Matilda Banks was born 25 June 1816 and baptised 26 January 1817 at St Leonard Shoreditch (of Plumber Street, Oilman). a daughter of Samuel Banks and Elizabeth formerly White.
She married James Fairbrother on 6 January 1836 at St Andrew Holborn (no. 1329). The witnesses were Richard Fairbrother and Amelia Eastland. All signed the register.
In 1841 (index) Fairbrother has been transcribed as Faubratlin and the family were living in Walthhamstow, West Ham, Essex. James was born in 1814, Matilda in 1816, James in 1836 and Matilda in 1841. Richard was not with them.
In 1851 at 1 Paul Street, St Leonard Shoreditch, James Farebrother was aged 37, a cabinet maker born in Shoreditch. His wife, Matilda, was aged 35 and born in St Lukes. Their children were James aged 14 and born in St Lukes, Richard aged 12 and born in Islington, Matilda aged 10, Mary aged 7, Samuel aged 3 and William aged 2, the last four born in Shoreditch.
In 1861 at 24 Yardley Street, Clerkenwell, St James Amwell, James, a cabinet Maker was aged 47 and born in London Middx. Matilda, his wife, was aged 44 and born in St Lukes. Their children were Richard aged 22 a cabinet maker born in Islington, Matilda aged 20 and born in Shoreditch, Mary aged 17 and born in Shoreditch, William aged 12 born in Shoreditch and Amelia aged 10 born in Finsbury.
In 1871, at 24 Yardley Street, Finsbury St James (Cabinet Maker’s Shop), James was aged 56, a cabinet maker born in Shoreditch. His wife, Matilda, was aged 54 and born in St Lukes, and their daughter was Amelia, unmarried aged 18 and born in Finsbury.
In the 1881 census of 24 Yardley Street, London, she was aged 64 and born in London, Middx. Her husband, James Fairbrother, was aged 66, a cabinet maker and born in London, Middx. With them was an unmarried domestic servant, Mary Elizabeth Stanton, aged 18, born in Surrey.
Under her brother, William's will of 1885 she was to receive a bequest of £500. In 1889 Mr James Fairbrother and his wife Matilda were living at 29 Montague Road, Dalstone, Middx and were to receive a bequest of £30 a year under the will of Matilda's sister-in-law Mary Banks.
In 1891 at 29 Montague Row, Hackney, in 2 rooms, James Fairbrother was aged 76 living on own means and born in Shoreditch and Matilda his wife, was aged 74 and born in St Lukes.
Matilda Fairbrother’s death was registered in the September quarter 1896, and James’s death in the September quarter 1894, both in the registration district of Hackney. She was aged 80 and he was aged 79.
The children of Matilda and James Fairbrother were:
James Fairbrother (1836 – 1891), born 20 August 1836 and baptised 2 October 1836 at St Luke’s, Old Street, Finsbury. In 1851 he was with his parents. He married Elizabeth Collier or Elizabeth Hall in the June quarter 1858 and in the Clerkenwell district. In 1861 at 5 Yardley Street, Clerkenwell, James was aged 24 a cabinet Maker born in Islington. Elizabeth his wife was aged 27 and born in Cambridge and their children were Elizabeth aged 1 and another unnamed daughter who was 8 days old. In 1871 at 21 Tysoe Street, Clerkenwell, James was aged 34 a cabinet Maker born in Islington. Elizabeth his wife was aged 37 born at Cambridge and their daughter was Matilda aged 2 and born in Clerkenwell. In 1881 he was aged 44, a cabinet maker, living at 23 Tysoe Street, London and born at Clerkenwell. His wife was Elizabeth, aged 47 and born at Cambridge. Their two daughters were Matilda aged 12 and Alice, aged 9, both born at Clerkenwell. In 1891 at 45 Amwell Street, Clerkenwell, he was aged 52, a cabinet maker born at Islington. His wife, Elizabeth was aged 56 and born at Cambridge. Their daughters were Matilda aged 22 and Alice aged 19, both dressmakers and born in Clerkenwell.
James death was very probably registered in the June quarter 1891 in the Holborn district. He was aged 54.
Elizabeth Fairbrother, born about 1860
Daughter Fairbrother, born 1861
Matilda Fairbrother, born about 1868/9 at Clerkenwell
Alice Fairbrother, born 1870/1 at Clerkenwell
Richard Fairbrother (1838 – 1926), born about 1839 in Islington (registered in the December quarter 1838 in the Islington district).
