John Tubb and Mary Anne Harfull

Portsmouth Naval Base - Lion Gate
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Chris Allen - geograph.org.uk/p/7577310
Town gate, now naval entrance way. 1778. The Lion Gate which once stood at the end of Queen Street, Portsea, dismantled in the 19th century and re-erected in present position 1929.

John Tubb (bap. 12 Feb 1816) Seaman, son of William Tubb and Sarah Chard, married Mary Anne Harfull (bap. 11 Aug 1816), daughter of William Harfull and Mary Anne Brine, at St Mary's Church, Portsea on 28 Mar 1838. Witnesses to this marriage were Eliza Harfull and William Tubb.

John and Mary Anne Tubb had nine children:

1. John William Tubb b. 1839 J Quarter in PORTSEA ISLAND UNION Volume 07 Page 119, bap. 15 Sep 1839 at St Mary's, Portsea. Residence Abercrombie Street, Portsmouth (wiped out by bombing) and his father was a Seaman. John William Tubb (28) Shipwright of Lion Gate Road, Landport died on 22 Dec 1867 (1867 D Quarter in PORTSEA ISLAND Volume 02B Page 257), buried on 27 Dec 1867 at Portsea Cemetery.
2. Emma Ann Tubb b. 1841 Q3 in Portsea Island Vol 7 Page 106, bap. 11 Jul 1841 at St Mary's Portsea. Address was Copenhagen Street, Landport - also no longer exists - John was still a Seaman.
3. William Cox Tubb b. 1848 S Quarter in PORTSEA ISLAND UNION Volume 07 Page 132, bap. 8 Oct 1848 at St Mary's, Portsea.
4. Edward Tubb b. 1850 M Quarter in PORTSEA ISLAND UNION Volume 07 Page 147, bap. 20 Oct 1850 at St Mary's, Portsea. The family had moved to Spring Street and John was still described as a Seaman.
5. Mary Ann Tubb b. 1851 D Quarter in PORTSEA ISLAND UNION Volume 07 Page 144, bap. 2 Nov 1851 at St Mary's, Portsea. They were then living in Lion Gate Road and John was listed as a Beer Retailer.
6. Sarah Tubb b. 1853 S Quarter in PORTSEA ISLAND UNION Volume 02B Page 310, bap. 10 Jul 1853 at St Mary's, Portsea. Again living in Lion Gate Road and John listed as a Beer Retailer.
7. Ellen Tubb b. 1855 D Quarter in PORTSEA ISLAND Volume 02B Page 304. Died, aged 2Y 8M, on 5 May 1858 (1858 J Quarter in PORTSEA ISLAND Volume 02B Page 253), buried on 9 May 1858 at St Mary's Portsea, daughter of John Tubb, of Lion Gate Road, Landport.
8. Elizabeth Tubb b. 1857 J Quarter in PORTSEA ISLAND Volume 02B Page 325, bap. 2 Apr 1862 at All Saints, Portsea, residence Lion Gate Road and John listed as a Licenced Victualler.
9. Henry Tubb b. 1860 D Quarter in PORTSEA ISLAND Vol 02B Page 339, bap. 2 Apr 1862 at All Saints, Portsea. Died, aged 3, on 15 Jan 1864 (1864 M Quarter in PORTSEA ISLAND Vol 02B Page 292), buried 19 Jan 1864 at Portsea Cemetery, son of John Tubb of Lion Gate Road.

On the birth registrations for William Cox, Mary Ann, Ellen and Elizabeth the mother's maiden name is listed as HARFIELD. On the registrations for John William, Edward, Sarah and Henry, it is correctly listed as HARFULL.

We have scant details of John's naval career as he was too early for a continuous service record, but the obvious conclusion is that he went on a lengthy cruise between the births of Emma in 1841 and William in 1848.

John Tubb, born in Portsmouth, 5ft 10in, with dark brown hair, a ruddy complexion and hazel eyes and an anchor on his right arm, was, however, issued with a Merchant Seaman ticket in Valparaíso (Chile), on 17 Mar 1846, whilst serving with HMS Daphne (1838) in the capacity of Master-at-Arms. This record gives his date of birth as 15 Nov 1813. Baptised in early 1816, various records suggest that John Tubb was born in late 1815 and I'm happy to accept this record and believe that the tall lad made himself 2 years older when he signed up as a Seaman in 1831 - as he was then 16 and a boy, so by adding 2 years will have had him taken on and paid accordingly as an adult.

