James Kendall Morfitt

He was adopted. (Birth mother was Mary Kendall, adopted parents were John and Martha Morfitt: see: John Morfitt and Martha Morfitt).

His mother Mary Kendall gave him to John Morfitt and Martha Sutcliffe Morfitt to raise. James is initially listed as their nephew in the 1871 census, but in the 1881 census, he is listed as their son. It is unclear if there is a biological connection though or if the term "nephew" is used loosely. There does not seem to be any evidence that Martha Sutcliffe Morfitt and Mary Kendall were sisters.

It appears that his mother Mary Kendall kept her younger son Ernest with her and was unmarried and living with him when he was 6 years old in the 1881 census along with Hannah Sutcliffe Ryder (Martha Sutcliffe Morfitt's sister) and her husband. In later years, Ernest is living with his wife along with Hannah and Hannah is listed as being an aunt. Again, it is unclear if there is a biological connection or if that term is used loosely. There does not seem to be any evidence that Hannah Sutcliffe Ryder and Mary Kendall were sisters.

He was listed as being 3 years old in the 1871 census as the nephew of John and Martha Morphet (a misspelling) along with their daughter Annie. He is listed as "James Kendall".

He was listed as being 13 years old in the 1881 census with father listed as John Morfitt, age 53 (born August 16, 1828, a wool dryer); mother listed as Martha Morfitt, age 57 (born circa 1824, a woollen mender); and sister listed as Annie S. Morfitt, age 29 (born circa 1852, a woollen mender). Census reveals they were living in Yeadon, Yorkshire, England at the time on Calcutta Street.

He was listed as being 23 years old, married and a police constable in the 1891 census, census reveals he was living in Bradford, Yorkshire, England at the time.

He was listed as being 33 years old, a widower and a police constable in the 1901 census, census reveals he was living in Bradford, Yorkshire, England at the time.

He remarried at the age of 36 to Grace Ellen Drake on October 1, 1904.

He was listed as being 43 years old, married (but his wife isn't listed in the census?) and a police constable in the 1911 census. Residence: 123 Dudley Hill Road, Bradford, England

He won several awards for his bravery in saving lives as a police constable.

He became good friends with famed escape artist Harry Houdini (Houdini toured England in 1900 and befriended him during this time). They met when Houdini challenged his audiences to make a pair of handcuffs that he could try to escape from. James Morfitt apparently submitted a pair and Houdini tried them and had a bit of difficulty and wanted to meet the person who submitted them.

After befriending Houdini, they corresponded and visited each other quite often. Houdini even gave James Morfitt money to help him pay for his house and money was also left to him in Houdini's will.

James Morfitt's great-grandson John Mintzer possesses a pair of handcuffs and thumbcuffs that Houdini used and various correspondences between James Morfitt and Harry Houdini.

His granddaughter Jacqueline Morfitt Hayton believes that he and his brother Ernest Kendall both had the same mother and father.

His wife Gertrude died giving birth to twins. One of the twins died and the other twin named Hector was adopted by Gertrude's brother and his wife and taken to live in Ohio, USA when he was one year old.

Photo in police uniform from The Royal Magazine, volume 1, November 1898-April 1899, p. 252-253. Text inside as follows: Police-Constable James Morfitt Whilst on duty on the 12th ult., Police-Constable Morfitt was informed that a woman - Eliza Morell - was in bed drunk at a house in Captain Street, Bradford, and that the house was on fire. Morfitt hurried to Captain Street, which is situated amongst a mass of dilapidated slums. Arriving there, he found a large crowd around the house, No. 34, from the roof of which flames were pouring. Dashing into the house Police-Constable Morfitt rushed upstairs into the burning room. The following is his own account of the affair, as recorded in the books of the Police Department: "I found the bedroom full of smoke, and the bed and furniture in flames. I heard someone groaning. I called out 'Where are you?' and got a reply: 'Here.' I crept along the bedroom floor towards the sound, but was compelled to go back to the door on account of the smoke and heat, my face and hands being burned. I ran downstairs, and called for some men to come, and carry some water. I took a bucket of water up, and threw it on the burning furniture. I then went into the room again, but was driven back by the heat and smoke. I threw several buckets of water on to the burning mass, then went in again, and got to the window, which I broke with my staff. I then went to the bed, but could not find the woman, and I was compelled to go back to the door again. I got some water, and threw it on the burning furniture. I then crept along the bedroom floor toward the bed, and found the woman crouching in the corner, unconscious. Her clothing was on fire, and I put it out. I carried her to the door, and Police-Constable Marshall assisted me to carry her downstairs to the kitchen." The Watch Committee conferred upon Police-Constable Morfitt the Merit Badge, which carries a monetary value of two shillings per week, and he also received the Royal Fire Medal.

More info on relationship with Houdini: http://www.network54.com/Forum/261154/thread/1262787570/1264384530/... http://www.geniimagazine.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Num...