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), son of George Mew and Mary Collins, married Sarah Jane Fudge (b. 25 Dec 1850 in East Stonehouse, Devon), daughter of Thomas Fudge and Ann Beedle, at St Mary's Church, Portsea on 3 Mar 1870. Witnesses were Ann Fudge (bride's mother) and W Hatch.

The bridegroom, a Steward on HMS Asia, lists his father as George Charles Mew, Petty Officer RN. George Charles Mew was born on 31 Mar 1845 at Cove of Cork, 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 begun until 1868. The baptism record will be held by the Cathedral's Cobh Parish Office, but undoubtedly took place in St John the Baptist Catholic Church, which stood on that site from 1810 to 1868.

George and Sarah had eleven children in total:

1. Lucy Elizabeth Ann Mew b. 4 May 1870 (1870 J Qtr in PORTSEA Vol 02B Page 478), bap. Lucia Elizabetha, St John's RC Cathedral on 12 Jun 1872. Died, aged 6, in 1876 J Qtr in PORTSEA Vol 02B Page 324.
2. Mary Ann Mew b. 2 April 1872 (1872 J Qtr in PORTSEA Vol 02B Page 452), bap. Maria Anna at St John's RC Cathedral on 12 June 1872.
3. George Charles Mew b. 9 Dec 1874, reg. M Qtr 1875 in PORTSEA ISLAND Vol 02B Page 463, bap. 15 Aug 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. 18 Oct 1879 D Qtr in PORTSEA ISLAND Vol 02B Page 493, bap. 16 Nov 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 on 20 Nov 1881, at St John's R C Cathedral
7. Mabel Mary Mew b. 26 May 1884  (1884 S Qtr in PORTSEA Vol 02B Page 480), bap. Mabilla Maria on 11 June 1884 at St John the Evangelist's Church, Portsmouth.
8. Lucy Maria Mew b. 10 Sep 1885 (1885 D Qtr in PORTSEA ISLAND Vol 02B Page 498), bap. Maria Lucia on 20 Sep 1885 at St John's RC Cathedral. Died age 1, in 1886 S Qtr in PORTSEA Vol 02B Page 350.
9. Lucy Mary Mew b. 19 Sep 1887 (1887 D Qtr in PORTSEA Vol 02B Page 511), bap. 9 Oct 1887 at St John the Evangelist's Church, Portsmouth
10. Margaret Marshall Mew b. 29 Nov 1889 (1890 M Qtr in PORTSEA ISLAND Vol 02B Page 423), bap. Margarita Marshall on 15 Dec 1889 at St John's Roman Catholic Cathedral, Portsmouth
11. Andrew Samuel Mew b. 25 Dec 1892 (1893 M Qtr in PORTSEA ISLAND Vol 02B Page 458), bap. Andreas Samuel on 15 Jan 1893 at St John's Roman Catholic Cathedral. Died, aged 2, in 1894 D Quarter in PORTSEA Vol 02B Page 301, buried on 31 Dec 1894 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, Louisa Anne [Annie] Bailey, who was actually 13. She was also listed in her grandparents' household, so being counted twice on this census.

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 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 Q3 of 1905, in Portsmouth, Sarah Mew married James William Holdaway. This gentleman, I believe, was the son of William James Holdaway and Eliza Gardener, bap. 6 Nov 1864 at St Luke's, Southsea, who, at 19, on 24 Feb 1885, had joined the Hampshire Regiment. He served in India from 1886 to 1888; Burma from 1888 to 1891 and in India again from 1891 to 1892 and was discharged on 23 Feb 1897. On 11 May 1897, he had enlisted in the 3rd Battalion Hampshire Regiment and was in Malta from 1901 to 1903. On 23 Mar 1904, he enlisted in the Royal Garrison Artillery and served in South Africa from 1904 to 1905, being finally discharged on 4 Aug 1905. What happened to him after 1905, however, is [as yet] a mystery.

In 1911, Sarah Jane Mew (61) Widow, employed as a Stay Lacer was living at 40 Fyning Street, Fratton, Portsmouth with her daughter Margaret Marshall Mew (21) Assistant Stock Keeper and Alec John Mew (1) (1910 M Quarter in PORTSMOUTH Volume 02B Page 439), who appears to have been Margaret's illegitimate child. Why Sarah Jane was listed with the surname Mew again when she'd already remarried (and presumably been widowed again), is not at all clear from the records available. On this census too, she lists (although these details have been crossed through) that she was married 40 years - her marriage to George Charles Mew was only 23 years until his death in 1893 - had eleven children of whom seven were living and four had died.

In 1921, Sarah Jane Holdaway (70) Widow, Wife's Mother, was living with her daughter Henrietta Hazzard (41) at 77, Middlesex Road, Eastney.

Sarah Jane Holdaway died in 1936 D Quarter in PORTSMOUTH Volume 02B Page 647. The Portsmouth Evening News on 8 Oct 1936, had the following notice: "HOLDAWAY (Mew) Sarah Jane. In loving memory of our dear Mother, who passed peacefully away on October the 7th, at 77, Middlesex Road, age 85 years. - From her sorrowing daughters, sons-in-law, grandchildren and great grandchildren. - Will be sadly missed. Peacefully sleeping." 

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.