My first churchyard inspired search was for Samuel and Harriet, two locals who met where they were employed and worked their way through long lives.
My first churchyard inspired search was for Samuel and Harriet Watson. Their gravestone is the one which appears in the header for this site and is closest to stones belonging to members of my own family. In the hour or so I searched whilst in Kennington’s St. Mary’s graveyard, I became rather attached to them both. Perhaps that is a strange thing to say, but you see their lives pass in front of you, where they lived, how they met, their marriage, children then old age together. Finally their death, and there they are, in front of you…
So, Samuel Watson. He was born in 1823 in Hothfield. His Father was William, a labourer and his mother was Hannah. He was baptised in St Margaret’s Church, Hothfield on 13th June 1823.
Harriet Eleanor Missing was born in Egerton (sometimes shown as Pluckley) in 1822. She was baptised at St. James’ Church, Egerton on 2nd June, 1922. She is actually shown in the register as ‘Harriot Eleanora’, but these spellings are not seen anywhere else in the records, always Harriet Eleanor. Her Father was James, a labourer and her Mother was Ann.
1841
I can find a Samuel Watson living in Hothfield with William as his Father in the 1941 census, but William’s wife is shown as Emma. Samuel’s Mother was listed as Hannah in his baptism entry. But so much is right about this that I wonder if his Mother died and his Father remarried. I will look further when time allows.
There is no sign in the area of Harriet and her family.
1851
This is where it gets interesting. Samuel and Harriet are both listed at Sandhurst Farm, Sandhurst Lane, he as a Farm Labourer, her as a House Servant. They are 27 and 29 respectively. So, it seems likely this is where they met. We have a Sandyhurst Lane now so this was either an error on the part of the census enumerator or the name has changed since 1851. I would suspect the latter personally.
1857
They marry. Yay! They married on 23rd May 1857 in Ashford Parish Church with the Rev John Price Alcock presiding. Samuel signed, Harriet placed her mark and their witnesses were Thomas Missing and Mary Ann ??? I could not read the surname.
1861
I could not find them in the area on the 1961 census. Something for another day…
1871
And there they are, shown living at “Sandhurst”, so I’m assuming the same place, but now with their four children!
Joseph baptised at Hothfield St Margaret’s, 18th October 1858. Interestingly their ‘Abode’ is shown as Westwell.
Walter baptised at Hothfield St Margaret’s, 10th June 1860.
Ernest born 1862.
James born 1863.
Samuel is shown as a ‘Domestic farm servant’. Other families are also shown living at Sandhurst, as before.
1881
Samuel and Harriet are now seen to be living at ‘The Forstal’ which I believe is/was on Bockhanger Lane and he is shown as being a ‘Farmer of 8.5 acres”! I’m hoping this means he has worked his way up and now owns and works his own land. The two youngest sons still live there, Ernest is shown as being a Carpenter and James a Cabinetmaker. I can not see Joseph or Walter in the area.
1891
The four of them are now listed as living at “Mount Pleasant”. Again, by the other entries around them, this appears to be in Bockhanger Lane. In fact I would go as far as to say they are in the same place but it is named differently here. Look to the next census for more evidence. Both younger sons are now listed as “Carpenter and Farmer”.
1901
So now only Samual and Harriet are shown together and they are at ‘The Forstal’. I don’t believe they were in a different place in the last census and this helps bear this out I think. Samuel is shown as a Farmer.
I thought I would try and see what became of the sons, all of whom have moved away now.
I can see an Ernest, a Farmer, with his wife Emma and their three children living at Castle Farm, Westwell. This is in keeping with the family having lived there when younger ( see Joseph’s baptism date above). Lack of other records and corroboration of age here suggest this is him.
There is a James Watson, a Joiner, shown as living with his wife Lucy A and five children at 55 Kent Avenue, Ashford. I believe this is probably him due to lack of other records with this name and his profession and age.
So, to 1905…
Sameul died on 18th March, 1905, as his stone tells us, aged 82 years.
And then 1908…
Harriet died on 23rd September, 1908 aged 86 years.
They both lived long lives and look to have brought up a succesful family. I do want to know what happened to Joseph and Walter as they seem to just disappear between the 1871 and 1881 census’. I am hoping this is not a bad sign and that they just moved form the area. Both were still pretty young when they left.
It was strange by the end, to find that I had some insight into where these two people met each other, fell in love and then their marriage, their children. I knew it would come to finding when they died, because that was literally right there in front of me, but it was quite difficult to read…
So much for my first foray into Random Genealogy. This was pretty much all done on my phone while sitting on a bench in Kennington churchyard on a very pleasant summers day. It is a beautiful place and I have four family there myself, so spend some time there. I had hoped to be able to show snippets of the records I used, but this is not possible it seems due to copyright. If any family happen to come across this and would be willing to let me know more detail or story, I would love to add it.
I have other stories ready to show you… Please comment if you want to.