John Bawden and Mary Ann Burn Trevail

Luxulyan Church
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Rod Allday - geograph.org.uk/p/2708738

John Bawden (bap. 3 Apr 1837 in Lanlivery), son of John Bawden and Elizabeth Giles, married Mary Ann Burn Trevail, daughter of Joseph Trevail and Jane Rundle, at Luxulyan Parish Church, on 7 Jan 1861. Mary Ann's sister, Ellen Trevail, was bridesmaid at the wedding. Witnesses were the bride's father, Joseph Trevail and James Higgs, who married Ellen Trevail the following year, who it may be imagined was likely best man.

Of the couple's 10 children, seven sons and two daughters survived: 

1. Nicholas Bawden b. 1862 M Qtr in BODMIN Vol 05C Page 94, bap. 6 Apr 1862 at Lanlivery, Cornwall (died, at 16 months, in New Zealand)
2. Mary Jane Bawden b. 1864 in New Zealand
3. John Bawden b. 1866 in New Zealand
4. Henry Bawden b. 1868 in New Zealand
5. Joseph Bawden b. 1869 in New Zealand
6. Alfred Bowden (sic) b. 1872 in New Zealand
7. Charles Bowden (sic) b. 1874 in New Zealand
8. Samuel Nicholas Bowden (sic) b. 1876 in New Zealand
9. Emma Bawden b. 1878 in New Zealand
10. William Bowden (sic) b. 1883 in New Zealand

In 1861, newlyweds John (24) and Mary Ann (19) were living in the household of John's parents, at Rosnea Mill, Lanlivery. 

John Bawden Snr died in 1862 and on 10 Dec 1862, John Bawden (25), Mary Ann and their infant son, Nicholas, embarked in London aboard the ship, the Huntress. They arrived in Lyttelton, New Zealand on 21 Apr 1863, after what must have been a nightmare journey of 130+ days. Between the tactless and unpopular captain, quarrels and firearms being drawn, much discontent about the way victuals were cooked and a terrible cyclone just south of the equator, when passengers were locked up in their quarters (for their protection, but equally frightening), when, "The ship reared almost perpendicularly bows or stern up or down, also rolling sideways, and all ways, in a most alarming manner", this was certainly no pleasure cruise.

Travelling on the same voyage was Mary Ann's sister, Ellen (22), her husband James Higgs (24) and their infant daughter, Maria Jane. Each couple contributed £17 towards the £26 for the cost of the passage as assisted emigration. £17 in 1862 is worth £2,644 in 2023. A big investment.

On the voyage there were "15 deaths, all children with the exception of one young women aged 17 and a boy belonging to the ship". Nicholas Bawdin (sic), died, aged 16 months, in New Zealand, in 1863. Ellen's daughter, Maria Jane Higgs, also perished at 13 months. The deaths were registered in New Zealand, but they could have been part of those grim statistics.

At the end of their arduous journey, John Bawden undertook heavy manual work digging the Lyttelton Rail Tunnel - the first tunnel in the world to be taken through the side of an extinct volcano - completed 1867 and, in 1921, John was "one of the last survivors of that little band of tunnel workers."

Although the Trevails were farmers, not miners, reading how Cornish Miners were going to New Zealand for new lives and to work on this project when and because the tin mines closed in Cornwall - and one can imagine much local talk and newspaper coverage of that in Cornwall - probably explains where they will have got the idea to make the decision to emigrate.

Mary Ann Burn Trevail Bawden died on 5 Jan 1921, aged 79-80. Sadly, Mary Ann just missed her diamond wedding anniversary by two days, because the marriage certificate shows that they were married on 7th Jan (not 2nd as it says in the article). Mary Ann is buried at Lyttelton Anglican Cemetery. 

John Bawden died on 14 Aug 1929, aged 91, and is buried with his wife.

The obituary for John Bawden lists eldest daughter as Mrs M Lewis: Mary Jane Bowden (sic) married Isaac Lewis in 1894 and their younger daughter as Mrs E Ballard: Emma Bowden (sic) married Walter Charles Ballard in 1906.

The Lyttelton portal of the Lyttelton Rail Tunnel with construction workers in 1867
Very likely one of the men in this picture was John Bawden.

Thomas Bradley and Sarah Garton

St Mary, Chigwell
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © John Salmon - geograph.org.uk/p/4177347

Thomas Bradley (records suggest that he was born around 1766) married Sarah Garton (bap. 18 Feb 1770 n Woodford, Essex), daughter of John Garton and Elizabeth Shirley, on 6 Jan 1789 in Woodford, presumably at the ancient parish church of St Mary's, Woodford (since rebuilt).  

