Sad Boating Accident - Seth Charles Ward - Drowned at Boulter's Weir

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

 

"In Holy Memory of

Seath Charles Ward

For 19 Years A Chorister in This Church

Called To His rest June 4th 1878 Aged 69

His mercy is on them that fear Him throughout all generations."

Seth Charles Ward was born on 15th May 1809 in Camberwell, Surrey, England, to parents Seth Stephen Ward, and Maria Black.  On the 26th September 1840 Seth married Rose Barraud at Saint Giles, Camberwell Church Street, Southwark.  Seth is listed on his marriage certificate as being a Clerk in court in Chancery. 

On the 1841 Census Seth and Rose can be found living in Queen's Row, Grove Lane, Camberwell, Southwark. On the 22nd August 1841 they celebrated the birth of their son Percival Seth Ward. Their daughter Marion Rose Ward followed in 1843 and another son, Bernard Stephen Ward on 5th August 1846. The family is still living in Queen's Row in Grove Lane, Camberwell in 1851. In 1854 another daughter Dora May ward was born but sadly she was to pass away in 1855.

By 1861 the family had moved to Maidenhead and were living in Castle Hill. Seth is listed as a clerk of records and writs in the High Court of Chancery. Percival is now an undergraduate of the College of Oxford (Oxford University). 

In 1871 Seth, his wife Rose, and their daughter Marion are still living in Castle Hill, Maidenhead, Berkshire. Percival has married Annie Trueman and moved away to Farnborough, Warwickshire, where he is training to become a vicar. Bernard, now and organist and pianist, had moved out to Dresden, Germany, where he met and married Susan Theresa Davey Holdich. 

Seth Charles Ward was to pass away on 4th June 1878, by drowning in the Thames at Taplow, Buckinghamshire. The Maidenhead Advertiser reported on the accident: 

"Serious Occurrence

We regret to have to have to announce a shocking accident which occurred yesterday (Tuesday) morning to a boating party who were out on the river under Taplow woods. Mr. P. S. Ward [sic], an aged gentleman, residing on Castle Hill, (this is a mistake in the reporting as P. S. Ward was Seth Charles's son, and lived until 1925) and was well known and generally respected in this neighbourhood, (so well known and respected in fact, they go his name wrong in the report), took with him yesterday morning, on an excursion on the river, his daughter and two nieces. They engaged a boat at Mr. Rose's, and went down the river and spent some time in enjoyment of the beauty of the scenery. They then appear to have gone to the weir to examine the sluices, and to have got out there. Returning to the boat, they turned into the backwater, and the boat, getting clear of the point, was carried broadside on to the sluice nearest the Bucks shore. The danger became manifest in a moment, and one of the ladies jumping ashore, dragged the second after her, and the third, having hold of the dress of the second, the three escaped, just as the boat capsized. Mr. Ward, however, was carried under and lost to view. A man on the shore saw the accident, and ran to Lord Dangan's and set to the lock for aid, and the ladies promptly rescued. A search was also made for the body of Mr. Ward, but without avail. All the afternoon and evening parties were out dragging for the unfortunate gentleman, but up to the time of our going to press the body had not been recovered. 

The man who witnessed the occurrence is named Charles Tuckwell, and he gives the following account:- at about 12 o'clock, I was sitting on the bank of the river and I saw a gentleman and two ladies near the weir. I saw them go near the centre sluice and land on it and look around. They then go into the boat again, and rowed around the backwater between the sluices. As soon as the boat got clear of the point, it was drawn broadside onto the sluice nearest the land on the Bucks side of the river. I saw one of the ladies jump ashore and pull another, the third having hold of the second one's dress. I also saw the gentleman's feet up out of the water, as though he was being drawn under. The ladies signalled to me that he had gone under, and I ran to Lord Dangan's (Henry Arthur Mornington Wellesley, 3rd earl Cowley J.P.) for assistance, and sent a boy to the lock to tell the man there.