Adding weight to accepting the above record, HMS Daphne, on 30 Jul 1842 was reported at Portsmouth and on 28 Sep 1842 departed Spithead for South America. In Feb 1843, she was struck by lightning off Montevideo (Uruguay); on 26 Jul 1845 they arrived at Port Apia (Samoa), then proceeded to Auckland, New Zealand the following day. On 2 Oct 1845 Daphne left Auckland for the Pacific. 1846 Pacific and Otaheite (Tahiti). Jan 1848 Chatham, in Ordinary - which precisely fits the gap between kids.

In 1851, in Lion Gate Road, were John Tubb (36) Beer seller; Mary Tubb (35), John Tubb (12), Emma Tubb (10), William Tubb (2), Edward Tubb (1) and Frances Thompsham (17) and William Snook (10) House Servants.

In 1861, and still in Lion Gate Road, Portsmouth, were John Tubb (45) Publican; Mary Tubb (44) Publican's Wife; John Tubb (21) Assistant; Emma Cook (19) Seaman's wife; William Tubb (12), Edward Tubb (11), Mary Ann Tubb (9), Sarah Tubb (7), Elizabeth Tubb (4), Henry Tubb (0), Maria Tithridge (20) House Servant; Honore Batchat (15) House Servant; Charlet (sic) White (31) House Servant and Thomas Carroll (41) Traveller, Boarder.

The Hampshire Telegraph of 28 Dec 1867, under DEATHS, carried the following notice: "TUBB-On the 22nd instant, at the "Battle and the Breeze," Landport, John William Tubb, eldest son of John Tubb, aged 28." Although the Hampshire Telegraph on 26 Nov 1859 had placed Mary Tubb at the "Battle and Breeze", this confirms the name of the pub they ran for 25+ years. The Battle and the Breeze, Landport, The Portsmouth Encyclopedia tells us, was on north side of Lion Gate Road, on the east corner of Spring Street. That part of Lion Gate Road is now part of Edinburgh Road." That location is where the Park Tavern is today, although it may well now be a different edifice.

In 1871, with the address listed as 10 Lion Gate Road, were John Tubb (55) Licenced Victualler; Mary Tubb (54), Edward Tubb (21) Cabinet Maker; Mary A Tubb (19) Milliner; Sarah Tubb (17), Elizabeth Tubb (14), William Cook (7) listed as Nephew - he was actually John and Mary's grandson, so perhaps one of the children filled out the census forms and gave the relationship to themselves rather than their father - Alfred Hayden (25) Waiter, Domestic Servant; and James Brown (46) from Kent, Lodger, Pensioner RN.

In 1875 & 1878, son Edward Tubb is listed at the Battle & the Breeze.

In 1881, living at 114, Queens Road, Portsea, was John Tubb (65) Retired Publican with Mary Tubb (64), William Tubb (32) Upholsterer; Elizabeth Tubb (23) and William Cook (17) Tailor's Apprentice, born in Ireland (he was the son of Emma Ann Tubb and her husband William Cook).

In 1891, at 1, Queens Road, Portsea, were John Tubb (75), Mary Tubb (74), William Tubb (42) Upholster and Emma Honeyman (17) Domestic Servant.

Mary Tubb, wife of John Tubb of Queen's Road, Buckland, died, aged 83, in 1900 J Quarter in PORTSMOUTH Volume 02B Page 279, and she was buried on 29 Jun 1900 at Kingston Cemetery.

In 1901, John Tubb (85) Living on own means was still living at 1, Queens Road, Portsmouth with his son William Tubb (51) Living on own means and Bertha K Hillyer (23) General Domestic Servant.

John Tubb of Queens Road died, aged 90, in 1905 D Quarter in PORTSMOUTH Vol 02B Page 255 and was buried on 24 Nov 1905.

• There was a William Tubb (62) Retired, Single, living alone at 17 Chitty Road, Portsmouth in 1911 and a record in the Portsmouth Workhouse Registers of a William Tubb b. 1848, admitted and discharged on 3 Sep 1914. There's also a record of a death of a William Tubb (66) in 1914 S Quarter in PORTSMOUTH Volume 02B  Page 493. Sadly, I believe all of these may relate.

