Inherited Craziness
A place to share all the nuts found on my family tree

Showing posts with label Workhouse. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Workhouse. Show all posts

Saturday 16 September 2023

Isaac Phillips and Caroline Elizabeth Taylor

St Margaret, The Broadway, Barking - Chancel
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © John Salmon - geograph.org.uk/p/2974985

Isaac Phillips, son of Joseph Phillips and Ann Clarke, married Caroline Elizabeth Taylor on 16 Sep 1832 at St Margaret's Church, Barking

Isaac and Caroline had 12 children. Those that were baptised, were at St Helen and St GilesRainham:
  1. Henry Phillips bap. 29 Sep 1833 
  2. Isaac Phillips bap. 16 Apr 1835 
  3. Maria Phillips b. 19 Aug 1837 (unnamed on reg), bap. 17 Sep 1837
  4. James Davis Phillips, b. 1841, bap. 26 Jan 1841 (buried 31 Jan 1841)
  5. Alfred Davis Phillips b. 1842, bap. 14 Aug 1842 (died in 1842, age 0)
  6. Jacob Phillips b. 1844, bap. 26 Mar 1844
  7. Rebecca Phillips b. 1846, bap. 13 Aug 1846
  8. Abraham Phillips b. 1849, bap. 23 Feb 1849
  9. Anne Phillips b. 1851 (no mention beyond GRO reg)
  10. Thomas Phillips b. 1854
  11. Hester Phillips b. 1857
  12. Alfred Phillips b. 1861
The use of Davis as a middle name for both James and then Alfred leads me to believe that this may have been Caroline's mother's maiden name - it's a convention I've seen used frequently in this period - however, I've been unable to find Caroline's baptism, nor a marriage between a Taylor and a Davis. 

In 1841, the family, living in Rainham, consisted of Isaac Phillips (25) Ag Lab, Caroline (25), Henry (8), Isaac (6) and Maria (4). Also living with them were Elizabeth Parker (75) and Mary Taylor (60). The 1841 census doesn't give us relationships, but could this latter have been Caroline's mother? 

Rebecca's baptism in 1846 lists her father's occupation as Shepherd.

In 1851, in the Upminster Road, Rainham, we find Isaac Phillips (38) Shepherd, Caroline Phillips (38) birthplace Woolwich, Kent; with children: Henry (17) Ag Lab, Isaac (15) Ag lab, Maria (13), Jacob (7), Rebecca (5) and Abraham (2). They also had a lodger, Henry Neville (18), also an Ag Lab.

In 1861, with their address listed as Fran House, Cottage, Rainham, there are Isaac Phillips (48) Ag Lab, Caroline (48), Jacob (17) Ag Lab, Rebecca (14), Abraham (12) Ag Lab, Thomas (7) Ag Lab, Esther (sic) (4) and Alfred (0). 

In 1871, at Back Street Cottage, Rainham (Back Lane/Street becoming part of Upminster Road, these different addresses are probably all the same place), this time are Isaac Phillips (58) Ag Lab, Caroline (58), Thomas (17) Ag Lab, Hester (14) Domestic Servant and Alfred (10) Ag Lab.

Caroline Phillips died, aged 67, and was buried on 31 Oct 1880 in Rainham.

In 1881, still in the Village Back Street, Rainham, Isaac Phillips (68), widower, Ag Lab, is living with his daughter, Esther (sic) (24) as his housekeeper.

But in 1891, Isaac Phillips (76), widower, Field Labourer, is listed as an Inmate at the Workhouse in Romford. He was still resident at the Romford Union House (later Oldchurch Hospital) at the time of his death the following year, 1892, aged 78. He was buried, on 5 Nov 1892, in Rainham.

Oldchurch Hospital, Romford
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © John Winfield - geograph.org.uk/p/282543

Thursday 7 September 2023

John Hurley Coombe and Mary Jane Southcott

East side of St Peter's Church, Tiverton
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Jaggery - geograph.org.uk/p/6219976

John Hurley Coombe, son of James Coombe and Sarah Hurley, married Mary Jane Southcott, daughter of William Southcott and Temperance Cosway, at St Peter's Church, Tiverton, on 7 Sep 1869. On the marriage certificate they're both listed as being of 'full' age. Mary Jane, born in the 2nd quarter of 1854, according to the GRO record of her birth, will actually only have been 15. Witnesses to the marriage were James Coombe and Mary Bawden.

