Charles Sweeney and Ruth Christmas Dobson

Photo © Peter Thwaite (cc-by-sa/2.0)

St George's Town Hall, E1, Thursday, 1 January, 2009

Photo available for reuse under this Creative Commons licence.

On the south side of Cable Street, to the rear of St George's in the East Church, is St George's Town Hall. The Mural on the building commemorates the 1936 'Battle of Cable Street'.

Charles Sweeney (b. 17 Jul 1880), Bachelor, Canteen Assistant, son of John Henry Charles Sweeney and Susannah Harvey, married Ruth Christmas Dobson (b. 25 Dec 1878), Spinster, Machinist, daughter of William Dobson, Bricklayer, and Sarah Ann Rowe, both of 26 Caley Street, Limehouse, at The Register Office, Stepney on 18 Jul 1906. Witnesses were Esther Susan Stevens and Maria Penny. (The Register Office in Stepney at that date, I'm sure will have been what's now St George's Town Hall. Completed in 1860, this became Stepney Town Hall in 1900. And indeed, having been recently renovated, the building still has two ceremony rooms for marriages.)

On 22 Jan 1896, Charles Sweeney of 1 Stephensons Cottages, Condor Street (his parents' address) had enlisted in the Middlesex Regiment, claiming to be 18 years and 6 months old. By my calculations, he was in fact, 15 years and 6 months old at that time. He was 5ft 5in tall, 116 lbs, with a fair complexion, blue eyes and black hair. On 19 Mar 1896 he transferred to the Royal Sussex Regiment and they hadn't worked out that he was telling porkies about his age, because he was listed as 18 years and 8 months. He'd managed to gain 5lbs weight to 121 lbs and grow to 5ft 5½in in the interim.

Appointed Lance Corporal on 6 May 1896, Charles reverted to Private at his own request on 26 May 1896, but was reappointed Lance Corporal on 18 Feb 1898. He served in India with the 2nd Battalion for four years from 10 Nov 1898 until 11 Dec 1902. Ultimately promoted to Corporal, transferred to the Army Reserve on 18 Mar 1903. 

Interestingly, among next of kin, he lists his father, John, his mother, Susan; his elder brother Henry in the Royal Marines with HMS Rapid and his brother John 'address not known'. (No mention of Job, Thomas, nor his sisters.)

Charles and Ruth had two sons, both born in Poplar:

1. Charles Stanley Sweeney b. 13 Oct 1906 Volume 01C Page 601, bap. 4 Nov 1906 at St Stephen's Church in East India Dock Road. The baptism record lists the child's date of birth and his father as Charles John Sweeney, Warehouseman. Charles didn't have a middle name, but John was his father's first name and this is not the first time I've seen a father's name appended as a middle name. At the time, this may have been an affectation, but it's also now often useful.
2. Edward John George Sweeney b. 5 Apr 1913 J Quarter Vol 01C 1032, bap. 29 Sep 1916 at St Saviour's Poplar, his father listed as Soldier.

In 1911, Charles Sweeney (30) Warehouse labourer was living at 102 Hind Street, Poplar with Ruth Sweeney (31), Charles Stanley Sweeney (4), George Thomas Dobson (30) Brother-in-law and William John Bradley (45) Lodger.

Clearly as he was a Soldier in 1916, Charles Sweeney served in WWI, but I suspect he may have volunteered afresh giving the correct age. It's likely only a medal card will have survived and there are none with either of the service numbers on his 1896 records, so without knowing the new service number or his unit, impossible at the moment to isolate the correct record.

In 1921, and still at 102, Hind Street, Poplar, were Charles Sweeney (40) Caretaker of the All Saints Institute, Newby Place, Poplar, working for Rev. C R Cotter Parish Rector of All Saints Church, Poplar (Claud Rutledge Cotter); with Ruth Christmas Sweeney (41), Charles Stanley Sweeney (14) Errand Boy; Edward John George Sweeney (8) and John Henry Sweeney (82) Retired, formerly Caretaker of the Poplar Institute. We read that, "After 1913 the workhouse became known as Poplar Institution", so it may be that they're referring to and it looks like Charles has taken over his dad's position.

In 1939, Charles Sweeney, Caretaker in Charge of Public Hall, was in the household of brother-in-law, John Stone, at 12 Leith Road, Mile End. Ruth Sweeney was at 102 Hind Grove, Poplar, with her sister, Amy Dobson.

Ruth Christmas Sweeney died, aged ~65 (nearer 67), in 1945 M Quarter in POPLAR Volume 01C Page 293.

Charles Sweeney remarried on 9 Jul 1945 in Bethnal Green to Katie Trotter. Katie Trotter b. 12 Oct 1886 (1886 D Quarter in SHARDLOW Volume 07B Page 491) was bap. 14 Nov 1886 in Ockbrook, Derbyshire, daughter of William Alexander Trotter and Millicent Coulson. (It's not known if her dad, a Gardener, ever owned a yellow Reliant Robin.) Katie, 58 at the time of her marriage, was a Spinster, having spent a lifetime 'in service'. In 1901, Katie Trotter (14) Kitchen Maid was at the The Vicarage, Kings Norton; didn't find her in 1911; however, in 1921, Kate Trotter (34) was Cook in the Larkworthy household at 14, Brondesbury Park, Willesden, Middlesex; and in 1939, Katie Trotter was Cook Housekeeper, still to the Larkworthys, at Coopers Bridge, Woolmer Lane, Bramshott, Hampshire. It's the 1939 Register that gives us Katie's date of birth, the fact that she later became Katie Sweeney and lists the date of marriage in the left margin. Katie Sweeney died, at 65, her death was registered in 1952 S Quarter in NUNEATON Volume 09C Page 627.

Charles Sweeney died, aged 88, in Q3 of 1968 in Stepney (Vol 5E Page 138).

