espinet/espenett - seafaring bishops
CHAPTER 11
BISHOPS – SEAFARERS’ WIVES
Following on the same generation, now we follow the daughters of Robert, John and Joseph Bishop, who married husbands connected with the sea.
Robert’s eldest daughter, Helena Margaret Bishop, was born 10 June 1822 and was buried 23 July 1823 (her name was recorded as Eleanor Margaret - note the confusion also with her grandmother’s name); she was only thirteen months old when she died. The second daughter, Margaret Bishop was born 27 April 1824 and buried 24 June 1824; only seven weeks old when she died. The third child, Margaret Ellen Bishop, was born 5 June 1825 and buried 8 March 1834; she managed to survive to her eighth year. All three daughters were born at 6, Brewhouse Lane, Greenwich and buried at St. Alphege’s church.
Ellen Bishop was born 21 April 1827 at 6, Brewhouse Lane, Greenwich, the fifth child and eldest surviving daughter of Robert. She married Charles Chillingworth at St. Alphege Church, Greenwich on 20 April 1848; her father and sister Katherine were present at the ceremony. Charles was a widower, aged forty two (born about 1806 in Newington, Surrey), and twenty years her senior. At the time of the marriage, they were both residing at Woodwharf, Greenwich; Charles a widower was a Superintendent of a River Towing Company with a daughter Frances Sarah, aged 6 years. Frances Sarah (Sarah Frances on her birth certificate) was born 6 April 1842, at Lower College Green in the parish of St.Augustine, Bristol to Charles and Frances (née Wilcox) Chillingworth; at that time Charles was a boat builder.
In the 1861 Census Charles was an Agent for a Steam Towage company residing at 51 Johnson Street West, St. George-in-the-East, the area between Whitechapel and Stepney just east of the City of London, with his wife Ellen and daughter Frances Sarah who was a milliner. In 1871 Charles had retired and living (or were they on holiday) at the High Road, Southtown (between Great Yarmouth and Gorleston-on-sea Norfolk) with his wife Ellen.
Charles died the 7 May 1875 aged 69 at 300 Commercial Road, St. George-in-the-East of morbus cordis (I year) and anasarca or dropsy (3 months) and recorded as “a gentleman”: Ann Rock his sister-in-law (Ellen’s sister) was present at his death.
In the 1881 Census Ellen Chillingworth was a widow and was residing at 29 Bromley Street, Ratcliffe in the parish of St. Dunstan’s, Stepney, Middlesex with William Taylor and his wife, Frances Sarah. Ellen was recorded as a corn factor’s widow (presumably the enumerator’s error) and step-mother of Frances Sarah. Frances Sarah had married William Taylor, who was a corn and flour factor, born in Whitechapel. In 1891 Ellen Bishop, a widow and living on her own means was visiting her brother William the pilot at Gravesend. Ellen died aged 64 on 14 November 1892 at 153 Cambridge Street, St. George Hanover Square (Belgravia), London: Louisa Bishop of Gravesend, wife of Ellen’s brother William was in attendance at the death.
Katherine Bishop, the sixth child and second eldest surviving daughter of Robert was born 6 March 1829 at Brewhouse Lane Greenwich. She married Frederick Spicer at St. Saviour’s Church, Southwark (since 1905 it has been known as Southwark Cathedral), on 22 December 1850. Charles Chillingworth and Cecilia Bishop (wife of Arthur Rust Bishop) were witnesses at the ceremony. Frederick was born 8 August 1828 at Greenwich the son of William Spicer and Sarah Penniall.
Frederick and Katherine Spicer had the following children:-
Frederick born 14 Mar 1852 Bermondsey, Surrey
Robert William born 24 Jan 1854 Southwark, Surrey
William born 12 Mar 1856 Bermondsey, Surrey
Margaret Ann born 5 Jun 1858 Milton-in-Gravesend, Kent
Charles Henry born 28 Nov 1860 Bermondsey, Surrey
Katherine Elizabeth born 10 Nov 1862 Bermondsey, Surrey
John Bishop born 1 Sep 1864 Bermondsey, Surrey
Ellen Alexandra born 5 Nov 1866 Bermondsey, Surrey
Henry James (Harry) born 19 Jan 1870 Bermondsey, Surrey
Flora Louise born 27 Apr 1872 Bermondsey, Surrey
Frederick was an apprenticed waterman, his binding date 7 November 1843, as was his father William whose binding date was 16 January 1794. He became a Master waterman and Trinity House Pilot and three of his sons were apprenticed to him: Frederick bound 13 August 1867, Robert William bound 12 July 1870 and John Bishop Spicer bound 11 November 1879 and of course William Bishop as we know from Chapter 8.
Trinity House Pilots were licensed, not employed, by the Corporation of Trinity House. When a pilot first applied to be licensed, he had to have British nationality, have several years’ experience as a watch-keeping officer of a ship, hold a foreign-going Master Mariner’s certificate and be under 35. The Corporation examined London Pilotage district pilots (about two-thirds of all pilots). The London Pilotage district extended from Felixstowe to Dungeness, taking in all the intermediate harbours and the River Thames up to London Bridge. Frederick was employed by the General Steam Navigation Company from London, down the River Thames to Gravesend and vice versa on ships up to 150 tonnage. He was recorded as 5’ 8” height, light brown hair, and fresh complexion and became a pilot on 15 June 1864 and had piloted the following vessels:-
Sir Walter Raleigh, Albion, Belgium, Berlin, Boreas, Caledonia, City of Hamburg, Cologne, Cosmopolitan, Countess of Lonsdale, Dolphin, Eagle, Dragon, Elba, Germania, John Bull, Leo, Leopard, Magician, Metropolitan, Moselle, Neptune, Pontier, Pilot, Pioneer, Prince of Wales, Princess Royal, Saxona, and Trident.
