Smith Family around Box Research and photos Brenda Long and Geoffrey Martin May 2019
The wedding of Dorothy Evelyn Sheppard and Walter Yates in Devizes in 1928. Why was it in the Smith family photo album? (Courtesy also Janet Charles)
Most of us say, “if only we had asked our parents for more information” when reviewing old family photographs. Sometimes it is even worse when the photos are lost, missing or destroyed. Brenda Long was in this position until Geoffrey Martin saw her article on the website about the Smith Family at the Old Jockey and produced these marvellous family details of their lives in the village and outside in the years around the First World War.
The Smith family had a copy of the headline photograph but didn’t know its significance. It wasn’t taken in Box and the people involved were unknown for many years, although we now know it was taken in Devizes in 1928 at the wedding of Dorothy Evelyn Sheppard. We believe it was a reunion of the Smith and Sheppard families who together had shared property at the Old Jockey House in the Edwardian period. It is believed that Charles and Anna Smith are seated on the left.
The Smith family had a copy of the headline photograph but didn’t know its significance. It wasn’t taken in Box and the people involved were unknown for many years, although we now know it was taken in Devizes in 1928 at the wedding of Dorothy Evelyn Sheppard. We believe it was a reunion of the Smith and Sheppard families who together had shared property at the Old Jockey House in the Edwardian period. It is believed that Charles and Anna Smith are seated on the left.
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Family Life in Box My grandfather, Albert Charles Smith, married Anna Sheppard in Box in 1887. Arthur was a quarry labourer and had to chase work wherever it was available. Anna Sheppard lived at Blue Vein, Box, and in 1887, they set up home in Box where their first two children were born. In the 1891 census they were living at High Street, Bathford, then back again to Box before December that year, where their other children were born. This was possible because they rented their accommodation and had comparatively few possessions. As the family increased, moving became more difficult and they settled at The Old Jockey, Box, for over a decade. |
Anna and Charles and daughter Ethel in 1931
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Anna in 1948
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The family never had much money and were overcrowded in the Old Jockey House. By 1901 their first child, thirteen-year-old Bertha, was working away from home as a domestic servant for Henry Osmond and his wife, general furnishing shopkeepers, at Pickwick, Corsham.
They all left Box in 1911 moving to Little Chalfield, Holt where Albert worked as a shepherd. Some of the children, including daughter Winnie, went to South Wraxall and later Monkton Farleigh Church of England Schools but they didn’t settle and moved again in 1912 to larger accommodation in Bath, living in a house called Daisy Bank, Lyncombe Vale. Anna & Charles moved from Daisy Bank to The Oval between 1922 and 1930.
They all left Box in 1911 moving to Little Chalfield, Holt where Albert worked as a shepherd. Some of the children, including daughter Winnie, went to South Wraxall and later Monkton Farleigh Church of England Schools but they didn’t settle and moved again in 1912 to larger accommodation in Bath, living in a house called Daisy Bank, Lyncombe Vale. Anna & Charles moved from Daisy Bank to The Oval between 1922 and 1930.
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Above left: Anna with her daughters Winnie, Bertha, Ethel and Lily at the Oval, Bath, in 1935. Above right: Daisy Bank, Bath
The Daughters
Albert and Anna had ten children, four girls and six sons. Little is known about the eldest daughter, Bertha, except that she moved to Cardiff. We know a lot about the second girl, Ethel. Ethel worked as a domestic at Monkton Farleigh Manor House until 1911, and while employed there lived at The Lodge, Farleigh Wick. Ethel was an unmarried mother, seen below left with her daughter Gladys in 1928. Nobody knows who the father was and Ethel later married William J Tuck in Islington in 1916. They lived in the City of Westminster, London, in 1939 where Bill worked as an hotel plateman and Ethel as cleaner and laundry woman. They lived for many years at various addresses in London.
Albert and Anna had ten children, four girls and six sons. Little is known about the eldest daughter, Bertha, except that she moved to Cardiff. We know a lot about the second girl, Ethel. Ethel worked as a domestic at Monkton Farleigh Manor House until 1911, and while employed there lived at The Lodge, Farleigh Wick. Ethel was an unmarried mother, seen below left with her daughter Gladys in 1928. Nobody knows who the father was and Ethel later married William J Tuck in Islington in 1916. They lived in the City of Westminster, London, in 1939 where Bill worked as an hotel plateman and Ethel as cleaner and laundry woman. They lived for many years at various addresses in London.
