Narrative and Notes
William GILES was a gardener in 1863.
It is believed he is the central figure in the following newspaper article. His son mentioned was probably Josiah:
"A SOUND SLEEPER - Mr William Giles residing in the Birmingham Road, when retiring to rest on Tuesday last, between nine and ten o'clock, very incautiously left a candle buring by his bed-side. He was aroused from sleep by a rough shaking and the cry of "Fire". It appears that his son aged about sixteen when about to retire to rest observed a glare in his father's room, and upon entering discovered the hangings to the bedstead in flames. The fire was promptly extinghuished before any great amount of damage was done." - Bromsgrove and Droitwich Weekly Messenger - March 16th 1861