Edith Anna HOOKINS (Tree 3Q)

Shelton Place, Heavitree, Exeter

Edith Anna HOOKINS was born 18 December 1853 at Shelton Place, Heavitree, Exeter. She was the eldest of five children born to Henry Lethbridge HOOKINS and his wife Mary Ann Brand HOOKINS (formerly COCKERAM).

3 Lower Summerlands, Exeter

By the time of the 1861 Census two other siblings, both brothers, had arrived and the family were living at 3 Lower Summerlands in Exeter.

12 Mont le Grand, Heavitree, Exeter

By 1871 the 17 year old Edith had been without her mother for 2 years as she had died at the age of 40 at 12 Mont le Grand, Heavitree, Exeter where the family were still living and which now in addition included a 10 year old brother and 6 year old sister. They were probably the reason why also at the house was Margaret COCKERAM, the sister of Edith's mother, as the other two brothers were no longer at home.



By 1881 just Edith remained at home with her youngest sister, their father and their aunt. Home was now Belvoir House in Alphington, Exeter and Edith is described as a 25 year old Governess possibly supporting her father who was a Classical Tutor.
By 1891 the family had decamped to London and were living at Loretto House in Hornsey Lane in Islington but had also now been joined by Edith's maternal grandmother Sarah COCKERAM and four teenage students and two servants were also present at the property. Both 30 year old Edith and her 24 year old sister have "School" as their occupation so they were probably involved in some capacity with the running of the establishment as a young governess was also employed to look after the students and she also had the same occupational title. Interestingly the four students had quite widespread birthplaces in Monmouthshire, Yorkshire and two from Devon. Edith's father is recorded as being a Classical and Mathematics Tutor.
In 1899 Edith's father died at Loretto House and it was Edith's responsibility to register his death although she omitted to record his second Christian name.

Christ's Hospital School, West Horsham

I have not yet discovered where Edith was in 1901 but by 1911 she had become a School Matron at Christ's Hospital School in West Horsham which had originally been a school in London (until 1902) and which was the name of the school where one of her brothers had been a pupil when he was absent from the family home in the 1871 Census. Currently the school is rated as excellent by the Independent Schools Inspectorate and gives an impressive impression on its website.

67 Loughborough Park, Brixton

Edith died on 6 February 1932 of bronchial pneumonia at 67 Loughborough Park, Brixton at the age of 80 although her name was recorded as Edith Ann. She s recorded as a Spinster and former School Matron.

Clara Elizabeth HOOKINS (Tree 3Q)

Clara Elizabeth HOOKINS was believed to have been born on 7th January 1849 at 5 Church Row, Hackney to Frederick and Maria HOLLAND, Frederick being a Wheelwright. Her birth was registered as Elizabeth Clara HOLLAND. The 1851 Census shows her still living at Church Row with her parents and 4 older sisters. During the next 10 years 4 more children arrived of whom only 1 was a brother for her and by the time of the 1861 Census 2 children were no longer at home and the remaining family were living at Grand Surrey Docks in Rotherhithe.

St Mary Magdalene Church Southwark

On 13 June 1868 Clara married Henry Adolphus HOOKINS - who was an Accountant - at St Mary Magdalene Church in Southwark.

25 Reverdy Road Bermondsey

On 28th March the following year their first child was born - Clara Emily - at 1 Nile Terrace, Old Kent Road, Camberwell and the family is living there at the time of the 1871 Census although are indexed as HOKIN. Further children were born in 1872 and 1877. Henry Edward arrived on 6 June 1872 at 25 Reverdy Road in Bermondsey and Arthur Ernest on 8 January 1877 at 92 Sumner Road Peckham.



By the time of the 1881 Census the family were still at Sumner Road although the surname is indexed as HOOKENS and Henry is recorded by his second name Edward. Two of Henry (senior's) were also living there. Later that year on 6th July their fourth and last child - Edith Violet was born again at Sumner Road and by 1891 all the family were present at their new address of 23 Castle Street, Black Horse Yard, St Martin-in-the-Fields. Just to add to the fun for future family historians as far as the children are concerned, Clara is listed by her second name Emily, Henry by his second name Edward, and Edith by her second name Violet whilst Arthur somehow clung on to his first name!
By 1901 Henry (as Edward!) had left the family home and is recorded as married with 2 children (although it seems that the marriage did not take place until 1908!!). Clara had married and was living with her husband and 2 children. The remainder of the family were at 31 Northumberland Park in Tottenham.
By 1911 Edith had also got married and just Arthur remained at home with his parents who were now at 172 High Road, Wood Green although the Census records that the 3 other children who had married were all still living at this point.
Clara Elizabeth's husband Henry died in March 2012 at 172 High Road followed by Clara herself 2 years later on 20th September 1914 at the same place.

Charlotte HOOKINS (Tree D)

Charlotte was the daughter of Robert Hammond BAKER and Charlotte WHITEHEAD. She was baptised on 28th May 1826 in Mitcham and her parents seem to have married on the same date in the following year in Wimbledon.

 Charlotte married John HOOKINS on 6th October 1844 in St Marylebone Parish Church.




