Edward John Bicknell and Marcella Jones

Portsmouth Cathedral
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © N Chadwick - geograph.org.uk/p/6829155

Edward John Bicknell married Marcella Jones (b. 10 May 1883 in Rushbrooke, Cobh (Queenstown, as it was then), Ireland), daughter of David Jones and Johannah Anne O'Callaghan, at St Jude's Church, Southsea on 12 Dec 1906. Among the witnesses was Marcella's younger sister, Helena Jones. At the time of this marriage, Edward John Bicknell was a Corporal RGA (Royal Garrison Artillery) and was then stationed at Southsea Castle. On the marriage certificate, Bicknell's father is 'invented' as Edward Bicknell, a farmer.

Their only child was:

1. David Nicholas Bicknell b. 20 Jan 1909 at 15 Gold Street, Southsea (1909 M Quarter in PORTSMOUTH Volume 02B Page 491), bap. 10 Feb 1909, at St Thomas of Canterbury (now Portsmouth Cathedral).

There is no birth, nor baptism of an Edward John Bicknell. The only likely record is a birth of an Edward Bicknell, in 1879 D Quarter in SAINT THOMAS Volume 05B Page 46. The birth certificate lists that the child, born on 19 Nov 1879, in the Village, Withycombe Raleigh (which certainly falls within St Thomas Registration District), was the illegitimate son of Rose Creasley Bicknell, Domestic Servant, Cook. His birth was registered by his mother, on 9 Dec 1879 and the name of the deputy registrar on the certificate was Edward John Carter. Is that where the Edward John came from? That and naming their son after Marcella's father and uncle and not after Bicknell's ancestors, leads me to be certain Edward had no idea who his father was and, as is so often done, just made one up for appearances on the marriage certificate.

There was a Rose Cressly Bicknell b. 1859 M Quarter in TOTNES Volume 05B Page 173 and baptised on 2 Jan 1859 at St Saviour's Church, Dartmouth, Devon, clearly listed as the base child of Elizabeth Bicknell (and a bloke named Cressly, I wouldn't be surprised). Edward John was described as Elizabeth's nephew, but it's obvious she was actually his grandmother.

Records show that Henry Palmer had married Elizabeth Fanny Bicknell, at St Margaret's, Westminster, London, in 1873. In 1881, they had been living at Church End, Tempsford, Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, where Henry was Under butler. Elizabeth Bicknell (bap. 5 Jan 1834), listed in Withycombe Rawleigh in 1841 and 1851, certainly had a brother named Edward, born in 1830. However, he had died in 1870, so could not have been the boy's father. In fact, there were very many people named Edward Bicknell, in Withycombe, going right back to the 17th Century. Not one of them were farmers.

In 1891, Edward Jno Bricknell (sic) (10), 'nephew', had been living with Henry Palmer (42) Butler domestic and Elizabeth F Palmer (54) from Withycombe, Devon, at Hencroft Street, Upton with Chalvey, Eton, Buckinghamshire.

On 17 Dec 1895, Edward John Bicknell, listed originally as aged 14 years, 11 months (although the 14 appears to have been over-written as 15 on the 2nd page), from Withycombe [Withycombe Raleigh], Exmouth, Devon, formerly a Telegraph Messenger, had enlisted for Long Service in the Royal Artillery, at Slough, Bucks. The name and address of his next of kin was given as Mrs F E Palmer, 18 Hencroft Street, Sough, Bucks. (In 1901, Elizabeth F Palmer (60) Tailoress, from Withycombe, Devon, was still listed at that address.)

Fort Rowner-Gosport
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When he enlisted in 1895, Edward John was 5' 1⅝' tall, weighed 98lbs, had a fresh complexion, hazel eyes and dark brown hair. He was then sent to Fort Rowner, Gosport on 21 Dec 1895. Initially passed as fit, he spent 29 days in hospital from 5 Feb 1896 to 4 Mar 1896, suffering from an illness referred to only by the initials V.D.H. (valvular disease of the heart and implies some organic disease or heart malfunction), of unknown cause and was discharged on 7 Mar 1896, as "Not being likely to become an efficient soldier."

On 19 Sep 1900, in London, at 18 years and 9 months, Edward John Bicknell, once again enlisted in the Royal Artillery. The record, again, says he was from Withycombe, Exmouth, Devon. Was he cured of his previous condition, or hopeful nobody would tie the two together (which they don't seem to do)?

In 1901, Edward John Bicknell (19) Gunner Royal Artillery, was listed on the census at Leith Fort, North Fort Street, Leith, Edinburgh, Scotland.

Part of Tigné Barracks, now incorporated in The Point Shopping Mall, Sliema, Malta.
(And yes, I did go to Sliema, Malta to track the location down. Would be rude not to!)

In 1911, Sergeant Edward John Bicknell (29), from Exmouth, Devon, was listed on the census of Overseas Establishments with 96th Company RGA (Royal Garrison Artillery) at Fort Tigné, Malta. Also listed there at that time were wife, Marcella Bicknell (26) and son, David Nicholas Bicknell (2) (96th Company, I believe, remained in Malta for the duration of World War I.)

But on 27 Oct 1919, Edward John Bicknell, then a Battery Sergeant Major at Sandown Barracks, Sandown, Isle of Wight, filed for divorce from Marcella, citing her adultery with co-respondent, Harry Babb, a Fitter in His Majesty's Dockyard at Portsmouth, with whom she was allegedly residing at 34, Castle Road, Southsea. The final decree was granted on 29 Sep 1920 and Harry Babb was ordered to pay costs of £63 18s 4d (around £3,655 in 2025).

In 1920 and 1921, records show that Sergeant Major Edward John Bicknell was a member of Sandown Masonic Lodge on the Isle of Wight. 

Edward John Bicknell remarried, to Ida Gertrude Pressley, on 25 Mar 1921, on the Isle of Wight. Ida Gertrude Pressley (b. 31 Dec 1890 (1891 M Quarter in ISLE OF WIGHT Volume 02B Page 615)), was the daughter of Thomas Frederick Pressley (a Yacht steward) and Sophia Caroline Lobb (from Jersey, Channel Islands). In 1901, the family address was Grocer's Shop, 62, West Street, Ryde, Isle of Wight (now a branch of The Co-operative Food). In 1911, Ida Gertrude Priestley (20), had been employed as a Lady's Maid to a Mrs Winifred Walker at 10 Marmion Road, Battersea, London.

In 1921, Ida Gertrude Bicknell (29) Dressmaker & Costumer from the Isle of Wight was a boarder and Edward John Bicknell (38) Soldier, 9th Bde RGA (Attached 34th Bde RFA North Camp Aldershot) a visitor in the household of Ada Smith (55) at 177, Filbert Street, Leicester, Leicestershire.

