Roger Logan’s notes, written up by Sean Creighton [or his son] and sent to me in December 2020. I have cleaned them up a little, but not, as yet, by very much:
JOHN CHARLES BUCKMASTER
Roger Logan
The evidence of official records of the period in which he was active suggests that John Charles Buckmaster superficially to have been a pain in the neck for the authorities. Complaining about the stopping of 'public footpaths', protesting about meeting proceedings, waging a campaign against a professional local government officer all combine to create the image of a man negative in attitude and hidebound by tradition. Nothing could be further from the truth.
During life of nearly 90 years, which spanned the greater part of the 19th century, this man of humble rural origins witnessed at first hand the great change in English life, that of the metamorphosis of productive agricultural soil into profitable building land. The consequential restructuring of English society was one of which Buckmaster himself was part. Starting life as an agricultural labourer and ending as retired civil servant, living a comfortable life in suburban retreat, he epitomised the changed society. The move from 'working' to 'middle' class was not one which, however, made him deny his roots. In fact the very opposite was true with the publication of an autobiographical work in 1897.
A contemporary of Charles Dickens, his was a life spent working for a living, involving himself actively in the causes of society and community concern.
For the first third of his life he engaged in activity supporting causes of reform, particularly the Anti-Corn Law League, and participating in that major feature of the whole Victorian age, the rise to prominence and influence of the professions. In his case teaching was the skill, Buckmaster being one of the early recipients of the opportunities offered by a recently founded teacher training college (the concept itself being novel). His move to St. John’s College, Battersea, began a connection with the area, which lasted until 1890 (?) he took what was and still is a demographically typical south-westward move away from the Metropolitan area, across the Thames to Teddington. Here he remained until his death at 89 on 23 July 1908.
Just as his actions provide a commentary on the Victorian Age, so in his words, reflections of the nation of the man can be found.
In his will Buckmaster stated that he did not want relatives or friends to be miserable at his departure, “as I have finished the work I had to do.” With typical publicly announced self-justification, he made his final pronouncement. Some forty years earlier, in 1870 he had been moved to make statement consistent with the content of his will. (Will proved November 1908)
He acknowledged that he had “sometimes increased hostility and a feeling of social antagonism, and might have said hard things, but if he had erred it was not an error of intention ir heart.’ (Footnote not supplied).
This was a man whose life was one of struggle, involving himself with campaigning issues, sometimes gaining success, sometimes being rebuffed. A life-long active involvement with all manner of issues, an ability to communicate well with people at all levels, a sense of ‘virtuous indignation’ (South London Press. 21 May 1867), were combined with the good fortune of making connections with men of influence who were prepared to offer opportunities for his personal development.
He was born at Slapton in Buckinghamshire in 1823.
Anti-Corn Law Involvement (1839-46)
The Anti-Corn Law League was founded in March 1839 at a large delegate Conference held ….. the single object of the organization to repeal the Corn Laws was agreed upon. Essentially composed of the middle class, it was not clear how Buckmaster came to be involved with the movement, rather than the more directly political Chartists. There is nothing to associate Buckmaster with the latter in his autobiography although this could have been this the result of deliberate omission.
All that can be gleaned from A Village Politician is that he was engaged wholeheartedly in the work of the movement by the first half of the 1840s. Travelling primarily through southern England, he spoke at rallies designed to convey the message of the League to tenant farmers and village laborer's like himself.
In 1841 he was still living at Slapton with his relatives, so it is highly likely that his activities with the League post-dated that time.
The chronological sequence of his account of the period can be tested from comparison with accounts of recorded League activities.
Returning to London in …. from a period of actively campaigning in support of the League in the south of England, Buckmaster took the opportunity of call at the London residence of a contact he had made when active in Yorkshire, ‘the member for West Riding”. (A Village Politician). Although not named in his autobiography, it can with virtual certainty be said that this was Viscount Morpeth. Identification of the MP helps with accurate dating of events in Buckmaster’s life at this period.
