John Cook was born in 1819 in Whitechapel.
He was the Son of my 4th Great Grandfather John Cook and Sister to my 3rd Great Grandmother Susannah.
The following information is confirmed as relating to the Son of my Ancestor, John Cook 1785- 1882 as he, John the Son, is shown living at 138 Romford Road on the 1881 Census - as mentioned in the Will of his Father John Cook 1785-1882.
The record of his Christening has not been confirmed, so, the first mention of John Cook was on the 1831 Census when he was living with his Sister Elizabeth Rowland at 50 Jamaica Street, Stepney.
On 26th January1843 at St Mary [Stratford] Bow Parish Church: John Cook a Wine Merchant of Bow [Father John Cook, a Gentleman] married Sophia Augusta Wade Duff. Sophia’s Father was James Duff.
#See Recap Below.
John and Sophia had three Daughters: Cordelia Sophia Wade Cook born in 1843,
Elizabeth Chrisp Cook born and died in 1848 and
Augusta Willis Cook born 1850.
Sophia died in 1850, possibly as a result of the birth of Augusta?
John’s occupation on the baptism record for Augusta is: Clerk at the London Docks.
[His Father John Cook 1785-1882 was a Warehouseman, Placeman, and then Foreman in the Docks.]
In 1851 John, a Widower, is listed as a Visitor at the home of his Mother in Law, Sophia Duff.
The Residence is The Manor House, East India Dock Road, Poplar.
Sophia Duff [born Sophia Wade in 1790 in Poplar] is described as a Landed Proprietor on the Census form.
Baby Augusta is with her Uncle and Aunt Henry and Fanny Cook at 59 Bromley Street Stepney, Henry is a Foreman in the London Docks. The whereabouts of Cordelia in 1851 are unknown.
In 1853, in West Ham, John married again to Ann Barker* nee Mead. Ann was a Widow and had previously been married to Henry John Baker. Later the same year Baby Augusta died.
*Ann and Henry John Baker had a Son Henry John Baker born c1843.
The National Archives at Kew has a reference to a document held at LMA which may, if viewed, provide more information as to Cordelia:
Cause number: 1854 M71. Short title: Morris v Dakin.
Documents: Bill.
Plaintiffs: John Morris.
Defendants: Joseph Dakin, Richard Hervé Giraud, Cordelia Sophia Wade Cook and Elizabeth Chrisp Howard.
Note: Details have been added from C32/226, which also gives information about further process - Date: 1854
There is also:
Document type: Administration summons and appointment of a guardian.
In the matter of: Cordelia Sophia Wade Cook, infant.
Application made by: John Cook of 4 Lincolns Street, Mile End, Middlesex her father and next friend. 1854
And:
Cause number: 1860 C3. Short title: Cook v Dakin.
Documents: Bill, answer.
Plaintiffs: Cordelia Sophia Wade Cook and another, infants by Robert Webb their next friend.
Defendants: Joseph Dakin, Edward Coleman, Onesiphorus Randall, Richard Herve Giraud, John Cook and Charles Howard.
A Son Edgar Wade Cook was born to John and Ann in 1856.
It has to be said that the 1861 Census entry for the family is somewhat confusing:
The address is the Commercial Road, Stepney, Mile End Old Town.
John listed as a Cowdealer – this does not seem to tie up, so we must speculate as to whether this was an error or a temporary occupation.
The household actually comprises as follows:
1864 saw the birth of Daughter Jessie Aline Cook and by 1871 they were living at Fairland House, Stratford Green.
John was an Owner of Freehold Property – whether this relates to Fairland House and/or other property is unclear.
They had been at this address at least since 1868 as there is a one line entry in a newspaper regarding a refund on a telegram which gives this address. Image Credit: National Library of Scotland.
I have been unable to find any map which indicates Fairland House, however, it may well have been near Fairland Road North, or possibly number 138 Romford Road.
Edgar Wade Cook married Emily Button Phillips in Essex 1878.
They only had one child: Beatrice Emily Wade Cook.
In 1881 Edgar and Emily were at Redford, Abinger, Surrey.
Edgar a Farmer of 150 acres employing 3 Labourers and 2 boys. Baby Beatrice is with them, aged 11 months.
In 1891 they were in Brighton Road, Worth, in Sussex.
By 1901 they were living at Hillside, Limpsfield in Surrey and on both the 1901 and 1911 Census, Cordelia Sophia Wade Cook is with them. Also in 1901 Charles William Phillips, Emily’s Father and in 1911 Joan Isabel Cobham is listed as “Wife’s Companion” and they also had a general servant.
