Wednesday, 24 December 2025

George Woods and Maria White

St Julian's church in Norwich
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Evelyn Simak - geograph.org.uk/p/1958118

George Woods (bap. 25 May 1834 in Rackheath, Norfolk), son of John Woods and Elizabeth Waters, married Maria White (bap. 31 Jul 1842 in Mattishall, Norfolk), daughter of William White and Ann Francis, at St Julian's Church, Norwich on Christmas Eve, 24 Dec 1863. Witnesses to the marriage were listed as John Roxby and Hannah White (Maria's sister). 

George and Maria do not appear to have had any children.

In 1881, George Woods (46) Gardener and Maria Woods (38), were living at Mile Lane (Mile Cross Lane?), Eaton St Andrew, Norwich.

In 1891, living in Ipswich Road, Norwich, were George Woods (57) Market Gardener from Rackheath, Norfolk; Maria Woods (48) from Mattishall and Mary Wilson (sic) (64) Sister, Married, also from Mattishall, whose name was wrongly listed and was actually Maria's eldest sister, Mary Ann Watson.

George Woods died at 62 in 1896 J Qtr in NORWICH Vol 04B Page 83.

In 1901, Maria Wood (sic) (58) was Housekeeper to Henry Davy, Licenced Victualler at 78, St Benedict Court Street, Norwich (The Ten Bells). 

In the 4th quarter of 1905, Maria Woods married Thomas Scrivener

In 1911, Thomas Scrivener (78) Naval Pensioner from Houghton, Bedfordshire and Maria Scrivener (68) from Mattishall, Norfolk, were living in Back Lane, Banham, Attleborough, Norfolk.

Thomas Scrivener of 101 Glebe Road, Norwich died, aged 87, on 3 Apr 1920 (1920 J Quarter in NORWICH Volume 04B Page 149). Probate was granted on 15 Apr 1920 to Maria Scrivener, Widow, to whom he left effects of £318 16s 9d (around £18,000 in 2023).

In 1921, Maria Scrivener (78) was still living at 101, Glebe Road, Norwich, Norfolk with Theresa Wardle (43) and Murial Tuxford Wardle (8), Boarders.

Maria Scrivener died at 83 in 1926 M Qtr in NORWICH Vol 04B Pg 156.

Tuesday, 23 December 2025

Henry George Case and Amelia Elizabeth Baker

Disused railway bridge over Rotherhithe New Road
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Stephen Craven - geograph.org.uk/p/2426607

Henry George Case (b. 1851 on Alderney, Channel Islands) son of Henry Case and Elizabeth Symes married Amelia Elizabeth Baker (b. 1854), daughter of Charles Hoile Baker and Amelia Young, on 23 Dec 1877, at Christ Church, Watney Street, St George in the East. Henry's address was 23 Cowley Street and his profession was Stone Mason. Witnesses were Amelia's older brother Charles Richard Baker and Sophia Baker, her younger sister.

Henry and Amelia had seven children:

  1. Henry Charles Case b. 1879 M Quarter in MILE END OLD TOWN Volume 01C Page 567
  2. Elizabeth Amelia Case b. 1880 S Quarter in MILE END OLD TOWN Volume 01C Page 518
  3. Frederick John Case b. 1882 J Quarter in MILE END OLD TOWN Volume 01C Page 561. Died in 1883 J Quarter in MILE END OLD TOWN Volume 01C Page 374
  4. Frederick William Case b. 1885 J Quarter in CAMBERWELL Vol 01D Page 878. Died in 1885 J Quarter in CAMBERWELL Vol 01D Page 493
  5. Ellen Rosina Case b. 1887 M Qtr in CAMBERWELL Vol 01D Page 989
  6. John Frederick Case b. 1889 S Quarter in CAMBERWELL Vol 1D Page 895. Died 1891 M Quarter in CAMBERWELL Vol 01D Page 673
  7. George Alfred Case b. 1891 S Qtr in CAMBERWELL Vol 01D 959
In 1881, Henry George Case (30) Oil & colorman (shop) from Alderney, Guernsey, Channel Islands, was living at 107, Ernest Street, Mile End Old Town with Emelia Eliz (sic) (26), Henry C Case (2) and Elizabeth A Case (1), as well as Matilda Pearson (29) Sewing Machinist, Lodger.

In 1891, Henry George Case (39) Oil & General Stores, from Guernsey, Channel Islands was in Bramcote Road, Camberwell, Southwark with Amelia E Case (36), Henry C Case (12), Elizabeth A Case (10) and Ellen R Case (4).

In 1901, Henry George Case (50) General Shop Keeper from Alderney, Channel Islands, was living at 80 Bramcote Road, Camberwell with Amelia E Case (47), Henry C Case (22), Elizabeth A Case (22), Ellen R Case (14), George A Case (9) and Christopher F Barden (sic) (13) Visitor. (Christopher Frederick Burden, b. 1888, was son of Amelia's sister, Sophia.)

In 1911, Henry George Case (60) Painter and Paperhanger from Alderney, Channel Islands, was living at 331 Rotherhithe New Road, Bermondsey with Amelia Elizabeth Case (58), George Alfred Case (19) Engineering Clerk; Elizabeth Amelia Case (30), Ellen Rosina Case (24) both Shirt Machinists; Edward M Leslie Mead (21) Boarder and Peter Washington (78) Widower, Retired Ship's Carpenter from Guernsey, Channel Islands, Visitor.

