Francis Robert Blazey and Maria Emily Andrews

Church of St Thomas The Martyr, Oxford
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © David Dixon - geograph.org.uk/p/2030942

Francis Robert Blazey (b. 1 Aug 1833), eldest son of Francis Stephen Blazey and Hannah Minns, married Maria Emily Andrews (bap. 22 Mar 1840 at St Thomas the Martyr, Oxford), daughter of Charles Andrews and Eliza Sparks, at St Thomas the Martyr's Church, Oxford, on 22 Aug 1859. Witnesses to their marriage were William Griffin and Mary Ann Griffin.

Francis & Maria Blazey had two sons:

1. Francis Charles Blazey b. 1860 J Quarter in OXFORD Volume 03A Page 543, died aged 4 in 1864 S Quarter in WITNEY Volume 03A Page 418, buried 1 Aug 1864 at St Mary, Witney
2. William James Blazey b. 1863 S Quarter in WITNEY Volume 03A Page 589. No further records found, so presume died an infant?

In 1861, Francis Robert Blazey (27) Fireman, wife Maria (20) Dressmaker and their son, Francis Charles (1) and Samuel Blazey (19), Francis' younger brother, were living at 2, St Pauls Street, Blockhouse, Worcester.

The next record tells us Maria Andrews Blazey, wife of F. R. Blazey, Driver E.I.R. (East Indian Railway Company), died from Cancer on 4 Sep 1873, aged 32y 7m, and was buried on 5 Sep 1873 at Dinapore, Bengal, India. (Dinapore was a British garrison town in the 19th century, now called Danapur, it's about 10km NW of Patna, and 500km NW of Calcutta, now Kolkata.)

Francis Robert Blazey, 41, married Louisa Susan Stanley, 16 (b. 21 May 1857 and bap. 25 Jun 1857, at Poona (now Pune), India), daughter of Augustus George and Eliza Jemima Stanley, on 9 Apr 1874, in Dinapore, India.

Francis & Louisa Blazey added a daughter:

3. Alice Maud Stanley Blazey b. 21 Dec 1875, bap. 31 Jan 1876, in Dinapore, India

Both the marriage record for Francis and Louisa and the baptism record for Alice Maud Stanley Blazey give their residence as Khagoul (now Khagaul).

(Louisa's siblings: Morgan Stanley and Rosina Gelstow Stanley were born in Allahabad in 1859 and 1860, respectively, and Mary Augusta Stanley was born in Mirzapur in 1863. Brother, Augustus George Stanley, born 1862, died aged 3, from "Convulsions" on 6 Jun was buried on 7 Jun 1865, in Cawnpore (now Kanpur, famous for the 1857 Siege of Cawnpore). On the burial record, Augustus George Stanley's occupation is given as Tehsildar (A tehsildar is a tax officer accompanied by revenue inspectors, though I shall forever equate him to Joseph Sedley, the collector of Boggley Wollah in Vanity Fair.) Eliza Jemima Stanley, had died on 3 Sep 1867, aged 29, and was buried the next day, in Cawnpore. Under cause of death: "Uncontrollable vomiting from Hepatic congestion brought on by hard drinking." The death of Augustus George Stanley in Bombay, India on 28 Apr 1878, may relate.)

Louisa Susan Blazey died, aged 27, on 2 Mar 1884, at sea, from Softening of the Brain (Cerebral softening, also known as encephalomalacia).

Francis Robert Blazey (51), Widower, Gentleman, of 9 Union Terrace, then married Elenora Matilda Audric (24) at St James' Church, Norlands on 23 Apr 1885. The bride, of 161 Holland Road [Islington], listed as a Spinster, named her father as John [Jean] Baptiste François Audric, Cabinet Maker.

Francis & Elenora Blazey had two further children:

4. Constance Ellen Blazey b. 1890 J Quarter in ISLINGTON Volume 01B Page 224, bap. 1 Jun 1890 in Holloway, Islington, with parents listed as Francis Robert Blazey, Licenced Victualler, and Margaret Matilda Eleanor Blazey, of 54 Hampden Road, Islington - formerly the address of the now demolished Royal Oak Tavern
5. Harry Robert Blazey b. 5 Apr 1899 J Qtr in KENSINGTON Vol 01A Page 103, bap. 6 May 1899, son of Francis Robert, Retired Engineer, and Ellen Nora Blazey of 155 Holland Road

In 1891, at The Swan Inn, The Common, Kings Langley, Hertfordshire were Francis R Blazey (57) Publican; Margaret M Blazey (30) from Whitehaven, Cumberland; Alice Maud Blazey (15), Constance Blazey (0), Elizabeth Stiles (28) and Elenor E Stiles (1) Visitors and Maud Millers (9) Stepdaughter.

