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Boyce Family Story- Ditcheat to East Ham
a Boyce Family Story- from Ditcheat Somerset to East Ham
Boyce Family History Ditcheat, a parish in the hundred of Whitstone, in the county of Somerset, 4½ miles S. of Shepton-Mallet, and 2½ North West of Castle Cary station. It is situated on the river Brue, and contains, Lottisham, Alhampton, and Wraxall. A silk-mill employed more than 50 people. The old Roman Fosse Way skirts the parish on the North West. The church, dedicated to St. Mary Magdalene, is in the early English style of architecture, and is built of blue lias stone. It consists of nave, transept, aisles, porch, and tower with six bells and a clock. There is a petrifying spring near this place. John Boyce was born in 1763 in Ditcheat, Somerset. At this time I don't know the names of his parents, need to go to Somerset Records Office to search the parish records for St Mary Magdalene, Ditcheat. He married Elizabeth Hoare (born in 1766 in Ditcheat) on the 20th June 1784. Elizabeth had already given birth to their first child Margaret Hoare Boyce b. 12th May 1784 before they were married. They then went on to have Jane (16th May 1786), William (25th January 1789), James (16th April 1791), Betty (18th December 1796) and Thomas (22nd March 1799). All the children were born in Ditcheat. James married Hannah Symes (who was born circa 1796 in Priddy, Somerset) on the 15th March 1812 at St Cuthbert's Church, Wells. James occupation is shown on the census returns for 1841, 1851 and 1861 as a Gardeners Labourer and he was still working in 1861 aged 73. Interestingly enough Hannah is also working in 1861 as a shopkeeper. They were living at St Cuthbert Street, St Cuthbert in Wells, Somerset. Hannah died in 1868. In 1871 James is shown as living at 49 Chamberlain Street, St Cuthbert Wells as an Inmate of Bubsworths Almshouse Age 83 but died later the same year. I have only been able to find two children for James and Hannah so far. The first one is Isaac b. circa 1826 and Alfred b. circa 1827. In the 1841 Census only Isaac is shown, his occupation being Boot Closer Age 15 and by 1851 he had moved to London was living as a Lodger at 32 Luckworth Street, St Giles Cripplegate, St Bartholomew, London occupation Boot Maker. What made Isaac move all the way to London after 1841. This would have been an epic journey taking several days. Was there some kind of family falling out, or did Isaac move to London to find make his fortune as there was not enough work for a Boot Maker in Somerset. There was probably not the demand for boots in Somerset as most people would have been quite poor and made their boots last as long as possible. At this time Alfred was living at New Street, St Cuthbert, Wells and is shown as a Medical Student age 14.
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After moving to London, Isaac met and married Mary Ann (Jeffs?) who was born in 1834 in Middlesex. If I am correct they married in the September quarter at Edmonton but need to buy marriage certificate to confirm this. I have been unable to find any trace of Isaac and Mary in the 1861 Census so far, despite trying numerous variations of the names. By 1871 the family was living at Ladywell Park Villas, Middlesex with their 8 children, Alice M, Mary A, Elizabeth, James G, Louisa C, Minnie, Annie and Helena. All the children were born in Middlesex except the youngest Helena who was born in Lewisham. The two oldest girls Alice M and Mary A have no occupation on the census and this leads me to think that the family was doing quite well as they had not gone into service like most girls from poor families at this time. All the children apart from Helena were baptised at St Giles Cripplegate, Fore Street, Barbican, London EC2Y 8DA. There was a Saxon church on the site in the 11th century but by 1090 it had been replaced by a Norman one. In 1394 it was rebuilt in the perpendicular gothic style. The church has been badly damaged by fire on three occasions: In 1545, in 1897 and during the Second World War in 1940. The bombs of the Second World War completely gutted the church but it was restored using the plans of the reconstruction of 1545. Oliver Cromwell, military commander and Lord Protector of England during the Commonwealth, married in the church, 1620. By 1881 the family had moved to 25 Mount Pleasant Road, Lewisham and Isaac is shown as a Master Bootmaker employing 18 men so obviously he was making a very good