The Bringing-up & Schooling of Edward Brecht's Children

Bringing-up

Internet records show that Edward struggled to bring up his children, particularly after his wife Clara died in 1906. The comaparison bewteen the entries in the 1901 and 1911 censuses is stark:

1901 Census

15 Southill Street, Poplar

Edward Brecht Head 42 House Decorator born London, Shadwell
Clara Brecht Wife 38 born London, Walworth
Clara Brecht Daughter 18 Match Factory Girl born London, Limehouse
George Brecht Son 12 born London, Limehouse
Sidney Brecht Son 5 born London, Mile End
John Brecht Son 2 born London, Poplar
Frederick Brecht Son 9 born London, Limehouse

Edward's wife Clara died in 1906

1911 Census

Poplar Branch Workhouse, 95 Forest Lane, Forest Gate

Edward Brecht Inmate 50

Wherabouts of the 5 Children

Staying with sister Clara
- 3 Langton Street, Poplar (Robert & Clara Warner & family)

1. George Brecht Single Brother in law 22 Box Maker born Bow, London
2. Frederick Brecht Single Brother in law 19 Portmanteau Bagmaker Bow, London

Poplar Training School, Hutton, Brentwood, Essex

3. Sidney Brecht Inmate 15
4. John Brecht Inmate 12
5. Ethel Brecht Inmate 8

Schooling

The records show that the schooling of Ewward's childen was fragmented and unsettled:

John Iceton Brecht

per School Admissioins and Discharges 1840-1911

John Brecht of 15 Southill St born 25.7.1898 (father Edward)
Admitted to Ricardo School 9.9.1901 (age 3) Discharged 25.10.01 (Remarks - Very Delicate)
Also Admitted 15.9.02
Also admitted 24.8.1903 (age 5) Transfered to 13.

The children's sister Clara intervened in the bringing up of Edward's children and is named in a Discharge document in 1907:

Poor Law Removal& Settlement Records

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

However at the time of the 1911 Census John was an inmate at the Poplar Training School in Hutton, Brentwood in Essex with his brother Sidney and sister Ethel.

Colin Bower
12 February 2021

Main Index to Brecht One-Name Study