Sarah Jane Henrietta Gottheimer

According to : http://www.ripperologist.biz/pdf/ripperologist133.pdf

Address at time of Ripper murders:

24 Great Pearl Street

Sarah Jane Henrietta Lewis was born on 12 February 1865 in Bethnal Green, the daughter of Thomas Stoodley Lewis and his wife Ann Mary. She was baptised at St John’s Church, Bethnal Green, on 3 September 1865. At the time of her baptism, the family address is given as 9 Prospect Place and the trade of her father as a Traveller - in fact he was a jeweller and so, presumably, Thomas was a commercial traveller dealing in items of jewellery. Sarah’s antecedents on her father’s side had in the fairly recent past been comfortable. Two generations before Sarah, her paternal forebear was a mercantile clerk and the family lived in Pall Mall but for reasons unknown their fortunes had waned and they had decamped to the East End.

In 1871 the family is listed at 23 Hamilton Road, Bethnal Green:

Thomas Lewis aged 43 born Lambeth - Wharf labourer

Ann Lewis aged 42 born Birmingham

Children:

• Thomas aged 19 born Lambeth - Walking stick maker
• Frederick aged 16 born Kingsland - Walking stick maker
• Walter aged 10 born Kingsland
• Emily aged 8 born Bethnal Green
• Sarah aged 6 born Bethnal Green
• Francis aged 4 born Bethnal Green
• John aged 2 born Bethnal Green

I have so far been unable to definitively trace Sarah in the 1881 census. All we can say is that some time prior to 1886 she met and settled down with a man of German Jewish origin by family background but who was himself British born at 12 Brick Lane in 1861. His name was Joseph Gotheimer. This is the “husband” with whom she had ‘had words” prior to seeking temporary refuge in Miller’s Court on the night of Mary Kelly’s murder. I placed the word husband in quotes as they were not married as of that date. Indeed, their partnership, which certainly lasted the course, had two unusual characteristics:

1 Sarah bore Joseph 12 children, the first of them born in 1886, and the couple lived together as man and wife for many years but did not actually get married until 1914.

2 Throughout their partnership the couple adopted Sarah’s maiden name rather than Joseph’s surname. The couple consistently appear as Joseph and Sarah Lewis, even after their official marriage.

1891 Census

Relation to head Name Age

• Head Joseph Lewis 30 Furrier
• Wife Sarah Lewis 26
• Daughter Emily Lewis 4
• Son John Lewis 2
  

1901 Census

• Joseph Lewis Head 38 Shop General dealer born London Whitechapel
• Sarah Jane wife 36 born London Bethnal Green
• Emily Lewis daur 14 Tailoress born London Old Ford
• Annie Lewis daur 9 born London Bethnal Green
• Kate Lewis daur 7 born London Whitechapel
• Sarah Lewis daur 5 born London Whitechapel
• William Lewis son 4 born London Whitechapel
• Sophia Lewis daur 2 born London Whitechapel

FreeBMD Marriage Index, 1837-1915

• Name Sarah J H Lewis
• Spouse Surname Gotheimer
• Registration Year 1914
• Registration Quarter Apr-May-Jun
• Registration district Mile End Old Town
• Inferred County London
• Volume 1c
• Page 661
• Joseph Gotheimer
• Sarah J H Lewis
  

Death Index, 1916-2007

• Name Sarah J Gotheimer
• Birth Date abt 1865
• Date of Registration Jun 1941
• Age at Death 76
• Registration district Bethnal Green
• Inferred County London
• Volume 1c
• Page 134

1911 Census

3 Reform Place, Eastfield Street, Limehouse. Class: RG14; Piece: 1551

• Joseph Lewis 50 married Hawker born London Whitechapel
• Sarah Lewis wife 46 married 26 years, 12 childre, 8 living, 4 dead - born Bow E London
• William Lewis son 14 born Mile End London
• Sophia Lewis daughter 12 born Mile End London
• Rachel Lewis daughter 8 born Limehouse London
• Alfred Lewis son 4 born Limehouse, London.