Samuel HOOKINS (Tree A)

 Samuel HOOKINS was my great Uncle Sam. He was born on Boxing Day 1881 in Huntspill. He was the eldest of 11 children born to William HOOKINS and his wife Susan (nee MASONS) and was baptised in the village church in Pawlett.

His first appearance in the Census occurred in 1891 when he was living at Puriton Road in Palwett near Bridgwater with his parents and 6 siblings. Ten years later he is found to be a servant at Brent Street, Brent Knoll at the home of the Sheppard family the head of which was a Road Contractor. Sam is here recorded as HOOKINGS.

On 31 August 1909 he married Alice PHELPS at Pawlett Church by which time Sam is recorded as being a Gardener. Their only child was Violet Lilian who was born in 1910 in Pawlett and I had the privilege of meeting with her at her home in Weston super Mare and having frequent correspondence with her prior to her death.

By 1911 Sam was a Carter for a Nursery and lived with Alice and Violet in Pawlett. For the First World War Sam joined the Army Service Corps No M1/077279 and served in France.

Samuel HOOKINS Army Service Corps

At some stage Sam separated from Alice as in 1939, whilst all the family lived in Weston super Mare, Alice was living alone in Moorland Road and Sam was with Violet a few streets away at Langport Road. At this stage Sam is recorded as being an Omnibus Driver which he seems to have continued with until retirement. Violet was a Teacher in a Private School.

Samuel HOOKINS standing right

Samuel HOOKINS

Alice died in 1954 in Weston super Mare and Sam 20 years later in the same town where he was subsequently cremated. Violet eventually entered a Nursing Home in the town and died in 2004.

Robert HOOKINS (Tree 3Q)

 This next Robert was born on 10 June 1831 as the 4th of 8 children born to John HOOKINS and his wife Ann (nee SOUTHEY). He was baptised at Holy Trinity in Exeter on 18 July 1833.

Holy Trinity Church Exeter

In the first appearance in a Census in 1841 the family consisting of Robert, his parents and 5 siblings were living at a grand home called Elm House in Brockley with 2 further siblings away at school in Yatton.

Elm House Brockley

Sadly Robert's father died in 1848 aged 45 years and consequently mother Ann moved to Westbury on Trym at Aberdeen Terrace where Robert lived along with his mother, 4 siblings, a visitor and a Servant. His mother is described as an Annuitant whilst Robert himself is described as a General Clerk in probably his first employment.

In 1852 Robert took the big step of emigrating to Australia, arriving in October at that year on board the ship "Cossipore" together with his brother John.

Three years later Robert married Elizabeth Frances SHEPPARD who was born in Cork in Ireland and who had emigrated to Australia the year after Robert and his brother. They were married at the Roman Catholic Church in Emerate Hill, Victoria on 8 September. I have been unable to trace that location so it could be Emeralds Hill in Victoria. At the time of their marriage Robert was living in Williamstown as a Clerk whilst Elizabeth was a Housekeeper. No children appear to have been born as a result of their union.

There is a report in the Australian newspaper called Tocsin in October 1899 which indicates that Robert and his brother were involved in money lending. They are described as being an amiable pair resembling the Cherryblo Brothers immortalised by Charles Dickens. They lend cheerfully at relatively low rates and are as pleasant with the defaulter as they are with the "newly fledged" and the well-credentialled client. Robert himself is described as the grey bearded and usually sleeping partner who invites his clients to stay for a chat while he eats his midday Bath Bun and drinks his glass of milk!

Nothing further is heard of Robert and Elizabeth until the notification that Elizabeth died in1904 in South Yarra. Robert's own death was to follow in 1907 and he was buried with his wife in St Kilda Cemetery. He carried the description of being a Gentleman at his death.

Robert HOOKINS (Tree 3Q)

Robert HOOKINS was the first of three children born to Robert and his wife Mary (nee STAFFORD). He was baptised at St Gregory's Church in Dawlish on 2 Jul 1794.

                                                                    St Gregory's Dawlish

A sister Mary (1795) and brother John (1803) followed Robert's birth and they also were baptised at St Gregory's Church.

