Talk:William John Birch

Family information

It is known that Birch married and had children, but good details and references are not that easy to find.

At Moawhango ([1]) two of his sons settled. "The Birch brothers, Captain Azim Salvatore (1837-1923) and William John (1842-1920), immigrated to Hawke’s Bay from England separately in the early 1860s." That's "Azim Salvator Birch" in other records, Oxford militia and army officer before then. William John Birch Jr. married Lydia Etheldreda Larden (d:Q102116805) aka Ethel Birch, English and said to be cousin, known as a NZ artist.

William John Birch senior's wife Margaret Fanny died in 1857.[2]. She was Margaret Frances. According to newspaper reports, Birch then put up the Pudlicote estate for sale, in 1858. But seemingly he did not sell it.

The death date 1863 on the article for Birch, from the McCabe reference, is apparently quite wrong: there are a couple of sources saying he died in Italy in 1891. Charles Matthews (talk) 16:46, 17 June 2021 (UTC)

Also Birch Homestead (Moawhango, N.Z.).

From [3] in the next generation:

William Charles Birch CACCIA (Caccia-Birch). He was born October 12, 1865, was as baptized December 2 1865 by the British Chaplain in Florence Italy and was educated at Dulwich England. In 1883 he went to Scotland for a year to study farming and in 1884, after the death of his Mother, he went to New Zealand for additional agricultural training and lived with his uncle William John Birch at “Erewhon”. His uncle had no children of his own and later adopted William Charles as his legal heir who then took the combined name Caccia-Birch by Deed Poll, enrolled in the Chancery Division of Her Majesty's High Court of Justice, London, November 8, 1893, and inherited his uncle's family lands when his uncle retired in 1897.

He married Maud Elizabeth Catherine Keiller April 27, 1897 at St Andrews Anglican Church in Bulls New Zealand.

That is from Descendants of Rev Thomas Birch of Thoresby p. 331, i.e. The Birch Family History. That book would be interesting to see.

@Charles Matthews: that work is in the the LDS family history library The Birch family history and is visible online. — billinghurst sDrewth 10:16, 18 June 2021 (UTC)

He was therefore the son of Pauline (Paoline) CACCIA (born BIRCH), 1836 - 1883 mentioned on [4].

WJ Birch senior apparently married Margaret Frances Deville. geni.com She may have been Irish. Two sons and two daughters listed there. Charles Matthews (talk) 19:19, 17 June 2021 (UTC)

Some better details from flicking through https://knowledgebank.org.nz/text/hastings-the-development/, p.39:

William John Birch was born in England in 1842, the son of W. J. Birch of Pudlicot House, Charlbury, Oxford. 1874 William married Lydia Ethedreda [Etheldreda] Larden, the daughter of the Rev. W. Larden, Vicar of Arkel, Shropshire. They came to New Zealand in 1860 by the Wild Duck and settled in Hawke’s Bay. William took an active interest in the local bodies and was a member1⁄4 of the Hawke’s Bay County Council. He was the first white settler in the Moawkanga[Moawhanga] district. With his brother – Captain Birch, they underwent all the vicissitudes of the pioneer colonists and in the Maori war – William acted as a brigade-major under Colonel McDonnell in the Te Kooti risings, he also served in other expeditions. In 1867 after several years as a cadet in Hawke’s Bay with his brother Captain Birch, they crossed the Ruahines and settled at Inland Patea, taking up with his brother a large area of land they named Erewhon. This became one of the best-known pioneer sheep stations in the Upper Rangitikei, its only communication at that time being by a track over the Ruahine ranges to Hawke’s Bay. He was the founder of the Farmers’ Union and took keen interest in it from its inception. His advice was particularly valuable to this body, a fact which is recognized by the great number of years he sat on the Advisory Board of the Union. In 1875 his Stoneycroft town house was built at Hastings. In 1880, W. J. Birch was listed as seconding in the formation of the Freezing Meat Co at Hastings. In April 1882, Letter from W. J. Birch, Honorary Secretary Acclimatisation Society (Hawke’s Bay) Hastings. Subject: That Postmaster should inform Chief Ranger of name etc of each license holder. In June 1882, Letter from W. J. Birch Hastings. Subject: Urging the constitution of Erewhon Road District [Petition]

