Houkes Family Geoff Forshaw November 2022
Clift Quarry Works and stables where William George lived with his second wife Alice in 1911 (courtesy Varian Tye)
In October last year Geoff Forshaw wrote to the parish council because he knew that some of his wife’s ancestors had once lived in Box. He said: During a brief outing to Wiltshire, I visited Box Cemetery, hoping to find the grave of my wife’s great grandmother, Ann or Annie Bohanna Houkes (née Lee). I know that Annie died on 17 September 1887 and that she was interred at Box Cemetery on 23 September 1887. I managed to find other graves from around that time, but most of the headstones were either difficult or impossible to read. I don’t know whether Annie’s grave had a headstone, but I think it probably did. Neither do I know whether anyone else was buried in the plot.
Parish clerk Margaret Carey was able to confirm that Annie Bohanna Houkes was buried in plot number 263 on 23 September 1887 recorded as aged 47. However, she was baptised by W H Ricketts-Bayley, Curate at Holy Trinity Church, Stapleton, Gloucestershire on 1 February 1835, so she must have been at least 52 years old when she died in 1887. There was also a record of Henry Houkes buried in plot number 161 on 17 September 1877, aged 24. We can add more about these Box residents.
Parish clerk Margaret Carey was able to confirm that Annie Bohanna Houkes was buried in plot number 263 on 23 September 1887 recorded as aged 47. However, she was baptised by W H Ricketts-Bayley, Curate at Holy Trinity Church, Stapleton, Gloucestershire on 1 February 1835, so she must have been at least 52 years old when she died in 1887. There was also a record of Henry Houkes buried in plot number 161 on 17 September 1877, aged 24. We can add more about these Box residents.
Life of William George and Annie Bohanna Houkes
William George Houkes [1] was a complex man and his newspaper obituary only gives an outline of his life.[2] He was born at Hinton Charterhouse, Somerset, on 4 October 1842 and served an apprenticeship as a saddler before renting a business in Bradford-on-Avon next to The White Hart Inn in the centre of the town.[3] He later traded in Bath for 25 years. In 1893 he emigrated to USA and the Philadelphia Trade Directory that was produced in 1895 shows, at page 891: W G Houkes & Sons (William G, Ernest W and Arthur C) harness makers, trading at 2733 Poplar. Another of William’s sons, Herbert G Houkes, also listed as a harness maker, was trading at 2209 Callowhill. It seems that things did not turn out quite as William and his family had hoped because by the time of the 1901 census William, his wife Alice and his son Ernest William Houkes had returned to England and were again living in Box. William retired to Berry Cottage, Box Hill, where he became incapacitated and died on 19 August 1922. He was buried at Box Cemetery four days later on 23 August 1922.
Ann (sometimes Annie) Bohanna Lee was born at Stapleton, Gloucestershire in 1835. William and she married at Hinton Charterhouse on 18 September 1862, when he described himself as a saddler and harness maker. Their first child, Herbert George was born at Clutton, Bath on 14 October 1865. Their lives deteriorated when William was declared bankrupt at Frome on 8 October 1867, for several unpaid debts.[4] William didn’t turn up for the court hearing and was summonsed to surrender himself.[5] He started to pay off his debts in February 1868.[6]
Their second son, Albert Lee was born at Bradford-on-Avon on 4 January 1868, followed by son number three, Ernest William, also born at Bradford-on-Avon, on 22 September 1870. In 1871 the couple lived at the Market Place in the centre of Box, probably at number 1 The Parade. They employed a 13-year-old servant, Elizabeth Alexander, but were possibly living above their means. In August 1871 William was being sued for outstanding debts to George Tucker, shopkeeper, and in 1872 he was sued by James and Thomas Beavan, fellmongers (dealers in sheep skins), for £4.7s.[7]
William and Annie’s fourth son, Arthur Charles was born at Box in September 1873 and their fifth child, a daughter, Lilian Annie was born in 1875. Around this time, Annie and William bought Bellevue, Devizes Road, Box, where Annie died on 17 September 1887.[8] She was buried in Box Cemetery on 23 September.