Robert's mother died on Christmas Day 1817 and, although his father re-married a year later, Robert himself seems to have married in East Stonehouse in October 1819. His bride was Mary JEFFREY(S). Before the first Census in 1841 seven children had been born to the couple - 6 girls and 1 boy. The first of these was daughter Mary born in 1820/1 who was a dressmaker by the time of this Census and seems to have been born outside of Devon. Elizabeth and Emma were born in 1825/6 in Plymouth, Elizabeth being employed as an Upholsteress by 1841. Then Anna had been born in 1827/8 in Plymouth, Caroline in 1831 in Stonehouse, Samuel in 1834 in Devon and Sarah in 1837 in East Stonehouse. All the family lived in East Stonehouse in 1841.

By 1851 Robert is being described as a Teacher of Mathematics and still lived in East Stonehouse with Mary and children Anna, Caroline, Samuel and Sarah + Mother in Law Martha JEFFREY. Daughter Mary had unfortuately died in 1841 whilst Emma had married in 1847. Elizabeth was a Servant elsewhere in Stomehouse at the home of a Surgeon and his family. In 1852 Robert's family address was 34 East Street, Stonehouse.

In 1861 Robert is described as a Schoolmaster. Anna had moved to Oxfordshire, whilst son Samuel had gone further afield to Australia. So Robert was at home in Plymouth with Mary and daughters Sarah  who had followed her father into the teaching profession and Caroline.

By 1871 Robert and Mary, described as Schoolmaster and Schollmistress respectively, were living in Factory Lane, Ermington - a small village a few miles from Plymouth - with Caroline who has the title School Assistant. Sarah was not at home although her son Fred was there with his grandparents.

That was the last Census in which Robert appeared as he died on 24th June 1879 at Keaton, Ermington. 

Robert HOOKINS (Tree A)

 My namesake Robert HOOKINS appears on my own Family Tree and was baptised in the church at Brompton Ralph.

Brompton Ralph Parish Church

He was the 6th of 13 children born to William HOOKINS and his wife Anne (nee KNOWLES).

He married Mary Ann FOXWELL at the Wellington Parish Church of St John in Somerset on 9 April 1827.

St John the Baptist Church Wellington

5 children were born before the first Census in 1841. These were Samuel in 1830 (recorded as HOOKINGS), James in 1833, Caroline in 1835, John in 1838 and Henry in 1840, all born in Wellington. In that Census in 1841 the family were living recorded as HOOKINGS at Pitt Cottages in Wellington and Robert is recorded as being a Husbandman up to this time.

Further children followed in the form of Elizabeth in 1843, George in 1845 (although he died 2 years later), and Mary Ann in 1850, all born in Wellington. From here on Robert's occupation is stated as Labourer. Like their previous siblings all were baptised at St John the Baptist Church in Wellington.

By the 1851 Census Robert had moved to the Rockwell Green area of Wellington where he lived with Mary and children James, John, Elizabeth, Henry and Mary Ann. Daughter Caroline was living elsewhere and Samuel has not been traced as yet although he had married 3 years earlier.

On 20 February 1859 Robert's wife Mary died at Rockwell Green so in the Census for 1861 Robert is living with his children John, Henry and Mary and his granddaughter Sarah although the location of her mother Caroline has not yet been established.

By 1871 Robert was alone at Rockwell Green and just 3 years later on 13 February 1874 he died in the Wellington Workhouse.

Wellington Workhouse

He was buried in the churchyard of the church where he was married and where each of his children were baptised.

Reginald William HOOKINS (Tree M)

 Reginald William HOOKINS was born on 28 March 1896 at 11 Carlton Terrace, East Stonehouse.

                                                       11 Carlton Terrace, East Stonehouse

His birth certificate however shows the name of HOOKINGS. He was the 2nd child of 7 born to James HOOKINS and his wife Ellen Jane (formerly KNOWLES nee SNELL). Ellen also had 2 sons by her previous marriage and 4 of the children with James were born prior to their marriage in 1902.

