In January 2019 I posted a blog about the funeral of Mr John Firth of Holt House Sheffield. John was a major figure in the industrial and commercial life of mid-nineteenth century Sheffield. This week I located his obituary in the Derbyshire Courier dated 24th April 1869 which details the circumstances surrounding his death,
A researcher contacted me this week regarding a feature of his family history
" there is one that I feel I must find more about; the death of Linda Valerie Pridmore, aged 12, in December 1960. This, of course, is late 20th Century when the child mortality rate had improved quite a lot, which poses the question, how did she die? She survived the usual infant diseases, although children of all ages are vulnerable I know. But I have a feeling that there is more to Linda's death that I just need to find out about; it is niggling me.
Her name isn't common and if there was anything untoward about her death, it may have been reported in the local press. I wondered if you could do a search of the local papers of December 1960. The date of her death falls just within the embargo of coroners' reports, so I can't go there yet. I would be grateful for anything that you can dig up."
I checked the BMD and found the following for Linda
Birth Name Linda V Pridmore Registration Date Jul 1948
Registration Quarter Jul-Aug-Sep
Registration district Sheffield Inferred County South Yorkshire
Mother's Maiden Name Todd
Volume Number 2d Page number 86
Death Name Linda V Pridmore Death Age 11
Birth Date abt 1949
Registration Date Jul 1960 Registration Quarter Jul-Aug-Sep
Registration district Sheffield Inferred County Yorkshire West Riding
Volume 2d Page 45
And then I checked the excellent Sheffield Indexers site and found these burial records
PRIDMORE, Ellen (Wife of George, age 57). Died at 5 Durham Rd; Buried on July 9, 1960 in Consecrated ground; Grave Number 30979, Section F6 of City Road Cemetery, Sheffield. Plot Owner: ~ ~ of ~. Page No 250
PRIDMORE, Linda Valerie (Daughter of George, age 11). Died at 5 Durham Rd; Buried on July 9, 1960 in Consecrated ground; Grave Number 30979, Section F6 of City Road Cemetery, Sheffield. Plot Owner: ~ ~ of ~. Page No 250
Mother and daughter buried on the same day looked ominous and so I checked the BNA and Newspaper Archive and found this report from The Guardian dated 5th July 1960
I relayed this information back to the researcher and needless to say he was dumbfounded by this revelation. He also informed me that George and Ellen lost two other children, both less than 12 months old in 1941 and 1942. George, who found the bodies, was their first born and their only child to survive childhood. Such a sad story
I can find no photo of the house on Durham Road as it is now the site of the University of Sheffield's multi-storey car park. I have a feeling that the house where the tragedy occurred may have been late Georgian in style similar to those on adjacent streets
And of course if anyone could supple me with any further information I would be grateful.
The following cutting is from the Sheffield Telegraph dated 13th March 1949. I was going to do an article on Joseph but there is quite a bit of material and content online about his life and career and so I did not take it any further.
But there is nothing online about this article which is at times quite sad but also very interesting.
Died at Rawsons Brewery, Pond Street; Buried on February 20, 1939 in Consecrated ground;
Grave Number 8587, Section H of Shiregreen Cemetery, Sheffield.
His wife Florence died 12 years later
FURNISS, Florence (Widow, age 78).
Died at City General Hospital; Buried on July 28, 1951 in Consecrated ground;
Grave Number 8587, Section H of Shiregreen Cemetery, Sheffield.
I have just posted an article to the site relating to the life and death of a Sheffield banker Mr William Wild of Pentonvillle, 23 Northumberland Road Sheffield. The newspaper reports are just prodigious in the detail they contain and the tone they set.
Just below the report of his death in the Evening Telegraph and Star dated 21st January 1890 was this report of an inquest into the death of Mr. Robert Hollingworth at Wadsley Bridge railway station.
I have jus updated the article on the Bright family in Sheffield to include details of the life and Death of Maurice De Lara Bright. I had not updated the article for a number of years and I was saddened to find that the excellent Deane Road Cemetery website was no longer in existence. This is happening more frequently and I can only assume that the owners/contributors have moved on to other media outlets or decided that they had taken it as far as they could.
But I also found this rather poignant report in the Sheffield Daily Telegraph 14 November 1911 relating to the death in South Africa of John Lipsey Bright, Maurice's son. John was forty years of age at the time of his death.
