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Letchford’s Sister
Charles Letchford, living at 30, Berners-street says: "I passed through the street at half-past 12, and everything seemed to me to be going on as usual, and my sister was standing at the door at 10 minutes to one, but did not see anyone pass by. I heard the commotion when the body was found, and heard the policemen's whistles, but did not take any notice of the matter, as disturbances are very frequent at the club, and I thought it was only another row." – Daily News 1 October 1888
So who was Charles Letchford’s sister who was on the doorstep of 30 Berner Street at 12:50 a.m. on 30 September 1888? It has been suggested that this would have been Fanny Mortimer who said she was stood on her doorstep at 36 Berner Street at about that time. However it has been countered that it couldn’t have been her as no family link has been found between Fanny (nee Skipp - Scipp in the birth index, 1840 Q1) aged 48 and Charles aged 22.
Harry Lucas
In contrast to Elizabeth Stride’s sad demise that night, there had been a birth at 30 Berner Street the day before Liz’s last full day alive.
Harry Lucas was born on 28 September 1888 to Florence Ann Lucas and the delightfully named Alexander Chalmers Nairn Lucas who lived with Florence’s family at no. 30. Florence was one of Charles’ sisters.
The Letchford family had been living at 30 Berner Street for a number of years.
Letchford History
Edward Letchford, the head of the family, was born in Bromley, Kent in 1837. In the 1841 and 1851 censuses he was living with his grandfather Thomas Letchford (Litchford in 1841 census index, Lotchford in 1851) in Wateringbury, Kent.
In 1859 in Maidstone, Kent, Edward married Susannah Adams (born 1837 in Mereworth, Kent but living in nearby Wateringbury in the 1841 census).
In 1860 they were living in Islington, London when they had their first child, Florence Ann.
In the 1861 census the new family were listed as Lichford, living at 1a, Grosvenor Street, Islington, London.
Edwd Lichford 23, Grocer’s assistant, born Bromley, Kent
Susannah Lichford 24, born Mereworth, Kent
Florence A Lichford 1, born Islington
Other children followed, the list, including Florence, as follows:
1860 Q2 Florence Ann, born Islington
1862 Q1 Martha Maud Mary born in Islington.
1865 Q2 Charles Edward Michael born in Shoreditch
1867 Q4 Lizzie Susan born in Islington.
1870 Q1 Henry Thomas born St. Saviour Southwark, Surrey
ca. 1873 Ada (derived from the 1881 census)
1876 Q4 Mary Ann born St George In The East
1881 Q3 Edward born St. George In The East (Edward Alexander from his marriage record)
In 1871 the family were at 5 Surrey Cottages in St. Mary Newington, in the district of Walworth, Southwark.
Edward Letchford 33, railway carman, born Bromley, Kent
Susannah Letchford 34, born Mereworth, Kent
Florence Letchford 11, born Islington, Middlesex
Martha Letchford 9, born Islington, Middlesex
Charles Letchford 5, born Shoreditch, Middlesex
Lizzie Letchford 3, born Islington, Middlesex
Henry Letchford 1, born Islington, Middlesex
By 1881 they were living at 30 Berner Street. All the children listed in 1871 are present in 1881 (Lizzie listed as Elizh.) with the additions of Ada 8 and Mary Ann 4.
Edward Letchford 43, carman (unemployed), born Bromley, Kent
Susannah Letchford 43, born Mereworth, Kent
Florence Letchford 21, general domestic servant, born Islington, Middlesex
Martha Letchford 19, general domestic servant, born Islington, Middlesex
Charles Letchford 15, steam sawyer’s assistant, born Shoreditch, Middlesex
Elizh. Letchford 13, born Islington, Middlesex
Henry Letchford 11, born Walworth, Surrey
Ada Letchford 8, born Walworth, Surrey
Mary A. Letchford 4, born St Geo East, Middlesex
Possibly they had moved into 30 Berner Street by 1876 when Mary was born.
The 1891 census listing for no. 30 looked a lot different to that in 1881.
The Letchfords listed are:
Edward Letchford 53, general labourer, born Bromley, Kent
Susannah Letchford 55, needlewoman, born Mereworth, Kent
Henry Letchford 21, paper miller, born Camberwell, London
Edward Letchford 9, born St. George East, London.
Another family is listed at the address along with two boarders, Fredrick Luxton (20), carman and John Mendoza (22), general labourer, both born Whitechapel.
Edward Letchford, senior died aged 62 in 1899 Q3, St. George in the East and Susannah died aged 69 in 1906 Q2, St. George in the East.
Henry T Letchford died aged 29 in 1900 Q1 in Whitechapel.
A variety of different places of birth for Henry are given over the different records. Walworth was a sub-district of Southwark so the 1881 Census ties in with the 1870 birth record.
On 11 June 1905 Edward married Annie Vango in St George in the East.
The record gives the following details:
Edward Alexander Letchford (-Alexandre- in the index), age 23, Cellerman (sic), 30 Berner Street, father Edward Letchford (deceased), carman.
Annie Vango, age 24, 13 Planet Road, Commercial Road, father William Vango, Tobacco stripper.
In the presence of: Isaac Isaacs and Esther Vango
But what had happened to Florence, Martha, Charles, Ada and Mary in 1891?
Sadly, Mary died in 1882 (Q1) aged just 5 and Ada died in late 1887 (Q4). Ada’s death record gives her age as 16 which would put her birth at c. 1871, 2 years earlier than the census record of 1881 suggested.
Florence
On Christmas Day 1881 Florence married Alexander Chalmers Nairn Lucas at St John the Evangelist in Stepney.
The record gives the following details:
Alexander Chalmers Nairn Lucas, age 21, porter, 19 Providence Street, father James Edward Lucas, life buoy maker
Florence Ann Letchford, age 21, 31 Berner Street, father Edward Letchford, carman.
