This section of the family history deals with:
* The branches that died out - those branches in existence in 1700 which did not perpetuate to present times
* John A'Bear (1677 - 1743) Head of Family.
* Descendants of John A'Bear (1677 - 1743) through his first marriage to Grace Gunnell leading to current branches 1, 2, 3, SA and CA.
For descendants of John A'Bear (1677 - 1743) through his subsequent marriage to Ann ? leading to current branches 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8, click on Part B .
As far as it is possible to tell, three distinct branches of the family lived in Wargrave in the year 1700. Of these, two died out. These are included on the Part A Tree.
7th Generation
That John A’Bear (1664) married Elizabeth Cutlor is recorded in the Wargrave Marriages, and six children born to a “John” are recorded in the baptism list. The progression of these birthdates seems to fit well, and so all six have been placed accordingly. (The Stanley A’Bear tree placed only the first three children, the others remaining undiscovered at the time).
Mary A’Bear, a daughter to “Thomas and Mary”, is listed under the Wargrave Baptisms.
8th 9th & 10th Generations
Of John and Elizabeth’s children, John A’Bear (1712) married Mary Hester in 1753. This is recorded in the Wargrave Marriages list.
That Francis A’Bear (1715) married now seems uncertain. No marriage is listed. In Stanley’s tree, two children Joshua and Jane descended from Francis, but they are now placed as children of Francis (1710) since they fit the progression of dates well.
That Elizabeth A’Bear (1717) married Thomas Silver is questionable. The family deed box contained several references to Elizabeth Silver (refer to p47, 48 of The A’Bear Family of Wargrave), and “Thomas and Elizabeth Silver” (p48). In the baptism list there is an entry for Anne A’Bear (1744) “daughter of Elizabeth”, and there do not seem to be any other Elizabeths alive at the time. There is also a burial recorded of an Elizabeth A'Bear in 1755 (TAFOW pg60), but this Elizabeth would then have had the surname Silver.
William A’Bear (1720) seems to have had a son William A’Bear (1757) who is recorded in the baptism list as “William son of William”, so it is supposed that there was a marriage c1756, but there is no evidence of this marriage.
Thomas A’Bear (1724) is included as he is listed as a son of John and his year of birth fits in well.
Joshua A’Bear (1728) may well have been the father of John A’Bear (Feb 1767) listed later as “son of Joshua and Mary”. That John (Feb 1767) married Hannah and had a daughter Hannah remains a little uncertain as there were two John A’Bears born in 1767.
Hannah A’Bear (1811 - ?). Reference IGI – “Daughter of John and Hannah, baptised Scilly Isles”.
John A’Bear (1677 - 1743) remains acknowledged as the latest common ancestor of all recent generations of the A’Bear family.
By his first marriage to Grace Gunnell his surviving son heads branches 1, 2, 3, CA and SA. By his second marriage to Ann his son Joshua heads branches 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8. However, neither marriage is recorded in the Wargrave marriages list.
Grace died in 1701 after giving birth to her third child Rebecca. That her death was due to birth complications is speculative.
Five years later in 1706 John married Ann, a maidservant at Culham Court. A deed dated 1705 (described by Pope but now missing) states:
John A’Beare senior and John A’Beare junior settle the property of Woodfynings (previously belonging to the Lovelace family) upon the prospective wife of the younger – a maidservant at Culham Court. The trustee of the settlement is Stevens of Culham Court.
John and Ann produced six children.
The will of Jn. White (widow) (1726) mentions J. Abare of Wargrave. (Ref : TAFOW pg 77). Jn. White was probably the widow of Henry White who helped write John’s father’s inventory in 1711. [The spelling of the surname matches the epitaph of John’s sister Jane Abare (1681 – 1735, G/gen8), so this will may refer to her and not John].
John outlived Ann by thirteen years and was buried at Wargrave, though his grave has not been identified.
His will is dated 3 October 1741 and states:
To wife and son John A’Bear his property in Wargrave and elsewhere
To daughter Rebecca Drew £50
To son Francis A’Bear twenty shillings only
To son Joshua A’Bear £150
To son Caleb A’Bear £200
To daughter Ann five shillings only
To daughter Mary five shillings only
To 20 poor housekeepers in Wargrave one shilling each
Remainder to the sole executor, his son John A’Bear
To the 2 overseers – William Silver (brother-in-law and wheelwright) and John Barnard, kinsman of Reading, writing master – 20 shillings each.
Clearly by this time John had some money behind him, and it appears he disfavoured his son Francis, who seems to have moved from Wargrave to Hurst to raise his family.
TAFOW pg 45 No.33 records a demand for his son John to submit an Inventory of his belongings before 1744.
Amongst the papers in possession of John Burton A’Bear the following deed was apparently seen:
1704. Oct 7th Two of the parties are John Abeare Father & Son both described as of the Hill. A Deed entered into on the marriage of the son to Martha Underwood
According to the date, the reference to the son can only imply this John A’Bear. The year, however, occurs between the two other known marriages, so if this marriage ever took place it lasted barely two years. (It is unlikely the 1704 date is significantly wrong as his father died in 1711). The Wargrave burial list names two Marthas with our surname, in the years 1771 and 1801, one of which has never been placed on the tree, (the other being his son Caleb’s daughter), so there is some evidence supporting a marriage to Martha Underwood, though he must have divorced her before 1706 when he married Ann.
It is also interesting to note that in the first line of his will he writes “ To wife and son …” which suggests he had another wife, since Ann died eleven years before this will was written. This being the case it seems that John had as many as four wives in total.
9th Generation
Of John and Grace’s three children their first, John A’Bear (1695 – 1696) died in infancy.
Their second child was also named John A’Bear (1698 – 1771) and it is through his marriage in 1744 to a wealthy widow Alice Whitfield (nee Burton) that the family fortunes were to change. After his marriage improvements were soon made to Hill House which converted it from a fairly humble yeoman farmer’s cottage to a substantial gentleman’s house. Alice was the widow of a wealthy property speculator.
TAFOW pg 45 No. 32 names her late husband:
3 October 1742
Agreement between William Bayer and Alice Whitfield, widow of Edmund Whitfield of Ruscombe, concerning lands in Warfield.
John’s father died in 1743, and he was instructed to submit an Inventory of his belongings by 1744. Ref : TAFOW pg 45 No. 33.
