John Laing

He was born c. 1847 in Glasgow, the son of Robert Laing and Marjory (or Marion) May Johnston (nee Drysdale). To date research has found him in the 1871 census lodging at 19 Weymouth Street, Marylebone, his occupation shown as Painter. In 1881 he is lodging at 107 Lisson Grove, still unmarried and a Painter. In 1885 in Marylebone he married Eleanor Tummonds. They had 4 children: Robert (b. 1886), daughter Marjorie Eleanor Jean (b.1887), daughter Jessie Olive Susan (b.1890) and son Charles Lauder (b.1893). Research to date has found no record of the family in the 1891 census. However, as stated by his sister in the inquest below, he was living at 99 North Street, Edgware Road, London. Whilst he was employed at Sandleford Priory he was lodging with Joseph Barson, a County Court Bailiff and previously a Police Constable, at Montagu Terrace, Newtown Road. After the inquest he was buried on 22 March 1899 aged 52 years.

His employer Messrs. Hewetson and Milner were cabinet makers and house furnishers in Tottenham Court Road, known then as London's "furniture street" (Maple's, Heal's and Shoolbred's etc.). It is interesting to note that his sister Henrietta's occupation in the 1891 census is stated as a carpet sewer living at 22 Earl Street, Marylebone. In the 1901 census she is still living at the same address and so is John Laing's widow, Eleanor with her son Robert and daughter Marjorie Eleanor Jean. Henrietta died a spinster on 10 February 1926 in Marylebone aged 85 years and Eleanor died in Paddington 1937 aged 86 years.

Sources: 1871 and 1881 Census; BMD 3Q 1885 Marriage; BMD 1Q 1899 Death.

No Mrs. P. Code

Sources: