The "Rough Life" of Ellen Bathe (nee Hornsby)

“A very rough life”

This is the tale of a family who went through some desperate times. Much of the information has come from a few contemporary files containing detailed accounts of the events in these people’s lives. As each of these files is referred to several times, it was thought preferable not to give each reference a different number. Thus all references to these files are marked by standard library marks (* † § ¶ etc) while other references have been numbered

“Woman had very rough life” was the succinct comment made in 1911 by Arthur W Goldthorpe, Assistant Clerk for Settlements for Lewisham Poor Law Union*.

He was referring to Ellen Bathe, wife of James Bathe, when he was collecting evidence to show that the cost of James’s treatment at Bexley Asylum should be borne by Bromley Poor Law Union and not by Lewisham.

Goldthorpe’s comment was an understatement; Ellen Bathe had indeed had a very rough life, although it is doubtful if the clerk knew all the details:

·        She lost her father when she was aged six and, despite her mother remarrying, was sent to the Sailors’ Orphan School in Hampstead, away from her brother, sister and her half-siblings.

·        She became an unmarried mother at 20 and had to have her baby in Lewisham Union Workhouse (James was the father).

·        After she and James married, he deserted her on more than one occasion, yet she bore him nine children in all, of whom five died in infancy.

·        Over a period of 20 years, she was forced to seek parish relief in three different Poor Law Unions; she took her children into a workhouse six times in all.

·        Then James was found to be “of unsound mind” or, as Ellen put it, “not right in the head”.

The expression “not right in the head” was one Ellen used several times while giving her evidence to Goldthorpe. She also mentioned James’s attempted suicide in 1897, and his three short spells in prison.

* * *

Although sometimes styled Eleanor in later life, her name at birth was registered as Ellen Hornsby[1] and soon afterwards she was known as Ellen Eliza Hornsby. She was born in Gosport in 1866, the eldest child of Edward Wright Hornsby, a painter, and Ellen (nee Rogers) who had married on Christmas Day 1864[2]. At some point between 1868[3] and 1870[4], the family moved to Aldershot[5] where Edward died in 1872[6].

Three years later, her mother married George Would[7], a plasterer from Greenwich, and by 1880, the family were living in Lee, south east London[8]. In 1881, however, Ellen was a pupil at the Sailors’ Orphan School in Hampstead[9].

* * *

James Bathe was the youngest of five sons of William and Mary Bathe. He was born in Deptford on 5 September 1862 and baptised at St Paul, Deptford, on 19 October[10].

When he was 17 years old, he took a job as a railway porter earning 10 shillings a week, working for the London Brighton & South Coast Railway at Brockley. That was on 23 October 1879. On 15 January 1881, he was transferred from Brockley to London Bridge and his wages were increased to 14 shillings a week. A few weeks later, on 26 February, he was transferred again – to Queens Road Peckham – and his wages raised to 16 shillings, but by the end of the year he had left the railway company[11].

* * *

Ellen’s relationship with James had got off to a rocky start: on 12 April 1887 she had to be admitted to Lewisham workhouse[12] where a daughter was born on 20 June[13]. The child was registered and baptised as Winifred Bathe Hornsby so presumably James acknowledged parentage[14]. Mother and daughter left the workhouse on 11 July[15], but it was not until the following year that Ellen and James were married – on 18 September 1888 at the Church of the Ascension, Blackheath*.

After the marriage, the family was constantly on the move. From January 1890 to November 1891 they were in Bexley Heath*, Sutton-at-Hone[16] and Crayford*, during which time two more children were born – Mary Bathe in 1890[17] and James Edward Bathe in 1891[18]. By then, James’s trade was as a brass finisher, and there were several brass foundries in Dartford which would have been within easy reach of all three places[19].

By the end of 1892, the family was back in Deptford but was destitute. On 15 November, Ellen had to enter Greenwich Union Workhouse with her two youngest children[20]. The next day James joined them[21]. Despite two attempts to restart their lives, it was not until 29 December that they were discharged[22]. While they were in the workhouse, the youngest child – James Edward Bathe, who was just a year old – had to spend a week in the infirmary[23].

Winifred had been with her maternal uncle in Deptford in 1891[24] while the rest of the family were living in Sutton-at-Hone. When Ellen and her other children had to seek parish relief, Winifred was not with them – perhaps she was still with her uncle. On 13 March 1893, the family was living in Lee and Ellen had to take Winifred to Lewisham Infirmary[25]. Winifred died there on 21 March[26], when she was not quite six years old. She was buried at Lee Cemetery[27].

The family was still in Lee when another child – William Horace Charles Bathe – was born in July 1894*[28]. However, in the October of that year, when the oldest two children were admitted to Lucas Street School, their address was given as that of their Bathe grandparents – 45 Oscar Street, Deptford[29].

After the death of James’s parents (his mother died in 1894[30] and his father in 1896[31]), the family lived in various houses in the north Deptford area.

James was a joint executor of the will of his father William and when probate was proved on 16 April 1896, James’s address was given as 17 Czar Street[32]. However, when Patience Bathe was baptised on 2 July that year, the family’s address was given as 17 Trim Street[33]. There was another brass foundry in Deptford and it is possible this was where James found work – his father and older brothers had worked there several years before.

William Bathe’s will, written on 13 November 1895, bequeathed two clocks – one to a friend and one to a sister – but “as to all the residue of my property not hereinbefore disposed of I give devise and bequeath the same unto and equally between my son James Bathe and his wife Eleanor Bathe or such of them as shall survive me.”

The will opened with the bequest: “I give to my grandson William Bathe son of my son James Bathe the Presentation chair given me by the congregation of Saint John’s Church Lewisham High Road after forty years’ service.”

