Inherited Craziness
A place to share all the nuts found on my family tree

Showing posts with label Royal Marines. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Royal Marines. Show all posts

Thursday 18 April 2024

Richard Land (Trafalgar veteran) and Mary Rookes

St Andrew Street, Tiverton
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Jaggery 
geograph.org.uk/p/6242815
Richard Land (bap. 24 Oct 1784 at St Michael & All Angels, Bampton, Devon) son of John Land and Sarah Melhuish, married Mary Rookes (b. 7 Jan 1791, bap. 15 May 1791 at St Peter's Church, Tiverton), daughter of Thomas and Mary Rooke, at St George's Church, East Stonehouse, Plymouth, Devon on 18 Apr 1811.

Richard and Mary Land had five children:
  1. Mary Land b. 26 Jun 1812, bap. 20 Sep 1812 at St Peter's Church, Tiverton
  2. Sarah Land bap. 8 Oct 1815 in Tiverton
  3. Richard Land bap. 25 Dec 1817 in Tiverton
  4. Elizabeth Land bap. 24 Apr 1820 in Tiverton
  5. Fanny Land bap. 16 Feb 1823 in Tiverton
The baptisms from 1815 onwards list Richard's occupation then as Labourer and so many were just that, but this certainly doesn't reflect his whole story:

The records of Royal Navy Allotment Declarations - seamen and marines were able to send (allot) part of their wages to support next of kin at home - lists Richard Land from Bampton, Drummer, in 1805-10 with HMS Hibernia (1804) at which time he allotted part of his pay to his mother, Sarah. Then, when he was with HMS Ocean (1805) in 1811-12, to his wife, Mary.

"Royal Marine Drummers were first mentioned in the 1664 Convening Order, at the formation of Corps and so pride themselves as being the oldest Branch in the Corps." - Royal Marines Band Service

Marine Drummer Richard Land served at the Battle of Trafalgar (confirmed here), being a drummer serving on HMS Royal Sovereign (1786), the flagship of Admiral Collingwood and the first ship of the fleet in action at Trafalgar on 21 Oct 1805. She led one column of warships; Nelson's Victory led the other. Royal Sovereign lost her mizzen and mainmasts in the battle. Richard Land's station on the ship will have been up on the poop deck, an exposed spot (in a bright red uniform), probably to one side of the [by then missing] mizzen mast, so it's pretty much a bloody miracle he survived. 
On his pension records, Richard Land's service in the Royal Marines is listed as being 14 years, 1 month, 2 weeks and 6 days. If he left the service in 1816, it's possible he had enlisted in 1802 at 18. He was granted a pension, at the age of 32, from 16 May 1816, of £8 8s per year, for life. 

In 1841, Richard Land (55), Mary Land (50), Mary Land (3) and Thomas Rooks (80) were living in St Andrew Street, Tiverton. The three year old was their granddaughter, born Mary Elizabeth Gould Land bap. 29 Apr 1838, in Tiverton, the illegitimate daughter of Elizabeth Land (and someone whose surname was Gould?). Thomas Rooks, clearly, was Mary's father. 

Mary Land died, aged 58, and was buried on 10 Jun 1849, at St Peter's.

In 1851, Richard Land (66) Masons labourer (Greenwich pensioner) was still in St Andrew Street, Tiverton, with Mary Land (12) Grand child, Scholar.

Richard Land (72) 5' 4", Widower from Bampton Devon, Labourer, last ship HMS Ocean, Marine was admitted to Greenwich Hospital, London on 21 Dec 1855. (Just in time to be "regaled with plum pudding and roast beef" on Christmas Day.) The Royal Hospital for Seaman, as it was originally called, now the Old Royal Naval College, once described as the "poshest pensioners home that ever was". Life as a Greenwich Pensioner. In the column, "If wounded", it said NO, but underneath was written "Trafalgar".

This Description In 1855 is fascinating in describing their diet, clothing and facilities. It boasts that, "Their food is of the best description, varied daily by a new and liberal arrangement of diet introduced in 1853." (If a bit heavy on roast or boiled beef and mutton.) "Two pints of excellent beer is the daily allowance throughout the year, except on four days set apart as festival days, when each man is supplied with two quarts of strong ale." 

Also in 1855, it was said, "The clothing has been somewhat changed of late. The original dress corresponded with that in common wear at the beginning of the last century; but the knee-breeches have been exchanged for trousers, and round hats have been allowed for daily wear. Cocked hats are issued, however, as before, and are worn on Sundays and on ceremonial occasions."

"By all accounts the ‘Greenwich Geese’ as locals referred to them were a rowdy bunch and barely resembled our modern image of elderly pensioners." (Not resembling any image of elderly pensioners is a good aim, IMHO!)

Richard Land died, at 82, his death registered in 1866, in Camberwell.

Friday 5 April 2024

Tom Stone and Margaret Knapman

Royal Marines' Stonehouse Barracks, Durnford Street, Stonehouse, Plymouth

Tom Stone (b. 11 Dec 1861 in Ashbrittle, Somerset), son of Henry Stone and Mary Ridgeway, married and Margaret Knapman (b. 28 Aug 1863 at Mary Rows (Mary Rose?) Cottage, St Budeaux Devon), daughter of Thomas Knapman and Kitty Horden. There's a record of their marriage, in Q1 1889, however, the British Royal Marines Marriage Registers, lists it as the Register Office, East Stonehouse on 5 Apr 1893. As there was no such thing as a Register Office (until after 1929), I assume this was an administrative ratification, once permission was granted, of the ceremony that had taken place in 1889, although there are civil registrations for both dates.

Peter Calver at Lost Cousins, potentially provides the explanation, as these rules would almost certainly apply to Marines too, "... soldiers needed the permission of their commanding officer if they wanted the marriage to be recognised (which is why you will sometimes come across a couple who married each other twice)." Either date was a little late and, in the haste to legitimise their eldest, may have forgotten to ask permission of the CO. 

