This page is dedicated to Joseph Carey Merrick a man who in is last few years before his death done more then most people of his time and class could only dream off.
We have had a film, books, and now lots of information on the internet.
It all started in November of 1884, in the Whitechapel Road, London, at number 123 but now renumbered 259 Opposite to the London Hospital,
When up and coming surgeon Frederick Treves came and visited the freakshow and first saw the Elephant man, The manager Mr Tom Norman was a showman who specialized in the display off freaks and novelties. He introduce the elephant man as John Merrick and this is where the mix up come in Years later when Mr Treves wrote about Merrick he called him John because that was what he was introduce as. Mr Treves had no idea that years later how much of a debate Joseph Carey Marrick name would make,
What Mr Treves saw in Joseph was a way forward to better his career, but later as time went on he become a good friend to him.
But this is not about Joseph Merrick but about Joseph family and ancestors.
JOSEPH CAREY MARRICK: Born 5-Aug-1862 at 50 Lee street, Leicester. Died 11-Apr-1890 at the London Hospital. Joseph was born into the slums of Leicester where at lease once a year the canal would flood to a depth of one sometimes three feet,, bringing with it death with the highest deathrate among the babys and young children of Leicester. Joseph was a good healthy baby but at the age of 2 his bottom lip started to swell up the rest they say is history.
Joseph went to school just like other children, on the 2-Apr-1871 Joseph was living at 161 Birstall street, Leicester. age 8 with his parents and younger sister.
Joseph life took a big fall when his Mother died in 1873,
He more then likely left scool in about 1874 at about the same time the family moved into lodgeing at 4 Wanlip street,
Sometime in 1875 the family moved above the Haberdashery shop at 37 Russell Square, a shop Joseph Rockley had had from about 1869, about the same time his brother Charles open a hair dresser, Tobacconist, and Umbrella repair shop at 144 Church gate, Leicester. Did the brothers inherit somethink at this time ?
Joseph found work at M.M. Freeman cigar factory at 9 Lower Hill street. A first cousin once removed of Joseph, Charles Merrick was also a Cigar maker from Bethnal Green, London. Joseph uncle Charles went into the Tobacco trade in about 1870, and Joseph cousin Albert was still runing a hair dresser and tobacconist in 1912 at 38 Burley's Lane. Leicester. The job only lasted two years his right hand become to big to roll the leafs.
1877 Joseph was working as a Hawker going from door to door selling his wares that he got form his father's haberdashery shop, life got so bad for Joseph with the step-mother that he run away from home.
He ended up moving in with his uncle Charles and family at 144 Church gate, Charles also had his mother Sarah, (Joseph grandmother living with him,) Joseph had a happy two years with his aunt Jane and uncle Charles,
But at the end of 1879 when the commissioners withdrew Joseph hawkers licence when it came up for renewal, He had no option being unemployed and with Charles with two children and another one on the way and his mother to feed, Joseph had no option but to look elsewhere, So just before the new year of 1880 on the 29-Dec-1879 at the age of 17 Joseph went to the Leicester Workhouse and saw the O/C Mr William Cartwright and Joseph admission to the workhouse was issued at once. Joseph discharge himself several time but always went back after a couple of days,
Joseph wrote to a Mr Sam Torr a showman with the idea of placing himslf on exhibition as a freak,
Two days before his 22 birthday on the 3-Aug-1884 Joseph discharge himself for the last time.
11-Apr-1890 Joseph dies at 1.30pm from asphyxiation (suffocation) in the London Hospital.
MARY JANE MERRICK nee POTTERTON, MOTHER: Born 19-May-1836 in Evington a small village just outside of Leicester, She was the eldest child of William a Fram labourer and Elizabeth, who had five more children.
In 1843 at the age of 7 the family moved to the village of Thurmaston a few miles from Leicester. In about 1848 at the age of 12 she went into service in Leicester.
On the 27-Dec-1930 an article in the Leicester Chronicle maybe from a member of the family stated that Mary Jane Potterton was herself born a cripple. But Mary worked as a servant from the age of 12 until she was 26 when she gave birth to Joseph. does that sound like a cripple from the 1840's - 50's, Also she was not put down as a cripple on any of the census return But her daughter was born with a deform right foot, maybe the person who sent the article to the Leicester chronicle got mother and daughter mixed up.