James and Ellen did not inherit a lot of money: the gross value of the whole estate was just £57 19s 6d.

Patience Bathe, born in the summer of 1896, died before the end of the year[34] and the following summer James tried to commit suicide. He was treated first in the Miller Hospital, then in the lunatic ward at Greenwich Union Infirmary, before spending a week in jail (attempted suicide was a crime) and finally, on 18 October, after another three weeks on the lunatic ward, was released on a magistrate’s order to the care of his wife. Ellen’s address at this time was 16 Edward Street[35].

A few months later, the family was in Lewisham, at 18 Court Hill Road, when the two boys were registered at Hither Green School[36] and Mary at Lewisham Bridge School[37].

The following summer, 1898, James deserted Ellen and the three surviving children, who then had to go into Lewisham Union Workhouse[38]. The Board of Guardians applied to the magistrates’ court as James was legally liable for Ellen and her infant children. James was unable to pay maintenance and was jailed for seven days†.

Ellen described this period when she wrote to Bromley Union Guardians about six years later†:

“My husband [is] a thoroug bad man. He has brought me to this place under false pretences. He belongs to Lewisham but he is afraid that the guardians will make him work hard there for they had to put him in prison for deserting me and 3 children and while he was in prison I found out he lived with another woman a widow and when he robbed her of all she was worth he came back to me and I forgave him thinking he would be better but he has been worse still… He has never been a father to my children for he spend the best part of his wages in drink and other women.”

Ellen and the children were in Lewisham Workhouse for just four days in 1898[39] and when they left they had to find a new home in Catford. Ellen was to have another child – Esther Margaret Bathe – early the next year[40] but, once again, the family became destitute and Ellen had to take the children – including the baby – back into the workhouse for six days in May 1899[41]. Later the same year, the baby Esther died[42].

At the beginning of 1900, Ellen and the surviving children were once again in the workhouse – but only for four days[43]. Soon afterwards, another baby – Eleanor – was born but she lived only a short while[44].

By then, James had become a general labourer, although sometimes he still gave his trade as brass finisher.

In 1901, James took the family into Bromley where they became caretakers for a firm of Bromley estate agents, Baker Payne & Lepper*, although it would appear that it was Ellen who looked after the properties while James became a house painter. Over the next ten years they lived in a number of different houses in Bromley, Chislehurst and St Mary Cray.

The Old Bakery, Chislehurst, with coach house on right - Photo courtesy of Abigail Aish

Ellen gave birth to yet another child – on 1 May 1902, so the baby was named May – in Chislehurst[45] but a few months later – on 4 August – James was involved in a fracas and jailed for assault[46].

He had had an argument with Stanley Mitchell, the 22-year-old son of his landlord, James Mitchell, who was also the village baker. Under the headline “Chislehurst Shopkeeper Assaulted”, a newspaper report of the time states[47]:

James Bathe, the occupier of some rooms off High Street, Chislehurst, pleaded justification for assaulting Stanley Mitchell, shopkeeper, High Street, Chislehurst, on Monday evening. – Prosecutor stated that prisoner occupied some rooms over his coachhouse, and as his conduct on Bank Holiday night occasioned annoyance to people in the shop prosecutor spoke to him, and in return received some threats, followed by two blows in the face. – A witness who was in the shop corroborated. – Prisoner admitted the assault, and was fined 10s. and costs, or seven days’.

The Mitchell family c 1902 with, circled in the back row, Stanley Mitchell who was assaulted by James Bathe, and circled seated, James Mitchell, the landlord Photo courtesy of Abigail Aish

The costs were 5s 6d and clearly James did not pay as he spent seven days in prison and Ellen had to take the children into Bromley Union Workhouse at Locksbottom◊.

James was beginning to show signs of mental problems and on 20 November 1903, he was admitted to the Locksbottom Workhouse Infirmary◊. The records seem to indicate that Ellen was admitted to the infirmary as well while the four children went into the workhouse itself. However, the admissions entry may have been wrong regarding Ellen – the entry already had one error: it gave her name as Mary.

In her evidence to Goldthorpe in 1911, Ellen said that while he was in Locksbottom Infirmary, James was diagnosed with “an abscess on the brain”*. However, his case notes when at Barming Heath Lunatic Asylum at the end of 1911 recorded that he had had the abscess on the brain since childhood and that it originated from measles§.

Ellen and the two girls left the workhouse at Locksbottom on 2 February 1904 – presumably Ellen was looking for work, but had to return that evening◊.

In June, there was some correspondence between Ellen and the Guardians and between James and the Matron. It would appear that Ellen wanted to take the children to a farm in St Mary Cray, but James wanted the family to stay in the Workhouse.

Some of Ellen’s letter has already been quoted, but it is worth repeating it in full† [Pea-Bee’s note: the letters have been punctuated to make them more intelligible but the spelling is as written]

Farnborough Kent

Dear Sir

I am writing to you in respect to a man named Bathe an inmate of the Union. He is my husband but a thoroug bad man. He has brought me to this place under false pretences. He belongs to Lewisham but he is afraid that the guardians will make him work hard there for they had to put him in prison for deserting me and 3 children and while he was in prison I found out he lived with another woman a widow and when he robbed her of all she was worth he came back to me and I forgave him thinking he would be better but he has been worse still.

He has been ill in Lewisham Union 3 times. We have only been in Bromley 3 years. He has never been a father to my children for he spend the best part of his wages in drink and other women. He has even tried to decoy a young woman in here to go out with him named Mary Saunders and I do not wish to live with him any longer.

