Jersey

Selina Davey – born 17th April 1869

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Selina Davey is my 3rd great aunt. She is the younger sister of Mary Frances Davey who I have written about here: Mary Frances Davey

Here is Selina’s timeline as I know it to this day:

1869 – 17th April Selina is born to Isaac William Davey & Ann Le Breton (AKA Nancy) probably at 14 Lempriere Street, St. Helier, Jersey, Channel Islands, otherwise known as The Eagle Tavern.

1869 – 30th June, Selina is baptised. Father: Isaac William Davey – shipwright. Mother: Ann Le Breton. Godparents: Isaac William Davey Jnr. & Jane Canning. Jane married a shipwright which is how they may have all known each other).

1871 – Census details – Selina is one years old and is living at 14 Lempriere Street, with her father Isaac (head of household & shipwright), mother Ann (Tavern Keeper), siblings: William (mason’s labourer), Ann (apprentice tailoress), Mary, Esther, Cecilia, and Mathilda (scholars).

1881 – Census details – Selina is 12 years old, a scholar, living at 14 Lempriere street with her father Isaac, aged 60 (now a Victualler), mother ‘Nancy’ and siblings: William (seaman), Esther (dressmaker), Matilda (scholar). Also part of the household is Selina’s older brother Isaac (shipwright) and his wife Ellen Goudge and their two children: Isaac and James. That’s 10 members of the family in building that is a pub downstairs! Interestingly enough, all the neighbours have similar professions: dressmakers and ship carpenters.

1891 – Census details – Selina is 21 years old, working as a dressmaker. She is still living at 14 Lempriere Street, with her father Isaac (Victualler), mother Nancy, brother Isaac (shipwright), his wife Elenora and their children: Isaac (apprentice to plasterer), James (Errand boy), Elenora (scholar) and 6 year old George, my great grand father.

1895 – According to the 1911 census Selina has been living with her husband, William Chapman for 16 years (unconfirmed). That would make 1895 the year they got married. This might make sense,as in  many years to come, Selina’s brother George hires a nanny to care for their first child of the name Maria Chapman.

1898 – Selina is 29 when her mother Ann “Nancy’ dies.

1900 – Selina’s father Isaac dies to years after his wife.

1901 – Possible birth of her son William Charles Chapman on 1 December at 17 Seaton Place, Jersey.

1906 – Possible birth of daughter Gladys Rita Chapman on 12 June 1906, Seaton Place.

1911 – Census details – Selina is living with her husband of 16 years, William C Chapman (Tailor) and their children William, aged 9 and Gladys, age 4. If William is a Tailor, is this how Selina met him, at work?

This is as far as Selinas timeline goes for the time being.

In 1934 A Selina Davey died on 7 June 1934, aged 78 at 7 Winchester Street. Her burial was at St. Helier’s General Cemetery. the grave was in the name of James Davey. This Selina was therefore born in 1856, (thanks to a reader correcting me) , and can not be my Selina, unless I have the wrong birthdate for my Selina, of which I will have to go back and check another day.

Would her maiden name be used in Funeral records? If not then this is her married name and James (who the grave is named under) is possibly her husband? Or she left her husband and James is her brother? It was unusual for for divorced woman to revert back to their maiden name in those days.

Extract from Croad & Sons Funeral Directors Book.

Extract from Croad & Sons Funeral Directors Book.

I look forward to the 1921 Census being available as that will fill in the missing years from 1911 to 1934.

I wonder if Selina had a hard life. 65 isn’t a great age for a Davey, as most of them lived well into their 70’s and 80’s.

If Selina is in your family tree and you can share more information, I would love to hear from you 🙂

Edith May Le Marquand – 24 December 1896

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On the 24th December 1869, my great grandmother Edith May Le Marquand was born, in the parish of St. Peter, Jersey.

I have a brief memory of visiting her when I was young. She was sitting in a wheelchair.

