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b.1891-d.1916
This young man’s family history has proved to contain missing, mistaken and confusing information and, beyond his closest family, has been difficult to tie down. Unfortunately, this is also true of the end of his life as you will see.
James was born, according to his baptism, on 10 March 1891. He was baptised in June of that year at St. Jude’s church Bethnal Green, Old Bridge Rd, Tower Hamlets. His parents are named as James and Mary, living at 25 Clare Street and James’s occupation is shown as a porter.
This information is confirmed by the 1891 Census, which shows James, said to be 38 years, and Mary 35 years and their three children. James is said to have been born in London, later noted as Bethnal Green.
Mary is consistently said to be born in Sunderland, as is their first child, Sarah (Jane) who is 8 years old and at school. Another daughter, Edith Annie, was born on 11 Dec 1888; she was baptised privately on 6 Jan 1889 at St Andrew’s Church, Enfield. Edith was 6 months old when baptised and died soon after, so a private emergency baptism I imagine.
Mary Ann is just 2 years, born in Enfield and James Christopher is just 1 month old when the census is taken.
On 1 July 1898 young James Christopher was enrolled in Shap Street School, Hackney aged 7 years. At this time they are living at 39, Mansfield Street, Hackney.
1901 Census
By the time of the 1901 Census, James Senior, still said to be 38 years and Mary, still recorded as 37 years, have completed their family with the addition of two more daughters: Margaret (Etta) 5 years and Ada (Adelaide) 3 years, both born in Shoreditch.
Their address is now 8, Shiplake Buildings, part of the new ‘model dwellings ’of Arnold Grove, Bethnal Green. James is still working as a porter.
James’s father seems to have been a solid working man, and all of their addresses appear to be in areas that, on Booth’s Poverty Maps, range from comfortable to poor but none as very poor/chronic want.
James Christopher enters the Workhouse
On 22 Feb 1907 we find James Christopher, “hereafter called the pauper”, removed from the Southwark Union into the Parish of St Leonard’s, Shoreditch. I do not know if this was a physical removal or a transfer of financial support.
As we can see from the record below that on 16 April 1907 James was discharged from St George’s Workhouse, Mint Street, Southwark to the Ewell Epileptic Colony, where …
…we find him in the 1911 Census
Information from the Case Notes
On his admission to the colony James’s father gave his history. He gives his own address as 20, Faraday Flats, Sumner Street, Southwark.
‘He is the third child in four, all boys.’ (We know in fact that they were all girls, all living, so not including Edith Annie).
James apparently had no early year’s health problems and reached level 5 at school. His fits began at age 14 years, ‘with no warning he used to jump up and run about then lay himself down in a stupor for about an hour.’ He worked for about a month but has been unable to work now for 23 months. Used to sleepwalk. Habits steady. The change was noticed 2yrs ago, when he became passionate and excitable.
Noted: Suicidal..Yes. Homicidal..Yes. Cause of attack. Smoking and, what they might have politely termed, deviant behaviour, (in their view.)
Fathers family history.. Father’s father…died in battle aged 36 years. No other living family on father’s side. Mother’s mother, living. All other siblings dead. One sister who is, ‘a bad lot’. Whose sister might this be ?
The medical certificate from the workhouse states, ‘He is lost to his surroundings, time and date. He has frequent attacks and requires constant attention’. The ward attendant accompanying him, Frederick Russell, says, ‘Patient cannot give a proper account and endangers his life on account of his epileptic attacks’.
Admin Statement. Principle. Epilepsy at 14yrs. 1. Puberty. 2. Degree of congenital defect.
James’ Appearance
‘James is 5’ 4’’ tall with black hair and brown eyes and good teeth. Flattened and dull features. General health impaired. Syphilis, acquired not congenital. From physical evidence, certain’. ( *a surprising conclusion in a boy of 15yrs )
Mental health. General comments. Generally impaired due to confusion and weak mindedness. NO Hallucinations or delusions. Impulses..Suicidal. Homicidal. Erotic. Destructive. NONE. Always Tee Total.
James’s Account
Following his admission, in James’s first interview with a doctor, he says, “he hopes to be useful and comfortable.” He says he is the third in a family of five, all girls and all healthy. He knows his first fit occurred at 14 years and they have continued without intermission.
He says he reached level 4 at school but cannot remember or learnt very little. Writes fairly well but reads slowly and laboriously.
Admin notice to L.C (Lunatic Committee): ‘He is labouring under insanity with Epilepsy. He is of stunted mental development, and is dull and confused and of slow reaction. 12 seizures within 2 days of admission of both major and minor types. Well nourished and in good general health’.
As Time Goes By
James appears to settle well initially and is said to be working on the land. He is well behaved and shows “normal sociability” with others. He is still suffering frequent seizures which leave him confused.
Unfortunately things become more difficult as the year progresses, with James becoming, ‘Difficult of late, interfering with other colonists,’ ‘Irritable’ and in October ‘Very turbulent of late’.
