A man who works with his hands is a labourer,
a man who works with his hands and his brain is a craftsman,
but a man who works with his hands
and his brain and his heart
is an artist.
~Louis Nizer (1902–1994)

A few of my male ancestors were artists, their paper, wood and their paintbrushes, chisels. They created beautiful masterpieces, that would last a life time, maybe they were even heirlooms.
Their craft took skill, determination and a whole lot of time and patience. They knew the satisfaction and pride that comes from using their hands and mind to build beautiful, functional objects and I’m sure they would have been as interested in the process as the outcome, as all crafters are. 
How I wish, their skills and talents had filtered through to my DNA, I would be one lucky lady. How I would love to turn a piece of wood into something beautiful, something to be treasured by my descendents. How lucky I would be.

This week I would like to share the life story of my paternal 4th Great Grandfather, a talented Carpenter, who learnt his skills from his Father and passed them on to his son.
Without further ado, I give you, the life of William Lye.

William Lye was born about 1809 in  East Tytherley, Hampshire, England, to Francis Lye and Elizabeth Lye Nee Torrington.
The census returns give his birth years as 1811 on the 1841 census, 1804 on the 1851 census, 1809 on the 1861 and the 1881 census, and 1819 on the 1871 census.
The 1841 census shows his birth location as, Hampshire, the 1851, 1861, 1871 and 1881 gives it as, East Tytherley, Hampshire, England.

William was Christened on the 19th March 1809 at St. Peter’s, East Tytherley, Hampshire.

Unfortunately I haven’t been able to find any more documentation of William until 1828, when William Lye, married Ann Davies, Daughter of John Davis and Sarah Davis Nee Chivers, at St. John’s, Romsey Road, Lockerley, Hampshire, England, on May 24, 1828, when he was 19 years old.

Their first child was born about 1829.
They named him Uriah Lye.
The census gives Uriah’s birth location as, Hampshire, in the 1841 census return and Romsey, in the 1851 census return.

Uriah Lye was christened on the, 1st March 1829 at, St. John’s, Lockerley, Hampshire, England.

William and Ann’s first Daughter, my 3rd Great-Granmother, was born about 1831 in Lockerley, Hampshire, England. They named her Caroline Lye.
The census returns give her birth location as Hampshire, on the 1841 census, Lockerley, on the 1851, 1871, 1881, 1891, 1901 and the 1911 census returns and East Tytherley, on the 1861 census.

William and Ann, christened their Daughter Caroline Lye, om the 13th November 1831, at St. John’s, Lockerley, Hampshire, England.

William and Ann, had a second Daughter, Harriet Lye. She was born about 1834 in Lockerley, Hampshire, England.
The census returns give her birth location as, Hampshire on the 1841 census, East Tytherley on the 1861, 1881 census, Lockerley, on the 1851, 1871 and the 1891 census.
I believe Harriet was Christened in the name Adelaide Lye. I may be wrong but, I haven’t been able to find a christening for Harriet but I found a christening for Adelaide. There are no further records for Adelaide. I’ve checked for a death record, but found nothing.
I wonder if Harriet was really called Adelaide Harriet Lye, and she went by her middle name? 
My gut feeling is this is the case. 
If so Harriet was Christened as Adelaide Lye, on the 17th April 1834, at St. John’s, Lockerley, Hampshire, England.

About 1837, William and Ann, welcomed their second Son, Charles Lye, into the world.
The 1841 and 1881 census gives his birth location as Hampshire.
The 1851, 1871, 1891 and the 1901 census give it as Lockerley.
William and Ann, christened Charles, on the 13th June 1837 at 
St. John’s, Lockerley, Hampshire, England.

William and Ann, third Son was born on the 8th March 1849 at East Tytherley, Hampshire, England.
They named him George Lye.
William was working as a Carpenter, the art and trade of cutting, working, and joining timber.
Ann registered his birth on the 25th March 1840.
She signed with an X.
I do have a copy of George’s birth certificate but as I was given a copy, it wouldn’t be right for me to share it but you can order your own copy at the GRO, with the below information. 

William and Ann, christened George, on the 25th March 1840 at, St. Peter’s, East Tytherley, Hampshire, England.