In the presence of James Edward Lucas and Alfred John Earl
31 Berner Street is possibly a mistake for no. 30, but it’s possible that Florence had moved across the street.
Alexander’s father, James Edward Lucas came from Portsmouth and was a life buoy maker. His mother, Margaret Lucas (nee Nairn) came from Scotland. In 1851 the Lucas family lived at 8 Turner’s Buildings, St George In The East.
By 1861, they were living at 19 Providence Street, St George In The East, parallel with the southern part of Berner Street and the next street to the east along Fairclough Street. Alexander was born in 1860 Q3. He was seemingly named after his uncle, Alexander Nairn who lived with the family at one time.
In 1881 on census night, Alexander was living or staying at his sister’s (Rebecca Jordan, aged 35 at the time) whose family resided at 47 Morgan Street, St. George in the East. Alexander’s occupation was given as meat market porter.
When he got married at the end of that year, his residence was given as the family address at 19 Providence Street.
Florence and Alexander had the following children:
1883 Q1 Edwin James Alexander Lucas born Stepney
1885 Q1 Rebecca Florence, St. George in the East
1888 Harry, see below for birth record.
1896 Q1 Charles Alexander (or Alexander Charles according to the birth index) who died aged 4 in 1900 Q3 in St George East (record for Charles A Lucas).
Birth record for Harry Lucas:
When and where born: 28 September 1888, 30 Berner Street
Name: Harry
Sex: Boy
Father: Alexander Chalmers Nairn Lucas, Meat Market Porter
Mother: Florence Ann Lucas formerly Letchford
Signature of informant: the mark of Florence Ann Lucas, mother, 30 Berner Street
Registered: 6 November
The Lucases are the other family listed at 30 Berner Street in the 1891 census (family name indexed as Lucay).
Alexander Lucas 32, meat porter, born St George East, London
Florence Lucas 30, born Islington, London
Edwin Lucas 8, born St George East, London
Rebecca Lucas 6, born St George East, London
Henry Lucas 2, born St George East, London
Edwin Lucas (8) was only about a year younger than his uncle, Edward Letchford.
Rebecca and Harry are listed as expected (though Harry’s name is given as Henry).
In 1896 at the time of Charles Lucas’ birth the family were recorded as living at 38 Berner Street, next door to the International Working Men’s Educational Club. This is clearly ‘38’ in the record and is unlikely to have been a misheard ‘30’.
In the 1901 census the family are back at 30 Berner Street:
Alex Lucas 40 (wrongly transcribed in the index as Alla), meat porter, born St. Georges London
Florence 41, office cleaner, born Islington, London
Edwin J 18, office boy, born St. Georges London
Florence R 16, laundress, born St. Georges London
Henry 12, born St. Georges London
Also living there:
Susannah Letchford (Litchpa in the index) 64, head, widow, born Mereworth, Kent
Edward, son, 19, wine and spirit cellarman, born St. Georges London
The Lucas family may have moved back into No. 30 after Edward Letchford died in 1899.
Martha Maud
On 7 Aug 1882 the twenty-year-old Martha married George Henry Bynom, also 20 at the same church as Florence and Alexander. George’s father was Joseph Henry Bynom.
The name Bynom has a variety of spellings in the various records (Byrom being given for the marriage). The various records suggest that Martha was more commonly called Maud.
Maud and George had the following children (get ready!):
1883 Q2 George John Henry, St George in the East (John George H from the birth index)
1884 Q3 Elizabeth Maud, St George in the East (died 1898 Q4 aged 14)
1885 Q4 Maud Mary, St George in the East
1887 Q1 Ellen Maria, St George in the East
1888 Q4 Ada Susan, St George in the East
1890 Q3 Florence Ann, St George in the East
1892 Q1 Henry Charles, St George in the East
1894 Q1 Edward Alexander, St George in the East
ca.1896 Dolly, St George In The East (from 1901 census)
1898 Q3 Emily Jane, St George in the East (died 1900 Q3 aged 2)
1900 Q3 Mary Margaret, St George in the East (died 1906 Q1 aged 5, listed as May Margaret Bynom)
1902 Q4 Daisy Priscilla 1902, St George in the East (died 1908 Q3 aged 5)
1904 Q3 Rose Amelia, St George in the East
Elizabeth Maud Bynom (born 29 June 1884) was baptised at the same church on the same day (20 July 1884) as Benjamin Thomas Bousfield, son of William and Mary Bousfield of 4 Star Place, the latter being a witness at the inquest of Martha Tabram.
At that time, the Bynom family were living at 27 Berner Street, almost opposite no. 30. Where they were living in 1888 will be confirmed soon.
Ada Susan would appear to have been named after her aunt, Ada Letchford who had died the previous year. She got married on Christmas Day 1909 to John James Dyer at Christ Church Watney Street. She died in 1980 aged 92 in Southend on Sea (her birth date being given as 21 November 1888).
In the 1891 census, where they are listed as Byron, the family were living at 71 Spencer Street, at the eastern end of St George in the East.
George H Byron 29, carman, born St. Georges
Maud Byron 29, born Islington
George Byron 8, born St. Georges
Elizabeth Byron 7, born St. Georges
Maud Byron 6, born St. Georges
Ellen Byron 5, born St. Georges
Ada Byron 3, born St. Georges
Florence Byron 7 mo, born St. Georges
In the 1901 census, still at 71 Spencer Street:
George Byrom 39, carman, born St. George E
Maud Byrom 39, born St. George E
George Byrom 18, carman, born St. George E
Maud Byrom 15, machinist, born St. George E
Nellie Byrom 14 (Ellen), sempstress, born St. George E
Ada Byrom 12, born St. George E
Florrie Byrom 10, born St. George E
Harry Byrom 9 (Henry Charles), born St. George E
Ed Byrom 7, born St. George E
Dolly Byrom 5, born St. George E
Mary Byrom 7 mo, born St. George E
In the index Florrie is mistakenly listed as age 16 but this definitely reads 10 in the record.
