Charles Provart Keeble and Ann Prior

High Street, Haverhill
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Robin Webster - geograph.org.uk/p/5816659
 This part has been called Market Hill, but the premises are numbered in the High Street sequence and there is no apparent name plate. Beyond Peacocks, the continuation is called Queen Street.

Charles Provart Keeble (bap. 20 Oct 1844 at St Edmund, Bromeswell, Suffolk), son of John Keeble and Emma Cockle Provart, married Ann Prior (b. 1842), daughter of Charles Prior and Mary Wilton, on 21 Aug 1865. Scanning back through the record images leads me to believe that the marriage took place in the Congregational Church in New Street, Great Dunmow.

Charles and Ann had seven children:

1. Charles Prior Keeble b. 1866 Q4 Vol 4A Page 401 in Risbridge
2. Robert Hankin Keeble b. 1868 J Qtr in RISBRIDGE Vol 04A Page 410
3. Edith Mary Keeble b. 1870 J Qtr in RISBRIDGE Vol 04A Page 430
4. Alfred Keeble b. 1874 J Qtr in RISBRIDGE Vol 04A Page 468
5. Kate Keeble b. 1876 J Qtr in RISBRIDGE Volume 04A Page 483
6. Gertrude Wilton Keeble b. 1879 D Qtr in RISBRIDGE Vol 04A 508
7. Henry Keeble b. 1881 D Qtr in RISBRIDGE Vol 04A Page 543

In 1871, Charles Keeble (26) Grocer and Draper was living in Haverhill, Suffolk, with wife Ann Keeble (29), Charles P Keeble (4), Robert H Keeble (2) and Edith M Keeble (0). In the household also were three Boarders: Edward Hewes (19) Grocer & Draper's Shopman; William J Devine (16) Grocer's Shopman and Esther Gray (16) Domestic Servant.

In 1881, in Queen Street, Haverhill, were Charles Provart Keeble (36) Grocer and Draper employing 2 men and 1 boy; Ann Keeble (40) Draper; Edith Mary Keeble (10), Alfred Keeble (6), Kate Keeble (5), Gertrude Wilton Keeble (1) and Emma Taylor (16) General Servant. Charles Keeble (14) Draper's Apprentice was a boarder at 33, Milton Street, St Marylebone, London, while Robert Keeble (12) was a boarder at New St School, Great Dunmow. 

By 1891, Charles Keeble (46) had become a Farmer at Burton End, Haverhill with Ann Keeble (49), Edith M Keeble (20), Gertrude W Keeble (11) and Henry Keeble (9) in the household. Robert H Keeble (22) Draper's Assistant was a Boarder in St John's Street, Woodbridge, Suffolk; Alfred Keeble (16) was a Grocer and Draper in The Street, Tolleshunt D'arcy, Essex. Kate Keeble (16) was a Draper's Assistant in the Chiswick High Road.

Ann Keeble died, at 53, on 12 Apr 1895 J Qtr in RISBRIDGE Vol 04A 387.

In 1901, Charles P Keeble (56) Widowed Farmer was still in living in Haverhill with two of the children, Henry Keeble (19), Gertrude W Keeble (21) and Elizabeth Holden (15) General Domestic Servant.

In 1911, Charles Provart Keeble (68) Retired Farmer, was staying with son Alfred Keeble (42) Farmer and Coal Merchant in Duxford, Cambridgeshire.

Charles Provart Keeble died, at 68, on 20 Jun 1913 (1913 J Quarter in CHELTENHAM Volume 06A Page 477).

Henry Prior and Eliza Ellen Seymour

Former St Peter's Church, Cephas Street, Mile End Old Town
Photo: Julian Walker. Some Rights Reserved

Henry Prior (b. 1835), son of Charles Prior and Mary Wilton, married Eliza Ellen Seymour (registered: Ellen Eliza Seymour 1838 D Quarter in MALDON Volume 12 Page 131), daughter of John Seymour and Susannah Howell, on 16 Aug 1869 at the church of St Peter, Mile End Old Town.

In 1861, Eliza Seymour (22) had been a visitor in the household of her brother-in-law, Charles Lambson (30) Wine Clerk - married to Eliza's older sister, Jane Seymour (bap. 27 Oct 1822) - in Chesterford Terrace, Stanley Road, Hackney, which would explain her presence in that area. 

Henry and Eliza Prior had seven children, all born in Maldon, Essex: 

1. Florence Annie Prior b. 7 May 1870 J Qtr in MALDON Vol 04A 261
2. Agnes Prior b. 1872 M Qtr in MALDON Vol 04A  Page 274. Died, aged 1, in 1873 S Qtr in MALDON Vol 04A  Page 164
3. Rosa Jane Prior b. 19 Dec 1873 (1874 M Qtr in MALDON Vol 04A 274)
4. Alice Gertrude Prior b. 1876 J Qtr in MALDON Vol 04A Page 308. Died, aged 19, in 1896 M Qtr in CAMBRIDGE Vol 03B Page 314
5. Alfred Edwin Prior b. 10 Jun 1878 S Qtr in MALDON Vol 04A 325
6. Ada Ella Prior b. 10 Aug 1880 S Qtr in MALDON Vol 04A 355
7. Eleanor Winifred Prior b. 24 Dec 1884 (1885 M Qtr Vol 04A 463)

In 1871, on Market Hill, Maldon, Essex, Henry Prior (36), was a basket maker. The original census return shows him to have been in the household alone. One imagines Eliza may have returned to her family for the birth of their first child, but neither she nor the infant appear to be listed anywhere.

Market Hill, Maldon
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Stefan Czapski
geograph.org.uk/p/4223421

In 1881, Henry Prior (46), was listed as a Furniture Dealer on Market Hill, Maldon, Essex. Living with him were Eliza (42), Florence (10), Rosa (7), Alice (5), Alfred (2) and Ada (0).

In 1891, Henry Prior (57) Furniture Dealer was in Bridge Street, Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire with Eliza Prior (53), Gertrude Prior (15), Alfred Prior (12), Ella Prior (10) and Winifred Prior (6). Florence A Prior (20) Drapers Apprentice and Rosa J Prior (16) Drapers Apprentice were living in Castle Road, Bedford.

In 1901, Henry Prior (66), House Furnisher, was living at 172 East Road, Cambridge, with wife, Ellen (62) and their five children: Florence (29), Rosa (24), Alfred (22), Ella (20) and Minnie (16). (Alice Gertrude Prior had died in 1896, aged 19.) Also listed was Daniel Seymour (67), Congregational Minister, widower, visitor (Daniel George Seymour b. 12 Jun 1833, was Eliza's brother.) 

In 1911, Henry Prior (76) was still listed as a House Furnisher, living at 172 East Road, Cambridge, with wife Eliza Prior (72), Florence Prior (40) Book keeper in the business; Rosa Prior (37), Alfred Prior (32) Assisting in the business and Winifred Prior (26). The 1911 census confirms that they had been married for 42 years, had 7 children born alive and 5 still living.

The Cambridge Daily News of 10 Mar 1916 reported on "SIX MONTHS EXEMPTION. Alfred Edwin Prior, 173 East Road, partner and manager in a firm of house furnishers, carried on by him for his father and self under the style of H. Prior and Son, applied for absolute exemption [from Military Service] on the grounds that he was an only son, and his father was in his 82nd year and his mother was 79. His parents had no income apart from the business, which must come to a standstill and the support of the whole family, including two unmarried sisters, must fail should he be called away. Six months exemption so long as the condition remain the same was granted."