This article from a 1879 Newspaper:
According to newspapers of 1915 Emily was part of the Eastbourne Operatic and Dramatic Society who gave free performances at the Convalesant Camp.
In 1917 the Eastbourne Gazette reported:
“An entertainment was given on Saturday evening … in aid the Lord Roberts Workshops Memorial Fund for disabled soldiers and sailors… Mrs. Wade-Cook made perhaps the chief hit of the evening in her clever character monologue of a London flower-girl, and then still more amusing one about the lady being photographed it was an extremely good performance.”
The Eastbourne Gazetter of 21st Nov 1928 carries an article:
“In aid of the Royal Eye Hospital, and St. Benedict's Home for Little Boys, dramatic entertainment to being given at the Devonshire Park Pavilion on Wednesday and Thursday ... Three features will be presented by the Amateur Players, who are organising the performance. The first, playlet entitled ‘Add Drops’ By Gertrude Jennings, produced by Mrs. Wade Cook…”
Edgar died in 1933 at Kirkley, Eastbourne and Emily went to live with their Daughter Beatrice [Emily Wade Cook now Puxon] at Orchard Cottage, Carhampton, Somerset.
The Eastbourne Gazetter of 18th October 1933 reported that Edgar was “a staunch supporter of St Anne’s Church” in Eastbourne…“Keenly interested and helpful in everything of charitable usefulness in the parish.”
The funeral took place at Ocklynge Cemetery.
“At the request of Mr Wade-Cook before his passing, there will be no mourning.”
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Beatrice Emily Wade Cook was baptised in 1880 at Holy Trinity Church in Upper Tooting in Surrey.
On the baptism record her name is Emily Beatrice Wade Cook and Father Edgar is listed as a Farmer.
The home address was St James Road, Upper Tooting.
Beatrice attended a Ladies School in East Grinstead, Sussex - she is listed there on the 1891 Census.
In 1899 she married Francis George Puxon.
I have been unable to find Beatrice or Francis on the 1901 or the 1911 Census returns.
Francis may have died in 1923.
Another piece of information from 1934.
After the deaths of both Francis and Edgar, Emily went to live with Beatrice and on the 1939 Register they are both at Orchard Cottage, Carhampton, Somerset. They are both widowed and both living on their own means.
1945: Mrs Emily Button Cook. of Orchard Cottage, Carhampton Somerset widow of Edgar Wade Cook formerly of Kirkley Eastbourne who died Sept 13 last ...age 87 left £678 4s. 10d. Letters of admin granted to her dau Mrs Beatrice E. W. Puxon. of Orchard Cottage.
Beatrice died on 9 May 1957 and was buried with her Mother Emily at St John the Baptist Carhampton, West Somerset.
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Jessie Aline Cook married George William Booker in 1889 and in 1901 they were living at Ecclesden Manor in Angmering in Sussex.
Jessie, of West Marlden [sic], Wife of George William Booker died in 1909 but George is not named in the Will Index as a beneficiary.
In 1911 George is at Sunny Side West Marden [Upmarden] Emsworth, Hants but his address when he died in 1928 was 8 Manor Road Angmering on Sea.
The house and contents were then advertised for sale in the local newspaper.
This needs more research as Ecclesden Manor is a huge property and has some association with Bookers – however, 8 Manor Road is such a humble address by comparison it does not seem to tie up.
Jessie and George did not have any children.
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The Wade Estate
Now to turn to the subject in the title of this article: “the Wade connection”.
There are numerous documents relating to the Wade family in the catalogue of the National Archives in Kew. These documents are in fact held at the London Metropolitan Archives. However, the Kew Website is easier to search.
I have not seen any of the documents, only the brief catalogue descriptions. I have also included some information from the “Survey of London” which is transcribed on the British History Online [BHO] Website.
Numerous websites and blogs have copied and pasted the same text making it difficult to ascertain the original source but it may well be the “Survey of London”.
There are many references to Mary Wade and her Daughters but no more detail is given.
This is now my recording of people: noteworthy in their lifetimes but now forgotten apart from the aforementioned references.
There seem to be no descendants except for those of Elizabeth Chrisp Howard who had eleven children - but that is a subject for another day.
First of all: mentioned in a record of 1715 is Jeremy Shirbutt, a Whitechapel Butcher.
Whether this is the Jeremiah Shirbutt the Butcher who acquired the land in Poplar in 1717 is not confirmed.
