captain william drysdale of london

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Comment by Ronald Drysdale 1 hour ago

Hi William (& Russell)

Regarding the query on Captain William Drysdale and this place called Drysdale street in Shoreditch.

I don't think that there are any real genealogical connections between the two.

Edward Street in Shoreditch was re-named Drysdale Street in the early 1890s. At that time the area was a notorious poverty ridden slum and possibly, in anticipation of the future King Edward ascending to the throne, they decided to avoid any negative associations and call it Drysdale street instead.

It would be nice to think that this street commemorates some worthy Drysdale from the past, but I think it more likely that they just picked out the top name from street names 'drawer' and didn't think too much about it thereafter. 

It's sole claim to fame seems to be that a norious London East End criminal, Arthur Harding, lived there for a brief period when he was a child.

"Arthur Harding was born in 1886 in the notoriously poor area of London called 'The Nichol', the most famous criminal slum in Mid-Victorian Britain......"

https://www.bishopsgate.org.uk/archives/our-archives-online-2/my-ap...

His Biography was written by Raphael Samuel in 1972 - East End Underworld: chapters in the life of Arthur Harding.

More recently the offices of a printing house appear to have been located there.

Another reference:

'Slums' by Gaskell, S. Martin
https://archive.org/details/slums0000unse_c2x7/page/n5/mode/2up?q=%...

"......At 80 houses per acre Drysdale Street is an example of the crowding of houses which ‘narrowness, closeness and bad arrangement’ often involved. Although not exceptional, it nonetheless lay near the City and at the top end of the range. The LCC in 1918 compared the new standard of 12 houses per acre with existing conditions ranging from ‘40 to 80 houses per acre in insanitary areas to about 20 houses per acre in generously planned estates’, and this would appear to be essentially correct..."

Unfortunately the recent re-gentrification of London also seems to have passed it by.

Best regards

Comment by Russell Lynn Drysdale 9 hours ago

April 15 1815 print date - 

acknowledgments of the kind treatment of captain Nichols, of the Harpy, to his prisoners, deserves record:

Captain William Drysdale, late of the ship Willi-am & Alfred, captured the 2d January, 1815, by the brig Harpy, returns his grateful acknowledgment to William Nichols, esq. commander of the said brig, gent lenity, and humane usage, while on board, and and all his officers, for their great civility, indul-generously delivering up all his private property. And And should, at any future time, captain Nichols, or any of his officers, come to London, captain D. will be happy to see them at his house, No. 12, Step-ney Green, near London. Given under my hand, on board the Harpy, at sea, this 6th day of January, 1815.

WILLIAM DRYSDALE, Late captain of the ship William & Alfred.

Wz, the undersigned, feeling congenial sentiments with captain Drysdale, towards captain Nichols, lietu-tenant Place, and the officers on board the Harpy. and desirous that such humanity and goodness may be made public, as well in the United States as in the British nation, declare, that our treatment is worthy of every praise and encomium and that all our private property has been held sacred to us, and a fri-cartel fitted for us as early as circumstances would permit.

GEO. HARRISON, W. NEWELL, J.W. HALL, ANDREW M'CARTHY,

Clate matters of vessels taken by the Harpy) On board the Harpy, Jan. 6, 1815.

Comment by William Douglas 12 hours ago

I wonder if this Drysdale is connected to the London family who have a street named for them

Comment by Russell Lynn Drysdale 23 hours ago

You're welcome Ronald. I knew I had  this clipping, I just couldn't locate it , till I  ran across it this morning. I hope this will further assist your research feel free to include it in any future documentation  should he pan out.

Comment by Ronald Drysdale yesterday

Hi Russell

I've been searching all over for a British link to Captain 'William Drysdale' - the ship master who took the  Earl of Marchmont to Quebec in 1797, without success.

However, I think you've found him - complete with a postal address in London!

Many thanks and best regards