The
Company
In
1854[1]
William Court Buncher[2]
and Edward Madeley Haseler[3]
formed a partnership and established the firm known as Buncher &
Haseler. In 1855[4]
the company was located at 5 Fleet Street but by 1858[5]
it had moved to 3 Snape Street in the Jewellery
Quarter. At the time Snape Street was a
short one block street that ran south from Vyse Street to Hockley Street just
north of Branston Street[6]. Sometime between 1885[7]
and 1896[8]
the street where the company was located was renamed and became the northern
most block of Branston Street. According
to the 1871[9]
census, Mr. Buncher employed 30 persons whereas Mr. Haseler employed 20 men, 25
boys and 50 girls at that time. Perhaps
Buncher was referring to the number of employees he personally supervised and
Haseler was referring to all of the firm’s
employees. In 1881[10]
only Haseler was listed with the number of employees, which were 29 men, 20
boys and 40 girls. Buncher & Haseler
was best known in the 19th century as die sinkers, stampers,
piercers, and tool makers who made jewelry and other metal items. In 1871[11]
the company hired an apprentice named Walter Smith and the following indenture
was prepared:
“This indenture witnesseth that Walter Smith son
of Charles Henry Smith of number one hundred and ten Smith Street Birmingham in
the County of Warwick as well of his own free will and accord as by and with
the consent and direction of his said father testified by his execution hereof
Doth put himself
apprentice to William Buncher and Edward Madeley Haesler trading together as
copartners under the style and firm of Buncher & Haseler of Snape Street
Birmingham in the county of Warwick Die Sinkers Stampers Pierces and Tool
Makers to learn their art and with them after the manner of an apprentice to
serve from the day of the date hereof until the said apprentice shall attain
the age of twenty one years which will be on the ninth day of November one
thousand eight hundred and seventy-five
During which term
the said apprentice his masters faithfully shall serve their secrets keep their
lawful commands everywhere gladly do he shall do no damage to his said masters
nor see it done by others without immediately giving notice to his said masters
thereof he shall not waste the goods of his said masters nor lend them
unlawfully to any he shall neither buy nor sell without his said masters
license he shall not play at cards dice tables nor any other unlawful game he
shall not haunt taverns nor playhouses nor absent himself from his said masters
services at anytime unlawfully but shall in all
things as a faithful apprentice behave himself towards his said masters during
all the said term
And
for and in consideration of the good and faithful services of the said
apprentice to be done and performed as hereinbefore mentioned they the said Buncher & Haseler do hereby covenant promise
and agree to teach and instruct the said apprentice the art trade or calling of
a stamper which they now use or will cause him to be so taught and
instructed
And also shall and will pay or cause to be paid to the said
apprentice or to the said father the wages following that is to say from the
day of the date hereto until the ninth day of November one thousand eight
hundred and seventy one the weekly sum of seven shillings. During the next twelve months the weekly sum
of eight shillings. During the next
twelve months the weekly sum of nine shillings.
During the next twelve months the weekly sum of ten shillings and during
the next and last twelve months ending the ninth day of November one thousand
eight hundred and seventy five the weekly sum of
twelve shillings
Always deducting
therefrom for all loss of time whether the same be occasioned by or through
sickness lameness negligence or any other cause or pretense whatsoever save and
except want of employ or any voluntary act or acts of the said masters or
either of them the regular working house to be those usual and customary in the
workshop of the said Buncher & Haseler making sixty hours in each and every
week during all the said term and to be paid for overtime a fair remuneration
and the stoppage of wages for loss of time shall be so far to the adjudication
of Magistrates for wilful neglect or other misconduct
on the part of the said apprentice
And the said
Charles Henry Smith doth hereby covenant promise and agree to fund and provide
the said apprentice with good and sufficient meal drink lodging washing cloths
and all other necessaries during all the said term
And for the true
performance of all and every the covenant and
agreements herein contained each of the said parties undeth
himself to the other and others of them firmly by these presents
In witness whereof the
said parties to these presents have hereunto set their hands and seals the
twenty fourth day of March one thousand eight hundred and seventy
one.
Signed sealed and
delivered by the said parties hereto in the presence of William Field”
Walter Smith
William Bunchers
E. M. Haseler
Charles Henry
Smith”
Between 1865 and 1868
Buncher & Haseler registered 11 patent designs[12]
for lockets, brooches, waist clasps, buckle frames, and clasps. Six years later, from 1874-1875, they
registered 13 more items, 1 brooch, 4 necklet/bracelets and 8 Avery style
needle cases. One more needle case was registered in 1877 followed by two additional
ones in 1885, whereas from 1871-1880 they registered only four other items. Because these needle cases have only been
found with the W. Avery & Son name or the name of a license of Avery’s, it
seems most 
likely that these needle
cases were custom made especially for Avery.
In fact, it is highly likely that Buncher & Haseler actually manufactured additional needle cases for Avery,
ones that Avery himself patented, because Avery’s needle factory in Redditch
did not have the equipment nor workers with the necessary skills to make
stamped needle cases. The Easel-Floral, Horseshoe, Picnic Basket and
Wheelbarrow produced by Buncher & Haseler during 1874 and 1875 are
considered four of Avery’s most popular designs and the Golden Cart, patented
and manufactured by this firm in 1877, is one of Avery’s most elaborate needle
cases.