This article is very rare thankfully but a a bit of background is needed on the person this blog centres around
THERESA SLOCOMBE
Baptism 18 Dec 1875 • Finchley St Mary, England
Residence 1881 • Hendon, Middlesex, England
Birth of brother Charles Frederick Slocombe(1882–) Jan 1882 • Middlesex, United Kingdom
Residence 1891 • Hendon, Middlesex, England
Death of father Charles Philip Slocombe(1832–1895) Jul 1895 • Middlesex, United Kingdom
Residence 1901 • Hendon, Middlesex, England
02 Apr 1911 • Fairview, Hendon, Middlesex, England Modeller for art metal worker
1946 70 Death Mar 1946 • Chelmsford, Essex, England
This blog relates to the ancestors of Olive Bell who was the wife of noted Sheffield artist Kenneth Steel. Olive wad a victim of the Sheffield Blitz in December 1940
A researcher sent me this information as he is distantly related to Olive (3rd Cousin x 2 Removed.) and thought that I should record it in the Blog. He was right!
The events that led to Alfred Bell's tragic death had their origins in this fatal accident as reported in the Bridport News dated 16th May 1868
"Kenneth (Steel) as you know married Olive Bell. Olive is from my Bell line her father was Harold Alfred Bell b. 10 Jan 1893 d. 07 Jun 1965 who married Aloysie Henriette "Louisa Henrietta" Frölich in 1914. Louisa was b. 30 Aug 1891 and d. In Q4 1990 aged 99. She was born in Manhattan, New York the daughter of German immigrants.
Olive's fathers middle name Alfred was from his grandfather who while in a drunken state took a bet to dive into the River Don from the Bow Bridge in Rotherham and died as a result of it on 21 Jun 1868. He was my 3rd great-granduncle and his brother John Swinden Bell was my 3x G Grandfather".
Sheffield Independent dated 23rd June 1868
Many years ago I posted an article that culminated in the execution of Frederick Nodder at Lincoln Gaol on 30th December 1937.
It was followed by an article that I put together in an attempt to correct some of the misinformation that surrounded his early life.
I have also put additional information in this blog in 2011 and 2017.
But last week some more information came to light that was surprising to say the least.
I located a copy of his baptism record and also his entry in the marriage records of St Marys Church Walkley Sheffield
His address is given as 130 Howard Road in the marriage record which still stands today. It was adjacent to the now demolished Howard Road Methodist Church. and can be seen on this photograph. It is on the right hand side just about where the pedestrian is.
I have never been able to locate a service record for Frederick Nodder but in the 1921 Census his family are living at 61 Providence Road which is at the other end of Walkley
1921 Census
First name(s) Last name Relationship to head Sex Birth year Age in years Birth place Occupation Employer
Frederick Nodder Head Male 1887 33 Sheffield, Yorkshire, England Motor Mechanic T Greatorex Tripe Dresser 8 Mitchell St Sheffield
Amy Nodder Wife Female 1887 33 Sheffield, Yorkshire, England
Margaret Nodder Daughter Female 1914 6 Sheffield, Yorkshire, England
Frederick Nodder Son Male 1916 4 Sheffield, Yorkshire, England
It was sometime after this that Noddder deserted his wife and family and began his path that led to his date with the hangman in December 1937.
As for his family, they stayed together and they prospered. The 1939 National Register reveals that they moved to 112 Westwick Road, a three bedroomed semi-detached house in the Greenhill area of Sheffield.
Frederick Nodder (his son) is now a Quantity Surveyor, a professional person who looks as though he is making a life for both himself and his mother and sister.
A few years ago (2018) I was going to post an article on the site on the life and achievements of Thomas W Ward, a prominent Sheffield industrialist but when I checked recently there was great deal on content online and some excellent articles. Not wishing to duplicate material I decided to post details of his last resting place in Crookes Cemetery Sheffield
But first a brief summary
Thomas Ward was born in 1853, started work at 15, became a coal merchant and then, because the time was right for it, a scrap metal dealer in Sheffield. In the early 1870s there was a big demand for scrap metal. There were many big engineering projects and Thomas Ward developed an expertise in dismantling big structures including ships. He had breakers' yards at ports round the country and became the biggest scrap dealer in the country, taking apart old warships and redundant luxury liners. These included the Majestic, sister ship to the Titanic, which was broken up at his yard at Morecambe, and the Olympic, which was finally towed to Inverkeithing.
