Border Crossings

SS New York

Being an emigrant from Britain, I feel a certain connection with those in the family who have done likewise. I know of Peterkens who went to the United States, Australia and New Zealand in the nineteenth or around the turn of the twentieth centuries. This post takes a look at the families of 2xgreat uncles and aunts. A brother and a sister of my great grandmother, Mary Ann Peterken, both left Britain with their families, and this is part of their story. William Henry Peterken and his family ended up in the United States of America, while Maud Hunt (nee Peterken) and her family went to Canada and then settled in Australia.

We met William Henry Peterken previously (The Sound of Bow Bells), along with his siblings. In my early days of genealogy, before I had even begun to think of following him, I knew from my Nan Green that he had emigrated to the United States where he went into the hotel business. He returned to visit England quite a few times, and, on one of those occaisions, tried to persuade my great grandparentsTom and Madge Blacketer to emigrate to the United States. At the time the US economy was in much better shape than the British post-Great War economy. However, the Blacketers decided to stay put, and after the stock market crash of 1927, Tom was glad they had.

As previously reported, William Henry was born to Octavius and Amelia Peterken on 26 November 1876, and married Florence Elizabeth Groves in 1897. Following his records forward from here, I find the 1901 England Census for 249 Capworth Street, Leyton, Essex. His occupation is Commercial Clerk, and his household consists of himself (Age 24), Florence E (23, wife), William E D (3, son), Florence L (1, daughter) and Gustavus (27, brother, Commercial Clerk).

By 1910, we find his family living on 1025-27 Dakin Street, Chicago. His occupation is given as "Accountant, Hotel", and the family have the addition of a daughter, Winifred O, born in England about 1902. The family give their emigration year as 1907, which should be 1906, and, in fact, he traveled ahead of the others, as we will see later.

The census of 1920 finds them still in Chicago, now at 2071 Hunt Avenue, with the addition of Albert Edward born in Illinois about 1911. William ED (22) is working as a Clerk and Florence L (19) as a Stenographer. William Henry is still working as "Accountant-Hotel Line". In fact I have some evidence that he had moved around between the two censuses. First, a 1917 Draft Registration Card places him, his wife and his eldest son at the Hotel Hinton in Cleveland, Ohio. His stated occupation there is Hotel Auditor. The card includes the details that he is of medium build, medium height, gray eyes and brown hair. Second, US naturalization records have his declaration of intent to become a US citizen filed in 1915 in Ohio.

There is a second 1920 US Census record for William Henry Peterken. He is listed as a Lodger in the household of Louise Kelson at 145 West 143rd Street, Manhattan, and working as "hotel auditor". I would guess that this is most likely his true location on census night, and Florence had included him, though absent, on her Chicago census form.

The 1925 New York State Census and 1930 US Census place them at 121 West 179th Street. In 1930, William H (53) is now "Manager-Hotel", Florence E (52) is his wife, gives no occupation, but keeping their house is of course a full time job. The census records the value of the home at $40,000, which they owned by 1930. There is a website www.measuringworth.com on which one can calculate their home's value in present-day dollars. Depending on whether we are interested in standard of living, prestige or power, this value comes in at between $522,000 and $6,370,000. Also on the 1930 US Census, William ED (32) is an architect, Florence L (30), secretary at a brokerage firm, and Albert Ed (19), hotel clerk.

In 1940, they are residents/guests at the Hotel Empire in Manhattan. William Henry has been out of work for several weeks, and is looking for work as a hotel manager. This was in April. He found work that same year, as reported by the Iroquois Hotel's present day website:

"...the property was leased to the Iroquois Hotel Corporation, headed by William H Peterken, a distinguished man in the hotel industry who was known for his "splendid record in New York hoteldom".

The "splendid record" quotation coming from the Hotel Gazette for 27 July 1940. Thanks to Paul Peterken for drawing my attention to the above, and for a link to the match book below, showing W H Peterken as managing director of the Hotel Abbey 31st at 7th Avenue, New York City. The things we leave behind!

The picture above, from Greg Hunt in Australia, had been identified by my grandmother as William Henry Peterken. Aside from his arrival as immigrant in 1906, there are also passenger records showing that William Henry traveled to England with his son William Ernest in 1925, and with his wife, Florence, in 1929 and 1932. I have no further record of the parents. The records for the children are:

William Ernest D Peterken BMD Birth Index Mar1898 Camberwell 1d 861
His 1917 Draft Registration, also filed from the Hinton Hotel, Cleveland, Ohio, has date of birth 8 January 1898, and occupation of Architectural Draftsman. He naturalized as a US citizen 3 December 1925 in New York. The next record I have for him is his death in Miami, Florida 1951.

Florence Lilian Peterken BMD Birth Index Mar1900 W Ham 4a 386
She naturalized as a US citizen 3 June 1946 in New York, her name still Peterken, so presumably unmarried and still alive at that time.

Winifred Olive Peterken BMD Birth Index Mar1902 W Ham 4a 423
Westchester County, NY records show she married Paul M Sohl. She died in Brookhaven, NY, on 5 January 2004, just short of her 102nd birthday which would have been on 14 February. Her husband had died in 1982, aged 80. US records show that they had a son, Paul Sohl, 1939-2011.

Albert Edward Peterken Birth Certificate Cook County, Illinois 17 June 1910
He died 5 August 1970 in Westport, CT according to the Connecticut Death Index. Milford, CT City Directory has him as a Consultant Engineer in the 1950s. He and his wife Ramona had twins, a boy and a girl, still living. The daughter served as Lieutenant Governor of New York State in the 1990s, and you can find out more about her from wikipedia.

William Henry's family had traveled to the United States in two parts. Their arrival in the US links William Henry's family with that of his younger sister Maud, who became Maud Hunt shortly afterwards. Outward passengers from Britain has Ellis Island records have one William "K" Peterken, recorded as arriving on SS New York in 17 June 1906. The K appears to be a mistranscription for H. Originally written in the column of "whether joining friend or relative" is:
      "No", which has been replaced in scrawled handwriting with:
      "Friend H Melville 39 Pearl Street"

Did William H have a friend with such a name, or was he having a risky joke at the expense of an immigration official!

In September, immigration documents show Florence arriving with the children, and her sister-in-law, Maud, aboard SS St Paul. The purpose of their visit was to visit William H Peterken at Wabash Avenue, Chicago, Ill. as Husband, father or brother respectively.

The New York and the St Paul were both immigration ships owned by the American Line, making many Atlantic crossings. The SS New York (originally City of New York) is famous for being dragged from her moorings by the Titanic as the latter sailed from Southampton on her maiden voyage in 1912.

Again, through Nan Green, I had heard that Maud had married Fred Hunt in Canada. The records tell something of how this came about. When we were researching over ten years ago, Nan and I had the impression that her husband was Canadian, but this is not so. Here is the 1901 England Census (that is, before the marriage) at 68 Chobham Road, Stratford:
     Fannie Hunt Head Widow 48                                             Swindon, Wilts
     Nellie           Daur    S       25 Dressmaker                          Swindon, Wilts
     John             Son     S       23 Railway Coach Builder          Swindon, Wilts
     Frederick     Son     S       18 Railway Carriage Blacksmith  Swindon, Wilts
     Gilbert          Son     S      11                                              Stratford, Essex
     John P Davies Boarder     22 Railway Coach Builder          Swindon, Wilts

The most likely BMD Birth Index for Frederick is Frederick George Hunt Sep1882 Highwood 5a 28. There are several Frederick George Hunts born in Wiltshire 1882 to 1884, but only one in the Highwood registration district, which includes Swindon. Swindon is a railway town, and by this census they have moved to Stratford, where the men work for the Great Eastern Railway.