John and Mary Jane had six children:

  1. John William Southcott Coombe b. 1869 D Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 439. (Died aged 7, in 1876, in Tiverton.)
  2. Sarah Jane Coombe b. 7 Nov 1871 D Quarter in SHOREDITCH Volume 01C Page 133, bap. 19 May 1872 at St John the Baptist, Hoxton. (Died aged 5, in 1876 S Quarter in SHOREDITCH Volume 01C Page 89, buried 19 Sep 1876 at Victoria Park Cemetery, Hackney.)
  3. Fanny Maria Coombe b. 1874 M Qtr in SHOREDITCH Vol 01C P 125
  4. Frederick Coombe b. 1876 J Qtr in SHOREDITCH Vol 01C P 127
  5. Charles Henry Coombe b. 1878 D Qtr in HOLBORN Vol 01B P 677
  6. James Coombe b. 1883 S Quarter in HOLBORN Volume 01B Page 659 (Died 1884 M Quarter in HOLBORN Volume 01B Page 435)
In 1871, John H Coombe (24) Tailor, Mary J Coombe (18) and John H S Coombe (1) were living in Kiddles Court, Tiverton, Devon, with his father, James Coombe, who married Mary Jane's mother, Temperance, in 1866.

In 1881, John Hurley Coombe (35) Journeyman tailor from Tiverton, Devon, Mary Jane Coombe (28), Fanny Maria (7), Frederick (5) and Charles Henry (3) were living at 10, Green Street, St Andrew Holborn. 

Then Mary Jane Coombe (née Southcott) died, aged 33, in 1887 J Quarter in HOLBORN Volume 01B Page 408, in Holborn.

In 1891, John H Coombe (45) Widower, was in Leigh Street, Holborn, with Fanny Maria Coombe (17) Packer soap factory, Frederick Coombe (14) Printer's boy and Charles H Coombe (12).

In 1901, John H Coombes (sic) (55) Tailor Journeyman was living in Great Queen Street, Bloomsbury, London, with Frances Maria Coombe (26) Packer in soap factory; Fredrick Coombe (24) Porter Hotel kitchen and Charles H Coombe (22) Tailor journeyman.

However, in 1911, we find John Coombe (68) Tailor, Widowed as an Inmate of Holborn Union Workhouse, Mitcham, Surrey. (Photo: Dining Hall, Holborn Union Workhouse, Mitcham, Surrey.)

John Hurley Coombe died in 1913 J Qtr in CROYDON Vol 02A Page 469.

Monday 4 September 2023

John Pryor and Elizabeth Wilton and Edith Sell

Royston: early blossom in Kneesworth Street
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © John Sutton - geograph.org.uk/p/4814372

John Pryor (b. 22 Aug 1803 in Royston, Hertfordshire), son of John Pryor and Lydia Bateson, married Elizabeth Wilton, second daughter of Stephen Wilton and Elizabeth Hankin, in Royston, Hertfordshire on 4 Sep 1823

John and Elizabeth appear to have seven children:

  1. Lydia Pryor b. 17 Jun 1824, bap. 24 Jun 1837
  2. Henry Wilton Pryor b. 14 Nov 1827, bap. 24 Jun 1837
  3. Francis Pryor b. 4 Mar 1830, bap. 24 Jun 1837
  4. Matthew John Pryor b. 14 Nov 1832, bap. 26 Jun 1837 (died 1838)
  5. Elizabeth Pryor b. 9 Dec 1834, bap. 24 Jun 1837 (died 1841)
  6. William Bateson Pryor b. 1837 S Qtr in ROYSTON UNION Vol 06 400
  7. Alfred John Pryor b. 1839 J Quarter in ROYSTON & BUNTINGFORD Volume 06 Page 600

All baptisms took place at the New Meeting House, Royston. Maybe they felt the need to catch up before Civil Registration came in on 1 Jul 1837.

It looks very much like Elizabeth Pryor (née Wilton) died in 1840. 

Elizabeth Pryor, aged 6, died in 1841 D Quarter in ROYSTON & BUNTINGFORD Volume 06 Page 396.

Elizabeth's sister, Martha Wilton (30), was living in John Pryor (35)'s household, in High Street, Royston, in 1841, along with Lydia Pryor (17), William B Pryor (3) and Alfred Pryor (2). Henry Wilton Pryor (listed as Henry Prior) (14) Apprentice Tailor, was living in the household of his Uncle Henry Wilton (his mother's brother) in High Street, Great Dunmow; Francis Pryor (11), it appears was in the household of Benjamin Batt (55) in Padler's Lane, Therfield, Hertfordshire, but I don't know in what capacity.

John Pryor remarried, in Royston, on 25 Aug 1842 to Edith Sell, daughter of Tempest Sell and Sarah Docwa, with whom he had two further children:

  1. Edith Sell Pryor b. 1843, bap. 25 Aug 1844
  2. Tempest Simeon Sell Pryor b. 1846
"Edith Fossey Prior, daughter of Tempest Sell, who departed this life, April 5th, 1850, aged 37 years", was buried on 12 Apr 1850 at the Parish Church of St Peter & St Paul, Bassingbourn. (There are monuments to Tempest Sell at Bassingbourn Parish Church, Edith's brother and ancestors.) 

John Pryor appears to have died, in 1850 too, because, in 1851, son Alfred (12), Edith (7) and Tempest (5), surname spelt Prior, were all resident at the Bassingbourn Union Workhouse (Royston Union Workhouse).

