Vezey Family of Box Text and family photos Clive Banks April 2015
The Vezey family at Vale View. L to R: Back row: Peter, Ben, John; Front row: Edward (Ted), John Cook, Sarah Jane (Ginny), Alice, Jane. (Family photos courtesy Clive Banks)
In this story of the Vezeys you will meet a soap opera star, a best selling children's author, an unsporting clergyman, the men who lit up Box Tunnel, a Lord Mayor of London and a man who was the embodiment of the spirit and traditions of Box.
Authorities give two alternatives for the derivation of the surname. One is that it comes from the town of Vassy in Normandy, the family's place of residence before the Conquest in 1066. The other that it is from an old Anglo-French word enveisie meaning playful.
Authorities give two alternatives for the derivation of the surname. One is that it comes from the town of Vassy in Normandy, the family's place of residence before the Conquest in 1066. The other that it is from an old Anglo-French word enveisie meaning playful.
Early Ancestors
The death of my mother, Olive Joyce Banks (nee Vezey), was the end of a link between the Vezey family and the village which had lasted for at least 350 years. But perhaps not - because, given that the family had many daughters, there must still be a strong Vezey gene pool in Box.
The story begins with a copy of an old document in my possession dated about 1794 which states that the first Box Vezey was a Thomas Vezey who came to Box about 150 years previously from Ireland. This would have been about the time of the Civil War. The document goes on to say that there are none of the name of Vezey in the neighbourhood but (except those that) are descendants of Thomas the ancestor. The first record I have found in Box is the marriage of a Thomas Vezey to Elizabeth Palmer in 1689. I have traced my ancestry through eight generations from this couple. I do not know much about the lives of these early Vezeys other than the names of their spouses and the dates and place of their births, marriages and deaths. The will of Thomas and Elizabeth's son Joseph shows him as a shopkeeper.
The death of my mother, Olive Joyce Banks (nee Vezey), was the end of a link between the Vezey family and the village which had lasted for at least 350 years. But perhaps not - because, given that the family had many daughters, there must still be a strong Vezey gene pool in Box.
The story begins with a copy of an old document in my possession dated about 1794 which states that the first Box Vezey was a Thomas Vezey who came to Box about 150 years previously from Ireland. This would have been about the time of the Civil War. The document goes on to say that there are none of the name of Vezey in the neighbourhood but (except those that) are descendants of Thomas the ancestor. The first record I have found in Box is the marriage of a Thomas Vezey to Elizabeth Palmer in 1689. I have traced my ancestry through eight generations from this couple. I do not know much about the lives of these early Vezeys other than the names of their spouses and the dates and place of their births, marriages and deaths. The will of Thomas and Elizabeth's son Joseph shows him as a shopkeeper.
Dick Whittington (Vezey)
Mary Vezey was born in Box about 1796. She married Gideon Fricker from Bradford-on-Avon and they had eight children. One of these Keturah, married John Strong from Hampshire.
Their son, Sir Thomas Vezey Strong, became Lord Mayor of London in 1910 and later a privy councillor. He was not really a Box Dick Whittington as he was born in London but the family were obviously aware of their Vezey heritage. It is interesting that the name Vezey was retained through two maternal generations.
Mary Vezey was born in Box about 1796. She married Gideon Fricker from Bradford-on-Avon and they had eight children. One of these Keturah, married John Strong from Hampshire.
Their son, Sir Thomas Vezey Strong, became Lord Mayor of London in 1910 and later a privy councillor. He was not really a Box Dick Whittington as he was born in London but the family were obviously aware of their Vezey heritage. It is interesting that the name Vezey was retained through two maternal generations.
The Two Branches
Somewhere along the line, the Vezeys split into two families which claimed to be unaware of any relationship between them.
For convenience we can refer to these as the Candle Factory Branch and the Chequers Branch. I have referred to the Chequers branch where it relates to the general story of the family but I understand that the full story will be told in a later issue.
Somewhere along the line, the Vezeys split into two families which claimed to be unaware of any relationship between them.
For convenience we can refer to these as the Candle Factory Branch and the Chequers Branch. I have referred to the Chequers branch where it relates to the general story of the family but I understand that the full story will be told in a later issue.
The Candle Factory Branch
I do not know when the Vezey family became involved in tallow chandling. The earliest reference found is in 1797 when William Rawlings named as his executor his friend, Joseph Vezey of Box, Sope (sic) Boiler and Chandler. This was probably my ancestor Joseph Vezey (born 1742). Joseph had a son, James, and on his death in 1829, Thomas Vezey (born 1803) became the proprietor of the soap and candle factory in Quarry Hill.
Thomas, my great-great grandfather was the owner of the soap and candle factory in 1834 when a parliamentary committee was investigating the proposed GWR and its impact on local businesses. He was interviewed and gave his views on the problems of floods on the transportation of tallow, barilla, resin and palm oil for his business.[1] Unfortunately Thomas never saw the GWR as he died in 1839 at the age of 36. His death certificate said Disease of the Brain, perhaps some form of meningitis?
