Richard John Goss and Katherine Brannon (née Latham)

Photo © David Martin (cc-by-sa/2.0)

St Alfege Church, Greenwich, Saturday, 1 June, 2024

Photo available for reuse under this Creative Commons licence.

Richard John Goss (b. 11 Jun 1827 and bap. 30 Sep 1827 at All Saints Church, Poplar), Bachelor, Caulker, son of Richard John Goss, Caulker - there's no doubt that this is the son of Richard John Goss and Martha Ayres - married Katherine Brannon, Widow - her father is listed as Thomas Rangor Latham, Surgeon - at St Alfege Church, Greenwich on 28 Sep 1848.

Born Katherine Latham on Friday, 4 Oct 1805 (put into historical context, just 17 days before the Battle of Trafalgar and George III was still on the throne). She was baptised on 24 Feb 1808 at St-Mary-At-Lambeth, as the daughter of Thomas Latham and Margaret. Thomas Latham was a surgeon for the British East India Company (EIC) on the Jane, Duchess of Gordon (1805 EIC ship). Katherine's baptism seems to have been scheduled prior to the ship's departure on the second voyage, from Portsmouth on 8 May 1808, bound for Bengal, India. Thomas Latham's life was lost when the ship foundered in a gale, off Mauritius, on the return journey. Thomas Latham had made a will prior to the ship's first voyage, which had left Portsmouth on 10 Aug 1805, leaving all his money to Mrs Margaret Cartwright of East Street in the parish of Lambeth, or in the event of her death, to the child "she is now big with" and in the event of the child's death, to his brother, John William Latham. 

Probate, which specifies Thomas Latham as a Batchelor, Deceased, was granted to Margaret Cartwright, Widow, on 16 Aug 1810 (and names his father as William Lewis Latham), so I'm certain Thomas Latham and Margaret Cartwright didn't have the opportunity to marry before he died. Nevertheless, thereafter she called herself Margaret Latham, which was a logical (and perfectly legal) thing to do when you have a child using that surname.

The only marriage I could find of a Margaret and a Cartwright was that of a Benjamin Cartwright to a Margaret Minto, in Dalkeith, Midlothian (near Edinburgh) on 7 Nov 1797. Margaret's age at death, 84 (in 1857), would suggest a year of birth of 1773, which if this is correct, would have made her 24 at the time of that marriage. In 1851, Margaret's birthplace is listed as Dumfries, so this seems feasible, but is completely speculative and would need far more research before it could be accepted, which I've not been able to do. Neither have I found an obviously corroborating death of a Benjamin Cartwright, but feel it's worth listing so that it can be researched further.

Thomas' brother John William Latham, however, does leave us some useful clues. He's mentioned in the Navy Lists of 1831, Rank Surgeon. That same year, on 7 Nov 1831, he married Anne Hodges Smith (née Bowness b. 1790 in India), Widow, at the British Embassy Chapel, Paris, France. In 1851, this couple were visitors at West Warwick Mansion, Junction Road, Brighton, Sussex (a Lodging House), where John is described as "Physician not in practice surgeon half pay RN", birth place listed as Ireland. John William Latham, formerly of the city of Paris, late of 27 Upper Harley Street in the County of Middlesex M.D. a Surgeon R.N., died on 7 Nov 1858, aged 73. If John William was born in Ireland, Thomas Latham possibly was too.

Katherine Latham's first marriage had been to Thomas Leonard Brannon (bap. 10 Feb 1809 in Rotherhithe), son of James Brannon and Elizabeth Leonard, at the church of Saint George in the East, on 13 Jan 1835.

Thomas Leonard and Katherine Brannon had four children: 

1. Thomas Riddall Brannon b. 3 Nov 1835, bap. 13 Jan 1836 at the church of Saint George in the East. Lost with the Nicholas Wood (ship) in 1861
2. Margaret Elizabeth Brannon b. 7 Sep 1839 (1839 D Quarter in SAINT GEORGE IN THE EAST IN THE COUNTY OF MIDDLESEX Volume 02 Page 94), bap. 15 Jul 1842 at Christ Church, Watney Street
3. James George Brannon b. 19 Jan 1843 (1843 M Quarter in SAINT GEORGE (IN THE EAST) Volume 02 Page 113), bap. 14 Jan 1846 at Christ Church, Watney Street
4. Katharine Priscilla Brannon b. 4 Nov 1846 (1846 D Quarter in SAINT GEORGE (IN THE EAST) Volume 02 Page 113). Died, unmarried, aged 40, on 3 Oct 1887 (1887 D Quarter in MILE END OLD TOWN Volume 01C Page 358) in the Workhouse, Mile End Infirmary. She was buried on 9 Oct 1887 at the City of London and Tower Hamlets Cemetery.

Baptism records for Margaret, James and Katherine read 'Christ Church, St George in the East', which at that time was Christ Church, Watney Street, consecrated in 1841. The transcripts of the London, Docklands And East End Baptisms do claim that they were baptised at Christ Church, Jamaica Street, Stepney, but that's impossible as that church did not open until 1877. These three baptisms listed their father's occupation as Master Mariner. 

In 1838, Thomas Brannon was Chief Officer on the Merchant Ship 'Despatch a South Seaman'. He gave evidence at the trial of a seaman charged with the murder of the Second Officer during an affray. "The Despatch, which arrived on Wednesday [17 Oct 1838] had been out two years and nine months, and had been very successful in the South Sea whale fishery." 

In 1841, in the household of Margaret Latham (60) Ind (of Independent Means) born in Scotland, were Cath [Katherine] Brannon (30) - adult ages were rounded down in 1841 and I suspect both women were massaging their ages further - with Thomas Brannon (5) and Margaret Brannon (1). Thomas Leonard Brannon, who was not listed, we can assume was again at sea, as seamen on shore on census night were enumerated in the same way as the general public, in the place where they spent that night, but there was no provision made for recording seamen at sea on census night. 

Thomas Leonard Brannon died, aged 39, in 1847 D Quarter in STEPNEY Volume 02 Page 537. His Will lists his occupation as Victualler. On 30 Dec 1847, Katherine Brannon of The Rising Sun, Sydney Street, Stepney, Widow, purchased a Private Grave plot at the City of London and Tower Hamlets Cemetery, for £3 3s 0d and the record shows that Thomas Leonard Brannon was the first buried there. Probate was granted to Katherine and The Morning Advertiser of 11 Jan 1848 reported on the transfer of the licence of The Rising Sun, Sydney Street, from Leonard Brannon to Katherine Brannon.

So, the widowed Katherine Brannon was 43 when she married the 21 year old Richard John Goss. Here, I feel, it's worth highlighting his origins: his mother, Martha Ayres, was one of four siblings listed as beneficiaries of equal parts of her father, Elnathan Ayres' (Shipwright died in Calcutta in 1812) over £8,000 fortune. Martha's mother, Elizabeth Perry, was the sister of John Perry, owner of the Blackwall Yard, which built ships for the East India Company. Two things: if Martha did inherit, then her money will have become the property of her husband, Richard John Goss Sr. Secondly, from these connections, I feel that the younger Goss may have had an air of respectability about him.

