After completing my last article on the Cutbush family, which
appeared in the March 2005 newsletter, I decided to visit Leatherhead in an
attempt to discover some of the places that Laura, George and their brother
Walter would have known. I was also very pleased to discover, along with
the help of a fellow researcher who provided me with the details, Laura and
George on the 1861 census, thereby giving their whereabouts in all the censuses
that they would have been alive for.
To recap:- their brother Walter was still in Wadhurst
in 1861, living with his mother Elizabeth and his stepfather William Reed
and his two younger half-sisters Flora Jane and Celia Elizabeth at the
blacksmiths in St James’s Square.
I found that George Cutbush had moved to Hampshire where he
was a draper’s assistant in Draper's Bazaar, Commercial Road, Portsmouth and
his sister Laura was also a draper’s assistant but she was along the coast at
Southampton. It seems the siblings were learning their late father’s trade.
When they reached 21 they were entitled to money from their father’s estate.
Laura would have reached 21 in 1859 and George in 1860. Walter had to wait until
1862 to receive his share.
We know that George married Mary Jane Walker at St Martins-in-the-Fields
in January 1865 and in February his sister Laura married Alfred John Blaker
at the same church. Alfred was an ironmonger who was born in Worthing.
Laura and Alfred had two children, Alfred George in 1866 and William in
1868. Both children were born in Leatherhead. George and Mary Jane also
had two children, Laura Jeannie born 1867 and George Walker in 1868. Sadly
Laura Jeannie died the following year.
Walter Cutbush had married Mary Jane Cutbush’s sister Isabel
in May 1867 at the same church as his siblings had married. It is nice to think
of the three children being so close and planning their lives and livelihoods
round each other.
George and Walter opened their own grocer and draper shop and the following
advertisements appear in a Street Directory for 1867:-
‘Cutbush George J and Walter, Grocers and linen drapers, Bridge
Street, Leatherhead.’
‘Blaker Alfred, Furnishing and general ironmonger, gas fitter,
whitesmith and well hanger,
iron fencing and hurdles etc, and dealer in agricultural implements, North Street,
Leatherhead.’
On arriving in Leatherhead I made straight for the centre
of the town with high hopes of finding Blakers Brothers store. Unfortunately
for me most of the centre of Leatherhead has been redeveloped, so I was unable
to see either of the shops. However I did find the site of Alfred’s Ironmongers
which had stood in a very prominent position, right in the centre of the town.
It opened in 1858 and carried on until the 1930’s, many years after Alfred’s
death in 1907. Its neighbour had been the Swan Hotel, a very old inn, which
had also been knocked down. The shopping centre has taken its name and the site
of the Swan is now a Travelodge. Slightly disheartened I wandered around looking
for Fairlight Terrace, which in 1871 was the home of Walter Cutbush, his wife
and their many children, and found once again that this sadly is no more.
I did have more luck though on my visit to the huge Parish
church of St Mary and St Nicholas. I had a wander around looking for either
Laura or George, both of whom died in Leatherhead Laura in 1870 and George in
1871. I have to say that I was rewarded this time after only five minutes when
first to be found was Laura’s headstone which was remarkably clear after 135
or so years, and I was pleased to find George’s headstone almost opposite his
sisters both facing each other. His headstone was slightly worn and it took
a while to read.
Sacred to the memory of Laura Elizabeth wife of Alfred Blaker
departed this life March 19th 1870 aged 32 years.
‘Thy will be done’.
Also of Louisa Jane wife of Alfred Blaker who departed this life October 25th
1901 aged 60 years.
‘Her end was peace’.
Also Alfred Blaker who died July 16th 1907 aged 76 years.
‘Until the day break’.
In affectionate remembrance of George John Cutbush
who died at Leatherhead 11th January 1871 aged 40 years.
‘Thy will be done’.
Also Laura Jeannie daughter of George John and Mary Jane Cutbush
who died at Leatherhead aged 13 months
‘Suffer the little children come unto me.’
Eight years after Laura’s death Alfred
remarried and went on to have four more sons. Walter Cutbush died
in 1887 aged just 44 years at his home in Camberwell, where his widow
Isabel is living in 1901 with several of their children.
George Walker Cutbush appears in 1891 as a shop apprentice
in Tunbridge Wells. Mary Jane Cutbush married again in 1873. This
time her husband was Harry Tobitt. Born in Mayfield in 1840, he appears
in the 1851 Wadhurst census at Little Durgates where his father is the
Farmer of 112 acres. They had several children.
Emma Richardson
Shovers Green Chapel
In 1809, Jacob Martell decided that his beliefs were in conflict with those
of his Heathfield fraternity and in 1810 founded a Strict and Particular Baptist
Church at Burwash.
This obviously flourished as the minutes of a meeting on 26th November 1815
contains the following statement relating to twenty-four of its attendees:-
“These presents from the Church of Christ at Burwash sendeth greeting, to
show that we most cordially comply with the request of the members that they
should be dismissed from this church for the purpose of forming themselves into
a Baptist Church in the hamlet of Shovers Green. Accordingly they were dismissed
with the full approbation of the remaining members in love; praying that they
may constantly enjoy the favor of our Lord Jesus Christ, in whose name we bid
them “Godspeed”
Signed: William Thompson. William Waghorn. William Mepham.”
