Warstone Lane catacombs - Lucas family

[leslam]

Click here to view a larger image
This plaque is on the top tier of the catacombs, in section J (right-hand side)

Commemorating:
Samuel Wilfred Lucas, died Nov 21st 1885
Amelia (his wife), died March 20 1855 burial ref: 3715 (23 March) age 54 lived Hagley Road. Grave 61, south catacombs. £6 +2/6 + 2/6 + 2/6 + 21s (minister Christ Ch) (total was £7 8s 6d)
Mary Ann Lucas (his second wife), died Feb 6th 1872 burial ref: 15210 (13 Feb)
Amelia Lucas (his sister), died June 16th 1856 burial ref: 3715A. This is an odd ref when considered with the ref for the first wife (above) lived Hagley Road, £30 10s Reopen 3 Catacomb (she is the third in this grave, presuably it does literally mean reopen the catacomb 3. Need to check the layout to see if this assumption could be correct). Bell 2/6
Constance Amelia Richards (his niece), died June 4th 1855, age 3


If you know any more about ths family, please attach it to the thread. It will help us understand more about the families that are commemorated on the plaques.

 

[mikejee]

1855-1884 Lucas Samuel Wilfred, gent , 247 Hagley Road
In the 1861 census he is a widower retired merchant, 61, living with a 33 year old son and 22 year old daughter and niece. 2 servants. He was born in Bristol.

Before this in Birmingham there is:
1823-1833 Lucas S. W. and Co. wholesale and retail confectioners, and importers of foreign fruits, 26, New-st; wholesale manufactory, 86, Ratclific-street, Bristol
1839 Lucas Samuel W. and Co., wholesale confectioners and importers of fruits, 26, New street
1841 Lucas Samuel W. & Co., wholesale confectioners & importer of foreign fruits, 1, Little Charles st
1845-1849 Lucas Samuel Winfred & Co., wholesale confectioners & importer of foreign fruits, 2, Little Charles st. ; house.Sandhill House, Icknield street. West
1852 Lucas Samuel Winfred & Co., wholesale confectioners & importer of
foreign fruits, 2, Little Charles st. ; house Campden House, Sandpits

Note the firm in early days seems to be called Samuel Winfred Lucas & Co (or S.W.
Lucas)(not a one-off misprint). I feel the Bristol factory with the birthplace of “our”
Mr Lucas in Bristol show it is the same family.
mike

 

[leslam]

Gosh, we are doing well on these.

Great stuff Mike

 

[padmin1]

The Lucas's were a wealthy family originating from Bristol.

See https://www.geni.com/list?focus_id=6000000009052760927&group=immediate_family (not my tree, but useful info)

As far as I can tell he did have a wife and a sister called Amelia. The death date above should be 1883 rather than 1885.

I am a descendant of his Brother, John, although unfortunately I didn't get any of the wealth passed on to me. Thanks for the info and pictures.

N.

 

[leslam]

Glad that you've been in touch.

I'm not sure which death date you think should be 1883, so perhaps you can clarify?

Amelia (his wife), died March 20 1855 burial ref: 3715 (23 March) age 54 lived Hagley Road. Grave 61, south catacombs. £6 +2/6 + 2/6 + 2/6 + 21s (minister Christ Ch) (total was £7 8s 6d)

I am convinced that this date is 1855 as I got the details from the interment register at Handsworth that is indexed by year. I had looked up the burial ref in the fiche at the library. I look for my original notes and report back here later.

The inscription for Constance Amelia Richards is definitely 1855.

I have a higher resolution picture than I uploaded, so if you want a copy, please send me an IM

 

[padmin1]

Wasn't sure if I'd get a reply given the date of the post so thanks for that.

I should have been clearer. It's Samuel Wilfred Lucas's death date that is likely incorrect as there is a probate record for him giving the death date 21 Nov 1883. It reads...

England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1861-1941 (Ancestry.com)

"LUCAS Samuel Wilfred
Personal Estate £72,987 0s. 6d.
Resworn January 1884 £73,987 0s. 6d.

14 December. The Will of Samuel Wilfred Lucas late of Ashfield House Hagley-road Edgbaston Birmingham in the County of Warwick Gentleman who died 21 November 1883 as Ashfield House Gentleman the Son and James Henry Mole of 1 Portland-road Edgbaston Goldsmith the Executors."

His name is also in one or two of his brothers probate records.

There is also a death index entry:

Samuel Wilfred Lucas
Estimated Birth abt 1799
Year of Registration 1883
Quarter of reg: Oct-Nov-Dec
Age at death: 84
District: Kings Norton (To 1912)
County: Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire
Vol: 6c
Pg: 296

Census records:
1841 Census: 62 Allion Street, Birmingham. Saml Wilfred Lucas (Married), Other Lucas's listed: Amelia (40), Henry (14), Ella (5), Sophia (2.5 months). Occupation Merchant. Not born in county. Age 40.

