Hi Greg
You were asking a particular question about how your Great Grandfather suddenly went from a House Painter in 1871 to owning tons of properties in Islington and in the 1881 Census he is a Gentleman with loads of ackers! His wife by then had left him for a Charles Maple with whom she had more children so you have even more relatives.
If you have read through the posts here one can only speculate as to where all this money came from. His father, George Barron, became a Police Superintendent, after which in the 1871 he is retired and listed as being a Shipowner. We also know from newspaper advertising that George Barron gave mortgages to people to buy properties.
So John Lancelot Crozier is George's only son - he had no other children. We know for sure that John was George's son because in the early 1850s he is living with his uncle Anthony Forster Barron, George's younger brother and this is confirmed by newspaper reports when John along with his uncle and aunt were arrested and charged with stealing. John said that Anthony was his uncle.
John and his Uncle were found not guilty but his aunt, Anthony Forster Barron's wife was imprisoned with hard labour?
So the question is, when George Barron died how much did he leave and to whom did he leave it? There was very little in the Will which was left to his wife. We may wonder where did his 'real' money go? Supposedly he was a shipowner and a person offering mortgages to people to purchase properties. Might this, as I surmise, been given to his son John for them both to prosper at some time in the future, who knows for sure?
Jessie Prudence - Her husband and eldest son, both named Edward Robert, disappear from our lives after the 1901 Census although Senior is mentioned in Electoral lists until about 1902. In the 1911 Census Jessie writes - against her sons name, 'abroad'. Have searched forever for them both but have not been able to find them. Suspect they may have gone to South America as Edward Robert senior was a butcher. If you are willing to accept this assignment, your job is to find out what actually happened to them!
Hope all is well and your father is okay. We did speak to mum a little while ago.
All best wishes R & E