Joseph John HOOKINS (Misc Tree)

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.

John Lyddon HOOKINS (Tree A)

 John Lyddon HOOKINS was born in 1849 in Bridgwater, Somerset, the 3rd of 10 children born to William HOOKINS and his wife Lydia Jane (nee BENNETT).

2 years later in the 1851 Census he lived at Angel Crescent in Bridgwater with his parents + 2 siblings, his maternal grandmother and a paternal Aunt. The family seem to have been temporarily in Weston-super-Mare as John's brother George was born there in 1853 but by 1856 when sister Elizabeth was born the family were far away in Chelsea in London initially in Chelsea Terrace but by 1861 at 4 Ambrose Place where John is found with his parents and 6 siblings. By the time the next sibling arrived in 1862 the family appear to have moved again to 68 Marlborough Place. John is here described as a local Methodist Preacher and is living with his parents and 4 siblings.

In 1872 John was accredited as a candidate for the Methodist New Connexion and attended Ranmoor College for a period of 2 years.

Following his training John was a Minister in Truro in 1874 before moving to Nottingham in 1876. It was there that he married Sallie Sophia WOOLLATT in 1878 shortly after which the couple moved to John's new post in Batley. Their first child Evelyne was born there in 1879 who was followed by Marion in 1881. The subsequent Census found the family at Warwick Road in Batley where they are joined by John's mother Lydia. John is now a Methodist New Connexion minister and the family moved to his new post in Sheffield later that year. John and Sallie's 3rd child, Frank Woollatt was born on the last day of 1882 at Brightside in Sheffield but their stay there was also brief as they moved on to West Halifax in 1883. Their 4th child, George Lyddon, was born there towards the end of 1884. However, tragically Sallie died on 21st November which was quite possibly as a result of George's birth.

Widower John was to marry again in 1886 to Sarah Charnock LUMB and their only child, Lyddon Charnock, was born the following year at Berry Brow in Yorkshire. The reconstituted family was on the move again in 1890, this time to Newcastle upon Tyne.

The family is all over the place in the 1891 Census! John is living as a visitor at the home of Dental Surgeon Tom STOREY in Carr Lane, Kingston upon Hull although his ministry seems set to be in Newcastle for a further 3 years. His wife Sarah was lodging with children Lyddon and Evelyne at the home of Jane EDEN at The Terrace, Corff, Darlington. Children Frank and George aged 8 and 6 years old were with a General Servant and Nurse Housemaid at 20 Oxford Street in Newcastle and the remaining daughter Marion was living as a visitor at the home of James THOMPSON and family at 4 Stannington Avenue, Heston. I would love to know what was going on there!!

In 1894 John's ministry took him to Hurst (not totally sure where this is situated) for a period of 4 years before he moved on to Kingston upon Hull. Strangely enough in 1901 all but one of the family are living in Carr Lane where John was 10 years earlier! Frank was the only family member missing as he was living as a boarder with John JACKSON and his wife at 21 Prospect Place, Ashton under Lyne where he was a Warehouse Apprentice in a Glove Department. Later that year John's ministry took him back to his Methodist beginnings in Cornwall with his appointment to St Ives where he served for 5 years before moving to Dudley in the Midlands.

In 1911 he lived at Fernleigh, Russell Street in Dudley with Sarah, son George and a Servant. John is now a Minister in the United Methodist Church. Daughter Evelyne had by now married and her sister Marion was staying with her in Hull. Frank had also married and was living in Stockport and Lyddon was lodging in Loughborough. John was utilised as a Supernumerary Minister in the Birmingham for the next 10 years.

John's 2nd wife Sallie died in 1932 in Bickenhill and 2 years later John himself died in Hampden in Arden at the age of 85.

John Lyddon HOOKINS

John HOOKINS (Tree K)

 John HOOKINS was born on 16 January 1846 in Wellington, Somerset. He was the 4th and last child born to John HOOKINS and Mary (nee BUBEAR), although the second of the siblings appears to have already died by the time John was born. John was baptised at St John the Baptist Church, Wellington.

St John the Baptist Church Wellington, Somerset

5 years later in the 1851 Census John was living at Birts Farm in Wellington with his parents, his one remaining brother + a lodger and a servant. In the 1861 Census the family of 4 lived at Champford Lane in Wellington with John still being at school.

By 1871 John was boarding with the family of Caroline WITHYCOMBE at Townsend Farm in Carhampton and where he is described as being a Road Surveyor. Just one month after that Census was taken John married Elizabeth Ann Hurford HENSON at Temple Church in Bristol.

the former Temple Church in Bristol

Their first child, William Henry John, was born in July 1871 at Old Cleeve in Somerset. Unfortunately William died a year later but he was followed by Georgina Ethel in 1873 at Old Cleeve, and Muriel Marie in 1878 in Trowbridge.

So by the time of the 1881 Census John was living at 43 Hilperton Road, Trowbridge with Elizabeth, Georgina and Muriel as well as a servant Selina DEANE. Shortly after that Census their 4th child, Charles Stanley was born at Hilperton Road, followed by John Cecil in January 1889 but he died of bronchopneumonia before the year was out. 

The 1891 Census shows that John and Elizabeth were living with their 3 remaining children at a very imposing house at 25 Tower Road, Dartford with John now holding the position of District Surveyor of Highways.