Following their marriage, The Era newspaper then reported on the transfer of the licence of The Rising Sun, Sydney Street on 3 Dec 1848, with Catharine Goss, late Catharine Brannon being the Outgoing Licensee and Richard John Goss, her husband, the Incoming Licensee. [Source] Richard John Goss' father had held The Three Mariners, Ropemakers Fields, in 1841 & 1845 and his brother William Henry Goss ran The Feathers, Stoney Street, Southwark. None of them for any length of time nor with success, it seems. 

Because a mere three months later, on 7 Mar 1849, Richard John Goss of The Rising Sun, Sydney Street, Stepney was declared bankrupt. This was announced in The London Gazette and in various press of the day. There are various dates published for when he is supposed to surrender himself to the Court of Bankruptcy and further dates given for when creditors may receive a Dividend, but no indication whether he turned up, or if they were paid. Although the law was amended by the Bankrupt Law Consolidation Act 1849, which came into force on 11 Oct 1849, that act did not stop imprisonment for debt, providing ample reason for him to run. My feeling is that Richard John Goss likely absconded and got on a boat to America in around 1849. 

In 1851, Katherine Brannon (38 - she was 46) Widow, General Shop Keeper, born in Lambeth, Surrey was living at Mill Street, Valentine Terrace, Bow, Middlesex with Thomas Brannon (16), Margaret Brannon (12), James Brannon (8), Katherine Brannon (4) and her mother, Margaret Latham (78) Widow from Dumfries, Scotland. Whilst I wouldn't blame Katherine for wanting to erase the bad experience with Goss from her life, the motivation for returning to her previous married name was probably similar to why her mother chose to adopt Latham - to align with the surname of her own children. 

Katherine's mother, Margaret Latham, died aged 84, in 1857 D Quarter in SAINT GEORGE IN THE EAST Volume 01C Page 333 and was buried at the City of London and Tower Hamlets Cemetery on 15 Dec 1857.

In 1861, Kath[erine] Brannon (50 - still massaging her age) was living at 7, Nottingham Place, Mile End Old Town, London with Margaret Brannon (21) Brush Maker; James Brannon (18) Packer; and Katherine Brannon (14).

In 1871, Katherine Brannon (63) of no occupation was still at 7, Nottingham Place, Mile End Old Town with James Brannon (28) Packer; Margaret Brannon (30) Fancy Milliner; and Katherine Brannon (~20) also of no occupation.

In 1881, Katherine Brannon (73) Mother, Widow, Dressmaker, was still living at 7, Nottingham Place, Mile End Old Town, London, in the household of her son, James Brannon (38) Widower; his two children Leonard (8) and Katherine (5) and his sister Katherine Brannon (34) Dressmaker.

Katherine Brannon (née Latham) of 32 Emmett Street, Stepney died in 1887 S Quarter in MILE END OLD TOWN Volume 01C Page 389, with her age at death quoted as 77 - she will have been just short of her 82nd birthday - and was buried in the plot she had purchased in 1847, with her late husband at the City of London and Tower Hamlets Cemetery on 22 Sep 1887.

Meanwhile, the errant Richard John Goss (42) 'Physician' from England, first reappears on confirmed records on the US Census of 1870, in Long Bar, Yuba County, California, United States, with Mary T Goss (23) [Maria Theresa Bruce] from Wisconsin 'Keeping House'; Josephine M Goss (5), William R Goss (3) and Otto Goss (0). Also in the household were Eugene B Bruce (29) from Kentucky and Marcelles W Bruce (25) from Illinois. (Head of the previous household was Joseph Bruce (56) Farmer, their father.)

It is alleged that Dr. R. J. Goss and Mary T. Bruce had married on 30 May 1864 in Big Creek, Lander County, Nevada, United States. There is a note at Ancestry saying, "This record can be found in the marriage book at the County Courthouse located in Lander Co., NV in Volume 1 on Page 5." There is no original record attached, so I've corresponded with the County Clerk at Lander County, who tells me that their records don't begin until 1867. In Mary's obituary in 1907 (below), it's claimed that they had been married at Reese River, Nevada in 1861. It seems obvious to me that these dates were reported by their children later and, of course, they would tell their children that they'd married, whether they had or not. And the other obvious issue here is that even if they did marry on either of these dates, then Richard John Goss was committing bigamy, because he certainly hadn't divorced from Katherine Latham (which would have taken an Act of Parliament before 1858).

Richard John Goss and Maria Theresa Bruce had three children:

1. Josephine Martha Goss b. 22 Jun 1865 in California
2. William Richard Goss b. 2 Feb 1867 in California
3. Otto John Goss b. 6 Jun 1869 in California

There are no birth or baptism records for them, so those dates of birth are those alleged / reported on the records of their respective deaths. Obviously, Josephine's birth date also implies that Richard John Goss had to have been in the US at least by mid-September 1864. And the naming of their children, with Josephine's middle name being Martha after Richard's mother and William Richard, being the same as Richard's brother had named his son, are pretty much giveaways on their own as to who we have here.

Richard John Goss, aged 52, from England, became a naturalised American citizen on 30 Aug 1873 in Nevada, California, USA.

On 29 Dec 1876, Richard John Goss, resident in Truckee, California, appears in the California, U.S., Occupational Licenses, Registers, and Directories in a list of Eclectic Physicians (although the date of his diploma is conspicuously blank). Eclectic medicine. "An eclectic physician, historically, was one who practiced eclectic medicine, a system that drew from various healing practices, including botanical remedies, physical therapy, and other non-invasive approaches. This movement emerged in the 19th century as a reaction against the prevailing invasive medical practices of the time." 

On 22 Sep 1878, the Nevada State Journal repeated a most disturbing story from the Truckee Republican, which reported that Dr. R. J. Goss had attended a man, W. J. Jones, who had been tarred and feathered by vigilantes at Reno and put on a train to Truckee - a journey of around three hours. Two men spent six hours trying to remove the tar with linseed oil Goss prescribed. 

The Reno Gazette Journal of 19 Apr 1879 (again repeating what was in the Truckee Republican) reported that Dr. R. J. Goss was one of the men who visited the Donner meadows and recovered relics of the Donner Party.

The Mountain Messenger of 6 Mar 1880 informs us that Dr. R. J. Goss is one of the owners of the Truckee Mine, "... situated in Sierra County, just south of Mohawk valley, and promises a veritable bonanza to its proprietors."

On 26 Mar 1880, the Daily Miner Transcript reports that "Ah Coon, who it is claimed is a Chinese Doctor, was arrested Monday on the complaint of Dr R. J. Goss.". Truckee History reports that in 1886, "After many years of racial tension, the white citizens of Truckee drove out the entire Chinese population (who had been instrumental in the building of the railroad) by forming a general boycott and refusing to buy or sell with Chinese residents."

