CONTENTS
My family history research has demonstrated that my roots are very much in the West Country of England. With the exception of a distant link with Bedfordshire, almost all of my ancestors came from Bristol, Wiltshire, Somerset, Devon and Dorset. So it was a great surprise when by chance I found my great-great-great-great-great-great-grandfather Foster TOY's baptism in the records of St Peter, Wolverhampton, especially since I'd previously found his marriage in Devon. So it seems that I have a bit of West Midlands blood in me as well! This also demonstrates how vital the internet has become to family history research, since I would never have found Foster's baptism if the parish records for St Peter hadn't been put online by Wolverhampton Archives.
While I have been largely responsible for compiling the information about the TOY family with the help of genealogists TONY POOLE and JANET HENWOOD, I would like to thank SUE RODRIGUEZ and her family for their recollections about the TOYs, and CORINNE PARKINSON, SHARON PARKINSON and RUTH AULD for providing me with information about the family of Elizabeth TOY and Benjamin PARKINSON. I am also grateful to MICHAEL J. McCORMICK, NORMAN FOSH, RITA RAINBIRD, JOHN HODGES and JOANNE HARRINGTON for providing me with extracts from various sources with regard to the derivation of the name "TOY". I am also indebted to the members of the Bristol & Somerset and Devon Genealogy Mailing Lists. Much of the information on this page has no primary source and while I believe that it is accurate, I cannot take responsibility for any errors or omissions. I will be updating this page regularly as new information comes to light.
The surname TOY has a number of possible origins. According to P.H. REANEY in "The Oxford Dictionary of English Surnames" the name may have originally derived from a nickname, while Dr BASIL COTTLE in "The Penguin Dictionary of Surnames" and LESLIE DUNKLING in "The Collins Dictionary of Surnames" suggest that it was used for someone who made "toys" - a "toy" being a northern English name for a close-fitting cap. The name could also be an Anglicization of the Irish Gaelic "taidgh" meaning poet or philosopher, and it could also be a corruption of the French Huguenot surname TOYE.
Foster Morris TOY was baptised in St Peter, Wolverhampton, Staffordshire on 17th May 1777 and was the son of John TOY and Mary MORRIS, who married in the same church on 20th January 1766. As well as being named after his mother, Foster also appears to have been named after his maternal grandmother, as Mary MORRIS was probably the daughter of Richard MORRIS and Ann FOSTER, who married in St Peter on 19th September 1742.
For reasons as yet unknown Foster moved to South Devon and married Elizabeth HAMMETT on 26th April 1800 in St Luke & St Andrew, Stoke Damerel. Elizabeth was born in about 1777 in Kingsbridge, Devon and was the daughter of Samuel HAMMETT and Elizabeth EFFORD. Foster and Elizabeth had at least one child while they were living in Devon - John, baptised 1st November 1801 in St. Edmund, Kingsbridge.
Foster was a private in the 1st (East) Devon Militia from February 1800. He was promoted to drummer in the 9th Company under Captain Lane on 1st September 1801. He was still in Captain Lane's Regiment in April 1802 but had left by April 1803, possibly because by this time he, his wife and eldest child had moved from Devon to Bristol. Foster and Elizabeth had at least six more children together - William and Betsy, both baptised 25th December 1806 in St Philip & Jacob, Bristol; Joseph, baptised 14th June 1812 in St Philip & Jacob; Thomas, born c. 1817 and baptised 16th January 1820 in St Philip & Jacob; James, baptised 10 June 1821 in St Philip & Jacob, and Edwin, born c. 1825 in St Philips, Bristol.
It seems as though the TOYs may have had more than one brush with the law. According to the Bristol Quarter Sessions docket books and Felix Farley's Bristol Journal, on 18th October 1831 Thomas TOY, aged 14, pleaded guilty to stealing a silk handkerchief from Thomas Hooper RIDDLE and was "imprisoned in the common gaol to hard labour for the term of three calendar months". On 4th April 1836 Thomas TOY was found guilty of picking the pocket of Elizabeth BEAMES and was "ordered to be transported for the term of seven years". On 4th October 1837 Thomas TOY of Bristol, aged 21, set sail as a convict aboard the Waterloo from Sheerness, Kent and arrived in New South Wales, Australia on 8th February 1838. These records might all relate to the same man, who could have been Foster Morris TOY's son Thomas, born c. 1817. As an interesting footnote, a Thomas Hooper RIDDLE was Sheriff of Bristol in 1828.
