Tuesday, 7 July 2020

Great x3 Uncle Charles Brealey

My Great x3 Uncle Charles (1857 - 1923) was a carpenter, joiner, and the younger brother of my Great Great Grandmother Emma Mutters (nee Brealey) (1855 - 1924).


Charles was born in Jul/Aug/Sep 1857 in Holy Trinity, Exeter, Devon, to George Brealey (about 26), a carpenter, and Joanna Brealey (nee Sampson) (about 37), a former servant and housewife.

Charles was baptised on 2nd August 1857 in Holy Trinity, Exeter.

Charles was the second of three children (two daughters and one son):

  • Emma  1855 - 1924  (68 or 69 years old)
  • Charles  1857 - 1923  (65 years old)
  • Eliza  1859 - 1860  (13 months old)

In Jan/Feb/Mar 1860, when Charles was two and half, his younger sister Eliza passed away, aged only thirteen months old, in Exeter. Eliza was buried on 25th March 1860 in Holy Trinity, Exeter.

During Charles' childhood, he and his family lived at 5 Trinity Place, near South Street, Exeter.

1861 Census:


1871 Census:


In Oct/Nov/Dec 1872, when Charles was fifteen, his mother Joanna passed away, aged fifty-three, in Exeter. Four years later, when Charles was eighteen or nineteen, his father George remarried. In 1876, George Brealey (35) married Charlotte Mary Filleul (30) in Exeter.

Charles followed in his father George's footsteps, working as a carpenter and joiner.

As a young man, Charles moved from his hometown of Exeter all the way to London. We find him on the 1881 Census, lodging at 29 New Tothill Street, St Margaret, Westminster, London.

1881 Census:


On the 1881 and 1891 Census, Charles' paternal uncle Robert Brealey, his wife and daughter lived on the same road in London, at 25 New Tothill Street. Robert is described as a carpenter employing three men. I wonder if Robert employed his nephew.

On Christmas Day 1881, Charles (24), a carpenter and joiner, married Eliza 'Elizabeth' Mary Bursey (26), in the parish of St Margaret, Westminster, London. Eliza was a native of Westminster. At the time of their marriage, both parties resided on 24 Little Tufton Street, St Margaret, Westminster, London. Charles and Eliza had no children.

Presently I cannot find Charles and/or Eliza on the 1891 Census. It seems likely they remained living on Tufton Street, as they can be found there in 1881 and again in 1901.

By 1901, the couple had moved from 24 to 64 Tufton Street. Including the Brealey's there were nine people living at the address. Charles and Eliza occupied only one room in the house.

1901 Census:


By 1911, Charles was alas an inmate at the Lambeth Workhouse.

1911 Census:


Though Charles is still described as married on the 1911 Census, I cannot find Eliza.

In Apr/May/Jun 1923, Charles passed away, aged sixty-five, in the district of Lambeth.

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