Boxing Ancestors

Introduction

This post was originally going to cover two direct ancestors only, about whom I remember hearing about briefly when I was younger. Recently I have uncovered another individual who, although a distant ancestor through the Peake side, I am including here.

Joseph Henry and Ernest Anthony Plant

These gentlemen are my 2nd great uncles, also on my maternal side. They were born in born in Wolstanton, Staffordshire to John Thomas Plant and Isabella Hardy. 

Joseph was the elder of the two, born on 14 April 1900; Ernest was born on 28 April 1904. Looking at the census records it is obvious that the brothers came from a hard working family. In 1911 their father was working as a quarryman in a brickyard and looking down his daughters are tile makers in the same location.

The brothers' nicknames were Nipper (Joseph) and Young Nipper (Ernest). They were bare knuckle boxers. I have not found much free information about the brothers' careers.

I have found Young Nipper on this website http://www.boxinghistory.org.uk/Boxer_Young_Nipper_Plant_Chesterton.htm

It says he was a professional boxer who was active between 1920 and 1930. He competed in 18 professional contests and boxed at flyweight, bantamweight, featherweight and lightweight. 

I have not correctly identified Nipper, as there are several entries which could be him.


Roots and Branches, The Official Journal of the Plant Family History Group, Issue No 1, December 1990 has a short reference to them.

Plant's Boxing Booth 
G R Tweedie
"Shortly after the Second World War on my demob from the Royal Navy I became a licensed boxer and soon after became famlllar with the Plants Boxing Booth. 

The Plant Family were Joe (Nipper) Plant, Ernie Plant and young Joe Plant, now all deceased. 

I travelled with them on the booth and most of the boxers were Ex-Service. Apart from other towns we vislted with the booth, Macclesfield was about the best for the boxers, taking on all comers and making a few bob on a Frlday and Saturday.

I am In my late slxties now but well remember the Plants who I think originated from Chesterton, Stoke-on-Trent, so perhaps some of your members may have some record of their Boxing Booth and of course the family".

Francis "Frank" Frederick Borrington 

16 Feb 1909 - 17 Aug 1989

Frank was born Derbyshire to Alfred Ernest Borrington and Gertrude Colebourne. I have posted more about his family and brothers at https://myfamilyhistoryfacts.blogspot.com/search/label/Borrington

Frank's professional boxing career debut was on 28 October 1931, at Highfield BC Derby, against George Frost. This debut match was drawn on points. On 19 December 1932 he had another debut against Tommy Stone at the King's Hall in Derby; Frank won by knockout.

Nicknamed "The Borrington Bomber", Frank competed in the heavyweight division and competed in a total of 64 bouts. He was the Heavyweight Champion of the Midlands. In 1936 Frank married Harriet White and the following year he retired from the sport. 

The full history of Frank's boxing career can be found at: https://boxrec.com/media/index.php/Frank_Borrington

The 1939 England and Wales Register, shows Frank working as Telecommunications Linesman G P O Engineering Heavy Worker, in Derbyshire; he also appeared to be an ARP warden. By the 1980s the couple were living in Lincolnshire; the probate records for Frank appear to suggest that the couple had no children. 

Served in the Military: Benson

Introduction

These two gentlemen are my 2nd great uncles on my father's side. They were both born in Aberdeen, Scotland to William Henry Benson and Isabella Speid. Their 3rd brother was William Benson, my great grandfather, who went to India as a tea planter, where he died.

James Speid Benson

26 May 1873 -27 Mar 1963

James was the eldest. He was a trained solicitor so did not see overseas action in World War I. He was a Private in the 1st Volunteer Battalion Gordon Highlanders (previously City of Aberdeen Volunteer Regiment). The rest of the entry reads November 1914; commissioned, October 1916. Home service, Aberdeen, 1914-19.

In 1917 he married Blanche Jane Montgomery Falconer and the couple had 2 daughters. I will be saying more about James in other posts.

