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| St Saviour's Church, Knightsbridge. Photograph by John Salmon. |
William Blazey (b. 7 Nov 1853 in Heigham, Norfolk), youngest son of Francis Stephen Blazey and Hannah Minns, married Mary Anne Clarke (b. 1862 in Furneux Pelham, Hertfordshire), daughter of Joseph Clarke and Elizabeth Randle, at the Church of St Saviour, Upper Chelsea, on 16 Sep 1877. William was then a Servant, of 151 Pavillion Road, Knightsbridge. Mary Anne listed her father as Joseph Clark, Farm Steward. Witnesses were William Clarke, probably Mary Ann's older brother, and Elizabeth Lasthman.
William and Mary Ann Blazey had 10 children:
- Francis William Blazey b. 29 Dec 1878 (1879 M Quarter in CHELSEA Volume 01A Page 350), bap. 2 Mar 1879 at St Barnabas, Pimlico
- Maud Elizabeth Blazey b. 1881 J Quarter in ST. GEORGE HANOVER SQUARE Volume 01A Page 432
- Frederick John Blazey b. 18 Aug 1882 (1882 S Quarter in ST. GEORGE HANOVER SQUARE Volume 01A Page 457), bap. 8 Oct 1882 at Holy Trinity, Vauxhall Bridge Road
- Annie Ellen Blazey b. 25 Feb 1884 (1884 M Quarter in ST GEORGE HANOVER SQUARE Volume 01A Page 494), bap. 23 Mar 1884 at Holy Trinity, Vauxhall Bridge Road
- Florence Emily Blazey b. 26 Feb 1886 M Qtr in FULHAM Vol 01A 333
- Sydney George Blazey b. 1 Jul 1888 S Qtr in FULHAM Vol 01A 272
- Alice Mary Blazey b. 26 Jan 1892 M Qtr in FULHAM Vol01A 299
- William George Blazey b. 1892 M Quarter in FULHAM Volume 01A Page 299 (Died in 1892 J Quarter in FULHAM Volume 01A Page 220)
- Lily Ada Blazey b. 1893 S Quarter in FULHAM Volume 01A Page 268 (Died aged 20 in 1913 S Quarter in FULHAM Volume 01A Page 300)
- Charles William Blazey b. 1895 J Quarter in FULHAM Volume 01A Page 344, bap. 29 Jul 1895 at St Peter's Fulham
All of the birth registrations have the mother's maiden name CLARKE.
Obviously, Alice Mary and William George, born in the same quarter of 1892, were dizygotic (fraternal) twins, of whom only Alice survived.
In 1881, William Blazey (27) Cab proprietor from Norwich, Norfolk and Mary A Blazey (29) from Hertforshire, were living at 16, Trinity Mews, St George Hanover Square, Westminster. While I cannot account for the absense of Francis William (2), neither can I find him listed elsewhere.
In 1891, William Blazey (37) Omnibus driver; Mary A Blazey (38), Francis Blazey (12), Maud Blazey (10), Frederick Blazey (8), Annie Blazey (7), Florence Blazey (5) and Sydney Blazey (2) were living in Fulham.
In 1901, at 37, Bishops Road, Fulham, London were William Blazey (46) Omnibus driver; Mary Anne Blazey (48), Francis W Blazey (22) Builder's clerk; Maud E Blazey (20) Barmaid (retired); Frederick J Blazey (18) Stock broker's clerk; Annie E Blazey (17) Dressmaker; Florence E Blazey (15), Sydney G Blazey (12), Alice M Blazey (9), Lily A Blazey (7), Charles W Blazey (5) and Charles E Hall (35) Lodger, Married, Omnibus driver.
Then the first Mrs Mary Anne Blazey died, aged 54, in 1905 J Quarter in FULHAM Volume 01A Page 215.
On 15 Oct 1905, at Saint Peter's Church, Devonia Road, Islington, William Blazey (52) Widower, Driver, son of Francis Blazey (deceased) married again to Mary Ann Clark (41) Spinster of 71 Prebend Street, Islington, daughter of William Clark, Carman. Her father was also from Norfolk. Coincidence, or has the family tree just become another convoluted, twisting monkey puzzle?
This Mary Ann Clark (no final E's), brought with her an illegitimate son, John William McCallam Clark b. 1903 S Quarter in ST MARYLEBONE Volume 01A Page 540. A 'gentleman' by the name of McCallam may be implicated.
In 1911, William Blazey (57) Bus Driver from Norfolk; Mary Ann Blazey (47) from Islington; Lily Blazey (17), Charles Blazey (15), William McCallam Clark (7), David Howe (46) Lodger, Motor bus Driver and Lily Holmes (22) General Domestic Servant, Visitor were at 37 Racton Road, Fulham. Alice Blazey (20) was Under Housemaid in the household of Cecil Fane (54) at 27 Beaufort Gardens, Kensington (a stone's throw from Harrods Department Store.)
In 1921, William Blazey (67) Taxi driver, Out of Work, was living alone at 5, Adeney Road, Hammersmith and described himself as Widowed. However, just over a mile away at 25, Gratton Road, West Kensington, were Mary Ann Blazey (56) Daily woman, listed as married, with her son, John William Clark (17) Clothes Shop Assistant. Had William not used 'Widowed', this could simply have been for work, but as it is, it looks as if they'd separated.
Mary Anne Blazey (59) died in 1924 M Quarter in KENSINGTON Vol 01A Page 291. There was the extraneous E on her middle name this time.
William Blazey (80) died in 1934 J Qtr in CAMBERWELL Vol 01D Page 640.