All information kindly supplied by Stephen Barratt
GL Gumprech was born in Germany in 1833 and came to London in May 1856.
He was a publican and a photographer (which is why I'm researching him,
to date a photo he took of an ancestor of mine). He was employed by the
river police to take photos of corpses who were fished out of the Thames
for identification purposes and it is possible that he took photos of
some of the early ripper victims (certainly the photographer who took
over his studio did) - don't worry, my ancestor was alive and kicking
when his photo was taken.
On 12th June, in 1865, George Louis Gumprecht marries Elizabeth Ann Marden. He is an artist of 11 Cannon street road, his father is listed as an optician, her father a mariner.
He was the landlord of the Rose & Crown at 51 the Highway by February 1871
The Clerkenwell News of Thursday 09 February 1871 lists him as taking
over the licence from Anna Margreta Sehrt
the 1871 census has:
George Gumprech, head, married, aged 38, Licensed Victualler, born Hannover
Elizabeth A Gumprech, wife, married, aged 22, born St Georges in the
East
Beatrice M Gumprech, daughter, single, aged 1, born St Georges in the
East
William Shute, Servant, single, aged 20, waiter, born Stepney
Christine Damm, Servant, unmarried, aged 38, cook, born Germany
On the 10th December 1871, Dorothea Louisa Gumprecht is baptised; born in November. George Louis Gumprech is a Licensed victualler at 203 St George street.
The Era of Sunday 19 October 1873 lists him as transferring the licence
to Henry Brickman
The 1876 directory lists Louis Gumprech as a photographer at 11 Cannon street road, and again in 1879 and in 1883. At this latter time, George Ludwig Gumprech is also listed at the Jolly Sailor. By 1891, a Joseph Martin is the photographer at 11 Cannon street road.
On the 25th April 1880, William Larsen Gumprecht is baptised; born on the 4th April. George Ludwig Gumprech is a photographer at 182 St George street.
As you know, he appears at the Jolly Sailor on the 1881 census
The eldest daughter Beatrice is buried aged 12 in November 1882 at Tower Hamlets cemetery.
Bell's Life in London and Sporting Chronicle of Saturday 01 March 1884
includes the following passage:
"make our way to the Jolly Sailor, the principle dancing house on the
Highway. Well, there is nothing remarkable about the establishment, or
our reception thereat... Mr Gumprecht, the landlord, comes from the
inner to the outer bar, and especially welcomes my fellow cruiser. They
hare met before. Mr Gumprech is Hanoverian who speaks English perfectly.
Mrs. G. is English. We pass through into the dancing-hall at the back,
which is on the same floor; in fact on a keel with the street. At the
either end there is a bar surmounted by orchestra, and surrounding the
oblong space, devoted to dancing, close the wall, there is raised
platform, which provided with seats."
The East London Observer of Saturday 16 October 1886 has:
"The Jolly Sailor" must be Jolly.
On Wednesday, at the 'Middlesex Sessions House ' Gumprecht, of the Jolly
Sailor, St. George street, East, who was unable to appear on the last
occasion in consequence of the death of his wife, withdrew his
application for a licence for dancing, and applied for a music licence
only. Witnesses were called to prove that dancing had been carried on,
one of them stating that he had seen fourteen or fifteen couples dancing
in a space 12ft square. (Laughter.)—The applicant, in answer to the
Bench, at first declined to undertake to prohibit dancing. He had done
all he could to prevent it by screwing down the tables on the floor and
limiting the unoccupied apace. But it would be necessary for him to take
a big stick and stand in the middle of the room. (Laughter). The sailors
resorting to his house would dance. He was bound to provide them with
some amusement. When songs were given the French could not understand
the Dutch, as his customers were of all nationalities. He engaged men to
"tumble a bit" for them, but there must be intervals. He had been
compelled to re-engage a baud, for the sailors did not like an
orchestrion which he had purchased for a large sum. Ultimately, it
having been shown that the house was well conducted, and the applicant
engaging to do his beet to prevent dancing, a licence for music was
granted.
