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I'd love to get some feedback on this research. It's a possible ID of Ada Wilson, taking in to account the pretty convincing ID of Mark Ripper's in Ripperologist, I'd welcome some peer review!
Ada Wilson was attacked on the 28th March 1888 at Maidman St. Several newspapers repoting on the attack gave Ada's age as 39.
Ada Wilson was taken to the London Hospital and discharged from there on 27th April 88
These are the facts.
From here on is a tentative ID of Ada Wilson for anyone who feels inclined to look over and give an opinion on:
With this ID there is a picture but I'd like to keep that back at present and hope others will respect this as one of the names is a rare name that brings up obvious results including that picture.
After the attack-Ada would have been discharged from the London Hospital once her wound was on the mend but it was often the case that people who still were not able to earn a living because of an injury were admitted into Union Infirmaries to recover fully. With this in mind I first came across this interesting record:
One day after Ada Wilson's discharge from the London Hospital, on April 28th 1888 -a woman also named Ada Wilson, age 39, was admitted to the Mile End Workhouse She is described in the Porters' book as the widow of Geo. [no surname] an engineer. Ada was described as destitute . She was sent on to the Mile workhouse first then admitted to the Mile End Infirmary the same day. She spent eight weeks in the Infirmary before discharge which would be apt for recovery from a serious throat wound.
Mile End Workhouse/Infirmary would be the place Ada Wilson was sent as her address before the attack was Mile End.
Mile End Workhouse Porter's Admission and Discharge 1887-1888Admitted 28th April, Ada Wilson, 39, widow of George, engineer, destitute
Mile End Infirmary creed register Admitted 28th April 1888 and 1889 ? (page damaged) Ada Wilson, 39
Mile End Infirmary Admissions and Discharges
Admitted Sat April 28th 1888 Ada Wilson age 39 C of E, no address,
Discharged Mon 25th June 1888 at own request
Searching the available records there are no women named Ada Wilson of the right age, married to a man named George in the census records.However, there is a woman who sometimes went by the name of Ada Wilson whose real name was Ada Tradigan and she appears in the female convict licence records. This Ada was around the right age and interestingly, was also married to a man named George:
Here are some newspaper details of Ada and George's escapades:
Morning Post 05 March 1879
George Drew, 40, gunsmith and Ada Tredigan, 28, married, were placed in the dock to be sentenced. The prisoners were found guilty yesterday upon an indictment for having stolen a pair of spectacles from the person of Agnes Henderson while in an omnibus in the Waterloo-road, and had been remanded in order that a list of previous convictions might be formally proved against the female prisoner. Mrs Wiltshire, from the Westminster House of correction, now attended, and said that the woman had been convicted four times for robberies from the person, the last sentence being nine months imprisonment and four years police supervision in July 1877. Since her release detectives had watched her, and had seen her frequently riding in omnibuses starting from the Elephant and castle, and there was little doubt that she was an experienced thief. It was stated that she had been married to the other prisoner some years ago, but up till Christmas last they had not lived together, and that Drew was in respectable employment and possessed a good character until that period.
The chairman sentenced Drew to six months imprisonment with hard labour, but said that in view of the previous convictions against the female prisoner he must pass in her case the heavy sentence of 10 years penal servitude.
Here's a bried bio of Ada Tradigan from several sources:
Born: 1851, in Newington, Surrey. father J H Williams (prison records give parents address as Clara Villa, Harrow Road).
Married to: George Drew aged 40 and a gunsmith (Morning Post, 5 March 1879) (they had married some years before 1879, but had not lived together until Christmas 1878 and that Drew was in respectable employment and possessed a good character until that period.He is mentioned in the prison records in1885, but may have died sometime between then and 1888 if this is the widow Ada Wilson in the workhouse records). Ada Tradigan had 5 children, 3 living. The prison records also list a Mrs Williams (mother), of Eleanor Villa Harrow Road and Clara Villa Harrow Road, a letter from daughter 'Ada’ and brother George, both at the same address. Also Mr Williams (noted as father) c/o 49 Hatfield St.The same address was used as a contact for husband George Drew [also called George Tradigan sometimes in the records]
checking further on some of these details and addresses:
Living at 49 Hatfield St Southwark in 1881 is a John King, bellhanger and gas fitter and his wife Emma. Emma was born 1849 Lambeth. a Mrs E King of 49 Hatfield Rd (given as a c/o address for Ada's parents) is listed in the prison records several times, plus a letter from her is included in the file.
