Samuel John Kirby, born about 1849 in North Benfleet

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

Summary

Samuel John KIRBY, born in North Benfleet, Essex, and then raised there and at South Ockendon, Essex as part of a very large family. Possible early marriage to Emma SPICER, under investigation. Moved into central London after marrying Minnie PRITCHARD. Worked as a milk carrier and dairyman.

Parents and family

The 1851 Census indicates that his father was John KIRBY (1815-) born North Benfleet, Essex, and suggests that his mother was the Susan SULLINGS, whom John snr married in 1842. Samuel's marriage certificate confirms his father as John KIRBY giving his father's occupation as the somewhat grandiose 'farmer'.

Birth

The 1851 and 1861 Census records concur that his birth date was about 1849 and his birthplace was North Benfleet, Essex. The probable birth registration is Samuel John KIRBY, Billericay, Mar Q 1849, Vol 12 Pg 12.

One Samuel John, son of John and Susan KIRBY was Christened on 25 Mar 1849, at North Benfleet, Essex.

Childhood and education

On the 1851 Census he is listed at Hall Cottage, North Benfleet, Essex. The family comprised:

John CURBY, head, 36, ag lab [i.e. Agricultural Labourer], born Northbenfleet, Sx
Susan CURBY, wife, 28, , born Rochford, Sx
Thomas CURBY, son, 8, , born Runwell, Sx
Charles CURBY, son, 6, , born Wickford, Sx
Samuell CURBY, son, 2, , born Northbenfleet, Sx

Employment

On the 1861 Census he is listed in South Ockendon at unit 51, the previous unit with a name against it being unit 41 ('The Prince of Wales Inn')
The family comprised:

John KIRBY, head, 44, ag lab, born Northbenfleet, Essex
Susan KIRBY, wife, 39, , born Rochford, Essex
Thomas KIRBY, son, 18, Ag Lab, born Runwell, Essex
Charles KIRBY, son, 16, Ag Lab, born Pickford (sic), Essex
Samuel KIRBY, son, 12, Ag Lab, born North Benfleet, Essex
Mary , daughter, 9, scholar, born North Benfleet, Essex
Eliza , daughter, 7, scholar, born South Ockendon, Essex
Edwin, son, 4, , born South Ockendon, Essex
Sarah, daughter, 2, , born South Ockendon, Essex

On the 1871 Census he is listed at Kennel Cottages, Prittlewell, Essex.

Samuel KIBEY, Lodger, U[n]M[arried], aged 22, Ag. Lab, born North Benfleet, Essex

Samuel KIBEY is transcribed in one index as Riley, the writter's Ks are very similar to his Rs. He appears to be lodging with family of William WALKER.

On 2 Aug 1871 one Samuel John KIRBY married an Emma SPICER, at All Saints, West Ham, Essex. But this does not relate to the current Samuel, as the individual getting married was aged 44 and the son of James KIRBY.

Marriage to Minnie Pritchard

On 8th August 1875, in Emmanuel Church in the parish of Camberwell, he married Minnie Charlotte PRITCHARD. The writing on the marriage registration is a loose hand and so difficult, but the details appear to be -

Groom: Samuel John KIRBY, aged 26, bachelor, dairyman, residing in Emmanuel. Son of John KIRBY, farmer.
Bride: Minnie Charlotte PRITCHARD, aged 19, spinster, residing in Emmanuel. Daughter of Benjamin PRITCHARD, Slater.
Witnessed by Thomas [Har, Huc or Win?]ding and Mary Ann [L or H?]aw[s or t]on.

Shortly after the wedding, on 15 Aug 1876, he buried his father at South Ockendon, Essex.

In 1878 he was living at 11 Werrington Street, St Pancras, London, Middlesex and working as a Milkman.

On the 1881 Census they were listed at 91, Woodchester St, Paddington, London. At which time the family comprised -

Samuel J. KIRBY, Head, Mar[ried], 32, Dairyman, Benfleet, Essex
Minnie C KIRBY, Wife, M, 31, , Bermondsey, Surrey
Minnie S KIRBY, Daur, Un M[arried], 5, Scholar, Camb*******, Surrey
Eliza M KIRBY, Daur, , 2, , St Pancras, Surrey
Sydney [J?] KIRBY, Son, , 11mo, , Paddington, Surrey
Martha PRITCHARD, Mo'r in Law, , 64, Annuitant formerly Needlewoman, B[rixham?], Surrey

There are two references, in the index to the collections of Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies, lists amongst the manorial records, title deeds and family papers of the Abel Smith family of the Woodhall Park Estate, Hertfordshire, [DE/AS/2090 - DE/AS/4883] to a Samuel John Kirby of Grays, Essex. These involve the lease of property in Watton Street, but are likely to refer to another individual of that name, whose death was registered in Orsett in 1890.

At some point before 1891 Samuel then moved to the suburbs of Leytonstone (then in SE Essex) in which he plied his trade as a dairyman.