On 11 Mar 1880, Tom Stone, then 18, enlisted in the Royal Marines, at that time was 5' 6¾", with a fair complexion, dark brown hair and hazel eyes. His record states, "Right little finger amputated through second phalanx." As well as various stints at Plymouth Division, from 1881 to 1884 Tom was with HMS Mallard (1875), a Forester-class composite screw gunboat; from 3 Oct 1889 until 3 Jan 1893, he was assigned to HMS Himalaya (1854)

In 1881, Tom Stone (19) Private RMLI was in Devonport, Stoke Damerel; There were a Thomas and Catherine Knapman in Tamerton-Foliott in 1881, who I believe to have been Margaret's parents. (Catherine was from Waterford, Ireland.); and Margaret Knapman (16) was a General Domestic Servant to Henry Couch (58) Farmer at Hays End, Tamerton-Foliott.

Tom and Margaret had six children:
  1. Archer Henry Stone (Archie), b. 28 Mar 1889 (1889 J Quarter in PLYMPTON ST MARY Volume 05B Page 223), bap. 21 May 1889, at the Wesleyan Methodist church, Tamerton Foliot. Died, at 18, on 11 Nov 1907, in Gillingham, Kent (1907 D Quarter in MEDWAY Vol 02A Page 393). Commemorated in Rookwood Cemetery in Sydney, Australia.
  2. Frederick Thomas Stone, b. 20 Jan 1892 (1892 M Quarter in EAST STONEHOUSE Volume 05B Page 297)
  3. Beatrice May Stone, b. 14 Mar 1894 (1894 J Quarter in PLYMPTON ST MARY Volume 05B Page 189), bap. 27 May 1894 in Hooe, Plymouth
  4. Bertram Charles Stone, b. 24 Feb 1899 (1899 J Quarter in EAST STONEHOUSE Volume 05B Page 273) Died 16 Jun 1899 (1899 J Quarter in EAST STONEHOUSE Volume 05B Page 211)
  5. Leslie Victor Stone, b. 21 Feb 1901 (1901 J Quarter in DEVONPORT Volume 05B Page 273)
  6. Rosina Kathleen Stone, b. 14 Apr 1903 (1903 J Quarter in PLYMOUTH Volume 05B Page 238)
In 1891, Margaret Stone (25) and Archer H Stone (2) had been staying with her sister, Lucy Hoskins (23) in Star Lane, Tamerton Foliott.

In 1901 the family were living at 9, St Paul Street, East Stonehouse, with Tom Stone (39) listed as a Marine Pensioner. (Tom served in the Royal Marines for 21 years (+ 2 days), from 11 Mar 1880 until 13 Mar 1901, transferring to the Royal Fleet Reserve on 3 Jul 1901.) Also listed were Margaret (35), Archie (12), Frederick (9), Beatrice (7) and Leslie (0).

Archer Henry Stone enlisted in the Royal Marines, at 14, on 11 Nov 1903.

Tom Stone, General Labourer and Marine Pensioner, died, aged 43, at 3 Ashley Place, Plymouth, on 2 May 1905 (1905 J Quarter in PLYMOUTH Volume 05B Page 171), from Pulmonary Tuberculosis.

On 11 Nov 1907, Archie Stone (18) died at the Royal Naval Hospital (Medway Maritime Hospital) in Gillingham, Kent, of a Tubercle of the lung (Tuberculosis again) and cardiac failure. Initially, it didn't make sense that there was a commemorative stone to Archer Henry Stone in Rookwood Cemetery in Sydney, Australia (albeit as Arthur H. Stone, Bugler, R.M.L.I. - his mates may not have known that Archer was the name he was registered and baptised with). However, this would appear to be one of many memorials to shipmates who died elsewhere. A closer look at Archer's Royal Marines record shows that in Feb/Mar 1907 Archer was with HMS Powerful (1895) that became the flagship of the Australia Station. He then transferred to HMS Prometheus (1898) and finally to HMS Pioneer, at that time a drill ship with the Australian Squadron. Archie's last line with Pioneer says he was 'on passage', which presumably means he was being brought home. 

In 1911, Margaret Stone, widowed and in receipt of Parochial Relief, was living in East Stonehouse, with Leslie V (10) and Rosina K (7). Frederick had enlisted in the Royal Navy in 1907 and Beatrice (17) was working as a Servant for Samuel Reed, Hairdresser and Tobacconist, in Devonport.

On 11 Apr 1919, aged 18, Leslie Victor Stone joined the Royal Tank Corps.

In 1921, Margaret Erne Stone (57) Widowed; Frederick Thomas Stone (29) Royal Navy (Leading Signalman) and Rosina Kathleen Stone (18) were still living at 9, St Paul Street, East Stonehouse. Leslie Victor Stone (20) was with the Army Tank Corps at Pinehurst Barracks, Farnborough, Hampshire.

Margaret Erne Stone died, on 1 Sep 1921, aged 57 (1921 S Quarter in EAST STONEHOUSE Volume 05B Page 324), and probate was granted to her son, Frederick Thomas Stone, on 24 Dec 1921.

Thursday 21 March 2024

Richard Hooper and Annie Louisa Bailey

Probus Village
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Tony Atkin - geograph.org.uk/p/195028

Richard Hooper (29) Private RM, son of Thomas Hooper and Caroline Huddy, married Annie Louisa Bailey (23) (Listed as Annie Louisa on marriage, she was registered at birth as Louisa Ann and appears to have been known as Annie), daughter of Thomas Bailey and Lucy Elizabeth Ann Fudge, at the Church of Saint GeorgeEast Stonehouse, Plymouth, on 21 Mar 1883

Richard Hooper was born on 19 Jan 1854 and baptised on 19 Feb 1854 in Probus, Cornwall. He enlisted in the Royal Marines on 19 Feb 1873. On 5 Jul 1878, he embarked on HMS Iron Duke (1870), which departed Plymouth on 4 August, bound for the China Station. At the time of the 1881 Census, Richard Hooper (27) Private RMLI from Probus, Cornwall, was in Hong Kong Harbour. Iron Duke returned home in January 1883, Richard Hooper left the ship on 15 Mar 1883 and clearly, he and Annie married just days later.

