Tom Stone and Margaret Knapman

Royal Marines' Stonehouse Barracks, Durnford Street, Stonehouse, Plymouth

Tom Stone (b. 1 Jan 1862 in Ashbrittle, Somerset), Batchelor, Private Royal Marines, of Morley Place, Plymouth, son of Henry Stone and Mary Ridgeway, married and Margaret Knapman (b. 28 Aug 1863 at Mary Rows (Mary Rose?) Cottage, St Budeaux Devon), Spinster, of 48 Gibbon Street, Plymouth, daughter of Thomas Knapman and Kitty Hern, at The Register Office, Plymouth, presumably at Plymouth Guildhall (interior), on 23 Mar 1889. Witnesses to their marriage were Louisa Hoskin and Sarah Hoskin. 

There's also a record in the British Royal Marines Marriage Registers, which lists it as the Register Office, East Stonehouse on 5 Apr 1893. In their haste to legitimise their eldest, maybe they had neglected to ask permission of the CO, so this latter may have been an administrative ratification of the ceremony in 1889, once permission was granted, although there are civil registrations for both dates. The late Peter Calver at Lost Cousins, potentially provided the explanation for this, "... soldiers needed the permission of their commanding officer if they wanted the marriage to be recognised (which is why you will sometimes come across a couple who married each other twice)." 

On 11 Mar 1880, Tom Stone, then 18, enlisted in the Royal Marines, giving his date of birth as 11 Dec 1861, which I now know to be incorrect, because his actual birth date of Jan 1st 1862 is written on his baptism record at the church of St John the Baptist, Ashbrittle on 4 Feb 1862. When he enlisted he was 5' 6¾", with a fair complexion, dark brown hair and hazel eyes. His record states, "Right little finger amputated through second phalanx." As well as various stints at Plymouth Division, from 1881 (In 1881, Tom Stone (19) Private RMLI was in Devonport, Stoke Damerel) to 1884 Tom was with HMS Mallard (1875), a Forester-class composite screw gunboat. 

Registry office weddings became legally recognized in England and Wales with the Marriage Act of 1836, which came into effect on July 1, 1837, after the establishment of the General Register Office. Until the 20th Century they were a minority choice and church marriages were then quicker and cheaper. That Margaret must have waddled into the venue, a mere five days before their eldest was born was probably the reason for this choice. Tom had been at Plymouth Division from 1 Oct 1888 until 2 Oct 1889, so the marriage wasn't delayed awaiting his return from a voyage or deployment. However, the ratification may have been, because from 3 Oct 1889 until 3 Jan 1893, Tom was assigned to HMS Himalaya (1854), potentially being away for more than three years (although, obviously (?) he'd had some leave to account for their second son's conception). Himalaya at this time appears to have been operating as a troop ship, possibly in the Mediterranean, but there's no indication where he may have gone in that time period.

Tom and Margaret had six children in total:

1. Archer Henry Stone (Archie), b. 28 Mar 1889 (1889 J Quarter in PLYMPTON ST MARY Volume 05B Page 223), bap. 21 May 1889, at the Wesleyan Methodist church, Tamerton Foliot. Died, at 18, on 11 Nov 1907, in Gillingham, Kent (1907 D Quarter in MEDWAY Vol 02A Page 393). Commemorated in Rookwood Cemetery in Sydney, Australia.
2. Frederick Thomas Stone, b. 20 Jan 1892 (1892 M Quarter in EAST STONEHOUSE Volume 05B Page 297)
3. Beatrice May Stone, b. 14 Mar 1894 (1894 J Quarter in PLYMPTON ST MARY Volume 05B Page 189), bap. 27 May 1894 in Hooe, Plymouth
4. Bertram Charles Stone, b. 24 Feb 1899 (1899 J Quarter in EAST STONEHOUSE Volume 05B Page 273) Died 16 Jun 1899 (1899 J Quarter in EAST STONEHOUSE Volume 05B Page 211)
5. Leslie Victor Stone, b. 21 Feb 1901 (1901 J Quarter in DEVONPORT Volume 05B Page 273)
6. Rosina Kathleen Stone, b. 14 Apr 1903 (1903 J Quarter in PLYMOUTH Volume 05B Page 238)

In 1891, Margaret Stone (25) and Archer H Stone (2) had been staying with her sister, Lucy Hoskins (23) in Star Lane, Tamerton Foliott.

In 1901 the family were living at 9, St Paul Street, East Stonehouse, with Tom Stone (39) listed as a Marine Pensioner. (Tom served in the Royal Marines for 21 years (+ 2 days), from 11 Mar 1880 until 13 Mar 1901, transferring to the Royal Fleet Reserve on 3 Jul 1901.) Also listed were Margaret (35), Archie (12), Frederick (9), Beatrice (7) and Leslie (0).

Archer Henry Stone enlisted in the Royal Marines, at 14, on 11 Nov 1903.

Tom Stone, General Labourer and Marine Pensioner, died, aged 43, at 3 Ashley Place, Plymouth, on 2 May 1905 (1905 J Quarter in PLYMOUTH Volume 05B Page 171), from Pulmonary Tuberculosis.

On 11 Nov 1907, Archie Stone (18) died at the Royal Naval Hospital (Medway Maritime Hospital) in Gillingham, Kent, of a Tubercle of the lung (Tuberculosis again) and cardiac failure (1907 D Quarter in MEDWAY Volume 02A Page 393). Initially, it didn't make sense that there was a commemorative stone to Archer Henry Stone in Rookwood Cemetery in Sydney, Australia (albeit as Arthur H. Stone, Bugler, R.M.L.I. - his mates may not have known that Archer really was the given name he was registered and baptised with). However, this would appear to be one of many memorials to shipmates who died elsewhere. A closer look at Archer's Royal Marines record shows that in Feb/Mar 1907 Archie was with HMS Powerful (1895) that became the flagship of the Australia Station. He then transferred to HMS Prometheus (1898) and finally to HMS Pioneer, at that time a drill ship with the Australian Squadron. Archie's last line with Pioneer says he was 'on passage', which presumably means he was being brought home due to illness. 

In 1911, Margaret Stone, widowed and in receipt of Parochial Relief, was living in East Stonehouse, with Leslie V (10) and Rosina K (7). Frederick had enlisted in the Royal Navy in 1907 and Beatrice (17) was working as a Servant for Samuel Reed, Hairdresser and Tobacconist, in Devonport.

On 11 Apr 1919, aged 18, Leslie Victor Stone joined the Royal Tank Corps.

In 1921, Margaret Erne Stone (57) Widowed; Frederick Thomas Stone (29) Royal Navy (Leading Signalman) and Rosina Kathleen Stone (18) were still living at 9, St Paul Street, East Stonehouse. Leslie Victor Stone (20) was with the Army Tank Corps at Pinehurst Barracks, Farnborough, Hampshire.

Margaret Erne Stone died (Erne - misheard with a dropped H - was in reference to Hern, Margaret's mother's maiden name), on 1 Sep 1921, aged 57 (1921 S Quarter in EAST STONEHOUSE Volume 05B Page 324), and probate was granted to son, Frederick Thomas Stone, on 24 Dec 1921.

Stainforth Packhorse Bridge and the River Ribble
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © John S Turner - geograph.org.uk/p/433349

Leslie Victor Stone (b. 21 Feb 1901 in Devonport), son of Tom Stone and Margaret Knapman, married Lillian Daniel, in the district of Thorne, South Yorkshire, in 1939. Born Lilian Letts on 15 Jun 1903 and registered in Cardiff, she was the illegitimate daughter of Edith Emily Letts, who was then 16. 

In 1911, Lilian Letts was living with her great-grandmother, Julia Ann Founds, although listed as her grandchild, at Swan Court, Cross St, Northam, Devon. 

