Caroline Shelton

Caroline was baptised on the 7th April 1833 in
the small village of Uley, which nestles in the
beautiful Cotswold area of Gloucestershire.
Entered in the register of the parish church as
the illegitimate daughter of Charlotte Shelton.
The 1841 census of Uley shows both Charlotte
and her daughter Caroline living with Samuel
Shelton (spelt Shilton) and his wife Elizabeth.
Relationships were not usually shown in this
census but somewhat unusually the enumerator
had noted 'wife' against the name of Elizabeth,
perhaps due to both Elizabeth and Charlotte
having 'independent' being noted by their
names. By the time of the 1851 census both
Samuel and Elizabeth have died and Charlotte
and Caroline are not found to be in the
Gloucestershire census. Their whereabouts in
1851 remained unknown to me for 30 years.

I now know that Charlotte married Thomas Chandler and started a new family as they are
found in the 1951 census in London and Caroline, Charlottes first daughter is with them, her
whereabout before had been a mystery along with that of her mother. The dates of birth of
the children in the unfolding census years show that the first two were born at Wheatenhurst
in Gloucestershire so she lived there for about four years after her marriage. The next two
children were born at Bridgewater in Wiltshire where they stayed for about another four
years. Moving then to St.George in the East in London where their final three children
were born.

In 1861 Caroline is living with the Hill family who can be seen on the Hill chasing page on
this site as I had thought they must be related in some way but that remains unproved.

In 1871 Caroline is now married to Richard Polding senior and living in Chiswick where she
was to remain for the rest of her life. There are many questions that will remain
unanswered such as how much did she have to do with her mothers second family, did they
all know each other and visit each other. Did Carolines children know of their half aunts
and half uncles. Nothing of this was handed down through the family and all my own aunts
and uncles are now passed on so the thrill to me of being able to tell them about this
extraodinary finding is denied to me and to them of knowing of it. What a shame that is.

Within two years Caroline and her husband are found to be living at 3 West Place, Turnham
Green, Chiswick and they have started to produce their family of eight children. Richard, who
had worked for Thorneycrofts Boat Builders, started his own Dairy business with their unwanted
cattle when they moved their premises.

Richards milking cows were grazed on Chiswick Back Common and milked in a shed adjacent
to The Swan Public House - and Swan Farm Dairy was therefore born.

WILLIAM born 1864 - married and had six children before dying in 1928

JOSEPH born 1865 - married and had eight children, dying in 1955 at the age of 90 years

CAROLINE born 1868 -unmarried, a laundress living at home. She died in 1932

GEORGE born 1869 - married and produced five children. And died in 1948.

RICHARD born 1870 - inherited the Dairy Business, married and had seven children. D.1935

HENRY born 1872 - A milk seller in the business, and a keen cricketer. Suicide in 1914

EMILY born 1873 - married to an Italian restauranteer, had 3 children. Died in 1926

ELIZABETH born 1876 - married and had 3 sons and died of heart failure when giving birth to a dead 8th month
term baby girl. A handed down story was told that she had died from a self induced abortion but her death
certificate.says differently.

The Funeral of Caroline in 1900 was as victorian as those times produced - A
glass hearse coach, plus three further coaches with pairs of horses. Further
described was the strong oak coffin, french polished with brass handles and
name plate, and with lid ornaments, the interior lined and embossed - in fact
what would in these days be a very grand affair cost them �14 which would be
�873 today - however this type of funeral now would cost a great deal more.

A COPY OF THE WILL OF CAROLINE POLDING nee SHELTON

This throws up an interest in who the two witnesses to this Will are in relation to Caroline
and the MARY HILL who married SAMUEL SHELTON, junr. in Uley, he being
presumerably the brother of Charlotte and Carolines Uncle.

This is the last Will and Testament of me Caroline Polding of 3 & 4 West Place Turnham Green in the county of Middlesex made this sixth day of July in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and ninety six. I hereby revoke all wills made by me at any time heretofore. I appoint my daughter Caroline Polding of 3 & 4 West Place, Turnham Green aforesaid to be my Executor and direct that all my debts and funeral expenses shall be paid as soon as conveniently may be after my decease I give and bequeath unto my daughter Caroline Polding all my money deposited in my name in the Post Office Savings Bank and all the rest and residue of all I may die possessed of or become entitiled to for her now absolute use and benefit

signed by the said Testators in the presence of us present etc., have subscribed our
names as witnesses -

1st witness - HARRIET SOPHIA HILL

2nd witness - CAROLINE HILL (spinster)

Both of 22 Park Road, Wimbledon, Surrey

RICHARDS WILL AND WITNESSES

As Carolines husband Richard Polding had made his own Will on the 20th
February 1900 naming his wife as a beneficiary it does not seem that it was
expected that Caroline would die in just five and a half months time.

Richard, also had the same witnesses for his own Will as Caroline had done,
which seems to point to a relationship as the two ladies had a new address, were
they perhaps regular visitors ? did Richard await their visit that they may witness
his Will as well ? or did they just happen to be there by co-incidence on each
occasion.

1st witness - HARRIET SOPHIA HILL

2nd witness - CAROLINE HILL

Both of 13 Hurst Road, Eastbourne.

At Hammersmith, Richard Polding of West-place, Brentford, was summoned at the instance
of the Sanitary Authority of Chiswick for causing a nuisance in the house by overcrowding.
Mr.Finnis, clerk of the Board, said the proceedings had been taken to prevent the outbreak
of an epidemic

There were eight children with the parents living in the place, with only 1,000 cubic feet of
air. The defendent did not appear, but he was represented by his wife, a short robust little
woman. Mr.Moore, the Medical officer of Health for Chiswick, said there were only two
habitable rooms in the house. All the family slept in one room.

The wife said not now. She could not get another house as she had so many children. What
could she do with the children ? If they were turned out, they would have to go to the
workhouse. Mr.Finnis, in reply to a question from the magistrate, said the Sanitary
Authority had done their duty, and were content to leave the case in his hands. Mr.Bridge
said epidemics arose, as he understood, through the physique of persons being lowered by
sleeping in crowded places, but in this case the parties were all healthy and not predisposed
to disease. He dismissed the summons.

AT THIS TIME

Richard and Caroline's family consisted of the following children -

William aged 13 years

Joseph aged 12 years

Caroline aged 9 years

George aged 8 years

Richard aged 7 years

Henry aged 5 years

Emily aged 4 years

Elizabeth aged 1 year

Thankfully for all concerned no more children appeared on the scene after the
court appearance, perhaps the housing situation proved to be an excellent
contraceptive. To have all these children living in such conditions, and to have
them survive to adulthood was indeed remarkable for those times. Charlotte must
have been every bit as sturdy as her photograph shows her to be and to have
passed those genes on as well.

The 1881 census, just over 3 years later, shows them living at 3 and 4 West Place
so they presumerably were able to rent the house next door to them as well and
one hopes that by these means there were more rooms habitable than in just the
one house.

At a point between 1896 when Caroline made her Will and dying in 1900 the
family had moved to live at 13 Acton Lane, from where they also ran the Dairy
Business.