTS OF THOSE WHO NEW HIM,
THIS HUMBLE RECORD OF SO EXCELLENT A MAN MAY SERVE TO
PRESERVE HIS MEMORY
WHEN THEY AND THEIR CHILDRENSHALL HAVE FOLLOWED
HIM TO THE GRAVE.
IT WILL THUS FULFIL THE PIOUS INTENTION OF HIS SORROWING
WIDOW,
AND EXTEND THE USEFULNESS OF HIS EXAMPLE TO
FUTURE GENERATIONS

Robert Glassby
Photo courtesy of The Graves Art Gallery, Sheffield

About this time, 1870, Robert Glassby completed another important work, a 20 inch high marble bust of child, which has recently been repatriated from the United States. This is a very fine piece of sculpting and from the delicate carving of the emblems for England, Scotland and Ireland on the blouse of the child, it is thought to have Royal connections. It is interesting to note that Robert Glassby exhibited a marble bust of a “Young Boy” at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition in 1870, and this could well be the exhibit.

Marble bust of a Young Child, by Robert Glassby (1870)
Photo by M. J. Piper courtesy of Peter Weller

Royal emblem detailing on the blouse
Photo by M. J. Piper courtesy of Peter Weller

An obituary for Robert Glassby also appeared in The Sheffield and Rotherham Independent on 15th August 1892:-

The Angel of Prayer was actually sculpted by Robert Glassby for the Upper Chapel in 1872, and was used in 1889 as a memorial for John H Hunter, as evidence by William J. J. Glassby's "The Old Churchyards of Sheffield" published in 1896.

Robert Glassby (1835-1892)
Drawing courtesy of Mexborough & District Heritage Society

IN LOVING MEMORY OF

ROBERT GLASSBY

SCULPTOR TO QUEEN VICTORIA

Robert Glassby's Grave in Brompton Cemetery
Photo by M. J. Piper

Robert’s death was sudden and left the family insecure financially. Friends of the family launched an appeal to raise money for them through the sale of works of art, and the appeal was published in The Pall Mall Gazette of 14th November 1892.

In the announcement of Robert Glassby’s death in The Times, 5th August 1892, it was mentioned that he was working on another commission for Queen Victoria, a marble bust of H.R.H. the late Grand Duke of Hesse which was to have been placed in the Royal Mausoleum at Frogmore. This was completed by his son, Robert Edward Glassby and its completion and delivery to Frogmore was recorded in the press:-

The Grand Duke of Hesse
Photo by M. J. Piper

Frogmore Mausoleum
Photo by M. J. Piper

Robert Glassby
Photo courtesy of Mexborough & District Heritage Society

A list of Robert Glassby’s works is given by Algernon Graves in his dictionary of art. Algernon Graves was taking three bottles of wine to his uncle, Robert Graves, who was ill, on 24th February 1873 when he slipped on ice, badly injuring his knee in his attempt to prevent the bottles of wine from breaking. As a result he was laid up for eight weeks and could not bend his leg. Having copies of the catalogues of the Royal Academy at home, he began the Herculean task of compiling an alphabetical list of artists and their works. The work became of value to his father’s business and was eventually published. The entry for Robert Glassby, however, seems to be a compilation of Robert Glassby’s work and that of his son Robert Edward Glassby. Certainly the works and addresses from 1865 to 1892 tally (the date when Robert Glassby died). It seems likely that the last two entries under the address “10 Elm Park Road” were for those of Robert Edward Glassby, his son.

Robert Glassby was responsible for taking a death mask of Benjamin Disraeli, Earl of Beaconsfield, at the time of his death and this is confirmed by an article that appeared in The Times, 6th April 1934.

It is interesting to note that one piece of work is held in the National Portrait Gallery, item NPG 2655 which is described as:-

Benjamin Disraeli, Earl of Beaconsfield
By Robert Glassby, cast by John Theodore Tussaud
Wax cast of death mask (1881) 368mm high Given by Theodore Tussaud 1934.
Courtesy of National Portrait Galley

Death masks were frequently taken of famous people in the late 18th Century, and an article appeared in the New York Times on 8th July 1894 describing the death mask of Thomas Carlyle and Glassby's involvement:-

This death mask of Thomas Carlyle is currently held in Kensington Central Library:-

Thomas Carlyle death mask
Courtesy of Kensington Central Library
Photo by M. J. Piper

A short anecdote about Robert Glassby appeared in The Sheffield and Rotherham Independent on 28th September 1896. Although the article mentions "Charles Glassby" it is clearly referring to Robert:-

It is interesting to note the social circles that Robert Glassby moved in during the time (1870-1890) that he was employed by Sir Edgar Boehm and lived in Chelsea. Sir Edgar was famous in court circles for his statue of Queen Victoria installed at Windsor Castle in 1869. He had also been commissioned for the sculpture of the "recumbent figure of the Duke of Kent, the fourth son of George III King of England and Queen Charlotte" completed in 1874 which lies in the mausoleum at Frogmore. He had taught sculpting to Princess Louise, Queen Victoria's daughter, at the National Art Training School in South Kensington and she was allegedly his lover. The Queen was so concerned about Princess Louise's relationship with Boehm that she sought out a suitable husband for her, and she agreed to marry the Marquess of Lorne, heir to the title of "Duke of Argyll", who was a Member of Parliament at the time. They married on 21st March 1871 in St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle. They went to Canada on 14th November 1878 when the Marquess was appointed Governor General. Louise was popular in Canada and "Lake Louise" was named after her. On 14 February 1880, she was seriously injured when the vice regal sleigh overturned on the streets of Ottawa, Ontario, and Louise, though she made a full recovery, returned to England, leaving Lord Lorne to discharge the Vice-Regal duties alone for another two years. They had no children and the marriage broke down and Princess Louise consoled herself with Sir Edgar Boehm's company. The relationship continued throughout the 1880's until Sir Edgar Boehm died on 12th December 1890 in his studio. It is generally believed that Boehm was alone with Princess Louise, burst a blood vessel and died in her arms. The matter was brushed under the carpet with the story that he was lifting a marble statue at the time of his death. So, throughout the 1880's, Robert Glassby must have known Princess Louise very well as she visited the studio where he was working to further her liaison with Sir Edgar Boehm.

Robert's wife Maria's family had Royal connections also. Maria M ("Mercedes" as her second name “Mercy” was referred to) Davis was the daughter of John Blackburne Davis, who provided bloodstock for the Royal Stud. Maria was the sister of Elizabeth (”Lela”) Blackburne Davis who is listed living with John and Catherine Davis at 80A George Street, London in the 1871 Census, as mentioned earlier. Lela rose to fame through the "Wild West" show of Franklin Samuel Cody. Franklin Samuel Cowdery was born in Birdsville, Texas on 6th March 1867. He was an imposter. He adopted the name "Samuel Cody" and led people to believe that he was the son of the famous William Frederick "Buffalo Bill" Cody of the Wild West Show fame. Samuel Cody married Maude Lee in 1888. The marriage failed but there is no record of a divorce. Samuel fell for Lela, who was 15 years his elder and had four children (Leon, Vivian, Lizzy or Liese & Edward) by a previous marriage to Edward King, a "licensed victualler”, whom she had married at the age of 21 in 1873. Lela and Samuel were devoted to each other, and Lela and her children participated in his Wild West show, billed as "S. F. Cody and Family Champion Shooters of America" throughout the U.K. and Europe. Lela took part allowing Samuel to shoot at 20 glass balls around her body, she wearing blood-red tights so that if she was grazed by a bullet the blood would not show!

Samuel was a real entrepreneur and show man. Whilst in Paris he organised a race between French cyclists and him on horseback; he won the 10,000 franc prize money with ease. On returning to England he tried to sell the patent rights to a rapid fire pistol he had invented to the War Office. He demonstrated the pistol by shooting holes in coins thrown up in to the air, but his only reward was a letter from the War Office threatening him for defacing "coins of the realm"! Undaunted he returned to the stage with a show in the summer of 1898 called "Klondyke Nugget" featuring trick shooting and Indian battles. By 1902 Samuel Cody had turned his attention to flying kites, his designs enabling a man to "fly" 300 foot in a basket suspended beneath the kite. In 1906 he became the chief kite instructor at the Military Balloon School at Farnborough and became involved with the design of airships. He turned his attention to building an aero plane similar to that of Orville and Wilbur Wright's design, and in 1908 his "Army Aeroplane #1" flew for 27 seconds covering a quarter of a mile. He entered a design in the competition sponsored by Lord Northcliffe of the Daily Mail, and in 1909 his "Flying Cathedral" went to the air. One of the first passengers was his wife Lela with her dress taped up to stop it billowing! In 1911 he became the hero of Lord Northcliffe's " 1,010 mile Circuit of Britain Challenge". Although he did not win the £10,000 prize he was praised for his courage and determination. Samuel Cody was becoming one of the most famous men in the country, and was dubbed "Colonel" Cody by King Edward VII who was an admirer, although the rank was fictitious. An improved version of his "Flying Cathedral" came top in Army aircraft trials with entries from Britain and Europe, and the Royal Aero Club awarded him their highest honour, the Gold Medal. King George V telegrammed his congratulations and requested a command performance. In 1913 Lord Northcliffe offered new prizes of £5,000 for a race around the coast of Britain and £10,000 for a flight across the Atlantic. On 7th August 1913, whilst testing his newly built plane, Cody was killed when it fell from the sky. He was 46. His funeral was held in the garrison town of Aldershot with the Black Watch escorting his coffin on a gun carriage, with a cortege a mile long and 100,000 people lining the streets. George V sent a personal telegram to Lela expressing his grief.

Buffalo Bill Cody and his Wild West Show had been invited to England in 1887 for Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee celebrations, and performed to the delight of Queen Victoria. But Queen Victoria was displeased that the sister of the wife of her official sculptor had left her husband for an "American Wild West Cowboy", and refused to allow Samuel Cody to perform for her.

