Friday, 31 October 2025

Joseph Adcock and Sarah Cook

All Saints, Pytchley
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Ian Rob - geograph.org.uk/p/5413142

Joseph Adcock (bap. 19 Jul 1776 at All Hallows ChurchWellingborough), son of William Adcock and Elizabeth Shephard, married Sarah Cook (b. ~1783 in Pytchley, Northamptonshire), daughter of John Cook and Sarah Burdett, at All Saints Church, Pytchley, Northamptonshire, on 31 Oct 1803

Joseph and Sarah Adcock had nine children, of whom six died in infancy:
  1. William Adcock bap. 25 Oct 1804 (buried 29 Jan 1805)
  2. John Cook Adcock bap. 8 Aug 1805 (buried 24 Sep 1805)
  3. Elizabeth Adcock bap. 27 Oct 1806 (buried 16 Nov 1806)
  4. Lydia Adcock bap. 12 Nov 1807 
  5. William Adcock bap. 9 Jan 1809 (buried 9 Nov 1809)
  6. Mary Adcock bap. 30 Apr 1810
  7. John Adcock bap. 28 Jul 1811 (buried 28 Sep 1813)
  8. James Adcock bap. 31 Dec 1812
  9. Elizabeth Adcock bap. 26 Dec 1814 (buried 12 Sep 1819)
On son James' marriage certificate, Joseph's profession is listed as a Baker.

Joseph Adcock died at 38 and was buried, in Pytchley, on 26 Jul 1814.

Sarah Adcock was buried in Pytchley, on 15 May 1832.

George Prior and Mary Hockley

St Mary, Little Easton, Essex
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © John Salmon - geograph.org.uk/p/339750

George Prior (bap. 24 Dec 1820 in Great Dunmow), son of William Prior and Sarah Shed, married Mary Hockley, daughter of Daniel Hockley and Sophia Mason at the Church of St Mary the VirginLittle Easton, on 31 Oct 1845.

George and Mary had five children:
  1. William Prior b. 1848 J Quarter in DUNMOW UNION Volume 12 Page 74, bap. 5 May 1848 at St Mary the Virgin, Little Easton
  2. Sarah Prior b. 1849 D Quarter in DUNMOW UNION Volume 12 Page 75, bap. 18 Dec 1849 at St Mary the Virgin, Little Easton
  3. Emma Prior b. 1851 M Quarter in DUNMOW UNION Volume 12 Page 91, bap. 23 Feb 1851 at St Mary the Virgin, Little Easton
  4. George Prior b. 1853 D Quarter in DUNMOW UNION Volume 04A Page 273, bap. 10 Nov 1853 at St Mary the Virgin, Little Easton
  5. Edith Prior b. 1856 S Quarter in DUNMOW UNION Volume 04A Page 299, bap. 27 Jul 1857 at St Mary the Virgin, Little Easton. Died aged 1, in 1858 M Quarter in DUNMOW UNION  Volume 04A Page 262 and buried on 17 Mar 1858 at St Mary the Virgin, Little Easton
The mother's maiden name on all of the birth registrations is HOCKLEY. On Edith's baptism, her father's occupation is listed as Gardener.

In 1861, 1871, 1881 and 1891, the family lived in Park Road, Little Easton. They look to have lived at the same address for almost 50 years, which is rare and suggests also that George had steady employment from one employer, rather than moving from farm to farm yearly as so many others did.

In 1861, George Prior (40) Garden labourer, Mary Prior (36), William Prior (13) Farm work; Sarah Prior (11), Emma Prior (10) and George Prior (7).

In 1871, George Prior (50) Gardener, Mary Prior (45) and just George Prior (17) Coal Porter left at home.

In 1881, just George Prior (60) Garden labourer and Mary Prior (58).

In 1891, George Prior (69) Garden labourer with Mary Prior (65).

George Prior died, aged 72, in 1893 M Quarter in DUNMOW Volume 04A  Page 373 and was buried on 28 Mar 1893 at Little Easton.

In 1901, Mary Prior (79) Widow, was living at the Alms Houses, Little Easton.