I have asked him to go out and look for work but he says he has got hardened to the place and don’t care what becomes of us.

He has been in prison for knocking my Landlord son about and got us turned out of doors in Bromley so I am going to see the magistrate this morning.

He has detained my children from coming with me to try and get a little home together again. If I do not succede I shall come before you tomorrow to ask you for my children. I have got good characters to shew you I have worked for all my children.

The master & matron persuade him to stop because he is painting thire apartments. They give him tobacco and good food. He would never take me out they seem to take his part.

He sent me a note to go out and try and get some money off my lady were I have worked last Monday. He wanted to take me to a lodging house for 2 nights and get my neighbours to mind the children but I got work instead and that is why he is upset.

I hope I shall meet with your favour from Yours Humbly, Mrs Bathe

James’s response to this was¶:

Mr Bathe respectfully to the Matron

Madam

I beg that you will pardon the liberty I have taken of writing to humbly ask your advice as to how I can act with regard My Wife’s proposal especially as I feel that my daughter Mary could not be in better hands as regards care and training. My Wife informs me that she intends discharging herself and the four children for Monday. She informed me that she had got work on a Farm at the Cray as also a home for the children on the farm I feel that this is a mistake and the home consists of a Shed with straw for sleeping. I have wrote to her on the matter failing to get a satisfactory reply. I lay the Matter before you as also my wife’s note to me. I had better state that I thought you would not let her take the children the word She means you in her reply, as I am strongly against my children being brought to fruit picking and Farm work. I humbly ask as a parent that you will kindly help me in this matter. I feel quite quite upset at My Wife’s action and order the four children to remain here with me until I as their father can see better prospects open up for them and me, especially my youngest baby who I am dearly fond of I feel that out door life would soon compleete our case of trouble trusting you will kindly help me in this matter

I am, Dear Madam, Yours obediently, Mr J Bathe, Inmate

Ellen discharged herself on Monday 13 June 1904◊. The next day, all four children were discharged to her care◊. Two days later, James discharged himself◊, but did not, it would appear, join his family.

In his report of 1911, Goldthorpe wrote that “on his leaving the Workhouse he did not rejoin his wife and family outside but went away for 9 months”*. Goldthorpe noted that it was possible that James was again cohabiting with another woman.

When he eventually returned to the family, Ellen took James back yet again, and on 11 September 1906, their ninth child – Elsie – was born at 3 Beech Tree Row, St Mary Cray[48]. James was then described as a journeyman house painter. Like so many of their other children, Elsie died in infancy, in 1907[49].

* * *

On 3 July 1911, James “was found wandering at Brockley by Police” on the day “he had run way from home after being in bed, queer, a week. Was undoubtedly wrong in his head & has been for many years,” according to Goldthorpe’s report*. The Police took him to Lewisham Infirmary where he was detained for 14 days for assessment before being sent to Bexley Asylum‡.

Lawson Elder, PC CID, of Brockley Road Police Station said‡: “He was found wandering in Brockley Road with his coat off. He was very excited and stated that two men were following him with long knives to kill him. He could not give any account of himself. He appeared quite lost. He mumbled continually and was in a very weak state of health.”

When Goldthorpe questioned Ellen about where the family had lived – specifically to find out where James was in the years prior to his admission to the lunatic asylum – she was “rather hazy”.

It was from the family home at 26 Nichol Lane, Bromley, that James had wandered, and they had been there since at least the previous April when the census was taken[50], and Ellen gave a figure of six months (ie since January) for Goldthorpe’s report form*.

Their eldest daughter, Mary, had got married at the summer of 1910[51] and she and her husband went to live at 18 Nichol Lane about the same time[52].

Before Nichol Lane the family had been “18 months” at 8A Howard Road, Bromley, taking the dating back to Summer 1909.

Ellen said their previous home had been 2 Addison Road, Bromley Common, where they had “half a house under the Jarrads”, a family that later moved to Barming. The Bathe family were there for “2 or 3 years” bringing the dating back to 1906 or 1907. Certainly Ellen was in St Mary Cray in 1906 when Elsie was born.

Ellen was particularly “hazy as to dates” when it came to their homes before Addison Road. Goldthorpe believed that it was from Addison Road that the family had entered the workhouse, but that was several years earlier – and there was also the nine months gap during James’s desertion of his family.

Earlier, they had been “not long” at a house called Ferndale, in Cobden Road, Farnborough, but before that, Ellen said, they had been caretakers for Baxter Payne & Lepper “for about 10 years” including over a year at Abbey Lodge, Lubbock Road, Chislehurst and before that a period at Bromley House, Broadway, Bromley. That appears to be all she could remember, and Goldthorpe noted she was “mixed up here” and he would see if a list of addresses had been kept by BPL. Unfortunately the firm did not keep lists of caretakers and the clerk who would have had dealings with the Bathe family had left the firm and nobody currently working there knew anything about them*.

Some clue as to the Bathe’s work for BPL can be gained from the history of Abbey Lodge. This five-storey mansion had been occupied by Colonel Hugh Adams Silver but the family had moved away in 1903 and it seems the house lay vacant for many years[53].

Before then, at the time of the 1901 census, the family were at 82 Beckenham Lane, Bromley[54].

* * *

After James was assessed as being of unsound mind on 5 July 1911‡, he remained at Lewisham Infirmary until 18 July when he was admitted to the London County Asylum at Bexley Heath, where his niece, Ada Esther Bathe, was also a patient[55].

In August it was decided that the cost of his care should be paid for by Bromley Poor Law Union rather than Lewisham* and on 7 October, he was transferred to the Kent County Asylum at Barming Heath‡. His case notes begin by noting: “Mother, aunt & nieces insane”.

