Letts, Son & Co. Limited: History

 

The Company[i]

This firm was established sometime around 1830[ii] as that was the first year it was listed in city directories as Letts & Son, stationers at 95 Cornhill in London.  A stationer was “a person or store selling paper, pens, and other writing and office materials”.[iii]  The founder was John Letts who started a stationery business in 1796 and was first listed in city directories in 1810.  John originated the idea of combining a journal with a calendar thereby creating the world’s first commercial diary in 1812 which he also published.  This became a major success and by 1820 he expanded the concept and produced a variety of diaries of differing sizes.  Prior to 1830 he was consistently listed in city directories in 1810[iv], 1815[v], 1820[vi] and 1825[vii] as John Letts at 95 Cornhill, although in 1820 his address was listed as 95 Royal Exchange.  According to old maps of London, the Royal Exchange was always located on the north side of a street named Cornhill which could explain why in some directories his address was 95 Cornhill and in others it was listed as 95 Royal Exchange.  The Royal Exchange[viii] was originally built in the 16th century to act as the center of commerce for the city of London, however, it was destroyed during the Great Fire of London in 1666.  A new complex was erected in its place in 1669, then the tower over the entrance needed to be replaced in 1821 and sixteen years later in 1838 the entire structure was also destroyed by a fire.  A third building, the one picture here[ix] and seen today, which “adheres to the original layout - consisting of a four-sided structure surrounding a central courtyard where merchants and tradesmen could do business” was opened by Queen Victoria in 1844.  Since the area was being rebuilt during those years that could also be the reason the Letts company’s address was sometimes listed differently.  It seems most likely that John Letts decided to change the name of his company to Letts & Son when his son Thomas joined the firm after completing an apprenticeship there sometime around 1827[x]. 

 

Around 1835[xi] when John retired Thomas took over the business and expanded it to include other merchandise, although diaries were their most popular products.  By 1839[xii] the company sold twenty-eight varieties of dairies including a small pocket sized one only a few inches long each way.  From 1849[xiii] until 1855[xiv] it was known as Letts, Son & Steer indicating another partner named Steer joined the business during those years.  The 1850[xv] London directory provides information regarding their new product line and where their stores were located because it was listed that year as “Letts, Son & Steer, stationers, printers, publishers & mapsellers, 8 Royal Exchange, & 10 Little St. Thomas Apostle”.  The firm also became well-known for their maps.  Mr. Steer[xvi] must have left the business shortly thereafter because the name was changed again and from 1858[xvii] to 1870[xviii] it was Letts, Son & Co.   Under Thomas’s leadership the company continued to expand and won a prize medal for their diaries at the International Exhibit of 1862[xix] in London. The firm was listed in an 1865[xx] directory as shown here.  By 1870[xxi] they added a “steam printing & binding works, & wholesale & shipping department, & show rooms, North road, New cross SE”.  The factory at New Cross, about 5 miles south of the Royal Exchange, was added because they needed a place where they could manufacturer the several hundred thousand items they sold annually[xxii].

 

By 1861[xxiii] the three eldest surviving sons of Thomas Letts joined their father’s business.  It seems most likely that the eldest son Thomas Alton Letts (Thomas Jr.) took over the lead role sometime between 1861 and 1871 when his father retired and the two brothers Charles John Letts and George Barry Letts assisted him.  According to the 1871[xxiv] census Thomas Jr. was listed as a stationer employing 100 men, 50 boys and 50 women that year whereas Charles was simply listed as a stationer and George was listed as a wholesale export stationer printer.  Further evidence that Thomas Jr. was the leader can be found in the biography about their father which was submitted to a British publisher by Thomas Alton Letts of New York[xxv].   At the end of 1870[xxvi], the firm was converted to a limited liability company and in 1875[xxvii] was listed as “Letts, Son & Co. Limited, stationers, 8 Royal Exchange EC, 22 Pudding lane EC & North road, New cross road SE”.  During the next 9 years business operations moved from the Royal Exchange to 33 King William Street and 72 Queen Victoria Street by 1880[xxviii].  Also, in 1880[xxix] Charles left the firm and established his own stationary business which he named Charles Letts & Co. at 12 Royal Exchange.  Although both Letts companies were listed in the 1885[xxx] directory, Letts, Son & Co. Limited was liquidated at the end of 1885[xxxi] and Thomas Jr. and his family emigrated to New York, USA in 1887.  Charles Letts & Co.[xxxii] continued to do business in the London area for many years, eventually moving to Dalkeith, Scotland, just southeast of Edinburgh.  Another store named Letts of London[xxxiii], which sells a wide variety of diaries and claims to be part of Charles Letts & Co Ltd, can be found today in Coppell, Texas USA. 

 Only two Avery style needle cases have been discovered with the Letts name and both were registered in 1875[xxxiv].  The Cradle (seen on the left) was registered by the Birmingham die-sinker and stamper Buncher and Haseler and the Queen’s Footstool (seen on the right) was registered by W. Avery & Son from Redditch.   What makes these needle cases interesting is the fact that the Letts company’s 22 Pudding Lane address was stamped on the bottom.  Based on city directories, Letts only had a shop or store at that address for a short period of time around 1875 the same year these needle case designs were registered.  This means these two needle case must have been manufactured around that time.

The Letts Owners

John Letts was born c1772/73.  In 1800 he married Mary Spicer in Saffron Walden, Essex, a town 49 miles north of Central London.  After their marriage they moved to London and settled in the Cornhill/Coleman Street area where their two children were born: John Jr. in 1800 and Thomas c1804.  Mary died there in 1815 at age 41 and John married his second wife Frances Debenham a year later in 1816 at Bishops Stortford, Hertfordshire, 38 miles north of London and 12 miles south of Saffron Walden.   John and Frances had 4 children between 1817 and 1823 all born at 95 Royal Exchange where the family presumably lived and where John had his stationery business: Edwin, Emma, Mary Ann and Fanny.  Prior to 1839, probably around the time John retired and his son took over his stationery business, John and Frances moved to Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, 21 miles north of London where they lived for the rest of their lives.  Frances died in London in 1848 at age 59 presumably while visiting her daughter Emma and was buried in a vault at the St. Olave Church in London where her step-son was a rector.  Three years later in 1851 John died at his home in Broxbourne and was buried in the same vault at St. Olave as Frances.  His will which was written in 1842 mentions his wife and his five surviving children including the husbands of his two daughters.