Sadly in life we all have to face death, it comes to all. On the 17th April 1840, William’s Father Francis Lye, lost his fight against Pneumonia and died at East Tytherley, Hampshire.
Francis was 72 years old and a Carpenter.
Williams wife, Ann Lye Nee Davies, was present at his death and registered it on the 20th April 1840.

 

William laid his Father Francis Lye, to rest at, St. Peter’s, East Tytherley, Hampshire, England, on the 21st April 1840.

The 6th June, 1841 census shows William, his wife Jane, his Mother Elizabeth and William and Ann’s Children, Uriah, Caroline, Harriet, Charles and George, residing at East Tytherley, Hampshire.
William was working as a Carpenter. His mother Elizabeth was listed as a pauper.

Name Age William Lye 30 Ann Lye 30 Elizth Lye 70 Uriah Lye 12 Caroline Lye 10 Harriet Lye 8 Charles Lye 4 George Lye 1

William and Ann, welcomed their 3rd Daughter, Jane Lye, into the world on, June the 5th, 1843.
Jane was born at East Tytherley, Hampshire, England.
William was working as a Carpenter.
Ann registered Jane’s birth on the 10th July 1843.
She signed with an X.
Once again I do have a copy of the birth certificate but as I was kindly given a copy, it wouldn’t be right for me to share it but you can always order your own copy at the GRO, with the below information. 

William and Ann, christened Jane on the 16th June 1843, at St. Peter’s, East Tytherley, Hampshire.

On the 7th January 1845, death reared it’s ugly head.
William and Ann’s, one and a half-year old, Jane contracted Scarlet Fever and heartbreakingly died at home in East Tytherley, Hampshire.
Mary Olden of East Tytherley, was present at Jane’s death. She registered it on the 9th January 1845.
Unfortunately I once again can not post her death certificate, but you can always order your own. Sorry about that.

William’s Daughter Jane Lye was laid to rest at St. Peter’s, East Tytherley, Hampshire, England, on the 10th January 1845.

The next 10 years, would have been a rollercoaster of emotions for William and his family. 
Life was not kind to them but the autumn of 1845 brought joy to the Lye household, when Ann gave birth to a baby boy.
On the 27th October 1845, William and Ann’s 4th Son was born at, East Tytherley, Hampshire, England.
They named him Thomas Lye.
William was working as a Labouring Carpenter.
Ann registered Thomas’s birth on the 10th November 1845. She signed with an X.

William and Ann, christened Thomas on the 1st November 1845 at St. Peter’s, East Tytherley, Hampshire.

Just a short year later, William’s Mother Elizabeth Lye Nee Torrington died at East Tytherley.
She died from Gangrenous Ulcers of the leg, 1 week, on the 29th October 1846.
Elizabeth Carr of East Tytherley, was present at her death and registered it on the 21st October 1846.

William’s Mother Elizabeth Lye Nee Torrington, was laid to rest at St. Peter’s, East Tytherley, Hampshire, England, on the 31st October 1846.

William and Ann welcome their 5th Son, Harry Lye into their family on December 1st, 1848 at Lockerley, Hampshire, England.
William was working as a Carpenter and Wheeler.
The family was residing in Lockerley, Hampshire, England 
Ann registered Harry’s birth on the 18th December 1848. She signed with an X.

William and Ann, christened Harry Lye, on the 28th January 1849, at, St John’s, Lockerley, Hampshire, England.

The March 30th 1851 census, shows the Lye family, William, Ann, Harry, Harriet, Charles, George and Thomas, residing at Street, East Tytherley, Hampshire, England.
William was working as a Master Carpenter.

Name Age William Lye 47 Ann Lye 41 Harriett Lye 15 Charles Lye 13 George Lye 11 Thomas Lye 5 Harry Lye 2

The year 1852 was a horrific year for William and his family. Typhoid Fever was once again sweeping the nation and devastatingly 3-year-old Harry caught the disease. 7 days later, the poor little bonnie lad, died from the disease.
He died at East Tytherley, on the 10th August 1852.
L Owen Fox, from Broughton, was in attendance and registered Harry’s death on the 11th August 1852.
L Owen Fox was also the Register.
Once again I do have a copy of Harry’s death certificate but as I was kindly given a copy, it wouldn’t be right for me to share it but you can order your own copy at the GRO, with the below information. Sorry about that.

