George Muncey (1845 - 1922)

George Muncey was born in 1845 in Little Eversden, Cambridge,  to John Muncey (1800 - 1878) a farm labourer, and Ann Muncey (1802 - 1882). He was the third of three sons, born between 1831 and 1845.

George Muncey married Eliza (1845 - ), also of Little Eversden, and they had 13 children between 1864 and 1890:

David Muncey (1864 - )
Izrael Muncey (1865 - )
Nathan Muncey (1867 - )
Owen George Muncey (1868 - )
Philip Muncey (1869 - )
Simon Muncey (1871 - )
Arthur Muncey (1874 - )
Ada Emily Muncey (1876 - )
Oliver Muncey (1878 - )
Althea Minnie Muncey (1880 - )
Eliza A. Muncey (1884 - )
Lewis E. Muncey (1886 - )
Beatrice A. Muncey (1890 - )

1861 Census

George appears in the 1861 Census, at 16 years of age living as a servant in the home of the Lumass family, on the High Street in Haslingfield. He is listed as a horse-keeper, born in Little Eversden, Cambridge.

1881 Census

By the time of the 1881 Census, George (36), agricultural labourer, and Eliza (36) have a houseful, on the Back Lane in Haslingfield. We see David (17) a "fossil digger"; Izrael (16), Nathan (14) and Owen (13) are listed as agricultural labourers; Philip (12), Simon (10), Arthur (7), and Ada (5) are all in school. Babies Oliver (3) and Althea (1) are there as well.  Interestingly, they appear to live next door to unemployed "fossil digger" William Elkerton, his fossil-digging wife Jane and their 7 fossil-digging children -- suggesting that promising lad David picked up his interest in fossils from that source. Or was there a burst of fossil-digging in Haslington at that time?

1891 Census

The 1891 Census finds the Munceys at The Hall in Haslingfield. George (47) is now a shepherd. David has gone on to other pastures (probably to dig them up), but Israel (26) is still living at home, and lists his profession as "coprolite digger". This may have been intended as a joke on the census-taker: "coprolites" is the scientific term for fossilized dinosaur poop. Owen (23), Arthur (17), and Oliver (13) are agricultural labourers. Eliza (7), and Lewis (5) are students; and new (final) baby Beatrice (10 months) appears as well.

1901 Census

1901 finds a much smaller, and perhaps sadder Muncey household in Haslingfield. All of the older children have left. George (55), is listed as a widow and, indeed, there is no mention of Eliza. Poor little Beatrice (10) must  have been raised her siblings, and probably barely known her Mum at all. With them are Ada (26) a domestic housekeeper, Lewis (15), a farm labourer like his Dad, and grandson Page Muncey (5).

1911 Census

The 1911 Census shows us George Muncey, now 66, still living in Haslingfield with unmarried daughter Ada Emily (34) and grandson Page (15). Both George and Page are agricultural labourers. Did they work together? Did the 40 years between them matter -- indeed, is it possible that, in the fullness of time, George became closer to his grandson than he ever did with his own sons?




Particulars of the death of George and Eliza have not yet been located.