 

The Letts family must have had some degree of wealth because their eldest son attended Cambridge University and became Reverend John Letts of St. Olave’s Church on Hart Street, a few blocks northwest of the Tower of London.  Reverend John Letts was born in London in 1800 and married Charlotte Davis there in 1825.  They had 3 children: Alfred, Mary and Ellen, and 4 servants in 1851 while living next to St. Olave’s Church where John was the rector from 1837 until his death in 1857 at age 57.  The second son Thomas, who is discussed in the next paragraph, carried on his father’s stationery business whereas the third son Edwin who was born c1817 immigrated to Peru and married a local woman there named Manuela Cornejo in 1848.  Although the youngest daughter Fanny died approximately a year after her birth in 1822, the other two daughters married brothers.  Emma, who appears to be a twin with her brother Edwin, was born c1817 and was married to John Henry Roberts a surgeon in 1839 at St. Olave’s by her half-brother Reverend John Letts.  In 1861 Emma and Mr. Roberts had 6 children: Spencer, Frances, Mary, Bertha, Sydney and Arthur, 5 servants and lived at St. John’s Wood Terrace in Marylebone, just north of Regents Park.  The youngest surviving daughter of John and Frances Letts was Mary Ann who was born c1820.  Mary Ann married Reverend Charles Coleby Roberts in Hertfordshire in 1841 who was the brother of her brother-in-law. 

 

Thomas Letts was the second son of John Letts and his first wife Mary Spicer[xxxv].  He was born in 1804[xxxvi] and baptized that year at St. Stephen on Coleman Street in London.  Thomas was educated at Dr. Crosby’s school in Greenwich and then was apprenticed to his father’s stationery business[xxxvii].  After his father retired in 1835, Thomas carried on the Letts business which became very successful under his direction.  In 1837 at age 33 Thomas married Harriet Cory at St. Dunstan in the East, a church a few blocks west of the Tower of London.  Thomas and Harriet had 4 children: Thomas Alton, Charles William (who died less than a year after his birth of fever), Charles John and Harriet Louisa.  The family live at 8 Cornhill near the Royal Exchange shopping area where Thomas had his stationery business.  Unfortunately, Harriet died eight days after the birth of their last child Harriet in 1841 and was buried at the Norwood Cemetery in Lambeth.  A year later John married his second wife Emma Horwood Barry at St. Mary in Newington, Surrey, a section of London just south of the Thames River.  By 1851 the family was living in Sydenham in the Lewisham district of south London near what is now known as Crystal Palace Park[xxxviii] and they had 4 servants.  Thomas and Emma had 7 children between 1845 and 1861 who were born in the Lewisham area: George Barry, Arthur Frederick (who died at age 2 years and 7 months of whooping cough), Annie Frances, Ernest Frederick, Edmund Albert, Oswald Herbert and Harold Arthur.  In 1864[xxxix] Thomas acquired property in the town of Chale on the Isle of Wight[xl] where he presumably built South View House (pictured here[xli]) and spent time during the last ten years of his life.  In 1871 the family was most likely visiting Hastings before returning to the Lewisham area where they lived with their son George at Granville Park in Blackheath.  Thomas died there in 1873[xlii] at age 69 of kidney disease and was buried at Norwood Cemetery in Lambeth.  His estate valued at £800 passed to his wife.  At some point after his death, Emma moved to the Newton Heath area of Manchester to be near her son Ernest who lived there.  She died in 1892 in Ireland while visiting her other son Edmund in Belfast and left an estate of £189 to her son Ernest. 

 

The four youngest surviving sons of Thomas Letts pursued careers different from their father.  The fourth son, Ernest Frederick Letts who was born in 1850, attended Oxford University in 1871 and received a B.A. from Trinity College in Dublin in 1874.  He married an Irish woman who was born in Dublin, Mary Isabel Ferrier, in Ranmore, Surrey in 1874 and they had 3 children: Mary, Dorothy and Winifred.  In 1878 the family moved to the Manchester area where Ernest became the precentor of Manchester Cathedral from 1878-85 and later the rector of neighboring Newton Heath in 1885.  Sometime after 1901 Ernest and Mary moved to the Bournemouth area on the southern coast of the England where he died in 1904 leaving an estate of £935 to his wife.  Edmund Albert Letts was the fifth son.  He was born in 1852, studied chemistry and became a professor of Chemistry at Queens College in Dublin, Ireland.  In 1883 Edmund married Annie Elizabeth Gilmore in Carrickfergus, Ireland, a town 12 miles north of Belfast, where Annie’s family lived. His brother Reverend Ernest F. Letts performed their marriage ceremony.  Edmund and Annie had at least 1 child: Bertram and spent most of their lives in the Belfast area.  Edmund died of injuries sustained during a bicycle accident in 1918 at age 65 while visiting Croft House in Ventnor on the Isle of Wight leaving an estate of £1,278 to his widow.  The sixth son Oswald Herbert Letts was born in 1859.  In 1875 at age 16 Oswald was indentured as an apprentice to the Merchants Navy but died less than a year later in 1876 at age 17 when he fell from a loft on the ship Euterpe and was killed at sea.  Harold Arthur Letts, the seventh son of Thomas Letts was born in 1861 and attended Merton College until 1881.  He thereafter became a postmaster until his death in 1884 at age 24 of heart disease while visiting his brother Ernest  in Manchester.  Harold’s estate of £113 passed to his brother Reverend Ernest Letts.

