The Pocock Family
Origin: English
Spelling variations of this family name include: Pocock, Pococke and others.
First found in Durham where they were seated from early times and their first records appeared on the early census rolls taken by the early Kings of Britain to determine the rate of taxation of their subjects.
Motto: Regi regnoque fidelis. Translated: Faithful to king and kingdom.

Pocock is a name whose history is entwined with the ancient Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. It was a name for a proud or gaudy person. The surname Pocock is derived from the various Old English words pecok, pacok, pocok, pehen, and pohen, which all mean peacock.

We start the family trace of the Pocock pedigree to Job Pocock who was born in Melksham, Wiltshire during 1812. He was the grandfather of the proud dairy farmer who actively farmed at Freegrove Farm Lyneham. Starting in contrast to his brother Harry we find that our knowledge of Job, born to Harry and Hester in 1803, is rather sketchy. We have no information concerning his younger years at Whitley, but as with all his brothers and sisters, Job received a basic formal education and also a very practical one working on the farm.

As a man of twenty five years we find him at Heywood, part of the parish of Westbury, where he leased a property and some land from Mr Ludlow, for which he paid the sum of 8s 3d and Tax in 1828. So once again, we see another of Harry's children setting up in an independent way. So far there has been no evidence whatsoever that any of the children of Harry and Hester were other than masters and employers of labour.

During the winter of 1833 Job married Elizabeth Breach at the Melksham Parish Church 15th January 1833. His wife was a member of a well known local family with descendants still in this part of Wiltshire. On marriage Job and Elizabeth set up house at Manor Farm, Holt, a fair sized establishment where Job paid local Poor Rate of £3 5s per year, and in common with all his brothers, Job became a member of the Parish Vestry.

The years of 1840 to 1846 or so were difficult ones for the inhabitants of Holt and the surrounding villages; unemployment was high and many of the villagers were almost at starvation level. At this time the population of Holt was around eight hundred with the great majority of those of working age engaged in "manufacture". These establishments were the cloth mills at Holt and Staverton which were then suffering severe recession. In an effort to assist the more unfortunate, a committee of some six men was set up with Job Pocock as a member, the aim of which was to raise money for the provision of bread. Job played an active part in the proceedings and it was decided to issue tickets for a specific quantity of bread (according to need) to those who were deserving. There were twenty five to thirty persons receiving help and the names and the amount of bread allowed, in quarterns, together with their "marks" (for none could write their own name) were recorded. The whole operation was conducted at the Holt National School every week for several months.

Associated with this scheme a survey was made of the village of Holt by the Parish Curate, not the Rector, who from our readings seemed to be more concerned with his dining engagements with the local dignitaries and his metaphysical writings than with the well being of the poor of his flock. The Curate's book lists the poor of the village, their income if any, employment, details of the family, any charity they receive from the better off, etc., all in a beautiful copper-plate hand.

At least five children were born at Manor Farm, Holt. Emma in 1834, Frederick 1836, Augusta Sophia 1837, Elizabeth 1839 and Henry Breach in 1840.

However, by the year of 1849, Job and his family have left Holt and are farming at Great Notton Farm, Lacock which was an establishment of 250 acres. During his time at Great Notton Farm, Job took part in the Parish affairs of Lacock and in addition to being a Member of the Vestry he served for a few years as Overseer of the Poor.

The 1851 Census shows Job and his family is as follows:-
Notton Farm
Job Pocock Age 47 yrs, Farmer 250 acres Employing 9 Labourers, Born Melksham.
Elizabeth - wife 48 yrs, Born Melksham.
Emma - 17 yrs. U.M. Born Holt
Augusta Sophia - 14 yrs U.M. Born Holt.
Elizabeth - 12 yrs. Scholar, Born Holt.
Henry Breech - 11 yrs Scholar, Born Holt.
Arthur - 2 yrs Born Lacock.
Emma Crew - 18 yr, Dairy Maid.

An interesting point in the above Census return; there is a gap of almost 10 years between Henry Breach and Arthur - perhaps Arthur was a late arrival.

Between the years of 1851 and 1861 Job and his family moved farm once again and this move took them to Heathercroft Farm, Cholsey, in Berkshire. Job must have been successful for his new farm was one of 350 Acres and he employed 11 men and 6 boys, ddition to members of the family.

The Census return for 1861 is as follows; Heathercroft Farm, Cholsey, Berkshire
Job Pocock, 58 yrs. Employing 11 men and 6 boys.
Elizabeth, Wife 58 yrs.
Emma - 26yrs daughter unmarried
Frederick - 25 yrs Son unmarried
Augusta Sophia - 23 yrs daughter unmarried
Henry Breach - 21 yrs son unmarried
Arthur - 13 yrs Son

We suspect that Job and Elizabeth remained at Cholsey (or in the area) for some years as we find that in 1865 daughter Emma was married, her sister Augusta Sophia married in the Calne District.

1887 Henry Breach, aged 47 years married within the district of Basingstoke.
About that time Job died and left a will. Probate was granted within the Bishop's Cannings area, but the actual documents have not survived.

Job's wife Elizabeth was buried in the parish church of Melksham together with members of the Breach family and the large tomb is easy to see, very close to the Church itself. We suspect that Job was a member of the Established Church, as we have no evidence that he had followed his father into the Baptist faith.

Job's son Arthur married Catherine Annie Bathe, aged 28 years, of Marylebone, Middlesex in December 1877 and they farmed at Freegrove House, Lyneham where in 1881 the Census records:- Freegrove House
Arthur Pocock, farmer 256 Acres 32 yrs. Employing 9 men, 4 boys. Born Lacock.
Catherine - Wife 31 yrs born Marylebone Middlesex.
Arthur J - son age 2 yrs.
Charles - son age 1 yr.
Annie Fell - servant.
Jane Hillier - nursemaid.

Royal Agricultural Show 1909
Traditions of excellent herds of the farm were recorded at the 1909 Royal Agricultural Show Gloucester when Arthur Pocock achieved a reputable First Prize for one of his Jersey Bull "Prime Minister" the prize cow was fed on Thorley's Cake and Thorley's Food.

Over five days during 22-26th June 1909, thousands of farm animals and 88,396 people including King Edward VII came to Gloucester. All to experience the Annual Show of the Royal Agricultural Society of England.

1,146 cattle, 599 horses, 802 sheep, 124 cheeses and hundreds of other entries of all different kinds competed for the gold and silver medals, and a share of the £9,924 prize money on offer. Besides the competitions, visitors were well entertained. Bands played, every country craft from butter making to blacksmithing was demonstrated, and there was even a hot air balloon that ascended daily. There was plenty to eat and drink at the nine bars and restaurants, including fresh milk from the Show's very own working dairy. In fact the organisers had thought of everything from a special motorbus service from the railway station to building temporary post-offices, fire, police and ambulance stations.

The only thing that could not be provided was good weather. The rain poured down. The Royal Agricultural Show had been held in Gloucester once before in 1853. It rained then too. Thankfully the sun came out for the highlight of the whole event: the visit of King Edward VII.

Wednesday 23rd June 1909 was the first time a reigning monarch had visited Gloucester since George III. Vast crowds lined the streets to watch the Royal procession, among them 7000 children who had been given time off school for the event. But unfortunately tragedy struck. A young woman spectator was killed by a piece of masonry falling from the Co-op building on the corner of Brunswick Road. Despite this, and the King not winning any prizes for the 12 cows he had in competition, the occasion was hailed as a great success.