John Oxford and Elizabeth Lang

Charles Church, the second most ancient parish church in Plymouth.
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © N Chadwick - geograph.org.uk/p/5218300

John Oxford (bap. 26 Dec 1777), son of Henry and Mary Oxford, married Elizabeth Lang (bap. 24 Aug 1778 in Stoke Damerel), daughter of James Lang and Mary Smart, on 4 Sep 1803 at Charles Church, Plymouth.

John and Elizabeth had at least the following five children, all baptised at Plymouth, Charles the Martyr (Charles Church, Plymouth):

1. John Oxford b. 7 Sep 1804, bap. 7 Apr 1805. With a subsequent child also named John, it is likely this child died as an infant and there is indeed a burial of a John Oxford, although the age is not listed, on 28 Oct 1805.
2. John Lang Oxford b. 29 Nov 1807, bap. 6 Jan 1808.
3. Elizabeth Ann Mills Oxford b. 22 Aug 1808, bap. 27 Aug 1809. Died, aged 12, and was buried at Charles Church, Plymouth on 15 May 1820.
4. Henry Lang Oxford b. 13 Aug 1810, bap. 28 Oct 1810.
5. Mary Amelia Oxford b. 29 Nov 1811, bap. 15 Jun 1817. Baptism lists her as Mary Emilia (sic) and John's occupation as Shipwright.

By 1841, John Oxford (60) was resident in Devonport Workhouse (previously Stoke Damerel Parish Workhouse). I can't find Elizabeth.

Elizabeth Oxford died, in Stoke Damerel, on 22 Dec 1845 (1845 D Quarter in STOKE DAMEREL Volume 09 Page 262) and was buried, in the parish of Stoke Damerel, on 26 Dec 1845. Her age, estimated to 60 (she was 67), is likely just a wild guess by the overseers. Her residence at the time of death was 'Workhouse'. "Until the National Health Service was established in 1948, the Workhouse Infirmary was one of the few places where medical care could be obtained free of charge. As a result, many babies were born in the Workhouse and many older people ended their days there." [Source] Inside Plymouth's dismal Workhouses which housed the poor and disabled.

In 1851, John Oxford (74) Widower, is again listed at the Workhouse in Stoke Damerel, proudly listed as "Shipwright Employed Thirty Men".

John Oxford died, aged 76, on 16 Aug 1853 (1853 S Quarter in STOKE DAMEREL Volume 05B Page 184). Once more, the record of his burial, on 20 Aug 1853, in that parish, gives his last address as 'Workhouse'.

John Palmer and Esther Collins

Winchester - St John The Baptist Church
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Chris Talbot - geograph.org.uk/p/2386190r

John Palmer (b. 1777) married Esther Collins (bap. 15 Aug 1790 at St Bartholomew's Church, Winchester), daughter of Benjamin Collins and Mary Heamer, at St. John the Baptist Church, Winchester on 26 Aug 1811. 

John and Esther Palmer, it seems, had at least these four children:

1. Charles Palmer b. 12 Jul 1812, bap. 24 Jul 1812 at St Mary's Church, Hinckley, Leicestershire. As unlikely as that location seems, on the 1851 census, Charles' birthplace is listed as 'Ionkley, Lancashire', which could be a mis-transcription of Hinckley, Leicestershire. 
2. James Palmer bap. 16 Sep 1821 at St Andrew's Church, Plymouth
3. Elizabeth Palmer bap. 25 Nov 1827 at St Andrew's Church, Plymouth
4. Henry Palmer bap. 18 Jul 1830 at St Andrew's Church, Plymouth

On James', Elizabeth's and Henry's baptisms, John's occupation is Tanner.

It's extremely likely there were other children born between those, but it's difficult to confirm, not knowing when or where and being too early for them appear on census returns together as a family for confirmation. 

In 1841, John Palmer (60) was living in York Street, Plymouth (as was son Charles, in a separate household), with Esther Palmer (50), Elizabeth Palmer (14) and Henry Palmer (11). There is a James Palmer (20), resident at Plymouth Citadel, in 1841, but I cannot be absolutely sure.

In 1851, John Palmer (75) Tanner, from Bridestowe, Devonshire and Esther Palmer (61), from Winchester, Hampshire were in Richmond Street, Plymouth.

John Palmer died, aged 78, in 1855 M Quarter in PLYMOUTH Volume 05B Page 251. He is buried at Ford Park Cemetery, Plymouth.

In 1861, Esther Talmer (sic) Tanner's mother, widowed, from Winchester, Hampshire, was living in Vauxhall Street, Plymouth in the household of her son Charles - who it appears has taken over the trade from his father.

Esther Palmer died, aged 79, in 1868 J Quarter in PLYMOUTH Volume 05B Page 145. She is also buried at Ford Park Cemetery, Plymouth.

Henry John Leese and Marian Blanche Burgess

HMS President in London
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Steve Daniels - geograph.org.uk/p/3352722
HMS President is a stone frigate, or shore establishment of the Royal Naval Reserve; on the northern bank of the River Thames near Tower Bridge.

Henry John Leese (b. 5 Jan 1862 in Lewes, Sussex) Naval Schoolmaster, HMS Boscawen, Portland, son of John Leese and Caroline Bussey, married Marian Blanche Burgess (b. 1863 in Greenwich), daughter of William George Burgess and Emma Chisman, at All Saints, Rotherhithe, on 22 Aug 1885.

Henry John Leese began his naval career on 5 Jan 1879, having previously attended Greenwich School, with school ship, HMS Impregnable (1810), transferring to HMS President (shore establishment) on 1 Jan 1881.

In 1881, Henry John Leese (19) was an Ordinary seaman pupil teacher, stationed at HMS President (shore establishment). Although I've not found where Marian was that year (my guess is working in London) her parents were living at 6, Horsley Road, Rochester St Margaret, Medway, Kent and her father, William Burgess (51), was described as a 'Chelsea out pensioner'. 