Robert Glassby's wife, Maria, lived until she was 80, dying in Bedford in 1928. Her own life had been interesting and eventful, but what must she have thought of the life led by her sister Lela?

A 8.1.1 William Jackson John Glassby (b.1867 d.1932) m. 1894 Marion Lucy Green (b.1870 d.1959) - 1 Child
	L	A 8.1.1.1 Marion Evangeline Glassby (b. Kingston 1898 d. 1928)

 

William Jackson John Glassby was born in 1867 in Chelsea.

We have from the Keeper of Social History, Cecil Higgins Art Gallery and Bedford Museum, a photograph of “Fred Williams with Mr Glassby in Brighton dated 27th July, year unreadable”. Judging from the school uniform he appears to be wearing and the fact that he was born in 1867, the date of this photograph is likely to be 1881/2.

This letter gives us several insights. The reference to his brother is to that of Robert Edward Glassby (A 8.1.4) who was also a sculptor, like his father. The second reference is to the statue of Richard the Lion Heart by Baron Marochetti which stood in the Old Palace Yard, Westminster (since moved to a position close to the Chancellor’s Gate).

I have researched the work of Baron Marochetti and in particular with the bas-relief on the Coeur de Lion statue. In brief, the statue was in position in Old Palace-yard, Westminster by November 1860 as reported in The Times on 7th November 1860. It was a version in bronze by Baron Marochetti of his Richard the Lionheart statue produced for the Great Exhibition of 1851. To be in situ by November 1860, the work on the bronze statue must have been underway through 1859 and 1860. Robert Glassby worked in Baron Marochetti’s studio between 1864-1869; Baron Marochetti died in 1867 and his obituary appeared in The Times on 4th January 1868. If the bas-reliefs on the pedestal of the statue were completed and installed at the same time as the statue in 1860, then one of the images would not have been modeled on Robert Glassby’s likeness. Perhaps because Robert Glassby worked for Baron Marochetti some years later, and because one of the images resembled Robert Glassby, it became family-folk-law that it had been modeled on him. William J. J. Glassby may well have believed that it was a likeness of his father, but perhaps he was mistaken. The only other plausible explanation is that the bas-reliefs were added at a later date, perhaps when the statue was moved from Old Palace-yard to its present location, and at a time when Robert Glassby was working for Baron Marochetti, but this seems very unlikely.

Statue of Richard the Lionheart by Baron Marochetti
Photo by M. J. Piper

Detail of the bas-reliefs on the pedestal of the Richard the Lionheart statue
Photos by M. J. Piper

William J. J. Glassby appears to have moved to or visited Sheffield after his father’s death, and we know that he visited Mexborough in 1893. He described it as a “bustling thriving town” having undergone “wondrous change”. He speaks with regret of the removal of many old landmarks and places of interest, but nevertheless he published “Memorials of Old Mexborough” in 1893 after his visit.

William J. J. Glassby married Marion Lucy Green, the daughter of sculptor Charles Green, in Sheffield in 1894. They had one daughter, Marion Evangeline Glassby born on 13th February 1898 in Kingston upon Thames. Marion’s birth certificate confirms that William J. J. Glassby’s third name was “John”, and that he was a Journalist living at 32 Nelson Road, Wimbledon, with his wife Marion. He moved to Renhold, Bedford, where he lived until he died.

William J. J. Glassby wrote a second book, “The Old Churchyards of Sheffield” in 1896, published by Pawson & Brailsford of Sheffield. My copy of this book is dated 11th July 1896 and was sent to Thomas Bradbury of Westbourne Road, Sheffield, a contributor.

By way of introduction, William Glassby wrote:-

  The publication of his book was reviewed in the local press by "Flaneur":-

The Sheffield and Rotherham Independent referred to William J. J. Glassby's book on four further occasions in editorials in 1896 i.e.

The Sheffield and Rotherham Independent
23rd January 1896

The Sheffield and Rotherham Independent
27th February 1896

The Sheffield and Rotherham Independent
11th July 1896

The Sheffield and Rotherham Independent
16th July 1896

William J. J. Glassby also complied "The Sheffield Miscellany" in 1897 published by John Fillingham, Sheffield.

The contents included articles on Broom Hall,Thrybergh, Shrewsbury & St Leonards Hospital, Trade Tokens, Treeton, Ecclesall Church, Coleridge in Sheffield, Montgomery and James Cawthorne, plus considerable material on the family of Bright of Banner Cross Whirlow Dore etc. Plus biographies of over 50 Sheffield and neighbourhood Worthies. Contributors include Armitage, Addy, Jewitt, Leader Freemantle Sykes etc.

How, we might ask, did William J. J. Glassby end up in Renhold, Bedford, employed as Estate Manager at Howbury Hall working for its owner Mr. Cecil Polhill, and being a part time Minister at the Bedford Gospel Mission? William J. J. Jackson died in 1932 in Bedford at the age of 64, and we learn from his obituary that he became estate manager 20 years prior to his death when he succeeded Mr T. B. Othen (i.e. in 1912).

It seems likely that William J. J. Glassby met Cecil Polhill when he was living in London at Gloucester Place, and became influenced by his evangelism. It is likely that William J. J. Glassby returned with Polhill to Bedford, where he became his Estate Manager at Howbury Hall and part time Minister at the Bedford Gospel Mission.

Howbury Hall

William J. J. Glassby
Photo courtesy of Mexborough & District Heritage Society

Due to a transcription error in the computerized records of the 1901 Census, William J. J. Glassby is entered as “William Glersby”. Examination of the original handwritten records shows:- 

By the time of the 1911 Census William J. J. Glassby and family were back in Wimbledon:-

We know that William J. J. Glassby was in Bedford in 1914, so he must have moved there between 1911 and 1914. He is referred to in an article in the Bedfordshire Times & Independent, 14 August 1914, relating to Cecil Polhill’s offer to soldiers from Renhold :-

William J. J. Glassby trained as a minister and we are fortunate that another letter from him to Mr. Harrop dated 18th July 1930 has survived (Courtesy of Mexborough & District Heritage Society) :- 

Ladyfield House, Renhold

A 8.1.2 Robert Glassby (b.1869 d.1869)

A 8.1.3 Claude Joseph Glassby (b.1870 d.1958)

The third child, Claude Joseph Glassby was born in Q3 1870 in Chelsea. He was listed aged 20 in the 1891 Census and was described as a “Barristers Clerk”.

In the 1901 Census he is listed as “Head of Family” in what appears to be a subdivision of 30 Lamont Road, Chelsea. He is 30 years old, single and a “Clerk at the Bar”.

Claude is listed again in the 1911 Census as follows:-

Claude Glassby wrote a condolence letter to Mr. Leon Cody, Lela’s son, at the time of Samuel Cody’s death in 1913:-

Courtesy of Drachen Foundation, Seattle, U.S.A

The above letter is not easy to read, and it says:-

This tells us that Claude was working for the law firm Boxall and Boxall, and information on Mr. W. P. G. Boxall was given in his obituary in The Times, 7th December 1931:-

There is no sign of Claude Glassby marrying, and he died in Surrey in Q1 1958 at the age of 87.

 

A 8.1.4 Robert Edward Cecil Fouracre Glassby (b.1872 d.19 NOV 1908) m. 1898 Agnes McLean (b.1873 d.1960) - 2 Children
	L	A 8.1.4.1 Robert McLean Glassby (b. 1900 d. 1 NOV 1933)
	L	A 8.1.4.2 Una McLean Glassby (b. 1902 d. 1990)

Robert and Maria’s fourth child, Robert Edward Cecil Fouracre Glassby was born in Chelsea on 3rd January 1872. His birth certificate shows that he was born at 5 Anderson Street, Chelsea to Robert Glassby, sculptor and Mearea Mercy Glassby formerly Davis. He married Agnes McLean in Headington in 1898.

Robert Edward Glassby at work in his studio
Photo courtesy of Gary Barker

St John the Baptist Church, Mexborough
Photo by M. J. Piper

Statue of St John the Baptist by Robert Edward Glassby
Photo by M. J. Piper

In 1893 Robert Edward Glassby did a bust in terra cotta of his father, Robert Glassby, which is held by Museums Sheffield today. The execution of this bust was reported in The Sheffield and Rotherham Independent, 5th October 1893:-

The above report was followed by another short entry in The Sheffield and Rotherham Independent on 11th November 1893:-

Terra Cotta bust of Robert Glassby by Robert Edward Glassby
Courtesy of Museums Sheffield

In 1894 Robert Edward Glassby was a winner of the Landseer Scholarship for sculptor, and the award was reported in the newspapers of the time (abbreviated report shown below):-

The Morning Post
11th December 1894

Robert and Agnes are recorded in the 1901 Census living at 14 Gunters Grove, Chelsea with their 5 month old son, Robert.

Robert Edward Glassby died in Chelsea at the age of 36 on 19th November 1908, and is buried in Brompton Cemetery with his father. His obituary appeared in The Times on Monday 23rd November 1908:-

St Mildred's Church, Whippingham, is closely associated with Osborne House, and within it is the Battenberg Chapel. Queen Victoria made the Chapel into a shrine on the death of Prince Henry of Battenberg. The Prince was married in the church on 23rd July 1885 to Princess Beatrice, the Queen's ninth and longest surviving child. He was the 3rd son of Prince Alexander of Hesse and Rhine, and his wife Countess Julia von Hauke. Prince Henry contracted malaria while campaigning on the Gold Coast in the Ashanti war, and died at the age of 38 in 1896. The Prince lies in a huge marble sarcophagus surmounted by a sword, and in August 1945 his widow, Beatrice, was buried there with him. During WW1 there was a lot of anti-German feeling, and Kind George V anglicised Royal names, "Battenberg" becoming "Mountbatten".Robert Edward Glassby’s administration details have been obtained from the Probate Office, but reveal little extra information:-

Administration

DEATH ON OR AFTER 1ST JANUARY, 1898
BE IT KNOWN that Robert Edward Glassby of 14 Gunter Grove, Chelsea in the County of Middlesex
Died on the 19th day of November 1908
At 14 Gunter Grove aforesaid
Intestate
AND BE IT FURTHER KNOWN that at the date hereunder written Letters of Administration of all the Estate which by law devolves to and vests in the personal representative of the said intestate were granted by His Majesty’s Court of Justice at the Principal Probate Registry thereof to Agnes Glassby of 14 Gunter Grove aforesaid the lawful widow and relief of the said intestate
Dated the 10th day of December 1908
Gross value of Estate £32-0-0

Due to a transcription error in the 1911 Census, Agnes was shown as “GLASSLY” , but a search of the address “14 Gunter Grove, Chelsea” reveals:-

Robert's wife Agnes lived to the age of 88, and died in 1960.

