The connection made here between Henry Young and M. F. Esquilant is intriguing. Is it possible that Henry Young was in fact Esquilant's youngest son Lewis? But if so, why was his surname different? Had he "run away to join the Army" and concealed his identity? Was he perhaps fleeing a largely female household, most of whom were Milliners?
Knowing only that Henry Young was "Born in London" does not give a great deal of scope for research. If, however, as the obituary notice stated, Henry Young was indeed the youngest son of M.F. Esquilant, he could also possibly have been the youngest son in the family — Lewis — who in 1841 was shown as being 13 years of age. (Their ages are different, but not greatly so.)
According to the 1841 Census Return a "Michael" Esquilant, aged 50, was in business at 346, Oxford Street (then between Queen Street and Blenheim Street — the street was re-numbered in 1880) as a Stationer and Printer of Account-Books and had been so since at least 1840. (He was in business as a Stationer at 21 St. John's Square in 1835.)
A Mrs Maria Esquilant, also 50, was also in business at the same Oxford Street address in 1841, as a Milliner. There were seven children in the family at this time, including four daughters (three of whom were Milliners), and three sons, the youngest of whom is Lewis Esquilant:
1841 Census
Oxford Street, Golden Square, St James, Middlesex.
Michael Esquilant, 50, Stationer, born c.1791, Middlesex.
Maria Esquilant, 50, Milliner, c.1791, [not born Middlesex].
Ann Esquilant, 25, Milliner, c.1816, Middlesex.
Frederic Esquilant, 25, Stationer, c.1816, Middlesex.
Angela Esquilant, 20, Milliner, c.1821, Middlesex.
Rosina Esquilant, 20, Milliner, c.1821, Middlesex
Edward Esquilant, 15, c.1826, Middlesex.
Lewis Esquilant, 13, c.1828, Middlesex.
Julia Esquilant, 10, c.1831, Middlesex.
Mary Godfrey, 20, Milliner, c.1821, [not born Middlesex].
Elizabeth Constable, 18, FS [Female Servant], c.1823, Middlesex.
Martha Clark, 17, c.1824, FS [Female Servant], Middlesex.
[PB, September 2014]
Interestingly, Lewis does not appear in the 1851 or any subsequent Census. Of course, he may have died (though a check of St. Catherine's House registers for the intervening years 1841-51 shows no evidence of this) but it is possible he had enlisted in the army under an assumed name.
By 1851 Michael Esquilant was shown as a "Gentleman", aged 60 years, born in the parish of St. Giles, London, with his wife Maria, 58, born in Gloucester. All the children living at home were born either in the parishes of Marylebone or St. Pancras. (In this respect a search of the records of these parishes shows no trace of any baptisms, so they may have been Roman Catholic.)
1851 Census
346 Oxford Street, Golden Square, Westminster St James, Middlesex.
Michael Esquilant, Head, 60, Born c.1791, St Giles, Middlesex.
Maria Esquilant, Wife, 58, c.1793, Chirk, Gloucestershire.
Ann Esquilant, Daughter, 30, c.1821, Marybone, Middlesex.
Maria Irverner [?], Daughter, Widow, 29, c.1822, Marybone, Middlesex.
Charles Esquilant, Son, 28, c.1823, Marybone, Middlesex.
Edward Esquilant, Son, 24, c.1827, Marybone, Middlesex.
Julia Esquilant, Daughter, 21, c.1830, St Pancras, Middlesex.
Mary Davis, House Servant, 28, c.1823, Pimlico, Middlesex.
Mary Ann Holland, House Servant, 17, c.1834, Ambleton [?].
At this time a Frederick Esquilant [Lewis's brother] was also shown in the Post Office Trade Directory in business at 346, Oxford Street as a Stationer, and he remained there as such until some time before 1863, when he is no longer shown. Since the 1851 Census Return does not show him as residing there, he was presumably living elsewhere.
By 1861 only the house part of the premises seems to have been occupied by the family. The mother, Maria (then 71 years of age), is shown as a "Proprietor of Houses".
1861 Census
346 Oxford Street, Westminster.
Maria Esquilant, Mother, Widow, 71, Proprietor of Houses, born Gloucestershire.
Ann Marie Esquilant, Sister [sic], Unmarried, 46, Marylebone, Middlesex.
Julia A. Esquilant, Sister [sic], Unmarried, 30, St Pancras, Middlesex.
Mary Sandson, Servant, Unmarried, 27, Servant, Marylebone, Middlesex.
[Source: Ancestry.co.uk]
1871 Census
4 Effra Road, Brixton, London.
By 1871, Maria, 80, and her daughters Ann Marie, 56, and Julia, 41, were living with Frederick Esquilant, 55, in Brixton. Only one other person is shown in the house, a general servant.
[Source: Ancestry.co.uk]
