GEORGE ARTHUR PERRY 1851-1934
WHO ARE YOU MR P?
As with many people, my interest in genealogy started shortly after the death of my father. He had distanced himself from his family and rarely talked about them, so I really was starting from scratch. Small recollections of him speaking of an Uncle Ted, Uncle Percy, Uncle Ernie, Uncle Les and Auntie Dorrie, helped with a few of the names, whilst he also spoke of an older Uncle in Australia. Stories of his grandparents were sparce, he recalled a man, who wore a fez and smoking jacket and recalled that he had married the 'Nanny'. And so from these few snippets, so the the journey to find out 'Who are you Mr P?' began.
So where to begin with the story, well if I relayed the information as it
was found, we would begin at the end and worked back to the mid 1870's
until the brick wall was broken down when an incident occurred in 1881,
which paved the way in finding the elusive early history due to a name
change.
The quest to find information has been helped along the way with
information shared by other members of the family, to whom I am most
grateful, especially J. Perry, who's earlier information set me on my
way and J.M. who broke the 'wall' down.
George Arthur Pye was born in the Atacama region of Chile in approx 1851.
A baptism record can be found on www.familysearch.org
Chile Baptisms
Jorje Segundo Pije-Randolff
Fathers Name Jorje Segundo Pije-Randolff
Gender Male Christening Date 24 Mar 1851
Christening Place Vallenar, Atacama, Chile Father's Name Jorje Pije
Mother's Name Rosa Randolff
His father George Pye, a surgeon and his mother Margery 'Rosella' Randolph married in 1842. Their first child Rosa del Prado Pye was baptised in 1848 in Chile, George Arthur was their only son and their youngest daughter, Beatrice was also baptised in Chile in 1854.
The reason why
this couple moved to Chile can only be guessed at. There is evidence that
Rosella's elder brother was in Chile at this time, he actually remained there.
They would have been amongst the early settlers, the voyage taking
just over a month from the UK. The Atacama region was mainly associated with
mining, saltpeta and silver and the export of guano, as fertiliser. Information from Chilean people.
No other
information has been found, regarding the family's life in Chile. However an
addition to George Pye's father, Thomas' gravestone indicates that George Pye
died in Buenos Aires in 1855, which could indicate that the family may have
been on their way home to the UK, when he died.
A widowed Rosella and her children are found at 6 East Cottages, Lambeth, in the 1861 census.
1861
England, Wales & Scotland Census
Transcription
East
Cottages, 6, Lambeth, London, England
Household Members
First Last Relation Marital Gen A Birth
Occupa
Birth place
name(s) name ship status der ge year tion
|
Margery
Pye ... |
Fem Head Widow 35
1826 ale |
New Romney, - Kent, England |
|
|
Rosetta ... Pye |
Fem Daughter
Unmarried 12 1849 ale |
Scholar South America |
|
|
George Pye Arthur |
Son Unmarried Male9 1852 |
Scholar South America |
|
|
Beatrice Pye Jane |
Fem Daughter
Unmarried 6 1855 ale |
Scholar South America |
|
Sadly in 1863,
there is a death record for Rosella Pye registered within Westminster district.
The certificate indicates that Rosella committed suicide, having taken laudenum at the home of her parents.
This document indicates that Rosella appears to have experienced episodes of anxiety/depression. Verbal evidence at the inquest, indicates that a young George would contact his Grandfather at these times and Rosella and her family would stay with her parents for a few days until her mood improved. It was during one of these stays that Rosella accessed the laudanum from her fathers surgery whilst the family were out.
On 11th Nov 1865,
their grandmother, William Mary Randolph also died at 55 Marsham St of an
infection related to Carcinoma Mamarea (Breast cancer) of 3year duration.
In the 1871 census
Rosa and Thomas Harland are found living in Tonbridge Kent, whilst Beatrice is
living with multiple others in Newington and working as a milliner. Meanwhile
George Arthur Pye is found at Woolwich Barracks, a bombadier in the Royal
Artillery, Royal Horse Infirmary and Military Camps and Remount Establishment.
