The Virgoe Family of Sussex
William John Virgoe was born on 21 October 1842 in Worthing, Sussex. He was the son of William John Virgoe and Martha Sayers. Young William was christened on 20 November 1842 in Broadwater, Sussex. William’s father was an agricultural labourer and his mother was a dressmaker. They lived at 17 New Town, Worthing in 1851. William was attending school.
By 1861, William had left school and taken a job as a wine porter. The following year, aged 19 years, William married Elizabeth Denyer. They were married on 18 May 1862 at St Nicholas Church, Brighton, Sussex. Both William and Elizabeth gave their address as 2 Russell Square, Brighton, Sussex.
William and Elizabeth’s had their first child in about June 1863 in Worthing, Sussex. A daughter, they named her Annie. Two years later they had a son, Edward, who was born in about May 1865 in Worthing, Sussex. On 9 November 1866, Harriet Caroline Virgoe was born at North street in Worthing, Sussex and another William John Virgoe was born on 6 September 1868 in Worthing, Sussex. Henry Alfred Virgoe was born in about December 1870 in Worthing, Sussex. |
In 1871, William and Elizabeth were living at 3 Clifton road, Worthing. William was working as a labourer. Besides their own five children to support, William and Elizabeth took in two more children, nieces of Elizabeth Virgoe. Elizabeth’s sister Mary Ann Denyer married Joseph Gilbert on 28 April 1862 in Bethnal Green, London, they had four children, Joseph Albert, Arthur Henry, Ellen Mary and Louisa. Mary Ann Gilbert died soon after the birth of Louisa and the children were sent to live with relatives. Joseph went to his grandparents, William and Elizabeth Denyer, in Loxwood, Sussex, Arthur may have remained in London with relatives of his father and the two little girls, Ellen and Louisa were sent to their aunt Elizabeth Virgoe in Worthing, Sussex.
William and Elizabeth had another four children over the ensuing ten years, Elizabeth, Frederick Charles, Ellen Louisa and Joseph Albert. William was employed as a general labourer and Elizabeth was a dressmaker. Some of the older children had left home by 1881. Annie was working as a general servant at Windlesham House on Norfolk terrace, Brighton, Sussex for school master Henry Malden and fourteen-year-old Harriet was living in London and working as a housemaid for Elizabeth Dalrymple and her daughter. William and Elizabeth were living at 11 Clifton road, Broadwater, Sussex with the remaining seven children. The two Gilbert sisters were no longer with them, Ellen Gilbert was with her Uncle Nathan Denyer in Portslade, Sussex in 1881. Nothing is known of what became of Louisa Gilbert at this time.
Two more sons completed the family of eleven, James George born in 1881 and Frank Robert born in 1884. Unusually for the times, all eleven children survived into adulthood.
Harriet Virgoe married Arthur Sidney Wicks on 18 September 1887 in Heene, Sussex. Harriet and Arthur lived at 32 Chapel street in 1891 and worked in the laundry. William John, jnr married in about March 1891. His wife Fanny was the daughter of James and Harriet Lambeth. William was in the building trade – a painter and a plumber at various times. They were living at 6 Dagmar street in 1891.
Annie Virgoe was married in about September 1889 in Preston district, Sussex. Her husband, George Burgess was from Alverstoke, Hampshire and was employed as a brick-maker. Edward Virgoe was also married in 1889. He married Blanche Mason on 13 October 1889 in Heene, Sussex. Edward worked as a gardener. He and Blanche had seven children. Sadly, Blanche Virgoe died a year after the youngest, Violet Mabel, was born in 1909. She was just 38 years old. William and Elizabeth, once again, took in a motherless child and Mabel was living with them in 1911.
In 1891, William and Elizabeth had six children still at home. Three were working and three were still at school. Henry was employed as a carpenter, Frederick was a gardener and 13-year-old Ellen was a mother’s help.
Ellen Virgoe married on 16 April 1900 in East Preston district, Sussex. Her husband, Harry John Ernest Burtenshaw, was also in the building trade and was employed as a plasterer. Harry and Ellen were living in East Ham, Essex by 1901
William and Elizabeth Virgoe were still living at 11 Clifton road, Worthing, Sussex in 1901. Their four unmarried sons were all employed, Frederick as a gardener, Joseph and Frank as carpenters and James was a house painter and glazier.
Frederick Virgoe married Ada Lucy Carter in about September 1903, James Virgoe was married in about March 1905 to Edith Mary Baldwin and Frank Virgoe married Edith Knight in about March 1908 in Petworth, Sussex. Joseph Virgoe died on 2 March 1908 in West Ham, Essex at the age of 28 years.
In 1911, just William and Elizabeth, together with their 2-year-old granddaughter Mabel were living in the family home at 11 Clifton road, Worthing, Sussex.
