|
George Henry Nicholl enters the scene when he married Mary Martha Shilcock in the St Lukes Register Office in London on October 5, 1842. Both George and Mary gave their address as 32 Charles Street, St Lukes. George shows himself as a "Gentleman" and his father as another George, but being no longer alive. Working back from later information, George Henry was born around 1820 and there is a Christening for a George Henry Nicholl on December 31, 1820. He was born on June 12, 1820 at 36 Pancras Place, London, the son of George and Eliza Nicholl. Mary Martha was born on July 24, 1822, the daughter of William Shilcock and Francis Elizabeth (nee Baxter) of Donington in Holland, Lincolnshire. William died in 1829 and in 1833 the widowed Francis married Robert Nicholls Munton. It seems that his Mother in Law's new double-barrelled surname held a certain cachet for George Henry for he not only started calling himself George Henry Layton Nicholl, but also included Layton or Leighton in his children's names.
George Henry Layton Nicholl was born on October 10, 1843 at 30 King Street, Islington. His father was by then a Commercial Clerk. George and Mary's second child was Mary Elizabeth Leighton Nicholl born on January 25, 1847 at 52 Singleton Street, Hoxton New Town. George had become a Clerk to a Wine Merchant.
The family then seem to drop out of sight.
1850 - 1866
Mary Martha's brothers, John William and Edward Thomas, had emigrated to America. In 1853 Frances Elizabeth Nicholls Munton wrote to John and in the letter said that either "Mary was not having a good life", or "Mary was not leading a good life", either way, Mary and the children have not shown up in the 1851 Census. However, if there was a break up then there is a George Nicholl shown as a 30 year old Barman working in the Victoria House Pub run by Thomas Tranter at 67 3-Colt Street, Limehouse, London. Unhelpfully, if this is the right George he shows himself as "Single" and "Born at sea".
At the time of the 1861 Census the same George is running the White Horse at 64 Shoreditch High Street (Holywell Street), London. Again he is shown as "Single" and "Born at sea". There is a 14 year old Mary Elizabeth, born in Islington and shown as a visitor with the Royle family at 8 Dalston Terrace, Hackney. Also, Mary Nicholl is at 9 St George's Terrace, St Pancras, along with her 17 year old son, George, born in Islington. Mary is shown as a 36 year old Lodging House Keeper, born in Lincolnshire and shown as a Widow. Mary’s lodgers are the Widower of her sister Ellen, Francis Cary and his 18 year old daughter Ellen Frances.
George continued to run the White Horse and appears in London Directories from 1858 to 1862. After that he is shown as running the Montrose Pub at 111 St James Street, Liverpool Road, Islington from 1864 to 1865 and Thomas Tranter had taken over the White Horse. Then, on July 30, 1865 George died at 11 Edwin Street, Milton, Gravesend, Kent. The Informant was his daughter, Mary Elizabeth.
Whether or not George's death was cathartic for the rest of the family, but within 12 months all three surviving members of the family had married. Mary Martha married Edward Heron McCabe, a widower, on November 20, 1865 in St Mary Newington Parish Church, South of the Thames. Both Bride and Groom gave their address as Wellington Street. Edward's Occupation was a "Wharf Clerk", however, Edward and his first wife, Priscilla, had run The Ship Pub across the river at 28 Horseferry Road, Westminster.
The following year on February 24, 1866 Mary Elizabeth married William Sampson, a Matting Manufacturer, in St Paul's Parish Church, Islington. Mary's address was 5 Kingsland Green and Edward's Waterloo House, Kingsland Road.
Two months later on April 26 in St Peter's Church, Walworth, George Henry, a Baker, married the Boss's daughter, Priscilla Harding. George was living at 44 Wellington Street and Priscilla at 73 Rodney Street. Priscilla was born on March 17, 1840 at 90 Great Saffron Hill, Holborn, the daughter of William Harding and his wife, Priscilla (nee Whiter).
A Growing Family
On August 2, 1868 George and Priscilla's daughter, Priscilla Emily, was Christened in the Church of St Philip the Apostle, Camberwell. Priscilla was followed by George Henry Francis on February 6, 1871 at 10 Cross Street, Haggerstone. They were still there several months later at the time of the Census. Around the same time Mary Sampson gave birth to daughter Eliza.
Both families grew in a similar way, Clara Nicholl was born around February 1876 and William Sampson around 1877. They were followed by Kate Florence Nicholl around November 1879, about the same time as Ada Sampson. At the time of the 1881 Census George and his family were living at 80 Clifden Road, Hackney with Priscilla's younger sister, 36 year old Matilda Harding. By this time George had undergone a career change and was working as a Commercial traveller for the Spiced Beef Company.
Mary and William Sampson and their children were at 50 Cromwell Road, Islington. Mary Martha and Edward McCabe were living at 54 Devonshire Road, Islington.
