Guernsey Butchers : Boutcher

Origin

Boucher is actually not this families original name. Richard BUTCHER of Plymouth, Devon married Hannah HAWKINS of Lyme Regis, Dorset in St Peter Port in 1803. The largely French-speaking locals distorted his name to the french form Boucher - which in the local tongue is pronounced BOUTCHER or BOWTCHER - and so was written as such. They had two children before Richard died prematurely. Hannah remarried, to George FOOTE, in 1819, and had two further children.

Families

Richard BUTCHER married Hannah HAWKINS ( 1784 - 1857 )

• James Churchill BOUTCHER ( 1804 - ? ) married Mary l'Ahier DE LA RUE ( 1801 - ? )
• Louisa BOUTCHER ( 1807 - ? ) married (i) Robert NORMAN and (ii) Job PARSONS.

(those in bold were butchers)

Earliest Mention in Guernsey

• 1803, marriage of Richard BUTCHER and Hannah HAWKINS (see above)

Stallholdings

• In 1820, J and P BOUTCHER were among 33 Guernsey butchers who signed a petition to the Privy Council, urging them to approve the construction of the new market building.
• In 1826, James Boutcher junior held stall 9 in the Town Meat Market, and Robert Butcher held stall 24 (1826 Commercial Directory).
• James Boutcher held stall 11 in Town Meat Market in 1861.

Residence

• James BOUTCHER, aged 30, butcher living in the household of George FOOTE (stepfather) at Les Etibots, St Peter Port (1841 Census)
• James C BOUTCHER, aged 40, head of household & butcher living at 9 Market Street, St Peter Port (1851 Census)

Other Information

• Boutcher Family Tree - full details of the family tree of Richard Boutcher's descendents on Family Tree Maker web site.