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.

Archibald Carl Heckmann and Daisy Rhoda Day

Brick Lane in the East End of London
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © N Chadwick - geograph.org.uk/p/7049342

Archibald Carl Heckmann (b. 20 Jul 1883), son of Napoleon Joseph Heckmann and Susie Lane, married Daisy Rhoda Day (b. 10 Feb 1881), daughter of Arthur Stephen Day and Mary Ann Ray, at St Faith’s Church, Ebner Street, Wandsworth, on 17 Feb 1900. The bridegroom was then only 16, pretending to be 20. Archibald gave his address as 14 Coleford Road, Wandsworth and listed his father as Napoleon John Henry Heckman, Engineer (this was actually his brother). Daisy (19) listed her residence as 44 College Street, Putney and her father Arthur Stephen Day, Photographer. One of the witnesses to their marriage was Arthur Wilton Day, Daisy's brother.

Archibald Carl and Daisy Rhoda Heckman had two sons:

1. Archibald Wilton Napoleon Heckmann b. 1901 M Quarter in WANDSWORTH Volume 01D Page 785, bap. 24 Feb 1901 at St Faith's, Wandsworth. Died, aged 15, on 28 Jun 1916 (1916 J Quarter in ST. MARYLEBONE Volume 01A Page 639)
2. Cecil Arthur Heckmann b. 25 Oct 1903 (1903 D Quarter in ONGAR Vol 04A Page 537), bap. 28 Dec 1903 at Chipping Ongar, St Martin of Tours and it appears was baptised again, listed as Cecil Arthur Heckman (with one less N) on 29 May 1917 at High Ongar, St Mary the Virgin. (Both baptisms specify his parents as Archibald Carl and Daisy Rhoda.)

In 1901, living at 60, Fullerton Road, Wandsworth, were Archibald Heckmann (21) - he was actually only 18 - Gas stove fitter from Loughton, Essex; Daisy Heckmann (20) and their elder son Archibald Heckmann, 2 months old.

In 1911, Archibald Wilton Napoleon Heckman (10) and Cecil Arthur Heckman (7) were staying with their grandparents. Daisy R Heckman (30) described as "Married Deserted 7 Yrs", was staying with her brother in Wandsworth.

The Chelmsford Chronicle of 30 Jun 1916 reported on the DEATH OF ARCHIE HECKMAN - "Archie Heckman, aged 15, eldest son of Mrs Heckman and grandson of Mr and Mrs A S Day, passed away in the Middlesex Hospital on Wednesday after a long illness. He had been a patient in the Hospital for 10 weeks. Previous to his illness he was employed by Mr J Surridge, motor engineer, Ongar. On June 27, while his mother and grandmother were in the Hospital with him, his youngest brother, Cecil, scalded himself badly by accidentally turning over a saucepan of boiling water. Much sympathy is felt for his mother and grandparents." The column then continued with ...

SCALDING ACCIDENT - An unfortunate accident occurred to Cecil Heckman, grandson of Mr Day on Wednesday at 8:30 am. The boy, who was removing a saucepan of water from the fire, where he had just boiled an egg, let it drop, and the water went over his leg, scalding the right thigh and left foot.

Daisy Rhoda Hickman (sic), daughter of Arthur Stephen Day, Photographer, married William Arthur Clancy at St Mary's Church, Leyton, on 25 Apr 1919. (Was Daisy divorced? Still 'married and deserted' in 1911, she almost certainly hadn't known Archibald Heckman had already married again in 1908, and, it was not until 1937 that desertion became a ground for divorce.)

William Arthur Clancy was born in Victoria, Australia around 1878 and had served in the Australian Imperial Force during the First World War. William and Daisy must have left for Australia shortly after they married and were listed on the electoral register in Leitchville, Victoria, at least by 1924.

On 11 Mar 1921, Cecil A Heckman (17) Motor mechanic, embarked on the SS Euripides, in London, bound for Melbourne, Australia, giving his last address as c/o A Day, Photographer, High Street, Ongar. Cecil was also listed in Leitchville in 1925, so presumably settled there. Cecil Arthur Heckman married Bessie Henderson Soutar (b. 12 Apr 1909 in Scotland), daughter of John Dow Souter and Helen Robertson, in Victoria, Australia, in 1932.

