The King Family of Redhill

In October 2001 Helen Cameron of Melbourne, Australia, emailed requesting information about her gggrandfather Inspector James King of Redhill. The only information that subsequently came available was that Ex-Inspector James King died in January 1929 aged 88. He joined the police on 1st February 1866 and became PC4. After one year he resigned but was offered 1st class pay to stay. It seems he refused but when in February of 1868 he was invited by the head Constable to rejoin he did, and got his old number back. He was promoted to Acting Sgt on September 1st 1874, to Sgt the following year, and to Inspector in 1893. When he retired in November 1898 a testimonial fund promoted by the Surrey Mirror realised £71.2.6, which was presented to him along with an inscribed testimonial. There was also a picture of James King, which appears here, along with a list of the members of the family who attended his funeral, taken from the report of his death.  These were: Mr Harry King, eldest son, was in Australia; Mr and Mrs G.King (son and daughter-in-law); Mr and Mrs Frank King (son and daughter-in-law); Mr and Mrs Sydney King (son and daughter-in-law); Mr and Mrs Wally King (son and daughter-in-law); Mr and Mrs Arthur Pearson (daughter and son-in-law) (Flowers from Elsie and Arthur); Miss Elsie King (granddaughter); Mr James King (grandson); Mr Cyril King (grandson); Mr Geoffrey King (grandson); Mrs Jack King (niece); Grace (niece); Floss (niece).

In July 2009 there was another email from Gaylene Dowling (King) who was also researching her gggrandfather, James King.

Then in December 2009 Helen Cameron emailed again, this time sending the photo below of some of Inspector King's children that had come into her possession:

Inspector James King had 7 sons and 1 daughter and this photo would seem to have been taken around the time of WW1. There are only six sons in the photo plus the daughter. Those who identified at the time were Harry, who is in civvies at the back, Frank Herbert front left, Ethel front centre and George front right. (Photo courtesy Helen King)

Further information: - My son Neil has weighed in with some army info. (Neil is the Uwins Family military historian). I can confirm that George King was at the Army Remount Depot at Redhill and later served in France. He is recorded as Army Service Corps (which I believe included the Remounts).

The Children of James King and Susan [nee Merritt]

[1] Harry James King.

Harry J. was born in Chipstead in 1868.

His birth was registered in the Reigate District between April-June.

He was Christened in Chipstead Parish Church on 24 May 1868, with his names recorded as Henry James King, however his official registration was as Harry and he continued to be known by that name for the rest of his life.

He was the only child to be born in Chipstead and it was not long before his family moved to Linkfield Street in Redhill, when his father took up his career with Reigate Borough Police for the second time. Harry can be found on the 1871 census at Linkfield Street and on the 1881 return, in Cromwell Road with his parents and siblings.

In 1891, aged 23 but not married he was in Hutton, Essex where he was a lodger in Church Lane. He was employed as a gardener. However he was married less than a year later, to Annie Middleton from Hutton. Their marriage is recorded in the Billericay District, between January and March 1892.

Two children were born in Hutton: Wilfrid Walter J. King (1893) and Dorothy Ethel king (1895). By 1899, Harry J. and Annie had moved back to Redhill, where another daughter, Edith Annie King was born towards the end of that year.

The 1901 census placed Harry (enumerated as Henry J. King) and his family in St. John’s Road, Redhill and he was still employed as a gardener.

Ten years later, Harry and Annie’s family had increased to 6 children, the last three having been born in Reigate. In 1911, Harry James King was the gardener at Brokes (technically number 95 Reigate Lodge, Reigate Hill). The King family were quartered at The Stables. The eldest was employed as a gardener and son Wilfrid their daughter, Dorothy as a domestic servant. They were presumably in the service of Mrs. Woolley (widow) and her daughter who lived in Brokes Lodge together with a further 7 female servants.

The three additional children of Harry and Annie were Gilbert George (1903), Florence Susan (1905) and Frederick Robert J. (1908). There were no further children, as far as I can determine.

