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| All Saints Church, Stisted, Essex cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Peter Stack - geograph.org.uk/p/2051427 |
In 1799, the records of Country Apprentices, inform us that William Lammas was indentured to Robert Hockley, Tailor. This William Lammas would have been his cousin, son of William Lammas and Mary Hockley, Robert's aunt.
However, Elizabeth Hockley, wife of Robert Hockley, Tailor, died at just 27 and was buried on 23 Feb 1800. She had given birth to a daughter, who was christened, Elizabeth Hockley at 3 weeks of age on 25 Feb 1800. The infant died at 2 months and was buried, at St Mary the Virgin, Great Dunmow, on 16 Mar 1800, with a sad note on the burial record saying "The mother dead."
However, Elizabeth Hockley, wife of Robert Hockley, Tailor, died at just 27 and was buried on 23 Feb 1800. She had given birth to a daughter, who was christened, Elizabeth Hockley at 3 weeks of age on 25 Feb 1800. The infant died at 2 months and was buried, at St Mary the Virgin, Great Dunmow, on 16 Mar 1800, with a sad note on the burial record saying "The mother dead."
Unsurprisingly, on 20 Nov 1801, Robert Hockley of this Parish, Widower, remarried this time to Mary Hayward of the Parish of Halstead in the County of Essex, Spinster, at the church of St Mary the Virgin, Great Dunmow. They were married by License in the Presence of Thos. Lilly and Elizabeth Hockley.
Robert and Mary's son, Ebenezer Hockley b. 6 Jun 1804, bap. 3 Aug 1804, was listed among Dunmow (Independent): Births & Baptisms.
But Mary Hockley wife of Robert Hockley died, aged 30, on 19 Aug 1805 and Essex Non-Conformist Church Records list that she was buried on 23 Aug 1805. There was also a Non-Conformist burial of a Mary Hockley on 30 Aug 1805, so, although there is no corresponding baptism, nor is the age of this deceased listed, my fear is this may be the death of another infant.
So, on 12 Jul 1808, Robert Hockley, Widower of this Parish, married for a third time to Mary Harvey, Widow, of the Parish of Great Sampford, again at St Mary the Virgin, Great Dunmow, the record stating, "Married in this Church by License. In the presence of Thomas Reynold and Sarah Cornell." It hasn't been possible to work out what this Mary's maiden name was.
This Robert and Mary Hockley had at least these two daughters:
- Eleanor Hockley b. 1811, died aged 33 on 21 Dec 1844 D Quarter in DUNMOW UNION Volume 12 Page 56 and Essex Non-Conformist Church Records show she was buried on Christmas Day, 25 Dec 1844.
- Lueza Hockley bap. 4 Mar 1814, listed in Dunmow (Independent): Births & Baptisms. Died on 7 Nov 1814 and was buried on 11 Nov 1814.
Pigot's Directory of Essex 1823 lists Robert Hockley as a Tailor and Draper.
In 1841, Robert Hockley (65) Tailor and Draper was in High Street, Great Dunmow with Mary Hockley (64), Eleanor Hockley (30) and Mary Fewell (17) Female Servant. Their position in the High Street was interesting:
The first household listed in the High Street, Great Dunmow in 1841 was that of Samuel Thorn (40) Shoe Maker. Next door was Robert Hockley, Tailor and Draper. Then George Saich (25) Ostler. It doesn't tell us which establishment, but as an Ostler, it must have been a Coaching Inn, so my feeling is most likely the Saracen's Head Hotel, the 15th century Coaching Inn at 30 High Street, Great Dunmow. (Saich later went to the Neville Arms, Wendens Ambo). The other side of the hostelry were Henry Wilton and Mary Barton, then Henry Wilton, Saddler - in whose household was Henry Wilton Pryor - and then John Prior (55) Basket Maker - father of Charles Prior married to Mary Wilton - who were next and Richard Wilton was lodging next door.)
Mary Hockley died at 66 in 1843 D Qtr in DUNMOW Vol 12 Page 59.
In 1851, Robert Hockley (76) Widower, Tailor from Great Dunmow, Essex, was living in Fryerning, Essex with James French (14) Ag Lab, Lodger in his household. (Robert's son, Ebenezer Hockley (44) Draper and Tailor, was at that time also living in Ingatestone Street, Fryerning with his family.)
The Essex Standard on 12 Nov 1858 reported that on the "4th instant Josiah Martin St. John, of Brighton, was charged with stealing a time-piece from Mr. Robert Hockley, tailor, of Ingatestone." So he was in Ingatestone by then.
Robert Hockley died in 1861 D Quarter in CHELMSFORD Volume 04A Page 86. The Essex Standard of 13 Nov and 15 Nov 1861, reported, "Nov 6th, at Ingatestone, aged 85, Mr. Robert Hockley, formerly of Dunmow."