Richard and Annie had four sons:
  1. Richard William Samuel Hooper b. 1884 S Quarter in EAST STONEHOUSE Volume 05B Page 313, bap. at East Stonehouse, St George in 1884. Died in 1885 J Quarter Volume 05B  Page 204.
  2. Thomas Charles Hooper b. 29 Nov 1887, reg. 1888 M Quarter in EAST STONEHOUSE Volume 05B Page 283
  3. Albert Edward Hooper b. 1893 M Quarter in EAST STONEHOUSE Volume 05B Page 295
  4. Francis Victor Emmanuel Hooper b. 29 Aug 1897 S Quarter in EAST STONEHOUSE Volume 05B Page 283
At Plymouth Division from 16 Mar 1883 until the December that year, Richard Hooper's next assignment was with HMS Royal Adelaide (1828), by then a depot ship. From 1 Oct 1886 until 2 Mar 1888, he was attached to HMS Cambridge, gunnery ship off Plymouth. Stints with Royal Adelaide, HMS Vivid shore establishment (then Royal Navy designation for the barracks at Devonport) followed and finally back to Plymouth Division, Richard Hooper completed 21 years of service in the Royal Marines on 27 Mar 1894.

Richard's Royal Marine's record show that by the time he was discharged he was 5 ft 5½ in, had brown hair, hazel eyes and a fresh complexion, with a tattoo of Britannia on his right forearm and a ship on the left forearm.

In 1891, Richard Hooper (37), Annie Hooper (31) and Thomas (3) were living in Edgcumbe Street, East Stonehouse with Annie's mother, Lucy Bailey.

In 1901, Richard Hooper (47) General Labourer from Probus, Cornwall, wife Annie L Hooper (41), Thomas C Hooper (13) Albert E Hooper (8) and Francis E Hooper (4), were still living in Edgcumbe Street, Plymouth. 

In 1911, Richard Hooper (57) was listed as Brewer's Drayman Pensioner Royal Marine Light Infantry, with wife Annie L Hooper (51), Albert E Hooper (18) Solicitor's Clerk, Francis E Hooper (13) and Lucy Mary Lenora Symons (11) visitor. Thomas C Hooper (23) was with the Royal Navy At Sea And In Ports Abroad with HMS Exmouth (1901). He may have been in Malta.

Richard Hooper died, aged 58, in 1912 J Quarter Volume 05B Page 363.

Both Thomas and Frank joined the Royal Navy and both served during WWI. Frank was on HMS New Zealand (1911), during the Battle of Jutland.

In 1921, Annie Louisa Hooper (60) Widowed, was living with her son Albert Edward Hooper (28) and his wife Violet Ethel (28) - who was listed as the head of the household and he as husband - at 2, Notte Street, Plymouth.

Annie Hooper died, aged 81, on 8 Sep 1940 (reg. 1940 D Quarter in PLYMOUTH Volume 05B Page 783) and there appears to be an obituary in the Western Morning News, which mentions Richard Hooper. 

Sunday 3 March 2024

George Charles Mew and Sarah Jane Fudge

Kingston Cemetery, Portsmouth
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Basher Eyre - geograph.org.uk/p/2655103

George Charles Mew (24) married Sarah Jane Fudge (b. 25 Dec 1850 in East Stonehouse, Devon), of Bridport Street, Portsmouth, daughter of Thomas Fudge and Ann Beedle, at St Mary's Church, Portsea on 3 Mar 1870. (This will have been in the second church on the site, built in 1843 and demolished 1887). Witnesses were Ann Fudge (bride's mother) and W Hatch.

The bridegroom, a Steward on HMS Asia, lists his father as George Charles Mew, Petty Officer RN. George Charles Mew was born on 31 Mar 1845 at Cove of Cork, now Cobh, Ireland. It's claimed he was baptised at St Colman's Cathedral, Cobh on 3 Apr 1845, but this cannot be true as construction of the cathedral was not even begun until 1868. The baptism record may well be held by the Cobh Parish Office, but was undoubtedly at St John the Baptist Catholic Church, which had stood on that site from 1810 to 1868 (where his parents and my 2x great-grandparents married the year before).

George and Sarah had eleven children in total:
  1. Lucy Elizabeth Ann Mew b. 1870 J Qtr in PORTSEA Vol 02B Page 478, bap. Lucia Elizabetha at Portsmouth, St John's Roman Catholic Cathedral in 1872. Died, aged 6, in 1876 J Qtr in PORTSEA Vol 02B Page 324.
  2. Mary Ann Mew b. 1872 J Qtr in PORTSEA ISLAND Vol 02B Page 452, bap. Maria Anna at Portsmouth, St John's RC Cathedral in 1872.
  3. George Charles Mew b. 9 Dec 1874, reg. M Qtr 1875 in PORTSEA ISLAND Vol 02B Page 463, bap. 15 August 1877 at St John's Roman Catholic Cathedral, Portsmouth. Died, aged 37 in 1912 M Qtr in PORTSMOUTH Vol 02B Page 663.
  4. Annie Louisa Mew b. 18 May 1877 J Qtr in PORTSEA ISLAND Vol 02B Page 504, bap. 15 Aug 1877, at St John's Roman Catholic Cathedral.
  5. Henrietta Mew b. 18 Oct 1879 D Qtr in PORTSEA ISLAND Vol 02B Page 493, bap. 16 Nov 1879 at St John's Roman Catholic Cathedral.
  6. Henry Michael Mew b. 10 Oct 1881 D Qtr in PORTSEA Vol 02B 522, bap. Henricus Michael in 1881, at St John's Roman Catholic Cathedral.
  7. Mabel Mary Mew b. 1884 S Qtr in PORTSEA Vol 02B Page 480.
  8. Lucy Maria Mew b. 1885 D Qtr in PORTSEA ISLAND Vol 02B Page 498, bap. Maria Lucia at St John's RC Cathedral, Portsmouth. Died age 1, in 1886 S Qtr in PORTSEA ISLAND Vol 02B Page 350.
  9. Lucy Mary Mew b. 1887 D Qtr in PORTSEA Vol 02B Page 511.
  10. Margaret Marshall Mew b. 1889, reg. 1890 M Qtr in PORTSEA ISLAND Vol 02B Page 423, bap. Margarita Marshall in 1889 at St John's Roman Catholic Cathedral, Portsmouth.
  11. Andrew Samuel Mew b. 1892, reg 1893 M Qtr in PORTSEA ISLAND Vol 02B Page 458, bap. Andreas Samuel in 1893 at St John's Roman Catholic Cathedral. Died, aged 2, in 1894 D Quarter in PORTSEA ISLAND Vol 02B Page 301, buried at Kingston Cemetery.
George Charles Mew had enlisted in the Royal Navy in 1863. From 29 Apr 1863 until 31 Dec 1866, he was assigned to HMS Asia (1824), which, by that time was flagship of the Admiral-Superintendent of Portsmouth Dockyard. For much of that time George Charles Mew was a Warrant Officer's Servant or Cook. With HMS Rodney (1833) from 1 Jan 1867 to 4 May 1868, George was back with HMS Asia from 28 May 1868 to 31 Dec 1872 and engaged again from 1 Jan 1873 to 20 Feb 1874. His record in 1873 lists him as being 5ft 3in with brown hair, grey eyes and a dark complexion.