Henry and Marian Leese had nine children, three of whom died (numbers confirmed by Henry John Leese' own account on 1911 Census):

1. May Constance Leese b. 1886 S Quarter in BRIGHTON Volume 02B Page 228, bap. at Southsea, St Bartholomew in 1890.
2. Elsie Christine Leese b. 1890 S Quarter in PORTSEA ISLAND Volume 02B Page 479, bap. at Southsea, St Bartholomew in 1890. Died.
3. Henry John Leese b. 14 Dec 1892 in Valletta, Malta 
4. Maude Christiana Leese b. 13 Jul 1894 in Malta 
5. Marian Blanche Leese b. 1895 D Quarter in STOKE DAMEREL Volume 05B Page 301, bap. 1896 in Stoke Damerel, Devon, died aged 1 in 1896 D Quarter in ALVERSTOKE Volume 02B  Page 361
6. William Gordon Leese b. 17 Jan 1897 M Quarter in ALVERSTOKE Volume 02B Page 560
7. John Stanley Leese b. 1898 M Quarter in ALVERSTOKE Volume 02B Page 540, bap. in 1898 in Forton (Gosport), Hampshire
8. Edward Lionel Leese b. 1900 M Quarter in ALVERSTOKE Volume 02B Page 568, died aged 3 in 1903 M Quarter Volume 02B Page 355
9. Frank Alfred Joseph Leese b. 10 Jun 1909 J Quarter in ALVERSTOKE Volume 02B Page 565, bap. in 1909 in Forton (Gosport), Hampshire

The family are not on the 1891 Census in England as Henry John Leese was stationed at Malta Dockyard between 14 Jun 1890 and 11 Dec 1894.

Henry John Leese was appointed Schoolmaster at Portsmouth Division Royal Marines, located at Forton Barracks, near Gosport in Hampshire, on 29 Jul 1896, position he appears to have held until 30 Apr 1917.

In 1901, Henry J Leese (39) Schoolmaster, Warrant Officer RMLI, born in Portobello, Sussex was living at 139 Forton Rd, Gosport), with wife Marian B Leese (37) born in Greenwich; May C Leese (14) born in Brighton, Henry J Leese (8) born in Malta; Maud C Leese (6) born in Malta; William G Leese (4), John S Leese (3) and Edward L Leese (1) born in Gosport. There are no further records of Elsie Christine after her baptism; she is not listed on this census and I can find no record of a death either, so the most logical explanation is that she must have died as an infant in Malta.

In 1911, Henry John Leese (49) Schoolmaster, WO RMLI, was still living in Alverstoke, Hampshire with Marian Blanche Leese (47), May Constance Leese (24), Maude Christania Leese (16), William Gordon Leese (14), John Stanley Leese (13) and Frank Alfred Leese (1). Son Henry J Leese (18) had joined the Royal Marines in 1910 and was that year listed in Walmer, Kent (Deal).

In 1921, Henry John Leese (59) Elementary School Teacher was living at 139, Forton Road, Gosport, Alverstoke, with Marian Blanch Leese (57), May Constance Leese (35), Maud Christine Leese (26) Elementary School Teacher; John Stanley Leese (23) Pattern Maker; and Frank Alfred Joseph Leese (12).

Henry John Leese died, aged 70, on 15 Apr 1932 and is buried at Clayhall Naval Cemetery (Haslar Royal Naval Cemetery).

Marian Blanche Leese died seven years later, on 15 Apr 1939, aged 75.

The six surviving children: 

1. May Constance Leese died, unmarried, aged 81, in Portsmouth, in 1967.
2. Henry John Leese (70) was discharged dead from the Royal Marines, to which he'd obviously devoted his entire life, on 15 Nov 1962.
3. Maude Christina Leese died, aged 83, also still a spinster, in 1977.
4. William Gordon Leese enlisted in the Royal Navy on 20 Jul 1912, but was declared invalided on 8 Feb 1921 at Haslar Hospital. William G Leese died, aged 71, in 1968 in Gosport.
5. John Stanley Leese died, at 80, in 1979 in Stockport, Cheshire.
6. Frank Alfred Joseph Leese joined the British Army, Coldstream Guards in 1928. Frank A J Leese married Faith K Partridge (née Stead) in Acle, Norfolk in 1947. He died in 1990, in Norwich.

Andrew Ephire King and Annie Jones

The former St. Luke's church
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Jonathan Thacker - geograph.org.uk/p/5436811

Andrew Ephire King (b. 10 Nov 1894), Chief Yeoman, United States Navy, son of Joseph Damos King and Josephine Martel, married Annie Jones (b. ~1890), only daughter of Nicholas Jones and Ellen White, at St Luke's Church, Cork, Ireland on 18 Aug 1919. Witnesses were Frederick Joseph Lee and Nelly Jones. The couple met in 1917, wrote their daughter, Margery, later "... when Dad was on one of the destroyers sent by the US Navy to patrol the south coast of Ireland and convoy supply and troop ships to English and French ports." Later, "When Cork became "out of bounds" to the crews of the US Fleet when the Sinn Féiners attacked them, Dad asked Mum to come down to Rushbrooke / Queenstown to visit him. In this way, Dad became acquainted with Nellie and the rest of her family, often going to Rushbrooke for tea when he had a few hours liberty when his ship was in port." 

From Andrew's diary: April 24, 1918: "Liberty was granted today. I went ashore at 4:30 p.m. and went to see Nellie Jones. Today was her 24th birthday. She had made a chocolate cake and some cookies so we had a quite nice little tea party. I gave her a gold pendant for a gift. Novak came up about 7:30 with a fruit cake that his sister in Portland, Oregon had sent him. We had cocoa and some of the cake. Returned to the ship at 10:30 p.m."

After they married, Annie King applied for permission to depart for the United States, expecting to sail on USS President Grant on 6 Sep 1919, giving her future address in the US as 31 Chapel Street, Dover, New Hampshire.