From a document found on FindmyPast, it would appear that George Arthur's career took a downward turn and on the 7th July 1874, George was discharged from Woolwich for Ignominy, and given a V.Bad character reference. He was discharged with no pension.
Because there are some discrepancies, in that the number of days served before discharge would not amount to what would be expected of someone who has been in the military for 3 years and to seek clarification that the George Arthur Pye, documented in the 1871 census and the George Pye discharged for Ignominy in 1874 are one and the same, with the help of a researcher further documents related to George Arthur's military career have been accessed from the National Archive. The following information can be found within the following documents.
George Arthur Pye
joined the Royal Artillery at Woolwich on 3rd Jan 1870, aged 18 years 9 months.
His previous occupation was a clerk.
From the Muster records it would appear that George Arthur was reported to have deserted on the 31st Mar 1871, which interestingly this indicates that he had absconded prior to the 1871 census on which he is listed. Researching regimental details it would suggest that G.A's desertion was days before a posting to India.
|
|
From this time,
it appears that George Arthur Pye disappears, until 1881, where the link to
George Arthur Perry becomes apparent.
THE EMERGENCE OF THE PERRY SURNAME
In 1875 Arthur
Perry, a bachelor and son of George Perry, surgeon is shown to marry Elizabeth
Goodall, a widow from Bishop Auckland, by license at St Margaret's Coventry
Parish of St Margaret, Coventry, Warwickshire.
Groom: ----ur Perry (from signature) age: 27 bachelor occ: Accounts
clerk, address: Hereford St. father: George Perry occ D. of Medicine.
Bride: ----beth Goodall (from signature) age 39: Widow address: Bishop
Auckland C. of Durham father: Robert James occ: farmer.
Both parties gave
misinformation in relation to their ages, Arthur adding years, Elizabeth taking
them off. Also, Robert was in fact an Ag Labourer rather than a farmer.
ELIZABETH GOODALL nee JAMES:
Elizabeth James
was baptised at Charlton, Wiltshire 14 Mar 1824 the daughter of Robert
(labourer) and Mary.
The next
reference to her is in the 1851 census
She is working as
a house servant to the Price family, farmers in Quenington Gloucs, she gives
her age as 24.
In 1855 there is
a marriage 15 August 1855 in Charlton nr Malmsbury Wilts.
Groom George
Goodall s. of Joseph Goodall
Bride Elizabeth
James. d. of Robert James
George Goodall
b.1826 Quenington Gloucs an agricultural labourer
1861 census:
George and Elizabeth have moved to Bishop Auckland, where George is employed as
a county constable. They have a son, John b. 1856 Marske Durham.
By 1868 George had been promoted to Sergeant
Newcastle
Journal 25 Jan 1868 Clever Capture:
On Thursday
night, Sgt Goodall of the Bishop Auckland police, made a clever capture of a
brass stealer in Bondgate, Bishop Auckland. The sergeant who is an adept as a
detective had received information of a man offering some brass for sale in the
town, and was on the lookout, when he saw the prisoner, a powerful looking man
having the appearance of an engine cleaner, in Bondgate, and took home into
custody. On being searched, several articles, of a questionable character were
found on him, comprising of a brass whistle and two brass cups belonging to a
locomotive engine, which he stated he had got from Durham, and afterwards that
he had bought them from a lad near Newcastle. He was bought before the
magistrate yesterday and remanded until Monday. In the meantime, an owner for
the articles will perhaps turn up.
1871 census.
George and Elizabeth are now living in The Court Inn High Bondgate, Bishop
Auckland. George is recorded as Innkeeper. Both George and Elizabeth's recorded
ages are 10 years younger.
George Goodall
died 3 Dec 1872. His probate record 27 Mar 1873.
GEORGE GOODALL
effects under £100 27 March. The Will of George Goodall late of High Bondgate,
Bishop Auckland in the County of Durham, Innkeeper who died 3rd December 1872
at High Bondgate was proved at Durham by Elizabeth Goodall of High Bondgate
Widow
Elizabeth Perry died in 1877.
