Archibald Macey

Archibald was the son of Harry and Ellen Macey (née Pincott). His father Harry was born in Fonthill Bishop, Wiltshire, in 1860, the son of James Macey, a keeper, and his wife Jane. Harry was baptised at Fonthill Bishop parish church on 16 June 1861. His mother Ellen Pincott was born in Guildford, Surrey, in 1864. Harry and Ellen were married in 1886 (J/A/S Horsham Surrey) and had six children: Archibald b. Alford Cranleigh 1887, Lilian b. Godalming 15 December 1888, Edith b. Godalming 12 July 1890, Mabel b. Sussex 1894, Edgar Cecil b. Forest Row Sussex 7 July 1898 and Hilda Kathleen (Kathleen) b. East Grinstead 4 May 1905. In 1891 Harry Macey (30), a gamekeeper, and his wife wre living at Broadmoor Cottage, Wotton, Surrey with their three children Archibald (3), Lilian (2) and Edith (9 months). Harry and Ellen had moved to Home Farm, East Grinstead, by 1901; they now had five children, Archibald, who was working as a house boy, Lilian, Edith, Mabel (6) and Edgar (2). Their daughter Hilda Kathleen was born four years later. By the time the family was living in Newlands, Linchmere (Lynchmere), Sussex, in 1911 only Archibald, a gardener, Edgar and Kathleen (5) were still living at home. Mabel has not yet been traced on the 1911 Census but Lilian and Ellen, a nurse (domestic) and nursery maid respectively, were at Riverhill House, Sevenoaks, Kent, in the household of John Middleton Rodgers, a retired Lieutenant Colonel (Cavalry) and farmer, his wife and four young children. Archibald's parents were living at Monkswood Lodge, Godalming, Surrey, when the CWGC record was compiled. They were still living at Monkswood, Sevenoaks, in 1939 at the time of the England & Wales Register. Harry had retired as a gardener and their unmarried daughter Edith was living with them and described on the Register as a 'companion.' Harry and Ellen have not yet been traced after 1939 but Edith died on 16 August 1974. The probate record gave her address as Monkswood, Weald Road, Sevenoaks. Of Archibald's four other siblings: Lilian married Herbert William Bassett at Shottermill St Stephen, Surrey, on 29 January 1918. Her husband was serving in a Corps in HM Forces and may have served in the London Regiment (4940) and then in the Army Service Corps (T/384979 Driver); awarded Silver Badge No. 43185. In 1939 they were living at Sevenoaks, Kent; Herbert (b. 13 February 1884) was a branch manager for a Gas Company. Lilian died in 1981. Mabel married 4799 Private Albert George McKinnon (30), 53rd Bn Australian Infantry, at Compton St Nicholas, Surrey, on 1 June 1918. Her husband was the son of Charles Campbell McKinnon, a farmer. Albert was killed in France four months later on 30 September 1918 (Tincourt New British Cemetery). CWGC: 'Husband of M Colpus (formerly McKinnon), of 76 Hare Lane, Farncombe, Godalming, Surrey.' Mabel married secondly Robin Septimus Colpus, a widower, at Compton St Nicholas, Surrey, on 18 September 1920. Robin had married Carrie Coombes in 1913; she had died in 1919. In 1939 Mabel and her husband, a grocer's assistant, were living in Godalming; the records of two other members of the household remain closed. Mabel died in 1972. Edgar Cecil, a fitter in civilian life, served in the Royal Flying Corps from 11 September 1915, transferring to the RAF on 1 April 1918. He was demoblised in September 1919. He married Margaret H Gaskell (b. 24 July 1899) in 1928 (reg. West Derby, Lancs) and in 1939 they were living in Liverpool with their daughter Pamel (b. 23 December 1931). Edgar was a chauffeur/mechanic (private). He died on 9 April 1978. Hilda Kathleen was recorded on the 1939 Register as a school secretary at Cranleigh School, Surrey. She was living at Rhian Cottage, Horseshoe Lane, Cranleigh, with one of the masters and his wife. Kathleen died on 27 January 1982 at Sevenoaks, Kent.