William John Virgoe died on 23 November 1915 in East Preston district, Sussex at the age of 73 years. He was buried on 27 November 1915 in Broadwater Cemetery, South Farm road, Worthing, Sussex. Elizabeth Virgoe lived until the age of 82 years, she died in about March 1923 in East Preston district, Sussex.
William and Elizabeth had another four children over the ensuing ten years, Elizabeth, Frederick Charles, Ellen Louisa and Joseph Albert. William was employed as a general labourer and Elizabeth was a dressmaker. Some of the older children had left home by 1881. Annie was working as a general servant at Windlesham House on Norfolk terrace, Brighton, Sussex for school master Henry Malden and fourteen-year-old Harriet was living in London and working as a housemaid for Elizabeth Dalrymple and her daughter. William and Elizabeth were living at 11 Clifton road, Broadwater, Sussex with the remaining seven children. The two Gilbert sisters were no longer with them, Ellen Gilbert was with her Uncle Nathan Denyer in Portslade, Sussex in 1881. Nothing is known of what became of Louisa Gilbert at this time.
Two more sons completed the family of eleven, James George born in 1881 and Frank Robert born in 1884. Unusually for the times, all eleven children survived into adulthood.
Harriet Virgoe married Arthur Sidney Wicks on 18 September 1887 in Heene, Sussex. Harriet and Arthur lived at 32 Chapel street in 1891 and worked in the laundry. William John, jnr married in about March 1891. His wife Fanny was the daughter of James and Harriet Lambeth. William was in the building trade – a painter and a plumber at various times. They were living at 6 Dagmar street in 1891.
Annie Virgoe was married in about September 1889 in Preston district, Sussex. Her husband, George Burgess was from Alverstoke, Hampshire and was employed as a brick-maker. Edward Virgoe was also married in 1889. He married Blanche Mason on 13 October 1889 in Heene, Sussex. Edward worked as a gardener. He and Blanche had seven children. Sadly, Blanche Virgoe died a year after the youngest, Violet Mabel, was born in 1909. She was just 38 years old. William and Elizabeth, once again, took in a motherless child and Mabel was living with them in 1911.
In 1891, William and Elizabeth had six children still at home. Three were working and three were still at school. Henry was employed as a carpenter, Frederick was a gardener and 13-year-old Ellen was a mother’s help.
Ellen Virgoe married on 16 April 1900 in East Preston district, Sussex. Her husband, Harry John Ernest Burtenshaw, was also in the building trade and was employed as a plasterer. Harry and Ellen were living in East Ham, Essex by 1901
William and Elizabeth Virgoe were still living at 11 Clifton road, Worthing, Sussex in 1901. Their four unmarried sons were all employed, Frederick as a gardener, Joseph and Frank as carpenters and James was a house painter and glazier.
Frederick Virgoe married Ada Lucy Carter in about September 1903, James Virgoe was married in about March 1905 to Edith Mary Baldwin and Frank Virgoe married Edith Knight in about March 1908 in Petworth, Sussex. Joseph Virgoe died on 2 March 1908 in West Ham, Essex at the age of 28 years.
In 1911, just William and Elizabeth, together with their 2-year-old granddaughter Mabel were living in the family home at 11 Clifton road, Worthing, Sussex.
William John Virgoe died on 23 November 1915 in East Preston district, Sussex at the age of 73 years. He was buried on 27 November 1915 in Broadwater Cemetery, South Farm road, Worthing, Sussex. Elizabeth Virgoe lived until the age of 82 years, she died in about March 1923 in East Preston district, Sussex.
Descendants of William John Virgoe
William John Virgoe was born on 21 October 1842 in Worthing, Sussex, was christened on 20 November 1842 in Broadwater, Sussex and died on 23 November 1915 in East Preston district, Sussex at age 73 years. William married Elizabeth Denyer on 18 May 1862 in Brighton, Sussex. Elizabeth was born in about 1841 in Billinghurst, Sussex, was christened on 1 August 1841 in Wisborough Green, Sussex and died in March quarter 1923 in East Preston district, Sussex at age 82 years. They had eleven children: Annie, Edward, Harriet Caroline, William John, Henry Alfred, Elizabeth, Frederick Charles, Ellen Louisa, Joseph Albert, James George and Frank Robert.
- Annie Virgoe was born in June quarter 1863 in Worthing, Sussex and died in March quarter 1903 in East Preston district, Sussex at age 39 years. Annie married George Burgess in September quarter 1889 in Preston district, Sussex. George was born in December quarter 1861 in Alverstoke, Hampshire and was christened on 19 December 1861 in Alverstoke, Hampshire. They had eight children: George William, Frederick Ernest, Dorothy Elizabeth, Daisy Annie, Ivy, Harold Frank, Albert Douglas and Alexandra May.
