Shrobrees and the Old Bailey

Well here we are again with some more Shrosbree sightings . The first is not so much a sighting as some additional information on Albert De bois Shrosbree at the time he was living in Highlands, Cold Ash, near Newbury, Berkshire, he and and W.H Singer had a joint Patent registered for a Window system. July 14, 1932, No. 19941. [Classes 20 (ii) and 20 (iii).] the patent also gives address details for Albert as Highlands, Cold Ash, so we know that he was active at this address until c1935 .

The real story for this blogg though concerns Thomas Earnest Shrosbree. We know he was born 11/Dec/1872.[ B.M.D. Mar qtr 1873 1c-125 Shoreditch ] and indications were that he was the son of Robert James and Jessie M Balcombe but that would put him born some two years before his parents marriage . There is doubt about his parentage at this stage therefore. He is absent from all the census. The next sighting we have is in 1904 where he appears in a court case www.oldbaileyonline.org/static/crimes.jsp#theft.
it is in the transcript we learn that he was "Adopted" at the age of 15-16 and had been living with the Wonham family for fifteen years ! he went by the name of Thomas Wonham .
Which explains some of the mystery but leaves an even bigger enigma, namely where are the Wonham's on any of the Census ? Although there are many Wonhams listed none match the profile of the family he was adopted by . We encounter Thomas E Shrosbree again in 1908 when he marries Alice Maud Wallbridge in West Ham [B.M.D 4a-236 ]
Our next meeting with Thomas Earnest is in Cananda where he has emigrated with his wife and children Winnifred b 1910 and Joseph b1911 . In 1915 at the age of 43 Thomas enlisted with the Canadian forces and journeyed to France to fight in the Trenches . He returned safely and died age 57 in Hamilton Ontario. Thanks to Doug Gowland in Canada we have some information about Thomas and his family in Canada. If you have any info for Thomas in the missing years please share it with us .Peter.

The good news is this appears to be the only case at the Old Bailey involving the Shrosbrees

Albert de Bois Shrosbree part II

Here we are back with an update to the enigmatic De bois shrosbree . In 190I Albert was employed as a municiple clerk. when he got married in 1905 [B.M.D 1d 1101 Sept] he was using the addition De Bois to his surname, he married Gertrude Eleanor W R Langman who was two years his senior. at this stage we can only conjecture that the W in her name stands for Winfred and that is what she prefered to go by . Our next sighting of the happy couple is in a telephone directory c 1928 where they are seen to be living in Cold Ash near Newbury. they stay there until c1935 when they are now seen living in 9, Stratford Place , Mayfair .

We know that Albert was in India sometime in the late thirties early forties, he cannot have been there prior to 1938 . he was in the C.S.O orchestra and became leading Violin and then conductor but died shortly after. According to KatyQuins Dad when he was in calcutta during the war, he stopped at the (Playboy?)[Lighthouse ] theatre, where the foundation stone had a plaque stating that it had been laid by "Lady DeBois Shrosbree," in (he thinks) 1940. But as she was in England and deceased in 1940 and they both were in England 1938 there seem litttle time to acomplish the tasks . Also I have been unable so far to establish any 'Awards', 'Entitlements' or 'Elevations ' for The Shros if he were knighted then then it would have been in double quick time considering his short time in India .

According to the 1938 Telephone directory W. De bois Shrosbree was living in Bower Ho Longwood Hampshire . In1938 a Winifred De bois Shrosbree was working in the bursars office at Abinger hill school where there exists 23 items of correspondence [PP/30/1/1 ] to her.
In 1940 She was in Lambs Hill, Shawford . Hampshire and recored as died Winchester aged 60 Hants.26 Sep 1940 [2c-309]







There appears to be Three children John [b 10 Jul 1927 ]. Winifred b1918-d1922 [3a-524] aged 4 and Ann.


On 30th June 1948 John De bois Shrosbree sought entry to the United States From Canada at Niagra Falls
With him was his wife Ane Winnifred Debois Shrosbree [ nee Rea ?] born 1927 Blackpool England

Our next sighting is
Name: J.DE B Shrosbree
Address: 25 Russell Rd Buckhurst HI.,
Exchange: BUCkhrst
City/Town: Buckhurst
Directory Title: Outer London: West Middlesex / Hertfordshire & North Middlesex / Essex
Publication Year: 1955
Directory County: Middlesex, Hertfordshire, North Middlesex, Essex
Page Number: 269

As far as I can see the Last De Bois Shros had a child in 1990 !
So come on you De bois Shrosbree clan Lets hear from you and set the record straight.