The earliest reference so far for the factory site was an article from the Bath Chronicle dated 23 November 1835 which detailed a fire at the soap and candle factory belonging to Mr Thomas Vezey. The fire appeared to have been caused when a lighted candle fell into a vat of palm oil which led to the whole building being destroyed.
Thomas' widow, Martha (nee Cook) (born 1811 Iron Acton), survived him until 1897. The 1841 census shows her living at Townsend with in-laws Elizabeth, Peter and Benjamin; children James, Sarah, and John; and a teenage servant, Eliza Sumsian. The business was continued by James' brothers, Peter and Benjamin, until 1851 when Benjamin left the partnership. Both Peter and Benjamin died in the 1860s and their nephews, John and James, took over.
The heyday of the candle making factory in Box was during the construction of Brunel's Railway Tunnel (completed 1841) and the subsequent quarrying of stone. At times one ton of candles were required per week by workers quarrying deep underground. There was also a need for candles in the houses in Box. For many years, candles were the main method of domestic lighting in the village. The business made the owners very rich men but, as we shall see, the profitability of candle making came grinding to a halt with the decline of quarrying and the innovation of domestic gas and electricity.
I do not know when the Vezey family became involved in tallow chandling. The earliest reference found is in 1797 when William Rawlings named as his executor his friend, Joseph Vezey of Box, Sope (sic) Boiler and Chandler. This was probably my ancestor Joseph Vezey (born 1742). Joseph had a son, James, and on his death in 1829, Thomas Vezey (born 1803) became the proprietor of the soap and candle factory in Quarry Hill.
Thomas, my great-great grandfather was the owner of the soap and candle factory in 1834 when a parliamentary committee was investigating the proposed GWR and its impact on local businesses. He was interviewed and gave his views on the problems of floods on the transportation of tallow, barilla, resin and palm oil for his business.[1] Unfortunately Thomas never saw the GWR as he died in 1839 at the age of 36. His death certificate said Disease of the Brain, perhaps some form of meningitis?
The earliest reference so far for the factory site was an article from the Bath Chronicle dated 23 November 1835 which detailed a fire at the soap and candle factory belonging to Mr Thomas Vezey. The fire appeared to have been caused when a lighted candle fell into a vat of palm oil which led to the whole building being destroyed.
Thomas' widow, Martha (nee Cook) (born 1811 Iron Acton), survived him until 1897. The 1841 census shows her living at Townsend with in-laws Elizabeth, Peter and Benjamin; children James, Sarah, and John; and a teenage servant, Eliza Sumsian. The business was continued by James' brothers, Peter and Benjamin, until 1851 when Benjamin left the partnership. Both Peter and Benjamin died in the 1860s and their nephews, John and James, took over.
The heyday of the candle making factory in Box was during the construction of Brunel's Railway Tunnel (completed 1841) and the subsequent quarrying of stone. At times one ton of candles were required per week by workers quarrying deep underground. There was also a need for candles in the houses in Box. For many years, candles were the main method of domestic lighting in the village. The business made the owners very rich men but, as we shall see, the profitability of candle making came grinding to a halt with the decline of quarrying and the innovation of domestic gas and electricity.
Chequers Branch
Around the same time, another James Vezey (born Ditteridge1805) was the owner of the Chequers Inn and an adjoining butchers shop. In May 1833 he had married a Frances Tyley of Colerne. The 1841 census shows him at Box, possibly the Chequers Inn (we know he was there in 1848) with his wife and children, Thomas, Elizabeth, Mary and Francis.[2] Further children, James and Jane, who feature later in the story were not yet born. Also living with him were a policeman, James Willcox, with his wife and son and two teenage servants, Henry Collett and Frances Salter.
James died in 1865 and his son, yet another James, took over the business. This James was the grandfather of Donald Bradfield who recorded memories of him in his book A Century of Village Cricket.[3] Don recalled that in the upstairs room of the pub on 27 April 1870 the 23 year-old publican and cricket enthusiast, James, spared time from his wedding arrangements to become the first treasurer of the newly-formed Box Cricket Club. James founded one of the great village institutions alongside other Box notables: Captain Woodgate, George Browning, Robert Pictor, John Cook Vezey (later soap and candle manufacturer), John Fudge, Charles Howse, Fred Pocock, and Sam Noble.
Thus began a long tradition of the Vezey family connection with the club over four generations with John's son, Ben and his son (another Ben) both being club captains. To quote Don's book There has never been a time when the blood of John C Vezey has not run in the Club's veins, for his great -grandson Clive Banks (yours truly) is a member of the present day team !
Around the same time, another James Vezey (born Ditteridge1805) was the owner of the Chequers Inn and an adjoining butchers shop. In May 1833 he had married a Frances Tyley of Colerne. The 1841 census shows him at Box, possibly the Chequers Inn (we know he was there in 1848) with his wife and children, Thomas, Elizabeth, Mary and Francis.[2] Further children, James and Jane, who feature later in the story were not yet born. Also living with him were a policeman, James Willcox, with his wife and son and two teenage servants, Henry Collett and Frances Salter.
