The Wives

Margaret Charlotte Lidgate, married  St Leonard's, Shoreditch, 1787.

[Sarah Clark,  married  St. Martin in the Fields, Westminster.1790 ?]

Margaret Sabben, married Spitalfields Christ Church, London.1794

Ann Bosworth, married; St Giles Cripplegate London.  1817

The Children

Robert, Born June 14th 1792, Baptised May 5th 1793 at St Leonard's, Shoreditch. Son of Margaret (Charlotte Lidgate)

William, Baptised 1793 at Spitalfields Christ Church Son of Sarah (Clark) Fathers occupation given as "Victualler"

Christopher, Baptised in 1795, at St Mary, Whitechapel. Son of Margaret (Sabben)

Anthony,  Baptised in 1797, at St Mary Whitechapel. Son of  Mary?

James, Born June 8th, Baptised June 24th 1801, at Old Church, St Pancras  Son of Margaret (Sabben)

George Thomas,  Born January 1st, Baptised June 2nd 1805, at Old Church, St Pancras  Son of Margaret (Sabben)

 Such is the individuality of the name "Carsten Hollings"  it would be easy to assume that in London  there would be only one. Having taken that view at the early stages of this research we now have to say we are not entirely convinced that is the case.

The records show that Carsten Hollings married again in 1790, at St Martin in the Fields, Westminster, to Sarah Clark and they had a son William who was baptised at Christchurch, Spitalfields on 6th October 1793. The Father's occupation was given as "Victualler." At this time the family were living at Quaker Street, Spitalfields, (see image below). The area immediately north of Quaker Street would soon be cleared for the construction of the London terminus of the Eastern Counties Railway (Bishopsgate). Quaker street is still in existence today. 

The second marriage to Sarah Clark in 1790 is curious as the locality is not where we might expect to find it. The Parish of St Martin in the Fields, Westminster, is a long way from the docks of London's east end but it was not uncommon for couples to marry outside of their own Parish. Traditionally any marriage would take place in the parish of the bride. So with a name as rare as "Carsten Hollings" do we accept this is the same man that married Charlotte Lidgate three years earlier? If the answer to that question is "yes" how do we explain the birth and baptism of Robert Hollings in 1792/3 where the entry clearly shows the mother's name as Margaret? What are the options?  Maybe Robert was born out of wedlock? It is possible Robert was the son of Carsten Hollings third wife Margaret Sabben, born before the couple were married in 1794. There are probably many other explanations that have not even occurred to us.

To muddy the waters even further, the parish of St Martin in the Fields has its own family (of whom we know nothing) bearing the Hollings name. Marriages of Rosetta, William and Elizabeth Hollings in 1801,1803 and 1804 respectively, suggests the Carsten Hollings who married Sarah Clark in 1790 could possibly be connected to this family as the marriage record lists both Carsten Hollings and Sarah Clark were widows. Considering this new information tipped the scales in the favour of there being two "Carsten Hollings" living in London at that time, as we know Carsten came to London with his father. His father could also have been named Carsten Hollings. Of course it may also be possible that Rosetta, William and Elizabeth were Robert's brothers and sisters. As I have already said just because we have not found the records of any other children being born does not mean there were none.

 Further doubt is introduced by the Baptism of "William Hollings, son of Corster, Victualler by Sarah." This Baptism took place at Christchurch Spitalfields, Stepney, back in the east end of London exactly where we would expect to find them. 

 Is the father of Robert Hollin[g]s the same person as the husband of Margaret Charlotte Lidgate? Until now our answer would have been "Yes" Now we are of the opinion that that may not be the case. The reason for this change of heart is simple. Firstly the line of reasoning already mentioned, the difference in the mothers name. Robert was born on 14th June 1792, two years after the marriage to Sarah Clark. If Carsten's first wife, Margaret Charlotte had died young and he had married Sarah Clark in 1790, did Sarah also die young? maybe during or as a result of William's birth in 1793? That would certainly explain the marriage in 1794 to Margaret Sabben but it does not explain the apparent error of Robert's Mother's name. 

A number of possible answers come to mind: -

1. The marriage to Sarah Clark was bigamous. Carsten was still married to Margaret Charlotte and Robert was her child.

2. The marriage to Sarah Clark was legitimate but Robert was not her child and was born out of wedlock. Possibly to Margaret Sabben, Carsten's third wife)

3. The Carsten Hollings who married Sarah Clark was not the same man who married Margaret Charlotte and/or Margaret Sabben. This seems to be the answer to fit all the facts as we know them. 

There is another explanation. During our research we have found a number of incidents (one of which effected us directly) where the transfer of information to the record books has been inaccurate. This has happened accidentally and involves the transcription of working notes made during the days activities to the official Church records at a later hour (or day in some cases). Could this be the case for Anthony? Baptised in 1797, at St Mary Whitechapel. Son of Mary. Who was Mary? 
The baptism entries read thus:

• Christopher Hollings son of Carsten and Margaret, Allie Street (December 1795)

• Anthony Holings son of Carsten and Mary, Allie Street (December 1797)

• James son of Carston and Margaret Holings (June 1801)

Is this an error? I believe it to be so. The children before and after Anthony are both sons of Margaret. The address is different but the next child, George Thomas, is also baptised in St Pancras, so the family had moved.

