Tag Archives: Chatham

County News from Keebles East Kent Advertiser 6th Oct 1888

From: Keeble’s Margate & Ramsgate, Broadstairs, S. Peters, Minster, Westgate-On-Sea, Birchington Gazette and East Kent Advertiser. Vol 19 no 971, Friday for Saturday 6th Oct 1888

Chatham:
Serious case- Mr. Earnest Woodgate, deputy coroner for this division of the county, opened a inquest at the Medway workhouse on the body of a young women of 22, named Priscilla Hearn, who died under suspicious circumstances at the house of a Mrs. Camburn, of Hartington St, Chatham.

The mother, who now lives at Dartford, but formerly resided at Gillingham, said deceased was a single woman and came to Chatham on Tuesday, the 18th, in consequence of a letter of invitation from Mrs. Camburn. Witness was not aware that she was unwell, and had no idea that she was likely to be a mother. Mrs Lamburn said deceased stayed with her now and then, and on this occasion came to do some sewing. Witness had known her when she was at Gillingham. Witness noticed nothing the matter with her until Friday evening, when she came home rather late and appeared to have had too much to drink.

She complained of pains in her stomach. She continued this through the night and into the middle of the next day, but declined offers of a doctor. Witness, however at length went for a medical man, and when she was out deceased died. The letter of invitation on which deceased came to Chatham on was asked for by the Coroner, but while Mrs. Hearn said she gave it to Mrs Camburn on Saturday at the later’s request, Mrs Camburn said she thought she returned it and she certainly could not find it.

Consequently it was not forthcoming. A post mortem examination had been made, but the examination of the medical witness was postponed, and the inquest was adjourned for a week. It is understood that the unfortunate young woman’s death is clearly traceable to an attempt to destroy incipient life.

Dover:
The monument erected in Folkestone Cemetery by the German nation to the memory of the men belonging to the German Navy who were drowned off Sandgate by the sinking of the Grosser Kurfurst, on May 31, 1878, has been restored at the expense of Sir E. Watkins, M.P. Over one hundred of the unfortunate men lie buried here.

Lydd:
A profitable railway: The traffic on the railway between Lydd and Dungeness cannot add much to the South Eastern Company. One evening within the past week the only passenger carried by train was a little girl whose mother had sent her from the beach to Lydd on an errand. The little girl had a half ticket, and to convey her the four miles a train of half-a-dozen vehicles, engine driver, stoker, two guards, and porters of each station were brought into requisition. It is a frequent occurrence on the line for the carriages to be more numerous than the passengers.

Lydden:
Shocking death of a boy- On Wednesday the East Kent Coroner (Mr. R. M. Mercer) held an inquest at Lydden on the body of Edward Boughton, aged 14. It seems the boy was riding a horse which bolted. He got caught in the harness, was kicked by the horse, and was subsequently dragged along the road. the boy was quite dead when picked up. The jury returned a verdict of ‘Accidental death.’

Maidstone:
Burglary in Maidstone- On Saturday night a burglary was committed at the residence of Mr. F.W Ruck, 18 Ashford Rd, Maidstone. Mr Ruck was away for a holiday at the seaside, and the house was at the time unoccupied. A man named Edward Barton, living in Mote Rd who was employed in Mr. Rucks garden, and to look after the house during his employers absence, left it secure at five o ‘clock on Saturday afternoon, but at eight o ‘clock yesterday morning he discovered that a window in the front of the house was broken. He informed P.C. Leman, who, with Inspector Waghorn, examined the house and found that entry had been made by breaking a pane of glass in the front drawing-room window, which was then unfastened.

The house was completely ransacked and things were strewn about the floors, much damage being done. Information of the burglary was telegraphed to Mr. Rck, who immediately came to Maidstone and discovered that some silver spoons and a fork, a watch, gold chain, and other articles of jewellery, with altogether £4 or £5, had been stolen. The burglar carried off none of the plated articles.

Sheerness:
Intelligence  was received at Sheerness on Tuesday of a serious fire on Mockett’s farm, Harty, a small parish, situate at the extreme end of the Isle of Sheppey. The fire broke out in a stable during the night, and before any assistance arrived four valuable horses were burned to death. The fire rapidly spread to an extensive brick built barn adjourning, in which 2,500 fleeces of wool, a large quantity of grain ready for Margate, and the farming implements were stored, and carried all before it.

It then spread to a stack and some Lodges, but through the efforts of a body of Coastguardmen belonging to the watch vessel moored in the Swale who pulled down part of the sheds, its progress was arrested, and the farmhouse, &c, together with sixteen stacks of corn, were saved from destruction. The Sheerness Board of Health Fire Brigade arrived on the scene later on and extinguished the fire. The damage is estimated at £2,000. A man named Hampshire, belonging to Lenham, who had been employed on the farm harvesting, was taken into custody on a charge of incendiarism.

