Robert Hockley and Elizabeth Neve

All Saints Church, Stisted, Essex
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Peter Stack - geograph.org.uk/p/2051427

Robert Hockley (bap. 1 Oct 1775 at St Mary the Virgin, Great Dunmow), son of Robert Hockley and Elizabeth Cramphorne, married Elizabeth Neve of Stisted, at All Saints Church, Stisted, Essex on 30 Nov 1797.

In 1799, the records of Country Apprentices, inform us that William Lammas was indentured to Robert Hockley, Tailor. This William Lammas would have been his cousin, son of William Lammas and Mary Hockley, Robert's aunt.

However, Elizabeth Hockley, wife of Robert Hockley, Tailor, died at just 27 and was buried on 23 Feb 1800. She had given birth to a daughter, who was christened, Elizabeth Hockley at 3 weeks of age on 25 Feb 1800. The infant died at 2 months and was buried, at St Mary the Virgin, Great Dunmow, on 16 Mar 1800, with a sad note on the burial record saying "The mother dead."

Unsurprisingly, on 20 Nov 1801, Robert Hockley of this Parish, Widower, remarried this time to Mary Hayward of the Parish of Halstead in the County of Essex, Spinster, at the church of St Mary the Virgin, Great Dunmow. They were married by License in the Presence of Thos. Lilly and Elizabeth Hockley.

Robert and Mary's son, Ebenezer Hockley b. 6 Jun 1804, bap. 3 Aug 1804, was listed among Dunmow (Independent): Births & Baptisms.

But Mary Hockley wife of Robert Hockley died, aged 30, on 19 Aug 1805 and Essex Non-Conformist Church Records list that she was buried on 23 Aug 1805. There was also a Non-Conformist burial of a Mary Hockley on 30 Aug 1805, so, although there is no corresponding baptism, nor is the age of this deceased listed, my fear is this may be the death of another infant of this couple and perhaps points to the cause of Mary Hockley's death too.

So, on 12 Jul 1808, Robert Hockley, Widower of this Parish, married for a third time to Mary Harvey, Widow, of the Parish of Great Sampford, again at St Mary the Virgin, Great Dunmow, the record stating, "Married in this Church by License. In the presence of Thomas Reynold and Sarah Cornell." It hasn't [yet] been possible to work out what this Mary's maiden name was.

This Robert and Mary Hockley had at least these two daughters:

1. Eleanor Hockley b. 1811, died aged 33 on 21 Dec 1844 D Quarter in DUNMOW UNION Volume 12 Page 56 and Essex Non-Conformist Church Records show she was buried on Christmas Day, 25 Dec 1844.
2. Lueza Hockley bap. 4 Mar 1814, listed in Dunmow (Independent): Births & Baptisms. Died on 7 Nov 1814 and was buried on 11 Nov 1814. 

Pigot's Directory of Essex 1823 lists Robert Hockley as a Tailor and Draper.

In 1841, Robert Hockley (65) Tailor and Draper was in High Street, Great Dunmow with Mary Hockley (64), Eleanor Hockley (30) and Mary Fewell (17) Female Servant. Their position in the High Street was interesting: 

The first household listed in the High Street, Great Dunmow in 1841 was that of Samuel Thorn (40) Shoe Maker. Next door was Robert Hockley, Tailor and Draper. Then George Saich (25) Ostler. It doesn't tell us which establishment, but as an Ostler, it must have been a Coaching Inn, so my feeling is most likely the Saracen's Head Hotel, the 15th century Coaching Inn at 30 High Street, Great Dunmow. (Saich later went to the Neville Arms, Wendens Ambo). The other side of the hostelry were Henry Wilton and Mary Barton, then Henry Wilton, Saddler - in whose household was Henry Wilton Pryor - and then John Prior (55) Basket Maker - father of Charles Prior married to Mary Wilton - who were next and Richard Wilton was lodging next door.)

Mary Hockley died at 66 in 1843 D Qtr in DUNMOW Vol 12 Page 59.

In 1851, Robert Hockley (76) Widower, Tailor from Great Dunmow, Essex, was living in Fryerning, Essex with James French (14) Ag Lab, Lodger in his household. (Robert's son, Ebenezer Hockley (44) Draper and Tailor, was at that time also living in Ingatestone Street, Fryerning with his family.)

The Essex Standard on 12 Nov 1858 reported that on the "4th instant Josiah Martin St. John, of Brighton, was charged with stealing a time-piece from Mr. Robert Hockley, tailor, of Ingatestone." So he was in Ingatestone by then.

Robert Hockley died in 1861 D Quarter in CHELMSFORD Volume 04A Page 86. The Essex Standard of 13 Nov and 15 Nov 1861, reported, "Nov 6th, at Ingatestone, aged 85, Mr. Robert Hockley, formerly of Dunmow."

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.