James died in 1865 and his son, yet another James, took over the business. This James was the grandfather of Donald Bradfield who recorded memories of him in his book A Century of Village Cricket.[3] Don recalled that in the upstairs room of the pub on 27 April 1870 the 23 year-old publican and cricket enthusiast, James, spared time from his wedding arrangements to become the first treasurer of the newly-formed Box Cricket Club. James founded one of the great village institutions alongside other Box notables: Captain Woodgate, George Browning, Robert Pictor, John Cook Vezey (later soap and candle manufacturer), John Fudge, Charles Howse, Fred Pocock, and Sam Noble.
Thus began a long tradition of the Vezey family connection with the club over four generations with John's son, Ben and his son (another Ben) both being club captains. To quote Don's book There has never been a time when the blood of John C Vezey has not run in the Club's veins, for his great -grandson Clive Banks (yours truly) is a member of the present day team !
Union of the Vezeys
The next significant event in the history of the Vezey family was the marriage of John Cook Vezey of the candle factory branch and James' sister, Jane Vezey, of the Chequers branch. This link of the two branches of the Vezeys resulted in my having two Vezey great-great grandfathers.
Family tradition has it that the two Vezey branches were unaware of any connection between them. I have since discovered the link between the two families. The common ancestor appears to be Thomas Vezey who married Elizabeth Palmer in 1689. So it is not surprising that they didn’t know the link after all that time.
John Cook and Jane lived at Vale View, Box. John died in 1910. He was the last survivor of those men who had met in his brother-in-law's house forty years earlier to found Box Cricket Club. John Cook Vezey is the subject of what is probably the oldest surviving photograph of a member of the Vezey family; a linotype in a leather case dating around 1855 which is now in my possession.
Right: John Cook Vezey
The next significant event in the history of the Vezey family was the marriage of John Cook Vezey of the candle factory branch and James' sister, Jane Vezey, of the Chequers branch. This link of the two branches of the Vezeys resulted in my having two Vezey great-great grandfathers.
Family tradition has it that the two Vezey branches were unaware of any connection between them. I have since discovered the link between the two families. The common ancestor appears to be Thomas Vezey who married Elizabeth Palmer in 1689. So it is not surprising that they didn’t know the link after all that time.
John Cook and Jane lived at Vale View, Box. John died in 1910. He was the last survivor of those men who had met in his brother-in-law's house forty years earlier to found Box Cricket Club. John Cook Vezey is the subject of what is probably the oldest surviving photograph of a member of the Vezey family; a linotype in a leather case dating around 1855 which is now in my possession.
Right: John Cook Vezey
The Great War
The Vezey family were fortunate in that no member of the family was killed during the first World War. However Percy Vezey, the son of James Vezey junior, is listed as a 1914-18 war death and is the only Vezey named on Box war memorial. On a visit to the battlefields I could find no trace of a grave or memorial until I discovered that he died in Box in 1919, presumably of war wounds.
Ben Vezey
The tallow chandler business was taken over by John's son and my grandfather, Ben Vezey (born 1873). There is an early picture of him sitting in the front of the Box Worthies in the feature After the Great War along with other worthies who feature in this article.
The Vezey family were fortunate in that no member of the family was killed during the first World War. However Percy Vezey, the son of James Vezey junior, is listed as a 1914-18 war death and is the only Vezey named on Box war memorial. On a visit to the battlefields I could find no trace of a grave or memorial until I discovered that he died in Box in 1919, presumably of war wounds.
Ben Vezey
The tallow chandler business was taken over by John's son and my grandfather, Ben Vezey (born 1873). There is an early picture of him sitting in the front of the Box Worthies in the feature After the Great War along with other worthies who feature in this article.
Sometime during his youth he injured his hand by cutting it on a glass door. The fingers of his hand were permanently clenched. However he still managed to become captain of Box Cricket Club. He was able to bat left handed by gripping the bat with one hand and supporting it with the other. He was also adept at taking catches with his one good hand.
The story of his altercation on the cricket field with the clergyman-captain of Christ Church in 1903 is well told in Don Bradfield's book: In trying to play the ball this clergyman was hit on the arm and fell breaking his wicket. An appeal was made to the umpire at the bowlers end who promptly gave him out, but the reverend gentleman refused to accept the decision saying he had completed the stroke before the wicket was broken.
As the batsman firmly stood his crease Ben Vezey called his men together and led them off the field leaving the match to be continued in the columns of the local newspapers. Even the clergyman's last minute offer to withdraw “retired hurt” was rejected. The Box team clambered into their brake and drove home to Box.
Left: My grandfather, Ben Vezey
The story of his altercation on the cricket field with the clergyman-captain of Christ Church in 1903 is well told in Don Bradfield's book: In trying to play the ball this clergyman was hit on the arm and fell breaking his wicket. An appeal was made to the umpire at the bowlers end who promptly gave him out, but the reverend gentleman refused to accept the decision saying he had completed the stroke before the wicket was broken.
As the batsman firmly stood his crease Ben Vezey called his men together and led them off the field leaving the match to be continued in the columns of the local newspapers. Even the clergyman's last minute offer to withdraw “retired hurt” was rejected. The Box team clambered into their brake and drove home to Box.