Andrew and Annie King had three children:

1. Douglas Andrew King b. 23 Mar 1921 in Norfolk, Virginia
2. Edith Mary King b. 22 Feb 1923 in Brooklyn, New York
3. Margery Ellen King b. 6 Apr 1927 in Cork, Ireland

In 1920, Andrew King (25) and Annie King (29), were living in Duval, Florida.

In 1921, Annie King applied for a US Passport for herself, accompanied by her minor child, Douglas Andrew King.

In 1930, in Norfolk, Virginia, were Andrew E King (36), Annie King (40), Douglas A King (9), Edith M King (7) and Margery E King (3). In 1935, they lived in Portsmouth, Virginia. A record shows that on 7 Jul 1935, Douglas Andrew King (14) travelled from Cobh (Queenstown), on the RMS Laconia, arriving in Boston in 14 Jul 1935. Margery remembered them visiting the family in Rushbrooke in the 1930's.

And by 1940, they had moved out to San Diego, California, with Andrew E King (45), Annie King (49), Edith M King (17) and Marjory E King (12).

Andrew Ephire King sailed from Pearl Harbor on 7 Aug 1942, on USS Henderson, while she did service as a transport between California and Hawaii during World War II, arriving in San Francisco, California on 15 Aug 1942. He was still serving in WWII. Was he in Pearl Harbour the year before?

On 5 Apr 1945, Douglas Andrew King (24) married Daisy Mae Hadlock (19), daughter of Ivan Hadlock and Esther Smith, in Hampton, Virginia.

Margery and her mother travelled to Ireland and England, visiting Dave and Kitty in Rushbrooke, Queenie and Alice in Cork City, my grandparents in Birmingham and stayed with Marcella in Portsmouth, in 1946. Margery wrote that, "My mother had kept in touch with her cousins all through WWII while we were in the USA and was anxious to see them all again."

A licence had been applied for, for the marriage of Margery Ellen King to a Donald William Gemmel in January 1950, but this marriage never took place. Margery never mentioned this. No surprise. I always knew her as Mrs Margery Hamilton, but haven't been able to find any record of a marriage for her.

Edith Mary King married John Kenneth Crawford, in Cork, on 7 Aug 1950. Her parents went to Ireland for the wedding, and returned on RMS Franconia, leaving Liverpool on 21 Sep 1950, arriving in Quebec on 29 Sep 1950. The Crawfords had at least one son (name and birth date unknown, but thought to be still living in Ireland), as Margery often mentioned her nephew - to whom she said she had given all of Andrew Ephire King's detailed diaries.

Annie King of 28 Oceana Avenue, Ocean Park, Maine (wife of Andrew Ephire King, Retired Lieutenant Commander U.S.N.), died on 21 Dec 1950, at the Trull Hospital, Biddeford, Maine, aged 60, leaving her effects to her husband. Annie King is buried at, New Town Cemetery, Rollinsford, New Hampshire.

On 26 Sep 1953, Margery King left Cobh on the MV Britannic, presumably for her father's marriage, on 24 Oct 1953, at the Methodist Church, Plymouth, New Hampshire, to divorcee, Elma Marguerite Wyman (née Dunphy).

Andrew Ephire King, who died on 1 July 1983, Lieutenant commander United States Navy Mexican Border, WWI & WWII, is also buried in the family plot at New Town Cemetery, Rollinsford, New Hampshire.

Douglas Andrew King died on 13 Mar 2002.

We visited Margery in Ireland in 2014. Her sister, Edith, had died not long before. Margery must have died in 2016, which, sadly, we only discovered when the Post Office returned my correspondence. Her contribution to this research has been invaluable: even when the family stories she was told weren't quite true, they provided valuable clues that I continue to pursue and hope that I can also answer some of the questions she left unanswered.

See also:

• The Queenstown Patrol – the US navy in Cork Harbour in WWI
• Passport photos of women who left Cork for the US
• Ireland’s US Navy ‘war brides’
• The US Navy at Queenstown

Thomas Fudge and Ann Beedle

Church of St Andrew
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © N Chadwick - geograph.org.uk/p/5713509
The Minster Church of St Andrew, also known as St Andrew's Church, Plymouth.

Thomas Fudge (b. 1808), of the Royal Marines, married Ann Beedle (b. 1813), at St Andrew's Church, Plymouth on 12 Aug 1834. Neither could sign their own names. Witnesses were Catherine Murray and James Boulter.

Thomas and Ann had three children:

1. Lucy Elizabeth Ann Fuge (sic) bap. 7 Aug 1836 in East Stonehouse
2. Thomas James Fudge b. 1843 D Quarter in EAST STONEHOUSE Volume 09 Page 341
3. Sarah Jane Fudge b. 25 Dec 1850, reg. 1851 M Quarter in EAST STONEHOUSE Volume 09 Page 389

On Lucy Elizabeth Ann's baptism, her father's occupation is given as Drummer, Royal Marines. The registrations of Thomas and Sarah confirm their mother's maiden name as Beedle. Despite there being long gaps between each child, checking year by year through the records at the General Record Office did not reveal any others. Possibly because Thomas was often away at sea.

Navy Allotment Records list Thomas Fudge of 26 High Street, Stonehouse as a Fifer aboard HMS Endymion (1797) in 1841; in 1844 with HMS Mutine (1844) and HMS Mutche in 1845. In 1845, Thomas Fudge from Stonehouse was listed among Merchant Seamen, Merchant Navy & Maritime.

In 1841, Ann Fuge (sic) (25) (ish) was one of a very long list of people (too many for a private house) in Fore Street - with Louisa Fuge (sic) (4) - Lucy, clearly. Fore Street was the site of various establishments such as the Wesleyan Sailors' and Soldiers' Home and the Royal Sailors' Rest and Institute and it could well be one of these establishments they were staying in.

