Charles James Parsons and Eleanor Elizabeth Copeland

Royal Artillery Barracks, Woolwich
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Marathon - geograph.org.uk/p/6732016

Charles James Parsons (b. 1867 in Rawalpindi, then in India, now Pakistan, presumably an army brat) married Eleanor Elizabeth Copeland (b. 30 Sep 1881 in Gosport, Hampshire), daughter of Benjamin Copeland and Tamar Hockley, at All Saints Church, Shooters Hill, Plumstead, on 4 Nov 1899.

Charles James Parsons, Musician, joined the Royal Artillery, at 15 y & 3 m (but appeared 14), at Woolwich, on 9 Sep 1882. He was 4ft 9¾in, with a fresh complexion, light hazel eyes and a fair complexion. In 1891, Charles James Parsons (23) Musician Royal Artillery, birth place India, was at the Royal Artillery Barracks, Artillery Place, Woolwich. He was reengaged at Woolwich on 4 May 1894 to complete 21 years service; promoted to Bombardier on 1 May 1895; Corporal on 5 Jul 1896 and Sergeant on 20 Oct 1899, then was permitted to continue beyond 21 years in 1903. Under next of kin, is "Father" Joseph Parsons, St John's Road, Deptford. No idea why parenthesis were used. At 41 years and 1 month on discharge, Charles James Parsons, who had been a Musician in the Royal Artillery Band, had grown to 5ft 9in. He was discharged after 3 months notice on 31 Jul 1908, after 25 years 327 days service, with his character described as 'Exemplary' and awarded a Silver Medal for long service and good conduct. 

In 1901, Charles James Parsons (33) Sergeant Royal Artillery Band and Eleanor E Parsons (19), were living - as a separate household - but at her parents' address at 27, Llanover Road, Plumstead.

Charles James Parsons died, aged 41, in 1909 M Quarter in GREENWICH.

Their only daughter, Elsa Euphie Parsons was born, posthumously, on 4 Jun 1909 (1909 S Quarter in WOOLWICH Volume 01D Page 1203).

Eleanor Elizabeth Parsons, Widow, married Frederick William Watson (b. 25 Apr 1877 J Quarter in WOOLWICH Volume 01D Page 1046, mother's maiden name THOMPSON), son of Frederick Watson and Martha Emma Thompson, in Woolwich, on 2 Jun 1910.

Frederick William Watson, Musician, had joined the Royal Garrison Artillery, at 18 y & 4 m, at Woolwich on 6 Sep 1895. He was then 5ft 4¼in, with a fresh complexion, blue eyes and light brown hair. He had a small mole on the right side of his nose. In 1901, Frederick Watson (23) Soldier Royal Artillery Band, was at the Royal Artillery Barracks, Woolwich Common.

Frederick William and Eleanor Elizabeth Watson added one son:

1. Frederick Charles Watson b. 13 Mar 1911 ( 1911 J Quarter in WOOLWICH Volume 01D Page 1143), bap. 7 Jun 1911, in Plumstead.

In 1911, Frederick William Watson (33) Sergeant Royal Artillery Band from Woolwich, Kent; Eleanor Elizabeth Watson (29) from Gosport, Hants; Frederick Charles Watson, son, under one month; Elsa Euphie Parsons (1) Stepdaughter and Jessie Alice Green (28) Visitor, were at 23 Belford Grove, Woolwich. (Jessie Alice Green was the daughter of Charles Green and Sarah Ann Hockley, her mother's youngest sister, thus Eleanor's first cousin.)

Frederick William Watson served in France three times during and after World War I, in 1915/16 and again in 1919, finally being discharged on 25 Jul 1919. He was also awarded long service and good conduct medal.

In 1921, Frederick William Watson (44) Musician working for Mrs Davis at the Marble Arch Pavilion Cinema (the cinema then was equipped with a Jones straight pipe organ, which is presumably what Frederick played); Eleanor Elizabeth Watson (39), Elsa Euphie Parsons (12) and Frederick Charles Watson (10) were living at 16, Herbert Road, Plumstead.

On 6 May 1924, Frederick Charles Watson, son of F W Watson, Musician of 36, Ellerslie Road, W12, was admitted to Latymer Upper School, public school in Hammersmith, his previous school having been Woolwich Polytechnic. Frederick Charles Watson stayed at Latymer for the Summer 1924, Autumn 1924, Spring 1925, Summer 1925, Autumn 1925, Spring 1926 terms, leaving on 5 Mar 1926 for a Clerkship, Estate Agents & Surveyors.

In 1939, Frederick W Watson, Porter (Flats) and Eleanor Watson were living at 1a Challoner Mansions, Challoner Street, West Kensington.

It appears that Eleanor Watson may have died, at 80, in 1962. 

