Thomas Ramster and Ann Collier

Church Hill, Ramsgate
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Bill Boaden - geograph.org.uk/p/3094225
Leading up to St George's Church.

Thomas Ramster (bap. 6 May 1821 at St Mary's Church, Brixham, Devon), son of William Ramster and Elizabeth (Betty) Johns, married Ann Collier (bap. 21 Apr 1822 at St Mary's Church, Brixham, Devon), daughter of Nicholas Collier, Mariner, at St George's, Ramsgate, Kent on Christmas Day, 25 Dec 1845. Thomas Ramster's profession, as well as that of both their fathers, was Fisherman. Neither of them could read and write and both signed with an X. Witnesses were William Carlile - yet another Fisherman who was married to Thomas' sister, Sarah Ramster (b. 1815) - and Mary Ann Ramster (b. 1814), who was also Thomas Ramster's sister.

Thomas Ramster's Merchant Seaman Register Ticket was issued at Ramsgate on 4 Jul 1846, and tells us he was born on 22 Apr 1821, in Brixham Devon, so then 25, was 5ft 3½in, with brown hair, blue eyes, a fair complexion and no [distinguishing] marks, who first went to sea as an apprentice in 1835. This record states that he was able to write. Obviously, a quick learner in those few months, or not.

Thomas and Ann Ramster had ten children:

1. Ann Ramster b. 1846 D Quarter in ISLE OF THANET Volume 05 Page 535, bap. 27 Dec 1846 at St George's, Ramsgate
2. Sarah Elizabeth Carlile Ramster b. 1850 J Quarter in KINGSTON UPON HULL Volume 22  Page 496, bap. 31 Mar 1851 at Hull Holy Trinity
3. William Ramster b. 1853 D Quarter in KINGSTON UPON HULL Volume 09D Page 161, bap. 2 Oct 1853 at Hull Holy Trinity
4. Mary Ramster b. 1853 D Quarter in KINGSTON UPON HULL Volume 09D Page 161, bap. 2 Oct 1853 at Hull Holy Trinity
5. Thomas Ramster b. 1855 S Quarter in HULL Volume 09D Page 180, bap. 5 Aug 1855 in Hull, Yorkshire
6. Nicholas Ramster b. 1857 D Quarter in HULL Volume 09D Page 199, Died at 1 Week in 1857 D Quarter in HULL Volume 09D Page 154 and was buried on 3 Nov 1857 at Hull Holy Trinity
7. John Ramster b. 1857 D Quarter in HULL Volume 09D Page 199, bap. 27 Dec 1857 at Hull Holy Trinity. Died at 9 Months in 1858 S Quarter in HULL Volume 09D Page 128 and was buried on 16 Jul 1858 at Hull Holy Trinity
8. Catherine Ramster b. 1859 (1860 M Quarter in HULL Volume 09D Page 196), bap. 28 Dec 1859 in Hull, Yorkshire
9. John Ramster b. 1861 S Quarter in HULL Volume 09D Page 196, bap. 21 Jul 1861 in Hull, Yorkshire
10. Agnes Ramster b. 1863 M Qtr in HULL Vol 09D Page 213, bap. 29 Mar 1863 in Hull, Yorkshire. Died from Broncitis at 10 mths in 1864 M Qtr in HULL Vol 09D Page 151 and was buried on 19 Jan 1864 at Hull General Cemetery.

Clearly William and Mary b. 1853 were non-identical twins, who both survived into adulthood, whereas their also twin brothers, Nicholas and John b. 1857, did not. This is the only time I've seen two sets of twins born in the same family.

The Kentish Gazette on 22 Feb 1848, reported on:

ALLEGED CRUELTY TO A BOY

The magistrates of Ramsgate were occupied for some time on Thursday last, the adjournment examination of an alleged case of barbarous treatment, which was believed to have occasioned the death of a sea apprentice, named William Dixon, aged only eleven years, on board a smack belonging to Mr J Lane of Ramsgate.