Charles Matthews (talk) 19:32, 17 June 2021 (UTC)

Lardens: the information generally given seems to be corrupt. Lydia Etheldreda Larden's father is surely George Edge Larden (died 1859), as in s:Alumni Oxonienses: the Members of the University of Oxford, 1715-1886/Larden, George Edge, who was vicar of High Ercall pronounced locally as "Arkel". There was a brother Walter Larden, and another brother Henry Neville (1851-1920) educated at Rugby School who went to Argentina. Charles Matthews (talk) 06:12, 19 June 2021 (UTC)

So why would Lydia Etheldreda be a cousin of WJ Birch the younger? According to a newpaper from 1840 the Rev. G. E. Larden married in 1840 Emily Elizabeth nee Corfield, widow of H. Jervas, daughter of the Rev. Richard Corfield (ACAD CRFT797R). But she died in 1844 [5]. He'd married before, in 1824 [6]. So there must have been another marriage, presumably the third. Charles Matthews (talk) 06:37, 19 June 2021 (UTC)

Third marriage assumed to be to Mary Lydia Fanny Bucknill.[7]. Bucknill-Birch connection given here. Charles Matthews (talk) 06:59, 19 June 2021 (UTC)

There is a newspaper report (Leicester Journal - Friday 24 December 1875) [8] of the marriage of Miss Ethel Larden, youngest daughter of the late Rev. G. E. Larden, to William John Birch of Napier. Birch senior of Florence attended. There are family details: Walter Larden, Ethel's brother, is the Merton graduate, etc. Charles Matthews (talk) 06:50, 19 June 2021 (UTC)

Caccia Birch House is named after William Caccia Birch (and his wife Maud(e)). He is the "William Charles Birch CACCIA" mentioned above. More on p. 288 of https://issuu.com/blackdogdesign/docs/f_f_1998_1. Charles Matthews (talk) 20:08, 17 June 2021 (UTC)

Italian connection: it makes sense that the Caccia name comes from the Italian political exile and novelist, Antonio Caccia (1801–1867). William John Birch was a supporter of Mazzini, as Caccia was. Caccia was in England in the late 1820s and married in 1829 [9] (Martha) Sabina Lamb, daughter of Thomas Phillipps Lamb MP (died 1819).[10] Ancestry gives a son Fabio Juliano Caccia (1832-1930). This matches Fabio Giuliano Caccia d:Q76340677, same dates, who married according to peerage.com Pauline Birch as above, d:Q76340678.

@Billinghurst: A couple of notable people in that story: can you help stand it up? According to geni.com, Clara, the other daughter of William John Birch, married Mario Caccia. Ancestry gives Mario Caccia (born 1830) as the other son of Antonio Caccia. It certainly looks tidy. The Lambs were from Rye, Kent. Charles Matthews (talk) 05:27, 18 June 2021 (UTC)

Given that the ODNB article for Harold Caccia, Baron Caccia states "Caccia's great-grandfather had fled to England from Lombardy as a political refugee in 1826", it is convincing. By the way, it seems from [11] that his parents were first cousins, grandchildren of William John Birch. Charles Matthews (talk) 06:21, 18 June 2021 (UTC)

@Charles Matthews: The records below confirm two families connected. What specifically would you like to further know. — billinghurst sDrewth 11:36, 18 June 2021 (UTC)

@Billinghurst: I have made intensive use of the British Newspaper Archive (to which I subscribe these days), and based on your tip I have got to read The Birch Family History, which is complementary and very helpful about the Birches. So I think I'm good now: thanks. Charles Matthews (talk) 15:49, 21 June 2021 (UTC)

1868 death?

