Another story revolves around William Titchener. The origins of the Titcheners were not well understood at first but the connection between William and his family from NE Wiltshire was helped by DNA results to others from the area around Highworth including the Mulcocks and Titcombs which are discussed in the DNA group of pages.
Among the family papers was an account of William's move from NE Wiltshire to Chelsfield in Kent where the Stacey, Wansbury and Streatfield families were residents. This account was written by Ernest George Titchener probably in the 1930's but the basis for the account is not recorded, perhaps a family legend? This account starts with William travelling to London, somewhere before 1810, to take up a job as a farm labourer in Chelsfield, Kent but with no suggestion as to how he came to get the job some 80 miles (130km) in a straight line from his birthplace.
The journey of William Titchener from Highworth, Wiltshire to Park Gate Farm near Chelsfield, Kent around 1808.
One summer day in the years between Trafalgar and Waterloo (1805-1815) a young man was walking over London Bridge. In those days the side-walks were obstructed with booths, where fruit, sweetmeats, books and many different commodities were on sale, and again and again he paused to listen to the cries of the vendors and to inspect their wares. Then he would push between the booths to the parapet of the bridge and gaze down the river at the great three-masted schooners riding at anchor in the Pool and at the clumsy barges drifting lazily down with the tide, until his gaze was arrested by the massive pile of the Tower on the river bank. Nor could he satisfy himself with all the crowded life of the river below the bridge; but, being a man of inborn curiosity, he crossed the bridge, braving all the dangers of heavily-laden drays pulled by mighty horses and of faster-moving vans and carriages, to find what might be seen on that side. There he looked over wharves and warehouses to the lofty dome of St. Pauls and followed the winding river round to the sparkling palaces of Westminster.
To young William Titchener, brought up in a quiet Wiltshire village yet full of interest in the great world of which London was the centre, it was a "a crowded hour of glorious life" thus to stand on the famous bridge and drink in the sights and sounds of London Town. But he could not linger; he must hurry on all too soon, for at 10.0 o'clock he had to present himself at an inn in the Borough, where he was to join Mr. Spain's carter. On the great wagon which the carter had brought up to market laden with Kentish fruit, William Titchener would journey down through Kent to Park Gate Farm near Chelsfield, where he had obtained a situation.
Meanwhile at Park Gate all was busy activity, for at this season there was employment for all from morning to night. Farmer Spain had been about since daybreak superintending the gathering of crops for next day's market; his wife had prepared the breakfast and dinner, and in between had collected the eggs from the hen-houses and had got the churn ready to turn the afternoon's milk into butter. And Fanny Meekham - ah, Fanny Meekham, how busily she had tripped in and out of the kitchen, washing-up dishes sweeping floors and dusting chairs and tables. All the day the house had rung with her happy laughter and song, for Fanny was always happiest when there was most to do, and the sunlight of the Kentish orchard was reflected in her sunny smile.
The afternoon was wearing away, and Fanny had put on the kettle ready for tea, when Farmer Spain's voice was heard in the yard; "Come on, Joe," he called to the carter-boy, "here's Jack Carter coming down the road; get the stable ready." Very soon the wagon rumbled into the yard, and the rattle of harness was heard as the horses were unhitched. "Well, William," Fanny heard Farmer Spain say, as his footsteps approached the door. "You've had a long journey. We'll soon have some tea ready for you." Of course, Fanny remembered, it was the new young man from Wiltshire who was coming to work at the Farm. "Come, Fanny," called the Farmer, "is the tea ready?" Out of the corner of one eye Fanny had already caught a glimpse of the newcomer. And somehow she was feeling awkward - a most unusual experience for her. Very nearly she dropped the kettle as she took it from the fire; and then she almost put the sugar into the teapot and poured the water into the sugar basin What was the matter with her?
And William Titchener, tired as he was with his journey suddenly woke into new life, as he sat on the kitchen bench watching as closely as he dared this fresh-eyed, rosy cheeked Kentish maiden, and scarcely knew what answers he had given to the questions with which Farmer Spain plied him concerning his home and his journey.
The Wiltshire youth spent a busy summer, but often in farmyard or kitchen he would pause in his work to exchange a merry joke with Fanny Meekham, and at the end of a long summer evening, when the day's work was over, he would talk to her of his home in Wiltshire and she would tell him of the people and customs of his new home.
