George Perry and Elizabeth Smith

Photo © Bikeboy (cc-by-sa/2.0)

St Mary's church, Shudy Camps, Saturday, 28 June, 2014

Photo available for reuse under this Creative Commons licence.

George Perry (b. 2 Jun 1802, bap. 1 Aug 1802 at St Mary & St Hugh, Old Harlow, Essex), son of John Perry and his 2nd wife Mary, married Elizabeth Smith (b. 19 Jul 1808 in Winchmore Hill, bap. 9 Sep 1808 at All Saints' Church, Edmonton), daughter of Samuel Smith and Catherine Thomas on 22 Feb 1832 at St Giles' Church, Camberwell (although it will have been in the previous church that was destroyed in a fire in 1841). The marriage service was conducted by Samuel Smith, Chaplain, Elizabeth's brother, There were also a huge number of witnesses to the marriage, which included Samuel Smith (Elizabeth's father); Richard Perry (George's brother); Haskett Smith (Elizabeth's brother); Catherine Smith (Elizabeth's mother); Mary Ann Perry (George's sister); Amelia Perry (George's sister) and two or three other Smiths who I've yet to identify. They must have had their own reasons for creating this extremely useful record, which given the surname Smith, they might otherwise have been hard to identify. Other records tell us that Elizabeth's father, Samuel Smith, was a Gentleman, a Merchant, more precisely, a Fishmonger of the Worshipful Company of Fishmongers.

George and Elizabeth Perry had 10 children:

1. Mary Catherine Perry b. 13 Jan 1833 at Arlsey Vicarage daughter of George Perry, Clergyman, bap. 18 Feb 1833 at St Peter, Arlesey
2. George Perry b. 17 Jan 1835 at Arlsey Vicarage son of George Perry, Clergyman & Elizabeth, bap. 24 Feb 1835 at St Peter, Arlesey
3. Richard Philip Perry b. 7 Mar 1837 at Arlsey Vicarage son of George Perry, Clergyman & Elizabeth, bap. 13 Apr 1837 at St Peter, Arlesey
4. Charles Smith Perry b. 1 May 1839 (1839 J Quarter in LINTON UNION Volume 14 Page 97), bap. 19 Jun 1839 at St Mary's Church, Shudy Camps, by his father, George Perry, the Vicar.
5. Elizabeth Smith Perry b. 17 Jan 1842 (1842 M Quarter in THE LINTON UNION Volume 14 Page 83), bap. 2 Mar 1842 at St Mary's Church, Shudy Camps. Announced in the press: Elizabeth Smith, died at North Terrace, Camberwell [her grandparents' home?], aged 3½, on 14 Oct 1845 (1845 D Quarter in CAMBERWELL Volume 04 Page 28) one of twin daughters of Rev. George Perry of Shudy Camps, Cambridgeshire, and was buried on 21 Oct 1845 at St Mary's, Shudy Camps
6. Louisa Perry b. 17 Jan 1824 (1842 M Quarter in THE LINTON UNION Volume 14 Page 83), bap. 2 Mar 1842 at St Mary's, Shudy Camps
7. Amelia Perry b. 15 May 1844 (1844 J Quarter in LINTON UNION Volume 14 Page 91), bap. 8 Jul 1844 at St Mary's, Shudy Camps. 
8. Henry Perry b. 17 Mar 1846 (1846 J Quarter in LINTON UNION Volume 14 Page 101), bap. 9 Jul 1846 at St Mary's Church, Shudy Camps
9. Fanny Melbourne Perry b. 31 Dec 1847 (1848 M Quarter in LINTON UNION Vol 14 Page 97), bap. 27 Apr 1848 at St Mary's, Shudy Camps
10. John Perry b. 17 Apr 1850 (1850 J Quarter in LINTON UNION Volume 14 Page 101), bap. 29 Jun 1850 at St Mary's Church, Shudy Camps

It was already obvious that Elizabeth and Louisa were twins, however this is confirmed again in The Cambridge Chronicle of 22 Jan 1842, which carried the following notice, "On the 17th Inst., at The Vicarage, Shudy Camps, in this County, the lady of the Reverent George Perry, of twin daughters."

George Perry, who was vicar of Shudy Camps from 1838 until his death in 1858, held two Sunday services weekly. In 1851 Perry had an average attendance of 140, besides 60 Sunday-school children, and although resident employed a curate. [The 'living'] "stood at £146 c. 1830, and had not apparently risen by 1851, despite the tithe commutation and a gift of £200 from Queen Anne's Bounty in 1838 to match £600 given by the Revd. Charles and Mrs. Perry, relatives of the then vicar." [Source: Parishes: Shudy Camps] (Charles Perry, later Bishop of Melbourne, was George Perry's brother.)

In 1841, Elizabeth Perry (~30) was in the household of her father, Samuel Smith (~60) Merchant at Union House, High Street, Camberwell, London, with Mary Catherine Perry (8), George Perry (6), Richard Philip Perry (4) and Charles Smith Perry (2). George Perry (listed as 35) Cl [Clerk in Holy Orders] was at the Vicarage, Shudy Camps, with one male and two female servants.

In 1851, at Tiddy Green, Shudy Camps, Linton, Cambridgeshire, were George Perry (48) Vicar of Shudy Camps, birthplace Moor Hall, Essex; Elizabeth Perry (42) Clergyman's wife, birthplace Winchmore Hill, Middlesex; Mary C Perry (18), Louisa Perry (9), Amelia Perry (6), Henry Perry (5), Fanny M Perry (3) and John Perry (0). There were five female servants in the household: a Governess, Nurse, Cook, Housemaid and an Under Nurse. The older three boys were, as expected, away at school: George Perry (16) from Arlsey, Bedforshire was a Pupil at Clapham Grammar School, Clapham, Wandsworth, London; Richard Perry (14) was a pupil at the boys Preparatory School run by Reverend Henry Laing at 11, Sussex Square, Brighthelmstone, Brighton, Sussex. His birthplace was listed as Cambridgeshire, then crossed out and wrongly listed as Ansley, Cumberland, but it's clear it was meant to be Arlsey; and Charles Perry (12) appears to be a Pupil at a school run by William Adams, School Master, at 25, Burlington Street, Brighton, Sussex. 

Photo © David960 (cc-by-sa/2.0)

Leapale House and Stoke House, Guildford, Saturday, 9 August, 2014

Photo available for reuse under this Creative Commons licence.

Reverend George Perry, Vicar of Shudy Camps, Cambridgeshire, was admitted to Leapale House, Guildford, Surrey, a private Mental Asylum, on 24 April 1858 and died there on 27 May 1858 (1858 J Quarter in GUILDFORD Volume 02A Page 34), aged 55. Contrary to what one might imagine, he died from "Exhaustion following an attack of vomiting consequent on chronic disease of the bladder and bowels. Certified." He was buried on 5 Jun 1858 at St Mary, Shudy Camps, with the burial service conducted by Samuel Smith, Incumbent of St George's, Camberwell (Elizabeth's brother). The death announcement in the Hearts Guardian of 19 Jun 1858 read, "On the 27th ult., in his 56th year, the Rev. George Perry, vicar of Shudy Camps, Cambridge, second surviving son of the late John Perry Esq., of Moor Hall." 