In October 1837 Foster TOY
himself stood trial where he confessed to "feloniously stealing the
goods of George TAYLOR, his master" and was "sentenced to be imprisoned
in the common gaol for the term of one year and to be kept at hard
labour therein". Foster would have been imprisoned in the New Gaol on Cumberland Road.
In 1841 Foster and Elizabeth were living in Lawrence Hill with their son Edwin:
Lawrence Hill, St Philip
& Jacob, Bristol
Foster TOY aged 60 Whitesmith Not born in County
Elizabeth TOY aged 60 Not born in County
Edwin TOY aged 15 Whitesmith Born in County
The occupation given for Foster in the 1841 census suggests that he might have been a tinker, someone who travelled around mending pots and kettles to earn a living. Foster died of liver disease on 14th June 1847 in Rope Walk, West Street, St Philip & Jacob. His occupation at the time of death was recorded as 'locksmith'. In 1851 Foster's widow Elizabeth was living in the Stapleton Poor Asylum, as seen here in the census for that year:
Asylum for the Poor of
Bristol, Stapleton, Bristol
Elizabeth TOY widow aged 74 born Kingsbridge, Devon
Elizabeth TOY (nee HAMMETT) died in Bristol in about 1857.
Edwin TOY (b. c. 1825) married Martha CLOUGH on 5th May 1845 in Holy Trinity, St Philips, Bristol. Martha was born in Liverpool in about 1821 and was the daughter of William and Elizabeth CLOUGH. Edwin and Martha had at least one child together - Frederick, born c. 1846 in Bristol. This is how Edwin and Martha appear in the 1851, 1871 and 1881 censuses:
7 Margaret Street, Limehouse, Tower Hamlets, London (1851)
Edwin TOY aged 28 Engineer (Journeyman) born Bristol, Gloucestershire
Martha TOY wife 27 born Bristol, Gloucestershire
Frederick TOY son 5 born Bristol, Gloucestershire
7 Cotton Street, St Ann Limehouse, Tower Hamlets, London (1871)
Edwin TOY aged 42 Engine Fitter born St Philips, Bristol
Margaretta TOY wife 40 born Liverpool, Lancashire
43 West Ferry Road, Poplar, Tower Hamlets, London (1881)
Edwin TOY aged 55 Engineer Fitter & Turner born Bristol, Gloucestershire
Martha TOY wife 58 born Liverpool, Lancashire
John TOY was baptised in St Edmund, Kingsbridge, Devon on 1st November 1801 and was the son of Foster Morris TOY and Elizabeth HAMMETT. He married Ann Cottle on 22nd October 1820 in Stapleton, Gloucestershire. Ann was born in about 1802 in Little George Street, St Philip & Jacob, Bristol and was the daughter of Joseph COTTERELL and Mary ROSE. John and Ann had at least eight children together, all baptised in St Philip & Jacob - Mary Ann, baptsied 25th December 1821; John, baptised 9th March 1823; Elizabeth, baptised 21st March 1824; Eliza, baptised 13th August 1826; John, baptised 19th April 1829; William, baptised 19 February 1832; Ann, baptised 12th April 1835, and Henry, baptised 8th July 1838. John was described as a smith, general dealer or traveller on various records, which suggests that, like his father, he was also a tinker. This is how John and Ann appear in the 1841, 1851 and 1861 censuses:
Little George Street, St
Philip & Jacob, Bristol (1841)
John TOY aged 35 General Dealer Not born in county
Ann TOY aged 35 born in county
Elizabeth TOY aged 15 born in county
Eliza TOY aged 10 born in county
John TOY aged 10 born in county
William TOY aged 8 born in county
Ann TOY aged 5 born in county
Henry TOY aged 2 born in county
Little George
Street, St Philip & Jacob, Bristol (1851)
John TOY aged 50 Smith born Kingsbridge, Devon
Ann TOY wife 48 born Little George Street, Bristol
E. PARKINSON lodger 27 born Eugene Street, Bristol
Ann TOY daughter 15 born Eugene Street, Bristol
Henry TOY son 13 born Eugene Street, Bristol
Sarah A. PARKINSON visitor 6 born St. Philips, Bristol
John T. PARKINSON visitor 12 months born St James, Bristol
21 Little George
Street, St Philip & Jacob, Bristol (1861)
John TOY aged 49 Traveller born Bristol
Ann TOY wife 41 born Bristol
Henry TOY son 22 Works at Glue Factory born Bristol
Sarah Ann PARKINSON granddaughter 15 born Bristol
John Thos. PARKINSON grandson 11 born Bristol
Emily PARKINSON granddaughter 9 born Bristol
Ann
TOY widow aged 70 Hawker born Bristol
Henry SPRING grandson 9 Scholar born Bristol
Ann TOY (nee COTTLE) died on 13th April 1876 at 17 Little George Street.
