Gunpower, Treason and Plot

Remember, remember the Fifth of November,

The Gunpowder Treason and Plot,

I know of no reason

Why the Gunpowder Treason

Should ever be forgot.

A contemporary engraving of eight of the thirteen conspirators, by Crispijn van de Passe. 

The men pictured here are the group of English Catholics who conspired to blow up the King and Houses of Parliament. We remember the event with bonfires and fireworks on 5th November every year in England, though we now place a "Guy" on the bonfire rather than a "Pope".

In the engraving Guido Fawkes (or Guy Fawkes), 3rd from the left, is the 3rd cousin of the husband of my 3rd cousin 13x removed. I was trying to work out what the lineage was between me and Guy as there seemed various possibilities: Rossiter, Pulleyn, but it turned out (and I only just realised Ancestry did this) that it was through the Wangers. Ancestry providing the route!

Guy Fawkes

Edward Fawkes 1533-1578

Father of Guy Fawkes

William Fawkes 1500-1578

Father of Edward Fawkes

Henry Fawkes 1470-1549

Father of William Fawkes

John Fawkes 1440-1496

Father of Henry Fawkes

Nicholas Fawkes 1468-1554

Son of John Fawkes

Marmaduke Fawkes 1515-

Son of Nicholas Fawkes

Marmaduke Fawkes 1553-

Son of Marmaduke Fawkes

Michael Fawkes 1538-1647

Son of Marmaduke Fawkes

Mary Molyneux 1601-1672

Wife of Michael Fawkes

John Molyneux 1611-1640

Father of Mary Molyneux

Thomas Molyneux 1531-1596

Father of John Molyneux

Francis Molyneux

Father of Thomas Molyneux

Edward Molyneux

Father of Francis Molyneux

Mary Molyneux 1566-1609

Daughter of Edward Molyneux

Henry Disney 1569-1641

Son of Mary Molyneux

William Disney 1589-1656

Son of Henry Disney

Richard Disney -1650

Son of William Disney

Richard Disney 1633-

Son of Richard Disney

Elizabeth Disney 1658-1747

Daughter of Richard Disney

Elizabeth Barford

Daughter of Elizabeth Disney

John Stapleton 1719-

Son of Elizabeth Barford

John Stapleton 1752-1798

Son of John Stapleton

Thomas Stapleton 1785-1861

Son of John Stapleton

Elizabeth Stapleton 1814-1888

Daughter of Thomas Stapleton

John Stapleton 1846-1912

Son of Elizabeth Stapleton

Louisa Stapleton 1868-1945

Daughter of John Stapleton

Arthur George Henry Wanger 1894-1966

Son of Louisa Stapleton

Charles Arthur Wanger 1926-2018

Son of Arthur George Henry Wanger

Sylvia Ann Wanger 1951-

Daughter of Charles Arthur Wanger

Alison Elizabeth Benson

You are the daughter of Sylvia Ann Wanger

Legal Eagles

This is the Supreme Court in London. It is virtually impossible to get a photograph without traffic in the week, unless it is surrounded by the Media. This photograph was taken in 2018. I am using it to introduce the ancestors who were members of the legal profession.


James Speid Benson

1873 - 1963

I have to start with James who is my 2nd great uncle. He was born at 29 Thistle Street in Aberdeen, Scotland to William Henry Benson and Isabella Speid. His middle brother William was my great grandfather who died while working as a tea planter in India. His younger brother John Speid died in Central Africa.

The 1891 Scotland Census lists his occupation as solicitor's general clerk. He is still living with his parents and brothers at 67 Abergeldie Road in Aberdeen. The Aberdeen Electoral Register for 1900 - 1901 lists him at 542 Holburn Street practicing as a solicitor and by the 1901 Scotland Census he has been joined at this address by his parents. By 1905-1906 he has moved out, though not far away to 568 Holburn Street. 

The Aberdeen Electoral Register for 1914-1915 now has him living at Woodburn, Bieldside. From Internet searched I also discovered that he served as a Private in 1st Volunteer Battalion Gordon Highlanders (previously City of Aberdeen Volunteer Regiment) in November 1914. He received a commission in October 1916, and served in the Aberdeen Home service between 1914 and 1919.

Some time before 1918 James must have married Blanche Jane Montgomery Falconer; I thought I had found the record, but it appears not. James and Blanche had 2 daughters. The Aberdeen Electoral Register for 1920 lists both James and Mrs Blanche J M Benson living at 112 Hammerfield Avenue in Aberdeen. 