Mary and William Sampson had their daughter, Edith around 1884 and on October 29, 1885 Priscilla Nicholl gave birth to Ernest Algernon. Sadly several months later in the Islington Infirmary, Mary Martha McCabe (Nicholl, Shilcock) passed away. Mary had been living at 100 Offord Road, Holloway.
Come the 1891 Census and George, Priscilla and the children were living at 39 Wyke Road, Stratford, London. George was still a Traveller in German Sausages.
On August 24, 1894 in Old Ford Parish Church, George Henry Francis Nicholl married Charlotte Stiles, a 20 year old Dressmaker and the daughter of Henry and Charlotte Stiles. One of the Witnesses was George's Mother, Priscilla. A year later around October 1895, Charlotte gave birth to baby George Henry.
On May 17, 1896 George Henry Leighton Nicholl died from Sudden General Paralysis. As it was a Sudden Death an Inquest was held on May 20 and the result was a verdict of Death by Natural Causes. But as one door closes ........, around the same time George's daughter, Clara married George Taylor.
June 9, 1897 and at 7 Trego Road, Bow Charlotte Nicholl gave birth to Leighton Nicholl, but sadly he was to die within the year. About the same time Clara Taylor gave birth to Maria. As the Century turned there was another coincidence Clara Taylor had baby George, while on November 20, 1900 at 18 Norton Street, Bethnal Green, Charlotte Nicholl gave birth to Alfred Ernest.
Into a New Century
March 31, 1901 and the Census finds the extended family are all living fairly near to one another. The 59 year old Priscilla, a Monthly Nurse, is with the Hall family at 37 Ordell Road, Bromley by Bow. In what is literally the next street at 52 Mostyn Road are her children Kate, 21 and a Shirt Machinist and Ernest, a 15 year old G.P.O. Messenger. While to the West end of Victoria Park, still at 18 Norton Street are George, Charlotte, young George and Alfred. George is a Painter. About a mile away Clara and George Taylor and family are at 148 Teviot Street, Bromley by Bow.
Priscilla's sister in law and George's aunt, Mary Sampson now 53 and still a Dressmaker is living with 65 year old William, a Commercial Traveller and their children Elizabeth, William, Ada and Edith near Finsbury Park, at 40 Prah Road, Islington.
Mary Martha's second husband, Edward McCabe, now a 68 year old retired Clerk is an Inmate in the St Pancras Workhouse. And across the border into Essex, at 47 Oatland Rise, Walthamstow, James Crawley and his wife Sarah are living with their children, including Sarah, 5 and Lily Louise, 4 months: but more of them later.
From the time of the Census until 1910 it all seems to have been happening. George and Charlotte's family grew to include Frederick James born January 15, 1903, William born July 25,1904 and Albert Edward born August 26,1906 . While Ernest Algernon Nicholl, George's brother, emigrated to Canada where he married Ada Rose Wimhurst. They had their own family of daughters Ethel, Kate and son Leighton.
On January 11, 1911 at 18 Hamilton Street, St Pancras the 78 year old Edward Heron McCabe died from injuries sustained from falling down the steps leading into Kentish Town Road from "Camden Town" station of the London Electric Railway. An Inquest was held on 12 and 17 January and the verdict was "Accidental Death".
Some three months later on April 14, 1911 Charlotte Nicholl gave birth to James at 11 Cambridge Circus, Bethnal Green.
Sadly, although Charlotte and George would break their run of sons in 1913 with the birth of Charlotte, the poor mite died on June 10, 1913 when she was only 13 days old..
The Great War
On May 7, 1914 Charlotte Nicholl died in the Bethnal Green Infirmary. She had been living at 38 Punderson Gardens, Bethnal Green, not far from where her son, George, the informant of her death, was living at 5 Cranshaw Place, Whitechapel.
Perhaps not a real portent of the cataclysm to come, but by the end of the year the War to End All Wars had begun. And with Europe embroiled in war, it was not long before the Empire rallied to Britain's aid. In Canada, Ernest Algernon Nicholl, Telegraph Operator and Carpenter living at 2557 - 46th Avenue, Collingwood, East Vancouver joined the 2nd Signal Company, Canadian Engineers, Canadian Expeditionary Force on February 22, 1915. Across the Atlantic four days later, on the 26 February Ernest and George's mother, the 70 year Priscilla died at 15 Tredegar Road, Bow. The informant was Priscilla's unmarried daughter, Kate. Another week on and George Henry Francis enlisted in the 2nd Garrison Battalion, The Essex Regiment. The next day on March 6, he married the widowed Mary Ann Glover (nee Smith) in the Parish Church of St Stephen, Haggerstone. The couple were living at 35 The Oval, Haggerstone. Mary already had a family of her own and George Henry took on 12 years old Edward Charles Glover as his step-son.
