|
This photo taken after 1903 (when the tram tracks were laid) is titled The Post Office. This refers to the building on the right hand side of the photo.
|
The 1847 Post Office Directory has an entry for Dogsthorpe. After the list of Traders.
"Letters received through Peterborough office, from whence they are fetched by a messenger, who charges one penny each on delivery."
in the 1877 Post office Directory, Dogsthorpe is listed under Paston. Letters are still received through Peterborough.
In the 1890 Kellys Directory: Shopkeepers, Bedford Miss Esther Cave, Dogsthorpe, Peterborough.
Dogsthorpe is again listed under Paston.
Post Office at Dogsthorpe - Miss Esther Cave Bedford, receiver. Letters received through Peterborough, at 7.15 am and 2.10pm; dispatched st 2.10 and 6.15 pm. The nearest money order and telegraph office is at Millfield. Letter Box at Paston, cleared at 1.30 and 5.50pm.
In the 1891 Census
- Esther Bedford, 50, has profession of Shop keeper Post Office. she is single and was born in Coates Cambs.
- Kate Cousins, 12. Boarder, Scholar
- Fanny Cliffe, 10. Boarder, Scholar
- Sarah Jackson, 5. Boarder, Scholar
All the boarders were born in Peterborough.
In the 1901 Census the Post Office is identified as a building, its proximity to George Twelvetree confirms it is the same building.
- Mary A Bedford, Head, Single, 33, Postmistress and Grocer, working at home on own account, born Huddersfield.
- Martha Bedford, Mother, widow, 62, shop assistant, born Huddersfield.
In 1911 Census
- Mary Ann Moy, Head, 43, married 9 years, 3 children all living, born Lockwood Yorkshire.
- Thomas W Moy, husband, 35, Signalman Railways, born Guestwick, Norfolk.
- Dorothy, 9 Born Dogsthorpe.
- Lilian M,7, Born Dogsthorpe.
- Frederick J, 5 Born Dogsthorpe.
From Mary Ann's age and number of years married, and coming from Yorkshire I think this is the same Post Mistress as 1901.
I thought it quite a coincidence that the previous post misstress Ester Bedford had the same surname, however after a bit of digging I discovered that Mary Ann's father John, had been born in Coates, and the 1841 Census confirmed he had a sister Esther aged 1, making her 50 in 1891. Esther Cave Bedford died a spinster aged 56, on 31 May 1896.
The 1914 Kellys Directory Has a listing for Martha Bedford, Shopkeeper, but nothing for Moy. Looking into this further I find Martha Bedford on a separate page of the 1911 Census, at the same address, and as a Lodger as oppose to Head of her own household. Martha died in 1918 at the age of 80.
Trying to trace the Post Office further back, I found Esther Bedford in 1881 as housekeeper to Robert Vergette at Gravel House in Coates, Whittlesey.
|