Charles Hoile Baker and Amelia Young

St John's Church, Waterloo Tom Morris, CC BY-SA 3.0

Charles Hoile Baker (b. 23 Aug 1825, bap. 9 Oct 1825 at St Leonard's Church, Shoreditch), son of Charles Baker and Sarah Hoile, married Amelia Young (b. 6 May 1823, bap. 14 Sep 1823 at Southwark St Saviour), daughter of Richard and Sarah Young, at St John's Church, Waterloo (interior) a..k.a. Lambeth St John the Evangelist, Surrey on 28 Mar 1847. 

Charles and Amelia Baker, it would appear, had six children:

1. Charles Richard Baker b. 1848 M Quarter in SHOREDITCH Vol 02 Page 399, bap. 4 Jun 1848 at St Leonard's Church, Shoreditch
2. Frederick Hoile Baker b. 21 Nov 1849 D Quarter in ST GILES IN THE FIELDS & ST GEORGE BLOOMSBURY Volume 01 Page 65, bap. 9 Dec 1849 at St Anne's Church, Soho. Died, aged 7, in 1856 D Quarter in SAINT GEORGE IN THE EAST Volume 01C Page 295 and was buried on 21 Dec 1856 at the City of London and Tower Hamlets Cemetery.
3. Sarah Jane Baker b. 1 Feb 1852 M Quarter in HOLBORN Volume 01B Page 395, bap. 1852 at Lambeth St John.
4. Amelia Elizabeth Baker b. 1854 J Quarter in HOLBORN Vol 01B 421
5. Sophia Baker b. 1858 D Quarter in SAINT GEORGE IN THE EAST Volume 01C Page 426
6. Ellen Rosina Baker b. 1866 S Quarter in SAINT GEORGE IN THE EAST Volume 01C Page 398. Registered as Ellen Susannah, the mother's maiden name is also shown as Young. Always known as Ellen Rosina, it appears the registration was listed or transcribed incorrectly.

In 1851, in Kingsgate Street, Holborn (celebrated by Dickens as the address of Mrs. Gamp's Lodging) were Charles Hoile Baker (25) Plumber, Amelia Baker (27), Charles Richard Baker (3), Frederick Hoile Baker (1) and Eliza Sandall (19) Dressmaker, who I can only assume was a Lodger.

By 1861, in Cowley Street, St George-In-The-East (which ran north-south just east of Shadwell Station), the household comprised: Charles Baker (39) Mechanic Plumber, Amelia Baker (40), Charles Baker (13), Sarah Baker (9), Amelia Baker (7) and Sophia Baker (2).

Once more in Cowley Street, St George in the East in 1871 were Charles H Baker (45), Amelia Baker (47), Sarah J Baker (20), Amelia Baker (17), Sophia Baker (13) and Ellen Baker (4). (Charles Richard had married in 1867.)

And in 1881, at 75, Cowley Street, St George in the East, were Charles Baker (54) Plumber, Amelia Baker (58) and Ellen Baker (14).

Amelia Baker died, aged 61, in 1883 M Quarter in ST GEORGE IN THE EAST Volume 01C Page 300.

Charles Hoile Baker died on 20 Sep 1883 at 75, Cowley St, Stepney. (1883 S Quarter in ST GEORGE IN THE EAST Volume 01C Page 283).

Albert Tooze and Flora May Kingsbury

St John the Apostle's Church, Torquay, Devon
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © David Dixon - geograph.org.uk/p/1769697

Albert Tooze (b. 9 Mar 1880), the youngest son of Thomas Tooze and Caroline Cotterell, married Flora May Kingsbury (b. 6 Jan 1880 in Sutton Waldron, Dorset), daughter of Henry John Kingsbury and Elizabeth Lancey, at St John's Church, Torquay, Devon, on 28 Mar 1903. Both Albert and Flora listed their age as 22 and address as 14 Braddons Street, Torquay.

Albert and Flora had two children:

1. Albert Henry Tooze b. 25 Apr 1903 J Quarter in NEWTON ABBOT Vol 05B Page 117, bap. Whit Sunday, 31 May 1903 at St John's, Torquay.
2. Alice May Tooze b. 9 Jun 1906 S Quarter in NEWTON ABBOT Volume 05B Page 117, bap. 22 Jul 1906, at St John's Church, Torquay.

