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

Friday 2 June 2023

Charles Frederick Burden and Sophia Baker

Watney Street and entrances to Shadwell Stations
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Ben Brooksbank - geograph.org.uk/p/3999191

Charles Frederick Burden (b. 22 Oct 1858, bap. 15 Apr 1860 at Holy Trinity (Church built 1844, demolished 1963), Milton-Next-Gravesend, Kent), son of William Henry Burden and Mary Elizabeth Sharland, married Sophia Baker (b. 1858), daughter of Charles Hoile Baker and Amelia Young, in 1878 at Christ Church Watney Street, St George in the East. Charles' father's occupation was listed as a Tidewaiter - who was a customs officer who boarded ships on their arrival to enforce the customs regulations.

Charles and Sophia had six children:
  1. Amelia Mary Burden b. 1879 S Quarter in ST GEORGE IN THE EAST Volume 01C Page 409. Died, aged 3, in 1883 S Quarter in ST GEORGE IN THE EAST Volume 01C Page 275
  2. Jessie Edith Burden b. 1881 J Quarter in SAINT GEORGE IN THE EAST Volume 01C Page 402
  3. Ethel May Burden b. 1883 J Quarter in ST GEORGE IN THE EAST Volume 01C Page 411
  4. Hilda Irene Burden b. 1884 S Quarter in POPLAR Volume 01C Page 652
  5. Alfred Charles Burden b. 1886 J Qtr in WEST HAM Vol 04A Page 48
  6. Christopher Frederick Burden b. 26 Nov 1887, Reg: 1888 M Quarter in WEST HAM Volume 04A Page 57
All of the registrations show the mother's maiden name as Baker.

In 1881, Charles F Burden (22) Bricklayer was living at 27, Watney Street, St George in the East with wife Sophia Burden (22) and Amelia M Burden (1).

In 1891, Chas Fredk Burden (32) Surveyor, Sophia (32), Jessie (9), Ethel (8), Irene (6), Alfred (5) and Christopher (3) were in Stamford Road, East Ham.

In July 1900, C F Burden (40) Architect, arrived in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada, having sailed from Liverpool on the SS Tunisian.

In 1901, Sophia Burden (42) Married, listed as head of the household was living in Daubeney Road, Hackney with Jessie E Burden (19), Ethel M Burden (18), Hilda J Burden (16) and Alfred C Burden (15). Christopher F Burden (13) was staying with his Aunt Amelia, his mother's sister.

In 1911, Sophia Burden (52) Married and once again head of the household, was living in Lower Clapton, London with Alfred Charles Burden (25), Christopher F Burden (23) and Hilda Irene Burden (26). (Ethel May had married in 1902 and Jessie Edith in 1903). While, Charles F Burden (listed as 56) was head of a household, living in Algoma East, Ontario, Canada.

Chas Fred Burden arrived in Canada again in Feb 1911, on the SS Sardinian, which I think also sailed from Liverpool, so he presumably visited the UK, with destination Massey, Ontario and shows he'd previously lived in Canada for 10 years, from 1900 to 1910, which concurs with the 1900 record.

In 1921, Chas Frederick Burden (62) was, once more, the head of a household in Algoma East, Ontario, Canada and living with him were Arthur Albert Hallett (41), Emily Hallett (35) and what appears to be their four children. Sophia Burden (62) Housewife, meanwhile, was living at 173, Chatsworth Road, Hackney, with three young gentleman boarders.

Sophia Burden died, aged 73, in 1931 D Qtr in HACKNEY Vol 01B 388.

Charles Frederick Burden, Architect, Widower, died, aged 77, in Massey, Ontario, Canada, on 14 Dec 1935 with cause of death given as chronic myocarditis. The record of his death specifies his length of residence at the place of death and length of residence in Canada (if an immigrant) as being 35 years, which again agrees with the record of him arriving in 1900. His obituary describes him as "a grand old man, liked by all". What these records don't tell us is whether Charles and Sophia had separated, or why she didn't follow.

Wednesday 31 May 2023

Henry Wood and Mary Jane Melhuish

Kentisbeare: St Mary's churchyard
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Martin Bodman - geograph.org.uk/p/4624352

Henry Wood (b. 1842), son of James Wood and Harriet Gollop, married Mary Jane Melhuish (b. 1847 in East Stonehouse, Plymouth), daughter of William Melhuish and Sarah Lake, at St. Mary’sKentisbeare on 31 May 1866

