Charles Dengate

Charles Dengate

Charles Dengate, 1939

KEY DATES:

Birth: 18 May 1865, Peasmarsh, East Sussex

Baptism: 17 November 1867, St Peter and St Paul's Church, Peasmarsh, East Sussex

Marriage: 9 November 1884, St Peter and St Paul's Church, Peasmarsh, East Sussex

Death: September 1944, Peasmarsh, East Sussex

Burial: 26 September 1944, St Peter and St Paul's Church, Peasmarsh, East Sussex

BIOGRAPHY:

Charles Dengate (Charlie) was born 18 May 1865 to Thomas and Frances Dengate in Peasmarsh, East Sussex. He was baptised 17 November 1867 in St Peter and St Paul's Church, Peasmarsh, along with his brothers Frederick Dengate and John Thomas Dengate.

Charles Dengate was admitted to Peasmarsh school in April 1871, aged 6 years. He left the school on the 3 April 1876, but was readmitted 1 January 1877. He finally left the school 29 June 1877. The log book of the school from 4 November 1872 reveals, "Good attendance this week - Average =93 - ordinary routine and progress. Singing lessons on Friday morning instead of the usual arithmetic lesson. John Crouch and Charles Dengate kept in the whole dinner-time on Friday for playing truant on the previous afternoon." The log book from 30 March 1874 states, "School opened eight time this week and conducted as usual. John Carey, Freeman Smith, Charles Dengate, William Ralph and Charles Browning kept in on Wednesday afternoon for playing truant on the previous day. Broke up on Thursday afternoon for Easter."

Peasmarsh school, 2003

The 1881 census shows Charles living with his uncle Alfred Ashdown in Winton's Row, Peasmarsh working as a general servant.

Charles married Annie Elizabeth Williams on the 9 November 1884 in St Peter and St Paul's Church, Peasmarsh, East Sussex. Annie was at this time around 7 months pregnant with their first child, Thomas Dengate. Witnesses to the marriage were his brother William Dengate and his sister Annie Clark.

St Peter and St Paul's Church, Peasmarsh

Charles and Annie Elizabeth's first child was born 4 January 1885, but died seven weeks later and was buried in St Peter and St Paul's Church, Peasmarsh. Annie quickly became pregnant once more and their second child, Winifred Margaret Dengate was born 6 November 1885, followed by six further children; Charles Henry, Frederick Richard, Bessie Frances, Annie Elizabeth, Clara Isabel and Ada Frances - most baptised in St Peter and St Paul's Church, Peasmarsh. Bessie Frances also died in infancy, aged 23 months and was buried in St Peter and St Paul's Church, Peasmarsh on the 4 October 1893.

Annie Elizabeth and Charles Dengate

Charles lived in Peasmarsh his whole life, working in a variety of jobs including a baker and labourer. He also taught Sunday School in the Wesleyan Chapel in Peasmarsh alongside his daughter Winifred Margaret Dengate. The chapel was next door to the cottage he lived in for many years with his family.

(left photo) Charles Dengate's cottage (last white cottage next to chapel), (right photo) Charles' cottage 2003

Charles Dengate (2nd right), Frederick Richard Dengate (far right)

Charles Dengate, Patrick Donald Dengate and Frederick Dengate, c. 1927

Winifred Margaret and Thomas Addy's wedding 9th July 1906, Peasmarsh

Annie Elizabeth Dengate (far left), Tom Addy, Winnie Dengate, Ada Frances (centre), Annie Elizabeth Dengate (senior), Charles Dengate and Clara Isabel Dengate

Annie Elizabeth Dengate died in August 1924 aged 62 years and was buried 26 August 1924 in St Peter and St Paul's Church, Peasmarsh, East Sussex. Five months later Charles' mother Frances Dengate died and was also buried in St Peter and St Paul's Church, Peasmarsh.

Charles Dengate attended the Dengate Reunion in 1939 alongside his 5 brothers and 2 sisters at the Masonic Hall in Hastings. He took his daughter Ada Frances Phillips with him.

Charles Dengate died in September 1944 in Peasmarsh, and was buried 26 September 1944 in St Peter and St Paul's Church, Peasmarsh. The funeral was conducted by the Peasmarsh Methodist minister. Although no headstone exists for his and Annie's grave in the churchyard, it has been possible to identify where they are buried using the local undertaker of the time, Percy Jempson's burial maps and log book.

Wesleyan Chapel, Peasmarsh

Charles and Annie Dengate's grave (immediate foreground, no headstone), Peasmarsh 2004

LINKS:

CENSUS:

Grateful thanks to Gwen Gill, the late Christina Brown, Linda Vousden, Maurice Addy and Charles and Joyce Phillips for information, memories and photographs.