THe Life of Edwin Edgar Wiedhoft
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Edwin Edgar Wiedhoft was born on the 10th May 1860 at number 16 Baldwins Gardens, Holborn. the third child of William Daniel & Elizabeth (The registration was signed X the mark of Elizabeth.)
The 1861 census The parish of St Andrews, Holborn in the Parliamentary Borough of Finsbury, living at Number 11 Baldwins Gardens, Holborn
Wm Wiedhoft Head Marrd 31 Pressmaker Mddx, London
Elizth --------- Wife do 28 Same
------- Agnes ----- Daur 5 Same
Wm Edward ------- Son 4 Same
Edwin Edgar ------- Son 10mth Same
The enumerator has also noted that 12, 13 and 14 Baldwins Gardens - Site of New Church now Building (St Alban the Martyr)
Baldwins Gardens, Holborn
The picture above was taken next to the new church in Baldwins Gardens at sometime after it was consecrated in May 1862. As the 1861 enumerator listed 12, 13 & 14 as the site of the new church and this is the house next to the church, is this number 11, and are there any Wiedhofts in shot?! If it is not no.11 then it must be no.15 and Edwin was born at no.16. Photo Samuel A Walker 230 Regent St. W (London Post Office Directories only list them at this address between 1879-95)
12th August 1862 sister Emily Mary Ann Wiedhoft (my Great Grandmother) was born at 16 Baldwins Gardens.

31st May 1864 Edwin's grandfather (Daniel Chrystal) died a mile or two up the road in Clerkenwell following seven weeks with heart disease.

27th October 1864 Brother Arthur Henry Wiedhoft was born at 16 Baldwins Gardens,

3rd March 1868 Grandmother Martha (Baker) Wiedhofft died in Clerkenwell Workhouse.

7th January 1869 Sister Alice Amelia Wiedhoft was born

3rd September 1870 Brother Alfred Albert Wiedhoft was born at 31 Baldwins Gardens Holborn. and the family were still at this address the following April when the census was taken

1871 Census parish St Andrews, Holborn Parliamentary Borough of Finsbury. 31, Baldwins Gardens \ separate dwelling. Relation = to Head of Family Do = ditto
\ Name Relation Condition Age Occupation Born
\ William Bridgman Head Widow 64 Carpenter Hants Basingstoke
  Amelia Do Grandaur 15 Bookfolder Middlesex,St Andrew
\ William Wiedhoft Head Mar 42 Mechanic Do Do
  Elizabeth Do Wife Mar 38 Do Do
  Elizabeth Do Daur Unm 15 Boxmaker Do Do
  William Do Son Unm 14 Scholar Do Clerkenwell
  Edwin Do Son 11 Do Do St Andrews
  Emily Do Daur 8 Do Do Do
  Arthur Do Son 6 Do Do Do
  Alice Do Daur   4 Do Do Do
  Alfred Do Son   7m Do Do

 

Grandfather William Bridgman is now a widow and sharing his apartment with his grand-daughter (Edwin's cousin) Amelia in another flat at 31 Baldwins Gardens

21st May 1873 Brother Albert Ernest Wiedhoft was born on Wednesday the in Holborn

12th July 1875, Sister Elizabeth Agnes married James Samuel Peck in Holborn

1875? The "missing" wedding of big brother William Edward Frederick to Johanna Sullivan?
Dwelling: 15 Cyrus St Census Place: Clerkenwell, London, Middlesex, England Source: FHL Film 1341075 PRO Ref RG11 Piece 0346 Folio 18 Page 14
Rel Marr Age Sex Occ: Birthplace
William WIEDHOFT Head M 52 F ?? Turner (Wood) Soho
Elizabeth WIEDHOFT Wife M 48 F Holborn, Middlesex
Edwin WIEDHOFT Son U 20 M No Occupation Holborn, Middlesex,
Emily WIEDHOFT Daur U 18 F Perfumer (M C) Holborn, Middlesex
Arthur WIEDHOFT Son U 16 M Standard Office Printer Holborn, Middlesex,
Alice WIEDHOFT Daur 13 F Holborn, Middlesex
Alfred WIEDHOFT Son 11 M Scholar Holborn, Middlesex
Albert WIEDHOFT Son 7 M Scholar Holborn, Middlesex

11th December 1883 Sister Emily married Edward Hewitt at St Pancras Register Office.

 
August of 1888 The Tragedy
At the same time as "Jack the Ripper" was stealing the headlines with his atrocious murders a couple of miles away, our family were grieving the loss of Edwin. Now 28 years old, unmarried and living "at home" at 4 Seaford St, St Pancras, he was working as a painter for Trollope & Co. On Monday the 27th August, whilst adjusting a tarpaulin from an upstairs window of the Sun Fire Office in Threadneedle St. (just behind the Bank of England) he overbalanced and fell 40ft to the ground. He died later that day in St Bartholomews Hospital from a fractured skull.

Threadneedle Street
A Picture of Threadneedle St at about this period  

Extract from the LONDON NEWS

(Transcript) INQUESTS

FATAL FALL FROM A WINDOW- On Thursday (30 August 1888) Mr. Langham held an inquest at St. Bartholomew's Hospital on the body of Edwin Wiedhoft, aged 28 years, a painter employed by Mssrs. Trollope and Co. On Monday he was at work at the Sun Fire Office, at an upper window adjusting a tarpaulin over some poles when he overbalanced himself and fell to the ground, a distance of 40 feet (12 mtrs). He was removed to the hospital and died the same day from fracture of the skull. - Verdict: Accidental death.

Details from the death certificate: Died of fracture of skull and other injuries caused by falling from window of Sun Fire Office. Accidental death after 2 hours.

30th August 1888 Inquest held Mr. Langham Coroner of London