Cormack Brothers:  History

 

The Company

The firm known as Cormack Brothers was established sometime between 1865 and 1866 by William Wadham Cormack who was about 26 years old that year and his younger brother George Balfour Cormack who was around 22.  At the time their father was considered a gentleman which could mean he helped his sons set up the business.  Although it was not listed in the 1865[1] London directory, the company placed their first advertisement in a London newspaper in 1866[2].  By 1870[3] the firm was listed in one directory as “Cormack Brothers, travelling bag & dressing case manufacturers, cutlers & c.” and the advertisement seen here on the left was placed in a fashion guide in 1871[4].  Their shop was located at the intersection of Ludgate Hill and Pilgrim Street in central London, about two blocks west of St. Paul’s Cathedral where it remained for its entire existence.  Unfortunately, in 1879[5] William died unexpectedly, and his wife Margaret became a partner in the business with her brother-in-law George.  This partnership only lasted a few years because it was dissolved in late 1882[6], and Margaret became responsible for the business on her own.  The firm continued to be listed in city directories in 1880[7] and 1885[8] indicating Margaret carried on until sometime between 1885 and 1890[9].    An example of one of the firm’s last advertisements in 1881[10] is seen here on the right which shows the variety of merchandise they sold at their store. 

 

In February 1887[11] a notice was placed in the London Gazette newspaper informing all creditors of the estate of William Wadham Cormack to identify themselves by the end of March.  Then from April to June that year Margaret was involved in a lawsuit known as Odell v. Cormack Brothers[12].  The plaintiff was suing the Cormack business because the agent Margaret obtained to assist in transitioning the firm after her partnership with George ended, issued a bill of exchange to Odell in 1886[13] without Margaret’s knowledge.  Even though the judgement in the case was in Margaret’s favor, it must have had an impact on the business because Cormack Brothers ceased to exist by 1890[14]. 

 

To date seven Avery style needle cases have been found with the Cormack Brothers name stamped on them.  Five were designed by William Avery of Redditch: Cleopatra’s Needle, the Drum, the Kindling Box, a Quad-Golden Casket - Fleur di Lis and the Temple Bar.  The other two were registered by Buncher & Haseler of Birmingham: the Easel-Floral and the Horseshoe.  It seems most likely that Cormack Brothers chose Cleopatra’s Needle and the Temple Bar (needle cases pictured here including the bottom of Cleopatra’s Needle[15] showing the Cormack Bros name) because they represented two of London’s iconic monuments with connections to the late 1870’s during the Victorian period.  Cleopatra’s needle[16] was an ancient Egyptian obelisk presented to the UK by the Egyptian ruler in 1819 to commemorate the British victories over the French in the Battle of the Nile and the Battle of Alexandria during the Napoleonic War in 1801.  It was transported to London from Alexandria, Egypt in 1877 and was installed at the Victoria Embankment next to the River Thames.  The Temple Bar[17] was originally built in the Middle Ages to mark the entrance to the city of London from Westminster.  It was redesigned after the great fire of 1666 by Sir Christopher Wren, the same man who designed St. Paul’s Cathedral in London.  In 1878 it was dismantled and moved to an estate in Hertfordshire where it remained for 126 years.  In 2004 it was returned to London and reinstalled as an entrance to Paternoster Square next to St. Paul’s Cathedral.

 

The Cormack Owners

The Cormack brothers who founded this company were the two eldest sons of William John Cormack and Sarah Tokely.  Their father William John Cormack was born c1813, the son of William Cormack a nurseryman from New Cross, Deptford, Kent located in the Lewisham section of southeast London.   William John married Sarah Tokley in 1837 in Deptford and they had 8 children between 1838 and 1852: Sarah, William Wadham, Eliza, George Balfour, Cecil Bratt, Frederick Wilson, Annie and Octavia Constance.  At first the family lived in Deptford where William worked as a nurseryman and seedsman.  By 1851 they moved to Horley, about 27 miles south of London near Gatwick airport, where William was a farmer with 38 acres of land.  Then by 1861 they returned to the London area settling in Peckham in the Camberwell section of south London where they remained.  From at least 1861 until his death William either worked as a fund man or had no occupation indicating he had attended a certain degree of wealth.  Also during those years he was listed as a gentleman on several of his sons marriage records.  At that time a gentleman was someone who had enough wealth that he no longer needed to work to support his family.  William’s wife Sarah died in 1874 at age 59 and William died 3 years later in 1877 at age 64.  Both were buried at a cemetery in Southwark.  William left an estate valued at £100 to his eldest son.