Once more we have two brothers who marry two sisters:

• Charles Stanley Sweeney married Alice Agnes Coker (b. 22 Aug 1906) in Bethnal Green, in 1929. They had one son, Brian Charles Sweeney b. 6 Aug 1936. In 1939, Brian was evacuated to the Hall family at 1 Free Lane, Thwaite St Mary, Loddon, Norfolk. Brian Charles Sweeney of Toddington, Bedfordshire died at 40, on 27 Feb 1977, seemingly leaving a widow and three children. Alice Agnes Sweeney died in Luton, Bedfordshire, in 1997; Charles Stanley Sweeney died, also in Luton, on 7 Jan 2003, at 96. 
• Edward John George Sweeney married Daisy Annie Coker (b. 5 Mar 1912), at St John on Bethnal Green, on 22 Dec 1934. Edward John Sweeney died, aged 75, in Waltham Forest, in 1988. Daisy Annie Sweeney also died in Waltham Forest, in 1999. 

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.)

John Sweeney and Anne Elizabeth Gabbaday

St Leonard, Shoreditch High Street, Shoreditch - East end
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © John Salmon - geograph.org.uk/p/2624832

John Sweeney married Anne Elizabeth Gabbaday (b. 23 Feb 1811), daughter of John Benbow Gabbedy and Isabella Cleghorn, on 11 Jun 1832, at St Leonard, Shoreditch (often known simply as Shoreditch Church - this is the church mentioned in the line "When I grow rich, say the bells of Shoreditch" from the nursery rhyme Oranges and Lemons). Witnesses to the marriage were Anne's brother, Henry Gabbedy (sic), Ann Goose and Geo. Garrow.

Census listings consistently show John as having been born ~1809, in St George in the East, but I've not been able to find a baptism for him.

John and Anne had at least these five children: 

1. Maria Eliza Isabella Sweney, bap. 11 Jan 1835 at St Dunstan's, Stepney
2. Unnamed Male Sweeney b. 1838 M Qtr in STEPNEY Vol 02 Page 390, mother GABBEDEY. Died 1838 M Qtr in STEPNEY Vol 02 Page 493.
3. John Henry Charles Sweeney, b. 11 May 1839, at 1 George Place, White Horse Street, Ratcliff (1839 J Quarter in STEPNEY Vol 02 Page 466)
4. Mary Ann Sweeney, b. 10 Dec 1848, bap. 19 Jan 1860 at St John the Evangelist, Limehouse
5. Matilda Sweeney b. 8 Sep 1851, bap. 19 Jan 1860 at St John the Evangelist, Limehouse (Died, aged 16, in 1866 S Quarter in WHITECHAPEL Volume 01C Page 415)

On John Henry Charles' birth certificate, his father's occupation is Ship's Joiner. His mother is clearly listed as "Ann Sweeney, formerly Gabbedy". 

The dates of birth for the two youngest are as listed on the baptism records, as there appear to be no GRO birth registrations for the girls. 

In 1841 living in Pleasant Row, Brewers Place, Stepney were John Swaney (sic) (32) Carpenter; son John (2), wife, Ann (29) and daughter Maria (7). (Throughout her life, my mother had been most pedantic that her maiden name was spelled Sweeney “with three Es.” It should have occurred to me to ignore that and, indeed, most of the records before 1901 are listed with the spelling of Sweney, sometimes Sweeny and, as here, even Swaney.)

In 1851, in Ocean Street, Mile End Old Town, were John Sweeny (42), Carpenter, Ann (39), Maria (17), John (9), Mary Ann (5) and Matilda (0).

A death of an Ann Sweeny, in Whitechapel, in the Jan-Feb-Mar Quarter of 1855, had been widely accepted as that of Anne Elizabeth, however, upon double-checking this at the GRO, it lists that this record relates to a baby girl aged 1. Another death in 1855 in Stepney that had been attributed was for a woman of 32 (would compute to birth year of 1823). Closer, but still not acceptable. Both youngest daughters were baptised in 1860, so I feel that may have been motivated by their mother's illness or death. As yet, I've been unable to confirm exactly when Anne Elizabeth Sweeney died and think there's a chance that her death wasn't registered, but it was clearly by 1861 ...

In 1861 at 107, North Street, Limehouse was John Sweney (52), Carpenter and Joiner, Widower, with Mary Ann (13) and Matilda (10), as well as son-in-law Richard Ford (27) Labourer Blacksmith, Maria Ford (24) and grandson, Richard Ford (6 months). There are records of a John Sweeney (22), lodging nearby, but none conclusively identified as John Henry Charles Sweeney.

In 1871, John Sweney (63), Widower, Carpenter, was head of the household at Stephen Cottages, James Street, St Anne Limehouse, Stepney, and living with him was his son John [Henry Charles] Sweney (31) Labourer; Susan Sweney (26), Susan Sweney (9), John Sweney (3) and Job Sweney (1).

John Sweeney died, at 71, in 1878 M Qtr in STEPNEY Vol 01C Page 351. 

John Gabbedy and Elizabeth Travally

St Dunstan & All Saints, Stepney - East end
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © John Salmon - geograph.org.uk/p/3477017

John Gabbedy (b. 20 July 1745, bap. 11 Aug 1745 at St Anne's Limehouse), son of Henry Gabbedy and Ann Causton, married Elizabeth Travally (b. 3 Oct 1742, bap. 14 Nov 1742 at St Anne's Limehouse), daughter of Winnall Travally and Elizabeth Benbow at St Dunstan and All Saints, Stepney, on 11 Jun 1769. This pair of my 5th great-grandparents married, by licence, and, witnesses were the bride's father, Winnall Travally and James Bryant.

Information suggests that John and Elizabeth had four children:

1. William Travally Gabbedy b. 1770 in Limehouse, London.
   (Buried on 17 Nov 1770 at St Dunstan and All Saints, Stepney.)
2. John Benbow Gabbedy b. 17 Nov 1771 in Risby's Rope Walk, Limehouse, bap. 8 Dec 1771 at St Anne's Limehouse
3. Thomas Gabbady b. 15 Jan 1773 in Risby's Rope Walk, Limehouse, bap. 7 Feb 1773 at St Anne's Limehouse. It looks as if Thomas was buried on 10 Jan 1781 at St Dunstan and All Saints, Stepney.
4. Esther Gabbady b. 16 Feb 1775 in Limekiln Hill, Limehouse, bap. 18 Mar 1775 at St Anne's Limehouse

On the baptisms, John Gabbdey's occupation is listed as Shipwright.

John Gabbedy must have died before 1781, because Elizabeth Gabbedy remarried, at St George in the East, to Edward Penfold on 7 Aug 1781. Witnesses were R Soper and, again, the bride's father, Winnall Travally.

