East End Pluckroses

Origins

John's immediate origins are almost certainly in the Barking/Woodford area. Nothing else is known at present .

This is an interesting tree because it casts a light on the sometimes turbulent lives of the poorer people living in one of the less salubrious areas of London during a time of considerable social change and upheaval. More information about the activities of some of these people can be found in the History Section (1801-1900) - but only because of their financial troubles or their brushes with the law. We know less about our law-abiding ancestors, unfortunately. Going to church on a regular basis doesn't get you into the newspapers.

Points of interest

PL No	Surname	Forenames	Notes
1935	ABELL	Emma	C1841: aged 11, living with her parents (father Henry a cooper) and two sisters in Bethnal Green.Emma, born in Bethnal Green ca 1834 had two children, Samuel and Emma in 1852 and 1853. She married their father, Samuel Pluckrose, on 21 May 1855. C1861: Samuel, Emma and five children are living in Bethnal Green, Emma is a boot binder In the 1871 census Emma is living with Henry Lancaster, apparently as his wife. In 1881 Emma (a needlewoman) is living with her son, Albert, and someone described as 'brother' - George Scrivenor (unlikely, as her maiden name was Abell) a 50 year old unmarried baker born in Chigwell. C1891: NF; C1901: pauper inmate in Westminster Union Workhouse. Her death is recorded in Shoreditch in 1905 at the age of 74. Convicted of Coining at the Old Bailey on 15 September 1879 and sentenced to four months imprisonment.
1991	ARNOLD	Albert Tom	C1891: a gardener, born in Motcombe, Dorset.
3357	ASHBY	William Brownlow	Parents were Thomas Ashby & Eliza Blakely.
2634	BATCHELOR	Eliza	C1861
2637	BENNETT	Ann Maria	C1851. She died 29 Oct 1854 of 'brain fever' - probably encephalitis or meningitis.
1529	BENNETT	Elizabeth	C1891.
2004	BROADSELL	Jemima	C1841; C1851, a labourer
2000	BROWN	Elizabeth	C1851, C1861
4089	CHAMPNESS	Elizabeth	An Elizabeth Champness was baptised in Manuden (about 30 miles north of Woodford) on 15 April 1739; mother was Anne Champness - no father mentioned. FHL Film No: 560907.
2003	CHATFIELD	Elizabeth	C1881; C1891 not found; C1901: no children; C1911: in the Paddington workhouse, a widow aged 68, born Sevenoaks.
2643	CLITHEROW	Mary Ann	This is the daughter of the Ann Clitherow who married George's elder brother Henry. C1851: straw bonnett maker, aged 19; C1861; C1871; C1881: age 49, a widow, milliner, born Wandsworth; C1901: a visitor to Eliza Ingram at 64 Hackney Road, Bethnal Green.
0340	COLE	Joseph	C1841: There is a possible death: Joseph COLE, Q3 1869, Bethnal Green, 1c, 199, aged 83.
1943	COOMBES	Clara	C1901;
1992	CROUCH	Amy	C1891; C1901; C1911: married 27 years, 6 children, 3 living, 3 dead. No death or remarriage record found.
2635	HAMSTEAD	Mary Ellen	Thanks to Michell Copestake for the following information about her great x 3 grandmother. Mary Wilford was born on 26th October 1843 at Great Oxendon, Northampton, the illegitimate daughter of Ann Hampstead. In 1847 her mother married William Wilford. Some time between 1861 and 1864 Mary moved from Northampton to London, and, on 6th November 1864, she became the fifth wife of widower Henry Pluckrose at St Dunstans church, Stepney. Henry was a butcher 40 years Mary's senior. On the marriage certificate he gave his address as 3 Oxford street and she gave her address as 6 Oxford street. Both Henry and Mary lied about their ages, presumably to narrow the apparent age difference. He was 48 and she was 24. In 1865 she gave birth to her only child Ellen Matilda Julia Pluckrose. In the 1871 census Mary was living with her husband Henry, daughter Ellen Matilda Julia Pluckrose and 19 year old step son Harry Robert Pluckrose in Kingsland Road, St Leonard Shoreditch. Henry died in 1874 and a year later Mary married Samuel James Chapman. The marriage was short lived and ended in divorce in 1877. Samuel petitioned for divorce and 'Dillon' was named as co-respondent (National Archives). Mary married again soon after the divorce to widower John Thomas Henry Lambert Goodwin. Mary married using the name 'Ellen Pluckrose' (as her previous marriage had ended in divorce, she resumed the name Pluckrose), but she appears in the1881 census as Mary Ellen Goodwin living with her Railway signalman husband John Goodwin and step children John James, Eliza Rosamund and William at 22 Clinton Road in Mile end. Mary died in Mile End Old Town in1886. John Goodwin remarried shortly after her death.