Their first child, Charlotte was born in August of the following year at 5 George Street, Kentish Town followed by Ann in April 1848 at 34 Ferdinand Street, Hampstead Road, Kentish Town. By the time of the 1851 Census the family were living at 23 Caroline Street, Camden Town.
Two years later in 1853 John Henry was born at 26 Goldington Street, Somers Town which was situated it seems adjacent to Kings Cross Station which had only been built a year or two before. Their next child Edward Richard was also born there in September 1857 but seems to have died the following year.
So in 1861 the remaining family, with the exception of daughter Charlotte, were living at 123 Grove Street, St Pancras, just a stone's throw from the River Thames. John and Charlotte's youngest child Edwin Alfred was born in February 1863 at 123 Grove Street and by the time of the 1871 Census daughter Charlotte is also back home with the family, which is now at Caroline Street, although by then Ann was living elsewhere.
By 1881 John and Charlotte were at 20 Caroline Street although Edwin is the only child at home now. Also with them is their grandson Herbert SCOTT, the son of daughter Charlotte, who had married William SCOTT at All Saints Camden in October 1876.
By 1891 John and Charlotte had moved up the road to 37 Caroline Street. Daughter Charlotte is with them with 2 of her children and John's sister Helen is also resident there. Their presence could have been through mother Charlotte's declining health as she died at 37 Caroline Street on 21st April 1893 aged 67 years. One of the causes of death was a dilated heart. The informant at death was her daughter-in-law Jessie who had married Edwin in 1885 and whose address was also declared as 37 Caroline Street although by 1891 they were living at No. 25.
After Charlotte's death, her husband John lasted only 8 months, as he died on 9th December that same year aged 71.

Charlotte HOOKINS (Tree M)

Charlotte was a daughter of George and Mary FARMER and although apparently born in Kings Brompton in 1830 or 1831 she was baptised 4 or 5 miles away in Upton on 18 Sep 1831. Ages provided in Census returns indicate a possible birth year from 1830-34 but the baptism narrows it down to one of the 2 years mentioned.
10 years later she was living with her parents and 4 siblings at Withy Outlet Cottage in Upton so perhaps it was necessary to move after Charlotte's birth. By 1851 Charlotte was living as a lodger at the home of Sarah HEARD and family at Ridge Cottage, Brompton Regis and her future husband William was also lodging there as HOOKINGS.

Charlotte and William (again as HOOKINGS) were married at the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish Church of Brompton Regis with William's occupation being described as Farm Labourer.







Their first child, Mary was born at the beginning of the following year in the Williton Registration District, followed by Samuel who was born on Christmas Day in the same year. Then came Elizabeth in 1855, Harriet in 1859 and all 4 were baptised in the church at Brompton Regis and all recorded as HOOKINGS. In the 1861 Census the whole family were living at Great Smallmoor in Kings Brompton.
Further children were born, all baptised as HOOKINGS, - Ellen in 1863, although she died the following year, Lucy in 1865, John in 1867, and Rosa in 1870.
In 1871 most surviving children were living with their parents at Smallmoor, which is described as being in Bury near Dulverton and just south of Brompton Regis. The exceptions were Samuel who was living elsewhere as an Indoor Farm Servant and Elizabeth was elsewhere as a Servant.
The next decade saw the births of Henry in 1873 and Frederick John in 1875. There is however a mystery about Frederick as no birth record nor baptism record can be found for him. A record has been found of Henry's and Frederick's school admission in 1879 where William's name is given as father of both and Frederick's birth has been recorded as 19 December in 1875. Henry's name appears above Frederick's in the register but his birth date has been changed from 31 October 1873 (which would fall in line with the quarterly birth index) to read 29 Oct 1875 (just 2 months before Frederick's birth!!) A further twist occurs later in the 1891 Census where Frederick's link to William is stated to be "grandson"!!! so that leads our thinking down another path although no birth entry of a Frederick could be found locally with any surname to identify his parentage.
In the 1881 Census the family are at last called HOOKINS and just 4 children remain at home. By this time both Samuel and Elizabeth had married and moved away from the family home and Lucy was living elsewhere as a General Servant. Lucy's future husband, William COWLIN, was however living with the HOOKINS family.
By 1891 only Henry and Frederick (as grandson) were living with their parents who were now at Somerset Terrace, Treborough.
Evidently Lucy and her new husband moved to South Wales as they are found with their family at 21 Machen View in Risca in the 1901 Census. Charlotte is with them as a widow and as William died there in 1900, with his son-in-law registering the death, presumably he and Charlotte moved to Wales along with their daughter and family.
However tragedy seems to have struck the family with Lucy dying in 1903 and with her we seem to lose sight of Charlotte too because no death has been found for her as yet nor her presence with her daughter's family in the 1911 Census or anywhere else for that matter. So another mystery which needs solving at some point!

Charlotte HOOKINS (Tree 3Q)

Charlotte was born on 17 December 1821 at London City Road, St Lukes, Middlesex, a daughter of Charles and Ann SKINNER and at the time of her birth her father was recorded as a Bricklayer. She was not baptised until 11 July 1827 which was at the same time as her brother Charles at St Leonard's Southwark.

St Mary's Church Lambeth

Charlotte married William HOOKINS on 13 June 1841 and by the time of the Census taken in the same year the couple were living at Charlotte's parent's home at Galway Street, St Lukes in Finsbury. Also living at the property at that time were Charlotte's siblings - Sarah who was 2 years older than Charlotte, Charles who was 4 years younger, James 11 years younger and Jane 13 years younger. However Charlotte's mother was not present at this Census and could be the Ann SKINNER who died in the September quarter of 1839 in St Lukes.








In April 1842 the couple's first child, Ann, was born, possibly named after Charlotte's mother. At that time Charlotte and William were living at 57 Allerton Street, Hoxton New Town. Their second child, William, followed a year later when they were living at 218 White Cross Street, St Lukes. Two years later child number 3, Charles, arrived when they were at 2 Fountain Court, St Clement Danes.

