? Skelt |
= |
? |
|
|||||||||
Martin Skelt (b. abt1781 d. 1849) |
= (1805) |
Mary Shipwright
(b. abt 1786) |
|
|||||||||
Matt’w Skelt (b1806 d180?) |
|
|||||||||||
Matthew Skelt (b1810) |
= ( 1835) |
Eliz Wilson (Died 1837) |
||||||||||
= (1839) |
Caroline Radburn |
|
||||||||||
Sophia Skelt (b1814) |
|
|||||||||||
Edmund Skelt (b1820) |
= (Q4 1840) |
Margaret Schofield |
|
|||||||||
Benjamin Skelt (b1817) |
= (Q4 1849) |
Emma Greatrex (b. abt 1826) |
|
|||||||||
|
||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||
Ebenezer Skelt (b1846) |
= |
Nora Thompson |
|
|||||||||
I have in my possession MW Stone’s personal history of the
Juvenile Drama, in which he includes a short description of the Skelt family
history as compiled by Ralph Thomas. As Ralph Thomas was alive at the time of
the Skelts, I place more credence behind his explanation of the various Skelts
than many others derived from later sources. This is what Ralph Thomas said:-
There were four Skelts. M (I believe Mathew) first started. He took another into partnership, and their prints are published by M&M Skelt. Then one of the M’s left and the prints again appear as published by M Skelt. The M took a B (Benjamin) into partnership and their prints are published by M&B Skelt. Later B alone published, but he, I presume, “bust up” like the explosion in the “Miller and his Men”, but then we have some salvage from the general wreck, published by E Skelt, without any address. … E Skelt is said to have died about 1890 in a good situation.
George Speaight in his book “The History of the English Toy
Theatre - 1969” differed slightly from Ralph Thomas’s view and explained the
chronology of the “Skelt” family thus:-
1835-1872 11 (17) Swan St, Minories
A family business. According to A How Mathews, the
succession was as follows (this differed slightly from the arrangement given by
Ralph Thomas):-
M Skelt (Martin, the founder, a showmaker) 1835-c.1837
M&M Skelt (Martin & Matthew, his brother)
c.1837-1840
M&B Skelt (Matthew & his uncle Ben) 1840-1850 in
1850 Matthew died.
B Skelt 1850-1862 in 1862 Ben died in Stepney Workhouse.
E Skelt (Ebenezer, son of Ben. Died 1913) 1862-1872
Most of George Speaight’s findings came through discussions
and correspondence with A How Mathews in the 1930s. This was nearly 100 years
after the actual events happened and it is believed that, although based on
known facts, the actual detail was far less reliable.
I have researched the Skelts through the available
historical resources of Church Records, Census Returns, Trade Directories and
the Sun Fire Office Records and I think Ralph Thomas was closer to the truth,
with just the starting point being Martin rather than Matthew. I give my
findings below:-
The Skelts:-
Martin Skelt was
born about 1781 in London. Beyond that I know nothing more of Martin Skelt’s
origins. The 1841 Census Return showed him to be 60 years of age, however it
should be noted that the ages given on the 1841 Census were rounded to the
nearest 5 year interval, so an age of 60 meant he could be anywhere between 56 and
64, as enumerators were not very consistent in whether they rounded up or down.
Parish Records,
especially those for St Botolph without Aldgate have been very helpful in
identifying Martin and his children. The subsequent census returns and the
discovery of Martin Skelt’s last will and testament offer strong corroboration
for these events; so strong reliance can be placed on these records.
PARISH RECORDS
“Westminster, St George Hanover Square”
1805 - Martin Skelt = Mary Shipwright
“St Marylebone”
Mattw Skelt, son of Martin Skelt and his wife Mary
Born 16th April 1806
Christened 27th April 1806
(Believed to have died shortly afterwards)
There was a gap of some 4 years before we find another baptism to Martin & Mary Skelt. It maybe that at least one child was born in the interval and christened at another church for which I haven’t yet searched the records for. A couple of miles separated this four-year break in the completeness of the records and I picked up the trail once more in Aldgate.