The following are the particulars:-

Edward Lynden deposed that he was an apprentice to Mr Lane and was serving in the smack Adolphus. About a month ago they left Ramsgate to fish the Silver Pits. The crew consisted of five persons, viz: Thomas Ramster, the master, George Butts, the second hand, and William Blackburn, himself, and William Dixon, three apprentices. They had been at Silver Pitts a day or two, when the apprentice Dixon committed himself, and the captain of the vessel (Ramster) flogged him with a piece of line for so doing. He did this three of four times, and was flogged each time for it by the captain with a line, and once with a piece of net. When he was flogged with the net he was quite naked, and laid across the dandy wink. Previous to his being flogged, each time, he was stripped and washed with a mop in the sole tub, which was on the deck of the vessel. William Blackburn sometimes used the mop, and witness saw marks on his back when he was stripped. Blackburn on three occasions put a rope round the waist of Dixon, and put him overboard, and gave him several dippings. At daylight on Tuesday morning, when on deck, witness called Dixon up out of the forecastle, where he slept, when the trawl was hove up. He afterwards saw Dixon lying on the deck in the lee scuppers, and all hands came on deck. Dixon was stripped and washed with a mitten on the deck. He could not stand, but was held up to be washed. He was afterwards taken down into the cabin, wrapped in a blanket, and laid before the fire. They rubbed him before the fire, put on a shirt, and laid him in the bed cabin. He was then quite dead. Dixon had not had anything to eat since Monday at dinner time, which was about twenty-four hours before he died. The captain said he was not to have anything to eat. Witness did not make this statement before the coroner at the inquest on Dixon, as he was afraid he would catch it when he got to sea, all the crew having told him that he was not to say anything more than he was asked. Blackburn told him he was not to say anything about dipping the boy overboard. Dixon had been on board of the vessel about three months.

George Butts [apparently unwilling] corroborated portions of this evidence.

Mr John Medmer Goodwin, surgeon, Ramsgate, deposed, that he had made an examination of the body of the deceased. The viscera were generally healthy. The stomach was empty. There were marks, external and internal, of two blows on the back of the head, which might have produced concussion of the brain, but he could not swear that these had been the cause of death.

The Chairman severely reprimanded Ramster and Blackburn, and held them to bail to appear at the next Sandwich quarter sessions. (Ramster's bail was £50.)

What the result was at the quarter sessions, I cannot report as I have neither access to those records, nor can I find any further records in the press. The lack of the latter might indicate that nothing 'exciting and newsworthy' occurred. 

The boy, William Dixon, according to the registration of his death, in 1848 M Qtr in ISLE OF THANET Vol 05 Page 425, was 13. He was buried on 6 Feb 1848 at St George's, Ramsgate. It hasn't been possible to trace his birth, or parents.

What we don't yet understand is what 'committed himself' means in this context and that was terrible enough to merit floggings. Someone with more experience of the sea will hopefully enlighten us. Although, my instinct is to think, as it was repeated and also because of all the washing, that the boy became sea sick. We cannot apply modern sensibilities: I really wouldn't be surprised if sea sickness was then treated as a failing, worthy of punishment or that would respond to shock.

There is anyway no evidence to suggest that the Ramsters had to run away from Ramsgate and indeed the obvious reason they moved to Hull was related to the discovery of "the renowned Silver Pits, near the Dogger Bank". Before 1850 Hull wasn’t really a fishing port, but it was this, along with the arrival of the railway, that changed its history. "The “Silver Pit” was discovered and fishing boats began to arrive in Hull. The Brixham trawler was ideally suited for this particular kind of fishing." Thomas Ramster, therefore, was also "one of many fishermen from Kent and Devon who had migrated north to Hull for the better prospects offered by its proximity to the bountiful Dogger Bank and Silver Pits fishing grounds."

Thus in 1851, Thomas Ramstay (sic) (28) Fisherman; Ann Ramstay (sic) (28) Fisherman's Wife, both from Brixham, Devon; Ann Ramstay (5) born in Ramsgate, Kent and Sarah Ramstay (0) born in Hull, were all lodging in the household of Jane Crespin (27) Fisherman's Wife at 1, Ellis Place, Holy Trinity, Hull, Yorkshire. 