In 1921, George Henry Case (70) Stone Mason retired, was living at 23, Balham Hill, Wandsworth with Amelia Elizabeth Case (68), Elizabeth Amelia Case (41) and Elsie Whitford (34) Dressmaker from Guernsey, Boarder.

Amelia Elizabeth Case died, at 69, in 1922 J Quarter in WANDSWORTH Volume 01D Page 666.

Henry George Case of 13 Lynette Avenue, Clapham, died, aged 79, on 28 Feb 1930 (1930 M Quarter in WANDSWORTH Volume 01D Page 581) and was buried on 6 Mar 1930 at Streatham Cemetery. Probate was granted on 1 Apr 1930 to his eldest son, Henry Charles Case, Law Stationer.

Daniel Hockley and Sarah Skinner

Aythorpe Roding Post Mill
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Michael Trolove - geograph.org.uk/p/3392678
Aythorpe Roding Windmill near to Roundbush Green, Essex

Daniel Hockley (b. 1845), son of George Hockley and Eliza Crow, married Sarah Skinner (b. 1855), daughter of Samuel Skinner and Margaret Smith (née Harrison), on 23 Dec 1876, at St Mary's Church, Great Canfield.

Daniel and Sarah Hockley had nine children:
  1. George Arthur Hockley b. 1 Dec 1877, reg. 1878 M Qtr in DUNMOW Vol 04A Page 453, bap. 30 Dec 1877 at St Mary's, Great Canfield
  2. Beatrice Margaret Hockley b. 1879 S Quarter in DUNMOW UNION Volume 04A Page 466, bap. 31 Aug 1879 at St Mary's, Great Canfield
  3. Samuel Frederick Hockley b. 1880 S Quarter in DUNMOW UNION Volume 04A Page 488, bap. Frederick Samuel Hockley (which he was known by thereafter) on 26 Sep 1880 at St Mary's, Great Canfield
  4. Rose Hockley b. 1882 S Quarter in DUNMOW Vol 04A Page 523
  5. Herbert Hockley b. 1884 J Quarter in DUNMOW Vol 04A Page 558
  6. Ernest Hockley b. 1885 S Quarter in DUNMOW Vol 04A Page 559
  7. Amy Hockley b. 1886 D Quarter in DUNMOW Vol 04A Page 594
  8. Christopher Hockley b. 1888 D Quarter in DUNMOW Vol 04A Page 596
  9. Margaret Hockley b. 1890 M Quarter in DUNMOW Volume 04A Page 657, but who died in the same quarter, 1890 M Quarter in DUNMOW Volume 04A Page 398 and was buried on 27 Feb 1890 at St Mary's, Great Canfield with the burial record giving her age as 17 days.
In 1881, calling himself Daniel George Hockley (32) Coachman was living at Fitzjohns, Great Canfield, Dunmow. He didn't have that middle name, but it was his father's name and this is the 2nd time this week I've found someone adding their father's name as a middle name, so I wonder if it was a 'thing'? And it was useful later on. Fitzjohns, it appears from the census schedules, is next door to the cottage he lived in ten years previously, so may have been with the same employer. With him were Sarah Hockley (25), George Arthur Hockley (3), Beatrice Margaret (1) and Samuel Frederick Hockley (0).

Sarah Hockley died, aged 33 (as 'Hackley' 1890 M Quarter in DUNMOW UNION Volume 04A Page 398), and was buried, at St Mary's, Great Canfield, six days before her last child, on 21 Feb 1890. It probably doesn't require a medical degree to work out what contributed to her cause of death.

In 1891, Daniel Hockley (40) Coachman, Widower, still living at Fitzjohns, Lodge Gates, Great Canfield, Dunmow, Essex with George A Hockley (13), Betsy M Hockley (11), Frederick Hockley (10), Rose Hockley (8), Herbert Hockley (6), Ernest Hockley (5) and Amy Hockley (4). Meanwhile, Christopher Hockley (2) was being looked after by his aunt, Mary Ann Hockley (wife of Daniel's elder brother, William Hockley) in Poplar, London.

Unsurprisingly, Daniel Hockley then remarried, to Mary Ann Hurry (b. 31 Jul 1861 in Depwade, Norfolk), daughter of Samuel Hurry and Jane Moyes, also at St Mary's, Great Canfield, on 25 Jul 1891. At the time of the 1891 census (5 Apr), Mary Ann Hurry (29) had been employed as a General servant in the household of William J Peacock at Claremont, Lewisham Park, Lewisham.

Daniel and Mary Ann added a further three children:
  1. Daniel Samuel Hockley b. 14 Feb 1894 M Quarter Vol 04A 700
  2. Alice Jane Hockley b. 7 Jan 1898 M Quarter Vol 04A Page 750
  3. Stanley Hockley b. 24 Dec 1902, reg. 1903 M Quarter Vol 04A 893
In 1901, Daniel Hockley (49) had moved to Near Pennyfeathers, High Roding, where he was employed as a Coachman gardener, living with Mary A Hockley (39), Ernest Hockley (15) Farmer's servant; Amy Hockley (14), Christopher Hockley (12), Daniel S Hockley (7) and Alice J Hockley (3).

In 1911, living at Round Bush Green, Aythorpe Roding, were Daniel Hockley (65) Stockman, Mary Ann Hockley (51), Daniel Samuel Hockley (17) Labourer; Alice Jane Hockley (13) and Stanley Hockley (8) At School.

