Charles was the third and last child of Thomas Alexander and Anne Bond, his second wife. He was born sometime during the middle of 1783 and was baptised at St. Mary’s Church in Shenfield on Sunday 14th September of that year. (P/c of baptism register)
Although the entry in the parish register of baptisms contains no further information, Thomas had been resident in Shenfield since the time of his first marriage in 1766. The Land Tax assessments show that Thomas occupied land owned by James Kingsman from at least 1781 and this continued for several years up until the time of Thomas’ death in 1803. (P/c of Land Tax Assessments)
An Indenture dated 18th December 1787 recorded Thomas, a yeoman of Shenfield, taking out a lease for twenty-one years from Ann Kinsman at an annual rent of £55. As this Indenture is dated 1787, and Thomas was occupying land which was assessed at the same value between 1781 and 1803, it would seem to imply that Thomas may have taken out an earlier lease on the same land. The only problem with this interpretation is that the Indenture states that the land was formerly in the occupation of William Hayward. (Note: there is no William Hayward listed in the Land Tax assessments for either 1781 or 1782). (P/c of Indenture)
If we assume that Thomas continued to live on the same piece of land, then it would confirm that Charles was born at a farm called Glanthams (aka Gladthams), just opposite the road leading to Shenfield church. This area has been totally redeveloped and the farmland now lies under a housing estate, but is still bounded on the east and south by the original Priests Lane. (P/c of 1831 Map of Glanthams)
There are records that have survived from the time of Charles’ early years. The first time that he appears is in the will of his father Thomas, which was written on 12th December 1802, three months before he died. In the will he stated that “…To my Sons Edward Alexander and Charles Alexander I give and bequeath one hundred Pounds apiece of like lawful Money to be also paid out of my personal Estate…” (P/c of Will of Thomas Alexander)
Nothing more is heard about Charles until he decided to marry. On 30th April 1816 he went before the local Surrogate and entered into a bond which states that “Charles Alexander of the Parish of Shenfield in the County of Essex Yeoman and John Doe are held and firmly bound…in one hundred pounds of lawful money of Great Britain.” The bond continues “…that the above bounden Charles Alexander a bachelor and Martha Cross of the Parish of Mountnessing in the said County a spinster may lawfully solemnize Marriage…” Charles then signed and sealed it. (P/c of Marriage Bond)
Next the Surrogate wrote out a Marriage Allegation, which states that “On the thirtieth Day of April 1816 Appeared personally Charles Alexander and made Oath, that he is of the Parish of Shenfield in the County of Essex aged upwards of thirty Years bachelor and intendeth to marry with Martha Cross of the Parish of Mountnessing in the said County aged upwards of twenty-two Years a spinster…and prayed a Licence to solemnize the same in the Parish Church of Mountnessing aforesaid, in which said Parish the said Martha Cross has had her usual Place of Abode, for the Space of four Weeks last past.” Charles then signed it. (P/c of Marriage Allegation)
It is very rare that the actual Marriage Licence, or a copy of which, survives, but in this case it has. Charles then went before the Registar (sic) and a Licence was issued, stating that “…Charles Alexander of the Parish of Shenfield in the County of Essex a bachelor and Martha Cross of the Parish of Mountnessing in the County aforesaid spinster…That this Marriage may be Publicly and lawfully Solemnized in the Parish Church of Mountnessing aforesaid…given under the Seal which we use in this behalf this Thirtieth Day of April in the Year of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and sixteen.” (P/c of Marriage Licence)
The marriage took place two days later on Thursday 2nd May 1816 at the Church of St. Giles at Mountnessing. Charles and Martha both signed their names and the witnesses were John Cross, Martha’s older brother, and Lucy Turner. (P/c of marriage register)
Up until this point, all the documents confirm that Charles still lived in Shenfield. The Alexander and Cross families had known each other for some time, as all three children of Thomas and Anne married members of the Cross family. First to marry was Charles’ older brother Edward, who had married Mary Cross on 29th May 1806 in London, and then, a few months later, Charles’ older sister Anne had married Edward Cross on 12th August 1806 at Shenfield. (Edward and Mary were Martha’s cousins). (P/c of marriage registers)
Marriage by Licence was usually used by those who were better off and did not want to advertise their family concerns by having banns of marriage published, or by those who needed to arrange a speedy date. The Alexanders had frequently married by licence, although in the case of Charles and Martha, the second reason may have also played its part. Within a couple of months of the marriage, their first child was born, and Betsey was baptised at St. Giles in Mountnessing on 21st July 1816. Charles was described as a farmer of Shenfield, but the parish name was crossed through and Mountnessing inserted. (P/c of baptism register)
In early 1817, Charles was selected through a ballot to enlist in the Essex Militia as the ‘principal’ for the parish of Shenfield. Some men went on to be voluntarily enrolled, however, they were also entitled to nominate a substitute to stand in for them, and this is what Charles did. He made a payment to a twenty year-old labourer named John Eve who enrolled on 8th March 1817. (P/c of Militia ‘Return of Inrolment’ dated 25th March 1817 for the Subdivision of Brentwood)
Interestingly, Charles was described as a farmer of Shenfield.