In 1851, Thomas Fudge (43) Greenwich Pensioner, his birthplace listed as East Stonehouse, Devonshire was living in Edgcumbe Street, Stonehouse, Plymouth with wife Ann Fudge (38), Lucy Fudge (15), Thomas Fudge (7) and baby Sarah Jane, incorrectly listed as Sarah Ann Fudge (sic) (0).

In 1861, at 10 Providence Place, East Stonehouse was Thomas Fudge (53) Seaman; Ann Fudge (47), Thomas Fudge (17) Rope Maker; Sarah Fudge (11) Scholar and Anne L Fudge (3) Granddaughter. (Who I believe is Louisa Ann Bailey, daughter of Lucy Fudge, who had married Thomas Bailey in 1856.)

In 1871, then living in Bridport Street, Portsea, Hampshire, were Thomas Fudge (64) Seaman Pensioner, Anne Fudge (58) and Anne Fudge (13) listed as their daughter, but must be their granddaughter, Louisa Ann Bailey.

In 1881, Thomas Fudge (72) Navy Pensioner was living at 33, Bridport Street, Portsea with wife Ann (68). Living with them were their son-in-law George Charles Mew, married to Sarah Jane, along with four grandchildren.

Ann Fudge died, aged 71, in 1885 M Quarter in PORTSEA ISLAND Volume 02B Page 352. Thomas Fudge died back in his native EAST STONEHOUSE, in 1888 J Quarter, Volume 05B Page 205, with his age estimated as 83.

Frederick Thomas Stone and Kathleen Mullarkey

St Paul Street, Plymouth (number 9 is the darkest caramel coloured one)
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Derek Harper - geograph.org.uk/p/2333440

Frederick Thomas Stone, Leading Signalman, H.M.S. Sandhurst, of 9 St Paul's Street, East Stonehouse, Plymouth, second son of Tom Stone and Margaret Knapman, married Kathleen Mullarkey, tailoress, of 8 Admiralty Street, East Stonehouse, Plymouth, only daughter of Anthony Mullarkey and Maria Gloyne, at King Street Wesleyan Methodist Chapel, on 4 Aug 1923. 

Witnesses were Frederick's first cousin, Charley Stone (best man); Rosina Kathleen Stone, the bridegroom's younger sister (bridesmaid?), and Anthony Charles Mullarkey, the bride's brother who probably gave her away. Their fathers, Tom Stone and Anthony Mullarkey (both deceased), had been Royal Marines, as were Charley Stone and Anthony Charles Mullarkey. 

Frederick and Kathleen had two sons: 

1. Frederick Anthony Stone b. 25 July 1924
2. Douglas John Stone b. 27 Sep 1927

Frederick Thomas Stone had enlisted in the Royal Navy as a boy of 15, on 6 Jul 1907 and served for 21 years until 25 Nov 1928, at which time he was a Yeoman of Signals. He re-entered service with the Royal Navy Shore Signal Service (RNSSS) on 30 May 1932 as a Signalman. As he was still living at Royal Naval Shore Signal Station Cottages at the time of his death, at 65, in 1957, he must have remained with the service through both World Wars.

At 18, Frederick Thomas Stone was 5ft 5½in with dark brown hair, brown eyes and a fresh complexion. Among his tattoos were an anchor, two female figures and a bird on his right forearm; Eagle, snake, Ensign, rose and thistle. Clasped hands and heart and 8 dots on left forearm.

In 1939, son Frederick Anthony Stone was a boarder at the Royal Hospital School (historically nicknamed "The Cradle of the Navy"). Frederick Thomas and Douglas John do not appear anywhere on the 1939 Register. The only entry for a Kathleen Stone of the right age is that detailed below.

On 11 Aug 1943, Douglas J Stone appears on a "List or Manifest of Aliens Employed on the Vessel as Members of the Crew" of the Marquesa, as an apprentice on his 1st trip to New York. He was 16, 5' 4" and 123lbs.

Frederick Thomas Stone of 5 Royal Naval Shore Signal Station Cottages, Old Folkstone Road, Dover, died on 11 Nov 1957, aged 65, at Buckland Hospital, Dover, leaving effects of £960 12s 5d to Frederick Anthony Stone, Chief Electrician R.N. and Douglas John Stone, Laboratory Assistant. 

As she wasn't a beneficiary to Frederick's will, it would be easy to assume that Kathleen had pre-deceased her husband, but there was no death record in the relevant period and there looks to be another possibility: There are only two records (that I could find) of deaths of someone named Kathleen Stone, born 1896. One was in St Albans and there are other records in that area to prove that is a distinct person, so that death can certainly be discounted. 

The other is of a Kathleen Stone, born 1896, listed as married, who in 1939 was patient at the East Riding Mental Hospital, Beverley, Yorkshire. 

The later Probate record shows that this Kathleen Stone died there, at Broadgate Hospital, on 4 Feb 1968. My research hasn't discovered any other Kathleen Stone locally, for example, who this might have been. 

The East Riding Archives, searched the records they hold and were unable to link her to Frederick Thomas Stone, nor discount it either; there's no mention of family members, but they were able to tell me that this person "was admitted on the 31 Aug 1937, her care was being charged to Bridlington." Further searches produced no local person in the Bridlington area either. 

There was, however, a signal station at Flamborough Head, which is only around six miles from Bridlington. There is nothing on Frederick's records to suggest that he went there, but it would follow the usual pattern in the Royal Navy Shore Signal Service to be posted and move from station to station, so he might well have done, which might account for her presence in the area if this is her. This could be casting aspersions, but sadly, all of the circumstantial evidence does persuade me that it is still possible it was and, hopefully this information might lead to something that either confirms or refutes it.

• Douglas John Stone died in 1985 in Kingsbridge, Devon, at 58.
• There is a record of a marriage of a Frederick A Stone in Newport, in 1950. Frederick Anthony Stone died, also in 1985, on 19 Mar, in Newport, Wales. He will have been 60. 