Without knowledge of where Harry James King lived after 1911, it is almost impossible to determine when and where he died. Close family knowledge is the usual route to finding the answer to that question however.

A Family Tree published through Ancestry. Com on the Internet shows that the youngest child, Frederick Robert Joseph King emigrated to Australia. He sailed in April 1922 on the “Moreton Bay” from Tilbury and arrived in Melbourne on May 22 1922. He married Nina May Shingles, but there were no children. He lived in Victoria, where he died in 1992. This Tree also volunteers the information that Harry’s daughter Dorothy Ethel King married Frederick J. Pocock in Reigate in 1919 (Oct-Dec). The tree is registered under the name Shingles (Australian), so I guess their only knowledge, would be of Harry King’s children, taken from Internet sources. Their interest is really the Shingles family and it is touched by the King family only through this one marriage.

In an ambiguous report, Harry King is said to have been in Australia at the time of his father’s death in January 1929. Who was the eldest son in this reference? Harry or his son? (From Surrey Mirror account of James King’s funeral).

 [2] Frederick King.

Frederick King was born in Redhill, quite possibly in Linkfield Street. His birth is recorded in July-September 1869, in the Reigate Registration District.

He was christened on September 19^th 1869 at St. Matthew’s Church, Redhill.

He was listed on the census returns of 1871 in Linkfield Street and 1881 in Cromwell Road with his parents and siblings. In 1891, his whereabouts are less positive. The most likely record on the census is at 12, Creswell Road, South Norwood where Frederick King aged 21, born in Redhill was a lodger. He was employed as an upholsterer. In the neighbouring house another lodger, born in Reigate was 18 year old Arthur Vigar – he was an upholsterer’s assistant. Possibly a coincidence, but maybe they were working together on a job. It might also be a coincidence that neighbours of the King family in Redhill, Albert Wakeman and his wife were upholsterers! None of this constitutes proof that the Frederick King recorded here was the son of James and Susan King.

The census of 1901 was no more positive than the previous document, but it provides the most likely record of the Frederick King in question.

During 1899, this Frederick King was married to Alice Sophia Watson in Fulham. (July Sept. Fulham Registration District).

They had two children recorded in the Census, on March 31^st 1901: James Donald King, born 190% in Fulham and Alice Sophia King born in February 1901, also in Fulham. The family lived at 102, St. Dunstan’s Road, Fulham and Frederick worked as a general labourer. He was 31 years old and born in Redhill. To have named the first child James is a point in favour.

Another son, who was probably named Thomas Henry King was born in 1903 (April-June, Fulham District). This is not proven, as two other boys were born in the same district in1904 and also named Thomas King, but I consider Thomas Henry to be the more likely son of Frederick and Annie.

Frederick King died in the Fulham District in 1903. Listed in the October-December volume, his age was given as 34 (entirely consistent with an August / September birth in 1869).

His wife, not unusually considering her circumstances, remarried about one year later. Her second husband was Thomas Cliff, a carrier’s carman who was born in Shropshire. They also lived in St. Dunstan’s Road, Fulham, but at number 58. On the 1911 census, the King children were listed as stepchildren and rather unhelpfully named as Donald (11), Daisy (10) and Thomas (8). Annie Sophia and Thomas Cliff also had two children from their marriage.

The only safe way to confirm or deny the man in Fulham as being Frederick, son of James and Susan is from a certified copy of the certificate of marriage between Frederick King and Annie Sophia Watson in 1899. That would show the name and occupation of the groom’s father.

A death certificate would only confirm his wife’s name and his own age and place of death. All other relationships claimed are confirmed in the appropriate census returns.

[3] George King

His birth was registered in Reigate District between July-September 1871. He was almost certainly born at 71, Cromwell Road, Redhill.

He was christened at St. Matthew’s Church, Redhill on September 17^th. 1871

George is listed on the 1881 census, with his parents at Cromwell Road. Nothing had changed in 1891 except that now he was 19 years old and employed as a groom.

In 190% he was married to Nellie Elizabeth Knott in Reigate Registration District, between April and June. Nellie was aged 21 and came from Hampshire. A son named Jack James King was born in Reigate, later the same year. (Registered Oct-Nov 190%).

