Benjamin Thompson and Mary Ann Botterill

The Spotted Cow (closed)
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Stephen Craven - geograph.org.uk/p/2331664

Benjamin Thompson (bap. 3 Oct 1841 in Cransley, Northamptonshire), son of Daniel Thompson and Mary Adcock, married Mary Ann Botterill (b. 1844 in West Haddon), daughter of Stephen Botterill and Mary Thompson, at Christ Church, Watney Street, St George in the East on 30 Dec 1866. Benjamin's sister, Sarah Elizabeth Thompson, had already married Mary Ann's brother, Daniel Botterill. Both sibling pairs, therefore, married their first cousins.

Records suggest that Benjamin and Mary had six children:

1. Daniel Tompson b. 1872 M Quarter in SAINT GEORGE IN THE EAST Volume 01C Page 460
2. Benjamin Adcock Tompson b. 1874 J Quarter in SAINT GEORGE IN THE EAST Volume 01C Page 413
3. Sarah Tompson b. 1879 S Quarter in ST GEORGE IN THE EAST Volume 01C Page 398
4. Thomas Tompson b. 1883 S Quarter in STEPNEY Volume 01C Page 421
5. Mary Tompson b. 1887 S Quarter in BROMLEY Volume 02A Page 413
6. Rose Tompson b. 1889 S Quarter in LEWISHAM Volume 01D Page 1114. Died 18 Feb 1891 (1891 M Quarter in LEWISHAM Volume 01D Page 810) and is buried at Brockley and Ladywell Cemeteries

In 1861, Benjamin Tompson (19), having dopped the haitch, bricklayer, had been living with his aunt and uncle, John and Maria Blackett. 

By 1871, Benjamin Tompson (29) Master Builder and Mary (27) were living at 299 Cable Street. (Benjamin's brother Dan and his wife Mary Ann Green were living there when their first child, Eliza Louisa was born there in 1868.) 

Then in 1879, Benjamin Thompson was listed as the incoming licensee at the Victoria, 46 Three Colt Street, Limehouse E14. (A Trip Down Three Colt Street | Houses in Three Colt Street.) 

In 1881, Benjamin Tompson (39) Licenced Victualler from Broughton, Northamptonshire, was still at 46 Three Colt Steet, Limehouse with Mary Tompson (36), Daniel Tompson (9), Benjamin Tompson (7), Mary Tompson (18)* Barmaid and C Taylor (19) Female Domestic Servant. *Mary Tompson is listed as their daughter, but in fact was Mary Elizabeth Tompson, daughter of Benjamin's late brother, George Thompson and Diana Shatford.

Benjamin was still listed at the Victoria, Limehouse in 1882 and 1884. 

Benjamin Tompson died, aged 48, in 1890 M Quarter in LEWISHAM Volume 01D Page 802. The Will of Benjamin Tompson of the "Victoria" Tavern, Three Colt Street, Limehouse in the County of Middlesex, but late of the "Spotted Cow", Hither Green Lane, Lewisham in the County of Kent, Licenced Victualler, who died 6 Feb 1890 [1] at the "Spotted Cow", was proved at the Principal Registry by Mary Tompson of the "Spotted Cow" Widow of the Relict and John Soppit of the "Railway" Tavern, Shortlands in the County of the Kent, Licensed Victualler the Executors. He left £1,140 17s 10d.

[1] The date of death on the probate record was listed as 6 Feb 1890, but on his grave, the date is given as 6 Jan 1890. The latter must be correct as Benjamin had already been buried (hopefully not alive) on 14 Jan 1890.

In 1891, Mary Tompson (46), widow, had become the Licenced Victualler of the Spotted Cow, Hither Green Lane, Lewisham. Living with her were her son, Daniel (19) Manager Public House; Benjamin (17), Cabinet Maker's Apprentice; daughter Mary (3); her niece Sarah Tompson (Dan Tompson's daughter), as well as a Sarah A Bunting (24), General Servant.

