The "Pavey" family of Winterslow Common, Wiltshire.

This story begins with my Great Great Grandfather, William Thomas Pavey, born in Weymouth 1839. He married Jane Charlotte Edmonds, the daughter of a Constable from Corsley Heath in Wiltshire. The wedding was held at Melcombe Regis Parish Church in 1860 and the couple made their home in Weymouth. William and Jane had 14 children between 1863 and 1883, including my Great Grandmother Amelia (Millie) Pavey. Jane became quite ill after the birth of their 14th child, probably worn out. She was admitted to the notorious Forston Asylum in Charminster, Dorset, where she eventually died of multiple illnesses and Acute Psychosis. All of their surviving children grew up in Weymouth, but quite a few of the siblings moved away to live in an community in Wiltshire, about 8 miles North East of Salisbury, known as Winterslow. There were three small ancient villages, East, Winterslow, Middle Winterslow and West Winterslow, plus a community built up around The Common, which is where my ancestors settled... In fact, they all lived within a few doors of each other on Gunville Road and three of them married into local families in the same year 1897.

Winterslow, Wiltshire. 

The first of my Pavey ancestors to arrive in Winterslow was Jane Amelia Pavey (born 1863 Weymouth) who married local baker Walter John Anneetts in 1885. They ran their own bakery at No 7 Gunville Road. Jane and Walter do not appear to have had any children of their own, but Jane's youngest brother, Joseph Charles Pavey (born 1883, Weymouth) came to live with them about 1898 and worked for them as an apprentice baker and bread-maker. Joseph Charles was still living with his big sister and brother-in-law when he joined the 13th Devon Labour Battalion at the start of the First World War. Joseph had not been a healthy child and suffered with ill health during his time with Labour Corps. He was sent to France but returned home twice and was eventually discharged as "Services No Longer Required". His discharge papers state that he struggled walking, dragged his feet and had problems communicating. Joseph Charles returned to work at the bakery but died in 1922. Walter Annetts died in 1934 and Jane died in May 1945. Both were recorded as living at No 7 Gunville Road on their death certificates.

My next ancestor to turn up in Winterslow was William Thomas Pavey (born 1864 Weymouth). William followed a Pavey tradition and joined the Royal Navy when he was 15. After training at Portland and Devonport, William was stationed in the Mediterranean on board HMS Linnet for just over 3 years. On his return home in 1897 William was married to Eliza Snelling from Gunville Road, Winterslow. Eliza had been born in West Dean, Wiltshire, another small ancient village a few miles south of Winterslow, but her family were living in Winterslow by 1881. Eliza and William must have spent most of their early years apart as William was posted to the China station during the Boxer Rebellion and was awarded the China medal for his services.

William Thomas Pavey was posted to China on board HMS Wallaroo during the Boxer Rebellion 1900-1901

William was pensioned out of the Royal Navy in October 1903, but was retained as a member of the Royal Navy Reserve On the 1911 census, William and Eliza are living with Eliza's father, James Snelling at Winterslow. They also have a 7 year old son, Maurice Edward Pavey and William is listed as being a Garden Labourer and Navy Pensioner. The census also tells us that William and Eliza had also had another child that had died before 1911. At the outbreak of WW1 in 1914, William was mobilised with the Royal Navy again and was stationed at HMS Vernon, the torpedo training school in Portsmouth Harbour. I don't know the full facts, but he was seriously injured on board HMS Skylark, one of the tenders for HMS Vernon, and eventually died in 1921 as a consequence of the injuries he received. He is buried in Winterslow All Saints Churchyard and the grave is marked with an ornate carved headstone featuring an anchor motif. Eliza died in 1966 and was buried in the same grave.

HMS Skylark, a tender for HMS Vernon, the Royal Navy Torpedo School. William was injured on board HMS Skylark during WW1 and eventually died as a result of the injuries. Picture from Imperial War Museum.

The Grave of William Thomas Pavey and his wife Eliza

William and Eliza's only child, Maurice Edward Pavey, married Ida Annie Dixon. They appear to have lived their lives in Winterslow and are also both buried in the village churchyard. They had one son, Leonard Maurice Pavey (born 1933) who married Eileen Mary Glover at Laverstock, about 6 miles west of Winterslow, in 1966. They lived at "Sunningdale" on Gunville Road, Winterslow. Leonard died in 2011 and is also buried in the Winterslow All Saints Churchyard.

