Ann Glasson of Truro in 1861

[Glazin2018]

Good morning

I was just wondering if anybody had worked out who this married woman, Ann Glasson, was in the 1861 census at St Clement.

1861 England, Wales & Scotland Census
Thomas Court, St Clement, Truro, Cornwall
First name(s) Last name Relationship Marital status Sex Age Birth year Occupation Birth place
Ann Glasson Head Married Female 26 1835 Dressmaker Truro, Cornwall
Louisa Fowler Boarder Unmarried Female 18 1843 ... Philleigh, Cornwall

Lannanta

[Cornish Terrier]

A complete mystery!

I can find absolutely no trace of her, in the UK at least, in any records other than that one lone 1861 Census entry. Nor can I find even a remotely possible marriage in FreeBMD.

I have also checked my spreadsheets from when I worked on the Glasson families a few years back and there is nothing to be found.

CT

[Glazin2018]

Same here CT

A little to add - I think this is her in 1860 ...

Royal Cornwall Gazette - Friday 22 June 1860
Truro Police, on Thursday before the Mayor and W. T. Chappel, Esq., Ann Glasson, aged 26, was charged by Police Serjeant Woolcock, with wandering about the streets dressed in an indecent manner, about one o'clock p.m the previous day. At the time of Serjeant Woolcock charging her with her misconduct, she became abusive in language and violent in her resistance to being apprehended, and it was not until a second police officer had been sent for and made his appearance, that she capitulated, and submitted to be taken to the station. She was committed to the House of Correction for 21 days' hard labour.

Ann Glasson in the Cornwall, England, Bodmin Gaol Records, 1821-1899
Ann Glasson, aged 26 years, born about 1834 at Truro, married, a dressmaker,
Discharged in 1860 from the Bodmin Gaol - Gaol Employment: Washing
Notes: A common prostitute, wandering and behaving in a disorderly and indecent manner at Truro. Much pockmarked.
Registration Number: 26873; Volume Number: AD 1676/4/6

Lannanta

[Cornish Terrier]

Yes, I would agree that is most likely the same person. Unfortunately there is nothing in those items that offers any clue to her true identity.

One thing that has crossed my mind is that there may be one or more inaccurate 'facts' in her identity. For example - she may have been older or younger than stated and perhaps by several years or she may actually not have been married. Both the Census record and the descriptions in those two items you displayed are consistent but ................

If we consider the possibility that she was not, as stated, married then I can find just one possibility. I suspect you may be able to 'swat' this one down but it is worth a mention.

ANNA daughter of John and Wilmot (Quick) Glasson bp. 25th August 1836 Kenwyn

1. Ann/Anna sometimes interchanged
2. previous sibling baptised 1833 so Anna's baptism might not have taken place until she was up to a couple of years old.
3. born Kenwyn which is basically 'Truro'

That is about all I can come up with for now except for the possibility that, if we accept she was actually married, the marriage may have taken place somewhere outside of the UK.

CT

[Glazin2018]

CT

I agree with the issue of Ann being marriage and of course her aged being questionable.  I have kept looking for other traces of her but at this stage I have not found anything either before her arrest or after the 1861 census.

With regards to the daughter of John and Wilmot Glasson of Truro - I cannot find the couple in 1861 but I am sure this is the Anna you refer to.

Lannanta

Marriage at St Marylebone, Middlesex on the 18th August 1860.
George Frederick Parratt, of full age, bachelor, clerk in the Treasury, of Saint George Hanover Square, son of Millebrant Meredith Parratt, a Lieutenant- Colonel in the Militia.
Hannah Glasson, of full age, spinster of St Marylebone, Middlesex, daughter of John Glasson, a gent.
Witnesses: John Glasson, Wilmot Hatcher.

Royal Cornwall Gazette newspaper dated 24th August 1860
Groom: George Frederick PARRATT, Esq.
Groom Profession: of H.M. Treasury
Bride: Annie GLASSON
At All Souls, Marylebone, on the 18th instant.
Groom's father Lieutenant Colonel PARRATT, of Effingham Hall, Surrey. Bride youngest daughter, her father of Truro

1871 England, Wales & Scotland Census Transcription
Wilton Street, St George Hanover Square, London, England
First name(s) Last name Relationship Marital status Gender Age Birth year Occupation Birth place
George Fredk Parratt Head - Male 50 1821 - Clerk in the Treasury, Middlesex, England
Annie Parratt Wife - Female 35 1836 - Cornwall, Truro
Elizabeth F. Muspratt Visitor - Female 45 1826 - Essex, England
Mary Farebrother Servant - Female 34 1837 - Surrey, England
Sarah Congers Servant - Female 25 1846 - Dorset, England
Julia Matthews Servant - Female 14 1857 - Surrey, England