Elizabeth TOY (b. 1824) married Benjamin PARKINSON in Bristol on 4th November 1844. Benjamin was born in Castle Green, Bristol on 27th August 1822 and was the son of Thomas PARKINSON and Sarah JENKINS. Benjamin and Elizabeth appear to have had at least four children together, all born in Bristol - Arthur, born c. 1845; Sarah Ann, baptised on 8th June 1845 in St Philip & Jacob; John Thomas, born 6th June 1851 in George Street, and Emily, born c. 1852.
Benjamin and Elizabeth both immigrated to Australia, setting sail on 3rd July 1853 aboard the "Star of the East" and arriving in Melbourne on 23rd September. Benjamin's three brothers and their families travelled with them. Their son John later joined them, arriving in Australia in April 1871 aboard the "Bengal". It appears that Sarah Ann stayed in England, marrying John Angle COOK in 1873 and dying in Bristol in 1879 aged just 34, but it is unclear what became of Arthur and Emily. Benjamin died on 11th February 1899 in Hawthorn, Victoria, Australia and his widow Elizabeth died in 1906 in Hawthorn.
John TOY (b. 1829) married Archerbell BAKER on 18th June 1850 in Bedminster, Bristol. She was born in Pucklechurch, Gloucestershire in about 1827 and was the daughter of Henry and Elizabeth BAKER. John and Archerbell had at least four children together, all born in Bristol - Elizabeth, born c. 1850; Edwin, born 28th September 1853 at 2 Lamb Street, St Philip & Jacob; Walter, born c. 1857, and Kate, born c. 1860. This is how the family appears in the 1851 and 1861 censuses:
Lamb Street, St
Philip & Jacob, Bristol (1851)
Elizabeth BAKER widow aged 54 Stay Seller born Gloucestershire
John TOY aged 22 General Dealer born Bristol
Archer TOY wife 24 born Buckinghamshire
Elizabeth TOY daughter 1 month born Bristol
John JARRETT lodger 58 Feltmaker born Bristol
11 James Street,
St Philip & Jacob, Bristol (1861)
John TOY aged 32 Grease Refiner Employing 3 Men born Bristol
Archer TOY wife 34 born Pucklechurch, Gloucestershire
Edwin TOY son 7 born Bristol
Walter TOY son 4 born Bristol
Kate TOY daughter 1 born Bristol
Mary WEYMOUTH visitor 32 Dressmaker born Keynsham, Somerset
Maria NEWMAN servant 12 born Bristol
John, Archerbell and their children Edwin, Walter and Kate immigrated to the USA in the late 1860s. They settled in Philadelphia, as seen here in the 1870 US Federal Census:
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
John TOY aged 38 Lard Refiner born England
Archibel TOY aged 40 Keeping House born England
Edwin TOY aged 17 born England
Walter TOY aged 13 born England
Kate TOY aged 10 born England
Ann TOY (b. 1835) married John PRING on 15th August 1853 in Bedminster, Bristol. John was born in Bristol in about 1828 and was the son of William and Elizabeth PRING. He had been previously married to Caroline KING but she died in 1849. John and Ann had at least eight children together, all born in Bristol - John, born c. 1855; James, born c. 1857; Sarah Ann, born c. 1858; Henry, born c. 1861; Harriet, born c. 1864; Elizabeth, born c. 1866; William, born c. 1868, and Samuel, born c. 1870. This is how John and Ann appear in the 1861 and 1871 censuses (their surname is spelt incorrectly in 1871):
17 Little George Street, St Philip & Jacob, Bristol (1861)
John PRING aged 30 Labourer born Bristol
Ann PRING wife 26 born Bristol
John PRING son 6 born Bristol
James PRING son 4 born Bristol
