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Monday, 9 December 2024

Job Thomas Sweeney and Elizabeth Fuller

St Helen & St Giles, Rainham - Sanctuary
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © John Salmon - geograph.org.uk/p/4530086

Job Thomas Sweeney (b. 27 Aug 1897 in Mile End, London), son of Job Sweeney and Eliza Louisa Tompson, married Elizabeth Fuller (b. 22 Mar 1901 in Rainham, Essex), daughter of George Fuller and Eliza Ellen Hockley, at the church of St Helen and St Giles, Rainham, Essex on 9 Dec 1923.

There were no wedding photos, I was told, because of the obviously expected arrival of their only child, Ivy Elizabeth Sweeney b. 5 Mar 1924 (1924 J Quarter in SHOREDITCH Volume 01C Page 31). My mother didn't have her birth certificate, the original having been lost when their home was bombed in WWII (she would not hear that copies could be obtained) and had always been adamant that she was born in one of the Peabody Buildings. Had she ever obtained a copy, then she'd have discovered that she was, in fact, born at 35 Gladstone Buildings, Willow Street, Shoreditch. (And therefore missed out on a historical 'claim to fame' too, because Police Sergeant James George Byfield, witness in one of the Jack the Ripper murders, had lived in Gladstone Buildings, Shoreditch in 1881.)

Built in 1868, the Gladstone Buildings, were demolished in 1977. The site today is, ironically, the location of the Luxury Nobu Hotel London Shoreditch. The previous building on that site certainly wasn't luxury, however, as the Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Shoreditch in 1879 details:

GLADSTONE BUILDINGS, WILLOW STREET.—"In these model dwellings there are 168 suites of apartments, each suite having a separate water supply, and closet accommodation, situate in the scullery. None of the closets were properly supplied with water, so as to flush the pans effectually. The cisterns in which drinking water was stored were all uncovered, placed over the closets close to the ceilings, and immediately under the closet of the apartments above. Several of the tenants complained that their drinking water was polluted with foul liquids dripping from the ceilings, by reason of defective closet arrangements, and many of the ceilings bore evidence as to the fact."

This Charabanc excursion must presumably date to 1925.
Joe and Bet, with baby Ivy on her lap, are in the rear seats of the vehicle.

It must have been after the death of Job's father on 6 Dec 1924, that they moved back to 102, Fore Street, City of London, where Eliza Louisa Sweeney, continued as Housekeeper for Hoffnung & Co Shipping Merchants. 

My mother frequently claimed she was Confirmed at St Paul's Cathedral, but I've been unable to confirm (pun intended) if this is true. And even if it were, it should have been unlikely, as there's no record of her ever being baptised - a not-at-all uncommon omission with a baby's such 'premature' arrival. 

They were still in Fore Street in 1939, with Eliza L Sweeney, Housekeeper; Job Thomas Sweeney, Supervisor Tobacco Packing (employed by W.D. & H.O. Wills); Elizabeth Sweeney; Ivy E Sweeney, Shop Assistant and James Edward Bird, Police Constable (who I can only assume was lodging with them) and remained until their home was destroyed in WWII, thought to have been on or around the night of 29–30 Dec 1940, during the so-called Second Great Fire of London. They were away from home that day, so suffered no physical injury, but lost their home and every material possession they'd owned. 

They then moved out to Hornchurch and in the 1960's, Bet & Joe 'retired' to Pitstone, in the countryside of Bedfordshire. There, granddad carried on his hobby of fishing and was a bailiff on the nearby Grand Union Canal; he did detailed woodwork, inlay and marquetry; embroidered hassocks that were (maybe still are) in the church of St Mary the Virgin in Ivinghoe and grew very tidy rows of vegetables in his garden.

(Right: Bet and Joe on the seafront at Weymouth in the early 1960's.)

Bet Sweeney died on 22 Dec 1980. 

It was absolutely no surprise that, without his lifelong love, Job Thomas Sweeney died eight months later to the day, on 22 Aug 1981.

Sunday, 8 December 2024

William Thomas Shotter and Hannah Jane Bussey

Portsea, Kings Bench Alley
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Mike Faherty - geograph.org.uk/p/5440082
Footpath from Queen Street to Kent Street.

