George Fuller and Eliza Ellen Hockley

St. Helens and St. Giles Church, Rainham
Max Naylor, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

George Fuller, son of James William Fuller and Maria Phillips, married Eliza Ellen Hockley, daughter of James Hockley and Elizabeth Wilton at St Helen and St Giles, Rainham on 25 Dec 1894. Eliza's parents had married on Christmas Day too, 24 years previously, in Great Dunmow. Rather than being a romantic tradition, it was probably the only day that labourers had free and, as churches often offered their services free or at reduced rates on Christmas.

The only part of my family history I knew anything at all (and then not much) about growing up was this baker's dozen. In order, with dates, as follows: 

1. Annie Elizabeth Fuller born 17 Feb 1895, bap. 28 Mar 1895. (Died aged 16 months and was buried, on 1 Jul 1896, at Rainham.)
2. George Fuller born 12 Jun 1896, bap. 17 Jul 1896
3. Ada Fuller born 27 Oct 1897, bap. 7 Jan 1898
4. Emily Fuller born 31 Dec 1899, bap. 4 Feb 1900
5. Elizabeth Fuller born 22 Mar 1901, bap. 5 May 1901
6. Daisy Fuller born 15 Jan 1903, bap. 19 Apr 1903
7. Eliza Fuller born 18 Sep 1905, bap. 23 Nov 1911
8. May Fuller born 2 Nov 1906, bap. 23 Nov 1911
9. John Fuller born 9 Jan 1908, bap. 23 Nov 1911
10. James Fuller born 2 Feb 1910, bap. 23 Nov 1911
11. Florence Fuller born 15 Oct 1911, bap. 23 Nov 1911
12. Ellen Fuller born 21 Nov 1914
13. Rose Fuller born 24 May 1917

They go to all the trouble of that bulk baptism catch-up in 1911, then, it seems, did not baptise either Ellen or Rose. (Records online go up to 1920.)

Back row (L-R): May, John (Jack), James (Jim), Florence (Flo) and Eliza (Lili)
Front row: Rose, Ellen, Ada, Elizabeth (Bet) and Daisy.

In 1901, in Cowper Road, Rainham, we find, George Fuller (34) Wharfe Labourer, Eliza (25), George (4), Ada (3), Emily (1) and Baby Fuller (0) - later Elizabeth. Also staying with them was Emily Hockley (17), Eliza's sister.

And in 1911 at White Cottages, Rainham (a.k.a. Whitepost Cottages), there were George Fuller (44) Farm Labourer, Eliza (35), George (14), Ada (13), Emily (11), Elizabeth (10), Daisy (8), Eliza (5), May (4), John (3) and James (1). 

Eliza Ellen Fuller (née Hockley)

George Fuller, of 150 Upminser Road, Rainham, died, aged 65, on 12 Nov 1931 at 1 Oldchurch Road, Romford, which was, of course, the address of the former Oldchurch Hospital (and before that Romford Union Workhouse). Cause of death was listed as, "(1) a Haemorrhage & Rupture of Aneurysm of left Iliac Artery. (2) Atheroma." G. Fuller, son, of 6 East Close, Rainham was present. 

In 1939, Eliza Ellen Fuller was living with daughter, Flo Wilson, at 1 Pinewood Avenue, Rainham. Eliza Ellen Fuller died on 30 May 1953, aged 77 and is interred in Rainham Cemetery, Grave number 491 Section B.

James William Fuller and Maria Phillips

St Mary, High Road, South Woodford - East end
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © John Salmon - geograph.org.uk/p/2975185

James William Fuller, son of Robert Fuller and Elizabeth Ann Bradley, married Maria Phillips, daughter of Isaac Phillips and Caroline Elizabeth Taylor on 9 Oct 1859 in Woodford. James' grandparents, Robert Fuller and Elizabeth Bass, had married in the previous, medieval, incarnation of this church, but this time the marriage will have taken place in the building, from 1816, that stands today. Unusual for the wedding to take place in the groom's parish.

