Clutton History Archive

1901 Census (31 March)

James Maggs – Head of Family – Age 34 – Married – Carpenter – Born Bedminster, Bristol
Drusilla Maggs – Wife – Age 34 – Married – Born Clutton, Somerset
Elsie Maggs – Daughter – Age 8 – Born Clutton, Somerset
Arthur Maggs – Son – Age 6 – Born Clutton, Somerset
Earnest Maggs – Son – Age 4 – Born Clutton, Somerset
Mabel Maggs – Daughter – Age 3 – Born Clutton, Somerset
Harold Maggs – Son – Age 1 – Born Clutton, Somerset

1911 Census (2 April)

James Maggs – Head of Family – Age 44 – Married – Colliery, Carpenter – Born Bedminster, Bristol
Drusilla Maggs – Wife – Age 44 – Married – Born Clutton, Somerset
Elsie Maggs – Daughter – Age 18 – Single – Born Clutton, Somerset
Arthur Maggs* – Son – Age 16 – Single – Coal Miner, Carter below ground – Born Clutton, Somerset
Earnest Maggs – Son – Age 14 – Coal Miner, Carter below ground – Born Clutton, Somerset
Mabel Maggs – Daughter – Age 13 – Born Clutton, Somerset
Harold Maggs – Son – Age 11 – School – Born Clutton, Somerset
Ada Maggs – Daughter – Age 8 – Born Clutton, Somerset
Wallace Maggs** – Son – Age 6 – Born Clutton, Somerset
Percy Maggs*** – Son – Age 4 – Born Clutton, Somerset

• Arthur had a fleet of lorries – Information from Roger Addicott (No. 14)

** Wallace was a Policeman in Bath – Information from Roger Addicott (No. 14)
*** Percy played in goal for Aston Villa – pre-war – Information from Roger Addicott (No. 14)

1920 Auction of the Earl of Warwick’s land and properties – F. Harris (Rent 5s 1d per week). Lot No. 98 comprising of Nos. 29, 30, 31 and 32 Maynard Terrace.

Fifty six cottages in Maynard Terrace were lotted in groups of three, four, and five but as there were no offers the auction closed and negotiations took place privately for the houses. Several of them together with some of the other lots were withdrawn, were disposed of, and negotiations are proceeding in regard to the others. It should be stated that all the properties are occupied and none of the tenants are under notice to quit. [Bristol Times and Mirror, 27 August 1920].

1921 Census (Planned for 24 April but did not take place until 19 June due to the Black Friday Strike)

Fred Harris – Head – Age 45 – Married – Coal Miner, Hewer (Out of Work), Clutton Colliery – Born – Clutton, Somerset
Rosa Harris – Wife – Age 36 – Married – Home Duties – Born – Shepton Beacham, Somerset
Florence Harris – Daughter – Age 10 – School – Born – Clutton, Somerset
Christine Harris – Daughter – Age 8 – School – Born – Clutton, Somerset
Reginald Harris – Son – Age 6 – School – Born – Clutton, Somerset

1st Clutton Scout Troop (1938) Gerald Dagger (front row third from right)
Photograph – Clutton History Group.

1939 Register (29 September 1939)

Stanley Dagger – Colliery Mechanic Underground, Married, b. 21 July 1890
Elsie Dagger – Home Domestic, Married, b. 19 February 1994
Lewis S. Dagger – Colliery Waggon Builder and Repairer, Single, b. 10 April 1917
Ivor B. Dagger – Colliery Labourer Surface, Single, b. 13 May 1918
Leonard S. Dagger – Clerk (Labour Ministry), Single, b. 15 July 1919
Five records closed under 100 year rule

REGISTER OF ELECTORS
1902 to 1910 – James Maggs
1912 to 1915 – James Maggs
1918 to 1921 – Mary Drusilla Maggs, James William Maggs
1921 to 1929 – Frederick Harris, Rose Helena Harris
1930 to 1932 – Alfred Crossley, Florence May Crossley
1933 to 1936 – Harold Parsons, Lucy Keith Parsons

1937 to #### – Stanley Dagger
1938 to #### – Louis Stanley Dagger* (from 1939 onwards spelt Lewis)
1938 to #### – Elsie Dagger

