Ephraim Reinhold Seehl and Sarah Perry

Photo © Glyn Baker (cc-by-sa/2.0)

St Andrew Undershaft

Photo available for reuse under this Creative Commons licence.

Ephraim Reinhold Seehl (b. ~1718 in Sweden) of Bromley St Leonard, Batchelor, aged upwards of twenty-seven years, Chemist, son of Captain Reinhold Seehl (apparently a German volunteer with the Swedish Army), married Sarah Perry (bap. 12 Mar 1721 at St Mary Magdalene Woolwich), of the Parish of St Dunstan's, Stepney, Spinster, aged upwards of twenty-two years, daughter of Philip Perry and Elizabeth Flemming, at St Andrew Undershaft, City of London, (a rare example of a City church that survived both the Great Fire of London and the Blitz) by Licence, on 19 Nov 1745.

There is no evidence of any children being born to this couple.

Seehl was known as a manufacturer of Iron(II) sulfate (known since ancient times as copperas and as green vitriol) and was apparently leasing the Copperas Works from Sarah's brother, John Perry (and probably later from her nephew, John Perry). As we see here in An Account of the Hamlet of Poplar, in Middlesex, From "The Universal magazine" for June, 1795, "Not far from this dock, Mr. Perry has a copperas work, situate on the river Lea, near the Thames, in the parish of St. Leonard Bromley, and which, although not so large as his copperas works at Whitstable in Kent, and Walton-on-the-Naze, in Essex, is allowed to be the most complete work of the kind in England."

Ephraim Reinhold Seehl appears in various London directories from 1752, through until well after his death, listed as a chemist, or copperas merchant, to be found at Blackwall, or at one of the London Coffee Houses, such as the Bank Coffee House in Threadneedle Street. From 1765, he began to be listed at Blackwall and Baltic Coffee House, Sweeting's Alley (or Sweeting' Rents) and later, Cole's Coffee House, Ball Court, Cornhill, London.

The Register of Duties Paid for Apprentices' Indentures, 1710-1811, show that on 15 May 1749, Ephraim Reinhold Seehl of Blackwall, Middlesex, Copperas Maker, took as his apprentice one John Bridges Buckle. 

(As an aside, but this could have been the same chap previously apprenticed to Seehl, a John Bridges Buckle, Gent, was buried on 26 Apr 1756 at Saint Giles in the Fields, Holborn. The Proceedings of the Old Bailey dated 28 May 1756 explain the case where Buckle had been stabbed by a Mr Venables, who said in his defence, "I saw Mr Buckle upon my wife in the bed naked as I am to appear before God". Venables was found guilty of Manslaughter.)

The six pages of the Will of Ephraim Reinhold Seehl of the Parish of Bromley St Leonards in the County of Middlesex Chemist and Copperas Maker, which was originally drafted in 1757, has been one of the most difficult to read because of the quality of the squashed up handwriting. Nevertheless, he mentions therein, his loving wife Sarah; his brothers-in-law John Perry and John Brown; his sisters-in-law Elizabeth Brown, wife of John Brown; Susanna Gilbert, Widow; and Mrs [unreadable] Perry, Widow (certain this is Hellen Perry, widow of Philip Perry); as well as his niece Sarah Brown eldest daughter of the said John Brown; and Kitty Brown youngest daughter of John Brown (Kitty is either my misreading of the handwriting, a pet name for their youngest daughter, Helen, or a child I've not found records for). Seehl left most of his property to his 'dearly beloved wife Sarah' and appointed Sarah as sole Executrix. He seemed to make some changes to the Will in 1769, but added a Codicil, dated 29 Apr 1775, in which he began, "That as my two brothers-in-law and Mrs [unreadable] Perry are since the making of this Will dead ..." and changes the beneficiaries: in place of John Brown, is Kitty Brown and in place of Mrs [unreadable] Perry, was her daughter Susanna Taylor. Also mentioned is Mrs Sarah Clark. And, "... to my nephew John Perry and also to my niece Elizabeth Perry his wife ... as had given and bequeathed before in the Will to their fathers John Perry and John Brown". The Will also mentions his nephew Joseph Hankey (who was married to John Perry Sr's daughter, Ann); the Copyhold property in Walton-on-the-Naze, Essex and the Copyhold estate in Bromley St Leonard. The Will was proved on 12 Sep 1783.

