Alice Zilpah (born 1888) was the daughter of Henry George Underwood who was the son of John Harmer’s sister Zilpah Lovell Underwood née Harmer
Her father worked as a tobacconist representative, and Alice and her brother Henry Albert and sister Florence were raised at 52 Bentham Road off Elm Grove, the same street where their uncle Frank and his family lived. Sadly Henry George died in October 1903, when he was just 44 years old. This seems to have plunged his wife Naomi into financial dire straits, and we know that Florence if not all the children spent time at the Warren Farm Industrial School.
The family left their home the same year that Henry George died, and at some time between then and 1911 Naomi took up the position of live-in housekeeper for James Doughty (18?? – 1913) of 19 Middle Street, Brighton. In the same year Alice Zilpah was working as a live-in cook / servant for 65 year old widower William Holloway at 2 Montpelier Road.
Marriage to James Doughty
BRIEF BIO OF JAMES
An original photographic postcard, franked 1907, shows James performing on the West Pier at Brighton with his trained dogs. To the left of the shot sits a teenaged girl, thin to the point of appearing malnourished, and looking somewhat bored. She seems to be looking after the props, and is wearing an outfit bordering on the theatrical. This may be Alice Zilpah Underwood, then around 18, being paid to help James with his routine. This would fit with the rough timeframe wherein we know that her mother became James’ housekeeper, although I cannot see a resemblance to later photographs of Alice.
Troubled times and death of James
Alice meets Mr. Jones
