Alfred SHEPHERD
Alfred Shepherd was born in Chichester, Sussex in the 4th Qtr. of 1839. His parents were Thomas and Harriet Shepherd (nee Garnett). When he was baptised on 3rd November 1839 at St. Andrew, Chichester, the family address was Baffins Lane and his father was described as a ‘serving man’. A serving man of this period referred to a man in domestic service.
Two years later when the 1841 census was taken Alfred is living in East Pallant, just a few streets away from Baffins Lane, with his parents, Thomas and Harriet (both aged 40) and siblings William (15), Charles (11), George (9), Sarah (7) and Harriet (5).
The family are still living in East Pallant when the 1851 census was taken but this time there’s just Alfred (11), sister Harriet (15), brother John (9) and their parents, Thomas and Harriet.
Alfred’s siblings
- William bapt 19.8.1826 (abode South Gate)
- Charles bapt 15.8.1830
- George bapt 10.6.1832
- Sarah bapt 8.12.1833
- Harriet bapt 24.6.1836
- Edward bapt. 2.8.1837
- Alfred bapt 3.11.1839
- John bapt 13.3.1842
All the children above were baptised at St. Andrew, Chichester except William who was baptised at St. Peter the Great. Chichester. The family home on all baptisms (except William’s) is Baffins Lane. On some baptisms, the children’s father is described as a ‘serving man’ and on others a ‘labourer’. (source: www.familysearch.org)
1861 census
On the 1861 census, Alfred now aged 21 is lodging in Singleton, a small village near Chichester with Thomas and Harriet Steadman. Alfred is now working as a ‘stableman’. A stableman (sometimes called a groom or ostler) was responsible for the daily care, feeding, and grooming of horses, as well as the upkeep of stables and equipment such as harness.
A Move to London
When the 1871 census was taken, Alfred was living in London at 4 Lucerne Mews, Kensington. He gave his place of birth as Goodwood and was working as a stableman. Lucerne Mews is a cobbled cul-de-sac off Kensington Mall – source https://everchangingmews.com/mews/lucerne-mews/
The 1881 census has Alfred Shepherd, born Brighton, lodging at 10 Pavilion Road, Chelsea and working as a groom. There are another 15 people in the property including another 7 grooms, a coachman and a footman.
By the time of the 1891 census, Alfred now aged 53, is found in a lodging house at 10 New Street, Kensington. He gives his occupation as ‘groom’.
The Workhouse
On 1st June 1892, Alfred was admitted to Chelsea Workhouse in Britten Street due to sickness. It’s not clear when Alfred was discharged but he’s admitted again on 8th July. I next found a Chelsea workhouse admission record dated 23rd June 1899; again it’s not clear how long he remained there.
1901 census
When the 1901 census was taken on 31st March, Alfred, now aged 61, is an inmate at Chelsea Workhouse. He’s described as formerly a stableman (retired groom). He gives his place of birth as Box Grove, Sussex.
Over the next eight years, Alfred continued to go in and out of the workhouse.
Asylum
Alfred was admitted to the Horton Aslyum on 16th December 1908 aged 69. He was described as 5ft 4in, weighing 7st. 6lbs, single and a stableman. He had not previously been sick – his current attack began two weeks ago. The records give his next of kin as his brother, John Shepherd of Chichester House, Kemp Town, Brighton.
On admittance, Alfred is described as “very quiet, reserved and depressed; he never speaks unless spoken to. On the 27th he attempted to take his own life by strangulation.”
Case Notes dated 23rd December 1908 state that “he’s suffering from senile dementia (confusional); he is dull, stupid and miserable … admits recent hallucinations”.
Notes dated 6th January 1909 state “he is getting gradually weaker” and on 14th “yesterday it was evident that his tenure of life was rapidly expiring …. At 5 o’clock in the afternoon, I was sent for and arrived at his bedside in time to see him pass away.”
Following a post-mortem, Alfred’s cause of death confirmed as “senile decay and pulmonary TB”.