Mary, Arthur, William boxall

Subject :            Mary Boxall       (b 1872 – d 1930)
                             Arthur Boxall     (b 1874 – d 1960)
                           William Boxall    (b 1876 – d 1882)

Researcher :     Diann Arnfield

A picture of poverty and neglect in Godalming

Following the death of their mother in dreadful circumstances shortly after she had given birth to a daughter who also passed away, Hannah Boxall’s youngest surviving children were placed in the Guildford Union Workhouse.  William, only 5 years old, died in the Workhouse. Mary and Arthur both went on to raise families, although not without problems.

The father of Mary, Arthur and William, agricultural labourer Jesse Boxall, had married Hannah Covey in October 1859 at St Mary and All Saints’ Church, Dunsfold, Surrey 1. 

By the time of the 1871 Census, they had six children and were living with Jesse’s parents in Church Street, Dunsfold 2.

Their seventh child Mary was born in summer 1872, with the family having moved about 3 miles (5km) west to Chiddingfold 3.  Arthur followed in November 1874 in Hambledon, near Dunsfold where he was baptised 4, 29, 31, 40. The family then made another short move to Vann Lane, Busbridge, Godalming, where William was born in November 1876 5.

Mother’s death after confinement, due to lack of care

In January 1879, Hannah gave birth at home in Vann Lane to her 10th child, Elizabeth 6.  Hannah died just five days later, aged 42, from ‘asthenia’ (general physical weakness) and ‘acute rheumatism’ 7.  Baby Elizabeth died of ‘jaundice’ less than a month after her birth 8.

It had been expected by the Medical Officer that Hannah would have a difficult confinement, and that she would need nursing/mid-wife care from Poor Law funds.  Her death led to the Board of Guardians carrying out an investigation into the reasons why this had not been provided, with Hannah instead having to rely on the help of a neighbour 9.

Hannah’s case was discussed at three Board meetings, with many witnesses called 10.

One neighbour described the sorry state that Hannah was living in: ‘There was no fire in the house and no coals. The deceased had not been removed from bed since her confinement, and the bed was very bad and dirty’.

After hearing all the witness statements, and noting many discrepancies, the Board decided by ten votes to seven with several abstentions that no blame could be attached to the Union’s Medical Officer for Godalming, Dr Parsons, or the Relieving Officer for Godalming, Mr Norris.

Workhouse for youngest children

Jesse was now in the almost impossible situation of having to look after his children, four of whom were under 10, while also trying to earn a wage.  Although there are no admission records for the Guildford Union Workhouse, it seems likely that at least his three youngest children – Mary, Arthur and William – went into the Workhouse at this time.

The 1881 Census confirmed Mary (9), Arthur (5) and William (4) as scholar inmates 11.  Their father was living at Hurst Farm, Dunsfold, with their 11-year-old brother Harvey 12.

Death of William

Mary, Arthur and William almost certainly remained in the Workhouse, as in February 1882, the youngest, William, passed away there from tuberculosis, aged only 5 13. He was buried four days later at St John the Baptist Church, Busbridge, where he had been baptised, and where his mother and baby sister had also been buried 14, 15, 16.

Mary – a traumatic childhood, and an unhappy end

Mary was about 10 years old at the time of her brother William’s death in 1882. It is not known if she remained in the Workhouse or rejoined her father Jesse at Hurst Farm before he died there in October 1885 17.

However, by the time of the 1891 Census, Mary was living with the ‘Sisterhood’ who ran the St Thomas Orphanage and Industrial Home in Oxford 18. 

No records have been found to show how, why and when Mary, listed as a 17-year-old (actually 18) domestic servant, came to be there. It appears that she may have struggled sometime after she had left the Guildford Union Workhouse, ending up at the Industrial Home which aimed to give older ‘homeless and friendless’ girls the ‘opportunity of education, escaping the dominion of the Devil and entering into respectable service’ 19. 