On the 28th May 1817 at a Special Court Baron held for the Manor of Thoby and Thoby Fee in Ginge Mountney and Ginge Margaret, Martha, the daughter of William Cross (recently deceased) came to the Court to pray for admittance as a tenant to the Manor for “…all that piece or parcel of Land formerly parcel of the waste soil of this Manor containing in length fourteen Rods and in breadth four Rods or thereabouts near adjoining to the Messuage then of the said William Cross in Mountnessing aforesaid and abutting upon the Kings Highway leading from Ingatestone to Brentwood with all the Ways Waters Rights and Appurtenances thereto belonging (Upon which said piece or parcel of ground the said William Cross in his life time erected and built a Messuage or Tenement and six several Tenements or Cottages…). (P/c of Court Rolls)
Martha brought with her the will of her late father which stated “And next I will and bequeath to my daughter Martha Cross all them Copyhold Tenements and Premises now in the occupation of John Wicks my son William Cross, William Clark, Widow Cross, and Bentley Widow Eve and Joshua Hilliard with all the Yards Gardens and Appurtenances thereto belonging she my said Daughter Martha Cross passing to my beloved Wife the sum of Ten pounds annually so long as she shall remain my widow and that my said Daughter Martha Cross shall give to my Son William Cross to [……..] any fruit Trees at the back of the said Copyhold Tenement as it is now occupied by me”. Martha was admitted tenant and paid a ‘Fine’ to the Lord of the Manor of £21. (P/c of Will)
From the accounts kept by the church Vestry, it shows that between 1819 and 1834 Charles paid small amounts for the “Church Rate for defraying the expenses of Repairing the Parish Church of Mountnessing in the County of Essex, and other incidents incurred by the Churchwardens of the said Parish at the rate of one shilling in the Pound. (This varied from year to year). Although the rate varied from one shilling down to three pence, it seems to equate to a consistent value of his property, namely his cottages, of around £4 per annum. (Abstract of details from Accounts Books)
Charles’ family grew steadily over the next few years, with the birth of another seven children between 1816 and 1829. Charles was described as a farmer for the first few years, but by 1826 he was recorded as a labourer, and then in 1829 as a yeoman. (See below for more details of the children). (P/c of baptism register)
Charles appears in the Church records levied in Mountnessing for “a church rate for defraying the expenses of Repairing the Parish Church of Mountnessing in the County of Essex and other incidents incurred by the Churchwardens of the said Parish.” Between 1817 and 1834, Charles paid sums ranging from one shilling up to three shillings and nine pence in the Pound. (abstract from parish records):
Although no other record has been found to substantiate it, there is a mention of an Indenture dated 24th January 1824 which is a Release of property in Mountnessing, the contract being between Edward Alexander, yeoman, Charles Alexander of Shenfield, yeoman, Samuel Spackman, wheelwright, Joseph Agnes, miller. This document allegedly appeared on eBay. (Internet research)
The next time records are found which refer to Charles are taken from the Electoral Registers, covering the periods 1832-35 and 1845-49. These show Charles entitled to vote due to his ownership of copyhold cottages in Mountnessing, occupied by himself, Clark and others. (Abstract made from Electoral Registers)
During 1838, a map was prepared of Mountnessing as part of the commutation of tithes, where up until then, each year owners of property had to make payments to the church. The map shows each individual building in the parish and the award that accompanies it lists the owner, occupier, description of the property together with its area. Charles is shown as owning two properties, a cottage and garden rented out and occupied by George Bloomfield and others, while he also owned and occupied another cottage together with the Fox Beerhouse. This is the earliest date found for ‘The Fox’. (P/c of Tithe Map and Award)
On 6th June 1841 a census was carried out and this shows that Charles was recorded as aged 55, living at the Fox Beer House in Mountnessing trading as a beer seller, with his wife Martha, and children Caroline, George, Susan and Robert. (Copy of census)
As there are no annual registers of licensed victuallers' and alehousekeepers' recognizances after 1828, it has not been possible to more accurately determine when the Fox started trading. On 31 October 1844 Charles’ daughter Betsey was married, and in the marriage entry it stated that Charles was an alehouse keeper. Similarly when Charles Jun. married in 1846, his father was described as a victualler. Although not named as such, the trade directories for 1845, 1846 and 1848 list Charles Alexander as a beer retailer. (P/c of marriage registers and trade directories)
At a General Court Baron dated 23rd September 1847, Charles and Martha presented themselves and agreed to the conditional surrender to Richard Lewis of Ingatestone, surgeon, of “All that Messuage or Tenement now a beerhouse and known as the Fox…together with six Tenements or Cottages next to or near adjoining the same premises…” in consideration of the sum of thirty five pounds… “upon condition nevertheless that if the said Charles Alexander and Martha his Wife or either of them then or either of their heirs Executors Administrators should pay to the said Richard Lewis…the sum of Thirty Five pounds sterling with interest for the same at the rate of Five pounds per centum per annum on the twelfth day of June then next ensuing then the said Surrender should be void.” (P/c of Court Rolls)
On 12th December 1847, Charles’ wife Martha died. (Death certificate)
On 14th March 1848 Charles’ daughter Frances died. Charles was the informant and registered her death. (Death certificate)
At the next General Court Baron held on 27th April 1848 it was presented that “on the eleventh day of December One thousand eight hundred and forty seven Charles Alexander of Mountnessing in the County of Essex and Martha his Wife…Did out of Court Surrender…All that Messuage…to the use of such person or persons for such Estate or Estates intents and purposes as she the said Martha Alexander notwithstanding her coverture by her last Will and testament in Writing shall give devise direct appoint the same.”