Sarah Ann PRING daughter 3 born Bristol
35 Little George Street, St Philip & Jacob, Bristol (1871)
John SPRING aged aged 50 Labourer (Sandpit) born Bristol
Ann SPRING wife 37 Hawker (Sand) born Bristol
John SPRING son 16 Hawker (Sand) born Bristol
James SPRING son 14 Shoemaker born Bristol
Sarah A. SPRING daughter 13 Scholar born Bristol
Harriett SPRING daughter 8 Scholar born Bristol
Elizabeth SPRING daughter 5 Scholar born Bristol
William SPRING son 3 Scholar born Bristol
Samuel SPRING son 5 months born Bristol
John PRING died in about 1878. This is how Ann appears in the 1881 census:
5 Paddock, St Philip & Jacob, Bristol
Ann PRING widow aged 44 Hawker born Bristol
Harriet PRING daughter 16 Factory Girl born Bristol
Elizabeth PRING daughter 14 Factory Girl born Bristol
William PRING son 13 Scholar born Bristol
Samuel PRING son 9 Scholar born Bristol
Ann PRING (nee TOY) died in about 1888.
William TOY was baptised on 19th February 1832 in St Philip & Jacob, Bristol and was the son of John TOY and Ann COTTLE. He married Mary Ann LANE on 20th May 1850 in St Philip & Jacob. Mary was baptised on 24th June 1832 in St Philip & Jacob and was the daughter of William LANE and Ann WARDMAN. In 1851 William and Mary were living with Mary's mother in Twinnell Road, St Philip & Jacob as seen here in the census for that year:
Twinnell Road, St Philip & Jacob, BristolAnn LANE widow aged 38
born St Philip & Jacob, Bristol
Emma LANE
daughter 20 Sempstress born St Philip & Jacob, Bristol
Eliza LANE
daughter 17 Sempstress born St Philip & Jacob, Bristol
Thomas LANE son
14 Errand Boy born St Philip & Jacob, Bristol
William LANE
son 5 Scholar born St Philip & Jacob, Bristol
James LANE son
3 Scholar born St Philip & Jacob, Bristol
William TOY
lodger 20 General Labourer
Mary Ann TOY wife 19
William and Mary appear to have only had one child together - Henry, born 18th June 1851 at 24 Twinnell Street, St Philip & Jacob, Bristol. William was described as a general dealer, hawker or traveller on various records which suggests that, like his father and grandfather, he made his living as a tinker. This is how William and Mary appear in the 1861, 1871 and 1881 censuses:
Bedford Place, St Philip
& Jacob, Bristol (1861)
William TOY aged 28 General Dealer born St Philips, Bristol
Mary A. TOY wife 28 born St Philips, Bristol
Henry TOY son 9 Scholar born St Philips, Bristol
Dalmond Court,
Eugene Street, St Philip & Jacob, Bristol (1871)
William TOY aged 38 General Labourer born Eugene Street, Bristol
Mary Ann TOY wife 38 Laundress born Stapleton Road, Bristol
2 Mina Road, St
Philip & Jacob, Bristol (1881)
William
TOY aged 48 General Dealer born Bristol
Mary Ann TOY wife 49 Laundress born Bristol
William TOY died of acute pneumonia on 28th November 1890 at 2 Parson Street, St Philip & Jacob, Bristol. This is how his widow Mary appears in the 1891 and 1901 censuses:
2 Parson Street, St
Gabriel, Bristol (1891)
Mary Ann TOY widow 58 Laundress born Bristol
Emma LANE sister 59 Laundress born Bristol
119 Pennywell Road, St
Gabriel, Bristol (1901)
Edward THOMAS aged 66 Iron Moulder born Bristol
Clara A. THOMAS wife 52 General Shop Keeper (Own Account) born Bristol
Edward THOMAS son 20 Boot Maker born Bristol
James THOMAS son 18 Boot Maker born Bristol
Mary A. TOY boarder widow 68 Laundress born Bristol
Mary Ann TOY (nee LANE) died on 2nd January 1906 at the Bristol Workhouse in Eastville.
