BAPTISED: 2 MAY 1813. DIED: 13 NOVEMBER
1887.
At one time John Worley lived in a house called
Langley Bottom Farm in an area called Langley Bottom in Epsom, Surrey. Many
years later my father, as a boy, was taken by his father to see the
house. My father took me to see the house in 1975 and I believe I could
still find it provided it has not been redeveloped. It was on the edge of
Epsom Common, not far from the race course.
John and his wife Sarah are buried in an
unmarked grave (Plot C41A) in St. Martin’s Churchyard near the Epsom race
course, where the road runs down from the course to Epsom town centre. The
cemetery does keep records of the two Worley names.
John Worley was born on 2 May 1813 at Walton on
the Hill in Surrey. He was the second oldest child of Edward and Jane Worley
(nee Harbit). John married Sarah Fullock (or Fulick) on 12 October 1834 at
St. Martins Church, Epsom. Sarah was born in Headley in Hampshire.
John and Sarah had eight children.
In 1841, according to the Census of that year,
John was a shepherd living at Langley Bottom Farm in Epsom with Sarah and
their children Edward, John and Martha. Living in the Warren next to
Langley Bottom Farm was Abraham Worley who was likely a relative. Abraham
worked on the farm. At the time Abraham was 40 as was his wife Amelia.
They had children George aged 15, Mary 7, Louisa 5 and Emma 2.
By 1861 the family was living at Swiss Cottages,
Banstead, Surrey. John was still a shepherd. Arthur, George, Alice and
Clara all of whom had been born in Banstead were living at home and, were at
school.
Sarah,the wife of John, lived to a great age and
died in 1910 aged 93 at 54, East Street in Epsom, Surrey. My paternal
grandmother remembered her well.
I have been in Hong Kong since 1972 but I
remember many walks with my father, who lived in Purley, to Epsom
Downs before and after that date, including a look at Langley Bottom Farm.
