#Ashford #Buckland #Chilham #Death #Dover #England #Faversham #France #Kent #Military #WWI
Frederick George ABBOTT was the seventh of nine children born to Henry ABBOTT (1844 – 1908), an Agricultural Labourer, and Sarah ANDREWS (1857 – 1943).
Henry was born in Buckland, part of Dover, Kent, England but seems to have headed towards Faversham by the time of his marriage.
Sarah was born in Elmsted (east of Ashford) and has moved to the Chilham area which is just a few miles north towards Canterbury. They married on Christmas Day 1875. Henry was in his 30s but Sarah only just 18.
Frederick had five sisters – Ellen Mary ABBOTT (1876 – 1921), Emma ABBOTT (1878 – 1943), Ada Lilly ABBOTT (1881 – 1940), Alice Elizabeth ABBOTT (1884 – 1950) and Frances ABBOTT (1888 – 1916). All five married and I know that at least three had offspring and one seems to have moved to Canada.
He also had three brothers – John Henry ABBOTT (1886 – 1916), William Charles ABBOTT (1894 – 1973) and Ernest Walter ABBOTT (1896 – 1917). At least one of them married but not sure if any had children. Most of the family appears to have stayed around Kent.
In the 1881 Census Frederick’s parents and the eldest two girls are living in Old Wives Lees which is a hamlet in the parish of Chilham. They seem to be around the same place (detail given as Chilham Lees) for the 1891 Census but now with 6 children listed.
Frederick’s birth was registered Q4 1891 in East Ashford District. Other information implies it was 23 August but he wasn’t baptised until 08 November 1891.
In the 1901 Census the family are still in Chilham with the youngest 5 children. Location given as Park House next to Woods Hill. Age shown as nine and states born in Chilham.
Sadly, in 1908, Frederick’s father passes away in his early 60s leaving Sarah a widow. In 1911 she is living at Yellow Cabbage Cottage, Luddenham in Faversham with two of her sons. We find Frederick about 3 miles away.
In the census he is described as, aged 20, single and one of two servants working in the house for the THOMAS family of Scotts Farm in Ospringe.
By this time all of the girls have married but sadly Frances died in 1916. In 1917 his brothers John and Ernest are both killed in military action [see their records for more information].
Regarding Frederick’s military career I haven’t found much but it appears he served in 4th Reserves Battalion East Kent [this appears to be The Buffs]. His registration number was 291225. It is possible he remained in the UK up until 1917.
At this time the 3rd King’s African Rifles grew significantly and he is listed as a Sergeant with them in the medal roll. He was awarded the Victory Medal and British War Medal under Army Orders 301 and 266 of 1919.
In Q4 1919 he married Rhoda BEANEY (1889 – 1972) in Faversham District. She was a widow and had previously married, Q4 1910, Frank John BINGHAM (1889 – 1917) who was also killed in action.
It doesn’t appear they had any children of their own but he became a stepfather on marriage to a boy of seven so presumably it was a father / son relationship and then grandfather to two girls.
In 1939 Frederick and Rhoda were living at Owens Court Cottages in Swale. Year of birth given as 1890 but recent research seems to indicate some of these are a year out. He is working as an Agricultural Labourer.
His sister Ada died in 1940, then sister Emma and mother Sarah both passed away in Q1 1943. The final sister Alice passed away in 1950 reducing his living siblings from eight to just one.
Can’t find out much more about his life but imagine it was spent enjoying life with friends and family around the Kent area.
He died 15 February 1966, aged 74, in at Nunnery Fields Hospital in Canterbury. He and Rhoda had been living at St Johns Road in Faversham. She passed away in 1972.
He was a 4C 2R to me.
Footnotes –
Most research undertaken using Ancestry, FreeBMD and Google Maps. Additional resources listed below if utilised.
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