Also at the address at Clara Villas Harrow Rd Leyton given in the prison records:
1881 Census
Clara Villa Harrow Rd Leyton
William Williams head , 45 butcher b London
Harriott Williams, wife 44 b Tolness Devon
Harry Williams, son, 19 b London
Walter Williams, 16, son, b London
Albert Williams 14, son b London
Elizabeth ??i? visitor widow 50 b Leytonstone
Beatrice Farrer visitor 13 b Leytonstone
Ada Farrer visitor 3 b Leytonstone
criminal record and aliases for Ada Tradigan:
Oval face, dark complexion, black hair, hazel eyes, 5ft 3.5 in tall, stout (10st 9oz/149ibs). Mole on left breast and on side of neck, scar on left leg. Ears pierced. A tailoress/machinist by occupation (the latter being her occupation before marriage). Health: very bad; rheumatic and typhoid fevers.
Her convictions-
1872, 1 June
As Mary Williams, 6 months, Malboro' St {Police Court)
1874, 7 December
As Emma (or Anna) Drew, 4 months, Middlesex Sessions, Larceny from the person & receiving. (London Evening Standard 12 November 1874, Emma Drew, shabbily dressed, 34, robbing a purse from a woman's pocket in an omnibus. Found in possession of other stolen property also taken shortly before from another omnibus. Accomplice who was on the roof and came to court and was recognised and arrested was later named in newspapers as William (or John) Clarke, 15, Union Place, Blackfriars.)
1875, 8 September
As Ellen West, 3 months, Marlboro’ St (London Evening Standard 10 September 1875. Ellen West Robbing a purse property of Mrs Shipton on an Atlas Omnibus said to have been a regular of the omnibus and suspected by the conductor of being a thief, along with a companion.)
1877, 9 July
As Ada Wilson, 9 months, Middlesex Sessions, Larceny from the person &receiving after a P.C.F (London Evening Standard 03 July 1877. Alleged robbery in an omnibus. Ada Wilson alias Ada Wilton living at the East End of London. Convicted Middlesex session)
1879, 4 February - sentenced to 10-years imprisonment
As Ada Tradigan, 10 years at Wandsworth from 4/3/79, Millbank from 15/4/79, Fullham from 13/11/79 [* appears on 81 census at Fullham Prison] Woking from 6/4/82, Licensed 20/4/86 via Fullham 13/4/86. George Drew [husband] was also convicted for same case in 1879 and received 6 months - he stated it as his intention On release will reside at 86 Armer? Rd Old Ford, Bow 23 Sept 1879
There are also four further infirmary or workhouse entries for a woman named Ada Drew in the Whitechapel Infirmary and SGE workhouse, of a similar age. Ada Drew also claims to be the widow of George. There are no married couples named Ada and George Drew in the UK census etc., nor any Ada Drew of a similar age who is a married woman. Ada Drew is also listed as a 'machinist' which is something 'Ada Tradigan', Ada Wilson and Ada Drew had in common, as well as a husband named George.
Here are the Whitechapel and SGE entries:
Note that the 87 WI discharge entry is only a few weeks before the attack on Ada, and if it is the same woman she was admitted for syphilis and was was staying in the Whitechapel area a few weeks before her attack in March 88. The newspaper clipping on Ada Wilson's crimes state she lived in the East End of London.
Whitechapel infirmary
Admitted 31 12 87 Ada Drew, 36, admitted from casual ward, widow of Geo. broker? 2 nights settlement (in Whitechapel) , admitted for syphilis, discharged 20 Feb 88
South Grove Mile End Rd creed register (admissions register for South Grove 88 not available)
Feb 22 1888 Ada Drew b 1854, admitted from Christchurch, machinist, widow, discharged 27 3 88
Whitechapel infirmary
admitted Feb 9th 1889 Ada Drew 35, 30 Dorset St widow of Geo. a dealer ulcer of heel, settlement 3 months .
Raine St workhouse a&d 1890
Feb 13th 1890 Ada Drew 1854 destitute
widow, machinist 40 cannon St Rd discharged 21st Feb 90
Interesting that the South Grove workhouse entry discharge is one day before the attack on Ada Wilson and South Grove workhouse, according to my reckoning, is pretty close to Maidman Street? Can anyone confirm this?
All of these women were the same age, none of their infirmary stays overlap or contradict each other, all the women were machinists as Ada Wilson was and all the women were married to men named George, as the Mile End 88 Porter's book mentionns, if it is to be beleived that is.
