FEARGUS O’CONNOR RUSSELL

From May through to September 2026, Andrew will be fulfilling his dream to hike the iconic Land’s End to John O’Groats! You are all warmly invited to follow Andrew’s epic journey on his Facebook page, “Andrew Beal LEJOG” https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577588795730

As Andrew hikes the 1,300+ miles, he will raise funds for the Ipswich War Memorial Project to help finance our future exhibitions and research of the brave Ipswich men and women who lost their lives in conflict. If you would like to make a small donation, please click on the link: https://gofund.me/5d4a50570

Thank you for your love and support. Andrew & Helen – I.W.M.P.

Image from the Suffolk Chronicle And Mercury – 1917.

Born: 1876, Hove, East Sussex.

Baptised on Christmas Eve 1876, at St. Andrew’s Church, Hove, East Sussex – family home at Hove.

Died: 6th May 1917; age 40; died of wounds at No. 8th Casualty Clearing Station.

Residence: 16, Bramford Road, Ipswich. Parents at 81, Rope Walk, Ipswich.

Enlistment Location: Harwich.

Rank: Gunner; Service Number: 132965

Regiment: Royal Garrison Artillery.

Formerly 289, Essex & Suffolk R.G.A., 220th Siege Battery.

Medals Awarded: Victory & British War.

Grave Reference:

III.K.14.

Duisans British Cemetery,

Etrun,

Pas de Calais,

France.

Relatives Notified & Address: Husband of Mrs. F.A. Russell, of 34, Lower Orwell Street, Ipswich.

Brother-in-law to ALFRED CHARLES MOORE.

CENSUS

1881   55 & 56, George Street, Hove, Brighton, East Sussex.

Feargus was 4 years old and living with his parents & siblings.

James Feargus O’Connor Russell, 37, a Sugar Boiler & Confectioner, born Brighton, East Sussex.

Frances Russell (nee Leggatt), 36, born Brighton.

James Russell, 14, born Hove.

Alice Russell, 8, born Hove.

Harriet Edith Russell, 2, born Hove.

Albert Russell, 1, born Hove.

1891   1 & 3, East Street, Ipswich.

Feargus was 14 years old, an Assistant Confectioner. He was living with his parents & sisters.

James, 47, a Confectioner.

Frances, 46, Confectioner’s Shopkeeper.

Alice, 18, a Tailoress.

Edith, 12.

Maud Jemima Russell, 4, born Ipswich.

1901   1, Little Well Street, Ipswich.

Feargus was 24 years old, a Sugar Boiler. He was married & Head of the Household.

Emily, 29.

May, 2.

Holly, 10 months.

1911   2, Union Court, Union Street, Ipswich.

Feargus was 33 years old, a Platelayer. He was Head of the Household.

Emily, 39.

Holly, 10.

Ivy, 8.

Albert, 7.

James, 5.

Violet, 4.

John, 3.

In 1897, Ipswich, Feargus married Emily Moore, born 1872, Ipswich – daughter of Alfred Moore, a house painter, and Emily Moore (nee Sheldrake), of 5, Claude Street, Ipswich.

Emily and Feargus had eight children:

May Lilian Russell, born 1899, Ipswich.

Holly Victoria Russell, born 1900, Ipswich.

Ivy Alexandria Russell, born 1902, Ipswich.

Albert Edward Russell, born September 1903, Ipswich.

James William Russell, born April 1905, Ipswich.

Violet Emily Russell, born April 1906, Ipswich.

John Harry Russell, born November 1907, Ipswich.

Daisy Elvina Russell, born 1912, Ipswich.

Three weeks after the birth of her daughter Daisy, Feargus’s wife Emily Russell died on the 23^rd March 1912, at her home, 2, Union Street, Ipswich and was buried in Section R, Ipswich Old Cemetery.

On the 28th November 1915, at Ipswich Registry Office, Feargus married Florence Annie Markham (nee Holt), born 1873, Bermondsey, Surrey and widow of Harry James Markham, born 1877, Campsea Ashe, Suffolk, a dock labourer for Mr. Paul – corn merchants – died September 1912, at the Ipswich Asylum.

Florence had two sons from her first marriage:

Harry Frederick Markham, born September 1904, Ipswich.

George Arthur Markham, born January 1910, Ipswich.

George Arthur Markham, Florence and Harry Frederick Markham.

Soldiers’ Effects to Florence Russell – widow.

A family note: “Daisy Alvina Russell” My mother’s middle name was Elvina, after one of her Aunts. She was raised by another Aunt. The other children were either already working or went into orphanages. Mrs Markham obviously couldn’t or wouldn’t take on Feargus’s children. Good old days? I think not!

Avril.

Feargus is also remembered on the war memorial at Christ Church, Tacket Street, Ipswich.

Photograph of Florence and her sons courtesy of Brian & Dorothy.

Evening Star – Monday, 7^th March 1904 – DISHONEST WAREHOUSEMAN HEAVILY FINED – At the Ipswich Police Court on Monday, 7^th March, Feargus Russell, a warehouseman, of Wells Street, Ipswich, was before the Mayor of Ipswich Mr. Frederick Bennett, Esq., Mr. John May, Esq., Henry Mason Jackaman, Esq., Roderick Donald Fraser, Esq., and George Francis Josselyn, Esq., charged with stealing eight packets of “Daisy” powders, value 8d., the property of his employers, Messrs. Grimwade, Ridley, and Co.