Elizabeth Penfold (74) was reported to have been discharged from St George in the East Workhouse on 27 Sep 1811, but readmitted on 1 Jun 1812.

Elizabeth Penfold (~85) was buried on 20 Mar 1825 at St Anne, Limehouse.

Job Sweeney and Eliza Louisa Tompson

Globe Road, Bethnal Green
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Stephen McKay - geograph.org.uk/p/4697355
Very much a part of the traditional East End, Globe Road runs north from Stepney Green station to Roman Road, and then on to this northern stretch up to Old Ford Road. 

Job Sweeney (b. 6 Feb 1870), son of John Henry Charles Sweeney and Susannah Harvey, married Eliza Louisa Tompson (b. 24 Aug 1868), daughter of Dan Tompson and Mary Ann Green, on 5 Jan 1893, at the Parish Church of St Anthony, Globe Road, Stepney. (The church of Saint Anthony stood in the borough of Bethnal Green, but was part of the rural deanery of Stepney. It closed in 1936 and the building was demolished in 1937.) Both claimed to be 24 and both gave their address as 3 Monteagle Street, Stepney. 

Their only child, Job Thomas Sweeney (right), was born at 25 Monteagle Street, Stepney (which further research suggests was a boarding house) on 27 Aug 1897 (registered Job Thomas Sweney 1897 D Quarter in MILE END OLD TOWN Volume 01C Page 499, mother's maiden name TOMPSON) and was baptised at St Dunstan and All Saints, Stepney, on 19 Sep 1897.

In 1901, Job Sweney (sic) (33) Warehouseman, Eliza Sweney (sic) (32) and Job Sweney (sic) (3), were living at 8, Repton Street, Limehouse. 

My mother always claimed that her father and grandmother, Eliza Louisa, had been living in Sidney Street at the time of the Siege of Sidney Street, or Battle of Stepney that took place in January 1911. Improbable, though not impossible, but I can find no records to support this. Eliza Louisa was well away from the area when Cable Street (where she was born) had it's own battle in 1936.

By the time of the census on 2 April 1911, the family were living at 102 Fore Street, in the City of London. They lived in a flat above the warehouse that came with the job, where Job Sweeney (41) was employed as Packer and Caretaker; Eliza Louisa Sweeney (41), Job Thomas Sweeney (13) and Amy Dobson (19) Domestic Servant, Friend (Amy Dobson b. 1892, was the sister of Ruth Christmas Dobson, wife of Job's brother Charles Sweeney.) 

Son, Job Thomas Sweeney, must have served during WWI and these photographs tell us that this was in the British Army. His cap and epaulette badges are for the Royal Engineers, so it would seem that he was a sapper. There is a medal card for a Thomas J Sweeney, a sapper in the Royal Engineers, later in the Middlesex Regiment, The Queens Regiment, Royal Army Service Corps and then back to the Royal Engineers. Never heard him to have been known as Thomas, but it's possible, so I can neither confirm nor refute that this record is his. 

His ID discs, visible in both photos, could hold the key, but neither are sufficiently clear to reveal any detail. The major fire and bombing raid on the War Office Record Office in London's Arnside Street during the September 1940 Blitz destroyed about 60% of British Army WWI service records, and his must have been among those completely destroyed.

In 1921, Job Sweeney (51) Packer, was still living and working at 102, Fore Street, City of London, for Hoffnung & Co Shipping Merchants; with wife, Eliza L Sweeney (52) and son, Job T Sweeney (23) Warehouseman, working for Wills & Co (W.D. & H.O. Wills) at their Holborn Viaduct factory (for whom he eventually worked for around 36 years.) (Calling herself Amy Margaret Dobson (29) Charwoman, in 1921 - no idea where the Margaret came from - living at 102, Hind Street, Poplar, this census tells us she was working for Messrs Hoffnung & Co Ltd at 102 Fore Street, City, E C.)

Press Gangs and the King’s Shilling: Job Sweney (sic) died, on 6 December 1924, aged 54 (1924 D Quarter in HENDON Volume 03A Page 374), and as family stories go, this has to be one of the best (as in the myth is about as far away from the truth as it's possible to get), but also one of the saddest. 

My mother won't have known her grandfather, as he had died when she was only a few months old, but throughout her life, she recounted this story so many times it would be impossible to count: The story went that Job Sweeney had been "press ganged" into the navy no less than three times. Once would be unlucky, you'd have thought. Anyway, this account, undoubtedly passed down to her by her grandmother, Eliza Louisa Sweeney, was further embellished with the assertion that Job liked his drink rather too much, hence was always in the pub and the worse for wear and, therefore, had been tricked, in serial fashion, into taking the King's Shilling. 

All absolute poppycock, of course, like most family stories are.

As I say, I'd heard and nodded along to the retelling of this story umpteen times, but never really considered or questioned it. It wasn't until I met the current 'him indoors' who knows his military history, who immediately said "wrong century", that it became obvious the whole thing was invention.

With hindsight, I can see where it will have come from. Job's father was a dock labourer (sometimes listed as a stevedore); his great-grandfather a mariner and many of their ancestors were sailors, ship's carpenters and shipwrights. Eliza Louisa's family ran pubs around the London docks. They'll have grown up with 'press gang' stories and other seafaring folklore.

Having spent his entire life in the East End, it was finding that his death had been registered in Hendon that made me dig further in order to solve the mystery. It even crossed my mind that holidays 'At His Majesty's Pleasure' might well have explained these absences that we were all led to believe were when he was 'at sea', but it was not so. Having ordered his death certificate, this confirmed that the actual place of death was Colindale Hospital.

Built originally as the The Central London District Sick Asylum in 1898-1900 - to provide care for the sick poor in London, separate from the workhouse - in 1919, it was taken over by The Metropolitan Asylums Board and used as male TB sanatorium. The cause of Job Sweeney's death was given as 'Pulmonary Tuberculosis, Certified by Marcus Patterson MD.' 