William Arthur Clancy died in 1955 and Daisy Rhoda Clancy, daughter of Arthur Stephen Day and 'Polly Anna' Ray, died, aged 75, in Warrnambool, Victoria on 16 Jul 1956. She is buried at Warragul Cemetery.

Cecil (Art) Arthur Heckmann died on 28 Nov 1986 in Leeton, New South Wales, Australia and is buried at Leeton Cemetery. Bessie Henderson Heckman died on 6 Nov 2001 and is also buried at Leeton Cemetery.

So, what happened to Archibald Carl Heckmann?

He had first resurfaced, listed as Archibald Charles Hickman, in Honolulu, Hawaii, with a licence dated 20 Oct 1908, to marry Irene Kearney at the Laie Hawaii Temple (a Mormon Church - was this a deliberate choice, did he think he could avoid committing bigamy by marrying there?), Laie, Oahu, Hawaii, on 21 Oct 1908; giving his age as 29 (actually 25); his father as John H Hickman (his grandfather's Anglicised first names) and mother Susie Heckman. Irene, 23, with parents Victorio Silva Borba and Maria Ferriera, was Portuguese. (Presumably Kearney was a previous married name, but I've no idea if she was divorced or a widow and have also not found her either before or since.)

The couple had a daughter, Gladys Irene Hickman b. 21 Mar 1910 and the 1910 US Census shows Archibald Hickman (29) immigration year 1907; Irene Hickman (25) and Gladys I Hickman (1 month) living in Honolulu City.

Then the Honolulu Star-Bulletin of 2 May 1916 reported that, "Having been served in San Francisco, the divorce papers in the case of Archibald Hickman against Mrs Irene Hickman were returned here yesterday. The suit was filed here April 10. Hickman alleges desertion as the cause for the suit."

Wait, HE's alleging that SHE deserted him? Karma's a bitch, innit?

On 21 Sep 1917, Archibald Charles Hickman (40) is shown sailing from Honolulu, Hawaii to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. On 6 Oct 1917, in Toronto, Archibald Charles Hickman (40) of Hardesty Street, Honoulu, enlisted in the Royal Flying Corps for the duration of the war. (Archibald was actually only 34 in 1917 and his usual lie up to this point had been to claim to be four years older than he was, so by adding another two years was this to be too old to enlist or at least too old to be sent to the front line?)

On 18 Feb 1919, Arch Hickman, listed as 41 (really 36), Single (no comment), English, left Ontario, Canada, where his last residence had been in Toronto, and sailed from Vancouver, British Columbia on the SS Makura, bound for Honolulu, Hawaii, where he arrived on 26 Feb 1919. It said he that intended to remain in the US indefinitely, but not to become a citizen (see below).

In 1920, Archibald C Hickman (42) Single (again) was living in the household of Catarina A Wright (44) Divorced, in Honolulu, Hawaii. At this point he's listed at the bottom of the household, as a Lodger. On this census he gives his date of immigration to the US as 1903 (which is far more likely given the date his second son with Daisy was born and as she was listed as 'Deserted 7 Yrs' in 1911) and claimed a date of naturalisation 1919 (there's no evidence).

Not located Archibald, but in 1930 his daughter, Gladys I Hickman (20) Stenographer, was a boarder at "Fernhurst" YWCA Hostal in Honalulu City.

The press in Hawaii reported, Miss Gladys Irene Hickman, Head Stenographer at Maki-Ki Hotel, daughter of Archibald Charles Hickman and Irene Borba, married Stanley Abrams Cutter (b. 14 Sep 1906), son of Stanley Abrams Cutter and Minerva Fernandez, in Wahiawa, Hawaii on 15 Dec 1937. 

The couple had a son, Charles Hickman Cutter, born 29 Nov 1938.

In 1940, and still in Honolulu, Hawaii, Archibald Hickman (57) was head of the household with Catarina 'Hickman' (65) listed as his 'wife'. There was never a marriage and it's acknowledged here that she lived with a "Hickman". (Born Catarina Apiani Long (Hawaiian/Italian) on 16 Apr 1875, she had married Benjamin Haywood Wright in 1894. They had divorced.)

