Poverty, dont know they are born today.

[Captain Kong]

I was doing research for my family tree and someone sent me this article, of a family in Liverpool with the same name as me, Aspinall, they lived by where the Eldonian Club is today off Vauxhall Road.
Fortunately they are not related. BUT it is a very sad True story. also interesting of a way of life hopefully gone.

Cheers
Brian
here it is. ......................
Dreadful deaths from starvation 1855

Aug 30th 1855

Dreadful deaths from starvation

On Saturday one of the most painful and harrowing inquiries ever held before the borough coroner was investigated, disclosing an unparallel degree of parental inhumanity, on the part of the prisoners. William and Mary ASPINALL, two of whose children have died from absolute starvation, while the life of another is despaired of.

The prisoners live in Eldon Place, Vauxhall Rd, and on Friday morning after a quarrel which rose the whole neighbourhood, the female prisoner called to a policeman, and said one of her children had died on Wednesday, from the cruelty of the male prisoner.

The officer called for a surgeon and by his advice took the prisoner to the bridewell. Information was then given to Mr BLAKE, the coroner’s beadle, who, on going to the house of the prisoners, found several children almost black with filth, and in a perfect state of nudity. One about 4yrs named William Valentine, was huddled up in a chair like a dog. The poor child was so emaciated that, though now well attended by the dispensary surgeons, his life is despaired of.

One child, named Emma, a little child about 1yr 10mths old, was dead in bed, a mere dirty skeleton, and most horrible to look at, and another child, about 4mths old who died on Friday night while Mr BLAKE and the surgeon were present, from evident starvation. The inquest held on Friday was soley on the body of the poor child Emma. The jury and the coroner visited the house where these dreadful scenes occurred, and were quite horror struck with the sight, the premises being dirty and desolate to a degree scarcely imaginable.

The father was a clerk in the London and North Western Railway office, at a salary of £75 a year.

The jury returned a verdict of, “wilful murder” against both the inhuman parents.

On Saturday Mr CARR the governor of the workhouse, accompanied by Mr BLAKE, went to the prisoners house, and placed an experienced nurse in attendance upon the children, with means to acquire everything that might be required towards aiding their recovery.

The coroner’s jury held an inquiry on Monday into the death of the second child. The evidence adduced was of the same harrowing kind as that brought forward on Saturday, the children being witnesses.

The photographs which have been taken in the room, and of the children themselves, will be placed before the judge of assize who tries the prisoners.

November 8th 1855

The late starvation case

It will be recollected that 6 of the ASPINALL children were placed in the Workhouse when their unnatural parents were committed for trial on a charge of ill-treating and starving two other children to death. We regret to say that the two youngest of the then surviving children died within a few hours of each other on Sunday, though every care and attention had been given to them by the Workhouse officials. They were admitted on the 27th August, and were emaciated beyond recovery at the time. Four children still survive of the six.

December 13th 1855

In brief :-

William ASPINALL and Mary ASPINALL indicted for the manslaughter of their daughter Emma.

Mr Tindal ATKINSON and Mr BRETT for the prosecution

Mr MONK defended William ASPINALL, Mr SIMON, Mrs ASPINALL.

Family consisted of 10 children, father and eldest son both clerks at North West Railway Co, father earned £75 yr, son £20yr.

Neighbours and police thought the house seemed, “shut up”, and took that it was untenanted. Police were called to the house on the 24th August by the wife, who was described as being in a drunken state, and complained that her husband had ill-treated her and murdered their child another child was also dying of starvation.

Police entered the house by the back door which was opened by William ASPINALL, who on being questioned replied, “Ask me no questions and I’ll tell you no lies.” They then proceeded into the kitchen where they saw 18mth old Emma lying dead on the bed, another child at her side, with a thin covering over both. They saw two other children in slight clothing and a boy of about 4 crouched in the hearth by the fender, before the dying embers, in complete nudity. Three other children were lying on a board on the flagstones with a single quilt over them, the eldest boy and girl were standing. There was scarcely any furniture in the rooms and the whole house was filthy and dirty, there were no signs of food whatever.