Thomas Ward Ltd of Sheffield opened its ship dismantling department in 1894 and soon became the largest supplier of scrap metal to the growing steel industry. The keynote was efficiency - everything on board a ship was dismantled and resold. Ships' fittings and equipment were sold at the showroom in Sheffield. Books, lamps, toilets and carpets were all dismantled. It is said that even the timber was turned into garden furniture.
During the First World War, Thomas Ward's was heavily engaged in war activities. There was a shortage of horses which had been sent to the Front and in 1916 Ward leased an elephant (and a man to look after it) from a circus. Circuses had been stood down for the duration of the war. The firm had the elephant for a couple of years, stabling her near the factory and using her for hauling heavy loads of steel around Sheffield. The elephant's name was Lizzie and the records are full of anecdotes about her - eating a schoolboy's cap, putting her trunk through a kitchen window to help herself, and pushing over a traction engine.
The firm carried on until the early 1980s.
The burial records are from the excellent Sheffield Indexers site
HAYTHORNTHWAITE, Gerald Graham (Retired, age 82).
Died at 22 Endcliffe Crescent; Buried on February 27, 1995 in Consecrated ground; cremated.
Grave Number 1181, Section BB of Crookes Cemetery, Sheffield.
Parent or Next of Kin if Available: ~. Remarks: Ashes. Plot Owner: of ~. Page No 181
HAYTHORNWAITE, Ethel Mary Bassett (~, age 92).
Died at 22 Endcliffe Crescent; Buried on April 23, 1986 in Consecrated ground; cremated.
Grave Number 1181, Section BB of Crookes Cemetery, Sheffield.
Parent or Next of Kin if Available: ~. Remarks: Cremated remains removed from Hutcliffe Wood No. 24457.Plot Owner: of ~. Page No 136
WARD, Gertrude Miller (Retired, age 94).
Died at Ranmoor House Retirement Home; Buried on August 16, 1989 in Consecrated ground; cremated.
Grave Number 1181, Section BB of Crookes Cemetery, Sheffield.
Parent or Next of Kin if Available: ~. Remarks: Cremated remains. Plot Owner: of ~. Page No 154
WARD, Mary Sophia (Widow, age 92).
Died at 60 Endcliffe Vale Road; Buried on December 29, 1955 in Consecrated ground;
Grave Number 1181, Section BB of Crookes Cemetery, Sheffield.
Parent or Next of Kin if Available: ~. Remarks: ~. Plot Owner: of ~. Page No 245
WARD, Thomas William (Director of ? Company, age 72).
Died at Endcliffe Vale Road; Buried on February 13, 1926 in Consecrated ground; cremated.
Grave Number 1181, Section BB of Crookes Cemetery, Sheffield.
