Person:Henry Meekins (3)

Henry Meekins (or Meakins) was born on 20th August 1860 at 4 Fox’s Buildings in Southwark, in the southern suburbs of London. He was the son of a hawker called Ann Meekins, formerly Walter, and her husband John Meekins, a fruit hawker and costermonger. Henry had a twin brother called John, who died in 1863 when only two years old.

The 1871 census finds Henry living with his parents, three younger sisters and an aunt at 5 Fox’s Buildings. Fox’s Buildings was a short street off Kent Street, which formed part of the Old Kent Road. To get into Fox’s Buildings you had to go through an archway beside one of the shops on Kent Street.

On 4th August 1879, aged eighteen, Henry married Margaret Litford at St Mary’s Church in Lambeth. At the time of their marriage they were both living at Apollo Buildings, a cluster of small terraced houses off Gloucester Street (later renamed Frazier Street) near Waterloo Station. It is likely that Apollo Buildings were poor-quality accommodation – by 1889 they had been demolished, with Pearman Street later being built over the site.

In February 1880, Henry’s father died.

A few months later, Henry and Margaret had a son called Harry, born in May 1880 in Lambeth.

The 1881 census finds Henry, Margaret and their baby son living at 25 Frances Street in Lambeth, a short distance south of Apollo Buildings. Frances Street was later renamed Lanfranc Street, and was off Westminster Bridge Road running parallel to Pearman Street. Henry was working as a hawker. His mother and younger siblings were still living back at Fox’s Buildings, about a mile east of Frances Street.

A couple of months after the census, in June 1881, Henry and Margaret had another son, called John (known as Jack). He was followed in 1882 by a daughter called Margaret. Whilst Henry had been baptised into the Church of England and he and Margaret had also married in an Anglican Church, all three of their children were baptised in Catholic churches, likely due to Margaret having been brought up Catholic.

Baby Margaret died when only a few months old, early in 1883. Margaret did not long outlive her daughter. She died later in 1883, when she was probably still only in her early twenties.

A few years later, Henry began a relationship with a woman called Alice Keating. On 18th June 1888 Alice gave birth to a son. He was baptised with the name Aubrey a couple of weeks later at the Catholic church of St Peter the Apostle in Woolwich, in the south-eastern suburbs of London. Aubrey later became known as Edward.

On 17th June 1889, the day before Edward’s first birthday, Henry and Alice married at St Peter’s Catholic Church in Woolwich. At the time of their marriage they were both living at Collingwood Street in Woolwich, although he gave his address as number 13, whilst she was living at number 9.

Back in Southwark, Henry’s mother died at Fox’s Buildings in December 1890.

The 1891 census shows Henry and Alice living at 4 Cannon Row in Woolwich, with ten-year-old Jack and two-year-old Edward. They only had one room in the house; 27 people lived in the house in total. Henry’s elder son Harry was being raised back in Lambeth by relatives of Margaret.

On 3rd December 1891, when Alice was about eight months pregnant with her second child, Henry left her. A week later Alice had to admit herself and her stepson Jack to the Woolwich Union Workhouse at Plumstead. Alice was only in the workhouse itself for one day before being transferred to the Infirmary next door, where she later gave birth on 29th December 1891 to a boy. She registered his birth, giving him the name William. Jack stayed in the workhouse until the following February, when Alice was able to collect him. At what point Henry returned is unknown, but it appears that he disliked the name William for his new son – the boy was baptised as James George and generally known as George.

Henry seems to have been something of an amateur sportsman. Various newspaper articles from the late 1880s to the mid-1890s mention him as taking part in barrow-pulling races and walking races in which competitors had to carry two-gallon stone bottles on their heads over several miles. He won many races and wagers, and even won a new barrow on one occasion. Reports of these competitions from 1892 note that Henry was 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighed 11 stone 6 pounds.

In February 1894 Alice had a daughter, Mary Ann. The following month, Henry’s twelve-year-old son Jack spent six days in the workhouse, having been placed there by the police and discharged to the police. He seems to have then gone to live at St Vincent’s Roman Catholic Industrial School in Dartford. Industrial schools were used by the authorities for raising children of parents who were unable to raise them themselves.

Three years later, on 23rd May 1896, Alice was back in the workhouse. Henry had deserted her again when she was about eight months pregnant – and this time with twins. Alice was transferred to the Infirmary while her children stayed in the workhouse. On 15th June 1896, Alice gave birth to twins Joseph and Catherine (known as Kate). She collected her other children from the workhouse three weeks later, on 4th July. With the new twins, the family left Woolwich and moved a few miles east to Dartford. There they lived at 35 South Street, but whilst living there the baby Joseph contracted whooping cough. He died aged two months on 15th August.

The family returned to Woolwich and developed a sort of routine of Henry deserting and the rest of the family being admitted to the workhouse whilst he was gone. He deserted them on 5th March 1897, causing the family to be admitted for 13 days. Just over a year later, Henry deserted them on 25th April 1898, causing them to be admitted for 56 days. On 23rd November 1898 (by which time Alice was expecting her sixth child), Alice and the children were admitted with no sign of Henry. They were discharged on 28th November, but readmitted the following day, staying a further 49 days until 17th January 1899.

