Ancestors

James Custance
Born: 22 September 1810
Married: 12 February 1828 & 15 February 1859
Died: 24 March 1892

James was born in Godmanchester, a once Roman settlement on the crossroads of the Via Devena from Colchester to Chester and Ermine Street, which linked London to York. He was one of 8 children born to Sarah Elizabeth Tuck and Charles Creek Custance. At the age of 17 he married Elizabeth Drabwell, she was 22. They had a total of 14 children.

James followed the family tradition and was a confectioner by trade. His premises are also pictured, below the flagpole at 21, High Street, Huntingdon. James remarried in 1859 after Elizabeth had died in 1855, to Mary Ann Collis who was 27 years his junior. He had a further 8 children with Mary. James died in 1892 in Huntingdon of senile decay. He was buried in Huntingdon cemetery and his grave is pictured. Mary died in 1901 and is buried with him.

Elizabeth Drabwell
Born: 19 April 1805
Married: 12 February 1828
Died: 28 April 1855

Elizabeth Drabwell was born in Lambeth in London on 19 Apr 1805. At the age of 22 she married James Custance in St. Clement, Cambridgeshire. Together they had a total of 14 children many of whom died in infancy. The family moved to London, Huntingdon and Luton. Their confectionary business premises in High Street, Huntingdon are pictured, present day(3rd from left). Elizabeth was pregnant for most of her married life, right up until six years before her death. She is buried in Luton, Beds.
Her children are listed as follows:

Eliza Roseina Custance b.25 Feb 1828 d.08 Jun 1842
Emma Tuck Custance b.05 Aug 1829 d. Unknown
Henry Custance b. 05 Jan 1831 d. 14 Sep 1892
James Custance b. 24 Apr 1832 d. 31 May 1833
Jame Joseph Custance b. 22 Nov 1833 d. 03 Sep 1878
John Custance b. 01 Mar 1835 d. 01 May 1835
Sarah Ann Custance b. 08 Apr 1836 d. Unknown
Daniel Custance b. 17 Feb 1838 d. Unknown
Edward Custance b. 15 Sep 1839 d. 12 Nov 1839
Charles Creek Custance b. 28 Oct 1840 d. 16 Jan 1843
Elizabeth Custance b. 23 May 1842 d. 03 Jul 1842
Mary Ann Custance b. 01 Nov 1843 d. 1857
William Custance b. 14 Jan 1846 d. 09 Jul 1848
Harriet Custance b. 01 Feb 1849 d. 28 Feb 1849

Frederick James Custance
Born: 14 November 1866
Married: 22 August 1891
Died: 8 February 1932

Frederick James Custance was one of eight children born to James and Mary Ann Custance (nee Collis). He was born in Huntingdon on 14 November 1866, the third eldest.

He married Mary Ann Benton in St.Pancras on 22 August 1891 and together they had four children, Florence, Hilda, James and Francis. Frederick was a was a Fruit Salesman, he probably supplied fruit to local shops and never had a shop as such.

Frederick died on the 8 Feb 1932 in Wandsworth, London and is buried in Stretham Cemetery. His wife Mary Ann had died 15 years previously in 1917 in Wandsworth, London. Frederick's Grandson, Norman Custance is one of the main contributors to the information on this site.

Olive Eleanor Custance
Born: 7 February 1874
Married: 4 March 1902
Died: 12 February 1944

Olive Eleanor Custance, the only daughter and heiress of Colonel Frederick Custance, a rich and distinguished soldier. Colonel Custance had high hopes for his daughter and they did not include the notorious Lord Alfred Douglas who had been associated with Oscar Wilde. She ended up eloping with Alfred whilst engaged to be married to George Montagu.

The pair married by special licence at St.Georges, Hanover Square on 4th March 1902. Their only child Raymond, was born the same year, but from an early age showed signs of instability. As a young man he was in the guards but for long periods he was confined to mental hospitals.
Unfortunately the marriage floundered and they split up. Olive passed away on 12th Feb 1944 and Lord Alfred Douglas survived her by a year. Raymond died aged 60.

Mary Ann Collis
Born: 8 December 1837
Married: 15 February 1859
Died: 3 May 1901

Mary Ann Collis was born to George and Mary Ann Collis in Huntingdon in 1837. She lived with her five brothers and one sister at the Cottage on the Common in Huntingdon. Her father George Collis was a gardener and at least two of her brothers followed the same trade.

Mary Ann married James Custance who was 27 years her senior at the Weslyan Chapel, Huntingdon, four years after his first wife Elizabeth had died. They were married for a further 33 years until James death in 1892. During that time they produced 8 children, two of whom are pictured above.

The Custance Website

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Ancestors