Another of the monuments recently recorded by volunteer Andy Lister whilst undertaking the groups Photo Record Project, was that of John Leopold Brunstrom. Andy records that the stone is a ‘fallen granite obelisk with no evidence of a remaining plinth, but is otherwise in good condition’. Here is John L Brunstrom’s story.
He was born Johann Leopold Brunstrom in Sweden in 1834, the son of Olaf and Nelli Brunstrom. He worked as a mariner, and married Magdalena Theodora Korsholm, the daughter of a Danish ship store manager, in Liverpool on 2 August 1851
They had 5 children and moved to Hull some time in the 1850’s. At the time of the 1861 census they are living at 23 Francis St West, where he is recorded as a ship broker. Around the same time he formed the company of Shields & Brunstrom with his friend Samuel Shields, and in Jones’s 1863-4 Mercantile Directory, they are listed as merchants with offices at India Chambers, Queen’s Dock Side South.
One of their daughters, Elvira Helena, died of croup at their home in Francis St West on 30 April 1860 aged 1yr and 9 mths. John’s wife, Magdalena, died of consumption on 10 January 1864 aged 32 years. 5 years later another daughter, Lene Marie, died of diptheria on 5 September 1869 aged 5 yrs and 9 mths. A few months previously John and Samuel’s business had floundered, and they filed for bankruptcy on 9 February 1868. John died of liver cancer on 9 May 1875 aged 50 and his buried with his family in the above grave.
His partner Samuel Shields, died of an apoplexy at The Hull Workhouse on 30 March 1884 aged 56. He is also buried in Hull General Cemetery along with his father, brother and daughter, but unfortunately their gravestone no longer remains. However, the inscription was recorded by the EYFHS prior to its removal