On 29 Jul 1858, the Will of the Reverend George Perry late of Shudy Camps in the County of Cambridge Clerk deceased who died 27 May 1858 at Guildford in the County of Surrey was proved at the Principal Registry by the oath of John Watlington Perry-Watlington of Moor Hall Harlow in the County of Essex Esquire the Nephew and one of the Executors. George Perry left effects under £3000 (a mere £480K today). It was a poor living.

In 1861, Elizabeth Perry (52) Widow was living in Bartlow, Linton, Cambridgeshire with Louisa Perry (19), Amelia Perry (16), Henry Perry (15), Fanny Perry (13), John Perry (12), Hermitage Charles Day (26) Son-in-law, Clergyman of the Church of England from Rochester, Kent; Mary Catherine Day (22); Francis Hermitage Day (0); Alice Harriet Day (26) Visitor (Hermitage Charles Day's sister); with five female servants.

In 1871, living in Bartlow were Elizabeth Perry (62) Annuitant; Fanny Perry (23) Annuitant; and John Perry (20) Colonial Broker. They were reduced to managing with three female servants: a nurse, a cook and a housemaid.

In 1881, Elizabeth Perry (72) Widow and Fanny M Perry (32) were visitors in the household then headed by Rudolph S E Doll (33) at 79, Sloane Street, Chelsea. Also there was her youngest son, John Perry (30) Wallpaper manufacturer (Cole & Son), married to Emily Mary Doll, Rudolph's sister.

In 1891, at The Cottage, Camps Road, Bartlow, were Elizabeth Perry (82) Living on her own means; Fanny M Perry (46), Francis H Day (30) Grandson, Solicitor; three of her granddaughters: Beatrice M Perry (37), Minnie O Perry (23) and Constance A Perry (11) and two visitors: Dorothy Jarvis (10) and Violet C Jarvis (6), with just two servants, a cook and a parlour maid.

Elizabeth Perry of the Dower House, Bartlow, Cambridgeshire widow died, aged 89, on 23 Apr 1898 (1898 J Quarter in LINTON Volume 03B Page 297) and was buried on 28 Apr 1896 at Shudy Camps, Cambridgeshire. Her burial service was conducted by her grandson, Ernest Hermitage Day, vicar of Abbey-Cwmhir. Probate was granted in London on 16 Jul 1898 to the Reverend Hermitage Charles Day clerk and John Perry gentleman. After recalculations, she left effects of £7598 4s 6d. (Approx £1.2M today.)

A tablet was erected by their children and grandchildren in memory of the Reverend George Perry and Elizabeth Perry at St Mary's Church, Bartlow, where Elizabeth was a member of the congregation for nearly forty years.

Of their offspring who didn't marry:

• On 30 Aug 1855, Richard Philip Perry joined the British Army as a Gentleman Cadet and appeared in a list of Officers of the Royal Regiment of Artillery, having been made Lieutenant on 7 Apr 1856. However, he resigned his commission on 3 Jul 1861. On 21 Jun 1872, Richard Philip Perry was admitted to Munster House, "a private lunatic asylum for gentlemen" (Lunacy Patients Admission Registers). It was one of four lunatic asylums belonging to private individuals in Fulham, the principal of which was Dr. Elliot's, Munster House, once a hunting-seat of Charles II. Richard Philip Perry died there, aged 38, on 6 Aug 1875 (1875 S Quarter in FULHAM Volume 01A Page 141) and was buried on 12 Aug 1875 at Bartlow, Cambridgeshire. Administration on his estate, of under £2000, was granted to his mother, Elizabeth Perry.
• Amelia Perry died, aged 29, on 9 Oct 1873 (1873 D Quarter in LINTON Volume 03B Page 319). The newspaper announcement confirms, "October 9 at Bartlow, Cambs, AMELIA, fourth daughter of the late Rev. G. Perry, Vicar of Shudy Camps." Amelia was buried on 15 Oct 1873 at St Mary, Bartlow, Cambridgeshire.
• Fanny Melbourne Perry of the Dower House, Bartlow, Cambridgeshire, Spinster, died, aged 72, on 11 Feb 1920 (1920 M Quarter in LINTON Volume 03B Page 571) and was buried on 14 Feb 1920 at St Mary, Bartlow, Cambridgeshire. Probate on her estate was granted in London on 13 July 1920 to John Pearson manufacturer and Francis Hermitage Day solicitor. She left effects totalling £15445 7s 11d, which would be almost £900K today.

Walter White and Florence Mary Parsonage

St John the Baptist Church, Holland Road, London W14
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © John Salmon - geograph.org.uk/p/1292678

Walter White (b. 1869), Fruiterer, of 155 Holland Road, son of Walter White and Hannah Blazey, married Florence Mary Parsonage (b. 12 Aug 1875 in Hammersmith), of 157 Holland Road - the girl next door - daughter of Edward Parsonage, Builder's Foreman from Wem, Shropshire, and Eleanor Agnes Crosbie, at St John The Baptist, Kensington on 21 Feb 1898. (The same church that Walter's cousin, Alice Maud Stanley Blazey, married in later that same year.) Witnesses were Edgar Audric - who must have been related to Walter's Uncle Francis Robert Blazey's third wife - and Frank Read.

Walter and Florence had five children:

1. Dorothy Eleanor White b. 1899 M Qtr in WEST HAM Vol 04A Page 246
2. Elsie Ivy Florence White b. 1902 J Qtr in WEST HAM Vol 04A Page 262
3. Walter Edward White b. 1905 J Qtr in BRENTFORD Vol 03A Page 204
4. Pansy Alice White born 27 Sep 1908 (1908 D Quarter in STEYNING Volume 02B Page 247) in Steyning, West Sussex
5. Lilian Winifred White b. 1914 M Quarter in FULHAM Vol 01A Page 311. Died, aged 1 in 1915 M Quarter in FULHAM Vol 01A Page 420

All of the birth registrations show the mother's maiden name PARSONAGE.

In 1901, Walter White (31) Licenced Victualler's Assistant was living in Sherrard Road, East Ham (Forest Gate) with Florence M White (25), Dorothy E White (2), Mary Ann White (71) Widow, Boarder from Hackney, London (may be just coincidence) and George Ralph (25) Boarder. 

In 1911, Walter White (42) Conductor motor bus, wife Florence Mary (35), Dorothy Eleanor (12), Elsie Ivy (9), Walter Edward (5) and Pansy Alice (2), were living at 30 Percy Road W, Hammersmith. Percy Road is in Shepherd's Bush in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham.

In 1921, Walter White (51) working for the London General Omnibus Co, was at 74, Becklow Road, Hammersmith, London, with Florence Mary White (44), Elsie Ivy White (19) Ledger Clerk and Pansy Alice White (12).

Walter White died, aged 64, in 1934 J Qtr in KENSINGTON Vol 01A 167. 

In 1939, Florence Mary White, widow, was living with her daughter, Pansy Alice Pearson, at 5 Lansbury Avenue, Feltham, Middlesex. 

Florence Mary White, died at 75 on 2 Feb 1951 (1951 M Qtr in MIDDLESEX SOUTH Vol 05F Page 97), leaving £6 19s, to Pansy Alice Pearson.

Thomas Mason and Charlotte Dixon

St Pancras Old Church, Pancras Road, London
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Peter Trimming - geograph.org.uk/p/1673070
 Believed to be one of the oldest sites of Christian worship in England, and is dedicated to the Roman martyr Saint Pancras, although the building itself is largely Victorian.