1881 England, Wales & Scotland Census Transcription
Oakfield, Treflis, Builth, Breconshire, Wales
First name(s) Last name Relationship Marital status Gender Age Birth year Occupation Birth place
George Fred Parratt Head Married Male 61 1820 A Retired Officer Of H M Treasury Marylebone, Middlesex, England
Annie Parratt Wife Married Female 35 1846 - Truro, Cornwall
Anne Saunders Servant Single Female 45 1836 Domestic Servant Worcestershire, England

[Cornish Terrier]

Yep, that would be her! I thought you would probably be able to eliminate her from the equation but it was worth checking.

So, another 'back to the drawing board' situation!

CT

[Glazin2018]

CT

I have been mulling over this for a long time and I always come back to one man - Samuel "the Ferret" Glasson, a blacksmith of Calenick-street in Truro.  There is a thread elsewhere on this site concerning him but I have a suspicion, without any proof, that he is a major player in the identity of this woman Ann Glasson.

As a bit of a background, this is the first mention I have recorded of him:-

15th January 1828
Samuel Glasson of Kenwyn, lab., indicted for stealing four bottles, four quarts of porter, and another four bottles property of Elizabeth Robins: acquitted.

And then from 1828 to 1864 or so he is constantly in and out of the Assizes, Courts and Bodmin Gaol.

He had a son Nicholas (1831-1833) to a supposed wife Ann but this follows:

3rd July 1832
Samuel Glasson, committed by Clement Carlyon, esq., mayor of Truro, for want of sureties in breach of peace against his wife Ann: discharged.

He must have been known well at the courts as this item would show:

Royal Cornwall Gazette - Friday 15 May 1857
On Tuesday, Samuel Glasson, alias " Ferret," a black-smith, of Truro, was charged with being drunk and violently assaulting Ann Maria Murrin, single woman, in Boscawen- street, at half past 10 o'clock in the forenoon of that day. — The assault was witnessed by Mr. Stokes, solicitor, by Mr. John North, butcher, and other persons ; and Glasson was taken into custody by Mr. Charles Marks, deputy-clerk to the magistrates. He was committed to the House of Correction for 3 months hard labour. We are informed that Glasson has passed no less than 11 years, and has eaten 24 Christmas dinners, in the House of Correction.

So we know that he is a wife and any other woman beater especially when he is drunk which is shown by the myriad of newspaper items to be very regularly.
The wife Ann mentioned above in 1832 obviously cannot be his now in 1861 wife but could this next newspaper item give us a clue?

Royal Cornwall Gazette - Friday 26 August 1853
Truro Police. — On Wednesday last, Samuel Glasson, blacksmith, was committed for 3 months' hard labour, on a charge of violently assaulting, on Saturday night, Mary Ann Williams, of Calenick-street, with whom he had co-habited.

Lannanta

[Cornish Terrier]

This would be Samuel (1804-1877) son of Robert Glasson and Jane Burt whose first 'wife' Ann appears to be still unaccounted for. He also married Elizabeth Tucker at Truro in 1866 which would suggest, if he were involved with Ann of 1861, that Ann of 1861 either divorced Samuel or died prior to the 1866 marriage.

Lots of ifs and buts involved here methinks. And also of note is that Ann of 1861 would have been only 17 or 18 if she had been the subject of Samuel's abuse in 1853.

I also checked FreeBMD and can find no Mary Ann Williams marriage to fit.

CT

[Glazin2018]

I agree with you CT, a lot of ifs and buts so I am still looking.

Samuel Glasson had a nephew - William Henry Glasson who was constantly in and out of gaol like his uncle Samuel, but more often for William it was for vagrancy.  William Henry was the son of Samuel's brother William Burt Glasson and Elizabeth nee Hill.

Royal Cornwall Gazette - Friday 15th August 1851.
August 8th - William Henry Glasson, was fined 40s and 11s. costs, for offering and exposing for sale obscene songs in the public streets, and in default of immediate payment, was committed to the House of Correction for 3 calendar months.

Royal Cornwall Gazette - Friday 25th November 1859.
Penzance Police - On Thursday last, William Henry Glasson, late of Truro, a returned convict, was charged before the Mayor with drunkenness and disorderly conduct the previous night. Fined 10s. and costs, and in "default committed for seven days".

