Inherited Craziness
A place to share all the nuts found on my family tree

Monday 8 August 2022

Abraham Shelford and Sophia Mason

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

Abraham Shelford had previously 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 had died, aged just 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 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, 1580–1820 (PDF)

In 1871, Abraham Shelford (44) was living at 43 Gifford Street, St Leonard, Shoreditch. On this census, his occupation is listed as 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.


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.

Then Sophia Shelford died, aged 56, in 1882 M Quarter in Shoreditch.

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, aged 73, in 1897, in Islington, London.

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

Wednesday 3 August 2022

John Easter and Edith Hockley

All Saints, High Roding
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © John Salmon - geograph.org.uk/p/5059356

John Easter (b. 1859), son of Charles Easter and Jemima Thurley, married Edith Hockley, daughter of William Hockley and Charlotte Cock, on 5 Nov 1887 in Great Dunmow. The bans were read at the church of St Mary the Virgin and, as the bride's parish, the wedding may have taken place there.

John and Edith had eight children:
  1. Edith Jane Easter b. 21 Nov 1888 in DUNMOW Vol 04A Page 600
  2. Alfred John Easter b. 9 Jul 1890 in DUNMOW Vol 04A Page 626
  3. Annie Adelaide Easter b. 6 Dec 1893 in DUNMOW Vol 04A Page 649
  4. William Charles Easter b. 14 Feb 1896 Volume 04A Page 709
  5. Elizabeth Ada Easter b. 22 Mar 1897 in DUNMOW Vol 04A Page 715
  6. Mabel Mafeking Easter b. 23 Apr 1900 in DUNMOW Volume 04A Page 802. Named after the events of the Siege of Mafeking, although The Relief of Mafeking, for the troops, didn't come until the following month.
  7. Stanley James Easter b. 6 May 1903 in DUNMOW Vol 04A Page 905
  8. Leonard Frank Easter b. 20 Nov 1904 in DUNMOW Vol 04A Page 870
In 1891, with their address listed just as Cottage, Street, High Roothing (High Roding), were John Easter (31) Agricultural Labourer, Edith Easter (29), Edith Jane Easter (2) and Alfred John Easter (0).

In 1901, living at The Wantz, High Roding, Dunmow, Essex (Wantz Cottage is a Grade II Listed Building today), were John Easter (41) Agricultural Labourer, Edith Easter (39), Edith J Easter (12), Alfred J Easter (10), Annie A Easter (7), William C Easter (5), Elizabeth A Easter (4) and Mabel M Easter (0).

In 1911, still in The Street, High Roding, we find John Easter (51) Horseman on farm, Edith Easter (49) Domestic; Alfred J Easter (20) Blacksmith journeyman; William C Easter (15) Farm boy; Elizabeth A Easter (14) General domestic servant; Mabel M Easter (10), Stanley J Easter (7) and Leonard F Easter (6), the last three still at school. That year, Edith Jane Easter (22) was a General domestic servant in the household of Arthur William Catling at 'Gwendon' Torrington Park, N Finchley, Friern Barnet, Middlesex, while Annie Adelaide Easter (17) was employed as a General domestic servant by Arthur Carwithen at 29 Macdonald Road, Friern Barnet N, Friern Barnet, Middlesex.

John and Edith Easter are still listed in High Roding in 1921.

John Easter of The Street, High Roding, died on 13 Nov 1930, aged 69, and was buried on 18 Nov 1930 at All Saints Church, High Roding.

In 1939, the widowed Edith Easter was living with her son-in-law Allan G Bacon, married to daughter Annie Adelaide, at 13 School Villas, Dunmow.

Edith Easter died on 15 Apr 1947, aged 86, and was buried, on 19 Apr 1947, at All Saints with her husband where Essex Monumental Inscriptions say they have "a pointed top headstone with flat mantle top shoulders forming side panels with roses in relief, kerb with two corner posts."

Tuesday 12 July 2022

Charles Young and Sarah Charlotte Hockley

High Roding
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Trevor Harris - geograph.org.uk/p/7184810
High Roding is very much a linear settlement with very little development
back from The Street - which follows the line of a Roman Road.

Charles Young, son of Isaac Young and Emma Holgate, married Sarah Charlotte Hockley, daughter of William Hockley and Charlotte Cock, at St Mary the Virgin, Great Dunmow, in 1890. Banns of Marriage between Charles Young of the Parish of High Roding, Bachelor and Sarah Charlotte Hockley of this Parish, Spinster, were read in the Oct / Nov of that year.

