Part of the Ingram-Green family tree (Great-grandfather)
Family background and early life
Shadrach Joslin was born on 30 April 1844 at Cressing, near Braintree, Essex. He was the first of seven children born to James Joslin (1815–1897) and his wife Sarah née Fryatt (1818–1899), who had been married at All Saints’ Church, Cressing on 15 October 1842. There is no record of Shadrach being baptised.
Shadrach’s siblings included two brothers, Meshach (born c. June 1854) and Abednego (born March 1856); both died as infants from lung disease. The three boys were named for Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, whose story is told in the Book of Daniel: they were known for their unwavering faith and their miraculous escape from the fiery furnace where they had been thrown by the Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar for refusing to bow to the king’s image.
At the 1851 national census, the family (James, an agricultural labourer, and Sarah with Shadrach and two daughters) were living at Polecat Road [recorded as “Pockets Road”] in Cressing. Ten years later, the family remained at Polecat Road; 17-year old Shadrach’s occupation was recorded as agricultural labourer, while his sisters, Sarah and Emily were silk winders.
Marriage and children
On 26 July 1863, 19-year old Shadrach married 20-year old Emily Moss at All Saints’ Church, Cressing. She was the daughter of William Moss, an agricultural labourer from Witham Road, Cressing.
Three months after the marriage, the couple’s first child, Arthur Edward was born at Cressing on 26 October. He was baptised at All Saints church, Cressing on 22 November 1863.
At some time over the next three years, the family moved to the Fitzrovia district of central London where Shadrach first started working as a labourer in a gas works.
Their second child, Rose Emma was born at Charlotte Street, on 7 January 1867, followed by Lily who was born on 5 February 1870 at nearby Cleveland Street.
The family were soon on the move again and at the census in April 1871, Shadrach and Emily, together with their three children were now living at 9 Denmark Terrace in East Ham High Street, in east London. 26-year old Shadrach was employed as a foreman stoker at Beckton gas works.
Over the next ten years, a further four children were born at Denmark Terrace:
George born 17 March 1872
Albert James born 5 November 1874
Edith Emily born 2 July 1877
Shadrach born 6 January 1880
Rose, Lily and George were baptised together at St Mary Magdalene church in East Ham on 6 September 1874. No record has been found of the baptism of the other children.
At the 1881 census, the family were still at Denmark Terrace and 36-year old Shadrach was employed as a stoker at Beckton gas works. The eldest child, Arthur (aged 17) was now employed as a pupil teacher.
Baby Shadrach died from phthisis on 17 July 1881, aged 18 months. He was buried at St Mary Magdalene church on 22 July.
Two further children were born at Denmark Terrace:
Edwin William born 23 May 1882
May Caroline born 4 January 1888
By 1890, Shadrach had moved to 2 Fairview Villas, Barking Road (south side), East Ham, where he was to remain for the rest of his life.
At the 1891 census, Shadrach and Emily were living at Fairview Villas with their seven youngest children, plus Emily’s widowed mother, Sarah, aged 84. Of the children, Lily was working as a dressmaker, George as a telegraphist and Albert as a clothier’s assistant. Shadrach was still employed as a foreman stoker at Beckton gas works, doing so until his retirement.
Arthur had married Laura Sherrell in December 1886, and had two children by 1891. They were now living at 16 Chester Road, East Ham; Arthur was employed as a clerk with London County Council.
Ten years later, the family (Shadrach, now 56, Emily and five children) were still at 2 Fairview Villas. Of the children, 34-year old Rose was not employed, 31-year old Lily was a self-employed dressmaker, 23-year old Edith was a draper’s assistant and 18-year old Edwin was a clerk. The youngest child, May aged 13, was still at school. Also living with the family were Shadrach’s 53-year old unmarried sister, Emily Joslin, and 12-year old Sydney George Cable. Sydney was the grandson of Thomas Moss (1841–1914), the brother of Shadrach’s wife Emily.
Living next door at 1 Fairview Villas was Shadrach’s younger brother, 42-year old Charles, also a stoker at Beckton gas works, and his family.
At the census in April 1911, Shadrach and Emily were still living at 2 Fairview Villas. Living with them were two daughters, 44-year old Rose (still not employed) and 33-year old Edith, now a manageress in a drapery shop. Charles and his family were still living next door.
Death
Shadrach Joslin died at home at 2 Fairview Villas, Barking Road, East Ham on 21 December 1916, aged 72, and was buried at St Mary Magdalene church on 28 December.
Subsequent family history
Shadrach’s widow, Emily outlived him by 10 years and died on 14 March 1927. She was buried alongside him, at St Mary Magdalene church.
Their eldest son, Arthur Edward married Laura Sherrell in December 1886 and had three daughters and one son. He continued to work as a clerk for the London County Council. He died in Brentwood, Essex in September 1943.
Rose Emma appears never to have worked and lived with her parents until their death. She died unmarried in Laindon, Essex in February 1939.
Lily married George Walter Bidewell in July 1907 and had two sons. George Bidewell was a checker in a meat market. By 1939, the couple were living in Dutton Road, Laindon, Essex where George died in March 1956 followed by Lily the next month.
George was married to Augusta [maiden name and details of marriage not known] and had two daughters. He worked as a full-time secretary at Shooters Hill Golf Club in south-east London. He died in Woolwich in January 1943.
Albert James married Lizzie Berry in August 1897; the couple appear to have had no children. He worked as a clerk for London County Council. Lizzie died in December 1940. Albert died at ‘Poonah’, Wash Road, Laindon in December 1956.
In July 1918, Edith Emily married Frederick Collins (1865–1941), a widower with one adult son. Until her marriage she owned a dressmaker’s shop in East Ham High Street. Frederick was a tea warehouseman. Edith died at ‘Collinwood’, Wash Road, Laindon in December 1956.
Edwin William married Jane Hooper (1880–1934) in July 1906, and had four sons. He was employed as a clerk with East Ham Borough Council, rising to become town clerk. He died in Manor Park, Essex on 31 March 1940.
May Caroline married Ernest George Green, a schoolteacher, in June 1907. She had three sons and two daughters, but died aged 35 on 23 August 1923.
Sources
Ancestry.co.uk:
1851 England Census
1861 England Census
1861 England Census
1871 England Census
1881 England Census
1891 England Census
1901 England Census
1911 England Census
England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1966
Essex, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1918
Essex, England, Church of England Deaths and Burials, 1813-1994
Essex, England, Church of England Marriages, 1754-1935
London, England, City Directories, 1736-1943
UK, City and County Directories, 1766 – 1946
Freereg.org.uk:
Cressing All Saints’ parish register:
22 November 1863. Baptism of Arthur Edward JosselynStet