At the same Court, the first proclamation was made for any heir or person entitled to the property to come into Court, “but no one comes.” (P/c of Court Rolls)
On 19th April 1849, at a General Court Baron, John Jarvis of Buttsbury, bricklayer, presented an Indenture of Bargain and Sale dated 10th April 1849 made between Charles Alexander and John Jarvis for all that Messuage etc for the sum of one hundred and fifteen pounds.
At the same Court Richard Lewis “did acknowledge to have received All principal and interest monies due and owing to him upon or by virtue of a certain Conditional Surrender bearing date the twelfth day of December One thousand eight hundred and forty five made by Charles Alexander of Mountnessing in the said County of Essex Retailer of Beer and Martha his Wife…”
The 1851 census which was carried out on 30th March, recorded Charles as a widower aged 68 living in ‘Mountnessing village’. He was described as an agricultural labourer. With him, were his sons George and Robert and daughters Caroline and Susan. (Copy of census)
On 20th March 1857 Charles died in Mountnessing aged 74, the cause of death was given as natural decay. His daughter Caroline was the informant and gave her father’s occupation as husbandman. She registered his death on 26th March. (Death certificate)
Charles was buried on 29th March 1857 at St. Giles Church in Mountnessing and his age was recorded as 74. There is no grave memorial in the churchyard. (P/c of burial register)
WIFE
MARTHA CROSS (1786 - 1847)
Martha was the fifth of seven children, born to William, a bricklayer, and his wife Susannah neé Finch. She was born during 1786 and was baptised at St. Giles, Mountnessing on 30th December of that year. (P/c of entry in baptism register)
On 28th February 1817 her father William died and in his will, he stated “And next I will and bequeath to my daughter Martha Cross all them Copyhold Tenements and Premises now in the occupation of John Wicks my son William Cross, William Clark, Widow Cross, and Bentley Widow Eve and Joshua Hilliard with all the Yards Gardens and Appurtenances thereto belonging she my said Daughter Martha Cross passing to my beloved Wife the sum of Ten pounds annually so long as she shall remain my widow and that my said Daughter Martha Cross shall give to my Son William Cross to [……..] any fruit Trees at the back of the said Copyhold Tenement as it is now occupied by me”. (P/c of Will)
On 6th June 1841, a census was carried out which shows that Martha was aged 50 and lived at the Fox Beerhouse in Mountnessing, along with her husband Charles, and children Caroline, George, Susan and Robert. (Copy of census)
Martha died on 12th December 1847 aged 62, the cause of death was recorded as unknown and was not certified. The informant was Charlotte Clark, who lived nearby and she registered the death on 17th December. (Death Certificate)
Martha was buried on 19th December 1847 in the churchyard of St. Giles, Mountnessing, aged 62. There is no grave memorial in the churchyard. (P/c of entry in burial register)
CHILDREN
1. BETSEY ALEXANDER (1816 - 1865)
Betsey was the oldest of the eight children of Charles and Martha, and her story is rather sad. She was born in the summer of 1816, and was baptised at St. Giles’ Church, Mountnessing on 21st July. The curate who recorded the baptism mistakenly wrote down that the abode of the family was Shenfield, but this was then crossed out, and Mountnessing inserted. (P/c of baptism register)
In the 1841 census dated 6th June, Betsy was shown as working as a servant aged 20 in the household of Richard Mumford, a builder, in Billericay. (Copy of census)
On 14th October 1844 a marriage licence was obtained by George Silversides of Billericay for his forthcoming marriage to Betsey. Only the Allegation seems to have survived, and it stated that George was aged upwards of twenty-one and a bachelor, whilst Betsey was also recorded as being aged twenty-one years and upwards and was a spinster. The marriage was due to take place at Mountnessing. (P/c of marriage allegation)
George and Betsey were married at St. Giles in Mountnessing on 31st October 1844. George was described as being of full age, an innkeeper living in Billericay. Betsey was also of full age and living with her father in Mountnessing. Both parties signed their names, and the witnesses included Betsey’s sister Caroline, and two members of the Silversides family. (P/c of entry in marriage register)
George Silversides was the son of William and Ann and was baptised on 4th June 1816 at All Saints Church in Barling. (P/c of entry in baptism register)
(William had been born in Aldborough in Yorkshire in 1781 and when he married Ann Watson at Hadleigh in 1805 he was described as William Silversides Esquire. William was a farmer and the land tax assessments show the Silversides family occupying land in Hadleigh between 1784 and 1803, and also in Barling between 1808 and 1832.) (Abstract of Land Tax Assessments)
In the Post Office trade directories of 1845 and 1846 George is shown as being the innkeeper of the Sun Commercial Inn in Billericay. (P/c of trade directory)
On 5th September 1846 their first child, George William, was born at the Lying-in Hospital in City Road, in the St. Luke’s district of London. George Senior was described as a waiter and the birth was registered on 15th September. (Birth Certificate)
On 7th December 1850 their second child was born, Ann Watson – named after her grandmother – at 102 Cornwall Road, Lambeth. George was employed as a turncock and the birth was registered on 6th January 1851. (Birth Certificate)
On 24th February 1851 Ann died from bronchitis at 102 Cornwall Road aged just eleven weeks. George was still described as a turncock and he registered the death on 27th February. (Death Certificate)
By the time of the 1851 census undertaken on the night of 30th March, Betsey and George were living at 102 Cornwall Road, Lambeth. George was aged 34 and employed as a turncock, while Betsey was also aged 34. With them was their son George, who was four years old. (Copy of census)
The first indication that the family had fallen on hard times came on 14th September 1852, when Betsey and ‘a child’ (George Junior) were admitted to the Lambeth Workhouse in Renfrew Road. On the next day George was sent to another workhouse at Norwood, and on the same date Betsey gave birth to a daughter. (P/c of Workhouse Admissions Register)
On 15th September 1852 their third child was born in the Lambeth Workhouse in Prince’s Road. She was registered as Caroline Susan Silvester (although this was later amended to Silversides on 19th October in the presence of George and Betsey, after her two aunts. George’s occupation was recorded as an ostler and Betsey registered the birth on 30th September. (Birth Certificate)
On 17th September 1852, George Senior was also admitted and the three of them remained there until they were discharged on 20th October.
