George Charles Mew and Sarah Jane Fudge

Kingston Cemetery, Portsmouth
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Basher Eyre - geograph.org.uk/p/2655103

George Charles Mew (24) married Sarah Jane Fudge (19) at St Mary's Church, Portsea on 3 Mar 1870. (This will have been in the second church on the site, built in 1843 and demolished 1887.) The bridegroom, a Steward on HMS Asia, lists his father as George Charles Mew, Petty Officer RN, while the bride, of Bridport Street, Portsmouth, born 1850, in East Stonehouse, Plymouth, Devon, was the daughter of Thomas Fudge and Ann Beedle. Thomas Fudge, Seaman RN (his marriage in 1834, listed him as a Royal Marine). Witnesses were Ann Fudge (bride's mother) and W Hatch.

George Charles Mew was born on 31 Mar 1845 at Cove of Cork, later Queenstown, now Cobh, Ireland. It's claimed he was baptised at St Colman's Cathedral, Cobh on 3 Apr 1845, but this cannot be true as construction of the cathedral was not even begun until 1868. The baptism record may well be held by the Cobh Parish Office, but was undoubtedly at St John the Baptist Catholic Church, which had stood on that site from 1810 to 1868 (where his parents and my 2x great-grandparents married the year before).

George and Sarah had eleven children in total:

1. Lucy Elizabeth Ann Mew b. 1870 J Qtr in PORTSEA Vol 02B Page 478, bap. Lucia Elizabetha at Portsmouth, St John's Roman Catholic Cathedral in 1872. Died, aged 6, in 1876 J Qtr in PORTSEA Vol 02B Page 324.
2. Mary Ann Mew b. 1872 J Qtr in PORTSEA ISLAND Vol 02B Page 452, bap. Maria Anna at Portsmouth, St John's RC Cathedral in 1872.
3. George Charles Mew b. 9 Dec 1874, reg. M Qtr 1875 in PORTSEA ISLAND Vol 02B Page 463, bap. 15 August 1877 at St John's Roman Catholic Cathedral, Portsmouth. Died, aged 37 in 1912 M Qtr in PORTSMOUTH Vol 02B Page 663.
4. Annie Louisa Mew b. 18 May 1877 J Qtr in PORTSEA ISLAND Vol 02B Page 504, bap. 15 Aug 1877, at St John's Roman Catholic Cathedral.
5. Henrietta Mew b. 1879 D Qtr in PORTSEA ISLAND Vol 02B Page 493, bap. 1879 at St John's Roman Catholic Cathedral.
6. Henry Michael Mew b. 10 Oct 1881 D Qtr in PORTSEA Vol 02B 522, bap. Henricus Michael in 1881, at St John's Roman Catholic Cathedral.
7. Mabel Mary Mew b. 1884 S Qtr in PORTSEA Vol 02B Page 480.
8. Lucy Maria Mew b. 1885 D Qtr in PORTSEA ISLAND Vol 02B Page 498, bap. Maria Lucia at St John's RC Cathedral, Portsmouth. Died age 1, in 1886 S Qtr in PORTSEA ISLAND Vol 02B Page 350.
9. Lucy Mary Mew b. 1887 D Qtr in PORTSEA Vol 02B Page 511.
10. Margaret Marshall Mew b. 1889, reg. 1890 M Qtr in PORTSEA ISLAND Vol 02B Page 423, bap. Margarita Marshall in 1889 at St John's Roman Catholic Cathedral, Portsmouth.
11. Andrew Samuel Mew b. 1892, reg 1893 M Qtr in PORTSEA ISLAND Vol 02B Page 458, bap. Andreas Samuel in 1893 at St John's Roman Catholic Cathedral. Died, aged 2, in 1894 D Quarter in PORTSEA ISLAND Vol 02B Page 301, buried at Kingston Cemetery.