By 1901, Mary Tompson (55) was living at 44, Ringstead Road, Lewisham. With her were Benjamin Tompson (27), who had become an upholsterer; Thomas Tompson (17), Warehouseman; Mary Tompson (13), Sybil Thompson (2), granddaughter, and Ellen Guymer (20), General Domestic Servant.

Mary Tompson died, aged 58, on 7 Jun 1903 (1903 J Qtr in LEWISHAM Vol 01D 575) and she is also buried at Brockley and Ladywell Cemeteries.

Samms Sheppard Rudd and Mary Sarah Ann Walrond

St John the Evangelist Waterloo
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © PAUL FARMER - geograph.org.uk/p/1257876

Samms Sheppard Rudd (bap. 30 Nov 1834 at St Dunstan's, Stepney), son of Samms Rudd and Ann Johnson, married Mary Sarah Ann Walrond, who listed her father as William Walrond, Cabinet Maker [and Mary Scoines], at St John the Evangelist (St John's Church, Waterloo), on 29 Dec 1854. 

The couple had at least seven children:

1. Mary Ann Rudd b. 2 Nov 1855 D Quarter in THE SHOREDITCH DISTRICT Volume 01C Page 98, bap. 28 Dec 1856 at St John the Baptist, Shoreditch (St John the Baptist, Hoxton). The family's address was in Aske Street (named for parish's benefactor, City alderman and haberdasher Robert Aske) and her father's occupation, Waiter.
2. Emily Grace Rudd b. 8 Jul 1857 S Quarter in SHOREDITCH Volume 01C Page 152, bap. 1 Aug 1858 at St. James', Westminster.
3. Alice Rudd b. 1859 S Quarter in SHOREDITCH Volume 01C Page 100
4. Frederick William Rudd b. 1864 J Qtr in SHOREDITCH Vol 01C 83
5. Albert Edward Rudd b. 1868 S Qtr in SHOREDITCH Vol 01C 75
6. John Edwin Rudd b. 1872 D Qtr in HAMPSTEAD Vol 01A 603
7. Charles Rudd b. 1876 M Qtr in ST GILES Vol 01B Page 652

On the birth registrations for Mary Ann, Alice, Frederick William, Albert Edward and John Edwin the mother's maiden name is listed as WALROND. On that for Emily Grace, it's WABRONE and for Charles, WABROUD. With such random variations, it's difficult to know if all their children are included.

In 1861, listed as Samuel S Rudd (26) Waiter from Kentish Town, Middlesex, was living at 41, New North Street, Shoreditch with Mary S Rudd (26), Mary A Rudd (5), Emily G Rudd (4) and Alice Rudd (1).

In 1871, the family were in Islington, with Samms Sheppard Rudd (37), Mary Sarah Ann Rudd (36), Robert Cockare (19), Mary Ann Rudd (15), Emily Rudd (13), Alice Rudd (11), Fred Wm Rudd (7) and Albert Edwd Rudd (2).

In 1875 and 1876, Samms Sheppard Rudd was listed as the Licensee at the Globe, 58 New Compton Street WC2. New Compton Street in the London Borough of Camden, runs to St Giles High Street in the north.

In 1881, apparently transcribed as Thomas Rudd (47) Licenced Victualler from Kentish Town, London, he was at the Prince of Wales, 17 Riley Street, Bermondsey SE1 with Mary A Rudd (43), Emily Rudd (23) Barmaid from Hoxton; Alice Rudd (21) Barmaid from Finsbury; Frederick Rudd (16) Clerk; Albert Rudd (12), Edwin Rudd (8) and Charles Rudd (5).

In 1882 and 1884, then The London 1891 Public House & Publican Directory and the Post Office Directory still place Samms Sheppard Rudd at the Prince of Wales, 17 Riley Street, Bermondsey SE1. Son Frederick William Rudd had taken this over by 1899 and his widow, Amelia, by 1901.

