VANDERSTEEN

Born 7 Oct 1815²
Christened 29 Oct 1815, Bethnal Green, Midsx., St Matthew's³
Died 8 Mar 1846, The Black Dog, Church Street, Bethnal Green, Middsx.⁴
Buried 26 Mar 1846, Tower Hamlets Cemetery, Private Grave⁵
Occupation: Victualler (1838), Publican (1841), Licenced Victualler (1846)⁶
Abode: 65 Milton Street, EC2, London (1838) ; Jacobs Well, 65 Milton Street, London (1841) Black Dog Public House, 45 Church St, Shoreditch (1844-46)⁷

NOTE 1
The Times, September 14, 1840

ANOTHER DREADFUL FIRE IN THE CITY.-
TWO LIVES LOST.

Another dreadful fire involving, we regret to add, a melan-
choly loss of human life occurred yesterday morning in
  Milton-street, Cripplegate, in the Jacob's Well public-house,
so celebrated for its meetings in reference to trial by jury and
other political questions. The Jacob's Well is situate on the
east side of the street, at the corner of Phillipa's-court, nearly
opposite the late City Theatre. The premises consisted of a
brick building three stories high, in the occupation of Mr.
William Vandersteen, a young man 24 years of age, the son
of Mr. Vandersteen, landlord of the Frying Pan public-house,
in Brick-lane, Spitalfields. The fire was first discovered about
25 minutes to 2 oclock, by city police constable Casson, No.
11, who was on duty in the neighbourhood. The constable
was passing along the street, when he had his attention
directed by some passers by to a great glare of light which
was observable through the fanlight over the shop door of
the public-house in question. Being convinced that it was
not such a light as would be produced by mere gas, Casson
knocked at the door with his staff, there being neither
knocker nor bell, and had scarcely done so before a loud crash
of the breaking of glass was heard, apparently in the rear of
the premises. The constable and other persons who had
assembled rushed up Phillipa's-court where a good view of
the back of the premises could be obtained, when it was
placed beyond a doubt that the house was on fire. The
flames were issuing from a large sky1ight over the parlour,
which is attached to the back of the house, but only one story
high. The police constable instantly gave an alarm throughout
the neighbourhood, which is one of the most densely popu-
lated in the city. Within five or six minutes after the alarm
was raised a party of the city police, from the Cripplegate sta-
tion-house, arrived; up to which time none of the inmates of
the Jacob's Well had made their appearance, and serious fears
were entertained for their safety, as the flames were gaining
a rapid ascendancy in front as well as at the back part of the
premises. The police broke open the front doors of the shop,
when the fire was discovered raging from the bar backwards.
After the expiration of about ten minutes a boy was observed
to escape out of the front garret widow, and crawl along
the parapet that of the adjoining house, which was several
feet lower. He, however, succeeded in reaching by jump-
ing at the risk of his life, and, although in his night clothes
and having nothing whatever on his feet, thus managed to
effect his escape. Immediately after the figure of a man, which
subsequently proved to be Mr. Vandersteen, was observed
standing on the very point of the roof, and in a very dangerous
situation, he being prevented from gaining the roof of the
adjoining house by a large stack of chimneys on either side.
By this time not less than from 300 to 400 people had col-
lected near the spot, and the various shouts raised to the un-
fortunate man in his perilous situation were true1y appalling.
Ultimately some short ladders were procured from the work-
shops of Mr. Mackenzie, builder, in Star-court, and conveyed
to the parapet of the house, which was some feet below the
edge of the slanting roof. They placed one of the ladders on
the roof, near the place where Mr. Vandersteen stood, and held
it from the parapet whilst he descended. It being sup-
posed that all the inmates had been got out, Mr.Vandersteen
from his extreme state of excitement being unable to afford
any information, the engine from the brigade station in
Whitecross-street was set to work, a good supply of water
being obtained from the plugs in the neighbourhood. To get
at the back, where the fire was raging with the greatest fury,
the brigademen were compelled to carry the hose up Phillipa's-
court, in which the houses are composed chiefly of wood, and
one of which was igniting from the great heat. By the ex-
ertions of the firemen they were saved, but the inmates, who
are poor persons, sustained much damage by removing their
furniture to a place of safety. Mr.Braidwood, the superin-
tedent of the Fire Brigade, arrived about 20 minutes after
the first alarm was given with the large engine and a body of
men from the chief station in Watling-street, and it was
speedily put in operation. The engines from the stations in
Farringdon-street and Wellclose and Jeffery-squares, and that
from the West of England, soon followed, and by half-past 3
o'clock the fire was entirely got under. The damage done to
the premises is not so great as might he imagined. The back
part of the house, together with a portion of the roof, is con-
sumed, and the front is much burnt but most of the floors
are partially standing. On the building being sufficiently
cooled, the firemen were directed to make a rigid search of
premises, it having been rumoured that human life had
been sacrificed. On entering the second floor front room they
found it but slightly injured by the flames, but they were ter-
ror-struck on the discovery of the body of a young female
lying enveloped in a sheet, with her head and a part of her
body on the flooring, and her feet resting on the edge of the
bed. She was perfectly lifeless, and had evidently met her
death by suffocation, the body not being burnt in the
slightest degree. She was in her night-dress, and proves
to be Jane Gross, aged 18, the barmaid.
On further search, the firemen discovered lying entangled
amongst the burnt rafters of the back garret a mass of burnt
flesh, which proved to be the remains of another human
being, but so awfully destroyed as to render any further re-
cognition imperceptible. These remains during yesterday
morning were ascertained to be those of Thomas Newman, a
lodger in Mr. Vandersteen's house, who was about 43 years of
age, and who held some situation in the London Docks.
These remains, and the body of the unfortunate barmaid were
placed in shells and removed to the bonehouse of Cripple-
gate parish, in Fore-street, where they await a coroner's in-
quest.
On instituting inquiries as to the origin of the fire, it was
ascertained from Mr. Vandersteen that he closed his house at
12 o'clock on Saturday night. The deceased female went to
bed at that time, and he and Newman both went up stairs at
the same time to go to bed, leaving, as he thought, everything
safe below. He slept in the front room on the second floor,
where the barmaid was found, but she slept in the back room
on the same floor. Newman slept in the back attic, and the
potboy in the front. He was awoke by the barking of his
dog below, and thinking there were thieves in the house he
jumped up and called "Jane, Jane, there are thieves in the
house;" she came out of her room, and they met on the land-
ing together, when they discovered the fire rising towards
them. She fainted, and he endeavoured to carry her up-
stairs, but in doing so they fell together. The smoke became
so overpowering that he was obliged to fly for his own life, and 
gained the roof. It was his opinion that she must have rallied
and crawled into his room with a view of escaping by the front
windows, when she became overpowered. He could in no way
account for the origin of the fire, as he put the gas carefully
out himself. The body of the poor man (Newman was found
near the door of the room. It is stated that Mr. Vandersteen
is not insured.