Saturday 2 September 2023

Jane Middleton and William Flew and John Howe

Church of St Peter, Knowstone
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Derek Harper - geograph.org.uk/p/3465881

Jane Middleton, baptised on 15 Mar 1829 in Knowstone, Devon, daughter of Robert Middleton and Elizabeth Baker, was my 2x great-grandmother.

By 1841, then aged around 12, Jane had already left home and was working as a farm labourer for John Bucknell at Beaple's Barton. The still-important farmhouse is about one mile south west of Knowstone village, bordered to the south by Beaple's Moor and to the north by Beaple's Wood. Listed among the workers at Beaple's Barton at the same time was Thomas Baker (20).

In 1851, Jane (20), was a Pauper inmate of The Workhouse in Church Lane, South Molton, along with her son, Robert, aged 1. Presumably, this was the only place she could go as a single mother and clearly she was either still there or back there in 1853/4 when she had her second son, William.

Jane actually had 4 children out of wedlock. Only one survived.
  1. Robert Middleton, b. 1850 S Quarter in SOUTHMOLTON Volume 10  Page 199, bap. on 3 Mar 1854, record marked 'dead' (abode 'Union', i.e. Workhouse) and buried on 6 Mar 1854 in Knowstone, aged 4 years.
  2. William Middleton, b. 1853 S Quarter in SOUTHMOLTON Volume 05B  Page 416, bap. 9 Feb 1854, record marked 'dead' (abode given as 'Union', i.e. Workhouse), buried 5 Mar 1854 in Knowstone, aged 8 months.
  3. Frederick Middleton, b. 1856 D Quarter in SOUTHMOLTON Volume 05B Page 430. Buried 20 Jan 1858 at St Peter’s Church, Rose Ash, Devon, and bap. (posthumously) 3 Oct 1858 in West Anstey.
  4. Emma Middleton, b. 6 Aug 1862, bap. 5 Oct 1865, in West Anstey.
Robert, William and Frederick's surname is listed on their GRO birth records as MEDDLETON. All have the mother's maiden name left blank, confirming illegitimate births. There's no GRO registration for Emma.

In 1861 Jane Middleton (32), was a House Servant in the employ of John Micks at Woods Farm, West Anstey. A decade later, in 1871, Jane Middleton (34?) was Housekeeper to William Short (66) at Rowry, Molland, South Molton, Devon, with her daughter Emma (8) listed as a Boarder. 

Jane Middleton, Spinster, daughter of Robert Middleton, married William Flew, Widower, son of Richard Flew, who said he was then 38, at her parish of St Peter's, Knowstone on 2 Sep 1875. On the marriage certificate, Jane is listed as being 30. She was actually 46. Witnesses were Hugh Tapp (married to Jane's sister Harriet) and Mary Ann Marshall (William's sister Mary).

However, within six months, William Flew died, age estimated at 40. He was buried on 5 Mar 1876, at All Saints Church, Rackenford. William also left four children from his first marriage; Thomas, Mary Jane, Sarah and William.

Jane Flew then married John Howe (or How) in the first quarter of 1877.

St Margaret's Church, Stoodleigh
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Derek Harper
geograph.org.uk/p/2448281
John How, born 12 Mar 1842 to John How and Mary Ann Broom (who married in 1837 in Oakford, Devon), was baptised on 3 Apr 1842 in Stoodleigh, Devon.
In 1851, at Hasswells Cottage, Stoodleigh, John was the second of six children; Mary Ann (11), John (9), Matilda (7), Ellen (5), Robert (2) and William (0). John's maternal grandmother, Mary Broom, widow (78), born in 1773, lived with the family.
John How Sr had been baptised on 13 Mar 1810, in the wonderfully named village of Huish Champflower in Somerset, the son of Nathaniel Howe and Joan Rogers, who had married on 25 Mar 1805 in Chipstable.

In 1881, John and Jane How were living at Babcott Cottage on the Stoodleigh Estate, Stoodleigh. John, an Agricultural Labourer, was 38. It says 49, but Jane was 52. John's parents, John and Mary Ann How, also lived in Stoodleigh at 1, Little Coleford. (Perhaps a cottage on Little Coleford Farm?)

In 1891, living at Habridge Cottages, Steart Road, Stoodleigh, John How (49) and Jane How (49 again, really 62), were joined by John's mother, Mary Ann (76), widow - John's father had died in 1887 - and William Henry Middleton (2), described as 'Wife's Daughter's Son'. My dad just called him Uncle Bill.

By 1901, John and Jane Howe had moved to Manley Cottage, 2, Halberton - near to the Manley Bridge on the Grand Western Canal (here's what the property at 1 Manley Cottages looks like). John was 59 and Jane had clearly become tired of lying about her age, as she's listed accurately at 71.

Jane Howe died in November 1905, she will have been 76.

In 1911, John Howe (69), Widower, was a boarder in the household of George Cockram at Marsh Cottages, Bolham Road, Tiverton. 