Two further deeds (TAFOW pgs 45,46 Nos. 34,35) give us further family information, and indicate a transfer of land and payment of money in connection with her late husband’s will:
20 August 1744
John Abear, Peter Whitfield and John Bunt of Caversham, Oxon, yeoman.
Wood Fynings – 12 acres and Helliars – 3 acres “do lye together and do abut upon the lane … lading from Hare Hatch to Lawrence Waltham”.
Coppinge Croft in Woodrow, Milley Field – 13 acres, Lye Croft – 6 acres. For 5 shillings and a rent of one peppercorn.
22 August 1744
Agreement between John Abear the elder of the hill, yeoman, and Alice Whitfield of Ruscombe, widow of Edmund Whitfield, Peter Whitfield of Wargrave and John Bunt of Caversham. Regarding Edmund Whitfield’s will of 19 December 1741 which would give £150 to his sons John and Edmund when they should attain the age of twenty one. (Alice is the sole executor and residual legatee – she is shortly to marry John Abear).
John will make over to his sons-in-law the crofter close of meadow pasture and wood called Wood Fynings and Coppinge Croft in Woodrow. Clays or Laggs – formerly part of the Manor. 13 acres of arable land within a common field called Milley Field Lye Croft.
£200 legacy to Elizabeth Whitfield, also, when she comes of age.
John and Alice had two children, John A’Bear and John Burton A’Bear, although Stanley A’Bear’s tree also names Anne A’Bear (1751) as a daughter who married Edmund Whitfield in 1769. To date no evidence has been found for this marriage, but according to TAFOW pg59 there is evidence that she was born, as she was baptised "Anne, daughter of John A’Bear” in 1751.
In his will of 1769, and in which he named himself “gentleman”, he states:
To wife Alice A’Bear – either dowry or the yearly sum of £20 “during the term of her natural life” to be taken in the form of equal quarterly rents (Layday, Midsummer Day, Michaelmas Day and Christmas Day) from the freehold lands and tenements henceforward under the ownership of son John A’Bear. Also, a half part of the household goods – “plate, linen and implements of household”. And the sum of £20.
To son John A’Bear and son in law Edmund Whitfield £150 (interest - £4 yearly) (? to be transferred to son John Burton upon the death of Alice.
To son John Burton £850
To son-in-law Edmund Whitfield £5 for mourning.
To daughter-in-law Elizabeth ?Nailer (Nalder?) £5 for mourning
To the poor of Wargrave 50 shillings
To son John A’Bear the remainder of copyhold estates.
From this will and the deeds before it we know Alice’s late husband Edmund Whitfield died in 1741 or 1742, and they had two sons named John Whitfield and Edmund Whitfield and a daughter Elizabeth Whitfield who married and became Elizabeth Naider or Nalder. Peter Whitfield was probably Alice’s brother-in-law. Since Alice was born in 1713 her three children would all have been quite young when their father died.
TAFOW pgs 62,63 states that a poll of the freeholders of Oxfordshire dated April 1754 recorded that John Abare of Wargrave owned land in Caversham at this time, occupied by Thomas Stevens.
TAFOW pgs 57,58 quote an extract from the diary of Richard Lovell Edgeworth dated 1765 who lived briefly in Hare Hatch at this time. He described the neighbours as wealthy but unostentatious people who enjoyed tea together, and a game of cards and conversation in the evenings.
In 1770 TAFOW pg 49 No.46 states that John Abeare pays a fine to be admitted tenant to Sheppards, formerly belonging to Thomas Young, and John Young his son.
John died in 1771 and is buried in the graveyard at St Mary’s, Wargrave. (Graves Photo 1)
In Alice’s will of 1776 she is declared a widow. The beneficiaries are John Burton A’Bear, Edmund Whitfield and John A’Bear her sons, and Elizabeth Nalder her daughter. Mention is also made of her uncle Richard Breach, deceased. Alice died in 1794 and was buried at St Peter’s, Caversham. (Ref: Oxfordshire Parishes Transcripts)
Their third child was named Rebecca (1701). It is known that Rebecca married Richard Drew, a collar maker from Ruscombe. They married in 1724 and had six children:
Grace Drew baptised 9 Jan 1735 in either Wokingham or Ruscombe.
Rebecca Drew born about 1731
Richard Drew born about 1730
There were also three daughters buried at St Nicholas, Hurst: Jane (buried 1742), Mary (buried 1753) and Ann (buried 1754).
Richard and Rebecca settled in Hurst around 1740, which may be why her step brother Francis also lived there.
Rebecca Drew married Thomas Braymore. Richard Drew married Elizabeth Fisher and Grace Drew married Thomas Collis, also a collar maker or harness maker. When Thomas died in 1796 he left property in Hurst (Whistley Mil), Winchester and Sherfield upon Loddon to his various sons.
Information provided by Diane Cole, Richard & Rebecca’s 6xgreat granddaughter, to whom grateful thanks.
John A’Bear (1745 – 1795) inherited Hill House from his father upon his death in 1771. At this time three deeds record the following details (ref : TAFOW pgs 49,50) :
6 November 1771
The Prerogative Court of Canterbury affirms John A'Bear's will. John A'Bear the younger promises to submit an Inventory of his property to the court by the last day of May 1772.
12 October 1772
To this court comes John Abeare after the second proclamation to that purpose and prays to be admitted to one close of land called ?pinnere? which came into the hands of the Lord of the said Manor by the death of John Abeare his late father. He pays a fine of 1 shilling.
12 October 1772
To this court comes John Abeare after the second proclamation made for that purpose and pays to be admitted tenant to 14 acres of arable land lying in the common fields of Wargrave. To witt, 8 acres and a half lying in North field one piece called the 5 acre piece and one piece called the pitt piece containing by estimation 3.5 acres of land adjoining to the land of Mr Kent upon the east and 2 acres of land in the ? - ? and Southfield and 2 acres of land lying in Southfield aforesaid and 1 acre of land lying in Oldfield in Wargrave aforesaid and one half acre of land lying in Mumbury field near the watercourse which came into the hands of the Lord of the said Manor by the death of John Abeare his late father …He pays a fine of 2 shillings and six pence ? and a yearly rent of 10 shillings?
