Richard Milliken's hat

A carte-de-visite showing Richard Nicholls Milliken's hat, photographed by Augustus Lupson of Stoke Newington.

A pencilled inscription on the back of the mount reads: ‘3rd boy in Milliken family (U[ncle] Fred.) / died when 5 years old. / Having no photo A[unt] Anne had his hat photographed with an inscription.’

The boy commemorated here appears on the 1861 census, living with his parents Frederick and Anne Milliken at 2, Torriano Gardens, near the junction of Camden Road and Brecknock Road. Frederick Milliken described himself as a ‘2nd Class Clerk G.P.O. Money O.O.’ [General Post Office, Money Order Office]. Also present on the night of the census were Richard’s older brothers, Frederick (6) and Alfred (5); his younger brothers, William (2) and Ernest (1); his mother’s sister, Emily J. Nichols [sic]; and two servants.

According to Richard’s death certificate, obtained from the General Register Office, he was four years old, not five, when he died on 23 December 1861. The main cause of death was pertussis [whooping cough], with anasarca [extreme generalized swelling] and albuminuria [protein in the urine] developing 5 days prior to death. Three different addresses appear on the certificate. Under ‘when and where died’ the address ’33, Torriano Gardens’ has been amended to read ‘312, Torriano Gardens’ or possibly ‘12, Torriano Gardens’; while under ‘residence of informant’, his father is recorded as living at ‘3, Torriano Gardens’. The 1861 census, taken less than four months later, shows the family living at 2, Torriano Gardens.

By the time of the 1871 census, his family had moved to 33, Albion Road, in Stoke Newington, and Mrs Milliken had had two more sons, Charlie and Edward.