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James Bartlett ("Bert") HAMBLING
1876 - 1952 (76 years)
Has 737 ancestors and 12 descendants in this family tree.
Set As Default Person 
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Name James Bartlett ("Bert") HAMBLING Nickname Bert Relationship 
with Teresa Ann GOATHAM Born 6 May 1876 34, Delamere Crescent, Paddington, London, England 
- GRO ref: HAMBLING, James Bartlett q1 1849 Kensington RD 1a 45; GRO online index shows mother's maiden name as Issell
Birth certificate for James Bartlett Hambling (b. 1876) Baptised 23 Nov 1876 St. Mary Magdalene’s Church, Paddington, London, England - PR entry for bapt shows parents as James Bartlett and Florence Hamblin (sic), abode 34 Delamere Crescent, father's occupation shown a carpenter; by P. H. Cudlip.
Gender Male Education Abt 1880 Paddington / Harlesden, London, England Schooling - I guess he went to school in Paddington and / or Harlesden. He had left school by the time of the 1891 census.
James Bartlett Hambling at School
"Bert" and his brother Charles in a school photo, probably in the Paddington or Harlesden area. (The family were living in Paddington by 1876, still there 1881, in Harlesden by 1891; I don't know when they moved or if they lived elsewhere inbetween).
Bert is the highlighted figure in the back row, Charlie highlighted in the centre.
(My identification based on other photos of them is confirmed by marks on the photo card)Hobby / Interest From 1889 to 1893 (probably in or near), Harlesden, London, England Boys' Brigade (8th London) - One article says he joined aged 15, another in 1889; latter seems more likely (both agree until 1893).
The Boys' Brigade was an energetic organisation and won a football cup, but JBHs contribution was only to fit the goal-posts.
He did take an active part in gymnastic displays, though, for which the Brigade won a competition shield.
When he becamea sergeant his unit won a flag for the best-drilled company and he was later selected to carry the flag representing the organisation at a large gathering at Lord and Lady Aberdeen's Grosvenor Square House.
Occupation From 1890 to 1895 (probably in or near), Harlesden, London, England Joiner - From leaving school (certainly by 1891) he worked for his father as a joiner / builder. The 1891 census shows him as a joiner.
"Bert" during his years as a builder
I don't know for certain if this was when working for his father or when he had set up on his own.
I think I can see a wedding ring, which would make it 1899 or later - but it could just be a mark on the photo (I'm not even sure if he would have worn a wedding ring - did men in those days?)
(Bert is the tall chap the 3rd from the left as you look at the photo - his name should appear if you hover over him)Occupation From 1895 to 1900 Brentford area, Middlesex, England Builder - own company - I suspect his father moved back to Devon c.1894-5 leading him to start his own company and why he was lodging with his future wife and her first husband, rather than living with his parents, when she was widowed.
Between 1897 and 1899 erected over 50 houses in Ealing and Wimbledon.
Military Service From 1898 to 1899 Middlesex, England 26th Middlesex Cyclist (Rifle) Volunteers - In both years he took part in the Royal Military Tournament.
Another special memory of JBHs was a trip in Spencer's balloon in 1898.
The 26th Middlesex unit was the pioneer of cycling in the Army.
See Wikipedia article for more information.
View album of photos of Bert and his companions in the Cyclist Volunteers.
Residence From 1900 to 1911 [Green Dragon Cottage], The Village, Stoke Fleming, Devon, England - Living (with his wife and baby) with his parents and brother in Stoke Fleming at time of 1901 census. James and his wife and eldest child, Florence (my grandmother) appear to have moved to join his father in Stoke Fleming between my grandmother's birth on 2 July 1900 and her baptism on 2 September that year.
They may have been living at Britannia House by this time but I'm not certain about this.
Occupation From 1900 to 1902 Stoke Fleming, Devon, England Builder - worked for his father ('Bert' was described as a carpenter at the time of the 1901 census, as was his father and brother)
Baptism8 Nov 1901 Dartmouth, Devon, England Occupation From 1902 to 1921 Dartmouth, Devon, England Electrician with Dartmouth Urban Electric Supply Company - Was working as a builder when Ald. W. G. Row sent him a message asking if he would care to work for the Electric Light Co. He did.
