Henry Caddy and Selina Mary Ann Harcus

St Mary, Dock Road, Chatham
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © David Kemp - geograph.org.uk/p/4674626
The church, now closed, is mainly late C19 but a few Norman features still remain.

Henry Caddy (24), Shipwright, son of John Henry Caddy and Sarah Kirkby, married, Selina Mary Ann Harcus (20), daughter of John Harcus and Selina Patrick, on 18 Dec 1870 at St Mary's Church, Chatham. Witnesses were her brother Henry George Harcus and Sarah Caddy, Henry's sister.

In 1871, Selina Caddy (21), Henry Caddy (24) Shipwright, were living with Selina's widowed mother, Selina Harcus (47) Licensed Victualler at the Chest Arms, 55 High Street, Chatham.

Henry and Selina Caddy then had one daughter: 

1. Selina Sarah Caddy, b. 15 Jan 1872 (1872 M Quarter in MEDWAY Volume 02A Page 470), bap. 11 Feb 1872 at St Mary's Church, Chatham.

Selina Mary Ann Caddy was one of the witnesses to the marriage of her brother Henry George Harcus and Susan Alice Tubb, on 29 Dec 1872.

Then in the forth quarter of 1874, in Shoreditch, Selina Mary A Caddy married either Lewis Betjemann or Christopher Court Harmes (Jane Edmunds married the other), but without buying the certificate, it's not clear which one married which. None of the combinations are listed on subsequent census returns. 

This is a mystery, because one might assume that Henry Caddy had died ...

However, in 1881, we find Henry Caddy (34) Shipwright presumably alive therefore, listed as married, living in the home of his father, John Henry Caddy (59) Joiner (he had been a Joiner at the Dockyard) and his second wife Elizabeth Caddy (61) at 50, Church Road, Gillingham, Medway, Kent, but with no mention of Henry's wife or child. (Henry's mother, Sarah Caddy, had died in 1866 and John Henry Caddy had married widow, Elizabeth Fowler, on 26 Mar 1874).

After that I can find no more records for Henry Caddy, not even a death.

Selina Sarah Caddy doesn't appear on a census either, until 1891, when we find George Lewis (47) Caretaker from Mile End, Middlesex at James Allen's School, Townley Road, Camberwell (James Allen's Girls' School), with wife Selina Lewis (41) Housekeeper from Chatham, Kent; daughter listed as Selina Lewis (19) also from Chatham, Kent, with two Assistant caretakers in the household.

There is no obvious record of a marriage of George Lewis to a Selina anything in the relevant timeframe that I can find and it's interesting that Lewis is the surname here, where it was a forename on the 1874 marriages. Coincidence? Is it possible that Lewis Betjemann, for whom I can find no other record, Anglicised himself to George Lewis? Was that a bigamous marriage? Did Selina have a good reason to escape Henry Caddy? We will probably never know. Subsequent records, which I found first, show that these are the right people however.

In 1894, Selina Sarah Caddy (22) married William Slate (24) at the church of St Michael, Burleigh Street, Westminster (Initially a chapel within the parish of St. Martin in the Fields, closed 1905. The church was demolished.)

William and Selina Sarah Slate had five children:

1. Victor Alfred William Slate b. 30 Nov 1895 in HOLBORN 01B 683
2. Eleanor Selina Slate b. 11 Nov 1897 in HOLBORN 01B 687
3. Alfred John Slate b. 10 Aug 1900 in WEST HAM Vol 04A Page 469, bap 2 Sep 1900 at St. James' Church, Walthamstow
4. Doris Margaret Slate b. 13 Oct 1904 in WEST HAM Vol 04A Page 458, bap. 13 Nov 1904 at St. James' Church, Walthamstow
5. Lily Slate b. 12 Aug 1910 in WEST HAM Vol 04A Page 474, bap. 9 Sep 1910 at St. James' Church, Walthamstow

George Lewis (55) had died, in Camberwell in 1900.

In 1901, Selina Lewis (51) Widow, General shop dealer, from Chatham, Kent, was living at 52, Gladstone Road, Walthamstow, West Ham. William Slate (32) Bookbinder, was living at 81, Gladstone Road, Walthamstow, West Ham with Selina Slate (29) from Chatham, Kent; Victor (5), Selina (3) and Alfred (0).