In 1861, Thomas Ramster (39) Fishing Smack Owner was living at 5, Edwards Place, Holy Trinity, Hull, with Ann Ramster (37), Ann Ramster (14), Sarah E Ramster (10), William Ramster (7), Mary Ramster (7), Thomas Ramster (5), Catherine Ramster (1) & William Collier (21) Fisherman from Plymouth, Boarder. 

In 1871, in Kingston Street, Holy Trinity, Hull, were Thomas Ramster (50) Smack Owner; Ann Ramster (49) - this time both, incorrectly, listed as being from Ramsgate, Kent, which I suppose depends if you're asked where you [last] came from as opposed to where you were born; with William Ramster (17) Master & Block Maker Apprentice; Thomas Ramster (16) Commercial Clerk; John Ramster (8), Ann Ramster (24), Sarah E Ramster (20), Caroline [Catherine] Ramster (11), with Edward Tennant (20), Henry Arnet (16) and William Faircliff (14) all Fishermen's Apprentices. (Hopefully treated better this time.)

Thomas Ramster of 11 Boulevard Villas, Hessle Road, Kingston Upon Hull, Smack Owner, died, at 56, on 26 Feb 1879 (1879 M Quarter in HULL Volume 09D Page 198) at his home address. His cause of death was given as 'Obstruction of the Bowels' and he was buried, at Hull General Cemetery, on 4 Mar 1879. Probate was granted on 16 Jan 1880; he left personal effects of under £100 to his widow.

In 1881, at Boulevard Villas, 11, Hessle Road, Kingston upon Hull, Ann Ramster (58) Smack Owner was head of the household with Ann Ramster (33), Mary Ramster (28), Thomas Ramster (25) Ship's carpenter; John Ramster (19) Master & block maker; Edith A Ramster (4) Granddaughter (b. 1876, daughter of William Ramster and Mary Elizabeth Simpson); Robert Reeve (33) Fisherman; Sarah E Reeve (30) - who had married in 1873; Henry Crocomb (21) Fisherman; William T Dixon (19) and Enoch Samms (19) Fisherman's Apprentices.

In 1891, Ann Ramster (70) Mother-in-law was living in the household of Robert Reeve (43) and Sarah E Reeve (40), at 14, Boynton Street, Hull.

Ann Ramster, relic of the late Thomas Ramster, smack owner of this port, died on 28 Jan 1895 at 40 Marmaduke Street (HULL Volume 09D Page 176), aged 72.

(Youngest son, John Ramster was one of the founders of Hull City AFC.)

Farrow Salter and Esther Mason

The church of St Nicholas, Great Yarmouth
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Evelyn Simak - geograph.org.uk/p/2350639

Farrow Salter (bap. 25 Nov 1730 at St Margaret's, Lowestoft), son of Farrow Salter and Rebecca Carter, married Esther Mason (bap. 19 Aug 1733 at St Nicholas, Great Yarmouth), daughter of James and Eliza Mason, at St Nicholas Church, Great Yarmouth (now Great Yarmouth Minster) on 21 Sep 1751.

The name Farrow is primarily a name of English origin that means Ironsmith.

Farrow and Esther Salter had at least 11 children:

1. Thomas Salter bap. 12 Aug 1753 at St Nicholas, Great Yarmouth
2. Christian Salter bap. 28 Sep 1756 at St Nicholas, Great Yarmouth (given name on baptism was Christian. Maybe it was pronounced as Christie-Ann? Christiana has been used in the family and she married as Christina.)
3. Esther Salter b. ~1759. Buried at St Nicholas, Great Yarmouth, daughter of Farrow and Esther, on 27 Jul 1759 (with no corresponding baptism). 
4. Esther Salter bap. 10 May 1760 at the Yarmouth, Gaol Street, Old Meeting (Presbyterian). Buried 17 Dec 1764 in Yarmouth, Norfolk.
5. Rebecca Salter bap. 10 Nov 1762 at Yarmouth, Gaol Street, Old Meeting
6. Farrow Salter bap. 6 May 1765 in Great Yarmouth. Buried 18 May 1766 at St Nicholas, Great Yarmouth
7. Farrow Salter bap. 26 May 1767 in Great Yarmouth
8. Esther Salter bap. 11 Oct 1769 at Yarmouth, Gaol Street, Old Meeting
9. Ann Salter bap. 15 May 1772 at Yarmouth, Gaol Street, Old Meeting
10. Sarah Salter bap. 19 Apr 1775 at Yarmouth, Gaol Street, Old Meeting
11. Judith Salter bap. 13 Jul 1778 at Yarmouth, Gaol Street, Old Meeting (Presbyterian). Buried 8 Jan 1786 in Yarmouth, Norfolk (the burial record specifies her father as Farrow Salter and mother as Esther Mason.)

On 15 Jan 1790, Farrow Salter (60) petitioned the Corporation of Trinity House at Deptford seeking financial assistance. The Corporation distributed charitable funds entrusted to it by benefactors for the aid of seafarers and their dependents.

"The Humble Petition of Farrow Salter of Great Yarmouth in the County of Norfolk, aged 60 years ... Sheweth, That your petitioner was bred to the Sea, and served there as a Master of several ships in the coal & coasting trades [1], particularly was Master of the Brig Mayflower [not this one], and of the Brig Two Brothers, 16 years, both in the employ of Messrs. Wm. G Francis Daniels of the above place. But that your petitioner having been lately afflicted with a Paralytic Stroke, which has entirely rendered him incapable of doing anything for the maintenance of himself and family, having a wife aged 59 years and 3 children today Esther aged 19, Ann aged 15 and Sarah aged 13. [...] Your petitioners therefore most humbly pray that they may be admitted pensioners of this corporation at the usual allowance." 

[1] The coal and coasting trades were a vital part of Britain's economic growth, especially in the 18th century. Coal was transported by sea to areas with large populations and industry, such as London. The coasting trade also involved transporting other goods, such as grain, timber, and metal wares. (Source: War, Peace, and Free Trade: Coastal Transport in England and Wales  during the latter Age of Sail (c.1650 to c.1850) PDF, The Economic History Society]

Farrow Salter died at 67 and was buried on 25 Apr 1797 at Great Yarmouth. 

Hester (sic) Salter was buried on 10 Dec 1805 in Horsleydown, Surrey, Bermondsey where son Thomas and daughter Esther Smith were living.

• Farrow Salter at the Genealogists' Forum

Charles Smith, Rebecca Salter and Esther Salter

Great Yarmouth St. Nicholas Minster
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Adrian S Pye - geograph.org.uk/p/5816819

Charles Smith (b. 1762) of the parish of Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, Mariner, married Rebecca Salter daughter of Farrow Salter and Esther Mason, at what is now the church of St. Nicholas Minster, Great Yarmouth, on 9 Sep 1783. 

Charles and Rebecca Smith had three daughters, all baptised at Great Yarmouth, St Nicholas with St Peter, St John, St Andrew, St James, St Paul & St Luke:

1. Rebecca Smith b. 19 May 1785, bap. 24 May 1785
2. Margaret Smith b. 15 Aug 1786, bap. 20 Aug 1786
3. Esther Salter Smith b. 20 Feb 1789, bap. 4 Mar 1789. Buried 24 Oct 1790

However, Rebecca Salter Smith, wife of Charles Smith died aged 27 and was buried at Great Yarmouth, St Nicholas, on 27 Apr 1790.

