Teale, Mrs.

Gender: Female

Percy Grainger visited Mrs Teale, aged over 60 from Bishop’s Cleeve, at Winchcombe Workhouse on 24 August 1908 when she sang Cold Blows The Wind and Lord Lovell. He noted that she was ‘60 years of age and rather gone in the head.’

Mrs Teale’s early life is obscure. She was born about 1841 in Woodmancote and her Christian name was Elizabeth. She was probably the Elizabeth Stanton who was baptised 3 January 1841 in Bishop’s Cleeve, the daughter of Joseph and Jemima Stanton. Joseph was a labourer from Woodmancote, probably baptised 24 June 1806 in Bishop’s Cleeve. By 1841 Joseph and Jemima were living in Woodmancote with Elizabeth and two other children, Stephen born about 1835 and Sarah born about 1839. By 1851 Elizabeth’s father, Joseph, was lodging in Hidcote Boyce near Ebrington probably with his son, Stephen where they were working as stone quarry labourers. Four men were lodging in the house of William Eden, and he and they were all stone quarry labourers. Elizabeth Stanton was still living in Woodmancote with her mother, Jemima, who then had three more children, Thomas born about 1843, Joseph born about 1846 and Matilda Maria born about 1848. By 1861 Elizabeth had left home but the family had moved to Cleeve Hill where Joseph was working as a labourer. They had two more children, Samuel born about 1852 and Ann born about 1855. All the children were born in Woodmancote. Elizabeth’s brother, Stephen, had married and was living in Middle St., Bishop’s Cleeve with his wife, Mary and 3 month old son, Henery. At this time there was an Elizabeth Stanton working as a house servant at the Refreshment Rooms at No 2, Clarence Street Gloucester, stated to have been born in Gloucester. Joseph Stanton probably died in 1864 in the Winchcombe registration district. George Hall Teale married Elizabeth Stanton in 1864 in the Winchcombe registration district.

By 1871 George Hall Teale and his wife, Elizabeth, were living in Stoke Road, Bishop’s Cleeve, where George was working as an agricultural labourer and Elizabeth was a laundress. George Teale was born in Stow on the Wold in about 1842, the son of William Wood Teale, born in Lower Swell, who was the publican of the Plough Inn at Bishop’s Cleeve in 1861 and his wife Ann who was born in Witcombe. In 1861 George Teale was working as an agricultural labourer. George and Elizabeth were still living in Bishop’s Cleeve in Evesham Road in 1891 where George was a market gardener. By 1901 they were living on Stoke Road, Bishop’s Cleeve; George was then working as a general labourer. Mrs Elizabeth Teale was admitted to Winchcombe Workhouse on 7 December 1907 and then discharged on 18 May 1908. George Teale of Bishop’s Cleeve was also admitted to the Workhouse late in 1907 and discharged on 13 January 1908. George Teal died and was buried in Bishop’s Cleeve on 17 January 1908. Elizabeth Teale was admitted again to Winchcombe Workhouse on 27 November 1908 and discharged on12 November 1909 to be removed to the Asylum at Gloucester. Elizabeth Teale remained there until her death and she was buried in Bishop’s Cleeve on 22 April 1910.

Note: There was also an Elizabeth Cotterrill living in Woodmancote in 1951 who may have been Mrs Teale but there is no evidence of a marriage to George Teale. Elizabeth Cotterrill was the daughter of Joseph and Jane Cotterrill. Joseph was a farmer born in Brocklehampton and Jane was from Woodmancote. She was born about 1841 and by the time of the 1841 Census the family were living in Woodmancote and had two other children, Charles born about 1838 and Mary born about 1839. Also living with them were two 15 year old servants. By 1851 they had moved to Bishop’s Cleeve where Joseph was working as a milkman. They then had four more children, Jane Ann born about 1843, Albert William born about 1847, Dora born about 1848 and Thomas born about 1850.They also had living with them an 18 year old house servant. By 1861 Elizabeth Cotterrill had left home and was working as a servant at 36 St Petersbury Place in Paddington in the house of a gentleman, James Large. Her father, Joseph, was then living in North Street, Bishop’s Cleeve working as a butterman. He and his wife had three more children, Sarah born about 1852, Joseph born about 1854 and Edward born about 1857. Joseph Cotterrill continued to live in North Street, Bishops Cleeve and was there in 1881, described in the Census as a widower and farmer with a housekeeper Sarah Sweney, a widow, living with him. He probably spent some time in Winchcombe Workhouse as in January 1899 and July 1899 as J. Cotterill from Woodmancote was granted a day’s leave of absence week to visit Bishop’s Cleeve.

Notes: Carol Davies May 2015