Ernest James Burch and Elizabeth Wykes

Amersham Road, New Cross
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Chris Whippet - geograph.org.uk/p/4358069

Ernest James Burch (b. 1858), son of Henry Burch and Rebecca Martin, married Elizabeth Wykes (b. 10 Jun 1861), daughter of William Wykes and Elizabeth Thompson, at All Saints, Rotherhithe, on 6 Jun 1881. (Ernest James' brother, Henry Charles Burch married Elizabeth's sister, Mary Ann Wykes.)

Ernest and Elizabeth had six children, all born in Greenwich:

1. Ernest William Burch b. 1882 S Quarter in GREENWICH Vol 01D Page 1015. Died, 1884 J Quarter in GREENWICH Vol 01D Page 569.
2. Rose Mary Wykes b. 25 Apr 1884 J Qtr Vol 01D Page 1029
3. Henry Charles Burch b. 6 Jun 1886 S Qtr Vol 01D Page 1030
4. Maria Elizabeth Burch b. 25 Apr 1888 J Qtr Vol 01D Page 1027
5. Florence Emma Burch b. 24 Jun 1891 S Qtr Vol 01D Page 1032
6. Ada Burch b. 18 Dec 1893, reg. 1894 M Qtr in GREENWICH Vol 01D Page 1043, bap. 22 May 1895 at St Paul's, Deptford

The 1911 Census confirms that Elizabeth had six children with five living.

In 1891, Ernest J Burch (32) Stone Mason and wife Elizabeth Burch (30) were living at 20, Evelyn Street, St Paul Deptford with Rose Mary Burch (6), Henry Charles Burch (4), Maria Burch (2), Martha Buzzacott (38) Visitor [Elizabeth's sister], Maude Buzzacott (4) Visitor [Martha's daughter], James Green (17) Shoe Maker, Boarder and Hariett Armstead (30) Boarder.

By 1901, however, it's clear the couple had separated. Ernest J Burch (42) Stone Mason, was living in the household of his brother, Henry Charles Burch, at 2, Octavius Street, St Paul, Deptford, while Elizabeth Burch (39) Midwife nurse was living at 20, Albury Street, St Paul Deptford. In Elizabeth's household were Rose Mary Burch (16), Henry C Burch (14) Apprentice Stone Mason; Maria E Burch (12), Florence E Burch (9), Ada Burch (7), Elizabeth Doe (21) Tin Solderer, Boarder; Julia Taylor (43) Widow, Boarder [widow of Elizabeth's cousin, George Taylor]; Martha O'Toole (48) Visitor [Elizabeth's sister] and Lily Wykes (11), Willie Wykes (8) and Jessie Wykes (3) - all three were listed as visitors, born in South Africa [they were the children of Elizabeth's brother, John Thomas Wykes].

In 1911, it gets even more interesting, as Elizabeth Burch (49) Midwife, was living at 13 Amersham Road New Cross, St Paul Deptford with Marie Burch (22), Florence Burch (19) Book keeper; Mary Weston (26) [Rose Mary Burch, as was]; Lily Weston (3) Granddaughter; William Barber (50) Lodger, Norah Barber (30) and Dora Barber (1). While Ernest James Burch (52) Married, Stonemason was living at 20 South Crescent, Cold Bath Street, Greenwich with a whole new family: Alice Newman Burch (35) Single, 'Housekeeper' (a euphemism, clearly) born in Peckham; Dorothy Burch (12) born in Hackney; Ellen Burch (10) born in Lewisham and William Burch (5) born in Greenwich. The original 1911 Census lists that Ernest had been married 29 years (yes, but to Elizabeth Wykes, not Alice) and lists 4 children, of whom 3 were still living at that point, clearly referring to the children of this relationship.

Alice Newman gave birth to five children:

1. Dorothy Alice Newman b. 14 Jan 1899 M Quarter in HACKNEY Volume 01B Page 558, with no mother's maiden name listed, i.e. illegitimate.
2. Ellen Newman b. 1900 S Quarter in LEWISHAM Volume 01D Page 1206, curiously, with BURCH listed as a mother's maiden name.
3. Edward William Burch b. 1902 D Qtr in GREENWICH Vol 01D Page 1075. Died, aged 1, in 1904 J Qtr in GREENWICH Vol 01D Page 541
4. William Burch b. 20 Jan 1906 M Qtr Vol 01D Page 1117
5. Ernest George Burch b. 16 May 1912 J Qtr Vol 01D 1884

On the records for the 3 boys, the mother's maiden name is NEWMAN.