They were living as “boarders” with a Kathleen Reason, at 3, Nutley Lane, Reigate when the census was taken on March 31, 1901. George was “hidden from obvious view” because a transcriber decided he was ‘Georger’. He was also described as a grocer and this too may be a transcription error for ‘groom’.

In 1911, George, Nellie and son Jack James King were still in Reigate at 25, Nutley Lane. George, who completed the census form, stated that he was a cellar-man in a brewery. It was also recorded that they had been married 10 years and had had two children, but only one was still living.

George King was possibly the second of James and Susan’s sons to serve in the First World War. His military records, although tattered are amongst the 40% of records which survived the London Blitz in WW2.

He volunteered on May 22, 1915 at Redhill on a “short Service” engagement. This meant he would serve for the duration of the war; at the end of which he would be discharged with all convenient speed.

His address was given as 25, Nutley Lane, Reigate: his occupation was ‘Groom’; he was married and aged 43.

George was enlisted by a sergeant of the Army Service Corps, for General Service” in the Remounts Service of the ASC. He took the oath on the following day and was confirmed by an officer of the 51^st Remount Squadron as 108625 Private George King and immediately posted as an acting Lance Corporal to the same Remount Squadron. It would seem this squadron were anxious for recruits.

The Remount Squadron based in Redhill and operated in the old Market Place, where horses were assembled, trained if necessary and sent on by rail to the south coast embarkation ports for France.

George was described on his medical report as being 5ft 7 inches tall and his chest measured 35 inches, fully expanded. He had previously been vaccinated as an infant and his eyesight was 6/6. There is an illegible remark concerning a previous illness. He was fit for the army and it was not until he was due for demobilisation 4 years later that his grade was revealed as B II.

His next of kin was stated as Nellie Elizabeth King at 25 Nutley Lane and just one child, Jack James King was noted.

His movements after his enlistment are sketchy, but it seems most likely that he stayed with the 51^st Remounts Squadron at Redhill, until he was posted on 5/9/1916 to the Remount Depot at Romsey in Hants. He was promoted to Acting Corporal on April 10, 1917 and on 19/5/1917 he was “advanced to the 6^th rate of Corps pay (8d per day extra). (I believe this was an award for proficiency in an army trade).

In October 1917 he was posted to France and embarked at Southampton on the 22^nd and disembarked at Le Havre on the same day. He was attached to No 2 Base Remounts Depot. Unfortunately its location is not stated. He was granted leave from 26/10/1918 until 9/11/1918, but it is not clear whether it was at home, or in France (I think the latter). In either case he was back with his unit, just in time for The Armistice.

George could now expect to be discharged “with all convenient speed”, but on February 2^nd 1919 he was posted to the 3rd Base Remounts Depot – still somewhere in France.

In April 1919 he was in Dieppe, where on the 15^th. he was medically examined. It was determined that he had no disabilities attributable to his army service and now he was on his way! He was demobilised at the Crystal Palace Centre on 20^th April 1919 and 108625 Corporal George King was placed on the army “Z” reserve list. (This effectively ended his commitments to the Army and ‘Z’ reservists were never recalled).

His service in France entitled him to receive the British War and Victory medals.

The photograph of James King’s family, published in the Surrey Mirror April 29^th 2010 is not clear, but the man named as George King was a corporal and his cap badge has been confirmed to be that of the Army Remount Service.

Information from specific public documents will end with his military record, unless a search for his death is conducted. George King is listed in Street Directories as living at 25 Nutley Lane, Reigate at least until 1944. It is possible that he died in 1945, registered between January and March in the Surrey South Eastern District, at the given age of 73.

[4] Ernest Edward King

Ernest Edward’s birth was registered between January and April 1873 in Reigate District and he was born in Cromwell Road, Redhill

He was christened at St. Matthew’s Church, Station Road, Redhill on April 27, 1873.

On the 1881 census at 71, Cromwell Road he was recorded as Edward E. but I suspect this was an error by the enumerator. He was always thereafter, written as Ernest E. King.