On 6th June 1899, Alice gave birth to a daughter, Hannah.

Through the late 1880s and 1890s, there are occasional references to addresses in Woolwich outside the workhouse where the family lived when not inmates. Many of these are from the addresses Alice’s mother Honorah gave for her relatives when she was admitted to the workhouse – but on a couple of occasions she told the workhouse authorities that her daughter was “Alice Meekins, address unknown”. It is clear that Henry and Alice did not stay in any one house for very long. Their addresses were given variously as: 12 Rope Yard Rails (1888/9), 9 Collingwood Street (1889), 13 Collingwood Street (1889), 11 Rodney Street (1890), 4 Cannon Row (1891), 9 Cannon Row (1891), 51 High Street (1892), 77 High Street (1893), 24 Cannon Row (1893/4), 6 Warren Lane (1895/6), 83 High Street (1896), 77 High Street (again) (1897), and 74 High Street (1902).

These streets were all in an area of central Woolwich known as the “Dust Hole”. It was a notorious area – when the social reformer Charles Booth visited in preparing his survey into Life and Labour in London in May 1900 he described it thus: “10.15[pm] The Dust Hole – Rope Yard Rails was quiet, dark: the kitchens of the Lodging Houses as far as could be seen from outside with only a few persons in them. Not much being done in the beer house. One man asleep drunk on the pavement, most doors open. Smell of dirt, dark stains along the pavement on either side where men & women had relieved nature. Badly lighted, figures would emerge suddenly from dark corners & disappear again as mysteriously as they had come. Some old men & women of the draggled tramp life were laboriously slouching down the street towards the Canal Ward lodging house as I passed... The majority of young & old; male & female are Irish. No law runs in these streets. The priest is powerless & seldom seen. The police only come when there is a bad row & they are summoned. No man would go alone. When called he waits for at least one other. Missiles are showered on them from every window when they interfere. It is out of bounds for soldiers & the military patrol can capture & confine any soldiers found there.”

On 19th October 1899, Alice was admitted to the workhouse again, with her children Edward, George, Mary, Kate and baby Hannah. There was no sign of Henry. On this occasion, the three elder children were sent away from Woolwich. Edward and George were sent to a Catholic Home at Orpington, whilst Mary was sent to Hampstead – quite likely to the same convent that Alice had herself spent time in as a child. The arrangement was not permanent. Edward, George and Mary returned to the workhouse on 24th and 25th May 1900 and Alice was allowed to leave on 25th May with all five children. On this occasion, she had spent over seven months in the workhouse.

For the next eighteen months, the family kept clear of the workhouse, although Henry was still not always at home. The 1901 census was taken on 31st March, and Henry was in a house full of dock labourers in Woolwich High Street, whilst Alice and the children appear not to have been recorded in that census.

Alice became pregnant again – so Henry did his normal thing and abandoned her. Alice and the children were admitted to the workhouse on 7th November 1901. The authorities again sent the children away. By the end of that month, Mary and Kate had been sent to Hampstead. The following January, George was sent to Orpington, whilst on 1st January 1902, Edward was sent to HMS Exmouth – a ship retired from the Navy that was by then owned by the Metropolitan Asylum Board and used for training purposes.

Edward never returned to the Woolwich Union Workhouse. He joined the Navy on 24th February 1905. His naval records describe him as being 5’6” tall, with light brown hair, blue eyes, a fair complexion with scars on the left side of his forehead and upper lip with a tattoo of clasped hands and a heart on his left wrist. His naval record was chequered – on some ships his conduct was described as ‘very good’, but on four occasions he spent a few days in the cells and in 1909 he deserted, but was recovered after a fortnight at large. He was invalided out of the Navy in 1912, and shortly afterwards emigrated to Australia.

Henry’s two sons from his first marriage also joined the armed forces, both serving in army around the turn of the century, joining the Royal Warwickshire Regiment and being posted to Malta around 1902 and then Bermuda in 1903 together. Both Harry and Jack appear to have been keen boxers, competing in various tournaments whilst in the army. Jack left the army in 1903 to focus on his boxing, having quite a successful career over the next decade or so.

Back in Woolwich in 1901, with Edward, George, Mary and Kate having been sent away, only two-year-old Hannah was left staying with her mother at this time – and she spent most of December and a couple of weeks in March 1902 at the Infirmary next door. On 8th April, having spent the last five months of her pregnancy in the workhouse, Alice was transferred to the Infirmary, where she gave birth on 15th April 1902 to a girl, Alice. Hannah remained in the workhouse, and was joined there by her mother and new baby sister Alice on 29th May 1902 – with a note explaining Henry’s absence: “husband in prison”. A few days later, on 5th June 1902, George returned from Orpington and Mary and Kate returned from Hampstead. Alice was allowed to leave with George, Mary, Kate, Hannah and baby Alice the following day.

Six months later, they were back – and this time (for the first time) Henry joined them in the workhouse. They were admitted on 2nd December 1902. After two days, Henry discharged himself, leaving Alice and the children in the workhouse for another two weeks before they were discharged on 18th December 1902.