 

The three eldest sons of Thomas Letts joined their father in his stationary business by 1861 as all three were living with their father that year and their occupations were listed as stationer.  The eldest Thomas Alton Letts (referred to as Thomas Jr. for the rest of this narrative) who was born in 1838 married Catherine Elizabeth Scott in 1861 in Penge, Surrey, a town in south London a couple miles south of Sydenham.  By 1871 he was living in Deptford, Greenwich, six miles southeast of Central London, with his wife, 3 children, his father-in-law and mother-in-law and 5 servants, working as a stationer employing 100 men, 50 boys and 50 women.  By 1881 Thomas Jr. and Catherine had 5 children: Rosa, Percy, Norah, Bertha and Victor and Thomas continued working as a printer and stationer manager.  Presumably because the Letts, Son & Co business failed, Thomas Jr. and his family decided to immigrate to the USA in 1887.  They settled in Staten Island, New York where Thomas Jr. worked as a librarian.  His wife died there in 1912 and Thomas Jr. died 15 years later in 1927.  The second surviving son was Charles John Letts who was born in 1839.  Charles spent his entire adult life as stationer or publisher and remained in the London area, living in the south London areas of Lewisham, New Cross and South Norwood in Croydon for a number of years.  He married Sarah Ashworth in Rochdale, Lancashire, a town near Manchester in 1866 and they had four children born between 1868 and 1872 in the Lewisham and Wandsworth sections of London.  Sarah died in 1876 at age 36 and Charles married his second wife Eliza Petrie in 1878 also in Rochdale, Lancashire.  Presumably he met Eliza who was born in Rochdale during one of his visits with his brother Ernest who lived in the Manchester area or while visiting his first wife’s relatives in that area.  During 1880 Charles left the Letts family business and established his own stationary company named Charles Letts & Co.  In 1899 Eliza died at age 56 and two years later Charles married his third wife who was 30 years younger than him, Helen Tidy in 1901 at St. Paul’s in Knightsbridge, just west of Buckingham Palace.  Charles died 11 years later of heart failure in London in 1912 and left an estate of £21,315, equivalent to £1,666,240 today[xliii].  A transcribed copy of his obituary is shown on the next page which provides additional information about his degree of success.  The third surviving son of Thomas Letts who pursued a career as a stationer was George Barry Letts who was born in 1845.   George married Thamar Eliza Earll who was 7 years his senior in Bishops Cleeve, Gloucestershire, 101 miles northwest of London, in 1870.  They lived in the Deptford, Greenwich area of southeast London for some years before moving to Thames Street in central London, then Foots Cray in Kent also in southeast London before moving to George’s father’s old residence of South View House in Chale, Isle of Wight.  George died there in 1883 of typhoid fever leaving an estate of £336 to his wife. 

 

1912 Obituary[xliv]

Death of Mr. Charles Letts, Head of the First Firm of Diarists.

     Mr. Charles J. Letts, the well-known diary publisher, has died suddenly from heart failure.

     Mr. Letts was the grandson of Mr. John Letts, the first diary publisher.

     He was a senior partner in the firm founded a century ago by his grandfather at the Royal Exchange.

     David Livingstone, Bishop Hannington, H. M. Stanley, and many other celebrities, wrote their journals in books made by Mr. Letts’ firm.  Their output of diaries is stated to amount to a million a year.

 

 

Letts, Son & Co. Limited: Images

 

The Cradle needle case interior.

 

Threadneedle Street, 2023.

 

The Queen’s Footstool needle case interior.

 

Aerial view of the Royal Exchange from the north looking south (S=Wikipedia).

 

The back of the Royal Exchange from Cornhill Street, 2023.

 

Front of the Royal Exchange, 2023.

 

Royal Exchange interior, 2023.

 

Pudding Lane street sign, 2023

 

Monument to the Great Fire of London on Monument Street between Pudding Hill and Fish St. Hill street, 2023.

 

Pudding Lane, 2023

 

33 King William Street where Letts, Son and Co. was originally located, 2023.

 

Letts, Son & Co. Limited: Genealogy

 

Generation 1: John Letts (c1772/73-1851) and Mary Spicer (c1774-1815) and Frances Debenham (c1788/89-1848)

·       Born:  c1772 (S7), c1773 (S5d), c1776 (S4).

·       Baptized: not found

·       Marriage #1: February 4, 1800 Saffron-Walden, Essex (S1m).  Listed as John Letts and Mary Spicer.

·       Wife #1’s Death: 1815 (Sburial).

·       Wife #1’s Burial:  October 12, 1815 St. Stephen, Coleman Street, London (S1burial).  Listed as Mary Letts age 41 who resided at Pavement.

·       Wife #1’s Probate: not found.

·       Marriage #2: November 16, 1816 St. Michaels, Bishops Stortford, Hertfordshire.  Listed as John Letts and Frances Debenham.

·       1841 Census: High Street, Broxbourne, Hertfordshire (S4).  Listed as John Letts age 65 indt not born in the county with Jane Jones age 30 a servant.  (Note:  the census index incorrectly lists his surname as Lotts.  Also, the abbreviation “indt” most likely means independent).

·       1841 Census Wife: Wellington Terrace, Marylebone, Middlesex (S4).  Listed as Frans Letts age 50 ind not born in the county living with J. H. Roberts age 28 a surgeon born in the county and Emma Roberts age 23 not born in the county and Henry Roberts age 8 months born in the county and 2 servants. (Note: the census index incorrectly lists Frans and the 2 servants in a separate household).

·       Wife #2’s Death: 2nd QTR 1848 City of London (S5d).  Listed as Frances Letts. Age 59 per GRO.

·       Wife #2’s Burial: May 6, 1848 St. Olave, Hart Street, City of London (S7).  Listed as Frances Letts age 60 of Broxbourne, Hertfordshire buried in the vault near the foot of the steps from door in Hart Shute.

·       Wife #2’s Probate: not found.

·       Death:  1st QTR 1851 Ware, Hertfordshire.  Listed as John Letts.  Age 78 per GRO.

·       Burial: March 29, 1851 St. Olave, Hart Street, City of London (S7).  Listed as John Letts age 79 of Broxbourne, Hertfordshire buried in the vault near the foot of the steps from door in Hart Shute.