“St Botolph without Aldgate”
Matthew Skelt, son of Martin Skelt and his wife Mary
Born 6th March 1810
Christened 17th June 1810
(It was common in the 18th & 19th
Centuries for infants to die and the next child born to be given the same name,
however it would complete the investigation if we could confirm the death of
the first Matthew Skelt.)
Sophia Skelt, daughter of Martin Skelt and his wife Mary
Born 22nd May 1814
Christened 19th April 1818
Benjamin Skelt, son of Martin Skelt and his wife Mary
Born 26th November 1817
Christened 19th April 1818 (with Sophia)
Edmund Skelt, son of Martin Skelt and his wife Mary
Born 13th April 1820
Christened 12th November 1820
“Westminster, St George Hanover Square”
1835 - Math Skelt = Eliz Wilson
So from the above
we can see that Martin Skelt (snr) had at least three sons; Matthew, Benjamin
and Edmund. I strongly believe that there was another son called Martin. From
these records and the others that I have found I now believe the Skelts to have
the following chronology:-
M Skelt (Martin Skelt or Matthew Skelt – trading from
c1827 to 1832)
I suspect in this
very early period very little theatre related work was produced. From a record
of the “Sun Fire Office” on 1st November 1827 there was insured at
11 Swan Street, Minories, a certain Martin Skelt; boot & shoe maker and
dealer in print stationery and grindery. The same details appear again on 1st
December 1830. This would concur with Speaight’s theory that Martin Skelt was
indeed a shoemaker, who turned his hand to “woodcut” engraving between the
years of 1835 to 1837 and later to copperplate printing. However, I strongly
believe that “M Skelt” started engraving and printing toy theatre sheets some
time before 1835 and possibly as early as 1830. If we look at some of the works
produced under this imprint, we see productions that appeared on the real stage
in the early 1830s’. One fine example is “Jonathan Bradford”, for which a toy
theatre version was produced by Green in 1833. Skelt’s version was a ½d copy of
Green’s 1d version and is almost identical in nearly every detail. (It was
common for ½d copies to be made from 1d originals around this time – as Green’s
version was the 1d version, therefore Skelts was the ½d copy.) It was most likely that Skelt produced his
copy at around the same time as Green, so 1833 would be a better starting date.
The imprint for Skelt’s version of Jonathan Bradford was “M Skelt, 11 Swan St,
Minories, London”. If this ½d production was a later copy, this would suggest a
date nearer to 1840, but I will continue to search for more information. Green
also produced a halfpenny proscenium in 1834. This was probably a copy of M
Skelt’s 1d proscenium, showing again that M Skelt may have been in business
sometime before 1835.
M&M Skelt (Martin & Matthew Skelt 1832 to 1836)
According to the
“Sun Fire Office” records on 26th of April 1832 Martin had been
joined by Matthew Skelt, presumably his son. Their trade was listed as “copper
plate printers, dealers in prints, stationery and fancy ornament makers”. The
same details appear again for Matthew and Martin Skelt on 6th May
1835. By 17th May 1837 the records show just Martin Skelt at 11 Swan
Street and as a copper plate printer.
So around 1832
Martin was joined by Matthew, whom Speaight thought was possibly Martin’s
brother. It was far more likely that Matthew was Martin’s son, born in 1810.
Matthew married Eliz Wilson in 1835 and probably struck out on his own so as to
support his new wife and the family to come. This could be the explanation of
why the “Sun Fire Office” records show Martin Skelt to be on his own by 17th
May 1837.
There is an extra
record from the “Sun Fire Office” for 1832, which is worth a mention. At 8 Back
Lane on the corner of Charles Street, was an insured chandler, by the name of
Martin Skelt. The record goes on to state that “other property or occupiers”
were at : 11 Swan Street, Minories (Skelt junr, copper plate printer). This
would indicate that it was a son of Martin Skelt that was the copper plate
printer, presumably Mathew Skelt, but it is possible there was another son,
called Martin, and possibly there were two Martin Skelts at this time. So
Speaight may have been right afterall and that Matthew and Martin were
brothers, with their father Martin Skelt, a chandler of 8 Back Lane on the
corner of Charles Street.
