RootsChat.Com
England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => London and Middlesex => Topic started by: Smokey807 on Monday 04 November 13 19:10 GMT (UK)
-
Im look for two things and would appreciate some help namely more information about the Sproston family ( especially A.J. Sproston and his wife) and what the connection is between the Sproston,Langton and Prescott families are. My inquiry relates to the crash of a plane December 24,1924 shortly after it left the Croydon Aerodrone with eight people on board,all of whom were killed when the plane burned the occupants. This accident is widely reported on in the internet and I have all the details of the crash and the following public inquiry into the accident. Among the eight dead were "George Sproston,age 76, a retired wholesale fish salesman; Mr Archibald John Sproston,age 39, motor engineer; and his wife Mrs Maria Sproston,age 23".."Mr A.J. Sproston was the uncle of Mr. Arthur Langton, and it is from the will of A. J. Sproston that Mr Langton's claim to an annuity arises". The article goes on to state that a suitcase of bones, believed to be those of the Sproston family were found on a bus in Londonin 1929 with other contents that led Scotland Yard to Mrs Prescott "who has been twice married.Her former name was Langton.Her eldest son is Mr Arthur Langton,aged about 23 of Buxton street North Adelaide,Australia.It is on her sons behalf that Mrs Prescott is in London"...." Mr Langton is a salesman at the British General Electric company in Adelaide,Australia. The articles state that the Sproston's were relatives of Mrs Prescott but I havnt figured out how she is connected to them.
Another account of the accident from "Flight" website states " the passengers were Mrs M.S. Sproston,Mr G. Sproston; Mr A,J, Sproston" and the rest are listed also. It continues " Mr A.J. Sproston was well-known in the motor industry and in motor racing circles". I checked some directories and A.J. Sproston is found in London.
I have the military records of A. J. Sproston who was a motor cycle rider in the Royal Engineers in WW I and the contents of the diary he Kept of the war is found on the internet which I have.
Also on the internet in Motorcycle publications are several references to A.J. Sproston being in motorcycle races in England in the early 1900's. I also have a UK patent of his dated May 16,1912 for a "stand for side car attachment to cycles. I also have from graces guide website a copy of an advertisement for "A.J. Sproston 18 St John's Road,Tunbridge Wells regarding the "A.J. side-car stand patent" so he must have been a resident of Tunbridge Wells then. This advert is dated September 1911 but I cannot find any census records for him in Tunbridge Wells. I found census records for his father George both in London in the early years and a 1901 census for George in Tunbridge Wells, age 53, born 1848 Stepney. He has two visitors with him and a niece Eva Sproston,age 20, born 1881 Yarmouth,Norfolk. George in that census is a fishmnonger. I have not been able to find out who George's wife is; when he was married; or any information about his son Archibald John Sproston except for probate records. Probate for him has him living at 25 Alexandra Mansions,Judd Street,Brunswick Square,Middlesex. His wifes probate ( given only as Maria Sproston) is of the same address with same date of death. The probate for George Sproston gives same date of death as the other two but he was a resident of 80 London Road,Tunbridge Wells.
I have a marriage record for Archibald John Sproston to Maria L. Bird June qtr 1924 at St Pancras,London. Cant find any information for his wife other than the probate record.
Anything you can add to this would be greatly appreciated as what I have given above is about all I have.
-
wonder if this is Archibald John in 1901 census?
1901
Bethany House School Cranbrook Kent
Archibald Sproston resident pupil 13 Yarmouth Norfolk
RG13 776 49 7
Archibald John Sproston appears on 1923 & 1924 electoral roll at 25 Queen Alexandra Mansions - no other name listed with him
There is also a medal card
Archibald J Sproston M Cy S R E Cpl 28094
Suz
-
Wonder if this is Maria??
Birth reg
Maria Louisa Bird
Dec qtr 1899
N Brierly W Riding
9b 193
You need marriage cert for father's name
Suz
-
Im look for two things and would appreciate some help namely more information about the Sproston family ( especially A.J. Sproston and his wife) and what the connection is between the Sproston,Langton and Prescott families are. My inquiry relates to the crash of a plane December 24,1924 shortly after it left the Croydon Aerodrone with eight people on board,all of whom were killed when the plane burned the occupants. This accident is widely reported on in the internet and I have all the details of the crash and the following public inquiry into the accident. Among the eight dead were "George Sproston,age 76, a retired wholesale fish salesman; Mr Archibald John Sproston,age 39, motor engineer; and his wife Mrs Maria Sproston,age 23".."Mr A.J. Sproston was the uncle of Mr. Arthur Langton, and it is from the will of A. J. Sproston that Mr Langton's claim to an annuity arises". The article goes on to state that a suitcase of bones, believed to be those of the Sproston family were found on a bus in Londonin 1929 with other contents that led Scotland Yard to Mrs Prescott "who has been twice married.Her former name was Langton.Her eldest son is Mr Arthur Langton,aged about 23 of Buxton street North Adelaide,Australia.It is on her sons behalf that Mrs Prescott is in London"...." Mr Langton is a salesman at the British General Electric company in Adelaide,Australia. The articles state that the Sproston's were relatives of Mrs Prescott but I havnt figured out how she is connected to them.
Another account of the accident from "Flight" website states " the passengers were Mrs M.S. Sproston,Mr G. Sproston; Mr A,J, Sproston" and the rest are listed also. It continues " Mr A.J. Sproston was well-known in the motor industry and in motor racing circles". I checked some directories and A.J. Sproston is found in London.
I have the military records of A. J. Sproston who was a motor cycle rider in the Royal Engineers in WW I and the contents of the diary he Kept of the war is found on the internet which I have.
I found census records for his father George both in London in the early years and a 1901 census for George in Tunbridge Wells, age 53, born 1848 Stepney. He has two visitors with him and a niece Eva Sproston,age 20, born 1881 Yarmouth,Norfolk. George in that census is a fishmnonger. I have not been able to find out who George's wife is; when he was married; or any information about his son Archibald John Sproston except for probate records.
Anything you can add to this would be greatly appreciated as what I have given above is about all I have.
there is a report in The Telegraph 23 Feb 1926 -heading "Crown and famous Motorist's Estate" "Remarkable Action in Probate Court"
A long report but basically deciding that Archibald's wife died before him as her injuries would have caused immediate death.
