For many, times were hard in the East End of London in the 19th century and early 20th century. Disease, overcrowding and poor incomes caused real hardship; the Brechts did not escape:
Heinrich (Henry) Brecht
Heinrich married Mary Somes in 1808 and the couple lived in Fashion Street near Christ Church, Spitalfields. He was a colour manufacturer.
Parish Records show that Henry, as he bacame known, lost his wife and her children at a young age:
First Wife
*Mary Brecht buried 3.1.1819 (age 35)
Her Children
*Maria Catharine Brecht buried 16.11.1814 (age 2)
*Charlotte Brecht of Fashion Street buried 15.1.1819 (age 9)
*Elisabeth Catharine Brecht buried 17.6.1821 (age 5)
After his wife died, he lost a further child, by another woman (?Harriet Piper):
*Eleanor Brecht of Fashion Street buried 24.10.1824 (age 17 months)
After Henry died, his son Henry also died young:
*Henry Brecht buried 2.8.1855 (age 22)
*All burials with asterick at Christ Church, Spitalfields
Henry's Son George Frederick Brecht
The family of Henry's son George Frederick Brecht also hit on hard times:
Workhouse, Stepney
Mary Brecht (53), Single, Charwoman and Destitute
Admitted from Casual Work Thursday 22 May 1862
Discharged 28 May 1862
Mary Brecht (54), Single Laundress, No Residence & Destitute
son Henry Brecht (14)
Admitted Saturday 7.6.1862 Discharged 9.6.1862
St Mary's Islington
Caroline Brecht (76), Needlewoman admitted8 April 1899
Henry's son Edward Brecht
After his wife Clara died, Edward found bringing up the children difficult:
London Workhouse Admission & Discharge Records 1764-1930
Mile End Old Town
Friday 1 March 1907
Admitted because of destitution
Dischaged to Scattered Homes:
Sidney Brecht (11) and John Brecht (8)
Ethel Btecht (6) to Infirmary
London Selected Poor Law Removal & Settlement Records 1698-1930
Poplar Union - Order of Removal 6.3.1907
Sidney Brecht aged about 11 years
John Brecht aged about 8 years
Ethel Brecht aged about 4 years
- living in No 14 Cottage Grove and the Infirmary, Mile End Old Town
- father Edward Brecht (now absent) previously at 15 Southill Street
- by Clara his wife (now deceased)
Notes have been handwritten on the documentation:
- father left children at sisters in Rowsell Street
- wife died in ................1906
- previously in High Street, Poplar
- 15 Southill Street will set up
- no idea where father is
London Workhouse Admission & Disxcharge Records 1764-1930
Poplar Union
Edward Brecht Widower Painter born 1857
Admitted 26 July 1907
1911 Census
Edward Brecht was in the Poplar Branch Workhouse and 3 of his children were in a Training School:
Sidney (15), John (12) and Ethel (8)
2 other children were staying with a family called Warner:
George (22) and Frederick (19)
Edward remarried later in the year.
London Workhouse Admission & Disxcharge Records 1764-1930
There are 2 cases of children being born in the workhouse:
1. St Marylebone
Wednesday 23 December 1914
Rose Brecht Housemaid born 1897 In Labour
Noel Brecht (Parent Rose) born 23 December 1914
Certificate Held:
Full name: Noel Eric Brecht
Born at: 1 Northumberland Street, St Marylebone (Date: 23/12/1914)
Father: (Occupation: )
Mother: Rose Elizabeth Brecht, Housemaid of 3 Upper Bedford Place, Bloomsbury
2. Workhouse, West Ham
Charles Albert Cornwell born 1900 (mother Lucy Ann Cornwell and father George Henry Brecht - see below)
1901 Census
7 Lansdowne Road, West Ham
Louisa Cornwall Age 19 Jam Factory Hand (living with mother Sarah, Widow)
Albert Cornwall Age 10 months born West Ham, Essex (grandson of Sarah)
1911 Census
1 Oak Road, Canning Town, Essex
Lucy Ann Brecht Head Married 29 Factory Hand Bottle Fillers born Millwall, Middlesex
Albert Ernest Brecht Son 10 born Tidal Basin, Essex
George Henry Brecht Son 8 born Tidal Basin, Essex
Alf Brecht Son 5 born Plaistow, Essex
Frank Bert Brecht Son 15 months born Plaistow, Essex
Husband in HM Prison, Pentonville
George Frederick Brecht's Grandson George Henry Brecht
Apart from his first born being born illegitimate in a workhouse (he did marry Lucy Ann in 1902), George Henry Brecht had a criminal record in England (was in Pentonville in 1911) and was murdered in Sydney in 1951.
His family stayed away from him in England.
There is more detail is given in a separate article:
Colin Bower
12 February 2021