In 1911, at 23 Camden Road Walthamstow, Walthamstow, were William Slate (41) Bookbinder, Selina Slate (39) from Chatham, Kent; Victor Slate (15) Junior clerk; Eleanor (13), Alfred (10), Doris (6), Lily (0) and Selina Lewis (61) Mother, Widow, Dressmaker from Chatham, Kent.

William and Selina Slate were still living in Walthamstow in 1921. There was nobody with the surname Lewis in their household, however, there is a Selina Ana Lewis (b. 1850), from Kent, also living in Walthamstow in 1921.

Selina M A Lewis died, aged 88, in Sep 1938 at 13 Forster Road, Walthamstow and was buried on 26 Sep 1938 at Queen's Road Cemetery, Walthamstow.

In 1939, William Slate (b. 1 Jul 1869), Groundsman and Sarah Selina Slate (b. 15 Jan 1872) were living at 13 Forster Road, Walthamstow. William Slate died, aged 89, in 1958 and Selina S Slate died, aged 95, in 1966, in Waltham Forest.

James Tubb and Sarah Pearce

St. Mary's Church - Alverstoke
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Colin Babb - geograph.org.uk/p/1093207

James Tubb (bap. 1809), son of William Tubb and Sarah Chard and younger brother of this William Tubb, married Sarah Pearce, daughter of Thomas Pearce and Sarah Hall, at Alverstoke (where her parents married), on 27 Oct 1830. 

James and Sarah had nine children, the first two of whom were baptised in the 12th Century, first St Mary's Church, Portsea.

1. Sarah Pierce (sic) Tubb b. 26 Feb 1830, bap. 18 January 1835 
2. James Thomas Tubb b. 6 November 1833, bap. 18 January 1835 
3. Emma Tubb b. 1838 M Quarter in PORTSEA Volume 07 Page 143
4. William Tubb b. 1840 D Quarter in PORTSEA Volume 07 Page 109
5. Alfred Tubb b. 1843 J Quarter in PORTSEA Volume 07 Page 122 (Died 1844 M Quarter in PORTSEA Volume 07 Page 102)
6. Caroline Tubb b. 1844 D Quarter in PORTSEA Volume 07 Page 122
7. Henry Edward Tubb b. 1847 J Quarter in PORTSEA Volume 07 Page 126
8. Mary Ann Tubb b. 1849 D Quarter in PORTSEA Volume 07 Page 173
9. Elizabeth Tubb b. 1853 J Quarter in PORTSEA Volume 02B Page 401

Once again, as civil registration was introduced, baptisms were abandoned.

In 1851, we find this family living in Upper Church Road, Portsea with James Tubb (42) Shipwright at Dock Yard; wife Sarah Tubb (40), daughter Sarah Tubb (20), James Tubb (17), Shipwright's Apprentice; Emma Tubb (13), William Tubb (10), Caroline Tubb (6), Henry Tubb (4), Mary Tubb (1) and Sarah's father, Thomas Pearce (74), Widower, Retired Grocer.

In 1871, James Tubb (61) Superannuated Shipwright, Sarah Tubb (60), Mary A Tubb (21) and Elizabeth Tubb (17), were living at Church Path, North, Portsea.

Then shortly before his 65th birthday, James Tubb, date of birth 30 Apr 1809, from Portsea, Hampshire, 5ft 7in tall, with grey hair, blue eyes and a fair complexion, was enlisted in the Royal Navy as a Shipwright. From 1 Jan 1874 until 13 Feb 1875, he was assigned to HMS Asia, flagship of the Admiral-Superintendent of Portsmouth Dockyard. From 31 Mar 1875 to 31 Mar 1876 and from 1 Apr 1876 to 9 Jun 1877, he was assigned to HMS St Vincent, which had been commissioned as a training ship in 1862, and specifically as a training ship for boys, moored permanently at Haslar from 1870. He may well have been maintaining the vessel, or perhaps teaching. If I were to speculate, my feeling is that this already long-standing dockyard employee had been taken into Royal Navy service at such a 'ripe age' in order to provide him with a pension.

