Person:David Timothy (2)

David Timothy was born on 14th February 1802 in the parish of St George in the East in Middlesex, in the inner eastern suburbs of London. He was the son of Mary Timothy, formerly Davis, and her husband William Timothy, who worked variously as a labourer in the East India Company's warehouses, milkman and victualler. Although David was born in the London area, the family appear to have been Welsh - his mother later gave her place of birth as Wales, whilst several of David's younger siblings were baptised at the Welsh-language chapel on Guildford Street in Southwark, even though the family lived at various addresses in the eastern suburbs of London. Presumably they were quite happy to make the longer journey to Southwark in order to hear services in Welsh.

The family's financial standing was sometimes precarious; David's father spent some time in a debtor's jail around 1812.

David was married on 13th April 1822 at St Bride's Church in the City of London to Jane Cassanet, daughter of a French émirgé who had moved to London to escape the French Revolution. David and Jane went on to have nine children together between 1823 and 1848. Their first daughter was born in Shoreditch, followed by a son in Southwark. By 1826 they had settled in the parish of St Giles without Cripplegate in the City of London, where they lived on the street called Barbican, where the rest of their children were born.

David sometimes advertised his business in local newspapers, which make clear that their premises were on the corner of Barbican and Redcross Street. David sold a variety of feathers, bedding and beds, describing his business in advertisements as "The Noted Cheap Bed Mart".

David and Jane's eldest daughter died when only ten years old in 1833. David's father died in 1838.

The 1841 census finds David, Jane, three of their sons and a servant living on Barbican. Two of their other children were at boarding schools within a few miles of London. David's mother was living at Goldsmith's Place on Hackney Road in Shoreditch with some of David's younger siblings.

David's eldest daughter married in 1846, and David's first known grandchild was born the following year. He appears to have had 31 grandchildren born in his lifetime, although some of them died young.

The 1851 census finds David, Jane, three of their children, David's mother and a servant living at 1 Redcross Street, on the corner with Barbican.

In 1856 David was granted the freedom of the City of London. Around the same time he appears to have retired; during the 1850s Jane and David left the City of London and moved out to the southern suburbs, where they lived at 5 York Grove, Peckham, in the parish of Camberwell. One of their daughters gave her address as York Grove when she married in 1859, and it was given as David's mother's address when she died in 1860. David and Jane appear at 5 York Grove in the 1861 census, along with their two youngest sons and a servant. David described himself as a retired feather merchant in 1861.

Jane died on 3rd March 1863 at Peckham, just a few days after her sixtieth birthday. After her death, David moved to Penn Road in Holloway to the north of London. He wrote his will on 30th July 1868, in which he left a legacy of £100 to his sister Eliza Killwick and the remainder of his estate to be split between his eight surviving children, but with a stipulation that his sons William and Felix were not to get their shares until seven years after David's death.

David died as his son Peter's house at 72 Worship Street in Shoreditch on 31st August 1868. He was 64. He left a will and a fairly substantial estate; shortly after his death his children engaged in a number of court cases against each other between 1868 and 1870, presumably trying to grapple with the provisions of his will.

1. ↑ ^1.0 1.1 St. George-in-the-East, Middlesex, England. Parish Registers (London Metropolitan Archives).

   1805 / May / 19th / David, Son of William Timothy, Labourer in the East India Warehouse by Mary (No. 20) Church Lane - Born 14th Feb[ruar]y 1802

   Baptised same day as brother Evan, born 31 Jan 1804.

2. ↑ England. 1841 Census Schedules for England and Wales, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. (
   Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom:
   The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.)
   Class HO107; Piece 727; Book 9; Folio 15; Page 25, 6 Jun 1841.

   Address: Barbican; Parish: St Giles without Cripplegate; City: London; County: Middlesex
   David Timothy, male, 35 [1801-6], Bedding Warehouseman, born in county
   Jane Timothy, female, 35 [1801-6], born in county
   David Timothy, male, 15 [1821-6], born in county
   William Timothy, male, 13 [1827/8], born in county
   Peter Timothy, male, 10 [1830/1], born in county
   Ellen Mullelly, female, 20 [1816-21], F[emale] S[ervant], b. Ireland

3. ↑ England. 1851 Census Returns for England and Wales. (
   Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom:
   The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.)
   Class HO107; Piece 1525; Folio 344; Page 32, 30 Mar 1851.