Daisy Priscilla’s baptism record (3 Dec 1902) confirms George and Maud as her parents. Only Rose Amelia (born 1904) is not confirmed as Maud and George’s child in the census records.
Lizzie
21-year-old Lizzie married Hermann Schulzendorff on 4 August 1889 at the same church as her sisters.
The record details:
Hermann Schulzendorff, 23, Boot maker, 8 Splidt St (St Geo), father Ludwig Schulzendorff, Boot maker
Lizzie Susan Letchford, 20, 30 Berner St., father Edward Letchford (-worth crossed out), carman
In the presence of Henry Letchford and Milly Schulzendorff
Lizzie was actually 21 at the time.
Hermann was born in Leeds (according to the 1881 census) in c. 1866 to Prussian-born Ludwig and Henrietta Schulzendorff (and how many ways do you think that’s spelt in the records?).
In 1881 the family (listed as Schubzendorff) were living at 86 Christian Street. Hermann was then 15 and his sister ‘H. Amelia’ (Milly), who was born at sea, was aged 9.
Possibly, Lizzie was with Hermann the year before their marriage. If Hermann was living in Splidt’s Street at that time he would have been living just south of Ellen Street at the southern end of Berner Street.
Consider the following report:
From twelve o'clock till half-past a young girl who lives in the street walked up and down, and within twenty yards of where the body was found, with her sweetheart.
"We heard nothing whatever," she told a reporter this morning. "I passed the gate of the yard a few minutes before twelve o'clock alone. The doors were open, and, so far as I could tell, there was nothing inside then." "I met my young man (she proceeded) at the top of the street, and then we went for a short walk along the Commercial-road and back again, and down Berner-street. No one passed us then, but just before we said "Good night" a man came along the Commercial-road; and went in the direction of Aldgate." – Echo 1 October 1888
The report appears to tell us that the girl went to the top of Berner Street (where it meets Commercial Road) to meet her boyfriend and they took a short walk along Commercial Road before parting and going home. However, it is possible that the abridgment of the story is misleading.
The fact she said they returned down Berner Street supports the interpretation that they met at Commercial Road (being at the ‘top’ from which they returned ‘down’ Berner Street). However what a person regards as the ‘top’ of the street can be subjective especially if the street has no incline. When we look at a map of area we tend to think of the Commercial Road end of Berner Street being the ‘top’ given that was at the north end of the street and therefore at the top as we look at it.
However, it could be that the girl was referring to where Berner Street met Fairclough Street or Ellen Street.
Also the girl only refers to passing Dutfield’s Yard once and that was just before 12:00. If she was heading north to meet her boyfriend and passed Dutfield’s Yard at 12:00, she would therefore have lived south of the yard and when going back down Berner Street from Commercial Road at about 12:30 to return home she should have passed Dutfield’s Yard again, but no mention is made of passing the yard at 12:30.
Whereas if she lived north of Dutfield’s Yard and met her boyfriend at Fairclough Street to then go to Commercial Road she would pass Dutfield’s Yard twice in a short period around 12:00. On returning home at 12:30 she wouldn’t then pass it again hence why there was no mention of passing it at a time that would be closer to when the murder occurred.
If this was the case then her boyfriend possibly would then have to pass the Yard at 12:30 after seeing the girl to her house, if he lived south of Dutfield’s Yard necessitating the girl to meet him at Fairclough Street or Ellen Street.
However the report says she passed the gates alone so again this would seemingly rule out her passing it again with her boyfriend shortly after. Though she did say “we heard nothing whatever”.
The full story may have been that she met her boyfriend at the end of the street (at Fairclough Street or at Ellen Street) then walked up to Commercial Road, took a short walk along there and then returned home, the boyfriend seeing the girl to her door.
Certainly the fact that the walk continued ‘down Berner Street’ would suggest the couple did not end their walk together on Commercial Road and, likewise, it may be they didn’t start their walk together at Commercial Road either.
If this were the case, then could this couple have been Lizzie Letchford and Hermann Schulzendorff? Could Hermann have walked from Splidt’s Street (south of Ellen Street) to meet Lizzie at Ellen Street or Fairclough Street?
If this girl were Lizzie then there’s also the possibility that her idea of time was slightly wrong (some other witnesses are notoriously out with their idea of time – e.g. Edward Spooner), so possibly she didn’t return home until 12:50 (and not 12:30, which is likely a rounded time anyway).
Maybe she was there for a couple of minutes on her doorstep with Hermann saying their goodbyes. If this is the case then Hermann would then have to walk past Dutfield’s Yard to get home.
However Mrs. Mortimer, stood on her doorstep just 3 doors away at about the same reported time, did not mention seeing anyone other than Leon Goldstein passing by. But then again she did not mention seeing Charles Letchford’s sister either.
So possibly Fanny Mortimer was referring to seeing only one stranger passing by rather than people she may have known well.
Of course Charles’ timing of his sister being at the door may have been out by 5 or so minutes either way (12:45 or 12:55) and so just outside the time that Mrs. Mortimer was on her doorstep (which she said was a period of about 10 minutes starting at about 12:45).
It is perhaps unlikely that the couple concerned were Lizzie and Hermann from the way the report reads. Also there must have been a number of couples in the area and it could have been anyone of them, but it’s an interesting possibility that Lizzie was the girl in the Echo report, either returning home at 12:30 and possibly going to the door at about 12:50, or returning at about 12:50.
