Joseph John HOOKINS was born in Southwark in 1816, the second of 3 children born to Glassblower John HOOKINS and his wife Amy. His baptism took place in Southwark on 9 Mar 1817.
No further information has been located about him until he marries Elizabeth CORHAM at St John the Evangelist Church in Lambeth on 21 January 1837.
St John the Evangelist Church Lambeth
Their first child was named Caroline Ann and she was born on 4 May 1838 at 4 Essex Street, in the St Saviour district. She was followed by a brother named Joseph John in February 1840 at Southwark where the birth is recorded as HOOKINGS, although the baptism in the following month has the correct spelling.
In the 1841 Census the family lived in Southwark with Caroline being known by her second name of Ann. The couple's third and final child was a daughter named Elizabeth Amanda who was born in March 1846 at 1 The Grove, St Saviours.
The 1851 Census finds the family recorded as HORKINS and still living at 1 The Grove and Caroline still known as Ann. Joseph is now also shown as being a Glassblower like his father.
By 1861 the family had move to 28 Allen Street, in Clerkenwell and their number also included a John CHEDGY as a lodger. Unfortunately Joseph's wife Elizabeth died at Allen Street in 1867 at the age of 50 years after 3 years of bronchitis and a year of the wasting disease phthisis. Their daughter Elizabeth also died 2 years later with multiple problems.
Joseph was still at the same address 10 years later, this time recorded as HOOKINGS. There is no sign of Caroline at this point as she is believed to have been married prior to her mother's death. Son Joseph is still at home but is himself now married to Jane who also lives at this address. They appear to have had a daughter in 1865/6 but there is no mention of her although she does appear in the Census 10 years further on..
Sadly just a few weeks after the 1871 Census was taken, Joseph died at Allen Street at the age of 54 years.
