Dancey Family Story Les Dancey and Chris Dancey May 2015
This is the story of one branch of the Dancey family who lived at 7 The Market Place, Box
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All photos courtesy Les and Chris Dancey
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Photos taken at 7 Market Place in late 1940s and early 1950s. Left: Jim Dancey with Chris' brother Barry; Middle: Kate Dancey; Right: Les, Chris and Jim
Uncle and nephew, Les and Chris Dancey, have taken up the challenge in issue 2 to find the Box family that can trace its roots furthest back in time. We welcome all contributions by families who want to challenge the Dancey longevity.
All photographs courtesy Les Dancey and Chris Dancey.
All photographs courtesy Les Dancey and Chris Dancey.
Dancey coat-of-arms
Earliest Danceys
The family name Dancey (pronounced Dauncey) is originally descended from Norman ancestors, frequently but mistakenly assumed to be of French origin.They were actually of Viking origin. The Vikings landed in Northern France around the year 940. Their king was Thorfinn Rollo who became the first Duke of Normandy, and his descendant, Duke William of Normandy invaded England in 1066. Originally the Dancey family were seated in a place called Dance in the district of Orne, Normandy.
Soon after the Battle of Hastings, the Dancey family were granted lands in Wiltshire and this is recorded in the Domesday Book, as for services rendered to his liege lord the King and the Dancey family were recorded as a notable family in the County of Wiltshire.
The first Dancey of note was Roger Dauncy, who in 1242 held a knight's fee (a manor and lands, granted by the king in return for providing a knight and horse for military service). The Dancey family also acquired large estates in Winterbourne, Wiltshire.
The family name Dancey (pronounced Dauncey) is originally descended from Norman ancestors, frequently but mistakenly assumed to be of French origin.They were actually of Viking origin. The Vikings landed in Northern France around the year 940. Their king was Thorfinn Rollo who became the first Duke of Normandy, and his descendant, Duke William of Normandy invaded England in 1066. Originally the Dancey family were seated in a place called Dance in the district of Orne, Normandy.
Soon after the Battle of Hastings, the Dancey family were granted lands in Wiltshire and this is recorded in the Domesday Book, as for services rendered to his liege lord the King and the Dancey family were recorded as a notable family in the County of Wiltshire.
The first Dancey of note was Roger Dauncy, who in 1242 held a knight's fee (a manor and lands, granted by the king in return for providing a knight and horse for military service). The Dancey family also acquired large estates in Winterbourne, Wiltshire.
Our ancestry is through Roger Dauncy, although a little patchy, because there is a break in our family timeline of around a century from 1550 to 1660. Perhaps the family were on the wrong side of somebody significant and lost their title, manors and lands. There are no further records from Roger Dauncy or his family or next generations from 1550.
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Family After About 1660
The first person that we can trace after the break is Aquila Dancey and his descendants who lived at Bremhill. There is no further information about him but on the assumption of fatherhood at age 26 we can deduce that he was born about 1660. Another Aquila Dancey is mentioned in the Bremhill parish registers as born 27 January 1686, wife unknown, but recorded as Aquila, the son of Aquila. A third ancestor was named Aquila (sometimes Aquilla) Dancey (1722 - 1778) also born at Bremhill. He married three times: Mary (no further details found); Priscilla Bath whom he married on 4 August 1757 at Christian Malford; and Hannah Hammonds on 3 November 1763. Right: Dancey's Crane still exists under Box Hill |
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The family then moved away from the Aquila Christian name and later left Bremhill for Box. Aquila's son was Simon Dancey (1765 - 1833) who married Mary Hunt on 23 October 1791 at Bremhill. His son, John Dancey, was born in 1795 at Bremhill and married Elizabeth Hancock on 13 November 1825. We know that they moved to Box because John died of bronchitis on 25 October 1866 at Box Hill.
