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Street View: 46 (Suppl. 16) and 49
Address: 78, St. Paul’s Churchyard and 94, Tottenham Court Road
Todd & Procter’s cheese shop was situated at no. 78 at the west end of St. Paul’s Churchyard; the elevation can be seen above on the left. At 94 Tottenham Court Road, however, another cheesemonger named Procter could be found; see elevation on the right. Were they related? And if so, what did Todd have to do with them? It is going to be a long story, but bear with me, we’ll get there.
On 15 August 1853, Todd and Procter appeared at the Old Bailey because one of their employees had embezzled some money. From this we learn their first names, John Todd and Robert Procter and that they are partners. When questioned about the number of staff, Todd says that their establishment has “eight or nine; some are employed behind the counter, and some in carrying out” James Crawley had been their porter for twelve years and was supposed to hand in the money to whoever was behind the counter when he came back from a delivery. Procter had his suspicions, as it turned out correctly, that Crawley was withholding money. When taken into custody and searched, he had some 300l. in betting slips in his pocket. Because of his previous good behaviour, he was confined for four months. The whole proceedings can be read here under number 832.
In 1871, the London Gazette published a notice that the partnership between John Todd and Robert Procter had been dissolved and that Robert was to continue the business.
London Gazette 3 Jan. 1871
A look at the census records for 78 St. Paul’s Churchyard elicited the following (servants ignored):
1841: John Todd (40), Robert Procter (30)
1851: Robert Procter (45), Mary, his wife (45), Robert, a son (8) Elizabeth, a daughter (4), and John, another son (2).
1861: not available
1871: Robert Procter (65), sons Robert (28), John (22), daughters Mary (26), and Elizabeth (24), John Todd, ‘annuitant late cheesemonger’ (76)
So, John Todd lived above the shop in 1841, moved out when Robert was raising a family, but came back again as a pensioner. Assumedly, when he retired, the business was put in Procter’s name, hence the announcement in the London Gazette. I have found John Todd, cheesemonger, lodging at 52 Watling Street in the 1851 census. He dies 28 March 1879 and is then listed as “formerly of 78 St. Paul’s-Church-yard […] but late of 25 Landsdowne-road Dalston”. The will is proved by William Bowron of 60 Pimlico Road and William Procter of 94 Tottenham Court Road, nephews.(1) Here is our first proof that the two cheesemonger businesses are related.
The William Procter with the 94 Tottenham Court address can also be found in the probate record of his father, another William, who died 1 September 1870 at 27 Gordon Road, Stoke Newington. The other executor is John Procter of 81 Brecknock Road, brother of the deceased.(2) John himself, still at Brecknock Road, dies on 29 November 1888 and his will is proved by his nephew Robert Procter of 78 St. Paul’s Churchyard.(3)
In 1851, John Procter is already living at 94 Tottenham Court, corner Howland Street, as cheesemonger with his sister Elisabeth and William Bowron, the nephew. Although I cannot find the 1841 entry in the census, I assume he was the Procter of the Tallis’ elevation. In 1861, the other nephew, William Procter, has joined John and Elisabeth, and so has one William Todd, most likely related to John Todd of St. Paul’s Churchyard. In 1871, John is retired and living with his sister and two servants at Brecknock Road. The shop at Tottenham Court Road is now solely in the hands of William Procter. William was born in Southwark and we find him in the 1841 census on the Kent Road with his father, also a cheesemonger and his mother Christian. In 1851, the family has moved to 4 Bentley Terrace, Hackney. His parents married at St. Pancras in 1831 and the register gives her last name as Todd, so no wonder William is the nephew who proved John Todd’s will. John and Christian Todd were the children of John and Elisabeth Todd of St. Gregory by St. Paul’s parish. The records do not give an exact address, but is not unlikely to have been 78 St. Paul’s Churchyard.
Procter monument Tottenham Court Road
The monument shown consists of two parts: a plaque describing that the plot of land was to stay an open space in memory of Robert and Esther Procter, the 3rd generation, and a stretched pyramid commemorating John Procter and Mary Todd, the 1st generation.(4) The small open space with the monument is situated on the corner of Tottenham Court Road and Tottenham Street, just south of Whit(e)field’s Chapel (or Tabernacle), one block away from where the 94 Tottenham Court road shop was on the corner of Howland Street.