1945 to 1972 – Gerald E. Dagger, Stanley Dagger
1945 to 1948 – Cecily E. Dagger
1945 to 1951 – Elsie Dagger
1945 to 1952 – Lewis S. Dagger
1953 to 1964, 1977 to 1991 – Leonard S. Dagger
1958 to 1959 – Wilna Irene Dagger
1973 to > – Gerald E. Dagger

Burials in St. Augustine's Churchyard, Clutton

Source - Gravestone Photographic Resource (GPR) website (Bold numbers indicate the age has been calculated)

Elsie May Dagger - first name on the monument b. 1894 d. 1964 Age 70 GPR Ref. 395856
Stanley Dagger - relationship not given of Elsie May Dagger b. 1891 d. 1972 Age 81 GPR Ref. 395856
James William Maggs - husband of Mary Drucilla Maggs b. 1867 d. 1944 Age 77 GPR Ref. 398339
Mary Drucilla Maggs - first name on the monument b. 1867 d. 1936 Age 69 GPR Ref. 398339
Lewis Stanley Dagger - first name on the monument b. 1917 d. 1977 Age 60 GPR Ref. 395880

NEWSPAPER REPORTS

Monday 17 September 1928, Western Daily Press, Bristol

Clutton

Discovery In A Field

While walking across a footpath in a field leading from Cross Keys to Maynard Terrace, Clutton, a young man named Hiller saw a huddled form on the grass, and upon closer investigation was horrified to find the dead body of a man with a wound in his throat. Inquiries proved that the victim was Mr Frederick Harris a gardener of Maynard Terrace, Clutton, who had recently been employed as a gardener by Dr. Vaughn of Temple Cloud.

Friday 21 September 1928, Somerset Guardian and Radstock Observer

Due to Depression – Gardener found in a Field with Throat Cut – Coroner’s Inquest

A tragedy, which was apparently caused by a Clutton gardener’s depressed spirits was inquired into by the Coroner for North Somerset (Mr. W. G. Burrough) and a jury at the Clutton Institution on Saturday afternoon. The subject of the inquest was Fred Harris (52), of 32 Maynard Terrace, Clutton, on Thursday night with his throat cut and a razor in his hand. From the evidence it appears that deceased, who was a gardener to Dr. F. D. E. Vaughan, Temple Cloud, was usually of a bright disposition but had been in low spirits for about 14 days prior to his death. Much sympathy has been extended to the widow and her child in their bereavement. At the inquest, the Rev. H. J. Allner was elected foreman of the jury.

Mrs. Helen Harris, the widow, said her husband had been a sergeant in the last war. He served his time and was given a 20 per cent, disability pension amounting to 14s. a week. He an inmate of the Wells Mental Hospital for nine months 15 years ago. The doctor at the Hospital said he suffered from pains in the stomach and was nervous and depressed

The Coroner: Did he ever to threaten take his life? – Not just lately.

How long ago? - when was ill before, and so he was put away.

Continuing, witness said deceased had no worries so far as she was aware and was not in financial difficulties. She thought everyone was fond of him. He was always jolly when he was well. On Thursday, September 13th she left deceased at home at nine a.m., when she went to see her off on the bus. She left him in the kitchen getting ready to go to Dr. Vaughan's house tor Some medicine. He had just left when she returned at 10:15 a.m. At dinner-time she began to worry as he did not come borne. She waited, and became very anxious in the evening and enquiries. At the Cross Keys Inn, Clutton, she told that left there at one o ‘clock. At midnight she told that someone had been found dead. “They described his clothes, and then I knew, she added.

Leonard Hillier, of 11, Maynard Terrace, Clutton, he was out for a stroll on about 7:45 p.m. in Coalpit Field. Seeing blackberries on some bushes he went to pick them and saw the body in a gully behind. He went home and told his mother, his father being out at time.” I thought it was someone had had some drink and lain down there and gone to sleep,” he added. Just after eight o'clock his
father, John Hillier, came home and they talked about what he had seen. When he heard of the position in which deceased was lying, his father said, “Let’s go and see. He might be dead." They went to tbc field and found the body. When they saw he was dead, they phoned for the police. He knew the deceased quite well. but did not recognise him at the time.

Charles Tiley, licensee of the “Cross Keys," said deceased had gone to his Inn at 10:45 a.m. on Thursday and left at one o ‘clock. He was served with two pints of beer. He seemed very low, and would not converse. He did not threaten to take his life and was quite sober when he left. Deceased was the habit of going to his house. He was one of the most lively men he had seen, generally but the last fortnight he was not like his usual self.

