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Re: Double murder in Petts Wood, nr Bromley

Posted: Thu Jan 02, 2014 8:23 pm
by Currie
Hello Lorna,

They’ve been fiddling around with the PhotoBucket site since I last used it, and sending me lots of spam, so I’m not sure what’s going on there. Probably a case of it wasn’t broke so they fixed it.

I have an email address from a few years back and have sent copies there. Please let me know if they don’t turn up.

Could this be the fellow?

The Pall Mall Gazette (London), Friday, October 6, 1871
MARRIAGES.
WAIN—WHOMES. —On the 4th. inst., at St. Stephen’s, Dulwich, by the Rev. W. Calvert, Mr. Henry Louis Wain, of St. Mary’s Cray, to Maria Charlotte, eldest surviving daughter of Mr. R. Whomes, Chislehurst.

All the best,
Alan

Re: Double murder in Petts Wood, nr Bromley

Posted: Thu Jan 02, 2014 8:57 pm
by Lorna Allison
Hello Alan

Yes that is the Henry Wain but he is marrying his second wife. He married Mary Ann Ellis and they had two children Florence and Albert then she died in 1871 when they were just 5 and 2 respectively.

Florence is at home in Census 1881 aged 14 with a Charles Henry RICHARDS aged 40 odd staying in the household. Then 1885 Florence and Charles marry and produce son Charles Albert Richards the same year. Subsequent birth of Doris 2 years later but by 1891 Census Florence is a widow. She is still living with her two children in 1911 and Charles is clerk in a surveyors office. This will be the gentleman in Bromley to whom TA Bushell referred in his letter and I did not mention him in case he could still be alive, but there you go the family historians leave their precious footprints behind for us.

I found the family of murdered Henry and 1st wife Mary: Thomas b. 1836, Mary Ann b. 1839; Sarah b. 1844; Elizabeth b. 1846 and Harriet (mine) b. 1851. So she was the youngest and did have two sisters called Elizabeth and Sarah (who were not twins but close enough for the census taker or father to get confused!)

I am really happy with all of that and thrilled with the drawings from the Police Gazette. :shock:

Not understanding why I can't track down Edward Ellis's secon marriage. I can't imagine a gamekeeper of 40 odd years with the one master living in sin. The only marriage to an Elizabeth I can track down is before his 1st wife died so I am not taking that on board either! However, I def. reckon that we have the right Edward and Mary as parents of my Harriet Ellis.

Thanks again

Lorna

Re: Double murder in Petts Wood, nr Bromley

Posted: Fri Jan 03, 2014 10:01 pm
by Lorna Allison
Hello Sarah

Having received an amazing collection of newspaper info and sketches from Alan I sent off "Hooray" messages to a cousin in the direct line and to my son - you know the kind \:D/ \:D/

Son came back with the link to the Kent Historical Society who have a wonderful online database of MI's freely accessible to all.

http://www.history.org.uk/resources/pub ... s_647.html

Guess what I found?

263.
Granite tomb: In affectionate remembrance of Edward and Elizabeth ELLIS who died by the hand of an assassin in Petts Wood, St Paul’s Cray Common on Sunday 31st Oct 1880 aged respectively 74 and 60 years. On the south side: Sacred to the memory of Mary the beloved wife of Edward Ellis d. 5 Dec 1871 aged 61 years.

So that clarifies the 2nd wife thing but still don't know Elizabeth's maiden name. I found the daughter called Sarah listed under "ELLISS" so maybe there is a name thing too with the 2nd marriage

Hallowe'en - wonder if that had a bearing not helped by a few hours in the pub?

Turns out the assassin was insane (brought on by an injury while serving with the metropolitan police after which he had been unconscious for 3 weeks and then just returned to the police force. His parents were never told of the accident and he was later discharged from the force for "misdemeanours". His parents tried their best to cope with him but to no avail and following heart rending public supplications from his mother and diagnosis from two doctors at his trial he was spared the gallows and sent to an asylum.

There were reckoned to be about 1,500 people at The Ellis funeral headed by Earl Sydney and other dignitaries while poor young Joseph Waller had to run the gauntlet of a lynch mob and baying crowds at one court appearance.

I am going to be able to research my Blackneys, Ellis'; Wains; Whomes; through this inscription database and frankly am in Family History heaven O:)

Cheers and thanks to you both

Lorna

Re: Double murder in Petts Wood, nr Bromley

Posted: Sat Jan 04, 2014 12:28 am
by SarahND
=D> Great news, Lorna! Do let us know if you find out Elizabeth's maiden surname.

I knew 2014 was going to be a good year for family history 8)

Cheers,
Sarah

Re: Double murder in Petts Wood, nr Bromley

Posted: Sat Jan 04, 2014 12:54 pm
by nelmit
SarahND wrote:=D> Great news, Lorna! Do let us know if you find out Elizabeth's maiden surname.

I knew 2014 was going to be a good year for family history 8)

Cheers,
Sarah

Looks like her name was Bullingham and she married Edward at St George Hanover Square, London in 1876.

In 1871 she is housekeeper for Mr Berens.

By the way Alan those links to the Illustrated Police News worked fine for me...........they were amazing! :D

Regards,
Annette

Re: Double murder in Petts Wood, nr Bromley

Posted: Sat Jan 04, 2014 1:44 pm
by SarahND
nelmit wrote: In 1871 she is housekeeper for Mr Berens.
That clinches it! Great find, Annette :D

[cheers]
Sarah

Re: Double murder in Petts Wood, nr Bromley

Posted: Sat Jan 04, 2014 4:34 pm
by Lorna Allison
Great work Annette, thanks so much. Everything all dovetailing nicely together, I am thrilled.

Of my two boys one clearly stated that he would like to be the curator of the family history files after my demise. I sent him details of this find and he is now asking me questions and sending me on possible links to look at.

He seems to be falling into the family history trap of getting enmeshed in the story ie. "Wonder what happened to Joseph Waller, suppose he would be in the Asylum for the rest of his life?" and so on................

Maybe the files won't just be thrown in a skip then :roll:

Anyway, next holiday break down to Chichester as the National Trust were donated a chunk of Petts Wood and the gamekeeper's cottage was being used to house the warden in 1996. If I ask nicely maybe they will let me in. :-

Thanks all round folks

Lorna

Re: Double murder in Petts Wood, nr Bromley

Posted: Sun Jan 05, 2014 1:17 pm
by Currie
Hello Annette,

Part of the trouble with the PhotoBucket links was that they were displaying my full name as well as my user name. That’s a new PB innovation. I’m now nameless at PB and have restored the links.

Nice going with the marriage.

All the best,
Alan

Re: Double murder in Petts Wood, nr Bromley

Posted: Sat Jan 25, 2014 7:06 pm
by Lorna Allison
A quick update. I am all booked up for a long weekend in Chislehurst. The National Trust warden in Petts Wood is happy to show us round his home - the original gamekeeper's house - and the Chislehurst Society tell me that my gt gt grandfather's story featured in their 2013 Hallowe'en event for the local children :shock: .

We are even staying at the Bull's Head which also looks much the same (outside) as in 1880. Fortunately the inside appears to have moved with the times.

I am so grateful for all the help which made this story come to life.

Regards

Lorna

Re: Double murder in Petts Wood, nr Bromley

Posted: Sat Jan 25, 2014 7:14 pm
by SarahND
Sounds like fun, Lorna! Do let us know how it goes.

[cheers]
Sarah