George Pritchard

Biography
Richard Gordon Brown recorded: 'My grandfather, Richard Brown’s wife, Mary Ann Pritchard, came from Shropshire. She had a younger brother, George Pritchard (1827-1913) who was young enough to play with his nephews and nieces -of the Brown family. Uncle George Pritchard was for many years Manager of the London and County Bank at Paddington, and by his influence got Uncles Walter and Charlie into the banking world. A Bank Manager in those days was a man of considerable influence'. °
The elder of two sons born to John and Harriett Pritchard, George Pritchard was born at Redbridge, Millbrook in Hampshire. Redbridge was near the New Forest and Solent. His father was a Revenue -an Excise Officer in Crown Service. There were four sisters, Mary Ann, the wife of Richard Brown of Ringwood and to whose family George Pritchard was close throughout his life, Harriet, who married John Wilson Farnell, a draper and silk mercer of Salisbury and, later, after the silk trade in Salisbury receded, lived in Camden Town, Middlesex, Sarah, who married Thomas Crowder and lived in Madeley overlooking the Ironbridge Gorge and where Mary Ann had been born and his youngest sister, Emma, who married Peter O'Connor. His brother was John Gilbert Pritchard; Census Recds. recording John was disabled and requiring care. °
In 1855 George was married to Frances Grugeon, the daughter of a Banker, James Grugeon and his wife, Helen. James Grugeon was recorded aa Manager of the Chatham Branch of the London and County Joint Stock Bank in 1843 and then, in 1858, the Woolwich Branch of the London and County. The Marriage was at Woolwich Parish Church; a copy of the Marriage banns appears amongst the sources. It is possible that, at least part of George's early banking career, was spent in one of those Branches as a clerk alongside his Manager and future father in law, and accordingly there he met Frances. Sadly Frances died some five years afterwards they were married. Thus, in 1861 George Pritchard was residing, according to that Census, 'widowed' and in lodgings at 117 College Street, Marylebone, 34 years in age and employed in the bank but as a Clerk. °
In June 1874, probate in the will of John Wilson Farnell was granted to George Pritchard, Harriet Farnell's younger brother, County Branch Manager -London & County Bank as sole Executor - then, of 6 Berkeley Place, Paddington. In 1874 upon moving to Paddington the Customers of the Hackney Branch, where he had worked since 1868 presented him with an Illuminated letter of appreciation to mark his time as their Manager and his promotion. In 1875, this address was given in the listings made by the Post Office's Street Directory; both the Bank Branch and for George as its manager, detailing: Berkeley Place, 15 Connaught Square. °
In early, January, 1879 George Pritchard's niece, Janet Klasen -daughter of Richard and Mary Ann Brown, received news that her husband, Albert, had died at the end of December, (the 31st) of 1878 from TB, in Australia leaving her, his widow to care for their children. Janet continued to live in the household, his niece and companion. °
In 1911 the Census recorded his living at Poole. George Pritchard had long retired from managership, London and County Bank to live at Seldown Road and he was aged 84. The Census returned his nieces were staying with him; Janet Harriet Klasen, permanently resident aged 59, Emily Dorothy Brown, Great Niece and eldest daughter of Charles Farnell Brown, aged 27 and Cicely Klasen, aged 9; visiting. °
George Pritchard died, aged 86 at his home, Mount Pleasant, Seldown Road, Poole His Grand Nephew -A.P. Klasen was present.

Sources

[1] Birth (i) Hampshire, England, Church of England Baptisms, 1813-1921 for George Pritchard
Winchester St Peter Chesil -1813-1856
accessed: https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageviewer/collections/62422/images/624...
[ii] England, Select Births & Christenings 1538-1975
Name George Prichard : Baptism Date 17 Jun 1827
Baptism Place St. Maurice, Winchester, Hampshire, England
Father John Pritchard : Mother Harriott Prichard
FHL Film Number 1596406. Ref. ID item 3
accessed -as at (i) above
[2] England & Wales Civil Regn. Marriage Index 1837-1915
Name: Frances Grugeon
Regn. Yr. 1855 : Regn. Quarter: Apr-May-Jun. Regn. Dist. Greenwich County: London
Vol. 1d, p. 789 -Recds. incl. Frances Grugeon & George Pritchard
https://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=8913&h=1...
(ii) London, Church of England Marriages & Banns 1754-1938
Name: Frances Grugeon
Marriage Dt. 21 Apr 1855. Marriage Place: St Mary Magdalene, Woolwich, Greenwich, England
Father: James Grugeon : Spouse: George Pritchard
Register Type: Parish Register
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/discoveryui-content/view/7455724:1623
[3] Census
(i) George Pritchard in England, Census 1891
Relationship Head
Birth Year 1827 Birth Place Redbridge, Southampton, Hampshire, England
Civil parish Paddington
Ecclesiastical parish St John
Residence Place Paddington, London, England
Regn. dist. Paddington : Sub regn. dist. St John Paddington
ED &c. 6 Piece 13 Folio 116 listing with age & relationship
George Pritchard 64 Head
Janet Harriet Klasen 44 Niece : Kathleen Ada Klasen. 22 Grand Niece
Peter O'Connor 70 Brother-in-law, Emma O'Connor 68 Sister [to G.P.]
Mary Favell 31, Emma Whittaker 39 Thomas Taistoe Bell 34 Servants
accessed: https://www.ancestry.co.uk/discoveryui-content/view/10053205:6598?t...
(ii) Census 1911 : Mount Pleasant, Seldown Road, Poole, Dorset. George Pritchard 84 Head
Janet Harriet Klasen 59 Niece:
Emily Dorothy Brown. 27 Grand Niece
Cicely C J Klasen. 9. Grand Niece
Frances Elizabeth Cobb. 23. Servant. : Alice V Mizen. 25. Servant
Civil parish Poole, County Dorset : Country England
Street Address Mount Pleasant, Seldown Road, Poole, Dorset
Marital Status Widower : Occupation Retired Bank Manager
Regn. Dist. Number 261
Sub-regn. Dist. Poole
ED &c. 07. Piece 12282
accessed: https://www.ancestry.co.uk/discoveryui-content/view/44985814:2352?t...
[4] Ringwood Town Council tabulated Recd. Burials
[5] Civil Regn. of Deaths Index -Frances Pritchard St. Pancras, London, wife of George Pritchard, incl. location of death & residence : Yr. 1856, September, Jly.-Aug.-Sept, Vol. 1b, 85 [55 ?]
(ii) Cc. of Death Certificate -source
(iii) Hants. Genealogical Society -Extract list of M.I. s Pritchard family: Ringwood Town Cemetery 1868-1913
[6] Grant of Probate & Will of George Pritchard of Poole -cc. sources
[7] Illuminated Presentation to George Pritchard from Bank Customers at the Hackney Branch, London & County Bank, May 1875 © images reproduced by permission of NatWest