Whilst looking for information on her daughter’s marriage in 1917, I stumbled across this intriguing advertisement in the newspaper placed by Alice Ann Glaister (nee White) the same year:
“TUESDAY, 27th NOVEMBER, At 2 o’clock. On the Premises, No. 17 Springhill road, Mornington (off Glen avenue). Instructed by Mrs Glaister, who is giving up housekeeping…”
…followed by an impressive list of household possessions.
Evening Star, 26 Nov 1917, p5
I had not heard the expression, ‘giving up housekeeping’ before but it seems to refer to a time when people are no longer able to maintain their own home and need to ‘give up’ or sell their possessions.
Alice’s husband was coachbuilder, William Glaister, who died 9 November, and was buried 11 November 1917. A couple of weeks later, Alice was auctioning off her household furniture and furnishings from her home at 17 Springhill Road – where the couple had lived since at least 1890. (Their daughter, Mary, had even married at the address earlier that year.)
Interestingly, the family had starting advertising the home to be let as early as 20 October 1917. William was suffering from stomach cancer and the family probably knew his time was coming to an end and so were making preparations for the future.
Otago Daily Times, 20 Oct 1917, p9
In 1933, 16 years after William’s death, Alice died ‘at the residence of her daughter, 616 Cumberland Street’. But which daughter? She had had seven daughters and two sons.
Evening Star, 25 Nov 1933, p12
Alice’s second youngest daughter, Ada, was recorded at the Springhill Road residence with her parents in 1914. Ada would remain a spinster so this seems an obvious choice of family member to live with.
However, electoral records show that the home she died in was that of her eldest daughter, Laura, who had married Alfred Burns in 1908. The electoral rolls show her living there with her husband in 1931 and 1935.
1935 electoral roll showing Laura and Alfred at 616 Cumberland Street
Why not Ada Victoria?
Alice and Ada had been recorded moving from place to place together since 1919.
1919 – Hugh Street, Sawyers Bay (near Port Chalmers) (daughter Barbara was nearby in Glendermid – possibly even the same house)
1922 – 14 Maitland Street
1925 – 8 Jones Street
1928 – 8 Jones Street, then 117 Dundas Street
1931 – 117 Dundas Street
14 Maitland Street appeared to be some kind of boarding house based on advertisements in the newspapers.
Evening Star, 6 Oct 1925, p7
8 Jones Street was let as a 4-room house in 1924 – perhaps this was the ad seen by Alice and Ada when planning their move from Maitland Street?
Otago Daily Times, 8 Jul 1924, p12
117 Dundas Street appeared to be owned (and lived in) by an Alfred Edwin Maitland and his family until at least 1949. There appears to be no family relationship to the Glaisters so perhaps they were simply renting a room?
In 1935, Ada was still at 117 Dundas Street and remained there for at least a few more years. This suggests she had not also been living in her sister’s house when Alice died in 1933. Ada may have had some form of employment which meant she could not care for her ailing mother, but no profession was given in the electoral rolls. Alice and Ada were described throughout the electoral rolls only as ‘widow’ and ‘spinster’, but this, along with, ‘married’, seemed to be the case for all the women on the page.
Although the phrase ‘giving up housekeeping’ had initially caught my attention, it led me to a valuable insight into my 2nd great grandmother’s life after her husband died and illustrated how much her circumstances changed. Alice went from having her own 7-bedroom home for about three decades, to moving between various rentals and boarding houses, possibly relying on her daughters for support.
A map of Alice Glaister’s residences from 1917 can be seen here.
Companion post for the Geneageek’s Gems podcast episode: A Walsallian Story
(The relationship of George Ebbans and Sarah Ann Crossley was also previously discussed in the post: ‘George the Absconder‘.)
In the 1921 census, Sarah Ann Crossley was recorded in the home of her parents on 35 Farringdon Street, Walsall. Her husband was not with her and I was unable to find him elsewhere, despite George being released from military service in 1919.
Crossley family on 1921 census: 35 Farringdon Street.
I knew the couple had stayed together because they had two children who went on to have families of their own: a son, George, born in 1922, as well as a daughter, born in 1925.