Sarah Charlotte Hockley had an illegitimate child, Alice Jane Hockley b. 1879 M Qtr in DUNMOW Vol 04A 472, bap. 14 Sep 1879 at St Mary the Virgin - the baptism confirms Sarah was her mother. In 1881, Alice was staying with her grandparents, while Sarah C Hockley (20) was working as a Domestic Servant in the household of Amelia Hockley (32) widow, Lodging house keeper at Hockerill, Bishop Stortford, Hertfordshire. Alice Jane died, aged 8, in 1887 J Qtr in DUNMOW Vol 04A 314 and was buried on 7 May 1887.

Charles and Sarah Charlotte Young added three children:

  1. Alice Annie Young b. 1891 S Qtr in DUNMOW Vol 04A Page 649
  2. Arthur William Young b. 1894 M Qtr in DUNMOW Vol 04A Page 703
  3. Charles Montague Young b. 6 Jun 1897, reg. 1897 S Quarter in DUNMOW Volume 04A Page 741

In 1891, Charles Young (33) Agricultural Labourer and Sarah Charlotte Young (31), were living with Charles' widowed father, Isaac Young (68) and sister Lois Annie Young (26) in High Roding, Essex.

In 1901, Charles Young (42) Horse Keeper on Farm, Sarah Young (40), Alice (9), Arthur (7) and Charles (3) were living at Brands Farm, Great Dunmow.

In 1911, Charles Young (51) Horseman on Farm, Sarah Young (50), Arthur Young (17) also Horseman on Farm and Charles Young (13) General Labourer on Farm, were living at Brands Farm, Great Dunmow. Brands Farm, Ongar Road, DunmowBrands Farm House dates from the early 16th century and is Grade II* Listed. Alice Annie Young (19), meanwhile, was a Domestic Servant in the household of Harry Gowlett (53) Farmer at The HallGreat Canfield. (The History of Great Canfield mentions The Hall.)

Charles and Sarah Charlotte Young were still in Great Dunmow in 1921.

Charles Young died, aged 69, in 1926 D Quarter in DUNMOW.

Sarah C Young was living at No 3 Sandpit Cottage, Bacon EndGreat CanfieldHope End Green in 1939. She died, aged 80, in 1941.

  • Alice Annie Young married Harry Crow in Dunmow, in 1915.
  • Charles M Young married Ethel L Owers in Dunmow, in 1918.

Monday 11 July 2022

Harry Hockley and Fanny Ann Rootkin

Alfred Road, Buckhurst Hill
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Stacey Harris - geograph.org.uk/p/2420674

Harry Hockley (b. 27 Jun 1871), son of William Hockley and Charlotte Cock, married Fanny Ann Rootkin (bap. 10 Dec 1871 in Great Dunmow, Essex), daughter of William Rootkin and Louisa Sharp, in Shoreditch, London, in the last quarter of 1892. They may have married in Shoreditch Church, but the actual venue could be confirmed with sight of the marriage certificate. 

The previous year, 1891, Fanny Rootkin (19) was a General Domestic Servant in the household of a Henry Smith (45) in Friern Barnet, Middlesex.

Harry and Fanny Ann had a bakers' dozen kids, with three lost in infancy:
  1. Frederick William Hockley b. 1892 D Qtr in SHOREDITCH Vol 01C 50
  2. Harry Charles Hockley b. 1894 M Qtr in DUNMOW Vol 04A Page 699
  3. Annie Louisa Hockley b. 1896 S Qtr in EPPING Vol 04A Page 397
  4. Alfred James Hockley b. 1897 S Qtr in EPPING Vol 04A Page 425
  5. George Hockley b. 1899 D Qtr in EPPING Vol 04A Page 460
  6. Ernest John Hockley b. 1901 M Qtr in EPPING Vol 04A Page 515, died in 1902 M Qtr Vol 04A Page 238 and was buried in Buckhurst Hill
  7. Frank Sidney Hockley b. 1901 D Qtr in EPPING Vol 04A Page 516, died 1902 M Qtr Vol 04A Page 235 and was also buried in Buckhurst Hill
  8. Arthur Thomas Hockley b. 1903 M Qtr in EPPING Vol 04A Page 533
  9. Alice Beatrice Emma Hockley b. 1905 J Qtr in EPPING Vol 04A 519
  10. Florence Hilda Hockley b. 1906 D Qtr in EPPING Vol 04A Page 521
  11. Edith Maud Hockley b. 1907, reg. 1908 M Qtr in EPPING Vol 04A Page 545, died 1908 D Qtr Vol 04A Page 210 and buried in Buckhurst Hill
  12. Edward Hockley b. 1909 J Qtr in EPPING Vol 04A Page 512
  13. Dorothy May Hockley b. 1910 D Qtr in EPPING Vol 04A Page 465
The mother's maiden name on all of these registrations is Rootkin.

