Frances Dengate
KEY DATES:
Born: 1839, Hollington, Hastings, East Sussex
Baptised: 30 June 1839, Church-in-the-Wood, Hollington, Hastings, East Sussex
Married: 9 July 1868, All Saints Church, Lydd, Kent
Died: 10 December 1915, Folkestone, Kent
BIOGRAPHY:
Frances Dengate was born in 1839 in Hollington, East Sussex to Charles and Celia Dengate. At the time of her birth and baptism, Charles was working like many of the Dengate family, as a miller at Baldslow Mill on the Ridge in Hastings. Frances was baptised on 30 June 1839 at Church-in-the-Wood, Hollington.
Church-in-the-Wood, Hollington, East Sussex, 2002
The 1841 census shows Frances, her sisters and parents living at Baldslow windmill. Within two years the family moved to Salehurst where Charles continued to work as a miller. They remained in Salehurst until 1844 / 1845 when they moved to Lamberhurst.
The 1851 census shows Frances as an eleven year-old living at Fairlight with her miller uncle John Dengate and his family. It is unclear if she was living with him on a permanent basis or just visiting. Her parents and siblings were at the time living some distance away at Lamberhurst in Kent. Just weeks after the census was taken John Dengate's two twin daughters Emily Mary and Susannah died of whooping cough.
On the 9 July 1868, Frances Dengate married George Martin Masey in All Saints Church, Lydd, Kent. Witnesses to the marriage were Stephen Gasson and Frances' sister Caroline Dengate. Among the wedding gifts presented to Frances and George were a pair of candlesticks, which Frances passed down to her grandson William Masey. They are currently in the possession of Frances and George's great granddaughter.
Frances Dengate and George Masey's wedding present
On 26 February 1869, Frances and George Masey returned the honour and were witnesses to the marriage of Caroline Dengate and James Emmitt in New Romney Church.
Frances and George Masey had three children, William Charles, John Thomas and Albert Henry Masey - all born in New Romney, where George worked as a fisherman. The 1881 census shows the family living at The Gables, New Romney. George is at this time working as an agricultural labourer. In 1901 the family are living on the High Street, New Romney, where George continues to work as an agricultural labourer.
After being cared for in New Romney by the village nurse / midwife, Martha Carpenter, who later married her son John Thomas Masey, Frances died 10 December 1915, aged 76 years at the home of her sister's son-in-law, Edward Friend in 8 Gloucester Place, Folkestone.
CENSUS:
Grateful thanks to Kathleen Croft for the photo of the candlesticks.
© Copyright N. Goodwin MMII