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b.1865-d.1909
Robert’s family
At birth, Robert was registered as Robert Albert Glass; unfortunately, Robert never used his second name of Albert which would have made the initial research easier. On obtaining his birth certificate l was able to confirm that I had found the correct family.
Born on the 28 April 1865 Robert was the 12th and last child found born to parents Andrew Glass and Maria Boyton (also transcribed as Boyten or Botin).
His father Andrew Glass was born 16 April 1818 in North Berwick, Scotland. His parents were Richard Glass, an agricultural labourer, and Mary Wright.
The 1841 Census states Andrew is aged 22 and working with two other young men as bakers for James Wrighton aged 50, from Scotland, a baker in Queens Row, St George Hanover Square, Belgravia, London. So, Andrew had moved from the Scottish Borders to London.
Mother Maria was born 28 February 1823 in Bishop Stortford, Herefordshire. Her parents were John Boyton, an agricultural labourer, and Susannah Clements.
Andrew and Maria were wed on 21 September 1845 at St James’s church in Paddington.
Children found born to the couple:
Andrew Turpie 1847-1925, named after Andrew Turpie, a witness on his parents’ marriage register.
John Boyton 1848-1923
Richard 1849-1889
Maria 1851-1883
Isabella 1852-1919
Archibald 1854- ?
Rossetta 1855-1861
James 1856-1861
Mary 1858-1861
Eliza Ann- 1860 – ?
Alfred George 1863-1929
Robert 1865-1909
1850s
31 Jan 1851 Andrew is reported to be bankrupt and Maria is 8 months pregnant with their 4th child.
The 1851 Census was taken on 30 March. Just a couple of months later we find the family at 37 Queens Street, St James’s, Paddington. Despite being bankrupt, Andrew is still recorded as working as a baker with wife Maria and their 4 young children. Andrew 4, John 2, Richard 1 and one-month old Maria, plus 3 servants, Edd Wilson 14, from Paddington, Marrianne Wigmore 21 from Wiltshire and Alexander White 24 from Scotland, who I imagine are working in the bakery with Andrew.
The family continues to grow. Isabella, Archibald, Rossetta, James, Mary and Eliza are all born before the next census.
By 1861 the family had moved to 2, Winterton Place, Chelsea. Andrew is a former baker (with no other occupation listed), wife Maria and nine children. Andrew the eldest son has left home and the youngest Eliza is 4 months old.
Tragedy strikes the family
Later in 1861 on 18 October Rossetta died aged 6 from Diarrhoea, Mary on 24 October aged 3 and James on 27 October aged 5, both from Scarlatina. All three children were buried in Brompton Cemetery, Rosetta and Mary on 26 October and James on 1 November. How did they cope with such a huge loss within days of each other? Both Rossetta’s and Mary’s death were registered by the next-door neighbour U. A. Stevenson of 3 Winterton Place. Andrew registered James’s death and his occupation is given as carman.
The West Middlesex Advertiser and Family Journal of 21 December 1861 printed Dr Barclay’s Medical Report for the area. He points the finger at the presence of sewerage on the river shore, alongside the side of the houses, and the number of people living under one roof as being the reason for the number of scarlatina cases in the area. Winterton Place is one of the streets examined by the Doctor.
1863 sees Alfred born, followed lastly by our Robert on 28 April 1865.
1870s
The 1871 Census shows Andrew aged 53, is a car driver and has moved next door to number 3 Winterton Place. Also living there are Maria aged 48, John aged 22 and out of employment, Isabella aged 19, Archibald aged 16, an errand boy, Eliza aged 10, Alfred aged 8 and Robert aged 6 are scholars. Also recorded is a grandson Andrew W. aged 11months. He is the son of Andrew Turpie and his wife Catherine Ann Stroudley who were married in 1868. Baby Andrew is also registered on Andrew and Catherine’s census return along with a 2-week-old Robert.
Maria must have given some much needed support to Catherine after the birth of Robert.
Over the next 10 years the older children leave home.