John's widowed mother lived another twenty four years. During this time John married Mary Newell of Bray. Their marriage is recorded in the Wargrave Marriages list for 1781. John and Mary had two children John A’Bear (1784) and John Newell A’Bear (1785).
Several deeds are listed in TAFOW pages 51 and 52 in which John is admitted to land and property:
24 June 1785
To this court comes John Abeare of the Hill in the Parish of Wargrave and prays to be admitted tenant to 2 acres of land lying dispersedly in Northkinfield and 1 acre of arable land in Southkenfield with the appertuances which came into the hands of the Lord of the said Manor by the surrender of Simeon Rockall…A fine of 4 pence.
24 June 1785
John Abeare (gent) pays a fine of 1 shilling and a rent of 6 pence for 1 acre – Heddington Plot – with the barn adjoining, in Harehatch. Former owner – Simeon Rockall.
24 June 1785
John Abeare (gent) pays a fine of 1 shilling and six pence for ?Clays, Laggs?, formerly belonging to Simeon Rockall.
24 June 1785
John Abeare (gent) pays a fine of 1 shilling and sixpence for 10 acres of land 7.5 acres in Northkinfield (including Butt Piece – 3.5 acres, Clout Piece 2.5 acres, Pitt Piece – 2 acres) and 1.5 acres in Southkenfield. The remainder near Ruscombe Field. [This land was formerly owned by Jane Rockall(1778), and before her, Robert Sayer].
21 April 1790
John Abear Gentleman admitted to Dean Croft, formerly Esther Day’s, for a fine of 6 pence.
21 April 1790
John Abear admitted to Towers for 5 shillings, formerly Esther Day’s.
21 April 1790
John Abear pays a fine of 5 shillings for Dean Croft in Woodrow, formerly belonging to Esther Day, widow.
This John is probably the John who helped sponsor the making of Thomas Pride’s map of Reading and the surrounding countryside, and whose name beneath the A’Bear coat of arms appears in the margin of this map dated 1790. (Ref : TAFOW pg 72).
His will was written in 1792 in which he is named “John A’Bear gentleman of the hill”. The beneficiaries are Mary, his wife, John A’Bear his first son and John Newell A’Bear his youngest son, John Burton A’Bear his brother, Henry Newell of Bray and William Newell of Shiplake, gentleman. Mention is also made of John Butler, occupier. John Butler is also mentioned below in 1798.
John died in the same year as his mother Alice, in 1795. In an inventory of his property he owned 230 acres at the time of his death, and owned “Brewery utensils of every description and two dozen sheets …”. (ref TAFOW p53 and p64).
This inventory followed a lot of rather interesting correspondence between the owner of a home for mental patients in Melina Place, St Johns Wood, where John A’Bear was a patient, and his relatives at Greys Green, a Mr Johnson of Hennerton and a Mr Wakefield of Hare hatch Cottage. It would appear that the fields on the Hare Hatch side of Tags Lane had long been rented by but never owned by the A’Bear family and, to the gentleman’s disgust, they were thrown on the market and were bought by Mr Johnson, Mr Wakefield and a Miss Fremont. John A’Bear finally had delusions, thought he had lost his property, and prayed his nurses for a gun that he might scatter his brains. Going from bad to worse he soon died – aged barely 50 – but in the meantime the conveyances to Johnson and the others could not be completed and the letters they wrote to Mr A’Bear’s helpless relatives testify that they had all become rather uneasy about their purchases. ( Ref – Pope).
Following her husband’s death, Mary and Henry and William Newell set about readmission to John’s land and property. (Ref : pgs 53, 54 TAFOW) :
18 April 1796
Henry Newell, William Newell and Mary A’Bear pay a fine of 1 shilling to be admitted to ?Pinnere? close, formerly John A’Bear’s.
18 April 1796
Henry Newell, William Newell and Mary A’Bear pay a fine of 4 pence to be admitted to 2 acres of land in North Ken field and 1 acre of arable land in South Ken field, formerly John A’Bear’s.
18 April 1796
Henry Newell, William Newell and Mary A’Bear widow ask to be admitted tenants by the Lord of the Manor “to all that close of land called Sheppards part of the copyhold premises to which John Young Esquire was admitted thereof at a court holden the third day of October 1770 in the surrender of Thomas Young and John Young Esquire and which now came into the hands of the Lord of the Manor by the ?surrender? and last will and death of the said John A’Bear
18 April 1796
Henry Newell, William Newell and Mary A’Bear pay a fine of 1 shilling and three pence to be admitted to ?Clays, Laggs?, formerly John A’Bear’s.
18 April 1796
Henry Newell, William Newell and Mary A’Bear pay a fine of 2 shillings and 6 pence for 10 acres of land, 7½ acres in Northkinfield (including Butt Piece - 3½ acres, Clout Piece - 2½ acres, Pitt Piece - 2½ acres) and 1½ acres in Southkenfield. The remainder near Ruscombe Field (All) formerly John A’Bear’s.
18 April 1796
Henry Newell, William Newell and Mary A’Bear pay a fine of 2 shillings and 6 pence for land formerly belonging to John A’Bear.
18 April 1796
Henry Newell, William Newell and Mary A’Bear pay a fine of 5 shillings for a cottage and garden and 4 acres called Towers, formerly John A’Bear’s.
18 April 1796
Henry Newell, William Newell and Mary A’Bear pay a fine of 2 shillings for Dean Croft in Woodrow, formerly John A’Bear’s.
18 April 1796
Henry Newell, William Newell and Mary A’Bear pay a fine of 6 pence for “a little croft next to Dean Croft”, formerly John A’Bear’s.
18 April 1796
Henry Newell, William Newell and Mary A’Bear pay a fine of 1 shilling for Hiddington’s Plot – 1 acre in Hare hatch with a barn adjoining, formerly John A’Bear’s.
The Land Tax Assessment for Wargrave of 1798 lists Mrs Mary Abear as a proprietor and Jonathan Butler as her occupier, and also Mary as an occupier of two properties owned by James Hayes and Mr Adams. (Ref : TSBOW pg279). Mary died in 1828.