Hannah Bradfield in her wedding dress 1852
Settling in Box
John and his wife Elizabeth probably moved to Box Hill looking for employment in the quarry trade. The Dancey family were quarrymen for several generations, working hard and marrying into other local families. There is a crane in Box mine with the Dancey name on the wall next to it, so it is referred to as Dancey's Crane (see picture above).
John and Elizabeth's children included Jacob (Jake) Dancey (1827 - 1868). He married Hannah Bradfield on 19 October 1852 at Box Parish Church and at one time they lived at Box Quarries. Hannah was a formidable woman. She married three times, all stone miners, and outlived them all, eventually having to take the role of the matriarch of the family.
Their child, William Dancey (also a stone mason), was born on 9 August 1853 in Box. He married Annie Jemima Smith on 20 October 1884 at New King Street Chapel, Bath. Annie died aged only 50 of acute broncho-pneumonia on 29 Jan 1911 at 7 Mill Lane and Hannah died there in 1914, so William would have had to care for his family for five years alone until his death in 1919. Very difficult at the time I'm sure.
John and his wife Elizabeth probably moved to Box Hill looking for employment in the quarry trade. The Dancey family were quarrymen for several generations, working hard and marrying into other local families. There is a crane in Box mine with the Dancey name on the wall next to it, so it is referred to as Dancey's Crane (see picture above).
John and Elizabeth's children included Jacob (Jake) Dancey (1827 - 1868). He married Hannah Bradfield on 19 October 1852 at Box Parish Church and at one time they lived at Box Quarries. Hannah was a formidable woman. She married three times, all stone miners, and outlived them all, eventually having to take the role of the matriarch of the family.
Their child, William Dancey (also a stone mason), was born on 9 August 1853 in Box. He married Annie Jemima Smith on 20 October 1884 at New King Street Chapel, Bath. Annie died aged only 50 of acute broncho-pneumonia on 29 Jan 1911 at 7 Mill Lane and Hannah died there in 1914, so William would have had to care for his family for five years alone until his death in 1919. Very difficult at the time I'm sure.
Les Recalls his Parents
My mother Kate (Emily Catherine) and father Jim (James Warren) Dancey met when she was in service at 21 Royal Crescent, Bath and my father's uncle was the butler next door. They were both private residences in those days. I have a letter sent to her there from her mother who still lived in Oakhill, Somerset. Her father was a dray man for Oakhill Stout. My parents moved to 7 Market Place in about 1936 and previously lived in one of the cottages at No Notion, Rudloe, which my mother swore was haunted).
My parents fell foul of the law during World War 2. We had open coal fires then with a little integrated oven and an arm that would swing across the fire for a kettle. It was all cast iron and black-leaded, which was one of my jobs each week. One night the chimney caught fire during the Blackout and as a result, they were prosecuted and fined £5, which was a lot of money in those days. My father, not wanting to continue a life of crime, bought a set of chimney brushes so that he could keep it clean. This spread to friends, neighbours and relatives and, before long, he was the village chimney sweep, which he did in his spare time as he worked on the cranes at the Ministry of Works at Thornypits.
My mother Kate (Emily Catherine) and father Jim (James Warren) Dancey met when she was in service at 21 Royal Crescent, Bath and my father's uncle was the butler next door. They were both private residences in those days. I have a letter sent to her there from her mother who still lived in Oakhill, Somerset. Her father was a dray man for Oakhill Stout. My parents moved to 7 Market Place in about 1936 and previously lived in one of the cottages at No Notion, Rudloe, which my mother swore was haunted).
My parents fell foul of the law during World War 2. We had open coal fires then with a little integrated oven and an arm that would swing across the fire for a kettle. It was all cast iron and black-leaded, which was one of my jobs each week. One night the chimney caught fire during the Blackout and as a result, they were prosecuted and fined £5, which was a lot of money in those days. My father, not wanting to continue a life of crime, bought a set of chimney brushes so that he could keep it clean. This spread to friends, neighbours and relatives and, before long, he was the village chimney sweep, which he did in his spare time as he worked on the cranes at the Ministry of Works at Thornypits.
