John Stone: Attempting to ravish and carnally know

Hockworthy: Hockford Cottage
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Martin Bodman - geograph.org.uk/p/164609

John Stone, the third of Henry Stone and Mary Ridgeway's children, born in Ashbrittle, Somerset, in 1858, may have been a bit of a rogue. 

In 1861, John (3), like his older brothers, was at home with his parents at Court Place, Ashbrittle. I've not been able to locate him in 1871, when he will have been around 13, but he'd already left his parents' home. Undoubtedly employed as a farm labourer, his employer probably didn't know much about him, so he may well appear on the census, but with details they guessed.

In 1873, aged 15, John Stone, was arrested and taken to the Devon County Prison, on 2 Jun, accused of "Attempting to ravish and carnally know Maria Disney on the 28th May, 1873, at Hockworthy." The committing magistrate was J. C. New, Esq., of Cullompton, but John wasn't tried: the bill was ignored for assault with intent to ravish, indecent assault and assault. No further details or clues as to why the case did not proceed, but as Peter Calver of Lost Cousins suggested, securing a conviction was difficult in those times.

On the 1871 census, Mariah Disney (then 12, so 14 at the time of the alleged assault), daughter of John Disney, farm labourer, was living at Hockford Barton, Hockworthy. We may assume she was the young lady in question. 

[NOTE: John's sister, Harriet Stone, married their first cousin, James Ridgway. James Ridgway's mother was Ann Tooze, who's own mother was Eliza Disney, so there's no doubt that John was also "keeping it in the family"!]

Widening the area of search, I eventually found John Stone on the 1881 census living in the household of Henry Payne, Railway Tunnel Miner, at Railway Hut, Hurst Green, Oxted, Godstone, Surrey. Living there were Henry Payne (31), his wife, four children aged 5 to 11, as well as nine men, all boarders, all railway tunnel labourers. And at the bottom of the long list was John Stone (22), Tunnel Miner's Labourer, born in Somerset.

The Oxted Tunnel - on the Oxted line, which passes under the North Downs in two tunnels, and then splits into two branches at Hurst Green, adjoining Oxted in Surrey - opened in 1884. It doesn't take much imagination, therefore, to work out what John must have been working on in 1881. Living in what must have been horrendous conditions, with so many people crammed into an undoubtedly overcrowded space, lacking in facilities will have been a perfect environment for transmitting infectious diseases ...

Because one year later, John Stone, "Labourer on Railway", died, aged just 24, on 27 Aug 1882, in Uplowman. His sister, Mary Ann Prescott, was present at his death. Wondering if he'd been killed in an accident or even a revenge attack, I'd ordered his death certificate, but John had, in fact, died of the all-too-common at that time, Phthisis (Tuberculosis). 

John Stone was buried, on 3 Sep 1882, in the churchyard at Uplowman.

Grave of John Stone and his parents, Mary and Henry Stone, in Uplowman Churchyard

Martin Mullarkey, Catherine Loughlin and Julia Garvey

Speke and Garston Coastal Reserve
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © David Dixon - geograph.org.uk/p/4069433
Looking along the shore of the River Mersey towards Garston Docks

In 1881, Martin Mullarkey (40) was boarding at 8, Hughes Street, Garston, Liverpool with Anthony Mullarkey (16) General Labourer and Michael Mullarkey (7), among 15, mostly Irish, people. All three from Ireland.

In 1891, Martin Mullarkey (51) General labourer for corporation and his younger son, Michael Mullarkey (17) Shoemaker, were lodging in Thomas Street, Garston. This narrows them down to being from Mayo, Ireland. 

On both of these censuses, Martin Mullarkey is described as a widower, which may be doubtful, as several newspaper reports had appeared, one in the Manchester Evening News, on Tuesday, 2 Apr 1872.