NOTE 2
WILL OF WILLIAM VANDERSTEEN
PROB 11/2035

This is the last will and testament of me William Vandersteen of Church Street Shoreditch firstly I desire that all my just debts funeral and testamentary expenses be paid and satisfied by my executrix hereinafter named as soon as conveniently may be after my decease and secondly I give devise and bequeath unto my beloved wife all and every my household furniture linen wearing apparel books plate pictures china horses carriages carts and also all and every sum and sums of money which may be in my house or about my person or which may be due to me at the time of my decease and also all other my monies invested in stocks funds and securities for money book debts money or bonds bills notes or other securities and all and every other my estate and effects whatsoever and wheresoever both real and personal whether in possession reversion remainder or expectancy unto to and for own use and benefit absolutely and I do nominate constitute and appoint her to be Executrix of this my will and
hereby revoking all former or other wills by me at any time heretofore made I declare this to be my last will and testament. In witness whereof the said William Vandersteen have to this my last will and testament set my hand the 15th day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty six - Signed by the testator William Vandersteen in the presence of us present at the same time who have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses in the presence of the said testator and of each other - W Erick, - Benjn.. Hogg - A McNamara.

At the Prerogative Court of Canterbury
At the Goods of William Vandersteen deceased

Appeared Personally Arthur McNamara of 26 Church Street Spittlefields in the County of Middlesex Railway Carrier and made oath that he is one of the subscribed witnesses to the last will and testament of William Vandersteen late of Church Street, Bethnal Green in the County of Middlesex licenced victualler deceased bearing date the Fifteenth day of February in the present year one thousand eight hundred and forty six and which is now hereunto annexed beginning thus “This is the last will and testament of me William Vandersteen of Church St Shoreditch” ending thus “In witness whereof I the said William Vandersteen have or this my last will and testament set my hand the 15th day of February in the year of our lord one thousand eight hundred and forty six” and in the attestation Clause at the foot thereof thus subscribed William Vandersteen and this appearer further saith that on the fifteenth day of February one thousand eight hundred and forty six aforesaid the said testator duly executed this said will by signing by signing his name at the foot and thereof in a blank left in the clause of attestation above referred to and which he intended as his proper signature to the said will and a due and perfect execution thereof in the presence of “W Erick” “Baryn Hogg” the other subscribed witnesses thereto and of this appearer all three of whom were present at the same time and that the said W Erick Benjamin Mogg and this appearer thereupon attested and subscribed on the said will in the presence of the said testator - Arthur McNamara.-
On the 25th day of March 1846 the said Arthur McNamara duly sworn to the truth of this affidavit Before me F T Prattsie(?) Prost. - R H Winstanley Not Pub.– On the 1st day of April 1846 the said Arthur McNamara was duly resworn to the truth of this affidavit Before me F T Prattsie (?) Prost. R H Winstanly Not. Pub.

Proved at London 11th April 1866 before the worshipful Augustus Frederic Bayford Doctor of Laws and Surrogate by the oath of Mary Vandersteen widow the relict - the sole Executrix to whom Admon was granted having been first sworn duly to administer.

Born 1820, St Giles, Middlesex⁸
Died 1892, aged 68⁹
Buried 1892, Tower Hamlets Cemetery, same grave as first husband William¹⁰