TOWCESTER FAMILIES

Charles Peploe                                                                     Home

Charles Peploe was born in Huddersfield in about 1834, the youngest child of Samuel Peploe, an Excise Officer. The family had previously lived in Haworth, Yorkshire, where they were doubtless acquainted with the Bronte family. The 1851 Census finds Charles as a pupil teacher in Colne, Lancashire, living with his widowed mother, Frances.

By 1861, Charles, too, had become a Revenue Officer. He was then lodging with Rebecca Davis on the High Street in Towcester, with his sister Frances who was teaching at the National School. By 1865 he had moved to Harrold in Bedfordshire, but returned to Towcester to marry Eliza Bignell, the daughter of the landlord of the Plough Inn, in May of that year.

The marriage, however, does not appear to have been a success. By 1871, the couple were living apart. Eliza was in Drayton Bassett, Staffordshire, with their daughter Frances, aged 5. Charles was boarding in Clifton, Derbyshire, and claiming to be unmarried. In 1881, Charles was in Macclesfield, and Eliza in Combe Fields, Warwickshire.

In 1891, Charles was in Edmondon, Middlesex, but he was not alone. With him are two small girls, aged 3 and 2, who were his daughters – Maud and Ethel.

Charles died in 1899 in Edmonton. His legacy is shown on the 1901 Census – a lady, Sarah, his widow, with 4 children, Maud, Ethel, Fanny and Florence Peploe.

Eliza is last seen in 1891, living in a small house at the North end of Towcester High Street. She died on the 19 Dec 1897, and is buried in Towcester Cemetery.