Henry George Underwood, born 1859 at Brighton, was the son of John Harmer’s sister Zilpah and her husband Henry Underwood. This makes him John’s nephew.
Henry George was Henry and Zilpah’s first born son, and was named for his father. He grew up in the family home at 99 Upper North Street, and was still living there after the deaths of both his parents. In the 1881 census he is listed as a Shopman / Tobacconist. In 1888 he married Naomi Elizabeth Roberts (born 1866 at Brighton). The couple set up home at 20 Wood Street, where we find them in the 1891 census, and in the street directories until 1898. Henry is listed in the directories as Harry, which could be a typo or a nickname. It was whilst living at Wood Street that the couple had their three children; Alice Zilpah in 1888, Henry Albert in 1890 and Florence in 1895. In the 1901 census the family are living at 52 Bentham Road off Elm Grove, the same street as Henry’s brother Frank. By this time Henry is described as a ‘tobacconists traveller’.
Death
Henry died in October 1903, when he was just 44 years old.
Life After Henry
In the same year Naomi left their home at Bentham Road, presumably finding herself in quite dire financial straits. We know from the 1911 census that Naomi was by then living with 91 year old James Doughty at 19 Middle Street, in a housekeeping capacity. Her daughter Alice, who gave her age as 23, was working as a live-in cook / servant for 65 year old widower William Holloway at 2 Mountfield Road.
In the same census a Florence Underwood, with her age given as 13, is listed at Warren Farm Industrial School at Woodingdean near Brighton. The school was a sort of workhouse equivalent for children which taught practical trades. Our Florence was actually 16 by this time, but it is possible that her mother Naomi was vague about her exact age in order to get her admitted, if she could not afford to support her. Strangely, in reverse, Alice Zilpah seems to have believed that she was three years older than she was. At the time of her marriage in 1911 she stated that she was 25, whereas she was actually 22. Her grandaughter Jenny Tierney recalls that it was not until she attempted to claim her pension, believing herself to be 60, that Alice Zilpah discovered the truth. One gets the sad impression that significant birthdays were not marked very memorably for Naomi’s children. And yet how Alice knew her age when the census was compiled in April, but had forgotten it by July when she married remains curious.
Henry Jnr.’s whereabouts in 1911 remain a mystery, although I believe that he died quite young.
Send in the Clowns
I have mentioned that Alice Zilpah married in 1911, and therein lies an interesting tale. For Alice’s husband was none other than her mother’s employer James Doughty, who was not only 69 years older than Alice, but the oldest clown in the world! You can read more about Alice’s fascinating life here.
Naomi’s Death
Naomi died in the spring of 1923 when she was 56 years old.