John Speid Benson

10 Jun 1877 - 23 Jun 1916

John was the youngest of the 3 brothers. The 1819 Scotland Census lists him as a scholar and by 1896 we find him listed on UK Incoming Passenger Lists, returning from New York to Southampton. He is travelling in steerage and is listed as a printer. In 1900 he makes a similar journey from New York to Southampton, also in steerage, but this time he appears to be a miner. Unfortunately the UK Outgoing Passenger Lists do not start until 1890. 

On 24 August 1915 John enlisted in the UK Royal Air Force. He was posted to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania in Central Africa where he held the rank of Sergeant, in the 26th Squadron, Royal Flying Corps. Unfortunately he contracted malaria and died on 23 June 1916 at the Blackwater Ridge.

More information about John can be found at: http://www.southafricawargraves.org/search/details.php?id=1613

Served in the Military: Borrington

The Borringtons

This surname is a link through my Peake ancestors making them very distant relations, according to Ancestry, or not direct ancestors at all. They all seem to have come from Derbyshire, or at least that is where the family originate from.

Alfred Ernest Borrington

Sep 1887 - 13 Nov 1917

Alfred was born in Derby, Derbyshire to John Thomas Borrington and Sarah Dean. On 29 September 1900 he married Gladys Colebourne. The marriage details show Alfred as a timber merchant. The couple had 8 children: 3 girls and 5 boys. 

Alfred held the rank of Sergeant in the 15th Battalion, Machine Gun Corps, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire (Sherwood Foresters) Regiment; Regimental Number 8068, 73298, He died of wounds sustained at the Battle of Passchendale, 3rd Battle of Ypres, and is remembered in Part II, Boulogne Eastern Cemetery.

Alfred Ernest Borrington

27 Jul 1901 - 13 Aug 1963

Alfred is the eldest son of Alfred Ernest Borrington (above) and Gertrude Colebourne. He was also born in Derbyshire. 

The British Army WWI Pension Records show Alfred enlisting in the Tank Corps; Regimental Number 320589. The document is dated 1919, and therefore he would not have served for long. The records show that his occupation was a welder.

In October 1920 he married Florence Armson. I know from Ancestry that Alfred and Florence had several children as their records are showing as private. I have not yet traced him after 1920, but expect that he also served in the Second World War.

Albert Edward Borrington

05 Aug 1907 - 14 Oct 1963

Albert is the 4th son born to Alfred Ernest Borrington (b. 1887) and Gertrude Colebourne, in Derbyshire. One of his older brothers, Harold Arthur, had died in 1912 at the age of 8. His other older brother John Thomas Borrington had married Fanny Baker in 1924 and had several children; as yet no military records have been located, but he must have served.

On 02 June 1930, Albert married Doris Birley, with whom he had 3 children: 1 girl and 2 boys.

The 1939 England and Wales Register lists Albert's occupation as  Constructional Engineer Erector Artificial For Heavy Worker.  I know he served in the Second World War as there are a couple of photographs of him on Ancestry which say he was in the Royal Marines. I will need to pay to see more the details; I will come back to this in the future.

Frederick Albert Borrington

24 Dec 1935 - 29 Nov 2007

Frederick was born on Christmas Eve in Derbyshire to Albert Edward Borrington (above) and Doris Birley. He was their middle child, having an older sister (Doris Cissy Ellen) and a younger brother Roger Edward born and died in 1945.

A note next to the photograph above, from Ancestry, says that Frederick served in Borneo; I am not sure when as there have been several conflicts in the region which involved the British military. 

In April 1956 Frederick married Mary Claire Moyniham in Windsor. I have yet to find the records of any children, as I guess, if there are any, they are still living.

Albert Victor Borrington

Feb 1895 - 05 Dec 1917

Albert was born in Derby, Derbyshire to John James Borrington and Catherine Annie Borrington, who were cousins. His father was the brother of Alfred Ernest Borrington (b. 1887). The 1911 England Census lists Albert as working in a cotton factory. He was unmarried.

Albert held the rank of Private in the 2/5th Battalion, Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire) Regiment. He was accidentally killed in a stove accident, while stationed at Ribicourt, France; from what I have deciphered from his records I believe he may have been a cook at the time. Albert is remembered on the Cambrai Memorial at Louverval.

