*New info added to Cornelius and Mary's biography*
Cornelius was born in 1832 ish to James Card and Charlotte nee Stratten. On census forms he says that he was born in Withyham Sussex. He certainly grew up there until his father's death but his baptism is not in the church records. His parents are known about from other records.
He was a cowman and a foot soldier (joined Tonbridge 1854).[Source British Army records at the National Archives] As the latter he fought in China, the East Indies and in the Crimea. He was also stationed in Malta and Corfu. When he joined as a 23 year old it was noted that he was only 5ft 5 inches tall. He had dark brown hair, grey eyes and a fresh complexion according to his army papers. These show he was often in trouble, 5 times being entered into the default book and once spending a month in prison for refusing to carry out orders. [Source British Army Records held at the National Archives]
Before being in the army he was already a member of the West Kent Light Infantry militia. He was released from this so he could serve in the regular army.
As a cowman he was fined and prosecuted for refusing to fulfill a contract he made with a Marsh Green Kent farmer to be his head cowman. Despite above average pay and a later offer of more still, not to mention a house and free firewood with the job Cornelius announced he was off soon after signing the contract and getting the job. He also received a caution after being caught with a friend damaging fruit trees belonging to a different farmer in Westerham, perhaps for firewood. [Source for fruit damage story Sevenoaks Chronicle via BNA website]
The couple usually live in High Street Westerham but in 1871 was at Skeynes Cottages Lingfield. In the 1890s their Westerham home was entirely destroyed by a fire that broke out over night. Both Cornelius and Mary suffered burns in the incident, presumed to have been caused by a lamp falling over. Mary escaped thanks to Cornelius knotting a bed sheet together so she could clamber down out the window. Her burns were caused by flames shooting out of the lower windows as she passed them and burning her legs. Cornelius, their son George and their lodger jumped out of the windows. A fund was set up by well wishers to help the family as all of their possessions were destroyed. The lodger was so traumatized by events he left town the next day.
Mary was born in Edenbridge in 1839 to William Peacock and Mercy nee Geale.
In order to marry her soldier sweetheart (who had been her neighbour) she had to travel from Kent to Southwark London. She lodged in Tooley Street there for the period of the bann readings. [Source for Marriage Ancestry Surrey Births and Baptisms] Her occupation prior to marriage is not recorded on the census. As a widow she appears in the local Workhouse on the 1901 census. She died in that institution's infirmary in 1904 and was buried in Westerham. [All census on this page from my interpretation of Find My Past census images]
John Hannan and Emily E Sherwood (parents of Frank Hannan who married Ellen "Nellie" Plumpton)
John was an Irish immigrant born in Hacketstown, County Carlow, Ireland 1840 to Richard Hannan. He learnt to be a carpenter like his dad but came to England as a Royal Engineer. He had joined the army in Dublin, Ireland as a teenager before transferring to the Engineers over in England in 1862. Before and after his service he worked as a carpenter. His military papers (via Findmypast /National Archives) show that he was a auburn haired grey-eyed man of just under 5ft 7inches with "indifferent" muscle development and a weak pulse. John was frequently ill as a soldier-diptheria, dyspepsia, fever,a facial contusion following an accident at Carlisle, bronchitis- he had the lot!
Despite being court martialed for making false report as to supplies (complained about the food???!) and having his pay docked as a result John was considered a good soldier. Four times he was awarded good conduct badges. His army papers say he had no school certificate but he was able to sign his name at very least. He left the army in February 1878 of his own request.
He died in 1924.
Emily was born in Seale Kent in 1843 to William Sherwood and Ann nee Warren. She moved around a fair bit as a child including to East London. Her occupation prior to marriage is not recorded on census forms by her parents.
As a teenager she appeared as a defence witness when her mother stood accused of assault against a neighbour. Emily backed up her mother's claim of self defence but this was dismissed and Mrs Sherwood was convicted (See Ann Warren's entry for more).
In 1891 and 1901 at census time the couple live at 10 Theodore Place Gillingham. This is off Green Street and still exists. In 1871 John was with the army at base in Cork Ireland. He had married in 1863 but I can't see where his wife is. Perhaps with him. As well as serving in Ireland John is known to have spent 7 years in Mauritius as a soldier.
Ann Martin (mother of Alfred James Reeves Martin)
Ann had her son Alfred in February 1862 in Edenbridge. She was still there in 1864 when her son was baptised. Her partner is not known but he is presumed to have had the last name Reeves because of the form of her son's name. I have not yet found Ann on the 1861 census but it is likely to be somewhere near Edenbridge Kent. There is a difficulty in knowing where she might be earlier, but it was not in Edenbridge. She is certainly not the Ann born in the village in 1833 or the one born in Sundridge in 1831 to William and Charlotte. She also does not seem to be the one born in Chiddingstone in 1841 to William and Frances. She may be the Ann who died in Sundridge in 1869 age 37. My Ann would appear to have died by the time of the 1871 census when her son is alone in the Sundridge workhouse. However he may have been a patient in the infirmary, in which case his mother could be waiting for him in the outside world perhaps under a different name following a marriage. She isn't easy to spot on the census if that is the case.
