Charles Botsford
1837-1902

Charles, his parents, siblings and early life:
Charles and his twin brother Josiah were born on the 11th May 1837. They were baptised on the 4th June 1837, in Woburn, Bedfordshire, the sons of William and his 2nd wife, Phoebe Botsford (nee Blencowe) who were married on the 11th February 1835, in Woburn.
Charles’ father William was born c1798 in Fenny Stratford, Buckinghamshire. He married Ann Crowsley, on the 10th October 1819, at All Saints, Kempston, Bedfordshire.

They had the following children:
Eliza, baptised 9th April 1820, in Fenny Stratford
Edward and John, baptised 2nd May 1825, in Fenny Stratford
William, baptised 14th October 1827, in Woburn (born 20th September 1827)
Louisa, baptised 30th May 1830, in Woburn (born 16th March 1830)

William was widowed in 1833, Ann was buried on the 13th May, at St Mary’s Churchyard, Woburn (surname recorded as Bodsford on FMP)
Charles’ mother Phoebe was born c1803. (Possible baptism: Loxley Warwickshire, 31st May 1812, Phoebe, daughter of Thomas and Frances Blincow). Phoebe died aged 38 on the 18th March 1841, in Woburn. (Cause of death, consumption) She was buried on the 21st March, at St Mary’s Churchyard, Woburn.

Charles’ full siblings were:
Henry, baptised 12th February 1836, in Woburn
Josiah born on the 11th May 1837, baptised 4th June, in Woburn (twin of Charles)
Frances, baptised 19th May 1839 in Woburn (born 26th April 1839)
George, born 1841

The 1841 census records William (49) as a Journeyman Carpenter, living in New Street, Woburn, Bedfordshire, with his children, Eliza (20), John (17), William (13), Louisa (9), Henry (6), Joshua (3) Charles (3), Frances (2) and George (2 months).

William remarried on the 15th September 1841, in Woburn. His 3rd wife was Mary Shemeld (mistakenly recorded as Shenreld on freebmd)
(Mary Shemeld was born on the 16th February 1805, she was baptised on the 17th March 1805, in Woburn, the daughter of John and Marth Shemeld (nee Barker) who were married on the 1st June 1799, in Woburn).

Mary gave birth to a daughter, Mary Ann c1849, in Ampthill.

The 1851 census records William (53) as a Carpenter’s Foreman, living in Bedford Stret, Ampthill, Bedfordshire, with Mary (46), Henry (15), a Carpenter’s Apprentice, Josiah (14), Charles (14), George (10) and Mary Ann (2).
Mary Ann died aged 2, in 1851, she was buried on the 17th August, at St Andrew, Ampthill.

In 1861 William (63), a Carpenter, Mary (56), Josiah (23), a Bricklayer and Frances (21), a Dressmaker, were again recorded living in Bedford Street.

1871  William (73), a Carpenter and Mary (66), were living alone in Bedford Street in 1871, all the children having now left home.

William was widowed for the 3rd time in 1872. Mary died aged 67. She was buried on the 26th May, in Ampthill.

The 1881 census records William (84) as a Retired Builder, lodging in Woburn Street, Ampthill. He was recorded as an imbecile.
He died aged 85, in 1883, in Ampthill, Bedfordshire.

Charles in later life:
In 1861 Charles Besford (23), a Painter, was recorded living at 13 Cobden Street, Bedford, with John Capon (30), his wife Phoebe Capon (20) (nee Warwick) and their children, William (5) and Ellen (9 months). (Phoebe was the sister of Charles Botsford’s future wife Emma Warwick)

Charles married Emma Warwick, on the 5th June 1861, in Ridgmont, Bedfordshire. 
(Emma was born on the 23rd August 1839, she was baptised on the 25th August, 1839 in Ridgmont, Bedfordshire, the daughter of John and Elenora/Eleanor Warwick (nee King) who were married on the 5th January 1822, in Ridgmont).

Charles and Emma had the following children:
 Annie Maria, born 30th June 1862, baptised 29th September 1862, at the Wesleyan Methodist, Ridgmont. 
William Charles, born c1865, baptised on the 1st April 1866, at St Mary, Bedford. (There was also another child, Edwin George, baptised at the same time, parents recorded as Charles and Emma Botsford. No birth found for Edwin George***see below)

Charles was widowed in 1865. Emma died aged 25, in Woburn.

Charles remarried on the 1st August 1866, in Ridgmont. His 2nd wife was Agnes Pearman. 
Agnes gave birth to a daughter Emma Abigail, on the 23rd June 1867, she was baptised on the 8th September 1867, as Emma Abigail Frances.