1922 birth certificate of George Ebbans
George junior’s birth certificate stated that he was born at 74 Upper Green Lane, so I began to search the newspapers for that address, and struck gold! Through these newspaper reports, I was able to piece together the ‘tumultuous’ relationship of George and Sarah Ann.
George Ebbans and Sarah Ann Crossley married in Walsall on 14 June 1917, while George was home on leave from serving in the First World War. Their first child, Renee Victoria Ebbans was born 18 July 1919, and all appeared well with the couple. The following day was Peace Day, and George apparently celebrated a bit too hard, came home drunk, and abused his wife, who was still recovering from giving birth the day before. He also made the vile accusation, that little Renee was actually the child of Sarah Ann’s father. The 1920 Walsall Observer article recounts several episodes of George’s abusive behaviour, including an attack on his sister-in-law at George’s mother’s house (this would have been 140 Bridgeman Street). George blamed his lack of financial support for his wife and daughter, on his inability to work regularly due to ill-health.
Walsall Observer, 21 Feb 1920, p8, c3
The cycle of abuse, separation, and reunion continued for another five years, with Sarah Ann often taking refuge with her parents at 35 Farringdon Street. During this time, little Renee died (1921), and two sons were born, George (1922) and Sidney (1924) (Sidney died shortly after or at birth). The 1925 Walsall Observer article reported that George would be gaoled (and often) if his refusal to support his wife and child continued.
Walsall Observer, 8 Aug 1925, p5, c2
Sarah Ann had been pregnant at the time of the previous article, and their last child was born in the final quarter of 1925. By February 1926, George had still not given any money to Sarah Ann and was committed to gaol for two months.
Walsall Observer & South Staffordshire Chronicle, 6 Feb 1926, p4, c5
The last ‘sighting’ of George was in the 1930 Birmingham Daily Gazette, when he was sentenced to another three months in prison for owing a whopping £174 in maintenance arrears.
Birmingham Daily Gazette, 25 November 1930, p3
The 1920 article gave George’s address as 38 Farringdon Street but he was not there in the 1921 census. Fortunately, I was finally able to locate him by browsing the other Farringdon Street pages/returns. It turns out that in 1921, he was lodging with the Greatrex family at 32 Farringdon Street.
George Ebbans on the 1921 census: 32 Farringdon Street
Where George went, and what he did AFTER 1930 is still a mystery. Any information regarding this would be very welcome (rumours or fact). (Contact Me)
Of the six men who were aboard when a heavy wave swamped a fishing boat on 9 February 1872, James Buchan was the only survivor.
Unfortunately, I have been unable to determine exactly WHO this man was since, unlike the men who did not survive, the newspapers gave no information that could narrow this down. No age, marital status or family information for James was mentioned in any of the articles. There were at least 20 James Buchans recorded in the Lonmay area on the 1871 census. Even after ruling out the ones who were below the age of 15 and above the age of 60, we are still left with 10 possible James Buchans that could have survived that fateful night. So, sadly, this is where the search must end.
Disappointingly, I’ve also not been able to find any direct link to any of the fishermen involved in this tragedy. If I do manage to find any connection in future, I’ll be sure to update.(See connections update here)
At about 4 o’clock on a winter’s afternoon, off the north east coast of Scotland, a fishing boat was swamped by a heavy wave while returning home from a day’s work. Of the six men aboard, only one survived.
The tragedy occurred on Friday, 9 February 1872, about three miles from land, just north of Rattray Head. All of the crew were from the village of St Combs, in the parish of Lonmay, Aberdeenshire. As can be imagined, the incident had a devastating effect on the inhabitants of this tiny coastal village.
St Combs and Rattray Head shown on a map c1894
The sole survivor, James Buchan, signed as informant on the death records for his deceased crewmates – Andrew Buchan (34), Andrew Bruce (24), Charles Bruce (40), Alexander Strachan (50), and Andrew Strachan (20). The cause of death was recorded for all as “Drowning caused by the upsetting of a boat about 3 miles off the shore of St Combs”. “Body not found” was added in parentheses to the latter three, whose bodies were not recovered.
