home  |  Copyright details  |  Introduction  | Links  |  About Me  |   Contact  |   Guest Book
Peerless Powditch's
Volume 3, Norfolk Vacated
You are here:  home  >  Peerless Powditch  >  chapter 10  
Chapter 10

ROBERT - The Poplar Link

"Peerless Powditchs"
Vol.3 Norfolk Vacated

With the exception of the years 1663, 1682, 1701 and 1767, which
respectively saw two Powditch Christenings, and two Powditch
marriages, at the Parish Church of St. Dunstan's, Stepney, in the district
of Poplar, London, there was to be a gap of approximately 80 years from
the last event before another Powditch was recorded in the Church
registers.

Robert, first born child of James and Biddy (nee Metcalfe), was born in
1822 at Wells-next-the-Sea, Norfolk, and was "received into the Church"
of St. Nicholas, on 27 November 1822.  In the baptismal register, his
father's occupation is given as "Sailor".

Mentioned in the 1841 Census for Wells-next-the-Sea, as living with his
parents, and with his brothers and sisters, at Lugger (or Logger) Yard,
Robert's age is given as 15 years old, whereas in reality he was aged
19 ! (the 1841 Census rounded all ages down to the nearest "5th year"  -
with the exception of children aged 10 or less, in which cases their exact
ages were written.  Thus a 19 year old has his or her age "rounded
down" to 15; a 34 year old to 30; a 22 year old to 20, and so on).

Ten years later, in the 1851 Census at Wells-next-the-Sea, Robert, and
the rest of his family, are "missing" from their birth-place.  As can be
seen however in Chapter 5 - "James - The Trinity Man"  - most, if not all
of the family, had moved (during the years 1848/1849), to Steynton,
near Milford Haven, West Wales  - and yet, I don't believe that Robert
went with them, for there are a couple of "pointers" which lead to his
having moved to London.

First of all, in my contact with Marjorie Stein, great-granddaughter of
Robert, she not only advised me that via Robert there was a link with
South Wales, but also that he had been indentured to a Shipwright at
Blackwall, London.  Unfortunately, the Indenture (and the wording of its
contents) appears to have been lost or mislaid, so that we are not
aware of Robert's Employer's name and address, or in which 'branch'
of shipbuilding he was apprenticed.

The docks at Blackwall  -  both at Blackwall Reach, with its claim of "the
birthplace of the British Mercantile Marine", and at Blackwall
- 106 -

"Peerless Powditchs"
Vol.3 Norfolk Vacated

Yard, with its shipyard, which was founded in the seventeenth century,
have had a long and famous involvement with ships and with men.

The Honourable East India Company's ships berthed at Blackwall Reach,
discharging their "rich" cargoes, and creating a local "power-house",
whilst trade exchanges helped to bolster mercantile and commercial
power in London.  In later years, the West India Docks, the Blackwall
frigates, and the "clipper" ships, were each to make their mark in the
world of the merchant.

Blackwall Yard, lying between the East and West India Docks, on the
north bank of the River Thames, has been a shipbuilding yard for over
300 years.  The 19th century firm of Green and Wigram, together with
many other firms built ships there, and Hellyers  - a family of figurehead
carvers had their workshop at the yard.

Still at Blackwall, but. now looking at Blackwall Wharf, the Trinity House
Corporation had its workshops here  - its buoys and lightships
maintained at the wharf.  In the nearby shipbuilding yard, were also built
Trinity vessels  - both for use in British coastal waters, as well as for use
in Trinity House's "Imperial Service", in far off seas.

Although one branch of the Powditch family did have associations with
the Honourable East India Company (as Volume 5 will reveal), Robert's
family had a closer affinity with the Trinity House Service.  After all, were
not his father, and his brother, both Lighthouse Keepers  -  and others
within the same family had been involved with "floating lights" within the
"Service".

Unfortunately, although Robert was indentured to a Shipwright, the
actual indenture has either been lost, or mislaid  - thus denying
descendants any details relating to Robert's employer, or indeed, the
terms and conditions of his apprenticeship.  As a result, we can only
wonder as to which shipyard he was apprenticed, and in what type of
"craft" he learnt his trade.  We are also left wondering, whether during
the period of his apprenticeship he ever had to sail the high seas to
distant shores, or sail the coastal waters of Britain  - or indeed whether
he ever left the dockyard on a ship.

In 1836, when Robert was only aged 14 years old, the Births and Deaths
Registration Act, together with the Marriages Act, was introduced, with
Civil Registration (as we know it today) commencing on 1 July 1837.  
Apart from human error in recording (or omitting) details, Civil
Registration for England and Wales was compulsory, and required
everybody to inform the Registrar of birth, marriage or death details  -
a penalty being levied an those failing to comply.  Until the mid-1970s,
the General Registry Office (housing the Birth,     
 - 107 -

"Peerless Powditchs"
Vol.3 Norfolk Vacated

Marriage and Death     Registers) was housed at Somerset House,
London, although in 1974, the Office was moved, not far away, to
St. Catherine's House  - also in London.

According to the St. Catherine's Register of Marriages, there is not an
entry recorded for Robert Powditch in England or Wales, which appears
to indicate that his marriage may have been registered in Scotland,
Ireland, the Channel islands, or "outside" Britain  - or conversely may
highlight his having failed to register the "event".

