James Hockley and Elizabeth Wilton

St Mary, Great Dunmow
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © John Salmon - geograph.org.uk/p/3988759

James Hockley, son of George Hockley and Eliza Crow, married Elizabeth Wilton, daughter of Richard Wilton and Catherine Byatt at St Mary the Virgin, Great Dunmow on 25 Dec 1870. The groom was 20, the bride claimed to be 19, but was 23. :) James' occupation, as well as that of both George and Richard is recorded as Labourer. In Richard Wilton's case, this is incorrect. We know from at least three sources (1841 census, his own marriage in 1843, as well as his death certificate) that Richard Wilton was a harness maker. However, as Richard had died in 1858, when Elizabeth was only around 11, she either didn't know or had forgotten (and probably couldn't read what was written anyway), so I can see how this error became perpetuated.

James and Elizabeth Hockley set about repopulating Essex:

1. Alice Catherine Wilton b. 12 Feb 1869 in Great Dunmow
2. George James Hockley b. 1871 in Great Dunmow,
   bap. 30 Mar 1884 at St Andrew's Church, Hornchurch
3. Charles Stephen Hockley b. 1874 in Poplar,
   bap. 30 Mar 1884 at St Andrew's Church, Hornchurch
4. Eliza Ellen Hockley b. 15 Apr 1876 in Romford,
   bap. 28 Aug 1881 at St Andrew's Church, Hornchurch.
5. William Hockley b. 1878 (died 1880, aged 1)
6. John Harry Hockley b. 25 Jul 1881,
   bap. 28 Aug 1881 at St Andrew's Church, Hornchurch
7. Emily Hockley b. 1884,
   bap. 30 Mar 1884 at St Andrew's Church, Hornchurch
8. Frederick Hockley b. 1886 (mother's maiden name as Wilson)
9. Alfred Albert Hockley b. 15 Apr 1888
10. Joseph Hockley b. 1892 (died 1892, aged 0)
11. Florence Hockley b. 1894

In 1871, James Hockley (20) Labourer, and Elizabeth Hockley (21 ish) were living on the Braintree Road, Great Dunmow. Two year old Alice, meanwhile, was next-door-but-one with her grandmother, Catherine Eldred.

In 1874 they were in Poplar where Charles Stephen Hockley was born. Elizabeth's mother, Catherine Eldred, was also living in Poplar, as was James' eldest brother William, which explains them being in the area.

By 1881, James (29) and Elizabeth (28) were living in South End Road, Hornchurch, with Alice Hockley (14) - now using James' surname? [1] - George Hockley (11), Charles Hockley (9) birthplace given as Bromley - this was Bromley-by-Bow, Poplar - and Eliza E Hockley (4).

[1] Alice being listed with the surname Hockley on this census may NOT mean that she used it normally, nor does it infer that James Hockley is her father. It could just be the enumerator going mad with ditto marks, an assumption, or simply that it wasn't challenged.

South Hall Farmhouse, Rainham
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © David Anstiss - geograph.org.uk/p/3219637

In 1891 at 3, Spring Cottages, High Street, Rainham (these & White Post Cottages were next to South Hall Farm on the Wennington Road), were James Hockley (39) Agricultural Labourer, Elizabeth (37), George (19), Charles (17), Eliza (15), Harry (9), Emily (7), Frederick (5) and Alfred (3).

In 1901, still at 3, Spring Cottages, James Hockley (48) was Foreman on Farm. With him were wife Elizabeth (44) still getting younger - I make her 54 - Harry Hockley (19) Horseman on Farm, Frederick Hockley (15) Horseman on Farm, Alfred Hockley (13) Attending School and Florence Hockley (6).

In 1911, James Hockley (63) had become the Bailiff on Farm (Farm bailiff) with Elizabeth (56), Frederick (25), Alfred Albert (23) and Florence (17).

Elizabeth Hockley died in 1924. She was 77.

James Hockley died in 1936. He was 87.