By 1901 Mary had moved to Hampstead, London, where she was a ‘House Parlourmaid’ for a ‘Servants Agency Proprietor’ and his family 20.  The Census gave Mary’s age as 24 (she was 28) and said she was born in Cranleigh rather than Chiddingfold, but Mary had lowered her age in the 1891 Census and would continue to do so.  Cranleigh was where her younger brother Arthur was living at this time and she was certainly there in 1898 to witness his marriage 30, so with no other Mary Boxall traced fitting the details given on the Census, it would seem that this was indeed Mary and that she had found steady employment.

Mary was back close to Cranleigh on 16th February 1904 when she married labourer William Talman at Christ Church, Shamley Green 21.  The marriage certificate gave Mary’s age as 25, although she was about 31, more than ten years older than William.  She had been living in Kensington, London, at the time of the marriage.

Mary and husband William settled in Chiddingfold, where they had both been born.  Their only child, Christopher William, arrived in December 1907 22.  

Mary’s husband was a bricklayer’s labourer at the time of the 1911 Census, with the family living at Combe Common, Chiddingfold 23.  Three years later, they had moved to Rodsall, near Shackleford, where William became a gardener at Rodsall Manor 24, 25. 

Around 1929, the family moved a short distance east from Rodsall to lodge at the Squirrel Inn, Hurtmore where Mary’s life came to a premature end on 6th August 1930 26, 27.  Aged 58, Mary died from myocarditis, cirrhosis of the liver and chronic alcoholism. Her funeral was three days later at Shackleford’s St Mary’s Church 28.

Arthur has many occupations, but his marriage breaks down

Arthur was almost 11 years old when his father died in 1885.  He was probably still in the Guildford Union Workhouse at this time, but by 1891 he was a farm labourer, aged 17, living in Chiddingfold with his 31-year-old married brother James, a baker, and his family 29.

On Christmas Eve 1898, 24-year-old labourer Arthur, now living in Cranleigh, married Alice Louisa Beadell, aged 19, from Shamley Green, at Cranleigh’s St Nicolas Church 30.  

The couple were in Cranleigh for a short period, with the 1901 Census showing that Arthur had no less than three occupations – bricklayer, baker and garden labourer, no doubt having learnt something about baking from his brother James 31.

They moved several times, gradually moving north via Wonersh and Worplesdon until in 1911 Arthur, Alice and their five daughters were living in Farnborough, just over the border in Hampshire 32, 33.  Arthur was now working as a domestic gardener.

By 1921, the family had split.  Arthur, a baker again, and his three teenage daughters, Ivy age 19, Eva (16) and Lilian (15) were still living in Farnborough 34. Arthur was supporting these daughters, as none of the three girls were in employment at the time of the Census. His oldest daughter, Alice May, had moved out and was working as a children’s nurse, based in nearby Crondall 35. 

At the same time, Arthur’s wife Alice was over 100 miles (160km) from Farnborough, living in Bridgwater, Somerset, with their youngest daughter, 11-year-old Ella 36.  She was noted as Alice Boxall, a live-in ‘housekeeper’ to 39-year-old widowed ‘watch repairer’ Edwin Mitchell and his three young children. 

The 1939 Register made it clear that Arthur’s wife Alice and Edwin were in a relationship 37.  Living together in Bridgwater High Street, Alice was now using the Mitchell surname, although no record of a divorce or marriage has been traced.  Arthur and Alice’s daughter Ella Boxall was still living with her mother in Bridgwater.  Their eldest daughter, widowed Alice May Sherrard, was also with her mother, although she was probably just visiting from her home in Brighton 38, 39.

Arthur, meanwhile, had undergone another move and a return to the brick industry.  Aged almost 65, in 1939 he was working and apparently living at the South Eastern Brick and Terracotta Company, South Godstone, some 40 miles (60 km) east of Farnborough, where he was a ‘brick and tile moulder’ 40.  He was listed as married, despite some 20 years of separation from his wife.