What do we know ?

Life is full of surprises and none more so than when you start doing the 'Family history' As we travel back in time we find out a little bit more about our relatives ,slowly and surely we tease out the details and the information. Sometimes there seems to be very little to discover 'Old Sam ' was a very dull fellow he was born at no 27 went to school and was listed as a scholar on the census. The next census has him as young man working as a post boy still living at home [no 27 ] with his parents, who are them themselves unremarkable, fathers occupation seems glamorous as a 'Carman' but this is polite speak for Rag & Bone Man .
There they are again still at no 27 on the next census, except for an elder daughter who has recently got married [ according to the B.M.D records] But wait what's this ,young fellow me lad left home the day after and joined the army. After basic training he went to India. then the Sudan, and Malaya before coming home and settling down. Meanwhile back home Mum, Dad and two siblings have embarked for foreign lands as well, having gone to Canada via New York the central plains with a prarie schooner,the black hills of Dakota and California, stopping of at the Klondike and the Yukon . But things have not gone well so it's back home, just in time to catch up with Soldier Sam who has now been discharged and has got his old job back, only now he is a postman. the family are now reunited and as luck has it they have manged to get back to their old street but this time they are no 25 . Dad's still on the Cart. 'any ol rag bone' he cries as does his rounds .

So there we have it 3 census returns and the most exiting thing that we can see it that they have moved two doors down the road . what dull fellows they are. No point in pursuing their line is there ?

Albert de Bois Shrosbree

What an interesting name this is, Albert de bois Shrosbree , who is he ? He was born to Thomas George and Maria[Jarvis] in 1881 [1c-73 ] in time to be on the 1881 census , which is in itself interesting as he was registered in the June quarter and the census was in March he was already several months old . we next encounter Albert Thomas in 1901 aged 20 still living with his parents and by now his two sisters, Ada Maria and Edith Maud, Battersey , he is working as a municipal Clerk. In 1905 he married [1d-1101 sep] either Gertrude Ealanor Langman or Annie Loise Perry [awaiting comfirmation] he then disappears from the records ,but interestingly he emerges in India . In a Programme article about the C.S.O [ Calcutta. School of music] He is described as the Leading violinist and later as the conductor.He took over this role after the C.S.O conductor Sadre retired, And it is stated that he died shortly after this . Tantalizing we have no dates in the article to help pin down the elusive Albert De bois Shrosbree. given the date for his children Albert cannot have gone to India before 1902/05

Picture of C.S.O house Calcutta.

In1938 a Winifrede De bois Shrosbree was living in England and working in the bursars office at Abinger hill school where there exists 23 items of correspondence [PP/30/1/1 ] to her. Later correspondence reminds her that her library boock is overdue !
We have a death reference for 60yr old Winifred in 1940 in Winchester [2c-286] there also appears to be Three children John b possibly 1902[1c-309].Winifred b1918-d1922 [3a-524] aged 4 and Ann.
Who is she, why is she in England? Was she in India ,when did she return

Of Albert Thomas De bois Shrosbree there is little or no trace , but where did the name come from ?. We cannot be sure but ,but is it a coincidence that in 1891 George and Susan[ah] Shrosbree had A William de Bois and his family as neighbours ? although at this stage the two Shrobree do not appear to be directly related. Albert appears to have adopted the grandiose De bois into his name to elevate his status the question is when . Did he do so before he went to India ?

If you have any details of this enigmatic family member please share them with us .Peter M

John charles Shrosbree one of many

Revised Blog:18 Jan 07. thanks folks for pointing out the error of my ways !

There is always a vexing question. Which person am I looking for ? In the case of John Charles Shrosbree there are five who bear the name . One of the more interesting and intriguing is the John Charles born of Thomas Shrosbree and Anne Hunter c1784 he appears to have married in 1806 aged 22 Rebbecca Moore in Islington . there are several children by this marriage Mary Ann b1811/d1811. Mary Ann b1826 m Joshua Clews 1835 .Maria Matilda b1820 m 1841 Joseph Ware and Caroline Amelia b1823 married James Ryder 1844 . Sadly Rebbeca died aged 50 in 1838 of consumptiom ,at the time she was living in Pool Street, Hoxton.Mddx with her husband A Jeweler by trade.
Now Strangely according to Pallots index a John Charles married Martha Carr around this time c 1831 . There are several children listed both in the IGI and BMD for John & Martha the first being Maria Sarah b 1834 . Maria Amelia b 1836 and John Charles# b 1838 according to the IGI John Charles jnr was christened on 17/9/1838 St Leonards,Shoreditch

Maria Amelia emigrated to Australia at the age of 16 arriving in Botany bay 1852. on board the 'Euphrates' She gave her father as Deceased [John Charles Snr Died 1847] his occupation Gaoler [is this strine for Jeweler ?] She was to be joined later by her brother John Charles and their mother listed as Martha Curtiss 1858. in Botany Bay aboard the 'Admiral Lyons' He went on to the gold fields and later married Sarah Pearce 1866 in N.S.W his mother is listed as Martha Carr on the Certificate .
[note to oZshros if his father wasn't dead why didn't he go to Oz with the rest?]

