Person:Evan Timothy (1)

Evan Timothy was born on 31st January 1804 and baptised the following year 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 Evan 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 Evan'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; Evan's father spent some time in a debtor's jail around 1812.

On 13th December 1822, aged 18, Evan married Ann Mayers at the church of St Alphage, London Wall in the City of London. No further sightings have been found of Ann, but Evan later settled down with a woman called Katherine who described herself as Evan's wife, although no marriage has been found. It therefore seems likely that Evan and Ann separated and he started a new relationship with Katherine but was unable to marry her.

In 1826, Evan was given the freedom of the City of London, allowing him to trade in the city in his own right. He worked as an upholder (upholsterer), wine importer and accountant.

Evan's father died in 1838.

In the 1841 census, Evan, Katherine and four children were living at Branch Place in Shoreditch. By the 1851 census Evan, Katherine and the children had moved to Peckham, in the parish of Camberwell, Surrey, in the southern suburbs of London. Also in 1851, Evan published a book about the banking industry and the laws relating to them.

Two of Evan and Katherine's children died in 1853: their sons Alfred and Junius.

In the late 1850s, Evan's son, Edmund (who performed under the stage name of Charles F. Edmonds), took a lease of Deptford Theatre, but was unable to secure a licence from the local magistrates to allow him to reopen it. Evan supported his son in trying to overturn their decision, but they were unsuccessful.

Evan's mother died in 1860.

Evan and Katherine have not been found in the 1861 census. Evan died in 1864, being buried at St Giles Cemetery in Camberwell on 17th November. Katherine survived him by about nineteen years.

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
   Evan, Son of the above Parents (No. 20) Church Lane. Born 31st January 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 708; Book 1; Folio 50; Page 3, 6 Jun 1841.

   Address: Branch Place, St Leonard Shoreditch, Middlesex
   Elizabeth Blundell, female, 35 [1801-6], Ind[ependent], not born in county
   Evan Timothy, male, 35 [1801-6], Importer of wine, born in county
   Katherine Timothy, female, 30 [1806-11], not born in county
   Eva Timothy, female, 13 [1827/8], born in county
   Edmond Timothy, male, 10 [1830/1], born in county
   Junius Timothy, male, 2 [1838/9], born in county

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 1581; Folio 294; Page 2, 30 Mar 1851.

   Address: 1 Shards Terrace, Peckham, Camberwell, Surrey
   Evan Timothy, head, married, male, 47 [1803/4], Upholder & Account[an]t in Bankruptcy, b. Whitechapel, Middlesex
   Katherine Timothy, wife, married, female, 44 [1806/7], b. Ashford, Kent
   Edmund Timothy, son, unmarried, male, 20 [1830/1], Theatrical Performer, b. Aldgate, London
   James Timothy, son, male, 12 [1838/9], b. Aldgate, London
   Hester Timothy, daughter, female, 9 [1841/2], b. Hoxton, Middlesex
   Alfred Timothy, son, male, 5 [1845/6], b. Camberwell, Surrey
   Katherine Timothy, daughter, female, 2 [1848/9], b. Peckham, Surrey

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

   d. Evan TIMOTHY, December Quarter 1864, Camberwell Registration District, Volume 1d, page 387, aged 60 [1803/4]

5. ↑ Camberwell Old Cemetery Registers (Southwark Borough Council / deceasedonline.com).

