James William Jerram was the second child of George Jerram (1834-1904) and Rachel Jerram née Young (1833-1901). He was born in Shirley, Hampshire, and his birth was registered in the 1st quarter of 1857 in the South Stoneham registration district.
In the 1861 census he is shown as a scholar living in Newman Street, Shirley, Millbrook, Hampshire, with his parents and elder brother Azoff George Jerram (1855-1892). His father's occupation was described as a carpenter.
He was still a scholar in the 1871 census residing at 8 Church Street, Shirley, with his parents and three siblings: Azoff, Alfred Jerram (1862-1939) & Walter Harold Jerram (1867-1936). His father was shown as joiner, his mother as a dressmaker and his brother, Azoff, as joiner's assistant.
He married Jane Cambridge (1860-1907) in the 4th quarter of 1880 in the South Stoneham registration district and they had four children: Harold James Jerram (1881-1915), Herbert Eugene Jerram (1884-1950), Elsie Eliza Rachel Jerram (1884-1967) & Emily Gladys Jerram (1893-1972). In the 1881 census he is described as a joiner living with his wife at 2 Melbourne Cottages, Shirley Road, Millbrook, Hampshire.
He founded his construction company in 1884 and the shows how the company progressed over the following years. The 1891 census shows him as a builder's foreman living at 66 Gough Street, Poplar, with his wife, their three children, Harold, Herbert & Elsie, together with his sister-in-law Catherine Calvert Cambridge (1852-1902).
At the time of the 1901 census he was described as a house builder living at 63 Boundary Road, East Ham, Essex, with his wife, three of their children, Harold, Herbert & Emily, together with a female domestic servant.
His wife died on 14 February 1907, her death being registered in the Billericay registration district, Essex. On 9 October 1907 he was initiated as Freemason in the Woodgrange Lodge No.2409 that met at the Princess Alice Hotel, Romford Road, Forest Gate.
On 11 February 1908 he married Catherine Louisa Ellen Daisy Ball (1880-1954) at St Mary Magdalene Church, East Ham. When he completed the 1911 census he described himself as a builder & contractor, still living in a seven roomed house at 63 Boundary Road, East Ham, with his wife and his daughter, Emily. On 6 March 1912 his new wife gave birth to twins: Charles James Jerram (1912-1999) and Vincent George Jerram (1912-1989).
He died, aged 62 years, on 21 August 1919 and probate records confirm his address remained as 63 Boundary Road, East Ham. Probate was granted on 5 December 1919 to his widow, to a clerk called Charles Edward Hemmings and to a builder's manager called James Reeves. His effects totalled £28,873-19s-5d.
Credit for this entry to: Alan Patient of www.plaquesoflondon.co.uk and Andrew Behan.
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