Boots, Booze, Boats, Heroes and Villains - Samuel and Emily Rose

All Saint's Cemetery
Maidenhead, Berkshire UK.

 "In Loving Memory of

Samuel Rose

Who Died March 6th 1905

Aged 82 Years

'The days come and the years pass.

But you are ever in my thoughts, dear.'

Also of

Emily Wife of the Above

Died July 23rd 1926

Aged 82 Years."

Samuel Rose was born in Suffolk in 1824 to parents Jonathan Rose, a Boot and Shoemaker and his wife Mary.  

In 1841 Samuel can be found living with his parents and younger brother Josuha at Dowsett Farm in South Weald, Essex. on the 20th of August 1849 Samuel married Sophia Gates at St James Church, Clerkenwell, Islington, London. Samual occupation on his marriage certificate is listed as a Shoemaker.

By 1851 Samuel had moved to Stondon Massey in Essex and had a change in carer as he is now the Licensed Victualler of the Bricklayers Arms, as well as Boot Maker. Living with Samuel and Sophia is their two-month-old daughter Maria, and Sophia's younger brother Frank Gates, a Baker. Sadly, little Maria was to pass away in the same year. Samuel and Sophia would welcome and lose another child, John in 1852. The Rose family stayed at the Bricklayer's Arms until 1855.

Bricklayer's Arms
Stondon Massey, Essex, UK.

On the 1861 Census Samuel is now in charge of The Fox and Goose public house at 584, London Road, West Thurrock, Essex.  Living with Samuel and Sophia are their children, Mary Ann Rose born in 1855, Sophia Rose born in 1857, Harry Rose born in 1858, and Samuel Rose Jnr born in 1860. Lodging at the Fox and Goose are Agricultural Labourers, Thomas Scrivner, John Baker, Walter Smith, John Kemp, Henry Farnsworth, John Hosley, John Flack, and Sophia's younger brother James Gates.

1871 the family has moved to 8 Causeway Cottage, Taplow, Buckinghamshire, where Samuel is now a Boat Builder. Samuel and Sophia have since welcomed into the family Francis Rose born 1863, Robert Rose born 1864, and Eliza Rose born 1866. Lodging with the family is Benjamin Cowan, a Painter.

By 1881 Samuel, Sophia and their younger children Harry, Robert, and Eliza have moved to Riversdale Cottage, Ray Park, Maidenhead. Samuel is still listed as a boatman, Harry is now a Carpenter, and Robert a Waterman. Sophia was to pass away in 1885 aged 60-year-old. She is buried at St Luke's Churchyard in Maidenhead. 

Samuel Rose Snr appeared in a report in the Slough, Eton and Windsor Observer on 25th August 1888. The report was as follows:

"Twice Saved From Drowning

On Saturday afternoon last, at about 4 o'clock, as a little boy aged seven years, named Walter Plummer, son of Mr. R Plummer, jun., was playing on the river wall opposite the old bathing-place at Maidenhead, he accidentally fell into the water. A young man named George Henry Harvey noticed the boy struggling in the water and promptly jumped in and rescued him. This is the same boy whom Mr. Samuel Rose saved from drowning at the same spot on August 15th, 1882. A girl then who was in charge of the little one, took him out of the perambulator and allowed him to walk, when he fell a distance of 6ft down the bank into the river. Mr. S. Rose, who was in a boat a hundred yards off, heard screams, and observing something in the water proceeded to the spot and rescued the child, who was then only 20 months old. Beware the third time!" - Slough, Eton, and Windsor Observer, 25th August 1888.