George William Frederick Howard, Viscount Morpeth (1802-64 ( was a Liberal MP (NOTE: actually, a Whig) from 1826 to 1841 representing successfully Morpeth, Yorkshire (NOTE. Morpeth is actually in Northumberland) and after the 1832 Reform Act the West Riding. In 1841 the General Election resulted in a Conservative majority, notable for it being “the only occasion between the first two Reform Acts when they won … both the seats in the West Riding of Yorkshire – perhaps the most important industrial constituency in the country.” (Blake. The Conservative Party from Peel to Churchill. p. 44)
Morpeth thus lost what was a normally a safe seat, under exceptional circumstances. Presumably it was between then, and his successful regaining the seat in January 1846 that he encountered Buckmaster on one of the latter’s forays northwards in connection with his Anti-Corn Law League work. Morpeth retained his seat until on the death of his father, he succeeded to the title of 7th Earl of Carlisle. (DNB)
It seems it was Morpeth who suggested to Buckmaster that he should enroll at a training college for teachers. Institutions of this nature were themselves innovatory in the 1840s. They were the product of developments in ideas about the need for teachers to be adequately educated and trained. One of the first such was St. John’s College, Battersea. Originally established as a privately funded organization by two Assistant Poor Law Commissioners, Dr James Kay and Mr. Edward Tufnell, management and control of the College was assigned to the Church of England’s National Society in 1843.
In determining the date of Buckmaster’s entry to St. Johns it should be noted that he talks of Morpeth as a sitting MP. It follows that this might place his association with the College to a date after January 1846. Although James Kay had ceased to have direct control over the College, it appears to have been he, who via a letter of introduction from Morpeth, arranged for Buckmaster to enter St. John’s.
The local environment is full described by Buckmaster is his autobiography.
‘I passed through endless cabbage gardens to what was called a square, a triangular piece of round surrounded by quaint old houses and shops. And a few yards from the extreme point, facing the Thames, was a large square house, standing in about two acres of ground; it had a large garden, with several large cedar and other trees, and had once been the residence of a wealthy city merchant. It was now called a college. It was pleasantly situated and inside there was evidence of comfort and substantial workmanship.’
It was, however, ‘the idea of two or three years with these men;, (i.e. his fellow students) that suggest an age of doubt and uncertainty about the direction his future would take. In practice the doubts were informal and in late 1848, after two years study he received a certificate for completing the approved course and examinations.’
From his autobiography it appears that at some point, possibly during 1847, even 1848, he was fortunate enough to be engaged to undertake some private tuition. This was to the children of the Reverend Henry Mosely, MA, a former Professor Natural Philosophy at Kings College, London, and from January 1844, an Inspector of Training Colleges, including St. Johns. Moseley lived just across the Battersea parish boundary in Allfarthing Lane, Wandsworth.
Having become qualified and ‘just settled down to work’ Buckmaster was ‘informed that (his) services were required for a week or two to assist the Poor Law Inspector in the examination of a large pauper school a few miles from town.’ What appeared to be an excellent opportunity turned out to be an experience of nightmare proportions, whose consequences were to effect not only Buckmaster’s thinking, but the lives of countless poor London children.
The establishment concerned was a Poor Law District School in Tooting, about four miles distant from the training college at Battersea. The premises and grounds comprised some 52 acres close to the junction of the main London to Epsom road, the principal east-west route.
Over 1,400 children of both sexes from one to fourteen were accommodated there, farmed out by the various parochial and district Guardians of the Poor of parishes close to London and its developed environs. For each child in his ‘care’ Druet received 4s 6d per week.
Buckmaster found on his initial tour of inspection of the institution bedrooms lacking fireplaces and ‘an open stinking sewer ditch into which the filth and sewerage filtered.’ The buildings were old, some being the out-buildings of an old manor house, others temporary wooden barracks.
Almost immediately Buckmaster found himself embroiled in what his contemporary Charles Dickens described as ‘an enormity’. Periodically cholera occurred regularly, a fatal disease which medical science remains unable to detect its causes. On Monday, the first deaths in the asylum occurred. Between then and the 18th January, 118 children died, and were buried in the churchyard of St. Nicholas, Tooting, about half a mile away. ‘For several days and nights’ wrote Buckmaster, the case was sorrowful beyond description.’
The impact of the experience on Buckmaster is evident from his writings. ‘The four and sixpenny greed, the desire to make money out of the flesh and blood of poor children, indicate his abhorrence of the contracting system. The tragedy did in fact mark the end of this particular system of ‘child care’. (Village Politician . p. 255) Druet’s asylum was closed within a few months, and before too much longer an improved arrangement was introduced.
