Sokell Family Alan Payne October 2023
Five of the Sokell sisters, left to right Lena (Ellen), Frank Richards, Mary, Frank Jeffery, Muriel (who was known us as Bobby), Henrietta (Hetty) and Edith. (Courtesy Simon Brown)
The Sokell family were employed by the railways for generations. Robert Sokell was a GWR engine driver who lived at
2 Bellevue, Box in the years around the First World War. He was not a local man. He was born at Dudley and went to school in Kidderminster. In 1893 he married Emily Sarah Duffield (1872-21 October 1926) in Kidderminster and, over the years, they had eight children. In the early years of the twentieth century, Robert took a position as engine driver at Newnham-on-Severn, near Cinderford, Gloucestershire.
The railways prided themselves at facilitating the movement of employees. Railway drivers were needed throughout Britain and the job enabled people to move anywhere if the job suited them better. The railway line from Gloucester to Newport was comparatively quiet but it did have a long tunnel and probably Robert’s experience in managing that encouraged him to transfer to Box. Any increase in salary with GWR offered him sufficient income to afford a decent house in Box.
2 Bellevue, Box in the years around the First World War. He was not a local man. He was born at Dudley and went to school in Kidderminster. In 1893 he married Emily Sarah Duffield (1872-21 October 1926) in Kidderminster and, over the years, they had eight children. In the early years of the twentieth century, Robert took a position as engine driver at Newnham-on-Severn, near Cinderford, Gloucestershire.
The railways prided themselves at facilitating the movement of employees. Railway drivers were needed throughout Britain and the job enabled people to move anywhere if the job suited them better. The railway line from Gloucester to Newport was comparatively quiet but it did have a long tunnel and probably Robert’s experience in managing that encouraged him to transfer to Box. Any increase in salary with GWR offered him sufficient income to afford a decent house in Box.
Sokell Family
To understand the Sokell family before they moved to Box, we need to look at the story of John Sokell, great grandfather of Robert. John Sokell was born in 1781 in Barnsley and was a handloom weaver in 1851 along with his wife Mary (1781-), a weaver’s wife. Although in their 70s (and just two years before John’s death) they were both still working and looking after their small grandchildren Matthew (1844-1925) and John (1847-1853). This was because their mother had died and their father James was unable to manage work and childcare. James (1823-1894) had started in the new industry as a railway stoker and later engine driver at Barnsley, South Yorkshire, and later at Dudley in the West Midlands Black Country.
It was the start of multi-generational employment in the rail industry. James’ eldest son, Matthew (1844-4 October 1925) married Elizabeth Turley in 1868 and they stayed in the area at Dudley and later at Stourbridge. Matthew started as an engine cleaner and advanced to become an engine driver. He was a committed trades union member, admitted in 1881 in the drivers’ division of the GWR at Stourbridge. The family had deep railway connections; their eldest son Robert was a driver who lived in Box and their youngest daughter Lizzie (1888-1966) married Horace Lawton in 1908. Horace started as railway engine stoker and later advanced to engine driver.
To understand the Sokell family before they moved to Box, we need to look at the story of John Sokell, great grandfather of Robert. John Sokell was born in 1781 in Barnsley and was a handloom weaver in 1851 along with his wife Mary (1781-), a weaver’s wife. Although in their 70s (and just two years before John’s death) they were both still working and looking after their small grandchildren Matthew (1844-1925) and John (1847-1853). This was because their mother had died and their father James was unable to manage work and childcare. James (1823-1894) had started in the new industry as a railway stoker and later engine driver at Barnsley, South Yorkshire, and later at Dudley in the West Midlands Black Country.
It was the start of multi-generational employment in the rail industry. James’ eldest son, Matthew (1844-4 October 1925) married Elizabeth Turley in 1868 and they stayed in the area at Dudley and later at Stourbridge. Matthew started as an engine cleaner and advanced to become an engine driver. He was a committed trades union member, admitted in 1881 in the drivers’ division of the GWR at Stourbridge. The family had deep railway connections; their eldest son Robert was a driver who lived in Box and their youngest daughter Lizzie (1888-1966) married Horace Lawton in 1908. Horace started as railway engine stoker and later advanced to engine driver.
