Robert Thomas Bridle and Mary Jane Strange

Dozinghem Military Cemetery, Belgium
Wernervc, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Robert Thomas Bridle (b. 8 Sep 1892), son of Edwin Symons Bridle and Lucy Lindsey, married Mary Jane Strange (b. 1890 in Cholsey, Berkshire), daughter of William James Strange and Mary Jane Freeman, in Wandsworth, in 1915. 

They had one daughter:

1. Lucy Mary Bridle b. 1 Nov 1915 D Quarter in WANDSWORTH Volume 01D Page 1116

On 11 Dec 1915, R T Bridle (24) of 17, Caistor Rd, Balham, enlisted in the East Kent Regiment. However, on 17 Oct 1917, Robert Thomas Bridle (26), 36th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers, husband of M. J. Bridle, of 17, Caistor Rd., Balham, London, died of wounds, no doubt sustained during The Third Battle of Ypres (Battle of Passchendaele). Private Robert Thomas Bridle is buried in grave ref XI. I. 18. at Dozinghem Military Cemetery, Belgium.

In 1921, Mary Jane Bridle (30) Widow was living at 19, Caistor Road, Balham with her daughter, Lucy Mary Bridle (5).

In the 4th quarter of 1925, Mary Jane Bridle remarried to Thomas Hartland (b. 1888), son of Joseph Hartland and Fanny Silke Stone, again in Wandsworth. 

They also had one daughter:

1. Ruby Eileen Hartland b. 1926 D Quarter in WANDSWORTH Volume 01D Page 927

In 1939, Thomas and Mary Jane Hartland were living at 16 Chetwode Road, Upper Tooting, Wandsworth. 

Thomas Hartland died, in Wandsworth, in 1951. Mary Jane, in 1979.

• In 1938, Lucy Mary Bridle married Leslie Charles Cogger (b. 6 July 1913 in Wandsworth). In 1939, Leslie C Cogger, Shop Assistant Tailoring and Lucy M Cogger, Tailor's Machinist, were living at 54 Templecombe Way, Merton, Surrey. Lucy Mary Cogger died in 1989 and Leslie Charles Cogger, in Merton, in 1990.
• In 1953, Ruby Eileen Hartland married George Percy Bailey (b. 1926 in St Pancras). George Percy Bailey died in 2015 and Ruby Eileen Bailey in 2016, both in Southampton, Hampshire.

George Arthur Hockley and Evangeline Dowell

Long Grove Asylum

On 9 Jun 1897 George Arthur Hockley, Footman, b. 1879 in Great Canfield, Essex, enlisted in the Royal Artillery at Woolwich. At that time he was 18 years and 6 months old; 5ft 7½in, weighed 127lbs, with a fresh complexion, hazel eyes and brown hair. The record lists his father as Daniel Hockley and siblings as Frederick, Beatrice and Rose, in Great Canfield, so there can be no mistake. However, only 35 days later, on 13 July 1897, he was discharged, having been found to have given a false answer at attestation. Among the questions on his application form, was "9. Have you ever been sentenced to Imprisonment by the Civil Power?" He said no, but George Arthur Hockley had been convicted of a felony, tried and imprisoned by Civil Power. 

A report of the Aylesbury Petty Sessions of Saturday, October 24th, in the Bucks Herald of 31 October 1896 provides some details:

THE ROBBERY AT THE LILLIES, WEEDON

George Arthur Hockley, footman, was brought up in custody charged with stealing £7 17s in money, the property of Mr G A Brittain, of The Lillies, Weedon. Supt. Pitson said that up to the present time the defendant had been a footman in the employ of Mr Brittain at The Lillies. On Friday morning, when the defendant got up at seven o'clock, he reported to his master that the house had been broken into. In consequence of this, Inspector Bunker and he (the Superintendent) went there and found that apparently someone had entered the house by the drawing-room window, opened the door into the hall, and then gone into the library, which had been completely ransacked, the drawers of a writing table having been forced open, and money amounting to £7 17s stolen. In consequence of the circumstances of the case, Inspector Bunker and P S Shore went there that morning to complete the inquiries, which resulted in the arrest of the defendant now charged with the offence. He asked for a remand until such time as he could go into the case. The Chairman: Can you name a time? Supt. Pitson said that he had to send to London over the case. He would ask for a remand until Wednesday. Defendant offered no objection to the remand, and the Bench adjourned the case until Wednesday, when Mr G Butcher further remanded the defendant until today (Saturday).

I haven't had access to a record of what happened next in the case.

The next event, in the 3rd quarter of 1904, George Hockley, son of Daniel Hockley and Sarah Skinner, married Evangeline Dowell (b. 17 Sep 1884), daughter of Edwin Dowell and Ellen Jane Jones, in Epsom, Surrey.

Evangeline was born in Dartmouth, Devon and brought up in Southsea, Hampshire, her father having been a Chief Band Master, Royal Navy.

In 1911, George A Hockley (33) was an Attendant at Long Grove Asylum, while Evangeline Hockley (26) was a Nurse at the same institution. 