Caroline was baptised at St. Mary’s Church, Lambeth on 17th October 1852. The family’s address was written down as the Workhouse and George’s occupation was stated as an ostler. (P/c of entry in baptism register)
Their son George returned from Norwood, but the family was once again admitted to the workhouse on 14th May 1853. George Senior was discharged three days later, but re-admitted on 20th May. On 27th May, Betsey and the two children were discharged, but were re-admitted the following day. On 1st June George Junior was once again sent to Norwood. Finally on 17th November the family were discharged. (P/c of Workhouse Admissions Register)
On 27th June 1854 George Senior was again admitted, subsequently to be discharged on 15th July. Two years later, George was re-admitted on 16th August 1856 and it wasn’t until 21st February 1857 that he was discharged, only to be re-admitted on 28th of the same month. (P/c of Workhouse Admissions Register)
On 17th April 1857 an Order of Removal was issued by Lambeth Workhouse for George to be returned to the parish of Barling. It stated that “he is about 41 years old and hath never done any act to gain a parochial settlement in his own right that he is the lawful son of William Silversides deceased who held under a yearly living of Lady Sparrow at a yearly rent much exceeding ten pounds a tenement of the annual value of ten pounds and upwards consisting of a farm house and about 300 acres of land called Mucking Hall Farm situated in your said Parish of Barling that the said William Silversides so held rented occupied inhabited and resided in and paid all the said rent for the said tenement during a period of twenty years together and until about 22 years ago and that he was rated to charges with and paid the [……] rates and other public taxes and levies of your said Parish of Barling in respect of the said tenement during his said occupation thereof and that after payment thereof he resided and inhabited in the said tenement in your said Parish for more than forty days and nights and lastly that his son the said George Silversides was born in the said tenement in your said Parish of Barling.”
The other part of the Removal Order stated that “…We, the said Justices, upon due proof of the aforesaid circumstances, as well by examination of Witnesses taken upon oath before us, as otherwise, the same be true, and do also adjudge that the said Parish of Barling in the County of Essex aforesaid is the place of the last legal settlement of the said George Silversides and as we are satisfied that the sickness of the said George Silversides will produce permanent disability …”
George arrived at Rochford Workhouse on 4th July 1857. (P/c of Removal Order)
George died on 23rd October 1859 of Phthisis (tuberculosis) at Rochford Union House, he was 52 years old and described as a railway porter. The informant was William Early, who in the 1861 census was described as the porter and tailor at the Union, and he registered the death on 24th October. (Death Certificate)
George was buried in the churchyard of All Saints in Barling on 26th October 1859. His place of abode was recorded as the Rochford Union and his age was stated as being 48 years. There is no grave memorial in the churchyard. (P/c of entry in burial register)
On 7th April 1861 the next census shows that Betsey, now a widow, was aged 45 and a servant in the employ of Richard Mumford once more, living in Billericay High Street. Richard Mumford was recorded as an innkeeper and master builder. Not far away was her daughter Caroline, an eight year old scholar living with Elijah and Esther Fincham in Back Street, Great Burstead. Meanwhile, her son George was a pauper inmate at the Rochford Union Workhouse. He was aged 14 and his trade was stated as a farm servant. (Copy of censuses)
Nothing more is known about George Junior, as he disappeared from the records after the 1861 census.