In 1921, Henry Prior (86) House Furnisher was still at 172, East Road, Cambridge, with Eliza Prior (82), Florence Prior (51) Assisting In The Business; Rosa Prior (47) & Alfred Prior (43) Partner In The Business. Ada Ella Prior (pretending to be 35) was a Shop Assistant at 85, High Street, South Norwood, Croydon. (Eleanor Winifred had married in 1913.)

Eliza Ellen Prior died, aged 89, on 19 Nov 1926 (1926 D Qtr Vol 03B 509) and was buried on 23 Nov 1926 at All Saints' Church, Cambridge.

On 4 Jan 1930, Ada Ella Prior (50) Spinster of 172 East Rd, Cambridge, daughter of Henry Prior, House Furnisher, married Isaac Collins, Auctioneer, Bachelor of The Hectorage, Tunbridge, Kent, son of Thomas Collins, Land Agent, by Licence at St Andrew the Less (now Christ Church Cambridge).

Henry Prior of 221 Chesterton Road, Cambridge, died at the age of 95 on 1 Oct 1930 (1930 D Quarter in CAMBRIDGE Volume 03B Page 478) and was also buried, on 6 Oct 1930, at All Saints' Church, Cambridge. Probate was granted, on 17 Nov 1930, to Alfred Edwin Prior and Florence Annie Prior.

John Harvey and Esther Glede

Georgian Town Houses on Arbour Square, Stepney Casualguy, Public domain

John Harvey (b. ~1811 in Chingford, Essex) married Esther Glede (bap. 12 Nov 1829 at St Dunstan and All Saints), daughter of Morris Glede and Sarah Thorn, on 11 Aug 1849, at the church of St Thomas, Stepney, which had stood in Arbour Square: "a neat edifice of Suffolk brick, in the early English style, with two octangular turrets that was erected in 1837." It closed in 1940. The record of the marriage lists the bride's father as Morris Glede, the bridegroom's father as John Harvey and all three of them with the occupation of Labourer. John and Esther are listed as bachelor and spinster and "of full age". Witnesses were Eleanor Hooper and John P Hughlings. 

John and Esther already had three children and added six more:

1. Sarah Ann Harvey bap. 17 Dec 1843 in Chingford, Essex
2. Susannah Harvey, b. 5 Oct 1845 at 174 Eastfield Street, Limehouse (1845 D Quarter in STEPNEY Volume 02 Page 459)
3. Mary Ann Harvey b. 1848 M Quarter in STEPNEY Vol 02 Page 494, bap. 5 May 1850 at St Thomas, Stepney
4. John Harvey b. 1850 D Quarter in STEPNEY Volume 02 Page 576
5. Morris Harvey b. 1853 M Quarter in STEPNEY Vol 01C Page 519, bap. 20 Feb 1853 at St Thomas, Stepney
6. Esther Harvey b. 30 Oct 1855 (1855 D Quarter in STEPNEY Vol 01C Page 468), bap. 18Nov 1855 at St Thomas, Stepney
7. Job Harvey b. 5 Oct 1859 (1859 D Qtr in MILE END OLD TOWN Vol 01C Page 568), bap. 14 Dec 1859 at St Dunstan and All Saints (Died in 1859 D Quarter in MILE END OLD TOWN Vol 01C Page 408)
8. Job Harvey b. 6 Nov 1860 (1860 D Quarter in MILE END OLD TOWN Volume 01C Page 580), bap. 9 Jan 1861 at St Dunstan and All Saints
9. Lydia Harvey b. 26 Mar 1864 (1864 J Qtr in MILE END OLD TOWN Vol 01C Page 551), bap. 14 Apr 1864 at St John the Evangelist, Limehouse

The mother's maiden name on the civil registrations was GLEAD or GLEED.

In 1851, living in Fair Place, Stepney, were John Harvey (40), Labourer, born in Chingford, Essex; Esther (overestimated to 32), Sarah (8), Susannah (5), Mary Ann (3), both born in Limehouse and John (0), born in Stepney.  

John Harvey died, aged 56, in 1866 D Quarter in SAINT GEORGE IN THE EAST Volume 01C Page 339.

In 1871, Esther Harvey (47), Widow, Trouser Finisher, was back in Eastfield Street, Limehouse, with John (21) Bricklayer's Labourer; Morris (19) Dock Labourer; Esther (16) Trouser Finisher; Job (12), Scholar, and Lydia (8).

In 1872, Esther Harvey remarried to Charles Staines at St James the Great, Bethnal Green (Where Reggie Kray and Frances Shea married).

In 1881, living at 23, Bow Common Lane, Bromley, Poplar were Charles Staines (42) Labourer from Stepney; Esther Staines (55), Job Harvey (21) Labourer, Stepson; Lydia Harvey (17) Stepdaughter and Samuel Passfield (18) Labourer, Grandson (Son of Samuel Passfield and Sarah Ann Harvey.)

Esther Staines died, age estimated as 63, in 1889 M Quarter in MILE END OLD TOWN Volume 01C Page 348.

Charles Staines died in 1908 J Qtr in MILE END Vol 01C Page 228, at 72.

Henry Wilton and Sarah Staines

St Peter, Colchester, Essex - East end
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © John Salmon - geograph.org.uk/p/1862874

Henry Wilton (bap. 15 Jan 1809 in Royston, Hertfordshire), son of Stephen Wilton and Elizabeth Hankin, married Sarah Staines (bap. 23 Jul 1815 at St Giles, Mountnessing), daughter of Thomas Staines and Sally Hockley on 9 Aug 1838 at St Peter's Church, Colchester, Essex.

Henry and Sarah Wilton had at least nine children:

1. Henry Staines Wilton b. 14 Aug 1840 (1840 S Quarter in DUNMOW Vol 12 Page 70), bap. 27 Sep 1840 at St Giles' Church, Mountnessing
2. Stephen Thomas Wilton b. 1841 D Quarter in DUNMOW UNION Vol 12 Page 68, bap. 29 May 1842 at St Giles, Mountnessing
3. Maria Wilton b. 19 Dec 1843 (reg. 1844 M Quarter in DUNMOW Vol 12 Page 76), bap. 24 Mar 1844 at St Giles', Mountnessing
4. Mary Ann Wilton b. 7 Jan 1846 M Quarter in DUNMOW UNION Volume 12 Page 82, bap. 29 Oct 1848 at St Giles's Church, Mountnessing. Died at 27 in 1873 J Quarter in DUNMOW UNION Volume 04A Page 239
5. Laura Elizabeth Wilton b. 1848 M Quarter in DUNMOW Volume 12 Page 73. Died aged 1 in 1849 J Quarter in DUNMOW Vol 12 Page 58
6. Still Born Child of Henry and Sarah Wilton buried 7 Jan 1850
7. William Hankin Wilton b. 1851 M Quarter in DUNMOW UNION Volume 12 Page 93 (at home on 1871 Census, found nothing since)
8. Still Born buried 24 Jul 1854 (Dissenters)
9. Sarah Wilton b. 1856 S Quarter in DUNMOW UNION Volume 04A Page 299. Death registered 1856 S Quarter in DUNMOW UNION Volume 04A Page 207. As 'Infant Wilton' buried 10 Jul 1856 (Dissenters)

All of the GRO birth registrations have the mother's maiden name STAINES.

The "Dissenters" or Non-Conformist Burials are listed at the Protestant Dissenters Burial Ground, which I assume to mean of the Independent Meeting House (Quaker Meeting House) in New Street, Great Dunmow, which is where his brother Richard Wilton was married and buried.

