#52Ancestors Week 12 "Misfortune"

#52Ancestors Week 12 “Misfortune”

Thomas Wadey 1859-1924 (Great Great Uncle)

Thomas Wadey was the second son of Stephen Edwin Wadey (1829-1904) Stephen's story and Mary Ann Johnson (1830-1876) born 1859 in Brighton and baptised at St Nicholas Church Brighton on 29^th May 1859.

Misfortune came early to Thomas at the age of 2 ½ he was walking across the road with his father Stephen when he was hit by a pony and cart being driven “furiously”

The Brighton Guardian on 23rd December 1861 printed to following transcript from Brighton Borough Bench

Monday December 23^rd

Present A Bigge and W Alger Esqrs.

John Whiting and Thomas Terry, two middle-aged men. Dressed as labourers, were placed in the dock on the charge of driving a pony and cart in a furious manner, and    running over a child     

The Chief Officer said the child which was run over was named Thomas Wadey, and was only two and a half years old. After the accident it was take to the Hospital, and was found to have received serious injury.  He had sent two or three times to the Hospital to make enquiries, and this morning Mr Rogers, the house surgeon, had sent to say that the child was now progressing favourably.

Stephen Wadey, sworn;  I am a chimney sweep, and live in Circus Street.  On Saturday, at about two o’clock, I was coming down Market Street with my little child, and I was crossing over the road towards Castle Square.  My little child was walking at my side.  The prisoners must have been driving from Castle square towards Market street, for they went up Market street.  I was not looking before the accident happened, so I cannot tell you the pace.  The child was knocked down, and the wheel went over it.    It was so much hurt that I was obliged to take it to the hospital.

William Benham sworn;  I live at 113 Western Road.  I was crossing this road on Saturday afternoon, and I saw the prisoners driving a pony and cart at a very furious pace.  They appeared to be coming from across the Steine.  I had some difficulty in getting out of the way myself.  The pony was galloping, and it was the noise that first attracted my attention.  I was driving, and if I had not had a lively horse I should not have been able to get out of the way.  When they had passed me I looked round, and I saw the pony going towards the last witness.  The little child was walking a foot or so behind him, and before he could pick it up the pony and knocked it down and the wheel had gone over it.  This was a fast pony, and was going at quite twelve or fourteen miles an hour.

Henry Chamberlain sworn; I live at 9 Rose Hill terrace, and am employed at Mr Hannington’s. I saw this accident occur.  The pony was going at the top of its speed, land the men did not make the least attempt to stop it till they had run over the child.  The off wheel of the cart went over it, and I think the child must have been killed if the pony had not been going at such great speed.

Samuel Duly sworn; I was coming down St James’s street on Saturday afternoon, and I saw this pony and cart coming down the street at a fearful speed.  The people were running away in every direction.  The men in the cart were rolling against each other, and made no attempt to stop the pony. When I got down into Castle square I was that this accident had happened.  I should think the pony was going quite as fast as Mr Benham states.

Police constable Stoffel, sworn; I came up just after this accident.  I saw that the child was very much hurt,- I couldn’t tell whether it was dead or not , - and also that the men were both the worse for liquour, so I took them in charge and brought them here.

Mr Bigge: What do you propose to do Mr White?

The Chief Officer: I must leave it in the hands of the magistrates now, Sir.

Mr Bigge said it was a great mercy that the men were not charged with manslaughter.

The Chief Officer mentioned that they both bore a good character, Terry had a wife and six children,

Whiting admitted that he was driving the pony fast, but said he did not see the child till he was close on it, land the tried to pull up, but could not.

Mr Bigge said this was a very serious charge, and he thought the best course would be to remand both prisoners til to-morrow, to see how the child went on.

Prisoners applied to be admitted to bail, but Mr Bigge refused to grant the application.

The next day they  were both found guilty and fined 40s each plus costs.  The court was told that Thomas was “fast recovering from his injuries”.  40 shillings equates to around 10 days wages at the time.

Thomas recovered from his brush with death and continued to live in Circus Street with his parents until his marriage in the summer of 1891 to Mary Ann Hopkins.  The 1891 census shows Thomas as cab driver / groom, 1901 he is shown as a fly proprietor living in Upper Lewes Road.  A fly be a type of pony and cart!  