Left: My grandfather, Ben Vezey
My
grandparents lost their eldest daughter, Mary, during the influenza
epidemic which followed the Great War. My mother told me that her father
was devastated by this. She recalled that Mary was the most lively and
vivacious member of the family. She however suffered from asthma. On the
day of her death, Dr Martin attended and said that her fever was at
crisis point but if she came through it she would survive. Unfortunately
she did not. She was 6 years old. My grandmother once said to me that she was a delicate little thing.
My mother recalled another incident which throws more light on my grandfather's character. He had noticed that coal was being regularly stolen from the premises. He finally reported it to the local police. Upon investigation it was found that the culprit was one of his employees. He tried to get the case dropped but the process had gone too far. Ben attended the court and spoke up for his employee. He said that the man had a family, that he was a good worker and that he was prepared to continue to employ him. As a result the man was discharged without penalty. He continued to work for Ben and did tasks beyond his normal duties.
Right: Ben, Eugenie and their first baby, Mary
My mother recalled another incident which throws more light on my grandfather's character. He had noticed that coal was being regularly stolen from the premises. He finally reported it to the local police. Upon investigation it was found that the culprit was one of his employees. He tried to get the case dropped but the process had gone too far. Ben attended the court and spoke up for his employee. He said that the man had a family, that he was a good worker and that he was prepared to continue to employ him. As a result the man was discharged without penalty. He continued to work for Ben and did tasks beyond his normal duties.
Right: Ben, Eugenie and their first baby, Mary
Ben's Death, 1930
My mother told me her recollections of the day in 1930 that her father died. On the preceding evening she said that Gert and Jim Browning, the local garage owners, called round. My mother was in bed but she remembered that they appeared to have a few drinks and that everyone was laughing and joking.
Mum had been working for a short time as an apprentice at King's, a department store in Milsom Street, Bath. She was 16 years old. She recalled that on the morning of the fateful day her father had travelled with her on the train to Bath. He had not been well, suffering from headaches, and my grandmother had tried to persuade him not to go. He insisted that he had to go to see people about business. Mum said that she did not notice anything unusual in his behaviour. He was quite a demonstrative man and would probably have given her a kiss goodbye but she could not recall any dramatic gestures.
My mother told me her recollections of the day in 1930 that her father died. On the preceding evening she said that Gert and Jim Browning, the local garage owners, called round. My mother was in bed but she remembered that they appeared to have a few drinks and that everyone was laughing and joking.
Mum had been working for a short time as an apprentice at King's, a department store in Milsom Street, Bath. She was 16 years old. She recalled that on the morning of the fateful day her father had travelled with her on the train to Bath. He had not been well, suffering from headaches, and my grandmother had tried to persuade him not to go. He insisted that he had to go to see people about business. Mum said that she did not notice anything unusual in his behaviour. He was quite a demonstrative man and would probably have given her a kiss goodbye but she could not recall any dramatic gestures.
Contemporary newspaper report of Ben Vezey's death (courtesy Bath Chronicle & Herald 31 May 1930).
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However
in retrospect she did recall him getting up from his seat when the
train stopped at Bathford Halt and looking out of the window. When asked
what he was doing he said that he was looking for a friend, Percy
Hawkins, to whom he wished to speak about cricket. Mum said that other
people who had been in the carriage subsequently made rather a lot of
this incident. She recalled being very upset about this as she saw no
reason to take what he said at other than face value. As his body was
later identified by a cricket fixture list in his pocket she may have
been justified in this opinion. She thinks that he left the train at
Bath, but there seems to have been some suggestion that he may have gone
on to Bristol.
Later in the day a Box citizen, Mr McIlwraith, called at King's and told my Mum that she was to return home as her father had had an accident. He suggested that he travel back with her. Apparently the news placards were full of the story and nobody wanted her to discover the news that way. When they arrived at Mill Lane Halt in Box, her uncle Harry Milsom was waiting for her. He was married to Aunt Doll, my grandmother's sister. He accompanied her to her home at Hill View, Quarry Hill, but at no time did he break the news that her father was dead. Mum recalled people in Mill Lane looking at her through their windows. She thinks that it was Aunt Doll who finally told her. Nobody seems to know what Ben did that day or who he visited. He was apparently seen on a tram at Batheaston looking very ill. His mangled body was found close to the railway track a little way from Bathford Halt. He was known to have been depressed but the evidence does not seem to indicate that he set out that day to kill himself. Something may have happened later in the day, probably to do with business, which drove him over the edge. The overwhelming probability is that he committed suicide but on the other hand there is the outside chance that it was just a terrible accident. We shall never know. At the inquest an open verdict was recorded. A life insurance policy was honoured and this and the winding up of the business just about cleared his debts. I once spoke in the Queens Head to an old Box character called Codger Smith who told me that he was a member of the railway gang who found my grandfather. He also told me that a day or two before he had been walking up Quarry Hill with some friends on his way home from the pub. My grandfather was standing in the garden of Hill View. When they greeted him with Goodnight Mr Vezey he just said You will all be rich men before I am out of debt. Codger recalled thinking at the time that this was rather odd. The business had obviously fallen on hard times following the Wall Street financial cash and the lack of demand for its products, and my grandfather was presumably going under with the strain. |
For many years my family rarely spoke about the circumstances of my grandfather's death although I do recall my grandmother once saying to me he could not take any more. My mother said that my gran never blamed him despite the difficulties which ensued. Attitudes to mental illness and suicide have changed since those days and all the participants in the drama are now deceased. The tragedy is now part of Box history and I am comfortable in writing about it.