Autumn came round, and it would happen that when Fanny had been for an evening stroll, on a message for her mistress or visiting her friends, William Titchener would chance to be found on the same road, and, of course, they would walk home together. So their friendship deepened into love, and William asked Fanny when they would be married. After their marriage they moved to Cockerhurst. Five boys were born and one girl, those with whom we are most concerned being John, born in 1819, and Anne, born in 1827.
About this time a big farm wagon was making its way along through Godstone and Westerham towards Sevenoaks. The wagon was loaded with furniture and was followed by a smaller van in which rode a man with his wife and young family. They were William and Eleanor Stacey, who had lived at Merstham in Surrey, and were now moving to Twitton, near Shoreham, Kent. Out of the cross roads at Riverhead rumbled the heavy wagon and on through Otford till at length they reached their new home at Twitton. The furniture was unloaded and before long they were enjoying their evening meal and much-needed rest. "Well," said Eleanor, as they sat over a cup of tea, "I wonder what your new master will be like." "Oh," replied William, "I'm not worrying about him, but there's young Dick, he ought to be doing something now." "Yes," replied the mother, "we must look out for him."
They had not to wait for long, for a day or two later when William returned from his work he told his wife that Dick could start work as soon as they liked at Castle Farm. "Where is that?" asked Eleanor. "Over beyond Shoreham. As I was going round the farm to-day," replied William, "Master called me and there was another gentleman with him. 'Now, Stacey,' he said, this is Mr. (Samuel) Love, from Castle Farm, and I've just been telling him that you want a job for your lad.'" The mother waited, all attention, while her husband continued. "'Yes, Sir," I said and a good boy he is too'. 'Well', said Mr. Love, 'will you let him come and live in at the Farm, and we'l1 look after him well and teach him his work.'" "Live in," said the mother, "then that means he will be going from home." "Yes, but not too far away, and it seems a good chance." "I suppose so, and - as you say - he's good lad. Will, I must get his clothes ready."
And so a day or two later, young Dick Stacey went to live at Castle Farm.
We must now return to the family of William Titchener, whose little girl Anne we left growing up.
She had by now become quite a young woman and was out in service. As a matter of fact, she was living at the very farm where young Dick Stacey had just started working, Castle Farm, Shoreham. William Titchener had finished his day's work and was making his way up the Serpentine past Little Cockerhurst, whistling happily, for he expected to find his daughter Anne at home, this being her afternoon out. Nor was he disappointed, for she greeted him merrily at the door on his arrival. "Well, Anne," he said, when having finished his tea he stretched out his legs and began to enjoy his evening pipe, "how are things going down at the Castle." "Oh, alright, Father," replied his daughter. "Mr. Love had got some new cows. He's had one of the wagons painted. Poor old Gyp, the big black dog got run over the other day, but he's running about alright again now. Mrs. Love went up to London last week."
And so she rattled off the news of all the latest doings at her master's farm, while her father listened contentedly to her gossip and Fanny sat mending a pair of one of the boys' trousers. "Oh," said Anne, "we've got a new boy at the Castle Farm. He lives in." "A Shoreham boy?" enquired Fanny. "His father and mother have just come to live at Twitton." "Ah," said William, "I heard they had a new man there. Came from somewhere in Surrey." And so the talk went on till the time came for Anne to go back down the hill to Castle Farm.
A few weeks later Anne was again at home for tea, and again notes and news were compared. It was a summer evening, and while the sun was still high Anne began to get ready to go. "You're going early to-night, my girl, " said William. "Yes," she replied somewhat shyly, "I must be in early tonight." "Now," said Fanny, with a quick smile, "none of your running after that boy down at the Castle." "O, Mother," laughed Anne, and away she ran. But it was a coincidence that on that evening, young Dick Stacey, happened to take an evening walk up the hill towards Cockerhurst, and it was - of course - quite by accident that he met Anne Titchener on the way.
This was the beginning of the courtship of these two, and in due course they were married, and lived for a time at Cockerhurst. There their two elder children were born, William - named after his Grandfather Titchener - and Annie. Their Grandfather Titchener, now a widower, lived with them. He was very fond of the children, and would often find a sweet or to for them in his capacious pocket. Richard Stacey now worked for Mr. Love, of Filson Farm, a relative of Mr. Love, of Shoreham Castle, and he and his family moved to Shoreham (occupying a cottage where "Aunt Ellen" afterwards lived) and where their son John was born.
