1. John King was born circa 1780 in Hacheston, Suffolk.
In January 1847, when his daughter Elizabeth was born, John was already a pensioner in his late 60s.
On the 1851 Census, John appears as a Chelsea Pensioner of 71 living in Pettistree, Suffolk, with his 38-year-old wife of Caribbean origin (though a British Subject) Arabella, two sons and two daughters. John (18) was a wheelwright. Francis (16) was an apprentice to a coachsmith. Margaret and Elizabeth were "at home". John's status in old age means that he must have served as a soldier. Could he have met his exotic young wife whilst on active service in the West Indies?
In June 2006, Jenny Compton wrote, "When my grandfather W.W.Abel died, amongst his stuff was a discharge certificate from the army. On it were the details of [John King's] service. He joined at a young age as, I think, a drummer boy and went to the Peninsular War where it is recorded he was present at Vitoria, Badajoz and Salamanca. He served well and was eventually discharged in his 40's because of illness. He may well have been elsewhere in his army life of course and met Arabella. My father gave this certificate to the Royal Artillery museum in Woolwich. I saw it on a few occasions."
Ten years later, John (81), Arabella (48) and their youngest child Elizabeth (14) had moved about a mile away to Wickham Market. The older children had left home and the Kings had taken in a lodger, Edward Birch, a millwright of 26, from Falkenham, near Felixtowe.
John's daughter Lizzie was married in 1869 when he was about 89 and his wife, Arabella, only 56. He appears on Lizzie's marriage certificate as a Sergeant in the Royal Artillery.
Neither John nor his wife appear on the 1871 Census. It would not be surprising for John to have died before the age of 91. Could Arabella have remarried and taken a different name?
John married Arabella Dougherty. Arabella was born circa 1813 in St Eustatia, West Indies.
The only record of an Arabella Dougherty amongst currently available online records is intriguing. The International Genealogical Index lists an Arabella Eliza Dougherty whose date of birth was 13 November 1812 but whose baptism did not take place until 23 June 1826 at the church of St Mary Magdalene in Woolwich. The birth date fits, and so does the connection with Woolwich. The late baptism date may have something to do with the fact that Arabella was born on an island in the Caribbean. The first three of Arabella's four children were born in Woolwich. Her sons John and Francis maintained links with Woolwich in later life. Her daughter Lizzie, though born in Suffolk, her father's home county, would later marry a carpenter from the Woolwich Arsenal and would raise a family in the town.
If this is the same person (and there are very few Arabella Doughertys listed anywhere outside the United States), her parents, according to the IGI, were John and Amy Dougherty about whom nothing is yet known.
During the 17th and 18th centuries, Arabella's birthplace, the volcanic island of St. Eustatia (or Statia), was known in almost every European and American household due to the massive international trade that thrived there. After 1750, over 3,500 ships a year from Europe, Africa and the Americas landed here earning the island's nickname The Golden Rock. Almost 20,000 merchants, slaves and plantation owners were crowded on this little speck measuring only 8 kilometres by 4 kilometres. Merchants from the Netherlands, France, Britain, the American Colonies, Spain and Denmark all mixed in a peaceful international emporium for free trade not to be found anywhere else in the Caribbean. To facilitate this trade, over 600 warehouses were built along the shore below Oranjestad, its main city. The island was so important that it changed hands among the Dutch, English and French 22 times over two centuries, until the Dutch permanently wrested control in the early 19th century. However, one wonders what sort sort of state Arabella's birthplace was in by 1813 and why her family were still there. The Hebrew History Federation's website records that "The British occupation of Statia was terminated on November 20th 1781 by a French invasion. They found the place in ashes, and virtually depopulated".
The sovereignty of the United States was first recognised here when on November 16, 1776 a salute was fired from Fort Oranje in reply to a salute by the brigantine Andrew Doria. The merchants on St. Eustatia provided much of the arms, gunpowder and ammunition used by the rebels in the American Revolution and as a result experienced the full wrath of the English Navy and Marines under Admiral Sir George Brydges Rodney in 1781. The largest booty captured anywhere during the Colonial Period was the result: a fleet loaded with over £5,000,000 was sent back to England. Some even believe that Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island was based on stories he heard about St. Eustatia.
