Tag Archives: Thanet

Charles Francis Fuller, Mariner from Margate and the Lugger the Victory

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Charles Francis Fuller was born 9th Sept 1822 in Margate, Kent (according to his Merchant Seamans record). He was baptised in the Parish of St Johns, Margate 13th Oct 1822. His parents were given as Thomas and Mary Fuller of Margate and his fathers profession was listed as ‘Mariner’.

In 1841 the census shows the family at White Hart Court in Margate:
1. Thomas Fuller, age 45, Mariner
2. Mary Fuller, age 40
3. Elizabeth Fuller, age 20
4. Charles Fuller, age 15
5. Thomas Fuller, age 15
6. Richard Fuller, age 14
7. James Fuller, age 12
8. Robert Fuller, age 9
9. William Fuller, age 6

On October 22nd 1843 banns of Marriage were called at the Parish Church of Ash, Kent between “Charles Francis Fuller of this Parish, Bachelor and Mary Jane Spratt of this Parish, Spinster.”

I think Mary was from Ash and I found the following baptism in the Parish of Ash nr Sandwich, Kent:
June 7th 1818:  Mary Jane, daughter of John and Mary Spratt, Abode: Ash, Fathers Profession: Labourer.

Charles and Mary went on to have the following children:
1. Henry Thomas Fuller, born 1843, Ash, Kent.
2. Mary Jane Fuller, born 1847, Thanet, Kent.
3. Thomas Charles Fuller, born 1850, Medway, Kent. Died 1896, buried in the Parish of St John, Thanet, October 6th 1896, age 46 years, abode: Thanet Union.
4. John C Fuller, born Margate c1850-1854 (according to census records).
5. Thomas Robert Fuller, born Margate c1852.
6.  Robert J Fuller, born Margate c1852-1861 (I think 1856).
7. Charles Fuller, born Margate, c1857

In 1844 Charles Merchant Navy Record gave the following details:
No of 115,425
Charles Francis Fuller
Age in 1845: 23
Age when Ticketed: 22
Can write: Yes
Born at: Margate, Kent 9th Sept 1822
Height: 5ft 4
Complexion: Fair
Marks: Pock Marked
Hair: Dark Brown
Eyes: Dark Blue
First went to sea as: a boy in the year 1834
Has served in the Royal Navy: No
Has been in Foreign Service: No
When unemployed resides at: Margate
Issued at: Ramsgate, 28th day of Dec 1844

(Date range 1845-1854, Series BT113, Piece number 58, Record set Merchant Navy Seamen, Category Education & work, Record collection Merchant navy & maritime, Collections from Great Britain.)

In the 1851 census the family were living at Princes Court, King St, Margate:
1. Chs Fns Fuller, Head, married, age 28, Mariner, born Margate, Kent.
2. Mary June Fuller, Wife, Married, age 28, Mariners Wife, born Ash, Kent. (NB I think her middle name was misspelled)
3. Henry Thoms Fuller, Son, age 7, Scholar, born Ash, Kent
4. Mary June Fuller, Daugh, age 4, at home, born Margate, Kent
5. Thomas Charles Fuller, Son, age 1, born Margate, Kent.
(1851 Census: HO 107/1629, Folio 359, Page 7, Parish of St John the Baptist, Margate, Kent.)

On the 6th January 1857 Charles was killed in the English Channel whilst on the Lugger the Victory, which went to save the American ship the Northern Belle. Nine men were lost when the Victory capsized:

From the Standard, Monday 12th Jan 1857:
The Victory Lugger, a well known boat to many Margate visitors, which was lost last Monday night, was worth from 300/. to 400/. The following is a list of the names of a portion of the crew: Issac Solly, aged 46; John Smith, aged 63; George Smith, aged 29 (father and son); William Emptage, aged 52; John Emptage, aged 29 (father and son); Charles Fuller, aged 34; Henry Paramor, aged 27; Frederick Batt, aged 22; Abraham Busbridge aged 35.

Subscriptions in aid of these poor men’s widows ad orphans are urgently solicited.

From the Kentish Gazette:
American ship ‘Northern Belle’ of 1,100 tons burthen, from New York, seen to be in eminent peril, and which afterwards stranded on the Foreness Rock, was caught in a fearful sea, and plunged down in an instant with all her crew. the suferers were:
John Smith, aged 63 years.
George Smith, aged 29
William Emptage, aged 52
John Emptage, aged 29
Issac Solly, aged 46
Abraham Bashbridge, aged 35
Charles Fuller, aged 34
Henry Paramor, aged 27
Frederick Batt, aged 22

“Such a calamity as this is not known to have occurred here before; may such never occur again. This tablet is also intended as a grateful tribute to the benevolence of persons, not only in this town and neighborhood, but in London and other distant places, who have so generously responded to the public appeal made in behalf of the widows and orphans, and have, by subscriptions, amounting to two thousand one hundred pounds, declared their sympathy with a class of men engaged in a most important but adventurous avocation. “Whoso is wise will ponder these things.”