Joseph James Horatio Nelson Dawson Borrington

Abt. 1837  - December 1855

This rather grandly named ancester was born in Derby, about 1840 to James Borrington and Catherine Dawson. James Borrington was a plumber and glazier and son Joseph had another 8 siblings: 4 brothers and 4 sisters.I have yet to work out the link between Joseph's family and those above.

Joseph had gone to fight in the Crimean War, as a volunteer in the 95th (Derbyshire) Regiment of Foot. I can only speculate as to why the eldest son would have chosen to go off to a distance land, rather than joining his father in the plumbing and glazing business. Perhaps he was keen to leave behind his conventional life and have an exciting adventure. I can only imagine that the Crimean War was "promoted" a little like the First World War would be, and that those going to fight, never really thought they would be at any real risk.

An account of the Regiment's time during the Crimea War can be read at:  https://www.nam.ac.uk/explore/95th-derbyshire-regiment-foot 

With more general information about the war available here: https://www.nam.ac.uk/explore/crimean-war

Unfortunately Joseph must have discovered the realities of trench warfare, as he was killed at the Siege of Sebastopol, aged only 19. 

William Harold Borrington

Dec 1874 - Jan 1932

Walter was born in Derby, Derbyshire to James John Borrington and Amelia Edwards. He was 1 of 12 children: 8 sons and 4 daughters. His eldest brother James John (b. 1866) was a photographer's assistant in 1911; Walter Edward (b. 1867) was a house painter in 1911, and went on to have 2 sons who also served (below); Thomas Horatio (b. 1869) is listed in the 1939 England and Wales Register as a harness maker. Frederick (b. 1871) was living in Gateshead in 1911 and working for the British Railway.

William was the next son, who had married Emma Maddocks in 1894. The 1911 England Census lists him as a funterer (dealer), living with Emma and their daughter. On 14 October 1914 William was enlisted into the Royal Army Medical Corps of the Territorial Army, as a Private, Regimental Number 2513. Unfortunately his service was short, as he was deemed unfit for duty and was discharged on 29 October 1914.

Arthur Septimus Borrington

21 Mar 1884 - Apr 1960

Between Arthur and William there was a brother John Alfred (b. 1876), who also worked as a funterer and is listed in 1925 as a fried fish dealer. I am currently getting no service records for him. 

Arthur joined the Duke of Wellington's (West Riding) Regiment; Regimental Number 305952. I have not yet found his service records.

In 1939 Arthur is working as a green grocer living with other members of the extended Borrington family. 

Charles Percy Borrington

Apr 1887 - 21 Apr 1964

Charles is the youngest brother and child of James John and Amelia. He was also born in Derbyshire. The 1911 England Census shows him living at Crownhill Barracks in Devon. He is a Private in the 2nd Battalion, Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire) Regiment;  Regimental Number 11109.

On 24 April 1916 Chas Percy (as he liked to be known) married Margaret Bosworth in Derbyshire, possibly because they already had 1 daughter born in 1915. Another followed in 1917. I am not sure what his occupation was after he was discharged, and there is no clue from his probate records.

Walter Alfred Borrington

24 Aug 1899 - 23 May 1969

Walter was born in Derbyshire, England to Walter Edward Borrington and Elizabeth Tillson. Walter was the couple's eldest son, and he had 6 other siblings: 4 brothers and 2 sisters. 

Walter enlisted on 30 August 1914 and his records, when they can be deciphered, make for interesting reading. Walter was sent to France as a Private in the Suffolk Regiment; Service Number 19075. The records go on to include a letter from his father to someone he addresses as Your Lordship. He says he has already written to the senior officer in the Regiment, but has had no success. He explains that his son has been fighting for 6 months and that he felt that he had done is share, being only 16, and could they please send him home. Based on this it is clear that Walter had lied about his age when he enlisted saying that he was 19 years, 4 months. After being provided with a copy of Walter's birth certificate, by his father, he is discharged and returned to the UK.

The transcription of the records suggest that Walter joined the Highland Cyclist Battalion; Regimental Number 12725. I am not sure if this is true, on his return. If it was I briefly say that the Highland Cyclist Battalion was just that, an independent unit with operated on bicycles in the UK during World War I. To find out more about where the Highland came from see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highland_Cyclist_Battalion

In April 1920 Walter married Florence Anne McGough and the couple had 1 daughter and 2 sons. The 1939 England and Wales Register lists Walter as working as a General Highways Foreman. On his death no one is named in the probate records, but his wife was still living at the time.

