edward joseph halsey

 

Subject Name:    Edward Joseph Halsey  (b 1836 – d 1905)                 

Researchers:      Margaret Rose and Heather Turner

MEMBER  OF THE GUILDFORD UNION BOARD OF GUARDIANS
FOR PIRBRIGHT
April 1877 – April 1884

CHAIRMAN OF GUILDFORD UNION BOARD OF GUARDIANS
May 1880 – April 1884

 

First experience of local administration at Guildford Union for prominent local businessman

 Edward Joseph Halsey, was born into a wealthy, influential family who had owned Henley Park, near Normandy in Surrey from 1784 until the 1920’s. He had a long and varied life as a highly successful businessman and a prominent public servant. His first public office was as Chairman of the Guildford Union Board of Guardians, going on to serve as one of the first Chairmen of the Surrey County Council.

Regardless of his wealth he was a man with a ‘social conscience’ and his life’s achievements bear witness to that. 

Son of the Lord of the Manor of Pirbright

Edward was born on 28th February 1836 at Henley Park and baptised at the local parish church of St Peter’s Church, Ash 1.  His parents were Henry William Richard Westgarth Halsey, Lord of the Manor of Pirbright and a major landowner, and his second wife Caroline née Whitmore, his first wife having passed away in 1834 2, 3, 4.

As well as 5 half-sisters and 2 half-brothers from his father’s first marriage, Edward had three younger siblings, Frances, Francis and Caroline Elizabeth 5, 6.  All the children were baptised at St Peter’s, Ash.  Edward’s sister Frances died age 6 weeks and was buried at St Michael and All Angels Church, Pirbright 7.  

Edward would have received a first-class education. In 1850 he won a scholarship to Durham Grammar School, where he boarded as a scholar, leaving in 1853 to go to Charterhouse School in London. Charterhouse School relocated to Godalming in 1872 8, 9.

In December 1864, 28-year-old Edward married Katherine Dalrymple  Bircham in Westminster, London, a few days before her 25th birthday 10, 11. Edward and Katherine lived at 103 Belgrave Road in Westminster, where their three sons were born 12, 13, 14. 

In 1861, Edward had been working as a ‘clerk to an Havannah Merchant’, presumably dealing in Cuban cigars 15.  On his sons’ baptism records he was noted as a ‘Merchant’ in his own right.  He was clearly very successful in the business world, as he became Managing Director of the newly established London Bank of Commerce for ‘general mercantile exchange, and foreign banking operations’ in 1873 16.

In 1879, Edward became a Freeman of the City of London by virtue of being accepted into the Worshipful Company of (Wood) Turners, one of the oldest Livery Companies in the City of London 17, 18. It was not uncommon for people to join Livery Companies that were not necessarily connected to their trade or occupation, as was the case with Edward, who gave his business as ‘Commission Merchant’. Edward may have been recommended or introduced, and may have viewed membership as a route to improve his ‘standing in society’. His application states he paid for the privilege.

 Chairman of the Guildford Union Board of Guardians

Edward and his family moved out of London and back to Surrey in the mid-1870s, making their home at The Cottage, Pirbright 19.  He continued as a merchant in the City, but was now looking towards public service. In April 1877 he joined the Guildford Union Board of Guardians as member for the parish of Pirbright, became a Justice of the Peace for the County of Surrey in 1880, and a ‘County Magistrate’ 20, 21.

In May 1880, Edward was elected as Chairman of the Board of Guardians, following the resignation of the Hon. Francis Scott, who had served for nearly twenty years 22, 23.

Edward was elected after a vote, with a majority of three, defeating the Board of Guardian member for Godalming Urban and Vice-Chairman Edward Eager.

As Chairman of the Guildford Union Board of Guardians, Edward would need to lead, direct and guide his fellow Board members, as he held overall responsibility for the Union and its funds. His background as a magistrate would have given him the necessary grounding in the laws of the times 24.

Edward was very actively involved with the governance of the Workhouse and the welfare of the inmates.  He was appointed to the Assessment Committee (responsible for the valuation of properties for rates, and appeals against valuations), School Attendance Committee, Finance Committee, and (Work)House & Land Committee 25, 26, 27.