William George Houkes [1] was a complex man and his newspaper obituary only gives an outline of his life.[2] He was born at Hinton Charterhouse, Somerset, on 4 October 1842 and served an apprenticeship as a saddler before renting a business in Bradford-on-Avon next to The White Hart Inn in the centre of the town.[3] He later traded in Bath for 25 years. In 1893 he emigrated to USA and the Philadelphia Trade Directory that was produced in 1895 shows, at page 891: W G Houkes & Sons (William G, Ernest W and Arthur C) harness makers, trading at 2733 Poplar. Another of William’s sons, Herbert G Houkes, also listed as a harness maker, was trading at 2209 Callowhill. It seems that things did not turn out quite as William and his family had hoped because by the time of the 1901 census William, his wife Alice and his son Ernest William Houkes had returned to England and were again living in Box. William retired to Berry Cottage, Box Hill, where he became incapacitated and died on 19 August 1922. He was buried at Box Cemetery four days later on 23 August 1922.
Ann (sometimes Annie) Bohanna Lee was born at Stapleton, Gloucestershire in 1835. William and she married at Hinton Charterhouse on 18 September 1862, when he described himself as a saddler and harness maker. Their first child, Herbert George was born at Clutton, Bath on 14 October 1865. Their lives deteriorated when William was declared bankrupt at Frome on 8 October 1867, for several unpaid debts.[4] William didn’t turn up for the court hearing and was summonsed to surrender himself.[5] He started to pay off his debts in February 1868.[6]
Their second son, Albert Lee was born at Bradford-on-Avon on 4 January 1868, followed by son number three, Ernest William, also born at Bradford-on-Avon, on 22 September 1870. In 1871 the couple lived at the Market Place in the centre of Box, probably at number 1 The Parade. They employed a 13-year-old servant, Elizabeth Alexander, but were possibly living above their means. In August 1871 William was being sued for outstanding debts to George Tucker, shopkeeper, and in 1872 he was sued by James and Thomas Beavan, fellmongers (dealers in sheep skins), for £4.7s.[7]
William and Annie’s fourth son, Arthur Charles was born at Box in September 1873 and their fifth child, a daughter, Lilian Annie was born in 1875. Around this time, Annie and William bought Bellevue, Devizes Road, Box, where Annie died on 17 September 1887.[8] She was buried in Box Cemetery on 23 September.
Village Gossip
In November 1892, William was involved in two troubling legal cases and was subject to considerable village gossip but the newspaper reports of events make it difficult to separate fact and rumour. These problems started in December 1890 when William, a widower, lived at Bellevue with his four sons and a daughter. At that time, he let part of the house to Walter Richard Shewring, a contractor, and his wife Ellen Norah Shewring.[9] On Christmas Day, Walter Shewring accused William of travelling with his wife to Bath and having an affair with her.[10] Both William and Ellen denied the accusation but the Shewring children aged 7 and 8 confirmed the train trip. When the case came to court, the jury granted a decree nisi in favour of Walter Shewring and gave him custody of the children.
These were difficult times for people who found their marriages to be unworkable, as in the case of the Shewrings. Divorce had only been moved out of the jurisdiction of ecclesiastical courts into civil jurisdiction in 1857, before which it had been a religious sacrament, rather than a statement of fact. The 1857 law allowed only men to file for divorce and only on the grounds of adultery by their wife. To facilitate separation there are frequent cases of arranged adultery to comply with the law. But public opinion was still very censorious about infidelities by wives, especially one who had confessed to being an alcoholic as in the case of Ellen Shewring.
A few days later on 15 November 1892, William was involved in another legal case, this time in the coroner’s court relating to the death of Frederick Sheppard (1851-1892), a common labourer, employed by the Highways Authority on road maintenance.[11] It was a very high-profile case with the foreman of the jury being JH Fry of Hazelbury (the first chairman of the Box Parish Council). The case hints at some of the gossip circulating in the village and particularly in the Lower Rudoe area where Frederick and his wife Alice Sheppard (1851-1931 née Long) lived. The gossip harked back to the Shewring case where both William and Alice had appeared as witnesses: considerable interest was manifested in the case locally with rumours of a disagreement between the deceased and his wife as a result of this divorce case. Several questions were asked by the jury as to her leaving her husband to go to London as a witness; she was not subpoenaed but thought she must go; and the jury had evidently heard a little gossip but the coroner ruled that it was not relevant to the case.
