I’m continuing the progress of my Great Grandfather from his home town of Towcester in Northamptonshire, to London.
John Thomas Wilcox arrived in London by 1871. I have previously traced him in the 1861 Census return. He was 9 years old and living in a house in Lake Lane, Towcester. Like many streets and lanes across Britain, it no longer exists and was probably renamed or built over and new roads were created. In the Lake Lane house, with his parents, were also John Thomas’s siblings: William 7, Anne 7 (twins ?), Elizabeth 4, Sarah 6 months.
So, by the time of the next Census in 1871, John Thomas has moved to London. The distance from Towcester is a little over 70 miles. At this time in history there would have been a fairly well established railway system and still developing. Towcester railway line was connected to the London Birmingham line and I can imagine John Thomas leaving home and having only a short journey down to London. The Towcester line closed in 1952 and the station was demolished. It is now the site of a car showroom and a supermarket.
London in 1870 was teeming with industry and a population explosion that created a boost to the house building market. The associated trades would be calling out for workers. In 1871 John Thomas has moved into the house of his Uncle James Wilcox 45, also born in Towcester, and therefore the brother of Thomas Wilcox. James is a Decorator and he is living in 4 Golborne Road. Their building has long gone and most of this part of Golborne Road has been redeveloped. Number 4 has become a large Childrens’ Centre. This road was close to Portobello Road, an area of London that my Great Grandfather would have been closely connected to as well as his moves to and from Acton during his life.
This part of London was a bustling and thriving community with properties of all sizes and functions. Decorators would have been in high demand, albeit at the bottom of the trades income bracket. James was married to Mary Ann. She was aged 40 and born in Gloucester. Also in the house, apart from my Great Grandfather, who is aged 19, a Decorator, are James and Mary’s children. A daughter, Lenna 19 who is a Dressmaker. A son, James 16, also a Decorator. From a thriving market town in the country to the bustling noisy metropolis. This would have been an interesting move for John Thomas at this age.
I can trace John Thomas’s next step when he is married to Lenna Wilcox. Now, you may think that my Great Grandfather has married his cousin (german) but in closer inspection of the Census return of 1871 and the marriage certificate, I can see that Lenna was born in Gloucester and on her marriage certificate I can see that her real name is Lenna Drew. She described her father as deceased and he is described as a Gentleman, a man of independent means.
They were married in All Saints Church, Kensington and they give their address as 12 Tavistock Crescent, not far away from Golborne Road. This Crescent is now completely redeveloped and very few of the original buildings exist. All Saints Church is a fine looking church. The original architect was assisted by Sir George Gilbert Scott.
So, my Great Grandfather has married his Aunt’s daughter from a previous relationship. Lenna Drew was baptised in 1852 in Westbury on Severn, Gloucester. The only name on the register is her mother, Mary Drew, and she is described as a Single Woman.
What we can deduce from the three records available is that Lenna and her mother have met James Wilcox and are now a family. Mary has married James but Lenna, in the 1871 Census return, was listed as Wilcox if only to show that they are a family. At their wedding, Lenna confirms her real name. Lenna then reveals in the marriage register that her father is William Drew.
Between 1872 and 1891 my Great Grandparents have moved to Spenser Road, a leafy lane in Acton that they would still recognise today. They now have four children: Ethel 7, Herbert 6, Lillian 3 and Sydney 9 months. Also living with them is Robert Platt, John Thomas’s cousin from Northamptonshire, aged 20 and he is described as a Paperhanger. Presumably he is working with or for his cousin.
My Great Grandparents and their children were an extraordinary family with exciting and intriguing life stories. In all, they had 12 children, two who died at a very young age. In the coming months I shall be tracing the lives of the Wilcox dynasty in London, Yorkshire and especially in Wales.