Art dealer and importer as "E. E. Pither and Sons". 1881 "Commission Agent" living with his mother and brother. 1882-99 operated out of various addresses in the area including 53 and 38 Mortimer Street. Supplied stained glass windows to churches and also 'Radiant' stoves. Still active in 1915.
Our colleague, Andrew Behan, informs us that Ernest Eugene Pither was born on 25 November 1854 in Paddington. He was the younger son of Edward Pither (1813-1866) and Sophia Elizabeth Pitcher née Bezier (1812-1891). On 9 February 1855 he was baptised at St Mary's Church, Paddington, where the baptismal register shows that the family were living in Harrow Road, Paddington and that his father was a tobacconist.
In the 1861 census he was shown as a scholar, boarding at the family home of James Stokes, a landscape artist, at Wrotham House, Smallberry Green, Isleworth, Middlesex. The 1881 census describes him as a commission agent, living at 51 Thistle Grove, West Brompton, with his widowed mother and his elder brother, Francis Leon Emilius Pitcher (1853-1913), together with a female general domestic servant.
On 11 April 1882 he married Amelia Elizabeth Thomas (1859-1932) at Holy Trinity Church, Brompton, where in the marriage register he is described as a commission merchant of 51 Thistle Grove, whilst his wife's address was given as 4 South Street. They were to have four children: Frederick Ernest Leon Pither (1884-1947), Robert Ernest Pither (1886-1954), Frank Eugene Pither (1891-1969) and Charles Edwin Pither (1898-1975).
In the 1911 census he called himself an art dealer and was residing at 10 Steeles Road, Hampstead, with his wife, two of their children: Frank who was shown as a journalist and Robert who was listed as an engineer, together with three female domestic servants.
When his wife died, aged 73 years, on 13 July 1932, he was granted probate (save and except settled land) on 10 December 1932. Her effects totalled £14,576-9s-0d.
Probate records confirm that he occupied 10 Steeles Road, Hampstead, and 34, 36 & 38 Mortimer Street, Regent Street, London. He died, aged 81 years, on 12 February 1936 at 10 Steeles Road. Probate was granted on 1 April 1936 to his four sons who were described as: Frederick - a farmer, Robert - a heating engineer, Frank - an antiques dealer and Charles - an accountant. His effects totalled £38,090-19s-11d.