I have not found an exact place of birth for James' 1st daughter, Mary Isabel Falconer Benson, but I know that Kathleen Elizabeth Benson was born at 34 Richmondhill Place, where the family lived until 1930, when they moved to number 32 and were still there in 1955. By the time the family moved to 34 Richmondhill Place, James' was now practicing out of 8 Union Terrace. 

Blanche dies in November 1959 while visiting her sister Kathleen in Lancashire. By this time James and Blanche had moved to Edinburgh, where James died 3 years later.

There is much more to write about James, in particular the part he played in dealing with my great grandfather's estate after his death. I will cover this elsewhere, and also his activities with the Freemasons.


Daniel Disney

1616 - 1661

Daniel is my 12th great uncle. He was born in Norton Disney, Lincolnshire to William Disney and Bridget Molyneux. Daniel had 5 brothers and 3 sisters.

I came across the reference to him being a Barrister at Law from Internet searches. In 1639 Daniel married Eleanor Beaumont and the couple had at least 3 sons.

Daniel must have practiced in the area; he at least stayed their with his family as Norton Disney is also the place of his death.


Antony Buller

1780 - 1866

Antony is no direct ancestor of mine, but his interesting career warrants his inclusion in this section. Antony was born in Cornwall, England to John Buller and Anne Lemon. I will be saying much more about his family, as they were all politically minded.

Antony studied at Westminster School and Lincoln's Inn in London. On 04 February 1805 he married his cousin Isabella Jane Lemon and the couple went on to have a large family of 3 sons and 7 daughters. 4 of his daughters and 1 of his sons were born in Middlesex; another son was born in Cornwall; 2 more daughters and his remaining son were born in India.

The story is that Antony was offered the appointment of Puisne Judge in the Madras Presidency, but instead he accepted the post of Puisne Judge in Bengal the following year when he received his knighthood. Some general information about the High Court in Calcutta can be found at: http://ilscalcutta.org/about.php  Antony's brother Charles was also out in India, working as a civil servant and had married his wife Barbara Isabella Kirkpatrick in August 1805.

Antony left India in 1827 and I presume that he had sent Isabella and the family ahead, because Isabella died in 1824. Antony had bought and had rebuilt the estate of Pound in Devon. He lived here for the remainder of his life at times with members of his extended family. Brief information about Pound House can be found at: https://britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/101105488-pound-house-buckland-monachorum#.XaYjY-jYrIV

Antony was not idle on his return to England, but that is for another post. 


William Charles Buller

1812 - 1875

William is 1 of the sons of Antony and Isabella. He was born in Middlesex, England and followed his father into the legal professional, qualifying and practicing as a barrister. I have not found records of marriage and on is death he left his effects to his brother Antony.


The Alexanders, Hamertons and Goulds of Yorkshire

Lewis Alexander

1774 - 1857

Lewis is my 5th cousin 9x removed. He was born in Halifax, Yorkshire to Robert Alexander and Harriet Disney. More information about his father, a medical man, is available in the post

On 15 April 1790 an agreement is struck for him to become a Clerk to William Wilcock of Halifax. Lewis will live and serve William for 5 years. In 1793 Lewis marries Elizabeth Nelson and the couple go on to have 3 sons and 2 daughters. 

Following the death of Elizabeth in 1832, Lewis goes on to marry Jane Moody in 1834 in Waltham Abbey in Essex, but the UK City and County Directory for 1837 shows him back in Halifax practicing from Hopwood Lane. 

The 1851 England Census has the couple living in Burnley in Lancashire, next door to Holden Hamerton who I will mention later. He is also living with his sister in law. Lewis dies in Burnley 6 years later. I have not found a will.


Robert Alexander

1795 - 1843

Robert is the eldest son of Lewis and Elizabeth and my 6th cousin 8x removed. In 1829 he married Matilda Legard, the daughter of a baronet; the couple did not appear to have any children. I have not found many records on Robert, though he should turn up in the 1841 England Census.

From the website I used to investigate the medical Alexanders said that he was a barrister at Lincoln's Inn and one of the founder members of the Halifax Literary & Philosophical Society. Robert also one of the subscribers to John Horner's book Buildings in the Town & Parish of Halifax. 