Henry and Mary Jane had ten children:
  1. Charles Henry Wood b. 1866, bap. 19 Aug 1866 at All SaintsBlackborough, Devon (Demolished 1994)
  2. William Wood b. 1869, bap. 27 Mar 1869 at St. Mary’sKentisbeare
  3. Emma Jane Wood b. 1871, bap. 3 Sep 1871 in Kentisbeare
  4. Alice Wood b. 1874, bap. 18 Jan 1874 in Kentisbeare. (Died 1874, aged 3 weeks and buried on 25 Jan 1874, also in Kentisbeare.)
  5. Henry Wood b. 1875, bap. 3 Feb 1875 in Kentisbeare
  6. Amelia Wood b. 1877, bap. 3 Jun 1877 in Kentisbeare
  7. Walter Wood b. 1879, bap. 25 Dec 1879 in Kentisbeare
  8. Alice Mary Wood b. 1882, 4 Jun 1882 in Kentisbeare
  9. Ellen Wood b. 1887, bap. 9 Mar 1887 in Kentisbeare
  10. Frederick Wood b. 1889, bap. 11 Aug 1889 in Kentisbeare
On Charles Henry's baptism in Blackborough, Henry and Mary Jane are described as "Tinkers in Kentisbeare", which is an archaic term for an itinerant tinsmith who mends household utensils.

In 1871, they were living in the Village, Kentisbeare with Henry Wood (28) Farm Labourer from Kentisbeare, Devon, wife Mary Jane (24), with Charles Henry (6), William (2) as well as Henry's father, James Wood (57), mother, Harriet (51), brother James (12) and sister, Sarah (8). 

In 1881 and still living in the Village, Kentisbeare, were Henry Wood (38), Mary J (34), William (12), Harry (6), Amelia (4) and Walter (1). Charles Henry (15) had already left home and was working as a Farm Servant (indoors) for William Snell (48) Farmer of 118 Acres at Bishops Farm, Kentisbeare, while Emma Jane (9) was staying nearby with her grandmother, Harriet. 

In 1891, living in a Cottage, Kentisbeare (quite possibly the same place), were Henry Wood (48), Mary J (44), Charles (24), Emma J (19), Henry (16), Milly [Amelia] (14), Walter (11), Alice (9) and Ellen (4). 

In 1901, back in the Village, Kentisbeare, there were Henry Wood (59) now a Carter on Farm, Mary Jane (55), Charles Wood (34) Single, also a Carter on Farm, Ellen Wood (14) and Henry Melhuish (44) Lodger.

Henry Wood died, aged 63 and was buried on 13 Mar 1904 in Kentisbeare.

In 1911, Charles Wood (44) Widower and Waggoner on Farm has become head of the household with, Mary Jane (65) and brother Walter (31). 

In 1921, Mary Jane Wood (73) and son Charles Wood (55) General Labourer were living at Church Cottage, Kentisbeare, Devon.

Charles Wood predeceased his mother and died in 1933 at 68.

Mary Jane Wood died in 1935, at 87.

Sunday 28 May 2023

John Summers and Sarah Middleton

Uffculme: The Square and St Mary’s church
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Martin Bodman - geograph.org.uk/p/839640

John Summers married Sarah Middleton, both of them born in Devon around 1774, at the Church of St Mary the Virgin, Uffculme, on 28 May 1799

Records suggest that John and Sarah Summers had four children:
  1. Elizabeth Summers bap. 21 Jul 1799 in Uffculme
  2. John Summers bap. 17 Aug 1801 in Uffculme
  3. Mary Somers (sic) b. 10 Jun 1804, bap. 25 Dec 1804, in Halberton
  4. Richard Summers b. 13 Aug 1807, bap. 25 Dec 1807, in Halberton
In 1841, we find John Summers (65) Agricultural Labourer, Sarah Summers (65) and Richard Summers (30), living at Telgers, Halberton.

John Summers died, age given as 70, in 1844 S Quarter in TIVERTON AND DULVERTON Volume 10 Page 182.

In 1851, Sarah Summers (76) Widow, Pauper, was living in Uffculme with her eldest daughter, Elizabeth Tidborough (51) Widow, Worsted Warper.

Sarah Summers died in 1854 S Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 255.

Benjamin Bussey and Elizabeth Bowen

The first Portsea Parish Church (St. Mary's) Built 1170 Demolished 1843.

Benjamin Bussey (b. 1781) married Elizabeth Bowen (b. 1796) at the first St Mary's Church, Portsea, on 28 May 1821. (Benjamin was a widower at the time of this marriage, having first married Sarah Deed at that same church on 31 Aug 1806, who had died, aged 37, and buried on 17 Nov 1820.)

Benjamin and Elizabeth had five children: 
  1. Benjamin Bussey bap. 22 Mar 1822 at St Mary's Church, Portsea
  2. James Wilmot Bussey bap. 24 Mar 1824 at St Mary's Church, Portsea
  3. Caroline Bussey bap. 6 Aug 1826 at St Mary's Church, Portsea
  4. Hannah Bussey b. 1828
  5. Susannah Bussey b. 1832
There don't appear to be baptisms for the last two girls.

Benjamin Bussey of Hereford St, Landport died on 10 Dec 1835 and was buried on 17 Dec 1835, the record says, at Portsea Cemetery. 

