Arthur was the fourth child of Robert and wife Charlotte (née Philpot). He was born on Tuesday 17th July 1866 at 118 New Church Street, Bermondsey. His mother registered the birth on 24th August 1866. (Birth Certificate)
To date, no record of Arthur being baptised has been found, although the first three children had been baptised. The name Leopold may well have been used in commemoration of King Leopold of the Belgians, uncle to Queen Victoria, and who had died in December 1865, or by his son who succeeded him and became King Leopold II.
On 7th April 1861 a census was carried out and this shows that Robert and Charlotte were still living at 118 Church Street, Bermondsey, also known as New Church Street. Arthur was recorded as being four years old and born in Bermondsey. The family consisted of Robert aged 42, a butcher, Charlotte aged 34, Herbert aged 7 and Wallace aged 1. Also living in the same building was James Hocking, a member of the Metropolitan Police, and so this may give some idea as to the quality and living conditions in this street. (Copy of census)
On 13th April 1872 Robert, Arthur’s father died, and on 21st June 1873 his mother Charlotte married Charles Frederick Martin, a lighterman. Charles took Arthur’s older brother Herbert as his apprentice.
Arthur should have appeared in the 1881 census conducted on 3rd April. The rest of the family were shown living at 143 Drummond Road, Bermondsey. The family consisted of Charles aged 32, a lighterman, Charlotte aged 42, Herbert aged 17, an apprentice lighterman and Wallace aged 11, a scholar. Living in the adjoining building was William Hampton who was also a lighterman, and his family. Despite extensive searching through the census, it has not been possible to find Arthur. He may have been living away from home, as aged 14 he may well have been old enough to be working. However, it is also possible that the enumerator simply missed him when transferring details from the cards collected from the various households on to the census forms.
Arthur next appears in the records in a document dated 13th March 1883 when, aged 16½ he was bound as an apprentice to William Hampton, the lighterman noted above. Arthur was bound for five years and was granted his freedom on 8th May 1888. (Lighterman Records at the Guildhall Library)
Banns of marriage were published during March and April 1890 (but they have not survived), and on 13th April 1890 Arthur married Edith Emily Sherriff at St. James’ Church, Bermondsey. Arthur was aged 23, a lighterman of 143 Drummond Road. His father, Robert, was recorded as deceased. Edith was aged 22 and gave the same address. Her father was Henry who was employed as a cook. Both parties signed their own names and the witnesses were Henry and Minnie, Edith’s father and younger sister. (P/c of marriage register)
On 5th April 1891 the next census was carried out, and it showed that Arthur and Edith were living at 40 Hunsdon Road, Deptford. Arthur was aged 24, employed as a lighterman, Edith was aged 23, and they had a daughter called Emily who was aged less than one month. They shared the house with Edith’s family. (Copy of census)
No.40 Hunsdon Road seems to be on the north side of the road, behind which was the Old Kent Road Spur, a railway line belonging to the LB & SCR (London, Brighton and South Coast Railway). In 1910 The Den, Millwall’s football ground was opened on the other side of the railway line, which in turn was closed in 1911. (Alan Godfrey Map No.91: Deptford North 1914)
Between 1891 and the 1901 census, Arthur and Edith had a further four children, (information taken from the 1911 census), so that when the 1901 census was carried out on 31st March, the family consisted of Arthur aged 34, employed as a lighterman, Edith aged 32, Robert aged 6, Herbert aged 2 and Emmeline aged six months. The family were living at 57 Reaston Street, just a couple of streets away from Hunsdon Road. (Copy of census)
No.57 Reaston Street appears to be on the northern side of the road, and near the eastern end, by the junction with Monson Road. (Alan Godfrey Map No.104: New Cross 1914)
The release of the 1911 census shows Arthur and his family living at 57 Reaston Street, New Cross. The family consisted of Arthur, aged 44 a lighterman, Edith aged 43, Herbert aged 12 and Emmeline aged 10. Arthur stated that he and Edith had been married for twenty years and had had six children, although only three were still alive by 1911. (From the information contained within this census, it has been possible to identify the other children, although they did not appear in any of the censuses. See below for details). (Copy of census)
Nothing more is known about Arthur’s life until 1924. April 1924 was the earliest Electoral Register I have studied so far. This showed Arthur and Edith still living at 57 Reaston Street, with their son Herbert the only eligible voter. There was a gap in the sequence until I came to October 1930. Arthur and Edith still lived in the property, along with Emmeline, Herbert and his wife Emily. The registers for the next two years show the same list of voters at this address.