In 1891, Samms Sheppard Rudd (57) Retired Publican was living in Bayston Road, Hackney, with Mary Sarah Ann Rudd (56), Albert Edward Rudd (22), Charles Rudd (15) and Emma Nash (53) Sister, Widow. (There was a marriage, in 1865, in Shoreditch between Emma Walrond and Thomas Henry Nash, who had died, in Shoreditch, in 1876. I still cannot find birth registrations for either Mary Sarah Ann, nor Emma Walrond.)

In 1901, listed as James S Rudd (67) from Kentish Town, London, living on own means, was living in Albert Road, Croydon with Mary S Rudd (66). 

Mary Sarah Ann Rudd died, at 66, on 7 Jun 1901 (1901 J Quarter in CROYDON Volume 02A Page 173) and was buried at Brockley and Ladywell Cemeteries.

In 1911, Samms Sheppard Rudd (b. 1838), was once more living in Croydon, with his sister-in-law, Jane Walrond (69). [1]

Samms Sheppard Rudd died, aged 81, on 3 Dec 1915 (1915 D Quarter in CROYDON Volume 02A Page 470) and was buried along with his late wife, on 8 Dec 1915, also at Brockley and Ladywell Cemeteries.

[1] There are no birth/baptism records for Mary Sarah Ann nor Emma Walrond, however, their sister Jane Walrond b. 1841 S Quarter in SAINT GEORGE THE MARTYR SOUTHWARK Volume 04 Page 405 was the daughter of William Walrond and Mary Scoines, who married in Stepney, on 20 Sep 1824. Jane Walrond died, aged 75, in Croydon, in 1918.

Henry George Harcus and Susan Alice Tubb

Church of St. John the Divine, Chatham
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Chris Whippet - geograph.org.uk/p/3850305
(St John's a Waterloo church built in 1821 and restructured in 1869, ceased being an active church in 1964, was then used as an art project and finally reopened in 2021.)

Henry George Harcus (b. 1848), son of John Harcus and Selina Patrick, married Susan Alice Tubb (b. 1852), daughter of Edward Tubb and Hannah Bussey and younger sister of Elizabeth Tubb, at St John's Church, Chatham, Kent, on 29 Dec 1872. Henry George Harcus, 24 at the time of the marriage, occupation was listed as Publican. Witnesses were Selina Mary Ann Caddy (Henry George's sister, who had married in 1870) and George Vokes. 

The couple don't seem to have had any children.

On 8 Mar 1875 at Maidstone Assizes, Susanah Alice Harcus stood accused of Perjury, but the bill was ignored. I don't know the details of the case. 

That same year, on 21 Oct 1875, at Maidstone Quarter Sessions, Henry Harcus was tried for "Stealing £1, the money of George Miles, at Chatham, on 12th September, 1875". The Verdict of the Jury was "No Bill", which generally means there was not enough evidence to indict him on the alleged crime.

In 1881, Henry Harcus (32) Eating house keeper and wife listed as Alice S Harcus (27) from Portsmouth, Hampshire, were living at 7, Middle Street, Gillingham (7 Middle St, Chatham, Gillingham, close to both Chatham Dockyard as well as Brompton Barracks and Kitchener Barracks).

Henry George Harcus died on 20 Feb 1887, aged 39 (1887 M Quarter in SAINT GEORGE IN THE EAST Volume 01C Page 276), at that time resident in St George in the East, Middlesex and was buried at Chatham, St Mary in the Chatham, Former St Mary's Burial Ground, now Town Hall Gardens. Records show he was interred in grave 319, with his father and sister. Now reinterred, on 5 Aug 1971, in the Borough Cemetery in Maidstone Road.

Susan Alice Harcus (34) Widow, daughter of Edward Tubb (deceased) married Samuel Walker (38), Batchelor, Commercial Traveller, son of Joseph Walker, Boot Manufacturer, at St Peter's Church, Cephas Street, Mile End Old Town, on 27 Apr 1887. Witnesses were Joseph Walker and Elizabeth Salter.

William Tubb and Sarah Chard

The nave at St Mary's, Portsea
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Basher Eyre - geograph.org.uk/p/1379010

William Tubb (b. 1785), son of William Tubb and Jane Bound, married Sarah Chard (bap. 2 Feb 1787 at St James' Church, Poole), daughter of George Chard and Ann Hellier, at St Mary's Church, Portsea on 27 Dec 1807. 