William Thomas Shotter (b. 20 May 1845 in Portsea), Purveyor of Kent Street, son of William Shotter and Elizabeth Taylor, married Hannah Jane Bussey (b. 1847), daughter of James Wilmot Bussey and Ellen Jane Munday, at St Mary's, Portsea on 8 Dec 1867. Witnesses were Sarah Ann Bussey, the bride's sister and James Bussey, either her father or brother. William's father, William Shotter, was a butcher at 31, Kent Street, Portsea in 1851 and at 55, Queen Street, Portsea in 1861. Hannah's father, James Wilmot Bussey, listed as a Cattle Dealer, at 213-215 Commercial Road, in 1861 was listed as a Pork Butcher. All of them are listed in Portsmouth Local History, list of Butchers, Meat Dealers (PDF). A marriage of Portsmouth meat royalty!

William and Hannah had nine children:

  1. Elizabeth Alice Shotter b. 1868 D Quarter in PORTSEA ISLAND Volume 02B Page 433, died, aged 22, on 3 Sep 1891 and was buried on 7 Sep 1891 at Portsea Cemetery (Kingston Cemetery)
  2. Ellen Jane Shotter b. 1870 M Quarter in PORTSEA Vol 02B Page 465, died aged 1, buried, on 15 Oct 1871, at Portsmouth, Kingston Cemetery
  3. Emma Shotter b. 1871 D Quarter in PORTSEA Vol 02B Page 414
  4. Kate Shotter b. Dec 1874, reg. 1875 M Quarter in PORTSEA Vol 02B Page 435, died aged 1, buried, on 17 Dec 1875, at Kingston Cemetery
  5. William George Shotter b. 21 May 1876 in PORTSEA Vol 02B Page 447
  6. Mabel Shotter b. 23 May 1879 in PORTSEA Vol 02B Page 459
  7. Alfred Shotter b. 1882 S Quarter in PORTSEA Vol 02B Page 486
  8. George Shotter b. 1884 J Quarter in ALVERSTOKE Vol 02B Page 583
  9. Ruby Beatrice Shotter b. 10 May 1886 in PORTSEA Vol 02B Page 479
In 1871, at 31, Kent Street, were William Shotter (25) Master Butcher, Jane Shotter (24), Elizabeth (2), Ellen (1) and Charlotte Dadd (21) Servant.

In 1881, at 24, Butcher Street, Portsea (aptly named), were William Shotter (36) Master butcher; wife listed as Anna J (34), Elizabeth A (12), Emma (9), Mabel (1) and Alice E Booker (16) Servant. William (5) was staying with his aunt, Susan Baker, Hannah's sister, at at 37, North Street, Portsea.

In 1891, at 334, Fratton Road, Portsea: William T Shotter (46) Butcher, Jane Shotter (44), Lizzie (22), Mabel (11), Alfie (8), George (6), Rose (Ruby Beatrice) (4) and Anne Tolfrey (20) Servant. 

In 1901, William T Shotter (56) was 'Living on own means' (retired) at Laureldene, London Road, Portsmouth, with Anna J Shotter (53), Mabel Shotter (21), Alfred Shotter (18) Engineer Fitter and Ruby B Shotter (14).

Hannah Jane Shotter, wife of William Shotter, of Queen's Road, Buckland, died on 7 Jul 1902 (1902 S Quarter in PORTSMOUTH Volume 02B Page 235) and was buried on 9 Jul 1902 at Portsea Cemetery.

Then William Thomas Shotter (59), Cattle Dealer, widower of 161 Victoria Road North, Southsea, son of William Shotter, Butcher, married Rosina Jane Nash (45), widow, reputedly the daughter of Alfred George Dorman, Builder on 8 Sep 1904 at St Peter's Church, Southsea. (But I can find no record, anywhere, of a marriage between Dorman and Nash; no birth of a Rosina Jane Dorman around 1859 and nobody named Alfred George Dorman of an appropriate age. Nor any records of a Rosina Jane Shotter after this!)

William Thomas Shotter of Queens Road, Portsea, died aged 62, on 15 Mar 1907 (1907 M Quarter in PORTSMOUTH Volume 02B Page 367) and was buried on 19 Mar 1907 at Portsea Cemetery.

