George Green and Sarah Perry

Trinity Chapel, Sailors Home &c., East India Road, Poplar. This is the Chapel and Sailors' Home endowed by George Green, who built the Congregationalist chapel, and his son Richard. They were both buried in the chapel. The Green company house flag flies on the Home to the right.

George Green (b. 2 Nov 1767), son of John Green and Mary Pritzler, married Sarah Perry (b. 20 Sep 1776, bap. 22 Sep 1776 at St Dunstan's, Stepney), second daughter of John Perry and Elizabeth Brown, at St Dunstan's, Stepney on 18 Feb 1796. Sarah was then nineteen, a minor. The marriage record reads "George Green Esq. of this Parish Bachelor and Sarah Perry of this Parish Spinster by and with the consent of John Perry Esq. the natural and lawful father of the said minor were married in this church, by Licence." Witnesses were John Perry and John Perry Jnr, Sarah's father and brother.

George Green, it is alleged, was born in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire. This is stated in the Chronicles of the Blackwall Yard (PDF) by Henry Green and Robert Wigram, published in 1881, over 100 years after the event. The family could have had a 'country seat' in Cheshunt, but I find it curious that there appears no mention nor evidence of such. However, one assumes it was then based on truth as at least they won't have been hampered by the sheer deluge of wildly differing information there is online alleging to refer to his family, in trees at Ancestry and elsewhere. For example, at FindAGrave, George Green's grandfather, William Green, was not only listed as having been an Overseer of the Poor of Chelsea and the owner of the Lotts Brewery of Chelsea, but he had died at the age of TWO. I've heard of such thing as a child prodigy, but ... obviously (not to them) someone has added those details to the wrong burial. This is one of many items causing difficulties identifying the correct records and is a question I'll inevitably come back to, if or when I research his parents and earlier ancestors and try to unpick some of the mess.

With George Green's father having been a brewer in Chelsea and Sarah's maternal grandfather John Brown was a brewer in Poplar, I wonder if this could have been the original means of introduction between the families?

It's often quoted that Green had originally been Perry's apprentice and the Chronicles of the Blackwall Yard says that, "In the year 1782, George Green, of whom we shall say more presently, came to Blackwall yard at the age of 15, and was apprenticed to his future father-in-law, Mr. John Perry." The record in UK, Register of Duties Paid for Apprentices' Indentures, 1710-1811, which is dated 7 Nov 1782, shows that George Green was actually apprenticed to Samuel Huxtable of Stepney, Middlesex, Shipwright. "From at least the 1770s the shipwrights working within Blackwall Yard were not employed directly by the Perry family. Various master shipwrights worked with their own men in teams, and agreed with the Perrys to work on specific orders." [Source] One assumes that Huxtable was one such master.

The Chronicles continue with: "He is spoken of at this time as having been particularly active, intelligent, and trustworthy, and he soon began to make himself useful in the drawing-office and mould loft, where he was employed in designing and laying of ships, A proof of his activity is given in the fact that for some time he was in the habit of frequently walking from his mother's house, near Battersea, to Blackwall Yard, arriving there at six o'clock in the morning and walking back again after six o'clock in the evening. In the busy times that were now coming on, George Green was frequently detained at the Yard until late in the evening, working in the mould loft, and at such times Mr. Perry and his family would often walk through from the adjoining house to see how things were going on. Report says, further, that Miss Sarah Perry took a somewhat lively interest in these proceedings, and would show her interest by rubbing out and otherwise disturbing the lines which young George Green had just completed. However this may be, an attachment soon sprang up between them, they became engaged, and were married at St. Dunstan's, Stepney, on February 18th, 1796."

These were then the usual hours. "For the men working in the yard during the later eighteenth century conditions were very similar to those experienced by the employees of the East India Company in the yard's earliest days. In 1781 all labourers worked from 6 o'clock in the morning until 6 o'clock at night. In winter they came half-an-hour later and left at 5.30." [Source]

Again the Chronicles of the Blackwall Yard tell us that, "Five children were born of this marriage, John, George, Joseph, Mary, and Richard. Of these, Joseph and Mary died in infancy" As we see, only Richard survived:

1. John Green b. 21 Nov 1796, bap. 19 Dec 1796 at St Dunstan's, Stepney. John Green died, at the age of nine, on 19 May 1805, and was buried, on 25 May 1805, at Poplar Chapel (St Matthias Old Church)
2. George Green b. 7 Jun 1799, bap. 8 Jul 1799 at St Dunstan's, Stepney. George Green of Blackwall died, aged 15, on 29 May 1814, and was buried on 6 Jun 1814 at at Poplar Chapel (St Matthias Old Church). "George, described as a boy of good promise, died at Brighton, at the age of fifteen, from the effects of bathing while heated after riding." [Source]
3. Joseph Green b. ~1801 and died in infancy. Not found any records for this child, neither baptism, nor burial and would not have known of him, except the children being listed, in this order, in the Chronicles of the Blackwall Yard. A History of George Green, written by George Green's 3x great-grandson, Johnathan Green, in Nov 2018, also states that there were five children of this marriage, although the names are not listed.
4. Mary Green, b. 28 May 1802, bap. 24 Jun 1802 at St Dunstan's, Stepney. Mary Green of Poplar was buried at Poplar Chapel (St Matthias Old Church) on 28 Apr 1803. The burial record lists her as 8 months old, but as we can see, she must have been nearer 11 months.
5. Richard Green b. 5 Dec 1803, bap. 31 Dec 1803 at St Dunstan's.

In 1805, the Chronicles of the Blackwall Yard recount, "We have here to record, on May 18th, 1805, the premature death, at Blackwall, of Mrs. George Green, at the early age of 28 years; her son John, aged 9 years, dying on the following day, they were buried together, with the other members of her family, in the grounds of Poplar Chapel. She left two sons, George and Richard, but of these only Richard Green arrived at maturity." The causes are not mentioned, but with two family members dying at the same time, one cannot help wonder if it was from the same infectious pathogen. Sarah Green was buried, on 25 May 1805, at Poplar Chapel (St Matthias Old Church).

Though presumably unrelated in cause, in 1814, George Green Jnr was buried just a week prior to his first cousin, Mary Ann Layman, daughter of Sarah's sister, Elizabeth, the two burials being on the same page of the records.

George Green, Widower of the Parish of St Dunstan's, Stepney then remarried to Elizabeth Unwin of this Parish, Spinster, by Licence, at St Mary's Church, Bromley St Leonard's (more history here), on 6 May 1806. The witnesses to this marriage were a William Unwin and a Matthew Oliver.

