James Wright and Mary Ann Minns

Ruins of St Bartholomew, Heigham, Norwich, Norfolk

James Wright (b. 20 May 1808 in Heigham, Norfolk), son of Richard Wright and Mary Blake, married Mary Ann Minns (b. 17 Jan 1805 in Heigham, Norfolk), eldest daughter of Robert Marsh Minns and Mary Kett, at the now lost church of St Bartholomew, Heigham on 28 Aug 1831. Witnesses were Lydia Wright, James Wright's aunt (wife of his father's brother, John) and Robert Marsh Minns who was either Mary Ann's father, or elder brother.

(The handwriting and name of the curate on this marriage record are the same as those on Mary Ann's sister Hannah's marriage the following year.)

James and Mary Ann Wright had three children:

1. James Wright b. 15 Jun 1833, bap. 30 Jun 1833 and buried, aged 3 months, on 6 Oct 1883, both at St Bartholomew, Heigham
2. James Wright bap. 7 Aug 1836 at St Bartholomew, Heigham
3. Mary Ann Wright b. 11 Oct 1838. Her DOB is as declared on her baptism (at the same time as her cousin, Eliza Blazey) on 21 Oct 1863, although the parish's Bishops Transcripts show that she'd already been baptised, at St Bartholomew, Heigham, on 24 Oct 1838. (Ref. 620).

All three of the original baptisms list James Wright's occupation as Weaver.

In 1841, Mary Ann Wright (35) was living in Union Square, Heigham, Norfolk with her two children, James Wright (5) and Mary Wright (3). James Wright was not in the household and we find him, age rounded down to 30, as an Inmate at The Infirmary Bethel, in the parish of St Clement, Norfolk.

James Wright, Inmate in The Infirmary Bethel (Bethel Hospital, Bethel Street, Norwich) died on 2 Dec 1841 (1841 D Quarter in NORWICH Volume 13 Page 169), age rounded up to 35, with his cause of death listed as Epilepsy. James Wright, of the Parish of St Clements, was buried at St Bartholomew, Heigham, on 8 Dec 1841. (The church was destroyed by German bombs on April 27, 1942 and the graveyard was grassed over in the 1950s. No trace of any grave remains.) Burial of those who died in workhouses and workhouse infirmaries, so presumably also in asylums, could be in the deceased's own parish at the family's request, often at the expense of the parish. 

"In 19th-century Europe, epilepsy was considered a highly hereditable disorder, associated with a familial tendency toward insanity, alcoholism, violence, criminal behaviour, migraine, and gout." - A diary of epilepsy in the early 1800s. "Living with epilepsy in past centuries was challenging; before the introduction of bromides in 1859 and phenobarbital in 1912, there were no effective therapies for seizures." And even in 1860, the condition was still thought to be contagious, or linked to insanity, so, as we see with James, people with epilepsy were often confined to asylums or workhouses. 

In 1851, Mary Wright (46) Widow, Dressmaker, was living at 1, Manchester Buildings, Hamlet of Heigham, Norwich, Norfolk (Manchester Buildings (yard?) - Union Place) (The Old Courts and Yards of Norwich PDF) with her son James Wright (14) Brushmaker's Apprentice; and daughter Mary A Wright (13) Scholar. Also living in her household, as Lodgers, were her brother-in-law and sister, Francis and Hannah Blazey, and five of their children: Francis (18); Harriet (12), Samuel (9), Hannah (5) and Elizabeth (3).

Mary Ann Wright, widow of James Wright, Weaver, died, aged 54, on 10 Jun 1859 (1859 J Quarter in NORWICH Volume 04B Page 103), at 1 Manchester Buildings, Heigham, Norwich, from 'Disease of the Brain' - as a medical term, this could mean many things including encephalitis (inflammation) - which was registered by her sister, Hannah Blazey, present at her death.

[NB: Difficult to tell without a medical degree, but with both James and Mary Ann having died from diseases that could have been caused by infections that can damage brain tissue and cause seizures (like meningitis or encephalitis), I wonder if they may both have been affected by the same initial contagion.]