He worked closely with his Board of Guardians colleague Miss Augusta Spottiswoode on the emigration of workhouse children to Canada. The Board was very much of the opinion that the children would benefit, ‘make better members of society’ and stand a better chance of earning a living in Canada 28.  In June 1883, when considering the emigration of workhouse children Alice and James Hart, Horace Fowler when done and Fanny Monk, speaking in favour Edward said that he ‘knew from personal experience in Canada that the children were exceedingly well looked after, and much sought for. They had good homes, and a much better prospect than they could have in this country’. However, he did admit ‘It was an experiment on the part of the Board, but it had been thoroughly well thought out’, and that it was a cost saving for the Union.

As well as being sympathetic, Edward could be strict at times, for example refusing to allow able-bodied paupers to enjoy a Christmas dinner if they had been admitted to the Workhouse within a couple of weeks of Christmas 29. He also reprimanded the Chaplain when done for changing the time of some of the services without permission from the Board, and for not visiting the Union frequently enough 30, 31.

At the same time as he became Chairman of the Board of Guardians, Edward also became Chairman of The Rural Sanitary Authority, following the resignation of the Hon. Francis Scott from that position as well 32. 

These two appointments went hand in hand, with the Rural Sanitary Committee holding its meetings in the Board Room at the Guildford Union Workhouse too.

After four years in those positions, in March 1884 Edward somewhat unexpectedly stood down as Chairman of the Board of Guardians and of the Rural Sanitary Committee, explaining that he was not seeking re-election because ‘The many claims upon my spare time, together with considerations of health, render it impossible for me to devote myself to the public service as much as I have done in the past, and as much as seems to me necessary for efficiently carrying out the duties of chairman of the Board of Guardians and the Rural Sanitary Authority of this important Union’ 33.

He did not however sever all ties, as he remained as an ex-officio member of the House & Land and Finance Committees until April 1888, and on the Assessment and School Attendance Committees, until March 1890 34, 35.

Edward’s successor was John Charles Ramsden of Busbridge Hall, Godalming, who with his wife had founded Busbridge Church dedicated in 1867 36, 37. 

Elected to the first Surrey County Council as Councillor for Worplesdon

Six months after standing down as Chairman of the Board of Guardians, in October 1888, Edward announced his intention to stand for election as County Councillor for the Worplesdon Electoral Division of Guildford, which included Pirbright 38. Elected County Councils had been established under the Local Government Act of 1888, taking over the functions previously carried by unelected magistrates such as Edward 39.  

In a letter canvassing the voters of Worplesdon, he explained that although he was ‘temporarily residing’ at 9 Drayton Gardens, Kensington, London, he considered ‘Pirbright his home’, and was ‘almost weekly in Guildford, assisting in the management of your local affairs’. The journey by rail into London Waterloo station would have been a straightforward commute.

In 1889, Edward was duly elected, having been returned unopposed for the Worplesdon Electoral Division, becoming one of the original members of the Surrey County Council 40. He was elected Alderman and vice-Chairman in 1892, and Chairman in 1893, a post he held until his death 41, 42.  Amongst his many achievements on the Council, he was credited as being the ‘architect of education in the county’ and being instrumental in the founding of Wye College for Agriculture.

Final Years

The 1891 Census listed Edward and Katherine at their 9 Drayton Gardens home. As well as a County Councillor, he was still a Justice of the Peace, and a ‘General Merchant in Foreign Trade’, holding a large portfolio of important companies in the mining and industrial field.

Edward passed away at 104 Drayton Gardens, Kensington, on 18th April 1905, aged 69, of a heart attack following an operation on his colon two days before 43.

Fulsome obituaries and tributes praised his achievements, recognising his talent for both business and administration 44, 45, 46.

He was described by a Vice-Chairman of the Surrey County Council as having a ‘magnetic personality’ and being the ‘Mainspring of County Administration’.  

A London newspaper reported ‘the City loses a prominent man’, who had been associated with the promotion and direction of more than 30 companies over the last 15-20 years.

Edward was buried at St Michael’s Church, Pirbright on 20th April 1905 47. His grave is in a prominent place in the churchyard, and he has a plaque in his memory in the sanctuary of the church on the wall inscribed ‘ Feb 28th 1836 April 18th 1905 In Memory of Edward Joseph Halsey Third son of H W R W Halsey of Henley Park’.

Edward’s widow Katherine died at the age of 80 on 9th November 1920 in Chelsea, where she had been living with her son Laurence 48, 49. She was buried with Edward at St Michael’s Church Pirbright.