In the 1871 Census William was a pilot residing at 141 Spa Road, Bermondsey with his wife and eight children (all but William and of course Flora not yet born). It would seem that sons Frederick and Robert William had decided not to pursue their apprenticeship as Frederick was a banker’s clerk and Robert William a leather salesman. In fact most disappointing for Frederick no son followed in his footsteps. William remained unmarried and was a leather factor of South Norwood, Surrey; Charles Henry became an Inland Revenue Excise officer, John Bishop Spicer a commercial clerk (leather) and even Harry although a Mariner at his marriage in 1893 was a Stores clerk in 1901. In the 1881 Census Frederick a Trinity House pilot and Katherine were residing at Ivy Lodge, Earlham Grove, West Ham, Essex with all their children except William living with them.
87. Katherine Spicer, née Bishop
with eldest son Frederick
Frederick’s wife Katherine Spicer died of an intestinal obstruction aged 61 on the 22 October 1890 at Oak Lodge, Earlham Grove, Forest Gate, West Ham, Essex. Anne Spicer, her daughter-in-law (wife of Charles Henry) of 116 Studley Road, West Ham was in attendance at the death. In the 1891 Census Frederick, a widower and Trinity Pilot was residing at the ‘Three Daws’ at 7 Town Pier, Milton-in-Gravesend (now a well known restaurant); this was a hostelry run by Catherine Ball a widowed licensed victualler with three barmaids, housemaid and porter, probably similar to the British Sailors Society Home on the waterfront providing board and lodgings for about 150 sailors (mostly short-stay). William was just one of twenty plus other Trinity Pilots either widowers, married or single.
On 29 March 1892 Frederick a widower married Mary Jane Pattison a widow at St. John’s Church, East Dulwich in London. Frederick’s new wife was born Mary Jane Sutherland the daughter of David Sutherland, a fish curer deceased (both gave their residence as 32 Derwent Grove East Dulwich). Six years later Frederick died aged 69 on the 18 June 1898 at 10 Woodville Terrace, Gravesend of a malignant prostatic growth. M.J. Spicer the widow of the deceased was present at his death.
88. The Three Daws public house, Town Pier, Gravesend
The Three Daws Inn, originally known as the Cornish Choughs (similar to a jack- daw) was built in 1488 and pilgrims crossing from Essex would land here on their way to the shrine of Thomas à Beckett at Canterbury. In its heyday it was notorious as a haven for smugglers with three secret tunnels. In 1984 it closed its doors for the first time in five centuries but has now been sympathetically restored to its original charm as a restaurant.
Margaret Elizabeth Bishop the ninth child of Robert and Margaret was born the 16 May 1835, at Garden Stairs, Greenwich (just a few yards from the entrance to Fisher Alley), and christened on 14 June. On 14 December 1862, Margaret married Alfred Gill, at St. Mary Magdalene Church, Bermondsey. Alfred who was born 11 May 1838 in Bermondsey was an iron-monger with his business in the City (no connection with the sea but has been included in this narrative). They had five children:-
Walter Alfred born 1 Feb 1864 St. James Place, Bermondsey, Surrey
Thomas Arthur born 8 May 1866 Upper Grange Road, Bermondsey
Elizabeth Margaret born 26 May 1868 Dockley Road, Bermondsey, Surrey
Emily Barbara born 9 Oct 1870 Dockley Road, Bermondsey, Surrey
William born 23 Aug 1872 Dockley Road, Bermondsey, Surrey
(Emily Barbara died aged 5 of diphtheria in 1876).
Alfred Gill had his builders’ ironmongery business in Arthur Street, opposite ‘The Monument’ in the City, a street just off the north side of London Bridge. Alfred was a Common Councilman of Candlewick Ward, in the City of London (common councilmen were elected annually on St. Thomas’s Day, December 21st), and so the family lived very comfortably. In the 1871 Census Walter, an ironmonger’s assistant, and family were living at 4 Dockley Road, Bermondsey. In 1881 Walter, an ironmonger, and family were living at 10 Cranfield Road, Deptford, Kent. In 1891 Walter, an ironmonger (employer), and family were living at 93 Jerningham Road, Deptford. In 1901 Walter and his wife Margaret Elizabeth were now at 230 Lewisham High Road, Deptford with their unmarried son William working for his father. The other three children had already married and William later that year in December.
Here is the transcript of a lovely letter that Margaret Elizabeth Bishop, aged only eight years, wrote in copper-plate writing to her parents:-
December 22nd 1847
My Dear Parents,
It is with much pleasure I embrace the opportunity allowed me of addressing a letter to you previous to our Christmas recess. I cannot express how much I feel indebted for your kindness during another year particularly in giving me the advantages of Education may I remember what I have been taught at school which will enable me in some measure to be a comfort to such tender parents. We have much reason to be thankful to our Heavenly Father for the blessings of the past year, many have been taken away by death while I am permitted again to wish you every happiness on the return of Christmas. Hoping we may all be spared to hail with delight the approaching New Year.
Allow me my Dear Parents
to remain Your dutiful and affectionate Daughter
Margaret Elizabeth Bishop.
89. The letter Margaret Elizabeth Bishop wrote at the age of eight to her parents
One of the nice things about researching your own family history is finding cousins, some close and others distant, you never knew, and can then exchange information about each other’s family with these relatives. I have been able to make contact with quite a number of distant relations, usually through the ‘Members Interests’ section of various Family History Society journals or the Internet. Shirley Roberts and Barbara Mitchell are two descendants of Margaret Elizabeth Bishop and Alfred Gill. Their mother, who was Margaret Elizabeth (Bishop) Gill’s grand daughter, was born in 1902 and as Margaret Elizabeth didn’t die until 1923, she knew her grandmother very well; they were very close and she visited her often.
Her grandmother would hire a pony and trap and take her out and around Brockley as a special treat; she was also taken as a young girl to wonderful fancy dress parties held at the ‘Mansion House’; she has a lovely colour photo of herself dressed as the Queen of Hearts. This grand daughter, who was Gladys Barbara Jarman, sadly passed away at the end of 1996, aged 94 years but her younger sister is still going strong.
