Robert Hockley, Tailor and Draper

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 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.

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 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 married Esther Glede, 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 with the occupation of Labourer. John and Esther are listed as bachelor and spinster, respectively and the record states that they were "of full age". Esther would have been 20, John 38. Witnesses were Eleanor Hooper and John P Hughlings. 

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

1. Sarah Harvey b. c. 1843 in Essex
2. Susannah Harvey, b. 15 Oct 1845 at 174 Eastfield Street, Limehouse (Mother's maiden surname on the civil registration written as Glead)
3. Mary Ann Harvey b. 1848 (Mother's maiden surname Gleed)
4. John Harvey b. 1850 (Mother's maiden surname Gleed)
5. Morris Harvey b. 1853 (Mother's maiden surname Gleed)
6. Esther Harvey b. 1855 (Mother's maiden surname Gleed)
7. Job Harvey b. 5 Oct 1859, bap. 14 Dec 1859 at St Dunstan and All Saints, Stepney (died in the 4th quarter of 1859)
8. Job Harvey b. 6 Nov 1860, bap. 9 Jan 1861 at St Dunstan and All Saints
9. Lydia Harvey bap. 14 Apr 1864 at St John the Evangelist, Limehouse

In 1851, living in Fair Place, Stepney, were John Harvey (40), Labourer, born in Chingford, Essex c. 1811, wife Esther (32), Sarah (8), born in Essex, Susannah (5), Mary Ann (3), both born in Limehouse and John (0), born in Stepney. Esther was actually 22 then. I'm confident this is the right household, but what I think is going on here is that her age has been 'rounded up' to hide how young she was - 16 at the time Susannah was born. Was Sarah Harvey, born 1843, in Essex, actually Esther's child? I'm not entirely convinced, but have been unable to identify any relevant birth to confirm. 

Unable to find them in 1861, John Harvey died in 1866, aged 56.

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

There is a potential death for Esther Harvey, aged 76, in 1899.

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, son of John Sweeney and Anne Elizabeth Gabbaday, married Susannah Harvey, daughter of John Harvey and Esther Glede, on 6 Jul 1862 at the church of St John the Evangelist, Limehouse. The bride was 16 and the groom, listed as a Seaman, will have been 23 at the time of the marriage. Witnesses were the bridegroom's father, John Sweney (sic) and the groom's sister, Mary Ann Sweeney.

John and Susannah had eleven children:

1. Susannah Sweeney b. 5 Jun 1862
2. John Sweeney b. 6 Apr 1864, bap. 5 May 1864 at St John the Evangelist (died 1866, aged 2)
3. Esther Ann Sweeney b. 1866 (died 1866, aged 0)
4. John Sweeney b. 12 Dec 1867, bap. 5 Jan 1868 at St John the Evangelist.
5. Job Sweeney b. 6 Feb 1870, bap. 11 May 1871 at St John.
6. Thomas Sweeney b. 25 Dec 1871, bap. 15 Feb 1872 at St John.
7. Henry Sweeney b. 13 Jan 1874, bap. 12 Mar 1874 at St John.
8. Mary May Sweeney b. 1876 (died 1877, age 1)
9. Mary Matilda Sweeney b. 11 Mar 1878
10. Charles Sweeney b. 17 Jul 1880
11. Rosina Sweney b. 4 Jun 1883

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.

St John the Evangelist, Limehouse (bombed in 1940 and since demolished).

In 1871, John Sweeney (63), carpenter - John Henry Charles' father - was 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), now a Night Watchman and Susannah (65).

Susannah died in 1918, aged 72. John H C died in 1922, aged 83.