Fabulous Pictor Photographs Keith Wischhusen February 2023
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Left Charlotte Newman and Right her husband Robert Pictor in 1876, a year before Robert’s tragic death
All photographs in this article are courtesy Keith Wischhusen
All photographs in this article are courtesy Keith Wischhusen
One of the curious things about the Pictor family is how few photos exist of the people at a time when aspiring middle-class families wanted to record their success. I have always thought that they existed somewhere lost in a family photo album and hoped that it wasn’t Methodist reticence that stopped them emerging. Now some of the most precious and earliest photos have been sent by a family descendent. Keith Wischhusen who wrote about his ancestors and particularly his wife Rosemary’s Pictor family.
My family name comes from Johann Hinrich Wischhusen who married in London in 1813. We speculated that he chose to move from Germany at a time when Napoleon’s troops were passing through the north of the country and, no doubt, “living off the land”. Germany would have been as close to an ally at that time as England could have, but France was certainly not. I am sure Johann Hinrich arrived in London from Hanover already with the skills and trade of seal skin dresser, but started a small dynasty in Hoxton in the East End of London. The other family members were mostly craftsmen working in the same Hoxton area, including whale bone cutters, engineers and the occasional beer retailer.
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Pictor Family
I have researched my direct family and have now turned my attention to my wife’s ancestors, the Pictor family from Box. My wife is descended from Robert and Charlotte Pictor who are seen in the headline photographs. They were the couple who set up the family as the foremost quarry-owners in Box, until Robert died suddenly aged only 46 in 1877. My wife’s family came via their daughter Rosina Maria Pictor who had been born in Box and was baptised on 13 July 1856. We can trace her life in the village; in 1861 living with her grandmother Mary at Box Quarries by the Road (probably part of Clift Quarry Works) at a time when her mother was about to give birth to another child. In 1878 Rosina Maria married Charles Arthur Line (1854-1947) who had been born in Bath. He was the son of John Line, master carpenter later calling himself auctioneer and upholsterer and Eliza Spurway, matron of public institution. In 1861 Eliza ran a Training School for Female Servants at 6 Brunswick Place, Walcot, with 18 pupils in training, and in 1871 at 2 Duke Street built by John Wood the Elder with 14 scholars aged 9 to 18 years. By 1881 they had given up the school and moved again to 3 Abbey Street. John Line had formerly traded from a Nonconformist chapel in York Street, Bath. Eliza died at Bournemouth in 1910, aged 88 years.[1] Left: Eliza Line, nee Spurway, portrayed in 1872 |
The story of their grand wedding in March 1878 has already been told on your website, described as: The little village which crowns the summit of Box Hill was on Wednesday morning in a state of unwonted excitement. The echoes of surrounding hills were ever and anon awakened by the firing of cannon and two triumphal arches with the words Crown them, Lord of all.
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Above Left: L to R: Walter John, Rosina Maria, Evelyn Ruth, Rosina Mary, and Arthur Wilfred while in Reading, 1883
Above Right: Rosina Maria Pictor in 1881
Above Right: Rosina Maria Pictor in 1881
Charles Arthur Line was doing very nicely in Reading operating a family partnership dealing in paper hangings and decorative materials. This was a lucrative trade at a time when middle class families sought to enhance their homes with ever-increasingly exotic wallpapers, the style of which could change with fashion, involving replacements and growing expense. William Morris encouraged the pre-Raphaelite painter Edward Burn-Jones to design new concepts in the industry after 1864 and the use of wallpapers boomed.[2]
In 1881 they were living at 1 Queens Cliff Villas in Reading, with two children and one servant. Rosina Maria married at 21, had 5 children in seven years, dying in 1884, the same year that her daughter Esther Margaret was born. In 1887 Charles Arthur married again, to Mary Oldham, born in Stamford, Lincolnshire. We don’t know how they met.
In 1894 the family business partnership was dissolved to record Charles’ withdrawal, confirming that he had severed his connection with the business which was continuing to trade in Reading.[3] Charles, Mary and family moved to Edgbaston, Birmingham, between 1891 and 1901 to make use of the very good King Edward VI Grammar Schools. Supposing the date of the move was 1896 there would have been 10 children potentially eligible to go to the schools.
By 1901 Charles had settled his family at 39 Beaufort Road, Edgbaston and recorded his employment as merchant in paints and wall decorations; in 1911 a commercial traveller; and in 1921 he reverted back to wallpaper manufacturer, retired.
In 1881 they were living at 1 Queens Cliff Villas in Reading, with two children and one servant. Rosina Maria married at 21, had 5 children in seven years, dying in 1884, the same year that her daughter Esther Margaret was born. In 1887 Charles Arthur married again, to Mary Oldham, born in Stamford, Lincolnshire. We don’t know how they met.
