The Stuckey Sisters

Their life on Canvey from the 1920's

By David Bullock

Recently Joan Liddiard (nee Bishop) presented me with an old photo album and box full of documents relating to several Canvey families.

They had been rescued from an old bungalow in Rayment Ave that had belonged to the Capser Family, Canvey's Punch & Judy show operators. If you wish to read about the Capser family click HERE. Whilst some of the documents related to the Capser family, many more belonged to the Stuckey Sisters, including the photo album and the wonderful family photo above.

Our family historian Janet Penn soon went to work and we came up with the following information on the family:

Their father Horace Stuckey had married Ida Annie Richards Dec qtr 1882 in Lambeth District. The children (all girls) were registered as follows:

Horatia Vera E                  Dec qtr   1883    Stoke Newington

Ida Eugene                       Sept qtr 1885    Hackney District

Archie Eileen                     Dec qtr  1886     Hackney District

Myra Beatrice                   Sept qtr 1889    Hampstead District

Ruby Cecile                       Dec qtr  1891    Hampstead District

Olive Christine                  Sept Qtr 1894    Brentford District

Violet Beryl                       Dec qtr  1898     Hampstead District

Horatia Vera Elouisa Stuckey

Vera was born in 1883 in Stoke Newington and died 20/01/1968 at 'Long View' Little Gypps Canvey Island aged 84. She had been a private school proprietor. A sister Ida Eugenie Stuckey was present at her death. She appears to have lived at 'Veronica' 12 Kitkatts Farm Road Canvey before then.

Ida Eugene Stuckey

Ida was born on 2nd June 1885 in the Hackney District. In 1968 she lived in 40 Mayland Ave Canvey. She died in 1970.

Archie Eileen Stuckey

Archie was born in the 8th October 1886 in the Hackney district. When she died (testatrix 22/12/1975) around Dec qtr 1975 she left 16 Rayment Ave Canvey to Winnie Capser. Archie owned most of the land between Rayment Ave & Roserna Road with her sister Ruby. Here I understand they ran their kennels.

Ruby Cecile Stuckey

Ruby was born in the Dec qtr of 1891 in the Hampstead District and died before Feb 1974. In 1921 she was given a 'Home Doctoring of Animals' book. As said above she owned most of the land between Rayment Ave & Roserna Road with her sister Archie where they had their kennels. I believe they were members of the 'English Springer Spaniel Club'. Apparently they would be seen regularly walking their dogs down Maurice Road.

Olive Christine Stuckey

Olive was born in the Sept qtr of 1894 in the Brentford district. She lived at 16 Rayment Ave (inc 1971) and sold "Rowan" 3 Hawthorn Road Canvey in 1961 - She had lived there in 1943 I believe with Miss Lane. Olive worked at Canvey-on-Sea Post Office in Leigh Beck in the 1960's with Rosa Webb. Olive was Baptised 20/01/1899, confirmed & had her first Communion Dec 1910. She died before March 1991 still living at 16 Rayment Ave which was then sold by the Salvation Army.

St Katherines Church in Canvey Village: Violet Beryl Stuckey died aged 42 on 08/03/1941

Jan Penn

Violet Beryl Stuckey

The youngest sister, Violet was born in the Hampsted district on 8th November 1898. She died at the young age of 42 on 8th March 1941 with a sister present (Ida?) at "Dykeland House" 16 Rayment Ave. She was a Drapers Window Dresser. Jan has found her grave in St Katherines Church in Canvey Village - See the Photo (left).

I have a receipt for a bungalow built in 1922 at Weirum Ave for £170, apparently for Violet & Olive Stuckey. I can find no trace of a Weirum Avenue but it is almost certainly the bungalow featured in the Photograph album featured below titled "Canvey Island Whitsun 1922".  Studying these Photos I have identified a bungalow in Westerland Avenue and from this I now believe their bungalow was built on the square of land between Westerland Ave (to its north), Yamburg Road (then called Kornwert Road) to its east, and the unamed road to its west - perhaps this unmade road was to be Weirum Ave? I have seen Westerland Ave called Westenmoreland Ave in an old Post Card.

If you can identify any of the people or places below like the Tennis Courts please leave a message below. Click on the images for larger sizes and descriptions. I have started a discussion thread on the Canvey.org Forum HERE.

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Update on our research into the Stuckey family

Myra Beatrice Stuckey

Myra was born in Stoke Newington in 1886 just before the family moved to Hampstead. No papers relating to Myra or any association with Canvey were found in the box of documents during the initial sorting.

It has since been found that Myra had in fact married Joseph V Wilson in 1919 in the Wandsworth District of London, making her the only Stuckey sister to marry. Whilst going through the many letters that still need to be read, several dated 1920 to Horace Stuckey with the salutation 'Dear Dad', and signed 'Joe' and were sent from Canada, came to light. Who was this Joe? Perhaps a son for Horace at last.  In his letters Jo spoke of still being in the forces and of his wife Trixie and about her trip to England.

Trixie was Myra, born Myra Beatrice and this was proven by finding her passage from Quebec back to England in 1920 on the ship 'Corsican' landing in Liverpool 26 Jul 1920. She stated her UK address as her father's in Balham. The reason for her visit was to give birth to a son. Robert V Wilson was registered Dec qtr 1920 in the Wandsworth District which covered the area where Horace lived.

Later a letter was found in the box of documents sent from Joe who was on board the 'RMS Corsican' with his new wife Trixie on their initial journey to Canada. This letter is dated 26th October 1919.

To confirm the existence of the son Robert more documents were searched and it has been established that in the 1960's Robert actually lived on Canvey. His Aunt Vera mentions him several times in letters and indeed asked him to sort out her estate when she died. Robert was also left a legacy from his Aunt Ida who died in 1970.

So part of the mystery of Myra has been found. More needs to be found out such as did she every visit Canvey, was her husband Canadian? How long did the family stay in Canada and are there any descendants? Perhaps we will find out one day.

More about the Stuckey Suster's Ancestry can be found HERE