Martin Skelt

Derek Skelt

09 June 2020, 17:55

Hello,
I carried out a web search for my great (4x) grandfather Martin Skelt, Minories, and your web-site came up as one of the hits. As you don't have much information regarding Martin and Matthew Skelt and the dates don't quite match up, I thought I'd give you the following information as a back story. The information below has been collated by Hugo Brown from the Toy Theatre web-site, and I have confirmed the information from my own sources and have produced this synopsis. Apart from producing prints, the Skelt family produced Toy Theatre plays which Robert Louis Stevenson was very fond of.

Skelt Juvenile Drama\Toy Theatre:
The story starts in February 1779 with the birth of Martin Skelt, one of eight children of William Skelt and Frances Lubbock of Stanfield, Norfolk.
Around 1800, Martin, his brother Samuel, who became a shoemaker, and several of their siblings moved to St. Botolph, without Aldgate in London. Here, Martin and his wife Mary Shipwright had six children. Their first Son Matthew was born in 1806 but died shortly afterwards as Martin and Mary had another son, called Matthew in 1810. Martin and Mary then had Martin (born 1808), Sophia (born 1818), Benjamin (born 1818) and Edmund (born 1820).
Around 1827, Martin started a business at 11 Swan Street, Minories, making boots and shoes with a sideline of print stationery and grindery (tool sharpening). Between 1830 and 1835, Martin started engraving and printing toy theatre sheets. Also, within this time frame, around 1832, Martin was joined by Matthew. The only Matthew around at this time in that area, was the son of Martin and Mary, who was born in 1810. To confuse matters, in 1832 a second business (Chandlery) was recorded in the same area and was linked to the printing business in 11 Swan Street, Minories. This second business was run by a Martin Skelt with a note saying that the first business in Swan street, was being run by ‘Skelt junior’. ‘Skelt junior’ could be Martin’s son, also called Martin, Matthew (Martin’s other son) or both Martin Junior and Matthew. It could also be construed that the second business was being run by Martin Junior, with the first business being run by ‘Skelt junior’ (Matthew) and Martin senior being secondary. But, it all becomes a bit moot soon after, because Martin junior dies in 1836 aged 28. In 1837 the insured business directory lists Martin Skelt senior as the sole proprietor of the business at 11 Swan Street Minories. Matthew Skelt had recently got married and went his own way. However, as a note, Matthew’s first wife, Elizabeth, died in 1837. He then married Caroline Radburn in 1839. Unfortunately, Caroline also died shortly after, probably from complications after the birth of their son Matthew, who died just under 5 weeks old. Matthew was still alive in 1851 as he appears in the 1851 census as a widower, working as a barge builder. There is no record to date of when and where Matthew died.
In between 1837 and 1841, Martin was joined in the business by his 23 year old son, Benjamin. This information was returned from the 1841 census. The business address was still 11 Swan Street, Minories and was mentioned again in the 1846 business directory.
In December 1849 Martin passes away, and according to his will, the business is left to Benjamin. Benjamin continues with the business until 1862 when his wife died and he decided to call it a day printing. Benjamin dies on 13th April 1881 in Whitechapel.
From 1861/62, Martin’s last son, Edmund takes over the family business and is recorded as a Copper Plate Printer & Engraver in the 1861 census. More importantly, Edmund is recorded as a Theatrical Publisher in the 1871 census.
By 1881 Edmund had also given up the family business and is recorded as being a Porter and living with his wife Margaret in Clerkenwell. Edmund dies in September 1892 aged 71, thus ending the Skelt Juvenile drama dynasty.