Date and Place: 18 Feb 1877 Station View Bishop Auckland
Name Elizabeth Perry female
Age: 42 (in fact she was 53)
Occ: Wife of Arthur Perry, solicitors’ clerk
Cause of Death: Fatty liver, certified by V Hutchinson MD
Informant: X mark of Eliza Evans Present at death. Station View Bishop
Auckland
Registration date: 23 Feb 1877
Newspaper reports
regarding a dispute between Arthur Perry and Elizabeth and George Goodall’s
son, John, indicate Arthur's whereabouts over the next couple of years and
although there are some discrepancies in dates and information these and
further court cases all appear to relate to the period post Elizabeth's death.
Northern Echo 17th Oct 1877
In 1878 the following articles featured in the local papers
Northern Echo 25 Mar 1878
Durham Assizes:- Percy (Perry) v Goodall and Another.
Newcastle Journal 29 Mar 1878
Before Baron
Pollack
Perry v Goodall
& Another
The plaintiff,
Perry, was a solicitors clerk at Bishop Auckland and in December 1875 he
married the widow of a Mr Goodall, who was the owner of the Court Inn, Bishop
Auckland at the will of her late husband. She had by that will, a life interest
in the estate and property, after which her son, John Goodall, one of the
defendants, was heir. There was no doubt a disparity in years between the
plaintiff and his wife as she was about 10 or 12 years older than her was (*in
fact she was 27 years older!), but it appeared she was to his taste and he to
hers and they lived happily together. At the time Mrs Goodall married the
defendants were both minors, being 16 or 17 years of age. After living in the
public house a short time, the plaintiff retired into private life. To the
furniture, which they had when the plaintiff had Mrs Goodall, a great deal had
been added. In Feb 1876 , the plaintiff's wife died, and for some time after
the plaintif and defendants continued to live on friendly terms. On the 21st February
the plaintiff went to his place of business as usual and after being there for
a short time he was informed that strange proceedings were going on in his
house. The plaintiff immediately went home and found the defendants carrying
away furniture and everything helter-skelter. In fact they took everything and
did not leave the plaintiff even a bed or a chair. The plaintiff remonstrated
with them and told them that the things were his, but they took no heed of him.
In addition to taking these away they broke open a box and took out £60 in
banknotes, receipts and invoices and also letters that had passed between the
plaintiff and his late wife. There was a counter claim by the defendants for
the amount of the goodwill of the house which had belonged to their father.
After some further discussion it was agreed to refer the case to arbitration
and counsel assented to Mr William Watson, of Barnard Castle, acting in that
capacity.
Interestingly at the same time as this incident is happening.
|
|
George Chilton,
Darlington, sued Sergeant Major Fox of Bishop Auckland, for the sum of £24 10sh
due on a promissory note. The amount had been lent to an accountant named
Perry, and Fox stood surety. Mr Clayhills was for the plaintiff and Mr Edwd
Wooler for the defendant. The latter said that he had told Chilton he was on
the permanent staff. He concealed nothing, but he was sorry he had ever put his
foot in it. Mr Clayhills remarked that it was sufficient he put his hand to it.
Laughing, the defendant said that Chilton was so anxious to have the job done,
he did not care who signed. On the advice of his solicitor the plaintiff
consented to be non-suited and to pay costs.
25 Oct 1879 Northern Echo
A Money lending
transaction.
Yesterday a
special sitting of the Darlington court was held before Mr E R
Turner, judge.
There was no little interest manifested in the proceedings. One of the cases
before the court came up on adjournment, that of Chilton v Fox & Perry. The
plaintiff George Chilton, a money lender sued Sergeant Major Fox, Bishop
Auckland and Arthur Perry, accountant Durham and his wife, for £24 and 10sh
interest. Mr Clayhills was for the plaintiff and Mr Edwd Wooler for the
defendants. It appeared that the plaintiff had obtained the signatures of Perry
and his wife jointly to the note, and that Fox was the surety in the case of
the loan. The defendant, Perry sold his furniture in the market place Durham.
He expected a further loan and placed a number of shares in an Insurance office
in the hands of the plaintiff. The judge ruled that the securities ought to
have been given up to the surety and therefore only gave costs against the
defendant Fox and while he found a verdict against Perry with costs.
