Pub in Newbury

[newburychap]

Cornelius Elkins was licencee of the Waggon and Horses for about a year, from January 1851 to January 1852. He was also a tobacconist in Northbrook St.

[Trees]

Many thanks I wonder why so short a time do you know who was thewre before anf after him I wonder if one was a relation and he was "standing in" as it were 

[Trees]

oooh er I think I have found a bigamist
Cornelius Elkins born 1825 Newbury all his siblings were Curriers ie leather merchants
in 1851 he is keeping the Wagon and Horses with his wife Hannah
In 1861 he is a currier lodging in Wash street newbury while his wife Hannah is a hall keeper in Market place Newbury....Any idea what sort of Hall that was please?
in 1871 she is a shop keeper in Canterbury Place, St Mary Newington London still married no sign of a husband so I looked for Cornelius and found a Cornelius Elkingson born 1826 Newbury a currier living in Bread Street, St Margaret, Leicester  but with a wife and baby son!
I have looked for Cornelius Elkingson on previous censuses with no luck at all
oh dear is he really Cornelius Elkins??? It seems an awfully strange coincidence having so many similarities what do other chatters think?

[newburychap]

I don't think he was related to any other licensee of the Waggon. Before him the Westons (Benjamin & Sophia) kept the pub for almost 40 years. He was followed by a chap (Samuel Austin) who stayed only a few months - which looks to me suspiciously like a brewery employee put in as a temporary expedient while a new tenant is found.  If that was the case then Elkins left suddenly - the most common reasons for that would be bankruptcy or a severe infringement of the licensing laws. I have no evidence to show why he left, just of the transfer of the licence to Austin - but my bet is on money problems.

[Trees]

oooh er I think I have found a bigamist
Cornelius Elkins born 1825 Newbury all his siblings were Curriers ie leather merchants
in 1851 he is keeping the Wagon and Horses with his wife Hannah
In 1861 he is a currier lodging in Wash street newbury while his wife Hannah is a hall keeper in Market place Newbury....Any idea what sort of Hall that was please?
in 1871 she is a shop keeper in Canterbury Place, St Mary Newington London still married no sign of a husband so I looked for Cornelius and found a Cornelius Elkingson born 1826 Newbury a currier living in Bread Street, St Margaret, Leicester  but with a wife and baby son Albert Edward ELKINGSON but free bdms has an Albert Edward ELKINS born in 1870 but no Elkingson
I have looked for Cornelius Elkingson on previous censuses with no luck at all
oh dear is he really Cornelius Elkins??? It seems an awfully strange coincidence having so many similarities what do other chatters think?

[Trees]

Hi Newbury I have now found these:
http://pubshistory.com
Old Waggon & Horses, 26 Market Place, 
1830/Benjamin Weston/../../../Pigots Directory ***

1840/B Weston/../../../Robsons Directory ***

1844/Benj Weston/../../../Pigots Directory ***

1847/Benjamin Weston/../../../Post Office Directory ***

1852/Sophia Weston/../../../Slaters Directory ***


Now Benjamin and Sophia WESTON were parents of Hannah wife of Cornelius ELKINS.
I have found several obit notices for Benjamin Weston in 1848 so it looks like Cornelius took over for his mother in law for that year
BUT there is a tree on An..ry which says Benjamin committed Suicide but the newspaper death announcements I found don't mention suicide at all
Have you found anything that can confirm this at all?

Many thanks for your interest its good to have your local knowledge
  Trees

[newburychap]

It's only bigamy if he was married to them both at the same time.  Telling the census the woman you are living with is your wife is not proof of marriage.

The Hall looks like it could be the Town Hall, perhaps/probably including the 'Mansion House'. 

[Trees]

Quite right I stand corrected. it seems the child is given his surname. Annoyingly I can't find them in 1881 as Elkins or Elkingson.
Thanks for identifying the hall too it all builds up a clearer picture of their lives.
Trees

[newburychap]

Benjamin Weston died 21 July 1848 aged 71.  Looking at these bare details one wouldn't think of suicide, but I too have heard this story - but have no evidence to back it up.

The following may be found on the Curious Fox website (posted in 2004)
Weston Tragedy - Newbury
Benjamin Weston (11th of 12 children of Benjamin and Hannah) born 1777, innkeeper at 'Old Waggon and Horses Inn' which still exists, in Newbury Market Place,appointed Borough Treasurer in 1841. The complications, mainly due to the negligence of the Overseers, led to his suicide in 1848. The Council immediately appointed his widow, Sophia, Housekeeper at the Mansion House (Town Hall), possibly a sign of their responsibility for the tragedy. I am willing to send full details to anyone interested.

I fear that I did contact the chap who posted this - but cannot find the correspondence (many of my old emails seem to have disappeared).  From what I remember there was also a family connection to the Haskins (earlier landlords) - but I may be wrong.

It could explain how Hannah came to be the hall keeper.

PS I am more convinced that Elkins left over money problems, he was being sued for debt in the County Court in Dec 1851.