From a. recently acquired birth certificate, we discover that Robert's
first son, Francis Wells, was born on the third of August 1847, at
12 Chrisp Street, Poplar.  According to the Certificate, Robert Powditch,
a Shipwright, was married to  -  Jane Powditch (formerly Shawl), and
the birth of their son was registered on the 25th August 1847.

Whilst not conclusively proved to date, Robert and Jane would appear
to have had a second son - Robert Metcalf (or possibly Robert John
Metcalf)  - who was born in the late summer of 1852.  In later years, a
Robert John M. Powditch married in the Mile End district of London
around July 1875, and there is a strong possibility that two Poplar-born
children  - William James M. (born 1876), and Ada Jane (born 1877;
died 1881), could have been the offspring of this marriage.

Robert and Jane may also have had a daughter  -  Mary Jane (born in
1861)  -  but by that year there was another Powditch family living in the
area, and Mary Jane could have been their daughter.

As details of Robert Metcalf and Mary Jane are extremely "sketchy" at
the moment, I will not surmise any further, but will be continuing research
into Poplar and Stepney Powditch's, and hope to provide conclusive
information at a later date.

That the family remained in the area for many years is evidenced by the
number of birth, marriage and death certificates issued within the District
of Poplar, and it is to those sources of information that we must currently
turn to discover more details about Robert, his wife and their children.  It
is also from the certificates that we discover that Robert, far from his
birth-place of Wells-next-the-Sea, died at Poplar at the end of 1881,
aged 58 years old, and that his widow, Jane, followed him five years later,
at the beginning of 1886, when she died, aged 65.
- 108 -

"Peerless Powditchs"
Vol.3 Norfolk Vacated

Robert and Jane's first. child - Francis Wells - who was born on 3 August
1847, seems to have "followed in his father's footsteps", for on various
later certificates, we learn that Francis Wells was a Shipwright, and (from
Marjorie Stein's information) also learned his trade at Blackwall, London.  
We also, from Francis' marriage certificate  - dated some 26 years later -
may have discovered the family's home address,  for when Francis Wells
Powditch, on 22 October 1873, married Sarah Ann Fenwick, his
"Residence at the time of Marriage", was given as  - 16 Dorsett Street,
in the Parish of Stepney.

Francis Wells, a Bachelor, aged 26, married Sarah, a young widow,
aged 28, who had been living at 7 Laura Terrace, in the Parish of
Stepney.  Both signed their names, although one of their witnesses  -
Julia Ann Barker, had to make her mark (X).  The other witness,
Ithiel (?) Price, signed his or her name.

An error was made on the entry in the Parish Register.     Francis Wells'
father, as we have previously learned  - was Robert.  The Register
however (possibly a clerical error), shows Francis Wells' father as
being  -  Francis Wells !

Sarah's father's name was given as William Howard  - thus disclosing
to us her maiden name, prior to her marriage to Mr. Fenwick (deceased).  

The marriage was "solemnized" in the Parish Church of St. Dunstan,
Stepney, and the curate signed his name to the effect that Francis and
Sarah had been "Married in the Parish Church, according to the Rites
and Ceremonies of the Established Church, after Banns by Me, Alfred
Love, Curate".

From the marriage between Francis Wells Powditch, and Sarah Ann
Fenwick, the union was to produce three (definite) sons.  However, at
the risk of being proved wrong in my later research,     I am going to
state (based on calculations of  "available" Powditch's living in the
Districts of Poplar and Stepney during the period 1847 to 1886) that I
believe that Francis and Sarah had as many as eight children.

This startling suggestion requires names, dates and reasons.

As we have read earlier, Francis cool Sarah in 1873.  Their first child
Robert John H, (the "H" standing for Sarah's maiden name of "Howard"),
who was born in 1874. Their second child was Wells Charles, born in
1884, and their third child was John Metcalf, who was
- 109 -

"Peerless Powditchs"
Vol.3 Norfolk Vacated

born in 1886 - or were they really the first, second and third children of
the marriage?

Marjorie Stein (daughter of Wells Charles) has advised me on several
occasions in the past, that her father had told her that;-

a) Sarah Ann was Francis' 2nd wife,
                      and that,   
                  b) he (Wells Charles) had one true brother - John Metcalf  -
                      plus step-brothers and a step-sister.

From Francis and Sarah's marriage certificate, we have already seen
that at their marriage, Francis was a Bachelor, and Sarah, a widow  -  
so it was Sarah's second marriage, and not Francis'.

Being a widow, there may well have been children from Sarah's first
marriage, which would agree with Wells Charles' comments regarding
step-brothers and a step-sister.

I am puzzled however about Wells Charles' comments regarding his
"one true brother", unless it was meant in the context of being his
"closest" brother, and someone that he was able to turn turn to in, or
with, confidence. James Robert Powditch (grandson of Wells Charles'
brother  -  Robert John H) had advised me that R.J.H. had had
3 brothers and 2 sisters - which doesn't confirm the "one brother"
comment, although it also doesn't negate the closeness between Wells
Charles and his "one true brother".