In 1880, R. J. Goss (53) Doctor, born in England; Mary T. Goss (33) 'Keeping House', Josephine M Goss (15), William R Goss (13) and Otto Goss (11) were still registered as living in Truckee, California.

In 1882, Dr. R. J. Goss was sued for $48, allegedly owed for rent. It was quite convoluted story and the locals were not pleased that the police somehow failed to imprison him for a day, as ordered by the court.

On 7 Sep 1886, the San Francisco Chronicle reported "Mrs. Dr. R. J. Goss, of Truckee, who was spending a few weeks in this city, has returned home."

The Sacramento Bee of 19 Feb 1887 announced that "Dr and Mrs R. J. Goss are expected in Truckee about the 1st of March."

The San Francisco Chronicle of 10 Dec 1890, reported that Dr. R. J. Goss was elected to membership of the California Eclectic Medical Society.

"Dr R. J. Goss, corner First and Spring Streets, rooms 39 and 40, new Wilson block, makes a speciality of diabetes, paralysis and rheumatism.", he announced in the Los Angeles Herald of 15 Sep 1892.

In 1893, Dr. R. P. Goss (sic) of Truckee was a witness before the Grand Jury in a case where a doctor is accused of malpractice after a patient dies.

The Stockton Evening and Sunday Record (Stockton, Cal.) of 13 Jul 1895, carried the following, "Are You Sick? Dr. R. J. Goss is located at No. 8 North Sutter Street. The celebrated physician cures malarial fever, indigestion, weak stomach, rheumatism, chronic and all special diseases. All those suffering from these ailments will find it to their advantage to consult the doctor." One wonders what are special diseases. Are these the ones that used to be treated in what were once called a Special Clinic? Richard's brother, William, had advertised that he treated 'Private Diseases' and if I'm right and these are both euphemisms, I reckon it's calculated to target those least likely to complain because that would reveal what they consulted the doctor for.

On 31 Mar 1896, the Oakland Enquirer reported, "Dr. R. J. Goss, who practiced for a time in this city, has returned to San Diego."

In 1896, in the Los Angeles Herald, regular advertisements appear under: 

PERSONAL-EXCELSIOR HAIR REMedy company. MRS M. T. GOSS 355½ S. Spring St., room 4. Ladies, have you superfluous hair on the face? If so we can permanently and painlessly remove it without chemicals or needles. To fleshy people - We have a new and safe remedy for reducing your flesh without medicine or change of diet. Agents for Dr R. J. Goss' Hair Remedy and Catarrh Remedy; charges reasonable.

Richard John Goss died on 2 Nov 1904, in Los Angeles, California of 'Old Age'. He was 78. He is buried at Los Angeles Odd Fellows Cemetery, Los Angeles, California, United States.

Maria Theresa “Mary” Bruce Goss (b. 24 Apr 1847 in Wisconsin), died on 23 Jul 1907 (aged 60). She is also buried at Odd Fellows Cemetery, Los Angeles, California, United States, along with Richard John Goss.

Maria Theresa's obituary was published in The Los Angeles Times on Friday, 26 Jul 1907:

 

FUNERAL OF PIONEER

Remains of Mrs Mary T Goss who Crossed the Plains in Prairie Schooner Borne to Grave

The funeral services over the remains of Mrs Mary Theresa Goss, who died Tuesday, were held yesterday afternoon at 2 o'clock from the parlours of the Pierce Bros Co. The officiating clergyman was Rev Will A Knighten and interment was at Mountain View Cemetery [1]. The Rebekahs had charge of the services at the grave.

Mrs Goss was the widow of the late Dr Richard J Goss, a pioneer resident of California, and was herself a pioneer having crossed the plains in a prairie schooner [2] when but 4 years old. She was born in Wisconsin, April 24, 1847, and came to California in 1851.

The father of Mrs Goss, Joseph Bruce, came to California in the late forties, and established himself in San Francisco. When he sent for his family to join him he directed them to come by water, but the wife was afraid to undertake the long trip by boat, and chose the more hazardous expedient of crossing the plains. Taking her three little children she bought a prairie schooner, and started the 2000 mile journey.

Many hardships were endured by the little party on their way, and though but an infant at the time, Mrs Goss never forgot the journey. Her mind remained clear up till the last, and she was fond of telling her grandchildren of the little happenings along the road which had impressed themselves upon her childish mind.

Mrs Goss came from a family of pioneers. Her grandfather was one of the first hotel men to settle in California, and was the owner and manager of the Binninger Hotel in Sacramento[3], the hostelry being named for him. The old hotel had the distinction of being the first brick structure in Sacramento, and the piano which Mr Binninger brought across the plains with him, is said to have been the first instrument of the kind ever brought to California.

Mrs Goss's husband, the late Dr Goss, was one of the first physicians to settle in San Francisco. When the city was but a sand pile he and his brother, Dr William R Goss[4], landed there, having come from their home in England. Both had taken medical degrees at an English college[5], and they at once opened an office and began practicing.

One of Dr Goss's favorite stories was the description of the manner in which he and his brother had fenced in Telegraph Hill, then a barren waste. Later they gave the land to another man, thinking it not worth the keeping.

Dr and Mrs Goss were married at Reece River, Nev, in 1861. For a time the husband practiced medicine in Nevada, later going to San Diego, where he resided until after the boom. Eleven years ago the family came to Los Angeles, Dr Goss again taking up the practice of his profession. He died here two years ago.

Mrs Goss leaves three children, Mrs Josephine M Patten, William R Goss and Otto J Goss, and six grandchildren, Theresa Goss, Eugene Goss, William Goss, Edmund Goss, Warren Goss and Theresa Yeona Patten. All the children and grandchildren are residents of Los Angeles.

1. Mountain View Cemetery must be an error, as the grave at Odd Fellows Cemetery, Los Angeles, suggests she's buried there with her husband.
2. Prairie schooner is a fanciful name for the Covered wagon
3. The claim that the Binninger Hotel in Sacramento being the first brick structure there appears to be based in fact. Germans in Sacramento, 1850-1859. Maria Theresa's grandfather, Jakob Binninger was from Nimburg, Teningen, Emmendingen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany.
4. Listed here as William R Goss, it is my belief that the son William R Goss gave the information to the newspaper. He could have been asked his uncle's name and said "the same as me", meaning William. Richard John's brother was William Henry Goss and it is his whereabouts that are fundamental in proving that this was indeed the same man.
5. Forgive me for not wasting time looking for records of these alleged medical degrees. It is absolutely obvious to me that neither of these former blacksmith and caulker, turned unsuccessful publicans, had the time or resources to have gone to any college. From the type of doctor, the complaints they alleged to treat, the nature of the 'remedies' they peddled and the wording of their marketing, it's obvious they were a pair of fraudulent, quack doctors and snake oil salesmen; opportunists who saw this as a way of making money from the Gold Rush - but without having to do backbreaking work themselves. Whilst I normally try to be non-judgmental, this time, the truth is just so clear it cannot be ignored: They were charlatans and that air of respectability they likely had seems to have allowed them to hoodwink a lot of good people. Can't ignore either that they were both my 3rd cousins five times removed.

