Samuel James Woolley

Discussion in 'General Family History Queries' started by MollyMay, Sep 3, 2019.

  1. MollyMay

    MollyMay Knows where to find the answers!

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    Samuel James was born 20/9/1849 and baptised 21/10/1849 in Cheshunt Herts.
    S/O Samuel James (a gardener) and Mary Ann.
    His early life is easy to follow and in
    1877 he marries Eunice Julia Harris in Cheshunt
    1878 Samuel James is born (Dec qtr)
    1880 Eunice Sarah is born (Jan qtr)
    1881 census RG11/1398/89/26 in Cheshunt sees Samuel and his family.
    He is a Nurseryman, employing staff and with a household servant.
    1881 Mercy Sophia is born (Sept qtr)
    1884 Annie Rosetta is born (Mar qtr) - died in 1893
    At some point Samuel James vanishes.

    Family law says he was also a 'Rent Man' and after collecting said rent he was probably ambushed and beaten and was never seen again:rolleyes:. Eunice's great grandaughter was told this by her greatgrandmother and her grandmother who both lived with her and her mother in their later years.

    There is no death for him. So what did happen?

    1891 census Eunice (now enumerated as widow) and children are at The Sun Inn in Waltham Cross - her father was the landlord, although her brother William Harris is running the pub and the relationship to the head of the household is Daughter/grandchildren even though her father is not on this schedule
    RG12/1090/36/3 (Eunice is enumerated as Emma on FMP)

    So Samuel disappears sometime between the conception of Annie and 1891.

    Did Eunice wait the 7 years and then declare herself a widow or was there some sort of process she had to adhere to before being able to do so?

    Eunice (now Emmie) is still at the Sun in 1901 with Samuel James b1878, Mercy 1881 (who is transcribed on FMP as Percy - a barmaid:rolleyes:), Annie has died and Eunice 1880 is married), with brother William.
    1911 census sees William and Eunice still running The Sun.
    Eunice dies in 1938
     
  2. AnnB

    AnnB Editor in Chief who is Hot off the Press!

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    I was hoping to find something in a paper, but, so far, the only thing I've found is the following from Hertford Mercury of the 22nd December 1883, which would imply that Samuel James went bankrupt.

    Writ of Elegit.—Mr C. E. Longmore, one of the Under-Sheriffs for Herts, held court, with the assistance of a jury, at the Shire Hall, Hertford, on Thursday, under a writ of elegit, in the case of Woolley v. Woolley.” The defendant was Mr Samuel James Woolley, nurseryman and florist, of Hammond-street, Cheshunt, and the object of the enquiry was to ascertain what property he was possessed of on the 10th December or subsequently. Mr Wells, of the firm of Newman, Stretton and Hilliard, of London appeared for the elegit creditor, Miss Mary Ann Woolley, a sister the defendant: Mr Alsop, of Waltham Abbey, appeared for the landlord; and Mr Rawlings, of London, appeared for Messrs. Warren & Co., who are also creditors. The amount of the debt and the costs of the execution were stated to be £354 8s. 3d. Mr. J. D. Medcalf, auctioneer and valuer, of Hertford, stated that he valued the defendant’s property, consisting principally of plants, trees, and stock-in-trade of a nurseryman, including several glasshouses, at £490. Mr Alsop cross-examined the witness with the object of showing that the glasshouses could not be removed without injury to the freehold, and must therefore remain; but the Under-Sheriff ruled, on the authority a well-known case, that green-houses used for trade purposes were removable. Mr E. R. Francis also gave evidence as to the value of the stock-in-trade, agreeing within £10 with Mr Medcalf’s figures: and the jury found that the value of the property belonging to the defendant was £490, which was more than enough to satisfy the elegit creditor. As the old-fashioned mode of proceeding by writs of elegit is abolished by the new Bankruptcy Act which comes into operation on the 1st January, this will probably be the last case of the kind heard in this county.

    I'll keep looking later on :reading:
     
  3. Sandiep

    Sandiep Successfully Supports Searches!

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    I noticed he was a member of Freemasons Waltham King Harold Lodge Waltham New Town Lodge No 1327 they did note deaths and things so maybe they might have details for him :rolleyes:

    just come across one that says 1888 United Service Lodge Launceston Tasmania!!!! may be different Samuel James haven't checked yet
     
    Last edited: Sep 3, 2019
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  4. MollyMay

    MollyMay Knows where to find the answers!

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    Thanks @AnnB, I thought he must have been in some sort of financial difficulties, so the 'Rent Man' story might be true, not so sure about the robbery though and why then disppear?

    @Sandiep - I had not seen the Freemason entries, another line to pursue thank you
     
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