Here is Edith’s timeline to the best of my knowledge:

1896 – Edith is born to her parents are Marie E. Le Gresley and Phillipe Le Marquand. A perfect present in time for Christmas!

It appears that Edith already has a half brother called J S Le Gresley, born in St. Peter’s in 1880. I have yet to confirm this detail.

1897 – Edith’s sister, ‘Dot’ Dorothy Maud Le Marquand is born in St. Peter.

1899 – Edith’s sister Iris Ellen Le Marqaund is born in St. Peter.

1901 – According to the 1901 census, Edith is still living in St. Peter at 66 Overdale with her father Phillipe Jn. aged 38, a merchant and farmer of his own account. Her mother, Marie, aged 41, sisters Lilian aged 10, Dorothy M., Iris Ellen and stepbrother J.S. Le Gresley, aged 21, a carpenter. Edith’s auntie, Jane A. le Gresley (who was born in St. Ouen and is living on own means) is also residing with the family the day the census is taken.

(This census also tells me that Edith had an older sister, born 1891)

1911 – Edith is living at Angora House, St. Peter. She is single and is working as a farmers daughter doing dairy work (likely on her father’s farm). She is living with her father, mother and sisters, Dorothy maud, and Iris E. who are at school. There are 10 rooms in the dwelling which is quite a large to my mind.

1914 – It is the first year of World War One and Edith is now working in a munitions factory in Penryn, Cornwall, England. This must have been a huge culture shock and change of lifestyle compared to her dairy farming on a quiet little island. Such a brave move or maybe a welcome adventure.

1919 – In November, Edith married Alfred Bouchere at St. Peters parish church. She is 4 months pregnant. According to family notes, Edith was living at Les Sixbulls in St. Ouen when she married Alfred.

1920 – Edith gives birth to her first child, my grandmother, Edith May Bouchere on the 10th May in St. Helier. Is May the baby’s middle name as this is the month she is born? Exact address unknown unless she is at the address where she has her next child Barbara, the next year.

1921 – Edith gives birth to daughter, Barbara Elize on the 28th January at Bas du Mont au Pretre, St. Helier, Jersey.

Edith gives birth to daughter Joyce.

Edith gives birth to daughter Margaret.

1924 – Edith gives birth to son, Kenneth Alfred on the 27th January.

Daughter Elizabeth is born.

Son Malcolm is born.

Daughter Ruth is born.

Daughter Rosemary is born.

Daughter Jennifer is born.

1937 – Edith has her eleventh child. Her son Patrick is born.

1941 – Edith is living at Penryn, Chestnut Avenue, Jersey. Is the name of the house in memory of her times working in the munitions factory at Penryn, Cornwall? That would imply that Edith saw this time in her life as something worth remembering.

1941 – World War 2 rages through Europe and Jersey is occupied by German forces.

1987 – Edith dies at the grand age of 84. With eleven children this is pretty impressive and shows what a strong woman she must have been, not forgetting that she also lived through two world wars! (Date amended from 1981 to 1987)

She is buried at St. Saviours Cemetery.

Here is Edith standing at the front with 9 of her 11 children:

Bouchere Family - Descendants of Edith & Alfred copy

Photo courtesy of H. Dryden

Thanks for stopping by and Merry Christmas!

 

 

 

 

Isaac William Davey – born 30 December 1851

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I have been pleased with the amount of progress in my research on Isaac William Davey. His timeline is filled with many events. Some sad, some curious, some rather romantic. The only thing missing is a photo of him.

1851 – On the 30th December Isaac William Davey is born in St. Helier (possibly 143 Breton Yard, Jersey – which I think no longer exists). His parents were Isaac William Davey b.1821 and Ann ‘Nancy’ Le Breton b.1827.

1852 – Four months later, Isaac is baptised in St. Helier, Jersey. His godparents were Isaac Davey Senior (his father) and Fanny Le Breton, aged 15 (his aunty/mother’s sister).