William has not been found in the 1861 and 1871 census. This is because William Henry was in prison as the following article shows:
Royal Cornwall Gazette - Friday 15th March 1861.
Police - On Thursday, William Henry Glasson, alias Thomas Pascoe, of Penzance, was committed to prison, by J. K. Kinsman, Esq., J.P., for acts of vagrancy in calling at doors with "briefs", of which he had three; one representing that the bearer was troubled with fits and was recommended to wear round his neck a galvanised chain to be purchased by penny subscriptions; another that his wife was in her confinement and needed the necessities of life; but the third could not be found. This imposter is a tailor by trade, has submitted to penal servitude for four years which terminated at Dartmoor in August last, since which, he has undergone a month's imprisonment in the borough jail here. When taken into custody he was very drunk, and the following morning he was very solicitous to be informed for which of his bad deeds he was about to be required to give an account.

Royal Cornwall Gazette - Friday 19th July 1861.
POLICE INTELLIGENCE Truro. - On Monday, before the Mayor and W. T. Chappel, Esq., William Henry Glasson, a tailor, of Thomas's Court, St. Clement-street, was fined 10s, and 3s. 6d. costs, or in default 7 days' imprisonment, for being drunk and disorderly in Boscawen-street about 5 o'clock on Saturday evening. - He was further fined 4s. the amount of damage maliciously done by him to certain articles of furniture in the lock-up of the Police Station, while he was in custody there; and in default of payment, he was committed to the House of Correction for 21 days' hard labour.

West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser - Thursday 13th October 1870.
On Friday last a well-known character named William Henry Glasson, a native of Truro, was charged before Mr. R. G. Lakes, by P.C. Symonds, with sleeping in the open air and having no visible means supporting himself. He was committed to the county gaol for 21 days to hard labour.

Western Times - 15th July 1873
James Johnson and Wm. Henry Glasson, two tramps, were brought before J. H. Buller and J. Wreford, Esqs., on Saturday, charged by P.C. Pascoe with soliciting alms at Bow and with using abusive language. A previous conviction was proved against Johnson, who was sent two months gaol, and Glasson one, with what is called " hard labour."

What got me thinking about this man was a burial for his son William Henry Glasson in 1853; the cause of death was congenital veneral from parent from birth

Instantly the thought of the word "prostitute" came into my mind.

William Henry Glasson married Nancy Brokenshire in 1849 at the Register Office in Penzance.  In the marriage record she is named as Ann.

In the newspaper in 1856 Prostitutes are mentioned again:

The Cornish Telegraph - Wednesday 17 September 1856
Prostitutes. Several keepers of houses in this town, who devote their premises to unlawful purposes, have been summoned before the Mayor and magistrates this week and fined - Anne Glasson, of Pendarves Row, Elizabeth James, back of Marine terrace, Sally Phillips, of Neddy Betty's lane, and Jane Lobb, of Wherry-town, - all £2 each, for harbouring prostitutes and their followers.

This puts our Truro Ann Glasson who was at Truro in 1861 back in Penzance in the 1850s.  Indeed she is in Madron in 1841

1841 Census for Madron
Fanny THOMAS, 50
Nancy BROKANSHE, 11
Looks like this is probably Coinage Hall Street, Penzance in that it appears to be the last address noted about 2 pages before this family.

Finally William Henry Glasson stays out of prison and he is found again with his wife in later census:

1891 England, Wales & Scotland Census
Rosewin Lane, St Clement, Truro, Cornwall
First name(s) Last name Relationship Marital status Sex Age Birth year Occupation Birth place
William H. Glasson Head Married Male 64 1827 Tailor Penzance, Cornwall
Nancy Glasson Wife Married Female 60 1831 - Truro, Cornwall

1901 England, Wales & Scotland Census
9, Mitchell Hill, St Clement Urban, Truro, Cornwall
First name(s) Last name Relationship Marital status Sex Age Birth year Occupation Birth place
William Glasson Head Married Male 74 1827 Tailor Penzance, Cornwall
Nancy Glasson Wife Married Female 70 1831 - Truro, Cornwall

What do you think of them apples?

[Cornish Terrier]

Golden Delicious or Royal Gala?? or perhaps Granny Smith!!

And I had this family in my database all along!!! I also thought I had checked potential marriages using the forename Nancy. In the end one of the bigger obstacles to identification does appear to have been her age. And it obviously did not help that her husband was in the jug!!

I believe we can call this one 'problem solved'.

CT

[Glazin2018]

Hello again CT

I have been able to find a little more information which pretty much reinforces the assumption made as to the identity of Ann Glasson in the 1861 census.

