Charles Barling, 1828-1917
Cecil Sharp noted down two songs from Charles Barling, then 81 years old, at Ruckinge, on the 23rd September 1908. Mr Barling had been baptised on 20th January 1828 at St Mary Magdalene, Ruckinge. His parents were William, listed as “Labourer”, and Mary Ann, née Clemens, originally from Stanford, on Stone Street. They had married the previous April, at the church of St Peter & St Paul, Newchurch.
By the time of the 1841 census Charles, just 10 years old, was already out at work, as a servant for William Chittenden, landlord of the Blue Anchor at Ruckinge. Ten years later, he was living in the family home at Gorse Green Farm, Ruckinge. Charles, his father, and his brothers James and William (i.e. all of the male members of the household) are listed as agricultural labourers.
He was married in November 1851 to Lydia Knowlden, of Ivychurch. They had 10 children, and lived the rest of their lives at a variety of addresses in Ruckinge. When Sharp encountered him, Charles, Lydia and two of their children, Percy and Lily, were living at The Corner, right in the centre of the village, close to the Blue Anchor. The 1901 census gives Charles’ occupation as “Ordinary labourer”, but also notes that he was “Nearly Blind”.
Charles lived to be 89. He was buried in the same church where he’d been baptised, on 22nd January 1917.
Harry Barling, from whom Francis Collinson collected a couple of songs in the 1940s, was Charles Barling’s cousin: Harry’s father Frank was a younger brother of Charles’ father William.
Songs
- Kind Sir I am too young (Roud 564)
- Lord Thomas and Fair Eleanor (Roud 4)
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