1969	HAWLEY	Leah Susannah	C1901; C1911: age 47, born Liverpool St, married 25 years, 7 children, 5 still living.
3155	HOLDERNESS	Richard	C1851: butcher, living at 51 Maria St., wid., b. Cookham Berks c1806.
3035	JOHNSTON	Mary	There is not enough information in the record to be certain that I have the right death record, but it looks very likely.
1998	LANCASTER	Henry	C1871: see notes for Emma Abell; C1881; a carpenter, wid., living with his 11 year old son, Alfred, No sign of Emma.
1999	LANCHESTER	Emily	In 1881 census, 1891 census (no children)
2641	MARSDEN	Elizabeth Harriett	C1891; age 29, born Hoxton, no children; C1901: not found. She was only 29 when her husband died so may have 'remarried' - I haven't found a marriage record in the GRO index, however.
3028	MCNAIR	Sarah	No children found.
2593	MILLER	Gillian P	No children found.
3358	PAGE	Fanny	Father was John Page, mother Susanna Hayward.
3360	PLUCKROSE	Ada	I haven't found a birth record but her marriage record clearly shows her father was Edward Albert Pluckrose.
1939	PLUCKROSE	Albert Edward	C1871: he is with his mother and the Lancaster family; C1881: living with his mother, aged 14, working as a boot finisher; C1891: a boarder in the Bethnal Green household of John and Mary Palmer, aged 24, a boot finisher; C1901 not found; C1911: 42, unmarried, a boot finisher, living with his brother John James.
1955	PLUCKROSE	Alfred	In 1841 living in Bethnal Green and working as a butcher. Not found in 1861 census but wife's occupation given as wife of ships cook - so perhaps he was at sea. In 1871, in Southampton - ships cook (unemployed). Found guilty at the Old Bailey on 31 January 1842 of stealing meat from his employer. Sentenced to seven years (see entries in the History section).
1982	PLUCKROSE	Alfred	C1851: 1 month old;
2630	PLUCKROSE	Amelia	C1841;
1993	PLUCKROSE	Amy	C1891; C1901: 16, living with parents, childrens costume machinist. She married Walter Torry in 1909 and they had four daughters. She left a Will.
4091	PLUCKROSE	Ann	An Ann Pluckrose married John Lawrence at St George, Hanover Square in 1799 (Boyd's Index) but there is no known connection.
1988	PLUCKROSE	Anne Maria	C1861: in Southampton; C1871: in Southampton, a scholar; C1881: NF
1957	PLUCKROSE	Catherine Celia	Cecilia in the marriage index
2151	PLUCKROSE	Daniel	Daniel and Sarah Musgrove head Tree 1012
3359	PLUCKROSE	Doreen Elizabeth	Doreen married on 25 Nov 1931 [spouse unknown]
1972	PLUCKROSE	Dorothy Lilian	C1901
1532	PLUCKROSE	Edith	1911: "housework at home. Edith and Frederick had three sons.
2002	PLUCKROSE	Edward Albert	C1851; C1861. Emigrated to Australia. Australian marriage index records that his father was George Pluckrose.