·       Will and Probate: Written September 2, 1842 and probated May 9, 1851.  Listed as John Letts of Broxbourne, Hertfordshire which mentions his wife Frances and the following children: oldest son Reverend John Letts, sons Thomas Letts and Edwin Letts, and daughters Emma wife of John Henry Roberts a surgeon from St. John’s Wood and Mary Ann wife of Reverend Charles Colby Roberts one of the masters of St. Paul’s school. 

·       Children:

1.     John Letts (1800-1857).  Born: October 28, 1800 (S1c). Baptized: November 23, 1800 St. Peter Upon Cornhill, London (S1c), listed as John the son of John and Mary Letts.  Marriage: March 5, 1825 St. Michael, Cornhill, London (S1c), listed as John Letts a bachelor and Charlotte Davis a spinster from Deptford, Kent.  B.A. 1835, M.A. 1838 (S=Cambridge University Alumni, 1261-1900 available at ancestry.com), listed as born October 28, 1800 the son of John a bookseller of London and Susan Spicer, who resided at St. Olave’s, Hart Street, London from 1837-1857, who married Charlotte Davis, who died March 24, 1857 while visiting his son at Staunton Harold, Leicestershire, whose younger brother Thomas was the inventor of the Lett’s Diaries and erected large factories at New Cross.  1851 Census: 8 Hart St. St. Olaves, Middlesex next to the Parish church of St. Olave Hart St. (S4), listed as John Letts age 50 the rector of St. Olave Hart St who was born in London with wife Charlotte age 48 who was born in Blackheath, Kent, 3 children: Alfred age 18, Mary St. Olave age 13 and Ellen Finnie age 6 and 4 servants.  Death: 1st QTR 1857 Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire (S5d), listed as John Letts, March 24, 1857 Staunton Harold, Leicestershire (S7).  Burial: Breedon Priory, Breedon on the Hill, North West Leicestershire (S7), listed as Rev. John Letts.

2.     Thomas Letts (c1804-1873) – See Generation 2.

3.     Edwin Letts (c1817-??). Baptized: November 13, 1817 St. Stephen, Coleman Street, London (S1c), listed as Edwin son of John and Frances Letts of 95 Royal Exchange with the father’s occupation listed as stationer.  Marriage: July 2, 1848 San Pedro, Tacna, Peru (S1m), listed as Edwuin Lelts who was born in Londres with parents Juan and Francisca Lelts and Manuela Maria Basadre Y Chocano Fernandes Cornejo. (Note:  all of the Lett’s forenames listed on this record and Edwin’s birthplace were changed to reflect Spanish names).

4.     Emma Letts (c1817-??).  Baptized: November 13, 1817 St. Stephen, Coleman Street, London (S1c), listed as Emma daughter of John and Frances Letts of 95 Royal Exchange with the father’s occupation listed as stationer.  Marriage: January 23, 1839 St. Olave Hart St., London (S3), listed as Emma Letts age 21 a spinster who resided at Broxbourne, Hertsfordshire with father listed as John Letts a gentleman and John Henry Roberts age 25 a bachelor and surgeon who resided at St. John’s Wood.  1841 Census: Wellington Terrace, Marylebone, Middlesex (S4), listed as J. H. Roberts age 28 a surgeon born in the county with Emma Roberts age 23 not born in the county and Henry Roberts age 8 months born in the county and Fran Letts age 50 not born in the county and 2 servants. (Note: the census index incorrectly lists Fran and the 2 servants in a separate household). 1861 Census:  10 Finchley Rd, St. John’s Wood Terrance, Marylebone, Middlesex (S4): listed as John H. Roberts age 47 a surgeon general practice born in London with wife Emma age 43 born in Stockwell, Surrey, 6 children: Spencer, Frances C., Mary E., Bertha M, Sydney G. and Arthur H., and 1 clergyman from Ireland and 5 servants (Note the census index includes 2 others who were part of the next household).  Husband’s Baptism: Born April 13, 1813 and baptized January 8, 1816 St. Margaret, Lothbury, London (S1c), listed as John Henry the son of John and Maria Roberts who resided at Lothbury with father’s occupation listed as surgeon. 

5.     Mary Ann L etts (c1820-??).  Baptized: May 16, 1820 St. Stephen, Coleman Street, London (S1c), listed as Mary Ann daughter of John and Frances Letts of Royal Exchange with the father’s occupation listed as stationer.  Marriage: July 15, 1841 Hertfordshire (S1m), listed as Mary Ann Letts whose father was John Letts and Charles Coleby Roberts.   Husband’s Baptism: Born March 24, 1815 and baptized January 8, 1816 St. Margaret, Lothbury, London (S1c), listed as Charles Coleby the son of John and Maria Roberts who resided at Lothbury with father’s occupation listed as surgeon (Note: the baptism index incorrectly lists Charles’s middle name are Collby). 

6.     Fanny Letts (c1822-1823).  Baptized: September 19, 1822 St. Stephen, Coleman Street, London (S1c), listed as Fanny daughter of John and Frances Letts of 95 Royal Exchange with the father’s occupation listed as stationer.  Burial: October 6, 1823 St. Mary, Lambeth (S1burial), listed as Fanny Letts of Clapham Rise age 1.

 

Generation 2: Thomas Letts (c1804-1873) and Harriet Cory (c1817-1841) and Emma Horwood Barry (c1823-1892)

·       Born: July 11, 1804 (S1c).

·       Baptized: August 2, 1804 St. Stephan, Coleman Street, London (S1c).  Listed as Thomas son of John and Mary Letts.

·       Marriage #1: January 21, 1837 St. Dunstan in the East, London (S3).  Listed as Thomas Letts a bachelor and Harriet Cory a spinster and minor.

·       Wife #1’s Death: February 27, 1841 North East, City of London Union, Middlesex (S8d).  Listed as Harriet Letts age 24 wife of Thomas Letts a stationer who died at 118 London Wall of inflammation of the womb.

·       Wife #1’s Burial: March 6, 1841 Norwood Cemetery, Lambeth (S1burial).  Listed as Harriett Letts of No. 118 London Wall age 24 ceremony performed by John Letts officiating minister.

·       Wife #1’s Probate: not found.