The children were black with dirt, the younger ones emaciated, particularly the poor infant partner of the poor child Emma, who in fact died two days later.

The two constables involved were James METCALFE and James CALDWELL, who described there findings as above. CALDWELL also said, the woman had told him her husband had kicked one of the children to death and that she was drunk.

Edward BROWN, house surgeon, described the scene at the house and said he had been a surgeon at Blackburn and that after he had made a post mortem found the child had died of starvation, also saying, “I never saw the “Living Skeleton” at London.”

George KEMP surgeon and Frederick D. FLETCHER Professor of Anatomy also carried out a post mortem and found the child had died of starvation.

Sarah BELL a widow who lived next door had seen the children in the yard lying about, they always entered the house by the back door, the children were neglected in meat and cleaning. She heard the parents arguing and went to the house on the 22nd of August and saw the child dead on the bed.

Richard SALTER, Cashier of the Liverpool branch of the London and North Western Railway confirmed the prisoners wages of £75 a year and his son’s of £20 a year, payable monthly. He also said that William ASPINALL had an advance on his wages of £4 in August saying he had a very uncomfortable house.

John ASPINALL, aged 17, son, confirmed he worked for the London and North Western Railway as a clerk, Emma was his sister and there were 10 of them. He said, “I saw my sister getting thinner, I had my breakfast and tea at home. We didn’t have plenty to eat and found a want of food at home occasionally. My mother complained that she hadn’t enough money to get things that we requisite. I gave my earnings lately to my father. My father gave money to my mother and had three weeks before my sister died. I have given my mother two sovereigns at a time. The little girl did not always get food when she cried for it.

My father left home at 8 and returned sometimes at 12 then left again returning at 6. I have seen my father give the little girl a “butty” of bread and butter and give the children breakfast when they wished for it. My father says my mother spends the money on drink, My father got us our dinner on Sunday. The children did not dine with my father and myself, I cannot say what they had for dinner. I have seen my father tipsy.”

William Henry ASPINALL, aged 12

Said, “I live with my father and mother, my mother gets up at 12. I have seen my mother tipsy often. We have porridge in the morning and bread and butter for tea.” [here the poor child sobbed bitterly on looking at his parents in the dock] “ I asked mother for something to eat and she said, “Go get it yourself.” Emma used to cry when my parents where at breakfast, my mother did not do anything when Emma cried, she called her a picture of misery. When Emma had bread in her hand the other children took it from her. My mother sent me to the public house for gin and drank the gin when I brought it. My sister Mary used to give Emma bread sometimes.

The jury found Mary ASPINALL guilty of manslaughter William ASPINALL was acquitted.

[Red Lead Ted]

Very sad tale Brian, And I don't for one minute question it. All I would say is as I am sure Jim, And a few other lads on the site would confirm, Liverpool woman born before the turn of the 19th century and ever since right through to the 1970s and in a lot of cases today had a golden rule the kids come first, Even when I was a young kid in the 50s I have great memories of eating in more family homes than I could count. Everyones door in the street was open for any child to walk in and sit and eat if they were hungry my own Mother and Grandmother included there seemed to be more street urchins in them days as we were known and most familys had at least 5 kids and in most cases a lot more, But woman went out of there way to visit or invite kids off the street they new could have not eaten that day. Still the same in a lot of communities today. Regards Terry.

[happy daze john in oz]

In those days you had two choices, work and live or not and die. Today they vote in govs to see what they can get,how big will the hand out be, how much is in it fort me. Little wonder so may countries are in strife.