Elsa Euphie Parsons married William Arthur Connelley, son of William Connelley and Marian Jenny Cook, in Camberwell, in 1935. In 1939, William A Connelley (b. 15 Aug 1911) Postman and Elsa E Connelley, Solicitor's Clerk, were living at 8 York Close, Merton, Surrey. William Arthur Connelley of 99 Erith Road, Belvedere, Kent died, at 52, at St Nicholas Hospital, Plumstead on 2 Sep 1963 and left over £6500 to his widow, Elsa Euphie Connelley. Elsa Euphie Connelley of 122 Grove Road, Sutton, Surrey, died on 17 Apr 1992.

Frederick Charles Watson of 29 Elmwood Drive, Ewell, died 10 Jul 1985.

Vincent Hepworth and Mary Ann (Annie) Rogers

Entrance to Wyvern Barracks, Topsham Road, Exeter
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © David Smith - geograph.org.uk/p/5073188

Vincent Hepworth (b. 2 Sep 1842 in Wakefield, Yorkshire), son of Vincent Hepworth and Sarah Ann Hudson, married Mary Ann Rogers (b. 1852), daughter of Richard Rogers and Martha Perkins (m. 1848), in Exeter, Devon, on 23 Oct 1871, according to the Register Of Marriages & Baptisms, C Brigade, Royal Horse Artillery. Gunner, Vincent Hepworth (31), in 1871, was stationed at The Artillery Barracks Heavitree, now Wyvern Barracks, originally simply called Artillery Barracks to distinguish them from the Cavalry Barracks (Higher Barracks). The hidden secrets behind the walls of Exeter's Wyvern Barracks detail the [dire lack of] facilities at the installation. If Annie went to live there with her husband, I hope she wasn't expecting much: "... these barracks lacked accommodation for married soldiers – families being separated from other soldiers by a blanket hanging across the room."

Vincent and Annie had at least 13 children, including one pair of twins:

1. Albert Vincent Hepworth b. 1872 S Quarter in EXETER Vol 05B Page 81, bap. 1 Sep 1872 in Whimple, Devon, according to the Register Of Marriages & Baptisms, C Brigade, Royal Horse Artillery. The original church baptism record lists Vincent's occupation as "Officer's Servant".
2. Edith Mary Hepworth b. 30 Mar 1875, bap. 21 Apr 1875 in Kirkee (now Khadki), India
3. George Horbury Hepworth b. 30 Jan 1878, bap. 21 Feb 1878 in Kirkee (now Khadki), India
4. Thomas Richard Hepworth b. 21 Jan 1880, bap. 22 Feb 1880 in Throwleigh, Devon
5. Marie Ann Hepworth b. 28 Jun 1881 in SAINT THOMAS Volume 05B Page 71, bap. 1 May 1890 at Holy Trinity Church, Exeter
6. Soffie Hepworth b. Dec 1882 in SAINT THOMAS Vol 05B Page 72, died aged 9 weeks and buried on 14 Feb 1883, at St Thomas, Exeter
7. William Henry Hepworth b. Dec 1882 in SAINT THOMAS Vol 05B Page 72, died at 9 weeks and buried on 14 Feb 1883, at St Thomas, Exeter
8. Charles Hepworth b. 1884 S Quarter in SAINT THOMAS Volume 05B Page 70, died 1884 D Quarter in SAINT THOMAS Volume 05B Page 44
9. Rosa Bessie Hepworth b. 20 Mar 1886 in SAINT THOMAS Volume 05B Page 65, bap. 1 May 1890 at Holy Trinity Church, Exeter
10. Eveline Maud Hepworth b. 15 Feb 1888 in SAINT THOMAS Vol 05B 66
11. Ethel May Hepworth b. 1890 J Quarter in EXETER Volume 05B Page 78, bap. 1 May 1890 at Holy Trinity Church, Exeter, died at 6 months in 1890 in EXETER and buried on 27 Sep 1890 at Holy Trinity Church
12. Ida Lily Hepworth b. 16 Sep 1891 in EXETER Volume 05B Page 71
13. Ivy May Hepworth b. 3 Nov 1892 in EXETER Volume 05B Page 82

Vincent Hepworth, previously a Boatman, enlisted in the Royal Artillery, on 21 Jan 1859, at Hull. He did two six-year tours to India, from 22 Jun 1859 to 11 May 1866 and from 16 Jan 1873 to 4 Dec 1879, the second time his wife went with him, because two of their children were born in India.

His army medical records show he was treated for Gonorrhoea, twice at age 24 and 26. He had ague (archaic name for malaria or another illness involving fever and shivering) twice in India; was twice treated there for hepatitis.

Tying in with the date of their return from India, Edith May Hepworth had been registered at Throwleigh And Gidleigh School, being previously listed at a school in Plymouth, in 1879, until she left that parish in Sept 1880.

Vincent Hepworth of the Coast Brigade, Royal Artillery, served for 22 years, 54 days. When he was discharged, at Plymouth, on 29 Mar 1881, at 42, he was 5ft 9in, with fresh complexion, grey eyes and light brown hair. 

