Joseph Almond 1858 & Sarah Ann Screaton 1859

JOSEPH ALMOND born 27 December 1858 in Leicester &

SARAH ANN SCREATON born 17 May 1859 in Leicester

Joseph was the son of Thomas Almond and Elizabeth Markham, he was born on the 27th of December 1858 at 9, Vauxhall Street, Leicester.

Vauxhall Street ran between Causeway Lane and St Peters Lane, It has now been demolished and now in its place stands the modern roads and the large Highcross shopping centre. These houses were cleared as part of the clearance of Leicester's slum houses as they were small, unventilated and in generally poor condition. A lot of the poor housing in Leicester was cleared between 1932 and 1975 to make way for new estates, roads, businesses and shopping centres. Approximately 16,000 houses were demolished over that time, they were not like the rows of terraced houses still around today as they were built before local planning and bye-laws were in place. A lot of the houses just had two rooms, one up and one down, often built back to back with their neighbours forming a yard. These houses had no back doors or windows and often shared toilet (privies) and washing facilities with their neighbours. People would also throw ashes and rubbish down the shared privies and the contents would be collected by the street cleaners or scavengers periodically, hopefully before they overflowed or leaked. You can read more and see images of these old streets in Ned Newitt's excellent book 'The Slums of Leicester'.

In the 1861 Census Joseph was just two and living at the Northumberland Street with his parents and sisters. Northumberland Street is in the Frog Island area of the city, not too far from Vauxhall Street. Later he moved back to Vauxhall Street, number 48 with his grandparents and his sister Ellen.

His future wife Sarah Ann Screaton was born in Ruding Street, in the district of Black Friars, Leicester on the 17th of May 1859. Her father Henry is a stocking maker at the time. Her mother Elizabeth Screaton (formerly Oram) registered the birth with her mark so was unable to write. In 1871 Sarah is still living at 9 Ruding Street, she is living with her father Henry Screaton, who is a Frame Work Knitter & mother Elizabeth Screaton (nee Oram), sisters Elizabeth a Screaton, who is a Worsted Spinner and Eliza a Screaton, Scholar and Clara, aged just 1. Also there is her brother Thomas Screaton, aged 8, also marked as a Scholar.

There were many worsted spinners in Leicestershire like Sarah's sister Elizabeth, Worsted was made from the long-staple pasture wool from sheep breeds such as Teeswaters, Old Leicester Longwool and Romney Marsh. The wool was washed, gilled and combed using heated long-tooth metal combs, oiled and finally spun.

Joseph Almond married Sarah Ann Screaton on the 3rd of April 1877 at St Martins church, Leicester. They were living at 20 High Cross Street, Leicester and he was working as a pressman at the time. A Pressman is someone who is occupied operating a printing press or more specifically a printer who rolls on the ink and takes a printed impression of the type. St Martins, also known as Leicester Cathedral is in the ancient district of St Martins and is still an ecclesiastical parish. The ancient parish boundary runs south from the East Gate along Gallowtree Gate, up to join Friar Lane and through houses to the east end of St. Nicholas Street. From there it proceeds just south of Free School Lane and Bond Street to Churchgate, turning south to the East Gate. St. Martins was regarded as the principal church in the borough, in 1575 it was ordered that two or three members of every household in the borough and its suburbs should attend the Wednesday and Friday sermons in the church.

By 1881 Henry looks to be working and learning the trade of a Brewer in Southgate Street with a Joseph Caunt, a Brewer and Publican, although it is hard to prove this is definitely my Joseph. The old Shakespeare's Head pub, otherwise known as the "Shakey" was situated at 19 Southgate Street. In modern times it was planned to be moved back to make way for the new ring road but ultimately the old Victorian building was completely demolished and no longer exists.

Joseph and Sarah had two daughters called Lily and Lizzie born in 1877 and 1879 respectively. In the above picture you can see Sarah Ann Almond formally Screaton with her daughters Lizzie and Lily pictured with Sarah's granddaughter Clarice Who was born in 1904, Lily also had a boy called William Eddy Sleath born in 1906.

In the 1891 Census Sarah is now living at 3 Ruding Street, Black Friars with her two daughters Lily and Lizzie, she is also pregnant, on the 16th of December 1891 she had a little boy called Henry (my great grandfather). She is working as a shoe fitter and is head of the family as Joseph is not around, her eldest Lily is also occupied in the shoe trade, Lizzie at this point is noted as a scholar.

Later on in life Joseph is definitely working as a cab driver in the city, this would have been a horse drawn carriage, quite often called a hackney carriage driver. The trams were also horse drawn at the time, shortly after his death between the years 1901 to 1904 the horse drawn trams in Leicester were converted to electricity and in 1924 the first corporation buses began running. In the local newspaper, the Leicester Journal on Friday 27th April 1888, Joseph, who is living at Mansfield Street, Leicester was in court for causing an obstruction in the Haymarket with three horses and a bus. This occurred on the 3rd April, the sentence was a fine of 10s or seven days in prison.

