Francis William Dengate

KEY DATES:

Birth: 14 June 1904, Sedlescombe, East Sussex

Baptised: 17 July 1904, St John the Baptist Church, Sedlescombe, East Sussex

Death: 1 June 1979, Sedlescombe, East Sussex

Burial:  St John the Baptist Church, Sedlescombe, East Sussex

BIOGRAPHY:

Francis William (Frank) Dengate was born to James and Naomi Dengate on the 14 June 1904 in Sedlescombe and was baptised on the 17 July 1904 in St John the Baptist Church, Sedlescombe.

St John the Baptist Church, Sedlescombe, 2002

The 1901 Census shows Frank's parents and his brother and sister living in Brickyard Cottage, Sedlescombe, the likely place of Frank's birth in 1904.  During the First World War the family were still living in Brickyard Cottage, and it was here that they learned of their son Jim's death in Karachi, Pakistan.

Brickyard Cottages, Sedlescombe, 2002

Sometime between the First World War and 1927, the family resided in Springfield Cottage, Brede Lane, Sedlescombe.

Springfield Cottage (right), Sedlescombe, 2002

One of the many things built in the village by James and Frank was the memorial in the church dedicated to the villagers who lost their lives during the First and Second World War.  One of the names inscribed there is of Frank's brother, James Dengate.

War Memorial, St John the Baptist, Sedlescombe, 2002

In 1927, Frank and his dad James built a home for the family called 'The Haven' beside the road in Sedlescombe with commanding views of the surrounding countryside.  Frank and his sisters lived in the house their whole lives.  When the house was bought from Nellie Margaret Dengate in 1992, the new owners found a piece of board with "Built by Frank Dengate, 1927" written on it.  

'The Haven', Sedlescombe, 2002

"James set himself up as a joiner, builder and undertaker with his son Frank in The Haven, the house they built together for the family beside the road, North of Little Castlemans with workshop beside it and surrounded by a garden filled with flowers, vegetables and fruit, planted by the green fingers of Frank, it was a haven indeed, for the family had been turned out of one of the Brickyard Cottages where they had lived for 25 years when it was wanted for the Oaklands Pigman." ¹

Francis William Dengate died 1 June 1979 in Sedlescombe, aged 75 years of coronary thrombosis, cerebral thrombosis and arteriosclerosis at his home in The Haven, Sedlescombe.  His sister, Nellie Margaret Dengate was present at the death and was the informant of Francis' death.  He was buried in St John the Baptist Church, Sedlescombe alongside his parents, Naomi and James Dengate.  His sisters, Rosa May Dengate and Nellie Margaret Dengate were buried alongside him upon their deaths.

Francis William Dengate's grave, St John the Baptist Church, Sedlescombe, 2002

The grave inscription reads, "In loving memory of our dear brother Francis William Dengate entered the presence of his lord June 1 1979. Till we meet at Jesus feet"

Frank's death certificate lists him as a retired carpenter and joiner of The Haven, Sedlescombe.

¹ Twenty Centuries in Sedlescombe by Beryl Lucey, p. 382

© Copyright N. Goodwin MMII