As I said earlier it was the death of the infant son due to congenital veneral from parent that made me think.  The child, a son named as his father, William Henry was born on 16 September 1852 at North Street, Penzance.  The informant at the birth was the father.  However, the baby died some 4 1/2 months later in the Workhouse, and the reason for that is explained in the newspaper:

The Cornish Telegraph - Wednesday 06 October 1852
PENZANCE BOROUGH MAGISTRATES PETTY SESSIONS - Monday October 4th, 1852
A "Better Half" Neglected - William Glasson, described in the summons as a tailor, but much better known as a singer and seller of ballads at fairs and markets, was charged by Mr. Friggens, one of the relieving officers, with allowing his wife and child to become chargeable to this borough. In answer to this Glasson said, "he could not help it; as he had no work." Mr. Friggens, being sworn, stated that the wife had been chargeable to the common fund of the Union since the 9th of September. Defendant was a young man of 24, his wife Nancy was of the same age, and a month since their first child was born. 16s 8pence had been advanced - 10s for a doctor during her confinement, and 1s 8pence a week since. The relieving officer added something about the unpleasantness of prosecuting in such cases, but the Board thought it would be a bad precedent to let similar instances to this pass. Defendant reiterated his statement that he had no work; but the Mayor thought every one who was willing to work could now find employment, and Mr Billing, on being referred to, admitted that Glasson never worked at all. Under these circumstances, and Mr Friggens unwillingness to make any terms (as he had been tricked in a former case) Glasson was committed for a month to hard labour.

Penzance Gazette - Wednesday 19 January 1853
PENZANCE GUILDHALL - Wednesday, January 12, (Before R. Pearce, Esq., Justice.)
William Glasson of Penzance, labourer, was summoned by Mr. Vibert, assistant overseer, for deserting his wife and child on the 27th December last - Committed for a month to hard labour.

In 1854 William Henry Glasson is convicted of theft of a cotton shirt at Illogan and sent to Bodmin Gaol.  His sentence is four years penal servitude as show:

Institution Bodmin Gaol - Register No: 10597
Date Of Admission: 19th May 1854
William GLASSON, a tailor of Penzance
Committed By: J.P. MAGOR, Esq. 16th May 1854
Offence Sentence: Stealing 1 Cotton Shirt, the property of John William COOK, at Illogan, on the 15th May 1854.
Midsommer Sessions 27th June 1854. 4 Years Penal Servitude. Treadwheel &c.
3rd time at Bodmin Gaol - see 9830.
Personal Details: age 27 years, height 5-0, grey eyes, brown hair, dark complexion, oval visage, can read/write, imp, married, black mark over right eyebrow, pockmarked, dark sandy whiskers, several scars on forehead, face falls in, a black mark near outer corner of right eye.
When Discharged: 18th December 1854 Sent to Millbank Prison in charge of Dungey & White
Remarks Behaviour: once reported
Weight in 128lbs.
Letter sent 23rd May, 6th June, 5th July & 3rd October 1854, to his Wife, Ann, Parade Street, Penzance & received from same 29th May, 9th July & 25th October 1854. Received 11th July 1854 from his Mother, Elizabeth, at Truro

It is interesting to note that he wrote to his wife (named Ann in the Bodmin Gaol file - not Nancy) still living at Parade Street and that she wrote back to him suggesting that they were still a couple.  Also interesting is the letter from his mother - she being Elizabeth nee HILL of Truro and it was the surname HILL that William Henry used later in his life doing deeds that ultimately continued to get him arrested.

William Henry was discharged from Bodmin on the 18th December 1854 and sent to Millbank Prison to serve his sentence.  A year after his 4 years in prison he is reported thus:

Royal Cornwall Gazette - Friday 25th November 1859.
Penzance Police - On Thursday last, William Henry Glasson, late of Truro, a returned convict, was charged before the Mayor with drunkenness and disorderly conduct the previous night. Fined 10s. and costs, and in "default committed for seven days".

So now he is present in the town of his birth, Penzance, but also living in Truro which ties everything together quite nicely.

Lannanta

[Cornish Terrier]

A job well done!!

[Glazin2018]

CT

A little bit of icing on the cake with regards to William Henry Glasson and prostitution:

The Truro, Cornwall Police Charge Books, 1846-1896
William Henry Glasson; age d 34 years
Charge Date: 13th July 1861 at Truro, Cornwall
Residence Place: Thomas Court, St. Clement Street
Charge: Wilfully & maliciously committing damage & spoil to a "Tin Pan and a Night Utensil" at the Police Station, property of the Corporation of Truro to the amount of 4s. 4s.damages to be paid forthwith. In default imprisonment in the House of Correction for 21 days
Offender or Witness: Charged
Description: Tailor & brothel keeper.

Lannanta

[Cornish Terrier]

Hmmmm ........... rather displeased with the service I should think! It may have been more prudent to just refuse to leave a tip!