His will lists his address as being 13 Duke St, Westminster. It is written in a magnificent hand, which makes it difficult to read. I believe Robert left his estate and effects to Matilda's father and he was to pay her allowance. I hope to decipher more in the future.


Edward Nelson Alexander

1797 - 1859

Edward is the 2nd son of Lewis and Elizabeth, born in Halifax. In 1813 Edward entered into his Articles of Clerkship under his father. In 1820 Edward married Harriet Legard, the older sister of Matilda, and the couple had 6 children: 3 boys and 3 girls.

The UK City and County Directory for 1830 lists his address as West House, Halifax working as an attorney. Gervase Alexander is operating out of Grove House, Ward's End as a Doctor of Medicine and Lewis Alexander and Edward Nelson are solicitors based at 31 Hopwood Lane. 

From the website mentioned above, I learned that in 1837 he practiced from 4 Aked Road in Halifax; he briefly practiced with his father and Edward Nelson and was a partner in the firm of Alexander & Hamerton, with Holden Hamerton, the husband of his sister Eliza. Edward was one of a number of attorneys who were commissioned for taking acknowledgements of deeds executed by married women; he was a numismatist and another founder member of the Halifax Literary & Philosophical Society, and the Halifax Agricultural Society. He and his wife were also subscribers to John Horner's book Buildings in the Town & Parish of Halifax, and 1830 Edward had published a manuscript on History of the Manor of Southowram.

By the 1851 England Census Edward is living with his daughter Charlotte Matilda and her husband Thomas Andrew Walker, a clerk. The couple had only been married in 1847.

On his death in 1859 Edward's will does not list any family members as beneficiaries. The only name listed is his executor and banker James Bowman.


Holden Hamerton

1796 - 1861


Holden is the husband of my 6th cousin 8x removed and the husband of Eliza Alexander. He was born to Gilbert Hammerton and Jane Smith in Burnley, Lancashire. Holden had entered into his Articles of Clerkship on 15 January 1814 under James Wiglesworth in Lancashire. 

On 02 September 1826 Holden married Eliza Alexander;  the couple had 4 sons and 1 daughter. 


Thomas Edward Hamerton

1797 - 1875

The brother of Holden above. He was also born in Burnley, Lancashire. Although one year younger than Holden, Thomas entered his Articles of Clerkship, with John Eliott, on 18 September 1813.  Unlike Holden, Thomas' placement was in Yorkshire.  Thomas also got married in 1826, on 09 November, to Ann Heyworth; the couple had 2 daughters and 1 son (who unfortunately died the year he was born, in 1830). Ann had been born in Todmorden, which was on the border of Lancashire and Yorkshire and today is placed firmly in West Yorkshire. 

Thomas and the family settled in Stansfield in Yorkshire, where he is listed in the 1841 England Census as an attorney at the bar in, 1851 as a solicitor and in 1861 as an attorney at law. By the 1871 England Census he is listed as retired. The census records also show that Thomas was successful enough to employ a couple of servants in his household at West Lodge. 

On his death Thomas' will does not list any family members, rather several colleagues in the legal profession. Looking at the records we can see that not only had he lost his son at a young age, but he was also pre-deceased by his wife and both daughters.


William Richard Hamerton

1783

William was born in Long Preston, Yorkshire to James Hamerton and Ann Hancock. He had entered his Articles of Clerkship in Long Preston, on 14 August 1801, with Anthony Thorpe. William was James' 2nd son, so he was not the heir. It has been difficult to find records which I am sure relate to William, so I will come back later as hints become available.


In an attempt to understand the background of people it is necessary to check on their father's occupation. So, what I thought would be a quick job has taken on a life of its own. I have found yet more related lawyers, which I guess is no surprise. If you had a wealth and/or your father was in the business then you were likely to go into it, then mix in legal circles and probably marry the daughter of a colleague!

Charles Gould

1833 - 1909

Charles is the husband of oldest daughter of Thomas Edward Hamerton. He was born in Sheffield, Yorkshire to Thomas Gould and Frances Maria Brookfield. Charles was one of 7 children: 4 boys and 3 girls.

Charles and Anne Hamerton had married in 1862 in Todmorden in Yorkshire. The couple had no children and Anne sadly died in 1867. In 1872 Charles married Mary Ellen Utterton in Farnham in Surrey. Mary's father is listed as the Arch Deacon of Surrey and Charles is now listed as a barrister at law.