The 1891 census, now at 73, Cromwell Road, shows Ernest with his parents and siblings. He was 18 years old and employed as a ‘Chemist’s Porter’.

In 1896, Ernest Edward King was married to Isabella Juliet Babington in the Reigate District (Oct-Dec). Isabella was born in Maidenhead in 1874.

Ernest and Isabella King were living at 28, Charman Road, Redhill in March 1901 when the census was taken. Ernest was a “Grocer’s Warehouseman”. They had a daughter, Gertrude Kathleen King who was born in 1897 in Redhill.

By1911, they had moved a short distance to 34, Ranelagh Road, Redhill and Ernest King was now employed as “A Cellar-Man” in the wines and spirits trade. Their family had increased by one – a son Ernest Henry King was born in 1904. Both Gertrude and Ernest were listed as being at school. (Not literally – but they were pupils).

From this point, the whereabouts of this family are unknown. Ernest Edward King is believed to have been a soldier in the First World War. His records were probably destroyed in the blitz, because nothing has been located amongst the military records which survived.

There is no obvious reference to the family, in the few Local Street Directories in my possession.

The death of Isabella J. King is registered in the Reigate District, between July-Sept. 1913. However the age at death is recorded as 70 and this needs to be an error for 40, if this entry is to refer to the wife of Ernest Edward King. (Certificate needed for proof or perhaps a search for a grave in Reigate cemetery?).

Gertrude Kathleen King married Henry Victor Northern Austin in 1920, between January and March in the Reigate District, which suggests that the King family were still living in the locality at the time. (Only a certificate of marriage can provide this evidence). The 1911 census revealed Henry Victor N. Austin at 22, Grove Road, Stockwell, London SW (Brixton). He was a 17 year old salesman, possibly employed by his father who was a potato and pea, market salesman. (Possibly at Covent Garden or Spitalfields). The birth of Harry J. Austin in 1923, registered in the Lambeth District (April-June), with mother’s maiden name ‘King’ is most likely to refer to this family. There are no other births up to 1932 which fit these criteria.

The whereabouts of Ernest Edward king and his son Ernest Henry King have not been conclusively traced after 1911.

[5] Frank Herbert King

Frank Herbert was born in the early months of 1875, in Cromwell road, Redhill. His birth is registered in the Reigate District between January and March.

He was christened at St. Matthews Church, Redhill on March 28, 1875.

He appeared on the 1881 census as a 6 year old schoolboy, living with his parents and siblings at 71, Cromwell Road. In 1891, and at 73, Cromwell Road Frank Herbert was a Whitesmith’s Apprentice, aged 16.

In 1901, only Frank, Sydney and Ethel lived at home with their parents and ‘Home’ was now 50, Effingham Road, Reigate. Frank Herbert King was aged 26, unmarried and a Whitesmith by trade. (Whitesmith at this time usually signified what today would be termed a plumber and included workers in the gas, water and heating trades).

In 1907, Frank Herbert King married Mary Busby from Watford. This event is registered in the Reigate District, between January and March.

The 1911 census confirmed Frank and Mary living at 48, Station Road, Redhill. Frank was now termed as a “gas fitter”, employed by the Gas Company. They had two sons at this time: James Frank Busby King, born January 1908 and Cyril Harry Busby King, born March 1910. There were three more children, all given Busby as one of their forenames: Geoffrey H. B. [1912]; Kathleen M. B. [1914]; and Frank C. B [1919].

Before his marriage and up to about 1912, Frank Herbert was probably serving as a part time soldier in one of the Volunteer Battalions of The Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regiment. Volunteer Battalions had existed in various forms since the 1860’s but suffered from under funding, Government indecision and many changes in their terms of reference. After the Boer War they had become more closely linked with the Regular Army and in 1908 they were organised into The Territorial Force (later renamed as Territorial Army).  Members of the TF served for a fixed term and in theory should be used only for Home Defence, but in practice their status was rapidly changed to reservists, liable to serve overseas, although still theoretically as volunteers.