So because of this it reads " Mr Sproston left no widow . Mr Bird the defendant was the father of Mrs Sproston"
then it lists " Archibald John Sproston, his wife and his uncle, George Sproston.
then "Mr Archibald Sproston died intestate and was illegitimate"
So it appears George was his uncle -not his father
Suz
-
suzard -- was the action between Arthur Langton and Mr. Bird (Maria Bird Sproston's father)?
It sounds as if it was deciding whether the estate would go to Archibald's heirs or Maria's heirs.
If Archibald predeceased Maria, his estate would have gone to her in the moments before her death, and then to her heirs.
If Maria predeceased Archibald, then her estate would have gone to him in the moments before his death - as the court seems to have decided - and then to his heirs.
Whichever one predeceased would have left no estate for his/her heirs, as presumably each left his/her estate to his/her spouse.
So it sounds like that was what was happening -- and Arthur was claiming through Archibald? For Archibald to be his uncle, either Archibald had a brother with the surname Langton, or he had a sister who married a Langton (or had a child with the surname Langton) ... Essentially, Mrs. Prescott would have to be Archibald's sister, or the wife/widow of his brother.
Smokey, it could help if we know the source of your query. You are related to somebody in this tale? ;) Knowing who, and what else you know about them, could be useful info.
- edit - I'm just going to leave all this here, since it took me so long ...
The surname LANGTON doesn't seem to appear in any BMD event in South Australia:
http://www.genealogysa.org.au/resources/online-databases.html
If Arthur Langton was about 23 in 1929, he was born about 1906. There is a death notice shown in the Ryerson Index
http://ryersonindex.net/search.php
for LANGTON Arthur Morgan (Sharks) aged 50 in 1958. Arthur Morgan Langton was born in 1908 in Chipping Norton. He married Frances Lillian Powell in Auburn NSW in 1939.
http://www.bdm.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/Index/IndexingOrder.cgi/search?event=marriages
I would think the likelihood of there being two Arthur Langtons about the same age in Australia around then was low. His parents were Arthur and Rose. The family travelled to Sydney in 1912. His 1958 death record shows his parents as Arthur Decimus and Rose Mary.
http://www.bdm.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/Index/IndexingOrder.cgi/search?event=births
Father Arthur died in 1928. Mother Rose died in 1929 (just too early to be on available electoral rolls). Rose's death record gives her parents as Samuel and Harriet. These dates could all just fit -- except that mother Rose was still a Langton. Perhaps not officially remarried?
Arthur Decimus Langton and Rose Mary S Betteridge married in 1899. Rose was born in Chipping Norton in 1875. It would be nice to know what her "S" stood for. Her mother Harriet says she is a widow in 1871 and 1881 ... but in 1881 she has a couple more kids than in 1871. ;) There's no obvious Samuel Betteridge to fit.
In 1930 there are two Arthur Langtons in Australia: the one discussed above in Reid NSW, and Arthur Langton in East Sydney NSW. In 1936, an Arthur Douglas Langton appears in Queensland. These are the only candidates. There is no Arthur or Rose Langton before 1930 -- which is perhaps a good indication that they were in South Australia before that: SA is not included in the electoral roll database at Anc'y; this would match perfectly with the newspaper report saying Arthur was in Adelaide in 1929 (but note that NSW is covered only from 1930 anyway).
This Arthur's sisters probably married:
Dorothy M to Lawrence Post, 1931 Auburn
Edith M to Harold P Blackett, 1922 Auburn (died 1961)
If I'm unlucky, Arthur Langton is the person you know all about. If not, this seems to be a good working theory as to his identity -- but so far no connection with Archibald John Sproston!!
And what was that "(Sharks)" in Arthur's name when he died? ??? -- Ah, just a nickname; many of the death notices show them (Dot for Dorothy, etc.)
just adding:
http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/16576072?searchTerm=%20%22rose%20mary%20langton%22&searchLimits=
ROSE MARY LANGTON, late of Auburn New South Wales Widow, died 31st May. 1929, Intestate Administration granted to the Public Trustee on 13th August 1929.
(edit - corrected - I had copied the machine transcription of the article which said she died 1919, when it was actually 1929 -- which is apparently too early for her to be the subject of the November 1929 newspaper article about the bones)
and now .........
This is the article about Arthur Langton's claim to AJ Sproston's estate quoted in the OP:
http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/53438293
(it really helps to have the sources)
It gives her name. MRS. EVA PRESCOTT.
Yup, the things one should do before setting out ... checking that all the available info is available ...
Which kind of matches up with EVA SPROSTON, unmarried niece of George Sproston in 1901.
Of course, there is no birth of an Eva Sproston (c1881), and still no marriage of a Langton to an Eva/Sproston or a Prescott to a Langton that fits ...
btw, this is Archibald in 1911:
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XWDG-K11
in Tunbridge Wells, place of birth stated as Hampstead -- mistranscribed there as Archibald S Morton, and elsewhere as Spwoston.
-
Note that George Sproston is shown as single in 1901.
then it lists " Archibald John Sproston, his wife and his uncle, George Sproston.
then "Mr Archibald Sproston died intestate and was illegitimate"
So it appears George was his uncle -not his father
Actually, my suspicion might be that George was the father of both Eva and Archibald, but their births were registered under their mother's/mothers' surname(s) (since they don't seem to have been registered as Sproston!).
However, in 1891 he is rather oddly referred to as married, with no wife present, and unmarried older sisters Catherine and Mary Ellen in the household.
In 1851 and 1861 he is with his parents in Stepney. Would be nice to spot him in 1871 and 1881. Ah, in 1881, Anc'y has him as Sprooton, with mother and sisters in Islington. Nowhere near Yarmouth, where both Eva and Archibald seem to have been born. And his sisters are all a little old to have been having sprogs in 1881 let alone 1894. In 1861 they are all 17 or older, plus a couple of brothers aged 20.
-
In the newspaper report I posted no mention of Arthur Langton
I was wondering if Eva was illegit too
Think may have found the Langtons
26 July 1912
ship: Rangatira
left London
for Sydney Australia
Arthur Langton 37 Farmer
Mrs Langton 35 wife
Edith Langton 9
Arthur langton 4
Dorothy Langton 2
intended place of permanent residence: Australia
they appear on UK 1911 census -you can search the index free
Think this is the marriage of young Arthur's parents
Arthur Decimus Langton
Rose Mary S Betteridge (wonder if the S = Sproston???)
Sept qtr 1899
Chipping Norton
3a 1949
Suz
-
That is the family I already posted reams of information about -- which does not seem to be the right family, since Arthur's mother is called Eva in the newspaper report about the bones ... and Rose Mary Langton died several months before the date of that article.
