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William Ruffell Mott and Mary © William Ruffell Mott, the son of William Mott and his wife Susanna (nee Smith), was born on the 20th August, 17911. Just over a week later, on the 28th August, he was privately baptized in the Parish of Aldham, near Colchester, Essex. We can only guess at the reasons for a private baptism, but the most likely is that William was not expected to survive. However, he must have not only improved, but thrived, because just a couple of months later, on the 30th October, 1791, he was accepted into the main congregation1. On the 8th February, 1819, William married Mary Ann Johnson, by Banns, at Christ Church, Surrey, the Rector J. H. Mapleton conducted the service2. Both William and Mary were from the Parish, William signed his name, but Mary made her mark. The witnesses were Robert Johnson and Robert Johnson, believed to have been Mary’s father and brother. According to a Family Bible, held by a descendant of William & Mary, Mary was baptised in St Mary the Virgin, Aldermanbury, London, on the 28th November, 1790. Her Baptism record record indicates she was born on the 2nd November and her parents were Robert & Mary1. A search of the Southwark and surrounding parish records indicate that William and Mary settled in Southwark and had eight children: William Ruffell 1819-1881; and Mary 1821, both baptized at St Clement Danes, Westminster, London; Elizabeth 1822-1822; John 1824, he married Ann Smith 1851; Isaac 1825-1876; Sarah 1827; Henrietta 1828; and Robert 1830-1830, all baptized at Christ Church, Southwark, London. On the baptism records of all their children (1822-1830) William and Mary were recorded as living in Holland Street, Southwark and William's occupation was listed as Victualler. William Ruffell Mott is to be found on the Licensed Victuallers Recognizance 1822-18243. His establishment and location are given as 'Duke on Horseback' in Holland Street, Christchurch, Southwark, Surrey. William is also found on the Recognizance 1825-1826, still at the 'Duke on Horseback'. In 1828, William is listed in Pigot's London and Middlesex Directory, again at the 'Duke on Horseback', Holland Street, but now recorded as being in Blackfriars, London4. William has also been found in Holland Street on the 1825 -1830 Surrey, England, Land Tax Records. A licensed victualler held a license which allowed the running of an Inn, supplying drink, food and accommodation to customers. It was the victualler's job to ensure the financial success of the establishment and many victuallers were tenants of a brewery, although many brewed their own beer and as such often came into contact with the excise men. To hold a license the applicant would have to go before the magistrates at the Quarter Sessions, or the Petty Sessions, and had to declare they would keep an orderly house, prohibiting games of bowls, dice, football and tennis. The license had to be renewed annually, in most cases in a special 'Brewster Sessions'. If the licensee had allowed gambling, use of premises by criminals, or really riotous drinking, the renewal might be refused. If so, the case would probably be reported in the local newspapers. Usually men starting out in the trade were backed by their fathers or brothers, and may be found in ’Victuallers’ Recognizance' recorded by the court. William and his wife Mary are to be found on the 1841 Census5 living at 5 Boddy’s Bridge, in Christ Church, Southwark. Boddy's Bridge, was a small turning on the south side of Upper Ground, and it is now closely hemmed in by high buildings. To the east of it is an oblong paved court approached only by steps from Boddy's Bridge. Unfortunately all the houses round the court are now derelict or have been demolished. The court may originally have been part of Queen's Arms Court, which formerly opened out of Upper Ground to the west of Boddy's Bridge. On the Census, William is recorded as aged 50 and his occupation listed as Victualler, both William and Mary are recorded as not born in the County. Living with William and Mary at the time of the 1841 Census were: daughter Mary 20; and son Isaac 15, also recorded as living with the family are Mary Hay age 30, occupation Bookbinder and her daughter Mary age 10. It is not known what relationship Mary has to William and Mary, but it is interesting to note that in 1851 an Amelia Hay, age 7mths, is living with son Isaac and his wife. It is believed that William and Mary's daughter Henrietta was possibly a pupil at the Licensed Victuallers School in Lambeth Surrey at the time of the 1841 Census. It is a puzzle why Henrietta was a pupil, as this institution was founded by the Society of Licensed Victuallers in 1802 as a school for the children of deceased or impoverished fellow traders, as William is recorded as a Victualler at this time and it is assumed he was still working, but maybe he was retired, or too ill to continue? Daughter Sarah