Yeovil's Virtual Museum

Frederick Samuel Jenner

Bootmaker of Bond Street

 

Frederick Samuel Jenner was born in 1849 in Yeovil. There is much confusion, not just over his early years, but also his name - which he himself varied. In the 1851 census he was recorded as Samuel and, indeed, his later years. But the 1861 census recorded him as Frederick living with his cousin Herbert in Park Street, at the home of his aunt Louisa Jenner. At this time he was 12 years old and working as leather glover.

In fact, Frederick was illegitimate and his mother, Emma / Emily Betsey Jenner (1821-1871) was unmarried to his father, who was already-married agricultural labourer Samuel Banger (1813-1898) of Yetminster. Indeed, Frederick's entry of baptism in the parish register of Holy Trinity (see Gallery) recorded that on 31 August 1864, 15-year-old Samuel Banger Jenner, son of boot binder Emily Jenner of Park Street and an unknown father. The entry noted he was born on 29 February 1849. It is assumed that the entry recording him as Samuel Banger Jenner is either correct or, as I believe, his alleged father's name was mistakenly written in the column for the child's forename.

The next entry in the register, also on 31 August 1864, recorded that Frederick's 12-year-old cousin Herbert (noting he was born on 25 March 1852), son of boot binder Louisa Jenner (1831-1916) of Reckleford and an unknown father was baptised. Louisa was Emily's younger sister.

The 1861 census records that 40-year-old unmarried boot binder Emily Jenner and her six-year-old daughter, also Emily, were staying with Samuel Banger and his wife Caroline at their home in Yetminster on the night of the census. Samuel Banger and Caroline Jenner (1813-1871) had been married at St John's church on 10 October 1836. Caroline was Emily's older sister, so it appears that Emily had an affair with her brother-in-law?

 

 

Having sorted that out...

On 28 June 1868, at Yeovilton, Frederick married Elizabeth Emma Hewlett Lee, known as Emma (1848-1920). She was the daughter of tailor Thomas Lee (1817-1865) and glove pointer Francis Shorta Smith née Hewlett, known as Fanny (1816-1867).

I couldn't find Frederick and Emma in the 1871 census, but it transpires that their daughter Alice was was born in Paris, France, that year. Indeed, Frederick and Emma were besieged in Paris throughout the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71 (see Gallery).

They were to have ten children, all born in Yeovil except the first two: Harry (1869, Sherborne -1951), Alice (1871, Paris, France - 1944), Frederick (1875-1929), Caroline (1878-1890), William Charles (1880-1946), Edward, known as Ted (1882-1913), Charles (1884-1966), John (1887-1975), Annie (b1889) and Gertrude Maud (1892-1979).

Certainly by 1880 (see dated advertisement in Gallery) they were back in Yeovil and living above his shop at 2 Bond Street (see Gallery). The 1881 census recorded Frederick and Emma, with their first five children here. Frederick gave his occupation as a bootmaker.

In its edition of 14 December 1889, the Southern Times and Dorset County Herald reported that "F Jenner, of 2 Bond Street, Yeovil," had been awarded a local patent "for an invention of improvements in boot fastenings."

The 1891 census was almost identical, except Harry had left home and Edward, Charles, John and Annie had been born. 42-year-old Frederick still gave his occupation as a bootmaker, while 20-year-old Alice was a dressmaker and 16-year-old Frederick Jnr was a tinman. The 1901 census was all but identical but with children Edward (a laundryman), Charles and John (both carpenters), Annie and Gertrude still living at home. By 1901, only butter maker Edward and glover Gertrude were still at home.

By 1902, as seen from an advertisement (see Gallery), Frederick had opened premises in Princes Street, next door to the Assembly Rooms.

It is believed that after retiring, Frederick and Emma moved to 5 Union Street, where Emma died on 30 March 1920, aged 72. Frederick died in Yeovil during March 1928, aged 79.

 

 

The entry of the baptisms of both Frederick and his cousin Herbert, with their respective dates of birth annotated in the margin. That Frederick's name is written here as Samuel Banger is, I believe, an error on the part of the parish clerk and is actually the name of the father.

 

Frederick Jenner's advertisement in the 15 October 1880 edition of the Western Gazette.

 

To add to the confusion of Frederick's various names, above are four entries from a couple of issues of Kelly's Directory. The first is an entry in the 1889 issue in which the '12' is, presumably a misprint. The second is a second entry from the same 1889 issue. The third and fourth entries are both from the 1897 issue.

 

Frederick Jenner's advertisement from the 1894 Western Gazette Almanac.

 

 This colourised photograph features in my book 'Yeovil From Old Photographs'.

This photograph, taken around 1905, looks along Bond Street as seen from Middle Street. The ornate arched entrance at right is the side entrance to the New Inn in what appears to be a building erected separately with its gabled roof facing the road. Today the decorative arch over the side entrance has gone and the entrance itself reduced to just a nondescript security door.

On the left, with the small canopy over the door, is the entrance to Frederick Jenner's shop and workshop with living accommodation over.

 

Frederick Jenner's advertisement from the 26 December 1902 edition of the Western Chronicle from which it is seen that Frederick now had premises in Princes Street. This advertisement appeared weekly throughout 1903.

 

Frederick Jenner's advertisement from the 1903 Western Gazette Almanac.

 

This colourised photograph features in my book 'Yeovil From Old Photographs'

A photograph of the imposing frontage of the Assembly Rooms in Princes Street of about 1910. Frederick's premises was the small two-storey building to its left - which had been demolished by (I'm guessing, based on the style of the present building) the 1930s.

 

A letter to the Editor of the Western Gazette from Frederick Jenner during the Great War, describing the conditions he and Emma experienced in Paris in the Siege of Paris during the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71. The letter was published in the 6 February 1917 edition.

 

The notice of Emma Jenner's death in the 2 April 1920 edition of the Western Chronicle.

 

Frederick decided to retire and this is the notice of the sale of his furniture and trade tools from the 23 September 1927 edition of the Western Gazette. Frederick died the following year.