I wonder why Isaac was baptised so late after his birth? Nowadays, baptising your child four months after their birth doesn’t seem such a long time but in the 1800’s it was recommended that a baby be baptised very soon after the birth due to illness and high child death rates. I know that when my son was baptised he was almost 9 months old. This was due to the fact that we did a joint baptism ceremony with his cousin Anna. In an article by Stuart Basten from the Cambridge Group for the History of Population and Social Structure, he explains:

…in the early seventeenth-century, William Gouge wrote that ‘it is not meet for Christians to defer the baptizing of their children beyond eight days.

He goes on to say that:

However, both Gouge and the later seventeenth-century Prayer Books allow for a short period of rest for mother and child.

1861 – Aged 10, Isaac is living at 14 Lempriere Street, St. Helier, Jersey with his father Isaac – a ships carpenter, mother Ann and siblings William, Ann, Mary and Esther – all scholars (attending school).

1871 – Aged 20, Isaac is still living at 14 Lempriere Street ( once known as The Eagle Tavern). He is now a shipwright following in his father’s footsteps. His mother Ann is a Tavern Keeper. I wonder if she living upstairs and working downstairs in The Eagle Tavern? Isaac’s six siblings are also living at home with him: William – a Mason’s Labourer, Ann E. – Apprentice Tailoress, Mary, Esther, Cecelia, Matilda and Selina.

You can read more about shipwrights in a previous post here: Shipwrights

1876 – At the age of 26 Isaac marries Ellenora Goudge. Tony, a family historian and contact of mine gave me the following romantic story;

Screen Shot 2014-12-30 at 11.27.32 am

The marriage date was first worked out from 1911 census. Then on a visit to the Jersey archives one year I found the following information from his marriage record book ALL SAINTS C/E MARRIAGE INDEX SEPT 1872-JUN 1907:

NO.22    January 4th 1876

Name: Isaac William Davey

Age: 24

Marital status: Bachelor

Occupation: Shipwright

Place of residence at time of marriage: St. Helier

Place of birth: St. Helier

Father: Isaac William Davey               Rank: Shipwright

***

Name: Ellen Goudge

Age: 21

Marital Status: Spinster

P.O.R at time of marriage: St. Helier

P.O.B: Grouville

Father: Henry Goudge                Rank: Mariner

En presence de: A. H. Moon & Mary Frances Davey (Mary is Isaac’s sister and Mr Moon later becomes Frances’s husband)

1877 – On the 1st of January Isaac and Ellenora become parents to son Isaac Davey.

1879 – On the 20th February Isaac and Ellenora give birth to James Davey.

1881 – Isaac is still living at 14 Lempriere Street, St. Helier, Jersey. this residence must be feeling quite cramped by now as Isaac is living here with his parents, 5 siblings, his wife and sons Isaac and James. That’s 11 people!

(Note: the mother Ellenora’s birth place on the 1881 census says St. Martin, not Grouville.) It is here that Isaac and Ellenora’s third child Elenora was born.

1885 – Isaac and Ellenora become parents to my great grandfather George Perchard Davey born at 14 Lempriere Street, St. Helier, Jersey.

1888 – On 15th August, Isaac and Ellenora have another daughter, Eva Louisa Davey. Eva was baptised within a month. maybe they knew she was not going to survive. Sadly, Eva died of convulsions 5 months later in the following January. During this period Isaac is working as a carpenter.

1891 – Isaac, aged 39 and Ellenora, aged 36, become parents to another son, William Davey, born at 14 Lempriere Street, St. Helier, Jersey. Isaac is now recorded as a ‘shipwright.’ His son Isaac is apprentice to a plasterer and his son James is an errand boy. Isaac’s parents and one sister are also still living at this address.

1893 – On the 12th may, Isaac and Ellenora have another daughter Violet May Davey.

