Edward Bellamy
Rachel Kate Williams, the daughter of James Williams and Sarah (nee Davies) of Rose Cottage, was born on 1st October 1871.
Edward Bellamy married Kate (I believe this is probably the name that Rachel Kate adopted) and having researched him I thought that even though he was not a Glascoed resident, his story interested me so I wrote a biography of his life.
My Uncle Arnold, told me about some of his father’s many relatives .. And one who left the greatest impression perhaps was of an elderly relative that they visited on a holiday to Somerset (or somewhere near) .. Who had been a prison warder - in fact the Chief Warder in the prison he worked at, in the West Country. Apparently he had been moved to this prison after some disturbances (or other challenges) and had “sorted it out”! (I later found that the prison in question was Wandsworth prison).
When they met (in around 1951, my Uncle recollected), the relative was an elderly man. He showed Uncle Arnold (and my Grandfather) a “Cat o’ nine tails” … explaining that the worst thing that the prison service ever did was to ban the use of it on prisoners! It left quite an impression on Uncle Arnold, although fortunately not a physical impression! This must have been Edward Bellamy, my Grandfather Ernie Pitt’s Uncle (by marriage). I love it when a couple of seemingly unrelated pieces of information coincide to weave records I’ve found with oral history like this.
Let’s look in more detail at Edward and his life.
Edward was born on the 4th December 1873 at Corfe, Somerset and was christened at Corfe Parish Church on Christmas Day 1873.
His parents were Arthur Bellamy (born c. 1850 at St. Decuman’s, Somerset) and Jane (nee Lovell) who was born at Washford, Old Cleeve, Somerset some 4 years earlier. His father Arthur was a gardener and died in 1902 at Corfe. His mother, Jane, died two days before Armistice Day on 9th November 1918. Both were buried at Corfe parish church.
Edward was brought up in Corfe and by the time he married Kate Williams on 28th September 1896 at Corfe, he was working as an Assistant Master in the Workhouse. I assume that this was Taunton Workhouse, which is just under 4 miles from Corfe.
They moved to Usk at some point after the marriage (perhaps so that Kate could be nearer to her parents, James and Sarah?) where Edward became the Innkeeper of the Queen’s Head, Usk. He was certainly the Innkeeper at the time of his first son, Edward Arthur Bellamy’s baptism (24th May 1898) at St. Mary’s church, Usk.
An entry in the County Observer in 1900, indicated that the family probably moved away from Usk in February 1900. The article in the 17 February 1900 edition, recounted that at the Usk Petty Sessions the previous Thursday, the Usk Petty Sessions had heard the following petition: “An application was made by Edward Bellamy, landlord of the Queen's Head beer- house, Usk, for a transfer of the licence to John Price, of Cardiff. Testimonials having been produced and commented upon the application was granted.”
An article from December 1933, that we will refer to later in this pen portrait stated that Edward had worked for the Prison Service for 33 years. So it seems likely that the family moved to Birmingham in 1900. By the time of the 1901 census they were living at 131 James Turner Street, in the Winson Green district and Edward was an “Assistant warder”. It’s only a couple of streets away from Her Majesty’s Prison, Birmingham, where I assume Edward worked. This must have been their reason for moving to Birmingham.
Their second child, Alfred Ivor Bellamy was born on 5th April 1902 and christened on 2nd July 1902 at St. Chrysostom parish church. Alfred married an He died at St. Pancras registration district in London in 1977 (June Quarter). The family were still at 131 James Turner Street at this point.
They had a third son, Harold, who was born on 4th January 1904 and christened at All Saints’ Church, Hockley, the mother church of St. Chrysostom on 23rd January 1904. They were living at No. 3 Turret, H.M. Prison, Birmingham, where Edward was an Assistant Warder. An interesting address! Sadly, Harold died soon afterwards. His death was registered in the June Quarter 1904 at Birmingham.
Their fourth and final child was born on 31st March 1905 at Birmingham (I assume again at the prison); Edith Lilian Bellamy. Edith married William Llewelyn Filer at Wandsworth in 1935. William was a Prison Officer at the time of marriage. They lived close to Wandsworth prison, so it seems highly likely that he was a former colleague of Edward at the prison. They were living at Banstead, Surrey, in 1939. William worked as a Milk Roundsman according to the 1939 Register entry. Interestingly, William had been born at Pontypool on 18th September 1899. William died somewhere in the Weston-super-Mare registration district in 1972. Edith died on 14th August 2001 at a Nursing Home in Burnham on Sea, Somerset.
The next time that I found Edward and Kate and family was at Shepton Mallet, at the time of the 1911 census. They lived at the beautifully name Convent Cottages, Shepton Mallet (No. 4). It certainly sounded more romantic than the H.M. Prison, Birmingham address. Edward must have worked at Shepton Mallet prison. It was built in 1610 and at the time of its final closure, in 2013, it was the oldest working prison in the UK. It later housed the Kray twins.
It appears that Edward and Kate continued to live in Shepton Mallet until the mid-1920s. It is possible that in the wartime period, Edward may have changed prisons, since after the Americans entered the War in 1917, Shepton became one of their military prisons. Whilst working at Shepton prison, Edward was in charge of a number of notable prisoners, including John Lincoln, who was the last prisoner hanged in Shepton prison, on March 2nd 1926. A petition carrying 50,000 signatures was presented, protesting that Lincoln should note hang since it was surely manslaughter not murder. One of the key pieces of evidence against Lincoln was a letter that he wrote to his fiancee, admitting that he had killed the victim (Edward Charles Richards). Edward gave evidence at court and this is how the Somerset Standard reported his appearance in their January 22nd 1926 edition.