The Eastern Post of 3 Nov 1894 under Transfer of Licences in Tower Hamlets, "in the Parish of St Mary, Stratford, Bow: Milford Castle, Cadogan Terrace, Baptiste de Bolla to Francis Robert Blazey." This was a typo as it was the Mitford Castle, 129 Cadogan Terrace, Bow E9, a pub that, now gone, was already infamous then as the public house to which the victim, Thomas Briggs, was brought when his body was found on the tracks behind the pub on July 9 1864. He would later die and become the first ever murder victim on a British train. (An oddly ironic, if darkly appropriate, pub for an ex-train driver!)

In 1901, at 31, Sinclair Gardens, Hammersmith, were Francis R Blazey (68) Retired Engineer, Norah Blazey (39), Constance E Blazey (10), Harry R Blazey (2), daughter Alice Maud Trevail (25) - Alice married Herbert Fleming Trevail - Winifred S Trevail (0) Granddaughter, Katherine Pye (56) Boarder, Thomas R Cox (24) Boarder, Nellie Kent (19) General Domestic Servant, Margaret Bennet (56) Visitor and Kate Eames (47) Visitor - Sick nurse.

Francis Robert Blazey is said to have died around 1905. Although I can find no record to confirm this, he doesn't appear to be on the 1911 Census.

Norah Blazey died on 14Mar 1909 (1909 M Quarter in ST MARYLEBONE Volume 01A Page 442), her age then estimated as 45.

Wilhelm Kritzer and Flora Wilhelmina Gleichauf

The Catholic parish church of St. Johann in Donaueschingen, Germany. The building with a double tower façade in the Bohemian Baroque style was built from 1724 to 1747 to a design by the Prague architect František Maxmilián Kaňka. Photo H. Helmlechner, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Wilhelm Kritzer (b. 10 Jan 1844), son of Michael Kritzer and Maria Agatha Hall, married Flora Wilhelmina Gleichauf (b. 26 Jan 1851), daughter of Johann Nepomuk Gleichauf and Waldburga Baur, on 26 Jun 1873 at the Katholisch (The Catholic parish church of St. Johann, consecrated to John the Baptist) in Donaueschingen, Villingen, Baden, Germany. 

Wilhelm and Flora Kritzer had five children, all baptised in that same church:

1. Amalia Kritzer b. 7 Oct 1873, bap. 19 Oct 1873
2. Julius Kritzer b. 18 Aug 1874, bap. 23 Aug 1874
3. Karl Kritzer b. 3 Nov 1875, bap. 14 Nov 1875
4. Josef Kritzer b. 30 Oct 1877, bap. 11 Nov 1877 
5. Wilhelm Kritzer b. 10 Mar 1879, bap. 23 Mar 1879,
   but who sadly died on 14 Sep of the same year.

Eldest son Julius Kritzer of 26 Karlstrasse, Donaueschingen, Germany died on 12 Feb 1925. (Karlstraße, appears to be the town's main street.) Probate was granted, however, in 1929, in England, to Mortimer Rooke, solicitor, attorney of Justina Kritzer, widow. It seems strange to have probate granted in England, unless they also spent time in the UK, but I can find no record of either of them having done so and no other record of Julius, nor Justina.

The three other surviving siblings certainly came to Britain to work in service in some very distinguished households and were in the UK at the outbreak of the First World War, where they found themselves at the epicentre of the anti-German hysteria and Spy Fever, incited by the press. 

Pelham Place, South Kensington
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Marathon - geograph.org.uk/p/2730271

Amalia Kritzer (27), daughter of Wilhelm Kritzer and Flora Gleichauf, in 1901, was employed as a Lady's Maid in the household of spinster sisters, Mary and Adela Ram at 20, Alexander Square, Kensington, a garden square in London's Chelsea, SW3. (Like the private communal gardens seen in Notting Hill.) 