is believed to have been a pupil at the West London Union School in Edmonton, Middlesex, and a possible record had been found for son John, age 15, as an Apprentice to Nathaniel Roser, a Brewster, in Edward Street, Bethnal Green. The 1851 Census5 shows William and Mary still living in Christ Church, Southwark, where they are now residents of No. 3 Alms House, close to Green Walk. William and Mary's ages are given as 63, and William's occupation as 'Late Victualler'. William's place of birth is given as Colchester Essex and Mary's as City, it is assumed this means London. Hopton's Alms Houses were founded by Charles Hopton, a member of the Fishmongers Guild, who died in 1730. Leaving a large sum in his will, his estate was to pay for the erection of 26 Alms Houses for 'poor decayed men' of the parish of Christ Church in Southwark. Each to be endowed with house, a chaldron of coals and ten pounds in money each'. However, 'owing to a litigation it was not until 1746-1749 that the Alms Houses, two-story cottages of London brick featuring stone quoins, were finally erected and in 1752 that 26 poor men were placed in the apartments'. The site in Hopton Street, which lies between Blackfriars Bridge and the river, was described at the time as 'the cheapest, best and most convenient piece of ground that could be had for the building'. Early residents reflected the parish industries and included gardeners, watermen and fishermen. Alms House rules at the time prohibited 'resorting to alehouses', using 'railing, bitter or uncharitable speech' and ‘swearing’. According to the Alms House records, the gatekeeper was instructed to make a weekly report of the conduct of the residents. One has to wonder how these rules affected William as a former Victualler who ran an ale house. In 1852 two more cottages were added, and in 1988 all the old buildings were modernised and reopened. Now known as Hopton’s Gardens, the establishment is owned by the Anchor Trust and remain in use as housing todays. Listed, under the London Parks and Gardens Trust, the front garden comprises two squares of lawn with formal straight paths around the edge, with flower beds on the edges of the lawns. William died on the 17th January, 1856, at the same address as is recorded on the 1851 Census, although a little more detail is included6. The Alms Houses were identified as Hopton's Alms Houses and the Informant was William's son, William Ruffell Mott who was present at the death. William's occupation was listed as Almsman (formerly a Licensed Victualler), his age recorded as 67, and cause of death as 'Softening of the Brain following an attack of Apoplexy, 18months certified'. Apoplexy and softening of the brain both indicated symptoms of a stroke. An old-fashioned word Apoplexy can be used to mean 'bleeding', however it can also be used as a non-medical term to indicate extreme rage. It is not known which condition afflicted William, nor where he is buried. It would appear that after William's death, Mary left the Alms House as she has been found on the 1861 Census5 at 9 Palace Street, St Pancras. Recorded as a 70year old widow, her occupation is given as Lodging House Keeper, and her place of birth as Middlesex, St Brides. Living with her was her unmarried daughter, Mary, and three young boarders, who are recorded as scholars and believed to be unrelated. Mary’s daughter married in 1863, possibly leaving Mary with no unmarried children to care for her, which may have forced her to move into the Workhouse at Bethnal Green. Records show another of Mary’s daughters, Henrietta, also lived at the Palace Street address before her marriage in 1861. Mary has not been identified on the 1871 Census, but a probable death has been located6. Dated the 14th April, 1867, the Informant was E. English of the Workhouse, in attendance at the death. Mary Mott is recorded as a 79year old Servant, who died in the Bethnal Green Workhouse, Middlesex, from Infirmary of Age. It is not known where Mary was buried.
References: 1 Parish Baptism Record Courtesy L Collie Spain 2. Parish Marriage Record via Ancestry.co.uk https://www.ancestry.co.uk 3. Register of Calendar of the Recognizences 1815-1827. Researched by Patricia O'Neill England 4. Pigots London & Middlesex Trade Directory. Researched by Patricia O'Neill England 5. UK Censuses via Ancestry.co.uk https://www.ancestry.co.uk 6. Death Certificate
Other Sources: Ancestry.co.uk https://www.ancestry.co.uk Aldham Parish Records courtesy of Linda Collie (Spain) & LDS Film British History Online: Survey of London: volume 22. http://www.british-history.ac.uk/source.aspx?pubid=740 Eve McLaughlin eve@varneys.demon.co.uk
Family Bible held by Alan Burnham England GenGuide http://www.genguide.co.uk/source/publican-brewery-and-licensed-victuallers-records-occupations/127/ Hopton’s Gardens http://www.londongardensonline.org.uk/gardens-online-record.asp?ID=SOU042 Oral Family HIstory WebMD http://www.webmd.com/ |