In 1921, John Howe (79) Widower, OAP, was still a boarder in the household of George Cockram, this time at 80, Chapel Street, Tiverton.

John Howe died on 31 Mar 1927 at the age of 85.

When my father had hand drawn a family tree for me some years ago, he had added John and Jane Howe with some of their dates, unlinked, at the bottom of the page. Clearly he knew of them (he was a small boy when John died), but didn't know who they were: that Jane was his great-grandmother.

Manley Bridge, Grand Western Canal, from the west
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Christine Johnstone - geograph.org.uk/p/4085587

Sunday 23 July 2023

Henry William Stone and Sarah Snow and Jane Tarr

Huntsham : All Saints Church
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Lewis Clarke - geograph.org.uk/p/6039979

Henry Stone, second son of my 2x great-grandparents, Henry Stone and Mary Ridgeway, born in Ashbrittle, Somerset, in 1856, was found at home with his parents - no surprise, aged 4 - at Court Place, Ashbrittle, in 1861. And in 1871, aged 13, I believe it is this Henry Stone, who is employed as an Indoor Agricultural Labourer working for Richard Poole (62) a Farmer of 170 acres, employing 7 labourers and 1 boy, at Bathealton, Somerset.

On 27 Feb 1879 Ellen Stone Snow was born at Putson Cottages, Blundells Road, Tiverton to Sarah Snow, a Domestic Servant and in 1881, this child was living with Henry Stone and Mary Ridgeway, listed as their granddaughter. 

Only two of Henry and Mary's sons looked likely to be this child's father and I was about to cast more aspersions upon the character of John Stone, until I discovered the marriage of Sarah Snow and William Henry Stone (baptised Henry William) on 23 Jul 1879 at All Saints' Church, Huntsham. Witnesses were John Voisey and the bridegroom's sister, Mary Ann (Marrianne).

But Sarah Stone, wife of Henry Stone a Farm Labourer, died on 22 Jan 1880, from Phthisis acuta (Acute tuberculosis), at Huntsham. Emma Maunder, sister, was present at her death. This explains why, in 1881, Henry Stone, was a widower, aged just 24, living alone at Little Fair Oak, Uplowman. 

At that same time, in Henry Stone and Mary Ridgeway's household were two visitors: Mary Ann Tarr (27) and Jane Tarr (22), who were daughters of William Tarr, a Hostler, and his wife, Jane Wood, of Marsh Bridge Road, Dulverton, Somerset. Clearly they were there preparing for a wedding, because in Q2 of 1881, William Henry Stone married Jane Tarr.  

Henry and Jane had two further children: 
  1. Frederick Henry Stone born 1885, bap. 26 Apr 1885, son of Henry and Jane, at St Mary’s churchUffculme (died 1887, see below)
  2. Louisa Jane Stone born 1888, bap. 26 Feb 1888 as Louisa Mary Jane Stone, at St Mary’s churchUffculme.

On 29 July 1887 The Western Times reported on the inquest into the accidental death of Frederick Henry Stone, 2½ yrs old, of Wellington Road, Uffculme, whose clothes caught fire, causing burns over his whole body, as did the Exeter and Plymouth Gazette. This report of the inquest, which was held in the cottage where they lived, is hard reading.

THE SHOCKING DEATH OF A CHILD NEAR UFFCULME

The inquest touching the death of the child, Frederick Henry Stone, aged 2½ years, son of a labourer residing at Brickyard Cottage, Wellington Road, near Uffculme, was held by Mr. F. Burrow, district coroner, on Saturday, when the evidence of the mother, Mrs Potter, a neighbour, and Dr. Morgan, of Uffculme, was taken. It appeared that about 8 a.m. on Friday the mother, having lighted the kitchen fire, placed the child, which was wearing its night-dress, in a chair by the side of it. Her back was turned for a few moments, and in the meantime the nightdress, a long one, became ignited by a burning stick which fell out of the grate. On hearing the child scream the mother ran into the kitchen, and finding the nightdress in flames, endeavoured to smother them by throwing some woollen material around the child. Failing, however, in this attempt, she and her little girl called for assistance, Mrs Potter then came in and, according to her statement, found the child in the middle of the floor, getting up into its knees and enveloped in "a mass of flames from head to foot." With the exception of fragments, the nightdress and undergarments were then completely charred. She extinguished the flames upon what remained and then, with the assistance of other neighbours, the burns were treated with linseed oil and lime water. In the meantime Dr. Bryden, of Uffculme, was sent for, as also was Dr. Morgan. The latter arrived first, but not until the child had expired. In his evidence, Mr. Morgan said he entirely approved of the remedies applied and even had he been there more could not have been done. The extent and nature of the burns, involving as they did the whole body were sufficient to cause death. -- The father of the child was present at the earlier part of the enquiry, but as he persisted in interposing remarks he was ordered by the Coroner to withdraw. Subsequently he was recalled and allowed to make a statement, the Coroner holding that he was not in a fit state to be sworn. Stone complained very strongly that Dr. Bryden although called twice and promised to come down did not do so until it suited his convenience in the course of his usual round as parish doctor, which was an hour or more after death. Mentioning incidentally that Dr. Bryden had attended on previous occasions he said he owed him 7s 6d, which he declared he would never pay. -- The Coroner remarked that that was a matter between himself and Dr. Bryden. -- It transpired that the child was insured in the Prudential Insurance Company. -- The jury returned a verdict of "Accidental death."
William Henry Stone, Farm Labourer of Halberton, died, aged 33, on 11 Aug 1889, at the Infirmary Tiverton from Cardiac disease and oedema of the lungs (Pulmonary edema is often caused by congestive heart failure.)