A case of Sherbutt v Edwards in 1715 lists Jeremiah Sherbutt a Baconman of Stepney, another document 1721: Jeremiah Sherbutt late of Whitechapel, now of Mile End, Butcher and another dated 1722 Jeremiah Sherbutt of St Dunstan Stepney, Butcher. So, I leave it to you, dear reader. to decide whether these references all relate to the same person.
As aforementioned, several websites have exactly the same information but the following is on British History Online.
Poplar High Street
Westward of the Hale property on the north side of the street and only a little later in emerging was the much larger estate of the Wade family, which covered 52 acres and had a frontage to the High Street extending from No. 27 to No. 87. This was acquired in 1717 by Jeremiah Shirbutt, a butcher of Whitechapel (but since at least the 1690s a ratepayer in Poplar), who was evidently, from his will, a Quaker.
From the book: Chronicles of Blackwell Yard published in 1881:
The Manor House of Poplar has long been held separately form the demesne; it was formerly possessed and occupied by Sir Gilbert and Sir William Dethick, successively Garter King-at-arms, and it was still in the possession of the Dethick family in 1709.
The house, and ancient wooden building, was situated on the south side of the present East India Dock Road but being in a very, dilapidated state, it was partially re-built by Mrs Wade in 1810 and is now in the occupation of Dr F M Corner.
A demesne, in case you are wondering, was a piece of land attached to a manor and retained by the owner for their own use.
It is also stated elsewhere that the Manor House was not really a “Manor House” in the true sense of the term.
Of course it was almost 100 years between 1717 when Jeremiah Shirbutt apparently acquired the land in Poplar and 1810 when the frequently mentioned, “Mrs Wade and her five daughters” lived there. To try and list events in chronological order:
Jeremiah, the Butcher, we presume the one who came to Poplar in 1717, died in 1725.
A document dated 1722 refers to Jeremiah Sherbutt of St Dunstan, Stepney Butcher.
It is said that in 1721 Jeremiah Sherbutt made a marriage settlement of his property, on his Daughter and her Husband, John Wade. Rose would have been Rose Shirbutt and married to, it is presumed, John Wade sometime before the date of her Father’s Will 1725 in which he mentions his Daughter Rose Wade.
The property belonging to Jeremiah Sherbutt [Butcher of Whitechapel] comprised approximately 52 acres and had a frontage on Poplar High Street between numbers 27 and 87.
The land which had by now become known as the Wade Estate then passed to Rose and John Wade’s Son, Jeremiah Shirbutt Wade the Ships Carpenter [Shipwright?] and is recorded as being owned by him in 1747.
It then passed to the next generation Jeremiah Shirbutt Wade the Carpenter [and Gardener] the Son of Jeremiah Shirbutt Wade the Ships Carpenter/Shipwright.
After her marriage Rose Shirbutt became Rose Wade. I have been unable to find a record of their marriage nor her nor her husband John’s death records.
One of the parties of a document dated 1747 lists John Wade of Chelsea Middlesex a Yeoman. Whether this is Rose’s husband or possibly her Father in law I do not know.
Rose and John had several children including:
Jeremiah Shirbutt Wade a Shipwright who married Mary Peckover on 14th November 1741 at Saint Katherine by the Tower.
A document of 1751 lists:
Ryley Laynon Wade of Mile End Stepney a Gentleman, John Lamport of Woolwich Kent, Innkeeper and his Wife Anne nee Wade – John Ryley and Anne being the younger children of Rose Wade.
Again this John Wade of Chelsea, now a Victualler, could be Rose’s Husband?
Jeremiah Shirbutt Wade and Mary Peckover had several children including:
Jeremiah Sirbutt Wade a Carpenter and later a Gardener.
This Jeremiah was born in 1744 and on 1st August 1769 at St Dunstan and All Saints, Stepney married Mary Anguer [the name spelt Aungier in some records].
The National Archives at Kew holds a collection of Anguer Family Papers [ACC/0079 – Anguer Family] which confirm the family connection to Jeremiah Sherbutt the Butcher.
One of the documents is described as follows:
Copy of enrolment in King’s Bench of release by 1 to 3a and 3b on trust for 1 for life.
Then land [items 1-8] for Rose, wife of 1 for life then to 3a and 3b upon trusts for Rose Wade his daughter…
“1” being Jeremiah Sherbutt, late of Whitechapel, now of Mile End, butcher.