Parent or Next of Kin if Available: Remarks: Cremated Remains. Plot Owner: ~ of ~. Page No 157
This cutting is from the Sheffield and Rotherham Independent dated 15th May 1880 and refers to the discovery of an illicit still in Gertrude Street which was off Infirmary Road in Sheffield
This card appeared on a well known auction site in February 2020. Of course that was a month before a series of measures were introduced by the UK government which will have repercussions long after I leave this mortal coil
The house is still there in fact I passed it today - it just up from the Jet Petrol Station on Northfield Road
Here are a few details of the family from BMD and Ancestry - the dob of Donald would mean that the card was sent a month after his birth date
Births Mar 1930
Morton Donald Johnson Sheffield 9c 778
Surname First name(s) Spouse District Vol Page
Parents Marriages Sep 1924
Johnson Laura A Morton Ecclesall B. 9c 806
Morton Fred Johnson Ecclesall B. 9c 806
Birth 12 Jan 1930 • United Kingdom
Birth of Brother Brian Morton(1935–2007) 12 Jul 1935 • Sheffield
Residence 1939 • Yorkshire (West Riding), England Marital Status: Single
Marriage Oct 1955 • Huddersfield, Yorkshire West Riding, United Kingdom
Death of Mother Laura A Johnson(1905–1970) Mar 1970 • Sheffield, Yorkshire West Riding, England
Death of Father Fred Morton(1903–1973) 03 Dec 1973 • Sheffield, Yorkshire, England
Death Jul 1990 • Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England
Surname First name(s) Mother District Vol Page
Births Mar 1925
Morton Fred Johnson Ecclesall B. 9c 728 28 Dec 1924 - died 2005
Births Dec 1926 Morton Gladys Johnson Sheffield 9c 831
Died 22 Oct 1926 • 69 Ravencarr rd, Sheffield
Births Sep 1931 Morton Margaret Johnson Sheffield 9c 753
Births Sep 1935 Morton Brian Johnson Sheffield 9c 651
12 Jul 1935
Name
Donald Morton Birth 12/01/1930 Death 07/1990 Sheffield South Yorkshire England
In Sheffield's Shiregreen Cemetery, there is a family grave that is recorded on the excellent Sheffield Indexers site
BLACKHURST, Annie Maria (Widow, age 76). Died at Royal Hospital; Buried on April 15, 1958 in Unconsecrated ground; Grave Number 639, Section A of Shiregreen Cemetery, Sheffield. Parent or Next of Kin if Available: ~. Remarks: Removed from Basegreen. Plot Owner: ~ ~ of ~. Page No 28
BLACKHURST, Henry (Son of James Hill, age 16). Died at 45 Gressingham Road; Buried on December 15, 1932 in Unconsecrated ground; Grave Number 639, Section A of Shiregreen Cemetery, Sheffield.
BLACKHURST, James Hall Williamson (Engineer, age 59). Died at 45 Everingham Road; Buried on October 17, 1935 in Unconsecrated ground; Grave Number 639, Section A of Shiregreen Cemetery, Sheffield.
WOLSTENHOLME, Albert Eric (son of Albert, age 2). Died at 1 Wordsworth Crescent; Buried on March 7, 1940 in Consecrated ground; Grave Number 639, Section A of Shiregreen Cemetery, Sheffield.
The Guardian dated 14th December 1932 carried a report of an inquest into the death of the son Henry (Harry) Blackhurst age 16 who died on the previous Saturday. The verdict was accidental death but given the circumstances of his death the verdict should have been death due to inadequate education!!
The following article is from The Scotsman dated Monday 19th July 1920 and refers to the opening of Tinsley Park Golf Club Sheffield on Saturday 17th July 1920
I have just received from the author the following book
John Ruskin’s faithful stewards, Henry and Emily Swan, made a practical success of an educational ideal. They were the curators of Ruskin’s art-treasures at St George’s Museum, in Walkley. Local metal-workers and visitors from across the world were greeted with courtesy, enthusiasm, and deep knowledge.
In the first biography of the Swans ever to be published, Stuart Eagles digs into the archives to reveal the fascinating story of a couple who embraced Quakerism, vegetarianism and spiritualism. Born in Devizes, Wiltshire, Henry moved with his parents to London. In a life of extraordinary energy and innovation, he became a writing engraver, devised the ‘Regent Method’ of musical notation to teach singing, embraced spelling reform, learned shorthand, and printed some of Isaac Pitman’s publications. An early adopter of the bicycle, he sought to make boomerang-throwing an athletic sport. He was among the first students at the London Working Men’s College, where he met Ruskin, and copied illuminated manuscripts for him.
But it was in the world of stereoscopy, a form of 3D photography, that Swan first made his mark. He invented the ‘Clairvoyant’, a hand-held stereoscope. Then he patented the ‘crystal-cube miniature’, a self-contained, hand-coloured 3D portrait which he marketed through his Casket Portrait Co.
Crucially, Henry and Emily Swan were two of Ruskin’s most dedicated and consequential disciples. Together they helped shape both Sheffield’s cultural heritage and Ruskin’s enduring legacy.
Stuart has a dedicated website that is well worth visiting
This cutting is from the Daily Independent dated 17th April 1937
I was surprised when I first saw this as I was always under the impression that Britain in general and Sheffield in particular were not fully prepared for was in the summer of 1939.
But this article contradicts that viewpoint but you cannot help thinking that Britain was extremely nervous about the impact of enemy air raids and the causalities that would entail from such raids.