He married Louisa Holloway in the Clerkenwell district in the December quarter 1861. In 1871 at 15 Garnault Place, Clerkenwell, he was aged 32, a cabinet maker born in Clerkenwell. Louisa his wife was aged 30 and their children were Richard aged 9 and Louisa aged 14 months, both born in Clerkenwell.
In 1881, at 74 Myddelton Street, Clerkenwell, he was aged 42, a cabinet maker born in St Pancras. Louisa, his wife was aged 40 and born in London Middx. Their two children were Richard aged 19 an engraver and Louisa aged 11, both born in London, Middx.
In 1891 at 6 Holford Place, Clerkenwell he was aged 52, Louisa was aged 51 and Louise was aged 21 The other details were the same.
In 1901 at 24 Northampton Square, Clerkenwell, in 2 rooms, he was aged 62, Louisa was aged 60 and Louise was aged 27 a baker’s clerk. The other details were the same.
In 1911 at 13 Fassett Square Dalson, Hackney, in 4 rooms, he was aged 72 a retired cabinet maker. Louisa was aged 70. They had been married for 50 years and had had three children one of whom had died. Their daughter was Louise aged 36 and single, a silk lampshade maker. The other details were the same.
Louisa Fairbrother died in the Hackney district in the March quarter 1914 aged 73.
Richard Fairbrother died in the Hackney district in the June quarter 1926 aged 87.
Their children were:
Richard Fairbrother, born about 1862.
Louisa Fairbrother, born about 1870.
Matilda Fairbrother (1841 – 1877), born about 1841 in Shoreditch, (registered in the March quarter 1841 in the Shoreditch district). In 1851 and 1861 she was with her parents. She married Samuel Rayner Skeet in the Clerkenwell district in the March quarter 1865. In 1871 at 4 Duncan Street, Islington, Samuel Skeet was aged 34 a meat salesman born in Ramsey, Essex. Matilda his wife was aged 30 and born in Shoreditch. Their children were James aged 5 and born in Clerkenwell and Arthur aged 6 months and born in Islington. With them was Samuel’s mother, Susanna Skeet aged 56 and an annuitant born in Essex at Ramsey. There were two servants, a nursemaid and a general domestic, aged 15 and 12.
Matilda Skeet died in the June quarter 1877 in the Pancras
district aged 36.
The family has not been found in the 1881 census.
Samuel Rayner Skeet died 27 May
1885 (registered in the June quarter 1885 in the Islington district aged 47). He was of 83 Richmond Road, Barnsbury and of 267 London Central Meat Market in the City
of London, meat salesman. Probate was
granted at the Principal Probate Registry 22 July 1885 to James Fairbrother, of 45 Amwell Road, Clerkenwell, cabinet maker and Henry Crowley of 26 Marquis
Road, Finsbury Park, gentleman, two of the
executors. His personal estate was
£5,307.11s, resworn March 1886 £6,282.11s and a
double probate was issued 27 October 1887 with the same details except that the
other executor was James Rayner Skeet, the son.
James Rayner Skeet (1866 – 1903), born about 1865 in Clerkenwell,
and birth registered in the March quarter 1866 in the Clerkenwell
district. In 1891 at 83 Richmond Road, Barnsbury, James (Sheet in the index) was aged 26 a meat
salesman. He was with his brothers and
sisters Arthur R. aged 21 a meat salesman, Lilian
aged 18, Alfred aged 15 and Albert aged 14 all born in London. There was also a housekeeper, cook and
housemaid. He married Rosa Caroline
Chant in the Islington district in the March quarter 1895. In 1901 at Terrace Cottage, The Parade, Broadstairs, James R Skeet was aged 35 and living on his
own means and born in Islington. His
wife, Rose was aged 25 and born in Kentish Town and their son, Cyril R was aged
5 and born in Dulwich. James Rayner Skeet died 30 June 1903. He was of Cambridge, Auckland, New Zealand
and administration with will (limited) was granted 7 November 1903 in London to
Edwin John Chant the attorney of Roose Caroline
Skeet. £2,354.7s. A cessate grant was
made 14 March 1905 to Rose Caroline Skeet widow, effects £1750. Rose Caroline Skeet married secondly William
Henry Ewing in the Edmonton district in the June quarter 1908. In 1911 at 3 Palace Mansions, Enfield,
William Henry Ewing was aged 40 a clerk at a government small arms factory
(presumably where Enfield rifles were made) and born at Longford Town, Ireland
(resident). Rose Caroline was aged 36
and born at Barnsbury. They had been married for 2 years and had had
no children. Cyril Rayner
Skete (sic), stepson to William, was aged 15 and born
at West Dulwich.
