Ripper Confidential by Tom Wescott (2017)

[MysterySinger]

Yes Esther was a shop lady then and living at 6 Brick Lane. The best I can make it out to be is pregnancy but that's unlikely since her daughter was born a couple of months before. Actually it feels a bit weird talking about "real" people in this way - normally they're just a name on a page.

[MrBarnett]

That's a bit spooky Mr B. Bet she re-told that Ripper tale to her friends a few times.

I know I would have!

I think Esther spent a month in the Whitechapel Infirmary in 1903, but I can't decipher the malady she was suffering from.

[MysterySinger]

That's a bit spooky Mr B. Bet she re-told that Ripper tale to her friends a few times.

[MrBarnett]

Yes this is something from Ancestry and Esther Samuels (Mallows) who died in Essex. I suspect it's something passed down and re-told in the family but would suggest there is some truth in it. Some sources suggest she was born in 1880 but Idon't know that that is correct - census returns suggest nearer 1884 or threabouts making her 4 in 1888.

Unlikely that she'd remember the incident terribly well but may have been re-inforced by those around her over the years. Even the interview date seems uncertain.

Anyhow the source is a public story on Ancestry and the details are

ehardy6920 originally shared this on 11 Jun 2010
Was interviewed by the BBC in the 1950s/60s re being approached aged 8 by Jack the Ripper.

I think she was living in Reede Road, Dagenham in the 1960s. A few minutes walk from my primary school.

[MysterySinger]

Yes this is something from Ancestry and Esther Samuels (Mallows) who died in Essex. I suspect it's something passed down and re-told in the family but would suggest there is some truth in it. Some sources suggest she was born in 1880 but Idon't know that that is correct - census returns suggest nearer 1884 or threabouts making her 4 in 1888.

Unlikely that she'd remember the incident terribly well but may have been re-inforced by those around her over the years. Even the interview date seems uncertain.

Anyhow the source is a public story on Ancestry and the details are

ehardy6920 originally shared this on 11 Jun 2010
Was interviewed by the BBC in the 1950s/60s re being approached aged 8 by Jack the Ripper.

[MrBarnett]

A great discovery, MS.

Are we talking about the Esther Samuels who died in Barking in 1972?

[Robert]

Wow! Interesting stuff, MS!

[Debra A]

With regard to Margaret Millous, I believe this to be Margaret Mallows - in the records variously as Mallows, Mellows and Millows and forename sometimes Mary or Margaret.

She was a charlady and was married to husband John who was a bricklayer. They had children Maria, John and Esther. I also understand that Esther was interviewed by the BBC in the 1950s/60s re being approached aged 8 by Jack the Ripper (I think more likely aged 4 at the time). Esther was married to Abraham (Arthur) Samuels. I wonder whether a JTR suspect carried out an assault whilst Margaret was actually with her children?

With husband John, they lived in 1881 at 17 Goulstone Court and in 1891 at 5 Harriot Place (close to Fashion Street). John died in the second quarter of 1893 and in September Margaret Mallows was residing at 18 Thrawl Street.

If I have the right lady, Margaret was previously Margaret O'Leary.

Excellent work, MS! I think you are on to something here and interesting info about Esther.

[Tom_Wescott]

Hi Mystery. What's this about the 1950s and 60s? Do you have links or sources for this? Very interested.

Yours truly,

Tom Wescott

[MysterySinger]

Extract from an 1893 workhouse entry...

[MysterySinger]

With regard to Margaret Millous, I believe this to be Margaret Mallows - in the records variously as Mallows, Mellows and Millows and forename sometimes Mary or Margaret.

She was a charlady and was married to husband John who was a bricklayer. They had children Maria, John and Esther. I also understand that Esther was interviewed by the BBC in the 1950s/60s re being approached aged 8 by Jack the Ripper (I think more likely aged 4 at the time). Esther was married to Abraham (Arthur) Samuels. I wonder whether a JTR suspect carried out an assault whilst Margaret was actually with her children?

With husband John, they lived in 1881 at 17 Goulstone Court and in 1891 at 5 Harriot Place (close to Fashion Street). John died in the second quarter of 1893 and in September Margaret Mallows was residing at 18 Thrawl Street.

If I have the right lady, Margaret was previously Margaret O'Leary.

[Tom_Wescott]

Having received the book yesterday I am finding it a very good read. I like the style in which it is written and there's just the right amount of detail. A couple of minor spelling errors perhaps and some Americanisms as would be expected, but I think it is excellent.

Whether or not this has been addressed before within this thread I'm not sure but there does seem a little vagueness as to when Polly Nichols was born whereas according to the find a grave index she was born on 26th August 1845 (and another source puts her birth at 1 Dawes Court, Shoe Lane, London). Her parents I have as Edward Walker and Caroline Webb. That said, I haven't located Polly or her mother in the 1851 Census whereas Edward was with his parents.

Hi Mystery. Americanisms. I like that. There are no typos in my books, just Americanisms.

As for Nichols's birth, I was a bit vague because the sources are.

Yours truly,

Tom Wescott

[MysterySinger]

Having received the book yesterday I am finding it a very good read. I like the style in which it is written and there's just the right amount of detail. A couple of minor spelling errors perhaps and some Americanisms as would be expected, but I think it is excellent.

Whether or not this has been addressed before within this thread I'm not sure but there does seem a little vagueness as to when Polly Nichols was born whereas according to the find a grave index she was born on 26th August 1845 (and another source puts her birth at 1 Dawes Court, Shoe Lane, London). Her parents I have as Edward Walker and Caroline Webb. That said, I haven't located Polly or her mother in the 1851 Census whereas Edward was with his parents.

[Dane_F]

Still in the process of finishing the book. Nearly through part 2 now. I found the Stride stuff interesting mainly because of giving a different outlook on the witnesses and why there was mixed statements about the blood. Fun stuff.

[Tom_Wescott]

I didn't make the point clearly, did I. It actually should be "wicket", i.e., a small door in a larger gate. You wrote "wicker". I'm pretty sure it wasn't a wicker wicket.

Yeah, 'wicker' was intentional.

Yours truly,

Tom Wescott