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b.1881-d.1916
George Moore was born in the Sept Quarter of 1881, the sixth of eight children born to John Isaac Moore and his wife Eliza Ingleton. Both John and Eliza were born in Whitechapel; they had married in 1869 at St John the Baptist Church, Hoxton, both giving the same address of 5 High Street. John’s occupation is shown as a Coppersmith as is his father, also John Moore. Eliza’s father Robert is a ‘Cooper.’
Eliza signs her marriage certificate with her mark indicating that she could not write.
John and Eliza lived most of their married life in Bethnal Green and all eight of their children were registered in that district.
Locating the Family
The first time we find the family in the Census is in 1871 and they are living at 2, Charles Street, Bethnal Green. John Isaac is shown as a “Tinman,” 22yrs, born in Spitalfields, Whitechapel. Eliza is 23yrs also born in Spitalfields, and their daughter, Eliza Elizabeth, is just 3 months old, born in Bethnal Green.
By the time of the 1881 Census, their family has grown and John is now recorded as a “Copper Toymaker.” They are now living at 16a Gibraltar Walk, Bethnal Green and in addition to young Eliza, now 10yrs old, they have Emma Louise 6yrs and John 3yrs, both born in Bethnal Green. Sadly, in the previous year they had gained and lost a daughter, Miriam Albina; she was born in the Sept Quarter of 1880 but died at about 4 months. She was buried in Tower Hamlets Cemetery on 21 Dec 1880.
Living with them is Hester Ingleton, mother-in-law, 66yrs, a widow. (Eliza’s mother was actually called Elizabeth Esther Savage). And also, Thomas and Emma Hull, who I believe to be John’s sister, and her husband.
The subject of our story, George, appears for the first time on the 1891 Census when the family are still living in Gibraltar Walk, but have moved to number 41. Their family is now complete with the addition of Robert 8yrs, George 6yrs, Lily 3yrs and baby James Thomas 10 months. Unfortunately, James was not long for this world and died the following May, he is buried, like Miriam, in Tower Hamlets Cemetery.
Family Changes
The following years bring many changes to the family. In 1895 George’s father, John Isaac Moore died, following sixteen weeks spent in the Royal Chest Hospital, City Road, London.
Eliza must have struggled to keep the family together with no money coming in and George and his younger sister Lily were placed in the Bethnal Green Union Poor Law School in West Ham, Leyton, Essex.
From the beginning, Bethnal Green poor law guardians adopted a policy of separating children under fifteen from their parents, and sent them to existing poor law school on the outskirts of London. However, they became unhappy with the treatment in these schools and decided to build their own in Leytonstone, which opened in 1868. They got of to a poor start with a scandal reported in the newspaper regarding cruelty and mismanagement. But, over the following ten years the board reorganised, renewed the accommodation, and the school became a ground breaking facility for the care of the “Juvenile poor,” just in time for the arrival of George and Lily. Follow the link to find out more.
https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryMagazine/DestinationsUK/SecretLondon/Bethnal-Green-School-Juvenile-Poor
George develops Epilepsy
When he was about 14yrs George went to work as an apprentice to a rope maker, but shortly after he had a fall which seems to have brought on his first epileptic seizure. He was taken to West Ham Infirmary and from there, aged just 14yrs he was sent to the Brentwood Asylum, admitted on the 30 Oct 1899. George’s address is given as 22 Denmark Street, Leytonstone. The same address that was given for his mother when he was admitted to Ewell Epileptic Colony, in 1904.
Things must have become desperate at around this time as we find an Order of Removal for Eliza Moore. The handwriting is appalling and the punctuation none existent but the information I could decipher proved useful.
Eliza is living at 22, Denmark Street when she is interviewed on 6 July 1900. She says she is a widow, her husband having died 5yrs ago, having spent 16 weeks in the chest hospital, City Rd.
Various children are randomly named:
- Robert Moore 18yrs bn 41 Gibraltar Walk, lives in London, address not known.