I have no direct record of Fred Hunt's journey to Canada, but his border crossing into the US, processed at Niagara Falls 14 September 1906 says he arrived Halifax, Nova Scotia 25 May 1906. The ship named is the SS Norseman, presumably for the transatlantic leg of his journey. His purpose in visiting the US is given as:
     "Going to friend W H Peterken 49 Wabash Avenue Chicago, Ill"

To summarize their comings and goings: In May, Fred Hunt arrives in Canada. In June, William Henry Peterken arrives in New York. In September, his wife Florence and their children, along with Maud Peterken, arrive in New York and proceed to Chicago. The same month Fred Hunt joins them in Chicago. Presumably Maud and Fred travelled back to Canada, where, according to Ontario, Canada, Marriages 1801-1928, they were married in Hamilton, Ontario on 6 October 1906:
     Fred'k Geo Hunt, Blacksmith, son of George Hunt and Fannie Bingham and
     Maud Peterken, daughter of Octavius Peterken and Amelia Babbidge

The 1911 Census of Canada at 295 Mary Street, Hamilton, Ontario has:
     Fred Hunt       Head       July 1892   28       Blacksmith
     Maud Hunt     Wife        Sep 1891   29
     Winifred Hunt Daughter Aug 1907     3                    
     Fred Hunt       Son         Oct 1910    7 mos
This Canadian census asks for month of birthday as well as age, a boon to genealogists! Curiously, their date of arrival is given as 1908, whereas they were definitely married in Canada in 1906.

Birth records for their children in Canada are:
     Winnifred Maud Hunt      Ontario Birth Records  3 August 1907
     Frederick Peterken Hunt  Ontario Birth Records 17 October 1910

According to records in the Hunt family, they returned to England. Maud and the children first. Then along with his brother's family, they emigrated to Australia, leaving Liverpool for Fremantle 21st May 1913 on board the SS Belgic of the White Star Line. This page from the passenger manifest has the entries for John and Mrs. M (Mabel) Hunt, and for Fredk and Maud Hunt and their three oldest children, Winifred, Fredk and 2-month-old Baby - presumably Olive. This puts a constraint on Maud's departure from Canada, since they must have conceived there around June the previous year. John's occupation is given as Coach Builder and Fred's as Blacksmith, matching their 1901 census return.

The BMD Birth Index has this record for the baby is:
     Olive E N Hunt Dec1912 W Ham 4a 66
Which is interesting because at two months old in May, I would have expected the birth registration to be in the June quarter, not December.
In Australia they had another son, Harold, born 1917, although ancestry.com doesn't have the birth record.
The year 1942 was especially tragic for the family, as both Fred and his son Frederick Peterken died. The Australia Death Index shows his death in the abstract:
     Frederick G Hunt Perth, Western Australia 1942 #1051

But a newspaper clipping of the coroner's inquest shows the human side of this tragedy. The Western Australian 19 July 1942 reported the case in some detail. On 8 May 1942, as a pedestrian, Fred had been struck by a car, carelessly driven by a US sailor, and died of multiple injuries.

Later the same year Frederick Peterken Hunt died in North Africa serving with the Royal Australian Artillery. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission records the following for Alexandria (Hadra) War Memorial Cemetery:
HUNT Gnr. FREDERICK PETERKEN, WX4618 A.I.F. 2/7 Field Regt., Royal Australian Artillery. 19th November, 1942. Age 32. Son of Frederick George and Maud Peterken Hunt; husband of Beatrice Joy Hunt, of Cottesloe, Western Australia. 4.D.9.

In the 1950s, Maud visited her sister, Madge, in England. This would have been after 1953, when Tom died. Maud suggested that Madge emigrate to Australia. Of course, Madge chose to remain in England, which gave me the chance to meet her.

Maud died at the age of 87.
     Australia Death Index: Maud Hunt Perth, Western Australia 1968 #3689/1968

But I prefer to remember them in life. I just love this photo, apparently taken in Cape Town en route to Australia by Fred's brother John. From left to right, it shows Frederick George Hunt, Frederick Peterken Hunt, Maud Hunt with Olive on her lap, Winnifred Maud, and (standing) John's wife Mabel.

My Dear Comrade

Tom Blacketer 1901

Mum sent me a scanned collection of family papers, among which were some letters from Labour Party politician George Lansbury. As you may recall, my great grandfather, Thomas John Blacketer, was his election agent. The papers include campaign letters from Lansbury, and a particularly touching condolence letter on the death of Octavius Peterken.

Also, I have just received Janine Booth's Guilty and Proud Of It. Strange to read my great grandfather's name in a history book, albeit a local history. He gets three one-liners and a short biography! But I haven't read deeply enough into it to give a good book report.

Among Lansbury correspondence at the London School of Economics archives are four letters from TJ Blacketer to George Lansbury. I haven't seen any of these, but maybe someone out there has, or might be interested in transcribing them. So here are the references for anyone wishing to follow up:
     Lansbury/8 275 20 February 1927
     Lansbury/12 12 March/April 1933
          Condolence letter on the death of Lansbury's wife
     Lansbury/13 203 11 December 1933
     Lansbury/14 29 14 December 1933
          Sympathy letter on Lansbury's hospital stay with a broken leg

In 1924 Thomas Blacketer's father-in-law, Octavius Peterken, died. Among our papers is this letter from George Lansbury, dated 1 August 1924. Given that Thomas's own father had died while his mother was still pregnant with him, Octavius was something of a father to him, and, indeed, Lansbury writes "father" rather than "father-in-law". Lansbury's handwriting is about as bad as mine, so I was able to make a transcript (but if you think you have a correction, I would be happy to receive it):

                                    1-8-24
My dear Blacketer

I feel I must send you this note. The news of your father’s death & burial came as a shock one which has left me feeling rather sad.

Yet there is no room for darkness for me or you because his life’s journey is over & now comes peace. Death is a final mystery because we believe though the body passes our souls remain & these are in the hands of God from whom all Spirit comes.

You travelled a long journey with your father & will feel his loss deeply but you will I am sure remember loss or sadness only for a night & then comes the dawn & you have the wholly blessed memory of all you were to each other & also the equally blessed knowledge that though absent in the body he is still nearby in spirit.

God bless you both & keep you till the Day dawns & the night of Sin & Death passes away forever.

Always,

George Lansbury

The following photograph of Octavius Peterken reading the newspaper is from 1922, and shows his appearance toward the end of his life.

