Two Old Church Texts - Wyles & Todd
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Author's Note: I suspect regular attendance ended at St Mary's Church in 1943. The population diminished in Duddington between WWI and WWII. This explains why there is no Rolls of Honour for WWII inside the Church (as there was no young men living in Duddington to join the British Armed Forces) - and there is no evidence for a Home Guard (as there were no older men living in Duddington to join it). Even the single name added to the foot of the WWI Memorial outside the Church (almost as an after-thought) - commemorating WWII - has been questioned by a local historian, who discovered this individual was not born in Duddington, did not live in Duddington, and possessed no connection with Duddington. When this individual is removed from the equation - Duddington has no connection with WWII.
During 1943, what was left of the local population either moved away or naturally died-out. Twenty-five years later (in 1967) St Mary's Church was registered as a Grade II listed building. Although Northants possessed one of the most well staffed Home Guards in the UK - with nearby King's Cliffe being a typical example - Duddington is completely missing from the historical narrative in this regard. The two (above) Church lists actually reflect the Church-attending population of Duddington - all the way to it's eventual demise. Church attendance ceased as the population was reduced to zero - or to near zero - in 1943. My direct family left Duddington to nearby Uppingham in 1905 - but I think this migration for work was an on going process which lasted another 38-years - until virtually all the Duddington population was gone in 1943.
When I first discovered these lists in 2009, I had no idea what this historical data meant - or implied. Some 16-years later, after much hard work and further research, together with the experience gained in the intermittent years, has developed my understanding so that I can now interpret all the gathered knowledge much more effectively and efficiently. It is incredible to consider that we as a family possessed important genealogical answers a long time before we were able to understand this fact - or fully appreciate what we had found. By always connecting the dots - a fuller genealogical picture is developed - as our understanding is progressed. ACW (27.8.2025)
During 1943, what was left of the local population either moved away or naturally died-out. Twenty-five years later (in 1967) St Mary's Church was registered as a Grade II listed building. Although Northants possessed one of the most well staffed Home Guards in the UK - with nearby King's Cliffe being a typical example - Duddington is completely missing from the historical narrative in this regard. The two (above) Church lists actually reflect the Church-attending population of Duddington - all the way to it's eventual demise. Church attendance ceased as the population was reduced to zero - or to near zero - in 1943. My direct family left Duddington to nearby Uppingham in 1905 - but I think this migration for work was an on going process which lasted another 38-years - until virtually all the Duddington population was gone in 1943.
When I first discovered these lists in 2009, I had no idea what this historical data meant - or implied. Some 16-years later, after much hard work and further research, together with the experience gained in the intermittent years, has developed my understanding so that I can now interpret all the gathered knowledge much more effectively and efficiently. It is incredible to consider that we as a family possessed important genealogical answers a long time before we were able to understand this fact - or fully appreciate what we had found. By always connecting the dots - a fuller genealogical picture is developed - as our understanding is progressed. ACW (27.8.2025)
Every text containing historical data is priceless when viewed from a genealogical perspective. In 2009, we discovered two old and fragile paper documents that had been placed in a wooden frame protected by a glass frontage. The first-time we found these two texts - the light was beginning to fade and my initial photographs were a little "dull" and/or "blurred". When we returned to Duddington (from our London home) a few months later, the two documents were still there and I managed to acquire two very clear and good photographs. Bear in mind that the type-face was not new, looked old, and was probably produced at some point in the early to mid-1900s.