In 1841, Henry Wilton (25) Saddler, Sarah Wilton (20), Henry [Staines] Wilton (10 mts); Henry Prior (14) Apprentice Tailor; Henry Joice (17) Apprentice Saddler and Charlotte Lodge (14) Female Servant, were in the High Street, Great Dunmow. (Next door were Henry's uncle Henry Wilton and his wife, Mary Barton, who, in turn, were next door to George Saich (25) Ostler (and his wife, Charlotte Thorogood), who I'm sure kept the Saracen's Head Hotel. The other side of them was John Prior (55) Basket Maker, father-in-law of Henry's sister Mary.) White's Directory of Essex 1848, also lists Henry Wilton as a saddler in the High Street, Great Dunmow.

1851 Census returns for both Great and Little Dunmow are missing.

In 1861, Henry Wilton (50), Saddler; Sarah Wilton (42), Stephen Wilton (19) Cabinet maker; Mary Ann Wilton (15), William Wilton (10) and apprentices; Charles Gandey (18) and Charles Knight (14) were still in High Street, Great Dunmow. Henry Staines Wilton (20) was staying with his grandparents, Thomas Staines and Sally Hockley in Ingatestone, Chelmsford.

In 1871, Henry Wilton (62) Sadler employing 1 man and 1 boy was still in the High Street, Great Dunmow with Sarah Wilton (54), Stephen Thomas Wilton (29) Cabinet maker; Mary Ann Wilton (25), William H Wilton (20) and Edith Mary Fuller (6) Granddaughter (Daughter of Maria Wilton).

Sarah Wilton died, aged 56, 1872 J Qtr in DUNMOW Vol 04A Page 226.

The widowed Henry Wilton (63) Harness Maker, of Great Dunmow, Essex, son of Stephen Wilton (Deceased), Sadler (sic) then married Ann Staines (44) (bap. 31 Mar 1829 at St Giles, Mountnessing), Spinster, who was the younger sister of Henry's deceased wife, Sarah Staines, also the daughter of Thomas Staines and Sally Hockley, on 11 Sep 1873, by Licence, at the Independent Chapel, Ingatestone Street, Fryerning (GRO: 1873 Q3 Chelmsford Vol 4a Page 282). Witnesses were Elizabeth Staines (most likely Anne's niece, daughter of her brother William, who was then 26) and a John Joslin.

This marriage took place despite the fact that marrying the sister of a deceased wife was illegal in Victorian England and remained the case until the Deceased Wife's Sister's Marriage Act 1907. In England the list of forbidden marriages was drawn up by the Church of England in 1560 and from then a marriage between a widower and his wife’s sister was valid but voidable - on the grounds of a passage in Leviticus, which suggested that such a relationship was incestuous (the same biblical extract Henry VIII had used to cast doubt on his marriage to Catherine of Aragon). However, it was not explicitly illegal until the passing of the Marriage Act in 1835. The 1835 bill said that the marriages that had already happened could no longer be voided, but from then on, "such marriages could no longer take place in the United Kingdom and colonies at all". It went on to say that these marriages would have to take place abroad, a solution available only to the rich. Au contraire, Henry and Ann's marriage did take place in England, in 1873, and thus, was not lawful. If there had been the usual bit about "any lawful impediment", either they didn't know, or everybody kept schtum. Marrying this time in the Independent Chapel seems to have successfully avoided anyone in the Church of England seeing the connection. At least the legal implications end there, since the mature couple did not have any further children together. 

In 1881, Henry Wilton (69) Saddler, and his new wife, Annie Wilton (52), with Henry Fuller (14) Grandson; Charles Fuller (10) Grandson [both sons of Charles William Fuller and Maria Wilton]; Martha Palmer (52) Boarder [older sister of Henry Staines Wilton's wife, Amelia Palmer] and Mary Smith (14) General Servant from Good Easter, were living in High Street, Great Dunmow, where Henry Wilton had lived and carried on his business for many years.

Henry Wilton died on 9 May 1890, leaving a decent, but not large £180 (around £29,558 in 2025) to his eldest son, Henry Staines Wilton.

In 1891, Ann Wilton (62) Living On Own Means, Widowed, was living in New Street, Great Dunmow and still boarding with her was Martha Palmer (63).

In 1901, Ann Wilton (72) and Martha Palmer (72) were back living in the High Street, Great Dunmow and they had one General Domestic Servant looking after them, Emily E Lee (15) from Boston, Lincolnshire.

In 1911, Ann Wilton (82) was still in Great Dunmow with one General Domestic Servant, May Bird (19). (Martha Palmer had died in 1909.)

In 1921, Ann Wilton (92) was still in the High Street, Dunmow, Great Dunmow, Essex and still employing May Bird (29) Domestic Servant.

Ann Wilton, widow, died at the age of 93, on 13 Apr 1922 (1922 J Quarter in DUNMOW Volume 04A Page 839), leaving £757 19s 10d (around £54,971 in 2025), also to Henry Staines Wilton, who was, of course, both her nephew and her step-son (although he'd actually pre-deceased her in 1915.)

John Frederick Rickman and Ellen Tooze

St James the Less, Bethnal Green
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © John Salmon - geograph.org.uk/p/4167332

John Frederick Rickman (b. 1838 in Homerton), son of George and Maria Rickman, married Ellen Tooze (b. 1837), daughter of Thomas Tooze and Mary James, at St James-the-Less, Bethnal Green, on 5 Aug 1858. Witnesses were John Benn and Elizabeth Tooze, who will have been Ellen's sister.

In 1861, John Rickman (27) Police Officer and Ellen Rickman (24) Dressmaker, were living in the High Road, Loughton, Essex.

In 1871, John F Rickman (32) Coachman and Ellen Rickman (34) Dressmaker, were Lodgers in Blackheath, Lewisham. The couple don't have children.

In 1881, John Frederick Rickman (43) Labourer, Ellen Rickman (44) and Ellen M A Leys (14) Niece, were at 42, Sedgwick Street, Hackney.

Ellen Rickman died, aged 48, in 1885 J Qtr in HACKNEY Vol 01B Page 348.

John Frederick Rickman then remarried to Lydia Ann Hazell. (bap. 12 Dec 1845 in Brooke, Norfolk), daughter of James Hazell and Emma Yallop, in Ongar, Essex, in 1886. However, John Frederick Rickman died, aged 51, in 1890 D Quarter in HACKNEY Volume 01B Page 413. 

In 1891, Lydia Ann Rickman (44) Widow, was a Housekeeper, living at 31 St Stephens Square, Norwich, Norfolk, along with her two sons Frederick James Rickman (4) b. 23 Apr 1887 (1887 J Quarter in WATFORD Volume 03A Page 570) and George Hazell Rickman (1891 M Quarter in HACKNEY Volume 01B Page 527), who, at just 4 months, was a posthumous child. 

Lydia Ann Rickman died at 83, in 1929 S Qtr in HENSTEAD Vol 04B 181.

Henry Staines Wilton and Amelia Palmer

Bridge Street, Bishop's Stortford
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Bill Boaden - geograph.org.uk/p/6410237

Henry Staines Wilton (b. 14 Aug 1840 in Great Dunmow, Essex), son of Henry Wilton and Sarah Staines, Harness Maker, married Amelia Palmer (bap. 15 Oct 1841 in Bishop's Stortford), daughter of William Palmer and Henrietta Crabb of Bridge Street, Bishop's Stortford at St Michael, Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire, on 4 Aug 1868. Witnesses were the bride's father, William Palmer; the bridegroom's parents, Henry and Sarah Wilton; and Martha Palmer, the bride's older sister. This looks like a 'beneficial match' for Henry, because Amelia's Great Western Railway shares passed to him on their marriage. (This was before the Married Women's Property Act 1882).

