DESCENDANTS OF JOHN CHRISTIAN WOHLMANN
AND RELATED FAMILIES – DE CROISETTES, DANIEL, ANDREWS, MARRIOTT, CLARKE
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Said to have been born in Fenny Bridges, but baptised in Ottery St Mary a very short distance
away. From the IGI: EDWARD DAVIS Christening: 01 APR 1825 Ottery Saint Mary, Devon, England
Father: HENRY DAVIS Mother: MARY Marriages Mar 1847 Davis Edward Taunton 10 632 Dodge Louisa. Edward was a 'blacksmith' by then, having been a wheelwright, working with his father, in the 1841 census for Crewkerne. In the 1851 census he is in Crewkerne, High Street, as a Black & Bright Smith, with an apprentice, 'uncle' Thomas Pike age 16, born in 'Pyne', Devon. His son Frederick H is staying with his Davis grandparents at Cheddon Fitzpaine. He appears in the 1861 census at 3 Hardwick Street, Clerkenwell, with his wife Louisa and children. He is described as a General Smith. The oldest child with them was born in Crewkerne and his wife Louisa, a milliner and dress maker, was born in West Coker?, Somerset. This is the household complete with errors: Alina Davis abt 1855 London, Middlesex, England Daughter Clerkenwell Middlesex Edwd Davis abt 1860 London, Middlesex, England Son Clerkenwell Middlesex Edwin Davis abt 1825 Otbrey, Devon, England Head Clerkenwell Middlesex Lavenia Davis abt 1851 Crewkerne, Somerset, England Daughter Clerkenwell Middlesex Louisa Davis abt 1827 Westbroker, Somerset, England Wife Clerkenwell Middlesex Louisa Davis abt 1858 London, Middlesex, England Daughter Clerkenwell Middlesex By the 1871 census, Edward has already remarried, Louisa having died. Here is the household, with all but Edward from his first marriage no longer there. They are living at 183 Central Street, St Luke. Edward was prepared to turn his hand to anything, as his children's baptism records show: smith, blacksmith, ironmonger, safe maker, anything in metal that required skill Cecily Davis abt 1863 Clerkenwell Daughter St Luke London Edward Davis abt 1826 Olton St Man [Ottery St Mary], Devon, England Head St Luke London Edward Davis abt 1860 Clerkenwell Son St Luke London Helena Davis abt 1868 Clerkenwell Daughter St Luke London Henry Davis abt 1870 Clerkenwell Son St Luke London Marian Davis abt 1840 St Luke, Middlesex, England Wife St Luke London The marriage entry for Edward Davis and Mary Ann Wohlmann stated that Edward was a Bsmith (blacksmith). He is credited within the family for making the west gates to Westminster Abbey but this seems doubtful. In 1871 he was a general ironmonger and after his death, his children were living in poverty. The two witnesses at his marriage to Mary Ann were Frederick H. Davis, the son of Edward from his first marriage, and Mary Ann Bedwell. The reference can be found in Volume 1b, page 896. Edward Davis was living at Hardwick Street, Clerkenwell. His father, Henry Davis was a 'carpenter'. He and Mary Ann appeared in the 1881 census at 161 Tachbrook St, London, Middlesex. Edward DAVIS Head M Male 55 Devon, England Blacksmith Mariane DAVIS Wife M Female 40 Albemarle Clerkenwell Blacksmiths Wife Eleanor DAVIS Daur Female 13 Unum Pl Central S Clerkenwell Scholar Henry Geo. DAVIS Son Male 11 Romney S Westmr Scholar Florence DAVIS Daur Female 8 Smith Sq Romney St Westmr Scholar Edith DAVIS Daur Female 5 Smith Sq Scholar Mariane DAVIS Daur Female 3 Smith Sq Westmr Scholar A search of trade directories and Kelly's in the 1880s shows that Edward was trading as Davis & Co at Horseferry Road as late as 1889. His name then disappeared from the record and was replaced by his son George's. Sometimes a company name outlives the person who gave his name to it, so we cannot be sure just when he died. However, this looks likely: Deaths Sep 1888 DAVIES Edward Fulham 1a 151. His age was given as 62, which would be a perfect fit. By 1891, his youngest daughter was in an orphanage, and his three surviving daughters living together with Helena's new husband, William Brock. Henry George was just married to Bertha Efford, and living in Westminster. George, his son, was working in Hackney by 1901 as a blacksmith. |