There had been Almshouses, near the church-yard, built by Lord Maynard, in about 1716, for the residence of four poor widows to be appointed by his heirs. The current Grade II listed former almshouses, were built in 1895. The date and a 'W' are placed centrally. The 'W' perhaps stands for Warwick, as apparently Frances, the Countess of Warwick, had them built. By 1902 they were accommodating six old people - one of whom was Mary Prior. Perhaps George Prior had worked for the Countess in the gardens of Easton Lodge

Mary Prior died, aged 85, in 1907 J Quarter in DUNMOW Volume 04A Page 424 and was buried, on 28 May 1907, at Little Easton.

Former Almshouses, Church Row, Little Easton
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Robin Webster - geograph.org.uk/p/4985490

Abraham Shelford and Caroline Kitty Collin

St James, Clerkenwell Close, Clerkenwell, London EC1
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © John Salmon - geograph.org.uk/p/2157513

Abraham Shelford (b. 28 May 1823, in Great Easton, Essex), son of William Shelford and Ann Stanes, married Caroline Kitty Collin in the Essex village of Tilty, on 31 Oct 1846, with whom he had a daughter, Mary Ann Shelford, b. 1846 D Quarter in DUNMOW UNION Volume 12 Page 88, bap. 17 Jan 1847 at St Mary the Virgin, Tilty. However, Caroline Shelford died, aged 27, in 1854 J Quarter in DUNMOW UNION Volume 04A Page 219 and was buried, on 11 May 1854, at St John & St Giles, Great Easton. Their daughter, Mary Ann Shelford died, at 15, in 1862 M Quarter in CLERKENWELL Volume 01B Page 424 and was buried, on 5 May 1862, in Hackney, Middlesex.

Abraham Shelford then married Sophia Mason, daughter of Samuel Mason and Amelia Baker, in the 4th quarter of 1859, in Kensington, London.

Abraham and Sophia added three children:
  1. William Shelford b. 1862 J Quarter in CLERKENWELL Volume 01B Page 550, bap. 6 May 1862 at St James, Clerkenwell
  2. Alice Shelford b. 1863 D Quarter in CLERKENWELL Volume 01B Page 579, bap. 11 Dec 1863 at St James, Clerkenwell (Nothing after 1881)
  3. Emily Shelford b. 1869 J Quarter in SHOREDITCH Volume 01C Page 155. Died in 1870 M Quarter in SHOREDITCH Volume 01C Page 149
In 1861, Abraham Shelford (35) Deputy turncock n r co and Sophia Shelford (34) Deputy turncock's wife - such was the importance of the office - were living at 27, Rodney Street, Clerkenwell, London. Abraham's daughter Mary, listed as 16, was a Domestic servant in the household of William Paton, Upholsterer at 88, Pentonville Road, St James, Clerkenwell.

Turncocks were an official employed to turn on the water for the mains supply. This was done on a schedule: in those times, the water supply was not running all of the time. 

Abraham Shelford's employer, 'n r co' was undoubtedly the New River Company. The History of the London Water Industry (PDF)

In 1871, Abraham Shelford (44) was living at 43 Gifford Street, St Leonard, Shoreditch. On this census, his occupation is listed merely as a Labourer, but I'm not sure I trust its veracity. His place of birth has been written as Great Eastern instead of Great Easton, which they've obviously confused with the SS Great Eastern, because, then someone has added 'At Sea' on the end of it, which is all that got transcribed. :) With him were wife 'Sarah' Shelford (44) from Broxted, Essex and William Shelford (9) and Alice Shelford (7), both born in Pentonville, Middlesex. (Pentonville, a sub-district in Clerkenwell, has a fascinating history.)

In 1881, living at 23, Mary Street, Shoreditch, London, were Abraham Shelford (56) this time his occupation is listed as Waterman, but I'm certain, given his history, that this is as in someone who works for the water company, not the ancient waterways taxi driver. With him were 'Sarah ' Shelford (54), William Shelford (19) Carpenter and Alice Shelford (17) Laundress.

Sophia Shelford died, at 56, in 1882 M Qtr in SHOREDITCH Vol 01C 139.