After 1900[13]
Buncher & Haseler expanded their product line and began to focus on
producing metal photographic frames, advertising novelties, trinket boxes and
cigarette cases. When William Buncher
died in in 1901 his son Harold W. Buncher took over his position with the firm. Then in 1909, presumably when Edward Madeley Haseler
died, Mr. Haseler’s son-in-
law, Robert Christopher
Rodgers, and a nephew, William Rabone Haseler, became more involved with the
firm. The company was converted to a private
limited company in 1911[14]
and the firm’s name became Buncher & Haseler Ltd. William Rabone Haseler’s son, William Hereward Haseler, also worked for
the firm for a few years before enlisting in 1914. He served as a captain in WWI and was killed
in action at the Battle of Cambrai
in 1917. In 1918[15]
H. W. Buncher, R. C. Rodgers and W. R. Haseler were listed as three of the four
company directors. Around this time the
company’s factory on Branston Street was enlarged and nickel-plated cigarette
cases and aluminum hollow ware became the firm’s main products[16]
such as the one pictured and described in the 1921[17]
advertisement seen here. Apparently,
Harold W. Buncher, William Rabone Haseler, and Robert Christopher Rodgers
continued to work for the company as directors until their retirement or deaths
in 1931, 1936 and 1938 respectively. The
business carried on under the direction of others and in 2001[18]
was listed as a “manufacturer and distributor of commercial catering and
related retail products, principally cookware, bakeware, utensils and bar
accessories sold under the brand names of Longlife, Caterlife, Camplife”. Near the end of 2001[19]
the company was acquired by Metalrax Group Plc whose
operations moved to another place in the Birmingham area. Metalraz
was dissolved following liquidation in 2018[20].
Although
the company no longer exists, the original Buncher & Haseler factory can be
found on the east side of Branston Street, just north of the intersection with
Hockley Street, as of 2019 when this photograph was taken.
The
Owners: Buncher
William
Court Buncher was the son of William Buncher and Prudence Court. It seems most likely that his father was born
in Birmingham c1789 and that his grandfather was the bricklayer[21],
John Buncher whose wife was Sarah.
William Jr.’s parents were married in 1828 in Harborne, an area of
Birmingham about three miles southwest of the city center. Both parents were widows at the time of their
marriage and no information about their previous spouses or children has been
found. William Jr. appears to be their
only child. The Buncher family moved
north and were living in Aston where William Sr. was employed at a brass
foundry in 1841. By 1851 they had moved
to the Lozells neighborhood in Birmingham where
William Sr. worked as a landlord’s agent.
Prudence died in 1854 in Birmingham at age 56 and approximately a year
later William Sr. married his third wife Mary Wellings in 1855. They were living near the Jewellery
Quarter in 1861 with two of Mary’s granddaughters and William Sr. continued to
work as a landlord’s agent. He died in
Birmingham in 1867 at age 78 as did Mary three years later in 1870. According to William Sr.’s death notice in
the local newspaper, he was involved with the Unitarian Sunday Schools starting
in 1807 and continued to act as a teacher there for a period of 40 years.
William
Court Buncher[22] was
born in 1829 in Birmingham and was baptized at St. Phillips in the Birmingham
city center in 1830. By 1851 he was a
die sinker apprentice living with his parents, then in 1854 he entered into a partnership with Edward Madeley Haseler,
another die sinker and stamper. William
married
his partner’s younger
sister, Sarah Eliza Haseler, in 1858 at the New Jerusalem Church on Summer Lane
near the Jewellery Quarter. Sarah, who was born in 1827, was the daughter
of the gilt toy manufacturer and jeweler John Haseler. Three of her older
brothers, George Carter Haseler, John Bush Haseler and William Hair Haseler,
were all in the jewelry trade before her marriage. It seems highly likely that her husband,
William Buncher, was an apprentice in her father’s or brothers’ businesses and
that was possibly how they met. William
and Sarah had three children: William (1859), Mabel (1861) and Harold Walter
(1865). The Buncher family lived in Aston
at first later moving to neighboring Handsworth where
they spent the remainder of their lives.
William worked as a die sinker, stamper, piercer
and tool maker employer for his entire life.
Sarah died in 1896 at age 68 in Handsworth and William died there five
years later in 1901 at age 71. Both were
buried at the Key Hill Cemetery in the Jewellery
Quarter. Their gravestone[23],
seen here, contains the following inscription: “In Loving Remembrance of
WILLIAM, ELDEST SON OF W. AND S. E. BUNCHER.
WHO DIED JULY 29TH 1870, AGED 10 YEARS. ALSO OF SARAH ELIZA, THE BELOVED WIFE OF WILLIAM
BUNCHER, BORN SEPTEMBER 3RD 1827, DIED FEBRUARY 18TH
1896. ALSO OF THE ABOVE WILLIAM BUNCHER,
BORN OCTOBER 30TH 1829, DIED FEBRUARY 12TH 1901. ALSO OF DORIS MABEL
HASELER, GRANDDAUGHER OF THE ABOVE WHO DIED JANUARY 20TH 1921, AGED
29 YEARS.” William left part of his
estate, valued at £2,985, to his son Harold, a stamper and piercer and to
his son-in-law Arnold Haseler, a jeweler.
His 1901[24] will is
transcribed below.
“This
is the last will and testament of me William Buncher of 27 Hall Road,
Handsworth in the County of Stafford, stamper and
piercer. I revoke all former wills and
testamentary dispositions heretofore made by me and declare this to be my last
will and testament. I give to Mary Ann
Dowler, who has for many years acted as my housekeeper, a legacy of fifty
pounds as a small recognition of her long and faithful services. I give to my servant
Mary Matilda Bennet a legacy of twenty pounds.
I give to my old friend James Henry Stone a
picture or a volume which I authorize him to select. I direct my executors hereinafter named to
pay my debts, funeral and testamentary expenses and estate duty in the first
place out of such part of my estate as they shall deem expedient. And I further direct that the same shall
ultimately be borne and paid to my son Harold and my daughter Mabel Haseler
(the wife of Arnold Haseler) in equal shares.