In 1921, Lilian Letts (18) Laundry Maid was living with her grandparents, Alfred and Mary Hannah Letts, in Fore Street, Northam. (Lilian's mother, Edith Emily Letts, married a Frederick George Stone (b. 25 Dec 1873 in Bideford) in 1911. He seems not to be related to the rest of my Stone family.)

Lilian Letts had first married Norman Daniel in Bideford, Devon, in Q2 of 1923 and they had one child, Joan Daniel b. 24 Sep 1923 D Quarter in BIDEFORD Volume 05B Page 656. Norman Daniel died, at 25, in 1930.

In 1939, Leslie Victor Stone, Agricultural Land Worker, Lilian Stone and Joan Daniel were living at 16, Long Grove, Stainforth, North Yorkshire.

Leslie and Lilian had 3 further children: 2 daughters in 1941 and 1943, and a son, Anthony Michael Stone b. 17 Apr 1946, who died, at just 25, in 1971. 

Leslie Victor Stone died, at 63, on 5 Jun 1964, in Fishlake, Yorkshire.

Lilian Stone died, in Doncaster, in 1984.

Resting place of Chief Petty Officer P M Clancy at Milton Cemetery, Portsmouth

Patrick Michael Clancy (b. 16 Sep 1904), son of Patrick Michael Clancy and Elizabeth Flynn, married Rosina Kathleen Stone (b. 14 Apr 1903), daughter of Tom Stone and Margaret Knapman, in Plymouth, in 1926.

In 1901, the bridegroom's father, Patrick Michael Clancy (25), Stoker, from Whitegate, County Cork, was aboard HMS Renard (1892) (an Alarm-class torpedo gunboat), in Devonport, while his wife Lizzie Clancy (27) was boarding at 14, Second Avenue, Devonport along with her two eldest children, Julia Kathleen Clancy (b. 1899) and Mary Elizabeth Clancy (b. 1901). None of the Clancy family turn up anywhere in the records of 1911. Patrick's sister, Mary Elizabeth Clancy died, at 19, in 1920 M Quarter in DEVONPORT Volume 05B  Page 441, but there are no further clues to the rest.

In 1921, Patrick Michael Clancy (16) R N Boy was a visitor in the household of Peter Cassidy (47) from Meath, Ireland, Labourer at H M Dockyard, at 88, Pembroke Street, Devonport. (Cassidy's son, Francis Noel Cassidy, also 16, was also an R N Boy and his elder son a Leading Seaman, so he may have been staying with a shipmate's family, if no family of his own was left.)

Patrick Michael Clancy had joined the Royal Navy on 16 Mar 1920, when he was aged 15, as a Boy 2nd Class, he became an Able Seaman on his 18th birthday, 16 Sep 1922, and a Leading seaman by the time of his marriage.

Patrick and Rosina had two children:

1. Theresa Margaret Clancy b. 28 Aug 1927, in Devonport
2. Patrick Michael Clancy b. 1929, in Portsmouth

The entire family seemingly evade the 1939 Register. 

With HMS Renown from 1 Sep 1939, on 10 Mar 1944, Patrick was promoted to Chief Petty Officer and assigned to HMS Cyclops. 

Patrick Michael Clancy was invalided in June 1945 at Royal Naval Auxiliary Hospital, Southport. Patrick Michael Clancy of 50 Mayles Road, Southsea, died on 18 July 1946, aged 41, at the Infectious Deseases Hospital Portsmouth (presumably Priorsdean Infectious Diseases Hospital in Portsmouth, across Milton Road from St Mary’s Hospital). Chief Petty Officer Patrick Michael Clancy, Son of Patrick Michael and Elizabeth Clancy; husband of Rosina Kathleen Clancy, of Paulsgrove, Portsmouth, is buried in Portsmouth (Milton) Cemetery, Plot M. Row 17. Grave 55.

Then Patrick Michael Clancy, son of Mrs. R. K. Clancy, of Milton, Portsmouth, Constable in the Palestine Police Force, died, on 4 Jun 1947, aged 18. He was buried at Haifa (Sharon) British Civil Cemetery, Haifa, Israel, Plot 4. Grave 6.

Both father and son's gravestones are united by the same inscription:

 

"IN THE SHELTER OF THY SACRED HEART, DEAR JESUS, MAY HE REST".

In 1951, Rosina K Clancy remarried, in Portsmouth, to a Cyril West. 

Rosina Kathleen West died in 1979, aged 76, in her native Plymouth.

In 1951, Theresa Margaret Clancy, daughter of Patrick Michael Clancy and Rosina Kathleen Stone, married Stanley Victor Proudlock (b. 25 Dec 1928), son of Herbert William Proudlock and Dorothy May Shilcock, in Portsmouth. 

(Herbert William Proudlock and Dorothy May Shilcock had married, in Portsmouth, in 1922. Herbert William Proudlock's birth was registered in Paddington, London, in 1896. There's no mother's maiden name on the registration, so we must assume that his was an illegitimate birth. It hasn't been possible, without the certificate, to even identify his mother. There's no obvious Miss Proudlock born or living locally, so he may well have been found on said station and have had a penchant for marmalade.

In 1911, H W Proudlock (14) from Paddington, London, turns up in the household of a F W Rackley (38) General Labourer, at Westborough Road, Maidenhead, Bisham Bray, Berkshire, described as a Foster Son, but employed as a Page Boy. Not surprising then that he goes to sea. Herbert William Proudlock (b. 30 Apr 1896) enlisted in the Royal Navy, aged 15, on 9 Feb 1912. On his naval record, his previous occupation, "House Boy" was later crossed out and expressed as Domestic Servant. On 30 Apr 1914, his 18th birthday, he signed up for a further 12 years and spent the First World War doing short tours on a wide variety of ships. On 29 Apr 1936, Herbert was Pensioned. Then on 1 Apr 1938, was brought back into service again, served through World War II, being finally released on 17 Sep 1945.

Dorothy May Shilcock, meanwhile, was the daughter of Alfred Eli Shilcock and Florence Ada Poat, who married at St Mary's Church, Portsea, on 6 Nov 1902. Dorothy May Shilcock, born 2 Oct 1901, was baptised on 27 Sep 1908 at St Bartholomew's Church, Southsea (no longer standing?), along with her sister Rosa Louisa and brother Alfred Eli, who had been born on 10 Aug 1908. In 1911, the family, living at 3 Addison Road Southsea, Portsmouth, consisted Alfred Shilcock (38) Engine Fitter, Florence (31), Dorothy (9), Rosa (7), Doris (5), Alfred (2) and Ernest (0). (Although they listed the boys first.)

Herbert and Dorothy had three sons:

1. Frederick William Eli Proudlock b. 5 Nov 1923
2. Stanley Victor Proudlock b. 25 Dec 1928
3. (Further son born 1934 may be still living)

In 1939, Dorothy M Proudlock was living at 75 Lovett Road, Portsmouth with her three sons, while her husband was at sea. Frederick had become a Shop Assistant at a Pawnbroker. (Frederick died, in Portsmouth, in 1997).

Herbert William Proudlock of 34 St. Chad's Avenue, North End, Portsmouth, died on 19 Feb 1970. Dorothy May Proudlock died on 20 Jul 1974.)

Stanley Victor Proudlock and Theresa Margaret Clancy had twin boys in 1953 and on 14 May 1954, Stanley V Proudlock (25) a Riveter of 87 Eastney Caravan Site, Portsmouth embarked in Southampton on Cunard's RMS Samaria, bound for Quebec. On 11 Jun 1954, Theresa Proudlock (26) and their two sons followed, also on RMS Samaria. They later added a daughter.

Theresa Margaret Proudlock (née Clancy), "passed away peacefully at home with family by her side on Thursday, September 25, 2014 at the age of 87." [Source] Stanley Victor Proudlock died on 8 May 2015. They are buried together at Forest Lawn Cemetery, Orangeville, Ontario, Canada.