Joseph had to have a short stay in the Leicester Workhouse due to illness in 1894. He was omitted on the 21st December 1894 and leaves on the 2nd January of his own request. He is noted as being a Cab Man, living in the St Margarets parish and aged 36. Joseph died on the 21st March 1897 aged just 39 in the Borough Workhouse & Asylum, Leicester, he was noted as being a former Coachman of Leicester. He is buried on the 25th March at Welford Road Cemetery which is on the same row as his mother Elizabeth who died just two days later on the 23rd. Unfortunately they had not purchased any private plots so they are buried in separate common graves. On his certificate it is stated he died of General Paralysis, this is sometimes noted as General Paralysis of the Insane (GPI) or Paralytic Dementia, this is a disorder affecting the brain and central nervous system often connected to the syphilis infection. (see below)

*Joseph’s case was mirrored in asylums across Britain in the late 19th century, with hundreds of people receiving the diagnosis of general paralysis of the insane (GPI). The majority of these were men in their 30s and 40s, all exhibiting one or more of the disease’s telltale signs: grandiose delusions, a staggering gait, disturbed reflexes, asymmetrical pupils, tremulous voice, and muscular weakness. Their prognosis was bleak, most dying within months, weeks, or sometimes days of admission.

Delusions about their vast wealth led some to squander scarce family resources on extravagant purchases – one man’s wife reported he had bought ‘a quantity of hats’ despite their meagre income – and doctors pointed to the frequency of thefts by general paralytics who imagined that everything belonged to them.

The predominance of men among GPI patients was evident to all observers, with the military particularly susceptible, yet many writers noticed that the clergy tended to escape its ravages. On those occasions when the disease appeared in women, they were said to be prostitutes or innocent victims infected by their philandering husbands. R.S. Stewart, a Scottish alienist (as psychiatrists were then known), commented on the apparent increase of GPI during the 1880s and pointed to its prevalence in port and mining towns.

German psychiatrist Emil Kraepelin (famous for his categorisation of mental disease into manic-depression or schizophrenia), on observing the inefficacy of mercurial treatment in GPI suggested it was an ‘after-disease’ or ‘metasyphilis’, the ground for which had been prepared by earlier syphilitic infection.

General paralysis, as many had suspected, was the outcome of untreated syphilis that finally attacked the brain and rendered its victims utterly helpless. Today, it is commonly referred to as tertiary or neurosyphilis. It was the development of penicillin in the 1940s that sounded the death knell for the disease. Although it has been seen in modern times in London and Manchester.

*Adapted from *https://thepsychologist.bps.org.uk/volume-25/edition-10/looking-back-fascinating-and-fatal-disease

Sarah had to be a strong character for her children, Joseph had not been living with the family for a considerable time now and had now passes away and left Sarah a widow. In 1901 Sarah and the family are living at 16 Causeway Lane including her daughters and a young Henry Almond age nine. Causeway Lane had pretty poor housing by today's standards. You can see a picture of Causeway Lane housing in the images link below.

By 1911 Sarah is now aged 51 and living at 51 Bosworth Street, she is still occupied in the shoe trade, fitting boots and shoes. She is living with her son Henry Almond, age 19, who is working as a Leather Bag Maker. Her daughter Lizzie Almond is also there at the same address, aged 31 and working as a Wool Spinner in the hosiery trade. Her daughter Lily is now living with her husband John Sleath, they married on the 26th December 1901, her father Joseph was noted as an ex Cab Driver. You can see Lily and her daughter Clarise Sleath in the picture above, they also had a son named William Eddy Sleath. Lilly's sister Lizzie Almond married quite late in life, she married a Charles Kirk in 1936, not our branch of the Kirk family. Maybe it was her sister's dying wish to see her married as Lizzie married shortly before Lily's death.

In the 1921 census Sarah Ann is 62 years old and living at 55 Bosworth Street with daughter Lizzie, son Henry and his wife Florrie, plus their young daughter Joan, aged just 5 months old. it is noted she is retired from Jennings & Co, Boot & Shoe Manufr,' which was based on Church Gate, Leicester.

Sarah Ann Almond nee Screaton died on the 28th December 1929 aged 70 and is buried at Gilroes Cemetery in the family plot.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

JOSEPH ALMOND born 27th December 1858 in Leicester

Born. 27th December 1858. 9 Vauxhall Street, Leicester

Father - Thomas Almond. Occupation - Sawyer

Mother - Elizabeth Almond Formerly Markham

Informed by Elizabeth Almond - Mother , 9 Vauxhall Street.

Her Mark is on the Certificate

Registered Thirtieth December 1858.