·       1841 Census: London Wall, St. Stephen Coleman Street W., London (S4).  Listed as Thomas Letts age 35 a stationer born in the county with 3 children all born in the county: Thomas age 3, Charles age 2 and Harriett age 3 months and 3 servants.  (Note: in the census index incorrectly lists the surname as Litts and the 3 servants are not listed with the family).

·       Marriage #2: February 26, 1842 St. Mary Newington, Surrey (S3).  Listed as Thomas Letts a widower and stationer who resided at Cornhill No. 8 whose father was John Letts a gentleman and Emma Horwood Barry a minor and spinster.

·       1851 Census: 27 Perry Hill, Sydenham, Lewisham, Kent (S4).  Listed as Thomas Letts age 47 a stationer printer employing about 30 men born in London with wife Emma Norwood age 29 born in London, 3 children all born in Sydenham, Kent: George Barry, Ernest Fredk and Annie Frances, 1 niece and 4 servants. (Note: the census index incorrectly lists Emma’s middle name as Nerward).

·       1861 Census: 87 Perry Hill, Sydenham, Lewisham, Kent (S4).  Listed as Thomas Letts age 56 a stationer in London employing 60 men born in London with wife Emma age 37 born in London, 7 children: Thomas, Charles, George, Ernest, Edmund, Oswald and Annie, 1 visitor and 4 servants.

·       1871 Census: 3 White R. Pl, Hastings, Sussex (S4).  Listed as Thomas Letts age 68 a landowner born in Finsbury, Middlesex with wife Emma H. age 48 born in Aldgate, Middlesex and 3 children: Ernest F. 4th son, Oswald H. 6th sons and Harold A. 7th son and 2 servants.

·       Death: August 9, 1873 Lewisham Union, Kent (S8d).  Listed as Thomas Letts age 69 a wholesale stationer who died of albuminuria at 23 Granville Park, Lewisham with George Barry Letts of 23 Granville Park, Lewisham in attendance (Note: according to a Google search albuminuria is kidney disease).  August 9, 1873 at 23 Granville-park (S6).

·       Burial: August 12, 1873 Norwood Cemetery, Lambeth (S1burial).  Listed as Thomas Letts of 23 Granville Park, Blackheath age 69. (Note:  the burial index incorrectly lists his surname as Lett).

·       Probate: December 24, 1873 Principal Registry (S6).  Listed as Thomas Letts Esq. formerly of South View House, Isle of Wight but late of 23 Granville-park, Lewisham, Kent with effects under £800 proved by Emma Horwood Letts of 23 Granville-park the widow.

·       Biography: Detailed biography of Thomas Letts 1803-1873 which lists details of his life including most of the other information about him listed in this chapter.  The biographical information in this book was provided by Thomas Letts eldest son Thomas Alton Letts of New York  (S=Dictionary of National Biography, Volumes 1-22 available on ancestry.com).

·       1881 Census Wife #2: not found.

·       1891 Census Wife #2: not found.

·       Wife #2’s Death: May 12, 1892 Dunavon, Craigavad, Ireland (S=The Belfast Newsletter newspaper dated May 13, 1892 available at ancestry.com).  Listed as Emma Harwood Letts widow of the late Thomas Letts of Clar Lodge, Sydenham and South View, Blackgang, Isle of Wight who died May 12, 1892 at the residence of her son Edmund Letts, Dunavon, Craigavad. (Note:  the newspaper index incorrectly lists the publication date as April 23, 1892).

·       Wife #2’s Burial: not found.

·       Wife #2’s Probate: July 14, 1892 Manchester (S6).  Listed as Emma Horwood Letts of the Rectory Newton Heath, Manchester widow who died at Dunavon Craigavad, Belfast, Ireland with effects £189 to the Reverend Ernest Frederick Letts clerk.  (Note: the probate index incorrectly lists her death place as Manchester.

·       Children:

1.     Thomas Alton Letts (1838-1927).  – See Generation 3.

2.     Charles William Letts (1838-1838).  Born: 2nd QTR 1838 City of London (S=GRO online index), listed as Charles Letts with mother’s maiden name Cory.  Death: December 12, 1838 South East, City of London Union (S8d), listed as Charles William Letts age 9 months who died of fever at No. 3 Arthur Street East with his father Thomas Letts a stationer as the informant.

3.     Charles John Letts (1839-1912). – See generation 3.

4.     Harriet Louisa Letts (1841-??).  Born: 1st QTR 1841 City of London Union (S=GRO online index), listed as Harriet Louisa Letts with mother’s maiden name Cory, February 19, 1841 (S1c).  Baptized: December 16, 1841 St. Magnus the Marty, London (S1c), listed as Harriett Louisa daughter of Thomas and Harriett Letts of 8 Cornhill with father’s occupation listed as stationer.  1841 Census: with parents (S4).

5.     George Barry Letts (1845-1883).  Born: 2nd QTR 1845 Lewisham Union (S=GRO online index), listed as George Barry Letts with mother’s maiden name Barry.  1851 and 1861 Censuses: with parents (S4).  Marriage: November 21, 1870 Bishops Cleeve, Gloucestershire (S3), listed as George Barry Letts age 25 a bachelor and stationer who resided at Bishops Cleeve whose father was Thomas Letts a stationer and Thamar Eliza Earll age 32 a spinster (Note: the marriage index incorrectly lists Thamar’s forename as Thomas).  1871 Census: 5 Carlson Terrace, Lausanne Road, Deptford, Greenwich (S4), listed as George B. Letts age 25 a wholesale export stationer printer born in Sydenham with wife Thamar E. age 32 born in Hunton (note: the census index incorrectly lists his wife’s forename as Thomas).  Death: March 29, 1883 Godshill, Isle of Wight, Southampton (S8d), listed as George Barry Letts age 37 a gentleman who died of cyprian fever and typhoid fever at South View House, Chale with his brother Harold A. Letts of Merton College, Oxford present at his death, March 29, 1883 at South View House (S6).  Probate: May 24, 1883 Principal Registry (S6), listed as George Barry Letts formerly of 3 Old-Swan-lane, Thames-Street, London afterwards of Woodfalls, Foots Cray, Kent but late of South View House, Chale, Isle of Wight, Southampton a stationer with a personal estate of £336 to Thamar Eliza Letts the widow.

