Thomas Woodward 1808 - 1893

Here is the biography for another of my paternal 3 times great grandfathers.  Thomas Woodward was baptised on 16th October 1808 at All Saints church in Birchington in Kent.  Sadly the baptism record isn't very clear.

Thomas's parents were Daniel Woodward (1774 - 1823) and Sarah Sandwell (1772 - 1842).

1808 Baptism of Thomas Woodward (courtesy Find My Past)

Thomas's siblings were:

Mary 1802 - ?
James 1811 - 1894
Martha 1814 - ?
William 1817 - 1903
Jane 1819 - 1892
George 1821 - ?


On 14th October 1835, at the church of St Lawrence in Ramsgate, Thomas Woodward married Mary Ann Scott.

1835 Marriage of Thomas Woodward and Mary Ann Scott (courtesy of Find My Past)

The first census return that Thomas and his family appear on is 1841.  Thomas was an agricultural labourer.  He was living with his wife Mary Ann and a daughter, Sarah Ann, in an area of Thanet called Haine.  There should have been at least 3 children listed on the census so I'm not sure where the other children were.  They may have been living with other relations.

1841 Census (courtesy of Find My Past)

As far as I can make out Thomas and Mary Ann had 8 children.  They were:

Thomas 1836 - 1914
Sarah 1837 - 1902
John 1839 - 1897
Daniel 1843 - 1907
George 1846 - 1904
James 1848 - 1910
Richard 1850 - 1874
Mary Ann 1853 - 1919

On the 1851 census Thomas and his family were living in St Lawrence Street in St Lawrence, Ramsgate.  Thomas' profession was listed as labourer.

1851 Census (courtesy Find My Past)

In 1861 the family were still living in St Lawrence Street in Ramsgate.  Thomas was still a labourer but at Ramsgate Harbour.  The family must have been very poor as Thomas' wife has the profession of laundress.

On the 1871 census the family were still living at St Lawrence Street.  This time the couple have 2 lodgers living with them.  Presumably to help make ends meet.

1871 Census (Find My Past)

On the 1881 census Thomas is still a labourer, at the age of 72, this time he was working on roads.  The couple now have 3 lodgers to help them pay their way.

1881 Census (courtesy Find My Past)

The last census which Thomas appeared on was that for 1891.  On this census Thomas and Mary Ann were still living in St Lawrence Street, however, they are lodgers themselves with their widowed daughter Mary Ann.  As well as Thomas, Mary Ann and their daughter, 2 of their grandchildren were living in the house and 3 lodgers.

1891 Census (courtesy Find My Past)

Thomas Woodward was buried in the churchyard of St Lawrence church in Ramsgate.  He was buried on 15th May 1893.  Thomas was about 84 years old when he died.

1893 Burial of Thomas Woodward (courtesy of Find My Past)

Elizabeth Ansell c.1826 - 1872

Moving on to another paternal 3rd great grandmother.  Elizabeth Ansell was born in Ramsgate at some point around 1826.

Elizabeth's baptismal record, from St Lawrence church in Ramsgate, states that she was baptised on 5th November 1826.  Her parents were George and Sarah Ansell.

1826 Baptism of Elizabeth Ansell (courtesy of Find My Past)

I believe that Elizabeth's parents were George Ansell (1793 - 1881) and Sarah Cecilia Pettrie (1798 - 1869).  I'm not entirely sure about Elizabeth's mother.  From census returns it would appear that Sarah was from the Orkney Isles in Scotland but it has proved a little difficult tracking her down.

The first census document that Elizabeth appears on is that for 1841.  At the age of 16 she was living in part of a house in Farley Place in Ramsgate.  Elizabeth was living with her younger sister, Cecilia, who was 13 years old.  At the time Elizabeth and Cecilia's parents and siblings were living in a different house.  Now, I'll be honest, this has puzzled me for some time.  I don't understand why 2 young teenage girls were living away from their family yet their brothers were with their parents.  There is clearly something that I'm not aware of happening here!  Sadly it may possibly explain what was to happen to Elizabeth later.

1841 Census (courtesy of Find My Past)

As far as I have found so far Elizabeth's siblings were:

George Horatio 1824 - 1844
Cecilia Margaret 1829 - 1879
Alfred Wheatley 1834 - 1908

This doesn't seem many siblings for the time so there may probably be some that I've missed.

On 2nd December 1848 Elizabeth Ansell married shipwright Abraham William Bristow.  Abraham was obviously a little younger than Elizabeth as he was listed as a minor on the marriage certificate whereas Elizabeth was of full age.

Interestingly both Abraham and Elizabeth were able to sign their names rather than sign their mark.  I suppose, as a shipwright, it would be expected for Abraham to be able to write due to his profession.

On the 1851 census Elizabeth and Abraham were living at 25 Camden Square in Ramsgate.  This Square still exists today but their house seems to have been demolished.  Still, it is good to see the other houses in the area which are probably similar to their house.