And I declare that the property respectively hereinafter bequeathed to
my said son and daughter shall stand charged with the payment of my said debts,
funeral and testamentary expense and estate duty in such equal shares subject
as aforesaid and to the foregoing specific bequests. I give and bequeath to my said daughter Mabel
absolutely: (a) my leasehold messuage No 27 Hall Road, Handsworth aforesaid in
which I now reside for such terms as I may have therein at my death subject to
the payment of the rent and performance of the covenants under which the same
messuage is held and also subject to the mortgage debt of four hundred pounds
now subsisting thereon and to the payment of the interest, (b) all my household
furniture, plate, linen, china, glass, books,
pictures, prints, jewellery, trinkets and all other
articles of personal domestic or household use or ornament, (c) all moneys
which may at my decease be standing to my credit at the Birmingham District and
Counties Banking Co (Hockley Branch),
(d) all moneys payable upon my death under my life policies in the British
Empire Mutual Assurance Association and the Provident Clerks Assurance
Association respectively. And I declare
that if the foregoing bequests to my said daughter shall not amount in value to
the sum of one thousand pounds the same shall be made up to that amount out of
my residual estate. And I further direct
that in the event of any dispute arising as to the value of any of the property
(not consisting of money) bequeathed to my said daughter as aforesaid the same
shall be valued by a competent person to be chosen by the executors whose
decision shall be final and binding upon the disputing party or parties subject
as aforesaid. I give and bequeath all
the residual of my estate and effects whatsoever and wheresoever both real and
personal unto my son Harold absolutely. I appoint my son Harold, my son in law Arnold
Haseler and Joseph Gilbert Rolason of Radnor Road, Handsworth aforesaid jeweller executors and trustees of this my will. In witness whereof I have hereto set my hand
this twenty sixth day of January one thousand nine hundred and one.
William
Buncher
Signed
by the testator as his last will and testament in the presence of us present at
the same time who in his presence at his request and in the presence of each
other have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses.
W.
H. Egginton
Solicitor
39
Bennetts Hill
Birmingham
Ernest
Leeson
4
Radnor Rd
Handsworth
On
the twenty fifth day of March 1901 probate of this will was granted at Lichfield
to Harold Buncher the son, Arnold Haseler and Joseph Gilbert Rolason, the
executors.
I
certify the foregoing to be a correct copy of the original will.”
Only
two of William Court Buncher’s children survived him. Unfortunately, his eldest son died at age 10
presumably while the family was vacationing in Conway, Wales. Their daughter Mabel was born in Aston in
1861 and she married her cousin, Arnold Haseler, the eldest son of John Buch
Haseler in 1888. Presumably, Arnold
worked for his father as both were listed as manufacturing jewelers. Mabel and Arnold had three children: Clifford
Arnold, Doris Mabel and Olive, and lived in Handsworth
for a number of years before moving to Solihull. Arnold died in 1940 at age 87 in Solihull
followed by Mabel twelve years later at age 90 in Conway, Wales in 1951. Shortly after her death, part of Mabel’s
estate, valued at £4,569,
was passed to her son Clifford who was a shopkeeper. William and Sarah’s youngest son, Harold
Walter Buncher, was born in 1865 in Handsworth and followed in his father’s
footsteps as a die sinker working in his father’s business. He married Maud Lizzie Adams in Birchfield, a
section of Birmingham neighboring Handsworth, in 1897 and they had no
children. Whereas in 1901 he was listed
as a die sinker and stamper employer, by 1911 he was listed as a manufacturer
of small metal goods employer, proving the family business had expanded and
changed their product line[25]. Harold became a director of the Buncher &
Haseler business in 1918[26]. Harold died in Handsworth in 1931 at age 65
and left an estate valued at £6,153. Maud died there a year later in 1932 at age
60.
The
Owners: Haseler
Edward Madeley Haseler, the business
partner of William Court Buncher and the brother of Buncher’s wife Sarah, was
born in 1826 in Birmingham. His parents
were John Haseler and Sarah Evett Hair.
Most of Edward’s brothers were in the jewelry trade as was his
father. Additional information about the
Haseler family can be found in the chapter in this book entitled G. C. Haseler
& Co. Edward was baptized twice,
once in 1826 at the New Jerusalem Church on Summer Lane and then four years
later in 1830 at St. Phillips, the main church in the Birmingham city center,
where his partner Mr. Buncher was also baptized on the same day. In 1851 Edward was working as die sinker
journeyman. He married Jane Adelaide
Best in 1859 at the New Jerusalem Church, only two weeks after Mr. Buncher was
married in the same church. In all probability Edward met Mr. Buncher either through
work or through their church because they shared the same occupation and were
involved with the same religious organization.
Jane was the sister of Isaac Arrowsmith Best, the husband of Edward’s
sister Elizabeth. Edward and Jane had
three children: Edward Best (1863), Beatrice Maria D. (1872) and Jennie
Millicent Ann (1874). Edward spent his
entire life as a die sinker, stamper and piercer employer and lived with his
family in Handsworth. Jane died there in
1906 at age 75 and three years later Edward died there in 1909 at age 83.
Because his probate has not been found, it is unclear what the value of his
estate was.
Because Edward Madeley Haseler’s
only son, Edward Best, died as an infant at sixteen months of age, his
son-in-law and a Haseler nephew carried on his role with the Buncher and
Haseler firm. The eldest daughter
Beatrice, born in 1872, married the textile merchant William Sydney Wilkinson
in 1896. They had four children together
before she passed away in Handsworth in 1916 at the rather young age of
44. The youngest daughter Jennie was
born in 1874. In 1901 she married Robert
Christopher Rogers, who was born in India.
Robert carried on the business of his father-in-law and helped expand it
as he was listed as a fancy metal goods manufacturer [27]and
stamper employer in 1911. By 1918[28]
Robert was one of four directors of the Buncher & Haseler firm. Jennie and Robert had at least one child:
Christopher Edward. Robert died in 1938
in Handsworth at age 65 and left an estate valued at £10,400 to his wife
and son Christopher who was a metallurgist at the time. When Jennie died at age 87 in Handsworth 23
years later in 1961, she left £8,906 to her son
Christopher who was now a company director, although it is unclear for which
company he worked.