First pay day was 6th June, 1902 when the rate was 6½d. an hour. His first job as an electrician was to lay the cables to wire Dartmouth Royal Naval College, and he was present on 22nd Sept. when the current was switched on.
He worked with Mr. H. Payn. When JBH died Mr. Payn recalled many jobs they did together, "such as laying submarine cables across the River Dart, a tricky operation in those days".
I have a photo of this somewhere which should appear here in time.
Residence From 1911 to 1914 Britannia House, Stoke Fleming, Devon, England - Recorded as a shop in the 1911 census; had 7 rooms. The family seem clearly to have still been living at Britannia House in 1914, from the Directory entry recorded below, and probably lived there until moving to Portelli Guest House in 1918.
The 1914 Kelly's Directory of Devon and Cornwall (part 1 - Devon: County & Localities) lists James in the commercial section of the Stoke Fleming entry:
"Hambling, James Bartlett, jun. refreshment rooms, confectioner, & apartments; every convenience for visitors."
An entry also appeared in part 2 (Devon: Private Resident & Trad Directories) in the "Apartments" section - "Hambling, James Bartlett jun. Stoke Fleming, Dartmouth"
Although it was James who was listed I think it was the women-folk who did most of the work in The Tuck Shop while James worked as an electrician.
Residence From 1918 to 1921 Portelli Guest House, Ridge Hill, Dartmouth, Devon, England - His wife ran the guest house with the assistance of their daughter Ivy while James was employed as an electrician.
Occupation From 1921 to 1924 Godalming, Surrey, England Electrician Hobby / Interest From 1924 to 1952 Boston, Lincolnshire, England Gardening - His main hobby according to his obituary; his garden in Tytton Lane was half an acre.
I am guessing it was a hobby throughout his time in Boston; whether he gardened before moving there I don't know.
Residence From 1924 to 1930 “Electra”, 84, Main Ridge, Boston, Lincolnshire, England First home in Boston - From accounts of his time in Boston he had 3 homes there, this being the first. It is where my mother was born in 1930 but he had moved from here by 1935.
Occupation 1924 Northwood, Middlesex, England Electrician - Worked at Northwood, Middlesex under Mr. H Payn, with whom he had worked in Dartmouth.
Occupation From 1924 to 1947 Boston, Lincolnshire, England Electrician with the Boston Electricity Supply Co. - One article refers to him taking semi-retirement in 1947, another to working for the Boston Co. for 27 years - so maybe he only fully retired in 1951, except that the article that says 27 years also says "until he retired some years ago". (Typical of local papers, I can see assorted errors in dates and ages in the articles).
His obituary includes reminiscences from Mr. Payn, who described JBH as a "good old worker" and remembered seeing him curled up in a coil of cable trying to snatch some sleep! Frequent cable breakages in those days meant they had to work all hours.
He worked with Mr Payn in Dartmouth and Northwood, and who was later to become Boston district manager of the East Midlands Electricity Board and who I think led to his move to Boston. JBH moeved to Boston when the town was first electrified and took a leading part in the wiring of the town and district.
He made use of his skill in decorating his house for a celebration - I think I have a photo somewhere (I'm not sure if this was George V's Silver Jubilee, Coronation or to celebrate the end of WW2)
Residence From 1935 to 1936 2, Alma Villas, Freiston Road, Boston, Lincolnshire, England 2nd home in Boston - Not sure of dates, mid 1930s including 1935 and 1936; moved here after 1 Jan 1930 and had moved on before my mother spent a year in Boston in c.1940-41.
Residence From 1939 to 1952 “Park View”, 104, Tytton Lane East, Boston, Lincolnshire, England Last home in Boston - The 1939 registration shows that they were at Park View by then
Died 4 Nov 1952 55, West Street, Boston, Lincolnshire, England Cause: 1a. Broncho pneumonia/2 Chronic bronchitis - GRO ref: HAMBLING, James B q4 1952 aged 76 Boston RD 3b 17; GRO online index shows middle name as Bartlett
Died at the home of his daughter, Ivy.
Registered by his daughter Ivy, present at the death.