Long Grove Hospital, formerly Long Grove Asylum, later Long Grove Mental Hospital, was a mental hospital in Epsom, Surrey, regarded as a showpiece and attracted excellent medical staff.  By 1911, four years after it had opened, there were 2127 patients - 1121 males and 1006 females.

In 1939, George A Hockley, Mental nurse (retired) and Evangeline Hockley, Nurse (retired) were living at 2 Marlow Road, Brighton, with Alfred G Russell, Professional Musician, and his wife Nellie,  Evangeline's sister.

George A Hockley died, age estimated as 86, in Brighton in 1966.

Evangeline Hockley died, at 87, in 1971, also in Brighton.

William Northcott and Emma Jane Wood

Fore Street, Cullompton with the grade II listed White Hart
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Stephen McKay - geograph.org.uk/p/5497724

William Northcott married Emma Jane Wood (b. 1871), daughter of Henry Wood and Mary Jane Melhuish from Kentisbeare, Devon, in 1896. Five years earlier, in 1891, William Northcott (19) Blacksmith, had been a lodger at The White Hart, Fore Street, Cullompton, but I've not found him before that. 

William and Emma's children included: 

1. Maud Wood, Emma's illegitimate daughter, b. 1894 and baptised on 19 Feb 1895, when she was 14 months old, in Kentisbeare
2. William Henry Northcott b. 8 Mar 1897 (not seen after 1911)
3. Arthina Northcott b. 14 Oct 1898, bap. 2 Nov 1898 in Cullompton
4. Elizabeth Northcott b. 1900 (died 1900 aged 0)
5. Charles John Northcott b. 23 Feb 1902, bap. 23 Mar 1902
6. Albert James Northcott b. 30 Aug 1903, bap. 16 Sep 1903 in Cullompton (died 1904, aged 0)
7. Florence Northcott b. 25 Oct 1907, Emma's illegitimate daughter

In 1901, William Northcott (31) Blacksmith Journeyman from Branscombe, Devon (not identified relevant birth), wife Emma Jane (30) from Kentisbeare, along with Emma's daughter, Maud Wood (7), William Henry Northcott (4) and Arthenia Northcott (2) were living at Church Cottages, Cullompton.

William Northcott (33) died and was buried on 15 May 1904, in Cullompton.

Charles John Northcott was registered at Elmore School, Tiverton in 1908, with his address as Elmore Workhouse. In 1911, Emma Northcote (sic) (37) Widow, Laundress was living at 7 Rices Court, West Exe South, Tiverton with William (14) Errand Boy, Arthina (12), Charles (9) and Florence (3). 

In 1917, Emma Jane Northcott remarried to Arthur Southcott. What were the chances? Arthur Southcott, born 30 Jul 1883, bap. 9 Aug 1883 at St Peter’s Church Tiverton, therefore 12 years younger than his wife, was the son of Frederick Southcott and Eliza Harris. 

Charles John Northcott (17) joined the Royal Tank Corps on 19 Aug 1919.

In 1921, Arthur Southcott (39) Married, Private in the Army 4th Defence Batt Devon Regt, from Tiverton, Devon was at 5, Homefield Place, Fore Street, Exeter, Devon. Charles John Northcott (19) Army Private was at Hare Park Camp, Curragh, Ireland.

Arthur Southcott died in 1935, in his early 50's.

In 1939, Emma Jane Southcott, Widowed again, was living at 7 Bartows Causeway, Tiverton with Dorothy A Evans (Arthina Northcott married Ernest F J Evans in 1918), Laundress, and Dorothy Florence Northcott (b. 16 Nov 1916, mother's maiden name Northcott, so appears to be Arthina's illegitimate daughter), who worked at the Lace Factory and one other person. 

Emma Jane Southcott died in 1947. 

John Robert Penfold and Mary Jane Wilmshurst

Millbank Estate, Erasmus Street
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Stephen Richards - geograph.org.uk/p/2294495
Looking down St Oswulf Street towards Hogarth House, built in 1897-99 by R. Minton Taylor. Grade II* listed. The Millbank Estate was one of the earliest and highest quality public housing projects of the London County Council, built in 1897-1902. The style is Arts and Crafts with touches of Queen Anne, red brick, neat white-painted windows, shaped gables.

John Robert Penfold (b. 1857), son of William Penfold and Mary Ann Charlotte Gunn, married Mary Jane Wilmshurst (b. 1856), daughter of James Wilmshurst a farmer of 26 acres in Heathfield, Hailsham, Sussex and Sarah Prior, in 1878 in the district of Hailsham, perhaps in Heathfield.

John Robert and Mary Jane had five children:

1. Frederick William Penfold b. 1879, registered in 1880 M Qtr in CROYDON Vol 02A Page 270, died 1 Jan 1918 (see below)
2. Arthur James Penfold b. 1883 D Qtr in CHELSEA Vol 01A Page 321
3. Charles Edward Penfold b. 1886 M Qtr in CHELSEA Vol 01A Page 341
4. Mary Jane Penfold b. 1888 J Qtr in CHELSEA Volume 01A Page 3
5. Mabel Penfold b. 1890 D Qtr in CHELSEA Volume 01A Page 360

In 1881, John R Penfold (23) from Hartfield, Sussex was living at Field Gate, Mitcham, Croydon, Surrey with wife Mary J Penfold (24), brother Charles Penfold (17) Grocer's assistant and son, Fred W Penfold (1).