Assuming that Arthur retired at the age of 65, this would have been in July 1931.
Arthur died on 6th March 1938 at 57 Reaston Street, aged 72 and was described as a retired lighterman. The informant was his daughter Emmeline who lived at the same address. (Death Certificate)
Arthur was buried at the Grove Park Cemetery on 9th March 1938 in plot No.C/434. (Interment Card)
WIFE
EDITH EMILY SHERRIFF (1867 – 1947)
Edith Emily was born on Saturday 25th May 1867 at 7 Nelson Terrace, Lucy Road, Bermondsey, and was the eldest of eight children of Henry and Emily (neé Proctor). Henry was recorded as being a cook at Ealing House. Emily registered the birth on 3rd July 1867. (Birth Certificate)
Edith was baptised at Christ Church in Bermondsey on 4th August 1867. (P/c of baptism register)
The 1871 census recorded Emily as living at 7 Alderminster Road, Bermondsey. The family consisted of her father Henry aged 27, employed as a tavern cook, her mother Emily aged 28, Edith aged 3 and Florence aged one. (Copy of census)
Alderminster Road lies midway between Southwark Park Road to the north and the Old Kent Road to the south. (Alan Godfrey Map No.90: Old Kent Road 1914)
The 1881 census shows the family living at 180 Rotherhithe New Road, Rotherhithe. The family now consisted of Henry aged 36, a cook, Emily aged 37, Edith aged 13, Florence aged 11, Minnie aged 8, Georgina aged 6, Elizabeth aged 4 and five month old Edward. (Copy of census)
Edith died on 28th December 1947 at St. Alfeges Hospital in Greenwich, aged 80. Her address was given as 69 Erlanger Road, Deptford, and the informant was her son, Robert, who registered the death on 29th December 1947. (Death Certificate)
Edith was buried at the Grove Park Cemetery on 2nd January 1948 in plot No.D/780. (Interment Card)
CHILDREN
1. EMILY CHARLOTTE ALEXANDER (1891 - 1893)
Emily Charlotte was born on Saturday 21st March 1891 at 40 Hunsden Road, Deptford and the informant was her mother, Edith who registered the birth on 27th April 1891. She was named after her two grandmothers: Emily Proctor and Charlotte Philpot. (Birth Certificate)
I have not been able to find any trace of her baptism so far, if indeed she was baptised.
Emily died on 19th April 1893 at 40 Hunsden Road aged two years of Whooping cough and broncho-pneumonia, the informant was her mother who registered the death on 20th April. (Death Certificate)
It is not known where Emily was buried.
2. ELSIE GEORGINA SHERRIFF ALEXANDER (1893 - 1894)
Elsie Georgina Sherriff was born on Saturday 12th August 1893 at 40 Hunsden Road, Deptford and the informant was her mother, Edith who registered the birth on 23rd September 1893. (Birth Certificate)
She was baptised Elsie Georgina on 3rd September 1893 at All Saints Church, Hatcham Park. Whilst there is no record of an Elsie elsewhere in the family lines, Elsie had an aunt named Georgina and Sherriff was her mother’s maiden name). (P/c of baptism register)
Elsie died on 2nd March 1894 at 40 Hunsden Road aged six months of bronchitis and broncho-pneumonia, the informant was her mother who registered the death on 3rd March. (Death Certificate)
It is not known where Elsie was buried.