This idea is
further supported by the discovery of a burial record for a Martin Skelt, on 29th
December 1836 at St Botolph, Aldgate. His address was given as Swan St and his
age was 29, therefore being born about 1807.
M Skelt (Martin Skelt 1837 to 1840)
As we can see from the records of the “Sun Fire Office”, that a Martin Skelt was once again on his own sometime between 1835 and 1837. By the 1841 Census he had been joined by another of his sons, Benjamin.
M&B Skelt (Martin & Benjamin Skelt 1841 to 1850)
According to Speaight, Martin was believed to have died in 1840 when Matthew took up with his uncle Benjamin. However the 1841 Census Return disproves this theory. Martin was alive and well in 1841 and living at 11 Swan Street, Minories (the ususal imprint address) and more importantly his son Benjamin was living with him (a 23 year old “Printer”). So M&B Skelt was far more likely to have been Martin and his son Benjamin. The find of Martin Skelt’s Will, shows that Matthew was still alive in 1844, so perhaps he struck out on his own. A search of the 1851 Census finds him as a 41 year old, widowed “Barge Builder” at 15 Vauxhall Terrace in Lambeth. His place of birth was given as the Strand, Middlesex and he was of the right age, so this is highly likely to be the correct Matthew Skelt.
Marriage solemnized at the Parish Church in the Parish of St Dionis in the County of London |
|||||||
Date |
Names |
Age |
Condition |
Occupation |
Abode |
Father |
Father’s Occupation |
11th Feb |
Matthew Skelt |
Full Age |
Widower |
Engraver |
Lime Street |
Martin Skelt |
Shoemaker |
1839 |
Caroline Radburn |
Full Age |
Spinster |
Dressmaker |
Lime Street |
Robert Radburn |
Lighterman |
Sadly, it appears
that Matthew’s second wife Caroline, died just one year later and was buried on
20th February 1840 at St Mary Newington, aged 27 years.
Census Extract 1841
HO107-725-6 - Folio 12 - Page 16
Name |
Age
|
Occupation |
Born in same county |
Martin Skelt |
60 |
Printer |
Yes |
Mary Skelt |
55 |
Yes |
|
Benjamin Skelt |
23 |
Printer |
No |
The Kelly’s
Directory for London in 1841 has the following entry “Skelt Martin & Benj.
Printers & Publishers. 11 Swan Street, Minories”. This entry is repeated in
the 1846 Directory
Searches in the
archives have uncovered Martin Skelt’s last Will and Testament. This was dated 18th
June 1844 and was proved on 18th January 1850. Death index records
show a Martin Skelt dying in the December quarter 1849, in East London. The
will reads as follows and is transcribed below:-
Transcript of Martin Skelt’s last Will & Testament
dated 18th June 1844 and proved on 18th January 1850 in
London.
I, Martin Skelt of Swan Street, Minories in the city of
London, Copper Plate Printer, do make my last Will & Testament as follows
(that is to say). First. I direct after payment of all my just debts, funeral
expenses and the costs and charges of the proving this my will. I give unto my
son Matthew Skelt the sum of twenty pounds. I give to my son Edmund Skelt the
sum of twenty pounds. I give unto my son Benjamin Skelt my leasehold house in
which I now reside for the residue of my term and interest therein paying the
rent and performing the covenants assessed and contained in the said lease and
also my stock in trade furniture and all the rest and residual of my estate and
effects whatsoever and wheresoever for his own use and benefit and I so hereby
nominate and appoint my son Benjamin Skelt Executor of this my Will hereby
revoking all other wills by me heretofore made and declaring this only to be my
last Will and Testament. In with of where of I have here unto set my hand this
eighteenth day of June in the year of our lord one thousand eight hundred and
forty four = Martin Skelt = signed by the above named testator Martin Skelt as
and for his last will and testament in the
presence of us (both present at the same time who in his ??? presence and in the presence of ??? have hereunto oath other subscribe our names as
witnesses = W L Howell ??? 40 Ratcliff Highway = Arthur A Walter his clerk.