1880s
In the 1881 Census only 3 children remain: Eliza aged 21 (general servant unemployed), Alfred 19, (plumber’s labourer unemployed) and Robert 16 (errand boy unemployed). Andrew 63, a car driver and Maria 58 are residing at 9 Camera Square, Chelsea.
Sadly, for the family there is a possible death of Robert’s sister Maria, buried in Brompton Cemetery on 24 May 1883.
Happier times and Robert’s marriage
Robert married Ellen Kate Stow on 9 November 1885 at St Jude’s church, Chelsea.
Robert aged 22 a bachelor of 9 Camera Square was working as a bricklayer. Father Andrew was a carman and Ellen aged 24 a spinster was working as a laundress, living at 62 Camera Square. Her father Joseph was noted as a bricklayer (deceased). The witnesses were Joseph Gilbert and Bessie Hickey.
Robert and Ellen soon started a family. Their first born was Robert Andrew in 1887 followed by Ellen in 1889 carrying on family names.
1890s
The 1891 Census shows the family are living at 22 Wellington Street Chelsea. Robert aged 27, a painter, and Helina, aged 30, a laundress, are both listed as head of house. Their children are Robert aged 4 and Helina aged 2. Maybe this is a wrong transcription of the female name.
Booth’s maps show Wellington St, a poor area. 18- 21 shillings a week for a moderate family.
Robert and Ellen’s family continues to grow but sadly not all the children survived:
William John was born in 1892.
Rose 1895-1895. Born in the 3rd Quarter of the year. PB (private Baptism) baptised on 5 October. Died on 18 October. Imperfect Cardiac Development. Father present at death, address 37 Little Camera Street.
In the first quarter of 1897, Robert’s mother Maria’s death was recorded in Chelsea. In the same quarter their daughter Laura 1897 was born. Sadly, Laura died aged 2 years of Tubercular Meningitis. Mother was present at death at 9 Cottage Place, Battersea.
Two more daughters were born: Amelia (Minnie) on 10 November 1898 and Mabel Gertrude in 1900.
Andrew, Robert’s Father died on Christmas day 1898. The date is mentioned in his will as a retired baker leaving £75.
Laura’s death registration from 1900 showed the family had moved south of the river Thames to Battersea.
1901 – The next decade
The 1901 Census shows the family had moved again to 23 Atheldene Road, Walworth. Robert was now aged 32, a general Labourer, Ellen aged 34, Robert aged 13, Ellen aged 12, William aged 7, Minnie aged 2 and Mabel 1. This was a terraced house shared with one other family.
In 1902, on 8 Feb, Bear Yard Workhouse records show Robert was admitted on 15 March. He was transferred to Edmonton and on 20 March he was discharged at his own request. I am unable to find the reason for this stay in the workhouse.
Is this our Robert?
1902 proved to be a difficult time for Robert and Ellen when the unbearable happened again when their son William John died on the 13 June. He was aged 8, cause of death, Pneumonia. Ellen was present at his death at 39 Lifford Street, Putney Wandsworth, a terraced house, according to Booths maps, a mixed road with some comfortable others poor.
This shows another move for the family. Robert’s occupation is a horse keeper.
June 1907
This newspaper article mentions Robert Glass who is the right age and living in the right area of London. There are more in-depth reports but there are no clear transcripts to include here. They report that Robert gave a false address, and had worked for the London Road Car company as did our Robert. He states he saw the door open so he went in. Is this an indication of the state of his mental health at the time?
He was discharged and a few days later he entered Wandsworth infirmary.
Reception Order and Examination at Wandsworth
On 11 June 1907, Robert aged 44, entered the infirmary from 33 Church Road, Battersea. He was examined by David Martineau, on 14 June and on 18 June he was sent to Horton Asylum.
Ellen of the same address is his witness and states that Robert has been employed by London Road Car Company on and off for 23 years. His job on admission is a coach washer. He has been a carman, horse keeper and night watchman during his employment. They have no money. All their addresses are listed as a decision as to which borough will be covering the cost of his Asylum fees. Ellen states ‘they have had no previous relief only for about 2 months from Fulham while at Wandsworth Bridge Road, (in kind)’. They have two children under 16 years of age. Robert is said to be a Lunatic.
