Help with John Druce Somerset/London

[loubags]

sorry - duplicate post!!

[osprey]

could this be Elizabeth in 1851?

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:SG5R-7NS

[loubags]

could this be Elizabeth in 1851?

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:SG5R-7NS

That does look extremely likely given the birthplace of Seavington. Thank you.

[loubags]

Hi, thanks again for your help with this. I'm reviewing again so just to update the thread in case anyone else researches... I still haven't found John in the 1851 census but when John is discharged from the police in 1856, it says he is currently residing at 12 Cheapside, London.

In 1851 census, John's wife Elizabeth is employed as a nurse in household of William Mott in Ealing. WM is a "land proprietor".

John Druce witnesses a theft from the jewellery shop of William G Mott in 1856 and states in the old bailey evidence that he's Mr Mott's porter. Mott's will in 1857 shows he owns 12 Cheapside, so I think that there's a connection there at least.

[amondg]

Notes for possible extended family

Nathanial Hazelwood married Louisa Walter  5 October 1828 at St Mary Seavington witness' are John Druce and Elizabeth Bishop.
All signed except Elizabeth who made her mark.

[loubags]

Thanks for this info. Really interesting as John and Elizabeth's first born is Jane Hazlewood Druce. I did wonder where that came from as their first son is Walter Bishop Druce, which made more sense on the presumption that Elizabeth's maiden name was Bishop. I'll definitely look into this.

[amondg]

Perhaps the name Hazelwood is on Elizabeth Bishop's mother's side, re first daughter.

Walter Bishop Druce the first son carries his mother's maiden name

[Allenshouse]

Hi
I am relatively new to researching my family history, but now addicted!
My paternal line is through the Druce family of Lopen, and my great grandmother was Anna Maria Druce (known as Hannah).
I was born and bought up near South Mimms, where Anna Maria is buried, but now live about 40mins from Lopen, in North Somerset!
I have been wondering what may have caused George and Mary Ann to have moved from Lopen to Notting Hill, where they ran a greengrocery business?
Anna was born in 1865, in London, so the move occurred before then. I wonder whether the opening of the railway between Bridgwater and London was a factor?
If anyone is interested I have some photos of Anna, and my Great Granddad, William Allen.
If there are photos of any others in the Druce family, that can be shared, I would be very interested.
Paul Allen

[loubags]

Welcome to the fun rabbit holes of family history!! 
It can be hard to pinpoint an exact reason but I think there were probably lots of different factors why people went to London - economic opportunities probably being the biggest. Lopen was close to the main Exeter to London road and better transportation probably played a part, along with events like the industrial revolution.

Lopen was a fairly small village and largely agricultural. It was also know for twine, rope and sail cloth making in the 1800s. Interestingly, your George was a shoemaker and so was John in this thread. John moved from Lopen to London to join the Met but I have no idea why the police?! He came back to the village to take up shoemaking again a couple of decades later. 

Sometimes it's useful looking in the census records - I have relatives (not just the Druce's) who went to London to be domestic servants or work in trade (one went to work as a hackney carriage driver) and went on to live/marry there. In some cases, relatives then appear in the records, lodging with them to work in London.

Good luck with your research and happy to share information. I think our common ancestor is Robert Druce/Mary Shore?