In 1871, Sarah Mew (20) was lodging in Hertford Street, Portsea with her daughter Losie [Lucy] (0) and Anne Bailey (11) Visitor. This will have been her niece, Luisa Anne [Annie] Bailey, who was actually 13. She is also listed with her grandparents, so possibly being counted twice on a temporary visit.

From 21 Feb 1874 to 21 Mar 1874, George became the 4th of my relatives to serve, albeit briefly, on HMS Duke of Wellington (1852). From 6 May to 24 Aug 1874, he was with HMS Newcastle (1860) and his final posting was with HMS Endymion (1865) - which may have taken him to as exotic a location as Hull - from 25 Aug 1874 to 9 Aug 1875, when he was Invalided.

In 1881, George Charles Mew (36) then a Tailor's porter, was a Lodger in the household of his in-laws, Thomas Fudge (72) Navy Pensioner and Ann Fudge (68) at 33, Bridport Street, Portsea, along with wife Sarah Jane (29), Mary Ann (9), George Charles (7), Annie Louisa (4) and Henrietta (1).

Sarah Jane, was baptised as Sara Joanna Mew - listed as a convert - at St John's Roman Catholic Cathedral, Portsmouth, on 3 Jul 1882.

In 1891, in Clarence Street, Portsea, were George Mew (47) Tailor's trimmer, Sarah Mew (40), Mary A (19) Tailoress; George Mew (16) Shoemakers apprentice; Annie Mew (13) Dressmakers apprentice; Henrietta Mew (11), Mabel Mew (7), Henry Mew (9), Lucy Mew (4) and Maggie Mew (1).

George Charles Mew of Clarence Street, Landport died, aged 48, on 8 Apr 1893 and was buried, on 13 April 1893, at at Kingston Cemetery, in a Catholic Slot, 4th Row, 12th Grave, in Unconsecrated Ground.

In 1901, Sarah Mew (50) Widowed, at 46, Clarence Street, Portsmouth with Harry Mew (19) Stableman; Mabel Mew (16) Corset Maker; Lucy Mew (13); Maggie Mew (11), daughter Henrietta Hazzard (21), George Hazzard (22) Son-in-law, Journeyman Bricklayer and James Eyers (23) Blacksmith, Visitor. Son George Charles Mew (26) was a Stable Lad in the employ of Alfred Willson (50) Trainer of Race Horses in East Garston, Berkshire.

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

In 1911, Sarah Jane Mew (61) Widow, employed as a Stay Lacer in a Stay Factory was living at 40 Fyning Street, Fratton, Portsmouth and living with her were daughter Margaret Marshall Mew (21) Assistant Stock Keeper and Alec John Mew (1), who appears to have been Margaret's illegitimate child.

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

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

Sunday 4 February 2024

Thomas Bailey and Lucy Elizabeth Ann Fudge

Stonehouse Barracks - Archway entrance
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © N Chadwick - geograph.org.uk/p/4896492

Thomas Bailey (b. 1833) married Lucy Fudge (b. 1836), daughter of Thomas Fudge and Ann Beedle, at the Church of Saint GeorgeEast Stonehouse, Plymouth on 4 Feb 1856. Originally a chapel-of-ease to Saint Andrew's Church in Plymouth (where Lucy's parents married), St George's was destroyed in the Second World War. At this time, Thomas Bailey was a Seaman with HMS Bulldog (1845) and lists his father as Thomas Bailey, Private Royal Marines, as was Lucy's father, Thomas Fudge, Mariner.

As yet, I've not seen a naval record for Thomas Bailey, however, HMS Bulldog, was on that exact date, 4 Feb 1856, in Devonport, in Keyham Basin. She'd just returned from the Baltic Sea from the Russian War (Crimean War) and on 23 Apr 1856, was present at the Fleet Review, Spithead. If Thomas Fudge was still on that ship in April, he was the third of my relatives to be there.

Thomas and Lucy had four children:
  1. William Henry Bailey b. 1856 D Q in EAST STONEHOUSE
  2. Louisa Ann Bailey b. 1858 D Q in EAST STONEHOUSE Vol 05B P 270
  3. Lucy Bailey b. 1861 M Quarter in STOKE DAMEREL Volume 05B Page 327. Died, aged 3, in 1864 M Quarter in STOKE DAMEREL Volume 05B Page 270 and is buried at Ford Park Cemetery, Plymouth.
  4. Thomas Simon Oliver Bailey b. 1 Oct 1869 in STOKE DAMEREL
In 1861, Thomas Baily (sic) (27) was living in Adelaide Place, East Stonehouse, Plymouth with wife Elizabeth Baily (sic) (23), which appears to be them. Daughter Ann (Louisa Ann) was staying with her grandparents.

In 1871, Thomas Bailey (38) Naval Pensioner, was living in Mount Street, Stoke Damerel with Lucy Bailey (36), William Bailey (14) and Thomas Bailey (1). Louisa Ann [Anne] (13) was once again living with her grandparents, although listed as their daughter and listed under the surname Fudge.

Thomas Bailey of 40 Edgcumbe Street, Stonehouse, died, aged 41, in 1874 J Quarter in EAST STONEHOUSE Volume 05B Page 209, and he was buried at Ford Park Cemetery, Plymouth on 19 May 1874.

In 1881, Elizabeth Bailey (44) Widow, Green Grocer, was residing at 47, Edgcumbe Street, East Stonehouse with daughter Annie L (Louisa Ann) (22) Assistant Grocer, son Thomas Bailey (11) and Frances M Grey (17) Servant.