Thomas Mason (bap. 29 May 1833 in Broxted, Essex) son of Samuel Mason and Amelia Baker, married Charlotte Dixon (bap. 29 Dec 1833 in Broxted), daughter of John and Elizabeth Dixon, on 21 Feb 1857 at St Mary, Broxted, creating the family's very own Mason–Dixon line (sorry, couldn't resist).

Thomas and Charlotte Mason had nine children:

1. Ellen Mason b. 1857 J Quarter in DUNMOW UNION Volume 04A Page 346, bap. 14 Jun 1857 at St Mary, Broxted
2. Thomas Mason b. 1859 D Quarter in DUNMOW UNION Volume 04A Page 329, bap. 11 Dec 1859 at St Mary, Broxted
3. Isabella Mason b. 1862 J Quarter in CLERKENWELL Volume 01B Page 551, bap. 6 May 1862 at St James, Clerkenwell
4. Evelyn Mason b. 2 May 1864, bap. 22 Jun 1864 at Old St Pancras, died in 1865 M Quarter in PANCRAS Volume 01B Page 106
5. Evelyn Mason b. 18 Dec 1865, reg. 1866 M Quarter in PANCRAS Volume 01B Page 127, bap. 19 Jan 1866 at Saint Pancras, London
6. Samuel Mason b. 30 Apr 1868 J Quarter in PANCRAS Volume 01B Page 58, bap. 8 Jun 1868 at St Pancras Old Church, Saint Pancras, London
7. Frederick William Mason b. 9 May 1871 J Quarter in PANCRAS Volume 01B Page 77, bap. 14 Jun 1871 at Saint Peter, Saint Pancras, London
8. Charlotte Elizabeth Mason b. 21 Dec 1873, reg. 1874 J Quarter in PANCRAS Volume 01B Page 61, bap. 21 Jan 1874 at Saint Peter, Saint Pancras, London. Died, aged 7, in 1881 J Quarter in HOLBORN.
9. Edith Millicent Mason b. 1876 S Qtr in HOLBORN Vol 01B Page 659

In 1861, Thomas Mason (27) Dock labourer was living at 6, Thornhill Street, St Marys Islington, Islington, London with Charlotte Mason (26) and their two children to date: Ellen Mason (3) and Thomas Mason (1).

In 1871, living at Speedy Place, St Pancras, London, were Thomas Mason (37) Deputy turncock (as had been his sister's husband, Abraham Shelford), Charlotte Mason (36), Ellen Mason (13) Cartridge Maker; Thomas Mason (11), Isabella Mason (9), Evelyn Mason (5), Samuel Mason (2).

Thomas Mason must have died between 1875 and 1881.

In 1881, Charlotte Mason (47) Widow, Charwoman (unemployed) was living at 27, Green Street, St Andrew Holborn Above the Bars and St George the Martyr, Holborn with son Thomas Mason (21) Labourer; Isabella Mason (19) Florist artificial; Evelyn Mason (15) Domestic servant; Samuel Mason (12), Frederick William Mason (9) and Charlotte Elizabeth Mason (7).

In 1891, Charlotte Mason (57) Charwoman was living in Hastings Street, St Pancras, London, with her three sons: Thomas Mason (31) General labourer; Samuel Mason (22) Ostler and Frederick Mason (19) General labourer.

In 1901, Charlotte Mason, (60ish) was listed as Widow, Charwoman, Mother-in-law, living with William J Uttridge - married to Ellen Mason - at 5, Brantholme Place, St Pancras, along with Samuel Mason (32).

It appears that Charlotte Mason died in 1908 S Quarter in ISLINGTON Volume 01B Page 154.

(In 1911, Samuel Mason (42) was no longer living with the family and was a Porter and Salesman at Gray's Inn, Gray's Inn Road, St Pancras, London.)

Stephen Thomas Wilton and Sarah Anna Laver

St John the Baptist, Crondall Street, Hoxton
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © John Salmon - geograph.org.uk/p/2624595

Stephen Thomas Wilton (bap. 29 May 1842 at St Giles, Mountnessing), Batchelor, Cabinet Maker, son of Henry Wilton and Sarah Staines, married Sarah Anna Laver (b. 1854) on 21 Feb 1874 at the church of St. John the Baptist, Hoxton. Both listed their address as 9 Alma Street, Hoxton. Reported in The Essex Standard, West Suffolk Gazette, and Eastern Counties' Advertiser of Friday, February 27, 1874, it states that Sarah Anna was the second daughter of the late Mr. John Laver, of Felsted [and his wife Caroline Stevenson]. Witnesses were Robert Laver and Caroline Harrison (Sarah Anna's mother, who had remarried to James Harrison in 1868.)

Stephen and Sarah Wilton had five children:

1. Thomas Stephen Wilton b. 5 Feb 1875 M Quarter in DUNMOW UNION Volume 04A Page 429, bap. 9 Apr 1875 in Dunmow
2. Miriam Stevenson Wilton b. 1877 J Quarter in DUNMOW UNION Volume 04A Page 443, bap. 13 Jun 1877 in Dunmow
3. Henrietta Staines Wilton b. 1879 M Quarter in DUNMOW UNION Volume 04A Page 474, bap. 16 Apr 1879 in Dunmow
4. Ethel Maud Wilton b. 1882 S Quarter in DUNMOW UNION Volume 04A Page 524, bap. 15 Oct 1886 in Barking
5. William Laver Wilton b. 1883 D Quarter in DUNMOW UNION Volume 04A Page 556, bap. 15 Oct 1886 in Barking

The last two baptisms list their father with his original trade of Cabinet Maker. In 1861, Stephen Wilton (19), in the High Street, Great Dunmow was listed as a Cabinet Maker. Still there in 1871, Stephen Thos., aged 29, was once again described as a Cabinet Maker. The Post Office Directory of Essex 1874 also listed Stephen Thomas Wilton as a cabinet maker.

In 1881, Stephen T Wilton (39), Upholsterer, at the Furnishing Warehouse, High Street, Great Dunmow, with wife Sarah A (26), Thomas S (6), Miriam S (4) and Henrietta S (2) and Lizzie Turner (15), General Servant.

The Essex Newsman on 16 Sep 1882 reported that Mr Robert Low, livery-stable keeper and proprietor of the Dunmow Temperance Hotel (White Lion, High Street, Dunmow, now in retail use), was summoned for being drunk while in charge of a horse and cart on the highway at Great Dunmow on Wednesday, 30 Aug. [I'll wait while you ponder the irony of the proprietor of a temperance establishment being drunk.] The point of mentioning this case is that the horse and cart, we were told, were the property of Mr. Stephen Wilton. Stephen didn't have the best sort of friends, me thinks.

In 1883, John Stokes of Great Dunmow, thatcher, was charged with obtaining a hayfork, value 2s. 2d., from Mr. Stephen T. Wilton, ironmonger, at Dunmow on the 11th July. The prisoner went to plaintiff's shop and represented to a youth in charge that he was going to thatch Mr. H. Wilton's stack (complainant's father's), and was sent by him for a fork. A fork was supplied, and the statement was found to be false. The magistrate consented to the case being settled out of court on defendant paying the costs, 6s. 2d., which he gladly did.

So after many years working as a Cabinet Maker and then Upholsterer, it would appear that Stephen Wilton had changed his trade to ironmongery. Given his original trade was a solid one, it does seem he was unsettled.

