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Chapter 9
SAMUEL - Far, Far and Away
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Only child of Samuel (or Samual) and Ann (nee Kendle/Kindle), and
apparently named after his father, Samuel was born on 6 June 1806, and
christened seventeen days later, on 23 June. He was born just 15 months
after his parents' marriage.
Whether Ann had complications at the birth of Samuel, or whether either
Ann or her husband Samuel had fertility problems in later years is
unknown, for unlike earlier or later Powditch's with their huge families,
Samuel and Ann were only blessed with one child.
But what a child. Unlike his father, who only lived to the age of 57 - (dying
on1 March 1839 from "consumption", his widow Ann also dying of
"consumption" at the age of 57, on 4 March 1844) - Samuel, the son, not
only lived to the grand old age of 79, but along the way, he married, and
had nine (or ten) children, who in their turn, carried the Powditch name
both near and far; in some cases tens of thousands of miles across
oceans to far off lands.
Samuel (junior) is mentioned in many records as being a Shoemaker, thus
carrying on a tradition found in other branches of Powditch families.
According to his death certificate, Samuel (senior) was a Mariner, so
therefore young Samuel may have learned his trade (of Shoemaker) at
the hands of an Uncle, or may have been apprenticed outside the family,
in the leather trade.
On 3 March 1830, at Wells-next-the-Sea, in the parish Church of St.
Nicholas, Samuel married 21 year old Amelia Hall. Her parents were
James Race Hall and Anne (nee Oldham). Both Samuel and Amelia were
single, and Banns were called before Rev. Hill conducted the service.
Samuel and Amelia signed the register, and their witnesses were William
Leeder, Ann Mary Hall (Amelia's Mother? Sister?) and Sarah Woods.
According to the Baptism Register at Wells, it would appear that the
couple had their first child, Amelia, in 1829, the year before they married.
Amelia was however baptised and received into the Church on 17 January
1831, the year after their marriage.
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Children of Samuel and Amelia were therefore as follows;
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After having all those children, Samuel and Amelia stopped. Samuel
must have undertaken a lot of shoe-making to feed and clothe his family.
Either that, or he was like the "old woman in the shoe" ! - but then, judging
by the success of his sons in their various lives, each must have had good
education in their upbringing, for all were successful in their careers.
Not much is known at. the moment about Joseph Samuel - who died in
India - but fortunately, a few letters written from England to James Race
Powditch in Australia have survived, and thus we learn in Samuel's
(James Race's father) letter, dated April 1874, and sent from London,
that;-
The letter, sent from Samuel to his son, James Race, was a reply to one
having been received (whether the latter has been kept in any branch of
family is unknown at the moment). Samuel hadn't heard from his son since
December 1870, and had requested a close friend - Henry. A. Sheaves,
of King's Lynn, to try and find the whereabouts of James Race in Australia.
Henry Sheaves' letter to James Race, sent from Kings Lynn, was dated
24 November 1873, although whether the ship carrying Henry Sheaves
letter went via the Cape of Good Hope, or Cape Horn, is not known; the
journey from England to Australia normally taking a minimum of 86 days -
or just 3 months. As Samuel had, by April 1874 (5 months later), already
received a letter from James Race, both Henry Sheaves and James
Race's letters must have crossed somewhere in mid-ocean !
We can only imagine the joy with which Samuel, his wife Amelia, and their
children, received James Race's letter from Australia, although we can
understand Samuel's comments in his reply;-
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So why had James Race left the shores of Norfolk, and travelled
thousands of miles to a land unknown to him, where many of its
inhabitants, since 1787, had been transported there for a variety of crimes;
where gold had been discovered, and where emigrants had to really put
their shoulders to the wheel in order to make a success of their lives?
Perhaps it was the challenge of a new life in a new Country. Perhaps it
was the thought of leaving the sea, and ships, and of having a land-based
job instead. Perhaps there were troubles at home - although family letters
do not imply this. Whatever the reason however, young James Race - who
between 11 July and 14 September 1861 as an "A.B.Seaman", had
already sailed the Baltic on board the "Lady Gordon Cumming" (a vessel
of 123 tonnes), had, by 1867, not only sailed to Australia, but had married,
and started a family, never to return to his "affectionate father and family".
A story handed down through four generations of Australian descendants
of James Race Powditch, relates that;-
Whether time, and further research, will prove that James Race did
actually witness this historic event., we will have to wait. and see. Also not
uncovered, despite extensive research to date, are details regarding when
and on which vessel, young James later sailed to Australia. A current day
descendant - Patricia Powditch - advises me that he probably landed at;-
On 28 October 1867 we have the first positive sighting of James Race
Powditch in Australia, where - on this day - at Para, River Darling, New
South Wales, he married Catherine Carey.
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James, a bachelor from Norfolk, and Catherine, a spinster from Ireland,
were recorded as being respectively, a Bushman, aged 27, and a
Domestic Servant aged 26. James' parents were given as Samuel
Powditch (Fish Merchant (!) and Amelia Hall, and Catherine's parents, as
William Carey (Farmer) and Johanna Bennet.
Both were married at the residence of James Scott, Esq. Para, River
Darling, according to the "Rites of this Church of Scotland", by James
Milne (Officiating Minister). The Certificate was signed by both James
and Catherine, and witnessed by James Scott, J.P. and William Henfry (?).
On 29 March 1869, at Adelaide, South Australia, Catherine gave birth to
a baby girl, who was baptised Amelia. Was this in memory of James'
Mother? or eldest sister ?
Less than one year later, on 7 February 1870, Catherine died (from
"disease of the heart"), leaving James to bring up 10½ month old baby
Amelia on his own.
Being a working man, we don't know how he managed in the upbringing
ofsuch a young child. As he had married into the Catholic faith, perhaps
he was surrounded by the closeness of the Catholic community, and by
others who were able to help both him and Amelia.
Two years later, in 1872, circumstances changed twice for James Race
Powditch. First, from 1 May that year, James gained employment as a
wireman on the Overland Telegraph Line, between Adelaide and Darwin -
a position he kept until the Line was completed. An original document still
in existence, and seen by Patricia Powditch, confirms this to be fact.
The second change came seven months later, on 21 November 1872,
when, at the age of 32, James married again; this time to Anne (or Annie)
Carney. The marriage was at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Grote Street,
Adelaide.
Anne, had been born in 1840 (1842 ?), her birthplace believed to have
been Cork, Southern Ireland. According to her marriage certificate to
James Race, her father's name was Joseph Carney (although the
certificate didn't give her mother's name). Like Catherine before her,
Anne was a Catholic.
Within Patricia Powditch's own researched history of James Race
Powditch, his wives, and their descendants, she makes the following
statement;-
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The marriage produced five children between 1873 and 1882, of which
only one was a son. Except for the last born however, all the other children
survived, as we shall read in a moment.
As James had been father to six children, the following list includes children
of both Catherine and Anne;-
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James' only son, William Joseph, who was born in 1876, was either born
at, or baptised at, Murray Bridge, Adelaide, South Australia,
Patricia Powditch has sent to me a newspaper clipping (for the
approximate year of 1876), which shows a photograph of a Team of
Bridge Workers who worked on the construction of the rail bridge which
crosses the River Murray at Murray Bridge (about 50 miles east of
Adelaide). A grand-daughter (now deceased) of James Race Powditch
(according to Patricia Powditch), remembered being told by her Auntie
Margaret (James' 3rd child), that her grandfather was in this picture. She
could only recall that he was in, or near, the front. Unfortunately, as no other
photographs are known to exist of James Race Powditch, his exact
position within the newspaper-clipping photo is unknown.