John and Mary’s grave can be seen at St Mary’s, Wargrave. Also buried in this chest tomb, which is a Grade 2 Listed Building, are their two sons. (Grave Photo 2)
John Burton A’Bear ( 1748 – 1829) inherited £850 in 1771 upon his father’s death. Four years later on 8th July 1775 he married Elizabeth Piercey at Rotherfield Peppard and settled in Shiplake. They rented the Farm House at Shiplake Court farm from a Mrs Newell who lived in Shiplake House. (Ref – p80, 81 TAFOW). Presumably she was related to John Burton’s brother’s wife.
They had five children, John (1775), Edmund Whitfield (1779), both born at “Reading”, then William (1781), Elizabeth (1784) and Daniel (1787) all born at Bix. It seems from this information that the family moved near to Bix in about 1780. Maybe Elizabeth’s parents died and she inherited their house. Certainly according to the reference regarding John Burton’s brother’s mental illness, by 1795 the family were living at Grey’s Green, which is at Rotherfield Greys and barely two miles from Bix.
Elizabeth died in 1820, only a month after she lost her youngest son in a tragic accident, and following this Mrs Newell and her son moved back into Shiplake Farm House and put the whole property up for sale. By this time John Burton was quite elderly. He died nine years later in 1829. John and Elizabeth share a grave at Shiplake with their son Daniel. (Grave Photo 7)
Anne A’Bear (1751 - ?) is listed as baptised at Wargrave on 10th May 1751 “Daughter of John A’Bear”. Ref : TAFOW page 59. Since no other John seems likely, and the year fits well as a family progression, Anne has been placed here. There is some doubt as to whether this reference is correct. Stanley A’Bear’s tree also indicates her marriage to Edmund Whitfield in 1769. To date no evidence has been found for this marriage.
11th Generation
John and Mary had two children John A’Bear (1784 – 1818/19) and John Newell A’Bear (1785 – 1840). These brothers lost their father whilst they were still children, and Mary must have needed help to keep Hill Farm running. Clearly she would have turned to John’s brother John Burton and his eldest son, even though they had their own land to farm away from Wargrave. As the children grew older though they must have learned to take charge, for the 1818 Enclosure Award allotted numerous parcels of land to John. In fact page 57 of Pope’s book quotes the following:
The Commissioner for the Wargrave Inclosure Award of 1818 was John Davis of Stoke Row, Oxfordshire. The other signatories were Harry Fonnereau of Linden Hill, J. Stanford Girdler of Little Scarletts, Charles Hayes, Sarah Hill of Wargrave Hill, Penny Young of Hare Hatch House, Mr. Thompson, Mary Jones, and John A'Bear of “The Hill”. Under this and other Inclosure Acts much common land was enclosed and parcels of it given to land owners as compensation for common rights and for ground given for road widening schemes. (Enclosure Award)
Sadly John’s life was short, for he died aged only about 34 years.
The 1841 Tithe Terrier also shows substantial land that had been owned or occupied by John Newell A’Bear. (1841 Tithe Terrier) Neither man seems to have married, and so the Wargrave property and acreage must have been bequeathed to the brothers’ cousin John (1775 – 1845). In the 1841 census report there is no mention of Hill Farm, and it seems likely that it remained unoccupied for a while after John Newell’s death (ref p.80 The A’Bear family of Wargrave ). Both brothers were buried at St Mary’s, and in the same grave as their parents. ( Grave Photo 2)
John Burton and Elizabeth had five children:
Their first son John A’Bear (1775 - 1845) was born at Reading. He grew up and married Sarah Stevens in 1812.
TAFOW pg 55 states the following deed:
24 April 1812
Sarah Stevens ?sells? a house in Lower Street Caversham to Thomas Stevens (Surrey), James Stevens (Shoreditch) and Edmund Whitfield Abear (Shiplake) (farmer). Presently rented by Alice Stevens widow – pending a later agreement to be made with John Abear of Bix.
They had three children, John Daniel A’Bear ( 1814), John Burton A’Bear (1816) and Alice (1818) all born at Bix.
Another deed (ref : TAFOW pg55) states :
14 October 1820
The Prerogative Court of Canterbury proves the will “of Mary Stevens formerly of Caversham but late of the Parish of Bix both in the county of Oxford spinster deceased”. All property to Sarah Stevens. Executors Sarah Stevens and sister Elizabeth Bowlby and brother James Stevens.
As the firstborn John would have inherited his father’s land upon his death in 1829, and he continued to farm in Bix and Ipsden. Upon John Newell’s death in 1840 it seems John inherited Hill Farm and its associated property. He and Sarah are buried together at Ipsden. (Grave Photo 8) John’s will is long and explicit. In it he takes every precaution to favour his second son John Burton and not his first, who clearly fell out with his father through his ungentlemanly behaviour. He bequeathed the Hill Farm property to his nephews Edmund (1822) and Thomas (1830), and left his other holdings to his second son John Burton. It reads as follows:
This is the last Will and Testament of me John A'Bear of Ipsden in the County of Oxford Gentleman. I direct that all my just debts funeral and testamentary expenses be fully paid and discharged as soon as conveniently may be after my decease I give and bequeath unto my son John Burton A'Bear and my nephew Edmund Whitfield A'Bear the younger their executors and administrators the sum of one thousand pounds three per cent consolidated Bank annuities to hold to the said John Burton A'Bear and Edmund Whitfield A'Bear the younger their executors and administrators upon the trust and for the intents and purposes hereafter mentioned that is to say upon trust to receive the interest dividends and annual procure of the said sum of one thousand pounds as the same shall become one and at their full and free discretion either to pay the same unto my son John A'Bear or otherwise to apply the same in such manner as they shall deem most desirable and advantageous for his benefit for and during the term of his natural life and from and after the decease of my said son John then upon trust to pay or transfer all the said principal monies stocks funds and securities unto all and every the child or children of my said son lawfully begotten equally to be divided and among them share and share alike if there shall be more than one and if there shall be but one such child the whole to be paid or transferred to such one child the share or shares of such of them as shall be a son or sons to become vested in him or them respectively on his or their attaining his or their age or respective ages of twenty one years and the share or shares of such of them as shall be a daughter or daughters to become vested in her or them respectively on her or their attaining her or their age or respective ages of twenty one years or on the day or respective days of her or their marriage which shall first happen provided always And I declare my will to be that if any such child or children being a son or sons shall depart this life before he or they shall attain his or their age or respective ages of twenty one years or being a daughter or daughters shall die before she or they shall attain that age or be married then the share or shares of him her or them so dying shall go and assign to the survivors or survivor or other or others of such children and be equally divided amongst them if more than one share and share alike and the same shall become vested and payable or transferable at such ages days and