 

William Wadham Cormack was born in 1840 in Deptford, the eldest son of William John Cormack and Sarah Tokley.  He lived with his parents until his marriage to Margaret Fitzgibbon in Camberwell in 1864.   At first William worked as a merchant’s clerk, then a cutler before he started the Cormack Brothers business a couple years after his marriage.  William and Margaret had 10 children: Margaret, William Wadham Jr., Gerald Frederick, Mary Kate, John Cecil, Frederick, Alfred, Herbert Frank, Sarah Constance and Charles Roland.  In the beginning the family lived near William’s parents in Peckham and in the 1871 census William was listed as a bag and dressing cases maker.  Sometime between 1876 and 1877 the family moved again this time to Sutton, Surrey about 13 miles southwest of Peckham.  William died there in 1879 at age 39 of heart disease, dropsy and jaundice and was buried at the Southwark cemetery.  His estate valued at £3,000 was proved by his wife Margaret, his brother and business partner George Balfour Cormack and his brother-in-law John Fitzgibbon.  After his death Margaret and the 10 children returned to the Camberwell area where they were joined by Margaret’s mother, Margaret Fitzgibbon.  In 1881 the family was living on the income from Margaret’s share in the Cormack Brothers business, however by 1891 she became a fancy goods employer who possibly employed several of her sons in her new business.  Then in 1901 she had no occupation which indicated the family was either living on funds earned earlier or they were relying on the sons for support as five of them were still living with her.  Margaret died in Camberwell in 1903 at age 62 and was buried at Southwark.  Her estate valued at £21 pounds went to her eldest son who was listed as a gentleman that year.

 

The second son of William John Cormack and Sarah Tokely was George Balfour Cormack.  George was born c1844 in Deptford and by the time he was 16 years old in 1861 he was working as a merchant’s clerk.  Five years later, when he married Mary Ann Martin in 1866, he was a dressing case manufacturer.  George and Mary had 6 children between 1867 and 1884: Marian Balfour, Edwin George, Daisy Maude, Beatrice, an unnamed daughter who was stillborn in 1876[18] and Millicent.  The family lived in the Croydon and Camberwell sections of south London at first, then moved to the Tottenham in the Edmonton section of north London presumably to be closer to the family business.  From 1866 until 1882 George worked in or was a partner in the Cormack Brothers firm.  When his partnership with his brother’s wife Margaret ended in 1882 he established a new business as a fancy warehouseman which became known as George Balfour & Co. at 21 Ludgate Hill[19].  Unfortunately, the new firm went bankrupt a year later in 1883[20].  It is unknown exactly what George did thereafter.  Seven years later in 1890, George died in Tottenham of pleurisy and bronchitis at age 45 and was buried at the Southwark cemetery.  To date his probate has not been found.   His wife Mary Ann died in the Edmonton area 15 years later in 1905 at age 65.

 

Cormack Brothers:  Images:

 

Drum needle case.

 

Easel - Floral needle case.

 

Kindling Box needle case.

 

Drum needle case stamped on the bottom with the Cormack name (S=eBay).

 

Easel - Floral needle case stamped on the back with the Cormack name (S=eBay).

 

Kindling Box needle case stamped on the bottom with the Cormack name (S=eBay).

 

Quad-Golden Casket - Fleur di Lis (S=eBay).

 

 

Horseshoe needle case.

 

Cleopatra’s needle on the Thames River, c2019 (photograph from the Internet).

 

Quad-Golden Casket - Fleur di Lis close up of the Cormack name (S=eBay).

 

Temple Bar needle case top stamped with the Cormack name (S=eBay).

 

The Temple Bar at Paternoster Square, 2023.

Front of St. Paul’s Cathedral, 2015.

 

35 and 37 Ludgate Hill, 2023, approximately where the Cormack Brothers business was originally located.

 

North side of Paternoster Square, 2015.