Charles James Renshaw and Lilian Mary Back

Church of St Paul, Durnford Street, East Stonehouse
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © N Chadwick - geograph.org.uk/p/5625215

Charles James Renshaw (b. 10 Feb 1884 in Rugby, Warwickshire) son of James Renshaw and Frances Elizabeth Green, married Lilian Mary Back, only daughter of Thomas Back and Elizabeth Mary Horn, at St Paul's Church, East Stonehouse on 29 Jul 1910, both resident at 11 St George's Terrace.

Charles and Lilian had three children:

1. Dorothy May Renshaw b. 28 Jan 1913 (1913 M Q in DEVONPORT Volume 05B Page 519), bap. 13 Mar 1913 at St James, Devonport. 
2. Margery Lilian Renshaw b. 31 Jan 1915 (1915 M Q in DEVONPORT Volume 05B Page 543), bap. 11 Jun 1915 in Stoke Damerel
3. Bernard Charles Renshaw b. 23 Jan 1923 (1923 M Quarter in DEVONPORT Volume 05B Page 515), bap. 1923 in Devon.

In 1911 Charles Renshaw (27) Engine Fitter at Government Dockyard, from Rugby, Warwickshire and Lilian Mary Renshaw (21) were living with Lilian's mother, Elizabeth Mary Back, at 36 Durnford Street, East Stonehouse.

In 1921, Charles James Renshaw (37) Engineer at the Royal William Victualling Yard; Lilian Mary Renshaw (31), Dorothy Mary Renshaw (8), Margery Lilian Renshaw (6) and Elizabeth Mary Back (61) Wife's Mother, were living at 7 Duckworth Street, Devonport.

In 1939, still at 7 Duckworth Street, Plymouth, were Charles J Renshaw, Fleet Engineer; Lilian M Renshaw; Dorothy M Renshaw, Incapacitated; Bernard C Renshaw, Fitter and Turner Apprentice; Howard J Ryall, RN Petty Officer; Margery L Ryall and one closed record (the Ryall's first daughter).

Charles James Renshaw died, at 73, in the second quarter of 1957.

Lilian Mary Renshaw died, in 1973, at 84.

Dorothy May Renshaw died, at 27, in 1941 M Quarter in PLYMOUTH.

Margery Lilian Renshaw had married Howard James Ryall (b. 23 August 1914 in Fermoy, County Cork, Ireland) in 1938, in Plymouth. The couple had two daughters, born 1938 and 1944. Both Margery and Howard died in 2006.

Bernard Charles Renshaw married Valerie Frances Glanville in Plymouth in 1975. He doesn't appear to have married previously. Born Valerie Frances Bawden (b. 6 Sep 1913 in Barnstaple, Devon), she had previously married Edgar Bruce Glanville, in 1936, in St. Germans, Cornwall. The couple had two children, in 1940 and 1946, but had presumably divorced, as Edgar Bruce Glanville (b. 11 Dec 1907), died at 81, in 1988. Valerie Frances Renshaw died, at 82, in 1995. Bernard Charles Renshaw died in 2004, at 81.

Edward Charles Drake and Emma Jane Gloyne

Former entrance to Roath Basin, Cardiff
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Chris Allen - geograph.org.uk/p/6404417

Edward Charles Drake, son of Edmund Drake and Esther Elizabeth Palmer, married Emma Jane Gloyne, daughter of Samuel Pascoe Gloyne and Emma Jane Coombes, on 12 Jul 1886 in Roath, Glamorgan, Wales. 

Edward Charles Drake's mother, Esther Elizabeth Palmer, was the older sister of Edward Oxford Palmer, who was married to Emma Jane's older sister, Charlotte Emma Gloyne. So, Charlotte's husband was Emma's husband's uncle - or Emma's husband was Charlotte's husband's nephew. The two couples' respective children will have been double-cousins, once removed and once not, I think. Working out family relationships just got very complicated!

Edward and Emma had eight children:

1. Esther Kathleen Drake b. GRO Reference: 1887 J Quarter in CARDIFF Volume 11A Page 330
2. Gladys Emma Drake b. GRO Reference: 1889 S Quarter in CARDIFF Volume 11A Page 334
3. John Gloyne Drake b. 6 May 1891, GRO Reference: 1891 J Quarter in CARDIFF Volume 11A Page 342. Died 4 Jul 1915 (see below).
4. Francis Oxford Drake b. GRO Reference: 1892 J Quarter in CARDIFF Volume 11A Page 396
5. Helen Palmer Drake b. 7 February 1895 in Plymouth. (No GRO record.)
6. Fred Silby Drake b. GRO Reference: 1895 D Quarter in MONMOUTH Volume 11A Page 16. Died, aged 4, in GRO Reference: 1900 J Quarter in DEVONPORT Volume 05B Page 253
7. Constance Edith Drake b. GRO Reference: 1899 J Quarter in BRISTOL Volume 06A Page 8
8. Florence May Drake b. GRO Reference: 1902 M Quarter in EAST STONEHOUSE Volume 05B Page 255

In 1891, Edward Drake (28) Iron Moulder, Emma Drake (29) and their first two daughters, Esther (3) and Gladys (1) were living in the household of Edward's parents, Edmund and Esther Drake in Moira Street, Cardiff.

In 1901, Edward C Drake (39) Iron & Brass Founder, was resident in Durnford Street, East Stonehouse, with wife Emma J Drake (40), Gladys E Drake (11), John G Drake (9), Francis O Drake (8), Helen P Drake (6) and Constance E Drake (2). Eldest daughter, Esther Drake (13) was staying with her grandparents, Edmund and Esther Drake, in Seymour Street, Roath.

In 1911, Edward Drake (49) Iron and Brass Founder, was still in Plymouth with wife Emma Drake (50) and daughters, Gladys Drake (21), Helen Drake (17), Constance Drake (12) and Florence (9). Esther Kathleen had married in 1906 and was living in North End, Buckland, Portsmouth; John Drake (19) Stoker, was in Chatham, Kent; haven't yet located Francis.

Emma Drake died, in 1912, age given as 51 - she was 54 (GRO Reference: 1912 S Quarter in PLYMOUTH Volume 05B Page 276).

