Volume 5 – Kent and Beyond by Steve Green

Part 5 - Sawyers of the East India Docks – The Descendants of William Alchin and Ann Knock of Meopham

Introduction

It seems certain from available records that for at least two generations in the late 18th century my ancestors settled at Meopham (it may also have been their ancestral village as William’s great grandparents married at Meopham in 1682) where William Alchin and his wife Ann Knock had six sons – Anthony (1797), Henry (1798), William (1800), John (1804), George (1806) and Francis (1808). Ann Alchin died in 1813 and William married Jane Middleton and had at least one more son – Thomas (1819).

The family seems to have moved to London after 1820. There appears to have been a major change in employment at Meopham as several groups of Alchins left Meopham at this time. Perhaps the wages being offered at the new ship building yards at the East and West India Docks was sufficient to tempt the men folk to move to the city.

Our first confirmable Alchin ancestor is George Alchin and he and his family lived in the East End of London in the suburb of Poplar in the early 1830’s. Poplar lies in a deep curve of the Thames almost forming an island. The area also includes the suburbs of Stepney, Limehouse, Isle of Dogs and Millwall, all of which lie within the modern borough of Tower Hamlets. This part of London was very heavily damaged during the war by German bombing, which particularly targeted the docks and as a result was largely cleared and rebuilt.

Poplar and the West India Docks in 1827

Poplar was a hamlet of Stepney in the parish of St Dunstan’s until it became a separate parish in 1817 and a new church, All Saints, was built in 1823. The village grew from the 16th century onwards because of its closeness to London and its ability to cater for ocean-going ships at Blackwall. The East India Company had many of its ships built in the Blackwall Yard. The East and West India Docks were built about 1810 and were linked to London by the new East India Road and Commercial Road and as a result Poplar expanded rapidly. The Alchin’s probably moved to Poplar from Kent after the docks were built. Most male members of the family at the time were sawyers and were probably involved in the shipbuilding trade at the East India docks.

Migration

The descendants of William Alchin and Ann Knock reached Australia in three groups. The earliest was Anthony Alchin of Croydon, Surrey who travelled alone to Adelaide on the “Duke of Portland” in 1850. He settled at Burra in South Australia. The second group comprised Francis Alchin of Poplar in London, together with his wife and two young children who arrived at Sydney aboard the “Rose of Sharon” in 1855. Francis and his family remained in Sydney. The third arrival was Francis Alchin of Limehouse who probably arrived in Melbourne but who eventually moved to Sydney where he raised a family.

General Health Issues

In the second half of the nineteenth century the Alchin family in Sydney had an appalling rate of infant mortality which, when combined with accidents, prevented more than two-thirds of the children born from reaching adulthood. War also took its toll on an already decimated family. The children probably died from the squalid conditions then prevalent in inner-Sydney with most dying of convulsions and / or fever. Those reaching adulthood rarely reached advanced ages with heart disease taking its toll although a gene for longevity came into the female line of the family through Ann Eliza Christophers.

1.  ~~  William Alchin

William Alchin was born at Meopham on 26th February 1772 and he was baptised at the church of St John the Baptist, Meopham on 15th March 1772. William was the eldest son and second child of Anthony Alchin and Mary Higgins who married at Meopham on 29th January 1767. This theory is supported by the fact that in 1797 William Alchin in turn named his eldest son Anthony William Alchin. There is a genealogy dated 1st December 1886, which supports this lineage.

William married Ann Knock at St Mary’s church, Chatham on 5th May 1796 (William’s sister Ann also married at Chatham). Chatham was a major shipbuilding centre and William was probably employed in the shipyards at the time. William and Ann had six sons – Anthony (1797), Henry (1798), William (1800), John (1804), George (1806) and Francis (1808). William inherited 6 acres of land at Meopham from his father in 1809. He continued to pay parish rates on this land until the early 1820’s.

Ann Knock died at Camer aged 41 years and she was buried at Meopham on 10th October 1813. William subsequently married Jane Middleton at the church of St Peter and St Paul, Milton by Gravesend in Kent. William and Jane had at least one child – Thomas (1819). At this time William is described as a carpenter of Camer by the parish register.

