This is a brief history of my branch of the Luff family.

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Welcome to my web-site



Michael John Luff - the author of a history of the Luff family.

I have also included a history of other branches of my family.
These include the Grose family (originating in Cornwall); the Mayne family (originating in Farnham, Surrey); the Thomas family (originating in Devon).

If after reading this history you have any comments, questions or additions to the records, please e-mail me by clicking on the button below.





Introduction
My research into the Luff family shows that there was quite a large family of Luff's possibly also known as Luffe (this might have been the result of writing styles in the 17th & 18th centuries), that lived and worked in Surrey and Sussex.

Records show that in the 1774 Parliamemtary Elections there were 5 landowners who voted in Sussex, these were:
Andrew Luff - Freeholder at Stedham
Richard Luff - Freeholder at Easebourne
William Luff - Freeholder at Fernhurst
William Luff - Freeholder at Harting
Richard Luff - Freeholder at Cocking

Voting in Surrey were:
William Luff - Freeholder at Witley
Thomas Luff - Freeholder at Egham (Chobham Parish)

On the question of my ancestors, I'm uncertain of the family link before circa 1700. I have evidence of two John Luff's who could have been the father of Stephen Luff, see next paragraph.
One John Luff was baptised in Farnham on 21st March, 1723 (his father was William Luff from Wrecclesham, near Farnham).
The other John Luff was baptised in Farnham on 28th April, 1728 (his father was John Luff from Farnham). I have assumed the latter to be my ancestor mainly on the basis of the date that the
children of John Luff were born. As this John Luff's father was named John I have assumed he was probably born circa 1700.

I have however included details of the ancestry of the Luff/Luffe family going back to circa 1520. It is entirely possible that this is my family tree. I have proof in this history that Stephen Luff (1761 - 1851) is my Great, Great, Great, Great, Grandfather. Stephen Luff's father was John Luff. I have evidence of the death of a John Luff
who was buried in Farnham on 25th March, 1769. I cannot confirm which of the above John Luffs' this refers to, if either.

Although I have included records from 1544, my family history can only be verified from John Luff born circa 1700, to my father Frederick George Luff who died in March 2011.

I have also researched my extended family and have included information of ancestors that have died. I have information of living members but for security reasons have not included them on this web page. To access these brief histories please click on the required name. The documents are pdf files.

My Family Tree Circa 1700 - 2011

Use this drop down list to select a history of the ancestor you wish see. When selected double click on name of to show a history.



Also below is a photo gallery of Luff family pictures, to access each picture again please click on the required picture.

Photo Gallery
William Charles Luff, Army in India 1907 - 1913
William Charles Luff, Army football team India 1913
George Luff 1875 - 1955
William Charles Luff during 2nd World War
Frederick George Luff as a baby 1923
The Almshouses Castle Street Farnham
St Andrew's Church, Farnham

JOHN LUFF(e) circa 1520 - ?

There is a record of a John Luff(e) being baptised at St Andrew's Church, Farnham on 18th January, 1544. He was the son of John and Maude Luff(e). This makes the approximate date of birth of John Luff(e) senior as 1520. To see a brief history of John Luff(e) and his children, please click on required name.

  • A history of John Luff(e) born circa 1520
  • John Luff(e) baptised on 18.1.1544




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    JOHN LUFF(e) 1544 - ?

    There is a record of John Luff(e) being baptised at St Andrew's Church, Farnham on 18th January, 1544. He was the son of John and Maude Luff(e). To see a brief history of John Luff(e) and his children, please click on required name.

  • A history of John Luff(e) baptised 18th January, 1544




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    JOHN LUFF(e) 1615 - ?

    John Luff(e) was born circa 1615, he married Mary Bushell at St Andrew's Church, Farnham on 22nd October, 1637. Parish records show they had at least one child, John born circa 1638. To see a brief history of John Luff(e) and his children, please click on required name.

  • A history of John Luff(e) born circa 1615
  • John Luff(e) born circa 1638




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    JOHN LUFF(e) 1638 - ?

    John Luff(e) was born circa 1638, he married Mary Frauchin at Frensham, Farnham on 5th May, 1656. Parish records show they had at least one child, Richard born circa 1658. To see a brief history of John Luff(e) and his children, please click on required name.

  • A history of John Luff(e) born circa 1638
  • Richard Luff(e) circa 1658




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    RICHARD LUFF(e) circa 1658 - ?

    Richard Luff(e) was born circa 1658, he married Mary Boxall in St Andrew's Church, Farnham on 27th January 1677.
    The Parish Records show they had five recorded children. To see a brief history of Richard Luff(e) and his children, please click on required name.