The
nephew, William Rabone Haseler, was the eldest son of Edwards’s older brother,
William Hair Haseler. William Rabone
Haseler was born in Birmingham in 1860, married Florence Ryland in Handsworth
in 1889 and was working as a manufacturing jeweler employer
by 1911. It is not known exactly when he
started working for the Buncher & Haseler firm, however by 1918[29]
he was one of the companies four directors.
William and Florence had four children: Thomas Ryland, William Hereward,
Maxwell Ryland and Colin. William died in 1936 in Handsworth at age 75
leaving an estate valued at £965 to his two
sons, Thomas and Maxwell who were manufacturing jewelers at the time.
William
Hereward Haseler was born in 1892 in Handsworth, the son of William Rabone and
Florence Haseler, and the grandson of William Hair Haseler. In 1911 he was living with his parents at 43
Handsworth Wood Road in Handsworth, working as a fancy metal works manufacturer
worker. He enlisted in August 1914 and
served with the Royal Tank Corp. He was
the acting captain of Tank Corps “B” battalion when he was killed in action on
November 20, 1917 at age 25. Captain Haseler was buried at Cambrai
Memorial in Louverval, Nord-Pas-de-Calais,
France. His estate valued at £178 was probated
in Birmingham in March 1918, went to his father William Rabone Haseler, a
jeweler in Birmingham. William’s
brothers, Thomas Ryland Haseler and Maxwell Ryland Haseler, also served during
WWI. His obituary in 1917[30]
reads as follows:
“CASUALTIES
AMONG MIDLAND OFFICERS.
CAPTAIN
W. H. HASELER (KILLED).
Captain
William Hereward Haseler, Tank Corps, who was killed in action on the 20th
inst., age 25, was the second son of Mr. W. R. Haseler, Handsworth Wood Road,
Birmingham. He was educated at Lickey
Hill and Shrewsbury Schools, and before the war was connected
with the firm Buncher and Haseler (Limited), metal goods manufacturers,
Branston Street, Birmingham. He joined
the army in August, 1914, and was given his commission
for services rendered on the battlefield with his section of the Motor Machine
Gun Corps. He transferred to the Tank
Corps when tanks were first introduced, and, with the exception of a brief
period of training on receiving his commission, he had been in France since February, 1915. He
had the honor of being presented to the King on the occasion
of his Majesty’s last visit to France, when he demonstrated before this
Majesty some of the things a tank could do; and his promotion to a captaincy
had been recently gazetted. Two of the deceased officer’s brothers are
serving with the forces.”
Buncher & Haseler: Genealogy
Buncher Generation 1: William Buncher (c1789-1867) and
wife #1 ??? and Prudence
Court (c1798-1854) and Mary Wellings (c1805-1870)
· Born: 1789 (S4)
(S5d).
· Possible Baptism:
February 2, 1789 St. Martin, Birmingham (S1c). Listed as William
son of John and Sarah Buncher (Note: surname is incorrectly listed in the
baptism index as Buncker).
·
Marriage #1: not found.
· Marriage #2:
December 25, 1828 St. Peter, Harborne, Staffordshire
(S3). Listed as William Buncher a widower and Prudence Court a widow. (Note:
the marriage banns index incorrectly lists Prudence’s
surname as Courts). Prudence’s Birth Year:
c1801 (S4) and 1798 (S4) (S5d).
· 1841 Census: Holt
Str., Aston, Duddeston and Nechells, Birmingham
(S4). Listed as William Buncher age 55 a
brass foundery born in the county with Prudence age 40
born in the county and 1 child: William. (Note: the census index incorrectly
lists Prudence’s birth year, which is very hard to read, as 48
· 1851 Census: 35
George Str., Birmingham (S4). Listed as
William Buncher age 62 a landlord’s agent born in Warwick with wife Prudence
age 53 born in Warwick and 1 child: William born in Warwick.
· Wife #2’s Death: 2nd
QTR 1854 Birmingham (S5d). Listed as
Prudence Buncher. The GRO website
indicates she was 56 years old.
· Marriage #3: April
4, 1855 St. George, Birmingham (S3). Listed as William Buncher age 66 a widower
and agent from Upper Hockley Street and Mary Wellings age 51 a widow. William’s father is listed as John Buncher, a
bricklayer. Mary’s Birth Year: c1805
(S4) (S5d).
· 1861 Census: 12
Upper Hockley Str., Birmingham (S4).
Listed as William Buncher age 72 a landlord’s agent born in Birmingham
with wife Mary age 56 born in Bicton Heath, Salop and 2 granddaughters both
born in Bicton Heath, Salop: Sarah Rowlands age 10 and Hannah Rowlands age 9.
(Note: Salop is the abbreviation for Shropshire. The 2 Rowlands grandchildren were most likely
related to Mary and were step-grandchildren to William Buncher. Sarah Rowlands was born 2nd QTR
1850 in Shrewsbury, Shropshire (S1b). Bicton Heath is a section of
Shrewsbury. Anna Maria Rowlands was born
4th QTR 1851 in Shrewsbury, Shropshire (S1b) and was baptized there
on November 9, 1851 (S1c) as Hannah Maria Rowlands with parents John and Ann
Rowlands. In the 1851 Census of
Shrewsbury St. Chad, John, Ann and Sarah Rowlands were
all living next door to Sarah Wellings who was born in 1771 in Salop and Maria
Wellings an unmarried woman born in 1811 in Salop (S4). It seems most likely that these Wellings and
Rowlands families were related to the Mary Wellings
who married William Buncher in 1855.
Mary Buncher’s probate, listed below, also mentions the granddaughter
Anna Maria Rowlands).
· Death: 2nd
QTR 1867 Birmingham at age 78 (S5d).
Listed as William Buncher.
· Death Notice:
Birmingham Daily Gazette newspaper dated April 9, 1867, listed as Mr. William
Buncher of Upper Hockley Street who died in his 79th year on April 6
and who became connected with the Unitarian Sunday Schools in the year 1807 and
continued actively engaged as a teacher for a period of 40 years
(S=britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk).
