Henry Lethbridge HOOKINS was born on 9 May 1819 in the St Thomas district of Exeter. He was the 2nd son of 4 born to Robert HOOKINS and his wife Anne (nee WESTCOTT) in what was Robert's second marriage. He had an older brother called Henry but he must have died prior to Henry's birth to enable him to take the name. Henry Lethbridge was baptised in St Thomas the Apostle Church in Exeter on 1 July 1821 together with his younger brother.
St Thomas the Apostle Church Exeter
Whitestone Parish Church
A daughter was born to them the following June but sadly only survived for 1 day. At the time of the 1841 Census Henry and Amelia were living at Vicarage House in Easton in Gordano. A son, James Henry, was born later that year followed by Marianne Emily in 1843, although James Henry was to die just 25 days before their next son Henry was born at the beginning of 1845.
Both Henry and Amelia are shown as Schoolmaster/Mistress in the 1851 Census when they were living in Topsham although their 2 surviving children were with their KINGWELL grandparents in Bartholomew Street in Exeter. Just 2 years later Amelia was to died in childbirth although no record of a birth suggests it may have been stillborn.
Henry was to marry again within 5 months of Amelia's death to Mary Ann Brand COCKERAM and their first child Edith Anna was born just 4 months later. She was followed by Harry Robert in 1857, Arthur Lethbridge in 1859, and Charles Lethbridge in 1861. At the Census that year Henry and Mary are living at 3 Summerlands in Exeter with their 3 children.
3 Summerlands, Exeter
3 years later their final child, Ellen Mary, was born. Sadly her mother Mary died when she was just 4 years old after suffering for 2 years with the wasting disease phthisis. That was in 1868. In the 1871 Census Henry was living at 12 Mont Le Grand in Heavitree, Exeter. With him were 10 year old Charles, 7 year old Edith, and 6 year old Ellen but also at the house was his deceased wife's sister Margaret COCKERAM presumably to look after the welfare of the children.
12 Mont Le Grand Heavitree
By the 1881 Census Henry had moved to Belvoir House in Alphington where he is recorded as being a Classical Tutor. His sister-in-law was still resident with Edith and Ellen and Edith is described as a Governess. By 1891 they had moved to Loretto House in Islington, London where they were joined by Henry's mother-in-law whilst a number of students and servants are also resident.
It was at that house that Henry Lethbridge HOOKINS died on 7 March 1899 just short of his 80th birthday.
