Medals
Charles Cheshire or Chesher, 4th Light Dragoons, as shown on the "Gould Line" website (see above).
(Click on image to enlarge)
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasps for Alma, Inkerman and Sebastopol.
Born at Hertford, and christened there in the church of All Saints and St. John on the 17th of February 1832, the son of Henry and Caroline Cheshire [PB: sic?].
[PB: EJB says Charles "Cheshire" was baptised 17th of February 1833, St Andrews, Hertford. What was EJB's source? I have found two different baptismal records for a Charles "Chesher", for 1830 and 1833. The first CC died young and the second was named after him.]
Baptism
25th of June 1830, Child: Charles Henry, Parents: Henry & Caroline Chesher, Abode: St Andrews, Father's Occupation: Cordwainer, Hertford, St Andrews. [Hertfordshire Baptisms Transcription]
[A cordwainer makes new shoes from new leather, c.f. a cobbler, who repairs them.]
Baptism
17th of February 1833, Charles, the child of Henry & Caroline Chesher, Maidenhead Street, Shoemaker, Hertford, St Andrews.
1841 Census
Fore Street, All Saints Hertford, Hertford, Hertfordshire.
Henry Chesher, Male, 30 [born c.1811], Cordwainer.
Caroline Chesher, Female, 30 [c.1811].
Thomas Chesher, Male, 14 [c.1827].
Charles Chesher, Male, 7 [c.1834].
Henry Chesher, Male, 4 [c.1837].
Edward Chesher, Male, 4 months [c.1841].
All born in Hertfordshire.
[PB:According to "The Gould Line", a detailed and apparently rigorous family genealogy website, Henry Chesher was born in May 1807 in Brickendon, Herts, and Caroline (nee Jeffreys) in St Andrew's, Hertford, in mid-1807. They were married at St Andrew's on the 6th of November 1825, and had at least 13 children, of whom several died young:
Thomas (after 1826 — c.1849)
Charles Henry (1830 — before 1832)
Charles (after 1832 — 1913)
Caroline (after 1834 — 1839)
Henry (after 1836 — ?)
John (1839 — 1839)
William (1839 — 1839)
Edward George (c.1841 — )
Caroline (after 1842 — before 1846)
Emily Jeffrys (after 1844 -?)
Walter (1847 — before 1907)
Alfred (1849 — 1916)
George (after 1851-before 1933)]
Henry Chesher [father] appears in Hertford records between 1827 and 1880 as a Shoemaker, Cordwainer (Shoemaker), Boot and Shoe maker, Butcher, Eating House Keeper, Beer retailer, Fruiterer and Eating House proprietor, Fishmonger & Fruiterer, Poulterer, Fruiterer and Beer & Spirit Retailer, Licensed Victualler, Public House Landlord. He died at Fore Street, Hertford, in 1880.
After her husband's death, April 1884 (when she was 77), Caroline [mother] applied for Outdoor Poor Relief from the Hertford Union Workhouse. She died sometime before Oct 1887 (age 79).
[Source: http://www.goulddigger.webspace.virginmedia.com/fam13.html (accessed 16 November 2015). It would be worth checking this site.] ]
Enlisted at London on the 15th of October 1849.
Age: 18.
Height: 5' 8".
Trade: Shoe-maker.
From Private to Corporal: 1st of March 1858.
Absent, 15th-17th of August. Tried by a Regimental Court-martial and reduced to Private on the 29th of August 1859.
Confined, 3th-10th of March 1860.
Discharged, "time expired", from Cahir on the 20th of November 1861.
Conduct and character: "Indifferent." Not in possession of any Good Conduct badges.
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasps for Alma, Inkerman and Sebastopol.
[PB: According to "The Gould Line" website (see above) Charles Cheshire married twice. First, Emma Jeffreys [date not shown], and second, Susanna(h) Taylor, 1887.
PB note: Emma Jeffreys shares a surname with Charles Cheshire's mother, Caroline. Presumably they were related?
Emma was born Bengeo (on the outskirts of Hertford), 3rd of August 1830, and christened at Cowbridge Independent [Chapel?], 14th November 1830. In 1841, 1851, and 1861 she was living in George Street, Bengeo. In 1861 she was described as a "Servant (domestic)". She died 9th October 1870, aged 37, and was buried in the same month at All Saints and St John, Hertford.
There were two children in the first marriage:
1. Edwin Charles Chesher (born Hertford, 5th October 1867, died Ware, Herts, 27th July 1953). He was an infantryman in the 4th Beds Regt from 17th February 1890 to 18th July 1902 and served in East India and South Africa.
2. Charles Edward Chesher (born Hertford, 23rd August 1869, place and year of death not shown).
On 5th October and 10th November 1867, Charles Chesher was a Warehouseman living in Priory Road, Hertford. In April 1880, he was living in Railway Street, Hertford. On 11 June 1887 he was described as a Sheriff's Bailiff.
[Source: http://www.goulddigger.webspace.virginmedia.com/fam39.html]
1881 Census
Rose and Crown, Railway Street, Hertford, Herts.
Charles Chesher, Lodger, married, 51, Independent, born Hertford, Herts.
Charles Chesher [presumably this was his younger son, Charles Edward], Lodger, unmarried, 11, Independent, born Hertford, Herts.
[PB]
Marriage registered
Charles Chesher married Susannah Taylor, April Quarter 1887, Hertford, Herts.
[PB]
Marriage
June 11 1887: Charles Chesher, Widower, Sherriff's Bailiff, married Susanna Taylor, Spinster, [no occupation shown], both of full age, All Saints, Hertford, Herts.
1901 Census
81, Somerset Terrace, Hertford, Herts.
Charles Chesher, Head, married, 68, [born c.1833], Laundryman, working at home, born Hertford, Herts.
Susannah Chesher, Wife, married, 46, [born c.1855], Laundress, working at home, born Hertford, Herts.
[PB]
1901 Census
Address?
Charles Chesher, Head, married, 78, [born c.1833], Army Pensioner Private [?], born Hertford, Herts.
Susannah Chesher, Wife, married, 56, [born c.1855], 24 years married, no children, Laundress, [Working on] Own Account, At home, born Hertford, Herts.
[PB]
Death registrations
Charles Chesher, 80, January Quarter 1913, Hertford, Herts.
Susannah Chesher ?
[PB: Is this CC's son? In October 1890, Banns were published for a Charles "Cheshire", Bachelor, and Mary Hannah Willis, both of the parish of Kensworth, Herts. According to England Marriages 1538-1973 Transcription, they were married 19th of October 1890. Notice the spelling.
Any relation? According to the Log Book of St Nicholas School, Elstree, Herts, "William and Charles Cheshire are at home ill with Hooping Cough", Feb 6th 1885 [National School Admission Registers & Log-books 1870-1914 Image].]