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I remember that we had a tour of the underground facilities for the close relatives of those that worked there and I can remember my surprise to find what I took to be a huge dance hall underground. The network stretches for miles and miles. As lads we used to like to go exploring in all the caves, which were all open then. We used to get some rubber strips (scrap) from the rubber factory or some plastic off-cuts from the Moon Aircraft (is it still there?), where they used to make things like cockpit covers for Spitfires. These we used as torches to light our way through the caves, being more than careful not to let any of the rubber or plastic drip onto ourselves. We didn't have a bathroom in those days as all we had was a tin bath, which hung on the side of the corrugated walls of what was then the lean-to kitchen. This was taken down every Friday for our weekly bath. In those days you bathed in seniority with my father first and me last. You can bet the water was pretty dirty when it came to my turn.
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Jim and Kate Dancey
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My father, a keen vegetable grower, had made a big wooden area to keep all our potatoes and as lads my brother and I used to cover it over to form a stage. We would then chalk messages on the pavement outside advertising that we were giving a show and charged two buttons entry fee. Consequently, we ended up with a large bag of buttons. However the villagers started complaining to my mother because Johnny or Sheila had cut the buttons off their clothes to pay for the show.
My mother loved to hear Frankie Vaughan sing and when he came to open the then new Boys club hall in the Market Place he had to walk past our house. My mother invited him in for a cup of tea, which he accepted. She was thrilled!
Les' sister, Peggy, and eldest brother, Dennis, were in the WRAF and Navy respectively during the war. During the wartime my brother arrived home on leave late one night. Not wanting to wake the household up he decided to climb into the back bedroom window. My mother, being a light sleeper, thought we had burglars and raised the roof. Peggy met an Italian man, Nic Dispensa in England where they did their courting. He went out to New York where he had an aunt and uncle and he stayed with them until he set up a home of his own. Peggy followed him out there.
Les' sister, Peggy, and eldest brother, Dennis, were in the WRAF and Navy respectively during the war. During the wartime my brother arrived home on leave late one night. Not wanting to wake the household up he decided to climb into the back bedroom window. My mother, being a light sleeper, thought we had burglars and raised the roof. Peggy met an Italian man, Nic Dispensa in England where they did their courting. He went out to New York where he had an aunt and uncle and he stayed with them until he set up a home of his own. Peggy followed him out there.
In the Ley in about 1947: Left to Right: Les (as a child), Peggy, Jim, Kate, Dennis and Donald.
Chris Dancey Takes Up the Story
Chris tells of Les' siblings, Peggy, Dennis (Chris' father) and Donald.
Chris tells of Les' siblings, Peggy, Dennis (Chris' father) and Donald.
Peggy married Nicolo Dispensa in 1948 (below left). Nic was a teacher in Italy before the war and a pilot for the Italian Air Force. He continued to fly a private plane in America until the 1980s. He was a charming man who later ran a dry cleaning business in Brooklyn. Peggy worked for Barclays Bank in The Twin Towers, as did her elder son Peter, but they were both retired before the 9/11 tragedy. Her younger son, Adrian was with New York Police Department.
My uncle Donald married Irene Wall in 1956 (below right). In the photo you can see Mrs Helps (Jim and Kate's next-door neighbour in the Market Place and mother of Christine Helps). Dennis was best man at the wedding. They lived at Trowbridge until Donald died in 1975 and Irene in 1980.
My uncle Donald married Irene Wall in 1956 (below right). In the photo you can see Mrs Helps (Jim and Kate's next-door neighbour in the Market Place and mother of Christine Helps). Dennis was best man at the wedding. They lived at Trowbridge until Donald died in 1975 and Irene in 1980.
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My father, Dennis, served in the Royal Navy in 1944, as a stoker on Tank Landing Craft. He was at Omaha Beach on D-Day dropping off US Rangers onto the shore before being demobbed aged 21 at the end of the war (picture below right). He married Susan Jane Fuller Roberts on 28 June 1947 at St Annes Church, Lewes, East Sussex and they stayed in Lewes.