The font at St Alban's, Copnor
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Basher Eyre
geograph.org.uk/p/1493684

William and Sarah Tubb appear to have had eleven children, all baptised also in the first church of St Mary's. The font still exists, but is now located in St Alban's Church, Copnor.

1. William Tubb bap. 1 May 1808
2. James Tubb b. 30 Apr 1809, bap. 23 May 1809
3. Samuel Tubb bap. 16 Jun 1811
4. Sarah Jane Tubb b. 30 Sep 1812, bap. 3 Jul 1814 
5. Mary Tubb b. 15 Jan 1814, also bap. 3 Jul 1814 
6. John Tubb bap. 12 Feb 1816
7. Thomas Tubb bap. 24 Apr 1820 (Later records suggest he was probably born in 1818.)
8. Alfred Tubb bap. 2 Oct 1820
9. Hannah Tubb bap. 23 Nov 1823. Buried 27 Aug 1826, also at St Mary's.
10. Henry Tubb bap. 12 Jun 1825
11. Edward Tubb bap. 18 Nov 1827

The baptism records for Mary, John, Thomas, Alfred, Hannah, Henry and Edward all list their father as Ropemaker of George's Row.

This was the same period, same church (& font) in which Isambard Kingdom Brunel and Charles Dickens were baptised, in 1806 and 1812, respectively. Even though the Brunel family moved away to London in 1808 and the Dickens only moved into the area in 1809, the chance that this Tubb family and those of Brunel or Dickens - even if not moving in the same circles - being under the same roof at the same time, has to be quite high. 

Sarah Tubb of George's Row, died at 45, and was buried, on 4 May 1831.

Alfred Tubb must have died around 1841. There is no death or burial record (abroad or at sea maybe?), the Index To Death Duty Registers list his father, William Tubb of 12 Bow Street, Landport, Portsea as Administrator.

In 1841, William Tubb (54) was living in the household of daughter Mary (27) and son-in-law, John Windel (37) in Bow Street, Portsea, along with his youngest two sons Henry Tubb (15) and Edward Tubb (13). 

 (The Portsmouth Encycopedia says, "Bow Street ran east from Commercial Road just north of the Railway Terminus (1847) (now Portsmouth & Southsea Station) to Dorset Street. Bow Street was later re-named Station Street.")

In 1851, William Tubb (64) Widower, Ropemaker was once more listed merely as a visitor, in the household of John and Mary Windel in Bow Street, Portsea, this time along with just his son Henry Tubb (25) Ropemaker.

In 1861, William Tubb (76) Superannuated Rope Maker (who said he was from Poole, Dorset, but this was actually where his late wife was from), was living at 33, Bow Street, Portsea and had gone back to being the head of the household after the death of his son-in-law, John Windell in January of that year. Living there with him were his daughter, Mary Windell (48) Widow; Thomas Noble (33) Coppersmith from Newport IOW, Grandson-in-law; Sarah A Noble (29) Wife of Coppersmith, Granddaughter-in-law (Sarah Ann Windell, as was, was Mary's step-daughter); Ellen Windell (17), Edward Windell (6) and Eliza Noble (2), also listed as a Granddaughter, but if we were being pedantic, she was actually William's step-great-granddaughter.

Son Samuel Tubb (58) Seaman of Bow Street, Landport, died on 19 Apr 1869 (1869 J Quarter in PORTSEA ISLAND Volume 02B Page 274, although that record put him at 62) and was buried on 22 Apr 1869 at Portsea Cemetery. 

In 1871, William Tubb (85) Rope Maker was still in Bow Street, Portsea, then in the household of Alfred John Rees (27), listed as his wife's grandfather. (Alfred's wife, Ellen, was the daughter of John and Mary Windel.) That year, Henry Tubb (45) Rope spinner from Landport, Hants was an Inmate at the Alverstoke House of Industry, Near Gosport. (The full title of the Alverstoke Workhouse was the House of Industry.) Henry then just disappeared.