 This puzzle is unlikely ever to be solved.

The Baptism of Robert Hollings in May 1793 was at St Leonard's, Shoreditch, the address given was "Sanders Gardens" a name that conjures up an oasis of peacefulness and tranquility in the madness that was Shoreditch of 1793. Extremely unlikely. Sanders Gardens was a small turning off the main Kingsland Road. By 1872 it had been renamed Edward Street and it is still in existence as Drysdale Street N1, (see image below) As I have already written Robert's Mother is recorded as Margaret which we now accept as being Margaret Charlotte. Knowing the fate of Margaret would, of course, answer many questions, and the same could be said for Sarah Clark. If and when we find out what happened to them the picture may be a little clearer. The records can only reflect the information given by the individual. If that individual chooses to withhold information, or is not entirely honest for whatever reason, there is little that can be done. What is interesting, however, is that Carsten Hollings signed his own name on his last three marriage entries. Shown below are three instances of his handwriting and above them the mark of the cross from his first marriage. Of the four ladies he married only Margaret Sabben was able to write her own name which is no real surprise.

 1787, "The mark" of Carsten Hollings

1790, by his own hand, misspelt.

1794

1817, old age begins to show?

   It was 1794 Carsten Hollings married again, his new wife was named Margaret Sabben and was the mother of the majority of his children. It is possible the name "Sabben" was a corruption of "Sabine"  which appears in London with far more frequency, however "Sabben" although not a common name does appear in Hampshire and Kent. 

 In 1795-1797, the time of Christopher and Anthony's Baptism the family was living in Allie Street, Whitechapel, we have no further information on Carsten's occupation and sadly no further addresses to trace the families movements by. So far Trade and Post office Directories and other private directories of the  1800's have turned up nothing for the name of Carsten Hollings.

Allie Street, Whitechapel. Started life as Ayliffe Street, became Great and Little Allie Street(s) in the 1800's, and is now simply Allie Street.	Brand Street, Lower Holloway 1861

We assume Cartsen's father left Hanover to look for a better life in England as many had done before and many, many more since. Considering that, it is sad to read how he ended his days in poverty in a back street in Lower Holloway.  The death certificate recorded his address as 19 Brand Street, which is near the Holloway Road railway station and is now the site of the London Metropolitan University.

George Thomas Hollings 

We are almost certain George Hollings I was Baptised George Thomas Hollings on the 2nd June 1805, Old Church St Pancras. His Father was given as "Castin" Hollings and his mother Margaret. The next time we find George Thomas Hollings he is married to Rachel and has two children, George and James. His occupation is given as a Stone Mason. Rachel was born in Colchester, Essex, Britain's oldest recorded town, the exact date she was born and the date and location of her marriage remain a mystery. Another mystery is the identity of the children. According to the information given on the national census the two boys George and James were born in Bethnal Green, Middlesex. However, only details of one Baptism can be found and that is for "George James Hollings" Baptised at St Mathew Bethnal Green on 10th June 1827. The date of birth is also given as 20th December 1826. The mathematics point to George James being George rather than James but the dates given in most censuses, traditionally are a little erratic. The family's address from the the records is Duke Street (see below) a small side turning a little south of Columbia market. 

 

 

Dukes Street, Bethnal Green. (lower centre of picture)	Greenwoods London map of 1827 shows Green Street and East Street Bethnal Green surrounded by fields

 

 

   The next address we have is from the 1841 census, it is "Green Street, south side, from Globe Road to bridge" it must be assumed the houses in Green Street at that time, like most other houses, did not have numbers. The map above was drawn in 1827 and shows Bethnal Green as a rural area with a few streets surrounded by fields. In 1850 George Hollings purchased the lease for "All that piece of ground situate on the south side of Green Street and the north side of East Street-Globe Town, Saint Mathew, Bethnal Green in the County of Middlesex" The earliest date on the lease is 25th February 1814 when a Mr. Benjamin Wire sold the piece of ground to Mr. John Sutton. From the wording on the lease it is apparent that Benjamin Wire had  retained some land next to the part he had sold on to John Sutton.

  "............containing as well in front next Green street aforesaid as in the rear abutting south on East Street aforesaid forty five feet or thereabouts and from North to South as well on the East side abutting on a messuage or tenement and premises belonging to William Simpson as on the west abutting on a messuage or tenement and premises belonging to the said Benjamin Wire one hundred and thirty five feet or thereabouts with two messuages or tenements erected and built thereon"

The lease passed to Mr. John Sutton at the cost of  twelve pounds twelve shillings per annum, (twelve shillings translates to sixty pence)  who sold it on until in 1849 Mr. Joseph Valentine Walsh defaulted on his mortgage and the Lease returned to the trustees of the "Hope Benefit Building Society." The lease was purchased by by George Hollings on 14th December 1850 for £116. On the 28th March 1865 George sold on the lease to Abraham Barnet for £140 with an additional payment of £62 10/- (£62. 50p) going to a Mr. Noah Smith ² of Brassey Terrace, Victoria Park, (Bethnal Green) Builder - but this lease specified the property next door, 102 Green Street.-