· Probate: not found.
· Wife #3’s Death: 1st
QTR 1870 Aston (S5d), listed as Mary Buncher age 65. January 2, 1870 (S6).
· Wife #3’s Probate:
June 11, 1873 Birmingham (S6). Listed as Mary Buncher
a widow from John Street, Aston Manor. Effects
under £50 to Anna Maria
Rowlands a spinster granddaughter, and next of kin.
· Children:
1.
William
Court Buncher (1829-1901) - see Generation 2.
Buncher Generation 2: William Court Buncher
(1829-1901) and Sarah Eliza Haseler (1827-1896)
(Note: Sarah Eliza Haseler was the older sister of William Court
Buncher’s business partner Edward Madeley Haseler. See the G. C. Haseler & Co. chapter in
this book for more information about the Haseler family history)
· Born: October 30, 1829
Birmingham (S1c) (S7).
· Baptism: October 1, 1830 St.
Philip, Birmingham (S1c). Listed as William Court Buncher with parents William
and Prudence Buncher who lived on Handley Street. William’s father was listed as a brass
founder.
· 1841 Census: with
parents (S4). Listed as William Buncher
age 11 born in the county.
· 1851 Census: with
parents (S4). Listed as William Buncher age 21 a die sinker employee apprentice
born in Warwick.
· Marriage: December
23, 1858 at the New Jerusalem Church, Birmingham
(S8m), listed as William Buncher a die sinker whose father was William Buncher
an agent and Sarah Eliza Haseler whose father was John Haseler a retired
jeweler. Also listed in The
Intellectual Repository for the New Church, 1859, page 93 as married
December 23, 1858 at the New Jerusalem Church on
Summer Lane by Rev. E. Madeley, Mr. William Buncher of Church-street, Lozells to Sarah Eliza daughter of Mr. John Haseler of
Birmingham (S=books.google.com).
· 1861 Census: 15
Church Street, Aston, Birmingham (S4).
Listed as William Buncher age 31 a die sinker
born in Birmingham with wife Sarah E. age 33 born in Birmingham and 1 child:
William born in Aston.
· 1871 Census: 39
Soho Park, Handsworth, West Bromwich (S4). Listed as William Buncher age 41 a
die sinker, stamper employing about 30 persons born in Birmingham with wife
Sarah E. age 43 born in Birmingham and 2 children: Mabel and Harold W. born in
Aston and Handsworth.
· 1881 Census: 129
Hall Road, Handsworth, West Bromwich (S4).
Listed as William Buncher age 57 a die sinker born in Birmingham with
wife Sarah E. age 53 born in Birmingham and 2 children: Mabel and Harold W.
born in Aston and Handsworth.
· 1891 Census: 23
Hall Road, Handsworth, West Bromwich (S4). Listed as a
William Buncher age 61 die sinker, stamper, piercer
and toolmaker employer born in Birmingham with wife Sarah E. age 63 born in
Birmingham and 1 child: Harold W. born in Handsworth.
· Wife’s Death: 1st
QTR 1896 in West Bromwich at age 68 (S5d).
Listed as Sarah Eli Buncher, February 18, 1896 (S7).
· Wife’s Grave: Key
Hill Cemetery Birmingham (S7). Listed as
Sarah Eliza Buncher born September 3, 1827 and died
February 18, 1896, with spouse William Buncher, son William Buncher and
granddaughter Doris Mabel Haseler. See
husband’s grave for source details.
·
Wife’s Probate: not found.
· Death: 1st QTR 1901 West Bromwich, Staffordshire at
age 71 (S5d) and February 12, 1901 (S6) (S7) listed as William Buncher.
· Grave: Key Hill
Cemetery Birmingham, Section P, Plot 431 (S7 and personal visit to this grave
site in 2022). Listed as William Buncher
October 30, 1829 – February 12, 1901 with spouse Sarah
Eliza September 3, 1827 - February 18, 1896, son William who died July 28, 1870
age 10 and Doris Mabel Haseler who died January 20, 1921 at age 29. (Note: Doris Haseler was the granddaughter, a
child of Mabel Buncher who married Arnold Haseler). William Buncher of 27 Hall Road age 71 was
buried February 16, 1901 in section P grave 431 (S=email
correspondence with the Midland Ancestors at https://midland-ancestors.shop/BIRM-Cemeteries
who provided scanned copies of the actual burial records).
· Will: January 26, 1901, 2 pages. Listed as William Buncher of 27 Hall Road,
Handsworth a stamper and piercer which lists his son Harold, daughter Mabel
Haseler and son-in-law Arnold Haseler (S=UK Probate Search Website inquiry at
https://probatesearch.service.gov.uk).
· Probate: March 25,
1901 Lichfield (S6).
Listed as William Buncher of 27 Hall Road, Handsworth. Effects £2,985 to Harold Buncher, stamper and
piercer, Arnold Haseler and Joseph Gilbert Rolason, jewelers.
· Children:
1.
William
Buncher (1859-1870). Born: 4th QTR 1859
Aston, Birmingham (S5b). 1861 Census:
with parents (S4). Death: July 28, 1870 Conway, Caernarvonshire, Wales (S8d), listed as William
Buncher age 10, the son of William Buncher a die sinker, who died of scarlet
fever with Elizabeth Haseler of Handsworth in attendance. July 28, 1870 per
father’s gravestone.
2.
Mabel
Buncher (1861-1951).
· Born: 2nd QTR 1861
Aston, Birmingham (S5b), listed as Mabel Buncher.
· 1871 and 1881
census: with parents born in Aston (S4).
· Marriage: August 1, 1888 Wretham Road Church, Handsworth, West Bromwich (S8m),
listed as Mabel Buncher age 27 of Hall St. Handsworth whose father was William
Buncher a die sinker and Arnold Haseler age 35 of Hall Road, Handsworth whose
father was John Bush Haseler a jeweler. (Note: Mabel Buncher married her cousin as
Arnold was the son of her uncle John Bush Haseler).
