Edward OUTRAM, A Leigh Butcher
A Leigh Butcher – Prosecuted
(See also Butchers in Leigh)
The Maidstone Telegraph reported on Saturday 1 May 1869 that a Leigh butcher – newly arrived in the village – had been prosecuted.
LEIGH. Edward Outram butcher of Leigh was summoned by Mr Francis, inspector of weights and measures, charged with having two weights and a pair of scales incorrect. Defendant did not appear when the case was called, and the service of the summons was proved.
Henry Francis stated. I visited defendant’s shop and found one 36lb weight 5 ½ oz short and another 2 oz short. I also found a pair of scales 5 oz against the purchaser. I do not believe there was any intention to defraud. Hooks were attached to the scales to adjust them but when they were hung on the scales were on ounce incorrect. I have cautioned the defendant’s wife before. The hooks could be easily taken off. Defendant entered the court and said he did not know anything about the matter. He took the shop about 9 or 10 weeks ago and thought the scales and weights were all correct. Mr Francis: Defendant’s son in law had the business before. Defendant: I put my daughters there to make them a home and it was not my intention for the weights to be incorrect. The Bench ordered defendant to pay 10s and costs, and told him he must be more careful for the future.
Defendant: Can I have my weights back?
Mr Francis: The weights are forfeited.
Defendant. I ought to have them back and put them right.
Mr Francis: He does not forfeit the scales.
Mr Goldsmid: Then the inspector ought to visit the house shortly after the conviction in order to see if the scales are put right.
The butcher’s shop in Leigh at this time was at Church Hill House, built in 1856: it contained 8 rooms, with a shop, washhouse, and garden. From the 1861 census and an 1862 trade directory, we know that the shop was occupied by James Waghorn, butcher, and probably followed by Edward Benton and then Edward Outram.
Edward Outram became Leigh’s butcher in about 1868: the 1867 marriage certificate of his daughter Mary Ann still referred to him as a grocer. An undated advertisement/leaflet distributed to his customers shows a list of the cost per lb of meat for the late 1860s. The leaflet states that he has recently taken the premises lately occupied by Mr Benton, butcher. In the court case above he referred to his son-in-law having the business before him. This son-in-law, Edward Benton, had married Fanny Outram in 1866 when they were living at St Marylebone and Edward’s occupation is given as a butcher. He later changed occupation: in 1871, when he and Fanny had moved back to London, he worked as a cab proprietor.
Click on this link: Edward Outram, Butcher, Leigh: Price List: 1869 Maidstone Telegraph
Edward Outram is also shown as the butcher at the time of the 1870 Sales Particulars for Hall Place but by the time of the 1871 census, he was no longer in the village but had moved back to Hever where he is given as a grocer and beer retailer. I say moved back because before coming to Leigh he lived in Hever (see 1841, 1851 and 1861 censuses). He also married Harriet Bookham at Hever in 1839. Harriet’s father was a farmer and the 1851 census shows that Edward took over her father’s farm. However, most records refer to him as a grocer and beer-house keeper/seller. Having said that, on the marriage certificates of two of his daughters in 1866 his occupation is given as a gardener. It also appears from records available that Edward and Harriet only had daughters.
Edward continued as a grocer and beer keeper until his death in 1891. Probate shows Edward as being of “The Greyhound” Hever, Kent, grocer and beer seller. He left his effects to Thomas Potts, husband of his daughter, Harriet Outram. Thomas was also a butcher.
Joyce Field (December 2023)
BACKGROUND RESEARCH – EDWARD OUTRAM and family
1892 Will Probate: Outram Edward of “The Greyhound” Hever, Kent, grocer and beerseller d. 10 Dec 1891, probate London 4 Feb to Thomas Potts, Butcher, effects £509 12s 6d resworn Nov 1892 £1128.6s
Edward Outram: born Westerham
Was Butcher at Leigh in 1869 and 1870. Born 1814. Aged 47 in 1861 when he is at Grove Cottage, Hever, a Grocer. Married 14 Nov 1839 to Harriet Bookham at Hever.
