William Michael Finch Zinc Worker of Hackney, London, his wife Emily Finch, and their son William Alexander Finch of Ravenhoe, Bourne End - Housekeeper's Attempted Suicide

The snow laden angel of 'The Finch Family Grave'. All Saints Maidenhead Cemetery, All Saint's Avenue, Maidenhead Berkshire.

"William Michael Finch died 27th July 1919 aged 79 years.

Emily Finch died 29th July 1902 aged 61 years

Also of their only son William Alexander Finch died 18th August 1925 aged 59

Monument by Emmanuel Harris & Son, Monumental Masons, Beaumont Street London."

William Michael Finch was born in Hackney London in 1840 to Alexander Finch, a carpet planner, and his wife Caroline Harvey.  William later became a zinc worker by trade.

In 1841 nine-month-old William can be found living with his parents and elder siblings, Caroline Elizabeth, Alexander, and James in Ann's Place, Pritchard's Road, Hackney, London.

In 1851 the ten-year-old schoolboy William is still living with his parents at Ann's Place in Pritchard's Road; however, the family has grown to include George, Susannah and John.  Sadly, just two years later William's farther Alexander was to pass away in 1853, aged just 42. 

Pritchard's Road, Hackney, c1903

1861 finds the twenty-year-old William, now a zinc worker, living with his widowed mother and younger siblings, now including nine-year-old Caroline, at 29 Marian Square, Bethnal Green, London.

In 1864 William married Emily Prockter in Shoreditch London and on August 5th 1866, they were blessed with the birth of their only child William Alexander Finch.

In 1871 the young family can be found living at 271 Hackney Road, Hackney London. Where William and his wife Emily were still residing during the 1881 Census.  By this time William Alexander has left the family home and is now studying at Margate High School, in Kent.

In the 1891 Census William Snr was listed as living by own means at 76 Victoria Park Road, South Hackney, London along with his wife Emily, their son William, by now an architect and surveyor and their housekeeper Emily Lee.

On 26th August 1896 William Alexander married Emeline Blundell nee Mears in Westminster, London

By 1901 William Michael, now retired, is still residing at 76 Victoria Park Road, South Hackney with his wife Emily.  Sadly, just a year later on 29th July 1902, Emily passed away.

Victoria Park Road, South Hackney.

Their son William and his wife Emeline are listed as living at Ray Park Road, Maidenhead, Berkshire.  On 27th February 1908, William Alexander and Emeline celebrated the birth of their child Michael William Finch.

In 1911 William Alexander and his young son can be found living at Ravenshoe, Bourne End, Buckinghamshire without Emeline, who I have been unable to trace.  Living with and working for William is his housekeeper Mary Ann Chilton.

That same year William petitioned Emeline for a divorce, citing a Theodore Gilsdorf. They were finally divorced on 14th October 1912.

By 1911 the widowed William Snr is still residing 76 Victoria Park Road, South Hackney. Living with him and working as his housekeeper is his widowed sister-in-law, Emily's sister, Harriet Williamson. Also staying with them is Harriet's daughter Emily Williamson.  William Snr was to pass away just eight years later on 27th July 1919.

On Tuesday 21st May 1912 William Alexander's housekeeper Mary Ann Chilton attempted suicide at Ravenhoe, Bourne End. On 23rd May 1912 the South Bucks Standard reported:

"CHARGE ATTEMPTED SUICIDE. 

POLICEMAN’S STRUGGLE WITH HOUSEKEEPER. 

CASE DISMISSED. 

At the Wycombe County Police Court yesterday (Wednesday) before Mr. Arthur Vernon (in the chair), and Mr. D. Clarke, Mary Chilton, 22, housekeeper, of 15, Baker-street, High Wycombe, was charged in custody with attempting to commit suicide cutting her throat with razor at Bourne End, on Tuesday. 

William Alexander Finch, architect, of Ravenhoe,” Bourne End, said accused had been in his employ for two years. On Tuesday evening at 6 o'clock he returned home from London and was told that damage had been done to a box at his home. He saw the box was smashed. Accused came into the room and behaved in an excitable manner. He asked her who broke the box, and she said she accepted full responsibility for it and had done it a protest against the gardener taking the silver away. Accused ran upstairs and witness left P.C. Timber, who was with him at the time, to look after her. He did not ‘near her say anything she went upstairs, but heard struggle upstairs, where the constable and the gardener had followed her. He thought accused was greatly upset at witness taking away his little boy, to whom accused was greatly attached. 

Mr. Vernon: That is supposition. 

Witness said later he saw the accused lying at the bottom of stairs. gave her some brandy. Witness kept a razor in a case in his bathroom. 

Accused said she had absolutely no question to ask Mr. Finch at all. 