Upon marriage, Albert gave his rank as Stoker H.M.S. Albert Tooze had joined the Royal Navy on 2 Dec 1902. (Unsurprisingly, as his mother died in 1901 and his father in 1902.) At that time, Albert was 5 ft 4 in with dark brown hair, blue eyes and a fresh complexion. He signed up for 12 years. By 4 Dec 1914, he'd grown to 5 ft 6 in and gained some tattoos: on his right forearm was a woman's head and "FLORRIE" and on his left forearm, was a figure playing a flute. Obviously, these were images of importance to him.

Albert's date of birth on his naval record is 9 Mar 1881, but his birth was registered in the March quarter of 1880 and he was baptised on 16 May 1880. The one year difference could be a simple error, or there may have been some reason why he needed to be a year younger when he signed up. Either way, I think it safe to accept that 9 Mar 1880 was his actual birthday.

In 1911, Albert Tooze (31) Stoker Petty Officer from Holcombe Rogus, Devonshire, was living at 30 Cotehele Avenue, Plymouth with Flora May Tooze (30), Albert Henry Tooze (7) and Alice May Tooze (4).

On 29 Aug 1913, Albert was assigned to HMS Highflyer (1898). From August 1914, she was assigned to the 9th Cruiser Squadron in the Central Atlantic to intercept German commerce raiders and protect Allied shipping. Albert will have been with the ship when she sank the German armed merchant cruiser SMS Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse off the coast of Spanish Sahara.

Albert Tooze died on 13 Jul 1915 at San Vicente Hospital, Cape Verde, from shock following the amputation of a leg crushed between lighter and ship, coaling on 23 Jun. Chief Stoker Albert Tooze, HMS Highflyer, is buried at the Mindelo Municipal Cemetery, Mindelo, São Vicente, Cape Verde.

Flora May Tooze (née Kingsbury) died, aged 71, in 1951 S Quarter in PLYMOUTH Volume 07A Page 596. She never remarried.

• Albert Henry Tooze (23) Electric Fitter at HM Dockyard, married Lilian Mabel Turner (21), in December 1926 at Emmanuel church, Compton Gifford, Plymouth. Lilian Mabel and two of their children returned from Singapore in 1946. Albert Henry Tooze died in 1987 and Lilian Mabel Tooze in 1992, both in Birkenhead, Cheshire.
• Alice May Tooze married William Henry James Barrett on 17 Aug 1936 at St Jude's Church, Plymouth. They had one son, Peter Barrett (1943-2020). William Henry James Barrett died on 11 Jan 1972 and Alice May Barrett, on 18 Sep 1980, both in Plymouth.

Thomas Ridgway and Ann Tooze

Whitnage Farm
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Lewis Clarke - geograph.org.uk/p/2826469

Thomas Ridgway (bap. 4 Feb 1844), son of James Ridgeway and Mary Ann Lock, married Ann Tooze (b. 1844), daughter of Richard Tooze and Eliza Disney, at St Peter’s Church Tiverton on 27 Mar 1865. Witnesses to their marriage were Thomas Vickery and Jane Ridgway (Thomas' sister), who were also married, at St Peter's Church, Tiverton, in May of that same year.

Thomas and Ann Ridgeway/Ridgway had ten children. Where they were baptised, these were all at St Peter’s Church, Uplowman: 

1. James Ridgeway b. 1866 D Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 441
2. Tom Ridgeway b. 1868 J Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 441, bap. 7 Jun 1868 (Died, aged 12, in 1881 J Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 275 and was buried at Uplowman on 28 Mar 1881)
3. John Ridgeway b. 18 Jun 1870 (1870 S Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 421), bap. 10 Jul 1870 
4. William Ridgeway b. 29 Jun 1873 (1873 S Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 412), bap. 10 Aug 1873
5. Henry Ridgeway b. 17 Mar 1876 (1876 J Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 433), bap 23 Apr 1876 
6. Frank Ridgway b. 1878 J Qtr in TIVERTON Vol 05B Page 445, bap 28 Apr 1878 (Died aged 22 in 1900 D Qtr in TIVERTON Vol 05B Page 253 and was buried on 13 Dec 1900 at St Peter’s Church, Uplowman)
7. Bessie Ann Ridgway b. 4 Mar 1880 (1880 J Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 461), bap. 28 Mar 1880
8. Sidney Ridgway b. 24 Feb 1882 (1882 J Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 439), bap. 7 Apr 1882
9. Charles Ridgway b. 1884 M Quarter in TIVERTON  Volume 05B  Page 428, bap. 24 Feb 1884
10. Ellen Ridgway b. 4 Jan 1886 (1886 M Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 432)

As well as some being registered as Ridgeway and others Ridgway, various records have the mother's maiden name as TOOZE, TWOZE or TWOSE.