Rescuing drowning people from the river Thames seems to have been a family affair as on the 22nd September 1888, the Slough, Eton, and Windsor Observer reported on Samuel's son, Samuel Rose Jnr as follows:

"Reward for Bravery

On Thursday the 13th, inst., at noon, Mr. Samuel Rose, jun., of Maidenhead, was publicly presented in the Town Hall with the Royal Humane Society's Honorary Testimonial 'for having on the 22nd of July, 1888, gone to the rescue of Edgar Cross, who was in imminent danger of drowning in the River Thames at Maidenhead, and whose life he gallantly saved.' The circumstances of the rescue were reported by us. The presentation was made by the Mayor (Ald. Mackie) in suitable terms, and Mr. Rose thanked the Mayor for his remarks, and the ladies and gentlemen who had honoured him with their presence. The testimonial was enclosed in blue cloth covers, on which were the words in gilt characters, 'Presented by the Royal Human Society.' It was on vellum and surmounted by the arms of the society. The inscription recorded the specific act for which the certificated was granted. There was a large attendance of the public." - Slough, Eton, and Windsor Observer, 22nd September 1888.

The report on the incident and rescue was as follows:

"Narrow Escape From Drowning

At about 5.45 on Sunday evening last, as Edgar Cross whose parents live at Barge Farm, Taplow, and who is seven years of age, was walking along the river wall, accompanied by an elder brother, he suddenly lost his balance and fell into the river. A gentleman in a punt jumped into the water and swam towards the boy, but the stream was so strong he could make little headway. In the meantime, Mr. S. Rose, who was at the time of the mishap on a raft a hundred yards off, rank along the bank, and without stooping to divest himself of any clothing, plunged into the river and rescued the drowning boy, after the latter had disappeared under water for a second time. Mr. Rose had some difficulty himself to get out of the water, owing to there being nothing in the wall for him to cling to, and he had to be assisted out by three or four persons. The boy was taken to Mrs. Benningfield's , The Lawn, where every possibly kindness and attention were shown him. Cross's parents were made acquainted with the mishap, and the promptly sent some clothing and a vehicle to convey him home. Several persons on the bank witnessed the accident and rescue, and Rose was deservedly praised for his very timely aid, without which the life of the boy might have been lost. Mr. G. R. Cross has written as follows:- 'Sir, on Sunday last one of my boys fell off the river wall and most narrowly escaped drowning. Indeed, had it not been for the intrepid conduct of Mr. Charles Hawtrey and Mr. S. Rose, I should now be mourning the loss of one very dear to Mrs. Cross and myself. Surely, Sir, it is time that some protections should be afforded against the possibility of such accidents. The river wall is nothing more not less than a death-trap. Either a railing should be run along it or the top of the wall coped, to prevent children and grown-up persons walking on it. I noticed it is proposed to run a chain along the side of the wall, but what avail would this have been Sunday last, and what avail will it be in the future? Protection is required for those who use the river side road, and if something in the nature of my suggestion is not speedily done, and a fatal accident occurs, the Corporation of Maidenhead will be to blame."- Slough, Eton , and Windsor Observer, July 28th 1888.

However, Samuel Rose Jnr's heroic reputation was not to last when in 1896 he was tried at the Maidenhead Borough Police Court for the neglect of his children Samuel aged 10, Beatrice aged 7, and Edith aged 5. Samuel Jnr had become intemperate after the breakup of his business partnership with his brother Harold Rose, and the loss of this business at The Bull Public House in Wycombe. Samuel had sent his three small children to live with Mrs Agnes Such, a widow and storekeeper at 52 Bridge Street who had three children of her own, with the promise of paying 5 shillings a week for their care. Samuel paid a total of 15 shilling for the first three weeks and nothing after. Samuel's father and brother gave evidence against him in court and Samuel was fined £1 with costs of 12 shillings or 14 days imprisonment with hard labour.

~ ~ ~

Emily Rose was born Emily Woodhouse in Bray, Berkshire in 1844 to parents William Woodhouse, a Farmer, Inn Keeper, and Registrar of Births and Deaths, and his wife Sarah Purton. 