Charles Smith then married Esther Salter, also daughter of Farrow Salter and Esther Mason, on 1 Nov 1791, at St Marylebone Parish Church, Marylebone Road, London. (Not the current St Marylebone Parish Church, but the 3rd church, opened in 1742, where Lord Byron was baptised in 1788; Admiral Horatio Nelson was a worshipper there and his daughter Horatia was baptised there. This is also the church where diplomat Sir William Hamilton married Emma Hart, later Nelson's lover. The old church closed in 1926, but was not demolished until 1949, following WWII bomb damage. Its site, Old Church Garden, is now a Garden of Rest, created in 1951.) Charles Smith was marrying his late wife's sister. This was forbidden under ecclesiastical law (but not illegal until the Marriage Act in 1835). However, in 1791, the marriage between a widower and his wife’s sister, was valid but voidable. It could be voided or annulled if successfully challenged by any interested party. Perhaps there was less chance of them being challenged in London.

I've found records for four children to Charles and Esther Smith:

1. Charles Smith b. 19 Aug 1793, bap. 22 Aug 1793 at St. Nicholas, now Great Yarmouth Minster. Died, at 5, and was buried on 22 Aug 1798.
2. Ann Smith b. 29 Mar 1801, bap. 24 Apr 1801 at Saint Mary Magdalene, Bermondsey, London.
3. Christiana Smith b. 1 Jan 1803, bap. 28 Jan 1803 at Saint Mary Magdalene, Bermondsey. Died, aged 4, and was buried on 7 Nov 1806 at Southwark, St John, the Parish Church of Horsleydown, Horsleydown, Surrey, described as being 'from the Parish of St Mary Magdalene, Bermondsey'.
4. Mary Smith b. 10 Dec 1805, bap. 2 Feb 1806 at Saint Mary Magdalene, Bermondsey.

St. Nicholas, Great Yarmouth, being such a large church, seems to have been a very busy place in the 1790s. There were, for example, several lads called Charles Smith baptised there in 1793, but enormous thanks to the clerks there, who had clearly foreseen the potential for confusion and listed the mother's full name, with maiden name, on all the baptisms, as well as specifying that detail on the 1798 burial.

There are no records of further children baptised to this couple in Great Yarmouth, nor in Bermondsey that I can find. That's not to say there weren't any. It's clear they were still in the parish of St Mary Magdalen Bermondsey at least until 1806, but I'm less confident of being able to follow their story further.

Charles Smith will inevitably be more difficult to pin down. That I've got this far with a Smith is close to miraculous. It was only by working down the children of William Arthur Sawyer and Ann Smith (they named their first Ann Salter Sawyer, so I was sure that Salter was Ann's mother's maiden name), that revealed the aunt, Ann's sister, Mary Smith, who, in turn, named her father on her marriage in 1856 as Charles Smith that then allowed me to find the girls' baptisms with common parents and that led to finding the marriage. This is a lesson in why it's a huge mistake to concentrate only on direct ancestors: they may be hiding in collateral lines. 

John Welburn, Elizabeth Garbutt and Mary Ann Jackson

Holy Trinity Church, King Street, Kingston upon Hull
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Bernard Sharp - geograph.org.uk/p/3368221

John Welburn (b. 1822), son of William Welburn and Elizabeth Hodgson, married Elizabeth Garbutt (b. 1820), of Anlaby Road, listed as daughter of James Garbutt, Jockey, at Holy Trinity Church (Interior), Hull on 18 Apr 1850. 

Elizabeth Garbutt, bap. 17 Dec 1820 in Norton by Malton, Yorkshire (Norton-on-Derwent), was one of eleven children to James Garbutt and Elizabeth Welburn. 

John Welburn lists his address at the time of the marriage as Upper Union Street and his occupation as Mariner. He lists his father as William Welburn, Farmer. Witnesses at the wedding were Thomas Garbutt and Ann English.

Thomas Garbutt, living on the Anlaby Road in 1851, also baptised in Norton, Yorkshire, on 14 Aug 1818, was Elizabeth's brother. Thomas Garbutt married Ann English, also at Hull Holy Trinity, later that same year on 29 Aug 1850.