@Charles Matthews: What is the source for an 1868 death? I cannot see an 1868 death, though I can see an 1891 Italian death. — billinghurst sDrewth 09:28, 18 June 2021 (UTC)

@Billinghurst: Yes, that's wrong, from the McCabe source. I need to fix it in the article, forgot. Charles Matthews (talk) 09:32, 18 June 2021 (UTC)

I hope your Italian is good, I will email the certificate. :-) — billinghurst sDrewth 09:34, 18 June 2021 (UTC)

death

• The National Archives of the UK; Kew, Surrey, England; General Register Office: Miscellaneous Foreign Death Returns; Class: RG 35; Piece: 31

Name: 	Wm Jno Birch
Death Date: 	1891
Death Place: 	Florence
Event Type: 	Death
Piece Description: 	RG 35: Miscellaneous Foreign Deaths, 1830-1921 

(copy of document provided to Charles Matthews. — billinghurst sDrewth 09:49, 18 June 2021 (UTC))

Marriage of son

• London Metropolitan Archives; London, England; London Church of England Parish Registers; Reference Number: P84/STE/002

Name: 	Azim Salvator Birch
Gender: 	Male
Marriage Age: 	40
Record Type: 	Marriage
Marriage Date: 	2 Jan 1878
Marriage Place: 	St Stephen, Kensington, Kensington and Chelsea, England
Father: 	William John Birch, gentleman (no annotation saying dead, which can be the case)
Spouse: 	Dora Davison
Register Type: 	Parish Register 

census

• 1851 England

Name: 	William John Birch
Age: 	40
Relation: 	Head
Spouse's Name: 	Margaret Fanny Brich
Gender: 	Male
Where born: 	Bloomsbury, Middlesex, England
Civil Parish: 	Chilson and Pudlicott
Ecclesiastical parish: 	Charlbury
Occupation:  Briefless Barrister
Condition as to marriage:
Registration District: 	Chipping Norton
Sub-registration District: 	Charlbury
ED, institution, or vessel: 	11
Household Schedule Number: 	8
Piece: 	1732
Folio: 	163
Page Number: 	3
Household Members: 	
Name 	Age
William John Birch 	40
Margaret Fanny Birch 	38, b. Dublin, Ireland
Azim Salvatore Birch 	13, b. Syria British
William John Birch 	7, b. London
Clara Arabella Birch	1, b. Oxfordshire, (Fu....??)
Henry Greast 	30
Mary Ann Huband 	32
Rhoda Harris 	25
Alice Manning 	28
Betsey Frandwike 	15

Probate

• Calendar of the Grants ...

Name: 	William John Birch
Death Date: 	4 Apr 1891
Death Place: 	Italy
Probate Date: 	5 May 1891
Probate Registry: 	Principal Registry
Personal Estate £3,412 6s. 5d. // Resworn November 1891 £5,622 6s. 5d.

5 May. The Will with a Codicil of William John Birch formerly of Pudlicote in the County of Oxford but late of 38 Chancellor-road Dulwich in the County of Surrey and 24 Via Gino Capponi Florence in Italy Esquire who died 4 April 1891 at Via Capponi Florence was proved at the Principal Registry by Stephen Matthews of Speen House Newbury in the County of Berks Banker and George Edward Bucknill of 3 Gray's Inn place Gray's Inn in the County of Middlesex Solicitor the surviving Executors.

• Miscellaneous Companies > Date: Monday, May 25, 1891 > Publication: The Times > Issue: 33333 > p. 14

contains information about the probate for the sake of creditors

birth / baptism

• London Metropolitan Archives; London, England; Reference Number: P82/GEO1/003 > Camden > St George, Bloomsbury > 1775-1812

Name: 	William Birch
Gender: 	Male
Record Type: 	Baptism
Baptism Date: 	21 Feb 1811
Birth date: Jany 4
Baptism Place: 	St George, Bloomsbury, Camden, Middlesex, England
Father: 	Jonathan Birch
Mother: 	Elizabeth Mary Birch
Register Type: 	Parish Register 

Clara Arabella Birch

• FreeBMD birth, 1849, Dec. Q. , Chipping Norton, v.16, p. 39
• Find a grave https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/160681970/clara-arabella-caccia (1849-1875)
• Mario & Fabio Juliano, Baptism Date: 3 Aug 1832 > Baptism Place: St Pancras, Camden, England; Mario DoB Aug 9, 1830; FJ June 30, 1832; sons of Anthony Sabina Caccia

Birch's wife

The census information validates the idea that Margaret Frances/Fanny was born in Dublin, that comes up also in [12], where Birch's wife is named as Margaret Francis Deville. I have had a theory that she was the eldest child of James De Ville, who married in 1797. On the other hand the 1851 census makes Margaret age 38, which is not compatible with what ancestry.co.uk says, namely date of birth 1797.

