HEBBORN FAMILY HISTORY & NEWS – January  2004

CLARA HEBBORN.

I remember as a schoolboy a rather rude parody of a Victorian monologue being popular among my mates. It began “It was Christmas day in the Workhouse…..” . I have never heard the original, which I am sure was very sad. The spectre of the workhouse haunted the Victorian poor. The inmates of these bleak institutions would have included the sick, the old and infirm, the disabled, illegitimate children and their mothers.

One such mother was Clara Hebborn [H039] who was born at Oxford in 1853. Her parents were Charles Hebborn (Heborne) [G015] and Harriet Holland [G015w], both illegitimate themselves. [see article of January 2002]. It seems that Charles and Harriet did not enjoy an easy life. They married at Headington on 10th April 1843 and had at least seven children in various parts of Oxford.

The birth of Clara is registered in Oxford Registration District, March quarter 1853, but she was not baptised until 8th December 1861 at St Thomas, Oxford.  On the same day, her sister Emma Matilda and brother Francis were also baptised.  When I first saw the index to the baptism register, I thought I had discovered triplets!  One thing I should have learned is never jump to conclusions where family history is concerned. The register proved otherwise, all the siblings had different dates of birth. I wonder, does anyone know of Hebborn triplets?

Clara would have been only sixteen when her father died at the Radcliffe Infirmary on 26th April 1869. She would no doubt have been out to work at this time, perhaps in service. It would be interesting to see how she is described in the 1871 Census. The following year the birth of her son Ernest Walter Hebborn [J046] is recorded in the Oxford Registration District.  The following reference appears in the parish register of Holy Trinity, Oxford - Baptised 30th October 1872 Ernest Walter Hebborn son of Clara Hebborn a singlewoman of Friars Street.

Less than a year later Clara had a second son. He is recorded in the parish register of St Barnabas, Oxford “Baptised 16th April 1874 William Ernest Hebborn [J047] son of Clara Hebborn of Church Street. Born 5th September 1873.  He only survived seven months and was buried on 28th April 1874, at St Ebbes, Oxford. His address is recorded as ”Paradise Place, Church Street. Perhaps, this was a disguised address for the workhouse. The Index to the List of Paupers 1873 -1921 shows:
1874Infant child of Clara Hebborn, 22. IP (in patient) from St Thomas
1874-1877Clara Hebborn, needlewoman, IP. St Thomas.

Then in 1876, the baptism register of the Oxford Workhouse reveals the birth of a daughter:
24th March 1876 Ella Hebborn [J048] daughter of Clara Hebborn of St Ebbes. Born 22nd Oct (1875).
The Index of Paupers shows 1876-1877 Ella Hebborn, illegit child of Clara, 22. IP St Ebbe.

After enduring three Christmas Days in the workhouse, things started to look up for poor Clara. On the 12th May 1878, at the age of 27, she married George Timms at St Clements, Oxford. Three years later, we find the couple living at 95 Cowley Road, Cowley, Oxford. [1881 Census RG11 piece 1498 folio 41 page 7].  George is described as a General Labourer aged 40, born Bletchington, Oxon. Clara Timms is stated to be a Laundress aged 30, born St Ebbes, Oxford.  And little Ella now aged 6 has become “Ella Timms”. There are no other children shown.

In the same census, Clara’s surviving son Ernest Walter Hebborn appears at 77 Cardigan Street, Oxford St Thomas. He is staying with Clara’s Sister Harriett who is married to James Beesley, a stableman aged 34. [RG11 piece 1504 folio 152 page 13]. Ernest Walter became a gardener, and married Mary Blanche Taylor on 16th September 1894 at Holywell, Oxford. They had a several children, and there are a number of their descendants living today.
John Hebborn,

See Family Tree Charts F010 and H039.