Page 58 - ‘A Blaker Family History’ The family history of Joseph Blaker (1916-2007; ‘Joe’)

© The Blaker Society
© The Blaker Society

Married: 23 December 1876, aged 22 years, married John Blaker; All
Saints, Upper Norwood, Surrey
Died: 6 February 1938, aged 83 years; 84a Kingswood Road, Clapham,
Wandsworth

Emily was one of at least 3 children born to William Rump (1814- ) and
Mary Ann Blanchflower (nee Aiger; 1817- ). William was a ‘Gardener’
who was born in Wooton, Norfolk, and later moved to Streatham, Surrey.

6.20.2 John Blaker and Emily Rump
Their marriage certificate showed that neither John nor Emily could write
their names, as they simply made an ‘X’ mark in place of a signature. The
church where John and Emily were married has since been redeveloped,
and a new building stands on the site in Lyham Road, Streatham.

All Saints Church, Lyham Road, Streatham

It is not clear where John and Emily initially lived after their marriage, but
it was most likely in the Wandsworth/Croydon area. Although they
moved to several different rented properties during their married life,
they remained in Norwood or Streatham for most of their married lives.

John and Emily had nine children:
• William George: b. 1877, Norwood, Surrey
• Emily Caroline: b. 1880, Norwood
• Alfred John: b. 1882, Norwood
• Lavinia Hetty: b. 1885, Streatham
• Christopher John: b. 1888, Streatham
• Mary Ann: b. 1890, Streatham
• Emma Maude: b. 1893, Streatham
• Beatrice Alice: b. 1895
• Edward John: b. 1896, Norwood

Some researchers have suggested that John may have had an illegitimate
son, Harry, before his marriage to Emily. It is unclear whether Harry
Blaker (1873- ) is John’s son. Rather it is likely that the records have
been incorrectly attributed/transcribed, or that John had ‘adopted’ a close
relative to provide him with a home. Attempts to trace records of the
birth of Harry/Henry Blaker/Blake have so far failed. Whilst Harry’s place
of birth was recorded in two Census records as ‘Norwood’, and detailed in
www.blaker.org.uk as 24 June 1873, Norwood, no corresponding birth
record has been found for Wandsworth (i.e. Norwood), Greater London,
Kent, Surrey or Sussex. Harry is a mystery!

In 1877, eleven months after their marriage, John and Emily had their
first child, William George, who was born at 6 Glaister Road, Norwood.