Chapter 12 - The Charleys of Coventry

 Chapter 12

The Charleys of Coventry

On one occasion, when visiting the Coventry District Nursing Association, the writer heard that a Miss Elizabeth Randall over 80 years of age helped the nurses one day a week with mending and sewing. She was connected with the Charleys and with the Neville Chamberlain family of Birmingham and spent some of her time at their home in the New Forest. She passed on the enquiry about her family to Mrs. Dora Charley, the wife of Ernest Charley, 153 Lythalls Lane, Coventry, who said that her father-in-law understood the original Charley family came over from France in 1685. They were Huguenots. Her father-in-law knew the Charleys in South Moulton in Devon and often talked of them. His grandfather remembered as the happiest day of his life when he was 12 years old leading his uncle’s horse through the streets of Ilfracombe, following his return from the battle of Waterloo. A Charley had once lived in Coventry and was a ribbon weaver. As Coventry was a centre where the Huguenots settled, it is probable that he was a refuge from France. It was said he had very beautiful hands. This is an interesting fact because, from many sources, it has been heard that this is a hereditary characteristic of the Charleys. Mrs. Dora Charley stated her husband’s family had very shapely hands.

The following is a copy of a sampler in the possession of the family:

Mary, daughter of John and Elizabeth, was born the 12^th of March, 1788. Sarah, their daughter, was born the 16^th of March, 1790. Elizabeth, their daughter, was born the 11^th of July, 1792. Izett, their daughter, was born the 10^th of January, 1795. Emma, their daughter, was born the 24^th of November, 1797. John, their son, was born the 13^th of December, 1800. Jane, their daughter, was born the 8^th of July, 1805. William, their son, was born the 21^st of November, 1807. Samuel, their son, was born the 14^th of July, 1811. Richard, their son, was born the 5^th of July, 1818.”

Mrs. Dora Charley says that her husband’s grandfather was the son Samuel mentioned in the sampler. He left Devonshire and went to Llandaff, Glamorganshire. He died June 12^th, 1900. There were two sons, Frederick and John Vellacott Charley.

Ernest Charley, Dora’s husband, says that both his great grandfathers, a Charley and a Vellacott used to ride to Exeter for the Grand Jury and send relays of 20 horses in advance. Ernest Charley said some of the family were in Ireland and in the linen trade.