Biography:
Josiah Welch
05/04/1845 –1909
Josiah Welch
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Unmarked grave Josiah Welch (1845-1909)
Josiah was born 5th April 1845 in Whitchurch, Buckinghamshire, to Thomas and Ann (née Chandler). His father was a bricklayer. The family moved to Stewkley, near Winslow, Bucks by 1851. Josiah’s two older brothers were agricultural labourers and he also had a younger sister. Josiah was baptised 26 December 1852 at Whitchurch.
By 1861 the family was back in Whitchurch. Josiah, aged 16, was working as an agricultural labourer and his father, although 80 by then, was still giving his occupation as bricklayer
Josiah married Elizabeth Ann Nappin on 24th February 1868 in Whitchurch, by which time he had become a police constable.
They moved to Wraysbury where son John was born in 1870. The hamlet is now just west of Heathrow airport.
On 11 July 1870 Josiah was assaulted during the course of dealing with a disturbance at the Green Man pub in the village. He told the Magistrates “I was very much knocked about and my clothes torn.”
Ernest Charles was born in 1872, Beatrice in 1874 and Frederick Josiah in 1876, all in Wraysbury.
Josiah was injured again in the course of his duties in July 1872 when he was attacked with a reaping hook by a man he was attempting to arrest. He suffered facial injuries and lost a lot of blood.
By 1877, when Albert Edward, arrived they were living in Denham, Bucks, but had moved again by late 1880 to Chalfont St Peter. In January 1880 The Colnbrook Friends of Labour Loan Society took Josiah to court claiming the repayment of £1 10s 6d [about £160 in 2025] which had been lent to him when he had been a PC at Wraysbury. He was ordered to pay it in two instalments.
The 1881 census reveals that Josiah was by then employed as a gamekeeper and that twins Lily and Elizabeth Rose had been born in December 1880. In March 1884 Josiah received a caution for not sending one of his children to school.
On 19 December 1890 the Welch’s life fell apart. Josiah was arrested on a charge of “Feloniously and carnally knowing Ellen Rice, a girl under the age of 13, at Berkhamsted, on 25th October.” He was tried on 17 March 1891 and pleaded Guilty to “attempting the act”. He was sentenced to 12 months hard labour in St Albans gaol.
By this time the family had moved to 35 Highfield Road, Berkhamsted. Ernest and Frederick were employed as agricultural labourers and twelve year old Albert as a gardener’s labourer.
Despite his conviction the family remained in Berkhamsted and at the time of the 1901 census Josiah and Elizabeth lived at 23 Highfield Road. Josiah was now a bricklayer and Ernest a bricklayer’s labourer. Beatrice was a dressmaker and Albert a packer at Cooper’s chemical works. The twins were also still at home.
Josiah’s behaviour was to cause the family more grief. In August 1892 a case was heard at the Perry Sessions. According to The Bucks Herald, “Josiah Welch, Berkhamsted, was charged with assaulting his son Ernest C Welch. Complainant said defendant was away from home and he [Ernest] kept home for his mother. The defendant came home and pulled the things about, and his mother objected. They disagreed, and he and his father fell together. Defendant said they were all at him: when he was down all his children were punching and kicking him and his son asked him to pack up and go. Mrs Welch, who was sent for, said she did not want anything to do with the matter: her husband had been better since he had received the summons. Defendant was bound over to keep the peace for six months and had cost of 11s 6d to pay.”
The Bucks Advertiser 4 November 1893 reported on another case at the Petty Sessions. “Josiah Welch, of Berkhamsted, was charged with threatening his son [Ernest] Charles on the 29th [October]… Charles Welch said that his father threatened him, and his mother and two brothers and sisters, with the poker and the razor produced as they were sitting quietly at super on Sunday at about 10pm. He said he would bash their brains out and they all left the house and slept at a neighbour’s. Witness said he had taken the house and paid the rent for 2 years. His father said they had to get rid of Fred Sells, on orphan lad, who lived with them. The defendant was bound over to keep the peace towards his wife and family in £10, for six months, and has 12s and 6d costs to pay.”
Despite this, at the time of the 1901 census Josiah and Elizabeth were living together at 23 Highfield Road. Josiah was still a bricklayer and Ernest a bricklayer’s labourer. Beatrice was a dressmaker and Albert a packer at Cooper’s chemical works. The twins were also still at home.
Josiah died in February 1909 aged 66.
Elizabeth died in February 1915 and is buried in this cemetery.