James and Maria had nine children, baptised in Rainham, St Helen and St Giles:

1. William James Fuller born 1860, bap. 6 Sep 1860
2. Emily Elizabeth Fuller born 1862, bap. 30 Nov 1862
3. James Fuller born 1864, bap. 27 Nov 1864
4. George Fuller born 19 Oct 1866, bap. 18 Nov 1866
5. John Fuller born 1869, bap. 31 Jan 1869
6. Frederick Fuller born 1871, bap. 4 Jun 1871
7. Elizabeth Fuller born 1873, bap. 7 Sep 1873
8. Annie Fuller born 1876, bap. 5 Mar 1876 (died at the age of 9 months and was buried, on 12 Nov 1876, at St Helen and St Giles)
9. Alfred Robert Fuller born 1880, bap. 8 Aug 1880

[There was a tenth child, Ellen Fuller, born 1867, attributed to this family. However, checking the GRO, the mother's maiden name is listed as WHITTAM. That child's baptism, on 8 Dec 1867, which was in Upminster, lists the mother's first name - Eliza. There was a marriage of a James Fuller to an Eliza Witham, in South Weald, in 1855. Most likely, these were the unfortunate Ellen's parents. This child died, aged 1, in 1868 and was buried on 11 Oct 1868 at St Helen and St Giles, Rainham. So she isn't one of ours. Enough others were.]

In 1861, James Fuller (25) Agricultural Labourer, Maria (23) and their 3 month old son, William, were listed at Cottage, Rainham, Essex. Hope nobody wanted to find anyone from the vague addresses on some of these censuses!

In 1871, in Back Street, Rainham, we find James Fuller (36) Ag Lab, Maria (34), William (11), Emily (9), James (7), George (5), John (2) and Frederick (0). 

In 1881, address now upgraded to Village Back Street, Rainham, were James Fuller (46) Ag Lab, Maria (43), sons James (17), George (15), John (13) all Ag Labs, Frederick (10) and Elizabeth (8) were at school and, Alfred (0).

And in the same place in 1891, James Fuller (57) Ag Lab, Maria (53) and just George (24) and Alfred (11) still at home. They've taken in two lodgers instead: Charles Valentine (24) and David Joslin (46), both Ag Labs.

In 1901, James Fuller (66) Farm Labourer, Maria (64) and just Alfred (20) Ag Lab still at home with one boarder, Albert Hardcastle (26) Farm Labourer.

In 1911, their address given as Mitchells Cottages, Rainham, there were James William Fuller (77) no longer working, wife Maria (74). Their boarder, Albert Hardcastle (36), was still in residence and had become a Platelayer on the London, Tilbury and Southend Railway.

James Fuller died, aged 76, in 1911.

Maria Fuller died in 1919, aged 81.

Thomas Phillips and Mary Ann Wright

St Margaret’s Church, Barking
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Richard Rogerson - geograph.org.uk/p/1562917

Thomas Phillips, son of Joseph Phillips and Ann Clarke and elder brother of Isaac Phillips, had married Mary Ann Wright on 23 Apr 1826 at St Margaret's Church, Barking, where his brother married six years later. The census records from 1841 to 1881, show these brothers were living next door to one another. 

Thomas and Mary Ann had six children, all of whom were also baptised at the church of St Helen and St Giles, Rainham:

1. Hester Maria Phillips bap. 8 Mar 1829
2. William Thomas Phillips bap. 21 Aug 1831
3. Richard Wilkinson Phillips bap. 16 Mar 1834
4. Angelina Caroline Phillips born 1837, bap. 1 Sep 1837
5. Ellen Jane Eliza Phillips born 1841, bap. 31 Jan 1841
6. Joseph Phillips born 1844, bap. 3 Mar 1844

Again, the use of Wilkinson as a second name makes me think this is probably Mary Ann's mother's maiden name. And the fact that they named a son Joseph in 1844, also makes me more convinced that the death of a Joseph Phillips in Orsett in that same year, was indeed Thomas and Isaac's father.

In 1841, in Rainham, living next-door to his brother Isaac, was Thomas Phillips (35) Ag Lab, Mary (35), Hester (12), William (10), Richard (8), Angelina (4) and Ellen (0). Living with them were an Esther Wilkinson (40) who I'd guess was a relative of Mary Ann's; Martha Ward (50) and William Marlow (35) Ag Lab.

In 1851, address listed as Upminster Road, Rainham, there were Thomas Phillips (46) Ag Lab, Mary Ann (45), William Thomas (19) Ag Lab, Richard (17) Ag Lab, Angelina (13), Ellen (10) and Joseph (7). They have two lodgers: Edmund Earnel (38) and Hezekiah Dowset (26), both Ag Labs.