Charles and Mary had 3 daughters and 4 sons.


William Gould

1838

William is the brother of Charles and was also born in Sheffield. In 1863 William married Martha Ann Vaughan in Wales, but by 1871 he is listed in the England Census, as an attorney and solicitor. 

The couple had 4 sons and 4 daughters.


Thomas Gould

1831 - 1908

Thomas is the oldest of all the Gould brothers, born in Sheffield. The UK City and County Directory for 1862 lists him working in his father's firm at 4 Paradise Square in Sheffield.

By 1869 Thomas has moved to Gravesend in Kent, where he marries Frances Harriet Sharpe, whose father was a military man. The couple had 3 sons and 1 daughter.

Francis Gould

1843 - 1902

Brother of above. Francis enters his Articles of Clerkship on 04 May 1891 under Charles. Francis never marries and is listed as either a boarder or a lodger in the England censuses for 1881, 1891 and 1902, living in London He is listed as a solicitor and barrister at law. On his death he leaves his effects to his brother Thomas.

Thomas Gould

1802 - 1869

Father of Charles and William. Thomas was born in Ardwick Green, Lancashire to Joseph Gould and Ann Wardle; he was an only child. In 1831 he marries Frances Maria Brookfield and the couple go on to establish their legal dynasty. They have 6 boys and 3 girls. The censuses list him as a solicitor from 1841 and on his death he leaves effects totalling £80,000 to his sons.

Ralph Colin Gould

1877 - 1923

Ralph is the son of Thomas and brother of Alexander. He was also born in Sheffield.

The 1901 England Census lists him living in Yorkshire with his father; we next find Ralph in Freemason records for 1906. He is a member of the Royal Prince of Wales Lodge in Penang, listed as a lawyer.

Ralph dies on 12 March 1923 where he is living at 5 Church Street in Malacca. His will tells us that he married (date not known yet), Edith Emily who was living in England.

Arthur William Alexander

1843 - 1895

Arthur is my 7th cousin 7x removed. He was born in Halifax, Yorkshire to William Alexander and Emily Kirby, Arthur is a distant cousin of the Alexanders above and his father William was also mentioned in the post

Arthur never married but had a successful, if short, career. In the 1881 England Census he is living with a cousin and is listed as a solicitor. From the website I used to investigate the medical Alexanders, it said that Arthur was a solicitor and partner in the firm of Craven, Rankin & Alexander. By 1891 he is head of his own household, employing 1 servant. He is listed as the District Registrar of HM High Court of Justice and Registrar of County Court of Justice, Halifax. 

In his will he leaves his effects to his brother Reginald.

Served in the Military

Introduction

This post is intended as a list of those who spent any time in the military, regardless of the service, conflict or whether they returned home. I may expand on the individuals in separate posts, especially where several members of a family served their country.


Speid Brothers
James Speid Benson

1873 -1963

WWI
Private, 1st Volunteer Battalion Gordon Highlanders (previously City of Aberdeen Volunteer Regiment), November 1914; commissioned, October 1916. Home service, Aberdeen, 1914-19.

John Speid Benson

1877 - 1916

WWI
Served in Central Africa. Sergeant, 26th Squadron Royal Flying Corps. 


Brown Brothers
Clement Brown

1891 - 1928

WWI
North Staffordshire (Prince of Wales) Regiment. 15543

James Patrick Brown

1894 - 1979

WWI
New Battalion. 10559

William Brown

1897 - 1917

WWI
Served in Amara, Turkey. Corporal, 7th Battalion. 7938. 


Alexander Family
Gervase Alexander

1774 - 1857

Physician and Captain of the Halifax Volunteer Corps of Infantry 1802

William Ryrie Alexander

1824 - 1892

During the Raj
Major General H.M. Bombay Staff Corps; Late Commandant 1st Sind Horse

Charles Henry Alexander

1870  -1937

Officer in 1st Northampton Regiment 

William Ryrie Alexander

1876 - 1951

Lieutenant in Royal Navy then volunteers in Canadian Expeditionary force - special enrolment as draughtsman during WWI. 77493

Fulco "Peter" Alexander

1909 - 1983

1932 Electoral Register lists him at Officers' Barracks at Royal Arsenal in Woolwich

Henry "Harry" Cerda Ryrie Alexander

1904 - 1966

Lieutenant in Royal Navy; enrolled in 1917

Basil Charles Maurice Ward

1898 - 1956

WWI
The husband of Lillias Barbara Elsa, daughter of William (b. 1876). Served as Lieutenant in 1st Battalion, East Surrey Regiment