90. Margaret Elizabeth Gill, née Bishop (on the right) with her sister
Elizabeth Jane Portin from America in the garden at Wickham Road
Margaret Gill died on 29 Jan 1923, at 24, Wickham Road, Brockley, South London; and Alfred, four years later, on 10 Jan 1927; they were both buried at Nunhead Cemetery, South London.
91. Alfred Gill, common councilman in his robes of office
Ann Bishop (although she was always known as Annie) the tenth child of Robert and Margaret was born at 6, Brewhouse Lane, Greenwich on 5 September 1839. She married William Chillingworth at St. Thomas’s Church Stepney on 7 June 1863. William was a cook and confectioner, living in Stepney, while Ann was living in Bermondsey at the time of their marriage. William was the son of Charles Chillingworth, an “Agent”; the Charles Chillingworth who had married Ann’s sister Ellen. Unfortunately William died fourteen months later of cancer, on 29 August 1864, at Guy’s Hospital. Three years later, Ann now a widow, married Henry Martin Rock on 18 July 1867, at St. Thomas’s Church, Stepney. Henry was a widower and a Master Mariner at this time.
The Passengers List of the SS Holland arriving in New York from Le Havre and London on 2nd April 1874 lists Ann Rock and her step-daughter Georgina Rock. Her husband may have been one of the crew but that is only supposition.
In the 1881 Census Henry and Ann were living at 2, Green Street, East Ham, Essex. Henry had obviously decided to leave the sea and settle down as he was then a glass and china dealer. He was seven years older than Ann and recorded as being born in Germany; a note “BSB” which was not in the enumerator’s hand, most likely added at a later date, probably means British subject born, although the PRO archivist could not confirm this. Also living with them at East Ham was Henry's daughter, Georgina M. Rock aged seventeen who was born in Ceylon, East Indies. In the 1871 Census Georgina was residing at the home of her “grandparents”, Robert and Margaret Bishop at Trinity Almshouses, Mile End Road, Stepney - she was recorded as being born at Leyton, Essex (obviously where she lived, but not where she was born).
92. Lizzie Portin and Ann Rock in America
I have since been able to obtain the United States 1900 Census for the fourth precinct, Jersey City, Hudson County, which recorded that Henry was then a carpenter aged 66 years, born March 1834 in Germany, of German parents; he had first come to America in 1849, but obviously had not settled there at that time. Unfortunately it omitted to record when Ann and Henry came to the States - Georgina was not living with them in 1900.
Both Ann and her younger sister, Elizabeth Jane (known always as Lizzie) had immigrated to America and lived in Jersey City, in the state of New Jersey. Both sisters lived to a good age; Ann was still living at 104, Garrison Avenue, Jersey City in 1928, making her then 89 years old. They both made trips back to England for many years to visit relations.
Elizabeth Jane Bishop, the youngest of the Robert’s eleven children, was born 6 November 1841 at 10, Bridge Street, Greenwich. The family had then moved away from the riverside to what were probably better living conditions. She lived at home with her parents until she was 31 years old when she married Carl Oscar Portin at St. Bartholomew’s Church, Bethnal Green, on 28 June 1873; her sister Ann Rock and niece Margaret Ann Spicer were witnesses. Carl was a ship’s carpenter and son of Henry Portin, a ship-builder. Elizabeth Jane or “Lizzie” as she was always known, told a newspaper reporter that Carl was “a Russian gentleman, born near St. Petersburg”. The New Jersey US Census for 1900 confirms that he was born January 1837 in Russia of Russian parents, had first come to the States in 1860, and was still a carpenter. Portin seemed a rather unusual name and I later found that Portin was a family that had lived in Finland since the middle of the 17th century. Finland belonged to Russia between 1809 and 1917 and during this time many hundreds of thousands of Finns immigrated, mostly to America and had Russian passports and were often known as Finnish Russians in the U.S.A. Most of the Portin family now belongs to the Swedish speaking minority in Finland.
Carl and Elizabeth Jane were living at 16, Portland Street, Stepney when their daughter, Margaret Catherine Portin was born on 7 August 1877. It was in March this same year that her father, Robert Bishop, who was living at 54, Portland Street, made his will. In this will he left everything to his wife, but she died a few months before he did; so everything then went to Elizabeth Jane (if she had died then it would have gone to his other four surviving daughters). I suppose Elizabeth Jane came to inherit everything for looking after her parents. It was in 1887 or 1889 (US Census gives 1887 but Lizzie said 1889 when she was 96 years old) that Carl Portin, his wife Elizabeth Jane and their daughter Margaret Catherine left Liverpool on the ‘GRECIAN MONARCH’ and emigrated to America where the family settled in a house on Journal Square, Jersey City, New Jersey (until it was demolished when a railroad bridge was built there). The New Jersey Directory for 1893 listed Carl O. Portin as a Carpenter of 99 Hoboken Avenue. Maggie grew up to become a teacher in the Jersey City public school system and never married. Carl died about 1917 and mother and daughter, who were very much attached to one another, were living at 104, Garrison Avenue from at least 1924, probably a lot earlier, until 1934 when Margaret died; in 1928 sister Ann Rock was also living at this address. After Carl died, mother and daughter would take a two months vacation in the mountains at a farmhouse to be away from the heat as they liked it better than the sea shore, or trips back to England, crossing the Atlantic eleven times during the summer holidays. The Ellis Island records (1892-1954) on the Internet record a trip mother and daughter made in 1894 arriving back 6 Jan 1894 on the ‘PARIS’ from Southampton. Another trip arriving back 30 Aug 1913 on the ‘PHILADELPHIA’ from Southampton (Elizabeth recorded as a widow). Two other trips recorded - Margaret 7 Sep 1907 on the ‘ST. LOUIS’ and Elizabeth 6 Sep 1914 on the ‘KROONLAND’ from Liverpool.