In 1894 the family business partnership was dissolved to record Charles’ withdrawal, confirming that he had severed his connection with the business which was continuing to trade in Reading.[3] Charles, Mary and family moved to Edgbaston, Birmingham, between 1891 and 1901 to make use of the very good King Edward VI Grammar Schools. Supposing the date of the move was 1896 there would have been 10 children potentially eligible to go to the schools.
By 1901 Charles had settled his family at 39 Beaufort Road, Edgbaston and recorded his employment as merchant in paints and wall decorations; in 1911 a commercial traveller; and in 1921 he reverted back to wallpaper manufacturer, retired.
The sitting room of the Line house at Beaufort Road, Birmingham in 1890. Note the Charles Line wallpaper and photo of his mother Eliza Spurway on right
The family understanding (and the marriage records) indicate that Charles Arthur Line had three wives in succession:
Rosina Maria Pictor with whom he had 5 children until her death in 1884; about two years later Mary Oldham and 8 more children and she died in 1923; and in 1925 Alice Hodges. She had been known to Charles for about 24 years as she had been a servant/housekeeper to his father, John Line. My wife recalled that Charles had taken Alice off to marry her as the Line children may have disapproved of her working-class birth as a farmer’s daughter.
Rosina Maria Pictor with whom he had 5 children until her death in 1884; about two years later Mary Oldham and 8 more children and she died in 1923; and in 1925 Alice Hodges. She had been known to Charles for about 24 years as she had been a servant/housekeeper to his father, John Line. My wife recalled that Charles had taken Alice off to marry her as the Line children may have disapproved of her working-class birth as a farmer’s daughter.
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In a rather unusual sentiment, the couple stated in the newspapers: They purpose (sic), if the Lord permits, to visit their old friends in various parts of the country, seeking rest, quiet and fellowship of saints, who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.[4] My wife’s impression was that Aunt Alice was a lovely person - everyone liked her. Probate for Charles Arthur’s estate went to Alice in 1947, after she survived him. However, her step-daughter Anna disliked Alice, but Anna had some difficult family problems. She had lived in Germany before the First World War with her German fiancée, a soldier, but had to return to the UK in 1914 and he was killed soon after. The third youngest of Mary and Charles’ children, Benjamin, also died in Arras, France, in 1917, age 19. During World War II, my wife stayed with Charles and Alice at Beaufort Road whilst, as a three-year-old, she had an operation at Birmingham Children’s Hospital. She remembers when the house opposite was burning fiercely and no-one was attending the fire. She also remembers sitting under the Line grand piano during a big family gathering whilst Charles played Three Blind Mice to her. Left: Charles Arthur Line photographed in 1919 |
It has been suggested that the statement on the marriage of Charles and Alice might refer to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the Mormons). This probably is incorrect as the family believed the Lines to be Plymouth Brethren. James Line, one of the younger children, was certainly very committed to that movement. His father John Line had entertained a Wesleyan minister staying at the time of the 1881 census, but that doesn’t help. When my wife and I visited her Aunt Dorothy (James Line’s wife) in Cambridge, we were only allowed to call when Uncle Jim was out. Even then we could only have a cup of tea in the garden and not eat in the house. Emmanuel College where he worked was believed to have a reputation for fairly extreme religions.
There is also a record of Charles Line’s occupation as an occasional preacher. He showed his pride in his achievements in 1881, and must have insisted on his census entry recording: Merchant and wholesale Dealer in Wall Paper and Decorator’s Materials Commercial Traveller and Preacher of the Gospel (occasional) In receipt of Income from Interest on money lent on mortgage and (c..y?) shares in public companies, where most people were happy with one word or two.
There is also a record of Charles Line’s occupation as an occasional preacher. He showed his pride in his achievements in 1881, and must have insisted on his census entry recording: Merchant and wholesale Dealer in Wall Paper and Decorator’s Materials Commercial Traveller and Preacher of the Gospel (occasional) In receipt of Income from Interest on money lent on mortgage and (c..y?) shares in public companies, where most people were happy with one word or two.
The Pictor-Line Family
I used to wonder where the name Rosina came from until I found that Robert’s mother had the maiden name Mary Fluester.
In the 1841 census, Mary and her family were living next door to two young people, Edward (aged 15) and Rosina Fluester
(aged 10), perhaps Mary’s siblings, after whom she had named her daughter, my wife’s great grandmother. Our own daughter continued the name for her daughter, though this was before we found the records. I have since found other unrelated Rosinas, so I think it might just have been a popular name at the time.
The Pictor family is difficult to unravel. Two marriages were contracted between the Pictor and the Humphries families in 1876, when Catherine Ellen, the eldest daughter of Robert Pictor, married George Humphries (b1855) and his cousin, Julia Humphries married Herbert (HRN) Pictor, in the same summer. Another George Humphries (b1827), the father of Julia, was a corn factor. Both George (b1855) and Julia were grandchildren of John Humphries and Elizabeth Beard. Catherine Ellen Pictor and George Humphries married on 23 August 1876 and, as far we know, Herbert and Julia married between July and September the same year. They might have had a double wedding - perhaps no cannons, though.
