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I finally receieved the full files for the company known as Pompadour Cosmetiques. The basic facts are, The company started on 16th Oct 1891 by H. Y. Dickinson, of Grays (Something) Road. It moved only once during it’s trading to 94 Regent Street W It was always owned by Dickinson, although he did have shareholders. The shareholders are all listed. There is no mention of Cremers, Collins or Stephenson among the list! |
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STEPHENSON Well, it’s been a busy month of research, with efforts made to trace more information on some of the people that surrounded Robert D’Onston Stephenson during his life. Among those targeted where,
I managed to secure pictures, newspaper reports, and valuble official records on all 4, as well as many other people. Most of this material is brand new and has never been published!! DEEMING Efforts have also been made in several previously unseen newspaper accounts of Frederick Bailey Deeming and his alleged involvement in the Whitechapel Murders, all of which make interesting reading. I also traced several previously unpublished newspapers detailing Deeming’s visit and incarcaration in Hull. All of these offer a fresh new light on this mysterious man! THE ROYAL STATION HOTEL CONNECTION Over the years 4 previously named suspects have had links to Hull’s Royal Station Hotel. This week I managed to trace a very rare copy of a book about the hotel, written by the North Eastern Railway company, and offering valuble insights into the Hotel, it’s formation, and ever changing interior. I also managed to trace over 20 newspaper reports, dating from 1854 to 1900, featuring the 4 previously named suspects in conjuction with this wonderful Victorian hotel. |
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After years of searching I have finally found a picture of Inspector Thomas Roots, than man from the Criminal Investigation Dept who spoke to George Marsh and Robert D’Onston Stephenson. The man who wrote, what is now termed, the Roots Report. The man who was sent to Gateshead during the Gateshead Tragedy. The picture is alongside other notables including Inspector John George Littlechild!! |
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It’s been a busy week researching again, with work carried out on Rev. Charles Prest. Prest carried out sermons at several churches in Hull during the 1850’s and 1860’s and later had a property in Islington, London, that was used by Robert D’Onston Stephenson. This week I have uncovered information that connect both the Stephenson and Prest families as far back as the 1840’s! I have also began work on a list of Charles Prest’s work, Some books by Rev Charles Prest, 1840 Rev Charles Prest releases his book The witness of the Spirit. A sermon preached in the Wesleyan Chapel, Cherry-Street, Birmingham: and published at the request of the leaders’ meeting, printed and sold by R. Peart and Son, 1840 It appears as though John Mason passed away during this break, as Prest’s next work is a sermon about Mason’s life and death, Finally, bringing the list full circle is an entry by Frederick James Jobson, covering Rev Charles Prest’s life and death, |
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Deeming in Hull I am currently working on a new chapter on Frederick Bailey Deeming and I am therefore consulting the following, As well as utilising the primary sources on the Deeming site here, Alongside The chapter already has 90 footnotes, and I have yet to cover the trial! Research Trip Last week and earlier this week I managed to get some time in the field once again at the Carnegie Heritage Centre. Tomorrow, weather permitting, I am hoping to visit the Sutton Village History Centre. Christmas Lecture I am due to appear in Hull discussing my research at Christmas. Full details have yet to be confirmed, but they will be posted here when they are ready. |
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From Hell, From Hull It’s been a busy week working on two massive new chapters, charting the rise of the Stephenson family, and charting the rise of the Dawber family. Research A day out at the Local Heritage Centre is on the cards for tomorrow, tying up some loose ends, and getting page numbers etc from sources I have used in the past. Anyone with a TWITTER account can now follow me at http://twitter.com/MikeCovell Newspapers From Hull The transcription process is about 75% done, with the introduction and chapters looking at Hull Press completed, however, I am taking time of this project to concentrate on “From Hell, From Hull” |
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It’s been another busy week, with three days out in the field researching, and taking photographs. Which can be seen here, http://www.thisisyourmail.co.uk/posts/all_yours/view/58899-sculcoates-and-friends I also had the pleasure of visiting The Carnegie Heritage Centre again, and took in their collection of Trade Directories, and was once again welcomed by the staff who devote their time to run this amazing venue, and help “Faulty Researchers” such as me. http://www.carnegiehull.co.uk/ This week I also transcribed a large newspaper account regarding Joseph Dawber and his attempts to defraud a customer at his Solicitors firm for £1,000! The account reveals new names and addresses, which will be looked at this week. |