She married Joseph Rockley Merrick on the 29-Dec-1861 at the parish church, Thurmaston, Mary was also at one point a Baptist sunday school teacher in Leicester, She named her son Carey after William Carey 1761-1834 a leading baptist preacher and missionary.
WILLIAM ARTHUR MERRICK, BROTHER: Born on the 8-Jan-1866 Mary was afraid that William would develop deformities like her first born but William remained free of any deformities, But in Dec 1870 William contracted Scarlet fever and died 18 days before his fifth birthday on the 21-Dec-1870, Mary was devastated . the next day she signed the death certificate with a cross, when with all her other document she signed her name.
MARIA ELIZA MERRICK, SISTER: Born on the 28-Sep1867 who was born with a deform right foot. Maria died of a seizure age 24 on the 19-Mar-1891,
Mary died on the 19-May-1873 the day of her 36 birthday from Bronchial Pneumonia, Mary was a caring loving mother and died leaving a scared little boy behind.
JOSEPH ROCKLEY MERRICK, FATHER: Born 1838 in St. Margaret Leicester.
On the 31-Mar-1851 he is living at 26 Lower Charles street, St. Margaret, Leicester. with his family age 13 and working as a Errand boy.
7-Apr-1861 he is a warehouseman age 23 and living with his mother at 20 Lee street, St. Margaret.
29-Dec-1861 he get married to Mary Jane Potterton.and moved into number 50 Lee street.
In 1865 Joseph Changed Jobs and become a stoker on a steam engine in one of the cotton factories and the family also moved to a new home at 119 Upper Brunswick street, Leicester.
In 1868 the family move to 161 Birstall street,
In abt 1869 he open up a Haberdashery shop at 37 Russell Square.
2-Apr-1871 living at 161 Birstall street age 33 with his wife and two children and working as a stoker.
19-May-1873 his wife died,
1874 moved the family into lodgeing at 4 Wanlip street,
3-Dec-1874 he married his landlady Emma Wood Antill and moved above the shop at 37 Russell square,
1879 had a daughter Cassandra
1880 had a daughter Dora Rockly
4-Apr-1881 living at 30 Roughton street, Belgrave, Leicester. a stoker age 43.
1882 had a daughter Pauline,
Apr 1890 Attened a memorial service for his son, The service and burial were arranged by the London hospital.
5-Apr-1891 living at 28 Justice street, Belgrave, Leicester. a stationary engine driver, age 50.
30-Jan-1897 Joseph Rockley dies from Chronic Bronchitis at 28 Justice street, age 58.
Joseph Rockley was a driver of a brougham a four wheeled carriage, Invented for Scottish Jurist Henry Brougham 1st Baron Brougham, Lord chancellor of Great Britain.
BROUGHAM
WILLIAM POTTERTON, GRANDFATHER: Born about 1799 in Ashby, Northampton.
4-Apr-1881 living with his son George at Allens Lodge, Thurmaston, Leicester. age 82. he married,
ELIZABETH, GRANDMOTHER: Dates unknown,
Children: SARAH JANE POTTERTON, AUNT: born 1834 Evington, Leicester,
Mary Jane Mother, born 19-May-1836 Evington,
ELIZABETH POTTERTON, AUNT, born 1838 Evington, Leicester.
GEORGE POTTERTON, UNCLE, born 1846 Thurmaston, Leicester.
BARNABAS MERRICK, GRANDFATHER: Born 23-Apr-1792 Spitalfield, London.chr:2-Sep-1792 Chirst church, Spitalfield, Stepney, London. Death 12-Apr-1856 in Leicester. Barnabas got married three times, the second and third within a period of ten months this can be questionable and more research is needed.
Marriage one Ann Bowden on the 12-Apr-1815 Wanstead, Essex.
Children JOHN BARNABAS MERRICK, half uncle, chr: 29-Sep-1816 Old church, St. Pancras, London.