In 1911, she was working as Lady's Maid for a 3rd sister, Elizabeth Ram at 19 Pelham Place, Kensington. The two older Ram sisters were born in France and the latter in Ireland, so the family don't appear on any census in England until we find them, living with their father, Stephen Ram, in the similarly upmarket Egerton Gardens, in 1891, where he was 'Living on own Means'. (Stephen Ram (1819-1899), of Ramsfort Park, Gorey, County Wexford, Ireland (The Rams of Gorey), had married Mary Christian Casamayor at Marylebone Church on 6 Aug 1839, with whom he had 7 children.)

In 1921, Amalie Kritzer (47) Lady's Maid from Baden, Germany was still working for Elizabeth Ram (62) at 19, Pelham Place, South Kensington, London. Living with Miss Ram was her niece, Christina M Ram and the pair were attended by Amalie, a Cook, a Parlourmaid and a Housemaid.

Elizabeth Ram died, at 67, in 1926 S Quarter in KENSINGTON Volume 01A Page 111 and The London Daily Chronicle of 15 Oct 1926 reported on, "£300 A YEAR TO MAID. Miss Elizabeth Ram of Pelham Place, South Kensington, whose estate is valued at £100,441 [nearly £8 million in 2024], left £200, the contents of her rooms, and £300 a year to her maid, Amalie Kritzer."

Amalie Kritzer, spinster, of 125 Beaufort St, Chelsea, London died, aged 60, on 4 Oct 1934. She left £1267 5s 8d (~£114,000 in 2024). Probate was granted to Mortimer Rooke and Alexander Herbert Macdonald, solicitors.

Source of the Donaubach in Donaueschingen (historically considered the source of the Danube)
Donaueschingen, in the Schwarzwald (Black Forest) near the confluence of the two sources of the river Danube, close to the borders with Switzerland and France, is postcard perfect. This video gives us a look around the town today and the pronunciation of Doe-now-ess-shingen. 

Francis Blazey and Amy Rosa Joslin

Regent's Canal, Bow Common
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Pierre Terre - geograph.org.uk/p/129062

Francis Blazey (bap. 18 Oct 1867), son of Samuel Blazey and Elizabeth Wiggins, married Amy Rosa Joslin (b. 5 Feb 1865 in Kensington), daughter of Robert Hurrell Joslin from Chelmsford, Essex and Anna Graver from Hemsby, Norfolk, on 19 Jun 1892, at Saint John The Evangelist, Golding Street, Saint George in the East, where their marriage service was performed by Daniel Radford, Curate. (The church was closed during the Second World War and demolished in 1964.) Witnesses were Valentine and Caroline Wolf.

Francis and Amy had six children, all born in St George in the East:

1. Hilda Alice Eleanor Blazey b. 1892 S Quarter in ST. GEORGE IN THE EAST Volume 01C Page 370 (Died, aged 1, on 1 Jul 1894 S Quarter in ST GEORGE IN THE EAST Volume 01C Page 205 and was buried at Margravine Cemetery, Hammersmith, Section 8 Letter K No. 7)
2. Rosalie Hilda Blazey b. 7 May 1895 (1895 J Quarter in SAINT GEORGE IN THE EAST Volume 01C Page 390)
3. Alfred Hurrell Blazey b. 28 Jul 1898 (1898 S Quarter in ST GEORGE-IN-THE-EAST Volume 01C Page 366), bap. 14 Aug 1898 at the church of St George in the East, in Cannon Street Road, Stepney.
4. William Francis Blazey b. 27 Jan 1902 (1902 M Quarter in ST GEORGE-IN-THE-EAST Volume 01C Page 345)
5. Dorothy Alice Blazey b. 1904 M Quarter in ST. GEORGE-IN-THE-EAST Volume 01C Page 357. (Died 1904 D Quarter Volume 01C Page 243)
6. Ida Winifred Blazey b. 24 Aug 1907 (1907 S Quarter in ST. GEORGE-IN-THE-EAST Volume 01C Page 325)

Their address at the time of Alfred's baptism was 35 Tarling Street, St George in the East and Francis Blazey's occupation was Dock Labourer. After double-checking through records, it seems he was the only child they baptised.

In 1901, living at 35, Tillman Street, St George in the East, were Francis Blazey (33) Labourer (civil service), Amy (33), Rosalie (5) and Alfred (2).