Elizabeth Jane lived to a grand old age as on Saturday 6 November 1937 she celebrated her 96th Birthday in grand style as reported in the ‘Paterson Morning Call’ local newspaper of 9 November 1937. Parts of the quite lengthy account I give below:-
“A once-proud princess of the seas -the Grecian Monarch - has long since descended into limbo of forgotten ships, but it was this ship which 48 years ago, brought Elizabeth Jane Portin, her husband and daughter to America from Liverpool, but it’s bright in her memory.
Mrs. Portin who lives with her niece, Mrs. William Van Hassel (she calls her her niece but I presume she was really a grand-niece - more of this below) at 189, North Main Street, celebrated her ninety-sixth birthday on Saturday.
Hailed by her many friends with gift and greeting on the occasion, Mrs. Portin told the ‘Call’ reporter “that the day was a most happy one”. And further conversation with this old lady, who can’t be called a little old lady, because she is tall and spare, and who sits in her rocker as straight as a lord, revealed that her remarkably clear mind retains excellent memory of all events in her 96-year career.
Without a moment's hesitation she named the ship that had brought her to America 48 years before - the name of the captain she’d forgotten “for the minute”.
Remains an Englishman
Mrs. Portin was born in England within the shadow of the Bishop’s Palace (Southwark) in London, and within ear-shot of Big Ben.
Half a lifetime in this country has not erased the touches of English in her. To her a trolley-car is a tram and candy, which she enjoys, is sweetmeats. She reckons time as having lived under so many British monarchs. She recites their names quickly; the Presidents of the United States come next.
And there is a note of pride as she pronounces the name “Victoria”.
.......
After Mr. Portin died 20 years ago, Mrs. Portin and Margaret made annual trips back to England, crossing the ocean 11 times during the summer holidays.
Margaret died almost three years ago, and Mrs. Portin came to live with her niece in this city (Paterson, New Jersey).
Blind 15 Years
The nonagenarian lost her sight 15 years ago. Her hearing is poor, yet she is in excellent spirits; until a year ago, she was able to go outdoors; and it is only lately that she has had to forego drives in her nephew's car.
Now she sleeps more than half the day; she enjoys listening to the radio, having the newspapers read to her, and doing handiwork, such as crocheting and knitting.
Every evening her nephew reads her ‘The Morning Call’, to which she has always subscribed. She is interested in current affairs and particularly those concerning her native England. She listens to the press radio news reports, and all amateur hours. Her favorite radio program - Sunday at Seth Parker’s - has left the air.
Mrs. Portin goes to bed every night at 11 o'clock and arises at 7 in the morning for breakfast. She sleeps after breakfast and luncheon.
She is quite independent of help from any of the household. Only when she wishes to get some place quickly does she ask the aid of her niece. She makes her own bed, arranges her own bureau, washes and dresses herself.
Her jewellery - she has an abundance of the items that were popular during the Victorian era, always wears ear-rings and a brooch - she knows through her sense of touch.
Her possessions gathered through years of travel form a miniature museum. A piano, 125 years old which she used to play, has since been donated by her to the Passaic County Historical Society museum at Lambert's Castle.
A bouquet she received Saturday is kept in a green vase faced with a reproduction of the Flatiron building in New York city when that edifice was the largest in the world.
One of her most prized possessions - a small section of the transatlantic cable spun by the Great Eastern - she left in England on one of her trips there.
She possesses several handsome watches that are wound by keys. One of these, which belonged to her uncle, she keeps running constantly, winding it every day. “It’s not good to let it stop” she says.
She tells the time by her own clock, made with raised numerals on the face.
Some of the most beautiful items that grace the home on North First Street are ones she has created herself. Several beautiful examples of needle-point - a lost art of a period when genteel young English women were bred for their rightful place in the home - were produced by the old lady when she was more active and her hands more sure.
Two of these can be seen in the Historical society museum in Lambert's Castle.
Mrs. Portin is devoutly religious, the oldest member of the Trinity Episcopal church. The Rev. Charles Child, pastor of the church, is a frequent caller at the house, and he and the old lady have been known to sit chatting for hours.
The diction of this old woman is remarkably clear. Her speech however is slow. Lately, one must speak close to her ear to be understood. She owes her lengthy life, she says, to God and an unfailing faith in Him. Asked about health habits, she replied:
“I always have my little nip of whiskey and water twice a day”.
Would Outpace Rockefeller
Mrs. Portin is content now to float along on the stream of life, and there’s only a modicum of zest for any accomplishment - she’d love to live longer than Rockefeller. Not that she had anything against the former oil baron. But she followed his late career zealously, more zealously than any other item of general news - except of course, the Coronation - and she has decided that she’d like to outdo the late capitalist.
On Saturday, hundreds of friends who are rooting for her in her quest honored the nonagenarian. Persons from the neighborhood, and old neighbors from Jersey City visited her.
In the evening, a turkey dinner was held. Mrs. Portin ate with the best of them. Others present at the ninety-sixth birthday climax were:
Rev. Charles Child, pastor of the Trinity P.E. church; Mr. And Mrs. William Van Hassel, William Van Hassel, Mr. and Mrs. Abram Van Hassel; Mr. and Mrs, Edward Van Hassel; Mrs. Earl Smith; Mrs. Jennie Smith; Mr. and Mrs. John Blaney of New York; Robert Blaney; Mrs. Margaret Blaney; Evelyn Blaney of New York; Miss Leonia Blaney; Jack Blaney; William Blaney; Mr. and Mrs. Charles Heywood of Jersey City; and Mrs. B. Mahon of Cranford.
Mrs. Portin wanted a story of her achievement in the “Morning Call”, so that she could send copies of it to her nieces and nephews in the British empire, to relatives in Australia, England proper, and Palestine - to tell them: “I’m well, happy, and thinking of you at 96”.
A family reunion should be in order for the One-hundredth Anniversary.”
