William Dean

 

William Dean arrived at Croome in about 1796 and was Head Gardener at Croome to the 6th and 7th Earls of Coventry for nearly 40 years until his death in 1831. He is buried in the churchyard behind the Church of St Mary Magdalene.

 

His grave was discovered a few years ago by some by some Brownies who were helping clear long grass from part of the Churchyard. The gravestone which we have been told is made from Forest of Dean sandstone showed that he died on 11th May 1831 aged 64 years. The stone also commemorates his wife Mary who died on 20th August 1857 and is buried in Amblecote Church, Stourbridge. Her death certificate describes her as “the widow of William Dean a nurseryman” and shows that she died in High Street, Stourbridge.  

 

We cannot find any details of where William Dean was born or anything about him before he went to Croome to work for the 6th Earl in about 1796. Also we can find nothing about Mary other than she was born in America in about 1787, or about her marriage to William.

 

We have found from Parish records that they had two daughters, Margaret Elizabeth – born 1811, and Mary – born 1812. They were both baptised in Croome Church in August 1811 and July 1812 respectively.

 

Both daughters moved to Stourbridge with their mother (who must have moved away from Croome after William died in 1831) and are described as dressmaker and milliner respectively in the 1851 Census. In later Census documents it shows that they had moved back to Severn Stoke and Kempsey by 1871. Neither of them married and their death certificates show that Margaret died at Napleton, Kempsey on 12th May 1882 and Mary at Shewring Almshouses, The Tything, Worcester on 14th May 1902. Margaret is buried at Croome but we do not know where Mary was buried. Research continues.

 

Recently the Friends have worked on the restoration of Dean’s grave which is shown in the photograph. Work to remove many years build up of grime and algae continues.