Both locals, married in an important church and Publicans at a local Public House.
This story began with a rather ornate stone in Kennington, St Mary’s graveyard in Ashford. As you can see, the stone is in very good condition for its age. Inset lead has proved to be a good material for preserving the writing and reducing the erosion of the cut letters. Interestingly, the stone shows an anchor and rope at the head. Without spoiling any surprises, this does not seem to be there for any reason I could find…
1835…
This story begins with Jane Goldup being baptised on 3rd January 1835 at Godmersham. Her Father was Daniel, a labourer from Wye, her Mother Anne was from Elmstead.
Edward was baptised on 29th March 1835 in Mersham. His Father was Thomas, a Bricklayer from Margate and his Mother Harriet (1794 – 1867) from Ruckinge.
1841 Census
The census shows Jane (5) living with her Mother and Father in Godmersham with older sister Mary Ann (9). Curiously the names of two lads appear between the Goldup sisters and their parents, George Kennett (15) and Henry Kennett (12). This census did not ask for relationship information and so it is difficult to know what this means. The position of the names suggests they were living with the Goldups.
Edward’s entry has an interesting twist. He is shown living at Kingsford Street, Mersham with his parents and five brothers and four sisters! They are: Mary (20), Thomas (20), John (20), William (15), Elizabeth (15), Harriet (12), Robert (10) and Selina (1). So, it appears that there is one set of twins in the family AND one set of triplets!
1851 Census
Jane (15) is at home with her parents. Mary Ann is no longer listed there and I could not see her elsewhere locally. However, there are both a marriage and a death entry in that name before 1851. They are not both her as the death certificate precedes the marriage entry. Perhaps sometime I will follow this up to clarify.
Edward is living with his parents at Mersham Street, Mersham and is shown as working for his Father now. His sisters Mary Ann (34), an Infants School Mistress and Selina (11), a scholar are also listed.
1861 Census
Jane (25), now shown as a Dressmaker, is living with her parents in Godmersham Village.
Edward (26) is living with his brother John (39) and his wife Eliza (39) and their three daughters at School House, Mersham.
His Mother and Father are living at Mersham Street, one door away from his sisters Mary (44) a School Mistress and Selina (21) a Teacher.
1862…
John and Jane marry! This is one of two interesting twists for me in their story. They were married on 20th April 1862, at St. Martins in the Fields. Their witnesses were Charles Bullock and Mary Goldup, Jane’s sister. This is very unexpected as this is a very famous church now. I am not sure of its status in 1862, but I would imagine due to its location, it was important then too. Why on earth did they marry there? Their marriage entry shows they were both resident at Dartmouth Street, London, which is not too far from the church. What were they doing there? They married by Banns so it was not a hurried wedding. Did they meet in London or did they know each other from the proximity of their family homes in Kent?
1871
This has the second interesting twist for me. Jane and Edward are publicans and living at The Rose Inn, in Kennington, Ashford. He is shown as a Bricklayer and a Licenced Victualer. They also have three children: Herbert (8), Harry (4) and Julia J (6). Herbert’s age does not give a reason for their marrying some distance away!
This is interesting to me as, being a collector of old cards of Kennington, I have a few of The Rose Inn and I also walked past it every day while at secondary school.
1881 Census
Jane (45) and Edward (44) are now at ‘The Limes’ on Faversham Road. He is shown now as ‘A builder employing 8 men’ and so seems succesful. Herbert (18) is a Carpenter, Julia (16) a Dressmaker (after her Mother), Harry (14) a scholar and Thomas (63) now a builder. There is also a niece called Ellen E Hill (?) (20) living with them, a Dressmaker, born in Canterbury.
1891…
Jane died on 9th February 1891, before the 1891 census.
1891 Census
Edward (54) is still living at ‘The Limes’ on Faversham Road with son Harry (24), an ‘Enginer in a factory’ and with another niece, Alice M Hill (?)(19), born in Canterbury.
1899
Edward died on 18th December 1899…