The Dictionary of Sculptors in Bronze by James Mackay (Antique Collectors Club – 1977 – ISBM 1 85149 1104) has the following entry, which although it refers to “Roland Glassby” is actually Robert Edward Glassby:-

"Glassby, Roland c. 1870-1908. Born in London about 1870, he died there in 1908. He specialised in portrait busts of European royalty and aristocracy. His best known work is the portrait of Grand Duke Ludwig of Hesse for the Royal Mausoleum at Frogmore" - this being reference to the fact that he completed his fathers work upon his death in 1892.

In His Majesty’s High Court of Justice
The Principal Probate Registry

BE IT KNOWN that Robert McLean Glassby of 46 Tankerton Road Tankerton in the County of Kent who was last seen alive on the 1st day of November 1933 and whose dead body was found on the 25th April 1934 in the River Ouse at Fulford in the County of York died intestate a bachelor leaving Agnes Glassby widow his lawful mother and the only person entitled to his estate who has renounced Letters of Administration thereof and consented
AND BE IT FURTHER KNOWN that the date hereunder written Letters of Administration of all the Estate which by law devolves to and vests in the personal representative of the said intestate were granted by His Majesty’s High Court of Justice at the Principal Probate Registry thereof to
Una McLean Frost of 46 Tankerton Road aforesaid (wife of Frank Frost) the lawful daughter of the said Agnes Glassby
And it is hereby certified that an Affidavit for Inland Revenue has been delivered wherein it is shewn at the gross value of the said Estate in Great Britain (exclusive of what said deceased may have been possessed of or entitled to as a Trustee and not a beneficiary) amounts to £387-15-7 and that said Affidavit bears a stamp of £2-10-0
Dated 18th day of July 1934

Further research revealed three very sad press articles:-

A 8.1.4.2 Una McLean Glassby

A 8.1.5 Eugenie Elizabeth Glassby

Their fifth child was a daughter, Eugenie Elizabeth Glassby, born in Chelsea in Q2 1874. She appears in the 1881 Census aged 7 and the 1891 Census aged 17. Eugenie Elizabeth married Carel August Hoefftcke in 1893 in Chelsea. Carel Hoefftcke came from Leiden, the Netherlands, where the Hoefftcke’s had a business manufacturing surgical instruments. Surgical instruments manufactured by the Hoefftcke’s are presently on display at the Boerhaave Museum, Leiden (National Museum of the History of Science and Medicine), and the Museum lists the following information about the family:-

Julius Theodoor Leopold Hoefftke, born in 1800 (Berlin) – died in 1875 (Leiden).
Carl Franz August Hoefftcke, born in 1838 (Leiden), son of Julius Theodoor Leopold Hoefftke
Carl August Hoefftcke, born in 1867 (Leiden), son of Carl Franz August Hoefftcke

Leiden:
1826 Leiden: Nieuwstraat 895 operated then under the name: Hoefftke
1827 Leiden: Nieuwstraat 905
1828 Hoefftke became Academic Iinstrumentmaker of the University of Leiden
1837 Changed the name Hoefftke to: Hoefftcke
1839 Moved to: Breedestraat 221; later numbered into 94; official name then: Hoefftcke
ca.1858 Son Carl Franz August Hoefftcke joined the firm
1871 Carl Franz Hoefftcke took the firm over; name is changed in: J. Hoefftcke & Zn. Chirugale instrumentmakers (J. Hoefftcke & Sohn Churgical Instrumentmakers)
1875 Julius Theodoor Leopold Hoefftke died; no changes till 1900.
1900 Son Carl August Hoefftcke takes over the business. Name of the firm is changed into: C.A. Hoefftcke Jr. voorheen J. Hoefftcke en zoon.
1904 The firm moved to England.

Eugenie and Carel had three daughters, the first two being born in England and the third being born in The Netherlands:-
A 8.1.5.1 Una Augusta Hoefftcke b. 1895 (GRO Q2 1895 Kingston 2a 328) d. 1967
A 8.1.5.2 Gertruida Augusta Hoefftcke b. 1897 (GRO Q1 1897 Kingston 2a 329)
A 8.1.5.3 Vivien Irene Hoefftcke b. 1899 (The Netherlands) d. 1989

It is interesting that Eugenie chose “Vivien” and “Irene” as names for their third child, these being the names of her two younger sisters.

Carel returned to Leiden around 1899 to run the family business, hence is absent from the 1901 Census. The family moved back to London in 1904.

Carel Hoefftcke continued the family business in London and in 1908 obtained a U.S. patent, #882,312, entitled “APPARATUS FOR FACILITATING THE PUTTING ON OF INDIA RUBBER GLOVES”. The patent specification is interesting in so much as it gives information about Hoefftcke and his invention:-

Be it known that I, CAREL AUGUST HOEFFTCKE, a subject of the Queen of the Netherlands, residing in London, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Facilitating the Putting on of India-Rubber Gloves which the following is a specification.

Carel returned to Leiden around 1899 to run the family business, hence is absent from the 1901 Census. The family moved back to London in 1904, and were shown in the 1911 Census as follows:-

Eugenie and Carel's third daughter is mentioned in entries referring to “Nationality and Naturalisation” in 1915, so presumably she was born outside the United Kingdom.

UK archive NATIONALITY AND NATURALISATION:
From the Netherlands
HOEFFTCKE, Carel August
HO 144/1383/267830
Resident in Thames Ditton, Surrey.
Certificate B1 issued 27th January 1915
Hoefftcke, Vivien Irene
Child of Carel August Hoefftcke
Certificate B 1.1915

THE LONDON GAZETTE 2ND FEBRUARY 1915
Hoefftcke, Carel August
Netherlands
4th February 1915
Instrument Maker
Willow Cottage, Thames Ditton, Surrey

Lillian Evelyn M. Glassby was born in Chelsea in Q3 1876, and was Robert and Maria’s sixth child. She is mentioned aged 4 in the 1881 Census, and aged 14 in the 1891 Census, but is not present in the 1901 Census. There is no evidence of her marrying in England, and she went to live in Russia along with her mother and her sister Gladys. Both Lillian and Gladys married Russians and became Russian citizens. We learn from Gladys’s death certificate in October 1934 that he sister’s married name was “Smirnoff”, and we know from other information that she returned to England as a widow in 1932. At the time of Gladys’s death Lillian was living at 69 St. Stephens Road, Hounslow, Middlesex.

Lilian E. M. Smirnoff died at the age of 77 in 1952 (Ref: Q4 1952 Ealing Middlesex 5e 202)

A 8.1.7 Harold Hastings Glassby (b.1877 d.1879)

A 8.1.8 Vivian Harold Boehm Glassby (b.1879 d.1884)

A 8.1.10 Gladys Vivien Glassby (b.1887 d.1934)

A 8.3 Hannah Glassby (b.1840 d. ?)

Richard Glassby was born in Mexborough and was baptised there on 23rd January 1842. He moved to Crowle in 1861 where he spent 30 years in the employ of the railway company, 14 years as Chief Clerk and 16 years as Station Master. In 1867 he married Clara Rebecca Cock,the daughter of William Cock, a Solicitors Managing Clerk and Local Methodist Preacher, and his wife Mary. The marriage was solemnized in the Wesleyan Chapel in Tenterden, Kent on 20th March 1867, between Richard Glassby, 25, a bachelor, a railway clerk living at Crowle, Lincolnshire, son of William Jackson Glassby (deceased), a railway inspector and Clara Rebecca Cock, 24, a spinster, living at Tenterden, Kent, the daughter of William Cock, Gentleman.

The Cock family appeared in both the 1851 Census and the 1861 Census as shown below:-

 

1861 Census: Residence East Crop Left, Tenterden
Name	Rel	Age	Occupation	Birthplace
William Cock	Head	58	Solicitor’s Managing Clerk & Local Methodist Preacher	Willoughby, Warwickshire
Mary Cock	Wife	45		Daventry, Northamptonshire
Henrietta J Cock	Dau	20	Pupil Teacher	Banbury, Oxfordshire
Clara R Cock	Dau	18	Pupil Teacher	Daventry, Northamptonshire
Victoria E Cock	Dau	12		Tenterden, Kent

William Wesley Cock is not shown living at home in the 1861 Census. In fact, he was a pupil, aged 14, at Christs Hospital, Christchurch, St Botolph without Aldersgate, and St Sepulchre, London City, North West.

Between 1868 and 1876 Richard and Clara they had four children, and at the time of the 1871 Census they were living at Zilpha Terrace, Crowle.