John and Elizabeth had four children:

1. Sarah Elizabeth Welburn b. 1851 M Quarter in KINGSTON UPON HULL Volume 22 Page 492
2. William Garbutt Welburn b. 1853 S Quarter in KINGSTON UPON HULL Volume 09D Page 171
3. John Welburn b. 1856 D Quarter in HULL Volume 09D Page 200
4. Eliza Welburn b. 1859 J Quarter in HULL Volume 09D Page 187

Elizabeth Welburn (40) died in 1861 M Quarter in HULL Vol 09D Page 137.

John Welburn, widower, son of William Welburn, claiming to be 31, then remarried, Mary Ann Jackson (30), also at Holy Trinity Hull, on 13 Oct 1862. Mary Ann's father is listed as John Jackson. As yet, I haven't located a baptism for her.

John and Mary Ann added another four children:

5. Mary Welburn b. 1864 D Quarter in HULL Volume 09D Page 191, bap. 3 Oct 1864, at West Street Chapel (West Street Primitive Methodist Chapel, The first Primitive Methodist Chapel in Hull). The baptism record gives the family's abode as Regent Street, Holy Trinity and John's occupation as Horn Shaver.
6. Alfred Welburn b. 1867 M Quarter in HULL Volume 09D Page 217
7. Maria Welburn b. 1867 M Quarter in HULL Volume 09D Page 218
8. Alice Welburn b. 1869 J Quarter in HULL Volume 09D Page 179

Clearly, Alfred and Maria, born in the same quarter, were twins. Unusually for twins at this time, both not only survive infancy, they reach adulthood and both marry.

John and Mary Ann and their family were living in Holy Trinity, Hull, in 1871.

In 1881, John Welburn (59) from Scarbro, Yorkshire, Horn Shaving Maker - if I had to guess, I'd imagine this occupation was related to a horner, a person who made items made out of horn such as knife handles, combs, etc. - was living at 76, Chiltern Street, Newington, Hull. With him were wife Mary Ann (48) from Grimsby, Lincolnshire, Formerly Laundress; Alfred Welburn (14) Errand Boy; Maria Welburn (14) Domestic Servant Unemployed; Alice Welburn (12) Scholar and Emily Welburn (0) Granddaughter - Emily Welburn b. 1880 D Quarter in SCULCOATES Volume 09 D Page 179, registration has no mother's maiden name listed, i.e. an illegitimate birth. Her baptism, on 4 Oct 1880, at the church of St Paul, Sculcoates, confirms this and lists her mother as Eliza Welburn, Singlewoman. (Eliza Welburn (22) at that time, was out working as a Domestic Servant to Sarah A Robinson (24) Late Dressmaker from the City of London at 36, Pease Street, Kingston upon Hull.) Eliza's child being in this household definitively links both these families.

From the description of 'Formerly Laundress' in 1881, it might be reasonable to assume that Mary Ann Welburn had become unable to work. And this may be so, as she died, aged 52, in 1885 D Quarter in SCULCOATES Volume 09D Page 89.

So far, I've been unable to find a record of the death of this John Welburn.

(There is a record of death of a John Welburn, aged 69, in 1889 D Quarter in HULL Volume 09D Page 210. The burial record for this man, with age rounded to 70 and his occupation listed as Sailor, says he died from Bronchitis on 15 Dec 1889 and was buried on 18 Dec 1889 in Hull Central Cemetery. At that time the gentleman concerned was resident at Hull Workhouse. It is easy to see why, with no other record of a death of a John Welburn around the relevant date, that this had been accepted. However, the burial record also lists an informant, James Welburn. I've found no James Welburn in this family. I have, however, found a record of John Welburn in the 1881 census in Hull, at that time a Dock Labourer, who was born in Barton, Lincolnshire in 1820. And separately, a record for a James Welburn in 1881, who was also born in Barton, Lincolnshire in 1825 (this James died in 1902). Although I cannot find their baptism records, it wouldn't be difficult to accept that these two are connected. It seems, therefore, far more reasonable to believe that the 1889 death is related to this other John Welburn from Lincolnshire.)