Hetty aged 19 at the time of her engagement to Frank Richards (courtesy Simon Brown)
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Robert Sokell (12 May 1871-12 February 1944) married twice; first to Emily Sarah Duffield (1872-21 October 1926)
in 1893, with whom he had eight children, many of whom stayed in the Box and Corsham area. Their first child Henrietta Sabina (1895-), known as Hettie, married Francis Herbert Richards (29 November 1890-1983), a banker mason, from Thornwood, Devizes Road, in 1923. Frank Richards was from a family of masons, lived most of his life in Box, and served as a Royal Engineer in World War I. On his death, the Box Parish Magazine said he sang in the church choir for many years. Their daughter, Jean, won a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music as a pianist. She played for a Forces’ band in Box.[1] Robert’s son Robert George (known as George) (1902-1922) took a traditional route into the railways, starting as an engine cleaner aged 16 in 1918. But he was made unemployed in the economic downturn after the war and joined the Royal Air Force in 1921. Tragically he died a short time later, on 25 July 1922 at the 23rd British Stationary Hospital, probably in Baghdad; further details unknown. |
Life in Box
When they came to the village in 1910, they settled with their large family in the centre of Box in the house called Belle Vue, Devizes Road. It was convenient for Robert to get to Box Station for work in the years before Box Halt was built. The Sokell family integrated into Box society, attending Box Church, and bringing up the family according to middle-class values of the time. They were committed teetotallers and their second son, Robert George Sokell, was awarded a certificate for joining the Juvenile Branch of the Temperance Society in 1911.
When they came to the village in 1910, they settled with their large family in the centre of Box in the house called Belle Vue, Devizes Road. It was convenient for Robert to get to Box Station for work in the years before Box Halt was built. The Sokell family integrated into Box society, attending Box Church, and bringing up the family according to middle-class values of the time. They were committed teetotallers and their second son, Robert George Sokell, was awarded a certificate for joining the Juvenile Branch of the Temperance Society in 1911.
Courtesy John Currant
The oldest son, James Matthew (1899-20 December 1934), joined the Devonshire Regiment in the Great War as soon as he was old enough in 1916. He was wounded and officially discharged in 1919 with the Silver War Badge (sometimes called the “Wound Badge”). He married Mabel Lilian Pearce in 1930 and they lived at Velly Hill, Gastard until James died (possibly of tuberculosis) in the Swindon Isolation Hospital in 1934. The younger members of the family attended Box School and, in the febrile years of the First World War, they were brought up to venerate the British Empire in the conflict. The older children had already left school but the four younger ones took part in the annual Empire Day celebrations (images courtesy John Currant).
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Iage courtesy John Currant
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The children also took part in fundraising and providing knitted garments, blankets and sweets for the troops. The schoolchildren received certificates recognising them as part of the “Overseas Club”, sending some comfort and happiness to the brave Sailors and Soldiers of the British Empire.
Courtesy John Currant
The daughters spent time enjoying the local area, walking to most places as others did in the interwar years. The photos below were taken in the fields directly behind the house that Hettie and Frank lived in on Devizes Road (at Lye Cottage, sometimes called 1 Alexander Terrace) although the precise date is unknown. Pictured are below left Mary, Hettie and Muriel (Bobby) and below right Hettie and Edith. (Both photos are courtesy Simon Brown)
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Their Box home at Belle Vue offered plenty of accommodation but, like all rented premises, the house was subject to the circumstances of the landlord.[2] The whole property had been owned by William George Houkes (saddler and harness-maker) and later part of it by Joseph Lawrence, saddler at 3 Devizes Road (now called Saddler’s House). When Joseph died on
1 February 1920, the house was suddenly put up for sale with Mr Sokall (sic) as the tenant. Number 2 Belle Vue was described as large with six good rooms, garden and offices.[3]
1 February 1920, the house was suddenly put up for sale with Mr Sokall (sic) as the tenant. Number 2 Belle Vue was described as large with six good rooms, garden and offices.[3]
Saddler’s House (right) courtesy Carol Payne
In 1917 Emily Sokell was involved in a curious legal case as a witness concerning a theft by Harriet Castle of no fixed abode. Harriet had stolen a parcel of groceries from Arthur Chaffey of Charlotte Cottage, Devizes Road.[4] The parcel had been taken from a passageway in a nearby house and Harriet had sold a pot of jam to Emily for 1s. Harriet had been spotted by several people in the Devizes Road area including village constable PC Reakes who retraced the way back to Emily. Harriet was found guilty and sentenced to 1 month’s hard labour and Emily was also censored for illegally buying the jam under the regulated wartime price of 2s.9d but was let off the penalty of £100.
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About 1920, the family moved to Ladyfield Road, Chippenham, where Emily died in 1926 aged 54.[5] Robert married again a year later to Edith Phyllis Thatcher and they retired to Pewsham, Chippenham, when Robert ceased work. Edith had been married previously and had a daughter Marjorie. Robert was still there when he died in 1944 and Edith died there in 1951.