As if things couldn't get any worse, in 1891, both Jane Stone and daughter Louisa Mary Jane are listed as inmates at the Tiverton Union Workhouse

Then Louisa Mary Jane Stone, sadly, simply disappears.

Ellen Snow (12) was still (or again) living with her grandfather in 1891, going by her mother's surname, Snow, even though her parents had subsequently married, which I imagine was so that the records matched up when she was enrolled at school. In 1901, however, she was using her father's surname, listed as Ellen S Stone (22), working as Cook Domestic, at a Private Girls School at 19, St Peter Street, Tiverton, Devon. Ellen married in 1901

Jane Stone remarried to William Staddon in 1899. 

In 1911, in Kitwell Street, Uffculme were William Staddon (52) Basket Maker, from Uplowman, Devon, with wife Jane (52) from Dulverton, Tom Staddon (32) and Henry Wright (45) boarder. (William Staddon previously married Leah Parr (m. 1871) - and the mother's maiden name on Tom's birth registration is Parr to confirm this - who had died, aged 51, in 1897.)

William and Jane Staddon appear to have been living in Halberton, in 1921.

As yet, I've been unable to find the deaths for either William or Jane Staddon.

Monday 17 July 2023

Daniel Hockley and Sophia Mason

St Mary, Broxted - Chancel
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © John Salmon - geograph.org.uk/p/3374402

Daniel Hockley, Labourer, married Sophia Mason on 17 Jul 1815 at the parish church in Broxted, Essex. Witnesses were Samuel Mason and Amelia Baker

For now Daniel is the earliest of my Hockley ancestors that I can follow a trail of records to in order to be confident are correct. He was reputedly the son of Daniel Hockley and Sarah Turner - and thus brother of Sally Hockley - but I've found no record of his birth (or baptism) to prove this. There is, however, a listing of a Daniel Hockley, baptised in Broxted on 21 Feb 1790, son of John and Mary Hockley, which looks to be a far more likely candidate. 

Daniel and Sophia had nine children:
  1. George Hockley bap. 1 Oct 1815 in Broxted
  2. Lucy Hockley bap. 26 Oct 1817 (No further records found)
  3. Eliza Hockley bap. 23 Jul 1820 (died, aged 25, and was buried on 7 Jul 1845 at St Mary the Virgin, Great Dunmow.)
  4. Mary Hockley bap. 9 May 1824
  5. Tamar Hockley bap. 8 Oct 1826. Tamar as a name: There are three characters in the Bible with this name. 
  6. Sarah Hockley bap. 10 Aug 1828 (buried 14 Sep 1828)
  7. Sophia Hockley bap. 14 Aug 1831
  8. William Hockley bap. 15 Sep 1833
  9. James Hockley bap. 5 Aug 1838
From Lucy onwards, they were baptised at St Mary the Virgin, Great Dunmow.

Youngest child, James, falls within Civil Registration and, the General Register Office record confirms the mother's maiden name as MASON.

In 1841, at Halfway House, Great Dunmow, were Daniel Hockley (50), Sophia (45), George (25), Eliza (20), Tamar (15), Sophia (10), William (8), James (2) and Lucy (0), daughter of Eliza Hockley, Single Woman [1]. Mary Hockley (18ish) was working as a Female Servant in the household of William Piper (30) Chemist & Druggist in High Street, Great Dunmow, Dunmow.

Sophia Hockley died, aged 46 - which suggests a year of birth of 1796 - and was buried, on 23 Oct 1842, at St Mary the Virgin, Great Dunmow.

In 1861, the widowed Daniel Hockley - age wrongly estimated to 62 - was living in the household of son William Hockley (27), married to Charlotte (née Cock) (27), their daughter Sarah C (1) and William's brother, James (23).

Daniel Hockley died in 1868, his age was estimated to 81. Daniel Hockley was buried at St Mary the Virgin, Great Dunmow on 8 Jul 1868.