1520	PLUCKROSE	Edwin	1861; Twin (with the Emily who died soon after birth); C1881: "Edward ; C1891 living in same house as his older brother Joseph and his family; C1911: widowed, a cabinet maker.
1530	PLUCKROSE	Edwin	C1891; C1911: Living with his widowed father and sisters Lily, Edith and Maud at 14 Eleanor Road, Hackney; a cabinet maker, like his father. He served in the Royal Engineers in WW1 and was wounded in 1918.
1983	PLUCKROSE	Eliza Ann	C1861; C1871;
1517	PLUCKROSE	Eliza Jane	C1861;
3745	PLUCKROSE	Elizabeth	C1861;
2631	PLUCKROSE	Elizabeth Emma	C1841: age 7; C1851
1987	PLUCKROSE	Elizabeth Patience	C1861: in Southampton; C1871: aged 14, domestic servant in household of Henrietta Bevan, widow, aged 50, corset maker; C1881: a domestic servant, unmarried in South Stoneham ; C1991 married with four children.
2636	PLUCKROSE	Ellen Matilda Julia	C1871
1521	PLUCKROSE	Emily	Twin with Edwin.
1522	PLUCKROSE	Emily	C1861; C1881 unmarried.
1986	PLUCKROSE	Emily Louisa	C1861: in Southampton (Louisa); C1871: also Louisa; C1881 in Southampton, married, but only person in schedule (husband probably at sea).
1937	PLUCKROSE	Emma Abell	C1861; C1871: with her mother who is living as Emma Lancaster. There is a possible death in the Bethnal Green RD in Q4 1919 (age 65).
1970	PLUCKROSE	Ethel Hetty	In 1891 census living with her grandparents (and brother John and his mother - but father is missing). C1901.
1994	PLUCKROSE	Florence	C1891.
1933	PLUCKROSE	George	Occupation:wheelwright at baptism of son, Jonah, in 1817 and again in 1839 at marriage of daughter, Ann.
1951	PLUCKROSE	George	C1841: a coachman living with his brothers (no females) in Bethnal Green; C1851: married with two sons and working as a porter; C1861: a gardener at the Norwood Institute (living in ?) - his wife is housekeeper to the Institute; C1871: in the Union workhouse, Hackney: aged 58, widower, coachman, born Chigwell.
2629	PLUCKROSE	George	C1841; C1861 (no children); C1871 (no children); C1881 not found
2229	PLUCKROSE	George	Not in 1841 census (confirming death)
3157	PLUCKROSE	George	Born 22 Jan 1855 at 2 Hay Street, Haggerstone. Died 30 Jan 1856, St Dunstan, Stepney (source Valerie Coupland)
2001	PLUCKROSE	George Christopher	Born 24 Jan 1845, chr 2 March, St Martin, Westminster. C1851; C1861; he is a visitor to the household of John and Elizabeth Brown, his occupation is clerk; C1871 he is again in the Brown household, unmarried, a butcher's clerk. His mother's maiden name was Brown, but she was born in York whereas John Brown was born in Stepney. A link is possible. C1881 married, no children, a butcher's clerk; C1901: a hackney carriage driver.
1980	PLUCKROSE	George Thomas	C1851; C1861: errand boy; C1871/C1881/C1891: NF; C1901: fancy boot maker
1996	PLUCKROSE	Grace	C1901; C1911. Grace lived to be 103.
2633	PLUCKROSE	Harry Robert	C1851; C1861; C1871; C1891: 40, a butcher, his widowed mother-in-law, Elizabeth Marsden is living with them.
2625	PLUCKROSE	Henry	Henry is assigned to these parents on the basis of his 1864 marriage certificate which records his father as George Pluckrose, wheelwright, the same description as on brother Joseph's (PL1954) marriage certificate in 1843. Henry was a butcher who had meat stolen from his shop twice in 1829 and once in 1830. On the latter occasion the thieves were transported to New South Wales. On one occasion his brother James was a witness at the trial. This brother was himself jailed for a year in 1857 for receiving stolen meat. C1841; C1851; C1861; C1871. Perry's Bankrupt and Insolvent Gazette records that Henry Pluckrose of Brick Lane, Bethnal Green, butcher (insolvent) is to appear at the Court House, Portugal Street, on 4th February 1840 at nine. He appears in the Court for Relief of Insolvent Debtors on 3 January 1849 (presumably seeking protection from his creditors). Henry Pluckrose had five wives - one less than Henry Tudor. More information in the History section.