A month later, on 19th January 1903, Henry deserted again – Alice and the children spent two short spells in the workhouse in January and February in consequence, being discharged on 13th February. Ten days later, Henry was admitted to the infirmary, so Alice and the children went back to the workhouse for another fortnight.

That October, Henry deserted again. Alice and the children went to the workhouse, and again George was sent to Orpington, whilst Mary, Kate and Hannah were all sent to Hampstead. In February, Henry was arrested and charged with having unlawfully run away from his family leaving his wife and children being looked after at the expense of the authorities. He was sentenced to two months in jail. Only once he was released from jail in April 1904 were the children returned from Orpington and Hampstead and the family allowed to leave the workhouse. A couple of weeks later they were back, including Henry, for two days during May, then discharged.

Matters came to a head with the authorities in November 1904. Henry and Alice’s daughters Mary, Kate, Hannah and Alice were all found wandering destitute in the streets of Woolwich on 14th November 1904. They were crying and told the police constable that they were cold and had nowhere to go. They were taken into custody at 12.45pm. Just over four hours later the constable found Alice, who said that she had heard her daughters were at the police station but she was frightened to go there for fear she would be charged. Henry was found the following day and challenged as to why his children were in the street. He told the constable “I can’t help it, I’ve got no money; and it’s a job to get lodgings here with children”. He also said that Alice regularly got drunk with the money he gave her.

Henry, Alice and the four girls were all brought before the Woolwich Police Court. Alice was charged with being drunk and disorderly and neglecting the children, whilst Henry was summoned for neglecting the children. The girls were also charged with “wandering without visible means of subsistence”. The court sentenced Alice to one month’s hard labour. The four girls were taken from the family and sent to St Mary’s Roman Catholic Industrial School for Girls in Croydon, with Henry ordered to pay four shillings a week towards their maintenance.

This did not, however, change Henry and Alice’s frequent to-ing and fro-ing from the workhouse, but it did reduce the number of children affected. They had another daughter, Margaret on 12th February 1905. Just a couple of months later, Alice and baby Margaret were in the workhouse, with a note saying “Husband Henry in Prison for 10 days”. That November, Henry deserted on 7th November and so two days later Alice, George and Margaret were admitted to the workhouse. Henry reappeared and got himself admitted to the workhouse on 14th November. The whole family was discharged on 18th November.

The following year they were back again – Henry and Alice with their children George and Margaret, with a note saying “four children at school in Croydon”. They stayed on this occasion for a month, being discharged on 22nd February 1906. However, practically as they were discharged, Henry deserted – Alice was back the following day with the register recording “Husband Henry left her in Plumstead Road”. She was released on 3rd March 1906.

Just over a year later, two-year-old Margaret was admitted to the workhouse on 26 Apr 1907: “Father Henry unknown. Mother Alice 14 days for being drunk.” Alice returned from wherever she had been held on 10th May and collected her daughter.

Henry deserted again in November 1907, causing Alice and Margaret to spend 13 days in the workhouse. In December, after just nine days out of the workhouse, they were back, this time with Henry as well. On this occasion, they stayed nearly five months until 1st May 1908, when Henry, Alice and Margaret were discharged. Later that day, Alice and Margaret were readmitted for another twelve days, Henry obviously having disappeared.

In March 1908, Henry’s first known grandchild was born, being his son Jack’s daughter. Alice was also pregnant at the time, and she gave birth to their youngest child, Norah, on 7th June 1908.

Having spent at least part of each year from 1896 to 1908 in the workhouse, Alice managed to stay out of it for all of 1909 through to 1912. Henry was admitted for four days in January 1910, but with a note saying “wife Alice and two children 9 Rodney Street”.

In August 1910 Henry was fined ten shillings for shouting “fish” in Great Queen Street in Dartford, presumably in trying to sell his wares. Apparently there was a by-law against ‘hollering’ in Dartford. Henry told the magistrate he was allowed to holler in Woolwich.

In June 1909, Henry’s daughter Mary left the school in Croydon and travelled to Canada. She was one of many seemingly unrelated young people travelling together, who sailed from Liverpool to Quebec and then continued their journey by a special train to Ottawa. It would seem therefore that she was sent to Canada as part of the British Home Children movement of ‘orphans’ to Canada. Mary went to work as a servant in Ottawa. After just eighteen months there she contracted typhoid. She died in Ottawa on 25th January 1911, aged sixteen.

Back in England, the census of 2nd April 1911 found Henry, Alice, Margaret and Norah living in two rooms at 75 High Street, Woolwich. Alice reported that she had had ten children, seven of whom were still living, suggesting that there was another child who had died but whose identity has not been established.

In 1913, the family was back in the workhouse. Henry was admitted first, on 21st October, with a note saying “wife Alice, Castle Street, Swanley Junction”. Their daughters Margaret and Norah followed their father in on 22nd and 23rd October, with Alice joining her husband and daughters on 28th October. Margaret and Norah were both sent to the Catholic Home at Orpington, but were only there ten days, returning on 1st December and being discharged with their parents on 2nd December 1913. Just a week later, they were back. On that occasion Henry’s son Jack is noted as a relative on Henry’s admission notes – Jack was running a boxing club in Battersea at the time.