 28^th July 1903 records show Thomas taking over the license for The Liverpool Arms in Gloucester Place, Brighton

The James Grey collection has a photo taken in 1913, I presume showing Thomas outside his pub.  1914 a new licencee is shown so Thomas and his wife left the Inn sometime between 1913 and 1914 ten years after taking it over.  Have no further information for Thomas who died 1924,   

http://regencysociety-jamesgray.com/volume30/source/jg_30_079.html

Unfortunately the pub along with other buildings were demolished in 1935 to make way for Telephone House that was completed in 1938

#52Ancestors Week 11 "Lucky"

It was a warm Saturday afternoon in September, but what happened that afternoon has been written into Brighton's history.  On 14th September 1940 at approximately 3.30 a lone Dornier bomber being chased by a spitfire jettisons its load of 20 100lb bombs in a last ditch attempt by its pilot to get away from the spitfire, this was to no avail as the bomber was later shot down, but not before destruction is rained down on Kemp Town.  The 20 bombs were dropped over Kemp Town killing 52 people.  During the whole of the War 198 people died in Brighton from German bombs, the 52 that died on that day represents over a quarter of all deaths throughout the war.  The bombs hit the Kemp Town area which included Edward Street and Upper Rock Gardens. The Odeon cinema in St Georges Road look two direct hits which killed 4 children and 2 adults and left dozens injured, the cinema was busy so it was a small miracle that more were not killed.

Keith WEST was taking his younger brother John to the cinema that Saturday afternoon, Keith being John's elder brother was already working and earning so Keith was treating his younger brother then almost 10 years old to a trip out to the cinema and was intending to go to the Odeon, but on their arrival they were turned away because the theatre was full, so the brothers walked down to the Astoria in Gloucester Place, not knowing that this initial disappointment of not getting into the Odeon could well have saved their lives.

This is just one of the stories of lucky escapes that I suspect everyone that lived through the war can relate.  Another lucky escape happened when the two boys were walking along Preston Drove when an enemy aircraft strafed the road, the boys diving for cover into Blakers Park.  The strafing of the roads especially around the main London Road apparently were not uncommon.  Maybe because of these close escapes John was evacuated to High Bentham in Yorkshire in 1941 where he stayed for almost 3 years.  On his return with the war still ongoing an incendiary bomb was dropped which landed next door to their home in Waldergrave Road, but luckily did not go off

Dedicated to the 198 in Brighton that were not so lucky

#52Ancestors Week 10 "Strong Woman"

#52Ancestors Week 10 Strong Woman

Rosetta Elizabeth Lane 1853-1926

There was no dithering over who I should write about this week, it has to be Rosetta Elizabeth Lane my paternal Great Great Grandmother.  Everyone has someone in their tree that they admire, Rosetta is mine, this is one strong woman. 

Rosetta was born on 10^th February 1853 at Hope Street, New Town, Sheerness, Kent, baptised 13^th April 1853 the only daughter of Michael LANE and Amy TAYLOR.  The next record we have of Rosetta is the 1861 census where at the age of 8 she is living with her Grandmother Mary and Aunt Elizabeth LANE at 7 Meeting House Lane, Chatham.  Her parents and brother are living in Radnor Square, Chatham.  1871 sees her still living with her Aunt Elizabeth also her Uncle (brother of Elizabeth) Joseph LANE, still at Meeting House Lane, her father Michael is in Medway Union Workhouse, her mother living in Post Office Yard, Chatham with Rosetta’s brother William George.

Rosetta marries Horatio Blair WEST a tailors cutter at St Margaret’s,  Rainham on 21^st January 1872. Their first son Joseph William Blair WEST is born the following year in Chatham. Henry Charles (my Great Grandfather)  is born in 1876 and Albert Edward Blair in 1879 by which time Horatio is already committing adultery with Patience Nicholls a spinster from Old Brompton.   Horatio joins the Royal Navy in Oct 1881 leaving Rosetta with their 3 sons living in 8 Paddock Street, Chatham with Joseph and Elizabeth LANE.  In November 1882 Rosetta petitions for a divorce on the grounds of adultery coupled with cruelty which was granted 1884, according to the Office of National Statistics this was one of just 348 divorces granted in 1884 throughout England.  There are not the stats re the petitioners but I would imagine that the number of these that are petitioned by the wife must be small.