Funeral 7 Nov 1952 St. Botolph’s Church (“The Stump”), Boston, Lincolnshire, England 
Funeral - James Bartlett Hambling
Funeral of James Bartlett Hambling reported in a local paper (date and name of paper unknown)Buried 7 Nov 1952 The Cemetery, Boston, Lincolnshire, England - Burial in Boston Cemetery following service at the Stump.
Grant of Administration 13 Jan 1953 London, England Probate Calendar Entry - "Hambling James Bartlett of 41 Ravenslea-road London S.W. 12 died 4 November 1952 at 55 West-street Boston Lincolnshire Administration London 13 January to Florence Minnie Bailey married woman. Effects £1015 17s. 6d."
Siblings2 brothers Patriarch & Matriarch 
John HAMBLING, b. Est 1654, d. Nov 1732, Berry Pomeroy, Devon, England (Age ~ 78 years) (5 x Great Grandfather) 
Catherine, d. Jul 1757, Thurlestone, Devon, England (5 x Great Grandmother) Person ID I7 All | Teresa's direct ancestors, The descendants of Charles Court and Frances née Tapner Last Modified 13 Mar 2022
Father James Bartlett HAMBLING, b. 20 Jan 1849, Stoke Fleming, Devon, England , d. 31 Dec 1930, Stoke Fleming, Devon, England (Age 81 years) Mother Florence ISSELL, b. 11 Sep 1854, Stokenham, Devon, England , d. 26 Feb 1933, Stoke Fleming, Devon, England (Age 78 years) Banns of marriage From 5 Apr 1874 to 19 Apr 1874 St. Peter’s Church, Stoke Fleming, Devon, England Married 29 Apr 1874 St. Michael and All Angels’ Church, Stokenham, Devon, England - GRO ref: Hambling, James Bartlett to Issell, Florence q2 1874 Kingsbridge RD 5B 373
Details from PR entry (image on FMP, viewed 10 Sep 2020)Florence's 1st cousin Louisa Jane PITTS was a witness; although she lived in Stoke Fleming she was close to Florence in age which might have encouraged a friendship, although the cousins lived a few miles apart. She was also related to James (2nd cousin once removed) and probably knew him also as both lived in Stoke Fleming. Had she introduced the couple to each other?
Wedding Anniversary 29 May 1924 Stoke Fleming, Devon, England Golden - This Anniversary is noted in Auntie Ivy's date book but I have not found evidence of any celebration, or of any photo. Have not (yet) looked in local papers.
However, according to marriage certificate it would have bee 29 April 1924!
Photos 
James Bartlett and Florence Hambling and family
James Bartlett Hambling (b 1849), his wife Florence nee Issell and their sons, Charles Henry Hambling (left) and James Bartlett Hambling (right)Family ID F6 Family Group Page | Family Chart
Family Minnie Ann COURT, b. 25 Aug 1878, Brentford, Middlesex, England , d. 26 Feb 1952, The Gables Hospital, Spilsby, Lincolnshire, England (Age 73 years)
Other Partners: Timothy LONGLAND m. 4 May 1896Married 21 Oct 1899 St. Mary’s Church, Ealing, Middlesex, England - My great grandmother was married first to Timothy Longland. My understanding is that he was a close friend of my great grandfather, who lodged with them. When dying TL asked JBH to take care of his wife (pregnant when he died). After TL died JBH did the respectable thing and moved out, waited until the year of mourning was up, and then married TL's widow - what better way of taking care of her?! Sadly in the intervening year or so between being widowed (aged 19) and remarrying my great grandmother had given birth to her second child, lost it and then a few months later her first born had also died, aged 2½.
She must have been in need of comfort! Hopefully too the birth of a child who survived, my grandmother, some 8½ months after her second marriage brought her comfort.
I have a copy of a letter my great grandfather wrote to his father after my grandmother got engaged complaining about the way his father was treating her - referring to it being like the way he had been treated (something that was news, but not a total surprise, to the family when we came across this after my grandfather's death). Not a total surprise due to my great grandmother's family history (17 years before the marriage my great grandmother's uncle had died in goal. He had been there at the time of both the 1871 and 1881 censuse, with another uncle and his family in the workhouse at the earlier date. At the same time, their mother had been in and out of the lunatic asylum and continued to be until her death in 1916. And had knowledge of an ancestor's brother in the C18th being a vicious smuggler survived?)