Following his return to the College Buckmaster was, in his words, ‘assigned to take charge of the education of the junior division in a juvenile convict prison.’ Nowhere in his autobiography does he specifically state that this was Parkhurst, on the Isle of Wight.
(To be checked: Documentary evidence exists in IoW C.R.O to show that indeed between 1849 and 1851, he as present at that establishment.)
Meanwhile back at St. John’s changes were taking place. Late in 1848 the Principal, the Rev Thomas Jackson, MA, resigned his post to go to Austria. In the vacuum that followed his departure, the College was under the temporary direction of the Vice-Principal, the Reverend John Hunter. Because of unsettled policies affecting the future of the College, he was required to run things on a shoestring, and without ‘any clear view of what the future might hold’. It was in this situation that Buckmaster returned in the spring on 1851. The Census return for the 5th April 1851 shows him to have been in residence at the College, which recorded his age as 25 and his birthplace as Dunstable, Bedfordshire, and his occupation as Industrial Master.
Shortly after this a new permanent Principal to the College arrived. This was the Reverend Samuel Clark, whose appointment, despite glowing account in the official history of the college, did not bring complete contentment and satisfaction. Buckmaster described the situation.
“One master after another resigned, until I was the only one left, and I felt my days were numbered “. (S.J.C. p. 286)
After a hated discussion with Principal Clark, he left, “and never set foot in the place again”
The evident animosity between Buckmaster and Clark did not, it appears, extend to those who taught science. Years later as former students were moved to record:-
“I must not forget Mr Buckmaster who worked hard with us, over his lessons or lectures upon “physical science and industrial matters.” (S.J.C. p. 152)
“Here was the “old lab”, designed in Principal Clark’s early days, when Mr Buckmaster taught chemistry.” (S.J.C. p. 239)
The exact date of his departure is uncertain.
Buckmaster participated in the Great Exhibition of May – Sept 1851, and if he did it is conceivable that he established a contact with Henry Cole, said by some to have been the person primarily responsible for the presentation of the 1851 Exhibition.
1852 is a mystery
By the middle of 1853 he had met and was engaged to Emily Goodliffe, who hailed from Trumpington in Cambridgeshire.
With her he found a house in Battersea, away from the village and the scrutiny of St. John’s College. It was there that the couple spent their lives until the death of Emily in 1890.
Describing the house in St John’s New Road, off St John’s Hill, immediately adjoining the site of what was later to become Clapham Junction station, and the circumstances that he had acquired the home he wrote:-
“Our income was small, and we had to be modest in our rent. After going about within a mile radius of my work, we settled on a compo thing called a villa. I hated it, but my future wife thought it would do very nicely. I was only reconciled to it because it was in a muddy lane, surrounded by cabbage gardens and orchards, and on an early spring evening I would sit in a little garden, not much larger than the house, scent the hosthas and the lilac and hear the cuckoo. The house was a wretched Jerry affair and gave us no end of trouble and expense”. (Village Politician. p. 280)
There is it will be asked, no mention of the nearby railway and although it was by no means the extensive track of rail lines that was later to be constructed, the existing tracks served three established routes taking passengers and goods into Waterloo station. It has been calculated that by ?????, some trains passed through the point.
Also not mentioned by Buckmaster is the fact that, the house into which he and Emily moved was next door to what appears to have been a relative of his wife, possibly a sister. Evidence for this comes from Buckmaster’s niece, ????? who recorded in that ????? Goodlife, Emily’s sister married a Mr Stevens. The Battersea parish books named occupier ????? from ???? Goodlife (which it had been since), to Charles Stevens, and in the 1851 Census reveals the family by the ????? Charles Stevens, a Spanish merchant. A ?????, his wife and their two children, both of whom had been born in Battersea.