Links:
The shipwreck of the Northern Belle and the loss of the Victory.
The Wrecking of the Northern Belle, an article by Mick Twyman published by the Margate Historical Society in December 2001.
A new plaque unveiled in tribute to the men who died on the Victory.
Article from the Isle of Thanet Gazette.
Dedication Service of the Victory Lugger Memorial Stone at Margate.
A letter regarding subscriptions to the widows and orphans affected by the sinking.
A Boatmans Tales, article about the sinking of the Northern Belle.
Newspaper article from The Perth Gazette and Independent Journal of Politics and News (WA : 1848 – 1864).
Margate, Kent genealogy and family history resources

 

William Edwards and Maria Harcour’s children and census records

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William Edwards and Maria Harcour had the following children:

  1. Mary Christiana Edwards bp. 12.9.1830 (St John the Baptist Church, Margate, fathers profession given as ‘Labourer’; Abode: Margate).
  2. Thomas Edwards bp. 9.6.1833 (St John the Baptist Church, Margate, fathers profession given as ‘Fisherman’; Abode: Margate) d. 1874 (Margate).
  3. Henry William Edwards bp. 10.4.1836 (St John the Baptist Church, Margate, fathers profession given as ‘Mariner’; Abode: Margate) d. 1913 NB. He was also known as William Henry Edwards.
  4. Elizabeth Ann Edwards bp. 24.6.1838  (St John the Baptist Church, Margate, fathers profession given as ‘Fisherman’; Abode: Margate) d. 7.11.1838
  5. Richard William Edwards bp. 12.7.1840 (St John the Baptist Church, Margate, fathers profession given as ‘Shrimper’; Abode: Margate) 
  6. Elizabeth Ann Edwards b. 1843 (Thanet) bp. 12.3.1843 (St John the Baptist Church, Margate, fathers profession given as ‘Mariner’; Abode: Margate)
  7. Sarah Ann Edwards bp. 23.12.1849 (St John the Baptist Church, Margate; fathers profession given as ‘Labourer’; Abode: Margate) d. 1872

Census Records:
1841 census: HO107; Piece: 468; HO107; Piece number 468; Book: 6; Folio: 6; Page no: 5
St John’s College Cottages, St John Baptist, Margate, Isle of Thanet:

  1.  William Edwards, age 30. Labourer, born Kent
  2.  Maria Edwards, age 30, born in foreign parts
  3.  Thomas Edwards, age 8, born in Kent
  4.  Henry Edwards, age 5, born in Kent
  5.  Richard Edwards, age 1, born in Kent

1851 Census: Source Citation: Class: HO107; Piece: 1629; Folio: 256; Page: 4; GSU roll: 193530.
1 Kidman Row, Margate, Kent:

  1. William Edwards, (Head) age 46, Shrimper, born: St Lawrence, Kent.
  2. Maria Edwards, (Wife) age 40, born: Bombay East Indies.
  3. Mary C Edwards, (Daughter) age 21, Servant, born: Margate, Kent.
  4. William H Edwards, (Son) age 15, Shrimper, born: Margate, Kent.
  5. Elizabeth A Edwards, (Daughter) age 2, Scholar, born: Margate, Kent.
  6. Sarah Edwards, (Daughter) age 1, born: Margate, Kent.
    Kidman Row
    Rule by Margate Board of Health 1851-1858 (discusses Kidman Row).
    1852 Map of Kidman Row, Margate.
William Edwards and Maria Harcour census 1851

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1861 census:  Class: RG 9; Piece: 535; Folio: 107; Page: 10; GSU roll: 542657.
4 Cuthills Cottages, Margate, Kent:

  1. Maria Edwards, Head, Widowed, age 52, Laundress, born: Margate, Kent.
  2. Henry Edwards, Son, unmarried, age 25, Labourer, born: Margate, Kent.
  3. Elizabeth Edwards, Daughter, unmarried, age 17, born: Margate, Kent.
  4. Sarah Edwards, Daughter, age 11, born: Margate, Kent
    (Living next door is Thomas Edwards, Head, married, age 26, Labourer, born Margate, Kent and his wife Sarah Jane, age 25, Laundress, born Hampshire.

1871 census: Class: RG10; Piece: 991; Folio: 109; Page: 7; GSU roll: 838723.
2 Ventnor Lane, Margate, Kent: (all the below are sharing the same house)

  1. Thomas Edwards (Head) married, age 36, Labourer out of employment, born Margate, Kent.
  2. Sarah Edwards (Wife) married, age 25, Laundress, born Southsea, Hants.
  3. Ann Bow (Head), Widow, age 59, Laundress, born Margate, Kent.
  4. Eliza Bow, Daughter, unmarried, age 30, Domestic Servant, born Margate, Kent.
  5. Alfred Bow, Son, unmarried, age 20, Painter, born Margate, Kent.
  6. Thomas Bow, Son, unmarried, age 18, Waiter, born Margate, Kent.
  7. Maria Edwards (Head), Widow, age 61, Charwoman, born Margate, Kent.
  8. James Brandell (Head) married, age 76, Pensioner, born Woolwich, Kent.
  9. Ann Brandell (Wife) age 65, born Margate, Kent.