- Edward Virgoe was born in about 1865 in Worthing, Sussex, was christened on 14 May 1865 in Broadwater, Sussex and died in March quarter 1954 in Worthing, Sussex at age 88 years. Edward married Blanche Mason on 13 October 1889 in Heene, Sussex. Blanche was born in September quarter 1870 in Kensington, Middlesex and died in June quarter 1909 in East Preston district, Sussex at age 38 years. They had seven children: Francis Edward, Ernest Stanley, Laurence, Leonard, Grace Victoria, Ronald Victor and Violet Mabel.
- Harriet Caroline Virgoe was born on 9 November 1866 in Worthing, Sussex, was christened on 23 December 1866 in Broadwater, Sussex and died on 28 May 1950 in Worthing, Sussex at age 83 years. Harriet married Arthur Sidney Wicks on 18 September 1887 in Heene, Sussex. Arthur was born on 30 January 1869 in Worthing, Sussex. Was christened on 28 March 1869 in Broadwater, Sussex and died on 8 January 1929 in Worthing, Sussex at age 59 years. They had six children: Ellen Louisa, Arthur Sydney, Elsie Elizabeth, Gladys Mabel, George and Marjorie Winifred.
- William John Virgoe was born on 6 September 1868 in Worthing, Sussex, was christened on 1 November 1868 in Worthing, Sussex and died on 29 February 1956 in Worthing, Sussex at age 87 years. William married Fanny Lambeth in March quarter 1891 in Worthing, Sussex. Fanny was born in about 1871 in Worthing, Sussex, was christened on 10 November 1872 in Broadwater, Sussex and died in December quarter 1936 in Worthing, Sussex at age 65 years. They had five children: William John, Lillian May, Sydney Walter, Harold Edwin and Albert Stanley.
- Henry Alfred Virgoe was born in December quarter 1870 in Worthing, Sussex, was christened on 27 November 1870 in Broadwater, Sussex and died in June quarter 1957 in Surrey Mid-Eastern district, Surrey at age 86 years. Henry married Edith Ellen Baker in June quarter 1894 in East Preston District, Sussex. Edith was born in June quarter 1871 in East Preston district, Sussex and died in March quarter 1960 in Surrey Mid-Eastern district, Sussex at age 88 years. They had five children: Arthur Henry, Kathleen, Winifred, Edith Ellen and Mabel Beatrice.
- Elizabeth Virgoe was born in March quarter 1873 in Worthing, Sussex, was christened on 30 March 1873 in Worthing, Sussex and died in September quarter 1951 in Surrey Mid-Eastern district, Surrey at age 78 years. Elizabeth married Charles William Skinner in September quarter 1891 in East Grinstead, Sussex. Charles was born in about 1868 in Lingfield, Surrey. They had nine children: William George, Percy Charles, Spencer Horace, Beryl Emily, Olive Annie, Irene Grace, Leonard Walter. Lily and Violet.
- Frederick Charles Virgoe was born on 2 September 1874 in Worthing, Sussex and died in December quarter 1953 in Worthing, Sussex at age 79 years. Frederick married Ada Lucy Carter in September quarter 1903 in East Preston district, Sussex and died in December quarter 1950 in Worthing, Sussex at age 70 years. Ada was born on 1 August 1880 in Petworth, Sussex. They had two children: Winifred Amy and Wilfred Herbert.
- Ellen Louisa Virgoe was born on 29 April 1877 in Worthing, Sussex, was christened on 24 June 1877 in Worthing, Sussex and died on 12 May 1962 in London, Middlesex at age 85 years. Ellen married Harry John Ernest Burtenshaw on 16 April 1900 in East Preston, Sussex. Harry was born on 21 November 1878 in Marylebone, London and died on 15 March 1956 in East Ham, Essex at age 77 years. They had five children: Edna Maude Eliza, Ernest James, May Lillian, Irene Ellen and Frederick William.
- Joseph Albert Virgoe was born in September quarter 1879 in Worthing, Sussex and died on 2 March 1908 in West Ham, Essex at age 28 years.
- James George Virgoe was born on 21 July 1881 in Worthing, Sussex and died in December quarter 1962 in Chichester, Sussex. James married Edith Mary Baldwin in March quarter 1905 in East Preston district, Sussex. Edith was born on 2 December 1882 in Ringmer, Sussex. They had three children: Bernard James Clement, Gladys Mary Ellen and Eileen Adelaide Marion.
- Frank Robert Virgoe was born in June quarter 1884 in Worthing, Sussex and died in December quarter 1937 in Worthing, Sussex at age 53 years. Frank married Edith Knight in March quarter 1908 in Petworth, Sussex. Edith was born in December quarter 1884 in Petworth, Sussex and died in September quarter 1960 in Worthing, Sussex at age 76 years. They had four children: Dorothy Edith, Winifred Mary, Stanley Joseph and Leslie Frank.