PB, October 2012
It is proving difficult to trace James Pegler's roots, but there are some clear possibilities. The following notes are included in the hope that firmer connections can eventually be made.
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James Pegler's birth & early life
Born in Tilehurst, Berkshire, about 1835 [1833?].
Christening record?
A James Pegler was christened at Tilehurst, Berkshire, on the 14th of July 1833. His father's name is given as James, and his mother's as Anne.
["England, Births and Christenings, 1538-1975," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/JSR1-9CS : accessed 15 Oct 2012), James Pegler, 14 Jul 1833; citing reference , FHL microfilm 1040701.]
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Parents' marriage?
Familysearch.org records two entries that may be relevant. However, these are so similar that further investigation would almost certainly show transcription errors, and they refer to the same event, with the same people:1. James Pegler married Ann Abrey on 18th October 1828 at Holy Trinity, Marylebone, Middlesex. No ages are given.
[Source: "England, Marriages, 1538-1973 ," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/NJZP-4VW : accessed 15 Oct 2012), James Pegler and Ann Abrey, 18 Oct 1828; citing reference vp89,tri35,p16,#46, FHL microfilm 580886..]
2. James Pegler, 21, born 1807, and Ann Abney, 19, born 1809, married on the 15th of October 1828 at St. Mary Le Bone, Middlesex, England.
[Source: "England, Marriages, 1538-1973 ," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/NJW8-56R : accessed 15 Oct 2012), James Pegler and Ann Abney, 15 Oct 1828; citing reference, FHL microfilm 413276.]
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Incidentally, they would have been among the very first to marry at Holy Trinity Church Marylebone, Westminster, London, which was built that same year by Sir John Soane. In 1818 parliament passed an act setting aside one million pounds to celebrate the defeat of Napoleon. This is one of the so-called "Waterloo churches" that were built with the money.
[Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_Trinity_Church_Marylebone (accesssed 15.10.12)]
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In 1851 a James Pegler (or "Pigler"), aged about 15, born "Tilsland, Berkshire", can be found working as Servant, Footman, in the home of a substantial farmer, Hugh Wyatt. However, there is no "Tilsland". Perhaps this is radical misspelling of Tilehurst? This could be 1558 James Pegler.
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James Pegler's father
In both the 1851 Census and the 1861 Census, another "James Pegler", a married man born in Stanmore, Middlesex, can be found working in Sulham House as a Butler to John Wilder, rector of Sulham. Sulham is in the sub-registration district of Tilehurst, Berkshire, James Peggler junior's birthplace.
This also fits with James Pegler junior's marriage certificate (below), which states his father's name as "James", and his occupation as "Servant".
Incidentally, also in 1851, a William Pegler, 12, a "Servant, Page", was living at the same address as James Pegler senior. He too was born in Tilehurst, Berks [i.e born c. 1840] and may well have been James Pegler junior's younger brother.
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James Pegler's mother
His mother seems to have been Ann Pegler. In both the 1851 and 1861 Censuses, she can be found in the same area as her husband, though not in the same house.
1851 Census
Sulham, Berks
Ann Pegler, aged 41 [i.e. born c. 1810], wife, married, whose occupation is "Domestic Dutys" [sic], born Sulham, Berkshire [some later Censuses say born "Englefield", which is also nearby].
Richard, 10, son, unmarried, Scholar, Godalming, Surrey [i.e. born c. 1840].
Sarah, 8, daughter, unmarried Scholar, Godalming, Surrey [born c. 1842].
Charlott [sic], 6, unmarried Scholar, Godalming, Surrey. [born c. 1844].
Olive, 5, unmarried Scholar, Godalming, Surrey. [born c. 1843]
Ellis [later spelled Edis or Edes] , 2, son, unmarried, Scholar, Godalming, Surrey. [born c.1849]
Amy, 1, daughter, unmarried Scholar, Godalming, Surrey [born c. 1850].
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1861 Census
Sulham Berks Village
Ann, 51 wife, Laundress, born Englefield, Berks
Sarah, 18, daughter, born Godalming, Surrey.
Olive [crossed out], 15, Godalming, Surrey.
Edis, 12, son, Godalming, Surrey.
Elizabeth, 8, granddaughter, St George-in-the-East, London [i.e. born c. 1853]
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It would seem James and Ann Pegler also had a number of other children not shown above, including Ann (married name Selkirk), who would have been a little older than James (since born around 1830), and Mary Pegler, a little younger than he (born around 1840). Both appear along with Olive Pegler in the 1871 Census in connection with Lottie Pegler, James Pegler junior's daughter (below). At this time they were living or staying in Caversham, Oxfordshire.
