William HOWARD [986]

  General Notes:

Julia Ambrose writes to Catherine Liveing 6 Dec 1867
"The dear Howards if Will could get anything to do which would bring him in L100 per year certain I am sure it would be better than going to farming for a small farmer must live hard and work hard to make ends meet in reality they are worse off than the common labourer I used to tell my poor husband if lived upon the profits of farming a workhouse would soon be his portion and John (Ambrose, her husband) never makes his expenses of farming meet the profits not by L200 or more but he like it and has got his mother's money to make up the deficiency if things would remain at their present price it would different but if there is a good crop of another year prices will go down as fast as they got up I can't think what makes them go so far off quite out of the way of all their friends and such an expensive journey if they want to see them but this remark I must ought not to make and therefore I hope you will forgive me"

Death of Mr W Howard
A Crimean Veteran.
One of Bramley's most interesting residents passed away on Wednesday, in the person of Mr William Howard, of the Balcony House. The deceased had been in failing health for a long time, but was only bed ridden for 3 weeks, death being due to sentile decay. Mr Howard, who was 81 years of age, had an interesting career. At the age of 18 he went to sea, serving his apprenticeship in the Dunbar service, which was the largest fleet of sailing ships then in existence in England. During his apprenticeship he made voyages to Australia India and China.
His first command came at the time of the Crimean War, when he had charge of one of the ships chartered by the Government to take the troops to Malta. During the war he was engaged in conveying the wounded from Sevastopol to Scutari, where Florence Nightingale was in charge of the nurses. Although he made the journey many times he was never wounded. Mr Howard rode into Sebastopol on horseback on the day after the British victory, a dangerous proceeding on account of the exploding of mines. He continued in the Dunbar service until the death of Mr Dunbar, and afterwards had command of several ships voyaging between England and India, China and New Zealand. On one occasion, when he was accompanied by his wife, he encountered a typhoon and was shipwrecked.
The deceased left the service at the age of 40. He had resided at Bramley for 22 years and had won the respect of all. Much sympathy is felt with the widow in her bereavement. The funeral takes place at Bramley today (Saturday).
Ref: Surrey Times November 6, 1909.

  Other Records

1. Census: England, 2 Apr 1871, Culmstock Devon. William is recorded as head of house married aged 43 retired master mariner born at sea

2. Census: England, 3 Apr 1881, Lower Bourne Farnham Surrey. William is recorded as head of house married aged 53 retired master mariner (struck out) born at Sea

3. Census: England, 5 Apr 1891, High St Bramley Surrey. William is recorded as head of house married aged 63 a retired master mariner born at sea a British Subject

4. Census: England, 31 Mar 1901, Balarny House Bramley SRY. William is recorded as head of house married aged 73 retired master mariner born at sea

William married Anna Maria LIVEING [106] [MRIN: 88], daughter of Dr Edward LIVEING M.R.C.S. [98] and Catherine Mary DOWNING [97], on 15 Nov 1860 in Stoke By Nayland SFK. (Anna Maria LIVEING [106] was born on 6 Jan 1830 in Nayland SFK, baptised on 14 Feb 1830 in Nayland SFK and died on 30 Apr 1919.)