Person    | Male  Born 1860  Died 11/4/1922

J. Buteux Skeggs

Andrew Behan has kindly carried out some research on this man: James Buteux Skeggs was born in 1860 in Shoreditch, the son of James William Skeggs and Sarah Ann Skeggs née Buteux. His father was a Dock Porter. On 9 September 1860 he was baptised at St Mary Church, Haggerston and the family were living at 1 Belgrave Terrace, Haggerston. The 1861 census shows that the family had moved to 2 Goring Street, South Hackney and the 1871 census records that he was living with his widowed mother at 122 High Street, Poplar. The 1881 census shows the family at 79 Gough Street, Poplar and that he was a Solicitor's General Clerk.

On 19 July 1884 he married Eliza Vine at St Mary's Church, Kilburn and their address was shown as 10 Smyrna Road, Kilburn. His occupation was given as a Solicitor's Clerk. Post Office London Directories and Electoral registers show that they were living at 9 Woodstock Road, Poplar from 1885 to at least 1915. The 1891 census records his occupation a Vestry Clerk and Post Office London directories for both 1895 and 1900 show him as Clerk to the Vestry of All Saints, Poplar Town Hall, Newby Place, Poplar. These directories for 1905 and 1910 list him as the Valuation and Rating Clerk to the Borough of Poplar and in 1915 as Accountant to the Borough of Poplar, whilst in the 1920 edition he is shown Town Clerk to the Borough of Poplar. Electoral registers from 1918 show him to be living at 72 Westcombe Park Road, Blackheath, Kent.

The London Gazette of 8 January 1919 lists him as Town Clerk, Poplar: Clerk to the Local Tribunal & Honorary Secretary to the Local Representative Committee, and announced that he was to be awarded an O.B.E. Probate records show that he died at 72 Westcombe Park Road, Blackheath on 11 April 1922, aged 61 years and was survived by his widow. His estate totalled £2,282-5s-7d.

Andrew points out that the Upper North Street School memorial, unveiled 23 June 1919, shows the Mayor as ‘Alfred H. Warren, OBE’ but Skeggs’s OBE is omitted. This honour had been announced a good 6 months prior to the unveiling so the omission looks like a mistake. But an even more insulting error was made with Warren's name, omitting his 'Sir'.

2019: We thank Mick Lemmerman for alerting us to Skeggs’ connection to Millwall Football Club. Island History lists him as one of the first shareholders of Millwall Rovers. With 30 shares, he was joint greatest shareholder. And there we found this photo showing him standing in the back row, 1896-7. We went on to find, at Scottish Sport History, two other photos of him (even smaller), in 1910, “... James Buteux Skeggs, a Millwall director who was also an FA Council member and Town Clerk of Poplar. The following year, Skeggs would serve on the organising committee of the dinner at which {Lord} Kinnaird was presented with the FA Cup."

Mick tells us that Skeggs House in Glengall Grove is named for him.

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the memorials created by the subject on this page:
J. Buteux Skeggs

Creations i

Upper North Street School WW1 bomb - memorial

From IBHB: "Unveiled by Major General Ashmore who commanded the London Air De...

Read More

Other Subjects

Richard Oswald

Richard Oswald

Merchant, slave trader, and diplomat. Born Scotland. 1746 he moved to London and began his own business initially in tobacco but quickly moved into the slave trade. His London base was at Philpot L...

Person, Politics & Administration, Scotland, USA

1 memorial
King's Bench

King's Bench

The King's Bench, as opposed to, The Common Bench, was initially where the King, with his advisors, would hear and decide on matters requiring his involvement. In some form it dates back to King Al...

Place, Law, Politics & Administration

1 memorial
T. B. Chant

T. B. Chant

Councillor on the Committee for the 1901 Shoreditch Town Hall Extension.

Person, Politics & Administration

1 memorial
Sutton Council

Sutton Council

London borough formed by the merger of the Municipal Borough of Sutton and Cheam, with the Municipal Borough of Beddington and Wallington and Carshalton Urban District which had previously been par...

Group, Politics & Administration

11 memorials
A. J. Keen, Esq.

A. J. Keen, Esq.

One of the managers of the 1873-75 changes at Aske’s Hospital.

Person, Politics & Administration

1 memorial

Previously viewed

submarine Thorn

submarine Thorn

Lost in WW2

Vehicle

1 memorial
King Charles III

King Charles III

One-time patron of the Goon Show Preservation Society. On the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II on 8 September 2022, Charles, the longest-serving British heir apparent, went from Prince of W...

Person, Royalty, Seriously Famous

27 memorials
Edward Strong

Edward Strong

Master mason for St George's Bloomsbury.

Person, Sculpture

1 memorial
Morley mosaics - KEW - Mary Seacole

Morley mosaics - KEW - Mary Seacole

SE1, King Edward Walk, Morley College

These 10 portrait mosaics are the result of a project by Morley College to celebrate the achievements of significant women who have lived...

2 subjects commemorated, 3 creators
Frank Theobalds

Frank Theobalds

SE25, South Norwood Hill, 12

The portrait medallions are on the right hand flank wall, on Cumberlow Avenue. Reading left to right: W. F. R. Stanley; Mrs W. F. Stanley...

1 subject commemorated