Samuel Gordon

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Born: 17 Apr 1855 Died: 1 Jan 1925 Married: Janet Balfour Mother: Mary Healey Father: Joseph Gordon Descendant: Eugenie Gordon
Census 1841 1851 1861 1871 1881 1891 1901 1911 1921


Samuel Gordon was the father of Eugenie Gordon, the censuses put his birth year around 1855-1856, and his birth place as variously St John Wapping, St Pancras, Wapping, and E.Middlesex. His marriage certificate to Janet states that his father was Joseph Gordon (labourer).


Birth

His father was Joseph Gordon a labourer and his mother was Mary.

His birth certificate stated he was born at 11 Plough Alley in Saint John (Wapping). Plough Alley, despite being immortalised in a song, no longer exists, but in today's map it would be in Wapping between Hellings Street and Lilley Close, just off Great Hermitage street (which is where later census entries said he was born).

REGISTRATION DISTRICT Saint George (in the East)
1855 BIRTH in the Sub-district of Saint John in the County of Middlesex
When and where born Name, if any Sex Name and surname of father Name, surname, and maiden name of mother Occupation of father Signature, description and residence of informant When Registered
Seventeenth April 1855
11 Plough Alley
Samuel Boy Joseph Gordon Mary Gordon formerly Healey General Labourer Joseph Gordon, Father
11 Plough Alley
Nineteenth April 1855

He was baptised on the 13th May 1855 at St. George in the East, Stepney, Cannon Street Road.

On the night of 7 April 1861 Samuel was living with his father Joseph Gordon and his stepmother Mary Healey at 11 Plough Alley, Wapping.

The address for his birth comes from the 1871 census where a Samuel Gordon of the correct age, 15, is living as a lodger with his sister 13 year old Hanna Gordon at 25&27 Rood Lane, St Gabriel Fenchurch, London. He is a clerk, and she is a scholar, and under "Where Born" the address of "11 Gt. Hermitage St. Wapping" is given. This is presumed to be a mistake, as Plough Alley lead off Great Hermitage street.


Marriage

From his granddaughter Jean: "Samuel Gordon worked as a Fishmonger at Marchmont Street. When the owner wanted to retire, he said that he wished Samuel could take over the business as he thought he was smart. However, Samuel didn't have any money to buy the business. He went to old Mr. Balfour to ask to borrow the money to buy the business. Mr. Balfour wryly suggested that he'd lend him the money if he married his niece Janet."

On the 9th April 1876 Samuel married Janet Hunter Balfour, from Fife in Scotland, at the Regent Square Church, St Pancras, London.

At the time he was living at 86 Marchmont street, London.

1876. Marriage solemnized Regent Square Church in the district of Pancras in the County of Middlesex
When Married. Name and Surname. Age Condition. Rank or Profession Residence at the Time of Marriage Father's Name and Surname Rank or Profession of Father
? April 1876 Samuel Gordon 22 Bachelor Fish Monger 86 Marchmont Street Joseph Gordon Labourer
Janet Balfour 23 Spinster --------- 24 Marchmont Street David Balfour Baker
Married in the Regent Square Church according to the Rites and Ceremonies of the Presbytarians, by Certificate by me, Dykes D.D.
This marriage was solemnized between us Samuel Gordon In the Presence of us James M. McLaren
Janet Balfour Annie Whyte


in 1876 the Post Office Directory lists 36 Marchmont Street (now #76) as being occupied by a fishmonger called Charles Lee. By 1877 it was listed the occupant as Samuel Gordon. So he took over the business in either 1876 or 1877 soon after he was married.


By 1881 they are living together at 84 Marchmont Street, St Pancras, London with their first three children, Mary, Helen and David. Samuel is a fishmonger, and they have both a servant girl, and a nurse. On the opposite side of the street, in number 77, is a household with James and Mary Balfour (42 and 43) which (if they are relatives) may possibly explain how he came to meet Janet. The family says that he had a fish and game shop on Marchmont street.

Phonebook entry from 1952

By 1891 they have moved to 60 Compton Street, St Pancras where they have had six more children, twins Hannah and Jane Garvie, Isabella, Alice, Eugenie and Samuel J. Gordon. At this time Samuel is still a Fishmonger, but his place of birth is given as Wapping in London (rather than St Pancras). Even with this number of children they can still afford a servant!


