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 Campling and Thomasine Maria Eldred

Wennington Green, Bow
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Paul Gillett - geograph.org.uk/p/4580083

William Campling (b. ~1855), son of John Campling and Elizabeth Brown, married Thomasine Maria Eldred (b. 24 Jul 1857 in St George in the East), daughter of John Eldred and Elizabeth Pitts, at St Thomas's Church, West Ham, the now lost church in Rokeby Street, on 8 Dec 1878. (The transcript lists her as Thomas Ziner M Eldred, but I'm figuring this was not the family's first same-sex marriage!) Witnesses were John James Fairbairn and Flora Fairbairn (née Campling, William's sister, who married in the same quarter of 1878). Thomazine was the half-sister of Alfred Eldred, step-daughter of Catherine Byatt and thus, also step-sister of Elizabeth Wilton.

William and Thomasine Maria Campling had six children:

1. Florence Catherine Campling b. 19 Dec 1879, reg. 1880 M Quarter in BETHNAL GREEN Vol 01C Page 226
2. John William Campling b. 1882 J Qtr in POPLAR Vol 01C Page 575. Died, aged 1 in 1883 J Qtr in BETHNAL GREEN Vol 01C Page 143
3. John William Campling b. 3 May 1884 in BETHNAL GREEN Vol 01C 234
4. Frederick Henry Campling b. 24 Dec 1886, reg 1887 M Quarter in ISLINGTON Volume 01B 377
5. Sidney Edwin Campling b. 1888 S Qtr in ISLINGTON Vol 01B 344. Died 1889 M Qtr in ISLINGTON Vol 01B 241
6. Sidney Edwin Campling b. 1890 M Qtr in ISLINGTON Vol 01B 382

All the birth registrations have the mother's maiden name as ELDRIDGE, but this has been used before by her half-brother, on the registration of his first daughter and it's the surname their step-mother was listed under in 1881.

In 1881, William Campling (26) Pianoforte porter from Bethnal Green, was living at 4, Wennington Road, Bethnal Green. Thomasine Marie was unaccountably listed as Anne (24), with Florence Campling (1).

In 1891, William Camplin (sic) (36) Piano forte maker (??) was living in Carmarthen Street, Islington with Marie Camplin (32), Florence Camplin (11), John Camplin (6), Frederick Camplin (4) and Sydney Camplin (1).

In 1901, the census lists Thomas (sic) Campling (44) Labourer Starch Works born in Bromley, London in Queen's Road, Plaistow, West Ham with Mary (sic) Campling (43) born in Old Ford, London; Florence Campling (21) Box Maker born in Roman Road, London and Frederick Campling (14) Grocer's Boy born in Islington. Even with so many errors, I'm certain this is the correct family. John Campling (16) Cart Porter born in Old Ford, London, was a Boarder in Forest Gate. While Sidney Campling (11) was an Inmate in a school in Horton Kirby - Home for Little Boys, Farningham, Kent.

Thomasine Maria Campling died at 50, in 1908 D Quarter in WEST HAM Volume 04A Page 91. Well, once more the record has mangled her name to Frances Ziner Maria Campling, but there can be no doubt this is her.

In 1911, Florence Campling (31) Card Board Box Maker, was living in South East Ham, West Ham with her youngest brother, Sidney Campling (21) Apprentice Linotype Operator and Thomas Steggles (54) Boarder. Both John William Campling and Frederick Henry Campling had emigrated to the United States. I haven't located William Campling in 1911, nor his death.