25 Tower Road, Dartford

It was in Dartford that the couple's final child, Francis Nevill was born in May 1893 although their son Charles Stanley had died the year before that.

In 1901 John and Elizabeth were living with Georgina and Francis at the grand-sounding address of Gartley House, Dartford Road in Dartford which I have not yet been able to locate an image of. There are buildings called Gartley Cottages on that road so this may indicate that they belonged at one time to a larger property but no evidence has surfaced as yet. Muriel was absent from the household for this Census and has not yet been located but she was with her parents (although her mother is recorded as Annie), Francis and a servant in the 1911 Census still at Gartley House. Georgina was however not with the family in 1911 as she had married in 1904.

Elizabeth died in 1914 in Dartford and presumably John continued to live there at Gartley House for, although he died in 1931, daughter Muriel is recorded as being at the house in 1939.

John HOOKINS (Tree 3Q)

 

St Gregory's Church in Dawlish, Devon was the baptismal location for John HOOKINS, son of Robert HOOKINS and his wife Mary (nee STAFFORD), the last of their 3 children. Sadly Mary was to die in 1817. but John's father was to be married again 10 months later in 1818 to Ann WESTCOTT. John was to welcome 4 more half brothers from that union.

John was to become a Classical and Mathematical Assistant at the Free Grammar School in Andover and opened a seminary for the education of young gentlemen in Exeter when only 22 years of age. Apparently the edition of the Exeter Flying Post issued on 17 March 1825 stated that "the system of instruction will comprehend Greek, Latin, and English language grammatically; Writing, Arithmetic, and Geography, Algebra, Euclid's Element of Geometry, and other branches of Mathematics."

The last of John's 4 half siblings was yet to be born when he married Ann SOUTHEY on 21 June 1825 at St Thomas the Apostle Church, St Mary Major, Exeter. Only 2 days later another article appeared in the Exeter Flying Post providing further insight into the seminary he had brought into being. It indicated that both boarders and day scholars would be accepted with "each boarder being accommodated with a single bed." It was further stated that "Mr Hookins pledged himself that no exertions shall be spared to promote the health and domestic comfort of his pupils, as well as their improvement in the several departments of study to which their attention may be directed." "The premises," it says, "are large and commodious, and being situated in a healthy part of the city, are in every respect well calculated for the reception of boarders." 

The baptism of John and Ann's first child, John took place in 1826 at Holy Trinity Church Exeter. 6 more children were celebrated at the same church in 1828 (Mary Ann Sarah), 1830 (Frances), 1833 (Charles and Robert), 1835 (Lucy), and 1838 (Sidney Southey). The family then seem to move home to Brockley, south west of Bristol, as their final child Millicent Orton was baptised in the church there.

                                                            St Nicholas Church Brockley

In 1836 John decided to reduce the terms for enrolment where it is stated the annual fee for boarders would be 24 guineas. Mention is also made in Trewmans Flying Post that "Young gentlemen who are not required to study the Classics, are prepared for Commercial or Agricultural pursuits by a system of education comprising Reading, Writing, English Grammar and Composition, Arithmetic, Merchants' Accounts, the Mathematics, Land Surveying, Navigation (if required), Geography with the use of Globes, History etc." Quite an impressive and extensive list!

The family home in the 1841 Census was Elm House in Brockley. John and Ann shared the home with 6 of their children with Frances (as Fanny) and Lucy being pupils at school in Yatton (recorded there as HOOKINGS). John, however, died in 1848 at the age of just 45 and was buried in the churchyard of the church where only 8 years earlier Millicent had been baptised.

The widowed Ann is described as an Annuitant in the 1851 Census and is living in Westbury on Trym with Sidney and Robert + 3 of her sisters, a visitor and a Servant. The visitor and her sisters, all of whom seem to have been born in the West Indies, were all classed as "fundholders" so were obviously self sufficient in living off investments. By 1861 Ann was living in the St Michael area of Bristol with son Sidney, a sister who is classed as deaf, a servant and a lodger with his family members. She herself died in 1864 and her deaf sister went to live with Ann's married daughter Frances.

Jeffrey Charles HOOKINS (Tree D)

 Jeffrey Charles HOOKINS was born on 6 September 1889 at 50 Camden Street, Camden Town.

50 Camden Street, Camden Town

He was the 3rd of 7 children born to Edwin Alfred HOOKINS and his wife Jessie (nee JEFFERY). At the time of the 1891 Census he was living at 25 Camden Street with his parents and 1 sibling as the other child had died prior to Jeffrey's birth. His baptism took place at St Michaels Camden Town on 29 September 1895.

St Michaels Church Camden Town

The 1901 Census entry took a bit of finding because the enumerator had put ditto marks for the family instead of the family surname. Consequently the whole family is indexed under the name of the family listed above them which was MUNN but they are recorded as living at 31 Elizabeth Road in Tottenham - Jeffrey and his parents and 5 siblings next door to the MUNN family.

              31 Elizabeth Road, Tottenham

By 1911 they had moved down the road to No 26 Elizabeth Road which was then designated as South Tottenham. Jeffrey was with his parents and 4 siblings as one brother had joined the Royal Field Artillery. Jeffrey was a Plumber's Mate. 