This also confirms the fact that Rose, Jeremiah’s daughter, married a Wade.
Jeremiah Sherbutt Wade of Poplar a Ship’s Carpenter is mentioned in a document dated 1747. In another document dated 1774 mentions Jeremiah Sherbutt Wade of St Leonard Bromley Middlesex Carpenter, Son of Jeremiah Sherbutt Wade of Poplar deceased Shipwright.
On the Baptism record for Elizabeth Chrisp in 1775 he is listed as a Carpenter and a couple of years later, a Gardener when Catherine was Baptised in 1777.
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Mrs Wade and her five daughters
The references to Mrs Wade and her five daughters are to Mary nee Anguer and her daughters Catherine, Susannah, Sophia, Sarah and Elizabeth Chrisp.
There may be a clue in the name Chrisp, in so far as, it may be the name of someone else connected to the family. Something yet to be explored.
Jeremiah and Mary nee Anguer may also have had two sons but no further information has been found other than the baptism record of Saint Dunstan’s Stepney in 1770.
Inside the front cover of this Register which lists the Baptism of Jeremiah on page 2 is the following:
This may help explain why Baptism records for Sarah Susannah and Sophia cannot be located.
There is also a Baptism of a Richard Son of Jeremiah and Mary Wade at St Mary St Leonard Bromley but this has not been confirmed as there is no mention of the name Sherbutt, the address, nor Jeremiah’s Occupation.
The actual church is unclear as it could be the Register records baptism at two separate churches. However this appears to be the same Register that contains the Baptism of Catherine.
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The Wade Estate lay to the North of Poplar High Street.This map detail shows Poplar Chapel - now St Matthias Church, as a reference point, - the location of the Church has not changed.North Street now called Upper North Street in the same location.
The construction of the East India Dock Road in the period 1806 to 1810 cut through the Wade Estate. Therefore, the Estate was still on the North side of Poplar High Street but now also fell to the North and South of the new East India Dock Road.
This description of the parties to a “Covenant for the Production of Title Deeds” dated 1819 summarises nicely Mary Wade and her five Daughters.
[1] Elizabeth Chrisp Willis of Poplar, Widow of William Willis Gentleman
[2] Catherine Wade of Poplar, Spinster
[3] Sarah Kerbey (née Wade) of Poplar, Wife of William Kerbey, Linen Draper
[4] Susanna Grundy (née Wade) of Poplar, Wife of James Grundy, Builder
[5] Sophia Duff of Leith Scotland, Wife of James Duff, Gentleman
[6] Mary Wade of Poplar, Widow
[7] East India Company
Also from1819: “Freehold ground to West and North of Poplar Almshouses purchased in 1819 from Mary Wade and her Daughters for £1,260”
After her death in 1820, Mary was buried in All Saints’ Churchyard in Poplar. The records state that she was aged 73 so she would have been in her sixties when she undertook the building work at the Manor House. Various reports, all mentioning a timber house in a poor state of repair, indicate that Mary either partially re-built the houses or, perhaps more likely, demolished and built a new house.
Stating that this work was either carried out in 1810 or 1812, it may well have taken a couple of years to complete.
Mrs Wade is also described as being a “hospitable” lady and giving assistance to the poor.
The Manor House
The Manor House was located at number 152 on the South side of East India Dock Road between Wade’s Place and Hale Street and next to the Seamen’s Institute [Pope John House] at number 154. It was described as “commodious” with extensive gardens.
However this building was not the original Manor House.
Seaman's Institute/Mission - Pope John House
From about 1776 the house was occupied by members of the family. It was probably in about 1812 that this house, then occupied by the widowed Mary Wade, was replaced by a new one a little eastward and standing well back from East India Dock Road. - The old house had been demolished by 1823. [Survey of London]
This house was not situated where the nineteenth-century Manor House stood, but a little westward, at the top of a lane or 'gate' from Poplar High Street (mentioned in a deed of c1536) on the later (and present) line of Wade's Place. It is shown in summary pictorial form on the manuscript map attributed to 1573 (Plate 145a) and in very small-scale plan on Horwood's maps of 1792–1819 and James Walker's of 1805. Walker's and Horwood's maps agree in suggesting a building which was of half-H plan, the two wings coming forward in a direction south of east. [Survey of London]
Image Credit: LMA Collage collection:
It is dated 1798 and may be the earlier Manor House.
It certainly does not resemble the description of the building at number 152 as described in the Survey of London:
“a second house had been built immediately adjacent” and “two markedly disparate houses”.