Daniel George Hockley (usefully adding the middle name), of Round Bush Green, Aythorpe Roding, died aged 73 (1918 S Qtr in DUNMOW Vol 04A Page 800), and was buried on 10 Sep 1918 at St Mary's, Great Canfield.

In 1921, Mary Ann Hockley (60) Widow, was still at Round Bush Green, Aythorpe Roding, Dunmow, with Daniel Samuel Hockley (26) and Stanley Hockley (18), both Farm Labourers at Brook End, Little Dunmow.

In 1939, Mary Ann Hockley, widow, lived at 4 Round Bush Villas, Braintree with son Stanley Hockley and his wife, Emily, and son Daniel S Hockley.

Mary Ann Hockley died, aged 81 (1942 S Quarter in DUNMOW Volume 04A Page 828), and was buried on 27 Aug 1942 at St Mary's, Aythorpe Roding.

Long Grove Asylum

On 9 Jun 1897 George Arthur Hockley, Footman, b. 1879 in Great Canfield, Essex, enlisted in the Royal Artillery at Woolwich. At that time he was 18 years and 6 months old; 5ft 7½in, weighed 127lbs, with a fresh complexion, hazel eyes and brown hair. The record lists his father as Daniel Hockley and siblings as Frederick, Beatrice and Rose, in Great Canfield, so there can be no mistake. However, only 35 days later, on 13 July 1897, he was discharged, having been found to have given a false answer at attestation. Among the questions on his application form, was "9. Have you ever been sentenced to Imprisonment by the Civil Power?" He said no, but George Arthur Hockley had been convicted of a felony, tried and imprisoned by Civil Power. 

A report of the Aylesbury Petty Sessions of Saturday, October 24th, in the Bucks Herald of 31 October 1896 provides some details:
THE ROBBERY AT THE LILLIES, WEEDON

George Arthur Hockley, footman, was brought up in custody charged with stealing £7 17s in money, the property of Mr G A Brittain, of The LilliesWeedon. Supt. Pitson said that up to the present time the defendant had been a footman in the employ of Mr Brittain at The Lillies. On Friday morning, when the defendant got up at seven o'clock, he reported to his master that the house had been broken into. In consequence of this, Inspector Bunker and he (the Superintendent) went there and found that apparently someone had entered the house by the drawing-room window, opened the door into the hall, and then gone into the library, which had been completely ransacked, the drawers of a writing table having been forced open, and money amounting to £7 17s stolen. In consequence of the circumstances of the case, Inspector Bunker and P S Shore went there that morning to complete the inquiries, which resulted in the arrest of the defendant now charged with the offence. He asked for a remand until such time as he could go into the case. The Chairman: Can you name a time? Supt. Pitson said that he had to send to London over the case. He would ask for a remand until Wednesday. Defendant offered no objection to the remand, and the Bench adjourned the case until Wednesday, when Mr G Butcher further remanded the defendant until today (Saturday).
I haven't had access to a record of what happened next in the case.

The next event, in the 3rd quarter of 1904, George Hockley, son of Daniel Hockley and Sarah Skinner, married Evangeline Dowell (b. 17 Sep 1884), daughter of Edwin Dowell and Ellen Jane Jones, in Epsom, Surrey.

Evangeline was born in Dartmouth, Devon and brought up in Southsea, Hampshire, her father having been a Chief Band Master, Royal Navy.

In 1911, George A Hockley (33) was an Attendant at Long Grove Asylum, while Evangeline Hockley (26) was a Nurse at the same institution. 

Long Grove Hospital, formerly Long Grove Asylum, later Long Grove Mental Hospital, was a mental hospital in Epsom, Surrey, regarded as a showpiece and attracted excellent medical staff.  By 1911, four years after it had opened, there were 2127 patients - 1121 males and 1006 females.

In 1939, George A Hockley, Mental nurse (retired) and Evangeline Hockley, Nurse (retired) were living at 2 Marlow Road, Brighton, with Alfred G Russell, Professional Musician, and his wife Nellie,  Evangeline's sister.

George A Hockley died, age estimated as 86, in Brighton in 1966.

Evangeline Hockley died, at 87, in 1971, also in Brighton.

Former police station, Great Dunmow
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Robin Webster - geograph.org.uk/p/4309467
The police station was erected in 1842 and was claimed to be the oldest police station in Essex.

From the Essex Newsman, of 31 Oct 1903: A Policeman Summoned At Dunmow - Case Dismissed Through Lack of Corroboration

At Dunmow Petty Session on Monday, Sydney Robert Page, a police constable, stationed at Great Stambridge, and formerly at Dunmow, was summoned by Beatrice Margaret Hockley, a domestic servant of High Roding, to show cause, etc. Mr J. W. Nutt appeared for the complainant and Mr B L Ackland for the defendant. Mr Nutt said that before this fall the applicant had an unblemished character. The child, which was born on Sept 28, 1902, was now out to nurse at 5s a week. The applicant, who had a baby in her arms, said she had known defendant since the summer of 1901. During the time she was in Mrs Byatt's service, the defendant used to come round after her. On one occasion when she was standing at the shop door Page came across the road, in the evening time, and said, "I am going to kiss my girl," and did so in the presence of Mrs Byatt. He was often round there. In November, 1901, she left Mrs Byatt's and went into the service of Miss Gibbons, at Down House, Dunmow. The defendant also followed her there. On January 3, 1902, Miss May Gibbons told her not to talk so much to the policeman. On December 23, 1901, Page came between ten and eleven o'clock at night and took advantage of her. On January 3, 1902, he repeated his conduct. In April, the night before she left Dunmow, she told Page of her condition. He replied that he had a little money, but not much, and that he was going up to London to join the Metropolitan Police. She went to live with her aunt at Bromley, and from there, on August 7, 1903, she wrote: 

