Thomas Henry Richards Gardner and Mary Ann Watkins

St George Hanover Square
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Stephen Richards - 
geograph.org.uk/p/7728390

Thomas Henry Richards Gardner, bachelor, servant, then of Brook Street, Mayfair (bap. 25 Dec 1825 in Dursley, Gloucestershire), who listed his father as Thomas Richards Gardner, Carpenter, but was actually the son of Mary Ann Gardener, Single woman (and very likely a Mr Richards), married Mary Ann Watkins (b. ~1829 in St George, Hanover Square), spinster of Swan Passage, daughter of James William Watkins, Coachman, and Mary Wells, at St George, Hanover Square, on 30 Jan 1854. Witnesses were James William Watkins and Mary Watkins, presumably the bride's parents.

Thomas Henry Richards and Mary Ann Gardner had seven children:

1. Thomas James Gardner b. 17 Mar 1854 (1854 J Quarter in SAINT GEORGE HANOVER SQUARE Volume 01A Page 171), bap. 28 May 1854 (as Thomas James Charles Augustus Gardner) at St George, Hanover Square. Evidence of a marriage in 1885. Died at 39 in 1892 M Quarter in POPLAR Volume 01C Page 612
2. Henry James Gardner b. 23 Jan 1856 (1856 M Quarter in BETHNAL GREEN Volume 01C Page 320), bap. 11 May 1856 (as Henry James William Gardner) at St George, Hanover Square. Died at 29 in 1885 J Quarter in POPLAR Volume 01C Page 416
3. Charles Albert Gardner b. 31 Mar 1859 (Registered 1859 J Quarter in SAINT GEORGE HANOVER SQUARE Volume 01A Page 183), bap. 7 May 1859 at St George, Hanover Square. (Died in 1901).
4. Ann Gardner b. 1862 M Qtr in POPLAR UNION Vol 01C Page 630. (No further records found, so assume died shortly after birth or in infancy.)
5. Albert Edward Gardner b. 1864 S Quarter in POPLAR Vol 01C Page 596. Died aged 3 in 1867 S Quarter in POPLAR Vol 01C Page 407
6. Mary Ann Gardner b. 1867 S Qtr in POPLAR UNION Vol 01C Page 604. Died at 63 in 1931 J Quarter in STEPNEY Vol 01C Page 240 
7. Albert Gardner b. 19 Jul 1870 in POPLAR UNION Vol 01C Page 623

On all of the registrations the mother's maiden name is WATKINS.

In 1861, Thomas Gardner (31) Ship builders labourer, Mary Ann Gardner (32), Henry Gardner (5) and Chares Gardner (3) were living in the household of Thomas' brother, James Gardner (28) Sawyer from Gloucestershire and his wife Barbara Gardner (24) from Norfolk, at 4, Maud Place, Bromley, Poplar. Thomas Gardner (7) was staying with his grandmother, Mary Watkins (67) Widow, at 5, Swan Cottages, St George Hanover Square.

(Didn't find any birth / baptism record for James Gardner, but he was presumably also a 'natural' son of Mary Ann Gardner. In 1871, James Gardner (38) Manager of Sawmills from Dursley, Gloucestershire, was living in Udimore Road, Rye, Sussex with Barbara Gardner (33). Then James Gardner died, aged 43, in 1876 M Quarter in RYE Volume 02B Page 3 and was buried on 6 Mar 1876, in Rye, Sussex. In 1881, Barbara Gardner (44) Widow, Laundress, was living in Cinque Ports Street, Rye, Sussex. Barbara Gardner died at 76 in 1913 M Quarter in HAILSHAM Volume 02B Page 137.)

In 1871, Thomas Gardner (42) Gas Fitter from Dursley, Gloucestershire was living in Guilford Road, Bromley, Poplar with Mary Ann Gardner (40), Thomas Gardner (17), Henry Gardner (14), Charles Gardner (11), Mary Ann Gardner (3) and Albert Gardner (8 months).

In 1881, at 34, Guildford Road, Bromley, Poplar, were Thomas Gardner (50) Gas Fitter; Mary A Gardner (49), Thomas Gardner (27) Gas Fitter; Henry Gardner (25) Slater; Charles Gardner (22) Slater; and Albert Gardner (11). 

In 1891, Thomas Gardner (62) Gas Fitter was at 12, Bloomfield Road, Mile End Old Town, with Mary Ann Gardner (66) and Albert Gardner (20) Printer.

In 1901, Thomas Gardner (75) Gas Fitter was living at 150, Queens Road, West Ham with Mary A Gardner (73) Shirt maker; Mary A Gardner (32) Shirt maker; and Albert Gardner (30) Post Office porter.

Thomas Henry Richard[s] Gardner died, aged 86, in 1907 D Quarter in WEST HAM Volume 04A Page 51.

