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b.1868-d.1911
Horizontal Tree View – Ancestry
When I started the search for Alice, I did not realise she would have a unique secret, an extraordinary and tragic incident in her life that made the papers.
Alice Maud Blackstone was born on 25 August 1868 at 12 Little Paris Street in Lambeth, London. Her maiden name was Allen.
Her parents were Charles Henry Allen and Leah Caroline Clayton. Her father was a Stone Mason.
Charles and Leah were married on 11 December 1859 at St Andrew’s church in Lambeth.
Charles had been born in 1835 in Highcliffe, Hampshire on the south coast to Richard and Rachael Allen. He was their youngest child. Richard was a Stone Mason so Charles had followed in his father’s footsteps.
Leah Caroline Clayton was the daughter of Mark and Priscilla Clayton from Bermondsey, London. Mark was described as a licensed victualler on his daughter’s marriage certificate but Census returns suggest he was a Brewer’s Servant. Leah was Mark and Priscilla’s middle child of 3 children.
1861 Census
Charles and Leah were living at 14 Belvedere Road in Lambeth with their daughter Leah aged 1. Priscilla Clayton, Leah’s mother, aged 64 a “monthly nurse” was living with them too. A monthly nurse was a woman who specialised in caring for a mother and newborn baby during the first month after childbirth, a month referring to the traditional confinement period of about 4 weeks. Or it could have been that Priscilla was helping her daughter with her young child.
Baby Leah died in 1863.
1871 Census
The family were living in Little Paris Street in Lambeth which would be their home for many years.
Charles aged 35 was a Stone Mason. Leah, his wife aged 36 came from Lee in Kent. Their children were Richard aged 9, our subject Alice, aged 2, and Charles junior aged 1 month. They were all born in Lambeth. Priscilla Clayton was still living with them. Mark, her husband, had died 8 February 1863. Sight of his death certificate on an Ancestry tree showed he died of Bronchitis at 5 Kings Place in Newington. Priscilla was present at his death.
1881 Census
The family were still living in Little Paris Street at number 4. Charles was now aged 45 and still working as a Stone mason. Leah’s age was 40 (she was actually 38). The children living at home were Alice aged 11, Charles junior aged 9 and Arthur aged 5. Priscilla Clayton, their maternal grandmother, was now aged 84. She died in 1885 at the grand old age of 88.
The following year Alice’s father Charles died in June 1886 aged 51.
1891 Census
The family continued to live at 4 Little Paris Street. Leah who was now widowed was shown as being aged 48 .
Booth’s Maps from this period reveal that Little Paris Street was close to the River Thames and just down the road from Lambeth Palace. It was described as being a fairly comfortable road where people earnt good ordinary wages. The north side was poorer than the south.
Alice was now aged 22; her occupation was listed as “Ballet Lady Theatrical”*. Charles aged 18 was listed as “Attendant – Theatrical”. Arthur was now aged 15 and was working as a Barrister’s Clerk. The family also had a lodger, a widow Jane Foote aged 57, a cook from Lincolnshire.
Where could Alice and Charles have worked?
Within 10 to 15 minutes’ walk there were several theatrical establishments, the Royal Victoria Hall and Coffee Tavern, the Canterbury Theatre of Varieties, the Surrey Theatre or the Royal Aquarium. Of course, across Westminster Bridge were many major theatres. Research suggests that performances of classical ballet were relatively uncommon in the area where Alice lived. However, the Canterbury Theatre of Varieties did feature chorus dancers, skirt dancers, and ballet style numbers. Across the river the most likely place where ballet was performed was the Empire or Alhambra Theatre.
We will never know for sure.
Marriage
On 23 August 1898 Alice married Walter Thomas Worthey Blackston at Lambeth Registry Office. This is confirmed by Alice’s workhouse records.
Alice’s groom was born in 1871 in the village of Shoreham in Kent. He was the son of Eliza and William Blackstone. He was a gardener.
According to Alice’s examination records from the Wandsworth Union Infirmary, the couple first lived at 5 & 7, Queens Road, Lavender Hill in Battersea. Walter ran 2 shops – a Florist’s and a Greengrocer’s Shop. Walter stated they lived there for about 8 years, and he paid 12/- a week rent.
1901 Census
Alice was residing with her mother and brother Charles at 4 Little Paris Street. Leah was now aged 58, Charles aged 29 a single man working as a Florist (Gardener). Alice was named as Maude Blackston aged 32, with no occupation.