John was an Irish immigrant born in Hacketstown, County Carlow, Ireland 1840 to Richard Hannan. He learnt to be a carpenter like his dad but came to England as a Royal Engineer. He had joined the army in Dublin, Ireland as a teenager before transferring to the Engineers over in England in 1862. Before and after his service he worked as a carpenter. His military papers (via Findmypast /National Archives) show that he was a auburn haired grey-eyed man of just under 5ft 7inches with "indifferent" muscle development and a weak pulse. John was frequently ill as a soldier-diptheria, dyspepsia, fever,a facial contusion following an accident at Carlisle, bronchitis- he had the lot!
Despite being court martialed for making false report as to supplies (complained about the food???!) and having his pay docked as a result John was considered a good soldier. Four times he was awarded good conduct badges. His army papers say he had no school certificate but he was able to sign his name at very least. He left the army in February 1878 of his own request.
He died in 1924.
Emily was born in Seale Kent in 1843 to William Sherwood and Ann nee Warren. She moved around a fair bit as a child including to East London. Her occupation prior to marriage is not recorded on census forms by her parents.
As a teenager she appeared as a defence witness when her mother stood accused of assault against a neighbour. Emily backed up her mother's claim of self defence but this was dismissed and Mrs Sherwood was convicted (See Ann Warren's entry for more).
In 1891 and 1901 at census time the couple live at 10 Theodore Place Gillingham. This is off Green Street and still exists. In 1871 John was with the army at base in Cork Ireland. He had married in 1863 but I can't see where his wife is. Perhaps with him. As well as serving in Ireland John is known to have spent 7 years in Mauritius as a soldier.
Ann Martin (mother of Alfred James Reeves Martin)
Ann had her son Alfred in February 1862 in Edenbridge. She was still there in 1864 when her son was baptised. Her partner is not known but he is presumed to have had the last name Reeves because of the form of her son's name. I have not yet found Ann on the 1861 census but it is likely to be somewhere near Edenbridge Kent. There is a difficulty in knowing where she might be earlier, but it was not in Edenbridge. She is certainly not the Ann born in the village in 1833 or the one born in Sundridge in 1831 to William and Charlotte. She also does not seem to be the one born in Chiddingstone in 1841 to William and Frances. She may be the Ann who died in Sundridge in 1869 age 37. My Ann would appear to have died by the time of the 1871 census when her son is alone in the Sundridge workhouse. However he may have been a patient in the infirmary, in which case his mother could be waiting for him in the outside world perhaps under a different name following a marriage. She isn't easy to spot on the census if that is the case.
William George Plumpton and Rose Hannah Brisley (parents of Ellen / Nellie Plumpton who married Frank Hannan)
William, a bricklayer, was born in Rochester Kent 1837 to an unmarried mother Esther Plumpton. His mother went on to marry a bricklayer called Joshua Weller when her son was 7 but there is no indication that Joshua fathered William. William used his step father's last name as his own only during his mother's lifetime.
Esther obviously had some difficulty supporting herself prior to her marriage and on the 1841 census both she and her child are in the local workhouse. Medway authorities kept children in a separate institution from their parents.
William married Rose in 1864. Their address in 1865 was Burritt St Chatham, in 1871 it was 35 John St Chatham, in 1872 Mill Lane Chatham, in 1879 Mount St there,and in 1881 Whites Row, Ironmonger Lane Rochester (none of which streets exist today). William died in the local workhouse infirmary after a four month stay there in 1889. His family took him for burial in Chatham Maidstone Road cemetery.
Rose was usually known by her middle name Hannah. She was the daughter of James Brisley and Rose Bush (!) and was born in Chatham Kent in 1844. As a widow she worked as a charwoman. Her census address in 1891 was 33 Mount Street Chatham. This also no longer exists.
Next generation back , Mums great great grandparents, for these lines here
William, a bricklayer, was born in Rochester Kent 1837 to an unmarried mother Esther Plumpton. His mother went on to marry a bricklayer called Joshua Weller when her son was 7 but there is no indication that Joshua fathered William. William used his step father's last name as his own only during his mother's lifetime.
Esther obviously had some difficulty supporting herself prior to her marriage and on the 1841 census both she and her child are in the local workhouse. Medway authorities kept children in a separate institution from their parents.
William married Rose in 1864. Their address in 1865 was Burritt St Chatham, in 1871 it was 35 John St Chatham, in 1872 Mill Lane Chatham, in 1879 Mount St there,and in 1881 Whites Row, Ironmonger Lane Rochester (none of which streets exist today). William died in the local workhouse infirmary after a four month stay there in 1889. His family took him for burial in Chatham Maidstone Road cemetery.
Rose was usually known by her middle name Hannah. She was the daughter of James Brisley and Rose Bush (!) and was born in Chatham Kent in 1844. As a widow she worked as a charwoman. Her census address in 1891 was 33 Mount Street Chatham. This also no longer exists.
Next generation back , Mums great great grandparents, for these lines here
Mum's Great x3 Grandparents here
More coming.
Census page images viewed on microfilm at a LDS family history centre. Other sources National Archives British army records, Parish registers at Kent Archives, Medway Archives parish registers and workhouse records.
Researched by Charlotte.
