Person:Solomon East (1)

Solomon East was baptised on 8th January 1843 at Caddington in Bedfordshire, son of Ann East, formerly Bonnick, and her husband John East, a farm labourer. The family lived at Piper's Bottom, in the part of Caddington parish which at that time was in Hertfordshire. Solomon appears in the 1851 census living with his parents and siblings in the Hertfordshire part of Caddington.

By 1861 Solomon was working as a horse keeper at Chaul End Farm in Caddington.

On 3rd December 1865, aged 22, Solomon married Ann King at Caddington. She already had a four year old daughter, to whom Solomon became stepfather.

Solomon and Ann went on after their marriage to have another nine children between 1866 and 1884, although five of them died young. The 1871 census finds Solomon, Ann and their children living at Aley Green in the Hertfordshire part of Caddington, with Solomon working as a labourer and Ann as a sewer.

Some time between 1871 and 1881 the family left Caddington and moved to the nearby town of Luton. The 1881 census finds them living at 99 New Town Street, with Solomon working as a brick carter. By 1891 they had moved to 8 Spring Place, and Solomon was working as a storekeeper's labourer. They also had a servant living with them at the time.

In the 1901 census Solomon and Ann were living with their daughter Florence and her husband and children at 36 Hastings Street. Solomon was described as a builder's carter.

On 7th January 1910, Solomon was involved in a serious accident at work, after the horse he was driving in a cart was frightened by a traction engine and bolted. Solomon was dragged a considerable distance before being thrown over some railings. He received multiple injuries, in particular losing his left eye and breaking his nose. He also lost his memory and the power of his arms, and started to go blind in his remaining right eye. His employers, George Powdrill and Sons, admitted liability, but it seems it took over two years after the accident for the level of compensation and method of payment to be determined, with the case eventually having to be resolved in court in 1912. Solomon was given an allowance of eight shillings and six pence a week, representing half his ordinary pay from before the accident.

The 1911 census finds Solomon and Ann living with their daughter Emma and her husband and children at 140 Farley Hill in Luton.

Ann died on Christmas Day 1913, aged 70. Solomon survived her by six months, dying on 28th June 1914 at 110 Langley Street in Luton, aged 71.

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

   b. Solomon EAST, March Quarter 1843, Luton Registration District, Volume 6, page 103, mother's maiden name Bonnick

2. ↑ Baptisms register, in Church of England. Caddington Parish Registers. (Bedford: Bedfordshire Record Office).

   BAPTISMS solemnized in the Parish of Caddington in the County of Bedford in the Year 1843
   No.	When Baptized	Child's Christian Name	Parent's Name		Abode	Quality, Trade, or Profession	By whom the Ceremony was performed
   			Christian	Surname
   1586	Jan[uar]y 8	Solomon son of	John & Ann	East	Piper's Bottom	Laborer	W. Mellard, Vicar

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 1757; Folio 342; Page 11, 30 Mar 1851.

   Address: Caddington, Hertfordshire
   John East, head, married, male, 44 [1806/7], Farm Labourer, b. Woodside, Bedfordshire
   Ann East, wife, married, female, 43 [1807/8], b. Caddington, Hertfordshire
   John East, son, unmarried, male, 16 [1834/5], Farm Labourer, b. Caddington, Hertfordshire
   Solomon East, son, unmarried, male, 8 [1842/3], Scholar, b. Caddington, Hertfordshire
   Arthur East, son, male, 5 [1845/6], Scholar, b. Caddington, Hertfordshire
   Maryann East, daughter, female, 2 [1848/9], Infant, b. Caddington, Hertfordshire

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 1015; Folio 58; Page 7, 7 Apr 1861.

   Address: Chaulend Farm, Caddington, Bedfordshire
   Mary Bradshaw, sister, unmarried, female, 44 [1816/17], Farmer, b. Caddington, Bedfordshire
   Solomon East, servant, unmarried, male, 12 [sic] [1848/9], Horse Keeper, b. Caddington, Bedfordshire
   Edward Hasker, servant, male, 13 [1847/8], Odd Boy, b. Caddington, Bedfordshire

5. ↑ 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 1568; Folio 27; Page 14, 2 Apr 1871.