With the onset of The Great War, Frank Herbert soon returned to the army and the fragmented remains of his military service records offer just a little insight into this period of his life. Unfortunately, the surviving paperwork was salvaged from the ‘Burnt Records’ section, after enemy action in WW2.

On the 17^th October 1914, Frank Herbert King attested at Reigate that he was prepared to serve for the duration of the war with the Territorial Force, in the County of Surrey with the 5th Battalion (Home Service) of The Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regiment. His home address was given as 48, Station Road, Redhill.

He declared that he had previous military experience with The 5^th Battalion Queen’s Regiment which had ended when he had completed the term of his engagement. (Possibly 4 years of service). He took the oath and was embodied as a Private in the Reserve immediately.

Frank Herbert was passed medically fit to serve in the Home Service battalion. His height was 5ft – 7”; his chest expanded 36 ½”; vision and physical development were good.

On the same day he was promoted to sergeant with the 5th Queen’s RWS. Where he actually served at this time is not known – quite possibly at Reigate

Circumstances changed as the war progressed and service within the County of Surrey was forgotten.

On June 18^th 1915 he was posted / transferred to 69, which was actually the 69^th Provisional Battalion of the Territorial Force. This unit was formed in June 1915 at Tunbridge Wells, from personnel enlisted for ‘Home Service’.  Almost six months later, on January 1st 1917, Frank Herbert King was posted to the 19^th Battalion Queen’s RWS which was formed on that day, from the 69^th Provisional Battalion.

His whereabouts from the onwards are not known, but he was promoted to substantive sergeant at some stage during 1917.

Without any previous record referring to his health, a document showing Frank Herbert’s discharge from The Norfolk War Hospital at Thorpe, dated 24 August 1918 appeared in his file. He was sent home to Redhill, with £1-0s-0d, a suit of plain clothes and 30/- in lieu of an overcoat, to await final discharge from the army. This was confirmed on 11 September 1918 and Frank Herbert King was declared unfit for service in the army. (No details of his illness). He was given a weekly pension of 19s/6d, which was to be reviewed in 13 weeks. (Had he received a permanent pension, his records would have been stored in the Pensions Section and they would have avoided the WW2 Blitz). The family story is that he was run over by an ambulance (ironic or what?), but whatever the cause, he had received a nasty wound to his cranium.

He received the Silver War Badge and a certificate to show that he had seen service during the war. The badge was to be worn in the lapel of his civilian clothing. It is widely believed that the badge was inaugurated, to prevent wounded and sick ex soldiers being harassed (often by women) as if they were cowards and “not doing their bit”. It was irrelevant in Frank Herbert’s case, since he did not receive his badge until 4th April 1919!

Thus, 265516 Sgt. F. H. King returned to civilian life and his job with The Gas Company.

The family later lived at 6, Redstone Road, Redhill.

[6] William Merritt King

This little boy is the tragic story, so common in Victorian families. He was born in the Spring of 1877 and his birth was probably recorded just as William King, between April and June. However, his christening on “4 June 1877 at St. Matthew’s Church in Station Road saw him named as William Merritt (his mother’s maiden name). Sadly his death was recorded, in the Reigate District, between October and December 1877. For whatever reason, he lived no more than a few months – nine at the very most.

[7] Sydney King

Sydney was born in 1878. He appears in the index to the birth registers as SIDney, so it is possible that name appeared on his birth certificate. The registration in Reigate District was entered between October and December.

I suspect his birth was towards the end of the quarter, because he was not christened until April 27, 1879 at St. Matthew’s Church. James and Susan King were usually quite prompt in having their children christened. The entry in St. Matthew’s baptism register shows his name as Sydney.

He appeared on the 1881 census as Sydney and again in 1891. No doubt his parents ensured their preferred spelling was entered. In 1891, at the age of 12, he was an errand boy and would have needed special permission and to have passed a basic standard of education to leave before 14.

In 1901, the King family were at 50, Effingham Road, Reigate and Sydney was employed as a Grocer’s Porter.