In reply to the Foreman of the jury, witness said deceased did not mention any particular thing that was worrying him.

Answering a juryman, witness said deceased, did he left the “Cross Keys" went in the of his home. The field in which the body was found was only about 35 yards from the footpath he would use on the way to his house.

P.C. Pope, of Clutton, stated that on Thursday, in consequence of a communication he received at 8:30 p.m. from P.S. Harris, he went to the Railway Hotel, Clutton, and met Leonard Hillier, his
father, and P.C. Barter. They to the spot where the body had been found and saw deceased with an open Army razor clenched in right band. The case was in bis pocket. No one knew him, and he took him to the Clutton mortuary in a lorry. Next morning deceased’s wife identified the razor as his property. There was a ½d., and a handkerchief on the deceased, but nothing by which to identify him. His throat was cut nearly from to ear, and there was quite a lot of blood about. The spot where he was found was very secluded, the dry ditch being 10ft. deep. There were no signs of a struggle. In
witness’s opinion deceased had been dead from about two o'clock. He and his wife were apparently on friendly terms.

Reviewing the evidence, the Coroner remarked that it was obvious that deceased had inflicted the fatal cut himself. He appeared to have been on good terms with everybody. Fifteen years ago
from melancholia, but since then apparently he had been able to do his duty manfully and to serve in the Army during the war, rising to the rank of sergeant.

The jury deliberated in private, and their verdict was that deceased committed suicide whilst temporarily insane.

The Chairman, on behalf of the jury, expressed sympathy with the widow, and the Coroner associated himself with his remarks.

Friday 11 January 1946, Somerset Guardian and Radstock Observer

The sad circumstances surrounding the death, while home on leave from the B.A.O.R. of Driver
Mechanic Ivor Dennis Dagger, R.F.A., second son of Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Dagger, of 32, Maynard Terrace, Clutton, have elicited widespread sympathy for the family.

The deceased, who was popularly known in the village was a single man, 27 years of age. He served in H.M. Forces for six years. With his unit, which is attached to the 43rd Wessex Division, he on the Normandy beaches shortly after D-Day and served throughout the campaign which eventually brought about the capitulation of Germany.

He came on leave in the early part of December, and while at home was taken ill. He was found to be suffering from diphtheria, and was taken to Ham Green Hospital, near Bristol, where he died on Dec. 28. The circumstances of his death are made all the more sad in view of the fact that he was due for demobilisation at the end of this month.

The military authorities carried out the arrangements and supplied the bearers for the funeral which took place at Clutton on Jan. 1, when the service was held in the parish church of St. Augustine's, Clutton, followed by the interment in the churchyard at which the Last Post and Reveille were sounded on the bugle over the grave by Mr. Arthur Kermode, of Clutton. The Rev. D. V Galloway (rector) officiated.

The family mourners included Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Dagger (father and mother); Pte. Leonard Dagger, R.E., and Messrs. Lewis and Gerald Dagger (brothers); Mrs. R. Rogers (sister), Gnr. R. Rogers, R.A. (brother-in-law);Mrs. A Dagger (grandmother); Mr. Cecil Dagger. Mr. and Mrs. A. Atkins. and Mt. E. Atkins (uncles and aunt); Mr. Maurice Atkins, Mrs. L. Stowe. Miss J. Parfrey, and Mr. D. Parfrey (cousins).

Friday 10 May 1946, Somerset Guardian and Radstock Observer

Regiment’s Tribute – Gift for Parents of Late Gnr. Ivor Dagger.

Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Dagger, of 32, Maynard Terrace, Clutton, have received a gratifying tribute to the memory of their son. Gnr. Ivor Bernard Dagger, R.A., whose sad death took pace at Ham Green Hospital on December 28 last, while he was home on his last leave, before demobilisation, from
Germany.

The tribute, which was sent through Major Dawson, and was subscribed for by the officers and
men of his regiment, consisted of an eight-day marble clock, with oxydised dial, attached to which
was a brass plate bearing the following inscription: "To Gnr. I. B. Dagger. presented by the
officers and men of the 218 Field Battery, R.A 94th Field Regt. R.A., in grateful memory of a loyal
and gallant comrade.” Accompanying the gift was a cheque for £12 10s.

Mr. and Mrs. Dagger and family are overwhelmed with gratitude at this tangible expression of esteem and respect shows their late son by the officers and men of his regiment.