- Eliza Patston (nee Moore) Francis Buildings, born in August 1871.
- Lilian 13yr on 27 Oct 1887 born 41 Gibraltar Walk was sent home (presumably from the poor law school) last January, she has been there 3yrs
- Mrs Moore has been here (where) exactly 3yrs and has had relief 2yrs here. Was in West Ham Infirmary 1 week last May chronic Rheumatism. At 41 Gibraltar Walk 27yrs where 16a Mr Gould landlord.
- No mention is made of Emma or John.
- George who is 16 on 1 August is in Brentwood Asylum. He was removed from the West Ham Union and is now chargeable to Bethnal Green Union.
This whole period is quite confusing. Was Eliza living in Leyton because her children were in the poor law school there and George in the Brentwood Asylum? Who was removing her, Bethnal Green or West Ham Union, presumably West Ham?
However it would seem that Eliza is still living at 22, Denmark Street in the 1901 Census, albeit as a lodger, along with Robert now 19yrs, a tailor, and Lily 14yrs. However she is mistakenly recorded as Lily, 40yrs, a widow. Eliza would have been 52yrs at this point so my thought is that somebody else in the house gave her details.
Finally, we find Eliza and Lilian in the 1911 Census living at 31 Barnsley Street, Bethnal Green. Eliza is 62yrs and said to be an “imbecile.” Lilian is 23yrs and of no occupation, presumably as the youngest unmarried daughter she is looking after her mother in her decline. I now know that Lilian died within weeks of the census being taken, (see below) but without buying the certificate I cannot be sure what happened to Eliza. I think she probably died in Bethnal Green aged 68yrs in 1917.
George Arrives at the Epileptic Colony
Meanwhile young George, now about 19yrs, was transferred to the Epileptic Colony, in Epsom, Surrey on 22 March 1904. A relatively modern and forward thinking place for its time, Colonists were housed in Villas to try and remove the stigma of asylum life. Part of the large Epsom cluster of five asylums, everyone in the Colony was expected to work, on the farm, in the kitchens, the laundry, or in the villas if less able, all of which supported the whole complex. To find out more about the Colony follow the link. https://eehe.org.uk/61363/hospital-cluster-st-ebbas-draft
On arrival at the Colony George was accompanied by an attendant, Thomas Watt, from Brentwood Asylum who gave a report which said George was dangerous, “by threat with a knife.” He was said to be “quite lost and silly and cannot give any proper reason why he interferes with and attacks other persons.” He was “sullen, quarrelsome and always interfering with other patients.”
George’s personal history was given by one of his brothers who added several further interesting details to what has already been noted. He says that in his younger years George had been treated “with a battery twice weekly for 3 months at the children’s hospital in Hackney Rd.” No other health problems were reported. His habits were steady and regular, a non drinker.
Two of his Georges siblings died within their first year and another at 21yr of an “abscess on the brain.”
Case notes
1904, 27 March: “He is suffering from Epileptic imbecility with recurring attacks of brief excitement and violence. He is simple and weak minded. Simple mental arithmetic calculations are executed slowly. Three violent episodes during this past year.”
27 April: 15 fits since admitted. So far a pleasant and amiable young fellow.
28 July: Mentally the same, a pleasant, happy imbecile. At times, rather mischievous and on one occasion, when teased by other colonists, he threw a wet floor cloth at one of them which missed, and hit the window, smashing it. 32 fits since last note. He suffers headaches and is taking Stront Brom twice daily. Good worker, Sociable and gives hardly any trouble.
George’s fits seem to stay at this level over the next year and comments vary from “can be excitable and pugilistic” to, a pleasant, contented imbecile. Says, “He likes this place.” Works on the farm.
1906: This does not reconcile with the sullen, dangerous young man from the Brentwood Asylum. *I wonder if George aged just fifteen had previously been placed alongside much older, seriously mentally ill people and found Brentwood an unhappy place.
