Frederick Douglas was born on 26th September 1850, and baptised on the 23rd October 1850 in St John’s Egham. He was son of James Douglas, a watch and clock maker of Egham (born Chertsey) and Martha Ann née Boyce see here for more. By at least 1870 he was working with his uncle Albert Douglas in the bakery at Middle Hill Egham, see here. Albert married Sarah Pierce Boyce, daughter of the previous owner of the business, George Boyce. By the 1881 Census, Frederick is described as a Baker and tobacconist in Egham High Street. At the birth of his first son Frederick in November, he is described as just a tobacconist.  This seems to relate to this picture of a shop, which was at the other end of the High Street. It seems the first two children at least are born there and he was described  as baker and tobacconist. The move to 77 High Street Egham was presumably about 1882-1885, where the shop was solely a baker's. Frederick married Clara Maria Clarke, who also had a watchmaker as a father, on 29th March 1881 in St Mary's, Lambeth. Clara Maria Clarke was born in January quarter 1858, in Oundle, Northamptonshire and baptised on 20th June 1858. She was daughter of Staffurth Clarke and Sophia Wyman. Staffurth had a watchmaker’s business in the Market Place in Oundle, though was born in Warboys, in Huntingdonshire. Frederick continued with his baker’s, until his relatively early death on 15th October 1901. Clara then took over with the help of her children, Frederick returning from Oundle when his father was too ill to run the baker's.

Their children were as follows: -

Frederick Douglas was born 2^nd November 1881. My grandfather, he married Ada Pullen on 6^th Mar 1913 at St Michael's Cricklewood. Frederick died on 27^th September 1953 in Egham. They had 5 children see details of the family here.

Albert Douglas was born 31^st December 1882. After the return of Frederick from Oundle, he attended Oundle School, staying with his mother's family the Clarkes. He then attended cambridge University, Studying Chemistry and Physics. He married an unknown Madge, an English girl from Cheltenham, and worked as a chemist in South Africa and Rhodesia, then becoming a disrict commisioner, returning home almost every year for a visit. Albert died probably in South Africa. Albert and Madge divorced, and Madge came home. His last recorded visit was in 1955 and there is a record in the Cape Town Archives of an Estate record in 1959, which could be him. He had a daughter Lorna in South Africa,who was a model and whose legs were insured!.

George Percy Douglas, known as Percy, was born December quarter 1885 and a twin to Charles. He worked in the bakery all his life, he never married, and was left the bakery with Ethel, when their mother Clara died. Percy died on 8^th April 1971, tragically of falling into the fireafter a stroke. I have recently heard that Percy was in the cavalry in WW1.

Charles James Douglas, known as Charlie, was a twin with Percy. He joined the Oundle watchmaker’s business run by Louisa Agnes Clarke, his aunt, and George Wyman Clarke, his uncle. He served in the Royal Army Ordnance Corps in World War 1. He married Mabel May Sabin in Sept 1922 in Oundle. They never had any children. Charlie died in April quarter 1964 in Peterborough district.  See here.

Mabel Louise Douglas was born 24^th Sept 1888, and worked in the shop by 1911, and married Sidney Gordon Smith, an architect, on 29^th August 1918 in Egham. They lived in Hythe in Kent. Mabel died in December quarter 1985 in Dover district. They had one son, Cyril Douglas Smith.

Ethel Gertrude Douglas was born 26^th August 1893, and also worked in the shop in 1911, and never married. She corresponded with the explorer Aubrey Howard Ninnis, and both families expected that they might marry. However he married someone else and went to live in New Zealand. He was on an expedition with Shackleton. Ethel was left the shop with Percy on her mother’s death. I recall Ethel as a small lady walking a very large dog in Egham. Ethel died on 9^th March 1973.

Reginald John Sholto Douglas was born Jun quarter 1898. He was known as John when young, and later as Jack. He served in the Royal Army Service Corps in Basra in the First World War, being injured, but having no lasting problem. He married twice, first to Hilda Smith in September quarter 1923 in Bicester district (death unknown), and secondly to Vera Paxton in July quarter 1952 in Kensington district. He was an accountant. He died in October 1975 in Shepway district in Kent.

Christmas day At a guess from l to r Frederick, Albert, ?, Reginald, Ethel, Clara,?, Charlie (or Percy), Mabel, Percy (or Charlie)	Charlie and his wife Mabel	Percy
Gordon and Mabel Smith	Ethel Douglas	Jack (Reginald John) and Vera

Home Page        Family Histories