Grateful thanks to Eric Ryder. Cousin Mike Dunn, and others for their sterling efforts at getting certificates . emigration details and shipping lists. most of the details can be verified by BMD ad IGI records
Please Contact me at eyecan2@toucansurf.com if want details Peter.

Robert James & Columbus

There is an article in the Isllington Mail for Tuesday the 3rd of May 1910 , about Robert James Shrosbree who was 91 years old at the time and amongst his recollections was an intruiging tale of his time spent in the navy, not the Navy but the U.S navy
Having read through the article there appeared to be some discrepancies in the old mans story so I set about trying to to piece together the actual events .
According toRobert James he joined the U.S.Navy in 1841 and went through the Mexican wars and was present at the bombardement of San Francisco and the seige of Montery . He also went to Japan being there in July 1846.

According to history the events of the Mexican wars also took place in July 1846. clearly he cannot have been in two palces at once . The other question that vexed me was why would they leave a theatre of war at such a crucial time to sail against the wind and tides to go to Japan .
We do not know when Robert James went to America, but he was there in time to enlist in the navy and be on board the Columbus when she sailed from New York in June 1845, having been in dock for repairs since 27 May 1844. After embarking her new captain Commadore Biddle .Commander of the East Indies Squadron ,she left for a world tour, sailng to Canton,China where on the 31 December Cmdr Biddle exchanged ratified copies ofthe first American treaty with China . she remained at Canton until April 1846. The Columbus sailed for Japan to try and attempt the opening of Japan to Ameriacn commerce . She raised Tokyo Bay 19 July 1846 in company with the Vincences . but they were rebuffed in their efforts.
Recalled at the outbreak of the Mexican wars she reached Valpariso,Chile. in December that year and subsequently arrive at Montery, California 2nd March 1847. too late to be usefull in the Calofornia operations she sailed 25th July for Norfolk,Virginia arriving there 3rd March 1848. where she paid of her crew.
Robert James was back home in England and Married by December of that year [1848] so he must have come home in double quick time , Was his sweatheart Elizebeth Hatteral waiting for his return ?
Sadly His old ship Columbus was laid up in 'ordianary' until 20 april 1861 when she was sunk by the withdrawing Union forces to prevent her falling into Confederate hands .

Following a chance remark to a visiting American in his taxidermy shop some years later he was subsequently awarded a U.S navy pension of $20 a month and got £167.17s.4d in back pay .

The Columbus was a 74 gun Ship of the line . Built in 1819 she wieghed 2480 tonnes had a lenght of 191' 10'' a beam of 53' 6''and a draught of 26' 6'' her full complment was 780 people.

Lost souls

That part of London in which we find most of the Shrosbrees inhabiting was in fact the county of Middlesex, which until the great fire of London in 1666 was outside the city walls .
Following that great disaster many people were displaced and the City of London was never to recover as great center of population . It was outside the city walls that the real reformation took place and the slow and relentless expansion continued until the whole of the east end had become a densely populated area.
By the beginning of the nineteenth century the population was just under a million which had increased to two and a half million by 1841 and four and a half million by 1889. A massive four fold increase .
The development of the canals and the rapid expansion of the railways added greatly to the misery of overcrowding . Huge numbers of People were displaced as large tracts of housing were demolished by the Canal navigators and then the railway companies .During the 1860's the building of the midland railway into St Pancras rendered some 10.000 people homeless in Agar and Somertown .

Between 1834 and 1901 over 76,000 people were displaced ,but prior to to 1874 there was no requirement to to rehouse those unfortunate homeless folk, and even then the legislation was easily circumvented.
This then was a major cause and reason for the constant movement of people around a district
In 1882 the East End Dwelling Company came into existence to help alleviate the overcrowding A good example of the GLC or Greater London Council attempts to deal with the problem can be seen in Bourne Estate Clerkenwell .
It is small wonder that we have difficulty tracing our Shrosbree Family in the East end of London