1. Florence Catherine Campling (34) emigrated to the United States, sailing from Liverpool on the RMS Franconia (1910) on 28 April 1914, arriving in Boston, Massachusetts. Florence Campling died on 1 Nov 1918 from Sarcoma of the Liver (Cancer). She was 38. She never married. She was buried, on 3 Nov 1918 in Sutton, Caledonia, Vermont, the permit for her burial having been issued to her brother John.
2. John William Campling married Edith Florence Sobey Milford (b. 1881 in Crediton, Devon), daughter of William Milford and Edith Mary Sobey, but I cannot find where or when their marriage took place. John and Edith had 3 daughters: Florence Maria b. 1910, Edith Frances b. 1912 and Marion Hazel b. 1914. Edith Milford Campling died on 31 Oct 1914 from Valvular Disease of the Heart. She was buried on 2 Nov 1914, in Sutton, Vermont. The 1950 Census shows that John was a Farmer. John W Campling died, on 15 Jun 1970, in West Burke, Vermont.
3. Frederick Henry Campling entered the US via Canada. He married Joan Fraser (b. 1872 in England) on 12 Jan 1914 in Sault Ste. Marie, Chippewa, Michigan. Joan Campling died in 1924 and is buried at Woodlawn Cemetery, Detroit. Frederick remarried in Delaware, Indiana, on 19 Apr 1925, to Lenora Shuck (b. 21 Feb 1898 in Jennings County, Indiana, USA.) Lenora Campling died on 10 Dec 1926 and is also buried at Woodlawn Cemetery, Detroit. Frederick then remarried for a 3rd time to Chesba Lucille Wheatley, on 27 Jul 1927, in Gibson, Indiana, with whom he had at least four daughters. Frederick Henry Campling died, at 70, on 16 Feb 1957 and is buried at Memorial Park Cemetery, Vincennes, Knox County, Indiana, USA. Chesba Campling died on 16 Feb 1981 and is also buried at Memorial Park Cemetery, Vincennes.
4. Sidney Edwin Campling married Beatrice Fell in the 1st quarter of 1915, in West Ham. In 1916, Sidney Edwin Camplin (sic) (26) enlisted for Military Service in the London Yeomanry. The couple don't appear to have any children. Sidney Edwin Campling died on 22 Jul 1941, in Ilford, Essex. Beatrice Campling remarried, in 1950, to Arthur Leonard Hemming. Beatrice Hemming died, in Romford, in 1960.

Henry Hawkins and Sarah Ann Tooze

Alma Street, Sheerness
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Chris Whippet - geograph.org.uk/p/4410976

Henry Hawkins (bap. 5 Apr 1846 in Rackenford, Devon), son of Edward Hawkins and Leah Courtis (Henry's father, Edward Hawkins, was a Game Keeper and Henry's maternal grandfather, George Courtis, was a Farmer Of 171 Acres), married Jessie Tooze (born Sarah Ann), daughter of Thomas Tooze and Mary Summers, on 11 Oct 1868, in West Ham.

Henry and "Jessie" had three children:

1. Emily Louisa Hawkins b. 1869 J Qtr in KENSINGTON Vol 01A 132
2. William Hawkins b. 4 Jun 1872 in Detroit, Michigan, Unites States
3. Arthur Hawkins b. 1874 D Quarter in SHEPPEY Volume 02A 791

In 1871, Henry Hawkins (25) Carpenter; Jessie Hawkins (24); Emily Hawkins (1) born in Notting Hill and Mary Tooze (68) Widow, Pauper, Mother-in-law, were living at Durley Moor Cottage, Holcombe Rogus.

Passenger Lists of vessels arriving at New York, Unites States, show Henry Hawkins (26) Carpenter, Jessie Hawkins (26) Wife and Emily Hawkins (2) Child leaving from Liverpool on 14 Mar 1872, on the transatlantic passenger ship City of New York (1865) of the Inman Line. The streets presumably not being paved with gold, however, they were back in the UK by 1874.

In 1881, at 5, Lower James Street, Minster in Sheppey, were Henry Hawkins (35) Joiner from Rackenford, Devon; Jessie Hawkins (34) from Holcombe Rogus; Emily L Hawkins (11) born in Notting Hill; William Hawkins (8) born in the United States and Arthur Hawkins (6) born in Sheerness.