Thomas and Sarah had at least these eight children:

1. Henry Bradley bap. 1 Nov 1789 in Woodford
2. Sarah Bradley bap. 22 Apr 1792 at St Mary, Chigwell
3. Elizabeth Bradley bap. 19 Oct 1794 in Chigwell (Presume died.)
4. Catherine Bradley bap. 31 Jul 1796 in Chigwell
5. Elizabeth Bradley bap. 8 Mar 1799 in Chigwell
6. UNNAMED Bradley bap. 27 Jun 1802 in Chigwell
7. Mary Bradley bap. 5 Feb 1804 in Chigwell
8. John Bradley b. 15 May 1809, bap. 30 Jul 1809 in Chigwell

The first Elizabeth, b. 1794, presumably died, hence naming another child Elizabeth in 1799. The 1802 child, I assume was baptised posthumously.

Thomas Bradley died, aged 48, and was buried on 20 Feb 1814 in Chigwell.

Sarah Bradley died, age estimated as ~79/80 (in 1846 D Quarter in EPPING UNION Vol 12 Page 82), and was buried in Chigwell on 15 Nov 1846.

Job Sweeney and Eliza Louisa Tompson

Globe Road, Bethnal Green
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Stephen McKay - geograph.org.uk/p/4697355
Very much a part of the traditional East End, Globe Road runs north from Stepney Green station to Roman Road, and then on to this northern stretch up to Old Ford Road. 

Job Sweeney (b. 6 Feb 1870), son of John Henry Charles Sweeney and Susannah Harvey, married Eliza Louisa Tompson (b. 24 Aug 1868), daughter of Dan Tompson and Mary Ann Green, on 5 Jan 1893, at the Parish Church of St Anthony, Globe Road, Stepney. (The church of Saint Anthony stood in the borough of Bethnal Green, but was part of the rural deanery of Stepney. It closed in 1936 and the building was demolished in 1937.) Both claimed to be 24 and both gave their address as 3 Monteagle Street, Stepney. 

Their only son, Job Thomas Sweeney (right), was born at 25 Monteagle Street, Stepney (which further research suggests was a boarding house) on 27 Aug 1897 (registered Job Thomas Sweney 1897 D Quarter in MILE END OLD TOWN Volume 01C Page 499, with mother's maiden name TOMPSON) and baptised at St Dunstan and All Saints, Stepney, on 19 Sep 1897.

In 1901, Job Sweney (sic) (33) Warehouseman, Eliza Sweney (sic) (32) and Job Sweney (sic) (3), were living at 8, Repton Street, Limehouse. 

My mother always claimed that her father and grandmother, Eliza Louisa, had been living in Sidney Street at the time of the Siege of Sidney Street, or Battle of Stepney that took place in January 1911. Improbable, though not impossible, but I can find no records to support this. Eliza Louisa was well away from the area when Cable Street (where she was born) had it's own battle in 1936.

By the time of the census on 2 April 1911, the family were living at 102 Fore Street, in the City of London. They lived in a flat above the warehouse that came with the job, where Job Sweeney (41) was employed as Packer and Caretaker; Eliza Louisa Sweeney (41), Job Thomas Sweeney (13) and Amy Dobson (19) Domestic Servant, Friend (Amy Dobson b. 1892, was the sister of Ruth Christmas Dobson, wife of Job's brother Charles Sweeney.) 

In 1921, Job Sweeney (51) Packer, was still living and working at 102, Fore Street, City of London, for Hoffnung & Co Shipping Merchants; with wife, Eliza L Sweeney (52) and son, Job T Sweeney (23) Warehouseman, working for Wills & Co (W.D. & H.O. Wills) at their Holborn Viaduct factory (for whom he eventually worked for around 36 years.) (Calling herself Amy Margaret Dobson (29) Charwoman, in 1921 - no idea where the Margaret came from - living at 102, Hind Street, Poplar, this census tells us she was working for Messrs Hoffnung & Co Ltd at 102 Fore Street, City, E C.)

Press Gangs and the King’s Shilling: Job Sweney (sic) died, on 6 December 1924, aged 54 (1924 D Quarter in HENDON Volume 03A Page 374), and as family stories go, this has to be one of the best (as in the myth is about as far away from the truth as it's possible to get), but also one of the saddest. 

My mother won't have known her grandfather, as he had died when she was only a few months old, but throughout her life, she recounted this story so many times it would be impossible to count: The story went that Job Sweeney had been "press ganged" into the navy no less than three times. Once would be unlucky, you'd have thought. Anyway, this account, undoubtedly passed down to her by her grandmother, Eliza Louisa Sweeney, was further embellished with the assertion that Job liked his drink rather too much, hence was always in the pub and the worse for wear and, therefore, had been tricked, in serial fashion, into taking the King's Shilling. 

All absolute poppycock, of course, like most family stories are.

As I say, I'd heard and nodded along to the retelling of this story umpteen times, but never really considered or questioned it. It wasn't until I met the current 'him indoors' who knows his military history, who immediately said "wrong century", that it became obvious the whole thing was invention.