Strood:
Exciting scene in the Strood Oil Mills- There was an exciting scene in the Strood Oil Mills on Wednesday, when a lad who was in imminent peril of a terrible death was rescued by a workman who ran considerable personal risk in the act. The lad, named Frid, who caught in a crushing machine and was being carried round at a fearful rate when a workman named Dainer dragged him out by sheer strength. Frid had strongly received such injuries to render him unconscious, and Dainer’s gallantry cost him some severe contusions. Frid was taken to St. Bartholomew’s hospital, where he was detained.

Emmanuel Noble and Emma Julia French- children and census

Emmanuel Noble and Emma Julia French had the following children:

1. Albert Emmanuel Noble: b. 31/1/1881 – d.1938. (Baptism record here – Parents named as Emmanuel and Emma Noble, 3 Alma Terrace, Chatham, father: Sailor, R.N) 
2. Ernest Valentine Noble: b. 1884 – d.1947. (Baptism record here – Parents named as Emmanuel and Emma Julia Noble, New Brompton, father: ropemaker)
3. Ada Emma Noble b. 1855 – d.1944
4. Florence Edith Noble: b. 1890 – d.1972 (Baptism here)
5. Daisy Ethel Noble: b. 1891. (Baptism record here – Parents named as Emmanuel and Emma Julia, 9 Russell St, Chatham, father: mariner)
6. Charles Frederick Noble: b. 23/7/1893. (Baptism here)

1891 census
HMS Pembroke.
RG12, Piece: 667, Folio: 44, Page: 35, GSU Roll: 6095777:
List of the officers, crew, royal marines and all other persons NOT on board on the night of Sunday, April 5th 1891:
– Emmanuel Noble, married age 36, Roper, born Dorking, Surrey.

1891 Census
9 Russell St, Luton, Chatham.
RG12/665, Reg District: Medway, Sub Reg District: Gillingham. ED Institution or Vessel 44, Folio: 58, Page: 17:
1. Emmanuel Noble (Head) age 35, Officer R.N, born Dorking, Surrey.
2. Emma Julia Noble (Wife) age 32, born Dorking, Surrey.
3. Albert E Noble (Son) age 10, Scholar, born Sheerness, Kent.
4. Ernest V Noble (Son) age 7, Scholar, born Chatham, Kent.
5. Ada Noble (Daughter) age 5, Scholar, born Brompton, Kent.
6. Florence E (Daughter) age 11 months, born Portland, Dorset.

1901 Census
3 East St, Luton, Chatham.
RG13/728, Page 7, entry 41:
1. Emmanuel Noble (Head) age 45, Rigger HM Dockyard, born Dorking, Surrey.
2. Emma Julia Noble (Wife) age 42, born Dorking, Surrey.
3. Albert E Noble (Son) single, age 20, Baker Journeyman Breadmaker worker, born Chatham, Kent.
4. Ernest V Noble (Son) single, age 17, Ship fitter labourer of iron worker, born New Brompton, Kent.
5. Ada Noble (Daughter) age 15, born Portland, Dorset.
6. Florence E (Daughter) age 10, born Chatham, Kent.
7. Daisy E Noble (Daughter) age 9, born Chatham, Kent.
8. Charles F Noble (Son) age 7, born Chatham, Kent.

1911 Census
1 Mill Cottage, Mount New Road, Chatham.
Class: RG14, Piece: 3908. Schedule Number: 359:
1. Emmanuel Noble (Father) age 55, married 21 years, 6 children born (all still living) Naval Pensioner, born Dorking in Surrey.
2. Emma J Noble (Mother) age 53, born Sheerness, Kent.
3. Ernest V Noble (Son) age 27, single, Engine Fitter Ship Construction (worker) born New Brompton, Kent.
4. Daisy E Noble (Daughter) age 19, single, Manageress to bakers confectioners, born Chatham, Kent.
5. Charlie F Noble (Son) age 17, single Fitters, Improver Engineering (worker) born Chatham Kent.

Chatham, Kent: genealogy, local and family history resources

Emmanuel Noble: A Ropemaker at Chatham Dockyard, Kent

Emmanuel Noble was born 13th April 1855 in Dorking, Surrey (according to his Continuous Service Record)  and died 1923 in Medway. Although all the records I’ve found give his place of birth as Dorking in Surrey – frustratingly, I can’t find a birth or baptism record for him.

Chatham Dockyard Ropemaker service recordEmmanuel Noble, ropemaker and rigger, Chatham Dockyard

He married Emma Julia French 5th October 1879 at the Parish Church (St Mary’s) in the Parish of Chatham, Kent:

Information given on the marriage certificate is as follows:
Emmanuel Noble: Age 24, Bachelor, Sailor HMN.
Residence: Chatham.
Fathers name: John Noble.
Fathers profession: Machinist?? (NB Hard to read the entry).
Spouse: Emma Julia French, Age 21, Spinster.
Residence: Chatham.
Fathers name: John French.
Fathers profession: Sailor.
Both signed their names.
Marriage after banns.
Marriage Witnesses: John Thomas Taylor and Sophia Ann Taylor.
Copy of Marriage cert.

