John was born in Poundstock, Cornwall, during 1797 the son of
William and Martha Uglow
and the grandson of
John and Ann Smeeth.
He was thus born just before his father joined the Excise Service and presumably his early life was spent moving correspondingly about
Cornwall and Devon. In early 1821, when he was 23 years old, John joined the Excise Service effectively replacing his father William who
had been superannuated six months previously.
After appointments in the Bristol and then Gloucester Collections, in 1824 John was appointed to the Stourbridge Collection in the
Midlands and there, during 1826 when he was 29 years old, he married Esther Whitehouse at Sedgley in Staffordshire. Esther had been born
at Tipton in Staffordshire during 1805 and was just over 21 at the time of their marriage.
John’s subsequent appointments were at Devonport, Plymouth until in 1836 he was promoted to be a Supervisor in the Lancaster Collection.
A year later in 1837 he became Port and Export Surveyor for the Port of Liverpool. In 1838 he became Supervisor of the Aberystwyth
District in Wales and sometime later Supervisor of the Burton District in Staffordshire, a position he held until superannuated in 1854.
His movements during his career are reflected in the birthplaces of his and Esther’s eleven children, seven sons and four daughters, of
whom three sons died in infancy.
John died in Burton on Trent during 1882 age 85 whilst Esther died there during 1896 age 91.
- son John
was born during 1827 in Devonport, Plymouth, Devon. During 1856 when he was 28 years old he was married to Eliza Spencer who
appears to have been then 20 years old at Ashby (de la Zouch) about 8 miles South-East of Burton-on-Trent. She appears to have been the
youngest child of a John and Catherine Spencer and was born in Ashby de la Zouch. As yet her exact date of birth is unknown, probably
sometime during 1835. After their marriage they lived at Burton-on-Trent where John is recorded as a Brewery Traveller or Agent. John and
Eliza had five children, two dying before christening plus two daughters and a son who survived to adulthood. Eliza died during 1876, aged
only 41, at Ashby de la Zouch and John died there during 1882 aged 55.
- son William was born during 1828 and died in infancy.
- daughter Esther Whitehouse was born during 1830,
probably in Devonport and baptised at Stoke Damerel, Devon, the entry recording that
her father was ‘Officer H.M.Excise’. During 1861, when she was 30 years old, she married Elkanah Robert Healey in Burton-on-Trent. His
exact date and place of birth are unknown but he was about six years older and the son of John Healey, a Liverpool businessman. He was a
widower with a son from his earlier marriage. He was employed by the trustees of Albert Dock, Liverpool, finally being ‘Principal Examiner
’. Esther and Elkanah had two children, a son and a daughter. Esther died in Liverpool during 1867 aged only 36 and Elkanah died there
exactly a year later in 1868.
- son William
was born 1833, probably in Plymouth, Devon where he was baptised. During 1860 when, he was 27 years old, he married Caroline Loft in Leeds
, Yorkshire. She was then 23 years old and had been born in Portsmouth, Hampshire, the daughter of Richard Cook Loft. Throughout his life
William appears to have been a ‘Commercial Traveller’ in the clothing business. After their marriage William and Caroline lived in Leeds
where they had six children, a son and five daughters. Caroline died 1887 in Sheffield, Yorkshire aged only 50. After his retirement William
moved to Birmingham where he died age 70 during 1904.
- daughter Jane
was born during 1835, probably in Plymouth where she was baptised. In 1865 when she was 30 years old she married Charles Padman Brown in
Birmingham. He was about three years younger than her and had been born in Grimsby, Lincolnshire during 1838. As yet his parentage is
unknown. He appears to have been a ‘Commercial Clerk’. Jane and Charles had three children, one son and two daughters.
- daughter Mary was born during 1838, probably in Plymouth where she was baptised. She remained unmarried throughout her life and
was a Schoolmistress. She died during 1913, age 75, in Headcorn, Kent.
- son George
was born during 1840 at Burton on Trent. George was in the Brewing, Wine and Spirit trade all his life, first in Burton on Trent, then
Loughborough and finally Nottingham. During 1872 when he was 31 years old George married Annie Upton, age 21 at the parish church of
Whitwick, Leicestershire. Annie was a daughter of Job Upton, Farmer of Whitwick Field. George and Annie had eight children, five sons and
three daughters, all born Loughborough except the youngest who was born in Nottingham.
George died in Nottingham during 1907 when he was 66 years old whilst Annie did not die until 1943, age 93.
- son Henry was born during 1842 at Burton and died in infancy.
- son Henry
was born during 1843 at Burton on Trent. Henry was, amongst other things during his life, a Commercial Traveller, probably for a Brewery
company. During 1870 when he was 26 years old Henry married Ann Salisbury at Rugeley, Staffordshire. Ann was then 22 years old and the
daughter of a William and Eleanor Salisbury. Henry and Ann had six children, two sons and four daughters, one of the sons dying in infancy.
Ann separated from Henry and emigrated to Australia with a new partner probably during late 1883 by whom she had at least one child.
Henry died in Derby during 1897 age 53. Ann died in Melbourne Australia,age 86,in 1934.
- daughter Ann was born during 1845 at Winshill, Derbyshire or Burton on Trent. She remained unmarried throughout her life and
was a Schoolmistress. She died during 1927 in Birmingham, age 81.