Ø  James’s mother was suffering from aphasia – that is, had problems with speaking and understanding other people – when she died, aged 72[56]. Any damage to the language areas of the brain can result in aphasia, including strokes, trauma, tumours and dementia. Her death was certified by the local GP, Dr Alfred Kirby. He gave the death as aphasia and senectus, or old age, a catch-all description which some doctors used because, although they believed there may have been some underlying condition, the patient was too frail for further investigation.

Ø  James’s niece Ada Bathe was first declared insane on 28 February 1902[57]. She was excited, restless, inclined to be hysterical, and saw visions. She was sent to the London County Asylum at Cane Hill but was later discharged. She was certified again in 1904[58] and again on 28 January 1905[59] after which she was confined at Bexley Heath until her death in 1918[60]. Her symptoms would suggest that she was suffering from schizophrenia. 

Ø  As to the aunt and any other nieces, nothing is known: there were four paternal aunts, three maternal aunts and five other nieces – but there is no evidence that any of them suffered insanity.

James’s case notes§ continued by saying he had had painter’s colic and venereal disease. “Painter’s colic”, a form of chronic lead poisoning, could produce short-term memory loss, depression, nausea, abdominal pain, loss of coordination, and numbness and tingling in the extremities as well as fatigue, problems with sleep, headaches, stupor, slurred speech, and anaemia.

However, his mental problems were more likely to have been associated with the abscess on his brain that he had had since childhood, as the result of an attack of measles. The measles virus can give rise to various conditions of the brain, including, for example, encephalitis, which in turn can also lead to memory loss, epilepsy, personality and behavioural changes, problems with attention, concentration, planning and problem solving, and fatigue.

James’s mental state when he arrived at Barming Heath in October 1911 was assessed by Norman Walters Stevens, a young medical officer at the Asylum. He said§: “Patient talks sensibly & answers questions put to him readily & well. Tells me he was taken to Bexley Heath Asylum, because he was found wandering about in a dazed condition by the Police. They afterwards told him that he said that two men were following him with long knives. He attributed this confused state to worry from being out of work & want of food. Says that he has not had a fit since he was admitted into Bexley Heath Asylum. He has not had a fit since he was admitted here. He is very civil & polite.”

James continued to be quiet, sensible and well behaved and, from early December, was allowed out of the Asylum to work. On 5 January, he left the Asylum on trial and a month later was discharged “recovered”§.

* * *

It is not known whether he returned to Ellen immediately on his discharge from Barming Heath, but in the electoral rolls for 1918 and 1919, James and Ellen were at 18 Dacre Street, Lee – their son William was still in the army and appeared at that address as an absent voter[61].

It would seem, however, that about this time, Ellen eventually gave up on James and left him for good. From 1921 until his death in 1933, James was a lodger at a house at 23 St John’s Road, Deptford, renting from a widow called Charlotte Millman[62]. While it is not clear where Ellen was initially, by 1931 she was living in Walthamstow[63] with her daughter May and her husband Reginald Peacham who she had married in 1925 in Lewisham[64].

James died, aged 68, in the Greenwich Workhouse on Woolwich Road on 30 January 1933, although his residence was given as 23 St John’s Road. He was described as a retired cable hand. The cause of death was certified as myocardial failure and arteriosclerosis[65].

In 1931[66], Ellen sailed to Canada to visit her other daughter, Mary. Ellen stayed in Canada for six or seven weeks and on her return took up residence again with May and Reginald Peacham, initially in Finchley and later in Edmonton until about 1936[67].

The Peachams then moved down to Hollington, near Hastings[68] – where Reginald originally came from – and it is believed Ellen went with them. She was buried at St Leonard’s, Hollington, on 11 June 1939[69], although her death was registered in Walsingham, Norfolk[70].

* * *

Of James and Ellen’s children who reached adulthood;

Ø  Mary married Alec Robert Ince in 1910[71] and had two sons before Alec emigrated to Canada in April 1914[72]. Mary sailed with the children to join him on 15 September 1914[73], but within days of their arrival the younger child died of phosphorus poisoning[74]. The couple had at least two more children in Canada[75].

Ø  James Edward Bathe married Margaret Alice Ledden (1893-1982) at the end of 1913[76]. During the First World War, James served with a motor transport unit of the Army Service Corps, reaching the rank of corporal[77], and after the war became a motor mechanic, running the Picton House Garage in Lee High Road from about 1922 until 1959[78]. He and Margaret had three children[79] and he died in 1972[80].

Ø  William Horace Charles Bathe also served in motor transport with the ASC during the war[81]. He married Lilian Davies (1897-1985) in 1920[82] and the couple had two children: the first, Christopher William J Bathe, was born in October 1920 but died a year later[83]. Their second child, Eva Marjorie Bathe, was born a few weeks after her brother died[84]. She was married in 1945 and died in 2002[85]. William died in the Brook Hospital on 13 April 1959[86].

Ø  May, who married Reginald Peacham (1900-1977), had two children[87] and died in Hastings in 1987[88].

