Ferdinand and Joseph Loffler

Additional information from Ed Grimsdale and Lyn Robinson

Ferdinand and Joseph Loffler arrived in Winslow in or before 1864, when they are listed in Kelly's Directory as "watch & clock makers & Birmingham & Sheffield warehouse". They also made barometers. They were two German brothers (probably called Löffler) originally from the Grand-Duchy of Baden, then an independent state, who had acquired British citizenship, and they kept a shop at 66 High Street (now "ASC Financial Solutions"). In the 1861 census they were recorded under the name of Loffer as partners in a clock and watch business in Leighton Buzzard with Frederick Spahn, another German. Joseph was granted British citizenship in 1867; see below.

In the 1871 census Ferdinand was 40 and Joseph 33, both unmarried and living in Winslow with an elderly housekeeper. Joseph got married in 1881, and was described as a jeweller in the census. He had at least three sons, two of whom died young, whilst Harold Thomas (known as Tom) was born on 29 July 1889. Ferdinand moved next door. He was treasurer of the Congregational Church by this time.

By 1889, the Lofflers' property portfolio had expanded. The Northampton Mercury of 15 June recorded that six lads were convicted of damaging a hayrick, the property of Messrs. F. and J. Loffler of Winslow – Mr Ferdinand Loffler attended Court and said he should like to withdraw the case, as he did not wish the boys to be punished, only that his property should be protected. The bench ordered 4s. each for expenses to be paid, and said they wished they could order the boys to be whipped instead of parents having to pay.

The partnership of "Loffler, F. and J., Winslow, watchmakers, jewellers, ironmongers, and dealers in furniture" was dissolved on 31 March 1890 with outstanding debts to be settled by Joseph Loffler. In June 1890, George Wigley carried out a valuation of fixtures and effects of a property at Winslow for a transfer from Mr Joseph Loffler to Mrs William Neal (Centre for Bucks Studies D/WIG/2/1/23 p.1). This probably refers to the living accommodation at the shop, and valuation for a mortgage or new partnership. The rooms listed are:
2nd floor: front bedroom, landing, small front bedroom
1st floor: landing, front bedroom, hall and staircase, drawing room, hall, back parlour, scullery, passage, kitchen, cellar.
Valuation: £14 2s.

Joseph died, suddenly, in February 1891, of a heart attack in the shop of one of his customers, Mr Tweddle of Cambridge Street, Aylesbury. Joseph’s last words, on being asked how he was, were, ”Pretty well, only suffering from indigestion”. An obituary notice in the Bucks Herald indicated that the Lofflers had been in business in Winslow for thirty years and that Joseph left a widow (Harriet, nee Perkins) and a small son (Harold Thomas, known as Tom). At the time of his death, Joseph was a director of the Winslow Gas Company.

Joseph's widow Harriet kept the business going for a time with the aid of a manager, Henry Kinman: in 1895 it was "watch & clock maker, general house furnisher & ironmonger". She relinquished business just before Christmas 1896. and, according to local newspapers, it was hoped that with complete rest and change (she moved away from Winslow), she would recover her health, which had broken down. She died, however, on 15 January 1897 at the age of 46, her body being brought back to Winslow for her funeral. She was interred in the churchyard next to her husband. The shop was re-equipped to serve as the Post Office, with a pillar box being placed in the Market Square in place of the old Post Office there, until purpose-built premises were opened on the other side of the High Street in 1911.

In 1901 Harold T. Loffler aged 11 was a boarder at the Grammar School, Green Hill, Evesham. He emigrated to New Zealand, where he died in 1944.

Letters of Administration of Harriet Sophia Loffler, 1897

BE IT KNOWN, that at the date hereunder written. Letters of Administration of the personal estate Harriet Sophia Loffler of Winslow in the County of Buckingham, who died on the 15th day of January 1897 at Powick in the County of Worcester a widow and intestate, were granted by Her Majesty’s High Court of Justice at the Principal Probate Registry thereof to James Caleb Hawley of Winslow aforesaid Grocer the Curator or Guardian duly elected by Harold Thomas Loffler (a minor) the natural and lawful son and only next of kin of the said Intestate for his use and benefit until he shall attain the age of 21 years he the said James Caleb Hawley having been first sworn well and faithfully to administer the same. Mary Ann Wells (wife of Thomas Wells) Lucy Reader (wife of Joseph Reader) Susan Emily Hawley (wife of James Caleb Hawley) Frances Alice Cousins (wife of Harry Cousins) and Clara Edith Perkins Spinster the lawful aunts and only next of kin of the said minor having renounced his Curation or Guardianship
Dated the 15th day of June 1897
Gross value of Personal Estate £532-5-9
Net value      “         “             “   

A watch made by the Lofflers
66 High Street
A watch made by the Lofflers
The Lofflers' shop after it became the Post Office

Ferdinand married Martha Dickins, 4th daughter of Mr. E. Dickins of Granborough in Granborough Parish Church on 7 April 1890. In the 1891 census, he was listed as retired (evidently the reason for the dissolution of the partnership), living with his wife and month-old baby Carolina Mary at 31 Station Road. He bought 3 and 4 Belle Vue Terrace, Station Road (now 29 and 31) in 1878 for £460 (pencil note on sale poster in Centre for Bucks Studies, D-WIG/2/7/1878/2).