   Register of Burials in the Burial Ground for the Parish of St. Giles, Camberwell, in the County of Surrey, situate at Forest Hill Road, Peckham Rye, in the said Parish.
   Established under the Burials (beyond the Metropolis) Act 15 and 16 Vict., c. 85, and other Acts incorporated therewith
   No. 10082
   Name: Evan Timothy
   Age: 60
   Abode: Catherine Place, Commercial Road, Peckham
   Date of Burial: 1864 / 17th Nov[embe]r
   Ceremony performed by: Jos[eph] Bartholomew
   Place of Burial: Ground B
   Grave: 2157, Squate 18, Consecrated

   Buried in the same grave are:
   Katherine Drinkwater, bur. 3 Jan 1870 aged 13, of 1 Wellington Park, Tottenham
   Elizabeth Drinkwater, bur. 3 Jan 1870 aged 11, of 1 Wellington Park, Tottenham
   Edmond Evan Drinkwater, bur. 13 May 1870 aged 8, of 18 Hanger Lane, Tottenham
   (They all appear to be Evan's grandchildren - being the illegitimate children of his son Edmund by a woman called Elizabeth Drinkwater.)

6.   Morning Advertiser, in United Kingdom. The British Newspaper Archive
   Page 3, 19 Oct 1826.

   GUILDHALL. - Hugh Williams and Elizabeth Neill, were put to the bar on a charge of felony.
   Mr. Evan Timothy, upholsterer, Barbican, stated, that the female prisoner came to his shop and purchased a bed, the price of which was four pounds, which she desired to be sent to her residence, No. 7, New-street, and the money should be paid to the messenger. The bed was accordingly sent home, when when the female prisoner told the messenger that he must go with her to a court in St. John-street, to get the money from her husband. He accordingly with her, and when they came there she told him that her husband was not there, and he must go to his house at Battle Bridge. He then went to her husband's house, at Battle Bridge, where he was told that she had not lived with her husband for three years, that she was in the habit of playing such tricks, and that the husband would not pay for the bed not any other debt she should contract. He instantly returned to the house where he had left the bed, when he found it was gone; and on enquiry learned that it had been pledged with Mr. Adams, pawnbroker, Aldersgate-street, about a quarter of an hour after he left it for 2l. On this information, the female prisoner and the male prisoner, who was the only person he saw in the house when he left the bed, were given in custody on a charge of stealing the bed.
   The Alderman, Sir Peter Laurie, appeared to think, that as the prosecutor had voluntarily delivered the bed, the prisoners could not be charged with stealing it, but that as there could be no doubt of the bed being fraudulently obtained from Mr. Timothy, he was entitled to have it returned.
   Mr. Adams, the pawnbroker, while he admitted that if the bed had been stolen he was bound to return it, thought, that if Mr. Timothy had given credit for the bed, without sufficient knowledge of the person to whom he sold it, that he had not therefore a right to receive if from a person to whom it had been pawned by the purchaser, without paying that person the money he had advanced on it; and as this was a most important question to him, and all the persons in his profession, he wished to have an opportunity of having the matter solemnly argued by Counsel before the Magistrate would decide it.
   Sir Peter Laurie thought this request most reasonable, and remanded the prisoners till the result of the argument should decide whether they had committed an offence for which he could send them to trial.

7.   Morning Advertiser, in United Kingdom. The British Newspaper Archive
   Page 1, 29 Jan 1848.

   On view this Day. - Peckham, Surrey. - Genuine Household Furniture and Effects, the property of a Lady who is leaving England for India.
   MESSRS. POTTER and MORTEN, in conjunction with Mr. EVAN TIMOTHY, will Sell by Auction, on the Premises, 3, Camden-place, near the Rosemary Branch, on Monday, Jan. 31, and 12, the whole of the HOUSEHOLD FURNITURE and EFFECTS, comprising a set of rosewood chairs, mahogany bedsteads, chairs, sideboards, dining, loo, and card-tables, cheffoniers, excellent clean bedding, china, glass, cutlery and the usual kitchen requisites. Catalogues may be had of Mr. Timothy, 1 Shard's-terrace, Peckham; and the Offices of the Auctioneers, 44, Tooley-street, and 138, Chancery-lane.