1908.. March 27th Sp R. to C to L.C. (Superintendent Report to Commissioners in Lunacy)…’Insanity and Epilepsy. Lacks control of his temper. Morbid excitement. Is well nourished’.
We then have a large gap in his notes until March 19 1908.
Deteriorating Health
Things are not getting any better for young James. In April 1908 it is noted that he has had 70 major seizures in the previous quarter. He is said to be, weak-minded, turbulent and very overbearing to other colonists. ‘Impudently resents instructions and, although able to work well, is of doubtful value as a colonist’.
This behaviour continues and in July he is said to be ‘constantly up to mischief and impertinent to staff’. At this point he is started on medication. In October, James is said to be working better, although he is still ‘mischievous and overbearing to others’ (* He is a 17yr old boy!)
However, this kind of behaviour and comment followed him through the next year until, on 12 March 1910, we read that he had suffered ‘151 seizures this week’!
(From noon on 7th) causing much physical and mental prostration. Confined to bed, on extra diet. Treated with Chloral and brandy rectally. Things seem to have settled down and he is ‘to be allowed up’. His total seizures for the past quarter total 242. Unsurprisingly, it is said that he is ‘lacking energy since this recent bout, but is now gaining flesh again’.
Throughout the rest of this year and into 1911, it is a story of fits, falling and fighting. In March, James attacked another colonist and to prevent further trouble was sent to Pine, but on his return he was ‘Extremely intractable and irritable. He resents any instruction and used foul and insulting language’.
He says he’s been told he can do as he likes and will not heed attendants or any of the staff. In the annual report that year he is said to ‘present many stigmata of degeneracy’.
In April, in his confusion following a fit, he wandered into the road but was noticed and brought back by an attendant and later that month he begins to show signs of aural hallucinations when he hears people calling him. He is still working on the farm but ‘is not of much use’.
1912 James life now seems set in this pattern with very large numbers of fits, and difficult behaviour that causes much upset in the villa. He is regularly sent to Pine for his own safety and that of others. In October, it is noted that ‘He is always in hospital, no use for any work’.
1913 started badly but in April it was said that ‘Both mentally and physically he has improved and is now working much better’ and, by October ,he is ‘much stronger. He does daily work in the sanitary annex’.
Only one further record is in his case book is on 2 Jan 1914, when James was injured in a fight with Colonist Elliott.
Transfer to Long Grove
According to the visitors book James was transferred to Long Grove Asylum, part of the Epsom cluster of hospitals, in May 1915, as shown above in the Lunacy Register. Sadly, no known records from Long Grove have been found, possibly destroyed when to asylums were shut down.
I sent for a copy of James death certificate and, as you can see it says that he died in Ewell Epileptic Colony. Did he ever go to Long Grove? If so he must have been returned to the Colony at some point.
James was buried in the Horton Estate cemetery on 31 March 1916 in grave 2038b.
The visitor’s book from The Colony shows that James was visited by members of his family about twice a year until his removal in May 1915, but sadly we cannot know if anyone attended his funeral.
James’s family
These are the facts of James’s family that I can be sure of.
His father was James Titus Coleman. (The Titus appears on two of his daughters wedding certificates but nowhere else). Born in May 1852 in Bethnal Green, Middlesex.
Unfortunately, I have not been able to determine the names of his parents from among several possibilities and without a marriage certificate I cannot be sure.
I do believe that James senior joined the army, and is found in the 1881 Census in Barrack Street, Sunderland. His regiment is not shown but, after some investigation, I discovered that, once again, this was a time of confusion. Prior to 1881 the Durham Light Infantry were based there, but in that year they moved out and Royal Artillery 1st Brigade, Northern Division took their place. The only clue is that another soldier said that he was a ‘Gunner in the Royal Artillery’. As a Londoner, the RA sounds a more appropriate regiment but again, I cannot be sure.
However, in that same census we find James Coleman, soldier, possibly 25/26 (crossed out) Place of birth NK (Not Known). With him is his ‘wife’ Mary, 25yrs, born in Sunderland. Also living there are Anne, Adelaide and Robert Baharie all born in Sunderland.
They are living at 23, Warren Street, which is just off Barrack Street.
I believe that James was counted twice, and that his new ‘wife’ gave these rather hazy details. No marriage has been found for Mary and James under either name but in the 1911 Census they say they have been married for 30 years which takes us to 1881. They may have married in the garrison church of St Johns and it was never registered. I have contacted the church records office but received no reply.
The Baharie family living with Mary was, for me, the piece in the jigsaw that convinced me that Mary Coleman was indeed Mary Ann Camsey, as in 1878, her brother, James Camsey, had married Mary Baharie.
At some point in the next 6yrs James left the army and the family moved to London where He worked as a porter. In 1891, they were living at 25, Clare Street, Bethnal Green, but by 1901 they had moved into the new ‘Model Dwellings’ at Arnold Circus, the first council housing estate in London. And this is where they were living when things began to go wrong for young James Christopher. Here is an interesting link to the history of Arnold Circus.
https://londonsociety.org.uk/arnold-circus-first-council-housing-estate-london
When James was admitted to the Ewell Colony in 1907 the family had moved again, to Sumner Street in Southwark, where we find them in the 1911 Census.