View this burial in the cemetery
Unmarked grave Josiah Welch (1845-1909)
Josiah was born 5th April 1845 in Whitchurch, Buckinghamshire, to Thomas and Ann (née Chandler). His father was a bricklayer. The family moved to Stewkley, near Winslow, Bucks by 1851. Josiah’s two older brothers were agricultural labourers and he also had a younger sister. Josiah was baptised 26 December 1852 at Whitchurch.
By 1861 the family was back in Whitchurch. Josiah, aged 16, was working as an agricultural labourer and his father, although 80 by then, was still giving his occupation as bricklayer
Josiah married Elizabeth Ann Nappin on 24th February 1868 in Whitchurch, by which time he had become a police constable.
They moved to Wraysbury where son John was born in 1870. The hamlet is now just west of Heathrow airport.
On 11 July 1870 Josiah was assaulted during the course of dealing with a disturbance at the Green Man pub in the village. He told the Magistrates “I was very much knocked about and my clothes torn.”
Ernest Charles was born in 1872, Beatrice in 1874 and Frederick Josiah in 1876, all in Wraysbury.
Josiah was injured again in the course of his duties in July 1872 when he was attacked with a reaping hook by a man he was attempting to arrest. He suffered facial injuries and lost a lot of blood.
By 1877, when Albert Edward, arrived they were living in Denham, Bucks, but had moved again by late 1880 to Chalfont St Peter. In January 1880 The Colnbrook Friends of Labour Loan Society took Josiah to court claiming the repayment of £1 10s 6d [about £160 in 2025] which had been lent to him when he had been a PC at Wraysbury. He was ordered to pay it in two instalments.
The 1881 census reveals that Josiah was by then employed as a gamekeeper and that twins Lily and Elizabeth Rose had been born in December 1880. In March 1884 Josiah received a caution for not sending one of his children to school.
On 19 December 1890 the Welch’s life fell apart. Josiah was arrested on a charge of “Feloniously and carnally knowing Ellen Rice, a girl under the age of 13, at Berkhamsted, on 25th October.” He was tried on 17 March 1891 and pleaded Guilty to “attempting the act”. He was sentenced to 12 months hard labour in St Albans gaol.
By this time the family had moved to 35 Highfield Road, Berkhamsted. Ernest and Frederick were employed as agricultural labourers and twelve year old Albert as a gardener’s labourer.
Despite his conviction the family remained in Berkhamsted and at the time of the 1901 census Josiah and Elizabeth lived at 23 Highfield Road. Josiah was now a bricklayer and Ernest a bricklayer’s labourer. Beatrice was a dressmaker and Albert a packer at Cooper’s chemical works. The twins were also still at home.
Josiah’s behaviour was to cause the family more grief. In August 1892 a case was heard at the Perry Sessions. According to The Bucks Herald, “Josiah Welch, Berkhamsted, was charged with assaulting his son Ernest C Welch. Complainant said defendant was away from home and he [Ernest] kept home for his mother. The defendant came home and pulled the things about, and his mother objected. They disagreed, and he and his father fell together. Defendant said they were all at him: when he was down all his children were punching and kicking him and his son asked him to pack up and go. Mrs Welch, who was sent for, said she did not want anything to do with the matter: her husband had been better since he had received the summons. Defendant was bound over to keep the peace for six months and had cost of 11s 6d to pay.”
The Bucks Advertiser 4 November 1893 reported on another case at the Petty Sessions. “Josiah Welch, of Berkhamsted, was charged with threatening his son [Ernest] Charles on the 29th [October]… Charles Welch said that his father threatened him, and his mother and two brothers and sisters, with the poker and the razor produced as they were sitting quietly at super on Sunday at about 10pm. He said he would bash their brains out and they all left the house and slept at a neighbour’s. Witness said he had taken the house and paid the rent for 2 years. His father said they had to get rid of Fred Sells, on orphan lad, who lived with them. The defendant was bound over to keep the peace towards his wife and family in £10, for six months, and has 12s and 6d costs to pay.”
Despite this, at the time of the 1901 census Josiah and Elizabeth were living together at 23 Highfield Road. Josiah was still a bricklayer and Ernest a bricklayer’s labourer. Beatrice was a dressmaker and Albert a packer at Cooper’s chemical works. The twins were also still at home.
Josiah died in February 1909 aged 66.
Elizabeth died in February 1915 and is buried in this cemetery.
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