William Henry Goss and Mary Carter

Photo © Dr Neil Clifton (cc-by-sa/2.0)

Bethnal Green: Church of St Peter and St Thomas

Photo available for reuse under this Creative Commons licence.

William Henry Goss (b. 18 Aug 1821 in Limehouse, Middlesex), bachelor, smith, son of Richard John Goss, Caulker (Richard John Goss and Martha Ayres), married Mary Carter, spinster, who purported her father to be Thomas Carter, Gentleman, at St Peter's, Bethnal Green on 2 Jul 1844. Both gave their address at the time of marriage as 18 Pollard Row, Bethnal Green. Witnesses to their marriage were Chas Price and Sarah Forrester.

William and Mary Goss had one son:

1. William Richard Goss b. 1846 S Quarter in SAINT SAVIOURS UNION SURREY Volume 04 Page 508 and bap. 28 Jun 1846 at Saint Saviour, Southwark (Southwark Cathedral)

The Morning Advertiser of 5 Jun 1847, reports on the  transfer of the licence of The Feathers, Stoney Street, in the district of St Saviours Clink from William Henry Goss to William Till. (Not seen a record for when he took on the pub, but was presumably between 1844 and 1846.) At the end of the street was The Clink prison (Clink Prison Museum) and yes, that's where the nickname clink for prison comes from. "The Liberty of the Clink was an area of London which was exempt for The City’s jurisdiction, meaning it was fertile ground for prostitution, animal baiting and *gasp* theatre." [Source]

The next encounter with William Henry Goss is an advert in the Appeal-Democrat newspaper (published five days a week in Marysville, the county seat of Yuba County - where William's brother Richard John Goss also turns up - located in the Gold Country region of Northern California). As the last record of the brothers in the UK is in around 1849, it seems obvious they arrived during or immediately following the California gold rush.

RHEUMATISM PERMANENTLY CURED BY Dr. W. H. Goss, Who takes pleasure in announcing to the citizens of Maryville that he has located himself on Second St. Bet. D and Maiden Lane, where he is prepared to treat all species of Diseases, on the Reform principle of Medical Practice - Mercury or Minerals never being used, all Medicine prescribed by Dr. G. Being purely vegetable.

    Dr. G's almost unlimited success, for years past, in treating all kinds of Diseases, especially Rheumatism, Neuralgia, Dyspepsia, Inflammation and Chronic Diseases of the Kidneys, Liver, Lungs., etc., justify him in saying the amiable, he can cure them; and to the incurable he can afford relief. Those who are suffering would do well to call and consult him.

    Dr. G. Gives particular attention to all PRIVATE DISEASES, and guarantees cures made in all secondary cases.

    The Doctor would inform those who are suffering from Rheumatism that it is caused by many diseases not known by the practitioners of the Old School, (such as [unreadable], Rheumatism, Bilious, Mercurial Syphilis) all of which I guarantee to cure, on reasonable terms.

    N.B. - Chills and Fever effectually treated.

You've got to hand it to him, the careful wording and marketing are quite brilliant. He's clearly aiming at patients with 'private diseases' (I read venereal and suspect 'secondary cases' means wives who picked it up from philandering husbands), who won't want to admit to being treated and are therefore the least likely to complain if his cures are ineffective. Purely vegetable is a lovely idea, but even those need to be properly made and tested.

In August 1879, an advert appeared in The Colorado Miner (a newspaper published in Georgetown, Clear Creek County, Colorado, from June 30, 1869, to March 11, 1874), which read: "Without Pain to the Patent. The Doctor treats with greatest success Typhoid, Pneumonia, Intermittent, Remittent and Hectic Fever and Fevers of all kinds, with easy and swift cures. DR W. H. GOSS, can be consulted at his parlours in the American House for a short time, OFFICE HOURS, from 9 a.m. To 7 p.m. CONSULTATION FREE."

In 1880, William H. Goss (59) Single (this must be untrue, because he had to have been either married or widowed), Physician from England, was living on Lawrence Street, Denver, Arapahoe (Arapahoe County, Colorado), United States in the household of Lou E Wallace (24) Female, Married and her son Edward Wallace (5). Also living there was Louisa Hockensmith (49) Widowed, from Kentucky (who, 10 years previously had been in Jackson, Missouri. I've nothing to base this on, but a hunch she may be William's girlfriend.)

The final record I've found, which I'm sure relates, is that of the death of William Goss (85) on 9 Aug 1906 in San Francisco, California.

Archibald Carl Heckmann and Daisy Rhoda Day

Brick Lane in the East End of London
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © N Chadwick - geograph.org.uk/p/7049342

Archibald Carl Heckmann (b. 20 Jul 1883), son of Napoleon Joseph Heckmann and Susie Lane, married Daisy Rhoda Day (b. 10 Feb 1881), daughter of Arthur Stephen Day and Mary Ann Ray, at St Faith’s Church, Ebner Street, Wandsworth, on 17 Feb 1900. The bridegroom was then only 16, pretending to be 20. Archibald gave his address as 14 Coleford Road, Wandsworth and listed his father as Napoleon John Henry Heckman, Engineer (this was actually his brother). Daisy (19) listed her residence as 44 College Street, Putney and her father Arthur Stephen Day, Photographer. One of the witnesses to their marriage was Arthur Wilton Day, Daisy's brother.

Archibald Carl and Daisy Rhoda Heckman had two sons:

1. Archibald Wilton Napoleon Heckmann b. 1901 M Quarter in WANDSWORTH Volume 01D Page 785, bap. 24 Feb 1901 at St Faith's, Wandsworth. Died, aged 15, on 28 Jun 1916 (1916 J Quarter in ST. MARYLEBONE Volume 01A Page 639)
2. Cecil Arthur Heckmann b. 25 Oct 1903 (1903 D Quarter in ONGAR Vol 04A Page 537), bap. 28 Dec 1903 at Chipping Ongar, St Martin of Tours and it appears was baptised again, listed as Cecil Arthur Heckman (with one less N) on 29 May 1917 at High Ongar, St Mary the Virgin. (Both baptisms specify his parents as Archibald Carl and Daisy Rhoda.)

In 1901, living at 60, Fullerton Road, Wandsworth, were Archibald Heckmann (21) - he was actually only 18 - Gas stove fitter from Loughton, Essex; Daisy Heckmann (20) and their elder son Archibald Heckmann, 2 months old.

In 1911, Archibald Wilton Napoleon Heckman (10) and Cecil Arthur Heckman (7) were staying with their grandparents. Daisy R Heckman (30) described as "Married Deserted 7 Yrs", was staying with her brother in Wandsworth.