Gladys Barbara Jarman (the mother of cousins Barbara and Shirley) died on 13 December 1996, and some months later, after clearing their mother’s effects, Shirley sent me a newspaper cutting they had found. It was the above, but the last part was missing, I was fascinated and resolved to obtain the full article if I could, and also try to find out who her niece, Mrs. William Van Hassel, could be. The article gave no indication of which town or city the Van Hassels lived or where the “Morning Call” was published. First, I managed to find the address, and wrote to the Jersey City Public Library, who told me that “The Morning Call” was a daily paper based in Paterson, New Jersey, no longer published, but that the Paterson Public Library had a complete run on microfilm. Not only did the Paterson Free Public Library send the complete article but also enclosed two obituaries of Elizabeth Portin’s death on 12 January 1939, aged 97, that appeared in the Paterson Evening News and Paterson Morning Call, both dated 14 January.
Mrs. Elizabeth J. Portin
Mrs. Elizabeth J. Portin, a resident of Paterson for only a few years, died Thursday evening in the home of her niece, Mrs. William Van Hassel, 187 North First Street. She had been ill 13 weeks.
Born in Kent, England, on November 6, 1841, Mrs. Portin came to the United States about 50 years ago and settled in Jersey City. Her first home was situated at Plaza Square, Jersey City, on the site of the present Plaza Hotel. She was one of the oldest members of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Jersey City. She moved to Paterson three and a half years ago.
Mrs. Portin was well known for her antique collection and only recently she gave many of her prize possessions which included a piano about 125 years old, needle point lace, old china, and pictures and an old sea chest, to the city, the exhibit now being on display in Lambert’s Castle.
Funeral services will be held Monday afternoon at 1 o’clock in the home of her niece, Mrs. William Van Hassel, 187, North First street, with services following at 2:30 o’clock in St. Mary’s Episcopal church, New Jersey. Burial will be made in New York Bay cemetery, Jersey City, under the direction of John A. Shorter, Rev. C. Childs, pastor of the Trinity Episcopal church of this city and Rev. Mr. Young of St. Mary’s church will officiate.
The obituary in the Paterson Evening News was similar, but mentioned that “several nieces and nephews survive”.
93. Elizabeth Jane Portin, née Bishop
I also received photo-copies from the Paterson Directory for 1939 which listed:-
Portin, Elizabeth, widow of Charles residing at 187 North 1st street.
Van Hassel, Abram W. and (Anna), painter, of 187 North 1st street.
Van Hassel, Abram and (Jane), painter, 199 North 1st street.
It appears that the address, 189 North Main Street, given in the 96th Anniversary article was misprinted for in the obituaries it is given as 187 North 1st Street, which matches the address given in the city directory for 1939.
The Abram W. Van Hassel and his wife Anna were obviously the relations of Elizabeth Portin, that I was interested in - Abram W. was probably known as ?William, and the Abram must surely be his brother. I was able to locate the death of a William Van Hassel at our local Mormons Family history Centre, on CD-ROM, who was born 13 April 1899 in the state of New Jersey and died 18 August 1985, NJ. (Social Security No. 140-32-2011).
From this information, I received the following obituary from the Paterson News of 19 August 1985.
A. William Van Hassel
PATERSON - A. William Van Hassel, 86, died Sunday, Aug 18 at home.
He was born in Paterson, where he was a lifelong resident.
He was a retired self-employed painter and decorator.
Surviving are his son, William of Paterson; and a brother, Edward of Beach Haven; and a sister, Isobel Smith of Prospect Park.
His wife, the former Anna Blamey, died previously.
I have now to find out who was this Anna Blamey, wife of A. William Van Hassel and supposed niece of Elizabeth Portin - I suspect that she was really a grand-niece - so who were her parents? As far as I know, Elizabeth’s sister, Ann Rock, was the only other relation who came to America. Ann and Henry Rock had no children, but Henry did have a daughter, Georgina, from his first marriage and she was living with them at East Ham in the 1881 Census (aged 17 years and born Ceylon). Henry was a Master Mariner when he married Ann in 1867. Sea captains often had their wives with them aboard ship, so I am guessing that Georgina was born about 1863, maybe at sea off Ceylon. Ann must have married and had 4 year old Georgina as her step-daughter, and probably thought of her as her own daughter. Georgina would have been about 23 years old, when the family went to America - that is if they did go at the same time as the Portins. This is again only speculation - that she married a Blamey in America, and the Anna Blamey was one of her children.
From the United States Social Security Death Index, I have found a death of an Anna Hassel, born 23 November 1890, New Jersey who died November 1979, NJ. (Social Security No. 148-20-9128), but I am still waiting for her death certificate, to confirm or not, if she was the wife of William, and then to try to obtain her birth certificate. If all my speculations are correct then the Anna Van Hassel, née Blamey, born 1890 would fit the bill quite nicely. I also wrote to the Passaic County Historical Society at Lambert Castle, Paterson, NJ and received a very interesting reply, part of which I append below.
“Several of Mrs. Portin’s gifts are known to remain in our collections. Two needlework pieces are prominent, especially a Berlin Wool project of ‘Christ in the Temple’ which Elizabeth Bishop/Portin executed at age 15 in 1856, before immigrating to America. The other item is a framed sampler by Margaret Rust, made in 1815. Our records show Margaret Rust was Elizabeth’s mother. Both items are currently in storage at our facility.
Of the larger items she donated I have found that the Piano Forte of Margaret Rust’s is on long term loan to a sister museum called the Hamilton Van Waggoner House Museum, Clifton, NJ. This was done so that the item would remain on exhibition in a safe environment. It was made by Alfred Bateman of No.1 Richmond Place, E. St. Walworth London and has “case No.252, Musical Unit 1581” on it.
The sea chest I have not been able to locate. However, this is not a sign of trouble, due to the fact that all our collections are currently in deep storage while our museum is undergoing major restoration work. If I locate it in the future I will gladly contact you further.
Unfortunately, our records clearly show that the inlaid picture of the Brooklyn Bridge by Mr. Portin was discarded in 1958, due to extremely poor condition.