Proved at London 18th January 1850 before the
worshipful William Galverley Curtis, Portor of Laws and Surrogate by the oath
of Benjamin Skelt the son the sole executor to whom admon was granted having
been first sworn duly to administer.
This shows that Martin had three sons Matthew, Edmund and Benjamin that were alive in 1844. Although Matthew was the eldest he did not acquire the residue of his father’s estate. This was left to Benjamin, including all Martin’s “stock in trade”. Perhaps this was because Benjamin was the only one of his sons inclined to keep the business going at the time the will was made or because both Matthew & Edmund were already self-sufficient by this time.
B Skelt (Benjamin Skelt 1851 to 1862)
Marriage solemnized at the Parish Church in the Parish of St Anne, Limehouse in the County of Middlesex |
|||||||
Date |
Names |
Age |
Condition |
Occupation |
Abode |
Father |
Father’s Occupation |
21st Oct |
Benjamin Skelt |
Full Age |
Bachelor |
Engraver / Printer |
Limehouse |
Martin Skelt |
Engraver / Printer |
1849 |
Emma Sarah Greatrex |
Full Age |
Spinster |
|
Limehouse |
? Henry Greatrex |
Deceased |
Witnesses to the above
marriage were Edmund Skelt and Margaret Skelt.
Again according to
Speaight Matthew Skelt died in 1850, but now we know this to be Martin.
Benjamin then had to strike out on his own. The plates with B Skelt’s imprint
stopped appearing in 1862 and it was suggested by Speaight that Benjamin died
in Stepney Workhouse in 1862. However Benjamin was still an inmate of the
workhouse in 1871 and was described as a 54 year old “Copperplate Printer”. He
died in the March Quarter of 1881 aged 63 at the Whitechapel Union Workhouse
(Reference Whitechapel 1c 236)
Why did Benjamin
stop in 1862, when we still find him alive as late as 1881. It appears that his
wife, Emma, died in the September quarter of 1862 at Mile End (1c-407), was
this enough for Benjamin to quit and hand over to E Skelt. It appears so!
Census Extract 1851
HO107-1524 Folio 275 - Page 9
Name |
Relation to Head of Household
|
Age
|
Occupation |
Where Born |
Benjamin Skelt |
Head |
33 |
Printer |
City of London |
Emma Skelt |
Wife |
25 |
City of London |
|
Charles Skelt |
Son |
1 |
City of London |
|
Emily ? |
Serv |
15? |
Domestic Servant |
Surrey |
There was no sign
of an Ebenezer the supposed son of Benjamin as Speaight would have us believe?
The Kelly’s
Directory for London in 1852 has the following entry “Skelt B. Publisher &
Printer. 11 Swan Street, Minories”. The entries for 1856 and 1859 for 17 Swan
St, Minories were shown as “Skelt Benjamin, Printer &c” It would appear
that number 11 had already been demolished to make way for the new underground
railway, which was finished in the early 1860’s.
Census Extract 1871
RG10-515 Folio 89 - Page 8
Name |
Relation to Head of Household
|
Age
|
Occupation |
Where Born |
Benjamin Skelt |
Inmate (widower) |
54 |
Copper-plate Printer |
Aldgate |
E Skelt (Edmund Skelt 1862 to 1872)
Marriage solemnized at the Parish Church in the Parish of St George in the County of Middlesex |
|||||||
Date |
Names |
Age |
Condition |
Occupation |
Abode |
Father |
Father’s Occupation |
13th Dec |
Edmund Skelt |
Minor |
Bachelor |
Copper Plate Printer Engraver |
11 Swan Street, Minories |
Martin Skelt |
Copper Plate Printer |
1840 |
Margaret Schofield |
Full Age |
Spinster |
Dressmaker |
24 New Street, Whitechapel |
James Schofield |
? Cooper |
Benjamin Skelt was
witness to the above marriage.