He was also involved in the founding meeting for the establishment of a “BRITISH WORKMAN PUBLIC HOUSE” in Crowle, as was reported in The Hull packet and East Riding Times of 24th January 1873:-

An interesting article appeared in The Derby Mercury of 15th May 1872 outlining the history of the “BRITISH WORKMAN” :-

 

OPENING OF A “BRITISH WORKMAN” PUBLIC HOUSE IN DERBY On Wednesday evening a meeting was held in the Lecture-hall, Derby, to inaugurate the opening of a public-house in Derby without drink, to be called the “British Workman , No. 1”. There was a large attendance. Mr. Alderman Longdon, in the absence of the Mayor, presided, and there were also present Miss Newton and several ladies, the Rev. W. J. M. Ellison, Rev. M. K. S. Frith, Rev. E. S. Rodd, Mr. J. Jones, Revs. B. Brasher, Mr. S. Court, Mr. R. Wilson, &c. The movement, which has become known as “The British Workman Movement”, was commenced at Leeds four or five years ago by a lady who did much in the town to ameliorate the condition of the lower classes. The success which attended the opening of the first “British Workman” was even greater than anticipated; other houses of similar character were afterwards opened in various parts of the town, and the movement has spread to larger and smaller towns of industry. In these houses working men are enabled to have social gatherings every evening, without being under any obligation or temptation to spend money in intoxicating liquors, the use of which is not permitted. Tea, coffee, and similar refreshments are provided at nominal prices. Fire, gas, newspapers, and periodicals are supplied free of charge, and a separate room is assigned for smokers. Through the benevolence of a lady of this town, who has been instrumental in promoting the moral and social; well-being of the working classes, a house lately occupied by the Misses West, in William street, has been procured, and the premises having undergone a thorough repair. If this institution succeeds it is intended to open similar houses in other parts of the town. The premises are spacious and convenient, and in addition to the reading and smoke rooms, there is a room upstairs, which it is intended to use occasionally as a class-room, and for lecture discussions, and tea meetings. The formation of the classes will be left to the men themselves. The room will also be used for clubs, or as a “free-and-easy” on Saturday evenings, when men and their wives can attend. A man and his wife reside on the premises, and every effort will be made to render the place attractive and agreeable, and to win persons who frequent beershops for sake of social intercourse, and to place the drunkard out of reach of temptation. The house will be open on weekdays from 7 a.m. until 10 p.m., and on Sundays from 1 p.m. until 10. The meeting having been opened with prayer by the Rev. S. B. Brasher. The CHAIRMAN said no one knew better than the magistrates of this or any other important borough how likely the establishment of such an institution as this was to further the sobriety and morality of a town; and none knew better than the magistrates to what an extent the consumption of intoxicating liquors was the means of filling their gaols and their workhouses, and how directly it was the means of adding to the pauperism and crime of the country (Applause). None could feel more strongly on this question than himself, for he had been an eye-witness for some time of the good work which had been so successfully carried on in this direction in Leeds, and, on several occasions, he had suggested the idea of an establishment of similar institutions in this town to the magistrates and others, all of whom had expressed their confidence in the scheme, and promised to afford their support, should it be started in the town. It was, however, his pleasant duty on this occasion to take part in the inauguration of the fruits of a movement originated by others, which, in the first instance, had not been to some extent anticipated, he should have been only too glad to support (Applause). Mr. Jones apologized for the absence of Mr. H. H. Bemrose, and read letters of apology from the Rev. M. H. Scott, incumbent of St Andrew’s, Litchurch, the Rev. E. H. Abney, and the Rev. J. E. Hargreaves, all of whom expressed their hearty concurrence with the movement. Mr. JOHNSON, of Leeds, who has had charge of a “British Workman” in that town, then gave a lengthened address, in which he stated that the first British Workman in Leeds was established about five years ago by Mrs. Hind Smith. Now there were 16 in full work, 11 of which were self-supporting (Applause). The difference between British Workmen public-houses and Working Men’s Clubs, was that in the first-named intoxicating drink was excluded, religion was admitted, and they were free of charge; whereas a charge was made for admission to Working Men’s Clubs, and in some cases drink was admitted, and religion excluded. But it had been found that the British Workman was the most successful. Having referred to the cause which led Mrs. Smith to establish the movement in Leeds, he said much of the success depended, as was the case with beer-houses, upon the persons who were selected to manage the places, and although there might be some persons who differed with them as to the utility of the movement, all were agreed that something was wanted to remedy the amount of drunkenness which was prevalent in the land (Applause). The Derby British Workman was to be conducted on the same principles as those in Leeds. If a man was a drunkard they tried to persuade him to become a moderate drinker. They did not exclude people because they took intoxicants, neither did they exclude drunken men, but admitted them, and by good counsel many of them had become sober men and attained respectable positions in life. British Workmen were open on Sundays, to which some people objected, but it was known that Sundays were the hardest days for working men to get over, and therefore they provided them with a place where they would be kept from temptation (Applause). In upper rooms, similar to that at the Derby British Workman, Bible classes were held on Sunday afternoons, to which all who went to the house were invited but if they did not think well to join them they were allowed to remain downstairs. They did not want the men to spend their money at the British Workman; they could attend all year round if they chose without spending but they could have refreshments if they desired. Although religion was introduced they had one broad platform, and were composed of all denominations, and when a man had been reformed and wished to attend a place of worship, they advised him to go where he could feel most at home. There was, therefore, no proselytism. He stated that the movement in Leeds had been instrumental in suppressing drunkenness, for in one year between 800 and 900 men had signed the pledge. Some of the houses in Leeds had become self-supporting. The managers had opened them and although persons frequented the houses they were not asked to contribute towards the maintenance of them, many did so voluntarily, and subscribed a penny per week, or as much as they could afford or felt inclined. Working-men did not always like to be drinking, and many frequented public-houses for the sake of social intercourse only. The latter could be obtained at British Workmen public-houses, which were in reality public-houses, the only difference being that swearing and gambling were not allowed, and intoxicating drinks were excluded. It had been said that Workmen’s Institutes offered similar objects to the British Workman, but he knew from experience that working men did not attend them. He gave many interesting examples of the beneficial effects produced by the Leeds British Workman houses, in producing happiness in the houses or working men, sobriety, religion and morality, and appealed to the audience to show their gratitude to the promoter of the Derby scheme, and that they appreciated the efforts of philanthropists in their behalf by attending a house which had been opened that evening, and doing their utmost to promote the success of the institution. A vote of thanks to the chairman was then passed, on the motion of the Rev. E. S. Rodd, and a similar compliment having been paid to Mr. Johnson, the meeting terminated. Several persons of both sexes then proceeded to the house in William-street, and after a short prayer had been offered up by Mr. Johnson, the house was declared to be open for use of the public, and three heart cheers were given for the promoter.

Clara Rebecca Glassby died in 1877 at the age of 35. Her death was reported in The Hull Packet and East Riding Times of 24th August 1877:-

It is interesting to note an article in The Epworth Bells, 29th December 1877, shortly after Clara's death, which gives some insight to Richard’s work as Stationmaster:-

Richard Glassby was involved in many of the civic activities in Crowle. He was Honorary Secretary of the “Crowle Poultry, Pigeon and Dog Show”, which from the long and detailed write-ups in the local newspaper was a major event in Crowle. He was specifically mentioned in the following articles:-

1st June 1877 – The Hull Packet and East Riding Times “The committee of management with their honorary secretary, Mr. R. Glassby, deserve well of the town and district of Crowle and of all lovers of the beautiful of natural history and of domestic pets”.

31st May 1878 – The Hull Packet and East Riding Times “The arrangements of the Committee and the secretary (Mr. R. Glassby) were most complete and satisfactory”.

6th June 1879 The Hull Packet and East Riding Times “Mr. Burtonshaw is president of the society, Mr. J. Watson vice-president, and Mr. Robert Glassby honorary secretary”. (Note it says”Robert” here but I am assuming that this is an error and should have been “Richard”)

2nd June 1882 The Hull Packet and East Riding Times “Great credit is due to Mr. Glassby, the hon. sec. for his great exertions in promoting the success of the show”

Richard is shown on his own with four children in the 1881 census.

Richard is shown in the 1891 Census, still resident at Station House, Crowle.

A 8.4.1 Victoria Mary Elizabeth Glassby (b.1868 d. 1919) m. 29 JUN 1904 John Harwood Parker

Victoria Mary Elizabeth Glassby was born in Crowle in 1868, and she is shown in the 1901 Census as single, and a visitor at 142 High Street, Crowle, at the home of Charles and Sarah Peck.

Victoria Mary Elizabeth Glassby’s marriage reference is Q2 1904 E Retford 7b 49. The marriage took place in the Church in the Parish of Sturton (Sturton le Steeple) on 29th June 1904 between John Harwood Parker, 30, a bachelor, a farmer of Willingham by Stow, son of George Parker (deceased) a farmer, and Victoria Mary Elizabeth Glassby, 36, a spinster, of Sturton, the daughter of Richard Glassby (deceased) a Station Master. The “in the presence of” section lists William Gladstone Glassby amongst others.

She is shown in the 1911 Census with her husband and two children and a nephew:-

Victoria M. E. Parker died at the age of 51 in 1919 (Ref: Jun 1919 Gainsbro' 7a 788)

 

A 8.4.2 William Gladstone Glassby (b.1870 d. 24 APR 1949) m. 1901 Agnes Sarah Kirke (b. JUN 1861 d.1915) - 1 Child
	L	A. 8.4.2.1 Madge Kirke Glassby, b. East Retford 1904

William Gladstone Glassby was born in 1870 and he is shown in the 1871, 1881 and the 1891 Census as described in the earlier section. He is listed in the 1901 census as 30 years of age, a railway clerk born Crowle, Lincs and living in Clee, Grimsby, Lincs.

He married Agnes Sarah Kirke in 1901 and they had one daughter Madge Kirke Glassby who was born in Sturton-le-Steeple in Q2 1904.

Their marriage was reported in the Crowle Advertiser (?) on 12th December 1901:-

On Wednesday afternoon, at Crowle Parish Church, in the presence of a large number of relations and friends, Miss Agnes S Kirk, of Grimsby, and Mr W. G. Glassby, Stationmaster, Sturton-le-Steeple, near Gainsboro', were united in the holy bands of matrimony.The ceremony was performed by the Vicar, the Rev. F. G. White. The Bride was given away by Mr. J. Tippett, of Crowle Wharf and the bridesmaid was Miss (Victoria) Glassby, sister of the bridegroom. The bride was attired in a becoming costume of dove grey, with toque to match and carried a choice bouquet of flowers.

