#England #Kent #Military #WWI
Henry1 was the fourth of eight children born to William1 ELLENDER (1835 – 1907), a Labourer, and Harriet REUBEN (1840 –1924).
His father William1 seems to have lived all his life around Folkestone, Kent. He married Maria WEBB (1840 – 1865), also born in Elham District, Q2 1861 at about age 26 for him and 21 for her.
Sadly, she passed away at a young age after giving birth to two sons. William1 then remarried on 01 July 1866 to Harriet REUBEN (1840 – 1924) and went on to have eight more children.
Therefore, Henry has two half-brothers in William2 ELLENDER (1861 – 1951) and George ELLENDER (1863 – 1931) but five full brothers – John ELLENDER (1866 – 1926), James ELLENDER (1876 – 1877), Alfred ELLENDER (1868 – 1911), Charles1 ELLENDER (1878 – 1955) and Albert ELLENDER (1881 – 1944).
Sadly we see that one brother died very young and so did both sisters – Emily Frances ELLENDER (1871 – 1871) and Elizabeth Charlotte ELLENDER (1879 – 1880) which must have been very difficult times for the family.
In the 1861 Census Maria is listed as Unmarried and aged 21. She is living with her family somewhere in Lyminge, Kent. Cannot find an entry for William1 but his parents are listed in Lyminge as well so presumably this is where they met. The census was 07 April 1861 but one of the records re marriage was 31 March 1861.
Not sure they would have wed in secret as appears it was presumably at St Mary & Ethelburga Church in Lyminge so that may have been first date of the banns being read. Their sons came along on 19 October 1861 and Q1 1863. Just over two years later Maria passed away leaving boys of just four and two without a mother.
Unsurprisingly with young children involved his father remarried less than a year later to Harriet. The record found is for 01 July 1866 at Christ Church, Folkestone. She was a few months younger than Maria so 26 when she wed to his 31. She had been born in Saltwood, Kent.
Their first son’s birth was registered Q4 1866 and second in Q3 1868. It is not sure if all the children are being brought up together at this time. It is possible that other relatives had helped out especially in the early days of Maria dying.
In the 1871 Census they are all at 3 Queen Street in Folkestone. Interestingly they are sharing this property it appears with Harriet’s parents and two of her sisters. She is one of nine children so presumably used to being in close quarters.
Perhaps felt that she needed looking after during her pregnancy especially since it appears that their daughter was born Q3 1871 and buried on 23 November 1871 so perhaps unwell all her short life.
Henry was born Q4 1972 in Cheriton. He was baptised on 05 January 1873 so presumably born around Christmas. His two remaining brothers were born on 13 September 1877 and Q2 1881 but again another girl was born and lost in the middle.
By the time of the 1881 Census the family has moved to 3 Coolinge Cottages, Folkestone. [Unable to establish exactly where this is on a map so presumably been replaced now.]
It seems William2 had joined the Royal Marines and at this time he is in Chatham Barracks. Unfortunately, other records seem to imply he ended up being a military deserter and seems that he skipped the country so not good for the family as could well have been out of touch for most if not all of his father’s remaining years.
In the 1891 Census we find William1 and Harriet at 4 Garden Road, Folkestone. Their sons John, Henry, Charles1 and Albert are with them. Henry is now 19 and working as a Pastry Cook.
His brother Alfred marries 10 November 1891 in Oxfordshire, George 02 October 1892 in Folkestone and John 21 Mary 1893 also in Folkestone to spouses Mary Jane MOSS (1866 – 1954), Rose A DYER (1857 – 1928) and Louisa COURT (1866 – 1944) respectively.
Henry1 himself married Q2 1899 in Elham District to Ann RYE (1877 – 1965). She was brought up in Folkestone and is sometimes referred to as Annie in the records.
By 1901 they are at 36 St Johns Street with their first child and a 42-year-old single lady as a lodger. In all Henry and Ann had 6 children in the decade after their marriage.
They were Henry2 Robert ELLENDER (1900 – 1969), Kathleen Helen ELLENDER (1901 – 1980), Charles2 William ELLENDER (1903 – 1987), Grace Winifred ELLENDER (1904 – 1904), Evelyn Louise ELLENDER (1906 – 1980) and Edward Wilfred ELLENDER (1909 – 1975).
Sadly, Grace passed away at about 5 months old. She died at 78 Bridge Street, Folkestone so presumably this is where they were then living. All the other children survived into adulthood and it seems his remaining brothers married before 1906. His father William1 passed away on 05 May 1907 at 3 The Plain, Folkestone aged 71.
By 1911 Census the family have moved along the road to 17 Bridge Street (unless it’s been renumbered) and Henry1, aged 38, is working as a Gas Stoker as the Gas Company. A couple of months later his brother Alfred died in London. At the end of the year they have another son Cecil A ELLENDER (1911 – 1989). Final son Frederick S ELLENDER (1913 – 2000) came along 18 months or so later.
It feels like Henry1 was quite old to be fighting in the 1914 to 1918 War so on reflection it would seem that the military information relates to his nephew and / or son instead. [There are only three Henry Robert ELLENDER births listed on FreeBMD – 1872, 1899 and 1900.]
A quick Ancestry search provides evidence that a 24 year old Henry Robert ELLENDER enlisted into the Queen’s Royal West Surrey on 09 May 1923 which would imply it is the older of the two boys which is his nephew but still not conclusive.
In the 1921 Census they are found at 46 Marshall Street, Folkestone. He is a Fireman at Gas Works in Foord Road and six of their children under the roof as well. His namesake is described as an invalid (war injuries or other incident that meant he could not join up?), whilst Charles is a Dustman for the Folkestone Corporation.
Henry1’s mother died 26 October 1924 at 57 Greenfield Road, Folkestone. He himself died Q3 1936, aged 63. He would have met a few grandchildren beforehand.
His widow Ann is found in 1939 at Coombe Farm, Elham. It would appear they are in a property within the farm complex as a Fred R WANSTALL (1893 – 1975) is the dairy farmer there with his family.
The four oldest sons are living with Ann. Henry2 is incapacitated by illness and his brothers are employed as a Refuse Collector, Pig and Poultry Keeper and Plumber and Hot Water Fitter. The youngest boy was married and living in The Bungalow, Elham with his wife and working as a Gardener Handyman.
Ann didn’t pass away until 21 February 1965, aged 87 and presumably spent her years looking after son Henry2. By this time all of her husband’s siblings had also gone. Henry2 died in 1969 and most of the other children in the 1980s although the youngest Frederick lived until 2000.
Henry Robert ELLENDER was a 2C 3R to me on his paternal line. The nearest shared ancestors are my 4x Great Grandparents Robert ELLENDER (c1808 – 1887) and Sarah Jane HOGBEN (1811 – 1898).
I have a confirmed DNA match with a great grandchild of Henry but the parent that connects us is actually related to me on both their paternal and maternal lines. It all gets very complicated.
Footnotes –
Most research undertaken using Ancestry, FreeBMD and Google Maps. Additional resources listed below if utilised.
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