The Chelmsford Chronicle of 30 Jun 1916 reported on the DEATH OF ARCHIE HECKMAN - "Archie Heckman, aged 15, eldest son of Mrs Heckman and grandson of Mr and Mrs A S Day, passed away in the Middlesex Hospital on Wednesday after a long illness. He had been a patient in the Hospital for 10 weeks. Previous to his illness he was employed by Mr J Surridge, motor engineer, Ongar. On June 27, while his mother and grandmother were in the Hospital with him, his youngest brother, Cecil, scalded himself badly by accidentally turning over a saucepan of boiling water. Much sympathy is felt for his mother and grandparents." The column then continued with ...

SCALDING ACCIDENT - An unfortunate accident occurred to Cecil Heckman, grandson of Mr Day on Wednesday at 8:30 am. The boy, who was removing a saucepan of water from the fire, where he had just boiled an egg, let it drop, and the water went over his leg, scalding the right thigh and left foot.

Daisy Rhoda Hickman (sic), daughter of Arthur Stephen Day, Photographer, married William Arthur Clancy at St Mary's Church, Leyton, on 25 Apr 1919. (Was Daisy divorced? Still 'married and deserted' in 1911, she almost certainly hadn't known Archibald Heckman had already married again in 1908, and, it was not until 1937 that desertion became a ground for divorce.)

William Arthur Clancy was born in Victoria, Australia around 1878 and had served in the Australian Imperial Force during the First World War. William and Daisy must have left for Australia shortly after they married and were listed on the electoral register in Leitchville, Victoria, at least by 1924.

On 11 Mar 1921, Cecil A Heckman (17) Motor mechanic, embarked on the SS Euripides, in London, bound for Melbourne, Australia, giving his last address as c/o A Day, Photographer, High Street, Ongar. Cecil was also listed in Leitchville in 1925, so presumably settled there. Cecil Arthur Heckman married Bessie Henderson Soutar (b. 12 Apr 1909 in Scotland), daughter of John Dow Souter and Helen Robertson, in Victoria, Australia, in 1932.

William Arthur Clancy died in 1955 and Daisy Rhoda Clancy, daughter of Arthur Stephen Day and 'Polly Anna' Ray, died, aged 75, in Warrnambool, Victoria on 16 Jul 1956. She is buried at Warragul Cemetery.

Cecil (Art) Arthur Heckmann died on 28 Nov 1986 in Leeton, New South Wales, Australia and is buried at Leeton Cemetery. Bessie Henderson Heckman died on 6 Nov 2001 and is also buried at Leeton Cemetery.

So, what happened to Archibald Carl Heckmann?

He had first resurfaced, listed as Archibald Charles Hickman, in Honolulu, Hawaii, with a licence dated 20 Oct 1908, to marry Irene Kearney at the Laie Hawaii Temple (a Mormon Church - was this a deliberate choice, did he think he could avoid committing bigamy by marrying there?), Laie, Oahu, Hawaii, on 21 Oct 1908; giving his age as 29 (actually 25); his father as John H Hickman (his grandfather's Anglicised first names) and mother Susie Heckman. Irene, 23, with parents Victorio Silva Borba and Maria Ferriera, was Portuguese. (Presumably Kearney was a previous married name, but I've no idea if she was divorced or a widow and have also not found her either before or since.)

The couple had a daughter, Gladys Irene Hickman b. 21 Mar 1910 and the 1910 US Census shows Archibald Hickman (29) immigration year 1907; Irene Hickman (25) and Gladys I Hickman (1 month) living in Honolulu City.

Then the Honolulu Star-Bulletin of 2 May 1916 reported that, "Having been served in San Francisco, the divorce papers in the case of Archibald Hickman against Mrs Irene Hickman were returned here yesterday. The suit was filed here April 10. Hickman alleges desertion as the cause for the suit."

Wait, HE's alleging that SHE deserted him? Karma's a bitch, innit?

On 21 Sep 1917, Archibald Charles Hickman (40) is shown sailing from Honolulu, Hawaii to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. On 6 Oct 1917, in Toronto, Archibald Charles Hickman (40) of Hardesty Street, Honoulu, enlisted in the Royal Flying Corps for the duration of the war. (Archibald was actually only 34 in 1917 and his usual lie up to this point had been to claim to be four years older than he was, so by adding another two years was this to be too old to enlist or at least too old to be sent to the front line?)

On 18 Feb 1919, Arch Hickman, listed as 41 (really 36), Single (no comment), English, left Ontario, Canada, where his last residence had been in Toronto, and sailed from Vancouver, British Columbia on the SS Makura, bound for Honolulu, Hawaii, where he arrived on 26 Feb 1919. It said he that intended to remain in the US indefinitely, but not to become a citizen (see below).

In 1920, Archibald C Hickman (42) Single (again) was living in the household of Catarina A Wright (44) Divorced, in Honolulu, Hawaii. At this point he's listed at the bottom of the household, as a Lodger. On this census he gives his date of immigration to the US as 1903 (which is far more likely given the date his second son with Daisy was born and as she was listed as 'Deserted 7 Yrs' in 1911) and claimed a date of naturalisation 1919 (there's no evidence).

Not located Archibald, but in 1930 his daughter, Gladys I Hickman (20) Stenographer, was a boarder at "Fernhurst" YWCA Hostal in Honalulu City.

The press in Hawaii reported, Miss Gladys Irene Hickman, Head Stenographer at Maki-Ki Hotel, daughter of Archibald Charles Hickman and Irene Borba, married Stanley Abrams Cutter (b. 14 Sep 1906), son of Stanley Abrams Cutter and Minerva Fernandez, in Wahiawa, Hawaii on 15 Dec 1937. 

The couple had a son, Charles Hickman Cutter, born 29 Nov 1938.

In 1940, and still in Honolulu, Hawaii, Archibald Hickman (57) was head of the household with Catarina 'Hickman' (65) listed as his 'wife'. There was never a marriage and it's acknowledged here that she lived with a "Hickman". (Born Catarina Apiani Long (Hawaiian/Italian) on 16 Apr 1875, she had married Benjamin Haywood Wright in 1894. They had divorced.)

Archibald's World War II Draft Registration Card in 1942 gave him away and tied all the other records together: Listed as Archibald Charles Hickman, of 4020 Waialae Ave, Honolulu, Hawaii; DOB 20 Jul 1884 (it was 1883, but may otherwise be correct), with place of birth, Loughton, Essex and names Gladys I Cutter as his daughter and person who'll always know his address.

Archibald Charles Hickman was naturalized in the US on 27 May 1943.

Catarina Apiani Wright died on 8 Jan 1949 (she is buried at Diamond Head Memorial Park), although Archibald seemed to have moved on already by 1946. He flew from Honolulu to San Francisco, California, with Pan American Airways, on 17 Apr 1946 and lived with Gladys from then onwards. 