Reginald William was apparently known as Bill, the beginning of various usages of his different names including the different surname recorded on his birth certificate. In the 1901 Census he is recorded as William and is living at 1 Willow Plot in Plymouth with his parents + 2 siblings and 1 half sibling.

He is still found as William in the 1911 Census living with his parents, 3 siblings and 1 half sibling at 1 Cambridge Street in Plymouth. Whilst there currently seems to be a Cambridge Road in Plymouth, there seems to be no trace of Cambridge Street.

In World War 1, Reginald William was in the Labour Corps as a Private, Service No 144887 and was awarded the Silver War Badge and a Campaign Medal.

On 2 Aug 1915 he married Lilian Edith COX at the Register Office in Plymouth being know as William HOOKINS on the marriage certificate. At that time he was described as being a General Labourer.

Over the next 22 years 8 children were born to the couple - Lilian Gwendoline in 1916, William John in 1918, Irene Beatrice May in 1922, Betty Violet in 1927, Lucy D in 1929 (although she sadly died the same year), Rose in 1932, Ruby D in 1936 and Shirley in 1937.

In the 1939 Register he is recorded as being William R and is living at 15 Richmond Street in Plymouth. Again currently there seems to be a Richmond Road but not Street in Plymouth but he is living at Richmond Street with his father, wife Lilian and daughter Irene. Children of certain ages are often blanked out of this register and there are 4 hidden entries here whom I suspect to be Betty, Rose, Ruby and Shirley. William's job is now shown as being an Asphalter.

By 1955 all of the daughters had married.

Reginald William's wife Lilian died in the first few months of 1976 only for him to die a month or so later. Interestingly his death is registered in the names of both Reginald William HOOKINGS and William Reginald HOOKINS perhaps to include what he considered to be his proper name of William Reginald HOOKINS but also to tie in with his name as recorded on his birth certificate.

Lyddon Charnock HOOKINS (Tree A)

Lyddon Charnock HOOKINS was born on 9 September 1887 at Berry Brow in Yorkshire to John Lyddon HOOKINS and his wife Sarah Charnock LUMB, Charnock being her maiden name prior to her previous marriage. Lyddon had 2 half brothers and 2 half sisters from his father's previous marriage and was baptised on 9 October 1887 at the Methodist Connexion Chapel in Berry Brow.

For his first Census in 1891 he was lodging with his mother and half sister Evelyne at The Terrace, Corff near Darlington whilst his father was in Kingston upon Hull, perhaps just beginning a new Methodist ministry, although he was thought to be in Newcastle upon Tyne at that point in his Methodist service.

By 1901 the family consisting of the two parents, Lyddon and two of his 4 half siblings, were at 54 Carrs Lane in Kingston upon Hull with a servant also in residence.

From 1903-7 Lyddon served an apprenticeship with Holman Brothers in Camborne, Cornwall whilst taking classes at the Camborne School of Mining. He continued at Birmingham University taking a 3 year course in Mechanical & Electrical Engineering, gaining further experience as a draughtsman in the Steam Department of British Electric Engineering in Loughborough and the British Thomson-Houston Company in Rugby.

In 1911 Lyddon was described as a Mechanical Engineer and was living as a Lodger at 22 Central Road, Loughborough at the home of Metallurgist Ernest BATY.

He was a Sergeant in the Royal Engineers in the first World War and later a Quarter Master Sergeant Army No 49635, serving in France in 1915 for a period of 3 years.

On 28 July 1921 Lyddon married Grace Evelyn BAMPTON at the Providence Chapel in Hampton in Arden, Warwickshire with Lyddon's father officiating at the ceremony.

He became an Associate Member of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers in 1934 and by 1939 he and Grace were living at 20 Hampden Way in Rugby with Marion STUART, an 81 year old Widow and retired Railway Clerk. A servant was also in residence and Lyddon is described as a Chartered Mechanical Engineer & Steam Turbine Designer.

Lyddon Charnock HOOKINS

Lyddon died in Rugby on 25 January 1951, his address at the time of his death being The Old Forge, Thurlaston, where Grace continued to live until her death in 1972. His obituary indicated that he had been in the service of the English Electric Company for over 30 years and was Chief Technical Assistant in the Steam Turbine Department.