And, if all this is not yet complicated enough, there may be another link between the families. On the censuses, John, Elisabeth, William sr. and Robert sr. all give their place of birth as Barnard Castle, Durham. Following that lead, I found the marriage of their parents in an online family tree. John Procter sr. and Mary Todd were married at Barningham, Yorks, on 27 July 1793. I have not been able to find proof that these are indeed the parents of the cheesemongers, but see no reason to doubt it. The names and dates of John and Mary certainly correspond to the ones on the monument that can be found in Tottenham Court Road for some of the family members, incidentally confirming that John Procter senior was already established in 94 Tottenham Court Road at the time of his death in 1834. What is uncertain is whether Mary Todd and John Todd sr. were siblings and so providing a double family link, but what is definitely certain is that the Todds and Procters became one large cheesemongering family with several shops in London.
To make it a bit clearer – I hope – a chart with the main protagonists (just click to enlarge it). I have left out family members who do not figure in the story above. The year of birth given in the chart may be an approximate one.
(1) England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1879
(2) Idem 1870
(3) Idem 1888
(4) A transcription of the text on the monument and more information on the site where the monument now stands, can be found on the website of London Remembers.
You may also like to read about the Aldersons, who also came from the Barnard Castle area.
Neighbours:
| <– 79 St. Paul’s Churchyard | 80 St. Paul’s Churchyard –> |
| <– 93 Tottenham Court Road | 95 Tottenham Court Road –> |
London Street Views 
I BELEAVE I AM DESCENDED FROM JOHN TODD 1755-1825 THROUGH HIS SON JOSEPH TODD 1798-
Thanks for your comment Chris, I will send you an email.
Christian son of JOHN AND ELIZABETH WAS THE BROTHER OF JOESPH TODD MY DIRECT LINE TO SIDNEY TODD MY GRANDFATHER. hAVE YOU ANY MORE INFORMATION ON THE TODD’S. My grandfather was put in Kingsbury orphanage when his father FREDERICK died in 1877.He had been secretary at Drury Lane theatre for a number of years.
Chris
Dear Chris,
I do not have a lot on the Todd side of the cheesemongering family, more on the Procters, but you are welcome to whatever I can dig up for you. I will email you in a few days with more information.
Found this fascinating and a great read. I have been searching through family history recently and stumbled upon the Todds in my history tree. They do all originate from Teesdale (Barnard Castle/Barningham/Boldron etc) and as well as being married into the Proctor clan are also intermarried into the following cheesemongering families: the Benson’s (Anthony – Tottenham Court Road) & Nicholson (Aldesgate); Whitfield’s (John = sons George James & John Whitfield – 16 Lamb’s Conduit Street; George Pinckney Whitfield etc) as well as the Bennings, the Jones’ and Bowrons. I do have a lot of info on all and if you are interested just let me know. Cheers for a great read.
Thanks Nic; have just send you an email.
Hello, I understand from your entry about the Todd family that there us a connection with the Whitfield family of cheesemongers from Startforth, Barnard Castle. I have traced generations of John Whitfields back to a John who died in 1796 who was described as a “slater”, but have not been able yet to established where he originated. If you have any detail it would be lovely to hear from you.
Hello K Howarth,
I’m sorry I haven’t traced his origins either. I do know that he lived at Barnard Castle Bridge End in Startforth and owned property there. He died in 1795 and he was buried in Barnard Castle Church Yard. The Bridge had houses at either end, those on the Barnard Castle side were demolished in the 1950’s, but many of those at the Startforth end still survive.
His will is available to view for free from the North East Inheritance Project website as it was registered at Durham. This is surprising as he lived in Startforth and should have been buried there. He owned property in Startforth (Yorkshire) and Barnard Castle (County Durham). Startforth at the time was in the Diocese of Chester & I expected to find his will registered at the Prerogative Court of York as he owned property in both Durham and Yorkshire. Sorry ecclesiastical jurisdiction is very confusing in Teesdale, but this is the higher level court over Durham and Chester.
There are so many Whitfields in the area that I haven’t found his parents. The nearest John Whitfield born at around the right time is at St John’s Chapel in Weardale, where there are also many Whitfield families. It is possible that it is him, but not probable. At this time the only sure way to find relationships is through wills & I haven’t yet found him mentioned in earlier family wills.
I’m sorry that I can’t help further – I will revisit this family at some point in the future, but am currently working on the Monkhouse family of Barnard Castle who were also connected to these families through business – Monkhouse, Dixon and Whitfield were carpet manufacturers in the town. I’ll post something here if and when I find something,
Catherine Ryan
Hello Catherine, thank you for your response about the Whitfields. I agree the county boundary changes in Teesdale are confusing, and like you I’ve looked at as many Whitfield wills as I could via the North East inheritance database to try to make connections. Small clues are a brother Robert, a sister Mary “Enderson”, a niece Elizabeth Waugh and a nephew Whitfield Hudson possibly born Blanchland 1758. Are we talking about family origins further up Teesdale, in Weardale or over into Northumberland?…..