“THE WARDER AND THE LETTER.
Edward Bellamy, Warder of Shepton Mallet Prison, said on January 9th Lincoln was in his cell and asked for pen, ink and paper. He also gave him an envelope. At about 1.30 Lincoln handed him the envelope containing paper, which he handed to Chief Officer Carr.
By Mr Hemmerde: Was prisoner warned that such a letter might be handed over to the prosecution?
Witness (Edward): Not that I am aware of.
Mr Hemmerde: Are all letters treated in the same way? Would letters addressed to defending solicitors be treated in the same way?
Witness: Yes, the letters would go to the Prison Governor.
Frederick Ernest Carr, Chief Officer, Shepton Mallet, gave evidence of handing the letter to the Governor.
John Frederick Pullen, Governor, Shepton Mallet Gaol, said a notice was hung upon each cell door intimating that correspondence other than to solicitors might be opened. He read the letter and forwarded it to the Public Prosecutor.
This closed the case for the Crown."
This article expands on Lincoln's case if you are interested. Or you can look at the Somerset Standard article on newspapers.com - or via findmypast.co.uk. Both require subscriptions.
A later report notes that Edward was present at the execution of a number of prisoners in his career in the prison service, including John Lincoln.
Edward was promoted to the role of Principal Officer at Wandsworth Prison in 1926. He transferred to Durham Prison to become the Deputy Chief Officer in June 1929 although returned to Wandsworth Prison as Chief Officer in August 1930 at a time where there had been a good deal of unrest among the prisoners, including a suicide in front of visiting dignitaries. He was awarded the British Empire Medal, for Meritorious Service in the 1932 New Year’s Honours List - presumably his role in the calming of Wandsworth in this period must have helped his cause.
Sadly his wife Kate died later that in 1932 at Wandsworth. Edward retired on his 60th birthday on 4th December 1933, about a year after his wife’s death. I wonder whether Kate’s relatively early passing had played into his decision making.
This article from the Daily Mirror on Tuesday 5th December 1933, summarises his career on retirement (Emphasising some of the more newsworthy bits!).
SAW SPY’S SON HANGED
_______________________
Mr Edward Bellamy Retires as Chief Officer at Wandsworth Prison
_______________________
After thirty-three years’ service in various prisons, Mr. Edward Bellamy, chief officer at Wandsworth Prison, retired yesterday.
Many notorious characters passed through his hands and he was present at a number of executions, including that of the son of the spy, Trebitsch Lincoln, for shooting a traveller.
Mr. Bellamy first went to Wandsworth Prison in 1926, and three years later was appointed deputy chief officer at Durham Prison. In August 1930, he was again promoted, and returned to Wandsworth at a time when there was a good deal of unrest among the prisoners.
In the few months preceding his return there had been several escapes and assaults on officers.
His daughter Edith married in 1935 and was still living in the Wandsworth, Clapham area at 25 Ballingdon Road, London SW11. I imagine that Edward was also living there, although it is possible that he had moved back to the West country by that date.
He was living at North Cadbury in 1939, according to the 1939 Register, which said he was a Hotel Proprietor. The confusing part though is that a short word has been deleted and next to that word is “Retired”. So he may actually be a Retired Hotel Proprietor at this point. His niece, Florence Annie was also living at his address, with her occupation listed as “Household duties”.
Edward died on 25th July 1960 at the age of 86, a very good age for that era. His residence was Cremorne, Cutty Lane, North Cadbury. He had been retired for nearly 27 years.
RECORDS
Marriage - 28th September 1896 at the Parish Church, Corfe, Somerset. Edward Bellamy, 23, Bachelor, Assistant Master of Workhouse, Resident at Corfe. Father: Arthur Bellamy (Gardener).
BAPTISMS OF CHILDREN:
1) Edward Arthur Bellamy. Parish: Usk, Date 24 May 1898, Parent's Surname BELLAMY, Child's forename(s) Edward Arthur, Father's forename(s) Edward, Mother's forename(s) Rachel Kate, Type of Event Baptism. Residence Queen's Head New Market Street, Usk, (Father's) Occupation Inn Keeper, Officiating Minister PLC Nash, Vicar
2) Alfred Ivor Bellamy. Parish: St. Chrysostom, Birmingham. Born 5th April 1902. Baptism date: July 2nd 1902. Alfred Ivor, son of Edward & Kate Bellamy of 131 James Turner Street. (Father's occupation): Warder. Signed: Jno Edw Moon, Vicar.
3) No. 3511. Jan 23 1904. Harold Bellamy. Son of Edward and Kate Bellamy. Residence: No. 3 Turret, H.M. Prison. Father's occupation: Assistant Warder. Officiant: H. M. Thomson.
CENSUSES:
1901 (Birmingham - now married to Kate, with their son).
1911 (Shepton Mallet - with Kate and 3 children).
1939 Register. Entry 145. North Cadbury, Somerset.
1. Bellamy, Edward. Male. Date of Birth 4 Dec 73. W. Hotel Proprietor. An unclear short word was deleted in this box, plus the word retired.
2. Bellamy, Florence A. F. Date of Birth 21 Sept 99. S. Household duties.
Probate index
Abstracted from ancestry.co.uk.
BELLAMY Edward of Cremorne, North Cadbury Somersetshire died 25 July 1960 Probate Exeter 10 August to Edith Lilian Filer married woman and Florence Annie Bellamy spinster. Effects £156 11s.