In 1950, Archibald C Hickman (66) Father-in-law, Unable to work, was listed as living in the household of Stanley A Cutter Jr (43) with Gladys I Cutter (40) and their son, Charles Cutter (11), in Merced, California.

Archibald Charles Hickman died on 29 Oct 1958 in Oakland, Alameda County, California and was interred at Mountain View Cemetery on 19 Nov 1958.

His obituary in Hawaii: Archibald Hickman Dies in California. "Archibald Charles Hickman, 73, who lived in the islands for more than 40 years, died Oct 29, in Oakland, Calif. Born in Essex, England, Mr Hickman worked for the gas company until World War I when he enlisted in the British army. Following his discharge he returned to the islands and spent many years in the automotive field as shop superintendent for Schuman Carriage Co. During World War II he worked for Hawaiian Contractors at Pearl Harbour. He had been living with his daughter, Mrs Stanley A Cutter Jr, for the past 11 years."

Gladys Hickman Cutter died on 1 May 2002 at the age of 92; Stanley Abrams Cutter Jr died on 1 Mar 2008 at the grand old age of 101. And their son, Charles Hickman Cutter died, aged 69, on 19 Jun 2008. His obituary was Published by San Diego Union-Tribune on Jun. 29, 2008 (Via)

CUTTER, CHARLES HICKMAN "On June 19, 2008, Charles H. Cutter passed away at his home in San Carlos at the age of 69. He succumbed after a March diagnosis of glioblastoma multi-forme. He was Associate Professor Emeritus of Humanities and Political Science at San Diego State University, where he had taught from 1968 to 2006, after which he remained actively engaged in travel, study, and research. Charles Cutter was born November 29, 1938, in Honolulu, Hawaii, and was raised in Merced, California. He earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in political science at UC Berkeley and his PhD in political science at UCLA. His doctoral studies took him to France, Senegal, Mali, and Dahomey. Subsequent interests were centered in African politics and art, for which he earned a Fulbright-Hays Foreign Language Fellowship to study Bamana. After an American Council of Learned Societies postdoctoral award in art history at Yale, he was appointed research fellow in 1973 and lecturer in 1974. He also taught at the University of Bristol in 1984. At SDSU Professor Cutter offered courses in African and American politics, was the first chair of the Humanities program, and taught African, European, and American humanities, in which he garnered an unchallenged reputation as an expert in art and classical music. He also taught art history at the Design Institute of San Diego. He served for a long time on the board of docents at the San Diego Museum of Art and was till his death a docent for the Timken Gallery. Until his death he also served many years as president to the Shadow Glen Homeowners Association. In addition to his scholarly papers, Professor Cutter curated a 1979 exhibition at the SDMA, and since 1997 he edited the annual scholarly review titled, Africa. After retirement he became intrigued with the work of the late Belgian-Argentine artist Victor Delhez, and having begun an association with him, Professor Cutter was mastering Spanish and writing a definitive biography when he was stopped short by his devastating illness. Charles Cutter loved theater and opera and often traveled to other cities to attend performances. He struck a dashing graybeard figure not only in professorial blazer and bow tie but also on the tennis court. Professor Cutter is survived by his life partner, Jack Albrecht, and family that extends from Hawaii to New York State. His mother, Gladys, died in 2002. In September 2006, family members gathered to celebrate the 100th birthday of Stanley Abrams Cutter, Professor Cutter's father and patriarch of the family. Stanley Cutter died this past March at the age of 101. His extended family included lifelong friends and former students, with whom he continued to maintain close and enduring bonds. Many of these friends travelled great distances to visit him during his illness, proving the esteem and affection in which they held him and the influence he had on their lives. A memorial gathering is planned for 10:30 a.m., Saturday, August 2nd, at the SDSU Faculty-Staff Club. Gifts may be made in Professor Cutter's name to the Timken Gallery or the SDSU Department of Classics and Humanities."

Archibald Carl Heckmann's origins:

Firstly, his grandfather's petition for Naturalisation in 1846: Johan Heinrich Heckmann of No 5 John Street, Chicksand Street, Brick Lane in the Parish of Whitechapel, in the County of Middlesex, Fur Skin Dresser, states that he was born in Eissen, Warburg, Kingdom of Prussia. He'd been married for 13 years to Catharina Boss and had lived in Tower Hamlets for 15 years, so since around 1831. I've not found the record of the marriage so, we'll have to take his word for it, although banns were read at St Mary's, Whitechapel in Nov 1832, under the Anglicised names of John Hackman and Catherine Boss.

Johan and Catharina Heckmann had eleven children:

1. Catherina Heckmann b. 1833 in Whitechapel
2. Agnes Christina Heckmann b. 1835 in Whitechapel
3. Helena Heckmann b. 1837 in Whitechapel
4. Sophia Heckmann b. 1839 in Whitechapel
5. John Frederick Ulerich Heckman b. 1842 M Quarter in WHITECHAPEL UNION Volume 02 Page 569 - mother's maiden name BASS
6. Margaret Victoria Alice Heckman b. 1843 D Quarter in WHITECHAPEL UNION Volume 02 Page 546 - mother's maiden name BASS
7. Napoleon Josephus Heckman b. 1846 M Quarter in WHITECHAPEL UNION Volume 02 Page 618 - mother's maiden name MOSS
8. Anna Sophia Heckmann b. 1847 D Quarter in WHITECHAPEL UNION Volume 02 Page 557 - mother's maiden name, finally, BOSS
9. Cleopatra Heckman b. 1849 D Qtr in WHITECHAPEL Vol 02 595
10. Louisa Heckman b. 1851 S Quarter in WHITECHAPEL Vol 02 Page 627. Died, aged 1, in 1852 S Quarter in WHITECHAPEL Vol 01C Page 227 and was buried on 28 Jul 1852 at John St, Osborn St, Whitechapel
11. John Theodore Heckmann b. 1855 J Qtr in WHITECHAPEL Vol 01C 356

In 1841, Johan Heckmann (30) Skin dresser, wife Cathe (30) and daughters, Helena (4) and Sophia (2) along with four others who were described as fur dressers, were living at John Street, Christchurch, Whitechapel.

Johan Heinrich Heckmann was the victim in a case of theft heard at the Old Bailey on 18 Sep 1848. Some 180 rabbit skins that had belonged to him had been stolen from an outworker. The two suspects, Thomas Saul and Richard Bailey, were found guilty and sentenced to be transported for seven years.

In 1851, then listed as John H Heckmann (39) Skinner & furrier employing 20 men, still at 5 John Street, Christchurch Spitalfields, Whitechapel, with Chatherina (sic) (39) from Homberg, Hesse; Chatherina (sic) (18), Christina (16), Helena (13), Sophia (11), Margretha (10), Napoleon (5), Anna Sophia (3), Cleopatra (1) and Karl Boss (20) Brother-in-law, Fur skin dresser.