In 1841, Elizabeth Bussey (45) was living in Chandos Street, Portsea with Benjamin (19), James (18), Caroline (15), Hannah (13) and Susannah (9).

In 1851, Elizabeth Bussey (56) widow, washer woman, was living with son Benjamin (28) cattle drover, and staying with her were her then married daughter, Hannah Tubb (21) and her granddaughter, Elizabeth Tubb (0). James had married in 1845; Caroline Bussey (24) was that year a housemaid at Greenwich Hospital, London - permanent home for retired sailors of the Royal Navy. Susannah isn't listed anywhere that I can find.

Benjamin Bussey Jnr, aged 34, died or was buried on 7 Dec 1855, in Portsea.

In 1861, Elizabeth Bussey (66) widow, was living alone at Landport View.

Elizabeth Bussey died, aged approx. 69, in 1867, in Portsea.

Thursday 25 May 2023

Isaac Horn and Maria Agnes Thaxter

St. George-in-the-East
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © David Williams - geograph.org.uk/p/3844118

Isaac Horn (b. 1803, bap. 3 Aug 1806 in Thatcham, Berkshire), son of John Horn and Lucy Buckeridge, married Maria Agnes Thaxter at Christ Church Watney Street, St George in the East, in 1842. Born 6 Jan 1824 and bap. 21 Mar 1824 at St George in the East, Stepney, Maria was the daughter of William Thaxter, Labourer in the East India Docks and his wife, Maria. 

Isaac and Maria had seven children:

  1. William Horn b. 14 Oct 1842 D Quarter in ST GEORGE IN THE EAST Volume 02 Page 103, bap. 13 Nov 1842 at St George in the East
  2. John Isaac Horn b. 18 Jul 1845 S Quarter in ST GEORGE IN THE EAST Volume 02 Page 109, bap. 31 Aug 1845, as John Isaac Robert Horn
  3. George James Horn b. 16 Feb 1848 M Quarter in ST GEORGE IN THE EAST Vol 02 Page 132, bap. 5 Mar 1848. Died before his 1st birthday in 1849 M Quarter in ST GEORGE IN THE EAST Vol 02 Page 99
  4. Edmund Horn b. 1851 M Quarter in ST GEORGE IN THE EAST Volume 02 Page 128. Died, aged 2, in 1853 M Quarter Vol 01C Page 340
  5. Isaac Richard Horn b. 4 July 1856 S Quarter in ST GEORGE IN THE EAST Vol 01C Page 406, bap. 27 Jul 1856 at St George in the East
  6. Lucy Ann Horn b. 1858 M Qtr in ST GEORGE IN THE EAST Vol 01C 452
  7. Maria Lucy Horn b. 1862 J Quarter in ST GEORGE IN THE EAST Volume 01C Page 452. Died in 1862 J Quarter Volume 01C Page 314
On all of the baptisms, Isaac Horn is listed as a Plumber. 

On William's baptism in 1842, their address was 39 Lower Cornwell St and on John's in 1845, 29 Lower Cornwell St. On George's baptism in 1848, their address was 5 Back Road and on Isaac's in 1856, it was 5 China Place. 

In 1851, at China Place, Back Road (so the addresses on George's and Isaac's baptisms was the same place), were Isaac Horn (46) Plumber, although it gave his birthplace a Chippenham, Wiltshire; Maria Horn (27) Coffee Shop Keeper; William Horn (8), John Horn (5) and Edwin [they mean Edmund] (0).

In 1861, at 5, Back Road, St George in the East, were Isaac Horn (56) Plumber and Painter, again with his birthplace listed as Chippenham, Wiltshire; Maria Horn (listed as 51, but she was only 37); William Horn (18) Plumber; John Horn (16) Plumber; Isaac Horn (5) and Lucy Horn (3).

Maria Horn died, at 39, in 1862 D Quarter Volume 01C Page 367.

In 1871, Isaac Horn (67) Widower, was Coffee House Keeper at 333 Cable Street. Living with him were William Horn (24) Plumber; Isaac Horn (15) Plumber and Lucy Horn (14). At one time each part of the street bore different names, with Back Road being one of them, so it seems likely they'd been in the same premises since at least 1848. This time, Isaac's birthplace is listed as Thatcham, Berkshire. Why it had previously been given as Chippenham, Wiltshire, isn't obvious, but twice isn't an error. The two places are around 50 miles apart, so if I had to speculate, perhaps Isaac was born in Chippenham, then (given the delay) baptised and brought up in Thatcham.

Coffee Houses were a thing of the 17th and 18th centuries, places that no “respectable” woman was able to enter and many were haunts for criminals and prostitutes. By the 19th century, coffee houses had declined.

Isaac Horn, age overestimated to 75, died on 20 Mar 1874 (1874 M Quarter in SAINT GEORGE IN THE EAST Volume 01C Page 328).