List of addresses as given by Ellen. 2 weeks at present address 33 Church Road, Battersea.
Before that, 2 weeks at 49 Harwood Road, New Kings Road, Fulham.
Before that we lived at 11 Worlds End Passage, Kings Road, Chelsea for 7 months.
Before that we lived at 69 Church Road, Battersea. From 16 July 1906 to 29 October 1906. (Rent book produced. 13s a week paid.)
Before that we lived at, 137 Wandsworth Bridge Road, Battersea. Jan 1904 to 25 dec 1905.
Before that we lived at, 39 Lifford Street, Putney. 14 April to Jan 1904.
Before that we lived at 39 Camera Square, Chelsea for 4 years.
Record completed by O. R. Easton.
Adjudication order from Wandsworth to Chelsea. Removal expenses via Wimbledon plus maintenance. Total cost £4. 7s 5d.
Unfortunately, there is no reference to Robert’s health or behaviour. Sadly, it only states that he is a Lunatic.
Robert was a resident in Horton for 18 months, He died on 23 February 1909 and was buried in Horton cemetery on 1 March 1909 in grave no 315b.
His death certificate shows Robert had been suffering from GPI, the late stages of Syphilis and, for 5 days, Lobar Pneumonia. He was just 46 years old. Death was certified and registered by David Ogilvy Acting Medical Superintendent.
Robert’s family after his death
In the 1911 Census Ellen is living at 12 Gwalior Road, Putney. Robert’s name has been entered then crossed out. Their son Robert is listed as Robert William not Andrew, however he is in his own census with his new wife Amy.
Robert Andrew married Amy Jux on 12 February 1911 at John the Evangelist, Putney. In the 1911 Census he is a fishmonger. By the time of the 1921 census he had had a change of occupation, now working as a carman for Whitbread Co. They are living in Fulham. I found a death for Robert in 1927, Fulham. In the 1939 register Amy is a widow, but she remarried in 1943.
There is a report of an accident just days before Robert senior enters the asylum.
Robert junior was driving a van down the Kings Road when the horse took fright and bolted. He did his best to hold the horse back but to no avail. The horse ran as far as Keppel Street where the van hit a kerb and overturned. Robert was taken by ambulance to St Georges hospital where he was treated for extensive bruising to the arm, elbow and both knees.
George Archer, the owner of the van, was a fishmonger so I am assuming that Robert was working for him at the time of the accident as it coincided with his trade as a fishmonger in the 1911 Census.
This must have been a very stressful time for his mother Ellen with the decline in Robert senior’s health.
Ellen married in June 1911 at St Alban’s, Fulham to William Robert Lester, a stoker in the Navy. They have a family and there are some lovely photos of her on an Ancestry family tree. Her death was in 1964 in Wandsworth.
Amelia, ‘Minnie’ in 1921 was living with Ellen and her family. In the summer of 1926 she married Denis Sullivan at St George’s Hanover Square. By 1939 they were in Wandsworth. Minnie carried out domestic duties and Denis was a lavatory attendant. Minnie’s death was recorded in 1987 in Slough. She was 88.
Mabel Gertrude married Ernest Thomas Smith in the 1st quarter of 1926 in Wandsworth and they had a family. Their son Leonard served in World War 2. I haven’t been able to positively identify Mabel’s death although there is a close match: a Mabel Gertrude Smith, born 28 April 1900, died 3rd quarter 1973 in Easthampstead, Berks. Her birth date is one day before the date of Mabel’s (29 April in the 1939 register).
Author’s notes
It is very sad now to think of people dying of untreated General Paralysis of the Insane, Syphilis. Yet so many did. It was a terrible end with such deterioration of mind and body. Was this part of the reason why in the last few years the family moved so many times. Some of the dates don’t tally correctly from Ellen’s statement to the census and death record however I feel she had a very good memory having approximately 6 moves in 7 years. Unfortunately, all the information I found in the unindexed books of relief and examinations are about funding and not Robert’s health.
