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James Sidey,
who was my great great great grandfather, married Elizabeth
(maiden name unknown) and had two sons James and Samuel
and two daughters Mary and Esther. All were
baptised at St.Mary's church, Lambeth, Surrey. The daughters were
baptised together on 20th July 1800. James Sidey was baptised
on 18th May 1794 and Samuel was born on 27th October 1796 and
christened on 4th December 1796.
Samuel Sidey
Samuel Sidey was my great great grandfather. Not much is
known about him other than that he was a Goldleaf manufacturer and
that he married Jane Maund on 20th April 1817 in St.James,
Paddington. Jane was born in Surrey in 1795. On the 1841 census for
30 Baldwin Street, St.Lukes, Samuel's occupation is given as gold
beater. Various trade directories of the period show Samuel as a
gold beater during the period 1842 - 1854.
Samuel died on 4th June 1858 of cancer, John Sidey is listed as
informant of death on the death certificate. Samuel is buried at
Abney Park Cemetery, Grave No. 20918 Section F3.
The cemetery was visited in the summer of 2001 and the whole area
was badly overgrown and the grave covered with moss, ivy and
brambles. No inscription was found. The Victorian cemetery has
turned into an 'urban wilderness' over the years and is a
fascinating place to visit.
Trade directories for 1860 show only Samuel's wife carrying on
the business, she by this time would have been sixty five. The 1861
census describes her as a widow of independent means. Jane died of
cancer of the womb at the marital home on 29th August 1866. I have
found a will for Jane in which it states:
"I Jane Sidey give and bequeath to my beloved children to be
equally divided all my household furniture, wearing apparel, books,
jewellery, pictures and other effects including all sums of money
which be found in my house or about my person or due to me at the
time of my decease."
Her son John Sidey was the executor of the will and witnesses
were John Sidey and Franklin Levy (Jane's son-in-law, the husband of
her daughter Jane).
The London Commercial Directory of 1856 and 1862 have an entry
under Stephen Street, Tottenham Court Road 'No 5, Maund & Sidey,
engravers'.
Esther Sidey, the sister of Samuel Sidey (senior), gave birth
to an illegitimate daughter on 11th March 1824 in the workhouse. The
child, Elizabeth, was baptised on 7th April 1824 at St.George the
Martyr church, Southwark. It appears that the church had its own
workhouse which was opened in 1729 at Mint Street, Southwark. In the
1841 census Elizabeth is shown as residing with her brother Samuel
and his wife Jane at 30 Baldwin Street and is described as their
daughter. She is single and aged seventeen at that time. In the 1851
census her age is given as 29.
The children of Samuel and Jane Sidey were Charles
George, Henry, Elizabeth (see above), Jane, Rebecca, Harriet,
Samuel, Mary, James Maund and John.
Charles George Sidey was baptised on 10th May 1818 at
St.Lukes Church, Old Street. The 1848 Post Office Directory of
London shows him as an engraver of 30 Arlington Street, Mornington
Crescent. He is also listed under the same occupation as 'Sidey &
Maund' of 5 St.Stephen Street, Tottenham Court Road. The 1862
Commercial Directory shows 'Sidey, Charles George, engraver, see
Maund & Sidey'.
He married Mary Ann Hiland on October 14 1844 in St.James,
Westminster. I have found a will for Charles who died in1863 at
Grove Villa, Friern Park in the Parish of Friern Barnet. In the
document it states:
"I give to my wife Mary Ann Sidey the whole of my freehold
property also the whole of my leasehold property as well as the
furniture and other effects contained in my dwelling house Grove
Villa before mentioned. In fact I wish it to be understood that I
leave everything that I am possessed of in this world to my wife
Mary Ann. My wife to be sole executrix."
Witnesses to the will were Joseph John Swindell, surgeon and
Charles Maund.
Charles Maund is believed to be the brother (or relative) of Jane
Maund. He was married to Rebecca Hiland on 16th November 1812 at
St.James, Westminster. In the 1851 census for 30 Arlington Street,
Mornington Crescent he is listed as a visitor at the home of Charles
George Sidey and is described as a widower, aged 55, retired
engraver. It is believed that Charles Maund was in partnership with
Charles Sidey.
