Frederick Southcott and Eliza Harris

Tiverton : Former Belmont Hospital
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Lewis Clarke - geograph.org.uk/p/4587272
Now known as Perreyman Court, this used to be a hospital and workhouse.

Frederick Southcott, son of William Southcott and Temperance Cosway, married Eliza Harris in Tiverton, in 1879. They had five children: 

1. Lucy Southcott b. 30 Aug 1880, bap. 13 Sep 1880 at St Peter's Church, Tiverton. (Died in the first quarter of 1881, aged 0.)
2. Alice Southcott b. 22 Mar 1882, bap. 14 Apr 1882 at St Peter's Church, Tiverton. (Died at the beginning of 1885, aged 3.)
3. Arthur Southcott b. 30 Jul 1883, bap. 9 Aug 1883 at St Peter's. 
4. Frederick William Southcott b. 27 Feb 1886, bap. 28 Mar 1886 at St Peter's Church, Tiverton. (Died in the 2nd quarter of 1886, aged 0.) 
5. Bessie Southcott b. 1889, bap. 12 Feb 1892 at St Peter's, Tiverton.

In 1881, Frederick Southcott (29) and his wife Eliza (25) were living in Kiddles Court, Tiverton - off Fore Street - and he was employed as a Milk Carrier (these listings of Victorian Occupations 'helpfully' lists this as "Someone who carries milk" - no doubt from dairy to customer in a hand cart as shown here.)

However, already on the 1886 baptism, under what is usually the father's occupation, was listed "Inmate of Workhouse". And on Bessie's baptism in 1892, their address was given as Tiverton Union, i.e. Workhouse too. 

In 1891, Frederick, Eliza, Arthur and Bessie had all been Inmates at The Tiverton Union Workhouse. It becomes clear why they were there, as the records explain that Frederick Southcott, former milk carrier, had become "Blind not from birth".

Without buying all the death certificates, it's not possible to know for sure what it was, but clearly something happened within the five years between 1881 and 1886. The fact that two of the children died around the same time, in 1885 and 1886, tends to suggest - to me anyway - that disease, rather than an accident, was implicated. Smallpox was a common killer in nineteenth century Britain, and was responsible for a third of all human blindness. The risk of death after contracting the disease was about 30%, with higher rates among babies.

Unsurprisingly, Arthur went to sea, joining the Royal Navy in March 1899, when he will have been 15½. While Bessie was enrolled in Elmore School in 1899, with her address on the school records once again listed as "Workhouse".

Bessie and her parents were still in the Workhouse in 1901, after which she just disappears. Art Southcott (17), in 1901, was a Boy 1st Class, part of the crew of HMS Nile, while she was the coast guard ship at Devonport. 

Frederick died in 1906. Arthur served in the Royal Navy until 4 Jun 1908, when he was Invalided, so by 1911, Arthur Southcott (27) was back in the Tiverton Union Workhouse. Eliza was still in the Workhouse in 1911 and died in 1913. 

Utterly heart-breaking that accident or illness had consigned them to what was undoubtedly a miserable existence for the rest of their lives. 

Dan Stephen Thompson Botterill and Mary Jane Harris

Skull & crossbones on the gatepost at the entrance to
St. Nicholas' Church, Deptford Green, SE8
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Mike Quinn - geograph.org.uk/p/1499463

Dan Stephen Thompson Botterill, son of Daniel Botterill and Sarah Elizabeth Tompson, married Mary Jane Harris, daughter of Alfred Richard Harris and Jane Elizabeth Jones, at Christ Church Watney Street, on 26 Dec 1878. 

Dan, a fitter, gave his address as 225 Cable Street. Mary Jane's address was 34 Deptford Green, where her father was a baker by trade. Dan had spent his early years in Deptford Green too, when his parents kept The White Hart, which the census records show was next door to the bakery. Witnesses to the marriage were Alfred Richard Harris - who could have been Mary Jane's father or her younger brother - and Eliza Ann Harris, the bride's sister.

Dan and Mary had eight children: 

1. John Botterill born 1880
2. Daniel Thompson Botterill born 1882
3. Alice Botterill born 1884
4. Kate Elizabeth born 1886
5. Bessie Botterill born 1888
6. Esther Botterill born 1891
7. Alfred Botterill born 1894
8. Florrie Botterill born 1900

In 1881, they were living at 16, Duke Street, St Paul Deptford, Greenwich, with Dan (24), Engine Fitter, Mary (22) and their eldest child, John (1).

In 1891, living in Bentham Street, St Paul Deptford, Greenwich, we find Dan (34), Steam Engine Fitter, Mary (32), Daniel (9), Bessie (2) and Esther (0), as well as Thomas Thompson (54), a blacksmith and Janet Thompson (51), visitors, from Monkwearmouth, Durham. John (11) and Alice (6) were visiting their Botterill grandparents at the Holly Tree Arms in Lewisham, while Kate was staying with her Harris grandparents at The Green, Deptford.

Son Daniel Thompson was baptised on 22 Mar 1900 at St James Hatcham.

In 1901, still at Bentham Street, Deptford, were Dan (44), Marine Engine Fitter, Mary Jane (42), Daniel (19), Alice (19), Kate (14), Bessie (12), Esther (10), Alfred (6) and Florrie (1). John (21), Sign Writer, was staying with his grandmother, Sarah Elizabeth Botterill at 49, Wisteria Road, Lewisham. 

By 1911, they'd moved to 65 Childers St, Deptford, with Dan (54), Marine and General Fitter, Mary (52), Alice (26), Seed Packer, Bessie Standing (22) (married in 1909), Esther Botterill (20), Seed Packer, Alfred Botterill (16), Pattern Maker Apprentice, Florrie Botterill (11), Thomas Harris (31), Boiler Makers Rivetter (Mary Jane's brother) and George Standing (0), visitor. John Botterill (31), was still at 49 Wisteria Road Lewisham with his aunt, Mary Louisa Adcock Botterill. Daniel Thompson Botterill, who had married in 1905, had died in 1908, aged just 26. Kate Botterill, in 1911, was working as a Housemaid at 50 Pall Mall, St James Westminster, London. 

Dan Stephen Thompson Botterill died on 16 Apr 1917, aged 60 and was buried in Brockley and Ladywell Cemetery together with his parents.

Mary Jane Botterill died on 12 Apr 1924, aged 65.

Postcard sent to Alice Botterill at 65 Childers Street, Deptford