Henry TOY was born on 18th June 1851 at 24 Twinnell Street, St Philip & Jacob, Bristol and was the only son of William TOY and Mary Ann Lane. He married Louisa JENKINS on 25th December 1870 in The Register Office, Bristol. Louisa was born on 20th January 1851 at 12 Broad Plain, St Philip & Jacob, Bristol and was the daughter of Edwin JENKINS and Sarah NATION. In 1871 Henry and Louisa were living at the same address as Louisa's parents, as seen here in the census for that year:
6 Tower Hill, Castle Precincts, St Peter, BristolHenry TOY aged 19
Mason
born Bristol
Louisa TOY wife 20 born Bristol
They moved to 9 Tower Hill later that year and it was here that their first child, Edwin Henry, was born on 28th November. Henry and Louisa had ten more children together, all born in Bristol - Henry Thomas, born 27th September 1874; Louisa Matilda, born 11th October 1876; William, born 1878; Matilda, born 25th July 1880; Sarah Emma, born 9th September 1882; Rosie Elizabeth, born 16th December 1884; Ada Florence, born 23rd November 1886; Elizabeth, born 15th October 1888; Annie, born 12th February 1891, and Albert, born 12th January 1895. In 1881 the family was living at 13 Alexandra Terrace, Bristol and Henry was working as a mason, as seen here in the census for that year:
13 Alexandra Terr, Mina Road, St Philip & Jacob Out, Bristol
Henry TOY aged 29 Mason
born St Philips, Bristol
Louisa TOY wife 30 born St
Philips, Bristol
Edwin H. TOY son 9 Scholar born
St Philips, Bristol
Henry T. TOY son 6 Scholar born
St Philips, Bristol
Louisa TOY daughter 4 Scholar
born St Philips, Bristol
William TOY son 2 born St
Philips, Bristol
Matilda TOY daughter 8 months
born St Philips, Bristol
By 1891 the family had moved to Southey Street, as seen here in the census for that year:
23 Southey Street, St Werburgh, Bristol
Henry TOY aged 40 Mason
born Bristol
Louisa TOY wife 40 born Bristol
Edward TOY son 19 Mason's
Labourer born Bristol
Henry TOY son 16 Carter born
Bristol
William TOY son 12 born Bristol
Matilda TOY daughter 9 born
Bristol
Emily TOY daughter 8 born Bristol
Rose TOY daughter 6 born Bristol
Ada TOY daughter 4 born Bristol
Bessie TOY daughter 2 born
Bristol
Annie TOY daughter 2 months born
Bristol
By 1901 the family had moved again, this time to James Street where Henry remained until his death:
23 James Street, St Werburgh, Bristol
Henry TOY aged 49 Mason
born Bristol
Louisa TOY wife 50 born Bristol
Willam TOY son 22 Mason's
Labourer born Bristol
Matilda TOY daughter 20
Confectioner's Assistant born Bristol
Emily TOY daughter 18
Confectioner's Assistant born Bristol
Rose TOY daughter 16 Cigarette
Mouthpiece Maker born Bristol
Ada TOY daughter aged 14
Pawnbroker's Shop Assistant born Bristol
Bessie TOY daughter aged 12 born
Bristol
Annie TOY daughter aged 10 born
Bristol
Albert TOY aged 6 born Bristol
Louisa TOY (nee JENKINS) died on 8th October 1928 at 23 James Street. Henry TOY died on 21st October 1930 at the Eastville Workhouse, 100 Fishponds Road, Stapleton, Bristol. On his death certificate he is described as a bricklayer, which perhaps suggests that he was being somewhat creative when he referred to himself as a mason!