In 1891, Henry Hawkins (45) Ship's Joiner; Jessie Hawkins (44), Arthur Hawkins (16) and Emily L Ridler (21) were living in Alma Street, Minster in Sheppey. William Hawkins was in the Mediterranean with HMS Inflexible, (and 42 days in Malta Gaol, having joined the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class on 31 May 1888, until he was Invalided with Asthma on 4 Nov 1909). 

In 1901, Henry Hawkins (55) Joiner Ship Dock Yard from Rackenford, Devon was living in Delamark Road, Sheerness with Jessie Hawkins (54) and two boarders, Oscar Riche (29) Schoolmaster from Cambridge and Alfred J Middleton (30) Schoolmaster from Grimsby, Lincolnshire. William Hawkins was alternating between HMS Victory, HMS Vernon shore establishments and HMS Duke of Wellington (for all three, read Portsmouth.)

In 1911, Henry Hawkins (65) Pensioned Joiner was still living in Sheerness with Jessie Hawkins (64), William Hawkins (38) Naval Pensioner; John Tooze (71) Retired Thatcher (Jessie's older brother); and three boarders.

Henry Hawkins died, aged 73, in 1919 M Quarter in SHEPPEY Volume 02A Page 1782 and Jessie Hawkins died later in the same year, also aged 73, in 1919 D Quarter in SHEPPEY Volume 02A Page 1140.

Daniel Thompson Botterill and Jessie Elizabeth Maslin

St. Nicholas' Church, Deptford Green, SE8 - porch
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Mike Quinn - geograph.org.uk/p/1499613

Daniel Thompson Botterill (b. 1882), engineer, son of Dan Stephen Thompson Botterill and Mary Jane Harris, married Jessie Elizabeth Maslin (b. 27 Mar 1883), daughter of James Maslin and Jessie Elizabeth Dunford, at the church of St Nicholas, Deptford Green, on 2 Sep 1905. Witnesses were William Wilson and Florence Charlotte Maslin, the bride's younger sister.

Daniel and Jessie then had two sons: 

1. Joseph Daniel Botterill b. 1907 S Quarter in WOOLWICH Volume 01D Page 1203. Died 1908 M Quarter in WOOLWICH Volume 01D Page 761 and was buried on 25 Jan 1908 at Charlton Cemetery
2. Daniel Thompson Botterill b. 1908 S Quarter in GREENWICH Volume 01D Page 1064

Both birth registrations list the mother's maiden name as MASLIN. The second boy, like David Copperfield, was a posthumous child, because Daniel Thompson Botterill had died, aged 26, in 1908 M Quarter in WOOLWICH Volume 01D Page 760, at 26 Inverine Road, Charlton and was buried, on 18 Jan 1908, also at Charlton Cemetery (Greenwich). 

Not unsurprisingly, Jessie Elizabeth Botterill remarried, in 1910, to Welshman, Evelyn John Gutton Budge. Confirming that I'd found the correct spouse, Jessie Elizabeth Budge was living with her son, Daniel Tompson Batterell (sic) (2), in 1911 in Gillingham, Kent. Her new husband, however, was boarding in the household of a Henry Webb in Chatham. That doesn't seem far enough away for him to be boarding there for work, so I'd suspected an estrangement, but I've found no evidence for a divorce.

In 1912, Jessie Elizabeth Budge was listed on the Electoral Register at 80 Queens Road, Peckham (2nd floor), a mystery in itself as she would not have had the vote until at least 1918 and only then if she had enough wealth.

Evelyn John Gutton Budge arrived in Quebec, Canada in Jun 1911 and appears to have travelled alone. In 1913, he crossed the border into the United States, where he appears to do Military Service during WWI and, in 1917, married nurse, Mabel Dorothy Morris. They applied for Naturalization in 1918 and he died in Los Angeles, California on 2 Sep 1969.

