Estate of the late Ruby Timms of Moreton-in-Marsh

The diaries, entered sporadically, cover the period 1945-1974. After Mrs Timms' death, they passed to one of her daughters, Catherine Meadows of Moreton-in-Marsh and were donated by another daughter, Mrs Thornton after Catherine's death.

The farm account book for 1867 (D8827/2/1) is anonymous. It is believed to have been kept by John Timms, grandfather of William Timms, or by John's uncle William Timms.

Documents donated by Mrs R June Thornton, Washington, USA

Ruby Timms, neé Spencer, was born at Draycott near Moreton-in-Marsh in 1893. Her father worked for A B Freeman-Mitford on the Batsford estate.

In 1923, she married William Timms and lived at Old Farm, Dorn where they farmed until 1941. After 2 years at Lower Brailes, she moved to Fosse Cottage, Moreton-in-Marsh where she lived until her death on 1 January 1977. William Timms died in 1946.

John Timms was born 25 December 1830. He was the eldest son of Edward Timms of Lane's End Farm, Stourton, Warwickshire, and his wife, Ann Celes Tennant. In 1840, he lost both his father and grandfather within two months during an epidemic. He was then raised by his uncle, William Timms of Cherington. William Timms was a very successful farmer.

In the census of 1861, John Timms is listed as farming 80 acres at Whichford, Warwickshire, employing 3 labourers and 2 boys. In the same census, William Timms of Cherington is a farmer of 414 acres and employer of 11 labourers and 7 boys. (see D8827/2/1 below)

However, by 1871 John had moved to 330 acres at Evenlode. The 1861 and 1871 census records show that many of the workers named in the farm accounts lived in the villages of Batsford, Bourton-on-the-Hill and Sezincote.