1
0
b.1880-d.1911
Early life in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire
Ethel’s story starts in Wisbech: a market town in Cambridgeshire with an inland port, sitting on the river Nene. She was born here in 1880 to Mary and Frederick. Mary and Frederick both appear to have been born in the town, and married in Oct-Dec 1868. I believe she is their fifth child after Rose Ellen (born 1869), Sarah Elizabeth (born 1871), George William (born 1874) and a son born in 1878 with no first name given who is likely to have been stillborn, or have died shortly after birth.
In the 1881 census, Ethel is 6 months old and living at 2 Nelson Road, Wisbech. Fred is listed as a ‘Deal Porter’: a demanding and dangerous job at the docks which would have involved stacking softwood or ‘deal’ in quayside warehouses.
By the 1891 census, the family are living at 5 Nelson Street, Wisbech. Siblings Rose and Sarah are no longer in the household and Ethel now has a younger sister, Ada, aged 7. George is a Grocer’s Porter, and Ethel and Ada are both listed as Scholars. Ethel’s father, Fred, is still working as a Deal Porter.
In early 1895, it seems Ethel’s sister Sarah dies aged 23 in Wisbech.
Lambeth
By the 1901 census, Ethel has moved to London and is aged 20 – her surname is misspelled as ‘Lawton’. She is living at 2 Hercules Road, Lambeth and living with Elizabeth Thompson, who is listed as her aunt. Elizabeth is listed as a ‘Stationer’ and Ethel as a ‘Stationer’s Assistant’.
Sharing the house appear to be four other men: a young man and his brother, and an older man plus a boarder.
Here’s 2 Hercules Road as it looks today:
I wonder what led to Ethel’s move to London away from her family. Was it for work, or because she wanted to live in London? Or could it have been because she was already experiencing mental health issues, and was sent away from her family to live with her aunt and work?
A note on Elizabeth, Ethel’s aunt
Ethel’s mother, Mary, did indeed have the maiden name, Thompson, and a younger sister called Ann Elizabeth. It seems Elizabeth began working as a domestic servant, first in Wisbech and later in London. In 1881 aged 30, she is listed as working as a Chambermaid at 25 Arlington Street. This appears to have been the address of the Bath Hotel, which stood on the corner of Arlington Street on the site that is now The Ritz.
In 1885, she married Arthur John Whitaker, a ‘Naturalist’ (an expert in or student of natural history) who had been married previously, and had a son who died aged 3. After their marriage, they live at 10 Kennington Road which is just around the corner from 2 Hercules Road. By 1891 she is listed as a ‘Stationer and Bookseller’, so I wonder whether they are living above her shop. They are living with a servant, which suggests they were living comfortably.
On the 1901 census, when Ethel has joined her aunt, Elizabeth is listed as ‘married’ on the census, but is using her maiden name. It seems that Arthur is visiting a house in Kensington and is listed as ‘single’, so it seems likely the marriage had broken down. According to the electoral roll, he was last living with Elizabeth around 1898.
Admission
Two years later on 5 August 1903, Ethel is admitted to Lambeth Infirmary. Her address is given as 2 Hercules Road, and the details of a friend or relative is ‘Landlady, Elizabeth Thompson, 2 Hercules Road’. I can’t help but wonder whether Elizabeth may not have disclosed she was related to Ethel, because of Ethel’s condition.
On 11 August, Ethel is discharged to Horton Asylum. Again, Elizabeth is again listed as ‘landlady’ on the record. On her admission to Horton, Ethel is listed as in ‘fair health, aged 23, single, of no occupation. Her condition is listed as ‘mania’, cause ‘unknown’, which she has had for ‘coming on 12 months’.
Unfortunately I know nothing further of Ethel’s life, other than she spent almost eight and a half years living at Horton, potentially working as a ‘Domestic Servant’ as stated on the 1911 census, before her death on 17 December 1911 aged 31. She was buried in Horton Cemetery.
Her death certificate states she died of ‘Dysentery 8 days’, and states her profession to be ‘Spinster Servant of Lambeth Infirmary’. The relative informed of her death is the Acting Medical Superintendent at Horton Asylum. Sadly, I wonder whether this means it is likely her family were no longer in touch. Rest in peace Ethel.