Ephraim Reinhold Seehl of Bromley was buried at Poplar, undoubtedly at Poplar Chapel (St Matthias Old Church) much used by the Perry family, on 6 Sep 1783, according to the Parish Register of St Dunstan's, Stepney.

Sarah Seehl died on 28 Apr 1804. The Commercial Chronicle of 1 May 1804 (Tuesday) reported "On Saturday last, at Limehouse, Mrs Sarah Seehl, relict of Ephraim Seehl, Esq." Sarah Seehl was buried on 4 Jun 1804 (?). The Parish Register of St Dunstan's, Stepney lists the burial of, "Sarah Seehl of Poplar at Poplar", which I assume to be once again at Poplar Chapel (St Matthias Old Church) - in her Will, Sarah stated her wish to be buried in the vault with her late husband - although there's also a record in the Parish Register of All Saints Church, Poplar on the same date of the burial of Sarah Seehl (86). 

Probate was granted on the Will (with three Codicils the last dated 3 Jun 1802) - which runs to 15 handwritten pages - of Sarah Seehl of Church Row, Limehouse, Widow, to the surviving Executor, John Perry, on 20 Jun 1804.

How am I related? Sarah Perry's niece married my 1st cousin 7x removed.

John Cowtley and Mary Pateman

John Cowtley (b. 1670), bachelor, married Mary Pateman (bap. 20 Mar 1669 at St Dunstan's), spinster, daughter of Thomas and Mary Pateman, at the church of St James Duke's Place, Aldgate, City of London on 18 Nov 1691.

Apparently, this tiny little parish church was a very popular place to get wed during the 17th century. Some 40,000 marriages were recorded as having taken place here between 1644 and 1691. Described a "Aldgate’s own version of Gretna Green", it was famous for performing irregular marriages. It's clear that St Dunstan's, Stepney was their home parish, so it's perhaps reasonable to surmise that John and Mary's marriage in this parish was one of the irregular ones, for whatever intriguing reason (that the records don't explain). 

John and Mary had two daughters baptised at St Dunstan's:

1. Susanna Cowtley b. 24 Aug 1692, Susanna daughter of John Cowtley of Ratcliffe, Brewer's Servant and Mary bap. 28 Aug 1692 at St Dunstan, Stepney (at 4 days old)
2. Elizabeth Cowtley b. 3 Oct 1696, Elizabeth daughter of John Cowtly (sic) of White Horse Street, Labourer & Mary bap. 4 Oct 1696 at Saint Dunstan, Stepney (1 day old)

Found no further records of John or Mary Cowtley nor of their deaths.

Edward Taylor and Ann Thompson

Mile End Lock, Regent's Canal
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Stephen McKay - geograph.org.uk/p/4514511

Edward Taylor, bricklayer, who listed his father as Thomas Taylor, Gentleman, married Ann Thompson (bap. 20 Oct 1817 at St Andrew's Church, Cransley, Northamptonshire), daughter of Solomon Thompson Jnr and Maria Willis, at Christ Church Watney Street, St George in the East (historically known as Wapping-Stepney), on 18 Nov 1847. Witnesses were Solomon Thompson, Ann's brother, and a Harriet Brown. Not found a baptism for Edward Taylor, who gives his birthplace as Newington, Surrey, however there was a marriage of a Thomas Taylor and Elizabeth Saveall on 11 Apr 1823 at St Mary's Newington, who I believe to have been his parents.

There are records for four children that I believe are of this family:

1. Thomas Saveall Taylor b. 1848 D Quarter in Stepney Volume 2 Page 495 (A transcription of this exists at FindMyPast, but not at the GRO.)
2. John Taylor b. 1853 J Quarter in STEPNEY Volume 01C Page 489. Died 1854 M Quarter in STEPNEY Volume 01C Page 388.
3. John Daniel Taylor b. 1855 M Quarter in STEPNEY Vol 01C Page 525. Died, aged 2, in 1857 M Quarter in STEPNEY Vol 01C Page 373
4. George Taylor b. 1858 D Qtr in MILE END OLD TOWN Vol 01C 507

The 3 GRO records confirm the mothers maiden name as THOMPSON.