The boat was broken into fragments, and these have been recovered in various places at a considerable distance from the scene of the accident. Lord Dangan rendered prompt assistance to the ladies, and conveyed them to his residence, and he afterwards placed a carriage at their disposal to return homeward.

Mr. Ward was an active member to the choir and the congregation of All Saint's. His sad and sudden death is a subject of deep and general sorrow, and the sincere sympathy of many friends is given to the bereaved and mourning relatives."  Maidenhead Advertiser, Wednesday 5th June 1878.

Maidenhead (Boulter's) Weir
where Seth Charles Ward drowned
on 4th June 1878

Seth's body wasn't recovered from the river until the 10th of June, his inquest was held at the Ray Mead Hotel near the river.  The Maidenhead Advertiser reported on the discovery of the body and the inquest as follows:

"Sad Boating Accident - The Inquest.

We gave last week an account of the sad boating accident at the weir above Boulter's Lock, by which Mr Seth Charles Ward, and aged gentleman, residing at Boyn Hill, was unfortunately drowned. The search for the body of the deceased commenced shortly after the accident, was continued without success until Monday morning. A reward was offered, and several punts were out each day, and the river was carefully dragged for a considerable distance; but no trace could be found of the body, and the general opinion was that it had been sucked down and retained in one of the holes or ledges underneath the bank near the weir. On Saturday morning, by the permission of Captain Etheridge, superintendent of the Thames Conservancy, the water was drawn off to a depth of nearly two feet, but the body still remained undiscovered. At about four o'clock Monday morning, however, a man named Harmand was out with a punt in the back stream near the gas works, and saw a dark object near the bank in the vicinity of the fish baskets, nearly facing Mr. Rose's boathouse. He put down his punt pole to it, and found it was the body of the unfortunate gentleman; it was thereupon lifted into the punt, and being conveyed therein to the gas works, where Mr. Harmand is employed, it was removed to the Ray Mead Hotel, and subsequently by the coroner's permission, to the deceased residence, near Boyn Hill Church.

Here an inquest was held at 3 o'clock, before W. Weedon, Esq., coroner, and a respectable jury, of whom Mr. F. Hillersdon was foreman. The first witness was Marian [sic] Rose Ward, who said: I am the daughter of the deceased. He was 69 years of age, and engaged in the Record and Writ Office. On the 4th of this month the deceased, I, and my two cousins were out boating. Mt father and I were rowing. He was accustomed to rowing, and I was fond of it, he knew the river quite well. We got out of the boat to look at the weir above Boulter's Lock, and he stood in the boat holding it. We got in again, and he sat down to his oar, but missed his stroke, and fell back into the boat. Instantly, he got up again, saying that it was all right; but by this time the boat was drifting close to the weir. As we came quite close to it we all caught hold of the beam there. I knew the danger, and my father told me to get out. My cousins stepped out on to the land, and I followed them. I saw the boat filling with water and quite on one side : at that moment he went down, feet foremost, as I just landed. 

"Do you, " asked the Coroner, "attribute the accident to his losing the stroke?" - "Yes," was the reply, "I attribute a good deal to losing control of the boat in that way; or I think he would have prevented it, he had just time to say 'Sit still.'"

"Was it by his wish that you went to the weir?" - "It was : I ought to say, we had been to the weir more than a dozen times before, I should think."

"He did not rise again?" - "No ; I thought I at first saw a hand and arm, but it must have been the oar; the oars were very white."

"You and your cousins didn't get into the water?" - "No."

"What happened next?" - "We called for help. There was a little boy on the opposite side of the river, and I think he ran to the lock. In about a quarter of an hour several men came, and a gentleman and a lady in a sort of canoe. The boat went into three pieces as he sank."

