Insp John Spratling

Spratling was an interesting character. I remember seeing his medals as part of the Ripper display at the Museum in Docklands last year. Apart from that, and the rather matter-of-fact references to him in books, my only other view of him was in the 1988 Michael Caine "Jack the Ripper" miniseries in which he was a major character, but of course that was highly fictionalized. It seemed to feature him mainly just as someone for Abberline to trade angry barbs with, a not altogether honest cop who took money in exchange for leaking information to the press and was determined that his people catch the Ripper before Abberline. I have the strong impression that that was not a very accurate portrayal. It's a shame what the movie business can do to people after they're gone. (Of course, what that movie did to George Lusk was even worse!)

I noticed that the background details for Inspector John Spratling were sparce. Therefore I have put together a few more details of his life, below.

I have checked them over, but should there be any errors, or gaps that can be filled in that are at present unknown, please feel free to do so.

John Spratling born was born in 1845, St.Pancras, London
oldest son of
John Spratling(b.ca. 1823) and Harriet Fisk b.ca.1815)
John snr, was a cellarman in the 1841 census.

John and Harriet married in 1844, St.Pancras, London
They had, including John Spratling b.1845, 6 children..

John b. 1845
Harriet Anne b. 1848
Emily b. 1849
Thomas b. 1852
Clara Ann b. 1853
Alice b. 1856

John was baptised on the 8th of June, 1844 at St Pancras Parish Church.

In the 1851 census, John Snr is listed as a Police Constable
John jnr is listed as son, and the family live in Harrow on the Hill, Harrow

In 1861, John Spratling is listed as a 15 yr old scholar, and living at 10, Vicarage, St Hohns Street, Leeds.

In 1871, aged 25, John is a Police Constable, living at 13, West St, St Georges, Hanover Square, Westminster.
He is a Lodger at this address, and single.

In 1875, John married Emma Ham,b. 1845, Edgeware, and the couple had 2 children:-

Herbert J, b. 1879, died 1882 aged 3years old
Frederick Thomas ,b. 1881, in Kensington.

In 1881 John lived with his wife Emma at 10, Scarsdale Terrace, Kensington. He is listed as a Police Sergeant.

In 1891, John lived with his wife, Emma, now 44, and his son Frederick Thomas, aged 9, at 18, Gore Road, Bethnal Green. Here, he is listed as a Police Inspector.

In 1901, now a Pensioned Police Inspector, John lived at St.Johns Road, Bradfield, Newbury, with wife Emma and son Frederick, aged 19.

His son Frederick Thomas married in 1906, to Henrietta Mosdell.
Frederick and Henriette had at least 2 children,

Hettie M b.1910 md William A Button, 1942
Frederick R b. 1915, married Mair E Jones, 1940.

John Spratling's wife, Emma, died aged 82 in 1928, in Reading.

John's exact date of death is not currently known, but believed to be in the 1930's.

If anyone has access to newspapers etc to fill in the correct death date, it would be useful.

best wishes

Phil