In 1861, J H Heckmann (49) Proprietor of houses, from Prussia, proudly listing himself as a Naturalized British Subject, had moved to 30, York Hill, Loughton, Essex, with Catherine (49), Catherine (27), Sophia (21), Margretha (17), Napoleon (15), Anne (13), Adelaide (12) [I'm sure this is Cleopatra], Theodore (5) and Adolf Leity (33) Visitor from Berlin, Prussia.

On 4 Jul 1865, John Henry Heckmann of John Street and Samuel Street, Spitlefields and of Loughton, Essex, Skin Dresser and Brewer, was declared bankrupt. He was discharged from bankruptcy on 5 Dec of the same year.

In 1871, John H and Katherine Heckmann were still at York Hill, Loughton, as they were also in 1881. John Henry Heckmann of York Hill, Loughton, died on 11 Sep 1887. In 1891, widow, Catherine Heckmann was still living at York Hill, Loughton with two of her daughters, spinsters, Catherine (56) and Anna (43) and one servant. Catherine Heckmann died, aged 86, in 1898.

Archibald's parents, Napoleon Joseph Heckmann (b. 1846), son of Johan Heinrich Heckmann and Catharina Boss, and Susie Lane (b. 31 Jan 1858 M Quarter in EDMONTON Vol 03A Page 155), daughter of Henry Lane and Mary Ann Fish, married at St John of Jerusalem, South Hackney, on 27 Feb 1879. Witnesses to their marriage were Septimus Swyer and Alice Swyer. 

Susannah Lane was brought up in High Beach (or High Beech), Essex, where her parents had kept the Owl [Public House], Lippet's Hill.

Napoleon Joseph and Susie Heckmann had three sons:

1. Napoleon John Henry Heckmann b. 16 Sep 1879 (D Quarter in EPPING Vol 04A Page 181), bap. 23 Dec 1879 at Loughton, St John the Baptist
2. Herbert Leopold Heckmann b. 5 Sep 1880 (1880 D Quarter in EPPING Volume 04A Page 199), bap. 14 Oct 1880 at Loughton, St Nicholas. Died 20 Oct 1880 and is buried at Waltham Holy Cross Old Cemetery
3. Archibald Carl Heckman b. 20 Jul 1883 S Quarter in EPPING Volume 04A Page 223, bap. 4 Jun 1889 at Holy Innocents Church, High Beach.

Dr Septimus Swyer

In 1871, Napoleon Joseph Heckmann (25) 'wife's brother', had been living in the household of Septimus Swyer (35) at 32 Brick Lane, Spitalfields, Whitechapel. Dr Septimus Swyer, General Practitioner, had married Napoleon's sister, Agnes Christina Heckmann, in 1857. Much has already been written about this contentious character, from his apparent partnership with a medical fraudster Edward Morass who went under a number of aliases and his second wife's alleged bigamy, but most of all, in relation to Jack the Ripper, as a person of interest and a possible suspect. Circumstantially, at least. 

It's relevant, I feel, to mention that Septimus Swyer emigrated the United States and one of his sons emigrated to Australia and changed his name.

In 1881, Napoleon Joseph Heckmann (36) Living on income, Susie (22) and son Napoleon J (1), with a Domestic servant and a Nurse, were at York Hill.

Napoleon Joseph Heckmann died, at 45, on 24 Feb 1891 (1891 M Quarter in EPPING Volume 04A Page 185), and was buried on 3 Mar 1891 at the Church of the Holy Innocents, High Beach. The Chelmsford Chronicle of 6 Mar 1891 reported on the FUNERAL OF THE LATE MR N J HECKMANN - "The remains of the late Mr Napoleon J Heckmann were interred on Tuesday last in High Beech Churchyard. Every sign of regret and respect was manifested by the residents of Loughton. Most of the tradesmen put their shutters up, and a large number of sympathetic friends surrounded the grave." He left a Personal Estate of £184 to Susie Heckman of York Hill, Widow.

In 1891, Susie Heckmann (30) Widow, was Living on her own means, still at York Hill, Loughton with her two sons, Napoleon (11) and Archibald (7). 

Susie Heckman (33), listed as daughter of James Lane, Licenced Victualler (deceased) (Henry Lane, but yeah ....), then remarried to William Edward Bright (30) Gentleman, at St James's Church, Clerkewell on 31 Oct 1893. 

This couple had produced a son, Charles Stanley Bright b. 1894 S Quarter in EPPING Volume 04A Page 347, bap. 28 Aug 1894 at Loughton, St Nicholas, who died at one month old on 29 Aug 1894 (1894 S Quarter in EPPING Volume 04A Page 159) and was buried on 3 Sep 1894 in High Beech.

The year before they married and reported nationally: "William Edward Bright (29), described as a gentleman of independent means, was charged at North London Police Court on Wednesday with shooting with a revolver at five constables. It appeared from the evidence that on Tuesday night the accused went home at midnight, when the housekeeper heard three shots fired. Not knowing what had happened she opened a window and blew a police whistle. Five constables assembled in the garden, and tried to open the door. Prisoner appeared at a window and shouted "Who's there? Police?"; and on receiving an answer in the affirmative and a request to open the door, he replied, "If you don't clear out of my garden I will shoot you." Thereupon he fired five shots in rapid succession - fortunately without hitting anyone. Prisoner now said he would not have fired had he not thought the constables were burglars. His housekeeper said he was a very excitable man, had a dread of burglars, and always slept with a revolver under his pillow. Asked if he was intoxicated, she said she was no judge of such matters. Prisoner was committed for trial."

Incredibly, he was found not guilty of shooting to do grievous bodily harm and assault. However, the excitable gentleman next turns up being admitted to Bethlehem Hospital - otherwise known as Bedlam - psychiatric hospital in Bromley, London, on 7 Feb 1900, the supposed cause of his insanity being alcohol. The record states that he was married, but living separate from his wife, pursuant to a deed of separation. William Edward Bright died, aged 39, in 1901 J Quarter in WESTMINSTER Volume 01A Page 313.

In 1901, Susie Bright (38) Widow, Living on own means, was living in Frith Lane, Kings Lane, Great Missenden, Amersham, Buckinghamshire with A C Heckman (16) Son, Single, Mechanical Engineer from Loughton, Essex. (There is no subsequent birth in 1885, so I can only assume this is her 18 year old son, Archibald Carl Heckmann. If so, he was double-counted, pretending to be 21 with his wife in Wandsworth. Had he not told his mother he married?) And John Edward Edmonds (40), who has been transcribed as Brother, but I'm sure he was then a Boarder. Well, I certainly hope so, because ...

In 1903, John Edward Edmonds married Susie Bright, in Marylebone, London.

In 1911, John Edward Edmonds (52) Clerk in Shipping from Loughton, Essex, was living in Horndon on the Hill, Essex, with Susie Edmonds (50) and visiting them were John Henry Napoleon Heckmann (32) Marine Engineer and Dorothy Emily Heckmann (28) (As John Henry Hickman and Dorothea Emily Thorne, they had married at New Ferry, Cheshire on 27 Apr 1904.)