In 1891, Abraham Shelford (69) Water turncock, Widower, was living at 69 Tottenham Road, Hackney, London with son, William Shelford (29) Water inspector; Alice Shelford (27) Daughter-in-law and grandchildren: Edith (7), William J (5) and Ernest Shelford (3). (William Shelford married his 1st cousin, Alice Mason, daughter of John Mason and Mary Ann Turner in 1883.)

In 1892, Abraham Shelford married Sarah Maria Wilcox in Hackney. 

Abraham Shelford died, at 73, in 1897 M Qtr in ISLINGTON Vol 01B 236.

Sarah Maria Shelford remarried, in Bethnal Green, in 1898. 

Wednesday, 29 October 2025

Samuel Heywood and Emma Eliza Horn

The Watch House, Bermondsey Street, SE1
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Robin Webster - geograph.org.uk/p/5914221
On the corner with Abbey Street, a grade II listed building, described as early 18th century.

Samuel Heywood (b. 1865 in Bermondsey), son of William Haywood and Jane Harris, married Emma Eliza Horn (b. 1868 in St George in the East), daughter of John Horn and Emma Green, on 29 Oct 1888, in Newington, Southwark St Saviour. (William Haywood, a Tanner, was originally from Devonshire.)

In 1891, Samuel Haywood (26) General Labourer and Emma Haywood (23) were living in Abbey Street, Bermondsey. (The street takes its name from the former Bermondsey Priory that occupied this site until the Reformation.)

Samuel and Emma had one daughter: 
  1. Emma Edith Haywood b. 1892 J Quarter in SAINT OLAVE SOUTHWARK Volume 01D Page 233, but who sadly died in the same quarter in 1892 J Quarter in St. Olave Southwark Volume 01D Page 2143.
Samuel Heywood died, at 36, in 1902 M Qtr in CROYDON Vol 02A 189.

In the 2nd Qtr of 1904, Emma Eliza Heywood remarried to William Henry Mann, at St Thomas, Stepney, that had stood in Arbour Square, Stepney.

William Henry Mann (b. 1 Apr 1863, bap. 31 May 1863 in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk), son of Charles Ditcham Mann, Sailmaker, and Ann Lee, was a widower when he married Emma Eliza Heywood. His first marriage, on 6 Jul 1887, at St Nicholas, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk (now Great Yarmouth Minster) was to Emma Eliza Jackson (b. 1866 in Medway, Kent (Chatham), daughter of William Jackson, Carpenter, and Maria Bratt. The first Mrs Emma Eliza Mann (née Jackson) had died, in 1904 M Quarter in POPLAR Volume 01C Page 328. That William Henry remarried within three months, was probably to provide care for his four children from his first marriage:
  1. William Henry Mann b. 1890 J Qtr in BETHNAL GREEN Vol 01C 236
  2. George Joseph Mann b. 23 Jun 1893 S Qtr in POPLAR Vol 01C 548
  3. Sarah Eliza Prudence Mann b. 1895 M Qtr in POPLAR Vol 01C 594
  4. Maria Louisa Julia Mann b. 7 Jun 1898 J Qtr in POPLAR Vol 01C 539
In 1911, William Henry Mann (48) Fishmonger from Great Yarmouth, Norfolk was living in Bow Common with the second Emma Eliza Mann (formerly Heywood, née Horn) (43) whose birthplace was curiously not listed (with the same two first names and only a two year difference in the birth years of his two wives, it would be easy to assume this was one person); Prudence Sarah Mann (16) and Maria Julia Mann (13), both born in Old Ford

Sarah Eliza Prudence Mann died, at 21, in 1916 M Quarter in POPLAR Volume 01C Page 505. 

Emma Eliza Mann (formerly Heywood, née Horn) died, at 48, on 24 May 1916 J Quarter in POPLAR Volume 01C Page 444. She was buried at Brockley and Ladywell Cemeteries, with her father, John Horn, and step-mother.

Private William Henry MannLancashire Fusiliers, son of William Henry Mann, of 78, Harley Rd, Great Yarmouth, died, aged 27, on 21 Mar 1918, the first day of the German spring offensive on the Western Front during the First World War. He is commemorated at the Pozières Memorial.