times as his her or their original portion or portions are hereby directed to become vested and payable or transferable as aforesaid provided also I hereby direct that it shall be lawful for the said John Burton A'Bear and Edmund Whitfield A'Bear the younger or the survivor of them or the executors or administrators of such survivor after the decease of my said son and before the share or shares of any of such children shall become vested and payable by virtue of this my will to pay and apply all or such part of the interest dividends and annual proceeds of his her or their share or presumptive share as to the said John Burton A'Bear and Edmund Whitfield A'Bear the younger or the survivor of them shall seem reasonable towards the main tenance and education of such children or any or either of them and also to pay and apply any part not exceeding one half of the share or presumptive share of any of the children of my said son respectively of and in the said principal trust fund for the putting or placing him her or them to or in any trade business profession or employment or otherwise for their or his preferment of advancement in the World notwithstanding the part or share of such child shall not then have become payable or a vested interest in him or them respectively provided always and in case my said son John A'Bear shall be desirous to marry and shall enter into a contract of marriage with the consent and approvation of my said trustees then and in such case it shall be lawful for my said trustees or the survivor of them his executors or administrators but in their or his full and free discretion to settle and secure any woman whom he may marry with such consent as aforesaid for the term of her natural life for her furniture in case she shall survive and so long as she continue widow of my said son all or any or such part as they may deem expedient not exceeding one half part of the said sum of one thousand pounds and by way of annuity or otherwise as they may think proper with such powers and provisions for receiving and recovering the same as they may deem necessary and in such case the said trusts in favour of the child or children of my said son shall during the life of any such woman on whom such settlement shall be made as to such part of the said sum of one thousand pounds as shall be settled as aforesaid be postponed until after the decease of any such wife or widow of my said son and in case my said son John A'Bear shall depart this life without leaving lawful issue or leaving issue all of them shall die under the age of twenty one years and without having been married then upon trust that they my said trustees or the survivor of them his executors or administrators do and shall (subject to any settlement which may have been made of any part of the said trust fund upon any woman whom my said son John may marry as aforesaid) pay assign and transfer the said sum of one thousand three per cent consolidated bank annuities or the stocks funds and securities in or upon which the same maybe placed out and invested equally between and among my son John Burton and my daughter Alice their executors and administrators to and for their own use and benefit and also that it shall and may be lawful for my said trustees or the survivor of them or the executors or administrators of such survivor from time to time at their or his discretion to alter vary and transpose the stocks funds and securities upon which the said sum of one thousand pounds is now invested to such other securities of the like nature or to place out the same upon freehold security at interest as to them or him shall seem expedient I give and devise unto my nephews the said Edmund Whitfield A’Bear the younger and Thomas Bowlby A’Bear and their heirs all that my messuage or tenement farm and lands situate at Harehatch in the parish of Wargrave in the County of Berkshire called The Hill Farm and also the lands lately purchased of Mr. Wakefield and all other my lands in Wargrave with the rights members and appurtenances to hold the same unto the said Edmund Whitfield A’Bear the younger and Thomas Bowlby A’Bear and their heirs to the uses upon and for the trusts intents and purposes hereinafter mentioned that is to say to the use of the said Edmund Whitfield A’Bear the younger and Thomas Bowlby A’Bear their executors and administrators for the term of two hundred years to be computed from the day of my decease and fully to be complete and ended and from and after the expiration of the said term of two hundred years and in the meantime subject thereto and to and to the trusts thereto to the use of my said son John Burton A’Bear his heirs and assigns forever And I hereby declare that the said Edmund Whitfield A’Bear the younger and Thomas Bowlby A’Bear and the survivor of them his executors or administrators shall stand and be possessed of and interested in the said messuage lands and hereditaments for the said term of two hundred years to the use intent and purpose that the said Edmund Whitfield A’Bear the younger and Thomas Bowlby A’Bear shall and may during the term of the natural life of my said son John A’Bear receive and take the annual sum or yearly rent of one hundred pounds of lawfuil money of Great Britain clear of all deductions whatsoever to be issuing out of and charges upon the said messuages lands and hereditaments herein before devised and to be payable and paid to them by four equal quarterly payments on the twenty fifth day of March the twenty fourth day of June the twenty ninth day of September and the twenty fifth day of December in each year the first quarterly payment thereof to be made on such of the said quarter days as shall first happen after my decease And I hereby give to the said Edmund Whitfield A’Bear the younger and Thomas Bowlby A’Bear and their assigns such powers of entry and distress on and sale of the same messuage lands and hereditaments or any part thereof for recovering and compelling payment of the said annual sum of one hundred pounds if in arrear for the space of twenty one days after either of the said quarterly days of payment whereon the same shall become due and payable as are given by law to Landlords for recovering rents in arrear upon common demises And I hereby declare that the said Edmund Whitfield A'Bear the younger and Thomas Bowlby A'Bear and the survivor of them his executors or administrators shall stand and be possessed of the said annuity or yearly rent charge of one hundred pounds upon trust to receive the said annuity as the same shall become due and payable and to pay the same unto my said son John A'Bear or otherwise in their full and free discretion to apply the same in such manner as they shall think most desirable and advantageous to him for and during the term of his natural life And I hereby declare that from and after the decease of my said son John A'Bear and the payment of the said annuity and all arrears thereof up to the day of his decease the said term of two hundred years shall cease and shall sink into and merge in the freehold and inheritance of the said messuage lands and hereditaments I give and bequeath unto my daughter Alice the sum of one thousand pounds three per cent consolidated Bank annuities and for her own use and benefit to be paid or transferred to her within the calandar months after my decease I give devise and bequeath all the Rest and Residue of my money securities for money goods chattels and also all other my estate both real and personal whatsoever and wheresoever and whether in possession reversion remainder or expectancy unto my son John Burton