Nat Gould

Thomas Wooddisse 1865-1933

Market Place, Ashbourne

Thomas Wooddisse was born in 1865 at Alstonefield in Staffordshire, the son of Thomas Wooddisse 1810-1890 and his wife née Anne Leese 1828-1907.

When the Census was taken in 1881 he was living at home in Alstonefield on the family farm with his parents and two younger brothers.

On 1 August 1888 he married Mary Beardmore 1863-1949 at Alstonefield. She was the daughter of Ralph Beardmore 1833-1910 of Stanshope Hall in Alstonefield and his wife née Mary Elizabeth Waterhouse 1837-1915.

When the Census was taken in 1891 they were farming at Hope Road in Alstonefield. With them was her mother Mary Elizabeth Waterhouse and sister Harriet Ann Beardmore 1861-1946, together with two visitors, two men servants and one female domestic servant. This was presumably the family farm, which had been taken over by Thomas Wooddisse when his father died in the previous year.

Signature on 1911 Census Return

In May 1897 Thomas Wooddisse left Alstonefield for Ashbourne to enter into partnership with his brother William Wooddisse 1866-1926 and George Desborough as agricultural engineers and ironmongers. They had a shop in the Market Place in Ashbourne, and another in Derby (1).

By 1911 Thomas Wooddisse and his family were living at Sandybrook House on the outskirts of Ashbourne.

They had the following children, all baptised at Alstonefield:

Margaret Wooddisse. She was born in 1889 and baptised on 14 January 1889. She was the twin of her brother Robert Wooddisse 1889-1889, and died later in the same year.

Robert Wooddisse. He was born in 1889 and died later in the same year. He was the twin of his sister Margaret Wooddisse 1889-1889.

Thomas Wooddisse. He was born on 19 March 1893, and was baptised on 23 April 1893. In 1923 he married Harriett Jane Smith 1902-1997 at Kensington in London. They had no children. He died on 4 May 1981 at Worthing in Sussex aged 88 years.

Ralph Wooddisse. He was born on 24 September 1894 at Alstonefield, and was baptised on the same day. In 1929 he married Edith Mary Lawton of the Home Farm, Ednaston in Derbyshire. He died at Chesterfield on 14 July 1960 aged 65 years.

William Waterhouse Wooddisse. He was born on 21 December 1897 at Ashbourne, and was baptised on 20 February 1898. In 1928 he married Laura Mary Riley at Ashbourne. He died on 28 February 1982 aged 84 years.

Mary Fletcher Wooddisse. Known in the family as Molly, she was born on 27 April 1899 at Ashbourne and baptised on 24 May 1900. She served with the Red Cross in France during the First World War. She was married to William Campbell of the Canadian Army and went to live in Canada. She died on 22 November 1923.

Margaret Elizabeth Wooddisse. She was born on 3 November 1900 at Ashbourne, and was baptised on 2 December 1900. She worked at one time in the Wooddisse ironmongers shop in Ashbourne. She was married to Lionel Harris who was in the grocery trade. She died on 14 November 1991.

Katharine Siddie Wooddisse. She was born on 19 July 1902 at Ashbourne, and was baptised on 14 September 1902. She became a schoolteacher, and taught at the Methodist School on Church Street in Ashbourne. She was unmarried, and for many years made her home with her married sister Margaret Elizabeth Harris née Wooddisse. She died on 7 January 1985.

Ellinor Millicent Wooddisse. She was born on 22 October 1904 at Ashbourne, and was baptised on 12 February 1905. She was married to Ronald Allsopp who worked for Nestlé in Ashbourne. She died on 20 July 1961. Her widower married Phyllis Lawton, sister of Edith Lawton who was married to her brother Ralph Wooddisse.

Frank Wooddisse. He was born on 16 October 1907 at Ashbourne, and was baptised on 8 December 1907. He emigrated to South Africa, where he prospered with the Royal Assurance Company. He died on 30 November 1993.

Their father Thomas Wooddisse died on 10 November 1933 at Sandybrook House in Ashbourne aged 69 years and was buried at Alstonefield. His Will was proved on 3 January 1934 (2).

His widow Mary Wooddisse née Beardmore died on 1 June 1949 aged 86 years and was buried at Alstonefield, where there is a monumental inscription to her memory and that of her husband. Her Will was proved on 12 August 1949.

(1) A Derbyshire Family (2010) by John Wooddisse page 28. With George Desborough they traded as Wooddisse and Desborough in both Ashbourne and Derby. However from 31 October 1918 the two businesses were separated. The Wooddisse brothers thereafter traded as Wooddisse & Co in Ashbourne and George Desborough as G. Desborough & Son in Derby: London Gazette 21 March 1919 page 3782.
(2) "WOODDISSE Thomas of Sandybrook near Ashborne Derbyshire died 10 November 1933 Probate London 3 January to Mary Wooddisse widow and Thomas Wooddisse civil servant. Effects £2419 8s 5d." England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations) 1858-1966 (1934) page 552.