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We all need friends, and it is nice to see that Robert D’Onston Stephenson had a friend in Alexander Fowler. Fowler as jounger than Stephenson, but it appears as though they got on well, as we shall see them holidaying together, and Fowler testifying for Stephenson in the 1868 Customs Reports. 1851 March 30th Census Fowler family, 35 Spring street, Hull, HO107, P2363, F334, P5, GSU87637-87639 1861 April 7th Census, Fowler family, 258 Coltman street, Hull RG9 P3597 F72 P19 GSU 543159 1868 March 12th Hull Customs reviews Robert D’Onston Stephenson, Witness produced in his Defence, by Mr. Stephenson Witnesses* 1868 July 11th Monday Bridlington Free Press carries a piece showing who is staying at the Black Lion Hotel, among the names is Robert D’Onston Stephenson and Adam Fowler! 1868 Alexander McClellan (McClennan in the BMD Registers) dies aged just 25. HUM/18/439 |
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In the past three years I have collected a vast amount of census related material on Robert D’Onston Stephenson, his mother and father, his brothers and sisters, and his uncle, auntie and cousins. Not to mention the collection on some of the “supporting cast” including Thomas Piles, Dr Kelburne King, Drs Brett and McKay, Annie Deary, and more. Whilst many of these were done on my computer with an Ancestry subscription, many where done at local libraries and archival centres. When the work was done at home, the entries where transcribed as I found them, thus giving me a clear time line for selected family members, however, as an equal amount was done externally, these were filed away for future reference. I never actually realised how big this collection was, until last night, when I was faced with the task of sorting through the material, to file it in boxes per individual, therefore making research easier, and less time consuming. To date I have over 100 files on different people associated with Robert D’Onston Stephenson. Each file contains,
In creating such a space, I am now able to see wether or not I have the correct information, and wether I can fill any gaps that appear in the lives of those that surrounded Robert D’Onston Stephenson! |
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Getting there… Travelling from my daughters nursery in the taxi, we passed the former site of Willows House, family home of the Stephenson’s, and home to Robert during the Incident at Flamborough in 1868. The taxi followed Wincolmlee, weaving through the winding streets, passing the mills of years gone by before passing the location mentioned in The Custom’s House Records on Robert D’Onston Stephenson, affectionately termed “The High Flags” after the local mill and raised kerb stones. Driving along Charles Street, we passed the location which was the birthplace of Robert D’Onston Stephenson, and now a communal office of sorts, before driving through the City Centre to Paragon Station. After setting my wife and son to the bus, I headed off to buy a ticket and sit on the platform, awaiting my train, and even though I was hundreds of miles away from the East End of London, I was in my own little RipperLand. You see, the platform is overlooked by The Quality Royal Hotel,” once known as The Royal Station Hotel, and a place visited by no fewer then 4 previously named suspects in the Whitechapel Murders! The train arrived as the wind and rain battered the railway station, and it’s doors flew open, allowing the waiting passengers respite from the weather. As the train departed, it took us past the bottom of Arlington Street, former home of Richard Stephenson Snr, and his final home before his death in January 1889, next we passed the Spring Bank West General Cemetery, final resting place of the Dawber family, and Dr Kelburne King. It’s weird to think that this man, although many miles away from Bridlington Quay, was despatched to take care of Robert D’Onston Stephenson. The big question remains, “Who sent him?” and we can only theorize that either it was the Stephenson family, the Dawber family, or HM Customs themselves. On the train a lady looked at my notes and asked what I was researching, as I told her about the Stephenson family, and Jack the Ripper, she mentioned that “He should be killed!” Puzzled I asked for her to explain why, and it was clear that she was discussing Peter Sutcliffe, the Yorkshire Ripper, not Jack the Ripper. It appears that wherever you go in Yorkshire, you will always meet someone who has a friend of a friend who worked the case of the Yorkshire Ripper, just as everyone has a theory on who Jack the Ripper was! Bridlington Arriving at Bridlington about an hour after departing Hull, I exited the train and made my way through the town to the sea front. The high buildings at this point provided shelter from the wind, but the rain was falling and it was quite cold. I pulled down my woolly hat, and pulled up my hood, and headed for the harbour. I passed the location of the Library and Local Studies Centre, and even though it wouldn’t open for another 45 minutes, I knew where it was, and this would save me time later. The little road down to the harbour was wet, and the stones where slippery underfoot, but I made it down in one piece, and was surprised to see the tide was high, and the harbour fuller than I had ever seen it. I made my way along the harbour, taking photo’s and observing the fishermen prepare their boats, asking as I went along for a boat to take me to Flamborough Head, but the weather was against me, and no one would commit to taking me out, even the pleasure cruiser was locked down for the day! I walked along the empty seafront, and passed several Victorian lamps and numerous memorials to lost fishermen. Heading along the harbour pier, I noticed a lone bunch of flowers attached to a lamp post. No card was attached, and their significance was lost, but it was quite a poignant moment. After several minutes I headed back into Bridlington Quay, and made my way to a little café for breakfast and a warm drink, reading my timetable for the day and pouring over my maps. After a short while, and with ten minutes to kill, I headed for a local book shop and the tourist information centre. Local Studies At 9.30 I made my way to the Local Studies Centre, and