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b.1887-d.
Frederick William Mears was born on 16 Dec 1887 at 53, Watney Street, Shadwell, Middlesex, a busy market street, shown on Booths maps as, “Fairly Comfortable, good ordinary earnings”.
I have included this GRO ref as there has been some confusion regarding William Frederick, born 1885, and Frederick William, born 1887. In Frederick’s case the mother’s maiden name was misspelt. They are definitely two different people.
Frederick came from a large extended family with eleven children born to parents Thomas Mears and his second wife, Hannah Eleanor Mears nee Baggott. Frederick was baptised on 1 Feb 1888 at St Barnabas Church, Plough Way, Rotherhithe.
Their address is shown as 128, Drummond Rd, Bermondsey. Frederick’s father’s occupation is given as Butcher.
Thomas and Hannah had married in 1882 following the death of Thomas’s first wife, Amelia Ellen Adams in 1881. Thomas and Amelia had married in the Dec Q of 1865 in Stepney, Middlesex. Thomas declares himself to be 20yrs old, when he is actually only 18yrs.
Their first child, George William, was born in the March Q 1866 and a daughter, Ellen Maude, followed in 1869. Both children were baptised at St Paul’s Church, Bow Common on 5 May 1869. Later, in 1880, we find Ellen Maude admitted to the Metropolitan District School, Sutton, “deserted by mother.”
Their third child, Thomas Charles had been born on 11 Oct 1870 followed by another boy, Frederick James who arrived in the Sept Q of 1875 but only lived for 7 weeks; he was buried on 16 Sept 1875 in Tower Hamlets Cemetery.
Census of 1881
In the 1881 Census it shows Ellen back with the family, and Thomas’s widowed mother Ann, is living with them at ‘The butchers shop’, 68, Old Gravel Lane, (now known as Wapping Lane.) St George in the East, next to the White Swan PH. Shown in Booths poverty maps as mixed, some comfortable, some poor.
Thomas is now a “master butcher” and Ellen Maud and George Wiliam are living at home. However, the census shows that Thomas Charles is in The London Hospital, so perhaps Amelia didn’t desert the family, but needed to deal with her sick child leaving Thomas unable to cope and placing Ellen in care.
In the June Q of 1881 Amelia Ellen died and then, in the December Q of that year Thomas lost his son, Thomas Charles age just 11years, leaving him grieving, with two children to care for.
It is unsurprising then that Thomas remarried quickly and he and Hannah went on to have eleven further children.
Hannah Lilian bn SQ 1883; Thomas Charles bn DQ 1884; William Frederick bn SQ 1885; Twins Alice Maude & Helena MQ 1887; Frederick William bn DQ 1887; Albert Charles bn MQ 1891; Martha Florence bn SQ 1894; Benjamin Stanley bn DQ 1895; Augustus bn MQ 1897; Walter Stuart bn JQ 1900.
In Feb 1893 Frederick William is admitted to Rotherhithe Infants School aged 5yrs, the family then living at 176, Lower Road, Rotherhithe.
This now bisects Canada Water and the Surrey Quays.
A Hard ten Years
No census can be found for the family in 1891 but we know that between the 1881 and 1891 Censuses, Thomas’s life changed completely. He had lost his first wife and two sons, and gone on to marry again, and had already had eight more children of which five had not survived, a hard ten years for any family.
Admitted to the Seaman’s Hospital
On the 9 Nov 1900 Frederick William is admitted to the Dreadnaught Seaman’s Hospital in Greenwich, he is 14 yrs old and said to be suffering from Epilepsy. His home address is given as 91 Edward Street, Deptford which is the same address that we find the family at in the 1901 Census. Again this is said to be a comfortable area for those with good ordinary earnings.
Frederick’s father Thomas, now 53yrs, is noted as an ‘assistant butcher.’ His wife Hannah and children William 16yrs, a ‘courier at Spratts.’ Frederick W 15yrs, a ‘general labourer.’ Florence 7yrs, and Benjamin 6yrs, both at school. They had lost their eldest daughter Hannah Lilian, just a month before the census was taken, she was 18yrs old.
On August 20th 1907 Frederick is admitted to the Greenwich Union Infirmary, Vanburgh Hill, Greenwich. He is said to be a ‘drapers porter.’
Admission to Ewell Epileptic Colony
It is from here that he is transferred to the Ewell Epileptic Colony, Epsom on 16 March 1908. He would spend the final eight years of his life living in the Colony.