Harold Borrington

24 Nov 1900 - Apr 1964


Harold was born in Derbyshire and is the brother of Walter Alfred (above).  On 20 August 1918, straight from school, he joined the UK Royal Air Force; Service Number 286497.

In October 1924 he married Ada Gerrard in Derby and couple went on to have 2 girls. The 1939 England and Wales Register show Harold working as a carpenter in railway maintenance.

Thomas Borrington

29 Dec 1790 - 1843

Thomas was born in Ipswich, Suffolk to Joseph Borrington and Sarah Hyde. Records show him on 09 April 1814 as serving in the 23rd Dragoon Guards, a British Regiment serving in Canada. Doing a quick internet search it seems he would have arrived in Canada just in time for the Battle of Lundy's Lane on 25 July 1814. It was also known as the Battle of Niagara Falls, and was one of the bloodiest battles of the Anglo-American War of 1812. 

I will need to do further research to find out when he died and if he got married.

More information about the battle can be found at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Lundy%27s_Lane

Who Done it? The Murder of Robert Westwood

The material for this post has come from a number of sources which I urge you to check out, for more detail.

The excellent and detailed account, with clippings and quotations from sources at the time:
https://davidkiddhewitt.wordpress.com/2017/12/04/the-unsolved-murder-of-mr-westwood/ 

A brief account in this book
Gangland Soho

And more on the inadequate state of police investigations at the time
http://www.historybytheyard.co.uk/early_murder_investigations.htm

With more information about Mr Westwood, his work in watch and clock making and his character, in Marine Chronometers of Greenwich
https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=xL9EDwAAQBAJ&lpg=PA319&dq=32%20princes%20street%20soho%20london&pg=PA318#v=onepage&q=32%20princes%20street%20soho%20london&f=false


The Victim

Mr Robert Westwood had a shop at 32 Princes Street, Soho in the 1830s. He was a watch and clock maker to the King, who had also invented and patented the 8-day watch in 1829

The last link gives some background on his early life, but I will simply note that he had married Mary Priestman on 19 April 1818, who was at least 10 years his senior. At the time of the events being described, Mr Westwood was aged between 52 and 55 years, while his wife was now frail. The couple had no other family and rented rooms in their property to make extra money.

In 1822 he had (according to Gangland Soho) been tied to a bed and robbed by William Redding, who had previously been convicted of capital crimes and transported, but the latter Marine Chronometers (which is more detailed) says that the property was vacant on Sunday 28 July 1822 as the Westwoods were out visiting. Mr Reading had been seen coming out of the shop and was arrested the following day, still in possession of the stolen goods. Mr Reading's alleged fence was acquitted, but Reading was found guilty of burglary and hanged on 27 November 1822 at Newgate prison.  

Mr Westwood was described as a difficult man and prone to violent outbursts.

In 1837 the master of a merchant ship had returned a watch to him because it was not working. Mr Westwood had promptly snatched it from him and stamped on it. The customer took Mr Westwood to court and was not the first to do so. On several occasions his wife had sought police protection for his violent assaults.

The Crime

On 07 June 1839, the police quickly arrived to put out a fire in the shop and in one of the smoke-filled rooms they found the murdered body of Mr Westwood. Mr Westwood had been hit around the head with a heavy weight from the sash window then had his throat cut with a knife, before being set on fire, while still breathing. The police also discovered that over 80 of his valuable watches had been stolen as well as a box of sovereigns and several silver items.

Occupants of 32 Princes Street, Soho

Mr Stephenson

He rented one of the back rooms on the first floor with his wife. Mr Stephenson is described as a friend of Mr Westwood, but he and his wife frequently quarrelled as Mr Stephenson believed his wife was seeing other men. This had upset Mr Westwood and he had evicted them. Both had disappeared on the night in question, but taking keys to the property with them.