William Ridgeway and Florence Louise Finnimore

St James, Taunton
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Stephen Craven - geograph.org.uk/p/7064603

William Ridgeway (b. 29 Jun 1873), son of Thomas Ridgway and Ann Tooze, married Florence Louise Finnimore (b. 22 Mar 1880), daughter of Henry Finnimore and Louisa Beer, at St. James, Taunton, on 22 Mar 1903. Witnesses were Florence's father and her sister, Alice Maud.

William and Florence had five children:

1. Edith Maud Ridgway b. 28 Sep 1904 (1904 D Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 392), bap. 6 Nov 1904 in Uplowman, Devon
2. Lily Ridgeway b. 23 Feb 1907 (1907 M Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 380), bap. 24 Mar 1907 in Uplowman
3. Hilda Ridgway b. 7 Oct 1910 (1910 D Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 342), bap. 6 Nov 1910 in Uplowman
4. Elsie Ridgway b. 8 Jul 1912 (1912 S Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 670), bap. 28 Jul 1912 in Uplowman
5. Herbert Ridgway b. 4 Apr 1914 (1914 J Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 676), bap. 3 May 1914 in Uplowman

Only Lily was registered with the surname spelled Ridgeway, all of the others were Ridgway. The two spellings have been used interchangeably for many generations. All were baptised at St Peter’s Church, Uplowman.

In 1911, William Ridgway (37) Farm Waggoner, Florence Louise Ridgway (31) were living at Wallflower Cottage, Halberton, with Edith Maud (6), Lily (4) and Hilda (0), and William's widowed father, Thomas Ridgway (67).

In 1921, William Ridgway (47) Shepherd was living at Neddycott, Uplowman, with Florence Louise Ridgway (41), Hilda Ridgway (10), Elsie Ridgway (8), Herbert Ridgway (7) and Thomas Ridgway (77) Farm Labourer, Father. Edith Maud Ridgway (16) was a Domestic Servant in the household of Edward Gale, Farmer, at East Mere, Tiverton. While Lillie (sic) Ridgway (14) was a Domestic Servant at Widhayes, Uplowman. (William, his father Thomas and daughter Lily were all employed by L Batting, Farmer, at Widhayes.)

In 1939, at Wallflower Cottage, Uplowman, were William Ridgeway, Shepherd retired; Florence L Ridgeway, Edith M Ridgeway and Herbert Ridgeway, Farm Carter. 

William Ridgway died on 27 Jun 1941 (1941 J Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 1114), aged 67 and is buried at Uplowman.

Florence Louise Ridgway of Sellake Cottage, Uplowman, died on 27 Oct 1965 and is buried in Uplowman churchyard along with her husband. She was 85. She left her effects to her eldest daughter, Edith Maud Ridgway, spinster. 

• Edith Maud Ridgway never married and died in 1997, aged 92. Edith Maud Ridgway is also buried in Uplowman churchyard.
• Hilda Ridgeway married Louis Joseph Holway on 1 Jul 1933. From the Western Times 7 July 1933: "UPLOWMAN AND UFFCULM FAMILIES UNITED. The marriage was solemnised quietly at St Peter's Church, Uplowman, on Saturday, of Miss Hilda Ridgway, third daughter of Mr and Mrs William Ridgway of Neddicott, Uplowman, and Mr Louis Joseph Holway, third son of Mrs and the late Mr Thomas Holway of the Post Office, Cradock, Uffculme. The Rector (Rev. E J Sandford) officiated. The bride, who was given away by her father, wore a pretty dress of lido blue silk crepe, the panelled skirt reaching to the ankles and the roll collar, white silk in one half and brick in the other, finished at the point with diamonds of white and brick, and the belt was fastened with a small paste brooch. She wore a large white felt hat and carried a prayer book in place of a bouquet. There was no bridesmaid. Mr Edgar Holway carried out the duties of best man. A reception was held at Nedicott, and the happy couple left for their new home at Bridge Street, Uffculme." In 1939, Louis and Hilda Holway were indeed living in Bridge Street, Uffculme, with their daughter Margaret. Hilda Holway died in 1953, aged 42.
• Lily Ridgeway married William John Palk (b. 16 Oct 1902), son of John Palk and Bessie Scorse, in 1928. They do not appear to have any children. In 1939, the couple were living at Sellake Cottage, Willand. Jack and Lily Palk both died in 1987. Jack died on 23 Feb 1987, which would have been his wife's 80th birthday. They are buried together in Uplowman churchyard.
• Harry Tremlett married Elsie Ridgeway, in 1932. Harry Tremlett died on 20 Jul 1961 and is buried at Uplowman. Elsie Tremlett of 2 Crosses Cottages, Uplowman, died on 29 Dec 1979 and is buried in Uplowman, with her husband.
• In 1946, Herbert Ridgeway married Elsie Kelland. Herbert Ridgway died on 28 May 1988, aged 74 and is buried at Uplowman with his wife, Elsie Ridgway (d. 14 Jan 2006).

Florence's parents, Henry Finnimore (b. 1851), son of William Finnimore and Maria Pickard, married Louisa Beer (b. 1855), daughter of Thomas Beer and Mary Elson, in St Thomas, Devon [Exeter] in the 1st quarter of 1877.

Henry and Louisa had seven daughters and one son:

1. Lily Eliza Finnimore b. 1877 S Quarter in ST THOMAS Volume 05B Page 63, bap. 2 Nov 1877 in Heavitree, Devon. On this baptism their address was White's Court and Henry's occupation was Coachman.
2. Florence Louise Finnimore b. 22 Mar 1880 J Quarter in ST THOMAS Volume 05B Page 62, bap. 12 May 1880 in Heavitree, Devon.
3. Alice Maud Finnimore b. 13 May 1882 J Quarter in SAINT THOMAS Volume 05B Page 58, bap. 14 May 1882 in Heavitree, Devon.
4. Beatrice Ellen Finnimore bap. 28 Dec 1883 in Heavitree, Devon, reg. 1884 M Quarter in SAINT THOMAS Volume 05B Page 59
5. Blanche Annie Finnimore b. 1886 J Quarter in SAINT THOMAS Volume 05B Page 61, bap. 21 May 1886 in Heavitree, Devon.
6. William Henry Finnimore b. 7 Jan 1889 M Quarter in SAINT THOMAS Volume 05B Page 62, bap. 1 Feb 1889 in Heavitree, Devon.
7. Ivy May Finnimore b. 12 Oct 1892 D Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 378, bap. 30 Nov 1892 at St Peter’s Church, Uplowman.
8. Elsie Beer Finnimore b. 1896 S Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 388, bap. 8 Sep 1896 at St Peter's Church, Tiverton, Devon. On this baptism, Henry Finnimore's occupation was again Coachman and the family's address was given as the Redwoods Inn, Uplowman.

In 1881, Henry Finnimore (26) Coachman was living at 17, Roseland Terrace, Heavitree with Louisa Finnimore (25), Lilie E (sic) (3) and Florence L (1).

In 1891, Henry Finnimore (37) Groom & Gardener, was living at Glebe Cottage, Coles Hill, Uplowman with Louisa Finnimore (36), Lily E Finnimore (13), Florence L Finnimore (11), Maude E [Alice Maud] Finnimore (8), Beatrice Finnimore (7), Blanche A Finnimore (4) and William Henry Finnimore (2).

In 1901, at Shoreditch, Scattered Houses, Pitminster, Taunton, Somerset, were Henry Finnimore (45) Domestic gardener; Louisa Finnimore (44), Alice M Finnimore (18) Housemaid; Beatrice E Finnimore (17) Housemaid; Blanche A Finnimore (14), Ivy M Finnimore (8) and Elsie B Finnimore (4). Florence Finnimore (23) was a Housemaid to James Cook (64) Retired Solicitor at Claire, Southside, Weston Super Mare. William Henry Finnimore (12) was an Errand Boy for Walter J Hunt (26) Butcher in Halse, Somerset.

