Burning Secret
by
R. J. Lloyd
www.rjlloydwriter.com
Genealogy, the art of tracing one's ancestors, has never been more popular or accessible. But what if your ancestor's story is more intriguing than you ever imagined?
After 15 years of extensive family research, tracing my lineage back to the 16th century, I was unable to locate my great-great-grandfather, Enoch Thomas Price, who seemed to have vanished without a trace. That changed when my cousin, Susan Sperry from California, discovered the missing link. Enoch Price was, in fact, also known as Harry Mason and had died in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1919.
Working with my American cousins, Susan and Kimberley Mason from Virginia, the story emerges of Enoch's incredible and often unbelievable life, which only goes to prove that fact is frequently stranger than fiction. In debt to violent money lenders and facing imprisonment with hard labour in London's notorious Coldbath Prison, he abandons his wife and children and goes on the run. A decision he will come to regret.
My book, Burning Secret, begins in 1880, when Enoch Price, born into poverty, made a daring escape from the squalor of London to America. There, he employs a shrewd mix of cunning, deceit, and brutal betrayal to construct a political and financial empire that is sure to fascinate and intrigue.
Despite his outward success, Enoch was haunted by a profound sense of loneliness and guilt. In a quest for solace, he entered into a bigamous marriage, further entangling himself in a web of lies as he tried to conceal his past. These deep inner struggles make him a character with whom the reader can't help but empathise.
This is a terrific fast paced read. The straightforward language propels the plot and characters from one situation to the next to create a thoroughly satisfying dramatic entertainment. Except it’s not fiction - and if you didn’t know all the events were grounded in fact, you’d think it unbelievable. Overall, this is a five star must read for fans of historical adventure, family dramas and anyone else who wants a well crafted, entertaining, page turning read. Knightsinwhites
A brilliantly crafted tale which encompasses a world of crime, betrayal, sacrifice and new beginnings. There is a constant thrill to this story as Harry’s past and his lies stalk his every move and every turn.I liked how the real world merged into the fictitious elements of the story. This is a rare achievement and the sign of a great storyteller. Aubrey Cleeses
www.rjlloydwriter.com
Burning Secret
R J Lloyd
Roger is a graduate of psychology and philosophy, holding a master's degree in marketing. After a distinguished career in law enforcement, where he pursued investigations to uncover the truth, he embarked on a new path of ancestral research. This transition, a testament to life's unpredictability, led him to discoveries that profoundly reshaped his understanding of his great-great-grandfather, Enoch Price, born in 1844.
Family stories painted Enoch as a respectable man, the son of a tanner, earning an honest living as a bodice stay manufacturer in London's East End during the 1870s. However, after dedicating fifteen years to meticulous research, Roger uncovered a far richer and more captivating story, one rife with unexpected twists, deceit, and brutal betrayal, bound to astonish anyone who hears it.
His book, Burning Secret, published in 2022, transcends the boundaries of ordinary literature; it offers a gripping, fictionalised portrayal of Enoch's extraordinary life, powerfully illustrating that sometimes, truth is indeed stranger than fiction.
Although Roger had established himself in the realm of non-fiction, his unexpected venture into fiction took even him by surprise. This journey—from a career in law enforcement to delving into ancestral research and ultimately embracing the art of storytelling—captures the essence of life's unpredictability. His enthralling tale will engage and inspire readers, leaving a lasting impact long after the final page is turned.
Roger lives with his wife near Bristol, UK, where he enjoys writing and winning trophies for his prized flowers and vegetables.
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Lloyd Family History
The Bristol branch of the Lloyd, King and Dorson families can be traced to Edward Dorson in 1751 from Abbots Leigh, James Lloyd from Oldbury on Severn in 1680, and to Thomas King from Austwick in Yorkshire around 1578.
Burning Secret
Tracing your ancestors has never been more popular, but what if your ancestor was far more intriguing than you ever thought? In my new novel, Burning Secret *(published 28 May 2022) I explore the extraordinary life of my great-great-grandfather, Harry Mason.
Enoch Price becomes Harry Mason .
In 1844 Enoch Price was born into poverty. An ambitious youth, he became a bare-knuckle fighter amongst London's underworld. In debt to a violent and unscrupulous moneylender and facing imprisonment, he escapes to Jacksonville, Florida. By the time he arrives in Florida, Enoch Price has become Harry Mason.
Through a series of thrilling and risky escapes, he plays an important role in the development and history of Jacksonville, building an extraordinary new life of political and financial notoriety, the shooting of a rival, and the concealment of a murder.
May 2022
Enoch Price
also known as
Harry Mason
Born Bristol in 1844 - Died Jacksonville, Florida 1919.
This is his only known photograph, taken in 1903 in Tallahassee, Florida, after being elected to the State House of Representatives, with every prospect of becoming State Governor.
Photos below L to R. His mother, Bethia Price. His wife, Eliza Price. Daughter, Florence Price.
August 1939
My parents - Fred & Norah
Married 28 August 1939
Victoria Methodist Church, Bristol.
After a brief honeymoon at Torquay, Devon, my father was called up on 7 September 1939 for military service, being posted with the Royal Army Medical Corps to Lille, France. He was evacuated from the beaches of Dunkirk on 2 June aboard HMS Kelly. He was then rested and reequipped before being dispatched to Malta, where he was to spend three and half years working at the RNH Mtarfa Hospital, returning home January 1946.
August1914
Albert Edward Lloyd
My grandfather, Albert Lloyd. Born at Witney, Oxfordshire 1875. After a seven year apprenticeship he became a master coach builder and wheelwright. He volunteered on 1 August 1914 for military service on the outbreak of WWI. He was posted to France and served for four years in the Amiens area repairing the wagon trains supplying the front line with millions of shells. He did not return home until Christmas 1918. He married his beloved wife, Elizabeth, in 1897 and had 10 children. He worked until his death in 1955 aged 77 years.
Mark Lloyd & Eliza his wife.
My great grandparents.
Mark Lloyd was born at Witney, Oxfordshire in 1841. He was a master weaver, working in the blanket factories of Witney. His father John Lloyd had also been a master weaver. The middle of the three smaller photographs is of my maternal great grandparents, Albert and Sarah Rowles, both blanket factory workers at Witney in the 1860s.
The photograph on the far right is of my mother being held by her favourite aunt, Jesse King. The photograph was taken around 1919. Jesse tragically committed suicide on 5 February 1924, aged 23 years, when she threw herself over the cliffs at the sea walls adjacent to the Clifton Suspension Bridge.