John Henry Charles Sweeney and Susannah Harvey

John Henry Charles Sweeney
and Susannah Harvey.
Image provided by Jon Gilbert,
descendant of Rosina Sweeney

John Henry Charles Sweeney (b. 11 May 1839 in Ratcliff), son of John Sweeney and Anne Elizabeth Gabbaday, married Susannah Harvey (b. 5 Oct 1845 in Limehouse), daughter of John Harvey and Esther Glede, on 6 Jul 1862 at the church of St John the Evangelist, Limehouse (St John's Church, Halley Street, Limehouse). Susannah was 16 and John, a Seaman, 23. Witnesses were the bridegroom's father, John Sweney (sic) and his sister, Mary Ann Sweeney.

John and Susannah had eleven children:

1. Susannah Sweeney b. 5 Jun 1862 (1862 S Quarter in MILE END OLD TOWN Volume 01C Page 518), bap. 28 May 1863 at St John the Evangelist
2. John Sweeney b. 6 Apr 1864 (1864 J Quarter in MILE END OLD TOWN Volume 01C Page 552), bap. 5 May 1864 at St John the Evangelist. (Died 1866 S Quarter in STEPNEY Volume 01C Page 610, aged 2)
3. Esther Ann Sweeney b. 1866 J Quarter in STEPNEY Volume 01C Page 478 (Died 1866 J Quarter in STEPNEY Vol 01C Page 399, aged 0)
4. John Sweeney b. 12 Dec 1867 (1868 M Quarter in STEPNEY Volume 01C Page 515), bap. 5 Jan 1868 at St John the Evangelist.
5. Job Sweeney b. 6 Feb 1870 (1870 M Quarter in STEPNEY Volume 01C Page 531), bap. 11 May 1871 at St John the Evangelist.
6. Thomas Sweeney b. 25 Dec 1871 (1872 M Quarter in STEPNEY Volume 01C Page 508), bap. 15 Feb 1872 at St John the Evangelist.
7. Henry Sweeney b. 13 Jan 1874 (1874 M Quarter in STEPNEY Volume 01C Page 488), bap. 12 Mar 1874 at St John the Evangelist.
8. Mary May Sweeney b. 1876 J Quarter in STEPNEY Volume 01C Page 483 (Died 1877 D Quarter in STEPNEY Vol 01C Page 344, age 1)
9. Mary Matilda Sweeney b. 11 Mar 1878 (1878 J Quarter in STEPNEY Volume 01C Page 451) (No further baptism records found.)
10. Charles Sweeney b. 17 Jul 1880 (1880 S Qtr in STEPNEY Vol 01C 443)
11. Rosina Sweeney b. 4 Jun 1883 (1883 S Qtr in STEPNEY Vol 01C 425)

With three having not survived infancy, this explains the eight listed in the family bible. There are no more civil registrations to support further reputed issue, though, of course, there could have been stillbirths or miscarriages.

Notice that the 3rd child has been named Esther Ann - these are the names of the two grandmothers, maternal first, paternal second - and I believe this is significant: there are suggestions that this is a pattern within the family.

In 1871, John Sweeney (63), carpenter - John Henry Charles' father - was still listed as the head of the household at Stephen Cottages, James Street, St Anne, Limehouse. Then there is John Henry Charles (31), labourer, wife Susan (26), daughter Susan (9), plus sons John (3) and Job (1).

In 1881, at Stephen Cottage, 1, Limehouse, Stepney, were John (41), Dock Labourer, wife Susannah (36), daughter Susannah (18), Tailoress, John (13), Tea Packer, Job (11), Thomas (9), Henry (7), Mary (3) and Charles (0).

In 1891, at Stephensons Cottages, Condor Street, Limehouse, Stepney (still the same place), were John (52), Labourer, Susannah (47), Job (21), Packer, Thomas (19), Labourer, Mary M (13), Charles (10) and Rosina (7).

In 1901, at Stephenson Cottages, 1, Limehouse, Stepney, were John Sweeney (63), Dock Labourer, Susannah (54), Thomas (29), General Labourer, Matilda (23), and Rosina (18), both Confectionery Packers.

And in 1911, the address as 1 Stephensons Cottages, Conder St, Limehouse, with all the kids having flown the nest, there were just John Henry Charles Sweeney (71), Night Watchman for the Borough Council and Susannah Sweeney (65). This census confirms that they had 11 children, of whom 8 were still living, with 3 having died, during their then 48 year marriage. Not located Thomas Sweeney, who would have been then 39, in 1911.

Susannah Sweeney died, aged 72, in 1918 M Qtr in STEPNEY Vol 01C 480. 

In 1921, John Henry Sweeney (82) Caretaker Retired, widower, was living with his youngest son Charles at 102, Hind Street, Poplar. Thomas Sweeney (49 years and 6 months) was living, alone - listed as Single  - at 94, Lynvie Road, Bow, Poplar and working as a Deal Porter for Mr W Howard Bros Timbers Merchant of Canning Town at Crown Wharf.

John Henry Charles Sweeney died, aged 83, in 1922 S Quarter in POPLAR Volume 01C  Page 352.

(Thomas Sweeney does not appear to ever marry and it would seem that he died, aged 58, in 1930 M Quarter in POPLAR Volume 01C Page 389.)