In January of the new year we find that George is working inside the villa. He is said to be “weak minded and awkward of manner.” Over the next few months his fits seem to decrease, but in April it is noted that he has a “blowing mitral systolic murmur” but is fairly well nourished in body. As the year progresses his fits remain lower and he is still working “extremely well and steadily.” In October we find him working in the Villa kitchen. He is said to be showing emotional instability and morbid aggression over trifles.
Throughout 1907 George remains much the same, noted often as, “well behaved, docile and contented.” But during 1908 he seems to become more “quarrelsome and Hypercondrial.” He is now working as a “scullery man in Elm Villa.” This pattern continues over the next two years until, in October 1910, his fits suddenly increase in number, 47 fits in the previous 3 months, and he is said to be “Hypercondrial and very lazy.”
This high number of fits continue during 1911, and sadly the comments become more negative. “Childishly querulous and untruthful.” “Slow and of little value as a worker, appears duller than formerly.” Until, in October the report to the ‘Commission in Lunacy’ states that he is an “imbecile suffering from Epilepsy. Morally deficient, and unreliable. Mental development and reasoning powers poor. Satisfactory health condition.” Later that month George complains of an “Aura of gold in head, description indefinite”
1912, 29 Jan: We find George working on the farm but when asked he is unable tell the doctor what 4×4 makes (* rather an arbitrary question for a man in his situation after years in institutions. Today we might say “use it or loose it”). In April George’s fits increase again, 72 fits in the past 3 months. And, by July, he is said to need constant supervision. He has no initiative and is confused and irritable after fits.
Sadly we hear that he is discontented because he has not seen his mother for three years; actually we do not know that he ever received visitors, but as he does not appear in the Colony visitors book it seems unlikely.
Throughout 1913 the number of fits remains high and no great changes to his mental state are noted. He is no longer “of use as a worker,” but he “potters about with the villa workers on the farm.”
And then suddenly… ‘New Ledger’, and no clue as to where that might be. Occasionally in this situation we have been lucky to find some loose notes that can help to piece together the Colonist’s final years, but unfortunately not for George. We cannot know how his last few years were for George, but I don’t imagine he improved. I would like to think that, with help, he was able to remain a “pleasant, amiable young fellow.” After all he was only 30 years old when he died.
George died on 13 March 1916. His death certificate states that he died of Epilepsy, many years. There was no call for a post mortem. He was buried on17 March 1916 in grave 2030b in Horton Estate Cemetery, Epsom.
George’s siblings
Eliza Elizabeth Moore. Born 7 Feb 1871, was baptised at Christ Church Spitalfield on 19th Feb of that year. John and Eliza are living at 2, Charles Street, Hackney Road and John is shown as a ‘Coppersmith’. In the 1891 Census, Eliza E is still living at home, now 41, Gibraltar Walk, she is 20yrs old and working as a ‘box maker.’ Just three years later, on 3 August 1893 she married Arthur Patston, a 26yr old ‘Scale maker’ at St Matias Church, Bethnal Green. Both parties sign their names and one of the witnesses is Eliza’s sister, Emma.
In 1901 we find them living at 185, Finnis St, Bethnal Green. This was part of the Walterlow Estate, built by Waterlow Industrial Dwellings with the intention of providing, “substantial, comfortable and healthy homes for working families.” Arthur seems to run his own business now and they already have three children. By the time we reach 1911 the family has moved to 38, Cudworth Street, Bethnall Green and they have completed their family: Elizabeth Esther (Lily) (1894) Arthur Alfred (1897) John Samuel, (1899), Lilian (1901) George Robert (1904-1905) Winifred May (1907) Charles Edward (1910) and Violet Patricia, (1914.)
Eliza Elizabeth died in 1936 in Bethnal Green aged 65 years. For some reason she is registered as Elizabeth Esther Patston, her daughters name. She was buried on 29 October 1936 in Newham Cemetery. Arthur died on 25 Oct 1938 aged 71 years.