1899 – The Channel Islands sees one of it’s worst shipwrecks in history. The sinking of the South Western Steamer, The Stella. You can read more about the disaster here in a previous post: The Stella. 86 passengers and 19 crew died. One of the crew was a W. Davey. As of yet I have been unable to confirm a link with my Davey tree. But what I do know is that family relations between Isaac and his father Isaac Senior deteriorate around this time. So much so that in Isaac seniors Will & Testament in October 1899, Isaac Snr states:

“…it is also my wish that my body shall not bee seen or touched by my eldest son Isaac William Davey after my death.-“

 These are quite dramatic and powerful words and one can only wonder at what on earth Isaac Jnr said or did to enrage the anger of his father so much. Did Isaac say something bad about W. Davey’s seamanship on the Stella?

Did Isaac reconcile with his father before he died 6 months later in July 1900?

1901 – Aged 50, Isaac is living at 15 Union Street with his wife Ellenora, son George P. Davey, a plasterer and daughter Violet M. Davey.

1911 – Aged 60, this years census states that Isaac is a ship-fitter, living with his wife Ellenora at 21 Charles Street, St. Helier, Jersey. The census also records that of the 8 children Isaac and ellenora have had, only 4 are alive in 1911. Also living at this address is Ellenora’s mother, Eleonore Hope Goudge (nee Perchard) a widow aged 81 along with grandson John Philip Bree, aged 25, single and a Baker.

Where Isaac William Davey died or was buried is still unknown to me, although I do know that his wife Ellenora is curiously in the same grave as Isaac’s father. Maybe Ellenora reconciled with her father-in-law at some point. Maybe she took sides? Whatever happened Isaac’s love for his wife was enduring as we can see from the photo image above where Isaac was calling for Ellenora on his deathbed.

I hope you have found this interesting, maybe have even discovered something new. And if there is anything new you can tell me or contribute to Isaac’s life I would to hear from you.

Thanks for stopping by!

Ramona

Some more information on the history of baptisms:

When were babies baptised? Some Welsh evidence

Birth baptism intervals for family historians

Jean Lozouet – died 31st August 1833

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On the 31st August, Jean Lozouet of the parish of Surville in Normandy, France died and was buried in the old section of St. Lawrence graveyard. I found out about this on the islandwiki.org website under the leter ‘L’ in St. Lawrence Burials: Lozuet

J Lozuet - 1833

Through some contact with the Parish of St. Lawrence I soon found out the following details from the incredibly helpful secretary who had spoken to the Sexton on my behalf and another family history expert.

 

‘… if there was not a family grave or there was no money and the Parish paid for the burial then some persons were buried in the pathways and no stones were or marking were placed on the plots,…’

The secretary also adds that this may not have been the case with Jean Lozouet but it is a possibilty worth knowing.

J Lozuet - death book

 

I do not know if or how Jean Lozouet is related to me yet, but I am almost certain he must be, as there were and still are very few Lozouets in Jersey. My next step would be to see a copy of his death certificate whcih may show extra details, such as date of birth/age at death/address/cause of death.

UPDATE: I have since been informed that civil registration  did not begin until 1842 in Jersey. Guernsey began theirs two years earlier in 1840 and the Uk even earlier in 1837. My friend and family historian also continues to tell me that this includes all births marriages and deaths. Thank you Helen! 🙂

It may also be of interest to know that it has been a year since jersey suffered a Cholera epidemic in August 1832, maybe this was the cause?

You can read more about my Lozouet connections here: Family name – LOZUET

The furthest I have managed to get back is with my Jean Louis Desire Lozue, born circa 1840, 7 years after the other Jean Lozouet dies. Is it his grandfather? Is it a brother? Sometimes when children died young, the name of that child would be used again for a following sibling.

As my grandmother Clara Lozuet was one of five girls, the name Lozuet died out with her generation but I do know that there was a family of boys. So far I have not been able to establish a connection.