Around 1953, Arthur, now almost 80, moved to his daughter Alice May Sherrard’s home in Brighton 41.  He remained there until he passed away from heart disease on 8th March 1960 aged 85 42.  His occupation was given as a retired bread baker, although he may not have been a baker for many years.

August 2021, updated August 2025
Edited by Mike Brock 

Spike Lives is a Heritage project that chronicles the lives of inmates, staff and the Board of Guardians of the Guildford Union Workhouse at the time of the 1881 Census.  The Spike Heritage Museum in Guildford offers guided tours which present a unique opportunity to discover what life was like in the Casual/Vagrant ward of a Workhouse. More information can be found here

References

Note: the source is Ancestry.co.uk unless otherwise stated.

  1. Jesse Boxall & Hannah Covey 23 Oct 1859 Marriage Surrey History Centre, Woking; Surrey Church of England Parish Registers; Dunsfold, St Mary & All Saints; ref Dun/2/4
  2. George, Mary Boxall parents of Jesse ; Jesse, Hannah, James, Jesse, Emily, Eliza, Thomas, Harvey Boxall 1871 England Census for Church St, Dunsfold, Hambledon, Surrey; class RG10; piece 825; folio 112; page 9
  3. Mary Boxall 1 Sep 1872 Baptism Surrey History Centre, Woking; Surrey Church of England Parish Registers; Chiddingfold, St Mary; ref Chid/4/2
    Mary Boxall Jul-Aug-Sep 1872 England & Wales Civil Registration Birth Index; Hambledon, Surrey; vol 2A; page 119
  4. Arthur Boxall 7 Feb 1875 Baptism Surrey History Centre, Woking; Surrey Church of England Parish Registers; Dunsfold, St Mary & All Saints; ref Dun/4/2
    Arthur Boxall Oct-Nov-Dec 1874 England & Wales Civil Registration Birth Index; Hambledon, Surrey; vol 2A; page 123
  5. William Boxall 17 Nov 1876 England & Wales Civil Registration Birth Index; Guildford; vol 2A; page 99. Digital copy from Government Register Office GRO.gov.uk
  6. Elizabeth Boxall Jan-Feb-Mar 1879 England & Wales Civil Registration Birth Index; Guildford; vol 2A; page 78.
    Elizabeth Boxall 7 Feb 1879 Baptism Surrey History Centre, Woking; Surrey Church of England Parish Registers; Dunsfold, St Mary & All Saints; ref Dun/4/2 abode Van Lane, Godalming
  7. Hannah Boxall 12 Jan 1879 England & Wales Civil Registration Death Index; Guildford; vol 2A; page 73. Digital copy from Government Register Office GRO.gov.uk
  8. Elizabeth Boxall 7 Feb 1879 England & Wales Civil Registration Death Index; Hambledon; vol 2A; page 102. Digital copy from Government Register Office GRO.gov.uk
  9. Hannah Boxall 25 Jan 1879 Guildford Poor Law Union Minute Book BG6/11/19; page 311. Available at Surrey History Centre, Woking  surreycc.gov.uk
  10. A case for Inquiry 1 Feb 1879 Surrey Advertiser & County Times; page 5 British Newspaper Archive/FindMyPast.co.uk
    The Alleged Case of Neglect at Godalming 15 Feb 1879 West Surrey Times; page 2 British Newspaper Archive/FindMyPast.co.uk
    Alleged Neglect at Godalming 25 Feb 1879 Epsom Journal; page 3 British Newspaper Archive/FindMyPast.co.uk
  11. Mary, Arthur, William Boxall 1881 England Census for Guildford Union Workhouse, Stoke Next Guildford, Surrey; class RG11; piece 778; folio 91; page 3
  12. Jesse, Harvey Boxall 1881 England Census for Hurst Farm, Dunsfold, Hambledon, Surrey; class RG11; piece 790; folio 13; page 19