Edward John Bicknell was discharged from the Army on 18 Sep 1921, at Dover, under Paragraph 392 (xxi) of the King's Regulations - the end of a period of engagement - and awarded a pension of 51½d per day for life. His address on discharge matches, as 177, Filbert Street, Leicester. 

However, Edward John Bicknell of 4 Burton Street, Leicester, Bank Messenger, died on 21 Apr 1922 (1922 J Quarter in LEICESTER Volume 07A Page 300), at Leicester Royal Infirmary from shock following an operation (stomach cancer, diagnosed 5-6 months previously). He was ~40. His death was registered by P H Priestley, Brother-in-law (Ida's younger brother).

34, Castle Road, Southsea, alleged address of these shocking adulterers.

Henry Babb (30 - only 26), Engine fitter at HM Dockyard, son of Levi Frank Babb (deceased), Antique Dealer, married Marcella Bicknell formerly Jones (34 - actually 37) 'the divorced wife of Edward John Bicknell', daughter of David Jones, Naval Pensioner, both of 34, Castle Road, Southsea, at The Register Office, St Michael's Road, Portsmouth, on 15 Dec 1920 (1920 Q4 Vol 2B Pg 1395). Witnesses were Maria Arnold and Edith Arnold.

The only relevant birth of a Harry Babb, was in 1894 D Quarter in BARNSTAPLE UNION Volume 05B Page 417, with his mother's maiden name given as Ware. There was a marriage of an Eli Francis Babb and Annie Ware on 21 Feb 1880, at St Martin-in-the-Fields, in The Strand, London. Harry was baptised on 25 Jan 1895 at Holy Trinity Church, Barnstaple and the baptism record gives his parents as Levi Frank and Annie Babb, with his father's occupation listed as 'Boots' at the Fortescue Hotel. (The word 'Boots' came from, ‘boot boys’, an occupation in the 1830s and 40s requiring young men to clean the boots of hotel guests. Later, the occupation had become simply known as ‘boots’, and duties included odd-jobs.)

In 1921, Henry Babb (30) - still adding 4 years - from Barnstaple, Devon, working for the Department (Engineering) H M Dockyard Portsmouth was again living at 34, Castle Road, Southsea with Marcella Babb (~36), step-son David Bicknell (12), four Boarders and one Domestic servant.

In 1939, Harry Babb (b. 17 Nov 1894), Marine Engineer, Marcella Babb, David N Bicknell and a lodger were living at 10 Wilberforce Road.

Marcella Babb of 1 Festing Grove, Southsea, died on 9 Oct 1963, at 80.

Henry Babb, also still of 1 Festing Grove, Southsea, died on 19 Nov 1967, just two days after celebrating his 73rd birthday.

David Nicholas Bicknell never married. He died of a cardiac arrest on 22 Jan 1987 (Q1/1987 in PORTSMOUTH (4971E) Volume 20 Page 1011), two days after his 78th birthday. The retired production controller still lived at 1 Festing Grove, Southsea. On his death certificate, his place of birth was listed as India. Records show that he was born in Southsea, so I wonder if his father spent time in India while he was growing up, or did David only think it was India, being just a small child in the Mediterranean heat of Malta?

Festing Grove, Southsea
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Henry Doe and Elizabeth Doe

All Saints Church, Little Canfield, Essex

Henry Doe (bap. 20 Sep 1778), son of Henry Doe and Elizabeth Stones, married Elizabeth Doe (b. ~1779) at All Saints Church, Little Canfield on 11 Dec 1799. Either there were a lot of parish foundlings given the surname Doe, or we have to consider the possibility that these two were cousins.

This Henry and Elizabeth Doe had 11 children, baptised at Little Canfield: 

1. Sarah Doe bap. 19 Apr 1800
2. John Doe bap. 14 Feb 1802
3. William Doe bap. 22 Jan 1804
4. Edward Doe bap. 17 Nov 1805
5. James Doe bap. 24 Jan 1808
6. Elizabeth Doe bap. 28 Nov 1809
7. Jane Doe bap. 25 Nov 1810
8. Mary Doe bap. 11 Apr 1813
9. Charles Doe bap. 15 Oct 1815 
10. George Doe bap. 21 Sep 1817
11. Moses Doe bap. 4 Feb 1821

The last child was a posthumous birth, Henry Doe (40ish) having been buried at All Saints, Little Canfield on 28 Sep 1820. 

In 1841, Elizabeth Doe (61) was living in Little Canfield with her daughter, Sarah Gunn (41), George Doe (23), Moses Doe (20) and William Gunn (13). 

In 1861, Elizabeth Doe (80) - place of birth Great Easton, Essex - was living with her son, George Doe (43) at 11, The Village, Little Canfield.

Elizabeth Doe, died aged 83, in 1862 J Quarter in DUNMOW UNION Volume 04A Page 217, and was buried at Little Canfield on 3 Jun 1862.

Herbert Boase and Ruby Beatrice Shotter

Holy Trinity Church in Gosport (Built 1696)
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Barry Shimmon - geograph.org.uk/p/1753325

Herbert Boase (b. 1880 in Forest Gate, East London), son of William Henry Boase and Mary Anna Stephens, married Ruby Beatrice Shotter (b. 10 May 1886 in Portsmouth, Hampshire), daughter of William Thomas Shotter and Hannah Jane Bussey, at St Mark's Church, North End on 10 Dec 1907. Ruby was then resident at 102 London Road, Portsmouth, while Herbert Boase, a clerk, gave his address as 115 South Street, Gosport. (In 1901, Herbert Boase (21) Ironmongers assistant from Forest Gate, Essex, had been a boarder in Alverstoke.) Witnesses were W Phillips and W G Shotter.

Herbert and Ruby had five children:

1. Olive Ruby Boase b. 14 Mar 1909 in ALVERSTOKE Vol 02B Page 551, bap. 1 Apr 1909 at Gosport, Holy Trinity.
2. Anthony Richard Boase b. 10 Sep 1910 in ALVERSTOKE Vol 02B Page 502, bap. 19 Oct 1910 at Christ Church, Stoke Road, Gosport.
3. Philip Edgar Boase b. 1916 M Qtr in BRENTFORD Vol 03A Page 267
4. Daphne Beatrice Boase b. 20 Aug 1917 in BRENTFORD Vol 03A P 174
5. Laurence Jack Boase b. 18 Mar 1919 in SOUTHAMPTON Vol 02C P 83

On the birth registrations for Daphne and Laurence, the mother's maiden name was SHORTER. I've also seen it mis-transcribed as Trotter. :)

In 1911, Herbert Boase (31) Partner in Firm of Brassfounders; Ruby Beatrice Boase (24), Olive Ruby Boase (2), Anthony Richard Boase (6m) and Bertha Ellen Thurlow (15) Servant, were living in Ilford, Essex.

Herbert Boase died, aged 50, in 1930 in EASTLEIGH Vol 02C Page 115.