William Tubb, Rope Maker of Bow Street, Landport, died on 19 Aug 1872, aged 87 (1872 S Quarter in PORTSEA ISLAND Volume 02B Page 293), and was buried on 23 Aug 1872 at Portsea Cemetery.

William Karl Tompson (Critzer) and Bertha Lilian Carter

York and King Streets, Toronto, Canada

William Charles Critzer (28) Bachelor, Sheet Metal Worker, married Bertha Lilian Carter (27) Spinster, Saleslady, in Toronto, on 27 Dec 1930. William listed his parents as Joseph Critzer and Sarah Sophia Thompson, from which we can clearly determine that we have the right man, despite the spellings. William, of 106 Elmwood Avenue, Toronto, listed his religion as Baptist and his father's birthplace as Germany. Witnesses were Alice Maud Carter, the bride's mother and Eric M Carter, the bride's brother. The marriage was solemnised by A J Reid of 946 St Clarens Ave, which appears to be a residential address, so the venue of the marriage is [so far] unknown.

Born in 1903, at sea, aboard the SS Kaiser Wilhelm II at Lat 40.45N/Long 56.52W, off the coast of North America, he had been baptised William Karl Tompson on 9 Dec 1903, at the church of St Matthew, Stepney. Then listed as 'Willie Thompson' (8) he had emigrated to Canada with his grandparents, Dan Tompson and Sarah Jane Baker, having sailed to Montreal from Liverpool aboard SS Corsican on 18 Oct 1912 with his grandmother, Sarah Jane, and his aunt Ivy. On the 1921 Census of Canada, this time listed as Willie Christie (18) he was living at 131 Morrison Avenue, Toronto, still living with his grandparents. (At Ancestry, there's a note saying he should be Critzer, which is obviously not quite true, but the spelling they later adopted).

Bertha Lilian Carter b. 1903 D Quarter in GRIMSBY Volume 07A Page 587, mother's maiden name TINDALL, was the daughter of Alfred Charles Carter and Alice Maud Tindall, who had married at St James, Grimsby (now Grimsby Minster) on 28 Aug 1899, with Alice's father listed as William Major Tindall - this explains why Bertha's parents are listed on her marriage as Alfred Charles Carter and Alice Maud Major. It seems Alice used the surnames Major or Tindall interchangeably. Following her father's death on 24 Feb 1922, Miss Bertha Lilian Carter (18) sailed for Canada on the RMS Empress of Britain (1905), accompanied by her mother. Emigrating with them too was Bertha's 10 year old brother Eric Major Carter (b. 1911 S Quarter in BRADFORD Volume 09B Page 299, with mother's maiden name MAJOR.)

In 1931, William Critzer (sic) (28) Sheet metal worker and wife Bertha Lilian Critzer (27) were Lodgers at 98 Nairn [Avenue], Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

The couple had one daughter, Barbara. (Dates to be confirmed.)

A newspaper report of her death informs us that "Bertha L Critzer (Bert) died at the North York Branson Hospital on Saturday, March 28, 1987. Bertha Lilian Carter, beloved wife of William Critzer and loving mother of Barbara (Mrs Douglas Trull). Dear sister of the late Eric M Carter of Waterloo, Ontario. Friends may call at the Trull Funeral Home, 2704 Yonge Street ..."

"William C Critzer (Bill) died the North York General Hospital on Saturday, October 17, 1992. Bill Critzer, in his 91st year, beloved husband of the late Bertha L Carter. Loving father of Barbara (Mrs B Trull). Dear brother of Mollie Melhuish of Ganges, B.C. Sadly missed by his cousins, Gaddie and Wally; Irene and Dick; Dorothy and Ruth. Friends may call at the Trull Funeral Home ..." (although it should be noted that his sister Mary Amelia [Mollie] Melhuish had actually pre-deceased him earlier that year, on 6 Jan 1992.)

(Birth, baptism and death information kindly provided by Christine Miller of the wonderfully named, GIN AND GENEALOGY.)