Arthur Allen, Alice’s brother, was living in the same house with his wife Annie aged 31. She was a dressmaker from Brentford. Annie had been married before and she had 3 children. George Jasper aged 12, Mary A Jasper aged 11 and Walter J Jasper aged 5.
Alice’s husband was in Bexley with his parents William and Eliza. Walter was working as a Gardener. Records do not suggest the couple had split up, so it may be that they were both visiting their parents, or it was a financial arrangement.
Alice’s mother Leah died in December 1904 aged 71 after her son Arthur had died in the previous June.
By mid-June 1907 the couple moved to 4 Little Paris Street, Lambeth. This could have been because of Arthur’s death. Perhaps they moved in to help with the children?
By the new year the couple had moved again and on 10 February 1908 after nearly 10 years of marriage, their daughter Leah Elizabeth Alice was born at 32 Silverthorne Road in Battersea.
Interestingly, another variation of Alice’s name is on the birth certificate “Leah Maud”. The couple must have been really happy to finally have a child.
According to Walter’s statement, the couple then moved to 9 Goldsborough Road on 30 May 1908.
It appears Alice and Walter also had Alice’s nephew and niece, Maud and Alfred Allen living with them as their school records for 1 June 1908 give 9 Goldsborough Road as their address.
Alice very quickly became pregnant again but this time it would end in tragedy. Alice gave birth to Quadruplets on 1 and 2 January 1909. All 4 babies died within hours and according to the papers Alice nearly lost her life. Within 10 months Alice had given birth to 5 children.
The Wandsworth Borough News dated 8 January 1909
The Newcastle Daily Chronicle gives a little more detail. Dated 6 January 1909
The event was widely reported across the nation.
Sadly, we do not know what sex the babies were or whether they were full term. The poor little souls did not stand much of a chance.
I tried to research how many sets of quads were born in the decade between 1900 and 1910. The Newspapers record 4 women had quad births. Only one woman had children who lived. This was a rare occurrence and it’s highly likely that the midwife did not know that Alice was having 4 babies until it happened. It must have been horrific and terrifying for all concerned.
The Lloyds Weekly Newspaper dated 24 January 1909 reported that Alice had received the King’s Gratuity. Another paper reported that this had been arranged through Canon Allen Edwards.
The King’s Gratuity or “King’s Bounty” was a tradition of giving a Royal cash donation to parents of triplets or higher multiple births. It originated with Queen Victoria in 1849. By 1910, the parents typically received £3 per child. It was only granted if the babies were born alive and the parents were married British Subjects. As Alice and Walter’s little ones had been born alive, they were eligible. That would be worth around £450 per child today. I am sure this helped the couple financially a lot but would not have made up for their grief and loss.
Canon Allen Edwards was the Vicar of All Saints, South Lambeth and Rural Dean of Kennington. He was also a resident Canon at Southwark Cathedral.
The money did not help Alice’s recovery. Walter told the Workhouse authorities that he took his wife to live in Bexley Heath in 1909 for health reasons. They lived at 34 Woolwich Road whilst they were there.
On 5 September 1910, the couple returned to Battersea and lived at 131 Chatham Road. Sadly, Walter reports on Alice’s Reception Order that she was unwell from that point.
Reception Order
Walter said
“My wife has been strange in mind and wakes me up in the middle of the night saying the shop opposite is in fire and that she sees a man holding red hot rails. She stands all day in a dazed condition and will not attend to her household duties”
It was after 4 weeks of poor Alice being unwell that she was admitted to Wandsworth Union Infirmary. Walter was only earning 11/- a week as a Gardener and could not afford her maintenance. Alice was examined and diagnosed with “Privation Myxedema”. This is an older medical term for myxedema caused by a lack (privation) of thyroid hormone, usually due to severe hypothyroidism. This is also known as an underactive Thyroid.
The Doctor who examined Alice observed
“She is wandering in her mind and at all times dazed and confused. Is subject to hallucinations and fancies. She hears imaginary organs playing in the ward and see places on fire unseen by others”
Hypothyroidism can cause confusion and hallucinations. Severe Myxedema was sometimes known as Myxedema Madness. Whilst they were not typical symptoms, it is a sign that Alice’s situation was severe and possibly prolonged. Brain fog is another symptom. This certainly fits with the observations made.