William Henry Mann died, aged 75, on 17 Mar 1939 back in his native Norfolk (1939 M Quarter in GREAT YARMOUTH Volume 04B Page 36) and left his effects to Maria Louisa Julia Mann and George Edward Todd.

Richard Bennett and Mary Richards

Morchard Bishop : St Mary the Virgin Church (Interior)
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Lewis Clarke - geograph.org.uk/p/4509391

Richard Bennett (bap. 24 May 1790 in Morchard Bishop), son of Richard Bennet (sic) and Betty Hammet, married Mary Richards (bap. 17 Apr 1786 in Morchard Bishop), daughter of Peter Richards and Ann Cann, at the church of St Mary the Virgin, Morchard Bishop (the bells) on 29 Oct 1810.

Richard and Mary Bennett had eight children baptised in Morchard Bishop:
  1. Mary Bennett bap. 24 Mar 1811
  2. William Bennett bap. 4 Apr 1813 (residence Heathfield Moor)
  3. Richard Bennett bap. 15 Oct 1815, their residence listed as Spire Lake
  4. Ann Bennett bap. 29 Jun 1817 (residence listed as Spire Lake)
  5. John Bennett bap. 21 May 1820 (residence Sharland)
  6. Jane Bennett bap. 22 Dec 1822 (residence Lower Town)
  7. Sarah Bennett bap. 6 Aug 1826 (residence New House)
  8. George Bennett bap. 15 Mar 1829 (residence Heathfield Moor)
In 1841, Richard Bennett (50) was living in Lower Town, Morchard Bishop, Crediton, Devon with Mary Bennett (55), John Bennett (20), Jane Bennett (16) and George Bennett (12). Mary Bennett had married in 1834; William Bennet had married in 1835; Richard Bennett had married in 1839; was unable to locate Ann Bennett; Sarah Bennett (14) appears to have been out working - original census is hard to read, but appears to be at Town Barton, with numerous other youngsters, undoubtedly all parish 'apprentices'.

Richard Bennett died in 1844 D Qtr in CREDITON UNION Vol 10 Page 63. 

In 1851, Mary Bennett (69) Widow, Mother, Pauper hand loom weaver (serge) was living at Courtlage, Morchard Bishop, Crediton, Devon in the household of her eldest son, William Bennett.

Mary Bennett died in 1852 S Quarter in CREDITON Vol 05B Page 244.

Their daughter, Jane Bennett, never married but had four children:
  1. Robert Bennett b. 1842 J Quarter in CREDITON UNION Volume 10 Page 79, bap. 15 May 1842 in Morchard Bishop, clearly stating he was the son of Jane Bennett of Lower Town, Single Woman. Died aged 4 in 1846 M Quarter in CREDITON UNION Volume 10 Page 59.
  2. Sarah Bennett b. 16 Jun 1845 in Crediton Workhouse (1845 J Quarter in CREDITON UNION Volume 10 Page 79) Her birth was registered by a Mr Leach, Master of the Workhouse, Crediton, on 20 Jun 1845.
  3. Mary Jane Bennett b. 10 Oct 1853 D Qtr in CREDITON Vol 05B 369
  4. Ellen Bennett b. 12 Aug 1858 S Qtr in CREDITON Vol 05B 357
In 1851, Jane Bennett (26) was a visitor in the household of her sister, Sarah Sharland, at Pitt Farm, Puddington, Crediton, while Sarah Bennett (6) was living with Jane's brother, William, at Courtlage, Morchard Bishop.

In 1861, Jane Bennett (34ish) Servant, was an Inmate at Crediton Union Workhouse, Bramble Lane, Crediton, Devon, along with Mary J Bennett (7) and Ellen Bennett (2). Sarah Bennett (17) was House Servant to William Davy, Farmer and Miller at Stone Mill, Leverton Road, Chawleigh.

In 1871, Jane Bennett, Servant, was again an Inmate at Crediton Union Workhouse. Her age was listed as 56, clearly 10 years too many. Mary J Bennett (17) was a Dairymaid at Furze, Cruwys Morchard, Tiverton.

Jane Bennett died, aged estimated to 59, in 1880 M Quarter in CREDITON Volume 05B Page 354 and was buried on 25 Mar 1880, in Crediton.