References:

* London Metropolitan Archives: Lewisham Board of Guardians: Orders of Removal Outwards 1911. Ref: LEBG/183/31 (Ancestry images 314-328)

† London Borough of Bromley Archives: Bromley Poor Law Union: In-letter Book, general. Ref: 846GBy/A/C/a/2/48

¶ London Borough of Bromley Archives: Bromley Poor Law Union: In-letter Book, general. Ref: 846GBy/A/C/a/2/49

◊ London Borough of Bromley Archives: Bromley Poor Law Union: Admissions & Discharges Ref: 846GBy/W/R/a/14 (for 1902) and 846GBy/W/R/a/15 (for 1903/4)

§ Kent County Archives: Barming Heath Asylum: Case Notes, 1910-1913. Ref: MH/Md2/Ap25/61

‡ Kent County Archives: Barming Heath Asylum: Reception Order. Ref: MH/Md2/Ap28/217

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[1] England & Wales, FreeBMD Birth Index, 1837-1915 Alverstoke Q1 1866 Vol 2b p507 (via Ancestry.com)

[2] England & Wales, FreeBMD Marriage Index, 1837-1915 Alverstoke Q4 1864 Vol 2b p872 (via Ancestry.com)

[3] England & Wales, FreeBMD Birth Index, 1837-1915 Alverstoke Q1 1868 Vol 2b p525 (via Ancestry.com)

[4] England & Wales, FreeBMD Birth Index, 1837-1915 Farnham Q3 1870 Vol 2a p101 (via Ancestry.com); Surrey History Centre, Anglican Parish Registers Ref: ALDM/3/3 (Ancestry.com Surrey, England, Baptisms, 1813-1912 Aldershot, St Michael the Archangel 1864-1872 image 43)

[5] 1871 England Census Class: RG10; Piece: 817; Folio: 47; Page: 27; GSU roll: 827758 (Ancestry.com 1871 England Census Hampshire>Aldershot>District 9 image 29)

[6] England & Wales, FreeBMD Death Index, 1837-1915 Farnham Q3 1872 Vol 2a p60 (via Ancestry.com); Surrey History Centre, Anglican Parish Registers Ref: ALDM/4/2 (Ancestry.com Surrey, England, Burials, 1813-1987 Aldershot, St Michael the Archangel 1870-1953 image 20)

[7] England & Wales, FreeBMD Marriage Index, 1837-1915 Alverstoke Q1 1875 Vol 2b p684 (via Ancestry.com)

[8] England & Wales, FreeBMD Birth Index, 1837-1915 Lewisham Q2 1880 Vol 1d p1103 (via Ancestry.com); London Metropolitan Archives, Lewisham St Mary, Register of Baptism, P86/mry, Item 012 (Ancestry.com London Births & Baptisms 1813-1906, St Mary Lewisham 1880 image 10); 1881 England Census Class: RG11; Piece: 729; Folio: 111; Page: 20; GSU roll: 1341170 (Ancestry.com 1881 England Census London>Lewisham>Lee>District 5 image 22)

[9] 1881 England Census Class: RG11; Piece: 167; Folio: 64; Page: 16; GSU roll: 1341036 (Ancestry.com 1881 England Census London>St Johns Hampstead> District 7 image 17)

[10] England & Wales, FreeBMD Birth Index, 1837-1915 Greenwich Q4 1862 Vol 1d p573 (via Ancestry.com); London Metropolitan Archives, Deptford St Paul, Register of Baptism, p75/pau, Item 012 (Ancestry.com London Births & Baptisms 1813-1906, Lewisham, St Paul, Deptford 1862 image 32)

[11] Ancestry.com. UK, Railway Employment Records, 1833-1956 London Brighton & South Coast Railway, Traffic Appointments 1838-1884 Piece: 775 images 95, 233, 328

[12] London Metropolitan Archives: Board of Guardians records: Ref LeBG/198/26 (Ancestry.com London, Workhouse Admission and Discharge Records, 1659-1930 Lewisham>Lewisham>Lewisham High Street Workhouse 1886-1887 image 168)

[13] London Metropolitan Archives: Board of Guardians records: Ref LeBG/198/26 (Ancestry.com London, Workhouse Admission and Discharge Records, 1659-1930 Lewisham>Lewisham>Lewisham High Street Workhouse 1886-1887 image 210)

[14] England & Wales, FreeBMD Birth Index, 1837-1915 Lewisham Q3 1887 Vol 1d p1123 (via Ancestry.com); London Metropolitan Archives, Lewisham St Mary, Register of Baptism, p86/mry, Item 014 (Ancestry.com London Births & Baptisms 1813-1906, Lewisham, St Mary, 1887 image 12)

[15] London Metropolitan Archives: Board of Guardians records: Ref LeBG/198/26 (Ancestry.com London, Workhouse Admission and Discharge Records, 1659-1930 Lewisham>Lewisham>Lewisham High Street Workhouse 1886-1887 image 224)

[16] 1891 England Census Class: RG12; Piece: 641; Folio: 22; Page: 38; GSU roll: 6095751 (Ancestry.com 1891 England Census Kent>Sutton at Hone> District 11 image 39)

[17] England & Wales, FreeBMD Birth Index, 1837-1915 Dartford Q1 1890 Vol 2a p476 (via Ancestry.com)

[18] England & Wales, FreeBMD Birth Index, 1837-1915 Dartford Q4 1891 Vol 2a p461 (via Ancestry.com)

[19] 1899 Kelly’s Directory for Kent (via Ancestry.com image 828)

[20] London Metropolitan Archives: Board of Guardians records: Ref GBG/250/23 (Ancestry.com London, Workhouse Admission and Discharge Records, 1659-1930 Greenwich>Greenwich>Workhouse (Institution) Woolwich Road 1892-1893 image 267)

[21] London Metropolitan Archives: Board of Guardians records: Ref GBG/250/23 (Ancestry.com London, Workhouse Admission and Discharge Records, 1659-1930 Greenwich>Greenwich>Workhouse (Institution) Woolwich Road 1892-1893 image 267)