2628	PLUCKROSE	Henry	C1841: living in Brick Lane, Bethnal Green, age 11; C1851: living in Finsbury, age 24, butcher, with wife Ann (20 years older) and stepdaughter, also Ann; C1861: age 34, with second wife, Matilda, master butcher employing 1 boy; C1871: NF; C1881: aged 60, (retired butcher), lodging with his wife, Rosina, with Thomas Wordley, (also a butcher}, at his shop at 1 Portobello Terrace, Kensington; C1891: NF. There is a possible death in Q4 1899 Wandsworth 1d 519, aged 78. The age is out by several years but agrees with the date recorded in the 1881 census.
1950	PLUCKROSE	James	C1841, only James Snr (a butcher) and James Jnr living at Gibraltar Walk, Bethnal Green. The absence of wife Mary Ann and son George indicates that they have died. C1851, journeyman butcher; age is a couple of years out but birthplace is correct. In 1861 census. Stood trial at the Old Bailey on 15 June 1857 on a charge of receiving stolen meat. Found guilty and sentenced to 12 months in jail.
2005	PLUCKROSE	James	C1841; C1851, a labourer
0389	PLUCKROSE	James George	Twin of William Alfred; died aged a few weeks. Birth cert held by Lesley Murray.
1519	PLUCKROSE	James George	C1861; C1881: - unmarried, a bootmaker; C1891: now married, a shoemaker; C1901: cordwainer; C1911: shoemaker
2769	PLUCKROSE	James Harrold	He died some time between 1916 and 1925 [Australia death index: v463, p138 [1916-1925], South Australia
4097	PLUCKROSE	John	Top of this tree. There is a possible death in Barking in 1764 (FHL Film No: 1471843).
4088	PLUCKROSE	John	John PLUCK (not Pluckrose) on his marriage record. He was a cordwainer and he took on an apprentice, Thomas Flitter, for a seven year term on 12 March 1773 (see History section of website).
1456	PLUCKROSE	John	Head of Tree 1006 with Hannah Rounding.
1938	PLUCKROSE	John James	C1861; C1871: with his mother who is living as Emma Lancaster; C1881: a boot maker, living with his first wife, Harriet. He is not with his family in the 1891 census. C1901; C1911: living in Stratford (West Ham) with wife, Lear (sic), daughter, Dorothy, and brother Albert, age 55, a boot maker.
1974	PLUCKROSE	John James	In 1891 census living with his grandparents (and sister Ethel and his mother - but father is missing).
1953	PLUCKROSE	Jonah	C1841: 24, butcher, living in Bethnal Green; C1851: NF: C1861: 45, butcher, wid, living in a lodging house in Bethnal Green, I can't, however, find a marriage.
1954	PLUCKROSE	Joseph	C1861: a butcher, 22 Goring Street, Hackney.
1515	PLUCKROSE	Joseph	C1861; C1881; C1891: (no children) living in same house as his older brother Joseph and his family; C1901: Joseph and Emily are living in Shoreditch and he is described as a ladies' shoemaker.
1941	PLUCKROSE	Joseph	He is in the 1861 census but I can't find him in later ones which tends to confirm a death in Q4 1861.
1516	PLUCKROSE	Julia	C1861: servant in the household of Richard Scott (butcher). Spouse identified by Free BMD and 1881 census (name recorded erroneously as Wibb).
1531	PLUCKROSE	Lily Elizabeth	C1891. C1911: single, working as a blouse machinist.
1949	PLUCKROSE	Maria	George and Elizabeth identified as her parents in christening record.
1523	PLUCKROSE	Maria	C1911: living in Bexley Heath, married 27 years, 2 children, both living (at home), husband, Harry, a corn and forage dealer's manager.