Octavius Peterken, 1922

The previously shown Octavius Peteken photograph (see The Sound of Bow Bells) was one used for a memorial picture of him. Our family has a photograph of the memorial photograph (and it will not adequately display here). Our photograph and the one from Paul Peterken look identical down to the autograph as best I can tell, and lacks the fold down the middle. The frame is matted so that Octavius's signed portrait is above and below is the following inscription:

For forty years a devoted Mission Worker in East London and for over thirty three years the beloved Honorary President of the Salmon's Lane Mission Condor Street Limehouse London E
CALLED HOME JULY 16TH 1924

A search for "Salmon or Salmon's Lane Mission" shows that a place with the former name had been seaman's hostel, of which the cornerstone was placed in 1923. It appears to have been converted to residential apartments. If the same mission , then Octavius was presumably involved in the fundraising side for this building. An 1897 interview from T Wilson Booth, Honorary Secretary of the Salmon's Lane Mission Condor Street, is in the notebook of Charles Booth, a prominent philanthropist and social scientist, concerned with the plight of the poor. This is again lodged among the archives at the LSE (ref. Booth B172, pp18-22, which apparently includes a sketch of the premises of the Mission), a document I would like to see one day. Octavius, as Honorary President for some 33 years prior to 1924, must have worked with T Wilson Booth. If I ever needed it, I am reminded that many in the Labour movement around this time were inspired by Christian ideal of service to the poor.

In his role as election agent for George Lansbury, Thomas Blacketer received these two post-election notes from his victorious candidate. They are undated, so I do not know the election to which each refers. here is the first:

                                                   Saturday
My dear Comrade
This is to bring you my very grateful thanks for the manner in which you put through the election. The whole business has been more than satisfactory & for myself most peaceful & comfortable especially the last 10 days. 

I have never bothered about money, this time least of all & in addition we have all known we were getting full value for all that was spent.

The workers were one & all splendid. In fact we have never had so luxurious a fight.

I know you have done it all for the Cause but also know you have done your level best to save me trouble & in this you have succeeded splendidly.

Love and all good wishes to you both.
Always yours,

George Lansbury

In a second note from a different election, marked only Friday, Lansbury expresses regret for some words they had on a stressful election day.

Dear Comrade
This is a note of personal congratulation to you. The victory is largely yours, because of your work & confidence. I was very sick last night because of the intolerable stories of no helpers & nobody voting in North Ward & then the figure of 5000 at six o'clock knocked me out altogether. But I ought to have done better than say a word when you were tired & worn out with work & worry. But the result is splendid. I know you will not mind now it is over...

All good wishes,

George Lansbury

By 1928, Thomas Blacketer was in the confidence of George Lansbury enough to be asked to manage the discussion at a council meeting in Lansbury's absence. There appears to have been some dissension within Labour ranks concerning Lansbury's leadership. I notice that he begins, "Dear Tom". Also, notice the handwriting is different, possibly a dictated letter, although the "Always, George Lansbury" is in his hand:

                    7-xi-28
Dear Tom:
I find the meeting I have to address is at 7 o'clock & that of course means that I cannot possibly come to the council meeting. I have written to the Town Clerk expressing my regret at being absent & wishing the new council the best of success in the future three years. But I also want to emphasize - damp down all discussion & criticism amongst our people. Let us try to be as big as we can, no matter how bad we feel.
I feel like packing up and all that I told you: but after all, the movement is bigger than all the lot of us, and a personal discussion in which I am involved is the worst thing that could happen & something I do not wish to happen. best of good luck & thanks both to you Tom & everybody else.

Always,

George Lansbury
Be at 39 Bow Rd @ 6:15 on Friday if you want to go with me.

For the year 1930-31 Thomas Blacketer was Mayor of Poplar, very much involved managing council meetings.

We also have a campaign poster for London County Council election, which was on 5 March 1931, for Labour Candidates T. J. Blacketer and E. Cruse, with their manifesto (including "Houses with rents that workers can pay") and public meeting dates at which Blacketer, Cruse and Lansbury would be speaking. There is an emphasis on trades unions, Cruse is with the Amalgamated Engineering Union, and Blacketer with ASLEF (Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen), befitting his occupation as locomotive engineer. At the bottom of the poster is small print:

Printed by H. & H. G. PETERKEN T.U. throughout, 153 High St., Poplar, & published by T. J. BLACKETER, 141 Bow Road.

It actually reads "PILTERKEN", which I hope is not a poor reflection on union labour. The "H" is Henry, the brother of Octavius, while "H. G." is Henry George, son of Henry - and first cousin of Mary Ann Blacketer, Thomas's wife. Interesting that the Peterkens supported a unionized workforce at their printshop.

It appears that Blacketer and Cruse won the election since on a letter dated 5 March 1931 (presumably written the night of the election), Lansbury writes:

My dear Comrade,
A thousand congratulations. Bow & Bromley always comes up trumps at the end. All good wishes to you both.
Alys,
G Lansbury.

Rather document-heavy today, and I still have more I am in the process of transcribing. And male-heavy too, so below is a picture of Mary Ann Peterken (Madge) at age 21, who was married to Tom in 1906. They must have made quite a couple. I will end with a family anecdote. In 1931 the Indian Independence leader Mahatma Gandhi visted England for the Round Table Conference. George Lansbury hosted Gandhi during his visit to the East End of London. Gandhi was seeking solidarity between the poor in both India and Britain, and was well received by those living in the East End. Thomas Blacketer got to shake hands with Gandhi when Lansbury introduced them.


Mary Ann Peterken 1900

Tom Blacketer, Mayor of Poplar

I  am fortunate enough to have recollections of three great grandmothers. The one I remember best was known to me as Great Nan, Mary Ann Peterken, who was by then the widow of Thomas Blacketer. She lived to nearly one hundred years. She died in a residential home, where, I am told, she would regale the youngsters (in their sixties and seventies I presume!) with tales of the reign of good Queen Victoria. It is largely through her that we had much already written down in the 1970s about the children of Octavius Peterken, and a little about the cousins.

The photograph below is a family portrait (gratefully received from my Mum, Barbara Tilley) of the Blacketer family, with my Nan, Elsie (born 1917), seated next to her mother Mary Ann. Standing is the older daughter Norah (born 1912), and seated on the right is Thomas John Blacketer. Mary Ann and Thomas John (Madge and Tom to their cousins) had been married in 1906. The story goes that he hesitated to propose while his mother was still alive, but Mary Ann forced the issue - it's now or never - so they were married. Which was just as well, because his mother didn't die until 1939 (BMD Sep1939 Poplar 1c 289 Age:87)!

The 1911 England Census has Thomas John and Mary Ann Blacketer living at 18 Myrtle Road Acton, his occupation is listed as Driver Fireman for the North London Railway. Mary Ann is 31 years old, and Thomas John is 30. They have two boarders living with them.

(In 1901, Mary Ann Peterken, age 22, is in domestic service, living with Frederick and Jane Maddox at 3 Osbourne Road, Forest Gate. By family report she had done some work as a nanny, but is listed here as General servant Domestic).

The 1901 England Census has Thomas John Blacketer living with his mother and 2 of his 3 siblings at 168 Campbell Road, Bromley.
     Hannah Blacketer   Head Wid   49  Laundress                        Essex, Loughton
     Ellen E                    Daur   S      24 Waitress                           London, Bromley
     Joseph H                Son     S      22 Tie Warehouseman           London, Bromley
     Thomas J                Son     S      21 Railway Foreman             London, Bromley
"Foreman" is probably an error for Fireman.

