Insp John Spratling

[The Station Cat]

Spratling was an interesting character. I remember seeing his medals as part of the Ripper display at the Museum in Docklands last year.

This is interesting!!

Does anyone know whether these were his actual medals or just ones put on for the purpose of the display?

I believe that Insp Swanson's and Sgt Badham's medals are also known to exist.

Does anyone know of any other ripper related medals?

[Phil Carter]

Hello Ian,

Hollywood/Television has much to answer for.

best wishes

Phil

[ianincleveland]

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!)

Im sure Spratling was nothing like how the 88 miniseries portrayed him,he was shown to be shifty,dishonest(Abberlines first words to him are "ello Jack hows the collection business or shouldnt i ask?") and lazy.The fact Spratling was a real person,makes it even worse as with Lusk theyre portrayed totally differently to reality.

[Phil Carter]

All Inspector Spratling information now put together.

John Spratling born was born on 9th May 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, 1845 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.

Before joining the police John Spratling had worked as a clerk.

1870 : Dec 27 - Joined the Metropolitan Police, warrant number 53457.

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.

c1887 : Promoted to Divisional Inspector for J Division (Bethnal Green).

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.

1897 : Mar 8 - Retired from the police force.

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

In 1911 the listing reads
John Spratling, 65, police pensioner (Metroptn), b. St Pancras, London
Emma Spratling, 64, b. Edgware Middlesex
Married for 35 years.
Had produced two children, one living one dead.
Address St John's Rd, Mortimer (?), Berks
House had 6 rooms.

His son Frederick Thomas married in 1906, to Henrietta Mosdell.
Frederick and Henriette had at least 3 children,

Francis Herbert, b.1907, md Vera A Hobden, Brentford, 1936
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 died in 1938, Wainford, Suffolk, aged 93, having moved to Beccles in Suffolk to be with a cousin.


Spratling was the officer who wrote the initial report on the murder of Polly Nichols. He once joked that he smoked blacker tobacco and drank blacker tea than anybody else in the Met. and that he lived so long that he drew more money in pension than in pay!

Sources:

Census 1851, 1861,1871,1881,1891,1901,1911.
Free BMD.
Begg, Fido, and Skinner. The Jack the Ripper A-Z.,
Stewart P Evans, Keith Skinner.

Originally Posted by Phil Carter with info rec'd from Robert, John, and Debs , many thanks.


This is the final page, combining all known information on the current Wiki, with this new information..

[Phil Carter]

Updated with info rec'd from Robert, John, many thanks.

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, 1845 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.

In 1911 we have John Spratling, 65, police pensioner (Metroptn), b. St Pancras, London
Emma Spratling, 64, b. Edgware Middlesex
Married for 35 years.
Had produced two children, one living one dead.
Address St John's Rd, Mortimer (?), Berks
House had 6 rooms.

His son Frederick Thomas married in 1906, to Henrietta Mosdell.
Frederick and Henriette had at least 3 children,

Francis Herbert, b.1907, md Vera A Hobden, Brentford, 1936
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 died in 1938, Wainford, Suffolk, aged 93, having moved to Beccles in Suffolk to be with a cousin.

I believe that is the fully updated version. Many thanks to Robert, John and all.
I suggest this is transferred to the main Casebook site.

best wishes,

Phil

[Robert]

Hi Phil

Ha! Yes, Frederick Thomas and Henrietta had two children listed in 1911, one of which was Francis Herbert.

[Phil Carter]

Robert...seriously this time..I presume you mean another child of Frederick Spratling?

best wishes

Phil

[Phil Carter]

Hello Robert..

Umm that would mean that Emma gave birth aged 61... want to push the boundaries of acceptance?...lol death before he kicked the bucket indeed!

best wishes

Phil

[Robert]

Hi Phil

My guess would be death was due to his being buried before he kicked the bucket.

The 1911 shows another child - Francis Herbert who was born Q3 1907 at Reading. He seems to have married Vera A Hobden Q3 1936 at Brentford.

[Phil Carter]

Spratling

Updated with info rec'd from Robert, John, many thanks.

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, 1845 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 died in 1938, Wainford, Suffolk, aged 93, having moved to Beccles in Suffolk to be with a cousin.

Anyone want to find out cause of death?....lol

[Phil Carter]

pre birth baptism..lol

Robert,

Whoops...first **** up... baptism should of course be 1845. Thanks for pointing out that typing error...

Re his death...I looked at the Sourcebook too, and the A-Z. giving conflicting dates...that is why I didn't put a death date.

So, 1938, aged 93, Suffolk it apparently is. All we need now is the actual date.

Thanks for 1911 addition :-)

vest wishes

Phil

[Robert]

Hi John

That all fits then.

I should think moving around was no problem for Spratling - after all, Phil has him being baptised before he was born.

[John Bennett]

Hi Phil

I believe John Spratling died in Reading in 1934, aged 89.

But I'm probably wrong!

According to a family tree that exists on ancestry.co.uk, John Spratling died in 1934. The A-Z says 'c.1934'. I cannot find a John Spratling dying in that year either.

In the article 'Inspector Spratling's Pass' (available on casebook), it says that Spratling, after being widowed, moved to Beccles to be with a cousin and Beccles is in Suffolk, interestingly enough.

[Robert]

Hi folks

In 1911 we have John Spratling, 65, police pensioner (Metroptn), b. St Pancras, London
Emma Spratling, 64, b. Edgware Middlesex
Married for 35 years. Had produced two children, one living one dead.
Address St John's Rd, Mortimer (?), Berks
House had 6 rooms.

Re the BMD, Evans and Skinner give his dates as 1840-1938 which on the face of it seems a bit out birth-wise. I looked at 1934-Q1 1935 and our man doesn't die then. There was a death Q4 1938 for John Spratling aged 93 at Wainford. However Wainford was in Suffolk, so I'm not sure what might have happened there.

[John Bennett]

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.

Hi Phil

I believe John Spratling died in Reading in 1934, aged 89.