My great grandfather : George Isaac Offen 1879

George Isaac Offen was born on 15th April 1880 in Ramsgate, Kent (as per birth certificate). He was a house painter/decorator (source : 1911 census)

On the 1881 census, he was living with his parents at 9 Bellavesta Terrace, St Lawrence. On the 1891 census, he was at 11 Model Cotts, St Lawrence, with his family.

On the 1901 census, George, a 20-year-old general labourer, was with his brother STEPHEN in Ramsgate, Kent (source : 1901 census index, household needs checking).

George was in trouble with the long arm of the law in 1901 for not carrying a light! The East Kent Times, 20 Mar 1901, reports: "George Offen, 7 Montague Rd, a young carter, in respect of a summons for the breach of the 'Lamps on Vehicles' byelaw, pleaded guilty - PC Daff started the case - Defendant said he was not aware that it was necessary to carry a lighted lamp in the town - This being one of the first cases under the new byelaw; defendant was let off with 8/-. The mayor pointed out that the penalty was one of £5." (source : Janet Todd)

Dorothy Offen with her mum, Edith Jane Offen nee Usher

He married EDITH JANE USHER on 21/08/1905 at St Luke’s Church in Ramsgate, Kent.  The witnesses were ALBERT EDWARD GRIGGS and ALICE ROSE USHER. On their wedding certificate, they both gave their address as 7 Montague Road, Ramsgate.

EDITH JANE USHER was born circa 1887 in Wrotham, Kent (source : 1901 census) or circa 1888 in London, Hammersmith (source : 1911 census). According to her tombstone, she was born on 14th February 1888 in Ramsgate. On the 1901 census, she was living with her parents at 44 St Mary’s Lane, Wrotham, Kent.

Their first child, George, was born in 1907 in Hammersmith, but it would appear that by the next year, they were living in Ramsgate (given their children's birth places).

On the 1911 census, George, Edith and their four children are at 10 Belle Vue Cottages Ramsgate

In the Isle of Thanet Kelly's Directory 1929, George Issac Offen is listed at 33 St Luke's Avenue in Ramsgate, in the list of private residents.

 GEORGE OFFEN was a carman at the time of his wedding in 1905 (source : wedding certificate) and later worked as a house painter (source : Hastings cemetery). In 1939, when their youngest son Frederick got married, their address was given as 1 Coburg Place, Hastings. At his death in 1951, GEORGE OFFEN’s address was given as 15 Bourne Walk, Hastings, but his obituary also says that they lived for many years in the West Hill area.

Hastings and St Leonards Observer East Sussex, England

20 Feb 1926

 In 1926, they were living in Priory Road and Edith was in conflict with her neighbour, Rose Sutton - she was definitely a feisty woman that you wouldn't want to get on the wrong side of !

EDITH JANE OFFEN nee USHER died on 27th June 1945 in Hastings (source : Hastings cemetery). She was buried in Hastings cemetery (plot LJ 08) on 2nd July 1945 (source : Hastings cemetery).

Hastings and St Leonards Observer East Sussex, England

17 Feb 1951

GEORGE OFFEN died on 3rd February 1951, aged 70, at his home, 15 Bourne Walk but he had spent much of life living in the West Hill district, according to his obituary. He was buried with his wife in Hastings cemetery on 9th February 1951 (source : Hastings cemetery). The cremated remains of their daughter DOROTHY ETHEL DELONNETTE nee OFFEN were scattered on this grave after her death (source : Hastings cemetery).

The children of GEORGE OFFEN and EDITH JANE USHER :

GEORGE OFFEN was born on 13th September 1906 (source : death register) in Hammersmith, London (source : 1911 ce sus).. On the 1911 census, aged 4, he was with his family at  10 Belle Vue Cottages Ramsgate. He married QUEENIE ? and they had no children. He died, aged 73, on 25th October 1978 in Hastings and his cremated remains were scattered in the garden of remembrance bed 22 A6 (source : Hastings cemetery).

JOHN RICHARD (Jack) OFFEN (1908) married MAY/MOLLY WINCH - click through to see his page.

WILLIAM STEPHEN  OFFEN (1909) married ETHEL RAY. He was best man at his brother Frederick's wedding in December 1939. - click through for his page

EDITH ELIABETH SARAH OFFEN (1910) (known as BET) married DENNIS (DEN) LEE. EDITH ELIZABETH SARAH OFFEN (or BET) was born on 16th September 1910 and baptised on 9th October 1910 at Holy Trinity, Ramsgate, daughter of George and Edith Jane, 10 Bellevue Cotts, lab (source : baptisms register, courtesy of Janet Todd). On the 1911 census, aged 7 months, she was with her family at  10 Belle Vue Cottages Ramsgate.

ALICE LILIAN OFFEN (1912) - click through to see her page

FREDERICK THOMAS OFFEN (1914) married JOYCE THOMAS in December 1939. They had two children, Wendy and Pauline.

Hastings and St Leonards Observer East Sussex, England

30 Dec 1939

DOROTHY ETHEL OFFEN was born on 13th August 1918 in Hastings (source : short birth certificate). She married William Albert Delonnette in 1945 in Hastings.

Census returns :

1881 census :
address : 9 Bellavesta Terrace, St Lawrence

John Offen, head, mar, 32, fish hawker, born Ramsgate
May A Offen, wife, 28, laundress, born Margate Kent
Harriett L Offen, daughter, 10, scholar, born Ramsgate
John R Offen, son, 8, scholar, born Ramsgate
Catherine E Offen, daughter, 5, scholar, born Ramsgate
Stephen R Offen, son, 3 ,  born Ramsgate
George Offen, son, 1,born Ramsgate

1891 census :
address : 11 Model Cotts, St Lawrence

John Offen, head, mar, 40, general labourer, born Ramsgate
Mary Ann Offen, daughter (presumably a mistake - supposed to say wife), 20, born Ramsgate
Stephen R Offen, son, 14 ,  born Ramsgate
George Offen, son, 11,scholar, born Ramsgate



1911 census :
Dwelling : 10 Belle Vue Cottages Ramsgate

George Offen, head, 29, married, house painter/decorator, born Kent Ramsgate
Edith Jane Offen, wife, 22, married (for 5 years), 4 children born, 4 still living, born London Hammersmith
George Offen, son, 4 , born London Hammersmith
John Offen, son, 3, born Kent Ramsgate
William Offen, son, 2, born Kent Ramsgate
Edith Offen, daughter, 7 months, born Kent Ramsgate