Blame Shona for this one! Something to get your teeth into?

[Merry]

That Jack the Ripper thread on the other board got me reading about "Jack" again and I have now got myself hooked on unravelling this detail....goodness knows why......but I'm stuck so it's time to get someone else/others hooked instead!

James Maybrick (1838-1889) is one of the suspects because of diaries he supposedly wrote that came to light about 20 years ago. After his death in 1889, his wife, Florence Maybrick (nee Chandler), was convicted of his murder by poisoning in a sensational trial. The "Aigburth Poisoning" (My gran was always ranting on about this trial even though it happened before she was born). However, it's neither James nor Florence I'm interested in, but the supposed previous Mrs Maybrick (probably common law wife) who is mentioned on a few websites.

James married Florence Chandler in 1881 at St James' Piccadilly (image is on FMP). He said he was a bachelor. Some websites suggest he hid this marriage from his mistress, Sarah Ann Robertson.

Sarah Ann Robertson

Her year of birth is reported between 1852 and 1855.

It is reported that in 1868 her step-father's will gives her name as Sarah Ann Maybrick wife of James Maybrick (but she would have been very young, so I don't think that can be her or it's made up! No one seems to mention the name of her step-father)

In 1851 they say this is Sarah:

1851:
1 Pastern Row, Tower Hamlets
Head: Charles James Case aged 36 born Strand, London - Tobacconist
Wife: Christiana Case aged 31 born Sunderland <<<<<Sarah's aunt, nee Robertson
Niece: Sarah Ann Robertson aged 15 born Sunderland <<<<<

So ten years older than her supposed dob so the step-father's will info might now be valid.

1861:
36 Jamaica Street, Stepney
Head: Charles J Case aged 40 born St Catherine - Watch jobber
Wife: Christiana Case aged 42 born Sunderland <<<< aunt
Sarah herself is listed as an assistant as follows:
172 Fenchurch Street, London
Head: Ellen Dewdney (Widow) aged 27 born Stepney - Hair jeweller
Assistant: Sarah Robertson aged 25 born Sunderland <<<<<<<<<<

1871:
55 Bromley Street, Stepney
Head: Thomas Conconi aged 42 born Margate, Kent - Paymaster (Ret.)
Wife: Christianna Conconi aged 48 born Sunderland <<<<<<<<<<aunt remarried
Niece: Sarah Maybrick (Married) aged 33 born Sunderland - Merchants clerk wife <<<<<< details fit well for OH being James Maybrick

1881:
Head: Christiana Conconi (Widow) aged 59 born Sunderland, Durham - No occupation <<<<<<<<<aunt
Niece: Sarah A Robertson aged 35 born Sunderland - No occupation <<< reverted to maiden name
Daughter: Gertrude B Conconi aged 8 born Portsmouth
Nephew: George Smith aged 14 born Sunderland

1891:
265 Queen's Road, Deptford
Head: Christiana Conconi (Widow) aged 69 born Sunderland - Living on own means
Daughter: Gertrude aged 18 born Portsmouth
Niece: Sarah Robertson aged 44 born Sunderland <<<<<
Her age is a bit wobbly...

1851: 15
1861: 25
1871: 33
1881: 35
1891: 44

and are these then her (different birthplace and a new set of relations):

1901:
9 Nelson St, Greenwich
William Hartnett head m 43 House decorator b Deptford
Hannah Hartnett 30 wife m 30 b Deptford
William Hartnett 3 son b Deptford
Nellie Hartnett 8 dau b Deptford
Frank Bess 20 serv b Deptford
Sarah Maybrick step mother wid 50 b Scotland <<<<<<<<<

I can't work out how she is step-mother. or any relation for that matter!

1911:
125 Douglas St Deptford
Hannah E Hartnett head wid 39 greengrocer b Deptford
Sarah A Maybrick aunt wid 59 (married 35 years) b Dumfriesshire Sanquhar? (I think, but misspelled) Note she says aunt as relationship to head!
Nellie Hartnett dau 18 b London New Cross
Elsie Hartnett dau 9 b Greenwich
Sarah Croomes serv 17 b Deptford

Hannah Hartnett had maiden surname Reed and I think her parents were William and Bridget.

There are some electoral roll entries for Sarah Maybrick in Deptford from 1918 to 1930 (though she was dead by then!), but not living with the Hartnetts.

Deaths Mar 1927
Maybrick Sarah A 72 Wandsworth 1d 785
Robertson Sarah A 72 Wandsworth 1d 785

Apparently the death cert has both names.

So, really all I was originally trying to discover was the name of Sarah's stepfather, but I got a bit carried away! Are they definitely all the same person - that's the real point. And did the mysterious stepfather really exist with a will that everyone quotes, but who doesn't seem to have a name?

I might have to go to the supermarket whilst you sort this out, but will be back a bit later!