Besides his original involvement with the sea, when he was an
"A. B.Seaman", and his occupation shown as "Bushman" on his wedding
certificate, James Race, between the years 1870, to his death, in 1905,
has been recorded as being;
"1870 - Labourer''
"1872 - Overland Telegraph"
"1876 - Labourerl/Bridge Builder, Murray Bridge"
"1882/1883 - Carpenter"
"1884 - Fireman, Adelaide"
"1884 - Stone Mason, Adelaide''
"1887 - Fireman/Night Watchman, - Queen Victoria Exhibition, Adelaide''
"1892 - Carpenter, Adelaide''
"1905 - Carpenter"
Patricia Powditch, in her history "James sails to a Land - Down Under",
states that;
James Race Powditch died of "Cardiac and Renal disease", on 9 October
1905, aged 65, at Halifax Street, Adelaide, South Australia, and he was
buried on 10 October - two days later. His wife Anne, died on 23 August
1912, at Norwood, Adelaide - aged 72. James, together with his first wife
Catherine, and second wife, Anne, is, buried in the West Tce, Catholic
Cemetery (ref: T8 Lot 23). Neither James Race Powditch, nor his
second wife, Anne (according to the Australian Probate Office) left a Will.
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Only son of James Race and Anne, was William Joseph - born on 16
March 1876 at Murray Bridge, South Australia, where his father was
working as a "Labourer/Bridge Builder". One and a half months later,
baby William Joseph was christened at St. Patrick's Church, Adelaide.
The date was 30 April 1876.
Described in 1900 as being a "Driver", William Joseph, by the time of his
marriage to Ada O'Brien in 1904, had become a "Coach Driver, of
Norwood".
Ada O'Brien was the daughter of William J. O'Brien and Mary Theresa
Barrat, and she had been born in 1878 at North Adelaide, South Australia.
At the time of her marriage to William Joseph Powditch, she was aged 26,
and he was aged 28. The marriage took place on 14 November 1904 at
St. Ignatius Church, Adelaide
William Joseph and Ada had two children - both sons;-
Although still employed as a Coach Driver at the time of his first son's birth
in 1905, William Joseph, by 1910 - when John Francis was born - had
become a "Warehouse Porter". One wonders how long he stayed in that
position, for when he died on 20 August 1950, his death certificate
proclaimed that he was a "retired Motor Driver".
William Joseph Powditch, was 74 years old when he died. His death, at
the Royal Adelaide Hospital, on 20 August 1950 (from a "Coronary
Occlusion Lobar Pneumonia") was followed, two days later, on the 22nd.
by his burial. He was buried in Centennial Park, 'A' Catholic, Row AI,
number 433. Ada lived another 14 years before she too, died. Living at 4 Green Street, St. Morris, Adelaide until her death, she died on 23 June
1964, aged 86, and
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The first son of William Joseph and Ada, was William John Joseph, who
was born on 7 August 1905. Known within the family as "Harold" he
married twice during his life.
His first marriage, to Thelma Cosgrove, in 1927, saw the birth of the
couples' two children - both sons. Eric John was born on 1 August 1927,
and John William was born on 30 August 1928. (Both births were at
Adelaide). Eric John married twice; his first wife being Betty Marchant
(the couple having four children; Ennis; Michael Francis; Kevin Wayne and
David Frederick) - and his second wife being Val ....... (the couple having
2 children; Vicki Lee; and Stephen Ronald).
Although I have been sent names of the children (and grandchildren) of
Eric John Powditch, details regarding dates and places of birth, etc., are
unknown to me at the moment, and therefore will be included in a future "addendum" to this volume.
John William Powditch married Josephine Batley, and they had 3
children ;- Susan Mary; Martin Gerard; and Marina.
Of William John Joseph Powditch's third child - Margaret - I have no
further details.
William John's second wife was Marcia Dreschler, although I am not aware
of any details regarding the date of marriage, etc, other than that the
couple did not have any children.
William John Joseph Powditch died on 3 November 1966, at Adelaide, of
a heart attack - and was buried at Centennial Park Cemetery. He was 61
years old.
Second born son of William Joseph and Ada, was - John Francis.
Born on the last day in February (28th), 1910, at Clarke Street,
Norwood, Adelaide, and christened on 3 April 1910, at St. Ignatius'
Church, John Francis Powditch, in later years, was to spend his working
career employed as both a Clerk (with Southern Farmers), and as a Grain
Sorter (with the Barley Board).
On 21 July 1940, at the Hectorville Catholic Church, Adelaide, John
Francis Powditch, married Elsie May Feehan. Elsie was born on 26 May
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1911 , at Adelaide, and was the daughter of John Francis Feehan and
Bridget Feehan (nee Dwyer).
John Francis and Elsie had 4 children - all sons;-
Leslie John - as we can see above, - was born on 28 November 1941, at
Maylands, Adelaide, South Australia. Leslie married Sandra Kay Faulds
at Rostrevor College Chapel, on 29 June 1968. The couple have two
children - both sons; Scott Jeffrey (born 25 June 1972, at Adelaide), and
Darryl James (born 30 March 1976, at Adelaide). Leslie John is currently
employed (1989) as a Bus Driver in Adelaide.
Second born son of John Francis and Elsie May, was Peter David - born
on 9 May 1945, at Maylands, Adelaide, South Australia. Peter married
Patricia Ann Downs at Rostrevor College Chapel, on 6 January 1968.
Peter and Patricia have two sons - Craig John (born 20 March 1969,
at Adelaide) and Paul Stuart (born 7 October 1971, at Adelaide). Peter
is currently employed (1989) as a Foreman Toolmaker, whilst Patricia
manages Powditch research between her job as a. Shop Assistant (1989)
and her home life. Of their children, Craig John, aged 19 years old in
1988, is employed as a Trades Assistant, whilst Paul Stuart aged 17
years old, is a full-time Student, at Technical and Further Education
College (T.A.F.E.).
The third born son of John Francis and Elsie May, was Kevin William, born
at Maylands, Adelaide, South Australia, on 2 December 1951. Twenty
four years later, on 12 July 1975, Kevin married Pauline Adam, at
Rostrevor College Chapel.
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Kevin and Pauline have three sons - Shane (born 22 August 1980),
Aaron (born 12 August 1983), and Chris (born 10 October 1985) - all
births being in the district of Adelaide. Kevin is currently employed (1989)
as a Plumber in Adelaide.
The last born son of John Francis and Elsie May, was Brian Terrence, who
was born on 16 September 1954. Like his brothers before him, Brian was
born at Maylands, Adelaide, although unlike them, his marriage - to Anne
Frances Williams, on 20 February 1982, was held at Tranmere Catholic
Church.
The couple have one child, a daughter - Melissa May (born 19 February
1986, at Adelaide).
With Brian Terrence Powditch's occupation, the wheel - from Samuel in
19th century Norfolk, to Brian in 20th century Australia, has turned full
circle, for Brian is a "Shoe-maker" by trade, in Adelaide.
Elsie May Powditch (nee Feehan), died on 25 June 1978 at Burnside
Hospital, Adelaide, from cancer. Her death, and burial at Centennial
Park Catholic Cemetery (Cath F; Row 11; No.802), on 28 June 1978, predeceased that of her husband - John Francis - by 6½ years.
John Francis Powditch died on 31 December 1984, at Repat Hospital,
Daw Park, Adelaide. He was in his 75th year, and like his wife, had had
cancer. His burial, at Centennial Park Catholic Cemetery, was held on
3 January 1985.
Today, there are many Powditch's in Australia, although Patricia (Peter
David Powditch's wife) advises me that most of those in South Australia
are descended from James Race Powditch. I realise however that there
is a lot more information to be gleaned, not only from the descendants of
James Race, but also from the descendants of at least three other
Powditch's, who from Wells-next-the-Sea, King's Lynn and South Shields,
decided to start life anew in Australia, and I hope to devote more research
to these emigrants in the near future.
