The Rainbow Family
by
Elizabeth Stewart-Smith

My Paternal grandmother was Mary Ann Rainbow whose father William George Rainbow was born in 1846 the son of Mary Ann Lawrence and William Rainbow, a woodman, of Hanslope.

William was the son of John Rainbow and Ann Rooker Rainbow. His brother John Rooker Rainbow a carpenter of North Street Castlethorpe was granted a licence to sell stamps in February 1840.

Family legend has it that young William George Rainbow left home and walked to Wolverhampton to become an apprentice boiler-maker.

On Christmas Day 1865 he married 19 year old Dinah Hillyer (daughter of William Hillyer) in Castlethorpe church. Emma and Mary Ann were born in Wolverhampton, subsequent children were christened in Castlethorpe. The family ended up in West Ham, East London where William George became a master boiler maker.

As a child Mary Ann recalled visiting Castlethorpe relatives and being told to sit on the stairs and "eat the bread and smell the cheese". My uncles and aunts remembered her often speaking about Thrupp, Fenny Startford and Stony Stratford.

Wedding certificate of William Hillyer & Sarah Giles - parents of Dinah Hillyer

Wedding certificate of William George Rainbow & Dinah Hillyer
John Rooker Rainbow
Licence to vend & deal in Stamps
dated 19th February 1840

Image -The British Postal Museum & Archive

Rainbow's Yard Castlethorpe
 Note:click on the plus sign to zoom in & drag curser

Castlethorpe Census 1851
Page
House
 Forename Surname
Relation to head of family
 Condition Male Female Occupation
Where Born
 County

12
46
 Rebeca RAINBOW head widow
38 Grocer London LND
12
46
 John R. RAINBOW son
14
Scholar Castlethorpe BKM
12
46
 Ann RAINBOW daughter

12
Castlethorpe BKM
12
46
 George RAINBOW son
10

Castlethorpe BKM
12
46
 Thomas RAINBOW son
8

Castlethorpe BKM
12
46
 Daniel KERRIDGE father to head of family widower 70
Annuitant Newmarket CAM
12
46
 Esther CHAMBERLAIN niece unmarried
23
St. Neots HUN


Castlethorpe Census 1861
Page
House
 Forename Surname
Relation to head of family
Condition
Age of Male
Age of Female
Rank, Profession, or Occupation
Where Born
 County

11
52
 Rebecca RAINBOW head widow
48 Shopkeeper & sub postmistress London MDX
11
52
 John R. RAINBOW son unmarried 24
Carpenter Castlethorpe BKM
11
52
 Ann RAINBOW daughter unmarried
22 Assistant in shop & Post Office Castlethorpe BKM
11
52
 William G. RAINBOW son unmarried 21
Engine fitter Castlethorpe BKM
11
52
 Thomas RAINBOW son unmarried 18
Engine turner & fitter Castlethorpe BKM
11
52
 Mary Ann DIXIE niece

6 Scholar Hanslope BKM
11
52
 Ann C. SMITH visitor unmarried
24
Hartwell NTH


Castlethorpe Census 1871

Page
No. of schedule
 Forename Surname
Relation to
head of family
 Condition
Age Male
Age Female
 Occupation
Where Born
 County
7
37
 Rebecca RAINBOW head widow   58 Post Mistress Castlethorpe BKM
 
 
 Thomas RAINBOW son married 29   Visitor, engine works Castlethorpe BKM
 
 
 Henry T. RAINBOW grandson   3     Castlethorpe BKM
 
 
 Mary A. HARPER niece unmarried   37 Visitor Blunham BDF