I noted above:
This is the article about Arthur Langton's claim to AJ Sproston's estate quoted in the OP:
http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/53438293
It gives her name. MRS. EVA PRESCOTT (and describes her husband as a St. Peter's College master).
The coincidences between the two -- Arthur with parents Rose and Arthur, and the Arthur in the newspaper article -- are indeed striking. But Eva?
This is another family I had a look at and hadn't posted yet while still mulling ...
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XW6Q-66L
Arthur Langton, aged 1, in Birchington, Kent (too young, really)
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XW6Q-662
Eva Langton, aged 27, in Birchington, Kent
You need to check the full household details at another site, which I can't give here (except to say, note that the transcriptions of marital status and birthplaces are completely wrong where I'm looking, and there's an interesting spare child in the household whose surname might not be what it says).
The marriage is Laurence Victor Langton + Eva Ellen Vatcher, 1903 Christchurch.
She was born in Christchurch in 1881. Not a good fit for anything except the age of Eva Sproston in 1901, and the names of child Arthur with mother Eva ... and that couple is together in the 1911 census with the same child, so maybe there was double enumeration.
Lawrence L V Langton who died in Wandsworth aged 36 in 1919 would be a match for that Laurence, and for an 1882 Laurence Langton birth in Pancras in 1882.
-
Thank you all for the time you have spent researching and replying to my inquiry. After reviewing your feedback , checking my own initial research, and taking what you have given and doing some more digging I have come up with the following hypothesis.Although there are still some loose ends and a few facts to determine I bring the following information to your attention as it may be useful to you.
Firsty thanks for the 1911 census record that puts Archibald J (John) Sproston (given as you noted as SPWOSTON)in Tunbridge Wells. He is a visitor at the Bridge Hotel,age20,single with no occupation shown but given as born 1891 Hampstead,Middlesex. So it is now known that he was a resident of Tunbridge Wells from at least 1911 to 1918 (1918 advert for his motorcycle patent with him at 18 St Johns Rd T. Wells).
As pointed out by you and from my prior research Archibald does not appear in any census record with his supposed father being George which in itself is very strange. Also census records for George show him variousy as single and married but at no point in time does he appear with his wife or any children and no marriage record has been found for him. Despite the newspaper accounts relating to the 1924 air disaster where George is reported to he Archibalds father this claim has not been supported by our collective research which led to the preliminary conclusion that perhaps George was not his father and that Archibald was the son of one of George's brothers. So I rechecked my file and found from the 1851 census taken at 32 Princess St. in Stepney,Middlesex William Spronston born 1894 Warwickshire with wife Catherine Elizabeth and their 9 children. Of the nine there are four brothers all born in Stepney namely George 1848; James 1841; John 1841; and William 1838. From baptism records I found James 1843; John 1843 and with this I researched each of them to see if I could find any with a son Arthur and possible a daughter Eva (who was given as the niece of George in the 1901 Tunbridge Wells census where she is given as age 20,single, born Yarmouth,Norfolk).
From this I looked for Yarmouth,Norfolk on Ancestry and found only Yarmouth, Hampshire (Hampshire is where A.J.Sproston) said he was born in the 1911 census so this led me to believe that Eva was Archibalds sister with Eva born abt 1881 and Archibald (based on the crash article) born 1885 (1924-age 39).
George's brother John married Mary Ann Nelson 1886 at Hackney St John.I find John and his wife only in the 1871 census at Hackney; in the 1881 census without children at Hackeney and then a death record for John Sproston in 1886.His probate refers to his brother George as one of the executors.A family tree notes that John and his wife only had a daughter Mary Ann in 1872 so I ruled him out as being the father of Archibald and Eva.
Next I looked at Georges Brother James,who I think might be a possibility because I find him in the 1871 census, at Yarmouth,Nelson,Norfolk age 30,single,lodger a fish merchant (note reference to Eva born 1881 Yarmouth,Norfolk I gave above). Did not find any mention of Archibald however and for some unknown reason could not find any more records for James after the 1871 census. Perhaps you could take a look and find out what happened to him and if he had any family.
Last was George's older brother William who started out very promising as he had a daughter Eva but no son Archibald and Eva was born in 1876 Cleethorpes,Lincolnshire. So I had to rule this family unit out. He did have a son Arthur born 1886,same place as Eva, but not Archibald, however what interested me about his son Arthur is that in the 1901 census at Lincolnshire, Arthur is a mechanical engineer, something a motor engineer (that Archibald was) might be.
I checked to see if Eva Sproston ever married a Langton but like you found no record but I have a feeling that she is the same woman as Eva Prescott mother of eldest son Arthur Langton. I have sent an email to the St Peters College in Adelaide to look for Eva Prescott's husband in their records as school master in 1929 era. If and when I get a reply I will post what they tell me. I did find a passenger record for a Arthur Wellesley Langton born 1910 departing London June 9,1929 destined for Adelaide Australia but his occupation was given as farming.He might not be the right Arthur Langton for as you saw he was a salesman for the British Electric Company in Adelaide in 1929 and I did find an advertisement in 'The Advertiser' Adelaide Sept 27,1928 for the British Electric Company which shows then selling home appliances and so Albert was an appliance salesman.
I will leave off her now and see what your reply is.
-
Forgot to mention that I am also waiting for a reply from the London Central Library for an obituary pertaining to Archibald John Sproston and have asked for obits for the other family members as well. Im hoping the obit, if there is one, will add some new information and clear up the family relation.
-
Sprostons in Yarmouth Norfolk ...
Widowed Lavinia Sproston is in the 1901, mistranscribed as Louisa at Anc'y, with daughters Constance 13, Florence 9 and Annie 4, in Great Yarmouth, all born there. See also in 1911. She was 38 in 1901 (born c1862-3) and so could be the mother of Eva born c1881. There is no identifiable marriage of a Sproston to a Lavinia to fit; in case of mistranscriptions by FreeBMD, there are no Sproston marriages in Norfolk before Constance marries in 1908. Lavinia H Sproston died in Newcastle in early 1924 at age 62.
There is no birth for the Constance Mary S Sproston who married in 1908 in Yarmouth.
Nor is there a birth for daughter Florence c1891-2, but Florence S Sproston married in Yarmouth in 1915.
There is also no birth for Annie Sproston c1896-7.
Might there be a series of births, including an Eva, with the same surname, possibly starting with S, to match all these daughters?