The Northampton Mercury recorded on 12 March 1897:
WINSLOW. DEATH OF MR. F. LOFFLER. – On Sunday morning, Mr. Ferdinand Loffler, a respected tradesman of the town, died at his residence. With his brother, the late Mr. Joseph Loffler, he carried on a jewellery and ironmongery business in the High-street and was remarkably well  known. A German by birth, he was a thorough Englishman by adoption and took a part in various local organisations.

The Bucks Herald recorded that the Parish Church was full for the funeral, which included one of  Mr Loffler’s favourite hymns: ”Rock of Ages”. The coffin bore the inscription “Ferdinand Loffler, born September 24th 1830, died March 7th 1897”. His gravestone is still standing, by the path to the west of the Church (see below).

Will of Ferdinand Loffler, 1892 (proved 1897)

BE IT KNOWN  that at the date hereunder written the last Will and Testament of Ferdinand Loffler of Winslow in the County of Buckingham, Gentleman, deceased, who died on the 7th day of March 1897, at Winslow aforesaid, and who at the time of his death had a fixed place abode at Winslow aforesaid, within the District of the Counties of Oxford, Berks and Buckingham, was proved and registered in the District Probate Registry of Her Majesty’s High Court of Justice at Oxford and that Administration of the personal estate of the said deceased was granted to  Thomas Price Willis, Gentleman, and James East, Gentleman, both of Winslow aforesaid, the Executors named in the said Will, they having been first sworn well and faithfully to administer the same.
Dated the 31st day of May 1897
Gross value of Personal Estate £1,738-8-10
Net value      “         “             “  £1,669-9-5
Extracted by Willis and Willis, Solicitors, Winslow

This is the last Will and Testament of me of Ferdinand Loffler of Winslow in the County of Bucks Gentleman I appoint my friends Thomas Price Willis and James East both of Winslow aforesaid Gentlemen (hereinafter referred to as “my said trustees”) to be the Executors and Trustees of this my Will and I bequeath to each of them the legacy or sum of Twenty pounds as a small acknowledgement for the care and trouble they will have in carrying out the trusts of this my will but the bequest of the foregoing legacy  to the said Thomas Price Willis is not to be in substitution of any legal charges he may be entitled to make as provided by the last clause of this my Will I give all my household goods and furniture plate linen china and other household effects and my horse cart and harness unto my wife Martha absolutely I bequeath the residue of my personal estate unto my said Trustees Upon trust to sell call in and convert into money the same or such or such part thereof that shall not consist of money and with and out of the moneys produced by such sale calling in and conversion and with and out of my ready money to pay my funeral and testamentary expenses and debts and the legacies hereinbefore bequeathed And upon further trust to invest the residue of the said moneys pursuant to the general direction for investment hereinafter contained  with power for my said trustees from time to time at their discretion to vary such investments And to stand possessed of the said residuary trust money and the investments for the time being representing the same (hereinafter called the residuary trust funds) In trust to receive the annual income arising therefrom and after payment thereout of an annuity or yearly payment of Twenty pounds to my sister Karolina Loffler during her life by equal half yearly payments the first such half yearly payment to become due at the expiration of six calendar months from the date of my decease and which said annuity I hereby bequeath to my said sister accordingly to pay the residue of the said annual income unto my said wife Martha during her widowhood And from and after the decease of my said wife or the day of her second marriage whichever shall first happen Upon trust to invest or continue the investment of a sufficient sum of the residuary trust funds to answer by means of the income thereof the payment

