Catherine Emma Huskisson

Catherine Emma Huskisson

Catherine Emma Huskisson was born June 30, 1846 at 8 Brill Place, St. Pancras.

According to the 1861 census, she was employed as a servant to the household of Penelope Rednap, Spring Cottage, Grove Road, Tower Hamlets. She is shown as Kate Huskisson.

Catherine had five children (probably all illegitimate).

The first, Jemima Emma, was born at Pancras Workhouse (a sub-district of Camden Town) on September 7, 1865. The father's name does not appear on the birth certificate, but the child was given the Huskisson surname. She was christened at Old Church, St Pancras on September 28, 1865.

The fact that Catherine was unmarried and pregnant in the St Pancras Workhouse would suggest that her parents had banished her from the family home.

By the time of the 1871 census, Catherine was back living with her parents Henry & Jemima Huskisson. The census return shows a 3 year old child named Albert Huskisson in the household. Indicated as a 'Son' of Henry Huskisson, this is obviously a fabrication of the truth. Henry and Jemima's last child had been Francis John Huskisson, born in 1854. Research confirms that the child was Albert Henry Huskisson, (born Pancras, 1867-1868) the second child of Catherine. No birth record has been found and again, the father is not known. However, a clue may be found in the presence of a Lodger in the Huskisson household, David Bloss ('Excavator', born 1831-1832 in Dennington, Suffolk).

A Christening record, actually does name David Bloss as the Father of Catherine's third child, William Bloss. Christened at Christ Church, Somerstown on June 13, 1871, the family's address is indicated as 8 Brill Place, St Pancras - Catherine's parents' address. William may have died in infancy as no subsequent record of him has been found.

The 1881 census shows Catherine to be the wife of David Bloss, though no marriage appears to have actually taken place. Catherine's child, Albert Henry is now shown as Albert Henry Bloss along with two more children of Catherine, 'Louisa' who is Sarah Louisa (Bloss) Christened on May 14, 1872, and 'Elizabeth' who is Elizabeth Isabella Jane* (Bloss), Christened on July, 28, 1874. Both were Christened at Christ Church, Somerstown. David Bloss and Catherine are shown as the parents in each case.

*Elizabeth's Christening is the only record that gives her Christian names as 'Elizabeth Jane'. Elsewhere she is 'Elizabeth Isabella'

1881 Census Transcription

Dwelling: 30 Pancras Road

Census Place: St Pancras, London, Middlesex, England

Source: FHL Film 1341046 PRO Ref RG11 Piece 0208 Folio 23 Page 8

Marr Age Sex Birthplace

David BLOSS M 50 M Dunnington, Suffolk, England

Rel: Head

Occ: Excavator

Catherine BLOSS M 34 F Pancras, Middlesex, England

Rel: Wife

Albert BLOSS 13 M Pancras, Middlesex, England

Rel: Son

Occ: Milk Boy

Louisa BLOSS 8 F Pancras, Middlesex, England

Rel: Daur

Occ: Scholar

Elizabeth BLOSS 6 F Pancras, Middlesex, England

Rel: Daur

Occ: Scholar

Jemima Emma Huskisson/Bloss?
(Catherine Huskisson's Daughter)

Jemima Emma may have worked as a Servant in the household of Scowan H. Peacock, at 3 Fonthill Road, Finsbury at the time of the 1881 census. The household included a 16 year old General Servant named Emma Huskisson.

She married George Albert Churchill at Christ Church, Somerstown on May 15th 1887. On the marriage record in the field where the father's name should be indicated, the name 'Albert Henry' is written with the word 'Connected' underneath. Albert Henry Huskisson/Bloss was Jemima Emma's half brother - or natural brother if David Bloss was also her father.
George Albert Churchill was a 'Grainer' - (that is, someone who paints a fake grain onto plain wood to make it appear more exotic). He was born bet. Apr-Jun 1859 in Islington. He and Jemima Emma were living at 30 St Pancras Road at the time of their Marriage.