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The picture (above left) shows my parents on their wedding day with left to right: great aunt Susan (aunt of Chris' mum); mum's sister, Daisy; behind is Dennis' radio operator pal from the war; dad and mum; and Mr Piper, a neighbour, who gave my mum away as her father died in 1934. Daisy never married and died in 2011 aged 85. There is now just one remaining member on mum's side, my aunt Peggy. whose father died when she was only three months old.
My father Dennis loved the sea. Dad and I always intended to own a yacht but never actually got to do so. He died (aged 57) whilst still working, having changed career from hand-made brickmaker to a home-made baker. I was with him when he died tragically of a heart attack. I think of dad every day and even now I am tearful at his loss. He was a lovely, gentle man and I kept my promise to him that I would look after our mother, which I did for over twenty years until she died 12th January 2005. It was our intention to buy a yacht together when he retired, he just wanted to sail. Both uncle Les and my brother Barry have bought yachts and, in a way, they fulfilled my dad's ambition. He persuaded me to take the sailing exams with the Royal Yacht Association to yachtmaster level. Les went on to qualify as a full yachtmaster.
Dad only ever gave me one smack. I came home from school with my gaberdene mack covered in dirt, mud and chalk. I was beaten up by two brothers who were bullying me at school. I was a little thin and weedy in those days. Dad asked me if I fought back and I said no as I was scared. I got a wallop and Dad said, What will you do next time? I said I would fight back, which I did.
I picked each brother when they were on their own and did the same to them. The brothers' father came over to see my parents (they were neighbours) and said that I had hurt his sons. Dad had great delight in telling him the story. I was treated to extra sweets and pocket money that week and I never had another wallop !...at least not from Dad.
My father Dennis loved the sea. Dad and I always intended to own a yacht but never actually got to do so. He died (aged 57) whilst still working, having changed career from hand-made brickmaker to a home-made baker. I was with him when he died tragically of a heart attack. I think of dad every day and even now I am tearful at his loss. He was a lovely, gentle man and I kept my promise to him that I would look after our mother, which I did for over twenty years until she died 12th January 2005. It was our intention to buy a yacht together when he retired, he just wanted to sail. Both uncle Les and my brother Barry have bought yachts and, in a way, they fulfilled my dad's ambition. He persuaded me to take the sailing exams with the Royal Yacht Association to yachtmaster level. Les went on to qualify as a full yachtmaster.
Dad only ever gave me one smack. I came home from school with my gaberdene mack covered in dirt, mud and chalk. I was beaten up by two brothers who were bullying me at school. I was a little thin and weedy in those days. Dad asked me if I fought back and I said no as I was scared. I got a wallop and Dad said, What will you do next time? I said I would fight back, which I did.
I picked each brother when they were on their own and did the same to them. The brothers' father came over to see my parents (they were neighbours) and said that I had hurt his sons. Dad had great delight in telling him the story. I was treated to extra sweets and pocket money that week and I never had another wallop !...at least not from Dad.
Reunions
Despite the distance involved, there have been several reunions. Peggy came home to visit on her own in the late 1950s when she had tutoring from the Roman Catholic priest from Corsham. Upon her return to USA she converted to Catholicism and she and Nic renewed their marriage vows. In 1960 Jim and Kate went over to see Peggy and family in New York and in 1968 Peggy and Nic and family came back for a visit to the UK. They did the rounds and visited Dennis and Susan in Lewes.
Despite the distance involved, there have been several reunions. Peggy came home to visit on her own in the late 1950s when she had tutoring from the Roman Catholic priest from Corsham. Upon her return to USA she converted to Catholicism and she and Nic renewed their marriage vows. In 1960 Jim and Kate went over to see Peggy and family in New York and in 1968 Peggy and Nic and family came back for a visit to the UK. They did the rounds and visited Dennis and Susan in Lewes.