 

47 Ludgate Hill, 2023, another interesting old building in the neighborhood.

 

 

Cormack Brothers:  Genealogy

 

Generation 1:  William John Cormack (c1813-1877) and Sarah Tokely (c1815-1874)

·       Born: not found.

·       Baptized:  March 4, 1813 St. Paul, Deptford, Lewisham, Kent (S1c).  Listed as William John son of William and Sarah Cormack of New Cross with father’s occupation nurseryman.

·       Marriage:  July 1, 1837 St. Paul, Deptford, Lewisham (S3).  Listed as William John Cormack a bachelor and nurseryman who resided in New Cross whose father was William Cormack a nurseryman and Sarah Tokely a spinster.

·       1841 Census: New Cross Road, St. Paul Deptford, Greenwich (S4).  Listed as William Cormark age 28 a seedsman born in the county with Sarah age 25 born in the county, William age 1 and 2 possible servants. (Note: the surname is incorrectly listed in the census index as Cromack).

·       1851 Census: Lincoln Lodge, Horley, Winchester, Surrey (S4).  Listed as William John Cormack age 38 a farmer of 38 acres employing 1 man born in St. Paul, Deptford with wife Sarah age 36 farmers wife born Bermondsey, Surrey, 7 children: Sarah, William Wadham, Eliza, George Belfour, Frederick Wilson and Annie, and 1 governess and 3 servants.

·       1861 Census: 1 Rye Hill Park, Peckham, Camberwell, Lambeth (S4).  Listed as William Cormack age 48 a fund holder born in Deptford, Kent with wife Sarah age 46 born in Bermondsey, Surrey, 7 children: William, Eliza, George, Cecil, Frederick, Annie and Selavia, 2 others and 1 servant.

·       1871 Census: 1 Rye Hill Road, Peckham, Camberwell, Lambeth (S4).  Listed as William J. Cormack age 57 with no occupation born in St. Paul’s Deptford with wife Sarah age 55 born in Dockhead, Surrey, 2 children: Annie and Constance E., 1 step mo. and 1 servant.

·       Wife’s Death: 2nd QTR 1874 Camberwell, London (S5d).  Listed as Sarah Cormack age 59.

·       Wife’s Burial: May 9, 1874 Southwark, London (S7).  Listed as Sarah Cormack.

·       Wife’s Probate: not found.

·       Death:  4th QTR 1877 Camberwell, London (S5d).  Listed as William John Cormack age 64.  October 20, 1877 at 9 Ryemill-Terrace, Hanover Park, Peckham (S6).

·       Burial: October 25, 1877 Southwark, London (S7).  Listed as William J. Cormack.

·       Probate: November 19, 1877 Principal Registry (S6).  Listed as William John Cormack late of Rye Hill Park, Peckham Rye, Surrey a gentleman and widower with effects under £100 granted to William Wadham Cormack of 37 Ludgate-hill, London a gentleman, son and next of kin,

·       Children: (S=a search of the GRO online index for male and female births between 1837-1861 with a mother’s maiden name of Tokely and only 4 to the following 8 were found.)

1.     Sarah Cormack (1838 -1902). Born: not found (S2).  1851 Census: with parents (S4).  Death: (S2).

2.     William Wadham Cormack (1840-1879).  See Generation 2.

3.     Eliza Cormack (1841-1913).  Born: not found (S2).  1851 and 1861 Censuses: with parents (S4).  Death: (S2).

4.     George Balfour Cormack (c1844-1890).  Born: not found (S4) (S5d).  See Generation 2.

5.     Cecil Bratt Cormack (1846 -1915).  Born: 3rd QTR 1846 Greenwich Union, London (S=GRO online index), listed as Cecil Brett Cormack with mother’s maiden name Tokely.  1851 and 1861 Census: with parents (S4). Death: (S2).

6.     Frederick Wilson Cormack (1848-1868).  Born: not found (S2).  1851 and 1861 Census: with parents (S4).  Death: (S2).

7.     Annie Cormack (1850 -1923).  Born: 2nd QTR 1850 Reigate Union (S=GRO online index), listed as Annie Cormack with mother’s maiden name Tokely. 1851, 1861 and 1871 Censuses: with parents (S4).  Death: (S2).

