Frederick Henry Seddon (1872 - 1912)

Born 21 Jan 1872 in Everton, Lancashire, England

Ancestors

Husband of Margaret Ann (Jones) Seddon — married 31 Dec 1893 (to 18 Apr 1912) in St George, Everton, Lancashire, England

Died 18 Apr 1912 at age 40 in Islington, London, England

Biography

Frederick Seddon was born in Liverpool, Lancashire, England.

Frederick Henry Seddon was born on the 21 January 1872^[1] in Liverpool, Lancashire, England the son of William Seddon, a watch finisher and Elizabeth Kennen ^[2].He was baptised on the 9 November 1873 in Liverpool, St Peter, Lancashire, England.^[3]

In the 1881 census Frederick (age 9), Scholar, was the son of William Seddon at 85, Hartnup Street, Everton, West Derby, Lancashire, England.^[4]

He married Margaret Ann Jones the daughter of James Jones, an Iron master on 31 December 1893 at St George's church, Everton, Lancashire.^[5]

In the 1901 census Frederick (age 29), Insurance superintendant was the married head of household at 34, Lonsdale Square, Islington, London & Middlesex, England.^[6]

The Murder of Miss Barrow

By 1909 the family had moved to 63 Tollington Park, Islington, London. A modern house (built 1897) at the end of a short terrace. The house was too large for the Seddons (12 rooms according to the 1911 census) and by the time of the 1911 census Frederick had taken in lodgers who occupied the top floor,Miss Eliza Barrow and a young boy that she was looking after.

Seddon befriended and manipulated the eccentric Barrow, getting her to transfer her £4000 life savings to him over the next year, including £1600 in Indian stocks in July 1910, properties in Camden in January 1911, and £200 cash later in 1911.

On August 26, 1911, Seddon's daughter Maggie purchased arsenic-laced fly papers. Miss Barrow fell severely ill with symptoms like diarrhea on September 1st. Her doctor was away so Seddon's physician Dr. Sworn attended her, not realizing she was being poisoned. Barrow died on September 13th after moving into her ward Ernest Grant's room due to the filthy state of her own room.

Seddon hurriedly buried Barrow two days later, not notifying her Vonderahe cousins. He later presented them with papers showing he was Barrow's inheritor and Ernie's guardian. Suspicious, they alerted police who exhumed the body after two months. The autopsy by Dr. Bernard Spilsbury and toxicology tests by William Willcox found acute arsenic poisoning.

Seddon was arrested on December 4, 1911, proclaiming his innocence. His wife Margaret Ann was also indicted in mid-January 1912. Their high-profile trial at the Old Bailey from March 4-14, 1912 was a legal spectacle. Prosecution was led by Attorney General Sir Rufus Isaacs, with Edward Marshall Hall defending Frederick and Gervais Rentoul defending Margaret.

Though the defense argued Barrow ingested arsenic slowly over time, the evidence showed acute poisoning. Seddon's arrogant testimony condemning him more than the facts. He was found guilty and hanged on April 18, 1912, while his wife was shockingly acquitted despite likely involvement. She quickly remade her life marrying again and selling conflicting confessions to the press for profit. Frederick's estate passed probate on 8 May 1912 in London, England.

63 Tollington Park, probably about 1911 when the murder of Eliza Barrow took place.

Sources

1. ↑ BirthDate:- Fredericks birth date is given in his baptismal record on 9 November 1873
2. ↑ Birth Registration England & Wales General Register Office, GRO Online Index - Birth (https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificates/indexes_search.asp database entry for SEDDON, FREDERICK  HENRY  Mother's maiden surname: KEENNEN  ), GRO Reference: 1872  M Quarter in WEST DERBY AND TOXTETH PARK  Volume 08B  Page 357
3. ↑ Baptism: "Lancashire Baptisms"
   Archive: Liverpool Record Office; Reference: 283-PET-2-70; Page: 128
   FindMyPast Image - FindMyPast Transcription (accessed 2 April 2024)
   Frederic Henry Seddon baptism on 9 Nov 1873 (born 21 Jan 1872), son of William & Mary Anne, in Liverpool, St Peter, Lancashire, England.
4. ↑ 1881 Census: "1881 England, Wales & Scotland Census"
   Reference: RG11; Piece number: 3669; Folio: 128; Page: 42; Schedule: 1057
   FindMyPast Image - FindMyPast Transcription (accessed 2 April 2024)
   Frederick H Seddon (9), unmarried son, Scholar, in household of William Seddon (40) at 85, Hartnup Street, Everton in West Derby registration district in Lancashire, England. Born in England.
5. ↑ Marriage: "Liverpool, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1754-1935"
   Liverpool Record Office; Liverpool, England; Reference Number: 283 GEV/3/14
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 2197 #2777410 (accessed 22 November 2023)
   Frederick Henry Seddon (21) marriage to Margaret Ann Jones on 31 Dec 1893 in Everton, St George, Lancashire, England.
6. ↑ 1901 Census: "1901 England, Wales & Scotland Census"
   Reference: RG13; Piece number: 177; Folio: 75; Page: 20; Schedule: 142
   FindMyPast Image - FindMyPast Transcription (accessed 2 April 2024)
   Frederick H Seddon (29), married, Insurance superintendt, head of household at 34, Lonsdale Square in Islington registration district in London & Middlesex, England. Born in England.
7. ↑ Probate: "England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1995"
   Principal Probate Registry; London, England; Calendar of the Grants of Probate and Letters of Administration made in the Probate Registries of the High Court of Justice in England
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 1904 #4691423 (accessed 2 April 2024)
   SEDDON Frederick Henry of 62 Tollington Park Middlesex died 18 April 1912 at His Majesty’s Prison Pentonville Middlesex Probate London 8 May to Albert Sidney Wainwright estate agent. Effects £2188 4s. 6d.
8. ↑ Probate. Newspaper:- Evening Irish Times - Monday 13 May 1912 Pg 9 Seddon's Will Seddon's will has now been proved. The quaint words of the grant of Probate read as follows: -- "Be it known that Frederick Henry Seddon, of 63 Tollington Park, in the County of Middlesex, died on the 18th day of April, 1912, at His Majesty's Prison at Pentonville, in the said county. And be it further known that at the date hereunder written the last will and testament of the said deceased was proved and registered in the Principal Probate Registry of His Majesty's Court of Probate. To Albert Sidney Wainwright, of 76 Tollington Park, one of the executors named in the said will, Power reserved to the other executors. Dated 8th day of May, 1912. Gross value of estate, £2,126 4s. 6d. Net value not yet ascertained." The will is dated 12th April last (six days before his execution), and is typewritten and commences : --"This is the last will and testament of me, Frederick Henry Seddon, formerly of 63 Tollington Park, in the County of Middlesex, but now a prisoner in His Majesty's Prison at Pentonville, London." He appointed as executors his wife, Mrs. Margaret Ann Seddon, his brother, Mr. Thomas Seddon, and Mr. Albert Sidney Wainwright, to the last-named of whom the grant has been issued. He left all of his property to his wife during widowhood, subject to the maintenance and education of such of his children as should be then unmarried, and should require maintenance and education, and subject thereto, he left all of his property upon trust for his children in equal shares. The will is witnessed by J. Roskelley, Warder, and George Green, Principal Warder. (further information on will of other murderers)

See also:

• Wikipedia: Frederick Seddon
• Wikidata: Item Q5498712