Emily first appears aged 7 on the 1851 Census, living in Bray Berkshire with her parents and siblings. The family are still in Bray in 1861

Postcard of Bray Village High Street c1905

In 1871 Emily is visiting the home of Elizabeth Burgress at 107 Strand, Westminster. In 1881 she is back with her parents, living at 2 Thames Villa, Bray, Berkshire.

After the death of his first wife Sophia, Samuel remarried in 1886 to Emily Woodhouse, twenty years his junior.

1891 Samuel and Emily Rose are living at The Hut, Ray Lea Road, Maidenhead. Samuel is now living by his own means. In 1898 Samuel and Emily took Mr Cecil A Lumley to court for allegedly stealing roses from their garden at Westview, Ray Lea Road on 18th September 1898. The court found in favour of Samuel and Emily and Mr Lumley was fined 20 shillings, with 10 shillings costs. The fine was immediately paid.

On 6th March 1905 Samuel was to pass away aged 82 years.

The Maidenhead Advertiser reported on the death of Samuel Rose as follows:

"Death of Mr. Samuel Rose. We regret to have to inform of the death of an old inhabitant, Mr. Samuel Rose, which occurred at his residence in Ray Lea Road on Monday last, at the advanced age of 81 [sic]. Mr. Rose, who took a keen interest in local affairs, successfully carried on the business of a boat-builder, &c., at the Riverside for over 20 years, but retired from the business many years ago. He was succeeded by his son Mr. Harry Rose. The deceased gentleman had been in ill-health for some time. The funeral takes place at the Cemetery on Friday afternoon next." - Maidenhead Advertiser.

  

In 1911 the widowed Emily is still living at The Hut, Ray Lea Road, living with her is her servant Mary Elizabeth Davies. Emily was to pass away on 23rd July 1926 aged 82 years.

A Father and Disowned Son - Thomas and William Owen Stuchbury

"Mr Thomas Stuchbery.  Who died 26th August 1874.  Aged 85.  Sarah.  His wife.  Died 26th April 1848.  Aged 60.  William Owen.  Their youngest son.  Died 8th May 1869.  Aged 46.  Thomas.  Their eldest son.  Died 26th May 1845.  Aged 33 - Interred at Highgate -  Maria Pegg.  Their eldest daughter.  Died 31st July 1882.  Aged 67 - Interred at Cores End -  Richard.  Their second son.  Died 30th January 1893.  Aged 79 - Interred at Maidenhead Cemetery - Elizabeth their third daughter.  Died 4th February 1896.  Aged 74 - Interred at Maidenhead Cemetery.  Lucy.  Their youngest daughter.  Died 30th September 1907.  Aged 83 - Interred at Maidenhead Cemetery - Sarah.  Their second daughter.  Died 11th July 1917.  Aged 97 - Interred at Maidenhead Cemetery - "

Thomas Stuchbery Snr was born 5th March 1789 to William Stuchbery and Elizabeth Webster, the eldest son of ten children.  1802 Thomas joined his uncle James in his High Street ironmongery store which was established in 1760.  On the 6th July 1811 Thomas married Sarah Swallow, daughter of Richard Swallow and Maria Poulton. Together they had seven children, Thomas, Richard, Maria, Sarah, Elizabeth, William Owen and Lucy.

Thomas Snr and Sarah were devout Countess of Huntingdon Connection followers (a Methodist movement in England and Wales), with Thomas becoming a lay preacher in Maidenhead.

The 1841 Census finds Thomas Snr listed as a Grocer, living with his wife Sarah and daughters Sarah and Elizabeth at Maidenhead High Street.

Sarah was to pass away on 26th April 1848

On the 1851 Census the recently widowed Thomas Snr, now listed as an Ironmonger, is still living in Maidenhead High Street. Living with him at the time are his children, Maria, Sarah, William (listed as Owen) an assistant in his father's business, Lucy, and Rachel his seven-year-old granddaughter. Also lodging with the family are Thomas Newman an Ironmonger's Assistant, John Messenger a Servant, and Sarah Stafford a Housekeeper.