AN EXTRORDINARY DEFENCE:- At Liverpool Police Court, yesterday, an Irishman named Martin Mullarkey was charged with bigamy. It having been proved that he was married, some few years ago, at a Roman Catholic chapel near Westport, County Mayo, and that he was married to a woman named Julia Garvey, in Liverpool, about twelve months since, the first wife being still alive, he was called on for his defence. He said that the first marriage was a forced one; that he was taken sixteen miles from his home by a lot of men, and married in spite of himself. (Roars of laughter.) This was done in the dead of night; and he did not think it was allowed for a man to be married without a certificate or anything of that kind. One of the witnesses for the prosecution admitted that the marriage took place at about eleven o'clock at night. The prisoner was remanded.

A later report, on Tuesday, 16 Apr 1872, named the first wife as Miss Catherine Loughlin, who he had married in Islandeady, Mayo, about 12 years previously. It also went on to say that, "The second wife said she did not wish to prosecute, and the prisoner was discharged." She wished to see no more of him, provided he paid for the expense of maintaining the child.

The Belfast Evening Telegraph on Thursday, 18 Apr 1872, under the headline, BIGAMY MADE EASY, added that Mullarkey had emigrated to England about two years ago (i.e. 1870) and that this second marriage had resulted in the birth of a child. "The circumstance at length reached the ears of the first wife, who came to England in search of her errant husband ..."

Is this the same Martin Mullarkey from Mayo? It certainly fits. 

I've not been able to find birth or marriage records in Ireland to confirm, but I think it safe to believe that Anthony Mullarkey was originally from County Mayo, Ireland and that his mother may have been Catherine Loughlin.

James Roland George Edmond and Elizabeth Thompson

Penywern Road, Earls Court
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © PAUL FARMER - geograph.org.uk/p/1266232

James Roland George Edmond, elder son of James Edmond and Sarah Ann Wood, married Elizabeth Thompson, in 1937, in Paddington, London. 

On 12 Feb 1932, James R G Edmond had enlisted in the Scots Guards. 

Spot the glaring error in this communication from the Recruiting Office in Exeter, writing to the Commanding Officer of the Scots Guards in Birdcage Walk, S.W.1.

"May this man be accepted please. He is a Bona-fide Scotchman. Wishes to serve in his Father's Regt. Father killed on service in the Great War. Father's Regt: Scots Guards. He is of a very respectable appearance and his acceptance is recommended."

In another communication, they'd also quoted the wrong service number and date of death for his father. And on another page, his nationality as Scottish (although for many it would be great news if that really was a thing.)

On 31 Mar 1935, James was in Civil Custody to be tried the next day, at Marylebone Police Court, for "taking and driving away" and this offence is noted on his military record. He was fined 45 Shillings (£2.25 in 1935 is worth £168 today.) From 1 Nov 1935 to 23 Nov 1936, he served in Egypt and transferred to Palestine on 24 Nov 1936 until 30 Dec 1936, for which he was awarded the General Service Medal with Clasp "Palestine". 

J R G Edmond was discharged from the guards on 13 Jan 1939 (under Paragraph 383 (xviii) of the Kings Regulations 1935), his services being no longer required. On discharge, his military conduct was listed as "FAIR" and described as "A clean and hardworking man. He is a good groom. Has also been employed as a saddler in which capacity he has done good work."

Given he was only 27 at the outbreak of World War II, it's strange he seems not to have been called back into service in some sort of capacity, but in 1939 we find James R G Edmond, Attendant Amusement, with wife Elizabeth (b. 25 Mar 1914) and George Thompson (b. 27 May 1917), Luggage Porter, at 25 Penywern Road, Earls Court (now the address of the Lord Jim Hotel). 

Elizabeth Edmond died in 2000 and James R G Edmond in 2001, both in Peterborough.

James Beamer and Mary Jane Snell

Old Toll House, Briton Street, Bampton
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Milestone Society - geograph.org.uk/p/6114414

James Beamer (b. 1855), son of James Beamer and Rose Anna Smith, brother of Alfred Beamer and half-brother of Loveday Jane Land and John Land, married Mary Jane Snell (b. ~1857) - that's the maiden name listed on several of their children's birth registrations - in Exeter, in 1876. The transcript of the marriage record lists them as James Bemer and Mary Jane Smale, which made this record difficult to find. Only because, in 1911, they said they'd been married for 34 years, was there finally a clue to the period to look in.