· 1891 Census:
Grosvenor Cottage Hall Road, Handsworth (S4).
Listed as Arnold Haseler age 37 a manufacturing jeweler employer born in
Birmingham with wife Mabel age 39 born in Aston and 1 child: Clifford A. born
in Handsworth. (Note: the census index
incorrectly lists the surname as Hokler).
· 1901 Census: 3 Grosvenor
Ave. Hall Road, Handsworth (S4). Listed as Arnold Haseler age 47 a
manufacturing jeweler born in Birmingham with wife Mabel age 39 born in Aston
and 3 children all born in Handsworth: Clifford Arnold, Doris Mabel and Olive.
· 1911 Census: 50
Wellington Rd., Handsworth (S4). Listed
as Arnold Haseler age 57 a manufacturing jeweler born in Birmingham with wife
Mabel age 49 born in Birmingham who were married 22 years with 3 children all
still living, and all 3 children were born in Handsworth: Clifford Arnold
(c1890), Doris Mabel (c1891) and Olive (c1893).
· 1939
Register: 75 Union Road, Solihull
(S9). Listed as Arnold Haseler married born
May 10, 1853 a retired manufacturing jeweler, Mabel married
born May 2, 1861, Clifford A. born September 14, 1889 and Olive born January
25, 1893 (Note: the daughter’s forename is incorrectly listed as Alive in the
census index).
· Husband’s Death: 3rd
QTR 1940 Solihull (S5d), listed as Arnold Haseler at age 87. August 26, 1940 (S6)
· Husband’s
Probate: October 18, 1940
Birmingham (S6). Listed as Arnold
Haseler of 75 Union Road, Shirley, Warwickshire. Effects £588 to Mabel Haseler widow.
· Death: 3rd
QTR 1951 Conway, Caernarvonshire, Wales (S5d), listed as Mable Haseler. September 25, 1951 (S6).
· Probate: January
31, 1952 Birmingham (S6), listed as Mabel Haseler of
135a Mostyn Street, Llandudno, Caernarvonshire, Wales, a widow. Effects £4,569 to Thomas Colclough Pepper,
chartered accountant, and Clifford Arnold Haseler, shopkeeper.
· Children:
1.
Clifford
Arnold Haseler (1889 -??). Born in
Handsworth (S4) and 1939 Register.
2.
Doris
Mabel Haseler (c1891-1921). Born in Handsworth (S4). Listed on her grandfather’s gravestone as
having died on January 20, 1921 at age 21.
3.
Olive
Haseler (1893 - ??). Born in Handsworth
(S4) and 1939 Register.
3.
Harold
Walter Buncher (1865-1931) - see Generation 3.
Buncher Generation 3: Harold Walter Buncher
(1865-1931) and Maud Lizzie Adams (c1871-1932)
· Born: 3rd
QTR 1865 West Bromwich (S5b), listed as Harrold Buncher.
· 1871 Census: with
parents (S4). Listed as Harold W.
Buncher age 5 born in Handsworth.
· 1881 Census: with
parents (S4). Listed as Harold W.
Buncher age 15 a scholar born in Handsworth.
· 1891 Census: with
parents (S4). Listed as Harold W.
Buncher age 25 a die sinker employed born in Handsworth.
· Married: 2nd
QTR 1897 West Bromwich, Staffordshire (S5m) and June 24, 1897
Holy Trinity, Birchfield, Staffordshire (S3). Listed as Harold Walter Buncher
and Maud Lizzie Adams. In the marriage
bands Harold was listed as age 31 a manufacturing
jeweler from 27 Hall Road whose father was William Buncher a manufacturer.
· 1901 Census: 80
Hall Str., Handsworth, West Bromwich (S4). Listed as Harold Walter Buncher age
35 a die sinker, stamper and employer born in Handsworth with wife Maud Lizzie age 30 born in Aston.
· 1911 Census: 3 Selborne Road, Handsworth Wood, West Bromwich (S4). Listed as Harold Walter Buncher age 45 a
manufacturer of small metal goods employer born in Handsworth with wife Maud
Lizzie age 40 born in Aston. Indicates they were married for 13 years and
had no children.
· Death: 2nd
QTR 1931 West Bromwich (S5d), listed as Harold W. Buncher age 65. June 28, 1931
Birmingham (S6).
·
Probate: September 3, 1931
Birmingham (S6). Listed as Harold Walter
Buncher of 3 Selborne Road, Handsworth. Effects: £6,153 to Ernest Leeson, retired jeweler, and Thomas
Colclough Pepper, chartered accountant. (Note: the probate index incorrectly
lists the probate date as September 8, 1931).
· Will: signed May 12, 1931 by Harold Walter Buncher (S=pages 2196-2199 of the Will
Books at the Birmingham
Library’s Heritage Research Area and Wolfson Centre for Archival Research).
· Wife’s Death: 1st QTR
1932 West Bromwich (S5d), listed as Maud Buncher. January 6, 1932 (S6).
· Wife’s Probate: April 22, 1932 Birmingham (S6).
Listed as Maud Buncher of 27 Hall Road, Handsworth, a widow. Effects £1,044 to Thomas Colclough Pepper, chartered
accountant, and Ernest Leeson retire jeweler.
· Children:
· None
Haseler Generation 1:
Edward Madeley Haseler (1826-1909) and Jane Adelaide Best (1830-1906)
(Edward Madeley Haseler was the younger brother of
Sarah Eliza Haseler who married his business partner William Court
Buncher. See the G. C. Haseler & Co.
chapter in this book for more detailed genealogical information about the
Haseler family).
· Born: January 24, 1826 Birmingham (S1c#1) or January 21, 1826 Birmingham
(S1c#2).
· Baptism #1:
February 19, 1826 New Jerusalemite, Summer Lane, Birmingham
(S1c#1). Listed as Edward Madeley
Haseler with parents John, a jeweler, and Sarah Evett Haseler of Branston
Street.