By May 1854 he had notably a wife and also a child to support and his future once again was doubtful. Fortunately, not far from his home, a trade school (a school in which science and drawing as applied to industrial arts, together with French, were the major aspects of the education), was in the process of establishment in Wandsworth. Here he was appointed science master, requested to attend two to three days each week, performing his duties for four years. At the end of this time the school was closed by order of the science and education department. During this time his own education then took a further development when he obtained a scholarship working 30 hours a week at the Royal school of ????? to be trained as a master for trade and navigation schools., walking there and back daily. On the eve of examination day “the confusions of his life reached new heights”
“My wife was ill in bed; the girl had gone out and I had to take care of the child to prevent its falling into the fire or eating cinders. At the same time, I had to read up for the next day's examinations, which lasted several hours” (Village Politician. p. 295)
The results were published the day after the examinations and to his restrained joy he found himself one of the two successful candidates. Two years later, he received from the Board of Trade his certificates indicating his success in the final examinations. After this, no appointments were offered to him, he continued the scholarship for a further year. Until the closure of the Trade School he found himself in “receipt of an income to which I adapted my wants”, but subsequent to being without an occupation he was compelled to seek alternate employment.
As before in his life, his acquaintanceship with men of authority helped him and he secured either through Professor Moseley or Henry Cole, an appointment to the Science and Art Department, a comparatively new Department created after the Great Exhibition. It was reorganized in 1858, were Henry Cole was appointed as Secretary to the Department.
Buckmaster’s job was called “Organizing Master” although in successive censuses he described himself as an examiner.
Biography
John Charles Buckmaster was born at Slapton in Buckinghamshire in Feb 1823.
Early in 1853 he makes his first appearance in the official archives, in the minute book of the Battersea parish vestry meeting of 29th March, when, although not present, he was nominated to be one of the Overseers of the Poor for Penge, then a detached hamlet administered from Battersea.
Following his first appearance at the 30th September 1853 meeting he attended consistently at meetings until August 1854, after which there is no record of his attendance until after local administration of the area around London was re-structured in August 1855.
During late 1853, early 1854 he was appointed to the Compensation Fund Committee of 20 vestrymen whose objective was to give consideration to any project submitted by parishioners for utilizing the sum of £1500 which had been paid by the Commissioners under the Battersea Park Act 1853 (9 +10 vic, c.38). The project selected by the Committee was for “a building for general and public purposes” eventually came to fruition as Battersea Lammas Hall. (Battersea Vestry Minutes 26/1/54)
His associations with the Vestry coincide with his taking up residence in St. John’s New Road (later renamed Preston Road) the southern approach road from St John’s Hill to Clapham Junction railway station. When Buckmaster moved in, however, there was no station; two railway lines, those of the London and South Western Railway Company., and the London and Richmond Company were in the vicinity.
In 1852 the houses in St. John’s New Road were built and whilst over the ensuing years several of the 21 properties were occupied, many remained unoccupied. In the event this was fortuitous, since a further railway company, the Crystal Palace and West End of London, began to take interest in the area by establishing a line to the south of the existing tracks, and requiring the acquisition of properties on the St. John’s New Road. By November 1857, the original 21 buildings had been reduced by demolition to ?????. All this had taken under the nose of J. C. Buckmaster, and, may well have been influential in forming his attitude to issues where railway companies were concerned.
Where and when Buckmaster met his future wife is unclear. In mid-1853, however he was affianced and looking for a home. He describes this period thus????
What is not mentioned in his biography is the fact that the house into which he moved was next door to one occupied since ????? by a Mary Goodlife. This it appears was the sister of his wife Emily.
A significant feature of Buckmaster’s choice of home was its value, in rental and rateable terms. Initially they were respectively £22 and £16, increased after general review which took place in 1859 to £24 and £18. The consequences of his selection of a house in the St. John’s New Road included his ineligibility, under the provisions specified in the Metropolitan Management Act 1855 which provided for the re-organisation of local government around London, to stand for election as a public representative, a Vestryman.
Eligibility to serve was confined to those who could show themselves to be “an inhabitant householder rated at not less than £40”.
The relevance of this restriction to the resultant composition of local authorities, and the consequential objectives and process of achieving those objectives is currently subject of study.
Buckmaster could not, even if he desired, be a vestryman. Nor, since Battersea did not have its own locally based local authority, but elected vestry which itself sent representatives to the Wandsworth District Board of Works, could he be a member of the single most important locally active body.
Although unable to be a representative Buckmaster was eligible to vote at the selection of Vestryman. The first election under the revised arrangements took place in November 1855, the name of Buckmaster not appearing among the list of those present.