Meanwhile in the same year as his wife's death George Arthur's last remining grandparent, John Randolph, the surgeon also died. Although he was at this time living with his second wife, his ex-maid Mary Ann Stanley, in Bessborough Gdns, a crescent of Georgian properties in Pimlico. His will, named his wife as sole beneficiary indicates that the property was rented and that his total worth was less than £1000.
Information then
goes quiet again, although there are possible links to further newspaper
reports, relating to an Arthur Perry, accountant, being late in payment to the
court on behalf of another and also possible links to charitable causes in the
Stockton area.
Marriage to Jessie Pope
It may have been
through those latter links that George Arthur met Jessie Pope, a maid in the
household of the Vicar of Mickley. For a detailed biography of the Pope family,
I suggest this link.
http://www.melville-connections.co.uk/webpages/john_pope_mystery.html Both myself, under my married family name and John Perry have been in contact
with the author, there do remain some discrepancies in relation to George
Arthur within the article.
|
|
John Perry's grandfather also wrote of his memories of his mother’s
relations and visiting them in Wick.
George Arthur
Perry and Jessie Pope married at the John Knox Presbyterian church Newcastle on
3rd Jan 1881.
Bride: Jessie Pope age 24 spinster address
Montpelier Terrace, Sunderland. Father: John Pope, deceased occ. blacksmith.
JESSIE JANET POPE:
1856 -1891. Daughter of John Pope a blacksmith and Ann Sutherland, in
Caithness, Scotland.
Bigamous marriage to Ann Maria Huggins nee Fuller: Inn-keepers widow
Groom: George Arthur Anderson, widower,
Accountant of this parish, son of George Anderson Doctor of Medicine.
Bride: Ann Maria Huggins, widow, daughter of
Richard Fuller, confectioner.
This of course in
itself is not proof that these 2 men are one and the same until you read
newspaper reports of the court case.
News report transcript
Reynolds
Newspaper (London England) Sunday October 16th, 1881 Issue 1627
Via GALE
Bow Street
Singular Bigamy George Pye age 23 describing himself as a commissioning agent, living at 11 Burleigh St, Strand was charged in front of Mr Flowers with having committed bigamy. Mr Mark Thompson prosecuted, and Mr Knight defended. The defendant was married to Annie Marie Huggins in the name of George Arthur Anderson at St Clements parish church, Barnsbury on the 28th Feb last. They cohabited together and the prisoner had obtained a gold watch, value £20 from her. It transpired that he had been previously married to Jessie Pope, but he informed the proscutrix that he had married Jessie Pope in an assumed name. The certificate of the marriage with that person was at Newcastle upon Tyne on Jan 3rd, 1881 was produced and one of the witnesses to the marriage was called in support of the case and through cross examination by Mr Knight stated that he identified the prisoner through having met him often in church and at Bible class. The prisoners Aunt was called to show that Jessie Pope was at her house the day previous to when the prisoner was arrested by Sergeant Partridge. She was however not in court to give evidence. When arrested the defendant said that he had married them both under an assumed name and that Jessie ‘had forgiven him.’ And suggested he was not quite right in the mind when he had contracted the marriages which had placed him in the position he found himself now. Mr Flowers committed him for trial.
This report from Sunderland Daily Echo and Shipping Gazette 21 Oct 1881
Ann
Marie Huggins nee Fuller: 1883-1885 was
the daughter of a confectioner and originated from Norfolk. She married John
Huggins in 1859 and they had one son, John. An earlier newspaper report
indicates that she probably was not a lady to be trifled with.
This information may help explain
why Jessie was found within the 1881 census working as a maid in the household
of the vicar of Mickley cited as single. However as yet I have been unable to
identify Arthur within this census.
George Arthur Pye was tried at the
Old Bailey and committed to 2 months hard labour at Coldbath Fields Prison.
“As he went through Coldbath Fields he saw
A solitary cell;
And the Devil was pleased, for it gave him a hint
For improving his prisons in hell.”
British History on line
As the newspaper reports suggest,
Jessie must have forgiven George Arthur, for the next documentation is that of
the birth of their son John Arthur Perry on 20th Nov 1882 at Carson House, West
Dulwich. From this time Jessie appears to have been a steadying influence on
her husband.
