John Box (Senior)

Born:

Died:

Married:

Mother:

Father:

Descendant: John Box

Census

1841

1851

1861

1871

1881

1891

1901

1911

1921

Birth

John Box was born around 1805 in Ardingly, Sussex.

Marriage

John Box married Lucy Card on the 18th October 1824 at the parish Church of Hartfield, Sussex. No parents were recorded. However the witnesses were John Atheral and Fanny Card (likely Lucy's sister).

On the same day, John Atheral and Fanny Card were also married, and their witnesses were John Box and Lucy Card (although technically she should have written Lucy Box assuming they were married in the order in which the register was filled in).

Both Johns wrote their signatures, while Lucy and Fanny resorted to making their mark.

Why were they married in Hartfield? Lucy came from East Grinstead (8 miles away), and John came from Ardingly (12 miles away). Maybe they lived there. Or maybe John Atheral lived there, and they wanted to have a joint wedding.

Children

• Mildred Ann Box, christened 23 July 1826, Brighton, father John Box (Flyman), mother Lucy (North Lane), buried 3rd December 1826.
• John Box, christened in Brighton on the 11th November 1827, father John Box (a Fly Driver), mother Lucy. They lived at Super Street in Brighton.
• Louisa Box, christened 17 July 1831, Brighton, father John Box (Flyman), mother Lucy (Sussex Street).
• Elizabeth Sophia Ruth Box, christened 4th August 1839, Brighton, father John Box (Flyman), mother Lucy (Cheltingham Place)
• Edward Albert Box, christened 30 January 1842, Brighton, father John Box, mother Lucy, BMD:B: Q4 1841, Edward Box, Brighton Vol. 7 p258

In 1851 he was living with his family at 2 Cheltenham Place, Brighton. He is 46, a proprietor of Hackney Carriages, and he was born in Ardingly, Sussex. His wife Lucy is 48, and was born at East Grinstead, Sussex. With them are two of their children, Albert (10?) and Sophia (11). Interesting they are using their middle names. They also have a 14 year old house servant, Ann Brigden, also from East Grinstead.

In a (very long) news article in the Sussex Advertiser on the 15th July 1851, a John Box is mentioned as a witness in a court case George Chatfield v. Ardingly Benefit Society. In this George Chatfield had been excluded from the benefit of the society because John Box had written a letter to the society stating that he had seen George Chatfield help his brother, John Chatfield in Brighton, carry a chest of drawers out of his house. Having another profession seems to have been against the rules. The judge came to the conclusion that while it was legal to expel him, he thought it was harsh and they should reconsider. It is likely that this witness is this John Box, as it is about the Ardingly Benefit Society, and Ardingly was his birthplace. Any other John Box would be unlikely to know to write to the society.