1851 Census
Mary Steadman - 44 Annalist
Hannah Simpson – 66 Wife of lecturer of Philosophy
Henry Simpson - 27 s
Edward Fisher - 52 Retired silk merchant
Georgia Fisher
Anthony Norman – 36 Gardener
Susan Norman
+ Crickleman
George Crickleman – 20 Surveys assistant
Maria Crickleman -
Anne Dunn - 54 Assistant
Allen Thunett - 48 Clerk in P.O
_______
John Boyds - 34 Gold lace man + Embroiderer
Ann + Children
Terrace House – Training Establishment of Schoolmasters
Census 5 April 1851
John Brown - 32 Master of commercial school – Scotland
George W Martin – 26 Music master – Marylebone, Middlesex
John C Buckmaster –25 Industrial Master – Dunstable, Beds
Students
18 – 2 - 1
19 – 2 – 2
20 – 3 – 2
21 – 0 - 2
22 – 5
23 – 2
24 – 1
25
26 – 1 (Mar)
27
28 – 1
29 – 1
30 – 1 (Mar)
31 – 1
32
33
34
35
Wan Ponsford – 19 – Schoolmaster – Newport, Hants
Francis Bush - 22 – Schoolmaster – Bath, Summerset
John A Jackson – 21 – Schoolmaster - France
Vicarage _____ _____ Jon S Jenkinson – Vicar 53
Gunnersbury park Museum
CA Buckmaster _______ 1273/2 - 2796/1
1871 Census
1. Wayne Robinson - 42 – Music seller
Louisa Robinson – 36 – Wife
Amelia Robinson – 15 - Daughter
2. John C Buckmaster – 49 – Goal service, science and art department ________ certificate examiner
Emily A Buckmaster – 39 – Wife
Martha A Buckmaster – 8
Phoebe Buckmaster – 3
Eliza Richardson – 41- Governors
Nacy Wiseman – 35 – Sister
Charlotte Hawkins 23 ________ (_____)
3. Charles B Stevens – 38 _______ (Spanish) - Oxford
Mary E Stevens – 34 – Cambridge
Emily M Stevens – 9 – School – Battersea
Annie G Stevens – 35 – cousin – Ramsgate, Kent
Charlotte Derby – 23 – _____ (domestic) - Bethnal Green
11 April 1881 Census
Sarah Nicholls – Wid – 63
Sara Nicholls – __ – 31
Matilda Nicholls -
Charles Brain - 36
Ellen Brain
Edith Brain
Louisa Brain
John Gazes
Mary Gazes
Paulina Gazes
John C Buckmaster - 58 Examiner, Education dept, Science and art department
Emily A Buckmaster – 49
George Buckmaster – 22
Pheobe Buckmaster – 13 – school
Eliza Richardson – 51 – Governess
Maria _______ – 17 – ________
Theo Shaw
• J.C. Buckmaster mother’s name was Phoebe (___)
Buckmaster Vestry Attendance
29th March 1853 – Not at this meeting
Joseph Buckmaster nominated for appointment as Overseer of Poor for Penge
Friday 30th September 1853 - present
7.00pm Old Infant School, Green Lane
Appointed one of 20 committee members to Compensation Fund Committee
“ afford an opportunity to any of the Parishioners to lay....such Project as they may be ????? of promoting”
Money from Battersea Park Commissioners, £1,500; from Daniel Watney for stopping up footpath £450
(43) 10 November 1853 – Present
1 December 1853 – Not present
26 January 1854 – Present
Committee reported on 8 proposed projects
The Battersea Park Act 1853 9 + 10 Vic, C. 38
£1500 to be available to Church Wardens
£1500 for a building for general and public purposes
£400 for school in St George’s district
Poll requested on vote approving allocation of money
Thursday + Friday 2 + 3 February 1854
3rd January 1853 – Not present
30th March 1854 – Present
18th April 1854 – Present
25th April 1854 – Present
26th May 1854 – Not Present
29th June 1854 – Present
3rd August 1854 – Present
9th August 1854 – Not present
1st December 1854 – Not Present
8th December 1854 – Not present
26th March 1855 – Not present
10th April 1855 – Not present
20th April 1855 – Not present
2nd August 1855 – Not present + £500 to be paid by WELCPR for existing rights on Battersea West Common (Wandsworth)
16th August 1855 – Not Present
27th September 1855 – Not Present
25th March 1856 - Not present
22nd April 1856 – Not present
30th April 1856 – Not present
14th April 1857 – Not present (annual) P. Cazenove Signature
7th August 1857 – Not present
