John Thomas Dengate
Tom Dengate, 1939
KEY DATES:
Birth: 13 May 1863, Peasmarsh, East Sussex
Baptism: 17 November 1867, St Peter and St Paul's Church, Peasmarsh, East Sussex
Marriage: 23 April 1887, St Peter and St Paul's Church, Peasmarsh, East Sussex
Died: 16 May 1956, Peasmarsh, East Sussex
Buried: 22 May 1956, St Peter and St Paul's Church, Peasmarsh, East Sussex
BIOGRAPHY:
John Thomas (Tom) Dengate was born in 1864 to Thomas and Frances Dengate in Peasmarsh, East Sussex. He was baptised in St Peter and St Paul's Church, Peasmarsh on the 17 November 1867, along with his brothers Frederick Dengate and Charles Dengate.
St Peter and St Paul's Church, Peasmarsh
The 1871 census shows Tom as a seven-year old scholar living with his parents and brothers and sisters in the Kings Head, Peasmarsh. In 1881 he was still living with his parents and brothers and sisters as a seventeen year old agricultural labourer.
John Thomas Dengate married Sarah Morris Smith 23 April 1887 in St Peter and St Paul's Church, Peasmarsh. Witnesses to the marriage were Thomas and Ann Eaton Smith. The couple had one child, Grace Dengate who was born 13 May 1889 in Peasmarsh. She was baptised in Rye Methodist Chapel, East Sussex. The 1891 census shows Tom, Sarah and Grace living in Hawarden Cottage, Peasmarsh with Tom working as a general dealer. In 1901 the family are living in Pound House Lane, Peasmarsh with Tom continuing to work as a general dealer. Tom also had connections with the Peasmarsh Methodist Church, working there as a Lay Preacher.
The 1920 Electoral Register for Peasmarsh lists Tom and Sarah living in Pound House. In 1922 Tom bought 'Millwood', a Bungalow on Mackerel Hill in Peasmarsh, where he remained until his death.
According a local GP in the area from 1934-1972, Millwood was referred to locally as 'Old Dengate's cottage'
John Thomas Dengate attended the Dengate Reunion in 1939 alongside his 5 brothers and 2 sisters at the Masonic Hall in Hastings. The newspaper report covering the event states that Tom still worked the land in Peasmarsh with his brothers Jim and Charles.
The Dengate Family
Seated (left to right) William (Bill), Ernest Alfred, John Thomas (Tom)
Standing (left to right) Caroline (Carrie), Jim, Frederick (Fred), Charles and Hannah
In 1940 Tom ceded the title of Millwood to his daughter, Grace Dengate. On her death in 1958 it passed to her executrix Mrs Jempson who sold it to a Mrs Sales. The cottage was pulled down in 1997 and replaced with a large house.
Sarah Dengate died 23 February 1943 aged 80 years at the family home Millwood, Mackerel Hill. She was buried in St Peter and St Paul's Church, Peasmarsh on 25 February 1943. The Methodist minister conducted the funeral. Tom was looked after in his old age by his daughter Grace in Millwood until his death on the 16th May 1956, aged 92. He was buried with his wife in St Peter and St Paul's Church, Peasmarsh on 22 May 1956. Tom's funeral was also conducted by the Methodist minister of Peasmarsh. Their daughter Grace Dengate died 13 July 1958 aged 69 years at Merrilea, Rye Foreign, East Sussex and was buried with her parents on 18 July 1958.
John Thomas, Sarah and Grace Dengate's grave (immediate foreground), 2002
LINKS:
CENSUS:
© Copyright N. Goodwin MMII