Heyland Family
Arthur Rowley Heyland

1781 - 1815

Officer with 1st Battalion 40th Regiment. Killed at Battle of Waterloo

Alfred Thomas Heyland

1813 - 1897

Went to the Crimea as a Captain in 95th Regiment and achieved rank of Major General


Gowland Father and Sons
Edward Lake Gowlland

1876 - 1942

WWI
Royal Army Medical Corps

See this post for more about Edward https://myfamilyhistoryfacts.blogspot.com/search/label/Edward%20Gowlland

Geoffrey Gowlland

1903 - 1988

WWI
Lieutenant in Royal Navy

Langton Gowlland

1903 - 2002

WW1
Lieutenant in Royal Navy 



Gould Family
Lionel Aubrey Gould

1873 - 1923

WWI
Corporal in Military Labour Corps. 5618.

Charles Robert Gould


1920 - 1944

WWII
Lieutenant in Royal Armoured Corps and Dragoon Guards


Toogood Family
Alexander Decimus Toogood

1826 - 1874

Captain in the Bengal Fusiliers 1870 and Gentleman-at-Arms to H.M. Queen Victoria

Seymour Hood Toogood

1841 - 1926

Enlisted in 1882 and achieved rank of Major in Royal Artillery WWI

Charles Frederick Strangways Gwynne Toogood

1861 - 1936

Lieutenant in Berkshire Militia 1881

Cecil Toogood


1870 - 1958

1891 Lieutenant in South Front Barracks in Kent. WWI Major in Lincolnshire Regiment

Arthur Seymour Toogood

1872 - 1968

WWI
Major in R. War R

Hubert de Chair Toogood

1885 - 1970

WWI
Lieutenant then Captain in Royal Engineers

Alexander Cecil Henry Toogood

1900 - 1921

WWI
2nd Lieutenant in Lincolnshire Regiment

Harington Father and Children
John Harington

1873 - 1943

WWI
Brigadier General in Rifle Brigade

John Temple Harington

1909 - 1983

WWII
Achieved rank of Major in Rifle Brigade serving in the Middle East; received an MBE. 44106

Aline Lucy Harington

1918 - 2007

WWII
Sister of John Temple. Served in the Women's Transport Service

Walter Arnold Crispian Keppel

1914 - 1986

WWII
A nobleman and Lieutenant Commander in Royal Navy; husband of Aline

Walter Egerton George Lucian Keppel

1882 - 1979

WWI
Father of Walter Arnold. He was a Captain in the Scots Guards

Carington Father and Son
Charles Robert Carington

1843 - 1928

He served under William Ewart Gladstone as Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms from 1881 to 1885

Albert Edward Charles Robert Wynn-Carington

1895 - 1915

WWI
Son of Charles. Served as Lieutenant in Royal Horse Guards (The Blues); died of complications from amputated arm at Ypres.


Walter Stuart Blake

1880 - 1941

WWI
Served in South Africa. Sergeant, South African Infantry. 218

Percy Blow Stapleton

1879 - 1934

WWI
Corporal, Royal Tank Corps. 205492

Henry Disney

1701 - 1760

Doctor of Medicine and Captain 1720s

John Edward Sharpe

1823 - 1857

Lieutenant in 46th Regiment Bengal Native Infantry in India; he was killed during the Indian Mutiny on 14 July 1857 at Fort Sialkote. His grave is at Sialkote and has a memorial bearing the words "In memory of Captain J.E. Sharpe 46th Regt. N.I. Died at Sealkote 14th July 1857 aged 33 years. Erected by his brother officers."

Henry Charles Legge

1852 - 1924

Served as a Lieutenant in the Sudan 1884 - 1886 in 1st Battalion, Coldstream Guards. Then in World War I, Lieutenant Colonel as Equerry to the King of which more elsewhere.

Banker dies in China

This is the story of the short life and career of Henry Nicholson Blake.

Henry is my 2nd cousin 4x removed. He was born about 1885 in Golspie in Sutherland, Scotland to John Blake, a farmer, and Jane Isabella Morrison. I have estimated the marriage of Henry's parents to be around 1844, though I am yet to find a record. Henry had 3 brothers and 2 sisters. 

