1851 the number of households now appears to be 57, with a population of around 230.
Again as in the introduction to part one, it is almost impossible to be accurate in terms of exact numbers or identify most of their locations.
Framework knitters still account for by far, the larger part of the 120 people in employment, although it has fallen by 11 since the last census.
This could possibly be a shift into work on the land as the number of people in farming has increased by 10 to 24.
The building trade still accounts for 4, and there is now a shoe maker, Robert Jones aged 57 and originally from Kettering in Northamptonshire.
There are now 2 glove makers, Joseph Swift aged 36 born in neighbouring Narborough, and Abraham Cartwright 34, from Cosby.
One inhabitant deserving more research is one Henry Pochin, born in 1791 at Wigston Magna (there is a possible connection here with the same Pochin family, owners of Croft quarry, and later, the world famous Bodnant Hall & gardens in Wales) now aged 60, he describes himself as a Landowner (see newspaper clippings). He married Mary Kenney (b.1788) at Cosby church on the 16th January 1816. Living at home with Henry & Mary are sons, William 34, a bricklayer, and John 31 a miller. Also living in is Sarah Hill their servant aged 15. All of the above with the exception of Henry were born at Cosby.
William Handyman b.1792 is a fellmonger employing his two sons Frederick & Thomas aged 18 & 16 respectively.
At The Pough Inn is William Mortimer b.1811, and his wife Elizabeth b.1796, both born in Narborough. William desribes himself as a publican and grocer. They are employing a servant Ann Laxton aged 18 who was born in Tugby.
One of the youngest employees in the village is errand boy William Hamilton aged just 7.
Joseph Sparrow (remember the assault on Ann Ashton? See 18 Station Road) aged 35 is a Victualler, at various times he describes himself as a baker, farmer, and as being at The Woodboy, the latter was an inn so this could apply to any of these. The location of the The Woodboy Inn I am uncertain of at the moment but it was either the forerunner of The Joiners Arms, or on the other side of The Square at No.8, this may also have been known as The Corner Cupboard.
Robert Bingley b.1816 (the name Bingley is synonymous with Littlethorpe and hopefully in the future I Intend to do a full history of them in the village, they included bricklayers and builders, landowners, and publicans.) is a malster, married to Catherine and they have a young family of 4 children between the ages of 2 and 10, they are prosperous enough to employ a servant, Mary Holmes aged 17.
There are two dressmakers, Charlotte Hill b.1826, and Anne Biddle b.1820. Anne is the wife of Joseph Biddle b.1819. Biddle is another old established village name, this Joseph being a farmers son from Sapcote. They have two children Joseph 3, and Harriet just a month old.
Elizabeth Holmes age 62 is widowed and a licensed Victualler, her son Charles still at home is a carpenter.
James Smith b.1793 is a Chelsea Pensioner.
Edward Dudley b.1798 in Narborough is still practicing as a surgeon and still at Littlethorpe House with wife Mary nee Garratt b.1811 at Broughton Astley. They are employing a servant cook Mary Foxon b.1831 also from Broughton Astley. Sometime after the date of the census at the end of March 1851, Edward must have died because his widow Mary is offering Littlethorpe House for sale by auction on 11th February 1852, along with 5 cottages and some grazing land. Mary died in her 82nd year on the 27th January 1890. (See auction notice pictured left).
Benjamin Williams b.1796 is a framework knitter but also deals in Leeches, leeches were widely used in medicine for bloodletting, a practice believed to treat various ailments by removing blood from patients.
John Brown the son of William and Ann is aged just 9 is employed as a farm labourer, most likely a plough boy.
George Rippington b.1771 in Willoughby Waterleys is now aged 80 and still working as a road labourer, poor old George would never receive an old age pension because it wasn’t introduced until 1909.
At census schedule number 41 is Edward Willson aged 75 and employed as a farm labourer, is he employed by his son? because presumably next door at schedule number 42 is Thomas Willson aged 32 and a farmer of 50 acres employing two labourers.
Another Willson, Edmund is at schedule number 40, he and his son John aged 12 are both farm labourers.
William Ashton 32, and a glazier, we know is at 18 Station Road (known then simply as Narborough Lane, the station not there until 1864).
Zachariah Woodward b.1792 is married to Mary b.1796 and they employ Ann Hill aged 29 as a servant. Zachariah describes himself as owning 2 acres of land and a “machine”, intriguing because there would very few machines in farming during the mid nineteenth century. My guess would be a mechanical reaper and not very popular with the old farm hands because they saw it as a threat to their time old employment, although I can’t imagine reaping all day with a sickle and a bent back was good, particularly in blazing hot sun.
The Kelly’s Directory in 1855 tells us that Thomas Willey b.1821 has moved into Littlethorpe House and is also a surgeon, maybe useful because Benjamin Williams is still dealing in leeches!
The other additional trade listed is that of Enoch Sharp a carrier.
As usual any corrections or further information gratefully received!
Keep watching for part 3 which will take us to 1861.
Sources:
As with any local history research continues on this and more information will hopefully be added as it is found, so keep checking for the latest updates. In fact if you can add anything to the above please get in touch via the contact form