Dr. Marcus Sinclair Paterson (1870–1932) was the medical superintendent of the Colindale Hospital for Pulmonary Tuberculosis, Hendon. "Here Paterson made valuable innovations in the symptomatic treatment of advanced cases", says his obituary in the BMJ. He developed a system of treatment called 'graduated labour'. "He has described how his observations on out-patients led him to the idea of introducing manual work, as well as walking, into the sanatorium regime, with the hope of fitting his patients for immediate return to their work, and of successfully meeting the charge that sanatoriums turned out work-shy loafers." (Not unlike attitudes today, because victim blaming is a whole lot cheaper than doing research and actually treating the sick. Looks like we can see who was originally responsible for ideas that led to the much maligned, ineffective and harmful Graded exercise therapy (GET) too.)

So, we can deduce that the "press gang" story was made up to explain a series of absences, which were probably stays for 'treatment' - forced work when you're already too ill to do your normal work - at the sanatorium. And the saddest part is this tells us that, so strong was the social stigma attached to TB that families preferred to paint their nearest and dearest as 'feckless, drunken, work-shy', etc., rather than admit they had an infectious, then incurable, disease undoubtedly contracted through no fault of their own. 

Eliza Louisa Sweeney with her granddaughter, Ivy. Edited with ImageColorizer

The internet isn't just useful for looking up dry-and-dusty old genealogy records, there is so much more to discover. Take this for example. Among lots of family photos I inherited from my mother and hers before her was one of my mother and her grandmother, Eliza Louisa Sweeney (née Tompson), taken in the 1930s (my mother was 15 in 1939, so I estimate this is close to then). Only because there was a distinctive looking window on a building that looked like a church in the background behind them, it peaked my interest and I thought I would try to find out where the photo had been taken.

At that time, my mother, her parents and grandmother, still lived in the City of London, in Fore Street. It didn't look like anywhere I knew around there, but then it got a bit altered in the interim. I'd also tried the facility to Search with an image on Google, but it just told me it was a snapshot. Duh! 

Eventually, I asked the The East of London Family History Society Group for help, but whilst they weren't able to answer, members made many useful suggestions that led to more searches ... that finally turned up images of the Trinity Methodist Church, Clacton-on-Sea, which perfectly fit the round window, as well as other elements of the architecture. As confirmation, they sent me a link to this map of Clacton (Revision of 1939), which shows the position of the post box (marked L.B.) that you can see behind them. 

Trinity Methodist Church, Clacton-on-Sea
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © JThomas - geograph.org.uk/p/2944160

Then and now: Clacton's Trinity Church in Rosemary Road in 1881 and 2015

So, from this, we can deduce that, since this church is in the background, then they must be walking down Pier Avenue (shown here in c. 1925), in the direction of the sea front and pier and, as they lived in the East End, they can only have been on a day trip (no, I don't suppose they were flush enough for a whole holiday!) to Clacton-on-Sea. I'd wondered what they were up to that was special enough - in those pre-selfie days - for a photo. Now I know.

Mind you, "... if you stood where they were walking now you'd get mown down by the traffic, those trees, hedges and post box long gone too."

In 1939, Eliza Louisa was still living at 102 Fore Street with her son Job and his wife, Elizabeth (Bet) and granddaughter, Ivy, and remained there until their home was destroyed in WWII, thought to have been on or around the night of 29–30 Dec 1940, the so-called Second Great Fire of London.

Eliza Louisa Sweeney, otherwise Sweney (as it says on her death certificate), died on 13 Feb 1953 (1953 M Quarter in ROMFORD Volume 05A Page 846) from coronary thrombosis, influenza, chronic bronchitis and old age, at 84.

Benjamin Thompson and Mary Ann Botterill

The Spotted Cow (closed)
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Stephen Craven - geograph.org.uk/p/2331664

Benjamin Thompson (bap. 3 Oct 1841 in Cransley, Northamptonshire), son of Daniel Thompson and Mary Adcock, married Mary Ann Botterill (b. 1844 in West Haddon), daughter of Stephen Botterill and Mary Thompson, at Christ Church, Watney Street, St George in the East on 30 Dec 1866. Benjamin's sister, Sarah Elizabeth Thompson, had already married Mary Ann's brother, Daniel Botterill. Both sibling pairs, therefore, married their first cousins.

Records suggest that Benjamin and Mary had six children:

1. Daniel Tompson b. 1872 M Quarter in SAINT GEORGE IN THE EAST Volume 01C Page 460
2. Benjamin Adcock Tompson b. 1874 J Quarter in SAINT GEORGE IN THE EAST Volume 01C Page 413
3. Sarah Tompson b. 1879 S Quarter in ST GEORGE IN THE EAST Volume 01C Page 398
4. Thomas Tompson b. 1883 S Quarter in STEPNEY Volume 01C Page 421
5. Mary Tompson b. 1887 S Quarter in BROMLEY Volume 02A Page 413
6. Rose Tompson b. 1889 S Quarter in LEWISHAM Volume 01D Page 1114. Died 18 Feb 1891 (1891 M Quarter in LEWISHAM Volume 01D Page 810) and is buried at Brockley and Ladywell Cemeteries

In 1861, Benjamin Tompson (19), having dopped the haitch, bricklayer, had been living with his aunt and uncle, John and Maria Blackett. 

By 1871, Benjamin Tompson (29) Master Builder and Mary (27) were living at 299 Cable Street. (Benjamin's brother Dan and his wife Mary Ann Green were living there when their first child, Eliza Louisa was born there in 1868.) 

Then in 1879, Benjamin Thompson was listed as the incoming licensee at the Victoria, 46 Three Colt Street, Limehouse E14. (A Trip Down Three Colt Street | Houses in Three Colt Street.) 

In 1881, Benjamin Tompson (39) Licenced Victualler from Broughton, Northamptonshire, was still at 46 Three Colt Steet, Limehouse with Mary Tompson (36), Daniel Tompson (9), Benjamin Tompson (7), Mary Tompson (18)* Barmaid and C Taylor (19) Female Domestic Servant. *Mary Tompson is listed as their daughter, but in fact was Mary Elizabeth Tompson, daughter of Benjamin's late brother, George Thompson and Diana Shatford.

Benjamin was still listed at the Victoria, Limehouse in 1882 and 1884. 

