There are two William Wickendens born about the same time, both with a father named James. This appears to be the correct one for this family line since the father's occupation is shipwright, the other James is listed as a dredger man. Both James and Williams are listed in the 1841 census for Rochester. [Brenda Marns, 2000]
[wickenden-speculation.FTW]
Boyd's Index shows a marriage for a Rebecca L in Medway district in 1875
54. George Wickenden
LDS Vital Records Index shows christening date to be 12 September 1858
55. Sarah Ann (Elizabeth) Wickenden
Called herself Sarah Elizabeth but was born, Sarah Ann. [Brenda Marns, 2000]
From Halling, Kent, England. Thomas was a sea Captain. He belonged to the younger branch of the old Kentish family which conveyed the right and privilege to become a freeman of the City of Rochester. Thomas became master of the barque, Mary Caroline, a rather unwieldy cargo boat. Died in a shipwreck, January 1, 1861, age 34.
Contrary to family anecdotal history, which had Thomas apprenticed to this father Samuel to learn navigation and sailing, he was in fact indentured to his father's cousin, Thomas Wickenden of Frindsbury. The indenture paper, dated February 12, 1845, show that Thomas, aged 16, was to be indentured for 4 years to Thomas Wickenden of Frindsbury, owner of the ship Caledonia. Thomas (son of Samuel) apparently sailed in the North Sea and near some of the Scandinavian countries. At the age of 34, he was Captain of a three-masted schooner, the Mary Caroline, which had a crew of nine men. On January 1, 1861, his ship was wrecked at the mouth of the Humber River, East Anglia, and all hands were lost. He was buried in the church yard at Great Grimsby nearby. - "Family History" by Homer Wickenden
A remembrance (possible tombstone?) states: In affectionate remembrance of Mr. Thomas Wickenden, Master of the Ship "Mary Caroline" of Rochester, who, with the whole of his Crew, perished on the Sand Hale Flat, at the Mouth of the Humber, on Tuesday, January 1, 1861, aged 34 years. His body was washed on shore 17 days after, and was buried at Marsh Chapel, near Great Grimsby.
Another crew member of the "Mary Caroline" was James Robinson Stewart, whose only descendant was born 17 days after he drowned.
Thomas and Charlotte had 6 children, but 3 died in infancy (Lillian R. Wickenden, 1932).
It is interesting to see that the 1841 Census shows both the Wickenden family and the Quaife family living in Delce Lane, Rochester. Thomas shows in the census as being 14. Charlotte Quaife does not show up in the 1841 census with the rest of her family. However, it is probably a reasonable assumption that Thomas and Charlotte (who would have been 13 at the time) likely knew each other at that time [Ken Watson, 2002]
Baptismal certificate (#141) reads: Charlotte Quaife, Daughter of James Edmonds Quaife of Chatham, Laborer and of Mary his wife, was born on the 23rd day of October 1827, in the Parish of Chatham, without the city of Rochester. Baptized the 2nd day of December 1827 at Beth-El Chapel, Rochester , By me Joseph Casworth(?), Minister.
When Charlotte was five (fall, 1832), her family came to Canada, settling near Cornwall, Ontario and later near Prescott. Owing to illness of the father, James Quaife, the family returned to England in about 1837/1838 [update note: shipwrecked while returning home off coast of Ireland (Innistrahull Island), December 1837]. They had passage on a sailing vessel carrying rough lumber back to England. Even the deck was piled high with lumber and they had very little space in which to move around. It was a long journey, two months or more, and by the time they reached the other side the crew was drunk. In drawing near to Ireland the ship foundered on the rocks and all their possessions were lost except the clothes they were wearing. They were rescued by people from the shore and given shelter, but having no money or anything they had to wait until a letter could reach their relatives in Chatham and money could be sent. Robert Quaife, then 12 years old, walked all the way to Rochester and arrived there before the letter telling of their plight. The family was taken from one parish to the next by someone going that way with a wagon, with a letter from the parish minister commending them to the care of the next parish. Shortly after they reached Rochester the father, James Quaife, died. Charlotte remembers how poor the Irish people were and how glad the family was when they finally reached England. She remembered especially how her only pair of shoes was stolen by their rescuers (compiled from Thomas Rogers Wickenden Family Memoirs)
Her ancestors were Huguenot weavers who escaped from Angiers, France, at the time of the St. Bartholomew massacres. (Thomas Wickenden Family Memoirs - Homer Wickenden)
Charlotte Quaife was red-headed and was described by her mother in a letter from Canada as being "careless".
The death of her husband Thomas left Charlotte Wickenden and her two sons, James and Thomas, destitute. She was given work as a practical nurse at the Watts Charity, known as the Six Poor Travelers. (Thomas Rogers Wickenden Family Memoirs)
Thomas and Charlotte had 6 children, but 3 died in infancy (Lillian R. Wickenden, 1932).
