Nat Gould

Edward Corden Fearn 1873-1910

The Pigeon Box, Kniveton

Edward Corden Fearn was born 1873 at Kniveton in Derbyshire, the son of John Fearn 1828-1849 and his wife Mary Corden. She was born in 1830 at Somercotes near Alfreton in Derbyshire.

In 1881 Edward Corden Fearn was aged eight, living with his parents, brother and sisters at James Lane in Kniveton.

By 1891 he was away from home, working at Ashbourne Green on the farm of Henry Lownds (born 1853 at Grindon in Staffordshire).

Sarah Richardson

He married Sarah Richardson in 1895 at Stafford. She was born in 1875 at Stowe-by-Chartley in Staffordshire.

They lived at The Pigeon Box (also known as the Club Cottage), Kniveton in Derbyshire, now demolished.

She had the following children:

Elsie May Richardson. She was born in 1893 in Walsall, Staffordshire. She was married to Alfred Massey at Kniveton on 7 July 1913, the son of Joseph and Emma Massey of 15 Melbon's Yard, Compton in Ashbourne. They lived at Green Lane, Clifton near Ashbourne in Derbyshire, and had four sons and two daughters.

Elizabeth Fearn. She was born in 1896, and was married to Jack Jones. They had three sons and six daughters.

John Fearn. He was born in 1897. In the family he was known as Jack. He married Mary Drinkwater, and they had a daughter.

Lucy Fearn. She was born in 1898. She was married to Arthur Gould, and they had three sons and five daughters.

Ann Corden Fearn. She was born in 1900, and was also known as Annie and Ada. She was married to George Beresford and they had four sons and a daughter.

Hilda, Mary, William, Ann, Lucy, Edward, Elsie and John Fearn 1953

Mary Fearn. She was born in 1903, and was known as Polly in the family. She was married to William Chell, and they had three daughters.

Hilda Fearn. She was born in 1906. She was married to John William Evans, and they lived in Parwich in Derbyshire. They had a son and two daughters.

Edward Corden Fearn 1908-1976. He was born in 1908, and was known in the family as Ted. He married Ada Adams in 1930, and lived at first in Thorpe in Derbyshire and then at Parwich. They had three sons and three daughters.

George William Fearn. He was born in 1911, and was known in the family as Bill. He married Daisy Morton, and they had a son and daughter. He married secondly Edith Tarlton.

When the 1901 Census was taken Edward Corden Fearn was living with his wife and family in Kniveton and was employed as a worker on the roads.


He died in an accident in 1910 aged only 37 years, when he was fell from the snowplough he was driving. He was buried in Kniveton churchyard on 7 February 1910.

Signature on 1911 Census Return

His widow was left with a family of young children to support, and had to receive parish relief. In 1911 they were living in a four roomed cottage in Kniveton, together with her nephew Charles Richardson aged nineteen, working as a cowman. Altogether she had eleven children, of whom two had died and nine were living in 1911. Later the faamily lived at Green Lane in Clifton near Ashbourne.