Click here for Emmanuel and Emma’s children and census records

Military history:
A Continuous Service Engagement record for the period: 13th April 1873 – 13 April 1883 gives his military Official Number as: 6 5147. He worked as a rigger and ropemaker in the Navy at Chatham Dockyard and was described as:

Height: 5ft 4 inches
Hair: light
Eyes: blue
Complexion: Fair
Wounds, scars or marks: Deeply pitted with small pox
Trade: None
Character: Described from ‘good’ to ‘V good’ to ‘excellent’.

Between 1st Jan 1873 and 1893 he served in the following ships/barracks at Chatham:
(He also had a few stints at the hospital in Malta in 1870, 1873)

Shearwater: 1st Jan 1873 to 3rd April 1873; 4th April 1873 to 12th April 1873; 13th April 1873 to 22nd April 1873:
Under George Strong Nares and later William Wharton (later Hydrographer of the Navy) HMS Shearwater surveyed around the Mediterranean and the East coast of Africa. In 1873 the ship was determining the meridian distance between Gibraltar and Malta. (Reference page 47).

Duke of Wellington: 23rd July 1873 to 25th July 1873; 25th April 1879 to 2nd May 1879; 1st April 1883 to 3rd April 1883:
From 1863 onwards HMS Duke of Wellington served as the receiving, depot and barracks ship at Portsmouth, remaining as such until scrapped in 1904.

Photo of HMS Duke of Wellington
www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk
www.militaryfactory.com
www.pdavis.nl
www.ajbrown.me.uk
www.globalsecurity.org

Naval Barracks: 26th July 1873 to 31st August 1873; 21st Dec 1873; 4th Feb 1874 to 30th June 1874.

Buncan (or possibly Duncan – hard to read the record): 1st Sept 1873 to 20th Dec 1873; 9th Aug 1874 to 11th Aug 1874.

Flying Fish: 1st July 1874 to 8th Aug 1874. 18th June 1874:
HMS Flying Fish commissioned at Chatham, building costs amounted to £39.445. In 1874 she then sailed for a four-and-a-half year commission on the East Indies Station, and engaged in suppression of the slave trade on the east coast of Africa. The ship was at Madagascar when all the slaves who had been taken to the island were given their freedom. (ref: www.worldnavalships.com) (www.shipstamps.co.uk).

W Barracks: 12th Aug 1874 to 20th Oct 1874.

Audacious: 21st Oct 1874 to (doesn’t give a date); 1st Aug 1878 to 22nd Feb 1879:
(further info) When Emmanuel worked on this boat HMS Audacious was a guardship at Hull 1871/4. The Audacious paid off for re- commissioning as flagship on the China Station (1874/8) during which time she was involved in a collision at Yokohama during a typhoon. She then paid off at Chatham in 1878 and went back to Hull as guardship See also: www.worldnavalships.com / (Print of the ship in 1869).

Excellent: 23rd Feb 1879 to 24th April 1879:
H.M.S. Excellent, also known as Portsmouth Gunnery School or Whale Island. This was the British Royal Navy’s main gunnery training establishment.

N Barracks: 3rd May 1879 to (doesn’t give a date); 11th Aug 1880 to (doesn’t give a date); 24th Sept 1880 to 30th Sept 1880.

Pembroke: 1st Oct 1880 to 4th Oct 1880; 4th April 1883 to 15th Dec 1884; 2nd April 1889 to 19th April 1893; 20th April 1893 to 8th Oct 1893; 23rd Oct 1893 to (doesn’t give a date):
History of HMS Pembroke and the Drill Shed
Kent’s Historical Sites (Facebook Group)
www.kenthistoryforum.co.uk

Superb: 5th Oct 1880 to 19th March 1883:
HMS Superb was commissioned at Chatham for service in the Mediterranean on 4 October 1880, and remained on station for seven years. She took part in the bombardment of Alexandria 11–13 July 1882, where she fired 310 shells of 10-inch calibre at the Egyptian forts; she received ten hits in return, seven of them on her armour, with no casualties.

Recla?? It’s difficult to read the record, possibly reads HMS Hecla a depot ship (thanks for the info Martin Brown) 20th March 1883 to 31st March 1883.

Boscawen: 16th Dec 1884 to 19th March 1886:
Commanded by Commander George Bruce Evans, training ship for boys, Portland.

Asis?? (hard to read the record): 20th March 1886 to 5th April 1886.

Comus: 6th April 1886 to 1st April 1889:
After a refit HMS Comus recommissioned 6 April 1886 for service on the North American and West Indies Station. In 1889 the ship transported scientists to observe the total eclipse of the sun off western Africa. Noted astronomer Stephen Joseph Perry died aboard the vessel from dysentery contracted ashore.

From the 1891 Census I know that Emmanuel was working from HMS Pembroke as a ‘Roper’
In the 1901 census his profession was given as ‘Rigger, HM Dockyard’ and in 1911 he was a ‘Naval Pensioner’.

History of the ropery
Rope Making: Stranded ghosts of a bygone age
Chatham, Kent: genealogy, local and family history resources