The facts of Frederick’s death are confusing but appear to be that some days earlier Frederick had been examined by Dr JP Martin who diagnosed bruised ribs and Frederick took time off work. On the Tuesday night he took his wife Alice to the railway station and left her in the charge of William for them to travel together to London for the Shewring trial. They both returned on the Thursday night and Frederick made tea for them. Later probably on the day of Frederick’s death, William went to see Frederick to tell him about the Shewring trial (no mention of Alice), but he found him dead, laid on the ground. At this point in the trial, William proffered the information that He was on friendly terms with the deceased and had never had a quarrel with him. This caused an issue with the jury and the coroner had to interpose, reminding them to ignore gossip and confine themselves to relevant details. Dr Martin gave his view that the deceased had suffocated while in an epileptic fit. The jury returned a similar verdict.
In November 1892, William was involved in two troubling legal cases and was subject to considerable village gossip but the newspaper reports of events make it difficult to separate fact and rumour. These problems started in December 1890 when William, a widower, lived at Bellevue with his four sons and a daughter. At that time, he let part of the house to Walter Richard Shewring, a contractor, and his wife Ellen Norah Shewring.[9] On Christmas Day, Walter Shewring accused William of travelling with his wife to Bath and having an affair with her.[10] Both William and Ellen denied the accusation but the Shewring children aged 7 and 8 confirmed the train trip. When the case came to court, the jury granted a decree nisi in favour of Walter Shewring and gave him custody of the children.
These were difficult times for people who found their marriages to be unworkable, as in the case of the Shewrings. Divorce had only been moved out of the jurisdiction of ecclesiastical courts into civil jurisdiction in 1857, before which it had been a religious sacrament, rather than a statement of fact. The 1857 law allowed only men to file for divorce and only on the grounds of adultery by their wife. To facilitate separation there are frequent cases of arranged adultery to comply with the law. But public opinion was still very censorious about infidelities by wives, especially one who had confessed to being an alcoholic as in the case of Ellen Shewring.
A few days later on 15 November 1892, William was involved in another legal case, this time in the coroner’s court relating to the death of Frederick Sheppard (1851-1892), a common labourer, employed by the Highways Authority on road maintenance.[11] It was a very high-profile case with the foreman of the jury being JH Fry of Hazelbury (the first chairman of the Box Parish Council). The case hints at some of the gossip circulating in the village and particularly in the Lower Rudoe area where Frederick and his wife Alice Sheppard (1851-1931 née Long) lived. The gossip harked back to the Shewring case where both William and Alice had appeared as witnesses: considerable interest was manifested in the case locally with rumours of a disagreement between the deceased and his wife as a result of this divorce case. Several questions were asked by the jury as to her leaving her husband to go to London as a witness; she was not subpoenaed but thought she must go; and the jury had evidently heard a little gossip but the coroner ruled that it was not relevant to the case.
The facts of Frederick’s death are confusing but appear to be that some days earlier Frederick had been examined by Dr JP Martin who diagnosed bruised ribs and Frederick took time off work. On the Tuesday night he took his wife Alice to the railway station and left her in the charge of William for them to travel together to London for the Shewring trial. They both returned on the Thursday night and Frederick made tea for them. Later probably on the day of Frederick’s death, William went to see Frederick to tell him about the Shewring trial (no mention of Alice), but he found him dead, laid on the ground. At this point in the trial, William proffered the information that He was on friendly terms with the deceased and had never had a quarrel with him. This caused an issue with the jury and the coroner had to interpose, reminding them to ignore gossip and confine themselves to relevant details. Dr Martin gave his view that the deceased had suffocated while in an epileptic fit. The jury returned a similar verdict.
William’s Second Marriage to Alice Sheppard
With hindsight, we know that William and Alice married on 24 August 1893 at Bath, 10 months after Frederick’s death. Immediately after the marriage William and Alice emigrated to Philadelphia, USA where they arrived on 11 October 1893 and were registered as immigrants. William’s children Ernest, Arthur and Lilian emigrated with them, as did Alice’s youngest children, Bertie and Elsie. William’s elder sons, Herbert and Albert had both emigrated to North America in 1891, Herbert was living in Philadelphia and Albert had briefly settled in Ontario, before moving to Manitoba.