James Robert advised me that the 4 brothers were;-

Robert John H.
his Grandfather
Wells Charles
father of Marjorie Stein
Jack
which was the nickname of John Metcalf
Jim
a nickname for the name James

The sisters may have been their step-sisters, or may be as I will advise
further on.
- 110 -

"Peerless Powditchs"
Vol.3 Norfolk Vacated

Births of Powditch's in the district of Poplar during the period 1847 to
1886 are as follows  - their father's name and date of marriage being
shown alongside each entry;-

YEAR
CHILD
FATHER
MARRIED
1847     
Francis Wells     
Robert
1846?
1852     
Robert Metcalf
Robert
1846?
1858     
James Thomas Bell     
Thomas
1857
1861     
Mary Jane     
Thomas?
1857
1869     
Elizabeth Catherine
Thomas?
1857
1874     
Robert John H
Francis Wells     
1873
1876
James Wells     
*
1876     
William James M
Robert Metcalf?
1875
1877     
Ada Jane
Robert Metcalf?
1875
1878     
Wells Richard
*
1880
Ellen Kate
Robert Metcalf
1875
1880     
William Charles
*
1882     
Thomas Alexander
*
1883     
Percy Robert     
Robert Metcalf
1875
1884     
Wells Charles
Francis Wells     
1873
1885
Alice Ada
*
1886     
John Metcalf
Francis Wells
1873
As can be seen,  the majority of children are accounted for, even if the
father in a couple of instances is still unknown to me.  There are however,
five children, whom I have starred (*) that I believe are the offspring of
Francis and Sarah.

Robert John H. was the first child of the marriage.  A two or three year
gap between children, whilst unusual, is not abnormal, but here we find,
after Robert's birth, a 10 year gap until Wells Charles birth, and then a
two year gap to John Metcalf's birth.

A closer look, however, at the children starred (*), above, discloses
some distressing information.

Year of Birth
Child
Year of Death
Age
1876               
James Wells     
unknown
?
1878               
Wells Richard
1879
1
1880               
William Charles
1881
1
1882               
Thomas Alexander
1887
5
1885               
Alice Ada
1885
0
With the exception of James Wells  - who is, I believe, the "Jim" referred
to on the previous page  -  all the other children (except
- 111 -

"Peerless Powditchs"
Vol.3 Norfolk Vacated

Alice Ada:) were born before Wells Charles' birth.  Also, Alice and
Thomas, all had died before Wells Charles' was born.

In an age, where, in large Cities such as London,     Birmingham,
Liverpool, etc, there was a very high level of infant mortality, due to poor
living conditions, bad sanitation, dietary problems, disease, and many
other 19th century every-day occurrences, high birth rates were
matched by the equally high death rates  - at all ages.  Whether Robert,
James Wells, and John, would have been told by their parents - in later
years  -  of the loss of their other children, their babies, is a
debateable subject.  Certainly, by the time that Robert John Howard
was aged 27 years old, James Wells aged 25, Wells Charles aged 17,
and John Metcalf aged 15, their Mother, Sarah Ann had died (1901),
aged 52  - and just two years later, they were orphaned, when their father,
Francis Wells, died, in 1903, at the age of 59.

During 1874, the year that Gladstone resigned, and Disraeli became
Prime Minister of Great Britain  - Sarah Ann (Francis Wells' wife) gave
birth to their first child  - a son  - Robert John Howard Powditch.  The
birth was recorded in the district of Poplar, East London, and
registered between April and June.

The twenty-four year period between Robert John H's birth, and that of
his marriage, has failed to uncover any details, other than the loose
description that he was a "Seaman"  - apparently working on a steam-
tug in the area of the River Thames. Following his marriage, at Poplar,
in 1898, (registered between April and June), to Emma Harris  - who
hailed from the nearby parish of Stepney  -  Robert John H, and Emma
were have 14 children  -   7 sons, and 7 daughters !

They were;

Robert Charles
born in 1898 at Poplar (Registered between April
and June).
Known as Charles within the family, he was killed,
during the First World War, in France.
Sarah Jane M
born in 1899 at Poplar, (Registered between July
and September).
Known as "Sarah" (did the M = Metcalfe ?) she
married James Chipperfield, and they had two
sons; James and Herbert.
- 112 -

"Peerless Powditchs"
Vol.3 Norfolk Vacated


William
born in 1902 at Poplar (Registered between
October and December).
William, who went to live in Bow, London, married
Ivy Morley, and they had one son, William (now
(1989) living at Talley, in Dyfed, South Wales)  -
and 3 daughters  - Betty, Jean, and Dorothy.
William (senior) is now deceased.
Mary Ann
born at Poplar in 1904 (Registered between
October and December).
known just by her first name of "Mary", she married
Alfie Chipperfield, (brother to the James
Chipperfield who had married her older sister,
Sarah), and they had four children;
Alfie, Dinah, Jimmy, and Ethel.
Amy     
born at Poplar in 1906 (Registered between
October and December).
Amy died, aged 2 years old, in 1909 (Registered
between January and March).
James
born at Poplar on 18 September 1908.
he married Doris ....... who was born at "Isle of
Dogs", East London, and they had one son  -
James Robert  - and 2 daughters  - Joan and
Veronica.
James (senior) died on 23 April 1985.
Ellen
born at Poplar in 1912 (Registered between April
and June).
Known as "Nell", she married Arthur Manctlon,
and they had one child  - a daughter, Betty.
Ellen is now deceased.
Of the remaining seven children, few details have been given to me
about them, other than those given below.  The result of this, is that the
following children of Robert John H, and Emma may not necessarily be
in the correct order of their birth.


