Help with John Druce Somerset/London

[loubags]

Hi there, I'm trying to track down John Druce in the 1851 Census as I can't seem to locate him! He was born in Lopen, Somerset, in 1806 but according to his pension records, he joined the met police as a constable in Jan 1840.

His wife is listed as Elizabeth and I think I have found the family in Action in the 1841 census - children Jane, William, John and Henry. John senior's occupation is police.

He is discharged as a PC on 27 May 1856 and the address given is 12 Cheapside (he is in the Kensington division) then I lose sight of him until 1861 when he is back in Lopen and working as a shoemaker. He goes on to remarry.

Just to add a bit of extra mystery! I believe I have found Jane, William and Henry Druce in the 1851 census, still in Acton and with a birthplace of Lopen but Elizabeth is now listed as Elizabeth Young, dressmaker and living/married to someone else??!! John Druce junior is in another household in Acton as a servant (baker).

To confuse matters more, there is a Jane Hazlewood Druce from Lopen who marries a man named Lowman in 1851 but then not sure why she would be on both census records. The Lopen connection does seem too much of a coincidence!!

Maybe I've taken a wrong turn somewhere with the family but even if I can't untangle that bit for now, it would still be nice to try to locate John Druce senior somewhere!

Any help would be appreciated. many thanks 

[rosie99]

To confuse matters more, there is a Jane Hazlewood Druce from Lopen who marries a man named Lowman in 1851 but then not sure why she would be on both census records. The Lopen connection does seem too much of a coincidence!!

Marriage gives her name as just Jane Druce - abode Acton - father John Druce occ Bootmaker
(16th Feb 1851)

[rosie99]

Just to add a bit of extra mystery! I believe I have found Jane, William and Henry Druce in the 1851 census, still in Acton and with a birthplace of Lopen but Elizabeth is now listed as Elizabeth Young, dressmaker and living/married to someone else??!! John Druce junior is in another household in Acton as a servant (baker).

William Young and his wife Elizabeth are a separate 'household' to the Druce children.  William Young married Elizabeth Mary Hillary in Dec qtr 1850 - note the Hillary daughter that is listed. 

What was Elizabeths maiden name and when did she marry John Druce

[rosie99]

Just to add a bit of extra mystery! I believe I have found Jane, William and Henry Druce in the 1851 census, still in Acton and with a birthplace of Lopen but Elizabeth is now listed as Elizabeth Young, dressmaker and living/married to someone else??!! John Druce junior is in another household in Acton as a servant (baker).

William Young and his wife Elizabeth are a separate 'household' to the Druce children.  William Young married Elizabeth Mary Hillary in Dec qtr 1850 - note the Hillary daughter that is listed. 

What was Elizabeths maiden name and when did she marry John Druce

In 1841 Caroline Hillary and her mother Elizabeth Hillary are in Acton
HO107
Piece  687
Book  1
Folio  24
Page  7

[cath151]

Is this his death?
Western Chronicle May 29th 1891
Deaths
Druce   May 18th at Lopon , Mr John Druce  formerly of the Metropolitan Police Force, aged 83.
Cathy

[rosie99]

Baptisms at Lopen for Jane, William and Henry all give Johns occupation as a Shoemaker.  Janes baptism confirms her middle name Hazlewood

[rosie99]

Do you have Johns marriage certificate for when he married Caroline Stuckey. 

[loubags]

Thanks Rosie. John Druce was a bootmaker in Lopen before and after he joined the police, so that all fits.
I believe Elizabeth's maiden name was Bishop when she married. I believe the marriage was on 8 Jan 1829 at Seavington St Mary, Somerset (which is close to Lopen). John and Elizabeth's son is William Bishop Druce. Still working out where Hazlewood came from!

What I couldn't work out in the 1851 census is that the Druce's are in a separate house but Jane is listed as daughter, with no head of the family mentioned? Typo perhaps? But at least the Young surnames now make sense, thanks.

I don't have the actual marriage cert for John and second wife Caroline but a newspaper report says that they were married on 2 Oct 1873 at the Independent Chapel, Ilminster (Somerset) by the Rev. J. Lucas. John Druce is a boot and shoe maker of Lopen, married to Miss Caroline Stuckey of Seavington St Michael.

They have an illegitimate son together before marriage - Fred Druce b. 7 Jun 1871 at Seavington St Michael, Somerset. In the birth cert and baptism record he is given the surname Druce so John must have acknowledged him. At this point, John was a widow in the 1871 census (in the 1861 census it says he's married put living alone in Lopen. No Elizabeth in the same census).

When Caroline dies in 1916, her death cert says widow of John Druce, police constable

[loubags]

Is this his death?
Western Chronicle May 29th 1891
Deaths
Druce   May 18th at Lopon , Mr John Druce  formerly of the Metropolitan Police Force, aged 83.
Cathy

Hi Cathy, thanks for the reply. I believe this is his death.