Unfortunately the
1861 Census for the Minories area of London is virtually unreadable, so I have
been unable to locate either the Skelt’s or Swan Street in this area. George
Speaight in his discussions with How Mathews assumed that E Skelt was Ebenezer
Skelt. I am not so sure. I have found only one Ebenezer Skelt on the 1861
census and subsequent censuses, however he is never referred to as a printer,
but as an ironmonger. Ebenezer, was probably related to the Skelt’s as there
were so few Skelts in London at this time, but I doubt he took over the
printing business from 1862 to 1872.
The Kelly’s
Directory for 1869 finds the following entry “Skelt, Edmund, engraver, 2
Stepney Old Road E”
Census Extract 1861
RG9-294 Folio 53 - Page 9
Name |
Relation to Head of Household
|
Age
|
Occupation |
Where Born |
Maria Skelt |
Head |
46 |
House Proprietor |
Middlesex, Stepney |
George Skelt |
Son |
20 |
Bookbinder |
Middlesex, Stepney |
Ebenezer Skelt |
Son |
14 |
Scholar |
Middlesex, Stepney |
Joseph Skelt |
Son |
9 |
Middlesex, Stepney |
|
Lillian Davis |
Lodger |
50 |
Household Duties |
Middlesex, Whitechapel |
E Skelt was far
more likely to be Martin Skelt’s remaining son, Edmund. Yet again the census
comes up trumps and shows Edmund to be a “Copper Plate Printer & Engraver”
in 1861 at Limehouse, Tower Hamlets. More importantly he is shown as a
“Theatrical Publisher” on the 1871 Census and in the right part of town.
Census Extract 1861
RG9-287 Folio 23 - Page 12
Name |
Relation to Head of Household
|
Age
|
Occupation |
Where Born |
Edmund Skelt |
Head |
40 |
Copper Plate Printer & Engraver |
St Geo East, London |
Margaret Skelt |
Wife |
41 |
St Geo East, London |
|
Martin Skelt |
Son |
17 |
? |
St Geo East, London |
Benjamin Skelt |
Son |
12 |
Scholar |
St Geo East, London |
(Edmund Skelt
married Margaret Schofield in the fourth quarter of 1840 (St George in the East
2-36)
Census Extract 1871
RG10-550 Folio ? - Page 12
Name |
Relation to Head of Household
|
Age
|
Occupation |
Where Born |
Edmund Skelt |
Head |
51 |
Theatrical Publisher |
City of London |
Margaret Skelt |
Wife |
52 |
St Catherines Parish (Deaf) |
|
Martin Skelt |
Son |
27 |
Print Engraver |
Stepney, Middlesex |
(I have seen one
plate by E Skelt with the imprint address given as 7 Lion Place, Old Road,
Stepney, but as yet I do not know whether this was before or after the 1871
Census.)
The Ebenezer Skelt found earlier had moved away from the Stepney/Tower Hamlets area of London by 1871 and was an Ironmonger’s Assistant in Leyton, confirming my earlier thoughts.
By 1881 Edmund too
had given up on the toy theatre and print selling, as on the 1881 Census he was
shown as a “Porter”. No longer a “Theatrical Publisher” and now living in Clerkenwell
at the age of 61, with his wife Margaret. Records show that Edmund died aged 72
in Holborn in 1892. With his death ended the Skelt Toy Theatre publishing
dynasty.
However the name
of Skelt was rekindled in the first half of the 20th century through
the name of G Skelt.
So it would seem
that Ralph Thomas was so nearly correct in his suppositions, as I said early,
with only his starting point to be wrong. It would seem that A How Mathews
version of events followed what he considered to be the pattern of the imprints
in his possession. Maybe these were limited or just maybe his memory wasn’t
quite as good as it once was, either way, he did miss the mark albeit by a
small margin.
G Skelt (George Wood/Cornetta/Skelt 19?? To 1956)
George Skelt was
born in 1881, but he was not a Skelt. He was actually born George Wood and
later changed his name to George Cornetta and lived on the island of Jersey. He
took on the name of Skelt probably in an effort to make his numerous “copied”
plays appear to be more genuine and more recognisable as “Skeltery”.
