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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => London and Middlesex => England => London & Middlesex Lookup Requests => Topic started by: loubags on Monday 26 February 24 13:20 GMT (UK)
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Hi there, I'm trying to track down John Druce in the 1851 Census as I can't seem to locate him! He was born in Lopen, Somerset, in 1806 but according to his pension records, he joined the met police as a constable in Jan 1840.
His wife is listed as Elizabeth and I think I have found the family in Action in the 1841 census - children Jane, William, John and Henry. John senior's occupation is police.
He is discharged as a PC on 27 May 1856 and the address given is 12 Cheapside (he is in the Kensington division) then I lose sight of him until 1861 when he is back in Lopen and working as a shoemaker. He goes on to remarry.
Just to add a bit of extra mystery! I believe I have found Jane, William and Henry Druce in the 1851 census, still in Acton and with a birthplace of Lopen but Elizabeth is now listed as Elizabeth Young, dressmaker and living/married to someone else??!! John Druce junior is in another household in Acton as a servant (baker).
To confuse matters more, there is a Jane Hazlewood Druce from Lopen who marries a man named Lowman in 1851 but then not sure why she would be on both census records. The Lopen connection does seem too much of a coincidence!!
Maybe I've taken a wrong turn somewhere with the family but even if I can't untangle that bit for now, it would still be nice to try to locate John Druce senior somewhere!
Any help would be appreciated. many thanks :)
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To confuse matters more, there is a Jane Hazlewood Druce from Lopen who marries a man named Lowman in 1851 but then not sure why she would be on both census records. The Lopen connection does seem too much of a coincidence!!
Marriage gives her name as just Jane Druce - abode Acton - father John Druce occ Bootmaker
(16th Feb 1851)
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Just to add a bit of extra mystery! I believe I have found Jane, William and Henry Druce in the 1851 census, still in Acton and with a birthplace of Lopen but Elizabeth is now listed as Elizabeth Young, dressmaker and living/married to someone else??!! John Druce junior is in another household in Acton as a servant (baker).
William Young and his wife Elizabeth are a separate 'household' to the Druce children. William Young married Elizabeth Mary Hillary in Dec qtr 1850 - note the Hillary daughter that is listed.
What was Elizabeths maiden name and when did she marry John Druce
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Just to add a bit of extra mystery! I believe I have found Jane, William and Henry Druce in the 1851 census, still in Acton and with a birthplace of Lopen but Elizabeth is now listed as Elizabeth Young, dressmaker and living/married to someone else??!! John Druce junior is in another household in Acton as a servant (baker).
William Young and his wife Elizabeth are a separate 'household' to the Druce children. William Young married Elizabeth Mary Hillary in Dec qtr 1850 - note the Hillary daughter that is listed.
What was Elizabeths maiden name and when did she marry John Druce
In 1841 Caroline Hillary and her mother Elizabeth Hillary are in Acton
HO107
Piece 687
Book 1
Folio 24
Page 7
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Is this his death?
Western Chronicle May 29th 1891
Deaths
Druce May 18th at Lopon , Mr John Druce formerly of the Metropolitan Police Force, aged 83.
Cathy
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Baptisms at Lopen for Jane, William and Henry all give Johns occupation as a Shoemaker. Janes baptism confirms her middle name Hazlewood
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Do you have Johns marriage certificate for when he married Caroline Stuckey.
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Thanks Rosie. John Druce was a bootmaker in Lopen before and after he joined the police, so that all fits.
I believe Elizabeth's maiden name was Bishop when she married. I believe the marriage was on 8 Jan 1829 at Seavington St Mary, Somerset (which is close to Lopen). John and Elizabeth's son is William Bishop Druce. Still working out where Hazlewood came from!
What I couldn't work out in the 1851 census is that the Druce's are in a separate house but Jane is listed as daughter, with no head of the family mentioned? Typo perhaps? But at least the Young surnames now make sense, thanks.
