During February 1919 in Gloucester Alfred PIMBLE, his daughter and granddaughter died

I visited Gloucester Archive last Tuesday to take photos of some key PIMBLE documents and these including some of the Wills available.

Two of the Wills were for father and daughter Alfred and Emily PIMBLE, both of 70 Melbourne Road, Gloucester.

Alfred PIMBLE died on 8th February aged 76. he left his estate which included three houses in Melbourne Road, to his sole surviving daughter Emily. However sadly Emily died on the 27 February at the age of 53 and before Probate of Alfred's Will had been granted. Emily made her Will on the 24 February just 3 days before her own demise. Emily left her estate to her niece Gwendoline STRONG, Gwendoline's sister Phylis having died on the 18th February!

Separate causes of death? or a common cause? - I'll try newspaper cuttings first, other than that, can I justify the nearly £30 in certificates to find out!

The wills are to be found on www.pimble.info, though you will need to sign up for free access to get sight of the documents.

Mrs Emma PYMBLE widow of Thomas Philip PYMBLE - Tragic village fire

Extract from Ross Gazette report of 7 January 1937

Tragic Village Fire - Nonagenarian sisters burnt to death - Gallant attempts at rescue - Graphic story told at inquest.

A destructive fire, resulting in the death of two aged sisters, occurred at a cottage known as Underhill, Hoarwithy, on Friday night. The occupants of the cottage, Mrs Emma PYMBLE, a widow, and Miss WHEELER, her sister whose respective ages were 91 and 93 were burnt to death, before help could be given them. The cottage and practically all the household furniture were destroyed.

for full newspaper report visit www.pimble.info

Bankruptcy of Hentland Farmer - Ross Gazette 20 December 1893

Thomas Philip PYMBLE, Farmer, Llanfrother, Hentland, appeared on Friday at the Hereford County Court for his public examination in bankruptcy by Mr M J G Scobie, the official receiver. The debtor's gross liabilities amounted to £11605 3s 5d, but the securities were estimated at £11000, leaving £605 3s 5d due to unsecured creditors. There were no assets whatever.The bankrupt said he had been carrying on business since 1888, when his father died, and he then had assets amounting to £1230. At the same time, however, he assumed his father's liabilities amounting to £1172 17s 4d. The whole of the latter sum with the exception of an overdraft at the banker's of £764 16s 10d, he had paid in full. In addition to the other assets named, he had suceeeded his father in the possession of the real property, which, however, was mortgaged to the extent of £11000. On July 30th one of the mortgagees for £10000 seized possession of the whole of the stock and effects, and executed a sale. The bankrupt attributed his failure to depreciation in land and farming stock and to paying £400 a year as interest on money on £10000 mortgage, being £150 in excess of the present value of the property.

Was Robert PYMBLE born in Llanfrother?

Llanfrother Farm is a Grade II listed building near the village of Hentland in Herefordshire. It is a 17th century building with more recent additions.

It is sometimes claimed that Robert PYMBLE, who emigrated to Australia in 1821, was born there.

This seems unlikely, though Robert was baptised in Hentland in 1776. The PYMBLE family earliest documented connection with Llanfrother that I have found so far is in the 1850's from the Electoral Roll.

Robert's parents were Philip PYMBLE born 1739 and Mary WATKINS born c.1745. His parentage is known from his Death Certificate. Robert died in 1861 in Australia and the details of parentage were provided by James PYMBLE, son of Robert.

For many years we have been unable to find a marriage between Philip PYMBLE and Mary WATKINS. However we now know they were married in 1771 in Gloucester.

Land Tax Assessment helps us understand who occupied prpoerties and is a Tax created in 1692 during the reign of William and Mary to raise revenues and continued in place until 1963.

Assessments for the Parish of Hentland show that the MYND family were owners of Llanfrother between 1777 and 1791, as no seperate statement of occupancy is made at this time it is not possible to be sure whether the MYND family or tenants occupied the farm at that stage. The MYND family continue to be owners until 1827, however we know that John JAMES was the occupier between 1793 and 1809. Between 1811 and 1827 the occupier changes to Samuel EDWARDS.

Whether by Sale or Inheritance ownership of Llanfrother changes to Richard EVANS for the period 1829 - 1831 after which Land Tax assessments are not available in the Hereford Archives.

We know from the Census that Thomas GUY and family occupied Llanfrother in 1841.

In 1860 Thomas PYMBLE purchased the Farm for £15,000 and the Bristol Mercury recorded at the time that Thomas had occupied the Farm for many years. The 1858 Cassey Directory for Herefordshire certainly shows Thomas Pymble as Farmer in residence at Llanfrother.

This same Thomas was the son of Philip, Robert's elder brother (Robert's nephew therefore). Thomas was also the younger brother of Susannah, who married Captain John H LISTER, and who died in Australia in 1889.

Thomas died in 1888 and subsequently his son Thomas Philip occupied the farm but was declared bankrupt in 1893. More of this later.

If you can help refine this then I would love to hear from you.