On 18th December 1865 Betsey died in Billericay of heart disease aged 49 years. She was described as the widow of George Silversides, formerly an innkeeper. The informant was Emma Ager who registered the death on 20th December. (Death Certificate)
Betsey was buried in the churchyard of St. Giles in Mountnessing on 24th December 1865. The burial register states that she had been living in Billericay and was aged 49 years. There is no grave memorial in the churchyard. (P/c of entry in burial register)
At some point between the 1861 and 1871 censuses, Caroline returned to Mountnessing. By 2nd April 1871 she was recorded as being 18 years old and living with her two aunts, Caroline and Susan, at the School House where she worked as an assistant school teacher. (Copy of census)
On 30th April 1871, Caroline was re-baptised at St. Giles, Mountnessing. Her parents were stated to be William (sic) and Betsey and that her father was a publican. (P/c of entry in baptism register)
From notes that the vicar of Mountnessing made in one of the parish registers, there is an entry dated 9th December 1873 which states “The School, after enlargement, was reopened. Miss Silversides took the Infants in the new portion at a salary of £20 a year.” In a later note dated 19th November 1877 in which he records the work of the Misses Alexander, he added that “For some time they were assisted by their niece, Miss Silversides for comparatively no salary until 1873, when she received £20 a year.” (P/c of notes taken from parish register)
On 29th April 1877 banns of marriage were first published between Caroline and Edwin William Martin of Bermondsey. (P/c of entry in banns register)
The marriage between Caroline and Edwin took place at St. Giles Mountnessing on 19th May 1877. Both were recorded as being aged 24 and single. Edwin was a lighterman living in St. James’, Bermondsey, the son of Charles Churchill Martin, also a lighterman. Caroline’s occupation was infant school mistress and she was the daughter of William (sic) a publican. Both parties signed their names. The witnesses were Caroline Alexander – her aunt, William Alexander – her second cousin, Louisa Martin (Edwin’s sister) and Charlotte Martin – the widow of her uncle Robert who had then married Charles Martin, Edwin’s younger brother. (P/c of entry in marriage register)
Edwin was born on 12th July 1852 in St. George in the East. He became a lighterman apprentice to his father Charles on 11th June 1867 and became free on 8th December 1874.(P/c of Lighterman Apprenticeship records)
He was baptised on 1st August 1852 at St. Mary in Whitechapel, the son of Charles and Mary Martin who lived in Commercial Road. Charles was a lighterman. (P/c of entry in baptism register)
Shortly after the marriage, Edwin died and his death was recorded in the September Quarter of 1877 in the St. Olave RD, reference 1d/168a. He was aged just 25. (GRO Index)
By 3rd April 1881, at the time of the census and after the death of her husband, Caroline was living at 89 Park Road, in the small village of Little Horton, just outside Bradford. She was aged 27 and worked as a housekeeper for Charles Lawson who was a commission agent. As Charles was a widower and had three children under the age of ten, Caroline may also have been employed as a governess. (Copy of census)
Caroline married for the second time, to Edward Wilson in the Rotherham RD and the marriage was registered in the June Quarter 1884, reference Rotherham 9c/767. (GRO Index)
Edward had been born on 6th May 1821 in Gateshead, County Durham. (IGI Births and Baptisms)
After their marriage, according to the 1891 census dated 5th April, Edward and Caroline lived at 9 Greaves Road, Kimberworth which is just to the north of Rotherham. Edward was aged 69 and ‘living on his own means’, whilst Caroline was aged 38. (Copy of census)
Edward died during 1891 and his death was registered in the September Quarter of that year. His age was stated to be 70, reference 9c/351. (GRO Index)
I have been unable to find Caroline in the 1901 census, although she was contacted by her aunt Susan as she returned to Mountnessing and was present at the death of her aunt Caroline on 1st April 1902. As the informant, she had to give the Registrar her address and it was recorded as the School House, Mountnessing. (Death Certificate)
Whether Caroline continued to live in Mountnessing is not known, but she was again the informant when her aunt Susan died on 11th May 1904. (Death Certificate)
At the time of writing, Caroline’s whereabouts in the 1911 census is not known. According to the records on FreeBMD, there is a record of the death of a Caroline S. Wilson aged 69 in the December Quarter of 1922 in the Woolwich Rd. (Reference 1d/1165) These details appear to fit quite well with those of Caroline who had been born in September 1852. (GRO Index)
2. CHARLES ALEXANDER (1817 - 1880)
Rather less is known about Charles, as unlike most of the Alexanders, he left the rural part of Essex and eventually settled in West Ham.
Charles was probably born in late 1817 and was baptised at the Church of St. Giles in Mountnessing on 2nd November 1817. (P/c of baptism register)
I have been unable to locate Charles in the 1841 census. He does have two relatives with the same name who were born in 1807 and 1810, and with the inaccuracies of the 1841 census, it could have been difficult to identify them, however, both the others are still living with their parents. This Charles was not living at home, and was not yet married, so for the time being he remains missing.
The first time we pick Charles up is at the time of his marriage on 26th December 1846 when he married Sarah Ann King at Poplar. (The church was either St. Mary Stratford at Bow, or St. Mary in Bromley High Street. Unfortunately I’ve misplaced the details). He was ‘of full age’ and worked as a bricklayer. Sarah was also ‘of full age’. Both gave their address as Poplar and signed their own names. (P/c of marriage register)
Sarah died soon after the marriage and her death was registered in the March Quarter 1848 in the West Ham RD. (Reference 12/256) (GRO Index)
At the time of the 1851 census, conducted on 30th March, Charles was a lodger at 3 William Street, in West Ham. He was aged 33 and worked as a bricklayer. (He was recorded as unmarried, rather than as a widower.) (Copy of census)
On 5th June 1853 Charles married for a second time at St. Andrew’s Church, Holborn, to Ann Grout. Charles was recorded as a widower of full age, a bricklayer living at Green Street. Ann was a spinster of full age, and she gave the same address. Her father was Levi Grout who was a licensed victualler. Both signed their own names. (P/c of marriage register)
Ann was baptised on 11th August 1822 at Chigwell St. Mary, the daughter of Levi and Susan and the family were living on George Hill. (P/c of baptism register)
Charles and Ann became parents in 1854, when their son Charles Walter was born. His birth was registered in the September Quarter, in the West Ham RD, reference 4a/1. (GRO Index)
By 7th April 1861, the census shows Charles living at Maryland Road in West Ham, aged 42 and still employed as a bricklayer. His wife Ann was aged 41 and the census shows that she was born in Chigwell. Their son, Charles, was aged 6 and had been born in Shalford. (Copy of census)
On 2nd April 1871, the census shows that Charles, aged 52 a bricklayer, and Ann, aged 50, were living at 17 Maryland Road, West Ham. Their son Charles, was not living with them, however, he was recorded as staying with his grandfather, Levi, at the Bald Hind Inn in Chigwell. He was aged 16. (Copies of censuses)
Charles died in 1880 and his death was registered in the September Quarter of that year. His age was recorded as 63 and the reference is West Ham 4a/19. (GRO Index)
The precise date of Charles’ death is unknown, and neither is his place of burial.