The only thing I can confirm is that the Anna Van Hassle you mentioned was indeed the agent by which Mrs. Portin finally donated her property to the Society. To my knowledge, however, the other surviving relatives you noted are no longer alive.
I am sorry we are unable to give you so little information in return for the articles which are of great value to us. If anything turns up, however, I will gladly pass it on to you!”
Of course at this time I would have liked to trace any descendants of the Paterson, Van Hassel, or Blamey families, but this will have to wait till later.
Sarah Ellen Bishop, the eldest daughter of John and Sarah Bishop was born the 23 November 1819 at Brewhouse Lane, Greenwich and was baptised 7 December that year at St. Alphege Church. In 1841 she was single and living at home with her parents at Brewhouse Lane (no occupation recorded).
94. Greenwich market – today a popular haunt for Londoners and tourists alike
On 10 April 1847 Sarah Ellen was married at St. Alphege Church, Greenwich to Robert Milburn, a widower, by licence; her father (here recorded as a ship-owner) and sister Matilda Ann were witnesses. Robert was a widower and a Master Mariner, the son of Robert Milburn a Customhouse officer. I believe Robert was born 17 August 1806 at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland the son of Robert Milburn and Judith Wilson but I cannot be absolutely certain of this.
Nine months later Sarah Ellen gave birth to a son, Robert Thomas Milburn who was born 18 January 1848 at Derwent Street (near Ballast Quay), East Greenwich. I have been unable to find any record of the rather elusive father Robert who was never at home with Sarah Ellen in any Census return, thus making it almost impossible to know where he was born. He may have died at sea soon after his marriage in 1847 or just disappeared; but Sarah Ellen never said she was a widow in any Census return; always “married status”.
In the 1851 Census Sarah Ellen was a governess living at home with her parents at Crowley’s Wharf, East Greenwich. Her mother no doubt was looking after the 3 year old grandson Robert Thomas Milburn. Then in the 1861 Census Sarah Ellen was still living with her parents at the Coach and Horses public-house (No. 7 Greenwich Market); the new market had been built in 1831. This “nice little pub in the heart of the market” is still there today and listed on the Internet as one of the top good pubs in England. Her son Robert Thomas was at boarding school. By 1871 Sarah Ellen Milburn had moved to No.7 Haddington Terrace Greenwich and was a governess and head of the household which included her unmarried sister Jane and her widowed father John the Greenwich Beadle. Sarah Ellen a school governess was still residing at No.7 Haddington Terrace in 1881 with her sister Jane and her son Robert Thomas who was an unmarried electrical and mechanical engine draughtsman. In the 1891 Census Sarah Ellen had moved to No. 36 King William Street (now King William Walk) close to Greenwich market. She was still a school governess at the age of 71 and head of the household and recorded living with her were her unmarried sister Jane, also a school governess and her unmarried son Robert Thomas Milburn, a mechanical draughtsman. Now the strange thing is Robert Thomas Milburn had married Alice Fleet Murphy on 16 December 1882 at St. Paul’s Church, Deptford and they had two children, Reginald Robert born 1883 at Deptford and Violet Daisy born 1889 also at Deptford and in 1891 this family was still living in Deptford. Why had Sarah Ellen said her son was unmarried and living with her when obviously he had left home and had been living in Deptford for about eight years?
Sarah Ellen Milburn died at the age of 77 of cerebral apoplexy (13 hours) and coma syncope at the home of her son Robert Thomas Milburn 12 Sandbourne Road Deptford on 10 January 1897. She was still recorded as the wife of Robert Milburn although he would have been 90 years of age and surely not still at sea.
Jane Bishop the youngest daughter of John and Sarah was born 19 May 1835 at Brewhouse Lane Greenwich and baptised on 17 June at St. Alphege Church that year. She never married and was a school governess like her eldest sister Sarah Ellen. She lived with her parents until the death of her mother in 1866, and then by 1871 she and her widowed father were living with Sarah Ellen Milburn until Sarah Ellen died in 1897. It would seem that she then moved in with her nephew Robert Thomas Milburn and family. In 1901 she was living at No.12 Sandbourne Road, Deptford, the same address as her nephew but I suppose in what we today would call a “granny flat”. She was head of her household and living on her own means.
Jane Bishop died at the age of 92 on the 23 April 1928 of chronic cystitis (No post mortem – but certified) at the home of her nephew Robert Thomas Milburn 32 Wheathill Road, Anerley, Penge, Kent.
Jane must have been living with her nephew Robert Thomas Milburn for some time, and in her later years she moved away from the River Thames with her nephew to Penge which was very close to the Crystal Palace.
95. Crystal Palace
In 1851 Joseph Paxton designed an enormous glass building for the Great Exhibition in Hyde Park. The exhibition was an outstanding success. Paxton could not bear to see his masterpiece sold as scrap when it was demolished so he found a suitable site of 200 acres to the west of Penge on Sydenham Hill for the reassembly. The original was greatly expanded rising from three storeys to five. Outside the Palace itself were two great terraces, the grounds sloping down towards Penge including a maze, grotto and boating lake, together with fountains intended to rival Versailles. People flocked here from all over London and beyond – averaging more than 2 million visitors a year at its peak – and they came not just to see the Palace but the events that were staged: Blondin; balloon ascents; sports events; fireworks and various exhibitions. By the beginning of the 20th century it went into decline and eventually fell into neglect, although there were attempts to revive its fortunes after the war. In 1936 the entire Crystal Palace was burnt to the ground (I remember seeing the whole sky lit up over Blackheath 6 miles away).
Hannah Jane Bishop the second eldest daughter of John and Sarah was born the 3 April 1825 at Brewhouse Lane, Greenwich and baptised at St. Alphege Church on the 2 May that year.
On 10 April 1847 Hannah married William Harker by licence at St. Alphege Church Greenwich. It was actually a double wedding as Hannah’s sister Sarah Ellen was married on this day. Their father and sister Matilda Ann were witnesses at both marriages. William was born 15 January 1826 and baptised 5 March 1826 at St. Alphege, the son of James Harker an oilman of Turnpin Lane, Greenwich and Mary Holmes.