Ben's widow, my gran, Eugenie Sarah Vezey (nee Weeks) survived him for many years and died aged 100. As far as I know she was the first centenarian in the village. I still have the telegram from the Queen. She is buried alongside Ben in a Vezey tomb in the cemetery. There are more older Vezey tombs in the churchyard, one of which is listed.
Ben's widow, my gran, Eugenie Sarah Vezey (nee Weeks) survived him for many years and died aged 100. As far as I know she was the first centenarian in the village. I still have the telegram from the Queen. She is buried alongside Ben in a Vezey tomb in the cemetery. There are more older Vezey tombs in the churchyard, one of which is listed.
Rev Foster's tribute which he gave to Eugenie Vezey
Ben's well-attended funeral was followed a few days later, very unusually, by a memorial service because so many people wanted to pay their respects. The Rev George Foster conducted it and gave a copy of his sermon to my gran. It is a remarkable document full of praise for someone who probably committed suicide, at a time when there was less acceptance of it than now, certainly by the church. A few quotations will demonstrate the tone:
Ben Vezey loved Box with an enduring love – so much so that it is not an overstatement to say that he was the very embodiment of her traditions and of the spirit of the place... He was a very active member of nearly every committee or society in the parish and gave himself unstintingly to all that was for the welfare and improvement of Box - and societies and causes innumerable will only know what Ben Vezey has meant to them for many years... I do not think it an exaggeration to say that he was the most highly respected, most loved and most popular man in Box. Those who were his peers found him always the same good friend and the poor and humble loved him with a real affection knowing how, in all possible ways, he was out to help them.
Sadly I never knew my grandfather but he seems to have been a very significant figure in Box history both in life and in death.
Ben Vezey loved Box with an enduring love – so much so that it is not an overstatement to say that he was the very embodiment of her traditions and of the spirit of the place... He was a very active member of nearly every committee or society in the parish and gave himself unstintingly to all that was for the welfare and improvement of Box - and societies and causes innumerable will only know what Ben Vezey has meant to them for many years... I do not think it an exaggeration to say that he was the most highly respected, most loved and most popular man in Box. Those who were his peers found him always the same good friend and the poor and humble loved him with a real affection knowing how, in all possible ways, he was out to help them.
Sadly I never knew my grandfather but he seems to have been a very significant figure in Box history both in life and in death.
Another Kind of Soap
In her youth my mother loved to act and mimic. This talent was never fulfilled but a distant cousin of hers, Pamela, did succeed in that accomplishment. Pamela Vezey was born in Bath in 1932 and was a notable actress who appeared in various television shows and plays such as Emergency Ward 10 and Billy Liar. She was probably best known for playing the part of Kath Brownlaw / Fellowes in the soap opera Crossroads from 1976 to1987. She lived her later years in Corsham and died in 1992.
In her youth my mother loved to act and mimic. This talent was never fulfilled but a distant cousin of hers, Pamela, did succeed in that accomplishment. Pamela Vezey was born in Bath in 1932 and was a notable actress who appeared in various television shows and plays such as Emergency Ward 10 and Billy Liar. She was probably best known for playing the part of Kath Brownlaw / Fellowes in the soap opera Crossroads from 1976 to1987. She lived her later years in Corsham and died in 1992.
Olive Joyce Banks (nee Vezey)
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Olive Joyce Banks (nee Vezey)
I cannot end the history of the Box Vezeys without a reference to my mother who lived most of her 95 years in Box. She grew up at Hill View, the house attached to the candle factory, with her sister, Joan, and her brother, Ben. My mother first got to know the Awdry family when they moved into Netherby in Hazelbury Hill. Before they lived there it had been the home of her great aunt Sarah Vezey. Their back garden backed onto mum's home at Hill View. A big gravel yard belonged to Hill View stretching from the soap factory (at the top) to the candle factory (at the bottom). Between the two properties was a wall. The Awdry children, two boys, used to climb over the wall to play in the yard with mum, Joan and Ben. They were all quite little at the time. They played games like cricket and skipping etc. She recalled that the little boy, who later wrote the Thomas the Tank Engine stories used to wet his trousers. His father was a clergyman. He was a nice man and seemed quite old to my mum. His wife was a rather domineering type. They were not particularly sociable. |
It was the wife who, when my grandfather wanted to join the Parochial Church Council, suggested that he was ineligible because he had not been confirmed. He had to take instruction and be confirmed at a mature age. Later the Awdrys moved to Lorne House on the London Road, one of the two houses which had been built for Brunel's chief engineers. This was near the GWR and Box Tunnel, hence Awdry's later interest in railways. Mum then lost touch with them.