Constance Mary S Westgate was born in 1887 in Yarmouth.
Florence Stanley Westgate was born in Yarmouth in 1892.
No Annie ... but
Eva Stanley Westgate was born in March quarter 1882 in Yarmouth.
Lavinia Harriet Westgate was born in 1865 in Yarmouth.
Archibald Stanley Westgate was born in Yarmouth in December quarter 1885.
I think we have found Eva and Archibald.
Now -- why they were all called Sproston ... ;) One would think the father's surname was Stanley, since it recurs as a given name among the children.
(A Lavinia Harriet Leese married a Henry Sproston in 1874 in Wolstanton and is in Audley in 1881, and seems to be mere coincidence.)
I can't find Lavinia / the children in 1871, 1881 or 1891, so far.
-
And here we are in 1891 in Great Yarmouth
James Stanley 42 - agent, born Stepney
V Stanley 29 - born Yarmouth
Eva Stanley 9
John Stanley 7
Arch Stanley 5
Connie Stanley 3
An Arthur John Westgate was born in Steyning reg dist in 1904, and I don't see him anywhere after that.
An Arthur J Westgate aged 64 (c1884-5) died in Yarmouth in early 1949; I wonder whether he was the John in the 1891 household.
-
Thanks for looking at Spronston's of Yarmouth. I am unclear of the connection you make of Lavinia with the family I am researching. Are you suggesting that Lavinia was the wife of George's brother James born 1843 Stepney who disappears after the 1871 census. There are no brothers called Henry Sproston that I could find.Your research shows that Lavinia was born 1862-3, quite young to be James wife. I see you have her married to James Stanley and that among her children are an Eva Stanley and an Archibald Stanley with birth places and years of birth that coincide fairly well to the Eva and Archibald I am looking for. Are you suggesting that Lavinia's husband James died and that Lavinia married James Spronston who adopted her children and renamed them Spronston? But how does the surname of Westgate fit in. I see the connection you have made between the use of the Westgate name to the Stanley name regarding the children but Im not sure if we are on the right track or off on a tangent here . Please clarify.
Something else to consider is that we have already established a physical connection to Tunbridge Wells of George who has a fishmongers shop in the town in 1901 with an Archibald John Sproston from the 1911 T. Wells census and 1918 patent advertisment. And from the 1901 T. Wells census we find Eva Sproston (niece) living with George the fishmonger, with both Archibald and Eva giving birth places of Yarmough,Norfolk/Hampshire. It seems to me that the presence of Archibald and Eva in Tunbridge Wells perhaps suggests that their father had died and that George was looking out for them. The fact that Archibald was travelling with George from London to Paris when the plane crashed in 1924 is another indication of their closeness. Any comments on this?
We still need to make a clear connection between George and his brothers to Eva and Archibald, as I don't quite see it yet.
-
I was thinking that obtaining the will of Archibald John Sproston might be useful in seeing not only the distribution of his estate ,but more importantly to me, how his relatives/beneficiaries are identified in the will and what relation they are to him. I havnt tried getting wills before but I see that wills before 1858 can be seen online but it appears after that date I would have to order the will for a fee from the London Probate Dept. Is this correct?
Does anyone know of a "free" online source for a will pertaining to a 1924 death and probate in London?
-
Smokey, I have no idea how Eva and Archibald Westgate, evidently the children of Lavinia Westgate and James Stanley, came to be called Sproston. (btw, Lavinia Westgate and James Stanley were not married -- which is why her children's births were registered as Westgate, several of them with Stanley as a given name, a common indication that the parents were unmarried, the surname as given name indicating the father. I have so far been unable to find any other trace of James Stanley. Lavinia calling herself a widow after 1891 could simply be a public representation meant to provide respectability, when actually she and her children's father, or she and a subsequent partner, were simply estranged.)
I just think that there can be little doubt that they ARE Eva Sproston and Archibald Sproston in the 1901 census.
Sometimes it simply does no good to search for names when people simply changed their names at will, for a whole variety of reasons. Looking for the people is what has to be done -- their personal characteristics: usually their given names regardless of surname, their dates and places of birth, relationships among them: e.g., here, an Eva and an Archibald, born in the right place at the right time -- who are sister and brother. The one pair is born in the 1880s and is present in the 1891 census and then disappears from all records; the other pair emerges full-blown from nowhere in the 1901 census. This is simply too much coincidence; that combination is unique in the records to these two pairs, which are virtually necessarily the same people.
Eva and Archibald Westgate may have been related to George Sproston somehow, or he may have had some other reason for, perhaps, making them his heirs / having them adopt his surname. So far I have no idea how Lavinia and her children came to be calling themselves Sproston sometime between the birth of youngest child Annie and the 1901 census.
Meanwhile, I agree that all the approaches you are considering are worthwhile.
Again, I think it would really help us if you could explain a little of your interest in whoever it is here -- there is always a reason for an investigation like this, usually a connection with one or another person in the saga. You don't have to if you prefer not to, of course! but it might help to know what it is that is actually known about at least one person involved.
edit - have a look here:
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=666303.msg5118285#msg5118285
I was just explaining to someone else how I figured out who my gr-grfather really was -- after discovering he did not exist before his 1883 marriage in London when he was already in his 30s. It turned out his surname (which has been passed on to his grx3 grandchildren at this point) was fake. One of the coincidences that helped me figure it out was finding that he had a sister who also adopted the fake name, which helped to identify the real family: Edward and Alice Moonwalk (as I call them in that post) who were formerly Edward and Alice Smith, each pair born in the same places and at the same times as the other, and each pair with a father whose given name was the same as the other's. Very similar to the Westgate/Sprostons in this tale!
-
From this I looked for Yarmouth,Norfolk on Ancestry and found only Yarmouth, Hampshire (Hampshire is where A.J.Sproston) said he was born in the 1911 census so this led me to believe that Eva was Archibalds sister with Eva born abt 1881 and Archibald (based on the crash article) born 1885 (1924-age 39).
I'm not understanding this bit -- Archibald's stated place of birth was Hampstead, not Hampshire. (And I think that was probably just him putting on airs -- Hampstead is a ritzy part of London -- or someone else reporting his info inaccurately; I think his age should be read as 30, also; it seems likely that the hotellier assumed some of this info.) There is a Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight, off Hampshire (with a population of about 600 around the year 1900), but I don't think that, or Hampshire, comes into anything here at all.
Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, is a major population centre in Norfolk.
-
Are you suggesting that Lavinia was the wife of George's brother James born 1843 Stepney who disappears after the 1871 census.