8.     Octavia Constance Cormack (1852-1893). Born: 1st QTR 1852 Reigate Union (S=GRO online index), listed as Octavia Constance Cormack with mother’s maiden name Tokely.  1861 and 1871 Censuses: with parents (S4).  Death: (S2)

 

Generation 2:  William Wadham Cormack (1840-1879) and Margaret Fitzgibbon (c1841-1903)

·       Born:  2nd QTR 1840 Greenwich Union, London (S=GRO online index). Listed as William Wadham Cormack with mother’s maiden name Tokeley.

·       Baptized:  June 15, 1840 St. Paul, Deptford, Lewisham (S1c).  Listed as William Wadham son of William John and Sarah Cormack of New Cross with father’s occupation listed as seedsman.

·       1841 Census: with parents (S4).  Listed as William Cormack age 1 born in the county.

·       1851 Census: with parents (S4).  Listed as William Wadham Cormack age 11 a scholar at home born Deptford, Kent.

·       1861 Census: with parents (S4).  Listed as William Cormack age 20 a merchants Cl. Hop. born in St. Paul’s, Deptford,

·       Marriage: July 9, 1864 St. Giles, Camberwell, Southwark (S3). Listed as William Wadham Cormack a bachelor and cutler who resided at Peckham Rye whose father was William John Cormack a gentleman and Margaret Fitz Gibbon a spinster.

·       1871 Census:  30 Rye Hill Park, Peckman, Camberwell, Lambeth (S4).  Listed as William W. Cormack age 30 a bag and dressing case maker born in New Cross with wife Margaret age 29 born in London, 4 children: Margaret, W. W., Gerald and Mary W. and 2 servants.

·       Death:  June 29, 1879 Carshalton, Epsom, Surrey (S8d).  Listed as William Wadham Cormack age 39 a packing case manufacturer who died at Brighton House in Sutton of heart disease, dropsy and jaundice with his brother George Cormack in attendance.  June 29, 1879 at Brighton House (S6).

·       Burial: July 5, 1879 Southward, London (S7).  Listed as William W. Cormack.

·       Probate: July 26, 1879 Principal Registrey (S6).  Listed as William Wadham Cormack late of Brighton House, Brighton-road, Sutton, Surrey and 37 Ludgate-hill, London with effects under £3,000 to Margaret Cormack of Brighton House widow, George Balfour Cormack of 37 Ludgate-hill bag manufacturer the brother and John Fitz Gibbon of 14 Mincing-lane, London a drysalter.

·       1881 Census Wife’s: 8 Goose Green St. John’s Villas, Camberwell, Lambeth (S4).  Listed as Margaret Cormack a widow age 40 living on income from share in bag and dressing case makers business born in Bow, Middlesex with 10 children: Margaret, William W. Gerald F., Mary K., John C., Frederick, Alfred, Herbert F., Sarah C. and Charlie, 1 mother Margaret Fitzgibbon and 2 servants.

·       1891 Census Wife’s: 268 Upland Road, East Dulwich, Camberwell (S4). Listed as Margaret Cormack a widow age 50 a dealer of fancy goods employer born in Bow, Middlesex with 8 children: William W., Gerald F., Mary Kate, John C., Frederick, Herbert J., Sarah C., and Charles R.

·       1901 Census Wife’s: 268 Upland Road, Dulwich, Camberwell (S4).  Listed as Margaret Cormack a widow age 60 with no occupation listed who was born in Bow with 7 children: William W., Gerald F., Mary K., Herbert F., Sarah C., Charlie R. and Frederick and 1 mother Margaret F. Gibbon.

·       Wife’s Death: 3rd QTR 1903 Camberwell, London (S5d).  Listed as Margaret Cormack age 62.  July 19, 1903 (S6).

·       Wife’s Burial: July 22, 1903 Southwark, London (S7).  Listed as Margaret Cormack.

·       Wife’s Probate: August 28, 1903 London (S6). Listed as Margaret Cormack of 196 Upland-road, East Dulwich, Surrey a widow with effects £21 to William Wadham Cormack gentleman.

·       Children: (S=a search of the GRO online index for male and female births between 1864-1880 with a mother’s maiden name of Fitzgibbon and only 10 were found).

1.     Margaret Cormack (1865-1956).  Born: 3rd QTR 1865 Camberwell (S=GRO online index), listed as Margaret Cormack with mother’s maiden name Fitzgibbon.  1871 and 1881 Censuses: with parents (S4).  Death: (S2).