Leaving Australia, and James Race Powditch, we return to England, to
his parents and his brothers and sisters.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<
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Second surviving son of Samuel and Amelia (nee Hall), was John Robert,
who was born on 25 September 1846, and baptised just over a month
later on 28 October.
According (again) to Samuel's letter dated April 1874 (to James in
Australia), he wrote;-
- and this at the age of 28.
I wonder where John's job was. Whether it was in the centre of London,
or on its outskirts? From its being a "first Rate Place", and his being
"Head Clerk", it appears to indicate a Central London position, and one
wonders at the name of the Company, or indeed what had led him to
London to work. In later years, the "Head Clerk" was to be remembered
by one of his grand-daughters, Betty, as having been a Chartered
Accountant.
Indeed, I wonder whether it was whilst at his position as Head Clerk: that
he met young Elizabeth Ellen Beale, or whether he met her near his living
quarters in the Stepney/Poplar district. Elizabeth had been born on 5 June
1846 - the same year as John - but unlike John who had been born at
Wells-next-the-Sea, Elizabeth was born at Gravesend, in Kent.
Wherever John met Elizabeth is currently unknown. What is known is that
they married on 19 November 1874 in the registration district of Poplar
(the district of which, includes the Parish Church of St. Dunstan's,
Stepney - scene of many Powditch christenings and marriages from the
early 1600s onwards.
John and Elizabeth moved, not long after their marriage, to Southwark,
London, where their first child was born. They had moved again, by 1876,
to Lambeth, where their next four children were born, and finally, in 1881/
1882 they moved to the Edmonton/Tottenham district, where their last four
children were born.
Here then are the nine children - all of whom lived through the period which
saw the Boer War (1899/1902), the First World War (1914/1918), the
Russian Revolution (1917), the General Strike in Britain (1926), the start
of the Great Depression of 1929, and the start of the Second World War
in 1939. Most of them lived past the end of that war, and saw Elizabeth
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crowned Queen in 1953, before gradually - between 1956 and the 1960s,
these grand children left their legacies of history to their dependants.
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Elizabeth didn't live to see any of her children marry, for she died on
27 December 1901, aged 55 - and was buried at Tottenham, London.
John Robert, her husband, not only saw his children marry, but also lived
Iong enough to see his grandchildren come into the world.
In 1927, aged 81, John Robert too, passed away, and like his wife, was
buried at Tottenham.
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Of John and Elizabeth's nine children, six were sons - and of these six, I
am only aware of three of them having any sons themselves to carry on the
name of Powditch.
Ernest Frederick, who married Harriett Willett, at St. George's Church,
Hanover Square, London, in 1904, had one daughter, who was named
Betty Willett Powditch. She was born in the district of Ware, Hertfordshire
(her mother having come from nearby Hoddesdon), and her birth was
registered at the beginning of 1905. In 1912, Ernest, his wife Harriett,
and their daughter, Betty (who was then only 8 years old), emigrated to
Canada. In England, Ernest left behind a job as a "Bookkeeper" - and in
Canada, he changed his working career, to "sporting goods". Besides
being the eldest of John and Elizabeth's children, Ernest (according to his
daughter, Betty McBride (nee Powditch), lived to the grand age of 86
years old - thus emulating his father, and most of his own brothers, who
also lived into their 80's, and beyond.
Cecil John who married Annis Maudie Allen in 1907, was living in the
West Ham district of London when their first child - Phyllis Constance -
was born in the late summer of 1908. Although not confirmed to date, I
believe that Ivy Mabel Powditch, who was born in the same district of
West Ham at the beginning of 1910, was Cecil and Annis's second child.
By the time their third child (and first son) - Alan Cecil Robert - was born
(on 14 April 1912), the family had moved to the Romford, Essex, area.
Whether there were any more children of Cecil's marriage, I am currently
unaware, as my records of Powditch births (other than those advised to
me by current "answerers" of my questionnaire) are gleaned from St.
Catherine's Registers - of which my source copy (at Swansea Archive
Office), ends at 1912 - the year of Alan Cecil Robert's birth.
Cecil's daughter, Phyllis, is currently living (1989) in the Eastbourne,
Sussex, area, and has maintained an active life, both before, and since,
her recent retirement.
Of Ivy Mabel, I know no more details.
Alan Cecil Robert Powditch, according to a reference book published in
the late 1970s, was educated at Mercers School, and entered the Hospital
Service in 1933. From Accountant in 1908, he served in many capacities
until he rose to be District Administrator, North West District, Kensington,
Chelsea and Westminster Area Health Authority, in which position he was
between 1974 - 1977. During the Second World War, he served with the
51st Royal Tank Regiment from 1941 - 1946, receiving the M.C. in 1944.
In later years he was a J.P. in the county of Middlesex (1965). Alan
Cecil Robert Powditch married Barbara Leggat in 1942 and they have
one son, and one daughter.
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When I first made contact with Phyllis Powditch on 8 August 1986, having
introduced myself, and having mentioned my Mother-in-Law's maiden
name as being Phyllis Powditch, she said (quite correctly) "but that's my
name". When I spoke of my Mother-in-Law's Father's name having been
Cecil Robert John she (I am sure in disbelief ) said "but my father 's name
was Cecil John" - and so it was. Strange though it may seem, there were
two Cecil John's (even if one was Cecil Robert John, and the other, Cecil
John). In fact, in year of birth there was a difference of only six years
between them - although 28 years separated their deaths.
Cecil John (father of Phyllis Constance, from Eastbourne) actually died on
28 January 1968 (aged 91 years old), although his daughter (Phyllis) had
told me in 1986 that he had died in 1976 (which would have been his
100th year). As I have found during conversations with several contacts,
memory can play tricks with the passage of time, and it's always necessary
to confirm memories with actually recorded dates etc.
Third son of John Robert and Elizabeth Ellen (nee Beale) was Lionel
William, born in 1879 in the district of Lambeth. He married in the district
of Edmonton, 26 years later, in 1905. Although I haven't been advised
whether he had any children from his marriage, I have recorded two births
in the Edmonton district after 1905, and hope that someone will be able to
advise me further. The two children that I have recorded were, William
John, whose birth was registered between January and March 1906, and
Marjorie E, whose birth was registered between April and June 1909.
Lionel William had been employed in the British Embassy at Rio de
Janeiro, Brazil, many years ago and whilst there, learned of a large group
of Powditch's living at Valparaiso, Chile. His sister Mary (Ethel Mary), had
made enquiries regarding the Chilean Powditch's, and discovered that a
"John Powditch" had sailed there (i.e. to Chile), over 150 years ago, on a
Government-licenced Privateer, and had settled down and raised a family
in Chile ! (refer to Volume 5 for further details).
John and Elizabeth's fourth-born son, was Frank Robert. He married at
the age of 27 (in 1908), and would appear to have had a daughter -
Esther Caroline M. (did the 'M' stand for 'Metcalfe'?) - who was born late
spring of 1910, in the district of Poplar. By 1926, Frank and his family had
moved to Cardiff, Glamorgan, South Wales.