The Bethel Hospital
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Evelyn Simak - geograph.org.uk/p/5833231
The Bethel Hospital, named after its location in Bethel Street, dates from the late 17th and early 18th centuries and has some later additions. In 1899, the Norwich architect E Boardman was charged with rebuilding and repairs. Originally built "for the benefit of distrest Lunaticks" in 1713, the Grade 2 listed building currently is a children's psychiatric clinic.

Samuel Mobbs and Lydia Adcock

All Saints' Church, Pytchley, Northamptonshire
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Philip Jeffrey - geograph.org.uk/p/7904931

Samuel Mobbs (bap. 13 Oct 1808 in Pytchley, Northamptonshire), Batchelor, son of William Mobbs and Ann Jones married Lydia Adcock (bap. 12 Nov 1807 in Pytchley, Northamptonshire), Spinster, daughter of Joseph Adcock and Sarah Cook, at All Saints Church, Pytchley, Northamptonshire on 26 Aug 1830. Witnesses were Daniel Tompson and Mary Adcock (who married in 1832, a pair of my 3x great-grandparents). Mary was Lydia's sister.

Samuel and Lydia Mobbs had nine children:

1. Benjamin Mobbs bap. 3 Jul 1831 in Pytchley, Northamptonshire
2. Joseph Adcock Mobbs bap. 12 Apr 1833 in Pytchley, Northamptonshire
3. William Adcock Mobbs bap. 13 Mar 1836 in Pytchley, Northamptonshire
4. George Mobbs b. 22 Jun 1838 (1838 J Quarter in KETTERING UNION Volume 15 Page 275), bap. 22 Jul 1838 in Pytchley, Northamptonshire
5. Edward Thomas Mobbs b. 1840 D Quarter in KETTERING UNION Volume 15 Page 271 (mother's maiden name listed as HADCOCK), bap. 31 Jan 1841 in Pytchley, Northamptonshire
6. Louisa Mobbs b. 1843 J Quarter in KETTERING UNION Volume 15 Page 282 (as Casia Mobbs and mother's maiden name listed as HADCOCK), bap. 3 Aug 1843 in Pytchley, Northamptonshire 
7. Samuel Mobbs b. 1846 J Quarter in KETTERING UNION Volume 15 Page 295, bap. 26 Apr 1846 in Pytchley, Northamptonshire
8. James Adcock Mobbs b. 1848 D Quarter in KETTERING Volume 15 Page 255, bap. 25 Dec 1848 in Pytchley, Northamptonshire
9. Mary Elizabeth Cook Mobbs b. 1852 D Quarter in KETTERING Volume 03B Page 140

On birth registrations for George, Samuel, James and Mary, mother's maiden name is correctly listed as ADCOCK. Baptisms give the parent's names as Samuel and Lydia. Found no baptism for Mary Elizabeth Cook Mobbs.

Son Samuel's marriage in 1872, lists his father's occupation as Gardner.

In 1841, Samuel Mobbs (~30), Lydia Mobbs (~30), Benjamin (10), Joseph (8), William Ad[cock] (5), George (2), Edward Thos (0) and James Phillips (20) [Presumably a Lodger] were living in Pytchley, Northamptonshire.

In 1851, and still in Pytchley, Northamptonshire, were Samuel Mobbs (42), Lydia Mobbs (43), Benjamin Mobbs (19), Joseph A Mobbs (17), George Mobbs (12), Edward Mobbs (10), Louisa Mobbs (7), Samuel Mobbs (5) and James A Mobbs (2). William [Adcock] Mobbs (15), listed as their Nephew, was staying with his uncle George Mobbs and family, also in Pytchley.

Samuel Mobbs died, aged 50, on 3 Jun 1859 (1859 J Quarter in KETTERING Volume 03B Page 106) and was buried, on 7 Jun 1859 at All Saints, Pytchley. Probate was granted on 25 Feb 1860 to a Richard Lane.

In 1861, Lydia Mobbs (53) Widowed, was still living in Pytchley Village with George Mobbs (22), Louisa Mobbs (18), Samuel Mobbs (15), James Adcock Mobbs (12), Mary Elizabeth Cook Mobbs (8) and George Mead (20), Lodger.

