Number 147 Summer 2015 The East of London Family History Society http://www.eolfhs.org.uk Registered Charity No. 1094419 Vice Presidents: Mrs. Meryl Catty, Mr. David Filby, Mr. David Webb and Mrs. Vera Bangs. Executive Committee Chairman Melissa Ford, 68 Stanfield Road, Dagenham RM10 8JT Gary Barnes, 57 Ashdown Court, 2E Fulbourne Road, Walthamstow Vice-Chairman E17 4GF General Secretary Janet Seward, 12 Glencoe Avenue, Ilford IG2 7AJ Treasurer Jeffery Harvey, 55 Trelawney Road, Hainault, Ilford IG6 2NJ Membership Secretary Sue Waine, 10 The Badgers, Langdon Hills, Essex, SS16 6AU Publicity Officer Vacant. Projects Co-ordinator Vacant Surname Interests Vacant. Committee Members John Reynolds, 17 Fleet Close, Upminster RM14 1PS Branch Representatives Barking & Dagenham Pat Barber, 83 Dawlish Drive, Ilford IG3 9EF Bishopsgate Terry Bethell, 58 Minster Way, Hornchurch RM11 3TD Havering Audrey Neal, 25 Sandown Avenue, Dagenham RM10 8XD Newham & Redbridge Sandra Patchett, 9 Otley Drive, Gants Hill, Ilford IG2 6SL Computer Group Charlie Mead, 70 Gernons, Basildon SS16 5TN Front Cover Illustration The illustration on the front cover is of Corporal John Dellow, Northamptonshire Regiment. His World War I experiences have been taken from the notes that were left to Clive Dellow (No. 2681) and you can read Part I on page 36. Cockney Ancestor In this Issue The Gent Family From Riches to Rags– Part II....................................................... Kevin Herridge............... 3 A Sad Tale in Troubled Times................... Lorraine Jeapes............... 8 William Champneys................................. Arthur Royall.................. 12 An East End Boy’s Memories – Part XI.... Arthur Staples................ 16 Mount Pleasant School Football XI –1937 Dennis Galvin................. 19 Beyond BMD and Censuses: Newspapers... Peter Holford.................. 20 Society Visits 2015................................... Vic Davis & Terry Kaye.. 26 Our Cockney Ancestors............................ Dennis Galvin................. 28 Some Lives from the Shacklewell Green Memorial – Part IV........................................ Tony Storey..................... 32 The Story of a Remarkable Woman............. Peter Sully...................... 35 My First World War Experiences – Part I. Clive Dellow................... 36 Look on The Back!................................... Jeff Harvey...................... 39 Found and Lost......................................... Christine Langford.......... 42 The Derby Scheme................................... David Groen.................... 43 The Neighbours in Kitchener Road........... Dr. Penelope Christensen 44 Snippets From the Home Front –Part VI... David Groen.................... 48 That Won’t Do Nurse................................ Mari Norman.................. 50 The Chaneys Leave London, 1850........... Sharon Cook................... 53 Regular Features Editorial.................................... 2 Bookshelf.................................. 40 Writing for CA.......................... 2 Recycling for CA...................... 55 Post Box.................................... 14 Advertisement Rates................. 55 Round Up.................................. 30 Diary Dates............................... 56 © The East of London Family History Society and Authors. The views expressed in articles and features are those of the author and not necessarily those of the Editor or the Society No. 147 1 Editorial ummer is upon us (I think) and many of you will be beavering away in your gardens and enjoying the nice weather, with little thought for Syour family history research. However, please spare a thought for our Membership Secretary who, from September onwards, will be tied to her computer processing all the renewals that will be pouring in. Please make her life easier by renewing on time. It is so easy to put the form on the mantelpiece or behind the clock and mean to renew at a later date, and then forget! Or better still, how about completing a standing order mandate and you will never miss renewing again. Your renewal form is in the centre of this Cockney Ancestor. You will notice from the inside front cover that the Executive Committee still have a few vacancies. The Society are still looking for a Publicity Officer, a Projects Co-ordinator, Book Store Manager and someone to run the Surname Interests. If you are interested in any of these roles and would like to know more please contact our General Secretary, Janet Seward. Or you could join the Executive as a Committee member with a view to filling one of these roles at a future date. Our Society cannot run without volunteers and the Committee are always looking out for new people to join them – they are a friendly bunch and you will be made very welcome. Give it a try! Editor Writing for Cockney Ancestor ll material for inclusion in Cockney Ancestor should be sent to the Editor, 24 Alderney Gardens, Wickford, Essex SS11 7BD Aor email to [email protected]. Please quote your name and membership number and enclose a stamped self-addressed envelope for