After the ceremony, a large number of relations and friends gathered together at the South Yorkshire Hotel, Crowle Wharf, where the wedding breakfast was provided, and from whence the bride was married. During the evening "the health of the Bride and Bridegroom" was proposed in complementary terms by Mr. Tippett, who was ably supported in his remarks by Mr. Cedric Sinclair. After the speech the bridegroom responded.

The presents were valuable, useful and numerous, and testified to the high esteem in which both Mr. and Mrs. Glassby are held. The happy couple spend their honeymoon in Bradford. The wedding equipages were supplied in first-rate style by Mr. W. Hill of the White Hart Mews.

William Gladstone Glassby was promoted to station master at Reddish, between Stockton and Manchester, and stayed in the area after his retirement.

William Gladstone Glassby
Courtesy of Bernard Collier

William and Agnes are shown in the 1911 Census as follows:-

William Gladstone Glassby died on 24th April 1949, and Agnes Sarah Glassby died in 1915 in Stockport at the age of 54.

Madge Kirke Glassby married George K. V. Collier in Stockport in 1926. George Victor Collier was a soldier, a bandsman from a long line of bandsmen, in the Manchester regiment like his father. He joined the Salford police force when he left the army. They had two children, Harry William Collier born in Manchester in 1927 and Bernard Collier born in Salford in 1930.

Percy Livingstone Glassby married a Sarah Mary ? in 1899 and had one child.

A 8.4.3.1 Kathleen Mary Glassby (b.1900 d. 1970) m. 1922 Thomas Vincent Healey (b. SEP 1899 d. 1954)

Kathleen Mary Glassby was born on 21st January 1900 in Thorne, and married Thomas Vincent Healey in Stockport in 1922. They had two children; Joseph Healey was born in Stafford in 1925, but was killed in action during WWII; Timothy Healey was also born in Stafford in 1932 and emigrated to America.

Kathleen Mary died in 1970 (GRO ref Q1 1970 Stamford 3b 457).

A 8.4.4 Robert Wilberforce Glassby (b.1876 d.1895)

Crowle Cemetery
Photo by M. J. Piper

Photo by M. J. Piper

In
Affectionate Memory of
CLARA REBECCA
THE BELOVED WIFE OF
RICHARD GLASSBY
OF CROWLE STATION
WHO DIED August 14th 1877
AGED 35 YEARS
--------------
Also MARY COCK
MOTHER OF THE ABOVE
WHO DIED FEBY 8TH 1885
AGED 69 YEARS
--------------
I HAVE HEARD THE VOICE OF JESUS SAY COME UNTO ME AND REST
--------------
ROBERT W GLASSBY
SON OF THE ABOVE
BORN JUNE 18TH 1876
DIED AUGUST 16TH 1895
--------------
ALSO THE ABOVE NAMED
RICHARD GLASSBY
WHO DIED IN THE LORD. MAY 9TH 1897
AGED 55 YEARS
HIS END WAS PEACE

A. 8.4 Richard Glassby (2nd Marriage) m. 10 DEC 1877 Anis Wells (b. 2 AUG 1850 d. 6 JAN 1938)

The death of his wife Clara Rebecca must have left Richard in a dilemma with a busy job as the Railway Station Master and four children aged between 1 and 9 to look after. In December 1877 he married for the second time, to Anis Wells and this led to a completely new branch of the Glassby family as we will see later. The marriage was reported in The Hull Packet and East Riding Times of 14th December 1877:-

The Primitive Methodist Chapel, Crowle, no longer stands and has been replaced by houses, although the original sandstone sign has been incorporated in the new building.

Replacement building for the Primitive Methodist Chapel, Crowle
Photo by M. J. Piper

Photo by M. J. Piper

Anis worked in service in Crowle, and late one night when her employer had failed to send a pony and trap to meet he off the train, she was escorted home by the then Station Master, Richard Glassby. Hence the relationship started. Richard and Anis married on 10th December 1877. He was 35 at the time, and she 27. But it appears that things did not work out. Anis was so unhappy that she ran away, throwing her wedding ring over the hedge.

Anis applied for separation from Richard some 22 months after the marriage, and The Hull Packet and East Riding Times of 24th October 1879 gave the outcome:-

Although they separated, it does not appear that they ever divorced. Anis lived with William Christopher Travis and they had seven children together. As her surname was still "Glassby" all of the children were christened as "Glassby's" and a new branch of the family was created. Richard Glassby continued as Station Master at Crowle until he retired in 1891. He is shown in the 1891 Census living with his four children:-

Town Station, Crowle

Richard Glassby was mentioned in a court case in 1895, two years before his death, relating to the case of George Robinson going bankrupt:-

The Sheffield and Rotherham Independent
22nd February 1895

Richard Glassby died on the 9th May 1897 in Thorne. We are fortunate in that he prepared a Last Will and Testament in 1894. It is interesting to note that Richard described himself as a Coal Hay and Potato Merchant in 1894. His son Percy Livingston Glassby was a Coal merchant so presumably was carrying on his father’s business.

BE IT KNOWN that at the date hereunder written the last Will and Testament of Richard Glassby of Crowle Wharf in the parish of Crowle in the County of Lincoln deceased, who died on 9th day of May 1897, at Crowle Wharf aforesaid and who at the time of his death had a fixed place of abode at Crowle Wharf aforesaid within the District of the County of Lincoln was proved and registered in the District Probate Registry of Her Majesty’s High Court of Justice at Lincoln and that Administration of the personal estate of the said deceased was granted by the aforesaid Court to William Gladstone Glassby of Kirton Lindsey in the County of Lincoln, Railway Clerk, and Percy Livingstone Glassby of Crowle Wharf aforesaid, Coal Merchant, the sons of the said deceased the surviving Executors named in the said Will they having been first sworn well and faithfully to administer the same.

Dated the 20th day of September 1897.

Gross value of Personal estate £446 No Leaseholds
Net value “ “ “ £204 8 3

Extracted by Thomas Charles Bowen Solicitor Lincoln

On the twentieth day of September 1897 Probate of this Will was granted at Lincoln to William Gladstone Glassby and Percy Livingstone Glassby the surviving Executors

I do hereby certify this to be a correct copy
Lincoln 30th September 1897

I Richard Glassby of Crowle Wharf in the Parish of Crowle in the County of Lincoln Coal Hay and Potato Merchant hereby revoke all Wills and testamentary dispositions heretofore made by me and declare this to be my last Will I devise All my real estate Unto and to the use of my Sons William Gladstone Glassby Percy Livingstone Glassby and Robert Wilberforce Glassby their heirs and assigns in equal shares as tenants in common Subject nevertheless to the payment thereof of the Legacy or sum of Two hundred pounds to my Daughter Victoria Mary Elizabeth Glassby and I bequeath such Legacy accordingly and direct the same to be paid to her at the end of six calendar months next after my decease I also bequeath to my said Daughter my piano and also my best bed and bedstead Also my mahogany dining table or in lieu thereof my Best round Walnut Table as she may prefer I also bequeath to her such other articles of my household and domestic use and ornament as she may select such selected articles not to exceed in value the sum of Ten pounds All the rest residue and remainder of my personal estate I bequeath to my said three sons in equal shares And I appoint them Executors of this my Will In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this twenty second day of September one thousand eight hundred and ninety four

Signed published and declared by the
Said Richard Glassby the Testator as
And for his last Will and Testament in
The presence of us who in his presence at Richard Glassby
His request and in the presence of each
Other have hereunto subscribed our
Names as Witnesses
F. A. Savage Crowle
B. E. Savage Crowle

The local newspaper, the Epworth Bells carried the following notice on 22nd May 1897 and 29th May 1897 :-

Mr. Richard Glassby – deceased.
All persons having any claims or demands against the estate of Richard Glassby, late of Crowle Wharf, Merchant, deceased, are hereby requested to send forthwith particulars thereof to us and all persons indebted to the Estate will oblige by paying their Debts to us the undersigned without delay.
William Glassby
Percy Glassby
“Rose Villa” Crowle May 18th 1897.

 

A 8.4 (#2s) Anis Glassby (b. 22 AUG 1850 d. 6 JAN 1938) Liaison with William Christopher Travis (b.1850 d. 11 NOV 1893) - 7 Children
	L	A 8.4 (#2s) (Travis) 1 Harry Travis Glassby, b. Fishlake 1881
	L	A 8.4 (#2s) (Travis) 2 George William Glassby, b. Stainforth 1883
	L	A 8.4 (#2s) (Travis) 3 George William Travis Glassby, b. 1885
	L	A 8.4 (#2s) (Travis) 4 Zillah Travis Glassby, b. 1888
	L	A 8.4 (#2s) (Travis) 5 Arthur Travis Glassby, b. 1889
	L	A 8.4 (#2s) (Travis) 6 Annie Amelia Glassby, b. 1891
	L	A 8.4 (#2s) (Travis) 7 Teresa Glassby, b. 1893

At the time of the 1881 Census Anis was in a relationship with Mr. William Christopher Travis, and was carrying his child who was born in December of that year. The 1881 Census shows William Travis, 31, unmarried, a ship’s carpenter and the son of William Travis of the Black Swan pub in Stainforth in Thorne.

It appears that William Travis and Anis lived together as “Mr & Mrs Travis” and three of their children have taken the “Travis” name as a middle name. They appear in the 1891 Census living in Thorne :-

The children are described below, but first we should complete the story of Anis. William Christopher Travis died on 11th November 1893 at the age of 44. His death certificate shows that he was a ship’s carpenter, and died of chronic phthisis pulmonalis at Foundry Lane, Thorne, in the presence of Annie (“Anis”) Glassby. His death left Anis with her five children and without any means of support. She was forced to go into Thorne Workhouse, where she worked as a cook. The children stayed with her at the Workhouse until they were apprenticed. So, at the time of his death he made no provision for Anis, still legally his wife, and she was in Thorne Workhouse with her five children. But Richard’s death allowed Anis to move on in her life.