1891 Census, 9 Berner Street, St George in the East
Hermann Schubzemdiff 26, bootmaker, born Norwich (unclear)
Lizzie Schubzemdiff 21, born London S E
Hermann Schubzemdiff 11/12, born Mile End, London
They were living there with the Schulze family.
Lizzie and Hermann had the following children:
1890 Q2 Hermann Louis (died 1891 Q4)
1892 Q2 Edward A
1894 Q1 Dorothy Lizzie
Hermann senior, died in 1895 Q2 aged 29 in St George in the East. It appears that Lizzie never remarried.
In the 1901 census Lizzie was living at 37 Batty Street.
Lizzie S Schulzendff 30, widow, office cleaner, born Islington, London
Edward A Schulzendff 8, born St Georges, London
Dorothy Schulzendff 7, born St Georges, London
Lizzie’s age should be 33.
Dorothy died in 1907 Q2 (listed as Dorothy Schulzendorp).
Charles
Christmas Day weddings were to be a feature for the family over the years and Charles was married on this day in 1889 to Sarah Ann Grant at Christ Church, Spitalfields.
The record gives the following details:
Charles Edward Michael Letchford, 24, Barman, 17 Hanbury St., father Edward Letchford, labourer
Sarah Ann Grant 22, 10 Booth St, father George Grant, bricklayer.
The witnesses were Henry Letchford (Charles’ then 19 year old brother, who was also a witness at Lizzie’s wedding) and Martha Grant, Sarah’s sister.
17 Hanbury Street was just a few doors away from 29 Hanbury Street on the same (odd-numbered) side of the road on the corner with Wilkes Street. It was actually a public house, the Weaver’s Arms, so this was likely Charles’ place of work and not necessarily his place of residence. It is possible that he was working at the Weaver’s Arms the previous year, maybe returning home from there in the early hours of 30 September 1888 and, who knows, perhaps he’d had one drink too many.
Sarah Ann Grant was born in Barnet Hertfordshire in 1868 Q1. Her parents George Grant and Charlotte Jane Eliza Wright had married in 1860 in Tower Hamlets.
The Grant family were living at 2 Johns Place, St George in the East in 1871, the children included Sarah, 4 and her sister, Martha, 1, who was witness at Sarah and Charles’ wedding. In 1881 they were at 41 Everard Street, St George in the East, all birth places given as St Geo East. Sarah was 14, a domestic servant, and her sister, Martha was listed as age 12.
Charles was difficult to find in the 1891 census as he is listed as George Litchford.
4 Jane Street, Cov?, Bethnal Green
George Letchford (Litchford in the index) 25, Potman Inn, born Shoreditch
Sarah Ann Litchford 23, Cigar maker, born Barnet, Herts
Sarah Ann Litchford 6 months, born Bethnal Green
A potman cleared away and washed the pots in a public house, but could also be a street-seller of porter and stout, hence the ‘Inn’ qualification given in Charles’ occupation.
The actual record on the census is not clear but it does look like George rather than Charles.
The birth details for Sarah Ann on 20 September 1890 confirm this is Charles Letchford:
Born: 20 September 1890,
Address: 4 Jane Street, Whitechapel
Name: Sarah Ann
Father: Charles Edward Letchford, Barman
Mother: Sarah Ann Letchford
Sadly she was to die aged 2 in 1892 Q3 in Bethnal Green.
Other children:
1895 Q2 Charles Edward Letchford, born Mile End Old Town
1899 Q1 Alfred George Letchford, Mile End Old Town
Charles was baptised on 10 March 1895 in Christ Church, Spitalfields, suggesting a late registration.
The 1901 Census record lists the family at 8 Coburg Place, Mile End Old Town:
Charles Litchford, 34, bricklayer’s labourer, born St. George E
Sarah Ann 32, born Herts. Barnet
Charles 6, born Stepney, London
Alfred 2, born Stepney, London
Charles’ son is possibly the Charles E Letchford (born 19 Feb 1895) who died aged 76 in Waltham Forest in 1971.
Sister standing at the door
So which sister had been at the door that night about 10 minutes before Elizabeth Stride’s body was found?
There are three candidates:
Florence, 28 at the time, who had just given birth between 24 and 48 hours earlier, possibly just needing a break or a short walk even if it was just as far as the front door. Maybe little Harry was in her arms at the time.
Maud, 26, who was 7 months pregnant at the time with Ada Susan, though not living at 30 Berner Street. While reference to ‘the’ door rather than ‘her’ door suggests that Charles was referring to 30 Berner Street rather than another house where one of his sisters may have lived, it could be that if Maud was still living in Berner Street, she may have been stood at her own door.
Alternatively she may have been at 30 Berner Street at the time to visit or help her sister with her newborn child.
Finally, there’s Lizzie, about 21 at the time, who was still living at 30 Berner Street and who may have been walking about a little earlier with her boyfriend, Hermann for half an hour.
After
What happened to Harry Lucas who had been born at such an unfortunate time and place?
He followed his father as a meat porter. On Christmas Day 1915, then aged 27, he married Ellenor Cole aged 24. His address at the time was 7 Mary Ann Street, while Ellenor lived at 8 Severne Street both streets in the area just around Berner Street.
He may be the Harry Lucas who died aged 40 in 1928 in Stepney. His wife may be the Eleanor Lucas who died aged 47 in 1939 in Stepney.
Florence A Lucas died aged 57 in Whitechapel in 1917.
Alexander C N Lucas died aged 57 in Whitechapel in 1918.
Martha M Bynom died aged 64 in Stepney in 1926.
Charles E Letchford died aged 60 in Poplar in 1924.
Lizzie S Schulzendorff died aged 80 in Surrey in 1947, having apparently never remarried after the death of Hermann in 1895.