On 3rd April 1881, Ann was living with her brother-in-law and his family at 38 Buxton Road, West Ham. She was aged 60 and described as a widow. Meanwhile, her son Charles was still living in Chigwell at the Bald Hind Inn with his grandfather. He was aged 25 and recorded as an assistant licensed victualler. (Copies of censuses)
The 1891 census dated 5th April, shows that Ann was still living at 38 Buxton Road. She was aged 70, but now, Charles had moved back to live with her. He was aged 36 and his profession was shown as engineer. (Copy of census)
Ann(e) died in 1893 and her death was registered in the December Quarter of that year, aged 73, in the West Ham RD, reference 4a/10. (GRO Index)
The precise date of Ann’s death is unknown, and neither is her place of burial.
In the June Quarter of 1898, Charles married Alice (Louisa) Brooks in the West Ham RD, reference 4a/541. No further information about Alice is known yet, except that her death was registered in the June Quarter of 1899 aged 45, in the West Ham RD, reference 4a/89. (GRO Indexes)
So far it has not been possible to find Charles in the 1901 census, however, in the September Quarter of 1902 he remarried and from information gained from the 1911 census index, it would appear that he married Agnes Hancock in the West Ham RD, reference 4a/564. (GRO Index)
The 1911 census, held on 2nd April shows that Charles was aged 56 and he and Agnes were still living in West Ham. (1911 census index)
3. FRANCES ALEXANDER (1820 - 1848)
Frances was probably born in late 1819 and was baptised at the Church of St. Giles in Mountnessing on 6th February 1820. (P/c of baptism register)
The 1841 census, dated 6th June shows Frances living with Sarah, her maiden step-aunt on the high road leading though Mountnessing. Her age was recorded as 18. (Copy of census)
Frances died on 14th March 1848 aged 28 and was described as a servant, her father Charles was the informant and he registered her death on 16th March. The cause of death was consumption. (Death certificate)
Frances was buried in the churchyard of St. Giles in Mountnessing on 23rd March 1848. There is no grave memorial in the churchyard. (P/c of burial register)
4. CAROLINE ALEXANDER (1822 - 1902)
Caroline (written as Charoline in the baptism register) was baptised at St. Giles in Mountnessing on 31st March 1822. In her youth she may well have been educated by ‘Mrs. Alexander’ – this may refer to her step-aunt Sarah who was a schoolmistress in the village between 1824 and 1843. (P/c of baptism register)
Caroline appears to have spent her entire life in Mountnessing. She next appears in the records at the time of the 1841 census carried out on the night of 6th June. Caroline was recorded as being 15 years old and living with her parents at the Fox Beerhouse, along with her brothers George and Robert and her sister Susan. (Copy of census)
The trade directories of the time give an indication of the way in which children were educated in Mountnessing at this time. White’s Directory of 1848 states: “In 1787, John and Amy English, agreeable to the intentions of Richard Bailey (father of the latter) bequeathed, for the support of a Free School for the poor children of this parish, a farm of 17a 3r 16p called Pinchion’s, and now let for £30 a year. H. P. Blencowe, J. Agnis, and others are the trustees, and after paying for repairs etc., they pay the surplus to two schoolmistresses, for teaching poor children, at the rate of 1d per week, per head.” (P/c of trade directory)
There is an Account book belonging to John and Amy English’s Charity Mountnessing School covering the period 1802-1846. This shows that an Ann Cross was being paid for teaching the children of the poor from as early as 1802 up until 1824. As there were several Ann Crosses in Mountnessing around this time, I am uncertain who she was, but there is a possibility that she was formerly Ann Alexander who married Edward Cross. From 1824, the work was continued by ‘Mrs. Alexander’, at the moment I believe this to be Sarah Alexander, a step-aunt to Caroline and Susan.