".......that piece or parcel of ground situate and being in the south side of Green Street Globe Town in the Parish of St Mathew Bethnal Green in the county of Middlesex containing as well in the front next Green Street aforesaid as in the rear abutting south in East Street thirteen feet or thereabouts and from North to South as well in the east side abutting on a messuage or tenement and premises belonging to Mr John West as on the West abutting on a messuage or tenement and premises belonging to the said George Hollings seventy seven feet or thereabouts together with the messuage or tenement [erected] and built on the said [********] [******] and known as No 102 Green Street."

 

  

Exact details of what the lease covered is difficult to say. The measures given above in the first quoted paragraph are 45 feet width and 135 feet in length. (some versions of the lease state 145 feet in length) An indenture dated August 1905 goes into great detail listing eight properties on the land. The number sequence in the plan above for Green Street are accurate almost to the house. By using the Metropolitan Works Department's re-numbering plan I can place 103 Green Street opposite the Public House on the eastern corner of Norton Street. The original house numbers on the plan are coloured black, the replacement numbers are coloured blue. Note the direction of the house numbers has reversed. The plan is a copy of the Ordnance Survey map of 1870. It shows the layout of the streets and houses in great detail. The block coloured in red is the parcel of land I believe is covered by the lease mentioned above. I have also measured the parcel of land by enlarging the ordnance survey map and comparing the distance between Green Street and East Street and the distance between the two boundaries from 101 to 103 Green Street. The dimensions match those on the lease. The only area yet to be confirmed is the three houses in East Street. It seems inconceivable to me that my reasoning should be incorrect but as long as there is an element of doubt, I will try to find the confirmation that the three houses outlined in red are numbers 24,25 and 26 East Street.

The 1851 census lists George Thomas Hollings as a Master Stone Mason employing two men,  George and James were now 24 and 21 respectively and were both Stone Mason journeymen. At the age of 46 George Thomas Hollings was marked down as being deaf.

 

Green Street 1900. This picture shows what appears to be a bridge and whatever is passing underneath is causing quite a stir. The only bridge I can find any evidence of is one spanning the Regents Canal. Green Street was later renamed Roman Road.	Green Street circa. 1912.
Green Street again dated 1958 3
This photograph is part of a on-line collection own by Ken Russell The photograph was taken in 1958 just prior to the 1960 regeneration of the area. The photographer (unknown) is standing on the Green Street canal bridge facing west. The street immediately left in the picture is Palmer's Road. Centre picture is a zebra crossing, with streets off either side, to the left is Preston street, to the right is Cranbrook road. The next turning along on the right from Cranbrook Road is Harold street and opposite was Violet Row. From the photograph we can see the area on the left (south side) of Green Street around Violet Row had already been demolished so much of the building work was well under way. The Greenways Estate as it was called would replace a large number of two up-two down terraced houses with numerous five storeyed blocks of  concrete flats and Maisonettes.

 

The 1861census shows George Hollings age 56, still living at 103 Green Street with Rachel his wife and James his youngest son who by this time was thirty years of age and still unmarried. There is no mention of George  being deaf although we must assume he still was. His oldest son was now married, and living away, the address on his marriage certificate has him living at 16 Globe Road, Globe Town.

 In the early part of 1862 Rachel Hollings died age 61. She would have only seen two of her three Grandchildren born to her eldest son George. The first Grandchild was a girl and named Rachel, the second, a boy, named George Carsten Hollings after his father, Grandfather and Great Grandfather. George Thomas Hollings lived on for another fifteen years. His youngest son James never married, staying home with his father. 

The 1871 census now reads 198 Green Street but as I have shown this is the same house as 103. By now George is 66 years old, showing a remarkably unusual consistency with his age. James is now 42, displaying the more usual date and age irregularity. Both men are unemployed stone masons.

It is pure supposition but by 1881 George's eldest son and his grandson were both bricklayers rather than stone masons. It is possible that the use of bricks was replacing stone in many structures, it was  probably the cheaper option. It is possible that the demand for stone masons had fallen away and work was hard to come by. With the rapid expansion of  London around  Bethnal Green and Shoreditch it is more likely the demand for bricklayers was far higher. Maybe George Thomas and his son James did not keep up with the times.

George Thomas Hollings died in 1877 at the age of 72. Still living in Bethnal Green but not in Green Street. The address on his death certificate was 2,Smart Street, a small side road leading from Green Street to East Street. It is hard to understand why he was at this address unless he was being cared for by the occupant. The property 103/198 Green Street appears to have remained in the family until February 1889 when a an Indenture of Mortgage was drawn up between the Temperance Building Society and Josiah Phipps, (details from the 1905 lease) Also mentioned is Alice Rowcliffe, although I do not know in what context. In 1881 we know the address to be empty but local directories show in 1877 the house was being occupied by a Mr. Hooper.