In 1871, Thomas Ridgway (sic) (27) Farm Labourer and Ann Ridgway  (27) were living at Lowman Cross, Uplowman with James Ridgway (4), Tom Ridgway (2) and John Ridgway (9m).

In 1881, at Whitnage, Uplowman, were Thomas Ridgeway (37), Ann Ridgeway (37), John Ridgeway (10), William Ridgeway (7), Henry Ridgeway (5), Frank Ridgeway (3) and Bessie Ann Ridgeway (1), as well as Thomas' mother, Mary Ann Marsh (74). James Ridgeway (15) Ag Lab was in the household of Rachel Chave (51) Widow, Farmer in Halberton.

In 1891, still at Whitnage, Uplowman, with Thomas (47) and Ann (47), were James (24), Frank (13), Bessie (11), Sydney (9), Charles (7) and Ellen (5). In 1891, John Ridgeway (20) was lodging with James Wood at Widhayes, Uplowman. And Harry Ridgeway (17) was working as a Farm servant to farmer, James Crosby at Landside, Sampford Peverell, Tiverton.

In 1901, living at Greenend, Uplowman, were Thomas Ridgway (57), General Farm Labourer; Ann Ridgway (56), William Ridgway (27), Carter on Farm and Ellen Ridgway (15). 

Ann Ridgway died, aged 63, in 1907 D Quarter in ST THOMAS [Exeter - presumably at the hospital there] Volume 05B Page 41.

In 1911, Thomas Ridgway (67), Widower, Farm Labourer, was living with his son William Ridgway, at Wallflower Cottage, Halberton. 

In 1921, Thomas Ridgway (77) Farm Labourer, was still living with son William Ridgeway at Neddycott, Uplowman.

Thomas Ridgway died, aged 83, in 1927 M Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B  Page 571.

Richard Wilton and Catherine Byatt

Quaker Meeting House (Grade II Listed), New Street, Great Dunmow

Richard Wilton (bap. 20 Mar 1811 in Royston, Hertfordshire), middle son of Stephen Wilton and Elizabeth Hankin, married Catherine Byatt (bap. 4 Apr 1824 in Little Canfield, Essex), daughter of John Byatt and Jane Stokes, at the Independent Meeting House (Quaker Meeting House), New Street, Great Dunmow, on 25 Mar 1843, according to the Rites and Ceremonies of the Protestant Dissenters. Richard Wilton, who had been listed on the 1841 census, living in the High Street, Great Dunmow, as a harness maker (as he is on the marriage certificate), was 32 at the time of the wedding and Catherine Byatt, then 19, was listed as a minor. Witnesses were Richard's younger brother Joseph Wilton and Maria Staines (then 17) sister of Richard's brother, Henry's wives (both), daughters of Thomas Staines and Sally Hockley.

Richard and Catherine had seven children:

1. Ann Wilton b. 1844 M Quarter in DUNMOW UNION Volume 12 Page 76, mother's maiden name BYATE. (Died 27 Apr 1850 (1850 J Quarter in DUNMOW UNION Volume 12 Page 56), aged 6, buried 2 May 1850)
2. Elizabeth Wilton b. 9 Aug 1847 (1847 S Quarter in DUNMOW UNION Volume 12 Page 69). Many places, online and off, have listed Elizabeth's date of birth as 6 August, however, I've now obtained a copy of her birth certificate from the GRO and it clearly reads Ninth August 1847.
3. Richard Wilton b. 1848 (No GRO birth registration, under any name) (Died, aged 41, in 1889 J Quarter in POPLAR Volume 01C Page 322)
4. Walter Wilton b. 1850 D Quarter in DUNMOW Volume 12 Page 79 (Died, aged 1, in 1852 M Quarter in DUNMOW Vol 04A Page 219)
5. Martha Wilton b. 1853 M Quarter in DUNMOW Vol 04A Page 317 (Died, aged 1, in 1854 J Quarter in DUNMOW Vol 04A Page 209)
6. William Wilton b. 1855 J Quarter in DUNMOW Volume 04A Page 311 (Died, aged 3, in 1858 J Quarter in DUNMOW Vol 04A Page 223)
7. Ellen Wilton b. 1857 J Quarter in DUNMOW Vol 04A Page 335