By 1911, they'd moved to 22 Upper Chapman St, St George in the East with Francis Blazey (44) described as "Leading Man Of Labourers", Amy Blazey (44), Rosalie Blazey (16), Alfred Blazey (13), William Blazey (10) and Ida Blazey (4). The information on this census confirms they had six children during their 20 year marriage, with four still living and two had died.

In 1921, still living at 22, Upper Chapman Street, St George in the East, London, were Francis Blazey (54) Charge Man & Labourer employed by the Admiralty; Amy Blazey (53), Rosalie Blazey (25) Clerk; Alfred Blazey (22) Clerk for the Admiralty; William Blazey (19) General Labourer for the Admiralty; Ida Blazey (13) and Annie Wood (24) Cook, Boarder.

Frances Blazey of 22 Chapman Street, E1, died on 18 Apr 1938 aged 70 (1938 J Quarter in STEPNEY Volume 01C Page 267) and was buried at Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park, Tower Hamlets, London. Probate was granted on 22 Jul 1938. Francis left £313 9s 7d to his widow, Amy Rosa Blazey.

In 1939, Amy Blazey was living with her married daughter, Ida Jarvis, at 30 Warren Road, Merton, Surrey. Rosalie Blazey, Coal Merchant's Clerk, was still living at 22 Chapman Street, Shadwell, Tower Hamlets, Stepney.

Amy Rosa Blazey died on 1 Apr 1941, aged 75 (1941 J Quarter in SURREY MID-EASTERN Volume 02A Page 246) and was also buried at Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park, Tower Hamlets, London.

• Rosalie Hilda Blazey of 4 Queensbridge Drive, Herne Bay, Kent died, on 2 Jul 1981, aged 86. She had never married.
• 2nd Lieutenant Alfred Hurrell Blazey served in the The Duke Of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex Regiment) during World War I and on 21 Feb 1922 was appointed to the Civil Service, Admiralty, as a Writer in HM Dockyards and Naval Establishments. In 1925 Alfred Hurrell Blazey married Violet Catherine Petrie, in Poplar. They appear to have two sons, born 1928 and 1930 (in 1939 could be evacuees). In 1939, Alfred and Violet were living at 4 St James's Avenue, Bromley, Kent. Alfred H Blazey died, at 61, in 1959, in Bromley, Kent. Violet Catherine Blazey (b. 1 Nov 1898), of 4 St James's Avenue, Bromley, Kent, died at 93, on 19 Jan 1991.
• William Francis Blazey married Lilian Selina Martin (b. 25 May 1898) at St. George in the East, in 1922. They had one daughter, Lilian Ida Blazey (b. 1923 - d. 20 Dec 2016 in Herne Bay, Kent). In 1939, William F Blazey, Crane Driver, his wife and daughter were living at 36 Boundfield Road, Hither Green, Lewisham. Lilian S Blazey died, at 68, in 1966, in Lewisham; William Francis Blazey died, at 66, on 24 Jan 1969, in Bromley, Kent.
• Ida Winifred Blazey married Herbert James Valentine Jarvis (b. 8 Feb 1910), in 1935, in Stepney. They had a daughter, Doreen Ann Jarvis (b. 22 Dec 1936 - d. 31 Aug 2017) and a son in 1948. In 1939, Herbert J Jarvis, Fishmonger's Shop Assistant, Ida W Jarvis, Doreen A Jarvis and Amy R Blazey, were living at 30 Warren Road, Merton, Surrey. Herbert James V Jarvis died in 1978 and Ida Winifred Jarvis died on 6 Apr 1984, both in Crawley.

Walter White and Florence Mary Parsonage

St John the Baptist Church, Holland Road, London W14
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © John Salmon - geograph.org.uk/p/1292678

Walter White (b. 1869), Fruiterer, of 155 Holland Road, son of Walter White and Hannah Blazey, married Florence Mary Parsonage (b. 12 Aug 1875 in Hammersmith), of 157 Holland Road - the girl next door - daughter of Edward Parsonage, Builder's Foreman from Wem, Shropshire, and Eleanor Agnes Crosbie, at St John The Baptist, Kensington on 21 Feb 1898. (The same church that Walter's cousin, Alice Maud Stanley Blazey, married in later that same year.) Witnesses were Edgar Audric - who must have been related to Walter's Uncle Francis Robert Blazey's third wife - and Frank Read.