Whilst it was a recognised illness at that time. It is not clear how long Alice had really had symptoms. Even if a diagnosis could have been made, the treatment was experimental and not available to all. On Walter’s wages it would have been impossible.
It is not clear what other symptoms Alice was displaying. There is a note that says her bodily condition was fair but it is unclear what the other notes are.
Poor Alice, she was suffering from the loss of her babies and an underactive Thyroid. She was deemed “insane” and sent to Long Grove on 26 October 1910.
Long Grove
There is an absence of Case notes for Long Grove patients so it is hard to know what treatment Alice would have received or whether anything could be done to alleviate her symptoms.
Alice survived less than a year and died there on 4 September 1911. Her death certificate shows she died of Pulmonary Tuberculosis.
Unfortunately, TB was rife in the Asylums and spread very quickly.
Alice was buried in Grave number 1077b in Horton Cemetery.
What happened to Walter and Leah?
Father and daughter remained close for the rest of Walter’s life. In 1911 they were both living with Walter’s sister Eliza Ashton and her husband Joseph in Church Road Bexley in Kent. Also living in the house were Walter’s elderly parents William and Eliza Blackstone.
In 1921, they remained together alongside Eliza and Joseph Aston in Bexley. By this time Walter was 49 years of age working with his brother-in-law as a Painter. Leah aged 13 was still at school.
On 24 January 1931 Leah married Albert Bryan in Yorkshire. Leah and Albert’s son Gordon Worthy Joseph was born on 11 July 1931. Family trees suggest there may have been 2 other children although I have no evidence of this.
In 1939 Walter was living with Leah and her son Gordon in Bexley.
Walter died in 1946 and is buried at Welling in Kent.
Leah and Albert remained in Bexley for the rest of their lives.
Leah died on 14 February 1979.
Alice’s siblings
Richard
Richard had left home by the time of the 1881 census, having married Rubyna Helen Ada Bursill on 16 April 1881. Rubyna was known as Ada and Richard supported the family working as a Barrister’s Clerk. The couple had 4 children including twins Alice and Maud born in 1887 named after their aunt presumably. The twins died in the same quarter as they were born.
On 28 May 1900 Ada was admitted to Claybury Asylum and she died there on 9 December 1900 from a brain tumour. Her death certificate can be seen below.
By 1901 Richard claims on the 1901 census he was living with his second wife Rhoda at 5 Orient Buildings in Lambeth. Rhoda was 19 years his junior. Alongside Richard and Rhoda were his daughters Ruby and Annie and a 2-month son Alfred. This is Richard and Rhoda’s son, so it seems as if he had a relationship with Rhoda dating back at least 11 months before Ada died.
The couple did not marry until 25 March 1905 and they had 4 children between 1901 and 1910. Richard continued to work as a Barristers Clerk but in 1912 things must have taken a turn for the worst and their 3 sons Alfred, William and Reginald were in Wandsworth Poor Law School and Rhoda was in the workhouse. Family trees show that Richard set sail for Australia on the SS Cassel sometime in 1912. From what I can ascertain the family followed later on the SS Themistocles. They settled in Australia. Ruby and Annie remained in England.
Richard died 1941.
Richard’s daughters Ruby and Annie married brothers. Ruby married William Berkley Lemmer in 1904 and Annie married Albert Edward in 1908. Alice may have attended the weddings.
The papers reported the curious tale of Alice’s great nephews’ death in 1908 as reported in Wandsworth Borough News 21 August 1908.
Charles
Born in 1872 Charles was still living with his mother in 1901 and he seems to have taken on a role supporting his niece Dorothy Maude Leah who was his late brother Arthur’s daughter as she was living with him in 1911. Arthur had died in 1904 and the family were struggling so Charles must have lent a hand. He was working as a Jobbing Gardener.
Many family trees have Charles married to Bertha Jane Furlong. This couple moved to America. This is not our man. The marriage took place in Liverpool in 1902. Father and son were saddlers, and the surname is spelt Allan, not Allen. As we can see, the Charles we are looking at was still in London in 1911.
By 1914 Charles had started a relationship with Sarah Trenery, the wife of Henry Hill Trenery. They never married and this was because Henry Trenery was alive and well. According to newspaper reports, the couple separated in 1909, and the children remained with their father. Sadly, Henry neglected the children and by 1914 the Ternery children were living with Charles and Sarah. Unfortunately, the youngest Ternery child ended up in care but her story is for another day so we do not detract from Alice’s story.
