Biography

Matilda Childs's birth was registered in the Jan-Feb-Mar quarter of 1844 in the Chelmsford district.^[1]

She was the complainant in a court case which was reported in the local newspaper in 1864.^[2]

John Atkins was summoned by Matilda Childs for assaulting her at Brentwood on the 30th of April last. Complainant said she was a single woman, residing in Brentwood, and she was going home with her sister on Saturday night, the 30th ult., between 11 and 12 o'clock: there were two young men with them when they met the pri-soner and another man, who pitched into a young man from Romford, who was in witness's company; she attempted to separate the combatants, when the defendant took hold of her hair and dragged her away, and struck her several times.-This was the assault complained of.-Defendant said be saw two or three women fighting among themselves, and he separated them, but denied striking her at all.— Fined £1 11s. 6d., inclading costs, or three weeks' hard labor.-John Alderton was summoned by the defendant in the last case for assaulting him on the same day at the same place. It seemed to have been a general melee, and no less than four summonses were taken out for assaults committed in the same row.- Defendant said he struck George Atkins, but not the present complainant, -Matilda Childs did not see either of the Atkins struck, but a woman named Eliza Pears struck her sister across the face,— Eliza Pears was then summoned by Mehalia Alderton for an assault at the same time and place.-Complainant said defendant struck her across the forehead with a piece of paling, and cut her, and "reckened her up as a common prostitute." - Defendant would not say that she did not strike the complainant, but she did not mean to do so.-The bench said they had resolved to modify the fine imposed on John Atkins, and he must pay £1, including costs, or 14 days; John Alderton must pay a fine of £1, and the costs, or seven days; and Pears must pay a similar penalty

Matilda Childs's marriage to Richard Pears was registered in the Apr-May-Jun quarter of 1865 in the Romford district.^[3]

Their children included:

1. Richard Charles Pears's birth was registered in the Jan-Feb-Mar quarter of 1867 in the West Ham Union district.^[4]
2. Matilda Pearce's birth was registered in the Oct-Nov-Dec quarter of 1869 in the Romford district.^[5]
3. William Pears's birth was registered in the Jan-Feb-Mar quarter of 1874 in the Romford Union district.^[6]
4. Mary Ann Pears's birth was registered in the Jan-Feb-Mar quarter of 1876 in the Romford district.^[7]
5. George Pears's birth was registered in the Jan-Feb-Mar quarter of 1878 in the Romford district.^[8]
6. John Pears's birth was registered in the Oct-Nov-Dec quarter of 1880 in the Romford district.^[9]
7. Emma Pears's birth was registered in the Jan-Feb-Mar quarter of 1883 in the Romford district.^[10]

Matilda Pears's death (age 71) was registered in the Jan-Feb-Mar quarter of 1915 in the West Ham district.^[11]

Census

In the 1861 census Matilda Childs (age 17) was the unmarried daughter of Charles Childs in Woolpack Inn, High Street, Romford, Essex, England.^[12]

• • Charles Childs Head Married M 52 Retailer of beer Ramsden Bellhouse, Essex, England
  • Elisa Childs Wife Married F 44 Hertfordshire, England
  • Matilda Childs Daughter Unmarried F 17 Essex, England
  • George Childs Son M 14 Billericay, Essex, England
  • Ellen Childs Son M 9 Scholar Brentwood, Essex, England
  • John Childs Son M 7 Scholar Romford, Essex, England
  • Elisa Childs Daughter F 5 Scholar Romford, Essex, England
  • Julia Childs Daughter F 2 Romford, Essex, England
  • William Jones Visitor Unmarried M 19 Baker Kingsland, Middlesex, England
  • William Keatt Visitor Unmarried M 60 Agricultural labourer Leverington, Warwickshire, England
  • James Banks Visitor Unmarried M 20 Agricultural labourer Romford, Essex, England

In the 1871 census Matilda Pears (age 27) was the wife of Richard Pears in Roding Cottages, Barking, Romford, Essex, England.^[13]