Mum's first schooling was a private one at the Mill house where she was taught by Ethel Browning. She would have been about 6 years old. When Ethel married into the local farming family, the Goulstones, she gave up teaching. Mum then moved to Mrs Preston who taught in her house, which was opposite the old lock up in Box. She was then about 7 or 8. The first school was quite good but not much was learned at the second one. Joan went to both schools but Ben went to Box School where he got on much better. Mum then moved along the road a short way towards the chemist shop where Bessie Bradfield also taught Joan and the two daughters of the local vicar.
At aged 10 she went to Duke Street in Bath where she found that she had a lot of catching up to do under a teacher she admired, a Miss Ruddock. At 15 she went to London to stay with her godparents her uncle Peter Vezey and aunt Lottie. They wanted to adopt her and send her to finishing school but she wanted to come home to Box. One of their sons, Walter Vezey, a Lieutenant in the Royal Engineers was killed in an air crash in India in 1926. He is recorded as having played first class cricket whilst there. At Hill View they shared the home with a Welsh maid Annie Greenland who later married a local Shewring.
Mum took up a three-year apprenticeship at King's in Milsom Street, Bath. As Hill View had been sold following her father's death, she was obliged to live in. Ben and Joan went to live with their aunt Doll and uncle Harry Milsom at Rockleigh, Box and my gran went to live with Eliza Vezey at the Toll House in Devizes Road.
Mum met my father at a cricket dance in Box. She moved to Bath and got a job at Evan and Owens' store at the top of town. It was here that she met Queen Mary who frequently shopped there. She admired some posies of flowers that Mum had made and bought some. Mum followed some of dad's postings during the Second World War but when I was expected she returned to Bath. After the Baedeker air raids on Bath she pushed me in a pram to Rockleigh in Box. She then lived in Box for the rest of her life.
When Dad returned from the war we rented a little cottage, No 1 Queen Square and, when I was about eight years old, we moved to The Bassetts where my Mum lived the remaining 60 years of her life in the lovely community there.
Mum's first schooling was a private one at the Mill house where she was taught by Ethel Browning. She would have been about 6 years old. When Ethel married into the local farming family, the Goulstones, she gave up teaching. Mum then moved to Mrs Preston who taught in her house, which was opposite the old lock up in Box. She was then about 7 or 8. The first school was quite good but not much was learned at the second one. Joan went to both schools but Ben went to Box School where he got on much better. Mum then moved along the road a short way towards the chemist shop where Bessie Bradfield also taught Joan and the two daughters of the local vicar.
At aged 10 she went to Duke Street in Bath where she found that she had a lot of catching up to do under a teacher she admired, a Miss Ruddock. At 15 she went to London to stay with her godparents her uncle Peter Vezey and aunt Lottie. They wanted to adopt her and send her to finishing school but she wanted to come home to Box. One of their sons, Walter Vezey, a Lieutenant in the Royal Engineers was killed in an air crash in India in 1926. He is recorded as having played first class cricket whilst there. At Hill View they shared the home with a Welsh maid Annie Greenland who later married a local Shewring.
Mum took up a three-year apprenticeship at King's in Milsom Street, Bath. As Hill View had been sold following her father's death, she was obliged to live in. Ben and Joan went to live with their aunt Doll and uncle Harry Milsom at Rockleigh, Box and my gran went to live with Eliza Vezey at the Toll House in Devizes Road.
Mum met my father at a cricket dance in Box. She moved to Bath and got a job at Evan and Owens' store at the top of town. It was here that she met Queen Mary who frequently shopped there. She admired some posies of flowers that Mum had made and bought some. Mum followed some of dad's postings during the Second World War but when I was expected she returned to Bath. After the Baedeker air raids on Bath she pushed me in a pram to Rockleigh in Box. She then lived in Box for the rest of her life.
When Dad returned from the war we rented a little cottage, No 1 Queen Square and, when I was about eight years old, we moved to The Bassetts where my Mum lived the remaining 60 years of her life in the lovely community there.
Future of the Vezey Clan
Various Vezeys have left Box over the years and I know that the name continues, but I have lost touch with most of them. I do not know if they are even aware of their Box heritage. Perhaps if they come across this article their interest will be awakened. I do however have a cousin living fairly locally called Vezey who also has a son, so the name continues in the area.
Various Vezeys have left Box over the years and I know that the name continues, but I have lost touch with most of them. I do not know if they are even aware of their Box heritage. Perhaps if they come across this article their interest will be awakened. I do however have a cousin living fairly locally called Vezey who also has a son, so the name continues in the area.
Family Tree
Soap & Candle Manufacturers
The Early Family
Thomas Vezey married Elizabeth Palmer at Box on 26 November 1689
Children included Joseph (1699 - 1762)
Joseph (1699 - 1762) was a shopkeeper who lived in Box. He married Mary Cue (1709 - 1793) of Marshfield. Children: James (1741 - 1760); Joseph (1742 - 1809) who married Ann Harding (1743 - 1796); and Elizabeth (1744 - 1810) who married John Barker
Joseph (1742 - 1809) and Ann had six children: James (1769 - 1829); John (b 1777); Thomas (b 1773) who served as a soldier in East India; Peter (1777 - 1835) who married Elizabeth Molineux; and Mary (1779 - 1780).
