Updated JULY 2024
Here's a selection of the most distinctive aliases and nicknames used by some of our Marlow forebears..a number of these were revealed in reports of a crime. However anecdotal evidence suggests it was very common for men, including perfectly law abiding ones, in the working class Dean Street area of town in particular to bear a nickname for general use. A number of older residents remember this to be the case well within living memory. We have also gathered their recollections, although many nicknames can no longer be attached to a remembered real name. This list concentrates on the older examples..
Blooming Billy - William Aldridge 1838. Broke his leg while working on the railway at Maidenhead that year.
Bosher East - William East 1868
Brassey - Alfred Edward Allum 1886 Probably the same man involved in the 1880 Election riots - see here
Butcher Lloyd - George Lloyd 1884. Frequent visitor to the magistrates courts on charges ranging from poaching and drunkenness to assault and wife beating (Wife Eliza.)
Chinnum/Chin'em - Perry poaching associate Thomas Anderson, 1840's/50s. Dean Street. A "colourful" (and very violent) character - read more here and about the Perry poaching business here Chinem was later arrested for a savage attack on his mother Elizabeth while he was drunk. He nearly cut the nose off her face and left her with a lasting disfigurement. She begged the court on her knees to be merciful to her son, and in fact declined to give evidence against him. She said she could not now remember how the "accident" happened but she might have bumped it on a door, a scenario the surgeon who saw her shortly after the incident said could in no way account for such an injury. This lead to the very reluctant dismissal of the case by the magistrates.
Chit Edmunds - Charles Edmunds, childhood name due to small stature. Died age 57 in 1903 in London.
Cocky Billingshurst - George Billingshurst, 1898.
Cuddle Bowles - John Bowles 1894
Dolley Fad - James Ilsley, 1841
Duke Sparkes - James Sparkes, who died 1898 age c 72.
Dummy White - Alfred White. An unkind nickname, as Alfred was deaf and partially unable to speak or "dumb" as it would have been called. Died early 1900s.
Dutchman - Josiah Dean of Marlow and Wycombe. Transported for life 1824 - see here
Donkey Dean - 1824, unknown Dean wanted in connection with Webb's gang of marauders. Not the same as Dutchman above.
The Marlow Cyclone - George Bryant, boxer 1910
Daisy Smith - Richard Smith of Bisham 1840. See the post here for more on this very wanted man!
Fatty Anderson - George Anderson 1841 "a notorious character"
Gaib - Thomas Rose, 1840 born c 1821. A sawyer. Sentenced to 10 years transportation for stealing meat from the shop of Jason Povey.
Guinea Bean - Charles Bowles, Skewer maker 1839 Dean Street.
Jack Shepherd -(after the notorious 18thc thief and absconder from prison) - Joseph Muspratt who at the age of approximately 12 was sentenced to 3 months in Aylesbury gaol for stealing a loaf of bread from the cart of Patrick Fullicks. 1848
Jigger- James Wingrove of Burroughs Grove 1907.
Little Wonder - Edward Shaw, Marlow FC footballer and captain. 1890. From his youthful proficiency at football.
Long Tom - Thomas Walker, Marlow F C player 1880s.
Lord Paget /Mi'lord - Richard Perry. (Died age 63 in 1842 by "visitation of God" while walking in his garden. Druggist Robert Foottit pays for a "decent" burial as Richard had sometimes worked for him. Richard was very poor but had "integrity" and good humour and was "much respected". Many thought poverty precluded such qualities so Richard did very well to turn those prejudices on their head!)
Old Jockey - George Eaton. Farm labourer of Cross Roads Farm, Bisham. Died in his sleep 1888 aged "about 50" - he routinely slept in the cart shed of the farm and so died there. He was found by farmer's son John Anderson.
Pretty Moon - William East 1862.
Polly Longstockings - Mary Wicks, 1860 (More on Mary to follow)
Potter Crewe / Primrose Crewe - William Crewe, 1884. The "Primose" bit added to his nickname after he ,when found poaching, said that he was actually in the woods innocently gathering primroses .
Ramping Bob - Robert Taylor, 1837
Ranji (q.v) Baker - Herbert Baker who died of consumption age 24 in 1903.
Shallop - George Perry 1837
Shiner - George Henry White, fisherman, 1878, 1882
Shock East - Charles East, butcher 1839 (Transported for 14 years - see here)
Sackey East - 1867.
Snuffy Martin - William Hatton of Little Marlow. Sentenced to 7 years transportation in 1848 for the crime of sheep stealing as he had previous convictions. Age 41.
Spouter Clark - Richard Clark 1839. Sentenced to 15 years transportation then for robbing a house in Dean Street.
Stump Harris - Frederick Harris 1868.
Tallyho - Master Croxon, 1834. A young man frequently in trouble!
Tear-Em-Up Slade - Charles Slade of Gun Lane, 1893. From his occupation as a rag and bone man. Read more here
Tipney White - George Shaw White, fisherman 1884.
Topper Frewin- George Frewin(g) killed in a fight at The Bear 1874.
Tourno - Thomas Frith 1839
Tricky Davis - William Davis 1860
Trickey Trackey - William Davis 1835
Truckman - Henry Creswell 1865
A few early-mid 20th century examples (all men) Halfpenny, Tonty, Hooker, Sniffer/Snifter, Polly (yes male), Tipper, Topper, Bracey.
*To find all mentions of an individual here use the A-Z Person Index in the top drop down menu*
List of posts about everyday life in old Great Marlow here
Compiled by Kathryn Day, with updates by Charlotte Day.
© MarlowAncestors