With hindsight, I can see where it will have come from. Job's father was a dock labourer (sometimes listed as a stevedore); his great-grandfather a mariner and many of their ancestors were sailors, ship's carpenters and shipwrights. Eliza Louisa's family ran pubs around the London docks. They'll have grown up with 'press gang' stories and other seafaring folklore.

Having spent his entire life in the East End, it was finding that his death had been registered in Hendon that made me dig further in order to solve the mystery. It even crossed my mind that holidays 'At His Majesty's Pleasure' might well have explained these absences that we were all led to believe were when he was 'at sea', but it was not so. Having ordered his death certificate, this confirmed that the actual place of death was Colindale Hospital.

Built originally as the The Central London District Sick Asylum in 1898-1900 - to provide care for the sick poor in London, separate from the workhouse - in 1919, it was taken over by The Metropolitan Asylums Board and used as male TB sanatorium. The cause of Job Sweeney's death was given as 'Pulmonary Tuberculosis, Certified by Marcus Patterson MD.' 

Dr. Marcus Sinclair Paterson (1870–1932) was the medical superintendent of the Colindale Hospital for Pulmonary Tuberculosis, Hendon. "Here Paterson made valuable innovations in the symptomatic treatment of advanced cases", says his obituary in the BMJ. He developed a system of treatment called 'graduated labour'. "He has described how his observations on out-patients led him to the idea of introducing manual work, as well as walking, into the sanatorium regime, with the hope of fitting his patients for immediate return to their work, and of successfully meeting the charge that sanatoriums turned out work-shy loafers." (Not unlike attitudes today, because victim blaming is a whole lot cheaper than doing research and actually treating the sick. Looks like we can see who was originally responsible for ideas that led to the much maligned, ineffective and harmful Graded exercise therapy (GET) too.)

So, we can deduce that the "press gang" story was made up to explain a series of absences, which were probably stays for 'treatment' - forced work when you're already too ill to do your normal work - at the sanatorium. And the saddest part is this tells us that, so strong was the social stigma attached to TB that families preferred to paint their nearest and dearest as 'feckless, drunken, work-shy', etc., rather than admit they had an infectious, then incurable, disease undoubtedly contracted through no fault of their own. 

Eliza Louisa Sweeney with her granddaughter, Ivy. Edited with ImageColorizer

The internet isn't just useful for looking up dry-and-dusty old genealogy records, there is so much more to discover. Take this for example. Among lots of family photos I inherited from my mother and hers before her was one of my mother and her grandmother, Eliza Louisa Sweeney (née Tompson), taken in the 1930s (my mother was 15 in 1939, so I estimate this is close to then). Only because there was a distinctive looking window on a building that looked like a church in the background behind them, it peaked my interest and I thought I would try to find out where the photo had been taken.

At that time, my mother, her parents and grandmother, still lived in the City of London, in Fore Street. It didn't look like anywhere I knew around there, but then it got a bit altered in the interim. I'd also tried the facility to Search with an image on Google, but it just told me it was a snapshot. Duh! 

Eventually, I asked the The East of London Family History Society Group for help, but whilst they weren't able to answer, members made many useful suggestions that led to more searches ... that finally turned up images of the Trinity Methodist Church, Clacton-on-Sea, which perfectly fit the round window, as well as other elements of the architecture. As confirmation, they sent me a link to this map of Clacton (Revision of 1939), which shows the position of the post box (marked L.B.) that you can see behind them. 

Trinity Methodist Church, Clacton-on-Sea
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © JThomas - geograph.org.uk/p/2944160

Then and now: Clacton's Trinity Church in Rosemary Road in 1881 and 2015

So, from this, we can deduce that, since this church is in the background, then they must be walking down Pier Avenue (shown here in c. 1925), in the direction of the sea front and pier and, as they lived in the East End, they can only have been on a day trip (no, I don't suppose they were flush enough for a whole holiday!) to Clacton-on-Sea. I'd wondered what they were up to that was special enough - in those pre-selfie days - for a photo. Now I know.

Mind you, "... if you stood where they were walking now you'd get mown down by the traffic, those trees, hedges and post box long gone too."

In 1939, Eliza Louisa was still living at 102 Fore Street with her son Job and his wife, Elizabeth (Bet) and granddaughter, Ivy, and remained there until their home was destroyed in WWII, thought to have been on or around the night of 29–30 Dec 1940, the so-called Second Great Fire of London.

Eliza Louisa Sweeney, otherwise Sweney (as it says on her death certificate), died on 13 Feb 1953 (1953 M Quarter in ROMFORD Volume 05A Page 846) from coronary thrombosis, influenza, chronic bronchitis and old age, at 84.