Later that year he was married to Mary Ann Rice and the Register Indexes for Reigate District, record the event in the October-December quarter. In 1903, also in Oct-Dec, the birth of a daughter Elsie Mary King was recorded.

The 1911 census at 12, Chart Lane has Sydney King, aged 32, employed as a cellar-man in the wines and spirits trade. His wife Mary Ann was also 32 years old and she was born in Reigate. They had been married for 9 years and had only one child, Elsie Mary aged 7.

It is supposed that he served in the army during World War I, but documentary evidence has not been found.

In 1929, Sydney King was listed as the householder of 14 Chart Lane, Reigate (Holmesdale Street Directory) and again in 1944 (Kelly’s Directory). Of course this could be an entirely different Sydney King, from the man listed on the 1911 census at number 12.

It is probable, but not proved that Sydney King died in 1952 (Jan-Mar. Surrey South Eastern District)

[8] Walter Charles King

Walter Charles completes the list of seven sons, born to James and Susan King who reached adulthood. He was born in Cromwell Road, probably in March 1881. His birth was registered between January and March and he appeared on the 1881 census as being 1 month old – the census was taken on April 3^rd. He was christened in St. Matthew’s Church, Redhill on April 24^th 1881.

In 1891 he was a ‘scholar’ and living at 73, Cromwell Road. Before the 1901 census was taken, Walter Charles King would have moved with his parents to 50 Effingham Road, but then he left home to work. The 1901 census found him at a boarding house - 1, Ladywell Road, Lewisham. He was working as a Grocer’s Assistant and lodging at the same place were two other Grocer’s Assistants, in the same age group as Walter C. No doubt they were all employed at the same emporium.

In 1908, Walter Charles King married Rosa Maude Hawkins. She was born in 1882 in Reigate and had formerly been a school teacher.

In 1911, Walter Charles and Rosa Maude lived at 7, Albion Road, Reigate. They had no children and Walter C was still working as a grocer’s assistant.

Again it is assumed that Walter served in the First World War, but no military records have been found to support this assumption.

It is not known how long they stayed in Albion Road and in 1929 a Walter King lived at 16, Doods Road. In the 1940’s and at least until 1956 a Walter King also lived at 24, Doods Road. There is no proof of a connection to Walter Charles King, although Doods Road was a favoured locality of the King Family at that time. Number 24 Doods Road had also been the childhood home of Rosa M. Hawkins and her widowed mother was still living there in 1938, 22 years after the death of Rosa’s father. It is possible that her mother died in 1940 and that is when Walter King took over the house. (Walter and Rosa may even have been living with Mrs. Esther Hawkins for some years, before she died).  It is possible that Walter Charles King died in 1963, having survived his wife by 4 years.

[9] Ethel Mary King

Ethel Mary was the only daughter of James and Susan King. She was born in Redhill in the summer of 1884 (Registration July-September Reigate District) and christened at St. Matthew’s Church on October 26, 1884. In 1891 she was a 6 years old scholar, living with her family at 73, Cromwell Road.

In 1901, she was one of only 3 children still living at home with James and Susan King, Home was 50, Effingham Road, Reigate. At the age of 16, Ethel Mary King was employed as a dressmaker’s assistant.

Ten years later, the census recorded only Ethel, her parents and a lodger, at 50, Effingham Road. Ethel Mary King, aged 26 and unmarried worked as a dressmaker “on her own account”.

It is reasonable assumption that she was living at 32, Lesbourne Road in 1917, which was the reported address on the occasion of her parents golden wedding anniversary. She was still there in 1928 / 9, living with her father James according to the listing for Lesbourne Road in the Holmesdale Street Directory for 1929, but  this was probably not true.

According to a report of the mourners at James King’s funeral in January 1929, published by the Surrey Mirror, Ethel Mary King was Mrs. Arthur F. Pearson. They were married in Reigate, between October and December 1927. They were probably living at 24, Lesbourne Road, Reigate, which was certainly their address in the 1930’s. (Source: street directories). Arthur Pearson was still listed at that address in 1944, although his wife Ethel had died in 1940.