[See Below*]
About 1821 Mary Wade died, leaving five daughters, and … by 1824 a second house had been built immediately adjacent, the two being inhabited by a widowed daughter, Elizabeth Chrisp Willis, and another daughter, Sophia, with her husband James Duff. [Survey of London]
The 1841 Census does seem to indicate that Sisters Elizabeth and Sophia lived in separate houses or households, collectively known as the Manor House
*The north fronts of the two markedly disparate houses in the 1890s can be seen in Plate 27a. Probably the plainer western (or right-hand) house was the earlier to be built, for Mrs Wade. … The plans also show that the eastern house, effectively designed, despite its setting, very much like a street house, was built with a higher first-floor level than its neighbour. [Survey of London]
Note: Plate 27a. [unavailable to view on BHO website]
This is a floor plan from 1899 from The Survey of London - via BHO.
Many of the roads on the Wade Estate are named after members of the family.
On the South side land was taken for Wade and Shirbutt Streets.
Another part of the Estate was purchased in 1840 by a George Green.
Here was built a Parsonage for the Minister at Trinity Chapel. In 1892 this house was acquired by the Trustees of the Missions to Seamen. It was then demolished and replaced by a red brick building which then passed to a gas company.
As regards the part of the Wade Estate which lay on the North side of the East India Dock Road, development began after the death of Mary Wade in 1920.
The land divided into 20 parts was shared out equally between Mary Wade’s five daughters with each receiving four parcels. This commenced about 1823 but is said to have continued as late as the 1860s. The area in question, comprising some 40 plus acres with road frontage, lay between the Black Ditch and Chrisp Street.
Proceeding eastward, the portions fell (in terms of the later street-numbering) to Sophia Duff (Nos 111–133), Catherine Wade (Nos 135– 151), Sarah Kerbey (No. 153), Susannah Grundy (Nos 155–171) and Elizabeth Chrisp Willis (Nos 173–187). Their development conformed to a coherent layout in the hinterland (see page 210), opening to East India Dock Road in a series of cross-streets: conceivably this was the work of James Walker, who had been Mrs Wade's surveyor. [Survey of London]
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Mrs Wade’s Five Daughte:
Catherine Wade never married.
She was declared to be “a lunatic”. LMA hold a document dated 1829:
Catherine Wade, Spinster of Manor House, East India Road in the parish of All Saints Poplar, Middlesex commission and inquisition of lunacy, into her state of mind and her property. [female lunatic]
Susannah Wade married a Builder by the name of James Grundy.
James Grundy
There are several documents, again available at LMA, relating to properties in Poplar that were insured by James Grundy. For example:
Insured: James Grundy, the Manorhouse, East India Road Poplar, carpenter
Other property or occupiers: Limehouse Hole, Limehouse (Trappett, pilot)
Dated 29th December 1814
Properties mentioned are:
2 Catherine Street, the corner of Susannah Street; Susannah Street Poplar (Freeman, cowkeeper); 5 Susannah Street Poplar; blacksmith; G J Sibun; 1, 2, 3, 4 (Beament, common bread baker) Sophia Street Poplar; 251 High Street Poplar (A and S Sairs, dealers in china, glass and earthenware); The Robinhood and LittleJohn, Robinhood Lane Poplar (G J Sibun, beer shop keeper); The ""George the Fourth"" Catharine Street East India Road Poplar; 9 St Anns Place Limehouse (W and J Thomas, rope makers and dealers in marine stores);
Also: James Grundy 14 Wade Place, Poplar, Carpenter in 1817.
An Old Bailey Account in July 1827 recording the case of John Whittall, who stole lead from two of John Grundy’s houses, states that he was transported for seven years but this verdict appears to have been overturned.
Initial sentence: Transportation for seven years.
Gaoler's report: Conduct orderly.
Annotated (Outcome): Nil. Will not be sent abroad. Answered 5 Oct 1827.
Petitioner(s): John Whittall, the prisoner supported by more than 36 other signatories, with a covering note by Lord Liverpool.
