james riches robinson of thornham magnawant an

[caroltarr]

James Riches Robinson 1861-1935,  my g.g,uncle worked as a footman/valet for the Duke of Northumberlands family 1870s-1880s, then butler for Ellen Willmott, in Warley from 1900 till death.  Any more information out there?

[ColC]

Not sure what exactly you are looking for, he was as you noted and appears on the census records,
A couple of which are below.

1891  Street, Thornham Magna, Hartismere, Suffolk
John   Robinson   Head   Married           70   1821   Farmer Thornham, Suffolk
Rose Ann   Robinson   Wife   Married   59   1832   -   Braiseworth, Suffolk,
James   Robinson   Son   Single   29   1862   Valet Domestic Servant Thornham, Suffolk
Walter   Robinson   Son   Single   17   1874   Agricultural Labourer   Thornham, Suffolk
Bessie   Robinson   Daughter   -   15   1876   -   Thornham, Suffolk

1901 Warley Street, Great Warley, Romford, Essex
James R   Robinson   Head   Married   39   1862   Butler (Domestic)   Thornham, Suffolk
Elizabeth   Robinson   Wife   Married   37   1864   -   Mercaston, Derbyshire
James R   Robinson   Son   -             0   1901   -   Great Warley, Essex

Colin

[hanes teulu]

A very, very warm welcome to Rootschat.

Regarding his employer, Ellen Willmott, I think this may be her -
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellen-Willmott

Cannot post details of the 1911 Census (policy) but on the 1901 Census -

Details removed (see prev post) but address is "Great Warley" 

[caroltarr]

I have all the relevant census information, plus his bmd details, his marriage to Elizabeth took place from the Northumberlands residence in London, she also worked for them.  What I want to find out is if he was butler in the Northumberland family, as he applied for position of butler to Mrs Warley, all the info relating to her is in a book about her life

[hanes teulu]

If you have his marriage certificate (he appears to have married before changing situations) what is the occupation on the certificate?



 

[caroltarr]

I have his marriage cert, 31.3.1894 at St Georges Hanover Square. Elixabeth was at 64 Curzon st, he was by then butler to Miss Willmott and his address is Warley Place Essex.  In the book about her, "Miss Willmott of Warley Place" it describes how she received his letter of application as her butler on Alnwick Castle notepaper.  In 1891 he was described as valet, and was visiting his family in Thornham Magna. My Mum always said he'd been butler to the Duke of Northumberland but family stories are awash with chinese whispers!  I'd just like to know what he was doing between 1891-4.

[ColC]

Syon House, and its 200-acre park, is in west London, historically within the parish of Isleworth, in the county of Middlesex. It belongs to the Duke of Northumberland and is now his family's London residence. The family's traditional central London residence was Northumberland House. Demolished 1874.


Algernon George Percy, 6th Duke of Northumberland, KG, PC (20 May 1810 – 2 January 1899)


1881 Merrow Grange, Merrow, Guildford, Surrey

Algernon M A   Percy   Head   Married   Male   29   1852   -   Albury, Surrey, England
Victoria F C   Percy   Wife   Married   Female   21   1860   -   Hertfordshire, England

9 other servants plus below

Elizabeth   Harris   Servant   Single   Female   20   1861   Housemaid   Millbrook, Cornwall
James   Robinson   Servant   Single   Male   19   1862   Footman   Suffolk, England

Colin

[caroltarr]

I do recall Mum saying that he used to work at Syon House, it's just the few missing years I don't know about, Alnwick Castle archives might have something but that involves considerable oulay of money to find out!

[hanes teulu]

James' employer on the 1881 Census was Algernon Malcolm Arthur Percy, 2nd son of the 6th Duke of Northumberland.

The 6th Dukes' butler and under butler in 1881 were John Norris and John East respectively. The Duke' butler in 1891 was Philip Roe.

Ellen's Willmott's father Frederick died August 1892. His butler in 1891 was a Charles Long age 33. Perhaps Charles chose to move on rather than serve another?