Jeffrey joined the 19th Middlesex Regiment (Duke of Cambridge's Own) as a Private in the First World War and was awarded the Victory Medal and the British War Medal in 1919. His Service No. was 6/5360.

On 1 August 1915 he married Florence Louise HURRELL at St Anne's Church in Tottenham.

                                                                        St Anne's Church Tottenham

Their first child, Florence Jessica was born in 1916 in Edmonton followed by Jeffrey Edwin Frederick in 1921. 

Moving on to 1939 Jeffrey was living with Florence at 14 Oak Avenue in Tottenham where he is described as a Lorry Driver.

                14 Oak Avenue, Tottenham

They had lived at this property since at least 1924 and it was Jeffrey's address when he died in February 1941.

James HOOKINS (Tree 2L)

 This James HOOKINS was the 3rd child born to Thomas HOOKINS and his wife Mary Ann (previously PETERSON nee HEAD). He is believed to have been born in 1834/5 although strangely he is listed in the 1841 Census as the eldest child aged 17(??) which would have meant his birth had taken place prior to his parents' marriage. This is not inconceivable as Mary Ann's previous husband seems to have died in 1822 and no other James birth appears in either of Mary Ann's previous names. At the 1841 Census 5 other siblings are recorded with the family living at Common Side in Mitcham.

10 years later in the 1851 Census James' age has reduced to 16 (perhaps he should have been given a baptismal name of Peter Pan!!!). A brother called Frederick who was 6 in 1841 (corresponding with the age James should have been) is not recorded in 1851 either with the family or elsewhere and neither is there evidence of a birth in that name so I am wondering if some names got mixed up in the previous Census. Just 1 sibling is at home with James and his parents who are recorded as being at West Side Common in Mitcham at this point.

In 1861 James was a Road Labourer and living with his widowed mother at Common Side West but on 1 October 1865 James was to marry Emma PESKETT at Croydon Parish Church. A child, Emma Mary, was born as PESKETT in 1863 and could have been a product of this union but a son William John was born in 1866 followed by Mary Ann in 1869.

In 1871 the couple were living with their 3 children (all recorded as HOOKINS) and living at 3 Smiths Place in Mitcham. Daughters Elizabeth and Louisa Jane were then born in 1873 and 1875 respectively and a son James Henry in 1880. So by 1881 the whole family of 8 were living at Crews Alley although their eldest son John died later on that year.

Daughter Emma married in 1887 and by the time of the 1891 Census James and Emma were living with their remaining 4 daughters at 1 The Terrace, Mitcham together with their married son William and his wife Martha.

In the Electoral Rolls for 1893 and 1901-4 James is shown as living at 1 Grove Road in Mitcham which may well be the same as 1 The Terrace as the 1901 Census shows him at 1 Grove Road with Emma and daughter Elizabeth. Daughter Mary had married in 1892 and Louisa was a servant elsewhere in Mitcham.

James died on 3 January 1904 at home and was buried 6 days later at Church Road Cemetery in Mitcham. 

James HOOKINS (Tree A)

 James HOOKINS, who appears on my own Family Tree, was born either in 1833 or 1834. He was the 2nd of 5 children born to John HOOKINS and his wife Sarah (nee HAYES), although the eldest son was to die in August 1834. James was baptised in the local Parish Church in the village of Brompton Ralph on 27 April 1834.

At the first nationally recorded Census in 1841 James was living (as HOOKINGS) with his parents and the remaining 3 siblings at Park Cottage, Brompton Ralph.

Park Cottage, Brompton Ralph

The family were still at Brompton Ralph in 1851 with the exception of James' sister Elizabeth, who was a Housemaid at the local Rectory.

On 12 April 1860 James married Catherine SLADE at Brompton Ralph, although her birth name seems to have been Caroline, and the 2 names are interchanged during their future life together. At their marriage James is shown to be a Master Shoemaker. Their first child, Mary Louisa was born in September 1860 in the same village and the family lived at Park Cottage in 1861.

Their 2nd daughter, Adelaide Caroline, was born in January 1862 in Brompton Ralph, followed by Francis John in February 1870, although he died just 8 months later. So, by 1871 James and Catherine (as Caroline) were living with their 2 daughters at Parks, with Catherine having become a Dressmaker.

Their 3rd daughter, Mabel Annie, arrived in January 1875 to complete the family. In 1881 Mary Louisa was elsewhere living as a Servant, but the remainder of the family were still resident at Parks.

In 1891 Catherine goes by the name of Caroline and is living with her husband and 2 daughters at the same address but by 1901 they had changed their address to the Carpenters Arms in the village where James is described as being an Innkeeper and Shoemaker. In the previous decade all 3 daughters had married but Mary Louisa is living with her parents at the pub under her married name of WILLIAMS.

James died on 7 October 1903 aged 68 years and was buried in the churchyard in Brompton Ralph 2 days later. Several references suggest that he was buried in 1902 but there are 3 years worth of burials on one page of the register ranging from 1902 to 1904 and the exact year can only be determined by the chronological entries for each actual month.

James' widow outlived him by a further 21 years and was buried in London under her birth name of Caroline.