Thomas must have been disabled or retarded as he appears to have been abandoned by his family when they moved to London.  He died in the Meopham Poor House aged 15 years. William and Jane may have had a second child – William (1822). A William Alchin of Camer aged 10 months was buried at Meopham on 16th March 1823 – there is no record of his baptism at Meopham.

At some point in the 1820’s William moved his family to the East End of London, possibly via Croydon in Surrey. William was buried at All Saints’ church, Poplar on 30th September 1826. His address in the burial register is given as Finch’s Court, Poplar and his age is given as 65 years although ages in burial registers are notoriously inaccurate. If it had been entered as 55 years it would agree with his baptism date. Jane may have died in 1851 (Poplar 1851 December qtr Volume 2 Page 272).

(for details of William’s ancestry see Volume 3, Part 3, para 1.3.10.3.2)

1.1.  ~~  Anthony William Alchin

Anthony was baptised at the church of St John the Baptist, Meopham on 1st January 1797 and he was named for his father (William Alchin) and his grandfather (Anthony Alchin). Anthony died at Camer aged 18 years and he was buried at Meopham by the Rev’d R.S. Joynes on 15th April 1814.

1.2.  ~~  Henry Alchin

Henry was born at Meopham in May 1798 and he was baptised at the church of St John the Baptist, Meopham on 10th June 1798. Henry married Mary Holman at St Mary’s church, Newington in Surrey on 30th August 1823. Mary was baptised at Coulsden near Croydon on 28th May 1797 and she was the daughter of Francis Holman and Mary Curling.

Henry and Mary Alchin had at least two children – John (1825) and Emma (1828). Both children  were baptised at Croydon in Surrey (now part of Greater London). The 1829 Pigott’s Directory records a Henry Alchin as a carpenter and undertaker of Gill Street, Limehouse. It seems likely that this was his father’s old business that he had taken over after his father’s death in 1826.

The 1841 census records that Henry was employed as a carpenter. He and his wife and their two children were living at North End, Croydon. The 1851 census records that Henry was a carpenter and he and his wife were living alone at North Place, Croydon. The 1861 census records that Henry was a carpenter and he and his wife were living alone at 11 North Place, Croydon.

The 1871 records that Henry was still a carpenter and he and his wife were living alone at 22 South End, Croydon. Mary probably died in 1872 aged 76 years (Croydon 1872 December qtr Volume 2a Page 117). Henry may have died in 1879 aged 84 years (Croydon 1879 March qtr Volume 2a Page 155).

1.2.1.  ~~  John Alchin

John was born at Croydon in 1825 and he was baptised at the church of St John the Baptist, Croydon on 24th July 1825. The 1841 census records that John was living with his parents at North End, Croydon and he was probably still at school despite being 15 years old.

The 1851 census records that John was a school master and he and his sister and their cousin Charlotte Alchin were living at Biddenden. The 1861 census records that John was a school master and he and his sister were living at Blue Coat School, Canterbury. Also living with them was their cousin Fanny Alchin.

The 1871 census records that John was an innkeeperr and a travelling clerk. He and his sister and their unmarried niece (Ann C. Evans who was born at Croydon in 1845) were living at Kings Arms, Church Street, Sandwich. John’s sister Emma died in 1874 aged 45 years.

John subsequently married Juliet Ann Wotton Friend in 1876 (Eastry 1876 September qtr Volume 2a Page 1307). Juliet was born at Eastry in Kent in late 1825 or early 1826 and she was baptised at St Lawrence’s church, Thanet on 29th January 1826. She was the daughter of Robert and Elizabeth Friend. As both John and Juliet were both well and truly middle-aged when they married it seems unlikely that they had any children.

The 1881 census records that John was an accountant and he and his wife were living at New Street, Sandwich, Kent. Visiting John and his wife at that time was 9 year old Agnes Maude Vallance of Dover. The 1891 census records that John was a brewery accountant and he and his wife were living at New Street, Sandwich. Juliet died at Sandwich in 1900 aged 75 years (Eastry 1900 June qtr Volume 2a Page 632).

