Dare

My maternal great-grandmother was Elizabeth Blanche Dare.

Elizabeth's parents were Richard Albert Dare and Louisa Elizabeth Woodrow.

Richard Dare

Richard Dare was born in 1854 in Rye Lane, Peckham, the son of James Dare and Mary Ann Woodham. In 1866 Richard married Lousia Woodrow, daughter of Bussey William King Woodrow and Louisa Powell. You can read more about Louisa Powell's father Joseph here.

Richard and Louisa Dare had seven known children:
Richard William James (1867)
John Alfred (1870) (d)
Walter Frederick (1872)
Edith Louise (1879)
Elizabeth Blanche (1884) My great-grandmother (see above)
Rhoda Louise (1892)
Lilian Amelia (1894)

Richard worked as a Gardener all his life, following in his father and grandfather's footsteps. It is not known exactly whereabouts he would have worked but I like to think of him tinkering around Putney Common amongst the Elm trees with the Beverley Brook flowing nearby.

Putney Cemetery and entrance to Common

DARE ANCESTRY

The Dare ancestry has so far been traced back to Richard Dare who is believed to have been baptised around 1764 in Esher, county Surrey. He married Sarah (surname unknown) but it is not known when nor any further details. They had three known children, proven by Richard's will:
John (1799)
James (1800)
Matilda (?)
 

Little is known about Richard's ancestry except that the Dare family originated from Esher and possibly Farnham, county Surrey and that they were all Gardener's by trade. Richard died in 1835 and I have a copy of Richard's will wherein he left property, gardens and personal effects to his wife Sarah and to a brother Samuel. His children are all mentioned and were bequeathed personal effects as well. 

James Dare worked as a Gardener by trade. He married Mary Ann Woodham d/o James and Ann Woodham on 24 August 1829 in West Molesey, county Surrey. James and Mary Ann Dare had four known children:
Sarah Ann (1843)
Richard Albert (1846) My 2xg/grandfather (see above)
Alfred (1850)
Edward (1852)

Mary Ann Woodham was born around 1812 in Witley, county Surrey. She was baptised in March 1812 as were her siblings Louisa, George, Caroline and Harriet Woodham. Little else is known about the Woodham family at this time as more research is sorely needed.