Category Archives: Hankin

London Ancestors John Hankin and Mary Ann Townsend

John Hatfield Hankin was born C1800 in Hertford, Hertfordshire although the 1851 census lists his birth place as Norfolk. Perhaps the census enumerator mixed up his place of birth with his mother in law’s. I believe he was christened at St Andrews Church, Hertford 26th Jan 1800 his parents listed as Joseph and Sarah Hankin.

His marriage banns were called 11th July 1824 at St Marys, Lambeth, Surrey and he married Mary Ann Townsend on the 1st August 1824. Both were ‘of this parish’ and signed by their mark. John was listed as a bachelor and Mary as a spinster.

They had 4 children:
1. Mary Ann Hankin, born c1826, bp 23.08.1826 St John the Evangelist, Lambeth, married Edward Epps 28.12.1845, Holy Trinity, Newington, Surrey. Died 3.11.1907 East Dulwich, Surrey.

2.  John James Hankin, born c1829, bp 31.05.1829 St John the Evangelist, Lambeth , died July 1829 Lambeth.

3. Amelia Ann Hankin (my 3rd great grandmother) born c1830, bp. 4th July 1830 St John the Evangelist, Lambeth. Amelia married William Harrison 5th May 1850 Holy Trinity, Newington, Surrey and died in 19.07.1909 Ashford, Kent.

4. William Hankin, born c1831 Lambeth and was buried in St John the Evangelist 8th Jan 1832.

Mary Ann Townsend (my 4th great grandmother) died in 1832 in Lambeth, she was only 27, perhaps she died due to complications with child birth given that her son William Hankin was buried not long before Mary. Or perhaps there was an illness. Marys father James Townsend also died in Lambeth in 1832 (April).

Whilst researching my 3rd great grandmother I came accross an auction site listing a 19th century pictorial & verse sampler by Amelia Ann Hankin, aged 13 in 1843. Amelia was born in 1830 and lost her mother aged 2. The embroidered verse reads:

To the Motherless
When on the bed of death
My mother laid her head
To me with her expiring breath
These words of love she said
My child I soon must leave
Lifes rough and thorny road
But never for my departure grieve
I go to dwell with God

Amelia Ann Hankin her work finished in the 13 year of her age 1843

Image courtesy of liveauctioneers.com and A.H. Wilkens Auctions & Appraisals

Image courtesy of liveauctioneers.com and A.H. Wilkens Auctions & Appraisals

Image courtesy of liveauctioneers.com and A.H. Wilkens Auctions & Appraisals

Image courtesy of liveauctioneers.com and A.H. Wilkens Auctions & Appraisals

Image courtesy of liveauctioneers.com and A.H. Wilkens Auctions & Appraisals

Image courtesy of liveauctioneers.com and A.H. Wilkens Auctions & Appraisals

Image courtesy of liveauctioneers.com and A.H. Wilkens Auctions & Appraisals

Image courtesy of liveauctioneers.com and A.H. Wilkens Auctions & Appraisals

Image courtesy of liveauctioneers.com and A.H. Wilkens Auctions & Appraisals

Image courtesy of liveauctioneers.com and A.H. Wilkens Auctions & Appraisals

Image courtesy of liveauctioneers.com and A.H. Wilkens Auctions & Appraisals

Image courtesy of liveauctioneers.com and A.H. Wilkens Auctions & Appraisals

Image courtesy of liveauctioneers.com and A.H. Wilkens Auctions & Appraisals

Image courtesy of liveauctioneers.com and A.H. Wilkens Auctions & Appraisals

Image courtesy of liveauctioneers.com and A.H. Wilkens Auctions & Appraisals

Image courtesy of liveauctioneers.com and A.H. Wilkens Auctions & Appraisals

James Hatfield Hankin and Mary Ann Townsend residence:
1826:
James St, Lambeth, Surrey (Source: Mary Ann Hankin baptism cert which lists James as a Labourer)

1830:
Charles St, Lambeth, Surrey (Source: Amelia Ann Hankin baptism cert, lists James Hankin as a labouer)

1832:
Roberts Place, Lambeth, Surrey (Souce: Mary Ann Townsend burial cert)

1841:
Kings Place, Crosby Row, Bermondsey (Source: 1841 census)

Class: HO107; Piece: 1047; Book: 3; Civil Parish: St Mary Magdalen Bermondsey; County: Surrey; Enumeration District: 8; Folio: 33; Page: 24; Line: 8; GSU roll: 474649.
1. Ann Townsend, age 60, Laundress
2. Elizabeth Townsend, age 15
3. John Hankin, age 40, Labourer
4. Mary Hankin, age 14
5. Amelia A Hankin, age 10
All born in the county

1851-1861:
3 Little Charlotte Row, Bermondsey (Source: 1851-1861 census)

