Morning all,
MARY CULLMER ca1829 –
Mary was apparently the eldest child of Edward Culmer, a carpenter born in Dover, Kent and his wife Annie Cole born in Warwickshire. In the 1841 census (HO107/701, bk 6, f 11,p 4) the family are found in Salmon Lane, Limehouse, where Mary is given as 12 years old and born outside of the county of Middlesex. No baptism of a Mary Cullmer in Dover around 1830 has been found.
According to the 1851 census (HO107/1488, f ?, p ?), a Mary Colmer aged 22 born in London, is shown as unmarried and working as a Parlour Maid, one of several servants to a family living at 7, Shalford Place, St Marylebone. This may be Mary Cullmer.
Beyond this point Mary has not been traced; several marriages have proved to be incorrect and no death of a Mary Cullmer has been found other than a vague possibility in Paddington in 1891 which is yet to be explored.
GEORGETTE SMITH (nee CULLMER ?) ca1859 – 19..
Georgette was born in 1859 according to the 1881 census (RG11/254 folio 59, page 5), where she is found living in the household of Issac William Osborn and his wife Rosina nee Cullmer, daughter of Alfred Cullmer and his wife Mary nee Hale. Georgette is recorded as being the sister in law of Isaac William Osborn. No birth certificate has been found for Georgette, but at the time it was not yet an absolute legal requirement. Neither has a baptism been found so far. She was initially believed to be the daughter of Alfred Cullmer, bag maker, and his wife Mary nee Hale, but this was not certain.
As Annie Susan Urwin, nee Cullmer, Alfred’s sister, had an illegitimate daughter named Georgette at almost the same time; these two Georgettes may be the same person.
Whatever her parentage, Georgette married Noble Edwin Smith, a carpenter, at St John’s, Chelsea, on 24/6/1888, shortly before Alfred Cullmer’s death. There appears to be an error on the marriage certificate in that her father is recorded as William Cullmer, a bag handle maker, not Alfred Cullmer. Yet no such William Cullmer is known to have been so employed. However, as no baptism has been found for Alfred it is possible that William was his 2nd forename, as his grandfather, a mariner at Dover, was named William.
According to the 1901 census Georgette and Noble had at least 5 children: Noble born ca 1889 in Islington; George born ca 1891 also in Islington; Georgette born ca 1893 in Barnsbury; Reuben born ca 1895 also in Barnsbury and Lucy born ca 1900 in Acton.
Now I'm sure we have dealt with Georgette before but no matter. Alfred Urwin's criminal activities are new to me and I will note the details.
I will look at earlier posts over the past few days and respond as I can.