On 3rd January 1914, Margaret and Norah were sent to Orpington again. Henry absconded himself from the workhouse on 21st April 1914, but returned on 13th May. Henry, Alice and Margaret and Norah were discharged on 20th May – but the girls were both readmitted later that day. Alice joined them the following day. They were discharged on 26th May. By 1917 the family was living at 17 Crossfield Street in Deptford. On 26th January 1917 Alice and her daughters Margaret and Norah were admitted to the Greenwich workhouse, whilst Henry was in the adjoining infirmary. The next day, Margaret and Norah were sent to Norwood. They returned three months later, on 30th April 1917 and were discharged with Alice.

On being discharged from the workhouse they went to stay with Alice’s sister Margaret, who lived at 22 Alexandra Terrace in Swanley. Henry died there less than a month later, on 28th May 1917, of pneumonia. He was 56 years old, and Alice was present at the death. At least twelve grandchildren had been born in his lifetime, although some had died young and some he had never met, being Edward’s children in Australia. Alice survived Henry by nearly 28 years.

Henry's signature from the 1911 census return.

1. ↑ Birth certificate, in General Register Office. England and Wales Civil Registration. (London: General Register Office).

   REGISTRATION DISTRICT St George Southwark
   1860. BIRTH in the Sub-district District of Kent Road in the County of Surrey
   No.	When and where born	Name, if any	Sex	Name and surname of father	Name, surname and maiden name of mother	Occupation of father	Signature, description and residence of informant	When registered	Signature of registrar
   251	Twentieth August 1860 11H 50M P.M. 4 Foxes Buildings	Henry	Boy	John Meakins	Ann Meakins formerly Walter	Hawker of fruit	X The mark of John Meakins Father 4 Foxes Buildings Southwark	Fourteenth September 1860	F.C. Fitch Registrar

   
2. ↑ Baptisms register, in Church of England. Parish Registers of St Mary, Newington. (London: London Metropolitan Archives).

   BAPTISMS solemnized in the Parish of St Mary Newington in the County of Surrey in the Year 1860
   No.	When Baptized	Child's Christian Name	Parents' Name		Abode	Quality, Trade, or Profession	By whom the Ceremony was performed
   			Christian	Surname
   391 Born Aug[us]t 20 1860	Sept[ember] 9	Henry Twin Son of	John & Ann	Mekins	North St[reet]	Costermonger	T.C. Simpson

   Baptised same day as twin brother John. North Street ran between Rodney Street and East Street in Newington, just under a mile south of Fox’s Buildings. North Street and neighbouring South Street were later renamed Dawes Street. The area has since been extensively redeveloped.

3.   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.)
   7 Apr 1861.

   The family has not been found in the 1861 census. According to the National Archives Discovery Catalogue, census piece RG9/327 covering the Kent Road Sub-District of Southwark St George the Martyr parish is known to be missing pages 5-6 and 9-39 from the book covering enumeration district 4. The description of enumeration district 4 at the start of the book lists “Foxes Buildings and Foxes Court” among the streets that were covered. As they are not listed in the surviving pages of that book, they must have been recorded on the pages that are lost. As the family was living at Fox’s Buildings in 1860 when Henry and John were born and was still there in the 1871 census, it is therefore considered reasonably likely that they were there in 1861 but their census return is lost. The returns for North Street in Newington, where they were living at the time of Henry and John’s baptisms have been checked but they do not appear to be there either.

4. ↑ England. England and Wales. 1871 Census Schedules. (
   Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom:
   The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.)
   Class RG10; Piece 598; Folio 117; Page 37, 2 Apr 1871.

   Address: 5 Foxes Buildings, Southwark (St George), Surrey
   John Meakins, head, married, male, 33 [1837/8], General Dealer, b. Mint St[reet] Boro[ugh]
   Ann Meakins, wife, married, female, 29 [1841/2], Hawker, b. Boro[ugh]
   Henry Meakins, son, male, 10 [1860/1], Scholar, b. Kent St[reet]
   Mary A. Meakins, daughter, female, 8 [1862/3], Scholar, b. Kent St[reet]
   Hanah Meakins, daughter, female, 4 [1866/7], b. Kent St[reet]
   Ellen Meakins, daughter, female, 1 [1869/70], b. Kent St[reet]
   Matilda Walters, sister, female, 17 [1853/4], Hawker, b. Kent St[reet]

5. ↑ England. 1881 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 RG11; Piece 588; Folio 116; Page 16, 3 Apr 1881.

   Address: 25 Frances Street, Lambeth, Surrey
   Henry Meakins, head, married, male, 22 [1858/9], Hakwer, b. Lambeth
   Margaret Meakins, wife, married, female, 20 [1860/1], b. Lambeth
   Henry Meakins, son, male, 11m [1880], b. Lambeth
   David McDonald, other, widower, male, 64 [1816/7], General Labouer, b. Mary le Bone

6. ↑ England. 1891 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 RG12; Piece 532; Folio 11; Page 15, 5 Apr 1891.