If James De Ville and his wife Jane were in Dublin, it was presumably for De Ville's work, which at this stage of his life involved plaster casting. Not implausible in Georgian Dublin.

It is a bit odd that biographies of De Ville do not name the third daughter. It would be a case of a potentially wealthy young man marrying an older woman: older by 13 or 14 years. If Azim was born in 1837, and Pauline c.1837 (geni.com says 1836), Birch had started a family at age around 26, with a woman around 40.

The De Villes lived in London, and James De Ville was fairly prominent. I don't see anything in newspapers about Birch's marriage.

It has to be considered that Birch had children with a mistress, and only married later. I say this because freebmd.org.uk offers an 1845 marriage of William John Birch to Margaret Fanny Devine at Marylebone. Since freebmd covers marriages from 1837 onwards,[13] then it is either earlier, otherwise out of the scope, or that one with a spelling issue. Charles Matthews (talk) 07:01, 31 January 2022 (UTC)

Using the freeBMD link I have examined the handwritten 1845 marriage record for Margaret Fanny Devine. It is definitely DEVINE, but the name above is DEVILL. So seems possible DEVILLE was meant. Charles Matthews (talk) 09:28, 3 February 2022 (UTC)

Circumstantially, it appears from the diary of John Allen Giles that Birch had a place (possibly just part of the house) at 21 Henrietta Street, off Cavendish Square. This is of interest because the freeBMD marriage record is for Marylebone, that part of London. James De Ville died in 1846. The 1845 marriage could have been a response to family pressure; it could have been a second form of marriage if there had been an earlier civil ceremony in Italy, for example. Certainly curious. Charles Matthews (talk) 11:25, 3 February 2022 (UTC)

@Billinghurst: The reports of William John Birch marrying Margaret Frances Deville on ancestry.co.uk and geni.com presumably come from somewhere. The Ancestry date of birth 1797 could easily be wrong - quite a bit wrong, though, if the census age for Margaret is correct and she was younger than William. The couple could have married by 1836, in which case all the children were born in wedlock. The 1845 marriage could just be a near-coincidence of names.

James De Ville's other daughter might have been called something else.

It would be interesting if you managed to turn up anything. Charles Matthews (talk) 11:25, 3 February 2022 (UTC)

death of Margaret

• Date: Tuesday, Feb. 3, 1857 > The Times > Issue: 22594 > Deaths > p. 1

On the 11ult., at Philadelphia, U.S, Margaret Fanny, the wife of William John Birth, if Pudlicote House, Oxfordshire.

no age mantioned

Death

• "Pennsylvania, Philadelphia City Death Certificates, 1803–1915." Index. FamilySearch, Salt Lake City, Utah, 2008, 2010. From originals housed at the Philadelphia City Archives. "Death Records.".

Name: Margaret F Birch
Birth Place: England
Death Date: 15 Jan 1857
Death Place: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania
Age at Death: 44
Burial Date: 17 Jan 1857
Gender: Female
Race: White
Occupation: Lady
Street Address: 357 Chestnut Street
Cemetery: Laurel M.C. Cemy.
Marital Status: Married
FHL Film Number: 1976364

burial

• Historical Society of Pennsylvania; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Historic Pennsylvania Church and Town Records; Reel: 1174

Name: Margaret F Birch
Event Type: Burial
Death Date: abt 1857
Burial Date: 1857
Burial Place: Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Denomination: Cemetery or Funeral
Organization Name: Laurel Hill Cemetery

• findagrave

 Margaret F Birch
Death 1857
Burial Laurel Hill Cemetery, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, USA
Memorial ID 125087150
Section W Lot 59 S 1/2
Burial Date 2/2/1857

Auction

• Sales By Auction. > Date: Saturday, Dec. 19, 1857 > Publication: The Times > Issue: 22868 > p. 16

Contains long amount of information about the sale of the freehold property owned by Birch, details location and landscaping, and interiors, previous owners, farm information, renowned neighbours