In 1891, Lucy Bailey (53) Green Grocer in Edgcumbe Street, living with her were son William Bailey (33) Seaman Royal Navy; daughter Annie (Louisa Ann) Hooper (31) Dressmaker; son-in-law Richard Hooper (37) from Cornwall, Royal Marine; daughter-in-law Jane Bailey (27); granddaughter Lucy M Bailey (0); grandson Thomas Hooper (3) and Carrie Hill (13) Visitor.

In 1901, Lucy E A R Bailey (65) Widow, had become an Innkeeper, at 48, Edgcumbe Street, East Stonehouse. Unfortunately, there are several drinking establishments in Edgcumbe Street among Public Houses, Inns & Taverns of East Stonehouse, so I haven't been able to discover its name. Living with her was youngest son, Thomas S O Bailey (31) Ship's Corporal Royal Navy.

Lucy Elizabeth Ann Regan Bailey (no idea where the Regan came from) of 1 Durnford Street, Stonehouse, died on 10 Nov 1910, she will have been 74. Probate was granted on 25th of the same month, in Exeter, with beneficiaries being Thomas Simon Oliver Bailey, Annie Louisa Hooper and Richard Hooper.

Ford Park Cemetery
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © N Chadwick - geograph.org.uk/p/4958844
Ford Park Cemetery is a 34.5-acre cemetery in central Plymouth, established by the Plymouth, Stonehouse & Devonport Cemetery Company in 1846 and opened in 1848. Its official name at the time of inception was The Plymouth, Devonport and Stonehouse Cemetery.

Thursday 14 December 2023

Alfred Beamer and Emily Luxton

Castle Street, Tiverton
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Roger Cornfoot - geograph.org.uk/p/6587133

Alfred Beamer, Private RMLI of Cecil Street, Plymouth, son of Alfred Beamer and Mary Ann White, married Emily Luxton, daughter of James Luxton and Anna Maria Hawkins, on 14 Dec 1905, at St Paul's Church, Tiverton. Emily's address at the time of the marriage was Heathcoat Square, Tiverton and her younger sister, Jessie Luxton, was a witnesses (bridesmaid perhaps).

Alfred and Emily's son, Alfred James, was born on 15 Mar 1908 and baptised on 29 Mar 1908 at St Peter’s Church, Stonehouse, Plymouth. But the infant died, in the third quarter of 1908, having bearly reached six months of age.

Alfred Beamer, who had enlisted in the Royal Marines on 15 Aug 1896, just shy of his 16th birthday, was discharged, invalided, on 15 Oct 1908. On 7 Mar 1909, Alfred Beamer (29) Labourer of 40 Neswick St, Plymouth, was admitted to the Devon and Cornwall Sanatorium for Consumptives Didworthy. Consumption was another name for Tuberculosis. When he was discharged from the sanitorium on 15 Jun 1909, the record shows Alfred developed the disease 7 months previously, which ties in with the date he was discharged from the Royal Marines. In the notes it says, "light work - dead".

Such a concession! What kind of light work can the dead do, FFS? 

By 1911, Emily Beamer (28), widow, had returned to Tiverton, at 1 Melbourne Street and was again working at the Heathcoat Lace Factory, as a spinner.

In 1912, Emily Beamer remarried to a John Heard, in Tiverton. 

In 1921, John Heard (49) Labourer from Oakford Devon, Emily Heard (39), and John's two children from his previous marriage (to Lily Holmes in 1901, who died in 1911), Beatrice Lily Heard (19) Lace Folder (at Heathcoat) and Sidney John Heard (13) were living at 125, West Exe South, Tiverton.

John Heard died, aged 59, in Exeter.

In 1939, Emily Heard, widow, was living with a single lady, Beatrice E Gollop, at 26 Castle Street, Tiverton

Emily Heard died, in Tiverton, in 1962, aged 79.

Thursday 23 November 2023

Alfred Beamer and Mary Ann White

Adelaide Street, Stonehouse, Plymouth
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Stephen Richards - geograph.org.uk/p/6083118

Alfred Beamer, son of James Beamer and Rose Anna Smith and half-brother of Loveday Jane Land and John Land, married Mary Ann White (b. 1851), daughter of Alfred Augustus Harker White and Mary Sorton, on 23 Nov 1879 at Saint George's Church, Stonehouse (bombed in the Second World War). Alfred Beamer's rank or profession was listed as Private RM. Alfred Beamer, born 29 Dec 1853, had enlisted in the Royal Marines on 29 Dec 1871.

Alfred and Mary Ann had five children:
  1. Alfred Beamer b. 28 Aug 1880 in East Stonehouse [a]
  2. Ethel Annie Beamer b. 23 Feb 1883 in East Stonehouse [a]
  3. William George Beamer b. 4 Jan 1886 in East Stonehouse [a]
  4. Rosa May Beamer b. 7 Jan 1893 in Tiverton [b] 
  5. Frederick John Beamer b. 7 Jan 1893 (d. 1896, aged 3) in Tiverton [b]
[a] Alfred, Ethel Annie and William George were all baptised, on 19 Jan 1886, at the Anglican Church of Saint Matthew, located in Clarence Place, opposite the former Royal Naval Hospital at East Stonehouse, Plymouth.

[b] Registered at the GRO as Rosa May, this twin was baptised Rosa Mary, when she and Frederick John were both baptised "privately" on the same day they were born, 7 Jan 1893, in Halberton, Devon. Their address at this time was Valley House, Halberton and Alfred was employed as a labourer. 

(Private baptism: "This means the child wasn’t baptised at Sunday service, usually because it was thought too weak to survive until then. [...] but it can mean the child was baptised by the priest visiting the family home, or by the midwife attending the birth. In fact, according to Anglican practice, in an emergency, a baptism may be performed by anyone who is already themselves baptised, so it could be the case that some private, at home baptisms, were performed by a member of the child’s family.")

In 1881, Mary A Beamer (29), Marines Wife, was at 47, Adelaide Street, East Stonehouse, with son Alfred (0) and her sister Mary J White (19). (Mary Ann, who's mother was named Mary, and her mother before her was also Mary (her parents married, on 15 December 1850, when Mary Sorton was a minor (19), at St Mary’s Church Plympton) had a younger sister, named Mary Jane!)

Again in 1891, Mary A Beamer (38) was listed as the head of the household "Supported by husband", with children: Alfred (10), Ethel A (8) and William G (5), and were living at Union Place, East Stonehouse.