Children from this marriage were:
2 M i. John King was born circa 1833 in Woolwich, London.
Only two John Kings born in Woolwich between 1828-1838 appear in the 1861 Census records. One was born in about 1835 and had moved to Grays in Essex with his Irish wife, Ellen, and their daughter Mary, also born in Ireland. This John's occupation was carpenter. The second was born in about 1830 and lived in West Ham, London, with his wife Elizabeth from Erith in Kent and a son, George, born in Devonport in about 1859. This John was an engine fitter.
The second candidate's connection with Devonport is interesting. John's brother, Francis, lived in Devonport during the 1870s and had several children there. This may, of course, just be coincidence.
The John King with the Irish wife, Ellen, appears again on the 1871 Census with a birth date of about 1834 in Woolwich. John and Ellen have been joined by daughters Clara, Ellen, Isabelle and Katherine, all born in Greenwich or Grays. They are living at 38 Chapel Street, Woolwich in Kent and John (37) is still a carpenter.
Ten years later, in 1881, John (47) is still at the same address but he now has a new wife, Kezia (44) born in Rochford, Essex. Ellen and Katherine are living with them and have been joined by sister Amy and brothers John and Mark.
In 1891, the same John King (58) is living with Kezia, John and Mark and a new daughter, Naomi (9) has been added to the family. They are living at 4 Trinity Street, Woolwich.
The other John King, formerly of West Ham, does not appear on the 1871, 1881 or 1891 Census returns. Neither man appears on the 1901 Census but Kezia King, now the head of the household, can be found with John (24), Mark (20) and Naomi (19) at 10 Trinity Street, Woolwich.
+ 3 M ii. Francis King was born circa 1835 in Woolwich, London.
4 F iii. Margaret King was born circa 1840 in Woolwich, London.
Census records show that there was a Margaret J King, born in Woolwich in about 1840 who was working as a servant for the Goodwyn family of Woodbridge, Suffolk, in 1861. (Charles and Ann Maria Goodwyn named their son Reason!). Margaret's father came from Hacheston, about 8 miles north of Woodbridge.
She does not appear under her maiden name on any other English Census.
+ 5 F iv. Lizzie King was born on 9 Jan 1847 in Pettistree, Suffolk and died on 25 Nov 1923 at age 76.
Second Generation 3. Francis King was born circa 1835 in Woolwich, London.
The 1871 Census shows Francis and Matilda in the East Brigade and Artillery Quarters in Devonport, where Francis is enlisted in the Royal Artillery. Their four eldest children are with them, aged 1, 2, 3 & 5.
On the 1881 Census, Francis is shown with his wife Matilda and eight children living next door to his sister and her husband in Brewer Place, Woolwich. He was a blacksmith and, by his mid-forties, already a Chelsea Pensioner.
The 1891 Census has Francis (56) and Matilda (51) at 3 Charlotte Street, Plumstead with Arabella (21), George (16), Harry (11) and Alfred (8).
Neither Francis nor Matilda appears on the 1901 Census.
Francis married Matilda Bradshaw ? on 5 Jun 1865 in St James, Westminster, London. Matilda was born circa 1841 in Rothwell, Northamptonshire.
That Francis' wife Matilda was originally named Bradshaw is based on a single entry in the International Genealogical Index and has yet to be confirmed. If it is correct, she could be the Matilda Bradshaw, born in Northamptonshire, who was working as a servant in the household of a Mr Brooman at 19 York Place, Marylebone in 1861.
Children from this marriage were:
6 M i. Francis J King was born circa 1866 in Woolwich, London.
Francis does not appear on the Census returns for 1891 or 1901.
7 F ii. Matilda M King was born circa 1868 in Woolwich, London.
The only Matilda King born in Woolwich in 1868 who appears on the 1891 Census is working as a domestic servant at 13 Sparrow Corner, St Botolph Aldgate in the City of London. Her employer is a 45-year-old Russian-born provision merchant with an indecipherable name (Alexander Engzel***) who has an English wife called Caroline and 2 children.
Matilda does not appear on the 1901 Census under her maiden name.