James HOOKINS (Tree M)

 James HOOKINS was born on 4 November 1857 at Kings Brompton and was registered as HOOKINGS (unfortunately an all too frequent occurrence!). He was baptised later that month on the 29th at the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Brompton Regis.

Blessed Virgin Mary Church Brompton Regis

James was the 4th of 11 children born to William HOOKIN(G)S and his wife Charlotte (nee FARMER) and 4 years later in the 1861 Census their address was Great Smallmoor, Kings Brompton where James lived with his parents and 4 siblings.

By 1871 the address is given as Smallmoor, Bury, Dulverton where the same family configuration existed but to date the family has not been located in the following Census in 1881.

However by 1891 James was serving as a Private in the Royal Marines stationed at the barracks in East Stonehouse, Plymouth.

On 5 July 1902 he married Ellen Jane KNOWLES at the Devonport Register Office although in the Census carried out in the previous year they are recorded as husband and wife living at 1 Willow Plot, Plymouth with Ellen shown using her 2nd Christian name. With them at that time were 3 of their own children + 1 son from Ellen's previous marriage who was also recoded with the HOOKINS name. She also had another son by that previous marriage although he was living with his maternal grandfather at the time of this Census.

The children that had been born prior to that Census were Lucy in 1894, Reginald William in 1896, James in 1898 although he died within the same year, and James Timothy in 1900. Other children were then born - John in 1903, Harry (Henry) in 1905, and Violet Mabel in 1907 although she sadly died the following year.

In 1911 James is with Ellen (now called Janey!) and James, William, Henry and John + Philip (Ellen's son by a previous marriage. The family were then at 1 Cambridge Street in Plymouth, whilst daughter Lucy was living elsewhere in Plymouth as a Servant.

Ellen died just a few months after that Census was taken. James' occupations up to that date had been as Private in the Royal Marines (1896), Labourer (1898), Carter (1901), Labourer and Naval Pensioner (1903-5) and Carter for the Corporation in 1911 and presumably he needed to continue working.

He married again in January 1914 to Elizabeth Ann DWYER again at Devonport Register Office where he had married Janey less than 12 years before. However Elizabeth's life was cut short as she died only 7 months after their marriage.

The next record of James is in the 1939 Register where he is living at 15 Richmond Street in Plymouth with his son William R (ie Reginald William). William's wife Lilian is also with them together with their daughter Irene. Entries for young children were usually blanked out in this register and there are 4 hidden entries in the record for this household. William and Lilian did have 4 children between 1929 and 1937 so these blanked out entries probably refer to them.

James died 4 years later on 17 December 1943 at 9 William Street in Plymouth recorded by William when registering the death as a Royal Marine Pensioner.

Henry Lethbridge HOOKINS (Tree 3Q)

 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

Henry's father was to die early in 1837 but later that year on 28 August Henry married Amelia KINGWELL at Whitestone Parish Church whilst still a minor although he is described as a Schoolmaster.

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.

Henry James HOOKINS (Tree A)

Henry James HOOKINS was born on 1st October 1893 in the village of Pawlett, which is just north of Bridgwater on the A38. He was the 9th of 11 children born to William HOOKINS and his wife Susan (nee MASONS) - my great grandparents - and he was baptised at the local church on 29 Oct 1893.

Thereafter his first appearance in official documentation is the 1901 Census when he was living at the family home of 3 Common Cottages in Pawlett with his parents + 5 siblings as 2 siblings had already died, my grandfather was living with the family of his mother's sister in Huntspill, and 2 other siblings were working and living elsewhere.

By 1911 Henry was lodging at Prospect Cottage in North Petherton at the home of Arthur J BROWN and family, working locally as an Assistant Milkman and Groom.

He enlisted in the Army on 20th October 1914 and served in the 6th Battalion of the Worcestershire Regiment No. 40220.

He was shot in his left arm whilst serving in France and was discharged due to his wounds on 29 May 1917. He was evacuated from France on HMS Asturias.

                         HMS Asturias

A letter to his mother indicates that he was transferred to the 3rd Western General Hospital in Newport Monmouthshire. He also perhaps later served with 2nd Battalion of 1st Regiment of Gloucestershire Hussars No 2580.

Henry married Naomi Agnes Constance KING in 1920 at St John's Church in Bridgwater.

                                                         St John's Church Bridgwater

Henry James HOOKINS & Naomi Agnes Constance KING Wedding

Their only son William Ewart was born in July of the following year at Edward Street in Bridgwater.

The next public record is the 1939 Register where we find Henry and Naomi living at the home of Naomi's parents at 16 Edward Street Bridgwater. There is also a hidden entry which probably relates to son William as he is not found anywhere else and children's names were often blanked out. At this stage Henry was described as a Clay Tempurer at a Brick and Tile works.

Brickworkers - Henry thought to be seated right

Sadly a few years later in 1943 Naomi passed away whilst in hospital in Weston-super-Mare.

Henry was to marry again in 1947 to Gwendoline GILLINGHAM (where he is indexed as HOSKINS) and they had 1 son together.

Henry died on 27th December 1977 in Bristol.

Henry Edward HOOKINS (Tree 3Q)

 Henry Edward HOOKINS was born on 6 June 1872 at 25 Reverdy Road in Bermondsey.

