Charles Head ²

  General Notes:

From http://wasfu-man-lingfieldpubs.blogspot.com/

LINGFIELD.

An ancient parish and village 3½ miles north from East Grinstead, and 4 miles south east of Godstone station. The Area of the parish is 9010 acres and in 1851 had a population of 2141 persons which had increased to 3024 by 1892.

The Star, near the church, Lingfield. Situated ¼ mile from the Greyhound and about 1 mile from the Hare & Hounds. This inn and 3 cottages and the former Star Inn date from the 16th-18th centuries. The inn derives its name from the arms of the Cobhams, the great Lords of Sterborough Castle who lie in the church. In 1807 an auction catalogue gives the inn as a "substantial messuage, with a cottage adjoining, barns, stables, gardens, and yard, and arable land adjoining New Place Lane containing about 4 acres, held for an unexpired term of 16 years from Michaelmas 1805 (old style), at rent of £34 pa on lease to Mr Chapman at the rent of £25. In 1859 the inn was run by Charles Head who was also the Parish Clerk. In 1892 the property was owned by E & H Kelsey of Tunbridge Wells and run by Arthur James Wood. The house served travellers, tradesmen and others.


The following extract from the RH7 website fills in some detail (see http://www.rh7.org/factsheets/Blacksmiths.html)

"..........

The HEAD Family

The HEAD family were blacksmiths in the area since at least the late 1700s, and had smithies at Blindley Heath and Dormansland.
(Blindley Heath was originally within the ecclesiastical parish of Godstone, becoming a separate parish in 1842. Similarly, Dormansland was originally within Lingfield ecclesias-tical parish, becoming a parish in its own right in 1885. Therefore, although early references to the HEAD family mention Godstone and Lingfield it is almost certain that these relate to Blindley Heath and Dormansland respectively.)

William HEAD of Godstone, Blacksmith, died in 1791. His Will refers to his wife Elizabeth and 6 children - William, Elizabeth, Thomas, George, Charles and James. It is thought that Elizabeth was William's second wife and that William junior, Elizabeth and Thomas were his children by his first wife Sarah. Thomas and George followed in their father's footsteps and became blacksmiths. (Charles became the inn-keeper of The Star Inn, Lingfield and was the father of Charles HEAD and George HEAD, both of whom became carpenters. Charles junior sub-sequently succeeded his father as innkeeper of The Star Inn, and also served as Parish Clerk.)

Blindley Heath

George HEAD is believed to have succeeded his father William as the blacksmith at Blindley Heath. George died in 1830 and in his Will he requests that his son James "take care and carry on the business of Blacksmith for my said Wife Elizabeth and that my said Wife Elizabeth shall pay unto him wages for so doing". Although the 1841 census records Elizabeth HEAD's occupation as Blacksmith no doubt James, who remained living with her, ran the business for her until she died in 1853. James then carried on the business until his death in 1870, when his older brother George took over. George died in 1882 and his son, George junior, appears to have carried on the business until around 1910 when it finally passed out of the family - George junior's son, George William, having died in 1899.

......."

  Chronology:

He signed a will on 14 Nov 1840. ⁸ This is the last will and Testament of me Charles Head of the Star Inn Lingfield in the County of Surrey ???? I owe the payment of all my just debts funeral and testamentary expenses by my Executors hereinafter named I give and bequeath unto ? my son George Head of the aforesaid Parish of Lingfield the clock that stands on the Stairs or Stair Case the Chest of Drawers that stands at the foot of my bed wherein I now sleep and the bedstead bed and bolster and all that belongs to the same that stands on the left hand going into the garratt that is over my chamber where I now sleep also half of the timber that may be in my possession at the time of my decease also my best double barrel gun also all my wearing apparel all which I direct my Executors to deliver to him within one month after my decease I give and bequeath unto my son Charles Head all and singular my interest in the aforesaid Star Inn and the land thereunto belonging with all the use and dead stock goods chattels and effects therein and thereon contained and not therein otherwise specifically disposed of except the wines beer and spirituous liquors all which wines beer and spirituous liquors I direct to be be valued to my said son Charles Head immediately after my funeral and the amount of such valuation I direct to be paid to the Brewer and Distiller on my account of what I may owe them at my decease and I direct that my said son Charles Head be put in possession of all and singular my household goods and effects immediately after my decease. Also I give and bequeath unto my said son Charles Head the other half of the Timber(?) ??? before made mention of. I give and bequeath unto my daughter Mary Ann the bedstead bed and bolster and everything that belongs to the same wherein she now sleeps and which stands in the little chamber over the Great Parlour and I direct she shall have the use of the same chamber for three months after my decease if she shall wish so to do. I give and bequeath unto Eliza Head the daughter of my daughter Jane the sum of five pounds sterling and I direct my Executors to place the same in East Grinstead Savings Bank in their own names there to continue with all interest that may accrue ?? ??? until she shall attain the age of twenty one years But and in case she shall happen to die before she attains the age of twenty one years I give and bequeath the same unto my son James Head All the Residue and remainder of my personal estate and effects and also all my ??? and real lands tenants and ???? I give ??? and bequeath the same unto my Executors and trustees hereinafter named .......