Emma Louise Moore Born 17 August 1873 and baptised at Christ Church, Spitlefields on 3 Jan 1875. Her father is shown as a ‘Tinsmith and Brazier’ living at 21, Gibraltar Walk, Bethnall Green. On the 4 Aug 1895, Emma married John Hicks Jacobs, a ‘Lithographic printer’; Emma is a ‘French Polisher.’ Both give their address as 4, Glass Street, although this was often done to save money. If the couple lived in two different parishes they would otherwise have to pay to have the banns called twice.
Emma’s father is named as John but his occupation is given as French polisher. He also signed with his mark when we know that John signed his own marriage certificate with his name. We know her father was extremely ill at this time so perhaps this was her brother, although he would only have been 18yrs old.
In 1901 Census John now seems to be calling himself John Thomas Jacobs. He and Emma are still living in Bethnal Green and have one son, John Hicks Jacobs, (1901). A daughter, Emily Rosanna was born in Sept Q 1902 but died before the end of the year.
By 1911 the family had moved to Walthamstow, Essex and are living at 14, Chester Road with their five children, John Hicks 10yrs. Lile 6yrs, (insane since 2yrs of age.) Alfred Frederick (registered as Alfred William.) 4yrs. Ethel Caroline 2yrs, and Edward Albert 2 weeks old. In this record Emma states that she has had seven children but lost 2.
In 1921 Census, they are living at the same address but have added two more children. Ivy Florence (1915) and Frederick Henry (1916) born apparently, in Holborn. Lile was admitted to the Brentwood Asylum on 12 Oct 1909 and died there in 1917.
Emma Louise appears in the 1939 Reg living at 12 Chester Rd, Walthamstow with her son Edward and his wife. She died in 1965 aged 91 years.
John Thomas Moore Born 1878, in Bethnal Green. John was with his family in the 1891c but, on her Order of Removal his mother Eliza, says that he “lives in London, address not known”. After exhaustive searching I have not been able to tie down a marriage, a census or a death. John remains a mystery.
Robert Moore Born 17 Nov 1881, in Bethnal Green. The most likely marriage I have found is with Florence Amelia West, on 25 Dec 1904 at Holy Trinity, Harrow Green, Essex. Robert’s father is shown as John Moore but without an actual marriage certificate I was unsure that this is the correct person.
However, following the censuses we find that Robert is shown again in 1911 as a ‘Tailor’ as he was in 1901, and they are living in Bethnal Green. The 1921 Census shows that they have moved to Leytonstone, Essex, and Robert is now working as a ‘chair finisher.’ The have three children, James (1906) Louisa Amelia (1909) and May Elizabeth (1914). The whole family appears in the 1939 Reg living at 125, Grove Green Road, Leyton. Again, I cannot be sure but I think that Robert died in Dec Q of 1952 in the West Ham Reg District, aged 71 years.
Lilian, (Lily) Moore Born 27 Oct 1987, in Bethnal Green. Lily was baptised at St Thomas Church on 16 Nov of the same year. In April 1897, as part of Poor Law examinations, Lily was placed in the poor law school with her brother George, following the death of her father in 1895. She returned home after three years according to the Poor Law examination of 1900.
In the 1901 Census, Lily is living with her mother and brother Robert in Leyton she is 14 years old. We don’t know what Lily did in the intervening years but the 1911c shows her living with, and taking care of her mother Eliza, who was said to be an “imbecile.”
Having bought the certificate I now know that Lily died on the 20 May 1911 of cardiac failure, not an “abscess on the brain” as her brother said. Her sister Eliza Patston, was with her at the end. This was just over a month after the census was taken and the home address of 31, Barnsley Street proves that we have the correct census, and shows that her sister Eliza, was living just across the street. Perhaps she took her mother in and cared for her until her death.
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