Artisans From England
George Frederick Whiteman was born on 3 June 1794 in Saint Pancras, London, the son of a printer, George Whiteman and Ann Osborne. George was bound to his father as an apprentice printer on 6 September 1808 at age 13. Ten years later, on 6 February 1818, he was given his freedom by the Stationers’ Company.
On 11 August 1816, George married Jane Humphries. George was 22 and Jane was about 17-years-old, they had five children. Their eldest daughter Mary Ann Jane died at age two in 1823. They had two more daughters – Eliza (who married Walter George Mason) and Jane Mary Ann. Two sons followed, George Sidney, born in 1827, he also died aged two years and Frederick Henry, born in 1832. George continued his trade as a printer for the next forty odd years and he also trained a number of apprentices himself. He was the manager of Eyre and Spottiswoode, Government Printers of London, for most of that time, retiring with a government pension in about 1861. |
George desperately missed his daughter Eliza and his grandchildren after their immigration to Australian in 1852. He kept up a regular correspondence with his grandson Edward in particular. Although troubled with the marital problems of his other daughter, Jane who had married Robert Johnson in 1848, George continued to concern himself with the welfare of his grandchildren in Australia, especially after the death of their mother Eliza just two years after leaving London.
When George’s wife Jane died in 1856, and then their daughter Jane died in 1864, George was left with just his son Frederick to care for him in his old age. In his letters to Edward he frequently mentioned that if Edward or one of his brothers were ever to return to London that they would be welcomed with open arms by himself and their Uncle Frederick.
By 1867 George’s health was beginning to fail and the letters became infrequent. Uncle Frederick wrote to Edward in April 1870 to say that their grandfather had been very ill for a long time and was getting very weak. Unfortunately by the time the letter would have reached Edward, his grandfather had passed away.
George Frederick Whiteman died on 4 May 1870 at 25 Sultan Street, Camberwell, Surrey, England. He was 75 years old. George was buried on 9 May 1870 in Kensal Green (All Souls) Cemetery, Kensington, Middlesex, England.
But this family story doesn’t end here, as Uncle Frederick turned out to be a bit of a rogue.
George Whiteman left a very detailed will, bequeathing a small amount to his niece and his brother, tokens to two apprentices and a friend. He even directed who should have some of his chinaware. He did not forget his grandsons in Australia and left them a legacy of just over nineteen pounds each. Everything else he left to his son Frederick – on one condition – that Frederick hold part of the estate in trust for his eldest son (also called Frederick Henry), until such time that Frederick junior attained the age of 25 years, as long as young Frederick behaved and conducted himself to the satisfaction of the executor of the will – his father.
Unfortunately Frederick senior had other ideas and in 1871, after abandoning his younger children, Clara, Robert, Albert & Amy, to the Stepney Union Workhouse (The Children’s Establishment), he assumed a new name (Frederick Wallis), remarried and had another family with Mary Ann Bailey. They had two children: Alice and Jessie. Alice was born in about 1867, some four years before Frederick had abandoned his first family; she was registered under the name Whiteman. However when Jessie was born on 31 August 1871, she was registered under the name of Wallis.
Frederick had several occupations. He followed his father into printing at first and in 1861 he was a manufacturer of marble paper. In 1871 he was working as a commercial traveler and by 1881 he was a piano forte tuner. Frederick lived under his assumed name for the next 20 years and his deception was only discovered upon his death in 1890, his name was recorded as Whiteman on his Death Certificate.
Jessie Whiteman/Wallis married Gustave Emile Debrunner on 30 August 1902 in Islington, Middlesex, England. The descendants of Jessie did not know that Frederick Henry had another family and had lived under the alias of Wallis for the rest of his life.
When George’s wife Jane died in 1856, and then their daughter Jane died in 1864, George was left with just his son Frederick to care for him in his old age. In his letters to Edward he frequently mentioned that if Edward or one of his brothers were ever to return to London that they would be welcomed with open arms by himself and their Uncle Frederick.
By 1867 George’s health was beginning to fail and the letters became infrequent. Uncle Frederick wrote to Edward in April 1870 to say that their grandfather had been very ill for a long time and was getting very weak. Unfortunately by the time the letter would have reached Edward, his grandfather had passed away.
George Frederick Whiteman died on 4 May 1870 at 25 Sultan Street, Camberwell, Surrey, England. He was 75 years old. George was buried on 9 May 1870 in Kensal Green (All Souls) Cemetery, Kensington, Middlesex, England.