Stephen Thomas Wilton, like his brother, Henry Staines Wilton, was my 1st cousin 4 times removed. Unlike his older brother, who died leaving a large fortune, Stephen Thomas Wilton committed suicide. The newspaper reports of the time give more graphic detail than we're used to today, so I feel it's fair to issue a trigger warning. Please DON'T read on if it may cause you distress.

Essex Newsman 21 June 1884:

DISTRESSING SUICIDE OF A TRADESMAN

On Saturday Dunmow was startled by the news that Mr. S. T. Wilton of 59, Maury Road, Stoke Newington, London, had died early that morning. The news was transmitted by telegraph to his father, Mr. Hy. Wilton, harness maker, and later it transpired that the deceased had risen about four o'clock that morning and cut his throat in his own kitchen. Mr. S. T. Wilton had for some years carried on the business of a cabinet maker at the Furniture Warehouse, High Street, Dunmow, until as late as the end of April, when his stock in trade was sold by auction by Mr. Jackson. It had been his intention to join with Mr. Robt. M. Low, of the Temperance Hotel, in taking a large mineral water business in London, but somehow the matter fell through; but deceased had the appointment of manager. The deceased leaves a widow (formerly Miss Laver, of Felsted) and five young children, the youngest an infant. The greatest sympathy is felt for his relatives at Dunmow, especially for his father, who has lived in the town all his life, and earned great respect.

Hackney and Kingsland Gazette 16 June 1884 

Report from the Hackney and
Kingsland Gazette 16 June 1884

SAD SUICIDE AT CLAPTON 

On Saturday morning a distressing suicide occurred at 59, Maury Road, Clapton. The occupier, Mr. Stephen Thomas Wilton, 42, lately gave up business as a cabinet maker and, it is stated, intended entering the mineral water trade. He appeared, however, to have suffered slightly from some form of mental derangement, and on Friday night was unusually restless. About four o'clock on Saturday he got up, and his wife asked him to make her a cup of coffee. He went downstairs, as she thought with this object, but as he did not return in a reasonable time, she also went down to the kitchen, and, to her horror, saw him standing over the sink, with the blood streaming from a large gash in his throat. A medical man was sent for, but death took place before he arrived.

"He appeared, however, to have suffered slightly from some form of mental derangement ...". FFS! If 'suffering slightly' ends up in suicide, I hate to think what the result might have been if he'd suffered greatly!  

Stephen Thomas Wilton died, at 42, on 14 Jun 1884 (1884 J Quarter in HACKNEY Volume 01B Page 293).

His widow, Sarah, didn't remarry. In 1901, we find her living at 1, Pulteney Road, Wanstead, with three of her children; Miriam, Ethel and William with hers and her daughters' occupations listed as Dressmaker. And in 1911, not far away at 35 Marlborough Road, South Woodford, with just Ethel remaining at home, who's occupation is given as "Assisting in Dressmaker business."

Sarah Anna Wilton died, aged 81, in 1936 J Quarter in ESSEX SOUTH WESTERN Volume 04A Page 244. 

David Minns and Hannah Marsh

St Remigius Church, Hethersett, Norfolk

David Minns (bap. 5 Sep 1755 in Hethersett, Norfolk), son of John Minns and Elizabeth Gardiner, married Hannah Marsh (bap. 18 Feb 1759, in Hellesdon, Norfolk), daughter of Robert Marsh and Hannah Piggin, on 20 Feb 1775, in the parish of Newington St Mary - or Newington-Butts, 'in the the hundred of Brixton and of the county of Surrey, 1¾ mile (S.) from London'. 

Records can be identified for seven children of this family: 

1. Robert Marsh Minns bap. 19 Nov 1776 in Hethersett
2. Mary Minns bap. 25 Oct 1778 in Bawburgh, Norfolk
3. John Minns bap. 21 Sep 1783 in Norwich, Norfolk
4. Hannah Minns b. 21 Feb 1792, bap. 12 Mar 1792 in Heigham
5. Sarah Minns b. 15 Nov 1793, bap. 1 Dec 1793 in Heigham
6. David Minns b. 5 Jan 1797, bap. 8 Jan 1797, buried 3 Jan 1798
7. David Minns b. 19 Jan 1799, bap. 20 Jan 1799 in Heigham

With such gaps between them, there may have been other children.

David Minns was buried on 13 Sep 1835 at St Martin at Oak, Norwich.

In 1841, Hannah Minns (83) was lodging in the household of James and Elizabeth Morrison, in Cross Lane, St George Colegate, Norfolk. 

Hannah Minns (86) died in 1843 J Quarter in NORWICH Vol 13 Page 187.

James Wood and Harriet Gollop

Kentisbeare: village stores and Post Office
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Martin Bodman - geograph.org.uk/p/4624324

James Wood (b. 4 Sep 1814 in Uffculme, Devon), son of Henry Wood and Sarah James, with residence in Bathwick, Somerset, married Harriet Gollop (bap. 24 Oct 1819 in Widworthy), daughter of Robert Gollop and Jane Horton on 19 Feb 1840 at St. Mary’s, Kentisbeare Devon. One of the witnesses was Robert Gollop, who must have been Harriet's elder brother.

Records suggest that James and Harriet had seven children: 

1. Mary Jane Wood b. 1840 J Quarter in HONITON Volume 10 Page 117, bap. 14 Jun 1840 in Widworthy. 
2. Henry Wood b. 1842 D Quarter in TIVERTON AND DULVERTON Volume 10 Page 251, bap. 30 Oct 1842 in Kentisbeare
3. Ann Wood b. 1845 D Quarter in TIVERTON AND DULVERTON Vol 10 Page 254. Died, at 5, in 1851 D Qtr in TIVERTON Vol 10 Page 177.
4. Charles Wood bap. 9 Sep 1849 in Kentisbeare, listed as son of James and Harriet Wood. (The only birth registration is 1849 S Quarter in TIVERTON AND DULVERTON Volume 10 Page 252, but has the mother's maiden name LOCK, which is a mystery.)
5. Emma Wood b. 1852 S Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 370, bap. 4 May 1856 in Kentisbeare
6. James Wood b. 1857 S Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 384, bap. 2 Aug 1857 in Kentisbeare
7. Sarah Ann Wood b. 1862 S Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 413 bap. 5 Oct 1862 in Kentisbeare

The mother's maiden name (other than for Charles) is GOLLOP.

In 1841, Harriet Wood (20) and Mary (1) were in Harriet's mother's household at Lusehayne, Widworthy. It was common for women to go back to their mother's home to give birth to first babies. Not located James.

In 1851, James Wood (37), Harriet (32), Mary (9), Henry (8), Ann (5) and Charles (2) were at Lower Croyle, Kentisbeare. Mary Jane (10) was double-counted, listed as again staying with her grandmother in Widworthy.

In 1861, living in North Street, Kentisbeare, were James Wood (47), Harriet Wood (43), Charles Wood (10), Ann Wood (7) (Assume this was Emma) and James Wood (4). Henry Wood (18) was a Farm Servant to John Percey (37) Innkeeper and Farmer in West Street, Kentisbeare (presumably Keepers Cottage Inn, which appears to still be in the Persey family.)

In 1871, James Wood (57), Harriet (51), James (12) and Sarah (8) were living with son Henry Wood in Kentisbeare Village. Mary Jane Wood (30) born in Widworthy, Devonshire was a Lady's Maid in the household of Gilbert and Sophia Matthews in Colaton Raleigh, Devon, described as a Cousin. 