In 1921, Elizabeth Burch (60) mother-in-law, Midwife, was listed in the household of Richard Charles Weston (38) - married to Rose Mary Burch - at 62, Florence Road, St Paul Deptford. One imagines she was there to assist with the birth of the couple's son, Charles Albert, then under one month old, as her usual place of work (and presumably residence) was in Tring, Herts. Ernest James Burch (62) Stonemason, was living at 58, Vanguard Street, Deptford with his 2nd family: Alice 'Burch' (44), William Burch (15), Dorothy Alice Burch (25), Ellen Burch (20) and Ernest George Burch (9).

Ernest James Burch died, at 73, in 1932 M Quarter in LEWISHAM.

Elizabeth Burch of 23 Western Road, Tring, Hertfordshire (daughter, Ada and her husband also lived in Tring) died, also aged 73, at 4 Whitehouse Terrace, Western Road, Tring, on 9 Jan 1935 (M Quarter in BERKHAMPSTEAD Volume 03A Page 1240). Probate was granted to her surviving son, Henry Charles Burch, Stonemason, leaving effects of £459.

In 1939, Alice Burch [really Alice Newman] b. 13 Mar 1877, 'Widowed' was living at 3 Summerfield Street, Hither Green, Lewisham with youngest son, Ernest G Burch, of 'No Occupation Owing To Bad Health'. 

Listed again as Alice Burch [Alice Newman - there was never a marriage between her and Ernest James Burch, not even a bigamous one] died at 74 in 1952 D Quarter in LEWISHAM Volume 05D Page 16.

Of Ernest and Alice's children:

• Dorothy Alice Burch married Arthur Henry Bown, in Lewisham, in 1925. In 1939, they were living at 47 Scylla Road, Peckham, Camberwell. Arthur H Bown died, at 56, in Camberwell, in 1951. Dorothy Alice Bown of Templeton Nursing Home, Streatham Common died on 15 Sep 1987.
• There's a record of a marriage of an Ellen Burch to a James Joy, in Lewisham, in 1924, but without a corroborating record, I cannot be certain this relates. There's also a death of an Ellen Joy b. 12 Aug 1900 (same quarter as birth registration) in Bexley, Kent, in 1997.
• William Burch married Elizabeth Gardiner, in Lewisham, in 1933. In 1939, William Burch, General Labourer, Elizabeth and their son, William Edward Burch b. 31 Dec 1933 (reg. 1934 M Qtr in LEWISHAM Vol 01D  Page 1102), were living at 45 Battersby Road, Catford. William Burch died, in 1970, in Lewisham. 
• Ernest George Burch died, at 30, on 12 February 1943 (1943 M Quarter in LEWISHAM Volume 01D Page 923) and was buried at Hither Green Cemetery.

1944: Waiting at Home Farm

World War 2 structure on Halnaker Hill
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Dave Spicer - geograph.org.uk/p/2969474

In our camp at Home Farm, Halnaker near Chichester, Sussex, we received the news of the invasion [1] with excitement and wondered when we would be wanted.

Ours was a very good site and the comparatively short grass gave us ample opportunity for playing such games as football, cricket and softball in our spare time. Our small W/T section [2] was segregated from the rest of the camp and we slept, or lived, to be more precise, in three tents on the opposite side of the field near our receiver van. Our suppers were quite a speciality there. We built our fire amongst some trees at the back of the tents and having "obtained" [3] eggs and potatoes we were able to have a good tuck in.

If we wanted to go out in the evenings when off-duty, we would take the liberty run to Brighton. There the Y.M.C.A. was quite good for a snack without queueing for long. The three dance halls, Dome, Regent and Sherry's provided good entertainment for those men of the "itchy-feet" clan and numerous cinemas passed the evening for others. I must not forget the public houses who probably did a little trade now and again. Chichester itself was, to put it in our parlance, a "dead loss". It could be called the "dead city". Nothing seemed to happen there and a place where the canteens closed before ten p.m. certainly couldn't provide much attraction.

For the sports side of our stay at Halnaker we had one game of football of note to record. Our game with 15056 unit [4] on our roughly marked, rather undersized pitch. When the players became accustomed to the long grass and molehills the game got into its stride. 56 pressed hard and looked likely to cause some trouble to our defence but soon it became apparent that every move by the opposing forwards was being closely checked. Our forwards were doing well with hit and run tactics and David Clinton, on the right wing, put up an excellent performance. Soon he had crashed the ball into the net twice leaving the goalkeeper P/O Wright [5] wondering if he had forgotten his glasses. Then the game ran completely in our favour and it ended with a 5-0 victory for us. Dave Clinton got his hat trick.

The softball did not develop beyond the practice stage and came to an abrupt end when Jimmy Beswick and Cyril Beater laid each other out by colliding in their run after a high ball. 

