Isandlwana Widow - Esther Bishop

Posts : 303 Join date : 2011-10-18 Location : Cornwall

I've come across a couple of newspaper snippets which mention the unhappy story of an Isandlwana widow being arrested for the murder of her infant child in Colchester in 1881:

Aldershot & Sandhurst Gazette Nov 26 1881

"A woman named Esther Bishop, against whom a coroner's jury had returned a verdict of wilful murder, has been arrested at Colchester, charged with the murder of her female infant, whose body was discovered in a copper at the residence of Colonel Black, where the prisoner had been employed as cook. Since the commission of the crime Bishop had been very I'll and unable to be removed for examination before the magistrates, but she will be brought up in the course of a day or two. Bishop had been receiving 12s. a week from the Patriotic Fund, her husband, a soldier, having fallen in the battle of Isandula"

Although there was a Driver Charles Bishop N/5 Bty RA killed at Isandlwana, the mention of Colonel Black (who I understand commanded the 1st Btn 24th/SWB at Colchester from c.April 1881) makes it more likely that Esther Bishop's late husband was either 2-24/1550 Pte Henry Bishop 2/24th or 25B/154 Pte John Bishop 1/24th.

As ever, if anyone has any further information I'd be interested to hear.

Regards,

Tim

Posts : 303 Join date : 2011-10-18 Location : Cornwall

Further to the above, I've just found the following on the internet -

"Esther Bishop, a 35-year-old soldier's widow who had been supporting herself by working as a cook, was charged with the murder of her illegitimate newborn daughter at her employer's home at Colchester, England. The body of the child had been found in a laundry copper that was partially filled with water, and the post-mortem examination strongly suggested that the baby had been born alive and died from drowning, both of which were crucial elements in attempting to meet the stringent tests for proof of life according to the law that were a requirement for infanticide convictions. During her trial at the Essex Winter Assizes in January 1882, the jury eventually decided that there was insufficient medico-legal evidence that the baby had been born alive to convict Bishop of either murder or manslaughter, but she was found guilty of concealment of birth

Transnational Penal Cultures: New Perspectives on Discipline, Punishment and Desistance (Vivien Miller, James Campbell 2015)

Posts : 3362 Join date : 2009-03-03 Location : Devon

Hi Tim

I am going to say 1550 Pte Henry Bishop 2/24th was her husband.

They were both the same age and both were born in Wales.

Andy

Posts : 3362 Join date : 2009-03-03 Location : Devon

Hi Tim

This article names the father of the child.

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Chelmsford Chronicle 27 January 1882

Posts : 303 Join date : 2011-10-18 Location : Cornwall

Thanks Andy, good find. Do you happen to have further info on Henry Bishop?

Regards,

Tim

Posts : 3362 Join date : 2009-03-03 Location : Devon

Hi Tim

The only other information I have is without paying for it, is that Henry Bishop Married Esther Williams in 1877.

Regards

Andy

Posts : 2871 Join date : 2010-06-02

It had a happier ending. Esther married Joseph Edward Eleazer Mungeam (another soldier of the 24th) in April 1883 in Salford They had two more children and moved to Kent. Esther died in Strood in 1937.

Steve Reinstadtler

Posts : 3362 Join date : 2009-03-03 Location : Devon

Well Done Steve

Great Work

Salute

Posts : 2871 Join date : 2010-06-02

Henry Bishop married Esther Williams on 27 May 1877 in Hougham Kent, he was 31 years old. His father was William Bishop.

Steve

Posts : 303 Join date : 2011-10-18 Location : Cornwall

Thanks Steve.

Tim

Posts : 2871 Join date : 2010-06-02

1452 Pt. Joseph Mungeam enlisted on 15 October 1877 with 2/24th. He served with the Mounted Infantry and received the SAGS with 1877-8-9 clasp. So probably out with Chelmsford at Isandhlwana.

Steve Reinstadtler

Subject: Re: Isandlwana Widow - Esther Bishop Fri Feb 09, 2018 12:14 pm

Steve,

The 2nd/24th provided men to No. 2 Squadron, Mounted Infantry, rather than to No. 1 Squadron, Mounted Infantry. In which case Private Mungeam would have been at Nyezane rather than elsewhere on 22nd January 1879.

JY

Subject: Re: Isandlwana Widow - Esther Bishop Sun Feb 11, 2018 8:37 am

Mungeam was in the 2nd Squadron but was sent home to England on 19.5.1879 - no reason stated in the pay and muster roll.

Posts : 1069 Join date : 2009-10-16

Hi All,
Just a bit more, Joseph Mungeam 2/24 ZW was born circa 1857/58 Cobham Strood Kent. The 1891 and 1901 census have Joseph and Esther living Cobham Kent, 2 kids Harriett b.1887, Jane b.1885, both Esther and Joseph are alive in Strood in 1921.
Joseph E E Mungeam 2/24 dies june qtr 1930 in Strood District in 1930 age 73.
Many Mungeam's are buried at Cobham Strood, or at Strood Cemetery, but Joseph and Esther are not listed so are probably in unmarked graves.
Rai Keynshamlighthorse.

Subject: Re: Isandlwana Widow - Esther Bishop Fri Oct 07, 2022 9:41 am

John Bishop served in H Company on St. Helena in the Atlantic Ocean 8/8/1876 – 31/8/1877 when Henry Bishop was marrying Esther Williams in May 1877 in Kent.

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