Samuel Mason and Amelia Baker

St Mary, Broxted
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © John Salmon - geograph.org.uk/p/3374354

Samuel Mason (b. 2 Aug 1793, bap. 29 Sep 1793 in Great Easton, Essex), son of Richard Mason and Millicent Butcher, married Amelia Baker (bap. 12 Sep 1791), believed to be daughter of William and Elizabeth Baker, at the church of St Mary, Broxted on 3 Jan 1816. The year before, they had been witnesses to the marriage of Daniel Hockley and Sophia Mason, Samuel's sister. Witnesses at this wedding were Rebecca Baker and Thomas Baker. 

Records suggest Samuel and Amelia Mason had six children:

1. Charles Mason b. around 1817
2. George Mason b. 1818-20 (calculated from age at death)
3. Richard Mason bap. 2 May 1824 at St Mary, Broxted
4. Sophia Mason bap. 30 Jul 1826 at St Mary, Broxted
5. John Mason bap. 27 Oct 1829 at St Mary, Broxted
6. Thomas Mason bap. 23 May 1833 at St Mary, Broxted

The baptism record for Richard, shows Samuel's occupation as Labourer.

In 1841, Samuel Mason (45) Agricultural Labourer was living at Browns End, Broxted, Dunmow, Essex with Amelia Mason (45), Charles Mason (20), George Mason (20), Richard Mason (17), Sophia Mason (15), John Mason (11) and Thomas Mason (8). The adults' ages being rounded down to the nearest five on this census, I'm assuming that they were listed in descending order of age and that Charles was older than George. 

Samuel Mason died, aged 62, in 1853 J Quarter in DUNMOW UNION Volume 04A Page 238 and was buried, on 21 May 1853, at St Mary, Broxted.

So far, I've not been able to find a record of Amelia's death.

Joseph James Hockley and Nellie Radley

Holy Cross Church, Felsted, Essex
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Peter Stack - geograph.org.uk/p/2031193

Joseph James Hockley (b. 7 Mar 1881), illegitimate son of Elizabeth Hockley, married Nellie Radley (b. 19 Apr 1880 in Felsted), daughter of Jonah Radley and Jane Digby, on 2 Jan 1904 at Holy Cross Church, Felsted.

Joseph James and Nellie had six children, but tragically, only two survived:

1. Eleanor Lottie Hockley b. 1904 D Quarter in MILE END OLD TOWN Volume 01C Page 416
2. Doris Rose Hockley b. 1907 J Quarter in MILE END OLD TOWN Volume 01C Page 434
3. Austen Hubert Hockley b. 1909 M Quarter in MILE END OLD TOWN Volume 01C Page 407. Died in 1909 J Quarter in MILE END OLD TOWN Volume 01C Page 223
4. Annie May Hockley b. 1910 S Quarter in WILLESDEN Volume 03A Page 301. Died 1910 D Quarter in WILLESDEN Volume 03A Page 136
5. Neville Frederick Hockley b. 1910 S Quarter in WILLESDEN Volume 03A Page 301. Died 1910 D Quarter in WILLESDEN Volume 03A Page 129
6. Kathleen Nellie Hockley b. 1916 S Quarter in STEYNING Volume 02B Page 403. Died 1917 D Quarter in STEYNING Volume 02B Page 365

Annie May and Neville Frederick, clearly, were twins.

Joseph James Hockley from Felsted, had enlisted in the Coldstream Guards on 20 Jun 1898. He said he was 18 years and 3 months old, so he'd added a year. He was a tall lad at 5ft 9in, weighing 133 lbs with a fresh complexion, hazel eyes and brown hair. The workhouse school had just about taught him to sign his name. In 1901, J Hockley (20) from Felsted, Essex, Pte foot guards, was at Pirbright Camp in Pirbright, Surrey. 

As James Hockley he served in Gibraltar in 1899 and twice in South Africa, once in 1900 and again in 1902, during the Second Boer War, for which he was awarded the Queen's South Africa Medal and 5 clasps including Diamond Hill, JOHANNESBURG (Doornkop), CAPE COLONY, ORANGE FREE STATE and SOUTH AFRICA 1902. James Hockley was transferred to the Army Reserve on 5 Aug 1902 and discharged from the reserve on 18 Feb 1910 on promotion to the rank of Sergeant of Police. 

In 1911, Joseph Hockley (30) Metropolitan police sergeant, Nellie Hockley (30), Eleanor Hockley (6) and Doris Hockley (4) were living at 5 Weymouth Terrace, Acton Lane, Willesden. This census confirmed that, by that time, they'd had 5 children, of whom 3 had died, during their 7 year marriage.

Joseph James Hockley died, aged 38, in 1919 M Quarter in STEYNING.

