My gx8 grandfather : Thomas Bourne 1640

THOMAS BOURNE was born circa 1640. (Many thanks to Mandy Willard for this information.) He was baptised on 27th December 1640 in Burwash, Sussex (source : Mandy Willard). He married MARY ? .

The Children of THOMAS BOURNE and MARY ?:

1. EDWARD BOURNE was baptised on 15 May 1673 in Burwash (source : Mandy Willard). He married FRANCES HAMMOND in 1704 (source : Mandy Willard)


2. MARY BOURNE was baptised on 6 May 1674 in Burwash (source : Mandy Willard).


3. JUDITH BOURNE was baptised on 5 October 1675 in Burwash (source : Mandy Willard).


4.THOMAS BOURNE was baptised on 2 May 1677 in Burwash and probably died young (source : Mandy Willard).


5.JOHN BOURNE was baptised on 3 May 1680 in Burwash (source : Mandy Willard). He married MARY ? (source : Mandy Willard). (Click through to see his page)


6. THOMAS BOURNE was baptised on 5 October 1684 in Burwash (source : Mandy Willard).


7. NICHOLAS BOURNE was baptised on 6 August 1692 in Burwash (source : Mandy Willard).

My gx7 grandfather : John Bourne 1680

JOHN BOURNE was baptised on 3 May 1680 in Burwash . He married MARY ? (Many thanks to Mandy Willard for this information.)

The Children of JOHN BOURNE and MARY ?:

1. JOHN BOURNE was baptised on 20th January 1711/2 in Salehurst (source : Mandy Willard)


2.HENRY BOURNE was baptised on 9 May 1714 in Salehurst (source : Mandy Willard).


3.THOMAS BOURNE was baptised on 18 November 1716 in Salehurst (source : Mandy Willard). (Click through to see his page.)

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