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b.1845-d.1918
Caroline’s parents
Caroline was born on 5th February 1845 at 11 Moor Street, Marylebone to John EADE junior, a Waiter and Charlotte née BUNNEY his wife. John and Charlotte had married on 8th April 1844 at St Pancras Church in Camden. John’s father was also named John and recorded as a Waiter.
Charlotte gave her father’s name as Richard who was deceased and with no occupation recorded. This Caroline is the only Caroline Eade recorded on the GRO index with a two-year margin either side of 1845. It is possible that her birth was not registered.
Caroline was Baptised on 10th August 1845 at St Mary, Bryanston Square, the surname being recorded as EDDE. Their address was given as Brown Street.
A tragic death
An unnamed son, a brother to Caroline, was born on 21st July 1846 at Queen Charlotte’s Lying-In Hospital in Marylebone. Father John gives his occupation as a Servant. The Baptismal register for 20th November 1846 at St Mary, Bryanston Square gives us the name Richard for the unnamed boy. He was possibly named after his maternal Grandfather. By now, the family had moved to Circus Street. Sadly baby Richard died aged 13 months on the 16th August1847 from a sudden illness, dying instantly.
I have not been able to positively identify Caroline or the family despite using various spellings for the surname on the 1851 Census.
The 1861 Census
On the 1861 Census there is a Caroline EDE aged 15 working as a housemaid for Francis Frith, the photographer in Reigate. Her place of birth recorded as St Andrews, Holborn. The house, Brightlands in Brightlands Road, Reigate was demolished and a modern 5 bedroom house now stands in its place. On the Francis Frith website is a photograph taken in 1885 of the house, a large Victorian villa with a carriage and horse standing patiently with a groom.
[To confuse things there is also a Caroline Ede aged 10 years with parents Caroline and John, a shoemaker, born and living in Surrey but there are several siblings and the mother’s maiden name was Resbridger.]
Marriage and children
Caroline married George John Reeves on 25th December 1863 at St Mary’s Church, Lambeth. George, a builder, was also known as John. Caroline is recorded as Caroline Eliza and her Father as James (deceased and formerly a Coal Porter.)
On the 1871 census George and Caroline are living at 4 St Georges Cottages, Lambeth and have two daughters, Caroline aged 5 and Jane 3. Living with them are two males, Thomas and John ADES both 22 years of age and recorded as Brothers-in-Law. Thomas was a wood dealer and John a Barge Builder. However I am unable identify them as Caroline’s brothers using the GRO database.
Changes of address
By the time of the 1881 census the family have moved to Latchmere Grove in Battersea and have five children, Caroline 15, Jane 13, George 9, Thomas 7 and Ann aged 4. John Eade aged 32, a labourer, is still with them.
1891 finds the family in Cabul Road, Battersea. George is a House Painter and he and Caroline have five children, George, now 19, a slater, Thomas, 17, a carman, Annie, 14, with no occupation recorded, Sarah, 7, (transcribed as Scaria) and Edward, 5. Checking the GRO for Edward’s birth circa 1886 I was unable to locate it.
1901 sees yet another change of address to Yelverton Road , just off York Road in Battersea – now modern blocks of flats with a glimpse into the past of the substantial terraced houses that probably housed the Reeves family. Now George and Caroline have only Edward aged 15 who works as a Mineral Bottle washer and Edward Adams aged 13 who is recorded as Grandson living with them.
In the 1911 Census, we find just George and Caroline aged 68 and 65 years respectively. George is still working as a House decorator. They had been married for 47 years and had 9 children, 5 of whom are still alive. Further down the column that tells of 4 deaths is written ‘ 2 born dead’ Does that indicate that there were 11 children in total or were two of the four deceased still born?
George and Caroline are recorded as deaf, George partly but Caroline totally.
George’s death and Caroline’s admission to Long Grove
George died on 4th November 1913 at 10 Park Grove, Battersea from Chronic bronchitis and heart failure. His daughter-in-law May who had been present at his death registered it.
On Caroline’s death certificate in 1918 it records that her cause of death was Senility and her occupation as a Chair Caner. None of the census records had shown her as having an occupation.
She died on 11th October 1918 at Long Grove. Her home address was given as 4 St James Grove Battersea as also recorded on the 1911 Census. How was Caroline cared for after George died? I can find no admission entries to an infirmary or asylum. 10 Park Grove was a private house, perhaps lived in by a son and so it is possible that she was cared for by family for at least some of the time leading up to 1918.
Modern medical research has found a link between deafness and dementia so it would seem that Caroline’s senility was also linked to her long standing deafness.
If only Caroline’s medical notes had survived to give us a more detailed history of her family and prove as to whether I have identified the correct Caroline Eade’s birth.