1514	PLUCKROSE	Mary Ann	C1861
1984	PLUCKROSE	Mary Ann	C1861; C1871;
1946	PLUCKROSE	Mary Elizabeth	George and Elizabeth identified as parents in christening record.
1989	PLUCKROSE	Matilda Catherine	C1871; C1881: a domestic servant in Southampton, unmarried. Not found in census, marriage or death records after 1881.
3159	PLUCKROSE	Maud	C1911: at school.
1995	PLUCKROSE	May Beatrice	C1901; C1911: with parents, dress machinist.
4090	PLUCKROSE	Rosamund	A Sarah Pluckrose was baptised in Chigwell in Feb 1790, mother was Rosamund Pluckrose, no father named.
1934	PLUCKROSE	Samuel	C1841: living with parents in Bethnal Green and working as a paper stainer; C1851: living in St George in the East and working as a paper hanger. He has a 'wife' Eliza, but no children; I haven't found a marriage or a death for Eliza before his marriage to Emma Abell in 1855. C1861: living in Bethnal Green with his wife, Emma, and five children, and working as a dock labourer. I can't find him in the 1871 census, but in this census Emma (with 5 Pluckrose children) is living with Henry Lancaster, apparently as his wife. Samuel was obviously not happy with the situation as the following newspaper report on the proceedings of the Worship Street Magistrates Court indicates . . . 'CHARGE OF STABBING - Samuel Pluckrose, 30, was charged with cutting and wounding Henry Lancaster, by stabbing him in the head with a knife. Prosecutor, who lived in Woodland-street, Hackney-road, stated that he was passing prisoner's house, and hearing a noise opened the door and went in. He had no sooner entered than the prisoner stabbed him in the head with a knife. - The prisoner, in defence, with much vehemence, declared that the prosecutor was a black-hearted villain. He had seduced his (prisoner's) wife from her home, leaving him with three children. She only returned once a day to suckle the baby and then left. - Mr Newton expressed his sorrow at hearing such a tale, but it had nothing to do with the charge against the prisoner. He must be committed for trial. I don't have a date for this report but his age, and the reference to 3 children, suggests early 1857. Emma must have gone back to Samuel for a period as Samuel appears to have fathered four more children.
1936	PLUCKROSE	Samuel George	His birth (3 years before the marriage of his parents) is registered as Samuel Pluckrose ABEL. C1861: he is recorded as James; C1871: unmarried, aged 19, bootmaker; he is with his mother living as Emma Lancaster. He joined the army in December 1871 but deserted on 22nd September 1875, (prior to a posting to India). C1881: NF; C1891: aged 38, bootlaster; C1901: 48, bootmaker, born Stepney; Found guilty at the Old Bailey on 17 December 1866 of stealing lead; sentenced to two years at the Feltham Reformatory.
1958	PLUCKROSE	Samuel George	C1901. George Samuel in marriage index and his marriage certificate. He was recruited into the Royal Field Artillery on 9 September 1915. The attestation record shows that he was an engineer, that he was 5ft 3in. tall and had lost two thirds of his thumb. His service as a driver was short - he was discharged on medical grounds on 2 December 1915. The file contains a rather pathetic letter from him received at the RFA Depot in Woolwich on 13 Jan 1921 - barely 6 weeks before his death at the early age of 39. He said that he had been in Homerton Infirmary for 8 months suffering from rheumatic fever, he could not work, was destitute and could not get the 'pound a week donation' because he had lost his discharge papers.
4101	PLUCKROSE	Sarah	There is another death in the records: 8 Jul 1792 at Woodford: Sarah Pluckrose, infant, from Woodford Bridge. SoGLib; ES/R/17&18. 30 Jun 2001.