   Address: 4 Cannon Row, Woolwich, London
   1 room occupied
   Henry Meekin, head, married, male, 29 [1861/2], General Dealer Shop, neither employer nor employed, b. London
   Alice Meekin, wife, married, female, 23 [1867/8], b. London
   John Meekin, son, male, 10 [1880/1], Scholar, b. London
   Edwin Meekin, son, 2 [1888/9], b. Woolwich, Kent

7. ↑ England. England. 1901 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 RG13; Piece 565; Folio 10; Page 12, 31 Mar 1901.

   Address: 81-82 High Street, Woolwich, London
   5 or more rooms occupied
   Ellen Miller, head, single, female, 19 [1881/2], Deputy (Lodging House), worker, b. Bermondsey, London
   [Then lots of lodgers, including:]
   Harry Meekins, lodger, married, male, 39 [1861/2], Dock Labourer, worker, b. Borough, London

8.   Various Boards of Guardians. Workhouse Admission and Discharge Records, 1659-1930. (London: London Metropolitan Archives).
   Summary table of information drawn from Admission, Discharge and Creed registers.
   

   Admitted	Discharged	Workhouse	Notes
   2 Dec 1902	4 Dec 1902	Woolwich Union Workhouse	Admitted with wife Alice and children George, Kate, Hannah, and Alice. Occupation - labourer. Discharged alone, wife and children remained in workhouse.
   4 May 1904	6 May 1904	Woolwich Union Workhouse	Admitted with wife Alice and children George, Mary Ann, Catherine, Hannah, and Alice. Occupation - labourer. Discharged with wife and children.
   14 Nov 1905	18 Nov 1905	Woolwich Union Workhouse	Admitted alone, but wife Alice and children George and Margaret had been in workhouse since 9 November following him leaving them on 7 November. Discharged with wife and children.
   23 Jan 1906	22 Feb 1906	Woolwich Union Workhouse	Admitted with wife Alice and children George and Margaret. Discharged with wife and children.
   11 Dec 1907	1 May 1908	Woolwich Union Workhouse	Admitted with wife Alice and daughter "Kate" (but date of birth given as Feb 1905 so presumably actually Margaret). Discharged with wife and daughter.
   21 Jan 1910	25 Jan 1910	Woolwich Union Workhouse	Admitted alone, "wife Alice and two children 9 Rodney Street". Discharged alone.
   21 Oct 1913	2 Dec 1913	Woolwich Union Workhouse	Admitted alone, "wife Alice, Castle Street, Swanley Junction". Occupation - hawker. Children Margaret and Norah admitted 23 Oct 1913, wife Alice admitted 28 Oct 1913. Margaret and Norah sent "to RC homes, Orpington" on 21 Nov 1913, returning 1 Dec 1913. Discharged with wife and daughters.
   9 Dec 1913	21 Apr 1914	Woolwich Union Workhouse	Admitted with wife Alice and daughters Margaret and Norah, "son Jack 313 Battersea Park Road". Occupation - coster. Margaret and Norah sent to RC homes, Orpington 3 Jan 1914. Absconded 21 Apr 1914 leaving wife Alice in workhouse.
   13 May 1914	20 May 1914	Woolwich Union Workhouse	Admitted after absconding - Alice already in workhouse. Margaret and Norah returned from Orpington 19 May 1914. Discharged with wife and daughters.

9. ↑ England. 1911 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 RG14; Piece 2877; Schedule 79, 2 Apr 1911.

   Address: 75 High Street, Woolwich, Kent
   Two rooms occupied
   Henry Meekins, head, male, 49 [1861/2], married, Dock Labourer - Shipowners, worker, b. Southwark (London)
   Alice Meekins, wife, female, 42 [1868/9], married 24 years, 10 children born, 7 still living, Laundry hand, working at home, own account, b. Woolwich
   Margaret Meekins, daughter, female, 6 [1904/5]
   Norah Meekins, daughter, female, 3 [1907/8]

   The census form was signed by Henry, which is noteworthy as he had marked rather than signed his name on both his marriage records. He clearly felt more confident in his writing by 1911. Alice had signed her name when they married in 1889 and she had also registered the births of some of their children. It would therefore appear to be Alice’s spelling of the name as “Meekins” which was then taken forward by their descendants and which Henry also adopted. Both Henry’s parents had been illiterate, but his birth had been registered as “Meakins” and many records of Henry’s siblings and ancestors prefer that spelling. Henry’s younger brother John and sister Hannah, who were both literate, used the spelling “Meakins”.

10. ↑ Death certificate, in General Register Office. England and Wales Civil Registration. (London: General Register Office).

    REGISTRATION DISTRICT Dartford
    1917 DEATH in the Sub-district of Farningham in the County of Kent
    No.	When and where died	Name and surname	Sex	Age	Occupation	Cause of death	Signature, description and residence of informant	When registered	Signature of registrar
    311	Twenty-eighth May 1917 22 Alexander Terrace Swanley Junction Sutton at Hone R.D.	Harry Meekins	Male	55 years [1861/2]	General Labourer	(1) Pneumonia 5 days (2) Cardiac Failure Certified by J. Dawson Crawford M.D.	Alice Meekins Widow of deceased Present at the death 22 Alexander Terrace Swanley Junction	Twenty ninth May 1917	Cha[rle]s F. Groom Registrar

    
11.   Sporting Life, in United Kingdom. The British Newspaper Archive
    Page 2, 30 Apr 1887.

    A GENTLEMAN would like to match H. Meekings, of Borough road, against H. Bass of Greenwich, to run two miles level, each to carry two-gallon stone bottle on their head, neck downwards, or he will match Meekings (with fifty yard start) to pull a barrow against Bass for a mile.

