03/09/2022
This week's post is all about Charles Thomas Briggs Morphew.
Charles was born around 1827 to Samuel and Elizabeth, he was baptised on the 23rd December 1827 at St Margaret's, Ipswich.
In the 1841 census Charles was living in parent's household at Barclay Street, St Margarets, Ipswich, aged 13.
By the 1851 census Charles had met his future wife Elizabeth Barton and they had a child together, they were living in Elizabeth's father's household at Stoke Street, St Peter, Ipswich, Charles's occupation was recorded as Tailor, aged 24.
In the December quarter of 1855 Charles to Elizabeth Barton in Ipswich. They had already had three children together, one of which had died young. Charles and Elizabeth went on to have a further six children.
In the 1861 census Charles was the head of the household at 2nd Court, 2 Boars Head Lane, St Peter, Ipswich, his occupation was Tailor, Journeyman , aged 33.
Charles was caught up in a disturbance outside the Definace Inn.
26 June 1869 - Drunkenness - William Hitton was charged with being drunk and riotous in Bell Lane on Saturday night about twelve o'clock. Hutton was also charged with resisting his apprehension by Sergt. Forsdick and policeman Clark: and Charles Morphew, Robt. Studd, Mary Ann Studd, Eliza Biggs and Eliza Cook were all charged with resisting the apprehension of Hutton, and inciting him to resist. From evidence of Sergt. Forsfick and the policeman, it appeared that on Saturday night at twelve o'clock, the defendant Hutton was turned out of the Definace, when he created a disturbance. Forsdick persuaded him to go away, and he did so, but when they got as far as Bell Lane the disturbance was renewed and after that again near the Boars Head. Forsdick and Clarke the tried to take Hutton into custody, but there were about a hundred people round. Defendant Morphew said to him "come on" and was going to lead him away. One of them knocked him down. Clarke was also knocked down. Mrs Cook, who is Hutton's sister, interfered, and also the young woman Studd came up just as Clarke was putting on the handcuffs, and prevented his doing so. The male prisoner Studd also dragged Hutton into a passage, and ultimately he got away. Hutton, in defence, said he had not been into the Defiance at all that evening. He saw two men knocking another man about, and he went and interfered, requesting them to leave the man alone or if they did not he would see they did. Morphew, said he tried to persuade then man to go home quietly, and, in fact, assisted the police. He called Mr. Cox of Bell Lane, who said he was talking to with Morphew, and he saw him go up and take Hutton's arm. Studd denied that he was there, saying he was in the shop of a barber named Robinson at the time. He called Mrs Robinson who said Studd was in her shop until after a quarter past twelve. When the row got outside her door Studd went to the door to look at the disturbance. In answer to the policeman she said the passage into which the defendant Studd dragged Hutton was not next door to her. Studd desired the husband of the last witness to be sent for but his evidence merely went to show that Studd was in his shop until the row came up to his door, when he went out for a few minutes and returned again. Biggs said the parties came outside her door and blundered against it when she was in bed. She came down and went outside but did not interfere. The other prisoners denied that the interfered with the police. The Magistrates then retired to consider, and after an absence of nearly twenty minutes. The Mayor said the Magistrates convicted Hutton of being drunk and riotous and of resisting the police, for each offence they fined him 5s and costs 6s 6d., in default seven days imprisonment. Morphew would be fined 5s and costs, Studd was also fined 5s and costs and the three female prisoners discharged on payment of costs.
- The Ipswich Journal -
Then a week later Charles was in the court again this time after an alleged robbery from his tailor shop, however Charles appeared to just want his property returned and not to take action against the thief.
3 July 1869 - Alleged Robbery from a Tailor's Shop - Lucy Baldry, a married woman was brought up on a charge of stealing materials for making a pair of trousers, from the house of Charles Morphew. On Thursday inst. The Prosecutor is a tailor living in Boar Head Lane, Stoke on Thursday last, he had about two and a half yards of mixed cloth and some calico lining in his house. He had occasion to leave home last Thursday morning and the articles were perfectly safe then. He missed the articles on Friday morning, and in the evening he saw the prisoner and asked her about the things. She at first denied that she had them but on his telling her that it was no use denying it, for he knew where they were, and also that if she would go and get them he would not proceed further with the matter, she admitted she had them, and then went to his wife and asked her to pawn her shawl to get them out, but he said she should not do that, and that was the prisoner's duty to restore them. He did not now wish to press the charge. The Chairman said the Magistrates could not look upon the matter as a criminal offence, but would advise the prisoner to be upon her guard for the future.
- The Ipswich Journal -
In the 1871 Charles is the head of household at 21 Austin Street, St Peters, Ipswich, occupation Tailor, aged 40.
Charles then appears in court after assaulting his father. 5 August 1871 - Ipswich Police Court Tuesday August 3 - Filial Affection - Charles Morphew, tailor, Stoke, was charged with assaulting Samuel Morphew, his father, on the 31 July - The complainant said his son came to his house and abused him. He told him to go out and he refused, and he then attempted to turn him out and was knocked down - Defendant said he went with his sister, who wanted some chairs of her's that complainant had and who was afraid to go without him. He should not have interfered only his father took the tongs up to hit his sister. It was all a matter of spite because he and his sister would not associate with his fathers wife. In answer to the magistrates he said he was willing to promise not to mo**st his father again and the case was withdrawn on payment of the costs 8s. 6d.
- The Suffolk Chronicle; or Weekly General Advertiser & County Express -
His elderly father had just re-married to a lady who, in the 1871 census had been recorded as living with him as his domestic servant.
In the 1881 Charles was the head of household at 6 Bloomfield Yard, Boar Head Lane, Ipswich St Peter, Ipswich, occupation Tailor, aged 52.
In the 1891 Charles was the head of household at Coopers Court, Boar Head Lane, Ipswich, St Peters, occupation Tailor, aged 63.
In the December quarter of 1894 Charles was widowed when his wife Elizabeth died.
On the 9th December 1898 Charles died aged 71 at Carr Street, Ipswich.
9 December 1898 - Old Mans Death in Street - A sad affair occurred in Ipswich today (Friday) when an old man named Morphew died suddenly in Carr Steet... the man whose name was Charles Morphew about 68 years of age employed as a tailor at St Peter's Workhouse. The old man left the institution shortly after 8 o'clock going from there to his son, an ex-soldier, who is landlord at the White Lion Inn by the side of Stoke Bridge. Father and son left the house during the morning, with another friend to make some purchases, preparatory to attending the funeral of his son's wife, fixed for 1.30. They walked together as far as Mr. Aldous (hosier) shop in Carr Street, deceased's son and the latter's friend going inside, the old man preferring to remain in the street. The pair had hardly entered before Charles Morphew fell down on his face, and died almost immediately. Police constable Bellew, who was at the corner directing the traffic, ran to the old man's assistance and having taken him into the shop summoned Dr R. K. Casley. The latter was present within two or three minutes, but Mr. Morphew was not alive, and he died, it is believed through failure of the heart's action. The body was afterwards taken to the mortuary to await the inquest, which will probably be held this evening by the Ipswich Borough Coroner.
- Evening Star - Mr. Aldous shop was at 3 Carr Street which is now Santander.
Charles was buried on the 14th December 1898 at St Peter's churchyard, Ipswich.
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