First World War in Headington & Marston
Roll of Honour of Holy Trinity Church, Headington Quarry

John TOLLEY (1886–1916)

John Tolley was born in Headington Quarry in 1886, the son of Samuel Tolley (born in Old Headington and baptised at St Andrew’s Church on 8 September 1850) and Mary Ann Brown or Browne (born in Forest Hill in 1853, registered second quarter, and baptised there on 26 June 1853).

His parents were married at St Andrew’s Church on 9 September 1872 and had the following children:

• Harriet Ann Elizabeth Tolley (born in Headington Quarry and baptised at St Andrew’s Church on 3 August 1873)
• William George Tolley (born in Headington Quarry and baptised at Holy Trinity Church on 25 June 1876)
• Elizabeth Mary Tolley (born in Headington Quarry and baptised at Holy Trinity Church on 29 September 1878; died age 14 and buried in the churchyard on 7 September 1892)
• Martha Sarah Tolley (baptised at Holy Trinity Church on 28 August 1881)
• Samuel Tolley (born in Headington Quarry and baptised at Holy Trinity Church on 30 November 1884)
• John Tolley (born in Headington Quarry and baptised at Holy Trinity Church on 25 July 1886)
• Alice Tolley (born in Headington Quarry and baptised at Holy Trinity Church on 29 April 1888)
• Mary Ann Tolley (born in Headington Quarry and baptised at Holy Trinity Church on 30 March 1890).

John’s mother as well as his father is described as a labourer in the marriage register, and as both were unable to sign their names, it is unsurprising that there are discrepancies in their ages, the names of their children, and Mary’s place of birth throughout the censuses. They were in fact 22 and 19 at the time of their wedding.

The 1871 census shows John’s father Samuel Tolley as a shepherd of 19 (but actually 21) living with his parents William and Eleanor (Helen) Tolley at Tileworth Cottages on the Marston Road, which was then in the parish of St Andrew’s. Following his marriage the next year, he and his wife set up home in Headington Quarry.

By the time of the 1881 census John’s parents were living in The Square, Headington Quarry with their first three children: Harriet (7), William (5), and Elizabeth (2).

By the time of the 1891 census their address in Quarry is specified as No. 2 Vine Cottages. John’s father was still a shepherd, and his mother was now working as a laundress (employed by someone else): her daughters Harriet (18) and Elizabeth (13) were still at home and doubtless helped look after the family. William (15) was now working as an agricultural labourer; Martha (9), Samuel (7), and John himself (5) were at school; and Alice (3) and Mary (1) completed the family.

Quarry National School, which John Tolley would have attended

John’s mother Mary Tolley died at the age of 42 and was buried in Holy Trinity churchyard on 8 January 1896.

The following year, on 21 August 1897, John’s father Samuel Tolley, married his second wife, the widow Mrs Emily Edwards (née Shorter, born in Wheatley), and again both were unable to sign their names. They had three children:

• Percy Reginald Tolley (born in Headington Quarry and baptised at Holy Trinity Church on 31 January 1900)
• Violetta Joy Tolley (born in Headington Quarry and privately baptised on 30 July 1902)
• Winifred Lucy Tolley (born in Headington Quarry and baptised at Holy Trinity Church on 24 June 1906).

At the time of the 1901 census John 14) and his older brother Samuel (16) had both already left home and were butcher’s assistants, lodging at the home in New High Street of another butcher’s assistant, Robert Edwards (29), and his wife and two children. Meanwhile his father Samuel Tolley (49) was working as a carter on a farm and living with John’s stepmother at New Inn Cottages, which were in Quarry parish at the south-east end of the London Road (just to the west of the New Inn at the present 282 London Road). This house had only three rooms including the kitchen, so it is not surprising that John and his brother moved out, as his two youngest full sisters, Alice (14) and Mary (11), were still at home with his father in 1901, in addition to the first two half-siblings from the second marriage, and three children from his stepmother’s first marriage. As for John’s other siblings, Martha (20) was living at Iffley vicarage, where she was employed as the cook; his brother William (25) was missing, and may be the man of that name who fought in the Boer War; and Harriet (28) was married.

By the time of the 1911 census John Tolley had joined the army, and was then stationed in India, at Wellington, Nigiris. His father was still living at New Inn Cottages with his second wife and their three children. He died there at the age of 63 and was buried at Holy Trinity churchyard on 21 June 1914.

In the First World War Tolley served as a Private in 1st Battalion of the Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry (Service No. 8324), and died of wounds at the age of 29 in Mesopotamia (now Iraq) on 3 April 1916.

He is buried in the Kut War Cemetery, and is listed on the stone plaque in the porch of Holy Trinity Church in Headington Quarry.

John Tolley had four second cousins who also died in the war: George Tolley and his cousin Arthur Tolley of St Andrew’s parish, and Harry Smith and his brothers William Smith of Headington Quarry. They were all descended from Samuel Tolley, who married Sarah Turner at St Andrew’s Church on 12 October 1812.

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Postscript

John’s full siblings

• Harriet Ann Elizabeth Tolley (born 1873) married Silvanus Silvester of Swindon at Holy Trinity Church on 4 September 1892. Their son Silvanus William Silvester was baptised at Holy Trinity Church on 31 December 1893.
• Samuel Tolley (born 1884) married Alice Phoebe Jones in the Headington registration district in the second quarter of 1905. At the time of the 1911 census he was working as a coal heaver and living at 2 Vine Lane, Warwick with his wife and four children: Doris (5), James (4), Mary (3), and Elsie (1).
• Alice Tolley (born 1888) married Frederick Samuel Paintin at Holy Trinity Church on 26 November 1910. Their began their married life in Windsor Street, and their son Frederick John Paintin was baptised at All Saints’ Church on 15 October 1911.
• Mary Ann Tolley (born 1890) married William Trafford in the Headington registration district in the fourth quarter of 1910. At the time of the 1911 census they were living at The Pitts in Headington Quarry with their first child, Cyril (2).