Anthony Dent and Sarah Dalton

Photo © John Salmon (cc-by-sa/2.0)

St Mary & Holy Trinity, Bow Church, Wednesday, 1 May, 2013

Photo available for reuse under this Creative Commons licence.

Anthony Dent married Sarah Dalton (b. 22 May 1778 in White Horse Street, Stepney), daughter of William Dalton and Sarah Travally, on 13 Aug 1799, at St. Mary, Stratford, Bow (Bow Church). As with the marriages of Sarah's brother and sister, Thomas Benbow Dalton and Martha Dalton, the transcripts of the records suggest they were married at All Saints Church, Poplar, which cannot be true because All Saints Church wasn't built until 1821-23. The writing and Rector are the same on all three of the original marriage records, showing this couple too were married by A H Eccles, Rector (Allan Harrison Eccles, Rector of Bow Church). One of the witnesses to this marriage is written as Jas [James] Ashfeild (sic) and the other E [unreadable].

There was a potential baptism for Anthony Dent on 20 Oct 1765 at St. Mary, Stratford, Bow, son of James and Martha Dent, but cannot confirm this. In 1791, Anthony Dent, when he was around the right age of 15, was apprenticed to David Taylor, Cabinetmaker, of St Paul Shadwell.

Anthony and Sara Dent had at least four children:

1. Elizabeth Dent b. ~1804
2. Alfred Dent b. ~1811. Died, at 34, in 1845 D Qtr in POPLAR UNION Vol 02 Page 249 and buried on 12 Oct 1845 at All Saints, Poplar
3. Sarah Ann Dent b. ~1815
4. Thomas Dent b. ~1819

This family has been non-conformist: Sarah Dalton and her siblings were not baptised but their births registered in the Independent church. Sarah's sister, Martha's children were baptised, but in a non-conformist, Congregational chapel. However, there are no records for any of Anthony and Sarah's children, neither births, nor baptisms. The only information being that picked up from census records, it may well be likely that there were others.

In 1841, living in Regent Street, All Saints Poplar were Anthony Dent (65) Joiner; Alfred Dent (30) Joiner; Thomas Dent (21) Joiner; Sarah Dent (63) and Sarah Jenkins (26). Of course, in 1841, there were no indications as to social status, nor the relationships between household members.

Anthony Dent died, aged 71, in 1847 D Quarter in POPLAR UNION Volume 02 Page 379 and was buried on 17 Oct 1847 at All Saints, Poplar.

In 1851, Thomas Dent (32) Joiner, Married was head of the household at 82, Regent Street North, Poplar, London. Living with him were Sarah Dent (76) Widow, Mother; Sarah Jenkins (35) Widow, Sister; Elizabeth Wise (46) Married, Sister; Thomas A Wise (11) Nephew; Fredrick Turner (6) Nephew; Jane Turner (4) Niece; Alfred A Turner (1) and Thomas Dealon (28) Lodger. (Unable to find any records to explain how the Turners are related.)

Sarah Dent died, aged 76, in 1855 M Quarter in POPLAR UNION Volume 01C Page 526 and was buried on 15 Jan 1855 at All Saints, Poplar.

