Vera Gertrude Pullum nee Taylor (1916-2002)

Vera was a sister of my father, Eric William Taylor (1913-2003). This profile contains information from Vera’s daughter Valerie.

Vera was born on 22 February 1916 in Abbey Wood, Erith. She was the second child of William Taylor and his wife Gertrude (nee Wilkins). They also had two boys, Eric (b1913) and Ronald (b1918).

In 1919 William, Gertrude and their children were living at 51 Charles St, Woolwich, which was the address of Gertrude’s older sister Ethel Suter nee Wilkins (b1881), whose husband had died in 1914. Ethel had a daughter, Doris (b1903), and a son, Herbert (b1906).

Herbert Suter died of influenza on 12 February 1919 aged 12. A week later, Vera’s mother Gertrude also died of influenza, aged 29. They were victims of a pandemic that killed many millions of people across the world.

In 1920 William married Ethel Suter in Woolwich. He was 30 and she 39. William and Ethel had a daughter, Betty Ethel Taylor, who was born in 1921. William and his family continued to live at 51 Charles Street until 1933 although in 1921 it was renamed 16 Brewer St. The house was at the northern end of Brewer Street, not far from St Mary’s Church. The site of the house is now occupied by John Wilson Street, a dual carriageway that forms part of the South Circular Road (A205).

In 1922, when aged 6, Vera contracted diptheria and was in hospital for over 1 year. She was back in hospital aged 8 years for an operation to treat mastoiditis (a serious complication arising from ear inflammation), which left her totally deaf.

Vera told Valerie some childhood memories. She recalled sitting at the dining table with Eric and Ron eating a meal and was not aware that a row was taking place until a shoe thrown by her stepmother Ethel at her father William, passed her face! Also, Vera and her brothers were made to play in the street every day and so used to pray for rain so they could go indoors! Ethel died in 1933 aged 51, when Vera was 16.

Vera attended Oak Lodge School for the Deaf in Clapham, London, first as a day pupil, then as a full time boarder. Vera recalled that on her first day at Oak Lodge, her father took her on the bus, leaving her to return on her own. She got lost and finally arrived home to find her father standing in the middle of the road outside their house in the dark looking for her. She was very clever, despite her disability, attaining a scholarship. Vera was taught dressmaking, like all the girls at the school. She then worked as a dressmaker near Piccadilly Circus for a few years.

Vera and her family moved to 105 Brookhill Road, Woolwich in 1933, where her father ran a confectioner’s shop. The house was close to the junction with Angelsea Road. It no longer exists, its site is now occupied by the garden of a block of flats.

On 11 September 1937, Vera married Frank Adolphus Pullum at All Saints Church, Newington in South London. He was a French polisher aged 24, she a dressmaker aged 21. Frank was also deaf. They lived at 43 Bannockburn Road, Plumstead and then purchased 111 Willersley Avenue. Sidcup on 26^th February 1941 for £462-7-6d.

Their daughter Valerie was born in 1944. They had another baby girl who lived only a few days (Vera also had several miscarriages). Vera and Valerie were evacuated to Leeds for a number of months in 1944 to get away from bombing in London.

Frank, Vera and Valerie c1946

Vera’s husband Frank died of bronchopneumonia in 1964 aged 51. She continued to live at 111 Willersley Avenue, with her daughter Valerie. Vera worked at the dressmakers “Rhodes”, The Oval, Sidcup until 1981, when she retired aged 65.

In May 1979 Vera moved to 126 Greenvale Road, Eltham with Valerie and her second husband. They lived there until June 2000 when they moved to Tankerton, near Whitstable in Kent. Vera died on 10 December 2002 aged 86.

Valerie and Vera in 1988

I remember Vera as a small, pleasant lady. Because of her deafness, she wasn’t able to hear her own voice, which made it difficult for her to speak clearly. However, she could lip read well and seemed to enjoy life (with the help of Valerie) in spite of her disability.

Harriett Jane Himbury nee Taylor (1881-1947)

Harriett was my great aunt, she was an elder sister of my grandfather William Taylor. This profile of her life contains some information and photos supplied by Christine Hughes, her granddaughter.

Harriett was born on December 21st 1881 in India, while her father George Taylor, who was a soldier in the Royal Artillery, was serving there. Her mother was Margaret Taylor nee Smiles. Harriett was the fourth of their ten children (seven boys and three girls). The GRO index of regimental births spells her name as Harriet, but most other documents that refer to her record it as Harriett, so this is what I shall call her. Harriett was baptised on January 22nd 1882 in Nowgong, a town which was an important centre during British rule of India. Nowgong is in central India, 550 km SE of New Dehli. The baptism record says that George Taylor was a Corporal.

