Andrew Young was born on 28 June 1848, a son of James Young (1808-1887) and Isabel Young née Ford (1813-1883). His birth was registered in the 3rd quarter of 1848 in the Westminster registration district, Middlesex (now Greater London). On 20 August 1848 he was baptised at the Scotch United Secession Church, Oxendon Street, Haymarket, Westminster, where the baptismal register confirms his date of birth, that his father was a pianoforte maker and that the family were living at 20 Holywell Street, Westminster. (An aside: At the time this street was the centre of the pornography trade and was later renamed Booksellers' Row in an attempt to escape its reputation).
The 1851 census shows him as aged 2 years still living 20 Holywell Street, with his parents and five siblings: James Young (1836-1897); Isabel Young (1838-1921); John Young (1842-1930); George Edward Young (1844-1928) and Margaret Young (1846-1916). His father continued to be shown as a piano forte maker and his eldest brother was described as a solicitor's general clerk.
In the 1861 census he was listed as a 12-year-old scholar residing at 13 Park Crescent, Lambeth, Surrey (now Greater London) with his parents and six siblings: James; Isabel; John; George; Margaret and Douglas Young (1852-1932). His father was still a pianoforte maker whilst his brother James was shown as a clerk to pianoforte maker and his brother John was described as an apprentice to pianoforte maker. Park Crescent was later renamed and is now Stockwell Park Crescent, London, SW9.
When the 1871 census was undertaken he was shown as aged 22 years and a surveyor employing one man and one boy. He was living with his parents at Melrose House, Jeffreys Road, Stockwell, his widowed sister Isabel Riddell who was described as an annuitant, his nephew James Allardice Riddell (1865-1934), together with a female domestic servant and two female lodgers. His father continued to be shown as a pianoforte maker.
On 23 May 1874 he married Henrietta Mary Spurrier (1828-1929) at St Andrew's Church, Victoria Street, Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset, where in the marriage register he is shown as of full age, a bachelor and surveyor residing in Clapham, London, whilst his wife was shown as of full age, a spinster of the parish and a daughter of Charles Spurrier, a cabinet maker. They were to have ten children: Charles Melville Young (1875-1951); James Dawbarn Young (1877-1918); Andrew Reginald Young (1879-1948); Daisy Muriel Young (1880-1961); John Rodgers Young (1881-1882); David Wilberforce Young (1882-1960); Louis Theodore Young ((1884-1968); Stanley Gordon Young (1887-1960); Gladys Eunice Young (1888-1968) and Dorothy Joyce Young (1891-1980).
He is shown as aged 32 years and a surveyor in the 1881 census living at Norfolk Villas, Church Road, Leatherhead, Surrey, with his wife, their four children: Charles; James; Andrew and Daisy, together with a housemaid and a female general servant.
On the night of the 1891 census he is described as aged 42 years and a land surveyor visiting with his wife the home of John Murray, a physician and surgeon, at 13 Trinity Gardens, Folkestone, Kent.
The 1901 census shows him as aged 52 years, a surveyor and valuer, living at 16 North Hill, Highgate, Middlesex (now Greater London), with his wife, seven of their children: James who was also a surveyor and valuer; Daisy, a student; David, a student; Louis, a scholar; Stanley, a scholar; Gladys, a scholar and Dorothy, also a scholar, together with a housemaid and a kitchen maid.
When he completed his 1911 census return form he described himself as aged 63 years and a London County Council valuer and surveyor, living in a 13 roomed property at 16 North Hill, Highgate, with his wife, five of their children: David, a land agent & forestry expert; Louis, a London County Council electrical engineer; Stanley, a motor work's mechanical engineer; Gladys, who had no occupation and Dorothy who was still at school, together with a cook and two female general domestic servants.
Probate records confirm that his address had been 'Braeside', Whiteleaf, Princes Risborough, Buckinghamshire and that he died, aged 73 years, on 3 February 1922 at the Grand Hotel, Pardigan, Var, France. When probate was granted to his widow on 21 April 1922, his effects totalled £11,388-3s-8d.
The Find a Grave website shows that the mortal remains of Andrew Young after cremation were brought from France and laid to rest on 23 January 1928 in the churchyard of St Mary's & St Nicholas Church, Church Lane, Saunderton, Princes Risborough, HP27 9GN.
He is shown as 'ANDREW YOUNG FSI first valuer to the London County Council, 1889-1914' on the memorial plaque at Bush House, Strand, London, WC2. The post nominal letters indicate that he was a Fellow of the Surveyors' Institution. This became the Chartered Surveyors' Institution in 1930 and King George VI granted them the title "Royal" in 1946. The following year the professional body became the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