The 1901 census records that John was a widower and he was a retired brewery clerk. He was still living at New Street, Sandwich. 7 year old Robert H. Woffinden (born at Hornsey, Middlesex) was staying with him at the time. It seems likely that John may have remarried (possibly to Emily Mary Ballard) later that year (Eastry 1901 September qtr Volume 2a Page 2069).

John died in 1912 aged 86 years (Eastry 1912 June qtr Volume 2a Page 1143). A letter written in December 1914 by William Mosto Alchin states that John had died three years previously (1911 but actually 1912) at Sandwich at the age of 86 years.

1.2.2.  ~~  Emma Alchin

Emma was born at Croydon in 1828 and she was baptised at the church of St John the Baptist, Croydon on 7th September 1828. The 1841 census records that Emma was living with her parents at North End, Croydon. The 1851 census records that Emma was a school mistress and she was living with her brother at Biddenden.

The 1861 census records that Emma was a matron at her brother’s school – the Blue Coat School at Canterbury. The 1871 census records that Emma was living with her brother and their niece at the Kings Arms, Church Street, Sandwich. Emma never married and she died at Sandwich in 1874 aged 45 years (Eastry 1874 September qtr Volume 2a Page 477).

1.3.  ~~  William Alchin

William was born at Meopham in February 1800 and he was baptised at the church of St John the Baptist, Meopham on 9th March 1800. He probably moved to London with his family when he was in his late teens. William married Charlotte Mosto at the church of St John the Baptist, Croydon on 5th August 1821; she was born at Burford, Oxfordshire in 1797.

William and Charlotte had at least five children  – William (1822), Charlotte (1827), Anthony (1829), John (1834) and Fanny (1841). William Alchin senior traveled to South Australia in 1836 aboard the vessel “Duke of Aden” – at this stage it is believed that he travelled by himself. Perhaps his intention was to bring his family to Australia once he had settled in. Family tradition says that William died at Burra not long after arriving in Australia, allegedly from the primitive conditions present in the mining settlement.

Unfortunately the enumerators appear to have missed the family for the 1841 census for the Croydon district. Ten years later, William’s son, Anthony followed in his father’s footsteps when he later migrated to South Australia in 1850. However the 1851 census clearly shows that William was still alive. He and his wife and their two children were living at Grove Cottages, Croydon. William may however died at Croydon in 1854 when he would have been 54 years old.

The 1861 census records that Charlotte was widowed and she is described as a proprietor of houses. She and her two unmarried children were living at 4 West Street, Croydon. Both of Charlotte’s daughters died within days of each other in mid 1864. The 1871 census records that Charlotte was living with an elderly female companion at 27 St Johns Road, Croydon.

Charlotte probably died in 1875 aged 78 years (Croydon 1875 December qtr Volume 2a Page 141).

1.3.1.  ~~  William Alchin

William was born at Croydon in the mid 1820’s (all the census record his year of birth as 1826) but he may have been born earlier as there is a record of a baptism under his name at the church of St John the Baptist, Croydon on 30th June 1822.

William married Ellen (her surname is unknown but it was probably Miles – there is no record of the marriage in the St Catherine’s house index). Ellen Miles, the daughter of William and Elizabeth Miles, was baptized at the church of St John the Baptist, Croydon on 21st January 1824); William’s wife was born at Croydon in 1824.

William and Ellen had at least nine children – William (1848), William (1852), Ellen (1853), Emma (1855), twins Anthony and Edwin (1857), Herbert (1860), Harriett (1865) and Percy (1867). The 1851 census records that William was a carpenter and he and his wife and their eldest son were living at Albion Street, Croydon.

The 1861 census records that William was a carpenter and he and his wife and their five eldest surviving children were living at Summer (Sumner?) Road, Croydon. The 1871 census records that William was a master builder and he and his wife and their five surviving children were still living at Summer Road, Croydon.

The 1881 census records that William was a timber merchant and he was living with his wife and three of their children at 26 Summer Road, Croydon. The 1891 census records that William was a timber merchant and he and his wife and their two unmarried children were living at 29 Oakfield Road, Croydon.

William probably died in 1896 aged 72 years (Croydon 1896 June qtr Volume 2a Page 132). Ellen died at Croydon in 1900 aged 75 years (Croydon 1900 March qtr Volume 2a Page 198).