The 1891 England Census has all four siblings and their mother at 178 Campbell Road, Bromley.
     Hannah Blacketer   Head Wid   39  Laundress                        Essex, Loughton
     Florence A              Daur   S     16                                          London, Bow
     Ellen E                    Daur   S      14 Domestic Servant              London, Bow
     Joseph H                Son     S      12 Scholar                             London, Bow
     Thomas J                Son     S      10 Scholar                             London, Bow

The 1881 England Census has three of the four with their mother at 174 Campbell Road, Bromley.
     Hannah Blacketer   Wife Widow   29  Laundress                      Loughton, Essex
     Ellen E                    Daughter          4 Scholar                           Bow, Middlesex
     Joseph H                Son                  2 Scholar                           Bow, Middlesex
     Thomas J                Son              1M Scholar                           Bow, Middlesex
     Jane Holling            Boarder         77 Undertaker's Widow       Mile End, Middlesex
Florence Annie is to be found with Hannah's brother Harry and his wife in Chigwell.

In the 1911 England Census, Hannah Blacketer is a household of one at 154 Campbell Road and for occupation has Caretaker Sunday School. Of note, she records that she had four children, of whom all four are living. Here are some vitals:
     Florence Annie  
          BMD Birth Sep1874 Poplar 1c 600
          BMD Marriage Dec1897 Poplar 1c 1023 Ernest William Lofts
               Bromley St Leonards 25 December 1897
                    father given as Joseph Blacketer (deceased) Carman
          BMD Death Mar1964 Ilford 5a 408 Age:89 (Florence A Lofts)
     Ellen Elizabeth    
          BMD Birth Sep1876 Poplar 1c 627
          BMD Marriage Mar1903 Poplar 1c 677 Alfred Connell
               Bromley St Leonards 9 March 1903
                    father is Joseph Blacketer Coal Porter
          BMD Death Mar1931 Poplar 1c 516 Age:54 (Ellen E Connell)
     Joseph Harry      
          BMD Birth Mar1879 Poplar 1c 691
               School Admissions and discharge register specifies 7 January 1879
          BMD Marriage Jun1904 Poplar 1c 1025 Esther Elizabeth Corfe
          BMD Death Mar1942 Lewisham 1d 1149 Age:63
                National Probate Calendar specifies 14 February 1942
     Thomas John      
          BMD Birth Jun1881 Poplar 1c 617
               School Admissions and discharge register specifies 2 March 1881
          BMD Marriage Jun1906 Poplar 1c 1001 Mary Ann Peterken
          BMD Death Dec1953 Romford 5a 405 Age:63
               National Probate Calendar specifies 11 December 1953

Their father, Joseph Blacketer, married Hannah Thurley in 1873 (BMD Marriage Sep1873 W Ham 4a 8). BMD Birth has Hannah Thurley Mar1852 Epping 4a 39 and Joseph Blacketer Sep1848 W Ham 4a 12.
Joseph Blacketer died before Thomas John was born (BMD Death Sep1880 Poplar 1c 411 Age:31), so never appears on a census return with his family. We will see him in a later post; for now, back to Thomas John.

The years between the Great War and World War Two were years of economic and political turmoil. The British economy slumped after the Great War, culminating in the Great Slump of 1929. Depressed wages and reductions in welfare spending precipitated the General Strike (1926) and the Invergordon Mutiny (1931). There were seven general elections between 1918 and 1939. The Labour Party gained prominence as the vote was extended to include all men over 21 years and women over 30 in 1918, and then all adults over 21 in 1928. This was the political environment in which the Blacketer family grew.

In 1921 Thomas Blacketer was a councillor in Poplar Borough Council, during the Poplar Rates Rebellion headed by the Labour politician George Lansbury. In order to keep its local rates down, Poplar refused to pay the precept which went to pay for certain metropolitan London services so that it could spend on social welfare and programs to alleviate the chronic poverty in the borough. It was perceived as grossly unfair that while poor boroughs had to pay toward certain services, wealthy boroughs did not pay toward common welfare needs. Poplar Borough Council's refusal to pay the precept defied Parliament and the Courts, and 30 Councillors, including Lansbury, were gaoled for contempt of court. This generated much public sympathy, and the government were forced to back down after six weeks.

The family report is that the Blacketers with their young children (Norah would have been 9 years old, and Elsie 4) absconded to Devon to avoid arrest, and so his name is not on the mural on Hale Street, commemorating the Rebellion. They returned when the crisis was over. On 1st January 1922 Minnie Lansbury (George's daughter-in-law) died of pneumonia, thought to have been contracted while she was imprisoned. Janine Booth in Guilty and Proud of It (2009) writes:

Councillor Blacketer [wrote] that "Our loss is irreplaceable". Minnie, he said, had "died for the cause", arguing that imprisonment had weakened her, leaving her body unable to fight off the illness that killed her.

Thomas Blacketer was also George Lansbury's election agent, roughly equivalent to an American campaign manager, and the family has letters from Lansbury addressed to "My Dear Blacketer". In 1930 Blacketer was himself elected to the office of Mayor of Poplar, and this is a portrait of Mayor Blacketer with his mayoral chain of office (another scan from Barbara Tilley). The family story goes that Lansbury offered Thomas Blacketer a parliamentary seat if he desired to enter national politics. Thomas consulted with Mary Ann who said, "Over my dead body", so he declined the offer. Given the tumult of the time, I can well understand their concern that a political life might have destroyed their family life.

Too bad I never got to meet him. But we still have the stories and we pass them on.

 

Finding Mary Simpson Whitehead

Emigration to the United States of America interrupted my Open University studies, but not before I had successfully completed the Arts Foundation Course, a superb interdisciplinary engagement with Mid-Victorian Britain. Among the snippets I remember, were the "cults of respectability and family". But ideal and practice were different matters. I have since learned of a pastor in one London parish who discovered so many unmarried couples that he decided to offer marriage ceremonies for free to encourage matrimony. His experience implies that many children were born outside of marriage, a decidedly "unrespectable" state of affairs to the Victorian mind - certainly not something families would talk about.

Here is brief post to shed light on the date of birth and baptism of Mary Simpson Whitehead, and the names of her parents. She is my 3x great grandmother, and her parents would be my 4x great grandparents. There are, it turns out, contradictory birth years for her, 1809 or 1810; and the LDS ancestry files have two possible sets of parents. First, there is George Whitehead and Mary Simpson, married 1814. There is a marriage for a couple with those names (St George Hanover Square, 31 October 1814 - but not St George in the East as the file claims). Second, the LDS ancestry file notes alternative couple as of parents, John Simpson and Elizabeth Whitehead, but no details.

In his family Bible, Henry James Peterken recorded the date of birth for his wife, Mary Simpson, as 14 June 1810. Other documentary evidence for her age comes from census data and her BMD Death Index. We have:
     1841 Census: Age given as 30
     1851 Census: Age given as 40
     1861 Census: Age given as 50
     1871 Census: Age given as 60
     1881 Census: Age given as 72
     1891 Census: Age given as 80
     1895 BMD Death Index Mar1895 Poplar 1c 542 Age:84

Each census is taken toward the end of March or beginning of April, and her death is recorded in the first quarter of 1895. For the 1841 England Census, age was supposed to be given to the nearest 5 years, although, with a birth in June 1810, should would indeed have been 30 years old at census time. Other censuses asked for the age (in years) at census time. The remaining data, except for the 1881 England Census, are consistent with a birth year of 1810. We can only speculate what happened to the 1881 census return. Except for 1911, all other England Census data are from the Census Enumerator Books, which compiled the individual returns. It is possible that the clerk with the job of transcribing the data from the individual return misread 70 for 72. The preponderance of data suggests that Mary Simpson, or at least her husband, believed that to be the year of her birth.

