Joan Nyria (Hancox) Denton-Barker (1918 - 2004)

Born 23 Feb 1918 in Cheshire, England, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Wife of Geoffrey George Powell — married about Jun 1940 (to before 28 Jun 1947) in Christchurch, Hampshire, England, United Kingdom

Wife of Ralph Munday Denton-Barker — married 28 Jun 1947 in Edmonton, Middlesex, England, United Kingdom

Descendants

Died 15 Oct 2004 at age 86 in Upper Scamander, Tasmania, Australia

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Biography

Birth

Joan Nyria Hancox (Nyria) was born on February 23, 1918 in Bebington, Cheshire, England, United Kingdom. She was the daughter of Richard James Hancox (1873–1956) and Marian Gilmour Croskery (1879–1970). ^[1]

Siblings

• Eric Geoffrey West Hancox

Baptism

Joan was baptised on 7 April 1918 in England, United Kingdom.^[2]

Education

From the age of 6, she attended Howell's School, Denbigh as a boarder (in Wales).

In the mid-thirties she studied nursing at Guy's Hospital (enrolling under the approved age of the time), where she was working as a Sister on the children's ward at the beginning of the war until they were evacuated out of London.

Marriages

Nyria (22) married Geoffrey George Powell (24) (born about 1915) in June, 1940 in Christchurch, Hampshire, England, United Kingdom. ^[3] They lived in north London. Their son was David Richard Powell (born in 1942).

During the war she met Ralph Munday Denton-Barker (30) (born on July 17, 1916 in Birkenhead, Cheshire, England, United Kingdom; son of James Denton Barker and Kathleen Munday) and after divorcing her first hisband, they married on June 28, 1947 in Edmonton, Middlesex, England, United Kingdom. ^[4] They were living at 2 Rookfield Close, Muswell Hill, London N10.

Residence

They moved to Pertenhall, Bedfordshire in 1948 and had one daughter, Julia (born in 1949). In 1954 they moved to Dove Cottage, Great Witley, Worcestershire and Nyria had a very large garden, producing most of the family vegetables and fruit. She taught pottery to deaf children while living there. In 1960 they moved to The Barn, Portloe, Cornwall and Nyria was very involved in community activities in the area, and also was a keen choir member. They had a holiday house near Zennor, and their love of the area led them to buy Kerrow Farm, West Penwith, Cornwall in 1965 and she became a very active farmer for a few years as well as being engaged in the local arts community; she was also an accomplished water colourist and potter.

In 1970, they left Cornwall and bought a smallholding called Casa Din-Ding, near Alayor, Menorca and she enjoyed gardening in a new climate and the challenge of living in a different country; after a few years there, they moved to Mallorca and lived at Ca'an Amoros, near Pollensa where they had a large citrus orchard and a few cattle.

In 1978 they sold most of their belongings and went to Australia by ship arriving in Fremantle on March 17th. For the first year they lived at Lapkos Farm, Denmark, Western Australia, and then in 1979 they drove overland and went to live in Tasmania at Riverside Cottage, Upper Scamander. They had 7 acres of land and developed a large and productive garden. Nyria was instrumental in setting up the Neighbourhood House in St Helens (where some facilties are named after her) and was very involved in the wider east coast community. She and Ralph also enjoyed many camping trips around the island and also northern New South Wales where they spent time in various intentional communities.

She lived alone at Riverside Cottage after Ralph's death in 1990, until having a cerebral aneurysm in December 2000; she then needed more care and lived at Medea Park, St Helens, but she still managed to maintain involvement and interest in her community activities.

Death

Nyria died on October 15, 2004 in St Helens, Upper Scamander, Tasmania, Australia, aged 86.

Acknowledgement

The summary of Nyria's life was taken from ArchivesWiki ArchivesWiki

Research Notes

Joan Nyria Hancox 's Name on Wedding Certificate with Denton-Barker is Hancox Powell indicating her first husband was Geoffrey Powell and their marriage must of ended before the 28 June 1947 when Joan married Denton-Barker.

Sources

1. ↑ Birth Registration: "England and Wales Birth Registration Index, 1837-2008"
   citing Birth Registration, Wirral, Cheshire, England, citing General Register Office, Southport, England
   FamilySearch Record: 2FBF-P2B
   Joan M Hancox birth registered Jan-Feb-Mar 1918 in Wirral, child of Croskery. They lived at 8 Thorburn Road, Rock Ferry, Birkenhead, Cheshire.
2. ↑ Baptism: "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975"
   citing Digital film/folder number: 004018392; FHL microfilm: 1656759; Record number: 6927759
   FamilySearch Record: CJ12-G6PZ
   Joan Myria Hancox baptism on 7 Apr 1918 (born 23 Feb 1918), daughter of Richard James Hancox & Marian Gilmous Hancox, in England, United Kingdom.
3. ↑ Marriage Registration: "England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1916-2005"
   General Register Office; United Kingdom; Volume: 2b; Page: 2817
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry au Record 8753 #56627407
   Joan M Hancox marriage to Geoffrey G Powell registered Apr-May-Jun 1940 in Christchurch.
4. ↑ Marriage Registration: "England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1916-2005"
   General Register Office; United Kingdom; Volume: E; Page: 1341; Volume Number: E
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry au Record 8753 #67912824
   Ralph M D Barker marriage to Joan M Powell Or Hancox registered Apr-May-Jun 1947 in Edmonton.

• ArchivesWiki