John Winder [wi.4.5.5]

John Winder was the son of Robert Winder & Letitia Boswell born 1832 at Church St, Edmonton, Middx & christened December 7th, 1832 at All Saints, Edmonton, Middx.

In 1841 John was living with his family at Lower Edmonton, London. His father, Robert, tragically died when he was trampled by one of his own coach horses in 1849.

In 1851 John was an apprentice to a baker James Alexander of Park Place, Newington, Surrey.

John married Eliza Mary Ager on December 2nd, 1854 at St George the Martyr, Southwark. John was a baker at the time of his wedding & witnesses were William E Monk & Charlotte Wyatt (Eliza's cousin). Eliza was a widow & was born Eliza Mary Hern c1831 at Newington, the daughter of Sarah & William Hern, a grocer. Eliza had previously married William Philip Ager, a baker, on June 19th, 1848 at St Peter’s Church, Walworth. Eliza & William had a son, William Philip Ager, who sadly died aged 7 months in March 1850. Two years later her husband William also died, aged 24, at Walworth, St Mary Newington.

In 1861 John & Eliza were living at Webbs Cottages, Edmonton where John was now an omnibus conductor. At home were son William J (5) & daughter Eliza S (2). Their other son Robert Henry (4) was visiting his grandmother Sarah Hearn (76) at Newington who was a widow. There was also a niece visiting her – Charlotte Wyatt (30).

At the time of the 1871census John was a licensed victualler employing 2 men at a pub called the Prince Regent at Hoxton New Town, Shoreditch, London. With him were Eliza & sons William & Robert & daughter Eliza Sarah. Also living with them was John’s mother Letitia Winder, described as ‘widow of an omnibus proprieter’ aged 69.

John Winder (courtesy of Annie Pentecost)

Eliza died on January 20th, 1879, aged 49, at 188 Camden Rd, Camden Town, & was buried on January 25th at All Saints, Edmonton, Middx.

At the time of the 1881 census widower John & family were still living at Camden Rd & John was now a wine merchant. His 2 sons, both wine merchants, & daughter were still at home & also with them was nephew George Frederick Buchanan, the son of John’s sister Caroline Winder.

Information about George Buchanan has been obtained from Annie Pentecost:

“After the tragic death of Caroline (Winder) Buchanan's husband, George Edmund Buchanan, in 1880, John Winder took in Caroline’s son, George Frederick Buchanan, who was only 5 years old to live with him and his family. He educated George Frederick and it is said that he would have provided handsomely for him in his will as he was very fond of him. Unfortunately, George messed this up when he refused to read to him one evening because he was entertaining a friend instead. John apparently excluded George from his will as a result, and presumably George left the home "under a cloud".

John gained considerably from the will of his grandmother, Elizabeth Winder, when it was resworn in 1884 as the following extract from the Probate Calendar for 1884 shows:

WINDER Elizabeth
Personal Estate £100
Resworn August 1884
£1,570 5s 1d

14 July Admin (with the will) of the Personal Estate of Elizabeth Winder late of Burnham in the County of Buckingham, Widow who died 16 Sept. 1840 at Burnham left unadministered by Robert Winder the Son the Sole Executor and one of the Residuary Legateees was granted at the Principal Registry to John Winder of 17 Fenchurch St. in the City of London. Wine Merchant the Administrator of the Personal Estate of the said Robert Winder. Former Grant Prerogative Court of Canterbury, 1840.

John also benefited from the unadministered part of his dead father’s estate although that only amounted to £150. Robert died intestate.
… letters of administration of the personal estate were granted to John Winder of 17 Fenchurch Street in the City of London, Wine Merchant, the natural and lawful Son and one of the next of Kin of the said intestate, he having been first sworn well and faithfully to administer the same. Letitia Winder the lawful Widow and Relict of the said deceased having died without taking upon her the Letters of Administration of his Personal Estate".

John died November 12th, 1887 at 188 Camden Rd, Camden Town & his will was proved on December 1st, 1887 by William John Winder of 47 Lawford Rd, Kentish Town, wine merchant & William Drage of 18 Burghley Rd, Kentish Town, traveller. John’s personal estate was £530.5s.4d & was resworn in June 1889 as £12,285.1s.8d.

The London Evening Standard of December 18th, 1887 advertised the sale by auction of John’s home at 188 Camden Rd. It was described as an attractive semi-detached villa residence with capital garden, coach house & stabling to the rear.

Administration of Eliza Mary’s estate was granted in January 1889 to William Drage of Roslyn Villa, Burghley Rd, Kentish Town, gentleman & one of the executors of John’s will. Her effects were £336.13s.4d.

The children of John Winder & Eliza Mary Ager were:

wi.4.5.5.1 William John Winder born at Church St, Edmonton & christened October 5th,1855 at All Saints, Edmonton; died December 13th, 1894 at 3 Albert Terrace, Regents Park, London
wi.4.5.5.2 Robert Henry Winder born Oct-December 1856 at Edmonton; died on December 1st, 1888 at 167 Junction Rd, Holloway, Middlesex
wi.4.5.5.3 Eliza Sarah Winder born April-June 1858 at Edmonton & christened July 19th, 1882 at St Paul’s, St Pancras; died July 3rd,1889 at 4 Hargrave Park Rd, Upper Holloway, Middlesex