Charles Letchford, living at 30, Berners-street says: "I passed through the street at half-past 12, and everything seemed to me to be going on as usual, and my sister was standing at the door at 10 minutes to one, but did not see anyone pass by. I heard the commotion when the body was found, and heard the policemen's whistles, but did not take any notice of the matter, as disturbances are very frequent at the club, and I thought it was only another row." – Daily News 1 October 1888
So who was Charles Letchford’s sister who was on the doorstep of 30 Berner Street at 12:50 a.m. on 30 September 1888? It has been suggested that this would have been Fanny Mortimer who said she was stood on her doorstep at 36 Berner Street at about that time. However it has been countered that it couldn’t have been her as no family link has been found between Fanny (nee Skipp - Scipp in the birth index, 1840 Q1) aged 48 and Charles aged 22.
Harry Lucas
In contrast to Elizabeth Stride’s sad demise that night, there had been a birth at 30 Berner Street the day before Liz’s last full day alive.
Harry Lucas was born on 28 September 1888 to Florence Ann Lucas and the delightfully named Alexander Chalmers Nairn Lucas who lived with Florence’s family at no. 30. Florence was one of Charles’ sisters.
The Letchford family had been living at 30 Berner Street for a number of years.
Letchford History
Edward Letchford, the head of the family, was born in Bromley, Kent in 1837. In the 1841 and 1851 censuses he was living with his grandfather Thomas Letchford (Litchford in 1841 census index, Lotchford in 1851) in Wateringbury, Kent.
In 1859 in Maidstone, Kent, Edward married Susannah Adams (born 1837 in Mereworth, Kent but living in nearby Wateringbury in the 1841 census).
In 1860 they were living in Islington, London when they had their first child, Florence Ann.
In the 1861 census the new family were listed as Lichford, living at 1a, Grosvenor Street, Islington, London.
Edwd Lichford 23, Grocer’s assistant, born Bromley, Kent
Susannah Lichford 24, born Mereworth, Kent
Florence A Lichford 1, born Islington
Other children followed, the list, including Florence, as follows:
1860 Q2 Florence Ann, born Islington
1862 Q1 Martha Maud Mary born in Islington.
1865 Q2 Charles Edward Michael born in Shoreditch
1867 Q4 Lizzie Susan born in Islington.
1870 Q1 Henry Thomas born St. Saviour Southwark, Surrey
ca. 1873 Ada (derived from the 1881 census)
1876 Q4 Mary Ann born St George In The East
1881 Q3 Edward born St. George In The East (Edward Alexander from his marriage record)
In 1871 the family were at 5 Surrey Cottages in St. Mary Newington, in the district of Walworth, Southwark.
Edward Letchford 33, railway carman, born Bromley, Kent
Susannah Letchford 34, born Mereworth, Kent
Florence Letchford 11, born Islington, Middlesex
Martha Letchford 9, born Islington, Middlesex
Charles Letchford 5, born Shoreditch, Middlesex
Lizzie Letchford 3, born Islington, Middlesex
Henry Letchford 1, born Islington, Middlesex
By 1881 they were living at 30 Berner Street. All the children listed in 1871 are present in 1881 (Lizzie listed as Elizh.) with the additions of Ada 8 and Mary Ann 4.
Edward Letchford 43, carman (unemployed), born Bromley, Kent
Susannah Letchford 43, born Mereworth, Kent
Florence Letchford 21, general domestic servant, born Islington, Middlesex
Martha Letchford 19, general domestic servant, born Islington, Middlesex
Charles Letchford 15, steam sawyer’s assistant, born Shoreditch, Middlesex
Elizh. Letchford 13, born Islington, Middlesex
Henry Letchford 11, born Walworth, Surrey
Ada Letchford 8, born Walworth, Surrey
Mary A. Letchford 4, born St Geo East, Middlesex
Possibly they had moved into 30 Berner Street by 1876 when Mary was born.
The 1891 census listing for no. 30 looked a lot different to that in 1881.
The Letchfords listed are:
Edward Letchford 53, general labourer, born Bromley, Kent
Susannah Letchford 55, needlewoman, born Mereworth, Kent
Henry Letchford 21, paper miller, born Camberwell, London
Edward Letchford 9, born St. George East, London.
Another family is listed at the address along with two boarders, Fredrick Luxton (20), carman and John Mendoza (22), general labourer, both born Whitechapel.
Edward Letchford, senior died aged 62 in 1899 Q3, St. George in the East and Susannah died aged 69 in 1906 Q2, St. George in the East.
Henry T Letchford died aged 29 in 1900 Q1 in Whitechapel.
A variety of different places of birth for Henry are given over the different records. Walworth was a sub-district of Southwark so the 1881 Census ties in with the 1870 birth record.
On 11 June 1905 Edward married Annie Vango in St George in the East.
The record gives the following details:
Edward Alexander Letchford (-Alexandre- in the index), age 23, Cellerman (sic), 30 Berner Street, father Edward Letchford (deceased), carman.
Annie Vango, age 24, 13 Planet Road, Commercial Road, father William Vango, Tobacco stripper.
In the presence of: Isaac Isaacs and Esther Vango
But what had happened to Florence, Martha, Charles, Ada and Mary in 1891?
Sadly, Mary died in 1882 (Q1) aged just 5 and Ada died in late 1887 (Q4). Ada’s death record gives her age as 16 which would put her birth at c. 1871, 2 years earlier than the census record of 1881 suggested.
Florence
On Christmas Day 1881 Florence married Alexander Chalmers Nairn Lucas at St John the Evangelist in Stepney.
The record gives the following details:
Alexander Chalmers Nairn Lucas, age 21, porter, 19 Providence Street, father James Edward Lucas, life buoy maker
Florence Ann Letchford, age 21, 31 Berner Street, father Edward Letchford, carman.