In 1901, Harry Hockley (28) Gas Stoker from Dunmow, Essex, lived in Alfred Road, Buckhurst Hill, with wife Fanny Ann Hockley (28), William Hockley (8) [Frederick William] born in Hoxton; Harry C Hockley (7), Annie L Hockley (4), Alfred J Hockley (3), George Hockley (1) and Ernest J Hockley (0). 

In 1911, Harry Hockley (39) Gas Stoker, was still in Buckhurst Hill with Fanny Ann Hockley (39), Harry Charles Hockley (17) Errand Boy for an Ironmonger; Annie Louisa Hockley (14) Domestic Servant; Alfred James Hockley (13) School and Milk Boy; George Hockley (11), Arthur Thomas Hockley (8), Alice Beatrice Emma Hockley (5), Florence Hilda Hockley (4), Edward Hockley (2) and Dorothy May Hockley (5 Months). (Haven't located the eldest, Frederick William, who would have been around 19 in 1911, but if he was going simply by William, as in 1901, he'll be harder to pinpoint.)

Harry and Fanny Ann Hockley were still listed in Buckhurst Hill in 1921.

Fanny Ann Hockley died at 62 in 1933 M Qtr in EPPING Vol 04A 550.

In 1939, Harry Hockley was living at 53 Loughton Way, Buckhurst Hill.

Harry Hockley died at 75 in 1947 M Qtr in EPPING Vol 05A 138 and was buried on 17 Mar 1947, at St John the Baptist Church, Buckhurst Hill.

Thursday 5 May 2022

Winship Soppit and Ann Hall

Framwellgate Bridge, Durham
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © David Robinson - geograph.org.uk/p/6271900

Winship Soppit (b. 1842), elder son of Joseph Soppit and Catherine Winship, married an Ann Hall in Durham, in the 4th quarter of 1871. (There's more than one Ann Hall born in the relevant area, so it would require more clues.)

Winship and Ann had six children:
  1. Winship Soppit b. 1872 M Quarter in HOUGHTON-LE-SPRING Volume 10A Page 475 (Died in the same quarter, 1872 M Quarter in HOUGHTON-LE-SPRING Volume 10A Page 345)
  2. Catherine Soppit b. 1873 S Quarter in DURHAM Volume 10A Page 448 (Died in the same quarter, 1873 S Quarter in DURHAM Volume 10A Page 240.) There's a baptism of a Catherine Soppit, whose parents were Winship and Ann, in Durham, on 13 Oct 1874. A posthumous baptism, or perhaps more likely that the year has been transcribed incorrectly?
  3. Joseph Soppit b. 1877 M Quarter in DURHAM Volume 10A Page 396 (Died aged 1, in 1878 M Quarter in DURHAM Volume 10A Page 197)
  4. John Winship Soppit b. 1879 M Quarter in DURHAM Vol 10A Page 373
  5. Margaret Soppit b. 1881 J Quarter in DURHAM Volume 10A Page 385 (Died in the same quarter, 1881 (Volume 10A Page 181)
  6. Edith Annie Soppit b. 1885 S Quarter in GATESHEAD Vol 10A Page 795. (Died aged 2 in 1887 D Qtr in GATESHEAD Vol 10A Page 486)
In 1881, Winship Soppitt (sic) (38) Blacksmith at colliery, was living at Colliery Houses, 22, Framwellgate, Durham with wife Annie (29), John W (2) born at Framwellgate Moor; Margaret (0) and Annie Pallister (9) Niece.

Then Winship Soppit died, aged 48, in 1890 in Morpeth, Northumberland.

In 1891, Annie Soppitt (sic) (39) widow, was Housekeeper to John Scott (42) Deputy At Coal Mine, at Long Row, Harraton, Durham. John Soppit (12) was staying with his aunt and uncle John Pearson and Bridget Soppit at the Screen Man Arms, Gale Street, Haswell, Easington, Durham.

In 1901, Ann Soppit (49) widow from South Hetton, Durham, was listed as a Pauper Inmate in Preston Lane, Tynemouth, Northumberland - the Tynemouth Parish Workhouse was in Preston Lane, North Sheilds.

Annie then just disappears, with no further records on census, nor death.