The transcript of the divorce petition can be found here https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Zut3Hr1P3zggupsQhjltNCqDzp5TjPXH/view?usp=sharing

The nurse mentioned in the petition I think is Rosetta’s aunt Elizabeth Lane who Rosetta & Horatio lived with in Paddock Street.

 A year after her decree absolute on 27^th June 1885 she marries Peter Joseph Gregory  an Engine Room Artificer (i) in the Royal Navy .  They have a daughter in 1887, Rosetta Charlotte Gregory.   

On the 1891 census Rosetta and her daughter Rosetta Gregory are still living in Paddock Street with Elizabeth and Joseph Lane along with her 3 sons from her marriage with Horatio. Peter is at sea with RN on HMS Pembroke, returning June 1892.  Would love to say after a tough first marriage that she now lives happily ever after, but unfortunately I cannot.   

The next record found is showing Peter being admitted to Medway Workhouse on 21^st October 1892, it would seem due to a removal order (ii).  I can only surmise that Peter did not return to Chatham after leaving the navy and was forcibly returned to his home parish when he could not support himself as it looks as though he left the navy after 15 years was due to rheumatism.  Some removal orders have survived but unfortunately cannot find one for Peter, to confirm this guess, within a year at the age of just 35 on 3^rd June 1893 Peter dies in the workhouse (Update - Peter dies in the county lunytic asylum of "general paralysis of the insane")
Now a widow Rosetta is still living with her aunt Elizabeth Lane now in New Road, Chatham on the 1901 census along with her daughter Rosetta.  Her uncle Joseph Lane having died 16^th June 1891, probate shows him leaving his whole estate of £7 to his sister Elizabeth.  Rosetta is working as a home worker for a shirt factory in Chatham.  On 20^th October 1904 Elizabeth dies at the age of 83 in Medway Workhouse, as her parents seem to have had little contact with Rosetta Elizabeth must have been like a mother to her, being that she lived with her  from the age of 8.

The 1911 census shows Rosetta living on her own in 1 room at 22 Hartington Street, Chatham after her daughter Rosetta married in 1908 and is working as a colour maker at the dockyards

Rosetta died 9^th October 1926 at All Saints Hospital, Chatham, her death certificate shows that she was living with her daughter Rosetta at 68 Cross Street before going into hospital, Rosetta was with her when she died, cause of death is shown as Senile Decay at the age of 73.

(i)                  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Engine_Room_Artificer

(ii)                https://www.genguide.co.uk/source/settlement-certificatesexaminations-and-removal-orders-parish-amp-poor-law/173/

#52Ancestors Week 9 "Where there's a Will"

The first will I ever received was from a very generous chap named Andy Gravett, Andy had been building his family tree for several years before I even started.  So thank you Andy.

This will is Thomas Gravett's my 7th Great Grandfather (1681-1741). This will confirmed my earlier research, giving the name of his brother, wife, son, daughter in law and grandson.  His son Thomas Jr was my 6th Greadgrandfather and so far I can see there were no other siblings.  The Grandson metioned, William was th first of 7 children of Thomas Jr and Elizabeth and my 6th Great Uncle.  I have looked on old maps but have yet to find the lands mentioned in this will, looks like he had several properties.  Nice touch bequething 30 dozen loaves of bread to the poor.