Some of the family decided to settle permanently in the USA but Lilian soon returned to England and in 1897 she married Gordon Samuel Harris (1873-1901) at Bath. William, Alice and Ernest also returned to England and in 1901 they were living at Yatton Keynell. In 1905 William gave evidence as an expert witness in a case involving cruelty to a horse by a carter, George Chandler who used an unfit animal to haul loads of bricks.[12] By 1911 William and Alice were renting premises at Clift House, Box Hill. Clift House was occupied by the Bath Stone Firms as their headquarters (who were trying to sell it during a recession in the stone trade). In 1911 William George Houkes, saddler and harness maker, and his second wife Alice were occupying part of the building together with William's grandchildren Angus and Elsie Harris, the children of William’s daughter, Lilian.
William died at Berry Cottages, Box Hill at the age of 79 in 1922.[13] He was described as a well-known saddler and harness-maker from Bath, and the Berry Cottages area was convenient for him to keep animals, with a horse trough nearby. He had only lived there for a short time after 1920. Alice put a notice in the local newspaper that William had passed peacefully away in his 82nd year (sic) and she lived on until 1931.[14]
With hindsight, we know that William and Alice married on 24 August 1893 at Bath, 10 months after Frederick’s death. Immediately after the marriage William and Alice emigrated to Philadelphia, USA where they arrived on 11 October 1893 and were registered as immigrants. William’s children Ernest, Arthur and Lilian emigrated with them, as did Alice’s youngest children, Bertie and Elsie. William’s elder sons, Herbert and Albert had both emigrated to North America in 1891, Herbert was living in Philadelphia and Albert had briefly settled in Ontario, before moving to Manitoba.
Some of the family decided to settle permanently in the USA but Lilian soon returned to England and in 1897 she married Gordon Samuel Harris (1873-1901) at Bath. William, Alice and Ernest also returned to England and in 1901 they were living at Yatton Keynell. In 1905 William gave evidence as an expert witness in a case involving cruelty to a horse by a carter, George Chandler who used an unfit animal to haul loads of bricks.[12] By 1911 William and Alice were renting premises at Clift House, Box Hill. Clift House was occupied by the Bath Stone Firms as their headquarters (who were trying to sell it during a recession in the stone trade). In 1911 William George Houkes, saddler and harness maker, and his second wife Alice were occupying part of the building together with William's grandchildren Angus and Elsie Harris, the children of William’s daughter, Lilian.
William died at Berry Cottages, Box Hill at the age of 79 in 1922.[13] He was described as a well-known saddler and harness-maker from Bath, and the Berry Cottages area was convenient for him to keep animals, with a horse trough nearby. He had only lived there for a short time after 1920. Alice put a notice in the local newspaper that William had passed peacefully away in his 82nd year (sic) and she lived on until 1931.[14]
Berry Cottages where William died in 1922 (courtesy Carol Payne)
William’s funeral was at the chapel in Box Cemetery conducted by Rev Philip William Madge from the Box United Free Methodist Chapel, Box Hill. William’s first wife, Annie Bohanna Houkes had also been buried at Box Cemetery and her service was conducted by a Dissenter, John Foulder. These weren’t the only family members who did not advocate the established church as William’s son, Ernest William Houkes and his wife, Alice Louise Wilcox Houkes nee Archer) were buried in the graveyard of Atworth Independent Church.
Henry James Houkes
Another entry in the Box Cemetery records is for Henry James Sargent Houkes (1853-1877). He was born at Monkton Combe, Bath on 6 April 1853 and was one of William George Houkes’ younger brothers. On 5 March 1872 Henry married Barbara Annie Hayball (1851-76) at the Zion Chapel, Bradford-on-Avon. Barbara was the middle child of eight from Chard, Somerset where her father William Hayball was a wheelwright and carpenter. Henry and Barbara’s only child, a daughter named Florence Annie was born at Bradford-on-Avon in 1873. Henry was running a harness-making business in the town, with a shop (possibly in the same premises formerly rented by his brother William George).[15] A young lad, George Owen stole a brass bell and stand from the shop which was subsequently damaged. George Owen’s mother paid Henry compensation money to avoid the prosecution, which Henry accepted before later changing his mind. The court went easy on George because of his youth and Henry’s change of heart in the prosecution.