William Campling and Thomasine Maria Eldred

Wennington Green, Bow
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Paul Gillett - geograph.org.uk/p/4580083

William Campling (b. ~1855), son of John Campling and Elizabeth Brown, married Thomasine Maria Eldred (b. 24 Jul 1857 in St George in the East), daughter of John Eldred and Elizabeth Pitts, at St Thomas's Church, West Ham, the now lost church in Rokeby Street, on 8 Dec 1878. (The transcript lists her as Thomas Ziner M Eldred, but I'm figuring this was not the family's first same-sex marriage!) Witnesses were John James Fairbairn and Flora Fairbairn (née Campling, William's sister, who married in the same quarter of 1878). Thomazine was the half-sister of Alfred Eldred, step-daughter of Catherine Byatt and thus, also step-sister of Elizabeth Wilton.

William and Thomasine Maria Campling had six children:
  1. Florence Catherine Campling b. 19 Dec 1879, reg. 1880 M Quarter in BETHNAL GREEN Vol 01C Page 226
  2. John William Campling b. 1882 J Qtr in POPLAR Vol 01C Page 575. Died, aged 1 in 1883 J Qtr in BETHNAL GREEN Vol 01C Page 143
  3. John William Campling b. 3 May 1884 in BETHNAL GREEN Vol 01C 234
  4. Frederick Henry Campling b. 24 Dec 1886, reg 1887 M Quarter in ISLINGTON Volume 01B 377
  5. Sidney Edwin Campling b. 1888 S Qtr in ISLINGTON Vol 01B 344. Died 1889 M Qtr in ISLINGTON Vol 01B 241
  6. Sidney Edwin Campling b. 1890 M Qtr in ISLINGTON Vol 01B 382
All the birth registrations have the mother's maiden name as ELDRIDGE, but this has been used before by her half-brother, on the registration of his first daughter and it's the surname their step-mother was listed under in 1881.

In 1881, William Campling (26) Pianoforte porter from Bethnal Green, was living at 4, Wennington Road, Bethnal Green. Thomasine Marie was unaccountably listed as Anne (24), with Florence Campling (1).

In 1891, William Camplin (sic) (36) Piano forte maker (??) was living in Carmarthen Street, Islington with Marie Camplin (32), Florence Camplin (11), John Camplin (6), Frederick Camplin (4) and Sydney Camplin (1).

In 1901, the census lists Thomas (sic) Campling (44) Labourer Starch Works born in Bromley, London in Queen's Road, Plaistow, West Ham with Mary (sic) Campling (43) born in Old Ford, London; Florence Campling (21) Box Maker born in Roman Road, London and Frederick Campling (14) Grocer's Boy born in Islington. Even with so many errors, I'm certain this is the correct family. John Campling (16) Cart Porter born in Old Ford, London, was a Boarder in Forest Gate. While Sidney Campling (11) was an Inmate in a school in Horton Kirby - Home for Little Boys, Farningham, Kent.

Thomasine Maria Campling died at 50, in 1908 D Quarter in WEST HAM Volume 04A Page 91. Well, once more the record has mangled her name to Frances Ziner Maria Campling, but there can be no doubt this is her.

In 1911, Florence Campling (31) Card Board Box Maker, was living in South East Ham, West Ham with her youngest brother, Sidney Campling (21) Apprentice Linotype Operator and Thomas Steggles (54) Boarder. Both John William Campling and Frederick Henry Campling had emigrated to the United States. I haven't located William Campling in 1911, nor his death.
  1. Florence Catherine Campling (34) emigrated to the United States, sailing from Liverpool on the RMS Franconia (1910) on 28 April 1914, arriving in Boston, Massachusetts. Florence Campling died on 1 Nov 1918 from Sarcoma of the Liver (Cancer). She was 38. She never married. She was buried, on 3 Nov 1918 in Sutton, Caledonia, Vermont, the permit for her burial having been issued to her brother John.
  2. John William Campling married Edith Florence Sobey Milford (b. 1881 in Crediton, Devon), daughter of William Milford and Edith Mary Sobey, but I cannot find where or when their marriage took place. John and Edith had 3 daughters: Florence Maria b. 1910, Edith Frances b. 1912 and Marion Hazel b. 1914. Edith Milford Campling died on 31 Oct 1914 from Valvular Disease of the Heart. She was buried on 2 Nov 1914, in Sutton, Vermont. The 1950 Census shows that John was a Farmer. John W Campling died, on 15 Jun 1970, in West Burke, Vermont.
  3. Frederick Henry Campling entered the US via Canada. He married Joan Fraser (b. 1872 in England) on 12 Jan 1914 in Sault Ste. Marie, Chippewa, Michigan. Joan Campling died in 1924 and is buried at Woodlawn Cemetery, Detroit. Frederick remarried in Delaware, Indiana, on 19 Apr 1925, to Lenora Shuck (b. 21 Feb 1898 in Jennings County, Indiana, USA.) Lenora Campling died on 10 Dec 1926 and is also buried at Woodlawn Cemetery, Detroit. Frederick then remarried for a 3rd time to Chesba Lucille Wheatley, on 27 Jul 1927, in Gibson, Indiana, with whom he had at least four daughters. Frederick Henry Campling died, at 70, on 16 Feb 1957 and is buried at Memorial Park Cemetery, Vincennes, Knox County, Indiana, USA. Chesba Campling died on 16 Feb 1981 and is also buried at Memorial Park Cemetery, Vincennes.
  4. Sidney Edwin Campling married Beatrice Fell in the 1st quarter of 1915, in West Ham. In 1916, Sidney Edwin Camplin (sic) (26) enlisted for Military Service in the London Yeomanry. The couple don't appear to have any children. Sidney Edwin Campling died on 22 Jul 1941, in Ilford, Essex. Beatrice Campling remarried, in 1950, to Arthur Leonard Hemming. Beatrice Hemming died, in Romford, in 1960.