8 F iii. Elizabeth King was born circa 1869 in Woolwich, London.
On the 1891 Census, Elizabeth is a servant at 5 Shrewsbury Villas, Plumstead, employed by a Welshman, Enoch Jones, a retired warehousman and his much older wife Martha.
9 F iv. Arabella King was born circa 1870 in Devonport, Devonshire.
10 F v. Ada Jane King was born circa 1873 in Devonport, Devonshire.
In 1891, Ada (18) was a servant in the home of The Revd William and Mrs Frances Harkness of Derby who lived at 57 Wood Street, Woolwich.
By the age of 28, in 1901, she had moved to new employers at Blackheath Park, Charlton, Greenwich, the well-staffed home of John and Laura Osmond and family. John was a mechanical engineer and employed a parlourmaid (Ada), a nurse, a housemaid, a cook and a governess for his three young children.
11 M vi. George W King was born circa 1875 in Devonport, Devonshire.
In 1901, George (26) was the head of a household of siblings. With him at 3 Charlotte Street, Plumstead were his sister Arabella (30), who was his housekeeper, and his brothers Harry (21) and Alfred (18). They also had a boarder, Charles Barnett (29), a waiter, and an elderly female lodger, Mary Knight (68), a widow. George was a metal turner. Harry and Alfred were general labourers.
12 F vii. Amelia King was born circa 1877 in Devonport, Devonshire.
In 1891, at the young age of 14, Amelia was already working as a servant for Lancashire-born "photographic artist" George Dalton (43) and his widowed mother (64). They lived at 101 Wellington Street, Woolwich.
By 1901, Amelia had moved to 18 Wetherby Place, Kensington, the home of barrister Mark Romer (34), his wife Annie (32) and their 2 young sons Mark and Charles. The Romers employed 6 servants.
13 M viii. Harry King was born circa 1880 in Woolwich, London.
14 M ix. Alfred King was born circa 1883 in Woolwich, London.
5. Lizzie King was born on 9 Jan 1847 in Pettistree, Suffolk and died on 25 Nov 1923 at age 76. Another name for Lizzie was Elizabeth King.
Lizzie was the youngest child of John and Arabella King. Her parents seem to have been an unusual couple. Her father was roughly 33 years older than her mother, who had been born on the tiny island of St Eustatia in the West Indies. Though Lizzie was born in Pettistree, where her family lived in the early 1850s, her elder brothers and her sister were all born in Woolwich, which is where she would eventually settle with her Manchester-born husband John Abel, probably in the late 1860s, taking a house next door to that of her brother Francis and his family.
Lizzie married John Abel, son of John Abel and Mary Ann Capon, on 19 Jun 1869 in Woolwich Parish Church, London. John was born on 8 Sep 1840 in Hulme, Manchester, was baptised on 2 Oct 1840 in Manchester Cathedral, and died on 28 Jan 1915 at age 74.
It is likely that this is the John Abel who was christened in Manchester Cathedral on 2nd October 1840, the son of John Abel and Mary Ann. We know Mary Ann to be John's mother from Census records.
John and Lizzie Abel and their first son appear in the 1871 Census living at 60 Brewer St, Woolwich, a short walk from the Royal Artillery Barracks. John is a carpenter aged 30 and Elisabeth is 24. Young John is only 11 months old. (Brewer Street has since been renamed John Wilson Street and is just across the river from London City Airport).
Ten years later, John Abel, then aged 40, was working at Woolwich Royal Arsenal as a carpenter. He and Lizzie now had a young family of 5 children (John, James, Edith, Charlotte and William) were living at 9 Brewer Place, Woolwich. The children were aged between 1 and 10. Their next door neighbours at 10 Brewer Place were Lizzie's elder brother, Francis (46), a blacksmith and Chelsea Pensioner like his father, with his wife Matilda (40) and their 8 children aged between 1 and 15.
In 1891, John and Lizzie were living at 33 Brewer Street, Woolwich with John (20), Edith (16), James (19), Charlotte (13) and William (11). The younger John was working as a fitter, Edith as a dressmaker and James as a carpenter like his father. Charlotte and William were at school.
On the night of the 1901 Census John, Lizzie and their 6 youngest children were living at 57 Brewer Street, Woolwich. He was still employed as a carpenter. Living with them at the same address were John's eldest son, John Alfred (30), with his wife Clara (21) and their son Harold (1). John Alfred was working as a bookkeeper at the Woolwich Arsenal.
