James Pollard of the Prince of Wales Public House, King Street, Maidenhead, and his wife Mary Pollard

Monument to James Pollard and Mary Pollard, All Saint's Churchyard, Boyn Hill, Maidenhead, Berkshire.

"In

Memory of

James Pollard

Died Feb 4th 1911

Aged 57 Years

Also

Mary His Wife

Died Nov 26th 1910

Aged 80 Years"

James Pollard was born in 1854 to John Pollard, a labourer, and his wife Emma Eliza Wells, in Bray Berkshire.

James first appears on the 1861 Census, aged 6, living with his parents and siblings in Oakley Green, Bray Berkshire.

In 1871 James worked as a groom for George Bates and his family at Highway Farm, Harefield Middlesex. In 1872 in Maidenhead, Berkshire, James married Mary Ambrose. I have been unable to find any documentation on Mary, save her marriage and death entries, and two news reports regarding a stolen brush, and a stolen florin. Believe me, I have spent hours trying to find the elusive Mrs Pollard.

On the 21st October 1872 James Pollard took over the license for the Craufaud Arms Public House, Gringer Hill, Maidenhead. On 2nd December 1878 the Craufaud Arms was transferred to Henry Hance.

Sometime in 1879 James took over the license for the Prince of Wales Public House, King Street, Maidenhead.  James can be found on the 1881 Census at the Prince of Wales, King Street. Lodging there are Henry Meale, listed as James's son-in-law, another mysterious person who doesn't seem to appear in any other documents, Edward Grist and George Stock, labourers on the railway, and Henry Rogers, a mailman.

On 10th October 1887 Mary Pollard was a witness in a court case regarding a stolen brush. On 12th October 1887 the Maidenhead Advertiser reported:

"FALSE PRETENCES 

Charles Nash was charged, on remand, with having obtained a stock-brush, value 7s. 61., by false pretences, from Mr. Arthur Upson, of High-street. 

James Nash, who lives in King-street, and is a decorator, said : The defendant is my brother. On the 4th Oct. he had no authority for buying a brush for me, and he said nothing to me about it. My wife told me about the matter after I had had tea on the following day, and then I came to the police-station. I saw the defendant there, and he was charged in my presence, by the Superintendent, with having obtained a stock-brush, value 7s. 6d., from Mr. Upson, by false pretences. I asked my brother if the charge was true, and he said" Yes." I asked him what he had done with the brush, and he replied that he had got drunk and bet it. He ultimately told me that William Carter bought the brush of him for 1s. 

In answer to the Mayor, the witness said he had repeatedly given the defendant authority to pledge his credit, and that tradesmen had supplied him with goods. He did not, however, give his brother any authority on this occasion. 

Constable Ilott said : On Wednesday morning. at about ten o'clock, the defendant accosted me in the High-street and said," I want to give myself up for getting two stock-brushes in my brother Jim's name. It's bound to come out, and I may as well stand to it at first as last." I replied, "I have heard nothing about it myself, neither have I any warrant; you had better go about your business."He was evidently suffering from the after-effects of drink.—[Nash : "I had been drinking right from 6 o'clock that morniug, and it was then 11." ] He afterwards came to me in Market-street, and still persisted in giving up. He followed me to the police-station. when I took him into the Superintendent's office. He then said," I want to give myself up for obtaining a brush from Mr. Upson's, and one from Mr. Walton's. in my brother Jim's name." The Superintendent asked him if he was aware what he was saying, as he was making a serious accusation about himself, and he replied." Yes. sir; I should sure to be found out when the bill goes in." He was locked up. and later in the evening I went to Mrs. Pollard's, who handed the brush produced. 

Nash, asked if he had anything to sat, replied, "I don't know what I said to him, sir; I was as nigh drunk as it makes no odds."—(laughter.) 

Mary Pollard, whose husband keeps the "Prince of Wales," King-street. said: I know the defendant, who brought me a brush like the one produced on the 4th Oct. He came to the back door and said," Mrs. Pollard, I've a brush here I want to sell." I told him I did not want to buy it. He said ha wanted to sell it, and would be glad if I would buy it. He said wanted half a crown for it. and I asked him if the brush was his, and said I hoped he had not got it from anywhere he ought not. He replied. "It's mine; don't be afraid; I wish you would buy it." I said I would give him a shilling, and that when he wanted the brush he could come and fetch it. I gave him a shilling, and he left the brush in my possession. 

By the ex-Major: I lent him a shilling on the brush 

The Mayor told Mrs. Pollard that she had n a very wrong thing in advancing money on the brush, and had laid herself open to prosecution. He added that if thieves had nowhere to dispose of the goods they sold there would be very few robberies committed. Pawnbrokers were allowed to advance money on goods. but the witness had no right to do so, and in acting as she did she had done very foolishly. 

Continuing her evidence. Mrs. Pollard said : The next morning Nash came to the house and put down the shilling, and said he wanted half a crown for the brush, which I gave him, saying. "There, now go on!" 

By the Mayor: I let him have the money because I thought when he was in work he would fetch the brush. 

By Mr. Cox: He is a customer of mine, and calls in occasionally , he has not called much lately. 

The Mayor: Did you tell your husband about it? 

Witness: He was out driving, but when he came home I told him, and he was very angry. 

The Mayor warned Mrs. Pollard never in the future to advance money on goods brought to her. as she was acting illegally, and would lay herself open to being committed to prison. 

Mr. Cox : And especially if painters bring you brushes, for you may be sure that they are not their own property. 

Mrs. Pollard promised to be more careful in future."

On the 15th April 1890 Mary was again a witness in a court case, this time regarding the thief of a florin from the Prince of Wales Public House. On 16th April the Maidenhead Advertiser reported:

"Before W. Woodbridge and E. W. Mackie, Esqrs. 

A SNATCH FOR A FLORIN

James Hall and William Brennan, of no fixed abode, pedlars, were charged with having stolen a florin from the Prince of Wales Inn, King. street. Mary Pollard, wife of the landlord, stated that at about four o'clock on the previous afternoon the defendants visited her house and called for some beer, and that while they were drinking it she left the bar temporarily, and on her return, saw Hall on the bar-counter. His excuse for being there was that he got on the counter to look at a picture. Soon after the men had left she missed a florin from a shelf from which she had seen Hall withdrawing his hand. The remaining evidence related to the arrest of the prisoners. On Hall Constable Webb found a florin and 1s. 3d. in coppers. Hall was remanded till Monday and Brennan discharged."

James is still at the Prince of Wales in 1891, lodging there are Joseph Dean, Thomas Meads, Charles Bosher, labourers on the railway, and John Burrow and Fred Wingrove, bricklayers.

James left the Prince of Wales in 1899. By 1901 he had moved to 28 Grenfell Place. Mary doesn't appear as living with James on any of the Census records and I haven't been able to locate her anywhere else.

Mary was to pass away on 26th November 1910, aged 80 years.

James was to pass away on 4th February 1911. On 8th February 1911 the Maidenhead Advertiser carried the following announcement:

"Deaths-

Pollard - February 4th. at 31, Victoria-street, James Pollard. aged 57. Funeral to-day (Wednesday), at All Saints' Church, Boyn Hill, at 3 o'clock. No flowers."