Nothing for 1858 (These minutes are in elected Vestry Book)
26th Feb 1859 – Present (Annual Meeting)
10th April 1860 – Present (Annual Meeting)
B proposed vote of thanks to returning Church Wardens Thornton and Picking. Carried unanimously
2nd April 1861 – Present (annual meeting)
Adjourned to 6th April
John Charles Buckmaster elected Sidesman for ensuing year
Proposed by Mr. Poupart – Sec by Mr. Gregg
15th July 1861 – Present
27th February 1862 – Not present
14th August 1862 – Present
B Seconded Rate Assessment. Proposed by H. S Thornton, of 2d in the £1
11th August 1863 – Present
25th October 1864 – Not Present
14th November 1865 – Not present
No 1866
7th March 1867 – Not present
30th April – Not present. Meeting covered by notice dated 22nd April 1868, with J.C. Buckmaster as one of 2 Churchwardens
Churchwardens Accounts year coming 7th March 1867 ending 19th March 1868. Signed by B
No 1869
8th July 1870 – No list of attendees
Accounts for year ending Easter 1870 proposed by J .C. Buckmaster and Hubert De Carteret Ecclesiastical District of St Mary’s
Rate of 4d in £ proposed by Mr Hadfield. Signed by B
26th May 1872 – No list of attendees
Accounts for ecclesiastical district of St Mary
For 1871 proposed by Mr. R. Hadfield + B
31st May 1873 not mentioned, no list of attendees
4th Sept 1873 not mentioned, no list of attendees
11th June 1874 not mentioned, no list of attendees
22nd April 1875 not mentioned, no list of attendees
22nd July 1876 not mentioned, no list of attendees
Buckmaster – Elected Vestry
1st Election meeting 20/11/1855. B not present. Not a candidate for Vestry
2nd Election meeting 29/5/1857. B not present
25/3/1858. B not present (Elected Vestry). B on a list to be adopted for Overseers for ensuing year
His list voted down in favour of alternative
Annual meeting 27th May 1858 Meeting elected to Vestry
B present
B proposal, Bernard John Graham seconded
List of names to fill vacancies on elected Vestry
His list covered 73 to 28
Poll demanded – held 28th May 1858
24th March 1859 – Elected Vestry B. not present
B On list to be adopted for overseers. His list defeated
Annual Meeting 30th May 1859 – Meeting to elect Vestrymen
B – Present
B – Proposed, Mr Alder seconded Inspector of Votes
His two adopted
B – Proposal, Mr. Kerney seconded list of names
His list carried 55 to 10
Poll demanded – Held 31st May 1859 – B list successful 154 – 67
B – ????? Adoption of 5 Auditors for year
27th March 1860 – Elected Vestry Meeting
B on list of overseers - Address St,. John’s Road, St. John’s Hill
2nd May 1860 – Elected Vestry
B – elected to be member of Burial Board
24th May 1860 – Annual meeting
B – Present
B – nominated on part of parishioners Henry Juer and John Lyth – Inspectors of votes
B – Proposal – Mr Poupart seconded list of names for election
B – list carried 40 – 5
27th May 1861 Annual meeting
B – Present
B – Proposed, Mr Gregg seconded, Henry Juer and David Jones – Inspectors of votes
Alternative pair proposed – Latter chosen 40 – 28
(For Churchwardens)
B – nominated Inspector of Votes by Mr Walton, Churchwarden
B – nominated, Hart seconded, list of proposed Vestrymen
Alternative list proposed and seconded
Latter elected 54-44
Poll demanded by Buckmaster, Jules, Poupart, Henry Gregg and D Jones (For Churchwarden)
26th May 1862 – Annual meeting
B – Present
B – nominated Inspector of Votes by Churchwarden Alton
25th May 1853 – Annual meeting
B – Present
B – nominated Inspector of Votes by ratepayer of parish
For Vestryman
Mr. Buckmaster proposed that Mr. Page be elected a Vestryman, but ultimately withdraw nomination.
S. Poupart moved, B seconded “thanks to be given to Mr Dennis Gaven, churchwarden for his kind and impartial conduct at the law”.