any returns. There is no guarantee that an article will be included in any particular edition. Please do not send any original photographs in case they are lost or damaged. Your article submission will be acknowledged and you will be asked to complete and submit a copyright form. Further details can be found on our website at http://www.eolfhs.org.uk/aboutus/articles/. The Editorial Committee is a Sub-committee set up by the Executive. John Reynolds (chair), Vera Bangs, Brian McDonald, Tom Cannon and Audrey Neal. 2 Cockney Ancestor The Gent Family, From Riches to Rags – Part II Kevin Herridge No. 367 William GENT (1842 – 1904) illiam married Ann PRUDENCE at Christchurch, Poplar, 29 March 1869. William was a bachelor, aged 27, a labourer and signed with Wan ‘x’. William’s father’s name was given as Filby, a publican. Ann, the daughter of Edward, a labourer, signed the register. Both gave their address as 108 Stebondale Street, Millwall. The witnesses were David (‘x’) and Ann THOMPSON. Stebondale Street ran off Manchester Road in Cubitt Town, on the Isle of Dogs. Their first daughter, Rosetta, was born 26 January 1870, and William’s occupation was given as labourer, their address being 23 Northey Street, Limehouse. She was baptized Rosetta Elizabeth, 23 January 1871, at St. Anne’s, Limehouse. The family address being 25 Northey Street. William was still a labourer. Northey Street was a turning off Narrow Street, just below the Limehouse Basin. Apr.2, 1871, census: 22 Queens Terrace, All Saints, Poplar: James TAYLOR head mar 40 engine setter b. Heybridge, Essex Emily Taylor wife mar 35 b. Croydon, Surrey Charles Taylor son 15 lab. iron yard b. Brighton, Sussex William Gent lodger mar 29 lab. iron yard b. Limehouse Ann Gent wife 20 b. Stratford, Essex Rosetta Gent dau 1 b. Limehouse A son, Felby Edward, was born 6 June 1872. The address was given as 10 Marshfield Street, Poplar. William was still a labourer. Felby’s death was registered in the Sep. quarter of 1872, in Poplar, age 0. Marshfield Street was off the Preston Road in Cubitt Town, Isle of Dogs. A second daughter, Emily Louisa, was born 18 October 1873 according to her baptism details, either in Limehouse or Poplar. Another son, Frederick William, had his birth registered in Limehouse in the Sep. quarter of 1875. His death was also registered in the same quarter, in Poplar. Another son, Filby Edward, was born 27 December 1876. The family was now living at 107 Narrow Street, Limehouse. William’s occupation was given as labourer. Filby Edward was baptized on 1 January 1879, at St. Anne’s, Limehouse. No. 147 3 The family was living at 56 Ropemaker’s Fields, Limehouse and William was a labourer. Filby Edward died in January 1879 in Stepney, aged 2. Narrow Street ran along the banks of the River Thames from the Ratcliff Highway/Butchers Road junction, down river to below the Limehouse Basin. Ropemaker’s Fields was a turning off Narrow Street. Although born in 1873, Emily Louise was baptized at St. Anne’s, Limehouse, 16 January 1881. The family was still at 56 Ropemaker’s Fields and William still a labourer. Two days before the census was taken, on 1 April 1881, another son, William George, was born. The family was still at 56 Ropemaker’s Fields and William still a labourer. 3 April 1881 census for 56 Ropemaker’s Fields: William Gent head 39 mar haister, iron works b. Limehouse Mary Gent wife 30 mar b. Stratford, Essex Rosetta Gent dau 11 scholar b. Limehouse Emily L. Gent dau 7 scholar b. Limehouse William Gent son 2days b. Limehouse Sharing the same house was Mary’s family: 3 April 1881 census for 56 Ropemaker’s Fields: Edward Prudence head mar 55 lab, iron works b Essex Sarah Prudence wife mar 53 b. Berkshire Edward son unm 28 boilermaker b. Middlesex William son unm 17 helper, iron works b. Limehouse John son unm 15 labourer, docks b. Limehouse Mary dau 13 scholar b. Limehouse James son 8 scholar b. Limehouse William George was baptized at St. Anne’s, Limehouse, 28 April 1881. The family was still at 56 Ropemaker’s Fields and William a labourer. On 12 July 1883, another son, Frederick Joseph, was born. He was baptized at St. Anne’s, Limehouse, 5 August 1883. Family address was given as 59 Albert Terrace, Ropemaker’s Fields. William’s occupation was given as erector. On 25 February 1886, another daughter, Violet Mary Gent (my grandmother, known to her children as ‘Daisy’), was born. Address given as 109 Gough Street, Poplar and William was a labourer in iron works. 4 Cockney Ancestor 1891 census for 137 Narrow Street, Limehouse (RG 12/296 folio 40): William Gent head mar 49 gen. labourer b. London Limehouse Anne Gent wife mar 38 b. London, Limehouse Rose dau unm 21 tailoress b. London, Limehouse William son 10 b. London, Limehouse Frederick son 7 b. London, Limehouse Violet dau 5 b. London, Poplar bro in holder up, James Prudence unm 19 b. London, Limehouse law ships riveter Fredk. Watelman boar. unm 27 gen labourer b. Colchester, Essex John Scott boar. unm 27 lighterman b. London, Limehouse Daughter Hannah Gent’s birth was registered in the September quarter of 1891 in Stepney.