In 1851 Elizabeth and Abraham have 2 young children, Abraham William junior and Emma Elizabeth.

1851 Census (courtesy of Find My Past)

 
Elizabeth and Abraham were to have 9 children.  Sadly several of them died before their parents.

Their children were:

Abraham William 1849 - 1877
Emily Elizabeth 1850 - 1852
Henry George 1852 - 1857
Alfred John 1853 - 1882
Cecilia Emily 1855 - 1857
Lavinia Eleanor 1858 - 1917
Frederick Henry 1861 - 1929
Walter Ernest 1865 - 1866
Horace Walter 1867 - 1955

Unfortunately Abraham and Alfred were to die during the course of their work as fishermen and were drowned at sea.  Emily died of diarrhoea.  Little Henry died after falling off a cliff and Walter died of gastric fever.

On the 1861 census Elizabeth and Abraham had moved to 3 Adelaide Place in Ramsgate.  For a very short while, at some point between 1851 and 1861, Abraham was the landlord of a pub called the Fountain Inn in York Street in Ramsgate.  At least 2 of his youngest children were born there.  The pub no longer exists although York Street does.

1861 Census (courtesy of Find My Past)

In 1871 Elizabeth and her family were living in Albion Cottage somewhere on Albion Hill in Ramsgate.  It is quite likely that Elizabeth was showing signs of the illness which was to kill her.

1871 Census (courtesy of Find My Past)

Not long after the 1871 census was taken Elizabeth was admitted into Barming Heath Asylum in Maidstone.  She had been showing distressing symptoms and so was placed in the Asylum for her, and her family's, safety.  At some point Elizabeth had contracted syphilis.  Whether this was due to her earlier time living on her own or caught from her husband (which was very common) I don't know.

Sadly, Elizabeth died in Barming Heath Asylum on 18th October 1872.  Her age of death on the death certificate was given as 43 years but she was probably a little older, possibly 45.  Still, such a very young age and certainly a tragic end.

Abraham William Bristow c1828 - 1883

Abraham William Bristow was born in around 1828.  He was one of my great great great grandfathers.  On 28th December 1828 he was baptised at St George the Martyr church in Ramsgate, Kent.  The church had only fairly recently been consecrated having been built between 1824 and 1827.  Abraham's parents were Henry Bristow and Eleanor Chipperfield.  Abraham's father, Henry, was a coachman by profession.

1828 Baptism of Abraham William Bristow (courtesy of Find My Past)

The first census document which Abraham appears on is that for 1841.  He was living with his parents, Henry and Eleanor, in the family home which was in Belle Vue Place in Ramsgate.  There doesn't appear to be a Belle Vue Place in Ramsgate any more although there is a Belle Vue Road.  I suppose Belle Vue Place must have been near this road.

1841 Census Abraham Bristow (courtesy of Find My Past)

I have found 9 siblings for Abraham.  These were:

Charles 1816 - 1900
Henry 1820 - 1824
Lucy 1824 - 1907
Henry 1826 - 1866
Harriett 1831 -1914
Helen 1833 - 1841
Emily 1835 - 1856
John 1837 - ?
Rose 1840 - 1842

Abraham's brother Charles was later to emigrate to Natal in South America.  Charles became a policeman for a while.  I have been in contact with one of Charles' descendants who now lives in Australia.  She lent me a photograph of Charles.  My father does bear a resemblance to him so the family looks do seem to have travelled down to modern times!

On 2nd December 1848 Abraham married Elizabeth Ansell.  On the marriage certificate Abraham was listed as a minor and Elizabeth was of full age.  I think Elizabeth was roughly a year or so older than Abraham.

On the 1851 census William and Elizabeth were living at 25 Camden Square in Ramsgate.  Camden Square still exists but the house where the family lived is no longer there.  On the census return the couple have 2 children and Abraham's profession is as a shipwright.

1851 Census Abraham Bristow (courtesy of Find My Past)

Abraham and Elizabeth were to have 9 children.  They were:

Abraham William 1849 - 1877
Emily Elizabeth 1850 - 1852
Henry George 1852 - 1857
Alfred John 1853 - 1882
Cecilia Emily 1855 - 1857
Lavinia Eleanor 1858 - 1917
Frederick Henry 1861 - 1929
Walter Earnest 1865 - 1866
Horace Walter 1867 - 1955


On the 1861 census Abraham and his family were living at 3 Adelaide Place in Ramsgate.  I cannot find an Adelaide Place in Ramsgate but there is an Adelaide Gardens.

1861 Census (courtesy Ancestry)

At some point in the mid 1860s Abraham became the landlord of the Fountain Inn on York Street in Ramsgate.  The couple's last 2 children Walter Ernest and Horace Walter were both born in the pub.  On their birth certificates Abraham's profession is given as a licenced victualler.  Sadly the pub was demolished some time ago.

