The Sad Life of Edward Brecht

The following article summaries the sad life of Edward Brecht in which his wife Clara died young in 1906 and some of the children were left destitute. Edward himself went into the Workhouse (1907 - 1911) before marrying again in 1911:

Birth/Baptism

St Mary's, Stepney

Edward William Brecht and George Henry Brecht bp 24.4.1859
(Parents George Brecht Dairyman 7 Brook St & Mary)

Marriages

Full name: Edward Ludowic Leopold Brecht (of: 14 Bagally Street)
Occupation: House Decorator (Age: 22)
Father: George Brecht, House Decorator
Married at: St Paul's, Bow Common (Date: 29/1/1883)
Spouse: Clara Everdon Stevens (of: 20 Bloomfield Street)
Occupation: (Age: 19)
Father: Charles Peter Stevens, Sailor (?)
Relevant Witnesses: James Charles Stevens

Full name: Edward Brecht, Widower (of: 23 Langton Street, Poplar)
Occupation: House Painter (Age: 50)
Father: George Brecht, General Dealer
Married at: Register Office, Poplar (Date: 1/7/1911)
Spouse: Martha Grant, Widow (of: 96 Blackthorn Street, Bromley )
Occupation: Laundrywoman (Age: 50)
Father: Simeon Mead
Relevant Witnesses: Simeon Mead

Birth/Baptisms of Children

St Paul's, Bow Common

Clara Mary Ann Brecht bp 16.8.1883
(Parents Edward Brecht House Decorator of 23 Selsey Road & Clara)

George Charles Brecht bp 21.6.1888
(Parents Edward Brecht, House Decorator 14 Robeson Street & Clara)

Sydney Albert Brecht bp 2.6.1895
(Parents Edward Brecht Laborer of 107 Rowsell Street & Clara)

Frederick Arthur Brecht bp 26.4.1896
(parents Edward Brecht Painter of 89 Rowsell Street & Clara)

St Gabriel's, Bromley

John Iceton Brecht bp 17.8.1898
(Parents Edward Brecht House Decorator of 15 Southill Street & Clara)

Censuses

1891

11 Lee Street, Limehouse

Edward Bright (should be Brecht) Head Age 30 General Labourer born Shadwell, London
Clara Bright Wife Age 27 Sewing Machinest born Lambeth, London
Clara Bright Daughter Age 8 Scholar born Limehouse, London
George Bright Son Age 2 born Mile End, London

1901

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

Poplar Branch Workhouse, 95 Forest Lane, Forest Gate

Edward Brecht Inmate 50

Wherabouts of Children

3 Langton Street, Poplar (Robert & Clara (Brecht) Warner & family)

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

Poplar Training School, Hutton, Brentwood, Essex

Sidney Brecht Inmate 15
John Brecht Inmate 12
Ethel Brecht Inmate 8

Late Baptism

St Luke, Chelsea

Sidney Brecht born 16.5.1896 bp 30.3.1912
(Parents Edward Brecht, House Decorator 29, Blackthorne St Bromley by Bow & Clara)

Time in the Workhouse

Workhouse Admissions & Discharges Records on the internet show that Edward was in the Workhouse before the entry in the 1911 Census:

Workhouse, Poplar Union

Edward Brecht Widower Painter C of E born 1857
Admitted Friday 26.7.1907 from Poplar 11

Discharged Thursday 1.8.1907
Transfered (General Remarks: Laindon)

Labour Colony at Sumpner's Farm

Edward Brecht C of E born 1857
Friday 10.1.1908 Transfered to Forest Gate Branch Workhouse

Marriage to Martha Grant, Widow

Is is hoped that Edward found some solace after he married Martha Grant who had a family herself:

1901 Census

57 Blackthorn, Bromley (Parish part of Poplar Borough)

Charles Grant Head (53) Painters Laborer born Edinburgh, Scotland
Martha Grant Wife (41) Laundress Wash born Pimlico, London
Alfred Grant (13) born Homerton, London
Charles Grant (8) born Bow, London
Robert Grant (6) born Bow, London
Archibald Grant (3) born Bow, London

1911 Census

96 Blackthorn Street, Bromley (return signed by A. Grant)

Martha Grant Head Widow (49) born Pimlico, London
Alfred Grant (22) Dock Labourer, Port of London Authority born Homerton, London
Charles Grant (18) Hotel Keeper born Mile End, London
Robert Grant (6) Grocery Stores born Mile End, London
Henry Grant (9) School born Bow, London

Had 5 chidren.One died.

1939 Register of England & Wales

I could find no trace of this family in the name of Brecht in the 1939 Register of England & Wales.

Colin Bower
2 July 2018

Link to:
Brecht Family - Main Index