William and Hannah had four children:-
Jane Mary Harker b. 12 Jan 1848 d. 27 Feb 1909 Sunderland
m. 7 Nov 1870 Henry Hume, Tynemouth
Alice Harker b. 8 Jul 1850 bur. 22 Dec 1853 Nunhead Cemetery
Laura Harker bpt. 16 Jul 1853 bur. 25 Jan 1854 Nunhead Cemetery
William John Harker b. 4 Jan 1855 bur. 13 May 1859 Nunhead Cemetery
William was an ironmonger of Trafalgar Road, East Greenwich at his marriage in 1847 and in 1848 when their first child was born. He moved to 22 Woodland Grove, East Greenwich (backing onto Trafalgar Road) where Alice was born continuing as an ironmonger. He was still there with his family in the 1851 Census but described himself as a “retired Ironmonger”. Then William and family moved from Greenwich in south London to Islington in north London and with quite a change of occupation. He became a railway clerk living at 5 Story Street, a small street off the Caledonian Road, and close to the Caledonian Road and Barnsbury railway station where he must have worked.
Laura Harker, their third child was born here at Story Street and baptised 16 July 1853 (although born in the last half of 1852) at All Saints church, Islington but Laura did not live long and was buried 25 January 1854 at Nunhead Cemetery, Camberwell in the Borough of Southwark. Less than six months later William Harker died and he was buried 16 July 1854 with his daughter Laura at Nunhead Cemetery.
96. Nunhead Cemetery and its avenue of trees
This left Hannah Jane a widow with six year old Jane Mary and another child on the way, so she returned to her parents at Crowley's Wharf in East Greenwich. Her only son William John Harker was born here, fatherless, on 4 January 1855 and baptised at St. Alphege church 16 February that year. Around this time Hannah's parents moved and took the Coach and Horses public-house at Turnpin Lane in the centre of Greenwich market. William John was only four years and four months old when he died here and was buried with his father and sister at Nunhead Cemetery.
There were seven great Victorian cemeteries established around the outskirts of London in the nineteenth century. Nunhead Cemetery, originally All Saints, is perhaps less famous than Highgate Cemetery, but the most attractive. The City's churchyards were so overcrowded, indeed, they were so unpleasant and unhealthy that Parliament encouraged the creation of these seven cemeteries by the London Cemetery Company. Highgate was the first to be built followed by Nunhead which was opened and consecrated in 1840. Nunhead declined badly after World War II and was abandoned by its owners in 1969 but in 1976 Southwark Council bought the cemetery for £1 and restoration began, carried out by 'Friends of Nunhead'. Over a quarter of a million people are buried here at Nunhead, many with no grave markers – mostly because the were placed in common graves or the memorials have suffered and decayed over the years.
Hannah Jane was recorded as a widow living with her parents at the “Coach and Horses” in Greenwich in the 1861 Census, but soon afterwards she must have moved up to Sunderland in County Durham where her brother was living.
Then two years later Hannah Jane married for the second time to John Taylor on 9 July 1863 at Hendon parish church, Bishopwearmouth (part of Sunderland) in County Durham by licence. John was a widower and an engine-wright, the son of John Taylor a millwright. Hannah’s brother Samuel James Bishop (though recorded as Thomas James) the publican of Sunderland and his wife Helen were witnesses at this wedding.
Hannah does not seem very lucky as she was a widow again within a year. In the 1871 Census she was a widow living at 9 Holmside, Bishopwearmouth with her sister Matilda Ann Brown, a music teacher and they had a domestic servant. Then in the 1881 Census Hannah Taylor widow and dressmaker was living in Suffolk Street Bishop-wearmouth and with her was her sister Matilda Anne Brown, a music teacher and also a widow.
Two years after the 1881 Census Hannah Jane Taylor, née Bishop married her third husband James Turner Mickman, a widower, on 6 December 1883 at the parish church of St. Thomas, Sunderland. James Mickman was born about 1829 at Bradford, West Yorkshire the son of Thomas Mickman a blacksmith. James was a Master shoemaker employing 3 men and 2 boys residing in Whitby, Yorkshire in 1861. James wife Mary Jane Mickman, née Headlam, died in 1882 at Seaham Harbour, County Durham leaving him with their 6 children.
Although Hannah and James had both been married previously it would seem that this marriage was not a success as by 1891 James had moved out and was living with widow Sophia Martin calling herself Sophia Mickman, née Hogg at Station Lane, Haswell, County Durham. With them were two children from James first marriage and eight month old Alice Mickman born 10 August 1890, James and Sophia’s daughter. At the same time Hannah Jane Mickman was living at Bishopwearmouth and with her were her daughter Jane Mary Hume and Jane’s two sons Harry Harker Hume and Arthur Hume. James Turner Mickman was still living at Haswell in 1901 with Sophia but died later that year aged 72 of senile decay and exhaustion on 1 December. Hannah Jane Mickman died three years later of bronchitis at 70 Hendon Street, Sunderland aged 79 on 22 December 1904 with her daughter Jane Mary in attendance.
97. Old shop fronts in Trafalgar Road, East Greenwich
Matilda Anne Bishop, the third daughter of John and Sarah was born the 9 April 1827 at Brewhouse Lane Greenwich and baptised 7 May 1827 at St. Alphege Church Greenwich. She married John Brown at St. Alphege on 29 November 1851 by licence. John Brown was the son of Stephen (a mail coachman) and Elizabeth Brown and also brother of Helen Brown who married Matilda’s brother Samuel James Bishop. Matilda’s father John and her sister Jane were again witnesses at this marriage.