George Charles Mew had enlisted in the Royal Navy in 1863. From 29 Apr 1863 until 31 Dec 1866, he was assigned to HMS Asia (1824), which, by that time was flagship of the Admiral-Superintendent of Portsmouth Dockyard. For much of that time George Charles Mew was a Warrant Officer's Servant or Cook. With HMS Rodney (1833) from 1 Jan 1867 to 4 May 1868, George was back with HMS Asia from 28 May 1868 to 31 Dec 1872 and engaged again from 1 Jan 1873 to 20 Feb 1874. His record in 1873 lists him as being 5ft 3in with brown hair, grey eyes and a dark complexion.

In 1871, Sarah Mew (20) was lodging in Hertford Street, Portsea with her daughter Losie [Lucy] (0) and Anne Bailey (11) Visitor. This will have been her niece, Luisa Anne [Annie] Bailey, who was actually 13. She is also listed with her grandparents, so possibly being counted twice on a temporary visit.

From 21 Feb 1874 to 21 Mar 1874, George became the 4th of my relatives to serve, albeit briefly, on HMS Duke of Wellington (1852). From 6 May to 24 Aug 1874, he was with HMS Newcastle (1860) and his final posting was with HMS Endymion (1865) - which may have taken him to as exotic a location as Hull - from 25 Aug 1874 to 9 Aug 1875, when he was Invalided.

In 1881, George Charles Mew (36) then a Tailor's porter, was a Lodger in the household of his in-laws, Thomas Fudge (72) Navy Pensioner and Ann Fudge (68) at 33, Bridport Street, Portsea, along with wife Sarah Jane (29), Mary Ann (9), George Charles (7), Annie Louisa (4) and Henrietta (1).

Sarah Jane, was baptised as Sara Joanna Mew - listed as a convert - at St John's Roman Catholic Cathedral, Portsmouth, on 3 Jul 1882.

In 1891, in Clarence Street, Portsea, were George Mew (47) Tailor's trimmer, Sarah Mew (40), Mary A (19) Tailoress; George Mew (16) Shoemakers apprentice; Annie Mew (13) Dressmakers apprentice; Henrietta Mew (11), Mabel Mew (7), Henry Mew (9), Lucy Mew (4) and Maggie Mew (1).

George Charles Mew of Clarence Street, Landport died, aged 48, on 8 Apr 1893 and was buried, on 13 April 1893, at at Kingston Cemetery, in a Catholic Slot, 4th Row, 12th Grave, in Unconsecrated Ground.

In 1901, Sarah Mew (50) Widowed, at 46, Clarence Street, Portsmouth with Harry Mew (19) Stableman; Mabel Mew (16) Corset Maker; Lucy Mew (13); Maggie Mew (11), daughter Henrietta Hazzard (21), George Hazzard (22) Son-in-law, Journeyman Bricklayer and James Eyers (23) Blacksmith, Visitor. Son George Charles Mew (26) was a Stable Lad in the employ of Alfred Willson (50) Trainer of Race Horses in East Garston, Berkshire.

In 1911, Sarah Jane Mew (61) was employed as a Stay Lacer in a Stay Factory and living at 40 Fyning Street, Fratton, Portsmouth and living with her were daughter Margaret Marshall Mew (21) Assistant Stock Keeper and Alec John Mew (1), who appears to be Margaret's illegitimate child.

Sarah Jane Mew is reputed to have died in 1936 [yet to find record].

William George Shotter and Annie Louisa Mew

The Newcome Arms
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © N Chadwick - geograph.org.uk/p/6667175

William George Shotter (b. 21 May 1876), son of William Thomas Shotter and Hannah Jane Bussey, married Annie Louisa Mew (b. 18 May 1877), daughter of George Charles Mew and Sarah Fudge, with the venue for the marriage listed as Portsmouth Register Office, in 1898. 