A 8.4 (#2s) (#2s) Anis Glassby née Wells (2nd marriage) m. 2 NOV 1898 Richard Fish (b. 17 APR 1852 d. 6 JUL 1944)

Anis Glassby met Richard (“Dickie”) Fish, and they married in Thorne on 2nd November 1898.
Dickie Fish was born on 17th April 1852 at The Green, Thorne, and was the son of John Fish and Hannah Barton Fish nee Teeson. They were shown in the 1901 Census as Richard Fish (51), Market Gardener, Annie Fish (50) wife, Arthur Glassby (11) son and Annie Amelia Glassby (10) daughter.

Anis was fortunate in that in Dickie she found a man with whom she could live and grow old in contentment. This is apparent from a newspaper article that appeared on 30th August 1934 in the Doncaster Chronicle:-

 

AGED WOMAN WHO REVELS IN SPORT TO KEADBY ON “THE ARK”… A CANAL FIGHT ... “FUNERAL BISCUITS”... MR AND MRS FISH OF THORNE   In the centre of Thorne live two people have found even greater happiness with age. They enjoyed their youth, but it is now that they are experiencing the benefits of the hard work they did in the early days. They are Mr. and Mrs. Fish of Lock Lane. Mr. Fish is 82. Mrs. Fish was 85 last week, and when I visited them (writes a “Chronicle” representative) they were both hard at work. Independence is the secret of their happiness. Mrs. Fish proudly asserts that they have never been paid wages since she left service years and years ago. Mr. Fish has an orchard and market garden, and has toiled there daily for over 30 years. Mrs. Fish cooks and does her weekly washing at home. Both have always lived somewhere near Thorne. Mrs. Fish’s grandfather was a saddler in the town, and used to play the organ at the Church in the days when it had to be blown by hand. One of the things that they miss most of all is the old-fashioned Thorne fair, which disappeared some years ago. In days gone by, it was a grand “do” and people flocked from miles around to join in the simple festivities. There was another fair at Keadby – and thereby hangs a tale. Mrs. Fish made the trip to Keadby Feast when she was six years old. On “The Ark” There were no trains and no buses to provide easy journey in those days; if they were not the owners of a pony and trap, people had to travel by the canal. There was one old boat in existence – “Noah’s Ark” they called it, because whenever it went on a journey, it seemed to contain at least two of every family in Thorne. They went to Keadby on the “Ark” – and what a trip it was. Firstly, a stiff wind blew up, and even on the canal, the water became rough. The boat tossed and slewed round. To add to the trouble, a couple of farmers who had looked on the wine when it was red started to fight. Soon the Noah’s Ark was in an uproar. Women and children were hustled into the little cupboard of a room that did service for a cabin. Men on deck were shouting and fighting, and by the time they reached Keadby, there was little left but shattered nerves and black eyes. For a girl of only six, it was an adventure with the lid off. Mr. Fish was a baker with his father when he was a youth, and the two used to make all the biscuits for the boats as they came up the canal. They had to work most of the night preparing them, for the boats had to have all their supplies absolutely fresh. Mr. Fish’s father used to make funeral biscuits. They were large and black, and were given to everybody who attended a funeral, and frequently had the initials of the departed worked on the top. Actually they were not so much like biscuits as small sponge cakes for they had a soft centre. Comfort of Wireless We had been chatting for quite a while, when suddenly I received a shock. Without any trace of embarrassment , Mrs. Fish remarked “Of course, you know I am practically blind, don’t you”. I did not. She walked around the room so naturally and chatted so convincingly that the thought had never entered my head. Mrs. Fish is not quite blind, but she could not, for instance, distinguish me against the dark background of the wall. On the other hand she could see the white sheet of paper on which I was making notes. One of the most treasured possessions in the house is a wireless set presented by the Wireless for the Blind Fund - without that, Mrs. Fish would indeed be miserable for it provides her with endless amusement and recreation.Her first thought is for the morning service. But what comes after that in her estimation? Chamber music? Orchestral concerts and talks? Not a bit. Give Mrs. Fish the sports results. She revels in that half hour when descriptions of tennis, football, cricket or swimming come to her over the ether. She cannot see these events – the next best thing is to hear about them from authoritative sources. Mr. and Mrs. Fish both are fit and well: both work every day, and at the end of their day’s toil partake of their simple pleasures.

Anis died in Thorne on 6th January 1938 aged 88.

Anis Fish
Photo courtesy of Brian Lewis

Richard Fish died on 6th July 1944 aged 92.

Harry Travis Glassby
Photo courtesy of Brian Lewis

Jessie Glassby married John Whawell, and had three children (Hazel,Doreen and John)

Ellen Glassby née Bayes died in 1915 in Goole at the age of 31, following the birth of Dorothy, who also died. Harry Travis Glassby married Bertha Dawson in Thorne in 1921. There were no children from the second marriage.

Harry Travis Glassby was a milk roundsman at the time of Amelia Annie Glassby’s marriage in 1915. He eventually sold his business and it became part of Oates Dairy with premises at the Old Mill on North Eastern Road.

A 8.4 (#2s) (Travis) 2 George William Glassby (b. 24 SEP 1883 d.1885)

A 8.4 (#2s) (Travis) 3 George William Travis Glassby (b.1885 d. ?) m. 30 DEC 1907 Catherine Prior (b. 18 Feb 1880 d.1974) - 6 Children
	L	A 8.4 (#2s) (Travis) 3.1 George W. Glassby, b. Doncaster 1910
	L	A 8.4 (#2s) (Travis) 3.2 Clifford P. Glassby, b. Doncaster 1913
	L	A 8.4 (#2s) (Travis) 3.3 Phyllis Glassby, b. Wharfedale 1915
	L	A 8.4 (#2s) (Travis) 3.4 Kenneth Glassby, b. Wharfedale 1917
	L	A 8.4 (#2s) (Travis) 3.5 Stanley P. Glassby, b. Wharfedale 1920
	L	A 8.4 (#2s) (Travis) 3.6 Bessie Glassby, b. Wharfedale 1921

A 8.4 (#2s) (Travis) 3.1 George W. Glassby (b. 2 OCT 1910 d.1970) m. 1939 Emily Chester (b. 28 SEP 1910 d. JAN 1993)

A 8 .4 (#2s) (Travis) 3.2 Clifford P. Glassby (b. 1914 d. 1915)

A 8.4 (#2s) (Travis) 3.3 Phyllis Glassby (b.1915 d.?) m. 1941 Wilson or Brown

 

A 8.4 (#2s) (Travis) 3.4 Kenneth Glassby (b. 30 JUN 1917 d.1982) m. Marjorie M. Riley (b. 16 NOV 1919 d.1993) - 1 Child
	L	A 8.4 (#2s) (Travis) 3.4.1 Keith G. Glassby, b. 1946

Kenneth Glassby was born in Wharfedale on 30th June 1917 and married Marjorie M. Riley in 1940 ( Q4 1940 Don Valley 9c 2670). They had one son, Keith G. Glassby born in 1946. Kenneth died in 1982, and Marjorie died in December 1993.

 

A 8.4 (#2s) (Travis) 3.5 Stanley P. Glassby (b.1920 d.2004) m. Cynthia G. Pringle - 1 Child
	L	A 8.4 (#2s) (Travis) 3.5.1 Cynthia S. Glassby, b. 1941.

Stanley Prior Glassby was born in 1920 in Wharfedale and married Cynthia G. Pringle in Q2 1941. They had one daughter.

Stanley appears to have had a relationship with Doris Marie Lloyd in 1944 which resulted in the birth of Elizabeth Marie Glassby on 24th January 1945. Her birth certificate shows us that Stanley was soldier # 1460614 in Bdr R A of H M Army (Bricklayer) and was living at 34 Manor Road, Hatfield (near Thorne) as was Doris M. Lloyd. There is no sign of the death of Cynthia G. Glassby prior to 1945, so presumably they separated or divorced. No record of Stanley P. Glassby marrying Doris Marie Lloyd has been found. The death of Stanley P. Glassby was reported in Notices dated 25th July 2004 for St. Mary’s Church, Wheatley, Doncaster.

A 8.4 (#2s) (Travis) 3.6 Bessie Glassby (b.1921 d.?) m. 1944 George H. Hague

A 8.4 (#2s) (Travis) 4 Zillah Travis Glassby (b. 19 JAN 1886 d. 2 FEB 1972) m. 31 DEC 1913 Maurice Keighley (b. 12 NOV 1888 d. 13 NOV 1918) - 1 Child
	L	A 8.4 (#2s) (Travis) 4.1 Hilda Dorothy Keighley, b. Bramley 1914

No trace of Zillah Travis Glassby’s birth registration has been found, but records in the Doncaster Archives show that Zillah Sophia Matilda Glassby, daughter of Anice Glassby, was baptised at Stainforth St Mary on 4th December 1887.

She is to be found in the 1901 Census listed as “Gillah S M Glasby, aged 14, born abt 1887 in Thornes, Yorkshire” due to a transcription error. Examination of the hand written she confirms that it is in fact Zillah S M Glasby and that she was working as a “Servant (Domestic)” in the house of Isaac and Annie Watson, a woollen manufacturer, in Morley. It is also interesting to note that Harriet A Steers, 32 years of age and born in Thorne, was also a servant for Isaac Watson. The 1901 Census shows that the Steers family lived two doors own from Richard and Anis Fish in Thorne. It is likely that they introduced Zillah to Harriet’s employers.

Annie Steers and Zillah were good friends, and Annie presented Zillah with a bible inscibed:-

Courtesy of Brian Lewis

Zillah also appears as a witness on the marriage certificates of Harry Travis Glassby in 1906 and George William Travis Glassby in 1907.