George left the army in about 1886 and moved to Charlton (in SE London). The 1891 census shows George Taylor (aged 41, a labourer) and Margaret (36) living at 9 West Street, Charlton with their children George (14), Ernest (12), Harriett (9), Charles (6), Margaret (4) and Thomas (2) and William (10 months). From their address and George’s occupation, it seems that the family didn’t have much money.

By 1901 the family were living at 7 West Street, Charlton and consisted of George (aged 50, a labourer local board), Margaret (47), George (24, a covering machinist), Harriett Jane (19, a covering machinist), Charles (16, a covering machinist), Margaret (14, a daily servant), William (10), Samuel (9) and May (6). Margaret’s father died in 1903 aged 54.

Harriett married Edwin Alfred Himbury on August 18^th 1910 at All Saints Church, Plumstead. They were both aged 28. Edwin was born in Woolwich and was a milkman. The 1911 census shows the couple living at 141 Sellincourt Road, Tooting and Edwin as a “milk roundman”. Electoral registers show them at 137 Sellincourt Road in 1913 and 1915.

Harriett and Edwin in 1910

Edwin joined the army on 12^th November 1915 to fight in the war. As this was before conscription was introduced, he must have volunteered. By then he had three children, Edwin Terence (1911-99), Percy (1913-69) and Lucy Gertrude (1915-2000).

Edwin Alfred, Percy, Edwin Terence, Harriet Jane and Lucy Gertrude Himbury in 1915.

Edwin was wounded in the leg during the war, but survived and was discharged from the army in 1919. He moved to 86 Princes Road, Plumstead where he and Harriett had three more children, Alma Margaret (1920-82), Leslie John (1921-83) and Frank Leonard (1923-99). 

The 1921 census shows Edwin (aged 38), Harriett (39), Terence (9), Percy (8), Lucy (6) and Alma (1) Himbury at 86 Princes Road. Edwin was a general labourer in the Royal Artillery Stores at Kidbrooke.

Apparently Harriett was a strong character. She was quite small but ruled her household with an iron fist ! She kept her sons in order and also told her husband what to do.

Electoral registers show Edwin and Harriett at 86 Princes Road until 1938 (when their children Edwin and Percy were also listed here).

The 1939 Register records that Edwin (a fitter's labourer) and Harriett were living at 68 Charlton Park Lane in Charlton. The 1945 Electoral Register shows that shows that their son Frank and his wife Alice were also living at this address.

Harriett died in 1947 aged 65 at St Alfege’s Hospital, Greenwich. She was buried in Charlton Cemetery. The grave (Q / 62) has kerbstones which are inscribed

In loving memory of a dear wife and mother, HARRIETT JANE HIMBURY who died 5^th July 1947 aged 65 years.

In loving memory of Dad, EDWIN ALFRED HIMBURY who died 10^th August 1965 aged 83 years.

The grave of Harriett and Edwin Himbury (in 2012)

Probate records state that authority for administration of Harriett's estate (£296) was granted to her husband Edwin, a retired armourer’s assistant. The fact that probate was required shows that she had some money registered under her own name. Edwin continued to live at 68 Charlton Park Lane until he died in 1965. He was buried in the same grave as his wife.

David Herbert Cornwell (1829-87), tailor

David Herbert Cornwell was a son of James Cornwell (1791-1870), who was a brother of Job Cornwell (1780-1869), my great, great, great grandfather on my father’s side.

David was born during 1829 in the Essex town of Kelvedon and baptised on 7 June 1829 in St Mary’s Church. He was the fourth of six children born to James Cornwell, an agricultural labourer who had married Mary Martin in 1823. James is thought to be one of the gang of men who destroyed the village cage (prison) in 1809 and he later spent time in prison for fraud and theft.¹

The 1841 census of Kelvedon records James Cornwell (aged 50, an agricultural labourer) in the same household as his wife Mary (45) and their children David (11), Jonah (9) and Charles Cornwell (7).

David was apprenticed as a tailor. The 1851 census shows James (aged 60), his wife Mary (50) and their son David (21, a tailor) living in Kelvedon. The address is not given but was probably Church Hill (from comparison with information in the 1861 census).

On 22^nd June 1854 David married Ann Braybrook (who was born in Great Braxted, near Kelvedon) at St Mary Stratford by Bow, Poplar. He was aged 25 and she was 36, the daughter of a gardener. They had three children namely Charles (b1855), Eliza (b1856) and Alfred (b1858).

The 1861 census shows David H Cornwell (aged 31, a tailor employing 1 man and 1 boy) with his wife Ann (42) and their children Charles (6), Eliza (5) and Alfred (3), living in High St, Kelvedon.

John Nichols (1820-89, a land steward) and his brother Henry Nichols (1829-1902, a builder and carpenter) lived in Kelvedon and took many photos of Kelvedon and its inhabitants between 1858 and 1871. The Essex Record Office has 198 of their glass plate negatives. Photographs from these are printed in a book “Victorian Kelvedon”.² One is a street scene (shown below) which includes David Cornwell standing next to a horse and cart. His right hand is touching the wide-brimmed hat (known as a “wide-awake”) he is wearing.