Henry Sidey was baptised on 2nd May 1820. In the 1841 census
he is shown as a wood carver. The 1848 Post Office Directory of
London shows his occupation as a carver of 31 Baldwin Street, City
Road. By the 1851 census, Henry had left home and was trading as a
wood carver from 69 Banner Street (Commercial Directory for 1851), a
mere ten minute walk from Baldwin Street In the 1862 edition of the
Commercial Directory he is shown as occupation chairman of 58 Great
Cambridge Street, Hackney Road.
Jane Sidey was baptised 17th July 1825. She married
Franklin Thomas Levy on 9th September 1844 in Shoreditch
St.Leonard. In the 1871 census Franklin and Jane are living in
St.Leonards Shoreditch. They are both aged 47 and Franklin is a
shoemaker. They have 3 children living with them, Sarah aged 18 is a
brush drawer, William aged 16 is a cabinet maker and Thomas aged 13
is an errand boy. In 1881 Franklin and Jane are living at 34 Paul
St., Franklin is still a shoe maker. Sarah their daughter aged 28 is
living there, she is still a brush drawer and also living there is
Jane Green a grand-daughter aged 15 a cigar maker.
By 1891 Franklin is widowed and a lodger living in Shoreditch.
Rebecca Sidey was baptised 15th
July 1827 at St.Lukes Old Street. In the 1841 census she is shown as
a brush drawer. She married Robert Bowdler on 14th July 1856
at St.John the Baptist Church, Shoreditch.
(Brush drawing - in
drawing, a wooden brush back is made and holes drilled through it to
take the knots of bristle. This part of the brush would usually be
the part that included the wooden handle. The holes were each
drilled with two bits, one wider than the other so that half of the
hole was of a larger bore. A length of wire or thin twine was then
passed in loops through the holes from the back of the brush. A
small bundle of bristles, about two inches or so long was then
pushed through each loop, so that as the loop was pulled from behind
the brush back the bristles folded over into the wider part of the
hole and were held tight as the wire or twine was pulled. If the
brush was for hair the bristles would be left slightly uneven. If it
was for clothes, etc they would be fixed so they would all be even.
After a row of bristles had been inserted the wire was tied off so
that they were held tight, and this was continued until the whole
brush was "filled" with bristles. To hand draw a good hairbrush
would be a days work!')
Harriet Sidey was baptised 16th August 1829 at St.Lukes Old
Church. Her occupation in the 1841 census is also given as brush
drawer.
Samuel Sidey was born in the district of St.Luke, almost
certainly at 30 Baldwin Street. He was baptised on 28th September
1834 at St.John the Baptist Church, Shoreditch. In the 1851 census,
he is described as goldbeaters apprentice. In September 1852 he
married Ann Patience Murphy at Shoreditch. By 1881 he is
living at 419 Kingsland Road, Hackney with his wife and children,
although by now he describes himself as a general dealer. Between
1881 and 1890 he moved and is at 35 Richmond Road, Dalston (Kellys
Hackney Directory). In the 1911 edition of the same publication he
is an Insurance Agent and his daughter Jane (known as Jennie) is
residing with him and is engaged in the same business. Samuel died
at 35 Richmond Road, Dalston on 15th July 1915 at the age of 81,
cause of death given as heart failure and senility. Both he and his
wife Ann Patience are buried together in grave NO. R/N 14982 sector
C8 at Abney Park Cemetery, Stoke Newington. The grave was visited on
12th March 1998 by David Arthur Sidey their great grandson. He found
the headstone standing and still readable but the surround has
completely disappeared.
Mary Sidey was baptised 28th September 1834.
