Russell, James, Schoolmaster born Othery

[Lenore]

Hello folks,

I am seeking more information about James Russell, born in Othery, Somerset in 1846. In 1875-76 he had a "gentlemen's school" in Bridgewater, SOM, called Lonsdale House.

In the 1881 Census he was the schoolmaster of Silesia College, Belle Hill, Shipping Barnet, Hertford. The Census showed that he had a wife, Ann, aged 38, born at Durston, SOM, and no children. However, in the 1901 Census, James is working as a Schoolmaster at Harpenden Urban, HERTS with a wife Alice Russell and five probable children. Looking for Ann Russell, she was working as a ladies' school principal in Chipping Barnett, and is described as single, so probably she was the sister of James, and the Census enumerator got the relationship incorrect.

I'm more interested in James Russell's time in Bridgewater, but any information about him, his career and family, would be welcome.

With thanks,

Lenore Frost
Essendon, Vic, Australia

[suffolk sue]

1851 census



RUSSELL
Enoch - 33 - schoolmaster - born Nunny
Louisa - 35 - schoolmistress - born Longport
Ann - 6 - born Othery
James - 5 - born Othery
Albert - 2 - born West Monkton
Amelia - 10 months - born W M


HO107/1923 - West Monkton
Folio 284
Page 17

[Lenore]

Hi Sue,

Thank you very much indeed for this reference. I'm pleased to say it bears out my theory about teaching being a family business. It also clears up a the confusion relating to the 1881 Census, where Ann Russell was described as James' wife, but in the 1901 Census she was recorded as a single lady.

Thanks once again.

Best wishes,

Lenore Frost
Essendon, Vic

[Trish]

Lenore and Sue,

In 1861, Louisa is still listed as Enoch's wife:

North ?Town, Maple ?Grove Road, Taunton, Somerset
RG9/1618 Folio 110 Page 30

Enoch RUSSELL Head Mar 43 School Master [born] Somerset Nunney
Louisa Do Wife Mar 46 School Mistress Do Langport
Anna S. Do Daur Un 16 Scholar Do Othery
James Do Son Un 15 Do Do West Monckton
Amelia L. Do Daur 10 Do Do Do
Melvina C. Do Daur 9 Do Do Do
Ernest A. Do Son 6 Do Do Do
[next page...]
Laura R. RUSSELL Daur 1 Somerset Taunton
James BARSTABLE Boarder 16 Scholar Do Othery
Mary A. TAYLOR Do 12 Do Do North Curry

HTH,
Trish

[Trish]

And in 1871...

1 Middle St., Taunton, Somerset
RG10/2373 Folio 49 Page 5

Enoch RUSSELL Head Mar 53 Schoolmaster [born] Somerset Nunney
Louisa do Wife Mar 55 Schoolmistress " Langport
Ann Sherrin do Daur Unm 26 Schoolmasters Daughter " Otherry
Amelia L. do Daur Unm 19 Scholar " West Monkton
Melvina C. do Daur Unm 18 do " do
Ernest A. do Son 15 do " do
Laura R. Do Daur 11 do " Taunton
Henry FUDGE Boarder 14 do " Shepton Mallet
James NOTT do 11 do " Bishops Lydeard
Tom RATHBOURNE do 10 do " Ashpners
Jeffery LEAMAN do 10 do " Taunton
Samuel WRIGHT do 9 do " Wellington
Charlotte BOOTLE Servt Unm 18 General Servt Domestic Devon Churchstanton

Trish

[Trish]

Finally, 1891...


11 Park Rd, Barnet, Hertfordshire
RG12/1053 Folio 40 Page 24

Enoch RUSSELL Head M 73 Retired schoolmaster [born] Somerset Nunney
Louisa " Wife " 75 do schoolmistress do Langport
Malvina C. " Daur S 38 do West Monkton
Edith RUFFLES Serv. S 18 General Serv. Domestic Suffolk Bedfield

...and on the next line below...

Parkfield College
RG12/1053 Folio 40 Page 24

Annie S. RUSSELL Head S 41 Schoolmistress [born] Somerset Othery
Amelia L. do Sister S 40 do do West Monkton
Laura R. do do S 31 do do Taunton
... followed by a "Governess", a "Governess Pupil", an "Articled Pupil", 53 female "Scholars" aged 8 to 18, a "Cook", a "Kitchen Maid", a "Housemaid" and an "Under Housemaid".

Trish

[Lenore]

Thank you very much indeed, Trish, you are a champion. That paints a very interesting picture of a family in the teaching business. The 1901 Census reveals that one of James Russell's daughters was born in San Francisco in about 1893, so it looks like he embellished his career with a bit of overseas teaching, and maybe even qualifications, as he is recorded in a 1902 directory with a BA that I didn't know he had before. Now I'll have to find out how and where he came by that. The never ending trail....

Thanks once again,

Lenore

[Trish]

Thank you very much indeed, Trish, you are a champion. That paints a very interesting picture of a family in the teaching business. The 1901 Census reveals that one of James Russell's daughters was born in San Francisco in about 1893, so it looks like he embellished his career with a bit of overseas teaching, and maybe even qualifications, as he is recorded in a 1902 directory with a BA that I didn't know he had before. Now I'll have to find out how and where he came by that. The never ending trail....

Thanks once again,

Lenore

You're very welcome, Lenore.

Indeed, the RUSSELL family was truly dedicated to teaching -- it's quite impressive to see the calling span the decades.

Here's James in 1871:

Kings Square, St. Mary, Bridgewater, Somerset
RG10/2386 Folio 22 Page 5

James RUSSEL [sic] Head Mar 25 Schoolmaster [born] Somerset Othery
Annie Do Wife Mar 27 Do North Newton

...followed by 3 Schoolmaster's Assistants, 2 Servants and 8 Boarders, all boys aged 12 to 15.

I don't see James in 1891 so perhaps he was in the States by then.

Trish

[Lenore]

Indeed, the RUSSELL family was truly dedicated to teaching -- it's quite impressive to see the calling span the decades.

Here's James in 1871:

Kings Square, St. Mary, Bridgewater, Somerset
RG10/2386 Folio 22 Page 5

James RUSSEL [sic] Head Mar 25 Schoolmaster [born] Somerset Othery
Annie Do Wife Mar 27 Do North Newton

...followed by 3 Schoolmaster's Assistants, 2 Servants and 8 Boarders, all boys aged 12 to 15.

I don't see James in 1891 so perhaps he was in the States by then.

Trish

Thanks once again, Trish. Yes, a remarkable family - what a shame I'm not related, or I might know what happened to them after 1900, and whether the descendants are still in the teaching game. A lot of unmarried daughters, though - four, running a school in Barnet in 1901, and with their elderly dad in the household as well.

Yes, I'm surmising James Russell was in the US by 1891. There was a child born in Kensington in 1890, then no more until 1896, so he might have been away as long as that perhaps.

Best wishes,

Lenore

[Dennis Harker]

Lenore,

Hi it's Dennis from Bishops Lydeard again. I note in some of these transcriptions there are a number of transcribing errors. Please accept the following suggestions in the spirit of possibly making your research (and searching) a little easier. I'm sure you will have worked some of them out for yourself but if not....

For Bridgewater read Bridgwater
For Longport read Langport
For Nunny read Nunney
North Town, Taunton is correct but for Grove Road read Staplegrove Road
For West Monckton read West Monkton
and finally
For Ashpners read Ash Priors.

Always willing to offer up emailed digital pics. if they will help.


Hope that helps.