Benjamin Tompson died, aged 48, in 1890 M Quarter in LEWISHAM Volume 01D Page 802. The Will of Benjamin Tompson of the "Victoria" Tavern, Three Colt Street, Limehouse in the County of Middlesex, but late of the "Spotted Cow", Hither Green Lane, Lewisham in the County of Kent, Licenced Victualler, who died 6 Feb 1890 [1] at the "Spotted Cow", was proved at the Principal Registry by Mary Tompson of the "Spotted Cow" Widow of the Relict and John Soppit of the "Railway" Tavern, Shortlands in the County of the Kent, Licensed Victualler the Executors. He left £1,140 17s 10d.

[1] The date of death on the probate record was listed as 6 Feb 1890, but on his grave, the date is given as 6 Jan 1890. The latter must be correct as Benjamin had already been buried (hopefully not alive) on 14 Jan 1890.

In 1891, Mary Tompson (46), widow, had become the Licenced Victualler of the Spotted Cow, Hither Green Lane, Lewisham. Living with her were her son, Daniel (19) Manager Public House; Benjamin (17), Cabinet Maker's Apprentice; daughter Mary (3); her niece Sarah Tompson (Dan Tompson's daughter), as well as a Sarah A Bunting (24), General Servant.

By 1901, Mary Tompson (55) was living at 44, Ringstead Road, Lewisham. With her were Benjamin Tompson (27), who had become an upholsterer; Thomas Tompson (17), Warehouseman; Mary Tompson (13), Sybil Thompson (2), granddaughter, and Ellen Guymer (20), General Domestic Servant.

Mary Tompson died, aged 58, on 7 Jun 1903 (1903 J Qtr in LEWISHAM Vol 01D 575) and she is also buried at Brockley and Ladywell Cemeteries.

Richard Ford and Maria Eliza Isabella Sweeney

St Matthew, St Matthew's Row, Bethnal Green
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © John Salmon - geograph.org.uk/p/2636777

Richard Ford (b. ~1834 in Limehouse), married Maria Eliza Isabella Sweeney (b. 1834), daughter of John Sweeney and Anne Elizabeth Gabbaday, at St Matthew's, Bethnal Green on 25 Dec 1857. Both gave their address as 127 North Street. Witnesses were James Richardson and William Ames. Richard Ford listed his occupation as Smith and his father as Richard Ford, Carpenter, however, he appears to have been the son of John Robert Ford, Shipwright, and Harriet Showell, but his father died in 1837 when he was a small boy.

Richard and Maria had ten children:

1. Richard John Ford b. 26 Sep 1860 D Quarter in STEPNEY Volume 01C Page 506, bap. 24 Jan 1861 in Limehouse, London
2. Maria Ford b. 12 Mar 1862 J Qtr in STEPNEY Vol 01C Page 501, bap. 8 May 1862 at St John the Evangelist, Limehouse (St John's Church, Halley Street). Died aged 1 in 1863 J Qtr in STEPNEY Vol 01C Page 364
3. Ellen Eliza Ford b. 12 Sep 1863 D Quarter in STEPNEY Volume 01C Page 481, bap. 5 Nov 1863 in Limehouse
4. Robert Charles Ford b. 3 Nov 1866 D Quarter in STEPNEY Volume 01C Page 507, bap. 31 Jan 1867 in Limehouse. Died aged 1 in 1867 D Quarter in STEPNEY Volume 01C Page 366
5. Arthur James Ford b. 3 Sep 1868 D Quarter in STEPNEY Volume 01C Page 485, bap. 13 Feb 1871 in Limehouse
6. Matilda Elizabeth Ford b. 1870 J Quarter in STEPNEY Volume 01C Page 483. Died at 11 months in 1871 M Quarter in STEPNEY Volume 01C Page 407 and was buried on 17 Feb 1871 at Victoria Park Cemetery, Hackney (family's address, 6 Manning Street, Hackney.) ('The Resort of Thieves and Harlots'; Victoria Park Cemetery, Bethnal Green.)
7. Mary Ann Elizabeth b. 1872 M Qtr in STEPNEY Vol 01C Page 505
8. Elizabeth Ford b. 1874 M Quarter in STEPNEY Volume 01C Page 486
9. Charles Ford b. 1 Nov 1876 D Qtr in STEPNEY Vol 01C Page 497
10. Jane Ford b. 1 Nov 1876 D Quarter in STEPNEY Volume 01C Page 497. Died aged 4 in 1881 M Quarter in STEPNEY Volume 01C Page 353

All of the birth registrations give the mother's maiden name as SWEENEY and all of the baptisms lists the parents a Richard and Maria. They appear to give up on baptisms after 1871. The last two, born in 1876, were clearly twins.

In 1861, Richard Ford (27) Labourer Blacksmith from Limehouse, Middlesex and Maria Ford (24) birthplace St George in the East and Richard Ford (6 months) were living at 107, North Street, Limehouse, Stepney, with Maria's widowed father and her two sisters Mary Ann (13) and Matilda (10).

In 1871, Richard Ford (34) Blacksmith was living in Manning Street, St Anne Limehouse, Stepney with Maria Ford (34) Laundress; Richard Ford (10), Eleanor [Ellen Eliza] Ford (7) and Arthur Ford (2).

Eldest son, John Richard Ford, then 19, joined the British Army on 12 Jul 1879. He was 5ft 5½in with a fresh complexion, blue eyes and brown hair and his service record lists his father as Richard Ford of North Street, Limehouse. Richard John Ford served in the East Indies (India) from 20 Dec 1879 until 29 Nov 1884, where (like every other soldier) he acquired gonorrhea in Madras, in 1882. He was discharged from the army on 10 July 1891.

In 1881, at 135, North Street, Limehouse, Stepney were Richard Ford (44) Labourer in iron works; Maria Ford (43), Ellen Ford (18), Arthur Ford (13), Eliza [Elizabeth] Ford (7) and Charles Ford (4). 

In 1891, Richard Ford (57) Dock Labourer was at 17, Whitethorn Street, Bromley, Poplar, with Maria Ford (54) and Charles Ford (14) Van Boy.

Richard Ford died, age estimated as 68, in 1900 S Quarter in STEPNEY Volume 01C Page 280.

In 1901, Maria Ford (65) Widow, was living at 65, Conder Street, Limehouse, Stepney with her youngest son, Charles Ford (25) General Carman.

Maria Ford died at 72, in 1906 J Quarter in POPLAR Vol 01C Page 327.