[1] Lucy Hockley (b. 1841 M Quarter in DUNMOW UNION Volume 12 Page 77), bap. 5 Mar 1841 at St Mary the Virgin, Great Dunmow, daughter of Eliza Hockley, Single Woman. In 1861, Lucy Hockley (20) Domestic Servant was an Inmate of Great Dunmow Union Workhouse. In 1871, Lucy Hockley (30) Domestic Servant was an Inmate of Dunmow Union Workhouse, but, in 1881 Lucy Hockley (36ish) was employed as a Domestic Servant by Charles Cook (70) in Chelmsford Road, Barnston, Dunmow. Lucy Hockley of Dunmow Union Workhouse died, aged 49, and was buried on 22 Nov 1890.

Thursday 11 August 2022

Elizabeth Hockley and Ada Elizabeth Hockley

Buckingham Court, The Close, Great Dunmow.
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Cliff Law - geograph.org.uk/p/1511261
The Close, now residential, formerly a workhouse incorporating hospital, stables, blacksmiths.

Elizabeth Hockley (b. 1847), daughter of George Hockley and Eliza Crow gave birth to an illegitimate daughter, Ada Elizabeth Hockley in 1869 D Quarter in ISLINGTON, but in 1871, both Elizabeth Hockley (20ish) and Ada Hockley (1) were listed as Inmates of Dunmow Union Workhouse. Ada Elizabeth Hockley was baptised, on 1 May 1873, at St Mary the Virgin, Great Dunmow.

In 1881, Elizabeth Hockley (28), Ada Hockley (12) and Joseph James Hockley (0) - born on 7 Mar 1881, Elizabeth's second illegitimate child - were all Pauper Inmates at the Union Workhouse, Great Dunmow. Joseph James Hockley was baptised on 16 Jun 1882 at St Mary the Virgin, Great Dunmow, with their address given at that time as Dunmow Union Workhouse Felsted.

In 1891, Elizabeth Hockley (38) Pauper inmate was once more at Dunmow Poor Law Union Workhouse, as was her son, listed as James Hockley (10). 

In 1901, Elizabeth Hockley (49) was Housekeeper in the household of Walter Howland at Silverleys, Straits Lane, Felstead. Ada Hockley (32) born in Islington was back in The Dunmow Union Workhouse as a Pauper Inmate.

In 1911, both mother and daughter, Elizabeth Hockley (64) and Ada Hockley (43) Domestic servants were once again Inmates at the Dunmow Union Workhouse. This is the last record that can be found for either of them.

Thursday 5 May 2022

Winship Soppit and Ann Hall

Framwellgate Bridge, Durham
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © David Robinson - geograph.org.uk/p/6271900

Winship Soppit (b. 1842), elder son of Joseph Soppit and Catherine Winship, married an Ann Hall in Durham, in the 4th quarter of 1871. (There's more than one Ann Hall born in the relevant area, so it would require more clues.)

Winship and Ann had six children, but I'm not sure any survived:
  1. Winship Soppit b. 1872 M Quarter in HOUGHTON-LE-SPRING Volume 10A Page 475, died in the same quarter, 1872 M Quarter in HOUGHTON-LE-SPRING Volume 10A Page 345
  2. Catherine Soppit b. 1873 S Quarter in DURHAM Volume 10A Page 448, again died in the same quarter, 1873 S Quarter in DURHAM Volume 10A Page 240. There's a baptism of a Catherine Soppit, whose parents were Winship and Ann, in Durham, on 13 Oct 1874. A posthumous baptism, or perhaps more likely that the year has been transcribed incorrectly?
  3. Joseph Soppit b. 1877 M Quarter in DURHAM Volume 10A Page 396, died aged 1, in 1878 M Quarter in DURHAM Volume 10A Page 197
  4. John Winship Soppit b. 1879 M Quarter in DURHAM Vol 10A Page 373
  5. Margaret Soppit b. 1881 J Quarter in DURHAM Volume 10A Page 385, died again in the same quarter, 1881 (Volume 10A Page 181)
  6. Edith Annie Soppit b. 1885 S Quarter in GATESHEAD Vol 10A Page 795
In 1881, Winship Soppitt (sic) (38) Blacksmith at colliery, was living at Colliery Houses, 22, Framwellgate, Durham with wife Annie (29), John W (2) born at Framwellgate Moor; Margaret (0) and Annie Pallister (9) Niece.

Then Winship Soppit died, aged 48, in 1890 in Morpeth, Northumberland.

In 1891, Annie Soppitt (sic) (39) widow, was Housekeeper to John Scott (42) Deputy At Coal Mine, at Long Row, Harraton, Durham

But in 1901, Ann Soppit (49) widow from South Hetton, Durham, was listed as a Pauper Inmate in Preston Lane, Tynemouth, Northumberland - the Tynemouth Parish Workhouse was in Preston Lane, North Sheilds.

Then she just dissapears: there are no further records on the next census and I cannot find a record of her death. Also, sadly, I can find are no further records relating to either John Winship (b. 1879), nor Edith Annie (b. 1885).

Friday 13 August 2021

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) Milk Carrier (these listings of Victorian Occupations 'helpfully' says this is "Someone who carries milk". No doubt from dairy to customer in a hand cart as shown here) and Eliza (25) were living in Kiddles Court, off Fore Street, Tiverton.