   Address: 1 Redcross Street; Parish: St Giles without Cripplegate; City: London
   David Timothy, head, married, male, 49 [1801/2], Bedding Warehouseman, b. St George East, Middlesex
   Mary Timothy, widow [sic], widow, female, 78 [1772/3], supported by son, b. Wales
   Jane Timothy, wife, married, female, 48 [1802/3], b. Bethnal Green, Middlesex
   Peter V. Timothy, son, unmarried, male, 19 [1831/2], Medical Student St Barth[olomew']s Hospital, b. Cripplegate, London
   Jane Timothy, daughter, unmarried, female, 9 [1841/2], Scholar at Home, b. [blank]
   Justice T. Timothy, son, unmarried, male, 3 [1847/8], Son of a Bedding Warehouseman, b. Cripplegate, London
   Isabella Spaul, servant, unmarried, female, 21 [1829/30], Serv[ant], b. Southwold, Suffolk

4. ↑ England. 1861 Census Schedules for England and Wales, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. (
   Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom:
   The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.)
   Class RG9; Piece 384; Folio 27; Page 9, 7 Apr 1861.

   Address: 5 York Grove, Peckham, Camberwell, Surrey
   David Timothy, head, married, male, 59 [1801/2], Retired Feather Merchant, b. St George in the East, Middlesex
   Jane Timothy, wife, married, female, 58 [1802/3], b. Bethnal Green, Middlesex
   Felix Festus Timothy, son, unmarried, male, 17 [1843/4], Clerk to a Corn Broker, b. St Giles Cripplegate
   Justus Thioplus [sic] Timothy, son, male, 13 [1847/8], Scholar, b. St Giles Cripplegate
   Martha Baker, servant, unmarried, female, Domestic Servant, b. Dover, Kent

5. ↑ Deaths index, in General Register Office. England and Wales Civil Registration. (London: General Register Office).

   d. David TIMOTHY, September Quarter 1868, Shoreditch Registration District, Volume 1c, page 73, aged 66 [1801/2]

6. ↑ London Evening Standard, in United Kingdom. The British Newspaper Archive
   Page 7, 2 Sep 1868.

   TIMOTHY. - August 31, David Timothy, Esq., of Camden-road Villas, Holloway, aged 66.

7. ↑ England. National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations),1858 onwards. (Ancestry.com).

   ON the 8th day of October 1868 the Will of David Timothy formerly of Barbican in the City of London but late of The Cottage Penn Road Holloway in the County of Middlesex Gentleman deceased, who died on the 31st day of August 1868, at No. 72 Worship Street Shoreditch in the said County was proved in the Principal Registry of Her Majesty's Court of Probate, by the Oath of Peter Vincent Timothy of No. 72 Worship Street aforesaid Surgeon the Son of the said Deceased one of the Executors named in the said Will he having been first sworn duly to administer, power being reserved of granting Probate of the said Will to Justus Theophilus Timothy the Son also one other of the Executors named in the said Will and George Barker the other Executor having renounced the Probate and Execution of the said Will.
   Effects under £5000
   
   This is the last Will and Testament of me David Timothy of the Cottage Penn Road Holloway Middlesex Gentleman I give to my sister Eliza Killwick a legacy or sum of one hundred pounds to and her her own sole and separate use and benefit independently of the debts control or engagements of her present or any future husband and the same legacy to be free of legacy duty And as to all the rest residue and remainder of my real and Personal Estate property and effects whatsoever and wheresoever I give devised and bequeath the same unto my trustees and executors herein after named upon trust to divide the same equally between and amongst my eight children (namely) David Evan Timothy William John Samuel Timothy Mary Ann Knott Barker Augustus Frederick Timothy Peter Vincent Timothy Jane Fraser Felix Festus Timothy and Justus Theophilus Timothy share and share alike as tenants in common subject nevertheless and I hereby direct that my two sons William John Samuel and Felix Festus respectively shall not be entitled to their respective shares until the expiration of seven years from the day of my decease but that in the meantime until the expiration of such period or seven years my trustees or trustee for the time being shall pay to them respectively by such weekly or other payments as they my trustees or as my trustee shall in their or his absolute discretion think desirable the yearly income and proceeds of the respective shares of them my said two sons Provided nevertheless that if they my said two sons or either of them shall attempt to anticipate or otherwise dispose of their said respective shares by sale mortgage or otherwise howsoever then I direct that the share or shares of them or of such one of them as shall make such attempt shall immediately thereupon vest in and become the absolute property of my said son Peter Vincent to and for his own use benefit and disposal And lastly I nominate and appoint my said sons Peter Vincent Timothy and Justus Theophilus Timothy and my son in law George Barker Executors and Trustees of this my will and hereby revoking all former wills and testamentary dispositions I declare this only to be my last will and testament In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this thirtieth day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty eight - David Timothy - Signed by the said David Timothy in the joint presence of us who in his presence at his request and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses - Tho[ma]s Whittington Dean Street Finsbury Square Solicitor - John Williams 74 Worship Street
   
