The shocking death of Robert Vergette in 1894 has been in my timeline almost from the start.
"The body of Mr Robert Vergette, of Dogsthorpe, near Peterborough, a well-known farmer in the district, was found yesterday doubled up in a ditch. It is supposed that in climbing over the fence of a field the top rail broke, and that deceased dropped into the ditch, when , owing to the position in which he fell, he was suffocated. Birmingham Daily Post."
His probate notice gives us some more information about him.
"Vergette Robert of Dogsthorpe Northamptonshire farmer died 14 April 1894 Probate London 8 June to Thomas Henry Vergette farmer and Samuel Vergette the younger auctioneer and valuer Effects £15921 15s 9d."
The FreeBMD Death Index tells us he was born about 1830 and so was 64 when he died.
I then discovered that Charlotte E Clapperton who lived in Lawn House had the maiden name Vergette, and Thomas Henry Vergette was named in a financial document relating to her husband in 1901.
Then I found the probate notice for Thomas Henry:
"Thomas Henry of Dogsthorpe Peterborough died 27 February 1926 Probate Peterborough 29 April to Sophie Elizabeth Thompson (wife of Herbert Pank Thompson) and William Richardson Caudwell and Percival Vergette farmers. Effects £22174 0s 7d."
A few searches through Borough Fen census tied most of the family together;
Thomas Vergette 1805 - 1887 Farmer
Elizabeth 1814 - 1874 his wife.
Children:
- Robert Parr 1840 - 1883
- Charlotte 1843 - 1923 Married James Clapperton, moved to Lawn House after his death.
- Emily 1845 - 1910
- Thomas Henry 1845 - 1926 see above.
- Maria Bryans 1847
- Francis 1848
- Annie E 1850
- Arthur 1851
- James 1853 - 1884 Grocer
- Mary 1854
- Sophia 1855
- Herbert 1858
The probate notice of Benjamin Vergette tied Robert into the family.
"The will of Benjamin Vergette late of Borough Fen in the county of Northampton. Farmer who died 13 October 1885 at Borough Fen was proved at Peterborough by Robert Vergette of Dogsthorpe in the said county and Thomas Henry Vergette of the Avenue Borough Fen, Farmers, the nephews the executors."
So the Robert Vergette of Dogsthorpe born 1833, who died in 1894 was the cousin of Thomas Henry Vergette, and the nephew of Thomas Vergette of Borough Fen.
Robert's father was also called Robert and was born in 1806 and died 1846. He was the brother of Henry b1805 above.
A bit more searching showed that Thomas and Robert's mother was called Lydia was born in 1784 in Borough Fen.
I found a few children, but her husband appears to have died before Census and other records started in 1837.
- Thomas 1805 - 1887 father of Charlotte Clapperton and Thomas Henry Vergette.
- Robert 1806 -1846 father of Robert 1833 - 1894.
- Lydia 1813
- John 1821
- Samuel 1821
- Benjamin 1826 - 1885 Unmarried Farmer
1891 Census
Whilst looking at the Twelvetrees I wrote "They lived next door but one to Robert Vergette who died in a accident in 1894." and I also noted that in 1911 they lived next door to Lawn House. This raised the question that perhaps Robert Vergette had lived in Lawn House before his untimely death?
Grantham 1894
 |
Stamford Mercury 1926
 |