Walter and Florence had five children:

1. Dorothy Eleanor White b. 1899 M Qtr in WEST HAM Vol 04A Page 246
2. Elsie Ivy Florence White b. 1902 J Qtr in WEST HAM Vol 04A Page 262
3. Walter Edward White b. 1905 J Qtr in BRENTFORD Vol 03A Page 204
4. Pansy Alice White born 27 Sep 1908 (1908 D Quarter in STEYNING Volume 02B Page 247) in Steyning, West Sussex
5. Lilian Winifred White b. 1914 M Quarter in FULHAM Vol 01A Page 311. Died, aged 1 in 1915 M Quarter in FULHAM Vol 01A Page 420

All of the birth registrations show the mother's maiden name PARSONAGE.

In 1901, Walter White (31) Licenced Victualler's Assistant was living in Sherrard Road, East Ham (Forest Gate) with Florence M White (25), Dorothy E White (2), Mary Ann White (71) Widow, Boarder from Hackney, London (may be just coincidence) and George Ralph (25) Boarder. 

In 1911, Walter White (42) Conductor motor bus, wife Florence Mary (35), Dorothy Eleanor (12), Elsie Ivy (9), Walter Edward (5) and Pansy Alice (2), were living at 30 Percy Road W, Hammersmith. Percy Road is in Shepherd's Bush in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham.

In 1921, Walter White (51) working for the London General Omnibus Co, was at 74, Becklow Road, Hammersmith, London, with Florence Mary White (44), Elsie Ivy White (19) Ledger Clerk and Pansy Alice White (12).

Walter White died, aged 64, in 1934 J Qtr in KENSINGTON Vol 01A 167. 

In 1939, Florence Mary White, widow, was living with her daughter, Pansy Alice Pearson, at 5 Lansbury Avenue, Feltham, Middlesex. 

Florence Mary White, died at 75 on 2 Feb 1951 (1951 M Qtr in MIDDLESEX SOUTH Vol 05F Page 97), leaving £6 19s, to Pansy Alice Pearson.

John Benjamin Botterill & Everlda Jane C Summers

St John the Evangelist, Lansdowne Crescent, Notting Hill - Sanctuary
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © John Salmon - geograph.org.uk/p/2428606
View of St. John's Church from St. John's Gardens

John Benjamin Botterill (b. 25 Aug 1864 in Greenwich), son of Daniel Botterill and Sarah Elizabeth Thompson, married Everlda Jane Caroline Summers (b. 4 Jun 1865 in Kensington), daughter of Thomas Summers and Ann Tyrrell, at St John the Evangelist, Lansdowne Crescent, Notting Hill on 21 Oct 1889. 

John and Everlda had four children: 

1. Thomas Daniel Botterill b. 26 March 1891 (1891 J Quarter in LEWISHAM Volume 01D Page 1177)
2. Everlda Botterill b. 20 Sep 1892 (1892 D Quarter in LEWISHAM Volume 01D Page 1114)
3. Benjamin Tompson Botterill b. 1895 D Quarter in LEWISHAM Volume 01D Page 1110
4. Mary Botterill b. 1902 D Qtr in LEWISHAM Vol 01D Page 1170

On all of the birth registrations the mother's maiden name is SUMMERS.

Princess Royal Public House
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Peter Trimming - geograph.org.uk/p/1215433

In 1891, they were living at 115 High Street, Lewisham, with John B (26), Butcher, Everelda (25), their first child, Thomas Daniel (0) and Elsie Jones (43), Ladies Nurse, a widow from Catford, London, lodging with them.

But in 1900 and again in 1901, they were at the Princess Royal at 22, Longley Road, Croydon, where his uncle, John Soppit, had employed John Benjamin Botterill (36) as his Licenced Victualler Manager. Living there also were Everlda (35), Thomas Daniel (10), Everlda (8), Benjamin Tompson (5) and John's father, Daniel (69), who is listed as a widower - which is a mystery, because his wife, Sarah, was alive and living in Lewisham at the time.

Then on 16 Oct 1902, John Benjamin Botterill (38), appeared at the Quarter Sessions in Maidstone, accused of stealing, by his uncle, John Soppit.

