From Halling, Kent, England. Thomas was a sea Captain. He belongedto the younger branch of the old Kentish family which conveyed theright and privilege to become a freeman of the City of Rochester.Thomas became master of the barque, Mary Caroline, a rather unwieldycargo boat. Died in a shipwreck, January 1, 1861, age 34.
Contrary to family anecdotal history, which had Thomas apprenticed tothis father Samuel to learn navigation and sailing, he was in factindentured to his father's cousin, Thomas Wickenden of Frindsbury.The indenture paper, dated February 12, 1845, show that Thomas, aged16, was to be indentured for 4 years to Thomas Wickenden ofFrindsbury, owner of the ship Caledonia. Thomas (son of Samuel)apparently sailed in the North Sea and near some of the Scandinaviancountries. At the age of 34, he was Captain of a three-mastedschooner, the Mary Caroline, which had a crew of nine men. On January1, 1861, his ship was wrecked at the mouth of the Humber River, EastAnglia, and all hands were lost. He was buried in the church yard atGreat Grimsby nearby. - "Family History" by Homer Wickenden
A remembrance (possible tombstone?) states: In affectionateremembrance of Mr. Thomas Wickenden, Master of the Ship "MaryCaroline" of Rochester, who, with the whole of his Crew, perished onthe 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, andwas 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 Wickendenfamily and the Quaife family living in Delce Lane, Rochester. Thomasshows in the census as being 14. Charlotte Quaife does not show up inthe 1841 census with the rest of her family. However, it is probablya reasonable assumption that Thomas and Charlotte (who would have been13 at the time) likely knew each other at that time [Ken Watson, 2002]
Baptismal certificate (#141) reads: Charlotte Quaife, Daughter ofJames Edmonds Quaife of Chatham, Laborer and of Mary his wife, wasborn on the 23rd day of October 1827, in the Parish of Chatham,without the city of Rochester. Baptized the 2nd day of December 1827at 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 toillness of the father, James Quaife, the family returned to England inabout 1837/1838 [update note: shipwrecked while returning home offcoast of Ireland (Innistrahull Island), December 1837]. They hadpassage on a sailing vessel carrying rough lumber back to England.Even the deck was piled high with lumber and they had very littlespace in which to move around. It was a long journey, two months ormore, 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 alltheir possessions were lost except the clothes they were wearing. Theywere rescued by people from the shore and given shelter, but having nomoney or anything they had to wait until a letter could reach theirrelatives in Chatham and money could be sent. Robert Quaife, then 12years old, walked all the way to Rochester and arrived there beforethe letter telling of their plight. The family was taken from oneparish to the next by someone going that way with a wagon, with aletter from the parish minister commending them to the care of thenext parish. Shortly after they reached Rochester the father, JamesQuaife, died. Charlotte remembers how poor the Irish people were andhow glad the family was when they finally reached England. Sheremembered especially how her only pair of shoes was stolen by theirrescuers (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 FamilyMemoirs - Homer Wickenden)
Charlotte Quaife was red-headed and was described by her mother in aletter from Canada as being "careless".
The death of her husband Thomas left Charlotte Wickenden and her twosons, James and Thomas, destitute. She was given work as a practicalnurse at the Watts Charity, known as the Six Poor Travelers. (ThomasRogers 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 ofthe family. Dave Abbott [2002] speculates that she may have been withQuaife relatives in Hoo at the time. UPDATE: Charlotte shows up onHigh Street, Chatham - age 15
In a letter dated October 18, 1880 to her niece Emmer (Emma JaneRogers) she writes "dear Emmer do you ever go to visit my dear littleones grave if you have not will you try and go send me word if itwants doin up and I will get tom to let me have a Dollar and send itin a letter if you can get it changed". It is believed that Emma atthe time was living near Hoo, Kent, England [Ken Watson, 2003]
This listing is conjecture at the moment. Mary Elizabeth shows up onthe BDM listings with dates that would fit a child of Thomas andCharlotte. No other person in the listing seems to fit. The 1854death listing shows "Mary Elizabeth, child". However, her associationas Thomas and Charlotte's daughter is totally conjecture. [KenWatson, 2000]
The St. Mary's, Chatham records show the burial of a Mary Elizabeth,age 2, on March 26, 1854.
54. 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 thedeath association (same month/year) with Samuel Quaife Wickenden whois most certainly a child of Thomas and Charlotte. [Ken Watson, 2000]
St. Margarets BDM records list Charlotte Elizabeth, age 5, residenceHooper's Place, burial 12 June 1860. It is noted that Hoopers Placeis 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 anddied in Medway District of Kent (Rochester area). The name clearlymakes this a child of Thomas and Charlotte (nee Quaife). [Ken Watson,2000]
St. Margaret's BDM records show Samuel Quaife of Hoopers Place, aged3, burial 12 June 1860. It is noted that Hoopers Place is also whatshows on the birth certificate of Robert John Wickenden [Ken Watson2001]
In a letter to her sister Sarah (dated April 21, no year given,probably 1880), Charlotte Quaife, while talking about her grandsonLeroy (Roy) Wickenden, noted that "he has such black shiny eyes likemy little sam had" [Ken Watson, 2003]
It appears that Elizabeth Wickenden died prior to the 1861 census. Inthat census and also the 1881 census, an Elizabeth Kidney is shown amother to Samuel and Daniel, but she is 10 years older than ourElizabeth Wickenden. She also shows in the 1881 census as having beenborn in Faversham, Kent.
There is a death of an Elizabeth Kidney of Hoopers Place, Rochesterregistered 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 toa second Elizabeth.A possible fit for the second Elizabeth is Elizabeth Tamar Silver whomarried George Overrill - just speculation at the moment [KWW 2005]
Possible death date is 1868 - a Daniel Kidney death shows up in theMarch quarter 1868 age 47. [Carol Ryan]
St. Margarets, Rochester Marriage Certificate shows Daniel to be ablacksmith residing in the parish of Luton in 1857.
Shows as "Samuel F. Kidney" in the 1881 census, age 22, living at 3Matthews 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 3Matthews 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
Marriage Certificate shows Charles to be of Delce Lane with occupationLabourer.
There are two William Wickendens born about the same time, both with afather named James. This appears to be the correct one for thisfamily line since the father's occupation is shipwright, the otherJames is listed as a dredger man. Both James and Williams are listedin the 1841 census for Rochester. [Brenda Marns, 2000]
[wickenden-speculation.FTW]
Boyd's Index shows a marriage for a Rebecca L in Medway district in1875
64. George Wickenden
LDS Vital Records Index shows christening date to be 12 September 1858
65. Sarah Ann (Elizabeth) Wickenden
Called herself Sarah Elizabeth but was born, Sarah Ann. [Brenda Marns,2000]
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. [GordWickenden, 2003 email)
The 1881 census shows Ada M. Wickenden, age 20, born in Strood, as ateacher, boarding at the residence of William H. Williams, 1 EastonSt, Wycombe, Buckingham, England. There were 9 other boarders livingin the household [Ken Watson, 2001]