Left to Right: Les, Peggy, Dennis, Kate and Donald on the Queen Elizabeth in 1968 when Peggy was returning to USA.
On exercise in the Troodos Mountains, Cyprus in 1960
Les' Life After Box
I have many happy memories of Box, having spent the first twenty one years of my life there from 1939 until I was called up to serve out my two years of National Service in 1960. I worked in Westinghouse following College until my call up.
You may be interested to know that the chap who took over my job, when I left, was Roger Greenaway who, at the time, was singing with The Kestrels. He later teamed up with another member of the group, Roger Cook, and formed Cookaway Music. One of their songs you will all know is, I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing. He is still in the music business.
My military service was spent primarily in Cyprus which had the Eoka troubles. Part of our training was skiing, which I thank them for and which I still enjoy today.
I have many happy memories of Box, having spent the first twenty one years of my life there from 1939 until I was called up to serve out my two years of National Service in 1960. I worked in Westinghouse following College until my call up.
You may be interested to know that the chap who took over my job, when I left, was Roger Greenaway who, at the time, was singing with The Kestrels. He later teamed up with another member of the group, Roger Cook, and formed Cookaway Music. One of their songs you will all know is, I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing. He is still in the music business.
My military service was spent primarily in Cyprus which had the Eoka troubles. Part of our training was skiing, which I thank them for and which I still enjoy today.
Les and Chris: Then and Now and Then Again
Les wrote: Headmaster, Arthur Adams told me as I left Box school that I would be one of life's failures and I hope that he has been able to see that he was wrong and that I have lived a charmed life, having planned all the way through to achieve my various goals five years at a time. If I met those goals in two, then I would plan a further five years from then.
With both my brothers dying young it meant that statistically I would too, so I like to eat healthily and keep active. I have never taken life seriously and enjoyed everything that I have done. Being a lover of sport, I was able to retire when I was fifty. Twenty five years later I am fortunate enough to still be able to run, cycle, sail, ski, play tennis, table tennis and badminton.
Les wrote: Headmaster, Arthur Adams told me as I left Box school that I would be one of life's failures and I hope that he has been able to see that he was wrong and that I have lived a charmed life, having planned all the way through to achieve my various goals five years at a time. If I met those goals in two, then I would plan a further five years from then.
With both my brothers dying young it meant that statistically I would too, so I like to eat healthily and keep active. I have never taken life seriously and enjoyed everything that I have done. Being a lover of sport, I was able to retire when I was fifty. Twenty five years later I am fortunate enough to still be able to run, cycle, sail, ski, play tennis, table tennis and badminton.
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Left: Les in 1940s; Middle: in November 2014, when he came all the way up from Christchurch to visit Box's Great War Exhibition; and
Right: On a family walk up The Ley in about 1947.
Right: On a family walk up The Ley in about 1947.
Les recalls his life: I was married on Cup Final Day 7 May 1960 and my five year goal at that time was to buy a house and start a family. I bought the house in 1963 for £1,850. I looked in the Evening Echo and saw a house advertised and, in my lunch hour, rang up the estate agent but it had gone. I asked if there were any houses coming on the market and the agent told me that they had taken one on that morning in the London Road. I said, Oh! is that Mr Stevens in 57? and they said, No, it was Mr Thompson in 129. I got on my bike straight up to 129 and was shown around. I agreed the full price there and then and bought it.That Saturday whilst visiting my Mother she said that my brother Donald was very angry because he had just gone to see a house which had already been sold. She said it was in the London Road. I just grinned and it didn't take her more than a couple of seconds to work out who had bought it.
Chris reminisced about his life: My passion (apart from my wife) is my love of classic cars, car racing and 1930s in general. We attend lots of period weekends at various venues both here in the UK and abroad. My wife had professional dance lessons as a child, and we have both attended lessons with the Taplins, ex England & World Champion dancers (now teachers).
