My gx6 grandfather : Thomas Bourne 1716

THOMAS BOURNE was a farmer (source : David Packham and Mandy Willard). He married SARAH ? (who appears as SUSANNAH on several baptisms) (source : David Packham). She died in 1762 and was buried on 16th July 1762 in Brightling, Sussex (source : David Packham). Thomas died in 1789 and was buried on 22nd November 1789 in Brightling, Sussex (source : David Packham). Although they were not 'gentry', they clearly had some status since their tombstones occupy an important site in Brightling churchyard (source : David Packham).

The Children of THOMAS BOURNE and SARAH / SUSANNAH ?:

1. SARAH BOURNE was born circa 1745. She was baptised on 10th March 1745 in Brightling, Sussex (source : David Packham).


2.THOMAS BOURNE was born circa 1746. He was baptised on 26th December 1746 in Brightling, Sussex (source : David Packham).


3.HENRY BOURNE was born circa 1748. He was baptised on 19th June 1748 in Brightling, Sussex (source : David Packham). He was a yeoman farmer (source : David Packham). He married SARAH WILLARD on 12th February 1773 in Hellingly, Sussex (source : David Packham). Henry died in 1825 and was buried on 16th June 1825 in Hellingly (source : David Packham). Sarah was still alive at this time (source : David Packham).


4.MARY BOURNE was born circa 1750 and was baptised on 29th April 1750 at Brightling, Sussex (source : David Packham).


5. ANN BOURNE was born circa 1752. She was baptised on 2nd May 1752 in Brightling, Sussex (source : David Packham).


6. JOHN BOURNE was born circa 1754 and was baptised on 27th December 1754 in Brightling, Sussex (source : David Packham). He married ? and died before 1825 (source : David Packham). He had two children - HENRY BOURNE who died after 1825 (source : David Packham) and SARAH BOURNE who died after 1825 and was probably unmarried in 1825 (according to the will of Henry Bourne - source : David Packham).


7. JAMES BOURNE was born circa 1758. He was baptised on 29th March 1758 in Brightling, Sussex (source : David Packham). He died in 1758 and was buried on 18th April 1758 in Brightling, Sussex (source : David Packham).


8. ELIZABETH BOURNE was born circa 1759. She was baptised on 9th May 1759 in Brightling, Sussex (source : David Packham). She died in 1761 and was buried on 13th July 1761 in Brightling, Sussex (source : David Packham).


9.WILLIAM BOURNE was born circa 1761 He was baptised on 24th July 1761 in Brightling, Sussex (source : David Packham). (click through to see his page)

My grandfather : Frederick Walter Albert Bourne 1914 - 1979

FREDERICK WALTER ALBERT BOURNE was born on 7th July 1914 in Hastings (All Saints) (source : short birth certificate). His birth was registered two weeks later on 30th July 1914 (source : short birth certificate ). In 1936, he was working as a bus conductor; in 1937, he was working as a printer(?) for Parsons in Hastings; in 1940, he was living at 89 Whippingham Road, Brighton and 4 Kimberley Road, Brighton and working on a lathe (source : family letters). In 1943, he was living at 59 Upper Lewes Road, Brighton (source : family letters).He operated the West Hill lift in Hastings, as far back as 1947 (first mention of “the lift” in 1938) (source : family letters and newspaper article).

He married BARBARA JOYCE BOOTH on 1st August 1942 at All Souls Church, Hastings. He was a bachelor, age 28, occupation given as munitions worker; she was a spinster, age 23. Both gave their address as 178 Athelstan Road at the time of the wedding (which was their home for the rest of their lives). WALTER ALBERT BOURNE (FREDERICK BOURNE’s father) gave his occupation as baker, BARBARA JOYCE BOOTH gave no father’s name. The witnesses were ALICE KATE ELSIE BURGESS (his cousin, Kate Louisa Heselden nee Sands’ granddaughter) and Norman David Charles Teich (his co-lodger from Brighton) (source : wedding certificate and family letters).