James Wood died in 1880 J Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 306, aged 65 and was buried in St Mary's Churchyard, Kentisbeare.

In 1881, Harriet Wood (64) Widow, Unemployed, was living in Kentisbeare Village with James (23) and granddaughter, Emma (9) [Henry's daughter].

Harriet Wood died in 1889 M Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 309 and was buried on 3 Jan 1889, also in Kentisbeare Churchyard.

George Green and Sarah Perry

Trinity Chapel, Sailors Home &c., East India Road, Poplar. This is the Chapel and Sailors' Home endowed by George Green, who built the Congregationalist chapel, and his son Richard. They were both buried in the chapel. The Green company house flag flies on the Home to the right.

George Green (b. 2 Nov 1767), son of John Green and Mary Pritzler, married Sarah Perry (b. 20 Sep 1776, bap. 22 Sep 1776 at St Dunstan's, Stepney), second daughter of John Perry and Elizabeth Brown, at St Dunstan's, Stepney on 18 Feb 1796. Sarah was then nineteen, a minor. The marriage record reads "George Green Esq. of this Parish Bachelor and Sarah Perry of this Parish Spinster by and with the consent of John Perry Esq. the natural and lawful father of the said minor were married in this church, by Licence." Witnesses were John Perry and John Perry Jnr, Sarah's father and brother.

George Green, it is alleged, was born in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire. This is stated in the Chronicles of the Blackwall Yard (PDF) by Henry Green and Robert Wigram, published in 1881, over 100 years after the event. The family could have had a 'country seat' in Cheshunt, but I find it curious that there appears no mention nor evidence of such. However, one assumes it was then based on truth as at least they won't have been hampered by the sheer deluge of wildly differing information there is online alleging to refer to his family, in trees at Ancestry and elsewhere. For example, at FindAGrave, George Green's grandfather, William Green, was not only listed as having been an Overseer of the Poor of Chelsea and the owner of the Lotts Brewery of Chelsea, but he had died at the age of TWO. I've heard of such thing as a child prodigy, but ... obviously (not to them) someone has added those details to the wrong burial. This is one of many items causing difficulties identifying the correct records and is a question I'll inevitably come back to, if or when I research his parents and earlier ancestors and try to unpick some of the mess.

With George Green's father having been a brewer in Chelsea and Sarah's maternal grandfather John Brown was a brewer in Poplar, I wonder if this could have been the original means of introduction between the families?

It's often quoted that Green had originally been Perry's apprentice and the Chronicles of the Blackwall Yard says that, "In the year 1782, George Green, of whom we shall say more presently, came to Blackwall yard at the age of 15, and was apprenticed to his future father-in-law, Mr. John Perry." The record in UK, Register of Duties Paid for Apprentices' Indentures, 1710-1811, which is dated 7 Nov 1782, shows that George Green was actually apprenticed to Samuel Huxtable of Stepney, Middlesex, Shipwright. "From at least the 1770s the shipwrights working within Blackwall Yard were not employed directly by the Perry family. Various master shipwrights worked with their own men in teams, and agreed with the Perrys to work on specific orders." [Source] One assumes that Huxtable was one such master.

The Chronicles continue with: "He is spoken of at this time as having been particularly active, intelligent, and trustworthy, and he soon began to make himself useful in the drawing-office and mould loft, where he was employed in designing and laying of ships, A proof of his activity is given in the fact that for some time he was in the habit of frequently walking from his mother's house, near Battersea, to Blackwall Yard, arriving there at six o'clock in the morning and walking back again after six o'clock in the evening. In the busy times that were now coming on, George Green was frequently detained at the Yard until late in the evening, working in the mould loft, and at such times Mr. Perry and his family would often walk through from the adjoining house to see how things were going on. Report says, further, that Miss Sarah Perry took a somewhat lively interest in these proceedings, and would show her interest by rubbing out and otherwise disturbing the lines which young George Green had just completed. However this may be, an attachment soon sprang up between them, they became engaged, and were married at St. Dunstan's, Stepney, on February 18th, 1796."

These were then the usual hours. "For the men working in the yard during the later eighteenth century conditions were very similar to those experienced by the employees of the East India Company in the yard's earliest days. In 1781 all labourers worked from 6 o'clock in the morning until 6 o'clock at night. In winter they came half-an-hour later and left at 5.30." [Source]

Again the Chronicles of the Blackwall Yard tell us that, "Five children were born of this marriage, John, George, Joseph, Mary, and Richard. Of these, Joseph and Mary died in infancy" As we see, only Richard survived:

1. John Green b. 21 Nov 1796, bap. 19 Dec 1796 at St Dunstan's, Stepney. John Green died, at the age of nine, on 19 May 1805, and was buried, on 25 May 1805, at Poplar Chapel (St Matthias Old Church)
2. George Green b. 7 Jun 1799, bap. 8 Jul 1799 at St Dunstan's, Stepney. George Green of Blackwall died, aged 15, on 29 May 1814, and was buried on 6 Jun 1814 at at Poplar Chapel (St Matthias Old Church). "George, described as a boy of good promise, died at Brighton, at the age of fifteen, from the effects of bathing while heated after riding." [Source]
3. Joseph Green b. ~1801 and died in infancy. Not found any records for this child, neither baptism, nor burial and would not have known of him, except the children being listed, in this order, in the Chronicles of the Blackwall Yard. A History of George Green, written by George Green's 3x great-grandson, Johnathan Green, in Nov 2018, also states that there were five children of this marriage, although the names are not listed.
4. Mary Green, b. 28 May 1802, bap. 24 Jun 1802 at St Dunstan's, Stepney. Mary Green of Poplar was buried at Poplar Chapel (St Matthias Old Church) on 28 Apr 1803. The burial record lists her as 8 months old, but as we can see, she must have been nearer 11 months.
5. Richard Green b. 5 Dec 1803, bap. 31 Dec 1803 at St Dunstan's.

In 1805, the Chronicles of the Blackwall Yard recount, "We have here to record, on May 18th, 1805, the premature death, at Blackwall, of Mrs. George Green, at the early age of 28 years; her son John, aged 9 years, dying on the following day, they were buried together, with the other members of her family, in the grounds of Poplar Chapel. She left two sons, George and Richard, but of these only Richard Green arrived at maturity." The causes are not mentioned, but with two family members dying at the same time, one cannot help wonder if it was from the same infectious pathogen. Sarah Green was buried, on 25 May 1805, at Poplar Chapel (St Matthias Old Church).

Though presumably unrelated in cause, in 1814, George Green Jnr was buried just a week prior to his first cousin, Mary Ann Layman, daughter of Sarah's sister, Elizabeth, the two burials being on the same page of the records.

George Green, Widower of the Parish of St Dunstan's, Stepney then remarried to Elizabeth Unwin of this Parish, Spinster, by Licence, at St Mary's Church, Bromley St Leonard's (more history here), on 6 May 1806. The witnesses to this marriage were a William Unwin and a Matthew Oliver.