1. Elizabeth Dent, Spinster, married Thomas Brightwell Wise (b. Friday, 10 May 1799, bap. 23 Jun 1799 at St Anne, Limehouse), Bachelor, son of Robert Wise, Shipwright of Ropemakers Fields, and Johanna Maria Baker, at St. Mary, Stratford, Bow (Bow Church) on 26 Mar 1837. Witnesses were Alfred Dent and Mary Ann Hazelwood. Thomas and Elizabeth Wise had three children, all of whom pre-deceased them: i. Thomas Robert Wise b. 1838 M Quarter in POPLAR UNION Volume 02 Page 258. Died 1838 S Quarter in POPLAR UNION Volume 02 Page 257; ii. Thomas Anthony Wise b. 1839 D Quarter in POPLAR UNION Volume 02 Page 294, bap. 27 Oct 1839 at All Saints, Poplar. Died, aged 15, in 1855 D Quarter in STEPNEY Volume 01C Page 322; and iii. Jane Joanna Wise b. 1842 J Quarter in POPLAR UNION Volume 02 Page 326. Died 1843 D Quarter in POPLAR UNION Volume 02 Page 302. In 1841, Thomas Wise (40) Shipwright; Betsy Wise (35) and Thomas Anthony Wise (2) were living in Regent Street South, Poplar. Seeing that he was a shipwright, it's possible that Thomas Wise was at sea when Elizabeth was living in the household of her brother in 1851. In 1861, Thomas Wise (60) Shipwright and Elizabeth Wise (57) were living at 91, Hare Street, Bethnal Green, London. Elizabeth Wise died, aged 58, in 1862 D Quarter in BETHNAL GREEN Volume 01C Page 253. Thomas Wise died in his 66th year and was buried on 26 Mar 1865 at Hackney, Victoria Park Cemetery ('The Resort of Thieves and Harlots'; Victoria Park Cemetery, Bethnal Green), later known as Meath Gardens.
2. Sarah Ann Dent, Spinster, then 20, married Anthony Jenkins, Batchelor, also at St. Mary, Stratford, Bow (Bow Church) on 1 Jun 1835. Witnesses were James Harris, Sarah Dent and E Taylor. They had one daughter, Frances Sarah Jenkins b. 12 Jul 1841 (1841 S Quarter in POPLAR UNION Volume 02 Page 314), bap. 3 Mar 1844 at St Leonard's, Shoreditch. In 1841, we can't tell whether Sarah Ann is married or widowed (clearly, she was about to give birth to her daughter), but is listed as widowed in 1851, nevertheless, I can find no suitable death of an Anthony Jenkins between 1835 and 1851. As he doesn't appear on any census, there are no clues to his age, origins, nor occupation. Sarah Ann Jenkins may have remarried, or she may have died, but I've been unable to isolate any further relevant records for her or her daughter.
3. Thomas Dent, in 1841, was listed as being married, but his wife is not in the household and I cannot find any suitable marriage. Thomas Dent died, aged 53, in 1873 M Quarter in POPLAR UNION Vol 01C Page 416.

Thomas Fudge and Ann Beedle

Church of St Andrew
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © N Chadwick - geograph.org.uk/p/5713509
The Minster Church of St Andrew, also known as St Andrew's Church, Plymouth.

Thomas Fudge (b. 1808), of the Royal Marines, married Ann Beedle (b. 1813), at St Andrew's Church, Plymouth on 12 Aug 1834. Neither could sign their own names. Witnesses were Catherine Murray and James Boulter.

Thomas and Ann had three children:

1. Lucy Elizabeth Ann Fuge (sic) bap. 7 Aug 1836 in East Stonehouse
2. Thomas James Fudge b. 1843 D Quarter in EAST STONEHOUSE Volume 09 Page 341
3. Sarah Jane Fudge b. 25 Dec 1850, reg. 1851 M Quarter in EAST STONEHOUSE Volume 09 Page 389

On Lucy Elizabeth Ann's baptism, her father's occupation is given as Drummer, Royal Marines. The registrations of Thomas and Sarah confirm their mother's maiden name as Beedle. Despite there being long gaps between each child, checking year by year through the records at the General Record Office did not reveal any others, possibly because Thomas was often away at sea.

Navy Allotment Records list Thomas Fudge of 26 High Street, Stonehouse as a Fifer aboard HMS Endymion (1797) in 1841; in 1844 with HMS Mutine (1844) and HMS Mutche in 1845. In 1845, Thomas Fudge from Stonehouse was listed among Britain, Merchant Seamen, 1835-1857.

In 1841, Ann Fuge (sic) (25) (ish) was one of a very long list of people (too many for a private house) in Fore Street - with Louisa Fuge (sic) (4) - Lucy, clearly. Fore Street was the site of various establishments such as the Wesleyan Sailors' and Soldiers' Home and the Royal Sailors' Rest and Institute and it could well be one of these establishments they were staying in.

In 1851, Thomas Fudge (43) Greenwich Pensioner, his birthplace listed as East Stonehouse, Devonshire was living in Edgcumbe Street, Stonehouse, Plymouth with wife Ann Fudge (38), Lucy Fudge (15), Thomas Fudge (7) and baby Sarah Jane, incorrectly listed as Sarah Ann Fudge (sic) (0).

In 1861, at 10 Providence Place, East Stonehouse was Thomas Fudge (53) Seaman; Ann Fudge (47), Thomas Fudge (17) Rope Maker; Sarah Fudge (11) Scholar and Anne L Fudge (3) Granddaughter. (Who I believe is Louisa Ann Bailey, daughter of Lucy Fudge, who had married Thomas Bailey in 1856.)