Many thanks for your reply and good luck with your further research,
K Haworth
I should have said that a slater in Teesdale would have not been dealing in Welsh slates at that time, he would have been dealing in heavy sandstone slabs, quarried locally and used to replace the mainly heather thatch on houses in the dale. There are images of the listed houses at Bridge End (much changed since John Whitfield’s time) on the Images of England website and some of the images from the surrounding area show Teesdale roof slabs in situ.
Hullo. Nic… I’m researching the Bowrons myself. I wander if you could fill me in on any details? I don’t know much. Thanks in advance. (Hopefully you’ll read this!)
Jack
Hi My name is Chris Carter,I have been trying to research my family history for several years. Ihave been in touch with you before about the TODD family. I notice someone has posted more information on your website recently. I have traced back to a Joesph Todd 1796-1862 and his father JOHN TODD 175* – 1825 of St Pauls churchyard cheesemongers. I was wondering if there is a connection between what I have and the new information of the TODD family from Teeside and if so what is the connection. Thanking you in anticipation Chris Carter.
Hi Chris,
You better get in touch with Nicky directly as she can tell you probably much more than I can. Shall I send her your email address and ask if she will get in touch?
Baldwin
Hi
Hi, thanks for replying so quickly, yes if you could send her my email address I would be very grateful, thanks again Chris.
There’s some detailed pedigrees of the two families in N Yorks Archives, compiled from family papers and public records. The reference is ZXD and they are in “Oliver Manuscripts”. These clearly show the many intermarriages of the familiesand their relationships with the Bowrons, Erringtons, Bensons etc. They were put together by members of the families and a local Vicar (Rev Oliver) who was an antiquarian. The Teesdale Mercury Archive is also worth a look for obituaries & its free! These pedigrees surmise that the families came to Teesdale originally from Cumbria and then members of the families went to London to make their fortune – which some did! A few returned to Teesdale to retire. Barningham Local History Group have also got some research on the Todd family in their Archive publication.
Love the Blog – keep it up!
Many thanks Catherine for your kind words and suggestions. I will certainly have a look at the Teesdale Mercury. To my shame I must admit to not knowing about it – so thanks for pointing it out. I knew the Procters were related to the Bowrons and in fact, the more shopkeepers I research, the more links I find between them, see for instance, the Clowes and Halfhides.
And don’t worry, I will keep up the blog for quite a while; there are still so many stories to be told!
Many thanks for latest information I looked through the suggestions mentioned so far as the internet will allow.It seems almost certain my TODD ancestors are related by the marriage of WILLIAM PROCTER and CHRISTIAN TODD. This opens up a whole new field of interest.
This is all very interesting. We, Richard Todd and partner are looking for early relatives.
We know Joseph Todd was great-grandfather , born in 1837. Married to Emma Errington in 1865. Father John, gentleman. But there it stops. Where did he came from. And the name of his spouse?
Emma and Joseph married in Barnard Castle, Yorksire.
We live in Holland and going to archives is not so easy. Who can give us more information?
Thanks
Richard Errington Todd / Jel Todd
Hi Jeltje,
Emma and Joseph [1] married at High Coniscliffe, between Barnard Castle and Darlington. He was the son of Thomas Todd, born Brignall in North Yorks, but only 5 miles from Barnard Castle in County Durham. Thomas Todd is on the 1841 Census working as a cheesemonger at 10 Queen’s Row, Mayfair in London – he died of tuberculosis and was buried in St Pancras on 21 Sep 1848.
Emma Errington was born in Barnard Castle around 1839 and was the daughter of Matthew Errington and Ann Wilson. She was brought up on a farm at Carlbury, near High Coniscliffe. Matthew’s parents were John Errington and Jane Todd.and her grandparents were Joseph Todd [2] and Hannah Bainbridge who were also Joseph Todd [1]’s grandparents, so they were cousins – this is not uncommon in the family!
I think that Joseph Todd [2] and the John Todd from this blog were cousins. However there were numerous Todd families around Barningham/Scargill/Brignall who were all inter-related with cousin marriages being common (keeping the money and the land in the family). They also called their children the same names and there are numerous William’s, John’s, Joseph’s and Thomas’s so it’s easy to get them mixed up. A number of people from the families moved to London, mainly as cheesemongers.