Dear Mr Page, I now write these few lines to you to ask if you intend to pay for your child without being made to do so? I think it cruel and shameful, the way you have treated me. I am shortly coming down to Dunmow to take out a summons against you for the maintenance of your child. Why I have not done so before is, as I have told you, because I do not wish to expose you, but why should I shield you while you treat me as you do? It is now time for me to begin to think what is to become of my poor child and of her future prospects. If you had been an ordinary man, instead of a policeman, I should have taken proceedings against you long ago, but you being a policeman I was afraid it might go against you, but I wish you no ill. You have never helped me and I think it time to help myself. I am very sorry that such a thing should ever have occurred, but everyone is apt to do wrong at times, but the least you could do now is to help keep your child, without it having to be made public. I remain, yours etc. B Hockley

A large number of other letters from the girl to the defendant were read. In one she said, "I have begun to like you rather". Again, so as to stop "the talk" she told someone in Dunmow "the talk about you and me is not true". On the day before she went into Bromley Infirmary she wrote, "I know I am not perfect, but you might have done worse than marry me." After the child was born, she wrote, "She is a sweet, pretty baby", and later, "It is no use for you to say the child does not belong to you, because it is exactly like you, and that is the proof." Letters from Page in reply were read, in one of which he wrote: "I am not in the habit of writing to anyone except my friends, and if I receive any more letters from you I shall return them unopened." Page afterwards wrote that he was surprised at the charge, which he described as unfounded. The defendant, who had been subpoenaed by the complainant, totally denied the charge, or that he had been intimate with her. Mr Nutt stated that Miss Gibbons, whom he intended to call to give evidence, was unwell, and he could not call her. Mr Acland said that never in his life had he been called upon to take part in a case where the evidence was so absolutely uncorroborated as in this. If an order were made against Page no single man in the country would be safe. After the Bench had retired, the Chairman (the Rev. G M Wilson) said The Justices fail to find any corroborative evidence in the case, and the charge against Page is dismissed.

We'll never know, but while I agree there isn't the level of evidence required by the court, Beatrice's tone is mature and reasonable and I cannot see any reason to disbelieve her story, while Page will inevitably have known or been advised to just deny everything, because it was up to her to provide proof. 

Sydney Robert Page (b. 1875 in Hoxne, Suffolk), was the son of Arthur Page and Mary Ann Flaxman. His father, Arthur Page, in 1881, was an Inspector of Police, living at Pighete, Haverhill, Risbridge, Suffolk. In 1901, Sydney Robert Page (25) Police Constable, had been a boarder in Church End, Great Dunmow. Page, by the way, had married Ethel Annie Purser, on 7 Oct 1903, in Stifford, Thurrock and in 1911, they were living at 1 The Limes, Great Stambridge, with two sons: Arthur Sydney (6) and Edward (4), as well as Sydney's sister, Millicent E Page (33) Certificated teacher.

Sydney Robert Page died, at 67, on 20 Jun 1942 in Braintree.

The child she had named Millicent Beatrice Hockley, b. 28 Sep 1902, reg. D Quarter in BROMLEY Volume 02A Page 495. 

In 1911, Beatrice Hockley (27ish) from Great Canfield, Essex, was a Parlourmaid to Anna Maria Blakemore, Widow of Private Means at 4 Devonshire Terrace, Paddington, London. There was a Millicent Hockley (8) listed as an Orphan at a school in Stone Road, Broadstairs, Kent. 

In 1921, Beatrice Margaret Hockley (38ish) born in Great Canfield, Essex, was a Parlour Maid to Ronald Malcolm, Banker, Director of Coutts & Co at Headley Grove, Epsom, Surrey. Meanwhile, Millicent Hockley (18) Domestic Servant, born in Dunmow, Essex, was a Patient at Braintree Union Workhouse, Bocking.

Millicent Beatrice Hockley married Frederick Thomas Mace (b. 10 Jul 1907) in Hendon, Middlesex in 1937.

In 1939, Frederick T Mace, Baker, and Millicent B Mace (Sewing machinist) were living at 10 Algernon Road, Hendon. Millicent's year of birth is listed as 1907, presumably to match her husband's, but her day and month were still given as 28 Sep. At 32 in 1939, Frederick will have been within the age group to be conscripted during the war, but as someone in a job such as baking, may have been exempted. The couple don't appear to have had any children. Frederick Thomas Mace died, in Hendon, in 1975. Millicent Beatrice Mace died, in Hendon, in 1987. Her supposed birth year had slipped forward a further five years to 1912. She will actually have been 85.

Arthur Wilton Day and Louisa Jane James

South Beach, Weston-super-Mare
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Ian Capper - geograph.org.uk/p/6392467
South Beach at Weston-super-Mare with Birnbeck Pier

Arthur Wilton Day (b. 29 Dec 1879 in Chipping Ongar, Essex), son of Arthur Stephen Day and Mary Ann Ray, married Louisa Jane James (b. 31 Jan 1880 in Highbridge, Somerset), daughter of Joseph James and Emily Young, at St Faith's Church, Wandsworth (Ebner Street), on 23 Dec 1900.