The 1901 Scotland Census lists Henry living, with some of his siblings, with a cousin. The head of the house is listed as Jane McKibbin and she has a son Arthur. It took me a bit of time, but I finally discovered that Jane McKibbin was born Jane E Cormick and her parents were Daniel Cormick and Mary Blake (the sister of their father, John). Their cousin had been born in 1857.

The census lists Henry as a banker's apprentice and further research shows that Jane's husband, James McKibbin, was a banker with the Northern Bank Limited, Ireland. Interestingly James' sister, Sarah, had married Andrew Blake, the subject of this post https://myfamilyhistoryfacts.blogspot.com/search/label/Andrew%20Blake

Both McKibbin siblings, and I have assumed them to be, were born in Ireland. Their father James McKibbin was also a banker. While Sarah and Andrew Blake were married in Ireland, James and Jane were married in 1881 in Enstone, Oxfordshire. It is their marriage record which tells us the profession of the male McKibbins. It also tells us that Jane's father, Daniel, was a surgeon.

James junior is not listed in the 1901 census and I have not been able to track down his whereabouts. I have assumed that Henry was James' apprentice, or had at least obtained work through James. It may be that the death of both his parents was a stroke of luck for Henry and his brothers. Rather than continuing as farmers in England, they went off and explored the world, though often they reverted to farming as an occupation.

John James went into the Merchant Navy which took him to foreign shores; he married and had one son.

Walter Stuart initially served in the Army holding the rank of Sergeant in the South African Infantry where he was wounded in action. Walter married and settled in Canada; he may have continued in farming, but is also listed as a labourer.

Derrick Granville also settled in Canada as a farmer.

The next and final record I have found for Henry is that of his death. He died on 29 January 1918 in Shanghai, China where he appears to have been working for the Chartered Bank of India, Australia and China. 

A brief introduction on the bank can be found at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chartered_Bank_of_India,_Australia_and_China

Hackney Restauranteur

This advert appeared in the London Mercury on 25 May 1895

It was opened by Arthur James William Mignot who is my 1st cousin 5x removed. Arthur was born on 10 May 1833 to Samuel Mignot and Elizabeth Maria Dear. Arthur is the brother of John Samuel Mignot who is the subject of another post https://myfamilyhistoryfacts.blogspot.com/2019/10/the-success-of-french-huguenot-silk.html

The 1851 England Census lists Arthur as a confectioner's assistant. He is living with his sister, Eliza Maria's, widowed husband Lawrence Knox (a customs officer). Also listed in the household are Lawrence's children, Arthur's father and his father's 2nd wife. The household is based at 20 Seabright Street in Bethnal Green.

On 01 July 1857 Arthur marries Emma Sophia Godfrey, whose father we know from the censuses is a silk weaver. Arthur and Emma have a total of 7 children: 4 boys and 3 girls.

The 1861 England Census lists Arthur as a pastry cook, so his skills have clearly improved and this is borne out by the London City Directory 1865 where he appears listed as a confectioner at 130 Church Street in Shoreditch. The London City Directory 1870 shows that Arthur's career has advanced some more. He now has coffee rooms at 143 Drury Lane which would be a great place to also sell his pastries.

The next information we have about Arthur comes from The London Gazette, 04 January 1870 (which tells us that the London City Directory had been compiled probably in mid 1869). The story was also picked up in The Edinburgh Gazette on 07 January.

Arthur Mignot, of No. 143, Drury-lane, Coffee-house Keeper, prior thereto of Church-street, Shoreditch, Cook and Confectioner, both in -the county of Middlesex, and now a Prisoner for Debt in the Debtor's Prison for London and Middlesex, Whitecross-street, in the city of London, having been adjudged bankrupt under a Petition for adjudication of Bankruptcy, filed in her Majesty's Court of Bankruptcy in London, on the 30th day of December,1869, is hereby required to surrender himself to the Registrar of the said Court, at the first meeting of creditors to be held before the said Registrar, on the 28th day of January instant, at two o'clock in the afternoon precisely, at the said Court. Mr. Peter Paget, of No. 22, Basinghall-street, London, is the Official Assignee, and Mr. J. G.Watson, of No. 81, Basinghall-street, is the Solicitor acting in the bankruptcy

The London Gazette, 06 May 1870 announces that the hearing about the matter will be held on 25 May 1870.