Henry Staines Wilton and Amelia Palmer had five children:

1. William Palmer Wilton b. 19 Sep 1869 (1869 D Quarter in THE BISHOP STORTFORD UNION Volume 03A Page 265), bap. 28 Nov 1869 at St Michael's, Bishop's Stortford. The Essex Herald of 28 Sep 1869 announced the birth, "WILTON: 19th inst, at Bridge Street, Bishop's Storford, the wife of Henry Staines Wilton, of a son."
2. Mary Henrietta Wilton b. 8 Feb 1871 (1871 M Quarter in OF THE BISHOP STORTFORD UNION Volume 03A Page 282), bap. 30 Apr 1871 in Bishop's Stortford. Her birth was announced in the press.
3. Olive Martha Wilton b. 25 Dec 1872 (1873 M Quarter in BISHOP'S STORTFORD Volume 03A Page 295), bap. 28 Feb 1873 in Bishop's Stortford. (Olive Martha Wilton, artist, died, aged 45, on 14 Apr 1918 in Ringwood, Hampshire. She is buried at Hampstead Cemetery.)
4. John Staines Wilton b. 17 Feb 1874 (1874 M Qtr in BISHOPS STORTFORD Vol 03A Page 295), bap. 24 Apr 1874 in Bishop's Stortford. (Died 6 May 1936 (1936 J Qtr in WESTMINSTER Vol 01A Page 521), at 62, buried on 11 May 1936 at Hampstead Cemetery.)
5. Margaret Staines Wilton b. 22 Dec 1876 (1877 M Quarter in SAINT GEORGE HANOVER SQUARE Volume 01A Page 365), daughter of Henry Staines Wilton, Saddler and Harness Maker of 261 Oxford Street, bap. 18 Mar 1877 at St Thomas, Portman Square, Marylebone. (Died aged 81 in 1957 D Quarter in CHAPEL EN LE FRITH Volume 10A Page 932. She was buried, on 31 Dec 1957, in Hampstead Cemetery.)

In 1861, Henry Staines Wilton (20) had been staying with his grandparents, Thomas Staines and Sally Hockley at Lord Peters (Sir William Petre) Alms Houses, Stone Field, Ingatestone, Chelmsford. He then set up business next door to his future father-in-law, in Bridge Street, Bishop's Stortford.

By 1871, Henry Staines Wilton (30), Saddler and Harness Maker, Employing 2 men, 2 apprentices and 1 boy in Bridge Street, Bishop's Stortford; Amelia Wilton (29), William P Wilton (1), Mary H Wilton (0). The household was completed with William Thorman (15) Saddler Apprentice; Martha Cornell (24) General Servant and Elizabeth Kitchener (16) Nurse.

In 1875, Henry Staines Wilton bought into an established saddlery company in Oxford Street and became associated with Henry Champion, and from the merger, the Champion & Wilton brand officially appeared. [Source]

Champion & Wilton Saddlers and Harness Makers by Royal Appointment

Champion & Wilton were the successors to two old-established firms of Oxford Street saddlers. One started out under the name of Matthew Wilson, in South Molton Street, moved around 1806 to Oxford Street, and became successively Wilson, Wilkinson & Kidd, then Wilkinson, Champion & Frewer and finally Champion & Wilton. Neighbouring saddlers, Samuel Blackwell, also long-established, was taken over by Champion & Wilton in the 1880s.

"Champion and Wilton [its predecessors, clearly] were founded in 1780 and had premises in Oxford Street, opposite Selfridges, in London’s West End. At one time they employed over one hundred saddlers making saddles, harness and other saddlery items and became, as holders of the Royal Warrant, the most highly respected firm in the country and I don’t doubt that many a stately home will still have a Champion and Wilton saddle tucked away somewhere in their tack room." - Keith Jenkin, SMSQF of Minster Saddlery

In their time, it is said that Champion & Wilton held Royal Warrants to Queen Victoria, King Edward VII, King George V, King George VI, Queen Elizabeth II, and the Duke of Edinburgh, as well as to the German Emperor, Queen Maud of Norway and Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands. 

In The London Gazette of 4 January 1878, there was a notice regarding a Patent application: Henry Staines Wilton, of Bishop's Stortford, in the county of Herts, Saddler, for an invention of "improvements in the construction of saddles and saddle girths."—Dated 24th December, 1874. Then in 1879: 

In addition to the quality of the product, the main peculiarity that distinguished the saddles of this brand, owed much to the invention made in 1879 by Henry Wilton, who patented the well-known safety system, still in use and much appreciated today, which represented a technical revolution. 

This was but one of many Patents that Henry Staines Wilton applied for, including: "An Improvement in Side Saddles" in 1893; for "Improvements in and connected with Saddle Bars", in 1895; "Improvements in Trace and Pole Chain Attachments" in 1896; "Improvements in the Heads or Pommels of Side Saddles" in 1903 and "An Improved Machine for Centrally Punching and Spacing Holes in Leather Straps, and for like purposes" in 1905, are those I can find records for. The first was just in his name, the rest were applied for by Henry Staines Wilton in conjunction with Benjamin Samuel Weston.

Not found on the 1881 Census, the Hertford Mercury of 15 Oct 1881, reported on "DAMAGING A WALNUT TREE. Samuel Cowland, John Curtis, John Bush and Arthur Shorter, all young men of Bishop's Stortford, were charged with maliciously breaking part of a walnut tree, growing on enclosed land at Whitehall Farm, Bishop's Stortford, the property of Mr Henry Staines Wilton ..." Of course, owning the farm doesn't mean he lived there.

On 17 Feb 1881, Henry Staines Wilton, Saddler of 261 Oxford Street joined the Gihon Lodge (Freemasonry).

In 1891, the family were living at Braywick, High Town Road, Bray, Cookham, Berkshire with Henry S Wilton (50) Sadler & Harness Maker; Amelia Wilton (49), Olive Martha Wilton (18), John S Wilton (17) Saddlers Apprentice; Margaret Wilton (14), along with Sarah Asbridge (28) Cook from Margaret Roding and Kate Maydwell (23) Housemaid from Hornchurch, Essex. William P Wilton (21) Sadler, was that year [so far unaccountably] a Visitor in a household in Wanstead, Essex, along with three female servants. 

At the time of their daughter Mary Henrietta Wilton's marriage to Augustus Percival Bartley (of Bartley & Sons, Military and Hunting Bootmakers, of 493, Oxford Street), on 11 Aug 1894, at St Michael's Church, Bray, Berkshire, their address was then stately Stafferton Lodge, Braywick Road, Maidenhead. 

Fake news is not a new thing: Apparently, according to this document (PDF), in Vol IV No 5 of 'Saddlery and Harness' November 1894, a spurious claim appears, "p.101 Notable Members of the Trade: Mr H S Wilton (Champion and Wilton) Owner of Champion and Wilton. At 457/459 Oxford Street. One of the leading West End saddlery firms. Made Queen Victoria's first saddle when HSW was only 19 years old, some 63 years ago." [i.e. 1831] Complete and utter horse poop, of course, like so many family stories, and you have to laugh, as he wasn't even born until 1840! My feeling is the Oxford Street company that later became Champion & Wilton probably did make Queen Victoria's first saddle. It was Henry Staines Wilton's personal involvement that got tacked (pun intended) on as an embellishment to aggrandize himself.

In 1901, the family had moved back into town to 29, St Johns Wood Park, in the affluent community of Hampstead, where we find Henry S Wilton (60) Sadler & Harness Maker; Amelia Wilton (59), William P Wilton (31) Sadler & Harness Maker; Olive M Wilton (28), John S Wilton (27) Sadler & Harness Maker; Margaret S Wilton (24), along with Mary J Howlett (23) Cook from Norfolk and Annie Fosbury (21) Housemaid, from Maidenhead.