This was the prevailing thinking throughout the Thirties and stems from the British PM Stanley Baldwin
"The bomber will always get through" was a phrase used by Stanley Baldwin in a 1932 speech "A Fear for the Future" given to the British Parliament. His speech stated that contemporary bomber aircraft had the performance necessary to conduct a strategic bombing campaign that would destroy a country's cities and there was little that could be done in response"
Resurrection Day Services were not that common in the United Kingdom but it appears that the first one to be held in Walkley was in 1902. Traditionally associated with the Easter period and the Resurrection of Christ the service also had another purpose. Taking place in a cemetery it was an opportunity for attendees to celebrate the lives of their family and friends in that particular cemetery, whose graves they dressed with flowers. And such activities meant that the cemeteries would avoid falling into neglect
As stated above the Rev Sydney T.G. Smith of St Mary’s Church, Walkley, conducted the first Resurrection Day Service in the Walkley Cemetery on Easter Sunday 1902. Five years later research found an official count of 12,764 people attending the Walkley Resurrection Day Service
Thirty two years later over 5000 were still attending the Resurrection Day Service in the Cemetery
Walkley Cemetery Sheffield - 9th April 1939
The Resurrection Day Service was still in existence in 1950 This cutting is from the Yorkshire Post dated 9th April 1950
I came across this in the Sheffield Daily Independent Daily Independent dated Friday 22nd May 1925
I was considering expanding this article as it had some interesting points about the history of golf in Sheffield. But when I had a look I found this excellent site that covers the origins of municipal golf in Sheffield in a most comprehensive manner
A report from Manchester Times (Manchester, England), Saturday, August 9, 1856;
FRIGHTFUL DEATH AT SHEFFIELD
Shortly before eleven o'clock on Monday morning, a frightful accident occurred at the silver-plating works of Messrs. Wm Hutton & Sons, High Street, Sheffield. The unfortunate victim of the casualty is a girl named Emma Memmott, age 13 years who was employed to assist in the various occupations of the works. A few moments before eleven o'clock she was engaged at a lathe making up some finished articles when a shaft, which runs underneath the lathe, caught her dress. The place where she was caught was at the coupling point, and so firm was the hold which had been taken. that her efforts to disentangle herself were fruitless. She screamed aloud and a man named Birks, who was at work close by, ran to her assistance.
A strong iron bar which had been placed in front of the lather had enabled her to withstand the drawing of the shaft and Birks who took hold of her, feeling that she was dragged from his grasp, called lustily for assistance and for the engine to be stopped. In another moment however the poor girl was dragged from his arms, the strong iron bar bent, and the body literally twisted around the shaft, which was revolving at the rate of 300 times a minute. It was about a minute before the engine was stopped and then the mangled corpse was shocking to be looked upon. Though it was presently known that the girl was dead, yet the men who extricated her from the shaft hurried her to the Infirmary but the attention of the surgeon was fruitless.
A truly horrifying death and Emma was just 13 years old
These two pages are from a book I read years ago called Trojan Horses that dealt with deception and misdirection in wartime. On pages 130 and 131 there is a section on what were known as Starfish sites and it makes particular reference to the events in the Sheffield area in the summer and autumn of 1940.
This advertisement is from The News dated 11th December 1903 and I must admit it made smile. In fact I thought if you altered the arrangement of just two words you may get nearer the truth in our household! Needless being the person I am I kept these thoughts to myself for obvious reasons
Anyway thankfully Mrs H Walker of 15 East Parade Dewsbury was cured by taking Doan's Backache Kidney pills
I have tried to locate East Parade in Dewsbury but have had no success. The BNA goes no further than 1952 but one cutting I did find was of interest. I wonder if she knew of Mrs Walker
The following cutting is from 1941 and concerns the case of 27 year old Elsie May Clark of 58 Longley Avenue West Sheffield.
The puzzling part for me about this case is the entry in the 1939 National Register for the property. The only occupant is Elsie May Clark date of birth 4th March 1914 who is listed as married and performing unpaid domestic duties. In the next property is a Harriet Clark date of birth 1st May 1878 who is a widow also performing household duties. It is quite possible that Harriet was Elsie's mother-in-law.
