Walter Mead 1862 – 1908

1862 Born 2/06/1862  Great Dunmow (have birth cert BM3). Parents: Thomas Mead 1821 – 1887, an Innkeeper and Elizabeth Savill 1830 – 1893, living at Causeway, Gt. Dunmow. He was the sixth child of nine who survived, 2 boys dying as babes, births ranging from 1852 - 1873. His father was married previously so he also had a half brother, William, 1849. He was only one of three of the children for whom I did not find a baptism in G.D. church records: the other 2 were Elizabeth 1859 & Sarah 1871.

1863. Entry in Great Dunmow National school book about his mother and 3/4 elder brothers (Dorothy Dowsett book in Great Dunmow Library - formerly the National School).

White's Directory 1848: The NATIONAL SCHOOLS occupy a commodious building, erected in 1836, and are attended by about 120 boys and 100 girls. The dividends of £191.2s.2d. three per cent. Consols, derived from the legacy of the Rev. John Mangey, in 1782, are paid towards the support of the girls' school.

1870. Walter Mead would be one of the small boys in the above photo! Brothers Abner,1856, & Alfred,1866, maybe there too.

There was an annual fete for all the school children in August each year - held in the vicar's garden - Chelmsford Chronicle FMP

1871 Census. Living at Causeway, Gt. Dunmow.

1881 Census   His parents and some of his siblings are living at North Street [ Causeway renamed ], Dunmow at the Wheatsheaf Inn..

Walter, along with William [who is to be found living next door to his parents!] & George are missing from this. Only finding for Walter in 1881 census is as a Footman, aged 19, in Clara, Lady Rayleigh’s household at 90, Onslow Gardens, Kensington. He is listed as born in Drummond, Essex; but original writing could be interpreted as Dunmow

The Chelmsford Chronicle has an article on 8/4/1881 about a robbery from the coach of Lady Raleigh on 5/4/1881 " Rayleigh's carriage was outside the premises of the Society of Arts, John-street, Adelphi, when the prisoner was seen by Walter Mead, Lady Rayleigh's footman,to open the door of the brougham and runaway. The footman pursued the man, and the box was thrown away ".

His brother, George, 27, bricklayer, is meanwhile lodging at 41, George’s Road, Islington & is listed as a widower.

1887. He took over, aged 25, the Wheatsheaf from his father, Thomas, on 9/9/1887, the transfer of licence reported in the Chelmsford Chronicle. . Presumably his elder brothers were all settled in their lives and did not want a change! Between 1881& 1883 a D. Taylor owned the Wheatsheaf, but by ~1900 it is thought that Col. Tom Gibbons, of Randall Brewery owned it. This latter was chairman of the rural council for many years.

Walter outside the Wheatsheaf, c1887, aged ~27	St Lukes Church, Chelsea

1887 Walter Mead marries, aged 26, on 8/10/1887 to Ellen Annie Robinson, aged 24, at St. Luke’s Church, Chelsea. He is listed as a Publican at Great Dunmow on this & his father, Thomas, is down with no occupation. So the Wheatsheaf must have been passed to him prior to the marriage. And, maybe, he met his wife to be whilst working in London. She is resident at 50 Elm Park Gardens, Chelsea & her father Frank Robinson is a horse keeper. Witnesses are Charles Howard Robinson & Florence Isabel Robinson, her siblings. Have m.c. MM2. Elm Park Gardens is just to the other side of the Fulham Road, very close to Onslow Gardens where Walter was a footman in Lady Raleigh's household in 1881C. In 1891C, a widower, W J Harris, is living at 50 Elm Park Gardens, with 2 grandsons and 5 servants, so Ellen Annie no doubt was a servant there. And St. Lukes is in Sydney Street, just to the east. Walter seems to have left Lady Raleigh's household by the start of September : as Banns were published in Dunmow on Sep 4,11 &18 .'Walter Mead of this parish & Ellen Annie Robinson of St.Lukes, Chelsea'

Why Chelsea? The Robinson family moved 1876-1881 from Hatfield Broad Oak to Clapham, where Ellen Annie was also working in 1881C: had she changed jobs to one in Chelsea? Walter meanwhile had worked as a footman in nearby Onslow Gardens in 1881, so maybe they met whilst working in the same or neighbouring houses.