In 1939, Ruby B Boase, widowed, was living at Perranporth, Woodfalls, Morgan's Vale, Redlynch, Wiltshire, in the household of her married daughter, Olive Ruby Green, along with younger daughter, Daphne B Boase, Bookkeeper. Laurence J Boase, Motor Mechanic now Lcc Ambulance Driver was then boarding in Kilravock Street, Queens Park, Paddington, London.

Ruby Beatrice Boase died in Bromley, Kent in her 98th year in Q4/1984 in BROMLEY (2221C) Volume 11 Page 1078.

• Olive R Boase married Philip George Green (born in Salisbury, Wiltshire in 1908), Merchant Navy Seaman, in Southampton, in 1932. Olive Ruby Green died, at 68, in Morgan's Vale Nr Redlynch, Salisbury, Wiltshire, on 19 Sep 1977. 
• Anthony Richard Boase died, aged 23, in 1934 S Quarter in BRENTFORD Volume 03A Page 179.
• Philip Edgar Boase, Merchant Navy, Steward on RMS Empress of Russia, son of Herbert and Ruby Beatrice Boase, of Upper Norwood, Surrey, died, aged 31, on 9 July 1947 in King George's Sanitorium for Sailors, Bramshott, and is buried in Bramshott (St. Mary) Churchyard, Sec. E, Grave 2111.
• Daphne B Boase married Victor E Staff in Surrey North Eastern, in 1942. Daphne B Staff then remarried to Bernard A Bowdery in Wandsworth in 1953. As Victor E Staff died in 1960, one assumes - hopes - their marriage was disolved. Bernard Arthur Bowdery (b. 1908 in Wandsworth), died in Sutton, Surrey in 1995. Daphne Beatrice Bowdery died, in Sussex, in 2007.
• Laurence J Boase married Mavis W Dainton in Surrey Mid Eastern in 1947. Mavis Winifred Boase (b. 1924) died in 1951. Laurence J Boase then remarried to Lucia Michalak (a Polish surname) in 1952. Laurence Jack Boase died in Canterbury, Kent in 1989 and Lucia Boase (b. 1924), in Bexley, Kent in 1996.

Job Thomas Sweeney and Elizabeth Fuller

St Helen & St Giles, Rainham - Sanctuary
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © John Salmon - geograph.org.uk/p/4530086

Job Thomas Sweeney (b. 27 Aug 1897 in Mile End, London), son of Job Sweeney and Eliza Louisa Tompson, married Elizabeth Fuller (b. 22 Mar 1901 in Rainham, Essex), daughter of George Fuller and Eliza Ellen Hockley, at the church of St Helen and St Giles, Rainham, Essex on 9 Dec 1923.

There were no wedding photos, I was told, because of the rather obvious expected arrival of their only child, Ivy Elizabeth Sweeney b. 5 Mar 1924 (1924 J Quarter in SHOREDITCH Volume 01C Page 31), my mother. She didn't have her birth certificate, as the original was lost when their home was bombed in WWII and had been adamant she was born in one of the Peabody Buildings, but, in fact, was born at 35 Gladstone Buildings, Willow Street, Shoreditch. (She therefore missed out on an historical 'claim to fame' too, because Police Sergeant James George Byfield, witness in one of the Jack the Ripper murders, had lived in Gladstone Buildings, Shoreditch in 1881.)

Built in 1868, the Gladstone Buildings, were demolished in 1977. The site today is, ironically, the location of the Luxury Nobu Hotel London Shoreditch. The previous building on that site certainly wasn't luxury, however, as the Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Shoreditch in 1879 details:

GLADSTONE BUILDINGS, WILLOW STREET.—"In these model dwellings there are 168 suites of apartments, each suite having a separate water supply, and closet accommodation, situate in the scullery. None of the closets were properly supplied with water, so as to flush the pans effectually. The cisterns in which drinking water was stored were all uncovered, placed over the closets close to the ceilings, and immediately under the closet of the apartments above. Several of the tenants complained that their drinking water was polluted with foul liquids dripping from the ceilings, by reason of defective closet arrangements, and many of the ceilings bore evidence as to the fact."

This Charabanc excursion must presumably date to 1925.
Joe and Bet, with baby Ivy on her lap, are in the rear seats of the vehicle.

It must have been after the death of Job's father on 6 Dec 1924, that they moved back to 102, Fore Street, City of London, where Eliza Louisa Sweeney, continued as Housekeeper for Hoffnung & Co Shipping Merchants. 

My mother frequently claimed she was Confirmed at St Paul's Cathedral, but I've been unable to confirm (pun intended) if this is true. And even if it were, it should have been unlikely, as there's no record of her ever being baptised - a not-at-all uncommon omission with a baby's such 'premature' arrival. 

They were still in Fore Street in 1939, with Eliza L Sweeney, Housekeeper; Job Thomas Sweeney, Supervisor Tobacco Packing (employed by W.D. & H.O. Wills); Elizabeth Sweeney; Ivy E Sweeney, Shop Assistant and James Edward Bird, Police Constable (who I can only assume was lodging with them) and remained until their home was destroyed in WWII, thought to have been on or around the night of 29–30 Dec 1940, during the so-called Second Great Fire of London. They were away from home that day, so suffered no physical injury, but lost their home and every material possession they'd owned. 

They then moved out to Hornchurch and in the 1960's, Bet & Joe 'retired' to Pitstone, in the countryside of Bedfordshire. There, granddad carried on his hobby of fishing and was a bailiff on the nearby Grand Union Canal; he did detailed woodwork, inlay and marquetry; embroidered hassocks that were (maybe still are) in the church of St Mary the Virgin in Ivinghoe and grew very tidy rows of vegetables in his garden.

(Right: Bet and Joe on the seafront at Weymouth in the early 1960's.)

Bet Sweeney died on 22 Dec 1980. 

It was absolutely no surprise that, without his lifelong love, Job Thomas Sweeney died eight months later to the day, on 22 Aug 1981.

William Thomas Shotter and Hannah Jane Bussey

Portsea, Kings Bench Alley
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Mike Faherty - geograph.org.uk/p/5440082
Footpath from Queen Street to Kent Street.

William Thomas Shotter (b. 20 May 1845 in Portsea), Purveyor of Kent Street, son of William Shotter and Elizabeth Taylor, married Hannah Jane Bussey (b. 1847), daughter of James Wilmot Bussey and Ellen Jane Munday, at St Mary's, Portsea on 8 Dec 1867. Witnesses were Sarah Ann Bussey, the bride's sister and James Bussey, either her father or brother. William's father, William Shotter, was a butcher at 31, Kent Street, Portsea in 1851 and at 55, Queen Street, Portsea in 1861. Hannah's father, James Wilmot Bussey, listed as a Cattle Dealer, at 213-215 Commercial Road, in 1861 was listed as a Pork Butcher. All of them are listed in Portsmouth Local History, list of Butchers, Meat Dealers (PDF). A marriage of Portsmouth meat royalty!