Archibald's World War II Draft Registration Card in 1942 gave him away and tied all the other records together: Listed as Archibald Charles Hickman, of 4020 Waialae Ave, Honolulu, Hawaii; DOB 20 Jul 1884 (it was 1883, but may otherwise be correct), with place of birth, Loughton, Essex and names Gladys I Cutter as his daughter and person who'll always know his address.

Archibald Charles Hickman was naturalized in the US on 27 May 1943.

Catarina Apiani Wright died on 8 Jan 1949 (she is buried at Diamond Head Memorial Park), although Archibald seemed to have moved on already by 1946. He flew from Honolulu to San Francisco, California, with Pan American Airways, on 17 Apr 1946 and lived with Gladys from then onwards. 

In 1950, Archibald C Hickman (66) Father-in-law, Unable to work, was listed as living in the household of Stanley A Cutter Jr (43) with Gladys I Cutter (40) and their son, Charles Cutter (11), in Merced, California.

Archibald Charles Hickman died on 29 Oct 1958 in Oakland, Alameda County, California and was interred at Mountain View Cemetery on 19 Nov 1958.

His obituary in Hawaii: Archibald Hickman Dies in California. "Archibald Charles Hickman, 73, who lived in the islands for more than 40 years, died Oct 29, in Oakland, Calif. Born in Essex, England, Mr Hickman worked for the gas company until World War I when he enlisted in the British army. Following his discharge he returned to the islands and spent many years in the automotive field as shop superintendent for Schuman Carriage Co. During World War II he worked for Hawaiian Contractors at Pearl Harbour. He had been living with his daughter, Mrs Stanley A Cutter Jr, for the past 11 years."

Gladys Hickman Cutter died on 1 May 2002 at the age of 92; Stanley Abrams Cutter Jr died on 1 Mar 2008 at the grand old age of 101. And their son, Charles Hickman Cutter died, aged 69, on 19 Jun 2008. His obituary was Published by San Diego Union-Tribune on Jun. 29, 2008 (Via)

CUTTER, CHARLES HICKMAN "On June 19, 2008, Charles H. Cutter passed away at his home in San Carlos at the age of 69. He succumbed after a March diagnosis of glioblastoma multi-forme. He was Associate Professor Emeritus of Humanities and Political Science at San Diego State University, where he had taught from 1968 to 2006, after which he remained actively engaged in travel, study, and research. Charles Cutter was born November 29, 1938, in Honolulu, Hawaii, and was raised in Merced, California. He earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in political science at UC Berkeley and his PhD in political science at UCLA. His doctoral studies took him to France, Senegal, Mali, and Dahomey. Subsequent interests were centered in African politics and art, for which he earned a Fulbright-Hays Foreign Language Fellowship to study Bamana. After an American Council of Learned Societies postdoctoral award in art history at Yale, he was appointed research fellow in 1973 and lecturer in 1974. He also taught at the University of Bristol in 1984. At SDSU Professor Cutter offered courses in African and American politics, was the first chair of the Humanities program, and taught African, European, and American humanities, in which he garnered an unchallenged reputation as an expert in art and classical music. He also taught art history at the Design Institute of San Diego. He served for a long time on the board of docents at the San Diego Museum of Art and was till his death a docent for the Timken Gallery. Until his death he also served many years as president to the Shadow Glen Homeowners Association. In addition to his scholarly papers, Professor Cutter curated a 1979 exhibition at the SDMA, and since 1997 he edited the annual scholarly review titled, Africa. After retirement he became intrigued with the work of the late Belgian-Argentine artist Victor Delhez, and having begun an association with him, Professor Cutter was mastering Spanish and writing a definitive biography when he was stopped short by his devastating illness. Charles Cutter loved theater and opera and often traveled to other cities to attend performances. He struck a dashing graybeard figure not only in professorial blazer and bow tie but also on the tennis court. Professor Cutter is survived by his life partner, Jack Albrecht, and family that extends from Hawaii to New York State. His mother, Gladys, died in 2002. In September 2006, family members gathered to celebrate the 100th birthday of Stanley Abrams Cutter, Professor Cutter's father and patriarch of the family. Stanley Cutter died this past March at the age of 101. His extended family included lifelong friends and former students, with whom he continued to maintain close and enduring bonds. Many of these friends travelled great distances to visit him during his illness, proving the esteem and affection in which they held him and the influence he had on their lives. A memorial gathering is planned for 10:30 a.m., Saturday, August 2nd, at the SDSU Faculty-Staff Club. Gifts may be made in Professor Cutter's name to the Timken Gallery or the SDSU Department of Classics and Humanities."