Lydia Mobbs died, at 62, in 1870 J Quarter in KETTERING Volume 03B Page 113 and was buried in Pytchley on her son George's birthday, 22 Jun 1870.

Joseph Jackson and Charlotte Bland

St Paul's Church, Deptford from the south-east
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Marathon - geograph.org.uk/p/3929567

Joseph Jackson, Gardener, listed as son of Joseph Jackson, Mariner, married Charlotte Bland (b. 23 Feb 1820 and baptised on 30 Mar 1820 at St Alfege's Church, Greenwich - Henry VIII was baptised in a previous church on the site), daughter of Thomas and Sarah Bland (There's a note on her baptism, Pn, which denotes Poor Note, believed to be a note from the poorhouse to pay for the baptism. Greenwich's first parish workhouse was opened in 1724, next door to St Alfege's Church) at St Paul's, Deptford on 26 Aug 1838.

This marriage had produced two daughters:

1. Julia Jackson b. 2 Nov 1839, bap. 4 Dec 1839 at St Paul's, Deptford. Died 1840 S Quarter in GREENWICH UNION Volume 05 Page 130
2. Rebecca Jackson b. 1841 D Quarter in GREENWICH Vol 05 Page 184

In 1841, Charlotte Jackson (21) was living in Church Street, St Paul Deptford, with Elizabeth Millard (75) who may have been a boarder or lodger. On the original census schedule, next to Charlotte's name instead of an occupation, is written "Wife of Joseph Jackson", so we can be in no doubt this is her.

There is a death of a Joseph Jackson (26) in Greenwich in 1842 M Quarter in GREENWICH UNION Volume 05 Page 155.

William George Maslin (bap. 28 Mar 1819 in Deptford), son of John and Elizabeth Maslin, married the widowed Charlotte Jackson, by then 24, at All Saints Church, Poplar, in the second quarter of 1844.

William and Charlotte Maslin had six children:

1. Joseph Maslin b. 3 Aug 1845, bap. 14 Sep 1845 at St Paul's, Deptford
2. William George Maslin b. 13 Jan 1848 M Quarter in GREENWICH UNION Volume 05 Page 227, bap. 31 Oct 1852 in Deptford. (Baptism transcription put his birth in Jun, but this cannot be correct as his birth had been registered in the March quarter. Thus must be Jan.)
3. Elizabeth Sarah Maslin b. 19 May 1850 in GREENWICH Volume 05 Page 205, bap. 4 Aug 1850 at St Paul's, Deptford.
4. Unnamed female child b. 1852 D Quarter in GREENWICH Volume 01D Page 476, presume died, or stillborn (no corresponding death found).
5. Alfred Maslin b. 21 Jul 1854 in GREENWICH Volume 01D Page 486, bap. 8 Oct 1854 at St Paul's, Deptford
6. James Maslin b. 12 Sep 1857 in GREENWICH Volume 01D Page 512, bap. 15 Nov 1857 at St Paul's, Deptford

Mother's maiden surname on the five with civil registrations is BLAND.

In 1851, at 2, Broadway South Side, St Pauls Deptford, Hatcham, were William G Maslin (32) Brass worker; Charlotte (31) Greengrocer; Rebecca Jackson (9) Step daughter; Joseph (5), William G (3) and Elizabeth S (1). In Charles Street, Deptford, were John Maslin (74) Greengrocer, and his wife Elizabeth (66) Laundress, who appear to be William's parents.

In 1871, they were in Nile Street, St Paul, Greenwich with William Maslin (52) Greengrocer; Charlotte Maslin (51), Alfred Maslin (16) Apprentice to painter and James Maslin (14) Boy at Iron foundry (Deptford Foundry?)

And in 1881, at 4, Nile Street, St Paul Deptford - Vanguard Street (previously Nile Street and Nelson Street) was amongst the earliest streets to be developed in the area south of Deptford Broadway - were William G Maslin (63) Brass finisher; Charlotte Maslin (62) Laundress; William G Maslin (33) Plasterers labourer; James Maslin (23) Blacksmiths labourer; Jessie Maslin (21) Collar ironer (James' "wife") and Emily Padbury (10) Granddaughter.

