Isaac Birch was baptised 6 May 1832 at Barrow, a son of Robert Birch and Ann formerly Jolly.
In the 1841 census of Barrow Green, he was with his family aged 9, and born in Suffolk.
Reported in the Suffolk Chronicle for 27 July 1850, Isaac was committed to prison for 3 days for damaging a quantity of grass at Barrow, the property of James Derisley.
The 1851 census of Barrow Green, living with his family, he was aged 19, a blacksmith, born in Barrow.
Isaac Birch married Sarah Edgington at Saxmundham 23 May 1858.
In 1861, at 45 Railway _?, Deptford (district of St James, Hatcham), Isaac Birch, married, was a lodger, on his own, aged 28. He was a labourer at sewers, born Barrow, Suffolk. Another lodger was Henry Daker, also labourer at sewers born Hadleigh, Suffolk.
In 1871, at 4 Boddys Bridge, Christchurch, Southwark, Isaac Birch was aged 40, a labourer born at Barrow. His wife, Sarah, was aged 32 and born at Oxford, Thackley, and his children were Thomas aged 14 born in Suffolk, Arthur aged 11, born at Stroud (sic), Kent, and Albert aged 2, born at Millwall, Middx. There was also his sister [in law], Levenia Edgington, unmarried aged 18, a machinist, born at Hereford.
Isaac died on 1 June 1871 at 4 Boddens (?) Bridge, Christ Church, Southwark. He was aged 39. He was a labourer at Gas Works and died of smallpox 10 days vaccinated (it is uncertain quite what this means - had he been vaccinated yet still caught the disease or the vaccination caused the death or that he was ill and vaccination failed to save him?). A Metcalfe, of Bowerings Buildings, Roupell Street, Lambeth, (close to Waterloo East Station) was the informant. Jeremiah Birch put the following notice into the Bury Free Press, 17 June 1871: “Birch 1st inst aged 40 Isaac, son of Robert and Hannah Birch late of Barrow, the only brother of Mr Birch of Hargrave”.
Isaac and Sarah's children were:
Thomas Birch ?, born about 1856 in Suffolk.
Arthur Birch, born about 1859 at Strood, Kent. His birth was registered in the North Aylesford district (includes Strood), in the September quarter 1859.
In 1881, at Fulham Union Workhouse, Hammersmith Road,
London, Middx, he was unmarried, aged 22, a stoker C[hildrens?] Wards and born at Strood, Kent.
He married Elizabeth Amelia Burton in the Medway district
in the December quarter 1883.
In 1891. At 7 Stamford Road, East Ham, Arthur was aged 31, a
general labourer born at Rochester. His
wife, Elizabeth A was aged 30 and born at Chatham. Their children were Arthur Jno aged 6 and Isobel M 5, both born at Purley,
Surrey, Walter Jes (? Geo?) aged 4 and born at New Brompton, Kent, Henry Will aged
1 and Ethel Maud aged 5 months both born at East Ham, Essex.
In 1901, at 16 The Grove, St Mary, Southampton, Arthur was
aged 41, a load porter born at Strood. His wife, Elizabeth, was aged 40 and born at
New Brompton, Kent. Their children were
Arthur aged 16, a draper’s [assistant?] and Isabel 15 both born at Came Hill, Surrey, Walter aged 14 an errand boy, born at
New Brompton, Kent, Henry aged 11 and Ethel aged 10 both born at East Ham,
Thomas aged 7 and Elsie aged 6 both born at Canning Town, John aged 2 and
Robert aged 8 months, both born in Southampton.
In 1911, at 38 Chapel Road, Southampton, in 5 rooms, Arthur
was aged 51 a coal porter, casual, and born in Strood. With him were Elizabeth Amelia aged 50 and
born in Chatham. They had been married
for 28 years and had had 12 children of whom 2 had died. With them was Arthur’s mother-in-law,
Isabella Youngman Burton a widow aged 74, an invalid born at Chatham. Their children were Henry William aged 21 a
cycle maker born at East Ham, Ethel Maud aged 20 home duties and born at East
Ham, Elsie Eleanor Dorothy aged 16 home duties and born at Custom House, Essex,
John William Harold aged 12 born at St Denys, Southampton, Robert Harold aged
10 and William Burton aged 8 both born at Chapel, Southampton.
Arthur and Elizabeth Amelia’s children were
Arthur John Birch, born in Purley, Surrey, registered in the Croydon district in the December quarter 1884
Isobel May Birch, born in Purley, Surrey, registered in the Croydon district in the September quarter 1885. Isabel (sic) May Birch married John Alfred Eyers in the December quarter 1906 in the Southampton district. In 1911 (Index) there was Isabell May Eyers, aged 25 with John Alfred Eyers aged 35 and John Alfred Eyers aged 1 in the Southampton district.
John Alfred Eyers, birth registered in the Southampton district in the September quarter 1909.
Walter Birch, born in New Brompton, Kent, probably registered as Walter George in the Medway district in the September quarter 1886
Henry William Birch, born in East Ham, registered in the West Ham district in the June quarter 1889.
Ethel Maud Birch (1890 – 1946), born in East Ham, registered in the West Ham district in the December quarter 1890. She married Robin B. Thorn in the Southampton district in the September quarter 1913. In 1939 at 213 Honeysuckle Road, Southampton, Robin B Thorn (Robert) was a hammer man at a shipyard (heavy worker) with a date of birth of 7 May 1889. Ethel M had a date of birth of 18 October 1890, udd, Thora GE Thorn (to become Bannister) had a date of birth of 13 July 1914 an electric test lead attend(ant?) and Absolom Thorn was a widower living on an old age pension with a date of birth of 9 October 1859. Ethel M. Thorn’s death was registered in the Southampton district in the June quarter 1946, aged 57. Robin B. Thorn’s death was registered in the Southampton district in the March quarter 1968, aged 78. Their children were (maiden name Birch):
Thora G.E. Thorn, birth registered in the Southampton
district in the September quarter 1914.
She married a Bannister after 1939.
Mabel V. Thorn, birth registered in the Southampton quarter in the June quarter 1916.
Thomas Birch, born in Canning Town, Essex, probably registered as Thomas Charles in the West Ham district (includes Canning Town) in the June quarter 1893
Elsie Eleanor Dorothy Birch,
born in Canning Town, Essex, registered in the West Ham district in the
September quarter 1894. She married
Robert Lavington in the Southampton district in the
December quarter 1918.
John William Harold Birch, born in Southampton, registered in the S. Stoneham district (includes part of Southampton) in the September quarter 1898. He may have married Grace S. Abbott in the Maidstone district in the December quarter 1922.
Robert Harold Birch, born in Southampton, registered in the Southampton district in the September quarter 1890.
William Burton Birch, born in Southampton, registered in the Southampton district in the June quarter 1902.
Albert Birch, born about 1868 at Millwall, Middx (registered in the Poplar district in the September quarter 1868).
Posted December 2016