I don't have the actual marriage cert for John and second wife Caroline but a newspaper report says that they were married on 2 Oct 1873 at the Independent Chapel, Ilminster (Somerset) by the Rev. J. Lucas. John Druce is a boot and shoe maker of Lopen, married to Miss Caroline Stuckey of Seavington St Michael.
They have an illegitimate son together before marriage - Fred Druce b. 7 Jun 1871 at Seavington St Michael, Somerset. In the birth cert and baptism record he is given the surname Druce so John must have acknowledged him. At this point, John was a widow in the 1871 census (in the 1861 census it says he's married put living alone in Lopen. No Elizabeth in the same census).
When Caroline dies in 1916, her death cert says widow of John Druce, police constable
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Is this his death?
Western Chronicle May 29th 1891
Deaths
Druce May 18th at Lopon , Mr John Druce formerly of the Metropolitan Police Force, aged 83.
Cathy
Hi Cathy, thanks for the reply. I believe this is his death.
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sorry - duplicate post!!
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could this be Elizabeth in 1851?
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:SG5R-7NS
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could this be Elizabeth in 1851?
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:SG5R-7NS
That does look extremely likely given the birthplace of Seavington. Thank you.
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Hi, thanks again for your help with this. I'm reviewing again so just to update the thread in case anyone else researches... I still haven't found John in the 1851 census but when John is discharged from the police in 1856, it says he is currently residing at 12 Cheapside, London.
In 1851 census, John's wife Elizabeth is employed as a nurse in household of William Mott in Ealing. WM is a "land proprietor".
John Druce witnesses a theft from the jewellery shop of William G Mott in 1856 and states in the old bailey evidence that he's Mr Mott's porter. Mott's will in 1857 shows he owns 12 Cheapside, so I think that there's a connection there at least.
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Notes for possible extended family
Nathanial Hazelwood married Louisa Walter 5 October 1828 at St Mary Seavington witness' are John Druce and Elizabeth Bishop.
All signed except Elizabeth who made her mark.
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Thanks for this info. Really interesting as John and Elizabeth's first born is Jane Hazlewood Druce. I did wonder where that came from as their first son is Walter Bishop Druce, which made more sense on the presumption that Elizabeth's maiden name was Bishop. I'll definitely look into this.
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Perhaps the name Hazelwood is on Elizabeth Bishop's mother's side, re first daughter.
Walter Bishop Druce the first son carries his mother's maiden name
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Hi
I am relatively new to researching my family history, but now addicted!
My paternal line is through the Druce family of Lopen, and my great grandmother was Anna Maria Druce (known as Hannah).
I was born and bought up near South Mimms, where Anna Maria is buried, but now live about 40mins from Lopen, in North Somerset!
I have been wondering what may have caused George and Mary Ann to have moved from Lopen to Notting Hill, where they ran a greengrocery business?
Anna was born in 1865, in London, so the move occurred before then. I wonder whether the opening of the railway between Bridgwater and London was a factor?
If anyone is interested I have some photos of Anna, and my Great Granddad, William Allen.
If there are photos of any others in the Druce family, that can be shared, I would be very interested.
Paul Allen
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Welcome to the fun rabbit holes of family history!! :)
It can be hard to pinpoint an exact reason but I think there were probably lots of different factors why people went to London - economic opportunities probably being the biggest. Lopen was close to the main Exeter to London road and better transportation probably played a part, along with events like the industrial revolution.
Lopen was a fairly small village and largely agricultural. It was also know for twine, rope and sail cloth making in the 1800s. Interestingly, your George was a shoemaker and so was John in this thread. John moved from Lopen to London to join the Met but I have no idea why the police?! He came back to the village to take up shoemaking again a couple of decades later.
Sometimes it's useful looking in the census records - I have relatives (not just the Druce's) who went to London to be domestic servants or work in trade (one went to work as a hackney carriage driver) and went on to live/marry there. In some cases, relatives then appear in the records, lodging with them to work in London.
Good luck with your research and happy to share information. I think our common ancestor is Robert Druce/Mary Shore?