Archibald Carl Heckmann's origins:

Firstly, his grandfather's petition for Naturalisation in 1846: Johan Heinrich Heckmann of No 5 John Street, Chicksand Street, Brick Lane in the Parish of Whitechapel, in the County of Middlesex, Fur Skin Dresser, states that he was born in Eissen, Warburg, Kingdom of Prussia. He'd been married for 13 years to Catharina Boss and had lived in Tower Hamlets for 15 years, so since around 1831. I've not found the record of the marriage so, we'll have to take his word for it, although banns were read at St Mary's, Whitechapel in Nov 1832, under the Anglicised names of John Hackman and Catherine Boss.

Johan and Catharina Heckmann had eleven children:

1. Catherina Heckmann b. 1833 in Whitechapel
2. Agnes Christina Heckmann b. 1835 in Whitechapel
3. Helena Heckmann b. 1837 in Whitechapel
4. Sophia Heckmann b. 1839 in Whitechapel
5. John Frederick Ulerich Heckman b. 1842 M Quarter in WHITECHAPEL UNION Volume 02 Page 569 - mother's maiden name BASS
6. Margaret Victoria Alice Heckman b. 1843 D Quarter in WHITECHAPEL UNION Volume 02 Page 546 - mother's maiden name BASS
7. Napoleon Josephus Heckman b. 1846 M Quarter in WHITECHAPEL UNION Volume 02 Page 618 - mother's maiden name MOSS
8. Anna Sophia Heckmann b. 1847 D Quarter in WHITECHAPEL UNION Volume 02 Page 557 - mother's maiden name, finally, BOSS
9. Cleopatra Heckman b. 1849 D Qtr in WHITECHAPEL Vol 02 595
10. Louisa Heckman b. 1851 S Quarter in WHITECHAPEL Vol 02 Page 627. Died, aged 1, in 1852 S Quarter in WHITECHAPEL Vol 01C Page 227 and was buried on 28 Jul 1852 at John St, Osborn St, Whitechapel
11. John Theodore Heckmann b. 1855 J Qtr in WHITECHAPEL Vol 01C 356

In 1841, Johan Heckmann (30) Skin dresser, wife Cathe (30) and daughters, Helena (4) and Sophia (2) along with four others who were described as fur dressers, were living at John Street, Christchurch, Whitechapel.

Johan Heinrich Heckmann was the victim in a case of theft heard at the Old Bailey on 18 Sep 1848. Some 180 rabbit skins that had belonged to him had been stolen from an outworker. The two suspects, Thomas Saul and Richard Bailey, were found guilty and sentenced to be transported for seven years.

In 1851, then listed as John H Heckmann (39) Skinner & furrier employing 20 men, still at 5 John Street, Christchurch Spitalfields, Whitechapel, with Chatherina (sic) (39) from Homberg, Hesse; Chatherina (sic) (18), Christina (16), Helena (13), Sophia (11), Margretha (10), Napoleon (5), Anna Sophia (3), Cleopatra (1) and Karl Boss (20) Brother-in-law, Fur skin dresser.

In 1861, J H Heckmann (49) Proprietor of houses, from Prussia, proudly listing himself as a Naturalized British Subject, had moved to 30, York Hill, Loughton, Essex, with Catherine (49), Catherine (27), Sophia (21), Margretha (17), Napoleon (15), Anne (13), Adelaide (12) [I'm sure this is Cleopatra], Theodore (5) and Adolf Leity (33) Visitor from Berlin, Prussia.

