Subject

A Commissioner for the 1892 Westminster Public Baths and Wash-houses. 1889 co- churchwarden of St John the Evangelist, Westminster.

Charles Christmas Piper was born in New Alresford, Hampshire, the second son and the fourth of the seven children of William Piper (1777-1839) and Lucy Piper née Christmas (1792-1845).

He was baptised in Alresford, Hampshire on 20 March 1831. His father was a Tanner who died when Charles Piper was aged 8 years.

The 1841 census shows him living with his family in a property at The Soke, Alresford, Hampshire. His widowed mother was a Gaiter Maker who died in 1845 when he was aged 14 years.

On 13 August 1857 he married Hannah Elizabeth Jefferies (1834-1868) at St Barnabas Church, Warmley, Gloucestershire and the marriage register shows his address as St Margarets, Westminster, Middlesex and his occupation as a Boot Maker. They had five children, Lucy Elizabeth Piper (1858-22 July 1922), Sarah Alice Maude Mary Piper (1860-1876), Charles Alfred Piper (1862-14 March 1927), Walter Jefferies Piper (1864-1866) and Arthur Herbert Horace Piper (1867-1890). In 1868 his wife died.

The 1870 Post Office London Directory shows him as a Boot & Shoe Maker with premises at 10 Frederick Street and 3 Tothill Street - both in SW London, and the 1871 census shows him living with his children at 10 Frederick Street, Westminster where he had a Boot Shop. (Frederick Street is now called Esterbrooke Street). The 1875 Post Office London Directory shows him as a Boot & Shoe Maker with premises at 10 Frederick Street and 3 Tothill Street in SW London and at Blue Anchor Road in SE London.

On 24 August 1877, together with four other men including Herman Olsen Hamborg, he was initiated as a Freemason in the Domatic Lodge No.177. His address was shown as 18 Chapter Street, Westminster and his occupation was given as a Boot Manufacturer. This address is also shown for him in the 1880 edition of the Post Office London Directory.

The 1881 census shows him living with his children, a housekeeper called Martha E. Southon and a 13-year old female domestic servant at 30 Bessborough Gardens, Westminster. His occupation is recorded as a Retired Shoemaker.

Electoral Registers from 1881 show that in addition to casting a  vote in the area in which he resided, he was also entitled to vote in non-parliamentary elections for properties he owned at 42 & 43 Old Pye Street and 1 St Ann's Lane, Westminster.

In June 1883 he resigned from the Domatic Lodge No.177, but along with 19 other Freemasons, including James Gibson, Herman Olsen Hamborg and James Charles Frampton Warrington Rogers, he was a founder member of the Abbey Lodge No.2030 when it was consecrated on 31 January 1884. He remained a member of this Lodge until he died.

The 1891 census shows him still at 30 Bessborough Gardens, but only the housekeeper, Martha E. Southon was there with him. Electoral registers from 1896 show that he had moved to White House, West Street, Epsom, Surrey and the 1901 census confirms him and his Housekeeper, Martha E Southon, together with a 43 years old female General Servant, living there. His occupation was still a Retired Shoemaker.

Probate records state that he died away from his home in Epsom at 'Huntley' Bishops Teignton, Devon, (believed now to be Huntly, Forder Lane, Bishopsteignton, Teignmouth, TQ14 9SL). on 24 October 1904, aged 73 years. Probate was granted to his daughter, Lucy, and his son, Charles, and his effects totalled £14,261-14s-8d. One of the many bequests he made in his will was for the sum of ten shillings per week be paid to his housekeeper, Martha Southon, for the term of her natural life.