"Sunningdale", Gunville Road, Winterslow Common; The home of Leonard and Eliza Pavey.

The next family link in the village is Absalom Pavey (born 1873 Weymouth), who had also joined the Royal Navy when he was aged 15. Absalom spent some of his career serving in the Mediterranean and was also stationed at the Channel Islands aboard Banterer Class Gunboats for a few years.

Absalom Pavey served aboard the Battleship HMS Ramilles in the Mediterranean 1893-1896.

In 1897 Absalom married Margaret Collins of Winterslow and by 1901 they were also living on Gunville Road with their two children Margaret Helen Pavey (known as Daisy) and Bernard Claude Pavey. Absalom was pensioned out of the Royal Navy in 1909 and was a patient at Kings College Hospital, London, when the 1911 census was taken. Margaret was working at the Winterslow Spinning factory on Middleton Road. 

Employees posing outside the Winterslow Spinning and Weaving Industry factory, top row from left is Ethel Lawes, Fanny Green, Reginald Harding, Mr Reynolds, MARGARET PAVEY, Dolly Horner, Myria Tucker, middle row from left is Rose Young, Lily Rogers, Hardy, Ann Collins, Sarah Jane Collins, Shears, Louie Yeates, bottom row from left is Harry Hardy, Arthur Reynolds: Photo from 1912. Photograph from; history.wiltshire.gov.uk

Like his older brother, Absalom was mobilised for duty at the outbreak of WW1 in 1914, but he was deemed medically unfit for service and was assigned shore duties during the First World War.  Absalom died in Newbridge Hospital, Salisbury in February 1952, but his home address was still given as "Gorey", Gunville Road, Winterslow on his death certificate. The name "Gorey" could be a connection to his time served in the Channel Islands as Gorey Castle was a military base for British forces in Jersey, this is purely conjecture though.

Daisy Pavey married Herbert Charles Gillingham in 1917 at Chute Forest, Wiltshire, which is heading north away from Winterslow near Andover. Her brother Bernard certainly grew up and lived his life in Winterslow and married Edith Rosalind Bray. They had two sons, Kenneth John Pavey (1931-1993) and Robert Pavey (1936-). Edith died in 1973 and Bernard died in 1991. Both of them are buried in All Saints churchyard. Kenneth is also buried in the same churchyard. Robert was married to Carol Bates. 

The Grave of Bernard and Edith Pavey, All Saints, Winterslow, Wiltshire.

Charlotte Pavey (born 1875 Weymouth) was my next ancestor to arrive in Winterslow. In 1897 she married Rufus Collins (Margaret's brother), another Winterslow baker. In 1901 they were both running a bakery in Southampton. Charlotte's younger brother Walter Pavey (born 1876 Weymouth) and her sister-in-law Eliza (William's wife) were also living and working with them. By the time the 1911 census was taken, Rufus and Charlotte were  back in Winterslow and living on Gunvile Road. They had two sons Walter Reginald Collins (born 1898) and Harold William Collins (1906-1981). Rufus was working as an Insurance Agent. Rufus died in 1943 and his address on his will was Gunville Road, Winterslow. His effects were left to his son Harold, who was also employed as an Insurance Agent by this time. I have no further information on what became of Harold or Walter.

 If anyone reading this post has knowledge photographs or connections to the Pavey's of Winterslow I would very much like to hear from. Please email here or leave a comment below.

Kenneth John Pavey published a booklet for a history competition in 1989 ... "People & Families Of Winterslow". In the book Ken recalls his childhood during WW2 whilst he was living at Timmins Mead, Middle Winterslow. Ken also penned a short history of the soldiers and sailors named on the Winterslow War Memorial.

Bernard Claude Pavey also published some of his memories as a booklet for the same history competition in 1985 ... "Taint Like Twer in Granfer's Time".

Copies of these publications are held at the Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre in Chippenham. I would be very interested in purchasing copies of these if they exist.

The ladies of the local Womens Institute produced a History of Winterslow which I would also be very interested to read.

Information and photographs for this post were obtained from the Winterslow Parish Website. , Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre , Find A Grave.com and Naval History.net

All Saints Church, Winterslow.