Strangely enough, only one branch of the family remembers anything about
these "non-Welsh" Powditch's - and even then, names are lost in the mists
of time. Mary Bennett (nee Powditch), from Cardiff, remembers, whilst she
was at school, a "new" girl at the school, whose surname was Powditch. In
fact, she was a 'Metcalfe' Powditch (hence my interest in the 'M' in Esther
Caroline's name) - and she told Mary that all Powditchs' were entitled to
use the 'Metcalfe' in their name, and thus be called Metcalfe Powditch;
something which excited the impressionable young Mary.
Frank may have worked in Cardiff City Hall for a while, for it was there that
Mary's father met a Powditch "from London", who spoke of research
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having been undertaken, which showed that the origins of the Powditch's
went "back to the Vikings".
Vernon Henry was John and Elizabeth's fifth son, and just 24 years after
his birth in 1885 he married ... Middleton, in 1909.
Due to my access to the St. Catherine's Birth/Marriage/Death Registers
being currently restricted to the period 1837 to 1912, I have been unable
to check any event which occurred after 1912 - hence my not knowing
whether Vernon Henry had any more children after the birth of his son,
Raymond Vernon, whose birth in the district of Hendon, North-west, was
registered between January and March 1912.
Regrettably I know no more details of Vernon Henry, although of his son
Raymond Vernon, I know a little more - thanks partly to another Raymond;
namely Raymond Urban Powditch (see Chapter 12, page 189).
In January 1942, Raymond Vernon Powditch was Commanding Officer of
the R.A.O.C. 1st Divn. Workshops, at East Dereham, Norfolk.
By September 1955, a photograph and article, entitled
"New Appointments", stated;-
Today, Raymond Vernon Powditch lives with his wife in the Dordogne
region of France, and has most kindly supplied details regarding "early"
Powditch's' which has helped to fill gaps in many families.
Last of John and Elizabeth's sons, and youngest member of the family,
was Claude Hubert who was born on 18 October 1886. Claude would
appear to have married (in 1906) at the age of 21, when in the district of
Poplar (possibly at St. Dunstan's, Stepney - where his parents married),
he wed Violet Winifred Newman. Violet had been born in Poplar, London,
hence the link with the area for their marriage.
Claude Hubert was a Chef on the Great Western Railway, and used to
work on the "Cornish Riviera Express" route.
I wonder whether Claude, working for the G.W.R., (even on the Cornwall
route) ever knew Thomas Herbert Powditch from Cardiff, who worked for
the
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G.W.R. as a Steward on the South Wales to Paddington route? All trains
had to stop at Paddington sometime, and it seems quite improbable that
they didn't know each other, particularly when one considers that their age
gap was of only 5 years; they were both young men together.
Claude and Violet had four children;-
Of Claude, and his wife Violet, their Grandson - Andrew Powditch, who
lives just outside Coventry - advised me that;-
Arthur Newman, first born of Claude and Violet, had his birth registered in
the district of Paddington, at the beginning of 1909, whereas he was
actually born at Kensington on 24 December 1908. As Claude worked
on the G.W.R. I suppose that it is possible that be registered the birth,
either on his way to work, or on his return home.
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Arthur, whose job was a bus driver, married Francis Jane Hunter, at Acton
London, on 22 July 1934, at the age of 25½.
Sixteen years later, on 18 February 1950, Francis Jane gave birth to their
son - Andrew Claude William - at Hammersmith, London. Andrew was
the only child of Arthur and Francis' marriage.
On 3 April 1976, twenty-six years after his birth, Andrew married Maria
Rose Doris Farrell, at Chapelfields, Coventry. To date (1989), the couple
have been blessed with three lovely children - two sons and one daughter;-
- and the family currently live at Balsall Common (near Coventry), where
Andrew works in the area as a Maintenance Engineer.
Arthur (Andrew's father), died from pneumonia, on 29 August 1977 - the
year after Andrew's marriage - and he was buried at Maltlake Cemetery,
London.
Andrew's mother still lives (1989) at Eastbury Grove, London, W.4
Claude and Violet's second child, was Cyril C. (although I, as yet, do not
know what the 'C' stood for) who was born in July 1910. Like Arthur
before him, his birth was registered in a different district to that of his actual
birthplace. Cyril was (like Arthur), also born at Kensington, London, but his
birth was registered at Fulham !
Cyril, who initially was a Butcher by trade, and who later became Landlord
of a Public House, married Queenie Seabridge in approx 1936, at
Shepherds Bush, London. Cyril and Queenie only had one child - a
daughter, Carol, who was born in approx. 1947, in Middlesex.
Cyril died in the summer of 1985, although I do not have any further details
regarding place of burial, etc.
His widow, Queenie, still lives at Rickmansworth.
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Third child of Claude and Violet's marriage, was Dora. Born in March
1912 (or 1913), at Acton, London, she married Stanley Warne at
Shepherds Bush, London - although I do not have the date of their
marriage. Dora and Stanley didn't have any children, and the last address
I was given for Dora showed her living in the Solihull, West Midlands area.
Eileen Vera (known in the family as Vera), was the last child of Claude
and Violet. She was born on 26 May 1920 at Acton, London. At one time
in her life she was involved in the Women's Army. I do not know the date
of her marriage, but can advise that she married Michael Southon, in
Kenya, East Africa.
Vera and Michael had three children; Peter, Sheila, and Linda - all of
whom were born in Mombasa, East Africa.
After living in Kenya for some years, the family moved to Perth, Australia
- and Vera returned to Britain in the summer of 1985 to visit relatives.
On arrival in this country, she was told of her brother, Cyril's death, two
days earlier - and three days later, Vera had a heart attack, and she also
died. Vera was cremated at Solihull West Midlands.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<
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Having looked at Joseph Samuel, James Race, and John Robert, we now
turn our attention to William, last born child of Samuel and Amelia.
Born on 10 March 1849, at Wells-next-the-Sea, and baptised just over two
months later, William entered life just months after the great Chartist rising
in Britain. His father, Samuel, personally registered his son's birth on 29
March 1849; the Registrar, James Young, recording that "Sam's"
"Occupation" was that of "Shoemaker".
William, like his brothers Joseph Samuel and John Robert before him,
appears to have embarked on a clerical career - for turning yet again to
Samuel (i.e. William's father)'s 1874 letter, we read;-
William, at the age of 19 had indeed gone to Derby, and was working for
the London, Midland and Scottish (L.M.S.) Railway Company. He appears
to have been living at King's Lynn before his move to Derby, although I have
yet to discover the link between the town, and the City which called the
young man into its bosom.
At St. Andrew's Church, Derby, on 18 September 1877 - just as the
Summer was turning into Autumn, William, at the age of 28, married Mary
Thomason Tunaley. Although their marriage certificate shows William's
age, Mary's age, for some reason (best known to the Vicar/Curate -
James Cross) was omitted. William, a bachelor, is shown to be a "Clerk",
and living at 29 Oxford Street, Derby. His father, Samuel Powditch, has
had his "Rank or Profession" written in as "Gentleman".
Mary, who had been born in 1857 - was one of twin sisters, and although
the marriage certificate shows her "condition" as being a Spinster, no
mention is made of her "Profession" being that of a School-mistress. Her
father, John Tunaley, was a "Dyer" by profession, and Mary, with her family,
lived at number 27 Oxford Street, Derby - next door to the man she was to
marry.
Mary's twin sister (name presently unknown), had alledgedly been the
personal nurse/assistant to Florence Nightingale. She had also (it is
alleged), been Private Nurse to Prince Edward (later to become King
Edward VII), and when nursing him had stated that "no visitors at all"
should see him - even when Queen Victoria came to visit him !
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William and Mary, like William's parents before him, had a large family; six
sons and three daughters.
They were;-
First child of William and Mary, was Alice, who was born the year after their
marriage.