Therefore, the text itself was not always "sharp" - and we had to ensure the light and angle used was optimum to create the best-possible copy. We achieved this at the time- with theses photographs taken on the 2.5.2009 (at 14:52 hrs) - during the Summer months in the UK (British Summer Time - or "BST") - meaning daylight hours were extended - and getting longer. After this time, these documents were removed from public display from within the interior of the Church - and never appeared again (I hope these two texts are stored away safe in the Church Archives). As this was at the beginning of our data-gathering - we were not sure what the content implied or meant - until today, when I retrieved these two texts from our archives and decided to transcribe their content. This I have done here:
St Mary's Church Musicians (1847-1943)
St Mary's Church Beadles - Sextons - Clerks & Cleaners (1818-1942)
These historically important texts cover the early, mid and late 1800s, as well as the early and mid-1900s. As one text finishes in 1942 - and the other in 1943 - obviously the lists could not have been gathered anytime earlier than 1943 (during WWII). The type-set looks antique and I would think that these lists were originally written in pen and ink before being converted into type. Although the 20th century is the nearest genealogical time-period to research for the Wyles family in Duddington - it is also the era for which we possess the least knowledge. Two graves are registered as existing in the St Mary's Church graveyard - both of which we have not been able to locate. It would seem that the inscriptions are already worn flat by the elements - or the stones have broken and/or fallen-down etc.
1) Mary Ann Wyles (nee 'Sweeby') [1839-1917) buried St Mary's Churchyard - Grandmother of my Great Grandfather - Archibald Brittain Wyles (1887-1941). Mary Ann Wyles was the mother of John Thomas Wyles (1859/60-1917) - my Great Great Grandfather - who left Duddington for Uppingham with Archibald Wyles (his son) around 1905. Interestingly, Mary Ann lived into her 78th-years of age in 1917 - the same year that her son (John Thomas) passed away (aged 57). Mary Ann must have been around 21-years of age when she gave birth to John Thomas. In this case we know who this person is and where she fits into our family.
2) Henry Wyles 1849-1919 - is buried in St Mary's Churchyard (aged 70-years old). Although he is buried in the graveyard - we have never found his stone and have never encountered his details in any other genealogical documents (no birth certificates, baptisms, marriages, or deaths certificates, etc). It could be that one day a piece of data will emerge that sheds light on this issue.
There is one "Wyles" grave in Duddington Cemetery - situated to the South-end of the village:
3) Agnes Sarah Wyles (1878-1949). Again, this person has not yet shown-up in our genealogical records. We do not know where this person fits-in - but this might change with more data.
Referencing the two Church documents above - there are three-members of the "Wyles" family listed spanning the time-period between 1864-1910:
Beadle-Sexton (A Type of Church Police Officer) -
W Wyles 1864
J Wyles 1886
As for "W Wyles" - this is probably "William Wyles" - but it is difficult to locate this specific person in Duddington. However, James and Mary Ann Wyles living in King's Cliffe - gave birth to their son "William Wyles! in 1809. The father "James" (b. 1770) - was the son of "William and Catherine Wyles" (buried in St Mary's in the tomb with the skull and cross-bones on its front panel) - who originally came from Duddington. In 1864 - this William Wyles would have been 55-years old. He may have associated himself with Duddington due to his father being from this place.
Although we cannot tell who exactly "J Wyles" was - we can speculate. There are two candidates from our family that we know of - both brothers:
John Thomas Wyles (1859/60-1917)
Jeremiah Wyles (1868-1953)
Both appear to have left Duddington for Uppingham during the early 1900s.
Blowers -
P Wyles (1910)
I think a "Blower" carried-out the function of using bellows to blow air into the Church organ. This produced the notes that the organ-player produces by pressing the finger-keys and foot-peddles. I think this work is demanding and requires considerable strength and stamina. The Wyles people we now possess for the early 20th century in Duddington amount to two-men and two-women - and are as follows:
P Wyles (c. 1910) - Blower (Church Organ)
Mary Ann Wyles (1839-1917) - Direct Relative
Henry Wyles (1849-1919)
Agnes Sarah Wyles (1878-1949)
Finally, one of the lists records that both "Isaac Todd" and his wife worked at St Mary's Church:
Isaac Todd - Clerk (1864)
Mrs Todd - Cleaner (1864)
These people must be related to the original land-owners in Duddington who gave their name to a hill, a cottage, a farm, and a barn just off the High Street - near the Green.