The Fishmonger's at Marchmont street in 1977


This picture taken in 1977 shows the fishmonger's shop on Marchmont street. The tiles on the wall behind the unfortunately placed Jaguar car still spell out the name "Gordon", although it is unknown if a Gordon still ran the shop at this time.

The tiles are no longer there (replaced by a window), and the shop is now the "Moreish Deli".

There is a separate page for the Marchmont St. fishmonger's shop, as given it was established in 1803 (according to the adverts) then it predates Samuel's birth!


They are still at 60 Compton Street for the 1901 census, where they have gained three more children, John, George, and Eva, although sadly we appear to have lost young Samuel, whose death (Samuel James Gordon) was registered in the September quarter of 1891 in St Pancras at the age of 2 (Pancras, 1b, 49).

Children

Here is the list of their children:

  • Mary Gordon (~1877)
  • Helen Gordon (~1879)
  • David Gordon (17th January 1881)
  • Jane/Jean/Jeanie Garvie Gordon (20 Jan 1884) m. Thomas Bakman Bassham, d. 17 Mar 1962.
  • Hannah I. Gordon (~1883)
  • Isabella Gordon (~1885)
  • Alice Gordon (31st October 1885 at 84 Marchmont St., baptised 14th Febuary 1886 at the parish of St Pancras.)
  • Eugenie Gordon (1887)
  • Samuel J. Gordon (~1889-1891)
  • John Gordon (~1892)
  • George Gordon (6 July 1893)
  • Eva C. Gordon (~1896)


BMD: George Donald Gordon, 1894,Apr-May-Jun, Pancras, London, Volume:1b, Page:56 BMD: George Gordon, Jul-Aug-Sep,1893, Pancras, London, Volume: 1B, Page: 52, Line Number: 343

Mrs. Jean Garvie Bassgam died at 76 Marchmont Street, London, W.C.1, 17th March 1962. On the night of 2 April 1911, the family are living at 76 Marchmont Street, London. There are six children still with them, including Eugenie Gordon, plus a servant Evelyn Marsh.

Directories

Note: The numbers of the houses were renumbered at least twice. For example, 84, Marchmont Street in 1880 is now numbered 76.

  • 1871 Post Office London Directory - Marchmont Street, 24 (on the corner with Tavistock place) Balfour, James, baker
  • 1871 Post Office London Directory - Marchmont Street, 36 (on the corner with Compton street) Morgan, Mrs. S., fishmonger
  • 1872 Post Office London Directory - Marchmont Street, 15, Mapstone, Mrs Jane, baker
  • 1872-1873 Post Office London Directory - Marchmont Street, 24 (on the corner with Tavistock place) Balfour, James, baker
  • 1872-1873 Post Office London Directory - Marchmont Street, 36 (on the corner with Compton street) Mordin & Larkin., fishmonger
  • 1874, 1875 & 1876 Post Office London Directory - Marchmont Street, 24 & 15 (on the corner with Tavistock place) Balfour, James, baker
  • 1874, 1875 & 1876 Post Office London Directory - Marchmont Street, 36 (on the corner with Compton street) Lee Charles, fishmongers
  • 1877 Post Office London Directory - Marchmont Street, 24 & 15 (on the corner with Tavistock place) Balfour, James, baker
  • 1877 Post Office London Directory - Marchmont Street, 36 (on the corner with Compton street) Gordon, Samuel, fishmonger

All houses renumbered.

  • 1880 Post Office London Directory - Marchmont Street (West Side), 77 (on the corner with Tavistock place) & 59 Balfour James, baker
  • 1880 Post Office London Directory - Marchmont Street (East Side), 84 Gordon Samuel, fishmonger (on the NE corner with Compton Street)


  • 1902 Post Office Directory - Gordon Samuel, fishmonger, 84 Marchmont street W C
  • 1910 Post Office Directory - 59 Marchmont Street, Hemmings Charles Wm. hosier
  • 1910 Post Office Directory - 75 & 77 Marchmont Street, Millar, James jun. baker
  • 1910 Post Office Directory - 76 Marchmont Street, Gordon, Samuel, fishmonger
  • 1926 Post Office Directory - 75 & 77 Marchmont Street, Millar, James, baker
  • 1926 Post Office Directory - 76 Marchmont Street, Gordon, Samuel, fishmonger

Interestingly, there is a James Millar (& Sons) who was a baker at 17 Murray Street, Stirling in 1909. Stirling is where Eugenie Gordon went to work in a restaurant (potentially a couple of doors down).

Death

Samuel Gordon died on the 1st January 1925.