George Albert Churchill and Jemima Emma Huskisson/Bloss had the following children:

George Albert Churchill - Born bet Jan-Feb 1889 at 21 Caledonian Street. Christened at St Jude, Grays Inn Road on Feb. 15, 1889
(Died bet. Apr-Jun 1892 - Islington)

Henry Reuben Churchill - Born bet Jan 31, 1891 at 21 Caledonian Street. Christened at All Saints, Battle Bridge, Islington on Feb. 22, 1891

- Henry married Florence Ivy Hill (born bet. 1893-1894) at All Saints, Battle Bridge, Islington on May 26, 1913. Henry died bet. Jan-March 1972 in Havering, Greater London.

Harold Edmund Churchill - Born Nov 12, 1892 at 21 Caledonian Street. Christened at St Mary, Islington on Dec. 11, 1892
(Died bet. Jan-March 1896 - Islington)

Ronald Francis Cecil Churchill - Born bet Jan-Feb, 1903 at 25 Warner Street. Christened at St David's, West Holloway on Feb. 25, 1903

- Ronald married ? Millington in Edmonton, Middlesex bet. July-Sept 1937. He died bet. April-June 1969 in Surrey (North Western).

Jemima Emma and George Albert Churchill both died bet. Jan-March 1919 in Islington.

David Bloss may have been the father of one or more of Catherine's children, but Albert (at least) didn't consider him to be his father.

In the 1901 census, Catherine appears with the surname 'Bloss' as the widowed mother of Albert Henry 'HUSKISSON'. This is Albert's household, and as the head, he obviously didn't consider Bloss to be his surname. Albert had married Amy Louisa Bowley (born Islington, 1870-1871) on June 2, 1895 at St Andrew's Church, Islington, and gave his father's name as David HUSKISSON (deceased) and (former) occupation as 'excavator'. Presumably, after David Bloss died, Albert saw no reason to keep the 'Bloss' surname. But since his father's name had to be entered on his marriage certificate, he invented the 'David Huskisson' that appears there. As 'David Bloss' and 'David Huskisson' were both 'Excavators' and appear as Albert's father in different sources, they must be one and the same person, though possibly not actually Albert's biological father.

No marriage record has been found for Catherine Huskisson and David Bloss even though she used the Bloss surname for the rest of her life.

1901 CENSUS

Living with Albert and Amy at 1 Rodney Place, Islington on the night of the 1901 census was their Son, William Henry Huskisson (born March 10, 1896).

William Henry Huskisson died at London Temperance Hospital, Hampstead on June 16th 1902 from Tubercular Meningitis.

Albert and Amy also had a daughter, Millicent Amy Huskisson (born Oct. 5, 1899 at 1 Rodney Place, Islington). She died at home on August 29th 1900 of Dentition Diarrhoea.

Also in the house was Albert's sister, Louisa HARRISON (widowed). Louisa Sarah had been employed as a servant to Eliza Gray (lodging house keeper) 171 Stanhope Street, St Pancras at the time of the 1891 census. She married Thomas William Harrison (born bet. 1871 - 1872, Middlesex) bet. October - December 1896 in Islington. Thomas died bet. January - March 1897 in Holborn. She then re-married on July 12, 1903 at St. Thomas Church, Islington to William James Churchill, a Clerk (born bet.1878-1879, and son of William James Churchill (Senior)). According to the certificate, both were resident at 82 Winchester Street, Islington at the time of their marriage.
It should be noted that though her Christening record gives her name as SARAH Louisa (Bloss), all other sources indicate she was known as LOUISA (Sarah) - sometimes with the 'Sarah' name omitted.

Catherine's other daughter, Elizabeth Isabella married Frederick Scrimshaw (born bet. January - March 1873 in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire) bet. January - March 1896 in St Pancras. The 1901 census shows them to be living with their son, William Scrimshaw (born bet. April - June 1897 in Holborn) at 112 Norwich Road, Walsoken, Norfolk. Frederick was a self employed 'Horse Breaker'.

Albert Henry 'Huskisson' died bet. Apr-June 1938 in Islington
Louisa Sarah Churchill (née BLOSS) died ???
Elizabeth Isabella (Jane) Scrimshaw (née BLOSS) died bet. Oct-Dec 1921 in Brentford

Catherine died bet. July-Sept 1931 in Orsett, Essex