  13. William Boxall 27 Feb 1882 England & Wales Civil Registration Death Index; Guildford; vol 2A; page 54. Digital copy from Government Register Office GRO.gov.uk
  14. William Boxall 4 Feb 1877 Baptism Surrey History Centre, Woking; Surrey Church of England Parish Registers; Busbridge, St John; ref Bus/1/1
    William Boxall 3 Mar 1882 Burial Surrey History Centre, Woking; Surrey Church of England Parish Registers; Busbridge, St John the Baptist; ref BUS/4/1
  15. Hannah Boxall 16 Jan 1879 Burial Surrey History Centre, Woking; Surrey Church of England Parish Registers; Busbridge, St John the Baptist; ref BUS/4/1
  16. Elizabeth Boxall 12 Feb 1879 Burial Surrey History Centre, Woking; Surrey Church of England Parish Registers; Busbridge, St John the Baptist; ref BUS/4/1
  17. Jesse Boxall 12 Oct 1885 England & Wales Civil Registration Death Index; Hambledon; vol 2A; page 87. Digital copy from Government Register Office GRO.gov.uk
  18. Mary Boxall 1891 England Census for Osney House, ‘Sisterhood’, Connected with St Thomas Industrial Home, Osney Lane & Church St, Oxford; class RG12; piece 1169; folio 17; page 28
  19. St Thomas’ Industrial Home and Orphanage, Oxford, Oxfordshire Children’s Homes childrenshomes.org.uk
    St Thomas’ Orphanage 13 Dec 1884, Oxford University Herald, page 7 British Newspaper Archive/FindMyPast.co.uk
    The Annual Appeal for Christmas Gifts for the St Thomas Orphanage and Industrial School 17 Dec 1884, The Oxfordshire Weekly News, page 6 British Newspaper Archive/FindMyPast.co.uk
    Industrial School (Great Britain) Wikipedia.org
  20. Mary Boxall 1901 England Census for 17 Pond St, Hampstead, London; class RG13; piece 121; folio 162; page 27
  21. Mary Boxall & William Talman 16 Feb 1904 Marriage Surrey History Centre, Woking; Surrey Church of England Parish Registers; Shamley Green, Christ Church; ref Sham/2/1
  22. Christopher William Talman 26 Jan 1908 Baptism, 17 Dec 1907 Birth Surrey History Centre, Woking; Surrey Church of England Parish Registers; Chiddingfold, St Mary; ref Chid/4/2 (abode Spain Cottages, Chiddingfold)
  23. William, Mary, Christopher Talman 1911 England Census for Coombe Common, Chiddingfold, Surrey; class RG14; reg district 35; piece 3154; folio 84 (William age 27, born Chiddingfold; Mary age 34, born Chiddingfold)
  24. William Talman 1913 abode Spain, Wormley Hill, Chiddingfold Surrey History Centre, Woking; Surrey Electoral Registers; Ref CC802/24/6
    William Talman 1914 abode Rodsall, Godalming Surrey History Centre, Woking; Surrey Electoral Registers; Ref CC802/25/6
  25. William, Mary, Christopher Talman 1921 England Census for Rodsall, near Shackleford, Puttenham, Surrey; class RG15; reg district 33; schedule 42; book 03223
  26. William, Mary Talman 1929 abode Rodsall, Puttenham Surrey History Centre, Woking; Surrey Electoral Registers; ref CC802/46/5
    William, Mary, Christopher Talman 1930 abode The Squirrel, Hurtmore, Godalming Surrey History Centre, Woking; Surrey Electoral Registers; ref CC802/47/5
  27. Mary Talman 6 Aug 1930 England & Wales Civil Registration Death Index; Guildford; vol 2A; page 152. Digital copy from Government Register Office GRO.gov.uk
  28. Mary Talman 9 Aug 1830 Burial Surrey History Centre, Woking; Surrey Church of England Parish Registers; Shackleford, St Mary; ref 6588/1/4