Son John Drake died at HMS Vivid (shore establishment 1890), the Royal Navy barracks at Devonport. John Drake had joined the Royal Navy, at 18, on 9 July 1909, at which time he was 5 ft 3½ in with a 33¾ inch chest, light brown hair, light brown eyes and a fair complexion. At the time of his death he was assigned to Vivid II, the Stokers and Engine Room Artificers School in Devonport. The note on his naval record states that he was DD (Discharged Dead) on 4 July 1915 in Sick Quarters, Devonport Depot as result of cycle accident. Inquest verdict:- Accidental death through cycle accident. This was only weeks after his cousin, Charles Edward Palmer, Engine Fitter at the Government Dockyard, Devonport, also died, on 17 Apr 1915.

Edward Charles Drake (55) married Helen or Ellen Saull (48) on 23 Dec 1916, in Roath, Glamorganshire, Wales. 

In 1921, Edward Drake (59) Iron Moulder and wife listed as Norah Drake (54) from Plymouth, Devon, were living at 41, Harold Street, Roath, Cardiff.

Edward Charles Drake died, at 74, in 1935 (GRO Reference: 1935 D Quarter in PLYMOUTH Volume 05B  Page 403).

Charley Stone and Ellen Jones

St George's Church, Tiverton

Charley Stone (Char), son of Charles Stone and Emma Middleton, married Ellen Jones (Nell), daughter of David Jones and Laura Elizabeth White, on 3 Jul 1922, at St George's Church, Tiverton, generally considered to be the finest Georgian church in Devon, and one of the best examples in England. Witnesses were Francis Stone, the groom's uncle; William Henry Middleton, the groom's elder half-brother and their mother, Emily Stone (former Emma Middleton). Given that line up, my feeling is that Bill was best man, while Frank gave away the bride as her own father was back in Ireland.

Charley Stone born 6 Jun 1898 at 1 Silver Street, Tiverton, and baptised on 20 Jul 1898 at St Peter’s Church Tiverton, lied about his age when he enlisted in the Royal Marines at Exeter on 18 Jan 1915, which is why this and many subsequent records suggest he was born a year earlier in 1897. The marines can't ever have discovered the one year discrepancy though, because his record notes the 139 days he was underage, from 18 Jan 1915 to 5 Jun 1915, but 6 Jun 1915 will only have been his 17th birthday, not his 18th.

Char did his training at the Royal Marine Depot, Deal, until 18 Aug 1915. Then after a brief period at Plymouth Division, was assigned to HMS Revenge (06) on 1 Feb 1916 and stayed with this ship until 24 Jan 1918, being promoted to Corporal on the 1st day of that year.

Revenge (left) and the battleship Hercules (right) at the Battle of Jutland

Consequently, on 31 May - 1 Jun 1916, just five days before his 18th birthday, Charley Stone took part in the Battle of Jutland, the largest naval battle of the First World War. "In the course of the battle, Revenge had fired 102 rounds from her main battery [...]. She also fired 87 rounds from her secondary guns. She was not hit by any fire during the engagement."

British battleship HMS Glory at Murmansk

From 23 May 1918, until 16 Jul 1919, Char was assigned to HMS Glory (1899), of the British North Russia Squadron, which took him to Archangel and Murmansk during the North Russia intervention. "Glory was based at Archangel to protect supplies that arrived there for the Russian Army. The squadron's mission evolved after the Bolshevik Revolution in 1917 into preventing the supplies that had been delivered from falling into the hands of the Red Army." Arrived just in time for A Fire, a Riot, a Bombing, and a Mutiny. Like most who went through these events, Char never spoke about his experiences, except to a brother who was also a Marine, and what I've been told only intimated that things were really bad (understatement) up there. 

The Allied Intervention at Archangel and Murmansk in 1918

HMS Royalist (1883)

Continuing his amazing ability to turn up in all the wrong places at the right times, from 12 Feb 1920 to 15 Mar 1922 Char was sent to HMS Colleen (formerly HMS Royalist (1883)), which was then the depot ship at Queenstown (Cobh), Ireland, at the height of the Irish War of Independence. Being hulked (stuck in one place), allowed more opportunity to fraternise with the locals, obviously. The 1921 Census shows Charley Stone (24) [i.e. still maintaining he was a year older than he really was], Corporal R M L I, was with the Royal Navy, Armed Forces Overseas.

Nell and Char's only child, Charles Francis Stone (Frank) was born, on 17 July 1923 at The Military Families Hospital, Devonport and christened at The Anglican Church of Saint Paul, Durnford Street, East Stonehouse on Sunday, 5 Aug 1923. This was the day after the wedding of Char's first cousin Frederick Thomas Stone and Kathleen Mullarkey, at which Char was best man and could have been the new baby's first "social engagement" - not that he'd have remembered it - but it feels like a real connection to the past to imagine that maybe Maria Mullarkey, the bride's mother, may have fawned over the new infant (as you do). The family's address at that time was 36, Admiralty Street, East Stonehouse. Now The Fig Tree Restaurant, this was once a shop.

Nell and Char's only child, Charles Francis Stone (Frank), aged around three.

The rest of Char's Royal Marines' career was spent mostly at Plymouth Division - they lived in the Eastern King battery where Frank played football on the landings - and at HMS Impregnable training establishments in Devonport: the former HMS Black Prince (1861) in late 1922 and the former HMS Ganges (1821) in 1923/24. Char was promoted to Sergeant from 9 Aug 1924, Colour sergeant from 2 Apr 1931, and Quartermaster sergeant (QMS) in Aug 1932, retiring on 5 Jun 1936. 

Charley Stone's uniform tunic now in the possession of the Royal Marines Museum

(Here's an exhibit you wouldn't see on display, even if the Royal Marines Museum wasn't currently homeless. So I consider myself fortunate that I was able to visit when it was still housed in the former officers’ mess on the Eastney Barracks (now to be turned into a five-star hotel) a few years ago and had made arrangements for a private viewing of the tunic pictured.)

