TILL ancestry in Suffolk and Hampshire

My Till ancestry goes back to Charles Till, a butcher, who must have been born about 1790. Beyond that we know noting of him. The record starts again with his son Christopher, who was born in Badlington, Suffolk, where, according to anecdotal evidence that has come down in the family, his Till family was associated with a seed drill - hence "tilling" the land. The tree shows the line of descent. (For further information on any of the individuals, use the search facility on the home page. Maria Till and Herbert James Claud Cole have their own pages.) Tree showing line of descent from Christopher Till (c1816-1891)

Tree showing line of descent from Christopher Till (c1816-1891)

No record of Christopher's baptism exists in the IGI (although there are other Tills born in Suffolk) and census dates are inconsistent. Usually individuals have least reason to fabricate their ages when they are young adults. So, since ages in the 1841 census are rounded down five years, the most reliable estimate for Christopher’s birth comes from the 1851 census. This gives 1819.

Although it was not usual for individuals to travel far in Christopher’s time, he managed to meet Harriet Simpson in Petersfield. The meeting resulted in an illegitimate child, George, born in 1841. There is no way of knowing if Christopher was the father. Interestingly Harriet is missing from the 1841 census, possibly because the sensitivities of the time required her to keep a low profile. However, Christopher did eventually marry Harriet: on 21 Feb 1843 at St Mary’s Portea, when his (or their) address was Ayleward Street, Portsea. Her father was stated as James Till, waggoner, and her baptismal record of 26 November 1821 shows that her mother was a Sarah.

By 1851 Christopher and Harriet and appear as a married couple at Dragon Street, Petersfield. Christopher is listed as 32 head, labourer, born (about 1819) Baddicomb [sic], Suffolk with wife Harriet 29 born Petersfield, Hants and various children. George was listed as Christopher’s son.

By 1881 the couple were at Hylton Road, Petersfield, Hampshire. She was a laundress and he still a labourer.

Christopher died on 17 May 1891 at Union workhouse, Petersfield; age 76, occupation jobbing gardener, of chronic bladder disease of some years and exhaustion.
The couple had the following children:

Maria Till. She was my great grandmother and has her own page.

Mary Ann Till was born in 1850. All I know of her is that as a grown woman she lived in the Portsmouth area and her sister Maria would visit her once a year by train in the 1900s. Did she marry, I wonder?

Alice Till was born in 1853. All I know of her is that she lived in Burton on Trent where she had a small shop. Did she marry, I wonder?

Henry Till (Harry), a twin, was born around 1856. In 1881 at age 24, he was still living with his parents, working as a groom. By 1901 he was a single boarder age 45 at 21 Madelinck, working as a grocer's porter.

Samuel Till (Sam) the other twin was also still with his parents in 1881, a general labourer. Then he married a Lucy. The couple appeared in the 1901 census at "Village" Elsted, West Sussex. Lucy was age 34. The couple had sons Henry Till age 14, William Till age 11 and Christopher Till age 6. Samuel was a cattleman on a farm. Henry was a carter boy, born Harting?, Sussex. William Till was also born there, but Christopher was born at Petersfield.

Frank Till was born in Mar 1861. I know nothing more of him.

On 17 May 1891 Christopher died in the Petersfield Union workhouse of chronic bladder disease of some years and exhaustion. According to his death certificate he was age 76, jobbing gardener. The death was registered by the workhouse master.