George and Elizabeth Green added a further six children:

6. Henry Green, son of George and Elizabeth Green, of Blackwall, b. 21 Jan 1808, bap. 19 Feb 1808 at Stepney, Bull Lane (Independent)
7. Elizabeth Green b. 10 Oct 1809, bap. 3 Nov 1809 at Bull Lane (Ind)
8. Emma Green b. 6 Mar 1811, bap. 3 Apr 1811 at Bull Lane (Independent) 
9. Clara Green b. 15 Jul 1813, bap. 9 Aug 1813 at Bull Lane (Independent). Clara Green of Blackwall died, aged 1, was buried on 4 Nov 1814 at at Poplar Chapel (St Matthias Old Church). It is said that Clara died "from the results of an accident". [Source] What type, they don't say.
10. Frederic Green (sic) b. 25 Sep 1814, bap. 21 Oct 1814 at Stepney Meeting (Independent)
11. William Green b. 17 Apr 1816, bap. 8 May 1816 at Stepney Meeting

Stepney, Bull Lane (Independent) was a Nonconformist (Dissenting) church, also known as the Stepney Meeting House, established in Stepney, London, around 1644, it was a significant site for Puritan and later Independent (Congregational) worship. There's more here on The Stepney Meeting and the 380-year ‘Dissenting’ tradition in Stepney and the East End.

There was an unusual clue in an obituary for George Green in The Illustrated London News of 3 Mar 1849, which (wrongly) listed his second wife as "Miss Onwhyn, daughter of Mr Onwhyn, for many years coroner of the eastern division of Middlesex." That's a weird spelling, and with little specific detail, but enough. Elizabeth's parents were William Unwin and Mary Wright, m. 10 Jul 1770 in Thorley, Hertfordshire. Elizabeth was a twin: Their baptism record states, "Baptised February 19th, 1777, Mary and Elizabeth the twin daughters of William and Mary Unwin of the parish of Sawbridgeworth." They were baptised at Water Lane-Independent, Bishops Stortford, which appears to have then been Congregational. Elizabeth's father, William Unwin (b. 29 Oct 1742), son of John Unwin and Tryphena Tealon, was baptised on 29 Nov 1742 at the Dunmow Chapel-Independent, Great Dunmow, Essex (Quaker / Congregational to which a different branch of my family had links). Again the Chronicles of the Blackwall Yard claims that, "In 1842 Mr. Green, who about this time appears to have left the Church of England, built Trinity Chapel, in the East India Road ..." Clearly, he'd already left to give the children of his second marriage non-conformist baptisms, around 30 years earlier and we can see where the infuence came from.

(Incidentally, Elizabeth's elder brother, John Wright Unwin, who married Hannah Sims, followed in his father's footsteps as coroner of the Eastern Division of Middlesex between 1804 and 1830 [Source] (see case in 1818); her twin sister, Mary, married William Sims and their son, William Unwin Sims, later became Chairman of the Great Western Railway and a Director of the Bank of England, amongst other things, until he ended his own life.)

Richard and his brother Henry were in 1816 at Doctor Cogan's school, at Higham Hill, Walthamstow and in 1822, "Henry Green, the second son of George Green, Esq., was in accordance with old custom, apprenticed to his father as a shipwright, at the age of fourteen, his elder brother Richard being at this time in Edinburgh, where he studied for several years at the University."

In 1838, Mr. George Green retired from active business.

In 1841, George Green (73) was the head of the household at Blackwall Yard, Poplar, London with Elizabeth Green (63). Against both their names the column has a Y for Yes, claiming they were born in the county (of Middlesex). This appears not to be correct, in either case. Living with them were Richard Green (36), Daniel Britton (34), Emma Britten (29) - Daniel Britton and Emma Green had married in 1832 - Emma Britton (9) and Forester Britton (4). The household had three female and four male servants living in.

Elizabeth Green died at the age of 69 on 2 Nov 1846 (1846 D Quarter in POPLAR UNION Volume 02 Page 269). Found no record of her burial, but suspect that she will have been buried at Trinity Congregational Chapel.

George Green died aged 81, at Blackwall, on 21 Feb 1849 (1849 M Quarter in POPLAR UNION Volume 02 Page 296), and it's known that he was buried at Trinity Congregational Chapel, because George Green's tomb still exists in Trinity Gardens, Poplar. Again, there's no burial record available online. (NOTE: There are several errors on the page at FindAGrave.)

In 1851, Richard Green (~45) Shipowner, was head of the household at Blackwall Yard, Poplar. Visitors there were Daniel Briton (sic) (42) Annuitant; Emma Briton (38), E E Briton [Emma Elizabeth] (18), Fred [Forester] Briton (13) and R Briton (7) [later Rear Admiral Richard Frederick Britten].

In 1861, Richard Green (~56) Shipowner of Blackwall was a visitor in the household of William Phillips (63) Shipowner in Church Street, Reigate.

Richard Green Esquire of Blackwall died, aged 59, on 17 Jan 1863 (1863 M Quarter in MARYLEBONE Volume 01A Page 407) at 7 Hanover Terrace, Regent's Park (which appears was the home of his half-sister, Emma and her husband, Daniel Britten). Richard Green, who never married, was also buried at Trinity Congregational Chapel, next to his father. A statue to Richard Green, shows a "seated figure of Green shown in relaxed pose with his Newfoundland dog, Hector, sitting at his feet, the dog's head resting on its master's left knee." Probate on "The Will with three Codicils of Richard Green late of Blackwall in the Parish of All Saints Poplar in the County of Middlesex and of Walmer in the County of Kent …" list his estate as under £350,000 (worth around £57,000,000 today.)

Thomas Fossey and Esther Elizabeth Evans

St George the Martyr, Southwark
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Stephen Craven - geograph.org.uk/p/1733209

Thomas Fossey (b. 1789 purportedly in Poplar, Middlesex) married Esther Elizabeth Evans (b. 20 Jan 1793), daughter of William Evans and Esther Gabbaday, at St George the Martyr, Southwark on 6 Feb 1810.

As far as I can tell, Thomas and Esther had 12 children:

1. William Fossey b. 4 Dec 1810, bap. 20 Jan 1811 at St Dunstan's, Stepney, son of Thomas Fossey and Elizabeth
2. Thomas Fossey b. 10 May 1812 (reputedly, still to see confirmation)
3. Sarah Fossey b. 26 Mar 1814, daughter of Thomas Fossey, Lighterman, and Esther Elizabeth, bap. 25 Apr 1814 at St Dunstan's, Stepney
4. Charles Henry Fossey b. 26 Feb 1816 in Poplar, son of Thomas Fossey, Lighterman and Esther, bap. 5 May 1816 at All Saints Church, Poplar
5. Edward Fossey b. 3 Feb 1818, son of Thomas Fossey, Lighterman and Esther, bap. 26 Apr 1818 at All Saints, Poplar. (Assume died in infancy).
6. George Edward Fossey b. 15 Feb 1820, son of Thomas Fossey, Lighterman and Esther, bap. 11 Jun 1820 at All Saints, Poplar
7. Edward Fossey b. 2 Dec 1821, son of Thomas Fossey, Lighterman and Esther, bap. 20 Jan 1822 at All Saints, Poplar
8. Esther Fossey b. 10 Jun 1824, daughter of Thomas Fossey, Lighterman, and Esther Elizabeth, bap. 25 Jul 1824 at All Saints, Poplar
9. Anna Eliza Fossey, daughter of Thomas Fossey, Lighterman, and Esther Elizabeth, bap. 11 Feb 1827 at All Saints, Poplar
10. Walter Fossey b. 27 Sep 1828, son of Thomas Fossey, Lighterman and Esther, bap. 2 Nov 1828 at All Saints, Poplar
11. John Henry Fossey b. 23 Jan 1831 (reputedly, still to see confirmation)
12. Julia Fossey b. 2 Apr 1833, daughter of Thomas Fossey, Timber Merchant, and Esther Elizabeth, bap. 22 May 1833 at All Saints, Poplar

Records of Thames Watermen & Lightermen confirm that on 2 Feb 1804, Thomas Fossey, had been bound as an apprentice to William Fossey.

