Helen's Family Trees - JONES

Descendants of Robert William JONES (caution: not verified) (to contribute information, please email Helen@HelensFamilyTrees.com)

Second Generation

2. Catherine JONES (Robert William ) was born about 1798 in Co. Kerry. She died on 4 Feb 1874 in 7 Holland St., Kensington, London.

It appears that Catherine and her husband, Michael Devine, emigrated from Ireland (probably from Kerry) to England in the 1820s with at least one child (Daniel). At least three more children were born in the parish of St. Giles-in-the-Fields in London prior to the family's move to Kensington in the late 1830s. They were living at 19 Young St. in Kensington in 1839 when their daughter Elizabeth was born; and according to the 1851 census they were living at 2 Market Court, also in Kensington. The 1961 census tells us that a widowed Catherine was still at 2 Market Court and living with her unmarried sons, Michael and John, and Michael, the 10-year-old son of her other son, Daniel who had probably died by that time. Catherine's occupation at the time of the 1861 census was "Small Shop Keeper". Given the approximately seven-year gap below between the births of the first and second of their children listed below, I think it likely that Catherine and Michael had more children between 1822 and 1829.
Built in the 1770s, Market Court, no longer in existence, was one of a number of slums or 'rookeries' located off the south side of Kensington High St. Young St. is also located off the south side of Kensington High St. and very close to Market Court so it is possible that Young St. too was a slum. There was a high concentration of Irish people living at this time in the slums of Kensington, most of which, Market Court included, were eventually demolished in the late 1860s.
In the 18th and 19th centuries, St Giles, where Catherine, Michael and their family lived before they moved to Kensington, became one of the main areas of Irish settlement in London. One of London's most notorious rookeries was located there and was known as 'Little Dublin' and 'The Holy Land' because of the large number of Irish who lived there. Given that the Devine family lived in a slum in Kensington after their move from St. Giles, it seems likely they lived in the rookeries when they lived in St. Giles.

According to her death certificate Catherine died of bronchitis and senile decay. The certificate shows the informant to have been an Ellen Cummins of 7 Holland St.

Catherine married Michael DEVINE, son of 'unknown' DEVINE and 'UNKNOWN', about 1820 in Ireland. Michael was born about 1797 in Co. Kerry. He died on 28 Jun 1851 in 2 Market Court, Kensington, London.

Michael was a shoemaker. On the birth certificate of his daughter Elizabeth Michael has signed his name with an 'X' indicating that he was unable to read or write.

Michael's death certificate tells us he died of bronchitis, the duration of which was three weeks.

They had the following children.

+ 4 M i Daniel DEVINE was born about 1822. He died in between 11 Sep 1854 and 27 Oct 1877.
5 M ii

Michael DEVINE was born about 1829 in St. Giles, London. He died on 28 Nov 1873 in 7 Holland St., Kensington, London.

From the 1871 census of England we know that Michael, aged 40, was unmarried and living at 7 Holland St., Kensington. He was a bootmaker. Listed with him in the census return are his widowed mother, his unmarried brother John, and a widowed aunt, Irish-born Elizabeth Bellinger who was a 68-year-old retired laundress.

Michael's death certificate tells us he died of "sudden syncope, natural causes", the word "syncope" meaning a fainting spell, usually related to a temporary insufficient blood flow to the brain, most often occurring when the blood pressure is too low and the heart doesn't pump a normal supply of oxygen to the brain. The certificate states that an inquest was held on 1 December 1873. Michael was only 44 years of age when he died. He left an estate of "under £100" to his sister Agnes.

+ 6 F iii Agnes DEVINE was born about 1834. She died on 17 Apr 1913.
7 M iv

John DEVINE was born about 1835 in St. Giles, London. He died on 27 Oct 1877 in 96 High St., Kensington, London.

According to the 1851 census of England 15-year-old John was a shoemaker. At the time of the 1871 census he was a letter-carrier, unmarried, and appeared to be living with his elder brother Michael at 7 Holland St., Kensington. According to his death certificate John died in 1877 at 96 High St., Kensington which, because we know his sister Agnes moved to this address with her husband sometime between 1871 and 1881, indicates he may have moved in with his sister's family towards the end of his life. John, whose occupation is given on his death certificate as "post office pensioner" (although in his will he is described as a shoemaker), died of liver disease and toxaemia. He was only 42 years of age. He left an estate of "under £200" to Agnes, his "only next of kin".

8 F v

Elizabeth DEVINE was born on 3 Mar 1839 in 19 Young St., Kensington, London. She died on 5 May 1852 in 2 Market Court, Kensington, London.

Elizabeth died at the age of 13 of 'variola' or smallpox. Her death certificate states that she had been suffering from the disease for 12 days and was 'not vaccinated'.

3. Elizabeth JONES (caution: not verified) (Robert William ) was born about 1802 in probably Co. Kerry. She died in probably 29 Aug 1876 in probably Marylebone Workhouse, London.

We know of Elizabeth's existence from the 1871 census of England. She is listed as a member of the household of her nephew Michael Devine who lived at 7 Holland St., Kensington. According to the census return, Elizabeth, a 68-year-old widow, was born in Ireland and was a retired laundress. As we could not tell from the census whether Elizabeth was an aunt from Michael's mother's or father's side, a search was carried out on the FreeBMD website for marriages between an Elizabeth Devine and a Mr. Bellinger and an Elizabeth Jones (Michael's mother's surname was Jones) and a Mr. Bellinger. No Devine/Bellinger marriage record was located but I came across a marriage in the right time frame between an Elizabeth Jones and a Charles Bellinger in Marylebone, Middlesex in 1989. Because there is nothing on the marriage certificate, nor on any other documents located for Elizabeth or her family, that proves that this Elizabeth was indeed an aunt of Michael Devine, I have added cautions alongside their names in the family tree. Any assistance in establishing a definite connection, or even help in proving they are not connected at all, would be most welcome. If you can help, please contact Helen@HelensFamilyTrees.com.