James William Maund Sidey - see below
John Sidey was born 6th June 1839. His occupation in the 1851
census is given as butchers apprentice. He married Rose Hannah
Stirling in 1857 in Whitechapel, Middlesex. The Commercial Directory
for 1862 shows John working as easy chair maker at 18 Kings Street,
St.Lukes. In 1871 he and Rose have 7 children - John (aged 10),
Arthur (aged 8), Rose Jane (aged 7), Louise (aged 5), Lydia (2) and
Herbert G (aged 11 months). Rose's mother Hannah aged 53 is living
with the family and they have a servant Fanny Rode (aged 15). In
1881 he is residing at 97 Downham Road, Hackney, Middlesex along
with his wife and 9 children. His occupation is given as chair
maker. The children were John (aged 20), occupation chair stuffer
(cabinet), O (aged 18), occupation coal merchant's clerk, Rose J.
(aged 17), occupation surgical instrument maker, Louisa (aged15),
occupation vellum sower (book binding), Lydia (aged 12), Herbert
(aged 11), Clara E. (aged 9), Alexander (aged 7), William H. (aged
5) and a domestic servant Fanny McDermott (28).
John and his wife Rose are buried at
Abney Park Cemetery in the same grave, No R/N 5332
Section N7. In July 2001 when the
grave was visited, the grave was still in fair condition with the
gravestone upright and the inscription very clear.
James William Maund Sidey
James was my great grandfather. When I began researching
all I had to go on was the name James William Sidey on my
grandfather's birth certificate. It was fortunate that an aunt of
mine had been contacted a few years earlier by someone researching
the Sidey family history and she had kept the correspondence. I
wrote to Jeanette Sidey who kindly sent me all her information.
Initially I couldn't see any connection with her husband's family,
as the only James she had was James Maund Sidey, which I assumed was
probably nothing to do with me. However when I received a copy of
the certificate of James' marriage to
Emily Hubner on 24th July 1859 in London St.Giles
Cripplegate, his name was given as James Maund Sidey. His occupation
was gold and silver beater. Witnesses at the wedding were John Sidey
(bridegroom's brother) and Lydia Hubner (bride's sister). Now that I
knew that James William was James William Maund, I had the
connection to Reg Sidey's family and was able to make use of all
Jeanette's information.
Jeanette also found some information a few years ago about
brothers John and William Siday who were involved in large robberies
and were executed at Tyburn. Their wives were also mentioned in the
trial transcripts - the wife of John Siday was acquitted but the
wife of William Siday was transported for 14 years (probably to
America). We don't know if these Sidays are related to our Sideys
but it would seem a possibility as the name was not a common one.
My mother and I went to a local Family History Fair in the late
90s when we first started researching and it was a very exciting
moment when we found James and Emily in the 1881 census, living at
18 Britannia Row, Islington with five of their children - Emily,
James, Selina, Charles and Frederick. This was the first major piece
of information my mother and I had found and she now knew the names
of her aunts and uncles. In the 1871 census, the family are living
at 5 Hulls Terrace and there is another daughter Mary Jane aged 6. I
found the family in the 1891 census, living at 2 Richmond Grove.
Mary and Selina are both machinists. Helena Hubner, Emily's sister
is also in the household, occupation envelope folder. Charles Sidey
is unemployed and Fred is a shop boy. In the 1901 census the family
is living at 80 Halton Road, Islington. Looking again at the 1881
census, I have found a Mary S aged 16, a domestic servant, living at
31 Sussex Street with Mary and John Jones, this is probably Mary
Sidey. In 1901 Selina, Charles and Frederick are all living with
their parents - Selina aged 31 also a dress machinist, Charles aged
28 a stereotyper and Frederick aged 24 a totter (probably 'fitter')
engineer.
When I got the birth certificates of the other offspring it was
interesting to notice that on 4 of the children's birth
certificates, the father's name is given as James William and on 2
of them it is given as James William Maund (although Maund is spelt
differently both times).
In the 1851 census, James' occupation was given as goldbeaters
apprentice and in the1862 Trade Directory there is the following
entry "Sidey Brothers Gold Beaters", Samuel and James were the two
brothers referred to.
