Alefounder of Suffolk
Notes on some of those mentioned in the Suffolk pedigree.
George Alefounder, 1814-1862
Charles Alefounder, 1807-1864
It is not clear why the birth place for George and his brother Charles is given as Bury St Edmunds in the 1851 census. I have no evidence for an Alefounder family there at that time, and I can only suppose that Bury St Edmunds was the nearest "big place" that the enumerator had heard of. In the 1861 census, George's place of birth is given as Norfolk Stoke, but the Norfolk comes from a "do" (ditto) referring to the previous line. This could well be a mistake for Suffolk. The place of birth for Charles, no longer living with his brother, was given as Stoke Suffolk.
The 1851 census was in 30/31 March. On 27 November that year, Charles Alefounder made his will, giving his address as St. Ann's Road Kennington Surrey; presumably he moved there at or around the time of his marriage in July. He soon took over the "Coach & Horses" at 9 Dorset Street, Lambeth, his address as given in the 1861 census, where he was found to be giving short measure. Lloyd's Weekly London Newspaper, 10 November 1861:
FALSE WEIGHTS AND MEASURES
At the petty sessions, held on Wednesday last, at Newington, before J. Tilson, Esq., and a full bench of magistrates, 22 persons were summoned for having in their possession unjust scales, weights, and measures. They comprised 7 licensed victuallers, 6 beer retailers, 7 grocers and chandlers, 1 baker and 1 butcher, carrying on business in the neighbourhood of Clapham, Balham-hill, Brixton, &c., upon whom fines were inflicted, as follows:
…
Charles Alefounder, beer retailer, Dorset-street, Clapham-road, one measure. Fined 5s.
…
David Alefounder, 1825-1860
Enlisted in the Royal Marines on 25 December 1845, being then aged 20 years and 3 months. His description is given in TNA ref. ADM 157/41/5: height 5' 8", complexion fresh, eyes hazel, hair dark brown and with no distinctive marks. In the 1851 census, he was a patient in Ward No. 12, Melville Hospital, Chatham. The TNA file includes a record of the ships on which he served:
| Ship | Period of Service | Amount of Service | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| from | to | years | days | ||
| Superb | 18 Apr 1846 | 23 Nov 1846 | 220 | ||
| Waterwitch | 12 Apr 1848 | 21 Dec 1850 | 2 | 254 | |
| London and Ro Albert |
   |
5 Aug 1852 | 30 Jan 1856 | 3 | 179 |
| ?Ballnchina Calcutta ?Perinperdry |
|
12 Aug 1857 | 13 Mar 1860 | 2 | 215 |
| afloat | 9 | 138 | |||
| onshore | 4 | 340 | |||
| Total Service | 14 | 113 | |||
He was discharged as an invalid on 17 April 1860 and appears to have died later that year. One notable event during his period of service was the Crimean War, 1854-1856. HMS London was involved in the campaign.
George William Alefounder, b.1882He was a sergeant in the British Expeditionary Force (Royal Engineers) at the time of his marriage in 1917. Afterwards, he became a journeyman compositor, a moulder, and finally a tram conductor. Agnes Hilda Alefounder née Piggott, 1892-1940Wife of the above. She died as a result of "war operations" and has the distinction of being the only Alefounder mentioned on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission web site. The photograph shows George William Alefounder and his wife with their first two children (twins), born 1920. The twins are wearing christening gowns. |
Photograph from Diane Alefounder. |
Charlotte Maxim Alefounder als Charlotte Maxim, b.1865
Charlotte Maxim Alefounder was born before her parents were married, and so her legal surname was that of her mother. However, it is clear that she normally used her father's surname, Maxim. That was the surname that was used at her baptism on 5 November 1871 and she appears with that surname in the 1871, 1881 and 1891 census returns. Her illegitimate children in their turn took their mother's surname. Thus, they were registered using the legal and official surname Alefounder, but often used the surname Maxim.
George William Maxim Alefounder als George Maxim, b.1887A butcher by trade; joined the Army in 1915 and was posted to the Labour Corps, having served previously in the Territorial forces. He transferred to the Military Mounted Police on 11 May 1919. Among the records of his service is a letter, dated 11 August 1916 from a Mrs Pryke, widow, presumably his former employer, complaining that her son could not do all the work required for her butcher's business and clearly wanting her employee back again. George William Alefounder had other ideas and on 15th September 1919 surrendered his claim to early demobilisation and volunteered to serve until 30th April 1920. He ended his period of service as a Lieutenant Corporal and was finally demobilized on 16th May 1920. The photograph shows George William Maxim Alefounder in his World War I MMP uniform. |
Larger version of picture (518KB) |
Ethel Maud Alefounder als Laremore, b. 1891
I am greteful to Alexandra Griffiths for pointing out that Ethel Maud could not have been a daughter of Arthur Charles Alefounder, as he had died in 1889. Her birth was registered with the surname Laremore (presumably that of her real father), and she appears in the 1891 census with that surname as a "visitor" with her mother, but by 1901, Mr Laremore having long since departed the scene, she was recorded with the surname Alefounder. She claimed Arthur Alefounder as her father when she married Ernest Howes in 1915.
 |
Last updated 20th November 2009 by Peter Alefounder |
|