[Phoenix]

Harriet Jarvis died in March 1904 at 180 Weston Park Road aged 35 (!) of cirrhosis of the liver and exhaustion. She was the widow of Arthur Jarvis, chemist and druggist.

The informant was Mr Johnson, nephew, present at the death, of 30 Grove House Road Hornsey.

Except he wasn't.

Harriett was baptised in Norfolk in 1864, the daughter of William Watson and Susan nee Cater. She married Arthur Jarvis b 1854 in Brinton, Norfolk, the son of John Jarvis and Elizabeth Benton in London in 1891. He already had three children from a previous liaison.

Harriett's ill-treatment of her step-children led to her being sentenced to twelve months hard labour, and her son Oscar was born in Wormwood Scrubs.

The family lived in a large and elegantly appointed house. But while Harriett was fashionably dressed, played the piano and drank whiskey and brandy, her step children were dressed in rags and lived off the kindness of neighbours and teachers, as they only got scraps at home.

I presume that Arthur was completely dominated by his wife. At the trial he was severely censured. He took back his wife after she had served her sentence, and had another child with her. His will makes no mention of the older children and he died in hospital in 1900. By 1901, Oscar and Violet are living with their maternal aunt.

Arthur left only £102 in his will. Harriett's life must have spiralled out of control. In 1901 she was a confectioner's cashier and a lodger.

But who was Mr Johnson? Does anyone have any suggested?