Mary Ann Howlett born in Bury St Edmumds , Suffolk in 1823.
Daughter of Joseph Howlett an Engineer and Mary Ann Gilbert.
Robert Ackland was born and baptised in Barnstaple Devon in 1821.
Son of Robert Ackland and Grace Somerville.
At the time of their marriage in 1840 Mary Ann and Robert were living at 18 Goswell Street.
Goswell Street was at the bottom of Goswell Road - it was absorbed into Goswell Road.
The 1841 census returns for 18 Goswell Street are missing.
In 1841 their first child, Mary Ann Louisa was born and they were living at 10 Charles Street [believe since renamed Moreland Street, off Goswell Road]. The baptism of Mary Ann Louisa was at St Thomas, Charterhouse and the address at that time was 18 Gee Street.
Gee Street also runs off Goswell Road.
Image below from british history online: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/
St Thomas's Charterhouse Church, Goswell Road. Demolition in 1909.
Then in 1843 their son Robert George was born at 9 Crown Court, Registration District: Strand, Sub District: St Anne, Westminster.
The location of Crown Court has always been a mystery. . . . .
Move to Kenninghall. . .
Sometime between 1843 and 1846 the family moved from London to Kenninghall in Norfolk.
Here they had seven more children: Rebecca Isabella 1846, Matthew William 1848, George Joseph 1850, Grace Maria 1852, Euphemia 1854, Henry Charles Emmanuel 1855 and Albert 1858. Albert died as a baby, possibly after their move back to London.
I think that Mary Ann and Robert moved to Norfolk to be near her family: the Gilberts. The Howletts, most notably Mary Ann's brother George seem to have been in the same line of work, being metal trades.
Robert had a hardware, copper and tin smith business in Kenninghall.
Robert's occupation was recorded at various times as: tin man, link man, tin plate worker, brazier tin man (master), tin plate worker (master) and a gas fitter.
Then, when they moved back to London, he set up the same line of business at 'Steam Works' 75 Worship Street.
The business made silver-plated tea urns and trays for displaying food in shop windows and sausage warmers.
Robert is listed at number 75 in the Hackney Directory for 1867 as Tinplate Worker and also the same entry in the 1879 Trade Directory. Grace said that her Grandfather, Robert, used to suffer from insomnia. He used to get up and walk at night. One night he was going over one of the bridges over the Thames and was robbed of his gold watch. The police told him he should not be walking alone in London at night.
See Also: my post on Worship Street Traders.
Summary of addresses for Mary Ann and Robert:
1840 18 Goswell Street, address at time of marriage Oct 1841 10 Charles Street, St Giles, Cripplegate birth of Mary Ann Oct 1842 18 Gee Street St Luke baptism of Mary Ann Louisa
Sept 1843 9 Crown Court Strand, St Anne, Westminster birth Robert George
1851 Market Place Kenninghall - census
May 1855 The Street, Kenninghall, Norfolk birth of Robert February 1859 18 Williams Rents, Goodmans Fields, Whitechapel* Oct 1860 30 Worship Street, Holywell, Shoreditch baptism of Herbert 1865 business at 75, Worship St 1871 - 75, Worship St - census 1881 - 13 Stamford Rd Hackney Mary Ann and children - census
*Williams Rents was located off Back Church on the Gower Walk side.
Back Church is off the Commercial Road.
Robert died on 19.3.1879. On his death certificate it states he was aged 53.
His occupation was recorded as Tin Plate Worker and the place of death 75 Worship Street.
He was found dead and the informant was the coroner.
Robert's cause of death was 'violent self-poisoning by misadventure - opium'.
This probably came about because he used to take Laudanum, a narcotic the main ingredient of which was opium. It was freely available at the time from chemists and was apparently misused by some people resulting in addiction. It was intended ‘to allay gastric and abdominal pain’.
He must have taken a fatal overdose.
Information on the death certificate of Mary Ann as follows: widow of Robert Ackland-Snow, Coppersmith, died on 9th May 1891, aged 69. She died at 6 Liverpool Road, Islington and the informant was Grace Golding , her daughter, of the same address.
Cause of death was influenza and pneumonia.
Snow, Robert Ackland otherwise Ackland, Robert: Personal Estate under 300 pounds
Transcript of Robert's Will: The will of Robert Ackland-Snow otherwise Robert Ackland late of 75 Worship St, Finsbury in the County of Middlesex, Tin Plate Worker and Brazier who died 19th March 1879 at 75 Worship St was proved at the Principal Registry by Mary Ann Ackland Snow otherwise Mary Ann Ackland widow the relict and Henry Charles Emanuel Ackland Snow Tin Plate Worker and Brazier the son both of 75 Worship St the Executors. This is the last will and testament of me Robert Ackland known as and usually signing my name as Robert Ackland Snow formerly of Kenninghall in the County of Norfolk but now of No 75 Worship Street, Finsbury in the County of Middlesex Tin Plate Worker and Brazier. First I direct that all my just debts funeral and testamentary expenses be fully paid and satisfied as soon as conveniently after my decease. I give and bequeath unto my dear wife all my household goods furniture plate linen musical instruments china glass and the monies due and payable out of and from any life insurance also any club money that may be due and payable to me after my decease. I give describe and bequeath unto my son Henry Charles Emanuel Ackland Snow the lease and goodwill of my business premises situated at No 75 Worship Street aforesaid together with the plant stock fixtures tools and other ? utensils of the trade appertaining thereto and I direct that out of the takings or profits of the said business it should be charged and chargeable with the payment to my said dear wife of twenty shillings per week and to be paid to her weekly immediately after my decease and I direct my said son shall pay the same. In case of or should my said son depart this life in the lifetime of my said wife then it is my will and I direct that my said wife shall become possessed of the lease and goodwill of the said business and shall be at liberty if she thinks fit to sell and dispose of the same but should she not exercise this power to sell then at her decease I give devise and bequeath the same unto my two daughters Euphemia Ackland Snow and Henrietta Snow in equal shares for their own absolute use and benefit and I appoint my said dear wife and my said son Henry Charles Emanuel Ackland Snow Executrix and Executor of this my will and hereby revoke all former and other wills by me at any time heretofore made and declare this only to be my last will and testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this fourteenth day of June one thousand eight hundred and seventy eight - Robert Ackland Snow - signed by the said testator as and for his last will and testament in the presence of us present at the same time who at his request in his presence and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses - James Goodchild 71 Worship Street Licensed Victualler - B W Hind Solicitor No 13 ? St East Stepney. Proved at London 18th July 1879 by the Oaths of Mary Ann Ackland Snow otherwise Mary Ann Ackland widow the relict and Henry Charles Emanuel Ackland Snow the son the Executors to whom Admon was granted. THE END