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Boyce branch |
Frederick Douglas senior's mother was Martha Ann Boyce, daughter of George Boyce, the baker of Middle Hill on Egham Hill. George was born on 4th August 1776 in Winkfield to Rev George Boyce and Mary Milton. This branch of the family has not been easy to trace, but a recent visit to the Berkshire RO has helped a little, with some subsequent work.
According to some family notes, rev George Boyce's wife was Mary Dolby, but this is clearly wrong. They married at St John the Baptist, New Windsor on 23rd Aug 1773. She was baptised there on the 14th July 1751. Her parents Benjamin Milton and Mary Cross married in St Andrew's, Clewer on 15th July 1750 by licence. The Berkshire Archdeaconry marriage licence Bonds were unfortunately destroyed during WW2, but a card index survives at Berkshire Record Office. This reports that Benjamin was from 'Warfield?' and Mary from New Windsor. Mary's baptism was found at St John the Baptist, New Windsor on 3rd October 1733. Her father Thomas Cross's marriage to Hannah Matthews has been found in the IGI, it was at Bray on 17th September 1727. Thomas Cross himself was baptised on 8th July 1702 at Warfield. The Berkshire marriage index gives Hannah as of New Windsor, but a check of the New Windsor parish records has not revealed her baptism
Benjamin was indeed baptised in Warfield on 3rd April 1729, his parents were Joseph Milton and Mary, and Joseph's father was William Milton, a fellmonger - dealer in animal skins and hides, especially of sheep. Joseph was baptised on 27thOctober 1701 at Warfield. William was also churchwarden from at least 1716-1718, and appears in the parish records.
Elizabeth Morrison's baptism was found on 15th October 1715 also at St John the Baptist, New Windsor as daughter of George Morrison. He married Elizabeth Johnson on 9th December 1711 - the parish records gives them as both of New Windsor and both servants of Earl Renal (obviously Ranelagh).However it was not possible to find parent for either in Windsor.
A view of St John the Baptist Church as it was may be seen on this page (scroll down) http://www.thamesweb.co.uk/windsor/windsorhistory/Windsor1897Barber.htm
A picture of St Andrew's Clewer may be seen here. St Michael's Warfield may be seen here.
Taking the Boyce ancestry back, there is one suggestion that Judith is possbly a Wright daughter of John Wright - it has not been possible to confirm this. John Boyce her husband has now been identified as son of Esther Boyce, who died in 1731. The marriage of George Boyce to Hester Terry was on unknown date in 1676. The Terry family is a notable family in the history of Warfield, they had purchased the advowson (right to appoint a priest to the living of Warfield) in 1629.
Both Stephen Terry and Avis his widow apparently left wills in 1678. Stephen was a clerk (priest) though not the rector of Warfield. An unproved tree suggest they may be the parents of Esther (Hester) Terry. There appear to be gaps in the parish records of Warfield, which are only partly filled by the Bishop's Transcripts. The wills may be the only way of proving the Terry lineage.
Though back one further generation, the Boyce family again appears stuck with George Boyce husband of Hester.