154 Strand

1849 was a year of both joy and great sadness for the family. They were living at 154 Strand, St Mary le Strand in London which was only a few doors from Somerset House. In the March quarter the couple's fourth child, Charlotte, was born but later in the year all 3 previous children died - Ann had scarlet fever and William Phthisis. Worse was to follow when their remaining child Charlotte died in the early part of 1850 of pneumonia.



Later in 1850 child number 5, Robert, came along and in the Census which took place the following year William and Charlotte were living at Vine Street, Lambeth with their son.

In Jun 1852 the sixth child, Elizabeth Ann was born at 53 New Gloucester Street, Hoxton New Town, followed by Henry George in East London in 1854 although he died of pneumonia and measles in 1855. Charles was born in July 1856 when the family were at 7 Primrose Street, Bishopsgate although he too died a year later when they were at 55 Moneyer Street in Hoxton New Town.

Child number nine, Alfred, was born in January 1859 in Hoxton New Town and by the 1861 Census William and Charlotte were living at 55 Moneyer Street with the 3 children remaining from the 9 births since 1842. But tragedy had not yet completely left the family as the youngest child, Alfred, died in 1863.

William and Charlotte were then able to hopefully enjoy several years with their 2 remaining children, but in 1869, when the couple were in their late forties, William then died and by 1871 Charlotte had moved to Primrose Street, Newington and was with her 2 children together with a 2 year old visitor called Rose HYNDE.

By 1881 Charlotte had moved out of London and was living with her married daughter Elizabeth, Elizabeth's husband and their son at 52 Coventry Road, Warwick St Nicholas. Charlotte's remaining child, Robert, had however remained in London although he too had died by 1886, leaving Charlotte with just one of her nine children surviving. Charlotte remained with Elizabeth and her family as they moved by 1891 to 4 Church Street, Warwick and by 1901 to 10 Alexander Terrace, Black Boy Road in Exeter by which time Elizabeth had 4 children.

Charlotte died at Alexander Terrace on 21 Nov 1905 of senile decay and chronic bronchial catarrh at the age of 83. What a difficult life but I hope that the last 20 odd years spent with her daughter's growing family would have been some comfort after the constant decimation of her own family.

Charles Lethbridge HOOKINS (Tree 3Q)

3 Lower Summerlands Exeter

Charles Lethbridge HOOKINS was the fourth of five children born to Henry Lethbridge HOOKINS and Mary Ann Brand HOOKINS (formerly COCKERAM). He was born on 19th January 1861 at 3 Lower Summerlands Place, Exeter although when his mother registered the birth about 6 weeks later the second Christian name was not included so perhaps this was added at his baptism which I have not yet discovered. Later that year the 1861 Census took place and Charles is living at 3 Lower Summerlands Place with his parents and 2 siblings. Before Charles' birth one brother had already died in infancy.

12 Mont le Grand Exeter

In 1868 tragedy hit the family as, after suffering for a period of 2 years with phthisis, Charles' mother died at the age of 40 leaving Henry with 4 children aged between 4 and 15. She died at 12 Mont le Grand, Exeter where Henry was still living with 3 of his children including Charles in the 1881 Census. Henry's wife's sister was also at the property having presumably stepped in to care for the family.



By 1881 the family was living at Belvoir House, Alphington, Exeter although Charles was no longer living at home. He was found living at 92 Sumner Road, Camberwell with the family of Henry HOOKINS (indexed as HOOKENS) who is stated to be Charles' brother but is in fact his cousin. Charles' brother Arthur is also there, again classed as a brother to Henry, and both Arthur and Charles are working as Clerks at a Printer's.

All Saints Hatcham

48 Hatcham Park Road Lewisham

On 26th October 1889 Charles married Amelia SWEET at All Saints Hatcham in London. Prior to their marriage Charles' address is stated to have been 48 Hatcham Park Road, Lewisham and by this time he worked as a book-keeper.

43 Hunsdon Road Greenwich

By 1891 the couple were living at 43 Hunsdon Road Greenwich and Charles was employed as a Commerce Clerk. Unfortunately the marriage ended in divorce on 26th October 1896 following frequent abuse by Charles towards his wife both verbally and physically as well as leaving Amelia without money. In additional he seems to have committed adultery with a certain woman "at divers places" in 1894.

98 Gordon Road Peckham

Charles died on 19th March 1901 at 98 Gordon Road, Peckham when he was the Assistant Secretary of a Public Company. Interestingly the informant at his death registration is stated to be his brother-in-law who had the same surname as the woman with whom he committed adultery although there appears to be no record of a marriage!

Charles HOOKINS (Tree 3Q)

Holy Trinity Church Exeter

Charles HOOKINS was one of 8 children born to John HOOKINS and his wife Ann (nee SOUTHEY). Charles was christened at Holy Trinity Exeter along with a brother, Robert, and a sister Frances. Robert was older than Charles by 2 years and Frances by 3 years. The church ceased to be a place of worship in the mid 1900s.
Charles' father was a schoolmaster which was the profession Charles himself would eventually take up but most of his career happened far from his native home.

Elm House, Brockley, Somerset

In the 1841 Census the family is recorded as HOSKINS. They were living in what appeared to be rather grand surroundings in Elm House, Brockley and 6 of the children were present. The two remaining sisters Fanny (Frances) and Lucy were pupils at a school in Yatton being recorded as living there as HOOKINGS.
Charles' father John was however to die in 1848 from heart disease at the age of 41.