In 1911, still at 29, St Johns Wood Park, Hampstead, were Henry Staines Wilton (70) Sadler & Harness Maker; Amelia Wilton (69), Olive Martha Wilton (37) Artist; John Staines Wilton (36) Sadler & Harness Maker; Margaret Wilton (33) attended by three servants: Emma Fosbury (61) Widow, Cook Housekeeper; Ellen Gorey (37) Parlourmaid and Alice Fordham (24) Housemaid. The original census schedule also confirms that the couple had been married for 43 years and had five children, all then still living.

The Rebuilding of Oxford Street

"Nos. 453–459 (odd) Oxford Street and Nos. 22 and 23 North Audley Street, a small but elegant set of shops with flats over, were designed by Herbert Read and Robert Falconer Macdonald and built by Holloway Brothers in 1900–2 (Plate 46b). The client was E. H. Wilton of Champion and Wilton, saddlers, of Nos. 457 and 459 Oxford Street. (There was nobody with the initials  E. H. Wilton, so I assume this is H. S. Wilton and an error.) The building had three storeys towards North Audley Street and five on to Oxford Street. The ground floor was of Doulting stone, the upper storeys of red brick with stone dressings, and the style a picturesque and effective Arts and Crafts treatment." This tells us where the Champion and Wilton premises were, on the diagonally opposite corner to where Selfridges was later built. The building is long gone and replaced, with currently, a branch of Zara on that corner. 

Henry Staines Wilton (74) died on 31 May 1915 (1915 J Quarter in HAMPSTEAD Volume 01A Page 819) and his funeral took place on Thursday 3 Jun 1915. He is interred in Hampstead Cemetery (Camden) grave reference WE/222. He left his fortune to his two sons, William Palmer Wilton and John Staines Wilton, saddlers, and his son-in-law, Augustus Percival Bartley, bootmaker. The Probate record shows that Henry Staines Wilton left £57,256 11s 4d, which is now worth over seven million pounds (£7,376,323 in 2024).

Hampstead News of 10 Jun 1915, reported on the:

Death of Mr H Staines Wilton

The funeral of Mr H Staines Wilton, of 18 Fitzjohn's Avenue, took place on Thursday morning at St Paul's Church, Avenue Road. The deceased gentleman, who was much respected, had long been a resident in the neighbourhood and a member of St Paul's Church, where he was a sidesman and a generous supporter of the church. He had been in failing health, but was in church on Sunday morning and died the following day. The service was conducted by the Vicar (Rev W H T N Rainey) and the Rev P B Phelps, who together with the choir met the cortege at the entrance gate to the church. Psalm 39 was chanted, and the hymn "Blessed are the pure in heart" was sung during the service, and as the coffin was carried from the church, preceded by the clergy and choir, the "Nunc Dimittis" was sung. The coffin, upon which rested a few floral tributes, was of polished oak with brass fitting and plate, which was inscribed "Henry Staines Wilton, born 14th August, 1840; died 31st May, 1915." The immediate mourners at the church were the widow and family, but a large congregation included Mr Boyton MP, the Rev W H Wilkins (a former curate), the staff and employees from 457 & 459 Oxford Street, and the household servants. The coffin was conveyed in an open car, and was immediately followed by the deceased gentleman's carriage filled with numerous and beautiful floral tributes. The interment was made at Hampstead Cemetery, where the service at the graveside was concluded by the Vicar. The funeral arrangements were carried out by Messrs J Nodes & Co (M Nodes Lello) of 193 High Road, Kilburn; 23 Church Street, Grove End Road, etc.

Amelia Wilton died four years later, aged 77 (1919 D Quarter in PADDINGTON Volume 01A Page 77), and was buried, on 17 Dec 1919, in Hampstead Cemetery, along with her late husband. 

Neither Olive, John, nor Margaret ever married. I can find neither John, nor Margaret in 1921, however, in 1939, Margaret S Wilton (b. 22 Dec 1876) Single Female of Private Means, was at Lilybank Hydro, Chesterfield Road, Darley Dale, Matlock, Derbyshire (the last Hydro in Matlock to close in 1962). Described in the 1930's, "The establishment is not exclusively a sanatorium; it affords accommodation to families and others who desire to spend a holiday amidst the beautiful scenery of the English Switzerland and it is also a delightful winter resort for those delicate individuals who dread the severities of our English climate." As Margaret also died in Derbyshire, in 1957, we may reasonably assume she was using Lilybank as a residential care home.

Henry Charles Orton and Dahlia Trevail

St Mark's Church, North Audley Street, London W1
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © John Salmon - geograph.org.uk/p/1536122

Henry Charles Orton, Widower, Carpenter of Shepherd's Market married Dahlia Mackness, Widow, of 1 Park Lane, London, daughter of Joseph Trevail, Farmer at the church of St George's, Hanover Square on 30 Jul 1881. 

Henry and Dahlia had two children, born at 6, Church Road, Watford:

1. Charles Orton b. 3 Jul 1882 (1882 S Quarter in WATFORD Volume 03A Page 502), bap. 24 Sep 1882 at St Andrew's, Watford
2. Emily Maud Orton b. 21 Sep 1884 (1884 D Quarter in WATFORD Volume 03A Page 534), bap. 2 Nov 1884 at St Andrew's, Watford

The mother's maiden name TREVAIL is quoted on both birth registrations.

Dahlia Trevail (bap. 27 May 1849), daughter of Joseph Trevail and Jane Rundle, in 1871, was cook to Thomas William Bramston, Conservative Member for South Essex, at his estate, Skreens, Roxwell, Chelmsford, Essex. In Q3 of 1876, aged 27, Dahlia had married Frederick Mackness (bap. 14 Feb 1827), sawyer, son of George and Susanna Mackness, at St Mark, North Audley Street (St Mark's, Mayfair, now home to Mercato Mayfair). However, within 3 months of the wedding, in Q4 1876, Frederick died, aged 49. 

In 1881, Dahlia Mackness (31), widow, was once again employed as a cook, in the household of Sir William Miller, 1st Baronet in London, at 1, Park Lane. 

It was "third time lucky" for Henry, son of Charles Orton and Mary Ann Leach, bap. 7 Oct 1838 in Leamington, Warwickshire. Henry Orton had first married Elizabeth Neal on 11 Oct 1863 in Leamington Spa, but Elizabeth died, aged 31, in 1867, in Shipston-on-Stour. That marriage didn't produce any children. Henry then married widow, Ellen Reynolds (née Carpenter), on 31 Jan 1869, in Bordesley, Warwickshire. They had three daughters: Florence Mary Orton b. 1870 J Quarter in SOUTHAM Volume 06D Page 600; Nellie Rose Orton b. 1873 D Quarter in WARWICK Volume 06D Page 537; and Lizzie Orton b. 1877 S Quarter in WATFORD UNION Volume 03A Page 409, who died, aged 1, in 1878 D Quarter in WATFORD Volume 03A Page 290. Ellen Orton died, aged 47, 1880 D Quarter in WATFORD Volume 03A Page 255, where Henry C Orton (42) Builder's foreman, was living at 6, Church Road, in 1881.

In 1891, Henry C Orton (52) Carpenter, wife Delia (sic) (42), Florence (21), Charles (8), Maud (6), plus boarders: Samuel Cos (21) and Albert Batchelor (19) were living in London at Worcester Street, St George Hanover Square.