Mr. Edwin Perkins Ridley prosecuted, and Mr. Arthur Sadler Leighton defended. Last Saturday, Mr. Henry Ridley examined a coat of the defendant’s which was hanging up, and found the “Daisy” powders in the pockets. He asked the defendant how he accounted for having them, and he said they were for his father, and he intended to pay for them when he got back from dinner. He added that he had taken things before and paid for them afterwards; Mr. Ridley explained that that was so on one occasion, when Feargus Russell was cautioned against doing it again. If he wanted things for his father, he should have ordered them and got them entered. Some small articles found at Feargus Russell’s premises Mr. Ridley identified as having been on his desk some while back. Cross-examined: Defendant had previously been on the firm’s oil tank and had always satisfactorily accounted for moneys received. He did not know that the defendant was ordering some goods on Saturday morning when he was called away. Arthur Watson, warehouseman, said only once before had the defendant paid him for goods after he had taken them home, and that was when the manager spoke to him about it. On Saturday, the defendant spoke to him about some linen line for his father, but made no mention of “Daisy” powders. Me. Bertram Archer, who is in charge of the retail shop, said the defendant asked him for a tin of Ridge’s Food and some malt extract. These were entered to him, and nothing was said about “Daisy” powders. Cross-examined: He did not think the defendant was sent for whilst he was giving his orders. Mr. Robert Fountain, foreman, at Messrs. Grimwade and Ridley’s said twelve months ago he asked Russell about some things he had in his pocket, and gave him special instructions as to giving his orders before he took anything. Detective James said the defendant told him he admitted it looked suspicious, but he forgot to order the powders and intended to pay for them before he went. He had, however, only 1s. 2d. in his pockets.

Defendant, on oath, said he got the powders and went to find Mr. Archer and tell him; the latter was engaged, and he thereupon put them in his pocket. He had no intention of stealing them. Cross-examined: He did not get the Ridge’s Food and malt extract for himself. Of the articles found in his house, he took half a bottle of sauce home from the shop because he thought it useless; he also saw a ball of string kicking about, and took that. The other things, excepting the cocos, which he took from a supposed empty box, were samples which he thought were to be thrown out. The Bench convicted and fined Feargus Russell 50s. and costs 19s. 6d.; in default 21 days’ hard labour.

Suffolk Chronicle and Mercury – Friday, 31^st January 1913 – WILFUL DESTITUTION – IPSWICH MAN LEFT WITH EIGHT CHILDREN – At The Ipswich Police Court on Thursday, 30^th January, Feargus O’Connoor Russell, described as a labourer, of no fixed abode, was before the Mayor of Ipswich, Mr. Edward Colby Ransome, Messrs. Frederick Edward Rands, William Parker Burton, Samuel Richard Anness, William Alexander, George Thomas Moss, and William Harry Calver, charged with neglecting to maintain himself and four children.

Mr. L. W. Greenhalgh, Clerk to the Guardians, in outlining the case, said that the defendant and the children were admitted to the Workhouse on the 11^th of this month. His wife died on the 28^th March last and left him with eight children. Since that time, friends had come forward and relieved him of four of the children, and he had also received considerable assistance from the Poor-Box. On the 9^th, defendant attended a meeting of the Guardians and made an application that two of the remaining four might be admitted to St. John’s Home, and that he would pay 1s. each week towards their keep. The man was by no means destitute, being in regular work, and after due consideration, the Guardians refused the application. In consequence of that decision, the man had deliberately thrown up his work and wilfully become destitute, making himself and his children chargeable to the rates.

Mr. W. G. Lowe, Relieving Officer, corroborated as to the defendant’s application to the Guardians on the 9^th January. Two days later, the defendant came to him at the office and applied for an order for himself and four children for the Workhouse. He was threatening in his manner and said that, as the Guardians would not assist him, he would make them keep him and his children as well.

Mrs. MacDonald, now an inmate of the Workhouse, said she was formerly the housekeeper for the defendant. He was to pay her 2s. a week and supply her board. Some weeks he paid regularly, but for five weeks at a time would not give her any money. At times, they were also kept short of food. On the 9^th January, he told her he had been before the Guardians, and they had refused to take two of the children into St. John’s Home. The next day, he prepared to pack up his belongings and said he was going to throw up his work. He had returned home the worse for liquor on occasions.

Mr E.A. Randall, of the Guardians’ Office, proved that the defendant had been regularly earning 18s. a week on the G.E.R.

Inspector Tydeman, N.S.P.C.C., said he had had the case under notice since the 25^th May last. The defendant came to him with a pitiful story after his wife’s death and explained how he was left with eight children. At that time, he was ill into the bargain, and the witness assisted him, and through interesting people in the case, four of the children were taken away and provided for. The eldest child was left in charge of the defendant’s home and the three children, but was not experienced enough to look after them, and the children got into a filthy state. As a result, some ladies took the eldest child, and the defendant got a housekeeper. For a time, everything went well until he began to get behind in his payments.

Detective-Inspector Firman said the defendant had been assisted in many ways. Through the kindness of a gentleman in the town, he cleared the defendant’s rent book for him only a month ago, endeavouring to give him a fresh start. He had, of course, no money to throw away, but might have kept himself straight if he had tried. If he had kept away from the drink, things might have been different.

Defendant said he trusted the Bench would give him a chance to go back to work. He told of the difficulties he had to contend with since his wife’s death. Mrs. MacDonald, being a cripple to a certain extent, was hardly the person to send out as a housekeeper, but he wished the Bench to take into consideration that he had kept her off the rates during the time she was with him. He found himself getting into difficulties and had been foolish to give up his work, but at the time, he did not see any other way out of it.

By Mr. Greenhalgh: It is true that he had promised to pay 1s. a week towards the keep of one of his children in the Friars Road Home, but that he had only paid 1s. since her admission on the 21^st October.

The Bench decided to send Feargus Russell to prison for one month with hard labour.

Royal Garrison Artillery