BEACH FAMILY HISTORY
A tribute to Milson and Lucy Beach who emigrated from Coleford, Gloucestershire, England to Christchurch, New Zealand in 1866, then to Melbourne around 1887 and ultimately to Tasmania in 1892
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Family Name Overview
The Beach Family has descended through the lines of the ancient Normans that came to England following their conquest of England in 1066. The Beach name reveals that an early member was a person who lived near a stream, or a person who lived near a prominent beech tree, or wooded area with beech trees. Spelling variations include beach, beche, becke, beache, bech, beech and many more. The name was first found in Hertfordshire where Gosfrid le Beche was sometimes known as Geoffrey de Beche, one of the principal holders and tenant-in-chief of land in that shire as recorded by the Doomsday Book in the year 1086. There is a record in 1545 for the will of Joane Beche of Newent; in the next 60 years first the "a" is added to the name, and later the "e" on the end removed. Beche came from "de la Beche" a family that arrived in the years after the Norman Conquest, though they were not Normans but Flemish and came from an area on the French / Belgium border, Beche apparently means spade.
Humphrey & Susannah Beach (Parents of Milson)
Milson Beach was born in 1837 in the Coleford, Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire area of England located close to the border with Wales. His parents were Humphrey and Elizabeth Beach.
When Milson's father Humphrey Beach was born on 30 October 1791, his father, Samuel, was 35 and his mother, Susannah, was 23. Humphrey married Elizabeth Williams on 2 August 1835 in Whitchurch, Herefordshire. Elizabeth Williams was born in 1801 in Herefordshire. They had four children during their marriage - Bertha, Milson, Hubert and Albert. Humphrey died in October 1864 in Monmouth, Monmouthshire, at the age of 73. Elizabeth died in July 1877 in Hereford, Herefordshire, at the age of 76 years.
The 1841 England Census records the Beach family as living in Worcester Walk, Forest of Dean. Family members are recorded as: Humphrey Beach ( Father ), age 50 (Born 1791)Elizabeth ( Mother), age 40 ( Born 1801); Humphrey and Elizabeth married on 2 August 1835. Their children were recorded as:Bertha, age 5Milson, Age 3Hubert, age 1 The 1851 census records the family living in Berry Hill , West Dean (near Coleford) as follows: Humphrey, grocer; Elizabeth (wife) and children Bertha (14), Milson (12), Hubert (10) and Albert (8).
The 1861 census records the family living in Coleford as follows:Humphrey, retired grocerElizabethBertha, Milliner / DressmakerMilson, CarpenterAlbert, age 16, apprentice tailor
A year after Milson's father Humphrey died, he married Lucy Annie Haviland on November 28th 1865 in Colford, Gloucestershire. And a year after that Milson and Lucy emigrated to New Zealand.
Milford's three siblings stayed for the remainder of their lives in the Herefordshire and Gloucestershire area.
Bertha was born in 1837 and married (?) Watkins in Feb 1863 and in the 1871 Census was recorded as living with her mother, brother Hubert and a 7 year old son. She died in October 1879 in Hereford.
Hubert was born in 1840 and married Annie Edwards in 1878.They had 3 children - Frank, Hubert and Leonard. In the 1881 Census his occupation was recorded as a Master Tailor employing 4 men and 1 boy. He died in Dec 1929 in Hereford.
Albert was born in 1845 and married Jane (?) in 1870. He was a Tailor and they had 1 son Frederick who went on to become a Journalist. Albert died in June 1916 in Hereford.
When Milson's father Humphrey Beach was born on 30 October 1791, his father, Samuel, was 35 and his mother, Susannah, was 23. Humphrey married Elizabeth Williams on 2 August 1835 in Whitchurch, Herefordshire. Elizabeth Williams was born in 1801 in Herefordshire. They had four children during their marriage - Bertha, Milson, Hubert and Albert. Humphrey died in October 1864 in Monmouth, Monmouthshire, at the age of 73. Elizabeth died in July 1877 in Hereford, Herefordshire, at the age of 76 years.
The 1841 England Census records the Beach family as living in Worcester Walk, Forest of Dean. Family members are recorded as: Humphrey Beach ( Father ), age 50 (Born 1791)Elizabeth ( Mother), age 40 ( Born 1801); Humphrey and Elizabeth married on 2 August 1835. Their children were recorded as:Bertha, age 5Milson, Age 3Hubert, age 1 The 1851 census records the family living in Berry Hill , West Dean (near Coleford) as follows: Humphrey, grocer; Elizabeth (wife) and children Bertha (14), Milson (12), Hubert (10) and Albert (8).
The 1861 census records the family living in Coleford as follows:Humphrey, retired grocerElizabethBertha, Milliner / DressmakerMilson, CarpenterAlbert, age 16, apprentice tailor
A year after Milson's father Humphrey died, he married Lucy Annie Haviland on November 28th 1865 in Colford, Gloucestershire. And a year after that Milson and Lucy emigrated to New Zealand.
Milford's three siblings stayed for the remainder of their lives in the Herefordshire and Gloucestershire area.
Bertha was born in 1837 and married (?) Watkins in Feb 1863 and in the 1871 Census was recorded as living with her mother, brother Hubert and a 7 year old son. She died in October 1879 in Hereford.
Hubert was born in 1840 and married Annie Edwards in 1878.They had 3 children - Frank, Hubert and Leonard. In the 1881 Census his occupation was recorded as a Master Tailor employing 4 men and 1 boy. He died in Dec 1929 in Hereford.
Albert was born in 1845 and married Jane (?) in 1870. He was a Tailor and they had 1 son Frederick who went on to become a Journalist. Albert died in June 1916 in Hereford.
