Persons of Interest – Percy Digby Templeton Pullum

Percy Digby Templeton Pullum was born on the 29th of June 1864 in Plymouth, Devon. His family originated from London but his father Henry Ebenezer Pullum was the performer Harry Templeton of the original African Opera Troupe, so the family traveled extensively.

Harry and his wife Annie (nee West) had six children, and Percy was their third child. However, in September 1870, when Percy was 6 years old, his 2-year-old sister Edith died. In the same month, his other sister Annie died aged 4 years, followed by one of his brothers, 7-year-old Edgar.

In 1881, living at 23 Melton Street, St. Pancras, London, Percy is recorded as being a vocalist, so is seems that he had joined his parents on stage.

On Friday the 23rd September 1881, Percy aged 17, with Robert Jones and Richard Burchell was charged with burglarously breaking and entering at Marylebone police court. Details were reported in the newspapers where Percy is described as a baker. On 31^st October 1881 at The Old Bailey, Central Criminal Court, he was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment.

Within 9 months of coming out of prison, Percy joined The Royal Fusiliers, but he used his middle names and was therefore called Digby Templeton. On enlistment on 5th December 1883, apart from his name many details he gave were correct. Of course, he claimed not to ever have been sentenced to penal servitude (which may have been true in that he was imprisoned but not sentenced to hard labour). His medical revealed him to have dark hair and hazel eyes, good physical development and there were 2 marks from vaccination in infancy (most likely for smallpox, which his siblings probably died from).

His army career went well with him being reported to be of very good conduct and his habits temperate. He was posted abroad to Gibraltar, Egypt, and the East Indies. He had a large number of admissions to the infirmary during this time for a variety of illnesses including Gonorrhea, Synositis, Conjuctivitis, a wound to his hand while off duty, inflammation of his lymph glands, S.C (?scarlet) fever, Ague, Bronchial catarrh, and melaena. Also he had been promoted twice. In May 1892 he had become a Lance Corporal and then in April 1895 a Corporal.

Six months after his discharge from the army on 1st September 1896, using his full name, Percy Digby Templeton Pullum, aged 32 he married Mary Jane Abraham in Cardiff, Glamorgan, Wales. They had a daughter Olga Daisy Hilda Templeton (she was not given the Pullum name), born on 1st November 1897 in Penge, Kent.

They were living in the public house, The George the Fourth in Harpenden, Hertfordshire, when on the 14th March 1900 Percy joined the Royal Reserve Regiment, giving the same details as before. In June he signed up with The Royal Fusiliers, but he was discharged in Jun 1901 to join the Bedford Regiment and the family then lived in the District Shaft Barracks, Port of Dover, Kent.

In 1911, the family were living at 2 Glengall Terrace, Old Kent Road, Camberwell, in a 3-room tenement. He had kept the name Digby Templeton and described his occupation as an army pensioner and Servery Superintendent at Eustace Miles restaurant, Chandos Street, Charing Cross.

The family were at 146 Wellington Street, Luton and when WWI broke out and Digby enlisted with the special reservists, for service in the UK only. He was promoted to acting Sergeant and then after passing certificates (e.g. in drill) was promoted again to Sergeant. Following a request from the commanding officer of the 14th battalion of the Royal Fusiliers, he was transferred to them to work in the officer’s mess.

He was described as “a sober industrious man” on his discharge on 14th October 1916. The family at this time lived at 8A Surrey Road, Peckham Rye, London. He declared his qualifications for employment in civilian life to include handyman, timekeeper, messenger and buyer for Eustace Miles Restaurant, for 6 or 7 years. (tennis player, food fanatic etc).

After the war, his daughter married in June 1919 (he was recorded as Percy Digby Templeton, clerk). Later that year on November 15th, P.D Templeton (messenger) & M.J Templeton (domestic) traveled 3rd class on the Ormonde. They arrived in Melbourne, Australia on Boxing Day. In Australia he was called Percy Digby Pullum Templeton and he and Mary Jane lived in the small town of Alvie near Beeac, Corangmite, Victoria. Percy gave his occupation at this time as Gentleman.

They did not remain in Australia and on 7th March 1922, they arrived back in Tilbury, Essex. He was still called Percy but had again dropped the Pullum name. His occupation was now farm hand. Back in England, he again dropped the name Percy and he and Mary lived at 155 Peckham Park Road, Camberwell from 1924 until his death in 1929. His name on the death index is recorded as Percy D Pullum-Templeton.

Nikki Brown, Member 6552

On the second and fourth Mondays of each month, we share a short story provided by a member about a person of interest in their one-name study. Whether your person is good, bad, or simply interesting or unusual, please send us your story.

This post is from Guild member Nikki Brown, who is working on her Pullum ONS.  Nikki is a member of the Guild’s Hertfordshire and North London Region. Her Pullum ONS is a category 1, and it has a profile, a registered/members’ website, and a few reconstructed family trees. Nikki has been a member of the Guild since 2014.

Why not submit a story (200-300 words OR a bit longer if need be) about a person of interest in your own one-name study. Email each story and image(s) to marketing@one-name.org.