We had our usual "parties" at this camp. Rumours would spread like wild fire and everyone would be waiting for the order to move. We could all make a pretty good guess as to what our next move would entail. 

1. Normandy landings
2. Wireless Telegraphy
3. Read: stolen from the farm
4. Ground Control Interception Unit 15056
5. Pilot officer

For other 'entertainment' - so the story my father told a number of times goes - a group of them went to the local town (it might even have been the otherwise dead Chichester) one night and presumably much alcohol was subsequently imbibed. They woke up the next morning with brass plaques that had been "liberated" from the town, adorning the fronts of all their tents. As the CO had been one of the drinking party, they were "ordered" to return the plaques the following night. Whether they went back in the right places, or the vet became the doctor, or the solicitor a dentist, is unclear.

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Leading aircraftman (LAC) Charles Francis (Frank) Stone (1923-2001), my father, wrote this Forbidden Diary (i.e. they'd been told NOT to keep diaries and the fact that it exists tells you all you need to know), as a 21 year old in 1944. (Entries are transcribed exactly as written, mistakes included. Attitudes are very much 'of their time'.)

James Adcock and Mary Hill

Former Church of St Michael the Greater, Stamford, Lincolnshire
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © David Robinson - geograph.org.uk/p/6208532

James Adcock (bap. 31 Dec 1812), son of Joseph Adcock and Sarah Cook, married Mary Hill, listed as daughter of William Hill, on 5 Jun 1838 at All Saints Church, Pytchley, Northamptonshire. James' profession was listed as Carpenter and Joiner and he was already living in Stamford at the time of the marriage. Witnesses were Edward Bryan and Louisa Cox.

James and Mary had five children, all born in in Stamford, Lincolnshire and baptised at the [former] church of St Michaels, Stamford.

1. John Adcock b. 1839, bap. 14 Apr 1839
2. William Hill Adcock b. 1840, bap. 11 Dec 1840
3. Joseph Hill Adcock b. 1842, bap. 20 Feb 1842
4. Mary Elizabeth Adcock b. 1844, bap. 6 Jun 1847 
5. James Adcock b. 1845, bap. 27 Feb 1847 (died 1847)

In 1841, James Adcock (25), wife Mary (30), John (2) and William (0) were all living in the parish of St Michael, Stamford, Lincolnshire.

In 1851, in the parish of All Saints, Stamford, we find James Adcock (38), Joiner, wife Mary (43) - birthplace listed as Denford, Northamptonshire - John (12), William (10), Joseph (9) and Mary (7). (James had died).

In 1861, in the parish of St George, Stamford, were James Adcock (48), Carpenter, Mary (50), and daughter Mary (17), at that time a Dressmaker. John had married that year and gone to live in Peterborough. William Hill was in London visiting his cousins, John and Maria Blackett. Joseph Adcock (19), Gardener, was a visitor in the household of Edwin Wright in Northampton. 

Mary Adcock died, aged 62, and was buried on 18 Mar 1867.

In 1871, James Adcock (60), Carpenter, widower, was living with daughter Mary E Adcock (27), Schoolmistress and Jane Gilbert (13), Domestic Servant.

James Adcock died, aged 63 and was buried on 17 Aug 1876.

In 1881, Mary E Adcock (37) was living at 17, Belton Street, Stamford, Lincolnshire - which may well have been the address she had lived at with her parents - by this time she is described as "Invalid Formerly Teacher". Can't help wondering if this was a result of some kind of accident for her to have been left with enough means to live off from such a short career. 

Still in Belton Street in 1891, Mary E Adcock (47) is an Annuitant. 

In 1901, Mary Eliz Adcock (57), "Living on own means", address is Milner's Row, Stamford, this may well have still been the same place from the description, "Part of this terrace remains although the houses nearest Belton Street have been demolished and replaced with a modern garage." 

Mary Elizabeth Adcock died in 1906, aged 63. She had never married.

Alfred James Lynch and Sarah Green

Duke of Norfolk, Stepney, E1. Image: Ewan Munro Some rights reserved

Alfred James Lynch, son of John Lynch and Ann Willsher, married Sarah Green, daughter of Edward Green and Eliza Goodman, at the church of St Thomas that had stood in Arbour Square, Stepney, on 5 Jun 1871. 