In following posts, I hope to share more about the lives of these unfortunate fishermen, and uncover the links, if any, to my own family.
ABERDEENSHIRE BOAT SWAMPED. FIVE FISHERMEN DROWNED. About four o’clock on Friday afternoon a fishing boat belonging to St Comb’s, parish of Lonmay, having on board a crew of six fishermen, while returning from the fishing, was swamped by a heavy sea when about four miles off the land, and five of the crew were drowned. The names of the unfortunate men are Charles Bruce, aged 40; Andrew Strachan, 20; Alexander Strachan, 50; Andrew Buchan, 34; Andrew Bruce, 25; all fishermen residing in St Comb’s. The other man, named James Buchan, succeeded in keeping himself afloat by clinging to the oars until a boat which was also returning from the fishing arrived at the scene and rescued him. Two of the bodies were also picked up by the boat, but both were quite dead. The lamentable occurrence has caused a feeling of depression throughout the whole neighbourhood. Dundee Courier, 12 February 1872, p2, c6
MELANCHOLY OCCURENCE—FIVE MEN DROWNED.—On Friday evening a very melancholy occurrence happened, by which five fishermen were lost at sea. The unfortunate men, who along with another man, had formed a boat’s crew, had been at the white fishing, and were returning homewards when a little to the north of Rattray Head a heavy sea broke over them, and quite overwhelmed the boat. The man who was saved succeeded in keeping himself afloat by means of oars until a neighbouring crew came to his assistance, but the other five, after a struggle in the broken water, were drowned. Some hours afterwards two of the bodies that had become entangled with the buoys and lines were washed ashore, but the other three remain unrecovered. The fishermen all belonged St. Combs, and the following is a list of their names and ages :—Charles Bruce, 40; Andrew Strachan, 20; Alex. Strachan, 50; Andrew Buchan, 34; and Andrew Bruce, 25. Andrew Strachan was unmarried but each of the others has left a widow and a large family. The bodies of Andrew Buchan and Andrew Bruce were taken ashore in the rescuing boat, and the scene of grief which was witnessed when the sad tidings became known cannot be described.
Buchan Observer and East Aberdeenshire Advertiser, 16 February 1872, p3, c3
In a previous post, I included a message from Rose Richards which ended casually with:
Cathy had a sister – Nellie Cash. She had a baby and hid it in the chimney. It was found by firemen I think. I don’t know what happened to her. How’s that for a tale?
Of course, I needed to find out more… and it is quite a tale indeed.
The Mental Defective
Nellie Cash was born on the 3rd of January 1915 and her father, sadly, died around the same time. A few years later, in 1918, her mother married Arthur G Morgan and soon after had Nellie’s half sister, Kathleen (the Cathy mentioned by Rose above). The girls’ mother seems to have died around 1930 and both girls remained with Arthur. Nellie, who was said to be a ‘mental defective’, kept house for her stepfather and sister at 19 Sims Avenue, Derby. A doctor would later state that “In his opinion it must have been evident to anyone who saw her frequently that she was feeble-minded, unless the person concerned was feeble-minded too.”
The Body
On 26 February 1938, the body of an infant was recovered by police from the front bedroom of 19 Sims Avenue (reports do not mention who first brought it to their attention). The baby girl, which had been wrapped in a blue frock and placed in a mat bag, was first put into a cupboard and later placed in the bedroom chimney. A post mortem examination determined that the baby died due to inattention but had not taken a breath. Nellie admitted that she had recently given birth to a child and was taken to the police station to give her statement.
The Affair
Two years earlier, 21-year-old Nellie had become acquainted with 58-year-old David Dean. Dean, who lived at 36 Cobden Street and had been married for 30 years with three children, kept a tobacconist shop from which Nellie would fetch tobacco for her stepfather.
A tobacco wholesaler on London Road, Derby (c1930) via The Guardian
At some point, they began some kind of ‘relationship’ and Nellie was of the opinion that she was ‘going out with him’. Dean gave a rather dubious account that he had been ‘pestered’ by Cash at a time when he had no work to do, and had ‘yielded’ to her.