8.   Morning Advertiser, in United Kingdom. The British Newspaper Archive
   Page 1, 5 Feb 1848.

   SHUT-UP PUBLIC-HOUSE WANTED, either in town or country, by an industrious couple, without incumbrance, possessed of a small capital; or they would be happy happy to undertake the Management of a respectable establishment in the Public line, where their services were likely to be confidentially employed. Apply by letter, to Mr. Evan Timothy, Shard's-terrace, Peckham; or Hall of Commerce, City.

9.   Morning Advertiser, in United Kingdom. The British Newspaper Archive
   Page 1, 26 Jul 1848.

   TO Retired TRADESMEN and GENTLEMEN possessed of limited Incomes. - An excellent Opportunity now offers of adding to the same by the SALE of an ARTICLE of daily consumption, upon which a liberal commission will be given; or the opportunity afforded parties of carrying on business in their own name, thereby avoiding extensive outlay, wharfage, waggons, &c., with a certain profit, dependent on their business habits and connexions - none need apply who cannot give undeniable security. Apply in the first instance by letter only, to Mr. Evan Timothy, Shard's-terrace, High-street, Peckham.

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

    Venables Mayor
    Tuesday 11 April 1826
    and in the seventh year of the reign of George the fourth of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland King &c
    This day Mrs Elizabeth Henshaw having presented unto this Court Evan Timothy to be made free of this City as one granted unto her by this Court the 21 day of March last for the purposes in the order mentioned
    It is Ordered that the said Evan Timothy be admitted unto the freedom of this City by Redemption in the Company of Patternmakers paying unto Mr Chamberlain for this City's use, the sum of forty six shillings and eight pence.
    Woodthorpe
    N.B. if this Order is not executed in three months it will be void
    
    Guildhall London
    3 May 1826
    Evan Timothy was this day admitted and sworn a free member of the Company of Patternmakers by Redemption
    [signature]
    Cl[er]k of the said Company

11.   1839 Robson's London and Birmingham Trade Directory.

    Timothy Evan, bedding manuf, 8 Aldgate st
    Timothy E, importer of foreign wines, spirits, and cigars, 25 Pudding la

12.   1860 London Royal Blue Book.

    QUALITY COURT.
    Chancery Chambers.
    Timothy, Evan - acct.

13.   "Evan_Timothy"&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjn_pX2r4roAhXPEcAKHQn_ABQQ6AEIMTAB#v=onepage&q="Evan Timothy"&f=false Google Books.

    Banks; Their Construction, Purposes, and Effects by Evan Timothy, Accountant in Bankruptcy (1851, William Fitch, London)
    Price 2s 6d.

14.   The Era, in United Kingdom. The British Newspaper Archive
    Page 15, 13 Mar 1859.

    Deptford Theatre.
    Yesterday (Saturday) an application was made for a license of the Deptford Theatre, to the Bench of Magistrates at Croom's Hill, Greenwich. Mr. Evan Timothy, on the part of his son, Mr. C. Timothy, renewed the application made some time ago. The license had been lost by a former occupier, but Mr. C. Timothy took a lease of Mr. Flather, of the Chancery bar, and had made certain improvements, and would undertake to carry on the theatre in a proper manner. Mr. Evan Timothy called the attention of the Bench to three matters worthy of their consideration; first, as to whether the house was an established theatre; secondly, as to the necessity of a theatre at Deptford; and thirdly, if a theatre was necessary, whether the high character produced by the applicant was not a sufficient gurantee that the place would be properly conducted. It was further urged that it was a cruel proceeding to punish a man because a former occupier had lost the license with whom he had never had any communication and it never could have been the intention of the Legislature to prevent a renewal under such circumstance. The magistrates consulted for nearly an hour, and then announced that the license was refused. Mr. Timothy asked the reason, and Sir Thomas Wilson, who acted as chairman, decline to give the same. The license was accordingly again refused.

    (Several attempts were made to renew the licence, all apparently unsuccessful. Evan's son wrote to The Era of 23 Oct 1859, in which he described himself as "Edmund Timothy performing under the name of Charles F. Edmonds".)