 

                                25 Reverdy Road, Bermondsey

He was the 2nd of 4 children born to Henry Adolphus HOOKINS and his wife Clara Elizabeth (nee HOLLAND).

At the first Census after his birth, in 1881, Henry's home was at 92 Sumner Road in Camberwell where he lived with his parents + 2 siblings + 2 step-uncles. The family name recorded is HOOKENS and Henry Jnr. is identified with his second forename of Edward.

By 1891, still known as Edward, he is with his parents and 3 siblings at 23 Castle Street, Blackthorne Yard, St Martins in the Fields where he is recorded as being a Clerk.

On 24 November 1908 Henry married Grace Elizabeth HALE at St Philips Church in Clerkenwell but, by that time, they had already had 9 children! By the 1901 Census Henry and Grace had already welcomed Arthur Edward in 1896, Walter Ernest in 1898 (although he died 2 years later), and Grace Daisy in 1900 (but she died of TB shortly after the Census was taken). So at that Census they were living in 2 rooms at 80 Brook Street in Lambeth with Arthur and Daisy. Henry is described as a Commercial Clerk and Grace was recorded as his wife even though their marriage was 7 years away at that time.

More births followed with Fred later in 1901, May in 1903, an Unnamed child who was born and died in 1904, Stanley in 1905, Violet in 1906 but who died within a year, Ivy in 1908, Sidney in 1909 and Leslie in 1910. So by the time of the 1911 Census, Grace had given birth to 11 children but only 7 had survived. The remaining family were living at 4 Manson Street on the Old Kent Road. Henry is still a Commercial Clerk although he had been recorded as a Newsagents Clerk in 1908.

Amazingly childbearing continued with the arrival of Rose in 1911, Edith in 1913 and William in 1914. Grace was only 46 when she died in 1921 leaving 10 children between the ages of 7 and 19, although Arthur was to marry just 1 month after his mother's death. Grace died at 11 Otto Street in Kennington of Pulmonary TB.

Henry himself was to pass away 7 years later on 4 September 1928 at Lambeth Hospital at the age of 56. He died of Uraemia and Nephritis which points to kidney problems and he was buried 8 days later in Southwark.

Henry Charles HOOKINS (Tree G)

 Another Henry Charles HOOKINS biography details the life of a child born on 5 January 1894 at 1K Peabody Buildings in Holborn London.

Henry was the first of 11 children born to Henry Charles HOOKINS and his wife Amy Jane (nee TIGG). His baptism took place at St James Church in Clerkenwell on 8 July 1894.

By the time of the 1901 Census Henry was living at 27 Rosaman Street in Clerkenwell with his parents and 3 other siblings. By 1911 he was working as an Errand Boy in an Oil shop and was living at 1 Field Place, St John Street in Clerkenwell with his parents and 5 siblings.

On 20 October 1918 Henry married Jessie Beckingham ROGERS at St Marks Church in Clerkenwell.

At the time of his marriage Henry was identified as a Cook's Mate in the Royal Navy. His naval career shows that he served as a Cook's Mate and later a Cook at HMS VIVID in the Naval Barracks in Plymouth in 1914, 1915 and 1917, on HMS Impregnable, a training ship based in Plymouth in 1915 and 1918, on HMS Cumberland, an armoured cruiser in 1915/6, Diligence, a Scout and Depot ship in 1919, and the battleship Repulse in 1919. He was also a Cook's Mate on HMS Tiger. His total service lasted 12 years from 23 November 1914.

HMS Tiger

The couple do not appear to have had any children and unfortunately Henry died before 8 years of his marriage had elapsed in 1926 and his widow Jessie married again the following year, but it seems that she may also have died in 1931.

Henry Charles HOOKINS (Tree G)

Henry Charles HOOKINS entered the world on 24 June 1839 at 4.30am in Bond Lane, Mitcham. He was the 7th of 11 children born to William HOOKINS and his wife Sarah (nee HOWARD).

Two years later in the 1841 Census Henry was at Locks Lane, Mitcham with his parents and 5 siblings as one had already died before Henry's birth.

In 1849 Henry's father died of Phthisis aged just 36 leaving his Widow Sarah with 10 children aged between 2 and 22 years of age, one of whom was to die the following year shortly after his 4th birthday. In the 1851 Census therefore Sarah is now recorded as a Laundress and is living with  8 children at Bull Yard, West Fields, Mitcham as one daughter was, it seems, a patient at the Middlesex Hospital in Marylebone, although recorded as HAWKINS.

By 1861 Henry had moved out of the family home and was a Porter lodging with a Thomas MASON in Bethnal Green, whilst his mother was at the family home in Palestine Grove with 4 of his siblings and his married sister Hagather/Agatha and her 3 children.

In 1866 Henry married Caroline BAKER at Christchurch Spitafields. Henry was now a Packer living at 96 Brick Lane in Spitafields whilst Caroline lived at 10 King Street.

Their first child, Emily Sarah, was born in August of the following year followed by Rose Ellen in August 1869. Emily was born at 162 Central Street in St Lukes and Rose at 32 Rahir Street. In the 1871 Census the family is recorded as HOCKINS and living in Britannia Street, Shoreditch with Rose under the name of Rosina. Henry Charles Junior was born later in 1871 at 19 Britannia Street, Eliza in 1874 at Whitechapel, Frederick Frank in 1876 at 5 Crown & Shears in the Minories (although he died the following year), Maud Mary in 1878 at Duke Street, Aldgate, and William John in 1890. All through the 1870s father Henry continued in his Porter role.