James and Rosa’s child was:
Cyril Rayner Skeet (1896 – 1917), born at Dulwich and birth registered in the March quarter
1896 in the Lambeth district. In 1911 he
was with his mother and step-father. He
died of wounds 29 July 1917 aged 21, private 33570, Yorkshire Regiment and is
buried at Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, Belgium, a
son of Rose Caroline Ewing formerly Skeet of The Briars, Bury Green Road, Cheshunt and the late James Rayner
Skeet.
Arthur Skeet, born about
1870 in Islington, registered as Arthur Rayner Skeet
in the December quarter 1870 in the Islington district.
Lilian Skeet,
born about 1872, and registered in the June quarter 1872 in the Islington
district. She married Thomas Hitchcock or Paul Edward
Smith in the Islington district in the March quarter 1895.
Alfred Skeet, born about 1875, and registered as Richard Alfred Skeet in the June
quarter 1876 in the Islington district. In 1901, at Palmers Green, Green Lanes,
Southgate, Edmonton, Richard A. Skeat (sic) was single aged 35 a hosiery
shopkeeper born in Hornsey. Richard
Alfred Skeet married Lorie Mary Rance in the Edmonton
district in the June quarter 1901. In
1911, at 26 Queens Road, Salisbury, Richard Alfred was
aged 35 a tailoring and outfitting assistant born in Tollington
Park Middx (within Islington). Laura Mary was aged 32 and born in Ashurst, Kent. They
had been married for 10 years and had had one child. Their child was Sylvia Marjorie aged 9 and born
at Eastbourne.
Richard and Laura’s child was:
Sylvia Marjorie Skeet, born about 1902 at Eastbourne.
Albert Skeet, born about 1876. The only registration in the Islington
district is for an Allen Joseph Skeet in the March
quarter 1877. There is an Albert Henry Skeet in the Pancras district in the June
quarter1877.
Mary Fairbrother, born 2 December 1843 and baptised 3 March 1844 at Christ Church, Hoxton. In 1851 and 1861 she was at home with her parents. There is a marriage in the Clerkenwell district in the June quarter 1862 to Frederick Richard Bellamy or Hilkiah Lynn.
Samuel Fairbrother (1846 – 1857), as Farebrother born 1 March 1846 and baptised 8 November 1846 at St Leonards, Shoreditch. His death may be registered in the December quarter 1857 in the Clerkenwell district, as he is absent from the 1861 and later censuses and a marriage cannot be found.
William Fairbrother (1849 – 1911), born about 1849 in Shoreditch, (registered in the June quarter 1849 in the Shoreditch district). He may have married Harriet Woolard in the December quarter 1870 in the Poplar district. In 1871 at 27 Northampton Square, Clerkenwell, Wiliam as aged 21 a cabinet Maker born in Whitechapel. Harriet his wife was aged 22 and William W. was aged 2 months and born in Clerkenwell. In 1881 he was living at 8 Wilmington Square, Clerkenwell (registration district Holborn), aged 31, a cabinet maker born in Shoreditch. Harriet was aged 32 and born in Whitechapel. With them were their children Harriet Matilda aged 5 and Frederick Ernest aged 0 and both born in Clerkenwell. In 1891 at * Wilmington Square, William was aged 41 a cabinet maker born in Shoreditch, Harriet was aged 42 and born in Whitechapel, Harriet M was aged 15 and Frederick E. was aged 11 both born in Clerkenwell, Amelia F was aged 8 and born in Islington and Ellen G was aged 5 and born in Clerkenwell. A William Banks Fairbrother who was born in the December quarter 1891 in the Holborn district and died there in the December quarter 1892 aged 1 may have been their son. In 1901 at 8 Wilmington Square, William was aged 51 a cabinet maker, born in Hoxton, Harriet was aged 52 and born in Whitechapel, Frederick E was aged 21 a lawyer’s clerk and born in Clerkenwell, Amelia F was aged 18 and born in Islington and Helen G was aged 15 and born in Clerkenwell. In 1911 at 8 Wilmington Square, William was aged 61 a furniture salesman born in Hoxton, Harriet was aged 62 and born in Whitechapel and Helen Gertrude was aged 25 and born in Clerkenwell. They had been married for 40 years and had had 9 children 6 of whom had died. A probable death registration for William Fairbrother is in the December quarter 1911 in the Holborn district. He was aged 62. Harriet’s death registration was in the Holborn district in the March quarter 1919 aged 70.