6.     Arthur Frederick Letts (1846-1849). Born: 3rd QTR 1846 Lewisham Union (S5b), listed as Arthur Frederick Letts with mother’s maiden name Barry.  Death: March 4,1849 Sydenham, Lewisham Union, Kent (S8d), listed as Arthur Frederick Letts age 2 years and 7 months the son of Thomas Letts a stationer who died at Perry Hill, Sydenham of hooping cough.

7.     Annie Frances Letts (1848-??).  Born: 3rd QTR 1848 Lewisham Union (S=GRO online index), listed as Annie Frances Letts with mother’s maiden name Barry.   1851 and 1861 Censuses: with parents (S4).

8.     Ernest Frederick Letts (1850-1904).  Born: 3rd QTR 1850 Lewisham Union (S=GRO online index), listed as Ernest Frederick Letts with mother’s maiden name Barry. 1851, 1861 and 1871 Censuses: with parents (S4), listed in 1871 as Ernest F. Letts age 20 an undergraduate at Oxford born in Sydenham.  1875-8 Chaplain of St. Edwards School, Oxford, (S=Oxford University Alumni, 1500-1886 available at ancestry.com), listed as Ernest Frederick Letts who received a B.A. from Trinity College in Dublin in 1874, was the precentor of Manchester Cathedral from 1878-85 and the rector of Newton Heath since 1885 and whose father was Thomas of Sydenham, Kent.  Marriage: August 6, 1874 Ranmore, Surrey, listed as Ernest Frederick Letts age 24 a bachelor and gentleman who resided at Raumore whose father was Thomas Letts a publisher and Mary Isabel Ferrier age 27 a spinster (S3).  1891 Census: 107 All Saints Rectory Droylsden Rd, Newton Heath, Manchester, Lancashire (S4), listed as Ernest Fredk Letts age 40 clergy of rectory of Newton Heath employer born in Sydenham, Kent with wife Mary Isabel age 43 born in Dublin, 1 child, Winifred Mabel and 2 servants. 1901 Census: 182 All Saints Rectory Droylsden Rd, Newton Heath, Manchester, Lancashire (S4), listed as Ernest F. Letts age 57 clergyman church of England worker born in Sydenham, Kent with wife Mary I. age 53 born in Ireland, 3 children: Mary F. S., Dorothy M. and Winifred M. and 2 servants.  Death: 1st QTR 1904 Christchurch, Hampshire (S5d), listed as Ernest Frederick Letts age 53, March 24, 1904 (S6).  Probate: May 12, 1904 London (S6), listed Reverend Ernest Frederick Letts of Portland-house, 4 Carlton-road, Bournemouth clerk with effects £935 to Mary Isabel Letts widow.

9.     Edmund Albert Letts (aka Albert Edmund Letts) (1852-1918).  Born: 4th QTR 1852 Lewisham Union (S=GRO online index), listed as Albert Letts with mother’s maiden name Barry, August 27, 1852 (S1c).   Baptized: November 15, 1852 St. Olave, Hart Street, London (S1c), listed as Edmund Albert son of Thomas and Emma Harwood Letts of Sydenham with father’s occupation listed as stationer.  1861 Census: with parents (S4).  Marriage:  September 25, 1883 Carrickfergus (S=The Belfast Newsletter newspaper dated September 27, 1883 available at ancestry.com, Note: the newspaper index incorrectly lists the publication date as April 17, 1882, listed as Edmund Albert Letts a professor of Chemistry at Queens College in Belfast and Annie Elizabeth Gilmore who were married by Edmund’s brother the Reverend Ernest F. Letts precentor of the Cathedral, Manchester.  1911 Census: Ballcultra, Holywood Urban, Ireland (S4), listed as Edmund Albert Letts age 58 a professor of chemistry who was born in Kent, England with wife Ann age 49, 1 child: Bertram and 2 servants.  Death: February 19, 1918 Godshill, Isle of Wight (S8d), listed as Albert Edmund Letts age 65 a retired professor of Chemistry University of No. 6 Dunalin Road, Belfast who died at Croft House, Hambrough Road, Ventnor, Isle of Wight by injuries sustained through an accidental fall from his bicycle (Note: the ancestry.com death index incorrectly lists his name as Albert W. Letts), February 19, 1918 at Croft House, Ventnor, Isle of Wight (S6).  Probate: May 15, 1918 Belfast (S6), listed as Edmund Albert Letts of 6 Dunelin University-road, Belfast with effects £1,278 to Annie Elizabeth Letts widow (Note:  the probation index incorrectly lists his death place as Belfast, Ireland).

10.  Oswald Herbert Letts (1859-1876).  Born: 3rd QTR 1859 Lewisham Union (S=GRO online index), listed as Oswald Herbert Letts with mother’s maiden name Barry. 1861 and 1871 Censuses: with parents (S4).  Indenture: November 18, 1875 (S=UK, Apprentices Indentured in the Merchant Navy, 1824-1910 available at ancestry.com), listed as Oswald Herbert Letts age 16 born in Sydenham.  Death: August 1, 1876 on the ship Euterpe (S=UK, Registers of Births, Marriage and Deaths at Sea, 1844-1890 available at ancestry.com), listed as Oswald Herbert Letts age 17, fell from a loft and was killed at sea.

11.  Harold Arthur Letts (1861-1884).  Born: 3rd QTR 1861 Lewisham Union (S=GRO online index), listed as Harold Arthur Letts with mother’s maiden name Barry.  1871 Census: with parents.  1881 Merton College, Oxford (S=Oxford University Alumni, 1500-1886 available at ancestry.com), listed as Harold Arthur Letts who worked as a postmaster from 1881 until his death in August 27, 1884 and whose father was Thomas of Sydenham, Kent.  Death:  August 27, 1884 Broughton, Salford, Lancashire (S8d), listed as Harold Arthur Letts age 24, a university student who died at 270 Great Clowes Street of heart disease of 8 years with his brother Ernest F. Letts of 270 Great Gloves Street, Broughton in attendance, August 27, 1884 (S6).  Probate:  December 30, 1892 Manchester (S6), listed as Harold Arthur Letts of 270 Great Clowes Street, Higher Broughton, Manchester a gentleman with effects £113 to Reverend Ernest Frederick Letts clerk.