Charlotte Maslin died, aged 71, in 1890 M Quarter in GREENWICH Volume 01D Page 736.

William George Maslin died, aged 80, in 1898 J Quarter in GREENWICH Volume 01D Page 574.

John Palmer and Esther Collins

Winchester - St John The Baptist Church
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Chris Talbot - geograph.org.uk/p/2386190r

John Palmer (b. ~1776 in Bridestowe, Devon) married Esther Collins (bap. 15 Aug 1790 at St Bartholomew, Winchester), daughter of Benjamin Collins and Mary Heamer, at St John the Baptist, Winchester on 26 Aug 1811. 

John and Esther Palmer, it seems, had at least these four children:

1. Charles Palmer b. 12 Jul 1812, bap. 24 Jul 1812 at St Mary's Church, Hinckley, Leicestershire. As unlikely as that location seems, on the 1851 census, Charles' birthplace is listed as 'Ionkley, Lancashire', which is surely a mis-transcription of Hinckley, Leicestershire. 
2. James Palmer bap. 16 Sep 1821 at St Andrew's Church, Plymouth
3. Elizabeth Palmer bap. 25 Nov 1827 at St Andrew's Church, Plymouth
4. Henry Palmer bap. 18 Jul 1830 at St Andrew's Church, Plymouth

On James', Elizabeth's and Henry's baptisms, John's occupation is Tanner.

It's extremely likely there were other children born between those, but it's difficult to confirm, not knowing when or where and being too early for them appear on census returns together as a family for confirmation. 

In 1841, John Palmer (60) was living in York Street, Plymouth (as was son Charles, in a separate household), with Esther Palmer (50), Elizabeth Palmer (14) and Henry Palmer (11). There is a James Palmer (20), resident at Plymouth Citadel, in 1841, presumably there with the military.

In 1851, John Palmer (75) Tanner, from Bridestowe, Devonshire and Esther Palmer (61), from Winchester, were in Richmond Street, Plymouth.

John Palmer died, aged 78, in 1855 M Quarter in PLYMOUTH Volume 05B Page 251. He is buried at Ford Park Cemetery, Plymouth.

In 1861, Esther Talmer (sic) Tanner's mother, widowed, from Winchester, Hampshire, was living in Vauxhall Street, Plymouth in the household of her son Charles - who it appears had taken over the trade from his father.

Esther Palmer died, aged 79, in 1868 J Quarter in PLYMOUTH Volume 05B Page 145. She is also buried at Ford Park Cemetery, Plymouth.

Henry John Leese and Marian Blanche Burgess

HMS President in London
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Steve Daniels - geograph.org.uk/p/3352722
HMS President is a stone frigate, or shore establishment of the Royal Naval Reserve; on the northern bank of the River Thames near Tower Bridge.

Henry John Leese (b. 5 Jan 1862 in Lewes, Sussex) Naval Schoolmaster, HMS Boscawen, Portland, son of John Leese and Caroline Bussey, married Marian Blanche Burgess (b. 1863 in Greenwich), daughter of William Burgess, Printer, at All Saints, Rotherhithe, on 22 Aug 1885. Witnesses were William Burgess and Christiana Elizabeth Burgess (the bride's younger sister).

Henry John Leese began his naval career on 5 Jan 1879, having previously attended Greenwich School, with school ship, HMS Impregnable (1810). From 1 Jan 1881, Henry John Leese (19) was an Ordinary seaman pupil teacher, stationed at HMS President (shore establishment).  

Henry and Marian Leese had nine children, three of whom died (numbers confirmed by Henry John Leese' own account on 1911 Census):