Then Henry Charles Orton died, aged 54, in 1892 D Quarter in ST GEORGE HANOVER SQUARE Volume 01A Page 283. Various newspapers in Apr 1893 reported on the legal case surrounding his death:

DAMAGES FOR THE LOSS OF A HUSBAND

The case of "Orton v. Simpson" came before Judge Bayley and a jury at Westminster County Court for a partition of the damages. Mrs Dahlia Orton and her children claimed £280 under the Employers' Liability Act from Messrs. Simpson and Company (Limited), engineers, of Pimlico. The husband was an engineer, and on 3 Dec last was killed whilst in the employ of the defending company through the bursting of a defective cylinder. The plaintiff had two children, aged eight and ten years, and there were two children of the deceased by a former marriage, aged 18 and 21. The defendants admitted their liability and paid £210 into court, which sum the plaintiff accepted, at Westminster County Court yesterday applied under Lord Campbell's Act for a partition of the damages. The jury awarded the plaintiff £50, the two children by a former marriage £5 each, and the plaintiff's two children £75. 

In 1901, Dahlia Orton (52) widow, was living at 16, Balfern Grove, Chiswick with Charles Orton (18), Emily M Orton (16) and three boarders: Alfred Hooke (22), Thomas Willcox (25) and Albert Clarke (27).

In 1911, Dahlia Orton (62) was staying with her daughter and her husband, William Charles Creedon (27) Licenced Victualler at the Builder's Arms, 8 Wyvil Road, Lambeth. (William Charles Creeden and Emily Maud Orton married, in Brentford, in 1907 and, in 1910, William Charles Creedon had been landlord of the Oxford Arms, 77 St Peter Street, Bethnal Green.) On the 1911 Census, Dahlia Orton states that she had three children, two living and one had died, but I've been unable to find records relating to a third child.

In 1921, Dahlia Orton (72) Widow was once again living with her daughter and son-in-law, back at 16, Balfern Grove, Chiswick, Middlesex.

Dahlia Orton died, at 76, in 1925 D Qtr in BRENTFORD Vol 03A Page 222.

The Vauxhall Griffin, Renamed as the "Griffin Belle" in 2018, formerly Builders Arms
Image: Ewan Munro | Some rights reserved

Thomas Barton and Elizabeth Ann Fuller

St Paul's Church, Woodford Bridge
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Marathon - geograph.org.uk/p/5264357

Thomas Barton (bap. 4 Dec 1842 at Woodford Bridge), son of Thomas Barton and Ann Birch, married and Elizabeth Ann Fuller (bap. 8 Oct 1843), daughter of Robert Fuller and Elizabeth Ann Bradley, at St Paul's Church, Woodford Bridge (the previous church before it was rebuilt) on 27 July 1862.

Records suggest that this couple had 12 children:

1. Jane Ann Fuller b. 1860 J Quarter in WEST HAM UNION Volume 04A Page 44, bap. 16 May 1860 at All Saints Church, West Ham with a note that residence was 'Westham Union' (West Ham Union Workhouse)
2. Emily Elizabeth Fuller b. 1862 M Quarter in WEST HAM UNION Volume 04A Page 44, bap. 4 Apr 1862 at St Mary the Virgin, Leyton
3. Ann Jane Barton b. 1864 M Quarter in WEST HAM UNION Volume 04A Page 61, bap. 7 Feb 1864 at St Paul's Church, Woodford Bridge
4. Eliza Barton b. 1868 D Quarter in EPPING UNION Volume 04A Page 92, bap. 15 Jan 1869 at St John the Baptist Church, Buckhurst Hill and then again on 5 May 1872 at St Paul's Church, Woodford Bridge
5. Thomas Frederick Barton b. 1872 J Qtr in WEST HAM UNION Vol 04A Page 96, bap. 5 May 1872 at St Paul's Church, Woodford Bridge
6. Frederick William Barton b. 1875 J Qtr in WEST HAM UNION Vol 04A Page 114. Died 1875 J Qtr in WEST HAM UNION Vol 04A Page 55. 
7. Elizabeth Ann Barton b. 1878 J Quarter in WEST HAM UNION Volume 04A Page 154, bap. 4 May 1878 at St Paul's Church, Woodford Bridge. Died 1878 J Quarter in WEST HAM UNION Volume 04A Page 76 and was buried at Woodford Bridge, Essex.
8. John Barton b. 1880 M Quarter in WEST HAM Volume 04A Page 179, bap. 7 Mar 1880 at St Paul's Church, Woodford Bridge
9. George Barton b. 1882 M Quarter in WEST HAM Volume 04A Page 219, bap. 8 Aug 1882 at St Paul's Church, Woodford Bridge
10. Beatrice Barton b. 1883 J Quarter in WEST HAM Volume 04A Page 215, bap. 7 Aug 1887 at Holy Trinity, Hermon Hill, South Woodford
11. Joshua Barton b. 1886 S Quarter in WEST HAM Volume 04A Page 262, bap. 3 Jul 1886 at St Paul's Church, Woodford Bridge
12. Elizabeth Barton b. 1887 S Quarter in WEST HAM Volume 04A Page 261, bap. 7 Aug 1887 at Holy Trinity, Hermon Hill, South Woodford. Died 1887 S Quarter in WEST HAM Volume 04A Page 132 and was buried at Woodford Bridge, Essex

In 1871, Thomas Barton (29) Labourer was living in Woodford Bridge, Essex with wife, Elizabeth Ann Barton (28), Jane Ann Barton (10) born in Leytonstone; Emily Barton (9) born Leytonstone; Ann Jane Barton (7) born in Woodford and Eliza Barton born in Buckhurst Hill.

In 1881, Thomas Barton (37) Labourer was living in Victoria Road, Woodford, West Ham with Elizabeth Barton (37), Ann J Barton (17), Eliza Barton (12), Thomas Barton (9), John Barton (1) and James Mead (21) Lodger. (Eliza Barton married Alfred Mead in 1888, James Mead's younger brother.) Jane Ann Barton (21) was a Domestic Servant in the household of Augustus Harper (35) Member of stock exchange, at Louise Heim House, Cleveland Road, Wanstead. Couldn't find Emily Elizabeth under either Fuller or Barton.

In 1891, Thomas Barton (49) General labourer was living in Lower Road, Woodford with Elizabeth Barton (49), John Barton (11) and George Barton (9), Beatrice Barton (7), Joshua Barton (4) and William Fuller (46) Lodger.

In 1901, Thomas Barton (59) General labourer was living in Oxford Terrace, Chigwell Road, Woodford, with Elizabeth Barton (58) and John Barton (21) and Joshua Barton (14). (George had married that year at just 19.)

Elizabeth Ann Barton died at 65 in 1908 M Qtr in WEST HAM Vol 04A 227.

In 1911, Thomas Barton (69) Widowed, was still living in Woodford with Joseph Barton (29) [George] (Meanwhile, Annie Barton (27), George's wife, was Housekeeper to William Patience (34) Widower), Joshua Barton (24), Beatrice Saggers (28), Charles Saggers (28), Beatrice Saggers (8), Emily Saggers (6), Mary Saggers (3) and John Saggers (2). Although Thomas was a widower and the question was meant for married women, he helpfully filled in the details on this census saying he was married 49 years (it will have been 46 by the time Elizabeth Ann died in 1908, so 49 years ago then) and had 9 children living and 4 who had died, making a total of 13 - so there's still potentially one missing for whom I haven't [yet] found a record.

Thomas Barton died at 69, in 1911 J Quarter in WEST HAM Volume 04A Page 161 and was buried on 8 Apr 1911 at Woodford Bridge.

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. 

It appears that Richard Mason had previously married Elizabeth Patience, also at St John & St Giles, Great Easton, Essex, on 23 Dec 1774, however, I've been unable to confirm this definitively. Neither can I find out 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 might relate, but is unconfirmed.