In 1921, Nellie Hockley (41) Stationer & Confectioner was at 94, Portland Road, Hove, Aldrington, Sussex with Eleanor Lottie Hockley (16) Assisting Mother in Shop; Doris Rose Hockley (14) Clerk. There were two boarders, both Policemen for Hove Borough Police and two visitors, William Henry and Eleanor Theresa Sheppard (from London. Family maybe?).

In 1939, Nellie Hockley, widow, lived at 46 Marmion Road, Hove.

Nellie Hockley of 46 Marmion Road, Hove, died on 3 Aug 1958 at 26 Tugela Road, Chippenham, Wiltshire, leaving her effects to Doris Rose Slade (wife of Samuel James Slade) and Leslie William Terry Judd chartered secretary. 

(Eleanor Lottie Hockley had married Leslie William Terry Judd in 1929, in Steyning, Sussex, while Doris Rose Hockley married Samuel James Slade in 1948, in Chippenham, Wiltshire. Uncertain if either couple had children).

William Francis and Mary Gunn

St Peter’s Church, Mattishall Burgh

William Francis and Mary Gunn, a pair of my 5th great-grandparents, were married, on 1 Jan 1771, at St Peter’s Church, Mattishall Burgh.

Records exist for the baptisms, also in Mattishall Burgh, of three children: 

1. John Francis bap. 19 Apr 1772
2. William Francis bap. 14 Nov 1773
3. Mary Francis bap. 28 Mar 1779

William and Mary were buried at All Saints' Church, Mattishall. Mary was buried on 14 Apr 1816. The record states that she was 73 and born in 1743. William was buried little more than a year later, on 18 May 1817. His burial record says he was 76, born in 1741, but I haven't located their baptisms.

Churchyard at All Saints' Church, Mattishall

Archibald Robertson and Mary Ann Thomas Butters

Devonport Dockyard - Figureheads
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Chris Allen - geograph.org.uk/p/3856679

Archibald Robertson married Mary Ann Thomas Butters on 1 Jan 1861, in the parish of St James, Devonport. On the marriage certificate, Archibald Robertson, Stoker RN, age is given as 20 and his residence as HMS Indus, said to be son of Archibald Robertson, Iron Moulder. Mary Ann, who was 19 and lived at 8 Moon Street, Devonport, had no father listed. Archibald made his mark to sign the register, but Mary Ann was able to scrawl a signature. One of the witnesses to the marriage was a Daniel Pellew.

Archibald and Mary Ann had three children:

1. Mary Ann Robertson b. 17 Mar 1862 J Quarter in STOKE DAMEREL Volume 05B Page 344, bap. as Mary Ann Pellew Robertson on 18 Feb 1875 at Devonport, St James the Great
2. Archibald John Robertson b. 18 Jun 1863 S Quarter in STOKE DAMEREL Volume 05B Page 298, bap. as Archibald John Pellew Robertson on 18 Feb 1875 at Devonport, St James the Great
3. Margaret Robertson b. 6 Jul 1865 S Quarter in STOKE DAMEREL Volume 05B Page 298, bap. 22 Sep 1870 at Devonport, St Stephen.

In 1861, Mary Ann Roberson (sic) (19) Seaman's Wife, was living at 6, Joll's Cottages, Devonport.

Mary Ann Robertson died, aged 23, on 16 July 1865 S Quarter in STOKE DAMEREL Volume 05B Page 199. Given the date, I think we can guess what the cause of death was. Mary Ann Robertson of 47 Monument St, Devonport was buried on 20 July 1865, in the Parish of Stoke Damerel.

When he enlisted in the Royal Navy, on 26 Jan 1860, as a Stoker, Archibald Robertson said that he was born on 9 Jul 1837, in Glasgow. He was 5 ft 3 in tall, with a fresh complexion, red hair and hazel eyes. From 26 Jul 1860 to 6 Jul 1861, he was indeed assigned to HMS Indus. He then spent four years, until 1 Jun 1865, with HMS Geyser, Storeship at Devonport, a few months back with HMS Indus in 1865, and HMS Greyhound until 2 Nov 1866, when, at the end of the last line of his record in the cause of discharge column, it says "Ran at St Helena", which indicates that he deserted at St Helena. Where he went after that is anybody's guess, but it's unlikely he will have stayed long on the small island and far more reasonable to assume he jumped ship there and then lived somewhere far off, under a different name.

On their baptisms, all were listed as children of Archibald and Mary Ann, but were clearly baptised later by their respective foster families. On Mary Ann and Archibald's baptism, their address was listed as 9 Moon Street - Daniel Pellew's address. Margaret was living at 7 Mount Street and one of the Street family, baptised at the same time, was also listed at that address.