Apparently named after William's sister, Alice was born at Derby on
11 August 1878. Twenty-three years later, she married Ralph (or Ron)
Chapman who - having been born on 18 December 1874 - was four
years older than her.
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Alice and Ralph had 11 children;-
Of the children's parents, Alice died on 4 December 1924, aged 46, and
Ralph died on 9 November 1956, aged 82.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Margaret Edith was the second child of William and Mary. Also born at
Derby, Margaret's birth was registered between October and December
1879. Her marriage to William (known as Bill) Adams took place at
Belper, either at the end of 1900 or at the beginning of 1901 - for the
details of the marriage were registered with the Registrar between
January and March 1901. William Adams was 6 years older than
Margaret Edith, as he had been born in 1873.
Margaret and William had 7 children;-
Margaret, aged 46 years old, died on 27 January 1925 - just over one
month after her elder sister's own death. William - her husband - died on
Good Friday, 1960, aged 87. Both are buried at Belper Cemetery, in
Grave No.1861.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
First son of William and Mary's marriage, was William - born at Derby on
8 August 1881. Confusingly, whereas the St. Catherine's Register (for
Births) records him as "William Ernest", in the Register for Marriages he
is recorded as William Ewart.
Whether it was Ernest or Ewart has not yet been confirmed, but to his
family he was known as Billy or Bill.
Bill was a Foundry Worker in the Belper district, and at the youthful age of
(just under) 22, he married young Martha Ashton, at Belper - their marriage
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being on 30 March 1903. Bill and Martha had four children, all daughters;
Martha died on 28/29 January 1947. William (Bill), her husband, died on
13 May 1970, aged 88. There being no sons of the marriage, the
Powditch name only lives on in memories, through the descendants of
Belper families such as Bilby, Godber and Milner (Elsie married Mr. Bilby;
Florrie married Mr. Godber; Mary married Mr. Milner, and Lilly didn't marry).
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
John - also known as Jack - was the second son of William and Mary,
and was born at Whitemoor Hall Belper (although registered at Derby), on
4 March 1883. John started his working career as a Coal Miner.
On 1 April 1904, John married "the girl next door" - Agnes Millward.
Agnes, who had literally been born next door to John, was born on 5
February 1886, and prior to her marriage had been a Cotton Mill Worker.
At the time of their marriage, John was aged 21, and Agnes, just 17½.
John and Agnes had four sons and two daughters;-
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At the time of William's birth (in 1906), his father (John), was described on
the Birth Certificate as being in the occupation of "Iron Moulder" and the
address of the family at the time, was High Pavement, Belper.
The First World War saw John Powditch enlisting, in November 1914, and
going to France, as a Driver with the Army Service Corps. Later in life,
after being both a Miner and an Iron Moulder, John became the Publican of
the "Colliers Rest" Pub, in Belper - a position he maintained for 31 years.
Whilst running the Pub, John was given a piece of slate which had been
embedded in one of the walls of the (demolished) Old Derby Gaol. The
slate - which "commemmorated" an execution held in 1843 - was put
to stand on the mantlepiece in the parlour/lounge of the "Collier's Rest" -
and there it remained until October 1956, when John donated it to Derby
Art Museum. Esme Stone (nee Powditch, who sent me a photograph of
the slate, also advised me that she used to "play the piano - when she
was aged about 9 to 10 years old - for the pub's customers", and well
remembers the slate on the mantlepiece.
Although not having any Powditch associations - other than having been
given to John - I have included the wording on the slate, as in "ownership"
alone, it has historical interest.
The face of the stone bears the following inscription;
Also chiseled into the top and sides of this awesome slate, were the
names of;-
The story, as told to me in his own words by "old" George, when I saw him
on Friday, 25 September 1987, was that;
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The "donation" of the stone, by John Powditch, to the Derby Art Museum
prompted the Derby Evening Telegraph to both report the event and also
to include a photograph.
Agnes (John's wife), died on 4 April 1954, aged 68. John continued
working at the "Collier's Rest" public house, until he retired in 1959. He
was to live a further 18 years, until his death on 25 November 1977 - at
which he was aged 94 years old.
Of their children, George, their first son, was born on 24 July 1904, at
Over Lane, Belper. George, like his father before him, started work as
Coal Miner - and he was to remain in this occupation for a period of years.
In his younger years, George used to play football for two teams in the
area. He played in one team on Wednesdays, and in the other one on
Saturdays - and he used to be given 5/- (= 5 shillings [old money] /
25 pence [new money]) a game.
After George's Grandmother, Mary, died in February 1934 aged 77 (she
was interred on 2 February 1934), his Grandfather - William - came to
live at the pub, with George (who was still living at home) and George's
parents - John and Agnes.
In his 30th year, George married Ivy Butler, in the June of 1934. The
couple lived in Over Lane, Belper, after their marriage - but regrettably,
Ivy died in childbirth in 1936 and the child, too, was stillborn.
Following Ivy's death, George went back to live with his parents, and to
look after Grandfather William, as his "valet".
George recounted in a letter he sent to me in 1986, that he had;-
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On 29 June 1949, George married Ethel Mills - a local girl - at St. Peter's
Church, Belper. Ethel, who had been born on 23 March 1907, was born at
"White Moor" Farm, Over Lane, Belper, into farming stock - and she was
actively involved in farming when she and George married.
They didn't have any children of their own, but were later to foster a boy
and a girl. George told me how, during the Second World War, two
children were evacuated to Belper after their parents had been killed.
Within a short while, the children's world was devastated once again,
when the man and woman to whom they had been evacuated, suddenly
died.
George and Ethel lived almost opposite, and being aware of the situation,
took in the children and brought them up - and George recounted with
pride, the happiness that it brought both him and Ethel.
In my telephone contact to George's home in October 1986, I spoke to
Ethel, George's wife, as he was hard of hearing - more so on the 'phone.
Ethel told me that William (George's Grandfather), had lived until he was
"95 years old" and that until he retired, he had worked for the L.M.S.
Railway at Derby - "all his working life". She remembered William as
being a tall, thin man who smoked a pipe. William apparently used to say
that the family surname was originally pronounced "Pourditch, or Porditch,
or Pawditch, and that it had originated "from Russian ships".
Ethel had been a lovely person to speak to on the 'phone, full of praise for
Powditch's and the good name that they enjoyed in the area. It was
therefore with great sadness that I learnt of her having died on 13 March
1987, just 10 days before her 80th birthday.
On Friday, 25 September 1987, I was privileged to meet George at his
homely bungalow in Over Lane, Belper, and, through both "loud talking"
and the writing of questions, to learn more details about himself, his
brothers, and his Grandfather. In fact, as George proudly showed me
around his bungalow - built on part of the old farmland - and pointed out
the scene from the back window; as he sat in the back-room talking to
me as though I was a friend of long-standing; as he spoke, of his previous
gardening prowess, where the roses in the front garden were his pride
and joy; and as he spoke of the many friends who called on him regularly,
and took him out I could feel the warmth of his friendship, and I felt
humbled. George missed Ethel greatly after her death, and during our
few hours together, his eyes often filled with tears, and his voice quavered
whenever he mentioned her.
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As the details of George's brothers will be incorporated into their individual
write-ups the extra information about William (George's Grandfather) will
be written here.
William (according to George) was about my build - tall, and slim, (well
slimmer than me !!). He had both a moustache and a small beard, and his
eyes were blue. George didn't know of any photographs of William, but
thanks to diligent searching by Esme Stone (nee Powditch), in conjunction
with Bernard Powditch, a photograph of William has not only been
"discovered", but the Powditch "Archive" has been presented with a copy.
