Martha Adams

​Martha Adams was arrested for the same episode of window breaking in March 1912 as Dorothy Abraham.

Recorded as Martha A, Martha Eleanor or Martha Helena she is, in fact, Martha Eleanor Adams. She was born in 1868 in Edmonton, North London. Her father, Joseph, was an ironmonger. Martha had numerous siblings; some of the younger ones were born in France where the family lived for a while.

By 1891, the family had returned to England settling in Brecknock Road, Holloway, North London. Ten years later, the census records the family living in the same house. While the sons had flown the nest, five unmarried sisters, aged between thirty-five and eighteen, remained living at home.

Although the arrest records state Martha was employed as a clerk, the census return, a year earlier, does not record any employment. Little had altered from ten years previously. Her mother, now widowed, lived at the same address still with two unmarried daughters, one of whom was Martha. Perhaps, it was frustration at her position in life that drove her to campaign for the vote.

At the initial hearing several, including Mrs Pankhurst were found guilty and imprisoned, but Martha’s offence, malicious damage to two windows valued at £15, meant the matter was referred to a higher court as the damage exceeded £5. She was sentenced to four months imprisonment in Holloway, only a short distance from her home.

​By 1939, Martha was living in Brighton where she died just before Christmas 1946.

Below is a photograph, held in the Museum of London Suffrage Collection.Handwritten on the back is ‘Miss Adams and Miss Constance Bryer WSPU, after release from Prison at St Mark's Vicarage, Tollington Park.' This is very likely to be an image of Martha, although sadly it is not possible to identify where she is in the photograph. Reverend F M Green, the vicar of St Mark's, was supportive of the campaign for the vote contributing articles to the suffrage press and holding discussion groups at the vicarage such as 'The Relation of the Clergy to the Women's Movement.

St Mark's Vicarage Tollington Park after the release from prison of Miss Adams and Constance Bryer © Museum of London