Hello fellow researchers, this may be a bit long-winded, so I do apologize in advance.
I have been recently corresponding with a third cousin in regard to our 4-3x great-grandfather, William Houlder, Jr.
He was born 20 Jun, 1790 in Southwark, Surrey, to a William Houlder (1757-1807, glazier) and his wife, Sarah nee MacCulloch (1752-1826). He had two siblings, a brother and sister, who both died by 1791. William Jr inherited his father's glazing company, and appears to have held a stall at the Borough Market. The Houlder glaziers were commissioned to do work on the Surrey Sessions House and County Goal from 1803-1829.
William Jr. married an Elizabeth Ellis (b. ~1792 in Heathfield, Sussex) on 6 May 1813 at Saint Saviour, Southwark. The pair had seven children:
William Houlder (III) - b.1814, Southwark
Elizabeth Hannah Houlder - b.1818, Southwark
Henry Houlder - b.1819, Southwark
Sarah Ann Houlder - b.1822, Southwark
Alfred Houlder - b.1824, Southwark
Augustus Frederick Houlder - b.1826, Streatham, Surrey
Edwin Savory Houlder - b.1829, Streatham, Surrey
By the 1841 Census, William is listed as living in St. Mary Newington, Lambeth, Surrey:
Willm Houlder - 50 - Agent [occupation] - Y [born in county]
Elizth Houlder - 45 - - No
Alfred - 15 - Y
Augus's - 14 - Y
Edwin - 12 - Y
Now, Edwin Savory Houlder and his brother Alfred Houlder, had a very successful shipping company called Houlder Brothers & Co. based in London. My cousin has a book entitled
One Hundred Years of Houlders, which was written about 50 years after Edwin's death, but includes several pages about Edwin's life as the book is about the shipping company and the many people, and ships, involved. The 'real' mystery is in a short paragraph of the book:
"...Mr. Edwin Savory Houlder was born on the 19th December, 1828, and was the seventh child of William Houlder (born about 1780
this is off 10 years of my research). William Houlder is believed to have lived at Heathfield in Sussex (
I have not found any records indicating this), and his wife was formerly a Miss Savory of Irish descent (
this also does not match our research). William Houlder was a landowner and amused himself with hunting and sport. He spent much of his time in good living, and bad gambling, with the ultimate result that he eventually found circumstances far beyond his control. He thereupon settled the problem in a manner which was easiest for himself by sailing away abroad with what moveable property he could take, and nothing more was heard of him from that time. His wife was left with the responsible task of bringing up his family of seven children, aided only by her daughter Sarah Ann."
In attempting to research the validity of William Jr. having "sailed off", I have found the following record at Old Bailey Court:
https://www.oldbaileyonline.org/browse.jsp?id=def1-614-18440205&div=t18440205-614&terms=William|Houlder#highlight
This William Houlder, a clerk/agent, was transported for 7 years to Tasmania for punishment after being found guilty of embezzlement. Records found in Tasmanian archives indicate that this William Houlder's origins were in St. Saviours, Southwark, that he was married with seven children. One of these record indicates that his wife's name is Elizabeth
Walworth. I cannot find any marriage of a William Houlder and an Elizabeth Walworth during this time period, anywhere in the world.
Curiously, the 1851 Census (Surrey, Camberwall, St. George), shows the following:
Elizabeth Houlder - Head - Marr. - 56 - [blank occupation] - Heathfield, Sussex
Sarah A Do. - dau - single - 28 - Governess - Surrey [illegible]
Alfred Do. - son - single - 26 - Merchants Clerk - Do.
Edwin S. Do. - son - single - 22 - Do. - Surrey, Streatham
No William, though Elizabeth is married.
With all of that said, I can find nothing about William after 1841, until I found a William Houlder, who passed away at the Clapham Workhouse on 25 Mar 1856. He was buried in Norwood Cemetery, which leads me to believe this may be the same William as mine, as I am descended from his eldest son, who at the time lived [quite well of, I'll mention] at Norwood Green.
I would love to hear other genealogists thoughts, findings, etc. on this matter. Have I got the right William Houlder, glazier? Where does the Savory come in? Do you think it's possible the convict is also my William? Looking forward to discussion!
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