In the 1901 Census for St. Helier, Jersey, there is a Aimable Lozouet – French subject – single – aged 26 – a General Domestic Servant – possibly working at 9 Esplanade, Custom’s Hotel. My great grandmother Clara had this photo in her possessions when she died:

Screen Shot 2014-08-31 at 5.53.55 pm

I don’t know who this young boy is, he may not even be a Lozuet but he does have Hotel enbroided on his collar. Plus, he looks younger than 26 and would a Domestic servant wear a uniform? Questions, questions…

What I do know is that in 1901 Walter J Dovey was up and running as an Island photographer according to the two following links:

http://www.theislandwiki.org/index.php/List_of_photographers_in_Jersey_1840-1940

http://jerseyfamilyhistory.co.uk/?page_id=11

Matilda Davey – born 19th March 1863

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Screen Shot 2014-03-19 at 11.06.41 am

According to my records my great great grandfather Isaac’s younger sister was born, Matilda Davey. A child of nine to the parents Isaac William Davey and Ann ‘Nancy’ Le Breton.

Any family historian will tell you that tracing our female ancestors can be tricky because once they have married they can disappear if you do not know the surname of their new spouse.

I have created the following timeline of what I beleive is Matilda’s life, but there is always the sneeking fear that you may have got it wrong and matched your female up with the wrong husband, especially when their name is as common as Davey.

1863 – Matilda is born on the 19th March very likely at 14 Lempriere Street (once The Eagle Tavern), St. Helier, Jersey, Channel Islands, UK.

1863 – On the 5th April Matilda is baptised in a town church of St. Helier. Her godparents were Philip Le Breton and Mary Leath. It is likely that Philip is the mother Ann’s brother. Ann came from a huge family with 11 brothers and sisters! (Source: Jersey Heritage Archive Catalogue)

1871 – In the Census, Matilda aged 7, is a scholar and is living with her father Isaac: a Shipwright, mother Ann: Tavern Keeper, and siblings: Isaac W: Shipwright (aged 19), William: Mason’s Labourer, Ann E: Apprentice Tailoress, Mary and Esther: Scholars and Selina aged 1. I would love to know more about the life of women Tavern Keepers, it can’t have been easy with such a large family where your children’s age range from 19 to 1 years old.

1881 – In the Census, Matilda is 18 and is still a ‘Scholar.’ This seems quite old to still be at school.

The Elementary Education Act 1880 insisted on compulsory attendance from 5–10 years.      (Source:Wikipedia. Lincolnshire School Resources Genuki.org.uk)

She lives with her father Isaac, now a Victualler. Her mother is no longer a Tavern Keeper. Her older brother Isaac lives with them with his wife and kids. 

1885 – Matilda, aged 22 married Arveld George Winter Bishop.

1891 – Matilda is 28 and is living at 12 Goucester Street with her husband Arveld, a Stationary Engine Driver and their 2 month old son Arveld.

1899 – Matilda, aged 36, gives birth to a daughter, Lilian Beatrice Bishop, eight years after her son. This is quite a lengthy time between children, it may be that Matilda lost some to miscarriage in between.

1901 – In the Census taken on the 31st March, Matilda is living at 17 Seaton Place, St. Helier, Jersey with her husband Arveld – an Engine/Crane Driver and their children Arveld (10) and Lilian (2).

This is the year that tragedy strikes matilda’s life. She loses her 10 year old son Arveld to Tuberculosis. Having a 10 year old son myself, I can not even begin to understand how unbearable it must have been to experience this.

Tuberculosis infects the lungs and causes breathing difficulties which would have been very distressing to watch in a child.

In large cities the poor had high rates of tuberculosis. Public-health physicians and politicians typically blamed both the poor themselves and their ramshackle tenement houses (conventillos) for the spread of the dreaded disease. People ignored public-health campaigns to limit the spread of contagious diseases, such as the prohibition of spitting on the streets, the strict guidelines to care for infants and young children, and quarantines that separated families from ill loved ones.                                                                     (Wikipedia – Source: Diego Armus, The Ailing City: Health, Tuberculosis, and Culture in Buenos Aires, 1870–1950 (2011)

1903 – Aged 40, Matilda has another daughter, Muriel Evelyn Bishop.

