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
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.
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.
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