In 1911, Henry Finnimore (59) Groom was living in North Petherton, Somerset with Louisa Finnimore (55), William H Finnimore (22) Farm Labourer and Elsie Finnimore (14). Ivy May Finnimore (19) at that time was working as a Housemaid in Kingston by Yeovil, Somerset.

In 1921, Henry Finnimore (69) Gardner (Domestic) and Louisa Finnimore (65) were living at Manor Farm Cottage, West Newton, North Petherton.

Henry Finnimore died, aged 78, in 1930 M Quarter in BRIDGWATER.

Louisa Finnimore died in 1936 D Quarter in BRIDGWATER, aged 80.

• Lily Eliza Finnimore died, aged 20, in 1898 M Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 340 and was buried at St Peter’s Church, Uplowman.
• Florence Louise Finnimore married William Ridgeway, in 1903.
• Alice Maud Finnimore married Arthur Beadon Butt in 1909. Alive Maud Butt died in 1970 and is buried at St James Cemetery, Taunton.
• Beatrice Ellen Finnimore married Francis Samuel Atyeo in Taunton, in 1903. Beatrice Ellen Atyeo died in Bridgwater, Somerset, in 1960.
• Blanche Annie Finnimore married George Perry in Bridgwater, Somerset, in 1910. Blanche Annie Perry died, in 1962, in Taunton, Somerset.
• William Henry Finnimore died in Taunton, Somerset, in 1970. 
• Ivy May Finnimore married Ernest Bartlett on 11 Jun 1911 in North Newton, Somerset. Ernest Bartlett died on 5 Feb 1927 and is buried at St. Peter's Churchyard, North Newton. Ivy May Bartlett remarried to William Henry John Dunn in 1947. Ivy May Dunn died on 8 Jan 1970 and is also buried at St. Peter's Churchyard, North Newton.
• Elsie Beer Finnimore died in 1931 S Quarter in HOLSWORTHY Volume 05B Page 513 with age estimated as 33 (35).

William Nunn and Susanna Byatt

All Saints' Little Canfield
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Bikeboy - geograph.org.uk/p/4765064

William Nunn (bap. 8 Apr 1798 in High Roding) son of William and Mary Nunn, married Susanna Byatt (bap. 11 Jun 1803 in Little Canfield), daughter of John Byatt and Jane Stokes, at All Saints, Little Canfield on 22 Mar 1819. William was 21, Susanna was possibly not quite, or maybe just, 16. 

William and Susanna, it appears, had seven children:

1. William Nunn bap. 16 Jun 1822 at All Saints, High Roding
2. Elizabeth Nunn bap. 13 Jun 1824 at All Saints, High Roding
3. Sarah Nunn bap. 14 May 1826 at All Saints, High Roding. Died, aged 6, in 1832 and was buried in High Roding
4. George Nunn bap. 27 Jun 1830 at All Saints, High Roding
5. James Nunn bap. 25 Nov 1832 at All Saints, High Roding
6. Sophia Nunn b. 7 Jun 1835, bap. 5 Jul 1835 at Thaxted Parish Church. Died, aged 18, in 1853 S Quarter in DUNMOW UNION Volume 04A Page 194 and was buried in Thaxted
7. John Nunn b. 24 Jan 1837, bap. 2 Apr 1837 in Thaxted

But then Susan Nunn died aged 35 in 1839 M Quarter in DUNMOW UNION Volume 12 Page 73 and was buried on 4 Feb 1839 in Thaxted.

In 1841, William Nunn (listed as 40) was living in Cutlers Green, Thaxted with William Nunn (20), Eliza Nunn (20) - son William Nunn had married Eliza Thompson, in Dunmow registration district, in the 1st quarter of 1841 - George Nunn (11), James Nunn (9), Sophia Nunn (5) and John Nunn (3).

The 1851 census is missing and I didn't find the family in 1861.

In 1871, William Nunn (71) Agricultural Labourer, Widower, was seemingly living alone at 38 Park St, Thaxted. There are, of course, a lot of gaps in the records, but William appears to be unusual for his time, in that he does not seem to ever remarry and nor does he have any help at home, appearing therefore to have worked and brought up his children single-handedly.

In 1881, however, we find William Nunn (84) Pauper, Widower among inmates at the Union Workhouse, Great Dunmow, at that time the only place to get elderly or medical care. Unsurprisingly, William Nunn died, aged 84, in 1882 M Quarter in DUNMOW UNION Volume 04A Page 329.

Richard Hooper and Annie Louisa Bailey

Probus Village
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Tony Atkin - geograph.org.uk/p/195028

Richard Hooper (29) Private RM, son of Thomas Hooper and Caroline Huddy, married Annie Louisa Bailey (23) (Listed as Annie Louisa on marriage, she was registered at birth as Louisa Ann and appears to have been known as Annie), daughter of Thomas Bailey and Lucy Elizabeth Ann Fudge, at the Church of Saint George, East Stonehouse, Plymouth, on 21 Mar 1883. 

Richard Hooper was born on 19 Jan 1854 and baptised on 19 Feb 1854 in Probus, Cornwall. He enlisted in the Royal Marines on 19 Feb 1873. On 5 Jul 1878, he embarked on HMS Iron Duke (1870), which departed Plymouth on 4 August, bound for the China Station. At the time of the 1881 Census, Richard Hooper (27) Private RMLI from Probus, Cornwall, was in Hong Kong Harbour. Iron Duke returned home in January 1883, Richard Hooper left the ship on 15 Mar 1883 and clearly, he and Annie married just days later.

Richard and Annie had four sons:

1. Richard William Samuel Hooper b. 1884 S Quarter in EAST STONEHOUSE Volume 05B Page 313, bap. at East Stonehouse, St George in 1884. Died in 1885 J Quarter Volume 05B  Page 204.
2. Thomas Charles Hooper b. 29 Nov 1887, reg. 1888 M Quarter in EAST STONEHOUSE Volume 05B Page 283
3. Albert Edward Hooper b. 1893 M Quarter in EAST STONEHOUSE Volume 05B Page 295
4. Francis Victor Emmanuel Hooper b. 1897 S Quarter in EAST STONEHOUSE Volume 05B Page 283

At Plymouth Division from 16 Mar 1883 until the December that year, Richard Hooper's next assignment was with HMS Royal Adelaide (1828), by then a depot ship. From 1 Oct 1886 until 2 Mar 1888, he was attached to HMS Cambridge, gunnery ship off Plymouth. Stints with Royal Adelaide, HMS Vivid shore establishment (then Royal Navy designation for the barracks at Devonport) followed and finally back to Plymouth Division, Richard Hooper completed 21 years of service in the Royal Marines on 27 Mar 1894.

Richard's Royal Marine's record show that by the time he was discharged he was 5 ft 5½ in, had brown hair, hazel eyes and a fresh complexion, with a tattoo of Britannia on his right forearm and a ship on the left forearm.

In 1891, Richard Hooper (37), Annie Hooper (31) and Thomas (3) were living in Edgcumbe Street, East Stonehouse with Annie's mother, Lucy Bailey.

In 1901, Richard Hooper (47) General Labourer from Probus, Cornwall, wife Annie L Hooper (41), Thomas C Hooper (13) Albert E Hooper (8) and Francis E Hooper (4), were still living in Edgcumbe Street, Plymouth. 

In 1911, Richard Hooper (57) was listed as Brewer's Drayman Pensioner Royal Marine Light Infantry, with wife Annie L Hooper (51), Albert E Hooper (18) Solicitor's Clerk, Francis E Hooper (13) and Lucy Mary Lenora Symons (11) visitor. Thomas C Hooper (23) was with the Royal Navy At Sea And In Ports Abroad with HMS Exmouth (1901). He may have been in Malta.

