Robert Longsdon
Born 1825 in Southwark, London
1826 Baptized at St George the Martyr, Southwark. Parents David and Mary, living at Toulmins(?) Buildings. Father's occupation: Skinner.
1841 Census: Age 15, living at Castle Street, St Saviours, Southwark, with Mary Longsdon, 35, a Fur(?) Cutter, Robert, 15, and Emily, 6.
Mother: Mary Esther (Ingram) b.1795. Father: David Longsdon.
Note: 'Skinner; and 'Fur Cutter' seem humble occupations, but it is possible that Robert's parents were employers. In 1836 there is mention of a 'fiat' (bankruptcy) against David Longsdon of Catle Street, Southwark, skinner and fur-cutter.[1]. David Longsdon, late of Castle Street, died 'on or about the 31st day of December 1836', was descibed as a Furrier.[2]
1852 Robert (engineer) married Maria Allen, daughter of Richard Allen, Gentleman, at St Pancras Church. Maria (1827-1909) was the sister of Anne Allen, wife? of Henry Bessemer.
1861 Census: 'Joint Proprietor of the Bessemer Patent & Steel Manufr.', living at Tray's Hill Cot(tage?), age 36, with wife Maria, 34 (born Chalfont St Giles), daughter Maria, 8, son Robert H., 5, daughter Alice, 3, son Alfred A., 1, servant Catherine Addison, 20 and Eliza Lines, 17. All children born in Islington.
1871 Census: Living at Church? House, Bromley, with wife and seven children (Maria, Robert, Alice, David, Alfred, Walter, Eliza, ages from 18 to 3), mother-in-law? Sarah Allen (accountant), sister Mary Jones (accountant), a governess, and four servants.
1872 Business address: 4 Queen Street Place, New Cannon Street, City of London[3]
1872 Died on 19 December in Bromley, aged 47.
Family Members:
Alfred Longsdon became a Director of Krupp
Frederick Longsdon, was Secretary of Henry Bessemer and Co. He died at Bishop Teignton, Devon.[4] In 1871 his occupation was as a clerk to a steel manufacturer, living at Beighton, Yorks
Walter Bessemer Longsdon, of Beaulieu, South Norwood Hill, married Nelley Beall Gibson, daughter of A. M. Gibson, Washington, DC.[5]
Daughter Helen married Staff-Surgeon Frank Woore of HMS Canada at Kingston, Jamaica.[6]
Alfred Allen Longsdon died aged 48 in an accident while on active service at Havre, France, with the St. John Ambulance Brigade.[7]
See Also
Sources of Information
- ↑ [1] Law Journal Reorts, 1837, Comprising Reports of Cases in the Courts of Chancery, .... Volume 15
- ↑ London Gazette, p.1442
- ↑ Glasgow Herald - Saturday 25 January 1873 (reference to Longsdon's will
- ↑ Sheffield Daily Telegraph, 4 February 1885
- ↑ Sussex Agricultural Express - Saturday 1 July 1899
- ↑ Totnes Weekly Times - Saturday 1 December 1894
- ↑ Hampshire Advertiser - Saturday 16 January 1915