James (1769-1829) called himself a tallow chandler and married Sarah Prosser (1774-1833) at St George's Church, Hanover Square, London on 19 July 1801
Children: a.Thomas Vezey (1803-1839); b. Ann (1804 - 1807); c. Elizabeth (1808 - 1896); d. Joseph (1809 - 1851); e. James (1811 - 1876); f. Benjamin (1812 - 1863); g. Peter (1814 - 1867); h. Ann (1815 - 1816); i. Edward (b 1817)
a. Thomas married Martha Cook (1808 - 1897) who was born in Iron Acton, Gloucestershire.
Children: James (1833 - 1916) who married Ann; Thomas (1834 - 1837); Sarah (1836 - 1919); John Cook Vezey (1838 - 1910).
On her death on 24 February 1897, Martha left £778.10s.11d to her youngest child, John Cook Vezey, soap and candle manufacturer.
b. Ann died in childhood
c. Elizabeth married James Hooper
d. Joseph married Ann Hinton
e. James Vezey Esq (1811 - 1875) was not involved in the Box business but was a farmer at Thornbury, Gloucestershire. He married Louisa (b 1815). On his death in Box on 9 February 1875, James Vezey, Esq left under £1,500 to his nephews, James Vezey and John Cook Vezey.
f. Benjamin (1816 - 1863) was also part of the manufacturing business and in 1841 he called himself a Tallow Chandler. He also remained a bachelor and died at Crossways House, Thornbury, his elder brother's house.
g. Peter Vezey (1814 - 1867), who never married, was described in 1841 as a Tallow Chandler (candles made from animal fat) but it is unclear if he makes or just sells candles. By 1851 he called himself a soap & candle manufacturer employing 6 men.
On his death on 8 May 1867 he was described as formerly of Box but lately moved to Crossway, Thornbury and his estate was sworn by his brother James Vezey with effects worth under £3,000.
h. Ann died in infancy.
i. Edward was a batchelor.
Second Business Partnership: James Vezey and John Cook Vezey
Thomas' children, James Vezey (1834 - 1916) and John Cook Vezey (1839 - 1910), took over the business from their uncles, Benjamin and Peter and ran the business in partnership.
James Vezey (1834 - 1916)
In 1891 James lived at Quarry Hill, probably at the factory, with wife Anne (1834 - 1902). In 1911, he lived at Creffield, Devizes Road where he described himself as a widower, and a Retired Soap and Candle Manufacturer.
Children: Thomas Vezey (1861 - 1931), solicitor, partner in legal firm Ricketts, Son & Vezey, lived in Bath. His son Thomas (b 1901) was also a Bath solicitor; James Arthur Vezey (1863 - 1918, died at Sunnyside), estate agent land surveyor who possibly worked at GWR, Paddington [3]; Annie (1864- 1932); Louisa Mary (b 1866); and Eliza Martha (b 1868), matron at St Thomas Hospital, London, who in the 1930s and 1940s lived at the Toll House, Box with Eugenie Sarah; and later at Creffield with her sisters.
On his death on 1 December 1916, James left £3,754.19s.2d to his sons, Thomas and James Arthur Vezey. On the death of his daughter, Ann, on 27 March 1932, she left £5,158.2s.1d to her brother, Thomas.
John Cook Vezey (1838 - 1910)
John Cook Vezey married in 1867 to Jane Vezey (1841 - 1907), a distant (but unacknowledged relative), the daughter of James Vezey Senior, master butcher. They lived at Vale View, Townsend, Box.
Children: John (Jack) Vezey (1868 - 1911) warehouseman; Elizabeth (Bessie) (1869 – 1887); Peter (1871 - 1953) [4]; Benjamin (1873 - 1930) soap & candle manufacturer; Sarah Jane (1875 - 1953) who married MH Jay; Edward (1876 - 1963), unmarried railway clerk, who lived at Mead Villa;
Alice Mary (1878 - 1964), unmarried.
Benjamin Vezey
Benjamin (1873 - 1930) married Eugenie Sarah Weeks (b 1878) in April 1911. They lived in Hill View, Box.
Children: Mary (1912 - 1918); Olive Joyce (1913 - 2008) married Sidney Charles Banks (b 1908) child Clive Banks; Joan married Enoch Hollingshead; Ben married Joyce Summers: child Paul
On his death Ben left £2,709.4s.10d to his wife.
Soap & Candle Manufacturers
The Early Family
Thomas Vezey married Elizabeth Palmer at Box on 26 November 1689
Children included Joseph (1699 - 1762)
Joseph (1699 - 1762) was a shopkeeper who lived in Box. He married Mary Cue (1709 - 1793) of Marshfield. Children: James (1741 - 1760); Joseph (1742 - 1809) who married Ann Harding (1743 - 1796); and Elizabeth (1744 - 1810) who married John Barker
Joseph (1742 - 1809) and Ann had six children: James (1769 - 1829); John (b 1777); Thomas (b 1773) who served as a soldier in East India; Peter (1777 - 1835) who married Elizabeth Molineux; and Mary (1779 - 1780).