William and Hannah had nine children:

1. Elizabeth Alice Shotter b. 1868 D Quarter in PORTSEA ISLAND Volume 02B Page 433, died, aged 22, on 3 Sep 1891 and was buried on 7 Sep 1891 at Portsea Cemetery (Kingston Cemetery)
2. Ellen Jane Shotter b. 1870 M Quarter in PORTSEA Vol 02B Page 465, died aged 1, buried, on 15 Oct 1871, at Portsmouth, Kingston Cemetery
3. Emma Shotter b. 1871 D Quarter in PORTSEA Vol 02B Page 414
4. Kate Shotter b. Dec 1874, reg. 1875 M Quarter in PORTSEA Vol 02B Page 435, died aged 1, buried, on 17 Dec 1875, at Kingston Cemetery
5. William George Shotter b. 21 May 1876 in PORTSEA Vol 02B Page 447
6. Mabel Shotter b. 23 May 1879 in PORTSEA Vol 02B Page 459
7. Alfred Shotter b. 1882 S Quarter in PORTSEA Vol 02B Page 486
8. George Shotter b. 1884 J Quarter in ALVERSTOKE Vol 02B Page 583
9. Ruby Beatrice Shotter b. 10 May 1886 in PORTSEA Vol 02B Page 479

In 1871, at 31, Kent Street, were William Shotter (25) Master Butcher, Jane Shotter (24), Elizabeth (2), Ellen (1) and Charlotte Dadd (21) Servant.

In 1881, at 24, Butcher Street, Portsea (aptly named), were William Shotter (36) Master butcher; wife listed as Anna J (34), Elizabeth A (12), Emma (9), Mabel (1) and Alice E Booker (16) Servant. William (5) was staying with his aunt, Susan Baker, Hannah's sister, at at 37, North Street, Portsea.

In 1891, at 334, Fratton Road, Portsea: William T Shotter (46) Butcher, Jane Shotter (44), Lizzie (22), Mabel (11), Alfie (8), George (6), Rose (Ruby Beatrice) (4) and Anne Tolfrey (20) Servant. 

In 1901, William T Shotter (56) was 'Living on own means' (retired) at Laureldene, London Road, Portsmouth, with Anna J Shotter (53), Mabel Shotter (21), Alfred Shotter (18) Engineer Fitter and Ruby B Shotter (14).

Hannah Jane Shotter, wife of William Shotter, of Queen's Road, Buckland, died on 7 Jul 1902 (1902 S Quarter in PORTSMOUTH Volume 02B Page 235) and was buried on 9 Jul 1902 at Portsea Cemetery.

Then William Thomas Shotter (59), Cattle Dealer, widower of 161 Victoria Road North, Southsea, son of William Shotter, Butcher, married Rosina Jane Nash (45), widow, reputedly the daughter of Alfred George Dorman, Builder on 8 Sep 1904 at St Peter's Church, Southsea. (But I can find no record, anywhere, of a marriage between Dorman and Nash; no birth of a Rosina Jane Dorman around 1859 and nobody named Alfred George Dorman of an appropriate age. Nor any records of a Rosina Jane Shotter after this!)

William Thomas Shotter of Queens Road, Portsea, died aged 62, on 15 Mar 1907 (1907 M Quarter in PORTSMOUTH Volume 02B Page 367) and was buried on 19 Mar 1907 at Portsea Cemetery.

The Newcome Arms
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © N Chadwick - geograph.org.uk/p/6667175

William George Shotter (b. 21 May 1876), son of William Thomas Shotter and Hannah Jane Bussey, married Annie Louisa Mew (b. 18 May 1877), daughter of George Charles Mew and Sarah Fudge, with the venue for the marriage listed as Portsmouth Register Office, in 1898. 

William and Annie had four sons:

1. William George Shotter b. 11 May 1899 in PORTSEA Vol 02B 459
2. Sydney Edgar Shotter b. 18 Jun 1901 in PORTSMOUTH Vol 02B 490
3. Alfred Hector Shotter b. 11 Mar 1903 in PORTSMOUTH Vol 02B 485
4. Thomas Bailey Shotter b. 2 Sep 1904 in PORTSMOUTH Vol 02B 465

In 1901, at 215, Lake Road, Portsmouth, were William George Shotter (25) Butcher shopkeeper and Annie Louisa Shotter (24), William George Shotter (2) and George Shotter (17) Butcher's assistant, William George's brother.

In 1911, still at 215 Lake Road, Landport, were William George Shotter (34) Master Butcher, Annie Louisa (33), William George (11), Sydney Edgar (9), Alfred Hector (8), Thomas Bailey (6) and Norah Annie Gossell (20) Servant.

In 1911, William George Shotter is also listed in Public Houses, Inns & Taverns, at the Newcome Arms, 189 Newcome Road, Kingston, Portsmouth.

In 1917, at age 40, William George Shotter, of 215 Lake Road, Butcher and Publican, was granted conditional exemption from military service. 

In 1939, William George Shotter, Licensed Victualler and Annie Louisa Shotter, were living at 34 Chichester Road, Portsmouth.

Annie Louisa Shotter of 36 Colville Road, Cosham, Portsmouth (wife of William George Shotter) died on 22 Aug 1960 at St Christopher's Hospital (formerly Fareham Union Workhouse), an elderly care hospital, leaving her effects to William George Shotter, retired Licensed Victualler.

William George Shotter also then of 36 Colville Road, Cosham, died on 25 Apr 1965 at the Yarborough Medical Home, North End, Portsmouth. 

Their sons and grandson:

• William George Shotter, formerly a telegraphist, enlisted in the Royal Naval Reserve on 15 Oct 1917, from which he was discharged on 16 Feb 1919. On 15 Nov 1922, he married Bessie Isabel Spencer, in Portsmouth. Their only child, William George Shotter, was born on 23 Apr 1923. Then on 18 Feb 1924, William George Shotter (24) enlisted in the Royal Artillery, from which he was discharged on 5 Dec 1938. In 1939, William George Shotter, Overseer General Post Office, and Bessie I Shotter were living at Leamengton, Pound Farm Road, Chichester. Their son followed his father into the Royal Artillery. Gunner William George Shotter, son of William George and Bessie Isabel Shotter, of Chichester, Sussex died, aged 19, on 21 Jan 1943 and is buried at Medjez-El-Bab War Cemetery, near Majaz al Bab, Tunisia. (During World War II, Tunisia was the scene of Operation Torch (8 November 1942 – 13 May 1943), which was the Allied invasion of North Africa. CWGC Commonwealth War Graves in Béja & Medjez-el-Bab, Tunisia, North Africa.) William George Shotter of St James Hospital, Locksway Road, Milton, Portsmouth, a mental health facility, died on 24 Feb 1986.
• Sydney Edgar Shotter married Sylvia Mary Owens, in Portsmouth, in 1926. They appear to have two children, born in Southampton. In 1939, Sydney E Shotter, Deputy Supt Mercantile Marine Office Board Of Trade, and Sylvia M Shotter, were living at 13 Lansdowne Avenue, Grimsby. Sylvia Mary Shotter died in 1975 and Sydney Edgar Shotter died on 21 Apr 1981, both in Nottingham.
• Alfred Hector Shotter (23) Civil Servant, married Marjorie Alice Marchant (26) on 5 Jun 1926 at St Mary's Church, Merton, Surrey. They had one son, born in Kingston upon Thames, in 1929. Alfred Hector Shotter died, in Kingston upon Thames, in 1977.
• Thomas Bailey Shotter married Nora Winifred Carter in Portsmouth, in 1930. They had one son, born Derbyshire, in 1934. In 1939, Thomas B Shotter, Civil Servant Unemployed Assistance, and Nora W Shotter, were living at 132 Whitton Dene, Hounslow. Thomas Bailey Shotter died, on 12 Feb 1984, in Westbury on Trym, Gloucestershire.

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.

David Grant and Jane Gabedey

St Paul's Church, Shadwell. J Shepherd, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

David Grant (b. ~1736) Batchelor, married Jane Gabedey (b. 27 Sep 1740 in Limehouse Causeway, Shadwell) Spinster, daughter of Henry Gabbedy and Ann Causton, at St Paul's Church, Shadwell on 8 Dec 1756. Witnesses were George Si*dley (others have assumed / misread this as Gabedey, but the word begins with an S and the dot on the i is also clear) and Ann Pearson. As is obvious from the dates, Jane was just 16 at the time of her marriage.

David and Jane had at least six children:

1. David Grant bap. 17 Jun 1759, son of David & Jane of Darby Street, Rosemary Lane, at St Botolph's Aldgate, City of London. David, son of David Grant was buried, also at St Botolph's Aldgate on 5 Apr 1761
2. Ann Grant bap. 31 May 1761, daughter of David & Jane of Darby Street, Rosemary Lane, at St Botolph's Aldgate, City of London. Ann, daughter of David Grant was buried at St Botolph's Aldgate 26 Mar 1762
3. James Grant bap. 6 Mar 1763 son of David & Jane in Chambers Street, at Saint Mary, Whitechapel: Whitechapel High Street (St Mary Matfelon)
4. Thomas Grant bap. 6 Mar 1763 sons of David & Jane in Chambers Street, at Saint Mary, Whitechapel: Whitechapel High Street 
5. John Grant b. 6 Mar 1774, bap. 3 Apr 1774 (aged 28 days), son of David, Ropemaker’s Fields, & Jane, at St Anne's Limehouse
6. Rebecca Grant bap. 2 Mar 1777 at St Botolph's Aldgate, daughter of David & Jane of Dean Street East.

Baptised together as Thomas & James, sons of ... had to have been twins.

With such a long gap after the twins' birth and the next recorded birth, there could, of course, been other children that records don't survive for. Sadly, none of the records give any indication of David's occupation either.

Darby Street - described as "one of the less hospitable corners of the capital" - dropped down from Rosemary Lane, which ran west to east from behind the Tower, passing the Royal Mint before plunging into the areas around the docks. And if that wasn't bad enough, try An Anatomy of a ‘Disorderly’ Neighbourhood: Rosemary Lane and Rag Fair c.1690-1765, which says "In the imagination of both novelists and social investigators it was thought to be squalid, dangerous, dirty - the stereotypical ‘den of iniquity’."

It hasn't been possible to isolate a record of the death of David Grant.

Jane Grant (74) was buried on 30 Jul 1814 at St Leonard's, Shoreditch.

Captain William Layman RN and Elizabeth Perry

Photo © Nigel Brown (cc-by-sa/2.0)

HMS Victory, June 1987

Photo available for reuse under this Creative Commons licence.

William Layman (b. ~1765), then of the Parish of St George the Martyr, Southwark, Bachelor, married Elizabeth Perry (b. 15 Jan 1772, bap. 16 Jan 1772 at St Dunstan's, Stepney), of this Parish, Spinster, eldest surviving daughter of John Perry and Elizabeth Brown, by Licence, at St Dunstan's, Stepney on 8 Dec 1798. Witnesses were her father, John Perry, and her brother, Thomas Perry. (Elizabeth's father was John Perry, Shipbuilder of the Blackwall Yard, who built ships largely for the East India Company.)

William Layman by
Sir Thomas Lawrence

Confirming the above, in 1798, 1799 and 1800, the Surrey, England, Land Tax Records, 1780-1832, show that William Layman was paying ground rent to Countess Dowager Gower and Co, for a property in Rotherhithe (now within the London Borough of Southwark), an area known for its rich maritime history.

It would seem that the couple had at least one daughter, Mary Ann Layman, born around 1800. A reputed date of birth of 28 May 1801 has been suggested, but no primary source has been offered (nor found) to confirm this. Her burial record shows that she was buried on 13 June 1814, at Poplar Chapel (St Matthias Old Church), listed as Mary Ann Laman (sic) from Brompton (Chelsea), aged 14. 

Layman was a protégé of Lord Nelson, with whom he served in three ships. It's said that Layman entered the navy in 1782 on board the Portland [HMS Portland (1770)], served for four years (1782–6) in the Myrmidon, and a year and a half (1786–8) in the Amphion [HMS Amphion (1780)] in the West Indies. "In the end of 1796 he was for a few months in the Isis [HMS Isis (1774)] in the North Sea." (To have sight of the original ships' musters, etc., to confirm these, would require a visit to The National Archives.)

"He seems then to have gone into the merchant service, and was especially employed in the East India and China trade." This is confirmed in the UK, Registers of Employees of the East India Company and the India Office, 1746-1939, wherein, in 1797-1799, William Layman, Residence India, is named as the Commander of the ship Britannia [British Merchant merchantman 'Britannia' (1794)], which although privately owned made voyages for the East India Company. Layman appears to have made one voyage for the EIC as commander of this Britannia, from China in 1796, reaching The Downs (off the east Kent coast) on 9 Feb 1797.

In 1800, William Layman returned to the navy under the patronage of Lord St. Vincent. "He passed his examination on 5 June 1800, when, according to his certificate, which agrees with other indications, he was thirty-two years of age." [Source] [1] (Unfortunately, I haven't seen the certificate, which again would require a visit to The National Archives.) He served for a few weeks in the Royal George [HMS Royal George (1788)], St. Vincent's flagship, in the blockade of Brest, and was promoted to be lieutenant of the Formidable [HMS Formidable (1777)] with Captain Thornbrough (Admiral Sir Edward Thornbrough) on 12 Sept. In December, at Lord Nelson's wish, he was appointed to the San Josef [HMS San Josef], and in February 1801 to the St. George [HMS St George (1785)]. "Nelson took up the cause of William Layman, who had been with him as a Lt. at Copenhagen" Battle of Copenhagen (1801) [Source]. In the battle of Copenhagen Layman was lent to the Isis, in command of a party of men sent from the St. George. 