  • A history of Richard Luff(e) 1658 - ?
  • William Luff(e) baptised 27.4.1680
  • John Luff(e)(e) baptised 30.12.1680
  • John Luff(e)(e) baptised 11.11.1682
  • Mary Luff(e)(e) baptised 21.4.1682
  • William Luff baptised on 2.2.1694




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    WILLIAM LUFF(e) 1694 - ?

    William Luff(e) was baptised in St Andrew's Church, Farnham on 2nd February 1694.
    The Parish Records show that William married Elizabeth Mason in St Andrew's Church, Farnham on 8th December, 1717. To see a brief history of William Luff(e) and his children, please click on required name.

  • A history of William Luff(e) 1694 - ?
  • William luff baptised 11.7.1719
  • Elizabeth baptised 27.12.1721
  • John Luff 1724 - 1769











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    JOHN LUFF 1724 - 1769

    John Luff was baptised in St Andrew's Church, Farnham on 21st March 1724.
    He married, wife's name unknown, and they had the following children, the baptisms of which are recorded in the Farnham Parish Records.
    To see a brief history of the other children of John Luff (and siblings of Stephen Luff), please click on required name. John Luff died and was buried in St Andrews Church, Farnham on 25.2.1769.
    A woman, who was buried in St Andrews Church on 13th February 1785, was recorded in the Parish Records as being "the wife of John Luff".




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    STEPHEN LUFF 1761 - 1851

    Stephen Luff was baptised on 2nd May 1761 (he puts his birth place as Aldershot - 1841 census). He married Mary Maine (Mayne) on 28th December 1784. Mary Maine was born circa 1762 and died on 10th November, 1802.
    The marriage produced the following recorded children. The baptisms of which are recorded in the Farnham Parish Records.
    To see a brief history of the Stephen Luff and Mary Mayne and their children, please click on required name.

    Mary, Stephen's wife, died in Aldershot on 10th November 1802.

    A history of The Mayne family in Farnham from circa 1580 to 1802.
  • A history of Richard Mayne (Mary Mayne's Great, Great, Great Grandfather) circa 1580
  • A history of George Mayne (Mary Mayne's Great, Great Grandfather) 1613 - 1689
  • A history of George Mayne (Mary Mayne's Great Grandfather) 1659 - 1739
  • A history of George Mayne (Mary Mayne's Grandfather) 1698 - 1777
  • A history of George Mayne (Mary Mayne's Father) 1735 -

    • Stephen then remarried. His new wife was Sarah Patrick and they married in 1803. Sarah Patrick was born circa 1785 in Elstead, Surrey.
    The marriage produced the following recorded children. The baptisms of which are recorded in Parish Records.
    To see a brief history of other children of Stephen and Sarah Luff (and half brothers and sisters of William Luff), please click on required name.

    In the 1841 census Stephen was living in Ash, which was part of Aldershot, together with his second wife Sarah and their two youngest children Robert and Emma. Stephen was recorded as being employed as an agricultural labourer.
    The census of 1851 shows Stephen still employed as an agricultural labourer in his 90th year. Sarah was employed as a hop ground labourer. Stephen died in Aldershot on 13th November 1851. The death certificate records that he died from natural decay. Emma his daughter was present at his death. His wife Sarah died on 13th October, 1856. She died as a result of diarrhoea, which she had for 3 weeks. Present at her death was her youngest daughter, Emma.

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    WILLIAM LUFF 1785 - 1867

    William Luff was baptised in Aldershot on 13th March, 1785. He married Jane Gadd who was born in Hale, near Farnham circa 1785. The couple were married in Hale on 1st February 1806. The marriage produced the following recorded children. The baptisms of which are recorded in Parish Records.
    To see a brief history of the children of William and Jane Luff, please click on required name.

    The 1841 and 1851 censuses records William and his wife living in an abode in Hungry Hill, Upper Hale, near Farnham and that he was employed as a sawyer. The census of 1861 shows William and his wife Jane still living in Hungry Hill, but William, who was then 76, gave his employment as a labourer. Jane died in Upper Hale on 10th March 1865, at the age of 80. It seems she suffered from bad legs for 4 months and that, together with pneumonia, caused her death. William died in The Almshouses in Castle Street, Farnham on 26th January 1867. Mary Ann Orford his daughter was present at his death. William died of pneumonia and was 83 years old. The Almshouses in Farnham still exist and a picture of them is shown in the photo gallery.

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    JAMES LUFF 1818 - 1883

    James Luff was baptised in Hale, near Farnham on 26th December 1818.
    At the time of the 1841 census James was employed as a sawyer the same occupation as his father. James married Eliza White in Hale in 1846. Eliza was born in Upper Hale in 1825.
    The 1851 census shows James and Eliza living in Hungry Hill next door to James' father and mother.
    On 21st December 1853 Eliza died. As far as I can ascertain the marriage was childless.