[p.2] of the said annuity to my said sister Karolina Loffler and which said sum on the cesser of the said annuity shall follow the destination of the residuary trust funds And as to the remainder of the residuary trust funds and the future income thereof (subject to the legacy of Three hundred pounds hereinafter bequeathed to my said wife in the event of her second marriage) In trust for my child if only one or for all my children equally if more than one Provided always that if any child of mine shall die in my lifetime or during the life or widowhood of my said wife leaving issue such issue shall take (and if more than one equally between them) the share to which his her or their parent would have been entitled if living at my decease or the decease or second marriage of my said wife And I declare that during the minority of any child or children of mine the said trustees may at their discretion accumulate the income of the share or respective shares of such child or children and add the same to their original share or apply the same or any part thereof for his her or their education maintenance and advancement And I further declare that in the event of the second marriage of my said wife my said trustees shall raise the sum of Three hundred Pounds out of the residuary trust funds and shall pay the same to my said wife who shall take no further benefit under this my Will in respect of my personal estate other than the furniture and other effects hereinbefore bequeathed to her but in the event of there being no child of mine who shall live to attain the age of twenty one years I bequeath my residuary personal estate to my said wife whether she shall marry again or not I devise all the real estate to which I shall be beneficially entitled at the time of my decease unto my said trustees Upon trust to permit my said wife Martha to receive and take the rents issues and profits thereof during her widowhood she insuring and keeping insured the messuages and buildings to their full value and also keeping the same in good repair and condition And from and after the decease of my said wife or the day of her second marriage whichever shall first happen I devise my said real estate unto any child of mine if only one or to my children equally if more than one as tenants in common absolutely and in the event of there being no child of mine who shall live to attain the age of twenty one years I bequeath my residuary personal estate to my said wife Martha absolutely I declare that until my child or the

[p.3] youngest of my children if more than one shall attain the age of twenty one years my said trustees shall let and manage my said real estate receive and take the rents issues and profits thereof and at their discretion accumulate the same for the benefit of my child or children or apply the same or any part thereof for his her or their education maintenance and advancement [The clause making legacy provision for the death of any of his children from his personal estate is repeated in respect of his real estate] And I also declare that all moneys liable to be invested under this my Will may be invested in or upon any stocks funds or securities of or guaranteed by the Government of the United Kingdom or of any British Colony or dependency or in Stock of the Bank of England or the debentures or debenture Stock or guaranteed preference stock or shares of any Railway or other Company in Great Britain or India incorporated by Act of Parliament or Royal Charter and paying a dividend on its ordinary stock or shares or upon real  securities in England but not elsewhere And in lending money on any mortgage security my trustees may accept whatever title or evidence of title shall appear to them sufficient without being answerable for any loss arising thereby and my said trustees may release any part of the property comprised in any mortgage security if satisfied that the remaining property  is sufficient security for the money owing thereon  And whereas my Brother Joseph Loffler has recently died intestate leaving his widow Harriet Sofia Loffler and an infant son him surviving which said infant son on attaining the age of twenty one years shall come into possession of the real estate of my said late brother Joseph Loffler but in the event of the decease of the son of my late brother Joseph Loffler under the age of twenty one years the real estate of my late brother will revert to me if living or my heirs if dead Now therefore I do hereby as far as I am able in view of the possibility of the decease of the said son of my said late brother Joseph Loffler under the age of twenty one years charge all the said real estate of my said late brother with the payment of Three hundred pounds to his widow the said Harriet Sofia Loffler such sum to be paid to her within twelve calendar months

[p.4] next after the said real estate of my said late brother shall come into the possession of myself or my heirs I declare that the said Thomas Price Willis and any future trustee of this my Will who may be a Solicitor shall be entitled to charge and shall be paid out of the trust \estate for  all business done by him in relation to the trust/ Estate in like manner as he would have been entitled to charge my said trustees for the same not being himself a trustee he had been employed by them to do such business as their Solicitor Lastly I revoke all other Wills In witness whereof I the said Ferdinand Loffler the Testator have hereunto set my hand this Second day of January One thousand eight hundred and ninety two.
Ferdinand Loffler [signature]
Signed and acknowledged by the said Ferdinand Loffler as his Will in the presence of us present at the same time who at his request in his presence and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names as Witnesses.
William N. Midgley [signature]} Clerks to Messrs Willis and Willis
Stanley W. Midgley [signature] } Solicitors, Winslow

On the Thirty first day of May 1897, Probate of this Will was granted at Oxford to Thomas Price Willis and James East the Executors.
It is hereby certified that the foregoing is a correct copy.
Dated this 5th day of June 1897.

Ferdinand's widow Martha married Mr John Gough of Manor Farm, Maids Moreton in 1903, when he was 78. They apparently met through Mrs Saley Lambourne's funeral, 1899. In June 1921, Carolina Loffler, daughter of Ferdinand and Martha, married William Lester, the eldest son of Mr Oliver Lester, a Leckhampstead farmer. Martha Gough died on 3 March 1923, with effects of £7,760. Probate was granted to Caroline (i.e. Carolina) Mary Lester, Joseph Dickins, farmer and Richard Bennett, estate agent. Carolina died in 1976.

