Abraham Vanner
From The Muniment Room, a resource for social history, family history, and local history.
Abraham Vanner (1806-1874) was an estate worker, tenant and lessee, post driver and coachman, and later the innkeeper of the Sloop Inn at Wootton Bridge.
Abraham was the son of Abraham Vanner & Dinah Hillier, and was the second of twelve children. He was baptised at St Helens, Isle of Wight on 7 Sep 1806. On 9 May 1833, he married Hannah Hunt[1]. They had three children: George James Hunt (bapt. 1835), Henry William (bapt. 1837), Jemely[2] Sophia (b.1840).[3]
In 1841, his wife Hannah died aged 36 and was buried in Ryde cemetery. In the 1841 census Abraham was working as a coachman, and living at Hill St, Ryde with his children George, Harry, and Jeamly. Also living with them was Jane Vanner, aged 25 (the wife of Thomas Vanner his brother), and her daughter Louisa, aged 1 month.
Abraham married for the second time, on 13 Oct 1842 at Newchurch, Elizabeth Taylor, a spinster, the daughter of William Taylor of Romsey, a farmer. Her sister was Olive Taylor, who later married Samuel Rhodesl they were living in Havenstreet from at least 1847. Samuel was the tenant of Leopards Farm[4] Abraham and Elizabeth had no children from their marriage.
By the 1851 census Abraham was a labourer and living at Coppid Hall Farm, Havenstreet, with his wife Elizabeth, and chhildren Henry, George, and Jemely, all scholars[5].
Around this time Abraham may have worked for the Fleming Estate as a weekly servant[6]
By 1861, Abraham was a licensed victualler and landlord of the Sloop Inn at Wootton Bridge[7]
In 1864, he took a long lease from the Fleming Estate for a property at Kite Hill, near Wootton Bridge[8]. His son Henry William was living there in 1871.
A brother and sister marry a brother and sister
On the 23 Feb 1865 at Binstead, Jemeley age 24 of Binsted married Frederick Purkis he was age 28 a bachelor of Fish house parish of Binsted. His father was Frederick Purkis, they both signed the register and the witnesses were Henry Vanner, Jane Purkis. Note on the marriage entry in the parish register dated 1 November 1895 amends the age of Frederick and the name of his father from George to Frederick.
On the 30 Aug 1866 at Binsted Henry William Vanner age 19 a bachelor of Binsted. He was a labourer ,his father was Abraham a Inn Keeper, he married Jane Purkis she was age 23 a spinster of Binsted, her father was George a Labourer. Both signed with George Purkis, Jemely Purkis.
1871 CENSUS at Wootton Bridge, Arreton, IOW. Abraham was age 65, an Inn Keeper; with his wife Elizabeth age 53. Born Romsey, Hants, a visitor staying with them was Mary A Rhodes age16, born Arreton, IOW, a niece (d of Olive Taylor sister of Elizabeth)
In 1872, Mrs Vanner (Elizabeth) rented 'House & Land Haven Street' for £3.10s. per annum. In the1871 census Wootton Bridge Cottage Binsted, was living Henry W. Vanner age 23 labourer, his wife Jane 28, and their two sons, Henry H age 3, George H V age 1 year.
Abraham died suddenly on 9 May 1874 at Newport aged 68[9]. He was buried in Ryde cemetery.
He Left a will naming Elizabeth his wife, son Henry Wm & daughter Jemely Sophia wife of Frederick Purkis.”
Published in the Hampshire Telegraph and Sussex Chronicle, Wednesday, June 10, 1874 “A Vanner Sloop, Licence was transferred to Frederick Perkis, (husband of Jemely, Abraham Vanner son -in -law) on Saturday 6th June 1874“.
By the 1881 census at A dwelling in Havenstreet, Elizabeth Vanner a retired Inn Keeper, is lodging with her sister Olive age 61, and brother-in -law Samuel Rhodes age 63. He was born Shipley, Sussex and was a Retired Farmer
Elizabeth Abraham’s widow age 66 re marries on the 16 Oct 1883 at Arreton to John Cook 58 a widower, he was a Bricklayer. His father was William Cook, and her father was William Taylor a farmer.
The 1881 census the Sloop Inn. Frederick Purkis, Inn Keeper is there with his wife Jemely, Frederick Son age10, Albert Son age 8 and Esther daughter age 7 all Scholars .
1891 census Sloop Inn the family are there, the older boys are Grooms, with the addition of George age 4, Annie Gosden a General Domestic Servant age 26 born Wootton, Bridge.
Jemely Sophia Purkis died age 54, 1894.The Sloop was taken over by Robert Read Burk, Frederick Purkis is listed in Kelly's Directory Hants & I0W 1898, as landlord of the White Lion South Arreton. He later took over The Woodman's Arms Wootton, the family returned to the sloop where his son took over running of it. Frederick died in Jun 1905 age 69.
The 1881 census Kite Hill Binsted, Henry William Vanner a market gardener is living there with Jane his wife and children Henry Frederick 13, George Abraham . 11, Elizabeth 7, William Edward. 4, Alice Jemley age 2 months Another son Ernest Frederick was born in 1883.
On the Dec 31 1899 Jane Vanner died at the age 56. Her husband Henry William Vanner died 26 July 1921 age 84. “Retired Gardener of Kite Hill, Binstead,” both buried Binstead Municipal Cemetery.
1891 census shows at New Road, Arreton, Haven Street, Isle of Wight, John Cook Bricklayer and wife Elizabeth, they were still there in 1901, John Cook age 75 General Labourer (Jobbing) and Elizabeth age 84 also living with them are Olive Rhodes sister in law a widow 82 Living on own means.
References and notes
- ↑ Abraham Vanner, post driver of Ryde, married by banns to Hannah Hunt, both of this parish, 9 May 1833, at Ryde. The witnesses were William Hunt and Harriett Sheath.
- ↑ ’Jemely’ is spelt in various ways, such as Jeamly, Jemeley
- ↑ George James Hunt was christened 24 May 1835; Henry William Christening, 25 Jul 1837; Jemely Sophia, 27 Jun 1841; all at St Thomas, Ryde
- ↑ 1872 Rent Roll of the Fleming Estate. this is possibly how they met!
- ↑ This is the last known reference to George James Hunt Vanner.
- ↑ Letter of John B Willis Fleming to John Henry Hearn, 29 Mar 1853: "You had better discharge Vanner who is only a weekly servant. Give him three days to make up his mind, & should he not communicate with you definitely by then, let the farm to Rolfe. Even should Vanner take it he must pay for all tenants work done by me since Lady Day."
- ↑ From “Hampshire Telegraph and Sussex Chronicle Saturday, October 20, 1860.” The annual licensing of Inn & Public Houses for the Island took place on Wednesday last at the Town hall Newport, before, A Hambrough, Esq., chairman Sir Raymond Jarvis, James Cook, W F Popham, RC Shedden. Le Marchant Thomas, and Han Stanley, Reqrrs. No less than 188 applicants were licensed, with the exception of the landlord of the Sloop Inn at Wooton-bridge, who’s case was adjourned for the consideration until this day (Saturday)”
- ↑ Lease dated 11th October, 1864, for 1,000 years between John Brown Willis Fleming and Abraham Vanner
- ↑ The Isle of Wight Times, Thursday 21st May 1874. “On the 9th instant, somewhat suddenly, Mr. Abraham Vanner, many years landlord of the Sloop Inn, Wootton, aged 68.