Richard Hooper died, at 58, on 8 Jan 1912 J Quarter Vol 05B Page 363.

Francis Victor Emmanuel Hooper joined the Devonshire Regiment, 1st/4th Bn. He died on 8 Nov 1917 in Mesopotamia (modern Iraq) and is commemorated on the Basra Memorial, Basra, Iraq, Panel 11. 

In 1921, Annie Louisa Hooper (60) Widowed, was living with her son Albert Edward Hooper (28) and his wife Violet Ethel (28) - who was listed as the head of the household and he as husband - at 2, Notte Street, Plymouth.

Annie Louisa Hooper died, at 79, in 1937 D Qtr in PLYMOUTH Vol 05B 347. 

Charles Stephen Hockley and Esther Clark

Photo © John Salmon (cc-by-sa/2.0)

St Helen & St Giles, Rainham

Photo available for reuse under this Creative Commons licence.

Charles Richard Hockley (b. 1874 in Bromley-by-Bow, Poplar), born and baptised Charles Stephen Hockley, from marriage onwards Charles Richard Hockley, son of James Hockley and Elizabeth Wilton, married Esther Clark (bap. 23 Jun 1878 in Rainham, Essex), daughter of Abraham Henry Clark and Esther Shellito, at St Helen And St Giles, Rainham, on 20 Mar 1897.

Charles and Esther Hockley had six children:

1. Rose Ellen Hockley b. 19 Jan 1898 (1898 M Quarter in ROMFORD Volume 04A Page 525), bap. 20 Feb 1898 at St Helen & St Giles
2. May Hockley b. 27 Sep 1901 (1901 D Quarter in ROMFORD Volume 04A Page 613), bap. 4 Nov 1901 at St Helen & St Giles
3. William Stephen Hockley b. 12 Jan 1907 (1907 M Quarter in ROMFORD Volume 04A Page 626), bap. 17 Mar 1907 at St Helen & St Giles
4. Richard Charles Hockley b. 12 Jan 1907 (1907 M Quarter in ROMFORD Volume 04A Page 626), bap. 17 Mar 1907 at St Helen & St Giles
5. Edith Florence Hockley b. 4 Jun 1911 (1911 S Quarter in ROMFORD Volume 04A Page 1185), bap. 2 Jul 1911 at St Helen & St Giles
6. Dorothy Mabel Hockley b. 29 Jul 1914 (1914 S Quarter in ROMFORD Volume 04A Page 1226), bap. 13 Sep 1914 at St Helen & St Giles. Dorothy Mabel Hockley, of 1 Rosedale Terrace, Rainham, Essex, daughter of Charles Hockley, a Farm Labourer died on 7 Mar 1915 (1915 M Quarter in WHITECHAPEL Volume 01C Page 393), at the London Hospital, Whitechapel from (1) Intussusception (2) Operation. She was buried on 13 Mar 1915 in Havering, London.

All of the birth registrations show the mother's maiden name of CLARK. All of the baptisms list them as the children of Charles Richard and Esther Hockley. Richard Charles and William Stephen, were identical twins. 

In 1901, Charles Hockley (27) Agricultural Labourer was living at 1, Rosedale Terrace, Rainham, Essex with Esther Hockley (22) and Rose Hockley (3).

In 1911, and still living at 1, Rosedale Terrace, Rainham, Essex, were Charles Hockley (37) Farm Labourer; Esther Hockley (34), Rose Ellen Hockley (13), May Hockley (9), William Stephen Hockley (4) and Richard Charles Hockley (4). On the 1911 census return the couple state that they'd been married 14 years and, by that time, had 4 children, with all four then still alive.

Charles Hockley (no middle name listed) died, aged 41 in 1916 D Quarter in ROMFORD Volume 04A Page 620 and was buried on 17 Oct 1916.

In 1921, Esther Hockley (43) Widow, doing Agricultural Work at Brick House, Rainham, still living at 1, Rosedale Terrace, Rainham with Rose E Hockley (23) Carburettor Tester; May Hockley (19) Machine Minder Out Of Work; Richard C and William S Hockley (14) Farm Work; and Edith F Hockley (10).

In 1939, Esther Hockley (b. 28 May 1878), Widowed, School Cleaner, address was 100 Upminster Road, Rainham, and living with her were William S Hockley, Farm Worker; and Edith F Hockley, Machine Operator.

Esther Hockley died, aged 71, in  1950 J Quarter in ROMFORD Volume 05A Page 455 and was buried on 8 May 1950 in the district of Havering.

• Rose Ellen Hockley married Edward Herbert Parker at St Helen And St Giles, Rainham on 12 Nov 1921. Rose Ellen Parker, of 136 Upminster Road South, Rainham, died on 7 Dec 1983 and was buried on 14 Dec 1983 in the district of Havering.
• May Hockley married Archie Harold Patch (b. 6 Jun 1898 in Grays, Essex) at St Helen And St Giles, Rainham on 5 Jun 1926. May Patch died in 1930 M Quarter in ORSETT Volume 04A Page 645, aged 29, and was buried on 13 Mar 1930 in Havering, London.
• William Stephen Hockley, does not appear to have married. He died aged 70 and was buried on 8 Jul 1977 in Havering, London.
• Richard Charles Hockley married Beatrice Maud Deeks at St Helen And St Giles, Rainham on 18 Nov 1933. Richard Charles Hockley died at 84 in DOR Q2/1991 in BRENTWOOD (4662) Volume 9 Page 1679 and was buried on 11 Apr 1991 in Havering, London.
• Edith Florence Hockley married John Cyril Peel (b. 7 Dec 1911 in Blackburn, Lancashire), in the district of Romford, Essex on 3 Sep 1945. John Cyril Peel died in Norfolk in 1983; Edith Florence Peel of 78 Clark Road, Ditchingham, Norfolk died on 7 Dec 1984.

John Perry and Elizabeth Brown

The Mast House and Brunswick Dock at Blackwall, drawn, engraved and published
by William Daniel, London, October 20th, 1803, and dedicated to John Perry. 
The first ship masted here on the 25th October, 1791, was the "Lord Macartney," East Indiaman. The whole suit of masts and bowsprit were raised and fixed in 3 hours 40 minutes. [Source]

John Perry (b. Tuesday, 4 Jan 1743, bap. 25 Jan 1743 at St Dunstan's, Stepney), Batchelor, son of John Perry and Ann Watlington, married his first cousin Elizabeth Brown (b. Wednesday, 3 Jul 1745, bap. 11 Jul 1745), Spinster, Minor, daughter of John Brown and Elizabeth Perry, at St Dunstan's, Stepney on 19 Mar 1765. They were married by Licence dated 6 Mar 1765. Witnesses to their marriage were John Brown, Elizabeth's father and Philip Perry, John's older brother. John Perry's father, also John Perry, was the brother of Elizabeth Perry, Elizabeth's mother, so both were grandchildren of Philip Perry and Elizabeth Flemming. And if any further confirmation of this were needed, it's literally spelled out in a Codicil to the Will of their uncle, Ephraim Seehl, where he leaves bequests "... to my nephew John Perry and also to my niece Elizabeth Perry his wife ... as had given and bequeathed before in the Will to their fathers John Perry and John Brown".

For the absence of any doubt, this is the 'famous' John Perry, Shipbuilder credited as the founder of the Blackwall Yard, where he built ships largely for the East India Company (although due credit needs to be given to his father, John Perry, and grandfather, Philip Perry, before him). [The Perry Family: Shipbuilders at Blackwall.] The information on their shipbuilding appears to be pretty well documented, but the family history is scant and not at all accurate. My reasons for researching this family are two-fold: initially, because John Perry's sister, Elizabeth Perry, married my 1st cousin seven times removed, Elnathan Ayres, so we're distantly related by marriage, but whomever, these people deserve to be remembered more accurately than they have been.

