The Kippings of West Ham

At the same time that the Hitchcock family were traders in Stratford, so were the Kipping family.

Three links have been discovered between the two families:

Newspaper Reports

In January, a boy named James Winner was charged at Ilford with stealing a quantity of horse chestnuts from fruiterer James Kipping of Broadway, Stratford.
— see Chelmsford Chronicle (08/Jan/1869)
In December, a special session was held at Stratford Town Hall to hear three summonses issued against local traders, all charged with obstructing the public footpath — pawnbroker Mrs. Phillips, fruiterer Mr. William Kipping and corn chandler Mr. Williams. All three traded on Broadway, Stratford. The charge was that they had all placed goods on the public footpath. All three were found guilty — Mrs. Phillips and Mr. Williams were given a nominal fine of 1 shilling, whilst the case against William Kipping was with withdrawn on condition of a promise not to repeat the offence.
— see Chelmsford Chronicle (29/Oct/1869) and Chelmsford Chronicle (03/Dec/1869)

A number of local traders were brought before a Petty Session at Stratford on 6 August for having incorrect weights and measures. Amongst them was greengrocer Mr. C. Kipping of Leytonstone Road, Stratford, who was fined 20 shillings for having an inaccurate weighing machine.
— see Chelmsford Chronicle (15/Aug/1879) and Essex Newsman (16/Aug/1879)

In a case against Charles Hales, Joseph Hales, William Priest and Ruth Priest (the latter being husband and wife), it was stated that they stole a large quantity of grapes from a property in Ilford and then tried to sell them to fruiterer Mr. Kipping of Broadway, Stratford. Mr. Kipping suspected the goods might be stolen and asked Joseph Hales to return later. He then contacted the police who arrested Hales when he returned to Kipping's shop. The case against Charles Hales was dropped, but the other three were committed for trial.
— see Chelmsford Chronicle (14/Oct/1881)

In December, Albert Kipping appeared as a witness at the inquest into the suicide of ironmonger Hugh Priddy (aged 29), who had hung himself in the cellar of his house. Upon finding his body, his wife Clara ran to the house of Albert and Ada Kipping, telling them that "My Hugh has hung himself in the cellar." Albert told the inquest, "I hadn't the nerve [to go into the cellar]. The house was empty and it was a dark cellar." The coroner admonished Albert, telling him that he might have been able to save Hugh if he was still alive. Albert instead fetched a policeman, P.C. Charles Clark, who cut the body down and unsuccessfully attempted artificial respiration. The jury returned a verdict of "temporary insanity" and commended P.C. Clark for his actions.
— see Chelmsford Chronicle (16/Dec/1892) and Essex Newsman (17/Dec/1892)

A horse and trap being driven by Mr. Lewis Ascott of the Rising Sun Inn was in a collision with a fruit stall at 709 Romford Road, West Ham, owned by greengrocer Mr. Kipping. Mr. Ascott's horse had taken fright and rushed onto the footpath, where it collided with the stall. Mr. Ascott's wife was injured in the accident.
— see Chelmsford Chronicle (21/Jan/1898)

In April 1916, fruiterer and greengrocer Alexander Kipping of High Road, Leytonstone, was granted an exemption until 30 September 1916 from being enlisted to fight in the First World War. It was stated that four of his brothers had already joined the army and that two had been reported killed in the Dardanelles, and that would not be possible to find someone to replace him in the family business.
— see Chelmsford Chronicle (21/Apr/1916) and Essex Newsman (22/Apr/1916)