Although the Quaife family was living on Delce Lane, Rochester in 1841 - Charlotte does not show up on the census registry with the rest of the family. Dave Abbott [2002] speculates that she may have been with Quaife relatives in Hoo at the time. UPDATE: Charlotte shows up on High Street, Chatham - age 15
In a letter dated October 18, 1880 to her niece Emmer (Emma Jane Rogers) she writes "dear Emmer do you ever go to visit my dear little ones grave if you have not will you try and go send me word if it wants doin up and I will get tom to let me have a Dollar and send it in a letter if you can get it changed". It is believed that Emma at the time was living near Hoo, Kent, England [Ken Watson, 2003]
This listing is conjecture at the moment. Mary Elizabeth shows up on the BDM listings with dates that would fit a child of Thomas and Charlotte. No other person in the listing seems to fit. The 1854 death listing shows "Mary Elizabeth, child". However, her association as Thomas and Charlotte's daughter is totally conjecture. [Ken Watson, 2000]
The St. Mary's, Chatham records show the burial of a Mary Elizabeth, age 2, on March 26, 1854.
59. Charlotte Elizabeth Wickenden
This child of Thomas and Charlotte is an educated guess on my part. It is an assumption based on the name, place of residence, and the death association (same month/year) with Samuel Quaife Wickenden who is most certainly a child of Thomas and Charlotte. [Ken Watson, 2000]
St. Margarets BDM records list Charlotte Elizabeth, age 5, residence Hooper's Place, burial 12 June 1860. It is noted that Hoopers Place is also what shows on the birth certificate of Robert John Wickenden [Ken Watson 2001].
This name shows up on the English BDM listings as a child born and died in Medway District of Kent (Rochester area). The name clearly makes this a child of Thomas and Charlotte (nee Quaife). [Ken Watson, 2000]
St. Margaret's BDM records show Samuel Quaife of Hoopers Place, aged 3, burial 12 June 1860. It is noted that Hoopers Place is also what shows on the birth certificate of Robert John Wickenden [Ken Watson 2001]
In a letter to her sister Sarah (dated April 21, no year given, probably 1880), Charlotte Quaife, while talking about her grandson Leroy (Roy) Wickenden, noted that "he has such black shiny eyes like my little sam had" [Ken Watson, 2003]
It appears that Elizabeth Wickenden died prior to the 1861 census. In that census and also the 1881 census, an Elizabeth Kidney is shown a mother to Samuel and Daniel, but she is 10 years older than our Elizabeth Wickenden. She also shows in the 1881 census as having been born in Faversham, Kent.
There is a death of an Elizabeth Kidney of Hoopers Place, Rochester registered with St. Margarets, Rochester with a burial date of June 1, 1862. This would support a theory that Elizabeth Wickenden died (likely from complications of childbirth of Daniel)
and that her husband, Daniel Kidney (with two young boys) remarried to a second Elizabeth.A possible fit for the second Elizabeth is Elizabeth Tamar Silver who married George Overrill - just speculation at the moment [KWW 2005]
Possible death date is 1868 - a Daniel Kidney death shows up in the March quarter 1868 age 47. [Carol Ryan]
St. Margarets, Rochester Marriage Certificate shows Daniel to be a blacksmith residing in the parish of Luton in 1857.
Shows as "Samuel F. Kidney" in the 1881 census, age 22, living at 3 Matthews Place, Rochester, occupation Tailor.
In the 1891 census they appear at:
249 New Road Chatham
S Kidney a boarder single age 33 a tailor
D Kidney a boarder single age 29 a tailor
Shows as "Daniel L. Kidney" in the 1881 census, age 18, living at 3 Matthews Place, Rochester, occupation Tailor.
In the 1891 census they appear at:
249 New Road Chatham
S Kidney a boarder single age 33 a tailor
D Kidney a boarder single age 29 a tailor
Originally added to family line based on names of parents (Samuel & Eliza), place and date of christening as shown in the LDS Vital Records Index. Confirmation is a photo in the possession of Thomas Howard Wickenden, taken in about 1860, which shows the three Wickenden brothers. On the back, in writing that appears to be that of Thomas Rogers Wickenden, it is labelled "Your Grandfather, Uncle Sam and Uncle Harry". This is "Uncle Sam".
Samuel also shows up in the 1841 and 1861 census as part of the family of Samuel and Eliza. The 1861 census, done when Sam was 24, shows him to be a mariner.
There is no evidence of Samuel in the 1881 census. Was he deceased by this time? [Ken Watson, 2001]
In the 1881 census, his presumed son, John Christmas Wickenden is shown as living with his Uncle Harry - perhaps confirming that Samuel was deceased by this time [Ken Watson, 2005]
LDS records show 14 February 1836 as birthdate, but baptismal certificate shows 4 February 1836
Name: CHARLES OSBORNE WICKENDEN
Event Date: 1934 12 7 (Yr/Mo/Day)
Age: 84
Gender: Male
Event Place: VANCOUVERReg. Number: 1934-09-492027
B.C. Archives Microfilm Number: B13151
GSU Microfilm Number: 1952857
[B.C. Death Registration Index]Reeve of the District of North Vancouver from 1901-1903. [Gord Wickenden, 2003 email)
The 1881 census shows Ada M. Wickenden, age 20, born in Strood, as a teacher, boarding at the residence of William H. Williams, 1 Easton St, Wycombe, Buckingham, England. There were 9 other boarders living in the household [Ken Watson, 2001]