Despite having returned to England by then, I haven't found Vincent, Annie or eldest son, Albert Vincent in 1881, but they were in St Thomas, Exeter for the birth of their child, Marie Ann, there that year. Edith M Hepworth (5) and George E Hepworth (3) were staying with their maternal grandparents, Richard and Martha Rogers at Murchington Village, Throwleigh, Devon.

In 1884, eldest son was causing trouble at the Castle of Exeter - Exeter Crown and County Court - when Albert Vincent Hepworth (11), son of a labourer of St. Thomas and another boy, William Way (12), were charged with stealing a cash-box containing £12 in gold and some silver coins. Hepworth claimed that his father was drunk and his mother took the money and gave it to him. They were spared prison or the Reformatory (Industrial School), but Hepworth was sentenced to six strokes with the birch rod.

In 1888 George Hepworth and Richard (Thomas Richard) Hepworth, of 25 Friars' Walk, St. Thomas, were registered at Exeter Episcopal School, from where Richard was sent home in 1889 for theft and George left, confirmed truant. It is perhaps not unexpected that George Horbury Hepworth (12) was sent, on 2 Jan 1890, by Exeter Court - for stealing a bottle of sweets from a shop - to the Devon and Exeter Boys Reformatory, Brampford Wood.

In 1891, Vincent Hepworth (49) Foundry labourer from Wakefield, Yorkshire, was living at Laura Cottages, Horse Lane, Exeter, Devon with wife A (Annie) Hepworth (39) Midwife; A V (Albert Vincent) Hepworth (18) Plaster & mason; Edith M Hepworth (16) Dressmaker apprentice; Thomas R Hepworth (11), Marie A Hepworth (9), Rose B Hepworth (5) and Maude E (Eveline Maud) Hepworth (3). George, obviously, was still away at reform school.

Vincent Hepworth died, aged 51, and was buried on 4 Jun 1893 at Holy Trinity Church, Exeter.

In 1896, Richard Hepworth and another lad were summoned before Exeter Police Court for riding a bicycle without a light at 10:10pm.

In 1901, Annie Hepworth (49) widow, Midwife, was living at 28, Friars Walk, Exeter, Devon, with Richard Hepworth (22) Artist; Marie Hepworth (19) Dressmaker; Maude Hepworth (13), Ida Hepworth (9), May Hepworth (8), Martha Rogers (70) widow (wrongly listed as Hepworth, but this is clearly Annie's mother) and a 69 year old boarder, a plumber named James.

On 26 Dec 1908, Annie Hepworth remarried, at Holy Trinity Church, Exeter to Henry Wood Adams, widower. (His previous wife, who he married on 22 Jul 1877 at the church of St Matthew, East Stonehouse, Plymouth, was Phillis Prudence Adams (coincidence or cousin?), and had died, in 1903.)

Henry Wood Adams had enlisted on 3 Aug 1882, in the Royal Engineers, which took him to Gibraltar, Bermuda, Crete, Malta and to South Africa between 1899 and 1902, serving in the Second Boer War. He was discharged on 2 Aug 1903, at Colchester after the termination of his second period of engagement, having achieved the rank of Sergeant.

In 1911, Henry Wood Adams (55) Carpenter and Army Pensioner, was living at 13 Beaumont Avenue Plymouth, with wife Annie Adams (58) and step-daughter, Ivy May Hepworth (18) Dressmaker.

Henry Wood Adams died, aged 76, in St. Thomas, Devon, in 1933.

Mary Ann otherwise Annie Adams of 95 Monks Road, Exeter, died, aged 82, on 5 May 1934, leaving effects of £1156 19s 10d to Edith Mary Dare (wife of Mark Dare) and Ida Lily Soppit (wife of Benjamin Tompson Soppit).