Ebner Street, Wandsworth
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Derek Harper
geograph.org.uk/p/3069437
This couple did not have any children.

In 1901, they were living at 23, Ebner Street, Wandsworth, with Arthur Day (21) Gas Fitter, Louisa Day (21) Lilian James (17) - Louisa's sister - an Incandescent Mantle Packer and Henry White (22) Window Cleaner, from Grimsby, Lincolnshire, Boarder. 

In 1911, still at the same address at 23, Ebner Street, Wandsworth, we find Arthur W Day (31) Gas Fitter, Louisa J Day (31), Cecil A Day (24) Clerk Columbia Phono Corp - Arthur's brother - and his sister, Daisy R Heckman (30) described as "Married Deserted 7 Yrs".

In 1921, Arthur Wilton Day (42) Electrician and Louisa Day (42) were living at 69, Richmond Road, Bristol, Gloucestershire.

Arthur Wilton Day died, at 58, on 18 Jun 1938 (1938 J Qtr in BRISTOL Vol 06A Page 233) and is buried at Greenbank Cemetery, Eastville, Bristol.

In 1939, Louisa Jane Day, widowed, was a Paid Companion, living in the household of Charles and Julia Burnett at 141 Richmond Road, Bristol.

Louisa Jane Day returned to her Somerset roots in her retirement, it seems, as she died, aged 79, in 1959, in Weston-super-MareNorth Somerset.

Monday, 22 December 2025

John Warber and Sarah Benbow

© Steve Daniels (cc-by-sa/2.0) geograph.org.uk/p/2196307
St Clement Dane Church, Strand, London

John Warber (b. Friday, 19 Feb 1697, bap. 17 Mar 1697 (at 26 days old) at St Dunstan's, Stepney), Bachelor, son of Jacob Warber, Mariner, and his wife Sarah, married Sarah Benbow (b. circa 1690), Spinster, daughter of Richard Benbow and Grace Beer, both from the Parish of St Dunstan, Stepney, at the church of St Clement Danes, Westminster (the first church mentioned in the famous nursery rhyme Oranges and Lemons) on 22 Dec 1724.

The Churchwardens' Account Books at St Dionis Backchurch show that 1 shilling was given to John Warber on 1 Jan 1737, presumably as Parish Relief. "Located in the heart of the City of London, St Dionis Backchurch was a typical small, rich City parish. With a population of under 1,000 throughout the eighteenth century, few pockets of serious deprivation and a substantial portfolio of charitable funds, the parish could afford to be generous to its pensioners and to reward its officers with regular parish dinners."

John Warber, Pensioner, was buried in the North Churchyard at St Dionis Backchurch, City of London, on 23 Feb 1739. Mentioned on a "List of Burials for which nothing was received," an account of the expenses for John Warber leading up to his death and burial, had totalled £1 15 shillings. 

Sarah Warber married James Terney at Newington St Mary (Surrey) on 9 Sep 1740. (James Tearny (sic) may have been bap. 17 Jun 1699 at St Margaret's, Westminster, son of Bryan and Sarah. There is marriage of James Terney and Sarah Starkey, both resident in Stepney, Middlesex, also at St Mary, Newingon on 10 Jan 1723, likely to be James' previous marriage.)

(Terney is the surname listed in Sarah's brother James Benbow's will.) 

James and Sarah Terney had a daughter:

  1. Elizabeth Terney bap. 19 Jun 1741 at St George in the East. (This suggests that Sarah was a little younger than we're being told.)
There is a burial of James Turney (sic) of Francis Court Poor, age estimated as 50, at St James's Church, Clerkenwell on 13 Dec 1759.

Sarah Turney (sic) was buried at St James, Piccadilly on 30 Nov 1768.

Sunday, 21 December 2025

James Wright and Eliza Beavis

Interior, St Mary Redcliffe, Bristol
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Julian P Guffogg - geograph.org.uk/p/6250676

James Wright (bap. 7 Aug 1836 in Heigham, Norwich, Norfolk) (26) Brush Maker, son of James Wright and Mary Ann Minns - the record specifies his father as James Wright, Weaver - married Eliza Beavis (bap. 10 Feb 1839 at St Mary Redcliffe, Bristol) (24), daughter of George Beavis and Eliza Kingdon at St Luke's Church, Bedminster, Bristol on 21 Dec 1862. Their marriage was announced in the Western Daily Press of 23 Dec 1862

Witnesses were George Beavis and Rose Zilla Beavis (Eliza's sister). 

James and Eliza Wright had five children:

  1. James Wright b. 2 Jan 1872 M Quarter in BRISTOL Volume 06A Page 2, bap. 31 Mar 1872 at St Luke's, Bedminster 
  2. Eliza Mary Wright b. 1875 J Quarter in BRISTOL Volume 06A Page 1, bap. 30 May 1875 at St Luke's, Bedminster. Died, unmarried, aged 45, in 1920 J Quarter in BRISTOL Volume 06A Page 220
  3. Ellen Wright b. 24 Aug 1876 S Quarter in BRISTOL Volume 06A Page 8, bap. 31 Dec 1876 at St Luke's, Bedminster. Died, unmarried, aged 71, in 1948 J Quarter in BRISTOL Volume 07B Page 190
  4. Alice Wright b. 18 May 1878 J Quarter in BEDMINSTER Volume 05C Page 733, bap. 15 May 1879 at St Mary Redcliffe, Bristol 
  5. Rose Zillah Wright b. 26 Oct 1879 D Quarter in BEDMINSTER Volume 05C Page 677, bap. 25 Apr 1880 at St Luke's, Bedminster 

The mother's maiden name on all is BEAVIS. Unusually, for the time, they had their first child when they'd been married for 10 years and Eliza was 33.