living. Sadly Mary had died in 1879 leaving Isaac to bring up his family, including his two youngest boys Alfred and William. Alfred was only 8 and William was only 3 years old when their Mum died. Alice and Mary had both left the family home by this time and it is Elizabeth age 23 who has the title of Housekeeper. James the eldest son is now 21 and an Assistant Boot Maker, probably working for his Dad. The rest of the children were scholars. This adds more proof that the family was fairly well off as Louisa was now 19 years old and still studying and the family has a domestic servant, Alice Mary Duport age 16. This is a picture of a typical house in Mount Pleasant Road. Isaac is featured in the 1884 Business Directory of London
Coleman Street is in the City and runs parallel with Moorgate. This is just around the corner from St Giles Cripplegate where all the children were baptised so does this mean that he started his business near to where he lived but as he prospered he kept his business in the City and moved his family out to Lewisham and travelled in every day. Alfred had finished his training as a medical student but at this time I cannot find him in the 1851 or 1861 Census. He married Deborah Newport in the June quarter of 1854 in Frome, Somerset and reappears on the 1871 Census age 45 living at 1 Clifton Place, Chemists Shop, Cuckfield, St Wilfred, Sussex. His occupation is Chemist so it appears he lived over the shop with his wife and Mary A Burt their Domestic Servant age 66 and a Thomas M Dodridge, Age 27 who is shown as a Chemist’s assistant. By 1881 Alfred and Deborah had moved to 4 Mitre Terrace, Mitcham Road, Tooting, Graveney, Surrey. He is still shown as a chemist but it looks as if there had been a change of fortune as both the Domestic Servant and Assistant have gone. At the next census (1891) Alfred and Deborah have moved in with Isaac and his family in Lewisham, London. By 1901 they were back in Sussex at Lyndhurst Road, St Georges, Worthing. They certainly moved around a bit! They stayed here until they died, Deborah in 1902 and Alfred not until 1913, reaching a grand old age of 86! At this time I don’t have any trace of children but maybe when I track them down on the 1851 and 1861 Census this might reveal something
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At the 1891 Census Isaac had retired and moved to 34 Mount Pleasant Road, Lewisham. Living with him is Alfred and Deborah (see above) and Louisa, unmarried, age 27 with an occupation of Professor of Music. Helena is 22 and has taken over the role of housekeeper from Elizabeth who has probably married and moved on. Son Alfred, age 19, is now working as a Tea Brokers Agent and William, age 15, is a Wholesale Druggists Assistant. Elizabeth Butcher, Age 18 was employed as a general servant. Sadly, Isaac died in the March quarter of 1893. James George Boyce (William’s eldest brother) carried on with the occupation of Bootmaker and was living at 82 Adys Road, Camberwell, Peckham with his family in 1891. (Picture c.1915). He had married Mary Sibella Younghusband in the September quarter of 1883 at St Giles, Cripplegate and at this time they had 3 daughters, Mary, Alice and Mabel. He also employed a servant, Jane Coles age 20. Ady's Road is a good example of the second phase of Peckham's suburban development, and was designed for members of the lower-middle class and skilled artisans. Many streets of late-Victorian bay-fronted terraces were built in the area. Following the 1891 Census Helena was married in the June quarter to Charles Austin Hughes who was born in France but classed as a British Subject. Did she meet him thorough her music? At the 1901 Census Charles has no occupation is shown but living on own means. The family is living at 4a Blackett Street, Putney, London with daughter Mary Age 9 and son Charles age 3. Also in the household is brother William, now aged 25. William met and set up home with Annie Blanks who was born in Chelmsford but living and working as a Housemaid at 44 Spring Road, Wandsworth, London for the family of James Braid a Licensed Vitualler. There is bit of mystery surrounding their wedding. They were not actually married until the 1st April 1913 at East Ham. This fact only came to light when their marriage certificate was purchased. Their youngest daughter Rose was not aware of this and could not believe it was true, but there it was in black and white. We don’t know why they did not marry when they first met, but we are guessing