‘Magie’ and Ada are still living at home with their parents and James is now working as a handyman at the Guildhall school of music, just across the river.
James and Mary appear in the 1921 Census, living at 20, Churchill Road, St Pancras. James is now a pensioner, now said to be 73yrs old; Ada is still living with them. The respondent is named as James Titus Coleman. James died the following year and was buried in Camden on 17 March 1922,
Mary Ann Camsey was born about 1856 in Sunderland, Durham. I believe her parents to be James Camsey and Mary Murray who married in 1844. It appears that she was one of ten children, including her brother James mentioned earlier. Three of the children died within a year of birth.
Later when her own son, James Christopher is admitted to the Colony his father said that all of his wife’s family are dead, which does not appear to be the case.
Mary Ann died four years after James in Sept Q 1926 aged 73yrs.
James’s siblings
Sarah Jane. Born 19 Feb 1884, she married George Thorpe on 23 April 1905 at St Mary’s Church, Hoxton. George was said to be a furniture porter. Her father’s name is given as James Titus Coleman, Engineer. Rather a step up in occupation.
In the 1911 Census, George and Sarah are living at 6, Landers Place, Newington with their three children. George 4 years, Florence May 3 years and Charles Frederick (Charlie) 8 months.
The following year 1912, the family, now to be known as The paupers,’ are subject to a removal order from Southwark Union to St Leonards, Shoreditch. Sarah gives an account of the many moves the family have made since her marriage. She also states that George had spent 8 weeks in the infirmary with consumption. It is apparent that the family are living on the edge.
By 1921 they had added another daughter Margaret Adelaide aged 3 years to the family. George’s occupation is shown as a furniture fitter, but he is out of work.
Sarah is making ends meet as a charwoman.
The 1939 Register finds them living in Bethnal Green at 25, Ravenscroft Street. Young Charles is now a furniture porter and there is one other unnamed member of the household, possibly Margaret.
Despite what may be seen as a difficult life, Sarah lived until she was 77 years and died in the March Q 1962 in Bethnal Green. George died on 25 Jan 1966 in Bethnal Green.
Mary Ann Elizabeth. Born 11 Dec 1888, she was baptised at St Jude’s, Bethnal Green on 6 Jan 1889. The family address was given as 37, Viaduct Street, Bethnal Green . Mary Ann married on 21 August 1910 to Luke Keefe, a 57yr old Bricklayer, Mary was 22yrs old. Luke was a widower with an existing family of four sons although by the time he married Mary it is likely that they have all left home.
It appears that this marriage did not last very long as in the 1911 Census Luke is living alone at 6, Landers Place, Newington, and Mary is nowhere to be found.
It is possible that she shared rooms at 10 Vauban Street, Bermondsey for some years with a Harriett Frost, but I have not been able to find her on the 1921 Census or the 1939 register with any certainty. I believe her husband Luke, died in 1937 and in his will he left his money, £70, to his eldest son Luke, with no mention of a wife. Maybe this is the sister who was said to be a “Bad lot” in James’s admission notes?
Margaret Hetty. Born on 22 April 1895, she was baptised at St Peters Church, Bethnal Green on May 5th of that year. Known as Margaret Etta, she married at St Pancras Registrar Office on 24 May 1915. Her husband, Ernest Albert Thompson had attested for war service in February of that year and was about to be posted to France. His occupation as a “Jobbing cobbler” fitted him perfectly for the Army Service Corps as a Farrier, and he became a Farrier Sergeant spending his entire service in France until 1919.
On his return Ernest took a job with the Midland Railway Company as an ‘Incendiary burner attendant’ taking care of the gas mantels on stations and working premises. Information taken from an Ancestry FT site, and checked, suggests that Ernest and Margaret had ten children.
Ernest died in April 1949 aged 59yrs and Margaret died on 29 Jan 1969 aged 77yrs. Both funerals were held at Hendon Crematorium.
Ada Adelaide. Born on 8 Sept 1897 ‘Ada’ was baptised as Edith Adelaide at St Jude’s Church on 27 Sept that same year. The family was living at 139. Mansfield (Mansfold) Street Bethnal Green.
Ada is still living at home with her elderly parents in 1921, where she is shown as Ada Annie. I have tried to find a marriage for Ada following this but have been unable to do so. I have searched the 1939 register and the only possibility I have found was an Ada A Coleman born 2 Aug 1900, she is in St Faiths Hospital, Brentwood, Essex. Previously St Faiths was a workhouse for children from Shoreditch, but in 1916 it was taken over by the Metropolitan Asylum Board and became the Brentwood Epileptic Colony for Women. In 1935 Essex CC took over and re named it St Faiths Hospital. Could this be our Ada Adelaide/Annie ?
Not found in the Lunacy Register. A number of possible deaths were found but no definite evidence.
** Following one last attempt to tie down the family of James Titus Coleman I have drawn a complete blank and so I’m afraid I can add nothing further to this story. So many loose ends and unanswered questions.