In 1871, then living in Bridport Street, Portsea, Hampshire, were Thomas Fudge (64) Seaman Pensioner, Anne Fudge (58) and Anne Fudge (13) listed as their daughter, but must be their granddaughter, Louisa Ann Bailey.

In 1881, Thomas Fudge (72) Navy Pensioner was living at 33, Bridport Street, Portsea with wife Ann (68). Living with them were their son-in-law George Charles Mew, married to Sarah Jane, along with four grandchildren.

Ann Fudge died, aged 71, in 1885 M Quarter in PORTSEA ISLAND Volume 02B Page 352. Thomas Fudge died back in his native EAST STONEHOUSE, in 1888 J Quarter, Volume 05B Page 205, with his age estimated as 83.

Charles Walter Street and Margaret Robertson

Former Devonport Market House, Duke Street
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © N Chadwick - geograph.org.uk/p/5191618
Duke Street, Devonport, ran from the junction with Catherine Street and James Street to George Street and the bottom of Ker Street. Devonport Market was on the northern side.

Charles Walter Street (29) Fireman RN of 15 Moon Street, Devonport, married Margaret Robertson (b. 6 Jul 1865 in Stoke Damerel, Devon), of 11 Moon Street, daughter of Archibald Robertson and Mary Ann Thomas Butters, at St James the Great, Devonport on 12 Aug 1894. 

Born Walter Charles Street in 1865 M Quarter in STOKE DAMEREL Volume 05B Page 338, mother's maiden name COLLINGS, on his marriage certificate, Charles Walter lists his father as John Street (deceased), Sailor RN. Although I've not yet traced his parents, Margaret Street was reputedly his aunt.

Unlike her two older siblings, who were brought up by their step-grandfather, Daniel Pellew, Margaret Robertson, whose mother had died just 10 days after her birth, was brought up by Margaret Street, as her Foster Daughter. 

Charles and Margaret had two children:

1. Hilda Margaret Alice Street b. 7 Mar 1896 (1896 J Qtr in STOKE DAMEREL Vol 05B Page 291), bap. 26 Nov 1897 at Devonport, St Mary.
2. Walter James Alfred Street b. 1901 J Quarter in DEVONPORT Volume 05B Page 283, bap. 1901 at Devonport, St John.

In 1901, Charles Street (36) Leading Stoker Royal Navy; Margaret (35), Hilda (5) and Margaret Street (62) Widow, Aunt lived in Duke Street, Devonport. 

In 1911, Margaret Street (45) Tailoress was living in Devonport with daughter Hilda (15) and son Walter (9). Charles will have been away, because on 25 Aug 1910, he was loaned to the Canadian Naval Service for 2 years.

Charles Walter Street, giving his date of birth as 21 Jan 1863 (gaining two years), enlisted in the Royal Navy on 16 Mar 1881. His previous trade listed as Waterman. He served for 21 years, until he was pensioned on 6 May 1902. He then joined the Royal Fleet Reserve on 7 May 1902, from which he was discharged on 24 Aug 1910 in order to do his Canadian stint. He was redeployed, as a Stoker Petty Officer, from 2 Aug 1914 to 19 Oct 1914 at Vivid II, the Stokers and Engine Room Artificers School in Devonport.

Charles Walter Street died in 1917 D Qtr in DEVONPORT Vol 05B Page 376.

Margaret Street died in 1937 S Quarter in PLYMOUTH Vol 05B Page 281.

• Hilda Margaret Alice Street married Ernest Harold Harding (b. 22 May 1899 in Mile End Old Town, London), Engine Room Artificer RN, son of Thomas Harding and Emily Scotcher, on 5 Mar 1923 at Devonport, St John. Hilda died, at 69, in 1965, in Plymouth. Ernest Harold Harding died in 1980, in Liskeard, Cornwall.
• Walter James Alfred Street died, at 36, in 1938 J Quarter in PLYMOUTH Volume 05B Page 393.

