Born in Covent Garden, St Paul.1,2

Baptised in Covent Garden, St Paul.1,3,4,2

"Henry Ridley, Son of Edward & Mary Beale. Born 1st December 1811"

Articles of Clerkship.5

"In the Kings Bench
Edward Harrison of Southampton Buildings Chancery Lane in the County of Middlesex Gentleman maketh Oath and saith that by Articles of Agreement bearing date the twenty ninth day of October last and made between Charles Harrison of No, 14 Southampton Buildings in the County of Middlesex Gentleman one of the Attorneys of His Majesty's Court of King's Bench at Westminster and a Solicitor in the High Court of Chancery of the one part and Edward Blake Beal and Henry Ridley Beal both of Southampton Buildings aforesaid Gentlemen of the other part The said Henry Ridley Beal for the consideration therein mentioned did put and place and bind himself Clerk to the said Charles Harrison to serve him in the profession of an Attorney at Law and Solicitor in Chancery from he day of the date of the said articles for the term of five years from thence next ensuing and fully to be complete and ended ; and which said articles were in due form of Law Executed by the said Charles Harrison Edward Blake Beal and Henry Ridley Beal in the presence of this Deponent and that the name "Edw Harrison " set and subscribed as Witness to the due execution thereof is if the proper hand writing of this deponent.
Sworn at my Cambers in Segeants Inn Chancery Lane London this first day of November one thousand eight hundred and thirty two Before Me (signed) Pattison
(Signed) Edw Harrison"

Licence obtained for marriage to Matilda Dorothy CLARK.15

Married Matilda Dorothy CLARK in Islington, St Mary.36,37,38

From Marriage Certificate :-
1) By licence
2) Vicar - John Gottfried Heisch
3) Witnesses - George Pearson Clark, Maria Beal & Anna Maria Clark
4) Groom - Henry Ridley Beal, of full age, bachelor, solicitor, 14 Southampton Buildings Holborn
5) Father of the groom - Edmund Beal, gentleman
6) Bride - Matilda Dorothy Clark, of full age, spinster, 3 Sherbourne Street
7) Father of the bride - Thomas Clark, solicitor

Research Note :-
The copy of the Marriage Certificate gives the name of the groom's father as " Edmund Beal". However the Parish Records shows the name as being "Edward Blake Beal" with Edward Blake being struck through and "Edmund" inserted over the top.

Occupation Solicitor.6

Recorded in census in Holborn, St Andrew (Southampton Buildings).6

Head of household
Staff x 1

Birth of son Charles BEAL in Holborn.16,17,18

Court Case in London, Central Criminal Court.7

George Martin, aged 19, indicted for breaking and entering the dwelling house of Henry Ridley Beal on 21 July 1842 in St Andrew Holborn and stealing therein 1 spoon value 2s.
Verdict - Guilty of stealing.
Confined for 4 months.

Birth of son Henry BEAL in Holborn.19,20,21

Birth of son Edward BEAL in Holborn.22,23

Birth of son William BEAL in Holborn.26

Birth of son George Wallis BEAL in Holborn.11,27,28

Birth of daughter Matilda Maria BEAL in Holborn.29,30,31

Occupation Attorney & Solicitor.8

Recorded in census in Holborn (Bedford Row, 19).8

Head of household
Staff x 4
In house :-
Harriet Beal, annotated as "Sister"
Maria Beal, annotated as "Sister

Death of son William BEAL in Holborn.24,25

Directories.9

Post Office London Directory (Small Edition)
"Beal Henry Ridley, solicitor, see Harrison & Beal

Birth of son Arthur BEAL in Hackney.32,33,34

Death of Matilda Dorothy CLARK in Thanet.35

Occupation Solicitor in Hackney.10

Recorded in census in Hackney, Stoke Newington (Woodberry Down).10

Head of household.
Staff x 4
Annotated as "Widower"

Occupation Solicitor.11

Recorded in census in Kensington, St John Paddington (Leinster Gardens, 12).11

Head of household
Staff x 4
Annotated as "Widower"

Inquest.13

Coroner - Mr. Hardwick

Died in Kensington, St John Paddington (Leinster Gardens, 39).12,13,14

Strangulation by hanging by cord to bed. Suicide. Unsound mind
From Death Certificate :-
1) Occupation - Solicitor
2) Description & residence of informant - Certificate received from Mr. Hardwick, Coroner for Middlesex, Inquest held 9 March 1881
4) When registered - 11 March 1881

Probate in London, Principal Registry.14

Of 39 Leinster Gardens
Executors :-
Charles Beal, 16 Princess Street, Cavendish Square,
Edward Beal, 3 Temple Gardens,
The Sons
Personal Estate under £16,000
Resworn July 1882 - under £14,000