George
born (date and place not known to me)
He married Rene ..........
The couple lived at Chislehurst, Kent, and had
one son, George, and one daughter, Christine.
George (senior) died in approx' 1983.
- 113 -

"Peerless Powditchs"
Vol.3 Norfolk Vacated


Fred
born (date and place not known to me)
He married Ivy .......
The couple lived at Dagenham, and had two
daughters, Ivy, and ... .......
Fred is now deceased.
Kathleen
born approx' 1919.
She married Bob ........
The couple live at Poplar.
Kathleen and Bob didn't have any children.
Johnny
All four children
died whilst they were babies.
No details are known regarding
dates of birth or death.
Violet
Alfie
Emma     

Like many of the young lads in the early days of the 20th Century,
Robert Charles  -  first born son of Robert John H, and Emma  -  
volunteered to fight against the aggressive Triple Alliance of Germany,
Austria, and Italy.

This Triple Alliance was divided against the Triple Entente of Russia,
France and England before 1914, and the murder of the Archduke
Franz Ferdinand of Austria, and his wife, on 28 June 1914, made the
excuse possible for an Austrian declaration of war, on Serbia.

In turn, Russia supported Serbia; Germany declared war on France,
and violated Belgian neutrality  - the result of this being that Britain, in
support of both France and Belgium, declared war on Germany
(4 August).  Two days later, Austria declared war on Russia and France.

Robert Charles, having volunteered, was, similar to any other young
Powditch's, and thousands of other First World War volunteers, posted  -  
after a short training period -  to France, marching along lanes, "foreign"
to the British boots.  During the period 1914 - 1918, when the British
Empire alone was shocked by the deaths of over 1,000,000 of its
loyal male subjects, many of the Powditch parents were to receive an
"enclosed message of sympathy from their Gracious Majesties the
King and Queen".   In this way, Robert John H, and Emma were to learn
the shattering news that their first-born son had been killed in action.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- 114 -

"Peerless Powditchs"
Vol.3 Norfolk Vacated

Second son of Robert John H. and Emma, was William, who was born
in 1902.  William, who married Ivy Morley, later went to live at Bow, in
East London.  However, whether this was the "Bow" of Bow Creek,
situated midway between Blackwall and Canning Town, close to the
Trinity House "Buoy" wharf  - or the "Bow" made famous by its "Big Bell",
has yet to be made clear.

William and Ivy had four children  - one son who was named William,
(after his father)  -  and three daughters, who  (I have been advised)
were named Betty, Jean, and Dorothy.

To date, although I have little more information on this branch of the
family (other than that William, senior, is now deceased), a slip-up by
British Telecom, in 1997, may indirectly help to add some "flesh" to the
few "bones" in the future,  for "The Phone Book" covering Swansea and
South-West Wales, disclosed the ex-directory telephone number and
address of William (the son), and his wife.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

On 18 September 1908, the year that saw Asquith becoming Prime
Minister; the King and Crown Prince of Portugal being assassinated in
Lisbon; an earthquake occurring in Sicily and Southern Italy, which
destroyed Messina and many other towns; and the "Children's Act"
being passed  - which was to protect children against several evils
(including children being taken into the bars of Public Houses)  -  James,
the third son of Robert John H. and Emma, was born at Poplar.

James, whose early years have not yet been researched, married - in
the year 1931 -  young Doris .......  Both were aged 23 years old, Doris
having been born on the Isle of Dogs, East London, on 3 September
1908.

The couple were to have three children;  one son, and two daughters.

They were;

Joan
born 2 August 1932 at Canning Town, East London.
Jean married Stanley Ward, and they have two
children; Christopher and Janice.
- 115 -

"Peerless Powditchs"
Vol.3 Norfolk Vacated

James Robert.
born 20 July 1935 at Canning Town, East London.
He married Evelyn Mary Warburton, on 9 March
1957, at Chatham, Kent.
The couple have three children;  Mark, Gillian, and
Amanda.
Veronica
born 31 May 1940 at Poplar, East London.
Veronica married Keith Harris and they have two
children; Martin and Nancy.
James (the father)'s occupation, was that of crane-driver  -  the riverside
wharfs and many docks in and around Blackwall, and the Isle of Dogs,
being lined by scores of stark cranes, their metalwork pointing skywards.  
James' employment was not at any particular dock, although he mostly
worked on the River Lea, situated just off the River Thames.  One
wonders, therefore, whether James was subject to the dock labour
system of "calling on".

In her book "Anchor and Hope", Jo Anderson makes reference to a
docker by the name of James Gray, who, in 1888 (twenty years before
James' birth), described his experiences of "calling on" to a select
Committee of the House of Lords  -  which had been formed to look at
the sweating system.