He then moves to The Kings Oak Hotel in High Beech, Epping Forest
The Essex Newsman of Saturday 03 March 1888 lists an application for the
transfer of the licence from from Mr Hyams to Mr Gumprecht - the
magistrates granted the transfer but noted that the police report was
not entirely satisfactory and that the house would be closely watched
The Essex Newsman of Tuesday 15 October 1889 describes his application
for a dancing licence for the Kings Oak, in addition to the music
licence he already has - but it turned down, as "the class of people who
go there would be exceedingly objectionable"
Kellys Directory of 1890 lists him at the Kings Oak
The 1891 Census has at the Kings Oak:
George Ludwig Gumprech, head, widow, aged 68, Lic Vic / Hotel Keeper,
born Hannover, Germany, Naturalised
L W E Gumprech, son, married, aged 27, Gas fitter, born London
Dora Gumprech, daughter, single, aged 29, Hotel manageress, born London
W Larsen Gumprech, son, single, aged 20, Engineer gun maker - fitter,
born London
Lily Gumprech, daughter, single, aged 16, born London
along with 10 servants working in the bar and hotel
The Sporting Life of Monday 04 May 1891 describes GL Gumprech opening a
new cycling and athletic track at the Kings Oak
The Middlesex Gazette of Saturday 22 July 1893 describes GL Gumprech of
the Kings Oak being sued by a cyclist who was using the track and was
injured when Gumprech's dog ran onto the circuit
The London Evening Standard of Wednesday 22 July 1896 describes him
being sued again by another user of the track who had an accident
The Tower Hamlets Independent and East End Local Advertiser of Saturday
15 May 1897 suggests that GL Gumprech of the Kings Oak, High Beech "has
been left a large sum of money - about £90,000."
The London Daily News of Monday 12 July 1897 lists GL Gumprech of the
Kings Oak as a burglary victim
The Post Office Directory of 1900 lists him at the Kings Oak
There are numerous mentions of him hosting cycling events at the Kings
Oak, including in:
Sporting Gazette - Saturday 30 July 1898
The Referee - Sunday 29 April 1900
East London Observer - Saturday 03 August 1901
GL Gumprech died on 1 May 1908 and was buried at High Beech on 8 May
1908
His probate records him as of The Kings Oak Hotel, and lists his son
Ludwig William Edward Gumprech (Lic Vic) as one of the executors
GL Gumprech appears to have used Ludwig and Louis interchangeably - in
the 1885 PO Directory there is one listing for "Gumprech, Louis,
photographer, 11 Cannon Street Road" and one for "Gumprech, George
Ludwig, 'Jolly Sailor' PH, 182 St George St". However, the newspaper
report of his wife's funeral describes her as "the wife of the well
known photographer and licensed victualler" so I'm sure it's one and the
same man.
The Fulham Chronicle of Friday 16 August 1907 lists his son, Frederick
Gumprecht as living at the Kings Oak - a woman who had worked as a cook
at the Kings Oak sued him for maintenance of her illegitimate child,
saying that Fred was the father. The case was subsequently dismissed.
Ludwig William Edward Gumprech, Louis WE Gumprech and Louis Edward
Marden are all the same person - one of the sons of GL Gumprech.
"Marden" was the maiden name of GL Gumprech's wife and several of the
children adopted it (I suspect at the time of the first world war).
LWE Gumprech stays on at the Kings Oak after the death of his father -
the East London Observer of Saturday 21 August 1909 describes a outing
taken to the Kings Oak, High Beech by the East End Tradesmen's
Association catered for by Mr Gumprech.
LWE Gumprech's divorce papers of March 1914 list him as Lic Vic living
at the Kings Oak, High Beech
The Chelmsford Chronicle of Friday 28 May 1915 reports the death of one
of LWE Gumprech's sons at the front and lists him at the Kings Oak, High
Beech.
The Albert Casanova Ballard Marden & Peter Purne Marden at the Plough &
Harrow, 435 High Road, Leytonstone E11 are two grandsons of GL Gumprech,
both sons of Ernest Peter Gumprech / Marden. Ernest Peter Gumprech was
a rent collector for a property tycoon called Albert Casanova Ballard -
which presumably explains the name of his son.
* Provided by Stephen Barratt