In the 1881 Census the family is recorded as HOOKINGS. By then the family were living at 12 Worley Court in St Botolph although Emily was not with them as she was a scholar at the John Carr (probably CASS) School in St Botolph. Henry is described as a Market Porter.

During the ensuing 4 years two more children were born - Albert Edward in 1883 and Griffiths Arthur in 1885, both born at Worley Court.

By 1891 Eliza was away from the family in service in Bromley, and Emily was not with them but due to marry in July of that year. The remaining family were at 7 Royal Albert Buildings in St Botolph with Henry now a Wine Packer.

By the time of the next Census in 1901 Emily, Henry and Rose had all married and father Henry is believed to have died at the beginning of that year as Caroline is recorded as a Widow and living in Newington with her youngest son. Henry would have been 61 years old at the time of his death and Caroline was to outlive him by a further 23 years.

Henry HOOKINS (Tree 4A)

Henry HOOKINS was born on 8 July 1852 at Bridge Street in Cookham, Maidenhead. He was the 3rd child of 6 born to William HOOKINS and his wife Sarah (nee SMITH) - one of two William HOOKINS in my records who married a Sarah SMITH. Henry's family moved about a bit probably due to father William's occupation as a Railway Porter. By the time of Henry's birth the family already included William born in Willand in 1846 and Jane born in Paddington (hopefully not the station!!) in 1849/50.

The birthplace of sister Louisa born in 1855 was in Hitcham, Buckinghamshire and brother Frederick 3 years later was born in High Wycombe. So by the time of the 1861 Census, where the family is indexed as HOOKINGS, they were all together at Chipping Wycombe which is the form name of the ancient borough of High Wycombe.

The birth of sister Eliza took place in 1863 in Rotherfield Grays, Henley where the family seemed to finally put down roots. They were there in Greys Lane in the 1871 Census although brother William had just married and is recorded elsewhere. Louisa is also not present and her location is at present not known. Henry himself, just short of his 19th birthday is recorded as being a Painter.

Henry himself was to marry in November of that year at the Register Office in Henley where his bride was Louisa HUGHES and Henry was still engaged in the same occupation. The next decade brought a series of joys and sorrows for Henry and Louisa. Son Henry was born in 1872 and Arthur in 1874 both in Rotherfield Grays, but both were to sadly die shortly after Arthur's birth. Further sons were however born in 1875 (Frederick), 1877 (Walter), and 1881 Sidney, although again sadly Sidney was to die shortly after his birth. Henry's mother had unfortunately died early in 1872 so sadly would not have seen any of Henry's children and by the time of the 1881 Census Henry and Louisa, along with their surviving children were living as lodgers with Henry's father, brother and sister back in Greys Lane. By this time too Henry had added the title of Glazier to his Painter profession.

In 1882 Henry and Louisa's first daughter Florence Maud was born followed 3 years later by Kate, and both were baptised at the Trinity Chapelry in Rotherfield Grays. The family were together in 1891 although Florence is recorded by her second name Maud.

Death came again for the family in 1899 when the eldest surviving child Frederick died at Albert Road, Grays of Phthisis at the age of 24. The remaining members of the family were still at Albert Road in 1901 with the exception of Walter who had married 2 years previously. Florence was to marry in 1907 where Henry is mysteriously referred to as being a Mechanic although in 1911 when he is living with his remaining family (Louisa and Kate) at Albert Road, he is restored to his House Painter title. Kate herself was to marry in 1915. Henry was however to pass away on 6 June 1917 at 48 Deacon Street, Swindon, still recorded as a Painter and Decorator Journeyman just short of his 65th birthday. Louisa was to outlive him by a further 27 years.

48 Deacon Street Swindon

Henry HOOKINS (Tree 3Q)

Henry HOOKINS was born on 9th January 1845 (almost 175 years ago as I write this blog!). His birthplace was in Bartholomew Street, All Hallows on the Wall, Exeter being the outer wall of the city. He was the 4th child born to Henry Lethbridge HOOKINS and his wife Amelia (nee KINGWELL), although two of his siblings had already died by the time of Henry's birth.
When the 1861 Census happened just 6 years later, the two remaining siblings were living with their maternal grandparents at 46 Bartholomew Street whilst their parents were living in Topsham as Schoolmaster and Schoolmistress.

Bartholomew Street, Exeter

Sadly Henry's mother Amelia died in March 1853 of peritonitis during childbirth. There is no record of a child being born so he/she was presumably a stillborn. His father remarried just 5 months later but neither of his children were with him by the time of the next Census in 1861. Whilst sister Emily was a Governess in Tiverton, there appears to be no sign of (our)Henry, but their father is living in Exeter with his new wife and the 3 children born to them since their 1853 marriage.

Henry himself married on 13th June 1868 at St Mary Magdalene Church in Southwark by which time he was noted to be an Accountant. His bride was Clara Elizabeth HOLLAND. Their 1st child Emily was born the following year where Henry is described as a Commercial Clerk, and for the only time is given a second name of Adolphus in the birth registration. Their address was at 1 Nile Terrace off the Old Kent Road, where they were still living for the 1871 Census, indexed under the name of HOKIN and Henry with the title of Book-Keeper.