Jessie Budge (37) and son her Daniel (11) - listed incorrectly with his surname dittoed as Budge - are shown sailing on the RMS Empress of France (1913) from Liverpool to Quebec on 8 Jun 1921. Their last address in the UK was given as 5, Clarence Mansions, Bromells Road, Kent (Clapham, London) and their country of intended future residence as Canada.

Jessie Budge bearly stepped ashore when she married, for a 3rd time, to Gerald Foll (b. 30 May 1865), son of John Foll and Sarah Anne Linnell of Stowe, Northamptonshire, on 20 Jun 1921, in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Gerald Foll died on 10 April 1947 and is buried at Brookside Cemetery, Winnipeg. 

Jessie Elizabeth Foll died on 24 Sep 1965 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Searches reveal that Jessie's first cousin, Arthur Andrew Maslin, son of her father's eldest brother, Joseph Maslin, died in Vancouver, British Columbia, on 26 Dec 1955, which may explain why she was in that area.

Daniel Tompson Botterill married Edith Evelyn Benson, in Winnipeg, Manitoba in 1939. They had three children. Daniel died in Winnipeg on 18 Jul 1964.

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

William Thomas Eastabrook and Catherine Eliza Authers

Mulberry Street, New York City (c. 1900) Library of Congress

William Thomas Eastabrook (b. 1848), son of Richard Eastabrook and Susana Derry, married Catherine Eliza Authers, daughter of Henry Authers and Susannah Osmond, in the 3rd quarter of 1871, in Stoke Damerel, Devon.

Registered as Caroline Authers (1854 M Quarter in PLYMOUTH Volume 05B Page 253), born 25 Feb 1854 and baptised, as Eliza Caroline Authers, on 12 Mar 1854 at St Peter, Plymouth, she was 17 at the time of her marriage.

William and Catherine had at least thirteen children:

1. William Henry Authers Eastabrook b. 17 Apr 1872 J Quarter in STOKE DAMEREL Volume 05B Page 308.
2. Susanna Eastabrook b. 11 Apr 1874 in Manhattan, New York, United States. Birth record states that she was the "Mother's 2nd child". Died, aged 2, on 2 Sep 1876 and was buried on 4 Sep 1876 at Evergreen Cemetery, on the borders Brooklyn and Queens, New York.
3. Unnamed male (Jack) Eastabrook b. 3 Aug 1876 in Manhattan.
4. John Samuel Eastabrook b. 21 Dec 1877 in New York, USA.
5. Catherine Eliza Eastabrook b. 1879 J Qtr in STOKE DAMEREL Vol 05B Page 323, died at 8 months, on 30 Jan 1880 (1880 M Qtr in STOKE DAMEREL Vol 05B Page 283), buried 8 Feb 1880 in Stoke Damerel.
6. Harry Eastabrook b. 1880 (listed here)
7. Susannah Catherine Easterbrook b. 20 Mar 1881 J Qtr in STOKE DAMEREL Vol 05B Page 327, bap. 24 Jun 1881 at St Mary's Devonport.
8. Beatrice Alberta Eastabrook b. 28 Jul 1883, bap. 17 Aug 1883 at St Mary's Devonport. (Seem to have missed the GRO registration.)
9. Ethel May Eastabrook b. 16 Dec 1885 (1886 M Qtr in STOKE DAMEREL Vol 05B Page 318), bap. 22 Jan 1886 at St Mary's Devonport.
10. Harry Clifford Eastabrook b. 17 Sep 1888 (1888 D Quarter in STOKE DAMEREL Volume 05B Page 305). (Not found baptism.)
11. Eliza Ellen Eastabrook b. 1891 M Qtr in STOKE DAMEREL Vol 05B Page 308, died, in 1892 M Qtr in STOKE DAMEREL Vol 05B Page 299.
12. Lawrence Aubrey Eastabrook b. 24 Nov 1897 (1898 M Qtr in STOKE DAMEREL Vol 05B Page 309), bap. 9 Jan 1898 in Devonport, Devon.
13. One further male child.