It reads

In the name of God, Amen. I Thomas Gravatt of Wisborough Green in the County of Sussex, yeoman being in good health and of sound disposition and memory and understanding. Thanks be given to Almighty God for the same considering the certainty of death and uncertainty of the times revoking all forms of wills by me made demake and declare this to be my last will and testament in name and form following / that us to say first of all I commend my soul to the hands of Almighty God my creator hoping through death and passion of Jesus Christ my only Lord and Saviour to for pardon of all my sins and my body I commit to the earth to be decently interred at the discretion of my executors hereafter named and as to the disposal of such estate as God in his mercy has blessed me with I give and devise and bequeath all that my messuage or tenement farms and land with the appertainers commonly called and known by the names of Jakofs and Haydon lying and being in Wisborough Green aforesaid and also all that my other messuage or tenement farm and lands with the appertainers situate and being in the same parish and called as known by the name of Hook land unto my loving brother William Gravatt of Albury in the County of Surrey yeoman and to my good friend Thomas Elliott of Wisborough Green aforesaid yeoman and their heirs to hold the same unto the said William Gravatt and Thomas Elliot and their heirs in trust and to and for the uses intents and purposes hereinafter mentioned expressed limited and declared of a concerning the same that is to say / as to for touching and concerning all that the aforesaid messuage tenement farm and lands with the appertainers called Jakofs and Haydon in trust and to and for the only soul and proper use and benefit and of my dear and loving wife Mary and her assigns for and during the terms of her natural life subject nevertheless and charged with and Annuity of three pounds a year to my son Thomas Gravatt the younger and Eliyabeth Gravatt wife of him the said Thomas Gravatt or the longest liver or survivor of the said Thomas or Eliyabeth Gravatt aforesaid during the terms of their natural lives and further my will and meaning is that if my loving wife Mary shall be married again I give and devise the said land called Jakofs and Haydon in trust to and for the only use and of my said son Thomas Gravatt during the term of his natural life subject nevertheless and charged with one annuity of six pounds yearly out of the said lands called Jakofs and Haydon aforesaid during the term of the natural life of my loving wife Mary and her assigns during the term aforesaid my of her and in any kind whatsoever as touching the said land or freehold estates called Jakofs and Haydon aforesaid and further my will is in case my loving wife Mary married again or shall continue and remain a widow then my will sis that she shall receive the yearly income rents and profits of the said lands and use of all my household goods during the term of her natural life and from and after her decease then in to and for the only use and behoof of my said son Thomas Gravatt the younger and his assigns during the term of his natural life and from and after his decease in trust and to and for the only use and behoof of my grandson William Gravatt son of my said son Thomas Gravatt the younger and the heirs of my said grandson for ever and as to for touching and concerning all that the said messuage or tenement farm and lands with the appertainers called Hook land in trust to and for the payment of all my debts first by cutting and making sale of all such timber as shall be felled for market and in case there shall not be sufficient to pay all my debts and funeral expenses and the other charges which my executors in trust shall be at in the execution of the Trust by me in them reposed I give and devise the said lands in and by the executors in trust to sell or mortgage as they shall think proper for the payment of my debts funeral expenses and other charges as aforesaid and after the payment of all those my said debts what moneys be and remain over and above them in trust the interests and produce to be equally divided between my loving wife Mary during the term of the widowhood that is to say one half to my said wife during the said term and in trust the other half in trust to and for the only use and behoof of my son Thomas Gravatt and his assigns during the term of his natural life and from and after his decease pass in trust to and for the only use of my daughter Eliyabeth Gravatt the wife of Thomas Gravatt aforesaid during the term of her natural life to and for the maintenance and bringing up my grandchildren the children of him my said son Thomas Gravatt and Eliyabeth aforesaid and from and after the decease of my said daughter in law Eliyabeth Gravatt aforesaid I give and bequeath and devise the lands if not then sold to be by the trust as aforesaid sold and equally divided amongst my grandchildren the children of my said son Thomas and Eliyabeth Gravatt share and share alike and from and after the payment of my debts all the and residue of my goods and rights and personal estate after the payment of my debts and funeral expenses I give in trust for uses as aforesaid and also I give thirty dozen of breads to be distributed at the discretion of my executors to the poor of Wisborough Green and I do desire to be burryd at Crandly (sic) in the county of Surrey. And I do hereby make and appoint my said loving brother William Gravatt and my good friend Thomas Elliot Executors and in them trust as aforesaid of all this my said will whom i desire may be reimbursed out of my effects all such charges as they shall be put in to in the execution of the trust by me in the deposed in whereof I have hereinto set my hand and seal this eight day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and thirty six
Thomas Gravatt signed sealed and delivered published and declared by the said Executors of this last will and testament being written on two sheets with his hand and seal to both sheets in the presence of subscribed our names