In 1882 the family were still living at 18 Britannia Row and in
the Post Office London Directory for that year James is now listed
as running a chandlers shop.
('chandler - candle seller, grocer, provisioner, usually
associated with provisioning ships')
Emily died on 17th January 1910 at 63 Talfourd Road, SE15, cause
of death Brights disease (glomerulonephritis - kidney disease) and
anaemia. The informant on the certificate was M.J.Sidey, daughter.
James died in the
Islington workhouse, St.Johns Road on 2 July 1911. His death
was caused by syncope, exhaustion, gangrenous condition of right
foot and leg, supervening bruising of the ankle. An inquest was held
on 5th July 1911. On his death certificate, his occupation was given
as goldbeater, late of 80 Halton Road, Islington.
I have found the following information so far on my grandfather's
brothers and sisters
Emily Eliza was born on 28th April
1862 at 30 Baldwin Street. She married Alfred Weston
on 20th December 1888, witnesses were James Henry Sidey - bride's
brother, and Elizabeth Ann Manning. Emily's address was given as 49
Lever Street. Alfred was aged 22 from Abbots Langley, occupation
dealer. His father's name was Samuel, occupation also dealer. In the
1901 census Alfred and Emily are living at Buckhurst Park,
Winkfield, Berks. Alfred is aged 35 and a gamekeeper, Emily is aged
38. They have two daughters Selina aged 9 and Lydia aged 2 both born
in Herts Abbots Langley. In 1911 the family is living at Brights
Farms, Christian Malford, Chippenham. Alfred is a woodman and Emily
is a 'work of the house'. Lydia is there aged 12 and there is
another daughter Winnifred aged 6.
Mary Jane was born 7th August 1864 at 1 Castigny Place,
St.Luke. I couldn't find Mary in the 1881 census, but I did find a
Mary S .... (entry not legible) a domestic servant living at 31
Sussex St. She was living with John Jones, a carpenter, and his wife
Mary. She appeared in the 1901 census living at the family home 80
Halton Road, Islington. She is aged 36 and unmarried, a dress
machinist working at home on her own account. In 1911 she is aged 45
a dressmaker living on the second floor 44 Florance Road, Stroud
Green Edmonton. She died in 1949 in Uxbridge aged 85.
James Henry was born on 7th March 1867 at 4 Little Mitchell
Street, St.Luke. In the 1891 census he is aged 24 and living at the
Inns of Court Hotel, working as a servant. His occupation is given
as stoker. He married Emma Edith Young on 4th November
1893 at St.Pauls Church, St.Marys, Newington, witnesses were Edwin
William Young (father of the bride), and Frances Eliza Young. The
address of both people was 32 Lorrimore Street. James' occupation
was engineer and Emma's father's occupation was electrotyper -
(worked in the printing trade). In the 1901 census, James is aged
34, an engineer living with Emma aged 31 at 37 Keston Road
Camberwell. They have one daughter Emmie aged 6 born in London
Kensington. In the 1911 census James and Emma are living at 63
Talfourd Road, Camberwell. Daughter Emma Frances is aged 16 a
student and there is a son Harold James aged 7. James is an engineer
of lifts or electric in charge. James died in 1929 in Billericay,
Essex.
Selina Sophia was born on 11th July 1869 at 27 Waterloo St.,
St.Luke. She died in Rochford, Essex in 1949 aged 80.
Charles Albert was born on 23rd June 1872 at 4 Hulls Terrace,
St.Luke. He married Beatrice May
Pierotti on 22nd July 1905 at St.Marys Church, Hammersmith,
witnesses were Charles Ernest Pierotti, Charles Goddard Watts and
Helena Florence Chapman. His address was 242 Goldhawk Road. Charles'
occupation was stereotyper.
In the 1911 census Charles and Beatrice were living at 45
Claygate Road, W.Ealing. Charles is still a stereotyper and they
have 2 daughters Winifred aged 3 born in Acton and Margaret aged 6
months born in Ealing. Charles Watts is visiting, he is single aged
43 and a bank clerk born in Clerkenwell. Charles died in 1957 in
Harrow.
