WILLIAM FLOYD
DEATH OF A CRIMEAN VETERAN
The death of Mr. William Floyd, of the Fountain Stores, St. John’s, in his 82nd year, removes a resident who had seen a good deal of life under varied circumstances. His father was hall-porter at Fulham palace, and when William was born on September, 1818, the then Bishop of London (Dr. William Howley), afterwards Archbishop of Canterbury, was one of his god-parents. Young William Floyd was thrown into company with distinguished people at an early age, playing in the Palace grounds with boys who afterwards became leading men in Church and State. He moreover had the distinction of riding by the side of the Queen as pony boy when Her Majesty was learning to ride at a school in Grosvenor-place. Mr. Floyd served for two winters with the late Captain Valentine Baker, afterwards known to fame as Baker Pasha, who was the on duty in the Crimea with his regiment the 10th Hussars, and was present at Balaclava. Whilst out watering the horses Floyd received a gun-shot through the calf of his leg, the marks of which he carried to his grave, and which indeed contributed to the cause of death. Mr. Floyd had lived with several good families, including the Hon. Sidney Herbert and Lord Pembroke at Wilton, Lord de Grey, the Duke of Leeds, Hornsby Castle; Lord Falmouth, Romsey; Duke of Beaufort, Badminton; Lord Spencer, Althorp, and Lord Alresford, of Packington Hall. Mr. Floyd came to Newbury thirty-five years ago, and started a grocery business, which with the assistance of his son, Arthur, has been considerably developed and the post office added. The deceased has been invalided for two years, with a bad leg, and being taken worse on Thursday, died on Saturday evening. The funeral took place yesterday (Wednesday), the first part of the service being conducted in St. John’s Church, Rev. R. Dunn officiated. The mourners were Mrs. Floyd (widow), Mr. A. Floyd (son), Mr. Geo. Pallett (nephew), Putney; Mr. Councillor Lewendon (nephew), Mrs. A. Floyd (daughter-in-law), Mr. Alfred Lawrence (Winchester), Mr. C. Deacon, Mr. J. Wellock, Mr. John Parker, &c.
Newbury Weekly News 18 January 1900
Mrs. P. page 116 Code LN (E) 1
Died 13 January 1900 aged 81
Buried 17 January 1900
Also his wife Sarah died 22 October 1907 aged 78 and two of their grandchildren - Mabel Sarah Floyd died 2 May 1895 aged 6 months and Ernest Herbert Floyd died 12 March 1904 aged 4 years.
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