Mary Jane is listed on census records as being from Devonport, Plymouth, but it hasn't been possible to find records of her birth or early years.

James and Mary Jane had at least seven children:

1. Mary Jane Beamer born Q2 1884 in Tiverton, mother's maiden name SNELL. (Died and was buried, on 13 Apr 1884, in Bampton).
2. Ethel Anna Beamer (no civil reg), bap. 26 Apr 1885 in Bampton.
3. (Unnamed male child) Beamer born Q3 1886 in Tiverton, mother's maiden name SNELL. (Died in the same quarter, age 0.)
4. Sarah Jane Beamer born Q3 1887 in Tiverton, mother's name SMALE
5. Tom Beamer born Q3 1890 in Tiverton, mother's maiden name listed as SUELL. Bap. 3 Aug 1890 in Bampton.
6. Rosanna Beamer born Q1 1893 in Tiverton, mother's maiden name SNELL. Bap. as Rose Anna Beamer, on 30 Apr 1893, in Bampton. (Died, aged 16 months and was buried, on 22 Aug 1894, in Bampton.)
7. Mary Ann Beamer registered Q1 1896 in Tiverton, mother's maiden name listed as SNELL. Bap. 29 Dec 1895 in Bampton. (Died in Q2 1901, aged 5. Buried on 27 Apr 1901 in Bampton.)

There could be other children, particularly given the number of discrepancies in the information, such as the mother's maiden name, which could be errors in transcription, or registrars writing down what they heard. The parents don't help, because on the 1911 census they say they have only had 3 children with 3 then living, but various corroborating records prove that to be untrue.

In 1881, James Beamer (25) Railway Labourer and Mary Beamer (23) were living at Rose Cottage, Bampton, Devon.

Ethel Ann Beamer (3) "British King" from Liverpool

This curious record relates to an Ethel Ann Beamer, then age 3, sailing on the "SS British King" from Liverpool, arriving in Philadelphia on 29 May 1888. Their intended destination was Chicago. Taken alone, I'd have ignored this and assumed that this was another Ethel Ann Beamer entirely. HOWEVER, in the box at the top right, it says "Accompanied by" Sarah Jane 8 months and Mary Jane 30, both of which fit exactly. I've also found an equivalent record for Sarah Jane and both children appear on the passenger list, along with Mary Jane. It's hard to imagine them being able to afford to go to the US - and come back again - but equally hard to imagine the combination of those three names and ages cropping up together more than once. It's a mystery.

In 1891, James Beamer (39) Agricultural Labourer, wife Mary (35), Ethel A (6), Sarah J (3) and Tom (0), were living in Briton Street, Bampton. 

On 16 Oct 1894, James and Mary Beamer were both charged and bailed, accused of "Wilfully neglecting Rose Anna Beamer, a girl under the age of 16 years, to wit, 16 months, in a manner likely to cause unnecessary suffering and injury to health, at Bampton, on 15 August 1894, and on various other dates." They were found not guilty and acquitted. 

In 1901, James Beamer (48) General Labourer, Mary Jane (42), Ethel (15), Tom (9) and Mary A (5), were living on the Tiverton Road, Bampton. Sarah Jane (14), was employed as a General domestic servant, in the household of Henry Early, Watchmaker and jeweller, at 12, Angel Hill, Tiverton. 

In 1911, we find the family has "emigrated" ... to Wales. James Beamer (53) from Bampton, Devon was then a Coal miner hewer living at 4 Price Street, Pentre in the Rhondda Valley, Glamorganshire with Mary (49), Tom (20) also working as a Coal miner hewer; Ethel Cappell (25), William Cappell (25) Son-in-law, and grandchildren, William (3) and Ethel (1). (Ethel Ann Beamer had married William David Cappell on 24 Apr 1907, in Bampton.)