1948	PLUCKROSE	Sarah	George and Elizabeth identified as parents in christening record.
1945	PLUCKROSE	Thomas	C1841: living in Bethnal Green and working as a paper stainer. C1851: paper stainer, born Chigwell married with three children; 1861: living in South Hackney, a paper hanger. Valerie Coupland's 2xgreat grandfather. Found guilty at the Old Bailey on 12 December 1842 of stealing some lead pipe. Sentenced to be confined for two months.
1981	PLUCKROSE	Thomas William	C1851; C1861: errand boy; C1871: not found. There is a possible death recordin Hackney in 1871 for a Thomas Pluckrose age 19 (should be 23).
3357	PLUCKROSE	Violet Florence	She married some time between 1917 and 1927 (Australia Marriage index)
1978	PLUCKROSE	Walter Alexander	C1871 with his mother and the Lancaster family. Not found in later censuses which indicates the death found in 1874.
1947	PLUCKROSE	William	George and Elizabeth identified as parents in christening record.
1518	PLUCKROSE	William Alfred	C1861; C1881 - unmarried, working as a bootmaker. There is a possible marriage of a William Alfred Pluckrose in Q3 1891 (St Saviour 1d, 301) to either Maria Bacon or Sarah White. However, I can't find him in the 1901 census (or the 1891). There is a possible death record: Q1 1890, Bethnal Green, 1c, 188, age 34 (should be 36).
1940	PLUCKROSE	William Alfred	There is scope for confusion, with a William Alfred born in BG Q3 1853 and another William Alfred, also born in BG, in Q3 1858. There are no relevant deaths during this period. C1861: living with his parents; C1871: not found; he is not with his mother and the Lancaster family. C1881: a lodger in the household of John Goldman, a carman - born in Bethnal Green, aged 22, unmarried and a boot riveter; C1891: he is recorded as married, living with Fanny and two children, working as a bootmaker, aged 33. Fanny is 31, and the children 15 and 13, both born in Shoreditch. I haven't found a marriage and this doesn't tie in with the 1881 census where William is unmarried. Perhaps Fanny was a widow with children? Fanny and the children are all called Pluckrose. However, there aren't any obvious Pluckrose births in the relevant years. C1901: not found, neither is Fanny. There is a death that almost fits: in Hackney, Q3 1893, aged 31. The age is a couple of years out but this is not unusual. A death certificate would be needed to confirm.
1973	PLUCKROSE	William John F	C1901
1457	ROUNDING	Hannah	Heads Tree 1006 with John Pluckrose.
1985	SCOTT	Louisa Harriett	In 1861 census but husband probably at sea. In 1871 census.
2639	SHEPPARD	Rosina	C1881
1944	SIMMONS PLANT	Elizabeth	C1841: now married to Joseph Cole and living in Bethnal Green with three Cole stepsons and five Pluckrose sons; C1851: living in Barnet Grove, Bethnal Green; C1861: living in Hackney, a boarder, aged 78, born St Giles, with Joseph, aged 80, string spinner, born Bristol.
2228	SLADE	Mary Ann	There is another possible death record in the GRO index: Q3 1838, Shoreditch 2, 271; however, I think it likely that this belongs to the Mary Ann whose birth was registered in Shoreditch in the same quarter.
3029	SUTHERLEY	Harriet	C1881: b. Hackney, c1860, no children.
2632	TAYLOR	Harriett	C1851;
2638	THOMPSON	Matilda	C1861
1979	THURNELL	Eliza	C1851: a boot binder, born Bethnal Green, name wrongly recorded as Elenor. C1861: Eliza, shoe binder; C1871: wid, charwoman; C1881: not found. No death or remarriage found.
4512	TORRY	Walter	He left a Will.
3153	WALL	Louisa	C1901: provision shop keeper
1513	WARD	Mary Ann	C1881: a widow

 

Acknowledgements

I am grateful to Peggy Yapp, Lesley Murray and Doreen Dunstan for providing much of the information used in the compilation of this tree, also to Michelle Copestake, Jane Harbour, Valerie Coupland, David Thurston, Steve Lancaster and Patrick Sheehan for their help in filling in the gaps.