In 1891, in the Queens Road, Chelsea, London with John R Penfold (33) Boot maker (the Chelsea boot, made popular in that district in 1960's, but the design goes back to Victorian times), Mary J Penfold (34), Arthur J Penfold (7), Charles J Penfold (5), Mary J Penfold (3), Mabel Penfold (0) and Sarah Wilmshurst (68) Widow, Mother-in-law. Frederick William, then 11, is not listed and I've been unable to find him elsewhere either.

In 1901, in Hogarth Buildings, 52, Westminster (Hogarth Buildings, Millbank Estate, Westminster. The Millbank Estate, was planned by the Housing of the Working Classes Branch of the London County Council (LCC) Architect’s Department in 1897) were John R Penfold (43) Shoemaker; Frederick W Penfold (21) Commercial clerk; Arthur J Penfold (17) Student; Charles E Penfold (15) Shoemaker; Mary J Penfold (13) and Mabel Penfold (10). Not listed in the household was wife Mary Jane Penfold, as M J Penfold (45) female patient born in Heathfield, Sussex was listed as a 'Lunatic' in the London County Asylum, The Heath, Dartford. (Heath Asylum, which became Bexley Hospital). Opened in 1898, the first patients moved in before the hospital was completed, initially with 4 male and 3 female ward blocks. All were committed ‘lunatics’, none were there on a voluntary basis.

John Robert had been elected as one of the six Labour members returned for the St. John Ward to Westminster City Council on Monday 9th November 1903 and he served for three years until November 1906. [Source]

Mary Jane Penfold (48) died, in Dartford, Kent on 29th January 1905.

In the 2nd quarter of 1906, John Robert Penfold then remarried to Louisa Morfill in the district St. George Hanover Square. Born Louisa Gamble, she had previously married Thomas Morfill, in Petersfield, Hampshire, in 1881. Or to give him his full name, Wemyss Thomas Cockburn Morfill, born in 1857, in Torrington, Devon, son of James Waugh Morfill a Professor of Music and Elizabeth Green. In 1891, Morfill was in service as a Housekeeper in Ashley Place, Westminster. He had died, at 34, in 1892.) Louisa bought with her two daughters from her previous marriage: May Morfill and Emma Louise Morfill, born in 1882 and 1883, respectively, on Portsea Island, Portsmouth.

Charles Edward Penfold died, aged 21, and was buried on 25 Apr 1907 at Hanwell Cemetery, formerly City of Westminster Cemetery.

In 1911, living at 32 Rampayne Street, Westminster were John Robert Penfold (53) Bootmaker, Louisa Penfold (59), Frederick William Penfold (31) Clerk in tailoring house; May Elisa Morfill (28) Tobacconist; Emma Louise Morfill (27) Tobacconist; Arthur James Penfold (27) Clerk inst civil; Mary Jane Penfold (23) and Mabel Penfold (20) Student. Much can be deduced about their attitudes seeing them listed in order of age, disregarding family or gender and that Mabel is listed as a Student, worthy of further education.

Frederick William Penfold of 17 Chapter Street, Westminster, died, aged 38, on 1 Jan 1918 at the First London General Hospital, Brixton (The 1st London General Hospital in Cormont Road was a school requisitioned by the military wing of St Bart's during World War I.), leaving his effects to his father, John Robert Penfold, Bootmaker. Private Frederick William Penfold, Middlesex Regiment 33rd Bn., son of John Robert and Mary Jane Penfold, is buried at Brookwood Military Cemetery, Brookwood, Surrey (XIII. E. 6.)

John Robert Penfold died, aged 66, on 15th March 1924.

Louisa Penfold of Alver Bank, West Road, Clapham Park (Residential Home) died, at 84, in Wandsworth, London, on 21 Sep 1936, leaving her effects to her daughter, Emma Louise Tapper (wife of William Frans Tapper).

Frederick John Bridle and Florence M L Coleman

Medjez-El-Bab Memorial Verity Cridland, CC BY 2.0

Frederick John Bridle, youngest child of John Lucas Bridle and Alice Brewer, married Florence Melita Louisa Coleman, in Bristol, in 1934. 

They had a daughter in 1935. And in 1939, we find them in Wells Road [Totterdown], Bristol, with Frederick working as a "Labourer Arp Shelters". 

Frederick John Bridle (30), Driver, Royal Army Service Corps, son of  J. and Alice Bridle; husband of Florence Melitia Bridle, of Totterdown, Bristol, died on 9 Feb 1943. He is buried at Medjez-El-Bab War Cemetery, near Majaz al Bab, Tunisia. (Tunisia was the scene of Operation Torch (8 Nov 1942 – 13 May 1943), the Allied invasion of North Africa. CWGC Commonwealth War Graves in Béja & Medjez-el-Bab, Tunisia, North Africa.)

Frederick's widow, Florence M L Bridle, died in 1988, at 78, in Bristol.