2.     William Wadham Cormack (1867-1941).  Born: 3rd QTR 1867 Camberwell (S=GRO online index), listed as William Wadham Cormack with mother’s maiden name Fitzgibbon.  1871, 1881, 1891 and 1901 Censuses: with parents (S4), listed in 1891 as a merchant’s clerk.  Death: (S2).

3.     Gerald Frederick Cormack (1869-1951).  Born: 1st QTR 1869 Camberwell (S=GRO online index), listed as Gerald Frederick Cormack with mother’s maiden name Fitzgibbon.  1871, 1881, 1891 and 1901 Censuses: with parents (S4), listed in 1891 as a fancy assistant in mother’s business.  Death: (S2).

4.     Mary Kate Cormack (1870-1925).  Born: 1st QTR 1870 Camberwell (S=GRO online index), listed as Mary Kate Cormack with mother’s maiden name Fitzgibbon.  1871, 1881, 1891 and 1901 Censuses: with parents (S4).  Death: (S2).

5.     John Cecil Cormack (1872-1955).  Born: 1st QTR 1872 Camberwell (S=GRO online index), listed as John Cecil Cormack with mother’s maiden name Fitzgibbon.  1881 and 1891 Censuses: with parents (S4).  Death: (S2).

6.     Frederick Cormack (1873-1936).  Born: 2nd QTR 1873 Camberwell (S=GRO online index), listed as Frederick Cormack with mother’s maiden name Fitzgibbon.  1881, 1891 and 1901 Censuses: with parents (S4).  Death: (S2).

7.     Alfred Cormack (1874-1883).  Born: 3rd QTR 1874 Camberwell (S=GRO online index), listed as Alfred Cormack with mother’s maiden name Fitzgibbon.  1881 Census: with parents (S4).  Death: (S2).

8.     Herbert Frank Cormack (1876-1964).  Born: 1st QTR 1876 Camberwell (S=GRO online index), listed as Herbert Frank Cormack with mother’s maiden name Fitzgibbon.  1881, 1891 and 1901 Censuses: with parents (S4).  Death: (S2).

9.     Sarah Constance Cormack (1877-1943).  Born: 3rd QTR 1877 Epson (S=GRO online index), listed as Sarah Constance Cormack with mother’s maiden name Fitzgibbon.  1881, 1891 and 1901 Censuses: with parents (S4).  Death: (S2).

10.  Charles Roland Cormack (1879-1925).  Born: 2nd QTR 1879 Epson (S=GRO online index), listed as Charlese Roland Cormack with mother’s maiden name Fitzgibbon.  1881, 1891 and 1901 Censuses: with parents (S4).  Death: (S2).

 

Generation 2: George Balfour Cormack (c1844-1890) and Mary Ann Martin (c1844-1905)

·       Born:  not found.

·       Baptized:  October 25, 1844 St. Paul, Deptford, Lewisham (S1c).  Listed as George Balfour son of William John and Sarah Cormack of New Cross with father’s occupation listed as seedsman.

·       1851 Census: with parents (S4).  Listed a George Belfour Cormack age 6 a scholar at home born in Deptford, Kent.

·       1861 Census: with parents (S4).  Listed a George Cormack age 16 a merchants Cl. Hop. born in St. Paul’s, Deptford.

·       Marriage:  August 4, 1866 St. Giles, Camberwell, Southwark (S3).  Listed as George Balfour Cormack a bachelor and dressing case manufacturer who resided at Peckham Rye whose father was William John Cormack a gentleman and Mary Ann Martin a spinster.

·       1871 Census: 13 Balfour Road, East Dulwich, Camberwell, Lambeth (S4).  Listed as George B. Cormack age 25 a travelling bag and dress case maker and cutler born in London with wife Mary A. age 28 born in London, 2 children: Marian and Edwin G. and 3 servants.

·       1881 Census: 244 Grove House, Grove Road, Edmonton, New Southgate (S4).  Listed as George B. Cormack age 38 a dressing case maker and leather goods born in New Cross, Surrey with wife Marian age 37 born in Hyde Park, London and 4 children: M. B., E. G., D. M. and B., 1 sister-in-law Emma Martin, 1 visitor and 2 servants.

