Rebecca Smith (maiden name Belcher) who was sentenced to ten days in prison, was baptised 20 September 1846 in Churchill.

 

Her parents were Charles and Elizabeth (maiden name Betteridge) Belcher. Charles had been born in Kingham in 1823 and Elizabeth in 1825. They were married in 1845.

 

Rebecca was the eldest of eight children, three boys, Joseph, Alan and Thomas, and four other girls, Sarah, Elizabeth, Phillis and Mary Ann.

 

Rebecca married Charles Tymms (later the name was changed to Smith) in 1867. His mother Mary Smith had been a widow for two years when Charles was born, but she later married Thomas Tymms, hence the change of name.

 

Charles had been born in Ascott in 1838 and was an agricultural labourer. Rebecca worked as a gloveress. Prior to her marriage, Rebecca had a daughter Sarah Ann Robins Belcher. After their marriage Charles and Rebecca apparently had five boys, George, Thomas, Charles, Fred and Walter although Walter may have been a grandson. Also three daughters, Phillis, Louisa and Elizabeth.

 

Charles died in 1918 and Rebecca in 1920. Their gravestone survives in Ascott churchyard where they are commemorated together with their son Fred who died in modern day Iraq during the First World War.