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b.1880-d.1903
Background
The Beston family were recorded as such on the censuses, but the children were recorded as Bestin when their births were registered with the General Register Office (GRO).
Care had to be taken when researching as there was another family with similar names – James and Hannah/Honora Beston with their children Hannah, James, and Edward were living in 1881 in 6 Horsleydown Place, Southwark. These two boys were then admitted to an orphanage where records confirmed this previous address. Their mother later married Nicholas Waters.
James’ family
James was born on 4th February 1880 at 3 Lower Park Road, Camberwell; his mother Honora registered his birth on 22nd March while living at 3 Stockwell Street, which was off the Old Kent Road. His father Michael was working as a bricklayer/labourer at the time.
James was not recorded as being with his family when the 1881 Census was taken the following year. At this time, his Irish parents Michael (Mike) and Nora (Honora) were living at 2 Young’s Buildings, Southwark St George Martyr, London, along with James’ older siblings Patrick aged 15, Dennis aged 13, Edward aged 9, Catherine (Kate) aged 5, and Michael (Mike) junior aged 4.
Tagged on at the end of the list of their children was a one-year-old daughter Francis (sic). As a GRO birth record has not been found for her, and as there are no further records for her, should she have been recorded as ‘our’ one-year-old red headed, green eyed lad, James?
Another brother, named William, was born in 1884 but sadly died the following year.
Admission to the Workhouse
James and his 40-year-old father Michael were admitted on 28th April 1887 into the Greenwich Workhouse where the records say that his father was a labourer of 9 Nelson Street. James’ real age was 7, but he was recorded as being younger at the age of 5. This younger ageing of him was repeated throughout his admissions and discharges of the workhouse system. The next day James’ siblings 10-year-old Michael and 11-year-old Catherine were also admitted to the same workhouse. All four were discharged on 16th June 1887.
In and Out of the Workhouse
On 11th August 1887 Michael and his sons Michael and James were admitted back into the workhouse as having no home. On 17th August 1887 orders for removal of James and his brother Michael from the Lewisham Union to the parish of St Giles, Camberwell, were issued. The document, that was sworn at the Police Court in Greenwich, states that
“….they are the lawful children of Michael Beston the elder and Honora his wife. That the said Michael Beston the elder, who is at present an inmate of the Greenwich Union Workhouse, resided for the term of three years upwards, namely, from or about the month October 1876, up to or about the month of February 1880, at Maismore Square, Love Grove Street, Bird-in-the-Bush Road, and Lower Park Road, severally situate in the parish of St Giles, Camberwell……….That the child Michael Beston was born on or about 7th December 1876, at no. 10 Maismore Square aforesaid, and the child James Beston was born on or about the 4th day of February 1880, at no.3 Lower Park Road aforesaid, both situated in the parish of St Giles, Camberwell”.
They were all discharged on 24th August 1887, but the following day Michael junior and James were brought back by the police as destitute. James was once again admitted to the workhouse on 26th October 1887, but this time on his own.
On 24th March 1888 James was again admitted into the Greenwich Workhouse. The following day he was sent to the Gordon Road Workhouse, Camberwell, where his parents were now both inmates.
Herne Bay School
With his parents no longer able to care for him, James was admitted on 19th August 1889 to the South Metropolitan School’s Herne Bay School in Kent. This building had been converted from The Pier Hotel into a children’s school/convalescent home. His admittance papers state that he had come from the workhouse and that his father was M. Biston (sic).
St Mary’s Orphanage
James was aged 11 when the 1891 Census was taken on 5th April; he and his 13-year-old brother Michael were recorded as being scholars in the St Mary’s Boys’ Orphanage that was run by Catholics in North Hyde, Heston, Middlesex; the buildings had been originally used as barracks during the Napoleonic wars.
A Return to the Workhouse – and a Transfer to Colney Hatch
At some point James was moved to the Newington Workhouse as “A Statement of Particulars” had been written on 13th June 1898 that gave the following information about James:
- He was “aged 15”, single, had no occupation, and was a Roman Catholic.
- He had his “first attack” aged 15 that lasted for 6 weeks.
- Supposed Cause: Injured his head falling from a swing 5 years ago (1893).
- Not epileptic.
- He was not dangerous or suicidal.
- His abode had been in the Newington Workhouse.
- Notification of his death to be sent to his father M. Beston, an inmate in Camberwell Workhouse.
On 15th June 1898, James, then aged 18, was transferred from the Newington Workhouse to the Colney Hatch Asylum.
The following year, James was transferred on 15th August 1899 from the Colney Hatch Asylum as being ‘Not Improved’, imbecilic and by then, epileptic, to the Manor Asylum in Epsom, Surrey.
The Manor Asylum – and a Transfer to Horton
Once there, James underwent a medical after which the doctor concluded that
“He is dull & stupid sits in an apathetic way taking little notice of what is going on. He says that everyone calls him silly. He does not know much of figures, nor can he accurately tell the time”
“His expression is vacant & he is childish & weak-minded. He is nervous & says that he has fits when frightened that someone will do him damage. Can not tell year or month & says it is January”
James was later transferred to the Horton Asylum, one of the other five asylums in Epsom, Surrey.
James’ death certificate incorrectly stated that he was aged 20, but he was aged 23 when he died in the Horton Asylum on 11th June 1903. The certificate recorded that he had been “of no occupation from Newington Workhouse”. After a post-mortem, his death was recorded as being from the wasting disease phthisis, also known as consumption or tuberculosis, that he had suffered from for the last year or so. His body was buried in grave 250 in the Horton Estate Cemetery on 20th June 1903.
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