On 18 Sep 1816, The Proceedings of the Old Bailey inform us that a JOHN WILLIAMS was indicted for stealing, on the 10th of June, a pepper-box, value 10s. the property of Thomas Fossey. ESTHER FOSSEY: "I lost a pepper-box in the latter end of May last, out of our house; it had been in the parlour at the back of the shop. The prisoner had come for a hat, and had been asked into the parlour. After he was gone, it was missed." JOHN MACHIN: "I am a silversmith and jeweller. The prisoner brought this to me for sale; it was very much bruized (sic), and I gave him ten shillings for it." John Williams was found guilty, fined 1 shilling and discharged. From this, we can deduce that Esther Fossey kept a shop that sold hats and that they were doing well enough to own a pepper box that was still worth 10 bob, even battered.

The Binding Records of the Thames Watermen & Lightermen show that on 6 Apr 1820, Charles James Evans - Esther's brother, who would then have been the right age of 15 - was bound as an apprentice to Thomas Fossey.

Thomas Fossey (38) was on a List Of Free Watermen in Apr 1827.

In 1841, Thomas Fossey (~50) Timber Merchant, was living in Ferry Road, All Saints Poplar, with Esther Fossey (45), George Fossey (20), Edmund Fossey (15), Walter Fossey (12), Esther Fossey (15), Anna Fossey (14), John Mills (20) Clerk; Frederick Daycot (15) Apprentice and Elizabeth Weathursh (15) F.S. [Female Servant]. (Sarah and Charles having already left home.) Julia Fossey (7) was in the household of John and Eliza Jane Tolley in Lamb Street, Whitechapel (Eliza Jane was her aunt; her mother's youngest sister.)

The Morning Post of 25 Dec 1844, reported, under POLICE INTELLIGENCE, THAMES OFFICE- Yesterday Thomas Smith, a shipwright and barge builder, of Spratley's Row, Millwall, Poplar, who is in affluent circumstances, and has long maintained the reputation of being a respectable tradesman, was brought before Mr Broderip for final examination, charged with stealing a quantity of deals from the premises of two of his neighbours, Mr Thomas Fossey, timber merchant, and Mr Thomas Snook, shipbuilder, both of Millwall.

Mr Pelham attended for the prisoner.

It appeared in evidence that the premises of the prisoner are about a hundred yards from Mr Fossey's. About the 7th instant Mr Fossey missed several deals from his wharf, and two days afterwards he missed three fifteen feet deals. On Saturday, the 14th instant, two deals, having the same marks as those he missed, a spruce batten and a pine plank were brought to Mr Fossey's yard to be cut up for a person named Philpot, who is a pattern maker, for castings, and lives at No. 7 Regent Street, Limehouse. On Mr Fossey identifying his own wood which had been returned to him in such a singular manner, he made inquiries of Philpot, who brought four deals of the prisoner on 3d (sic) of December, for 12s., and was to give him 12s more for a second lot, which he had not yet paid him. Mr Fossey waited on the prisoner, and on asking him to account for his possession of the property, he said he bought them of a man named Tom Kent, who said he had picked them up. Mr Fossey accompanied the prisoner to several houses in Narrow Street, Ratcliff, where Smith alleged Tom Kent was in the habit of coming, but they could hear of no such person. This account did not tally with the one he gave to Mr Philpot when he sold the deals, and to whom he stated that a bargeman had been repairing his barge, and they were surplus deals, and at the same time he exhibited two more of the second lot in his boat shed in his premises. The prisoner had previously offered deals of a similar description for sale to various other persons. On being taken into custody on Monday the 16th instant, by Mr Evans, a Thames police inspector, he said the man of whom he bought the deals was a lighterman, about his own size and appearance, that he had known him for two or three years, and that he worked for Mr Gabriel, in the Regent's Canal. On the previous day, in a conversation with Webb, another inspector of Thames police, whom he called upon, he said he was in trouble about some deals which turned out to be stolen, and that he was in the Torrington Arms, Millwall, on the previous Thursday when a man came in and asked for Mr Smith, and said he had some deals for sale, and that he bought them for twelve shillings, and sold them for the same price. The prisoner said nothing about the other four deals sold to Mr Philpot until Tuesday morning, when he made some vague excuse. A man named Pink, in the employ of Mr Snook, the ship builder, said he missed four deals from a pile on his master's premises, and they were numbered on the ends. He afterwards saw two of them, 7 and 8, in the possession of the Thames police, who received them from Mr Fossey. The prisoner had been frequently on his master's premises.

Mr Thomas Ward, examined for the first time yesterday, said he had been fourteen years in the employ of Mr Gabriel, and that no person named Tom Kent was in his service during that time.

Mr Snook identified his property, and said he was very sorry to see the prisoner in such a position. Mr Smith had served his apprenticeship to his (Mr Snook's) father, and was afterwards employed by him for many years. He never heard anything against the prisoner's character before.

Mr Pelham contended that the second case was a very slight one indeed and not sufficient to send the prisoner for trial.

Mr Broderip said both cases must go to the sessions.

Mr Pelham said the two cases were made up principally of informers, and really they were not, prima facia, very strong to send before a Jury. He hoped, at all events, bail would be taken for the prisoner.

Mr Broderip was reluctant to say anything prejudicial to a prisoner, but he could not help saying the facts were very strong. He declined taking bail, and committed the prisoner for trial.

In 1851, Thomas Fossey (62) Retired Timber Merchant was living at 6, Burch Road, Northfleet, North Aylesford, Kent with Esther Fossey (59), Julia Fossey (18) and Mary Moon (27) General Servant from Cliffe, Kent.

Esther Fossey died, at 65, in 1858 J Quarter in NORTH AYLESFORD Volume 02A Page 187). Esther Elizabeth Fossey (née Evans) of Burch Road, Rosherville, was buried on 21 May 1858 at Gravesend Cemetery from St George's Church, Gravesend. (It appears that the grave stone suggests a date of death of 27 May 1858, but the burial date, in the correct sequence, on the original record clearly quotes the burial date being six days previously.)

In 1861, Thomas Fossey (71) Retired Timber Merchant, Widower was still living at 6, Burch Road, North Aylesford, Kent attended by Martha Hems (58) Widow, and Emily Taylor (18) both House servants.

Thomas Fossey died. at 73, on 6 Dec 1862 (1862 D Quarter in NORTH AYLESFORD Volume 02A Page 200) and was buried, on 12 Dec 1862, at Gravesend Municipal Cemetery, with his late wife.

Burch Road, Rosherville
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Chris Whippet - geograph.org.uk/p/3677977
The house 2nd from the left hand/far end is currently number 6.

Philip Perry and Elizabeth Flemming

Photo © John Salmon (cc-by-sa/2.0)

St Mary, Church Road, Little Ilford - Chancel

Photo available for reuse under this Creative Commons licence.