1851 Census: Class: HO107; Piece: 1562; Folio: 146; Page: 4; GSU roll: 174795.
1. Mrs Townsend (Head) widow, age 72, Laundress, born Hertford
2. John Hankin (Son) widow, age 52, Labourer, born Norfolk
3. Elizabeth Townsend (Daughter) age 27, Laundress, born Lambeth, Surrey
1861 Census: Class: RG 9; Piece: 325; Folio: 26; Page: 46; GSU roll: 542615.
1. John Hankin (Head) widow, age 62, Labourer, born Hertford, Hertfordshire
2. Ann Townsend (Mother) widow, age 84, Formerly Laundress, born Norwich, Norfolk
3. Mary Ann Epps (Grand Daughter) age 14, born Newington, Surrey
4. Martha Palmer (Neice) age 22, Ironer, born Bermondsey, Surrey

William Harrison a Coach Trimmer in Ashford and Amelia Hankin from Lambeth

William Harrison I believe was born 16th May 1819 in Bury, Lancashire and baptised 13th June 1819 at St Marys, Bury. On his baptism record his parents were given as: Thomas Harrison (a Servant man) and Mary from Woodhill in the county of Lancaster. (Reference Number: L215, Item Number: 1, Archive Roll: 671).

On the 5th May 1850 he married Amelia Ann Hankin:
Marriage solemnized at Trinity Church in the parish of St Mary Newington in the county of Surrey.
William Harrison of full age bachelor.
Profession: Coach Maker.
Residence: Swan St.
Father: Thomas Harrison deceased.
Spouse: Amelia Ann Hankin of full age spinster.
Residence: Swan St.
Fathers name: John Hankin Labourer.
Married after banns.
Witnessed by John Harrison (Signed by his mark) and Elizabeth Townsend (signed by her mark) Elizabeth may have been Amelia’s Aunt.
(London Metropolitan Archives, Holy Trinity, Newington, Register of marriages, P92/TRI, Item 022.)

William and Amelia went on to have 14 children:
1. William John Harrison, born 1850, Willesborough, Kent, bp. 29th Dec 1850 in Ashford, Kent. (So at the time of William and Amelia’s marriage, Amelia was already pregnant.)
2. Thomas Harrison, born c1852, Ashford, bp. 3rd Sept 1854, Willesborough, Kent.
3. Robert Harrison, born c1854, Ashford, bp. 3rd Sept 1854, Willesborough, Kent.
4. George Harrison, born c1855, Willesborough, bp. 7th Sept 1856, Willesborough, Kent.
5. Samuel Harrison, born c1856, Willesborough, bp 7th Sept 1856, Willesborough, Kent, died 1858.
6. Richard Alfred Harrison, born c1858, Ashford, bp. 7th Feb 1858, Willesborough, Kent.
7. Albert Henry Harrison, born c1860, Ashford, bp. 1st Jan 1860, Willesborough, Kent.
8. Frederick Holmes Harrison, born 4th April 1862 Ashford, bp. 3rd Aug 1862, Willesborough, Kent.
9. Amelia Elizabeth Harrison, born c1864, Ashford, bp. 5th June 1864, Willesborough, Kent. (Finally a girl! Thank goodness as she was my 2nd great grand mother!)
10. Mary Ann Harrison, born c1866, Ashford, Kent.
11. Rosetta Harrison, born c1867, Ashford, Kent, bp. 27th Oct 1867, Ashford, Kent.
12. Alice Harrison, born c1871, Ashford, Kent, bp. 7th Nov 1871, Ashford, Kent.
13. Samuel Holmes Harrison, born c1871, Ashford, b.p 7th Nov 1871, Ashford, Kent.
14. Arthur Harrison, born c1874, Ashford, bp 12th Sept 1874, Willesborough, Kent.

In 1851 the census notes the family living at 99 New town in the Parish of Willesborough.
1. William Harrison, Head, Married, age 31, Coach Trimmer, born Bury, Lancashire.
2. Amelia Harrison, Wife, age 41?, born Lambeth, Surrey.
3. William John Harrison, Son, age 4 months, born Alfred Town, Willesborough, Kent.

By 1850 over 130 houses had been built in the area for staff by the South Eastern Railway. The railway called this area ‘Alfred Town’, known as ‘New Town’ by everybody else. The works employed about 600 people in 1851 increasing to about 950 by 1861, and around 1,300 by 1882. A carriage and wagon works was opened on an adjacent 32-acre (13 ha) site in 1850. (Source Wikipedia)

In 1861 the census shows the family still living at 99 New Town, Willesborough:
1. William Harrison (Head) age 41, Coach Trimmer, born Bury, Lancashire.
2. Amelia Harrison (Wife) age 31, born Lambeth, Surrey.
3. William J Harrison (Son) age 10, Scholar, born Kent, Ashford.
4. Thomas Harrison (Son) age 9, Scholar, born Kent, Ashford.
4. Robert Harrison (Son) age 7, Scholar, born Kent, Ashford.
5. George Harrison (Son) age 6, Scholar, born Kent, Ashford.
6. Richard A Harrison (Son) age 3, Scholar, born Kent, Ashford.
7. Albert H Harrison (Son) age 1, born Kent, Ashford.
Class: RG 9; Piece: 515; Folio: 70; Page: 7; GSU roll: 542653.