Nonetheless G Skelt helped to keep the toy theatre going in his own small way.
Although he produced few copies of his work, he did generate a wide range of
items. The characters for his plays were nearly all copied direct from the
great names of the past, however he did create a multitude of larger scenes and
with a certain degree of flair. I will try to find out more about him at a
later date.
Just for
completeness, I have shown all my findings below in chronological order:-
Date |
Event |
Location |
Names |
Source |
Likely Imprint |
5 May 1805 |
Marriage |
St George, Hanover Square,
Westminster |
Martin Skelt = Mary
Shipwright |
Parish Records |
N/A |
16 Apr 1806 27 Apr 1806 |
Birth Baptism |
St Marylebone |
Mattw Skelt, son of Martin
& Mary Skelt |
Parish Records |
N/A |
6 Mar 1810 17 Jun 1810 |
Birth Baptism |
St Botolph without Aldgate |
Matthew Skelt, son of
Martin & Mary Skelt |
Parish Records |
N/A |
22 May 1814 19 Apr 1818 |
Birth Baptism |
St Botolph without Aldgate |
Sophia Skelt, daughter of
Martin & Mary Skelt |
Parish Records |
N/A |
26 Nov 1817 19 Apr 1818 |
Birth Baptism |
St Botolph without Aldgate |
Benjamin Skelt, son of
Martin & Mary Skelt |
Parish Records |
N/A |
13 Apr 1820 12 Nov 1820 |
Birth Baptism |
St Botolph without Aldgate |
Edmund Skelt, son of
Martin & Mary Skelt |
Parish Records |
N/A |
1 Nov 1827 |
Insured |
11 Swan Street, Minories |
Martin Skelt, Boot &
Shoe maker & dealer in print stationery and grindery |
Sun Fire Office MS11936/512/1067470 |
M Skelt |
1 Dec 1830 |
Insured |
11 Swan Street, Minories |
Martin Skelt, Boot &
Shoe maker & dealer in print stationery and fancy ornament maker |
Sun Fire Office MS11936/525/1115433 |
M Skelt |
26 Apr 1832 |
Insured |
1 Swan Street, Minories |
Matthew & Martin
Skelt, Copper plate printers, dealers in Prints, Stationery and Fancy
Ornaments Makers |
Sun Fire Office MS11936/530/1141001 |
M&M Skelt |
26 Apr 1832 |
Insured |
8 Back Lane, corner of
Charles Street |
Martin Skelt, Chandler Other Property: 11 Swan
Street, Minories (Skelt junr. Copper Plate Printer |
Sun Fire Office MS11936/530/1141002 |
M&M Skelt |
23 Aug1835 |
Marriage |
St George, Hanover Square,
Westminster |
Matthew Skelt = Elizabeth
Wilson |
Parish Records |
M&M Skelt |
6 May 1835 |
Insured |
11 Swan Street, Minories |
Matthew & Martin
Skelt, Copper plate printers, dealers in Prints, Stationery and Fancy
Ornaments. Other Property: 7 Upper
Chapman St, Cannon St Road |
Sun Fire Office MS11936/543/1199157 |
M&M Skelt |
29 Dec 1836 |
Burial |
St Botolph, Aldgate |
Martin Skelt, aged 29 of
Swan St |
Parish Records |
M&M Skelt |
17 May 1837 |
Insured |
11 Swan Street, Minories |
Martin Skelt, Copper plate
printer |
Sun Fire Office MS11936/555/1252060 |
M Skelt |
3 Oct 1837 |
Burial |
St Botolph, Aldgate |
Elizabeth Skelt, aged 23
of Swan St (probably Matthew Skelt’s wife). |
Parish Records |
M Skelt |
Q3 1837 |
Death |
St Geo in the East 2 158 |
Elizabeth Skelt, possibly
first wife of Matthew Skelt |
GRO index |
M Skelt |
Q3 1839 |
Marriage |
City of London 2 83 |
Matthew Skelt = ? |
GRO index |
M Skelt |
11 Feb 1839 |
Marriage |
St Dionis, London |
Matthew Skelt = Caroline
Radburn |
Parish Marriage Record |
M Skelt |
25 Dec 1839 |
Death |
St Geo in the East 2 73 |
Matthew Skelt, son of
Matthew Skelt, Printer. Died aged 1month and 5 days, of convulsions.