George and Elizabeth Green added a further six children:

6. Henry Green, son of George and Elizabeth Green, of Blackwall, b. 21 Jan 1808, bap. 19 Feb 1808 at Stepney, Bull Lane (Independent)
7. Elizabeth Green b. 10 Oct 1809, bap. 3 Nov 1809 at Bull Lane (Ind)
8. Emma Green b. 6 Mar 1811, bap. 3 Apr 1811 at Bull Lane (Independent) 
9. Clara Green b. 15 Jul 1813, bap. 9 Aug 1813 at Bull Lane (Independent). Clara Green of Blackwall died, aged 1, was buried on 4 Nov 1814 at at Poplar Chapel (St Matthias Old Church). It is said that Clara died "from the results of an accident". [Source] What type, they don't say.
10. Frederic Green (sic) b. 25 Sep 1814, bap. 21 Oct 1814 at Stepney Meeting (Independent)
11. William Green b. 17 Apr 1816, bap. 8 May 1816 at Stepney Meeting

Stepney, Bull Lane (Independent) was a Nonconformist (Dissenting) church, also known as the Stepney Meeting House, established in Stepney, London, around 1644, it was a significant site for Puritan and later Independent (Congregational) worship. There's more here on The Stepney Meeting and the 380-year ‘Dissenting’ tradition in Stepney and the East End.

There was an unusual clue in an obituary for George Green in The Illustrated London News of 3 Mar 1849, which (wrongly) listed his second wife as "Miss Onwhyn, daughter of Mr Onwhyn, for many years coroner of the eastern division of Middlesex." That's a weird spelling, and with little specific detail, but enough. Elizabeth's parents were William Unwin and Mary Wright, m. 10 Jul 1770 in Thorley, Hertfordshire. Elizabeth was a twin: Their baptism record states, "Baptised February 19th, 1777, Mary and Elizabeth the twin daughters of William and Mary Unwin of the parish of Sawbridgeworth." They were baptised at Water Lane-Independent, Bishops Stortford, which appears to have then been Congregational. Elizabeth's father, William Unwin (b. 29 Oct 1742), son of John Unwin and Tryphena Tealon, was baptised on 29 Nov 1742 at the Dunmow Chapel-Independent, Great Dunmow, Essex (Quaker / Congregational to which a different branch of my family had links). Again the Chronicles of the Blackwall Yard claims that, "In 1842 Mr. Green, who about this time appears to have left the Church of England, built Trinity Chapel, in the East India Road ..." Clearly, he'd already left to give the children of his second marriage non-conformist baptisms, around 30 years earlier and we can see where the infuence came from.

(Incidentally, Elizabeth's elder brother, John Wright Unwin, who married Hannah Sims, followed in his father's footsteps as coroner of the Eastern Division of Middlesex between 1804 and 1830 [Source] (see case in 1818); her twin sister, Mary, married William Sims and their son, William Unwin Sims, later became Chairman of the Great Western Railway and a Director of the Bank of England, amongst other things, until he ended his own life.)

Richard and his brother Henry were in 1816 at Doctor Cogan's school, at Higham Hill, Walthamstow and in 1822, "Henry Green, the second son of George Green, Esq., was in accordance with old custom, apprenticed to his father as a shipwright, at the age of fourteen, his elder brother Richard being at this time in Edinburgh, where he studied for several years at the University."

In 1838, Mr. George Green retired from active business.

In 1841, George Green (73) was the head of the household at Blackwall Yard, Poplar, London with Elizabeth Green (63). Against both their names the column has a Y for Yes, claiming they were born in the county (of Middlesex). This appears not to be correct, in either case. Living with them were Richard Green (36), Daniel Britton (34), Emma Britten (29) - Daniel Britton and Emma Green had married in 1832 - Emma Britton (9) and Forester Britton (4). The household had three female and four male servants living in.

Elizabeth Green died at the age of 69 on 2 Nov 1846 (1846 D Quarter in POPLAR UNION Volume 02 Page 269). Found no record of her burial, but suspect that she will have been buried at Trinity Congregational Chapel.

George Green died aged 81, at Blackwall, on 21 Feb 1849 (1849 M Quarter in POPLAR UNION Volume 02 Page 296), and it's known that he was buried at Trinity Congregational Chapel, because George Green's tomb still exists in Trinity Gardens, Poplar. Again, there's no burial record available online. (NOTE: There are several errors on the page at FindAGrave.)

In 1851, Richard Green (~45) Shipowner, was head of the household at Blackwall Yard, Poplar. Visitors there were Daniel Briton (sic) (42) Annuitant; Emma Briton (38), E E Briton [Emma Elizabeth] (18), Fred [Forester] Briton (13) and R Briton (7) [later Rear Admiral Richard Frederick Britten].

In 1861, Richard Green (~56) Shipowner of Blackwall was a visitor in the household of William Phillips (63) Shipowner in Church Street, Reigate.

Richard Green Esquire of Blackwall died, aged 59, on 17 Jan 1863 (1863 M Quarter in MARYLEBONE Volume 01A Page 407) at 7 Hanover Terrace, Regent's Park (which appears was the home of his half-sister, Emma and her husband, Daniel Britten). Richard Green, who never married, was also buried at Trinity Congregational Chapel, next to his father. A statue to Richard Green, shows a "seated figure of Green shown in relaxed pose with his Newfoundland dog, Hector, sitting at his feet, the dog's head resting on its master's left knee." Probate on "The Will with three Codicils of Richard Green late of Blackwall in the Parish of All Saints Poplar in the County of Middlesex and of Walmer in the County of Kent …" list his estate as under £350,000 (worth around £57,000,000 today.)

David Jones and Laura Elizabeth White

Christ Church Rushbrooke Cobh

My great-grandparents, David Jones (b. 10 Jul 1850 at Sutton Bridge, Lincolnshire), son of Thomas Jones and Mary Harty, and Laura Elizabeth White (b. 15 Oct 1870 in Thorpe St Andrew, Norwich, Norfolk), daughter of Walter White and Hannah Blazey, married at Christ Church, Church of Ireland, Rushbrooke, Cobh (Queenstown, as it was then), Ireland on 17 Feb 1892. David Jones was then Sexton of this Anglican Christ Church. But this was not David's first marriage, so we have to rewind for the full story: 

David was baptised, on 1 May 1851, at St Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, Kings Lynn, Norfolk and brought up in Baltimore, West Cork. He enlisted in the Royal Navy as a Boy Second Class, on 7 July 1865, just shy of his 15th birthday. His father, Thomas Jones, and mother, Mary, co-signed the papers. David was then 4ft 8½in tall, with a sallow complexion, dark brown hair and hazel eyes. Once he reached 18, his period of engagement was to last a further ten years, obviously intending to follow in his father's footsteps. At 14 he was assigned to HMS Implacable, which had become the Royal Navy's first training ship at Devonport in 1855. But instead of continuing his service as planned, David was discharged on 17 Oct 1866, when he will have been just 16. Under the Cause of Discharge, is the abbreviation for Invalided.

Because David always claimed to come from Wales, I almost missed his naval record. In fact, I'd dismissed it twice, because, although many other details seemed close enough, the boy was born in Lincolnshire, which didn't seem relevant. Then I found his father's posting to Sutton Bridge, Lincolnshire and David's birth there and the pieces of the puzzle began to fall into place.

You gotta love a family story. There's always a grain of truth in them, but inevitably some embellishment. Family tradition was that David had "lost a hand in battle". We searched high and low for a naval battle in the right era and came up with nothing. "In battle" sounds more heroic, clearly. Maybe it also proved handy (pun intended) in attracting him two wives! My late cousin in Ireland recounted that her older sister had remembered visiting the family in Rushbrooke and seeing David's 'Sunday Best' gloved hand hanging up in the kitchen (such a creepy image) and continued that, apparently, he had a fork attachment for everyday - from which we may deduce that it was his left hand he lost - that attached to a metal pin that was inserted at his wrist. 