In 1856 William Owen angered his father when he married outside of the Countess of Huntingdon Connection, to Jane Thompson, daughter of Peter Thompson and Sarah Reynolds in Wargrave.  The union caused Thomas Snr to cut his son out of his will, but Thomas Snr was to outlive his son. 

Thomas Snr is still living in Maidenhead High Street in 1861, along with his daughters Sarah, Elizabeth, and Lucy. Lodging with the family is Mary Butler a Servant, William Courtney an Ironmonger's Assistant, Henry Plumber an Ironmonger's Assistant, and Joseph Baldwin a Servant.

By 1861 William and Jane have moved to Ware in Hertfordshire where William is now a Grocer living at Ware High Street. Living with then is their three-year-old daughter Sarah Stuchbury, and their Servant Betty Hale. Visiting the family is Jane's younger sister Elizabeth Thompson. Before his death, William returned to Maidenhead and ran the Stuchbury Ironmongery store. William Owen died in 1869 and the business passed into the ownership of his wife Jane.

The 1871 Census finds the elderly and retired Thomas Stuchbury Snr living at Castle Hill, Maidenhead with his daughters Sarah, Elizabeth and Lucy. Living with the family is Hilda Wheeler a Servant. 

The recently widowed Jane Stuchbury can be found on the 1871 Census listed as a Grocer and Ironmonger in Maidenhead High Street, living with her children Jane born in 1863 and Thomas William born in 1867. Lodging with the family is Alfred Bennett an Ironmonger's Assistant, William Richardson a Grocer's Assistant, and Jane Harris a General Servant. Living next door to Jane is her brother Nathan Curtis Thompson, a Grocer, and his family.  In 1874 Jane went into partnership with her brother Nathan Curtis Thompson and began trading under the name of Stuchbery & Thompson.  However, their partnership was dissolved by mutual consent on 9th May 1881.

Thomas Stuchbury Snr was to pass away on 26th August 1874 aged 85. 

in 1881 Jane Stuchbury is still living next to her brother Nathan in Maidenhead High Street. Staying with her at that time was her eight-year-old niece Lina Thompson. Also living at the home was Mary Snell, a General Servant.

Jane later married Richard Silver in 1883 and lived in Eturia House (named after the Roman Villa excavated on the site), Grenfell Road, where my husband's great grandmother, Martha Jane Sealey, lived with the Silver family as a Domestic Servant. Jane Silver was to pass away in Maidenhead aged 75 in 1907.

Sketcher of Mesopotamian Antiquities - William and Eliza Boutcher

All Saint's Cemetery,
Maidenhead, Berkshire, UK.

"William Boutcher

Born at Broadclyst, Devon

Aug 29th 1828

Died at Elbury, Maidenhead, Dec 14th 1900

Also of

Eliza Boutcher

Dearly Beloved Wife of the Above

Died May 24th 1922 Aged 86 Years,"

William Boutcher was born on 29th August 1828 in the village of Broadcylst in Devon to parents William Boutcher and Jane Newton.

William can first be found on the 1851 Census as an Architect's Clerk living in Upper Sandgate Road, Folkestone, Kent.

In the 1850's William was employed by the British Museum as an artist on W K Loftus's archaeological excavations in the city of Niveah, Mesopotamia. The collection of William's drawings can be found here, British Museum Catalogue.

Sandgate Road, Folkestone, Kent.

Eliza Boutcher was born Eliza Milliship on 30th November 1835 in Marylebone, London to parents George William Milliship a builder, and Margaret Sweetman. 

Eliza first appears on the 1841 Census living at Portman Place, Marylebone, London, with her parents and siblings. Living with the family are Mary Ann Burton and Mary Ann Hitchins, both domestic Servants. By 1851 the family had moved to 13 Paddington Green, Paddington, London.