On the baptisms of Susannah in 1881, Beatrice in 1883 and Ethel in 1886 William Thomas Eastabrook is described as Seaman R.N. and the family's address as 26, St John Street, Devonport, Stoke-Damerel. On that for Lawrence in 1898, R.N. and living at 42 Palmerston St, Stoke, Plymouth.

In 1871, just before his marriage, William Eastabrook (21) Butcher (as had been his father before him), was a Servant in the household of Sarah Payne (27) Butcher, in Morice Town, Devonport, Plymouth.

On 1 Jan 1873, William Thomas Eastabrook, from Stoke Damerel, Devonport, with birth date given as 10 Aug 1849 (his birth was registered in the 3rd quarter of 1848, so this seems to be a year out), joined the Royal Navy, as a Butcher. At that time being 5 ft 2 in, with brown hair, grey eyes and a ruddy complexion. He was assigned to HMS Audacious (1869), which from 23 Nov 1871 - 17 Mar 1874 served as a Coast Guard Ship at Hull, in the Humber. It appears that William Thomas "Run [at] Hull" (deserted) on 17 Apr 1873.

By Apr 1874, we find the couple in Manhattan, New York for the birth of their 2nd child. They had clearly emigrated and this, it must be remembered, is within a decade of the American Civil War. History of NYC - 1870s.

• Introduction to Immigration from 1870–1905
• Immigration to the United States, 1851-1900

The family's address on the burial record for daughter, Susanna, was 168 Mulberry St, New York. Mulberry Street, is a narrow thoroughfare that includes parts of Chinatown and Little Italy in The Five Points neighbourhood in Lower Manhattan, New York City. Five Points gained international notoriety as a densely populated, disease-ridden, crime-infested slum. "Nicknamed 'Death's Thoroughfare', it was here, where the street crooks its elbow at the Five Points, that the streets and numerous alleys radiated in all directions, forming the foul core of the New York slums." So notorious, Manhattan's Mulberry Street has been subject of books, films and music.

On 8 Oct 1878, William T Eastabrook became a naturalised American citizen. The record gives his address as 20 N Moore St, New York and his occupation as Milkman. Witnessing his naturalisation was Henry Authers (wife's father).

They had stayed in New York for around five years, but returned to the UK by the time of the birth of fifth child, Catherine Eliza Eastabrook, in 1879.

On 26 Feb 1880, William Easterbrook (sic) (leaving out the Thomas), from Devonport, Devon and giving his date of birth as 9 Aug 1856 - one day adrift from that on the previous naval record and having now lost eight years in age - joined the Royal Navy as a Stoker 2nd Class, this time advancing to Chief Stoker and serving for 20 years, until he was pensioned on 28 Feb 1900.

In 1881, transcribed as William I Easterbrook (sic) (32) Stoker RN (at sea) is listed at 26, St John Street, Devonport, Stoke Damerel with Catherine E Easterbrook (27), William H A Easterbrook (9), John S Easterbrook (4) born in the United States; ? Easterbrook (0) Daughter [later named Susannah Catherine]; K T Easterbrook (20) Sister [mystery - not identified birth] Nurse and Eliza Arthers (sic) (20) Tailoress - Catherine's younger sister.

In 1891, still in St John Street, Devonport, were Catherine Easterbrook (37) Dressmaker; William H A Easterbrook (19) Blacksmith; John S Easterbrook (14), Catherine Easterbrook (10) [Susannah Catherine]; Beatrice A Easterbrook (7), Ethel M Easterbrook (5), Harry C Easterbrook (2) and Eliza E Easterbrook (0). William was at sea with HMS Mildura from 18 Mar 1891 until 4 Nov 1891. She served primarily in Australian waters.

In 1901, William Esterbrook (sic) (49) Naval Pensioner Admiralty from Devonport, Devonshire, was living in North Road, Central Cardiff, with Catherine Eastabrook (47) Sub Postmistress; Catherine Esterbrook (20) Lady Clerk (Commercial); Beatrice Esterbrook (17) Post Office Assistant; Ethel Esterbrook (15) Apprentice to Stationer and Lawrence Esterbrook (3).