William and Harriet’s children were:
William Woollard Fairbrother (1871 – 1880), birth registered in the March quarter 1871 and death registered in the September quarter 1880 both in the Holborn district. He was aged 9.
Harriet Matilda Fairbrother (1876 – 1897), born in Clerkenwell and birth registered in the March quarter 1876 and death registered in the September quarter 1897 both in the Holborn district. She was aged 21.
Frederick Ernest Fairbrother (1879 – 1935), born in Clerkenwell and birth registered in the June quarter 1879 in the Holborn district. He married either Ellen Bartlett or Florence Sarah Marsh in the Holborn district in the September quarter 1902. His death was very probably registered in the Islington district in the September quarter 1935. He was aged 56.
Amelia Florence Fairbrother, birth registered in the Islington district in the June quarter 1882. She married Willfred Brown in the June quarter 1907 in the Holborn district. In 1911, at 97 Kelvin Road, Highbury Park in 3 rooms, Willfred was aged 27 a mercantile clerk to merchant bankers. Amelia was aged 28 and they had been married for 3 years and had had one child. Herbert Willfred was aged 3 and all were born in North London. In the 1939 register at The Cottage, Pilgrims Wat, Westhumble, Dorking, Wilfred (date of birth 30 March 1884) was a merchant bankers assistant, Amelia (date of birth 17 May 1882) was an unpaid domestic and there was one other whose record is closed and Joan Harcher and Helen G, Harcher who were also there.
Amelia and Willfred’s child was:
Herbert Willfred Brown, born about 1907 and registered in the Islington district in the March quarter 1908.
Helen Gertrude Fairbrother (1885 - ), birth registered in the Holborn district in the March quarter 1886. She married Ernest E Harcher in the March quarter 1913 in the Holborn district. In 1939 (register) Helen was born 7 December 1885, and lodging with her sister Amelia in Dorking. In 1939 (register) at 8 Wilmington Square, Finsbury, Ernest E (date of birth 24 February 1882 was a solicitors costing clerk, Eric L. (date of birth 17 January 1914) was a wholesale sports and games salesman and Geoffrey R. (date of birth 23 July 1924) was a barrister’s clerk.
Eric Leonard Harcher (1914 – 1981), born 17 January 1914 (1939 register) and birth registered in the Holborn district in the March quarter 1914 (Fairbrother). In 1939 he was with his father, a wholesale sports and ganes salesman. He died 18 November 1981 (registered in London City, date of birth 17 January 1914). He was of Girdlers Hall, Bassinghaall Avenue, London EC2 and administration was granted in London 18 May 1982, estate not greater than £25,000.
Constance Joyce Harcher (1915 – 2004), born 1 September 1915 (1939 register) and birth registered in the Holborn district in the September quarter 1915 (Fairbrother). She married Henry FG Ellis in the Finsbury district in the June quarter 1939. In September 1939 (register) at 41 Ellerton Road, Wandsworth, she had a date of birth of 1 September 1915, and Henry FG had a date of birth of 29 May 1915 and was a wholesale newsagents assistant. She died in the December quarter 2004 in the Milton Keynes district (date of birth 1 September 1915).
Joan Madeleine Harcher (1919 –
1976), born 1 August 1919 (1939 register) and birth
registered in the Holborn district in the September quarter 1919 (Fairbrother). In 1939 she was with her mother and aunt in
Dorking. She married Leonard H Matthews
in the Surrey Mid e. district in the March quarter 1963. She died in the June quarter 1976 in the
Exeter district (date of birth 1 August 1919).
Geoffrey Ronald Harcher (1924 –
1984), born 23 July 1924 (1939 register) and birth registered in the
Holborn district in the September quarter 1924 (Fairbrother). He died 17 March 1984 (registered in the
Salford district, date of birth 23 July 1924).
He was of 50 Russell Court, Cambridge Street,
London SW1 and administration was granted in London, 1 June 1984, estate not greater
than £40,000.
Amelia Fairbrother, registered in the Shoreditch district in the December quarter 1852.
She may have married William Frederick Sheppard or George
Edward Simpson in the September quarter 1873 in the Holborn district.
?Elizabeth Fairbrother (1856 – 1857), birth registered in the Shoreditch district in the March quarter 1856. There is a death registered in the Clerkenwell district in the September quarter 1857.
Posted April 2017