William and Ann’s Son Harry Lye, was laid to rest at St. Peter’s, East Tytherley, Hampshire, England, on the 11th August 1852.

15 days after Harry’s death, after fighting Typhoid Fever for 28 days, 7-year-old Thomas Lye became its next victim.
Thomas died on the  26th August 1852.
Once again L Owen Fox, from Broughton, was in attendance and registered Harry’s death on the 30th August 1852.
L Owen Fox was the Register.
You can order his certificate with the below information at the GRO Website.

William and Ann’s, Son Thomas Lye, was laid to rest at St. Peter’s, East Tytherley, Hampshire, England, on the 27th August 1852, 11 days after his bother Harry Lye. 🙁

How William and Ann found the strength to bury Harry and carry on nursing Thomas, is beyond me. How they continued to live, engulfed with grief after losing 3 of their children. 
How they managed to stand grave side and watch as their babies were lowered into the ground is so traumatic, it’s unthinkable. Just writing about it, bring tears welling to my eyes.
All death is extremely painful and hard, but I can’t imagine the heartbreak they must have felt seeing the wee tots tiny coffins.

The 1861 census was taken on the 7th April 1861, which shows William Lye, living at Carpenters Cottage, East Tytherley, Hampshire, England with his wife Ann and Son George Lye. William was working as a Carpenter, as was his Son George. 
The family was inhabiting 1 house. I am desperately trying to find out where Carpenters cottage was/is located in East Tytherley.

Name Age William Lye 52 Ann Lye 51 George Lye 21

10 years later, on the 2nd April 1871, William Lye and his Wife Ann, were residing at Turnpike Gate, East Tytherley, Hampshire, England, on the 2nd April 1871.  
William was working as a Carpenter. 
They had 5 lodgers residing with. Them, George Vay, William Luck, George E Thomas, Edmond Pardas and George Thomas.

Name Age William Lye 52 Ann Lye 51 George Vay 32 William Luck 26 George E Thomas 37 Edmond Pardas 25 George Thomas 13

William Lye And his Wife Ann, lived in Cottage, East Tytherley, Hampshire, England, on the 3rd April 1881. I think the cottage may have been located on the property Middle Farm, East Tytherley. William was working as a Wheelwright, building and repairing wooden wheels. 
It’s a shame his skills were not passed down to me, I’m pretty useless when it comes to anything DIY, which is a shame because Carpentry is in our DNA on both sides of our family.

Name Age William Lye 72 Anne Lye 72

Williams life was turned upside down in the April of 1884, when his wife a was taken ill with Bronchitis and suffering from Dropsy for a year.
Ann lost her fight and died on the 13th April 1884 at East Tytherley, Hampshire, England.
Ann was 72 years old.
Williams occupation was given a Carpenter Journeyman, on Ann’s death certificate.
Emily Harrison was present at Ann’s death and registered it on 14th April 1884.

William laid his Wife Ann Lye Nee Davies to rest at St. Peter’s, East Tytherley, Hampshire, England, on April 15th 1883.

I can only imagine how William must have felt, the sorrow that would have engulfed him, the heartbreak he must have been feeling. My heart aches for him and all that he had lost throughout his life.

I have no clue as to what happened to poor William over the next 7 years but the next document I have for him is unfortunately his death certificate.
William died on November 9th, 1890, at The Union Workhouse, Stockbridge, Hampshire, England.

William was 82 years old and died from, Apoplexy.

William Lye was brought back  to his home village and was laid to rest at St. Peter’s, East Tytherley, Hampshire, England, on September 13th, 1890.
I’m so pleased he was and that he was reunited with his family.
It’s so comforting to know they are all so close, just up the road from where I live.
May they all rest in peace.

I wonder why William, was in the Workhouse, was he residing there? Or was he using it as a hospital? If he was residing there, what had happened to drive a hard-working talented man to such misfortunes?
I deeply hope, that it was just the local hospital, that he found peace in his later years and was looked after by his Bairns.
At least he is back where he belongs, in East Tytherley, alongside his Mum, Dad, wife and angel babies.

Rip
William Lye
1809 – 1890

🦋🦋🦋

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Thank you.