A'Bear his heirs executors administrators and assigns to and for his own use and benefit provided always And I do hereby declare that if any or either of the trustees respectively appointed by this my will or to be appointed by virtue of this present power as hereinafter is mentioned shall happen to die or be desirous to be discharged from or refuse or decline or become incapable to act in the trusts hereby in them respectively reposed as aforesaid before the said several trusts shall be fully executed then and in such case and when and so often as the same shall happen it shall and may be lawful to and for the surviving or remaining trustees or trustee respectively or the executors or administrators of the last surviving or continuing trustee by any deed or deeds instrument or instruments in writing to be by them him or her signed sealed and delivered in the presence of and to be attested by two or more credible witnesses from time to tome nominate substitute and appoint any other person or persons to be a trustee or trustees in the stead or place of the trustee or trustees so dying or desiring to be discharged from or refusing declining or becoming incapable to act as aforesaid and when and so often as any new trustee shall be nominated and appointed as aforesaid all the trust estates monies and premises the trustee or trustees whereof shall so die or desire to be discharged from or refuse or decline or become incapable to act as aforesaid shall be thereupon with all convenient speed assigned and transferred in such sort and manner and so as that the same shall and may be legally and effectually vested in the person or persons so to be appointed as aforesaid either solely or jointly with the surviving trustee or trustees as occasion shall require to the uses and upon and for the trusts intents and purposes hereinbefore expressed and declared of and concerning the said trust estates monies and premises or such of them as shall be then subsisting undetermined and capable of taking effect and the person or persons so to be appointed as aforesaid shall have all the powers and authorities of the trustee or trustees in whose room he or they shall be substituted provided also And I hereby declare the said several trustees hereby appointed and to be appointed as aforesaid and each and every of them shall be charged and chargeable respectively for such monies only as they shall respectively actually receive by virtue of the trusts hereby in them reposed notwithstanding their or any of their giving or signing or coming in giving or signing ant receipt or receipts for the sake of conformity and any one or more of them shall not be answerable or accountable for the others or other of them or for any involuntary loss that may happen to the same nor for any banker broker with whom any of the said trust monies may from time to time be deposited for safe custody or otherwise so as any such loss shall happen without their or his wilful neglect or default and also that it shall be lawful for them out of the monies which shall come to their respective hands by virtue of the trusts aforesaid to retain and reimburse themselves and to allow their respective cotrustee or cotrustees all costs recharges damages and expenses which they or any of them shall suffer sustain expend or be put unto in or about the execution of the aforesaid trusts or in relation thereto I give and bequeath to my nephew the said Edmund Whitfield A’Bear the sum of one hundred pounds sterling I appoint my said son John Burton A’Bear and the said Edmund Whitfield A’Bear the younger Executors of this my will I revoke all former and older wills and testamentary dispositions by me at any time heretofore made and declare this to be my last will and testament In witness whereof I the said John A’Bear the testator have to this my last will and testament contained in seven sheets of paper to each sheet thereof subscribed my hand the twenty second day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty three – John A’Bear – Signed by the said John A’Bear the testator as and for his last will and testament in the presence of us who in his presence and in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as witnesses – R. Twopenny, Vicar of Ipsden – John Wilder, Ipsden.
Their second child was Edmund Whitfield A’Bear (1779 - 1856), also born in Reading. Edmund was farming in Shiplake in 1812 and married Mary Ann Bowlby on 25th Oct 1813 at Caversham when he was declared “of Rotherfield Greys”. They had six children: Kate (1814), Elizabeth (1816), Mary (1819), Edmund Whitfield (1821), Thomas (1824) and Harriet (1828). All the children were born at “Rotherfield Grays”. It is possible that Edmund bought the property Rocky Lane Farm at around this time, though Edmund and Thomas were declared to be born at Greys Green Farm (which is now a Golf Course) and clearly another farm. (Ref: Oxfordshire Parishes Transcripts)
Edmund was buried at St Mary’s, Wargrave, followed by Mary, who died thirteen years later in 1869. She was buried in the same grave. (Grave Photo 5) Therefore it may be that Edmund and Mary lived out their retirement years at Hill House with their son Edmund who lived there having inherited the property (with his brother Thomas) in 1845.
Their third child was William A’Bear (1781 – 1788). He died of smallpox aged only six years and was buried at Bix. (Ref: Oxfordshire Parishes Transcripts)
Their fourth child was a daughter named Elizabeth A’Bear (1784 - ?). There is an IGI reference dated 1788 stating her to be “of Wargrave”.
Their fifth child was Daniel A’Bear ( 1787 – 1819). The cause of Daniel’s death was by drowning according to the coroner’s inquest (Oxfordshire Record Office).(ref. p81 The A’Bear Family of Wargrave). He was buried at Shiplake and lies in the same grave as his parents. (Grave Photo 7) [Shiplake lies just across the River Thames from Wargrave].
12th Generation
John and Sarah had three children:
John Daniel A’Bear (1814 - 1894) was born in Bix. On his father’s death, John Daniel should have inherited Hill House, being the eldest son. However he was disinherited due to his “wild drunken ways” and his wish to marry the family cook, Caroline Rogers. (Photo 1) They moved away from Bix to Hedding Hill, near Oxford, where they raised ten children, living on a legacy of £25 per month, payable out of the estate that his younger brother John Burton inherited in 1845. John and Caroline’s children were Caroline (1849), John Daniel (1851), Kate (1852), John William (1853), Alice (1855), Charlotte (1856), Elizabeth (1857), James (1859), Alfred (1860) and Edgar (1862). Caroline, John’s wife, had a brother known as “Uncle Rogers” who farmed in the Cathcart district of South Africa, and it was largely due to him that three of his children (Caroline, James and Edgar) came to emigrate to that country.
In later years John continued to live by independent means, but in letters that he wrote to his family in South Africa he seemed regretful about his habitual drinking.
Caroline died in 1888 followed by John Daniel in 1894. See also “The South African Branch”.
John Burton A’Bear (1816 – 1881) (Photo 2) was born in Bix. But though he grew up very much in the farming community, after leaving school in 1831 he began a seven year apprenticeship to William Dodds of Leadenhall Street, London, a Tea Dealer, Citizen and Clockmaker. (Ref p 55 The A’Bear Family of Wargrave). Perhaps at this time it seemed likely his older brother would inherit father’s property and land. By 1845 though he had lost both parents and so presumably continued managing the estates.