In 1911, Mary Ann Gardner (84) was living with son Alfred Gardner (40) Printer porter and his wife Susannah (40) at 268 Devons Road, Bow, Poplar (Alfred Gardner had married Susannah Mary Brown in 1908), with Mary Ann Gardner (42) Shirt machinist; and Albert and Susannah's daughter, Rosetta Mary Gardner (6 months). On this census it lists that Mary Ann Gardner had seven children, of whom five had died and only two were then still living. 

Mary Ann Gardner died at 88 in  1917 M Quarter in MILE END OLD TOWN Volume 01C Page 489.

Charles Albert Gardner and Susannah Sweney

St Anne, Limehouse - Entrance
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © John Salmon - geograph.org.uk/p/4559397

Charles Albert Gardner (b. 31 Mar 1859, bap. 7 May 1859 at St George's, Hanover Square), son of Thomas Henry Richards Gardner and Mary Ann Watkins, married Susan Sweney (sic) (b. 5 Jun 1862 in Mile End), daughter of John Henry Charles Sweeney and Susannah Harvey, at St Matthew, Salmon Lane, Limehouse Fields (the church was gutted by an incendiary bomb in 1941 and demolished) on 25 Dec 1884. Both gave their address as 1 Condor Street. Witnesses were John Sweney and Mary Ann Gardner.

Charles and Susannah had eight children:

1. John Charles Gardner b. 1885 D Qtr in STEPNEY Vol 01C Page 420
2. Henry Gardner b. 1888 J Quarter in STEPNEY Vol 01C Page 420
3. Florence Rose Gardner b. 1890 J Qtr in STEPNEY Vol 01C Page 412
4. Thomas Albert Gardner b. 1892 J Qtr in STEPNEY Vol 01C Page 440
5. James Gardner b. 1894 M Quarter in STEPNEY Volume 01C Page 439
6. Arthur Gardner b. 1896 J Quarter in STEPNEY Volume 01C Page 431
7. Rose Lily Gardner b. 1898 S Qtr in STEPNEY Volume 01C Page 411
8. May Matilda Louisa Gardner b. 1901 J Qtr Vol 01C Page 420

The mother's maiden name on all the birth records is SWENEY.

In 1891, the family living at 13, Maroon Street, Limehouse, Stepney, were Charles Gardner (32) Slater; Susannah Gardner (29), John Charles Gardner (5), Henry Gardner (2) and Florence Rose Gardner (1).

In 1901, at 34, Maroon Street, Limehouse, were Charles Gardner (41) Slater and tiler; Susan Gardner (39), John C Gardner (15) Credit draper's assistant (Tallymen and ‘Perambulating Scotchmen’ to Credit Drapers' Associations, c.1840–1914); Henry Gardner (12), Florence R Gardner (11), Thomas A Gardner (9), James Gardner (7), Arthur Gardner (5) and Rose L Gardner (3).

Charles Gardner died, aged 42, in Q4 1901, in Whitechapel (Vol 1C 192).

In 1911, Susan Gardner (47) Charwoman at the London Hospital, Widow, was living at 37 St Thomas's Road, Mile End Old Town, London with Thomas Gardner (19) Printer's cutter; James Gardner (17) Clerk; Arthur Gardner (15) Errand Boy; Rose Gardner (13) and May Gardner (10). The census confirms that Susannah had eight children, all then living. Also living at 37 St Thomas's Road, Mile End Old Town in 1911 were Archibald Campbell (39) Slater and tiler, Widower, along with his four surviving daughters: Jessie Campbell (16), Lizzie Campbell (14), Millie [Amelia] Campbell (12) and Esther Campbell (10). Seemingly, at least at this time, these were two separate households.

Susan Gardner (47) Widow, daughter of John Sweney, Dock Labourer, remarried to Archibald Campbell (39), Widower, who listed his father as Archibald Campbell, Cooper, at St Anne, Limehouse, on 5 Jun 1911. (Archibald Campbell had previously married Ellen Keating in Mile End, in 1893, with whom, according to the 1911 Census, he had ten children (found records for nine), six had died. Ellen Campbell died, at 38, in 1909.)

Archibald's daughter, Esther Campbell died, aged 10, in 1912.

In 1921, still at 37, St Thomas Road, Mile End Old Town were Archibald Campbell (49) General Labourer for Stepney Borough Council; Susan Campbell (56), Thomas Gardner (29) Step-son, Disabled General Labourer "Under Young Treatment Hospital"; May Gardner (20) Step-daughter; Amelia Campbell (21) daughter; Violet Gardner (11) Adopted Daughter (Violet was purportedly born in Stepney in 1910, but I've no idea if that was her birth name); plus Elizabeth Bryant (20) and Kate Bryant (15) both Visitors.

Susannah Campbell (formerly Gardner, née Sweney), pictured left, clearly lived "to an age". There was a death of a Susannah Campbell (63) who died in 1925, in Lewisham, which may relate, but is not confirmed.