On the birth registrations for Elizabeth, Walter, Martha, William and Ellen, the mother's maiden name is correctly listed as BYATT. On Elizabeth's birth certificate, her father is listed as Richard Wilton, Harness Maker and her mother, Catherine Wilton, formerly Byatt, Informant, made her mark.

Richard Wilton, Harness maker (journeyman), died on 3 Mar 1858 (1858 M Quarter in DUNMOW UNION Volume 04A Page 262), from Phthisis (pulmonary tuberculosis). He was 46. The informant, present at his death, at Dunmow Down, was Ann Whybrow. (Formerly Ann Chandler, she had married Thomas Whybrow, a Currier (specialist in the leather trade) in 1823.) Richard's burial on 8 Mar 1858, is in Non-Conformist Church Records, so may have been in the burial ground attached to the Quaker Meeting House in Great Dunmow (PDF), and listed his cause of death as Consumption. 

George Wilton, born in the Dunmow Union (Workhouse) on 3 Feb 1860 (1860 M Quarter in DUNMOW UNION Volume 04A Page 361), birth certificate says his mother's name was Caroline Wilton, no father listed, but I cannot find a Caroline Wilton in the area at any time. On later census returns George was listed as Catherine's new husband - John Eldred's - step-son, so George appears to have been Catherine's 'mystery' illegitimate son.

(George can't have been Richard's son - unless sperm freezing was invented MUCH earlier than we've been led to believe - and an attempt to 'legitimise' this birth by suggesting a death of a Richard Wilton, in Whitechapel, in 1862, I can categorically refute, as now that the GRO provide a search facility, a quick look showed that this record was the death of a child, aged 1.)

In 1861, the widowed Catherine (surname transcribed as Wilson), was living with her brother, William Byatt, in Little Canfield. George Wilton, aged 1, was listed there as nephew to the head of the household. There was a Stephen Wilton (13) Baker, lodging in the household of Elizabeth Edwards (73) at Dunmow Down, Great Dunmow, however, I believe this was a pseudonym used by Catherine's son Richard Wilton (see 1884 below). While, the 13 year old Elizabeth and her 4 year old sister, Ellen (listed as being 6), were that year, listed as inmates in the Great Dunmow Union Workhouse.

Catherine then remarried to John Eldred, widower, on 27 Sep 1862 in Great Dunmow. (Various records list her previous surname as Walton or Wilson.)

John Eldred (bap. 10 Mar 1822 in Great Dunmow) son of William Eldred and Eleanor Fewell, had married for the first time to Harriett Page, on 20 Aug 1848, in Great Dunmow. John and Harriett Eldred had three sons:

1. John Eldred b. 1849 D Quarter in DUNMOW Volume 12 Page 73, bap. 10 Jul 1853 in Great Dunmow. (Died aged 10, in 1860 J Quarter in DUNMOW Volume 04A Page 224)
2. Walter Eldred b. 1852 D Quarter in WHITECHAPEL Volume 01C Page 355, bap. 10 Jul 1853 in Great Dunmow. On the baptism, his father's occupation is listed as Brewer's Servant and address given as No 12 Smith Place High Street Wapping London. (Died, aged 18, in 1871 J Quarter in DUNMOW UNION Volume 04A Page 256)
3. Alfred Eldred b. 1855 M Quarter in SAINT GEORGE (IN THE EAST) Volume 01C Page 468 (for reasons unknown the mother's maiden name is listed as PORTER, but there does not appear to be another Alfred Eldred it could relate to) bap. 12 Aug 1855 in Great Dunmow

But Harriet Eldred died aged 28, in 1855 D Quarter in SAINT GEORGE IN THE EAST Volume 01C Page 312.