(A stereotyper was a printer. Having set the text of a newspaper
using lines of type set out in a framework called a forme standing
upright on a metal bench (for some reason called the stone) it was
then necessary to make from it a curved printing plate to bolt onto
the cylinders of the rotary press. This was done by placing a wet
papier mache sheet, called a flong, onto the pages of type and then
putting the whole lot into a press at high pressure. Thus the image
on the type became a reversed image on the flong. The flong was then
curved to the shape of the cylinder and typemetal injected producing
a curved metal plate with the same raised surface as the original
type. This plate was called a stereo and the printer whose job it
was to make the stereos from the forme of type was a stereotyper.)
Beatrice's father was Charles William (deceased),
occupation wax modeller. I found the following information about
Pierotti dolls.
Pierotti Dolls
The Pierottis were one of the most famous doll-making families in
England. Domenico Pierotti came to England from Volterra in Tuscany
in 1770 when he had been injured and needed medical treatment. He
stayed in Portsmouth with an uncle and aunt, by the name of
Castelli. He was taught modelling by his aunt, who made small dolls
out of papier mâché and coated them in wax. Later Domenico ran away
to London, where his skill as a modeller in papier-mache was soon
much in demand. In 1790 he married an English girl Susanna Sleight,
daughter of John and Susanna Sleight born on 17th January 1773
(Domenico's mother was also English) .
He founded a doll-making business in London and in 1849 he
started modelling Queen Victoria's children, winning a prize in the
Pantheon, Paris for his 'babies'. He was succeeded by his ninth
child, Americho Cephas, known as Henry, a very fine craftsman, who
had a shop at 108, Oxford St, called Crystal Palace after he showed
dolls at the Great Exhibition.
Henry married Jane Gumbrell in 1828 and they had four daughters
and five sons, said to have been models for some of the most
charming dolls. Henry died in 1871 and the business was taken over
by his son Charles William (the father of Beatrice).
Initially the dolls were made of bees wax but then they used a
mixture of bees wax, candle wax and turpentine. To get the colour
they used carmine and white lead. But lead is poisonous and Charles
died of lead poisoning in 1892. His widow, mother and sisters
carried on the doll-making, the girls dressing the dolls which were
made by the brothers, Henry and Charles Ernest (Beatrice's
brother who was a witness at her marriage), cooking up the
cauldron of wax on the kitchen range. Mrs. Pierotti cut and sewed
the cloth bodies until she was nearly ninety years old.
Several of the Pierotti dolls are found with initials "C.P.,"
which is confusing, as there were children with these initials in
several generations. It is impossible to be sure which C. Pierotti
was responsible for the various models, especially as Celia Pierotti
(B. 1831) also helped her brother Charles William and might well
have marked some of her own work.
Charles retired in 1935 at the age of 75 and after his death in
1942, many of the moulds, tools and accessories were donated to and
displayed at the Rottingdean Toy Museum in Sussex, with another
group given to the Bethnal Green Museum some years later.
I have found the following information on the Pierotti family.
Anericho Cephas Pierotti (Henry) was born about 1810 and died
in 1871. He married Jane Gumbrell (born 1819) in Bloomsbury
in 1828. I have found the following children
Charles William
born 1842 and died 1892
Jane born 1830
Celia born 1832
Helena born 1848
Walter born 1854
In 1871 Henry aged 61 and Jane aged 60 are living at Pine
Cottage, Hammersmith. Henry's occupation is inventor of model dolls.
Their daughters Celia and Helena are there as well as son Walter, a
model doll maker.
I found Charles William and Mary Ann (surname Perrotte) in 1871
living at 24 Crown Street, Hammersmith. Charles is a wax doll maker
and is living with his children, Charles aged 10, Alice aged 7,
Alfred aged 5, Florence aged 4, Rose aged 2 and Joseph aged 2
months.
I finally found the family in the 1881 census (they were listed
under the name Purvotti!). They were living at 40 Brackenbury Road,
Hammersmith.
