Sawyer Family: Builders at Box Village Text and Photos Hugh Sawyer February 2020
Florence Amy and husband Harry Miller, Muriel Sawyer and grandfather John Hardy
It’s strange that architects, designers and property owners usually take the credit for creating interesting houses. The people who actually build them are deemed to be just artisan tradesmen following instructions but that understates the importance of the construction process. This is true for the Hardy family who are renowned for developing their land at Valens Terrace and have a house named after them on the High Street. But it was their in-laws, the Sawyer family, who did the construction work at Valens and many more properties in Box, leaving a fabulous statement of construction creativity. Their descendant, Hugh Sawyer, tells us more about his Sawyer ancestors.
John William Sawyer
The Sawyer family came to Box in the 1860s, though they were already local to the area. John William Sawyer (1841-92) came from a long line of Sawyers at nearby Atworth village. John’s wife Maria (nee Taylor) was born just down the road in Shaw. These were my great-grandparents, who moved to Box with their children, Kate and Georgina, and were shown in the 1871 census to be living at what was then known as The Lamb Inn on the Devizes Road. They were still living there in the 1881 census, by then with four more children: William, Francis (known as Frank), Frances and Albert.
The Sawyer family came to Box in the 1860s, though they were already local to the area. John William Sawyer (1841-92) came from a long line of Sawyers at nearby Atworth village. John’s wife Maria (nee Taylor) was born just down the road in Shaw. These were my great-grandparents, who moved to Box with their children, Kate and Georgina, and were shown in the 1871 census to be living at what was then known as The Lamb Inn on the Devizes Road. They were still living there in the 1881 census, by then with four more children: William, Francis (known as Frank), Frances and Albert.
John Hardy
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Frank Sawyer
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John and Maria’s daughters all became tailors and dressmakers. Kate married a farmer’s son from Trimnells Farm, Colerne, a haulier by the name of William James Perren. They probably met after the Perrens had moved to Box Mill House (as recorded in the 1881 census) and, after they married, they lived at The Glen, which was next-door to brother Frank at 1 Mead House. Georgina and Frances never married.
Back row: Albert, Hubert, Harry Miller, Victor Rumming, Front row: ?, Doris, Amy, Muriel
By trade, John William Sawyer was a stonemason and builder and he passed on his skills to his three sons: William, Frank and Albert. William and Albert lived next door to each other in 2 and 3 Bath Road, Box. William (1867-1947) married Eva Webb (1874-1956) from Caldy Island, Pembrokeshire. There is a picture of him with the Fire Fighters of Box. Albert (1875-1959) married Clara Thomas (1874-1950) from Leeds, Yorkshire. Frank, my grandfather, was responsible for the building of Valens Terrace for his father-in-law, and moved in to No 2 initially, then No 1 when it was later completed.
Albert Sawyer and Clara (nee Thomas)
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William Sawyer
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F Sawyer and Sons
John William’s second son, Frank Sawyer (1869-1933), was my grandfather, who married Elizabeth Annie Hardy, daughter of John Hardy, known for his ownership of the land at Valens Terrace. At the time, they lived in Frogmore House in the Market Place and in the 1901 census are shown to be living at 1 Mead House, opposite (what was) The Bear Inn, now called The Bengal Bear. This was their workshop, which seems to be in the High Street opposite Mead Villas (you can almost read the name plaque!).
John William’s second son, Frank Sawyer (1869-1933), was my grandfather, who married Elizabeth Annie Hardy, daughter of John Hardy, known for his ownership of the land at Valens Terrace. At the time, they lived in Frogmore House in the Market Place and in the 1901 census are shown to be living at 1 Mead House, opposite (what was) The Bear Inn, now called The Bengal Bear. This was their workshop, which seems to be in the High Street opposite Mead Villas (you can almost read the name plaque!).
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Frank and Elizabeth had six children: Florence Amy, Herbert John, Muriel Edith, Doris Annie, Gilbert Frank and Hubert Hardy.
Elizabeth Annie at Valens Terrace, with children and grandchildren
Frank continued the family profession by starting a building company in Box with two of his own sons Gilbert and Hubert (my father) trading as F Sawyer & Sons. Hubert Hardy Sawyer returned to Box after the war, becoming a builder involved in the massive reconstruction of the village with 64 council houses at Bargates and Brunel Way. Hubert was the foreman and supervised considerable sub-contracting work for RJ Dyer, Box builder.
My uncle Gilbert was a talented stonemason who lived on Quarry Hill. Gilbert married Phyllis Johnson who was the daughter of a gardener from Wakefield in Yorkshire. They had two sons who, sadly, both had short lives. At age 4, tragedy struck Peter (1937-42) who fell on the steps leading down to their cottage and fatally hit his head. Many years later, Robin (1944-74), who was a keen footballer, died from a heart attack (aged 30) while playing for Box Rover Reserves on the Westbury pitch.