The first meetings were held somewhere in the Shovers Green area, possibly
in a building on the Whiligh Estate. A formal corporate church body was set
up on 5th March 1816:-
“Brother Gates of Sandhurst read over the Declaration of Faith, and asked
the persons to signify at the end of each article, which they did by holding
up their right hands; the following were the persons (22) who gave their cordial
consent to them.
Henry Kemp
Mrs. Kemp
Isaac Hoadly
Richard Hooker
Mrs. Hooker
Mrs. Brooks
William Funnell
Mrs. Funnell
Miss Rebecca Catt
John Weeks
Mrs. Weeks
William Rabson
William Weeks
Mrs. Weeks
Samuel Weeks
George Down
John Tueson
George Slade
Miss Eliz. Wakelin
Mrs. Richardson
Thomas Worsley
Mrs. Worsley
(It was noted that John Shoesmith and his wife returned
back to Burwash).
Initially the ministry was conducted by Brother Kemp and Brother Hooker. Nathaniel
Tidd was invited from Chatham to preach and eight months later on 6th November
1816 he was ordained as Pastor. Within two weeks of his Ordination “Long
Field” (50ft x 30ft) was purchased for 10s from Messrs. Stevenson & Dann.
The minutes of the Church record on 16th November 1816:- “The church met….
and unanimously agreed that Br. Kemp should build a Meeting of Timber, with
a Gallery and Vestry, and a room over it for a study for the Minister.”
It would appear from various notes that the congregation had great difficulty
in paying for the building:-
20th Apr 1817:-
Mr. Kemp’s accounts were read – the Chapel is very much in Arrears
9th June 1817:-
Br. Worsley and Br. Rabson to visit Br. Kemp to inquire into
the reasons of his pouring contempt upon the Church
10th Sept. 1817:-
Mr. Kemp still manifesting his hostile spirit and treating
us with contempt; he was excluded from the Meeting
19th Jan 1818:-
Met and discussed the following question: - “When we may hear
the word of God to profit.”
20th Oct 1818:-
read a letter from Mr. Kemp’s Solicitor saying that, unless
the sum of £162.9.0 outstanding is paid, an action for its recovery will be
commenced against this Chapel
26th Nov. 1818:-
Brs Hooker and Worsley went to Maidstone and paid Mr. Kemp’s lawyer, without
the expense of interest or the Lawyer’s letter. (Thus the Lord appeared
for us and delivered us from the hands of our enemies)
(No clue as to the source of the monies).
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The Chapel was formally opened on 18th June 1817 with a note that the collection
was £21.0.3. of which £12.15.0 “went towards defraying the debt”.
The total construction costs are unknown but Mr. Kemp (Carpenter) was paid £310,
Mr. Mason (Bricklayer) £30, Mr. Tully (Bricklayer) £60, Mr. Sturt (Glazier)
£15.
A note in the Minutes for December 1817 allows for insurance of the Building
in the amount of £400.
Nathaniel Tidd remained Pastor until August 1822 when he moved to “The Pump
Pail” Chapel at Croydon. He was succeeded by George Down, believed to be a local
man, who remained until his death on 17th Mar 1837.
The Chapel continued without a permanent Pastor and extracts from the minutes
would seem to show some problems:-
5th Aug 1838:- William Pope, Jesse Kitchenham and Stephen Tester had to be excluded
“as disorderly members”
5th Nov 1840:- John Waghorne was excluded “for dishonesty and immoral conduct”
Then on the 13th May 1843, James Jones of Brabourne was appointed.
The minutes of the following years speak of “large and contented congregations”
and of “his good and varied works”. He stayed for a total of 45 years until
his death on 1st May 1888 aged 79 yrs. His funeral was attended by over
300 people and the shops in Wadhurst closed as a mark of respect.
The Chapel itself underwent some alteration in 1876, including the replacement
of the original timbers with brick, a new roof, an extension to the west side
and new pews.
The last “permanent” Pastor appears to have been Alfred Boorman (1893 to 1901).
The Centenary was marked by a special day long service on 27th June 1917. Presided
over by Pastors Boorman, (morning) Weeks (afternoon) and Kemp (evening), tea
being “provided for 200 people”, with a note in the minutes “We hope the day
will not close without profit”.
The minute books show that George Nicholls of Ticehurst presided over the
majority of meetings both secular and sacred from 1901 up until 30th June 1944
when “through age and infirmity” he felt the time had come to “resign the correspondence”.
During his time Ministers had been engaged at monthly intervals but he had been
referred to as “our Senior Deacon”. The last recorded regular preacher was a
Mr. Honeysett of Tenterden who continued until the Chapel was closed and sold
in the 1970’s. Robin Head
Sources:-
(NB/16) Chapel Minute Books at ESRO
The Strict Baptist Chapels of England (Vol.II) R.F. Chambers. (1953)
Sussex Genealogist Vol. 3 no 2.(1981)
A Brief Memoir of James Jones 45 yrs Pastor of the Strict Baptist Chapel at
Shovers Green (1889).