Fountain Inn, Ramsgate c 1890 (courtesy Dover Kent Archives website)

By the 1871 census Abraham is no longer a publican, clearly the profession didn't suit him.  In 1865 he was charged in court with opening the pub outside proper pub hours - opps!  On the 1871 census Abraham was living in Albion Cottage in Ramsgate.  His profession was back as a shipwright.

1871 Census (courtesy Ancestry)

In 1872 Abraham's wife, Elizabeth, died (more about her later).  On the 1881 census Abraham was living at 7 Plains of Waterloo in Ramsgate.  He is listed as a shipwright and apparently has a new wife whose name is Martha.  Martha's son, Henry Philpott, was living in the household.  Abraham and Martha never actually married but it probably seemed better to tell the census enumerator that they were married.  I think Martha's maiden name was Setterfield.  Her husband was possibly James Philpott who had died in 1867.  I believe that Martha died in 1912.

1881 Census (courtesy Find My Past)

The house on Plains of Waterloo still exists in Ramsgate.  Abraham died on 20th May in 1883.  He died in the house at Plains of Waterloo.  He died of tuberculosis, one of the major killers of the 19th century.  Abraham was 54 years old when he died.

Eliza White 1839 - 1913

Eliza White was one of my maternal great great grandmothers.  Her birth certificate records that she was born on 22nd October 1839.  Eliza was born in Stourmouth in Kent.

Eliza's parents were James White and his wife Jane Hughes.  James was a labourer and Eliza's mother signed the birth certificate with her mark.  An indication that the couple were illiterate.

Eliza was baptised at the parish church of All Saints in Stourmouth on 1st December 1839.

1839 Baptism of Eliza White (courtesy Find My Past)

Eliza appears on the 1841 census living in Lower Street in Stourmouth.  Her age was given as 1 year old and she was living with her parents, James and Jane, and 3 of her siblings.

1841 Census Eliza White and family (courtesy of Find My Past)

I have found 6 siblings for Eliza White.  They were:

John 1832 - 1890
William 1834 - 1919
Jane 1837 - 1914
Anne 1842 - 1916
Susannah 1845 - 1921
Richard 1847 - 1928

On the 1851 census Eliza was living with her parents, James and Jane, and 5 of her siblings.  The family were living in East Street in Stourmouth.  Eliza's father was listed as an agricultural labourer.

1851 Census (courtesy Find My Past)

On the 1871 census Eliza was aged 21 and was living as a domestic servant in the household of Thomas Blackburn and his wife, Elizabeth.  The house was at 7 Union Crescent in Margate, Kent.

1861 Census (courtesy Find My Past)

Eliza wasn't to remain as a domestic servant for long however.  On 25th August 1861 Eliza White married Stephen James Fuller, a gas fitter from Margate, at St John's parish church in Margate.

1861 Marriage of Eliza White and Stephen James Fuller

The couple were to have 12 children during their 43 years of marriage.  Fortunately for the couple none of their children were to die as infants.  Their children were:

William John 1862 - 1952
Maud Ethel 1864 - 1952
Jane Annie 1866 - 1899
Stephen James 1867 - 1952
Herbert 1869 - 1946
Walter 1871 - 1932
Elizabeth 1874 - 1946
Charles Henry 1876 - 1940
Eliza Ann 1879 - 1961
Florence Louisa 1880 - 1953
Sidney Richard 1882 - 1919
Clara Nelly 1884 - 1950


On the 1871 census Eliza and Stephen were living at 3 Florence Row in Margate.  Stephen was a gas fitter by profession.  The couple had 5 of their 12 children living with them.

1871 Census (courtesy Ancestry)

On the 1881 census Eliza and James were living at 1 Thanet Road.  James was still a gas fitter and 10 of their 12 children had now been born.  Only the 2 youngest children are yet to be born.  Sidney and, my great grandmother, Clara.

1881 Census (courtesy Find My Past)

By the time of the 1891 census all of the Fuller children had been born.  Probably much to Eliza's relief!  The couple had moved house again and were living in one of the Milton Cottages in Arnold Road in Margate.

This time Stephen's profession was listed as whitesmith.  A whitesmith was a worker in metal.

1891 Census (courtesy Find My Past)

On the 1901 census the Fuller family had moved house again.  This time the family were living at Park Lodge as Stephen Fuller became the first park keeper at Dane Park in Margate.

By this point in time the oldest children had moved out of the family home and had started families and homes of their own.  Only the 3 youngest children were living at home in 1901.  These were, Florence, Sidney and Clara.

1901 Census (courtesy Find My Past)

Sadly in 1905 Eliza's husband, Stephen, died.  This meant that the family had to move out of Park Lodge as the house came with Stephen's job.  Eliza lived with her 2 youngest daughters, Florence and Clara, at 13 Oxford Street in Margate.  Florence was to remain a spinster all her life.  Clara married, after Eliza's death, in 1914.

1911 Census (courtesy Find My Past)

Eliza died in the October quarter of 1913 at the age of 74.