1.3.1.1.  ~~  William Miles Alchin

William was born in his parent’s home at Barrack Field, Croydon at 7.50 am on 13th February 1848 (Croydon 1848 March qtr Volume 4 Page 114). He was baptised at the church of St John the Baptist, Croydon on 14th May 1848.

The 1851 census records that the young boy was living with his family at Albion Street, Croydon. William died at Croydon in 1851 aged only 3 years (Croydon 1851 September qtr Volume 2a Page 80).

1.3.1.2.  ~~  William Mosto Alchin

William was born at Croydon in 1852 (there is no surviving trace of his birth registration) and he was baptised at the church of St John the Baptist, Croydon on 5th September 1852. The 1861 census records that the school boy was living with his family at Summer Road, Croydon. The 1871 census records that he was still living with his parents at the same address. There is no occupation recorded for him but he was almost certainly working in his father’s business.

The 1881 census records that William was unmarried and he was living with his parents at 26 Summer Road, Croydon. He was assisting his father with his timber business. William married Sarah in the mid 1880’s (again there is no record in the St Catherine’s house index); she was born at Epsom in 1856. William and Sarah had at least two children – William (1889) and Sidney (1892).

The 1891 census records that he was the manager of the family timber yard and he and his wife and their young son were living at 51 Summer Road, Croydon. The 1901 census records that William was a timber merchant. He and his wife and their two children were living at 38 Croydon Close, Croydon. Living with them was a 28 year old female domestic servant from London who is recorded merely as White.

William wrote a letter, a copy of which still survives, to his cousin Sarah Pettit in Australia on 10th December 1914 (I have added comments inside straight brackets [ ] ):

“I am sending you by this post a paper sent me from Sandwich, giving an account of the funeral at Hastings of Mr L.E. Alchin [Linton Edmund Alchin baptised at Linton, Kent 21st March 1851, the son of Henry and Mary Alchin].

He must belong to the family. You will see he was from Maidstone, Kent. That is the district they originate from. On the tombstones in the old churchyards they are described as farmers or yeomen.

I shall see my brother [Percy Charles Alchin] who was in Australia some time ago at Christmas but I do not think he knows much of the pedigree of the family, as is a great  deal younger than me.

Mr G. Alchin [probably George James Alchin born in Sydney in 1856, the son of Francis Alchin and Ann Eliza Christophers] has a pedigree we sent him some years ago which shows our part of the family also shows Anthony Alchin married and died in Australia leaving a family.

I remember my grandmother [Anthony’s mother, Charlotte Alchin nee Mosto] had letters from his children and she used to show them to me fifty years ago when I was a boy. I think his wife was either Dutch or German.

Will look up the Roman Catholic Clergy at Xmas to see if Frank Alchin (I told you of) is still a missionary – would like to see him myself.

Enclosed some postcards of our Croydon territorials and you have a lot of people in Sydney from this part if you know any it would be very interesting to them. Must now conclude.

William M Alchin

148 St James Road

West Croydon”

Sarah probably died in 1930 aged 75 years (Croydon 1930 September qtr Volume 2a Page 302). Although we know a lot about William Mosto Alchin there is no record, in the English civil registration registers, of his birth, marriage or death.

1.3.1.2.1.  ~~  William Charles Alchin

William was born at Croydon in about 1889 (Croydon 1889 March qtr Volume 2a Page 251). The 1891 census records that the toddler was living with his family at 51 Summer Road, Croydon. At the time of the 1901 census he was a school boy and he was living with his family at 38 Croydon Close, Croydon.

William probably married Alice E. Ward in 1916 (Croydon 1916 March qtr Volume 2a Page 537).

1.3.1.2.2.  ~~  Sidney Percy Alchin

Sidney was born at Croydon on 14th May 1892 (Croydon 1892 June qtr Volume 2a Page 271). At the time of the 1901 census he was a school boy and he was living with his family at 38 Croydon Close, Croydon. Sidney served with the Royal Engineers during World War One, reaching the rank of Corporal (regimental # 161087).