In the presence of James Edward Lucas and Alfred John Earl
31 Berner Street is possibly a mistake for no. 30, but it’s possible that Florence had moved across the street.
Alexander’s father, James Edward Lucas came from Portsmouth and was a life buoy maker. His mother, Margaret Lucas (nee Nairn) came from Scotland. In 1851 the Lucas family lived at 8 Turner’s Buildings, St George In The East.
By 1861, they were living at 19 Providence Street, St George In The East, parallel with the southern part of Berner Street and the next street to the east along Fairclough Street. Alexander was born in 1860 Q3. He was seemingly named after his uncle, Alexander Nairn who lived with the family at one time.
In 1881 on census night, Alexander was living or staying at his sister’s (Rebecca Jordan, aged 35 at the time) whose family resided at 47 Morgan Street, St. George in the East. Alexander’s occupation was given as meat market porter.
When he got married at the end of that year, his residence was given as the family address at 19 Providence Street.
Florence and Alexander had the following children:
1883 Q1 Edwin James Alexander Lucas born Stepney
1885 Q1 Rebecca Florence, St. George in the East
1888 Harry, see below for birth record.
1896 Q1 Charles Alexander (or Alexander Charles according to the birth index) who died aged 4 in 1900 Q3 in St George East (record for Charles A Lucas).
Birth record for Harry Lucas:
When and where born: 28 September 1888, 30 Berner Street
Name: Harry
Sex: Boy
Father: Alexander Chalmers Nairn Lucas, Meat Market Porter
Mother: Florence Ann Lucas formerly Letchford
Signature of informant: the mark of Florence Ann Lucas, mother, 30 Berner Street
Registered: 6 November
The Lucases are the other family listed at 30 Berner Street in the 1891 census (family name indexed as Lucay).
Alexander Lucas 32, meat porter, born St George East, London
Florence Lucas 30, born Islington, London
Edwin Lucas 8, born St George East, London
Rebecca Lucas 6, born St George East, London
Henry Lucas 2, born St George East, London
Edwin Lucas (8) was only about a year younger than his uncle, Edward Letchford.
Rebecca and Harry are listed as expected (though Harry’s name is given as Henry).
In 1896 at the time of Charles Lucas’ birth the family were recorded as living at 38 Berner Street, next door to the International Working Men’s Educational Club. This is clearly ‘38’ in the record and is unlikely to have been a misheard ‘30’.
In the 1901 census the family are back at 30 Berner Street:
Alex Lucas 40 (wrongly transcribed in the index as Alla), meat porter, born St. Georges London
Florence 41, office cleaner, born Islington, London
Edwin J 18, office boy, born St. Georges London
Florence R 16, laundress, born St. Georges London
Henry 12, born St. Georges London
Also living there:
Susannah Letchford (Litchpa in the index) 64, head, widow, born Mereworth, Kent
Edward, son, 19, wine and spirit cellarman, born St. Georges London
The Lucas family may have moved back into No. 30 after Edward Letchford died in 1899.
Martha Maud
On 7 Aug 1882 the twenty-year-old Martha married George Henry Bynom, also 20 at the same church as Florence and Alexander. George’s father was Joseph Henry Bynom.
The name Bynom has a variety of spellings in the various records (Byrom being given for the marriage). The various records suggest that Martha was more commonly called Maud.
Maud and George had the following children (get ready!):
1883 Q2 George John Henry, St George in the East (John George H from the birth index)
1884 Q3 Elizabeth Maud, St George in the East (died 1898 Q4 aged 14)
1885 Q4 Maud Mary, St George in the East
1887 Q1 Ellen Maria, St George in the East
1888 Q4 Ada Susan, St George in the East
1890 Q3 Florence Ann, St George in the East
1892 Q1 Henry Charles, St George in the East
1894 Q1 Edward Alexander, St George in the East
ca.1896 Dolly, St George In The East (from 1901 census)
1898 Q3 Emily Jane, St George in the East (died 1900 Q3 aged 2)
1900 Q3 Mary Margaret, St George in the East (died 1906 Q1 aged 5, listed as May Margaret Bynom)
1902 Q4 Daisy Priscilla 1902, St George in the East (died 1908 Q3 aged 5)
1904 Q3 Rose Amelia, St George in the East
Elizabeth Maud Bynom (born 29 June 1884) was baptised at the same church on the same day (20 July 1884) as Benjamin Thomas Bousfield, son of William and Mary Bousfield of 4 Star Place, the latter being a witness at the inquest of Martha Tabram.
At that time, the Bynom family were living at 27 Berner Street, almost opposite no. 30. Where they were living in 1888 will be confirmed soon.
Ada Susan would appear to have been named after her aunt, Ada Letchford who had died the previous year. She got married on Christmas Day 1909 to John James Dyer at Christ Church Watney Street. She died in 1980 aged 92 in Southend on Sea (her birth date being given as 21 November 1888).
In the 1891 census, where they are listed as Byron, the family were living at 71 Spencer Street, at the eastern end of St George in the East.
George H Byron 29, carman, born St. Georges
Maud Byron 29, born Islington
George Byron 8, born St. Georges
Elizabeth Byron 7, born St. Georges
Maud Byron 6, born St. Georges
Ellen Byron 5, born St. Georges
Ada Byron 3, born St. Georges
Florence Byron 7 mo, born St. Georges
In the 1901 census, still at 71 Spencer Street:
George Byrom 39, carman, born St. George E
Maud Byrom 39, born St. George E
George Byrom 18, carman, born St. George E
Maud Byrom 15, machinist, born St. George E
Nellie Byrom 14 (Ellen), sempstress, born St. George E
Ada Byrom 12, born St. George E
Florrie Byrom 10, born St. George E
Harry Byrom 9 (Henry Charles), born St. George E
Ed Byrom 7, born St. George E
Dolly Byrom 5, born St. George E
Mary Byrom 7 mo, born St. George E
In the index Florrie is mistakenly listed as age 16 but this definitely reads 10 in the record.
