Joseph Davey

Joseph Davey was born in Islington 1856 to William & Sarah Jane Davey. Joseph’s father had become a public house owner & landlord. Joseph followed suit by the 1880s & became the new owner of the “Old Pied Bull” in Upper street Islington which the family then lived above. His wife was Mary Ann Davey their daughter born 1880 & named Florence Beatrice Davey. Joseph Davey was said to have been a rather flamboyant character, that Mrs. Davey found hard to keep in check, he apparently was “a big spender “after he had inherited a sizable estate from his father. According to Mary Ann he was always a smart dresser, had fair hair & blue eyes. CENSUS RECORDS 1881/Joseph Davey/Licenced Victualler/25/Islington, Middlesex/Census **** 1881/Mary Ann Davey/Wife/33/Enfield, Middlesex/Census 1881/Florence Beatrice Davey/Daughter/1 month/Islington, Middlesex/Census 1882/Joseph Davey/../../../Post Office Directory **** 1903/Mrs Mary Ann Davey/../../../Post Office Directory **( After Josephs death Mrs Mary Ann Davey kept this pub for many years, but possibly closed ) 1910/Mrs Mary Ann Davey/../../../Post Office Directory ***

Joseph was also the publican at "The Globe Tavern" 204 Blackstock rd Islington for some while in the 1880s.( It is believed that his brother William who was two years his senior also worked at this public house during the 1890s as manager, probably at separate times from his brother. This was always assumed to be as Joseph had by then an ongoing alcoholic problem “of a serious nature.” It was also known the deaths of two of his sisters, and then his parents took its toll on young Josephs health. These two above named pubs had been properties either owned or run initially by his father William Davey during the 1870/80s. On his father’s death in 1885 Joseph inherited a large number of private dwellings including the public house businesses. His sister Sarah Jane Smith who was eight years his senior & recently widowed, was also due to receive many remaining properties & funds from her father’s will. We have with research in 2015/16 established that Mrs Mary Ann Davey was indeed still detailed as owner, of one licensed premises although we understand the property was not open for business as late as a decade after she became widowed. Josephs older sister Sarah Jane died in 1888.He also lost his younger sisters a few years previously. These factors were tragic to Joseph , to him personally of course, although it was quite common in those days dying young. It still appears that Mrs Davey inherited the freehold premises on the death of Joseph. Our family records detail death of Joseph in 1900 aged only 44 in London, of alcoholic poisoning. This possibly was in hospital or nursing home ,called perhaps( illegible written item) maybe North Hill house?) He was then transported by rail at Mary Ann's request & buried in St Peters likely the churchyard where Mrs Daveys relatives were buried, who were the Reader family mostly of Broadstairs Kent'. It was said long ago (1928/29 ) that the premises were empty for many years? Probably 1895/8-1910 This is taking into account that his brother William was then no longer in the licensed trade probably after 1890? . We do have a little paperwork stating Mrs Davey had closed down the pub & after her brother in law William left Middlesex for the fringes of Essex to St Albans rd Ilford with his family. Joseph Davey's estate was calculated at £12,000 odd in 1900. The majority being value of freehold or leasehold properties carried down from his father William.(Sarah Jane’s estate however amounted to very little in comparison) Compiler has intention to visit to confirm these matters for the example gravestones in St Peters