Theophilus Davis worked as a marine engineer in Hull in the early twentieth century. He married two local women and fought for Britain during the First World War as a soldier in the East Yorkshire regiment. A couple of months ago, one of his descendants contacted us to see if we could shed more light on his life. This is what we have found so far.
Theophilus Davis was born around 1881. Although we have been informed that he was of African descent, due to the popularity of his first and family names, it has been impossible to trace his country of birth. There are several possibilities including Britain and America. However, it is probable given the frequency of this name in Jamaica, that he was born in the West Indies.
In November 1911, Davis married Ethel Wilson at Newington parish church in Hull. Their marriage certificate shows that he was a 30-year-old marine engineer and lists his father as blacksmith James Christopher Davis.[1] The document also details that the couple lived together at 7 Waverley Avenue before they were married. Interestingly, Agnes Meheux, the wife of Adolphus (click here to read his story), was one of their witnesses showing possible connections between Black mariners in Hull. Sadly, the couple’s relationship did not last long as four years later Davis married Clarissa Mileham in Hull. It is possible that his second marriage was unlawful since no death certificate has yet been found for his first wife, nor does it appear that Davis and Wilson were granted a divorce. Their marriage certificate shows that Clarissa was a spinster and describes Davis as a bachelor, not a widow. It also demonstrates that the couple were living together at 7 Paull Terrace, Wassand Street, Hull before their wedding.
Clarissa was a white woman from a local fishing family in Hull. She already had three children from a long-term relationship with James William Bentham, when she married Davis in 1915, and together Clarissa and Bentham had three daughters named Nellie Bentham Mileham, who was born in 1906, and Clarissa Bentham Mileham, who was born the following year, and three years later in 1910, Clarissa gave birth to her third daughter Ruth Bentham Mileham.
In the early years of Davis’s second marriage to Clarissa, the First World War raged in Europe. Men continued to sign up or be conscripted into local regiments in order to be trained and sent over to the frontline. Davis joined the war effort and became one of a small minority of men with African heritage who joined the East Yorkshire Regiment (for more information about Black service personnel in Hull and East Yorkshire read our Lest We Forget: Black Service Personnel blog post here).
Although, we know that Davis was part of the 1/4th Battalion, we are yet to find when he joined the army. However, given that his first son was born in 1916 and his second in 1918 it is probable that he was enlisted in 1917. Sadly, in spring 1918, Davis was declared missing in action. It is believed due to the date on his memorial of 11 April and his battalion movements that he died during the Battle of Estaires which was one of the opening phases of the Battles of Lys in Belgium.[2] His name is among 11,401 on the Ploegsteert Memorial, Hainaut, Belgium to the missing Great British and South African servicemen.[3]
When he died, Davis left his wife, Nellie, Clarissa and Ruth as well as his sons, Theophilus Frederick and James Christopher behind in Hull. His memorial death plaque was sent to 3 Albert Terrace, Wassand Street on Hessle Road which is where the family were living in 1918. They remained at this address until Clarissa died on 17 March 1929. Her obituary which was written by her ‘sorrowing sons and daughters’ suggested that she was the widow of T. Davis and had passed away after a long and painful illness.[4]
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Ruth Bentham Mileham
Ruth Bentham Mileham was born on 18 March 1910. Her mother was Clarissa Mileham and it is believed that her father was James William Bentham. However, unlike her sisters, it was clear that Ruth had Black heritage. After tracing both her mother and father’s family trees there is no evidence which demonstrates that either of them had Black ancestors. However, that does not mean they were not of African descent. Ruth married 20-year-old John Walter Martin on 15 June 1935 at St Matthew’s Church, Boulevard, in Hull. The couple had three children during their marriage. In 1939, the Martin family were living at 14 Wicken Terrace in Hull. The register of that year, describes Ruth as an unpaid domestic worker and John an out of work Steam Trawler Fisherman. However, in brackets next to his occupation it documents that he was part of the Royal Naval Reserve (RNR) and was a trained submarine detector. During the Second World War, Martin worked as a leading seaman, Martin’s conduct was rated as very good and his efficiency superior. He was discharged from the RNR on 17th Marth 1951 after completing his service. Martin died on 27 February 1973 and Ruth on 10 February 1989 both in Hull. |
Theophilus Frederick Davis
Theophilus Frederick Davis was born on 18 August 1916. He was the eldest son of Theophilus and Clarissa. He married in 1937 and had four children.
It has been difficult to find information on Theophilus. Very little has been found on his duties during the Second World War, although there are an extensive list of seamen, soldiers and RAF personnel who share his initials. In addition, there appears to be no trace of him in the 1939 register, suggesting he may have been overseas.
He survived the war and lived to the age of 80 when he died in Beverley in the summer of 1996.
Theophilus Frederick Davis was born on 18 August 1916. He was the eldest son of Theophilus and Clarissa. He married in 1937 and had four children.
It has been difficult to find information on Theophilus. Very little has been found on his duties during the Second World War, although there are an extensive list of seamen, soldiers and RAF personnel who share his initials. In addition, there appears to be no trace of him in the 1939 register, suggesting he may have been overseas.
He survived the war and lived to the age of 80 when he died in Beverley in the summer of 1996.
James Christopher Davis
James Christopher Davis was born on 18 March 1918. He was the second son of Theophilus Davis and Clarissa Mileham.
In the late 1930s, James was living with his sister Ruth, her husband John and their two children. He is described in the 1939 register as an unemployed Trawler Fisherman. Given his experience in the shipping sector it is possible that he was the same James Christopher Davis who was awarded a War Medal which was issued to men who had been in active service for over 28 days between the September of 1939 and 1945. This man also received the 1939-1945 Star for operational Service in the Second World War.
In 1942, he married Elsie Geddes and the couple had six children. James died in Beverley at the age of 80.
James Christopher Davis was born on 18 March 1918. He was the second son of Theophilus Davis and Clarissa Mileham.
In the late 1930s, James was living with his sister Ruth, her husband John and their two children. He is described in the 1939 register as an unemployed Trawler Fisherman. Given his experience in the shipping sector it is possible that he was the same James Christopher Davis who was awarded a War Medal which was issued to men who had been in active service for over 28 days between the September of 1939 and 1945. This man also received the 1939-1945 Star for operational Service in the Second World War.
In 1942, he married Elsie Geddes and the couple had six children. James died in Beverley at the age of 80.
Legacy
Theophilus Davis left a family legacy in Hull and East Yorkshire that continues with his grandchildren and great grandchildren some of whom still live in this region. If you would like to add to this family story, please get in touch by clicking here.
Theophilus Davis left a family legacy in Hull and East Yorkshire that continues with his grandchildren and great grandchildren some of whom still live in this region. If you would like to add to this family story, please get in touch by clicking here.
Footnotes
[1] Family Marriage Certificate.
[2] Forces War Records profile for Theophilus Davis accessed on 20 November 2017- https://www.forces-war-records.co.uk/records/1922715/private-theophilus-davis-british-army-east-yorkshire-regiment/
[3] Family Memorial Guide.
[4] Hull Daily Mail, 18 March 1929, p. 10
[1] Family Marriage Certificate.
[2] Forces War Records profile for Theophilus Davis accessed on 20 November 2017- https://www.forces-war-records.co.uk/records/1922715/private-theophilus-davis-british-army-east-yorkshire-regiment/
[3] Family Memorial Guide.
[4] Hull Daily Mail, 18 March 1929, p. 10