[22] London Metropolitan Archives: Board of Guardians records: Ref GBG/250/23 (Ancestry.com London, Workhouse Admission and Discharge Records, 1659-1930 Greenwich>Greenwich>Workhouse (Institution) Woolwich Road 1892-1893 image 322)

[23] London Metropolitan Archives: Board of Guardians records: Ref GBG/250/23 (Ancestry.com London, Workhouse Admission and Discharge Records, 1659-1930 Greenwich>Greenwich>Workhouse (Institution) Woolwich Road 1892-1893 images 282, 287)

[24] 1891 England Census Class: RG12; Piece: 495; Folio: 136; Page: 43; GSU roll: 6095605 (Ancestry.com 1891 England Census London>St Paul, Deptford> District 9 image 44)

[25] London Metropolitan Archives: Board of Guardians records: Ref LeBG/198/32 (Ancestry.com London, Workhouse Admission and Discharge Records, 1659-1930 Lewisham>Lewisham> Lewisham High Street Workhouse 1892-1893 image 136)

[26] London Metropolitan Archives: Board of Guardians records: Ref LeBG/198/32 (Ancestry.com London, Workhouse Admission and Discharge Records, 1659-1930 Lewisham>Lewisham> Lewisham High Street Workhouse 1892-1893 image 143); England & Wales, FreeBMD Death Index, 1837-1915 Lewisham Q1 1893 Vol 1d p774 (via Ancestry.com)

[27] London Metropolitan Archives: Board of Guardians records: Ref LEBG/201/001 Ancestry.com London, London Deaths and Burials 1813-1980 Lewisham>Lewisham>1893 image 1)

[28] England & Wales, FreeBMD Birth Index, 1837-1915 Lewisham Q3 1894 Vol 1d p1096 (via Ancestry.com)

[29] London Metropolitan Archives: School Admissions and Discharges 1840-1911 Ref LCC/EO/DIV06/LUC/AD/007 (Ancestry.com London School Admissions and Discharges, 1840-1911  Lewisham>Lucas Street School>Admission & Discharge Register for Infants image 75)

[30] England & Wales, FreeBMD Death Index, 1837-1915 Greenwich Q4 1894 Vol 1d p5568 (via Ancestry.com)

[31] England & Wales, FreeBMD Death Index, 1837-1915 Cricklade Q1 1896 Vol 5a p25 (via Ancestry.com)

[32] Principal Probate Registry: Calendar of the Grants of Probate and Letters of Administration made in the Probate Registries of the High Court of Justice in England (Ancestry.com England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1966 1896>B>Ba image 54); Bathe private papers: Last Will of William Bathe 13 Nov 1895, probate grant 16 Apr 1896

[33] London Metropolitan Archives: Hatcham St James, Register of Baptism, p75/js1, Item 049 p2 (Ancestry.com London Births & Baptisms 1813-1906 Lewisham>St James, Hatcham>1896 image 10)

[34] England & Wales, FreeBMD Birth Index, 1837-1915 Greenwich Q3 1896 Vol 1d p1063; England & Wales, FreeBMD Death Index, 1837-1915  Greenwich Q4 1896 Vol 1d p584 (via Ancestry.com)

[35] London Metropolitan Archives: Board of Guardians records: Ref GBG/220/027 and /028 (Ancestry.com London, Workhouse Admission and Discharge Records, 1659-1930 Greenwich> Greenwich > Admissions & Discharge> Hospital and Infirmary, Vanburgh Hill, SE10, 1897 images 109, 132, 141; 1897-8 image 11)

[36] London Metropolitan Archives: School Admissions and Discharges 1840-1911 Ref LCC/EO/DIV07/HIT/AD/010 (Ancestry.com London School Admissions and Discharges, 1840-1911  Lewisham>Hither Green School>Admission & Discharge Register for Infants image 1)

[37] London Metropolitan Archives: School Admissions and Discharges 1840-1911 Ref LCC/EO/DIV07/LEW/AD/003 (Ancestry.com London School Admissions and Discharges, 1840-1911  Lewisham>Lewisham Bridge School>Admission & Discharge Register for Girls image 19)

[38] London Metropolitan Archives: Board of Guardians records: Ref LEBG/198/39 (Ancestry.com London, Workhouse Admission and Discharge Records, 1659-1930 Lewisham> Lewisham > Admissions & Discharge> Lewisham High Street Workhouse, 1898-1899 image 114)

[39] London Metropolitan Archives: Board of Guardians records: Ref LEBG/198/39 (Ancestry.com London, Workhouse Admission and Discharge Records, 1659-1930 Lewisham> Lewisham > Admissions & Discharge> Lewisham High Street Workhouse, 1898-1899 image 117)

[40] England & Wales, FreeBMD Birth Index, 1837-1915 Lewisham Q2 1899 Vol 1d p1173 (via Ancestry.com)

[41] London Metropolitan Archives: Board of Guardians records: Ref LEBG/198/40 (Ancestry.com London, Workhouse Admission and Discharge Records, 1659-1930 Lewisham> Lewisham > Admissions & Discharge> Lewisham High Street Workhouse, 1899-1900 images 51, 53, 54, 56)

[42] England & Wales, FreeBMD Death Index, 1837-1915 Lewisham Q3 1899 Vol 1d p827 (via Ancestry.com)

[43] London Metropolitan Archives: Board of Guardians records: Ref LEBG/198/40 (Ancestry.com London, Workhouse Admission and Discharge Records, 1659-1930 Lewisham> Lewisham > Admissions & Discharge> Lewisham High Street Workhouse, 1899-1900 images 194, 196, 197)

