Born c.1848 Islington; widower.

Married 1875 Sarah Watts, born 1841 Harlton, Cambridgeshire; she died in 1876 and in 1878 Mr Connell married her sister Mary Anne, born c.1852 Harlton. In 1895/6 he attempted to divorce Mary Anne on the grounds of her adultery, which she denied and countered with the allegation that he had slept with his sister and knocked her about. The judge dismissed the suit – in legal terms the marriage did not exist, because Mr Connell had married his deceased wife’s sister: consequently he was free to marry again and did so. In March 1897 he married Jane Ernestine Geall (nee Bridger, born 1859 Hendon district), widow of publican John Geall. Jane died just two months later, leaving £3460. And in 1909 Mr Connell picked up another £67 from the estate of Mr Geall, which had presumably been left unadministered.

Died 30 March 1913, having moved on to ‘The Crown’ in Holland Park, and left £375.

Jonathan Morton

Born 1855 Sunninghill, Berkshire; unmarried.

Son of a smith; died 22 March 1925, having run ‘The Dorset Arms’ in Brighton since 1915 (the pub is still there).

The White Hart Inn
Image courtesy of Bourne Hall Museum