Charles Tuckwell, the next witness, said: "I am a labourer. On Tuesday I was standing on the bank of the river just above the weir, and I saw a gentleman and three ladies past in a boat. I did not know who they were. I saw them go near the pier, and the three ladies got out. They got in again, and the gentleman began pulling. It appeared that he wanted to go down the dead water; instead of that, the stream caught the head of the boat, and as he pulled it brought the boat right across the stream, which took him down to the weir. The stream was too strong for him, and took him the contrary way to what he wished. When he got to the sluice, as far as I could see, one side of the boat tipped up, and the ladies saw the danger and stepped out onto the brickwork. I heard the boat crush, but I did not see where the gentleman went. I fancied I saw his legs as he went down, and I called to the ladies a dozen times, I should think; to know if he had gone down. I then sent a boy to the lock, and went myself to Lord Dangan's for assistance. The gentleman seems to row very well. I helped search for the body, but could not find it.

By the Jury: If the ladies had been one minute later, they would have been swamped altogether.

Henry Harmand said: "I am a stoker at the Gas Works. About four o'clock this morning I found the body. I started away from the Gas Works at about three o'clock, and found it in about an hour, against the old bucks, near Mr. Rose's. It was over quarter of a mile from the weir. I saw the deceased's coat first, and lifted the body into the punt and took it down to the Gas Works. It was taken to the Ray Mead Hotel."

The Coroner said this appears to be all the evidence needful. No doubt, he added, the occurrence was an accident, for which no-one was to blame. At this point Rev. Percy Ward, son of the deceased gentleman, asked leave to say a few words to the jury. The Coroner acquiesced, and Mr. Ward observed: "Of course, in cases of accident of this kind there may be suspicions of carelessness or want of skill, and I should like to say of my dear father that there never was a man more careful than he was; and I assure you, as to the skill, that 40 years ago he was considered to be one of the best oarsmen on the Thames. And he was especially careful when he had ladies with him. He had become accustomed to go to that very spot when the sluices were shut, and when the water had not such a head on."

The Coroner said that the family of the deceased had his sympathy under these sad circumstances.  The Foreman added to this that the jury sincerely sympathised, as did indeed, the whole neighbourhood, with the deceased's relatives in their said bereavement. The Jury at once returned a verdict that the deceased was accidentally drowned by the upsetting of a boat at the weir near Boulter's Lock; on the Thames; and at their request, the Coroner promised to write to the Conservancy, suggesting that "Danger" boards should be put up at either end of the weir. They handed their fees (13s) to the Editor of the Maidenhead Advertiser for presentation to the funds of the Cottage Hospital.

The remains of the deceased were interred yesterday afternoon in the churchyard of All Saint's, Boyn Hill, amid great expressions of sorrow." - Maidenhead Advertiser, Wednesday 12th June 1878.

Ray Mead Hotel, Maidenhead, Berkshire. 

Seth's widow Rose would continue to live in Maidenhead until her death in 1905.

Dairyman of Kidwell's Park - Henry Lovejoy

All Saints Cemetery
Maidenhead, Berkshire, UK.

 "In Loving Memory

of

Henry Lovejoy

Who Passed Away

November 28th 1908

Aged 74 Years

-

I Know That My Redeemer Liveth."

Henry Lovejoy was born in Bray Berkshire in 1834 to Parents Peter Lovejoy, and agricultural labourer, and his wife Hannah.

Henry first appears on the 1841 Census, aged 7, living in Oakley Green near Fifield, Berkshire, with his parents and siblings, George already an agricultural labourer at 10 years old, Sarah, Caroline, and baby Mary. Henry's older brother James Lovejoy, a carpenter, is boarding in the house of Sarah Langley in Victoria Street, New Windsor, Berkshire. In 1851 the family, including James are still living near Fifield, Berkshire. All the boys are listed as agricultural labourers along with their father.

