The Dance Ancestors

The name Dance is probably a variant of the surname Dancer, referring to someone who danced for an occupation. My Dance ancestors were all employed by the Railways from the mid 19th century onwards as either Labourers or Platelayers. The earliest residence for a related Dance was in Barholm, Lincolnshire, where they remained until the early 20th century when William Francis Dance moved his family to Hankey Street, Peterborough. .

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Mary Elizabeth was the first child of William Francis and Jane Dance (nee Robinson), born on 17th September 1889, in Barholm, Lincolnshire. She lived with her parents and younger brothers at her Grandmother's house in Barholm during her early years, attending school at Greatford, Lincolnshire. By 1912 she had moved with the family to 51 Hankey Street, Peterborough. It was around this time that she met the recently widowed Arthur Chapman and on 25th December 1912 she married him at St Mark's Church, Peterborough. Arthur and Mary then set-up home in Dogsthorpe Road and she became stepmother to Arthur's son, Albert, and in 1914 she gave birth to their first son together, William Arthur. In 1918 Mary suffered the loss of her brother Harry, a Private in the Sherwood Foresters, who was killed in action on 3rd October near St. Quentin in the first world war. That year Mary gave birth to a daughter Hilda. The following year her mother and father died, her father dying a couple of months after her mother. Later Mary gave birth to a second daughter, Iris Lilian followed by another son, Herbert. In 1924 she gave birth to their third daughter and last child, Elsie Mary. Sadly Elsie died of Bronchopneumonia just 17 months later on 17th January 1926. Mary continued to bring up the children during the 1920s whilst Arthur continued to work as a Bootmaker. Mary died at Dogsthorpe Road, on 9th June 1940 of Syncope (a temporary loss of consciousness due to a drop in blood pressure) and Chronic Myocarditis, a fatty infiltration of the heart. She was aged just 50 years. Mary was buried at the Eastfield Cemetery, Peterborough.

Born in 1869 at Barholm, Lincolnshire, William Francis was the fourth child of William and Mary Ann Dance (nee Jackson). He lived in Barholm at his parent's house during his early years and after finishing his schooling became a Railway Platelayer like his father William. He continued to live at his father's house with his family and mother after William's death in 1888. On 14th July 1889 he married Jane Robinson at St Martins Church, Barholm. In September that year Jane gave birth to their daughter, Mary Elizabeth. In 1894 they had a son John William, followed later by Thomas Francis, Harry and Lawrence. By 1912 he had moved with the family to Hankey Street, Peterborough. In December that year his daughter Mary married Arthur Chapman of 51 Russell Street. On 3rd October 1918 his son Harry, a Private with the 5th Sherwood Foresters in the First World War, was killed in action near St. Quentin. He continued to live at 51 Hankey Street, working as a Platelayer until his death, shortly after his wife on 3rd November 1919, at the age of 50 years. He was buried next to his wife at the Eastfield Cemetery, Peterborough. At the time of their deaths, William and Jane's effects were valued at £211 6s 2d (worth approximately £4,600 today), and were left to their eldest son, John William.

William Dance was born in 1834 at Market Deeping, Lincolnshire to parents William and Ann Dance (nee Reedman) and was baptised there on 24th August. He worked as an Agricultural Labourer and on 22nd May 1860 he married Mary Ann Jackson at Bourne Parish Church, Lincolnshire. After the marriage they moved to live in Barholm, Lincolnshire and in 1861 they had their first child, Susannah, and soon after he became a Platelayer for the railways. In 1865 Mary Ann gave birth to Elizabeth Ann, followed by Fanny (1867), William Francis (1869), Rose Hannah (1875), John Henry (1877), Thomas Allen (1879) and Edith M (1885). William died on 3rd June 1888, aged 53 years. He was buried in Barholm Church Yard.

Research is continuing on the Dance Ancestors

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