My uncle Gilbert was a talented stonemason who lived on Quarry Hill. Gilbert married Phyllis Johnson who was the daughter of a gardener from Wakefield in Yorkshire. They had two sons who, sadly, both had short lives. At age 4, tragedy struck Peter (1937-42) who fell on the steps leading down to their cottage and fatally hit his head. Many years later, Robin (1944-74), who was a keen footballer, died from a heart attack (aged 30) while playing for Box Rover Reserves on the Westbury pitch.
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This is Uncle Gilbert when younger, and at age 74 on Quarry Hill. Notice his Celtic knot carving on the wall, which I later made a replica of when I took up stone masonry in my retirement.
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Other Children Two of Frank and Elizabeth’s other children stayed in the village. In 1926 Florence married Harry Miller, who ran a coach company on the High Street in Box, still remembered in the house called Millers. The Miller family had renovated the workshop, garage and improved the dwelling house there in 1922, which was called Belle Vue, Box High Street, in 1939.[1] Doris married Harry Greenwood Barnett, a local stonemason from Box Hill in September 1935. Their wedding was something of a village event and well-supported by their relatives, including nephews and nieces.[2] In 1939 they lived at 1 Box Hill Cottages. |
Frank with the first five of his children (missing Hubert): Left to right - Herbert, Doris, Gilbert, Amy and Muriel
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The two other children moved out of Box. Herbert married Nora Wright and they moved to Kirkby-in-Ashfield in Nottingham, where he became a railway shunter. Muriel married Victor Rumming, a general labourer (heavy worker) in 1939 in the Bath Water Works. They lived in Bath.
Conclusion
I had a great time growing up in Box and, although I now live a long way off in West Wales, I love coming back to see how things have changed, and reviving old memories. Despite John William having so many descendants, none remain in the village after 150-odd years since his arrival in Box! All that is left of the Sawyer family are the buildings they created.
Family Tree
John William Sawyer (1841-92) from Atworth married Maria Taylor (1835-1915) from Shaw. Children:
Kate married William James Perren (1858-1899), a farmer’s son from Trimnells Farm, Colerne, who was a haulier;
Georgina (1864-1940)did not marry;
William (1867-1947) married Eva Webb (1874-1956) from Caldy Island, Pembrokeshire;
Francis (known as Frank) (1871-1960);
Frances did not marry; and
Albert (1875-1959) married Clara Thomas (1874-1950) from Leeds, Yorkshire.
Frank Sawyer (1869-1933) married Elizabeth Annie Hardy. Children:
Florence Amy (8 May 1896-1979) marries Harry Miller (1895-1962) on 22 February 1926;
Herbert John (1898-1960) married Nora Evelyn Wright (1904-1976) on 10 October 1936;
Muriel Edith (10 September 1899 - 1985) married Victor Belmont Rumming (7 February 1900 - 1981) of Bath;
Doris Annie (12 May 1903 - 85) married Harry Greenwood Barnett (15 August 1904-1967);
Gilbert Frank (1904-82); and
Hubert Hardy (1906-85).
Gilbert Frank Sawyer (9 October 1905 - 1982), a builder & contractor, married Phyllis May Johnson (28 May 1908 - 1971) in 1937. Children:
Peter (1937-42); and
Robin (1944-74).
Conclusion
I had a great time growing up in Box and, although I now live a long way off in West Wales, I love coming back to see how things have changed, and reviving old memories. Despite John William having so many descendants, none remain in the village after 150-odd years since his arrival in Box! All that is left of the Sawyer family are the buildings they created.
Family Tree
John William Sawyer (1841-92) from Atworth married Maria Taylor (1835-1915) from Shaw. Children:
Kate married William James Perren (1858-1899), a farmer’s son from Trimnells Farm, Colerne, who was a haulier;
Georgina (1864-1940)did not marry;
William (1867-1947) married Eva Webb (1874-1956) from Caldy Island, Pembrokeshire;
Francis (known as Frank) (1871-1960);
Frances did not marry; and
Albert (1875-1959) married Clara Thomas (1874-1950) from Leeds, Yorkshire.
Frank Sawyer (1869-1933) married Elizabeth Annie Hardy. Children:
Florence Amy (8 May 1896-1979) marries Harry Miller (1895-1962) on 22 February 1926;
Herbert John (1898-1960) married Nora Evelyn Wright (1904-1976) on 10 October 1936;
Muriel Edith (10 September 1899 - 1985) married Victor Belmont Rumming (7 February 1900 - 1981) of Bath;
Doris Annie (12 May 1903 - 85) married Harry Greenwood Barnett (15 August 1904-1967);
Gilbert Frank (1904-82); and
Hubert Hardy (1906-85).
Gilbert Frank Sawyer (9 October 1905 - 1982), a builder & contractor, married Phyllis May Johnson (28 May 1908 - 1971) in 1937. Children:
Peter (1937-42); and
Robin (1944-74).
References
[1] Wiltshire Times and Trowbridge Advertiser, 4 February 1922
[2] Wiltshire Times and Trowbridge Advertiser, 14 September 1935
[1] Wiltshire Times and Trowbridge Advertiser, 4 February 1922
[2] Wiltshire Times and Trowbridge Advertiser, 14 September 1935