2012: We walked down Elm Park Gardens and visited St. Lukes, photos below.

Old print inside church	2012: Interior of Church	Celebrating Dickens who also married here 1838	Exterior today of St.Lukes

This marriage, plus the following death, is recorded in the family bible started this year.

1887 Father, Thomas Mead, dies 17/11/1887, aged 66, at Church End, Dunmow. Seemingly ill prior to Walter’s marriage and this was the reason for handing over the pub before the October marriage. . Kelly’s still have Thomas as a Beer Retailer in 1886.

1888. Florence Helena Mead  born 25/10/1888. (from family bible). She was baptised on 28/11/1888 in G.D. church, her father a publican

Walter centre, Benjamin and Alfred with jug - this improved photo from Mike

1890. Edith Constance Mead born 11/02/1890 at the Wheatsheaf. Father given as InnKeeper. Have b.c. BM4. She was baptised on 19/3/1890 in G.D.church, her father a Publican.

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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Great Dunmow Prison . . ..Alfred, Walter & Benjamin. Sign reads: Walter Mead licensed to brew and sell Beer by Retail or ?? on the premises

1891 Census. Living at North St, Dunmow at Wheat Sheaf. All born Gt. Dunmow except Ellen – Ongar.

Just Walter, and not Alfred as well, listed as Beer Retailer in Kelly’s in 1895, 1899, 1902, 1906. 1899 entry also lists 'traps for hire'.

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38 North Street close up and pictured with all its mostly terraced neighbours

1900. 11/5/1900. An article in the Chelmsford Chronicle that W. Mead, of the Wheatsheaf had received a letter from his brother, Private A Mead, a volunteer in S. Africa with the Essex Regiment

1901 Census. Living at Wheat Sheaf Inn, North St, Dunmow . This had been rebuilt in 1901 [date can be seen up high under the roof on top photo: have been unable to find out anything about this rebuilding - maybe Electoral Roll books might show something?]. No staff shown.

1905. C/E 1/2/17 Electoral Roll has Walter Mead at the Wheatsheaf Inn G.D.

1908 Dies Wednesday 4 March 1908 in Dunmow. (ref.4a.493). Aged 45. D.C.DM7 . Died 4/3/1908 at the Wheatsheaf Inn, Great Dunmow of Pulmonary Tuberculosis. Informant was his brother Alfred Mead of North Street, G.D. Recent 1987?, headstone is wrong . He was ill for some time, and his wife had straw put down in the street outside the pub so that the noise of cart wheels would not disturb him (from his grand-daughter Margery Davies 1918, Ellen Annie's 1895 daughter, still alive in 2012). He was buried on March 7th, his funeral card, below, surving 107 years in Ontario, where his daughter Florence took it when she emigrated in 1920. .There was a notice of his death in the Chelmsford Chronicle on the 6/3/1908, stating that he had been born at the Wheatsheaf, and was suffering from consumption . . He left a will, written 8/12/1803, for which probate was on 7/4/1908, London, in which he left £ 195.16s, probate to Ellen Annie Mead, his widow.

He was buried on 7/3/1908 in G. D. Churchyard, aged 45. The gravestone of him and his wife is in Great Dunmow churchyard [ his birth year and death year are incorrect]: I think it must have been redone by his granddaughter, Pett's daughter. Marjory . Also there, but in a different place and almost illegible, is that of his youngest daughter, Ellen Annie Davies 1895 - 1987.

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Pictures of Funeral card - from Nancy - & of grave, photo taken 2008: obviously gravestone has been replaced since 1928

His widow, Ellen A. Mead is listed in Kelly’s as proprietor of the Wheatsheaf in 1908, 1910, 1912, 1914, & 1917. So obviously the Wheatsheaf continued in business at least until 1917. Aged 48, she is still the Innkeeper at the Wheatsheaf in 1911C: see her entry, Ellen Annie Robinson. She died in 1928, leaving £ 385.19.7d. - so, she too left a will. ERO.

Details on her page.

Edith Mead 1890

Thomas Mead 1821

Return to family fan chart

2013 ERO search. To do in the ERO. Not digitised on SEAX

T/P 181/15/2 Dunmow newspaper cuttings 1894-1930

A6176 Ledger & Account Book of the Crown Brewery 1890-1904 Randall Gibbons

A12074 National school 1857-1888 Committee meetings