Alfred completed 21 years service in the Royal Marines, with a final date of 6 Jan 1893, however, both William George and Ethel Annie were registered in the National School Admission Registers at Halberton by Nov 1892.

In 1901, they were back in Plymouth at 19, Cecil Street, Stonehouse, with Alfred Beamer (46), Labourer at Victualling Yard, wife Mary (49) and their two daughters, Ettie (Ethel) (18) and Rosa (8). Son Alfred was away, having joined the Royal Marines, while William was away training in the Royal Navy.

And in 1911, at 40 Neswick Street, Stonehouse, Plymouth, were Alfred Beamer (57) Pensioner Royal Marine Labourer Royal William Victualling Yard, wife Mary Ann (59), Rose May (18) (There are no records beyond 1911 for daughter, Rosa May) and Mary Jane White (51), Mary Ann's sister.

Alfred Beamer died, at 68, in 1920 D Qtr in PLYMOUTH Vol 05B Page 329.

In 1921, Mary Ann Beamer (70) Widow, Mother-in-law, was living in what had then become the household of her son-in-law and daughter, Edward and Ethel Priddle, but still at 40, Neswick Street, Plymouth.

In 1939, Mary Ann, widow, was again living with son-in-law and daughter, Edward and Ethel Priddle, at 2 Glendower Road, Peverell, Plymouth.

Mary Ann Beamer of 2 Glendower Road, Peverell, Plymouth, died on 17 May 1950. She was aged 99. A notice of her death had appeared in the Western Morning News on 19 May 1950 and Mary Ann was buried, on 20 May 1950, at The Parish Church of St Gabriel, Peverell Terrace, Peverell, Plymouth. 

Wednesday 22 November 2023

Henry Sweney MBE and Mary Louisa Efford

Christchurch tramway

Henry Sweney (b. 13 Jan 1874) son of John Henry Charles Sweeney and Susannah Harvey, married divorcee, Mary Louisa Ansley, in Christchurch, New Zealand, on 22 Nov 1901. Born Mary Louisa Efford on 16 Sep 1869 in Torquay, Devon (Volume 05B Page 161), daughter of John Ash Efford Jnr and Louisa Fulford, she had previously married Frederick William Ansley (b. 23 Jan 1866 in Oldbury, Staffordshire), son of Alfred Ansley and Emma Cooper, also in Christchurch, New Zealand, on 1 Nov 1887, with whom she had three daughters: Mary Louisa Ansley, b. 16 Aug 1888; Rose Amelia Ansley (1889-90) and Emma Miriam Ansley b. 18 Apr 1891.

Henry Sweeney had joined the Royal Marines on 8 Apr 1889. He gave his date of birth as 8 Feb 1871, making himself three years older in order to enlist. He was actually only 15, but at already 5 ft 5⁷⁄₁₀in had been tall enough to get away with it. His record confirms his father as John, of 1 Stephensons Cottages, Condor Street, London. Henry grew to 5ft 9½in at final discharge; he had a fresh complexion, brown hair, grey eyes and a tattoo of a basket of flowers on his forearm. 

After initial training at the Royal Marine Depot, Walmer (Deal, Kent) and at Portsmouth Division until 5 Dec 1890, ships that Henry Sweney served on included: HMS Agamemnon (1879) until 1892, while she was part of the Mediterranean Fleet; from 1892 to 1894, HMS Camperdown (1885), again with the Mediterranean Fleet. Henry will therefore have been aboard HMS Camperdown on 22 Jun 1893, when she collided with and sank the battleship HMS Victoria with 358 deaths, off Tripoli, Lebanon. The report here offers the explanation, "Following an order by the admiral to carry out a dangerous and near impossible manoeuvre, taking into account the positions of the vessels, the Camperdown rammed HMS Victoria, off the Lebanon, which sank with heavy loss of life. Camperdown was also badly damaged, but managed to limp into port." 

Henry's final ship was HMS Rapid (1883), then serving on the Australia Station and on 30 Sep 1897, was Discharged by Purchase at Sydney.

The Lyttleton Times on 13 Dec 1898, reported on: ANSLEY V. ANSLEY
This was a case in which Mary Louisa Ansley petitioned for the dissolution of her marriage with Frederick William Ansley of Wanganui on the grounds of cruelty and bigamy. Mr Cresswell appeared for the petitioner. The respondent did not appear, and was not represented by counsel. The evidence of the petitioner showed that she had lived six and a half years with the respondent, who had commenced to ill-treat her two days after the marriage. During the last six years they had been separated by mutual consent, owing to ill relations arising from the cruelty referred to. Amelia Stevens [1], sister of the petitioner, gave corroborative evidence. The written evidence of William T Clapham, clergyman, of Brisbane, taken by the Registrar on Nov 25, showed that he married the respondent to a woman in Brisbane on August 6, 1896 [2]. The respondent subsequently disappeared, and witness heard that he was already married and in New Zealand. His Honour granted the petitioner a decree nisi, with custody of the children and costs against the respondent.

[1] Amelia Efford married Archibald Stevens, in 1896. In 1911, Archibald and Amelia Stevens were listed on the New Zealand Electoral Roll at the Sailors Home Lyttelton, of which Archibald was the Superintendent.

[2] Frederick William Ansley (30) Bootmaker, who was listed on the Australia Electoral Roll in 1896 at 1 Downing Street, Spring Hill, Brisbane, Australia, married Nellie Ashton, in Queensland, Australia on 6 Aug 1896. Frederick, who died on 20 Apr 1956 (aged 90) and is buried at Aramoho Cemetery, Whanganui, [bio] appears to have been very partial to wedding cake!

In 1911, the New Zealand Electoral Roll places Henry Sweney, Hairdresser, at 89 Lower High Street, Christchurch East with Mary Louisa Sweney, Married, and Mary Louisa Sweney Jun (Jnr) (Mary Louisa Ansley). 

Step-daughter, Mary Louisa Ansley Sweney it appears married Herbert Charles Ford in 1916 and went on to have five children. [Source]

In 1925, Henry Sweney, Commission Agent, and Mary Louisa Sweney were listed at 64 Abberley Rd, St Albans, Christchurch.

Then Mary Louisa Sweney died, at 65, on 22 Jan 1934 and is buried at Linwood Cemetery, Christchurch, Block 31. Plot 14.

