It's a
SMALL WORLD
Considering how many billions of people there are in the world, it's often quite surprising to find out just how closely related people actually are.
Lillian and Mabel Cutter
A circular branch
This was my first encounter with my family tree going around in a circle. Lillian Grace Cutter (b.1908) was my Grandmother.
Lillian's Father, James William Cutter (b.1875) was the son of Charles Cutter (b.1840).Another of Charles' children, Edwin Charles Cutter (b.1866) married and had Mabel Mirriam Cutter (b.1888).
Mabel married William Arthur Penney in 1914 and their youngest son, Kenneth Edward Penney was born in 1926. Kenneth Penney was married to Ivy Free, daughter of Benjamin Free (b.1899) and Dorothy Kate Evans (b.1903). When Dorothy died in 1934, Benjamin, my Grandfather, married Lillian shortly afterwards, thus completing the circle.
Photo: Lillian Grace Cutter, age 95.
Arthur Free
His Father married his Mother-in-Law
Arthur's father was Benjamin Free, born in 1815 in Hadstock, Essex. Benjamin and Arthur's mother, Eliza Ashby were married in Pampisford, Cambridge on 16th November 1835. Arthur, being the youngest of five siblings, was born in 1845. Eliza died at the age of 32 on 28th Oct 1849 when Arthur was just 4. Benjamin married for a second time, he married a widow, Sarah Seaman (nee Pearson). The date for the actual event is not certain but they had two daughters together, the first being born in 1853. Sarah had two daughters, Emma and Eliza Seaman, and a son, George Seaman, by her first husband and on the 1861 Census the girls were living with Benjamin and Sarah as Benjamin's children.
When Arthur was 15 it is believed he was courting Emma Seaman and although Arthur's name does not appear on her birth certificate it is also beleived they had a daughter, Celia Free Seaman. Celia was born on the 10th August 1859 and her mother, Emma Seaman, was the only parent stated on the birth record. In 1859 they were living in Woodstock, Hadstock and, by the time of the census in 1861, they were living with Benjamin as his Daughter and Grand daughter.
In the April of 1861, when Arthur was 16, he left England behind set sail for a new life in Australia on the "Mangerton" with his elder brother, John. During the voyage, John died and was buried at sea. Soon after landing in Australia, Arthur returned to England and picked up his old life, he and Emma were married on 2nd March 1862.
Technically, since Benjamin's wedding to Sarah would have taken place before Arthur's wedding to Emma, it would have been Arthur who married his Step-sister. But, on the other hand, Arthur's Father was married to Arthur's Mother-in-Law.
Incidentally, Sarah died at the age of 59 on 9th July 1881 and Benjamin married for a third time. He married Elizabeth Hawes on 1st November 1882.
And, just to throw another cat amongst the pigeons, since there is no father's name on the birth certificate of Emma's daughter, Celia Free Seaman. Arthur's elder brother John would have been more her age than Arthur and it does seem strange that after Arthur and Emma were married that Celia continued to live with Benjamin, her Grandfather.
Mary Jackson
Not always the Bridesmaid
Mary Jackson was born in Sutton-on-Trent, Nottingham on February 10th 1849. She was the daughter of John Jackson and Jane Pease but her story really begins a while before that with her Grandmother, Ann Wilson.
Ann Wilson married Mary’s Grandfather, Thomas Pease in 1811. Thomas was a lot older than Ann and they only had two children, Jane and her sister, Esther before Thomas died. Ann married a second time, becoming Mrs Edward Liddell in 1818.
Mary grew up in Sutton where her parents ran the Nags Head public house on North Road. When she moved to Newark it was a natural progression for her to find employment there as a barmaid at the Angel Inn at 24 Middlegate.
She was bridesmaid at the wedding of Celia Free on 20th May 1871. Celia was living with her older sister, Judith and her husband, Edward Liddell. Curiously, this Edward Liddell was the son of another Edward Liddell ... and his wife Ann ... Mary’s Grandmother!
Edward, Mary’s step-uncle, was the Superintendent of Police in Newark. Judith and Celia’s brother, Alfred was also in the force, he was a sergeant. Alfred and Mary were married at the Parish Church in Sutton-on-Trent, on 22nd May 1872, where it would appear Mary had a joint wedding with her brother, Joseph, and his wife Sarah.
Photo: Mary Jackson, supplied by Sally Van Gent, with thanks.
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