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Parish clerks at Hampton Poyle.

There is another family connection between Joseph ELLARD and John GILES involving Jeremiah EDMONDS [6598] who took up the role of  Parish Clerk for a short time. Joseph ELLARD’s widow, Susan nee GILES married Jeremiah’s son Emanuel in 1858 just before her brother John took over as Parish Clerk. Emanuel's nephew Jerimiah SPERRIN [12688] was the Sexton at least between 1901-1911 according to census returns and Kelly’s directory.

Photograph by Eric McMullin

in April 1990

The second family member to serve as Parish Clerk in Hampton Poyle for a long term was John GILES [1044] (1818-1900) the brother of Thomas GILES [1073]. His grave is inscribed “In loving memory of John GILES who fell asleep in Jesus Sep 6 1900 aged 82 years clerk of this parish upwards of 25 years the memory of the just is blessed also Elizabeth wife of the above who died May 24 1907 in her 90th year”.

There is a hymn board in the church dedicated to J & E GILES. The small 13th century church of St Mary the Virgin has some interesting monuments relating to the Poyle family and a beautiful stone screen set in one wall.

This photograph and the following quote appear in a scrapbook that was displayed at the church at a family history event in 1990.

“At the funeral of John's daughter Jane on 24 Jan 1917 the rector said ‘With the death of Jane GILES we lose the last link with an ancient family. Her father, as Parish Clerk assisted at my induction 20 years ago (1897). In these days of change many old families are fast dying out of our villages.’ Jane is buried next to her parents.”

We have two long serving Parish Clerks in Hampton Poyle, Oxfordshire on our GILES line. The first to serve at the church of  St Mary the Virgin was Joseph ELLARD [992] the husband of Susan GILES, sister of Thomas GILES [1073] (1828-1878 our direct line). His grave is inscribed “Joseph ELLARD died 21 April 1853 aged 55 Parish Clerk for 30 years.”

If the dates taken from his MI are correct he would have been only 15 when he took the post up. The burial register has his age as 45 which fits with the baptism we have found for him. There is an entry in the Church Wardens’s accounts for 1831 listing “payment for one year clerk’s fee of £1.11.6” so he was definitely the clerk in 1830.


See also Parish Clerks in

and our Hampton Poyle, Joseph ELLARD and John GILES pages.


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