John James Ody, of Bourne End, gardener to Mr. Finch, said that was ordered by his employer to pack the silver. He got the box down and placed in the dining room. he wanted some paper he cycled down to the Sailing Club with four dish covers in his hand. He cycled back and saw accused and a man coming out the gateway. He went straight indoors found the box smashed to smithereens. Having had orders if there was any "nonsense" call the police did so, and P.C. Timber came. Subsequently in the evening the officer called his assistance to accused, who had rushed upstairs. Witness went his assistance and P.C. Timber, who was struggling with accused said "Seize this out of her hand." Witness wrenched razor away from accused's grasp. This took place in accused's bedroom. Accused shouted them to give it to her, and she would do something. Afterwards accused threw herself downstairs. Witness did not see accused do anything or attempt to anything with the razor.

—By accused: He did not remember seeing loose stair rod on the stairs. 

P.C. Timber, of Bourne End, said was called by Ody at midday, and proceeded Ravenhoe. "Just after 6 p.m. he saw Mr. Finch, and with the gardener they went Ravenhoe." Accused was standing at the gate, and they went into the house together. the dining room Mr. Finch asked accused who had smashed the box, and she said I did," and also admitted interfering with the bolts of the back door that it could not be locked. She said she broke the box to prevent the silver—which she had charge of—being taken out the house. Accused then got into a violent temper and high words ensued between accused, Ody, and Mr. Finch. He told her to keep cool, as she rushed about in an excited manner. Suddenly accused rushed upstairs and Mr. Finch told witness to follow her, he was afraid something might happen. Witness went up and found accused on her bed, screaming and in a very excitable condition. He tried to pacify her and she got up, was going down the stairs, and appeared to witness to throw herself to where Ody was standing, at the bottom of the stairs. She missed him and fell down. Accused went in the dining room for a few minutes, and after witness had tried to reason with her, she rushed upstairs again and went into the bathroom. Witness started going after her, when she rushed out of the bathroom, along the landing, and he heard her say I will draw this razor across my throat." She ran into her bedroom and witness followed, and found she had the razor produced in her hands. He grappled with her and prevented her opening the razor, and in the struggle accused tried to get her hands to her throat, and shouted I will do it, I will do it." He called to Ody to come up, and while was struggling with accused she attempted to bite his right hand. With the help of Ody the razor was taken from accused. 

Inspector Field, of Marlow, said received a telephone message, and arrived at Ravenhoe, Bourne End, at 7 p.m. on Tuesday. He there found accused in the dining room, with Mr. Finch and P.C. Timber. She was crying, and apparently in a distressed state of mind. Witness asked her what was the matter, and she said " That's my business, not yours." Witness said " I understand you've made an attempt to commit suicide." She replied "Yes, and I shall do it. It’s enough to make any girl commit suicide." Accused made reference to a girl who had recently committed suicide at Marlow, and said she would do the same. Witness the conclusion that she really intended to do herself some injury and charged her and took her into custody. In reply to the charge she made a long rambling statement, the of which was a complaint against the gardener and her master. She was in quite a desperate state most of the time and did not seem to care what happened to her. Accused seemed in great pain at the time with her head, and her nose bled for some time, after which she seemed steadier. 

Mr. Finch, recalled the Chairman, said accused had been in his service two years.At times she was as good girl one could wish, and at other times she dew into violent passions. She seemed upset that his little boy was leaving and had said that when the child went away she would go too, and no one would see her. As a rule she was very good girl. 

Inspector Field added that on the way to Wycombe accused expressed sorrow for what she had done, and said she would never do such a thing again. Accused was then asked if she wished to say anything. She said she would like to say that before she went upstairs to attempt to do anything Mr. Finch offered her a cheque to clear out of the house. She refused to take it. The silver was left in her charge, and instructions had been given her that nothing was not to be touched unless Mr. Finch gave her orders. She thought it was then time to stop the thing. At 8 o'clock in the morning the gardener came in the house, and instead of ringing the bell he got through the dining room window. She thought she should have had proper notice from Mr. Finch. 

Accused's father was questioned by Mr. Vernon, and said she had been good girl, and had never given any indication of threats to take her life. He would promise to look after her. In further reply to'the Bench the accused said, she was really very very sorry for what she had done, had no intention of repeating it. The Magistrates, taking into account the accused character, and her promise not to repeat the offence, dismissed the case, which they considered had been very properly brought before them."

 

In 1914 William Alexander married his second wife, Enid Cutler, in Holborn, London. William and Enid can be found on the 1921 Census living at Ravenhoe, Bourne End, Buckinghamshire. Michael William Finch is a live in student at Steyham Grammar School, Shoreham by Sea, Sussex

William Alexander was to pass away at his home, Ravenhoe, Bourne End, Buckinghamshire on 18th August 1925.

Micheal William Finch would later move to Cornwall where he married Gertrude Joan Jones in 1977 at the age of 69. Sadly, Michael was to pass away that same year on 27th April.