William Thomas Eastabrook of 80 Whitchurch Rd, Cardiff, died on 11 Jun 1908. His age was estimated as 52 - which would agree with the birth date in 1856 given on his second enlistment in the Royal Navy - he was actually 59 - and was buried in the parish of St John the Baptist Church, Cardiff. Probate was granted on 29 Jun 1908 to beneficiary, Catherine Eliza Easterbrook.

In 1911, Catherine Easterbrook (57), Widowed, Sub Postmistress from Plymouth, Devonshire, was still living in Central Cardiff with Harry Easterbrook (22) Railway Clerk; Ethel Easterbrook (25) Postal Assistant; Frank Powell (26) Boarder, Kitty Murrell (30) and Kitty Murrell (1) Visitors. (Daughter Susannah Catherine, known as Catherine and clearly also as Kitty, had, as Catherine Susannah, married Charles Murrell in 1907.)

In 1921, C E [Catherine Eliza] Easterbrook (66) Sub Postmistress from Devonport, was at 102, Whitchurch Road, Cathays, Cardiff with L A Easterbrook (23) Clerk, Pension Office and four boarders, who were actually daughter E M [Ethel May] Vanner, her husband and two children.

Catherine Eastabrook or Easterbrook (as it says on the Probate record) of 42 Llanishen St, Cardiff, died, aged 80, on 29 Jun 1934 J Quarter in BRIDGEND Volume 11A Page 853 and was buried at Cardiff, All Saints, leaving her effects to sons, William Henry Eastabrook and Harry Clifford Eastabrook.

Easterbrook family genealogy

Henry Authers and Susannah Osmond

St Peter's Church, Tiverton, Devon

Henry Authers married Susannah Osmond at St Peter's Church, Tiverton, Devon in the 3rd quarter of 1851. Earlier that year, Susan Osmond (24) from Ashburton, Devonshire, had been living in Water Lane, Tiverton with an Eliza Osmond (24) from Tiverton as her Lodger. Both girls were employed as a Lace Hand, which infers that they will have worked for John Heathcoat's Lace Factory (Heathcoat Fabrics). Having not found birth or baptism records for either girl, it isn't clear if they are related, although one imagines so.

Ten years previously, in 1841, Susanna Osmond (15) had been living in Barrington Street, Tiverton, in the household of John Osmond (40). If this is the correct family, potential siblings are William, Catherine and John.

Both Henry and Susannah were born around 1827. Henry was reputedly born in Uplowman, Devon, but there is no baptism record for him either.

Henry and Susannah, however, had at least eight children:

1. William Henry Authers b. 1851 D Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 10 Page 268, bap. at St Peter's Church, Tiverton. Not seen after 1871, there is a burial of a W H Arter in Stoke Damerel, in 1879, which may relate.
2. Catherine Eliza Authers (Registered as Caroline Authers b. 25 Feb 1854 M Quarter in PLYMOUTH Volume 05B Page 253), bap. as Eliza Caroline Authers, on 12 Mar 1854 at St Peter, Plymouth. My guess over this discrepancy is that she was always meant to be called Catherine.
3. Mary Jane Authers b. 20 Mar 1856 J Quarter in STOKE DAMEREL Volume 05B Page 277, bap. 13 Apr 1856 at St Mary's Devonport. Died 1860 J Quarter in STOKE DAMEREL Volume 05B Page 233.
4. Eliza Authers b. 3 Jan 1861 M Quarter in STOKE DAMEREL Volume 05B Page 305, bap. 3 Feb 1861 at St Mary's Devonport.
5. Harry Authers b. 4 Mar 1863 M Quarter in STOKE DAMEREL Volume 05B Page 342, bap. 22 Mar 1863 at St Mary's Devonport.
6. John Nicholas Authers b. 1 Jun 1865 J Quarter in STOKE DAMEREL Volume 05B Page 319, bap 16 Jul 1865. Died 1866 M Quarter in STOKE DAMEREL Volume 05B Page 277.
7. Emma Authers b. 6 May 1867 J Quarter in STOKE DAMEREL Volume 05B Page 333, bap. 29 May 1867. Died  1868 M Quarter in STOKE DAMEREL Volume 05B Page 221.
8. John Osmond Authers b. 20 Sep 1869 D Quarter in STOKE DAMEREL Volume 05B Page 337, bap. 6 Oct 1869 at Devonport, St Mary.

