Records show that my 2xgreat grandfather William Joseph James Gibson was at least the third generation in his family to carve fancy mirror frames for a living. The looking glass frames that he carved were luxury goods, but he and his wife Phoebe, nee Wakefield, raised their family of seven in cramped conditions in Victorian … Continue reading William and Phoebe Gibson: Tough times for a frame carver
Poverty
Harriet Scrivener (1851-1931): Hattie in hat town
My 2xgreat grandmother was born and grew up in Luton, in Bedfordshire, joining many thousands of others working in the booming straw hat industry, probably from a young age. She would have earned good money, which may be why she didn't immediately marry the father of her first child. What would Hattie's formative years in … Continue reading Harriet Scrivener (1851-1931): Hattie in hat town
Jesse Ephgrave (1852-1926): Losses and legacies
My 2xgreat grandfather was born in Redbourn, a small historic town in Hertfordshire. His father, a baker, died when he was six and he was brought up by his mother and stepfather - also a baker. He followed the same often financially precarious trade for at least 50 years; but what was his childhood like? … Continue reading Jesse Ephgrave (1852-1926): Losses and legacies
Jesse & Harriet Ephgrave: A baker’s dozen
My 2xgreat grandfather Jesse Ephgrave was a master baker. He had 13 children - a baker's dozen - with Harriet Scrivener. Their first son, my great grandfather, was illegitimate and their second was born only a few months after their marriage. Times were hard for them, with the loss of four children in infancy, and … Continue reading Jesse & Harriet Ephgrave: A baker’s dozen
James Thomas Stocking (1853-1939): A Labourer’s life
My 2xgreat grandfather came from a line of Rope Mat Makers of Bermondsey. He spent most of his working life as a Labourer in south London, sometimes for bricklayers or builders. Many of his sons, grandsons and great grandsons learnt specific building or associated trades, but what would life have been like for Jim? Large … Continue reading James Thomas Stocking (1853-1939): A Labourer’s life
The short lives of John David (1870-1872), Emily Elizabeth (1877-1879) and Mary Ann Hill (1879-1882)
My 2xgreat grandparents John Hill and his second wife, Elizabeth Sarah Windebank brought up their family in some of the poorer parts of south and east London. My great grandmother was their second child, but the first, third and fourth each died in their early years, a result perhaps of poor sanitary and housing conditions. … Continue reading The short lives of John David (1870-1872), Emily Elizabeth (1877-1879) and Mary Ann Hill (1879-1882)
James & Mary Ann Stocking: 325+ descendants
My 3xgreat grandparents James Stocking (1829-1883) and his wife Mary Ann Collins (1828-1881) had eleven children between 1851-1869 who in turn produced 121 children of their own, although not all survived infancy. I believe I have found records for: 11 children; 121 grandchildren; 174 great grandchildren and 21 great-great grandchildren (although I have not researched … Continue reading James & Mary Ann Stocking: 325+ descendants
The ‘put out’ children of Prince Arthur Stocking
Newspaper reports of June-August 1903 show that my 2xgreat granduncle was summonsed by local magistrates for 'over-crowding' his home at The Mint, Godalming, Surrey. In April 1903, an inspector found the improbably named Prince Arthur Stocking (1869-1940) and his wife Eleanor Annie Young (1871-1953) squeezed into four rooms with five children. With another baby born … Continue reading The ‘put out’ children of Prince Arthur Stocking
What’s in a name? Prince Arthur Stocking
I was a bit perplexed when I came across a 2xgreat grand uncle with a seemingly Royal title. Prince Arthur Stocking (1869-1940) was given the first name Prince when his birth was registered in the Jan-Mar quarter of 1870, but it was used sparingly in most other official documents until he married. He called his … Continue reading What’s in a name? Prince Arthur Stocking
Richard Daniel Stocking: The loss of six children
My 2xgreat grand uncle Richard Daniel Stocking was born in 1857 and worked for a Tripe Dresser in Bermondsey. He married in 1880, but by 1895, he had been widowed. He lived until at least his 80s. Sadly, the same cannot be said of his children: of the eight born between 1880-1894, six had died … Continue reading Richard Daniel Stocking: The loss of six children
My Stocking Roots 