James (1769-1829) called himself a tallow chandler and married Sarah Prosser (1774-1833) at St George's Church, Hanover Square, London on 19 July 1801
Children: a.Thomas Vezey (1803-1839); b. Ann (1804 - 1807); c. Elizabeth (1808 - 1896); d. Joseph (1809 - 1851); e. James (1811 - 1876); f. Benjamin (1812 - 1863); g. Peter (1814 - 1867); h. Ann (1815 - 1816); i. Edward (b 1817)
a. Thomas married Martha Cook (1808 - 1897) who was born in Iron Acton, Gloucestershire.
Children: James (1833 - 1916) who married Ann; Thomas (1834 - 1837); Sarah (1836 - 1919); John Cook Vezey (1838 - 1910).
On her death on 24 February 1897, Martha left £778.10s.11d to her youngest child, John Cook Vezey, soap and candle manufacturer.
b. Ann died in childhood
c. Elizabeth married James Hooper
d. Joseph married Ann Hinton
e. James Vezey Esq (1811 - 1875) was not involved in the Box business but was a farmer at Thornbury, Gloucestershire. He married Louisa (b 1815). On his death in Box on 9 February 1875, James Vezey, Esq left under £1,500 to his nephews, James Vezey and John Cook Vezey.
f. Benjamin (1816 - 1863) was also part of the manufacturing business and in 1841 he called himself a Tallow Chandler. He also remained a bachelor and died at Crossways House, Thornbury, his elder brother's house.
g. Peter Vezey (1814 - 1867), who never married, was described in 1841 as a Tallow Chandler (candles made from animal fat) but it is unclear if he makes or just sells candles. By 1851 he called himself a soap & candle manufacturer employing 6 men.
On his death on 8 May 1867 he was described as formerly of Box but lately moved to Crossway, Thornbury and his estate was sworn by his brother James Vezey with effects worth under £3,000.
h. Ann died in infancy.
i. Edward was a batchelor.
Second Business Partnership: James Vezey and John Cook Vezey
Thomas' children, James Vezey (1834 - 1916) and John Cook Vezey (1839 - 1910), took over the business from their uncles, Benjamin and Peter and ran the business in partnership.
James Vezey (1834 - 1916)
In 1891 James lived at Quarry Hill, probably at the factory, with wife Anne (1834 - 1902). In 1911, he lived at Creffield, Devizes Road where he described himself as a widower, and a Retired Soap and Candle Manufacturer.
Children: Thomas Vezey (1861 - 1931), solicitor, partner in legal firm Ricketts, Son & Vezey, lived in Bath. His son Thomas (b 1901) was also a Bath solicitor; James Arthur Vezey (1863 - 1918, died at Sunnyside), estate agent land surveyor who possibly worked at GWR, Paddington [3]; Annie (1864- 1932); Louisa Mary (b 1866); and Eliza Martha (b 1868), matron at St Thomas Hospital, London, who in the 1930s and 1940s lived at the Toll House, Box with Eugenie Sarah; and later at Creffield with her sisters.
On his death on 1 December 1916, James left £3,754.19s.2d to his sons, Thomas and James Arthur Vezey. On the death of his daughter, Ann, on 27 March 1932, she left £5,158.2s.1d to her brother, Thomas.
John Cook Vezey (1838 - 1910)
John Cook Vezey married in 1867 to Jane Vezey (1841 - 1907), a distant (but unacknowledged relative), the daughter of James Vezey Senior, master butcher. They lived at Vale View, Townsend, Box.
Children: John (Jack) Vezey (1868 - 1911) warehouseman; Elizabeth (Bessie) (1869 – 1887); Peter (1871 - 1953) [4]; Benjamin (1873 - 1930) soap & candle manufacturer; Sarah Jane (1875 - 1953) who married MH Jay; Edward (1876 - 1963), unmarried railway clerk, who lived at Mead Villa;
Alice Mary (1878 - 1964), unmarried.
Benjamin Vezey
Benjamin (1873 - 1930) married Eugenie Sarah Weeks (b 1878) in April 1911. They lived in Hill View, Box.
Children: Mary (1912 - 1918); Olive Joyce (1913 - 2008) married Sidney Charles Banks (b 1908) child Clive Banks; Joan married Enoch Hollingshead; Ben married Joyce Summers: child Paul
On his death Ben left £2,709.4s.10d to his wife.
References
[1] The interview can be found in local historian Andrew Swift's book, The Ringing Grooves of Change, Akeman Press, 2006, p.32
[2] Jane Browning adds: There were a huge number of Tyleys at Colerne. Frances was younger sister of Jane Tyley, who married Thomas White of Slades Farm.
[3] Donald Bradfield, A Century of Village Cricket, p.14
[4] Bath Chronicle, 2 December 1916
[5] We hope to produce a separate article about the story of Peter Vezey and Family
[1] The interview can be found in local historian Andrew Swift's book, The Ringing Grooves of Change, Akeman Press, 2006, p.32
[2] Jane Browning adds: There were a huge number of Tyleys at Colerne. Frances was younger sister of Jane Tyley, who married Thomas White of Slades Farm.
[3] Donald Bradfield, A Century of Village Cricket, p.14
[4] Bath Chronicle, 2 December 1916
[5] We hope to produce a separate article about the story of Peter Vezey and Family