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, then remarried to the aforesaid Archibald Campbell (39), Widower, son of Archibald Campbell and Elizabeth Desmond, at St Anne, Limehouse, on her birthday, 5 Jun 1911. (Archibald Campbell had previously married Ellen Keating in Mile End, in 1893, with whom, according to the 1911 Census, he'd had ten children (only found records for nine), six of whom had already died. Archibald's first wife, Ellen Campbell, had died, at 38, in 1909.)

Archibald's daughter, Esther Campbell also 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.

In 1939, Arch Campbell (b. 2 Sep 1872) Retired (Boro Council) and Susan Campbell (b. 5 Jun 1862) Retired, were living at 37 Apostle Road, Mile End, Stepney.

Archibald Campbell died, at 71, in 1944 M Qtr in STEPNEY Vol 01C 184.

Susannah Campbell, pictured, clearly lived "to an age", but I've so far been unable to confirm exactly when she died (possibly later in 1944).

Arthur Woodham and Mary Matilda Sweeney

St Dunstan's Church, Stepney
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Marathon - geograph.org.uk/p/6294631

Arthur Woodham (b. 30 Nov 1878 in Limehouse), son of William Wesley Woodham and Mary Ann Poole, married Mary Matilda Sweeney (b. 11 Mar 1878), daughter of John Henry Charles Sweeney and Susannah Harvey, at the Parish Church of Stepney - St Dunstan's, Stepney - on 25 Dec 1904. Witnesses to their marriage were J Sweney (looks like the signature of the bride's father) and Alfred Woodham, the bridegroom's twin brother.

Arthur and Mary Matilda had four children:

1. Arthur Alfred Wesley Woodham b. 1906 M Quarter in STEPNEY Vol 01C Page 409. Died 1906 M Quarter in STEPNEY Vol 01C Page 267
2. Elsie Woodham b. 1907 J Quarter in STEPNEY Volume 01C Page 380. Died 1907 J Quarter in STEPNEY Volume 01C Page 237
3. Lilian Susannah Woodham b. 21 Sep 1908 Vol 01C Page 318
4. Ivy Maud Woodham b. 20 Jul 1910 S Qtr in STEPNEY Vol 01C 339

All four birth registrations have the mother's maiden name SWEENEY.

In 1911, Arthur Woodham (32) French Polisher; Mary Matilda Woodham (33), Lilian Susannah Woodham (2 yrs 6 mths) and Ivy Maud Woodham (8 mths), were living at 58 Conder Street, Limehouse, London. The information they provide on this census return confirms that they had four children, two who were living and two had died, during their then six year marriage.

In 1921, and still at 58, Conder Street, Limehouse, London, were Arthur Woodham (42) Labourer working for Messrs Stein Ltd, Wharfingers at Grosvenor Wharf, Newcastle Street, Cubitt Town; Mary Matilda Woodham (43), Lilian Susannah Woodham (12) and Ivy Maud Woodham (10).

In 1939, Arthur Woodham, General Labourer; Mary M Woodham, Lilian S Woodham and Henry Thomas Morris, Lead Smelter, were living at 11 Maroon Street, Limehouse. Ivy Maud Morris, Married, Evacuee, was staying in the household of Cuthbert Templeman, Retired Grocer, at Kingswood New Bristol Road, Worle, Weston-Super-Mare, Somerset, with their daughter b. 1938.

Arthur Woodham died, at 70, in 1949 M Qtr in STEPNEY Vol 05D 757.

Mary Matilda Woodham died, at 78, in 1956 S Qtr in STEPNEY Vol 05D 522.

• Lilian Susannah Woodham died, in Tower Hamlets, in 2004
• Henry Thomas Morris (b. 19 Jan 1909) married Ivy Maud Woodham, in 1937. Henry Thomas Morris died, in Tower Hamlets, in 1983. Ivy Maud Morris died, in Tower Hamlets, in 2005

David Grant and Jane Gabedey

St Paul's Church, Shadwell. J Shepherd, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

David Grant (b. ~1736) Batchelor, married Jane Gabedey (b. 27 Sep 1740 in Limehouse Causeway, Shadwell) Spinster, daughter of Henry Gabbedy and Ann Causton, at St Paul's Church, Shadwell on 8 Dec 1756. Witnesses were George Si*dley (others have assumed / misread this as Gabedey, but the word begins with an S and the dot on the i is also clear) and Ann Pearson. As is obvious from the dates, Jane was just 16 at the time of her marriage.

David and Jane had at least six children:

1. David Grant bap. 17 Jun 1759, son of David & Jane of Darby Street, Rosemary Lane, at St Botolph's Aldgate, City of London. David, son of David Grant was buried, also at St Botolph's Aldgate on 5 Apr 1761
2. Ann Grant bap. 31 May 1761, daughter of David & Jane of Darby Street, Rosemary Lane, at St Botolph's Aldgate, City of London. Ann, daughter of David Grant was buried at St Botolph's Aldgate 26 Mar 1762
3. James Grant bap. 6 Mar 1763 son of David & Jane in Chambers Street, at Saint Mary, Whitechapel: Whitechapel High Street (St Mary Matfelon)
4. Thomas Grant bap. 6 Mar 1763 sons of David & Jane in Chambers Street, at Saint Mary, Whitechapel: Whitechapel High Street 
5. John Grant b. 6 Mar 1774, bap. 3 Apr 1774 (aged 28 days), son of David, Ropemaker’s Fields, & Jane, at St Anne's Limehouse
6. Rebecca Grant bap. 2 Mar 1777 at St Botolph's Aldgate, daughter of David & Jane of Dean Street East.

Baptised together as Thomas & James, sons of ... had to have been twins.

With such a long gap after the twins' birth and the next recorded birth, there could, of course, been other children that records don't survive for. Sadly, none of the records give any indication of David's occupation either.

Darby Street - described as "one of the less hospitable corners of the capital" - dropped down from Rosemary Lane, which ran west to east from behind the Tower, passing the Royal Mint before plunging into the areas around the docks. And if that wasn't bad enough, try An Anatomy of a ‘Disorderly’ Neighbourhood: Rosemary Lane and Rag Fair c.1690-1765, which says "In the imagination of both novelists and social investigators it was thought to be squalid, dangerous, dirty - the stereotypical ‘den of iniquity’."