28th July 1863 – Jt application for Vestry Clerk for Corsellis and Cladwin
23rd May 1864 – Annual Meeting
B – Present
B – nominated Inspector of Votes by Churchwardens
B – Proposed list of ?????, No seconder
5. of his slate elected
22nd May 1865 – Annual Meeting
B – Present
B – Proposed slate of 5. - All 5 elected
14th May 1866 – Annual Meeting
B – Present
B – Chosen Inspector of Votes for ratepayers
B – Proposed, Acomb seconded slate of 3
28th May 1866, Adjourned meeting
B – Present
Elected as additional members 12 up to 36
20th May 1867 – Annual Meeting
B – Present
B – Not happy with minutes of previous year
27nd May 1867 – Adjourned Meeting
B – Present
B – Proposal – Ayles seconded
“That in the opinion of this meeting of Ratepayers it is not desirable to proceed to the election of Vestrymen until the proceedings of the meeting held in June and October last are properly recorded in the minute book.”
5th June 1867 - B as churchwarden – in the chair
10th June 1867 - B in chair – No business – inquorate (5)
11th July 1867 - B present, not chair - No business - inquorate (8)
18th July 1867 – B present, not chair - No business - inquorate (3)
25th July 1867 - B present, not chair - No business - inquorate (7)
2 motions from B to be considered
21st October 1867 – inquorate (5)
28th October 1867 – inquorate (5)
11th November 1867 – 12 present B – not present
Minutes of 5th June signed
23rd March 1868 - B present, not chair
Minutes of last Vestry signed
Churchwarden and Sidesman appointed by Vicar
Then inquorate, B leaving room
20th April 1868 – 16 present - B present, not chair
Contest for People’s Churchwarden
B nominated, against Poupart. Chosen 8 to 4 (by Nassau senior)
B nominated Samuel Swift as Sidesman
B nominated 3 to be Burial Board members – All elected
25th May 1868 – Annual meeting
B present – B – Churchwarden
B – Proposed slates for Vestrymen
Alternative proposal
B list won. Poll demanded – B list won poll
3rd June 1868
Notes
John Buckmaster - Village politician
SC8.340 Caliban book £8.50 paperback
0 – 094573 71 1
Signed 1899 forward by A.J. Mundella
Viscount Buckmaster – Roundabout (Owen Stanley)
D8.300 MF + G Witherby £5.50
0 85493 015 9
Burkes Peerage
2nd Viscount Buckmaster - Owen Stanley b. 24/9/1890; m. (1) 21/12/1916; (2)23/1/1916. d. 1974.
(succ 6/2/1834)
3rd Viscount Buckmaster
(succ ?????)
John Charles Buckmaster
“Ashleigh” Teddington (at death). b. 23/2/1823; m. 9/8/1853
Son of Thomas Buckmaster, Slapton Bucks d. 20/7/1908
Married Emily Anne Goodlife of Trumpington, Cambs
d. 30/6/1890
Elder daughter of George Goodlife
Children -
1. Charles Alexander: b. 16/5/1854; m. 28/12/1887; d. 24/5/1949
2. George Alfred: b. 7/2/1859; m. 1890; d. 21/12/1397;
3. Stanley Owen: b. 9/1/1861; 1st Viscount 24/2/1933; m. 29/12/1889. Of Cheddington d. 5/12/1934
4. Martin Arnold: b. 2/8/1862; m. 4/2/1910; d. 14/8/1960
5. Phoebe (not listed): b. 1868
Buckmaster, Stanley Owen (1861-1934) first Viscount Buckmaster (1933) of Cheddington (1933-1934)
Lord Chancellor + Statesman
Aldenham School
Christ Church College, Oxford 1882 2nd class Maths
1884 called to Bor inner Temple
1902 Lincolns Inn KC.
1910 Bencher
Developed large Chancery Practice
1910/13 Counsel to Oxford University
MP (Liberal):
1906-10 Cambridge borough
1911-15 Keighley Damson
1913-15 Solicitor General (Knighted)
1914-15 Director Press Bureau
1915-16 Lord Chancellor (PC+Baron)
Thereafter an appellate Judge in the House of Lords
“a powerful orator on many subjects”
Chairman of Governors, Imperial College 1923/24
GCVO 1930
Viscount 1933
Martin Stanley (11 April 1921) 3rd Vis
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