Grounds for clemency (Petition Details): The prisoner, a man of previous excellent character deeply regrets being led astray by bad company
JAMES GRUNDY. I live in the East India-road, and am a builder; I built two house in Grundy-street, All Saints, Poplar . On the 3d of June I received information, and found the lead was gone from the front of both houses - it had been fixed; I went round the brick-field with a person, and met Haggart, who gave me information; I found part of the lead in a ditch at the bottom of a garden. I received information, sent for an officer, and went in pursuit of five men; when I got to Bow common Lee, who lives on the common, sent for me into his house - he gave me information. I went over the bridge to Mile-end-road, and when I came within a hundred yards of Twig-folly-bridge I found two pieces of the lead, tied in a handkerchief, laying in a field, and one piece in a kind of apron; I gave it to Haggart, and went to Twig-folly-bridge, where some more lead was taken out of the water - I compared it with my house, and it fitted - it is worth 3l.; there was 184lbs. taken from one house, and 150lbs. from the other. I found the prisoner in custody the next day.
Later dated documents from the 1830s give James’s home address as Wilsons Cottage, Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire and he is described as a Gentleman.
Susannah
Susannah was described in a newspaper of 1853 as a “Lady of Fortune” but later on, like her Sister Catherine, she too was found to be of unsound mind.
The newspaper report states she was in Plaistow which was where she died in early1854 and was then buried in All Saints Poplar.
Susannah and James do not appear to have had any children.
Chelmsford Chronicle of 4th February 1853 reports:
COMMISSION OF LUNACY MRS. SUSANNAH GRUNDY, OF COBLEY HALL, PLAISTOW. On Tuesday last, 1st inst. A writ lunatico inquirendo was executed before Mr. Commissioner Winslow, at the Abbey Arms Inn, Plaistow, in this county, relative to the mental condition of Susannah Grundy, aged 68, of Cobley Hall, Plaistow, widow of James Grundy, Esq. late of Waltham Abbey, a gentleman, who when living was, together with his surviving widow and family, the wealthy proprietor of extensive house property, well as freehold land, in Blackheath, Poplar, and vicinity.
The jury consisted of John Wilson, sen. of Great Ilford, foreman; Edward Norton, George Page, Robert Poole, James Rivett, Alfred Read, and William Redpath, of Stratford ; William Drake, of Dagenham; Robert Glenny, Joseph Harris, Wm. Henry Hastin, and John Lamb, of Little Ilford; Francis Glenny, of Chadwell Heath ; Wm. Whisker and G. S. Ward, of Great Ilford.
The commission had issued on the petition of Mrs. Duff, of Manor House, Poplar, a sister of the alleged lunatic, and was supported by Mr. Girard, of Furnival's Inn, solicitor. On behalf of Mrs. Grundy appeared Mr. Duncan, as counsel, instructed by Mr. Maskell, and Mr. Hardy, instructed by Mr. Whitehouse, of the firm of Parker & Co. Bedford Row, to watch the proceedings on behalf of the Rev. Mr. Grundy, of Ashbourne, Dorset, and other executors, under the will of the late James Grundy, Esq.
After the learned commissioner's charge, the service of notice of these proceedings, and the refusal of the alleged lunatic to see any gentleman on business had been proved, the following evidence was adduced :
Hannah Edwards said—l was engaged to attend on Mrs Grundy, on the 1st April, 1848, and continued her service l st March, 1852; I was engaged by Mr. John Grundy, her brother-in-law. Her habits are not cleanly ; there is much difficulty in getting her to put on clean linen; gives as reason that she fears if it were to be washed that it would not brought back again ; she appears think that everyone is going to rob her; she says so of whoever comes to the house; when the furniture was taken at Waltham and sold, according to her husband's will, she said she had been robbed of it; she never employed herself at either needle-work reading; she is the habit of waking early the morning, swearing and talking very loudly, and the people passing consequently think someone is in the room ill using her ; sometimes, even in the winter, she will leave her bed and sleep her easy chair, until she shivers with cold; her violent conduct has frequently brought crowds round the door; she imagines that some people she calls "uncles " are in the habit of staring at her in bed; and to prevent this she accustomed to cover the looking-glass. She has struck me, torn my clothes, and committed many other acts of violence, and I therefore think she not fit to take care of herself or her property. Whenever she has had money she has wished to keep it, and not pay for anything. In fact, she will not even purchase food for herself until she wants it very badly; and as she never gives orders for anything would, if she were alone, probably starve herself; she always remains in the house unless out with her; she cannot work at her needle because her eyesight bad and she objects to wear spectacles because she says it would make her look so old. I once went with her after some of her rents, but the tenants did not pay her. Richard Girand examined—l acted as solicitor to the late Mr. Grundy. have known Mrs. Grundy for 28 years; I am acquainted with all the family; I am solicitor to Mrs. Duff, her only surviving sister, who is the petitioner in this enquiry; she had a sister named Willis, who left her an annuity. There has been some difficulty in that annuity, because Mrs. Grundy refused to sign receipt; did eventually get her to sign it, although at first she put a chest of drawers against her room door to prevent any one entering. At that time ? was an ? in her house, at the suit of Mr. Massiner, surgeon, and the sum it was wished to pay her was more than sufficient to pay out the execution. On subsequent occasion in July, 1851, I attended with Mr. Dakin, one the executors, for similar purpose; she then refused to come down stairs, or allow herself to be seen, and the money was taken away again. A Sister of Mrs. Grundy, a Miss Catharine Wade, now dead, was lunatic. In consequence of a great deal of building ground at Poplar having been taken from the committee of Miss Wade it is necessary that leases should granted, but Mrs. Grundy refuses sign. She, with Mrs. Duff, are sole co-heiresses of Miss Wade, and she (Mrs Grundy) in addition to this and the annuity from her other deceased sister, has considerable property under the will of her husband. It would be quite impossible to carry out the necessary arrangements with her, and I have no hesitation in saying that she unsound mind, and incapable of taking care herself or her property.