In the 1861 Census John a Mariner and Matilda were living at No.9 Guildford Road, Greenwich with no children. In 1881 she was a widow living with her sister Hannah (as mentioned above). Matilda Anne Brown died aged 61 on 8 February 1889 at 10 Maritime Place, Sunderland – her niece Jane Mary Hume of 23 Wall Street Sunderland was the informant. Jane Mary Harker married Henry Hume on 7 November 1870 at the Register Office, Tynemouth.
Ellen Elizabeth Bishop was born at Woodwharf, Greenwich and baptised the same day on 19 June 1826 daughter of Joseph Bishop, a sail-maker, and Elizabeth Holmes. Ellen probably assisted her father and later her brother William in making sails as she was described by her brother William as formerly a sail-maker at her death. She also did dressmaker in 1881 when she was living at 15 Clarence Street, Greenwich with her niece Elizabeth Thomas living with her as a milliner. Ellen moved into 18 Jubilee Almshouses on the Greenwich Road where she lived from at least 1891 until shortly before her death on 21 December 1907, when she was taken into the Union workhouse.
98. Sails have been around from circa 3,500 BC
Sails were an early invention of mankind and have been moving ships since ancient times. In the beginning sails were made of cloth or papyrus and secured to the mast on a ship to catch the wind and propel the craft through the water. The dimensions and taper of the cloth varied from ship to ship. There is evidence to support that the sail originated in both Egypt and Indonesia at around 3,500 BC. Sail-making has been around as long as sails themselves have. In the mid-1400s the Western Europeans used square and lanteen sails combined with a deep-hull and stern-hung rudder to produce the deep hulled carrack. This was a major advance in naval exploration because the ship was the first to make long voyages without stopping. This lead to voyages of discovery like Columbus in 1492.
Elizabeth Ann Bishop the daughter of Joseph Bishop and Elizabeth Holmes was baptised on 19 October 1828 at St. Alphege church Greenwich, but was usually known as Ann Bishop.
On 10 January 1857 Elizabeth Ann was married by Banns to Frederick Thomas at St. Mary’s Church Lewisham, Kent. Frederick Thomas was born 19 August 1828 at Greenwich the son of Edmund Thomas and Sophia (née Waters). Frederick was a boat builder like his father.
Frederick and Elizabeth Ann had three children:-
Elizabeth b. 18 Dec 1857 Horseferry Road, Greenwich
Joseph b. 12 Dec 1859 22 George St, Greenwich
m1. 4 Dec 1881 Harriet Emma Wallington at Fulham
m2. 6 Apr 1890 Elizabeth Emma Rayner at Chiswick
Maud Mary Ellen b. 9 Jan 1862 Horseferry Road, Greenwich
m. 13 Jan 1889 William James Swift at Brentford
In 1871 Frederick Thomas, a boat-builder, Elizabeth Ann and their three children were living at 7 Horseferry Road, West Greenwich. They were living at the same address as Elizabeth Ann’s brother William Bishop a sail maker, but two separate households. Frederick’s father Edmund had been living at Woodwharf.
99. Joseph Thomas, a barge-builder, and his second wife Elizabeth Emma Rayner
Woodwharf must have been where father and son carried on their boat-building business. Woodwharf is almost a continuation of Brewhouse Lane and parallel to the river (only Billingsgate Dock separating the two). Horseferry Road a continuation of Woodwharf but instead of parallel to the river ran directly from inland onto the sandy foreshore so that regardless of the state of the tide a horse and carriage could be driven onto the ferry boat. There had been ferries from Greenwich to the Isle of Dogs from the earliest times. Pepys’ diary mentioned that there was a ferry at Greenwich capable of transferring horses and carriages across the Thames. In 1812 an Act of Parliament was passed creating a statutory ferry for horses and vehicles but this was closed by Act in 1883. Five years later saw the opening of by far the most ambitious and mechanically daring ferry operation system ever to be seen on the River Thames, with the use of steam driven landing stage and traveling platform. The ferries themselves were technologically very advanced being double-ended with steam driven twin screws at each end. However it was never a commercial success due to insufficient traffic and closed for good in 1899.
100. Sailing barges of the River Thames
The history of Greenwich and the lives of the people of Greenwich have been inextricably bound to the river and the movement of people and goods up, down and across the river. By far the greatest number of boats plying trade on the Thames would be small craft less than 35ft: cutters, gigs, lighters, wherries, and small fishing boats. The small section of tidal foreshore at Woodwharf was naturally suited to the building, repair and maintenance of such river craft with a particularly firm and shallow sloping foreshore and an area least prone to silting. Craft of this type required no slip to be launched being built as close to the river as possible, preferably under cover and manhandled to the waters edge. Barge building – once a most important trade in Greenwich – had been in decline since the beginning of the 20th century. Today No 32 Woodwharf is the site of the last traditional barge repair workshop on the Thames. Sadly the company of Pope and Bond went into voluntary liquidation during the summer of 1996.
Elizabeth Ann Thomas died on 5 August 1875 at No1 Horseferry Road, Greenwich aged 47, of Bright’s disease, a chronic inflammation of the kidneys (6 months) and had been in a coma for two days.
In the 1881 census Frederick, a boat builder, had moved to No 40 Green Dragon Lane, Ealing (for some reason some distance from the Thames) with son Joseph a carpenter and daughter Maud. His eldest daughter Elizabeth was a milliner who remained at Greenwich living with her maiden aunt Ellen Elizabeth Bishop a dressmaker of 15 Clarence Street Greenwich.
In 1891 Frederick was back by the Thames at 26 Spring Grove, Strand, Chiswick (this is Strand on the Green), whilst son Joseph then a boat-builder remained at Green Dragon Lane, Ealing. Spring Grove and Strand on the Green (riverside) are right beside Kew Bridge, and just over the bridge is wonderful Kew Gardens – must have been a wonderful spot for a boat builder to live. He must have been building much smaller craft so far up the River Thames.
Frederick Thomas died at 26 Spring Grove of Purpura (a blood disease) on the 9 July 1894 at the age of 65 – his daughter Maud Mary Ellen Swift was present at his death.
101. Craft on the Thames at Kew Bridge