Nellie told the police she had previously given birth to another child of Dean’s in December 1936 and told him it was dead. She had put the baby in a bag and together they emptied the ‘contents’ of the bag in the River Derwent. After Nellie gave birth for a second time on February 17, she told Dean it was dead and he said they would put it in the river.
Nottingham Journal, 22 June 1938, p1 c2
Dean was charged under the Mental Deficiency Act of ‘a serious offence against a woman who was a mental defective’. He was found guilty and sentenced to six months’ imprisonment.
Bail for Nellie was allowed in the sum of £10, on the condition that she went to the Boundary House Institution (the former workhouse and later Manor Hospital). This condition seems to have been agreed to, as Nellie was recorded at the institution the following year on the 1939 register.
The Aftermath
In November 1938, Dean’s wife of 30 years was granted a decree nisi. She had moved to Birmingham, most likely to escape the scandal and gossip her husband’s actions had caused. Dean’s offence and imprisonment were given in evidence, and the court was told that he left her to go to the trial and had not been back since.
Nottingham Journal, 28 November 1938, p1 c4
Interestingly, 36 Cobden Street was advertised for sale in the Derby Daily Telegraph in August; and again in October at a reduced price. It is not surprising that his wife would want to cut ties and leave the area as soon as possible.
Derby Daily Telegraph, 20 August 1938, p3 c3Derby Daily Telegraph, 12 October 1938, p2 c6
David Dean served his time and the next year was recorded in the 1939 register at the Church Army Hostel on 20 Bridge Street (albeit with 10 years shaved off his age). He died a few years later in 1942.
As for Nellie, it is unclear how long she stayed at Boundary House but in 1955 she married a man named John O’Sullivan. I like to think that she lived happily ever after.
CHILD’S BODY IN CHIMNEY
HINT OF OTHER PROCEEDINGS
DERBY INQUEST
After hearing a report of a post-mortem examination, a verdict in accordance with the medical evidence that death was due to inattention at birth was returned by the jury at the inquest at Derby, last night, on the child of Nellie Cash, 19, Sims-avenue, Derby.
Detective D. Salter said that accompanied by Inspector Gray he visited Sims-avenue on Saturday and recovered the child’s body from a chimney in a bedroom.
It was wrapped in a blue frock and had been placed in a mat bag. The body was taken to the mortuary. Detective Salter added that Cash made a statement regarding the child.
DOCTOR’S EVIDENCE
Dr. G. R. Osborn, who made a post-mortem examination, said there was no evidence to show that the child had a separate existence. Apparently, the baby had not breathed, and death was due to inattention at birth, he added.
Addressing the jury, the Coroner (Mr. T. H. Bishop) said that the body had been found in circumstances which might lead to other proceedings. Derby Daily Telegraph, 01 March 1938, p5, c2
Derby Daily Telegraph, 22 June 1938, p7
CHILD’S BODY IN CHIMNEY
MENTAL CONDITION OF DERBY GIRL
Mr. Justice Asquith, at Derbyshire Assizes yesterday, postponed judgment on Nellie Cash (23), a housekeeper, of Sims-avenue, Derby, with a view to her being sent to an institution.
She pleaded guilty to having endeavoured to conceal the birth of a child, of which she had been delivered, by a secret disposition of the body.
Describing Cash as a mental defective, Mr. T. N. Winning, prosecuting, stated that if she had been a person of normal intelligence the case would have been very serious. Before the present case Cash had had another child, and she had said that she put the body into a river.
NEVER FOUND
The body had never been found, said Mr. Winning.
In the present case the baby was born when nobody was about, and the child had not had a separate existence.
The body was first put into a cupboard and later was placed up a chimney.
Dr. Ralph G. Cooke, Resident Medical Superintendent at the City Hospital, Derby, said that Cash was a feeble-minded person to such an extent as to bring her within the province of the Mental Deficiency Act.
Cash, who pleaded guilty, was represented by Mr. A. J. Flint (instructed by Messrs. Flint, Marsden and Bishop).
