JAMES DRUCE
James was born in 1798 in Frome, Somerset, the elder son of William (born 1775) and Ann. He was baptised at St John's Parish Church on 24 December 1806 together with younger brother William and sister Eliza.
THE FAMILY OF JAMES DRUCE
The Somerset Marriage Index shows that James Druse married Sarah Parfitt on 19 May 1816 at Marston Bigot. According to the Census Returns, Sarah was born in Croscombe near Shepton Mallet in 1796. The marriage by Banns took place with the consent of parents, since Sarah was 20 years old and James was only 18. They were married by Edward Grime, Rector in the presence of Sarah Keyford and Robert Mar. A copy of the extract from the Marriage Register is shown below.
James and Sarah had eight children, namely, Michael (born 1817), Sarah (born 1818), William (born 1819), Emma (born 1824), John (born 1825), Charles (born 1831), James (born 1834) and Ann (born 1835). The family lived in Vicarage Street, Frome, as evidenced by the 1841 Census. James, like so many people in the town, was a cloth worker. The family still lived at the same address in 1851. The children probably moved away from home shortly after this time.
Sarah died in 1861 and the 1871 census shows James, a widower and an annuitant, still lodging in Vicarage Street aged 75. James died and was buried at Holy Trinity Church, Frome aged 80 on 6th June 1878. His address at this time is given as The Asylum, not a lunatic asylum but an almshouse for old men in Keyford (demolished in 1956).
The house in the photograph above was in Vicarage Street. Sadly, the houses have since been demolished. It is interesting to note that the number of the house pictured is "3". By coincidence, the enumerator on the 1841 and 1851 Census records for James and family was "3". I would like to think that the enumerator and house number related to the same house. Even if the house in the photograph was not that occupied by James and family, I at least have a good idea of the kind of house in which the family dwelt.
MICHAEL DRUCE (BORN 1817)
SARAH DRUCE (BORN 1818)
Sarah was baptised at St John's Church on 27 January 1821 the same day as her eldest brother Michael. She was the eldest daughter of James and Sarah. A copy of the entry in the Register of Baptisms reference number 2/1/6 in Muniments Room Catalogue Page No.286 Year 1821 entries 2285/86 appears below. Copyright vested in St John's Parochial Church Council.
WILLIAM DRUCE (BORN 1819)
William was the second son of James and Sarah. He was baptised at at St John's Church on 29 September 1821. A copy of the entry in the Register of Baptisms reference number 2/1/7 in Muniments Room Catalogue Page No.13 Year 1821 entry 104 appears below. Copyright vested in St John's Parochial Church Council.
The 1841 Census shows his occupation to be that of a cloth worker. The 1851 Census shows him living in Blunt Street in the Parish of Holy Trinity and being married to Ann. At this time, William was a brush cloth weaver and Ann was a wool picker. William and Ann had four children, namely, Sarah (born 1842), Jane (born 1844), Emma (born 1846) and Mary (born 1849).
JOHN DRUCE (BORN 1824)
John was baptised at St John's Church on 24 October 1835 the same day as brothers Charles and James and sisters Emma and Ann. A copy of the entry in the Register of Baptisms reference number 2/1/8 in Muniments Room Catalogue Page No.267 Year 1835 entries 2129 to 2133 appears below. Copyright vested in St John's Parochial Church Council.
John was the third son of James and Sarah. His occupation was that of a carpenter, as evidenced by the Census Records of 1851 (Vicarage Street) and 1871 (Union Workhouse, Frome). John died in 1884.
EMMA DRUCE (BORN 1828)
Emma was baptised at St John's Church on 24 October 1835 the same day as brothers Charles, John and James and youngest sister Ann. She was the second daughter of James and Sarah. Her occupation, according to the 1851 Census, was that of a dressmaker and, aged 27 years, was still living at the family house in Vicarage Street in the Parish of St. Peter.
CHARLES DRUCE (BORN 1831)
JAMES DRUCE (BORN 1834)
(See separate page - The Scottish Connection)
ANN DRUCE (BORN 1835)
Ann was baptised at St John's Church on 24 October 1835 the same day as brothers John, Charles and James and sister Emma. She was the third and youngest daughter of James and Sarah. Her occupation was that of a shoebinder as evidenced by the 1851 Census. Ann died young and was buried at St. John's Church on 23rd August 1854.