Hannah Wild, First Schoolmistress of Totley School
Hannah Wild
Hannah Wild was the first Schoolmistress of Totley School when it opened perhaps in temporary accommodation even before the D'Ewes Coke funded school was built on Totley Hall Lane in 1827.
We are grateful to the DVS Archives & Heritage Collection for this photograph and for the story behind the portrait's recent history. It would appear that the portrait was in the possession of Rev. William Gibson, the rector of Dore Parish, who wrote a history of that village published in 1927.
When he retired, the portrait and the chair on which Hannah is sitting went with him to his new home. The memorial card (shown below) which is sealed in a 5 by 3 inch lead box was said to have hung near the portrait. They were eventually inherited by his grand-daughter Joy Kernow who lives in Stroud in Gloucestershire. Since she is over 90 years of age and has no children, Joy felt that these artifacts should return to their original home. Dore Village Society has funded the restoration and reframing of the portrait which will be kept in the Old School.
Hannah Wild appears in the 1841 Census records for Totley Schools and is shown as age 65 (meaning 65-69) having been born within the county of Derbyshire. She is living with Jane Wild a schoolmistress aged 40 (meaning 40-44), also a Derbyshire born woman and young Jane Wild, aged 8, born outside the county. Joan Stratford suggests that Hannah may have been widowed and that she was living with her daughter and grand-daughter but there is no proof for this.
Hannah Wild died on 25 January 1851, aged 77.
Hannah Wild Memorial Card
Records from the first Totley School have not survived but those for the 'new' school on Hillfoot Road have and we are delighted to announce that we have recently been given permission by Sheffield Archives to transcribe and publish school admission registers for the years from 1877 to 1914.
These records will be added to the website in blocks as we transcribe them and you can go directly to the page containing the first seven years' records by clicking on either of the pictures above.
Hannah Wild, schoolmistress: An Update
Hannah Wild's portrait at Totley All Saints School
Further research on Hannah Wild has produced more biographical information. Her death certificate tells us that she was the widow of Thomas Wild, millwright, and that she died of bronchitis. At the time of her death she had been living at Pingle Head, Ecclesall Bierlow with her daughter and son-in-law, Jane and Thomas Fisher.
Hannah was buried at Ecclesall All Saints Parish Church on 30 January 1851. Unfortunately the area of the churchyard where Hannah was buried was cleared of headstones in the 1970s so it is no longer possible to take a photograph of the grave. However, the inscriptions on the gravestones were recorded before removal and we are grateful to Roger Carroll, the Church Building Manager, for providing us with this transcription:
To the memory of Hannah Wild who departed this life January 5th 1851 aged 77 years. Also Jane, the beloved wife of Thomas Bishop and daughter of the above Hannah Wild, who died 29 April 1863 aged 68 years. "Blest are the dead who lie in the Lord."
There is a mistake in the transcription as Jane was actually married to Thomas Fisher not Bishop. Thomas registered Hannah's death and he and Jane were still living at Pingle Head in the 1861 Census. There is a marriage for Jane Wild and Thomas Fisher in the June quarter of 1843 in Sheffield Registration District. Thomas lived on until 1877 and he too was buried at Ecclesall All Saints on 5 July at the age of 82.
Dore parish records show a baptism for Jane, daughter of Thomas Wild of Totley, on 15 February 1795. Unfortunately neither the mother's name nor the father's occupation are given but the date would be exactly right for Hannah's daughter.
Further research may uncover more information. We would hope eventually to discover a marriage entry and a baptism for Hannah Wild, possibly at Holmesfield or Dronfield. Watch this space!