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Gravestone of Ferdinand Loffler

National Archives, HO 1/145/5627: Grant of citizenship to Joseph Loffler

Covering letter to Rt Hon. Gathorne Hardy, Secretary of State

Winslow Bucks
25th November 1867

Sir
We have the honor to forward you, by direction of Mr. Joseph Loffler of this place, a Memorial from him, praying for a Certificate of Naturalization, with Declarations in support thereof from himself and four householders.
We have the honor to remain,
Sir
Your most obedient Servants
Willis & Willis

Joseph Loffler's memorial

To the Right Honorable Gathorne Hardy one of Her Majesty’s principal Secretaries of State
The Memorial of Joseph Loffler of Winslow in the County of Buckingham, Jeweller Watchmaker & General Dealer
Humbly showeth that your Memorialist is a subject of the Grand Duchy of Baden in Germany and is now of the age of Twenty nine years and as a Jeweller Watchmaker & General Dealer that he has never been married that he has a settled place of residence at Winslow in the County of Buckingham and as a Jeweller Watchmaker & General Dealer and has resided within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland for the space of Twelve years now last past and that he intends permanently to reside within the said United Kingdom and that for the above reasons and being desirous of purchasing property in the said United Kingdom your Memorialist seeks the right and capacities of a natural born British subject.
Your Memorialist humbly prays that a Certificate of Naturalization may be granted to him in pursuance of the Statute 7 and 8 Victoria Chapter 66 entitled “An Act to amend the Laws relating to Aliens”
And your Memorialist will ever pray
Dated this Twenty third day of November one thousand eight hundred and sixty seven
Joseph Loffler [signature]

This is the Memorial marked A referred to in the annexed declaration of Joseph Loffler made before me this Twenty third day of November 1867.
D T Willis [signature] A Commissioner to administer Oaths in Chancery in England.

This is the Memorial marked A referred to in the annexed declaration of Joshua Lewin French George Davys Edward Wigley John Grace and John Ingram made before me this Twenty third day of November 1867.
D J Willis [signature] A Commissioner to administer Oaths in Chancery in England.

Declarations

I Joseph Loffler of Winslow in the County of Buckingham Jeweller . . .  do solemnly and sincerely declare that the several statements contained in my Memorial to the Right Honorable Gathome . . .  dated the Twenty third day of November one thousand eight hundred and sixty seven and subscribed by me praying that a Certificate of Naturalization may be granted to me (which memorial is herewith annexed and marked with the letter A) are in all respects correct and true.
And I make this Declaration conscientiously believing the same to be true and by virtue of the provisions of an Act made and passed in the Sixth year of the Reign of His late majesty King William the Fourth intituled “An Act to repeal an Act of the present Session of Parliament intituled an Act for the more effectual abolition of Oaths and affirmations taken and made in various departments of the state and to substitute Declarations in lieu thereof and for the more entire suppression of Voluntary and extra judicial Oaths and Affidavits and to make other provisions for the abolition of unnecessary Oaths”.
Joseph Loffler [signature]
Declared at Winslow in the Count of Buckingham the Twenty third day of November 1867 before me.
D T Willis [signature]

We Joshua Lewin French of Winslow in the County of Buckingham Grocer and Ironmonger George Davys Edward Wigley of the same place Auctioneer John Grace of the same place Schoolmaster John Ingram of the same place builder do severally solemnly and sincerely declare
1 That we are householders and British born subjects of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
2 That we have each of us personally known Joseph Loffler of Winslow aforesaid Jeweller Watchmaker and General Dealer for the space of five years now last past.
3 That neither of us is the Agent or Solicitor of the said Joseph Loffler.
4 That the said Joseph Loffler is a person of respectability and loyalty.
5 That the several statements contained in a Memorial from the said Joseph Loffler to the Right Honorable Gathome Hardy . . . praying that a Certificate of Naturalization may be granted to him (which memorial is herewith annexed and marked with the letter A) are in all respects correct and true to the best of our knowledge information and belief.
And we severally make this Declaration conscientiously believing the same to be true and by virtue of the provisions of . . . “An Act to repeal an Act . . .  for the abolition of unnecessary Oaths”.
Declared by the above named Joshua Lewin French, George Davys Edward Wrigley, John Grace and John Ingram, at Winslow in the Count of Buckingham the Twenty third day of November 1867 before me.
D T Willis [signature]
A Commissioner to administer Oaths in Chancery in England.

Endorsement

No 5627
Granted 6 : Dec. 1867.
J. Loffler
[Home Office Stamp] 26 NOV 1867 ‘No. 11,487’
Subject of the G(ran)d Duke of Baden, aged 29, a Jeweller, has resided 12 years and intends to do so permanently.
Regular
? Grant Certificate
JJ 26 Nov

Ferdinand Loffler the brother was granted citizenship in 1877 (National Archives, HO 45/9443/67031, HO 334/7/2385). Citizenship was also granted:

It seems that they all applied for citizenship when they wanted to purchase property.

Copyright 5 January, 2022