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Exploring the Blackheath Connection with Local Historian

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  • #16
    It was indeed a lovely day in Blackheath with Norma and Neil.

    Today I lunched with the great-granddaughter of John Henry Lonsdale who filled me in on some of the family history. Nothing earthshaking but she is hoping to get in touch with relatives who may know more. I have put her on the alert for spotting a correspondence or any tangible evidence that Lonsdale knew Montague Druitt (as I feel certain he must have) or Melville Macnaghten (who was his classmate at Eton). We shall see.

    I hope to be attending the Whitechapel Society meeting Saturday August 3. If I make it I will bring some crude printouts of the photos of Druitt I found at Winchester College. Most have never been seen outside of the archives.

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    • #17
      Originally posted by Robert View Post
      So Monty was listed as J Druitt.
      Hi Robert -

      There would seem to be a possible precedent for this: see the Druitt the Cricketer thread. I've little doubt that it's nothing more than an error; sometimes these things denote that the person concerned was known by their middle name and, on the face of it, there was less of a vogue for cricketers called Monty 120 years ago - but I know of no other evidence that Monty wished to be known, socially, as "John".

      Regards,

      Mark

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      • #18
        Originally posted by aspallek View Post
        It was indeed a lovely day in Blackheath with Norma and Neil.

        Today I lunched with the great-granddaughter of John Henry Lonsdale who filled me in on some of the family history. Nothing earthshaking but she is hoping to get in touch with relatives who may know more. I have put her on the alert for spotting a correspondence or any tangible evidence that Lonsdale knew Montague Druitt (as I feel certain he must have) or Melville Macnaghten (who was his classmate at Eton). We shall see.

        I hope to be attending the Whitechapel Society meeting Saturday August 3. If I make it I will bring some crude printouts of the photos of Druitt I found at Winchester College. Most have never been seen outside of the archives.

        Hello Andy,

        Thanks for braving the wilds of Ripperdom w/ Nats and Mr. Rhind. Hopefully some interesting tidbits will come of your meeting with Lonsdale's gggranddaugher. It's nice to see the sites and to see what folks look like, too! It's so wonderful the pub is still there.

        Best to you,

        Cel
        "What our ancestors would really be thinking, if they were alive today, is: "Why is it so dark in here?"" From Pyramids by Sir Terry Pratchett, a British National Treasure.

        __________________________________

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        • #19
          Thanks Celesta for your kind words about my sentiments towards history and its study.
          I certainly was not aiming at anyone we know since so many people on these boards share their hard-won discoveries so generously.
          Quite separately, I should add that I understand when someone like Andy has gone to the time and expense of travelling over to Montague-land to do his own detective work, he is fully entitled to save most of it for an article in Ripperologist. That way they will be equally as enduring for future sleuths.
          You said you wanted to catch up with the wonderful Neil Rhind, Nats. So pleased you were able to do so in tandem with Andy.
          What a way to see Blackheath in 2008!
          Robert as usual was typically acute in swooping on the name "J Druitt".
          Yes, some people prefer to be called "John".
          In Australia, for some reason a slang word for a toilet is a "John".
          I'm so old I made up a saying concerning the fact the name John is so common.
          "More Johns than Woodstock!". JOHN RUFFELS.

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          • #20
            Hi John,

            I know you weren't aiming at anyone. I had no one specifically in mind RE your fine quote, other than those who obscenely rewrite history to advance their own self-centered agendas. Stalin, Mao, the Nazis, etc. are large scale examples. Thanks, John.

            Best to you.

            Cel
            "What our ancestors would really be thinking, if they were alive today, is: "Why is it so dark in here?"" From Pyramids by Sir Terry Pratchett, a British National Treasure.

            __________________________________

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            • #21
              Celesta, thanks for welcoming me !

              So Monty would have prefered to be called John. I have a theory about it : Montague is not a common name, and he may have wanted to go unnoticed ; perhaps he wanted not to be recognized because he wanted a quiet life, far from what he did as a killer. So there would have been Montague the (potential) killer and John the man. What do you think of it ?

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              • #22
                Hi Roma,
                Originally posted by Roma View Post
                Montague is not a common name, and he may have wanted to go unnoticed ; perhaps he wanted not to be recognized because he wanted a quiet life, far from what he did as a killer. So there would have been Montague the (potential) killer and John the man. What do you think of it ?
                If that were the case, then he'd have got things back to front. I doubt that he'd have chosen the rare, conspicuous and rather more memorable "Montague" for his alter ego, instead of the more anonymous "John".
                Kind regards, Sam Flynn

                "Suche Nullen" (Nietzsche, Götzendämmerung, 1888)

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                • #23
                  Hi Sam !

                  I admit you may be right...

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