Henry was predeceased by his wife, Barbara Annie in 1876; she was aged just 25. Henry died from consumption (tuberculosis)
a year later, aged 24, leaving their infant daughter, Florence Annie as an orphan. Barbara Annie was buried at Lyncombe and Widcombe & St James Cemetery, Bath on 13 January 1876. Henry was buried at Box Cemetery on 17 September 1877, possibly in a plot paid for by his brother, William.
Another entry in the Box Cemetery records is for Henry James Sargent Houkes (1853-1877). He was born at Monkton Combe, Bath on 6 April 1853 and was one of William George Houkes’ younger brothers. On 5 March 1872 Henry married Barbara Annie Hayball (1851-76) at the Zion Chapel, Bradford-on-Avon. Barbara was the middle child of eight from Chard, Somerset where her father William Hayball was a wheelwright and carpenter. Henry and Barbara’s only child, a daughter named Florence Annie was born at Bradford-on-Avon in 1873. Henry was running a harness-making business in the town, with a shop (possibly in the same premises formerly rented by his brother William George).[15] A young lad, George Owen stole a brass bell and stand from the shop which was subsequently damaged. George Owen’s mother paid Henry compensation money to avoid the prosecution, which Henry accepted before later changing his mind. The court went easy on George because of his youth and Henry’s change of heart in the prosecution.
Henry was predeceased by his wife, Barbara Annie in 1876; she was aged just 25. Henry died from consumption (tuberculosis)
a year later, aged 24, leaving their infant daughter, Florence Annie as an orphan. Barbara Annie was buried at Lyncombe and Widcombe & St James Cemetery, Bath on 13 January 1876. Henry was buried at Box Cemetery on 17 September 1877, possibly in a plot paid for by his brother, William.
Conclusion
It is difficult to make a judgement about William George Houkes. The local newspapers were generous in their obituary and showed more compassion than the coroner’s jury in Frederick Sheppard’s inquest. William’s loyalty to his children and step children was generous; as was his support of his brother Henry after the death of his wife. He also cared for his grandchildren Elsie and Angus Harris when his daughter Lilian was a single parent in 1901. William’s dealings with horse traders and his bankruptcy are less attractive aspects of his character.
On balance, we should perhaps attribute some of the problems in his life to the difficulty of a saddle-making business at a time when fewer people could afford horses and those who could were turning towards early motor cars. Perhaps his life should be viewed in the same way as the tragedy of the early death of his brother Henry and his sister-in-law Barbara Annie, which left a small child William's niece without either parent; as Geoff Forshaw said: “It is sad that Henry and Barbara died so young, leaving their orphan daughter Florence Annie Houkes, who was born about February 1873”.
It is difficult to make a judgement about William George Houkes. The local newspapers were generous in their obituary and showed more compassion than the coroner’s jury in Frederick Sheppard’s inquest. William’s loyalty to his children and step children was generous; as was his support of his brother Henry after the death of his wife. He also cared for his grandchildren Elsie and Angus Harris when his daughter Lilian was a single parent in 1901. William’s dealings with horse traders and his bankruptcy are less attractive aspects of his character.
On balance, we should perhaps attribute some of the problems in his life to the difficulty of a saddle-making business at a time when fewer people could afford horses and those who could were turning towards early motor cars. Perhaps his life should be viewed in the same way as the tragedy of the early death of his brother Henry and his sister-in-law Barbara Annie, which left a small child William's niece without either parent; as Geoff Forshaw said: “It is sad that Henry and Barbara died so young, leaving their orphan daughter Florence Annie Houkes, who was born about February 1873”.
Family Tree
William George Houkes (4 October 1842-19 August 1922), saddler and harness maker, married twice:
First to Ann (Annie) Bohanna Lee (1835-1887). Children:
William George's second marriage was to Alice Long, (1851-1931) from Wraxall in 1893 at Bath. She was the widow of Frederick Sheppard.
William George Houkes (4 October 1842-19 August 1922), saddler and harness maker, married twice:
First to Ann (Annie) Bohanna Lee (1835-1887). Children:
- Herbert George (1865-1930) also a saddler married Mary Ann Yates (1869-1902) from Winscombe, Gloucestershire in 1891. He emigrated to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States where he died on 19 October 1930. Herbert and Mary had two children; the first was a stillborn boy, the second was William James.