Census 1861. Joseph Almond - Age 2. Born Leicester.

Address - 28 Northumberland Street, Leicester.

Parish - St Margaret.

Living With Father Thomas Almond (32) - Head.

Profession - Sawyer. Born Great Easton

Mother - Elizabeth Almond - Age 30 - Profession - Dress Maker.

Born Wilbarston, Northamptonshire

Sisters Emma Almond (18) - Scholar. Born Leicester

Mary F Almond (6) - Scholar. Born Loughborough

Ellen Almond (4). Born Leicester

Border Amtrose Hayfield (60) - Hosiery Spinner. Born - Leicester.

Census 1871. Joseph Almond Age 12 - Scholar. Born Leicester.

Address - 48 Vauxhall Street, Leicester.

Parish - All Saints.

Living with Grand-Father Amos Almond(60) - Cowkeeper.

Born Great Easton.

Grand-Mother Jane Almond(70). Born Uppingham , Rutland.

Sister Ellen(14) - Servant. Born Leicester.

Marriage. 3 April 1877 Joseph Almond Age 19. Pressman

Residence - 20 High Cross Street

Father - Thomas Almond. Sawyer

to Sarah Ann Screaton Age 18

Residence - 20 High Cross Street

Father - Henry Screaton. Frame Work Knitter

in the Parish Church of St Martin, Leicester

Signed by Joseph Almond and marked by Sarah Ann Screaton

Presence of - Signed by Thomas Almond & Marked by Elizabeth Adams

?Census 1881. Joseph Almond Age 23 - Brewer. Born Leicester

Address - Lodging at 19 Southgate Street, Leicester

Parish - St Mary, Leicester

Working as a Servant with Joseph Caunt - Brewer & Publican

Leicester Journal - Friday 27 April 1888

Joseph Almond, Mansfield Street, Leicester

In court for causing an obstruction in the Haymarket,

with three horses and a bus on the 3rd April

was fined 10s, or seven days

Census 1891. Wife - Sarah a Almond - Age 31. Head.

Married - Shoe Fitter

Address - 3 Ruding Street, Leicester (Black Friars)

Living With daughters Lily Almond (13) - Shoe Fitter,

Lizzie Almond (11) - Scholar

*No Joseph Almond.

Son Henry's Birth Certificate-

Born 16 December 1891. 3 Court B, Ruding Street, Blackfriars.

Informed by S.A.Halmond Troth (Mother).

Father - Joseph Halmond. Occ - Cab Driver.

Mother - S.A.Halmond Formerly Screaton.

* Name wrongly stated as Halmond.

Corrected later by Sarah Ann Almond & Henry Screaton

Leicester Workhouse Records.

Admission 26533 21-Dec-1894 Cab Man St Margarets Age 36

Church of England reason - illness G/12/60/8

Discharge 26447 02-Jan-1895 Left - Own Request G/12/60/8

Joseph Almond Died 21 March 1897. Aged 39

Registration District : Leicester

Sub-District : North East Leicester

Where : Borough Asylum, Leicester

Occupation : Formerly Coachman of Leicester

Cause : General Paralysis

Informant : J.S.M Finch Medical Superintendent

Borough Asylum, Leicester

Registered : 26 March 1897.

Buried. 25 March 1897 Welford Road Cemetery.

Jos Almond. Age 39.

Abode - Borough Lunatic Asylum Leicester

Burial No:39744 Plot:2457 Section:cN Consecrated.

Children of JOSEPH ALMOND and SARAH ANN SCREATON are:

i. LILY ALMOND

b Jul-Sep 1877, Leicester

m John Sleath in 26 Dec 1901, Leicester

d 26 Oct 1936, Leicester. Age 56.

ii. LIZZIE ALMOND

b 20 Oct 1879, Leicester

m Charles Kirk in Jul-Sep 1936, Leicester

d 6 Nov 1964, Leicester. Age 85.

iii. HENRY ALMOND

b 16 Dec 1891, 3 Court B, Ruding Street,

Blackfriars, Leicester.

m Florrie Troth 12 June 1920, Leicester

d 29 Aug 1972, Leicester. Age 80.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

SARAH ANN SCREATON born 17 May 1859 in Leicester.

Born. Born 17th May 1859. Ruding Street, Leicester.

Informed by Elizabeth Screaton (Mother).

Her Mark is on the Certificate.

Father - Henry Screaton. Occ - Stocking Maker.

Mother - Elizabeth Screaton Formerly Oram.

Census 1871. Sarah a Screaton Age 12 - Shoe Fitter

Address - 9 Ruding Street, Leicester

Civil Parish - Black Friars

Living with Father Henry Screaton (35) - Frame Work Knitter

& Mother Elizabeth Screaton (34).

