SEVENTH GENERATION
Samuel BUTCHER was
christened on 25 Jan 1789 / 23 Mar 1794 in Westerham, Kent1. He died
on 10 March 1866 in the Bromley Union Workhouse at Farnborough, Kent2.
Samuel's birth details are still not exactly certain as the following ages have
been recorded for him :-
1841 census - 55yrs (5yrs rounded) i.e. born between 1782 & 1786
1851 census - 67 years i.e. born ca.1784
1861 census - 73 yrs i.e. born ca. 1788
1866 death - 78 yrs i.e. born ca. 1788
In the 1851 & 1861 censuses
he gave his place of birth as Westerham. A check of the Westerham Parish Registers
show that there was only one family of Butchers in the Registers during the latter
half of the 1700's and first three decades of the 1800s. This was the family
of Martin & Mary and their children. They baptised two children as Samuel
in 1789 & 1794. It is presumed that the first Samuel died however no burial
was found, but the burial register was unreadable in large parts during those
years due to fading. Samuel's difference in age from the baptism and the censuses
could have been deliberate or just the mixing up of his birth date as he was
most likely illiterate, which may or may not be confirmed once his marriage record
is found. Also as has been known, there was no death but one Samuel baptised
twice, such as hurriedly at home as a sickly baby, second in church as a proper
baptism. Or in rare cases two sons named Samuel, again the first being sickly
and not expected to live, a new arrival was given the same name, with the first
then surviving. Or an error in the Parish Register with the wrong name being
entered for the 2nd baptism.
Known places of residence :-
Westerham, Kent (Birth - details in the 1851 & 1861 census)1
Cudham, Kent (children's baptisms 1818 & 1820)1
West Wickham, Kent (children's baptisms 1823-1838)1
Keston, Kent (1841 & 1851 censuses)3
Westerham Road, Bromley, Kent (1861 census)3
Bromley Union Workhouse at Farnborough, Kent2. (Death Certificate
1866)2
Occupation :-
Yeoman (1817 - Marriage Licence)5
Gardener (1839 - daughter Fanny's marriage certificate)
Agricultural Labourer (1841, 1851 & 1861 censuses)3
Labourer (Death Certificate 1866)2
Samuel was married by licence5 to Amey MEADS on the 23rd December 1817 at
Hitcham1, Buckinghamshire, the parish register noting that Samuel was
from West Wickham, Kent.
Amey MEADS was born about 1790. She died on 4 March 1851 in Keston4. She was buried on 9 March
1851 in Keston, Kent by Coroner's Warrant1. The Burial Register and
Death Certificate gave her age as
60 years.
Children were:
 i.
Frances BUTCHER was christened on 31 May 1818 in Cudham,
Kent1.
ii. Hester BUTCHER was christened on 22 Oct 1820 in
Cudham1.
iii. Anne BUTCHER was born on 10 Jul 1823. She was christened on 10 Aug 1823
in West Wickham, Kent1.
iv. Jane BUTCHER was born on 3 Apr 1826. She was christened on 30 Apr 1826 in
West Wickham1.
v. William BUTCHER was born on 4 Aug 1828. He was christened on 31 Aug 1828
in West Wickham1.
vi. John BUTCHER was born on 16 Feb 1831. He was christened on 20 Mar 1831 in
West Wickham1.
vii. Emma BUTCHER was born on 19 Nov 1833. She was christened on 22 Dec 1833
in West Wickham1.
viii. Henry BUTCHER was born on 24 Jan 1836. He was christened on 28 Feb 1836
in West Wickham1.
ix. James BUTCHER was born on 27 Sep 1838. He was christened on 11 Nov 1838
in West Wickham1. A child James was buried in Keston on 20 September 1840 aged
8 months1. If he was Samuel & Amy's son then he should have been aged 2 yrs.
They were the only Butcher family in Keston at the time so unless the age is a
mistake then it appears that one of their elder daughters may have had an illegitimate
child, as did Frances in 1835. Sources :-
1. Parish Register - location as stated.
2. Samuel's Death Certificate - 1866, Mar Q, Bromley, 2a-213.
3. Census returns :-
1851 - HO107/1606/f.233/p.19.
1861 - RG9/463/f.155/p.18
4. Amy's Death certificate - 1851, MarQ, Bromley, 5-32.
5. Buckinghamshire Marriage
Licences - 23 Dec 1817
|