According to her death certificate she was born on 19th January 1886, but there is some doubt about the veracity of this. Her full name was Zillah Sophia Matilda Glassby, and it is not clear why she sometimes used “Zillah Travis Glassby”. The marriage of Zillah Glassby to Maurice Keighley was solemnized at the Parish Church of Thorne in the County of York on 31st December 1913. Maurice Keighley, 25, a bachelor and Tram Car Conductor, living at 12 Ross Grove, Bramley and the son of Heber Keighley, Road Man, married Zillah Sophia Matilda Glassby, 25, a spinster of Lock Lane , Thorne, with no name shown for her father. It is interesting to note that the name was originally written as Zillah Glassby, and “Sophia Matilda” was added as an afterthought. Zillah and Maurice had one child, Hilda Dorothy Keighley born in 1914.

Maurice Keighley fought in World War I in France, but died of a flu epidemic just two days after peace was declared in 1918 and a day after his 30th birthday. He is remembered on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website and is buried at Terlincthun British Cemetery, Wimille. How ironic that he survived the war only to die of flu. 1918-1919 saw a pandemic of Spanish flu centred in Bombay, India. Over several months 228,000 people died in Britain, and worldwide the number of dead was estimated at 20 million.

 

A 8.4 (#2s) (Travis) 4.1 Hilda Dorothy Keighley (b. 21 JUL 1914 d. 27 NOV 1995) m. 1935 Stanley Lewis (b. 24 DEC 1912 d. 24 DEC 2000)- 3 Children
	L	A 8.4 (#2s) Travis 4.1.1 Maurice Lewis, b. Thorne 1935
	L	A 8.4 (#2s) Travis 4.1.2 Brian Lewis, b. Thorne 1941
	L	A 8.4 (#2s) Travis 4.1.3 Carole Lewis, b. Thorne 1944

 Zillah Glassby married Fred Bayes, the brother of Ellen Bayes (Harry Travis Glassby’s wife) in 1920 in Thorne, and they had two children

Zillah Sophia Matilda Bayes died on 2nd February 1972 at Oldfield House, Oldfield Lane, Stainforth. She is listed as the Widow of Fred Bayes and the death was reported by her son, of 49 Station Road, Hatfield near Doncaster. The death certificate lists Zillah’s date of birth as 19th January 1886, Stainforth, Yorks.

Arthur Travis Glassby
Photo courtesy of Yvonne Montgomery

Arthur and Mary’s story is told by Yvonne Montgomery, his grand daughter who has made notes on the family history from conversations with her mother Vera and her mother’s sister Eva.

Yvonne writes:-

“Arthur Travis Glassby and Mary Alice Hulse were married on 13 April 1908 in the county of York. Arthur was then a Plate-Layer with the Railway.

Arthur’s parents (editor’s note: i.e. referring to Dickie Fish, his step-father, and Anis) had orchards in Yorkshire and he grew up on the orchards which gave him some experience of farming albeit fruit growing. He was employed as a railway worker until he was called up to World War I. He served in France, was away for 3 years and had very little leave.

After the war the men could not find work and Arthur went to work in the coalmines, and he became a foreman for 8 men. 12 months later, after Arthur had emigrated to Australia, those 8 men back home were drowned with the walls collapsing when the pumps stopped pumping.

Mary had worked as a governess, as described by Eva, and hospital nurse, as described by Vera.

Mary gave birth to a boy, Fred Hulse prior to her marriage. Born 1899, Burslem, Staffordshire

Arthur and Mary Alice married as per details above, originally resided in Doncaster but moved to the little village of Thorne in 1920, when Arthur started work at the coal mine. Their house was close to Arthur’s parents, who had a beautiful big fruit orchard. It was in the orchards that Eva and Vera earned pocket money by helping to pick the fruit.

Eva was born in Yorkshire England on 15 Oct. 1908. Eva left school at 12 years of age due to illness and worked on her grandfather’s orchards and then in a pharmacist in Thorne prior to her departure for Australia.

Vera was born in Doncaster, Yorkshire, April 5, 1912, just a few days before the sinking of the Titanic. The family had a comfortable home, had wonderful Grandparents and holidays were always spent with them. (Mary’s parents lived in Ticknell, Derbyshire and Arthur’s in Thorne, Yorkshire)."

Quote by Vera, “ I can remember during the war that Doncaster was a very dangerous area. The town was a target, as troops had taken over our school in the next street from our home. I can remember a German Zeppelin coming over our street, one very dark night, we were called to get out of bed and told to stand in the street, and it was very frightening. Mother had on a very long skirt under which we were told to hide. I feel sometimes that I can hear that drone. The plane was trying to find the army barracks which was just over the next row of houses and in our old school."

"In 1923 one of Mary’s brothers, Arthur Hulse, and his wife Wilhemina, came back to England from Melbourne, Australia, with a their child Max intending to stay in England. In 1925 he decided to return to Australia and persuaded Arthur and Mary to join him to pursue share farming in West Australia. He said the opportunities of advancement were greater and it would be a better climate for the children. They didn’t take long to decide and the family, Eva (16), Vera (13) and Arthur (11), (Arthur William born July 18, 1914) were selling their home. The last few days in England were spent with Mary’s family, in Derbyshire. On June 3, 1925 the family went by the Flying Scotsman to London and then on to the Tilbury docks where the Moreton Bay was waiting to take them to Australia."

The Moreton Bay

"This was a Maiden voyage for the ship to Australia. Musical Bands were playing on the wharf for a special farewell to 40 YAL (Young Australian League) boys who had been visiting England. The family was to thank those boys later. They were aged between 14 – 18. The ship travelled through the Suez Canal and the Red Sea and with no air conditioning on the ship in those days the passengers were very distressed and could not take the heat. The boys took control of standing for hours waving wet towels; they were also very good at arranging games and concerts to keep everyone happy. Being teenagers Eva and Vera had a great time on the ship, with the boys teaching them to dance

They were just 4 weeks at sea, arriving Fremantle July 3 1925. As they tied up to the wharf, once again a brass band was playing Home Sweet Home, this time to welcome the YAL boys. You can imagine how the family felt after leaving their mother country.

They stayed 3 weeks in a rented house in Rutland Street, Mt Lawley, while the two Arthur’s travelled by train to look for a farm to purchase, this they found at Hines Hill. The family left Perth by train and landed there at 4 a.m. and with no transport to greet them they had to walk down a bush track for 3 miles in the dark.

Shortly after there arrival they realized that it was too late in the season to put in a crop of wheat. Mary, like many others battled with the heat and trying to get the bread to rise, realized that enough was enough. Arthur read how Sir James Mitchell was offering to immigrants, 150 acres of virgin bush free, as long as you cleared it. Arthur did not think he would be lucky enough to be accepted for the scheme, as they were not classed as immigrants, they had come paying full passage, however his luck was in. The two families separated and Arthur Glassby took his family to Busselton in December 1925 to a Group Settlement farm.

The journey to Busselton was by train, took 9 hours. They stayed the first night at the Ship Hotel, what a sleepy town it was then. Next day a truck was loaded with their belongings and they were taken 15 miles out to their block at Group 124, Walsall, and location 760. Vera recalls how her father, after unloading the truck, decided to go and find his boundary pegs, and was lost for hours. Their new home was a tin shack, with two bare rooms and earth floors; this dampened their spirits to say the least.

The young girls white stockings were soon covered with black fleas rising out of the sand. To cope with the fleas the family took the advice of fellow settlers and stood the legs of the beds in small tins of kerosene. Mary had no kitchen and had to cook outdoors and wash the clothes in kerosene tins over an open fire.

One of Mary’s greatest challenges was to make yeast out of boiled potatoes and hops for the home made bread. There was never a real shortage of food, flour was bought by the bag, plenty of rabbits and the occasional kangaroo added variety to the diet. In the hard conditions into which they now found themselves in, Mary’s long skirts soon gave way to more appropriate dress. While Eva and her younger sister Vera cleared the scrub and small trees from around the shack, using just a shovel, mattock and a rope, the men from 124 camp faced the challenge of clearing the bush in preparation for the 20 acre farms with the bare minimum of implements, mattock, cross cut saw and a kangaroo jack. The foreman would pick the men up by horse & cart and take them to whichever block was being cleared, in readiness for a ballot of the blocks/locations.

Supplies for the family had to be bought from the town, so it was a regular 15 mile trip by horse & cart. Many a time Arthur would arrive home late with the lantern swinging under the cart carriage.

One day while Eva & Vera were working three young youths came down the track, they had heard that there were two teenage girls in the camp. Xmas was drawing near and there was to be a party at the little old school, they were invited by them to attend. They arrived with a horse and cart to get them. One of those boys was George Pitts, who became Vera’s husband after 6 years of courting and were married for 61 years until his death in 1995.

The Glassby’s were allocated location 855 at Group 124, but when the opportunity arose they moved to group 28, location 1848, next to the Acton Park Hall, this was much closer to town. An original settler vacated this location with its four-room cottage - the group house was a big improvement on the tin shack, especially the kitchen with its Meters wood stove and a copper for washing on the veranda. They all worked very hard and made their homes quite comfortable.

The Glassby’s had a small income from the cream cheque, they grew vegetables and bartered for supplies. Gradually the family built up a small Jersey herd and separated cream twice a day in the little dairy, which was provided with the house. The cream was collected regularly and Eva doesn’t recall any spoilage although she vividly remembers the day when the cat fell in the cream and had to be pulled out by the tail. This lot of cream was tested as choice, which of course was the best grade and paid the top price even so the return of butterfat was very poor.

Eva was offered a job the day they arrived at Busselton as a housemaid for 2/6 pence a week and keep. She accepted this as it helped with the family finances. At first she worked for the butcher then Whiteland’s Greengrocery where she had a room at the back of the shop and took her meals with the family.

Vera never went to school in Australia as she was going on to 14 years and you were not compelled to go if you lived three miles away from the school. They were. She worked along side her father till she was 21, she kept herself busy with sport tennis, badminton & bowls. She always found herself on Committees, work she loved.

Arthur went to school until he was 14 then left home to work in the wheat belt.

Mary had another child, a daughter, Jean born October 7, 1928.