The Sokell family demonstrate the huge employment potential of the 19th century railway industry and the possibility of career advancement including the idea of relocating for promotion. These are concepts that dominate the modern world. But there are also many differences and it seems strange to us that essentially middle-class families should live in rented premises with all the uncertainty implied with a difficult landlord. Right: Probably Robert Sokell's second wife with her first husband and daughter Phyllis Marjorie (courtesy John Currant) |
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Family Tree
John (1781-), handloom weaver from Barnsley married Mary (1781-). Children included:
William (1821-); James (1823-1894); Robert (1826-)
James (1823-1894), started as a railway stoker and progressed to engine driver. He came from Barnsley and appears to have married twice. His first marriage was possibly to Martha and they lived at Dudley, having two children, Matthew (1844-1925) and John (1847-). James later married Ellen Griffiths (1816-) in 1856. Children by first marriage:
Matthew Sokell (1844-4 October 1925) married Elizabeth Turley (1850-) in 1868 and they lived at Dudley, Worcestershire. Matthew started as an engine cleaner and was a committed trades union member, admitted in 1881 in the drivers’ division of the GWR at Stourbridge. He died at 3 Cecil Street, Stourbridge. Children:
Robert Sokell (12 May 1871-12 February 1944) married firstly Emily Sarah Duffield (1872-21 October 1926) in 1893. Children:
His second wife was Edith Phyllis Thatcher (15 April 1872-) who he married in 1927. No children from this marriage.
John (1781-), handloom weaver from Barnsley married Mary (1781-). Children included:
William (1821-); James (1823-1894); Robert (1826-)
James (1823-1894), started as a railway stoker and progressed to engine driver. He came from Barnsley and appears to have married twice. His first marriage was possibly to Martha and they lived at Dudley, having two children, Matthew (1844-1925) and John (1847-). James later married Ellen Griffiths (1816-) in 1856. Children by first marriage:
- Matthew Thorp Oxley (1844-1925) born in Barnsley;
- John (1847-), born in Barnsley.
Matthew Sokell (1844-4 October 1925) married Elizabeth Turley (1850-) in 1868 and they lived at Dudley, Worcestershire. Matthew started as an engine cleaner and was a committed trades union member, admitted in 1881 in the drivers’ division of the GWR at Stourbridge. He died at 3 Cecil Street, Stourbridge. Children:
- Robert (12 May 1871-12 February 1944);
- Martha (1877-) married George W Calver (1873-), engine driver, in 1897. Children: George William (1898-), Elsie Elizabeth (1900-), Martha (1904-), Clara (1910-). They lived near Matthew and Elizabeth at 28 Cecil Street, Stourbridge;
- Mary Ellen (known as Nellie) (1885-) married Thomas King in 1905;
- Sarah Elizabeth (called Lizzie) (1888-1966) married in 1908 to Horace Lawton, who started as railway engine stoker and later advanced to engine driver.
Robert Sokell (12 May 1871-12 February 1944) married firstly Emily Sarah Duffield (1872-21 October 1926) in 1893. Children:
- Henrietta Sabina (1895-1991) married Francis Herbert Richards (29 November 1890-1983), banker mason, from Thornwood, Devizes Road, in 1923;
- Ellen Elizabeth (2 May 1896-1980) married George A Palmer in 1919
- Emily Jane (1898-);
- James Matthew (1899-20 December 1934) served in the First World War and married Mabel Lilian Pearce in 1930. The lived at Velly Hill, Gastard until James died (possibly of tuberculosis) in the Swindon Isolation Hospital in 1934;
- Robert George (known as George) (1902-). In 1918 Robert George started working for the railways as an engine cleaner;
- Edith May (1904-);
- Ivy Muriel (1906-) married Arthur T Cox in 1930;
- Mary Irene (1909-) married Frank HW Jeffery in 1934.
His second wife was Edith Phyllis Thatcher (15 April 1872-) who he married in 1927. No children from this marriage.
References
[1] Courtesy Jane Browning
[2] The location of the house named Belle Vue is difficult because by 1939 the name was used to identify Miller's on Box High Street.
[3] The Wiltshire Times, 13 March 1920
[4] North Wilts Herald, 7 December 1917
[5] The Wiltshire Times, 6 November 1926
[1] Courtesy Jane Browning
[2] The location of the house named Belle Vue is difficult because by 1939 the name was used to identify Miller's on Box High Street.
[3] The Wiltshire Times, 13 March 1920
[4] North Wilts Herald, 7 December 1917
[5] The Wiltshire Times, 6 November 1926