Notes

Threshing required one traction engine and a thresher which Alf would drive to various farms.

Before any threshing could be done the farmer would use 3 horses to pull the binder to cut and make the sheaves from the oats or barley crop. The sheaves were stacked into stooks (6-8 sheaves on end, heads upwards) and left in the field for a week to 10 days to dry, then loaded onto wagons and brought into a covered shed in the mowhay and stacked into ricks, heads facing inwards. Once here it could be left 2 - 5 months before being threshed. November thru to March usually. About a dozen men were needed to keep the operation running smoothly. Water and coal had to be carried for the engine and the steam regulated to drive the belt to the thresher. The sheaves of corn were fed into the thresher then the bags of grain taken to the granary to be stored loose on wooden floors. This meant climbing a number of steps as the mill for grinding the grain was usually below the granary. The straw was stored in a covered shed

A farm similar to Pengelly ie 200 acres, harvested around 50 acres, and Alf would return on 5-6 different occasions throughout the year. They would average 8-10 acres a day. Granddad (William) had Martin Stephens from Tregonnet to bring his binder and horses. Farming was very physical for the men and the horses. Ploughing with 2 horses you could cover about an acre a day.

6th April 1895 �Callington Petty Sections� taken from Callington book by George Bishop Pg.33:
"H. Rogers & J.Garrett South Hill, were each fined �1 and costs for working steam threshing machines too near the highway. Superintendent Philp stated that he had issued these summonses as a warning that people must observe the law, the non-compliance with which might lead to serious results by frightening horses passing on the highway."

Polly (Mary) born in 1880, was �packed off to London with a gold sovereign in her hand� to work for Mr James (her aunt�s cousin?) as a servant girl in Bounds Green Road. Tom John Williams born in 1879, a carpenter from Pensilva also went to London and worked for Mr. Bronsdon, a builder and a speculator. Tom and Polly married in 189? and had 2 children - Doris Mary Elizabeth, born 13th April 1909 and Eric Thomas born 1922. The whole family left London in 1936 returning to Higher Park Pensilva to farm, then to West Trewoodloe to farm 17 acres taking over from the Shasells, who had given up (bankrupt). Eric married Gwen Bunkum from Trevigro Farm at Golberdon Chapel on 12th May 1949. He worked for the E.C.L.P. - English Clays Loverings and Pochin (English China Clay) as a weighbridge operator in Polson quarry, Launceston. Doris married Bill Ball, from Park House, on the 15th August 1976, a really hot day, at Golberdon Chapel, when she was 63. She died 29th March 1996, two years after Bill who died on 2nd Feb 1994 aged 79. Bill's first wife Gladys (nee Hurrel) died in 1968 aged 57 years. They had one daughter Mary, who married Kevin Batten. Polly died 23rd Nov. 1958 and Tom 14th June 1947.

Ed (Edward James) was born 23rd Nov. 1888 went to South Hill National School. The Headmaster was Mr. Evans, who was superceded by Mr. Walker, a Yorkshireman and a strict disciplinarian. Ed trained as a carpenter with Mr Sleep from �The Downs�, and followed brother in law Tom to London to find regular employment. Tom Williams sent a telegram on 15th March 1910 to Ed saying �Come to London tomorrow�. So the following morning after hasty preparations Ed and his father George travelled to Saltash by horse and trap with his belongings, a toolbox well fitted out; including a ball bearing brace and bit, a Stanley Universal Plough plane, ebony mortice guage and square. Leaving the horse and trap in a stable at Saltash they travelled by train over Brunel�s famous bridge over the river Tamar to North Road Station Plymouth where Ed caught the train to London. Tom met him at Paddington Station and together they carried the heavy toolbox by tube and tram home to Alexandra Terrace at the bottom end of Campsborne Road, Hornsey. Work started at 6.30am the next morning in Elgin Road, Muswell Hill where Tom worked on new houses. This information was taken from a letter Ed wrote home.

He married Ethel Maud (b. 7th April 1888) from Staines on 3rd April 1915, and they lived in Woodgreen, staying in London all their married lives. They had two sons, Leslie George Victor born 25th Oct 1918, and Dennis born 7th Feb 1920.

Leslie married Edna May Boyce on 5th June 1943, in Tonypandy in The Rhonda Valley and they settled in Wales. �Skelton-Thomas Engineering Co� a sign manufacturing company was formed in Port Talbot, which their daughter Janet still keeps a keen interest in. Janet Ceridwen born on 7th June 1944 married Terry Lougher on 5th Nov. 1976 in Ross on Wye. They had 2 children Christopher Mark b. 27 Nov 1965 and Alice Eilonwy b. 31st Dec 1977.

Dennis married Vera Oliver in Finchley in June 1948? and lived in Goring on Thames. He worked as an atomic research scientist for �Culhams� They had one daughter Wendy born Jan 1954 who later married Jeff Sainsbury.
Ed died 1st June 1978; Ethel died 24th? May 1982.

Beat ( Beatrice Selina ) born 1883 married Alfred Doidge on June 16th 1910, they were the first to marry at Golberdon chapel, after the marriage license had been obtained. Alf was born at Mornick and had 3 brothers - George who married Elsie had one child Leslie, who still lives in Golberdon and can still cycle up Scrawsdon Hill aged 78. Previously Les worked on the Kelly Bray railways and was a driver for Glover & Uglow. Alf owned 2 traction engines. His brother Ernest and brother in law William (my Granddad) helped during threshing. Dickie Williams (no relation) who lived at Lamberts Well worked full time for him. One engine was used nearly permanently to drive the saw bench, based at Kerney Bridge. During the summer they were busy planking wood and moved to farms if a large amount of work was available. He also found work with his stone crusher making roads. Threshing required one traction engine and a thresher which Alf would drive to various farms.

Later Alf returned to his carpentry skills. Alf and Beat lived at Egypt Lane End all their married lives. Alf died on Christmas day 1960 and Beat 12th Dec 1970. Stanley Alfred their only child was born 19th May 1914. He joined the services in the Army Transport Division, supplying front line troops. He married May Barriball from Polhilsa in 1946. He was a partner in Trewartha, Gregory & Doidge ironmongers business. The shop still trades as T.G.D. in Church Street, Callington. Their daughter Joan married and has one son, Guy. They now live in Aberdeenshire, Scotland.