In 1867 the following appeared in the newspaper:
Bedford Times & Independent
Dated 17th December 1867
CAUTION -This to give notice that I CHARLES BOTSFORD, of Ridgmont, in the County of Bedford will not be answerable for any debts my wife AGNES BOTSFORD, may contract.
Dated the 16th day of December 1867

In 1868 the following appeared in the newspaper:
Luton Times & Advertiser
Dated 7th November 1868
AMPTHILL
BANKRUPTCY – Charles Botsford, a journeyman painter, of Ridgmont, is a bankrupt, and the First Meeting of Creditors will take place at Ampthill, on the 14th instant.

Sometime between 1867 and 1871 Charles and Agnes parted company. (Possibly related to Agnes’ debts and the bankruptcy. (***see above No further records found for Agnes or Edwin George. Although Edwin George’s baptism records his mother as Emma, it’s possible he was the son of Agnes and when Charles and Agnes parted company, she took Edwin with her) 

Charles also had the following children:
Mary Jane, born 17th July 1869, in Woburn. (There’s a possibility this child’s mother could have been Agnes but was probably the daughter of Sarah Prue below).
Francis John, born 1871, baptised 30th October 1871 in Woburn (mum Sarah and all later births, children of Sarah)
Henry Josiah, c1874, in Woburn
Frederick Charles, 1876, in Woburn
Alice Fanny Blincoe, 1879, in Woburn
George Thomas, 1881, in Newbury
Margaret Louisa born 18th May 1884, in Newbury
Muriel Eveline, 1886, in Newbury

By 1871 Charles was living with his “wife” Sarah Prue. (No Marriage found for this couple)
(Sarah Prue was baptised on the 22nd April 1844, at St Leonard, Charlecote, Warwickshire, the daughter of John and Ann Prue (nee Ariss) who were married in 1844, in Charlecote). 
The 1871 census records Charles (33) as a Journeyman Painter, living in Church Street, Ridgmont, Bedfordshire, with Sarah (26), a Needlewoman, Annie (8), William (6), Emma (3) and Mary (1).
Sometime between 1879 and 1881 Charles and his family moved to Newbury, Berkshire. (His brother Henry and his family having moved there by 1877).

The 1881 census records Charles (43), a Painter, living in Albert Road, Newbury, Berkshire, with Sarah (36), William (16), an Errand Boy, Mary (11), Frank (9), Josey (7), (Henry Josiah) Frederick (4) and Alice (1).

In 1891 Charles (53) a Painter, Sarah (46), Mary (21) a Dressmaker, Josiah (17), a Shop Assistant, Frederick (14), a Telegraph Messenger, Alice (11), George (9), Margaret (6) and Evelyn (4), (Muriel) were living at 10, Speen View Terrace, Russell Road, Newbury.

The following advert appeared in the local newspaper (Newbury Weekly News) nearly every week from the 28th May until the 10th September 1891:
CHARLES BOTSFORD,
HOUSE PAINTER, GALZIER AND PAPER-HANGER
CEILING AND WALLS DISTEMPERED.
BEST MATERIALS     USED    CHARGES    REASONABLE
THIRTY    YEARS’    EXPERENCE
SPEEN    VIEW,   WEST    FIELDS.

Charles was widowed in 1899. Sarah died aged 55, on the 23rd May, she was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 26th May

The 1901 census records Charles (63) as a House Painter. He was still living at 10, Speen View, Terrace, with his daughters, Emma (33) and Muriel (14), an Apprentice Dressmaker. Margaret (16) was recorded as a Dressmaker, living in Dunstable Street, Ampthill, Bedfordshire.
Charles died aged 64, on the 4th April 1902 (cause of death, cerebral apoplexy (a stroke) He was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery, with Sarah, on the 9th April




Newbury Weekly News
Dated 10th April 1902
THE FUNERAL took place yesterday (Wednesday) afternoon of Mr. Charles Botsford of West-fields who died on Friday from cerebral apoplexy caused by a seizure sustained whilst at work painting a shop in Bartholomew-street, which left him practically speechless, though quite conscious. The mourners were the four sons and the six daughters and other relatives. Wreaths were contributed by his children and grandchildren, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Botsford, Mrs. Botsford and family (Speenhamland), Henry J. Botsford and Freddy, Mr. and Mrs. Humphries and family, Miss Sherwood, Mr. and Mrs. Bond, Miss Franklin, Louise and Ada. At the cemetery were a large number of the members of the Wesleyan Church, of which for many years deceased was a member. The Rev. J. Crawshaw conducted the service, and the funeral arrangements were carried out by Messrs Penfold and Son.

Newbury Weekly News
Dated 10th April 1902
BOTSFORD – April 5, at Speen View, West Fields, Charles Botsford, aged 64.

Mrs P’s    Page 116    Code LN (D) 2

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