12.   Sporting Life, in United Kingdom. The British Newspaper Archive
    Page 3, 9 Feb 1889.

    H. BASS (Champion Bottle Carrier of the World), in answer to H. Meakings, of Woolwich, begs to inform him that he never considered himself champion walker of the world, but to prove that he is champion bottle carrier of the world, he will race anybody (with a two-gallon stone bottle, neck downwards on his head), either ten or twenty miles, at any time when his professional engagements will allow, for either £25 or £50 a-side, and when Meakings covers Bass’s £5 deposit at the Sporting Life Office, Bass will be pleased to meet him to draw up articles. Sporting Life stakeholder and referee.

13.   Sporting Life, in United Kingdom. The British Newspaper Archive
    Page 8, 24 Aug 1892.

    BARROW PULLING.
    HENRY MEAKINS v. JIM GOODMAN, FOR £10.
    Yesterday Henry Meakins, of Woolwich, and Jim Goodman, of Walworth, were matched to pull a wheelbarrow, with the handles only, from the Crystal Palace to H. Dewar’s, Anchor and Hope, Clandon-street, Portland-street, Walworth, on Monday, September 5. £1 a-side is deposited, and the final, of £4 a-side, must reach us by Tuesday next, August 3. After the match was ratified Dewar bet Thatcher a level £1 upon the match. The SPORTING LIFE appoints referee.

14.   Sporting Life, in United Kingdom. The British Newspaper Archive
    Page 8, 7 Sep 1892.

    BARROW PULLING RACE
    H. MEAKINS v. J. GOODMAN, FOR £10.
    This match, which arose out of the late barrow pulling race promoted by Mr. H. Dewar, and won by Meakins, was brought off successfully on Monday morning last, when Meakins again demonstrated his superiority over his opponent. The articles, which were signed on the 24th of August, stated that the men were to pull a barrow, by the handles only, from the Crystal Palace to H. Dewar’s, Anchor and Hope, Clandon-street, Walworth, the conditions being for each man to draw one hundred weight in his vehicle. There was a good deal of difference in the appearance of the competitors. H. Meakins, who belongs to Woolwich, was thirty-one years of age on the 25th of last month, stands 5ft. 6in. in height, and weighed 11st 6lb, and has proved his ability at this class of racing on several previous occasions, having won a barrow race promoted by Jack Burke some years ago, also one given by Harry Carless, and likewise the one referred to given by H. Dewar on the 15th of last month. His opponent, Jem Goodman, hails from Walworth, and although is about the same height, is above ten years younger, and a stripling in comparison, his only appearance of note previously being his second to Meakins in the latter’s last race. Seven o’clock a.m. was the time announced for the start, and within ten minutes of the appointed time the men were sent on their journey, Meakins having for his attendant H. Hoye, whilst Goodman was looked after by J. Green. Both started steadily, neither seemed anxious to make the running. Goodman, however, kept just in front of his opponent, who, whenever the former spurted, kept close to him, and in this manner the Greyhound at Dulwich was reached inside fifteen minutes from the start. In this manner they kept on scarcely five yards separating them at any part of the journey, until making the turn out of the Walworth-road for Clandon-street, when Meakins went away, and Goodman being unable to respond, soon led by twenty yards, which he further increased, and won by nearly fifty yards in 43 min. 7 sec. Mr. J.T. Hulls, appointed by the SPORTING LIFE, was starter and referee. The winner received the stakes at the SPORTING LIFE office.

15.   Sporting Life, in United Kingdom. The British Newspaper Archive
    Page 8, 21 Sep 1892.

    BARROW PULLING.
    ON Monday, October 10, Mr. Everett, of the Three Daws street, Woolwich, will give a new barrow, value £3 10s [obscured] for, open to all comers bar H. Meekings. Entrance fee, 2s. paid at the above address not later than October 3, the course from Crayford to Woolwich, the distance about six miles. Particulars at the above address.

16.   Sporting Life, in United Kingdom. The British Newspaper Archive
    Page 4, 20 Dec 1892.

    BOTTLE CARRYING.
    Yesterday George Golding, of the Borough, and H. Meakins, of Woolwich, increased their stake into £10 a-side. The £20 is now deposited with the SPORTING LIFE. The men are to carry a two gallon bottle, neck downwards, on the head, six miles, on December 27, at Old Bow Grounds, starting at 2.30p.m. Golding suggests that the winner should take the whole of the gate money, and if Meakins agrees to this proposition he will oblige by calling at the SPORTING LIFE office and signing the articles to that effect.