On 4 Jul 1865, John Henry Heckmann of John Street and Samuel Street, Spitlefields and of Loughton, Essex, Skin Dresser and Brewer, was declared bankrupt. He was discharged from bankruptcy on 5 Dec of the same year.

In 1871, John H and Katherine Heckmann were still at York Hill, Loughton, as they were also in 1881. John Henry Heckmann of York Hill, Loughton, died on 11 Sep 1887. In 1891, widow, Catherine Heckmann was still living at York Hill, Loughton with two of her daughters, spinsters, Catherine (56) and Anna (43) and one servant. Catherine Heckmann died, aged 86, in 1898.

Archibald's parents, Napoleon Joseph Heckmann (b. 1846), son of Johan Heinrich Heckmann and Catharina Boss, and Susie Lane (b. 31 Jan 1858 M Quarter in EDMONTON Vol 03A Page 155), daughter of Henry Lane and Mary Ann Fish, married at St John of Jerusalem, South Hackney, on 27 Feb 1879. Witnesses to their marriage were Septimus Swyer and Alice Swyer. 

Susannah Lane was brought up in High Beach (or High Beech), Essex, where her parents had kept the Owl [Public House], Lippet's Hill.

Napoleon Joseph and Susie Heckmann had three sons:

1. Napoleon John Henry Heckmann b. 16 Sep 1879 (D Quarter in EPPING Vol 04A Page 181), bap. 23 Dec 1879 at Loughton, St John the Baptist
2. Herbert Leopold Heckmann b. 5 Sep 1880 (1880 D Quarter in EPPING Volume 04A Page 199), bap. 14 Oct 1880 at Loughton, St Nicholas. Died 20 Oct 1880 and is buried at Waltham Holy Cross Old Cemetery
3. Archibald Carl Heckman b. 20 Jul 1883 S Quarter in EPPING Volume 04A Page 223, bap. 4 Jun 1889 at Holy Innocents Church, High Beach.

Dr Septimus Swyer

In 1871, Napoleon Joseph Heckmann (25) 'wife's brother', had been living in the household of Septimus Swyer (35) at 32 Brick Lane, Spitalfields, Whitechapel. Dr Septimus Swyer, General Practitioner, had married Napoleon's sister, Agnes Christina Heckmann, in 1857. Much has already been written about this contentious character, from his apparent partnership with a medical fraudster Edward Morass who went under a number of aliases and his second wife's alleged bigamy, but most of all, in relation to Jack the Ripper, as a person of interest and a possible suspect. Circumstantially, at least. 

It's relevant, I feel, to mention that Septimus Swyer emigrated the United States and one of his sons emigrated to Australia and changed his name.

In 1881, Napoleon Joseph Heckmann (36) Living on income, Susie (22) and son Napoleon J (1), with a Domestic servant and a Nurse, were at York Hill.

Napoleon Joseph Heckmann died, at 45, on 24 Feb 1891 (1891 M Quarter in EPPING Volume 04A Page 185), and was buried on 3 Mar 1891 at the Church of the Holy Innocents, High Beach. The Chelmsford Chronicle of 6 Mar 1891 reported on the FUNERAL OF THE LATE MR N J HECKMANN - "The remains of the late Mr Napoleon J Heckmann were interred on Tuesday last in High Beech Churchyard. Every sign of regret and respect was manifested by the residents of Loughton. Most of the tradesmen put their shutters up, and a large number of sympathetic friends surrounded the grave." He left a Personal Estate of £184 to Susie Heckman of York Hill, Widow.

In 1891, Susie Heckmann (30) Widow, was Living on her own means, still at York Hill, Loughton with her two sons, Napoleon (11) and Archibald (7). 

Susie Heckman (33), listed as daughter of James Lane, Licenced Victualler (deceased) (Henry Lane, but yeah ....), then remarried to William Edward Bright (30) Gentleman, at St James's Church, Clerkewell on 31 Oct 1893. 

This couple had produced a son, Charles Stanley Bright b. 1894 S Quarter in EPPING Volume 04A Page 347, bap. 28 Aug 1894 at Loughton, St Nicholas, who died at one month old on 29 Aug 1894 (1894 S Quarter in EPPING Volume 04A Page 159) and was buried on 3 Sep 1894 in High Beech.

