The Jefferies family of Vastern Wharf

There were two notable family groups who lived at Vastern Wharf for more than one generation: the Twines, timber merchants; and the Jefferies, coal merchants and lock keepers. In the 1841 Census, Edward Jefferies, 14, was the youngest child of Robert and Abby Jefferies.

By 1871, Edward Jefferies had moved to Barton Buthay, a cluster of houses at the far end of Wood Street in Wootton Bassett, beyond the Congregational Church. He was a coal merchant, married to Mary, 8 years his senior. They had two grown-up sons, Edward aged 21, a boatman born in London, and Robert aged 17, a brickmaker's labourer born in Peterborough, and three younger children.

Ten years later, Edward senior and his family had moved to Coxstalls at the other end of Wootton Bassett.

1839: Death of Lock-Keeper from Apoplexy - John Jefferies

1872: Damaging a Lock Gate at Calne - Edward Jefferies