(Henry Sweney remarried to a Kathleen Elizabeth Hocking (b. 10 Mar 1892), but unfortunately, I've not been able to find when this marriage took place, nor whether Hocking was her maiden or a previous married name. Kathleen Elizabeth Hocking Sweney died in 1977, aged 85.)

In the 1955 New Year Honours (New Zealand), Henry Sweney was awarded an M.B.E. for social welfare services. This bio offers some background: 

"Henry Sweney came to New Zealand in 1897 after purchasing a discharge from the Royal Marines after 8 1/2 years service. He was house manager of Christchurch Musical Society and Christchurch Harmonic Society and a worker for charity and patriotic funds for nearly 60 years.

In 1909 he and several others founded the Christchurch Competitions' Society. Henry worked as a stage manager and had his own concert party which gave charitable entertainment. He raised money for children's homes and was Justice of the Peace in Christchurch."

Henry Sweney died on 3 Jun 1963, aged 89, and was also buried, on 6 Jun 1963, at Linwood Cemetery, Christchurch, Block 31. Plot 14.

Photos of Henry Sweney provided by Jon Gilbert, descendant of Rosina Sweeney 

Monday 20 November 2023

Anthony Joseph Mullarkey and Maria Gloyne

Wyndham Street West, Plymouth
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Derek Harper - geograph.org.uk/p/1777663
With the spire of the 
Roman Catholic cathedral of St Mary & St Boniface

Anthony Joseph Mullarkey, son of Martin Mullarkey and possibly Catherine Loughlin, married Maria Gloyne, daughter of Samuel Pascoe Gloyne and Emma Jane Coombes, on 20 Nov 1887 at the Roman Catholic cathedral of St Mary & St Boniface, Plymouth. On his Royal Marines record, Anthony Mullarkey (b. 5 Dec 1864), had said he was from Garston, Liverpool. He had indeed enlisted in the Royal Marines, in Liverpool, on 5 Jun 1883, his previous job being a Labourer and professed to be Roman Catholic.

However, in 1881, Anthony Mullarkey (16) General Labourer, had been boarding at 8, Hughes Street, Garston, along with his father, Martin Mullarkey (40) and Michael Mullarkey (7). All three were said to be from Ireland.

Anthony Joseph Mullarkey and Maria Gloyne had three children:

  1. John Martin Mullarkey b. 10 May 1890
  2. Anthony Charles Mullarkey b. 12 Jan 1893
  3. Kathleen Mullarkey b. 17 Jan 1896
All three were baptised, on 1 May 1896, at St Paul's, East Stonehouse - The Anglican Church, situated at the southern end of Durnford Street. The family's address on these baptism records was listed as 8 Admiralty Street, East Stonehouse, with their father's rank listed as Private RMLI.

Victualling yard at the Royal Naval Dockyard, Bermuda
Captain-tucker, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

On 20 Dec 1895, Anthony joined HMS Terror (1856) (a 16-gun iron screw floating battery that became the base ship at Bermuda in 1857), from which he was Discharged Dead (at 32) on 2 Dec 1896. 

In 1901, Maria Mullarkey (36), Seamstress, Widow, was still at 8, Admiralty Street, East Stonehouse with John (11), Charles (8) and Kathleen (5).

In 1911, at 8, Admiralty Street, East Stonehouse, Maria Mullarkey (48) in receipt of a pension from the Admiralty. Anthony Charles Mullarkey (18) Bugler RMLI was home on leave and Kathleen Mullarkey (15) was an apprentice tailoress to a Military Tailor. John Martin Mullarkey (20) was with the Royal Navy on HMS Medea (1888), anchored in Malta Harbour.

In 1921, Maria Mullarkey (57) was still living at 8, Admiralty Street, East Stonehouse with Anthony Mullarkey (28) Private R M L I and Kathleen Mullarkey (25) Machinist, employed by Mr Cross, R M Barracks.

Maria Mullarkey died in East Stonehouse in 1924, aged 61.

Saturday 14 October 2023

Edward Priddle and Ethel Annie Beamer

St Peter's Church, Wyndham Square, Plymouth
Plymouth's five star-rated building a select few people have been inside of
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Tom Jolliffe - geograph.org.uk/p/2342746

Ethel Annie Beamer, daughter of Alfred Beamer and Mary Ann White, married Edward Priddle, Sergeant RMLI, son of James Priddle and Catherine Stevens, on 14 Oct 1905 at St Peter’s Church, Plymouth. Witnesses to their marriage were Alfred Beamer and Emily Luxton, the bride's brother and his intended, who married exactly two months later in Tiverton, Devon.

Edward Priddle, born in Hackney, London on 12 Apr 1875, at 16, was employed by his father, who was a shoe maker, as a Clicker (A boot and shoe clicker is the person who cuts the uppers for boots or shoes), in Shoreditch. Edward subsequently enlisted in the Royal Marines on 27 Jan 1896 and served until 3 Mar 1918, finally attaining the rank of Lieutenant.

Edward and Ethel had three daughters, baptised at Plymouth, St Peter:
  1. Ethel Annie Priddle born 13 Jul 1906, bap. 29 Jul 1906 (died 1909, at 2)
  2. Winifred May Priddle born 4 May 1909, bap. 20 May 1909 
  3. Mary Caroline Priddle born 29 Dec 1912, bap. 2 Feb 1913
In 1911, Edward Priddle (35) Sergeant Royal Marines, Ethel Annie (28) and Winifred May (1), were living at 40 Neswick Street, Plymouth

In 1921, at 40 Neswick Street, Plymouth were Edward Priddle (46) Retired Lieut Royal Marines; Ethel Annie Priddle (38), Winifred May Priddle (12), Mary Caroline Priddle (8) and Mary Ann Beamer (70) Mother-in-law.

In 1939, the family including Edward Priddle, Retired RM, Ethel A, and Ethel's widowed mother, Mary Ann Beamer were living at 2 Glendower Road, Plymouth. Winifred May Priddle was an Assistant Mistress at a Secondary School in Exeter and Mary C Hadley and her husband, John Harold Hadley (Retail Tobacconist Proprietor), were at 42 Chestnut Road, Plymouth.

Ethel Annie Priddle, of 2 Glendower Road, Plymouth, died on 12 May 1959, leaving £281 17s 9d to her husband, Edward Priddle, Retired Lieutenant RM. 