Daisy Priscilla’s baptism record (3 Dec 1902) confirms George and Maud as her parents. Only Rose Amelia (born 1904) is not confirmed as Maud and George’s child in the census records.
Lizzie
21-year-old Lizzie married Hermann Schulzendorff on 4 August 1889 at the same church as her sisters.
The record details:
Hermann Schulzendorff, 23, Boot maker, 8 Splidt St (St Geo), father Ludwig Schulzendorff, Boot maker
Lizzie Susan Letchford, 20, 30 Berner St., father Edward Letchford (-worth crossed out), carman
In the presence of Henry Letchford and Milly Schulzendorff
Lizzie was actually 21 at the time.
Hermann was born in Leeds (according to the 1881 census) in c. 1866 to Prussian-born Ludwig and Henrietta Schulzendorff (and how many ways do you think that’s spelt in the records?).
In 1881 the family (listed as Schubzendorff) were living at 86 Christian Street. Hermann was then 15 and his sister ‘H. Amelia’ (Milly), who was born at sea, was aged 9.
Possibly, Lizzie was with Hermann the year before their marriage. If Hermann was living in Splidt’s Street at that time he would have been living just south of Ellen Street at the southern end of Berner Street.
Consider the following report:
From twelve o'clock till half-past a young girl who lives in the street walked up and down, and within twenty yards of where the body was found, with her sweetheart.
"We heard nothing whatever," she told a reporter this morning. "I passed the gate of the yard a few minutes before twelve o'clock alone. The doors were open, and, so far as I could tell, there was nothing inside then." "I met my young man (she proceeded) at the top of the street, and then we went for a short walk along the Commercial-road and back again, and down Berner-street. No one passed us then, but just before we said "Good night" a man came along the Commercial-road; and went in the direction of Aldgate." – Echo 1 October 1888
The report appears to tell us that the girl went to the top of Berner Street (where it meets Commercial Road) to meet her boyfriend and they took a short walk along Commercial Road before parting and going home. However, it is possible that the abridgment of the story is misleading.
The fact she said they returned down Berner Street supports the interpretation that they met at Commercial Road (being at the ‘top’ from which they returned ‘down’ Berner Street). However what a person regards as the ‘top’ of the street can be subjective especially if the street has no incline. When we look at a map of area we tend to think of the Commercial Road end of Berner Street being the ‘top’ given that was at the north end of the street and therefore at the top as we look at it.
However, it could be that the girl was referring to where Berner Street met Fairclough Street or Ellen Street.
Also the girl only refers to passing Dutfield’s Yard once and that was just before 12:00. If she was heading north to meet her boyfriend and passed Dutfield’s Yard at 12:00, she would therefore have lived south of the yard and when going back down Berner Street from Commercial Road at about 12:30 to return home she should have passed Dutfield’s Yard again, but no mention is made of passing the yard at 12:30.
Whereas if she lived north of Dutfield’s Yard and met her boyfriend at Fairclough Street to then go to Commercial Road she would pass Dutfield’s Yard twice in a short period around 12:00. On returning home at 12:30 she wouldn’t then pass it again hence why there was no mention of passing it at a time that would be closer to when the murder occurred.
If this was the case then her boyfriend possibly would then have to pass the Yard at 12:30 after seeing the girl to her house, if he lived south of Dutfield’s Yard necessitating the girl to meet him at Fairclough Street or Ellen Street.
However the report says she passed the gates alone so again this would seemingly rule out her passing it again with her boyfriend shortly after. Though she did say “we heard nothing whatever”.
The full story may have been that she met her boyfriend at the end of the street (at Fairclough Street or at Ellen Street) then walked up to Commercial Road, took a short walk along there and then returned home, the boyfriend seeing the girl to her door.
Certainly the fact that the walk continued ‘down Berner Street’ would suggest the couple did not end their walk together on Commercial Road and, likewise, it may be they didn’t start their walk together at Commercial Road either.
If this were the case, then could this couple have been Lizzie Letchford and Hermann Schulzendorff? Could Hermann have walked from Splidt’s Street (south of Ellen Street) to meet Lizzie at Ellen Street or Fairclough Street?
If this girl were Lizzie then there’s also the possibility that her idea of time was slightly wrong (some other witnesses are notoriously out with their idea of time – e.g. Edward Spooner), so possibly she didn’t return home until 12:50 (and not 12:30, which is likely a rounded time anyway).
Maybe she was there for a couple of minutes on her doorstep with Hermann saying their goodbyes. If this is the case then Hermann would then have to walk past Dutfield’s Yard to get home.
However Mrs. Mortimer, stood on her doorstep just 3 doors away at about the same reported time, did not mention seeing anyone other than Leon Goldstein passing by. But then again she did not mention seeing Charles Letchford’s sister either.
So possibly Fanny Mortimer was referring to seeing only one stranger passing by rather than people she may have known well.
Of course Charles’ timing of his sister being at the door may have been out by 5 or so minutes either way (12:45 or 12:55) and so just outside the time that Mrs. Mortimer was on her doorstep (which she said was a period of about 10 minutes starting at about 12:45).
It is perhaps unlikely that the couple concerned were Lizzie and Hermann from the way the report reads. Also there must have been a number of couples in the area and it could have been anyone of them, but it’s an interesting possibility that Lizzie was the girl in the Echo report, either returning home at 12:30 and possibly going to the door at about 12:50, or returning at about 12:50.