There not being more detail, nor medical records we can access, we have to surmise the rest of story. That he lost a hand is not in question. He was still in training, so there was no 'battle'. But, taking into consideration that this was 1866 - general anesthesia was still very much in experimental infancy - my feeling is that the only place that such a procedure as inserting a metal pin into his wrist was likely to be carried out was in a military hospital and at that time there was the the former Royal Naval Hospital, Stonehouse. That they did this and sent him off with a pension at the tender age of 16, suggests that the Navy was at fault and, my cousin's sister had recalled that this was as a result of an exploding gun, which also seems to confirm this theory.

After being pensioned off from the Navy, David Jones was next recorded at Castle Oliver in Limerick at the time of his father's death in 1873. Records of his Dog Licences then placed David at Castle Oliver in 1874 to 1877 too and, from 1878 onwards, man and dog were at Rushbrooke. Following the Dogs Act of 1865, every dog owner in Ireland had to go to the court and pay 2s 6d - to have the breed and colour of dogs written down in a ledger. It was hardly an exact science, because the same dog was described differently each year. Most of David's dogs were terriers, retrievers and spaniels, so I'm pretty sure he was using them to hunt. Nevertheless, we learned from these listings girl dogs were called 'Slut'. As if bitch wasn't bad enough!

On 5 Oct 1880, David Jones married Johannah Anne O'Callaghan at the Parish Church in Inchigeelagh, Cork, By Licence. Johannah's father, Cornelius O'Callaghan was a Schools Inspector and on a later census return pedantically listed himself as Church of Ireland, and a member of the 'Irish Truth Society - Protestant'. Interesting choice of father-in-law for "a nice Catholic boy".

David and Hannah had five children, all baptised at Christ Church: 

1. Thomas Jones b. 19 Oct 1881, bap. 19 Nov 1881. (Died 8 Jan 1891.)
2. Marcella Jones b. 10 May 1883, bap. 2 Jun 1883
3. Helena Jones b. 4 Mar 1885, bap. 14 Mar 1885 [1]
4. Anna Jones b. 14 Feb 1887, bap. 19 Mar 1887. (Died in 1902.)
5. Marion Jones b. 27 Aug 1889, bap. 21 Sep 1889 (Died 8 Mar 1891.)

By the time of the baptism of David and Hannah's first child in 1881, David was listed as "Sexton of Church". Rushbrooke had docks, a tradition of ship building and the Irish Naval Service nearby, so I don't suppose it hurt that he was a Naval Pensioner, but the timing and the fact that the pedantically detailed school records were held in the church, lead me to believe that his father-in-law's contacts may have secured David this position. 

David appeared before the Petty Sessions Court on 17 Oct 1884 and was fined three shillings, plus one shilling and sixpence costs, for trespass. This time the cause of the complaint reads, "Trespass: Defendant's goat trespassed on complainant's pasture land at Ringmeen, Queenstown on 15 Oct 1884." From this we can probably safely deduce that David kept a goat. 

And so things might have continued, but tragically Johannah Jones (35), wife of David Jones a Naval Pensioner, died of Typhoid fever, on 18 Feb 1891. Johannah was buried, on 20 Feb 1891 in the same plot as David's father, Thomas Jones (Section S, Row 9, Position 76), at the Old Church Cemetery (Cobh), where her son Thomas (9) had been buried little more than a month earlier, on 10 Jan 1891. Young Thomas' cause of death is listed as Enteric fever (another name for Typhoid fever) 1 month and Pneumonia 1 day. Youngest daughter, Marion (2), also died, on 8 Mar 1891, with her cause of death listed as Typhoid fever 14 days. There was no record in the church of Marion's burial, but I imagine she'll have been buried with her mother.

The kitchen at Fota House

So, on 17 Feb 1892 - 'scandalously' one day less than a year after Johannah's death - David Jones married Laura Elizabeth White. Witnesses were Ellen Jones (David's brother Nicholas' wife) and Annie Jones, David's sister. On the marriage certificate, Laura's address is given just as 'Fota', the island in Cork Harbour, just north of Great Island and Fota House & Gardens was (and is) probably all there was there, so perhaps Laura was employed at Fota House, which makes sense, because my gran had talked about them baking cakes for "the big house". We also know that the family from Fota House attended the Anglican Christ Church, which is obviously where David and Laura met.

David and Laura added yet another six children: 

1. Cornelius Walter Jones (Con) b. 2 Jan 1893, bap. 22 Jan 1893 [2]
2. Ellen Jones (Nell) b. 23 Apr 1894, bap. 13 May 1894
3. Laura Mary Jones (Queenie) b. 2 Aug 1896, bap 28 Aug 1896 [3]
4. David Jones (Young Dave) b. 10 Nov 1898, bap. 9 Dec 1898
5. Alice Jones b. 26 Jul 1903, bap. 14 Aug 1903 [4]
6. Agnes Jones (Daisy) b. 27 Feb 1907, bap. 15 Mar 1907

Here I should mention that prior to going to Cobh in 2014, I'd only known that my grandmother had lived in Ireland growing up: we didn't know when or where she was born. There'd been some mention of her father marrying twice and I'd known of a younger sister. Getting to the church and being let loose with all the original records was a huge surprise: finding record after record until I had various marriages, all eleven children, every relevant baptism, school record and, where appropriate, burial, was quite a shock.

It's interesting that the first son by the 2nd wife is named after the 1st wife's father first and the 2nd wife's father second. (Irish logic?) David appears to be - less strictly with the girls - following the traditional naming pattern that was often used by Irish parents until the later 19th century, but it's clear that this is in the order of the father's 1st, 2nd, etc., child irrespective of which wife produced it. Did wives not matter? Yeah, that's probably rhetorical.

In 1901, David Jones (50), Laura (30), Helena (16), Cornelius (8), Ellen (6), Laura (4) and David (2) were living at Queenstown Urban, Cork. Marcella had already left home and was working as a servant in the household of Edward Gibbings, Rector of Kinsale, at Rampart's Lane (Kinsale Urban, Cork), while Anna (or Annie) (13), was staying with her grandfather O'Callaghan.

At the Cork Petty Sessions on Monday 9th September 1901: "Defendant was found unlawfully on the premises of one Zachariah Fox licenced for the sale of intoxicating liquor by retail during a period during which said premises are required by law to be closed on Sunday the 1st September 1901."

Then on 13 Apr 1902, Annie Jones (14), Daughter of a Naval Pensioner, died from Tuberculous meningitis. Her grandfather was present when she died.

On Monday 13th May 1907: "Defendant was found unlawfully on the premises of one John Luddy licenced for the sale of intoxicating liquors by retail at Newtown during a period during which said premises were required by law to be closed to wit at the hour of 10.20 of PM on Tuesday 7th of May 1907." On this second occasion David was convicted and fined 1/- plus costs of 1/-, with the threat of 7 days imprisonment if he failed to pay up. 

In 1911, the household, still at Rushbrooke, included David (58), Laura (40), Cornelius (18), Ellen (16), Laura (14), David (12), Alice (7) and Agnes (4). 

On both census returns, David listed his birthplace - wrongly - as Wales, but I think we can all imagine reasons why being Welsh in Ireland was far more desirable than being English and with a name like Jones and his father supposedly born in Swansea, this was a perfectly believable fib.