In 1855 John Burton married Jane Ann May (Photo 3) (who was sixteen years younger than him) and they began their family of nine children. Their first three were born at Hurst – Jane (1856), John Burton (1858) and John Edmund (1859) – then in 1860 the family moved to Hill House. Until this time, Hill Farm was owned by his cousin Edmund Whitfield (1822) and the move coincided with Edmund’s marriage. The exact terms of the transaction are not known, but one supposes Edmund wanted to move back to his father’s estates at this time, but felt Hill House and its 300 acres of land should remain in the family. John Burton and Jane on the other hand had a growing family who may well have appreciated larger accommodation and the opportunity to move back to the estate his father had previously inherited.
At Hill Farm John Burton and Jane had six more children, Thomas Newell (1861), Alfred (1863), Sarah (1865), Alice (1867), Emily (1869) and Edward (1875). The census report for 1871 indicates the acreage remained constant, but by 1881, the year that John Burton died, Jane is recorded as a Farmeress with 170 acres at Hill Farm, employing seven men and two boys. Jane struggled on for several more years raising her younger children, aided by her sister-in-law Alice A’Bear, then in 1901 the property was put on the market. (Branch 2 Photo 7) At this time the estate had been reduced in size to 114 acres and Jane was 69 years old. Jane continued living locally (at Ivy Dene, Victoria Road) and died in 1909.
John Burton lies buried with his daughter Alice (1867 – 1876) in a grave at St Mary’s, (Grave Photo 3) and there in another grave lie Jane Ann and John’s sister Alice A’Bear (Grave Photo 4)
Alice A’Bear (1818 – 1895) was born in Bix. She seems to have remained close to her brother John Burton A’Bear. She remained single and lived at Hill House helping with the raising of her nephews and nieces. Alice owned a property at White Waltham nearby. She died in 1895. (Grave Photo 4)
Edmund Whitfield A’Bear and Mary Ann had six children, all born at Rotherfield Grays:
Kate A’Bear (1814 – 1877) who married Charles Sarney of Nettlebed in 1835 at Rotherfield Greys. It is known that Charles died in 1875 at Henley, so it would seem they remained in the locality.
Elizabeth A’Bear (1816 - ?) who married John Milner at Rotherfield Greys in 1831. John was a widower of Oakford, Devon.
Mary Ann A’Bear (1819 – 1896). She died (according to her will) a spinster and was buried at Rotherfield Greys.
Edmund Whitfield A’Bear (1821 – 1888). Edmund inherited Hill House whilst still a young man in 1845 when his uncle John A’Bear (1775) died. He is recorded in the 1851 census as living at Hill House which then stood with 300 acres of land. In 1860 he married Mary Ann Willis (fourteen years younger than him) in Middlesex. According to the 1881 census Mary was born in Greywell, Hampshire. He then moved back to the Rotherfield Grays area with Mary where their seven children were born: Frances (1861), Kate (1862), Elizabeth (1866), Mabel (1868), Edmund Whitfield (1869), Alice (1871) and Margaret (1873). The family lived at Rocky Lane Farm, Bix. (Canadian Branch Photos 2 & 3) How long this property had been owned by the family is unclear, but it is possible it may have been purchased one or even two generations previously. It is believed Edmund and Mary lived there from about 1861, although the census report of that year shows that Rocky Lane Farm was then occupied by Henry and Sarah Willis and their four young children. The surname matches that of Mary, and doubtless this family was closely related. Henry was an agricultural worker, and it is possible he rented the property from Edmund’s father and worked the land whilst the family lived at Hill House. Soon after Edmund’s marriage, the Willis family must have moved out and Edmund, Mary and family moved in. According to the 1881 census, this impressive property stood with land amounting to 216 acres. At that time six men and two boys were employed to farm this land. Sadly, farming declined in prosperity around this time, and land and properties were mortgaged during the 1880s. When Edmund (senior) died in 1888, the family had grown up and some of the daughters may well have already left home. Mary then died in 1892, and the property was sold.
Thomas Bowlby A’Bear (1824 – 1883) never married and lived all his life in the Rotherfield Grays area. He lies buried in Rotherfield Grays churchyard. His burial record stated that he was of “The Romary”.
Harriet A’Bear (1828 - >1881) married Alfred Piercy in 1867 at Henley. They moved away to Tonbridge, Kent, where Alfred’s death is recorded in 1897.
13th & 14th Generations
John and Caroline had ten children:
Caroline A’Bear was born in 1849 at Summertown, Oxford. She emigrated to South Africa in about 1875 where she married Jonathan Dorning in 1877. See “The South African Branch”.
John Daniel A’Bear was born in 1851 at Summertown, Oxford and married Jane Joyce Rogers in 1874. See “Branch 1”.
Kate A’Bear (Photo 4) was born in 1852 at Garsington, Oxford and married William Henry Mountain at Cowley, Oxford in 1890. William was a draper who was born in Baston, Lincolnshire.
John William A’Bear was born in 1853 at Garsington, Oxford. When he married Sophia Packford at Cowley, he was a tailor in Oxford. Sophia was born in Headington, Oxford, so lived locally. They continued living in Headington where their two daughters Kate Alice A’Bear (1878) and Caroline Lucy A’Bear (1880) were born. Sophia died in 1914, and John in 1936 at Abingdon, Oxfordshire.
Alice A’Bear was born in 1855 at Headington, Oxford, and died aged one month. She was buried at Garsington.
Charlotte A’Bear (Photo 5) was born in 1856 at Garsington, Oxford and died in 1938 at Cheltenham, Gloucestershire.
Elizabeth A’Bear was born in 1857 at Headington, Oxford but died the following year.
James A’Bear was born in 1859 at Oxford and emigrated to South Africa in about 1875. He married Margaret Florence Marshall in Chilton, South Africa in 1885. See “The South African Branch”.
According to the 1901 census, Alfred A’Bear was born in 1860 at Bristol. He is the only sibling to be born there and it is a mystery how this came about. He married Emily Harvey – a tailoress from Islington, London - in 1886 in Oxford where his four children were born, namely Bertha Emily A’Bear (1886), John Edgar Harvey A’Bear (1888), and twins Mabel Gladys A’Bear and Elsie Margaret A’Bear (1891). At the time of his marriage his occupation was a Bed Seller’s Assistant in Oxford, but in 1901 he is recorded as living in Bristol and occupied as the Manager of a sack company. In his retirement years Alfred was enjoying cycling and fishing, described by a newspaper article of the times. (Photo 6) He died in 1934 in Oxford, and Emily died there also in 1949.