In 1921, James Beamer (69) Labourer (Surface) Ocean Cal Company Out Of Work; Mary Jane Beamer (63), William David Cappell (35) Labourer Corys Broks Coal Company Out Of Work; Ethel Ann Cappell (38), William David James Cappell (13), Ethel Ann Cappell (11) and Lawrence Earnest Cappell (5) were living at 1, Price Street, Pentre, Rhondda, Glamorganshire, Wales.

Mary Beamer died, aged 70, in 1927 in Taunton, Somerset. 

James Beamer died, in 1931, aged 77, also in Taunton. 

(William and Ethel Cappell lived in Rowford, Cheddon Fitzpaine, Taunton in 1939. No further records for Sarah Jane after 1901 nor Tom after 1911.)

Daniel Botterill and Sarah Elizabeth Thompson

The "skull & crossbones" entrance to St. Nicholas' Church, Deptford Green Photo © Mike Quinn (cc-by-sa/2.0)

Daniel Botterill (bap. 20 Dec 1831), son of Stephen Botterill and Mary Thompson, married Sarah Elizabeth Thompson (bap. 15 Dec 1833), daughter of Daniel Thompson and Mary Adcock, at Christ Church Watney Street, St George in the East in 1856. Mary Botterill (née Thompson) - Daniel Botterill's mother - was the elder sister of Daniel Thompson - Sarah Elizabeth Thompson's father. Daniel and Sarah were, therefore, 1st Cousins.

Daniel and Sarah had five children: 

1. Dan Stephen Thompson Botterill, born 1857, baptised at West Haddon, Northamptonshire on 13 Sep 1857. Birth registered in Greenwich. 
2. Benjamin Adcock Botterill was also baptised at West Haddon, on 6 May 1861. (Died in the 2nd quarter of 1862, aged 1.)
3. John Benjamin Botterill (b. 25 Aug 1864) was baptised on 27 Jan 1867 at Saint Nicholas, Deptford.
4. Elizabeth Cox Botterill (b. 1867) was also baptised on 27 Jan 1867 at Saint Nicholas, Deptford. (She died in 1871, aged 4 years.)
5. Mary Louisa Adcock Botterill (b. 19 Apr 1870) was baptised at Saint Nicholas, Deptford on 8 May 1870. (Died 1947, see below.)

In 1841, Daniel Botterill (10) was living with his parents in West Haddon, Northamptonshire, with his father, Stephen, then listed as a Publican.

In 1861, Daniel was living at 3, Wellington Street (formerly Flagon Row), St Nicholas, Deptford, listed as a "Boiler Maker Tobaconist" - between a Butcher and a Shoe Shop on one side and a Baker, a Greengrocer, a Chemist and a Clothes Dealer on the other. Emma Thompson (16) was listed as a Servant in his household, while his wife, Sarah, was visiting her brother George and their widowed mother, in Northamptonshire, along with sons Daniel (4) and Benjamin (0).

A report in The Era of 17 Nov 1867 lists the transfer of the licence for The White Hart, Deptford Green to Daniel Botterill. Situated at 33 Deptford Green, the pub closed c.1896 and has now been demolished. We find Daniel and Sarah Botterill there in 1869 and again on the 1871 census, where Daniel Botterill (39) is listed as a Licensed Victualler and living with him are his wife, Sarah E (37), sons; Daniel Stephen (14) and John (6), daughters; Elizabeth (4) and Mary (0), as well as Sarah's sister, Louisa Thompson (26), listed as "Barmaid" and Sarah's widowed mother, Mary Thompson (61). 

(1) Houses In Old Flagon Row, North Side (2) Corner of Flagon Row (3) Deptford Green c.1897

In 1874, D Botterill was listed as the licencee of The Old Centurion Pub on Deptford Broadway. Given the two following reports in the newspapers of the time, it would seem that this was probably a pretty rough establishment. 

Kentish Mercury 9 May 1874

STEALING A DRINKING GLASS

Jane Bartlett, about 70 years of age, a hawker, residing in Hales Street, Deptford, was charged with stealing a drinking glass, value 6½d., the property of Daniel Botterill, landlord of The Centurion, public house, Deptford Broadway. It appeared from the evidence of the barman that the prisoner came into the house on the previous evening, and remained there some time drinking with a navvy. After he had gone witness saw the prisoner place the glass under her arm, and upon speaking to her about it she dropped it. The prisoner, who denied any intention of stealing the glass, was sent to Maidstone gaol for seven days.

