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Brick Lane Music Hall, Located in the former St Mark's Church, Silvertown. Monday, 28 April, 2025 Photo available for reuse under this Creative Commons licence. |
Henry Hawkins (bap. 5 Apr 1846 in Rackenford, Devon), son of Edward Hawkins and Leah Courtis, married Jessie Tooze (b. Sarah Ann in 1846 in Wellington, Somerset), daughter of Thomas Tooze and Mary Summers, on 11 Oct 1868, at St Mark's Church, Silvertown (St Mark's, Victoria Docks).
Henry and "Jessie" had three children:
- Emily Louisa Hawkins b. 1869 J Qtr in KENSINGTON Vol 01A 132
- William Henry Hawkins b. 4 Jun 1872 in Detroit, Michigan, Unites States
- Arthur Hawkins b. 1874 D Quarter in SHEPPEY Volume 02A 791
In 1871, Henry Hawkins (25) Carpenter; Jessie Hawkins (24); Emily Hawkins (1) born in Notting Hill and Mary Tooze (68) Widow, Pauper, Mother-in-law, were living at Durley Moor Cottage, Holcombe Rogus.
Passenger Lists of vessels arriving at New York, Unites States, show Henry Hawkins (26) Carpenter, Jessie Hawkins (26) Wife and Emily Hawkins (2) Child leaving from Liverpool on 14 Mar 1872, on the transatlantic passenger ship City of New York (1865) of the Inman Line. The streets presumably not being paved with gold, however, they were back in the UK by 1874.
In 1881, at 5, Lower James Street, Minster in Sheppey, were Henry Hawkins (35) Joiner from Rackenford, Devon; Jessie Hawkins (34) from Holcombe Rogus; Emily L Hawkins (11) born in Notting Hill; William Hawkins (8) born in the United States and Arthur Hawkins (6) born in Sheerness.
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| Alma Street, Sheerness cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Chris Whippet - geograph.org.uk/p/4410976 |
In 1891, Henry Hawkins (45) Ship's Joiner; Jessie Hawkins (44), Arthur Hawkins (16) and Emily L Ridler (21) were living in Alma Street, Minster in Sheppey. William Hawkins was in the Mediterranean with HMS Inflexible, (and 42 days in Malta Gaol), having joined the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class on 31 May 1888, until he was Invalided with Asthma on 4 Nov 1909.
In 1901, Henry Hawkins (55) Joiner Ship Dock Yard from Rackenford, Devon was living in Delamark Road, Sheerness with Jessie Hawkins (54) and two boarders, Oscar Riche (29) Schoolmaster from Cambridge and Alfred J Middleton (30) Schoolmaster from Grimsby, Lincolnshire. William Hawkins was alternating between HMS Victory, HMS Vernon shore establishments and HMS Duke of Wellington (for all three, read Portsmouth.)
In 1911, Henry Hawkins (65) Pensioned Joiner was still living in Sheerness with Jessie Hawkins (64), William Hawkins (38) Naval Pensioner; John Tooze (71) Retired Thatcher (Jessie's older brother); and three boarders.
Henry Hawkins died, aged 73, on 10 Mar 1919 (1919 M Quarter in SHEPPEY Volume 02A Page 1782) and is buried in Sheppey Cemetery. Probate reads, "HAWKINS, Henry of 2 Delamark Road, Sheerness, Kent, pensioned joiner in H. M. Dockyard died 10 March 1919. Administration (with Will) Canterbury 21 February (sic) to William Henry Hawkins skilled labourer at H. M. Dockyard and Arthur Hawkins pensioner Royal Navy. Effects £1062 7s 1d."
Jessie Hawkins died, also aged 73, on 9 Nov 1919 (1919 D Quarter in SHEPPEY Volume 02A Page 1140) and is also buried in Sheppey Cemetery, along with her late husband. Probate, in her case, reads, "HAWKINS, Jessie of 2 Delamark Road, Sheerness, Kent, widow, died 9 November 1919 Probate 20 December to William Henry Hawkins skilled labourer at H. M. Dockyard and Arthur Hawkins pensioner RN. Effects £1046 18s 5d."