WILLIAM GEORGE MERRICK, half uncle, chr: 31-May-1818 Old church, St. Pancras, London.
Marriage two Sarah Jones on the 3-Jun-1836 St. Ethelburga, Bishopgate, London.
Marriage three SARAH ROCKLEY, GRANDMOTHER: on the 19-Mar-1837 Radford, Nottingham, Sarah was born about 1803 in Bulcote, Nottingham. and Died in 1897 Leicester.
Children Joseph Rockley Merrick, Father.
HENRY MERRICK, UNCLE born 22-Oct-1840 Leicester.
CHARLES BARNABAS MERRICK, UNCLE, born 28-Mar-1846 Leicester.
BARNABAS MERRICK, GREAT GRANDFATHER: Born 2-Aug-1763 Shorditch, London. Barnabas was a Shuttle-maker (made the wooden shuttles for the looms) his father was a Loom broker, In 1805 Barnabas was living at 162 Brink Lane, Spitalfield. Just like his father Barnabas, he also ended up at the Old Bailey.
Proceeding of the Old Bailey dated 29-May-1805.
MARIA BROWN and ELIZABETH ROBINSON were indicted for feloniously stealing, on the 16th of May 1805, a pair of gold ear-rings, value 5 s. the property of Barnabas Merrick.
BARNABAS MERRICK sworn. I live at No. 162, Brick lane, Spitalfields; I am a shuttle-maker; I lost a pair of ear-rings about a fortnight or three weeks ago; they were in Martha Merrick's ears, my daughter, who is between six and seven years old.
Q. When did you see the child with those earrings in her ears? - A. The day before.
- COTTERELL sworn. - I am a weaver; I live in New-court, Holywell-lane, Shoreditch: Maria Brown nursed my child for three days and a half; on this day fortnight she went out in the afternoon, and in about half an hour afterwards Elizabeth Robinson brought my child home; she went away and returned in about half an hour, and brought me a pair of ear-rings; she asked me if I would keep them for about half an hour; I told her I would not; she said they were her's, she could not keep them in her ears; she put them on my child's frock and went away; she came the next morning for the ear-rings; I asked her what she wanted with them; she said she wanted to pawn them; I told her I dare say they were not her's, and she should not have them. My husband fetched Harper, the officer, and gave charge of her. She is about fifteen, I believe.
SAMUEL HARPER sworn. - I took charge of Brown first; on the 16th, Mr. Merrick gave me charge of her in Shoreditch, for stealing his child's ear-rings from her ears; the next morning the last witness's husband came to my house, and I went and took charge of Robinson; Robinson said she did not take the child's ear-rings out of her ears; the other did it, and gave them to her; I produce them.
Q.(To Prosecutor.) Can you speak with certainty to these ear-rings? - A. I am much in doubt about it, there being other ear-rings like them.
Both, NOT GUILTY .
First Middlesex Jury, before Mr. Common Serjeant.
Barnabas got married on the 26-Aug-1785 St. Ethelburga, Bishopgate, London.
MARTHA BOX, GREAT GRANDMOTHER: Dates unknown,
Children MARTHA MARY MERRICK, GRANDAUNT: Born 1786 Spitalfield,
BARNABAS MERRICK, GRANDUNCLE: Born 1791 Spitalfield, Died 8-Jan-1792 Spitalfield,
Barnabas Merrick, Grandfather; Born 23-Apr-1792,
MARTHA ELIZABETH MERRICK, GRANDAUNT: Born 1794 Spitalfield,
WILLIAM MERRICK, GRANDUNCLE: Born 10-Oct-1803 Spitalfield, Died 1881 Bethnal Green, London. Married Catherine dates unknown. Children: All born in Bethnal Green, London. and are Joseph 1st cousin once removed.
MARTHA: 7-Sep-1828,
SARAH: 11-Sep-1830,
MARIA; 4-Mar-1832,
WILLIAM FIELD: 20-Mar-1834,
CHARLES: 10-Mar-1836,
THOMAS: 5-Jan-1838,
JOHN: 22-Apr-1841,
CATHERINE MARY: 3-Aug-1843,
ALFRED: 27-Jul-1845,
ROSINA: 16-Jan-1847,
BARNABAS MERRICK, 2 GREAT GRANDFATHER: no dates Died 1804,
Proceeding of the Old Bailey dated 14-Sep-1791.