In 1861, James Wright (24) Brush Maker, from Norwich, Norfolk, had been among a list of Lodgers (presumably as guests in an hotel) in the household of Edwin Marston, Licenced Victualler at 37 Moor Street, Birmingham

In 1871, James Wright (34) was living in Alfred Place, St Mary Redcliff, Bristol with wife Eliza Wright (32). Staying with them was Emma E Stone (2) Niece. (Emma Eliza Stone b. 1869 M Quarter in BRISTOL Volume 06A Page 9, was the daughter of William Robert Stone and Rose Zillah Beavis.)

In 1881, James Wright (44) Brush Maker from Norwich, was living at (Somerset House), Langton Street, Bedminster, Somerset with wife Eliza Wright (42), James Wright (9), Eliza M Wright (6), Ellen Wright (4), Alice Wright (2), Rose Z Wright (1) and Mena Lewis (16) Domestic Servant.

In 1891, James Wright (54) Brush Maker (Employee) from Norwich, Norfolk was living at Alfred House, Milford Road, Bedminster, Somerset with Eliza Wright (52), James Wright (19) Telegraphist (Employee); Elizabeth M Wright (16) [Eliza Mary]; Alice (12) and Rose L [Rose Zilla] (11). Not located Ellen.

In 1901, James Wright (64) was living at 92, Belmont Road, Bristol, Gloucestershire with Eliza Wright (62), Eliza M Wright (26), Ellen Wright (24), Rose Z Wright (21), Lucy Wright (5), James W Wright (4) [Lucy and James William were their grandchildren, children of James Wright]; Henry Carveth (27); Alice Carveth (22) and Alice V Carveth (0) [Alice Victoria Carveth was the daughter of Henry Carveth and Alice Wright].

James Wright died, aged 68, on 28 Apr 1905 (1905 J Quarter in BRISTOL Volume 06A Page 121) and is buried at Arnos Vale Cemetery, Bristol. The headstone, clearly commissioned by his widow, reads: In Loving Memory of My Dear Husband James Wright Who Fell Asleep in Jesus April 28th 1905 Aged 68 Years. "I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am." St John 17.24 (King James Version)

In 1911, Eliza Wright (72) Widowed, was living at 44 Cornwall Road, Bishopston, Bristol, with her two unmarried daughters, Eliza Mary Wright (36) and Ellen Wright (34). Although crossed through, Eliza had filled in the details on the census schedule that confirmed she had five children, then all still living.

In 1921, Eliza Wright (82) still living at 44, Cornwall Road, Bishopston, Bristol with Ellen Wright (44) Single, Postal Telegraphist and Charlie Frederica Noble (40) born in Hounslow, Middlesex, Companion Help.

Eliza Wright died, aged 82, in 1921 S Qtr in BRISTOL Vol 06A Page 203.

George Wilton and Susan Robinson

The 'Blind Beggar', Whitechapel Road
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Dr Neil Clifton - geograph.org.uk/p/594557
If one must have a stereotypical image from Bethnal Green.

George Wilton (b. 3 Feb 1860) illegitimate son of Catherine Wilton (but who 'invented' a father, George Wilton, Carman, for the certificate), married Susan Robinson (b. 1860), who listed her father as William Robinson, Carpenter, at St Thomas, Bethnal Green, on 21 Dec 1884. (Undoubtedly, she'll have been the same Susan Robinson, Match Maker, born in Bromley, Middlesex, who had been a boarder in George's mother's household in Poplar, in 1881.) Witnesses were William Campling and Maria Campling, George's step-sister. 

George and Susan Wilton had three daughters:
  1. Catherine Wilton b. 10 Dec 1886 (1887 M Qtr in POPLAR Vol 01C Page 632), bap. 20 Jan 1887 at St Mary's Church, Bromley St Leonard's
  2. Elizabeth Wilton b. 1888 S Quarter in POPLAR Volume 01C Page 600
  3. Margaret Wilton b. 21 Jul 1891 (1891 D Quarter in POPLAR Volume 01C Page 588), bap. 5 Dec 1909, at 18, at St Mark's, Battersea Rise
The birth registrations all have the mother's maiden name ROBINSON and both of the baptisms found list their parents as George and Susan Wilton.

In 1891, living at 6, Tibbatts RoadBromley-by-Bow (Poplar) were George Wilton (29) Carman (as had been his mother's brother, his Uncle John Byatt), with his wife (wrongly) listed as Catherine Wilton (30) from Essex, with Elizabeth Wilton (4) and Catherine Wilton (2), whose ages have been transposed. Nevertheless, I have no doubt that this is the correct family, but with that many mistakes, I'm wondering if they'd been on the sauce.

George Wilton died at 30, in 1892 S Qtr in POPLAR Vol 01C Page 356. 