William and Annie had four sons:

1. William George Shotter b. 11 May 1899 in PORTSEA Vol 02B 459
2. Sydney Edgar Shotter b. 18 Jun 1901 in PORTSMOUTH Vol 02B 490
3. Alfred Hector Shotter b. 11 Mar 1903 in PORTSMOUTH Vol 02B 485
4. Thomas Bailey Shotter b. 2 Sep 1904 in PORTSMOUTH Vol 02B 465

In 1901, at 215, Lake Road, Portsmouth, were William George Shotter (25) Butcher shopkeeper and Annie Louisa Shotter (24), William George Shotter (2) and George Shotter (17) Butcher's assistant, William George's brother.

In 1911, still at 215 Lake Road, Landport, were William George Shotter (34) Master Butcher, Annie Louisa (33), William George (11), Sydney Edgar (9), Alfred Hector (8), Thomas Bailey (6) and Norah Annie Gossell (20) Servant.

In 1911, William George Shotter is also listed in Public Houses, Inns & Taverns, at the Newcome Arms, 189 Newcome Road, Kingston, Portsmouth.

In 1917, at age 40, William George Shotter, of 215 Lake Road, Butcher and Publican, was granted conditional exemption from military service. 

In 1939, William George Shotter, Licensed Victualler and Annie Louisa Shotter, were living at 34 Chichester Road, Portsmouth.

Annie Louisa Shotter of 36 Colville Road, Cosham, Portsmouth (wife of William George Shotter) died on 22 Aug 1960 at St Christopher's Hospital (formerly Fareham Union Workhouse), an elderly care hospital, leaving her effects to William George Shotter, retired Licensed Victualler.

William George Shotter also then of 36 Colville Road, Cosham, died on 25 Apr 1965 at the Yarborough Medical Home, North End, Portsmouth. 

Their sons and grandson:

• William George Shotter, formerly a telegraphist, enlisted in the Royal Naval Reserve on 15 Oct 1917, from which he was discharged on 16 Feb 1919. On 15 Nov 1922, he married Bessie Isabel Spencer, in Portsmouth. Their only child, William George Shotter, was born on 23 Apr 1923. Then on 18 Feb 1924, William George Shotter (24) enlisted in the Royal Artillery, from which he was discharged on 5 Dec 1938. In 1939, William George Shotter, Overseer General Post Office, and Bessie I Shotter were living at Leamengton, Pound Farm Road, Chichester. Their son followed his father into the Royal Artillery. Gunner William George Shotter, son of William George and Bessie Isabel Shotter, of Chichester, Sussex died, aged 19, on 21 Jan 1943 and is buried at Medjez-El-Bab War Cemetery, near Majaz al Bab, Tunisia. (During World War II, Tunisia was the scene of Operation Torch (8 November 1942 – 13 May 1943), which was the Allied invasion of North Africa. CWGC Commonwealth War Graves in Béja & Medjez-el-Bab, Tunisia, North Africa.) William George Shotter of St James Hospital, Locksway Road, Milton, Portsmouth, a mental health facility, died on 24 Feb 1986.
• Sydney Edgar Shotter married Sylvia Mary Owens, in Portsmouth, in 1926. They appear to have two children, born in Southampton. In 1939, Sydney E Shotter, Deputy Supt Mercantile Marine Office Board Of Trade, and Sylvia M Shotter, were living at 13 Lansdowne Avenue, Grimsby. Sylvia Mary Shotter died in 1975 and Sydney Edgar Shotter died on 21 Apr 1981, both in Nottingham.
• Alfred Hector Shotter (23) Civil Servant, married Marjorie Alice Marchant (26) on 5 Jun 1926 at St Mary's Church, Merton, Surrey. They had one son, born in Kingston upon Thames, in 1929. Alfred Hector Shotter died, in Kingston upon Thames, in 1977.
• Thomas Bailey Shotter married Nora Winifred Carter in Portsmouth, in 1930. They had one son, born Derbyshire, in 1934. In 1939, Thomas B Shotter, Civil Servant Unemployed Assistance, and Nora W Shotter, were living at 132 Whitton Dene, Hounslow. Thomas Bailey Shotter died, on 12 Feb 1984, in Westbury on Trym, Gloucestershire.