   Address: Aley Green, Caddington, Hertfordshire
   Solomon East, head, married, male, 27 [1843/4], Lab[ourer], b. Caddington, Hertfordshire
   Ann East, wife, married, female, 28 [1842/3], Sewer, b. Caddington, Hertfordshire
   Latusia East, daughter, female, 10 [1860/1], Sewer, b. Caddington, Hertfordshire
   Emma East, daughter, female, 4 [1866/7], b. Caddington, Hertfordshire
   Gertrude East, daughter, female, 7m [1870], b. Caddington, Hertfordshire

6. ↑ 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 1651; Folio 99; Page 10, 3 Apr 1881.

   Address: 99 New Town Street, Luton, Bedfordshire
   Solomon East, head, married, male, 36 [1844/5], Brick carter, b. Aley Green, Bedfordshire
   Ann East, wife, married, female, 36 [1844/5], b. Aley Green, Bedfordshire
   Letitia East, daughter, unmarried, female, 19 [1861/2], Straw hat sewer, b. Aley Green, Bedfordshire
   Gertrude East, daughter, female, 10 [1870/1], Scholar, b. Aley Green, Bedfordshire
   Florence East, daughter, female, 9 [1871/2], Scholar, b. Aley Green, Bedfordshire
   Emily East, daughter, unmarried, female, 16 [1864/5], Straw hat sewer, b. Aley Green, Bedfordshire
   Kate East, daughter, female, 1 [1879/80], b. Aley Green, Bedfordshire

7. ↑ 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 1274; Folio 64; Page 2, 5 Apr 1891.

   Address: 8 Spring Place, Luton, Bedfordshire
   4 rooms occupied
   Solomon East, head, married, male, 50 [1840/1], Storekeepers labourer, b. Aley Green, Hertfordshire
   Ann East, wife, married, female, 50 [1840/1], b. Aley Green, Hertfordshire
   Girtie East, daughter, single, female, 21 [1869/70], Straw hat machinist, b. Aley Green, Hertfordshire
   Florence East, daughter, single, female, 19 [1871/2], Straw hat machinist, b. Aley Green, Hertfordshire
   Katie East, daughter, single, female, 12 [1878/9], Scholar, b. Aley Green, Hertfordshire
   Maud B. East, granddaughter, female, 3m [1890/1], b. Luton, Bedfordshire
   William Marsh, lodger, male, 19 [1871/2], Sugar boiler, b. London
   Lizzie Fensome, servant, female, 19 [1871/2], General servant, b. Bedfordshire

8. ↑ 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 1514; Folio 55; Page 14, 31 Mar 1901.

   Address: 36 Hastings Street, Luton, Bedfordshire
   4 rooms occupied
   William Marsh, head, married, male, 28 [1872/3], Straw bleacher & dyer’s labourer, b. Hoxton, London
   Florence Marsh, wife, married, female, 28 [1872/3], Straw hat machinist, b. Aley Green, Hertfordshire
   William Marsh, son, single, male, 5 [1895/6], b. Luton, Bedfordshire
   Katie Marsh, daughter, female, 3 [1897/8], b. Luton, Bedfordshire
   Nellie Marsh, daughter, female, 1 [1899/1900], b. Luton, Bedfordshire
   Solomon East, father-in-law, married, male, 58 [1842/3], Builder’s carter, b. Aley Green, Hertfordshire
   Ann East, mother-in-law, married, female, 61 [1839/40], Domestic, b. Aley Green, Hertfordshire

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 9013; Schedule 599, 2 Apr 1911.

   Address: 140 Farley Hill, Luton, Bedfordshire
   6 rooms occupied
   John Ford, head, married, male, 45 [1865/6], married 23 years, 10 children born alive, 6 children still living, Labourer - Bleacher Dyer, worker, b. Luton, Bedfordshire
   Emma Ford, wife, female, 46 [1864/5], married, Straw hatter Machinist, worker, b. Aley Green, Bedfordshire
   Lizzie Ford, daughter, female, 21 [1889/90], single, Straw hatter Machinist, worker, b. Luton, Bedfordshire
   Jane Ford, daughter, single, female, 17 [1893/4], single, Foundry - Gas Stoves, worker, b. Luton, Bedfordshire
   Albert Ford, son, male, 15 [1895/6], single, Foundry - Gas Stoves, worker, b. Luton, Bedfordshire
   Harry Ford, son, male, 11 [1899/1900], b. Luton, Bedfordshire
   Solomon East, father in law, male, 69 [1841/2], married 47 years, Labourer - Contractor, worker, b. Aley Green, Bedfordshire
   Ann East, mother in law, female, 69 [1841/2], married, b. Aley Green, Bedfordshire

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

    d. Solomon EAST, June Quarter 1914, Luton Registration District, Volume 3b, page 463, aged 72 [1841/2]

11. ↑ Luton Times and Advertiser, in United Kingdom. The British Newspaper Archive
    Page 8, 3 Jul 1914.