Eliza's father George Milliship passed away in the October of 1855.

~ ~ ~

On the 29th November 1860 at Saint Saviour Church, Warwick Avenue, Westminster, London, William Boutcher married Eliza Milliship.

Saint Saviour Church, Warwick Avenue,
Westminster, London.

In 1861 the now married William and Eliza Boutcher can be found living at 7 Kensington Park North Terrace, Kensington, London with their Domestic Servant, Matilda Rodgers. in 1862 William and Eliza welcome their first child, a son Alan George Boutcher, he was followed by his sister Edith Mary Boutcher in 1864. Liliam Mabel Boutcher arrived in 1865, followed by Harold William Boutcher in 1868, and Douglas Leolin Boutcher in 1870.

The 1871 Census finds the family along with Eliza's widowed mother Margaret Milliship, living at 125 Lancaster Road, Chelsea, London, along with their two servants Emma Bartlett and Ellen King.

William and Eliza were to have two more children, Ernest Noel Boutcher born in 1872, and Hilda Margaret Boutcher in 1874.

1881 and the family has moved to 128A Lancaster Road, Chelsea, London. Living with them are their servants, Hannah Peck a Cook, and Matilda White a Housemaid.

By the 1891 Census the family has moved to the village of Cores End, Wooburn, Buckinghamshire. The family are listed as 'living by own means', with the exception of Harold William Boutcher who is an Artist in Painting and Sculpture, and Ernest Noel Boutcher who is a Student in Chemical Laboratory. Living with the family are their two servants, Maria Clements, and Fanny Woodley.

On 14th December 1900 William Boutcher was to pass away at suddenly at his home, Elbury, Ray Park Avenue, Maidenhead, Berkshire.  The Maidenhead Advertiser reported on Wednesday 19th December 1900 as follows:

"Death of Mr William Boutcher

We regret to record the death of an esteemed townsman, Mr. William Boutcher, of "Elbury," Ray Park-avenue, who passed away somewhat unexpectantly at about noon on Friday last. Some three or four years ago Mr. Boutcher had a stroke of paralysis, but up to within a day of his death he was able to get about fairly well, and was frequently to be seen in the town and at Marlow at cricket, football, and tennis matches, in which he took considerable interest. On the day before his death he was about the house as usual, but on the following morning he developed alarming symptoms and his medica adviser deemed it necessary to suggest the summoning of members of the family, and this was done. Mr. Boutcher passed away, however at noon. The deceased gentleman had resided in Maidenhead for some years, and he had a great deal to do with the development of the Ray Lodge estate, now one of the most picturesque residential parts of the town.

Before coming to Maidenhead, Mr. Boutcher resided for ten years at Bourne End, prior to which he lived in London, where he took great interest in parochial and more public affairs. He was for some time Chairman of the Works Committee of the Kensington Vestry and was a member of the Metropolitain Board of Works. The British Museum contains testimony of Mr. Boutcher's research in respect of antiquities on Nivevah, as he went out with an expedition which brought back stones and other things relating to the buried city of considerable antiquarian interest, plans and sketches of which Mr. Boutcher made before the stones were separated for dispatch to England, in order that they might be re-erected here as originally discovered. Mr Boutcher subscribed liberally to local institutions, and took a keen interest in the affairs of the town. His death will be heard with great regret. The funeral took place on Monday at the Cemetery." - Maidenhead Advertiser, Wednesday 19th December 1900.

1901 finds the recently widowed Eliza and her daughter Hilda Margaret Boutcher still living at Elbury, Ray Park Avenue with their servant Rose Merlands.

By 1911 the now elderly Eliza has moved in with her artist son Harold William Boutcher and his wife Nellie Constance "Daisy" Boutcher, at The Vine, West Byfleet, Surrey

West Byfleet, Surrey c1914

Eliza was to pass away on 24th May 1922, aged 86 in Surrey, England.