• • Richard Pears Head M 27 Lab in cemetery Bentwood, Essex, England
  • Matilda Pears Wife F 27 Danbury, Essex, England
  • Richard Pears Son M 4 Scholar Forest Gate, Essex, England
  • Matilda Pears Daughter F 1 Ilford, Essex, England

In the 1881 census Matilda Pears (age 37) was the wife of Richard Pears at 8, Roden Cottages High Street, Barking, Romford, Essex, England.^[14]

• • Richard Pears Head Married M 36 Laborer South Weald, Essex, England
  • Matilda Pears Wife Married F 37 Danbury, Essex, England
  • Richard Pears Son Unmarried M 14 News boy Forest Gate, Essex, England
  • Matilda Pears Daughter Unmarried F 11 Scholar Ilford, Essex, England
  • Alfred Pears Son Unmarried M 9 Scholar Ilford, Essex, England
  • William Pears Son Unmarried M 7 Scholar Ilford, Essex, England
  • George Pears Son Unmarried M 3 Ilford, Essex, England
  • John Pears Son Unmarried M 0 Ilford, Essex, England
  • John Hunwicks Lodger Unmarried M 18 Laborer at paper mills Cranham, Essex, England

In the 1891 census Matilda Pears (age 47) was the wife of Richard Pears at 4, Oaklands Terrace, Ilford, Romford, Essex, England.^[15]

• • Richard Pears Head Married M 47 Labourer Essex, England
  • Matilda Pears Wife Married F 47 Danbury, Essex, England
  • Alfred Pears Son Single M 19 Labourer Ilford, Essex, England
  • William Pears Son Single M 17 Labourer Ilford, Essex, England
  • George Pears Son Single M 13 Scholar Ilford, Essex, England
  • John Pears Son Single M 10 Scholar Ilford, Essex, England
  • Emma Pears Daughter Single F 8 Scholar Ilford, Essex, England

In the 1901 census Matilda Pears (age 57) was the wife of Richard Pears at 6, Mill R C, Ilford, Romford, Essex, England.^[16]

• • Richard Pears Head Married M 57 Cemetary porter Romford, Essex, England
  • Matilda Pears Wife Married F 57 Danbury, Essex, England
  • George Pears Son Single M 23 General labourer Ilford, Essex, England
  • John Pears Son Single M 20 General labourer Ilford, Essex, England

In the 1911 census Matilda Pears (age 67) was the wife of Richard Pears at 6 Colchester Avenue Manor Park E, East Ham, London & Essex, England.^[17]

• • Richard Pears Head Married M 67 General labourer South Weald Essex
  • Matilda Pears Wife Married F 67 Danbury Essex