On the recommencement of hostilities, Lord Nelson nominated Mr. Layman to be lieutenant of the Victory - position he held between 4 April 1803 and 16 October 1803, dates which are confirmed in the Ship's Muster Record for Victory, but as an officer, it reads "Per Commission" in the column where, for other ranks, it would list their place of birth - in which ship he sailed with his Lordship for the Mediterranean in May, 1804. In the way out, the Victory retook the Ambuscade frigate, of which Mr. Layman was sent in charge; and on the passage to Gibraltar, captured a French ship and Dutch vessel.

Soon after, re-joining Lord Nelson off Toulon, he [Layman] was appointed, in October, by his Lordship, to the command of the Weazle [HMS Weazel (1799)]; in which vessel Captain Layman was immediately despatched to watch the enemy's cruisers, and protect the trade of the Straits, as well as keep open the conveyance of provisions from the coast of Barbary for the supply of the garrison of Gibraltar. In February, 1805, Lord Nelson wrote to Captain Layman, signifying his high approbation of the manner in which the service of the Gut had been executed, and hoping soon to be able to give him a better ship; but this commendation Captain Layman did not receive till after the Weazle had been unfortunately wrecked. [Source] (Weazle was wrecked on 1 March 1804 off Cabritta Point near Gibraltar with the loss of one man of her crew of 70.) [The service of the Gut of Gibraltar refers primarily to the pivotal naval engagements, particularly the First and Second Battles of Algeciras (July 1801) during the French Revolutionary Wars, where the Royal Navy used the strategic narrow strait to challenge French and Spanish fleets attempting to reinforce Egypt. It also signifies the ongoing strategic role of Gibraltar as a Royal Navy base, controlling the gateway between the Atlantic and Mediterranean for centuries, with regular naval patrols and operations ensuring shipping safety.]

Mainly in consequence of the representations of the merchants of Gibraltar, warmly backed up by Nelson, Layman was nevertheless promoted to the rank of commander on 8 May 1804, and appointed a few months later to the Raven sloop, British sloop 'Raven' (1804), in which he sailed on 21 Jan 1805, with despatches for Sir John Orde and Nelson. On the evening of the 28th he arrived at Orde's rendezvous off Cadiz, and, not seeing the squadron, lay to for the night, during which the ship was allowed to drift inside the Spanish squadron in the outer road of Cadiz. Layman's position thus became almost hopeless, and the next morning in trying to escape the ship was driven ashore near Fort Sta. Catalina. HMS Raven was wrecked in Cadiz Bay, on 30 Jan 1805. Raven was built at his father-in-law's yard (John Perry retired in 1803, a year before HMS Raven was ordered). The circumstances and details of the Court Martial, on 9 Mar 1805, are already covered at the Wikipedia pages for William Layman and HMS Raven and in the Royal Naval Biography of Layman, William compiled by John Marshall, so I won't repeat all of it, except to note that the court-martial minutes include a note by an Admiralty official that said, "Their Lordships are of the opinion that Captain Layman is not a fit person to be entrusted with the command of one of H.M.'s ships."

Would Layman have been at Trafalgar in the October, had he not been Court Martialled in the March? And if he had, would he have survived that battle? Is it probable that if Nelson had lived, he would have continued to defend his protégé and gained him further employment? We will never know.

It seems incongruous that one moment, Nelson is strongly commending an officer who appears to be highly competent, but who then, in the next moment, is shown to have acted with a lack of caution. Despite promoting him, Nelson too seems to have been of the opinion that Layman let his mouth run away with him and Nelson is even reported to have said that the worst thing that happened to Layman was that he learned to write. There was a huge volume of correspondence (longwinded and flowery, which may have simply been the style of the period) from Layman leading up to the commissioning of the Raven, then there were the constant 'ideas' he would send to the Admiralty after his Court Martial. If we add in the circumstances of his demise, I have to say (and I would stress that I'm no expert), but what I'm reading sounds like someone who today we would say was bipolar.

Among his copious output of writings was "the syllabus of a contemplated maritime history from the earliest times (including the building, plans and navigation of the ark, with notes on the weather experienced) to the termination of the second American War." And in his biography, is written: "Perhaps the syllabus may be considered as indicating even then an aberration of the intellect which caused him to 'terminate his existence' in 1826."

On 4 July 1810, William Layman was writing (to the Admiralty, with one of his 'ideas') from Haywood House (sic) near Cobham, Surrey (Heywood House - ACS International School Cobham). There is very little history of the house and nothing to indicate why Layman was there, although a Thomas Baker (1793–1871) was linked to Cobham with East India connections. Baker, became a captain of East India Company ships trading with India and China in the 1820s. He and his wife inherited the house called Owletts in Cobham in 1835. Baker doesn't seem to have any direct link to Heywood House, but he surely was the same Thomas Baker, Carpenter on HMS Raven.

On 22 Jan 1811, Layman wrote (regarding the loss of HMS Raven), from 9 Queens Buildings, Brompton (Chelsea). The location "9 Queens Buildings, Brompton" appears to refer to a historical address, as the entire road frontage known as "Queen's Buildings" was renumbered and renamed to Brompton Road, London SW3 (Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea) in 1864. 

Captain William Layman's house at
34 Hans Place, centre of picture.

From 1816 onwards, London, England, Land Tax Records, 1692-1932, show Captain William Layman paying ground rent to The Lords of the Manor in St Luke, Chelsea, Kensington and Chelsea, first as Sloane Street, then as 34, Hans Place (Hans Place is a garden square in the Knightsbridge district). It would be hard to find anywhere more 'fashionable'. Interestingly, 34 Hans Place is one of only a couple of houses of original construction left there (the six bed, six bath, Georgian townhouse last sold for £13,300,000 in 2023). Jane Austen's brother had lived at 23, Hans Place and the author had stayed there with him in 1814-15, while writing Emma. The Austens and the Laymans may have missed each other by a year, but as number 23 is one of the houses that was subsequently rebuilt, it is (unknowingly) William Layman's house that is used to show what Henry Austen's house would then have looked like.

