Martin, William

Gender: Male

Eliza Wedgwood visited William Martin aged 64, single and born in Guiting, at Winchcombe Workhouse in about 1907 when he sang Lost Lady Found and the Spotted Cow.

William Martin came from an old-established Temple Guiting family. His great-grandparents, Samuel and Elizabeth were living there from at least 1762 from which date seven of their children including William’s grandfather, Nathaniel, were baptised in Temple Guiting church,. Nathaniel Martin married Sarah Robbins in 1802 in South Littleton, Worcestershire and on the baptism of their first son, Samuel, in 1803 they were living in Temple Guiting. William’s father, George, was baptised in Temple Guiting on 19 Feb 1809. George and his wife, Dinah, who was born in Bengeworth, Worcestershire, had at least seven children in Temple Guiting between 1834 and 1851, including William who was baptised there in 1844. George worked as a labourer and the family were living at Barton, near Temple Guiting in 1841 and 1851. Samuel Martin, William’s great-grandfather probably died in 1853.

In 1861 William was living at home in Temple Guiting. He, his father and brother, Edwin, were all working as agricultural labourers. His sisters, Hannah, Emma and Sarah were also at home. William’s father, George Martin died and was buried in Temple Guiting in February 1865. By 1871 William and his brother, Edwin were both working as agricultural labourers and living with his mother, Dinah, who was stated to be a pauper in Temple Guiting. In 1881 William was still unmarried and living in Temple Guiting with his mother and working as an agricultural labourer. William continued to live with his mother in Temple Guiting and by 1891 he was a quarry worker. William’s mother, Dinah Martin died in 1899 and by 1901 he was living on his own in Kineton, working as a carter. William Martin was admitted to Winchcombe Union (Workhouse) on 18 June 1902 and was still there in February 1912. William Martin died in 1922 in Winchcombe.

Notes by Carol Davies April 2015