that they decided to “tie the knot” in 1913 as war was imminent and perhaps it was for financial reasons. If William had been called up to fight and been killed, Annie would have been financially looked after as a Widow, but would have received nothing if they had been unmarried. She was actually 8 months pregnant with her 5th child when they married so it does appear they married in haste. William was an Industrial Chemist and he drank in the White Horse, East Ham. He was a very clever man and worked at Burgoynes at 216 High Street South, East Ham. There is a family story that he was something to do with the OXO people but at this time it is just that, a story, as no proof has yet been found. When his Auntie died he went to a funeral and came back with £200. The family lived at 4 Holloway Road until they were bombed out during 2nd World War. They then moved to Argyle Road, Ilford and lived in a big double fronted house which cost 30 bob a week to rent. Annie did not like it there and they moved to Milton Avenue, East Ham for a short while, but she did not like it there either and so they moved again to 26 Cheltenham Gardens where she stayed until her death from Cardiac Failure and Pneumonia at the Invalid and Crippled Childrens Hospital Balaam Street, Plaistow on the 21st May 1966. Uncle Alf was also living at 26 Cheltenham Gardens and was the informant on the death certificate. William died in 1964. Their first child, William Charles Boyce (Uncle Bill) was born on the 25th October 1904 at Shepherds Bush, London. William followed in his father’s footsteps and also became a Chemist. He married Elsie Cox and they had two daughters Sylvia and Joyce. William and Elsie divorced and William died in 1972 of a heart attack at Clifton Road, Westcliff on Sea, Essex. Alfred Charles Boyce (Uncle Alf) was born on the 23rd October 1905 at Shepherds Bush, London and became a Seaman. He also worked at the East India Rubber Company. Alfred never married and died in 1984 in Southend. Edith May Boyce was born in 1908 in Shepherds Bush and was engaged to Fred Murphy but before they married she died in 1927 of T.B. There was a stillborn baby in 1909. Dorothy Margaret Boyce (Auntie Doff) was born on the 18th January 1911 at Johnstone Road, East Ham. She married Ernest Nicholls in the early 1930’s and that was her legal married name. He was killed during the Second World War in the Navy. There is a mention of Ernest at the Tower Hill Memorial where his rank is shown as Chief Steward and his Unit was S.S. Fort Longueuil (London). He died on the 20th September 1943 – Age 40. Dorothy moved back to Holloway Road to live with her parents until she met ‘Stocky’ and set up home with him. They could not get married as he was already married and his wife would not divorce him. ‘Stocky’ died in about 1974. They lived together and she was known as Mrs Stock until she died in Southend in 1995. No children were born. Frederick John Boyce (Uncle Fred) was born on 5th May 1913 Johnstone Road, East Ham. His occupation was a Butcher and he married Enid in 1940 and they had 4 children, John, Dorothy, Margaret and Ann. The family lived at St Mary’s Road Ilford. They moved to Deal in Kent for a while but returned to Ilford. Frederick died in 1970 at Dagenham. Winifred Ada Boyce (Auntie Win) was born on the 23rd July 1915 at Holloway Road, East Ham. She married Henry Jones in December 1937 and they had James and Barbara. She died in 1979 in Chadwell Heath, Essex Rose Ella Boyce (Auntie Rose) was born on the 21st November at 1920 Holloway Road, East Ham. She married Reginald Southgate on the 21st June 1941 at St Marys Church. They had three daughters, Margaret, Pauline and Janet. Valentine Douglas Boyce (Dad) born on the 14th February 1923 at Holloway Road, East Ham. He married Minnie Elsie Davis on the 9th December 1954. Dad never really liked his name. So much so, that when Mum first met him at a dance at East Ham Town Hall one Saturday evening in June 1953, he refused to tell her his name. As she had to call him something, she decided upon ‘Bob‘. This carried on for a couple of months until the time came for Mum to be introduced to the family. At this point Dad then had to admit what his real name was otherwise it would have been rather embarrassing when his family called him Valentine for the first time. However by that time Valentine had taken a liking to the name ‘Bob’ and this is the name that his own family have used ever since. They had two children, Wendy and Gary.
