Charles James Curtiss was born circa 1843 but does not appear in British records until his marriage on 9th January 1876 at St. Peter's, Belsize Square, Hampstead.
He gave his occupation as 'Gentleman' and his address as 'Slough'. He married Isabella Nyblett, widow, nee Grant, born in Rotherham, she had 3 young children. Her husband, Dr. Alfred Nyblett, MA. who died in 1871, had been Head of Belsize Manor House School, and they lived at The Manor, Belsize Park Gardens.
Belsize Manor House School specialised in educating the children of colonial and army families in India. They had a branch of the school at Salvington Lodge, near Worthing, and advertised mainly in the newspaper Homeward Mail from India, China, and the Far East for ex-pats.
Belsize Salvington ad
It appears that Charles James Curtiss had some connection with the school. Isabella died, aged 35yrs, in December 1877.
In July 1878, the contents of Belsize Manor School were publicly auctioned, so the school had been closed, and on 10th August 1878, Charles put the following advertisement in the London Times. Mr Charles James Curtiss, formerly Assistant Master at Eton and Aldin House, Slough, for nearly ten years, will receive a limited number of boys from 7 years, after September next at Littlehampton. Replies to “ Salvington Lodge, Salvington, near Worthing.
The following month, on 20th September, Charles filed for bankruptcy in the London Bankruptcy Court.
The Bankrupty notice for Charles James Curtiss
Charles James Curtiss died on 22nd May 1880 at Westbrooke Villa, Worthing, aged 37yrs. The death certificate gave the cause of death as Scarlatina Maligna 6 days, Uraemia. His occupation was Tutor.