By 1851 Charles' mother is living in Westbury on Trym as an Annuitant with two of her children and three of her sisters each of whom are living on their investments and they are able to employ a ladies' maid. But Charles is not with them as he has presumably emigrated to Australia in the interim period. On 29 October 1854 he marries Martha Ann MOORE at St Laurence C of E Church in Sydney. At about the same time he begins his Australian teaching career in the village of Berkeley near Wollongong before later moving on to Wollongong itself and subsequently to Albany.

Example of Emu Casket

By 1872 Charles is the headmaster at Albury Model Public School and later he moves on to become an Inspector of Schools , a post which he occupied for 10 years. In 1893 he was given a complimentary picnic by teachers and friends to mark his retirement. 120 people boarded "Dayspring" at Circular Bay in Sydney and enjoyed visits to various points of interest. Charles was presented with a gold watch suitably inscribed and Martha with a fully chased emu casket.

In 1894, 18 months after his retirement Charles died in Parramatta at his home which he had named "Brockley" after his childhood home. His obituary stated that he was one who had made thousands of friends young and old throughout the district and whose genial face would be missed very much by those who had the privilege of close acquaintanceship with him. It also indicated that he had to retire from his position as Inspector of Schools due to ill health in the form of an enlargement of the liver. His health was reasoned to have been seriously affected by considerable losses he had sustained financially especially concerning Abigail's Bank.

Charles HOOKINS (Tree A)

Brompton Ralph Parish Church

Charles HOOKINS was the last of 13 children born to William HOOKINS and his wife Anne (nee KNOWLES).

Brompton Ralph Parish Church interior

He was baptised in Brompton Ralph Parish Church on 4th Jan 1818 at which time his father and mother were aged 52 and 45 respectively.






In the 1841 Census Charles was living as HOOKINGS as a Servant in Kittisford, Wellington, Somerset with the family of John CAPE.
On 20th June that year he married Charlotte PALMER, again in the name of HOOKINGS, at Wilton Parish Church in Taunton. Their first son was born just 3 months later in Langford Budville but unfortunately died in 1843. 3 more children were born in Langford Budville before the next Census in 1851, 2 of which were registered in the HOOKINGS name, but again 1 of the children died when only 1 year old.
So by the time of the 1851 Census Charles and Charlotte were still living in Langford Budville, which was Charlotte's birthplace, with 2 of their surviving children. By the 1861 Census a further 3 children had been born and 4 of the 5 surviving children were with them at Heathfield Cottage, Langford Budville. The family name is again recorded as HOOKINGS and Charles is said to be an Agricultural Labourer.
The HOOKINGS name is maintained in the 1871 Census when Charles and Charlotte are living at Harpsford Cottage, Langford Budville with their youngest daughter Maria. In both the 1881 and 1891 Censuses husband and wife are living together but with none of their children now with them at Rockwell Green near Wellington. Charles died there on 23rd April 1895 aged 73 and Charlotte appears to have died in 1906 aged 81 and still being recorded in the HOOKINGS name.

Catherine (or Caroline) HOOKINS Tree A

Some people are difficult to follow in Family History because their names change. Sometimes this is because of bad handwriting in records or because the transcribers have made an error. So you get mis-spellings of names (and our surname bears particular evidence of that!). Also because of the problems of illiteracy in the earlier days of records sometimes details are mis-heard and entered incorrectly unknown to the provider of the information as they were unable to verify it in its written form.

Brompton Ralph Parish Church

Catherine SLADE married James HOOKINS a Shoemaker, on 12 April 1860 at the Parish Church in Brompton Ralph and the marriage was witnessed by a John SLADE (who could be an older brother of Caatherine) and Jane HOOKINS who presumably is James' younger sister of that name.

Brompton Ralph Parish Church

However Catherine seems to have been born as Caroline SLADE in 1839 in Elworthy, Somerset and the 1841 Census informs us that she is the daughter of James SLADE, a carpenter, and his wife Sophia where she is living at Cross Gate in Elworthy with her parents and 5 siblings, one of whom is 5 year old Charles. Caroline is the youngest at 1 as is detailed as "Carline".
By 1851 Catherine, as she was now, was living with just her brother Charles in Brompton Ralph. Charles appears to be only 14 (although Census transcribers have recorded it as 44!) and is a Gatekeeper but is also recorded as the Head of this "family unit". Catherine's mother, now it seems aged 53, is living at Bicknoller with John SLADE and his family, and presumably he is the brother present at Catherine's marriage.
By 1861, now married, James and Catherine are living in Brompton Ralph with their 1 year old daughter Louisa (later found to be Mary Louisa!!). 10 years later they are living at Parks, Brompton Ralph. Catherine is now described as a Dressmaker and she and James have added Adelaide Caroline to their family. Sadly in addition they had also had a son Francis James who was born in February 1870 but died 8 months later.
In the 1881 Census their address is described as Parks Cottage. Catherine remains as a Dressmaker and she and James have now added Mabel to their family who is living with them and her elder sister Adelaide. Mary Louisa is by this time a Servant in Williton.
Catherine changes to Caroline for the 1891 Census, still a Dressmaker and still at Park Cottage with James and the 2 remaining youngest children. She is still Caroline when they appear in the 1901 Census a short distance away from Parks Cottage as James is now not only a Shoemaker but also the Innkeeper at The Carpenter's Arms. With James and Caroline is their married daughter, now Mary Louisa WILLIAMS, and there is also a Servant living with them.

177 Hambrough Road Southall

A year later James died aged 69 and was buried in Brompton Ralph churchyard beside the church it which they had married 43 years before. So by the time of the 1911 Census Caroline was living with her married daughter, now Mabel Annie COPPEN at 177 Hambrough Road, Southall. Mabel was an Assistant to a Professor of Chemistry at Imperial College of Science & Technology.