There is no record of any children or husband for that matter
The other point that I discovered was that leaving children alone at night was widespread and been a feature of British life for decades. This certainly was not an isolated case - the newspapers were full of cases of unattended children that had been left alone. Probably this came more to the fore in wartime when there was far greater vigilance on the population by the public authorities.
But what made it even worse was the condition of the children who were in the house. They were all six years of age and under and were suffering from sores and were in bad condition.
It reflects a side of the war that is overlooked. The article states that the husband was in the forces and so was in no position to find out the situation at home. I wonder if he was informed that his children were in care and his wife in prison for neglect
Despite carrying over 1000 passengers and crew at the time of the sinking, only 30 people lost their lives. One of the survivors was Private John Reynolds who wrote letters home to his parents and friens in Sheffield describing his experiences
The propeller's John mentions were possibly some of the largest ever manufactured - HMRS was a sister ship of the RMS Titanic after all!
The wearing of decorations and medals has been in the news this last month. The Chief Constable of Northamptonshire Nicholas Adderley served as Chief Constable of Northamptonshire Police from 2018 to 2024, when he was dismissed for gross misconduct. He had embellished his military service in the Royal Navy and fabricated receiving both Northern Ireland and Falklands medals.
There is a fuller account on Wikipedia on what only be called a very unsavoury episode. Funnily enough this only came out into the open when his ex-wife took the steps to expose his lies and deceit.
But back to June 1942 when Sheffield's Gunner Gordon was court-martialled in Kent for wearing a VC ribbon that he was not entitled to wear. It was awarded ostensibly for his actions on the retreat to Dunkirk in May 1940 but this was a complete fabrication. He had bought the ribbon from a shop in Hythe Kent for the sum of 1s 9d (9p) as he wanted his wife to read about his heroism in the newspapers.
From the report Gunner Graham seems more like a fantasist than one who sets out deliberately to misrepresent his achievements to others so that they can further their own careers
As a footnote only 181 Victoria Crosses were awarded in the Second World War and none of the recipients had a Sheffield connection.
I posted this article on Walter many years ago. A former Sheffield footballer, Walter was killed by lightening whilst standing as a bookmaker at Royal Ascot on 18th June 1930.
The inquest was reported in the Times two days later
DEATH BY LIGHTNING AT ASCOT
At the inquest at Ascot last night on the body of WALTER HOLBEM, of Ribble Avenue, Southport, a bookmaker who was killed by lightning on Wednesday while standing in the Tattersalls, Ring, it was stated that there were no witnesses to the actual occurrence. Dr W.H. Brown of St Mary’s Hospital, London who was on duty behind the grandstand said that Holbem, was gasping for breath when he was brought in, and died almost immediately. His condition was consistent with his having been struck by lightning. The only mark on his body was an abrasion of the skin on his Adam’s apple. Samuel McClarence, who was employed by Holbem, said that he ran for shelter from the rain leaving Holbem standng under his umbrella. Two minutes afterwards he saw him being carried away. A verdict of “Accidental death” was returned.
The Times, June 20th 1930
But I have just found this cutting that states that a fund was set up to provide financial support for Walter's widow and four children
This report appeared in the local press on 29th August 1925 and refers to the previous year 1924, It starts on what I can only say is an optimistic note noting that Sheffield compares favourably with other industrial cities.
But a full reading of the report reveals a catalogue of misery and squalor that continued to affect swathes of Sheffield's inhabitants. Progress was been made in certain areas and not before time, But when phrases like "overcrowding in the city is deplorable" and conditions in the cutlery trade are "profoundly unsatisfactory" for the workers, a lot more needed doing and quickly. Sadly as we know this did not happen.
One of the oldest articles on my site is the account of the tragedy that occurred at Moscar, Sheffield on 25th August 1907 in which three people died at the scene and five were badly injured,
The Sheffield Daily Independent dated Monday 26th August 1907 carried the headline
"APPALLING SMASH NEAR MOSCAR, MOTOR CHAR-A-BANC DASHED INTO WALL. THREE KILLED, MANY OTHERS INJURED. SICKENING SCENES"
Under the headlines the paper revealed that the char-a-banc was proceeding past a carriage and a pair of horses when it hit a telegraph pole, causing it to skid and then crash into a stone wall. A man with a little boy, aged seven on his knees was killed instantly and another man was killed by being thrown from the vehicle. A person who was passing by on the road tried to run away but was caught by the crashing vehicle and pushed through a stone wall. He suffered a broken right leg and severe head injuries.