What we can learn from this is that between 1865 an 1869 Arthur had been doing well and gone from operating out of Church Street to owning a Coffee Shop in Drury Lane. A search on the Internet shows a building standing on the site Grosvenor House, though probably not the original, now owned by the London School of Economics and operating as student accommodation.

Unfortunately by December 1869 he had been imprisoned in the Debtor's Prison at Whitecross Street and was facing bankruptcy proceedings. More information about Whitecross Street Prison can be found at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whitecross_Street_Prison with memories captured at https://www.londonremembers.com/memorials/whitecross-debtors-prison

The year of Arthur's imprisonment is interesting as up till that year debtors had greater privileges than those imprisoned for other offences. Debtors could receive visitors and their own food and clothing and, where it was possible to do, continue to carry out their trade or profession. When we think of debtors' prisons the image that is conjured up is that created by Charles Dickens in Little Dorritt, whose father is sent to the Marshalsea Prison, which held a variety of offenders. Dickens' novel is partly based on his own experience as a child, when his father was sent to the Marshalsea for a debt to a baker. More on this can be found at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marshalsea

Arthur must have counted himself lucky that he found himself imprisoned among debtors like himself and not thrown into the general population at Newgate.

1869 also marked the enactment of the Debtors' Act which ended most imprisonment for debt. An excellent summary is available at https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/things-to-do/london-metropolitan-archives/visitor-information/Documents/66-imprisoned-debtors.pdf

From the newspaper reports it seems that Arthur may still have been in Whitecross before the May hearing, but he may have been at liberty. I have not found any follow up report on the proceedings in the Gazette and will need to check offline sources in the future. The next record for Arthur is the 1871 England Census which lists his occupation as a cook.

Arthur's financial situation may not have been so bad, as the evidence indicates that he recovered in the next 10 years. The London City Directory 1880 now lists him under the category of Refreshment Rooms, based at (238) Graham Road in Hackney. The 1881 England Census gives the family's address as Dining Rooms, Graham Road and lists Arthur as a cook employing 1 man. 

And so Mignot's Restaurant is established.

The 1891 England Census shows the it is really a family business. Arthur is now listed as a restaurant and coffee keeper, son Thomas James is a cook and daughter Eliza Rebecca is an assistant. Today Graham Road, otherwise known as the A1207 is a long road with shops at one end and residential properties at the other. The photograph on the Internet shows a bridal business occupying the site, but above is what must be original to Arthur's time.

By 1901 Arthur and Emma are no longer living above the business and have moved in with son Arthur and his wife Florrie in 21 Colebrooke Row in Islington. Arthur's occupation is still listed as restauranteur and coffee house.

Looking at the records relating to Thomas, we find in 1901 him and his wife, Eliza Robertson, now living above the business at 238 Graham Road. Thomas is listed as restauranteur and coffee and must also still be doing the cooking! 

By 1911 Arthur has lost his wife Emma (who died in 1910) and is living alone in Homerton, at 26 Mehetabal Road.He is listed as a retired caterer. He dies in January 1914.

The 1911 England Census shows Thomas and his wife now living with their 2 daughters, still above 238 Graham Road. They also employ 1 female domestic servant.

The London England Electoral Register 1933 shows that the family have moved from Graham Road to 59 Benthal Road in Bethnal Green; in 1935 their address is 38 Amhurst Park in Hackney. By 1939 Thomas and Eliza are now living alone at 8 Downhills Avenue in Tottenham. Thomas' occupation is listed as cook (chef) retired. 

Thomas dies the following year. 

Very little information is available online about the restaurant or what happened after Thomas and his family moved out. I did come across an interesting short review in The Bell News And Ringers Record: A Weekly Journal of the Ringing Exercise; and Compendium of Information for the Clergy and Churchwardens. The review appears in Vol. XI, No. 562, Saturday 14 January 1893. 

The top of page 468 recalls the annual meeting of The St John-at-Hackney Society, which had been held on Saturday 07 January 1893. It says,

At seven o'clock the members adjourned to the Hackney Restaurant, Graham Road, where host Mignot had provided a most excellent repast.

The advert at the top of this post was dated 1895. Whether the establishment was called Mignot's or The Hackney Restaurant is unclear, though it certainly implies the promise of the personal touch described previously. What we do know is that the praise is for Arthur as host and no doubt some credit would go to Thomas as the chef.