With the effects of the depression being felt the Glassby’s left the group settlement in 1933 they went to the wheatbelt for a short time to Korbel. Later they moved to Maddington where Arthur did sustenance work on the roads. When Mary inherited some money from her mother in 1937, the family purchased a farm near Busselton on Jalbaracup Road location 1439, previously owned by a Mr Blinkersop. In a house built for them by Mr Falkingham they lived in moderate comfort until 1954 when the farm was sold. Arthur and Mary retired to a house at 28 Reynolds Rd, Busselton, Arthur lived well into his 80’s and Mary to the great age of 97.”

The Last Will and Testament of Martha Hulse, Mary’s mother, reproduced below, makes fascinating reading.

In His Majesty’s High Court of Justice
The Principal Probate Registry

BE IT KNOWN that Martha Hulse of High Street
Ticknall in the County of Derby Widow

died there on the 28th day of April 1937

AND BE IT FURTHER KNOWN that at the date hereunder written the last Will and Testament (a copy whereof is hereunto annexed) 0f the said deceased was proved and registered in the Principal Probate Registry of His majesty’s High Court of Justice and that Administration of all the Estate which by law devolves to and invests in the personal representative of the said deceased was granted by the aforesaid Court to
Harry Harrison of Pennwyche House High Street Ticknall in the said County Retired Schoolmaster and Albert Swann of High Street Ticknall aforesaid Painter the Executors named in the said Will

And it is hereby certified that the Affidavit for Inland Revenue has been delivered wherein it is shown that the gross value of the said Estate in Great Britain (exclusive of what the said deceased may have been possessed of or entitled to as a Trustee and not beneficially) amounts to £4556-14-5 and that the net value of the personal estate amounts to £3874-12-1

And it is further certified that it appears by a receipt signed by an Inland Revenue Officer on the said Affidavit that £134-9-4 on account of Estate Duty and interest on such duty has been paid.

Dated the 31st day of May 1937

Registrar

High Street, Ticknall, Derby

This is the last Will and Testament of me Martha Hulse made this fourteenth day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and thirty six (1936). I revoke all former wills made me and appoint Harry Harrison of “Pennwyche” House High Street Ticknall Derby and Albert Swann of High Street Ticknall Derby to be the Executors of this my last Will.

I direct my Executors to pay my Debts and Funeral and Testamentary Expenses.

I give and bequeath to my two sons Joseph Henry Hulse and Archibald Hulse my two sets of Threshing Machinery comprising engines, drums, chaff cutters, binders and all tools and apparatus pertaining thereto for their sole use and benefit and direct that they shall jointly carry on the business which I have established under the name of “Hulse Brothers” each to have an equal share in all profits accruing from the said business. I further direct that at my decease at an early convenient date my executors do cause to be sold all my household goods and chattels, also the six houses owned by me situate in Station Road Melbourne and that the proceeds realized by such sale together with all monies standing to my credit in the Derbyshire Building Society and in the Westminster Bank (Melbourne Branch) and in my personal possession at time of death, shall be divided as follows

To my daughter Martha Ann Earp I bequeath fifty pounds (£50)

To the following six of my children I bequeath equal shares viz (1) Samuel Brooks Hulse (2) Arthur William Hulse (3) Sarah Elizabeth Smith (4) Lilian Dallman (5) Mary Alice Glassby (6) Albert Edwin Hulse, while to my daughter (7) Florence Agnes Gregory I bequeath fifty pounds less than to the former six, she having formerly received that amount from me. Should any or either of these last mentioned children pre-decease me I direct that their share of my estate shall be equally divided among their surviving children or to their surviving child (if only one) excepting in the case of my son Arthur William Hulse whose share shall fall to the child or children of his second marriage.

Martha Hulse

Signed and declared by
the said Martha Hulse the Emily Jane Harrison
Testatrix as and for her High Street
Last Will and Testament Ticknall
in the presence of us who at
her request in her presence Ellen Smith
and in the presence of each Glebe Farm
other (all being present at the Ticknall
same time) have hereunto
subscribed our names as witnesses February 14th 1936

Melbourne is 7½ miles south-south east of Derby, and Ticknall is 3 miles west- south west of Melbourne.

Eva Glassby was born on 15th October 1908. She met her husband Les Hogg, at a function at the Busselton Brass Band. They were engaged on her 21st birthday and soon after Les went to look for work in Perth and Eva followed later on. Eva had various jobs before she married, child minding and house keeping for Lady Lathlain. By 1935 Les had regular work as an electrician and they were able to purchase a house in Croydon Street, Shenton Park and were married. They had no children. Their second house was in a neighbouring suburb, Park Road, Hollywood, from there they moved into the Salvation Army Hostel. Eva died October 30th, 1999; Les died January 30th, 2000.

Eva Glassby's 90th Birthday celebration October 1998.
L to R Seated: Vera, Les, Eva, Arthur Standing: Jean, Irene and Eric
Photo courtesy of Yvonne Montgomery

 

A 8.4 (#2s) (Travis) 5.2 Vera Glassby (b. 5 APR 1912 d. 20 DEC 2007)m. 2 MAR 1935 Samuel George Pitts (b. 1910 d. 15 OCT 1995) - 2 Children
	L	A 8.4 (#2s) (Travis) 5.2.1 George Henry Pitts, b. Busseltown 1935
	L	A 8.4 (#2s) (Travis) 5.2.2 Margaret Yvonne Pitts, b. Busseltown 1941

Vera Glassby was born on 5th April 1912 in Doncaster. At 16 she started dating George Pitts and at 21 became engaged. Vera left home to work in Perth to earn money and George went to the wheatbelt and they were married 2 years later. They had a dairy farm at Yoongarillup near Busselton and had two children.

Vera and George moved around the south west, with George working at Millars Timber Mills. Jarrahwood & Jarrahdale. They finally settled in the city. In Perth they built a house at Wilson and stayed 28 years. In those years Vera went to work in the city as an assistant and a buyer of clothing at Chas Moore Dept store, whilst George worked for Chamberlain John Deere, until he retired due to ill health (due to war causes). Vera also worked in a bowls shop for 10 years but still found time to give 7 years to the Western Australian Bowling Assoc. She was a foundation and Life Member of the Riverton Rossmoyne Bowling Club and was President for 4 years and on the committee for 17 years. After George retired they moved to a unit at Rockingham. Both of them were involved in various clubs, George belonging to the Masonic Lodge and Probus, with both of them involved in Legacy, played mah-jong and belonged to a Friendship Club. They were married for 61 years; George died on October 15th 1995 at 85 years of age. Vera continued to live at Rockingham until 2003, when she moved closer to her family, to the RSL Retirement Village

Vera died on 20th December 2007.

 

A 8.4 (#2s) (Travis) 5.3 Arthur William Glassby (b.1914 d. 21 SEP 2002) m. 1941 Irene Hopper (b.1921 d. ?) - 4 Children
	L	A 8.4 (#2s) (Travis) 5.3.1 Arthur Glassby, b. Newcastle 1942
	L	A 8.4 (#2s) (Travis) 5.3.2 George Ronald Glassby, b. Newcastle 1944
	L	A 8.4 (#2s) (Travis) 5.3.3 Irene Glassby, b. 1947
	L	A 8.4 (#2s) (Travis) 5.3.4 Kevin Glassby, b. New Guinea

Arthur William Glassby was born in 1914 in Doncaster and married Irene Hopper in Newcastle in 1941.

A 8.4 (#2s) (Travis) 6 Annie Amelia Glassby (b.1891 d. ?) m. 1915 William R. Wraith

A 8.4 (#2s) (Travis) 7 Teresa Glassby (b. 27 JUN 1893 d. 1894)

A 8.5 John Glassby (b.1844 d. ?)

A 8.6 William Glassby (b.1846 d. ?)

 

A 8.7 Andrew Glassby (b.1848 d.1894) m. 1870 Annie Thompson (b.1848 d. 1898) - 10 Children
	L	A 8.7.1. John Thompson Glassby, b. Ecclesall Bierlow 1872
	L	A 8.7.2. Elizabeth Glassby, b. Ecclesall Bierlow 1874
	L	A 8.7.3. Mary Ann Glassby, b. Ecclesall Bierlow 1876
	L	A 8.7.4. Clara Victoria Glassby, b. Ecclesall Bierlow 1878
	L	A 8.7.5. Andrew Glassby, b. Ecclesall Bierlow 1881
	L	A 8.7.6. Robert Glassby, b. Ecclesall Bierlow 1883
	L	A 8.7.7. Ernest Glassby, b. Ecclesall Bierlow 1885
	L	A 8.7.8. Nellie Glassby, b. Ecclesall Bierlow 1888
	L	A 8.7.9. Martha Annie Glassby, b. Ecclesall Bierlow 1891
	L	A 8.7.10. Irene Glassby, b. Ecclesall Bierlow 1895

Andrew Glassby was born to William Jackson and Elizabeth Glassby in 1849 in Mexborough, and was baptised on 11th November 1849. He married Annie Thompson in Rotherham in 1870. The marriage was reported in the local press at the time:-

In the 1881 Census Andrew and Ann were living in Nether Hallam, Yorkshire, with five of their children. It is interesting that they named their eldest son, John Thompson Glassby, after Ann's father, which was quite common in those days. They had 10 children in all.

He and his wife Ann are shown in the 1891 Census, still in Nether Hallam, Yorkshire, with 8 of their children living with them. By this time they had moved from 207 to 213 Burgoyne Road.

Andrew Glassby, 3 months old in the 1881 Census, is not shown as he died in 1883 aged 2.

 

A 8.7.1. John Thompson Glassby (b.1872 d.1946) m. 1898 Constance Nelly Oakley (b.1876 d.1959) - 1 Child
	L	A 8.7.1.1 Cyril Tasker Glassby, b. 1903

John Thompson Glassby was born in 1872 and married Constance Nelly Oxley in 1898 in Sheffield. In the 1901 Census they are listed as boarders with Ellen Oxley, Constance Nelly’s mother, at 112 Burgoyne Street, i.e. further down the road from where Andrew and Annie Glassby lived prior to their deaths.