Note that in the 1861 and 1871 census Maria gives her birth as Margate, Kent. 

Maria died in 1877 (buried in St John the Baptist churchyard, Margate) and William died in 1858 in Thanet.

Margate genealogy, local and family history resources

William Edwards, a shrimper from Margate and Maria Harcour from Bombay

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William Edwards was a fisherman, shrimper and labourer and lived in Margate, Kent. He was born 22nd October 1804 in St Laurence, Kent and baptised in the local church 18.11.1804.

William Edwards baptism 1804 St Laurence, Kent

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He married  (by banns) Maria Harcour, 26th August 1829 at the Parish Church of
St John’s in Margate. The wedding was witnessed by the Parish Clerks rather than family or friends. Perhaps this indicates an opposition to the marriage?  Or perhaps the Parish Clerks were the only people that day who could write and were therefore the only people allowed to sign as witness to a marriage where two people signed by their mark?

Maria Harcour and William Edwards marriage cert

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According to the 1851 census, Maria was born in Bombay, East Indies c.1811 (the 1841 census notes her as ‘Foreign born’).

I’d like to know who Maria’s parents were? Was Maria British? How did she end up married to a shrimper in Margate?

I searched the IGI for a birth and found no reference for a ‘Maria Harcour’ born in India. Maria signed her mark on her marriage certificate so I have to assume she was illiterate (or perhaps pretending to be in order not to show up her illiterate husband..?!) and so her surname may have be misspelt or misheard by the writer.

Perhaps her name was Har Kaur?

Her daughter’s birth certificate (Sarah Ann Edwards) gives Maria’s surname as ‘Hacker’. I’ll need to order her other children’s birth certificates to gain a consensus but in the meantime, I searched the IGI for anyone called ‘Maria’ or ‘Marie’ (omitting a surname) born in India between 1800-1815.

I found the following with surnames similar to ‘Harcour’ or ‘Hacker’:

  1. Maria Hawker, Birth Date: 05 Aug 1815 Christening Place: Quilon, Madras, India, Christening Date: 30 Sep 1815, Father’s Name: Frederick Hawker, Mother’s Name: Mary.
  2. Maria Margaret Harcourt, Birth Date: 24 Apr 1806, Christening Place: Bellary, Madras, India, Christening Date: 13 May 1806, Father’s Name: Hillary Harcourt, Mother’s Name: Margaret Torriano.
  3. Maria Hasker, Birth Date: 12 Mar 1816, Christening Date: 27 Nov 1825, Christening Place: Vizagapatam, Madras, India, Father’s Name: William Hasker, Mother’s Name: Cawder Bee.

None of them show birth dates in Bombay but perhaps Maria was born in Bombay and christened in Madras (a trading post and naval base). These are the closest references I could find in both name, place and date. 

I don’t think ‘Maria Margaret Harcourt’ is our Maria as Maria Margaret was married in 1832 to a John Stow and her father was given as Capt Hillary Harcourt Torriano of the East India Company Madras Engineers. I’ve as yet been unable to find further info on Maria Hawker and Maria Hasker. If one of these two are Maria Harcour then she would have wed age either 14, or 13 respectively. William wed age 24.

It was possible for a girl to marry at 12 and a boy at 14. Even if the parents disagreed with the decision, there were legal ways in which the marriage could take place such as calling banns in a different parish to that which they belonged.

Perhaps Maria had been married before and wed in her married name? The marriage entry says she was a spinster but it’s known that sometimes info given at time of marriage may be incorrect for any number of reasons. 

At the time of Maria’s birth The East India Company held rule in India. Her father could have been any among civil servants, military personnel (most regiments served in India at some point), mariners, medical staff, chaplains, railway workers, law officers, merchants, planters, free mariners, and missionaries.

Only a small number of British military men stationed in India could bring their wives and many men would marry in India (both English and local women) though marriage with Indian women became less common after 1830.

Some young British women would travel the 5 months to India to try and bag themselves a husband amongst the East India Company men. Perhaps Maria’s mother was one of these hopefuls. 

I guess it’s possible Maria may have been Indian as some British took Indian servants back to Britain where many Indians laboured under European names. She may have been a ‘ayah’ ( domestic servant) or a nanny. According to the National Archives:

“This arrangement was attractive for many Asian women, as ayahs were not generally paid a wage, whereas travel of this kind involved a fee. However, although they were promised their passage back home, often they were left stranded, especially in London.”

 Domestic slavery continued in India into the 1840’s:

I think I’ll have to do a bit more digging before I can come to any conclusions. If anyone has any further suggestions I’d be interested to hear them.

William Edwards and Maria Harcour’s children and census records

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