                                                         
Catherine seems to have continued to live in London because this is where she died, recorded as Caroline, in 1924 in Uxbridge.

Caroline Frances HOOKINS (Tree 3Q)

Much about Caroline has eluded me. She came on to my radar when she, as VICKORY, married George HOOKINS on 2 June 1862 in the Register Office in Exeter. Her marriage certificate indicates that she was 40 years of age at this stage and a widow. Her father was John HILL, a printer, who was by then already deceased. The address of both her and George at that stage was Melbourne Street in Exeter. The census which took place a year before her marriage found her to be a Dressmaker living at 12 Melbourne Street with her mother Mary Salter HILL who was a widow and at that time a Shopkeeper. George was also living at that address.

15 Melbourne Street Exeter

By 1871 George and Caroline (recorded as HOOKINGS) had moved a few doors away to 15 Melbourne Street as her mother had died in 1868. With them was Bessie WALKEY, Caroline's grand-daughter, whose parents were living in West Teignmouth with 3 more of their children. The occupier of No 12 was now a Grocer and his family so presumably this was the shop premises from which Caroline's mother operated her business. This plot has now been redeveloped but No 15 is still in situ as shown.









By 1881 George and Caroline had moved the short distance to 81 Holloway Street in Exeter. With them in the house were a daughter Mary DAVIS and grand-daughters Mary Ellen DAVIS and, again, Bessie, now shown as WALKLEY. Caroline is again shown as being a Dressmaker. This area of Exeter has been totally redeveloped so nothing of the original property now exists.

14 French Street, East Teignmouth

In 1883 George unfortunately died at Holloway Street and by 1891 Caroline was living at 14 French Street, East Teignmouth with her married daughter Elizabeth WALKLEY and her husband with one of their children. Her stay there was however fairly brief as she died there in the same year at the age of 75 recorded as HOOKIN.

Caroline HOOKINS (Tree G)

Caroline was born, I believe, in the September quarter of 1841 as Caroline BAKER, daughter of Builder and Bricklayer John BAKER and his wife Caroline. In the 1851 Census she is found living with her parents and 2 siblings at 4 Palmers Mews, Finsbury. By 1861 she was engaged as a Housemaid at the home of a Brewer, John TURNER, and his family at Honeage Street, Spitafields in London.

Christ Church Spitafields

5 years later she married Henry Charles HOOKINS at Christ Church, the Parish Church in Spitafields, on 15th October 1866, at which time she had been living at 10 King Street, Spitafields.
They were living at 162 Central Street, St Luke when their first child was born, followed 2 years later (almost to the day) by a second daughter, by which time the family were at 32 Rahire Street, St Lukes.









In the 1871 Census the family of 4 is indexed as HOCKINS and living at 19 Britannia Street in Shoreditch. By 1881 Caroline is described as a Laundress. The family now comprises 5 children although one of them is away at the John Cass School in Botolph and one other had been born and had died during the intervening 10 years. The family is here indexed as HOOKINGS and are living at 12 Worley Court in St Botolph, Algate. In 1891 the family is at 7 Royal Albert Buildings in St Botolph. There are 6 children present - the eldest daughter had by now married and another child was away as a Servant in Bromley.
By 1901 Caroline was widowed and is living in Newington at 11 Tarow Street with just her youngest son and 10 years later she is living alone at 29 Bedford Street in Walworth.
She appears to have died in Uxbridge at the age of 85 although 13 years previously in the 1911 Census she is recorded as being 68 years old, neither of which seem to tie up with her assumed birth year which can be the subject of further investigation at some point. During her married life she had given birth to 9 children, 5 boys and 4 girls

Arthur Lethbridge HOOKINS (Tree 3Q)

Arthur Lethbridge HOOKINS was born on 21st April 1859 at Larkbeare in Exeter which is probably not the current property of that name which is a building which had been used as a residence for Circuit Judges. There was I understand another dwelling on Holloway Street known as Larkbeare House which was, I believe, demolished or substantially altered in the 1870s.
Arthur was the 3rd of 5 children born to Henry Lethbridge HOOKINS and Mary Ann Brand HOOKINS (nee COCKERAM), Henry's 2nd wife. One of Arthur's 2 brothers born to this couple also bore the 2nd name of Lethbridge like their father but I have not yet established how that was important to them.
In the 1861 Census Arthur was living at 3 Lower Summerlands  in Exeter with his parents, a sister, a brother and their maternal grandmother.
By the time of the next Census in 1871 Arthur's father had become widowed for the second time and was living at Mont le Grand in Heavitree, Exeter with 3 of his children + Mary's sister Margaret COCKERAM. Arthur himself appears by then to have been at school in Christ's Hospital in London. By 1881 he was living at 92 Sumner Road in Camberwell at the home of step-brother Henry and his family and Arthur's brother Charles Lethbridge HOOKINS was also there although they had all been indexed as HOOKENS!

48 Hatcham Park Road, Deptford

On 24th January 1891 Arthur married Jessis Florence SLEEP at Greenwich Register Office although his Lethbridge 2nd name was excluded form the record. At that time he was what is called a Manchester Warehouseman which was actually a Wholesaler of linen cloths made in factories around Manchester and they were living at 48 Hatcham Park Road in Deptford where they still lived at the time of the 1891 Census.

57 Kestral Avenue, St Paul, Herne Hill

By 1901 they had moved to a more desirable residence at 57 Kestral Avenue, St Paul, Herne Hill and Arthur was recorded as being a Private Secretary.







