Bradlaugh Prehistory
1807: James Bradlaugh, a younger son of a blacksmith in Brandeston, Sussex, arrived in London with his family. He settled and opened a gunsmith shop at 4 Parson’s Court, Bride Lane, off Fleet Street.
1811: Charles Bradlaugh (Sr.) born in London. His father James Bradlaugh died of Tuberculosis less than six months later.
1831-2: Charles Bradlaugh (Sr.), who had been apprenticed to a law stationer since the age of ten or eleven, was “loaned” to one of the stationer’s clients, Lepard & Company, solicitors at 6 Cloak Lane in the City of London. They liked the young man’s work, and bought his indenture from the stationer. Charles Sr. became a clerk, and later a confidential clerk and office manager for Lepard & Co. He worked for them for the rest of his life, eventually earning two guineas (42 shillings) a week. Bradlaugh married Elizabeth Trimby, a domestic servant. They moved to 31 Bacchus Walk, Hoxton, where their first son, Charles, was born September 26 1833.