The photograph below right was featured in the Daily Telegraph Cars section on 27 December 2014 and featured our Rover 10hp P2 Doctors Coupe 1938, with myself alighting and Linda. The photo was commissioned by Lord & Lady March (who own Goodwood Estate), they approached us when we arrived at the vintage Goodwood Revival last September and requested that we reposition our car in front of his house for some period photographs.
Chris reminisced about his life: My passion (apart from my wife) is my love of classic cars, car racing and 1930s in general. We attend lots of period weekends at various venues both here in the UK and abroad. My wife had professional dance lessons as a child, and we have both attended lessons with the Taplins, ex England & World Champion dancers (now teachers).
The photograph below right was featured in the Daily Telegraph Cars section on 27 December 2014 and featured our Rover 10hp P2 Doctors Coupe 1938, with myself alighting and Linda. The photo was commissioned by Lord & Lady March (who own Goodwood Estate), they approached us when we arrived at the vintage Goodwood Revival last September and requested that we reposition our car in front of his house for some period photographs.
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Left: Left to Right: Chris, USA cousin Adrian, Christine Helps, and brother Barry; and Right: Chris and Linda in 2014
If you would like to reminisce with Les or Chris, please get in touch via the Contact tab. They would love to hear from old pals, sailing enthusiasts or anyone who wants to reminisce about Box. Or you may care to tell us about your Box ancestors if you can match the Dancey's earliest identifiable date of the late 1600s.
Dancey Family Tree (courtesy Chris Dancey)
Great-Great Grandparents
John Dancey (1795 - 25 October 1866) married Elizabeth Hancock (1798 - 1885). John was born in Bremhill and died at Box Hill
Great Grandparents
Jacob (Jake) (1827 - 6 May 1868) married Hannah Bradfield (1829 - 1914). At one stage they lived at Box Quarries
In 1891, long after Jake's death, Hannah married Thomas Wilkins (1822 - 1907).
Great-Great Grandparents
John Dancey (1795 - 25 October 1866) married Elizabeth Hancock (1798 - 1885). John was born in Bremhill and died at Box Hill
Great Grandparents
Jacob (Jake) (1827 - 6 May 1868) married Hannah Bradfield (1829 - 1914). At one stage they lived at Box Quarries
In 1891, long after Jake's death, Hannah married Thomas Wilkins (1822 - 1907).
Grandparents
William Dancey (1853 - 1919) married Annie Jemima (1860 - 1911). William was a stone mason.
Children: There were 13 children: Francis William (1886 - 1957), under-gardener, married Louisa Gane (1889 - 1941); Albert Edward (1887 - 1957), under-carter; Norah Emma (1888 - 1963) married Frederick Stevens (1885 - 1968); Edith Alice (1889 - 1972) married William Johnson (1876 - 1962); Elsie Annie (b 1890); Ernest Godfrey (1891 - 1971) married Dorothy Kate Tye (1894 - 1959); William Thomas (b 1894); James Warren (Jim) (1894 - 1966) married Emily Catherine Baker (1895 - 1981); George (1896 - 1918)
see http://www.boxpeopleandplaces.co.uk/in-memoriam.html and
http://www.boxpeopleandplaces.co.uk/never-forgotten.html
David (1899 - 1984) married Ruby G Hall; Edwin Jacob (1899 - 1942); Ellen Blanche (b 1902); and Ivy Vera (1904 - 1924).
Parents
James Warren (Jim) Dancey (1894 - 1966) married Emily Catherine (Kate) Baker (1895 - 1981) on 21 April 1919 at Box Parish Church. They lived at 7 Market Place. Kate worked in Bence's shop across the way, now a private house. The Helps family lived next door.