  29. James, Catherine, Alice, Charles, Arthur Boxall 1891 England Census for Chiddingfold Village, Hambledon; class RG12; piece 571; folio 170; page 1
  30. Arthur Boxall & Alice Louisa Beadell 24 Dec 1898 Marriage Surrey History Centre, Woking; Surrey Church of England Parish Registers; Cranleigh, St Nicolas; ref CRA/2/2/4
  31. Arthur, Alice, Alice May Boxall 1901 England Census for 19 Lock Cottages, Cranleigh, Surrey; class RG13; piece 619; folio 89; page 23
  32. Alice May Boxall Jan-Feb-Mar 1900 England & Wales Civil Registration Birth Index; Hambeldon; vol 2A; page 95
    Alice May Boxall 8 Jul 1900 Baptism Surrey History Centre, Woking; Surrey Church of England Parish Registers; Cranleigh, St Nicolas; ref CRA/3/2 (abode Cranleigh)
    Ivy Daisy Boxall 8 Dec 1901 Baptism Surrey History Centre, Woking; Surrey Church of England Parish Registers; Cranleigh, St Nicolas; ref PSH/CRA/3/2 (abode Norther Farm, Wonersh)
    Eva Lily Boxall Oct-Nov-Dec 1904 England & Wales Civil Registration Birth Index; Guildford; vol 2A; page 73.
    Lilian Dora and Eva Lilly Boxall 27 May 1906 Baptism Surrey History Centre, Woking; Surrey Church of England Parish Registers; Worplesdon, St Mary; ref Wor/4/3 (abode Ryde’s Hill, Worplesdon)
    Ella Violet Boxall Apr-May-Jun 1910 England & Wales Civil Registration Birth Index; Hartley Wintney; vol 2C; page 215
    Ella Violet Boxall 12 Oct 1912 Baptism Surrey History Centre, Woking; Surrey Church of England Parish Registers; South Farnborough, St Mark; ref Fnbs/1/3 (abode 2 White’s Road)
  33. Arthur, Alice, Alice May, Ivy Daisy, Eva Lily, Lilian Dora, Ella Violet Boxall 1911 England Census for Edith Cottage, Whites Road, Farnborough, Hampshire; class RG14; piece 6256; schedule 10
  34. Arthur, Ivy Daisy, Eva Lily, Lilian Dora Boxall 1921 England Census for 42 Peabody Rd, Farnborough, Hampshire; class RG15; reg district 109; schedule 230; book 05807
  35. Alice M Boxall 1921 England Census for 23 Bolton Gardens, Kensington, London; class RG15; reg district 2; schedule 110; book 00122 (place of work Crondall, nr Farnborough)
  36. Edwin HD, Phyllis Jane, Alan, Reginald David Mitchell; Alice, Ella Violet Boxall 1921 England Census for 47 Devonshire St, Bridgwater, Somerset; class RG15; reg district 306; schedule 310; book 11259
  37. Edwin HD, Alice Mitchell; Ella V Boxall; Alice M Sherrard 1939 England Register for 60 High St, Bridgwater, Somerset; class RG101; enumeration district Woao; schedule 133
  38. Alice May Boxall & Edward Sherrard Apr-May-Jun 1923 England & Wales Civil Registration Marriage Index; Steyning, Sussex; vol 2B; page 623
  39. Alice May Sherrard 1936 & 1947 Electoral Roll for 307 Bear Rd, Brighton East Sussex Record Office, Brighton; East Sussex Electoral Registers; ref BEL1936 & BEL1947/SB.324.241
  40. Arthur Boxall 1939 England Register for South Eastern Brick & Terracotta Co, South Godstone, Surrey; class RG101; enumeration district Dnhd; schedule 94 (Arthur Boxall date of birth 27 Nov 1874)
  41. Arthur Boxall, Alice M Sherrard 1953 Electoral Roll for 307 Bear Rd, Brighton East Sussex Record Office, Brighton; East Sussex Electoral Registers; ref BEL1954
  42. Arthur Boxall 8 Mar 1960 England & Wales Civil Registration Death Index; Brighton; vol 5H; page 88. Digital copy from Government Register Office GRO.gov.uk