In 1871, Mary A Robertson (9) and Archibald J Robertson (8) were described as Orphans, living in the household of Daniel Pellew (63) Naval Pensioner and his wife, Charity, in Morice Town, Devonport. Meanwhile, Margaret Robertson (5) was a Boarder in the household of Sarah Organ (64) at 7 Mount Street, Stoke Damerel, along with her daughters, one of whom was Margaret Street.

In 1881, Mary A Robinson (19) Laundress and Archibald J Robinson (17) General Porter, were again living in the household of Daniel Pellew (70) Naval Pensioner and his wife, Charity, at 9, Moon Street, Devonport Stoke-Damerel. This time they were described as his granddaughter and grandson. That year Margaret Robertson (15) General Domestic Servant, was living in the household of Margaret Street (41) Widow, Charwoman at 21, Cross Street, Devonport Stoke-Damerel, described as her Foster Daughter.

Archibald John Pellew Robinson enlisted in the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class on 17 Aug 1881, giving his date of birth as 2 March 1866. Making himself three years younger, 15 instead of 18, probably meant he was accepted for training. He rose to the rank of Petty Officer, before being Discharged Dead at St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, Australia on 4 Nov 1898, from a Tumour of the Brain. He is buried at Rookwood General Cemetery.

Who was Daniel Pellew? He claims to have been from Gillingham, Kent, although the only baptism record of a Daniel Pellew is in 1812, at St Mary's Church, Portsea, son of William Pellew and Elizabeth Keeler. 

Daniel Pellew, Able Seaman, married Elizabeth Pike, in Northfleet, Kent on 26 Dec 1844. Daniel Pellew, Widower, Mariner HMS Bellerophon, then married Ann Leach, Widow, who lists her father as James Butters, Fisherman, in Stoke Damerel, in September 1851. Daniel Pellew, Widower, Mariner HMS Impregnable, married for the third and final time to Charity Horn on 16 Dec 1855, in Stoke Damerel. Mary Ann Thomas Butters, bap. 27 Mar 1842 in Torpoint, Cornwall, was the illegitimate daughter of Daniel's second wife, Ann Leach (née Butters) and therefore, he was step-grandfather to Mary Ann and Archibald John, who he brought up and who added Pellew to their names at baptism. Without blood ties (and many times even with), others would have sent those children to the workhouse. Despite three wives, Daniel Pellew, seems to have no biological children, which might explain why.

Daniel Pellew (73) of 9 Mount Street, died on 17 Mar 1882 and was buried on 25 Mar 1882, in Stoke Damerel. In 1891, Charity Pellew (68) Widow, Laundress, was still living in Moon Street. Charity Pellew (70), of 11 Moon Street, died on 1 Dec 1894 and was buried on 4 Dec 1894.

Benjamin Thompson and Mary Ann Botterill

The Spotted Cow (closed)
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Stephen Craven - geograph.org.uk/p/2331664

Benjamin Thompson (bap. 3 Oct 1841 in Cransley, Northamptonshire), son of Daniel Thompson and Mary Adcock, married Mary Ann Botterill (b. 1844 in West Haddon), daughter of Stephen Botterill and Mary Thompson, at Christ Church, Watney Street, St George in the East on 30 Dec 1866. Benjamin's sister, Sarah Elizabeth Thompson, had already married Mary Ann's brother, Daniel Botterill. Both sibling pairs, therefore, married their first cousins.

Records suggest that Benjamin and Mary had six children:

1. Daniel Tompson b. 1872 M Quarter in SAINT GEORGE IN THE EAST Volume 01C Page 460
2. Benjamin Adcock Tompson b. 1874 J Quarter in SAINT GEORGE IN THE EAST Volume 01C Page 413
3. Sarah Tompson b. 1879 S Quarter in ST GEORGE IN THE EAST Volume 01C Page 398
4. Thomas Tompson b. 1883 S Quarter in STEPNEY Volume 01C Page 421
5. Mary Tompson b. 1887 S Quarter in BROMLEY Volume 02A Page 413
6. Rose Tompson b. 1889 S Quarter in LEWISHAM Volume 01D Page 1114. Died 18 Feb 1891 (1891 M Quarter in LEWISHAM Volume 01D Page 810) and is buried at Brockley and Ladywell Cemeteries

In 1861, Benjamin Tompson (19), having dopped the haitch, bricklayer, had been living with his aunt and uncle, John and Maria Blackett. 

By 1871, Benjamin Tompson (29) Master Builder and Mary (27) were living at 299 Cable Street. (Benjamin's brother Dan and his wife Mary Ann Green were living there when their first child, Eliza Louisa was born there in 1868.) 

Then in 1879, Benjamin Thompson was listed as the incoming licensee at the Victoria, 46 Three Colt Street, Limehouse E14. (A Trip Down Three Colt Street | Houses in Three Colt Street.) 