"As a rule I have to struggle for employment.  Yesterday
I earned two and threepence, this is the first work I have
done since last Friday...   I have been down at the London Docks,
No. 5 gate every morning since last Friday, at the usual hour
of calling on, that is, eight thirty a.m. and I have been
unsuccessful in obtaining employment until yesterday;
yesterday I was there from eight thirty till eleven thirty.
At eleven thirty I should say that there was something like
350 men waiting for employment at this special gate. A
contractor by the name of Clemence came to the gate, for I
think it was, fourteen men; it was either fourteen or
sixteen men; of course there was a struggle. As I said
before, they have a certain number of tickets to give out;
and there was a struggle between us men at the gate who
should be lucky enough, as it were, to gain one of these
tickets.
It is a common occurrence for men to get seriously
injured in a struggle like that.  Your Lordships may imagine
a kind of cage, as it were, where men struggle like wild
beasts; we stand upon one another's shoulders.  I myself
have had eight or ten men on my shoulders and my head,
and I have been hurt several times in a struggle for
- 116 -

"Peerless Powditchs"
Vol.3 Norfolk Vacated

employment like that, though I have been at the docks
every morning at the usual time for calling on...   the usual
time I Am fortunate enough to get employment is between
eleven and one o'clock; that is to say, I have the
privilege, it may be called, of earning from one and
ninepence to two and sixpence ...''

The "calling on" system was not abolished until 1965.  At the same time,
"piece work"  was also abolished, and a regular working wage, and
security of employment for registered dockers, was established.

James (senior) lived to the age of 76 years old, before dying from cancer,
on 23 April 1985.  He was buried at Ripple Road Cemetery.  Although no
longer living at Poplar, James' widow, Doris, is still (in 1989) alive, aged
80.

James' Robert, their only son, was born in Canning Town  -  at the end
of the East India Dock Road, East London  - on 20 July 1935  - the same
year seeing a General Election  - Baldwin being returned to power with
the National Government; and the celebration of King George V's Silver
Jubilee.

At the age of 15 years old, James' Robert was apprenticed as a
"lighterman" on the River Thames.  Having finished his apprenticeship,
he was employed by the Port of London Authority until 1979   -  and
even today, still possesses his lighterman's licence.

According to Basil E. Cracknell, in his book, "Portrait of London River",
he makes reference to the Thames Lighter, as being;

"so called, because when it receives a ship's cargo, that ship
has been "lightened".   It has been dubbed the "taxi of the port",
and it plays a fundamental role in the whole operation of
the port.  Because of the system of Legal Quays and
Sufferance Wharves adopted before 1800, the practice grew up
of transferring goods from vessels moored at these quays
into lighters, so that they could be moved to other wharves
and warehouses elsewhere on the river.
The use of lighters has the great advantage that when
a vessel arrives with several different types ef cargo, these
can be more economically distributed to their respective
destinations by water, than they can by road  - whether the
cargo is first deposited in a quayside warehouse and then
shifted by road or lighter, or unloaded directly into the
- 117 -

"Peerless Powditchs"
Vol.3 Norfolk Vacated

lighter over the ship's side.  The lighter was a basic
neccesity for the efficient operation of the port. At one
time, there were over 600 wharves on the tidal Thames,
and the lighters were the "lorries" which plied up and
down this great commercial artery.
Only thirty years ago, no port in the world made greater
use of lighters. There were over 5,000 "dumb" lighters
(i.e. lighters that have no engines) in the Part of London,
including 2,732 open lighters, 1,547 hatched lighters,
318 tank lighters, 149 insulated lighters, and 340
canal-size barges; they had a total carrying capacity
at any one time of well over a million tons.''

On 9 March 1957, James Robert Powditch married Evelyn Mary
Warburton.  He was aged 22 years old, and Evelyn was aged 24 years
old.

Their marriage was held at Evelyn's home town of Chatham, in Kent;
home also, to the Royal Naval shipyards.

James Robert and Evelyn Mary had three children; one son, and two
daughters. They were;-

Mark
born 3 December 1957, at Bow, East London.
He married Irene Hutchins, at Bermondsey, on
24 October 1981.
They have one child  - a son  - Ross.
Gillian
born 1 September 1959, at Chatham, Kent.
She married James Munro, at Poplar, on
15 November 1980.
They have one child  - a son  - James (known as
Jimmy).
Amanda
born 30 September 1964, at Poplar.
Amanda is still single (in 1989).
After leaving his job as a "lighterman" , James Robert went to work as a
labourer for Tower Hamlets Council.  Today, James Robert and his wife
Evelyn Mary still live in Poplar, East London, although James is currently
working on the new Canary Wharf Development, in the Isle of Dogs area.

Situated near the old Millwall Dock, this new Dockland development on
the site of the old Olsen Shipping Line shed  -  the area being in
- 118 -

"Peerless Powditchs"
Vol.3 Norfolk Vacated

the order of 3 acres.  Long gone are the four hundred men, who used to
offload tomatoes, bananas, and flowers, all from the Canary Islands  -   
now in their place are thousands of workmen helping to build this new
housing and sports complex.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Only son of the couples' marriage, is Mark, who was born at St. Andrew's
Hospital, Bow  (East London) on 12 December 1957.  At the age of 23
years old, Mark married Irene Hutchins, of Bermondsey, South-east
London; the wedding being on Saturday, 24 October 1981.

Mark  -  who is employed as a Container Repairer, with Oversea
Containers Ltd  -  and Irene, have one child - a son - Ross, who was
born on 24 March 1983, at Guy's Hospital, Borough, London.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

James Robert and Evelyn's eldest daughter is Gillian  -  born at
Chatham, Kent, on 1 September 1959.  Currently (1989) a Housewife,
she married James Munro  -  who hailed from the Isle of Dogs, East
London, on 15 November 1980, at Poplar.