1891 Census, 9 Berner Street, St George in the East
Hermann Schubzemdiff 26, bootmaker, born Norwich (unclear)
Lizzie Schubzemdiff 21, born London S E
Hermann Schubzemdiff 11/12, born Mile End, London
They were living there with the Schulze family.
Lizzie and Hermann had the following children:
1890 Q2 Hermann Louis (died 1891 Q4)
1892 Q2 Edward A
1894 Q1 Dorothy Lizzie
Hermann senior, died in 1895 Q2 aged 29 in St George in the East. It appears that Lizzie never remarried.
In the 1901 census Lizzie was living at 37 Batty Street.
Lizzie S Schulzendff 30, widow, office cleaner, born Islington, London
Edward A Schulzendff 8, born St Georges, London
Dorothy Schulzendff 7, born St Georges, London
Lizzie’s age should be 33.
Dorothy died in 1907 Q2 (listed as Dorothy Schulzendorp).
Charles
Christmas Day weddings were to be a feature for the family over the years and Charles was married on this day in 1889 to Sarah Ann Grant at Christ Church, Spitalfields.
The record gives the following details:
Charles Edward Michael Letchford, 24, Barman, 17 Hanbury St., father Edward Letchford, labourer
Sarah Ann Grant 22, 10 Booth St, father George Grant, bricklayer.
The witnesses were Henry Letchford (Charles’ then 19 year old brother, who was also a witness at Lizzie’s wedding) and Martha Grant, Sarah’s sister.
17 Hanbury Street was just a few doors away from 29 Hanbury Street on the same (odd-numbered) side of the road on the corner with Wilkes Street. It was actually a public house, the Weaver’s Arms, so this was likely Charles’ place of work and not necessarily his place of residence. It is possible that he was working at the Weaver’s Arms the previous year, maybe returning home from there in the early hours of 30 September 1888 and, who knows, perhaps he’d had one drink too many.
Sarah Ann Grant was born in Barnet Hertfordshire in 1868 Q1. Her parents George Grant and Charlotte Jane Eliza Wright had married in 1860 in Tower Hamlets.
The Grant family were living at 2 Johns Place, St George in the East in 1871, the children included Sarah, 4 and her sister, Martha, 1, who was witness at Sarah and Charles’ wedding. In 1881 they were at 41 Everard Street, St George in the East, all birth places given as St Geo East. Sarah was 14, a domestic servant, and her sister, Martha was listed as age 12.
Charles was difficult to find in the 1891 census as he is listed as George Litchford.
4 Jane Street, Cov?, Bethnal Green
George Letchford (Litchford in the index) 25, Potman Inn, born Shoreditch
Sarah Ann Litchford 23, Cigar maker, born Barnet, Herts
Sarah Ann Litchford 6 months, born Bethnal Green
A potman cleared away and washed the pots in a public house, but could also be a street-seller of porter and stout, hence the ‘Inn’ qualification given in Charles’ occupation.
The actual record on the census is not clear but it does look like George rather than Charles.
The birth details for Sarah Ann on 20 September 1890 confirm this is Charles Letchford:
Born: 20 September 1890,
Address: 4 Jane Street, Whitechapel
Name: Sarah Ann
Father: Charles Edward Letchford, Barman
Mother: Sarah Ann Letchford
Sadly she was to die aged 2 in 1892 Q3 in Bethnal Green.
Other children:
1895 Q2 Charles Edward Letchford, born Mile End Old Town
1899 Q1 Alfred George Letchford, Mile End Old Town
Charles was baptised on 10 March 1895 in Christ Church, Spitalfields, suggesting a late registration.
The 1901 Census record lists the family at 8 Coburg Place, Mile End Old Town:
Charles Litchford, 34, bricklayer’s labourer, born St. George E
Sarah Ann 32, born Herts. Barnet
Charles 6, born Stepney, London
Alfred 2, born Stepney, London
Charles’ son is possibly the Charles E Letchford (born 19 Feb 1895) who died aged 76 in Waltham Forest in 1971.
Sister standing at the door
So which sister had been at the door that night about 10 minutes before Elizabeth Stride’s body was found?
There are three candidates:
Florence, 28 at the time, who had just given birth between 24 and 48 hours earlier, possibly just needing a break or a short walk even if it was just as far as the front door. Maybe little Harry was in her arms at the time.
Maud, 26, who was 7 months pregnant at the time with Ada Susan, though not living at 30 Berner Street. While reference to ‘the’ door rather than ‘her’ door suggests that Charles was referring to 30 Berner Street rather than another house where one of his sisters may have lived, it could be that if Maud was still living in Berner Street, she may have been stood at her own door.
Alternatively she may have been at 30 Berner Street at the time to visit or help her sister with her newborn child.
Finally, there’s Lizzie, about 21 at the time, who was still living at 30 Berner Street and who may have been walking about a little earlier with her boyfriend, Hermann for half an hour.
After
What happened to Harry Lucas who had been born at such an unfortunate time and place?
He followed his father as a meat porter. On Christmas Day 1915, then aged 27, he married Ellenor Cole aged 24. His address at the time was 7 Mary Ann Street, while Ellenor lived at 8 Severne Street both streets in the area just around Berner Street.
He may be the Harry Lucas who died aged 40 in 1928 in Stepney. His wife may be the Eleanor Lucas who died aged 47 in 1939 in Stepney.
Florence A Lucas died aged 57 in Whitechapel in 1917.
Alexander C N Lucas died aged 57 in Whitechapel in 1918.
Martha M Bynom died aged 64 in Stepney in 1926.
Charles E Letchford died aged 60 in Poplar in 1924.
Lizzie S Schulzendorff died aged 80 in Surrey in 1947, having apparently never remarried after the death of Hermann in 1895.
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