The 1901 Census described Arthur's Private Secretary role as being in a Tramway Undertaking whilst Jessie is recorded as being a Boarding House Proprietor. The address was 1 St John's Road, Brixton and present at the property were an aunt of Jessie's, 1 servant and 4 boarders whose occupations were (1) a Warehouseman in drapery (2) a Swedish clerk with a firm of barge builders (3) a Customs & Excise officer (4) a German Foreign Correspondent for a Piano? Manufacturer.
Arthur appears to have died in 1917 in Lambeth and 12 years later there is a reference to a Mrs J F HOOKINS with an address in Herne Hill on the Passenger List of a ship sailing to South Africa when she was 69 years old with South Africa indicated as the intended future country of permanent residence. She sailed on the ship "Ceramic" which was boarded at Liverpool.

Arthur Edward HOOKINS - Tree 3Q

34 Montague Road Hackney

Arthur Edward HOOKINS was born on 11th December 1896 at 34 Montague Road Hackney. He was the eldest of 14 children born to Henry Edward HOOKINS and his wife Grace Elizabeth (nee HALE) although it seems that despite carrying the HOOKINS name on her children's birth records and at Censuses Grace had not married Arthur until 1908 by which time 9 children had already been born.


In the 1901 Census Arthur was living at 80 Brook Street Lambeth with his parents and 1sister sibling although she was to die shortly after the Census was taken. By 1911 the family were at 4 Mason Street, Old Kent Road where Arthur lived with his parents and 6 siblings and by that time a total of 4 other siblings had died. 3 further children were born after that Census was taken.
In the first World War Arthur was a Private and subsequently found to be a Sergeant in the 24th London Regiment (Queens). He had volunteered in September 1914 and was sent to the Western Front in March 1915 where he experienced heavy fighting. He was wounded in action at Givenchy and invalided home after 2 months. On recovery he was supposedly engaged in "Special Duties" with the Military Police until 1918 when he returned to France. He was awarded the 1914-15 Star and General Service and Victory medals before being demobbed in June 1919.
He married Chralotte Elizabeth MASON on 17th October 1921 at Southwark Register Office and in the following 12 years they produced 5 children - all girls - who all grew up and married in the 1940s and 1950s. Arthur had been an HM Customs Officer in a Tea Warehouse and Charlotte a Waitress at the time of their marriage.
Arthur died on 14th August 1957 at St Helen's Hospital Carshalton pre-deceasing his wife by 19 years. At the time of his death they had been living at 283 Green Wrythe Lane Carshalton where according to old telephone directories they had been living since at least 1937 when their youngest child was just 4 years old.
                                                                                                               

Tree 2H - The Life of Arthur HOOKINS of Mitcham

Arthur was the son of James HOOKINS and his wife Ruth (nee WEST). He was born on 31st January 1842 as shown on his baptismal record on 4th January 1843 at St Peter & St Paul Parish Church in Mitcham. Curiously the Roman Catholic Church nearby also uses the names of these saints in its title.

Parish Church of St Peter & St Paul Mitcham

 Arthur had 2 older brothers and one younger sister. When sister Emily was baptised on 4th October 1846, it seems that Arthur was baptised again! At first I thought this to be another sibling with the first Arthur having died but fortunately the birth date is included in both of Arthur's baptismal entries although the second one assumes a birth date of 1st February 1842 - maybe there was an error in the original baptismal entry regarding the birth date which is why the second entry was thought necessary. It does seem odd that this second entry is not adjacent to that of his sister.
By 1851 Arthur was living at Common Side East in Mitcham with his parents + 2 siblings, a younger brother having died at the age of 9 weeks between Arthur's 2 baptisms. As can be deduced this was an area situated to the East of Mitcham Common. By 1861 only Emily remained in the household with Arthur and his parents as they lived at 1 Smiths Place in Common Side.
In 1867 Arthur married Emma HOPE at Newington St Mary Parish Church on 10th April when Arthur was described as a Greengrocer. In 1871 they were living at Upper Green in Mitcham (now called Upper Green East and Upper Green West) with 3 of the 7 children they would eventually have together. Arthur's father was also with them following his mother's death in 1864. By this time Arthur was described as being a General Dealer.
Tragically their 2 daughters, Emily and Emma, were to die the folowing year leaving just George, but another daughter, Maria, was born in 1873, followed by Arthur in 1875, James in 1878 (when the family were living at 7 Sibthorpe Road in Mitcham), and Ann in 1880. All of these children were with their parents in 1881 when Arthur was a dealer in horses and the family were at 5 Concrete Cottages in Mitcham.
By 1891 the family had moved back to Sibthorpe Road (No 18). Emma is recorded as Emily in this Census but the 5 children were still with them and Arthur is now recorded as a Shop Dealer.
Arthur died on 25th November 1897 at 2 Smiths Terrace, Mitcham recorded then as a Drover. His death was caused by Cirrhosis of the Kidney and Liver with Acute Bronchitis and Emma survived him by almost 17 years.

Tree A Thoughtful, Relevant and Connecting Gift with my Ancestors

At last I have managed to make the shortish trip to Somerset to visit the ancestral home of my paternal great-grandparents. It has been loving restored to replace many of the original features which had been removed or covered up by a previous owner. I have mentioned elsewhere on the blog the inclusion of Bridgwater Bricks in recognition of the work undertaken by my great grandfather locally.

The gifts I was given on my departure after my brief visit were unique and provided a special connection with the family who had lived there. The property itself was probably rented in the days of that family but adjacent to the property was a piece of land know as The Common. This was mostly surrounded by trees, one of which was a maple tree, which is now huge as it occupies that same position. The Common itself was covered with cowslips which were also frequently found in the country area of Somerset in which I had lived.