Once more, David Jones was back before the courts, this time for the heinous crime of failing to obtain a dog licence. Friday 12th April 1912: "Defendant had in his possession at Queenstown on the 12th April 1912 one dog for which he omitted to take out a licence on or before the 31 March 1912."

He was ordered to take out a licence forthwith. (Records show he did.)

Laura Jones, wife of David Jones a Naval Pensioner, died, aged 46, on 17 Jan 1917 from Splenic Leucocythemia (or Leukemia) and Influenza. Laura was buried, on 19 Jan 1917 at the Old Church Cemetery (Cobh), in Section D, Row 6, Position 50. So David was widowed again. Daughter Ellen (Nell), then 23, (resentfully) looked after the house and younger children until she married, after which David's sister, Annie, took over as housekeeper. 

From the The Weekly Freeman on Saturday, January 18, 1919: Raid at Queenstown: "The sexton's lodge at Rushbrooke Church, near Queenstown, has been raided for arms, and a fowling-piece belonging to the sexton, David Jones, was taken away by the three men with their faces muffled, who presented revolvers." This was just days before the start of the Irish War of Independence. My grandmother had also told me this story, because she was there when the raid took place and specified the raiders were Sinn Féin.

On 7 Aug 1935, David Jones, widower, 79 (actually 85), Sexton of Church, died at Church Lodge from Hemiplegia 2 years (I'm reading that he probably had a stroke in 1933) and Cardiac failure. David was buried, on 10 Aug 1935, at the Old Church Cemetery (Cobh), in Section D, Row 6, Position 50, along with second wife, Laura, and their son Cornelius, who had died in 1926.

The Jones Family Church Lodge Rushbrooke at Rest, Section D, Row 6, Position 50
Old Church Cemetery (Cobh). Resting place of David Jones (1850-1935), Laura Elizabeth Jones (1870-1917), Cornelius Walter Jones (1893-1926) and David Jones (1898-1966).

Researching documents and discovering online records that go towards telling an ancestor's story is fascinating. Visiting the places where they were born, baptised, married, lived or worked really helps put those things into context, but there is something very emotive about finding a grave with a headstone to feel properly connected to family members, knowing a physical part of them is right there beneath your feet. But with cremation being the norm in the most recent generations and the majority being too poor for headstones, such moments are very rare and special. There are no graves for my parents nor grandparents, so the first would be for my great-grandparents. 

Old Church Cemetery, Cobh, Cork, Ireland

In 2014, we went to Cobh (formerly Queenstown), Cork, Ireland where my paternal grandmother had been born and brought up. While there, we were met by the late Jack Gilmartin, who used to provide free guided tours of the Old Church Cemetery, where there are a number of famous burials, particularly many of the victims of the sinking of the Lusitania in 1915. I don't know what I was expecting, but Jack took me totally by surprise, when he said, "I'll take you to your family's grave." It sent a shiver down my spine and completely took my breath away. And it still does.

With an inscription on the cross-shaped headstone reading, "The Jones Family, Church Lodge, Rushbrooke, At Rest", this is the final resting place of my great-grandfather, David Jones (1850-1935), my great grandmother, his second wife, Laura White (1870-1917) and their two sons, Cornelius Jones (1893-1926) and David Jones (1898-1966) (Young Dave.)

What I didn't fully appreciate until later is there's also an earlier family grave in this cemetery, where the inscription reads, "Erected by David Jones In memory of his beloved father Thos. Jones Who died Jan. 8th 1873 aged 56 years Also his beloved son Thomas Who died Jan. 8th 1891 Aged 9 years and 3 months And his beloved wife Johanna Who died Feb 18th 1891 Aged 35 years."

There also is the grave of Catherine Jones (Kitty), wife of Young Dave. 

And I wouldn't have known about any of those, had it not been for Jack giving me a pair of A4 sheets, listing all the Jones' burials there. It was so sad to read about Jack's death less than a year after we'd met him, but lovely to know that he has been buried in the Old Church Cemetery. You can listen to Jack talking about the cemetery and some of the stories of his co-occupants here.

[1] The last record I have that mentions Helena Jones is where she was witness to the marriage of her sister, Marcella to Edward John Bicknell, in Portsmouth, in 1906, so we know she was in England then. There are also records of voyages to America for a Helena Jones of the right age.

10.11.1917 EGYPT

[2] We've never been able to find a military record for Cornelius Walter Jones, but know he enlisted in the Army and served during World War I. His first cousin's husband, who was in Queenstown with the US Navy, kept a detailed diary and had written that Cornelius (Con) was leaving for Egypt in 1917. 

The image above, which I admit I downloaded some years ago (the page no longer exists), is dated 10.11.1917 EGYPT. The taller man (that makes perfect sense too as his grandfather, Thomas Jones, had been 5' 9½", which was tall for his time), second from right, back row, is so much like my father it's literally like looking straight into his eyes. His stance, his eyes, ears, nose, mouth, brow line and, above all, hair, are utterly identical. It's so close a resemblance that it's eerie and uncanny and, unless someone can prove otherwise, I feel sure this has to be my great-uncle, Cornelius Jones.

Though our cousin had thought that Con didn't return from the war, I now know he did, probably suffering shell-shock (PTSD), for which his sister Agnes had later described him as "daft" - such was the lack of understanding. So not expecting to find him there in Ireland, we were quite shocked when we read the listing of his burial at the Old Church Cemetery (Cobh). His death certificate tells us Cornelius Jones, late of Rushbrooke, Cork, died on 21 Apr 1926 at the Cork District Hospital (now St. Finbarr's Hospital, with its origins as the Cork Union Workhouse and Infirmary). He was a bachelor, previously employed as a labourer. The record gave his age as 30, but he was 33 and died from Pneumonic Phthisis (tuberculosis, also known as consumption), after 8 months in hospital. The informant was Helena Lynch, "Inmate" Cork Union. Cornelius Walter Jones was buried on 24 Apr 1926, in the family plot at Old Church Cemetery (Cobh), along with his mother.

The file name of the image above, b4croad3 matches the file name of the now defunct page at the former Royal Munster Fusiliers website at http://royalmunsterfusiliers.net/b4croad3.htm (also mentioned here) appertaining to a Private Frederick R Croad, 2nd R. Munster Fus, who I believe is also in the image. We have no record of what unit Cornelius joined or when, however, two Extra Reserve Battalions of the Royal Munster Fusiliers were mobilised at Queenstown (Cobh). The 6th (Service) Battalion certainly sailed on 9 Sep 1917 from Salonika for Alexandria in Egypt.

[3] Laura Mary (Queenie) Jones was alive and unmarried in 1942, when she and her sister Alice were both witnesses at their brother Dave's wedding.

[4] As with her sister, Laura Mary, I've found no records that I can definitely attribute to Alice Jones beyond 1942. My belief is she stayed in Ireland, as when I was a child, my gran used to have shamrocks sent to her for St. Patrick's Day and I'm sure I remember them coming from an Alice, in Ireland. Family stories - we know how reliable those are - alleged that Laura and Alice had been thrown out of the family home and sent to the workhouse as they both had children out of wedlock. We were unable to find records of them entering the Cork workhouse. My late cousin had said they had lived at the Cork County Hospital for years and visited them there in 1946. Unfortunately, without an admission date, the Health Service in Ireland couldn't (wouldn't) make a search of the records for me to be able to confirm.