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 aged about 76 (born ~1750), died 3 years later and was buried at St John & St Giles, Great Easton, on 17 Oct 1826.

Daniel Hockley and Sophia Mason

St Mary, Broxted - Chancel
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © John Salmon - geograph.org.uk/p/3374402

Daniel Hockley, Labourer, married Sophia Mason (b. 3 Dec 1796, bap. 1 Jan 1797 in Great Easton, Essex), daughter of Richard Mason and Millicent Butcher, on 17 Jul 1815 at the parish church in Broxted, Essex. Witnesses were Sophia's brother Samuel Mason and Amelia Baker, his intended. 

For now Daniel is the earliest of my Hockley ancestors that I can follow a trail of records to and be fully confident are correct. He was reputedly the son of Daniel Hockley and Sarah Turner - and thus brother of Sally Hockley - but I've found no record of a birth (or baptism) to prove this. There is, however, a listing of a Daniel Hockley, baptised in Broxted on 21 Feb 1790, son of John and Mary Hockley, which looks to be a far more likely candidate. 

Daniel and Sophia had nine children:

1. George Hockley bap. 1 Oct 1815 in Broxted
2. Lucy Hockley bap. 26 Oct 1817 
3. Eliza Hockley bap. 23 Jul 1820 (died, aged 25, and was buried on 7 Jul 1845 at St Mary the Virgin, Great Dunmow.)
4. Mary Hockley bap. 9 May 1824
5. Tamar Hockley bap. 8 Oct 1826. Tamar as a name: There are three characters in the Bible with this name. 
6. Sarah Hockley bap. 10 Aug 1828 (buried 14 Sep 1828)
7. Sophia Hockley bap. 14 Aug 1831
8. William Hockley bap. 15 Sep 1833
9. James Hockley bap. 5 Aug 1838

From Lucy onwards, they were baptised at St Mary the Virgin, Great Dunmow.

Youngest child, James, falls within Civil Registration and, the General Register Office record confirms the mother's maiden name as MASON.

In 1841, at Halfway House, Great Dunmow, were Daniel Hockley (50), Sophia (45), George (25), Eliza (20), Tamar (15), Sophia (10), William (8), James (2) and Lucy (0), daughter of Eliza Hockley, Single Woman [1]. Mary Hockley (18ish) was working as a Female Servant in the household of William Piper (30) Chemist & Druggist in High Street, Great Dunmow, Dunmow.

Sophia Hockley died, aged 46 - which agrees with a year of birth of 1796 - in 1842 D Quarter in DUNMOW UNION Volume 12 Page 55 and was buried, on 23 Oct 1842, at St Mary the Virgin, Great Dunmow.

In 1861, the widowed Daniel Hockley - age estimated to 62 - was living in the household of son William Hockley (27), married to Charlotte (née Cock) (27), their daughter Sarah C (1) and William's brother, James (23).

Daniel Hockley died, his age estimated to 81, in 1868 S Quarter in DUNMOW UNION Volume 04A Page 267 and was buried on 8 Jul 1868.

[1] Lucy Hockley (b. 1841 M Quarter in DUNMOW UNION Volume 12 Page 77), bap. 5 Mar 1841 at St Mary the Virgin, Great Dunmow, daughter of Eliza Hockley, Single Woman. In 1861, Lucy Hockley (20) Domestic Servant was an Inmate of Great Dunmow Union Workhouse. In 1871, Lucy Hockley (30) Domestic Servant was an Inmate of Dunmow Union Workhouse, but, in 1881 Lucy Hockley (36ish) was employed as a Domestic Servant by Charles Cook (70) in Chelmsford Road, Barnston, Dunmow. Lucy Hockley of Dunmow Union Workhouse died, aged 49, and was buried on 22 Nov 1890.

Philip Perry and Elizabeth Flemming

Photo © John Salmon (cc-by-sa/2.0)

St Mary, Church Road, Little Ilford - Chancel

Photo available for reuse under this Creative Commons licence.

Mr Philip Perry (b. ~1678) married Elizabeth Flemming (purportedly b. ~1685) at St Mary the Virgin, Little Ilford, Essex, on 6 Feb 1706.

Philip and Elizabeth Perry had eight children:

1. Thomas Perry b. 7 Dec 1708, bap. 14 Dec 1708
2. Philip Perry b. 3 Oct 1710, bap. 22 Oct 1710
3. John Perry b. 13 Dec 1712, bap. 1 Jan 1712/13
4. Elizabeth Perry b. 27 Feb 1714, bap. 27 Mar 1714/15
5. Susanna Perry b. 1 Mar 1715, bap. 27 Mar 1714/15
6. Fleming Perry b. 4 Jan 1717, bap. 12 Jan 1717. Fleming, son of Mr Philip Perry, buried 21 Oct 1720 at St Margaret's, Barking
7. Sarah Perry b. 27 May 1719, bap. 14 Jun 1719. Sarah, daughter of Mr Philip Perry, buried 26 May 1720 at St Margaret's, Barking
8. Sarah Perry bap. 12 Mar 1720 (Julian) 1721 (Gregorian). Sadly, the church official had stopped putting in the actual birth dates.

All of the baptisms were at the church of St Mary Magdalene, Woolwich. Elizabeth and Susanna, baptised together in 1714/15, were presumably born in different years, but the record doesn't show which years. Elizabeth is listed first on the baptism, as well as later in her father's Will, so I'm assuming she was the older of the two. St Margaret's Church, Barking a.k.a. the Church of St Margaret of Antioch is where Captain Jonathan Collett, to whom Philip Perry left a bequest, was baptised and later buried. Susanna Perry would seem to have been named after Collett's wife, Susanna Hill (whom he had married at Saint Helen Bishopsgate, City of London on 6 Jul 1706).

The Chronicles of the Blackwall Yard (PDF) by Henry Green and Robert Wigram (published 1881), claim that in 1708: "About this time the manager of Sir Henry Johnson's Yard was a certain Philip Perry, whose history and introduction to Blackwall has been given as follows. In or about the year 1690, Philip Perry was a carpenter on board of one of His Majesty's ships. During a severe storm the vessel was in much danger of foundering from a bad leak, but in consequence of Philip Perry's skill and ingenuity the ship was saved and brought safely back to port. The Commissioners of the Admiralty, to mark their appreciation of his service, gave him an important post at Plymouth Dockyard, whence he was transferred to Deptford, where he greatly increased his reputation. This position he is said to have relinquished to superintend Sir Henry Johnson's business at Blackwall."

Ship's carpenters went on voyages to make running repairs, so I suspect there may be some truth in the story, but it bears all the hallmarks of family making it sound more dramatic than reality. If we were to be really pedantic, the reigning monarchs in 1690 were William III and Mary II, who ascended the throne after the "Glorious Revolution" of 1688, so a reference in 1690 should have been to one of 'Their Majesties' Ships'. It seems more likely this event was after the death of Mary II in 1694, and before the accession of Queen Anne in 1702. Of course this could all just be a completely romanticised family myth. And Green & Wigram's chronology is decidedly suspect.

The earliest reports confirm that Perry's career began in Plymouth and this, I feel, helps make a case for him originally being from that area. Both British History Online and Three Decks think he was born in 1678 (the latter will have got the information from the former). If so, there's a potential baptism of Philip Perry, son of John Perry (and reputedly grandson of Philip Perry) in 1679, in Maker, Cornwall (just across the Tamar from Plymouth), which several people have accepted and I agree that, circumstantially, this looks incredibly reasonable, but may be unlikely to be absolutely proven.