As well as this link by marriage, there's also ample evidence to suggest that my relatives, William Dalton and later his son, Thomas Benbow Dalton, worked as Master Caulker, certainly as 'officers in the shipyard' at Blackwall and further evidence suggesting that another of my relatives, William Beckford Evans, may also have had professional links with John Perry. 

John and Elizabeth Perry had nine children:

1. Elizabeth Perry b. 15 Jan 1767, bap. 16 Jan 1767 at St Dunstan's, Stepney, as Elizabeth, daughter of John Perry Junr of Poplar Ship Builder & Elizabeth at 1 day old. Reputedly died on 25 Jan 1767, there is a burial of Elizabeth Perry at St Dunstan's, Stepney on 27 Jan 1767.
2. John Perry b. 27 Jun 1768, bap. 28 Jun 1768 at St Dunstan's, as John, son of John Perry Junr of Poplar Ship Builder & Elizabeth, 1 day old.
3. Philip Perry b. 7 Feb 1770, bap. 8 Feb 1770 at St Dunstan's, as Philip, son of John Perry Junr of Poplar Ship Builder & Elizabeth, 1 day old.
4. Elizabeth Perry b. 15 Jan 1772, bap. 16 Jan 1772 at St Dunstan's, as Elizabeth, daughter of John Perry Esq of Poplar & Elizabeth, 1 day old.
5. Sarah Perry b. 20 Sep 1776, bap. 22 Sep 1776 at St Dunstan's: Sarah, daughter of John Perry of Poplar Ship Builder & Elizabeth, 2 days old.
6. Richard Perry b. 2 May 1779, bap. 31 May 1779 at St Dunstan's, as Richard, son of John Perry Shipwright & Elizabeth of Poplar, 29 days old. This Richard Perry died, at the age of 17, and was buried at Poplar Chapel (St Matthias Old Church) on 29 Jun 1796.
7. Thomas Perry b. 13 Jun 1781, bap. 13 Jul 1781 at St Dunstan's, as Thomas, son of John Perry Ship builder & Elizabeth, 30 days old.
8. Charlotte Perry b. 28 Oct 1783, bap. 30 Oct 1783 at St Dunstan's, Stepney, as Charlotte, daughter of John Perry of Poplar Ship Builder & Elizabeth at 2 days old.
9. Louisa Perry b. and bap. 4 Aug 1785 at St Dunstan's, Daughter of John Perry of Poplar Shipwright & Elizabeth born the same day.

It has been suggested that in 1791, John Perry may have been one of the principals financing the expedition named the Butterworth Squadron, along with London ship-owner Theophilus Pritzler, who was the maternal uncle of George Green, who later married John's second daughter, Sarah.

In 1793 (here it says 1797) the estate of Moor Hall, Harlow (Moor Hall, near Harlow, Essex, [later] the Seat of Thomas Perry, Esquire) was bought by John Perry, ship owner from Blackwall, in Poplar. The family made it their home, enlarged the house and improved the grounds, especially when it was occupied by John Perry-Watlington. Moor Hall was an important estate located on the north side of Harlow near Matching Tye Road. 

In 1795, John Perry bought the head lease of the Orchard House Estate for £1,657. Orchard House, had been a moated property comprising a house and a large orchard, which formerly occupied much of the eastern peninsula, where the River Lea joins the River Thames at Leamouth, in Blackwall.

Portrait of John Perry from
The Chronicles of the Blackwall Yard

The Chronicles of the Blackwall Yard (PDF) by Henry Green and Robert Wigram (published 1881), which is never that accurate on the Perry family history, says that in 1796, "At Blackwall, Mr. Perry's first wife, Elizabeth, died on the 25th of January at the age of forty-nine. Elizabeth Perry had actually died in 1795 - at which date she was indeed 49 - and the parish records of St Dunstan's, Stepney list the burial, on 2 Feb 1795, simply as 'Elizabeth Perry at Poplar', this being Poplar Chapel (St Matthias Old Church). A tablet to her memory in Poplar Chapel records "... the goodness and sincerity of her heart and her parental and conjugal virtues."

In 1798, John Perry of Moor Hall, Harlow was High Sheriff of Essex.  

"Travelling from Blackwall to Harlow, Mr. Perry's road lay through Epping Forest, which was considered both a long and dangerous journey. Mr. Perry drove this with his own horses, and frequently stopped to dine at Woodford ; he always took his own wine with him, but at the same time he made a point of paying at the inn for the amount which he might be supposed to have consumed. In the neighbourhood of Woodford he had a great friend. Sir Robert Preston, a large shipowner and Deputy Master of the Trinity House, who used to send him the dessert for his dinner."

St Pancras Old Church, seen in 1815

Next, John Perry, of this parish, Widower and Mary Green of the same parish, WIDOW, were married, by Banns, at Saint Pancras Parish Church (St Pancras Old Church, which is reputed to be the oldest Christian church in Britain) on 31 May 1798. Witnesses were Mary Hutchinson and Mary Green[1]. 

Once more a year out, The Chronicles of the Blackwall Yard, claim that in 1799, "About this date Mr. Perry, having purchased the estate of Moor Hall, Harlow, married for his second wife Mary, the sister of his son-in-law, George Green, forming thus the double connection of father and brother-in-law." This assertion is accepted and repeated on many family trees, and at Wikipedia it says John Perry married 'Green's sister Mary', but was she really George Green's sister? The record says otherwise. Upon her marriage to John Perry, Mary was clearly identified as a widow, so this would mean that Green was her previous married name, not her maiden name. It's hard to imagine that the church would call her a widow by mistake and both of them signed their own names, so were presumably able to have challenged any error; Mary was 29 at the time of this marriage, an age at which, back then, she was less likely to have been a spinster too. The most plausible explanation for the situation would be if she was the widow of George Green's brother. 

People considered a sister-in-law as an actual sister in those days. We only have to reference Elizabeth Bennet's conversation with Wickham, in Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, which was of this era, at Longbourn (when he and her sister Lydia visit after their 'infamous elopement') and Wickham, now her brother-in-law, is attempting to retell history to his own advantage, and Lizzy retorts, "Come, Mr. Wickham, we are brother and sister, you know."

So, did George Green have a brother, who had died? Yes, apparently, he did. An elder brother, John Green, bap. 29 Oct 1764 in Chelsea, who is purported to have died in 1786 "At Sea", Sulawesi Tengah, Indonesia. In one family tree he is even shown represented by the flag of the East India Company (for whom the Perrys built ships). I'd like it a lot better if I'd seen a record from a primary source substantiating this, but as yet I have not. Similarly, it would be horrendously difficult to absolutely prove as there are probably thousands of marriages between a John Green and a Mary 'something', but one marriage record looks tantalisingly promising: that of John Green and Mary Spooner, both of the parish of St Andrew, Holborn, City of London on 6 Jan 1785. Interestingly, one of the witnesses to that marriage was a Richard Perry.

[1] Mary Green is listed as being Mary's mother in both John's and Mary's wills, but I still don't think this is a discrepancy, nor is it 'proof' that she was Green at birth, because if Mary had indeed married John Green, she would have become part of that family and been considered as a daughter.