It hasn't been possible to isolate a record of the death of David Grant.

Jane Grant (74) was buried on 30 Jul 1814 at St Leonard's, Shoreditch.

Winnall Travally Dalton and Ann Woolfe

© Peter Trimming (cc-by-sa/2.0 geograph.org.uk/p/6195470
Southwark Cathedral

Winnall Travally Dalton (b. 28 July 1766 in Limehouse), son of William Dalton and Sarah Travally, married Ann Woolfe (bap. 21 Jul 1769 in Hitchin, Herts), daughter of Thomas Woolfe and Martha Bray, at Southwark St Saviour (now Southwark Cathedral) on 30 Nov 1794. However, the banns of this marriage state that Winnall Dalton was Widowed. Winnall Travally Dalton then of the parish of St Paul, Shadwell, had first married Elizabeth Crutchfield then of the parish of St. Mary, Stratford le Bow, Spinster, by Licence, in the parish of All Saints, Poplar on 7 Aug 1792. We know that this marriage relates, as the witnesses included William Dalton and Sarah Dalton, the groom's parents. On 9 Oct 1792 an Elizabeth Dalton, described merely as 'Woman (Fever)' was buried at St Giles Without Cripplegate and this sadly appears to relate.

Winnall Travally Dalton and Ann Woolfe had 11 children:

1. Winnall Thomas Dalton b. 14 Nov 1795
2. Ann Dalton b. 24 Jun 1797. She appears to have been christened at the Ratcliff Rose Lane Independent church in July 1797.[1]
3. William Dalton b. 26 Nov 1798
4. John Dalton b. 5 Jun 1800
5. Eliza Dalton b. 28 Jan 1802
6. Martha Dalton b. 15 Aug 1803
7. Henry Dalton b. 8 Oct 1804
8. George Dalton b. 10 Jul 1806
9. James Dalton b. ~ Jan 1808. James, son of Winnall Dalton, Caulker, of Church Lane, was buried on 21 Oct 1808 at St Anne's Limehouse, aged 10 months
10. Mary Emma Dalton b. 6 Aug 1809
11. Phillip James Dalton b. 2 Aug 1813, bap. 24 Oct 1813 at St Anne's Limehouse.

[1] Rose Lane has been renamed at some time to Ratcliffe Lane which leads into Butcher Row (the old White Horse Street) and is about 250 yards from Ratcliffe Cross Street. [Source]

The birth records for the first eight children and for Mary Emma, all born in Church Lane, in the parish of St Anne Limehouse are of Non-Conformists - 'Dissenters'. These records, from Dr Williams' Library Registry; Registers of certificates, an early birth register of Protestant dissenters, list the maternal grandparents. (‘Dissenting’ tradition in Stepney.) Each birth has two witnesses: Sarah Dalton, presume Winnall's mother, was one of the witnesses on most births. Ann Spokes was witness also to the first three; from John onwards, one of them was an Elizabeth Spinks and at Mary Emma Dalton's birth in 1809, one of the witnesses was Winnall's cousin, Esther Evans.

Phillip James' baptism record lists his father's occupation as Caulker.

In 1792, Winnall Dalton, Caulker, of Shadwell, Middlesex, took on James Carrington as an Apprentice; and in 1795 Winnall Dalton, Caulker, of St Paul Shadwell, records show, took on another Apprentice, Edward Barrow.

There is a record of Winnall Dalton being brought into custody and discharged at Marshalsea on 9 Oct 1820 in respect to a suit - presumably for a debt - brought by a William and Sarah Wright. This is the same Debtors' prison where Charles Dickens' father was committed four years later in 1824.

Winnall Travally Dalton died in 1825, aged 59 and was buried on 5 Jun 1825 at St Anne's Limehouse.

In 1841, Ann Dalton (70) Widow of Independent means was living at 16 Holmes Street, St Dunstan Stepney, with daughter Martha Dalton (35) Milliner; son Phillip James Dalton (25) Vellum Binder and a Jane Gray (20) Milliner, presumably a boarder. (All ages rounded down.)

Ann Dalton (80) of 16 Holmes St, Stepney, died in 1850 M Qtr in STEPNEY Vol 02 Page 368 and was buried on 12 Jan 1850 in Tower Hamlets.

Henry Gabedy and Hannah Peters

Photo © Marathon (cc-by-sa/2.0)

St Dunstan's Church, Stepney, Friday, 15 November, 2024

Photo available for reuse under this Creative Commons licence.

Henry Gabedy (sic) (b. ~1680) of Limehouse, Caulker, married Hannah Peters (b. Wednesday, 2 Dec 1685, bap. 15 Dec 1685 at St Dunstan's, Stepney) of the same [Parish], Spinster, daughter of Peter Peters of Phoenix Street, Spitalfields, Gent (he was a Victualler), and of Elizabeth uxor, at St Dunstan's, Stepney, on 9 Nov 1704. St Dunstan's was a busy church, but it's interesting to note that theirs was the last of twelve marriages taking place that day, with seven of the men listed as mariners, which leads me to think a ship was sailing imminently. Other trades among them were butcher, poulterer and cooper. A cooper on an 18th-century ship was absolutely essential for survival, but a specialized caulker was rarely a permanent part of the crew. 

Records exist for five children of this family:

1. Henry Gaberdee (sic) b. Wednesday, 19 Sep 1705, bap. 7 Oct 1705 at St Dunstan's, Stepney, Henry son of Henry & Hannah Gaberdee (sic) of Lhouse [Limehouse] Caulker, at 18 days old.
2. Hannah Gaberdee (sic) b. Thursday, 25 Mar 1708, bap. 4 Apr 1708 at St Dunstan's, Stepney, Hannah daughter of Henry & Hannah Gaberdee (sic) of Limehouse, Caulker, at 10 days old.
3. Thomas Gabbade (sic) b. Thursday, 3 Jul 1710, bap. 16 Feb 1710 at St Dunstan's, Stepney. This is correct. February came after July at that time, because the year began on March 25th. Until 1752, dates between 1 Jan - 24 Mar were in the year earlier than would seem correct to us. Died, aged ~24. Thomas, son of Henry Gaberdey Caulker L.H. Causeway was buried at St Anne's Limehouse in 10 Nov 1734.
4. Stephen Gabberday (sic) b. Wednesday, 8 Oct 1712, bap. 4 Nov 1712 at St Dunstan's, Stepney. Stephen son of Henry and Hannah Gabberday of Lhouse, Caulker at 27 days old. 'Infant, son of Henry Gaberde (sic) of Limehouse, Caulker', was buried on 10 Aug 1716 at St Dunstan's. 
5. John Gaberdey (sic) b. Thursday, 5 Sep 1717, bap. 4 Oct 1717 at St Dunstan's, Stepney. John son of Henry Gaberdey of Lhouse, Caulker, and Hannah, his wife, at 29 days old. Died, aged ~23, John Gabbeday of Ratclif (sic) was buried at St Dunstan's, Stepney on 22 Apr 1740.

