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James Usher Huxley

Posted by Robert Connolley on 3/3/2025, 9:53 am

I would appreciate any information on the above gentleman and his family. He was a Torquay physician for some 40 years between 1870 - 1909, on his retirement the family moved to Oxford where he died in 1917.
The family comprised James, his wife Margaret Anne and their five daughters, Mildred, Sybil, Muriel, Phyllis, Enid.
Thank you.

Re: James Usher Huxley

Posted by Robert Connolley on 4/3/2025, 3:24 am, in reply to "James Usher Huxley "

Good morning Judith, thank you for the prompt reply, it is most interesting and raises some intriguing points and a striking coincidence I feel.

The James Usher Huxley I am concerned with was born 13 December 1834 in Newport Shropshire to Mary and Aaron Huxley, a 'chemist and druggist'. He married Margaret Anne Brodie 16 December 1882 at Holy Trinity Church, Brompton London. At the time of his marriage, he was already living at 9 Higher Terrace, having previously lodged at 8 Higher Terrace, see 1881, 1871 censuses respectively.

AS I stated in my original post, James was a well-respected Torquay physician, having practised there for some 40 years prior to moving to Oxford on retirement. His wife had a sister living there.)

His status as 'widower'in the 1881 census is very interesting indicating as it does a marriage prior to his 1882 marriage to Margaret Brodie. I am a little sceptical as to whether he is the James Huxley whom Emma Towill married in the first quarter of 1876, (as the record shows she could have married a James Farley.) If she did marry James Usher Huxley, the marriage took place only c. 15 months before her supposed death in August 1877, which assumes that Emma Towill and the Emma Huxley who died in 1877 at Wem Shropshire are one and the same person. This Emma Huxley was born to Ann and Thomas Huxley in 1854, thus she was a Huxley by birth, and not by marriage. Findmypast records indicate that she spent the whole of her short life in Shropshire. I do acknowledge that the shared name Huxley and the prominence of Shropshire are something of a coincidence.

Thank you again for your comments, I would welcome any further observations you may care to make.

Re: James Usher Huxley

Posted by Joan on 20/3/2025, 11:35 am, in reply to "Re: James Usher Huxley "

HAving looked at the original census entry for James Usher Huxley in 1881 I think it says he is unmarried and not that he is a widower. Although the transcription says widower. The word widower appears on the same page but does not look the same

Re: James Usher Huxley

Posted by Robert Connolley on 21/3/2025, 12:48 am, in reply to "Re: James Usher Huxley "

Thank you Joan, I agree, unmarried he was.

Re: James Usher Huxley

Posted by Sally Topliss on 4/3/2025, 9:49 am, in reply to "Re: James Usher Huxley "

Looking at the 1881 census for James Huxley, I think it says unmarried rather than widower. He does say he is a bachelor not a widower on marriage to Margaret Brodie.
Sally

Re: James Usher Huxley

Posted by Robert Connolley on 4/3/2025, 10:10 am, in reply to "Re: James Usher Huxley "

On looking at it again very closely, I think you are correct Sally, which puts the question to bed. Thank you.

Re: James Usher Huxley

Posted by Judith on 3/3/2025, 1:37 pm, in reply to "James Usher Huxley "

1891 census on freecen site gives you lots of info, children aged from 6 - 2 mother aged 41, father 56, so there may be more children older, at school? employed 8 servants Butler downwards.

Re: James Usher Huxley

Posted by Judith on 3/3/2025, 2:06 pm, in reply to "Re: James Usher Huxley "

Previous marriage in 1876 Emma Towill , Exeter, looks as if she died 1877 Wem Shrops, he is lodger in 1871 Torquay, and a widower in 1881. so no other children by the looks of it, you need to check.

Re: James Usher Huxley

Posted by Robert Connolley on 3/3/2025, 9:59 am, in reply to "James Usher Huxley "

Addendum: the Huxley family lived at 9 Higher Terrace Tormoham.

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