I hadn't focused on this bit -- and indeed, it seems quite possible that James Stanley, of whom I can find no other trace, is James Sproston under a new name.
You are really placing too much store in formalities here -- people cohabited without marrying, people took on their partners' children without adopting them (which in fact was not possible before 1928 anyway), people changed their names when the whim took them (and women adopted the surnames of their partners), people added to or subtracted from their ages depending on their mood, or the ages of their partners, for instance.
Kind of as they do today!
Yes, James Stanley in 1891 was a good deal older than Lavinia Westgate -- it being far from uncommon at the time, as it had long been and still is, for older men to take up with younger women. But it could be a reason why, if he was James Sproston, he minimized his age somewhat: making himself 42 rather than the 50 he really was (his birth was actually registered in 1840 in Stepney?).
And well whaddaya know: a James Sproston aged 59 died in Yarmouth in June quarter 1900.
He is a perfect match for George's brother, and there he is dying in Yarmouth.
So I think you solved that puzzle after all! James Stanley was James Sproston.
I eventually found why my gr-grfather changed his name, when another gr-grchild of his reported what his mother had known: that he took unilateral leave of the British military as a young man after five years in India rather than be sent to Afghanistan. The timing coincided perfectly with what I had figured out years before: he disappeared in 1873, and the Second Anglo-Afgan war started in 1878. So I had the reason for the name change, just not the reason for the name.
You need a reason for both James Sproston's name change and the name chosen. What we do have now is that we have identified Eva and Archibald, and have a good working hypothesis for how they came by the name Sproston:
Their father was James Sproston, going by the name James Stanley, and cohabiting with but not married to Lavinia Westgate.
Since the children all got the surname Stanley in their names, and apparently went by that surname, one wonders whether Lavinia was aware of the name shift on James's part before his death.
-
http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/27218/pages/4880
Re JAMES SPROSTON, Deceased. ...
NOTICE is hereby given, that all creditors and other persons having any claims or demands against the estate of James Sproston, late of Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, Fish Merchant, deceased (who died on the 31st day of May, 1900, intestate, and letters of administration to whose estate were granted by the Norwich District Probate Registry on the 13th day of July, 1900, to George Sproston, the natural and lawful brother and one of the next-of-kin) are required ...
So George was the administrator of his brother James's estate, and took care of James's children, including Eva and Archibald.
Also, here is the notice published regarding claims against Archibald John Sproston's estate in 1927:
http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/33334/pages/7789
-
I think Lavinia Westgate is in the 1881 census as Elvina Westgate in Great Yarmouth, aged 17. You may have the same thoughts as me ...
In Row 29, in the household of a married pipemaker with no wife present and a 27-yr-old dressmaker daughter, Elvina is one of six young unmarried women aged 17 to 25 described as lodgers, with "no occupation". Either they were very well off young women who were all just lodging away from home for some reason, or ...
There are several young unmarried women lodging next door as well, but they are all assigned occupations (charwoman, factory hand). There is a 25-yr-old woman with no occupation with a fisherman lodger, and another 29-yr-old married woman head of household with no occupation (her husband could have been on vessels, but ordinarily she would be described as wife in that case) and an unmarried young woman lodger with no occupation. There are also fishermen and fish hawkers in many of the neighbouring households. And a pair of matchmakers, father and son, which I find rather ... odd. ;) Oh yikes, I get it: they actually made the things you use to start fires with!
I'm thinking it's a bit of a poor/red light district.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/77890412@N08/sets/72157629552952444/detail/?page=10
"This is Great Yarmouth Row 29 which has had the names Half Moon Row, Kings Head North or Queens Head North Row and Davy the Watchmaker's Row. It runs just north of The Market Tavern which was originally The Kings Head, the pub is on the right hand side in this picture at the row's SE corner. I think The Half Moon was a pub on the north side of the row. ..."
There's a drawing of Row 29 here (forgive me, I just get fascinated!):
http://www.ourgreatyarmouth.org.uk/page_id__464_path__0p44p48p.aspx
and a modern photo here:
http://urbanrowhouse.wordpress.com/tag/row-houses-in-england/
The Stanley household was at no. 6, Row 21 (George Street) in 1891.
... And you missed James Sproston in 1881 in your searching.
He is in Great Yarmouth: James SPROLSTON (you have to use wildcard searching -- or, as I did here since I knew where I was looking, and wasn't sure what surname he might be using: just search by given name and date range/place of birth only).
Age given as 35, born in London, Middlesex, fish merchant. He is a boarder in a lodging house where the other male boarders are military, and the neighbours are other military lodgers, sailors, skilled tradespeople, etc.
-
GREAT WORK EVERYONE !!!
What a tangled web it was but now we see that Archibald and Eva were siblings; their father was James Sproston who was the brother of George Sproston who took James's Sproston's children under his wing in Tunbridge Wells when James died in 1900. This of course means that the newspaper report of the air crash which stated that George was Archibalds father was incorrect(,which led to a merry chase down the wrong hole).
Thanks to your collective hard work and perseverance and my interjections and theories we got it figured out !!
Now my next step is to see how we get from Eva Sproston in 1901 census Tunbridge Wells living as the niece of George Sproston; to her as Mrs Langton (married in England or Austalia- England I would think) who had son (eldest son Arthur Langton) ;to a Mrs Eva Prescott in Adelaide,Australia the wife of Mr Prescott the master at St Peter's College, Adelaide and how/when her son Arthur ended up in Adelaide and working for the British General Electric Co. as an appliance salesman (was he born in Australia or England?).
And what I found interesting in this saga ,but probably will never learn more about, is why Eva Prescott was being blackmailed ; how her diary ended up in a suitcase of bones left on a London bus; who the blackmailer was and what became of her; and what was the final outcome of the investigation into the mystery by Scotland Yard? I think I shall contact Scotland Yard to see if they still have a file on this case and see what the outcome was for starters. Still waiting for a reply from St Peter's College in Adelaide re Mr and Mrs Prescott.
If any of you find out anything pertaining to the Eva segment of this tale please let me know so we don't duplicate our efforts. While Im checking with Scotland Yard and the College and the libraries in London and Adelaide perhaps someone could look for marriage records pertaining to Eva and a birth or baptism record for her children. I will post what I find out so you get the full storey.