The ‘Ewell Epileptic Colony’ was part of the Epsom Cluster of five mental hospitals; it had been opened in 1903 to care for “the Epileptic insane of the Metropolis”.
Their new approach housed patients in a collection of villas, avoiding the stigma of living in a mental asylum. The treatment consisted of a specially regulated diet and doses of Potassium bromide, the first effective treatment for controlling epilepsy. The patients were expected to contribute by working on the farm or in the kitchens, laundry or bakery all of which supported the Epsom cluster of hospitals.
When Frederick was transferred to the Colony notes were sent with him from the Greenwich Infirmary. These notes report that he has severe Epileptic fits, following which, “he can sometimes remain in very dazed condition for days. He says that he has nothing to live for, that he would be better off dead.” Facts reported by J.Benny (probably the nurse who accompanied Frederick to Epsom).
He is very depressed and says he will “do away with himself.” Often threatens staff and uses disgusting language. As you will see this is at variants with the notes made on his admission. Length of current attack, 5 days.
Details on Admission
Frederick’s father Thomas, gave his details on admission confirming his mother’s name, and giving her address as 35, Croft St, Rotherhithe and his own as 37 Wotton Rd, Deptford, so it seems that they are no longer together.
Thomas says that there were no problems with Frederick’s birth and early years, although he did suffer fits during teething. He developed normally, gaining level 4 at school by the age of 13yrs.
The fits began at 7yrs old following an incident where he was struck on the left side of the head which damaged his sight. (No account of the incident is given.) He also had Scarlet Fever and was treated in the fever hospital.
Frederick’s Condition
The first medical note states that he has Epilepsy with insanity with contributory factors:
- mental defect
- Cardio vascular degeneration.
Weak mindedness and exceptional irritability. His habits are steady and cheerful. NOT suicidal or homicidal. No prior attacks and has not one now. NOT INSANE. (As you see there is a lot of contradictory information.)
Father has a history of Alcoholism.
Physical condition. Frederick’s vascular disorder is noted but as “fairly low risk.” As is the injury to his left eye. He is 5’ 7” tall with dark hair and weighs 7st 10lbs 7oz, which they consider “fairly nourished.”
Mentally it is said that his understanding of current event is “somewhat diminished, he is somewhat vague” but has no evident “tendencies.”
Life in the Colony
The first case note appears on 23 March 1908. It mentions that the old injury to his left eye has actually left him with practically no sight in that eye. You have to wonder what other damage the blow caused because he says that his first fit happened “a few minutes after the injury.”
The doctor says that he has “shown himself querulous, in a childish fashion, making complaints that things have been stolen from him. He is excitable and generally emotional and shows little inclination to employ himself”. He is experiencing regular major fits, and is fatuously quarrelsome and indolent when out with the working party.
7 April. Does little useful work. He is very stupid and dazed at times. Inefficient as a colonist. Reports of this kind continue through the year until, in December he is “now doing some inside work in Chestnut (villa.)
In 1909 Fredericks health is good but he is “very weak minded and easily persuaded by others”, but in every other way he remains the same.
In June he “has ideas that the other colonists of ‘Vine villa’ are down on him.” He interferes with the other colonists in a childish way and the following day he is causing problems with other colonists and is sent to bed in Pine (which seems to operate as a secure respite villa) However by September we are told that he is now working well on the farm, and is “somewhat improved.”
In the 1910 yearly report of the S.R. to C in L (Superintendents report to the Committee in Lunacy) it says, “He is labouring under insanity with Epilepsy. Childish, petulant and emotional. Irritable and full of petty grievances. Working out on the land.
As the year progresses there is deterioration in his state of wellbeing and on 22 Nov it is noted that, “He had 7 fits yesterday afternoon and he seems considerably reduced physically, and very confused.” A further 8 seizures reported during the night, he received medication which caused them to stop until 9am and then 3 more within one hour. He was very restless and was put to bed in Pine with an additional mattress on the floor to prevent him injuring himself. “A soap and water enema was given last night without result. 6 seizures between 8 and 10pm, (he is) weak with a soft pulse. Soap and water enema given with a good result tonight, he was put on a diet of milk and soup. Sick notice sent to his relatives.”
Attempts to Contact the Family
Apparently they were concerned enough to alert his family but sadly it seems that all addresses previously registered there were by this time marked ‘not known’. In all five letters were sent to Frederick family members regarding his health but they did not received a response, even to the last one, to tell them of his death. His family seems to have forgotten him and we must presume that nobody attended his funeral.