Mr James Bannister

He worked in the back room over the kitchen during the day as a journeyman employed by Mr Westwood. He had gone out earlier in the evening to his lodgings in Euston Street, Seymour Square.

Monsieur Gerard

An elderly French gentleman who lived on the upper floor. He had returned to the property earlier in the evening and had been a lodger at the property for over 10 years.

Elizabeth Pretty

Servant girl to the household. She had only been working for the Westwoods for 2 months, but had come with good references.

Interviewed

In addition to Mrs Westwood, Elizabeth Pretty, Mr Bannister and the Stevensons, evidence was given by:

Mr Smith

Surgeon who was called from nearby Dean Street, Soho to examine the body and who confirmed Mr Westwood's death.

Superintendant Baker and Inspector Jarvis

Both from "C" Division were sent to the scene to investigate.

Timothy Gimlet

Also of "C" Division who had heard the cries and arrived at the property first.

Mr Frederick John Owen

He lived at 38 Silver Street, Golden Square and had apparently seen 2 men (who were not respectable), 1 of whom he thought he recognised (though he was mistaken) leaving the property.

Mr George Robinson

He was interviewed because he was suspected of being 1 of the men seen by Mr Owen. His account was confused, he denied that a hat found by the body was his, and was subsequently taken into custody. Mr Robinson also had a wound on his cheek, though a surgeon said this was a graze, rather than a burn and unrelated to the fire.

George Spendlow

Chief Fireman. He had exchanged words with Mr Robinson about his "wrong" hat, who claimed to know the deceased well and identified the body. Mr Robinson said the hat at the scene was not his.

Sarah Appason

She was the mother of Mrs Stephenson and confirmed that her daughter's evidence, that the people visiting her were her brother and sister, was correct.

Mr Charles Louis le Roche

He had worked for Mr Robinson but was frequently late for work and had argued with his employer; on the day of the murder he had not been seen at all. Mr le Roche, on being interviewed, was very distressed by the murder and had an alibi for the time, as he was moving house and had witnesses to confirm this. He had moved out because he did not get on with the previous servant girl.

The Outcome

Despite the offer of a reward, numerous arrests and the investigation, no one was ever convicted. Mr Westwood was buried at St James' Church, West Hampstead on 10 June 1839.

And so, we get to my ancestor.

Nicholas William Caron

My 2nd cousin 6x removed, was a paper hanger and neighbour of Mr Westwood.

Nicholas was born in 1806 in Blackfriars to Jean Emerson le Caron and Martha Edwin. He was part of a large family with 2 sisters and 4 brothers. Jean was a first generation Huguenot to be born in Spitalfields in 1776 and he and Martha were married in 1800 at the unusually named church of St Andrew by the Wardrobe. Jean was initially a Stationers' Company Apprentice and later became a stationer/storeman. Unfortunately his death in 1835 records him as a painter and the cause allegedly to be suicide by hanging.

It would make sense for Nicholas to have followed a similar line of work to his father. On the marriage certificate to his second wife, Sarah Yates in 1838, he is listed as a painter. He had 4 children from his previous wife: 3 sons and 1 daughter.

Shortly after the discovery of the body of Mr Westwood, Nicholas was nowhere to be found. There are stories that he fled England to America, possibly by France. His disappearance made him the chief suspect and some sources say he was never located.

Marine Chronometers appears to confirm that he was the guilty party. Mr Caron was reportedly on friendly terms with Robert Westwood, but had disappeared immediately after the murder and, according to those who knew him, had gone to America, to be following shortly afterwards by his second wife. The children were simply left and were later taken into the workhouse. The book says that an article of Mr Westwood's missing clothing was found in Mr Caron's house and one of his relatives had one of the stolen watches. Enquiries had been made in New York, where it was discovered some of the stolen property had been offered for sale. Notices in the English press had suggested the suspect had been found and was being brought home, but there is no record of this, nor of a trial and conviction.

So was it my ancestor?

This article in The Sun, offers another suspect. https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/2824925/deathmask-victorian-murderers/


Epilogue

In 1841 the shop at 32 Princes Street was re-opened by Mr James Bannister. Today the site is occupied by the Queen's Theatre with the stage, apparently, located on the site of the grisly murder.