Informant of Death = Matthew Skelt of 4 Kings Place. |
GRO index / Death Cert. |
M Skelt |
Q1 1840 |
Death |
Newington 2_5 |
Caroline Skelt, |
||
Q4 1840 |
Marriage |
St Geo in the East 2 36 |
Edmund Skelt = Margaret
Schofield |
GRO index |
M Skelt |
13 Dec 1840 |
Marriage |
St George |
Edmund Skelt = Margaret
Schofield |
Parrish Marriage Record |
M Skelt |
1841 |
Directory |
11 Swan St, Minories |
Martin & Benj Skelt,
Printers & Publishrs |
Kelly’s PO Directory |
M&B Skelt |
30 Jun 1841 |
Census |
11 Swan St, Minories |
Martin Skelt, 60, Printer |
1841 Census |
M&B Skelt |
30 Jun 1841 |
Census |
11 Swan St, Minories |
Mary Skelt, 55 |
1841 Census |
M&B Skelt |
30 Jun 1841 |
Census |
11 Swan St, Minories |
Benjamin Skelt, 23,
Printer |
1841 Census |
M&B Skelt |
18 May 1844 |
Burial |
St Botolph, Aldgate |
Mary Skelt, aged 62 of
Swan St |
Parish Records |
M&B Skelt |
18 Jun 1844 |
Will |
Swan St, Minories |
Martin Skelt, last will
& testament (written) Mentioning three sons,
Matthew, Benjamin & Edmund. |
Wills |
M&B Skelt |
1846 |
Directory |
11 Swan St, Minories |
Martin & Benj Skelt,
Prints & Publishs |
Kelly’s PO Directory |
M&B Skelt |
13 Dec 1849 |
Burial |
St Botolph, Aldgate |
Martin Skelt, aged 70 of
11 Swan St, Minories |
Parish Records |
B Skelt |
Q4 1849 |
Death |
East London 2 158 |
Martin Skelt |
GRO index |
B Skelt |
Q4 1849 |
Marriage |
Stepney 2 484 |
Benjamin Skelt = Emma
Sarah Greatrex |
GRO index |
B Skelt |
21 Oct 1849 |
Marriage |
St Anne Limehouse |
Benjamin Skelt = Emma
Sarah Greatrex |
Parish Marriage Record |
B Skelt |
18 Jan 1850 |
Will |
Swan St, Minories |
Martin Skelt, last will
& testament (proved) |
Wills |
B Skelt |
30 Mar 1851 |
Census |
11 Swan St, Minories |
Benjamin Skelt, 33,
Printer |
1851 Census |
B Skelt |
30 Mar 1851 |
Census |
11 Swan St, Minories |
Emma Skelt, 25 (wife of
Benjamin Skelt) |
1851 Census |
B Skelt |
30 Mar 1851 |
Census |
11 Swan St, Minories |
Charles Skelt, 1 (son of
Benjamin Skelt) |
1851 Census |
B Skelt |
30 Mar 1851 |
Census |
15 Vauxhall Terrace,
Lambeth |
Matthew Skelt, 41,
Widower, Barge Builder. Birth Place: The Strand. |
1851 Census |
B Skelt |
1852 |
Directory |
11 Swan St, Minories |
B Skelt, Publisher &
Printer |
Kelly’s PO Directory |
B Skelt |
1859 |
Directory |
17 Swan St, Minories |
Benjamin Skelt, Printer
&c |
Kelly’s PO Directory |
B Skelt |
Apr 1861 |
Census |
3 Kings Place, Limehouse |
Edmund Skelt, 40,
Copper-Plate Printer & Engraver |
1861 Census |
B Skelt |
Apr 1861 |
Census |
3 Kings Place, Limehouse |
Margaret Skelt, 41 |
1861 Census |
B Skelt |
