WATERS Charles James (1866 – 1946)
Jeweller, Watch Maker. Special constable
Charles James Waters
Image courtesy of Charles great-great niece Angela Taylor
Charles James Waters was born in Epsom on 15 December 1866 (GRO reference: Mar 1867 Epsom 2a 9) the son of Charles and Anna Waters, née Pudney. Charles was baptised on 13 January 1867 in St Martin’s Church, Epsom.
In 1871 four-year-old Charles was living at Albion Cottage, Epsom. The census records his 38- year-old mother Anna as ‘Wife of Charles Waters a Butler’. Also recorded was his older sister, 5-year-old Mary Susan Waters. Charles’ father was a butler for Robert Carter of The Grove, Church Street, Epsom. Robert Carter was a magistrate, proprietor of a dock railway, a ship owner, and a merchant. He also had a house in Brighton and when he died in 1878, left £60,000 (according to the Bank of England inflation calculator is equivalent to £6,256,518 in February 2026). Robert’s niece Frances Elizabeth Carter was also living there and after her uncle’s death took Charles on as her and her sister’s butler.
The 1881 census finds the Waters family living at 5 Parade Gardens, Epsom. Fourteen year-old Charles was employed as a ‘Telegraph Messenger’. Again Charles’ mother Anna was acting a head of the family. She was shown as ‘Butlers Wife’ but this has been struck through. Charles’ 15 year-old sister Mary was recorded, as was 76 year-old lodger Robert N. Essex. Charles’ father was butler for the sisters Frances Elizabeth, Ellen Frances, and Mary Cloves Carter in their home Sandfield Lodge, West Heath, Hampstead. They were the daughters of Frederick William (solicitor) and Mary Carter. Ellen died in 1885, and Frances in 1886. Mary died 1906.
At the time of the 1891 census, Charles, a jeweller aged 24, was living at 100 High Street, Epsom. His 53-year-old father, who was still recorded as a Butler, was at home and recorded as the head of the family. His mother was aged 53, and his 25-year-old sister Mary was a dressmaker. Charles’ future wife, Agnes Martha Moore, was working at this time as a nurse to the wine shipper Peter R. Rogers and his family at High Ridge, Centre Downs Road, Epsom.
Agnes Martha Moore
Image courtesy of Charles great-great niece Angela Taylor
On 4 January 1894, Charles, a ‘Jeweller’ aged 27, married 23-year-old Agnes Martha Moore in All Saints Church, Banstead. Charles’ father, also Charles was a ‘Butler’. Agnes’ father Joseph was a ‘Carpenter’. Charles and Agnes had three children:
• Charles Frederick born 12 March 1895. Died 26 March 1975. Served in the Great War.
• Bertram Louis born 15 November 1896. Died 23 September 1944 in India. Served in the Great War.
• Wilfred Francis born 30 November 1905. Died 1991 Isle of Man.
By 1895 Charles’ business was established in H. Dorset’s old premises in Epsom High Street, and an advertisement appeared in the Andrew’s Directory stating that Charles was a “Practical Watchmaker, Jeweller & Optician”.
In 1898 Charles was awarded a second place City and Guilds medallion for ‘Watch and Clock Making’.
Charles’ City and Guilds award.
Courtesy of Bill Owen
Charles’ mother Anna was aged 67 when she died in Station Road, Epsom. She was buried in Epsom Cemetery on 3 May 1900 in grave A171A.
High Street, Epsom was the family address recorded in the 1901 census. Charles aged 34 was a ‘Shopkeeper Watchmaker. Employer’. His wife Agnes was aged 30 and their sons Charles was aged 6, and Bertram was aged 4. Also living there was boarder Herbert Peregrine Barnard, a 29 year-old ‘Ironmonger’s assistant’. Charles’ assistant, watchmaker Arthur Bertram Thurley, was boarding with Charles’ father and sister at 1 Pleasant Cottage, Epsom.
In January 1911, aged 15, Charles James’, son Charles Frederick was one of 204 candidates who sat for the examination for the associateship of the Royal College of Organists and came out top, the youngest pupil who has ever taken the honour. For 18 months he had been organist at St. Phillip’s, North Cheam. His achievement was reported on in the 21 January 1911 edition of the ‘Surrey Times and County Express’.
The 1911 census records the family living at 21 High Street, Epsom. Charles, now aged 44 was a ‘Watch, clock & jewellery repairer. Employer’. Agnes, aged 40, stated that they had been married for 17 years and that their three sons were all alive and attending school. Charles Frederick was aged 16, Bertram Louis aged 14 and Wilfred Francis aged 5. Charles’ watchmaker and jewellery assistant, Arthur Bertram Thurley, was still boarding with Charles’ father and sister at 52 Station Road, Epsom.
The 19 June 1921 census records Charles, aged 54 and six months, still living at 21 High Street, Epsom, and was still a ‘Watch, clock & jewellery repairer. Employer’. Also living there were his wife Agnes, aged 51, and their three sons, Charles Frederick aged 26 and three months, Bertram Louis aged 24 and 7 months, and Wilfred Francis aged 15 and 6 months. Charles’ assistant, watch and clock repairer Arthur Bertram Thurley, was still boarding with Charles’ father and sister at 52 Station Road, Epsom.
On 27 July 1921 Charles James Waters’ son Charles Frederick Waters married Gladys Kate Jerome in St. Mary’s Church, Stoke D’Abernon. The marriage was reported on in the 30 July 1911 edition of the ‘Surrey Advertiser, County Times’.
Charles’ unmarried sister Mary was aged 56 when she died in St Thomas’ Hospital, Lambeth. She was buried in her mother’s grave in Epsom Cemetery on 23 March 1922.
Charles’ father was aged 89 when he died at 21 High Street, Epsom. He was buried with his wife and daughter in the family grave in Epsom Cemetery on 14 January 1927.
Charles James was a Special Constable in the Metropolitan police and was awarded a medal for ‘FAITHFUL SERVICE IN THE SPECIAL CONSTABULARY’. The date the medal was awarded is unknown but his medal was awarded during the reign of George V (1910-1936).
Charles’ Faithful Service Medal
Courtesy of Bill Owen
Charles’ Metropolitan Special Constabulary Lapel Badge
Courtesy of Bill Owen
The 1939 register records Charles James, born 15 December 1866, a retired ‘Watch and Clock Repairer’, living at 26B Worple Road, Epsom with his wife Agnes, born 16 June 1870. Also recorded is a Dorothy Waters born 29 June 1905. Dorothy was Charles James’ daughter-in-law, who had married Bertram Louis in 1933.
Charles James Waters died on 30 January 1946 (GRO reference: Mar 1946 Surrey Mid Eastern 2a 478).
Probate in the sum of £3,642 15s 4d, was granted on 22 May 1946 to Charles Frederick Waters, civil servant, and Wilfred Francis Waters, municipal engineer.
Clive Gilbert, Hazel Ballan & Bill Owen
April 2026