Woodward, Charles

Gender: Male

Cecil Sharp visited Charles Woodward aged 71 at Ebrington on 10 September 1909 when he sang Bonny Blue Jacket, General Wolfe and King of The Gypsies.

Charles Woodward was baptised at Mickleton on 25 December 1833, the child of George and Emlin (Emmeline) Woodward. George Woodward was probably baptised in Barcheston, near Willington, Warwickshire on 20 December 1795, the son of John and Susanna Woodward. He married Emlin (Emmeline) Keck from Pebworth in Mickleton on 27 Jul 1826. In 1841 George and Emlin were living in Ebrington with Charles aged 2 where George was working as an agricultural labourer. By 1851 they were still in Ebrington with two sons older than Charles called William, born 1828, and George, born about 1836 and two younger sons, David, born about 1842 and Thomas born about 1850. In 1861 the family were still living in Ebrington. William had left home but George and his remaining four sons were all working as agricultural labourers. George died in 1867 in the Shipston on Stour registration district. Emmeline continued living in Ebrington and was there in 1871 with her two youngest sons, David and Thomas, who were both working as labourers.

Charles Woodward married Elizabeth Hyatt, who was born in Great Wolford, Warwickshire, in 1865 in the Shipston on Stour registration district which included Ebrington. They set up home in Ebrington where they stayed. In 1891 they were living at 11, Ebrington where Charles was working as an agricultural labourer and Elizabeth as a laundress. Living next door was Charles’ brother, David Woodward, aged 58 a miller’s loader and his brother Thomas Woodward aged 51 a small holder of land and employer. Next door to them was another brother, George Woodward, aged 64 an agricultural labourer and his wife Emma aged 54 with their children David aged 32 and Miriam Charlotte aged 21. All the Woodwards were born in Ebrington. Next door again was Matthew Yateman aged 48 born Ebrington and Elizabeth Yateman aged 42, born Paxford, Worcestershire both agricultural workers and their children, John 18, Frederick 12, May 9, Harry 8, Frank 6, Albert 3 and Edith 2, all born in Ebrington. Matthew Yateman was the stepbrother of another singer, Albert Parnell. By 1901 Charles and Elizabeth had taken in three lodgers. Charles was working as a navvy and Elizabeth was still a laundress. They were still in Ebrington in 1911 and were both described as old age pensioners. At that time they had been married for 45 years and had no children.

Notes by Carol Davies March 2015