In 1851 Edmond Taylor (sic) (30) Bricklayer from Newington, Surrey; wife Ann Taylor (36) from Cransley, Northamptonshre and son Thomas Taylor (2), were living at Webbs Nursery Ground, Jacksons Rent, Stepney, London. (This is the third time I've found cases, in completely different parts of the tree, where Edward and Edmond/Edmund have been used interchangeably.)

In 1861, living at Regent Cottage, Rhodeswell Rd, Limehouse, Stepney (almost parallel to the Regent's Canal), were Edmond Taylor (39) Master Bricklayer; Ann Taylor (40), Thomas Taylor (12) and George Taylor (2).

There is a death of an Ann Taylor in the 3rd quarter of 1864, in Stepney (Vol 1C Page 409), again curiously not found at the GRO, which may relate.

There are no further census listings for an Edmond/Edward Taylor, Bricklayer, anywhere so he may have died too, but I cannot yet identify a death record.

In 1871, listed as George S Taylor (12), the younger son was living with his aunt, Maria Blackett, his mother's sister, in Bermondsey. (It hasn't been possible to isolate relevant further records for Thomas S Taylor.)

In 1881, listed as George S Saville (22) Schoolmaster, was still living with his aunt, Maria Kenward (who had remarried), at 17, Douglas Street, Deptford. It is George continuing to live with his aunt that leads me to believe that his mother must have died and to consider the probable death in 1864.

Originally, I though that Saveall was a mis-transcription of Saville and it could well be, but it could equally be the other way around. However, I do think this is the clue to the continuity and that holds this family together.

John Byatt and Sarah Pewter

St Mary the Virgin Elsenham - East end
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © John Salmon - geograph.org.uk/p/3285903

John Byatt (bap. 30 Sep 1753 in Elsenham, Essex), son of Edward Byart and Ann Brown, married Sarah Pewter (bap. 4 Apr 1754 at St Mary's Church, Ware, Hertfordshire) daughter of George and Grace Pewter, at St Mary's Church, Elsenham, Essex on 17 Nov 1775. Various records spell his surname as Byart or Biatt and one calls him James, but as time goes by, the spelling Byatt becomes consistent and all other records are for John.

John and Sarah had ten children, baptised at St Mary's Church, Elsenham:

1. William Byat (sic) bap. 21 Apr 1776
2. John Byatt bap. 3 May 1778
3. James Byat (sic) bap. 15 Mar 1780
4. Elizabeth Byatt bap. 10 Dec 1782 and again on 6 Mar 1783 (There isn't time for this to have been a different child, so I wonder if the first is a private baptism at home and a second in the church?)
5. Mary Byatt bap. 17 Jul 1785
6. Susan Byatt bap. 23 Nov 1788 (Died 31 Dec 1788)
7. George Byatt bap. 28 Feb 1790
8. Thomas Byatt bap. 26 Aug 1792
9. Samuel Byatt bap. 3 Jul 1796 (Buried 8 May 1797) The baptism, as Sal, specifies the sex as male. On the burial, the child is described as a daughter. We may have found our first transgender relative.
10. Joseph Byatt bap. 25 May 1800 

Sarah Byatt died, at 69, and was buried on 8 Feb 1824, in Elsenham.

Not yet been able to identify a death or burial for John Byatt.

Edmund Drake and Eliza Dixon

Plymouth : Plymouth Gin Distillery
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Lewis Clarke - geograph.org.uk/p/1185248
The Plymouth Gin Distillery (the Black Friars Distillery) is the only gin distillery located in Plymouth in what was once a Dominican Order monastery built in 1431 and opens on to what is now Southside Street. It has been in operation since 1793.

Edmund Drake (b. 5 Oct 1831) Seaman, upon marriage, listed his father as Edmund Drake, Tailor (he was the illegitimate son of Mary Drake, Tailoress), married Eliza Dixon at the Parish church, Stoke Damerel on 17 Nov 1857. 