In 1881, Benjamin Tompson (39) Licenced Victualler from Broughton, Northamptonshire, was still at 46 Three Colt Steet, Limehouse with Mary Tompson (36), Daniel Tompson (9), Benjamin Tompson (7), Mary Tompson (18)* Barmaid and C Taylor (19) Female Domestic Servant. *Mary Tompson is listed as their daughter, but in fact was Mary Elizabeth Tompson, daughter of Benjamin's late brother, George Thompson and Diana Shatford.

Benjamin was still listed at the Victoria, Limehouse in 1882 and 1884. 

Benjamin Tompson died, aged 48, in 1890 M Quarter in LEWISHAM Volume 01D Page 802. The Will of Benjamin Tompson of the "Victoria" Tavern, Three Colt Street, Limehouse in the County of Middlesex, but late of the "Spotted Cow", Hither Green Lane, Lewisham in the County of Kent, Licenced Victualler, who died 6 Feb 1890 [1] at the "Spotted Cow", was proved at the Principal Registry by Mary Tompson of the "Spotted Cow" Widow of the Relict and John Soppit of the "Railway" Tavern, Shortlands in the County of the Kent, Licensed Victualler the Executors. He left £1,140 17s 10d.

[1] The date of death on the probate record was listed as 6 Feb 1890, but on his grave, the date is given as 6 Jan 1890. The latter must be correct as Benjamin had already been buried (hopefully not alive) on 14 Jan 1890.

In 1891, Mary Tompson (46), widow, had become the Licenced Victualler of the Spotted Cow, Hither Green Lane, Lewisham. Living with her were her son, Daniel (19) Manager Public House; Benjamin (17), Cabinet Maker's Apprentice; daughter Mary (3); her niece Sarah Tompson (Dan Tompson's daughter), as well as a Sarah A Bunting (24), General Servant.

By 1901, Mary Tompson (55) was living at 44, Ringstead Road, Lewisham. With her were Benjamin Tompson (27), who had become an upholsterer; Thomas Tompson (17), Warehouseman; Mary Tompson (13), Sybil Thompson (2), granddaughter, and Ellen Guymer (20), General Domestic Servant.

Mary Tompson died, aged 58, on 7 Jun 1903 (1903 J Qtr in LEWISHAM Vol 01D 575) and she is also buried at Brockley and Ladywell Cemeteries.

Samms Sheppard Rudd and Mary Sarah Ann Walrond

St John the Evangelist Waterloo
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © PAUL FARMER - geograph.org.uk/p/1257876

Samms Sheppard Rudd (bap. 30 Nov 1834 at St Dunstan's, Stepney), son of Samms Rudd and Ann Johnson, married Mary Sarah Ann Walrond, who listed her father as William Walrond, Cabinet Maker [and Mary Scoines], at St John the Evangelist (St John's Church, Waterloo), on 29 Dec 1854. 

The couple had at least seven children:

1. Mary Ann Rudd b. 2 Nov 1855 D Quarter in THE SHOREDITCH DISTRICT Volume 01C Page 98, bap. 28 Dec 1856 at St John the Baptist, Shoreditch (St John the Baptist, Hoxton). The family's address was in Aske Street (named for parish's benefactor, City alderman and haberdasher Robert Aske) and her father's occupation, Waiter.
2. Emily Grace Rudd b. 8 Jul 1857 S Quarter in SHOREDITCH Volume 01C Page 152, bap. 1 Aug 1858 at St. James', Westminster.
3. Alice Rudd b. 1859 S Quarter in SHOREDITCH Volume 01C Page 100
4. Frederick William Rudd b. 1864 J Qtr in SHOREDITCH Vol 01C 83
5. Albert Edward Rudd b. 1868 S Qtr in SHOREDITCH Vol 01C 75
6. John Edwin Rudd b. 1872 D Qtr in HAMPSTEAD Vol 01A 603
7. Charles Rudd b. 1876 M Qtr in ST GILES Vol 01B Page 652

On the birth registrations for Mary Ann, Alice, Frederick William, Albert Edward and John Edwin the mother's maiden name is listed as WALROND. On that for Emily Grace, it's WABRONE and for Charles, WABROUD. With such random variations, it's difficult to know if all their children are included.

In 1861, listed as Samuel S Rudd (26) Waiter from Kentish Town, Middlesex, was living at 41, New North Street, Shoreditch with Mary S Rudd (26), Mary A Rudd (5), Emily G Rudd (4) and Alice Rudd (1).

In 1871, the family were in Islington, with Samms Sheppard Rudd (37), Mary Sarah Ann Rudd (36), Robert Cockare (19), Mary Ann Rudd (15), Emily Rudd (13), Alice Rudd (11), Fred Wm Rudd (7) and Albert Edwd Rudd (2).

In 1875 and 1876, Samms Sheppard Rudd was listed as the Licensee at the Globe, 58 New Compton Street WC2. New Compton Street in the London Borough of Camden, runs to St Giles High Street in the north.