In 1871 the census shows the family had moved next door to 100 New Town:
1. William Harrison (Head) age 51, Coach Trimmer, born Bury, Lancashire.
2. Amelia Ann Harrison (Wife) age 41, born Lambeth, Surrey.
3. William John Harrison (Son) unmarried, age 20 (occupation hard to read..possibly ‘Turner’) born Willesborough, Kent.
4. Thomas Harrison (Son) unmarried, age 19, Coach Maker, born Willesborough, Kent.
5. Robert Harrison (Son) Unmarried, age 17, Coach Maker born Willesborough, Kent.
6. George Harrison (Son) age 16, Coach Trimmer, born Willesborough, Kent.
7. Richard Harrison (Son) age 13, Scholar, born Willesborough, Kent.
8. Albert Harrison (Son) age 11, Scholar, born Willesborough, Kent.
9. Fred H Harrison (Son) age 8, Scholar, born Willesborough, Kent.
10 Amelia Eliz Harrison (Daughter) age 6, Scholar, born Willesborough, Kent.
11. Mary Ann Harrison (Daughter age 5, Scholar, born Willesborough, Kent.
12. Rosella Harrison (Daughter) age 3, Scholar, born Willesborough, Kent.
13. Alice Harrison (Daughter) age 1, born Willesborough, Kent.
Class: RG10; Piece: 961; Folio: 114; Page: 43; GSU roll: 827248.

1881 Census, still at the same address: 100 Newtown:
1. William Harrison (Head) age 61, Coach Trimmer, born Bury, Lancashire.
2. Amelia Ann Harrison (Wife) age 51, born Lambeth, Surrey.
3. Thomas Harrison (Son) unmarried, age 29, Coach Builder, born Ashford, Kent.
4. Richard Harrison (Son) unmarried age 23, Coach Builder, born Ashford, Kent.
5. Albert Harrison (Son) unmarried age 21, Coach Trimmer, born Ashford, Kent.
6. Frederick H Harrison (Son) unmarried age 18, Coach Builders Apprentice, born Ashford, Kent.
7 Amelia E Harrison (Daughter)age 16, Dressmaker, born Ashford, Kent.
8. Mary Ann Harrison (Daughter age 15, Dressmaker, born Ashford, Kent.
9. Rosa Harrison (Daughter) age 13, Scholar, born Ashford, Kent.
10. Alice Harrison (Daughter) age 11, Scholar, born Ashford, Kent.
11.Samuel Harrison (Son) age 9, Scholar, born Ashford, Kent.
12. Arthur Harrison (Son) age 7, Scholar, born Ashford, Kent.
Source Information: Family History Library Film 1341226, Public Records Office Reference RG11, Piece / Folio 0950 / 117, Page Number 9.

1891 Census: 100 Newtown, Willesborough
1. William Harrison (Head) age 71, Foreman Trimmer SER, born Bury, Lancashire.
2. Amelia A Harrison (Wife) age 61, born Lambeth, Surrey.
3. Samuel H Harrison (Son) single, age 19, Turner S.E.R, born Willesboro’ Kent.
4. Arthur Harrison (Son) single, age 17, Coach Maker, S.E.R, born Willesboro’ Kent.
5. Mary A Harrison (Daughter) single, age 24, Carriage Lining Maker S.E.R, born Willesboro’ Kent.
6. Alice Harrison (Daughter) single, age 21, Carriage Lining Maker S.E.R, born Willesboro’ Kent.
Class: RG12; Piece: 702; Folio: 70; Page: 8; GSU Roll: 6095812.

1901 Census: 100 Newtown, Willesborough
1. William Harrison (Head) age 81, Living on means, born Bury, Lancashire.
2. Amelia A Harrison (Wife) age 71, born Lambeth, London.
3. Arthur Harrison (Son) single, age 27, Coach Maker, born Ashford, Kent.
4. Alice Harrison (Daughter) single, age 30, Lining Maker for Carriages, born Ashford, Kent.
5. Hesta? Smith (Grandson) age 4, born Deal, Kent.
Class: RG13; Piece: 786; Folio: 47; Page: 31.

William Harrison passed away 12th Feb 1906 in East Ashford and was buried 17th Feb 1906 in Ashford. Probate was granted 25th April 1906 to his daughter Alice Harrison, William was noted as an Ashford, Kent railway factory foreman. (Source: Ancestry.com. England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1966 [database on-line])

Willesborough & Ashford history links:
Ashford, Kent genealogy, local and family history resources.

Ashford Railway Works: Local Industries and Farming.
Photos of Ashford Railway Works.
Willesborough, Kent (A Vision of Britain website).
Willesborough (Wikipedia).
The History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent: Volume 7. Originally published by W Bristow, Canterbury, 1798, entry for Willesborough.
The Willesborough civic war memorial: Info on those that died during the 1st World War (opens as PDF).
Francisfrith.com: Willesborough in old photos.
New Mill, Willesborough: Grade II listed smock mill, built in 1869.
Guide to South Willesborough, Kent: Ancestry, family history, and genealogy.