William Handford (buried 1943)

At a glance

At a glance
Surname: 
Handford
First name: 
William
Other Christian names: 
Boycott
Gender: 
Male
Children: 
Yes
Burial number: 
1773
Born: 
5/11/1862
Died: 
21/12/1943
Buried: 
28/12/1943
Occupation: 
Deacon; Priest; Chaplain;
Distinction: 
Naval Chaplain 1914-1918
Heene Hallmark: 
No
Commonwealth War Grave: 
No

The Grave

The grave
Cemetery area: 
WB
Cemetery row: 
1
Cemetery plot: 
2
Burial remains: 
Unknown
The headstone
Headstone inscription: 
William Boycott Handford Priest Indian Ecclesiastical Establishment 1890-1912 and Vicar St Peter's Barnsley 1913-1926. Born 5th Nov. 1862 - died 21 Dec. 1943 R.I.P. Margaret Emma Handford M.B.E. wife of the Rev'd W.B. Handford born 13 July 1868 - died 21 December 1932

Life story

Life story

William Boycott Handford was born on 5th November 1862 in Lucknow, India, to William Handford, Indian Civil Service, and Jane Anne Handford nee Walton, both born in India. He was 8 years old when his father died in 1870 and the eldest of 5 children, Walter Walton 6yrs, Amy E. 4yrs, Jane E. 3yrs, and John F. 1yr. His mother returned to England and they lived with her parents, at Oak Field Lodge, Kimbolton Road, Bedfordshire. William was admitted to Christ's College, Cambridge on 6th October 1881 and was ordained a Deacon (Rochester) in 1885 and a Priest in 1886. He was a Curate at St. Margaret's, Lee, Kent, before moving to St. Michael's, Croydon in 1887. He met Margaret Emma Peard, 22yrs, in Croydon while he was assistant priest at St. Michael's and All Angels, and they married there on 26th August 1890. They returned to India where William was a Priest of the Indian Ecclesiastical Establishment in Bengal from 1890 until 1911. (The I.E.E. was created in 1813 to provide Anglican Priests for that part of the British Empire. It initially operated under the auspices of the East India Company). In October 1900 William enlisted for his first army commission as a Senior Chaplain. He and Margaret had four children in India, John Richard 1892, Margaret 1897, Hugh 1900, and Philip 1907. William and his family returned to England in 1911, he was Priest at St. Saviour's, Croydon and in 1913 he became Vicar of St. Peter's Church, Barnsley, where he and Margaret lived until 1926. During the Great War William served as a Naval Reserve Chaplain 1914-1918 and Margaret carried out war work for the local community as a member of The Barnsley Local War Pensions Committee, for which she was awarded an MBE in 1920. William's brother, Walter, who was also a clergyman, lived in Sussex, and William and Margaret moved from Barnsley to Worthing where William was the Chaplain of St. Ronan's School. William was widowed in 1932 when Margaret died, aged 64yrs. He retired in 1939 but officiated for the Diocese of Chichester, until 1941. William died on 21st December 1943 at Amatola Shakespeare Rd., aged 81yrs. Probate was granted to Noel Davis Peard, Solicitor, effects £5075 13s -value 2021- £230K.

Burial researcher: 
Maggi Martin

Further information

Birth
Date born: 
05/11/1862
Marriage
Marriage 1
Spouse one first names: 
Margaret Emma
Spouse one last name: 
Peard
Marriage one date: 
26/08/1890
Marriage one address: 
Croydon, Surrey, England

Death

Death (details)
Date of death: 
21/12/1943
Age (at time of death): 
81
Cause of death: 
Unknown
Address at time of death: 
Amatola, Shakespeare Road, Worthing, Sussex, England
Usual address at death: 
6 St. Matthews Road, Worthing, Sussex, England
Personal effects
Executors: 
Noel Davis Peard status: Solicitor
Probate pounds: 
£5,075

Census and miscellaneous information

Census information
1871 census: 

Living at Oak Field Lodge, Kimbolton Road, Bedfordshire. Jane A. Handford, Hd. Widow, 27yrs, father, William Walton, 62yrs, mother, Elizabeth, 60yrs, sister, Amy C. Walton, 19yrs, 5 children, William B. Handford 8, Walter W. 6, Amy E. 5, Jane E. 3, John F. 1, plus 3 domestic servants.

1881 census: 

Living at 17, Kimbolton Road, Bedfordshire. William B. Walton, Hd., 72yrs, wife, Elizabeth, 70yrs, daughters, Amy C. 29yrs, single, Jane A. Handford, 37yrs, widow, 4 grandchildren, William B. 18, Walter W. 16, Amy E. 15, Jane E. 13, plus 2 domestic servants.

1911 census: 

Living at St. Marys Vicarage, East Grinstead, Sussex. Walter Walton Handford, Hd. 46yrs, Clerk in Holy Orders, wife, Isobel Virginia Handford, 56yrs, brother, William Boycott Handford, 48yrs, Clerk in Holy Orders, Lahore, plus 2 domestic servants.

1921 census: 

Living at St. Peter's Vicarage, Doncaster Road, Barnsley, Yorkshire. William Boycott Handford, Hd., Clergyman C of E, wife, Margaret Emma, 52yrs, Home Duties, son, Hugh William, 21yrs, Colliery Surveyor, visitor, Mary Beatrice Peard, 47yrs, Welfare Worker.

1939 register: 

Living at 26, St. Matthew™s Road, Worthing, William B. Handford, Retired Chaplain.