Enstone Family

Jabez Samuel Enstone (1846-1927) moved to Badsey in 1875 when he married Badsey-born Catherine Mason (c1846-1936) at St James’ Church. Jabez and Catherine lived initially in Badsey but then moved to Manor Cottage, Aldington. They had five sons and three daughters: Sarah Jane (1877-1954), George (1879-1942), James Purser (1881-1961), Thomas (1882-1883), Annie Maria (1885-1944), John (1887-1966), William (1889-1964) and Catherine (1891-1975). Jabez was initially an agricultural labourer, but then became a carter when they moved to Aldington; Catherine was a dressmaker. Jabez was head carter for Arthur Savory, the tenant farmer of Aldington Manor, and is mentioned in Savory’s book, Grain and Chaff. In 1902, Jabez was listed in Smith’s Almanack as a Market gardener.

The collection contains mainly photos of Jabez & Catherine Enstone and their daughter, Catherine (later Marshall). There are also a number of items concerning Annie Maria Enstone who met an untimely death. Annie Enstone (1885-1944) was educated at Badsey Board School. She went on to become a Monitress and then a Pupil Teacher at Badsey. She gained the King’s Scholarship and went to teach at Newchurch, near Warrington. By 1911 she was teaching in Lichfield, Staffordshire, and by 1939 she was Head Teacher of an Infants’ School in Rugeley. Annie met a tragic death in March 1944 when a ten-ton crate fell from a passing lorry.