He may have been related to Bobby Abel (Surrey Cricketer, "The Guv'nor") born November 1857 and died 1936.
More information about the Woolwich Arsenal can be found at www.royal-arsenal.com.
Children from this marriage were:
+ 15 M i. John Alfred Abel was born in 1870 in Woolwich, London and died in Nov 1932 at age 62.
+ 16 M ii. James Frankland Abel was born in 1871 in Woolwich, London.
+ 17 F iii. Edith Mary Abel was born on 2 Jan 1875 in Plumstead, Woolwich, London and died on 24 Aug 1957 in Eltham, London at age 82.
18 F iv. Charlotte Lilian Abel was born in 1878 in Woolwich, London. Another name for Charlotte was Lottie Abel.
Charlotte, according to the 1901 Census, was a "shirtmaker forewoman".
Charlotte married John Henry Geard, son of John Geard and Caroline M A Unknown, in 1901 in Woolwich, London. John was born circa 1878 in Woolwich, London.
By 1901, John had become a government clerk.
+ 19 M v. William Wesley Abel was born in 1880 in Woolwich, London and died in 1963 at age 83.
20 F vi. Sarah Abel was born circa 1882 in Woolwich, London.
Sarah married Unknown Woolgar.
+ 21 F vii. Lizzie Abel was born circa 1885 in Woolwich, London.
22 F viii. Matilda Abel was born circa 1887 in Woolwich, London. Another name for Matilda was Tilly Abel.
Matilda emigrated to New Zealand.
23 F ix. Amy Abel was born circa 1890 in Woolwich, London and died on 23 Jul 1945 at age 55.
Third Generation 15. John Alfred Abel was born in 1870 in Woolwich, London and died in Nov 1932 at age 62.
On the 1901 Census, John and his small family are living with his parents at 57 Brewer Street, Woolwich. John's profession was recorded as "book keeper".
John married Clara Edith Knight, daughter of Thomas H Knight and Cecilia Unknown, autumn 1899 in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire. Clara was born circa 1880 in Battersea, London.
Children from this marriage were:
24 F i. Irene Abel was born after 1901.
25 M ii. Ronald Abel was born after 1901.
26 M iii. Harold J Abel was born circa 1900 in Flamstead, Herts.
16. James Frankland Abel was born in 1871 in Woolwich, London. Another name for James was Jim Abel.
James took up his father's occupation as a carpenter. On the 1901 Census he is living at 8 Inverine Road, Woolwich, aged 29 with his wife Ada and their two toddlers Ada and Francis.
James married Ada Jane Hawthorn, daughter of Henry Hawthorn and Jane Unknown, winter 1894 in Woolwich, London. Ada was born circa 1876 in Plumstead, Woolwich, London.
Although not yet married, Ada does not appear on the 1891 Census under her maiden name.
Children from this marriage were:
27 F i. Ada V Abel was born circa 1897 in Woolwich, London.
28 M ii. Francis J Abel was born circa 1898 in Woolwich, London.
17. Edith Mary Abel was born on 2 Jan 1875 in Plumstead, Woolwich, London and died on 24 Aug 1957 in Eltham, London at age 82.
At the time of the 1881 Census, Edith was living with her parents, her three brothers and a sister at 9 Brewer Place, Woolwich.
Edith married Arthur Rengert, son of George Leonard Rengert and Emma Warren, on 24 Apr 1899. Arthur was born on 17 May 1875 in Plumstead, Woolwich, London and died on 24 Aug 1958 at age 83.
Arthur was a butcher by 1891, like his father George Leonard. By the 1901 Census, aged 26, he seems to have left home to marry Edith (24) and to have set up on his own ("Butcher/Own Account"). The newlyweds lived at 17 Wernbrook Street, alongside Plumstead Common, nearly 8 miles from Arthur's family home.
Children from this marriage were:
+ 29 M i. Arthur Albert Rengert was born on 28 Jun 1901 and died in 1998 at age 97.