• Albert Vincent Hepworth married Mary Ellen Garrard in Poplar, London, in 1897. In 1901, Police Constable Albert Hepworth (who earlier earned six lashes for stealing) from Exeter, Devon was living at 3, St Leonards Avenue, Bromley, Poplar with wife Ellen, sons Christopher and George and uncle William Rogers. By 1911 they'd moved to 46 Stanley Road, Harrow on the Hill, Middlesex. Albert V Hepworth died, in Hendon, Middlesex, in 1927, aged 56.
• Edith Mary Hepworth married Mark Dare on 10 Oct 1898 at Holy Trinity Church, Exeter. Edith Mary Dare died, aged 60, on 12 Sep 1935, in Topsham and Mark Dare went on to marry his housekeeper, Beatrice Gale, in 1940. Mark Dare died in 1955.
• George Horbury Hepworth (18) enlisted in the Devonshire Regiment on 13 Feb 1896, at Exeter and was transferred to his father's old regiment, Royal Artillery, on 25 Mar 1896, but he deserted at Aldershot on 14 Aug 1896, re-joining 8 days later, awaiting trial for desertion. He was imprisoned in 1898 and finally discharged in 1908, having served in India from 1898 to 1904. In 1939, George Hepworth, Builders Labourer, single, was in Coventry (was he sent?) George H Hepworth died in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, in 1960, at 82.
• [As yet] I can find no further records that relate to Thomas Richard Hepworth, beyond 1901. However, it's interesting to see him then described as an Artist, as renowned artist and sculptor, Dame Barbara Hepworth (1903–1975), was from Wakefield, where his father, Vincent Hepworth, was also born. Could there be a distant connection? That would be another story entirely! 
• Marie Ann Hepworth married Reginald Louis Parr, in Exeter, in 1903. In 1911, they were  in Barton Road, St Thomas, Devon. 
• Rosa Bessie Hepworth married Lewis Albert Parr at St Mary's Church Plympton, on 24 Jul 1915. Lewis A Parr died, aged 53, in Exeter, in 1935. In 1939, Rosalie (Rose Bessie) Parr, widow, was living at 35 Torre Court, Yeovil, Somerset, described as a Qualified Nurse. Rose Bessie Parr died, aged 82, on 13 Nov 1970, in Exeter. 
• Evelyn Maud Hepworth married Arthur Charles Hawker on 23 Oct 1913 at St Mary's Church Plympton and in 1939, was also living at 35 Torre Court, Yeovil, Somerset. Evelyn Maud Hawker died, aged 86, in Wolverhampton, in 1974.

James Maslin and Ann Jones

Former St James church, New Cross
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Stephen Craven - geograph.org.uk/p/843636
St James, Hatcham was created in 1845 from Deptford, St Paul. The church
was designed by W Granville and consecrated on 17 October 1854.

James Maslin (20) Blacksmith of 9 Clifton Hill (Clifton Rise?), son of William Maslin, Brass Finisher, married Ann Jones (20) of 10 Vance Street, daughter of John Jones, at St James Hatcham on 22 Oct 1877. 

There's no record of a marriage between James Maslin and Jessie Dunford, but they were living as husband and wife with James' parents, William George Maslin and Charlotte Bland, in 1881. James (23) was a Blacksmiths Labourer from Deptford; Jessie (21) Collar Ironer, reputedly hailed from Southwark.

James and Jessie had three children:

1. Jessie Elizabeth Maslin b. 1883 J Quarter in GREENWICH Volume 01D Page 994, bap. 6 Jul 1883 in Hatcham, presumably St James Hatcham
2. Florence Charlotte Maslin b. 1886 J Quarter in GREENWICH Volume 01D Page 1021, bap. 23 Jan 1890 at St James Hatcham
3. James Thomas Maslin b. 1890 M Quarter in GREENWICH Volume 01D Page 1032, bap. 23 Jan 1890 also at St James Hatcham

(Hatcham largely corresponds to the area around New Cross.)

All three have the mother's maiden name listed as Dunford. On Jessie Elizabeth's baptism, her mother's name is also Jessie Elizabeth; on those of Florence and James, only Jessie. Those records are the only sources for identifying who she was: I found no previous records of a Jessie or Jessie Elizabeth Dunford anywhere, let alone near Southwark ~1860.

In 1891, one of two families living at 15 Batavia Road, New Cross were James Maslin (33) Blacksmiths Labourer, Jessie Maslin (31), Jessie (8), Elizabeth (5) - clearly, they mean Florence Charlotte - and James (1).

Then Jessie Maslin died, at just 35, in 1895 M Quarter in Greenwich.

In 1901, James Maslin (43), listed as single, and employed as a Potman (a man employed in a public house to collect empty pots or glasses), was living at the (Common Lodging House), (formerly Brunswick House), 124, Tanners Hill, St Paul Deptford. Eldest daughter, Jessie E Maslin was employed as a General domestic servant in the household of Sydney T Wayment (33) Grain merchant at 194, High Street, St Nicholas Deptford. Cannot be sure of where Florence Charlotte was in 1901, but at 15, she was almost certainly also in a situation somewhere as a domestic servant. Son, James Maslin (11) from New Cross, Surrey, was a boarder in the household of Edward Cheeseman (39) Potman (public house) at 4, Morden Street, Greenwich.

Common Lodging Houses, also known as the doss-house, were an option for those who could scrape together a few pence to stay out of the workhouse, though they were scarcely any better and notorious for overcrowding.

It's no surprise that James Maslin died, aged 44, in the 4th quarter of 1901.

• In the second quarter of 1910, Florence Charlotte Maslin married Albert Robert Williams, in Woolwich. In 1911, Albert Robert Williams (25) Soldier A S Corps, Sergeant, from Clonmel, Tipperary; Florence Charlotte Williams (24) from Deptford and their one-and-a-half month old son, Robert Ronald Williams, were living at Caxton House, Godfrey Hill, Woolwich. 2nd child, Irene Dorothy Williams, was born, in Woolwich, in 1912.
• James Maslin (21), in 1911, born in New Cross, Kent, was with the 2nd Battalion The King's Shropshire Light Infantry, in Trimulgherry (Tirumalagiri), India.

