Comments on: The Return Of Joseph Merceron https://spitalfieldslife.com/2023/04/15/the-return-of-joseph-merceron/ In the midst of life I woke to find myself living in an old house beside Brick Lane in the East End of London Sat, 15 Apr 2023 12:43:38 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 By: David Antscherl https://spitalfieldslife.com/2023/04/15/the-return-of-joseph-merceron/#comment-1506833 Sat, 15 Apr 2023 12:43:38 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=195413#comment-1506833 Having read Julian’s excellent book, Merceron’s story is fascinating and mesmerising. It was like watching a slow motion train wreck. The parallels with a certain ongoing news story today are quite remarkable.

Ontario is a little far to come to the talk, unfortunately….

]]> By: Nicola https://spitalfieldslife.com/2023/04/15/the-return-of-joseph-merceron/#comment-1506820 Sat, 15 Apr 2023 09:39:59 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=195413#comment-1506820 If I lived nearer I’d be at the talk in May. A fascinating story And I have the book. My g.g.g.grandparents were running the Two Brewers in Brick Lane throughout Merceron’s time and are bound to have crossed paths.

]]> By: Sue Broad https://spitalfieldslife.com/2023/04/15/the-return-of-joseph-merceron/#comment-1506819 Sat, 15 Apr 2023 09:36:34 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=195413#comment-1506819 Such a fascinating story. My mothers family of 10 migrated from rural Sudbury, Suffolk from the weaving industry ending up in Brick Lane E2 after various moonlight flits. It’s such a shame that it can’t be broadcast to those of us who are too far away to attend.

]]> By: Sally Bernard https://spitalfieldslife.com/2023/04/15/the-return-of-joseph-merceron/#comment-1506818 Sat, 15 Apr 2023 09:27:48 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=195413#comment-1506818 Really fascinating sorry I can’t make it to the lecture.good luck

]]> By: Mathilde Grange https://spitalfieldslife.com/2023/04/15/the-return-of-joseph-merceron/#comment-1506813 Sat, 15 Apr 2023 08:39:31 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=195413#comment-1506813 Most interesting. Great work.

]]> By: Milo https://spitalfieldslife.com/2023/04/15/the-return-of-joseph-merceron/#comment-1506811 Sat, 15 Apr 2023 08:05:16 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=195413#comment-1506811 Fascinating. The story of Joseph Merceron is screaming out to be a play or film wouldn’t you say? Personally i’d go for a play…

]]> By: Neil Bartlett https://spitalfieldslife.com/2023/04/15/the-return-of-joseph-merceron/#comment-1506806 Sat, 15 Apr 2023 07:11:22 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=195413#comment-1506806 Fantastic research. I am reminded that I worked for a while with a chap called Merceron in Bethnal Green back in the 1980s or 90s. Were were both surveyors. A stocky and very personable man with a very classy voice. Just cannot recall his Christian name or anything else about him just now.

]]> By: Christine Swan https://spitalfieldslife.com/2023/04/15/the-return-of-joseph-merceron/#comment-1506802 Sat, 15 Apr 2023 06:17:52 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=195413#comment-1506802 Fascinating stuff. Well done Julian on your thorough and detailed research. It is interesting how some people are a force for good and use their wealth for the benefit of others. Then there are those where wealth brings corruption and greed. What is it that makes a person good or bad?
Through my own family research, I have discovered some amazing people and, via my late parents, some who were truly good through and through, where never a bad word is said about them. My great grandmother, Rebecca Betts would be one example. However, I do have some rogues too. I have been particularly fascinated by them. My 3x great grandfather, Daniel Crudgington in particular, who, although never wealthy, was a cruel criminal. As a descendant, you have to reconcile yourself with the facts and I have empathy with his victims, not with him. Heaven only knows how he might have been given political power and wealth, I dread to think!
What a pity I won’t be able to make the lecture, I should very much have liked to come.

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