Thomas Staines and Sally Hockley

Wheatfields, Mountnessing, Essex
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © John Winfield - geograph.org.uk/p/37919

Sally Hockley, who was my 4th great-grand aunt, one of two children, only daughter of my 5th great-grandparents, Daniel Hockley and Sarah Turner, was baptised at St Mary the Virgin, Great Dunmow on 23 Dec 1787. Sally married Thomas Staines (son of Thomas Staines and Sarah Lewin, bap. 28 Mar 1790) on 20 Jan 1812 at her parish church in Great Dunmow. 

St Mary the Virgin, Great Dunmow, Essex - East end
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © John Salmon - geograph.org.uk/p/1304107
January 20, 1812: THOMAS STAINES, Bachelor, of the Parish of Mountnessing in this County and SALLY HOCKLEY of this Parish, Spinster. Married in this Church by Banns. In the presence of Robert Hockley and Benjamin Cheek. [Source]

Robert Hockley, tailor and draper (bap. 1775) was Sally's 1st cousin - my 1st cousin 6 times removed - son of Robert Hockley, seedsman (1755-1807), who in turn was son of Robert Hockley, weaver (1723-1796), the earliest of the Hockley's we have been able to trace, my 6th great-grandfather.

Benjamin Cheek was a Boot and Shoe Maker, according to Pigot's Directory of Essex 1823. Is that significant to the later firm of F J Staines Footwear?

St Giles Church, Mountnessing
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © John Salmon - geograph.org.uk/p/2444460

Thomas and Sally had eleven children in total, who were all baptised at St Giles, Mountnessing, where the family settled for many years: 

1. Thomas Staines bap. 12 Dec 1813
2. Sarah Staines bap. 23 Jul 1815
3. William Staines bap. 23 Mar 1817
4. John Staines bap. 11 Apr 1819
5. George Staines bap. 10 Dec 1820
6. Robert Staines bap. 13 Oct 1822
7. Elizabeth Staines bap. 4 Apr 1824
8. Mariah Staines bap. 6 Nov 1825
9. Mary Staines bap. 28 Oct 1827
10. Anne Staines bap. 31 Mar 1829
11. Charles Staines bap. 21 Jun 1831

On the baptisms of Thomas, Sarah, William and John, their father is listed as a Shop Keeper. On those of George onwards, he's listed as a farmer. He's also listed as a farmer on Sarah's marriage to Henry Wilton in 1838.

Farm Buildings, Woodlands Farm, Mountnessing
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © John Winfield - geograph.org.uk/p/37921

In 1841, Thomas Staines (50), Farmer, is residing at Woodlands Farm [Thoby Lane], Mountnessing with wife Sally and six of their children; George (20), Robert (18), Maria (15), Mary (13), Ann (11) and Charles (9). 

Eldest son Thomas Staines married Eliza Lee in 1835 and went to live in High Roding; Sarah Staines had married Henry Wilton in 1838 and they could be found in the High Street, Great Dunmow; a William Staines of the right age, who was born in Mountnessing, is a farmer of 79 acres in Navestock, Essex; John Staines also appears to have left home and Elizabeth Staines, it would seem, sadly, had just died, aged 17, and was buried on 30 May 1841.

Mariah/Maria Staines, then 17, was witness (was she a bridemaid, perhaps?) at the marriage of my 3rd great-grandparents, Richard Wilton and Catherine Byatt at the Quaker Meeting House, Great Dunmow in 1843. 

A bride was typically assisted by one or two female attendants. The number tended to increase if the bride was of higher society. These women helped the bride in various ways – penning invitations, getting dressed – and one was designated the official witness for the parish registry. She could be married or unmarried. The term “bridesmaid” or more commonly “bridemaid” without the S, was in use since the 1500s. [Source]

In 1851, Thomas Staines (61), Farmer of 130 Acres, Employing 4 Labourers and 2 Boys, at Woodlands Farm, Mountnessing, with wife Sally. Still at home are George (30), Maria (25) and Ann (22). Mary Ann Wilton (5) is listed as Niece (could be an easy mistake if one of children is completing the census or responding to the enumerator for their parents), but she is Thomas and Sally's granddaughter (daughter of Henry Wilton and Sarah Staines), possibly staying with her grandparents as her mother was having another child in 1851. 

Ginge Petre Almshouses, Ingatestone (1840)
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Julian Osley - geograph.org.uk/p/3493906

By 1861, Thomas and Sally Staines have moved to Lord Peters (Sir William Petre) Alms Houses, Stone Field, Ingatestone, Chelmsford. Thomas (71) is now listed as being a Maltster and Corn Dealer. Still living at home are daughters Maria (32) and Anne (29) and visiting them are granddaughter, Elizabeth Staines (14) (daughter of William Staines) and their grandson, Henry Staines Wilton (20) (son of Henry Wilton and Sarah Staines).

Thomas Staines died, aged 79, and was buried, on 8 Feb 1870, in Ingatestone.

In 1871, Sally Staines, widow and annuitant, was living Nr The Maltings, Avenue Cottage with her daughter Anne (40), housekeeper and Fanny Hogg, boarder. Sally Staines (née Hockley) died, aged around 87, and was buried on 18 Mar 1875 at St Edmund and St Mary's Church, Ingatestone.