Category Archives: Commerce

1891 James Mouland’s unlicensed cart

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A Business, Not a Pleasure Cart.

— On Saturday morning, at the Croydon County Police Court, James Mouland, a watchmaker and furniture dealer, of High-street, Mitcham, was summoned for having kept a “carriage” without license.

— The defendant said he kept a cart, and always had done so, for use in his business. It was true he used it for private purposes sometimes. He was in the habit of riding in it to church—(laughter)—but then the people at Somerset House had sent him a paper stating that he might ride to church in an unlicensed carriage if he was unable to walk, and that was the case with him. He was on his way to church when the Revenue Officer saw him.

— Sir Thomas Edridge: But it was on Thursday, Mr. Mouland.

— Defendant: On that occasion I was going to Sutton on business. I was taking some clocks and watches home. I often take furniture home in the cart Ought I to have a license for that?

— Sir Thomas : You know as well as I do that you don’t need a license for that

— The Officer : It is only a light spring cart and there was no furniture in it when I saw it

— Defendant: No, but I had clocks and watches in the cart

— The Officer : Watches are not goods.

— Sir Thomas: Supposing a man dealt only in watches, and loaded his cart with them ?

— Defendant’s daughter went into the box and swore that on the day in question she had conveyed some clocks and watches to Clapham for her father.

— Eventually the magistrates came to the conclusion that the case against the defendant had not been made out, and the summons was dismissed.

Source: Croydon Advertiser and East Surrey Reporter – Saturday 01 August 1891 from the British Newspaper Archive (subscription required)

Edward Snell Crewes

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Grocer and sub-postmaster of Upper Mitcham from after 1901 to 1932. Listed in the 1930 commercial directory as

Crewes Edwd. Snell, grocer & sub-postmaster, 19 Upper grn. east. T N 0840

early 20th century view of ES Crewes's shop and postoffice

early 20th century view of ES Crewes’s shop and postoffice

Edward Snell Crewes was originally from Cornwall, as he points out in a letter about eggs from that county he was selling at the post office.

In the 1901 census, he was listed as a grocer and they were living in the parish of Tong, in Bradford, Yorkshire. They had a daughter aged 2, called Millicent M. A public family tree on Ancestry says that Millicent Marjorie Crewes died in 1904 in Epsom.

In the 1911 census, he was shown as being 43 and having been born in about 1868 in Truro, Cornwall. His wife Lydia, also 43, was born in Mount Hawke, Cornwall and their son Stanley M B aged 15 also lived with them at the post office. He was born in Bradford, Yorkshire.

He died 29th May 1932, and left £4,381 13s. 1d. to his wife. The probate entry on Ancestry shows his middle name as Ivell.

His wife Lydia, nee Bennett, died 1947.

World War 1 Connections
Gunner Stanley Maxwell Crewes

Related News Articles

DEATH OF HERO.

—We are sorry to learn that Mr. and Mrs. E. S. Crewes, of the Upper Mitcham Post Office, have this week sustained a bereavement which is unusually sad owing the circumstances related below. On Monday Mr. Harry Bennetts, Mount Hawke, Cornwall, Mrs. Crewes’ brother, died at his home there after being ill for some time from a disease know as miner’s phthisis,” which he contracted in South Africa. Mr. Bennetts was an experienced miner, having worked in the mines of Montana and Idaho, United States, for two different periods, and in the gold mines in South Africa. Last December while working at the Raudfontein South Gold Mine, Krugersdorp. there was an explosion of gelatine which caused the death of four miners by asphyxia, and Mr. Bennetts made a effort to rescue a number of native workers who had been overcome by the fumes. He descended to a depth of 200-ft. under circumstances which called for the greatest courage, and as a result his heroic action was reported the King, who, as stated, awarded him the Edward Medal. About three weeks ago he returned to his home in Cornwall broken in health, and although he had a fine physique, he succumbed to the disease which is the bane of all miners. No doubt it was made worse by his experiences in the mine after the explosion. An Interesting point is that neither the deceased nor his relatives were aware that the medal for bravery had been awarded him, and it is supposed that the medal must have been sent to his last known address in South Africa. Probably it is now on its way back to England. Mr. Crewes brought the facts to the notice of King George in a letter that be wrote to him on Tuesday.

Source: Croydon Advertiser and East Surrey Reporter – Saturday 28 May 1910 from the British Newspaper Archive (subscription required)

To the Editor of the West Briton

Sir,

— About three years ago you published letter of mine drawing the attention of farmers and dealers to the bad condition of new-laid eggs that were being for warded the Metropolis. To my great regret I must again write to tell your agricultural readers the very undesirable fact that large numbers of eggs which are absolutely rotten are being packed in cases labelled “English New-laid Eggs,” and sent in this direction from the delectable Duchy. One customer of mine to-day brought back three bad eggs she had out of ten, and several others have also expressed their disgust at my selling them as new-laid eggs. If sellers and senders in Cornwall could realise the damaging effect these things have and retail business in this part the country, they would be more careful and considerate, and not take money for new-laid eggs unless the eggs can honestly bear that designation. I appeal their sense justice, and ask them not pack eggs they have discovered in secluded spots on their hedges, without caring how long they have been laid.

Of late, eggs coming from Russia have been more reliable than those purchased from Cornwall, and at much less money. For the future I shall have to carefully examine all the Cornish eggs I sell. Being a Cornishman myself, I am very jealous of the good name of my native county. Trusting that the writing of this letter will have beneficial results.

Yours truly. E SNELL CREWES,
Post Office,
Upper Mitcham, S.W.

Source: West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser – Thursday 27 June 1912 from the British Newspaper Archive (subscription required)