In 1881, apparently transcribed as Thomas Rudd (47) Licenced Victualler from Kentish Town, London, he was at the Prince of Wales, 17 Riley Street, Bermondsey SE1 with Mary A Rudd (43), Emily Rudd (23) Barmaid from Hoxton; Alice Rudd (21) Barmaid from Finsbury; Frederick Rudd (16) Clerk; Albert Rudd (12), Edwin Rudd (8) and Charles Rudd (5).

In 1882 and 1884, then The London 1891 Public House & Publican Directory and the Post Office Directory still place Samms Sheppard Rudd at the Prince of Wales, 17 Riley Street, Bermondsey SE1. Son Frederick William Rudd had taken this over by 1899 and his widow, Amelia, by 1901.

In 1891, Samms Sheppard Rudd (57) Retired Publican was living in Bayston Road, Hackney, with Mary Sarah Ann Rudd (56), Albert Edward Rudd (22), Charles Rudd (15) and Emma Nash (53) Sister, Widow. (There was a marriage, in 1865, in Shoreditch between Emma Walrond and Thomas Henry Nash, who had died, in Shoreditch, in 1876. I still cannot find birth registrations for either Mary Sarah Ann, nor Emma Walrond.)

In 1901, listed as James S Rudd (67) from Kentish Town, London, living on own means, was living in Albert Road, Croydon with Mary S Rudd (66). 

Mary Sarah Ann Rudd died, at 66, on 7 Jun 1901 (1901 J Quarter in CROYDON Volume 02A Page 173) and was buried at Brockley and Ladywell Cemeteries.

In 1911, Samms Sheppard Rudd (b. 1838), was once more living in Croydon, with his sister-in-law, Jane Walrond (69). [1]

Samms Sheppard Rudd died, aged 81, on 3 Dec 1915 (1915 D Quarter in CROYDON Volume 02A Page 470) and was buried along with his late wife, on 8 Dec 1915, also at Brockley and Ladywell Cemeteries.

[1] There are no birth/baptism records for Mary Sarah Ann nor Emma Walrond, however, their sister Jane Walrond b. 1841 S Quarter in SAINT GEORGE THE MARTYR SOUTHWARK Volume 04 Page 405 was the daughter of William Walrond and Mary Scoines, who married in Stepney, on 20 Sep 1824. Jane Walrond died, aged 75, in Croydon, in 1918.

Henry George Harcus and Susan Alice Tubb

Church of St. John the Divine, Chatham
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Chris Whippet - geograph.org.uk/p/3850305
(St John's a Waterloo church built in 1821 and restructured in 1869, ceased being an active church in 1964, was then used as an art project and finally reopened in 2021.)

Henry George Harcus (b. 1848), son of John Harcus and Selina Patrick, married Susan Alice Tubb (b. 1852), daughter of Edward Tubb and Hannah Bussey and younger sister of Elizabeth Tubb, at St John's Church, Chatham, Kent, on 29 Dec 1872. Henry George Harcus, 24 at the time of the marriage, occupation was listed as Publican. Witnesses were Selina Mary Ann Caddy (Henry George's sister, who had married in 1870) and George Vokes. 

The couple don't seem to have had any children.

On 8 Mar 1875 at Maidstone Assizes, Susanah Alice Harcus stood accused of Perjury, but the bill was ignored. I don't know the details of the case. 

That same year, on 21 Oct 1875, at Maidstone Quarter Sessions, Henry Harcus was tried for "Stealing £1, the money of George Miles, at Chatham, on 12th September, 1875". The Verdict of the Jury was "No Bill", which generally means there was not enough evidence to indict him on the alleged crime.

In 1881, Henry Harcus (32) Eating house keeper and wife listed as Alice S Harcus (27) from Portsmouth, Hampshire, were living at 7, Middle Street, Gillingham (7 Middle St, Chatham, Gillingham, close to both Chatham Dockyard as well as Brompton Barracks and Kitchener Barracks).

Henry George Harcus died on 20 Feb 1887, aged 39 (1887 M Quarter in SAINT GEORGE IN THE EAST Volume 01C Page 276), at that time resident in St George in the East, Middlesex and was buried at Chatham, St Mary in the Chatham, Former St Mary's Burial Ground, now Town Hall Gardens. Records show he was interred in grave 319, with his father and sister. Now reinterred, on 5 Aug 1971, in the Borough Cemetery in Maidstone Road.

Susan Alice Harcus (34) Widow, daughter of Edward Tubb (deceased) married Samuel Walker (38), Batchelor, Commercial Traveller, son of Joseph Walker, Boot Manufacturer, at St Peter's Church, Cephas Street, Mile End Old Town, on 27 Apr 1887. Witnesses were Joseph Walker and Elizabeth Salter.