In 1861, Thomas Phillips (56) Ag Lab, at Fran House, Cottage, Rainham, with Mary Ann (55) and just Joseph (17) Ag Lab still at home. So a third lodger: James Wood (32), George Whitbread (22) and John Simpson (18), Ag Labs.

In 1871 at Back Street Cottage, Rainham, Thomas Phillips (66) Ag Lab, Mary (65) have Mary Ann Searles (12) and William Searles (10), granddaughter and grandson, living with them. (Angelina had married a George Searls in 1858.)

Then in 1881, at the infamous Village Back Street, Rainham, Thomas Phillips (75) General Labourer and Mary (74), had their grandson Edward Turben (22) Labourer in Manure Factory, living with them, as well as James Whiting (22) and Alfred Whiting (19), lodgers. (Edward Turben was the son of Ellen Jane Eliza Phillips, who had married Henry Turben in 1858.)

Mary Ann Phillips died, aged 77 and was buried on 30 Mar 1884 in Rainham.

Thomas Phillips died, aged 81, and was buried on 21 Jul 1887.

Isaac Phillips and Caroline Elizabeth Taylor

St Margaret, The Broadway, Barking - Chancel
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © John Salmon - geograph.org.uk/p/2974985

Isaac Phillips, son of Joseph Phillips and Ann Clarke, married Caroline Elizabeth Taylor on 16 Sep 1832 at St Margaret's Church, Barking. Isaac and Caroline had 12 children. Those baptised were at St Helen and St Giles, Rainham:

1. Henry Phillips bap. 29 Sep 1833 
2. Isaac Phillips bap. 16 Apr 1835 
3. Maria Phillips born 19 Aug 1837 (unnamed on GRO reg), bap. 17 Sep 1837
4. James Davis Phillips, born 1841, bap. 26 Jan 1841 (buried 31 Jan 1841)
5. Alfred Davis Phillips born 1842, bap. 14 Aug 1842 (died in 1842, age 0)
6. Jacob Phillips born 1844, bap. 26 Mar 1844
7. Rebecca Phillips born 1846, bap. 13 Aug 1846
8. Abraham Phillips born 1849, bap. 23 Feb 1849
9. Anne Phillips born 1851 (no mention beyond GRO reg)
10. Thomas Phillips born 1854
11. Hester Phillips born 1857
12. Alfred Phillips born 1861

The use of Davis as a middle name for both James [iv] and then Alfred [v] leads me to believe that this may have been Caroline's mother's maiden name - it's a convention I've seen used frequently by the Wiltons and the Thompsons too in this period - however, I've been unable to find Caroline's baptism, nor a marriage between a Taylor and a Davis that I could confidently accept. 

In 1841, the family, living in Rainham, consisted of Isaac Phillips (25) Ag Lab, Caroline (25), Henry (8), Isaac (6) and Maria (4). Also living with them were Elizabeth Parker (75) and Mary Taylor (60). The 1841 census doesn't give us relationships, but could this latter have been Caroline's mother? 

Rebecca's baptism record in 1846 lists her father's occupation as Shepherd.

In 1851, in the Upminster Road, Rainham, we find Isaac Phillips (38) Shepherd, Caroline Phillips (38) birthplace listed as Woolwich, Kent; with children: Henry (17) Ag Lab, Isaac (15) Ag lab, Maria (13), Jacob (7), Rebecca (5) and Abraham (2). They also had a lodger, Henry Neville (18), also an Ag Lab.

In 1861, with their address listed as Fran House, Cottage, Rainham, there are Isaac Phillips (48) Ag Lab, Caroline (48), Jacob (17) Ag Lab, Rebecca (14), Abraham (12) Ag Lab, Thomas (7) Ag Lab, Esther (sic) (4) and Alfred (0). 

Yes, got 'em working as young as seven!

In 1871, at Back Street Cottage, Rainham (Back Lane/Street becoming part of Upminster Road, these different addresses are probably all the same place), this time are Isaac Phillips (58) Ag Lab, Caroline (58), Thomas (17) Ag Lab, Hester (14) Domestic Servant and Alfred (10) Ag Lab.

Caroline Phillips died, aged 67, and was buried on 31 Oct 1880 in Rainham.

In 1881, still in the Village Back Street, Rainham, Isaac Phillips (68), widower, Ag Lab, is living with his daughter, Esther (sic) (24) as his housekeeper.