17.   Sporting Life, in United Kingdom. The British Newspaper Archive
    Page 8, 19 Aug 1893.

    COSTERMONGER’S BARROW RACE.
    COSTERMONGERS, MARKET PORTERS, AND OTHERS BEWARE!
    Harry Dewar (from Walworth) is now at the Three Compasses, Smart-street, Green-street, Bethnal Green, and his second annual great barrow race will take place on Monday, September 18, from Lea Bridge-road to your old friend’s house, the Three Compasses. Last year’s race having proved such a grand success, this year an additional prize will be added. First prize, a brand new costermonger’s barrow of the very best make, made by Mr. Harry Hoye, of Walworth, who had such great praise for the barrow he built for last year’s race, and won by Harry Meekins, of Woolwich); second prize, a purse of gold; third prize, a handsome Hall-marked English silver watch. The SPORTING LIFE will appoint referee and timekeeper. N.B. – The barrow is now being specially built, and will shortly be on view at Harry Dewar’s, the Three Compasses. Barrow builders and intending competitors are especially invited to inspect and report their opinion of same. For route and all further particulars apply on the premises. Open to all comers “bar” Meekins, winner of last year’s race.

18.   Sporting Life, in United Kingdom. The British Newspaper Archive
    Page 8, 22 Nov 1893.

    HEARING that a gentleman is willing to match A. Flaunty, of Plumstead, to run any man in Woolwich or Plumstead ten miles, H. Meakins will be pleased to run him when and where he likes, for not less than £10 a-side. SPORTING LIFE to appoint timekeeper, stakeholder, and referee. To meet at the SPORTING LIFE any day appointed by Flaunty. An answer through the SPORTING LIFE will oblige.

19.   Sporting Life, in United Kingdom. The British Newspaper Archive
    Page 1, 1 Feb 1894.

    H. MEAKINS is willing to make a match to run Beale with a barrow ten miles, on a track, for £10 a-side. Meakins will meet Beale at the SPORTING LIFE Office, Friday, at twelve noon, prepared to sign articles.
    GEORGE BEALE, of Woolwich, will bull a barrow, with 1cwt. in it, against H. Meakins, of Woolwich, three miles or upwards, on a track to be agreed upon. The contest to be for £5 a-side. Or Beale will also run Meakins ten miles without the barrow, for a similar amount. £2 is deposited with the SPORTING LIFE to make a match for the two races to be decided within six weeks time.

20.   Sporting Life, in United Kingdom. The British Newspaper Archive
    Page 3, 31 Jul 1894.

    WALKING MATCH FOR £10.
    H. MEAKINS DEFEATED C. EVERETT.
    One of the old time-honoured matches, where the company assemble for sport’s sake and not pecuniary reward, took place yesterday afternoon at the Invicta Grounds, Plumstead. Ladies assisted to materially enliven the proceedings, and did not allow a single minute to pass without a little “chip” just to vary the monotony. Both the men hail from Woolwich, Meakins being much older than his opponent. His last performance was running Arthur Flaunty, who beat him. As a walker, however, Meakins is a very fair specimen – so fair, indeed, that to watch him negotiate lap after lap becomes a pleasure, and an example to the younger generation. As a matter of fat if all walkers were such as Meakins there would be no disqualifications. Evertt is also fair, but lacks both speed and style, for which he in a measure substitutes gameness. Thirty-three laps and 220 yards had to be traversed to complete the eight miles, and shortly before seven o’clock the men were despatched on their journey. The ground had been nicely swept and rolled, and a better evening for the business could not possibly have been manufactured. Meakins won the toss for the inside position, and on receiving the word “Go!” Everett did not trouble himself, but permitted Meakins to lead, and then quietly took up the rear. Both started with a very fair gait, and at the close of a lap Meakins led by three yards. There was a little wind, but very trifling, and the evening in every respect favourable. One caution was allowed. Everett made a spurt in the second circuit, but Meakins answered it and obtained his original advantage. Meakins now took Everett along at a rare pace, and the latter had to struggle hard to keep near the leader, who style was more engaging to the eye. In the seventh circuit Meakins was ten yards to the good, and against Everett 3 to 1 was offered. The more they walked the less chance Everett had, and at the conclusion of the next lap Meakins was thirty yards ahead. Another round and Meakins put 100 yards between himself and opponent, who still persevered. “The old firm for good-’uns” was shouted by the leader’s friends, and the ladies joined heartily in the plaudits of the crowd. The race was not to all intents and purposes over, and one lady cried, “go on Harry, show ‘em your muscles.” At the expiration of half an hour Meakins was 250 yards in front. Half-way Everett was toiling a considerable distance in the rear and Meakins going on his way rejoicing, and well within his ordinary speed. Little more is necessary to complete our version of the race. Everett plodded on pluckily enough in the face of certain defeat, and finally Meakins won easily. J. Ferdinand and Denny Rushbrook attended on Meakins, and R. Hogg administered to the wants of Everett.
    Mr. R. Watson was refereed, and took the following times with a chronometer by Kendal and Dent, of Cheapside:-
    Meakins… 1H. 15M. 47¾S.
    Everett… 1H. 17M. 27½S.
    The winner can receive the stakes by applying at our office.
    The best of good feeling was manifested during and after the race, both men being loudly applauded at the close of hostilities. If walking matches were as fairly and amicably conducted as the one under notice the sport would be far more popular.
    H. MEAKINS v. R. HOGG.
    After the match yesterday decided between Meakins and Everett, at the Invicta Grounds, Plumstead, the friends of Meakins offered to back him against R. Hogg. The last-named, however, said he could not give an answer until he had consulted his backers. There is, however, good prospect of a match being ratified in the near future.