Family life is well documented from John's
perspective in his journal; 'By Devious Paths.' He talks of his parents work
within the Salvation Army and the middle class life he was born into.
Unfortunately Jessie developed tuberculosis and was sent to Bournemouth
sanitorium in 1889, but when it was evident that the problem was now terminal,
Jessie returned to the family home, The Vinery in Townsend Rd, St Johns Wood.
Arthur sought a private nurse and Edith Youell, the daughter of a carpenter, was
employed. Jessie died on 12 Mar 1891 and a somewhat melodramatic account was
written by her nurse, Edith, regarding the event and she is shown to have been
witness to Jessie's passing.
Again, John A Perry's account of his
younger years provide some insight in what happened after his mother's death
from his perspective, but documentary evidence would indicate that within a few
months of Jessie's death, Arthur and Edith were in a relationship. It is
interesting at this time, to recall the remarriage of his grandfather John
Randolph to his maid in Arthur's youth. Arthur and Edith were married by
licence at Clacton on 14th Sept 1891 by licence.
Marriage to Edith Youell
14
Sept 1891
Arthur
Perry 37 widower Sanitary Inspector residing in Clacton on Sea father:
George
Perry Surgeon
Edith Annie Youell 25 spinster residing Clacton on Sea
father Edward Youell
From John Arthur's account, Arthur
continued to live in St Johns Wood whilst he, John, and his 'Nanny' now
stepmother lived in lodgings in Ipswich. On 13th Mar 1892, 1 year and 1 day
after Jessie's death, Dorothy Annie Perry was born.
13 Mar 1892 10 Providence St Ipswich USD
Dorothy Annie girl father Arthur Perry, Sanitary Inspector, mother Edith Annie Perry formerly Youell, 45 Townshend Rd St John's Wood Marylebone. Registered 22 April 1892.
By the 1901 census two sons had also
been born, Edward Paul 2 Jun 1893 & Percival David 20 April 1896.
Again, John Arthur's journal concurs
with the census in that the Perry family were now residing at The Laurels in
Fingringhoe, Essex. An addition to the
family was Edith's sister, Alice Jane Youell, who died there in Aug 1902 of TB.
|
born. |
Maurice
Frederick 25 Jun 1901 and Ernest Cecil 6 Jul 1905 were both born in Fingringhoe
and further evidence of them living there are 2 newspaper advertisements.
ESSEX NEWSMAN Sat 19 Sept 1903
Houses and Land to let For Sale
Nr Wyvenhoe Station G E Ry COUNTRY RESIDENCE
Extensive views Half of newly erected detached property with use of grounds.
Low rental to Nonconformist willing to assist in Mission Work, Address Perry
Laurels Fingringhoe Essex.
ESSEX NEWSMAN Sat 18 Aug 1906
ESSEX To Let Bungalow adjoining Mission Hall. Five or Six rooms together
with half an acre of garden. Low rental or agreement: references: apply Mrs
Perry The Bungalow Fingringhoe near Colchester Es
Whilst the family continued to live
in Fingringhoe, Arthur continued to work as a sanitary inspector for Paddington
Borough Council. In 1904 he, Andrews and Yeo were appointed by parliament to
act as Inspectors for Meat Nuisances. In
1908 Arthur retired from his post with Paddington borough council, from his
resignation letter there appears that there may have been some acrimony in
relation to this.
By the 1911 census the family had
moved to 'Kelso' London Rd, Wembley, from there moving around various addresses
including Greenford and Cudham. Arthur and Edith's family were completed in
1913 when they informally adopted Dorothy's illegitimate son Leslie Mark,
bringing him up as their own.
George Arthur Perry died on Jan 28th
1935 at Warkworth House, Twickenham of Myocarditis and Senility.
This blog is the result of many years research and numerous collaborations with family members and family history forums. Is this the end of George/Arthur's story? I'm not sure, part of me feels that there may be another marriage somewhere, possibly during his military years, What was he doing at that time? Where was he? These are questions that are unlikely to be answered, but could this be a reason for the name change.
All certificates and documents are subject to crown copyright
Comments
Post a Comment