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