I wondered how Rosina Mary from Edgbaston might have met a young man who worked in Aberystwyth. The grandparents of my wife Rosemary were Rosina Mary Line, born 1882, who married David Henry Pughe from Aberystwyth. Rosina Mary was a brilliant embroiderer and David Henry was a tailor with a dressmaking workshop, so she may have been employed by him to start with. My wife’s father came from coal mining ancestors around Merthyr Tydfil, via schoolteacher grandparents, to her father in the legal service, working in Tanzania for a long time and then in the UK.
I used to wonder where the name Rosina came from until I found that Robert’s mother had the maiden name Mary Fluester.
In the 1841 census, Mary and her family were living next door to two young people, Edward (aged 15) and Rosina Fluester
(aged 10), perhaps Mary’s siblings, after whom she had named her daughter, my wife’s great grandmother. Our own daughter continued the name for her daughter, though this was before we found the records. I have since found other unrelated Rosinas, so I think it might just have been a popular name at the time.
The Pictor family is difficult to unravel. Two marriages were contracted between the Pictor and the Humphries families in 1876, when Catherine Ellen, the eldest daughter of Robert Pictor, married George Humphries (b1855) and his cousin, Julia Humphries married Herbert (HRN) Pictor, in the same summer. Another George Humphries (b1827), the father of Julia, was a corn factor. Both George (b1855) and Julia were grandchildren of John Humphries and Elizabeth Beard. Catherine Ellen Pictor and George Humphries married on 23 August 1876 and, as far we know, Herbert and Julia married between July and September the same year. They might have had a double wedding - perhaps no cannons, though.
I wondered how Rosina Mary from Edgbaston might have met a young man who worked in Aberystwyth. The grandparents of my wife Rosemary were Rosina Mary Line, born 1882, who married David Henry Pughe from Aberystwyth. Rosina Mary was a brilliant embroiderer and David Henry was a tailor with a dressmaking workshop, so she may have been employed by him to start with. My wife’s father came from coal mining ancestors around Merthyr Tydfil, via schoolteacher grandparents, to her father in the legal service, working in Tanzania for a long time and then in the UK.
There are a few more photos of the family including Cornelius, Robert’s brother, and Lilian Mary at Pictor Women - Box People and Places, William Smith (another brother) at William Smith Pictor - Box People and Places and son Herbert (HRN) at
HRN Pictor - Box People and Places. More wanted please including Quintus Darby who moved to Bolivia and has a boxing venue named after him. Please look in your family photo albums if you have any Pictor ancestors.
HRN Pictor - Box People and Places. More wanted please including Quintus Darby who moved to Bolivia and has a boxing venue named after him. Please look in your family photo albums if you have any Pictor ancestors.
Family Tree
Charles Arthur Line (1856-1947) married Rosina Maria Pictor (baptized 1856-25 December 1884) in 1878. Children:
Arthur Wilfred (1879-1957)
Walter John (Jock) (1881-1964)
Rosina Mary (1882-1962)
Evelyn Ruth (1883-1968)
Esther Margaret (1884-1925).
The following children were from the marriage of Charles and Mary Oldham:
Lydia (1888-1892)
Anna (1890-1967)
Phoebe Elizabeth (1892-1971)
James (1893-1988)
Kathleen (1896-1983)
Benjamin Charles (1898-1917)
Dorothy (Dotty) (1901-1972)
Rowland (1901-1983).
The marriage of Charles and Alice Hodges produced no children.
Charles Arthur Line (1856-1947) married Rosina Maria Pictor (baptized 1856-25 December 1884) in 1878. Children:
Arthur Wilfred (1879-1957)
Walter John (Jock) (1881-1964)
Rosina Mary (1882-1962)
Evelyn Ruth (1883-1968)
Esther Margaret (1884-1925).
The following children were from the marriage of Charles and Mary Oldham:
Lydia (1888-1892)
Anna (1890-1967)
Phoebe Elizabeth (1892-1971)
James (1893-1988)
Kathleen (1896-1983)
Benjamin Charles (1898-1917)
Dorothy (Dotty) (1901-1972)
Rowland (1901-1983).
The marriage of Charles and Alice Hodges produced no children.
References
[1] The Bath Chronicle, 3 March 1910
[2] See William Morris - A History | William Morris Wallpaper (william-morris.com)
[3] The Reading Observer, 6 October 1894
[4] Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette, 17 October 1925
[1] The Bath Chronicle, 3 March 1910
[2] See William Morris - A History | William Morris Wallpaper (william-morris.com)
[3] The Reading Observer, 6 October 1894
[4] Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette, 17 October 1925