HENRY BRITT was indicted for stealing, on the 30th of August last, a wooden hand-roll, value 12 d. and eight ounces of unwrought silk, value 20 s. the property of John Thompson .
The case opened by Mr. Garrow.
JOHN THOMPSON , the elder, sworn.
I am a weaver, I live in Duke-street, Spital-fields; on Tuesday, the 30th of August I had some property of Mr. Bennett's the gauze-weaver, to manufacture; I went to dinner at one o'clock, and left the roll with the silk on it in the scale, on the lower floor, back-room; I returned from dinner about half after one; when I returned I missed this property, I sent my son William to give notice to the loom-brokers, as they were likely to have it offered for sale, I saw it again about half past seven, the the same evening, at my house, brought by Charles Crawley , Mr. Merrick's servant, that was the same I left in my shop at one; it is here.
Mr. Knowlys. You never saw the silk again, only the roll? - No.
Did not the prisoner come to your house? - He did, when I went in the evening, after the hand-roll was brought, I went to Mr. Merrick's.
Did Henry Britt come to your house on the alarm of this? - He did; he went to Mr. Merrick's, and next day came to our house, he said Mr. Merrick informed him there was a cane stolen from that hand-roll, and he bought it among some ribbon the day before, that Mr. Merrick had bought some ribbon looms, on the 29th.
CHARLES CRAWLEY sworn.
I am journeyman to Mr. Merrick; between four and five, on Tuesday, the 30th of August, in the afternoon, the prisoner came to my master's house, and asked if my master was at home, and I told him no; and my mistress said no; he said, well never mind, here is the hand-roll as I bought in the lot yesterday, and he immediately threw it within the door; and he said, never mind, I shall see your master another time, and the next day he came to my master's house, I was not within hearing, he was talking to my master; I ran to Mr. Thompson and gave him notice, and the prisoner said, if I would shew him the house, he would go to clear himself.
Had the looms been paid for before he brought home the roll? - Yes, and some resold; my master is a loom-broker, the looms we bought were those of narrow weavers; we had nothing to do with this sort of rolls.
BARNABAS MERRICK sworn.
I am the loom-broker; I bought seven looms of the prisoner, on the 29th of August; I fetched them all home. I was not at home when the prisoner came on the 30th; there were no hand-rolls to the looms. I saw the prisoner on the 31st; he came across the way to me; I was dropping a piece of stuff; he came to me, and he said, says he, about that hand roll; about that hand-roll, says I, there has been a pretty piece of work; here has been the foreman of the warehouse, and says, he lost the hand-roll with the silk on; says I, you must go with me, or somebody belonging to me, to the gentleman, to indemnify me, as the property was found in my house. Charles Crawley came home; and I said, you may as well go with him to Mr. Thompson, and he went; I did not go. The prisoner said, he bought it in a lot of goods; he said no more. I bought my lot of goods the 29th; it was the day before I bought mine, so it could not be in my lot; it did not belong to my goods, it belonged to narrow weaving.
Mr. Knowlys, Prisoner's Counsel. There might be in some part of the lot this roll? - Yes.
You thought this man an honest man? - I know nothing to the contrary.
(The hand-roll deposed to by Crawley and Thompson senior.)
Crawley, sen. I lost it about half after twelve from the shop.
WILLIAM THOMPSON , jun. sworn.
I am son of the prosecutor; I know this hand-roll; it was entrusted to my father with raw goods to manufacture; it is marked in my writing in ink B, 1 lb. 8 oz. that meant Bennet, and the 1 lb. 8 oz. is one pound eight ounces, the weight of the roll. I was sent to the loom-broker's, to give notice that it was lost, on the morning of the 30th of August. I am positive it could not be in any lot sold to Merrick on the 29th.
Prisoner. I leave it to my counsel.
The prisoner's witnesses examined separate by desire of Mr. Garrow.
BENJAMIN DYKES sworn.