Francis Robert Blazey and Maria Emily Andrews and Louisa Susan Stanley and Elenora Matilda Audric

Church of St Thomas The Martyr, Oxford
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © David Dixon - geograph.org.uk/p/2030942

Francis Robert Blazey (b. 1 Aug 1833), son of Francis Stephen Blazey and Hannah Minns, first married Maria Emily Andrews (bap. 22 Mar 1840 at St Thomas the Martyr, Oxford), daughter of Charles Andrews and Eliza Sparks, at St Thomas the Martyr's Church, Oxford, on 22 Aug 1859. Witnesses to their marriage were William Griffin and Mary Ann Griffin.

Francis Robert Blazey had five children with his three wives: 

1. Francis Charles Blazey b. 1860 J Quarter in OXFORD Volume 03A Page 543, died aged 4 in 1864 S Quarter in WITNEY Volume 03A Page 418, buried 1 Aug 1864 at St Mary, Witney (with Maria Andrews)
2. William James Blazey b. 1863 S Quarter in WITNEY Volume 03A Page 589. No further records found. Died an infant? (with Maria Andrews)
3. Alice Maud Stanley Blazey b. 21 Dec 1875, bap. 31 Jan 1876, in Dinapore, India. (with Louisa Susan Stanley)
4. Constance Ellen Blazey b. 1890 J Quarter in ISLINGTON Volume 01B Page 224, bap. 1 Jun 1890 in Holloway, Islington, with parents listed as Francis Robert Blazey, Licenced Victualler, and Margaret Matilda Eleanor Blazey, of 54 Hampden Road, Islington - formerly the address of the now demolished Royal Oak Tavern (with Elenora Audric)
5. Harry Robert Blazey b. 5 apr 1899 J Qtr in KENSINGTON Vol 01A Page 103, bap. 6 May 1899, son of Francis Robert, Retired Engineer, and Ellen Nora Blazey of 155 Holland Road (with Elenora Audric)

In 1861, Francis Robert Blazey (27) Fireman, wife Maria (20) Dressmaker and their son, Francis Charles (1) and Samuel Blazey (19), Francis' younger brother, were living at 2, St Pauls Street, Blockhouse, Worcester.

Son, Francis Charles Blazey, died in Witney, Oxfordshire, in 1864, aged 4.

The next record tells us Maria Andrews Blazey, wife of F. R. Blazey, Driver E.I.R. (East Indian Railway Company), died from Cancer on 4 Sep 1873, aged 32y 7m, and was buried on 5 Sep 1873 at Dinapore, Bengal, India. (Dinapore was a British garrison town in the 19th century, now called Danapur, it's about 10km NW of Patna, and 500km NW of Calcutta, now Kolkata.)

On 9 Apr 1874, in Dinapore, India, Francis Robert Blazey, 41, married Louisa Susan Stanley, who was 16 (b. 21 May 1857 and bap. 25 Jun 1857, at Poona (now Pune), India), daughter of Augustus George and Eliza Jemima Stanley. 

Louisa's siblings: Morgan Stanley and Rosina Gelstow Stanley were born in Allahabad in 1859 and 1860, respectively, and Mary Augusta Stanley was born in Mirzapur in 1863. Brother, Augustus George Stanley, born 1862, died aged 3, from "Convulsions" on 6 Jun was buried on 7 Jun 1865, in Cawnpore (now Kanpur, famous for the 1857 Siege of Cawnpore). On the burial record, Augustus George Stanley's occupation is given as Tehsildar (A tehsildar is a tax officer accompanied by revenue inspectors, though I shall forever equate him to Joseph Sedley, the collector of Boggley Wollah in Vanity Fair.)

Louisa's mother, Eliza Jemima Stanley, had died on 3 Sep 1867, aged 29, and was buried the next day, in Cawnpore. Under cause of death: "Uncontrollable vomiting from Hepatic congestion brought on by hard drinking." Augustus George Stanley returned to England and on 28 Sep 1868, married Caroline Frost in Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, where they were living in 1871.

Alice Maud Stanley Blazey, daughter of Francis Robert Blazey and Louisa Susan Stanley, b. 21 Dec 1875 and bap. 31 Jan 1876, in Dinapore. Both the marriage record for Francis and Louisa and the baptism record for Alice Maud Stanley Blazey give their residence as Khagoul (now Khagaul). 

Louisa Susan Blazey died, aged 27, on 2 Mar 1884, at sea, from Softening of the Brain (Cerebral softening, also known as encephalomalacia).

