Matthew Henry Croucher (Henry Matthews) (1861-1955)

Dates

Birth: 20 January 1861 Churt, Surrey, UK
Father: Henry Matthews 1838-1914
Mother: Clara Croucher 1841-1927

Christening: 10 March 1861 St Mary the Virgin, Frensham, Surrey, UK

Marriage:
Wife:

Death: 22 May 1955 Twyford Villa, Churt, Surrey, UK
Buried: 25 May 1955 St John the Evangelist, Churt, Surrey, UK

Notes

No father is listed in the christening record for Matthew Henry Croucher, but the similarity of the name indicates that he was the son of Clara's future husband of some 5 years later. He changed his name to Henry Matthews before he was 20.

Birth of Henry Croucher and Henry Matthews in FreeBMD in January-March 1861 in Farnham (2A 93).

Entry in Ancestry England, Select Births and Christenings, 1538-1975 for the baptism of Matthew Henry Croucher on 10 March 1861 in Frensham, Surrey, mother Clara Croucher [a] Spinster [of] Churt."

Entry in Ancestry Surrey, England, Church of England Baptisms, 1813-1921 for Matthew Henry Croucher on 10 March 1861 at St Mary, Frensham, mother Clara Croucher. "Page 54 Baptisms solemnized in the Parish of Frensham in the County of Surrey in the Year 1861 [...] 1861 March 10 No. 429 Matthew Henry [mother] Clara Croucher [a] Spinster [of] Churt.

In the 1861 census as Mathew (sic) H Croucher aged 2 months born in Frensham, Surrey, and living with his widowed grandmother (Charlotte) and mother (Clara) in the Tything of Churt, Frensham, Surrey.

His parents married on 3 March 1866 at St Mary the Virgin, Frensham.

His sister was registered in July-September 1866 in Farnham and baptised on 2 September 1866 at St Mary the Virgin, Frensham when they were living in Churt.

His sister was registered in October-December 1867 in Farnham and baptised on 22 December 1867 at St Mary the Virgin, Frensham when they were living in Churt.

His brother was registered in April-June 1869 in Farnham and baptised on 23 May 1869 at St John the Evangelist, Churt, when they were living in Churt.

His brother was born on 23 September 1870 at Squirrels/Hale House, Churt, registered in in October-December 1870 in Farnham, and baptised 6 November 1870 at St John the Evangelist, Churt.

In the 1871 census as Henry Matthews aged 10, born in Churton (sic - in the index), Surrey, and living with his parents (Henry and Clara), two brothers (Albert and William) and two sisters (Alice and Rose) at at an unnamed adress two houses from the Crossways P.H., and next door to Charlotte Croucher (his grandmother) so this must be Squirrels/Hale House.

His brother was born on 14 July 1872, registered in July-September 1872 in Farnham and baptised on 11 August 1872 at St John the Evangelist, Churt when they were living in Churt.

His brother was born on 30 March 1875 registered in April-June 1875 in Farnham, and baptised on 2 May 1875 at St John the Evangelist, Churt when they were living in Churt.

His sister was born 27 May 1877, registered in April-June 1877 in Farnham and baptised on 8 July 1877 at St John the Evangelist, Churt when they were living in Churt.

In the 1881 census as Henry Mathews (sic) aged 20, born in Churt, single, a gardener, and lodging with Charles Earls (aged 61, born in Ashford, Middlesex and a labourer), his wife (Mary aged 63 and born in Egham) and another lodger (Water Hyanison aged 19, born in Laleham, Middlesex,, single, employment illegible) at Percy Cottage, Ashford, Middlesex (now Surrey) .

In the 1891 census as Henry Matthend (sic - in the index, Matthews on the original) aged 30, born in Farnham, Surrey, single, a police constable and lodging with about 140 other police constables in the Police Section House, Charing Cross Road, St Anne, London.

In the 1901 census as Henry Matthews aged 40, born in Churton (sic - in the index, Churt on the original), Surrey, single, a police constable, and living with a police inspector, his wife and son, seven police sargeants, and about 128 police constables at the Police Section House, 82 Charing Cross Road, St Anne Soho, London.

In the 1911 census as Henry Matthews aged 50, born in Churt, Surrey, single, a police pensioner and retired domestic gardner and living with his parents (Henry and Clara), sister (Edith) and neice (Rose - daughter of Alfred?) in seven rooms at Twyford Villa, Churt Farnham, Surrey.

His father died at Twyford Villa, Churt and was buried on 20 December 1914 at St John the Evangelist, Churt.

In the 1921 census as Henry Matthews born in Churt, Surrey in 1861 and living with Clara Matthews (mother?), Edith Mary Matthews (sister?) and Rose Matthews (neice?) in Farnham, Surrey.

His mother died at Twyford Villa, Churt and was buried on 14 October 1927 at St John the Evangelist, Churt.

In the 1939 England and Wales Register as Henry Matthews born 20 January 1861, single, a police pensioner retired and living with Edith M Matthews (sister?) and Rosalind Matthews (neice?) at Troyford (sic - on the original) Villa, Crosswater Lane, Hambledon, Surrey.

Four entries in Ancestry Surrey, England, Electoral Registers, 1832-1962 for Henry Matthews address Twyford Villa, Frensham, Farnham from 1945 to 1954, other occupants Edith M Matthews (sister?) and Rosalind Matthews (neice?).

Death of Henry Matthews in FreeBMD in April-June 1955 aged 94 in Surrey SW (5G 841).

Entry in Ancestry Surrey, England, Church of England Burials, 1813-1997 for Henry Matthews on 25 May 1955 aged 94 at St John the Evangelist, Churt. "Page 96 Burials in the Parish of Churt in the County of Surrey in the Year 1955 [...] No. 83C grave for Three Henry Matthews No. 764 [of] Twyford Villa, Churt [on] 25th May 1955 [aged] 94."

Entry in Ancestry England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1966, 1973-1995 for Henry Matthews died 22 May 1955 in Surrey probate 5 August 1955 in London. "Matthews Henry of Twyford Villa Churt Surrey died 22 May 1955 Probate London 5 August to Edith Mary Matthews spinster. Effects £447 14s. 10d."

There are thirty eight entries in Ancestry Family Trees for Henry Matthews.

An email adds:

one family story that is interesting is that of a policeman in london during the 1880’s. the story goes that he stopped a man carrying a sack dripping with blood during the time jack the ripper was being looked for. it transpired that a famous race horse of the day had died and the man was just taking it’s head to be embalmed. she has an old policeman’s whistle which she thinks was from the same. looking at your site this story could relate to matthew henry croucher, who changed his name to henry matthews. showing this to my mum she says she thinks this is right according to the story told to her by her father, and she remembers two of the matthews sisters living in old kiln close.

Relationship

Matthew Henry Croucher was my first cousin twice removed.

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