Wednesday, 4 December 2024

George Sparrow Masters and Mary Pope

St Peter's ChurchLiverpool Grove, Walworth
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Peter Trimming - geograph.org.uk/p/5304270

George Sparrow Masters (bap. 26 May 1811 St Mary's, Rotherhithe), Batchelor, son of Benjamin Searle Sparrow Masters and Sage Boulton Ayres, married Mary Pope, Spinster, at St Peter's Church, Walworth, Surrey on 4 Dec 1833. There appear to have been four witnesses to their marriage: William Williams, Isabella [?], Caroline Sophia Say and Sam Barrow. 

George and Mary Masters had one daughter:
  1. Caroline Masters b. 1837 D Quarter in OF SAINT GEORGE THE MARTYR SOUTHWARK Volume 04 Page 107
In 1841, George Masters (25) Coach maker, Mary Masters (25) and Caroline Masters (4) were listed in New Canal Street, Birmingham.

In 1851, George Masters (40) Coach maker from Rotherhithe, Surrey; Mary Masters (45) and Caroline Masters (13) School teacher - both listed as from London - were at 41 New Canal Street, Birmingham, Warwickshire.

George Sparrow Masters died in 1860 S Quarter in BIRMINGHAM Volume 06D Page 91, though his age was listed as 55.

In 1861, Mary Masters (49) Widow, from Hampshire was a Lodging house keeper at 23, Daniel Street, Bathwick, Bath, Somerset and living with her were Caroline Masters (23) born in Southwark, Surrey; and Eliza Shell (19) House Servant from Bath, Somerset. Lodging at that address were Valentine Brown, a Captain (Unattached - i.e. between ships) from Galway, Ireland and his wife Fanny, from Dublin. (Widow Masters may be long gone, but you can still lodge at 23, Daniel Street, Bathwick, with Sykes Cottages.)

In 1871, Mary Masters (68) [although wrongly listed as Matthews] Lodger, Widow, Annuitant from Southampton, was living with her widowed daughter, Caroline Wright, at 301 Breck Road, Everton, West Derby, Lancashire.

Mary Masters died, her age listed as 72, in 1873 J Quarter in WEST DERBY AND TOXTETH PARK  Volume 08B Page 350.

© Stephen Richards (cc-by-sa/2.0) geograph.org.uk/p/3830761
19-36 Daniel Street, Bath

Sunday, 1 December 2024

Walter Robert Thomas Parry and Emma Hockley

Holy Trinity Church, Hartland Road, London NW1
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © John Salmon - geograph.org.uk/p/1292924

Walter Robert Thomas Parry (bap. 16 Apr 1851 at St Mary's ChurchCharlton Kings, Gloucestershire), son of Walter George Parry and Annie Arnott, married Emma Hockley (bap. 13 Apr 1851 at St Mary the Virgin, Great Dunmow), daughter of George Hockley and Eliza Crow, at Holy Trinity ChurchHaverstock Hill (Haverstock) on 1 Dec 1872

The previous year Emma was working as a General servant to Samuel Knight, Architect at Maitland Park Villas, St Pancras. Walter R Parry (20) Carpenter & Joiner, had been Lodging at Collyer Cottages, High Street, Camberwell.