C.W. (Charles
William) is aged 39, born St. Pancras, occupation doll maker.
His wife M.A.
(Mary Ann Roche) is aged 38, born Marylebone, occupation doll maker.
They had 10 children at this time
Charles .H. a son
aged 20, born Marylebone, also a doll maker
Alice.M. a
daughter aged 17, born Marylebone, a florist
Alfred George a
son aged 16, born Marylebone, a grocer's assistant
Florence C. a
daughter aged 14, born Hammersmith
Rose H. a
daughter aged 11, born Hammersmith
Joseph.L. a son
aged 10, born Hammersmith
Anericho Walter a
son aged 8, born Hammersmith
Albert David a
son aged 7, born Marylebone
Augustin F. a son
aged 5, born Marylebone
Maud Louise a
daughter aged 2, born Marylebone.
Also in the house were J. Pierotti (formerly Jane
Gumbrell), mother of Charles, a widow aged 71 born in Marylebone,
occupation doll maker and C.Pierotti, sister of Charles, aged
59, born in St.Pancras. She is unmarried and her occupation is also
that of doll maker.
I have now found the family in the 1901 census, living at 324
Goldhawk Road. Mary is a widow aged 57 and 3 sons are living with
her, Chas E is aged 40, a wax modeller working on his own account,
Walter A is aged 28 a commercial traveller, Augustin F is aged 25 a
railway clerk. Her daughter Beatrice M is aged 18, a florist.
Also living at the same address are
Alfred G Pierotti 35 a doll maker, his wife Harriett aged 29 born
in Stroud, Glos and their daughters Beatrice M aged 5, Rose G aged 3
and Kathleen J aged 11 months all born in Hammersmith.
Frederick Thomas Sidey
My grandfather was born on 21st April 1876 at 5 Mitchampton St.,
Hoxton. He married
Lilian Rose Jane on 7th September 1905 at Wandsworth
Register Office. Witnesses were James J.Webber, bride's stepfather
and Harriet Ellen Webber, bride's mother. Frederick's occupation was
engine fitter, journeyman. The groom's address was Westminster
Palace Hotel, and the bride's address was 17, Orville Road,
Battersea. They had 7 children and my mother was the youngest.
In the 1911 census Fred and Lilian were living at 4 St.Werburghs
Road, Bristol. Fred was a laundry engineer. Three children were
living with them. Amy was aged 4 born in Fulham, Charlie was aged 3
also born in Fulham. Florrie was aged 1 born in Ashley Vale,
Bristol.
Apparently Lilian wasn't happy living away from London and they
moved to Pyrmont Road where Hetty was born in 1916.
Below: Fred Sidey at the family home, 21 Pyrmont
Road, Strand-on-the-Green, Chiswick.
 My
mother has written the following about her father
"From what I have been told of the family history, father came
from a comfortable middle class family and his father had a good
position as a Goldbeater. They had a special school for the sons of
Goldbeaters and my father of course was sent there, but he must have
thought it was not what he wanted and ran away to Canada. His mother
got him back by tricking him, having a cable sent to say she was
dangerously ill, when he arrived home and she opened the door to him
they had a big row. She offered to set him up in business to get him
to stay, but he refused, but eventually agreed to train as an
engineer, hoping to go back to Canada soon as his training finished.
In the meantime he met my mother who worked as a maid in a hotel.
His parents once again were not pleased with his choice as they
considered she was not good enough for him, this all happened about
90 years ago and snobbery was very much in evidence then. Despite
his parents' opposition they did marry and they would have nothing
to do with him afterwards. I can remember Amy and Florrie telling me
that his sister sent food and clothing when they were young and my
father sent it all back, he was a very proud and stubborn man."
After the death of Lilian in 1934, Fred married again in 1949 to
Emily Jane Nute, a widow. Fred died on 9th September 1954 at the age
of 78. He is buried at Chiswick Cemetery in a private grave with his
second wife's husband Charles Nute.
Below: Fred Sidey and Emily Nute
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