Charles and Sarah had a daughter together, and she was born on 8 May 1914 named after her late Aunt, Alice Maud Leah Allen.
In 1921 the couple were living together at 113 Farmers Road in Camberwell with Marie Trenery aged 18 who was Sarah’s daughter and Alice aged 7. Charles is working back in the theatre as a Theatre Hand (properties) at the Prince of Wales theatre. There are interesting newspaper articles of the time describing the work of the properties department. It is also interesting to note that the great American dancer Isadora Duncan was performing there at the time of the census. It seems as if Charles’s love of the theatre remained.
By 1939 Charles and Sarah were living in Lambeth and Charles had returned to working as a Jobbing Gardener. Their daughter Alice was still living with them.
There are several possibilities that could relate to Charles’s death but none of them are positive findings.
Arthur William
Born in 1875. Alice’s younger brother was living at the same address as Alice with his family in 1901. He married Annie Doig Jasper nee Clark in 1900. Her husband George Jasper had died 3 years previously. She had 4 surviving children George, Mary, Walter and Marie McMillan Jasper. Marie’s birth certificate reveals she was not George’s child having been born 2 years after his death. Arthur and Annie had 2 living children, but their marriage was cut short when Arthur died just months before his mother of TB on 26 June 1904.
Theatrical Connections
As was stated earlier, Alice worked in a theatre alongside her brother Charles in 1891. Her work was somehow connected with Ballet, and Charles was a Theatre Attendant. Alice’s brother Richard was a musical man and he played the wooden flute.
There is a picture of Richard on his family tree where he is holding what has been identified as an 8 key wooden flute. He also played in a band on his passage to Australia.
His first wife’s maiden name was Bursill. Ada is alleged to be the daughter of Henry Bursill, a sculptor who died in 1871. I can neither confirm nor deny this as a birth certificate has proved impossible to find. Her half or full brother Robert Guthrie was a theatre Manager, and his son Ronald Grahame was a well-known performer, writer and Theatre Manager. He remodeled the New Theatre Royal in Croydon.
Richard and Ada’s eldest daughters Ruby and Annie (Alice’s nieces) married into the Lemmer family. In 1891 William Berkeley Lemmer, their father-in-law was a Music Seller, publisher and theatrical agent in London.
Clara Lemmer (Ruby and Annie’s sister-in-law) married Arthur Blount. Arthur appeared on stage as a comedian and “eccentric vocalist”. Arthur was his stage name. He was actually Percy Walter Turck. He had a very long career and performed with a lot of famous entertainers. He even appeared at the London Palladium.
Ruby, who was Alice’s niece, was an early Tiller girl. These girls were highly trained dancers and performed all over Britain and the world.
Her obituary of 15 September 1977 in The Stage confirms this. I have not been able to find out any more, but it’s highly likely Ruby had a stage name. There is on her Ancestry page a wonderful theatrical photograph of her. You can imagine the family must have been proud of her. Perhaps Alice went to see her perform.
And then there was Alice’s brother Charles who appeared to work in the theatre on and off all his life.
Alice had a lot of theatrical influences around her. It’s difficult to know how much this affected her and how often she was in contact with the wider family. I would like to think she could at least enjoy a visit to the theatre or music hall.
Multiple Births
Multiple births ran in the family. Richard had twins who died. His daughter Ruby had twins who survived, thanks to advances in medicine.
Author’s Thoughts
Discovering Alice’s story has been sad but very interesting and took me into the theatrical world at the turn of the 20th century.
Alice’s childhood seems relatively stable with her father gainfully employed as a Stone Mason until his death. Her mother continued to live in the family home and Alice remained close to her family even after her marriage.
The most extraordinary and tragic event in her life was the birth of the quadruplets who died before they were even 12 hours old. The natal care in those days was basic and mother and babies did not stand a chance. Even though Alice survived the awful events of the multiple birth, her health took a turn for the worse. Her husband tried to help as much as he could by taking her to the more rural area of Bexley, probably hoping the rest and cleaner, more rural environment would help. Unfortunately, it could not and without treatment her underactive thyroid started to affect her mental health.
Her poor husband could not cope anymore, and poor Alice did not last much longer in Long Grove and succumbed to TB.
I like to think Alice’s younger life and marriage was a happy one and that she had a creative family who enjoyed music and the theatre. She appeared to be loved and that she herself enjoyed the creative side of life and that should be how we remember her.
