John and Margaret Byles

The first Byles to move to Henley was John Byles(1736) and his wife, Margaret (nee Hodge). They had been married and possibly living, at Shadwell, 40Km NW of Ipswich. F G Byles, (p.9) quotes a paper written by his father, William Byles(1807) stating that John(1736) was a draper and auctioneer, and that the family moved to Henley about the time that George III ascended the throne,(1760). This could possible be after their marriage in 1761, making John 25 years old. It appears the family maintained strong links with Ipswich since, after this date, some of the children were born in Henley and some in Ipswich. John died in Henley in 1785 (aged 47) but Margaret died in Ipswich in 1895.

F G Byles, (p.7) states that John Byles set up shop on the corner of Bell and Hart Street. Whereas H N Byles(1867) notes in his family tree that it was on the corner of Bell St and Market Place. The difference being the west or east side of the intersection. Evidence leans in favour of the former given that "A Pictorial History" shows (plate 72) a drapers shop on the western, or Market Place side, albeit 100years later

Plate 72 in "A Pictorial History" taken in the 1890's showing on the left, the Bell Street/Market Place corner. At the time it was occupied by Charles Monk, a linen and wool draper

	Elizabeth 1763	Married into the Soundy family. Their daughter, Emma married Jacob Unwin
	Isabella 1765	Ran the Mile End school. Instumental in the meetinfg of John(1773) and Bridget Beuzeville
	Martha 1769
	John 1773	My Line Click for more info
	James 1774	Migrated to Jamaica heading a vast branch of the family in the Americas plus Australia. See The Family Tree produced by Alan St.Clair Byles
	Marianne 1778	Married her cousin, Nathaniel Byles
	Henry 1780

John died prematurely in 1785 at the age of 47 from a fit of apoplexy whilst riding over Nuffield common.(10Km NW of Henley) He saw none of his children married. Margaret died in Ipswich in 1805 aged 64.

Peter and Mary Beuzeville

Peter Beuzeville was the grandson of Jacques Beuzeville(c.1685), the original Huguenot emigrant. Their story is told in my Beuzeville page. Mary was his first cousin She was the grandaughter of Francis Roussel, the hero of the pannierescape from France.

The Beuzeville's had been in the silk business in the London East end for several generations.Peter had set up a silk loom at Twyford some 8Km south of Henley. Esther Copley ,their 2nd daughter writes in "Memorials.." that they had moved to Henley in 1797, ie the year after their 1st daughter, Bridget, married John Curtis Byles.
Emma Byles notes that they lived "in a house quite close to the whitewashed meeting house that they attended ...it stood back from the road and was surrounded by a wall of mellow brick which enclosed a good garden with some fine trees. It was pulled down years ago to make way for...the post office"

Plate 147 in "A Pictorial History" taken c.1908 looking south along Reading Road. On the right is Southfield House, demolished to make way for the new post office. This was the home of Peter and Mary Beuzeville

Plate 1 in "A Pictorial History" ordinance map of 1884 enlarged to show detail of the Southfield House garden as described by Emma Byles. (She lived in Henley until aged 16 in 1881) See also the Independant Chapel further south on Reading Road.

John Curtis Byles(1773)

Story re warehouse

story re brewery

Southfield house and photos

StMary connection Rev Hewlett

Family in new Street

Chapel connections

	Interior of old chapel
	old chapel

Thamesfield - home of Thomas Fox Byles

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