Their second child, Henry Edward followed in 1872, born at 25 Reverdy Road, Bermondsey. Father Henry is described as an Accountant but 5 years later, when Arthur Ernest was born at 92 Sumner Road, Peckham, his occupation reverted to Book-Keeper. He was however a Clerk in a Printer's Office in 1881 when the family were still at Sumner Road, indexed as HOOKENS. Son Henry was shown by his second name of Edward, and included in the household were two of father Henry's step brothers from his father's second marriage.

Later that year Henry and Clara's next child, Edith Violet, was born at Sumner Road and by the 1891 Census the family were at 23 Castle Street, Black Horse Yard in St Martins in the Fields. Henry is now the Manager of a Carriage Yard and 3 of his 4 children are recorded using their second Christian names - Henry obviously wasn't a budding Family Historian when having his family details recorded!!!!

By 1901 their second child, Henry Edward, is no longer living with the family, but is living as a Manager of Stables in Clerkenwell with his "wife" and 2 children, although records show that their marriage didn't actually happen for another 7 years! The rest of his parents' family are all together at 31 Northumberland Park in Tottenham where, thankfully all the children have reverted to their first names!

By the 1911 Census Henry, as Manager of a Carriage Hire Business, is living at 172 High Road in Wood Green with Clara and their 3rd child Arthur, and the other 3 children are all stated to be still living.

Henry was to die the following year at the age of 67 years and his widow Clara followed just 2 years later, both at 172 High Road.

Henry HOOKIN(G)S Tree 2E

Henry was born as HOOKINGS in the June quarter of 1846 as the 5th of 6 children born to Thomas HOOKINS and his wife Susanna(h) (nee PHILLIPS). Thomas married in the name of HOOKINGS and one of their children had already died by the time Henry was born.
In 1851 Henry was living with his parents and 4 siblings in Cowick Street, Exeter but his father appears to have died just 3 years later. So Henry, by the time of the 1861 Census was an Engine Smith Apprentice and was still living in Cowick Street as HOOKINGS with his widowed mother and just 3 of his siblings as one appears to have married.
At the age of just 20 years Henry married Maria HUNT and their first child, Henry, was born in Dover in 1870. In the Census of the following year Henry, as HOOKIN, was now an Engine Fitter, a trade which 2 of his sons were to follow him into with another son becoming a Driver of a Stationary Engine which was often used to drive machinery etc. The family of 3 were living at that time at 23 Commercial Quay in Dover although the actual road no longer appears to exist.
Further children were to follow during the next decade, Thomas in 1872 and Edith in 1877, both born in Dover and William in 1879 who was born in Faversham. So in 1881 Henry still has the same job and is still known as HOOKINGS. The family of 6 are now living at 19a Adrian Street in Dover although William seems to be known by his second name of Charles. Adrian Street has clearly been redeveloped since that time.
The couples last child, Frank, was born later in 1881 in Dover in the HOOKINGS name and in the 1881 Census Frank is living with his mother and 3 of the other siblings at 26 Adrian Street. However our Henry is living with his second son Thomas in Plumstead at the home of Sarah BOOTY. Both Henry and Thomas were Engine Fitters and could have been plying their trade away from home although eldest son Henry seems to be working at the same trade but living in the family home.
By 1901 Henry and Maria were back together again at 26 Adrian Street and, as three of their children had now married and William was living away from home, only their youngest son Frank was with them. Frank himself was to marry in 1903 but Henry was to die in 1909. Two years later in the 1911 Census Maria was found to be in the Dover Workhouse where she died shortly after the Census was taken.

Henry HOOKINS (Tree 65A)

Henry HOOKINS was born on 23 November 1840 in Wellington, Somerset, the sixth of nine children born to Robert HOOKINS and his wife Mary Ann (nee FOXWELL). He was baptised a few weeks later on 13 December at St John the Baptist Church in Wellington.

St John the Baptist Church Wellington

By the time of his first appearance in the Census records in 1841, Henry was living with his parents and 4 siblings at Pitt Cottages in Wellington. During the next 10 years, three more siblings were born, although one of these unfortunately died after just 2 years. So by the time of the 1851 Census Henry was still with his parents and 4 siblings as three others were living away with their work. Henry's home at that stage was 59 Rockwell Green in Wellington.

59 Rockwell Green, Wellington

Sadly, Henry's mother was to die in 1859 very suddenly, and the following year another of his siblings also died. So in 1861 Henry is living at Rockwell Green with his widowed father and two of his siblings. Also present is a niece of Henry's who appears to be the illegitimate daughter of one of Henry's sisters who was herself not present at home at the time of the Census. One other sibling is by now serving in the Army and is also therefore not present. At this stage, too, Henry's occupation is described as Agricultural Labourer.

Henry's father was living alone at Rockwell Green in the 1871 Census and Henry himself has not been located at that time. This could be because he may have been at sea as by 1881 he was described as a Private Marine in Dartmouth. Also the Ashanti Medal was issued to a Henry HOOKINS in respect of the 3rd Ashanti War in 1873/4 on the African Gold Coast when he was serving on "Rattlesnake".