A Good Recovery
However Frederick seems to have made a rapid recovery and was returned to his own villa on 4 December.
1911 is Census year and we find Frederick registered in the Colony.
Frederick is found fighting with colonist King but, as the year progresses he is said to be behaving and working much better although he is falling in his fits more often.
1st Feb 1912 finds Frederick confined to bed for two or three days owing to “An attack of confusion.” He had suffered 23 fits in 24 hours. On the 20 Feb Aura – “A feeling of something running over him – tries to close up his sleeves + c .” (Unsure of meaning of c.) Aura not marked recently.
By the end of March Fredericks fits are increasing and he often needs to be put to bed for a few days, but as the year progresses we hear better news, he is, “Well behaved and quiet, works willingly. Weak minded and childish, especially after fits, and he has now been set to work in the villa’s kitchen.”
At some point he is recovered enough to be sent to work on the farm again, where we find him in Jan 1913, when we are told that he is still suffering an extremely high number of fits, usually major. “Little changed mentally, he is simple and childish and unfit to manage in the struggle for existence outside.” Then a group of 24 recurring fits puts him back into hospital on the 25 January and, by the end of March he is said to be “Very confused, unable to carry on a conversation or take any interest in his surroundings.”
His behaviour deteriorates and in April we hear that it is “Very troublesome to get him to take his food.” Things do not improve and it is noted that,
“As a worker he is almost useless, being lazy, and he says he “came here for a rest not to work.” Frederick spends another spell in hospital and then in Pine where he continues to grumble and complain.
He becomes “Very thick with colonist Coleman, agitating him to make trouble,” so he is again transferred, to Beech. In May he is back in Pine where he continues to grumble, particularly about his food, and is said to be very lazy. “He goes out with the farm party but is of little value.”
There is no real change for the rest of the year and on into 1914 and at this point his case notes stop and we have to rely on separate, odd loose notes found at the Surrey Archive to find out more. Included is this rather strange note from 3 Oct.
He is an unintelligent imbecile who appears to have spent some of his life as a washer up in a coffee shop. He has no real idea how to make coffee. He exhibits ?? owing to deficient intelligence.
1915 starts no better “He is lazy, in fact, absolutely useless. Always grumbling and agitating. He does not seem happy unless he is causing trouble.”
** I’m sure Frederick was one of many difficult patients that the staff had to deal with, but I am always taken aback by the way people were talked about, almost as commodities rather than people undergoing severe trauma. Different times.
Frederick developed “Deep bedsores” in February, with a high temperature and was “Dull and confused” for four days, at one point Oedema of the lungs began to intervene but by propping him up this was averted. In the report it states that “His health is impaired and he is confined to bed suffering from debility following a group of 50 fits followed by Oedema of the lungs. – Large bedsore now healing well.”
In September Frederick starts complaining of “A vague pain in the left side of his heart – impossible to judge properly.” He is sent to hospital where it is diagnosed as, “Probably some slight indigestion, but his complaints have a large mental element in them.”
In Jan 1916 there is a noticeable loss of weight and in March Frederick is again sent to hospital, “Having fits.” He has become very feeble of late and has developed a large bedsore on his hip. He has been in bed since last note, (16 days.) when he had 40 fits in 6 days – milk and eggs.”
Frederick Dies
4 April 1916. Died this morning, he never recovered from the effects of his fits.
Cause of death Epilepsy.
Frederick was buried in the Horton Estate Cemetery on10 April 1916 in grave 2258a.
What happened to Frederick’s family?
When Frederick went into the Colony in 1908 it appears that the family were separated but, by the 1911 Census, Thomas and Hannah seem to be back together living at 16 Gosterwood Street, Deptford. Thomas is now 63yrs and called a “butcher’s assistant”, no longer the master butcher. With them are their son Albert, 22yrs, a barman’s assistant.
Benjamin, 16yrs, a china and glass assistant and Martha, 15yrs, a factory hand.
Just three years later Hannah died, on the 7 July 1913, in Greenwich Union Infirmary; she was 57yrs old. She was buried in Lewisham Cemetery, now known as the Ladywell and Brockley Cemetery. Thomas was admitted to the Infirmary on 23 March 1914 and died there on 30 August he was buried in the same cemetery on 5Sept of that year.
Both were registered at the infirmary as living at 16, Gosterwood Street Deptford.
**On the 1911 Census Thomas Senior, when asked how many children he had stated, 13 born alive, 2 born dead, 4 still living and 9 already dead.