Edward Priddle, of 2 Glendower Road, Plymouth, died on 21 Jun 1962. He was 87. He left effects of £2809 11s to his two daughters, Winifred May Mayner (m. 1959) and Mary Caroline Tomkins (m. 1951). 

Thursday 21 September 2023

William Henry Middleton and Alice Maud Osmond

Admiralty Mews, Deal
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Philip Halling - geograph.org.uk/p/1407334

William Henry Middleton
(b. 4 Nov 1888), son of Emma Middleton, married Alice Maud Osmond, in Tiverton, on 21 Sep 1918. Alice Maud, known as Maud, (b. 2 Nov 1888, bap. 23 Dec 1888 at St. Mary, Willand), was daughter of John Osmond (son of Henry Osmond from Halberton) and Annie Osmond (daughter of John Osmond of Willand).

William Henry "Bill" Middleton, giving his birth date as 10 Dec 1889, had enrolled in the Royal Marines on 4 Nov 1907, at Exeter (record says was underage between then and 9 Dec 1907), and was sent to Royal Marine Depot, Deal, until 2 Oct 1908, before Plymouth Division. William Henry was promoted to Corporal in 1911, and Sergeant in 1916 while serving on HMS Roxburgh (1904), which he was with from 4 Jun 1912 until 13 Aug 1916 - she was hit by a torpedo on 20 Jun 1915 but escaped with serious damage to her bow - latterly at the North America and West Indies Station.

From 13 Apr 1917 until 26 Nov 1918, Bill was with HMS Highflyer (1898), which means that he was present in Halifax, Nova Scotia during the Halifax Explosion on 6 Dec 1917. 

"Royal Navy cruisers in port sent some of the first organized rescue parties ashore. HMS Highflyer, along with the armed merchant cruisers HMS Changuinola, HMS Knight Templar and HMS Calgarian, sent boats ashore with rescue parties and medical personnel and soon began to take wounded aboard."

From 27 Nov 1918, Bill was transferred back to Plymouth Division, with a brief sojourn at HMS Excellent (shore establishment) near Portsmouth on 23 Dec 1918, but was Invalided on 25 Sep 1919. While I don't know the nature, can only surmise it may have been as a result of the Halifax blast.

Remarks on his marine's record say, "Has a good knowledge of semaphore ..."

In 1921, William Henry Middleton (32) Road Chargeman for Devon County Council, and Alice Maud Middleton (32) were living at Lower Trickey Cottage, Ash Thomas, Halberton, Devon.

In 1939, William H Middleton, Road Chargeman for Devon County Council, and wife Alice Maud were still at Trickey Cottage, Ash Thomas, Devon. Lodging with them was Frederick H Kerslake (20) Railway Clerk, nephew, son of Maud's sister Emily and her husband, Frederick James Kerslake.

Bill and Maud didn't have children, for what reason I'm unaware, but they had a cat named "Stripy" (a tabby, obviously), who, I was told, used to drink milk out of a jug on the windowsill, by dipping his paw in the jug (like Arthur from the Kattomeat ad). In our family, if you cleaned your plate at the end of a meal, someone would exclaim, "Poor old Stripy!", intimating that the poor cat, fed on scraps, would therefore go without. I only hope this was in jest!

Bill Middleton died in 1967, aged 78. Alice Maud Middleton of Tidcombe Hall, Tiverton, died on 21 Sep 1982, only a few weeks short of her 94th birthday. 

Tiverton : Tidcombe Hall
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Lewis Clarke - geograph.org.uk/p/6337380
Early 19th century house, shown as Tidcombe Rectory on late 19th century Ordnance Survey map. Much altered in late 20th century. The building was also once a Marie Curie daycare unit.

Monday 4 September 2023

Thomas Simon Oliver Bailey and Ada Mary Hartwell

Clifton Suspension Bridge

At almost 42, Thomas Simon Oliver Bailey (b. 1 Oct 1869), son of Thomas Bailey and Lucy Elizabeth Ann Fudge, married the 25 year old, Ada Mary Hartwell (b. 1886), daughter of Thomas Cooper Hartwell and Julia Adelaide Hodges, at St Paul's Church, Clifton, Bristol (photo) on 4 Sep 1911.

Thomas Simon Oliver Bailey had enlisted, at 14, in the Royal Marines on 22 Nov 1884, in which he served until 20 Feb 1896, having attained the rank of Corporal in 1894. On 21 Feb 1896, he signed up for 12 years with the Royal Navy, as a Ship's Corporal, from which he was pensioned on 16 Dec 1909.

In 1911, Thomas Bailey, from Stonehouse, Devonshire, listed as 40, was a boarder in the household of John Milton Mann (53) Fine Art Dealer, in Clifton, Bristol and was employed as a Toll Collector by the Clifton Suspension Bridge Company. Meanwhile, Ada Mary Hartwell (24), from Chadbury, Worcestershire, was in service as a domestic cook in Long Ashton, North Somerset, just outside the boundary of city of Bristol urban area.

Thomas and Ada had two children:
  1. Dorothy Ada Bailey b. 19 Sep 1912 D Quarter BRISTOL Vol 06A Pg 8
  2. Stanley Thomas Bailey b. 1914 S Quarter in BRISTOL Vol 06A Page 7
Then along came the First World War and Thomas Bailey was re-engaged by the Royal Navy in Aug 1914, until his final discharge on 1 Mar 1919. 

In 1921, Thomas S O Bailey (51) Temporary Postman GPO, Out of Work; Ada Mary Bailey (34), Dorothy Ada Bailey (8) and Stanley Thomas Bailey (7) were listed as living at 44, Dearose Road, Plymouth.

Ada Mary Bailey died, aged 40, in 1927 in Plymouth Volume 05B Page 427.

In 1939, Thomas S O Bailey, Widowed, was listed at 25 Victoria Street, Plymouth, with his daughter Dorothy A Bailey.

Thomas S O Bailey died, aged 79, in 1948 D Quarter in PLYMOUTH Volume 07A Page 634.

  • Dorothy Ada Bailey married Vincent Prete in Plymouth, in 1947.
  • Stanley Thomas Bailey married Vera Muriel Helen Crabb, at Emmanuel Church, Plymouth, on 2 Aug 1941.

Tuesday 22 August 2023

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.