Henry Ralph Gabbedey and Elizabeth Louisa Osborn

St Botolph without Bishopsgate
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © John Salmon - geograph.org.uk/p/1193022

Henry Ralph Gabbedey (b. 18 Dec 1807), son of John Benbow Gabbedy and Isabella Cleghorn, married Elizabeth Louisa Sheldrick on 17 Sep 1833 at St Botolph-without-Bishopsgate. Born Elizabeth Louisa Osborn and baptised on 24 Apr 1808 in Rotherhithe, daughter of James Osborn and Ann Hopwood, Elizabeth had previously married Thomas Sheldrick on 10 Oct 1830, also at St. Botolph Bishopsgate. However, by the time Elizabeth had their daughter, Eliza Maria Sheldrick baptised, on 19 Aug 1831, in Hitchin, Hertfordshire, Elizabeth was already described as a widow, although she wasn't, yet.

Thomas Sheldrick (43) "A convict in the General Penitentiary" (Millbank Prison), was buried on 5 Jul 1832 at the burial ground of the General Penitentiary, Millbank. In 1830, Thomas Sheldrick and at the same time John Kimpton, were both sentenced, in Cambridge, to 7 years Transportation for Larceny. Then there's a second record ordering the removal of Thomas Sheldrick and John Kimpton from Cambridge to the General Penitentiary on 14 Jul 1830. Clearly Sheldrick died before he could be transported. But it raises so many questions, like why did Elizabeth marry a convict?

Henry Ralph and Elizabeth Louisa Gabbedey added 10 children:

1. Henry William Gabbedey bap. 5 Oct 1834 at St John's, Wapping.
2. John Gabbodey (sic) b. 11 Dec 1835, bap. 27 Jan 1836 at Shadwell, Ebenezer Chapel, Independant, just north of Ratcliff Highway.
3. James Gabbedey b. 1837 S Quarter in SAINT GEORGE IN THE EAST Volume 02 Page 62 (Mother's maiden name listed as OSBORN).
4. Jesse Gabbedey b. 1837 S Quarter in SAINT GEORGE IN THE EAST Volume 02 Page 62 (Mother's maiden name SHELDUCK - Sheldrick misspelled.) Jesse and James (The outlaw Jesse James was not yet born) may have been twins, but why different mother's maiden names, is a mystery. Died, aged 1, in 1839 J Quarter in Volume 02 Page 50.
5. Louisa Ann Gabbedey b. 1839 D Quarter in SAINT GEORGE (IN THE EAST) Volume 02 Page 77 (Mother's maiden name listed as OSBORN).
6. Charles Gabbedey b. 1842 M Quarter in SAINT GEORGE (IN THE EAST) Volume 02 Page 82. (Mother's maiden name listed as SHELDRICK).
7. Thomas Gabbedey b. 1844 M Quarter in SAINT GEORGE (IN THE EAST) Volume 02 Page 94. (Mother's maiden name listed as SHELDRICK). Bap. Thomas Enoch Gabbedy 25 Mar 1874 at St Anne, Limehouse
8. Matilda Gabbedey b. 1845 S Quarter in SAINT GEORGE (IN THE EAST) Volume 02 Page 80. (Mother's maiden name listed as SHELDRICK).
9. Joseph William Gabbedey b. 1848 M Quarter in STEPNEY Volume 02 Page 566. (Mother's maiden name listed as OSBORN).
10. George Gabbedey b. 1850 J Quarter in STEPNEY Volume 02 Page 586. (Mother's maiden name listed as OSBORN). Died, aged 1, 1851 J Quarter in STEPNEY Volume 02 Page 381.

On Henry William's baptism, the family's address was listed as 70 Anchor and Hope Alley, (Browns Quay, Wapping), St. George in the East and Henry Ralph's occupation listed as Labourer. Later, on daughter Louisa's marriage in 1863, he was described as a Shipwright (as were his father and grandfather.) Once Civil Registration was introduced in 1837, they appear to have given up on baptisms. And what has been used on birth registrations for the mother's maiden name looks random, however, I suppose it depends on how the question was asked - 'maiden name' and 'former name', for example, would elicit two different answers if a woman had been married before.

In 1841, in Charles Square, St George, Tower Hamlets, were Henry Gabbedey (35), Elizabeth Gabbedy (33), Eliza Sheldrick (10), Henry Gabbedey (6), John Gabbedey (5), James Gabbedey (4) and Louisa Ann Gabbedey (2).

In 1851, Henry Gabbedey (44) General Labourer, was living in Sarah Street, Shadwell, with wife Louisa Gabbedy (43) purportedly from Hitchin, Hertfordshire; Henry Gabbedey (17), James Gabbedey (14), Louisa Gabbedey (12), Charles Gabbedey (10), Thomas Gabbedey (8), Matilda Gabbedey (6), Joseph Gabbedey (4), George Gabbedey (0), Eliza Sheldrick (20) and John Channing (21) Blacksmith from Newington, Surrey, Lodger.

Elizabeth Louisa Gabbedey (60) died in 1868 M Qtr in STEPNEY Vol 01C Page 342, buried 28 Jan 1868 in City of London & Tower Hamlets Cemetery.

Henry Gabbedey died, aged 70, on 30 Jan 1877 M Quarter in SAINT GEORGE IN THE EAST Volume 01C Page 299, leaving his effects to his son Henry William Gabbedey and his daughter Louisa Seares.