 

Generation 3: Thomas Alton Letts (1838-1927) and Catherine Elizabeth Scott (c1836-1912).

·       Born: 2nd QTR 1838 City of London (S=GRO online index), listed as Thomas Alton Letts with mother’s maiden name Cory.  March 12, 1838 (S1c). 

·       Baptized: December 16, 1841 St. Magnus the Marty, London (S1c).  Listed as Thomas Alton son of Thomas and Harriett Letts of 8 Cornhill with father’s occupation listed as stationer.

·       1841 Census: with parents (S4).  Listed as Thomas Letts age 3 born in the county.

·       1851 Census: 35 New Park Road, St. Michael’s, Stockwell, Lambath (S4).  Listed as Thomas Letts age 13 a pupil born in London living in the home of John Selby Watson age 40 a clergyman with other pupils.

·       1861 Censuses: with parents (S4).  Listed as Thomas Letts age 23 a stationer born in London

·       Marriage: June 16, 1865 St. John the Evangelist, Penge, Surrey (S8m), listed as Thomas Alton Letts age 27 a bachelor and stationer whose father was Thomas Letts a stationer and Catherine Elizabeth Scott age 26 a spinster. 

·       1871 Census: 4 Breakspears Rd, Deptford, Greenwich (S4), listed as Thomas Alton Letts age 33 a stationer employing 100 men, 50 boys and 50 women born in London with wife Catherine Elizabeth age 32 born in Islington and 3 children: Rosa Catherine, Percy Dalton and Norah Mary Edith, 1 father-in-law Dalton Scott and 1 mother-in-law Elizabeth Bromley Scott and 5 servants.   

·       1881 Census: 76 Whitethorms, Beckenham, Kent (S4), listed as Thomas Letts age 43 a printer and stationer manager born in London with wife Catherine age 42 born in London and 5 children: Rosa, Percy, Norah, Bertha and Victor and 4 boarders, 1 visitor and 2 servants. 

·       1900 Census: 197 Richmond, New York, USA (S4), listed as Thomas Letts born 1838 age 62 married 35 years born in England parents born in England year of immigration 1887 years in the USA 13 and occupation listed as librarian with wife Catherine E. born October 1837 age 62 who had 5 children 4 still living and 3 children: Nora, Bertha and Victor. 

·       1910 Census: not found.

·       Wife’s Death: August 10, 1912 (S7).

·       Wife’s Burial: Moravian Cemetery, Richmond County, Staten Island, NY (S7), listed as Catherine Elizabeth Letts born 1836 in London and died August 10, 1912.  Spouse: Thomas Alton Letts.  Children: Norah Mary Edith Letts, Bertha M. Letts and Victor Letts.

·       Wife’s Probate: not found.

·       1920 Census: 368 Jewett Ave, Richmond, New York (S4).  Listed as Thomas Letts age 80 who arrived in the USA in 1887 and was born in England with no occupation living with his daughter Norah age 49 who arrived in the USA in 1887 and was born in England.

·       Death: July 2, 1927 Amityville, New York, USA (S5d), listed as Thomas A. Letts. 

·       Burial: Moravian Cemetery, Richmond County, Staten Island, NY (S7), listed as Thomas Alton Letts born 1838 in London and died July 2, 1927. Spouse: Catherine Elizabeth Letts.  Children: Norah Mary Edith Letts, Bertha M. Letts and Victor Letts.

·       Probate: not found.

·       Children:

1.     Rosa Catherine Letts (1866-??).  Born: 3rd QTR 1866 Bromley Union (S=GRO online index), listed as Rosa Catharine Letts with mother’s maiden name Scott. 1871 and 1881 Censuses: with parents (S4).

2.     Percy Dalton Letts (1867-??).  Born: 3rd QTR 1867 Bromley Union (S=GRO online index), listed with no forename Letts with mother’s maiden name Scott.  1871with parents (S4): listed as Percy Dalton Letts age 3 born in Bromley and 1881 Censuses: with parents (S4), listed as Percy Letts age 13 a scholar born in Bromley.

3.     Norah Mary Edith Letts (1869-??).  Born: 3rd QTR 1869 Greenwich (S=GRO online index), listed as Norah Letts with mother’s maiden name Scott. 1871 Census: with parents, listed as Norah Mary Edith Letts age 1 born in Deptford.  1881, 1900 and 1920 Censuses: with parents (S4).

4.     Bertha Margaret Letts (1872-??).  Born: 1st QTR 1872 Greenwich Union (S=GRO online index), listed as Bertha Margaret Letts with mother’s maiden name Scott. 1881 and 1900 Censuses: with parents (S4).

5.     Victor George Ernest Letts (1873-??).  Born: 4th QTR 1873 Greenwich (S=GRO online index), listed as Victor George Ernest Letts with mother’s maiden name Scott. 1881 and 1900 Censuses: with parents (S4).

 

Generation 3: Charles John Letts (1839-1912) and Sarah Ashworth (c1840-1876) and Eliza Petrie (c1843-1899) and Helena Tidy (c1870-1927)

·       Born: 3rd QTR 1839 City of London Union (S=GRO online index), listed as Charles John Letts with mother’s maiden name Cory, July 30, 1839 (S1c).

·       Baptized: August 21, 1839 St. Magnus the Marty, London (S1c).  Listed as Charles John son of Thomas and Harriett Letts of Arthur East with father’s occupation listed as stationer.

·       1841 Census: with father (S4).  Listed as Charles Letts age 2 born in the county.

·       1851 Census: 1 Knockholt, Bromley, Kent (S4).  Listed as Charles J. Letts a pupil age 11 a stationers son born in London living with the James Sutcliffe family and 2 other pupils.