George's Grandfather used to smoke a "church-warden's pipe", and one
was kept at each pub in Belper especially for him. George recalls that
"Old Paw" (as William was affectionately known as in Belper), used to
drink two pints of Barley wine every day on his travels to various pubs.
William had been a Superintendent at Derby L.M.S. Railway, and had
retired at age 60. The Railway Company had wanted him to work on, but
he didn't do so. He moved around a few times during his life, for after his
birth at Wells-next-the-Sea, he later, with his parents, moved to King's Lynn.
By the end of his "teens", he had headed "inland" to Derby, and the rest of
his life appears to have been spent at Derby, Whitemoor Hall Belper
and various other residences in Belper.
Mentioned in "Cook's Derby and District Directory for 1903", William M. R.
Powditch, is shown as "clerk; Whitemoor Lane, Belper". Later, he and his
family were to live at Bridge Street, Belper, but in the 1916 "Kelly's
Derbyshire Directory" we find William and Mary living at "Charnwood
Villas", Derby Road, Belper - which was opposite the old Railway Goods
Yard.
William apparently spoke of Powditch's at Hastings - of which George
knows no more, but many years ago (according to George), William sent
to Somerset House, for a "copy of his family tree". George says that
William had a family tree going back to the 1400s and that in the 1800s
there were many Generals etc, in the family. George doesn't know where
that "history" is now.
To date, although my own research has discovered the surname
POWDITCH, in various spellings, from at least the mid 1400s, and
although the 1900s have disclosed many army personnel in varying
positions of rank, the 1800s, as far as I have uncovered, have revealed
a large proportion of the family being involved with the sea, rather than the
land.
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William - who actually died in 1941, aged 92,(he was interred on
17 September 1941 ), retained his pride of being called the old General
right up to his end - for during the Second World War, he was in the Home
Guard, at Belper. Both William, and his wife Mary, are interred at Belper
Cemetery, in Grave number 1698.
When I visited George in September 1987, I took three photographs of
him, but it is the one I took of him sitting alongside the fireplace that
evokes most memories to me; - and then, on Wednesday, 16 December
1987, I had a second treasured memory; George rang me to thank me for
the 1987 Powditch Christmas card, for his photograph - which everyone
liked, and to wish me a very Happy Christmas. Needless to say, I was
quite overwhelmed at speaking to George on the 'phone - and then in
October 1988 I was "shattered" to hear of his death.
1988 had seen a deterioration in George's health, until finally, on Saturday,
8 October he was taken into Hospital. At 8.00am on Thursday, 13 October
1988, George died. He was aged 84 years old, and only the week before
going into hospital, had made the comment that "when a car gets old its
engine wears out".
George's funeral was on Tuesday, 18 October 1988; a service being held
at St. Mark's, Openwood Gate, Belper, at 2.30pm, before his cremation
at Markeaton.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Second son of John and Agnes' marriage, was William, who was born on
30 November 1906. Like George, he was a Coal Miner, and at the age of
28, he married Esme Hazlewood, their marriage being on 5 March 1934,
at St. Peter's Church, Belper. Esme, who also was aged 28, was born on
8 February 1906, at Belper.
William and Esme had three children;-
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Esme, who, besides being the first born child of William and Esme's
marriage, has also been a marvellous help to me and Powditch research,
by contacting all present - day family living both in the Belper area and
outlying districts, and "discovering" dates, names, places, photographs,
certificates, etc, to swell the knowledge of William's descendants.
Esme was born on 16 October 1937, the year that. Neville Chamberlain
became Prime Minister of Great Britain. Esme was born at number 110,
Over Lane, Belper, and nineteen years later, in December 1956, she
married Ivan King at St. Peter's Church, Belper. Following her divorce in
1962, she married Granville Stone on 20 April 1965, at Belper Register
Office, and they have four children;-
Esme and Granville live at Swanwick, Derbyshire.
Second child of William and Esme, was Enid - who was born on 5 July
1941, at 110, Over Lane, Belper. Enid married Henry William Woodward
at St. Peter's Church, Belper, on 29 July 1961 - not long after her 20th
birthday. Enid and Henry have one child - a son - Stephen, born 10 April
1973.
William and Esme's third child. and their only son, was Anthony - born
12 January 1947. Anthony, like his sisters, was born at 110, Over Lane,
Belper. Just before his 24th birthday, he married Barbara Thompson at
Belper Register 0ffice, on 17 Decembe r 1970. Anthony and Barbara
have two daughters - Tracy (born 17 May 1971), and Jane (born 17 April
1972).
William died at Derwent Hospital, Derby, on 30 January 1983, aged 76.
He was cremated at Markeaton, Derby - and his ashes were interred in
St. Werburgh's churchyard, at Spondon, Derbyshire.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Returning to William's parents, John and Agnes, their third child (and third
son) was Tom, who was born on 16 August 1908. Following in the (by
now) family tradition, Tom became a Miner - although I understand that
during his working life he was also both a lorry driver, and a foundry worker.
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Tom married Hilda Hunt - who was born on 28 August 1908 - at Belper, on
16 June 1934, and appears to have lived door to William and Esme for a
while, in Over Lane, Belper.
Derek, their first born son, saw the light of day at number 112, Over Lane,
Belper, when he was born on 12 July 1935. Derek married Jean Poyser
in March 1968, and they have one son - Michael (born 19 March 1969),
and one daughter .... (born 23 April 1972).
Tom and Hilda's second and third children were born at Kilburn Road,
Belper. David was the second child, born on 20 August 1941. He married
twice; firstly to Diana Rowland on 21 March 1961 at St. Peter's, Belper,
then, following his divorce in May 1969, he married Mary Courtney on
21 September 1970. From his second marriage, David has a daughter -
Kay (born 21 July 1970).
Third child of Tom and Hilda's marriage, is Wendy, who was born at
Kilburn Road, Belper, on 17 May 1943. Wendy married Derek
McCoombe, and they have one son - David (born 21 September 1977).
Tom died in 1964, on 23 September, aged 56. His wife, Hilda, died six
years later, on 23 March 1970, aged 61.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Agnes was John and Agnes' fourth child, and their first daughter.
Apparently named after her mother, Agnes was born on 30 January 1910.
Before her marriage to James Howitt, on 1 May 1940, at Horsley Church
('twixt Belper and Heanor), Agnes, like her mother, had worked in Textiles.
When she married James (born on 29 March 1899 - and known as Jim),
she became step-mother to James' son, Barry (born 6 January 1934),
from his first marriage. Six years after their marriage, Agnes gave birth to
Stanley, who was born at Belper on 9 October 1946.
Agnes died on 25 August 1978, aged 67, and was cremated at
Markeaton, Derby.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Gladys, the fifth child of John and Agnes, was born on 22 July 1913, and
married Harry Howitt - brother to the James Howitt who had married
Agnes Powditch, Gladys and Harry Howitt married at Derby Parish
Church on 16 October 1940; Gladys being 27 years old, and Harry (who
was born on 1 November 1900) being 40 years old. (Before her marriage,
Gladys had been a Housemaid).
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Gladys and Harry had three children; - Richard (date of birth t.b.a.), Jill
(born 29 August 1942), and John (born 21 September 1944).
Harry died on 12 December 1981 , aged 80, and Gladys died within two
years, on 31 March 1993, aged 70.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Last born child of John and Agnes' marriage, was John ( who appears to
have been named after his father).
John was born on 25 February 1916, at Sandland Lane, Belper, and like
his brothers before him, was also a Coal Miner. In 1944, at St. Peter's
Church, Belper, on the 16 December, he married Mary Farrow (born 12
April1920), and they had four children;-
John - father of the above children, died on 26 June 1987, and was
cremated at Markeaton, Derby. His widow - Mary - is still alive, and living
in Belper.