William Matthew Whitehouse, sworn, said—l a solicitor the firm of Parker and Co. I am concerned a cause [sic] Lee v. Grundy, relative to the administration of the estate of the late Mr. James; I am concerned for two out of three executors and trustees under His will; a bill was filed and answer could be obtained from Mrs. Grundy; the bill was filed only in 1849. On Wednesday, 18th April 1849, I had an interview with Mrs. Grundy for upwards of hour and a half; I referred to the affairs of her late husband; I went down to serve a notice about appointing a guardian, to put in her answer for her ; she was exceedingly violent and outrageous, using very abusive language; she said she was continually being robbed by " uncles," that the house was surrounded by uncles Invisible to her, who got in through the key holes and down the chimnies, and were constantly in the habit stinging and blistering the soles of her feet. I did not in consequence consider her in a fit state to put her answer the bill, and I now produce an original order from Vice Chancellor Knight Bruce, dated 26th April 1842, appointing Mr. John James Johnson to be her guardian, for the purpose putting her answer. I also produce the probate of Mr. Grundy's will.
Dr. Sutherland stated that had twice visited Mrs. Grundy; and corroborated the previous witnesses with regard to the delusion. She told witness that she never read the newspapers, now she had come to the conclusion they were all lies ever since she had read a report of an inquest, at which Prince Albert presided, upon a person who was drowned, and who, she said the midst the inquiry, jumped up and ran away. She said she would not sign any paper even if it produced her 1000 [pounds] a year income. He considered her to of unsound mind, and incapable of taking care of herself or her property.
By Mr. Duncan. Saw no indication of the lady doing harm to herself or others the only danger appeared to be that she might starve herself. Heard she imagined she had signed away some property. Re-examined. This is a cast of insanity, not merely eccentricity. Mr. Robert Webb, 268, High-street, Poplar, surgeon, had visited Mrs. Grundy for the purpose this commission, by request Mrs. Duff; she said there was Mrs. Duff, and that she knew no such person, and did not know her daughter Mrs. Howard - that such person existed; she had sister who had a daughter but both were improper characters; she said there was such a person as Miss Catherine Wade, but she was not dead; she said she was at a funeral, but did not believe it was hers; she denied she had any property, saying that she had been robbed of it. The witness then corroborated Dr. Sutherland's testimony relative to her refusing to read newspapers for the reasons she alleged; she was dining at the time, and her habits were evidently not those of an educated and sane person. Witness told her he had taken some ground of the committee of the late Miss Wade, who had died previous to the property being covered in, and had not therefore got a lease; he asked her if a proper lease were drawn would she sign it, but she refused. Considered her of unsound mind, and not competent to manage herself or her affairs.
Cross-examination by Mr. Duncan. — Went to see her professionally twice, but could not say on which occasion he brought in question his own private business; he certainly did ask her to sign the lease.
Re-examined. Had been instructed to examine her on that point, and he had therefore put such questions order to test her mind.
In answer to a juror, it was stated that there was no medical gentleman present who had attended her previous to the foregoing witnesses.
The jury here proceeded to Cobley Hall to see Mrs. Grundy, They found her in bed, although then 12 o'clock the day. She appeared in excellent health, and it was stated that she had a very good appetite. The few replies which she could induced to give confirmed the general evidence.