Mr Philip Perry (b. ~1678) married Elizabeth Flemming (purportedly b. ~1685) at St Mary the Virgin, Little Ilford, Essex, on 6 Feb 1706. This couple were paternal grandparents of the 'famous' John Perry, Shipbuilder credited as the founder of the Blackwall Yard, which built ships largely for the East India Company. (Philip and Elizabeth Perry were also the grandparents of John Perry's first wife, Elizabeth Brown, as John married his first cousin.) It was Philip Perry who began the family's connection with Blackwall Yard.

Philip and Elizabeth Perry had eight children:

1. Thomas Perry b. 7 Dec 1708, bap. 14 Dec 1708
2. Philip Perry b. 3 Oct 1710, bap. 22 Oct 1710
3. John Perry b. 13 Dec 1712, bap. 1 Jan 1713 (Gregorian)
4. Elizabeth Perry b. 27 Feb 1714, bap. 27 Mar 1715
5. Susanna Perry b. 1 Mar 1715, bap. 27 Mar 1715
6. Fleming Perry b. 4 Jan 1717, bap. 12 Jan 1717. Fleming, son of Mr Philip Perry, buried 21 Oct 1720 at St Margaret's, Barking
7. Sarah Perry b. 27 May 1719, bap. 14 Jun 1719. Sarah, daughter of Mr Philip Perry, buried 26 May 1720 at St Margaret's, Barking
8. Sarah Perry bap. 12 Mar 1720 (Julian) 1721 (Gregorian). Sadly, the church official had stopped putting in the actual birth dates.

All of the baptisms took place at St Mary Magdalene, Woolwich. Elizabeth and Susanna, baptised together in 1715 (Gregorian), were presumably born in different years, but the record doesn't show which. Elizabeth is listed first on the baptism, as well as later in her father's Will, so I'm assuming she was the older of the two. St Margaret's Church, Barking a.k.a. the Church of St Margaret of Antioch is where Captain Jonathan Collett, to whom Philip Perry left a bequest, was baptised and later buried. Susanna Perry would seem to have been named after Collett's wife, Susanna Hill (whom he had married at Saint Helen Bishopsgate, City of London on 6 Jul 1706).

The Chronicles of the Blackwall Yard (PDF) by Henry Green and Robert Wigram (published 1881), claim that in 1708: "About this time the manager of Sir Henry Johnson's Yard was a certain Philip Perry, whose history and introduction to Blackwall has been given as follows. In or about the year 1690, Philip Perry was a carpenter on board of one of His Majesty's ships. During a severe storm the vessel was in much danger of foundering from a bad leak, but in consequence of Philip Perry's skill and ingenuity the ship was saved and brought safely back to port. The Commissioners of the Admiralty, to mark their appreciation of his service, gave him an important post at Plymouth Dockyard, whence he was transferred to Deptford, where he greatly increased his reputation. This position he is said to have relinquished to superintend Sir Henry Johnson's business at Blackwall."

Ship's carpenters went on voyages to make running repairs, so I suspect there may be some truth in the story, but it bears all the hallmarks of family making it sound more dramatic than reality. If we were to be really pedantic, the reigning monarchs in 1690 were William III and Mary II, who ascended the throne after the "Glorious Revolution" of 1688, so a reference in 1690 should have been to one of 'Their Majesties' Ships'. It seems more likely this event was after the death of Mary II in 1694, and before the accession of Queen Anne in 1702. Besides, if Philip Perry was born in 1678, then he'll have been around 12 in 1690, which is plenty old enough to be at sea, but a later date would be more reasonable given the skill and ingenuity they suggest. Of course this could all just be a completely romanticised family myth. 

Green & Wigram's chronology is pretty sketchy with regard to this period, but the earliest reports confirm that Perry's career began in Plymouth and this, I feel, helps make a case for him originally being from that area. Both British History Online and Three Decks think he was born in 1678 (the latter will have got the information from the former). If so, there's a potential baptism of Philip Perry, son of John Perry (and reputedly grandson of Philip Perry) in 1679, in Maker, Cornwall (just across the Tamar from Plymouth), which several people have accepted and I agree that, circumstantially, this looks incredibly reasonable, but may be unlikely to be absolutely proven.

"Perry, a working shipwright, was employed in the Naval Yard at Plymouth during the first years of the eighteenth century.", according to British History Online. He was then posted to Kinsale in 1702, where he was appointed Master Shipwright and there are references to substantiate him being in Kinsale from Mar 1702 until Jun 1705. He'd been sent to Ireland with other shipwrights for the purpose of 'their taking shipping there' at the beginning of the War of the Spanish Succession. Records listed at The National Archives (not downloadable) also confirm these postings: on 18 Mar 1702 "Plymouth Officers on behalf of Philip Perry, Shipwright. A testimonial of the good service of Phillip Perry." Then on 25 Sep 1702 "Philip Perry, Shipwright, Kindsale, Petitioner. He asks to be registered at Kinsale as a skilled man and to receive a higher level of pay." And "Kinsale Officers for Philip Perry, Shipwright, provide a Testimonial on behalf of Phillip Perry, Shipwright."

Then on 6 Aug 1705, "Philip Perry, Sheerness. Regarding his service in Kinsale where he acted as Foreman and assisted in repairs to masts and boats. Requests an allowance to take into consideration his 13 years service, including two spells in Kinsale." And on 17 Aug 1705 "Philip Perry, Sheerness. Further request for acting foreman pay for his time at Kinsale."

The other question that arises is, where and when did he meet Elizabeth? He'd only been in the London area for eight months when they married, but could he have known her longer? Could she have been from Plymouth? It seems that I'm not the first person to suggest this, but no evidence was offered.

A view of the Thames and Woolwich Dockyard in 1698, prepared for King William III.
The church of St Mary Magdalene, Woolwich is on the mound to the left.

The church where all of their children were baptised, St Mary Magdalene Woolwich, is right next to Woolwich Dockyard, also known as The King's Yard, Woolwich, "where many ships were built from the early 16th century". It's some distance (~4 miles) from Deptford Dockyard, the nearest church to which is St. Nicholas, on Deptford Green, so surely attending the church in Woolwich suggested Philip Perry was employed at Woolwich? And indeed, confirmation is in a record listed at The National Archives (not digitised so not downloadable), dated 1708, "Folio 396: Philip Perry. Petition for employment as Boatbuilder at Deptford Yard. Places mentioned: Kinsale, Woolwich. People mentioned: Mr. Stacey, Mr. Philips, Commissioner Wright."

Mr. Stacey was Richard Stacey, English shipbuilder and ship designer. In 1695, Stacey was Master Boat Builder at Plymouth Dockyard; "In 1698 he transferred briefly to Kinsale (until Apr 1705). He then worked for a few months at Sheerness Dockyard in 1705 before being appointed Master Shipwright at Woolwich Dockyard in November 1705." From 1709 until 1715, Richard Stacey was Master Shipwright at Portsmouth Dockyard and this is the only time Perry doesn't go with him. Then in 1715, Stacy was Appointed Master Shipwright at Deptford Dockyard. Stacey, being around 15 years older than Perry could have been his master (with whom Perry served his apprenticeship), or Perry was a highly trusted employee, but they must have known each other, because Perry generally went wherever Stacey went. Did Philip Perry work at Deptford perhaps with Stacey after 1715?