A trustees’ meeting was convened on 14th September 1843 “for the purpose of taking into consideration the expediency of adopting the national School house and School-Mistress and at present established – in order to educate the children of the poor of Mountnessing. Resolved – that the Trustees do become the proprietors of the said School, and occupiers of the School Room from and after Michaelmas day next and that it shall be opened from that time for the children of the Parish the Trustees, discontinuing Mrs. Alexander’s and Mrs. Ribball’s Schools – Mrs. Bentley’s School being continued for the present for the convenience of the children – of her part of the Parish.” (P/c of entry in Account Book)
Certain other documents have also survived and are available for research, for example, an undated survey of parishioners from, as the catalogue states, the early 19th century. This document includes the number of children of those families included in the survey, whether they were sent to school and if so the name of the school. Although it is only a partial survey of the parish, there is one relevant entry. It states that E. Maning of Chapple row was married, could read, had both a bible and a prayer book, attended the church and had nine children. One of the children was sent to the ‘Elexanders’ school. By attempting to work out the likely ages of the children listed, it would appear that this document is dated c1846 and may be the earliest indication that Caroline and Susan were involved in the education of local children. (P/c of survey)
Another document which has survived, is another Accounts book for John and Amy English’s Charity School, covering the period 1846-1927. At a meeting of the trustees dated Monday 8th April 1850, the following was agreed to: “Mr. and Mrs. Young having resigned the management of the School and the two Misses Alexander having applied to be appointed in their place, it was moved by Mr. Nicholas and Seconded by Mr. Agnis – that they be so appointed.” (P/c of entry in Account Book)
The Misses Alexander received their first payment of £14 10s on 20th April 1850 and for a short while they were paid the sum of £10 per quarter. Then in 1854, this dropped to £8 15s per quarter as a deduction was made for the rent of their cottage. This dropped still further at the end of 1855 to £6 10s as they were put on to a reduced scale. The records continue up to the end of 1863, and then for the next three years they were paid a combined salary of £26 per year. An entry dated 6th January 1869 states “Resolved that the Misses Alexander for the future receive £28 for attending to the Day School on the understanding that they attend also to the Sunday School.” A further resolution was made on 14th January 1870 which states “Resolved that the resolution passed on the 6 January 1869 relative to the payment of £28 per annum for salary to Misses Alexander be rescinded. And that in future they be paid £26 out of the funds of this charity for salary as heretofore.” (Abstract taken from Account Book)
In the parish register of the time, the vicar wrote some notes about the school in the village, including: “19th November 1877, Mr. Henry Weston entered upon his duties as the first schoolmaster this Parish has ever had. Hitherto the children of this Parish have been educated with great credit to them by the Misses Alexander, the needlework being especially well taught, at the insignificant salary of £26 a year and the children’s pence about £10 extra. For some time they were assisted by their niece, Miss Silversides, for comparatively no salary until 1873, when she received £20 a year. (P/c of Account Book)
There is a log book for the Mountnessing National School at the Essex Record Office which includes the infant department for the period 1887-1913. Unfortunately, as it also contains records dating from as late as 1982, it is closed under the 25-year rule until 2013. (P/c of catalogue entry)
By 30th March 1851 when the next census was taken, Caroline was aged 29 and was working as a school teacher along with her sister Susan, a partnership which endured for their entire working lives. She was living with her widowed father, her sister Susan and her brothers George and Robert. (Copy of census)
In the directory for 1855, Caroline and Susan are named for the first time, as being mistresses at the Charity School for boys and girls. Over the course of the next 35 years, they are continually mentioned or referred to. The 1874 edition adds that the charity school for boys and girls was endowed with £35 a year, and that in 1873 an addition was made to the school for the accommodation of 40 additional children in order to meet the requirements of the Education Act of 1870. By 1882, there was a National School for both boys and girls run by Henry Weston, the master, whilst Caroline and Susan continued to run the mixed National Infants School. The 1890 edition reports that the National School, now administered by Walter Joseph Reed was large enough for 100 children, although the average attendance was 40. The National Infants School where Caroline and Susan were still listed as the school mistresses, could accommodate 140 children after the enlargement of 1873, although the average attendance was only 53. (Trade directories dated: 1859, 1862, 1863, 1870, 1874, 1878, 1882, 1890) (P/c copies of trade directories)
The date of the next census was 7th April 1861, and showed Caroline aged 39 as an unmarried school mistress living at the National School house (additionally described as a Charity Property of Mountnessing). Her sister Susan and brother George also lived at the same place.(Copy of census)
The 1871 census was conducted on 2nd April and Caroline was still living at the School House with her sister Susan and their niece Caroline Susan Silversides. She was aged 49 and described as a school mistress. (Copy of census)
On 3rd April 1881 the census shows Caroline aged 59 and still working as a school mistress along with her sister Susan and living on the High Road in the village – almost certainly this was the school house. (Copy of census)
A page from the parish magazine dated May 1888 states: “The Misses Alexander having tendered their resignation as Mistresses of the Mountnessing Infants’ School on account of ill-health, the Managers have with very great regret accepted their resignation. The Managers being desirous of showing their appreciation of the good work done by the Misses Alexander during the long period of 38 years, and being of opinion that all those who have been taught by the Misses Alexander as well as others, would be only to ready to subscribe to a testimonial, if such an opportunity were afforded them, have affixed their names to this petition, in the hope that all the inhabitants of the Village will join in making the testimonial worthy of its object.” (P/c of petition)
A copy of the List of Subscribers has also survived, and shows that a total of £38 was raised, a footnote reads: “The sum of £38, being one pound for each year the Misses Alexander had served, was presented to them by the Vicar in the Schoolroom in the presence of a large assembly.” (P/c of List of Subscribers)
During 1888, a collection was made for the restoration of Mountnessing Parish Church. At a meeting dated 4th December it was recorded that Caroline and Susan both donated the sum of two shillings each. (Abstract taken from list of subscribers and balance sheet of the Parish Church Restoration Fund)
About the same time, there was another fund set up, that for the upkeep of the Mountnessing Churchyard. The leaflet stated that “All persons who have relatives lying in the churchyard are requested to subscribe to this Fund, in order that the Churchyard may be kept decently and in order. Subscribers of any sum will have the graves of their relatives kept up.” Records show that the Misses Alexander donated one shilling and six pence in 1890 and also between 1893 and 1895. (Abstract of parish records)
By the time of the 1891 census dated 5th April, Caroline was aged 69 and was shown as a retired school mistress, living with her sister Susan in ‘the village’. (Copy of census)
The final appearance of Caroline in the censuses was on 31st March 1901 when she was shown as a retired school mistress aged 79 living with her sister Susan at the ‘School Yard’. (Copy of census)
Caroline died on 1st April1902 in Mountnessing aged 80 and was described as formerly a schoolmistress. The main cause of death was entered as influenza. The informant was her niece, Caroline Susan Wilson who registered the death on 3rd April. (Death certificate)
Caroline was buried on 8th April 1902 at St. Giles Mountnessing and her age was recorded as 80. In the margin of the register, the vicar added the comment that Caroline was previously a school mistress. There is no grave memorial in the churchyard. (P/c of burial register)
5. GEORGE ALEXANDER (c1823/4 - 1865)
No baptism has been found for George, but from the censuses and his death certificate, it appears that George was born c1823-24.