Edwin Henry TOY was born on 28th November 1871 at 9 Tower Hill, Castle Precincts, Bristol. He was the eldest son of Henry TOY and Louisa JENKINS and worked as a mason's labourer. By the early 1890s he had started to call himself "Edward" TOY, and it is this name that appears on his marriage certificate. He married Emily Lucy ROSE on 20th April 1892 in The Register Office, Bristol. She was born in about 1872 and was the daughter of James ROSE, a labourer. Edwin and Emily had seven children together, all born in Bristol - Emily, born 23rd December 1893 at 6 York Street, Mina Road, St Philip & Jacob; Rose Matilda, born 14th October 1897 at 3 John Street, Mina Road, St Philip & Jacob; Edith Nellie, born 12th October 1899 at 5 Mina Road, St Philip & Jacob; Albert Joseph, born 2nd August 1903 at 39 York Street, Ashley; Grace May, born 14th June 1907 at 39 York Street; Ivy Doris, born 12th February 1910 at 39 York Street, and George William, born 28th July 1912 at 39 York Street. In 1901 the family was living in the same street as Edwin's father in the St Werburgh area of Bristol, as seen here in the census for that year:
19 James Street, St Werburgh, Bristol
Edwin TOY aged 29
Mason's Labourer born Bristol
Lucy TOY wife 25 born Bristol
Emily TOY daughter 7 born Bristol
Rose TOY daughter 3 born Bristol
Edith TOY daughter 1 born Bristol
Edwin later rented 39 York Street, St Werburgh from the landlord of The Plough on the corner of Sevier Street and Ashley Parade. Edwin TOY liked his drink and would often spend his money in the pub after being paid. His wife Emily was apparently a bit of a battle-axe. She worked for a firm called Allen's making coats until it closed down. She is also something of a mystery since she is nowhere to be found in either the 1881 or 1891 censuses. Edwin died on 7th June 1938 at the Eastville Workhouse, 100 Fishponds Road, Stapleton, Bristol. His daughter Emily was the informant. Edwin's widow Emily continued to live at 39 York Street with her daughter Edith until the landlord sold the property. Emily and Edith then moved into council accomodation in Hartcliffe. Emily Lucy TOY (nee ROSE) died on 1st April 1961 at 1 Brocks Roads, Hartcliffe.
Emily TOY (b. 1894) married William Edward Charles WILLIAMS in Bristol in 1915. William owned his own haulage business, making deliveries with his own lorry. He and Emily lived in Whitehall. They had three children together - Maurice, Ivy and another son who died in infancy.
Rose Matilda TOY (b. 1897) died on 23rd October 1912 at 39 York Street aged only 15.
Edith Nellie TOY (b. 1899) married Cyril Albert Edward LAVER on 11th July 1921 in The Register Office, Bristol. Cyril was born on 3rd April 1902 in Hambrook, Winterbourne, Gloucestershire and was the son of Sam LAVER and Emma STACEY. For more information about Cyril and Edith please see my LAVER Family of North Cadbury and Bristol page.
Albert Joseph TOY (b. 1903) married Eveline Ada WILLIAMS on 18th May 1929. She was born on 14th June 1907 in Bristol and was the daughter of Herbert Edgar WILLIAMS and Ada Emily NECK. Albert and Eveline may have first met at a fairground on the corner of Midland Road. They had one son together - John Albert Edgar, born 20th November 1930 in Bristol. Albert TOY worked as a builder and plasterer and during the Second World War he went to London with his brother-in-law Ted CLEVELY to repair bomb damage. He also had a Sunday milkround for Coffins, a local dairy. Albert Joseph TOY died on 3rd April 1969. Eveline Ada TOY (nee WILLIAMS) died on 10th June 1986 in Bristol.
Albert
and Eveline TOY
(click
image to enlarge)
Grace May TOY (b. 1907) married Edward CLEVELY, a plasterer. They had one daughter - Joyce, born 27th March 1932.
Ivy Doris TOY (b. 1910) married Allen Richard Thomas DREW on 3rd March 1935 in St Werburgh, Bristol. Allen was born in Wales in 1911 and was the son of Thomas Allen William DREW and Harriett BROWN. He served in the Somerset Light Infantry and he and Ivy had two sons together - Allen and Philip. The family later moved to Sussex.
George William TOY (b. 1912) was only a few years older than his nephew Cyril LAVER and was more like an older brother to him than an uncle. He served in the Royal Army Medical Corp and went missing for a while in Burma. He married Hilda TURNER in Bristol in 1934 and worked as a roofer and plasterer for Don Hallet & Son, general builders, of Devon Road, Bristol.