The Master Shipwrights House at Deptford, "... was rebuilt in 1708 for master shipwright Joseph Allin who, dissatisfied with his existing house, persuaded the Navy Board to invest in a remodelling. However, Allin overspent on the house and, amidst rumours of corruption, he was dismissed in 1715." [Source]. That's when Richard Stacey was appointed Master Shipwright at Deptford Dockyard, a position he held until 1742, so he will have lived and worked in this magnificent house for 27 years. British History Online, also tells us that, "In the mid-1730s, when it was rumoured that Philip Perry was about to desert Blackwall for Deptford, he was described as 'the Great Builder'." You can quite imagine this rumour being taken seriously. Philip Perry must have visited there during that time and may have worked there too. And Philip Perry's son-in-law, Philip Gilbert, certainly must have done so, as he was briefly Assistant Master Shipwright at Deptford Dockyard in 1740.

Inside The Master Shipwright’s House

"During the 1720s he [Perry] worked as manager for John Kirby and was later employed in a similar capacity by Collett and Boulton." (As an aside, but nevertheless important to note, Philip Perry's granddaughter, Elizabeth Perry and her husband (my cousin) Elnathan Ayres, gave the middle name Boulton to two of their children.) The baptisms in Woolwich suggest the Perrys were still there until around 1720/1, which confirms the statement, "there is no evidence of his being at Blackwall before 1722". By 1722 Perry was living in Blackwall Yard, where he occupied the mansion house 'and garden adjacent with the garden and terrace walk on the east side of the same'. This mansion house was probably the new house erected, between 1677 and 1679, when Johnson (Sir Henry Johnson) paid two builders, John Rogers and Thomas Marchant, for 'the Alterations of the new house and Repairing the ould'. When the new house was built, Richard Gibbs was paid £26 4s 10d for 'painters work' of a highly decorative nature about the property. One room was painted 'olive wood and tortell shell' (sic) and murals depicted battles and ships built at the yard. The new house was probably the detached house to the east of the wet dock which can be seen in Francis Holman's mid-eighteenth-century painting of the yard (below) and which survived into the 1840s. [Source]

Francis Holman (1729-1784) - Blackwall Yard from the Thames

In the parish registers of St Dunstan's, Stepney is the record of the burial of Elizabeth Perry on 21 Apr 1734. I'm certain this is Mrs Philip Perry, because it says "Elizabeth Perry of B'Wall to Poplar", indicating that she was buried at Poplar Chapel (St Matthias Old Church) built by the East India Company in 1654, where her husband, sons and grandson were also later buried.

In his Will, drafted on 20 Jun 1741, "Philip Perry the Elder of Blackwall in the Parish of Stepney in the County of Middlesex Shipwright" ... directed, "My body I commit to this earth to be decently buried by walking burial in as frugal a manner as conveniently may be at the discretion and management of my sons Philip Perry and John Perry and my Son-in-Law John Brown (whom I herein make Executors ...)" A walking burial, I assume, is his coffin taken in procession on foot, without hiring expensive carriages. Philip left £120 to Abraham Cropp Esq., "by borrowing securities to him for my late son Thomas Perry deceased". (Thus Thomas must have died before 1741, but I've not found when or where). He made bequests to his said son Philip Perry the Younger; his son John Perry; Son-in-Law John Brown; Captain Jonathan Collett; Captain Richard Gosfreight (Collett and Gosfreight were the principal ship's husbands for whom he'd built many ships); his sister Sarah Price, Widow; Philip Littlepage* (grandson of my said sister Sarah Price ten pounds to put him out apprentice); George Case the Clerk of Blackwall Yard; and his three daughters Elizabeth Brown, Susanna Perry & Sarah Perry. Philip Perry makes no mention of his wife in his Will, suggesting she pre-deceased him, adding circumstantial confirmation to the above. There are various stipulations as to how his estate should be divided among his children, depending upon what the total amounted to and it's obvious he was pretty well off.

*(Philip Littlepage bap. 3 Jul 1734, was the son of Sam Littlepage of Poplar, Gent, and Sarah Price, who married on 7 Feb 1728 at St John At Hackney, but I've been unable to find a marriage of a Sarah Perry to anyone named Price.)

The Chronicles of the Blackwall Yard (PDF) claims that John Perry and his brother, Philip Perry, became Yard Managers at Blackwall when their father, "Philip Perry, died on the 26 Sep 1732, at the age of sixty-one years, and was buried near the first Sir Henry Johnson, in the ground adjoining the East India Company's, or Poplar, Chapel, as it was now called. After his death the business was carried on by his son, who, as we learn from local records, had become by this time a person of considerable influence in the neighbourhood." Philip Perry died in 1742, not 1732 (although I suspect he retired in 1732, as John Perry was managing the yard from then), and this is probably just a 'typo', but it's also not the first time details in Wigram & Green's account just don't add up and, at best, have probably been wrongly remembered.

Philip Perry died on 26 Sep 1742 and was buried on 2 Oct 1742. The parish records of St Dunstans, Stepney lists, "Philip Perry of Blackwall at Poplar", indicating he too was buried at Poplar Chapel (St Matthias Old Church).

William Edward Burton and Ellen Rosina Baker

St Dunstan & All Saints, Stepney
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © John Salmon - geograph.org.uk/p/3477079

William Edward Burton (b. 7 Jan 1865, bap. 18 Oct 1871 at St Luke, Millwall, West Ferry Road, Isle of Dogs), son of William Burton and Elizabeth Martin, married Ellen Rosina Baker (b. 1866), daughter of Charles Hoile Baker and Amelia Young, at St Dunstan and All Saints, Stepney on 25 Dec 1888. Both gave their address as 46 Silver Street [Stepney] and witnesses were Ellen's brother, Charles Richard Baker and William's sister, Louisa Burton.

William and Ellen had four children:

1. Ellen Louisa Burton b. 1891 J Quarter in POPLAR Vol 01C Page 606
2. Ethel May Burton b. 1895 M Quarter in POPLAR Vol 01C Page 627
3. William Harry Burton b. 1897 D Qtr in POPLAR Vol 01C Page 595
4. Stanley Burton b. 1899 J Quarter in POPLAR Vol 01C Page 624

In 1891, William E Burton (26) Auctioneer's Clerk, Ellen R Burton (24) and Ellen L Burton (0) were living in Knapp Road, Bromley, Poplar. Staying with them also was Eliza L Tompson (22) Fancy Box Maker, listed as their niece. (She was Ellen's sister Sarah Jane's step-daughter.)

In 1901, in nearby Fairfoot Road, Bow were William E Burton (36) Commercial Clerk, Ellen R Burton (35), Ellen L Burton (10), Ethel M Burton (6), William H Burton (3) and Stanley Burton (1).

In 1911, William Edward Burton (46) Brewer's Delivery Clerk; Ellen Rosina Burton (45), Ellen Louisa Burton (20), Ethel May Burton (16), William Harry Burton (13) and Stanley Burton (11) were living in Bow Common.