Some ancestry trees have a birth year of 1809 instead of 1810. I was not originally sure where that came from. But collaboration with readers is among the benefits of a blog. Paul Peterken wrote me with the information that Denys Murphy (Peterken genealogist) recorded the baptism of Mary Simpson Whitehead at St George in the East on 21st February 1816. The London parish records are divided into two sets by the year 1812. I had in fact already browsed St George in the East baptismal records for an entry relating to Mary Simpson Whitehead and stopped at the end of 1812. Finding the image of the record from 1816 was straightforward; it turns out to be indexed as Mary Simpson Simpson for reasons that will become apparent.

The transcript reads:
14th      [1816 February]       Mary               John Simpson            Marman
   of         21st                        Simpson                  by                            Street     The
June                                         Dr               Elizabeth Whitehead                            Rector
1809                                         of                   (Illegitimate)

The "M" for Mary is inconsistent with the "M" for Marman, but does match Middlesex at the top of the page. On the off-chance they hadn't moved, I browsed Marman Street for the 1841 England Census, but found no Whiteheads or Simpsons (St George Middlesex, St Mary, District 9). I include a second entry to illustrate how a baptismal record for a legitimate child would generally read.

This baptismal record and the family Bible note are most certainly for the same person, given the name and birthday, even if the year is off by one. Given that, and looking at the baptismal record, presumably her parents never married each other. First, "Simpson" is a given name on the baptism, which would have been unnecessary if her father were in the picture. Second, there is no mention of an occupation for her father, so either he was dead by 1816, or his occupation was unknown to the participants at the baptism. By the time of her wedding she is Mary Simpson Whitehead, indicating that she was raised as a Whitehead. But note that Henry James writes "Peterken" for his own surname, and for each of his children, yet for his wife has Mary Simpson, suggesting he may have thought of "Simpson" as her surname.

To me it is clear that the parents of Mary Simpson Whitehead should be John Simpson and Elizabeth Whitehead. I suspect 1809 as the "true" year of birth for Mary Simpson Whitehead, although we have seen mistakes in parish registers before. In searching for any records produced much later than this, 1810 would make a better search tool, since she appeared to believe that was her birth year, and would have had it recorded thus in documents. For her parents, was this a youthful indiscretion or marital infidelity or something more sinister? We will probably never know. The nearly seven-year delay in baptism may reflect the sense of shame into which this child was received.

Where to go from here? Elizabeth Whitehead and John Simpson are common names, and we have so little else to go on.  Future lines of research include browsing the pre-1810 entries of the parish register for other Simpson or Whitehead children. And there is an intriguing ancestry public tree with John Whitehead and Martha Dickenson for Elizabeth's parents, but no sources are listed. I did, however, find a 1794 marriage at St Paul Shadwell for a couple with these names and several baptisms at St George in the East for children of John (he was a baker by trade) and Martha Whitehead, none of whom is Elizabeth, so I'm doubtful.

I am certainly not the first genealogist to find out that Mary Simpson Whitehead was a "natural child", as some contemporary baptisms record, but, now the stigma attached to illegitimacy is no longer prevalent, I hope it will be useful for future Peterken/Whitehead/Simpson genealogists to know of the parentage of Mary Simpson Whitehead.

The Sound of Bow Bells

This year will see me turn fifty. Anticipating this particular decade-birthday seems strange, not least because my grandparents were this age in my lifetime. I'm not sure I really remember them at fifty, since I was only four at the time. More likely I remember the photographs and stories told. When I was a little older, I do remember staying with Nan and Granddad Green in Upminster, and playing football (that's soccer for my American readers) with Granddad Green at a penny (old money) per goal, but he capped it at 6d because I was too successful! Today, I turn to my Nan Green (Elsie Blacketer) and her Peterken connections.

Her parents are Thomas John (Tom) Blacketer and Mary Ann (Madge) Peterken, married in 1906 (BMD Marriage Index Jun1906 Poplar 1c 1001). Their two children are Norah Amelia (BMD Birth Index Dec1912 Brentford 3a 399) and, and of course, Elsie Kathleen (BMD Birth Index Dec1917 Poplar 1c 706). Nan said she was born within the sound of Bow Bells, and the family lived at 38 Campbell Road, just off Bow Road.

The area within the sound of Bow Bells refers to the Church of St Mary-Le-Bow (which apparently was built with distinctive arches - bows), and the traditional qualification to be a true cockney. The district of Bow, where the Blacketers lived, lies some way out to the east (and at one time within earshot of the aforementioned church). According to wikipedia, Bow refers to the arch of a bridge built at that location.

Tom Blacketer was a locomotive engineer, politically active, and in 1930-31 served as Mayor of Poplar. He was the youngest of four, raised by a single-parent widow, his father having died while his mother was still pregnant with him. I will present more detail in another post.

We have already met Octavius and Amelia (nee Babbage) Peterken, married in 1868, in previous blog posts (see Thomas Babbage: Shipwright and Gentleman, Sir!) Madge Peterken is their daughter, To her siblings, we now turn. For this family, we have no family Bible, so, at first, I looked as census returns for Octavius from 1871 onwards.

For the 1871 England Census, Octavius and Amelia are living at 66 Sussex Street, Poplar with their 3-year-old son John. At the same address, William and Louisa are listed as a household, Peterken brothers and Babbage sisters.

By 1881 Octavius and Amelia's family has grown considerably. Their address now is 69 Sussex Street.
     Octavius Peterken  Head Marr   32  Printer       
     Amelia                   Wife  Marr   32  Printer Wife
     John G                   Son   Unm    12  Scholar
     Gustavus                Son   Unm      7  Scholar
     Harold                   Son   Unm      6  Scholar
     William H              Son   Unm      4  Scholar
     Mary A                 Daur  Unm      1  Scholar

By the 1891 England Census, Amelia had died (BMD Death Index Jun1890 Stepney 1c 295 Age:42), and Octavius's sister, Jane, appears to have moved in with the household to help him with the family. Gustavus had left home. Their address is 51 Pigott Street, Limehouse. The Census Enumerator Book has what looks like "Octavious", echoing Henry James's spelling on the flyleaf of the family Bible.
     Octavious Peterken  Head Widr   42   Printer and Compositor
     Jane                         Sister S       50
     John G                     Son    S      22   Merchant's Clerk
     Harold                     Son    S       16   Merchant's Clerk
     William H                 Son             14   Clerk (Civil Service)
     Mary A                    Daur            12   Scholar
     Ernest D                   Son              6    Scholar

By the 1901 England Census, Octavius has remarried (BMD Marriage Index Mar1898 W Ham 4a 229), bringing two stepsons into the household. The family story has it that Octavius hired a Elizabeth Haydon as a housekeeper, and the relationship flourished. Her maiden name is Bacchus. My great grandmother, Mary Ann, remembered her step-brothers fondly. Here they all are at 1 Leslie Road, Leyton, Essex.
     Octavius Peterken    Head      52  Printer Compositor
     Elizabeth                  Wife       45
     Maud                       Daur      18   Nil
     Caleb R Haydon      Step-son 17  Clerk in Docks
     William J Haydon     Step-son 15  Clerk in Docks      

This is the first time we see Maud in Octavius's household for a census. In 1891, we is listed with her grandparents, Henry James and Mary Simpson Peterken, and Aunt Emma. They were relatively hard to find. Originally, I was looking for Henry James. From the Electoral Register, I discovered that in 1891, he lived at 70 Sussex Street. I then browsed the 1891 Census for Poplar until I found the entry for his address. The reason for the search failure then became obvious, for Peterken had been transcribed "Pekrken" (In addition, Maud had become "Mand"). Note that Ernest is no longer among them. He died in 1893 aged 9, so he would have been 7 years-old in 1891.