John and Mary Perry had a further six children:

10. Richard Perry b. 14 Feb 1801, bap. 14 Mar 1801 at St George's Church, Bloomsbury, London Borough of Camden
11. George Perry b. 2 Jun 1802, bap. 1 Aug 1802 at St Mary & St Hugh, Old Harlow, Essex
12. Mary Ann Perry b. 23 Aug 1803, bap. 1 Oct 1803 at St Mary & St Hugh, Old Harlow, Essex
13. Caroline Perry b. 5 Sep 1805 (allegedly). Caroline Perry of Poplar (7m), was buried at Poplar Chapel (St Matthias Old Church) on 1 May 1806.
14. Charles Perry b. 17 Feb 1807, bap. (date not transcribed) at St Mary & St Hugh, Old Harlow, Essex
15. Amelia Perry b. 15 Nov 1808, bap. 16 Jan 1809 at St Mary's Church, Battersea

When the Chronicles of the Blackwall Yard wrote about the construction of Brunswick Dock, in 1789, "This basin, which in honour of King George he named the Brunswick basin, though by nearly everybody else it was called "Perry's Dock," it went on to say, "At the time of its construction, this dock, which belonged entirely to Mr. Perry, was the only dock of its kind in London, though there were several at the out ports. Its construction occupied two years, which were to Mr. Perry two years of the deepest anxiety and toil; the work was successful, but the trouble attending it laid the foundation of a heart complaint which some years later terminated fatally." 

John Perry Esquire (66) died on 7 Nov 1810 in Battersea, at his house there, Terrace House (now Old Battersea House, 30 Vicarage Crescent, Battersea, London, SW11). "... built in 1699 and probably replacing a house called Stanlies. This is late 17th, plain but substantial. It was restored, by Vernon Gibberd, in 1972-4. A carved frieze with globe and instruments may refer to Samuel Pett, Controller of Victualling to the Navy who lived here in the 17th. There is a sundial with the date 1699. The house was occupied by a series of industrialists and business people – many connected with shipbuilding and with Pett family connections. In the early 19th this included member of the Perry family, and George Green of Blackwall Yard lived nearby as an apprentice." [Source]. John Perry had bought the house in 1810 and "Changes to Perry’s will make clear that the Terrace House was intended as his permanent residence, but he died soon after his purchase in 1810, leaving it to his second wife Mary." [Source] (More recently it was owned by billionaire publisher Malcolm Forbes. It last sold, for a mere £8M, in 2020.)

The Parish Register of St Dunstan's, Stepney lists his burial on 15 Nov 1810, as "John Perry Esquire of Popar at Poplar". He's buried with his [1st] wife in the family vault at Poplar Chapel (St Matthias Old Church). 

A note about John Perry's date of birth: It's said that he was born on 6 Apr 1743, but the only source for that appears to be the inscription on his grave. That date has been accepted without question by many, but by that time, somebody must have remembered incorrectly, because the contemporary baptism record cannot lie: John Perry was baptised on 25 Jan 1743 at 21 days old, meaning he was born on 4 Jan 1743. Or at least it was 1743, on the Julian calendar, then in use. Before 1752, the year began on March 25th, not January 1st. Thus entries between January 1st and March 24th of a given year would be, confusingly, one year behind our calendar. His birth, in the modern Gregorian calendar, would be in the 1st month of 1744. The calendar change happened when John Perry was about eight and in the same year that his mum is reported to have died. Little wonder then that he might get it wrong later. Pure speculation, but if someone later just knew his birthday (not that they celebrated birthdays then) was shortly after 'the beginning of the year' (in the 1st month), but then remembered that the year had started at the end of March previously, I can see how they might conflate it to a date in early April, because April was the 1st month of the year at the time he had been born. 

Of other details I've been able to learn about John Perry from this research is that he's listed as having attended Harrow School; he retired in 1803, "In this year Mr. Perry retired entirely from business, selling his remaining half of the yard and his interest in the business to Messrs. John and William Wells.", and, apparently, his hobby was felling trees. I can see why this might be because he'll have worked with a lot of wood. From NOTES AND QUERIES Series 11 - Volume 6 tn s. vi. AUG. 24, 1912: The Mast-house at Blackwall. The Mast-house at Blackwall was an ugly building used by the firm of Perry, shipbuilders of the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, for preparing masts. "Masthouse," I may remark, is a "dictionary word," and is found both in ' The New Oxford Dictionary ' and in ' The Century Dictionary.' The Mast-house at Blackwall' was taken down by the East and West India Dock Company in 1862. Those who may be further interested in the history of this matter, and in the firm to which the Mast-house belonged, should refer to " Chronicles of Blackwall Yard, by Henry Green and Robert Wigram, Part I. [no more issued], 1881." This book is one of great interest and research, and gives many delightful biographical details of John Perry (born 1743; died, Battersea, 7 Nov., 1810), whose dockyard was " more capacious than any other private dockyard in the Kingdom, or probably in the world." In the ' Chronicles of Blackwall ' (facing p. 42) will be found an oval portrait of the head and shoulders of John Perry, revealing him as possessed of a very handsome face. His hobby was felling trees. One of his sons, Richard, wrote: "I think I see my father now, with his face slightly elevated and beaming with intelligence (he was one of the handsomest men of the day), issuing from his hall door armed with a saw or billhook attached to a long pole, with which he operated on the top branches of lofty trees." One of John Perry's sons [Charles] was Bishop of Melbourne and a Senior Wrangler. Further details of the family and of their connexion with Blackwall and Moor Hall, Harlow, Essex, will be found in early editions of Burke's ' Landed Gentry.' There are several illustrations of the Mast-house in the British Museum. A. L. HUMPHREYS.

John Perry met King George III, who, "it is related, was fond of inspecting the embarkation of his troops, and would at such times ask Mr. Perry many very pertinent questions". "So courteous was the old King to Mr. Perry on all occasions, that at last he was jokingly stilled (sic) among Mr. Perry's intimates, 'The friend of the family.'" The Prince of Wales "did not show him the same kindly consideration as his Royal father." Mr. Perry's career was throughout marked by extreme liberality and by a magnanimous and public spirit. His family believed that he might have obtained a peerage [given his achievements, this had occurred to me too], and he is stated to have refused a baronetcy.

The Chronicles of the Blackwall Yard suggest that the following lines inscribed on his monument are worth recording:

"If private worth, combined with public zeal,

Demand a tribute of the love we feel;

If honor, truth, nobility conspire

To form examples which the just admire,

This frail memorial may awhile suspend

The swift oblivion that succeeds our end;

Preserve some record for the stranger's eye

Of generous virtues that should never die,

Of active merits mixed with ardent mind,

Which made his own the good of human kind,

Diffus'd around the bounty Heaven bestows,

And sooth'd the sharpness of malignant woes;

The poor attest it, whom he clothed and fed.

The sick he nourished on their dying bed ;

The friends he succcur'd, and the youth he reared.

To Christian hope by Christian promise cheered;

In deeds like these, revere his honor'd name,

In Brunswick Dock his arduous skill proclaim

That bold achievement of his useful toil

Which bless'd with consequence his native soil.

First taught this humble spot with wealth to smile.

And rise Emporium of the British Isle;

May such benevolence, from Earth removed,

Await its destiny from God he loved.

Celestial grace and mercy guard his tomb.

And endless glory seal his final doom.''

Photo © DS Pugh (cc-by-sa/2.0)

Chester Terrace, Tuesday, 24 September, 2024

Photo available for reuse under this Creative Commons licence.

In 1841, Mary Perry (age rounded down to 70), was living at 18, Chester Terrace, St Pancras, London. (The Grade I listed terrace has the longest unbroken façade in Regent's Park.) Sadly, this is the only Census she appears on, so although there is a N (for NO) indicating that she was born outside the County (of Middlesex), there is no indication of where she actually was born. Living with her was her youngest daughter Amelia Perry (~30) Ind (of independent means) and they were attended by Milly Ward (25) and Elizabeth Hall (35) Female Servants and William Blondell (25) Male Servant. That year, Richard Perry (40) Barrister at Law, was at Moor Hall, Harlow; while Charles Perry (~30) Clergyman, was then resident at Trinity College Cambridge.

