Introduction

Jane Squire is an elusive demi-monde figure who ran a fancy goods shop in Yeovil despite flouting societal norms by having two illegitimate children. She lived at Hardington Moor with her son, Albert George Squire, from about 1870 to 1883.

Early years

Jane was born at Yeovil in about 1824, the daughter of James Squire, a gardener, and Sarah Squire (nee Watts). On 14 October 1841, when she was only 15 or 16, she had an illegitimate son named Albert George.[1] By March 1851, she was a glove sewer living in Rotten Row in the household of her brother, William, a glove cutter.[2] During this time, her son, Albert, was residing with Jane’s parents in Reckleford.

On 14 October 1852, she had a second illegitimate child, Emily Eliza, born at 9 Lower Islington Terrace, London.[3] When registering her child’s birth, she claimed to be the wife of a traveller named William Squire and stated that her maiden name was Watts, which was actually her mother’s maiden name.

How Jane came to live at 9 Lower Islington Terrace is unknown. An advertisement from twenty years earlier describes the property as “a genteel, well-built Residence, and good Garden, in the most salubrious part of Islington.”[4] If this was indeed her address, how was she able to afford to live there? Unfortunately, it has not been possible to find this address on the 1851 census. Although Lower Islington Street is listed as part of District 25, no entries with that address are recorded in that district.

Middle years

Jane eventually returned to Yeovil and by April 1861, lived with her widowed mother at Reckleford, Yeovil. Her son, Albert, may have been in London at that time. The whereabouts of her daughter, Emily Eliza, remain a mystery until April 1871, when she lived with her aunt. Eliza Knight. After that, little is known about Emily except that she died at Broadway, Dorset, on 11 June 1924.[5]

In 1866, Jane ran a Fancy Repository in Princes Street, Yeovil.[6] Once again, the question arises about how she could afford to do so, although by then her son, Albert, may have been in a position to help her.

The following year, Albert married Martha Elizabeth Robins in London. They spent a brief time in Bristol before moving to Hardington to run a bakery and shop, where Jane joined them. The 1871 census recorded her as an annuitant, aged 47, living in the household of her son and daughter-in-law.

Later years

On 12 March 1883, Jane’s sister, Eliza Knight, the widow of a chemist, died intestate, leaving an estate of £492 17s. The Taunton probate court granted Jane the letters of administration for the estate.[7] At that time, Jane probably returned to Yeovil to live in Eliza’s house at 15 Reckleford Hill.

Albert, her son, died at Hardington on 6 January 1886 from heart disease, Bright’s disease and dropsy.[8]

In April 1891, Albert’s daughter, Elizabeth Emily, lived with Jane but died the following year from spinal meningitis and pneumonia, at the young age of 24.[9]

Jane died at 15 Reckleford, Yeovil, on 21 September 1901 at the age of 77.[10]

References

[1] Birth certificate of Albert George Squire.

[2] Rotten Row later became known as Market Street.

[3] Birth certificate of Emily Eliza Squire.

[4] Morning Advertiser, 10 March 1832, p.4.

[5] Probate calendar.

[6] Post Office Directory, 1866.

[7] National probate register. The 1871 census described Eliza as a “Chemist’s wife,” yet her marital status was recorded as a widow. No marriage record has been found, nor is there a likely candidate for her husband.

[8] Death certificate of Albert George Squire.

[9] Death certificate of Elizabeth Emily Squire.

[10] Western Gazette, 27 September 1901, p.8.