In 1921, William Edward Burton (56) Brewery Clerk for Taylor Walker & Co, Brewers, was living at 119, Fairfoot Road, Poplar with Ellen Rosina Burton (55), Ellen Louisa Burton (30) Ladies Clothing Machinist; William Harry Burton (24) and Stanley Burton (22) Coppersmiths.

William Edward Burton died, at 65, in 1930 M Quarter in POPLAR Volume 01C Page 409.

Ellen Rosina Burton died on 23 July 1948 (1948 S Quarter in POPLAR Volume 05D Page 197), with Probate granted to son Stanley Burton.

John Walter Harris and Alice Catherine Wilton

Kingsley Hall, Powis Road, Bromley-by-Bow

John Harris (21) Batchelor, Engineer, who listed his father as Charles Harris, Blacksmith, married Alice Wilton (20) Spinster, daughter of Elizabeth Wilton, at the Parish Church of Bromley St Leonard (St Mary's Church, Bromley St Leonard's, more on this lost church here) on 25 Dec 1889. Witnesses at the wedding were W Wardley (there was a William Wardley lodging in her grandmother's household in 1881) and Hannah Smith. Alice had listed her father as "James Wilton, Carman", an invention, presumably "for appearances sake", which seems to be a portmanteau of James for James Hockley, her putative father; Wilton her mother's maiden name and her own birth surname; and Carman, which was the occupation of her half-uncle, George Wilton.

Because Alice was born on 12 Feb 1869 and her mother married James Hockley in 1870, it's generally assumed that James was Alice's biological father. In 1871, while James and Elizabeth Hockley were living on the Braintree Road, Great Dunmow, Alice (2) was next-door-but-one with her grandmother, Catherine Eldred, which made sense as Elizabeth was then about to have another baby. In 1881, Alice was on the census with James and Elizabeth Hockley, in Hornchurch, listed as Alice Hockley (14), leading many to assume she lived with them and used that surname thereafter, but I wonder if this was just a case of not challenging the use of dittos, nor wanting to explain why your kid had a different surname. Alice certainly didn't use that surname to marry and the fact that she married in the area her grandmother had lived, rather than where her mother lived, I feel, is also significant.

John and Alice Harris had ten children:

1. Elizabeth Harris b. 7 Mar 1890 (1890 J Quarter in POPLAR Volume 01C Page 578), mother's maiden name listed as WILTON. (No baptism found, which is not really surprising given her 'premature' arrival.)
2. Ellen Harris b. 28 Dec 1891 (1892 M Quarter in POPLAR Volume 01C Page 633) with her mother's maiden name listed as ALDRIDGE. Feeling that Aldridge could be a mis-hearing of ELDRIDGE and Ellen being the name of Alice's Aunt, this looked likely, so I obtained the birth record which confirms that she was the child of "John Harris, Boiler Maker and Alice Harris, formerly Aldridge, of 39 Egleton Road, Bromley", bap. 31 Dec 1891 at St Mary's, Bromley St Leonard's. She did not survive and it looks likely she died 1896 J Quarter in POPLAR Vol 01C Page 364.
3. John Harris b. 25 Oct 1893 (1893 D Quarter in POPLAR Volume 01C Page 605) with his mother's maiden name listed as ELDRIDGE, bap. 30 Nov 1893 at St Mary's Church, Bromley St Leonard's
4. Mary Catherine Harris b. 7 Dec 1895 (1896 M Quarter in POPLAR Volume 01C Page 597) with her mother's maiden name listed as WILTON, bap. 22 Dec 1895 at St Mary's, Bromley St Leonard's
5. Charles Harris b. 1898 S Quarter in POPLAR Volume 01C Page 581, with his mother's maiden name listed as HOCKLEY. (No baptism record found.) Died 1898 S Quarter in POPLAR Volume 01C Page 394
6. Charles Harris b. 15 Oct 1899 (1899 D Qtr POPLAR Vol 01C Page 569) mother's maiden name WILTON. bap. 26 Oct 1899 at St Mary's, Bromley St Leonard's. Died 1899 D Qtr in POPLAR Vol 01C Page 425
7. Albert George Harris b. 29 Sep 1901 (1901 D Quarter in POPLAR Volume 01C Page 578), mother's maiden name listed as WILTON, bap. 23 Oct 1901 at St Mary's Church, Bromley St Leonard's
8. Charles Douglas Harris b. 13 Jun 1903 (1903 S Quarter in POPLAR Volume 01C Page 575) with his mother's maiden name listed as WILTON, bap. 5 Jul 1903 at St Mary's, Bromley St Leonard's
9. Percy Harris b. 1905 S Quarter in POPLAR Volume 01C Page 579 with his mother's maiden name listed as ELDRIDGE. (No baptism record found.) Died 1905 S Quarter in POPLAR Volume 01C Page 349
10. Florence Hannah Harris b. 8 Apr 1912 (1912 J Quarter in POPLAR Volume 01C Page 972), mother's maiden name WILTON, bap. 28 Apr 1912 as Florence Anna Harris at St Mary's, Bromley St Leonard's. Died 1912 D Quarter in POPLAR Volume 01C Page 605

On the baptism for the 6th child, Charles Harris in 1899, John is listed as John Walter. It appears this is correct. It did seem that Charles was important and probably a family name, having used this for three sons, and this did also suggest this was indeed John's father's name. Hannah, used as the second name of the last child also seemed significant. Born John Walter Harris on 27 Apr 1868 (1868 J Quarter in STEPNEY Volume 01C Page 499), bap. 25 Feb 1869 at St Anne's Limehouse, he was the son of Charles John Harris and Hannah Harriet Camp. There's no record of a Charles Harris, Blacksmith in the area, ever, but Charles John Harris, Mariner and Rigger, later became a Labourer and, if that was at an Iron Foundry (as were his son and grandson later), then this is just the sort of 'upgrade' that would be given him to make a marriage certificate appear more posh. There are also many similarities between the naming of John and Alice's children and of his siblings.

If we needed clues that this is indeed Alice Catherine Wilton, Elizabeth Wilton's daughter and Catherine Byatt's granddaughter, there are the names given to the first two girls. Using HOCKLEY on one of the birth registrations adds another, but the use of ELDRIDGE on some of the birth registrations is strange, but extremely useful in providing evidence of her connections. Alice's grandmother, Catherine Wilton (née Byatt), married a second time to John Eldred. However, in 1881, Catherine (living at 23, Powis Road, Bromley, Poplar), had listed herself as Catherine Eldridge, and her two step-children, John Eldred's son and daughter from his previous marriages, also later used this 'usefully wrong' surname. There is no logical reason that I can think of for Alice to use this surname, unless, as the clues seem to be pointing, she was actually brought up by her grandmother. It's almost as if Alice is leaving us a trail of clues, although I can't possibly imagine she did so consciously.

Haven't been able to find them in 1891 and think they eluded the census.

In 1901, John Harris (30) General Labourer from Limehouse, Middlesex was living at 14, Powis Road, Bromley, Poplar with Alice Harris (29ish), Elizabeth Harris (11), John Harris (7) and Mary Harris (5). On this census, Alice's birthplace is listed - curiously and wrongly - as Bromley, London.