The year before they married and reported nationally: "William Edward Bright (29), described as a gentleman of independent means, was charged at North London Police Court on Wednesday with shooting with a revolver at five constables. It appeared from the evidence that on Tuesday night the accused went home at midnight, when the housekeeper heard three shots fired. Not knowing what had happened she opened a window and blew a police whistle. Five constables assembled in the garden, and tried to open the door. Prisoner appeared at a window and shouted "Who's there? Police?"; and on receiving an answer in the affirmative and a request to open the door, he replied, "If you don't clear out of my garden I will shoot you." Thereupon he fired five shots in rapid succession - fortunately without hitting anyone. Prisoner now said he would not have fired had he not thought the constables were burglars. His housekeeper said he was a very excitable man, had a dread of burglars, and always slept with a revolver under his pillow. Asked if he was intoxicated, she said she was no judge of such matters. Prisoner was committed for trial."

Incredibly, he was found not guilty of shooting to do grievous bodily harm and assault. However, the excitable gentleman next turns up being admitted to Bethlehem Hospital - otherwise known as Bedlam - psychiatric hospital in Bromley, London, on 7 Feb 1900, the supposed cause of his insanity being alcohol. The record states that he was married, but living separate from his wife, pursuant to a deed of separation. William Edward Bright died, aged 39, in 1901 J Quarter in WESTMINSTER Volume 01A Page 313.

In 1901, Susie Bright (38) Widow, Living on own means, was living in Frith Lane, Kings Lane, Great Missenden, Amersham, Buckinghamshire with A C Heckman (16) Son, Single, Mechanical Engineer from Loughton, Essex. (There is no subsequent birth in 1885, so I can only assume this is her 18 year old son, Archibald Carl Heckmann. If so, he was double-counted, pretending to be 21 with his wife in Wandsworth. Had he not told his mother he married?) And John Edward Edmonds (40), who has been transcribed as Brother, but I'm sure he was then a Boarder. Well, I certainly hope so, because ...

In 1903, John Edward Edmonds married Susie Bright, in Marylebone, London.

In 1911, John Edward Edmonds (52) Clerk in Shipping from Loughton, Essex, was living in Horndon on the Hill, Essex, with Susie Edmonds (50) and visiting them were John Henry Napoleon Heckmann (32) Marine Engineer and Dorothy Emily Heckmann (28) (As John Henry Hickman and Dorothea Emily Thorne, they had married at New Ferry, Cheshire on 27 Apr 1904.)

In 1921, at Brig-Y-Don, Orsett Road, Horndon on the Hill, Essex, were John Edward Edmonds (59) Clerk, and Susie Edmonds (59).

Napoleon John Henry Heckmann pre-deceased his mother, on 19 Aug 1933.

In 1939, John Edmonds (b. 11 Oct 1859) Documentary Clerk Retired and Susie Edmonds, were living at 36 Basildon Drive, Basildon.

John Edward Edmonds died, age estimated as 83, in 1944 J Quarter in EPPING Volume 04A Page 329 and was buried on 17 Jun 1944 at the church of the Holy Innocents, High Beach. There's an amusing note on the burial record which states "In the grave of Mrs's first husband. West End Church." 

Susannah Edmonds of Beech View, Lippett's Hill, High Beech, Loughton, Essex, died the following year, aged 86, on 23 Jan 1945 (1945 M Quarter in EPPING Volume 04A Page 439) and was buried on 27 Jan 1945, also at High Beach. She left £599 1s 3d. Probate was granted on 1 Nov 1945 to Grace Vivian Garrett (wife of William Thomas Garrett) attorney of Archibald Carl Heckman. This suggests she knew her son was alive, all along.

Thomas Tooze and Jane Burton

Pound Hill, Holcombe Rogus
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Derek Harper - geograph.org.uk/p/2508490

Thomas Tooze (b. 1776), listed as Jnr, son of Thomas Tooze and Dorothy Woodbery, married Jane Burton (b. 1766), at All Saints Church, Holcombe Rogus on 16 Feb 1800. Both parties were of the parish, but I've found no baptism for Jane Burton to trace who her parents may have been.