To answer your question about my interest in this storey- I am not related to any of these people and so have no family connection or information about the family other that what has been found by research. Im a researcher and writer or articles for my website about the history of people etc connected to Tunbridge Wells only. Three generations of my family are from Tunbridge Wells which is why I research that town. Sometimes my inquiries establish a link between my family and the person I am researching who initially appears to have no connection. Its surprising what one finds out through research. I make no money from my ( and your) efforts. The work is all done for enjoyment and knowledge and the benefit of others interested in the history of Tunbridge Wells and all information gathered is offered free to anyone interested. The local library and the museum keep copies of the articles on my website as do other interested parties such as the Civic Society and the Tunbridge Wells Family History Society of which I am a member.When the names of contributors to the research are known I give them credit in any article written for assisting in the research. If you would like your name mentioned in the proposed Sproston article send me a personal message with the name.
-
I found three very interesting articles pertaining to the Prescott family , Mrs Eva Prescott, the blackmail case ; and the suitcase of bones. They are all from the Trove digitised website which we have found articles in before, so it was obviously a long and well reported case.All of the articles are from 1929 and all in The Register News Pictorial. The first is dated Nov. 12,1929 and is found at http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/53434946
The second and third are both in the same publication dated Nov 19th,1929. The first is on page 2 and the second on page 7. The source is http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article 53438446 .
It gives details about who the blackmail gang was and what became of them and some details as to their attempts ( successful I might add) to blackmail Mrs Eva Prescott and also the following information that might be useful in finding out more about the Prescott family.
1) Says Mrs Prescott is about age 45. (This would make her born abt 1884)
2) That he husband "IS SAID TO BE master of St Peters College ( this is contradicted later when the master of the college was contacted who said he new Mrs Prescotts husband and that her husband had been educated at Rugby)
3) Said she arrived in London from Australia June 1929 and holidayed at Yarkhill, Herfordshire. (see reference below to her husband being from Herfordshire)
4) The suitcase in addition bones and womens clothes contained the diary of Mrs Prescott and " important documents containing intimate family details". One has to wonder what secrets these documents held as Mrs Prescott and her son Arhur seem to be very secretive and ended up paying money to the gang to prevent it getting out or being used against them.
5) Mrs Prescott was in Yakhill, Herts "with the children" when the police found the suitcase. So she had children other than son Arthur.
6)She planned on returning to Australia in March (presumably March 1920)
7) Refers to a son of hers called John but I expect this should have been Arthur
8) Said the gang extorted 200 pounds from her "before the birth of a child" and that the gang had been blackmailing her for 10 years ( so that would make the start of it 1919)
9) She paid another 300 pounds to the gang "but found out later my husband was not in Cape Town". I wonder why she didn't know where her husband was.
10) Says she left England for Australia after these blackmail's but the gang followed her. Was she escaping to Australia to get away from the blackmail or what was the real reason? Rather strange!
11) The article with details about the gang says Josephine O"Dare the head of the gang was from Withington, Herforshire.The Police said Josephine "is a member of a Hertforshire family living close to the Prescotts and would have known Mrs Prescott since childhood. Josephine was an assumed name and was born as Teresa Agnes Syrne, the daughter of a farm labourer and she was age 18 when she moved to London in 1921. So it sounds like Mrs Prescotts husband was from a Hertfordshire family of Prescotts.
I contacted Scotland Yard. Waiing for their reply.I will now check to see if I can find a census record for Teresa Syrne and perhaps from that I might find a Prescott family that connects to this storey.
-
Corrections; Im all thumbs today. Item 5 should be Yarkhill not Yakhill. Item 6 should be March 1930 not 1920.
-
To SUZARD. Regarding your reply #3 you refer to a long report in The Telegraoh Feb 23,1926 . I cant find this available without purchase on the internet. Can you send me a copy of the complete article or at least answer the following question. I am aware that Archibald John Sproston died "intestate" which I took to mean he had no will and therefore I have not ordered a will. However as pointed out in other replies there is a report in a Trove article, which I have a copy of, that Mr Langtons (Eva Prescott's son Arthur) has a claim regarding a "small but worthwhile annuity".
Does the article in The Telegraph give any mention of this annuity to Arthur Langton and if so what does it say about it. I don't quite understand this annuity for if Archibald had no will specifying this annuity to Arthur what is the basis for his claim?
Any clarification would be appreciated.
-
It was determined that Maria, Archibald's wife, died before him.
Archibald, as the spouse of an intestate person, inherited her estate, if any, before he died.
Maria's heirs had no claim on her estate because it went to Archibald, and they had no claim on her estate as the heir of Archibald, i.e. on his estate (which was probably the real issue), because she predeceased him.
Archibald died intestate, i.e. without leaving a will.
The law determines who inherits an intestate person's estate -- it specifies what degree of relationship entitles a family member to what share of the estate. For instance, if the spouse predeceased the person, the estate might be divided equally among the children; if the person's parents are still alive, they might share in the estate, or get the whole thing if there were no children. If there were no parents or children, brothers and sisters might be next in line.
It seems a little odd that Eva would not be claiming in her own right rather than her son's (Archibald's nephew Arthur). From the info here so far, we can't tell what the basis of Arthur's claim was and I doubt that the newspaper article would say anything.
It's possible that Archibald named a beneficiary when he set up the annuity. (In Canada, for instance, I can do that when I set up a registered retirement savings plan: if I died while there was still money in the plan, it would go to the beneficiary and not to my estate, in the same way as life insurance.) He might well have named his nephew. In that case, I don't know why there would be any dispute, of course. So more likely the issue was just who was entitled to his estate generally, but again, I would have thought siblings before nephews.
You might want to find out what the law of intestate succession was in England at the time. Aha:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intestacy
In England and Wales the Intestacy Rules have been uniform since 1925 ...
Bad luck; the deaths were in 1924.
I'm not clear on the timing of all this, but if the report is from 1926, it might seem to relate to the claim made by Maria's father, i.e. the Langtons were disputing his claim on the basis that Maria predeceased Archibald.
-
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intestacy
In England and Wales the Intestacy Rules have been uniform since 1925 ...
This may be a reference to s184 of the Law of Property Act 1925 which created a presumption that in cases of simultaneous death the younger person survived the elder. For deaths before that came into force, as in this case, the Court had to investigate the details of the injuries and other relevant circumstances in order to make a determination as to who survived whom.
N.B. The Times' reports of the survivorship proceedings show that it was submitted to the Court that it was not just a question of who died first as between A.J. and his wife - the timing of uncle George's death was also said to be of great significance because "under the will of his uncle George, Mr A.J. Sproston was entitled, if he survived his uncle, to one-half of his residuary estate, amounting to between £4,000 and £5,000".