· Baptized #2:
October 1, 1830 St. Philip, Birmingham (S1c#2). Listed as Edward Madeley Haseler with parents
John, a jeweler, and Sarah Evett Haseler of Branston Street.
· 1841 Census: with
parents (S4). Listed as Edward Haseler
age 15 born in the county.
· 1851 Census: with
parents (S4). Listed as Edward Andby Haseler age 25 a die sinker journeyman born in
Birmingham.
· Married: January
6, 1859 at the New Jerusalem Church, Birmingham
(S8m). Listed as Edward Madeley Haseler a
die sinker whose father was John Haseler a retired jeweler and Jane Adelaide
Best. Also listed in The
Intellectual Repository for the New Church, 1859, page 93 as married
January 6, 1859 at the New Jerusalem Church on Summer Lane
by Rev. E. Madeley, Mr. Edward Madeley Haseler of Broughton-street, Aston to
Jane Adelaide, youngest daughter of the late Mr. Joseph Best of Birmingham
(S=books.google.com). (Note: Jane was
baptized November 7, 1830 at the New Jerusalemite
Church in Birmingham (S1c) with her parents listed as Joseph and Maria
Best. Jane’s brother Isaac married
Edward’s sister Elizabeth in 1846.)
·
1861: not found.
· 1871 Census: 167
Hawthorn Cottage, Hall Road, Handsworth, West Bromwich (S4). Listed as Edward M. Haseler age 45 a die
sinker employing 20 men, 25 boys and 50 girls born in Birmingham with wife Jane
A. age 40 born in Birmingham.
· 1872 Kelly’s
Birmingham Post Office Directory. Page
144 lists Edward M. Haseler, Hawthorn Cottage, Hall Road (S=ancestry.com).
· 1878 Post Office
Directory of Birmingham. Page 321 lists Haseler, Edwd. Madeley, die sinker, see
Buncher & Haseler (S=books.google.com).
· 1881 Census: 63
Hamstead Mount, Handsworth, West Bromwich (S4).
Listed as Edward M. Haseler age 56 a die sinker, stamper, piercer
employing 29 men, 20 boys and 40 girls born in Birmingham with wife Jane A. age
50 born in Birmingham and 2 children born in Handsworth: Beatrice and
Millicent. (Note: this Haseler family was living next to the George Hope
Johnstone).
· 1891 Census: 75
The Brow, Hamstead Hill, Handsworth, West Bromwich (S4). Listed as Edward Madeley Haseler age 65 a die
sinker, stamper, piercer employer born in Birmingham with wife Jane Adelaide
age 60 born in Birmingham and 2 children born in Handsworth: Beatrice M. D. and
Jennie M. A. (Note: the surname is incorrectly listed in the census index as Haselar. Also, this
Haseler family was living next to the George Hope Johnstone).
· 1897 Kelly’s
Directory or Birmingham. Page 323 listed as Edward Madeley Haseler, Hamstead
Brow, Hamstead Hill, Handsworth (S=ancestry.com).
· 1901 Rate
Book: Listed at 101-107 Branston Street,
occupier Edward Madeley Haseler, Robert C. Rodgers and Harold W. Buncher with
owner William Buncher and Edward Madeley Haseler (S=Birmingham England Rate
Books 1831-1913 available at ancestry.com).
· 1901 Census: 7
Hamstead Brow, Hamstead Hill, Handsworth, West Bromwich (S4). Listed as Edward
Madeley Haseler age 75 a die sinker and stamper employer born in Birmingham
with wife Jane Adelaide, age 70 born in Birmingham. (Note: the surname is
incorrectly listed in the census index as Hassler).
· Wife’s Death: January
12, 1906 Handsworth, West Bromwich (S8d), listed as Jane
Adelaide Haseler age 75, the wife of Edward Madeley Haseler stamper and piercer
master, who died of bronchitis and pneumonia at Hamstead Hill, with W. L
Wilkerson son-in-law the informant.
·
Wife’s Probate: not found.
· Death: September
1, 1909 Handsworth (S8d). Listed as Edward Madeley Haseler age 83 jewelers stamper retired who died at Hamstead Hill,
Handsworth of senile decay with R. C. Rodgers son-in-law in attendance.
·
Probate: not found.
· Children. Both
daughters were listed with parents in 1881 and 1891 censuses.
1.
Edward
Best Haseler (1863-1865). Born: 4th
QTR 1863 West Bromwich (S5b), listed as Edward Best Haseler. The birth was listed in Aris’s Birmingham
Gazette newspaper dated November 21, 1863
as on November 14, Mrs. Edward M. Haseler, Handsworth, of a son
(S=britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk).
Death: 1st QTR 1865 West Bromwich (S5d), listed as Edward
Best Haseler. The death was listed in
the Birmingham Daily Gazette newspaper dated March 22, 1865
as of March 17 of convulsions, aged 16 months, Edward Best, the only son of
Edward M. Haseler, Hawthorn Cottage, Hall Road, Handsworth
(S=britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk).
2. Beatrice Maria D.
Haseler (1872-1916). Born: 1st
QTR 1872 West Bromwich (S5b), listed as Beatrice Maria D. Haseler. Marriage: April 8, 1896
Handsworth, West Bromwich (S8m), listed as Beatrice Maria Derham Haseler age 24
of Hamstead Hill whose father was Edward Madeley Haseler a die sinker and
William Sydney Wilkinson. 1911
Census: 70 Handsworth Wood Road,
Handsworth (S4), listed as Beatrice Wilkinson age 39 born in Handsworth with
husband William Sydney Wilkinson age 38 a textile merchant employer born in
Handsworth and 4 children all born in Handsworth: Beatrice Maud, Ruth, Henry Sydney and Edward Holt, they had been married 15 years and
had 5 children of which 4 were still living.