Beach family current day link to Gloucestershire
Milson's grandparents were Samual and Susannah Beach. Their children included Milson's father Humphrey (born in 1791) and another son Elijah (born in 1796). A descendant from Elijah, Barbara Keir resides today some 6 miles from Newland in Gloucestershire. In March 2023 we were able to confirm our family linkage.
Lucy Beach (nee Haviland)
Lucy was born in 1838 in the Cirencester district of Gloustershire, England.
She was the second born child to her parents Henry and Rebecca Haviland.
The 1851 Census records Lucy and her siblings as:
John, age 15
Lucy, age 13
Emily, age 11
Elizabeth Mary, age 5
They were living in the town of Winstone, Gloucestershire.
The father Henry Haviland is recorded as an Innkeeper in the 1851 Census and in the 1861 Census as both an Inn Keeper and Horse Trader.
In the 1861Census, Lucy age 23 is recorded as a Barmaid at the White Hart Inn, Coleford which is still operating today.
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The Forest of Dean
The Forest of Dean lies on the western side of the county of Gloucestershire, and is located within the triangle formed by the river Severn in the east and the river Wye in the west.
This area was recorded as The Forest in the 'Domesday Book' (1086) and as Dene or Dean after O.E. (old English) Denu, valley. It is also believed the Forest of Dean was named after the remnants of the ancient Norman' Old Castle of Dene' together with the 'Valley of Dene ' near Littledean.
The Forest of Dean area was once a vast forest covering over 100,000 acres, and over hundreds of years its great forests yielded vast supplies of naval timbers. For the past thousand years, the forest has gradually diminished until during the rein of King Charles 1 it was estimated that only about 14,000 acres remained as woodland.
Mining has also been carried out within the Forest of Dean's boundaries for over 2500 years, as its rocks were rich in ores, coal and building stone. Even before the Roman conquest of England, iron ore was mined in the Forest of Dean.
The early miners of the forest were a fiercely independent people, in the thirteenth century they were granted a Charter allowing them to become Freeminers of the forest. To become Freeminers they had to be male, over 21 years old, born within the hundred of St Briavels and work in a mine for a year and a day. Freeminers obtained the right to mine anywhere in the forest except under churchyards, gardens and orchards.
The demand for iron ore and coal increased to such an extent that by the early 1800's the population of the forest had increased many times. Along with the increased demand for iron and coal and the influx of miners with their families into the forest area, the population began calling and petitioning for the establishment of new churches and schools to serve their needs.
Since the late 1880's the mining industry in the Forest of Dean has declined and along with the industrial change this lead to the dispersal of the miners and their descendants throughout the world.
This area was recorded as The Forest in the 'Domesday Book' (1086) and as Dene or Dean after O.E. (old English) Denu, valley. It is also believed the Forest of Dean was named after the remnants of the ancient Norman' Old Castle of Dene' together with the 'Valley of Dene ' near Littledean.
The Forest of Dean area was once a vast forest covering over 100,000 acres, and over hundreds of years its great forests yielded vast supplies of naval timbers. For the past thousand years, the forest has gradually diminished until during the rein of King Charles 1 it was estimated that only about 14,000 acres remained as woodland.
Mining has also been carried out within the Forest of Dean's boundaries for over 2500 years, as its rocks were rich in ores, coal and building stone. Even before the Roman conquest of England, iron ore was mined in the Forest of Dean.
The early miners of the forest were a fiercely independent people, in the thirteenth century they were granted a Charter allowing them to become Freeminers of the forest. To become Freeminers they had to be male, over 21 years old, born within the hundred of St Briavels and work in a mine for a year and a day. Freeminers obtained the right to mine anywhere in the forest except under churchyards, gardens and orchards.
The demand for iron ore and coal increased to such an extent that by the early 1800's the population of the forest had increased many times. Along with the increased demand for iron and coal and the influx of miners with their families into the forest area, the population began calling and petitioning for the establishment of new churches and schools to serve their needs.
Since the late 1880's the mining industry in the Forest of Dean has declined and along with the industrial change this lead to the dispersal of the miners and their descendants throughout the world.
Milson's early adult life
Milson served his time training as a Carpenter in the town of St Brievals some 6 miles from his birth place town of Coleford in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire.
After working at his trade as a Journeyman (Qualified Tradesman) for a few years he went to Brazil, South America under an engagement with Sharpe & Co, Railway Constructors.This was for a 3 year period working on the construction of the Sao Paulo Railway. On his return to Coleford around 1865 he would then marry Lucy in November 1865 and they would leave for New Zealand in March 1866.
IT IS WITH THIS BACKGROUND THAT WE CAN BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND WHY MILSON BEACH AND HIS WIFE LEFT THEIR HOME IN COLEFORD, FOREST OF DEAN, ENGLAND TO EMIGRATE AS FREE SETTLERS TO NEW ZEALAND IN 1866.
After working at his trade as a Journeyman (Qualified Tradesman) for a few years he went to Brazil, South America under an engagement with Sharpe & Co, Railway Constructors.This was for a 3 year period working on the construction of the Sao Paulo Railway. On his return to Coleford around 1865 he would then marry Lucy in November 1865 and they would leave for New Zealand in March 1866.
IT IS WITH THIS BACKGROUND THAT WE CAN BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND WHY MILSON BEACH AND HIS WIFE LEFT THEIR HOME IN COLEFORD, FOREST OF DEAN, ENGLAND TO EMIGRATE AS FREE SETTLERS TO NEW ZEALAND IN 1866.
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