Rowland Tench was actually born Rowland Morris, the illegitimate son of  Sarah Morris. He was born in Stanton Lacy on 15th October 1868.

 

In all, Sarah had five children before she married in 1879. Rowland's other four siblings were Arthur 1860, Frederick 1864, Emily 1871 and Isabel 1873

 

Arthur and Frederick were both born in Richards Castle with the next three children being born in Stanton Lacy.

 

On 13th March 1879 Sarah married John Tench in the church of St. Peter, Stanton Lacy .

 

Groom: John Tench, of full age, Batchelor of Ludlow

Bride: Sarah Morris, of full age, Spinster of Gravel Hill

Marriage date: 13 Mar 1879, Stanton Lacy

Grooms father: Robert Tench

Brides father: William Morris

Denomination: Anglican

Marriage after Banns

 

John's parents were Robert and Lydia Tench of Bromfield, Ludlow. Robert Tench married Lydia Wingrave on 8th July 1799 in Saint Mary, St. Marylebone Road, London

They had 10 children including John:

Frances 1800
Mary 1802
Walter 1803
Lydia 1804
Roberta 1806
Robert 1807
Louisa 1809
Caroline 1810
John 1812
Richard 1813

 

John and his older brother Richard joined their fathers land agents business, known as Messrs. Robert, John, and Richard Tench of  Ludlow.

 

Both Arthur and Frederick followed their step-father, John Tench, in the Estate Agent business.

 

In 1891 Rowland was a Highway Surveyors Assistant. He is still living at home with his parents in 10 Corve Street, Ludlow.

 

John Tench died on 29th December 1896, aged 84. He was buried on 1st of January 1897.

 

Administration

John TENCH of Ludlow, Shropshire, estate-agent died 29th December 1896 Administration (with Will) Shrewsbury 5th March 1897 to Sarah Tench, widow. Effects £1340 15 5d

 

Sometime before 1900 Rowland Tench had gone into busines with William J Davies, Edward Roberts and William Eleen, trading as the Celtic Acetylene Illuminating Company in Bowling Green Lane, Knighton. Their services were described as acetylene gas and fittings manufacturers. The Company was dissolved in February 1900.

 

Rowland Morris Tench married Helen Amy Bursell on 18th April 1900 in St. Andrew's Church, Nottingham . Rowland was 32 and Helen was 24. Helen was the daughter of George Arkesden and Kitty Dewes Bursell (nee Manton) Helen was born on 7th June 1876.

 

1901 sees Rowland, his Wife Helen and their first child, 1 month old Helen Mary, living in Temeside House, Knighton. Rowland is a Land Agent.

 

Helen Mary baptised 1st April 1901

 

Over the next few years Rowland and Helen added to their brood with a further four children

 

John Arkesden, born 7th September 1902

 

Rowland Wingrave, born 27th February 1904

 

In September of 1904, Rowland Morris Tench, visited Quebec City, Quebec, Canada, sailing on the Pretorian

 

Eleanora Bevan, baptised 18th October 1905

 

Sheila Elizabeth, born 30th November 1910, baptised 19th January 1911

 

In 1911 Rowland and his family are living at Burford House, Wylcwm Street. At some point between 1901 and 1911 Rowland became Manager of the Radnorshire Coal, Lime and General Supply Company Ltd of Station Road, Knighton. Rowland held the post of Manager until at least 1933.

 

Sarah Tench, Rowland's mother, died in Ludlow in 1914, aged 74.

 

In 1915 Rowland and Helen had their last child, George Roger.

 

Later Rowland and his family moved into Shirley, Ludlow Road, where they could be contacted by telephone by dialling 19.

 

Rowland was quite the traveller;

On 4th November 1924 Rowland (a company director) and Helen returned from Buenos Aires, Argentina.

17th June 1928 he returned from New Zealand.

6th November 1930 he visited Algeria travelling 1st class as a company director.

He also visited Batavia, Indonesia and Calcutta, India.

