John Rockley (abt. 1790 - 1862)

Born about 1790 in Windsor, Berkshire, England

Husband of Ruth (Mallett) Rockley — married 12 Jul 1845 in Frome St John, Somerset, England

Descendants

Died 21 Mar 1862 at about age 72 in Albert Cottage, Peckham Rye, Surrey, England, United Kingdom

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Biography

This biography is a rough draft. It was auto-generated by a GEDCOM import and needs to be edited.

Record File Number

Record File Number: 546927544

Sources

Children's baptism record (1825) Records him as wine merchant, of Great Surry St. (Renamed in 1829 as Blackfriars Road, Southwark - http://www.british-history.ac.uk/survey-london/vol22) 1825 Post Office directory: Wine and brandy merchant (London Metropolitan Archives; London, England; London City Directories) 1830 Robson directory: listed as the cross keys, 1 Gt Surrey St 1840 Pigots: 11 Russell St, Wine and brandy merchant

1851, 1861 census: Hotel keeper & proprietor, Great Hummums Hotel, Tavistock st, Covent Garden.

1862 Probate: John Rockley, late of the New Hummums Hotel Covent Graden In the County of Middlesex Wine merchant deceased who died 21 March 1862 at Albert Cottage Peckham Rye . Buried at St Giles Camberwell

The Mummums Hotel was an important venue, sometimes of dubious reputation, standing where the London Transport Museum is now. John had clearly done well. "The Harrisons were eventually succeeded by John Rockley who took over the tavern in 1835 and the hotel in 1842; thereafter the business was variously known as Rockley's or the (New) Hummums Hotel." - http://www.british-history.ac.uk/survey-london/vol36/pp91-94 An account of the literary influence of the Hummums hotel can be found at http://www.literarylondon.org/london-journal/march2008/maclauchlin.html " The literature of both the eighteenth and nineteenth century maintains its walls, its chambers, and its lore. The Hummums features in Boswell’s Life of Samuel Johnson, links to Hogarth’s “A Midnight Modern Conversation,” and figures in eighteenth-century historical accounts, novels, poems, ballads, and plays. Through letters and journals prominent nineteenth-century artists like George Crabbe, Alfred Lord Tennyson, and Charles Lutwidge Dodgson (Lewis Carroll) disclose their visits to the Hummums. Charles Dickens and William Makepeace Thackeray use the Hummums in their creative works."

Old Bailey online, 1841: 2258. JOHN JAMES was indicted for stealing, on the 27th of August, 1 packing-case, value 7s.; 6 glass bottles, value it. 6d.; and 6 quarts of wine, value 12.; the goods of John Rockley, his master.

JOHN ROCKLEY. I am a wine-merchant, and keep the New Hummums, hotel, Covent-garden; the prisoner was three or four months in my service, and boarded in the house. On Friday, the 27th of August, I went to the police-station at Bow-street, in consequence of information I received, and there saw a case and some bottles of wine, in consequence of which I gave the prisoner into custody—I can speak to the wine, it being sealed with my name, and the case.

THOMAS ELLIS . I am an oyster-dealer, and live in Bedford-court, Covent-garden. On the 29th of August the prisoner left a box at my door, and I took it in charge—he told me he would bring a horse and cart and take it away, but he did not, and I gave it up to the police—this is the case, I can swear it.

RICHARD GABRIEL GABB . I am a police-sergeant I went to Ellis's shop—he delivered me a case containing this wine, as it does now—I found Mr. Rockley's name on one of the seals.

ALLEN PHILLIPS . I am a policeman. I went to Mr. Rockley's on the 27th, and heard a conversation between the prisoner and Mr. Rockley—the prisoner said "Have mercy on me, master; do not give me into custody"—Mr. Rockley gave him in charge, and on the road to the station, he said he took the wine to send to his wife, for her to make a little money, as she was very badly off and ill in the country—I found two directions on him—they are directions to his wife—I told him what he said I should give in evidence.

Prisoner. The wine I had from a person who used to live at Liverpool with a Mr. Hanson, he is now agent for somebody—he owed me 30s., and said he would give me the wine for it—it was never on Mr. Rockley's premises,

but the case I took from Mr. Rockley intending to return it—I sealed the cork with Mr. Rockley's seal for my wife to know where I lived.

MR. ROCKLEY re-examined. Some of this wine is Lisbon, which he bottled in my cellar the day before—he had the care of the seal, and of the cellars—I am certain these formed part of my stock—this Hock I know—I have no question but this case was secreted to take out next morning while I was at breakfast.

GUILTY . Aged 26.— Transported for Seven Years.

• WikiTree profile Rockley-13 created through the import of Bryant family tree.ged on Dec 22, 2011 by Julian Bryant. See the Changes page for the details of edits by Julian and others.