Apr 1861 |
Census |
3 Kings Place, Limehouse |
Martin Skelt, 17 |
1861 Census |
B Skelt |
Apr 1861 |
Census |
3 Kings Place, Limehouse |
Benjamin Skelt, 12,
Scholar |
1861 Census |
B Skelt |
Q3 1862 |
Death |
Mile End 1c 407 |
Emma Skelt (most likely
Benjamin’s wife) |
GRO Index |
B Skelt |
1869 |
Directory |
2 Stepney Old Road E |
Edmund Skelt, Engraver |
Kelly’s PO Directory |
E Skelt |
Apr 1871 |
Census |
Whitechapel Workhouse,
Stepney |
Benjamin Skelt, 54,
Copper-Plate Printer (Widower) |
1871 Census |
E Skelt |
Apr 1871 |
Census |
2 Rhodeswell Road,
Limehouse |
Edmund Skelt, 51,
Theatrical Publisher |
1871 Census |
E Skelt |
Apr 1871 |
Census |
2 Rhodeswell Road,
Limehouse |
Margaret Skelt, 52 (deaf) |
1871 Census |
E Skelt |
Apr 1871 |
Census |
2 Rhodeswell Road,
Limehouse |
Martin Skelt, 27, Print
Engraver |
1871 Census |
E Skelt |
Apr 1881 |
Census |
Clerkenwell |
Edmund Skelt, 61, Porter |
1881 Census |
No More |
Q1 1881 |
Death |
Whitechapel 1c 236 |
Benjamin Skelt, 63 |
GRO index |
No More |
Q3 1892 |
Death |
Holborn 1b 390 |
Edmund Skelt, 72 |
GRO index |
No More |
More on Ebenezer
Skelt (just for the record)
Census Extract 1881
Rg11-1726 Folio 105 - Page 45
Name |
Relation to Head of Household
|
Age
|
Occupation |
Where Born |
Ebenezer Skelt |
Head |
34 |
Ironmonger |
Stepney, Middlesex |
Nora Skelt |
Wife |
34 |
Aldgate, Middlesex |
|
Nora L Skelt |
Daughter |
8 |
Scholar |
Leytonstone, Essex |
Florence Skelt |
Daughter |
7 |
Scholar |
Leytonstone, Essex |
Ebenezer G Skelt |
Son |
3 |
Leytonstone, Essex |
|
Ellen Baker |
Serv |
16 |
Domestic Servant |
Stanstead, Essex |
Emma Scillitor |
Serv |
16 |
Domestic Servant |
Colne Earls, Essex |
Census Extract 1891
RG12-1346 Folio 93 - Page 10
Name |
Relation to Head of Household
|
Age
|
Occupation |
Where Born |
Ebenezer Skelt |
Head |
44 |
Manager to Ironmongers Firm |
Stepney, Middlesex |
Nora Skelt |
Wife |
44 |
Whitechapel, Middlesex |
|
Nora L Skelt |
Daughter |
18 |
Milliner’s Apprentice |
Leytonstone, Essex |
Florence M Skelt |
Daughter |
17 |
Milliner’s Apprentice |
Leytonstone, Essex |
Nellie L MacCall |
Niece |
17 |
Milliner’s Apprentice |
Elsenham, Essex |
Sarah A Alliston |
Serv |
20 |
General Servant Domestic |
Manningtree, Essex |
Census Extract 1901
RG13-1622 Folio 13 - Page 17
Name |
Relation to Head of Household
|
Age
|
Occupation |
Where Born |
Ebenezer Skelt |
Head |
54 |
Ironmonger |
Stepney, Middlesex |
Nora Skelt |
Wife |
54 |
Aldgate, Middlesex |
|
Nora Skelt |
Daughter |
28 |
Leytonstone, Essex |
|
Jane Noble |
Servant |
24 |
Domestic |
Chigwell, Essex |