 

In 1930 the Radnorshire Society was established, Rowland and Helen were members from its outset.

 

In 1941 Rowland Tench of Shirley, Knighton became High Sheriff of Radnorshire.
 

Rowland died on 1st September 1945, aged 76 years

 

Radnorshire Society transactions - Vol. 15 1945

Mr. Rowland Tench of Knighton had been, with Mrs. Tench, a member since the Society was formed fifteen years ago. For part of that period, Mr. Tench served on our Executive Committee. His assistance in helping to arrange our excursions will not be forgotten. His knowledge of Radnorshire and Radnorshire people was wide and deep. It was always a pleasure and an instruction to discuss our problems with Mr. Rowland Tench. The Radnorshire Society

 

Probate

Rowland Morris TENCH of Shirley, Knighton, Radnorshire. Died 1st September 1945. Probate Llandudno 23rd March 1946 to Helen Amy Tench, widow. Effects £7185 8s 6d

 

From 1950 Helen can be found living at 117 Manor Street, Chelsea.

 

Helen died on 26th February 1968, aged 91. At the time she was living at Flat 117, Swan Court, Chelsea Manor Street, London. Her death was registered in the Westminster registration District.

 

More on the children of Rowland and Helen

 

The Tench girls attended St Mary's School, in Clane, Wiltshire. St. Mary's is an independent day and boarding school for girls aged 11 to 18.

 

Helen Mary,

born 19th February 1901 in Knighton

baptised 1st April 1901 in Knighton

In 1930: Helen was a dance teacher on the staff at Ruby Peeler School in Regent Street.

married Iain MacNab in Chelsea in 1932

became a teacher of dancing.

died on 14th March 1989 at 26, Festing Road, London, aged 88 years.

 

John Arkesden,

born 7th September 1902 in Knighton,

baptised 8th October 1902 in Knighton,

married Lilian Joan Ashford in Birmingham in 1931

 

John and Lilan had two sons, Richard Arkesden John born 1934 and Rowland Brian Wargrave born 13 June 1938 in Oakland, California

 

John Arkesden Tench was a Civil Engineer in the oil and petroleum industry. He was awarded and OBE in Queen Elizabeth II Birthday Honours list of 1963

 

The London Gazette, 31st May 1963, Supplement: 43010, Page: 4812

CENTRAL CHANCERY OF THE ORDERS OF KNIGHTHOOD

St. James's Palace, London S.W.I.

The QUEEN has been graciously pleased, on the occasion of the Celebration of Her Majesty's Birthday, to give orders for the following promotions in, and appointments to, the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE):

 

To be Ordinary Officers of the Civil Division of the said Most Excellent Order

 

John Arkesden TENCH, Esq., British subject resident in .the United States of America.

 

John became the Manager of Shell Oil in the United States.

 

John retired in 1965 and took up winemaking.

 

The winery is located on a hillside at 7631 Silverado Trail south of Oakville Cross Road. John and Joan Tench bought the 61-acre Tench Family Vineyards property in 1965 and grazed cows there. They later planted vines on 42 acres containing of red soils of clay and volcanic rock suitable for cabernet sauvignon and grayish loam clay suitable for merlot and sauvignon blanc.

 

John died on 20th October 1990 Napa County, California and is inurned in Grace Episcopal Church Cemetery, Saint Helena, Napa County, California  USA with his wife L Joan Tench.

 

Californian Newspaper Memorial 2001

Lilian ‘Joan’ Tench - A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 30, at Grace Episcopal Church, 1314 Spring St., St. Helena, for Lilian “Joan” Tench, who died June 9 at Sunrise Assisted Living in Napa. She was 93. Mrs. Tench, a graduate from Birmingham University of England, held a degree in chemistry. She and her husband, John, moved to the Napa Valley over 35 years ago. She was a member of St. Helena’s Grace Episcopal Church and of the Daughters of the British Empire.

 

She is survived by two sons, Brian of San Francisco and Richard A J. of Reno, five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband.

 

Following the service inturnment will be in the Rose Garden at the church.