Kentish Mercury 6 Mar 1875

KICKING A LICENSED VICTUALLER

James Chapman, of Wood's lodging-house, Mill Lane, Deptford, was charged with being drunk, and assaulting the landlord of the Centurion public house, Deptford Broadway. Daniel Botterill, the landlord, said the prisoner came into his house on Saturday night and annoyed the customers. He was ejected, but got in again, and commenced another row. Witness put him outside, when the prisoner ran at him, and kicked him several times. Mr. Patterson sentenced the prisoner to 14 days' hard labour, refusing his application for the imposition of a fine. 

The Old Centurion Pub closed in 2004 and was converted into flats. 

(Top left) The White Hart, Deptford Green, (Top right) The Old Centurion Pub on Deptford Boadway, (Bottom left) Clock House, Leather Lane, (Bottom right) Holly Tree Arms, Lewisham

On the 1881 census and in 1882, Daniel Botterill was listed as landlord of the Clock House (formerly Coach & Horses), in Leather Lane, Holborn. Sarah's sister, Louisa, who married John Soppit in 1875, was living there, but Sarah was not on census day. Instead, she was lodging in the household of John Snell, a Lodging House Keeper, in Torquay in Devon. The transcription of that record describes her as "Sister to wife". That doesn't make sense and I believe the original actually says "Licensed Victualler's Wife" which is what she was. Was this a relative, a business contact, a holiday or perhaps a health break?

By 1891, the Botterills were back south of the river at the Holly Tree Arms, then in Holly Tree Terrace, between Hither Green and Lewisham. Staying there at that time were Daniel (59), Licensed Victualler, wife Sarah E (57), daughter Mary L (20), grandson John (11), granddaughter Alice (6), Alice J Pretty (28) Domestic Servant General, niece Catherine S Soppett (15), Edmund Allen (16) Pot Boy and Catherine Hancock (59) Laundress. 

A report in the Woolwich Gazette on 16 Feb 1894, showed Daniel Botterill as the outgoing licensee in the transfer of the licence of the Holly Tree.

Given they only seem to stay in one place for a couple of years at a time, there may well be even more pubs in the years between these various records. 

In 1901, Sarah, 'Wife of occupier (away)', is living at 49, Wisteria Road, Lewisham along with daughter Mary L A (30) a Teacher of Dressmaking and grandson John (21) a Sign Writer, while Daniel Botterill (69), "Living on own means", was away in the household of his son, John Benjamin Botterill, in Croydon, where Daniel was listed as a 'Widower'. Clearly he wasn't. 

Daniel Botterill died, aged 76, on 12 Feb 1908. 

Sarah died just a month later, on 11 Mar 1908, aged 74. The probate record shows that she left £2449 1s 3d (almost £300,000 today) to her three children. 

In 1911, Mary L A Botterill (40) was living at 49 Wisteria Road, Lewisham. Living with her was her nephew, John Botterill (31) Sign Writer.

In 1921, Mary L A Botterill was living at 69 Old Road, Lee, Lewisham. Her nephew, John Botterill (41) Sign Writer was still living with her, as well as an Evelyn L R Wadsworth (54) Working Companion, Boarder.

In 1939, and still living at 69 Old Road, Lee, Lewisham, were Mary L A Botterill and with her this time, Lucy E N Wadsworth (b. 1 Apr 1917). 

If you were looking for a happy ending to this story, sadly you aren't going to find it here. The Probate record for Mary Louisa Adcock Botterill, who had obviously never married, shows that at the time of her death on 4 Feb 1947, she was a resident at Leavesden Hospital (The Imbeciles Asylum). Leavesden Hospital was a mental health facility, which was called Leavesden Asylum for Idiots and Imbeciles when it opened. Mary Louisa Adcock Botterill was buried, on 11 Feb 1947, along with her parents and bother.