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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Derbyshire => England => Derbyshire Lookup Requests => Topic started by: bridgesquest on Thursday 22 February 18 16:30 GMT (UK)
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Can anyone assist me in finding who this esteemed gentleman's chauffeur(s) was/were? Could be a relative. Thank you
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Welcome to RootsChat.
Q1 - How do you know that John Crompton of Windley had a chauffeur?
Q2 - What dates are we talking about?
Q3 - Do you have John on any census record/whatever?
Q4 - What else do you know about him that might help?
STG
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We are talking around 1890 -1913 era. John was a renowned banker who died 1913. I've looked in the census to see if the chauffeur appears but not to be. My grandfather claimed to have been his chauffeur on a newspaper article I came across. My aim is to find out exactly when he came to Windley from Suffolk. John owned the Flower Lillies in Windley. Thanks for your interest.
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Who was your grandfather, where & when was he born
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Hi was John's full name John Gilbert Crompton who had a daughter Millicent Evelyn C G Crompton who married a Frederick Samuel Inglefield Sept qtr 1903 Belper?
Keyboard86
PS Frederick Samuel Inglefield Married aged 56 b Woolwich is in Kensington with Derbyshire Servants occ Royal Navy Vice-Admiral.
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Hi again, you mention a time-scale c 1890/1913 is the 1913 in relationship to the death of a John G Crompton Dec qtr 1913 Belper 7b 674 aged 93?
Millicent Evelyn Cecilia Crompton was registered Sept qtr 1866 Belper v 7b page 387 mmn Chaplin
John Gilbert Crompton married a Caroline Georgiana Chaplin Sept qtr 1865 St James 1a 875
Keyboard86
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OK certain it is your John Crompton, in 1871 census:-
Caroline G Crompton 29 occ Bankers Wife b Fathwell, Lincolnshire
Isabel E 16 b Derbyshire
M E Cecilia 4 b Derbyshire
John G F 1 b Derbyshire
Residing at Oriental Terrace, Brighton
Census ref RG10/1087/80/24
Keyboard86
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1881
Lower Lillies, Windley
John G Crompton 61 Magistrates Deputy Lieutenant bn Chestefield
Isabella Arkwright 26 married daughter bn Lillies Derbyshire
Millicent E Crompton 14 dtr bn Lillies Derbyshire
Charles Arkwright 33 son in law
John Pollard 32 footman
William Warren 35 gardener
Louisa Warren 32 Cook
Edith Bushell 24 ladies maid
Maria Smedley 19 house maid
Eliza Foulk 15 Kitchen maid
Florence Hodkinson 14 hous emaid
quite an array of servants , none described as chauffeur specifically.
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Right, Now I know where he was 1861 census:-
John Gilbert Crompton 41 occ Magistrate etc etc b Chesterfield
Isabel Emma 6
Plus Servants residing at Lilies, Windley
Census ref RG09/2507/97/1
Keyboard86
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1891 has an array of servants too
What was your ancestors name? He may have combined chauffeuring with another job (eg gardener) and be listed under that. Or he may live in a nearby cottage rather than living in.
Tell us what you know about your ancestor, and if you have found him on 1891/1901/1911 censuses, to save us looking if you have got him.
Also - John Gilbert Crompton, dying 1913, left a Will. You never know,he may have left a token bequest to his servants, so might be worth getting to see if your ancestor is mentioned.
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Thanks to all for your replies (sorry for delay in replying). My Grandfather was William Bridges (1877-1966) who originates from Suffolk, which appears to be the epicentre for the Bridges'. The 1911 Census shows he was in Suffolk, though I tend to think he was visiting home. He became landlord of the Cross Keys in Turnditch around the late 1920s (still trying to pin that down) where he remained until about 1964. My main quest is to find out when and why exactly he came to Turnditch. Hence the chauffeur question. He was a motor mechanic and the Crompton's had some rather grand cars so it does make sense. But I really want to find some hard evidence and get a grip on the timescales. Thanks again for help; particularly the point about seeing if he was left anything in Mr Crompton's will - though I don't know how to find such info.
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You can apply for a copy of his Will
https://probatesearch.service.gov.uk/#calendar
£10 I think (havent done one for ages!)
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Derbyshire Times and Chesterfield Herald 17 December 1932
William Bridges licensee of the Cross Keys is accused of driving a car without a licence, insurance and without the owners consent
Copy available on F M P or BNA website
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Another article for the same offence
Derby Daily Telegraph 15 December 1932
article stated that he had experimented with motor cars before the 3mph limit was abolished and had driven cars in the Sahara desert
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Hi if he was born Knodishall c 1878 he is a Groom ( Domestic ) in 1901 census, he was at the Cross Keys in 1939 if he married a Winifred M?
Keyboard86
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Hi his wife was Winifred Mary Richardson b c 1889 who he married in 1914 Belper, she was with her parents at the Cross Keys in 1911.
Keyboard86
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It was his wifes brothers car that he 'borrowed' in 1932 ;) ;D
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Derbyshire Courier, 7 April 1914 published details of John Crompton's will including bequests to servants. No mention of a William Bridges by name though.
If the local paper published an obit for William Bridges it might mention his chauffeuring.
STG
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Sorry, I have just read the article in full ::)
Derbyshire Times and Chesterfield Herald 17 December 1932
For over 20 years he was head chauffeur to the late John Crompton of Windley
he apparently gave up driving 18 months ago.
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You are all helping greatly and are confirming my research so far. The driving offence report was where I picked up on the chauffer. He was in Zanzibar, I have located his war record. Perhaps he was Lady Inglefields driver, John's daughter I think. Thanks all. Most useful
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Another item he mentioned in his defence of his driving offence was of him saving a constables life in Scotland and thanked by the sheriff. I have no idea where to start with researching this!Any ideas anyone?