21.   Woolwich Gazette, in United Kingdom. The British Newspaper Archive
    Page 5, 14 Oct 1898.

    Local and District News.
    Attempted Rescue from Custody. – George Beal, 35, and Henry Meekins, 37, of 76 and 77, High-street, Woolwich, was charged at Woolwich, with disorderly conduct in Timbercroft-lane, Plumstead. – Meekins was charged with rescuing Beal from the custody of P.-c. Hanbrook, 260R, who said that Beal was forcibly ejected from the “Who’d a Thought It” beer house, and became violent. Meekins came up and tried to rescue Beal, P.-c. 306R coming to his assistance. – Mr. Fordham fined Beal 2s. 6d. or 3 days, and remanded Meekins for a week on his own recognizances in £10.

22.   Woolwich Gazette, in United Kingdom. The British Newspaper Archive
    Page 2, 12 Feb 1904.

    AN ABSCONDING PARENT.
    Henry Meekins, 42, labourer, was charged on Monday on a warrant with unlawfully running away and leaving his wife and 5 children chargeable to the Common Fund of the Woolwich Union. – Mr. A.J. Godfrey, relieving officer, prosecuted, and said prisoner’s family had been chargeable since Oct. 9, and were still in the Workhouse. – Warrant-officer Williams said prisoner had been travelling the country and he arrested him that morning at a common lodging house. – Two months.

23.   Woolwich Gazette, in United Kingdom. The British Newspaper Archive
    Page 2, 18 Nov 1904.

    In the Police Courts
    WOOLWICH
    May Meekins, age 10, and her three sisters, Katie, Hannah and Alice, aged respectively 8, 4 and 2, all homeless, were charged with being found wandering without proper guardianship at Woolwich. – Mr. Miller, Rescue Officer, said the case was a bad one, and the society were contemplating a prosecution. He asked for a remand, which was granted.

24.   Woolwich Gazette, in United Kingdom. The British Newspaper Archive
    Page 2, 25 Nov 1904.

    In the Police Courts
    WOOLWICH
    A DESTITUTE FAMILY.
    Mary Meekins, 10, Kate, 8, Hannah, 4, and Alice, 2, were charged with wandering without visible means of subsistence, and Alice Meekins, the mother, was charged with being drunk and disorderly and neglecting the children. Henry Meekins, of 4, Warren Lane, was summoned for neglecting the children. All the cases were taken together. – P.C. 283R said at 12.45 on the 14th he saw the four children crying in Powis street. They were cold and said they had nowhere to go. He took the children to the station where they were charged with wandering. About 5 p.m. the same day he saw the mother and asked her if she knew where her children were, and she said she had heard they were at the police station. He asked her why she had left them outside a public house in High street, Woolwich, and she said she did not leave them there, but had sent them to a woman in Powis street, and she supposed they had been turned out. Prisoner said she was frightened to go to the police station after the children, for fear she would be charged. Prisoner also said her husband was out of work; that they had no money, and that the husband was in a lodging house and did not care about his family. Prisoner also said her husband had fetched her up from the country and had then left her as he had done before. Witness saw the father on the 15th, and asked him why his children were in the street. He said, “I can’t help it, I’ve got no money; and it’s a job to get lodgings here with children.” He alleged that his wife got drunk with the money he gave her. – P.C. 26RR said on the night of the 13th he locked the prisoners up for being drunk. – Mr. Bristow, an inspector of the N.S.P.C.C., said he examined the children on the 15th. They were well nourished, but their clothing and boots were dirty, ragged and worn. Defendant told him that he had not had a home for seven years, and that his wife sold up the other and spent the money in drink. Prisoner told him that he earned on the average 25s. a week, and that he had sent his wife £3 during the last two months. Defendant’s employer said he was a good worker and a sober man. – Mr. Mark Bristow, relieving officer, said he had known prisoner’s family for seven years. The woman had been constantly in and out of the workhouse. – Mrs. Meeking denied that she sold the home up or drank the money. – Mr. Baggallay sentenced the woman to a month’s hard labour and discharged the man. – The children were sent to St. Mary’s School, Croydon, the man to pay 4s. a week towards their maintenance.

25.   Woolwich Gazette, in United Kingdom. The British Newspaper Archive
    Page 6, 9 Aug 1910.

    WHERE “HOLLERING” IS ALLOWED.
    Woolwich Hawker Fined at Dartford.
    For shouting “fish” in Great Queen Street, Dartford, Henry Meakins, of High Street, Woolwich, was at Dartford on Friday fined 10s. inclusive.
    Defendant pleaded he was unaware of the bye-law, and said that where he came from he was allowed to “holler.”
    Colonel Kidd: Where is that?
    Defendant: Woolwich.