BARBARA JOYCE BOOTH was born on 15th July 1919 in Croydon (at 42 Kemerton Road – as per birth certificate) . She was given up for adoption by her mother, HILDA MAY TODMAN, formerly BOOTH, a maternity nurse, living at 21 Gladstone Road, Croydon (source : birth certificate and family knowledge) and was brought up by the CLARKE family at Isfield.

FREDERICK WALTER ALBERT BOURNE died on 9th April 1979 in Hastings (source : death certificate). BARBARA JOYCE BOURNE nee BOOTH died on 26th June 1986 in Hastings (source : Hastings cemetery). They were both cremated and their ashes scattered on the grave of their daughter, MARION LINDA JOAN DELONNETTE nee BOURNE.

My gx2 grandfather : Thomas Usher 1866

THOMAS USHER was born circa 1866 in Wormshill, Kent (source : 1881 census). On the 1881 census, he was a farmer’s boy, living with his parents at Nepicar A Cottage, Wrotham, Kent. On the 1901 census, he was listed as a gardener (worker not domestic) and on his daughter EDITH JANE USHER’s wedding certificate in 1905, he gives his occupation as carman.

He married ELLEN KATE WICKHAM in September quarter 1889 in Malling, Kent (source : Free BMD – district Malling (covers Wrotham), volume 2a page 1010). She was born circa 1868 in Marden, Kent (source : 1901 census). On the 1881 census, she was living with her parents GEORGE (a farm bailiff) and FRANCES (a domestic) WICKHAM and their other children at New House Cottage, Wrotham, Kent.

On the 1901 census, they were living at 44 St Mary’s Lane, Wrotham, Kent.

The Children of THOMAS USHER and ELLEN KATE WICKHAM:

1. EDITH JANE USHER was born circa 1887 in Wrotham, Kent (source : 1901 census). On the 1901 census, she was living with her parents at 44 St Mary’s Lane, Wrotham, Kent. (Click through to see her page.)


2. FLORENCE USHER was born circa 1890 in Wrotham, Kent (source : 1901 census). On the 1901 census, she was living with her parents at 44 St Mary’s Lane, Wrotham, Kent.


3. THOMAS USHER was born circa 1892 in Wrotham, Kent (source : 1901 census). On the 1901 census, he was living with his parents at 44 St Mary’s Lane, Wrotham, Kent.


4. ERNEST GEORGE USHER was born in December quarter 1893 in Wrotham, Kent (Free BMD – district Malling (covers Wrotham, which is the place of birth given on the 1901 census) volume 2a page 611). On the 1901 census, he was living with his parents at 44 St Mary’s Lane, Wrotham, Kent.


5. WILLIAM CHARLES USHER was born circa 1895 in Wrotham, Kent (source : 1901 census). On the 1901 census, he was living with his parents at 44 St Mary’s Lane, Wrotham, Kent. He died on 12th September 1948 source :death announcement card).


6. MABEL USHER was born in December quarter 1897 in Wrotham (? source : 1901 census), Kent (Free BMD – district Dartford volume 2a page 524). On the 1901 census, she was living with her parents at 44 St Mary’s Lane, Wrotham, Kent.


7. FREDERICK USHER was born circa 1899 in Wrotham, Kent (source : 1901 census). On the 1901 census, he was living with his parents at 44 St Mary’s Lane, Wrotham, Kent.

Census returns for THOMAS USHER and ELLEN KATE WICKHAM:

1901 census

Address : St Mary’s Lane, Wrotham, Kent (number of rooms : 4)

Thomas USHER head M 34 Gardener (not domestic), worker, born Kent Wormshill
Ellen K USHER wife M 33 born Kent Marden
Edith USHER daur S 13 born Kent Wrotham
Florence USHER daur S 11 born Kent Wrotham
Thomas USHER son S 9 born Kent Wrotham
Ernest USHER son S 7 born Kent Wrotham
William USHER son S 6 born Kent Wrotham
Mabel USHER daur S 4 born Kent Wrotham
Frederick USHER son S 2 born Kent Wrotham

Census returns for ELLEN KATE WICKHAM:

1881 census (FHL film 1341215 PRO Ref RG11 piece 0903 folio 74 page 15)

Dwelling : New House Cottage
Census Place : Wrotham, Kent

George WICKHAM head M 45 farm bailiff, born Wadhurst Sussex
Frances WICKHAM, wife, M, 48, domestic, born Goudhurst Kent
Deborah WICKHAM, daur, U, 18, labourer’s daughter, born Marden Kent
MargaretWICKHAM, daur, U, 16, domestic servant, born Marden Kent
George W WICKHAM, son, U, 14, house boy (dom), born Marden Kent
Ellen K WICKHAM, daur, U, 12, scholar, born Marden Kent
Sarah WICKHAM, daur, U, 11, scholar, born Marden Kent
Samuel WICKHAM, son, U, 6, scholar, born Wrotham Kent

My gx3 grandfather : John Usher 1831

JOHN USHER was born in Wychling (transcribed as Witchland on the census), Kent in circa 1831 (source : 1881 census). He was a farm labourer on the 1881 census, living at Nepicar A Cottage, Wrotham, Kent, with his wife and children.

He married SARAH ? before 1861, judging by the ages of their children. She was born circa 1834 in Wormshill, Kent (source : 1881 census).

Maidstone Telegraph Kent, England

1 Oct 1870

John was robbed by one of his employees in 1870 - three week's hard labour seems like a tough sentence for a 2 shilling handbill though !

The Children of JOHN USHER and SARAH ?:

1. JOHN USHER was born circa 1861 in Wormshill, Kent (source : 1881 census) (There is a birth listed on Free BMD which COULD be him, but may not be – JOHN USHER, March quarter 1860, district Hollingbourne (covers Wormshill), volume 2a page 493). On the 1881 census, he was a farm labourer, living with his parents at Nepicar A Cottage, Wrotham, Kent.

2. THOMAS USHER was born circa 1866 in Wormshill, Kent (source : 1881 census). On the 1881 census, he was a farmer’s boy, living with his parents at Nepicar A Cottage, Wrotham, Kent. (Click through to see his page.)

3. EDWIN H USHER was born circa 1868 in Wormshill, Kent (source : 1881 census). On the 1881 census, he was living with his parents at Nepicar A Cottage, Wrotham, Kent.

4. EMILY F USHER was born circa 1876 in Hollingbourne, Kent (source : 1881 census). On the 1881 census, she was living with her parents at Nepicar A Cottage, Wrotham, Kent.

Census returns for JOHN USHER and SARAH ?:

1881 census (FHL film 1341215 PRO ref RG11 Piece 0903 Folio 47 Page 2)

Dwelling : Nepicar A Cottage
Census place : Wrotham, Kent, England

John USHER, head, M, 50, farm labourer, born Witchland Kent
Sarah USHER, wife, M, 47, born Wormshill Kent
John USHER, son, U, 20, farm labourer, born Wormshill Kent
Thomas USHER, son, U, 16, farmer’s boy, born Wormshill Kent
Edwin H USHER, son, U, 13, scholar, born Wormshill Kent
Emily F USHER, dau, U, 5, born Hollingbourne Kent
Mary A BENNETT, visitor, U, 32, housemaid (unemployed), born Horsemonden, Kent

My grandmother's brother : WILLIAM STEPHEN OFFEN (1909)

WILLIAM STEPHEN OFFEN was born on 28th April 1909 in Ramsgate to parents George Isaac Offen and Edith Jane Usher. (Click through to see their page.) He was baptised on 9th May 1909 at Holy Trinity, Ramsgate, son of George and Edith Jane, 66 Hereson Rd, lab (source : baptisms register, courtesy of Janet Todd).

On the 1911 census, aged 2, he was with his family at  10 Belle Vue Cottages Ramsgate.

He married  FRANCES ETHEL RAY in 1931 in Hastings, Sussex.