+ 30 F ii. Edith Rengert was born on 20 Feb 1903 in Plumstead, Woolwich, London, died on 26 Mar 1970 in Hildenborough, Kent at age 67, and was buried in Pembury Crematorium, Tunbridge Wells.
+ 31 M iii. Archibald Francis G Rengert was born on 4 Sep 1906 in Greenwich, London and died in Apr 1992 at age 85.
+ 32 M iv. Jack William Rengert was born on 27 Sep 1910 and died in 1981 at age 71.
19. William Wesley Abel was born in 1880 in Woolwich, London and died in 1963 at age 83.
William appears on the 1901 Census as a "machinist's metal turner".
William married Nellie Blackler, daughter of Samuel Turpin Blackler and Ellen E Austin, circa 1904. Nellie was born circa 1882 in Plumstead, Woolwich, London and died on 5 Jul 1945 at age 63. Another name for Nellie was Ellen Blackler.
Of Nellie, Jenny Compton wrote in June 2006, "She was, like William, very musical and she performed in an amateur way under the name of Nellie Stanley William."
Children from this marriage were:
+ 33 F i. Olive Abel
21. Lizzie Abel was born circa 1885 in Woolwich, London. Another name for Lizzie was Elizabeth Abel.
On the 1901 Census, Lizzie's occupation is recorded as "shirtmaker".
Lizzie married Unknown Branch.
Children from this marriage were:
35 M i. Donald Branch
Fourth Generation 
29. Arthur Albert Rengert was born on 28 Jun 1901 and died in 1998 at age 97.
The England and Wales, Civil Registration Index: 1837-1900 (online) shows Arthur Albert Rengert, born Woolwich, 1901. He worked as a butcher like his father.
Arthur married Ethel Taylor in Apr 1926. Ethel was born circa 1902 and died circa 1932 at age 30.
Children from this marriage were:
+ 37 F i. Olive Rengert
+ 38 F ii. Margaret Rengert
Arthur next married Maude Unknown. Maude was born <1906> and died circa 1980 at age 74.
The child from this marriage was:
+ 39 M i. Arthur Rengert
30. Edith Rengert was born on 20 Feb 1903 in Plumstead, Woolwich, London, died on 26 Mar 1970 in Hildenborough, Kent at age 67, and was buried in Pembury Crematorium, Tunbridge Wells.
Edith married Frederick John Ash, son of Fred Ash and Annie Breed, on 28 Sep 1928 in Methodist Church, Eltham. Frederick was born on 21 Dec 1902 in Camberwell, London, was baptised on 17 Jun 1906 in Holy Trinity, Eltham, died on 26 Mar 1985 in Farnborough, Kent at age 82, and was buried on 9 Apr 1985 in Bexley Crematorium.
Children from this marriage were:
+ 40 M i. The Revd Brian John Ash
+ 41 M ii. Martin Gill Ash
31. Archibald Francis G Rengert was born on 4 Sep 1906 in Greenwich, London and died in Apr 1992 at age 85.
Arch was a carpenter.
Archibald married Mabel Darling, daughter of Unknown and Unknown, on 29 Aug 1929. Mabel died in 1993.
Children from this marriage were:
42 F i. Phyllis Rengert
Phyllis married Unknown Nobbs. Unknown died in 1977.
+ 43 F ii. Alma Rengert
32. Jack William Rengert was born on 27 Sep 1910 and died in 1981 at age 71. Another name for Jack was John William Rengert.
Jack was an electrician.
Jack married Helen Edna Barnet. Helen was born in 1908 and died in Oct 2003 at age 95.
The child from this marriage was:
+ 44 F i. Maureen Rengert
Olive married Unknown Hampshire.
The child from this marriage was:
45 F i. Jennifer Hampshire
Jennifer married Unknown Compton.
Fifth Generation Olive married Cecil Sealy. Cecil was born on 13 Dec 1925 and died in 1994 at age 69.
Children from this marriage were:
+ 46 M i. Anthony Sealy
+ 47 M ii. David Sealy
Margaret married John Broyd. John died on 19 Sep 1988.
Children from this marriage were:
48 M i. Stephen Broyd
+ 49 F ii. Jacqueline Broyd
Arthur married Celia Hall.