1841 census Roodlands, Hever
George Bookham 70 farmer Yes born county
Hester Bookham 20 “
Edward Outram 25 ag lab “
Harriet Outram 25 “
Fanny 12 “
Eliza 4
(n.b. Edward and Harriet later had children baptised Fanny and Eliza: it is likely these two are nieces to Edward)
1851 Hever Pigdown House
Edward Outram 39 farmer 150 acres b. Weserham
Harriet 36 b. Edenbridge
Fanny 11 b. 1840 b. Hever
Mary Ann 8 b. 1843 b. Hever
Ellen 4 b. 1847 b. Hever
Harriet 2 b. 1849 Hever
George Bookham 81 father-in-law retired farmer b. Brasted
1861 census Hever Grove Cottage Hever
Edward Outram 47 grocer
Harriet 45
Ellen 11
Harriet 12
Eliza D 8 b. 1852
(n.b. there is another daughter, I think, Lucy)
Frank age 19 b. London St Pancras
1871 census Hever
Edward Outram 58 grocer, beer retailer b. Hever
Harriet wife 55 grocer’s wife b. Edenbridge
Harriet Outram 22 b. Hever
Edward W G Outram g-son 5 b. Hever
1881 Hever
Edward Outram head 66 grocer and beer house b. Westerham
Harriet Outram 64 b. Edenbridge
Harriet dau. Unmar 32 b. Hever
Edward g-s 13 b. Hever
Edward g- 8 b. Hever
1891 census Hever
Edward Outram 78 wid grocer/beerhouse keeper b. Westeram Kent
Thomas Potts 36 son in law Butcher b. Birmingham (1855)
Harriet Potts 42 d. laundress b. Hever (born ca 1848)
Clare Potts 2 g-d b. Hever
1901 census
Thomas Potts 44 ag lab
Harriet
Clare
1911 census Hever Kent
Thomas 55 butcher work from home
Harriet 58 (3 children – 2 died)
Clara 22
Marriage: Harriet Outram m. Thomas Potts 1884 Tonbridge district
EDWARD BENTON/FANNY OUTRAM
Marriage: Fanny Outram mar. Edward Benton 4 Feb 1866 All Souls St Marlyebone
(Fanny b. 1841 Hever, d. 1904 Cambridge.)
1861 census Cambridge
Charles Benton 55 brewer b. Cambs
Jane 55 b. Middx
Edward 19 unm. Butcher b. Camb
Herbert 14
1871 St Pancras
Edward Benton 30 cab proprietor
Fanny Benton 30 b. Hever
Charles Edward son 4 b. Marylebone
1881 St Andrew the Less Cambridge
Edward Benton 39 Maltster b. Cambridge
Fanny Benton 39 b. Hever Kent
Frank Benton son 9 scholar b. St Pancras
Herbert Benton 34 shipbrokers clerk b. Cambridge
Ellen Still 22 unm visitor Penshurst Kent
1891 (? Cambs)
Fanny Benton widow 50
Frank age 19 b. London St Pancras
Edward Benton d. Camb 1884
Probate of Cambridge farmer £409 15s 7d to relict Fanny Benton
MARRIAGES
4th Feb 1866 All Soul’s Marylebone
Edward Benton full age bach. Butcher Residence: All Soul’s f. Charles Benton brewer
And
Fanny Outram full age sp. Residence All Soul’s f. Edward Outram, Gardener
20 Aug 1866 St Stephens Westminster
Ellen Outram 20 f. Edward Outram gardener
and
John Skelton 25 bach. Soldier f. John Skelton labourer
Mar 1867 St Martin in Fields
Mary Ann Outram full age f. Edward Outram grocer
and
George Scott full age foreman of St Martin’s f. James Scott Foreman
Eliza Dennett Outram married Thomas Garrett Hever 1870
Lucy Outram mar. Samuel Coulstock Chiddingstone 1871
Marriage: Harriet Outram m. Thomas Potts 1884 Tonbridge district