Ethel and Gladys in 1928
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Gladys, Ethel and Bill Tuck at Yonge Park, Finsbury Park, London in 1954
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They moved to the west country after retirement and lived at Longsplatt, nearby the Old Jockey, although her actual address was 20, Everley Road, Hawthorn, Rudloe on 21 May 1963. They both died in the same year whilst Gladys lived on for 40 years at
3, Canal Close, Wilcot, Pewsey.
Another daughter, Lilian, was a seamstress, who lived at 9 Sydney Place, Bath. She preferred wearing her own, rather bohemian clothes (seen below in about 1934 and right with her mother Anna in Bath). Like her older brother Francis, Lily married into the Probert family when she wed Harry L Probert in Bridgend in 1922.
3, Canal Close, Wilcot, Pewsey.
Another daughter, Lilian, was a seamstress, who lived at 9 Sydney Place, Bath. She preferred wearing her own, rather bohemian clothes (seen below in about 1934 and right with her mother Anna in Bath). Like her older brother Francis, Lily married into the Probert family when she wed Harry L Probert in Bridgend in 1922.
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Laurie, Harry and Lily’s son, became a well-known, master potter at Combe Hay Manor, Bath, whose work included finely-sculptured Roman reproduction ceramics.[1] He died some thirty years ago.
Winifred Elsie (b 27 July 1903) Winifred married Frederick Oswald Powell in 1940 at St Luke, Lyncombe. They lived at 6a, Hanover Street, Bath.
Below left: and Below Right: .
Winifred Elsie (b 27 July 1903) Winifred married Frederick Oswald Powell in 1940 at St Luke, Lyncombe. They lived at 6a, Hanover Street, Bath.
Below left: and Below Right: .
Winnie as a young lady
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With Fred in Bath
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The Sons
The oldest son, Frank (Francis Thomas) worked as a chauffeur at Monkton Farleigh Manor House until 1911. He married Florence Probert in 1914 and he was employed as a road transport contractor in Bath where they lived at 2 Belgrave Road with children Francis (b 14 April 1916) and Ronald J (b 19 December 1918), both of whom were petrol van drivers in 1939. Frank’s skill as a lorry driver did him no good when he was fined 15s for leaving his car to as an obstruction in the city in 1948.[2]
The oldest son, Frank (Francis Thomas) worked as a chauffeur at Monkton Farleigh Manor House until 1911. He married Florence Probert in 1914 and he was employed as a road transport contractor in Bath where they lived at 2 Belgrave Road with children Francis (b 14 April 1916) and Ronald J (b 19 December 1918), both of whom were petrol van drivers in 1939. Frank’s skill as a lorry driver did him no good when he was fined 15s for leaving his car to as an obstruction in the city in 1948.[2]
Below left: Vic; Middle Bert; and Right: Bert and Bertha on their marriage 11 September 1923
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Several of the boys served in the First World War, including Albert who fought in the Somerset Light Infantry (below left) and Ethel’s husband Bill Tuck (below right). Albert (known as Bert) later worked as a guard on the Somerset & Dorset Railway. He married Bertha West (1901-1993). They had a son called Brynly (b 1929).
Nothing is known about George except that he moved to Epsom and you can read more about Victor and Ivor in the article Smith Family at Old Jockey.
Nothing is known about George except that he moved to Epsom and you can read more about Victor and Ivor in the article Smith Family at Old Jockey.
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After ten years at The Old Jockey, the family sought work outside the village and the relocation of people caused by the Second World War ended their association with Box. They left the record of their presence to their descendants through the births of their children and their photograph album.
Brenda’s Visit to Box, April 2019
When Brenda first contacted us she said, “I have no surviving relatives that I am aware of to help fill in my knowledge of my family at Old Jockey, Box". By the time that she and her husband Chris came to visit the area, Geoffrey Martin had sent her these marvellous photographs and we were able to trace the houses her ancestors lived in.
Seen below Blue Vein Farm in 1912; Brenda outside Old Jockey House; and Brenda and Chris outside Daisy Bank, Bath.
When Brenda first contacted us she said, “I have no surviving relatives that I am aware of to help fill in my knowledge of my family at Old Jockey, Box". By the time that she and her husband Chris came to visit the area, Geoffrey Martin had sent her these marvellous photographs and we were able to trace the houses her ancestors lived in.
Seen below Blue Vein Farm in 1912; Brenda outside Old Jockey House; and Brenda and Chris outside Daisy Bank, Bath.
References
[1] Examples of his work are shown at https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/laurie-probert-studio-pottery-roman-273778557
[2] Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette, 1 January 1949
[1] Examples of his work are shown at https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/laurie-probert-studio-pottery-roman-273778557
[2] Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette, 1 January 1949