On May 15, 1915 the 2nd Canadian Division Signal Company left Canada for England, arriving on May 24. It is possible that Ernest got Leave to attend his nephew’s wedding on June 9, 1915. Twenty Two year old George Henry Nicholl, a Boot Clicker married the 21 year old Sarah Kathleen Crawley in St Johns Church, Bethnal Green. Bride and Groom were living in Gretton House, Sarah at 114 and George at 116. On September 9 transferred to the CETD at Shorncliffe near Folkestone. On September 14, 1915 the 2nd Canadian Division Signal Company left England for France. Ernest transferred to the 1st Division Signal Company and joined them in France on December 10, 1915. George Henry Francis stayed in England until Christmas 1916 when he was posted to India with the Essex Regiment. He stayed in India until June 10, 1917 when he was posted back to England where he had a further posting to the 1st (Res) Garrison Battalion, The Suffolk Regiment in Gravesend on June 14. Come July 28, 1917 and George was posted to the 15th Battalion, Royal Defence Corps. By now George was suffering from ill-health and after an examination the Medical Board issued their Report, dated November 27, 1917, to say that that George was Physically Unfit. He was discharged on December 18, 1917.
Between April 1918 and September the same year, Ernest was at OTC and on September 13 he was discharged from the Canadian Forces and took up his Commission in the Imperial Army as a 2nd Lieutenant in the RE.
The Armistice came into effect on 11.00, November 11, 1918.
Between the Wars
On November 24, 1928 in Christ Church, Hackney Alfred Ernest Nicholl married Lily Louisa Crawley. Both the Bride and the Groom gave their age as 28 and their address as 521 Cambridge Road. Alfred was an Airman in the RAF and Lily was the sister of Sarah, the wife of Alfred’s brother George. James, the father of Lily and Sarah had died sometime after the 1901 Census and probably after Sarah’s marriage in 1915.
On January 28, 1933 the 38 year old George Henry died at 521 Cambridge Road. Sarah, his widow, lived on at the family home and in the 1934 Post Office Directory of London she is shown as a “Working Tailor”.
By the next year James Nicholl and his step-mother, Mary Ann, had moved to 14 Jersey Road, Leytonstone, E11. On April 16, 1937 at the Parish Church, Chingford, Essex James married Eleanor Marjorie Elizabeth Haselgrove. They were 26 years old, James had had his birthday 2 days earlier. Eleanor was the daughter of Henry Charles Haselgrove, a retired CPO in the Royal Navy, and his wife Eleanor Kate (nee Vaughan). Although there is no record of the death of James’ father, George Henry Francis, he is shown as “deceased”.
The next year on January 21, 1938 Albert Edward Nicholl, a Steel Bender married his sister-in-law Sarah, the widow of George Henry. Sarah is now styled Sarah Catherine, rather than Sarah Kathleen and is shown as a Vest Machinist. Again although there is no record of his death Albert’s father, George Henry Francis is shown as “deceased”.
The Second World War and Afterwards
War was declared on September 1, 1939. Two years later on September 28, 1941 Mary Ann Nicholl, the “widow” of George Henry Francis, died in Whipps Cross Hospital, Leytonstone. Mary Ann had been living at 17 Shortlands Road, Leyton with her step-son, James and his family.
By 1943 Alfred Ernest Nicholl had been promoted to the rank of Warrant Officer and was serving at RAF Padgate, near Warrington. Alfred, Lily and family were living at 89 Fernhead Road, Padgate. On March 19, 1943 Alfred was knocked down by a motor taxi on Carriage Drive, Blackpool. He suffered a fractured lower left leg and was taken to the RAF Station Hospital, RAF Weeton. Unfortunately, complications set in and on March 25 he died from a Fat Embolism. An Inquest was held on March 26 and a Verdict of “Death by Misadventure” was recorded. Alfred was buried in Grave No. 141, Christ Church Churchyard, Padgate. His head stone was erected by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and also carries an inscription in memory of his widow, Lily.
By 1943 Frederick Nicholl had moved to the Glasgow area in Scotland, for during that year, Eleanor, the wife of James, and her two children were evacuated with Frederick and his family for a short period.
By 1949 Albert Edward and Sarah had moved to 43 Brougham Road, Dalston, E8 and on August 21, 1949 Albert died in the Mildmay Mission Hospital, London, E2. Sarah lived on at 43 Brougham Road until April 16, 1966 when she died in her sister’s house at 64 Brougham Road.
James Nicholl died on February 19, 1974 in Whipps Cross Hospital, Leytonstone and the widows Eleanor and Lily died in 1988, Eleanor died at Westcliff on Sea on March 19, three days after her 77th Birthday and the 87 year old Lily died on August 8, in Horley, Surrey.
The Search Goes On
Where did George Henry Leighton Snr come from? Was it his Christening in St Pancras? Was his mother’s Maiden Name Leighton, or Layton?
Did the family break up? Why was he in Gravesend, Kent when he died?
What really happened to George Henry Francis Nicholl?
These questions and others, Dear Readers, is what it’s all about: so come back some time and we may have some answers.
|