On 14 April 1981, the couples' only child  - a son, - was born at London
Hospital, Mile End, East London.  He was named James (known as
Jimmy)  - thus ensuring the continuance of not only his father's and
grandfather's christian name, but also perpetuating a Powditch christian
name stretching back to at least the 1500s.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Third child, and second daughter of James Robert and Evelyn Mary's
marriage, is Amanda.

Born on 30 September 1964, at home in Poplar, Amanda is single, and
is currently (1989) employed as an Administrative Assistant with Tower
Hamlets Council.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Approximately 90 years before Amanda's birth, Francis Wells and
Sarah Ann's second surviving child was James Wells Powditch, whose
birth, at, Poplar, was registered at the beginning of 1876.  History has
so far disclosed little detail of this son, who not only "went to sea", but
who also ....."went out of the house one evening, and was never seen
again".

>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<
- 119 -

"Peerless Powditchs"
Vol.3 Norfolk Vacated

Wells Charles Powditch was the third Child Of Francis Wells and Sarah
Ann to survive the high mortality rate, both within the family, and within the
district.

Born On Friday, 8 August 1884 at Poplar  -  the year that General
Gordon volunteered to go to the Soudan [sic. Sudan]  -  Wells Charles
may, or may not, have known about the births and deaths of his parents'
other children, but certainly by the time that he was aged 17 years old,
it was too late to ask his mother, Sarah Ann  - for in 1901, she had died.

Following the death of his mother, the young Wells Charles left home  -
although he remained in the district  -  and went to live with a Jewish
man with one or two daughters, and for whom he worked.  Marjorie
Stein (nee Powditch) who met them when she was very young has .....

"a vague impression of them  -  just that they were very
pleasant, kindly people, who were delighted to
see my father.''     

Although the family tradition of work had been with Shipping and the
sea, Wells Charles didn't follow in the footsteps of his predecessors, for
at the time of his marriage on 22 February 1914, his "Rank or
Profession" was shown as "Liftman".

Wells Charles,  Iike his father before him, incurred definitely one error,
and possibly two, on his certificate of marriage  -  for he was certainly
older than the certificate states, and there is also a discrepancy in his
father's stated profession.

The marriage was solemnised at St. Matthias Church, in the Parish
of Poplar, London, on 22 February 1914.  Wells Charles Powditch, a
Bachelor, aged 26 (should have read "aged 30") married Florence
Emma Tingey, aged 22, a Spinster (Florence had been born on
15 September 1891, in "London").

Wells Charles' address was given as 4 Plimsoll Street, and Florence's
as 308 High Street.  Both partners' fathers were shown as "deceased"
  -  Francis Wells having died in 1903  -   although I don't know when
William Thomas Tingey died.

Interestingly, Francis Wells, who we know to have been a "Shipwright",
had his profession stated as being a "Carpenter"  -  which might be a
clue as to the specific trade he followed under the heading of
"Shipwright".  The vicar's handwriting, whilst mainly legible, has
- 120 -

"Peerless Powditchs"
Vol.3 Norfolk Vacated

foiled me, so far, in the discovery of William Thomas Tingey's
"profession".

Witnesses to the marriage, were Walter William Tingey (brother?), and
Isabel Elizabeth Tingey (mother? sister?), and the certificate was
signed by Morris Roberts (Vicar).

1914 marshalled in a year of change, starting with the Home Rule Bill
for Ireland, the stopping of the previously allowed right of voters to vote
in more than one constituency, and the outbreak of the First World War.  
In February however, all was well with Wells and Florence, and it was
to be several months before the murder of Archduke Ferdinand and
his wife at Sarajevo, and the subsequent declarations of war, invasions
on European soil, and the British involvement, were to occur.

By 1916, Wells Charles was employed as a Chauffeur.  In the same
year, Wells and Florence became proud parents when the first of their
children was born.  Four years later, in 1920/1921, there was great
disappointment when an expected child was still-born  - but joy
appeared again when their third child was born in 1927.

Wells and Florence's children, were;-

Marjorie Ethel Wells
born 22 August 1916 at Plumstead, London.
"Still-born" son
born 1920/1921.  No further known details.
Gillian
born 28 August 1927
Marjorie, who currently lives at Abbey Wood  -  in the district of
Plumstead, near Greenwich  - married Emil Stein (born 3 June 1920, at
Revnice Czechoslovakia),  on 28 February 1952, just 22 days after the
death of King George VI.

Marjorie, has, in her working career, been a cashier in a Tea and Rubber
Merchants, as well as being a housewife and Mother.  Emil, before he
retired, was a lecturer in Metallurgy.

Their only child, Janet Susan, was born in     Lewisham Hospital, near
London, on 15 March 1953.  Janet, a former Art Student, and who is
now an Antique Dealer, married Timothy Ahern, on 24 June 1974, at
Woolwich, near London.
- 121 -

"Peerless Powditchs"
Vol.3 Norfolk Vacated

Gillian (also known as Jill) is an ex-GLC (Greater London Council)
employee, and is unmarried.  She currently lives near her sister Marjorie,
at Abbey Wood.

