Was my wife’s ancestor a London fireman?
QMy wife, Sally, recovered this letter
(right) from her father’s effects. It was sent by the Royal Society for the Protection of Life from Fire, but I cannot find any details of why the award was given, or whether Joseph Crush was a direct relative.
Sally’s father was William Henry George Crush (1915–1989), and her paternal grandfather was Henry James Crush (1894– 1956). The only ‘Mr Joseph Crush’ I can find was her great grandfather, Joseph Edward Crush (1863–1939).
In the 1871 census Joseph was listed as an eight-year-old scholar, born in Canning Town and living at 12 Wharf Street. Ten years later he was an 18-year-old carpenter’s labourer, this time living at 4 Wharf Street.
The 1891 census shows Joseph working as a 28-year-old journeyman carpenter living at 97 Whitwell Road, Plaistow, with his wife Eliza F Hastings, whom he married on 11 November 1883 in Bethnal Green. I haven’t found any evidence of the family living at 13 Lower Road, as stated in the letter.
I wrote to staff at London Metropolitan Archives ( cityoflondon.gov.uk/lma) a few years ago, who advised that the society’s records had been lost or destroyed, and they were unable to assist further. I have also searched newspaper archives without success, although I did find articles about two very serious fires in the London Docks shortly before the letter was sent.
Is it possible that Joseph was a member of the Metropolitan Fire Brigade? Richard Harper
AIt seems to me that you have a doubt about the relevance of the Royal Society reward to Joseph Edward Crush. In its favour is the important fact that it was with your wife’s father’s documents. On the other hand I have found a different Joseph E Crush, carpenter, who was living with his wife Sarah and their nine children in Plaistow on the 1881 and 1891 censuses.
Joseph and Sarah were living in Denmark Terrace (Morgan Road) in 1881 and by 1891 had moved to Mayfield Road, a street close by but nearer to Canning Town than 13 Lower Road, Plaistow, where the invitation was sent. This road no longer exists but in 1894 joined Whitwell Road where Joseph and Eliza were living in 1891, remaining there beyond 1901.
You may be able to determine if Joseph and Eliza ever lived in Lower Road by obtaining the birth certificates of Henrietta (born in 1884) and Joseph junior (born in 1889).
London Metropolitan Archives (LMA) holds a limited number of documents from the Royal Society for the Protection of Life from Fire; the annual reports are the most informative about awards, but sadly these only survive from 1892 onwards.
Since it has been some time since you consulted LMA, it may be worth asking again in case a catalogue update has revealed relevant documents from the time of Joseph’s award in 1888.
It would also be worth following up the articles that you found – you should be able to find the Metropolitan Fire Brigade’s reports of these fires at the LMA – and you may be able to discover if Joseph was ever a candidate to join the staff of the London County Council Fire Brigade, the LMA has a register covering the years 1881–1893 (LCC/FB/STA/317).
Finally the Royal Society still exists today; its website splf.org.uk includes contact information, and you can request a copy of the certificate. John Fowler