I'd welcome any thoughts, questions or feedback on this. I realise it's pretty complicated as an ID !
Thanks
Debs x
Debra Arif is invisible Report Post
Ada Wilson was attacked on the 28th March 1888 at Maidman St. Several newspapers repoting on the attack gave Ada's age as 39.
Ada Wilson was taken to the London Hospital and discharged from there on 27th April 88
These are the facts.
From here on is a tentative ID of Ada Wilson for anyone who feels inclined to look over and give an opinion on:
With this ID there is a picture but I'd like to keep that back at present and hope others will respect this as one of the names is a rare name that brings up obvious results including that picture.
After the attack-Ada would have been discharged from the London Hospital once her wound was on the mend but it was often the case that people who still were not able to earn a living because of an injury were admitted into Union Infirmaries to recover fully. With this in mind I first came across this interesting record:
One day after Ada Wilson's discharge from the London Hospital, on April 28th 1888 -a woman also named Ada Wilson, age 39, was admitted to the Mile End Workhouse She is described in the Porters' book as the widow of Geo. [no surname] an engineer. Ada was described as destitute . She was sent on to the Mile workhouse first then admitted to the Mile End Infirmary the same day. She spent eight weeks in the Infirmary before discharge which would be apt for recovery from a serious throat wound.
Mile End Workhouse/Infirmary would be the place Ada Wilson was sent as her address before the attack was Mile End.
Mile End Workhouse Porter's Admission and Discharge 1887-1888Admitted 28th April, Ada Wilson, 39, widow of George, engineer, destitute
Mile End Infirmary creed register Admitted 28th April 1888 and 1889 ? (page damaged) Ada Wilson, 39
Mile End Infirmary Admissions and Discharges
Admitted Sat April 28th 1888 Ada Wilson age 39 C of E, no address,
Discharged Mon 25th June 1888 at own request
Searching the available records there are no women named Ada Wilson of the right age, married to a man named George in the census records.However, there is a woman who sometimes went by the name of Ada Wilson whose real name was Ada Tradigan and she appears in the female convict licence records. This Ada was around the right age and interestingly, was also married to a man named George:
Here are some newspaper details of Ada and George's escapades:
Morning Post 05 March 1879
George Drew, 40, gunsmith and Ada Tredigan, 28, married, were placed in the dock to be sentenced. The prisoners were found guilty yesterday upon an indictment for having stolen a pair of spectacles from the person of Agnes Henderson while in an omnibus in the Waterloo-road, and had been remanded in order that a list of previous convictions might be formally proved against the female prisoner. Mrs Wiltshire, from the Westminster House of correction, now attended, and said that the woman had been convicted four times for robberies from the person, the last sentence being nine months imprisonment and four years police supervision in July 1877. Since her release detectives had watched her, and had seen her frequently riding in omnibuses starting from the Elephant and castle, and there was little doubt that she was an experienced thief. It was stated that she had been married to the other prisoner some years ago, but up till Christmas last they had not lived together, and that Drew was in respectable employment and possessed a good character until that period.
The chairman sentenced Drew to six months imprisonment with hard labour, but said that in view of the previous convictions against the female prisoner he must pass in her case the heavy sentence of 10 years penal servitude.
Here's a bried bio of Ada Tradigan from several sources:
Born: 1851, in Newington, Surrey. father J H Williams (prison records give parents address as Clara Villa, Harrow Road).
Married to: George Drew aged 40 and a gunsmith (Morning Post, 5 March 1879) (they had married some years before 1879, but had not lived together until Christmas 1878 and that Drew was in respectable employment and possessed a good character until that period.He is mentioned in the prison records in1885, but may have died sometime between then and 1888 if this is the widow Ada Wilson in the workhouse records). Ada Tradigan had 5 children, 3 living. The prison records also list a Mrs Williams (mother), of Eleanor Villa Harrow Road and Clara Villa Harrow Road, a letter from daughter 'Ada’ and brother George, both at the same address. Also Mr Williams (noted as father) c/o 49 Hatfield St.The same address was used as a contact for husband George Drew [also called George Tradigan sometimes in the records]
checking further on some of these details and addresses:
Living at 49 Hatfield St Southwark in 1881 is a John King, bellhanger and gas fitter and his wife Emma. Emma was born 1849 Lambeth. a Mrs E King of 49 Hatfield Rd (given as a c/o address for Ada's parents) is listed in the prison records several times, plus a letter from her is included in the file.