Legacy

Edward and Katherine’s three sons were all successful business men with activities in London, but all maintained their links with their heritage.

Their eldest, Francis Edward Halsey, was a stockbroker in London, but moved back to live with his brother Laurence at Goose Rye, Worplesdon 50. He was living in Worplesdon when he died in 1956 51.

Second son Bernard Edward Halsey-Bircham became a prominent lawyer, working as private solicitor to King George V from 1922 to 1936, and awarded a knighthood in 1925 52. Like his father, he was a magistrate, chairing the Surrey County Council. He passed away in 1945 in Wiltshire 53.

Youngest son Laurence Edward Halsey became a Chartered Accountant, and Auditor to the Duchy of Lancaster 54.  He was knighted in 1919, when he was Honorary Accountant to the Prince of Wales’ Relief Fund 55.

Of all the sons, unmarried Laurence was most involved in Surrey affairs. He served as High Sheriff of Surrey in 1935, as vice-Chairman of the Surrey County Council, and Chairman of the Justices of the Peace in Woking 56.

Laurence died in September 1945 at his home Goose Rye, Worplesdon, just two months after his brother Bernard 57. Worplesdon Memorial Village Hall renamed a room in his memory, as benefactor and first Chairman from 1921-1944 58.

Edward’s sons never lived at Henley Park, the Halsey family seat. From the 1850’s onwards, the house was either empty and cared for by servants remaining to work on the estate, or occupied by tenants 2.  It became a Military Hospital in World War 1, and was finally sold in 1941 to become the Vokes Ltd factory where car and aircraft parts were manufactured for many years.   

 

May 2024, updated February 2025

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 FindMyPast.co.uk unless otherwise stated