1851 Census: Summer Hill Terrace, Camden House, Birmingham. S W Lucas (Married), Wife Amelia, Chilren (Henery, Ellen, Sophia). Occupation Merchant - Banker, <something> of Gas Works. Born in Bristol of Somersetshire. Age 51.

1861 Census: 247 Hagley Road, Edgbaston. Samuel Lucas (Widow), Children (Henery Sophia), Niece (Frances W Richards). Occupation Retired Merchant. Born Bristol, Somersetshire. Age 61.

1871 Census: 247 Hagley Road, Edgbaston. Samuel W Lucas (Married), Wife Mary A, Niece (Ellen). Occupation Retired <something> of gas company. Bristol, Somersetshire. Age 71.

1881 Census: 247 Hagley Road, Edgbaston. Samuel Lucas (Married), Visitor (Maria Hunt, Artist) [only servants listed otherwise]. Occupation Retired Banker. Born Bristol City. Age 81.

Hope the above info is interesting/useful.

N

 

[Key Hill Brian]

From the BMSG&H disk, transcribed from Burial Register

Amelia 1855 Catacomb 61 South under Cloisters 61 3715A 1

 

[Key Hill Brian]

And Samuel

Samuel Wilfred 1883​

J Catacomb 32872 5 ​

 

[leslam]

Brilliant Brian - thanks.

[I think that I need to ask you to double check something a bit later as I have found a discrepency in my notes (though not what Nick was queriying). I'll add an update later]

I had just reveresed the high res photo (thanks Mike for the tip on another thread!!) and it is much easier to read, so adding it for reference

 

[padmin1]

Thanks for everyone's contributions and information. All good stuff.

I'm just adding the following for people searching for them so they can reach this thread in search engines. From BMD, Census & Probate records:

The children of Samuel Lucas (1769 1853, Bristol), Fruit & Spice Merchant, and Elizabeth Beard (1773-1818) (other children of theirs are not listed)

Samuel Wilfred Lucas (Bristol 1799-1883 Birmingham), Confectioner, Merchant, Gas Works/Company, wives are Amelia Hunt (Birmingham 1802-1855 Birmingham) and Mary Anne ? (Lawater, Lancashire 1805-1872 Birmingham)

John Lucas (Bristol 1805-1881 Bristol), Confectioner, African Merchant (Palm Oil & Fruit), Banker, Ship Owner, Gas manufacturer, wife is Sarah Bishop Phipps (Westbury 1812-1868 Bristol)

Thomas Lucas (Bristol 1795-1856 Bristol), African Merchant, wife is Jemima Bissix (Bristol 1801-1880 Bristol)

Amelia Lucas, Sister, Spinster (Bristol 1808-1858 King's Norton) - seemed to be in business (Lucas Brothers) with the three brothers together.

 

[Astonian]

hi friends
i have read the following threads of this family of lucass i have found it very intrestingand yet to myself a bit of a querry
regarding these cattomes because for many years ago when growing up and in my senior days of life along with friends spent times touring these cemetrys
both key hill nd ickneild st plus warstone lane and what my question is did they really intern any coffins within these slabs way back many years ago in the victorian dfays
and how come there was most of them wide open for people to walk in it and some was and still is sealed up
and is it the case of vanerlisim or did the council remove them after 100 years old order to take out any remanes which i beleive they have taken this approach for many years
anmd presuming there aint any sibbling of the deceased still around to care for it and if the council did take any think out ofthese cats what did they do just burn it and what of any inscription was on the slab just broken up or what
i would just like to say that i passed these cems the other day and say yes its looking good all cleaned up and spaciuos looking but it looked more than a park on ickneeild st
through the street railing i personally think they have removed top many of the greay head stones that was there espeacially the high ones but in the last breath it was for the better because of my last proper viisit on my own in these cemetys i was feeling kind of sick to see the out come of all the mindless damge been done to the head stones grave
as i know these big stones was in perfect condition and brilleint clean for donkeys years long before i was born but also the people i came across whom did approach me
and asking about would any think be burried with the deceased ones in there grave i told them know there would never any think burried with them
and as i continued to look at the graves making my way to the cates they stood on the hill and of the top of the cates so i thought i would make a sharp exit andcut short my trip
but as i have just said i read the lucass with great intrest and i was intrigued to asked that quest did they or did they not put coffins in the wall and if so why leaves them empty with nothink in for the dozziers anddruckies to sit in and used them for shelter best wishes astonion