Nell and Char on their
25th Wedding Anniversary
in 1947, in the garden of 117,
Corisande Road, Selly Oak.

After he retired from the Royal Marines, Char took a job as a Post Office Van Driver in Birmingham, which is where we find the family in 1939, at 117 Corisande Road, Selly Oak with Charley Stone, Postman Driver (Heavy Work) still listing himself as a year older and Ellen trying to bridge the four year age gap and be two years younger. Frank (16) was working as a Stationery clerk at the Screw Works. 

Char had worked as a gardener before he'd joined the marines, having worked in the kitchen garden at Knightshayes Court in Tiverton. In Birmingham, he grew soft fruits - I remember being sent up the garden to pick raspberries and blackcurrants - and he had a greenhouse stuffed full of his favourite fuchsias that, in his Devon accent were always pronounced foosherrs.

Charley Stone died on 10 May 1973 at Selly Oak Hospital. He was 75.

Ellen Stone died on 31 Jan 1993 in Highcliffe, Dorset, in her 99th year.

Albert William Horswell and Rosina Ann Gloyne

North Street, Greenbank, Plymouth
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Tony Atkin - geograph.org.uk/p/449770
North Street is a narrow cobbled street which runs from Sutton Harbour up the hillside into the heart of the Greenbank District. It is reputed to be one of the oldest routes in Plymouth.

Albert William Horswell (b. 6 May 1865), son of William Horswell and Julia Hurrell, married Rosina Ann Gloyne, youngest daughter of Samuel Pascoe Gloyne and Emma Jane Coombes, in Plymouth in 1886. Inexplicably, but usefully, the bride's name was listed as Rosina Pascoe Gloyne. 

In 1891, Albert W Horswell (25) Steam Engine Maker Fitter and wife, Rosina A Horswell (25) were living in North Street, Plymouth.

But Rose Annie Horswell died, at just 31, in 1896 (GRO Reference: 1896 D Quarter in PLYMOUTH Volume 05B Page 200).

By 1901, Albert Horswell (35) Steam Engine Maker Fitter, was living, in Ebrington Street, Plymouth with new wife, Bessie Horswell (34), although I can find no record of a further marriage of Albert Horswell to anyone.

Albert Horswell (45) Engine Fitter at Government Dockyard was still living in Plymouth with 'wife' Bessie Horswell (44) in 1911. 

In 1921, Albert W Horswell (56) Engine Fitter at HM Royal Dockyard and Bessie A Horswell were living at 7, Belmont Street, Stonehouse, Plymouth.

Albert William Horswill (sic) died at 74 in 1940 M Quarter in PLYMOUTH Volume 05B Page 921.

Patrick Michael Clancy and Rosina Kathleen Stone

Resting place of Chief Petty Officer P M Clancy at Milton Cemetery, Portsmouth

Patrick Michael Clancy (b. 16 Sep 1904), son of Patrick Michael Clancy and Elizabeth Flynn, married Rosina Kathleen Stone (b. 14 Apr 1903), daughter of Tom Stone and Margaret Knapman, in Plymouth, in 1926.

In 1901, the bridegroom's father, Patrick Michael Clancy (25), Stoker, from Whitegate, County Cork, was aboard HMS Renard (1892) (an Alarm-class torpedo gunboat), in Devonport, while his wife Lizzie Clancy (27) was boarding at 14, Second Avenue, Devonport along with her two eldest children, Julia Kathleen Clancy (b. 1899) and Mary Elizabeth Clancy (b. 1901). None of the Clancy family turn up anywhere in the records of 1911. Patrick's sister, Mary Elizabeth Clancy died, at 19, in 1920 M Quarter in DEVONPORT Volume 05B  Page 441, but there are no further clues to the rest.

In 1921, Patrick Michael Clancy (16) R N Boy was a visitor in the household of Peter Cassidy (47) from Meath, Ireland, Labourer at H M Dockyard, at 88, Pembroke Street, Devonport. (Cassidy's son, Francis Noel Cassidy, also 16, was also an R N Boy and his elder son a Leading Seaman, so he may have been staying with a shipmate's family, if no family of his own was left.)

Patrick Michael Clancy had joined the Royal Navy on 16 Mar 1920, when he was aged 15, as a Boy 2nd Class, he became an Able Seaman on his 18th birthday, 16 Sep 1922, and a Leading seaman by the time of his marriage.

Patrick and Rosina had two children:

1. Theresa Margaret Clancy b. 28 Aug 1927, in Devonport
2. Patrick Michael Clancy b. 1929, in Portsmouth

The entire family seemingly evade the 1939 Register. 

With HMS Renown from 1 Sep 1939, on 10 Mar 1944, Patrick was promoted to Chief Petty Officer and assigned to HMS Cyclops. 

Patrick Michael Clancy was invalided in June 1945 at Royal Naval Auxiliary Hospital, Southport. Patrick Michael Clancy of 50 Mayles Road, Southsea, died on 18 July 1946, aged 41, at the Infectious Deseases Hospital Portsmouth (presumably Priorsdean Infectious Diseases Hospital in Portsmouth, across Milton Road from St Mary’s Hospital). Chief Petty Officer Patrick Michael Clancy, Son of Patrick Michael and Elizabeth Clancy; husband of Rosina Kathleen Clancy, of Paulsgrove, Portsmouth, is buried in Portsmouth (Milton) Cemetery, Plot M. Row 17. Grave 55.

Then Patrick Michael Clancy, son of Mrs. R. K. Clancy, of Milton, Portsmouth, Constable in the Palestine Police Force, died, on 4 Jun 1947, aged 18. He was buried at Haifa (Sharon) British Civil Cemetery, Haifa, Israel, Plot 4. Grave 6.

Both father and son's gravestones are united by the same inscription:

 

"IN THE SHELTER OF THY SACRED HEART, DEAR JESUS, MAY HE REST".

