Biographical Notes |
Note: In the 1851 English census taken in Peckham, Surrey, we find the William Fosbrooke Carey family living at 62 Shanton Street, Old Kent Road. In parenthesis it appears to say "2 Christian cottages." William and his wife Harriet were both 36 years old and had a family of five children who were born every two years: William Mason ten, Eustace eight, Harriet six, Edmund four and Margaret Lassam Carey two. The three oldest children were scholars. They also had a visitor in the household, Richard John Cormack, aged 24, who like William was a "Printer's Reader." By the 1861 census, the Careys had moved to Kensington in London where their address was 17 Brunswick Terrace. William's occupation was Printer and Bookseller. He and Harriet, both 47 years old, had eight children under the age of twenty, including one set of twins.
Their children were William M. 20, Harriet 15, Edmund 13, Margaret L. ten, Emily and Mary F. seven, Peter five and Annie three years.
Occupations of some neighbours were Tobacconist, Coachman and Stableman. The Careys lived next to the mews.
Still in Kensington but a different address in 1871, the Careys lived at 71 Peckham Grove near Southampton Court. William and Harriet, both 56, still had a house full of offspring plus a daughter-in-law.
Edmund 24 years with no occupation given, had married Elizabeth Mary Copsey, 23 years, who was born in Elham, Norfolk. Also at home were Margaret 29; Mary 19, Milliner; Emily 17, Dressmaker; Peter 15, Lawyer's junior clerk; and Annie 13.
By the 1881 census Edmund and Elizabeth were living at 1 Piermont Road in Camberwell, Surrey (London) where Edmund worked as a bookseller and stationer. They had four young boys at home: Ernest nine, Herbert eight, Edmund Jr five, and Sidney three.
Also in the household were Elizabeth's sister Emma J. Copsy 25 years, who worked with Edmund as an assistant bookseller, and young domestic servant Amelia Collier.
Elizabeth died between 1881 and 1891. Still at 1 Piermont Road, Edmund was now working as the Superintendent at the wharf. All of his children were at home. The boys were Ernest 19, Herbert 18, Edmund 15, and Sidney 13; and the girls, Ethel nine and Jessie seven.
Also there to help Edmund were his widowed sister Margaret L. Aldridge and her two children Fred W. ten and May E. seven plus a cousin Louisa Lawrence.
The 1901 census paints a happier picture for the Careys. Edmund had remarried Jane, who is twenty years younger than he: 34 years to his 54. They have had two children, Harold five and Hilda P. one year. Hilda was born in Lewisham, where the family now lives.
Three of Edmund's children from his first marriage are still at home: Sidney 23, a wharf clerk; Ethel 19, an insurance clerk; and Jessie 17. Edmund's occupation is "Wharfinger - employer."
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