From the Maidstone Journal and Kentish Advertiser 23 October 1902

THE JURY STOP A CASE

John Benjamin Botterill pleaded not guilty to stealing two boxes containing 51 cigars, one bottle of brandy, three bottles of whiskey, etc., belonging to John Soppitt, at Cudham, on August 7th.

Mr. C. S. Fooks prosecuted, and Mr. Hohler defended.

John Soppit, formerly licensee of the Princess Royal, Croydon, deposed that in 1898 he took the prisoner, who was his nephew, into his employ as manager and paid him at first £2 15s per week, and after £2. The net takings of the house were not satisfactory to him at the latter part of the prisoner's management. Prisoner left on June 23rd of this year. Then witness looked through the books. Prisoner had bought goods unauthorised, and after his departure witness found some scales missing. He afterwards found them in the prisoner's possession at the Blacksmiths' Arms, at Cudham, and he also found a couch there, which had been at the Princess Royal. Other things, including glasses, were also missing.

By Mr. Hohler: The couch was never given to the prisoner by him. He did not know that the bottle of brandy was given to the prisoner by the wholesale firm, and was not aware that the cigars were brought from the result of a draw from the slate club. The reason he saw the gas mantles were his was because they were the same kind as those used at the Princess Royal, and the glasses were similar to those belonging to witness. The labels with the prisoner's name on, which were on the bottles, was not printed with the witness's consent.

Sergt. Humphrey deposed to searching the Blacksmith's Arms, and finding the mantels in a box among some children's clothes.

Cross-examined: The prisoner had an excellent character. The goods had evidently not been unpacked after the move.

Prisoner gave evidence on oath, and said that his uncle gave him the couch. The cigars he bought as his share in the money out of the slate club, the money to be spent in the house. The bottle of whiskey and brandy was given to him by the wholesale houses in 1899. The bottle of gin was given to him by his uncle.

The jury at this point stopped the case, and the prisoner was discharged. 

As we can see from the report above, John Benjamin Botterill, by 1902, had gone to the Blacksmith’s Arms, Cudham (in the London Borough of Bromley), although not for long. (Read about this beautiful pub's history here.) 

The Blacksmith's Arms, Cudham
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Oast House Archive - geograph.org.uk/p/1984351

In 1911, John Benjamin Botterill (46), Licenced Victualler, was at the Prince Frederick, Nichol Lane, Bromley, Kent, with Everlda Jane Caroline Botterill (45) assisting in the business; Thomas Daniel Botterill (20) engineer's fitter; Everlda Botterill (18) Dressmaker; Benjamin Thompson Botterill (15), Mary Botterill (8) and Esther Elizabeth Challen (19), Servant. This census confirms they had 4 children. They were still at the Prince Frederick in 1913. 

In 1921, John B Botterill (56) from Deptford, London was Club Steward at Stratford Engineers Club, & Institute Ltd, living in at 167, Romford Road, West Ham, Essex with Everlda J C Botterill (55), Benjamin T Botterill (23) Milk Carrier for the Stratford Cooperative Society and Mary Botterill then (18) was a Drapers Assistant at Allders Limited, in Croydon.

We next catch up with the family, in 1939, living at 44 Wellington Avenue, Hounslow, Middlesex. Living with John Benjamin Botterill (75), described as a Retired Fitter's Mate, are wife Everlda J C (74), daughter Everlda White, dressmaker, widowed, and her daughter, Joan Mary White (16) and a Leslie F Taylor, Gentleman's hairdresser, presumably a lodger.

Everlda Jane Caroline Botterill died, aged 77, in 1943 M Quarter in BRENTFORD Volume 03A Page 239. 

John Benjamin Botterill died, at 83, in 1948 M Qtr in EALING Vol 05E 197. 

Prince Frederick, Bromley
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Chris Whippet - geograph.org.uk/p/4625769

Joseph Tiff and Eliza Blazey

Lane leading to a farm in Badby, Northamptonshire
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Ian Rob - geograph.org.uk/p/104464

Joseph Tiff (bap. 6 Dec 1846, in Badby, Northamptonshire), son of John Tiff or Tift and Ann Watkins married Eliza Blazey (b. 1851), daughter of Francis Stephen Blazey and Hannah Minns, in 1876, in Kensington, London.