By 1911, they had all left home. Here they are at 57 Westdown Road, Leyton, Essex.
     Octavius Peterken    Head    Married   62  Printer Compositor
     Elizabeth                  Wife      Married  54
     Anne Mackintosh    Sister     Widow    71
     Henry Doggett         Boarder Single      29  Motorman

Henry James did not have a daughter, Anne, so she cannot be Octavius's sister. Perhaps he intended sister-in-law. I have searched for, but not found, a BMD Marriage Index for Mackintosh and Peterken, Babbage or Bacchus.

This return also shows that Elizabeth (Haydon) had 4 surviving children out of 4. So there are two more than Caleb Rowland and William James. The 1891 census for this family also shows Florence, and I would guess there should be a sibling who had left home by 1901, or, perhaps like Maud, was staying with relatives on census night.

Here is a photograph of Octavius Peterken, sent me by Paul Peterken, to whom many thanks. Mum says we have the same one, also signed, "Yours sincerely, Octavius Peterken", of which I saw a low resolution image on the webcam. I would be interested to make a comparison of the two autographs. It's not in color, but you can see his hair is light - I'm thinking gray.

In addition to those children found in census returns, I also found a record of Ada Louisa baptized at Limehouse St Ann. Ancestry public trees also note Edith Amelia (1870-71) and Martha Jenny (1878-78) There are about four Peterken families in Poplar around this time. Unfortunately each of  these is unsourced, so although likely to belong to Octavius and Amelia, I cannot say for certain that they do. If they do, then the couple had 4 of their 10 children die before adulthood. Birth Certificates would contain the information on parentage, and Death Certificates would have the names of the reporter, likely a parent, along with cause of death.

Here they are (although note the caution about Edith Amelia and Martha Jenny):
John George
     BMD Birth Index Jun1868 Mile End Old Town 1c 538 
          bapt. 28 June 1868 Stepney St Dunstan and All Saints, born 26 April 1868
     BMD Marriage Index Mar1898 W Ham 4a 310 (Mary Eliza Hamilton)
     BMD Death Index Jun1935 Lewisham 1d 1002 Age:67
Edith Amelia
     BMD Birth Index Mar1870 Mile End Old Town 1c 572
     BMD Death Index Mar1871 Poplar 1c 556 Age:1
Ada Louisa
     BMD Birth Index Mar1872 Poplar 1c 715
          bapt. 27 October 1872 Limehouse St Ann, born 29 November 1871
     BMD Death Index Mar1877 Poplar 1c 505 Age:5
Gustavus
     BMD Birth Index Dec1873 Poplar 1c 678
     BMD Marriage Index Jun1902 Poplar 1c (Elizabeth Hamilton - any relation of the above?)
     BMD Marriage Index Jun1953 Luton 4a 338 (Helen Mary Morris)
     BMD Death Index Dec 1959 Luton 4a 122 Age:86
Harold
     BMD Birth Index Jun1875 Poplar 1c 687
          bapt. 4 March 1892 Limehouse St Ann, born 9 March 1872
     BMD Marriage Index Jun1898 St Saviour 1d 67 (Evelyn Ladbrook)
     BMD Marriage Index Sep1909 Camberwell 1d 1794 (Lily Annie Cook)
     BMD Death Index Sep1937 Lambeth 1d 239 Age:62
William Henry
     BMD Birth Index Dec1876 Poplar 1c 747
          US records have date of birth 26 November 1876
     BMD Marriage Index Dec1897 Camberwell 1d (Florence Elizabeth Groves)
          US Citizen by 21 February 1933
     Still living at time of 1940 US Census; no death record yet.
Martha Jenny
     BMD Birth Index Jun1878 Poplar 1c 733
     BMD Death Index Dec1878 Poplar 1c 476 Age:0
Mary Ann
     BMD Birth Index Sep1879 Poplar 1c 722
          Death Index gives date of birth 20 July 1879
     BMD Marriage Index Jun1906 Poplar 1c 1001 (Thomas John Blacketer)
     BMD Death Index (Mary Ann Blacketer) Jun1979 Havering 13 0395 Age:99
Maud
     BMD Birth Index Dec1881 Poplar 1c 716
     Marriages Hamilton, Ontario 6 October 1906 (Fred'k George Hunt)
     Australia Death Index (Maud Hunt) 1968 Perth, Western Australia Age:87
Ernest Douglas
     BMD Birth Index Dec1883 Poplar 1c 675
     BMD Death Index Mar1893 Poplar 1c 332 Age:9

The absence of a record for an infant baptism after Ada Louisa suggests either I haven't searched well enough (quite likely!), or it was shortly after this (maybe even because of her death) that Octavius left the Church of England. A family story says he became a baptist, although I cannot support that with documentation. In an excellent article by Denys Murphy (another Peterken descendant), about the HJ Peterken printing businesses, I noticed his remark that Henry James converted to methodism. I am now wondering if he actually became a baptist, which could explain the late baptism of his youngest daughter. Baptists do not baptize infants (although Methodists do). At 16, perhaps she returned to the Church of England. The same might be true for Harold among Octavius's children.

In the nineteenth century, Poplar was within the sound of Bow Bells, and Octavius's children are all cockneys by this definition. Some stayed near and some moved as far afield as the United States of America and Australia. I, too, have made a move far afield, only with the internet, I can drop in for tea and a chat each weekend!

Putting Flesh on Dry Bones

Occasionally as a family, we drove from Leigh-on-sea to London on the A13. In Poplar, this took us past All Saints Church, where the children of Henry James Peterken were baptized. I remember having the church pointed out to me as we went by, although I had yet to hear of Henry James. Once I began researching the genealogy of the Peterkens, I soon learned his name, and that he is my 3x great grandfather.

An earlier post (Down Memory Lane), walked through census returns for his family. This time I present some detail of births and baptisms, marriages and deaths. But I want especially to thank two contributors to this work. State and parish documents, as found on the various genealogical databases are invaluable for documenting our ancestors but often rather dry and impersonal. The following sources help me imagine Henry James Peterken in life.

So, the first contribution, through Greg Hunt in Australia, is a sitting photographic portrait with the label "H J Peterken [c1850]". Henry James would have been 39 years old, and the sitter here would seem to be at least that, so maybe the date is a little early. Another cousin, Paul Peterken, informs me that the photo is among the collection of Tower Hamlets local history library, originally from Poplar library in a bundle on the Peterken printing business. Although we have to take it on trust that the label correctly identifies the sitter, the photograph puts some flesh on the dry bones of the documentary record.

And second, here is a treasure, courtesy of Paul Peterken, who sent me this image of the flyleaf in Henry James's family Bible, which has been preserved and passed down through the generations. I knew of its existence, of course, and much of the information recorded here can be found elsewhere. But here the record comes from the pen of the man himself. And with the portrait in mind, I can imagine him recording the entries for each of his children.