To be therefore given the gift of a sapling from that very maple tree and a cowslip plant from the old Common was a very special one which re-established, in a material way, the connection with the family who had occupied that house.

Thank you to Denise and Pete for all the care you have taken with the old homestead, your interest in preserving the Hookins legacy there and, of course, these simple but special gifts.

Mrs Susan HOOKINS (Tree A)

As mentioned elsewhere on the blog posts Susan HOOKINS was married to William and they were my great grandparents.
After William's death in 1932 Susan went to live with her daughter Alice in Shrewsbury after spending 50 years in the village of Pawlett near Bridgwater.
She died in 1938 in Shrewsbury.

I am indebted to my cousin Ken HOLMES who has sent me the attached copy of the funeral account of our mutual great grandmother.
The mourners were her children Samuel, Frederick, Henry HOOKINS and Alice ROBERTS together with her Samuel's daughter Violet. Also present were Beatrice INDER (niece) and other nieces and a nephew I can't identify namely Mr C WILKINS, Mrs T WILKINS and Mrs E LANE (probably related to sister-in-law Alice who married William's brother Jesse). Susan's children Walter and Ada (now RODBER) were unable to attend.
Amongst the floral tributes were those from May and Bob ROBERTS (daughter and son-in-law), Daisy and Richard HOLMES (granddaughter and husband - also Ken's parents), Grace GRIFFITHS (granddaughter), Mr and Mrs KING (relatives of daughter-in-law Naomi?).
The Undertaker was W Inder & Son of Higbridge, the family into which Susan's granddaughter had married.
Susan was interred with the ashes of her late husband in the churchyard in Pawlett.

Arthur HOOKINS (Tree A)

Arthur HOOKINS was born on 11th August 1864 at 68 Marlborough Street, Chelsea. He was the youngest of the 10 children born to William HOOKINS and his wife Lydia Jane (nee BENNETT). The family stayed at this address for some time being recorded there in the Censuses taken in 1871, 1881 and 1891 by which time Arthur had followed his father's profession as a Master Bootmaker. He married Ella WRIDE on 1st August 1892 in Fulham and a daughter was to be born to them the following year only for her to die a year later. The Post Office Directories in 1899 listed Arthur as being 2 doors away at 70 Marlborough Street but this may be in question as most of his life seems to be linked to No. 68.
By the 1901 Census Arthur and Ella were still to be found at 68 Marlborough Street with children Florence (Flossie) born in 1895 and Lizzie born in 1898. By this time Arthur's father had been dead for more than 2 years and his mother for 10 years but Arthur's brother George was living with them at that time. Further Post Office Directories in 1904, 1906 and 1907 show Hookins Brothers as Bootmakers at 104 Landor Road, Stockwell which as the picture shows now appears to be a cafe.

104 Landor Road next to Newsagents with a door to the accommodation next to the shop

By 1911 the family, including brother George, are shown to be living at 104 Landor Road and another child, Arthur William, has been added to their number.
Further Post Office Directories in 1913-1915 show Arthur and George working together as Boot and Shoe Makers at 70 Draycott Road back in Chelsea just a few streets away from their former residence at Marlborough Street but the Directory in 1919 has them back in Landor Road but this time at No. 102 which now appears to be a house so that information may not be accurate either.
Arthur died in Lambeth in 1924 at the age of 59 although Ella was to outlive him by a further 30 years.

Anna HOOKINS - Tree 3Q

Anna HOOKINS was the 4th child of 7 born to Robert HOOKINS and his wife Mary (nee Jeffery). Her birth took place in 1827 or 1828 in Plymouth. The first Census available after her birth was 1841 when she was living in East Street, Stonehouse, Plymouth with her parents and 6 siblings. She was still living with them in East Stonehouse in 1851 although now only 3 siblings were at home. Her occupation at that time is described as a Milliner. By 1861 she was living as HOSKINS as a Lady's Maid at the home of Edmund EYRE who was a Lieutenant Governor in the Colonial Service and who, judging by the birthplaces of his children, had served in New Zealand and the West Indies. Their home was Dean House near Spelsbury, Oxfordshire. When the Census was taken in 1871 Anna was  a Lady's Maid with Frances ORMOND who was the mother-in-law of Edmund EYRE and who had been living as a Widow at Dean House when Anna was there 10 years previously. By this time Frances had moved to 28 Royal York Crescent in Clifton, Bristol pictured below.

By 1881 Anna was living as HOCKINS and as a Lady's Maid at 11 Osborne Street, St Andrews, Plymouth at the home of Eliza HEWKINS where Anna's mother is registered as a visitor at that time. In 1891 she is recored as being aged 63 and living as a Lodging House Keeper at 3 Castle View, Totnes with her unmarried sister Sarah and 10 years later, still with her sister she was living at a cottage in Totnes with Anna recorded as a Dressmaker and her sister as a Shirt Maker.
The Census record is completed in 1911 when Anna is living alone at 31 High Street, Totnes now 83 years of age but when she died on 25th August the following year she was living at 32 High Street, Totnes but died at 32 Oakfield Terrace Road, Plymouth which is pictured below:

Alfred HOOKINS (Tree G)

Alfred was the 8th of 11 children born to George HOOKINS and Caroline (nee TRASH) and was brother to Albert Henry HOOKINS mentioned elsewhere on the blog. Alfred was born on 14th February 1892 at the family home in Bath Road, Mitcham and was baptised in Mitcham on 2nd April that year.
In his first recorded Census appearance he was living at the same address with his parents + 7 siblings and his maternal grandfather. His father was to die 2 years later and in the 1911 Census he is still at the same address with his widowed mother and 5 siblings with an occupation as a Factory Hand which he ws still doing in 1916 when he married Florence Emily STALLARD at Mitcham Parish Church.
Just 1 year later Alfred ad enlisted in the Middlesex Regiment 29th Batallion and his attestation states that he was just 5'3" tall and weighed 110 pounds (less than 8 stone). At that point he was resident in Belgrave Road, in Mitcham and his occupation described as a Packer.
Once the war was over Alfred and Florence had 4 children and at various times his occupation is stated to be a Packer in a Varnish Factory (1930) and a Clerk in a Paint Factory (1951).
He died on 30 May 1956 in Surrey.