However, 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 also given as Tiverton Union, i.e. Workhouse.

In 1891, Frederick, Eliza, Arthur and Bessie were all Inmates at The Tiverton Union Workhouse, 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, but the fact that two of the children died around the same time, in 1885 and 1886, tends to suggest that disease, rather than 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.

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 Southcott died in 1906, undoubtedly still in the Workhouse. 

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.

Sunday 9 May 2021

William Hill Adcock and Annie Dear

On Whitechapel Road, London
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Ian S - geograph.org.uk/p/6376642

William Hill Adcock (bap. 11 Dec 1840), son of James Adcock and Mary Hill, married Anne Dear (bap. 16 Jun 1844), daughter of Stephen and Catherine Dear, at Christ Church, Watney StreetSt George in the East in 1864.

William and Annie had thirteen children: 
  1. Annie Eliza Adcock b. 1865 in St George in the East
  2. Mary Elizabeth Adcock b. 1868 in Shoreditch
  3. Louisa Catherine Adcock b. 1869 in Whitechapel
  4. William James Adcock b. 1870 in Whitechapel (died 1872, aged 1)
  5. Flora Adcock b. 1872 in Whitechapel
  6. Minnie Adcock b. 1874 in Whitechapel
  7. Ada Alice Adcock b. 1876 in Whitechapel
  8. Charles William Adcock b. 1877 in Whitechapel (died 1878, aged 0)
  9. Albert Henry Adcock b. 1878 in Whitechapel
  10. Walter Charles Adcock b. 1880 in Whitechapel
  11. William Ernest Adcock b. 1882 in Whitechapel (died 1883, aged 0)
  12. Emily Marie Adcock b. 1884 in West Ham (died 1886, aged 2)
  13. Edwin John Adcock b. 1891 in Dartford
In 1871, living in Whitechapel, were William Adcock (30) Tobacconist Shopman, wife Annie Adcock (26) birthplace Winterslow, Wiltshire; Annie (5); Louisa (2) and William (0). Mary Elizabeth, then 3, was not listed. 

In 1881, at 4 Whitechapel Road, Whitechapel, we find William Adcock (40), Manager to Tobacconist; Annie (36); Mary E (13), Louisa (11), Flora (8), Minnie (6), Ada (5), Albert (2) and Walter (0). 

In 1891, living in Victoria Street, Erith, Kent, were William Adcock (50) then employed as a Machinist. Living with him were wife Annie (46), Louisa (21), Albert (12), Walter (11) and Edwin (0).

And in 1901, still in Victoria Street, we find William Adcock (60) a Machine Minder in a Gun Works - presumably the Vickers Works, Erith - with wife Annie (56), Albert (22), Walter (20) and Edwin (10). 

Annie Adcock died, in Dartford, in 1902, aged 58.

In 1911, William Adcock (70) was an inmate at Dartford Union Workhouse.

William Adcock died in 1920, in Bromley, Kent, aged 79.

Dartford Union Workhouse
Ethan Doyle White, CC BY-SA 4.0

Thursday 6 May 2021

Thomas Thompson

Former Kettering Work House
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Ajay Tegala - geograph.org.uk/p/6651691

Thomas Thompson (bap. 14 Apr 1811 in Cransley, Northamptonshire), son of Solomon Thompson Jnr and Maria Willis, was a carpenter like his father.

In 1851, Thomas Thompson (40), Carpenter, was staying as a visitor with his sister, Lucy Smith and her husband in Foleshill, Warwickshire. 

In 1861, Thomas (50) was living alone in Cransley, Northampronshire.

And, in 1871, Thomas (60), was still a carpenter in Broughton

However by 1881, Thomas Thompson (70), carpenter, may have become too old or infirm to work or manage on his own, because he was listed as an inmate at Kettering Union Workhouse, later St Mary's Hospital, Kettering.

It would appear that Thomas Thompson died, in Kettering, in 1886.

Wednesday 5 May 2021

Ann Wilton

Nazareth Gardens, Peckham Rye
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © David Anstiss - geograph.org.uk/p/2620932
In 1878 Gordon Road Workhouse was built in the grounds of Nazareth House

The first mention of Ann Wilton, daughter of Stephen Wilton and Elizabeth Hankin, is on the 1841 census, living with her mother at Lewers Cottages, Royston. There she's listed as being 20, but subsequent records suggest she was a couple of years older than her sister Sarah and thus born in 1817.

Thirty years later, in 1871, Ann Wilton (54), Needlewoman, 'wife's sister' was living in the household of her sister Sarah and her husband, Thomas Clark, in Camberwell. Living there also, listed as nephew and niece to the head of the household, were Stephen Wilton (18) and Martha Wilton (10). 