The Durham diocese bishop’s transcripts are browsable on FamilySearch for free so you can find baptisms, marriages and burials easily if you know approximate dates. There are a number of records searchable on FreeReg; Barnard Castle and the rest of County Durham has good coverage, but there is less good coverage of North Yorks. The local newspaper has also been digitised and is available for free at the Teesdale Mercury Archive website. Barningham Parish History Group has lots of information about the Todds around Barningham.
Hope that helps – I have much more information on the Todd and Errington families should you be interested.
Regards
Catherine Ryan
My husbands family are descended from James Todd (died 1910) of High View Barningham and we have a family tree from that date to now. We have a full family tree from before then back to some time in 1700 (which we have on file somewhere in the house and need to find!). There is a farmhouse in Hope near Barningham with the words ‘Cheese House’ engraved into the lintel stone of the first floor window. There are many family graves in the Barningham churchyard and the more remote Brignall graveyard.
I feel sure that yours is the family I am researching on behalf of a friend. have you an Anthony Todd born abt 1803 in Yorkshire
Hello Jane,
I have checked the family tree and found Anthony Todd, born 10/4/1802 at Brignall, married to Elizabeth Jackson at Barningham (both places were in North Yorks but now in County Durham). They had 6 children called Elizabeth, Anne, William, Anthony, Margaret, & Mary but our family tree does not clearly follow that line.
We are happy to provide any further info if we can.
Regards
Duncan & Suzie Johanson
My ancestor, John Ewbank, is listed in the 1841 census (but spelt as Ewebank) as an apprentice cheesemonger to John Proctor of Tottenham Court Road. John Ewbank was born in 1814 in Barningham Yorks. suggesting that the family connection from Yorkshire may have led to the apprenticeship. John Ewbank went on the found his own cheesemongering business at 50 Rosoman Street, Clerkenwell which he passed on to his son, William Ewbank, my great grandfather.
Hi Stephen,
Thanks for your comment. It is amazing how many family links have turned up after I published the Proctor/Todd post. I must correct you on the apprentice relation, however, as the census gives a “J. ditto” for him, which is “journeyman cheesemonger”. If you look two rows down from Ewbank’s name, you will see William Proctor with “Ap. ditto” which is indeed an apprentice. I know the 1841 census wasn’t very precise about ages, but 25 would have been a bit old for an apprentice. A journeyman was someone who had finished his apprenticeship, but had not set up on his own and was just working for wages. Could be for various reasons; one important one would be financial. It did cost a bit to set up one’s own business, so he may just have lingered on as an employee to save some money. I cannot find an apprentice record for him, so he may very well have had his apprenticeship in Yorks. He need not have taken out his freedom with the City – which costs money again – and if he settled outside the City walls, he did not need to, so that is probably why I cannot find him in the Freedom records either, or have I missed something? Good luck with any further research.
Hi,
I’m researching the Teesdale cheesemongers based in London and their familial links and I m yet to find a link between the Todd/Procter extended family and the Ewbanks, although there may well be one. The families originated within a very small geographic area mainly around Barningham & Startforth in the North Riding of Yorkshire and it may well be that the London Todd/Procter’s were looking for workers and asked relatives to look for a worker from their neighbours. I’ve found other examples where I think this happened within the Teesdale cheesemongers. I also have not yet found apprenticeship records for John Ewbank, but my research is still work in progress.
Incidently, there is still a farm in Rokeby called Ewebank Farm & is probably where some of the family lived at one time. It’s to the south of the A66 near Rokeby Church.
Regards
Catherine Ryan
In addition to CHRISTIAN TODD born June 13th 1802,other children of John & Elizabeth Todd at St Gregory are:-
Edward born Sept 16th 1798
James born Oct 23 1800 but baptised June 5th 1803
George born Jan 6 1804
Thanks Gerald for your comment. To keep the story simple (ha, ha, as if the Todd/Procter story is ever simple) I have left out those family members that do not figure in the cheesemonger’s story, but you are no doubt correct; there were more children.
I am a Todd descendant, and 2nd cousin to Chris Carter who has written messages here. My tree goes back to George {guessing born about 1730} and Mary Todd, the parents of John, 1755 George, Mary, Sarah, Elizabeth. All baptized Bethnal Green 1750:s Parents listed as George and Mary. George was a Brewer’s Servant in 1755
Mary Todd who married John Proctor was born 1764 Scargill, Yorkshire. Presume is a cousin of the Todd’s of London. Mary Todd died Dec 22 1840
Their son William, Feb 14 1798 Barnard Castle, Durham, married Christiana Todd. who was the daughter of John Todd 1755 London and Elizabeth Turner, and the grand daughter of George { brewers servant} and Mary.