- Albert Lee (1868-1942), stonecutter and marble and granite dealer, married Amelia Charlotte Harland (1875-1940) from Sydenham, Kent in 1894. He emigrated first to Australia on a £10 ticket and later to Canada. He died at White Rock, British Columbia on 1 December 1942. Albert and Amelia had five children, Lillian May, Arthur Edward, Gladys Annie, Alberta Lee and William Russell.
- Ernest William (1870-1935), saddler and harness maker, married Alice Louise (or Louisa) Willcockson (or Wilcox) Archer (1878-1940) from Hawkesbury, Gloucestershire in 1902. They lived at Atworth. Alice died at the foot of the steps of the Box War Memorial on 30 September 1940 after visiting her son Lionel George Houkes and his wife Alice Beatrice, who were living at 1 Princes Buildings, Box.[16] She had gone to catch a bus and somehow suffered a fractured skull. Her body was found the next morning by a cyclist. Ernest died at home, 2 Lion Place, Atworth on 24 March 1935. Ernest and Alice had eight children, Dorothy Lilian May, Arthur Ivor Ernest Victor, Cecil Herbert William, Lionel George, Violet Ethel, Margaret Frances, Albert Reginald and Joan Lee.
- Arthur Charles (1873-1904), saddler and harness maker, married Louise Maria Barth (1860-1916) from Hüffenhardt, Mosbach, Baden, Germany in 1895. They lived in Philadelphia. Arthur died there on 12 May 1904 and Louise died on 23 June 1916. Arthur and Louise had three children, Arthur, Wilhelmina “Minnie” Louise and Rudolph William (sometimes Wilhelm).
- Lilian Annie (1876-1941) married Gordon Samuel Harris (1873-1901) from Scotland in 1897 and had two children with him, Elsie and Angus Gordon. Gordon Samuel Harris died at Chipping Sodbury in 1901. In 1913 Lilian married Joseph Schilling (1875-1951) a pastry chef from Hornissen, Aargon, Switzerland at Bath. Lilian and Joseph had three daughters, Hermine Josephine, Lilian Georgina and Alice Marguerite. Lilian died at home, 16 Beckford Gardens, Bath on 27 April 1941.
William George's second marriage was to Alice Long, (1851-1931) from Wraxall in 1893 at Bath. She was the widow of Frederick Sheppard.
References
[1] Pronounced “Hoax”
[2] The Bath Chronicle, 19 August 1922
[3] The Bath Chronicle, 6 August 1868
[4] The London Gazette, 15 and 25 October 1867 and Frome Times, 22 January 1868
[5] The Frome Times, 9 October 1867
[6] The Morning Herald, 29 February 1868
[7] The Trowbridge Chronicle, 19 August 1871 and 8 June 1872
[8] The Bath Chronicle, 22 September 1887
[9] The Trowbridge Chronicle, 12 November 1892
[10] The Bristol Mercury, 11 November 1892
[11] The Bristol Mercury, 16 November 1892
[12] The Bath Chronicle, 13 July 1905
[13] Taunton Courier and Western Advertiser, 30 August 1922
[14] The Bath Chronicle, 19 August 1922
[15] The Trowbridge Chronicle, 8 March 1873
[16] Wiltshire Times and Trowbridge Advertiser, 5 October 1940
[1] Pronounced “Hoax”
[2] The Bath Chronicle, 19 August 1922
[3] The Bath Chronicle, 6 August 1868
[4] The London Gazette, 15 and 25 October 1867 and Frome Times, 22 January 1868
[5] The Frome Times, 9 October 1867
[6] The Morning Herald, 29 February 1868
[7] The Trowbridge Chronicle, 19 August 1871 and 8 June 1872
[8] The Bath Chronicle, 22 September 1887
[9] The Trowbridge Chronicle, 12 November 1892
[10] The Bristol Mercury, 11 November 1892
[11] The Bristol Mercury, 16 November 1892
[12] The Bath Chronicle, 13 July 1905
[13] Taunton Courier and Western Advertiser, 30 August 1922
[14] The Bath Chronicle, 19 August 1922
[15] The Trowbridge Chronicle, 8 March 1873
[16] Wiltshire Times and Trowbridge Advertiser, 5 October 1940