In 1911, John Harriss (sic) (40) General Labourer at Iron Foundry from Limehouse was living (in 2 rooms) of 24 Norris Road, Bow, London, with Alice Harris (42) whose birthplace this time is listed as Rainham; Jack Harris [John Jnr] (17), Albert Harris (10), Charles Harris (8), Lizzie Harris (21) and Mary Harris (16). On this census they confirm that they had been married for 21 years and had 9 children of whom 5 were then still alive and 4 had died.

On 18 May 1920, Charles Douglas Harris, son of John Harris of 24 Norris Road, Bromley-by-Bow, London E3, enlisted in the Royal Tank Corps, the record saying he had previously served with the 5th Dragoon Guards. He was, however, discharged on 14 Jun 1920, "Having made a mis-statement as to age on enlistment." He'd said he was 18, when he was only 17. (So many had done this during WWI and the services weren't so fussy about it then.)

In 1921, weirdly listed as John Alfred Harris (52) Labourer from Limehouse, Middlesex, still living at 24, Norris Road, Bromley, Poplar, with Alice Harris (53) who had finally remembered that she was born in Dunmow, Essex; and Charles Harris (18) Labourer. Also listed on the transcript is Albert Harris (20) Seafarer, although on the original census schedule, there is a line through his name as in the r/h column of the listing, in brackets states (away at sea).

Albert George Harris (right) born 29 Sep 1901 in Bromley-by-Bow, had indeed joined the Merchant Navy in 1918. On 1 Apr 1919, he had joined the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, described then as being 5ft 5in, with light brown hair, brown eyes and a fresh complexion and a 34½ in chest, from which he was demobbed on 8 Apr 1920. It appears Albert had joined the ship "Woodarra" at Victoria Docks, London on 4 Feb 1921.

Alice Harris died, aged 61, in 1931 M Quarter in POPLAR Volume 01C Page 479.

In 1939, John W Harris (b. 27 Apr 1868) Skilled Labourer (Pensioner), Widower, was living at 774 Old Ford Road, Bow, Tower Hamlets.

John Walter Harris died, aged 80, in 1949 M Quarter in POPLAR Volume 05D Page 322. It is reported that he died on 10 Mar 1949 at St Andrew's Hospital (St Andrew's Hospital, Devons Rd, Bow).

George Wilton and Susan Robinson

The 'Blind Beggar', Whitechapel Road
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Dr Neil Clifton - geograph.org.uk/p/594557
If one must have a stereotypical image from Bethnal Green.

George Wilton (b. 3 Feb 1860) illegitimate son of Catherine Wilton (but who 'invented' a father, George Wilton, Carman, for the certificate), married Susan Robinson (b. 1860), who listed her father as William Robinson, Carpenter, at St Thomas, Bethnal Green, on 21 Dec 1884. (Undoubtedly, she'll have been the same Susan Robinson, Match Maker, born in Bromley, Middlesex, who had been a boarder in George's mother's household in Poplar, in 1881.) Witnesses were William Campling and Maria Campling, George's step-sister. 

George and Susan Wilton had three daughters:

1. Catherine Wilton b. 10 Dec 1886 (1887 M Qtr in POPLAR Vol 01C Page 632), bap. 20 Jan 1887 at St Mary's Church, Bromley St Leonard's
2. Elizabeth Wilton b. 1888 S Quarter in POPLAR Volume 01C Page 600
3. Margaret Wilton b. 21 Jul 1891 (1891 D Quarter in POPLAR Volume 01C Page 588), bap. 5 Dec 1909, at 18, at St Mark's, Battersea Rise

The birth registrations all have the mother's maiden name ROBINSON and both of the baptisms found list their parents as George and Susan Wilton.

In 1891, living at 6, Tibbatts Road, Bromley-by-Bow (Poplar) were George Wilton (29) Carman (as had been his mother's brother, his Uncle John Byatt), with his wife (wrongly) listed as Catherine Wilton (30) from Essex, with Elizabeth Wilton (4) and Catherine Wilton (2), whose ages have been transposed. Nevertheless, I have no doubt that this is the correct family, but with that many mistakes, I'm wondering if they'd been on the sauce.

George Wilton died at 30, in 1892 S Qtr in POPLAR Vol 01C Page 356. 

In 1901, all three girls, Catherine (14), Elizabeth (12) and Margaret (9), were listed as Inmates of Forest Gate District School, which functioned as an industrial school, orphanage or workhouse for children, in West Ham. 

There's a record of a Susan Wilton, birth year listed as 1865, from the parish of Bromley-By-Bow, being discharged from Poplar Workhouse at her own request on 24 Aug 1901. There is then an entry on the Register of Deaths in Poplar Workhouse of a Susan Wilton (37), again from Bromley, who died there on 15 Jul 1902 and was buried in the East London Cemetery. There's no corresponding civil record of the death at the GRO. Susan Wilton was not a common name at the time, so, sadly, I believe these records relate.

In 1911, Caroline Kathleen Wilton (24) from Bromley-by-Bow was a General Domestic Servant in Tooting Bec Gardens, Streatham. (Margaret Wilton married in Streatham, in 1919, which places the girls in that area and there are several instances, in various different parts of the tree, where Catherine and Caroline are used interchangeably, including that the girls' grandmother was listed as Caroline on their father's birth certificate); In 1921, again as Caroline Wilton (34) was a Domestic Servant at 68, Herne Hill, Lambeth; In 1939, Caroline Wilton, who gave her date of birth as 10 Dec 1887 - one year out - was a Housemaid at 75 Ashburnham Road, Southend-On-Sea. Catherine Wilton died, at 85, in Southend-on-Sea in 1971.

[So far] I've been unable to isolate further records for Elizabeth Wilton.

Philip Perry and Hellen Hubbard

St Dionis Backchurch

Philip Perry (b. 3 Oct 1710, bap. 22 Oct 1710 at St Mary Magdalene Woolwich, son of Philip Perry and Elizabeth Flemming, married Hellen Hubbard at St Dionis Backchurch, on 20 Dec 1734 - the same church where Philip's sister, Elizabeth Perry married the following February. The record reads, "Philip Perry of the Parish of St Dunstan, Stepney in the County of Middlesex Batchelor & Hellen Hubbard of the same parish (Spinster) were married (by Licence) on Friday the 20th Day of December 1734." There are no clues as to why both couples chose to marry in this church.

Records suggest that the couple had three daughters:

1. Elizabeth Perry b. Friday, 7 Nov 1735, bap. 27 Nov 1735 (at 20 days old) at St Dunstan, Stepney. Elizabeth, daughter of Phil Perry of Pop[lar] & Hellen. She was buried on 20 Dec 1735. The record lists, "Elizabeth Perry of Pop[lar] to Poplar", indicating that she was more than likely buried at Poplar Chapel (St Matthias Old Church).
2. Elizabeth Perry b. Saturday, 24 Jan 1736 (Julian) 1737 (Gregorian), bap. 22 Feb 1736 (Julian) 1737 (Gregorian) (at 29 days old) at St Dunstan, Stepney. The baptism record for this child also specifies, "Elizabeth, daughter of Phil Perry of Pop[lar] Shipwright & Hellen."
3. Susanna Perry b. Sunday, 8 Jul 1739, bap. 31 Jul 1739 (at 23 days old). "Susanna, daughter of Phil Perry of Pop[lar] Shipwright & Hellen."