His death was registered in Jan-Mar 1925 at Richmond, vol. 2a, page 716.

Probate

GORDON, Samuel of 148 Castelnau Barnes Surrey died 1 January 1925. Probate London 24 February to Janet Hunter Gordon widow. Effects £21067 6s. 10d.

Note: the amount of £21067 in 1925, would be worth around £1.1M in 2017.

Samuel and Janet were buried in the Christian portion of the Jewish Cemetery at Golders Green (Hoop Lane?).

Other References

Telephone Directory His entry in the telephone book in 1941-56 read:

"Gordon, Samuel Fishmonger, 76 Mrchmnt st W.C.1 *EUSton 2271"

Those for 1951-1963 had a top of the page advertisement as well (as shown above).

By 1984 the advertisement had gone, and the entry said:

"Gordon Samuel Ltd. Fishmgr, 76 Marchmont St W.C.1 01-387-2271 & 01-387-0089"

Currently 76 Marchmont street contains something called "Bar-B-Lo"...

In 2001 a planning application was granted to add some signage to the basement entrance for "Bloom's Bar" The main shop has a sign entitled "1 HOUR PHOTOS".

The main shop is currently "Snappy Snaps".

Next door, 77 Marchmont Street is now "La Bardigiana", an Italian restaurant.


Other unconnected information: BMD: Samuel Gordon died aged 1, SeptemberQ 1892 Whitechapel Vol 1c Page 203

BMD: Samuel Gordon died aged 1, JuneQ 1901, St.Geo.East, Vol 1c, Page 209

BMD: Samuel Gordon died aged 81, MarchQ 1909, Lambeth, Vol 1d, Page 242

BMD: Samuel Gordon died aged 57, MarchQ 1903, Prestwich (Lancs) Vol 8d, Page 306

BMD: Hannah Gordon died aged 47, DecemberQ 1904, Elham (Kent) Vol 2a, Page 665

BMD: Hannah J. Gordon died aged 53, September 1910, Ashton (Chesh/Lancs) Vol 8d, Page 307

BMD: Isabella Mary A. Gordon married either William Robert C. Luckhurst or Henry Augustus Brown (Minnie Johnson other female) in SeptQ 1904, Holborn, 1b, 1367

BMD: Isabella Gordon married either Walter Archer or Edward Robert West (Charlotte Rackstraw) in MarQ 1902, Camberwell, 1d, 1037

BMD: Jean Garvie Gordon, Marriage, Jun 1908, St. Giles, Volume 1b, Page 1059 (males on that page transcribed so far are Thomas Bateman Bassham and William Chatwynd Gardiner). Images confirm that there is no Robert Watson on that page.

Descendent of Samuel Gordon:

http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/Middlesex_County_UK/2005-02/1108425941

From: "Wayne & Lyn" < angel777@optusnet.com.au> Subject: Surnames BALFOUR GORDON RITCHIE HUNTER Date: Tue, 15 Feb 2005 11:06:41 +1100


Hello to the list,

I am researching my family from Torryburn Fife Scotland. Some migrated to Middlesex so I am posting the surnames to see if any other researcher is about linking to these families.

Janet Hunter BALFOUR born 1853 Torryburn married Samuel GORDON born 1855 Middlesex Eng in 1876 Saint Pancras London. They appear on the 1881 Census living at 84 Marchmont Street London with their children Mary, Helen and David. Janet's parents were David BALFOUR and Janet HUNTER. Samuel GORDON was a fishmonger by trade.

James BALFOUR born 1839 Torryburn Fife and his wife Mary are also on the 1881 Census living at 77 Marchmont Street London. James was a Baker by trade, his parents were James BALFOUR and Mary RITCHIE.

Kind regards

Lyn in Melbourne Aust

Eva Gordon

Samuel's daughter Eva Gordon married Anthony W Clarke, registered in Apr-May-Jun 1919 at Canterbury, Kent (vol. 2a, page. 2667)

One A.W. Clarke, a second Lieutenant of the Royal Flying Corps, was hospitalised at the Queen Alexandra's Military Hospital At Millbank with neurodemia and discharged from hospital on the 4th May 2017. He was 22 and had been in service for 2 years.

One A.W. Clarke, a second Lieutenant of the Royal Flying Corps "E", was hospitalised at the Queen Alexandra's Military Hospital At Millbank with a head contusion from 21st September 1917 to 17th January 1918. He was 23 and had been in service for 2 years.