and that said executors administrators ??? ??? to the nature thereof upon trust that ???? …....???? executors administrators or assigns of said ??? …...............??? and dispose thereof for the maximum that can be got for the same ??? by publick auction or private contract and I direct my Executors and Trustees with the ??? of such sales and monies that may come into their hands to form one general fund out of which said general fund I do declare that my said Executors or the survivor of ??? and the said executors and administrators of such survivor shall claim and reimburse themselves and himself all reasonable charges and expenses which they or he may be subject or liable to be put unto in the execution of the trusts hereby in them reposed and ??? and after payment of all cost and charges hereinbefore recited I direct my said executors and trustees
to divide the same into six equal parts or shares to be paid and applied as follows that is to say to my daughter Sarah Twenty Pounds less than such sixth part or share which said twenty pounds I order and direct to be added to remaining five parts or shares and they to be divided equally amongst and between my two sons George and James and my three daughters Elizabeth Jane and Mary Ann share and share alike and in case ??? or any of my said sons and daughters should happen to die before he her or them shall receive the part or share above ??? directed to be paid leaving issue such issue to have the parents part or share so dying And I do hereby nominate constitue and appoint James Joiner of Woodcock Mill in the parish of Godstone in the County of Surrey Miller and my said son Charles Head Executors and Trustees of this my last will and testament ??? also and I hereby declare that my said Executors and Trustees for the time being shall not be accountable the one for the other of them but each for his own arts and wilful defaults only and declare that the script and scripts of my said Trusteees and Executors for the time being shall be sufficient discharge and discharges to any purchase or purchases of my freehold and real estate and ??? and such purchaser or purchasers shall not be bound to see to the application of such monies or any part thereof And I hereby revoke all former will or wills by me at any time made and declare this to be my last will and testament in witness whereof Ileave to this my last will and testament containes in these sheets of paper set my hand namely my hand at the bottom of the first and second sheet thereof and my hand to this the third and last sheet thereof this fourteenth day of November one thousand eight hundred and forty - Charles Head -

Signed and declared by the said Charles Head the testator as and for his last will and testament in the presence of us who in his presence at his request and in the presence of each other and at the same time have subscribed our names as witnesses:Benjamin Groves Schoolmaster Lingfield and Isaac Nash Shoemaker Lingfield - dated 14 November 1840 - Proved 4 June 1844

Proved at London 4^th June 1844 before th worshipful fi????? Thomas Pratt Doctor of Laws and surrogate by the oath of Charles Head the son the surviving executor to whom Admon was granted having been first _oom only to administer.

He worked as an Innkeeper in 1841 and resided at Star Inn, Lingfield, Surrey. ³ (with Jane, 30, and Eliza, 15)

He worked as a Vintner in 1844 and resided at Lingfield, Surrey. ⁹

Charles married Sarah Fowler on 1 Sep 1795 in St Saviour, Southwark.¹ (Sarah Fowler was christened in Aug 1776 in St Saviour, Southwark ¹⁰ and died on 13 Feb 1837 in Lingfield, Surrey ¹¹.)

  Marriage Notes:

Witnesses: George Chapman and Thomas Parr

Bride and groom both "of this parish"