The Times (May 27th 1826 page 3 column D) report of the coroner's inquest, held at The Swann Inn, Cheltenham, on 25 May 1826, into William Layman's death is reproduced in this thread (from 2006) at the forum, Admiral Lord Nelson & his Navy. That newspaper report details that Layman had killed himself on the previous Tuesday, which was 23 May 1826. He had been found in the bath, with his throat cut. Apparently, he had "undressed himself and had hung up his clothes in the greatest order." It confirms Layman's town residence as No.34 Hans Place, Sloane Street and that he had taken up residence at Woodland Cottage. The deceased is described as "about sixty years of age, a married man, without family." It seems he exhibited many strange behaviours in the lead up to his death. Not unsurprisingly, the Jury, after a short consultation, returned a verdict of "Insanity". 

Captain William Layman RN (the full title listed on the burial record), with abode listed as Cheltenham, was buried at Leckhampton (described as "a desirable, leafy suburb south of Cheltenham, Gloucestershire"), presumably at St Peter's Church, on 29 May 1826, with his burial, curiously, officiated by John Portis, Rector of Little Leighs, Essex. It was fortunate that he was not declared a Felo de se and given a "shameful burial" (at night with no clergy and no mourners), so I suspect that his and particularly his widow's social status had some bearing. His age at death was given as 61, which sounds like someone knew, rather than a guessed rounding to 60. 

[1] It is immensely frustrating that none of the records I can access, and I'm not convinced that the ones at the National Archives at Kew would yield anything more, do not give any clues to Layman's origins. It was said that he is listed as having been 32 years old in 1800, which would calculate to a birth year of 1768, and that 'other indications' agree. Those other indications, I assume are other parts of his naval record. Here's what I think: the age on that 1800 certificate is most likely calculated from the age he said he was when he joined his first ship in 1782. If he had been born in 1768, that would have made him 14 then. In the 1870's, "Boys for the Navy must be over 15 and not above 16½ years of age ..." Prior to that, I know boys could join earlier, because I have a 2x great-grandfather who went to sea at 10, but maybe the upper limit existed earlier. If Layman was born in 1765, the birth year that calculates from his age at death, he would have been 17 in 1782, probably already too old to be taken on for training. He would be far from the first, nor the last, to massage his age to what he needed it be, so I'm more apt to believe that he will have lied about his age to the Navy. IF he was indeed born in 1765, there's a potential baptism of a William Layman, son of John Layman and Joan Salter, in Plymtree, Devon on 9 Apr 1765, but I would caution that I cannot see a way to definitively prove or disprove that being relevant.

What we do know is that William Layman must have had some education to be able to read and write. Otherwise, he could have come from 'nowhere' and achieve this career in the Navy. I'm less likely to believe that John Perry would be happy to allow his eldest daughter to marry someone who did not come from some sort of a decent background, but what that was, if it was more than just his naval connections, we shall probably never know.

William Layman's Will, written on 24 April 1817, is short and to the point, it reads, "I give and bequeath unto my dear wife Elizabeth Layman the lease of my house at 34 Hans Place together with the furniture and all the other effects therein at the time of my [decease] and also all other [of] my personal property whatsoever in [unreadable] she shall survive me and I make my said wife Executrix of this my Will and Testament ..." It was proved at London on 23 Jun 1826 by the Oath of Elizabeth Layman Widow and Relict the sole executrix to whom administration was granted.

Elizabeth Layman, 64, abode Chelsea, reputedly died at 34 Hans Place, on 14 Jan 1837 - which was the day before her 65th birthday - she was buried on 20 Jan 1837, at Poplar Chapel (St Matthias Old Church), where her parents, grandparents and great-grandparents were also buried.

There was never any doubt that this was Elizabeth Perry, daughter of John Perry, but this transcription of Elizabeth's will (as best I can, because a few words are indistinct), leaves absolutely no doubt as to who she was: 

"This is the last Will and Testament of me Elizabeth Layman of Hans Place in Middlesex Widow. I give the sum of eight thousand pounds that per Cout Consolidated Bank Annuities [2] bequeathed to me by the Will of my late Brother Philip or the Storks Funds and Securities on which the same are now or at the time of my [death/demise] may be invested unto my Sister Charlotte Bonney and Louisa Perry in equal shares and whereas under the Will of my late Brother John Perry I have a power of disposition after my [decease] by any writing under my hand over the sum of six thousand pounds Sterling or are the Storks Funds and Securities upon which the same may be invested. [Unreadable] of such power and in exercise thereof I do by the writing under my hand appoint the said sum of six thousand pounds or the said last mentioned Stork Funds and Securities after my decease unto between and amongst all and every [...] the children of my late Brother Thomas Perry who may be living at the time of my decease and in equal shares and whereas under a Deed of Covenant dated the fifth day of March One Thousand Eight Hundred and made between my late father John Perry of the one part and my late husband William Layman and myself of the other part I have a power of appointment by my last Will and Testament duly executed over our ???? of a sum of four thousand pounds Sterling (which said four thousand pounds now invested in the sum of eight thousand five hundred and ninety pounds seventeen shillings and eight pence there by Cout Consolidated Bank Annuities in favour of such of my brothers and sisters as shall be living at my decease. Now by virtue of last mentioned power and in exercise thereof I do by this my last Will and Testament duly executed by me ????? Direct and appoint the said ???? Of the said sum of four thousand pounds or the Storks Funds and Securities whereon the same is now invested unto and to be equally divided amongst my four brothers and sisters George, Mary Ann, Charles and Amelia in equal shares and as to my house in Hans Place in which I now dwell and all other of my Real and Personal Estate whatsoever and wherever and all other Real or Personal Estate over which I may have any power of disposition I give and bequeath and appoint the same subject to the payment of my debts and funeral and testamentary expenses unto my brother Richard Perry executor of this my Will and hereby revoke all former Wills by me at any time heretofore made …. Etc. The Will was proved at London on 30 Jan 1837 by the oath of Richard Perry Esquire the Brother … (Note that Elizabeth makes no distinction between her full and half siblings.)

By my calculations Elizabeth was leaving funds worth at least £18,000 (about £2.5M today), plus the leasehold property in Hans Place, plus whatever else we don't even have a number for. A very considerable fortune.

[2] I assume Cout means Coutts & Company. Consolidated Bank Annuities, or "Consols," were perpetual British government bonds issued by the Bank of England starting in 1751, consolidating various debts into one perpetual stock with a fixed interest rate (initially 3%) and no maturity date, providing a reliable, if varying in value, income stream until the UK government redeemed the last outstanding consols in 2015, though the concept historically symbolized national debt management.

Robert Flew and Mary Cottrell

© Lewis Clarke (cc-by-sa/2.0 geograph.org.uk/p/7413631
Bampton : St Michael & All Angels Church

As yet I've found no record of a marriage between Robert Flew (bap. 21 Jun 1801 in Rackenford, Devon), son of Richard Flew and Jane Wright and Mary Cottrell (bap. 5 Sep 1805 in Bampton, Devon), daughter of William Cotterell and Mary Wensley, but I've been able to piece together the following.