Both the families were now growing up. John Titchener was in training as a teacher, Henry was away at Streatham. William Stacey was working in Chelsfield and Annie was in service with Mrs. Baxter at Shoreham, and afterwards with the Brookers at Paul's Cray Place (farm on left going towards Sidcup).
One day, William Stacey was seen putting on his best clothes and polishing his boots brightly. "Where are you going," asked his mother. "Over to Filson, Mother, to see Uncle Tom Titchener." This rather puzzled his mother, since it was the third time within a few weeks that he had being over to see Uncle Tom, who lived at Filson. These visits continued at frequent intervals. They were at last explained by William bringing home a young woman who lived with the Loves at Filson, named Emma Wansbury. In due course she and William Stacey were married and lived in Rose Cottage at the top of Well Hill.
Before this, however, Emma Wansbury had left Filson and gone to live with the Gordons at the Court Lodge, Chelsfield, and when she left to be married her place was taken by her sister Polly. John Stacey, who had being working first as carter boy for Mr. Fox at Lily's Farm, then as groom at Woodlands and afterwards as gardener at Broke, was as attracted by Polly (Mary Wansbury) as William had been by her sister Emma. John left home to work at Mr. Peed's nursery at Norwood, afterwards taking a gardener's place at Streatham. In due course he and Polly Wansbury were married and settled down at Streatham.
Henry Titchener was by now a young man of twenty-five years and an energetic assistant in his Uncle's business. He had a good many friends at Streatham, for he regularly attended Emmanuel Church and the meetings at the Assembly Hall near by. Also he frequently accompanied his uncle on journeys with the Streatham cricket club, for which John Carll acted as scorer. Very often on an early closing day or on a Sunday he would visit Chelsfield and spend a few hours with his parents and his sister at the Back Hill, sometimes visiting his Aunt Ann Stacey and attending services at the Chapel. Thus, although living away he was quite familiar with the little circle of friends at Chelsfield whom we have been following, the Titcheners, Staceys, Miles, Blundells and their acquaintances. Very often he would meet Annie Stacey both while she was at home with her mother and while she lived at the Court Lodge. Very often on his journey homeward and while he was about his work at Streatham the memory of her face and her voice would come to his mind and he would think how happy he would be if she came to live with him as his wife at Streatham. All this time Henry had lived almost as the son of John and Mary Carll, and he hardly dared to think how they would view the idea of his bringing home a wife to Streatham. Early in 1879 John Carll, who had long been in poor health, died, and left Henry Titchener as his Aunt's sole helper in the business, and this increased his diffidence at mentioning to her the idea of marriage.
Soon, however, the way was to open up more easily than he had anticipated. On June 5th, 1879, the two sisters Polly and Ellen Wansbury were to be married to John Stacey and James Blundell respectively, and Henry was invited as a guest and knew that Annie would be there too. He determined that this would be his opportunity to speak to Annie, but still hesitated to say anything about it to his Aunt. A day or two before the wedding, however, when they were talking about the coming event his Aunt Carll gave him a pleasant surprise. "Well, Henry," she said, "when people go to a wedding they often get a start themselves. You had better look out for Annie Stacey." Of course, Henry pretended that he had never thought of such a thing, but still he felt that now all was clear and he need have no fear as to whether his Aunt would welcome Annie as his wife.
The wedding day came, but it brought a disappointment to Henry Titchener, for after the ceremony was over and the guests had assembled at Rose Cottage (the home of William and Emma Stacey) Annie was missing. She had - a rare thing for her - a bilious attack and was obliged to go home. Henry returned to Streatham without speaking to her. As the train hurried him homeward, he felt that he could wait no longer. His Aunt Carll seemed very anxious when he arrived to know whether he had seen Annie and disappointed because he had not found an opportunity of speaking to her. Henry did not say much to her that evening, but was busy writing. The next morning at breakfast time, Mary Carll again broached the subject. "Well, Henry," she said, "you had better write to Annie Stacey." "How do you know I haven't?" was his reply.
This was how it came about that on a June morning in 1879 Annie Stacey, as she was beginning her day's work at the Court Lodge, received a letter which, she said, was a great surprise to her. At the first opportunity she ran down the Landway to her Mother, and before long a favourable reply was on its way to Henry Titchener at Streatham.
So came the merging of the Titchener, Stacey and Wansbury families in Kent before the Stacey family settled in Streatham and subsequently met up with the Jefferies family.
Updated June 2026.