In 1857 in Henry married Martha Grove and in 1861 the newlywed couple can be found in an area called Builder's Wells near Tithe Barn, Berkshire. The road has since been renamed Westbrook. Henry is listed as being a garden labourer and living with them is their 7-month-old daughter Clara Ann who was born in 1860. Later Annie was born in 1863. Sadly, Martha Lovejoy was to pass away in 1865 due to complications after giving birth to her third daughter Martha, the baby Martha was also to pass away. A year later in 1866, Henry's mother Hannah passed away. Later in 1867, Henry married Emma Bosher.

In 1871 the family had moved to the Green Beer House, in Holyport, Berkshire. Henry is listed as being a Dairyman. Living with the family are Clara Ann, Annie, and Emma and Henry's daughter Louisa.

1881 finds the family now living in Kidwells Lodge in Maidenhead, Berkshire. Henry is now a Dairy Farmer farming 100 acres and employing 6 men and 3 boys. Living with the family is Henry's widowed father Peter Lovejoy. in 1885 Clara Ann Lovejoy married William Thomas Rolfe and left the family home.

In August 1890 Henry took two young boys to court for property damage to his trees. The Maidenhead Advertiser reported on the 27th August 1890 as follows:

"A Whipping.

John Saunders, and Waldeck-terrace, and James Gomm of Reform-lane, each 10 years of age, were said to have done wilful damage to some trees (willow-pollards) belonging to Mr. Henry Lovejoy.

Mr. Lovejoy, who is a farmer living at North Town, stated that on the 11th inst. he went towards his meadows in Sunnymead-lane at 10.30 a.m., and he saw three boys in one of them. He stood watching the boys, and saw some branches falling from the centre of one of his pollard trees. He went towards the tree and caught Gomm, but Saunders ran away. Gomm said, "If you'll forgive me, Mr. Lovejoy, I'll teel you all about it."  He asked him who cut the branches from the trees, and he replied, "Saunders. I was going to, only we saw you coming." He found his pollard damaged, and he put the damage at a shilling. Mr/ Lovejoy explained that there were two younger boys (named Laily) there, but he had not summoned them, and that he only summoned the defendants because he wished to put a stop to the damage being done to his property.

The parents were asked if they would whip their sons, if they were let off. Gomm said he would thrash his boy, but Mrs. Saunders said she could not beat her son. Asked if she would allow Gomm to do so she said "Yes," and Gomm promised to whip the two boys in the presence of the police, the case dismissed." - Maidenhead Advertiser, 27th August 1890.

1881 finds the family now living in Kidwells Lodge in Maidenhead, Berkshire. Henry is now a Dairy Farmer farming 100 acres and employing 6 men and 3 boys. Living with the family is Henry's widowed father Peter Lovejoy. in 1885 Clara Ann Lovejoy married William Thomas Rolfe and left the family home.  Henry's father Peter was to pass away in 1883 aged 86 years.

By 1891 the family had moved to North Town Farm in Maidenhead, where Henry is listed as just a farmer. That same year Lousia, known a Louie, married William Thomas Lynn.

1901 just 7 years before Henry's death he can be found living with his wife Emma, and daughter Annie at 25 Marlow Road, Maidenhead Berkshire. Henry is now a retired farmer. Visiting the family at the time is Ann Smart 

Henry was to pass away on 28th November 1908 aged 74. The Maidenhead Advertiser reported on his death as follows:

"Death of Mr. Henry Lovejoy

One of maidenhead's oldest and best-known passed away on Saturday last - Mr. Henry Lovejoy, who died at his residence "Ænon," Marlow-road, at the age of 74 years. Mr. Lovejoy had been failing in health for some time, but was able to get about and take walks within two days of his death. Mr. Lovejoy was highly respected in the town and neighbourhood, being of a kindly, sympathetic disposition, and in the best sense of the term a Christian gentleman. He came to Maidenhead in 1870, and until some eight years ago he was a dairy-farmer at Kidwell's Park, North Town farm, and Redstone Farm. About eight years ago he retired from business. He was at the time of his death a sidesman for St. Mary's Church, which position he filled for many years. He was pressed to succeed the late Mr. R. Clifton Davy as the Churchwarden, but owing to his failing health declined the honour. He took a keen interest in the work of the church, and the loss of his assistance will be very much felt...