Warren was the maiden surname of Jim's grandmother Elizabeth Ann Warren (b 1834 in Bath, the mother of Annie Jemima Smith)
Children: a. Margaret (Peggy) (b 1922); Dennis James (1924 - 1981); Donald A (1934 - 1975); and Les (b 1939)
Children
a. Margaret (Peggy) (b 1922) was in the WRAF in WW2. She moved to USA in 1948 where she later married Nicolo (Nic) Dispensa (1922 - 2000). Children: Peter and Adrian.
b. Dennis James (1924 - 1981) married Susan Jane Fuller Roberts (1923 - 2005) on 28 June 1947 at St Annes Church, Lewes, East Sussex. They continued to live in Lewes, Sussex.
Children: Christopher James (Chris) (b 1948); and Barry John (b 1953).
c. Donald A (1934 - 1975) married Irene Joan Wall (1932 - 1980): children Carol, Kevin and Keith. They lived in Trowbridge.
d. Les (b 1939)
Les has a son, Matthew, from his first marriage. Matthew is married to Esther and they have a son, Kieran and a daughter, Isla. He is now married to Teresa (Terry). Her son, Paul, has a daughter Charlotte, and a son, Malcolm.
Chris Dancey (b 1948) married Diane Mary Grout and has two children from this marriage: Mark James Warren Dancey; and Martine Hannah Dancey. Grandchild: Finn James Dancey. He subsequently married Dr Linda Ann Graham.
William Dancey (1853 - 1919) married Annie Jemima (1860 - 1911). William was a stone mason.
Children: There were 13 children: Francis William (1886 - 1957), under-gardener, married Louisa Gane (1889 - 1941); Albert Edward (1887 - 1957), under-carter; Norah Emma (1888 - 1963) married Frederick Stevens (1885 - 1968); Edith Alice (1889 - 1972) married William Johnson (1876 - 1962); Elsie Annie (b 1890); Ernest Godfrey (1891 - 1971) married Dorothy Kate Tye (1894 - 1959); William Thomas (b 1894); James Warren (Jim) (1894 - 1966) married Emily Catherine Baker (1895 - 1981); George (1896 - 1918)
see http://www.boxpeopleandplaces.co.uk/in-memoriam.html and
http://www.boxpeopleandplaces.co.uk/never-forgotten.html
David (1899 - 1984) married Ruby G Hall; Edwin Jacob (1899 - 1942); Ellen Blanche (b 1902); and Ivy Vera (1904 - 1924).
Parents
James Warren (Jim) Dancey (1894 - 1966) married Emily Catherine (Kate) Baker (1895 - 1981) on 21 April 1919 at Box Parish Church. They lived at 7 Market Place. Kate worked in Bence's shop across the way, now a private house. The Helps family lived next door.
Warren was the maiden surname of Jim's grandmother Elizabeth Ann Warren (b 1834 in Bath, the mother of Annie Jemima Smith)
Children: a. Margaret (Peggy) (b 1922); Dennis James (1924 - 1981); Donald A (1934 - 1975); and Les (b 1939)
Children
a. Margaret (Peggy) (b 1922) was in the WRAF in WW2. She moved to USA in 1948 where she later married Nicolo (Nic) Dispensa (1922 - 2000). Children: Peter and Adrian.
b. Dennis James (1924 - 1981) married Susan Jane Fuller Roberts (1923 - 2005) on 28 June 1947 at St Annes Church, Lewes, East Sussex. They continued to live in Lewes, Sussex.
Children: Christopher James (Chris) (b 1948); and Barry John (b 1953).
c. Donald A (1934 - 1975) married Irene Joan Wall (1932 - 1980): children Carol, Kevin and Keith. They lived in Trowbridge.
d. Les (b 1939)
Les has a son, Matthew, from his first marriage. Matthew is married to Esther and they have a son, Kieran and a daughter, Isla. He is now married to Teresa (Terry). Her son, Paul, has a daughter Charlotte, and a son, Malcolm.
Chris Dancey (b 1948) married Diane Mary Grout and has two children from this marriage: Mark James Warren Dancey; and Martine Hannah Dancey. Grandchild: Finn James Dancey. He subsequently married Dr Linda Ann Graham.