Arthur George Barnett [b.2.9.4]

Arthur George Barnett was the fourth child of Joseph Barnett and Hannah Olivia Watts (nee Allingham) and a twin of George Arthur Barnett. He was born at Remenham Hill, Berkshire, on June 20th, 1839 at half past 12, and baptised on the day of his birth. Sadly twin George Arthur only survived for 6 months.

Arthur was living at home at the time of the 1841 census at Common Barn Farm, Remenham.

In 1851 Arthur was living with his parents in Remenham and his occupation was scholar. In 1861 he was a farmer's son, still at home - Common Barn Farm, Horseshoe Common, Remenham.

Left: Daguerreotype of young Arthur George. Right: Hampstead Farm, Eye & Dunsden,2005

In 1871, he was still single, aged 31, at Aston Farm, Aston (part of Remenham). He was a farmer of 180 acres employing 6 labourers and 3 boys.

Arthur married Kate Webster on November 18th, 1873, at the parish church Burnham, Bucks. They were married after the calling of banns. Arthur was a bachelor of full age, a yeoman, of Remenham. His father, Joseph Barnett, was a yeoman. Kate was a spinster and a minor of Dorney Wood. She was born on October 13th, 1855 at Dorney, Bucks, the third of nine daughters born to William Webster and Elizabeth Winder. Her father, William Webster, was also a yeoman.

Witnesses on the above copy of the parish records of their wedding are William Webster, Harriet Webster, John Webster & .... Webster.

At the time of proving his mother's will on June 3rd 1875 Arthur was living at Hampstead Farm in the Liberty of Eye & Dunsden, Oxon. He was a farmer.

According to Brian Law who wrote a book on the history of Eye & Dunsden:

Hampstead Farm had been part of the Palmer estate from 1785 when it was leased to the Bullock family until 1861. The tenancy passed to the King family prior to the Barnetts becoming leaseholders. In the 1920s the freehold of the land passed to the Ewen family of Sonning & then c1951 to trustees of Lord Phillimore's settlement. In the 20th century a Mr Maidment was the tenant & in the 1930s there were still up to 5 horses & a single tractor & a work force of 8 men.

At the time of the 1881 census, Arthur, Kate & family – Hannah (5), Arthur R (2) & George (8 months) were living at Hampstead Farm, Eye & Dunsden, Oxon. He was 39 years old, a farmer of 400 acres employing 10 men and 5 boys. Visiting was sister-in-law Ellinor (incorrectly listed as Helena) Webster (12) & nephew Arthur Sampson (14) who was helping on the farm. Arthur was the son of Arthur George’s sister Olivia Barnett & husband Henry Atkins Sampson.

Arthur & Kate were still at Hampstead Farm when the 1891 census was taken. Children at home were Rose (8), Kathleen (7), Ellinor Mary (4) & Harry Webster (3). The first 3 children were boarding at school.

By 1901 Arthur and Kate had moved to ‘Remenham’, Priest Hill, Caversham, Oxon, and his occupation was given as corn & coal merchant. At home were Hannah (25), Arthur (22) a corn & coal merchant’s assistant, George (20) an office clerk, Kathleen (16), Eleanor (14 – spelling?), Harry (13) & Marjorie (8). Only Rose was not at home.

By 1911 Arthur had retired as a corn merchant &he & Kate were living at 33A Prospect St, Caversham. With them were sons George, a factory clerk, & Harry Webster.

Arthur died on 18th December 1913 at Yewstocks, Hardenhuish,Wiltshire. He was 75 years old and his occupation was given as retired farmer. The cause of death was a cerebral haemorrhage which was certified by J Hobart Nixon M.D. The informant on the death certificate was his son-in-law Thomas G Church, present at death, of Yewstocks, Hardenhuish, Chippenham.

Kate died on March 11th, 1941 in Henley-on-Thames Hospital, Henley-on-Thames, Oxon, aged 85. Kate's Will was a form one.
This is the last Will and Testament of me Kate Barnett of Woodside Binfield Heath Henley-on-Thames in the County of Oxfordshire made this 7th day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and thirty six.
I heareby revoke all Wills made by me at any time heretofore. I appoint George Barnett and Albert Osman to be my Executors, and direct that all my Debts and Funeral Expenses shall be paid as soon as conveniently may be after my decease.
I give and bequeath unto my Executors the sum of ten pounds each free of legacy duty.
I bequeath to my daughter Hannah Church my gold wrist watch. To my son Arthur Reeve Barnett my dining room clock. To my son George Barnett my old ? china now in drawing room. To my daughter Rose Fry my gold necklaces. To my son-in-law Bert Fry my barometer. To my daughter-in-law Dolly Barnett my green and white tea & coffee services. To my daughter Kathleen Osman my gold ring with hair in it. To my daughter Marjorie Heffer my green & gold platter. To my son-in-law Albert Osman my old oak bureau. I direct that the residue of my effects not mentioned above and all other assets of which I may die possessed shall be sold, and the proceeds divided equally between my eight children but in the event of any of them predeceasing me, his or her share to go to his or her children, but if any child of mine predeceases me leaving no issue I then direct that his or her share shall be brought into my estate.
I bequeath to my daughter Marjorie Winifred Heffer my escritoire.
Kate Barnett
Signed by the said Testator in the presence of us, present at the same time, who at her request, in her presence, and in the presence of each other, have subscribed our names as witnesses.
Arthur Bulpitt - Post Office Binfield Heath, Oxon
Annie May Bulpitt - Post Office Binfield Heath, Oxon
The value of her estate was £691/8/10.
At the time of proving the Will, son George was living in Talfourd Avenue, Reading, Berks and his occupation was given as retired Departmental manager. Albert Osman, her son-in-law, was living in Surrey at Nigleside, Cedar Road, Cobham and he was a Surrey master builder.

The children of Arthur George Barnett and Kate Webster were:

b.2.9.4.1 Hannah Barnett born Jan-March 1876 at Dunsden & christened April 17th at Sonning, Berks

b.2.9.4.2 Arthur Reeve Barnett born April-June 1878 at Dunsden

b.2.9.4.3 George Barnett born July-September 1880 at Dunsden

b.2.9.4.4 Rose Marion Barnett born July-September 1882 at Dunsden, died Oct-December 1958 at Lincoln

b.2.9.4.5 Kathleen Barnett born April-June 1884 at Dunsden

b.2.9.4.6 Ellinor Mary Barnett born Oct-December 1886 at Dunsden

b.2.9.4.7 Harry Webster Barnett born Oct-December 1887 at Dunsden

b.2.9.4.8 Marjorie Winifred Barnett born 15th April 1892 at Dunsden & christened June 19th, 1892 at Shiplake, Oxon; died September 1974