The first document that appears to refer to George is the 1841 census, carried out on 6th June. It shows George aged 15 living at the Fox Beerhouse with his parents, brother Robert and his sisters Caroline and Susan. His occupation was not recorded. (Copy of census)
During 1846 George was indicted with larceny along with James King, both were described as labourers of Mountnessing. They ‘put themselves severally guilty’ and were convicted at the Quarter Sessions held on 24th November 1846 to ten days in solitude in the Gaol at Springfield. (P/c of Process Book of Indictments)
On 30th March the 1851 census shows George was aged 27 and working as an agricultural labourer. He was living with his widowed father, brother Robert and sisters Caroline and Susan. (Copy of census)
In the 1861 census dated 7th April, George is shown as living with his sisters Caroline and Susan at the National School house in Mountnessing. He was aged 37 and described as being on parochial relief. (Copy of census)
George died on 2nd July 1865 aged 42 and the informant who registered his death was his sister Caroline, who described him as a husbandman She registered his death on 3rd July. The cause of death was disease of the heart. (Death certificate)
George was buried on 7th July 1865 at St. Giles Mountnessing and his age was entered in the register as 42. There is no grave memorial in the churchyard. (P/c of burial register)
6. SUSAN ALEXANDER (1826 - 1904)
(As Susan’s life closely followed that of her sister Caroline, references to her life as a school mistress are provided within the section on Caroline).
Susan was baptised at St. Giles in Mountnessing on 11th June 1826. In her youth she may well have been educated by ‘Mrs. Alexander’ – this may refer to her step-aunt Sarah who was a schoolmistress in the village between 1824 and 1843. (P/c of baptism register)
Like her sister Caroline, Susan appears to have spent her entire life in Mountnessing. She next appears in the records at the time of the 1841 census carried out on the night of 6th June. Susan was recorded as being 14 years old and living with her parents at the Fox Beerhouse, along with her brothers George and Robert and her sister Caroline. (Copy of census)
By 30th March 1851 when the next census was taken, Susan was aged 25 and worked as a school teacher. She was living with her widowed father, her sister Caroline and her brothers George and Robert. (Copy of census)
The date of the next census was 7th April 1861, and showed Susan aged 35 as an unmarried school mistress living at the National School house (additionally described as a Charity Property of Mountnessing). Her sister Caroline and brother George also lived at the same place. (Copy of census)
The 1871 census was conducted on 2nd April and Susan was still living at the School House with her sister Caroline and their niece Caroline Susan Silversides. She was aged 45 and described as a school mistress. (Copy of census)
On 3rd April 1881 the census shows Susan aged 55 and still working as a school mistress along with her sister Caroline and living on the High Road in the village – almost certainly this was the school house. (Copy of census)
By the time of the 1891 census dated 5th April, Susan was aged 65 and was shown as a retired school mistress, living with her sister Caroline in ‘the village’. (Copy of census)
The final appearance of Susan in the censuses was on 31st March 1901 when she was shown as a retired school mistress aged 75 living with her sister Caroline at the ‘School Yard’. (Copy of census)
Susan died on 11th May 1904 in Mountnessing aged 78 and was described as formerly a schoolmistress. The cause of death was entered as ‘decay of nature’. The informant was her niece, Caroline Susan Wilson who registered the death on 19th May. (Death certificate)
Susan was buried on 8th May 1904 at St, Giles Mountnessing and her age was recorded as 78. There is no grave memorial in the churchyard. (P/c of burial register)
7. ROBERT ALEXANDER (1826 - before 1829)
Although the baptism register does not record any additional information, Robert was baptised on the same day as his sister Susan, and allowing for the regular arrival of children over the years, it seems plausible that Robert and Susan were twins. Robert was baptised on 11th June 1826 at St. Giles in Mountnessing. Surprisingly, there is no record of his death in the burial registers as there ought to be, as the baptism register makes clear that there was another Robert born on 6th February 1829. There are no other references to this Robert. (P/c of baptism register)
8. ROBERT ALEXANDER (1829 - 1872)
Details provided previously.