Mr. Duncan, in reply, contended that although there might be eccentricity, there were no proofs of lunacy. The learned counsel then read several portions of the will the late James Grundy, contending that he had treated his Wife as a sane person by giving her all his property for her own absolute use and benefit, and with regard the petitioner in this case, he had in a codicil added, " I desire that my wife is not to be placed with any one of her sisters." He thought she had a right to say she had been robbed, for people had got into her houses and refused to pay any rent. She had been ill-used —at all events there was proof she had not been robbed, which it was the duty of the other side to have shown and with regard to the improper language, that was no proof of insanity. In conclusion urged the jury to pause ere they deprived this lady of the control of her property for the rest her life.
The learned commissioner summed up.
The jury then retired to consider their verdict, having previously ascertained by inquiries of her brother-in-law, Mr. John Grundy, the amount of property to which she was entitled ; who, however, added, that she was unjustly kept out of a great portion through the chancery suit, which had serious effect on her mind.
After an absence of about three-quarters of an hour, 14 out of 16 jurors returned a verdict, " That Susannah Grundy is now of unsound mind, incapable managing herself and her affairs, and has been so since the l st April, 1848."
Elizabeth Chrisp Wade married in 1811 at St Alphege in Greenwich to William Willis.
She died a Widow in 1849 and is buried at All Saints Poplar.
The significance of the name Chrisp has not yet been found.
George Green (1767-1849), the famous shipbuilder of the Blackwall Yard endowed a number of schools in Poplar. The forerunner of the present George Green's School was founded in 1828 when Green purchased a site in Chrisp Street, at its junction with East India Dock Road, from Elizabeth Chrisp Willis, on which he immediately had built an infant school.
Sarah Wade married William Kerbey a Linen Draper in 1818 at All Saints Poplar.
They are buried together in All Saints Churchyard.
Sarah died in 1824 so did not live to fully enjoy her inheritance.
In December 1838 an Auction took place at Manor Cottage:
“Four substantial brick built cottages, known as Chrisp Cottages situate in Chrisp Street” by the direction of the Executors of William Kerbey’s Will”.
Also, household goods comprising:
“a splendid Mahogany Writing Cabinet, mahogany Trafalgar chairs, dining and ? tables, chimney-glasses, drawers and bookcases, nearly new Brussels carpet, ditto double-screwed four-post bedsteads, Spanish mahogany pillars, fine seasoned goose-feather beds and bedding, hair mattresses, new white dimity furniture, handsome damask window-curtains, gilt cornices, neat sideboard of modern plate, two gold watches, chains, and trinkets in brooches, rings, &c., a small collection of splendid drawings, paintings, and prints, a select library of books of about 300 ? volumes, and numerous other effects.”
Sophia Wade married to James Duff at St Dunstan and All Saints in 1818.
James was from Leith in Scotland.
It was their Daughter Sophia Augusta Wade Duff who married John Cook.
From British History Online:
Sophia Duff and her husband James, a tavern keeper, also acquired in 1827 the ground immediately westward of the site of Nos 111–133. This must have facilitated the purchase by or before 1841 of all the site by the promoter of the terrace. He was the very wealthy shipbuilder and shipowner George Green…
# Recap – as mentioned at the beginning: it was Sophia Augusta Wade Duff the Daughter of Sophia Wade and James Duff who married John Cook.
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Some of the family’s street names survive today: Wade Street [now Place] and Shirbutt on the South side of the East India Dock Road and to the North: Jeremiah, Duff, Grundy and Kerbey Streets.
Some images from Google Streetview - I trust there are no copyright issues?
I just wanted to capture them before they disappear - also Cordelia Street is still in existence.
1932 Development on The Manor House site
Malam Gardens was built on the site of the “… detached pair of conjoined houses of early nineteenth-century date, known collectively as the Manor House” [Survey of London].
This is again stated elsewhere: that, the site of Malam Gardens was not the original manor house, which stood to the West, and was two houses probably built for the Wade family, who had owned the older Manor House.
Malam Gardens was built by the Commercial Gas Company to house some of its employees. It was adjacent to the company's Co-partnership Institute (now Pope John House) in East India Dock Road and stands on the site of the Manor House Estate, which was bought by the company in 1932 for development, at a cost of £14,100. The estate covered about 1.25 acres and included the so-called Manor House, as well as several cottages. During 1933 No. 15 Shirbutt Street was also acquired and the unexpired lease on Nos 19–29 Shirbutt Street was purchased. [Survey of London]
To be continued …
© Copyright: B Grundy November 2020