In 1901, all three girls, Catherine (14), Elizabeth (12) and Margaret (9), were listed as Inmates of Forest Gate District School, which functioned as an industrial school, orphanage or workhouse for children, in West Ham

There's a record of a Susan Wilton, birth year listed as 1865, from the parish of Bromley-By-Bow, being discharged from Poplar Workhouse at her own request on 24 Aug 1901. There is then an entry on the Register of Deaths in Poplar Workhouse of a Susan Wilton (37), again from Bromley, who died there on 15 Jul 1902 and was buried in the East London Cemetery. There's no corresponding civil record of the death at the GRO. Susan Wilton was not a common name at the time, so, sadly, I believe these records relate.

In 1911, Caroline Kathleen Wilton (24) from Bromley-by-Bow was a General Domestic Servant in Tooting Bec Gardens, Streatham. (Margaret Wilton married in Streatham, in 1919, which places the girls in that area and there are several instances, in various different parts of the tree, where Catherine and Caroline are used interchangeably, including that the girls' grandmother was listed as Caroline on their father's birth certificate); In 1921, again as Caroline Wilton (34) was a Domestic Servant at 68, Herne Hill, Lambeth; In 1939, Caroline Wilton, who gave her date of birth as 10 Dec 1887 - one year out - was a Housemaid at 75 Ashburnham Road, Southend-On-Sea. Catherine Wilton died, at 85, in Southend-on-Sea in 1971.

[So far] I've been unable to isolate further records for Elizabeth Wilton.

Saturday, 20 December 2025

Philip Perry and Hellen Hubbard




St Dionis Backchurch
Philip Perry (b. 3 Oct 1710, bap. 22 Oct 1710 at St Mary Magdalene Woolwich, son of Philip Perry and Elizabeth Flemming, married Hellen Hubbard at St Dionis Backchurch, on 20 Dec 1734 - the same church where Philip's sister, Elizabeth Perry married the following February. The record reads, "Philip Perry of the Parish of St Dunstan, Stepney in the County of Middlesex Batchelor & Hellen Hubbard of the same parish (Spinster) were married (by Licence) on Friday the 20th Day of December 1734." There are no clues as to why both couples chose to marry in this church.

Records suggest that the couple had three daughters:
  1. Elizabeth Perry b. Friday, 7 Nov 1735, bap. 27 Nov 1735 (at 20 days old) at St Dunstan, Stepney. Elizabeth, daughter of Phil Perry of Pop[lar] & Hellen. She was buried on 20 Dec 1735. The record lists, "Elizabeth Perry of Pop[lar] to Poplar", indicating that she was more than likely buried at Poplar Chapel (St Matthias Old Church).
  2. Elizabeth Perry b. Saturday, 24 Jan 1736 (Julian) 1737 (Gregorian), bap. 22 Feb 1736 (Julian) 1737 (Gregorian) (at 29 days old) at St Dunstan, Stepney. The baptism record for this child also specifies, "Elizabeth, daughter of Phil Perry of Pop[lar] Shipwright & Hellen."
  3. Susanna Perry b. Sunday, 8 Jul 1739, bap. 31 Jul 1739 (at 23 days old). "Susanna, daughter of Phil Perry of Pop[lar] Shipwright & Hellen."
Philip Perry died, aged 35, and was buried on 30 Mar 1746. In the parish registers of St Dunstan's, Stepney is the record of the burial of "Philip Perry of B.Wall at Poplar", indicating that he too was buried at Poplar Chapel (St Matthias Old Church, built by the East India Company in 1654).

The only record of the birth of a Hellen Hubbard, around the relevant time, anywhere in the world - and it is with two LLs as it was upon marriage, as well as on the baptisms of all three of their daughters - is of a Hellen Hubbard b. 30 Jul 1701, bap. 3 Aug 1701 in Hardingham, Norfolk, the daughter of Robert and Mary Hubbard. (There no records whatsoever of a likely Helen Hubbard with the usual spelling with one L). It could be Hellen born in 1701, which would make her nine years older than Philip Perry, which is not unheard of. She would have been 33 when she married and, whilst late having children at that time, still of childbearing age. But, whilst it would seem reasonable, I cannot see a way to either confirm or refute this. There are no obvious records either as to when Hellen Perry died, although she must have died before 29 Apr 1775, because in a Codicil to the Will of her brother-in-law, Ephraim Reinhold Seehl, of that date, he states that she had died.

Thursday, 18 December 2025

William Butterfield and Martha Dalton

St Mary & Holy Trinity, Bow Church, Wednesday, 1 May, 2013
Photo available for reuse under this Creative Commons licence.

William Butterfield, Batchelor, married Martha Dalton (b. 2 Oct 1780 in White Horse Street, Stepney), Spinster, daughter of William Dalton and Sarah Travally, on 18 Dec 1800, according to (London, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1754-1940 at Ancestry) at All Saints, Poplar. There's just a small problem with that: All Saints wasn't even a parish until 1817 and All Saints Church, Poplar, wasn't built until 1821-3, so it was impossible for them to have married there. Pallot's Marriage Index, 1780-1837, has stamped the venue on their record as "T St My Stfdle Bow", which I interpreted as St. Mary, Stratford, Bow (Bow Church), where Martha's parents married. That they were married by A H Eccles, Rector (Allan Harrison Eccles who is listed as a Rector of Bow Church and died in post in 1801), would confirm it. Both were of the parish at the time, but I've not [yet] been able to confirm anything about William Butterfield's origins. Witnesses to the marriage were Samuel Wardall, Sarah Dalton (Martha's mother or sister) and Ann Wardall.