In 1921, at Brig-Y-Don, Orsett Road, Horndon on the Hill, Essex, were John Edward Edmonds (59) Clerk, and Susie Edmonds (59).

Napoleon John Henry Heckmann pre-deceased his mother, on 19 Aug 1933.

In 1939, John Edmonds (b. 11 Oct 1859) Documentary Clerk Retired and Susie Edmonds, were living at 36 Basildon Drive, Basildon.

John Edward Edmonds died, age estimated as 83, in 1944 J Quarter in EPPING Volume 04A Page 329 and was buried on 17 Jun 1944 at the church of the Holy Innocents, High Beach. There's an amusing note on the burial record which states "In the grave of Mrs's first husband. West End Church." 

Susannah Edmonds of Beech View, Lippett's Hill, High Beech, Loughton, Essex, died the following year, aged 86, on 23 Jan 1945 (1945 M Quarter in EPPING Volume 04A Page 439) and was buried on 27 Jan 1945, also at High Beach. She left £599 1s 3d. Probate was granted on 1 Nov 1945 to Grace Vivian Garrett (wife of William Thomas Garrett) attorney of Archibald Carl Heckman. This suggests she knew her son was alive, all along.

Andrew Ephire King and Annie Jones

The former St. Luke's church
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Jonathan Thacker - geograph.org.uk/p/5436811

Andrew Ephire King (b. 10 Nov 1894), Chief Yeoman, United States Navy, son of Joseph Damos King and Josephine Martel, married Annie Jones (b. 30 Sep 1890), only daughter of Nicholas Jones and Ellen White, at St Luke's Church, Cork, Ireland on 18 Aug 1919. Witnesses were Frederick Joseph Lee and Nelly Jones. The couple met in 1917, wrote their daughter, Margery, later "... when Dad was on one of the destroyers sent by the US Navy to patrol the south coast of Ireland and convoy supply and troop ships to English and French ports." Later, "When Cork became "out of bounds" to the crews of the US Fleet when the Sinn Féiners attacked them, Dad asked Mum to come down to Rushbrooke / Queenstown to visit him. In this way, Dad became acquainted with Nellie and the rest of her family, often going to Rushbrooke for tea when he had a few hours liberty when his ship was in port." 

From Andrew's diary: April 24, 1918: "Liberty was granted today. I went ashore at 4:30 p.m. and went to see Nellie Jones. Today was her 24th birthday. She had made a chocolate cake and some cookies so we had a quite nice little tea party. I gave her a gold pendant for a gift. Novak came up about 7:30 with a fruit cake that his sister in Portland, Oregon had sent him. We had cocoa and some of the cake. Returned to the ship at 10:30 p.m."

After they married, Annie King applied for permission to depart for the United States, expecting to sail on USS President Grant on 6 Sep 1919, giving her future address in the US as 31 Chapel Street, Dover, New Hampshire.

Andrew and Annie King had three children:

1. Douglas Andrew King b. 23 Mar 1921 in Norfolk, Virginia
2. Edith Mary King b. 22 Feb 1923 in Brooklyn, New York
3. Margery Ellen King b. 6 Apr 1927 in Cork, Ireland

In 1920, Andrew King (25) and Annie King (29), were living in Duval, Florida.

In 1921, Annie King applied for a US Passport for herself, accompanied by her minor child, Douglas Andrew King.

In 1930, in Norfolk, Virginia, were Andrew E King (36), Annie King (40), Douglas A King (9), Edith M King (7) and Margery E King (3). In 1935, they lived in Portsmouth, Virginia. A record shows that on 7 Jul 1935, Douglas Andrew King (14) travelled from Cobh (Queenstown), on the RMS Laconia, arriving in Boston in 14 Jul 1935. Margery remembered them visiting the family in Rushbrooke in the 1930's.

And by 1940, they had moved out to San Diego, California, with Andrew E King (45), Annie King (49), Edith M King (17) and Marjory E King (12).

Andrew Ephire King sailed from Pearl Harbor on 7 Aug 1942, on USS Henderson, while she did service as a transport between California and Hawaii during World War II, arriving in San Francisco, California on 15 Aug 1942. He was still serving in WWII. Was he in Pearl Harbour the year before?

On 5 Apr 1945, Douglas Andrew King (24) married Daisy Mae Hadlock (19), daughter of Ivan Hadlock and Esther Smith, in Hampton, Virginia.

Margery and her mother travelled to Ireland and England, visiting Dave and Kitty in Rushbrooke, Queenie and Alice in Cork City, my grandparents in Birmingham and stayed with Marcella in Portsmouth, in 1946. Margery wrote that, "My mother had kept in touch with her cousins all through WWII while we were in the USA and was anxious to see them all again."

A licence had been applied for, for the marriage of Margery Ellen King to a Donald William Gemmel in January 1950, but this marriage never took place. Margery never mentioned this. No surprise. I always knew her as Mrs Margery Hamilton, but haven't been able to find any record of a marriage for her.

Edith Mary King married John Kenneth Crawford, in Cork, on 7 Aug 1950. Her parents went to Ireland for the wedding, and returned on RMS Franconia, leaving Liverpool on 21 Sep 1950, arriving in Quebec on 29 Sep 1950. The Crawfords had at least one son (name and birth date unknown, but thought to be still living in Ireland), as Margery often mentioned her nephew - to whom she said she had given all of Andrew Ephire King's detailed diaries.

Annie King of 28 Oceana Avenue, Ocean Park, Maine (wife of Andrew Ephire King, Retired Lieutenant Commander U.S.N.), died on 21 Dec 1950, at the Trull Hospital, Biddeford, Maine, aged 60, leaving her effects to her husband. Annie King is buried at, New Town Cemetery, Rollinsford, New Hampshire.

On 26 Sep 1953, Margery King left Cobh on the MV Britannic, presumably for her father's marriage, on 24 Oct 1953, at the Methodist Church, Plymouth, New Hampshire, to divorcee, Elma Marguerite Wyman (née Dunphy).

Andrew Ephire King, who died on 1 July 1983, Lieutenant commander United States Navy Mexican Border, WWI & WWII, is also buried in the family plot at New Town Cemetery, Rollinsford, New Hampshire.

Douglas Andrew King died on 13 Mar 2002.

We visited Margery in Ireland in 2014. Her sister, Edith, had died not long before. Margery must have died in 2016, which, sadly, we only discovered when the Post Office returned my correspondence. Her contribution to this research has been invaluable: even when the family stories she was told weren't quite true, they provided valuable clues that I continue to pursue and hope that I can also answer some of the questions she left unanswered.

See also:

• The Queenstown Patrol – the US navy in Cork Harbour in WWI
• Passport photos of women who left Cork for the US
• Ireland’s US Navy ‘war brides’
• The US Navy at Queenstown