Francis Robert Blazey (51), Widower, Gentleman, of 9 Union Terrace, then married Elenora Matilda Audric (24) at St James' Church, Norlands on 23 Apr 1885. The bride, of 161 Holland Road [Islington], listed as a Spinster, named her father as John [Jean] Baptiste François Audric, Cabinet Maker. 

In 1891, at The Swan Inn, The Common, Kings Langley, Hertfordshire were Francis R Blazey (57) Publican; Margaret M Blazey (30) from Whitehaven, Cumberland; Alice Maud Blazey (15), Constance Blazey (0), Elizabeth Stiles (28) and Elenor E Stiles (1) Visitors and Maud Millers (9) Stepdaughter. 

The Eastern Post of 3 Nov 1894 under Transfer of Licences in Tower Hamlets, "in the Parish of St Mary, Stratford, Bow: Milford Castle, Cadogan Terrace, Baptiste de Bolla to Francis Robert Blazey." This was a typo as it was the Mitford Castle, 129 Cadogan Terrace, Bow E9, a pub that, now gone, was already infamous then as the public house to which the victim, Thomas Briggs, was brought when his body was found on the tracks behind the pub on July 9 1864. He would later die and become the first ever murder victim on a British train. (An oddly ironic, if darkly appropriate, pub for an ex-train driver!)

In 1901, at 31, Sinclair Gardens, Hammersmith, were Francis R Blazey (68) Retired Engineer, Norah Blazey (39), Constance E Blazey (10), Harry R Blazey (2), daughter Alice Maud Trevail (25) - Alice married Herbert Fleming Trevail - Winifred S Trevail (0) Granddaughter, Katherine Pye (56) Boarder, Thomas R Cox (24) Boarder, Nellie Kent (19) General Domestic Servant, Margaret Bennet (56) Visitor and Kate Eames (47) Visitor - Sick nurse.

Francis Robert Blazey is said to have died around 1905. Although I can find no record to confirm this, he doesn't appear to be on the 1911 Census.

Norah Blazey died in London in 1909, age estimated as 45.

Joshua Barton, 1886 & 1888, Uncle and Nephew

The India Gate War Memorial, New Delhi, India
Photo: Vikram Siingh Via Pixabay

While unpicking the two families of these two brothers who married two sisters: Thomas Barton and Elizabeth Ann Fuller and Peter Barton and Annie Fuller, inevitably, I encountered Thomas and Elizabeth Ann's youngest son, Joshua Barton, who was born in 1886, to whose record at FamilySearch, someone had attached records of a birth in 1888, merely stating the reason for doing so was "Correct Information", but offering no justification for why they believed this to be so. This is the genealogical equivalent of a red rag to a bull, because that cannot be right, so I sought to solve the puzzle ...

These records belong to two different people, as the evidence will show.

Joshua Barton, son of Thomas Barton and Elizabeth Ann Fuller, was born in 1886 S Quarter in WEST HAM Volume 04A Page 262, mother's maiden name FULLER and was baptised on 3 Jul 1886 at St Paul's Church, Woodford Bridge, clearly naming his parents as Thomas and Elizabeth Ann Barton.

As we can see, therefore, this child was already registered in 1886, so there'd be no need to register him in 1888. There's also a limit on the time allowed to register births, currently 42 days, which is a legal requirement. If someone had 'forgotten', they'd be far more likely to just not bother at all than to turn up two years later. The person who attached the 1888 record obviously missed the correct 1886 registration and, of course, if they ordered the birth certificate on the basis of the later one, they've got the wrong one.

Joshua Barton (b. 1886) was in the household of his parents in Lower Road, Woodford, aged 4, in 1891; in Oxford Terrace, Chigwell Road, Woodford at 14 in 1901 and, at 24, with his widowed father, in Woodford, in 1911.

By 16 Jun 1915, Joshua Barton had emigrated to Australia, because that's the date given for his marriage to Mary Birch in Queensland. Interesting in itself, because they were 2nd Cousins. Joshua Barton's paternal grandmother was Ann Birch (1812-1885) while Mary Birch was the granddaughter of Ann's brother, James Birch (1815-1879). One imagines an opportunity was offered by family in Australia and he then met and fell in love with his cousin. 

Joshua Barton died on 16 May 1968 and was buried at Caboolture Cemetery, Caboolture, Moreton Bay Region, Queensland, Australia. His widow, Mary Barton, d. 26 Jun 1989, is buried with him.

So, that just leaves us with the 1888 birth registration ... 

If it doesn't belong to this Joshua Barton, who does it belong to? The short answer is, his nephew.

Joshua Barton's older sister, Ann Jane Barton (b. 1864), had an illegitimate son in 1886 and then gave birth to a second illegitimate son, you guessed it, registered as Joshua Barton in 1888 S Quarter in WEST HAM Volume 04A Page 268. There's no mother's maiden name on this registration, indicating an illegitimate birth (which should have been clue alone that it did not relate to the legitimate 1886 birth.) And this child was baptised, as Joshua Barton, on 13 Dec 1888 at Holy Trinity, Hermon Hill, South Woodford. The record clearly notes that he was the child of Annie Barton, Single Woman.