The funeral will take place to-day (Wednesday), at Maidenhead Cemetery." - Maidenhead Advertiser, December 2nd 1908.

Emma and Annie Lovejoy were to remain at Ænon, Marlow Road, Maidenhead until their deaths in 1909 and 1932. Annie never married.

Bakers of Maidenhead - Thomas Henry and Jane Ashby Bromley

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

 

"In Loving Memory 

of

Thomas Henry Bromley

who entered into rest

November 22nd 1897

Aged 61 Years

Also of

Jane Ashby Bromley

the dearly loved wife of the above

who fell asleep on June 3rd 1915

Aged 80 Years

Thanks Be Unto God Which Giveth Us The Victory

Through Our Lord Jesus Christ"

Thomas Henry Bromley was born in Shinfield, Berkshire in 1836 to parents William Bromley, a baker, and Essey Herbert. Thomas can be found on the 1851 Census living with his parents and siblings in the village of Three Mile Cross in Shinfield, Berkshire. Jospeh is working as a baker at his father's shop in Three Mile Cross. Thomas remained at the family home until his marriage to Jane Ashby in Reading Berkshire in 1862.

Jane Ashby was born in Bushey, Hertfordshire in 1834 to parents William Ashby, a grocer, and Ann Catlin. Jane first appears on the 1841 Census living with her parents and siblings in Bushey, Hertfordshire. In 1851 Jane is a dressmaker's apprentice at the home of Mary Jane Wade in Watford, Hertfordshire. 1861 finds Jane as a visitor at the home of John Stevens, a farmer, in Swallowfield, Berkshire

By 1871 Thomas and Jane have moved to Maidenhead High Street where Thomas is a baker. Living with the family are their children, Beatrice Mary born in 1864, Arthur Ashby born in 1866, Elizabeth Jane born in 1870, and Ann Louise (Baby Bromley on the Census) born in 1871. Thomas was a steward at the High Street Methodist Church.

1881 and Thomas has moved his family and business to 17 Bridge Street, Maidenhead, Berkshire. Joining the family is Ernest Henry born 1878. Arthur is working as a baker for his father. The family would remain at 17 Bridge Street until Thomas's death on 22nd November 1897 aged 61. Jane would make a donation to the Methodist Church's One Million Guinea Fund in memoriam to Thomas.

The widowed Jane is living with her son Ernest Henry, his wife Florence, and their unnamed week-old baby daughter, in Farnham Lane, Farnham Royal, Buckinghamshire. Jane has a sick nurse called Sarah North living with her at her son's home.

By 1911 Jane has moved back to Maidenhead and is living at 1 St Luke's Road along with a boarder Elizabeth Bolton, and their servant Evelyn Mable Anstiss. Jane would later pass away on 3rd June 1915 aged 80. On the 9th June 1915 the Maidenhead Advertiser reported:

"Deaths

Bromley - On 3rd June, at Ashby, St Luke's-road, Maidenhead, Jane Ashby Bromley, the dearly-loved wife of the late Thomas Henry Bromley, in her 81st year."

Family Links: Grandson Arthur Kenneth Bromley.

Musical Genius, Church Organist and Builder - Joseph Love Silver and Elizabeth Silver

 

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

"Sacred 

to the Memory

of

Joseph Love silver

Who Entered Into Rest

On September 16th 1911

In His 72nd Year.

'There Remaineth Therefore A Rest To The People Of God'. Heb. IV 9

Also In Loving Remembrance of 

Eliza

Widow Of The Above

Who Fell Asleep On Oct 7th 1919

In Her 81st Year.

'The Night Is Passed. And Lo, It Is Day'."

Joseph Love Silver was born in Tittle Row, Maidenhead, Berkshire om 29th January 1840 to parents Richard Silver, a carpenter and builder, later Alderman and Justice of the Peace for Maidenhead, and Mary Kay. 