Yet another child was Fanny Pegler, born Sulham c. 1856. In the 1871 Census, aged 17, she was living with her sister Charlotte, then aged 26, a Servant, Parlour Maid, in Castle Hill, Reading, Berkshire.
Hence:
List of possible siblings
Ann, born c. 1830.
James, Tilehurst, Berkshire, c.1833.
William, Tilehurst, c.1840.
Mary, c.1840.
Richard, born Godalming, Surrey, c. 1840.
Sarah, born Godalming, Surrey, c. 1842.
Olive, born Godalming, Surrey, c.1843.
Sarah, born Godalming, Surrey, c. 1844.
Charlotte, born Godalming, Surrey, c. 1844.
Ellis [later spelled Edis or Edes], son, born Godalming, Surrey, c. 1849.
Amy, born Godalming, Surrey, c.1850.
Fanny, born Sulham, Berkshire, c. 1856.
It remains to be shown that these do in fact form one family.
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Local geography
Sulham is adjacent to Tilehurst, which is now a western suburb of Reading. Although in another county, Caversham is just across the river Thames from Tilehurst and Reading. Godalming is about 25 miles from Reading.__________
Further supporting evidence for the connection of these two putative parents above comes from Charlotte's baptismal registration on the 22nd of May 1844, that shows she was the child of James Peglar [sic], Butler, and Ann Peglar, living at Crownpits [?], Godalming.
It would also be worth checking the father's occupation etc given on the certificates for the marriage of a Charlotte Pegler and a Fanny Pegler in the Reading area:
On the 6th April 1863, Charlotte Pegler, 27, born 1846, married a Stephen Mosdell, 29, born 1848, at St Giles, Reading, Berkshire. The bride's father's name is James Pegler.
[Source: "England, Marriages, 1538-1973," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/NVYG-D2S : accessed 15 Oct 2012), James Pegler in entry for Stephen Mosdell and Charlotte Pegler, 06 Apr 1873; citing reference , FHL microfilm 1040602.]
On the 31st May 1874, Fanny Pegler, aged 20, born 1854, married Abraham Lovegrove, 24, born 1850, at Sulham, Berkshire. The bride's father's name is James Pegler.
[Source: "England, Marriages, 1538-1973 ," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/NVW6-TNT : accessed 15 Oct 2012), James Pegler in entry for Abraham Lovegrove and Fanny Pegler, 31 May 1874; citing reference , FHL microfilm 1041155.]
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Marriage registered
James Pegler married Charlotte Pitt, March Quarter 1868, Clerkenwell.
Marriage certificate for James Pegler and Charlotte Pitt, 1869
(Click on image to enlarge)
Marriage certificate
The parish church of St James Clerkenwell, Middlesex.
The marriage of James Pegler, Batchelor, Porter, and Charlotte Pitt, Spinster, no occupation shown, took place on the 9th of January 1868.
Both were of "full age" (i.e. over 21) and living at 91 Corporation Buildings.
James Pegler's father, also James Pegler, is described as a "Servant". Charlotte's father is named as William Pitt, Blacksmith.
[PB - Source: London Metropolitan Archives, Saint James, Clerkenwell, Register of marriages, P76/JS1, Item 056.]
Birth registered
Lottie Pegler, December Quarter 1868, Clerkenwell.
1871 Census
91 Corporation Buildings.
James Pegler, aged 37, Head, married, Railway Porter, born Tilehurst, Berkshire.
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Caversham, Oxfordshire.
Lotty [sic] Pegler, 2, born London, was visiting her widowed aunt, Ann Selkirk, 41, a Draper, born Tilehurst, Berkshire.
Others in the house were Ann Selkirk's unmarried sisters, Mary Pegler, 30, a Dressmaker, also born Tilehurst, and Olive Pegler, 24, a visitor, born Godalming, Surrey.
1881 Census
Combermere House, Combermere Road, Lambeth.
James Pegler, aged 46, head, married, Railway Porter, born Berkshire.
Lottie, 12, Scholar, born Clerkenwell.
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Electoral Registers
James Pegler, 115 Hargwyne Street, Lambeth, Brixton: 1890, 1892, 1894, 1895, 1896, 1897.
1891 Census
115, Hargwyne Street, Lambeth.
James Pegler, aged 57, head, married, Railway Porter, born Tilehurst, Berkshire.