    DEATHS.
    June 28th, at 110, Langley-street, Luton, Solomon East, aged 71 years.

12.   Luton Times and Advertiser, in United Kingdom. The British Newspaper Archive
    Page 5, 5 Jan 1912.

    AN AGREEMENT QUESTION.
    EAST v. POWDRILL. - The applicant was Solomon East, a carter, of 140, Chapel-street, and the respondents Geo. Powdrill and Son, Ltd., contractors,of Luton.
    Mr. Lort Williams (instructed by Mr. W. Bloomer) was for applicant, and Mr. Tebbs (instructed by Messrs. Lempriere, Hunter, and Dunstan) for respondents.
    Mr. Williams said that the case had been before the Court on a previous occasion, when His Honour was asked to record an agreement between the parties, but he refused to do so. East was a carter in the employ of Powdrill's, and on Jan. 7th. 1910, he was very seriously injured through a horse he was driving running away, through being frightened by a traction engine. East received serious injuries, and he was permanently incapacitated. The most serious injury was that his left eye had to be removed, and now the right eye was going blind.
    Mr. Tebbs: I do not dispute that.
    The Judge: Then what is the dispute?
    Mr. Williams went on that he required an award because the employer attempted to make an agreement on June 20th, 1911, and induced the man to sign by putting his cross, and he then have him quite improperly £50. Then the agreement went to His Honour for approval, but he did not approve it, and therefore the position was that there was no agreement of any king, and he made a request for arbitration. The other side admitted that 8s. 6d. was the proper amount - being half East's weekly wages - and had submitted the award on that sum, but they said that they had paid East £75 1s. 6d. - that was £25 1s. 6d. in weekly payments since January 1910, and £50 in a lump sum; and they asked his Honour to limit it by saying that the 8s. 6d. per week should not begin till May 24th, 1913. He (Mr. Williams) submitted that that could not be done, and he asked for an award of 8s. 6d. a week from June 13th, 1911, up to the present time and onwards.
    Mr. Tebbs pointed out that Mr. Williams' date up to which the amount was paid was wrong; the date up to which the amount was paid was March 2nd, 1911, not June 13th.
    Mr. William said he would, therefore, claim the award from March 2nd onwards in weekly payments of 8s. 6d., and if the other side liked to sue East for the £50 there was nothing to prevent them doing so.
    M. Tebbs argued at some considerable length a number of technical details, saying that he consented to an award of 8s. 6d. a week from May 24th, 1913, and pointing out that the lump sum of £50 covered the period up to that time.
    His Honour found in favour of the respondents, and the question of costs was deferred.

13.   Luton Reporter, in United Kingdom. The British Newspaper Archive
    Page 2, 8 Jan 1912.

    Interesting Point Involved in a Luton Case.
    Result of an Agreement that was not Sanctioned.
    There was an interesting point involved in a workman's compensation arbitration which came before his Honour Judge Wheeler, K.C., at the Luton County Court on Thursday. The parties were Solomon East, a carter, of 140, Chapel-street, and Messrs. Geo. Powdrill and Sons, Ltd., contractors, of Hitchin-road, and Mr. Lort Williams, who was instructed by Mr. W. Bloomer for the applicant, explained that the case had been before his Honour on a previous occasion, when an application was made by the employers for the recording of a certain agreement which his honour refused to acquiesce in because of the inadequacy of the sum provided for in the documents. The application now came before the Court in the ordinary way for an award under the Act.
    East was a carter in the employ of Messrs Powdrill and and Son, and on January 7th, 1910, was very seriously injured through the horse he was driving in a cart being frightened by a traction engine and running away. He was carried a considerable distance, and then thrown over some railings, and received such serious injuries that he was permanently incapacitated. East is 67 years of age, and his scalp and forehead were cut, his nose broken, and his wrist cut, but counsel said the most serious injury was that the left eye had to be removed and the right eye was now going blind, while the man had lost his memory and the power of his arms.

    [Article continues at length on the level of compensation awarded and method of payment, as also reported in the Luton Times and Advertiser article above.]