Henry Botsford
c1836-1893
Henry, his parents, half-siblings, siblings and early life:
Henry was baptised 12th February 1836, in Woburn, the son of William and his 2nd wife, Phoebe Botsford (nee Blencowe). 
Henry’s mother Phoebe was born c1803. (Possible baptism: Loxley Warwickshire, 31st May 1812, Phoebe, daughter of Thomas and Frances Blincow).
Henry’s father William was born c1798 in Fenny Stratford, Buckinghamshire. He was married 3 times. His 1st wife was Ann Crowsley, married on the 10th October 1819, at All Saints, Kempston, Bedfordshire. 
Henry’s half-siblings were:
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)
William married Henry’s mother Phoebe on the 11th February 1835, in Woburn. (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.

Henry’s full siblings were:
Twins: Charles and Josiah born on the 11th May 1837, baptised 4th June, in Woburn 
Frances, baptised 19th May 1839 in Woburn (born 26th April 1839)
George, born 1841
His father 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 Martha Shemeld (nee Barker) who were married on the 1st June 1799, in Woburn).
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), Josiah (3) Charles (3), Frances (2) and George (2 months).
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.
William (73), a Carpenter and Mary (66) were living alone in Bedford Street in 1871, all the children having 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
Henry in later life:
The 1861 census records Henry (25) as a Builder’s Clerk, boarding with a Robert and Martha Todd, in Thorney, Cambridgeshire.

Henry married in 1861:
Marriage details:
Place: St John the Baptist, Hoxton, Hackney, Middlesex
Date: 4th September 1861
Groom: Henry Botsford, full age, bachelor, occupation, Builder’s Clerk, abode, Forston Street, Hoxton
Bride: Sarah Whitbread, full age, spinster, abode, Forston Street, Hoxton
Fathers: William Botsford, a Carpenter and John Whitbread, a Cooper
Witnesses: Benjamin Bloys Whitbread and Frances Botsford
(Sarah was born in 1839, in Ampthill, the daughter of John and Anna/Anney/Amey Whitbread (nee Bloys) who were married on the 4th October 1832, at St Peter, Dunstable, Bedfordshire).

Henry and Sarah had the following children:
Henry, c1863, in London
Sarah Elizabeth, 1865, in Wandsworth (died 1865)
Elizabeth, c1867, in Wandsworth
Amy born 13th September1869, baptised 28th November 1869 in Hertingfordbury (died age 1, in 1870)
William, c1871, in Hertford
John, c1873, in Hertford
Amy, 1874, in Henley oh Thames
Edith, 1877, in Newbury (died aged 15 months, buried in the NRC on the 5th October 1878)

The 1871 census records Henry (35) as a Clerk of Building Works, living in Cole Green, Hertingfordbury, Hertfordshire, with Sarah (32) and their children, Henry (8), Elizabeth (4), Amy (1) and William (3 weeks).
By 1877 the family were living in Newbury.
By 1881 Henry (45), a Builder’s Clerk, Sarah (42), Henry (18), a Printer’s Compositor, Elizabeth (14), a Pupil Tracher, William (10), John (8) and Amy (6), were living at 9 Shaw Crescent, Newbury, Berkshire.
In 1885 the following was reported in the newspaper:
Berkshire Chronicle
Dated 11th July 1885
NEWBURY BOROUGH BENCH – FRIDAY
Present Messrs J. H. Mason, R. Johnson, J. Absalom and H, Watson M.D.
OFFENCE AGAINST THE BYE-LAWS. – Henry Botsford, builder, was charged with erecting a new building in Craven-road, the external walls of which were not properly constructed and solidly put together with good mortar or cement contrary to the bye-laws.
Mr. Benjamin Sargent gave evidence of the defective mortar, which was mixed with apportion of garden mould.
Mr. W. Cave, from Mr. Lucas’ office, with the permission of the Bench, appeared for the defendant.
James Blackford said that he mixed the whole of the mortar. It was all mixed with road and pit sand. Nothing like the sample produced was used.
James Giles, bricklayer, said that he used the mortar in question. There was no garden mould in it’s compostion.
The case was dismissed
In 1899 Henry was again charged with breaking the bye-laws. The following was reported in the newspaper:

Reading Observer
Dated 14th September 1889
PROSECUTION OF A BUILDER – At the Borough Bench yesterday, Henry Botsford, builder was fined £2 and costs for erecting certain new buildings in Ham-marsh-lane, and not causing the party or side walls to be solidly put together with good mortar or cement as required by the Borough bye-laws.

The 1891 census records Henry (55) as a Builder, living in Oxford Street, Newbury, with Sarah (52), Amy (16), a Draper’s Shop Assistant and a visitor, Minnie Thorne (16), a Dressmaker. 
In 1892, due to ill health, Henry gave up his building business. 
Henry died on the 4th May 1893. He was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 6th May.
Probate: BOTSFORD Henry of Oxford-terrace Speenhamland Newbury Berks builder’s clerk died 4th May Probate Oxford 28th July to Sarah Botsford widow Effects: £25 7s 9d

Sarah after Henry’s death:
The 1901 census records Sarah (62), living on her own means, at Oxford Cottages, Speenhamland, Newbury, Berkshire. Her daughter Amy (26) was still living with her and was also living on her own means. They were still living on their own means in Oxford Cottages (number 4) When the 1911 and 1921 census records were taken.
Sarah died aged 88, on the 13th August 1927, she was laid to rest with Henry on the 16th August.

Newbury Weekly News
Dated 11th May 1893
BOTSFORD – May 3, at Oxford-road, Newbury, Henry, builder, aged 56


Reading Standard
Dated 12th May 1893
Our obituary to-day records the death of Mr. Henry Botsford, builder, of Oxford-road at a comparatively early age. He commenced his career in the service of the Duke of Bedford. afterwards being manager of the building department on the Earl of Cowper’s estate, in Hertfordshire. From thence he sojourned to Henley-on-Thames, and from there to Newbury, entering the service of Mr. W. G. Adey, builder. During the erection of our present Municipal Buildings, he was chief clerk of the works. On their completion he was employed by Mr. Samuel Elliott, builder and contractor, and afterwards started in business for himself in the same line. He was one of the oldest members in the town of the Hearts of Oak Friendly Society. The funeral took place at Newbury Cemetery on Saturday last, Mr. H. S. Hanington being the undertaker.

Author: gambles
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