climbed the three flights of stairs, reaching the top short of breath, I noticed the lift! The Local Studies Centre is a small room, boxed on three sides by huge book cases, and a selection of tall bookcases stand in the centre of the room, in the centre of the room stands a small table, with four chairs. Even though the room was so tiny, the collection was huge, with a massive selection on Hull related books, and trade directories that we don’t have in our local collection! I also noticed a selection of books on local folklore, and the paranormal, alongside a huge collection of material on the sinking of an American Battleship at Flamborough! I got down to work and found, Several New Trade Directory Entries for the Dawber’s Several New Trade Directory Entries for the Dawber family business featuring full page advertisements from 1895, 1897, 1899, and 1901! Several New Trade Directory Entries for the Black Lion Hotel. A half page Advertisement for the Black Lion Hotel circa 1888. Several newspaper entries for the East Yorkshire Rifle Volunteers, and their meetings at the Black Lion Hotel. Several Newspaper entries for the meetings by Methodists, and Primitive Methodists in the hamlet of Bridlington, just moments away from The Black Lion Hotel. Flamborough After an hour I headed to the Bridlington Bus Station, and noticed that the buses where every two hours, thus meaning, if I make it Flamborough, I have to sit and wait for the next bus back, which would be two hours later! Having been to Flamborough many years ago, and seeing that there isn’t much around, I decided against this, but will return in the future. I decided at this point, it would be better to travel up to the Black Lion Hotel, and left Bridlington Quay. The road from Bridlington Quay to the old town of Bridlington was about a mile and half, and took about 20 minutes to walk up, what I did notice, was that most of the way it was uphill, only slightly, but nevertheless, it affected me, and I was quickly becoming tired. I also noticed the large amount of Pubs, Inns and Hotels along the road up, and wondered why Robert D’Onston Stephenson didn’t stay closer to Bridlington Quay! What was the reason for Stephenson staying at this hotel? Eventually I passed St John’s Avenue, where Dr Brett once resided with his family, the street still has a lot of Victorian properties and is tree lined and quite luxurious. Next up I crossed Brett Street, named after Dr Brett, which is a more modern street, lined by neat town houses either side. What I did notice whilst walking up to the High Street, was the large number of religious buildings. Between Bridlington Quay and High Street I counted 8 churches, 6 of these within 5 minutes of The Black Lion Hotel! High Street Next I reached High Street, and turned left into a time warp. It appears untouched, apart from the cars, and road, and there is a wonderful collection of 17th, 18th, and 19th, Century properties adorning both sides of the street. Many of these have been turned into little shops, cafes and galleries. I noticed an antique watch shop, and chuckled at the thought of finding a watch inscribed with Stephenson’s name! Further along I noticed another antique shop, this one with several Victorian beer bottles in the window, but nine for the Black Lion! I also noticed that several pubs and hotels lined the street, one of which, The Victoria, was a huge three story property, and in a prominent position in the street. Finally, as I rounded the bend in the road, I saw the Black Lion Hotel. The pub, still with it’s yellow paint stands on the brow of a hill, nestled among the other properties, and it could be driven by, if one didn’t know where it was. The Black Lion Hotel Heading through the double, double doors, I reached two doors, one leading left, and one leading right, I chose the left, and entered a cosy bar, with exposed wooden floorboards, a log fire, and exposed brick and timber adorning the walls. I introduced myself to the Bar Manager, and passed over my research, to which I was given a free drink, whilst the manager and several locals read through the piece. One of the men told me about the inn, and what had gone on there in the past, tales of smuggling and illegal gambling, and even the possibility of people trafficking and slavery back in the mid 1800’s! The cross roads opposite the Hotel also had a unique story. Cross Hill obtained the name as Witches where hung from here, some attached to crucifix’s, but wether this is folklore or actual fact remains to be seen. The Hotel consists of three bars, all with wooden flooring, exposed brick and vintage green tiles behind the bar, and seemed to be stuck in the Victorian period, not that this was a bad thing, I actually found it to be a lovely, warm welcoming pub, although it was weird sat in the spot, drinking lemonade, knowing Stephenson was here all those years earlier! As I left the hotel, I made my way back along the High Street and headed for the railway station. I was tired out, and ready for home, but excited at what I had found. The problem is, it still raises more questions. Why was Robert D’Onston Stephenson staying at a hotel that was quite a distance from Bridlington Quay? Especially as there were hotels closer! Why was the barrow belonging to the Black Lions Landlord at Flamborough, a location associated with not only fishing but smuggling? Why not take the barrow to Bridlington Quay, which is much closer? Why did Kelburne King get sent to Bridlington? Who Sent Kelburne King to Bridlington? Why wasn’t the local Doctors and Surgeons trusted? Did the friend that Shot Robert D’Onston Stephenson have ulterior motives? Anyone wishing to see the photo’s of the day, can view them here, http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=67861&id=586989665&l=54f92c6afc |
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