Returning to John (who was married to Agnes) - Grandfather to most of
the present day Powditch's from the Belper area, Tracy advises me that
she has a photograph of both John (her father) and John (her Grandfather),
in
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Regimental dress. John Patrick remembered that his Grandfather "Jack"
(i.e. John), corresponded with a Doctor Powditch, and that mention had
been made of King's Lynn", and "Ships". After John's wife, Agnes, died,
he went to live with his daughter Gladys (q.v. Gladys married to Harry
Howitt).
Fifth child of William and Mary, was Sydney, who was born at Derby in
1885. His birth was registered between July and September of that year.
Sydney - whose name was also registered as Sidney - married Elizabeth
Ann Byard at Belper in the late spring/early summer of 1908.
Elizabeth Ann - who had been born on 11 January 1890 - and Sydney,
were blessed with two children;-
Sydney was killed in action in France during the First World War. He had
enlisted in November 1914, and was a Driver in the Army Service Corps,
involved with the "Field Ambulances". Sydney, whose death occurred on
2 October 1917, is buried at Gwalia Cemetery, (Plot II, Row D, Grave 10),
Poperinghe, Belgium - close to the border with France.
Sydney was Uncle to George from Sleaford, Lincs, who, a couple of years
ago, went over to Belgium and saw the grave, and also saw Sydney's
name in the "Roll Book" at the Cemetery.
Elizabeth Ann died on 11 January 1978; 88 years to the day from her
birth. She was buried at Belper Cemetery.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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William and Mary's sixth child - Mary (who, like her mother, was also known
as "Polly") was the first child, of her parent's marriage, to actually have her
birth registered at Belper.
Born in 1887, at Whitemoor (?) Belper, and registered between April and
June of that year, Mary, 24 years later, on 3 June 1911, married Walter
Adams (born 1881, at Over Lane, Belper), in St. Peter's Church, Belper.
For a reason not known to date, Mary had apparently been turned out of
the family home some time before her marriage. Following this, she went to
live at a house in Over Lane, Belper, which was next-door to her niece;
Edith Beard (nee Adams; daughter of William Adams and Margaret [nee
Powditch]).
At the time of their marriage, Walter was aged 30, and his occupation, like
that of his father (Charles Adams), was "Engineman". Walter's brother,
William (as we have already seen), had already married a Powditch, when
he married Margaret Edith (Mary's elder sister), in 1901.
Walter and Mary, who after their marriage initially lived with Edith Beard
(nee Adams), eventually moved to 180 Over Lane, Belper. The couple
didn't have any living children. Mary died in 1969 aged 82, and Walter
died in 1976, aged approx' 95. Both were cremated at Markeaton, Derby.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The next child of William and Mary - their fourth son - was George, born
on 29 March 1889, at Whitemoor Hall, Belper.
Employed as a farm labourer at Belper in his youth, George - just 24
days before his 18th birthday - enlisted in the army, "joining-up" on
5 March 1907. For the next 14 years and 127 days, he was to serve his
King and Country both in Bombay, India - where he was on the "Provo'
Staff" - and in France, where, as a Regimental Sergeant Major (R.S.M.),
he served in "The Sherwood Foresters" during the 1914 - 1918 World
War. After the War, he remained with the "Foresters" as a "drilling
instructor".
By the time of his discharge, on 9 July 1921, George was the recipient [of] the 1914 Star, the British War Medal, the Victory Medal, the D.E.M. and
the M.M. - the latter having been awarded for having....."distinguished himself during operations near Ginchy". He similarly distinguished
himself near Ypres.
The first three medals were known as "Pip, Squeak and Wilfred" (from
the newspaper cartoon characters).
The 1914 Star (also called the "Mons Star"), was a 4-pointed star, behind
crossed Swords, superimposed with a crowned wreath, a central scroll
being inscribed "1914". The medal was given to Officers and men who
served with a unit between 5 August 1914, and midnight on 22/23
November 1914.
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The British War Medal bears effigy of the King, and on the reverse,
St. George on horseback. The Victory Medal shows a winged figure of
Victory. Both medals were given to those who served overseas for a
period between 5 August 1914, and 11 November 1918 - with the Victory
Medal being given only to those who served in a "theatre of war".
Written by Col. H. C. Wylley, C.B. and published by Gale and Polden, the
book "1st and 2nd Battalions - The Sherwood Foresters; Nottingham
and Derbyshire Regiment -in the Great War", - was presented to George,
by the Sherwood Foresters. At the rear of the book, a list of names
includes, "Sgt. Powditch, G. No.10302 Military Medal".
His nephew related to me (in 1988) the story of how George (the R.S.M.)
was due to be presented with a number of distinguished medals for his
actions during the war. A special ceremony had been arranged for a
leading light of Belper - J. Arthur Strutt - to present the relevant medals,
but on the day George didn't turn up to receive them. After searching for
George, they eventually found him, drunk, in the Talbot Arms public house !
George married twice. His first marriage, to a woman from London
(name unknown to me) was made during one of his periods of "leave"
from the army. Not long afterwards, they divorced.
Four years after leaving the army, George, in 1925 married Mary Hannah
Bramwell, at Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. He was aged 36, and Mary
(who was born at Bulwell, just outside Nottingham, on 28 July 1891) was
aged 34. Mary was a widow, and had three children of her own - and the
couple were to add two more children to the family over the next few years.
George, by now, was working at the Sherwood Colliery, Nottinghamshire,
where he was the "Colliery Horse Keeper" - a job he was to continue in
until his retirement in 1959/1960, at the age of 70.
George and Mary's two children were;
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Both children were born at 10, Recreation Street, Mansfield. George, on
25 March 1926 and Margaret, on 16 December 1932. In later years, the
family moved to Mablethorpe, in Lincolnshire, where they kept a boarding
house at Louth (Lincolnshire).
Although too young to serve in the Second World War, George Albert
enlisted in the army - in the Royal Artillery (Yorks and Lancs) - in 1946.
His father (George) - who had served during the First World War in the
"Sherwood Foresters", was displeased at George Albert's choice of unit,
and so a transfer was arranged for him to the "Foresters".
George Albert's years of service saw him as a Sergeant, in France,
Germany, Italy, Cyprus, Hong-Kong and Singapore, as well as on a visit to
the low Countries.
During his years of service, George Albert returned to Mansfield, where
on 30 October 1948, he married Doreen Burton. The couple have four
children;-
.
On 27 January 1969, seven years after the birth of her youngest grandchild,
Mary Hannah (George Albert's mother), died. She was 77 years old. His
father, George, lived another 5 years, until 15 June 1974, when - at the age
of 85 - he too, died.
Following his discharge from the army, George Albert was employed by
the Ministry of Defence Police Force, at Digby Camp, in Lincolnshire -
from which he retired, at the age of 60, in 1986.
To date, George Albert's retirement has been quite busy, having seen him
move house - from Millfield Terrace, Sleaford, to London Road, Sleaford -
and having to refurbish the new home as well as giving him the chance to
travel to Belgium, both to visit his son, David, and to visit the grave of his
Uncle Sydney.
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The visit to Belgium is known thanks to a newspaper "clipping" sent to me
at Christmas 1986, by Arthur Powditch at Corton, Suffolk, whose sister
had seen it in a local Lincolnshire newspaper - and it reads as follows;-
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Eighth child of William and Mary's marriage, was Tom, who was born at
Belper, on 25 November 1891.