In 1861, Joseph (14), one of 7 siblings still at home in Badby, like his father was employed as an Agricultural Labourer. His elder brother, Thomas, was a blacksmith. But by 1871, Joseph (24) servant unemployed, was lodging with a William Potter from Suffolk, at Adam St, Marylebone, London.

In 1881, Joseph Tiff (32) Green grocer and his wife Eliza (31) were living at 9, Union Terrace, Kensington, London with Francis Blazey (13) - Eliza's bother Samuel's eldest son - employed as their Shop boy.

And in 1891, still at Union Terrace, Kensington, were Joseph Tiff (42) Green grocer, Eliza (40), with four of their nephews: Frances Blazey (25) Dock Labourer; Walter White (21) Shop Porter (Hannah's son); Alfred Blazey (21) (Samuel's younger son) also a Dock Labourer and Joseph Tiff (11) from Badby, Northamptonshire (son of one of Joseph's brothers).

This couple don't appear to have had children of their own, but look to have played an important role in the lives of their nephews.

Listed as Eliza Tuff (sic), died, aged 41 in 1892 M Quarter in HOLBORN Volume 01B Page 700.

Joseph Tiff died, at 46, in 1894 J Qtr in KENSINGTON Vol 01A 74. 

Mark King and Anna Kritzer

London : Kensington - Hyde Park Gate
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Lewis Clarke - geograph.org.uk/p/2112989

The three siblings, children of Wilhelm Kritzer and Flora Gleichauf: Amalia Kritzer, Karl Kritzer and Joseph Kritzer (who married my great-grandmother's half-sister), came to England to work in service, being employed in some very distinguished households. However, they were somewhat eclipsed by their aunt, their father's younger sister, Anna Kritzer (b. 1849), who could well be the inspiration for them coming to London to pursue these careers.

In 1881, Anna Kritzer (31) was Lady's Maid in the household of Hermann de Stern, described merely as a Merchant, from Germany at 4, Hyde Park Gate, Kensington. Baron de Stern (1815–1887), a member of the Stern family, originally from Frankfurt, was a German-born British banker and senior partner of the firm of Stern Brothers and one of the wealthiest businessmen in nineteenth-century Britain. His wife was Julia Goldsmid.

In 1891, Anna Kritzer (listed as 32, actually 42), was still a Lady's Maid at Hyde Park Gate. The head of the household is listed as Emily A Stern (76). However, I feel sure there are errors in this listing and that this is Hermann and Julia de Stern's daughter, Emily Theresa de Stern, born 1846.

In 1901, Anna Kritzer (47 with rebate), from Donaueschingen, Germany, was Lady's Maid to Lady Sherborne (38 - er, nope, she was 55) at Hyde Park Gate, who was Emily Theresa de Stern (1846–1905), daughter of Baron Herman de Stern, who had married Edward Dutton, 4th Baron Sherborne in 1894.

By 1911, Anna Kritzer (60 ish), now of independent means (retired) and listed as a Naturalised British Subject - for which I can find no evidence, the only record being for her nephew, Karl - was still living in South Kensington.

Then in the 3rd quarter of 1916, at 67, Anna Kritzer married, Mark King, a Bricklayer from Oxfordshire, widower, whose first wife, Elizabeth, had died in 1912. (The Kings had lived in Seymour Place, Kensington, since the 1880's.)

In the previous couple of years, Anna's nephew, Karl Kritzer, had been the butt end of the anti-German press, her other nephew Joseph had been interned as part of the mass internment of registered Enemy Alien men. Her niece, Amalia Kritzer, then in her early 40's, probably wouldn't have wished to pursue such an option, since marriage would have meant giving up her career, but I can see why Anna would find a gentleman to give her a non-German surname and, potentially, the British nationality that she was making claim to, but didn't have. Then Mark King died in early 1920, aged 68.

In 1921, there was an Annie King, Widow, claiming to be 66, but having avoided listing any birthplace whatsoever, working as a Housekeeper in a household at 60, Porchester Terrace, Paddington, London. Head of the household was a visitor, Max de Elin (70) followed by another visitor, Adda Merenberg, who was from Wiesbaden, Germany. This is just such as situation, I feel, in which we would find Anna King (née Kritzer). 

Anna King died, aged 75, in 1925 M Qtr in KENSINGTON Vol 01A Page 135.