Walter and Emma had one daughter:
  1. Annie Emma Parry b. 1873 M Qtr in ST PANCRAS Vol 01B Page 178, who died, aged 5, in 1878 S Qtr in PANCRAS Vol 01B Page 111
In 1881, Walter R Parry (28) Joiner from Gloucestershire, Emma Parry (28) from Essex were at 152, St Pauls Road, St Pancras, London with Walter's aunt, Elizabeth White (56) Widow from Somerset living with them.

Then Emma Parry died, aged 37, in 1889 S Quarter in CHELTENHAM Volume 06A Page 215.

Walter Robert Thomas Parry remarried, in 1892, to Sarah Ann Burrows, in Northleach, Gloucestershire.

And went on to have two further daughters: 
  1. Clara Daisy Parry b. 1895 J Qtr in NORTHLEACH Vol 06A Page 378
  2. Frances Lily Parry b. 1896 S Qtr in CHELTENHAM Vol 06A Page 400
The family were living in Charlton Kings, Cheltenham, in 1901 and 1911. 

Walter Robert Thomas Parry of 3 Daisy Bank, Charlton Kings, Cheltenham, died, aged 77, on 24 Jul 1928 (1928 S Quarter in CHELTENHAM Volume 06A Page 371). Probate was granted to Clara Daisy Williams (wife of Francis Herbert Williams) and Frances Lily Hatherall (wife of John William Hatherall).

David Jones and Catherine Rice

St Patrick's Street, Cork. Detroit Photographic Company, 1905 (Via)

David Jones (b. 10 Nov 1898 in Rushbrooke, Cobh), son of David Jones and Laura Elizabeth White, married Catherine Rice (b. 8 Jul 1905 in Fermoy, County Cork), daughter of Richard Rice and Mary Hagerty, at the Registrar's Office, Cork on 1 Dec 1942. Witnesses to their marriage were two of Dave's sisters, Laura Mary Jones and Alice Jones. David Jones, Labourer, of The Bungalow, Rushbrooke, Cork, known as 'Young Dave', was 44 and Catherine, a Domestic Servant, residing at 14 Middleton Park, Rushbrooke, known as Kitty, was 36 and, marrying so late, the couple did not have any children.

Catherine's parents, Richard Rice, from Fermoy, County Cork, Harness Maker, son of John Rice, Farmer, had married Mary Hagerty, farmer's daughter, from Lismore, Waterford, at the Roman Catholic Chapel at Ballyduff, Waterford, on 27 Sep 1900. In 1901, they were living in Princes Street, Fermoy. By 1911, they were in Bank Street (now renamed Kent Street), with Richard Rice (42), Mary Rice (43), John Rice (9), Mary Rice (8) and Catherine Rice (5).

Taking over the job of Sexton of Christ Church, the Church of Ireland church in Rushbrooke from his father - which has only ever had these two Sextons, both called David Jones - Young Dave seems to have kept the job even after his marriage to Catherine, who was a Roman Catholic. He also reportedly worked for the Rushbrooke Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club, cutting grass.

David Jones (68) of 'The Bungalow', Rushbrooke, died on 21 Nov 1966 from coronary thrombosis, myocardia and degeneration. Under his name on the burial record, on 23 Nov 1966, kept in Christ Church, is marked (Sexton) in brackets, hence knowing he had kept the job. He is buried in the family plot at the Old Church Cemetery (Cobh), along with his mother, brother and father.

Hendrick Verwey (Visit Cobh), once told me, "I grew up just up the road from Christ Church Rushbrooke and a very small lady called Mrs Jones lived in a tiny corrugated iron house across the road. I think that her husband looked after the church, but he died many years before her."

Kitty Jones, Widow, died on 13 Aug 1987 (aged 82) and was buried on 15 Aug 1987, also at the Old Church Cemetery (Cobh).

The door from Kitty's solid fuel stove. Photo: Jerome Mc Cormick

Saturday, 30 November 2024

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.

Robert Hockley and Elizabeth Neve

All Saints Church, Stisted, Essex
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Peter Stack - geograph.org.uk/p/2051427

Robert Hockley (bap. 1 Oct 1775 at St Mary the Virgin, Great Dunmow), son of Robert Hockley and Elizabeth Cramphorne, married Elizabeth Neve of Stisted, at All Saints Church, Stisted, Essex on 30 Nov 1797.