The situation in relation to George's will is interesting. Probate was granted on his estate of some £16,745 on 28 January 1925, but he was later treated as having died intestate as to at least part of his estate, according to a Treasury Solicitor notice in The Times of 26 March 1927 (which refers to a Court order made on 25 November 1925).
-
Aha, I had wondered whether it was really George's estate that was in issue; forgot to mention.
I would have thought that intestacy and survivorship were separate issues though.
-
I would have thought that intestacy and survivorship were separate issues though.
Separate but not necessarily unconnected. If the residuary legatee fails to survive the testator, the residue of the estate falls to be treated under the intestacy rules.
So if a hypothetical testator provides in his will "I leave £100 each to A, B and C, and the remainder of my estate to D" then if D predeceases the testator the will fails as to the residue and intestacy comes into it.
Added: oh I see what you meant - re the Wiki entry. :) Yes, that'll be a reference to the Administration of Estates Act 1925. Sorry.
-
Ah yes of course. And that would seem to be what happened with George's estate then -- if Archibald was the residuary legatee, say; but there would have had to be a finding that Archibald predeceased George, for intestacy to come into play ... George's will would be the one to look at here then, it being the only one there was anyway, apparently.
-
Ah yes of course. And that would seem to be what happened with George's estate then -- if Archibald was the residuary legatee, say; but there would have had to be a finding that Archibald predeceased George, for intestacy to come into play ... George's will would be the one to look at here then, it being the only one there was anyway, apparently.
Yes it would certainly be interesting. What particularly intrigues me is that A.J. was said to be entitled (subject to survivorship) to half of George's residuary estate. Who was entitled to the other half? If it was Eva, who was still alive, why would the residue be deemed intestate?
Added: ditto if it was Arthur Langton, or indeed William Frederick Sproston (another nephew of George, b Cleethorpes 26 Dec 1866 & died 1954, who was his executor).
Maybe just a portion of the residue fell to be treated as intestate for some reason.
-
Interestingly Lavinia also has a son James Sproston who ends up in Canada.
In 1916, in Canadian Expeditionary Force records, he cites his mother Lavinia Sproston, of 25 Jury St, Gt Yarmouth as his next-of-kin. He claims a birthdate of 21 Jan 1889 at this stage and residence at Hazenmore, Saskatchewan.
In 1954 he travels from Canada to London, giving as his UK address 25 Alexandra Mansions, Judd St - which of course had been Archibald's address when he died in 1924. Again James' birthdate is given as 21 Jan 1889. He is single, retired, permanently resident in Canada.
-
Back to trying to sort out Eva ...
There is only one Prescott in any record who looks remotely like what we know so far.
1891 in Kings Pyon, Herefordshire
Charles Warre Prescot 52 - Justice of Peace, living on own means, born Stockport Cheshire
Mary Prescot 32
Cynric P Prescot 4
Rupert W K Prescot 2
Jane Violet Prescot 6/12
with multiple servants. More children born later. Check Cynric's and Rupert's occupation in 1911.
Rupert Warre Prescot birtn reg 1889 Weobley
Married in Bristol in 1954 and died in Lewisham in 1971.
Cynric Puleston (transcribed as Fuleston) Prescot birth reg Dec 1886 Hereford reg dist
There is no further trace of Cynric in England after 1911.
Genealogy for father Charles Warre Prescot
http://www.halhed.com/t4r/getperson.php?personID=I7259&tree=tree1
(Charles's mother was born in Rugby)
"died 30 January 1922 Administration (with Will) London 28 March to Cynric Puleston Prescot captain R.C.S. Effects £18681 9s. 7d."
http://www.thepeerage.com/p31664.htm#i316639
"Brigadier Cynric Puleston Prescot graduated with a Master of Arts (M.A.).1 He was invested as a Commander, Order of the British Empire (C.B.E.).1 He was registered as a Member, Institution of Civil Engineers (M.I.C.E.)."
- shows a child but no wife
http://www.thepeerage.com/p14153.htm#i141527
- shows a different child but no wife
Googling his name finds military records and a book, "The chronicles of the Prescotts of Ayrefield. Compiled by Ernest Prescot Hill. Edited by Lieut.-Col. C. P. Prescot"
But I find no record of marriage or death (including in South Australia).
But aha, I have the wrong brother.
1925, birth of Rupert Warre Prescot, son of Rupert Warre Prescot and EVE SPROSTON, Norwood, SA.
There we are. Mr. Prescot. Who was evidently not married to Ms. Sproston, unless the marriage took place somewhere other than England or South Australia.
If only the newspaper reports had spelled the name correctly, I would've found them long ago.
-
In 1916, in Canadian Expeditionary Force records, he cites his mother Lavinia Sproston, of 25 Jury St, Gt Yarmouth as his next-of-kin. He claims a birthdate of 21 Jan 1889 at this stage.
And yet he wasn't in the 1891 or 1901 household and there is no birth as Westgate, Stanley or Sproston! ???
-
Brilliant :) (on the Rupert Prescot nexus)
It looks as though they did marry.
GRO Consular Marriages (1849-1965)
PRESCOT, Rupert W K
LANGTON, Eve
Bilbao, 1921-1925
Volume 16, page 509.
-
And yet he wasn't in the 1891 or 1901 household and there is no birth as Westgate, Stanley or Sproston! ???
Weird, isn't it?
I'm wondering whether he's 5 yrs old than claimed, registered as Stanley James Westgate, Mar qtr 1884 Yarmouth. I wondered also whether his emigration to Canada might have been under the Home Children programme, but that wouldn't be a good fit with his citing his mum as NOK (complete with address) in 1916.
-
Aha!! Now how did she come to be Langton ... ;D
Bilbao ... and there I was searching for outbound passengers to Australia ...
Obituary of the child born in South Australia:
http://www.redpathfuneralhome.com/obits/obituary.php?id=369224
Dr. Rupert Prescot of Carnduff, passed away on Tuesday, October 5, 2010 at the age of 84.
Rupert was born in Australia on December 23, 1925. He was educated in England.
He joined the Royal Air Force from school, and first came to Canada to complete his training as a pilot, but the atom bomb was dropped, and the need for more pilots ended.
After getting his medical degree from Bristol University, he practiced in England, Liberia, and West Africa for 14 years. Rupert came to Canada, and settled in Carnduff, SK., in 1974, where he practiced until his sudden passing.
He is survived by ...