  1. Edward Joseph Halsey Baptism 7 Apr 1836 Surrey History Centre, Woking; Surrey Baptisms; Ash, St Peter; ref: AS/3/1
  2. Henley Park Normandy Historians normandyhistorians.co.uk
    Remembrances of Pirbright by Katherine Dalrymple Halsey (b.1839) nee Bircham Surrey History Centre Collections Catalogue; ref: 2791 ExploringSurreysPast.org.uk
  3. Henry William Richard Westgarth Halsey & Caroline Whitmore Marriage 12 Mar 1835 Surrey History Centre, Woking; Surrey Marriages; Epsom, St Martin; ref: 3013/4
  4. Mary Noel Halsey Burial 4 Feb 1834 Surrey History Centre, Woking; Surrey Burials; Pirbright, St Michael; ref: PI/4/1
  5. Anna Halsey Baptism 28 Feb 1823
    Henry Halsey Baptism 23 Sep 1825
    Mary Halsey Baptism 30 Sep 1826
    Ellinor Halsey Baptism 13 Nov 1828
    Dorothea Halsey Baptism 16 Feb 1830
    William Stirling Halsey Baptism 17 Aug 1831
    Agnes Halsey Baptism 20 Feb 1833
    Surrey History Centre, Woking; Surrey Baptisms; Ash, St Peter; ref: AS/3/1
  6. Frances Halsey Baptism 12 Apr 1837
    Francis Halsey Baptism 20 Sep 1839
    Caroline Elizabeth Halsey Baptism 19 Apr 1842
    Surrey History Centre, Woking; Surrey Baptisms; Ash, St Peter; ref: AS/3/1
  7. Frances Halsey Burial 29 Apr 1837 Surrey History Centre, Woking; Surrey Burials; Pirbright, St Michael and All Angels; ref: PI/4/1
  8. Edward J Halsey 1850-1853 Durham School Register; published 1912
    Durham Grammar School 29 Nov 1850 The Durham Chronicle, page 4
    Edward J Halsey 1851 England Census for Belasis, Durham; Archive ref HO107; Piece 2390; Folio 173; Page 1; Schedule 5
  9. Charterhouse History & Archives Charterhouse.org.uk
  10. Edward Joseph Halsey & Katherine Dalrymple Bircham Marriage 8 Dec 1864 City of Westminster Archives, London; Church of England Parish Registers; St George, Hanover Square; ref: STG/PR/7/56 Ancestry.co.uk
    Marriages 12 Dec 1864 The Morning Advertiser; page 8 British Newspaper Archive
  11. Katherine Dalrymple Bircham Baptism 10 Apr 1840, Birth 14 Dec 1839 London Metropolitan Archives; London Church of England Parish Registers; Holborn, St Andrew; ref: P69/And2/A/01/Ms 6667/25 Ancestry.co.uk
  12. Francis Edward Halsey Jan-Feb-Mar 1866 England & Wales Civil Registration Birth Index; Saint George Hanover Square; Vol 1A; Page 328
    Francis Edward Halsey Baptism 4 Apr 1866 City of Westminster Archives, London; Church of England Parish Registers; St James the Less, Thorndike Street; ref: SJL/PR/1/1 Ancestry.co.uk
  13. Bernard Edward Halsey Jan-Feb-Mar 1869 England & Wales Civil Registration Birth Index; Saint George Hanover Square; Vol 1A; Page 338
    Bernard Edward Halsey Baptism 7 Feb 1869 City of Westminster Archives, London; Church of England Parish Registers; St James the Less, Thorndike Street; ref: SJL/PR/1/1 Ancestry.co.uk
  14. Laurence Edward Halsey Baptism 7 May 1871 Birth 2 Apr 1871 City of Westminster Archives, London; Church of England Parish Registers; St James the Less, Thorndike Street; ref: SJL/PR/1/2 Ancestry.co.uk
  15. Edward J Halsey (visitor) 1861 England Census for The Rectory, Thorley Rd, Shorely, Bishops Stortford, Hertfordshire; Archive ref RG09; Piece 807; Folio 6; Page 6; Schedule 36
  16. Commercial and Monetary 4 Jan 1873 The Week’s News (London); page 22 British Newspaper Archive
  17. Edward Joseph Halsey 23 Sep 1879 London Metropolitan Archives; City of London Freedom Admission Papers; Reference COL/CHD/FR/02/2176-2181 Ancestry.co.uk
  18. The Worshipful Company of Turners turnersco.com
    Livery Committee liverycommittee.org
    Records of London’s Livery Companies Online londonroll.org
  19. Halsey, Edward Joseph 1877 London Metropolitan Archives; Electoral Registers; Westminster, St George Hanover Square, 103 Belgrave Road Ancestry.co.uk
    Edward Joseph Halsey 1878 Kelly’s Post Office Directory of Surrey; Pirbright, The Cottage
    Edward Joseph, Katherine Dobbs sic Halsey 1881 England Census for The Cottage, Pirbright, Surrey; Archive ref RG11; Piece 773; Folio 66; Page 17; Schedule 69
  20. The Board of Guardians 28 Apr 1877 West Surrey Times, page 8 British
    Newspaper Archive
  21. Meeting of Surrey Magistrates 30 June 1880 The Morning Post; page 7 British Newspaper Archive
  22. Meeting of the Board of Guardians 29 May 1880 Guildford Poor Law Union Minute Books; reference BG6/11/19 Available at Surrey History Centre; Woking Surreycc.gov.uk
  23. Guildford, The Board of Guardians, Election of a New Chairman and Farewell to the Hon. Francis Scott 1 June 1880 Epsom Journal, page 3 British Newspaper Archive
  24. A Model Chairman of a Board of Guardians March 1896 Charity Organisation Review; vol 12; no 134; pages 90-92 Available at JSTOR Digital Library jstor.org
