Rober Davis was a mariner at the time of his marriage in 1839, the same occupation as his father. By June 1841 he was a coast guard stationed in the Grand Redoubt, at Dungeness in the parish of Lydd, Kent, living with his wife and baby daughter Henrietta. His occupation explains his movement between coastal port towns and the busy Thames estuary, from Yarmouth in Norfolk via Stepney and Dungeness, before settling in the City of London.
In December 1841, Robert Davis joined the City of London
Police, warrant number 888. He was appointed on 11 Dec 1841 on the 4th Division of the City of London Police as PC491.
He was living at Rose and Crown Court, St Botolph Bishopsgate, City of London, in 1846, 1849 and 1851. He appears in Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, 30 Apr 2008), as a witness
in the cases of JOHN HORSNELL on 13th June 1842, ANN FOX on 27th October 1845 and WILLIAM WYNNE on 23rd October 1848.
He was discharged from the force with a pension on 26 Feb 1857, after which he was employed as a beadle or square
keeper patrolling Red Lion Square. In 1861 the family lived at 4 Bedford Court (St George the Martyr, Holborn, Middlesex).
Robert died aged 54 in 1869. In April 1871, his widow Mary still lived at 4 Bedford Court.
Children of Robert and Mary Ann DAVIS:
Henrietta Susan DAVIS, b. 19 Jan 1840, bapt 16 Feb 1840
Lydd, Kent;
married John LEWIS (1859) who was a sergeant in the City of London
Police; died 1904 in London aged 64.John Kirk DAVIS, b. 23 Mar 1842, bapt 29 Jan 1843
St Katherine Creechurch, City of London. Married at Holborn in 1862. Died at Holborn in 1876, aged 34.Alfred Benjamin DAVIS, b. 29 Nov 1846 London, m.
Amelia HOLLOWAY (1867) and secondly to
Susan SCOTT (1877).Mary Ann DAVIS, b. 15 Jul 1849; bapt 24 Oct 1849 St Botolph
Bishopsgate, London. Believed died as infant aged 1-5, after 1851 census, before birth of younger sister Mary Ann Catherine DAVIS on 1/5/1855.Louisa DAVIS, b. ~1852 London. A bookfolder in 1871.Mary Ann Catherine DAVIS, b. 1 May 1855, bapt 20 May 1855 St Botolph
Bishopsgate, London. Also a bookfolder in 1871.
Location of Bedford Court (off New North Street) and Red Lion Square
from Stanford's 6" 1862 map at www.motco.com
City of London Police
With roots dating back to the 13th century and beyond, the City Police was remodelled in 1832. It then had a complement of 98 officers, including 85 constables, and was appointed for duty in the day time only. The Nightly Watch was manned by Ward Constables and Watchmen. On 9 April 1832 the warrant number system was introduced. Warrant Books, recording police officers in service from that date, survive today. In 1839, the City of London Police force, which absorbed the Day Police and the Night Watch, was formally created by Act of Parliament. The Force was organised into six police districts or divisions, with stations at Moor lane, Snow Hill, Bridewell, Cloak Lane, Seething Lane and Bishopsgate. The establishment increased to 501, including 438 constables. This was the new body of men that Robert Davis joined in 1841.
I would like to thank the City Archivist of Corporation of London Records Office, Guildhall, London, also Ken Wallis, Sheila Biggs and David Hills (a member of Kent look-ups), for their kind and valuable help.
e-mail: Mark Scott
Updated: 2 May 2008