As we know, many of their children died at a very young age and curiosity led me to see if there were any repeating reasons for this, but as you can see these three children died of different illnesses, however we can imagine that living conditions and lack of available medical care and the means to pay for it contributed to the loss of so many children.
It is hard for us today to imagine the anguish the family must have gone through. Perhaps this was one reason why Thomas senior was drinking heavily as his son reported.
At this time the family were living in Munton Road, Newington off the New Kent Rd, lost forever under the development of the area.
Ethel Maud
From his first marriage Thomas’s daughter Ellen Maud, married in 1895 to William Gough at St Matthews Church, Bethnal Green. William was a Barman age 25yrs.
No census has been found but another family tree shows them with two children, Nellie Maud bn 1897, and Annie Beatrice bn 1899. William had died by the time of both girls’ weddings in 1918. We later find that Ellen Maud remarried to Henry A Warren in 1929. She died in Greenwich in 1954 and is buried in Lewisham Cemetery.
George William
Ellen’s older brother George William was born in 1866 and the last definite information
I could find was the 1881 Census, when he was living at home with the family. There are a number of marriages and deaths available but none proven.
As previously mentioned the last two children born to Thomas and his wife Amelia died young. Following his remarriage to Hannah we see that their first two children were also lost. Hannah Lilian at age 18yrs and Thomas Charles at just 1yr old
William Frederick
William Frederick born 1885 did survive and married on 10 Nov 1911 at St Luke’s Church, Deptford. He gives 16 Gosterwood Road as his address and Thomas Mears, butcher as his fathers details. He married Victoria May Mason. He appears to be calling himself Frederick at this point. Nothing more definite can be found for William/Frederick.
However, in the 1921c we find Victoria May Mears living with Albert Charles Mears,
(William Frederick’s younger brother.) They claim to be married and they are living and working at the Tapsell Hotel, 9 Harbour St, Folkestone, Kent as, “Barman/maid.)
Is William dead or has Victoria left him for his brother? We find them again in the 1939 reg’ living at 75 Addington Street, Ramsgate, Kent and finally we find Albert’s burial, on 28 Nov 1940 in Lewisham Cemetery.
Other children
Between the births of William Frederick and Albert Charles there were three more children born. Twins Helena and Alice Maud, who were born in the Mar Q of 1887 and may have been the children born dead as their deaths are registered in the same quarter.
Following them is Frederick William, the subject of this story, who was born on 16th Dec 1887; yes, three children in one year.
Following Albert Charles born 1891 we have two more children who survived into adulthood.
Florence Martha
She born 1894, who on 18 Feb 1914 married Thomas John Hawkes in St Luke’s Church, Deptford, (now calling herself Martha Florence) Thomas is a boiler maker and Florence’s details confirm her home address and fathers name and occupation as we know them. We find them again on the 1921 Census living in Greenwich with two young children, Florence H and Thomas A. Thomas Senior is now said to be a barge builder working in Deptford.
The 1939 register shows the family living at 13, Guild Rd Greenwich. Their two older children are no longer at home but another son Albert E, is still with them born 1924. Martha F Hawkes died 28 March 1964 and she left her money, £310 to her older son, Thomas Albert Hawkes
Benjamin Stanley
The final surviving child was Benjamin Stanley was born in 1895 and in the Sept Q 1914. He married Irene Beatrice Sykes in the Greenwich district.
The 1921 Census finds them living in Ramsgate, not far from her brother Albert, with their 6yr old twins, Queenie Kathleen and Stanley Thomas. However the 1939 register shows Benjamin alone.
Finally, to finish this sad story, almost the entire family, Benjamin, Irene, their daughter in law Doris and their three young grandchildren were killed together, presumably by a bomb, whilst living in Colchester district of Essex on 1 June 1942.
Thomas and Hannah’s final two sons, Augustus and Walter Stuart both died within their first year. Augustus, see d cert 1897 was buried in Southwark and Walter in Lewisham.
** When I heard the names Shadwell, Deptford and Rotherhithe, Limehouse and Hackney I immediately thought of poverty, slums and deprivation. I was therefore surprised when I saw that most of their addresses were considered “comfortable” in the Booths poverty assessments. I assume that a butcher could put food on the table more easily than some, but with such a large family it must have been a struggle. And yet, I found no admission to the workhouse, using the Infirmary as we would the local hospital today.
I think that this is one of the saddest stories I have researched, so far.