Therefore, the text itself was not always "sharp" - and we had to ensure the light and angle used was optimum to create the best-possible copy. We achieved this at the time- with theses photographs taken on the 2.5.2009 (at 14:52 hrs) - during the Summer months in the UK (British Summer Time - or "BST") - meaning daylight hours were extended - and getting longer. After this time, these documents were removed from public display from within the interior of the Church - and never appeared again (I hope these two texts are stored away safe in the Church Archives). As this was at the beginning of our data-gathering - we were not sure what the content implied or meant - until today, when I retrieved these two texts from our archives and decided to transcribe their content. This I have done here:
St Mary's Church Musicians (1847-1943)
St Mary's Church Beadles - Sextons - Clerks & Cleaners (1818-1942)
These historically important texts cover the early, mid and late 1800s, as well as the early and mid-1900s. As one text finishes in 1942 - and the other in 1943 - obviously the lists could not have been gathered anytime earlier than 1943 (during WWII). The type-set looks antique and I would think that these lists were originally written in pen and ink before being converted into type. Although the 20th century is the nearest genealogical time-period to research for the Wyles family in Duddington - it is also the era for which we possess the least knowledge. Two graves are registered as existing in the St Mary's Church graveyard - both of which we have not been able to locate. It would seem that the inscriptions are already worn flat by the elements - or the stones have broken and/or fallen-down etc.
1) Mary Ann Wyles (nee 'Sweeby') [1839-1917) buried St Mary's Churchyard - Grandmother of my Great Grandfather - Archibald Brittain Wyles (1887-1941). Mary Ann Wyles was the mother of John Thomas Wyles (1859/60-1917) - my Great Great Grandfather - who left Duddington for Uppingham with Archibald Wyles (his son) around 1905. Interestingly, Mary Ann lived into her 78th-years of age in 1917 - the same year that her son (John Thomas) passed away (aged 57). Mary Ann must have been around 21-years of age when she gave birth to John Thomas. In this case we know who this person is and where she fits into our family.
2) Henry Wyles 1849-1919 - is buried in St Mary's Churchyard (aged 70-years old). Although he is buried in the graveyard - we have never found his stone and have never encountered his details in any other genealogical documents (no birth certificates, baptisms, marriages, or deaths certificates, etc). It could be that one day a piece of data will emerge that sheds light on this issue.
There is one "Wyles" grave in Duddington Cemetery - situated to the South-end of the village:
3) Agnes Sarah Wyles (1878-1949). Again, this person has not yet shown-up in our genealogical records. We do not know where this person fits-in - but this might change with more data.
Referencing the two Church documents above - there are three-members of the "Wyles" family listed spanning the time-period between 1864-1910:
Beadle-Sexton (A Type of Church Police Officer) -
W Wyles 1864
J Wyles 1886
As for "W Wyles" - this is probably "William Wyles" - but it is difficult to locate this specific person in Duddington. However, James and Mary Ann Wyles living in King's Cliffe - gave birth to their son "William Wyles! in 1809. The father "James" (b. 1770) - was the son of "William and Catherine Wyles" (buried in St Mary's in the tomb with the skull and cross-bones on its front panel) - who originally came from Duddington. In 1864 - this William Wyles would have been 55-years old. He may have associated himself with Duddington due to his father being from this place.
Although we cannot tell who exactly "J Wyles" was - we can speculate. There are two candidates from our family that we know of - both brothers:
John Thomas Wyles (1859/60-1917)
Jeremiah Wyles (1868-1953)
Both appear to have left Duddington for Uppingham during the early 1900s.
Blowers -
P Wyles (1910)
I think a "Blower" carried-out the function of using bellows to blow air into the Church organ. This produced the notes that the organ-player produces by pressing the finger-keys and foot-peddles. I think this work is demanding and requires considerable strength and stamina. The Wyles people we now possess for the early 20th century in Duddington amount to two-men and two-women - and are as follows:
P Wyles (c. 1910) - Blower (Church Organ)
Mary Ann Wyles (1839-1917) - Direct Relative
Henry Wyles (1849-1919)
Agnes Sarah Wyles (1878-1949)
Finally, one of the lists records that both "Isaac Todd" and his wife worked at St Mary's Church:
Isaac Todd - Clerk (1864)
Mrs Todd - Cleaner (1864)
These people must be related to the original land-owners in Duddington who gave their name to a hill, a cottage, a farm, and a barn just off the High Street - near the Green.