[Captain Kong]

The story is very True , it was published in a Southport Newspaper, .
But Mrs Aspinall. [ hopefully is no relation] seemed to be a plonky on the Gin.
1855 I believe most of the people in England were all on the gin and some terrible happenings from it.
It wasnt until the first World War that some kind of order was introduced, Pubs then had to have Licenced Hours of openening and so on. to keep the workers sober for the war effort.
My own Grandad, after winning to lottery drank himself to death as the Pub Landlord would not pay him the money , he could have it over the Bar instead, He worked in the shipyard in Vickers in Barrow.two weeks later he was dead. The new Hours law had not started yet, this was August 1914.
So My grandma and mother and her sisters were also in in that kind of poverty due to the demon drink.
Cheers
Brian

[cappy]

In those days you had two choices, work and live or not and die. Today they vote in govs to see what they can get,how big will the hand out be, how much is in it fort me. Little wonder so may countries are in strife.

###a few persons on here wont like tne first part of your statement....and like the second part even less .....but sadly both statements are the truth.....cappy

[Jim Brady]

How true you are cappy,yes there are some that would like to see those days back.I suppose the statement are true if that is your line of thinking,how can you begrudge a child a crust of bread.END OF.
Regards.
Jim.B.

[Louis the fly]

Poverty, starvation, infant deaths, hopelessness, illiteracy, slums and rampant disease.
Parents forced to send their 12 year old daughters into servitude. If they fell pregnant by their gentlemen employers they were given to the nuns or the workhouse.
The good old days, some seem to yearn for.

[cappy]

[QUOTE=Jim Brady;194170]How true you are cappy,yes there are some that would like to see those days back.I suppose the statement are true if that is your line of thinking,how can you begrudge a child a crust of bread.END OF.
Regards.
Jim.B.[/QUOTE#####well jim ....they have the food banks .....sorry you have had your END OFF was it painful........loosen up man lol cappy

[cappy]

Poverty, starvation, infant deaths, hopelessness, illiteracy, slums and rampant disease.
Parents forced to send their 12 year old daughters into servitude. If they fell pregnant by their gentlemen employers they were given to the nuns or the workhouse.
The good old days, some seem to yearn for.

####jeez louis im glad i dont live in lincs......cappy

[Captain Kong]

I have just been reading on Google, `Hogarths Prints` of Gin Lane, the famous print of Gin Lane, everyone drunk , a baby dropped and falling down the steps into the Thames, mother drunk . The story is a good account of the conditions of how people "Lived?", Being drunk all the time was preferable to the pain of being sober in those terrible conditions. Only one child in Five lived to five years old. Gin was cheap, cheaper than food. gin was fed to kids to shut them up,
It was only the Ist World war that changed the conditions and brought order into some lives.
It is a wonder how Britain became the world leading country with a history of such depravation.
So this is probably the conditions that Mrs Aspinall lived in, in 1855. Being drunk on the Gin preferable to the pain of living in those conditions sober.
I do remember in the 30s and 40s, If I was at a mates house i was always given a jam butty by his mam. and the same from our house for my mates.
I know that Grandads drunken death caused a lot of deprivation to my mother and her sisters and her mother.
Aunt Elsie sent at the age of 12 to work `in service` in a big house in Cumberland, Mother at the age of 12 sent 90 miles away to work in the cotton mills of Bolton. Grandma, at the age of 38 getting pregnant from a 21 year old lad in her street on Walney Island and having to have a shotgun marriage. Then he skinned out and disapeared to New Zealand.
Such were the conditions of those days.
Interesting looking back.
Cheers
Brian
on google,
PDF] A Look at 18th Century London through the prints of William Hogarth ...
www1.umassd.edu/euro/2007papers/grubb.pdf‎CachedSimilar
convey us back to those bustling London streets of 250 to 300 years ago. The
essence ... Apparently the impact of his father's imprisonment broke Richard ...
scenes of Gin Lane without feeling sadness for the people in the picture. You can
.... child is being dropped to its death by its drunk and morally bankrupt mother. A.