During his lifetime, Wells Charles followed a number of occupations.  
On his marriage certificate, he is shown as a "Liftman"  -  by 1916, he
had become a "Chauffeur", and by the time of his death (on his death
certificate) he was recorded as having been a "retired Wheelwright".  
According to his daughter, Marjorie, he had also been an "Engineering
Fitter and Maintenance Man".

Wells Charles Powditch died, aged 81, on 15 April 1966, and just over
six years later, on 22 December 1972, Florence Emma, his widow, also
died.  Their lives, both as individuals, and together as man and wife,
had spanned events long written into history books  - Khartoum and
General Gordon (1884); Queen Victoria's Golden (1887), and Diamond
(1897) Jubilees; the Dreyfus Affair (1899); the Boer War (1899-1900);  
Queen Victoria's death (1901); Three Coronations (Edward VII,
George VI and Elizabeth II);  Two World Wars (1914-1918 and 1939-
1945)  -  and much more besides.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<

On 26 August 1886 at 11 Union Street Poplar. the fourth son, and last
surviving child, of Francis Wells and Sarah Ann, was born.  Named on
his Birth Certificate as John Metcalf Powditch, the event was registered
by his father, "F.W.Powditch"   -  a  "Shipwright"  - but not until 7 October -  
42 days later !

John Metcalf, whose middle      name has also been recorded elsewhere
as "Medcalfe", had, by his 15th year, seen his Mother die, and by his
17th birthday,  had also seen his Father's death.  Little wonder then, that
at his own wedding, several years later, in 1914, he was to give an
incorrect christian name for his Father, as well as stating his own age
as being two years younger than he actually was.

St. Matthias' Church, in the Parish of Poplar, was originally the Chapel
of the East India Company, whose docks were nearby.  Although
originally built in 1650, Victorian alterations caused some change in
the late 1860s.  Inside the Church, however, there still are pillars in the
"Tuscan" style, which were once masts, salvaged from old East India
Company ships, following their demise at the ship-breakers' yard.
- 122 -

"Peerless Powditchs"
Vol.3 Norfolk Vacated

Sunday, 12 April 1914, saw 26 year old (27½ year old actually) John
Powditch, a Bachelor, whose profession was "Carman", marrying
Mabel May Barling  - a 22 year old Spinster  - at St. Matthias Church.

Both John  -  whose middle name of Metcalf was omitted  - and Mabel,
who was born on 3 May 1892, lived in Cottage (or Collage) Street;  
John at No. 41 and Mabel at No. 47).

John's father, as we already know, was Francis Wells, whose
occupation was a "Shipwright"  - yet John advised the Registrar at the
time of the marriage, that his father's name was Richard Powditch
(deceased), and that his "rank or profession" was that of a "Labourer" !

Although one of the possible children of Francis Wells and Sarah Ann
had been Wells Richard  - born 1878, died 1879, aged 1 year old  - no
other mention by present day grandchildren of Francis Wells had
disclosed that he had a "nickname" of Richard  - and yet the name
appears on John's Marriage Certificate.  Equally puzzling, is the
reference to Richard (= Francis Wells) being a "Labourer".

Mabel May Barling's father  - William Barling  - was recorded both on
his daughter's birth and marriage Certificates, as being a "Ships [or
Ship] Scraper"  - with the word "Journeyman" also written on the Birth
Certificate.

The couple had seven children; two sons, and five daughters.

They were;-

Mabel
born 21 December 1914, at Poplar.
A "tailoress", she married James Cook,
and they had 2 children; James and John.
Mabel died 23 May 1987, from Heart
Disease.
She was cremated on 2 June 1987, at
Enfield Crematorium.
John Charles
born 21 January 1917, at Poplar.
He married Edna Joyce Pepper, at
Peasenhall, Suffolk, on 22 September 1945.
The couple had 5 children, although only
two children, - Philip John and Elizabeth
Mary, are still alive.
- 123 -

"Peerless Powditchs"
Vol.3 Norfolk Vacated

Thomas Luke
born 5 June 1919, at Poplar
He married Lilian Frances Tucker, on
27 July 1946, at Bow, London, and they had
one child; Linda Ann.
Mary and
Louise
Twins.
born 20 August 1921, at Poplar.
Mary married Ben Mason, and they had
2 children; Kenneth and Kathleen.

Louise married Frank White, and they had
one child; Alan.
Louise died on 4 May 1985, from Kidney
failure, and a Diabetic condition.
She was buried in the City of London
Cemetery.
Annie
born 14 March 1923, at Poplar.
She married Arthur Lee, and they had one
child  -  David John.
Violet
born 28 April 1926, at Poplar.
Violet died in 1933, at the age of 7 years
old, from peritonitis, and she was buried at
East London Cemetery.
John Metcalf Powditch, father of the above seven children, was
employed by a haulage contractor, both before, and for a long time after,
his marriage, as a "Horse Carman".  The work mainly involved
deliveries within the London Docks, emphasis being particularly in the
import and export markets.

Dying on 7 November 1956, at Mile End Hospital, Stepney, East
London, John Medcalfe [sic] Powditch, whose previous address had
been 19, Lockhart Street, Stepney, was aged 70 years old, and death
was caused by a Coronary Thrombosis.  His "Entry of Death"
Certificate stated that he had formerly been a "Builder's Labourer",
although when the transition in employment, from "Horse Carman"
occurred, has not vet been revealed.

First son of John Metcalf and Mabel May, was John Charles Powditch,
who was born at Poplar, East London, on 21 January 1917  - the year
that saw the U.S.A. entering the First World War  -  and the Russian
Revolution.
- 124 -

"Peerless Powditchs"
Vol.3 Norfolk Vacated

With John Metcalf's and Robert John H.'s children being born in the
district of Poplar, it is not surprising that there was much contact
between the families.  John Charles recalls that he .....

"knew all my cousins from my Uncle 'Bob', i.e. Robert John H,
and I know that Aunt Emma's name was Harris.  I spent a lot
of time with them when I was young, up until the 2nd War
years.  After the war we lost touch, I suppose through our
homes being damaged by the Air Raids and moving apart from
each other after Marriage.
Cousins Marjorie and Gillian I knew when younger but we never
saw much of each other, but I knew we are first cousins".

At the London Docks, John Charles followed the trade of his father, by
his becoming a "Bonded Carman"  - the only difference being due to
the march of progress, which saw the horse of his father's day, being
replaced by a motor vehicle.

With German armies surrendering in Italy and Germany, and the final
unconditional surrender of Germany to the Allies on 7 May 1945,
together with the official surrender of Japan occurring on 12 September  
the same year, the resulting peace, and hopes for the future, saw a
marriage at Peasenhall, Suffolk.

Ten days after the Japanese surrender, John Charles Powditch, on
22 September 1945, married Edna Joyce Pepper, at the Parish Church
of St. Michael's in Peasenhall.  Edna had been born on 13 April 1924, at
Peasenhall, near Suffolk, and thus was seven years younger than John
Charles.

After their marriage, the couple settled in Suffolk, living first at
Halesworth, which lay inland, and parallel to Southwold  - and in later
years, moving to Wickham Market, near Woodbridge, in the southern
part of the County.

The couple were to have five children, although sadly, three were to
die prematurely, including twin boys, who were still-born on 16 December
1948.

John Charles and Edna Joyce's children were;-

Jennifer Ann
born 20 October 1946.
Jennifer Ann died, aged 10 years old,
on 3 June 1957, from cancer.
- 125 -

"Peerless Powditchs"
Vol.3 Norfolk Vacated

Twin boys"
still-born on 16 December 1948,
Philip John
born 25 September 1958, at Halesworth,
Suffolk.
currently (1989) unmarried, Philip John is
employed as an Instrument Fitter.
Elizabeth Mary
born 18 July 1960 at Halesworth, Suffolk.
currently (1989) unmarried, Elizabeth Mary is
an Accountant.

Today, John Charles Powditch and his family live at  Wickham Market.
Having left the London Dockside trade of  "Bonded Carman"  when the
couple married at Peasenhall in 1945, John Charles worked for many
years as a "Mechanical Maintenance Fitter's Mate" in a Power Station
in Suffolk.  Now retired, he is able to follow many interests  - one of
which, saw him and his family flying to America in 1988.     

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Second son of John Metcalf and Mabel May, was Thomas Luke, who
was born at Poplar, on 5 June 1919  - the year that President Wilson's
Project - the "League of Nations"  - was established.          

Thomas Luke, who is known as "Tom"  within the family, went to work as
a Post Office worker upon leaving school.  At the age of 27, he married  
Lilian Frances Tucker, at Bow, East London  - the marriage being on
27 July 1946.  The couple only had one child   -  a daughter, Linda Ann
  - who was born on 9 April 1949, at Bow.  Linda Ann is currently
employed as a School Teacher.

Tom is (1989) now retired, although he is kept active through his
involvement with dancing.  For years having lived at Bow, he now lives
at Charlton, south of the Thames, and downstream from Greenwich.     
>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<

When Robert Powditch left his native Wells-next-the-Sea in the early
1840s, and moved south, to Poplar, East London, the population of the
Capital was already fast increasing from its 1801 total of less than a
million.

By early 1848, the year after Francis Wells' birth, figures relating to
"Mortality in the Metropolis" highlighted that the "East District",
- 126 -

"Peerless Powditchs"
Vol.3 Norfolk Vacated

which included Poplar, had a local population of 392,444 persons.  In
the same district, deaths at the start of the new year of 1848, were
averaging 440 per week  - causes for the deaths including "Hooping
cough [sic]; Bronchitis; Pneumonia; Phthisis; Fever; Epidemic diseases;
and Diseases of respiratory organs"  - the last named being by far the
largest killer.

Fortunately, Robert, and most of his descendants, lived through the years
of sickness, and of epidemics  -  although the River Thames, right on
their doorsteps, was one of the worst contributary factors to many of the
fatal diseases.

Despite 19th century deaths in the family, there have been  - since
Robert's arrival at Poplar, and his marriage to Jane Shawl, a
considerable number of descendants.

Today, however, as the 20th century gradually draws to a close, those
descended from the Poplar Powditch's, and in a position to further the
surname, are in the minority;   Mark, his son, Ross, and Philip John.






- 127 -


About Me  |   Contact  |   Guest Book  | Site Map
Peerless Powditch's
Volume 3, Norfolk Vacated
You are here:  home  >  Peerless Powditch  >  chapter 10