Thomas and Jane appear to have had at least these six children:

1. Elizabeth Tooze bap. 12 Oct 1800 in Holcombe Rogus
2. Sarah Tooze bap. 19 Sep 1802 in Holcombe Rogus
3. Thomas Tooze b. 5 Jan 1805, bap. 20 Jan 1805 in Halberton
4. Eleanor Tooze b. 23 Mar 1807, bap 21 Jun 1807 in Halberton
5. Jane Tooze b. 15 Oct 1809, bap. 5 Nov 1809 in Halberton
6. John Tooze bap. 21 Feb 1813 in Willand

In 1841, Thomas Tooze (65) Maltster and Jane Tooze (75) were listed as living on Hart's Hill, Holcombe Rogus.

Jane Tooze died at 82 in 1848 J Quarter in WELLINGTON SOMERSET AND DEVON Vol 10 Page 351 and buried on 16 Apr 1848, in Holcombe Rogus.

In 1851, Thomas Tooze (75) Widowed, Pauper Formerly A Maltster, was a Lodger in the household of William Govier (27) and his wife Sarah (née Norman), on Pound Hill, Holcombe Rogus.

It appears that Thomas Tooze died, aged 77, in 1853 M Quarter in WELLINGTON - SOMERSET AND DEVON Volume 05C Page 298.

Richard Mason and Millicent Shelford (née Butcher)

Photo © David Kemp (cc-by-sa/2.0)
St John & St Giles, Great Easton - north-west elevation
Photo available for reuse under this Creative Commons licence.

Richard Mason (b. ~1750) married Millicent Shelford at St John & St Giles, Great Easton, Essex, on 15 Feb 1791. The transcription of the record in "England, Essex Parish Registers, 1538-1997", which are apparently held at the Essex Record Office, lists that both of them had been Widowed. This couple became a pair of my 5th Great-Grandparents.

It appears that Richard Mason had previously married Elizabeth Patience, also at St John & St Giles, Great Easton, Essex, on 23 Dec 1774. Unsure whether this couple had any children and, nor can I find the death of Elizabeth.

Millicent Butcher (bap. 24 Oct 1756 at St Mary The Virgin, Tilty, Essex), daughter of William Butcher and Margaret Brown, had previously married John Shelford, also at St John & St Giles, Great Easton, Essex, on 19 Feb 1778. John Shelford and Millicent Butcher had four children: Elizabeth Shelford bap. 3 Jan 1779; John Shelford bap. 13 Feb 1780; William Shelford bap. 28 Jan 1781; and Millicent Shelford b. 29 Apr 1782 and bap. 12 May 1782. There is a burial of a John Shelford on 21 Oct 1782 at St Mary The Virgin, Great Bardfield, Essex, which appears to relate to this man.

Richard and Millicent Mason then also had four children:

1. Elizabeth Millicent Mason b. 29 Sep 1791, bap. 9 Oct 1791
2. Samuel Mason b. 2 Aug 1793, bap. 29 Sep 1793
3. Mary Mason b. 31 Jan 1795, bap. 18 Mar 1795
4. Sophia Mason b. 3 Dec 1796, bap. 1 Jan 1797

All four were baptised at St John & St Giles, Great Easton. At Ancestry, there are transcripts of the records of the baptisms of Elizabeth Millicent Mason and of Sophia Mason, which both list them taking place at this church. At FindMyPast the records for all four of John Shelford and Millicent Butcher's children, as well as all four of the children she had with Richard Mason, claim that they had been baptised at Emmanuel Church, Forest Gate. There's just a tiny problem with that, as the latter church (as well as being miles away), designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott (b. 1811), wasn't built until 1852, so it's more than a little unlikely to have been the venue for baptisms from 1779 until 1797. This is not the first time I've come across a whole batch of records claiming to have taken place in a yet-to-be-built church, so it's as well to check multiple sources and the church history to be absolutely sure.

Millicent Mason died, her age under-estimated as 63 (suggesting birth around 1760), was buried at St John & St Giles, Great Easton, on 20 Oct 1823.

Richard Mason, then said to have been aged 76 (born ~1750), died 3 years later and was buried at St John & St Giles, Great Easton, on 17 Oct 1826.