Clearly, though, my great grandfather had not been disowned in the way my grandmother was, as before her first birthday my grandmother along with both her parents and grandparents had moved from Brentford to Stoke Fleming, where they contined to live close to each other for some years, my great grandmother working in her father-in-law's shop / tea rooms.
The marr cert says "The Parish Church" - in Brentford district, no indication of which, so I assumed Brentford. But Golden Wedd newspaper article says St Mary's, Ealing (which is in B. district) (Vicar was W. (C/E.) Oliver)
Certificate for the marriage of James Bartlett Hambling to Minnie Ann Longland (nee Court) Wedding Anniversary 21 Oct 1949 Boston, Lincolnshire, England Golden Children3 children Photos 
Last Modified 5 May 2011 Family ID F5 Family Group Page | Family Chart
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Event Map Click to hide 
Born - 6 May 1876 - 34, Delamere Crescent, Paddington, London, England 
Baptised - 23 Nov 1876 - St. Mary Magdalene’s Church, Paddington, London, England 
Military Service - 26th Middlesex Cyclist (Rifle) Volunteers - From 1898 to 1899 - Middlesex, England 
Married - 21 Oct 1899 - St. Mary’s Church, Ealing, Middlesex, England 
Occupation - Builder - From 1900 to 1902 - Stoke Fleming, Devon, England 
Child - Florence Minnie HAMBLING - 2 Jul 1900 - 62, Carlyle Road, Ealing, Middlesex, England 
Baptism - 8 Nov 1901 - Dartmouth, Devon, England Occupation - Electrician with Dartmouth Urban Electric Supply Company - From 1902 to 1921 - Dartmouth, Devon, England 
Child - Ivy May HAMBLING - 20 Dec 1903 - Avondale, Above Town, Dartmouth, Devon, England 
Residence - From 1911 to 1914 - Britannia House, Stoke Fleming, Devon, England 
Residence - From 1918 to 1921 - Portelli Guest House, Ridge Hill, Dartmouth, Devon, England 
Occupation - Electrician - From 1921 to 1924 - Godalming, Surrey, England 
Hobby / Interest - Gardening - From 1924 to 1952 - Boston, Lincolnshire, England 
Residence - First home in Boston - From 1924 to 1930 - “Electra”, 84, Main Ridge, Boston, Lincolnshire, England 
Occupation - Electrician - 1924 - Northwood, Middlesex, England Occupation - Electrician with the Boston Electricity Supply Co. - From 1924 to 1947 - Boston, Lincolnshire, England 
Residence - 2nd home in Boston - From 1935 to 1936 - 2, Alma Villas, Freiston Road, Boston, Lincolnshire, England 
Residence - Last home in Boston - From 1939 to 1952 - “Park View”, 104, Tytton Lane East, Boston, Lincolnshire, England Wedding Anniversary - Golden - 21 Oct 1949 - Boston, Lincolnshire, England 
Died - Cause: 1a. Broncho pneumonia/2 Chronic bronchitis - 4 Nov 1952 - 55, West Street, Boston, Lincolnshire, England 
Funeral - 7 Nov 1952 - St. Botolph’s Church (“The Stump”), Boston, Lincolnshire, England 
Buried - 7 Nov 1952 - The Cemetery, Boston, Lincolnshire, England 
Grant of Administration - Probate Calendar Entry - 13 Jan 1953 - London, England = Link to Google Earth (if installed; see link below to install) Pin Legend 
Photos 
Documents 
A Royal Tuck-Shop: when the King took 9d. teas
An article which appeared on the front page of a Boston paper about the Tuck Shop.
As well as the cutting I have the whole sheet on which it appeared, but this is rather ragged now where folded in the middle.
Wills (transcripts) 
The will of Tryphena Issell (nee Kellond) (c. 1823 - 1909)
Bert was the appointed the executor and was a beneficiary named in his grandmother's will (the only family member named in her will)
Albums JBH in the Middlesex Cyclist Volunteers (22)
Bert was in the Volunteers from 1898 to 1899.