After their marriage in 1849 in Waterloo, South London, Aaron and Catherine Wales lived out their lives in Bermondsey and Southwark, close to the Leather Market South of the Thames. They raised nine children there, including my 2xgreat grandmother Alice Mary Wales. Aaron was originally from rural Norfolk, but married a girl from Newington. Were … Continue reading London Waleses: Aaron & Catherine’s family
Naming patterns
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
Henry John Stocking: Tripe Dresser of Bermondsey
My 3xgreat grandparents James Stocking and his wife Mary Ann Collins had over 127 descendents in two generations (their children and grandchildren). Their ninth child - my 2xgreat grand uncle Henry John Stocking (1866-1938) - and his wife Alice Matilda Vidler had ten children, although four died in infancy. He otherwise had a fairly uneventful … Continue reading Henry John Stocking: Tripe Dresser of Bermondsey
William Thomas Stocking: Life near the Thames
For several generations my Stocking ancestors lived and worked just South of the Thames, finding work in the building and decorating trades, London's Leather Market, Bermondsey's food and packaging works and in and around the docks and the areas South of Tower Bridge. Following the various jobs of my 2xgreat grand uncle William Thomas Stocking … Continue reading William Thomas Stocking: Life near the Thames
Frederick James Stocking: Naming the Roses?
My 2xgreat grand uncle started life with a slight identity crisis, being baptised Frederick William on 10 March 1861 (exactly a month after his birth), but named as Frederick James Stocking when his birth was registered. Nothing too mysterious there. But I struggled to fully identify the woman who was to be his wife, and … Continue reading Frederick James Stocking: Naming the Roses?
A big Stocking family photo c1904? [Updated]
After putting my family tree online with Ancestry.co.uk in the early 2000s, I was contacted by a second cousin once removed, who provided a poor photocopy of a photo purporting to show our 2xgreat grandparents and some of their 19 children, taken some time in the early 1900s. In 2025, a third cousin shared a … Continue reading A big Stocking family photo c1904? [Updated]
My Stocking Roots 