In 1881, James Tubb (73), Shipwright Pensioner and Sarah Tubb (70), were living at 2, Charles Street, Portsea, with William Jeffery (7), listed as their nephew. He was their grandson, William James Jeffery, born 1874, son of their youngest daughter, Elizabeth, who married William Jeffery in 1872.

In 1891, James Tubb (81), Retired Shipwright and Sarah Tubb (80) were living in Church Path North, Portsea, with the house to themselves.

After more than 65 years of marriage, both James Tubb (87) and Sarah Tubb (85) died in the same, third, quarter of 1896.

Edward Tubb, Hannah Bussey & Sarah Elizabeth Joy

The second St. Mary's Church, Portsea, built in 1843, incorporated the Tudor
west tower of the old church. Image: Simon Wright. Some rights reserved

Edward Tubb (b. 1827), son of William Tubb and Sarah Ruff, married Hannah Bussey, daughter of Benjamin Bussey and Elizabeth Bowen at St Mary's Church, Portsea on 13 May 1850. (That will have been in the previous, second church, built 1843 on that site, not the current building, built in the 1880s.)

Edward and Hannah had three children:

1. Elizabeth Tubb b. 1850 D Quarter in PORTSEA ISLAND UNION Volume 07 Page 173, bap. 29 Dec 1850 at St Mary's Church, Portsea
2. Susan Alice Tubb b. 23 Jul 1852 Quarter in PORTSEA ISLAND UNION Volume 02B Page 334, bap. 7 Oct 1855 at St Mary's Church, Portsea
3. Edward Tubb b. 1860 D Quarter in SHEPPEY Volume 02A Page 575, died, aged 2 in 1863 M Quarter in SHEPPEY Volume 02A Page 461, buried on 28 Mar 1863 at Sheppey Cemetery.

Checking the GRO, year by year, there were no other children between.

Although married, in 1851, the couple had not yet set up home. That year, Edward Tubb (23) Shipwright, was a visitor in the household of Jane Watsworth (40), Seaman's Wife in Nelson Street, Portsea (she may well have been a relative). While Hannah Tubb (21) and their daughter, Elizabeth Tubb (0) were in the household of Hannah's widowed mother, Elizabeth Bussey (56).

James Street, Sheerness
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Chris Whippet - geograph.org.uk/p/4410961

They must have moved to the Isle of Sheppey, Kent between 1855 and 1860, because in 1861, the family lived at 4 James Street, Minster in Sheppey, Sheerness with Edward Tubb (33), Shipwright from Portsmouth; Hannah Tubb (32), Elizabeth Tubb (10), Susan Tubb (9) and Edward Tubb (0).

Then Hannah Tubb died, aged only 33, and was buried, on 27 Jun 1862, at Sheppey Cemetery.

In the 3rd quarter of 1864, Edward Tubb remarried, in Thanet, Kent, to Sarah Elizabeth Joy (bap. 8 Mar 1829 at St. John The Baptist, Margate), daughter of Edward Joy and Harriet Mary Garling. 

Edward and Sarah added another three children:

4. Herbert Joy Tubb b. 8 Oct 1865 D Quarter in SHEPPEY Vol 02A Page 716
5. Harriet Mary Tubb b. 21 May 1867 J Qtr in SHEPPEY Vol 02A Page 752
6. Grace Hannah Tubb b. 9 Aug 1871 S Qtr in SHEPPEY Vol 02A Page 754

In 1871, living at 5 Rock Cottages, Minster, Sheppey, were Edward Tubb (43) Shipwright, Sarah E Tubb (42), H J Tubb (Herbert Joy) (5), HM Tubb (Harriet Mary) (3) and Harriet Curtis (13) Boarder. I've been unable to find either Elizabeth or Susan, who at 20 & 19, were presumably out working.

In 1881, they were living at Cheyney Rock Cottages, Minster in Sheppey. Edward Tubb (58); wife Sarah (51), Herbert (15), Harriet (13) and Grace (9). 