·       1861 Census: with father (S4).  Listed as Charles Letts age 21a stationer born in London.

·       Marriage #1: October 10, 1866 St. Chad, Rochdale, Lancashire (S3).  Listed as Charles John Letts age 27 a bachelor and stationer who resided in Lewisham, Kent whose father was Thomas Letts a stationer and Sarah Ashworth age 26 a spinster.

·       1871 Census: 22 Grove Rarnborough Villa, Lewisham, Kent (S4).  Listed as Charles J. Letts age 31 a stationer born in London with wife Sarah age 31 born on Rochdale, 2 children: Henry V. and Norman A, 1 brother-in-law Edward Ashworth and 3 servants.  (Note: the census index incorrectly lists the surname as Sells).

·       Wife #1’s Death: 1st QTR 1876 Hackney, London (5d).  Listed as Sarah Letts age 36.  February 17, 1876 at Brook House, Clapton, Middlesex (S6).

·       Wife #1’s Burial: not found.

·       Wife #1’s Probate: August 22,1876 Principal Registry (S6).  Listed as Sarah Letts wife of Charles John Letts late of Bradley Villa, New Cross, Surrey with effects £20 to Charles John Letts of Bradley Villa stationer.

·       Marriage #2: August 13, 1878 Rochdale, Lancashire (S8m).  Listed as Charles John Letts age 38 a widower and stationer who resided at Saint James Wood, New Cross whose father was Thomas Letts deceased a stationer and Eliza Petrie age 35 a spinster.

·       1881 Census:  27 Westfield, South Norwood, Croydon, Surrey (S4).  Listed as Charles J. Letts age 40 a stationer born in London with wife Eliza age 38 born in Rochdale, Lancashire, 4 children: Harry V., Norman A, Charles H. and Alice L. and 2 servants.

·       1891 Census: 132 Sellurst Rd, South Norwood, Croydon, Surrey (S4).  Listed as Charles Letts age 51 a stationer employer born in London with wife Eliza age 48 born in Rochdale, Lancashire, 4 children: Harry V., Norman A, Chas H. and Alice L. and 2 servants.

·       Wife #2’s Death: 1st QTR 1899 Croydon, Surrey (S5d).  Listed as Eliza Letts age 56, March 10, 1899 (S6).

·       Wife #2’s Burial: not found.

·       Wife #2’s Probate:  April 20, 1899 London (S6).  Listed as Eliza Letts of Oakhurst Ross-road, South Norwood, Surrey, wife of Charles John Letts, with effects £8,759 to Charles John Letts gentleman.

·       Marriage #3: January 15, 1901 St. Paul’s, Knightsbridge, London (S3).  Listed as Charles John Letts age 61 a widower and publisher who resided at 12 Motcomb Street whose father was Thomas Letts a publisher and Helena Tidy age 31 a spinster.

·       1901 Census: 8 Talbot M., Bloomsbury and St. Giles, Holborn, London (S4).  Listed as Charles John Letts age 61 a publisher employer born in London and Helena Letts age 31 born in South Norwood and 1servant.

·       1911 Census: not found.

·       Death: June 11, 1912 St. Mary, St. Marylebone, London (S8d).  Listed as Charles John Letts age 72 a retired diary publisher who died at 3 Stratford Court of mitral stenosis and heart failure with his wife Helena Letts as the informant (Note: according to a Google search mitral stenosis is narrowing of the mitral valve, which controls the flow of blood from the heart's left atrium to the left ventricle).  June 11, 1912 at 3 Stratford-court, Marylebone, Middlesex (S6).

·       Burial: June 15, 1912 St. John the Evangelist, Shirley, Surrey (S1burial).  Listed as Charles John Letts who resided at Cannes, S. France age 72.

·       Probate: August 16, 1912 London (S6). Listed as Charles John Letts of 3 Royal Exchange, London with £21,315 to Thomas Tidy wharfinger, Frederick Herbert Williams secretary and Percy Croft artist.

·       Third Wife’s Second Marriage:  June 21, 1921 St. Georges Campden Hill, Kensington, London (S8m).  Listed as Helena Letts age 49 a widow whose father was John Tidy deceased a gentleman  and John Philip Algie age 56 a bachelor.

·       Wife #3’s Death: 4th QTR 1927 Pancras, London (S5d).  Listed as Helena Algie age 57. October 28, 1927 at the Royal Free Hospital, Grays Inn-road, Middlesex (S6),

·       Wife #3’s Burial: not found.

·       Wife #3’s Probate: December 15, 1927 London (S6). Listed as Helena Algie of 27 Harrington-gardens, South Kensington, Middlesex, widow with effects £3,036 to Frederick Tusting Mawby solicitor

·       Children:

1.     Henry Waughan Letts (1868-??).  Born: 1st QTR 1868 Lewisham (GRO online index), listed as Henry Waughan Letts with mother’s maiden name Ashworth. 1871, 1881 and 1891 Census: with parents (S4).

2.     Norman Ashworth Letts (1870-??).  Born: 1st QTR 1870 Lewisham Union (GRO online index), listed as Norman Ashworth Letts with mother’s maiden name Ashworth.  1871, 1881 and 1891 Census: with parents (S4).

3.     Charles Hubert Letts (1871-??).  Born: 2nd QTR 1871 Lewisham Union (GRO online index), listed as Charles Hubert Letts with mother’s maiden name Ashworth.  1881 and 1891 Census: with parents (S4).

4.     Alice Lilian Letts Born (1872-??).  Born: 4th QTR 1872 Wandsworth (GRO online index), listed as Alice Lilian Letts with mother’s maiden name Ashworth.  1881 and 1891 Census: with parents (S4).

 

 

 

Avery style needle cases stamped with the Letts, Son & Co Limited 22 Pudding Lane London name.

1.     Cradle: Ornamental Design #292574 registered July 7, 1875 by Buncher & Haseler, Birmingham (S=The National Archives, Kew).

2.     Queen’s Footstool:  Ornamental Design #292318 registered June 23, 1875 by W. Avery & Son, Redditch (S=The National Archives, Kew).