  25. Meeting of the Board of Guardians 16 October 1880 Finance Committee, House & Land Committee; 9 April 1881 Assessment Committee, School Attendance Committee Guildford Poor Law Union Minute Books; reference BG6/11/20 Available at Surrey History Centre; Woking Surreycc.gov.uk
  26. Union Assessment Committee Act 1862 with an explanatory introduction and practical notes published 1862 by Knight and Company, author Danby Palmer Fry Google.co.uk/books
  27. School Attendance Committee 5 June 1880 Surrey Gazette and West Surrey Times, page 6 British Newspaper Archive
  28. Board of Guardians Emigration of Pauper Children 2 Jun 1883, West Surrey Times and Guildford Gazette, page 8 British Newspaper Archive
  29. Meeting of the Board of Guardians December 1881 Christmas dinner and able-bodied paupers Guildford Poor Law Union Minute Books; reference BG6/11/20 Available at Surrey History Centre; Woking Surreycc.gov.uk
  30. The Board and their Chaplain 25 February 1882 Surrey Gazette; page 6 British Newspaper Archive
  31. The Board of Guardians Chaplain 30 December 1882 Surrey Mirror; page 5 British Newspaper Archive
  32. The Rural Sanitary Committee – Election of Chairman 22 June 1880 Epsom Journal; page 3 British Newspaper Archive
  33. The resignation of E.J. Halsey Esq. 27 March 1884 The Local Sutton Journal, page 2 British Newspaper Archive
  34. Meeting of the Board of Guardians April 1889 EJ Halsey no longer on Finance Committee, House & Land Committee Guildford Poor Law Union Minute Books; reference BG6/11/22 Available at Surrey History Centre; Woking Surreycc.gov.uk
  35. Meeting of the Board of Guardians 8 March 1890 last meeting attended by EJ Halsey Guildford Poor Law Union Minute Books; reference BG6/11/23 Available at Surrey History Centre; Woking Surreycc.gov.uk
  36. Board of Guardians JF Ramsden appointed as Chairman 3 May 1884 The Surrey Mirror, page 6 British Newspaper Archive
  37. Busbridge Church Wikipedia.org
  38. County Council of Surrey 22 October 1888 Letter from Edward J Halsey Surrey Advertiser and County Times, page 1 British Newspaper Archive
  39. Local Government Act 1888 Wikipedia.org
  40. Surrey County Council The Nominations 15 Jan 1889 Epsom Journal, page 2 British Newspaper Archive
    The New County Council, Complete List of Members Elected 19 Jan 1889 Surrey Mirror, page 6 British Newspaper Archive
  41. Surrey County Council 14 May 1892 Surrey Mirror, page 6 British Newspaper Archive
  42. Notes of The Week 20 Mar 1893 Surrey Advertiser, page 2 British Newspaper Archive
  43. Edward Joseph Halsey 18 Apr 1905 England & Wales Civil Registration Death Index; Kensington; Vol 1A; Page 121 Digital copy from General Register Office GRO.gov.uk
  44. The County’s Losses, A Melancholy County Council Meeting, Major Coates’ Tributes to the Late Chairman, A Magnetic Personality, Mainspring of County Administration 13 May 1905 Surrey Times, page 6 British Newspaper Archive
  45. In The City, The Late Mr E.J Halsey 21 April 1905 The Morning Leader, page 2 British Newspaper Archive
  46. Obituary Mr. Edward J Halsey 22 April 1905 Hampshire Chronicle, page 7 British Newspaper Archive
  47. Edward Joseph Halsey Burial 20 April 1905 Surrey History Centre, Woking; Surrey Burials; Pirbright, St Michael and All Angels; ref: PI/4/2
  48. Katharine Dalrymple Halsey Burial 13 November 1920 Surrey History Centre, Woking; Surrey Burials; Pirbright, St Michael and All Angels; ref: PI/4/2
  49. Laurence Edward, Katherine Dalrymple Halsey 1911 England Census for 64 Elm Park Gardens, Chelsea, London SW; Archive ref RG14; Piece 376; Schedule 238
  50. Francis Edward, Mabel Gertrude Halsey 1911 England Census for 12 Carlyle Square, Chelsea, London SW; Archive ref RG14; Piece 377; Schedule 201
    Sir Lawrence E, Francis E, Mabel G Halsey 1939 Register for Goose Rye, Jacobs Well, Guildford, Surrey; Archive ref RG101/1948E/014/36
  51. Francis Edward Halsey 25 June 1956 death England & Wales Government Probate Death Index
  52. Bernard Halsey-Bircham Wikipedia.org
  53. Bernard Edward Halsey-Bircham Q3 1945 England & Wales Civil Registration Death Index; Mere, Wiltshire; Vol 5A; Page 168
  54. Laurence Edward Halsey 1919 New Year Honours, Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire, Civil Division Wikipedia.org
  55. Duchy of Cornwall 1917 The British Imperial Calendar and Civil Service List, page 298
  56. Death of Sir Laurence Halsey 20 September 1945 West Sussex Gazette & South of England Advertiser, page 3
  57. Sir Laurence Halsey’s Sudden Death 15 Sep 1945 Surrey Advertiser, page 4
  58. History and Management, Worplesdon Memorial Hall and Recreation Ground wmh.org.uk
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