By 1891 he was classed as an Army Pensioner and was living with his nephew Walter HOOKINS and his family in Gloster Street, Cardiff.

9 Gloster Street, Cardiff

No death record has been positively identified for Henry although a death was recorded in Cardiff in 1907 when Henry would have been 66. This record however shows an age of 61 so will need to be clarified, hopefully by an identifiable informant at death. It would appear that Henry never married.

Henry HOOKINS (Tree A)

Henry HOOKINS is believed to have been born in the early part of 1804 as he was baptised in Brompton Ralph Parish Church on 22 April 1804. He was the 7th of 13 children born to William HOOKINS and his wife Anne (nee KNOWLES).
By the time of the first recorded Census in 1841 Henry had already been married for over 7 years. His bride was Maria SNOOK and their marriage took place on 9 October 1833 at the same church in which Henry had been baptised 29 years earlier.

Before that Census 4 children had been born to the couple. Anne was baptised on 3 March 1834 at Brompton Ralph as was her brother James on 9 October 1836 ( a third anniversary gift!). After this the family appear to have moved to Crowcombe as son William was baptised there on 17 March 1838 about a month after his birth, and George's baptism followed on 28 March 1841 just 23 days after his birth. The whole family were together at Leigh in Crowcombe for the 1841 Census which took place in June.

Their next child Charles was born on 2 September 1843 and baptised at the beginning of October at Crowcombe. Sadly, however, their eldest child Anne unfortunately died accidentally when she was just 10 years old in 1844. The death record is difficult to decipher but seems to read "accidentally burnt".

Then came Ann in 1846, named no doubt after the daughter they had lost just 2 years before, and John was born in 1849 and baptised at Crowcombe on 5 August.
So by 1851 all the remaining children were living at Crowcombe with their parents. The following year they welcomed twins Mary and Sarah although Mary was to die one year later. Thomas then came in 1855 but again tragedy struck as Charles died before his 14th birthday.
By 1861 the HOOKINS family were spreading their wings as sons William and James had emigrated to Australia, and as George is not recorded in that Census, he must also have gone at some point because he married there in 1862 and he died there in 1930. John was also not with the family as he was a Workboy at a nearby farm.
In 1863 daughter Ann at the age of 17 had an illegitimate child Charles and by the time of the 1871 Census Charles was the only person remaining at the family home with Henry and Maria because his mother appears to be working as a Cook in Westbury on Trym, his Aunt Sarah was a servant in Lydeard St Lawrence, and Uncle Thomas an Indoor Servant at Kilton. His Uncle John has not yet been found in 1871.
By 1881 Henry and Maria's daughter Mary, who had been working as a Servant in Taunton 10 years before, was now back in the family home with her elderly parents. They could both have been suffering from declining health as Henry was to die in 1885 followed by Maria in 1889. Both were buried in the Churchyard at Crowcombe.

Griffith Arthur HOOKINS (Tree G)

Griffith Arthur HOOKINS was born on 26 August 1885 at Worley Court, St Botolph in the City of London. He was the 9th and last child born to Henry Charles HOOKINS and his wife Caroline (nee BAKER).
His first appearance in a Census occurred in 1891 when he was living at 7 Royal Albert Buildings, St Botolph with his parents + 5 of his siblings. However by the time of his 2nd Census appearance in 1901 his father had died and he was living with his widowed mother at 11 Tarrow Street in Newington being described as a Carman Coalman possibly as a man with a horse and cart delivering coal.
He married Rosina YOUNG on 15 May 1890 at St Crispins Church in Bermondsey and their first daughter Rosina Maud was born just a few months later in Walworth. So the 1911 Census shows the family of 3 living at 17 Bagshot Street in Walworth with Griffith still employed in the same role.

17 Bagshot Street, Walworth

In 1912 their second daughter Ellen Lilian was born in Bermondsey and 2 years later Griffith's address is recorded as 8 Alsace Street in Walworth where he was still living in 1918 by which time he was known as Arthur, a name he used during his army career which initially made his records hard to identify.

He joined the Army Service Corps on 23 September 1901 aged 18 years 1 month when in fact he was only 16 years 1 month! It wasn't his height that fooled them because he only measured 5'2¾" in height. Perhaps he thought using his second forename would somehow mask his correct age. His Service No. was T18516 and he was discharged on 22 September 1913. However he re-enlisted again joining the Army Reserve in October 1914 and became a driver with the 127th Brigade of the 201st Company. His Service No. was now T/2SR/01509 and he served in France and was awarded the 1914/15 Star Medal. He served until 18 March 1919, was judged to be of good character, a good horse transport driver, hard working, honest, sober and trustworthy. Nevertheless there were a few occasions where he was "Confined to Barracks" or under "House Detention" for misdemeanours usually related to absences, although one instance involved "neglect of duty while on Stable Picquet inattention while on Sentry".

Nothing further is heard about him until he appears in the 1939 Register, still as Arthur and still at 8 Alsace Street where he is living with his wife Rosina and daughter Ellen, their other daughter having married in 1932. Griffith is here described as a Railway Carman which probably involved deliveries to and from the railway station. Elsewhere he is described as a Horse Carman for British Rail.

Griffith died in the early part of 1969 with his widow Rosina surviving for just 3 years more.