William and Martha, it appears, had two daughters:

  1. Sarah Ann Butterfield b. 6 Jan 1804, bap. 5 Feb 1804. Sarah Ann Butterfield, daughter of William & Martha died on 24 Jan 1808.
  2. Eliza Butterfield b. 4 Nov 1805, bap. 24 Nov 1805
Both girls were baptised at Gravel Lane, Old, (Independent) - Old Gravel Lane Independent Chapel, Wapping, Middlesex, a Congregational church. These baptisms list the family's address simply as St George in the East.

Eliza Butterfield b. 4 Nov 1805, was baptised again on 10 Feb 1819 at the Anglican church of St George in the East. This baptism lists her address as Old Gravel Lane and her father's occupation as a Tailor. Eliza will then have been 14. Occasionally, one sees a baptism just prior to marriage and clearly this will not have been the case here. The reasons are not yet clear, but I wonder if Eliza was baptised prior to Confirmation in this church. (Her grandmother's Will was proven in 1818, so this might have been a factor too.)

Old Gravel Lane in Wapping, was a historic street, originally a route for hauling sand and gravel from the river, later becoming Wapping Lane, it ran south from the Ratcliff Highway towards the river (see 1750 map).

William Butterfield was presumably alive and certainly trusted as one of the executors of Sarah Dalton's Will, which was drawn up in 1813, but so far, I've been unable to find any further verifiable records for this family.

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 Orren, 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 Qtr in MEDWAY Vol 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 on 18 Dec 1874, at All Saints Church, HaggerstonSelina Mary Ann Caddy (24), 'Widow' (no she wasn't, unless her father-in-law listed a ghost in 1881 - see below), who, nevertheless, listed her father (correctly) as John Harcus, Tailor, married Lewis Betjemann (31) Bachelor (nope), Sergeant in the Army, who named his father as John Jacob Betjemann, Gunsmith. 

John Jacob Betjemann, Gunmaker, had married Elizabeth Bull in 1825 and was in Whitechapel in 1841 and Bethnal Green in 1851. He died in 1853. Baptised Ernst Luy Ficktohr Betjeman (sic) on 3 Mar 1844 at Christ Church, Spitalfields, he was their youngest child, listed as Ernst (7) in his parents' household in 1851 and as Lewis Betjemann (17) Cabinet Maker, when living with his widowed mother, Elizabeth, in Haggerston, in 1861. 

As 'Herns' Lewis Betjemann, Cabinet Maker, he'd previously married Mary Sarah Jane Blumson, daughter of Benjamin Blumson, Dyer, at St James', Shoreditch, on 5 Nov 1863. This couple had at least two daughters: Mary Ann Betjemann b. 1 Dec 1863 (1864 M Quarter in SHOREDITCH Volume 01C Page 204), bap. 20 Dec 1963 at St Matthew's, Bethnal Green; and Caroline Betjemann b. 1866 M Quarter in SHOREDITCH Volume 01C Page 182. When daughter Mary Betjemann (20) married on 2 Feb 1884, she listed her father as Lewis Betjemann, Cabinet Maker and George Christian Betjemann, Lewis' brother, was one of the witnesses at her marriage. Reverting to Bachelor in 1874 was very fishy and leads me to be certain they were both knowingly committing bigamy. That Mary Sarah Jane Blumson went on to have another four children with Henry Thomas Comte and lived until 1924, confirms it.

Selina claiming to be a Widow, one might assume Henry Caddy had died ... However, in 1881, we find Henry Caddy (34) Shipwright, alive, 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, 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. Instinct makes me suspect he may have jumped on a ship and emigrated.

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. It's clear that Lewis Betjemann has Anglicised himself to George Lewis. Subsequent records, which I found first, show that these are the right people however.

On 13 May 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 and was demolished.)

William and Selina Sarah Slate had at least eight 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. Wilmet Geraldine Slate b. 24 Mar 1908 J Quarter in WEST HAM Vol 04A Page 455, bap. 19 Apr 1908 at Walthamstow St. James the Greater. Died at 16 months in 1909 S Quarter in WEST HAM Vol 04A Page 170 and buried on 21 Aug 1909 at Queen's Road Cemetery, Walthamstow.
  6. Lily Slate b. 12 Aug 1910 in WEST HAM Vol 04A Page 474, bap. 9 Sep 1910 at St. James' Church, Walthamstow
  7. William Leonard Slate b. 1913 D Qtr in WEST HAM Vol 04A Page 929
  8. Philip Albert Slate b. 1917 M Qtr in WEST HAM Vol 04A Page 724
'George Lewis' was buried at Queen's Road Cemetery, Walthamstow, Grave 656A, on 14 July 1898 (there was a death of a George Lewis, aged 54, in 1898 S Quarter in LONDON CITY Volume 01C Page 8, which I'm sure relates), however the burial record shows that the purchaser of the plot was Selina Sarah Slate, confirming that this certainly was the correct burial.

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; Victor (5), Selina (3) and Alfred (0).

In 1911, at 23 Camden Road, 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 (mother-in-law), Widow, Dressmaker from Chatham, Kent.

In 1921, William Slate (51) Book Binder; Selina Slate (49), Violet Slate (25), Eleanor Slate (23), Alfred Slate (20), Doris Slate (16), Lily Slate (10), William Slate (7), Philip Slate (4) and Frederick Crisp (30) Visitor were all at 13 Forster Road, Walthamstow. (Frederick Crisp later married Eleanor Slate.) Selina Ana Lewis (71) was a boarder at 89, Hartington Road, Walthamstow.

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

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