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Dad was a butcher, and like most butchers, he definitely had the gift of the gab and could speak Butchers Backslang. Although he never would teach it to Gary, being the baby of the family, Wendy, being the eldest, was taught to speak it and they would have secret conversations that nobody else could understand. He was known as Mick at work because when he started at his first job there was already someone called Bob, so the other butchers re-named him so there would be no confusion! Dad then acquired the nickname "Banger" as he matured and eventually became the old boy in the shop. The family lived at 29 Kildare Road, Canning Town until 1966 when Dad was offered a job and a council house at 98 Quarry Spring, Harlow, Essex. After retiring he would often go to the meat counter at the supermarket and ask for a perfectly normal cut of meat and have great pleasure seeing the young assistant squirm and look in horror as he didn't know what Dad was talking about. A great mystery to Dad was the fact that Wendy did not like meat. They had many long discussions over the fact that she was a butcher's daughter and it was not natural that she would not eat meat. Wendy is well known for her stubbornness - a trait that she has got from her Dad, and could not be persuaded to change her mind. Fortunately, a trait that neither child inherited was his huge butchers hands. He became infamous at Gary's 21st birthday celebration by waving a final ‘cheerio' out of the taxi window. As it pulled away, his hands were all you could see in the distance, prompting the crowd to comment that he looked like the Kenny Everett character Brother Lee Love (shake hands up in the air). Alongside work, Dad had a couple of hobbies. The first was gardening. He was always very proud of his flowers and vegetables and the family was forever having tomatoes thrust into their hands whenever they visited as he grew far more than him and Mum could eat. In common with most gardeners, he did not like cats as they would dig up his seedlings and mess on the garden. One small problem was this: Wendy had 5 cats and when she went on holiday, the cats also went on holiday. I am sure you can guess where. Dad was not impressed at all but tolerated them in order to keep those he loved happy. His shed was his sanctuary, and he would often disappear for hours on end, and reappear with a newly carved ornament or garden feature. Those big hands really came in handy. They were to prove their worth again when he took up fishing and like any great fisherman would use his hands to boast of 'the one that got away' (gesture to show the length of a really big fish). However there were also lot's of fish that didn't get away and we have the photo's to prove it. George, his second grandson has now taken up the hobby and will be following in his Grandad's footsteps - no doubt he will also have a few fishy tales to tell as well! He also used to love watching his first grandson, Kevin, play football. It's amazing to think that Dad was just 43 when England last won the world cup. He enjoyed the first few games of this cup, but didn't reckon our chances. His top tip was for Brazil, so we will all have to wait and see if his top tip comes up a winner. Thanks to everyone who have worn their football shirts today in his memory. When Gary was asked to sum up his thoughts of his dad he said: "Dad was a man of few words sometimes, but I always knew he would be there for me if I needed help or was in trouble. He always protected Mum and would say to me "don't tell your mother" whenever he got me out of sticky situation. People say I look like him. I only hope that I can be as kind and loving as him, but who can be as good as him - My dad - the greatest! I LOVE MY DAD!" Wendy goes on to say: "I am so proud to have had you as my Dad. You were always there for me, through good times and bad, always encouraging and giving me the confidence to cope with what life threw my way. We had so many great times together it would take a lifetime to recount them all, so lets just say, thank you for all the good times and wonderful memories that I will keep with me forever. I love you and you will always be in my heart."
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Story supplied by the family of Valentine Douglas Boyce
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1911 cencus
BOYCE | ALFRED CHARLES | M | 1906 | 5 | West Ham | Essex |
BOYCE | EDITH MAY | M | 1908 | 3 | West Ham | Essex |
BOYCE | DOROTHY MARGERET | F | 1911 | 10 Weeks | West Ham | Essex |
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