FRANK EMSDORFF WALKER. 

According to the baptism record, Frank was born on 21 January 1831, in St Pancras. (St Marylebone is given in some of his census records).

He was baptised on 13 March 1831 at Trinity, Marylebone, Middx.

His parents were George Emsdorff (Gunmaker) & Susanna Walker.

 By 1841, the family had moved to Northbrook Street, Newbury. George & Susanna are 35 & he is still a Gunmaker.

Frank is 10 & has 3 siblings: Susan, 7; Jeanette, 5 & John, 2. 

In 1851 they are at 13, Northbrook St., Newbury. George is 46 & a widower. He was born in Romsey, Hants. Frank is 20 & also a Gunmaker & brother John is 12 (born Newbury). Elizabeth Alwell, 20, from Enborne is a House Servant.

 No census record of Frank appears in 1861. However, he has gone back to London as several newspapers have reports of him being the victim of a robbery & attempted garrotting (strangling) by two ruffians (see newspaper section) in March 1861.

 On 1 April 1863 there is a notice in the Morning Herald that Frank married the widow, Anne East at St George’s, Borough near Southwark on 26 March 1863 (see newspaper section). No record has been found of that marriage.

 In 1866 there are various notices in the London Gazette & South London Press, between February & April, of Frank taking out a patent for an invention to improve the construction of breech-loading guns. Unfortunately, the patent is voided the same year for non-payment to keep it valid (see newspaper section).

In 1871 there is a record of a F.E. Walker, 40 & born in London, living on his own at 263, Waterloo Rd., Southwark. His occupation has been transcribed as Gem maker but I believe it to be Gun maker & that it is the same Frank. He is recorded as unmarried so unsure as to what happened to wife Anne. No records found.

 On 22 December 1873, Frank marries Fanny Elizabeth Marnes at Kennington, Surrey. Q4 1873 Lambeth 1d 501.

Their daughter, Jeanette, was baptised on 30 May 1875 & the mother’s name is recorded as Mary Elizabeth.

 1881 sees Frank, 50, back in Northbrook St., Newbury with Fanny, 38, & daughter Jeanette Elizabeth, 5, who was born in Lambeth. They have also taken in a boarder.

 In 1884, Frank’s name appears in local newspapers as a signatory, along with many others, of a complaint to the Gas Committee of Newbury Council concerning “the price of gas & its defective quality”.

 Fanny dies, aged 42. Q2 1885 Newbury 2c 158.

 The Berkshire Electoral Registers show Frank at 86, Northbrook St., Newbury from 1882 – 1887; 29, Bartholomew St in1889 & Cheap Street 1895 – 1899.

 In the Autumn of 1890, there are various mentions in Newbury papers of his name under Bankruptcy but no details & with a final notice to creditors being given in June 1891.

 In 1891 Frank is living at 29, Bartholomew St., Newbury. He continues to be a Gunmaker & Jeanette, 15, lives with him.

 The Reading Mercury reported in April 1897 that Frank was summonsed for not storing explosives properly – see newspaper section. The same year an ejectment order by Newbury Building Society was granted against him.

 In 1901, they have moved to 1. Prince’s Place, near Cheap Street, Newbury. Frank is 70, Gun maker (General Binding), & Jeanette, 25, is now a Hand Lace maker.

 Frank dies, aged 71, whilst living at 11, Cheap St. Q4 1902 Newbury 2c 145.

He is buried at NRC on 6 October 1902.

Author: dalton
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