I am a peruke-maker and hair-dresser; I have known the prisoner about three years; he is an honest man. On the 30th of August I went to his apartment in Webb-square, a front-room, one pair of stairs; I went to shave him, and in the middle of shaving him, a woman came into the room, and said, Mr. Britt, I have a few things to dispose of. Says he, good woman, let me see them. She had a sort of box on her arm, with a string upon it; she asked two shillings; and he said, I will speak to you when the barber has done; and I saw him give her silver and some half-pence; there was a sort of wooden thing that I have seen, some article in the weaving branch; it was like this, but I will not say it is the same. I do not know the name of the woman; I never saw her before or since.
MARY SMITHERS sworn.
I live in the same square with the prisoner; have known him about six years, and never heard any thing of him but a hard-working man; he purchased a little box last Tuesday was a fortnight of a woman; there were some stays and little harnesses, and a hand-roll; I heard her ask a couple of shillings, but whether he gave it I cannot say; it was such a thing as that, but I cannot say it was that.
Mr. Garrow. Was you a servant of his? - I live in the same house.
Not a servant? - Yes, a servant.
A sort of housekeeper? - Yes.
What, he is a single man, I warrant? - Yes.
Had he bought any thing of her before? - Yes, some looms.
Are you not called Mrs. Britt? - Not that I know of; but there are foolish people in the world.
The prisoner called six other witnesses, who gave him a good character.
Mr. Garrow to Mrs. Smith, one of the prisoner's witnesses. Did you say to Mr. Merrick, that if he dared to say any thing against Mr. Britt, (the prisoner) you would accuse him of coming by that hand-roll and those looms dishonestly? - Upon my soul, I never said any such thing in my life; upon my oath, I deny it; I never said any thing of the sort.
Mr. Merrick, and Mr. Thompson, jun. both positively swore to the contrary.
GUILTY. 10 d .
Whipped , and imprisoned three months .
Proceeding at the Old Bailey dated 26-Oct-1814,
GEORGE CARTER was indicted for feloniously stealing, on the 12th of October, a trunk, value 2 l. 10 s. the property of Barnabus Merrick .
BARNABUS MERRICK. On the 12th of October, the prisoner called upon me, and asked me if I would let him my trunk; I let it him for two shillings the day. In the evening he came and paid me two shillings; he said, he wanted it for the next day, might he keep it in the shed belonging to the house, as he wanted it early the next day; he said, his name was James Hart , he lived at No. 61, Nicoll-street, Bethnel Green. After two days the trunk did not come home. I applied at the place where he gave me directions; there was no person of that name lived there; there was a shed to the house; I looked in the shed; my truck was not there. About a fortnight after, I met the prisoner; I asked him why he had not brought my truck home; he said, he would bring it home that afternoon; by what he had under his arm, I thought he was a weaver. I have seen my truck since, at a wheelers, in the New Cut, by Lambeth.
WILLIAM DUKE . I am a wheeler, in the New Cut, Lambeth. About a month ago, the prisoner came to me with a truck to sell; I gave him one pound seven shillings for the truck. This is the receipt I got of him. The truck was afterwards claimed by the prosecutor.
Prisoner's Defence. I leave it to the mercy of the court.
NOT GUILTY .
First Middlesex Jury, before Mr. Common Serjeant.
MARY, 2 GREAT GRANDMOTHER no dates.
Children Barnabas Merrick great grandfather. Born 2-Aug-1763
SIVESTER MERRICK, GREAT GRANDUNCLE: Born 16-Jun-1769 Shorditch, London.
MARY MERRICK, GREAT GRANDAUNT: Born 16-Feb-1772 Shorditch,
HANNAH MERRICK, GREAT GRANDAUNT: Born 11-MAR-1774 Shorditch,
JOHN MERRICK, GREAT GRANDUNCLE; Born about 1776 Spirtalfield, Chr: 29-Sep-1776 Spirtalfield.
ELIZABETH MERRICK, GREAT GRANDAUNT: Born 6-Jun-1779 Shorditch, Chr: 20-Jun-1779 Chirst church, Spitalfield. Married William Banks on the 18-Feb-1798 at Christ church, Spirtalfield, Stepney, London.