    On 1st July 1856 James remarried. His new wife was Lucy Mouldy. Lucy was born in Chaddleworth, Berkshire in 1834. The marriage took place at Chaddleworth Parish Church in Berkshire. At the time of this marriage James has put his occupation as a carpenter. The marriage produced the following recorded children.
    To see a brief history of the other children of James and Lucy Luff (and siblings of James Luff), please click on required name.

    James was employed as a journeyman sawyer. At the birth of his first son, William James, in November 1856, James and his wife Lucy were living in Hungry Hill, Upper Hale, near Farnham.
    It seems that the family moved to Finsbury in London sometime between 1857 and 1861.
    The 1861 census shows James and his wife living at 6, Langton Street, Finsbury and James employed as a carter. James and Lucy then had two children while living in Finsbury.
    However by 1866 they had moved back to Upper Hale, as their son, Frederick George was born there in 1866.
    The 1871 census shows the family still living back in Upper Hale, and James was again employed as a sawyer. The 1881 census records that James and his wife Lucy still resided in Upper Hale, but now, at the age of 63, he was employed as a general labourer. James died on 6th December 1883. His death certificate gives his age as 64 years when he died. He died from bronchitis, Mary Newman, his Niece was present at his death.



    *Lying -in Hospitals were principally intended for the wives of poor industrious tradesmen, soldiers and sailors. Women were not usually admitted to hospital in childbirth, although medical students and staff from the hospitals often delivered women in their own homes - this was the case with Elizabeth Jane. City of London Hospital, City Road was a Lying -in Hospital with a training school for medical students, midwives and monthly nurses. It also performed deliveries in the hospital, which was the case with James.
    This is a sketch of the City of London Lying -in Hospital, circa 1771

    Lucy Luff continued to live in Hale until she died on 13th November 1903. She died aged 69 from apoplexy. Jane Ayling, her daughter, was present at her death.
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    JAMES LUFF 1864 - ?

    James Luff was born in the City of London Hospital, City Road, London, on 18th May 1864.
    The 1871 census records that James was living with his parents in Upper Hale, Surrey. The 1881 census show that James was then 18 years old and unmarried. He was employed as a carter.
    On 4th April 1886 James married Maria Harrington. Maria Harrington was born in Upper Hale in 1864. The marriage produced the following recorded children.

  • Ernest Luff born in Upper Hale in 1887 died in the Farnham Union Workhouse in 1897
  • WILLIAM CHARLES LUFF 1888 - 1957 - for a history of James Luff and his family see next page
  • Lucy Luff born in Upper Hale in 1890 died in the Farnham Union Workhouse in 1896
  • Sarah Luff born in Hale 7th September 1892, died in Hale 1894

    It would seem that James and Maria fell on hard times as records show that Maria died on 12th November 1892 in the Farnham Union Workhouse. She died of typhoid just 2 months after giving birth to her daughter Sarah. Maria was just 28 years of age.
    Sarah the youngest child died on 12th June 1894, she was 21 months old. She died from bronchitis, she died in Hale, near Farnham. Her aunty Jane (Ayling) was present at her death.
    Ernest the eldest son died at the age of 10, on 2nd January 1897. He died of diphtheria in the Farnham Union Workhouse.
    Lucy the third child also died of diphtheria in the Farnham Union Workhouse she died on 29th December 1896.

    In the 1901 census James is living with his mother, Lucy Luff, then aged 67, at Wyke Cottages, Hale. It would appear that he was not in employment. Living with them were James' brother George, and James' son William Charles. Lucy Luff died in Hale on 13th November 1903.

    I lose track of James and cannot find him on the 1911 census. The only record that might suit is that a James Luff, of similar age, died in the Pewsey Workhouse in 1911. However I cannot substatiate that this was my great grandfather. He was certainly deceased at the time of the marriage of his son William Charles in 1918, as this is stated on the marriage certificate.




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    WILLIAM CHARLES LUFF 1888 - 1957

    William Charles Luff was born in Upper Hale, near Farnham on 21st January 1888. He must have had a very unhappy childhood. He lost his mother when he was 4 years old. With his father and siblings he had experienced the poverty of the workhouse. By the age of 9 he had lost his two sisters and older brother.
    At the age of 13, in 1901, William Charles was living with his father and grandmother in Wyke Cottages, Hale, near Farnham. He enlisted as a professional soldier in 1907, at the age of 19. It is likely that after his grandmother died in 1903 he lived with his uncle, Frederick George Luff, at 1, Hillside Cottages, Heath End, Surrey. His father James might also have lived there. I know from records that while on leave from the Army William Charles used to stay at 1, Hillside Cottages.



