Hello
I've only just discovered this site because my research of my gggrandfather, Edward Couchman Hunter led me here via googling. I saw an intriguing thread of old messages about a challenge to find out more about him ... I already had the information discussed however. As they were such old posts I wondered if any one had uncovered further info.
He's a bit of a mystery ... he started life well established with a wealthy father, and I believe his own business premises at 449 Oxford Street London WI (according to a census in 1871 listed as his address, I don't know though if it was in his father's name)in home furnishing like his father before him ...I got very excited when I saw a possible connection with William Morris, who established his first stand alone store at 449 Oxford Street in the spring of 1877 ...had he a connection? Or sold out to them? Then I discovered that Oxford Street was renumbered in 1882, and had in fact been number 264 before. Therefore I only know the old number and can't seem to discover yet the new number, or in other words where the address would be now, and this seems to reveal no connection between him and Morris, just a funny "not really connected" coincidence.
He lost everything it seemed, and I have a family legend he was a bad lad ....since discovering he landed up in the workhouse for a short while, and then jumped ship to South Africa where I'm pretty sure he committed bigamy. Does anyone have more info on what he got up to?
I recently stumbled on information about Richard Hunter his father, and the fact his business still exists...Hunter and Hyland Ltd. His oldest daughter's family were on the stage, so had stage names which added to the complexity. I have uncovered quite a bit if anyone's interested.