Death: 1st QTR 1916 West Bromwich (S5d), listed as Beatrice
M. D. Wilkinson age 44, March 28, 1916 (S6).
Probate: June 14, 1916 Birmingham (S6), listed as Beatrice Wilkinson of
Wood House Handsworth Wood Road, Handsworth wife of William Sydney Wilkinson, Effects
£2,631 to William Sydney
Wilkinson a director of a public company.
3.
Jennie
Millicent Ann Haseler (1874-1961). Born:
2nd QTR 1874 West Bromwich (S5b), listed as Jennie Millicent A.
Haseler. Marriage: September 5, 1901 Wretham Road Church, West
Bromwich (S8m), listed as Jennie Millicent Ann Haseler age 26 of Hamstead Hill
whose father was Edward Madeley Haseler a stamper and piercer and Robert
Christopher Rodgers. 1911: The Braw,
Hamstead Hill, Handsworth (S4), listed as Millicent Rodgers age 36 born in
Handsworth with husband Robert Christopher Rodgers age 38 a fancy metal goods
manufacturer and stamper employer born in India and 1 child born in Handsworth:
Christopher, they had been married 9 years and had 1 child who was still
living. Husband’s Probate: September 6,
1938 Birmingham (S6), listed as Robert Christopher Rodgers of 41 Hamstead Hill
and 101 Branston Street who died July 29, 1938 with Effects £10,400 to Jennie Millicent Ann Rodgers widow and
Christopher Edward Rodgers metallurgist.
Death: 3rd QTR 1961 Birmingham (S5d), listed as Jennie M. A.
Rodgers age 87, September 3, 1961 (S6).
Probate: October 11, 1961 Birmingham (S6),
listed as Jennie Millicent Ann Rodgers of 41 Hamstead Hill, Handsworth, a
widow. Effects: £8,906 to Christopher Edward
Rogers company director.
Haseler Generation 2: William Rabone Haseler
(1860-1936) and Florence Ryland (c1866 -??)
(William Rabone Haseler
was the son of William Hair Haseler and the nephew of Sarah Maria Buncher (nee
Haseler) and Edward Madeley Haseler. See the G. C. Haseler & Co. chapter in
this book for more detailed genealogical information about the Haseler family).
· Born: April 2, 1860 Birmingham (S8b), listed as William Rabone Haseler with
parents William Hair Haseler, a jewelry master, and Elizabeth Haseler formerly
Rabone of 42 Vyse Street.
· Marriage: June 4,
1889, Handsworth, West Bromwich (S8m), listed as William Rabone Haseler age 29
a jeweler living at Hamstead Road, Handsworth whose father was William Hair
Haseler a jeweler and Florence Ryland.
· 1911 Census: 43
Handsworth Wood Road, Handsworth (S4), listed as William Rabone Haseler age 51
a manufacturing jeweler employer born in Birmingham with wife Florence age 45
born in Birmingham and 4 children born in Handsworth: Thomas Ryland, William
Hereward, Maxwell Ryland and Colin Rabone, they had
been married 21 years and had 4 children who were all still living.
· Death: 1st
QTR 1936 Birmingham (5d), listed as William Haseler, age 75, February 25, 1936
(S6).
· Probate: June 20,
1938 Birmingham (S6), listed as William Rabone Haseler of The Firs, Preston
Bagot, Henley-in-Arden Warwickshire who died at Handsworth, Effects £965 to Thomas Ryland Haseler and Maxwell Ryland
Haseler manufacturing jewelers.
Haseler Generation
3: William Hereward Haseler (1892-1917)
· Born: 2nd
QTR 1892 West Bromwich (S5b), listed as William Hereward Haseler.
· Parents: William
Rabone Haseler and Florence Ryland (S=UK, De Ruvigny’s
Roll of Honour, 1914-1919 available at ancestry.com)
and (S4 and Haseler genealogy).
· Grandfather:
William Hair Haseler (Haseler genealogy).
· 1911 Census: with
parents and brothers (S4): listed as William Hereward Haseler, age 19, fancy
metal goods manufacturer worker born in Handsworth.
· Enlisted August
31, 1914 (S=UK, De Ruvigny’s Roll of Honour, 1914-1919 available at ancestry.com)
· Served with: Royal
Tank Corp (S=UK, De Ruvigny’s Roll of Honour, 1914-1919 available at ancestry.com)
· Rank: Captain
(S=UK, De Ruvigny’s Roll of Honour,
1914-1919 available at ancestry.com)
· Death: November
20, 1917 Cambrai, France (S=UK, De Ruvigny’s
Roll of Honour, 1914-1919 available at ancestry.com)
and (S6)
· Burial: Cambrai Memorial, Louverval,
Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France (S7).
· Obituary:
Birmingham Daily Post newspaper dated November 26, 1917,
column 2 section entitled “Casualties Among Midland Officers”
(S=britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk).
· Probate: March 21,
1918 Birmingham (S6), listed as William Hereward Haseler of 43 Handsworth Wood
Road, Handsworth acting captain Tank Corps Battalion B who died in France,
effects £178 to William
Rabone Haseler jeweler.
Avery style needle cases patented and manufactured by
Buncher & Haseler:
1. Beef Serving Cart - ornamental design #Rd30181 dated July 21, 1885
2. Butter Churn - ornamental design #282122 dated May 4, 1874
3. Crab on a Platter - ornamental design #Rd30180 dated July 21, 1885
4. Cradle - ornamental design #292574 dated July 7, 1875
5. Easel (2 versions) - ornamental design #292979 dated July 19, 1875
6. Golden Cart - ornamental design #311822 dated July 11, 1877,
7. Horseshoe - ornamental design #283264 dated June 25, 1874
8. Penny Stamp - (2 versions) ornamental design #281428 dated March 28, 1874
9. Picnic Basket - ornamental design #290854 dated April 23, 1875
10. Victorian Rowboat - ornamental design #281251 dated March 18, 1874
11. Wheelbarrow (2 versions) - ornamental design #287090 dated November 18,
1874.