Edgar A’Bear was born in 1862 and emigrated to South Africa in about 1885 where he married Julia Kate Ballam in 1900 in East Griqualand. See “The South African Branch”.
John and Jane had nine children:
Jane Mary Anne A’Bear was born in 1856 at Hurst. Whilst still a young child she moved to Hill House in Wargrave. In 1901 Jane was recorded in the census report as living in White Waltham, a village close to Wargrave, as was her youngest sister Emily. Presumably she either moved here after the sale of Hill Farm or perhaps earlier, if Jane inherited her Aunt Alice’s house in White Waltham when she died in 1895. Jane never married. A little while later she joined her brother John Burton A’Bear and his family who had moved to a rented farm called “Cowfields” near the village of Rotherfield Peppards. (Branch 2 Photo 5) (Branch 2 Photo 6) She died aged 55 years at Cowfields (according to her will) in 1912 and lies buried there in the graveyard. (Grave Photo 9) [In fact, her grave was discovered when visited by a group of cousins on the occasion of the Family Gathering in May 2002].
John Burton A’Bear was born in 1858 at Hurst. He married Elizabeth Manners Aldridge in 1890, then Ada May in 1896. John heads branches 2 and 3 of the family. See Branch 2 & Branch 3.
John Edmund A’Bear was born in 1859 at Hurst. He grew up on Hill Farm, Hare Hatch, and is recorded in the 1881 census report, the year of his father’s death, described as the Farmer’s Son of his mother Jane Ann A’Bear (nee May). John later emigrated to New Zealand, as did his brother Thomas Newell and sisters Sarah and Emily, where he continued farming. He remained single and died whilst still quite young at Waipatiki, Danniverke, Hawkes Bay in 1895.
Thomas Newell A’Bear was born at Hill Farm in 1861 and grew up there. He is recorded in the 1881 census report, the year of his father’s death, described as the Farmer’s Son of his mother Jane Ann A’Bear (nee May). Thomas emigrated two years later in 1883 to New Zealand where he farmed near Dannivirke. (Photo 7) Later he was joined by his brother John and sisters Sarah and Emily. (Group Photo 8) Thomas retired and then lived at Napier when amongst other pastimes he was keen on playing bowls. (Photo 9) He remained single and lived to the age of 104 years Hawkes bay’s oldest citizen. (Photo 10) (Group Photo 11) He died in 1965 at Havelock North, Hawkes Bay. A tribute in the local paper stated:
“Big Bear” dies at 104
Hastings, Friday (P.A.). Hawkes Bay’s oldest citizen, Mr Thomas A’Bear, known as “Big Bear,” died at Havelock North yesterday in his 105th year. Mr A’Bear, 104 on August 27, was born in England and came to New Zealand in 1883. He farmed near Dannivirke, then retired to Napier. Mr A’Bear has one surviving relative living in NZ, grandnephew Mr James A’Bear, of Auckland. Mr A’Bear’s sister, Miss Emily A’Bear, who shard his home in Napier for many years, died in 1963 aged 93.
Alfred A’Bear was born in 1863 at Hill Farm and grew up there. He too is recorded in the 1881 census report described as the Farmer’s Son of his mother Jane Ann A’Bear (nee May). He married Ada Isabel Trehearn Richards who came from Nailsea, Avon, in 1893 at Bedminster, near Bristol. At this time Alfred was occupied as a farmer and farm bailiff at Ardingly, West Sussex. They settled near Cuckfield, West Sussex where Alfred and Ada had three children, George Burton Trehearn A’Bear (1894 - 1947) who remained single and was a farmer and clerk, Dorothy May Edith A’Bear (1895 – 1980) and Audrey Varena M A’Bear (1897 – 1968).
It seems that in later years Alfred and Ada returned to Berkshire, for Alfred died in 1932 at Pinkneys Green and Ada died in 1952 at Maidenhead. Dorothy also died at Pinkneys Green.
Sarah Bertha A’Bear (Photo 12) was born in 1865 at Hill Farm, Harehatch, and grew up on the farm. She is also recorded in the 1881 census report, though her age in the report is incorrectly stated. She emigrated to New Zealand some time later, joining her brothers John and Thomas Newell and sister Emily. (Group Photo 8) (Group Photo 11) She remained single and died in 1957 at Napier, Hawkes Bay.
Alice Jane A’Bear was born in 1867 at Hill Farm. She died still a child aged 8 years and 11 months in 1876 and lies buried at St Mary’s, Wargrave, in the same grave as her father who died fourteen years later. (Grave Photo 3)
Emily Elizabeth A’Bear was born in 1869 and grew up on Hill Farm. In the 1881 census report her age is recorded incorrectly as 15 years. In the 1901 report she is correctly recorded as aged 31 years and is then living in the parish of White Waltham, a village nearby, as was her eldest sister Jane. Emily never married and emigrated to New Zealand joining her brothers John and Thomas Newell and sister Sarah. (Group Photo 8) (Group Photo 11) She lived with Thomas and died aged 93 years at Havelock North, Hawkes Bay in 1958.
Edward A’Bear was born in 1875 at Harehatch and died in infancy.
Edmund and Mary had seven children all born at Rotherfield Grays:
Frances A’Bear was born in 1861. She is recorded as “Farmer’s Daughter” in the 1881 census report and seems to have remained single. She died at Reading 1938, so appears to have lived locally all her life.
Kate A’Bear was born in 1862 and is referred to in her mother’s will dated 1892 as a spinster. She died at Reading in 1937, so appears to have lived locally all her life.
Elizabeth A’Bear was born in 1866. It is thought she died a spinster in 1926 at Camberwell, London, as there is a corresponding record for an Elizabeth A’Bear.
Mabel A’Bear was born in 1868 and died a spinster in 1919 at Wallingford.
Edmund Whitfield A’Bear was born in 1869. He emigrated to Canada where he married Florence Cambency in 1907. See "The Canadian Branch".
Alice A’Bear was born in 1871 and died at Reading in 1950 so appears to have lived locally all her life. There is no record of her marrying.
Margaret A’Bear was born in 1873 and died in North West Surrey in 1937. There is no record of her marrying.