The obit is dated 2010 so I omit the names of the family, but it would certainly be possible to contact them from the info there.
-
I'm wondering whether he's 5 yrs old than claimed, registered as Stanley James Westgate, Mar qtr 1884 Yarmouth. I wondered also whether his emigration to Canada might have been under the Home Children programme, but that wouldn't be a good fit with his citing his mum as NOK (complete with address) in 1916.
And that would make him "John" in the 1891 household. ;) For whom I think I didn't find a birth. Makes sense that he was named for his father James Sproston/Stanley.
Given their apparent comfortable situation after James Sproston's death, I think it unlikely he was a Home Child. (Citing his mum as NOK would not be unheard of -- my great-aunt's husband did for WWI, after coming to Canada as a Home Child about 1907.)
James Sproston born 1889 traveled to Quebec in 1905.
There is also a 1949 crossing to Halifax.
http://www.findmypast.co.uk/passengerListPersonSearchStart.action?
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/2QSF-J9F
J Sproston passenger to Halifax 1920
FindMyPast shows an adult female and an infant male accompanying.
> this could be a completely different J Sproston, but it looks rather like it could be him, marrying in England (or Scotland, the ship sailed from Glasgow - but no marriage in Scotland 1910-20) after the war and returning to Canada.
-
London electoral rolls show Rupert and Eve (Warre) Prescot (and, in due course, adult children of theirs) in the Lewisham area 1935-1963. Rupert Warre K Prescot died in Lewisham in 1971.
Eve's trip to London with her 2 young boys in 1929 (as reported in the papers covering the blackmail story) can be traced in passenger lists - she arrived at Southampton on 5 May 1929 as Eve WARRE-PRESCOT, giving 354 Uxbridge Rd, Shepherd's Bush as her address in the UK. The boys were 2 and 3 yrs old respectively.
-
One Arthur Langton, 19, clerk, arrived at Southampton from Australia on 11 May 1931. His address in the UK was "Mayfield", Weobley, Herefordshire. Future intended residence: England.
I haven't yet pinned down whose address this was, but I note that Rupert W K Prescot's father Charles Warre Prescot resided at King's Pyon House, Weobley when he died in 1922.
Some of the 1920s Aussie newspapers about Eve/Eva seem (perhaps forgivably) to have got Herefordshire and Hertfordshire confused :).
-
Yes - the Rupert death I mentioned above - but the Rupert marriage in 1954 was, I now see, the son's marriage.
What of Eve/Eva after 1963 then? I wonder whether she moved with her son to Saskatchewan (1974); it was after the point when any passenger or BMD records are available. The family in England (see the obit, and there is a listing at 192.com) would surely know, and might know all about this story.
Mayfield:
http://htt.herefordshire.gov.uk/smrSearch/Monuments/Monument_Item.aspx?ID=12514
http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-149915-mayfield-weobley-
but can't spot it as an address in 1881 or 1911.
-
I have been following you postings closely and see you have made great progress. Apart from information on related family members to summarize ,if I understand everything, we have Eva Sproston in the 1901 census in Tunbridge Wells. Then a marriage to an unidentified Mr Langton in England sometime before the marriage of "Eve" instead of Eva Langton to Rupert Warre Kenrick Prescot (instead of Prescott from the newspaper accounts) by a British Consul in Bilbao,Spain. Then we have the birth of a son to Eve Sproston and Rupert in 1925 (Dec 23 in Adelaide Australia) which establishes the Prescot's in Adelaide.
No doubt Eve's marriage in Spain was during a vacation in the country rather than their country of residence as the Prescot's were based at Herefordshire and the newspaper accounts refer to the blackmail gang knowing the "Prescott's" as Herefordshire. Eve (Eva Prescott) is still based in Adelaide in 1929 (from the newspaper accounts) but still waiting for confirmation that her husband had anything to do with St Peter's College (they havnt replied to my inquiry yet).You found her travel record with two children May 1929 which ties in with her claim in the newspaper that she was visiting England with two children. Then we have Eve and Ruperts son Rupert being in the Royal Air Force then going to Canada for pilot training, got his medical degree etc etc;moved to Canada in 1974 where he practiced until his death October 5,2010 and we see he got married and had several children and grandchildren.
So just need to establish the occupation of Eve's husband Rupert Prescott; and although many other things could be explored its the part of Eva Sproston's life after the 1901 census including her marriage to a Mr Langton and then up to her marriage in Spain sometime before 1925 to Rupert Prescot. We don't have Langton's name/marriage/death or details about any Langton children apart from "the eldest son" Arthur Langton.
Eva Sproston seems to have done very well for herself marrying into a prosperous Prescot family and its no wonder she and her husband became targets of the blackmail gang who targeted the wealthy.When was the death of Eve's husband Rupert? I seem to have missed that part of the story.
-
Eve's second husband was Rupert Warre Keir Prescot (the names Kenrick occurs elsewhere in the family). He died in south London (Lewisham) in 1971.
Nothing has been found on Eve's first marriage. She may have married Mr Langton and/or had Arthur overseas.
-
No doubt Eve's marriage in Spain was during a vacation in the country.
We don't know this - she may have spent years in Spain or elsewhere in continental Europe for all we know. The marriage 1921-25 is the first we see of Eve after her 1901 enumeration in Tunbridge Wells. Rupert was a teacher - might that occupation have given him travel opportunities too?
-
One Arthur Langton, 19, clerk, arrived at Southampton from Australia on 11 May 1931. His address in the UK was "Mayfield", Weobley, Herefordshire. Future intended residence: England.
I haven't yet pinned down whose address this was.
Good news on this.
Rupert Prescot (occupation: teacher) arrived in Southampton from Adelaide on 10 January 1931. Had been resident in Australia, but intended future residence England. Address in the UK: Mayfield, Weobley, Herefordshire.
-
At this point I do think that since we have established that Eve has living grandchildren, in Canada and England, the appropriate thing to do would be to contact one of them. (Contact info for the named grandson in England can be obtained by paying for it at 192.com; there does not seem to be a telephone listing to match it.) It is their family being discussed here and while it is all of academic/curiosity interest to us, it is personal to them, and besides, there is little point in third parties hunting for information that is likely available directly from people who know.
-
Ok it looks like we have gone as far as we can. Thank you very much for all your help. I will take it from here now.
-
Hi,
Earlier in this thread it was mentioned by the OP that Archibald John Sproston had a WW1 diary that was online. Does anyone have a copy or access to this?
Regards, Simon