Philip Perry died, aged 35, and was buried on 30 Mar 1746. In the parish registers of St Dunstan's, Stepney is the record of the burial of "Philip Perry of B.Wall at Poplar", indicating that he too was buried at Poplar Chapel (St Matthias Old Church, built by the East India Company in 1654).

The only record of the birth of a Hellen Hubbard, around the relevant time, anywhere in the world - and it is with two LLs as it was upon marriage, as well as on the baptisms of all three of their daughters - is of a Hellen Hubbard b. 30 Jul 1701, bap. 3 Aug 1701 in Hardingham, Norfolk, the daughter of Robert and Mary Hubbard. (There no records whatsoever of a likely Helen Hubbard with the usual spelling with one L). It could be Hellen born in 1701, which would make her nine years older than Philip Perry, which is not unheard of. She would have been 33 when she married and, whilst late having children at that time, still of childbearing age. But, whilst it would seem reasonable, I cannot see a way to either confirm or refute this. There are no obvious records either as to when Hellen Perry died, although she must have died before 29 Apr 1775, because in a Codicil to the Will of her brother-in-law, Ephraim Reinhold Seehl, of that date, he states that she had died.

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 ten 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. Mary Emma Dalton b. 6 Aug 1809
10. 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 nine children, all born in Church Lane, in the parish of St Anne Limehouse are of Non-Conformists - 'Dissenters'. These records, which list the maternal grandparents, are from Dr Williams' Library Registry; Registers of certificates, an early birth register of Protestant dissenters. (‘Dissenting’ tradition in Stepney.) Each birth has two witnesses: Sarah Dalton, I presume Winnall's mother, was one of the witnesses on most of the 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.

Ephraim Reinhold Seehl and Sarah Perry

Photo © Glyn Baker (cc-by-sa/2.0)

St Andrew Undershaft

Photo available for reuse under this Creative Commons licence.

Ephraim Reinhold Seehl (b. ~1718 in Sweden) of Bromley St Leonard, Batchelor, aged upwards of twenty-seven years, Chemist, son of Captain Reinhold Seehl (apparently a German volunteer with the Swedish Army), married Sarah Perry (bap. 12 Mar 1721 at St Mary Magdalene Woolwich), of the Parish of St Dunstan's, Stepney, Spinster, aged upwards of twenty-two years, daughter of Philip Perry and Elizabeth Flemming, at St Andrew Undershaft, City of London, (a rare example of a City church that survived both the Great Fire of London and the Blitz) by Licence, on 19 Nov 1745.

There is no evidence of any children being born to this couple.

Seehl was known as a manufacturer of Iron(II) sulfate (known since ancient times as copperas and as green vitriol) and was apparently leasing the Copperas Works from Sarah's brother, John Perry (and probably later from her nephew, John Perry). As we see here in An Account of the Hamlet of Poplar, in Middlesex, From "The Universal magazine" for June, 1795, "Not far from this dock, Mr. Perry has a copperas work, situate on the river Lea, near the Thames, in the parish of St. Leonard Bromley, and which, although not so large as his copperas works at Whitstable in Kent, and Walton-on-the-Naze, in Essex, is allowed to be the most complete work of the kind in England."

Ephraim Reinhold Seehl appears in various London directories from 1752, through until well after his death, listed as a chemist, or copperas merchant, to be found at Blackwall, or at one of the London Coffee Houses, such as the Bank Coffee House in Threadneedle Street. From 1765, he began to be listed at Blackwall and Baltic Coffee House, Sweeting's Alley (or Sweeting' Rents) and later, Cole's Coffee House, Ball Court, Cornhill, London.

The Register of Duties Paid for Apprentices' Indentures, 1710-1811, show that on 15 May 1749, Ephraim Reinhold Seehl of Blackwall, Middlesex, Copperas Maker, took as his apprentice one John Bridges Buckle. 

(As an aside, but this could have been the same chap previously apprenticed to Seehl, a John Bridges Buckle, Gent, was buried on 26 Apr 1756 at Saint Giles in the Fields, Holborn. The Proceedings of the Old Bailey dated 28 May 1756 explain the case where Buckle had been stabbed by a Mr Venables, who said in his defence, "I saw Mr Buckle upon my wife in the bed naked as I am to appear before God". Venables was found guilty of Manslaughter.)

The six pages of the Will of Ephraim Reinhold Seehl of the Parish of Bromley St Leonards in the County of Middlesex Chemist and Copperas Maker, which was originally drafted in 1757, has been one of the most difficult to read because of the quality of the squashed up handwriting. Nevertheless, he mentions therein, his loving wife Sarah; his brothers-in-law John Perry and John Brown; his sisters-in-law Elizabeth Brown, wife of John Brown; Susanna Gilbert, Widow; and Mrs [unreadable] Perry, Widow (certain this is Hellen Perry, widow of Philip Perry); as well as his niece Sarah Brown eldest daughter of the said John Brown; and Kitty Brown youngest daughter of John Brown (Kitty is either my misreading of the handwriting, a pet name for their youngest daughter, Helen, or a child I've not found records for). Seehl left most of his property to his 'dearly beloved wife Sarah' and appointed Sarah as sole Executrix. He seemed to make some changes to the Will in 1769, but added a Codicil, dated 29 Apr 1775, in which he began, "That as my two brothers-in-law and Mrs [unreadable] Perry are since the making of this Will dead ..." and changes the beneficiaries: in place of John Brown, is Kitty Brown and in place of Mrs [unreadable] Perry, was her daughter Susanna Taylor. Also mentioned is Mrs Sarah Clark. And, "... to my nephew John Perry and also to my niece Elizabeth Perry his wife ... as had given and bequeathed before in the Will to their fathers John Perry and John Brown". The Will also mentions his nephew Joseph Hankey (who was married to John Perry Sr's daughter, Ann); the Copyhold property in Walton-on-the-Naze, Essex and the Copyhold estate in Bromley St Leonard. The Will was proved on 12 Sep 1783.

Ephraim Reinhold Seehl of Bromley was buried at Poplar, undoubtedly at Poplar Chapel (St Matthias Old Church) much used by the Perry family, on 6 Sep 1783, according to the Parish Register of St Dunstan's, Stepney.

Sarah Seehl died on 28 Apr 1804. The Commercial Chronicle of 1 May 1804 (Tuesday) reported "On Saturday last, at Limehouse, Mrs Sarah Seehl, relict of Ephraim Seehl, Esq." Sarah Seehl was buried on 4 Jun 1804 (?). The Parish Register of St Dunstan's, Stepney lists the burial of, "Sarah Seehl of Poplar at Poplar", which I assume to be once again at Poplar Chapel (St Matthias Old Church) - in her Will, Sarah stated her wish to be buried in the vault with her late husband - although there's also a record in the Parish Register of All Saints Church, Poplar on the same date of the burial of Sarah Seehl (86). 

Probate was granted on the Will (with three Codicils the last dated 3 Jun 1802) - which runs to 15 handwritten pages - of Sarah Seehl of Church Row, Limehouse, Widow, to the surviving Executor, John Perry, on 20 Jun 1804.

How am I related? Sarah Perry's niece married my 1st cousin 7x removed.