Sidney married Annie Bertha; she was born on 26th September 1895. Sidney and his wife both survived into very old age. He died in February 1984 aged 91 years (New Forest 1984 February Volume 20 Page 354). Annie died in 1995 aged 99 years (New Forest 1995 June Volume 56A Page 276).

1.3.1.3.  ~~  Ellen Harriett Alchin

Ellen was born at Croydon in 1853 (Croydon 1853 September qtr Volume 2a Page 127). The 1861 census records that the school girl was living with her family at Summer Road, Croydon. The 1871 census records that Ellen was assisting her uncle and aunt (Thomas and Carolien Eldersham) to run their hotel at 16 Ivy Street, Birkenhead.

Ellen married Francis Edward Brittan in 1879 (Lambeth 1879 December qtr Volume 1d Page 705); he was born in the London parish of St Lukes in 1853. Francis and Ellen had at least three children – Ella (1880), Percy (1883) and Harold (1886). The 1881 census record that Francis was an accountant and he and his young family were living at 13 Clarendon Road, Croydon.

The 1891 census records that Francis was still an accountant and he and his wife and their two surviving children were living at 27 St James Road, Croydon. None of this family are recorded in the 1901 English census.

1.3.1.3.1.  ~~  Ella A. Brittan

Ella was born at Croydon in 1880. The 1881 census records that the 9 month old infant was living with her family at 13 Clarendon Road, Croydon.

1.3.1.3.2.  ~~  Percy Alfred Brittan

Percy was born at Croydon in 1883 (Croydon 1883 September qtr Volume 2a Page 264). The 1891 census records that the school boy was living with his family at 27 St James Road, Croydon.

1.3.1.3.3.  ~~  Harold William Brittan

Harold was born at Croydon in 1886 (Croydon 1886 March qtr Volume 2a Page 235). The 1891 census records that the school boy was living with his family at 27 St James Road, Croydon.

1.3.1.4.  ~~  Emma Ernestina Alchin

Emma was born at Croydon in 1855 (Croydon 1855 December qtr Volume 2a Page 117) and she was baptised at the church of St John the Baptist, Croydon on 6th April 1856. The 1861 census records that Emma was a school girl and she was living with her family at Summer Road, Croydon.

The 1871 census records that Emma was living with her family (she was probably still at school) at the same address. The 1881 census records that Emma was an assistant school governess. She was boarding at 116 Terminus Road, Eastbourne with the family of a local grocer, Joseph C. Davie.

Emma (indexed incorrectly as Emily) married Arthur James Smith in 1888 (Croydon 1888 June qtr Volume 2a Page 326); he was born at Woburn, Bedfordshire in 1860. Arthur and Emma had at least four children – Evelyn (1889), twins Arthur and Olive (1891) and Cyril (1896). The children were all born at Bedford.

The 1891 census records that Arthur was a colour printer traveller and he and his wife and their eldest child were living at 11 Weston Street, Bedford. The 1901 census records that Arthur was a retired school master and he and his wife and their four children were living at 11 Ainsworth Road, Croydon. Also living with them was Arthur’s 27 year old sister Rachel E Smith of Woburn who they employed as their cook.

1.3.1.4.1.  ~~  Evelyn Emery Smith

Evelyn was born at Bedford in 1889 (Bedford 1889 September qtr Volume 3b Page 336). The 1891 census records that the young girl was living with her family at 11 Weston Street, Bedford. The 1901 census records that the school girl was living with her family at 11 Ainsworth Road, Croydon.

1.3.1.4.2.  ~~  Arthur Alchin Smith

Arthur and his twin sister Olive were born at Bedford in 1891 (Bedford 1891 June qtr Volume 3b Page 366). The 1901 census records that the school boy was living with his family at 11 Ainsworth Road, Croydon.

1.3.1.4.3.  ~~  Olive Edith Smith

Olive and her twin brother Arthur were born at Bedford in 1891 (Bedford 1891 June qtr Volume 3b Page 366). The 1901 census records that the school girl was living with her family at 11 Ainsworth Road, Croydon.

1.3.1.4.4.  ~~  Cyril Alchin Smith

Cyril was born at Bedford in 1896 (Bedford 1896 June qtr Volume 3b Page 352). The 1901 census records that the young boy was living with his family at 11 Ainsworth Road, Croydon.

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