The Birth register records, in entry No. 259, that on Twenty fifth November
1891 (at) Bridge Street, U.S.D. was born Tom, a boy, son of William
Powditch. His mother's name is given as Mary Thomasson Powditch,
formerly Tunaley, and William's occupation is shown as "Railway Clerk".
The family's address is confirmed as being "Bridge Street, Belper" (the
birth was actually registered on 6 January 1892).
Prior to his marriage, Tom had served in the First World War (1914-1918),
having enlisted in August 1914. Lance Corporal Tom went out to France
with the 1st North Midland Territorial Division in February 1915 - and it was
in France, in action, that he was wounded in the shoulder. After his
recovery, and also having been stationed for a while at Louth, in
Lincolnshire, we find Tom as a Lieutenant in the 5th Battalion, Sherwood
Foresters - the Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Infantry Regiment.
After the War Tom,as a 26 year old "Cadet (late Corporal) Sherwood
Foresters", and a Bachelor - married Mabel Ottewell - a "Staff Nurse
T.F.N.S." and a spinster, aged 28 - at the Congregational Church,
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Normanton Road, Derby, on 9 November 1918. According to the Marriage
Register, Tom's residence at the time of marriage was "Charnwood Villa,
Derby Road, Belper", and his father, William, was a "Retired Clerk".
One year later, on 10 June 1919, at Foundry Lane, Belper, the couples'
only child, Jack, was born.
After his discharge from the army, Tom went to work for the Park Foundry,
in Belper, where he remained until the outbreak of the Second World War.
In 1935 however, four years before war broke out , Mabel - Tom's wife, and
16 year old Jack's mother, had - to the great loss of the family, died.
From the end of 1936, however, Jack had a stepmother in the form of Lucy
Riley - who had married his father in the Parish Church of St. Peter's,
Belper, on 26 December 1936.
The marriage certificate shows Tom as being "aged 44, and a widower,
whose occupation was a Fitter". His address is given as "10, The
Orchard, Belper. Although Tom's father, William, was by now aged nearly
87, he still appeared on the certificate as a Clerk (Retired).
Tom's new wife - Lucy Riley - had been born on 7 November 1899, at
"13 Short Rows" in Belper - her parents being Joseph Dawson Riley,
and Hannah Riley, formerly Hartshorn. Joseph, at the time of his
daughter's birth, had been a "Letter Carrier" - an occupation that he
appeared to continue in for many years, for at Lucy's marriage to Tom,
Joseph is recorded as "Postman (Retired)".
In 1939, Tom finished at the Park Foundry, and went to work at the Rolls-
Royce Works in Derby. After 1941, Tom - with his previous experience in
the First World War - was called up to serve in the Second World War,
and until the end of 1945, he was employed in the training of troops, for
the area around Belper; he being Second-in-Command to Lt. Col. Shand.
Jack, son of Tom and Mabel, is married to Eileen Mavis (nee ............) -
born 4 August 1921, and they have one daughter - Wendy Elaine, who
was born on 11 October 1940.
In 1986, when I first made contact with Jack, he rather interestingly advised
me that his Uncle Jack (John, from the Belper pub), had been told about a
"Powditch gravestone (which had been seen) in one of the churchyards in
the Harrogate area". Unfortunately, although I believe that the grave may
be that of one Thomas Powditch, who died at Stoney-Royd, in the early
1800s, the lack of knowing in which churchyard
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the gravestone exists, precludes me from making further comment at the
present.
Jack also told me about a little shop in the harbour area of Wells-next-the-
Sea. Apparently, some years ago, the name-plate above the shop, was
stripped, and after seven or eight coats of paint had been removed, the
Gold-leafed name of "Powditch" was revealed.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The last child - the ninth - of William and Mary, was Bertram Charles,
otherwise known in the family as "Charlie".
Born on 12 September 1894, at Whitemoor Hall, Belper, his birth
certificate shows that the birth was registered, and the information given,
by his father - William. Strangely, William didn't register the birth until
24 October 1894 - over a month from the event taking place !
Bertram Charles, who started working in the Foundry, like his brothers,
also - like his brothers - saw action in the First World War.
He enlisted on 4 September 1914, at Derby, into the 2/8th Battalion,
Notts/Derby Regiment, following which, he was posted to France as a
Corporal. In the "Big Push", Charlie was (like his brother, Tom) wounded
in the shoulder, and on returning to England, was sent to Exeter Hospital
for treatment and convalescence - before returning once more to France.
By the time that he was discharged at Lichfield on 12 November 1918 -
having served for 4 years and 70 days - he had risen to the Rank of
''Company Sergeant Major".
The "Certificate of Discharge" of No. 307402, Coy. Sgt. Major Powditch,
Charles, of 2/8th Bn. Notts + Derby Regt, states, under the heading
"Medals, Clasps, Decorations and Mentions in Despatches" that Charles
was to receive "Meritorious Service Medal, Chevrons - three blue", with
"two wound stripes". More fascinating to note, at. the bottom of the
discharge document, is that his year of birth is stated (1894), together with
his height - 5ft 4ins - although as to the colour of his eyes, disappointingly,
the words, "No Record", appear.
Charlie's discharge, was as a result of his "being appointed to a
temporary commission in the Lincoln Regiment" - this commission being
effective from 20 November 1918. Whilst in the Lincoln Regiment, his rank
was that of 2nd. Lieutenant.
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In the "Monthly Army List" dated August 1919, we find, on;-
His new commission, albeit temporary, was worded as follows;-
Decorated with the M.C. with bar - twice for gallantry, he, on one occasion
- according to his nephew George, from Belper - dashed into a
dangerous area, grabbed the British (?) flag, and returned to behind the
British lines.
Charlie married twice. Details of his first wife, Doris, and son - Roy - are
currently not known, but Charlie's second marriage - to Jane Sheldon (who
had been born on 21 October 1906, at Long Butts Farm, Norton Road,
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Staffs,), resulted in the birth of their only child - Bernard, who was born on
14 July 1941, at Ilkeston, Derbyshire.
After Bertram Charles (i.e. Charlie) had been discharged from the Army,
he spent some years working for Huwood Ltd - a Mining Equipment
Company. His position within the Company involved installing and
instructing others on the operation of Coal-Cutlers, throughout the country.
Later on, he spent a considerable time at Chatterley Whitfield in
Staffordshire, before moving back to Derbyshire, where he was a Mining
Engineer, involved with several local collieries.
Bernard, who currently (1988) lives at West Hallam, Derbyshire, married
Jean ....... on 3 February 1967. The couple had two children - a son,
Craig (d.o.b. not known) and a daughter, Karen (born 8 December 1970)
- both born at Derby. The couple divorced on 16 September 1974, but
Bernard married again on 12 August 1992, at Ilkeston. He and his wife,
Anne ....... - have one son - Daniel - who was born on 5 March 1983, at
Nottingham.
On 15 November 1981, at Derby City Hospital, Derby, Bernard's father,
Bertram Charles - at the age of 87 years old, passed away. Charlie's
last address, at 78, Station Road, West Hallam, Derby, is almost a
reminder of William's arrival in the local railway metropolis, some 104
years previously, when, in 1877, a young Norfolk lad arrived in Derby, to
commence work as a Railway Clerk.
From William - between the years 1878 to 1989 on, have descended (at
least) 43 children, all bearing the Powditch surname, of which currently
there are three (known) Powditch sons to, hopefully, carry the name
forward, to at least the 21st Century.
They are;-
On the following two pages are illustrated;
1) the family tree of Samuel, who married Ann Kendle, showing their
only son - Samuel, together with his 10 children,
and
2) the family tree of William, who went to Derby as a Railway Clerk.
Regrettably, for lack of space, not all of his descendants can be
shown.
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