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."

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 of this couple and perhaps points to the cause of Mary Hockley's death too.

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 [yet] been possible to work out what this Mary's maiden name was.

This Robert and Mary Hockley had at least these two daughters:
  1. 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.
  2. 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."

Thursday, 28 November 2024

Robert Fuller and Elizabeth Bass

St Mary, High Road, South Woodford
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © John Salmon - geograph.org.uk/p/2975293

Robert Fuller (b. ~1785), reportedly son of Thomas Fuller and Mary Farrant, married Elizabeth Bass on 28 Nov 1807 at St Mary's Church, Woodford. It should be noted however that, as the current church wasn't built until 1816, their marriage will have taken place in the previous medieval church that had stood in this location. They may well have seen this building going up. 

Seven children of this couple were baptised in Woodford, Essex:

  1. Elizabeth Fuller bap. 30 Apr 1809
  2. Robert Fuller bap. 23 Jun 1811
  3. Mary Fuller b. 25 Feb 1814, bap. 20 Mar 1814
  4. Sarah Fuller bap. 1 Sep 1816
  5. John Fuller bap. 17 Oct 1819
  6. Eliza Ann bap. 21 Jul 1822
  7. Ann Fuller bap. 31 Oct 1824
In 1841, Robert Fuller (50) Ag Lab, Elizabeth Fuller (50) and their two youngest daughters, Eliza (15) and Ann (15) - as with all 1841 entries, ages very rounded - were listed as living at Winn BridgeWoodford, West Ham. (Winn Bridge. This is where a stream, the Wynn Brook, joins the Roding.)

Robert Fuller died, aged 60, in 1846 M Quarter in WEST HAM UNION Volume 12 Page 194, and was buried in Woodford on 22 Feb 1846.

Elizabeth Fuller died, aged 65, in 1851  M Quarter in WEST HAM UNION  Volume 12  Page 219, and was buried on 12 Jan 1851, also in Woodford. 

(These are my earliest ancestors [so far] in this branch. Both Robert and Elizabeth were born around 1785, but I've not been able to identify baptisms for either of them. There are also potentially two further children, but I'm not convinced enough that they belong to this family to include them. Being younger (only 10 and 12), they should have been on the 1841 census - unless they had died as infants and I've not found deaths or burials to confirm that. In any case, the naming pattern does not seem right for the family.)

Wednesday, 27 November 2024

James Benbow and Frances Stalker

Marathon (cc-by-sa/2.0) geograph.org.uk/p/7925691
River Thames at Ratcliff (The Lost Hamlet Of Ratcliff)

James Bendbow (sic) (b. about 1699) of Ratcliff, Bricklayer, son of Richard Bendbow of the same place and trade, deceased (then eldest surviving son of Richard Benbow and Grace Beer), married Frances Stalker, daughter of Thomas Stalker of Sotheringby, Cumberland, Carpenter, deceased, at the Monthly Meeting of Peel's Court, John Street, Westminster on 27 Nov 1740. Relatives present were: Samuel and Mary Bendbow, Sarah and James Terney and Hannah Preston [1]. (Many people in this era considered Quaker couples to be living in sin because they didn't have clergy to officiate.)

As they had married late, both aged around 40, they did not have children.

James Benbow of Brook Street in the Parish of Stepney, aged about 62 years, died on 23 Apr 1761, of convulsions. He was buried on 26 Apr 1761 at the Friends Burying Ground at Ratcliff (Ratcliffe Quaker Burial Ground). The will of James Bendbow (sic) of St Dunstan's Stepney, Bricklayer, left everything (including 11 freehold houses) to his wife Frances to dispose of, as mentioned above, with bequeaths to his sister Sarah Terney, and nieces (he'd said cousins) Elizabeth Travally, Ann Benbow and Mary Haselden [2].

Frances Bendbow (sic) of Brook Street, Ratcliff in the Parish of Stepney, aged about 66 years, died on 17 May 1766, of a Dropsy (Edema, also spelled oedema, also known as fluid retention), and was buried on 23 May 1766 at the Friends Burying Ground, near School House Lane, Ratcliff.

[1] Found no other records of Hannah Preston to know how she was related.

[2] Ann Benbow and Mary Haselden were daughters of Samuel Benbow.