John Eldred remarried to Elizabeth Tennisse, Widow, daughter of John Pitts, Mariner, on 2 Nov 1856 at Christ Church, St George in the East. Elizabeth Pitts had previously married James Tennisse (born Jacobus Teunisse on 8 Feb 1823 in Amsterdam, Netherlands) on 5 Jun 1854, in Bethnal Green. The pair had three children, all of whom died as infants: Maria Sophia Tennisse (1849-1853); James John Tennisse (1851-1856) and Sarah Tennisse (1853-1855). James Tennisse also died, aged just 32, in 1855, in Stepney.

John and Elizabeth Eldred had one daughter:

1. Thomazine Maria Eldred b. 24 Jul 1857 S Quarter in SAINT GEORGE IN THE EAST Volume 01C Page 413, bap. 4 Apr 1858 in the parish of St George in the East, Stepney. Her father's occupation was listed as Drayman and their address again as 12 Smith's Place.

Then Elizabeth Pitts Eldred died, aged 30, on 1 Apr 1859 (1859 J Quarter in SAINT GEORGE IN THE EAST Volume 01C Page 271).

So when Catherine Wilton married John Eldred, she became his third wife.

In 1871, living in Braintree Road, Great Dunmow, were John Eldred (44) Ag Lab, Catherine Eldred (42) both had lost 5 years; Walter Eldred (18) Son, Alfred Eldred (16) Son, Maria Eldred (13) Daughter, Ellen Wilton (14) Step-Daughter; George Wilton (11) Step-Son; and Alice Wilton (2) Granddaughter (Alice Catherine Wilton born 12 Feb 1869, to Elizabeth Wilton.)

Then John Eldred died, aged 49, in 1876 D Quarter in WEST HAM UNION Volume 04A Page 54.

In 1881, Catherine Eldridge (sic) (56) Widow, Dressmaker from Canfield, Essex, was living at 23, Powis Road, Bromley, Poplar, with Richard Wilton (31) Labourer; George Wilton (21) Labourer; Ellen Wilton (24) Match Maker (although listed as married); Susan Robinson (21) Match Maker (Boarder) and four Lodgers: William Wardley (20) Labourer from Sudbury, Suffolk; Arthur Seatch (36) Labourer from Bromley; Frank Poulter (24) Carman from Cambridge and James Howard (18) Match Maker (Fusee) from Bromley.

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

White Slavery in London

Living little more than half a mile from the Bryant & May's factory in Bow, it's probably reasonable to assume this was where they were all employed, where conditions were especially bad. 

"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. Match Girls Strike at Bryant and May Factory: The 1888 Uprising for Workers’ Rights in London

The Essex Herald of 20 Oct 1884 reported on "WHOLESALE SHOP LIFTING. - Richard Wilton, a navvy, of Bromley-by-Bow, was brought up in custody charged with stealing a black rep cloth overcoat and 12 pairs of tanned leggings, value £1, from the shop of Edwin Joseph Wilton, in High Street, Dunmow on Saturday night last. Prisoner was further charged with stealing six twill jackets, value 24s, the property of Mr John Beard, of North Street, Great Dunmow, on Saturday night. Superintendent Ackers stated that the greater part of the property had been recovered and identified, and, it being believed that others were implicated in the robbery, he asked that the prisoner, who was only arrested on Sunday night, might be remanded. The prisoner was accordingly remanded for a week. Later reports, which (named the perp as Stephen Wilton (36) Baker) noted that Mr [Edwin] Wilton stated the prisoner was his cousin. The prisoner was acquitted. (There were two cousins, to both Richard and Edwin, named Stephen Wilton [1] [2] - neither were angels - but I'm sure this was Richard and not either of them.

Of Catherine's surviving children and two step-children: her daughter Elizabeth Wilton; her son George Wilton; Alfred Eldred and Thomazine Maria Eldred ... all four gave the name Catherine as the first or middle name to their first child. In the case of her step-son, Alfred's wife's mother was also named Catherine to account for this, but for all of them to use the name, I think tells us far more about Catherine as a person than records usually can.

So far, I've not found a death for Catherine, but with so many incorrect names given throughout her life, it's not easy to guess what it might be listed under. There's also the chance, of course, that she remarried once again and therefore this is under yet another totally new name.