    William Charles the soldier standing, during his time in India until he finished his first army service in 1913.

    William Charles enlisted in the Army at Aldershot on 14th January 1907, aged 19. His army records show him as being 5ft 10 1/2" tall, blue eyes with a fair complexion. He served with the 79th Battery Royal Field Artillery, reaching the rank of Gunner. He served time in India until he completed his period of army service in 1913. He then transferred to the Army Reserve and found work as a labourer.

    At the outbreak of the 1st World War, he was promoted to the rank of Bombardier. He served in France near Rouen in 1915. He was wounded in France and then, in May 1916, was transferred to duties in India. He was stationed in Calcutta and Jubbulpore (1917). He was awarded the 1914 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
    William Charles married Annie Beatrice Thomas in Chelsea on 10th August 1918. Annie Beatrice was born in Rawalpindi, India ( now Pakistan) on 28th March 1895.
    After the Ist World War the couple lived at 33, Stadium Street, Chelsea. The marriage produced 3 children, as below.

  • William Samuel James Luff 1919 - 1919
  • FREDERICK GEORGE LUFF 1923 - 2011
  • Lucy Beatrice Luff 1928 - 1997

    From 1922 William Charles worked for Westminster City Council as a labourer in the Works Department. In 1940 he and his family were bombed out during the Blitz. They moved to a requisitioned property in Draycott Avenue, Nr Sloane Square and were finally rehoused in Hortensia House, Chelsea in 1943.

    William Charles continued to work for Westminster City Council until his retirement at 65 in 1953. He served 31 years with the Council. He then took a job as a liftman at the Westminster Building in Victoria Street, London. The conditions of the job, standing for hours in an unheated environment, and being a heavy smoker contributed to his death on 29th May 1957. He was 69 years old.






    William Charles and his wife Annie on holiday. This photo was probably taken around 1954.

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    FREDERICK GEORGE LUFF M.B.E. 1923 - 2011

    Frederick George Luff was born at 33 Stadium Street, Chelsea on 14th January 1923. He was the son of William Charles and Alice Beatrice Luff ( nee Thomas). He attended Ashburnham Junior School and then St Lukes College in Chelsea until the age of 14.
    He then found employment with Queen Anne's Bounty, London in 1937 - which amalgamated with The Church Commissioners in 1947.

    Fred ( as he was known ) and his family were bombed out twice during the Blitz in 1940, the German bombers target being Lots Road Power Station, Chelsea. The family were re-housed in a requisitioned property in Draycott Avenue, then later in Hortensia House, Chelsea in 1943.
    Fred enlisted as a Royal Marine in 1941 and saw action in W W 2 in the North African and Italian theatres of war. He was awarded 6 service and campaign medals. He was a life-long Chelsea F C supporter, the highlight seeing, with his father, the 3:3 draw at Stamford Bridge when Chelsea played the FC Dynamo Moscow team in November 1945.

    Fred married his Cornish wife Betty in 1943, they were married for 68 years. They had 4 children, 3 of their own and one adopted.

    After demobilisation in 1946, Fred with his wife, and young family, lived in a requisitioned property in Beaufort Street, Chelsea. His son, Michael, remembers his father telling him that he ( Fred ) often spoke to Quentin Crisp ( before he became famous as a 1970's gay icon ) while living in Beaufort Street. He said that Crisp, who's real name was Denis Pratt, was a neighbour and, although an eccentric dresser, was a very friendly character. In 1948 Fred and his family were re-housed in Hortensia House, Chelsea.

    The family then moved from Chelsea in the mid 1950's to a village in Kent. Fred never forgot his Chelsea roots.

    He was awarded the M.B.E. in 1982, for services to the Church Commissioners in London.

    He was very surprised and pleased to receive the Malta George Cross Commemorative Medal in 1994, some 50 years after the event. This medal was awarded to recognise service personnel who were in Malta during the large scale enemy bombings of that Island between June 1940 and September 1943.

    Fred retired in 1983, and later moved with his wife Betty to Truro, in Cornwall. Fred was very much involved with the Royal British Legion, and was awarded their gold badge in 2010.

    Frederick George Luff died suddenly but peacefully in Truro, Cornwall, on 17th March, 2011, aged 88. His youngest daughter was at his death and he died of broncholpneumonia. He left a widow, 4 children, 10 grandchildren and 7 greatgrandchildren.

    He was cremated at Truro, Cornwall on 28th March, 2011 and was afforded a military style funeral, with standard bearers from the Royal British Legion, Royal Marines and Royal Naval Reserve. A buglar played the last post.

    At this point I have now engaged on listing the ancestry of my mother, Betty Maud Grose (maiden name); her family and thus my family tree extends back many centuries - possibly even to the time of William 1 (The onquerer).