[44] England & Wales, FreeBMD Birth Index, 1837-1915 Lewisham Q2 1900 Vol 1d p1149; England & Wales, FreeBMD Death Index, 1837-1915 Lewisham Q2 1900 Vol 1d p642 (via Ancestry.com)

[45] England & Wales, FreeBMD Birth Index, 1837-1915 Bromley Q2 1902 Vol 2a p526 (via Ancestry.com)

[46] London Borough of Bromley Archives: Register of Court 1, Bromley Magistrates’s Court, 5 August 1902 (ref 788/1/13)

[47] Bromley & District Times, 8 August 1902, p2

[48] England & Wales, FreeBMD Birth Index, 1837-1915 Bromley Q4 1906 Vol 2a p540 (via Ancestry.com)

[49] England & Wales, FreeBMD Death Index, 1837-1915 Southwark Q3 1907 Vol 1d p14 (via Ancestry.com)

[50] 1911 England Census Class: RG14; Piece: 3633; Schedule Number: 239 (Ancestry.com 1911 England Census Kent>Bromley> District 4 image 484)

[51] England & Wales, FreeBMD Marriage Index, 1837-1915 Bromley Q3 1910 Vol 2a p1155 (via Ancestry.com)

[52] 1911 England Census Class: RG14; Piece: 3633; Schedule Number: 222 (Ancestry.com 1911 England Census Kent>Bromley> District 4 image 450)

[53] www.bromleyfirstworldwar.org.uk/content/places/abbey-lodge-vad-hospital-chislehurst

[54] 1901 England Census Class: RG13; Piece: 682; Folio: 85; Page: 9 (Ancestry.com 1901 England Census Kent>Bromley> District 9 image 10)

[55] Lunacy Patients Admission Registers; Class: MH 94; Piece: 40 (Ancestry.com UK Lunacy Patients Admission Registers County Asylums and hospitals piece 40: 1905 image 40)

[56] England & Wales, FreeBMD Death Index, 1837-1915 Greenwich Q4 1894 Vol 1d p5568 (via Ancestry.com)

[57] London Metropolitan Archives: Board of Guardians; Lunatics, 1898-1902; Ref: LEBG/196/008 p74 (Ancestry.com London Poor Law and Board of Guardians 1430-1930 Lewisham>Lewisham>Register of Lunatics 1898-1902 image 88); London Metropolitan Archives: Board of Guardians; Lunatics, 1899-1905; Ref: LEBG/190 p48 (Ancestry.com London Poor Law and Board of Guardians 1430-1930 Lewisham>Lewisham>Register of Lunatics 1899-1905 image 71); London Metropolitan Archives: Board of Guardians; Lunatics, 1900-1902; Reference Number: LEBG/193/012 p173 (Ancestry.com London Poor Law and Board of Guardians 1430-1930 Lewisham>Lewisham>Register of Lunatics 1900-1902 image 206); London Metropolitan Archives: Board of Guardians; Lunatics, 1901-1905; Ref: LEBG/194/010 p40 (Ancestry.com London Poor Law and Board of Guardians 1430-1930 Lewisham>Lewisham>Register of Lunatics 1901-1905 image 70)

[58] London Metropolitan Archives: Board of Guardians; Lunatics, 1901-1905; Ref: LEBG/194/010 p158 (Ancestry.com London Poor Law and Board of Guardians 1430-1930 Lewisham>Lewisham>Register of Lunatics 1901-1905 image 193)

[59] London Metropolitan Archives: Board of Guardians; Lunatics, 1901-1905; Ref: LEBG/194/010 p179 (Ancestry.com London Poor Law and Board of Guardians 1430-1930 Lewisham>Lewisham>Register of Lunatics 1901-1905 image 214); London Metropolitan Archives: Board of Guardians; Lunatics, 1899-1905; Ref: LEBG/190 p92 (Ancestry.com London Poor Law and Board of Guardians 1430-1930 Lewisham>Lewisham>Register of Lunatics 1899-1905 image 119)

[60] England & Wales, Death Index, 1916-2007 Dartford Q3 1918 Vol 2a p681 (via Ancestry.com); Lunacy Patients Admission Registers; Class: MH 94; Piece: 40 (Ancestry.com UK Lunacy Patients Admission Registers County Asylums and hospitals piece 40: 1905 image 40)

[61] London Metropolitan Archives: Electoral Registers 1918  Lewisham No 9 Polling District (I) Church Ward Div 1 ref LCC/PGR/B/1563 p17 (Ancestry.com London, Electoral Registers, 1832-1965 Lewisham>Lewisham 1918 image 458); London Metropolitan Archives: Electoral Registers 1919  Lewisham No 9 Polling District (I) Church Ward Div 1 ref LCC/PGR/B/1599 p17 (Ancestry.com London, Electoral Registers, 1832-1965 Lewisham>Lewisham 1919 image 1507); London Metropolitan Archives: Electoral Registers 1918  Lewisham No 9 Polling District (I) Church Ward Div 1 ref LCC/PGR/B/1563  p38 (Ancestry.com London, Electoral Registers, 1832-1965 Lewisham>Lewisham 1918 image 479)

[62] London Metropolitan Archives: Electoral Registers 1921 Chelsea & Deptford Polling District “H” South East Ward No 1 ref LCC/PGR/B/1667 p36 (Ancestry.com London, Electoral Registers, 1832-1965 London>Chelsea and Deptford 1921 image 499)

[63] Board of Trade: Commercial and Statistical Department and successors: Outwards Passenger Lists. BT27 (Ancestry.com UK Outward Passengers 1880-1960 Southampton>1931>month 7 image 124)

[64] England & Wales, Marriage Index, 1916-2007 Lewisham Q3 1925 Vol 2a p681 (via Ancestry.com)