The transcript reads:
     Henry James Peterken, Born March 17th 1811                )    Married
                           and                                                            > January 23rd
     Mary Simpson Whitehead, Born June 10th 1810              )    1833.
                         _______________________
    
     A Still-born Son, November 4th 1833.
     Elizabeth Peterken, Born November 17th 1835; and
          Christened at Poplar Church December 13th 1835.
     Mary Peterken, Born October September 11th 1837; and ) Died April
          Christened at Poplar Church October 8th 1837.           ) 28 1838
     Henry Peterken, Born December 8th 1838; and
          Christened at Poplar Church March 17th 1839
     Jane Peterken Born Jany 1st 1841
          Christened at Poplar Church
     James Peterken Born Oct 13th 1842
          Christened at Poplar Church Jany 1st 1843
     William Peterken Born May 20 1844
     Christened at Poplar Church March 17 1845
     Octavious Peterken Born July 29th 1848 and
          Christened at Poplar Church December 24th 1848
     Emma Peterken Born January 4th 1852 And
          Christened at Poplar Church April 28th 1868

From the handwriting and ink, I believe the entries were made at several sittings, but not immediately after each birth or baptism. Here is my analysis; see what you think. Henry James may have acquired the Bible in 1839 on or after Henry Peterken's baptism, at which point he wrote up all the preceding events. This all appears to have been written in one sitting. Jane's birth (1841) seems to have been added on its own, suggesting that Henry James intended to keep a running account of the events as they occurred. But then it lapsed and he didn't add anything until after the baptism of William in 1845. Then Octavius's birth and baptism were not recorded until after the birth of Emma in 1852. Her baptism could not have been added until after April 1868.

So taking each entry in turn:
The parish register for Limehouse, St Anne's records the baptism on 4 August 1813 of Henry James, S[on] of Thomas & Jane Peterkin [of] Limehouse Baker, and the note that he was born 17 March 1811. I have not found a birth or baptism record for Mary Simpson Whitehead. But their marriage by banns is recorded in the parish register of St George in the East on 23 January 1833.

Of the children, there is first the still-born son on 4 November 1833. I originally had this from the LDS Ancestral file submitted by A G Peterken, and here is the written record from which he obatined it! For Henry James and Mary, this infant counts as number one, since Octavius cannot be the eighth child without him.

Elizabeth's birth and baptism dates are confirmed by the parish register at Poplar All Saints. She married John Isaac Horn, Tailor on 9 November 1862 at Islington St Mary, corresponding to BMD Marriage Index Dec1862 Islington 1b 381. On the parish register, the rank/occupation of her father, Henry James Peterken, is recorded as High Bailiff. On all other documents, he is Printer or Printer and Compositor.

Mary's birth and baptism dates are confirmed by the parish register at Poplar All Saints. Her BMD Birth Index is Sep1837 Poplar 2 159 All Saints. Poplar All Saints have her burial record for 6 May 1838. Henry James - above - notes her death on 28th April, while the BMD Death Index is Jun1838 Poplar 2 294.

Henry's baptism date is confirmed by the parish register at Poplar All Saints (no birth date given). His BMD Birth Index is Mar 1839 Poplar 2 296. He married Sophia Lowdell at Poplar All Saints 17 Aug 1861 (BMD Marriage Index Sep1861 Poplar 1c 1049). In the England Censuses he is listed with occupation Compositor and Printer (1861), Printer (1871, 1891, 1901), even "Printer Master Employing Two Men & Four Boys" (1881); and he lists himself as Master Printer in 1911. He died 12 Feb 1913 according to National Probate Calendar, corresponding to BMD Death Index Mar1913 W Ham 4a 358 Age:75.

Jane's baptismal record is obscure. In the All Saints parish register for 11 July 1841, one Mary, daughter of Henry James and Mary Simpson Peterken has the same birth date as Henry James records for Jane in his Bible, but he notably doesn't include a date for her baptism. The BMD Birth Index has Jane Peterken Mar1841 Poplar 2 322. There are various possibilities here. I'm wondering if she was baptized Mary Jane (after her deceased sister, perhaps) but known as Jane. However, the baptism entry only has Mary. When Henry James (or the minister) went back to inspect the register he could not find the Jane entry, so the date is not given in the family Bible. It's also quite possible the minister made an error. I attach the All Saints, Poplar baptism entry, noting that the line after it has begun H and then stops...I suspect the minister was writing these up some time after the event and quite forgot who he'd baptized!

When Jane died unmarried 17 February 1932, the National Probate Calendar records that she lived at 38 Campbell Road, Bow. Probate was awarded to TJ Blacketer (who also lived at that address, my great grandfather and son-in-law of Octavius Peterken) and Edward Pilkington (son-in-law of Henry Peterken). The BMD Death Index is 1932Mar poplar 1c 433 Age:91

James's birth and baptism dates are confirmed by the parish register at Poplar All Saints. BMD Birth Index is Dec1842 Poplar 2 317. His marriage to Mary Gilpin 10 January 1869 in recorded in the parish register for St John of Jerusalem, Hackney, and the BMD Marriage Index is Mar1869 Hackney 1b 476. His occupation on census returns is Compositor and Printer (1861), Printer (1871), Printer's Overseer (1881, 1891, 1901). By 1911 he had retired, as he gave his occupation as "Letter-press Printer's Overseer (formerly)". His BMD Death Index record is James Peterken Jun1917 Romford 4a 512 Age:74

William's birth and baptism dates are almost confirmed by the parish register at Poplar All Saints; for the baptism, the parish register has 16th March 1845, which being Palm Sunday is probably the correct date. But perhaps Henry James is correct here, and the minister had less reason to remember correctly. I have not yet found his BMD Birth index entry. As detailed in the last blog post, he married Louisa Babbage at St Dunstan and All Saints Stepney 22 May 1870 (BMD Marriage Index Jun1870 Stepney 1c 1007). On census records he is listed as Printer or Compositor and Printer except for 1871. In this year, a census enumerator has interpreted William's household return as "Representative of the Press" to which another, presumably senior, hand has added "(Reporter)". This would seem to be an example of the kinds of errors that have crept into occupational data. His BMD Death Index entry is William Peterken Mar1900 Mile End Old Town 1c 384 Age:54

Octavius's birth and baptism dates are confirmed by the parish register at Poplar All Saints (BMD Birth Index Sep1848 Poplar 2 333). The spelling "Octavious" is quite peculiar, and I have not seen it elsewhere. As detailed in the last blog post, he married Amelia Babbage at Bethnal Green St Phillip3 Nov 1867 (BMD Marriage Index Dec1867 Bethnal Green 1c 793). I will present more research on this family in a later post; Octavius is my 2x great grandfather. Amelia died young (BMD Death Index Jun1890 Stepney 1c 295 Age:42), after which Octavius remarried to a widow, Elizabeth Haydon, nee Bacchus (BMD Marriage Index Mar1898 WHam 4a 229). His census returns list his occupation as Compositor and/or Printer. His BMD Death Index entry is Octavius Peterken Sep1924 Poplar 1c 290 Age:75.