In 1951, Rosina K Clancy remarried, in Portsmouth, to a Cyril West. 

Rosina Kathleen West died in 1979, aged 76, in her native Plymouth.

Anthony Charles Mullarkey and Mabel Sarah E Manley

Central Terrace
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Roger W Haworth - geograph.org.uk/p/333311
Central Terrace: built as Police Quarters for those guarding the depot at Chattenden

Anthony Charles Mullarkey (b. 12 Jan 1893), son of Anthony Joseph Mullarkey and Maria Gloyne, married Mabel Sarah Elizabeth Manley (b. 16 Jan 1904), daughter of William Manley and Jessie Hammacott, in Devonport, in 1926. They had one child, Barbara May Mullarkey, born in 1929.

Anthony Charles Mullarkey had joined the Royal Marines as a Bugler at around 14½ on 18 Sep 1907, becoming a Private when he turned 18 in 1911. On 22 May 1913, he was assigned to HMS Centurion (1911), with which he stayed until 10 May 1919, which means, that on 31 May - 1 Jun 1916, Anthony also took part in the Battle of Jutland, as had his elder brother, John Martin Mullarkey. (As did his future father-in-law, William Manley.)

Anthony left the Royal Marines on 11 Jan 1932. However, in 1939, Anthony Charles Mullarkey, Royal Marine Police and wife - listed as Mabel on official forms, but on Anthony's service record as Sarah, so was presumably known by her second name in the family - were living at No 3 Central Terrace, Chattenden, Upper Upnor, Kent. Central Terrace was built as Police Quarters for those guarding the depot at Chattenden.

Barbara May Mullarkey (1929-2008) married Ronald Stephen Lyons (1927-2014), in Chatham, in 1947 and had three children between 1947 and 1952. 

Anthony Charles Mullarkey, his service record shows, was discharged dead from the Royal Marines Police on 23 Jan 1968. He will have been 75, so I assume he was still engaged as something like a watchman. His Royal Marines and Royal Marines Police service put together add up to a total of 61 years. This surely has to be some sort of record? He is buried at Hoo St Werburgh.

Mabel Sarah Elizabeth Mullarkey of The Elms, 77 Main Road, Hoo, Kent (Residential Home), died on 27 Nov 1990, aged 86. 

The Parish Church of St Werburgh, Hoo
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Ifor R Griffiths - geograph.org.uk/p/267759

Richard Eastabrook and Susana Derry

Stoke Damerel Churchyard
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Derek Harper - geograph.org.uk/p/887421

Richard Eastabrook (b. 21 Jul 1811, bap. 17 Nov 1811 in Stoke Damerel, Devon) son of William Eastabrook and Ann Lobb (m. 6 Nov 1796 in Stoke Damerel) married Susana Derry (bap. 18 Jul 1816 also in Stoke Damerel), daughter of Richard Derry and Mary Minns, in 1845 in Stoke Damerel.

Richard and Susana had at least four children:

1. Ellen Elizabeth Eastabrook b. 1846 D Q in STOKE DAMEREL Vol 09 433
2. William Thomas Eastabrook b. 1848 S Q in STOKE DAMEREL 09 413
3. Samuel Ebenezer Derry Eastabrook b. 12 Dec 1849 in STOKE DAMEREL
4. Hephzibah Sarah Eastabrook b. 18 Sep 1852 in STOKE DAMEREL

In 1851, Richard Eastabrook (39) Butcher, was living in Cambridge Street, Plymouth with Susan Eastabrook (34), Ellen Eastabrook (4), William Eastabrook (2) and Ebenezer Eastabrook (1) [Samuel Ebenezer].

In 1861, Richard Eastabrook (47), Susanna Eastabrook (42), Ellen Eastabrook (14), William Eastabrook (12), Samuel Eastabrook (10) and Hephzibah Eastabrook (8) were in Mill Street, Stoke Damerel.

Susan Eastabrook died on 14 Mar 1866 and was buried on 19 Mar 1866.

Richard Eastabook, widower then remarried, to Elizabeth Lydia Fanny Best, who, despite being 50 at the time of this marriage was a spinster, on 16 Mar 1868 at the Parish church of Stoke Damerel. Elizabeth Lydia Fanny Best b. 5 Apr 1817 and bap. 16 Mar 1848 in Stoke Damerel, was the daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth Best. Joseph was a Confectioner. 

In 1871, Richard Eastabrook (58) Butcher and Elizabeth Eastabrook (53) were living in Morice Town, Devonport. Ellen Eastabrook, listed as 21, from Davenport, Devonshire (sic) was a Housemaid in a household headed by Henry Keysell (43) Housekeeper in Queenhithe, City of London. William Eastabrook (21) Butcher, was also listed as a Servant in the household of Sarah Payne (27) Butcher, in Morice Town. While Hephzibah Eastabrook (18) was a Domestic Servant in the household of Eliza Bowden (39) China And Earthenware Dealer, also in the district of Morice, Stoke Damerel.

In 1881, Richard Eastabrook (68) Butcher and Lydia Eastabrook (63) were living at 15 Pembroke Street, Devonport Stoke Damerel.

Richard Eastabrook died at 74, on 12 Mar 1886 (1886 M Quarter Volume 05B Page 290) and was buried on 19 Mar 1886, in Stoke Damerel. 

Elizabeth Eastabrook (71) of Pembroke Street, died on 14 Apr 1889 and was buried on 20 Apr 1889, also in Stoke Damerel.

1. Ellen Elizabeth Eastabrook married a William Barker in Chester-le-Street, Durham, in 1892, but there are no clues to William's age or origins. Unable to find the couple in 1901, William must have died in the past or following decade, as by 1911, E E (Ellen Elizabeth) Barker (64) Widow was living with her brother, Samuel Ebenezer Derry Eastabrook, in Stockwell, London. Ellen Elizabeth Barker died, aged 78, in 1925 J Quarter in CARDIFF Volume 11A Page 454.