Lucy HOOKINS Tree 3Q

 Lucy HOOKINS was baptised on 15 January 1835 at Holy Trinity Church in Exeter, the 6th of 8 children born to John HOOKINS and his wife Ann (nee SOUTHEY).

Holy Trinity Church Exeter

In the first UK Census in 1841, although only 6 years old, Lucy was not at the family home in Brockley, but is shown as being a pupil at a school in Yatton along with her sister Fanny, both recorded as HOOKINGS.

Lucy's father died in 1848 at the age of 45 and the next Census in 1851 finds Lucy at school in Clerkenwell, London in Hermes House, Hermes Street. This was a small charity school with just 15 girl pupils (the boys had been transferred to Collier Street in1811). Here Lucy is recorded as HOCKINS.

By 1861 Lucy was a Governess and was visiting a Sarah JOYER at 11 Aberdeen Terrace in Westbury on Trym. Sarah was a Landed Proprietor and Lucy is recorded as HASKINS. Interestingly Lucy's mother had lived at 6 Aberdeen Terrace just 10 years earlier which, judging by the 1861 Census, was a school.

By 1871 Lucy was at West Clifton House, West Park, Westbury on Trym as Companion to Thomasine LARDY whose income was derived from Dividends but who died in 1880. So in 1881 Lucy was visiting at 16 Hampton Park, Westbury on Trym where her income now came from Dividends, as did that of the Head of the household L G STEVENSON who came from the West Indies.

By 1891 Lucy had become a Lady's Companion to a Maria CHARLES who lived at 1 Worcester Villas in Clifton, Bristol but by 1901 she had moved away to Coventry where she was living on her own means with her widowed sister Millicent and Millicent's niece at Warwick Close.

Both sisters had moved to Endallion, Grove Park Road in Weston-super-Mare by 1911 together with Millicent's nephew, niece and 2 servants. Sister Millicent died there in 1919 and Lucy stayed in the house until her own death in January 1925.

Leonard Alfred HOOKINS (Tree A)

 Leonard Arthur HOOKINS was born  on 13 January 1890 in Nottingham, the 5th child born to William HOOKINS and his wife Ellen Jane (nee FISHER). His father was a Minister in the Methodist Church.

The whole family of 7 seems to be strangely missing from the 1891 Census although Leonard's father's ministry took him to Belfast in 1890 so the family could have been together there. 

William & Ellen with from left Gertrude, William(standing) Leonard, Ethel, Bernard

10 years later the 1901 Census finds the family back in England living at 27 Steade Road in Eccleshall, Sheffield.

Leonard lived there with his parents + 5 siblings as 2 others had been born and one other was not now present with the family as he was in the armed forces.

27 Steade Road, Eccleshall, Sheffield

Just 3 of the 7 children were with their parents in Torquay in the 1901 Census. One sister and one brother had married since the previous Census and both Leonard and another brother could possibly by now have joined the Army.

Leonard was a Private in the North Lancs Regiment Service No 33795 and later was a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Berkshire Regiment serving in France in 1916. He also seems to have been attached to the 3rd Berkshire Regiment in May 1918.

In June 1918 he married Winifred ALCOCK at the Albert Hall in Manchester which was a Wesleyan Chapel where Leonard's father was a Minister. Their only child Joyce was born in 1920 with whom I had regular correspondence for a period of 20 years prior to her death in 2019.

In 1934 when he was the informant at the death of his mother, Leonard's address was shown as Canterbury Drive in Prestwich, but by the time of the 1939 Register (Leonard's name being transcribed as HOSKINS) he was living at 3 Hazel Grove in Bramhall with Winifred + a blanked out entry which was probably Joyce.

Winifred died in Bramhall at the beginning of 1970 and Leonard almost 2 years later at the end of 1971 also in Bramhall. He is believed to have died just 3 days after his daughter arrived to visit relatives in South Africa for Christmas.

Leonard and his siblings left-right Leonard, Doris, Ethel, Bernard, Gertie, Willie, Cuthbert

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.