Their only son:

1. Edmund George Drake b. 21 Jan 1858 (1858 M Quarter in STOKE DAMEREL Vol 05B Page 285), bap. 4 Feb 1858 in Stoke Damerel

However, Eliza Drake died in the same quarter as the birth, aged just 22 (GRO Ref: 1858 M Quarter in STOKE DAMEREL Vol 05B Page 231).

Edmund Drake, Widower, Seaman, then married Esther Elizabeth Palmer, daughter of Charles Palmer and Mary Amelia Oxford at Holy Trinity Church, Plymouth on 7 Dec 1860. (The Anglican Church of the Holy Trinity was in Southside Street/Friars Lane, The Barbican, Plymouth. It no longer exists.) Edmund Drake gave his address at this time as HMS Jason (1859).

Edmund and Esther Drake had a further six children:

1. Edward Charles Drake b. 1861 S Qtr in PLYMOUTH Vol 05B Page 239
2. Florence Esther Drake b. 1867 D Quarter in PLYMOUTH Volume 05B Page 252. Died, aged 1, in 1869 S Quarter in PLYMOUTH Volume 05B Page 181. Buried at Ford Park Cemetery, Plymouth.
3. Mary Amelia Drake b. 1869 D Quarter in PLYMOUTH Vol 05B Page 247
4. Edith Esther Drake b. 1873 J Quarter in PLYMOUTH Vol 05B Page 239
5. Annie Eliza Drake b. 1875 J Qtr in STOKE DAMEREL Vol 05B Page 342
6. Eliza Ellen Drake b. 1876 S Qtr in STOKE DAMEREL Vol 05B Page 329. Died, aged 1, in 1877 S Qtr in STOKE DAMEREL Vol 05B Page 200

In 1861, Edmund and Esther Drake don't seem to be listed anywhere, but Edmund Drake (3), Edmund's son from his first marriage, was boarding with Charles and Mary Palmer, Esther's parents, in Vauxhall Street, Plymouth.

In 1865, there is a record of Shipping agreements and crew lists, suggesting that Edmund Drake (32), birthplace Jersey, was serving on a Merchant ship named Hantoon that departed from Wexford, Ireland.

In 1871, Esther Drake (35) was in Vauxhall Street, Charles, Plymouth, with [Edmund] George Drake (13), Edward Drake (9), Mary Drake (1) and her brother, James Palmer (31) Porter. Edmund was presumably at sea.

In 1881, Edmund Drake (48) Coal Tipper was a boarder in the household of William Brooks (31) Railway Guard at 6, Inchmarnock Street, Roath, Cardiff, Glamorganshire, Wales. Edmund Drake was listed as being from Plymouth, Devon, which is probably, simply, what his landlord assumed. Meanwhile, Esther Drake (44) Sailor's Wife, was then residing at 27, Rendle Street, Plymouth with her son Edward Drake (19) Iron Moulder; Mary Drake (11), Edith Drake (7), Annie Drake (5) and Alfred Nelson (1) Boarder.

In 1891, Edmund Drake (59) Pensioner from Jersey, Channel Islands, was living at 10, Moira Street, Cardiff with Esther Drake (56), Edward Drake (28) Iron Moulder; Mary Drake (21); Edith Drake (19); Annie Drake (16); Emma Drake (29) and granddaughters, Esther Drake (3) and Gladys Drake (1).

In 1901, Edmund Drake (69) Boxman Coal Tipper from St Helier, Jersey, was living at 12, Seymour Street, Roath, Cardiff, with wife Esther Drake (65) and granddaughter, Esther Drake (13).

Esther Elizabeth Drake died at 72 in 1907 S Qtr in CARDIFF Vol 11A 149.

In 1911, Edmund Drake (80) Widowed, Father-in-law from St Helier, Jersey, was living in the household of Fred and Annie Silby at 30 Romilly Road, Cardiff. (Annie Silby, of course, being Annie Eliza Drake, as was.)

In 1921, Edmund Drake (90) Widower, Father-in-law, Able Seaman Retired HM Navy, from Jersey, Channel Islands, was still living with his daughter and son-in-law, Fred and Annie Silby, at 67, Forrest Road, Cardiff.

Edmund Drake died at 91 in 1922 M Qtr in CARDIFF Vol 11A Page 707.