The Woods Family

The Woods Family of Canvey Village

James Woods was born in 1866 in Bassingbourne, Cambridgeshire marrying his wife, Sophia Elizabeth Frisby in 1892 in the Royston District. Sometime between 1892 when they married, and 1897 when their daughter Dorothy was born, James and Sophia arrived on Canvey Island. His brother George also moved to Canvey at about the same time. Dorothy was baptised on the 17 Oct 1897, I found her baptism record in St Katherine's Baptism Register. Her father's occupation was stated as gardener.

The family can be found at 'Haversham Cottage', Canvey Island in the 1901 census with James working as a general gardener. James was recorded as living in Haversham, Buckinghamshire in the 1891 census. There must have been strong memories of his time there to name their cottage 'Haversham Cottage'.

Text Box: 2008 Village Stores and Post Office as they are today. The building is over 200 years old

By the time Dorothy married John Horace Bone in 1920, James Woods had taken over the Canvey Village Stores and Post Office by 1929 he has retired to Granta Cottage in Edith Road. He died in 1950 aged 85 and is buried in St Katherine’s Churchyard with his wife who died in 1937.

The Village Stores & Post Office building still remains today. I understand it is over 200 years old and a listed building. The building was nearly destroyed by fire about 15 years ago but fortunately the owners were able to restore it to its former glory.

Richard told me that James Woods collected all the hay on the Island and loaded it onto barges in Benfleet Creek.
James also sometimes drove Hester's Monorail, not in a Dutch Costume but he was wearing a Bowler Hat.

Canvey Island Essex

The Woods Family

The graves of James Woods and his wife Sophia in St Katherine’s Churchyard

James Woods was the proprietor of the Village Stores and Post Office

The Family of James and George Woods

Generation One

1. William WOODS, b. 1842 (son of John WOODS and Sarah SMITH). He married Sarah NEWELL, 14 Oct 1862 in Bassingbourne, Cambridgeshire.

Children:

2. i. George WOODS b. 1863.

3. ii. James WOODS b. 1865.

Generation Two

2. George WOODS, b. 1863 in Bassingbourne, Cambridgeshire, baptized 08 Nov 1863 in Bassingbourne, Cambridgeshire, d. Jun qtr 1939 in Rochford District, Essex, resided 1864 - 1899 in Bassingbourne, Cambridgeshire, resided 1871 in Bassingbourne, Cambridgeshire, resided 1881 in High Street, Bassingbourne, Cambridgeshire, resided 1901 - 1903 in Canvey Village, Canvey Island, Essex, resided 1911 in Baker and Confectioner, Canvey Island, Essex, resided 1918 in Village, Canvey Island, Essex, resided 1929 in Bakery, Village, Canvey Island, Essex, occupation 1881 Agricultural Labourer, occupation 1901 - 1903 Baker, occupation 1911 Baker and Confectioner. He married Emily ?, 1886 in Cambridgeshire, b. 1865 in Bassingbourne, Cambridgeshire.

Children:

i. Clara Janet WOODS, b. 1887 in Bassingbourne, Cambridgeshire, resided 1901 in Canvey Village, Canvey Island, Essex, resided 1911 in Baker and Confectioner, Canvey Island, Essex.

ii. William James WOODS, b. 1891 in Bassingbourne, Cambridgeshire, resided 1901 in Canvey Village, Canvey Island, Essex, resided 1911 in Baker and Confectioner, Canvey Island, Essex.

iii. Albert Victor WOODS, b. 1894 in Bassingbourne, Cambridgeshire, d. 1903, buried 5 Aug 1903 in Canvey Island, Essex, resided 1901 in Canvey Village, Canvey Island, Essex.

iv. John George WOODS, b. 1897 in Bassingbourne, Cambridgeshire, resided 1901 in Canvey Village, Canvey Island, Essex, resided 1911 in Baker and Confectioner, Canvey Island, Essex. d. 22 Dec 1918 in Greece. Buried in Mikra British Cemetery, Kalamaria, Greece.

v. Lilian Eva WOODS, b. 1899 in Bassingbourne, Cambridgeshire, resided 1901 at Canvey Village, Canvey Island, Essex, resided 1911 in Baker and Confectioner, Canvey Island, Essex.

vi. Clifford Gordon WOODS, b. 29 Jun 1901, baptized 4 Aug 1901 in Canvey Island, Essex, resided 1911 in Baker and Confectioner, Canvey Island, Essex, resided 1929 in Bakery, Village, Canvey Island, Essex.

vii. Kathleen Gladys WOODS, b. 3 Mar 1903, baptized 5 Apr 1903 in Canvey Island, Essex, resided 1911 in Baker and Confectioner, Canvey Island, Essex.

viii. Ruby Edna WOODS, b. 1907 in Canvey Island, Essex, resided 1911 in Baker and Confectioner, Canvey Island, Essex.

ix. ? WOODS.

3. James WOODS, b. 1865 in Bassingbourne, Cambridgeshire, baptized 10 Sep 1865 in Bassingbourne, Cambridgeshire, d. 15 Jan 1950 in (Thurrock District) Canvey Island, Essex, buried in St Katherines Church Yard, Canvey Island, Essex, resided 1871 in Bassingbourne, Cambridgeshire, resided 1881 in High Street, Bassingbourne, Cambridgeshire, resided 1891 in The Cottages, Grange Farm, Haversham, Buckinghamshire, resided 1897 in Canvey Island, Essex, resided 1901 in Haversham Cottage, Canvey Island, Essex, resided 1911 in Post Office, Canvey Island, Essex, resided 1920 in Village Stores and Post Office, Canvey Village, resided 1929 in Granta Cottage, Edith Road, Canvey Island, Essex, occupation 1881 Agricultural Labourer, occupation 1891 Groom Gardener, occupation 1897 Gardener, occupation 1901 General Gardener, occupation 1911 Grocer and Postmaster, occupation 1920 Sub Post Master. He married Sophia Elizabeth FRISBY, Jun qtr 1892 in Royston District, Cambridgeshire, b. 1868 in Cambridge, d. 16 Jan 1937 in Canvey Island, Essex, buried 21 Jan 1937 in St Katherines Church Yard, Canvey Island, Essex, resided 1937 in The Village, Canvey Island, Essex.

Children:

i. Dorothy Annie WOODS, b. 5 Sep 1897 in Canvey Island, Essex, baptized 17 Oct 1897 in Canvey Island, Essex, d. Sept qtr 1954 in Rochford District, Essex, resided 1920 in Village Stores and Post Office, Canvey Village, resided 1929 in Post Office, Canvey Island, Essex. She married John Horace BONE, also known as Jack, 18 Apr 1920 in St Katherines, Canvey Island, Essex, b. 27 Aug 1896 in Sheffield, Yorkshire (son of John BONE and Edith Florence BEDFORD), d. Dec qtr 1972 in Southend on Sea District, Essex, resided 1901 in 269 Fulwood Rd, Eccleshall, Yorkshire, resided 1911 in Oysterwick Canvey Island Essex, resided 1918 to Oysterfleet Farm, Canvey Island, Essex, resided 1920 in Oysterfleet Farm, Canvey Island, Essex, resided 1921-1929 in Post Office, The Village, Canvey Island, Essex, occupation 1920 Carpenter, occupation 1921 Grocer, occupation 1924 Shopkeeper, occupation 1953 Police Constable.