Samuel Punchard (1844 – 1935)

Samuel is one of my 2nd great grandfathers. He was the Punchard that moved from Norfolk to London. I can trace this Punchard line in Norfolk back to around 1636 and my 8th great grandfather William Punchard, although the Punchard’s are supposed to have been Norman and come over with William the Conqueror, yet to be proved!

Samuel was born on 12th July 1844 in Morning Thorpe (registration district Stratton, Depwade, Norfolk). One of nine children born to Robert Punchard and Mary Anne Lighting, one child died in infancy, the eight survived into adulthood. His father’s occupation was labourer (probably working on farms), he later became a farm bailiff for Mr E Howes of Morningthorpe Manor, which was quite an achievement considering at the time of his marriage he was illiterate.

Samuel was baptised on 4th August 1842 at St John the Baptist, the Morningthorpe, the parish church (Church of England). His father’s occupation is “husband-man”, which is an old term for a “farmer who worked with animals.” [http://www.norfolkchurches.co.uk/morningthorpe/morningthorpe.htm]

In 1851 on the census, Samuel is 6 years old, living with his parents and siblings in Morningthorpe, he was described as a scholar so probably attending school at least on a part time basis. It was not until the The Elementary Education Act 1870 was passed that set the framework for schooling of all children between the ages of 5 and 12 in England and Wales. It has long been seen as a milestone in educational development, but recent commentators have stressed that it brought neither free nor compulsory education, and its importance has thus tended to be diminished rather than increased. His father was now a “farming bailiff”, his eldest brother George (15) is a “groom” and 2nd brother James (12) is an “errand boy”.

By the 1861 census Samuel is employed as a groom, living as a servant in Morningthorpe Manor House, working for Mr Edward Howes who was the local MP, Deputy Lieutenant and J.P. for Norfolk. He became chairman of the Quarter Sessions for Norfolk in 1848, and a Church Estates Commissioner in 1866. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Howes] His father was Mr Howes farm bailiff but lived in a house in the village.

Just 3 years later, aged 19 Samuel got married on 7th June 1864 at the Holy Trinity, Haverstock Hill in Camden, to Jemima Anne Torbel, who was 25, so 6 years older! Samuel’s occupation was now a “coachman”, on the 1861 census Jemima is a servant (it was common for women’s occupations not to be stated on marriage registrations). The witnesses were John and Charlotte Fritsch, Charlotte was Jemima’s eldest sibling, the couple had married in London in 1861, where Jemima was one of their witnesses. Jemima was from a Suffolk family.

On the 1871 (2nd April) census Samuel and Jemima are living at 11 Bassett Street, St Pancras, London (area now described as Chalk Farm) which they share with 3 other families. They now have 4 young children and Samuel’s occupation is a carpenter. Later that year, their second youngest child, [Annie] Ellen Punchard died of hooping cough on 16th December 1871 at their next home 168 Barnsbury Road in Islington, Samuel is now a “grocer”. [Annie] Ellen was buried at Islington Cemetery 5 days later.

10 years later, on the 1881 census Samuel still a “greengrocer”. Jemima and Samuel had a further 3 sons including my great grandfather Robert John Punchard, and were now a family of 7 living in still living at 168 Barnsbury Road, Islington.

Did they live above the shop? From todays image of property, it looks like there might of been shops at ground floor.

On 1891 census Samuel is now a “fruitier”, still living at 168 Barnsbury Road with Jemima and the 5 youngest children. Their eldest child Mary Anne Punchard had married the year before and was living a few streets a way with her husband Ernest Lloyd Lawrence.

Samuel and Jemima are still living at 168 Barnsbury Road on 1901 census, Samuel is “fruitier and greengrocer” on his own account (self employed) probably working with his son William who was a fruitier and a worker (an employee). My great grandfather was working as a clerk.

By 1911 census, Samuel and Jemima had retired and moved in with one of their daughters and her young family in Stamford Hill.

On 22nd September 1912 Jemima dies of heart failure aged 74 in Mount Pleasant, Ramsden Bellhouse, which is in the district of Billericay Essex. She was buried in Islington Cemetery.

By 1921 census Samuel (now widowed) is living with his eldest son George and daughter in law Agnes Isabella McCrae at Avondale Road in South Benfleet, Essex.

Samuel died in 1935 at the North Middlesex County Hospital, aged 90 of heart failure (perhaps his long life was helped by eating fruit)! His death was registered by his son Robert John Punchard (my great grandfather). He had been living at 181 Wellington Road, Bush Hill Park.

Samuel is buried in Islington Cemetery with other members of his family.