Alfred James and Sarah Lynch had five children:

1. Alfred Arthur Lynch b. 1873 J Qtr in MILE END Vol 01C Page 513, bap. 15 Jun 1873 at St Thomas, Arbour Square, Stepney
2. Albert William Lynch b. 29 May 1874 S Qtr in MILE END Vol 01C Page 473, bap 5 Jul 1874  at St Thomas, Arbour Square, Stepney
3. George Edward Lynch b. 1876 D Qtr in MILE END Vol 01C Page 588
4. Sarah Eliza Lynch b. 1879 S Qtr in MILE END Vol 01C Page 569
5. Ada Lynch b. 1881 J Qtr in MILE END Vol 01C Page 547

Alfred James Lynch's father, John Lynch, had been a butcher at 143 High Street, Shadwell in 1861. Then, in 1871, Alfred James Lynch was living with his widowed mother, Ann, in Sidney Street. On the baptisms for Alfred Arthur and Albert William, Albert James' occupation is listed as a Packer.

In 1881, at the Duke of Norfolk, 14 Norfolk Street, Mile End Old Town, we find A J Lynch (29) Licenced Victualler; S Lynch (27) Wife; sons A A Lynch (8), A W Lynch (7), G E Lynch (5), daughter S Lynch (2), E Turner (18) Female General Servant and the widowed mother-in-law, Eliza Green (59).

In 1891, Alfred Lynch (39), Beer & Wine Retailer, Sarah (36) and son Albert (16), a Commercial Clerk, were living in Camberwell, Southwark, London. 

By 1901, they were back at 291, Oxford Street, Mile End Old Town (which, I believe, later became Stepney Way), with Alfred Lynch (49) Laundry Man, Sarah (47), Albert (22), Railway Porter, Ada Lynch (19), Ironer, Emily Lynch (5), Granddaughter, and a Eliza Ellis (20), General Domestic Servant.

Alfred James Lynch died, in 1907, in Mile End Old Town, aged 55.

In 1911, still at 291, Oxford Street, Mile End Old Town, Sarah Lynch (56), Widow, Laundress, with her married daughter, Sarah Pope (32) and grandchildren, Joseph Pope (8), Rosa (2) and May (0).

In 1921, Sarah Lynch (67) Widowed, was living at 12, Oley Place, Stepney, Mile End Old Town, London. At the same address was Sarah E Pope (42) Attendant Ladies Underground Convenience, for Stepney Borough Council; Joseph A Pope (18), Rosa V Pope (12) and May A Pope (11).

I'm fairly sure Sarah Lynch died, at 78, in 1932.

Charles Ponsford and Bessie Ann Stone

Uplowman: near Higher Coombe
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Martin Bodman - geograph.org.uk/p/151093
Looking east over the Lowman valley towards Houndsmoor Cottage (left) and Hill Farm (right)

Charles Ponsford (b. 23 Apr 1876, in Uplowman), son of John Ponsford and Jane Lock, married Bessie Ann Stone (b. 18 Jul 1882, in Uplowman), daughter of Frederick James Stone and Loveday Jane Land, on 4 Jun 1906 at St Peter’s Church, Uplowman. Witnesses were Frederick James Stone, either the bride's father or her brother and, Richard Ponsford, the bridegroom's elder brother. Dad, Frederick James Stone, will likely have been relieved to have four daughters married now, at this church, in three years.

Charles and Bessie Ann had three children:

1. Charles James Ponsford born 18 Feb 1907, bap. 22 Feb 1907 in Uplowman. In 1930, Charles James Ponsford married Marjorie Florence Chidgey (b. 29 Jul 1900), who's mother's maiden name was also Lock. In 1939, they were living in Triangle Cottage, Broadclyst. (Charles gave his birth year as 1903, making himself older by four years.) Charles James Ponsford died in 1980. Marjorie Florence Ponsford died in 1987.
2. Frederick John Ponsford born 13 Jun 1908, bap. 19 Jun 1908 in Uplowman. He doesn't appear to ever marry. Frederick John Ponsford, of 1 Crosses Cottage, Uplowman, died on 19 May 1970.
3. Florence May Ponsford born 2 Jan 1910, bap 30 Jan 1910 in Uplowman. Florence May Ponsford married John Baker in 1931. In 1939, they were living at Houndsmoor Cottage, Uplowman.
   

In 1911, at Staple Gate, Uplowman, were Charles Ponsford (34) Farm Labourer, Bessie Ann Ponsford (29), Charles James Ponsford (4), Frederick John Ponsford (3) and Florence May Ponsford (1).

In 1921, Charles Ponsford (45) Farm Labourer was still living at Staplegate, Uplowman, Devon with Bessie Ponsford (38), Charles Ponsford (14) Farm Lad; Frederick Ponsford (13) and Florence Ponsford (11).

By 1939, Charles Ponsford appears to be in ill health. He and Bessie, as well as son, Frederick John, were living at Houndsmoor Cottage, Uplowman, along with their daughter Florence May and her husband, John Baker.

Charles Ponsford died in 1952, aged 77. 

Bessie Ann died in 1966, aged 83.