"Perry, a working shipwright, was employed in the Naval Yard at Plymouth during the first years of the eighteenth century.", according to British History Online. He was then posted to Kinsale in 1702, where he was appointed Master Shipwright and there are references to substantiate him being in Kinsale from Mar 1702 until Jun 1705. He'd been sent to Ireland with other shipwrights for the purpose of 'their taking shipping there' at the beginning of the War of the Spanish Succession. Records listed at The National Archives (not downloadable) also confirm these postings: on 18 Mar 1702 "Plymouth Officers on behalf of Philip Perry, Shipwright. A testimonial of the good service of Phillip Perry." Then on 25 Sep 1702 "Philip Perry, Shipwright, Kindsale, Petitioner. He asks to be registered at Kinsale as a skilled man and to receive a higher level of pay." And "Kinsale Officers for Philip Perry, Shipwright, provide a Testimonial on behalf of Phillip Perry, Shipwright."

Then on 6 Aug 1705, "Philip Perry, Sheerness. Regarding his service in Kinsale where he acted as Foreman and assisted in repairs to masts and boats. Requests an allowance to take into consideration his 13 years service, including two spells in Kinsale." And on 17 Aug 1705 "Philip Perry, Sheerness. Further request for acting foreman pay for his time at Kinsale."

The other question that arises is, where and when did he meet Elizabeth? He'd only been in the London area for eight months when they married, but could he have known her longer? Could she have been from Plymouth? It seems that I'm not the first person to suggest this, but no evidence was offered.

A view of the Thames and Woolwich Dockyard in 1698, prepared for King William III.
The church of St Mary Magdalene, Woolwich is on the mound to the left.

The church where all of their children were baptised, St Mary Magdalene Woolwich, is right next to Woolwich Dockyard, also known as The King's Yard, Woolwich, "where many ships were built from the early 16th century". It's some distance (~4 miles) from Deptford Dockyard, the nearest church to which is St. Nicholas, on Deptford Green, so surely attending the church in Woolwich suggested Philip Perry was employed at Woolwich? And indeed, confirmation is in a record listed at The National Archives (not digitised so not downloadable), dated 1708, "Folio 396: Philip Perry. Petition for employment as Boatbuilder at Deptford Yard. Places mentioned: Kinsale, Woolwich. People mentioned: Mr. Stacey, Mr. Philips, Commissioner Wright."

Mr. Stacey was Richard Stacey, English shipbuilder and ship designer. In 1695, Stacey was Master Boat Builder at Plymouth Dockyard; "In 1698 he transferred briefly to Kinsale (until Apr 1705). He then worked for a few months at Sheerness Dockyard in 1705 before being appointed Master Shipwright at Woolwich Dockyard in November 1705." From 1709 until 1715, Richard Stacey was Master Shipwright at Portsmouth Dockyard and this is the only time Perry doesn't go with him. Then in 1715, Stacy was Appointed Master Shipwright at Deptford Dockyard. Stacey, being around 15 years older than Perry could have been his master (with whom Perry served his apprenticeship), or Perry was a highly trusted employee, but they must have known each other and Perry generally went where Stacey went. 

Did Philip Perry work at Deptford perhaps with Stacey after 1715?

The Master Shipwrights House at Deptford, "... was rebuilt in 1708 for master shipwright Joseph Allin who, dissatisfied with his existing house, persuaded the Navy Board to invest in a remodelling. However, Allin overspent on the house and, amidst rumours of corruption, he was dismissed in 1715." [Source]. That's when Richard Stacey was appointed Master Shipwright at Deptford Dockyard, a position he held until 1742, so he will have lived and worked in this magnificent house for 27 years. British History Online, also tells us that, "In the mid-1730s, when it was rumoured that Philip Perry was about to desert Blackwall for Deptford, he was described as 'the Great Builder'." You can quite imagine this rumour being taken seriously. Philip Perry must have visited there during that time and may have worked there too. And Philip Perry's son-in-law, Philip Gilbert, certainly must have done so, as he was briefly Assistant Master Shipwright at Deptford Dockyard in 1740.

Inside The Master Shipwright’s House

"During the 1720s he [Perry] worked as manager for John Kirby and was later employed in a similar capacity by Collett and Boulton." (As an aside, but nevertheless important to note, Philip Perry's granddaughter, Elizabeth Perry and her husband (my cousin) Elnathan Ayres, gave the middle name Boulton to two of their children.) The baptisms in Woolwich suggest the Perrys were still there until around 1720/1, which confirms the statement, "there is no evidence of his being at Blackwall before 1722". By 1722 Perry was living in Blackwall Yard, where he occupied the mansion house 'and garden adjacent with the garden and terrace walk on the east side of the same'. 

In the parish registers of St Dunstan's, Stepney is the record of the burial of Elizabeth Perry on 21 Apr 1734. I'm certain this is Mrs Philip Perry, because it says "Elizabeth Perry of B'Wall to Poplar", indicating that she was buried at Poplar Chapel (St Matthias Old Church) built by the East India Company in 1654, where her husband, sons and grandson were also later buried.

In his Will, drafted on 20 Jun 1741, "Philip Perry the Elder of Blackwall in the Parish of Stepney in the County of Middlesex Shipwright" ... directed, "My body I commit to this earth to be decently buried by walking burial in as frugal a manner as conveniently may be at the discretion and management of my sons Philip Perry and John Perry and my Son-in-Law John Brown (whom I herein make Executors ...)" A walking burial, I assume, is his coffin taken in procession on foot, without hiring expensive carriages. Philip left £120 to Abraham Cropp Esq., "by borrowing securities to him for my late son Thomas Perry deceased". (Thus Thomas must have died before 1741, but I've not found when or where). He made bequests to his said son Philip Perry the Younger; his son John Perry; Son-in-Law John Brown; Captain Jonathan Collett; Captain Richard Gosfreight (Collett and Gosfreight were the principal ship's husbands for whom he'd built many ships); his sister Sarah Price, Widow; Philip Littlepage* (grandson of my said sister Sarah Price ten pounds to put him out apprentice); George Case the Clerk of Blackwall Yard; and his three daughters Elizabeth Brown, Susanna Perry & Sarah Perry. Philip Perry makes no mention of his wife in his Will, suggesting she pre-deceased him, adding circumstantial confirmation to the above. There are various stipulations as to how his estate should be divided among his children, depending upon what the total amounted to and it's obvious he was pretty well off.

*(Philip Littlepage bap. 3 Jul 1734, was the son of Sam Littlepage of Poplar, Gent, and Sarah Price, who married on 7 Feb 1728 at St John At Hackney, but I've been unable to find a marriage of a Sarah Perry to anyone named Price.)

The Chronicles of the Blackwall Yard (PDF) claims that John Perry and his brother, Philip Perry, became Yard Managers at Blackwall when their father, "Philip Perry, died on the 26 Sep 1732, at the age of sixty-one years, and was buried near the first Sir Henry Johnson, in the ground adjoining the East India Company's, or Poplar, Chapel, as it was now called. After his death the business was carried on by his son, who, as we learn from local records, had become by this time a person of considerable influence in the neighbourhood." Philip Perry died in 1742, not 1732 (although I suspect he retired in 1732, as John Perry was managing the yard from then), and this is probably just a 'typo', but it's also not the first time details in Wigram & Green's account just don't add up and, at best, have probably been wrongly remembered.

Philip Perry died on 26 Sep 1742 and was buried on 2 Oct 1742. The parish records of St Dunstans, Stepney lists, "Philip Perry of Blackwall at Poplar", indicating he too was buried at Poplar Chapel (St Matthias Old Church).