It appears Robert and Mary had at least these three daughters:

1. Jane Flew b. ~1826
2. Elizabeth Flew bap. 9 Oct 1831 in Bampton, Devon, listed as the daughter of Robert Flew and Mary.
3. Ann Flew b. ~1835

Couldn't find baptisms for either the first or third child.

Robert Flew died, aged 36, in 1838 J Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 10 Page 178 and was buried on 26 Jun 1838 in Bampton.

In 1841, Mary Flue (sic) (claiming to be 30, actually 36) Lace worker, was living in Frog Lane, Bampton with her daughters: Jane (14), Betsey [Elizabeth] (10) and Ann (6), as well as Emma Doding (13) and Eliza Doding (4). Unfortunately, in 1841, there is no indication of their relationships.

Robert Escott (bap. 1 Nov 1796 in Brompton Regis, Somerset) Widower, son of Richard Cox Escott and Mary Ann Gage, then married Mary Flew, Widow at the Parish Church of St Michael & All Angels, Bampton, Devon on 5 Dec 1847. Witnesses were Henry Cull and Richard Lewis Staddon.

Robert and Mary Escott added three children:

1. Sarah Flew b. 1841 D Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 10 Page 251
2. Caroline Flew b. 1844 J Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 10 Page 279
3. Richard Escott b. 1848  S Quarter in TIVERTON Vol 10  Page 265, bap. Richard Henry Escott on 25 Jun 1848 in Bampton, son of Robert & Mary

However, it looks very likely they had been together for some time before marrying, because in 1851, Sarah and Caroline are listed as Robert Escott's daughters and with his surname, while Jane Flew, living with them, is listed as 'wife's daughter'. Making this distinction for Jane, I feel sure he would have listed all of the girls as his wife's daughters, had they not been his. On the two girls' births, there is no mother's maiden name listed, indicating these were born out of wedlock. Caroline was unnamed at the time of registration. The mother's maiden name on Richard's birth is COTTRELL.

Robert Escott had previously married Grace Pitts (née Thorne), Widow, on 5 Dec 1823 in Brompton Regis. (So Mary Cottrell wasn't going to forget her husband's first name and Robert Escott shouldn't have forgotten his wedding anniversary.) Robert and Grace had two children: Richard Escott bap. 9 Mar 1824 and Mary Escott bap. 29 Jan 1826 in Brompton Regis. Grace Escott had died aged 54 also in 1838 S Quarter in TIVERTON AND DULVERTON Volume 10 Page 150. In 1841, Robert Escott (40ish) and his daughter Mary Escott (15) had been lodging in Gate Street, West, Bampton. Grace Thorne previously married John Pitts on 21 Oct 1807 in Brompton Regis, with whom she'd had four sons: John Pitts b. 14 Jul 1808, bap. 14 Aug 1808; Thomas Pitts b. 7 Feb 1811, bap. 24 Mar 1811, buried 26 May 1811; William Pitts b. 4 May 1812, bap. 7 Jun 1812; and Thomas Pitts b. 29 Mar 1817, bap. 9 Nov 1817. John Pitts presumably died between 1817 & 1823.

In 1851, Robert Escott (50 ish) Agricultural Labourer, claiming to come from Morebath, Devon, was living in West Street, Bampton, Devon with Mary Escott (~44) Charwoman from Bampton, Devon; Sarah Escott (10), Caroline Escott (6), Henry Escott (2) and Jane Flew (24) Lace maker, Wife's daughter. Meanwhile, Robert's widowed father, Richard Escott (~85) was a lodger in the household of John Wensley (44) in Morebath, Tiverton - one assumes this was a relative of Mary Cottrell's mother. (Richard Escott of Furzy Cot in Kings Brompton died at 88 and was buried on 20 Mar 1856 in Brompton Regis.)

In 1861, Robert Escott (claiming to be 70, he was 65) Agricultural Labourer from King Brompton, Brompton Regis (formerly known as Kingsbrompton), Somerset was living in High Street, Bampton with Mary Escott (~60, she was 56), Caroline Escott (16) Servant and Emma Escott (2) Granddaughter. (Emma Escott bap. 14 Aug 1859 in Bampton was the "base" (illegitimate) daughter of Sarah Escott.) Sarah Escott (19) from Bampton, Devon was a Dairymaid in the household of Joseph Manley at Netherope, Halberton.

It appears that Mary Escott formerly Flew (née Cottrell) died in 1861 S Quarter in TIVERTON Vol 05B Page 269, her age over estimated to 66.

In 1871, Robert Escott (75) Widower was lodging in High Street, Bampton.

Robert Escott died ~82 in 1878 D Qtr in TIVERTON Vol 05B Page 319.

George Sparrow Masters and Mary Pope

St Peter's Church, Liverpool Grove, Walworth
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Peter Trimming - geograph.org.uk/p/5304270

George Sparrow Masters (bap. 26 May 1811 St Mary's, Rotherhithe), Batchelor, son of Benjamin Searle Sparrow Masters and Sage Boulton Ayres, married Mary Pope, Spinster, at St Peter's Church, Walworth, Surrey on 4 Dec 1833. There appear to have been four witnesses to their marriage: William Williams, Isabella [?], Caroline Sophia Say and Sam Barrow. 

George and Mary Masters had one daughter:

1. Caroline Masters b. 1837 D Quarter in OF SAINT GEORGE THE MARTYR SOUTHWARK Volume 04 Page 107

In 1841, George Masters (25) Coach maker, Mary Masters (25) and Caroline Masters (4) were listed in New Canal Street, Birmingham.

In 1851, George Masters (40) Coach maker from Rotherhithe, Surrey; Mary Masters (45) and Caroline Masters (13) School teacher - both listed as from London - were at 41 New Canal Street, Birmingham, Warwickshire.

George Sparrow Masters died in 1860 S Quarter in BIRMINGHAM Volume 06D Page 91, though his age was listed as 55.

In 1861, Mary Masters (49) Widow, from Hampshire was a Lodging house keeper at 23, Daniel Street, Bathwick, Bath, Somerset and living with her were Caroline Masters (23) born in Southwark, Surrey; and Eliza Shell (19) House Servant from Bath, Somerset. Lodging at that address were Valentine Brown, a Captain (Unattached - i.e. between ships) from Galway, Ireland and his wife Fanny, from Dublin. (Widow Masters may be long gone, but you can still lodge at 23, Daniel Street, Bathwick, with Sykes Cottages.)

In 1871, Mary Masters (68) [although wrongly listed as Matthews] Lodger, Widow, Annuitant from Southampton, was living with her widowed daughter, Caroline Wright, at 301 Breck Road, Everton, West Derby, Lancashire.

Mary Masters died, her age listed as 72, in 1873 J Quarter in WEST DERBY AND TOXTETH PARK  Volume 08B Page 350.

© Stephen Richards (cc-by-sa/2.0) geograph.org.uk/p/3830761
19-36 Daniel Street, Bath