But this family story doesn’t end here, as Uncle Frederick turned out to be a bit of a rogue.
George Whiteman left a very detailed will, bequeathing a small amount to his niece and his brother, tokens to two apprentices and a friend. He even directed who should have some of his chinaware. He did not forget his grandsons in Australia and left them a legacy of just over nineteen pounds each. Everything else he left to his son Frederick – on one condition – that Frederick hold part of the estate in trust for his eldest son (also called Frederick Henry), until such time that Frederick junior attained the age of 25 years, as long as young Frederick behaved and conducted himself to the satisfaction of the executor of the will – his father.
Unfortunately Frederick senior had other ideas and in 1871, after abandoning his younger children, Clara, Robert, Albert & Amy, to the Stepney Union Workhouse (The Children’s Establishment), he assumed a new name (Frederick Wallis), remarried and had another family with Mary Ann Bailey. They had two children: Alice and Jessie. Alice was born in about 1867, some four years before Frederick had abandoned his first family; she was registered under the name Whiteman. However when Jessie was born on 31 August 1871, she was registered under the name of Wallis.
Frederick had several occupations. He followed his father into printing at first and in 1861 he was a manufacturer of marble paper. In 1871 he was working as a commercial traveler and by 1881 he was a piano forte tuner. Frederick lived under his assumed name for the next 20 years and his deception was only discovered upon his death in 1890, his name was recorded as Whiteman on his Death Certificate.
Jessie Whiteman/Wallis married Gustave Emile Debrunner on 30 August 1902 in Islington, Middlesex, England. The descendants of Jessie did not know that Frederick Henry had another family and had lived under the alias of Wallis for the rest of his life.
Descendants of George Frederick Whiteman
George Frederick Whiteman was born on 3 June 1794 in Saint Pancras, London, England and died on 4 May 1870 in Camberwell, Surrey, England at age 75 years. George married Jane Humphries on 11 August 1816 in Holborn, Middlesex, England. Jane was born in about 1799 in West Bromwich, Staffordshire, England and died on 21 August 1856 in Kensington, Middlesex, England at age 57 years. They had five children: Mary Ann Jane, Eliza, Jane Mary Ann, George Sidney and Frederick Henry.
- Mary Ann Jane Whiteman was born on 15 September 1820 in London, Middlesex, England, was christened on 17 June 1821 at St Andrew Holborn's, London, England and died on 31 January 1823 in London, Middlesex, England at age 2 years. She was buried on 5 February 1823 in London, Middlesex, England.
- Eliza Whiteman was born on 9 December 1821 in London, Middlesex, England, was christened on 9 June 1822 in St Andrew Holborn's, London, England and died on 14 August 1854 in Newtown, Sydney, New South Wales at age 32 years. She was buried on 16 August 1854 in Newtown, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Eliza married Walter George Mason on 19 July 1842 in London, Middlesex, England. Walter was born on 8 February 1820 in Holloway, Middlesex, England and died on 12 March 1866 in Woolloomooloo, New South Wales at age 46 years. They had five children: Walter George John, Edward, Frederick Woodley, Alice Jane and George Frederick.
- Jane Mary Ann Whiteman was born on 31 May 1823 in Clerkenwell, Middlesex, England, was christened on 25 December 1823 at St Andrew Holborn's, London, England and died on 2 April 1864 in Richmond, Surrey, England at age 40 years. Jane married Robert Johnson on 26 August 1848 in Islington, Middlesex, England. Robert was born on 9 December 1826 in London, Middlesex, England and was christened on 7 January 1827 at St Andrew Holborn's, London, England.
- George Sidney Whiteman was born on 20 March 1827 in London, Middlesex, England and died on 23 March 1829 in London, Middlesex, England at age 2 years.
- Frederick Henry Whiteman was born on 13 January 1832 in Clerkenwell, Middlesex, England, was christened on 12 February 1832 at St Andrew Holborn's, London, England and died in 1890 in Marylebone, Middlesex, England at age 58 years. Frederick married Anne Holden on 30 September 1850 in London, Middlesex, England. Anne was born in about 1834 in St Pancras, London, England. They had seven children: Frederick Henry, George, John, Clara Ann, Robert Sydney, Albert and Amy. Frederick next married Mary Ann Bailey. Mary was born in about 1845 in London, Middlesex, England. They had two children: Alice and Jessie.