Emma's birth and baptism dates are confirmed by the parish register at Poplar All Saints. (BMD Birth Index Mar1852 Poplar 1c 613). For the other Peterken children, times between birth and baptism are from 3 to 10 months, except for Emma's 16 years! Possibly it was forgotten that she hadn't been baptized until confirmation; or perhaps, Henry James became distant from the church after 1848 - too busy, maybe theological or political reasons, or just a change in pastor! By 1868, it may have been Emma who initiated the process. She remained unmarried, her occupation in census returns listed as Dressmaker (1871-1891). For the 1901 England Census, an "Emma Peterkin" of the right age and birthplace is the Matron of a convalescence home in Reigate, Surrey. I have not yet found her 1911 Census return, although there presumably should be one. When she died 21 Jun 1927, administration was originally granted to her sister Jane, but when she died in 1932, administration was awarded to her niece, Mary Ann Blacketer (wife of TJ Blacketer above, and my great grandmother). Her BMD Death Index entry is Emma Peterken Jun1927 W Ham 4a 205 Age: 77.

So there they are, Henry James and Mary Simpson Peterken, and their nine children. Much information here, but the most pleasing to me are the personal touches - the photograph of Henry James, and the image of his handiwork. Many thanks again to the contributors. I would be happy to hear from others who have family images or recollections to share.

Thomas Babbage: Shipwright and Gentleman, Sir!

Among the joys I am discovering in genealogy is making the acquaintance of cousins of whom I had been unaware. Recently a Peterken cousin contacted me, and this has renewed the impetus to publish some Peterken research. The following documents the family of two Peterken in-laws: Amelia and Louisa Babbage.

My 2x great grandfather, Octavius Peterken, and his brother, William, both had wives with the maiden name Babbage. My grandmother had told me (fairly recently - about 2003) that the two brothers had married two sisters, which would make their children double cousins. I am unclear whether this constitutes family lore, or arises from a recent observation concerning their maiden names. But let's begin with the respective marriage records from parish records.

     3 November 1867 at Bethnal Green, St Philip's
     Octavius Peterken      Age:19 Bachelor Printer         70 Sussex Street
                                                                     father: Henry James Peterken Printer
     Amelia Ann Babbage Age:19 Spinster                     13 Northumberland Street
                                                                     father: Thomas William Babbage Shipwright

     22 May 1870 at Stepney, St Dunstan and All Saints
     William Peterken        Age: 24 Bachelor Compositor 64 Jubilee Street
                                                                       father: Henry James Peterken Printer
     Louisa Babbage         Age: 19 Spinster                      64 Jubilee Street
                                                                       father: Thomas Babbage         Gentleman

Occupations are great when they corroborate a story, or if they are able to completely refute one, but Gentleman is such a loose term that Thomas Babbage could well be a Shipwright and a Gentleman, depending on how he wanted to present himself. My only doubt arises because in nearly all other records I could find, he is listed as Boat Builder or Shipwright; this is the only record describing his rank or occupation as Gentleman.

Shipbuilding must have changed dramatically during Thomas's lifetime. The two main shipping innovations were the screw-driven steamer replacing sailing vessels, and a shift from wooden hulls to iron. This did not happen overnight; even by the twentieth century there markets in which sail was still competitive. But even by the time of the iconic Cutty Sark, sailing clippers were on their way out for time-sensitive cargoes. "Boat builder" might also suggest the smaller inland vessels that kept the Thames working, rather than ocean-going vessels. However, I do not know what kind of boats or ships Thomas built during his lifetime, or how technology changed his work.

The 1841 England Census finds him at Featherstone Buildings, Limehouse, Middlesex with his parents William (45, Shipwright) and Sarah (45), and children (presumably) Thomas (15, Apprentice Shipwright), Edmund (15) and Charlotte (9). The two 15 years are probably each rounded to the nearest 5 with Thomas older than Edmund. None of them is born in Middlesex. His parents are my 4x great grandparents.

In fact, they were from Pembroke in Wales according to the 1851 England Census in which Thomas (29, Boat Builder) is now married to Martha (25) and with children Thomas (4) and Amelia(1). Their marriage record is:
     26 December 1842 at St Mary, Stratford Bow
     Thomas Babbage    Full        Bachelor  Boat Builder Bow
                                                                    father: William Babbage Shipwright
     Martha Jarvis           Full        Spinster                      Bow
                                                                    father: William Jarvis      Hairdresser

By 1861, Thomas (39) and Martha (25) have, in addition to Thomas (15) and Amelia (12), Louisa (10), William (8), Edward (4) and James (1). The Edward is probably Edmund.

By 1871 the children are joined by Walter (born about 1863) and George (born about 1866), although Thomas had died in 1866, and Amelia and Louisa had both married Peterken boys (in 1867 and 1870 respectively).

These are all the children I could find from census returns and it is still possible that any child born and died between censuses would have left no record. On searching for baptismal records, I found Mary Ann Elizabeth Babbage, born 10 February 1844, and baptized at Limehouse St Ann on 22 February 1846. She shows up in the 1851 England Census in the household of Benjamin and Sarah Jermin, as niece, Sarah being Martha's sister.

Thomas William was baptized at Limehouse St Ann 3 May 1846 (born 11 April 1846). In this and the Mary Ann Elizabeth record, Thomas's occupation is given as Boat Builder. I find no baptismal records for Amelia, Louisa or William, but Edmund, James Digby, Walter Frederick and George Charles Babbage were all baptized on 3 July 1868 at Poplar, All Saints. Again, Thomas's occupation is Boat Builder.

From parish marriage records for his children:
     Thomas William Babbage in 1875 Thomas Babbage Boat Builder
     Edmund Babbage in 1877 Thomas Babbage Boat Builder
     James Digby Babbage in 1888 Thomas Babbage Boat Builder
     Walter Babbage in 1886 Thomas Babbage Boat Builder
but note:
     George Charles Babbage in 1892 has Thomas Babbage Wheelwright - probably a misremembering of Shipwright. Thomas Babbage was not there to correct the clerk, having died the year before.


After Martha Babbage died in 1874 (BMD Death Index Dec1874 Poplar 1c 568 Age:49), Thomas remarried:
     16th September 1877 at Bromley, St Leonard's.
      Thomas Babbage    Full        Widower  Boat Builder Bromley
                                                                         father: William Babbage Shipwright
      Maria Oakley Suddrick Full  Widow                         Bromley
                                                                         father: Garrett Jacobs     Labourer

The 1881 England Census has Thomas (61, Boat Builder) and Maria (57) with their youngest children: James (21, Boat Builder), Walter (19, Sawyer) and George (15, Printer's Boy - for Henry James Peterken perhaps?). By 1891 Thomas (71, Boat Builder) and Maria (67) are at the same address with their grown son George (25, Printer). This is the last census for Thomas Babbage since his BMD Death Index is Dec1891 Poplar 1c 465 Age:70.

For the census data transcript errors abound. We have Babye, Bottage and Ballay, which appear to be modern misreadings. Alternative readings had already been added before I came to the records, making my work much easier. Some earlier 1840's records have Babage, and possibly the spelling did not settle down to Babbage until about 1850. Thomas's place of birth is given as Wales in 1851 (specifically Pembroke), 1861, and 1891, but Limehouse, Middlesex 1871 and Shearness, Kent 1881!

In spite of the rank/occupation of "Gentleman" on the marriage record for Louisa Babbage and William Peterken, I am inclined to accept that Louisa is Amelia Ann's sister. Their ages at marriage match the census records closely enough to be plausible. Nor can I find another Louisa, daughter of Thomas of the right age. In 1862, Henry James Peterken, as father of the bride, lists his occupation as High Bailiff, when in all other documents, he is a Printer, so possibly these anomalies are not uncommon.

So there is the family of Thomas Babbage, Shipwright and Gentleman.