Charles Edward Puffett and Ann Jane Barton married on 9 Jun 1890 in Woodford and from then, Joshua (b. 1888) used his father's surname.

Didn't find the family in 1891, but in in 1901, Joshua Puffett (13) was living with his parents at 33 Oxford Terrace, Chigwell Road, Woodford. Yes, in the same row, at the same time, as his 14 year old uncle, Joshua Barton. 

The Eastern Mercury of 29 Dec 1903 carried a story which began, "At Stratford [Petty Sessions] on Saturday, Joshua Puffett, 15, of 17, Oxford-terrace, and William Bass, 16, a private of the 2nd Essex Regiment, was charged with being disorderly and assaulting the police." Subsequent reports specify that it was Bass who was charged with assaulting PC Sharp, but before you sigh with relief, my 4x great-grandmother, Joshua Puffett's 2x great-grandmother, was Elizabeth Bass. Undoubtedly cousins too.

The Woodford Times of 25 Sep 1908 then informs us that, "At the Stratford Petty Sessions on Thursday, 17th, Joshua Puffett, 20, hawker of Oxford Terrace, Chigwell Road, Woodford, was charged with having in his possession a dog, a leather collar ..." It seems, quelle surprise, the items were stolen.

Coincidentally - or maybe not: could he have been "encouraged" to join up as an alternative to a custodial sentence - it was in 1908 that Joshua Puffett (20) of Woodford, Essex, joined the 1st Battalion, Durham Light Infantry.

In 1911, Joshua Puffett (22) was with his regiment in Neemuch, India. 

By Aug 1914 the 1st Battalion, Durham Light Infantry were in Nowshera, India (which is now in Pakistan.) Research carried out by Adrian Lee and Redbridge Museum reveals that "On 16th September 1916 he [Puffett] was admitted to hospital suffering from Malaria, but on 23rd September 1916 he underwent an operation for an appendicitis. Unfortunately he died from the effects of this condition on 26th September 1916." Joshua was buried on 27 Sep 1916, with his cause of death listed as Apendicitis and Malaria. 

His grave, with the others in Nowshera Military Cemetery is one which the Commonwealth War Graves Commission can no longer maintain, so he's formally remembered on the Delhi Memorial (India Gate).

J Puffett is also listed on the WW1 Board at Holy Trinity Church, South Woodford, the church where he was baptised (as Joshua Barton).

NB: If you think I'm being unfair by making an example of this, consider: the person who attached the wrong birth record, quite likely, has the wrong birth certificate. They may have looked at the 'wrong' information on it, then in their mind made it fit the circumstances and, lo and behold, another family myth will be born. They'll have seen that the mother was Annie and accepted this as Elizabeth's second name was Ann; as to the father's name being absent from the certificate, goodness knows whether they'll have 'separated' the couple, put the poor man in prison ... This isn't helpful and is particularly unfair to the memory of the human beings whose lives have been 'altered' (confused) in the error. Also, sadly, I find examples of this every day where people have grasped the first result found, then justified to themselves why it's the right one, clearly without looking for corroborative evidence. My experience is people then tend to resist accepting the facts over the myths they've so carefully crafted and can be hostile. Better then just to present the evidence. 

John Land and Loveday Flew

West Street, Bampton
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Derek Harper - geograph.org.uk/p/2450185

There's no record of a marriage, anywhere, between John Land (bap. 29 May 1791 in Bampton, Devon), son of John Land and Sarah Melhuish and Loveday Flew (bap. 14 Oct 1804 in Rackenford, Devon), daughter of Richard Flew and Jane Wright (Loveday Flew, was therefore the great-aunt of William Flew, who married Jane Middleton), but they must have got together by 1823.

John Patchett has written here that, John Land, "Joined the Royal Marines in 1810 and served to 1814 then discharged for being undersize at 5ft 2.3/4 when he was 19 and 5ft 4 in 1822. Joined the 46th regiment of foot in 1815 and served in Australia and India until 1822 when discharged with chronic hepatitis. Total service 10 years 48 days. On leaving the army was given a pension of 6d per day which he received until death." John Land had joined the 46th Regt Of Foot on 14 Nov 1815, and the record of his discharge from that service in 1822, in consequence of the chronic hepatitis, confirms his previous service in the Royal Marines from 4 Sep 1810 until 14 Jul 1814.

It seems obvious that while John was useful to the Royal Marines during the Napoleonic Wars they kept him, but once they no longer needed the numbers, his height was used as an excuse to select him for discharge. Of the 46th (South Devonshire) Regiment of Foot, "When peace came in 1814, the regiment was sent to garrison New South Wales for three years and escort convicts. It moved to India for the first time in 1817 ..."