My DNA has been tested and it shows that I am related to the James Proctor of Lancashire 1565
I look forward to hearing from anyone interested.
Regard,
Marlene Lyons
Hi Marlene,
I think that you may have got your Todd relations mixed up. There is no evidence of a George Todd of that date on any family tree of this Todd family that I have found or researched. As far as I’m aware the John of St Paul’s Churchyard (bapt Barningham, Yorkshire 1755) was the son of Joseph Todd (bapt Brignall, Yorkshire 1723). Joseph was also the father of Mary who married John Procter. The family were relatively well-off farmers based in Barningham, Scargill and Brignall in North Yorkshire, whose common ancestor is said to have come from Cumbria before 1714 when there is a marriage of William (John’s Grandfather) at Brignall Church.
Todd is a very common name, there could be more than one John Todd born in England in 1755 – have you got the right one?
There is a detailed and pretty accurate family tree of this Todd family in North Yorkshire Archives at Northallerton (reference as posted above) if you are interested in further research. The documents also contain an extensive family tree of the Procter family of Teesdale and London, who may as you have surmised, come originally from the Cumbria/Lancashire borders. There were many cheesemongers in this Todd family (and related to them), including others whose shops are in the Tallis street views.
John Todd of St Paul’s Churchyard had cousins William & John Todd operating as cheesemongers in High Street Islington in the 1790’s and then they moved their business to St Martins-Le-Grand before returning to Barningham. This William and John were the sons of Joseph’s brother William. William Todd (the younger) is a witness in the Old Bailey case against John Butterfield heard on 5th December 1821. St Martins-Le-Grand is just around the corner from St Paul’s Churchyard, so it’s certain that the owners of these cheesemongers shops knew each other well.
Regards
Catherine Ryan
I am g.g.g. grand daughter of John Todd 1755 who was in business with Robert Proctor.
I am 2nd cousin to Chris Carter who has left messages here. Our grandparents were siblings.
My DNA has been tested and it shows that I am related to Proctor’s of Lancashire. I have yet to find the link to Durham.
My Christiana Todd married William Proctor of Barnard Castle Durham. Christiana Todd is the daughter of my g.g.g. grandfather.
Regards,
Marlene
Hi Catherine:
Now really confused!
I will go back and research John 1755 and siblings.
My subscription to Ancestry has just run out, but I plan to renew.
Thanks for pointing this out.
Regards, Marlene
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Have only just come across your interesting article about Todd and Procter, I have a copy of the Procter family tree going back to about 1700 and re a comment from Catherine Ryan about Ewbank Farm (now spelt Ewebank ) An early tenant was Thomas Procter, uncle of cheese man Robert, and the tenancy was then taken over by his son John who retired in 1872 when the farm was sold.
Thanks Pat, I am sure Catherine will be interested and so am I of course. 🙂
Thank you Pat, all information about the family is welcome. 😀
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Hi, I recently purchased at auction two oil on canvass 19th century portraits of Mary Todd and John Proctor…. just wondered if anybody in this chat would know why they were from an estate near Stockport? Happy to share photos of the works if it is of interest to anybody who may be related to them. Daniel
Hi Daniel,
Thanks for your comment. I cannot help you with the Stockport connection, but maybe some of the other commentators can. If you would like, I can post photos of the portraits on the blog. If you are willing, just email them and I’ll do it a.s.a.p.
Baldwin
Hi:
I am interested in seeing the painting of Mary Todd and John Proctor. Mary’s Father Joseph was my 4th great grandfather, and Mary my 4th great Aunt. Chris Carter is my second cousin.
Cheers,
Marlene
HI Daniel, my John Procter abt 1760-1834 and Mary Todd abt 1764-1839 may be my distant relatives. They had four children I beleave William. Elizabeth, John and Robert all born in Barnard Castle. I would be very interested in seeing the portraits of John and Mary if at all possible please.
Just seen this. Interesting that you mention the Jones family. My Great Great Grandfather was John George Jones, a Cheesemonger from Marylebone until his death in early 1874 at the age of 47. His wife was Anna Nichols and his father a Thomas Jones, occupation unreadable in the 1841 census. I have no idea where he worked or who for.
Hi, I don’t think your Jones Cheesemongers are closely related to the Todd family & haven’t got either a Thomas or John George on the tree. Sorry, probably just a coincidence with a relatively common name and a common occupation.
OK, thanks for the response anyway.