Whilst various records describe Henry as a Labourer, on the baptism for Mary Jane in 1856, he is listed specifically as a 'Labourer at Dock Yard'. On the baptism for Eliza in 1861, the family's address was 17 Bragg's Alley. 

In 1861, Henry Auther (sic) (34) from Uplowman, Devon, was listed as a Licensed Victualler at 1 Queen Street, "Lamb Inn", Stoke Damerel (although it says he was Cousin to the head of the household), with Susan Auther (sic) (34) from Ashburton, Devon; William Auther (10) born in Tiverton, Devon - Disability: Dumb - and Eliza (0) born in Devonport. They had nine visitors (incl. five Seamen R.N. and one Soldier), one Boarder and one Servant.

In 1862, the Licensee of The Lamb Inn is listed as Henry Arthur (sic).

On the baptism for Harry in 1863, his father is listed as a Licenced Victualler and the family's address listed as 1 Queen Street, which confirms that he was residing at The Lamb Inn, one of many Public Houses in Queen Street.

By 1865 and again in 1867, Henry Authers was once more a Labourer and the family were back at 17 Bragg's Alley, which was said to be full of 'wretched hovels and dilapidated buildings'. Bragg's Alley was a narrow thoroughfare that ran between Catherine Street and Dock Wall Street. "These warrens threatened to tumble around the ears of their occupants - persons so repellent that no citizen could enter without certainty of insult."

In 1869, the family were living at 16 Granby Street, Devonport.

In 1871, Susan Arthurs (sic) (b. 1827), William H (year of birth as 1852), Catherine (b. ~1855), Eliza (b. 1861), Harry (b. 1863) and John (b. ~1870) were living at 1 Braggs Alley, Stoke Damerel, with no less than seven Lodgers in the household, whilst I've not [yet] located Henry.

On 11 Oct 1875, Henry Authors, Labourer of 20 N Moore St, New York, became a naturalized American citizen. He was also there in 1878, when he witnessed the naturalization of his son-in-law, William Thomas Eastabrook, who spent around 5 years in the Lower Manhattan slums, before returning to the UK by 1879. Henry Authers also clearly returned.

In 1881, Susannah Arthure (sic) (53) from Ashburton, Devon, Wife, Head of the household - have not [yet] found her husband - was living at 3, Trafalgar Court, Devonport Stoke-Damerel. With her were son Harry (18) Mason's apprentice, plus Elizabeth Hill (22) and M A Starling (23), both lodgers.

Henry Authers, died, at 57, in 1885 S Quarter in STOKE DAMEREL. 

Susannah Authurs (sic) (60) of 18 John St, Devonport, her occupation listed as Nurse, was treated at The Royal Albert Hospital and Eye Infirmary, Devonport, between 10 Oct 1888 and 13 Nov 1888 for Eczema of leg.

In 1891, Susannah Authers (67) Widow was Housekeeper in the household of her son-in-law, William Trick (Eliza Authers had married William Trick in 1883), in Palmerston Street, Stoke, Plymouth.

In 1901, incorrectly listed as Susannah Trick (75) Widowed Mother-in-Law from Ashburton, Devonshire, was still living with William and Eliza Trick in Palmerston Street, Stoke, Plymouth.

Susannah Arthurs died at 76 in 1903 M Quarter in DEVONPORT.