John Land already had two children from a previous relationship with Sarah (b. 1794). Again, it hasn't been possible to locate a record of a marriage:

1. Richard Land b. 6 Oct 1816 At Sea, off the coast of Botany Bay, bap. 5 Jan 1817 at St Philip's Church, Sydney, Australia
2. Jane Land b. 25 Apr 1818 also born At Sea, off Botany Bay, bap. 3 Aug 1818 at Christ Church Cathedral, Newcastle, New South Wales

Likewise, there are no records that explain what happened to Sarah.

John Land had a further nine children with Loveday Flew:

3. John Land b. 1823
4. Harriet Land b. 1827
5. James Land b. 1828
6. Elizabeth Land bap. 25 Jun 1830 at the Church of St Michael and All Angels, Bampton, Devon
7. Loveday Land b. 1833. Died at 18 in 1851 J Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 10 Page 191.
8. George Land b. 1836
9. Eliza Land b. 1839 D Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 10 Page 239. Died at 19 in 1859 S Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 291.
10. Maria Land b. 1841 D Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 10 Page 249. Died at 25 in 1867 J Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 298.
11. Eleanor Land b. 1845 D Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 10 Page 249, bap. 26 Nov 1845 in Bampton, daughter of John and Loveday. Address given as Westgate and John was described as a Pensioner.

The birth registrations for Eliza and Maria confirm the mother's maiden name as FLEW. On Eleanor's it is merely mis transcribed as FLEX. 

In 1841, living in Gate Street, West, Bampton, were John Land (50) Loody Land (sic) (35), Jane Land (20), John Land (18), Harriet Land (14), James Land (13), Elizabeth Land (9), Loody Land (8), George Land (5) and Eliza Land (1).

In 1851, in West Street, Bampton, Devon, we find John Land claiming to be 46 (he was 60) Pauper (ag lab), Loveday Land (47), James Land (23) Ag Lab; Loveday Land (18) Invalid; George Land (14) Ag Lab; Eliza Land (11), Maria Land (9) and Eleanor Land (5) the last three all at school. 

Loveday Land died at 47 in 1851 J Qtr in TIVERTON Vol 10 Page 191.

John Land died on 22 Sep 1857 (S Qtr in TIVERTON Vol 05B Page 275) from chronic bronchitis, with his age at death over estimated to 71 (66). 

Charles Hockley, 10th Hussars

Royal Arsenal Gatehouse
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Derek Harper - geograph.org.uk/p/6020048

Charles Hockley (23) Groom from Great Dunmow, Essex, son of George Hockley and Eliza Crow, enlisted in the 20th Hussars at London, on 2 Jul 1877. At that time being 5ft 6in, with a fresh complexion, grey eyes and brown hair. He transferred to the 10th Hussars (Prince of Wales's Own) on 31 Oct 1879, which ultimately meant he saw action at the Battle of El Teb, 29 Feb 1884 (First and Second Battles of El Teb) during the Mahdist War in what was then Mahdist Sudan. This action earned him the Sudan Medal 1884 (Egypt Medal) with clasp El Teb, as well as a Khedive Star 1884.

From 11 Dec 1879 to 18 Feb 1884, Charles had been in the East Indies, first in Rawalpindi and then Mian Mir: "The four-week march was arduous and hampered by lack of healthy camels. They had to cross the rivers Jhelum and Chenab, and camped several days at Shaddera near Lahore." In November, they were ordered to re-locate again, to Lucknow, where the 10th were located near the ruined Dilkusha Palace. "There was a large European population at Lucknow during the cooler months so that a good social life was enjoyed." [Source] And in Nov 1881, in Lucknow, Charles was treated for a dose of that well-known soldiers' "recreational hazard", Gonorrhea.

The 10th travelled to Sudan aboard HMS Jumna 1884 and disembarked on 19 Feb 1884, where Charles' record locates him until 21 Apr 1884.

Amongst sprains and dislocations, Charles also suffered Jaundice in 1879, ague (malaria or another illness involving fever and shivering) on no less than four occasions in 1880 and 1881 and Dysentery while in Suakin in 1884.

Charles' next of kin is listed as his mother, Eliza Bloomfield at Glengall Road, Poplar - the address of her eldest son, William Hockley (born Crow).

After leaving the army in 1885, in 1891, Charles Hockley (35) from Great Dunmow, was working as a Valet and residing in Arlington Road, St Pancras, London, an area where several of his sisters had also lived and worked.

In 1901, Charles Hockley (46) from Great Dunmow, Essex was a Boarder in the household of Robert Bailey a Cadet servant (military academy) at 10, James Street, Woolwich, London. Charles was working as an Arsenal labourer (Royal Arsenal, Woolwich). Robert Bailey, from Huddersfiled, Yorkshire had served, from 1867 to 1888, in the 109th Regiment of Foot (Bombay Infantry). They may have met in India, or at least had that in common.

Charles Hockley died, at 50, in 1904 in the London Borough of Southwark.