The children of WILLIAM STEPHEN OFFEN and FRANCES ETHEL RAY : 

GEORGE W  OFFEN (1932 ) - country & western singer

 PETER J OFFEN (1934)

KATHLEEN J OFFEN (1935)

FREDERICK S OFFEN (1943)

ALAN J OFFEN (1943)

WILLIAM R OFFEN (1947)

Census returns :

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

My grandmother's brother : JOHN RICHARD (Jack) OFFEN (1908)

JOHN RICHARD OFFEN (known as JACK) was born on 9th May 1908 in Ramsgate to parents George Isaac Offen and Edith Jane Usher. (Click through to see their page.)He was baptised on 31st May 1908 at Holy Trinity, Ramsgate, son of George and Edith Jane, 13 Turner St, carman (source : baptisms register, courtesy of Janet Todd).

On the 1911 census, aged 3, he was with his family at  10 Belle Vue Cottages Ramsgate.

He was always out for a laugh as a youth and seemed to spend half of his life (and his money) being fined for his boyish pranks !

Hastings and St Leonards Observer East Sussex, England 4 Oct 1924

Hastings and St Leonards Observer East Sussex, England 1 Jan 1927

Hastings and St Leonards Observer East Sussex, England 12 Jan 1929

 On a more serious note, he is possibly the John Richard Offen who stumbled across a young man who had just accidentally shot himself at the miniature rifle range in Ramsgate - he was only 21 and later died of his injuries. Jack had ben in Hastings a few months earlier, but it's possible that he was back in Ramsgate as he still had family there.

Sevenoaks Chronicle and Kentish Advertiser Kent, England

6 Sep 1929

He married MAY (MOLLY) WINCH in 1932 in Hastings. There are no more mentions of boyish pranks in the papers after this date so maybe she straightened him out !

Jack died on 22nd October 1987 in Hastings.

The children of JOHN RICHARD OFFEN and MAY WINCH : 

JOAN G E OFFEN (1932 - 1933)

 DOROTHY J OFFEN (1934)

PATRICIA E OFFEN (1935)

BRIAN J R OFFEN (1939)

JOHN R L OFFEN (1941)

SYLVIA M OFFEN (1943)

PAMELA C OFFEN (1945)

MICHAEL R OFFEN (1950)

Census returns :

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

My great aunt : Alice Lilian Offen (1912)

ALICE LILIAN OFFEN (my grandmother's sister) was born in 1912 in Ramsgate, Kent.

Hastings Observer, 17 Feb 1945

She married CHARLES H A CUMMINGS (born 1906), a Canadian soldier, in February 1945. They both served overseas during World War II. Alice was in the ATS and served in Belgium. (The Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS; often pronounced as an acronym) was the women's branch of the British Army during the Second World War. It was formed on 9 September 1938, initially as a women's voluntary service, and existed until 1 February 1949, when it was merged into theWomen's Royal Army Corps : source wikipedia)

Charles was injured on service in Italy and received a military medal. Unfortunately he was a bigamist and had a wife back home.

They had a daughter JACQUELINE A CUMMINGS, known as Jackie, in 1947. She married CHRISTOPHER J HAZARD in December quarter 1966. She was killed, pregnant with her first child, in the Hither Green train crash in 1967.

Wikipedia : "On 5 November 1967, a busy Sunday evening train service from Hastings to London Charing Cross derailed near the Hither Green maintenance depot in London, between Hither Green and Grove Park railway stations. Of the twelve coaches, many full of standing passengers, eleven were derailed and four turned onto their sides, resulting in 49 fatalities and 78 people injured.

The derailment was found to be due to a broken rail. The Ministry of Transport report criticised the maintenance of the line, especially following a recent increase of the maximum speed of trains over the route. Following the accident the maintenance of the line was improved and plans accelerated for replacing jointed track by continuous welded rail."

She married JOHN SOCRATES ASPROGENIS in 1960. He was a Greek Cypriot and they met at the restaurant where Alice worked as a waitress. He was born in 1908. There was a previous marriage listed for a John Asprogenis to Ruth Plowright in 1932 in Paddington, London. Ruth died in 1947, aged 62, in Wandsworth, London.

John died in 1993. Alice and John lived at Cornwallis Gardens, Hastings.