·       Death:  January 10, 1890 Tottenham, Edmonton, Middlesex (S8d).  Listed as George Balfour Cormack age 45 a commercial clerk who died at 4 Argyle Road, Tottenham of pleurisy and bronchitis with his daughter Marian Balfour Cormack present at his death.

·       Burial: January 15, 1890 Southwark, London (S7).

·       Probate: not found.

·       1891 Census Wife’s: not found.

·       1901 Census Wife’s: 5 Argyle Road, Tottenham, Middlesex (S4).  Listed as Mary Cormack a widow age 58 with no occupation born in Marylebone, London with 2 children: Daisy and Beatrice.

·       Wife’s Death: October 21,  1905 Wood Green, Edmonton, Middlesex (S8d).  Listed as Mary Ann Cormack age 63 the widow of George Balfour Cormack a leather merchant who died at 60 Myddleton Road of leucocythemia with her daughter Daisy M. Cormack present at her death.

·       Wife’s Probate: not found.

·       Wife’s Burial: not found.

·       Children: (S=a search of the GRO online index for male and female births between 1866-1890 with a mother’s maiden name of Martin and 5 were found).

1.     Marian Balfour Cormack (1867-1940).  Born: 4th QTR 1867 Croydon (S=GRO online index), listed as Marian Balfour Cormack with mother’s maiden name Martin.  1871 and 1881 Censuses: with parents (S4).  Death: (S2).

2.     Edwin George Cormack (1869-??).  Born: 1st QTR 1869 Camberwell (S=GRO online index), listed as Edwin George Cormack with mother’s maiden name Martin. 1871 and 1881 Censuses: with parents (S4).

3.     Daisy Maude Cormack (1874-1958).  Born: 1st QTR 1874 Camberwell (S=GRO online index), listed as Daisy Maude Cormack with mother’s maiden name Martin.  1881 and 1901 Censuses: with parents (S4).  Death (S2).

4.     Beatrice Cormack (1875-??).  Born: 1st QTR 1875 Camberwell (S=GRO online index), listed as Beatrice Cormack with mother’s maiden name Martin.  1881 and 1901 Censuses: with parents (S4).

5.     Unnamed daughter (1876-1876).  Morning Post newspaper dated January 26, 1876, page 8, column 3 (S=https://britishnewspaperarchive.couk).  Lists the stillborn birth of a daughter at Balfour Villa, Forest-hill-road Peckham-rye to the wife of George B. Cormack on January 23.

6.     Millicent Cormack (1884-1884).  Born: April 9, 1884 Camberwell, Surrey (S8b), listed as Millicent Cormack who was born at 3 Somerset Villas on Shenley Road with father listed as George Balfour Cormack a dressing case maker and mother Marian Cormack formerly Martin. Death: 2nd QTR 1884 Camberwell (S=GRO online index), listed as Millicent Cormack age 0.

 

 

Avery style needle cases with the Cormack Bros. 37 Ludgate Hill, London name.

1.     Cleopatra's Needle:  Ornamental design #309319 registered April 14, 1877 by William Avery & Son, Redditch, UK (S=TNA, Kew).

2.     Drum:  Ornamental design #300680 registered May 22, 1876 by W. Avery & Son, Redditch, UK (S=TNA, Kew).

3.     Easel-Floral:  Ornamental design #292979 registered July 19, 1875 by Buncher & Haseler, Birmingham UK (S=TNA, Kew).

4.     Horseshoe:  Ornamental design #283264 registered June 25, 1874 by Buncher &Haseler, Birmingham, UK (S=TNA, Kew). (This needle case with this company name was sold online, however, the author did not get a photograph of it).

5.     Kindling Box:  Ornamental design #325051 registered August 15, 1878 by W. Avery & Son, Redditch, UK (S=TNA, Kew).

6.     Quad-Golden Casket - Fleur-di-Lis:  Mechanical design #3517 registered November 19, 1868 by William Avery, Redditch needle manufacturer and Albert Fenton machinist (S=British Library -Business and Intellectual Property Centre, London).

7.     Temple Bar:  Ornamental design #319723 registered March 27, 1878 by W. Avery & Son, Redditch, UK (S=TNA, Kew).

 

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