Edward Tubb died 26 Jan 1884, in Sheppey. He will have been 56. He is buried at Sheppey Cemetery, also, known as Halfway Cemetery, Sheerness.

In 1891, Sarah E Tubb (61), widow, was a lodger in the household of John Parrett (31) Upholsterer in Trinity Road, Minster in Sheppey. Visiting were daughter, Harriet Mary Penfold (26), Harriet M Penfold (6) and George E Penfold (2). Herbert J Tubb (25) Merchant's Clerk, was in Cornwall. Grace Tubb (19) was employed as a General Servant Domestic in the household of George Harper (49), Upholsterer & Auctioneer in Castle Street, Ashford, Kent.

Sarah Tubb, age estimated to 64, died in 1895 J Quarter in WEST ASHFORD (Volume 02A  Page 432). There is a record of a burial of a Sarah Tubbs in Ashford, on 10 May 1895, which very likely relates.

John Benbow Gabbedy and Isabella Cleghorn

St Bride, Fleet Street, London EC4 - East end
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © John Salmon - geograph.org.uk/p/1213706

John Benbow Gabbedy, son of John Gabbdey and Elizabeth Travally, married Isabella Cleghorn, daughter of Anthony Cleghorn and Margaret Jane Murray on 28 Apr 1795 at St Bride's Church, Fleet Street - the church with the famous "wedding cake" spire, designed by Sir Christopher Wren. 

Quite what any of my Eastenders were doing "up west", I have no idea.

John and Isabella had at least six children:

1. William Anthony Gabbedey b. 1796, bap. at St Dunstan's, Stepney
2. John Cleghorn Gabbedey b. 1798, bap. at St Mary Magdalene Woolwich
3. Margaret Elizabeth Gabbedey b. 1800, bap. at St Mary Magdalene Woolwich
4. Charles Gabbedey b. 1803, bap. 1812 at St Dunstan's, Stepney
5. Henry Ralph Gabady (sic) b. 1807, bap. 1808 at St Dunstan's, Stepney
6. Anne Elizabeth Gabbaday, b. 23 Feb 1811, bap. at St Anne's Limehouse on 14 Apr 1811

In 1807, John Benbow Gabbedy's occupation, like his father's, is listed as Shipwright. By 1811, he's listed as a Mariner, living in Gill Street, Limehouse. It seems a strange career change at any time, when he already had a skill and the more so as he'll have already been 40 years old. There has to be a story behind this, but no obvious record to look for or means of uncovering it.

John Benbow Gabbedy's second name is his grandmother's, Elizabeth Benbow, maiden name. Could she have been related to Admiral John Benbow?

John Benbow Gabbedy seemingly died in 1841 and Isabella on 20 Feb 1852.

St Anne, Limehouse - Interior
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © John Salmon - geograph.org.uk/p/4559597

John Gabbdey and Elizabeth Travally

St Dunstan & All Saints, Stepney - East end
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © John Salmon - geograph.org.uk/p/3477017

John Gabbdey married Elizabeth Travally, daughter of Winnall Travally and Elizabeth Benbow at the church of St Dunstan and All Saints, Stepney, on 11 Jun 1769. John Gabbdey was born on 20 July 1745 and baptised on 11 Aug 1745 at St Anne's Limehouse, the son of Henry Gabbdey and Ann Stewart. This pair of my 5th great-grandparents married, by licence, and, witnessing the marriage were the bride's father, Winnall Travally and a James Bryant. 

Information suggests that John and Elizabeth had four children: 

1. William Travally Gabbedy b. 1770 in Limehouse, London
2. John Benbow Gabbedy b. 1771 in Risby's Rope Walk, Limehouse, London
3. Thomas Gabbady b. 1773 in Risby's Rope Walk, Limehouse, London
4. Esther Gabbedy b. 1775 in Limekiln Hill, Limehouse, London

In 1771, John Gabbdey's occupation is listed as Shipwright.

John Gabbdey must have died before 1781, because the widowed Elizabeth Gabbedy remarried, at St George in the East, to Edward Penfold on 7 Aug 1781. Witnesses were R Soper and, again, the bride's father, Winnall Travally.

Marriage of John Gabbdey and Elizabeth Travally