Charles Stocks and Ann Paddison

Wellsted Street, Kingston upon Hull
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Bernard Sharp - geograph.org.uk/p/3888832

Charles Stocks (b. 1856 in Stettin, Germany), son of Frederick and Ann Stock and elder brother of William Henry Stocks, married Annie Paddison (b. 9 Nov 1855, bap. 6 Aug 1856 in Louth, Lincolnshire), daughter of John Paddison and Esther Ann Borrell, at the now lost Church of St. John the Evangelist, Hull, on 4 Feb 1879. Witnesses to the marriage were a James Rutton and Elizabeth Ruthern. Both the bride and the groom gave their residence as 14 Vincent Street, Hull and both the bridegroom and his father, Frederick Stock's occupation was listed as Mariner.

Charles and Annie had at least three children (maybe 5, see 1901):

1. Herbert Archibald Stocks b. 1882 J Quarter in HULL Volume 09D Page 242 (I can find no further records, nor a death for Herbert Archibald).
2. Jessie Stocks b. 16 May 1888 in HULL Volume 09D Page 283, bap. 6 Jun 1888 at St. Thomas's Church, Hull (Another lost church: The church was damaged in a Zeppelin raid in the First World War and more severely by bombing in the Second World War and subsequently demolished.)
3. Annie Maria Stocks b. 16 Sep 1893 in HULL Volume 09D Page 256, bap. 29 Oct 1893 at St. Barnabas's Church, Hull. (Closed in 1970 and demolished.)

The mother's maiden name for all three children is listed as Paddison.

In 1881, Annie Stock (sic) (25) Servant, Married was living with her mother-in-law, Annie Stock, at 4, Emma's Place, Kingston upon Hull. Neither of their husbands were in the household, from which we can presume they were at sea.

In 1891, Annie Stocks, age listed as 30, was living, seemingly alone, in Walcott Street, Hull. Jesse Stocks (2) was living with her grandfather, John Paddison. 

The only census I've found with the whole family is in 1901, living at 7 Wellsted Street, Myrtle Avenue, Hull, with Charles Stocks (43) Donkey Engine Driver (Steam donkey), claiming his birthplace was Hull, Yorkshire (he was born in Stettin, Rabnor, Germany - now Szczecin, Poland); Annie Stocks (40), Jessie Stocks (12), Annie Stocks (7), Joseph Paddison (23) Bar Man; Edward Paddison (19) Labourer H & B Railway Co (Hull and Barnsley Railway); John Paddison (39) Labourer Paving and William Paddison (36) Labourer Electric Light. John Paddison (39) and William Paddison (36), listed as boarders, are Ann's younger half brothers. Joseph Paddison (23), too was purported to be her half-brother, but was here listed as a son of the head of the household. His birth, in 1877 S Quarter in SPILSBY Volume 07A Page 573, with MAPLETHORPE as his mother's maiden name (Ann's stepmother), but I wonder if this was to pass off Ann's illegitimate child to be brought up by his grandfather. Edward Paddison (19) was also listed as the son of the head of the household. His birth was registered as Edward Paddison in 1883 J Quarter in SPILSBY Volume 07A Page 618, with the mother's maiden name listed as STOCKS. That doesn't make sense at all. Charles and Ann were married, so if the surnames had been transposed on the registration, why was he not using Stocks?

In 1911, Annie Stocks (56) was living at 46 Wellsted St, Hull, with her occupation listed as Grocer. She is listed as Married and as the Wife of the head of the household, but Charles is not listed, with daughter, Annie Maria Stocks (17). 

Charles Stocks died, aged 57, in 1914 M Quarter in HULL Volume 09D Page 389 and was buried at Holy Trinity Church, presumably at Holy Trinity Burial Ground. 

In 1921, Annie Stocks (66) Widow, Servant, was employed in the household of Thomas Henry Hindley (62) at 13, Endsleigh Villas, Wellsted Street, Hull.

Annie Stocks died, in 1924 M Qtr in SCULCOATES Vol 09D Page 346.