Albert Edward HOOKINS - Tree G

Albert Edward HOOKINS was born on 13 February 1883 at 12 Worley Court, St Botolph in London. He was the 8th of 9 children born to Henry Charles HOOKINS and Caroline (nee BAKER). His christening took place at St Botolph in Aldgate on11 March 1883.
By 1891 he was living at 7 Royal Albert Buildings, St Botolph with his parents and 5 of his siblings. He joined the Army Service Corps in London on 10 April 1899 and was allocated a service number of 14649. He served in South Africa from 1899-1902 and was decorated with the Queens South Africa medal (3 clasps) and the Kings South Africa medal (2 clasps).
He married Lilian Ada WHITEHEAD on 23 April 1905 at Christ Church in Stepney and when their first child was born the following year they were living at 55 Great Dover Street, Trinity Street, Newington North although this child sadly died in the following year.
In the 1911 Census Albert and Lilian were living at 1a Alsace Street, Bagelot Street, Walworth with 3 more children although the son born early in 1911 was also to die towards the end of 1912. Also with the family in 1911 was Sidney who was a brother to Lilian. Albert's job is recorded here as a Carman for a firm involved in blacking which is thought to be related to the coating placed on itmes such as stoves. This possibly fits in with his brother-in-law's occupation as a farrier. Lilian's occupation at this time was as a cigar maker.
In the 1st World War Albert is listed again with the Army Service Corps and is recorded as being a Driver.
Lilian died on 11 February 1954 at St Helen's Hospital in St Leonards, Sussex with Albert to die 4 years later on 21 October 1958 also at St Leonards. They were survived by a married son and married daughter and 3 grandchildren.

Ada HOOKINS (Tree A)

Ada HOOKINS was born on 27th Jan 1862 at Theatre Place, Bridgwater the 6th and last child - all daughters - born to John HOOKINS and Mary Jane HOOKINS (nee MOGFORD). By the time of the 1871 Census the family had relocated to Cheyne Walk in Chelsea on the banks of the River Thames being recorded as HOSKINS. Four of the daughters were present as one had died prior to Ada's birth, and a cousin William LYDDON was also there together with a boarder John WEBBER. By the 1881 Census the family had moved the short distance to 48 Park Walk Chelsea although Ada's sister Annie was not with the family. Ada's profession as a Dressmaker is recorded here for the first time which was continue up to and including the 1911 Census. This was the occupation of her mother and two of her sisters. By 1891 the family had moved yet again within the Borough of Chelsea to 40 Gertrude Street. The three remaining sisters were still at home as Annie had married in 1888 although at the time of her wedding her recorded address was Gertrude Street.

2 Edith Terrace Chelsea

In 1893 Ada's father died at Gertrude Street so by 1901 the family had moved the short distance to 2 Edith Terrace. The three unmarried sisters remained at home with their widowed mother.

25 Fernshaw Road Chelsea

The last Census current available for 1911 show the widowed mother with her three unmarried daughters in another part of Chelsea at 25 Fernshaw Road. At some stage the film director Alexander MacKENDRICK had lived at this address. The daughters' mother was by now 85 and was to die in 1916.

At her death on 17th December 1933 Ada was living at Rose Bank Cottage, Hawkhurst in Kent although her two remaining sisters living with her in 1911 both seem to have died in London in 1928 and 1929 respectively.

Dimlands House and Lodge Llantwit Major

I have mentioned before about Jesse HOOKINS who left Somerset with his wife Alice and their 2 children to become a Coachman for the Crayshaw family in Llantwit Major. 5 other children were born in South Wales between 1904 and 1913 but sadly Alice died early in 1915 leaving Jessie to raise his 7 children alone. They lived in Dimlands Lodge attached to Dimlands House and estate and I was privileged to be able to visit the property at the invitation of the current owner last year.

Dimlands House was built by Rev Robert Nicholl Carne at the end of the 18th Century. As well as being a Rector, Robert was a Magistrate and Deputy Lieutenant of Glamorgan.

Pictures currently on display at the Lodge show the mode of transport favoured by the owners of the house although the photograph is not dated.

The Lodge at Dimlands was built by Robert's son John Whitlock Nicholls Carne FSA, JP, DCL, a Welsh Landowner, Magistrate and Barrister in 1853. It has since been extensively renovated and extended by the present owners.








The scroll on the outside of the tower indicates that it was started on 12 August 1864 and Nicholls Carne's name is included. Inside were quaint rooms for the 9 members of the family of Jesse and Alice to squeeze into.

















Inside the property there are stone steps leading to the first floor. These were believed to be on the outside of the original building possibly as access to the roof but have now been incorporated within the revised accommodation.












My grateful thanks to Ian for allowing me to have a look around together with two of my Family Tree relatives who still live in the area. Earlier in the day I had also had the opportunity of meeting up with a grandaughter of Jesse together with her husband and son who all still live in the vicinity and who were able to provide more insight into those who at one time lived at Dimlands Lodge.