An 1841 census return has been located for the household of Charles and Elizabeth. However, this states that Elizabeth was born in Middlesex, whereas our Elizabeth appears to have been born in Ireland (from 1871 census, as mentioned above). In case the place of birth was written incorrectly on the census form, here are the full census details:

Address: Little Chesterfield St., Marylebone (no house number provided)
Charles Bellenger, aged 25, occupation "Porter", born in England but not in Middlesex
Elizabeth Bellinger, aged 25, born in Middlesex
Agnes Bellenger, daughter, aged eight months, born in Middlesex

Interestingly 1861 census records were located for an Elizabeth Bellenger, living in Marylebone and born in Ireland. Full details are:

Address: 14 George St., Marylebone (a "lodging house")
Elizabeth Bellenger, aged 40, widow, occupation "charwoman", born in Ireland
Agnes Bellenger, daughter, aged 15, servant, born in Marylebone
Catherine Bellenger, daughter, aged 10, scholar, born in Paddington (near Marylebone)

This Elizabeth appears to be the same Elizabeth who married Charles Bellinger as both had daughters named Agnes born roughly around the same time. As to whether she is our Elizabeth who was the aunt of Michael Devine it is hard to say. The Elizabeth in the 1861 census was aged 40 whereas our Elizabeth would have been about 58 years of age at the time of the 1861 census. Note that although the 14 George St. had about 30 lodgers listed, Elizabeth herself had two lodgers listed as part of her household.
Our information on Elizabeth's death comes from the death certificate of an Elizabeth Bellinger who died aged 71 in the Marylebone Workhouse in August 1876. The certificate reveals that this Elizabeth, a charwoman, had died of "apoplexy". Unfortunately no other relevant information is provided so we cannot be sure that this certificate relates to Elizabeth Bellinger, aunt of Michael Devine.

Elizabeth married Charles BELLINGER (caution: not verified), son of Thomas BELLINGER, on 9 Dec 1839 in Trinity Church, Marylebone, London. Charles died before 1862.

Charles is descibed as a carpenter on his marriage certificate (1839) and on the baptismal certificates of his children Agnes (1840), Charles (1842) and James (1847). However, he is described as a waiter on the birth certificate of his daughter Catherine (1848) and the marriage certificate of his daughter Agnes (1874).

Marriage Notes:

According to their marriage certificate, the address for both Elizabeth and Charles at the time was 6 Grotto Passage, Marylebone. Charles's late father, Thomas Bellenger (sic), was a carpenter and Elizabeth's father, Robert William, was a "Gent'n" (presumably meaning "Gentleman"). Witnesses to the marriage were John Bellenger (sic) and Emma Bellenger (sic), with both Elizabeth and Emma signing the certificate with an 'X', indicating that they could not read or write.

Elizabeth and Charles had the following children.

9 F i

Agnes Jane BELLINGER (caution: not verified) was born in Nov 1840 in Marylebone, London. She was christened on 10 Nov 1840 in Marylebone, London.

According to the 1841 census Agnes's middle name was Ellen rather than Jane which was the middle name given on her marriage certificate.

According to her marriage certificate, Agnes's residence at the time (1874) was 18 Walnut(?) St., presumably in Marylebone where the marriage took place. Agnes signed her name on the marriage certificate with an X. The certificate also tells us that Agnes was 25 years old at the time of the marriage. However, the 1841 census indicates her year of birth was 1840, meaning she would have been about 34 years of age at the time of her marriage.

Agnes married Harry Edward MOORE, son of Thomas MOORE, on 2 Aug 1874 in St. Matthew's Church, Marylebone, London. Harry was born about 1849.

According to his marriage certificate, Harry's residence at the time was 4 Park Road Mews, presumably in Marylebone where the marriage took place. He was a cellarman at the time of the marriage.
Marriage Notes:

Witnesses were John Jenkins and Mary Jenkins.
While I would have expected Agnes to have been Catholic, the church she was married in, St. Matthew's in Marylebone, was Anglican.

10 M ii

Charles BELLINGER was born on 5 Jul 1842 in 22 Little Chesterfield St., Marylebone, London. He was christened on 24 Jul 1842 in Marylebone, London.

11 M iii

James William BELLINGER was born in Feb 1847 in Marylebone, London. He was christened on 5 Feb 1847 in Marylebone, London.

12 F iv

Catherine Elizabeth BELLINGER (caution: not verified) was born on 13 Jul 1848 in 32 Queen St., Marylebone, London.

The 1871 census shows a Marylebone-born Catherine Bellinger, a 20-year-old seamstress, lodging with a Henry E. Moore (a "general dealer") and his wife Agnes in Willesden, Middlesex. Given her age, birthplace and surname, I think this Catherine is our Catherine. The couple she is lodging with bear the same names as her sister Agnes and Agnes's husband, Henry Edward Moore but, very strangely our Catherine's sister Elizabeth did not marry Henry Edward Moore until August 1874, more than three years after the census. Any assistance in establishing a connection, if any, between our Catherine and the Moores in Willesden would be most welcome.

Here are some more details of the Moore household from the 1871 census:
Address: 9 Pembroke Place, Willesden
Henry was aged 33 and was born in St. Pancras
Agnes was aged 23 and was born in Lambeth, Surrey (prior to 1888 Lambeth was part of Surrey). However, our Catherine's sister Agnes was born in Marylebone.

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