Joseph's mother and two sisters are buried at St James the Less, Stubbings. You can read about them here: Silver - Believeth.

Joseph can first be found on the 1841 Census living with his parents in Tittle Row, Berkshire. The family ran a building business called Silver and Sons. In 1844 Silver and Sons built the St John the Baptist Church in Cookham Dean

In 1851 the family is still living in Tittle Row, but has expanded to include Augusta born in 1842, Kate born in 1846 (living with her aunt and uncle Sarah and James Silver in 1851), Agness born in 1848, and Annette born in 1850. Sadly, Augusta was to pass away in 1860, and Annette in 1861. Visiting the family at the time of the 1851 Census is Maria Ashwell King.

In 1856 Silver and Sons manufactured the bricks used in the construction of All Saint's Church, Boyn Hill Maidenhead. Silver and Sons owned a brick and tile works in believed to have been in Bisham.

1861 Jospeh, now a builder working for his father, is still living with his family, now including James Edward born in 1852, in Tittle Row. In 1862 in Bray Berkshire Joseph married Eliza Susannah Mills. 

Elizabeth Susannah Mills was born in 1839 in Stepney, Middlesex to parents Robert Mills, a grocer, and Martha Fletcher. In 1841 the family can be found living in Great Titchfield Street, Marylebone, London. 

By 1851 Eliza has moved with her family to Maidenhead High Street where they run a grocery shop. Eliza's mother Martha would pass away in 1856. In 1861 Eliza is still living with her widowed father and younger brother in Maidenhead High Street.

In 1871 Joseph and Eliza can be found living in Maidenhead High Street, where Joseph is listed as a builder and organist. Joseph had since taken over the family business of Silver and Sons. Living with them are their children, Alice Augusta 1865, Helen Annette born 1868, Eva Mary born 1869, and Amy Martha born in 1871. Joseph was the organist and choir master for St Luke's Church, Maidenhead. In 1874 resigned as choirmaster and organist for St Luke's. The Musical Times and Singing Circular reported:

"Maidenhead - In a meeting in the National Schools on the 19th ult., the choir of St. Luke's Church presented Mr. J. L. Silver, organist and choirmaster, on his resignation, with a very elegant Album (in which is to be placed a portrait of each member) in appreciation of his professional ability and kindness of manner to them on all occasions."  - The Musical Times and Singing Circular, Vol 16, No. 375, May 1st 1874. - A History of the Parish.

In 1879 Joseph's business Silver &Sons was contracted to build St Joseph's Church in Cookham Road, Maidenhead.

"In 1879 Canon John Scannell acquired a 'finely situate' acre of land as the site a Parish Church and set about raising funds at erect a building to accommodate the town's growing Catholic population. The eminent architect Leonard Stokes was appointed and the builders were Messrs Silver and Sons and Filewood." 

By 1881 Joseph and his family have moved back to Tittle Row, including Arthur Richard born in 1874, and Kate born in 1877. 1891 and the family remain in Tittle Row, the address of the house given as Fountain Cottage where Joseph remained living until his death in 1911. in 1894 Silver and Sons erected the Bath Stone spire of St Luke's Church, Maidenhead.

In 1904 Joseph was involved in a serious accident. The Slough, Eton and Windsor Observer reported on 22nd October 1904:

"Serious Accident At Maidenhead

On Friday morning last a somewhat serious trap accident occurred on Castle Hill, Maidenhead. Mr. T. A. Durrant's son Colin was returning from delivering meat in the Castle Hill district and when about halfway down the hill, between the railway bridge and Messrs Cooper and Son's, the band of the harness gave way, and the startled horse, in breaking free from the harness and cart swerved the latter round and overturned a trap coming in the opposite direction, and in which was Mr. Joseph Silver, of Altwood-road, and his man Marsh who was driving. Mr. Silver was badly shaken, while Marsh sustained an injury to one of his shoulders, and was incapacitated for work. Mr. Silver had only recently recovered from a severe illness, and he had to take his bed again on his arrival home in a cab. The trap was badly damaged, Mr. Durrant's horse, getting free bolted down the High-street and Bridge-street, and proceeding by the riverside returned to the High-street via North Town and Market street. It was stopped at the Saracen's Head, after a quarter of an hour's good gallop, during which it kicked off a couple of shoes and injured its legs. Fortunately, no further personal injury was sustained. It was lucky that the animal did not drag the cart with it as it careered down the High street, as a good deal of traffic was about, and a serious collision would have been inevitable. Mr. Silver, we are glad to say, is progressing satisfactorily." - Slough, Eton and Windsor Observer, 22nd October 1904.

Joseph was to pass away on 16th September 1911 aged 71 years old. Elizabeth was to follow Joseph later on the 7th October 1919. 

The Maidenhead Advertiser reported on 20th September 1911 as follows:

"Death of Mr. Joseph Silver

We much regret to have to record the death of one of the oldest and most esteemed residents of Maidenhead, Mr. Joseph Love Silver, A.R.C.O. (associate of the Royal College of Organists), eldest son of the late Alderman R. Silver J.P., of Tittle Row, Maidenhead. Mr. Joseph Silver had been unwell for some years, but it was only a few days before his death that his condition gave any cause for anxiety. He had been addended some years by Dr. Moore, who did all that medical skill could suggest to prolong his patient's life. Mr Silver was able to transact business up to within a short time of his death, but ominous developments ultimately rendered it necessary for him to keep his bed. Unfortunately, his condition did not improve, and he passed away peacefully on Saturday last, at the age of 71.

Mr. Silver was born on 29th January 1840, at Tittle Row. Early in life he was seen to be possessed of considerable musical talent, and his parents encouraged him all they possibly could in his musical studies. Subsequently, he became associated with the Royal College of Organists, and took the degree of A.R.C.O. in 1872. He was organist at St. Luke's Chruch, Maidenhead, for ten years, resigning through stress of business in 1877. He served as organist under two Vicars of St. Luke's - the late Rev. W. B. Hole and the Rev. W. G. Sawyer. Previous to this he was an organist at Maidenhead Congressional Church. West-street, during the pastorate of the eat Rev. John Mcfarlane. On resigning his post at St. Luke's, presentations were made to Mr. Silver by the clergy and congregation in recognition of his valuable services and as a mark of esteem and goodwill.

He was quite an enthusiast in musical matters and a recognised authority on organ-building, in connection with work he was frequently consulted and prepared plans and specifications. Mr. Silver was a college-friend of Dr. Bridge of Westminster Abbey, and was well known by all the leading organists of the time. He was also a composer of organ-music, and some of his compositions are still favourites in local churches. These include chants and settings to the Te Deum Kyrie, Venite, and other portions of the Church Service. Mr. Silver was very gifted in extempore playing and many of our readers will recall with pleasure recitals given by him in various churches, more especially at St. Lukes, St. Pauls, and St. Peter's. It is not too much to say that he was a musical genius; his whole soul entered into his playing, and the service of praise was always marked by the truest reverence and devotion and real sympathy when he was seated at the keyboard of the organ. To the musical world, Mr. Silver's death is a great loss. He was a Christian gentleman in the highest sense of the term, and was greatly loved by all who were privileged to enjoy his friendship. The deceased was throughout the greater part of his life a valued member of the well-known firm of Messrs. Silver and Sons builders, etc., Altwood Works, and at the time of his death was one of the firm Messrs. Silver and Sons Ltd.

The deepest sympathy is felt with Mrs. Joseph Silver - who we regret to say is an invalid - and family in their great bereavement. The funeral with take place this (Wednesday) afternoon, at 3.30, at Maidenhead Cemetery." Maidenhead Advertiser, 20th September 1911.