Also at the address at Clara Villas Harrow Rd Leyton given in the prison records:
1881 Census
Clara Villa Harrow Rd Leyton
William Williams head , 45 butcher b London
Harriott Williams, wife 44 b Tolness Devon
Harry Williams, son, 19 b London
Walter Williams, 16, son, b London
Albert Williams 14, son b London
Elizabeth ??i? visitor widow 50 b Leytonstone
Beatrice Farrer visitor 13 b Leytonstone
Ada Farrer visitor 3 b Leytonstone
criminal record and aliases for Ada Tradigan:
Oval face, dark complexion, black hair, hazel eyes, 5ft 3.5 in tall, stout (10st 9oz/149ibs). Mole on left breast and on side of neck, scar on left leg. Ears pierced. A tailoress/machinist by occupation (the latter being her occupation before marriage). Health: very bad; rheumatic and typhoid fevers.
Her convictions-
1872, 1 June
As Mary Williams, 6 months, Malboro' St {Police Court)
1874, 7 December
As Emma (or Anna) Drew, 4 months, Middlesex Sessions, Larceny from the person & receiving. (London Evening Standard 12 November 1874, Emma Drew, shabbily dressed, 34, robbing a purse from a woman's pocket in an omnibus. Found in possession of other stolen property also taken shortly before from another omnibus. Accomplice who was on the roof and came to court and was recognised and arrested was later named in newspapers as William (or John) Clarke, 15, Union Place, Blackfriars.)
1875, 8 September
As Ellen West, 3 months, Marlboro’ St (London Evening Standard 10 September 1875. Ellen West Robbing a purse property of Mrs Shipton on an Atlas Omnibus said to have been a regular of the omnibus and suspected by the conductor of being a thief, along with a companion.)
1877, 9 July
As Ada Wilson, 9 months, Middlesex Sessions, Larceny from the person &receiving after a P.C.F (London Evening Standard 03 July 1877. Alleged robbery in an omnibus. Ada Wilson alias Ada Wilton living at the East End of London. Convicted Middlesex session)
1879, 4 February - sentenced to 10-years imprisonment
As Ada Tradigan, 10 years at Wandsworth from 4/3/79, Millbank from 15/4/79, Fullham from 13/11/79 [* appears on 81 census at Fullham Prison] Woking from 6/4/82, Licensed 20/4/86 via Fullham 13/4/86. George Drew [husband] was also convicted for same case in 1879 and received 6 months - he stated it as his intention On release will reside at 86 Armer? Rd Old Ford, Bow 23 Sept 1879
There are also four further infirmary or workhouse entries for a woman named Ada Drew in the Whitechapel Infirmary and SGE workhouse, of a similar age. Ada Drew also claims to be the widow of George. There are no married couples named Ada and George Drew in the UK census etc., nor any Ada Drew of a similar age who is a married woman. Ada Drew is also listed as a 'machinist' which is something 'Ada Tradigan', Ada Wilson and Ada Drew had in common, as well as a husband named George.
Here are the Whitechapel and SGE entries:
Note that the 87 WI discharge entry is only a few weeks before the attack on Ada, and if it is the same woman she was admitted for syphilis and was was staying in the Whitechapel area a few weeks before her attack in March 88. The newspaper clipping on Ada Wilson's crimes state she lived in the East End of London.
Whitechapel infirmary
Admitted 31 12 87 Ada Drew, 36, admitted from casual ward, widow of Geo. broker? 2 nights settlement (in Whitechapel) , admitted for syphilis, discharged 20 Feb 88
South Grove Mile End Rd creed register (admissions register for South Grove 88 not available)
Feb 22 1888 Ada Drew b 1854, admitted from Christchurch, machinist, widow, discharged 27 3 88
Whitechapel infirmary
admitted Feb 9th 1889 Ada Drew 35, 30 Dorset St widow of Geo. a dealer ulcer of heel, settlement 3 months .
Raine St workhouse a&d 1890
Feb 13th 1890 Ada Drew 1854 destitute
widow, machinist 40 cannon St Rd discharged 21st Feb 90
Interesting that the South Grove workhouse entry discharge is one day before the attack on Ada Wilson and South Grove workhouse, according to my reckoning, is pretty close to Maidman Street? Can anyone confirm this?
All of these women were the same age, none of their infirmary stays overlap or contradict each other, all the women were machinists as Ada Wilson was and all the women were married to men named George, as the Mile End 88 Porter's book mentionns, if it is to be beleived that is.
I'd welcome any thoughts, questions or feedback on this. I realise it's pretty complicated as an ID !
Thanks
Debs x
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