Who was Margaret Street? Born Margaret Organ in 1838 D Quarter in STOKE DAMEREL Volume 09 Page 428, there was no mother's maiden name on her birth registration. By the time of her baptism on 13 Jan 1839, her mother was listed as Sarah Organ, 'Widow'. Margaret Ann Organ (24) married Frederick William Street (28) Seaman RN on 21 Aug 1862. Frederick listed his father as William Street, Waterman. Margaret, meanwhile, listed her father as James Organ, Shipwright. I can find no record of the existence of this person. The assumption, therefore, would be that Charles Walter Street's father was Frederick's brother, but I cannot find any records to prove this. There is still no explanation to suggest why Margaret Street took in and perhaps even named, the orphaned Margaret Robertson.

Philip Gilbert and Susanna Perry

View of St Mary Magdalene, Woolwich. Drawing by unknown artist, 1799.

Philip Gilbert of the Parish of Woolwich in the County of Kent, Widower & Susanna Perry (b. 1 Mar 1715 in Woolwich), daughter of Philip Perry and Elizabeth Flemming, of Poplar in the Parish of St Dunstan Stepney in the County of Middlesex, Spinster, were married, by Licence, at St Dionis Backchurch in the City of London [the same church were her brother Philip Perry and sister Elizabeth Perry had also married] on 11 Aug 1743.

Philip and Susanna Gilbert had four children:

1. Philip Gilbert b. 18 Jun 1744, bap. 5 Jul 1744 at St Mary, Woolwich
2. Susanna Gilbert bap. 16 Aug 1745 at St Mary's Church, Chatham, Kent
3. Elizabeth Gilbert bap. 2 Jun 1748 at St Mary's, Chatham. Elizabeth Gilbert, an Infant, buried at St Mary's, Chatham on 8 Jul 1748.
4. Ann Gilbert bap. 11 Sep 1751 at St Mary's, Chatham

On 13 May 1743, Philip Gilbert of Woolwich, Kent, Shipwright, took as an apprentice Will, son of Will Reed. And on 7 Mar 1744, Phillip Gilbert of Chatham, Kent, Shipwright, took apprentice, Rich, son of Henry Everall.

No ordinary shipwright, Phillip Gilbert, held the position of Assistant Master Shipwright at three major Royal Navy dockyards. Having been appointed Master Caulker at Woolwich Dockyard in 1730, he was appointed Assistant Master Shipwright at Woolwich in 1732; in 1740, he was appointed Assistant Master Shipwright at Deptford Dockyard, then again appointed Assistant Master Shipwright at Woolwich Dockyard. Finally, from 1744 until his death in 1751, he was Assistant Master Shipwright at Chatham Dockyard.

As stated on the marriage record, Philip Gilbert was a Widower when he married Susanna Perry. Philip Gilbert previously married Margaret Watkins at St Mary the Virgin, Lewisham on 5 Aug 1725. It appears that this couple had two daughters: Catherine Gilbert b. 30 Nov 1726, bap. 15 Dec 1726 at All Hallows-by-the-Tower and Sarah Gilbert bap. 17 Aug 1731 at St Mary Magdalene, Woolwich. Both baptisms list the parents as Philip and Margaret. However, "Margaret wife of Mr Phillip Gilbert Assistant [Ship]Builder at Woolwich" was buried at Saint Nicholas, Deptford on 13 Aug 1739.

Philip Gilbert was buried at St Mary Magdalene, Woolwich on 29 Sep 1751.

The Will of Philip Gilbert of Woolwich had been drawn up in 1736, before the death of his first wife. In it he had left one pound one shilling to his brother Samuel Gilbert. The remainder of his possessions he left to his then 'loving wife Margaret Gilbert' and after her decease 'to my children born of her body to be equally divided between the then surviving children'. He had also appointed Margaret executor. Susanna's brother, John Perry and her brother-in-law, John Brown, appeared on her behalf and accordingly Administration of the Will was granted to Susanna Gilbert, Widow on 7 Oct 1751.

In her own Will, drafted on 16 Nov 1774, Susana Gilbert Widow and Solo Administrator of Philip Gilbert late of Chatham in the County of Kent Assistant [Ship]Builder at His Majesty's Yard there, left a Silver Tankard to her son Philip Gilbert; she also left bequests to her grandson, John Gilbert; her daughter Susanna Nuttall (including a pair of silver salts and salt spoons, a diamond ring that belonged to her late father, Philip Perry and another diamond ring from her late brother, John Perry); and to her daughter Ann Gilbert. She also left 'South Sea Annuities' to her nephew John Perry of Blackwall Esquire. She appointed her nephew John Perry and her sister Sarah Seehl as joint executors. Witnesses to her Will were E Brown (her sister Elizabeth, or Elizabeth's namesake daughter) and Joseph Hankey (who was married to her niece, Ann Perry, daughter of her late brother John).

