Charles BRUCE was born on 22nd September 1847 at Wereham, Norfolk. His parents were Edward and Ann BRUCE(née HAYHOW). He was an agricultural labourer and drove a steam engine. His first wife was Ann HAMMOND (b. Castle Rising). They married in 1874 and together they had twelve children, three of whom died in tragic circumstances. Ethel was killed in an accident involving her father; while Bertie and Herbert both died during WW1. [Their names appear on West Dereham War Memorial.]

Charles and Ann's children:

• Charles Henry Bruce (HAMMOND) -b. 1873, Castle Rising. bp. 23 May 1875, Wereham d. Mar 1896, Castle Rising
• Ernest Edward-bp. 23 May 1875, Wereham. married 1897 to Annie BARKER in Downham Market. Living with Annie and daughter Edith, in 1901, in Roxham. died 6 Nov 1905.
• Alfred-b.1875 d.1876
• Edith May-bp. 6 Oct 1876, Castle Rising
• Thomas Frederick-bp. 24 Feb 1876 (private), Wereham. In 1901 at his brother Ernest's house in Roxham. Was in Suffolk Reg. Married Mary L. MOORE in Epsom in 1917. They had 4 children: Arthur(1918), Ethel(1920), Charles(1923) and Mollie(1926) in Ely.
• Ethel M.-aged 2 on the 1881 census* bap. Castle Rising? d. Oct 1888
• Albert-bp. 27 Feb 1881, Wereham,In 1901 he was a soldier in London. He m. Eliza -. Daughter Gladys Ethel b. 1904.
• Bertie Henry-bp 5.Oct 1884, Wereham. Married Edith HENSLEY in 1910 in West Dereham. Edith was b. 1910. Walter was b. 1912. Ivy M. was b. 1915. Bertie died on 3 Nov 1914 aged 25 (Pas de Calais). Edith remarried in 1919 to David YOUNG. Apparently David YOUNG and Bertie BRUCE met in the Flanders trenches, and a pact was made, Bertie 'knew' he wouldn't return to Norfolk after the war, and David agreed to take care of Bertie's widow and children. Sure enough, David married Edith in 1919. They went on to have 2 children together, Agnes and Alf.( Bertie's daughter Edith m. William BOND in 1931. Walter m. Doris CARTER in 1935, Ivy married Horace BOND in 1935).
• Beatrice Emily-bp. 25 Oct 1885. Married Abraham FIRMAGE in 1906. Beatrice and Abraham had at least two children, Kathleen(1913) and Ernest(1917). Beatrice died on 9 Feb 1964. Kathleen married Thomas ISAACSON in 1931.
• Herbert-b. 2 Feb 1888. bp. 22 Apr 1888 Wereham. bur. 8 Sep 1888 aged 7 mths
• Herbert-b. 20 Jun 1889 Wereham d. 2 Sept 1916 in Baghdad-WW1.

* I've not found her baptism in Wereham. Thomas F. has turned into Frederick by 1891, and Ethel is no more....... Ethel's death notice appeared in the Lynn News & Advertiser in October 1888 and was also mentioned in Wereham School's Log Book.

Charle's wife Ann died(aged 40) after giving birth to Ethel Mary II. Ann was buried on 18 Nov 1891. Ethel survived for three months until the new year. She was buried on 25 Jan 1892.

Charles remarried in 1896 to Jessie JARROD of West Dereham. He died on 16th May 1922 and is buried at West Dereham.

After Charles's wife Ann died in 1891, he was left to fend with a baby Ethel (who died 3 months later) Herbert aged 2, Beatrice aged 6, Bertie aged 7, and Albert aged 10. Apparently Jessie (along with 8 year old Millie) went to be Charles's housekeeper, and to help with the children.

Jessie and Charles married on 25th Dec. 1896 at West Dereham church.They had three children all born in West Dereham, Norfolk.

In 1901, Charles and Jessie were living in West Dereham with Charles and Ethel, also Herbert(from Charles's first marriage) and Jessie's parents.

In 1911, they were at Station Rd, West Dereham, with Charles, Ethel and Cecil.