Children from this marriage were:
+ 50 F i. Beverley Rengert
+ 51 M ii. Christopher Rengert
52 F iii. Joanne Rengert
Brian married Jean Margaret Topping, daughter of The Revd Walter Darling Topping and Winifred Leigh Wood.
Children from this marriage were:
53 M i. David John Ash
David married Teresa Georgina Clark, daughter of Derek Lawrence Clark and Sylvia May Keen.
+ 54 F ii. Jacqueline Ruth Ash
+ 55 M iii. Nicholas Martin Ash
+ 56 F iv. Elizabeth Rachel Ash
Martin married Maureen Church.
Children from this marriage were:
+ 57 F i. Cathryn Grace Ash
58 F ii. Gillian Gay Ash
Gillian married David Phelps.
Martin next married Catherine Frances Morgan.
Alma married John O'Donaghue.
Children from this marriage were:
+ 59 M i. Colin O'Donaghue
+ 60 M ii. Philip Paul O'Donaghue
+ 61 M iii. Lucas Neil O'Donaghue
Alma next married Gerry Moore.
Maureen married Robert Wilsker. Robert was born on 13 Jan 1919 and died on 24 Nov 1998 at age 79.
Robert was a Polish Jew. He and his wife lived on a kibbutz in Israel for a while. He was very involved with the peace movement in the UK.
Children from this marriage were:
+ 62 M i. Peter Wilsker was born on 14 Jun 1953 and died in 2000 at age 47.
+ 64 M iii. Martin Wilsker
+ 66 M v. David Wilsker
Sixth Generation Anthony married Sue Coleman.
Children from this marriage were:
+ 67 M i. Alan Sealy
+ 68 M ii. Ian Sealy
David married Lynne Yates.
The child from this marriage was:
+ 70 F i. Samantha Sealy
David next married Angela Bull.
Children from this marriage were:
71 F i. Amy Sealy
Jacqueline married Michael Brooks.
Children from this marriage were:
73 M i. Grahame Brooks
74 F ii. Michelle Brooks
Beverley married Mark Allison.
Children from this marriage were:
76 F i. Nicole Allison
77 F ii. Natasha Allison
78 F iii. Kimberly Allison
Christopher married Rachael Cummings.
The child from this marriage was:
Jacqueline married Jonathan Philip Ullmer, son of Antony Ullmer and Catherine Margaret Hughes.
Children from this marriage were:
81 F i. Philippa Marguerite Ullmer
82 M ii. Alexander David Ullmer
Nicholas married Patricia Louise Owen, daughter of Robin Arthur Owen and Margaret Louise Bennett.
Children from this marriage were:
83 F i. Naomi Elizabeth Ash
Elizabeth married Christopher Andrew Peacock, son of David Peacock and Christine Henniker.
Children from this marriage were:
85 M i. Thomas Christopher Peacock
86 M ii. Joshua David Peacock
87 M iii. Joseph Nathaniel Peacock
Cathryn married Simon Tamlyn.
The child from this marriage was:
88 M i. Sam Tamlyn
Cathryn next married Unknown Gibson.
The child from this marriage was:
Colin married.
His children were:
90 M i. Liam O'Donaghue
Philip married Anke Burger.
Children from this marriage were:
92 F i. Nina O'Donaghue
Lucas married Penelope Wallace.
Children from this marriage were:
94 F i. Rachel O'Donaghue
95 M ii. Thomas O'Donaghue
Lucas next married Sarah Unknown.
62. Peter Wilsker was born on 14 Jun 1953 and died in 2000 at age 47.
Peter married Gillian Sollis.
Children from this marriage were:
96 F i. Natalie Wilsker
Martin married Susan Read.
Children from this marriage were:
98 M i. Ben Wilsker
David married Alison Thomas.
Children from this marriage were:
100 M i. Reuben Wilsker
Seventh GenerationAlan married.
His child was:
Ian married Corinne Unknown.
Children from this marriage were:
103 M i. Sol Sealy
104 F ii. Rozie Sealy
Samantha married Nathan Epplestone.
The child from this marriage was:
106 M i. Oscar Epplestone was born on 2 Oct 2002.
Home | Table of Contents | Surnames | Name List
This Web Site was Created 13 Jun 2006 with Legacy 6.0 from Millennia