1. May Constance Leese b. 9 Jun 1886 (1886 S Qtr in BRIGHTON Vol 02B Page 228), bap. 23 Mar 1890 at Southsea, St Bartholomew.
2. Elsie Christine Leese b. 29 May 1890 (1890 S Quarter in PORTSEA ISLAND Volume 02B Page 479), bap. 3 Aug 1890 at Southsea, St Bartholomew. Presume died as an infant, possibly in Malta.
3. Henry John Leese b. 14 Dec 1892 in Valletta, Malta 
4. Maude Christiana Leese b. 13 Jul 1894 in Malta 
5. Marian Blanche Leese b. 6 Nov 1895 (1895 D Quarter in STOKE DAMEREL Vol 05B Page 301), bap. 19 Jan 1896 in Stoke Damerel, Devon, died at 1 in 1896 D Qtr in ALVERSTOKE Vol 02B Pg 361
6. William Gordon Leese b. 17 Jan 1897 (1897 M Quarter in ALVERSTOKE Vol 02B Page 560), bap. 19 Sep 1897 in Forton (Gosport), Hampshire
7. John Stanley Leese b. 2 Feb 1898 (1898 M Quarter in ALVERSTOKE Volume 02B Page 540), bap. 8 Feb 1898 in Forton (Gosport), Hampshire
8. Edward Lionel Leese b. 23 Feb 1900 (1900 M Quarter in ALVERSTOKE Volume 02B Page 568), bap. 10 Apr 1900 at Forton, Hampshire, died aged 3 in 1903 M Quarter in ALVERSTOKE Volume 02B Page 355
9. Frank Alfred Joseph Leese b. 10 Jun 1909 (1909 J Qtr in ALVERSTOKE Vol 02B Page 565), bap. 11 Jul 1909 in Forton (Gosport)

The family are not on the 1891 Census in England as Henry John Leese was stationed at Malta Dockyard between 14 Jun 1890 and 11 Dec 1894.

Henry John Leese was appointed Schoolmaster at Portsmouth Division Royal Marines, located at Forton Barracks, near Gosport in Hampshire, on 29 Jul 1896, position he appears to have held until 30 Apr 1917.

In 1901, Henry J Leese (39) Schoolmaster, Warrant Officer RMLI, born in Portobello, Sussex was living at 139 Forton Rd, Gosport), with wife Marian B Leese (37) born in Greenwich; May C Leese (14) born in Brighton, Henry J Leese (8) born in Malta; Maud C Leese (6) born in Malta; William G Leese (4), John S Leese (3) and Edward L Leese (1) born in Gosport. There are no further records of Elsie Christine after her baptism; she is not listed on this census and I can find no record of a death either, so the most logical explanation is that she must have died as an infant in Malta.

In 1911, Henry John Leese (49) Schoolmaster, WO RMLI, was still living in Alverstoke, Hampshire with Marian Blanche Leese (47), May Constance Leese (24), Maude Christania Leese (16), William Gordon Leese (14), John Stanley Leese (13) and Frank Alfred Leese (1). Son Henry J Leese (18) had joined the Royal Marines in 1910 and was that year listed in Walmer, Kent (Deal).

In 1921, Henry John Leese (59) Elementary School Teacher was living at 139, Forton Road, Gosport, Alverstoke, with Marian Blanch Leese (57), May Constance Leese (35), Maud Christine Leese (26) Elementary School Teacher; John Stanley Leese (23) Pattern Maker; and Frank Alfred Joseph Leese (12).

Henry John Leese died, aged 70, on 15 Apr 1932 (1932 J Quarter in ALVERSTOKE Volume 02B Page 734) and is buried at Clayhall Naval Cemetery (Haslar Royal Naval Cemetery).

Marian Blanche Leese died seven years later, on 15 Apr 1939 (1939 J Quarter in GOSPORT Volume 02B Page 822), aged 75.

The six surviving children: 

1. May Constance Leese died, unmarried, aged 81, in Portsmouth, in 1967.
2. Henry John Leese (70) was discharged dead from the Royal Marines, to which he'd obviously devoted his entire life, on 15 Nov 1962.
3. Maude Christina Leese died, aged 83, also still a spinster, in 1977.
4. William Gordon Leese enlisted in the Royal Navy on 20 Jul 1912, but was declared invalided on 8 Feb 1921 at Haslar Hospital. William G Leese died, aged 71, in 1968 in Gosport.
5. John Stanley Leese died, at 80, in 1979 in Stockport, Cheshire.
6. Frank Alfred Joseph Leese joined the British Army, Coldstream Guards in 1928. Frank Alfred Joseph Leese married Faith Kathleen Partridge in Acle, Norfolk in 1947. Frank died in 1990, in Norwich.