   Proved at London 8th October 1868 by the oath of Peter Vincent Timothy the Son one of the Executors to whom Adm[inistrati]on was granted Power reserved of making the like grant to Justus Theophilus Timothy the Son also one other the Executors and George Barker the other Executor having renounced the Probate and Execution of the Will.

8. ↑ Camberwell, London, England. Nunhead Cemetery Registers (London Metropolitan Archives).

   BURIALS in the LONDON CEMETERY COMPANY'S SOUTH LONDON CEMETERY of ALL SAINTS', Nunhead, in the Parish of SAINT GILES', CAMBERWELL, in the County of SURREY, in the Year 1868
   No	Name	Abode	When buried	Age	By whom the Ceremony was performed
   23851	David Timothy	72 Worship Street St Leonards Shoreditch	Sept[embe]r 5	66 y[ea]rs	H. Morgan

9.   London, England, Freedom of the City Admission Papers, 1681-1930 (London Metropolitan Archives).

   16 day of October 1856
   I David Timothy (Son of William Timothy late of Mansion House Street) occupying premises 1 Red Cross Street in the City of London, and carrying the Feather Merchant do hereby apply to be admitted to the Freedom of the City of London, by redemption, in pursuance of the Resolution of the Court of Common Council of the 17th March, 1835, and 6th October, 1856; and I hereby declare that I am not an Alien, nor the son of Alien, and that I am above the age of Twenty-one years.
   David Timothy

10.   Morning Advertiser, in United Kingdom. The British Newspaper Archive
    Page 1, 15 Aug 1829.

    THE NOTED CHEAP BED MART.
    No. 30, Barbican, one door from Redcross-street, Wholesale and Retail.
    DAVID TIMOTHY, Importer and Purifier of Genuine Bed Feathers, duly prepared and seasoned by stoves, machinery, and manual labour, which may be see in every gradation from the raw to the finished state. - Poultry, 6d, 8d, 10d., and 1s. per lb.; prime Goose, 1s. 3d., 1s. 6d. and 1s. 9d.; superior Dantzic, 2s. 6d. and 3s.; best White Goose, 2s. and 2s. and 2s. 3d.; Bed Ticks, 3s. to 24s. filled, weighed, and sent home with purchasers; Flocks, 2d., 3d., 4d., and 6d. per lb., Flock Beds and Bolsters, 10s. to 21s.; seasoned Feather-beds, 18s. to 3l.; prime Goose, 2l. 10s. to 4l.; Dantzic, 5l. upwards, fit for immediate use; old Beds re-dressed; Mattresses of curled elastic horse-hair, wool, alva-marina, hemp, and flock, from 10s.; full-size Palliases, 10s. to 18s.; Bedsteads in great variety, Tents, 20s.; Four-post, 35s. upwards; French Elliptic, Chinese Dome-tops, Waterloo, &c., equally cheap. Furnitures, 28s. to 35s.; Four-post, 2l. 10s. upwards. Families furnishing, Merchants, Upholsterers, Brokers, and others, will find No. 30, Barbican, without exception, the cheapest ready-money Establishment in London. - No connextion with any other House.

11.   Morning Advertiser, in United Kingdom. The British Newspaper Archive
    Page 1, 12 Sep 1829.

    GREAT REDUCTION in the PRICE of BEDDING at the NOTED CHEAP BED MART.
    No. 30, Barbican, corner of Redcross-street, Wholesale and Retail.
    DAVID TIMOTHY, Importer and Purifier of Genuine Bed Feathers, duly prepared and seasoned...

12.   London Evening Standard, in United Kingdom. The British Newspaper Archive
    Page 3, 14 Dec 1837.

    EAST LONDON UNION.
    The parishes comprised in this union are - St. Botolph, Aldgate; St. Botolph, Aldersgate; St. Botolph, Bishopsgate; and St. Giles, Cripplegate. The election of guardians took place on Tuesday last, after a smart contest in all the parishes... ST. GILES, CRIPPLEGATE. - The following were elected... and Mr. David Timothy, feather-bed warehouseman.