3. ROBERT EDWARD ALEXANDER (1894 - 1972)
Robert was born on 28th October 1894 at 40 Hunsden Road, Deptford, the informant was his mother, Edith and the birth was registered on 7yh December. (Birth Certificate)
Robert was baptised on 24th February 1895 at All Saints Church, Hatcham Park. Robert was probably named after his paternal grandfather. (P/c of baptism register)
Records from the School Board for London show that Robert initially started his education at the Infants’ Department at the school in Arthur Street. He then went to Monson Road School which he left on 6th November 1908 aged 14. (P/c of School Board records)
After banns were published, Robert married Doris Violet Everett on 10th July 1915 at All Saints Church, Hatcham Park. He was aged 21 and worked as a machine setter and toolmaker. Elizabeth was aged 20, a tea-gown maker, and the daughter of John (deceased). They gave their address as 16 Hunsden Road. Both parties signed their own names. The witnesses were T. Sowter and S. Lodge. (P/c of marriage register)
Robert and Doris had three child, Ralph Robert who was born on 25th December 1917 at 6 Hunsden Road, Deptford and he was baptised on 5th November of that year at All Saints Church, Hatcham Park. His father’s occupation was recorded as a gauge maker. (P/c of baptism register)
Their daughter Phyllis was born on 20th February 1927 at the same address, and she was also baptised at All Saints Church, Hatcham Park, on 27th March. Her father’s occupation was given as electrician. (P/c of baptism register)
A third child, Philip Edward was born on 1st December 1929 at the same address, and was baptised at All Saints Church, Hatcham Park on 20th January 1930. His father’s occupation was given as a hire contractor. (P/c of baptism register)
Robert Edward died on 8th December 1972 at 27 Sandhurst Road, Bexley, aged 78, and his occupation was recorded as a retired engineer’s toolmaker. The informant was his son Ralph who lived at the same address and he registered the death on 11th December 1972. (Death Certificate)
Robert left a will and Probate was granted in London on 31st January 1973. His estate was valued at £12,784. (Transcript of entry in Probate Calendar)
It is not known where Robert is buried.
4. SIDNEY WALLACE ALEXANDER (1896 - 1898)
Sidney Wallace was born on Thursday 8th October 1896 at 40 Hunsden Road, Deptford and the informant was his mother, Edith who registered the birth on 16th November 1896. (Birth Certificate)
I have not been able to find any trace of his baptism so far, if indeed he was baptised. Sidney was named after two of his uncles: Herbert Sidney and Wallace Frank.
Sidney died on 19th April 1898 at 57 Reaston Street aged 18 months of broncho-pneumonia and heart failure, the informant was his mother who registered the death on 20th April. By a strange coincidence, Sidney died exactly five years to the day after his sister Emily. (Death Certificate)
It is not known where Sidney was buried.
5. HERBERT CHARLES ALEXANDER (1898 - 1968)
Details available in separate biography.
6. EMMELINE EDITH ALEXANDER (1900 - 1989)
Emmeline Edith was born on Sunday 16th September 1900 at 57 Reaston Street, Deptford, the informant was her father Arthur who registered the birth on 29th October. (Birth Certificate)
Emmeline was baptised on 11th May 1902 at All Saints Church, Hatcham Park. Her middle name came from her mother. (P/c of baptism register)
On 22nd July 1923 her son Philip James was born at 57 Reaston Street, Deptford and his birth was registered by his mother on 1st September. (Birth Certificate)
Having attended the Haberdashers’ Aske’s School in Deptford, Philip entered University College, London, but his studies were interrupted by the Second World War. He was given an emergency commission of 2nd Lieutenant in the Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders. Whilst seconded to the Seaforth Highlanders, he was killed in action at the battle of Sferro Hill on 1st August 1943 during the invasion of Sicily. He is buried at the Catania War Cemetery in Sicily (Grave Ref. IV/G/22) (Death Certificate and War Diaries)
From the birth certificate for her son Philip in 1923, her occupation was given as a civil service clerk, and this may have been the reason why the Alexander family had a telephone at quite an early date.
From the Post Office telephone directories, it seems that Emmeline had a telephone in her own name, starting from the August 1935 edition. Her address was given as 57 Reaston Street, SE14. The number was NEW X 0988. The final listing for her at this address was in the November 1940 edition, which would have been after the death of her father Arthur. (Copy of telephone directories)
Certainly by 1943, Emmeline had moved to 62 Barn Hill, Wembley Park SW4 and she first appeared in the telephone directories at that address in 1953. Sometime around 1958/59, she moved to 82 Ferndale Road, Brixton, again according to the telephone directories. This was where she continued to live until about 1980 when she moved to 25 Bakers Lane, Epping. (Copy of telephone directories)
Emmeline died on 9th February 1989 at St. Margaret’s Hospital, Epping, aged 88. Her address was given as 25 Mill House, Bakers Lane, Epping. Her occupation was recorded as being a retired accountant. (Death Certificate)
She left a will dated 9th May 1980 and probate was granted on 19th April 1989. (Copy of Will)