LEATHER-DRESSER SENTENCED
David Dean (59), leather-dresser of Cobden-street, Derby, who admitted one of two counts alleging that he had committed serious offences against Cash – a mental defective – was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment. Derby Daily Telegraph, 22 June 1938, p7
From the Derby Daily Telegraph, 21 April 1938, p10 c5:
LEATHER DRESSER ACCUSED
David Dean (60), a leather-dresser, of 36, Cobden-street, Derby, was accused of a serious offence against a woman who was a mental defective, between January 1 and February 17.
Mr. E. H. Nichols, assistant solicitor to the Derby Corporation, prosecuting, said that the case was brought under the Mental Deficiency Act.
Arthur George Morgan, a labourer, of 19, Sims-avenue, Derby, said that his step-daughter, Nellie Cash, was 23, and kept house for himself and his daughter.
He knew of a tobacconist’s shop kept by Dean, and Nellie Cash used to go there for his tobacco.
Nellie Cash, who was warned by the Clerk (Colonel W. R. H. Whiston) that she was not obliged answer any questions which might incriminate her, said that she had known Dean for about two years and had been going out with him.
Mr. F. W. Barnett, who represented Dean, objected to further questions.
Dr. Ralph G. Cooke, Resident Medical Superintendent of the City Hospital, Derby, said that Cash was admitted on February 26 last in a debilitated condition.
Her history was that she had given birth to a child on February 17 and her condition was consistent with that.
UNDER OBSERVATION
He had had her under observation, and in his opinion she was a feeble-minded person to a sufficient degree to bring her within the province of the Mental Deficiency Act.
In his opinion it must have been evident to anyone who saw her frequently that she was feeble-minded, unless the person concerned was feeble-minded too.
Mr. Barnett submitted that the prosecution had failed to make out a case under any criminal charge.
The magistrates decided that there was a prima facie case against Dean, and he was committed for trial at the next Derbyshire Assizes, bail being allowed in the sum of £10.
Dean said that he did not wish to give evidence or to call witnesses.
BODY IN CHIMNEY
Evidence of a child’s body being recovered from a chimney was given when Cash, who was described as a housekeeper of 19, Sims-avenue, Derby, was accused of endeavouring to conceal the birth on February 17 of a female child, of which she had been delivered, by the secret disposition of its body. Detective-constable D. Salter said that he saw Cash at her home on February 26, and after being cautioned she admitted that she had recently given birth to a child. He took her to the police station, where she made a statement.
The officer read this statement, in which Cash was alleged to have stated that she gave birth to a child in December, 1936, and she told Dean it was dead.
She had put the baby in a bag, the statement added, had gone out with Dean, and he had emptied the contents of the bag in the River Derwent.
The statement added that she gave birth to another baby on February 17 this year, and when she told Dean it was dead he said they would put it in the river.
In the statement Cash alleged that Dean was the father of both the children born to her.
WRAPPED IN FROCK
Detective Salter added that Cash took him to the front bedroom of her home, and he recovered from the chimney the body of a female child which was wrapped in an old blue frock and in a bag.
Dr. G. R. Osborne, pathologist at Derbyshire Royal Infirmary, said that a post mortem examination disclosed that the baby born in February had not had a separate existence, and death was due to inattention at birth.
Cash was committed for trial at Derbyshire Assizes, Mr. F. W. Barnett, who appeared on her behalf, offering no objection.
Bail was allowed in the sum of £10, on condition that she went to Boundary House. Derby Daily Telegraph, 21 April 1938, p10 c5
From the Nottingham Journal, 22 June 1938, p1, c2:
DEAD BABY CHARGE
Sentence on Woman Postponed
-Prison for Derby Man
Nellie Cash (23), housekeeper, a Derby woman, was at Derby Assizes yesterday accused of secretly disposing of the dead body of a child in an endeavour to conceal the birth, and was stated to be a mental defective. Sentence was postponed by Mr. Justice Asquith with a view to her being sent to a mental institution.
David Dean (59), an unemployed Derby man, was accused of an offence against the woman, knowing her to be mentally defective.
On Dean’s behalf, Mr. A. R. Flint pointed out that he had been “pestered” by Cash at a time when he had no work to do, and he had yielded to her.
Dean was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment. Nottingham Journal, 22 June 1938, p1, c2