iv. Others have assumed the Infant buried in 1716 was born then and died before he could be given a name, but, on balance, as Henry Gabedy seems to have been consistent in his record keeping and because there are no further records for Stephen and equally no birth record for the Infant, I'm more likely to accept that the church official lazily wrote Infant, but that this relates to Stephen, who would have been an Infant at ~3 years old at that time.

London, England, Land Tax Records place Henry Gabbady (sic) in Limehouse Causeway, in the parish of St Anne, Middlesex, paying rent of £5 (not the highest in the area, but far from the lowest). Caulkers were an important trade and they were also one of the highest paid because they kept the ship afloat.

Initially a raised path through marshland, Limehouse Causeway developed as a bustling hub for sailors, shipbuilders, and ropemakers in the 18th century.

On 20 Jan 1715, Henry Gaberdy (sic) Master Caulker of Limehouse, paid the premium to take John, son of John Perrin of Hertford, as an apprentice.

Hannah Gabrely (sic), wife of Henry Gabrely of LH [Limehouse] died at ~33, and was buried at St Dunstan and All Saints, Stepney, on 7 Jun 1719. 

Henry Gabedy then married an Elizabeth Williamson also at at St Dunstan's, Stepney, on 28 Jan 1720. It is important to note that the record states Henry Gabedy of Limehouse, Shipwright* and Elizabeth Williamson of the same, Widow. So Williamson was her previous married name, not her maiden name. We don't know where she was from, nor how old she was and unfortunately, there's a huge number of Williamsons who married an Elizabeth, so without some other clue, it has proved impossible to learn any more about her. (* I do not believe for one moment that Henry changed his profession suddenly from Caulker to Shipwright. Similar happened on his son's second marriage, where Ship's Caulker became Ship's Carpenter, as a clerical error or laziness.)

Henry and Elizabeth don't appear to have any further children together.

Henry Gabedey of the Parish of Saint Ann in the county of Middlesex Caulker being in bodily health and of sound and disposing mind and memory and considering the perils and dangers of the seas and other uncertainties of this transitory life and for avoiding controversies after my decease make, publish this my last will and testament. Henry left all of his working tools and wearing apparel to his youngest son John Gabedey. The rest of his estate, he left to his loving wife Elizabeth Gabedey for and during the term of her natural life and after her decease, to his daughter Anna Gabedy (sic) [Hannah]. The Will was drawn up on 30 Sep 1737, (in the eleventh year of the Reign of George the Second), which is interesting timing, because that was about three weeks after his eldest son, Henry, had married for the second time. 

This will was proved on 26 Jul 1739, by the oath of Elizabeth Gabbedey, Widow, Relict and Sole Executrix, which does suggest that Henry had died, probably shortly before that in 1739. Several people query whether he died at sea, but given the information above that caulkers were not usually members of crew on voyages, I'd say that it's fairly unlikely. The wording on his will mentioning the sea may be the reason for this, but that was pretty standard template wording used by Will writers, especially in this area - I've seen very similar wording on other Wills - and do not therefore see this as a clue. On the other hand, there doesn't seem to be a burial record (either at St Anne, Limehouse, St Dunstan's nor Poplar Chapel), but the absense of such doesn't necessarily point to the sea either, because there are other family members in the area, including women, for whom I can find no burial records either.

Youngest son John Gabbedy only survived his father by a year.

Elizabeth Gabbedy was buried on 12 Dec 1745. The burial record in the Parish of Stepney states, 'Elizabeth Gabbedy at Poplar pensr.' [Pensioner]. From this, it is inferred that she had been in receipt of Parish Relief and that she was buried at Poplar Chapel (St Matthias Old Church).

Henry's daughter Hannah Gabbedy, it seems (from Land Tax Records) moved from Limehouse Causeway to Three Colt Street (Three Colt Street in Limehouse was a middle class thoroughfare of shops and businesses) in 1739, where she lived until 1745, paying GBP 3 rent p.a. As that move was made around the time of her father's death, until the death of her step-mother, I wonder if this is because the two women didn't get along. 

Hannah Gabdey (sic) of Limehouse Corner, died unmarried and was buried at St Anne's Limehouse on 16 Aug 1748. (Limehouse Corner is traditionally centred at the junction of Three Colt Street and Fore Street in East London, historically known as the site of the Old Kings Head pub. Given her maternal grandfather was a victualler, is it possible Hannah was the landlady?)

For further research:

• It's thought that Henry Gabdey could be the son of Stephen Gabbedey (Gabathy/Gabydon/Gabadis), who buried several children at St Dunstan's, Stepney from 1668-1675. He was buried as Stephen Gabbadine, at St Dunstan's, on 29 Jun 1684.
• Peter Peters and his wife Elizabeth had four children: Elizabeth in 1683, Hannah in 1685, Peter in 1687 and Charles in 1690. Peter Peters is described as a Victualler in Phoneix Street, Spitalfields on three of the baptisms. Peter Peters of Spitalfields Victualler was buried on 8 Jul 1692. Probate was granted to Elizabeth, Executrix. Various surnames have been suggested for Elizabeth. There is, however, a marriage of a Petrus Peeters and Elizabeth Embrechts on 21 Jun 1681 in Nispen-Essen, two neighbouring villages, with Nispen located in the Dutch province of North Brabant and Essen situated across the border in the Belgian province of Antwerp, which needs consideration. First because the surname Peters often seems associated with the Netherlands, secondly because one would likely find such immigrants in Spitalfields and, thirdly, on account of a tiny bit of DNA allegedly from the Netherlands.