1911 – Aged 48, Matilda is living at 29 Windsor Road with her husband Arveld, now working as a Ships Stoker and daughters lilian and Muriel who are both attending school. A ships Stoker was hard work, shovelling coal into the ships engine. I wonder why he changed jobs?

1924 – At the age of 60, Matilda writes her Will & Testament. It appears she has separated from Arveld as she beqeathes her property and possessions to her daughters.

1941 – Matilda dies at the grand age of 78. I do not know where she is buried.

***

If Matilda is in your family tree and you can confirm some details above, that’s great I’d love to hear from you or maybe you ar related to her husband, let me know.

Hope you enjoyed reading this timeline, until next time, bye for now.

William Davy – died 19th November 1832

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William Davey, my 4x great grandfther died on the 19th November 1832.

I have come across William’s surname spelt in a few different variations:

DAVY is recorded in his own marriage to Mary De France in 1804

DAVIS is recorded in his Will & Testament in 1832

DAVEY is recorded in the marriage certificate of his son Isaac to Ann Le Breton in 1850.

It is the latter spelling which stuck and is still used today with William’s descendants and myself.

Here is William’s timeline as far as I know so far:

1780 – William Davy is born about 1780 in West Coker, Somerset. The exact date is unknown. His father was John Davy, his mother is unknown.

1804 – William, aged 24 marries Mary De France, age 22 and born in Guernsey, daughter of Thomas De France, on 26th December, Boxing Day.

Davey marriage

1813 – William’s daughter Rachel Mary  is baptised in St. Helier on the 7 August. The family have now moved to Jersey from Guernsey. Was this for work? In the marriage certificate of his daughter Mary Ann to George Le Breton, William’s proffession is recorded as a CARTER. This is a job of low earnings.

1816 – Birth of  son William George.

1819 – Birth of daughter – Mary ann

1821 – Birth of son Isaac William on the 24th July. Isaac is my 3x great grandfather.

1832 – A cholera epidemic swept through St. Helier and some of the outlyinf parts of the island. Special centres were established to cope with the level of illness. 

1832 – On the 15th November William, aged 52, writes his Will & Testament – “my desire is to be buried at the discretion of Mary De France, my dear wife.”

mark X of William Davis

mark X of William Davis

1832 – On the 19th November, only 4 days after writing his Will & Testament, Willaim dies. UPDATE: He was buried Green Street Cemetery.

Cemetery plot 230 - Green Street Graveyard, Jersey

Cemetery plot 230 – Green Street Graveyard, Jersey

Although I do not have firm evidence of where William lived, I can presume that it was in St. Helier where  his children were born. It may be that William became one out of the 348 vicitms of cholera in Jersey.

To find out more about the history of cholera in Jersey click on the following link: (http://www.theislandwiki.org/index.php/1832_cholera_epidemic)

If you think you are a descendant of William Davey than I would love to hear from you!

More mystery photos – set 2

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A while ago a reader contacted me to say that he had purchased a photo album which contained photographs of unknown people in the 1930’s. He believed that some, if not all the photos may have been taken in Jersey. He was correct as you can read here in a previous post: Mystery family holiday photos from reader.

Today I am uploading the second batch from his collection, which are fabulous. It is hard to say if they are in Jersey or not, but hopefully one of my lovely readers may recognise something.

richard - lady in cloche

A beautiful portrait photo of a young lady in a cloche hat.

Do you recognise this young lady or the interesting broach she is wearing?

richard - lady with dog

Who is this rather fashionable lady with her pet dog? Interesting style of hat too.

richard - mature couple by church

A well dressed couple at a special occasion

Do you recognise which church this may be? The window shape and the paving on the floor may be a clue.

richard - old lady in chacked dress

A very smart woman standing infront of her vegetable patch.

Do you recognise this woman and are they rhubarb plants behind her? I wonder too if the granite wall and stone borders have been painted white as is often seen in Jersey?

If you recognise any of these photos I would love to hear from you.

Many thanks to Richard for sharing his wonderful photos!