BADGER FAMILY CHRONICLES

© Christopher Earls Brennen

Appendix 2F. Irish Badger Families in England.

Family of Henry L. Badger of York:

  1. Henry L. Badger, born in Sheffield, York, England about 1844, became a police constable in Batley, Yorkshire. He married Maria A. ??, born about 1845 in Norwich, Norfolk, England and they are listed in the 1881 Census of England as living in Russell Street, Batley, Yorkshire with their five children listed below. Prior to that Census they live in Ireland, in Scotland, in Northallerton, Yorkshire, and Batley for those are where their children were born. The children of Henry L. and Maria A. Badger:
    1. Lilly L. Badger was born in Ireland about 1869 and is listed in the 1881 Census of England as a 12-year-old scholar living in Russell Street, Batley, Yorkshire, with her parents.
    2. Harry L. Badger was born in Ireland about 1872 and is listed in the 1881 Census of England as a 9-year-old scholar living in Russell Street, Batley, Yorkshire, with his parents.
    3. Olive Badger
      (courtesy of John Watts)
      Olive E. Badger was born in Scotland about 1874 and is listed in the 1881 Census of England as a 7-year-old scholar living in Russell Street, Batley, Yorkshire, with her parents. According to Rob Wilson-North, Conservation Officer for Exmoor National Park, Olive Badger applied for a job as a teacher at a tiny school in Simonsbath, a tiny, isolated village high in the moorlands and hill farms of Exmoor in Somerset, England. She came there about 1928 and stayed for around 6 years. According to Roger Burton's book, ''Simonsbath – the inside story of an Exmoor village'' (privately published in 1994): Following Mrs Lena White’s decision to retire as headmistress of Simonsbath school in 1928, the post was advertised. Shortly after, an interview was held at the school, but the day being very wet only one of the applicants – Miss Olive Badger –turned up…. …after which, Miss Badger, a fully qualified teacher with an additional teacher’s certificate for school gardening, was offered the position, which she agreed to accept subject to a water supply being piped to the house, which was agreed… As a result of her experiences during the six years or so she remained at the school, Miss Badger wrote a book called ''Transformation'' published by Hodder and Scott-Snell. The book, a novel, was in part factual where her experiences at the school were concerned, but according to Miss Badger the remainder of the book was entirely fictitious. On the first visit by HM Inspector of Schools following Miss Badger’s appointment, he was much impressed by the standard of education so far achieved, and on leaving asked her if there was anything she needed. Miss Badger reeled off a list of her requirements…! In the course of time Miss Badger introduced music and dancing at the school ... woodwork and other crafts were also introduced, and gardening ... One day while in school the sound of the hunting horn was heard and the older boys pricked up their ears in excitement. Miss Badger turned to write something on the blackboard and the boys slipped out. She rushed out to call them back, but all she saw was the tails of galloping horses and the boys now mere specks in the distance.
    4. Amy B. Badger was born in Northallerton, Yorkshire, about 1878 and is listed in the 1881 Census of England as a 3-year-old living in Russell Street, Batley, Yorkshire, with her parents.
    5. Ethel Badger was born in Batley, Yorkshire, about 1880 and is listed in the 1881 Census of England as a 1-year-old living in Russell Street, Batley, Yorkshire, with her parents.

Family of Edward and Jane Badger of York:

  1. Edward Badger was born in Ireland in 1794. He married Jane Badger and in the 1851 Census of England they are recorded as living in St. Nicholas, Northumberland, England (near Newcastle) with the following family:
    1. Edward Badger was born in Ireland in 1837. In the 1851 Census of St. Nicholas, Northumberland, England, he is listed as a 14-year-old shoemaker apprentice.
    2. John Badger is listed in the 1851 Census as aged 23.
    3. Jonney Badger is listed in the 1851 Census as aged 21.
    4. James Badger is listed in the 1851 Census as aged 11.

Christopher E. Brennen