EDGOOSE:
In search of Ancestry
BROOKS, Edith Elizabeth
1867 - 1937 (70 years) Has 14 ancestors and one descendant in this family tree.
Abt 1825 - 1870 (45 years)-
Name BROOKS, Edith Elizabeth Birth 1867 Rotherhithe Registration District, London 
Gender Female Death 1937 Billericay, Essex, England Person ID I4946 Edgoose Last Modified 31 Jan 2026
Father BROOKS, John, b. Abt 1825 d. 1870 (Age 45 years) Mother HUDSON, Frances Ann, b. 11 Jul 1837, Wisbech Registration District, Cambridgeshire d. 7 Mar 1873, Rotherhithe Registration District, London (Age 35 years) Marriage 27 Jan 1863 Deptford, Kent, England Family ID F3159 Group Sheet | Family Chart
Family 1 Children 1. BROOKS, Agnes, b. 1895, Acton, Middlesex, England d. Yes, date unknownFamily ID F2069 Group Sheet | Family Chart Last Modified 27 Jan 2026
Family 2 THORNE, Charles Edgar, b. Between 1870 and 1871, Leiston, Suffolk, England d. Yes, date unknown Marriage 1899 Greenwich Registration District, London Family ID F2070 Group Sheet | Family Chart Last Modified 27 Jan 2026
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Notes
EDITH ELIZABETH THORNE formerly BROOKS 1867-1937
The birth of an Edith Elizabeth BROOKS was registered in 1867.
(GRO March Q 1867 Rotherhithe 1d 679)
The 1871 census of 2 Maynard Road, Rotherhithe, Surrey:
Frances A. BROOK (sic), head, aged 33, manger (?), born at West Walton, Norfolk;
Ann HUDSON, daughter, aged 12, born at Rotherhithe, Surrey;
*Ed(ith) BROOK, daughter, aged 4, born at Rotherhithe;
Emma S. BROOK, daughter, aged 2, born at Rotherhithe;
T. Maria BROOK, daughter, aged 1 month, born at Rotherhithe;
E(dith) HINES, sister, aged 22, unmarried, born at Walsoken, Norfolk;
Saml FRANCIS, boarder, aged 32, unmarried, labourer, born at Rotherhithe.
Also at the same address:
Ann BROWN, head, aged 44, widow, charwoman, born at Stonehouse, Devonport;
Marie BROWN, daughter, aged 18, gold thread spinner, born at Bradford, Yorkshire.
(RG10/643/46/30)
Edith Elizabeth BROOKS and Emma Sarah BROOKS were both sent to the Metropolitan & City Police Orphanage at Fortescue House, Twickenham. The records show that on the 12 April 1873 applications were made for a number of children to be admitted to the school, amongst whom were Agnes BROOKS and Edith Elizabeth BROOKS. At a Board Meeting held on 9 May 1873 it was agreed that Edith Elizabeth BROOKS be admitted and she is shown on a list of children admitted to the orphanage up to the 31 December 1873:
Name: BROOKS, Edith Elizabeth
Age on birthday prior to admission: 6
Date of admission: 9 May 1873
Name of father: BROOKS, John
Rank of father and letter of his Division: PC70R
Does the Mother survive: No
Agnes BROOKS appears to be have been rejected on the grounds of her illegitimacy.
Further records show that an application was made to admit Emma Sarah BROOKS on 6 February 1874 and that she was admitted on 13 February 1874 aged 5 years.
Edith BROOKS would appear to have left the orphanage at some time after the 1881 census and Emma BROOKS in 1883.
(source: Metropolitan and City Police Orphanage archives via Bob BURSTOW)
From the 1881 census of the Metropolitan City and Police Orphanage, Wellesley House, Twickenham:
*Edith BROOKS, aged 14, scholar, born at Rotherhithe, Surrey;
(RG11/1343/132/9)
Emma BROOKS, aged 12, scholar, born at Rotherhithe, Surrey;
(RG11/1343/131/8)
The 1891 census of 8, Tyrwhitt Road, St Paul Deptford, London, Middlesex:
Thomas J. MERRITT, head, widower, aged 62, Printer Newspaper Proprietor, born Bethnal Green, London;
Julia T. MERRITT, daughter, aged 33, born at West Hackney, Middlesex;
Jessie B. MERRITT, daughter, aged 14, born at Greenwich, Kent;
*Edith E BROOKS, servant, single, aged 24, general domestic servant, born Rotherhithe, Kent;
Ellen M. BOWLES, servant, single, aged 17, housemaid domestic, born Nounceley, Essex.
(RG12/502/17/28)
She witnessed the marriage of her sister Emma Sarah BROOKS to John Thomas SMITH at St. Michael's Church, Willesden, Middlesex, on 17 September 1893.
(GRO September Q 1893 Hendon 3a 322)
The marriage between Edith Elizabeth BROOKS and Charles Edgar THORNE was registered in 1899.
(GRO December Q 1899 Greenwich 1d 747)
From the 1901 census of 2(?) Crown Street, West Ham, Essex:
Charles THORN (sic), head, aged 30, labourer in shipyard, born at Leiston, Suffolk;
*Edith THORN, wife, aged 34, born at Rotherhithe, London;
Agnes BROOKS, stepdaughter, aged 5, born at Acton, Middlesex.
(RG13/1581/157/49)
The death of an Edith E. THORNE aged 70 was registered in 1937.
(GRO June Q 1937 Billericay 4a 613)
The death of an Edith E. THORN (sic) aged 85 was registered in 1953.
(GRO March 1953 Essex SW 5a 416)
(revised 13.04.2008)