Answers

TOOLEY, St Pauls Walden, circa 1880

January, 2004

David Hilton-Barber (info @t kingswalden.co.za) of Tzaneen, South Africa, writes: My wife, Sandra Patricia, is the only daughter of the second marriage of William Edwin Tooley, born at Kings Walden in 1878 and emigrated to South Africa in 1896. He founded Kings Walden near Tzaneen in Limpopo Province from which five generations of Tooleys have sprung. As this is the anniversary of Kings Walden here (where we have established a guest house of the same name) I am writing a history of the clan. I would be grateful if you could give me some background of the Tooley family in Hertfordshire or put me in touch with a family member.

I am afraid I cannot do wide searches, but I can give you some specific information on William Edwin Tooley. In the 1881 census the following family were living in the Mill, Whitwell, St Pauls Walden, a few miles from Kings Walden.

 Name  Relation Gender Age Birthplace Occupation
 James Francis TOOLEY   Head   Male   35   Aston End  Miller (Corn) 
 Bithia TOOLEY   Wife   Female   27   Pauls Walden   Wife 
 Ethel Marian TOOLEY   Dau   Female   9   Pauls Walden   Scholar 
 Edith Pertee TOOLEY   Dau   Female   7   Pauls Walden   Scholar 
 Henretta Louisa TOOLEY   Dau   Female   5   Pauls Walden   Scholar 
 Francis James TOOLEY   Son   Male   4   Pauls Walden    
 William Edwin TOOLEY   Son   Male   1   Pauls Walden    
 Fanny WELLS   Sert   Female   18   Pauls Walden   Domestic Sert 
 Sarah COOK   Sert   Female   18   Hertford   Domestic Sert 

This shows the infant William Edwin Tooley, his parents, and older siblings, in Whitwell - a large hamlet in the parish of St Pauls Walden. I note the following entries in Kelly' Hertfordshire directories

1882 Tooley James Francis, miller & corn merchant, St Pauls Walden

1890 Tooley James Francis, miller (water) & corn merchant    Whitwell

1912 Tooley Jas Francis (water & steam) St Pauls Walden Bury farm.

It should be noted that Hertfordshire - Little Guide, 1903, says "The mill at the E. end of the village, near the old tan-yard, was burnt down a few years ago, but has since been rebuilt." This may explain why James was in the mill at Whitwell in 1890 and had moved to St Pauls Walden Bury farm by 1912.

James Francis Tooley was born at Aston End, Aston, and a quick look at the 1851 Post Office Directory has the following entry - which probably refers to William's grandfather.

Tooley James, farmer

I am afraid I have found no direct connection between William and Kings Walden, but it is only a few miles away, so he would undoubtedly have known the village. 

There are web pages for Aston, Kings Walden, St Pauls Walden and Whitwell

If you can add to the information given above tell me.

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