Alfred George Hicks born 1841 in Bardfield Saling

For related information see www.the-kirbys.org.uk, Ancestor List, Place Index and Wills Index

Summary

Yet to be summarised.

Parents and family

Alfred's family were in  Bardfield Saling
From Alfred's Marriage Certificate (1873) his father was one John Hicks, labourer. From the 1841 Census it appears that Alfred HICKS' parents were therefore John HICKS and

Birth

Alfred George Hicks was born Jun 1841 and appears on the 1841 Census at New Green, Bardfield Saling. At that time the family unit comprised:
All ages over 20 appear to have been converted to multiples of 5 years. The name Rebecca is not too clear and could be Ranna and therefore a transcription error for Hanna (the details on the census forms are transcribed from the original returns).
Listed next to them is another unit comprising :

Childhood and education

I have been unable to locate Alfred on the 1851 Census, when he would have been 10. This is probably because he was still in Bardfield Saling, Essex, one of a handful of areas for which no 1851 Census records exist.

Employment, agricultural labourer

On the 1861 Census he appears at Wards Farm, Writtle, Essex. There is a Ward's Farm about 2 km SE of Writtle and in the hamlet of Highwood.
Listed next but one before this are a PERRY family (Samuel 42 and Martha 44).  

By the 1871 Census he had moved and was listed at Duck Lane, Thornwood, North Weald Bassett, Essex. Thornwood is today Thornwood Common
He was boarding with the family of his brother-in-law William STOCK.  At that time the family comprised -
In 1849 Alfred's elder sister Susannah appears to have married James GROUT of Stebbing (abt 1824-1863). However, during the period 1861 to 1871 both Susannah GROUT (nee HICKS) and William STOCK appear to have lost lost their respective spouses and been left with at least four children apeice. One can therefore imagine that Alfred HICKS and the Housekeeper Sarah STOCK, with whom he worked in 1861, may have been intrumental in the couple getting together.

Marriage, to Phoebe Stevens

In 1873 Alfred married Phoebe Catherine STEVENS. For 2 June 1873, the Marriages Register for St Alban's Church, Theydon Garnon Parish, Essex, records the following marriage -
Groom: Alfred HICKS, age 30, bachelor, labourer, resident of Coopersale. Son of John HICKS Labourer.
Bride: Phoebe STEVENS, age 23, Spinster, Servant, resident of Coopersale. Daughter of John STEVENS, Labourer.
Witnessed by William STOCK & Anne Maria STEVENS.
William STEVENS was almost certainly the brother-in-law mentioned above as Theydon Garnon and Thornwood are reasonably close to one another. Anne Maria STEVENS was probably Phoebe's sister Anna who was born in Wanstead in 1856. Coopersale lies on the eastern outskirts of the town of Epping, Essex. Phoebe faile to give her middle name 'Catherine' at this point but her middle initial 'C' appears on the 1891 Census.

The Epping years

The obituary of Phoebe HICKS places the move to Epping Green in about 1878. However, from their marriage certificate and the birthplaces of their children, it appears that they lived in that vacinity from the time they married.

In about 1874, the couple had their first son, Alfred William HICKS, for whom later census records give a place of birth of Epping, Essex.

In about 1875, the couple had their second son, Ernest Henry HICKS, for whom later census records give a place of birth of Epping, Essex.

In about 1877, the couple had their third son, Herbert James HICKS, for whom later census records give a place of birth of Epping, Essex.

The Loughton years

About 1879 he established a bakers and confectioners business in Goldings Hill, Loughton, Essex. However the business proved unsuccessful (from a detail in the obituary of P HICKS).

In about 1879, the couple had their first daughter, Florence Susannah HICKS, for whom later census records give a place of birth of Loughton, Essex. . The middle names given to the couple's first son and daughter (William and Susannah), suggest that they were close to Alfred's sister Susannah and her husband William STOCK.

Around 1880, the couple had their fourth son, Edward G HICKS, for whom later census records give a place of birth of Loughton, Essex.

Around 1881, the couple had their fifth son, John Percy HICKS, for whom the 1881 census records give a place of birth of Loughton, Essex.

On the 1881 Census the family were living at Pump Hill, Loughton, Essex. At that time the family comprised -
In about 1882 John Percy HICKS died in infancy.

In 1882, the couple had their second daughter, Phoebe Louisa HICKS, for whom the 1891 census records give a place of birth of Loughton, Essex.

Around 1884, the couple had their sixth son, Arthur George HICKS, for whom the 1891 census records give a place of birth of Loughton, Essex.

Around 1886, the couple had their third daughter, Elizabeth Fanny (=Frances?) HICKS, for whom the 1891 census records give a place of birth of Loughton, Essex.

Around 1886, the couple had their fourth daughter, Sarah Ann HICKS, for whom the 1891 census records give a place of birth of Loughton, Essex.

By the 1891 Census the family were listed alongside the Kings Head, High Road, Loughton. At that time the publican was one William Macklin of Marlboro, Wilts. The Kings Head building remains, though somewhat altered, and in 2008 it was called The Fox. At that time the family comprised:
People used to play down their profession on the census, e.g. builders and monumental masons who declared themselves on the return as 'bricklayers.' There were no pits in Essex do 'Coal Labourer' probably meant coalman (i.e. a coal delivery service operator). Phoebe's sister, Fanny, had married Charles STINTON. As the STINTONs were coal merchants, this may account for moving into that area of work.  

Around 1892, the couple had their fifth daughter, Eleanor M(ary?) HICKS, for whom the 1901 census records give a place of birth of Loughton, Essex.

On the 1901 Census the family were living on the High Road, Loughton, Essex. At that time the family comprised
According to Phoebe HICK's obituary they were living in 'one of the cottages on the cricket ground'.

About 1908 the couple moved to Forest Road, Loughton, Essex, where they lived for 14 years until the death of Phoebe.

On 7 Jan 1922 he was at Forest Road, Loughton, Essex

Last Will and Testament

None is known

Death

1922. The registration would appear to be that for Alfred G HICKS, aged 81 (i.e. born about 1841), registered in the March Quarter of 1922 in the Epping, Essex, registration district (Vol 4a, Pg 684)

Burial

Not known

Descendants and notable relations

To be continued...
Transcripts on this page are Copyright R I Kirby 2008.