[65] England & Wales, Death Index, 1916-2007 Greenwich Q1 1933 Vol 1d p1321 (via Ancestry.com)

[66] Board of Trade: Commercial and Statistical Department and successors: Outwards Passenger Lists. BT27 (Ancestry.com UK Outward Passengers 1880-1960 Southampton>1931>month 7 image 124); Library and Archives Canada: Passenger Lists (Ancestry.com Canadian Passenger Lists 1865-1935 Quebec>1931>month 7 image 421); Board of Trade: Commercial and Statistical Department and successors: Inwards Passenger Lists (Ancestry.com UK, Incoming Passenger Lists, 1878-1960 London>1931>month 9 image 23)

[67] London Metropolitan Archives: Electoral Registers 1933 Finchley Polling District H Church Street Ward ref MR/PGR/C/0538 p6 (Ancestry.com London, Electoral Registers, 1832-1965 Barnet>Finchley 1933 image 286)

[68] Hastings and St Leonards Observer 24 September 1938 (via findmypast.com)

[69] National Burial Index for England & Wales (via findmypast.com)

[70] England & Wales, Death Index, 1916-2007 Walsingham Q1 1939 Vol 2b p160 (via Ancestry.com)

[71] England & Wales, FreeBMD Marriage Index, 1837-1915 Bromley Q3 1910 Vol 2a p1155 (via Ancestry.com)

[72] Board of Trade: Commercial and Statistical Department and successors: Outwards Passenger Lists. BT27 (Ancestry.com UK Outward Passengers 1880-1960 Southampton>1914>month 4 image 3)

[73] Board of Trade: Commercial and Statistical Department and successors: Outwards Passenger Lists. BT27 (Ancestry.com UK Outward Passengers 1880-1960 London>1914>month 9 image 69)

[74] Archives of Ontario; Series: MS935; Reel: 195 p33 (Ancestry.com. Ontario, Canada, Deaths, 1869-1938 and Deaths Overseas, 1939-1947 York>1914 image 900)

[75] 1921 Census of Canada Ref: RG 31; Folder Number: 101; Census Place: York (Township), York South, Ontario; Page Number: 7 (Ancestry.com 1921 Census of Canada Ontario>York South>37 York (Township) image 8)

[76] England & Wales, FreeBMD Marriage Index, 1837-1915 Bromley 1913 Q4 Vol 2a p1048 (via Ancestry.com)

[77] WWI Service Medal and Award Rolls; Class: WO 329; Piece Number: 2006 (Ancestry.com UK, WWI Service Medal and Award Rolls, 1914-1920 Royal Army Service Corps>Piece 2006 image 80)

[78] London Metropolitan Archives: Electoral Registers 1922 Lewisham Polling District 9 (I) Church Ward ref LCC/PER/B/1700 p52 (Ancestry.com London, Electoral Registers, 1832-1965 Lewisham>Lewisham 1922 image 359); London Metropolitan Archives: Electoral Registers 1922 Lewisham Polling District NC Blackheath &  Church Lee Ward ref LCC/PER/B/2695 p8 (Ancestry.com London, Electoral Registers, 1832-1965 Lewisham>Lewisham North 1959 image 25)

[79] England & Wales, Birth Index, 1837-1915 Bromley Q4 1914 Vol 2a p993; England & Wales, Birth Index, 1916-2007 Lewisham Q2 1918 Vol 1d p1491; England & Wales, Birth Index, 1916-2007 Lewisham Q2 1921 Vol 1d p2018 (via Ancestry.com)

[80] England & Wales, Death Index, 1916-2007 Chelsea Q3 1972 Vol 5a p2002 (via Ancestry.com)

[81] WWI Service Medal and Award Rolls; Class: WO 329; Piece Number: 2001 (Ancestry.com UK, WWI Service Medal and Award Rolls, 1914-1920 Royal Army Service Corps>Piece 2001 image 278)

[82] England & Wales, Marriage Index, 1916-2005 Lewisham Q2 1920 Vol 1d p2473 (via Ancestry.com)

[83] England & Wales, Birth Index, 1916-2005 Lewisham Q4 1920 Vol 1d p2005; England & Wales, Death Index, 1916-2005 Lewisham Q3 1921 Vol 1d p947(via Ancestry.com); London Metropolitan Archives: Board of Guardians records: Ref LeBG/206 Lewisham Infirmary Steward’s Death Register (Ancestry.com London, Deaths & Burials, 1659-1930 Lewisham>Lewisham> 1921 image 31)

[84] England & Wales, Birth Index, 1916-2005 Lewisham Q4 1921 Vol 1d p1855 (via Ancestry.com)

[85] England & Wales, Marriage Index, 1916-2005 Woolwich Q2 1945 Vol 1d p2012; England & Wales, Death Index, 1916-2005 Ashford with Shepway Q4 2002 AS12B 5581B 81 (via Ancestry.com)

[86] England & Wales, Death Index, 1916-2005 Greenwich Q2 1959 Vol 5c p453 (via Ancestry.com); Principal Probate Registry: Calendar of the Grants of Probate and Letters of Administration made in the Probate Registries of the High Court of Justice in England 1959 p226 (Ancestry.com England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1966 1959>B>Ba image 114)

[87] England & Wales, Birth Index, 1916-2005 Lewisham Q3 1926 Vol 1d p1445; England & Wales, Birth Index, 1916-2005 Edmonton Q3 1933 Vol 3a p1042 (via Ancestry.com)

[88] England & Wales, Death Index, 1916-2005 Hastings & Rother Q1 1987 Vol 18 p1135 (via Ancestry.com)