The 1891 Census lists him at 4 "[May?]" Cott, Cobden Rd, Leyton, Essex

Samuel KIRBY, Head, M[arried], **, Milk Carrier, Employed, Essex, Benfleet
Minnie KIRBY, Wife, M, 34, , , Surrey, Southwark
Minnie S KIRBY, Daur, S[ingle], 15, , , Surrey, Camberwell
Sydney J KIRBY, Son, S, 10, Scholar, , Surrey, Paddington
Evelin KIRBY, Daur, S, 9, Scholar, , Surrey, *****
Amy KIRBY, Daur, S, *, Scholar, , Surrey, *****

By the 1901 Census he had moved down the street to 78 Cobden Rd, Leytonstone, Essex and was once again calling himself a Dairyman. Listing details are:

Sam'l KIRBY, Head, M[arried], 52, Dairyman, Own Acc, at Home, Essex, N'th Benfleet
Minnie KIRBY, Wife, M, 44, , , , London, B'dsey
Sydney KIRBY, Son, S[ingle], 20, Dockyard Labourer, Worker, , London, Paddington
Albert KIRBY, Son, S, 15, Grocer's Errand Boy, Worker, , London, Hackney
Nellie KIRBY, Dau, S, 13, , , , London, Holloway
Ernest KIRBY, Son, S, 11, , , ,London, Holloway
Grace KIRBY, Daur, S, 9, , , , Essex, Leytonstone
Frank KIRBY, Son, S, 7, , , , Essex, Leytonstone
Reginald KIRBY, Son, S, 5, , , , Essex, Leytonstone
Cyril KIRBY, Son, S, 0, , , , Essex, Leytonstone

On Sat 9 Jul 1904 the Essex Newsman reported that a Leytonstone dairyman had adopted the novel method of ushering four cows round the streets in the company of two white-coated hands who milked them on demand. The usual cry of "Milk!" being replaced by "Warm Milk!"

The 1911 Census saw the family still at 78 Cobden Rd., Leytonstone, Essex (a property with 5 rooms). Listing details are:

Samuel John KIRBY, Head, 62, Married, Dairyman, Employer on own acct, Essex, North Benfleet
Minnie KIRBY, Wife, 54, Married, [for ] 35 [years], 12 children born, 12 still living, , London, Southwark
Grace KIRBY, Daughter, 19, Single, , Shop Assistant Drapers, Essex, Leytonstone
Frank KIRBY, Sin, 17, Single, , Clerk Assistant Writer, Essex, Leytonstone
Reginald KIRBY, Son, 15, Single, , Shop Assistant stores, Essex, Leytonstone
Cyril KIRBY, Son, 13, Single, , School, Essex, Leytonstone

The above details rely on transcripts and have, in minor parts, still to be verified against the original census entries.

In Sep 1924 his son Reginald Harold KIRBY married, at which time he gave his father as Samuel John KIRBY, dairyman. The bride's father was shown as deceased, but Samuel was not.

	L to R Ivy Minnie E. KIRBY and son Roy Unidentified older lady (see notes below)		L to R Unknown (possibly Frank Kirby) Ivy Minnie E. KIRBY Unknown older lady (see notes below) and Reginald's son Roy Reginald Harold KIRBY
	L to R Unidentified older lady (see notes below) Unknown Reginald Harold KIRBY & son Samuel KIRBY? (see notes below)

The identity of the older woman in these photos is uncertain. She has the look of a proud grandmother. As Roy's paternal grandmother probably died in 1926 (likely June quarter registration), the older lady who is holding Roy (born in 1926), is likely to be Harriet COOK, his maternal grandmother. The identity of the older gentleman in these photos is uncertain but it seems likely that he is Samuel KIRBY as Ivy's father, George COOK appears to have been dead by this time. On the 1924 marriage certificate of his son Reginald Harold KIRBY Samuel is not shown as deceased, whilst the bride's father is. Furthermore, a grandson has a vague recollection from after 1926 of a very old man with a long white beard who was 'Grandfather' and lived across Cobden Road from him. A cousin of his has also mentioned recalling Samuel as a man with a long white beard. A further recollection the grandson had was of a horse and cart being kept locally and a relative delivering milk from an urn on a cart. By 1926 Samuel would have been about 77 and therefore remarkable to still be doing a delivery job. One day a wedding photograph may turn up and help sort out who was who.

Last Will and Testament

Unknown.

Death

The only candidate death registration between 1915 and 1935 is from 1935 - KIRBY, Samuel J, Aged 86 (i.e. born about 1849), West Ham, June Quarter, Vol 4a, pg 172. At that time few people lived beyond 87, so this was almost certainly him.

Burial

Unknown.

Descendants and notable relations

Service records are available for his son, Ernest Pritchard KIRBY of 78 Cobden Road, Leytonstone, Essex. The following is a summary, supplemented by details from The Long, Long Trail web-site (shown in italics).

He was enlisted at Chatham on 8 Dec 1915 as Private 241625 in the E Surrey regiment and subsequently called up on 5 June 1916, joining at Maidstone. Posted to 3/6th East Surrey on 7 June, then rapidly re-posted to 1/6th on 27th July, with whom he then departed, apparently on the same day, for India, arriving on 22 Aug1915, where the 1/6th formed part of the Rawalpindi Brigade. He contracted malaria in India in Oct 1916 (treated at Station Hospital, Rawal Pindi), at about which time the 1/6th were transferred to the Jhelum Brigade. Remaining in India until 21 Jan 1917, he then sailed for Aden, arriving on 26th Jan (where the 1/6th came under orders of the Aden Brigade). In Aden he suffering a further bout of malaria in Nov 1917 (treated at Station Hospital Aden). He remained in Aden until 9-1-17 [sic 9 Jan 2018] when he returned to India, arriving on 15th Jan where the 1/6th joined the Dehra Dun Brigade in 7th (Meerut) Division. His application for a disability pension was rejected on 20 Sep 1919, when he was aged 29. The 1/6th and 3/6th were Territorial battalions.

Before being called up service Ernest had been a waiter, employed by D. Dowlana Esq. at the Sun & York Hotel, Chatham.