The parish records of St Dunstan Stepney state that Susanna Gilbert of Poplar at 'Do' (Ditto, the same), was buried on 22 Jul 1777, presumably with her parents and siblings at Poplar Chapel (St Matthias Old Church).

John Harvey and Esther Glede

Georgian Town Houses on Arbour Square, Stepney Casualguy, Public domain

John Harvey (b. ~1811 in Chingford, Essex) married Esther Glede (bap. 12 Nov 1829 at St Dunstan and All Saints), daughter of Morris Glede and Sarah Thorn, on 11 Aug 1849, at the church of St Thomas, Stepney, which had stood in Arbour Square: "a neat edifice of Suffolk brick, in the early English style, with two octangular turrets that was erected in 1837." It closed in 1940. The record of the marriage lists the bride's father as Morris Glede, the bridegroom's father as John Harvey and all three of them with the occupation of Labourer. John and Esther are listed as bachelor and spinster and "of full age". Witnesses were Eleanor Hooper and John P Hughlings. 

John and Esther already had three children and added six more:

1. Sarah Ann Harvey bap. 17 Dec 1843 in Chingford, Essex
2. Susannah Harvey, b. 5 Oct 1845 at 174 Eastfield Street, Limehouse (1845 D Quarter in STEPNEY Volume 02 Page 459)
3. Mary Ann Harvey b. 1848 M Quarter in STEPNEY Vol 02 Page 494, bap. 5 May 1850 at St Thomas, Stepney
4. John Harvey b. 1850 D Quarter in STEPNEY Volume 02 Page 576
5. Morris Harvey b. 1853 M Quarter in STEPNEY Vol 01C Page 519, bap. 20 Feb 1853 at St Thomas, Stepney
6. Esther Harvey b. 30 Oct 1855 (1855 D Quarter in STEPNEY Vol 01C Page 468), bap. 18Nov 1855 at St Thomas, Stepney
7. Job Harvey b. 5 Oct 1859 (1859 D Qtr in MILE END OLD TOWN Vol 01C Page 568), bap. 14 Dec 1859 at St Dunstan and All Saints (Died in 1859 D Quarter in MILE END OLD TOWN Vol 01C Page 408)
8. Job Harvey b. 6 Nov 1860 (1860 D Quarter in MILE END OLD TOWN Volume 01C Page 580), bap. 9 Jan 1861 at St Dunstan and All Saints
9. Lydia Harvey b. 26 Mar 1864 (1864 J Qtr in MILE END OLD TOWN Vol 01C Page 551), bap. 14 Apr 1864 at St John the Evangelist, Limehouse

The mother's maiden name on the civil registrations was GLEAD or GLEED.

In 1851, living in Fair Place, Stepney, were John Harvey (40), Labourer, born in Chingford, Essex; Esther (overestimated to 32), Sarah (8), Susannah (5), Mary Ann (3), both born in Limehouse and John (0), born in Stepney.  

John Harvey died, aged 56, in 1866 D Quarter in SAINT GEORGE IN THE EAST Volume 01C Page 339.

In 1871, Esther Harvey (47), Widow, Trouser Finisher, was back in Eastfield Street, Limehouse, with John (21) Bricklayer's Labourer; Morris (19) Dock Labourer; Esther (16) Trouser Finisher; Job (12), Scholar, and Lydia (8).

In 1872, Esther Harvey remarried to Charles Staines at St James the Great, Bethnal Green (Where Reggie Kray and Frances Shea married).

In 1881, living at 23, Bow Common Lane, Bromley, Poplar were Charles Staines (42) Labourer from Stepney; Esther Staines (55), Job Harvey (21) Labourer, Stepson; Lydia Harvey (17) Stepdaughter and Samuel Passfield (18) Labourer, Grandson (Son of Samuel Passfield and Sarah Ann Harvey.)

Esther Staines died, age estimated as 63, in 1889 M Quarter in MILE END OLD TOWN Volume 01C Page 348.

Charles Staines died in 1908 J Qtr in MILE END Vol 01C Page 228, at 72.