For many years I could not locate the final verdict of the subsequent inquest as it was adjourned so that the injured could attend and give evidence.
A couple of days ago a a reader of this article was kind enough to contact me and send me two cuttings. The first was from the Sheffield Daily Telegraph of 2 October 1907, and the second from the Stockton & Thornaby Herald 5 October 1907.
Until I discovered this old cutting in Sheffield's Grapevine Magazine I had never heard of Christopher Thompson but the painting his ancestor pointed to is certainly familiar to me and others who are interested in Sheffield's historical past.
1851 Census
Name Christopher Thomson Age 51
Estimated Birth Year abt 1799 Relation Head
Spouse's Name Hannah Thomson
Gender Male
Where born Hull, Yorkshire, England
Civil parish Sheffield Ecclesiastical parish St James Town Sheffield CountyYorkshire Country England
Registration district Sheffield Sub-registration district West Sheffield ED, institution, or vessel 08
Household schedule number 211 Piece 2338 Folio 242 Page number 55
Household Members (Name) Age Relationship
Christopher Thomson 51 Head
Hannah Thomson 57 Wife
Frederick Thomson 23 Son
James Thomson 10 Son
Sarah Thomson 16 Daughter
Mary Thomson 13 Daughter
Maria Simpson 14 Visitor
Frederick First 19 Lodger
1861 Census
Name Christopher S Thompson
Gender Male Age 61
Relation Father-in-law
Estimated Birth Year 1799
Spouse's Name Hannah Thompson
Where born Hull, Yorkshire, England
Civil parish Sheffield Ecclesiastical parish Carver Street Town Sheffield County Yorkshire
Registration district Sheffield Sub-registration district West Sheffield ED, institution, or vessel 16
Household schedule number 88 Piece 3478 Folio 99 Page number 16
Household Members (Name) Age Relationship
Wilfred Thos Dewsnap 36 Head
Rosina Dewsnap 35 Wife
Charles H Dewsnap 3 Son
Christopher Ths Dewsnap 1 Son
Christopher S Thompson 61 Father-in-law
Hannah Thompson 60 Mother-in-law
Sarah Thompson 27 Sister-in-law
Mary Ann Thompson 23 Sister-in-law
BURIAL RECORD
BIRTH 1799
DEATH 20 Jan 1871 (aged 71–72)
BURIAL Sheffield General Cemetery Sheffield, Metropolitan Borough of Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England
PLOT H2 91 MEMORIAL ID 220624277 ·
Age: 72, Occupation: Artist, Last Residence: 92 Devonshire Street, 22 Jan 1871 is the interment date
Thomas DEWSNAP Razor Smith, Hollis Croft age: 71, buried: 13 Apr 1856
Thomas Christopher DEWSNAP Son of Wilfred Thomas Dewsnap, Caster, 81 Division Street
age: 1y 10m, buried: 21 Dec 1856
Christopher THOMPSON Artist, 92 Devonshire Street age: 72, buried: 22 Jan 1871
Thomas Jarvis THOMSON Painter, 36 Orchard Street age: 29, buried: 10 Oct 1851
Hannah THOMSON Widow, 92 Devonshire Street age: 71, buried: 3 Feb 1871
burial no: 1600 grave no: H2 91
death date: 01 Feb 1871
burial date: 03 Feb 1871
name: Hannah Thomson age: 71 description: Widow residence: 92 Devonshire Street
minister: George Sandford
burial type: consecrated
burial no: 1576
grave no: H2 91
death date: 20 Jan 1871
burial date: 22 Jan 1871
name: Christopher Thompson age: 72
description: Artist residence: 92 Devonshire Street
minister: George Sandford
burial type: consecrated
Sarah THOMSON Spinster, 109 Victoria Street age: 76, buried: 10 Aug 1910
His wife Hannah died less than 2 weeks after Christopher after a lifetime of being "wearied by poverty"
For those readers who are not familiar with the Prince of Wales it is situated on the corner Carternowle Road and Ecclesall Road South in the Ecclesall district of Sheffield.