Sisters Elizabeth a Screaton (16) - Worsted Spinner,

Eliza a Screaton (7) - Scholar & Clara (1)

and Brother Thomas Screaton (8) - Scholar

All Born Leicester.

*Note Occupations have dropped one Line on Census Page

Married. 3 April 1877 in the Parish Church of St Martin, Leicester.

Joseph Almond Age 19 to Sarah Ann Screaton Age 18.

Joseph's Profession - Pressman.

Both Living at 20 High Cross Street.

Witnesses - Thomas Almond & Elizabeth Adams (her mark)

Groom's Father - Thomas Almond - Sawyer

Spouse's Father - Henry Screaton - Frame Work Knitter

Signed by Joseph Almond and marked by Sarah Ann Screaton.

Census 1891. Sarah a Almond - Age 31. Head. Married - Shoe Fitter

Address - 3 Ruding Street, Leicester

Civil Parish - Black Friars

Living With daughters Lily Almond (13) - Shoe Fitter,

Lizzie Almond (11) - Scholar

All Born Leicester.

*No Joseph Almond.

Census 1901. Sarah a Almond - Age 41. Head & Widow. Shoe Fitter

Address - 16 Causeway Lane, Leicester

Civil Parish - Leicester Formerly All Saints

Living With daughters Lily Almond (23) - Shoe Fitter,

Lizzie Almond (21) - Wool Spinner

and Son Henry Almond(9)

All Born Leicester.

Census 1911. Sarah Ann Almond - Age 51 - Head & Widow.

Fitter Boots & Shoes

Address - 51 Bosworth Street, Leicester.

Civil Parish - Leicester

Living With Son Henry Almond (19) - Leather Bag Maker

and Daughter Lizzie Almond (31) - Wool Spinner Hosiery

All Born Leicester.

Married:17 yrs Children:3 Alive:3

Census 1921. Sarah Ann Almond. 62 years, 1 month

Widow. Retired from Jennings & Co, Boot & Shoe Manufr,' Church Gate.

Address - 55 Bosworth Street, Leicester.

District - Leicester. Sub District - North Leicester.

Living With Son Henry Almond . 29 years, 6 months. Born Leicester.

Profession - Leather Bag Maker, Messers' Fielding Sarson & Co,

Trunk & Bag Manufacturers - 3 Camden Street, Leicester.

Daughter-in-Law - Florrie Almond. 29 years, 10 months. Born Ibstock

Profession - Home Duties.

Daughter - Lizzie Almond. 41 years 8 months. Born Leicester

Profession - Wool Spinner. Whitmore & Co. Wool Spinners,

West Bridge Mills.

Granddaughter - Joan Almond. 5 Months old. Born Leicester.

Died - 28 December 1929. Aged 70

Buried - 1 January 1930 at Gilroes Cemetery, Leicester

Section: A - No: 775 (1 UP -13 South)

Also there are -

Florrie Almond (nee Troth) d 12 December 1940.
buried 13 December 1940.

Henry Almond d 29 August 1972.
cremated 1 September 1972.

Sarah Ann Almond (nee Screaton) d 28 December 1929.
buried 1 January 1930.

Section: A - No: 775 (1 UP -13 South) - Gilroes Cemetery, Leicester.

Addresses:-

At Ruding Street, Leicester on Birth Certificate 1859.

At 9 Ruding Street, Leicester in 1871

At 20 High Cross Street, Leicester on Marriage Certificate 1877.

At 3 Court B, Ruding Street, Blackfriars, Leicester on her son Henry's Birth Certificate in 1891.

At 3 Ruding Street, Leicester on 1891 Census.

At 16 Causeway Lane, Leicester in 1901.

At 51 Bosworth Street, Leicester in 1911.

At 55 Bosworth Street, Leicester in 1921, 1929.

Children of JOSEPH ALMOND and SARAH ANN SCREATON are:

i. LILY ALMOND

b Jul-Sep 1877, Leicester

m John Sleath in 26 Dec 1901, Leicester

d 26 Oct 1936, Leicester. Age 56.

ii. LIZZIE ALMOND

b 20 Oct 1879, Leicester

m Charles Kirk in Jul-Sep 1936, Leicester

d 6 Nov 1964, Leicester. Age 85.

iii. HENRY ALMOND

b 16 Dec 1891, 3 Court B, Ruding Street,

Blackfriars, Leicester.

m Florrie Troth 12 June 1920, Leicester

d 29 Aug 1972, Leicester. Age 80.

Go to associated images - Joseph Almond (1858) & Sarah Ann Screaton (1859)

Go to Joseph's Parents - Thomas Almond (1829) & Elizabeth Markham (1830)

Go to Sarah's Parents - Henry Screaton (1836) & Elizabeth Ann Oram (1836)

Go to Joseph & Sarah's Son - Henry Almond (1891)

Go to the Almond descendants home page