Sources

1. ↑Birth Registration:"England & Wales General Register Office"
   GRO Online Indexes - Birth (accessed 31 January 2025)
   Childs, Matilda (Mother's maiden name: Leech).
   GRO Reference: 1844 Jan-Feb-Mar inChelmsford Volume 12 Page 37.
2. ↑ “Essex Herald” 17 May 1864 page 3
3. ↑Marriage Registration:"England & Wales Marriages 1837-2005"
   Volume: 4A; Page: 151
   FindMyPast Image -FindMyPast Transcription (accessed 31 January 2025)
   Matilda Childs marriage registered Apr-May-Jun 1865 in Romford.
4. ↑Birth Registration:"England & Wales General Register Office"
   GRO Online Indexes - Birth (accessed 31 January 2025)
   Pears, Richard Charles (Mother's maiden name: Childs).
   GRO Reference: 1867 Jan-Feb-Mar inWest Ham Union Volume 04A Page 38.
5. ↑Birth Registration:"England & Wales General Register Office"
   GRO Online Indexes - Birth (accessed 31 January 2025)
   Pearce, Matilda (Mother's maiden name: Childs).
   GRO Reference: 1869 Oct-Nov-Dec inRomford Volume 04A Page 135.
6. ↑Birth Registration:"England & Wales General Register Office"
   GRO Online Indexes - Birth (accessed 31 January 2025)
   Pears, William (Mother's maiden name: Chdds).
   GRO Reference: 1874 Jan-Feb-Mar inRomford Union Volume 04A Page 162.
7. ↑Birth Registration:"England & Wales General Register Office"
   GRO Online Indexes - Birth (accessed 31 January 2025)
   Pears, Mary Ann (Mother's maiden name: Childs).
   GRO Reference: 1876 Jan-Feb-Mar inRomford Volume 04A Page 193.
8. ↑Birth Registration:"England & Wales General Register Office"
   GRO Online Indexes - Birth (accessed 31 January 2025)
   Pears, George (Mother's maiden name: Childs).
   GRO Reference: 1878 Jan-Feb-Mar inRomford Volume 04A Page 209.
9. ↑Birth Registration:"England & Wales General Register Office"
   GRO Online Indexes - Birth (accessed 31 January 2025)
   Pears, John (Mother's maiden name: Childs).
   GRO Reference: 1880 Oct-Nov-Dec inRomford Volume 04A Page 236.
10. ↑Birth Registration:"England & Wales General Register Office"
    GRO Online Indexes - Birth (accessed 31 January 2025)
    Pears, Emma (Mother's maiden name: Childs).
    GRO Reference: 1883 Jan-Feb-Mar inRomford Volume 04A Page 289.
11. ↑Death Registration:"England & Wales General Register Office"
    GRO Online Indexes - Death (accessed 31 January 2025)
    Pears, Matilda (Age at death: 71).
    GRO Reference: 1915 Jan-Feb-Mar inWest Ham Volume 04A Page 292.
12. ↑1861 Census:"1861 England, Wales & Scotland Census"
    Reference: RG09; Piece number: 1068; Folio: 87; Page: 18; Schedule: 106
    FindMyPast Image -FindMyPast Transcription (accessed 31 January 2025)
    Matilda Childs (17), unmarried daughter, in household of Charles Childs (52) in Woolpack Inn, High Street in Romford registration district in Essex, England. Born in PANDRY, Essex.
13. ↑1871 Census:"1871 England, Wales & Scotland Census"
    Series: RG10; Piece number: 1647; Folio: 80; Page: 2; Schedule: 12
    FindMyPast Image -FindMyPast Transcription (accessed 31 January 2025)
    Matilda Pears (27), wife, in household of Richard Pears (27) in Roding Cottages, Barking in Romford registration district in Essex, England. Born in Danbury, Essex, England.
14. ↑1881 Census:"1881 England, Wales & Scotland Census"
    Reference: RG11; Piece number: 1746; Folio: 87; Page: 4; Schedule: 648
    FindMyPast Image -FindMyPast Transcription (accessed 31 January 2025)
    Matilda Pears (37), wife, in household of Richard Pears (36) at 8, Roden Cottages High Street, Barking in Romford registration district in Essex, England. Born in Danbury, Essex, England.
15. ↑1891 Census:"1891 England, Wales & Scotland Census"
    Reference: RG12; Piece number: 1369; Folio: 113; Page: 10; Schedule: 58
    FindMyPast Image -FindMyPast Transcription (accessed 31 January 2025)
    Matilda Pears (47), wife, in household of Richard Pears (47) at 4, Oaklands Terrace, Ilford in Romford registration district in Essex, England. Born in Danbury, Essex, England.
16. ↑1901 Census:"1901 England, Wales & Scotland Census"
    Reference: RG13; Piece number: 1648; Folio: 5; Page: 2; Schedule: 8
    FindMyPast Image -FindMyPast Transcription (accessed 31 January 2025)
    Matilda Pears (57), wife, in household of Richard Pears (57) at 6, Mill R C, Ilford in Romford registration district in Essex, England. Born in Danbury, Essex, England.
17. ↑1911 Census:"1911 Census For England & Wales"
    Series: RG14; Piece number: 9587; Schedule: 81
    FindMyPast Image -FindMyPast Transcription (accessed 31 January 2025)
    Matilda Pears (67), wife, in household of Richard Pears (67) at 6 Colchester Avenue Manor Park E, East Ham, London & Essex in West Ham registration district in England. Born in Danbury Essex.

Login to collaborate orcomment,ask our community of genealogists a question.