Having checked the birth registrations for both of these children, they are illegitimate births and, by elimination, must therefore be Ann's children: 
  1. Stephen Wilton born 1848 in Southwark
  2. Martha Wilton born 1860 in Camberwell
With her brother-in-law, Thomas Clark, having died in 1877 and sister, Sarah then lodging with her own daughter, options must have run out for Ann, because in 1881, Ann Wilton (64), was listed as an inmate at the Workhouse Gordon Road, Camberwell. As in 1891, in 1901 and for the rest of her life.

Martha Wilton (21), in 1881, was a General Servant in the household of John Newlands (61) Warehouseman Fancy Goods, at 16, Talfourd Road, Camberwell. It appears that Martha married James Wevell in 1884.

Ann Wilton died, in Camberwell, in 1909, aged around 90-92.

Saturday 19 December 2020

The Matchgirls at Bryant & May's factory in Bow

Former Bryant and May factory on Fairfield Road, Bow, was the setting of the 'London matchgirls strike of 1888'. Most of the buildings have been converted into housing - creating the Bow Quarter Estate. Photo © David Anstiss (cc-by-sa/2.0)

Ellen Wilton, (b. 1857), younger sister of my 2nd great-grandmother, Elizabeth Wilton (b.1847), had an awful start in life and nothing improved after it. Their father, Richard Wilton, having died in 1858, in 1861, the sisters were inmates in the Great Dunmow Union Workhouse. After their mother remarried, they moved to London, but she was widowed again and, we find Ellen and her mother, in 1881, living in Powis Road, Bromley, Poplar

Ellen (24) and Susan Robison (21), a boarder living in their household, are listed as Match Makers, while lodger, James Howard (18) is listed as a Match Maker (Fusee). (A "Lodger" pays for use of a room only. A "Boarder" pays for a room and meals.) Living little more than half a mile from the Bryant & May's factory in Bow, it is probably reasonable to assume that this was where they were all employed, where the conditions were reported to be so awful that Ellen may well have reminisced fondly about her time in the workhouse. 

Matchgirl strikers, several showing early symptoms of phosphorus necrosis. Unknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
White Slavery in London

At the Bryant and May matchmaking factory in Bow, conditions were especially bad for the workers. 

"The match girls worked from 6.30am (or 8am in winter) until 6pm, with just two breaks, standing all the time. “A typical case”, wrote Besant, “is that of a girl of 16, a piece worker; she earns 4s a week ..." (Worth around £26 in 2020).

"Conditions were appalling for the 1,400 women and girls who worked at Bryant and May's match factory in Bow, East London. Low pay for a 14-hour day was cut even more if you talked or went to the toilet, and 'phossy jaw' - a horrible bone cancer caused by the cheap type of phosphorus in the matches - was common." 
"If you handled white phosphorus or came into contact with it too much, then it caused serious damage to your health and you ended up with a terrible condition known as ‘Phossy Jaw’ – where you would get severe toothache followed by swelling of the gums. Abscesses would then form on the jaw-bone, and the facial bones would glow a greeny white in the dark. If untreated then ‘Phossy Jaw’ would develop into brain damage and ultimately multiple organ failure."
As a result of these appalling conditions, the London Matchgirls Strike of 1888 started in the factory, which led to the establishment of the first British trade union for women. Having checked the records, I know that my 2x great-grand aunt was not involved in the Matchgirls Strike in 1888, but reading about it gives an insight into what she must have endured. She could have been involved in an earlier, unsuccessful, strike in 1881. We don't know how long she worked as a Match Maker or at what point between 1871 and 1881 she and her mother had moved to London. There is a potentially relevant record of a death of an Ellen Wilton, in St George in the East, in 1882, so maybe she had already become a victim of these dreadful circumstances.

Having read that Quakers, William Bryant and Frances May, established Bryant and May and, knowing that Ellen's mother's first marriage to Richard Wilton had been celebrated at the Quaker Meeting House in Great Dunmow, it both saddens and angers me to think that it may have been through these circles that the family learned of - and worse, trusted - this 'opportunity'.

At around the same time, in the 1870's, Ellen's sister Elizabeth and her husband, James Hockley (a pair of my 2nd great-grandparents), also moved south from Great Dunmow. Their son, Charles Stephen Hockley was born in Bromley-by-BowPoplar, Middlesex, in 1874. It's not possible to tell who led, or if they all moved down together, but for Ellen and her coworkers, it can hardly have seemed like the streets of London were paved with gold.

References

  1. Britain: The Matchgirls strike - from a spark to a blaze
  2. Bryant & May ‘Flaming Fusee’ matches for cigars and pipes, London, England, 1861-1895
  3. Bryant and May Match Factory, Bow, Greater London
  4. The ‘Bryant & May Match Factory’ in Bow & the ‘Match Girl’ strike of 1888
  5. Setting the workers alight: the East End Match Girls' Strike
  6. Bryant and May Strike Bow East London
  7. The Match Workers Strike Fund Register
  8. Match Workers Strike, Bow 1888
  9. Match Girls Strike - The British Library