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