 In 1871 David (aged 41) was listed as a tailor (employing one man) and a seedgrower of 13 acres (employing one man and 2 boys). Also at his address in High St, Kelvedon were his wife Ann (51) and children Charles (16, a carpenter’s apprentice) and Eliza (14). The soil and climate of Kelvedon were particularly favourable to growing seeds for flowers, which were becoming increasingly popular in the suburbs of large towns. A number of farmers and smallholders chose to produce seeds and often ran another business at the same time.³

David Herbert Cornwell, tailor is recorded in the Kelvedon section of Kelly’s Directories for Essex issued in 1871, 74, 78, 82 and 86. The 1886 edition also lists David Cornwell, seed grower.

Apparently David also used his skills to sew up flesh wounds and his most regular client for this service was Mr James Gerard, who ran a butcher’s shop nearby ! This story was told by his grand daughter to Graham Wheldon, a local historian.¹

In 1881, David Cornwell (aged 51, a tailor) is listed as living in Church Street, Kelvedon. In the same household were his wife Ann (63) and son Alfred (23, a seed grower). Also listed were Clara Braybrook (6), a visitor (who was presumably related to Ann) and two boarders.

David’s address is given as High Street in 1861 and 71, Church Street in 1881. Examination of the names of nearby properties in the census shows that the address referred to is the same one in each case, being in what is called St Mary’s Square at the western end of the High Street. David’s house was approximately opposite the Angel Inn and was between London Road and Church Street, roads that lead off St Mary’s Square. The censuses do not say whether where he lived was also where he ran his tailoring business, but it seems likely that it was.

David died at Kelvedon in 6 April 1887 aged 58. He had made a will in 1874 in which he left everything to his wife Ann and appointed her as the sole executrix of his estate. However, the probate records describe David as a widower and say that Ann died in his lifetime. Administration was therefore granted to his son Alfred Cornwell of Witham, a tailor. The gross value of David’s personal estate was £578 15s which is equivalent to about £250,000 now (estimated in relation to average earnings then and now).                                                             

Information Sources

1. G H Wheldon (1999) Church Street Chronicles

2. G H Wheldon and R V Carter (2005) Victorian Kelvedon : The Photography of the Nichols Brothers

3. J Colquhoun (2001) A Short History of Kelvedon and Feering

James Cornwell (1791-1870), convict

James Cornwell was a younger brother of my great, great, great grandfather Job Cornwell (1780-1869).

James was born in 1791 and baptised on 13 March 1791 at St Mary, Kelvedon in Essex. His parents were Job (1756-1806) and Hannah Cornwell. He was the sixth of their seven children.

The book “Church Street Chronicles” written by Graham Weldon and published in 1999 by the Feering and Kelvedon Local History Museum recounts the following story. In 1809 (or thereabouts) Isaac Warwicker, a Kelvedon man got drunk, swore at James Tumner, a local constable and tried to punch him. Tumner overpowered Warwicker and marched him off to the village cage, a small building used to temporarily imprison those who disturbed the peace. Later a group of Warwicker’s friends led by Bob Foster lifted the cage off its brick plinth and overturned it, causing irreparable damage and allowing Warwicker to escape. Foster foolishly boasted to Tumner that the cage was destroyed and was subsequently tried before a local magistrate. He refused to give the names of his accomplices and was sentenced to 14 days in goal. The story was investigated by the Reverend Francis Hay MA, vicar of Kelvedon from 1891 to 1922. Hay understood that one of the gang was James Cornwell, who was 18 in 1809.

In 1823 James married Mary Martin in Kelvedon. He was 32 and she 23. They had six children namely Charlotte (b1824), Maria (b1825), Job (b1827, died as an infant) David Herbert (b1829), Jonah (b1830) and Charles (b1833) Cornwell.

Weldon writes that James Cornwell had served 6 weeks imprisonment for fraud and 6 months in Springfield Goal for theft by his early forties. The Essex Criminal Registers show that a James Cornwell was convicted of fraud in 1832 and sentenced to 6 weeks in prison.

The 1841 census of Kelvedon records James Cornwell (aged 50, an agricultural labourer) in the same household as Mary (45), James (29), David (11), Jonah (9) and Charles Cornwell (7).

The 1851 census shows James (aged 60), his wife Mary (50) and their son David (21) living in Kelvedon. The address is not given but was probably Church Hill (from nearby addresses).

James’s wife died sometime between 1851 and 1861 as he is listed as a widower in the 1861 census. He is shown as an agricultural labourer aged 70 at Church Hill, Kelvedon with Frances Rutkin aged 58 as his housekeeper.

James Cornwell died in 1870 aged 79.