But in 1891, Isaac Phillips (76), widower, Field Labourer, is listed as an Inmate at the Workhouse in Romford. He was still resident at the Romford Union House (later Oldchurch Hospital) at the time of his death the following year, 1892, aged 78. He was buried, on 5 Nov 1892, in Rainham.

Oldchurch Hospital, Romford
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © John Winfield - geograph.org.uk/p/282543

James Hockley and Elizabeth Wilton

St Mary, Great Dunmow
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © John Salmon - geograph.org.uk/p/3988759

James Hockley, son of George Hockley and Eliza Crow, married Elizabeth Wilton, daughter of Richard Wilton and Catherine Byatt at St Mary the Virgin, Great Dunmow on 25 Dec 1870. The groom was 20, the bride claimed to be 19, but was 23. :) James' occupation, as well as that of both George and Richard is recorded as Labourer. We know from at least three sources (1841 census, his own marriage in 1843, as well as his death certificate) that Richard Wilton was a harness maker. As Richard had died in 1858, when Elizabeth was only around 11, she either didn't know or had forgotten (and probably couldn't read what was written anyway), so I can see how this error became perpetuated.

James and Elizabeth Hockley set about repopulating Essex:

1. Alice Catherine Wilton born 12 Feb 1869 in Great Dunmow
2. George James Hockley born 1871 in Great Dunmow,
   bap. 30 Mar 1884 at St Andrew's Church, Hornchurch
3. Charles Stephen Hockley born 1874 in Poplar,
   bap. 30 Mar 1884 at St Andrew's Church, Hornchurch
4. Eliza Ellen Hockley born 15 Apr 1876 in Romford,
   bap. 28 Aug 1881 at St Andrew's Church, Hornchurch.
5. William Hockley born 1878 (died 1880, aged 1)
6. John Harry Hockley born 25 Jul 1881,
   bap. 28 Aug 1881 at St Andrew's Church, Hornchurch
7. Emily Hockley born 1884,
   bap. 30 Mar 1884 at St Andrew's Church, Hornchurch
8. Frederick Hockley born 1886 (mother's maiden name as Wilson)
9. Alfred Albert Hockley born 15 Apr 1888
10. Joseph Hockley born 1892 (died 1892, aged 0)
11. Florence Hockley born 1894

In 1871, James Hockley (20) Labourer, and Elizabeth Hockley (21 ish) were living on the Braintree Road, Great Dunmow. The two year old Alice, meanwhile, was next-door-but-one with her grandmother, Catherine Eldred.

Certainly in 1874 they were in Poplar where Charles Stephen Hockley was born. Elizabeth's mother, Catherine Eldred, was also living in Poplar around that time, as was James' eldest brother William, which explains them being in the area.

By 1881, James (29) and Elizabeth (28) were living in South End Road, Hornchurch, with Alice Hockley (14) - now using James' surname? [1] - George Hockley (11), Charles Hockley (9) birthplace given as Bromley - this was Bromley-by-Bow, Poplar - and Eliza E Hockley (4).

[1] Alice being listed with the surname Hockley on this census may NOT mean that she used it normally, nor does it infer that James Hockley is her father. It could just be the enumerator going mad with ditto marks, an assumption, or simply that it wasn't challenged.

South Hall Farmhouse, Rainham
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © David Anstiss - geograph.org.uk/p/3219637

In 1891 at 3, Spring Cottages, High Street, Rainham (the census shows that these & White Post Cottages were next to South Hall Farm on the Wennington Road), were James Hockley (39) Agricultural Labourer, Elizabeth (37), George (19), Charles (17), Eliza (15), Harry (9), Emily (7), Frederick (5) and Alfred (3).

In 1901, still at 3, Spring Cottages, James Hockley (48) was Foreman on Farm. With him were wife Elizabeth (44) still getting younger - I make her 54 - Harry Hockley (19) Horseman on Farm, Frederick Hockley (15) Horseman on Farm, Alfred Hockley (13) Attending School and Florence Hockley (6).

In 1911, James Hockley (63) had become the Bailiff on Farm (Farm bailiff) with Elizabeth (56), Frederick (25), Alfred Albert (23) and Florence (17).

Elizabeth Hockley died in 1924. She was 77.

James Hockley died in 1936. He was 87.