Mary Perry, widow of John Perry, Gentleman, died, aged 74, on 23 Mar 1843 (1843 M Quarter in SAINT PANCRAS Vol 01 Page 275) from Inflammation of the Lungs. Her death was registered on the same day by Elizabeth Capon, Servant, present at the death at Chester Terrace. However, I can find no burial record for Mary Perry anywhere, which given her family and position, seemed a little strange. Nevertheless, I believe I have the explanation for this: In many cases I've seen first wives buried with their husbands (as we see here with Elizabeth and John), but second wives are often buried with their family of origin. In fact, I was hoping to find Mary's burial to get clues to her origins. In this case, I think it's the lack of a burial record that's the clue in itself and suspect she was buried at the Trinity Independent Chapel, the construction of which had been financed by George Green in 1840-41. George was buried there and this is known, because George Green's tomb still exists in Trinity Gardens, Poplar. His son Richard Green was buried there, and I suspect George's second wife. Elizabeth (née Unwin), was too. Trinity Chapel was destroyed by a V-2 rocket in 1944. Historical documents for the chapel, deeds, etc., it's thought are held at Tower Hamlets Local History Library and Archives, but so far, I've found no trace of the parish records for the chapel, which could have been lost with the building and, if so, would explain why no records are coming up for any of these burials. Probate was granted on the Will of Mary Perry, of Chester Terrace, Regent's Park, Widow of John Perry, late of Moor Hall, Harlow, to her son Richard Perry on 15 Apr 1843.

NB: John Perry's Will with 4 Codicils, which runs to 13 folio pages of period handwriting and Mary Perry's Will of a further five handwritten pages, will be the subject of further research (at some unspecified time in the future). Any new information discovered therein will be added here in due course.

Several of John Perry's children didn't marry:

1. John Perry, of Harlow Essex, allegedly died on 5 Jul 1824, at 56, and was buried, on 16 Jul 1824 at Poplar Chapel (St Matthias Old Church). 
2. Philip Perry, of Brunswick Square, died, aged 60, on 19 Jan 1830. He was buried, on 27 Jan 1830 from All Saints Church, Poplar. He is also buried at Poplar Chapel (St Matthias Old Church).
3. Louisa Perry [photo], I was unable to find in either 1841 or 1851 (abroad maybe?), but in 1861, Louisa Perry (75) Fundholder, was living in Avenue Road, Marylebone, London. She had four servants: a Butler, Cook, Lady's Maid and Housemaid looking after her. The Chelmsford Chronicle of 18 Jun 1869 reported on her death, "PERRY - 11th inst. At 5 Avenue Road, Regent's Park, in the 84th year of her age, Miss Louisa Perry, daughter of the late John Perry, Esq., of Blackwall, and of Moor Hall, in this county." (1869 J Quarter in MARYLEBONE Volume 01A Page 399). She was buried at St Mary & St Hugh, Old Harlow on 18 Jun 1869. On 19 Jul 1869, "The Will with a Codicil of Louisa Perry of 5 Avenue Road, Regent's Park in the County of Middlesex Spinster deceased who died 11 June 1869 at 5 Avenue Road aforesaid was proved at the Principal Registry by the oaths of Amelia Perry of 32 Avenue Road aforesaid Spinster the Sister by the Half-Blood, John Watlington Perry Watlington of Moor Hall Harlow in the County of Essex Esquire Nephew and Charles Cancellor of 7 Token House Yard in the City of London Esquire the Executors." Effects under £35,000 (only ~£5M today).
4. In 1851, Richard Perry (50) Practicing Barrister was head of the household at Chester Terrace, St Pancras, London with his sister Amelia Perry (42) and Emily A Perry (19) Niece. The household employed a Footman, Housemaid, Cook and Lady's Maid, the housemaid being Elizabeth Capon (39) from Rochester, Kent who had been the informant and present at the late Mary Perry's death in 1843. And in 1861, Richard Perry (60) Barrister retired was still the head of the household at 18, Chester Terrace, St Pancras, London with his sister Amelia Perry (52) Fundholder, and three servants. Richard Perry died at 61 on 24 Apr 1862 (1862 J Quarter in PANCRAS Volume 01B Page 4). The London Evening Standard of 28 Apr 1862 carried the announcement, "PERRY - On the 24th inst., at 18, Chester Terrace, Regent's Park, suddenly, Richard Perry, Esq., aged 61, elder surviving son of the late John Perry, Esq., of Moor Hall, Harlow, Essex and formerly of Blackwall, Middlesex." Richard Perry was buried, on 2 May 1862 at St Mary & St Hugh, Old Harlow. Also on 2 Jun 1862, "The Will of Richard Perry, formerly of Lincoln's Inn but late of Chester Terrace, Regent's Park both in the County of Middlesex Esquire deceased who died 24 April 1862 at 18 Chester Terrace aforesaid was proved at the Principal Registry by the oaths of John Watlington Perry Watlington of Moor Hall in the County of Essex Esquire and the Reverend George Perry of Camberwell in the County of Surrey Clerk the Nephews and the Reverend John Edward Hall of Cleveland Terrace Hyde Park in the said County of Middlesex Clerk the Executors." Effects under £35,000 (less than a paltry £5.5M today.)
5. Amelia Perry, in 1841, was living with her mother; In 1851 and 1861, in the household headed by her brother Richard Perry. In 1871, Amelia Perry (62) of Private Means was living at 32 Avenue Road, Marylebone, London, with a Cook, Housemaid and Footman. Amelia, was for many years known at Blackwall as a most active, regular, and intelligent member of the managing committee of her uncle George Green's Schools, for which she maintained the deepest interest until her death in 1874. Amelia Perry died, aged 65, on 27 Feb 1874 (1874 M Quarter in MARYLEBONE Volume 01A Page 476), and was buried on 5 Mar 1874 at St Mary & St Hugh, Old Harlow. On 30 Mar 1874, "The Will of Amelia Perry late of 32 Avenue Road, Regent's Park in the County of Middlesex Spinster who died 27 February at 32 Avenue Road was proved at the Principal Registry by John Watlington Perry Watlington of Moor Hall Harlow in the County of Essex Esquire the Nephew the sole Executor." Effects under £40,000 (only around £5.75M today.)

West Ham and South Essex Mail of 20 Nov 1931:

A LONDON SHIPPING FAMILY

An interesting account is given in the November issue of "The P.L.A. Monthly" of the family of the Perry's, so closely associated with docks and shipyards at Blackwall. As early as 1701 [no evidence] there was a Perry shipbuilding at Blackwall, but it was not until 1779 that John Perry "purchased the whole of the Blackwall Yard estate, together with other property in Poplar, for £8,000." About the same time George Green was starting as an apprentice at the Yard which became more famous when he and Wigram were building fine ships there. Brunswick Basin, now incorporated within the East India Docks, was begun in 1789 by John Perry, and was always known locally as "Perry's Dock". Here stood the famous "Mast House" which remained a striking riverside landmark until removed by the East and West India Dock Company in the 1860's. After John Perry retired to a country estate in Essex, he married as his second wife the sister of his son-in-law, George Green, this becoming father-in-law and brother-in-law to his partner. [See notes above] The Blackwall Yard was then owned by John Perry (the third of the name), Philip Perry (also the third of  the name), George Green, and the Wells brothers who had been shipbuilders at Deptford. Various descendant of the Perry family remain, but the surname is borne only by a John Perry - now a very old gentleman - who is a grandson of the second John Perry.

Further links:

• John Perry (shipbuilder)
• John Perry (1743-1810) at Three Decks
• Blackwall Yard at Three Decks
• 'View of Mr Perry's Yard, Blackwall'
• Poplar History up to the 19th Century
• The East India Docks: Historical development
• Poplar High Street: The church of St Matthias