The family of the parents of Hetty Hester Kirby

We saw that Hetty Esther Kirby, daughter of deceased Edward Kirby, said to be a shipowner, married Benjamin Nadin Junior, policeman, on the sixth May 1909. (A Copy of this part of the Act is found further down.) For the Family of Benjamin Nadin the policeman and Hetty Esther Kirby, press HERE. .

Who is this Edward Kirby, who was his wife and who were his children? Where was he born? Where did he live? These are the questions we are hoping to answer, first by the use of the various censuses.

1. Information from the 1901 Census

   At the 1901 Census, The Kirby family lives at 16 Newport Street in the urban district of East Stonehouse in the County of Devonshire. (A Copy of this Act is found further down.) Four young people live together, all born in Devon, the first in Stonehouse, the three others in Devonport:

   1. Mary Kirby, head, female, 19 years old and so born around 1882, trouser machinist
   2. James Kirby, brother, 16 years of age and so born around 1885, labourer
   3. Esther Kirby, sister, 14 years of age and so born around 1884, Domestic or General Servant
   4. Tryphena Kirby, sister, 12 years of age and so born around 1886.
   
   

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   Esther Kirby's Family Entry at the 1901 Census:
   
   
   
   
   

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2. Information from the 1891 Census

   At the 1891 Census, The Kirby family lives at 3 Tamar Street in Devenport in the County of Devonshire. (A Copy of this Act is found further down.) Seven people live together, all born in Devon:

   1. Mary A. Kirby, head, widow, 42 years old and so born around 1849, from Plymouth
   2. Isabella Kirby, daughter, 13 years old and so born around 1878, going to school and born in Plymouth
   3. Trifosa Kirby, daughter, 12 years old and so born around 1879, going to school and born in East Stonehouse
   4. Mary E. Kirby, daughter, 9 years old and so born around 1882, going to school and born in East Stonehouse
   5. James E. Kirby, son, 7 years of age and so born around 1884, going to school and born in Devonport
   6. Ettie E Kirby, daughter, 4 years of age and so born in 1887, and born in Devonport
   7. Trifena Kirby, daughter, 2 years of age and so born around 1889, and born in Devonport.

   The four last people mentioned in 1891 are mentioned together in 1901. So we can be sure that this is the same family. The mother must have died between 1891 and 1901. The first two girls, 23 and 22 years of age in 1901, must have moved on.

   
   

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   Esther Kirby's Family Entry at the 1891 Census:
   
   
   
   
   

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3. Information from the 1881 Census

   The 1881 Census could only mention the children over 10 years of age in 1891; and the father would have to be alive as there were more children born in the next few years.

   Three members of that family are mentioned, all born in East Stonehouse, Devon and living at 22 Chapel Street, East Stonehouse, Devon. (A Copy of this Act is found further down.) We find:

   1. Mary Hannah Kirby, wife, married, 39 years of age and so born around 1842
   2. Isabella Kirby, daughter, 5 years of age and so born around 1876, scholar
   3. Trifosa Kirby, daughter, 3 years of age and so born around 1878.
   
   

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   Esther Kirby's Family Entry at the 1881 Census:
   
   
   
   

   A closer look at this entry for Mary Hannah Kirby seems to say "Wife of Pte Royal Marine". (A Copy of this part of the Act is found further down.) The actual name of the husband is not given.

   Part of Esther Kirby's Family Entry at the 1881 Census:
   
   
   
   

   The age of the wife is inconsistent with the one given at the 1891 Census: it should be 32 instead of 39. Isabella's age should be 3 years old instead of 5 years and Trifosa's should be 2 years of age rather than 3. Furthermore, the name of the mother is somewhat different: instead of "Mary A." we find "Mary Hannah".

   I think it could be said that at the 1891 Census, the mother was actually providing the information while at the 1881 it could have been someone else. The entries are definitely sloppy: a child of three cannot be going to school. The places of birth given in 1891 are Plymouth for the mother and the first child and Stonehouse for the second; at the 1881 Census, they are all East Stonehouse.
   

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4. Information from the Baptism Certificates of four of the children of Edward Kirby

   The Baptism Certificates of four of the children have been found. The Baptism Certificate of Triposa Kezia Anderson Kirby states that she was baptized in the Wesleyan-Methodist Chapel of Plymouth, in Devon in the year 1881 on the 9th December. She was born February 22nd 1879. Her parents were Edward Thomas Kirby and Mary Hannah Kirby. They were living at 4 Barrack Place, Stonehouse. Another child living at the same address was baptized at the same time. (A Copy of this Act is found further down.)

   
   

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   The Baptism Certificate of James Edward Kirby states that he was baptized in the Parish of St James, Devonport, in Devon in the year 1884 on the 8th May. He was born on April 29th 1884. Her parents were Edward Thomas Kirby and Mary Hannah Kirby. They lived at 3 Tamar Street. The father was a Master Mariner. (A Copy of this Act is found further down.)
   

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   The Baptism Certificate of Hetty Hester Kirby states that she was baptized in the Parish of St James, Devonport, in Devon in the year 1886 on the 23rd September. She was born on August 28th 1886. Her parents were Edward Kirby and Mary Ann Kirby. They lived at 3 Tamar Street. The father was a labourer in Her Majesty's Dockyard. (A Copy of this Act is found further down.)
   

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   The Baptism Certificate of Tryphena Kerenhapperch Goves Kirby states that she was baptized in the Parish of St James, Devonport, in Devon in the year 1888 on the 16th February. She was born on February 3rd 1888. Her parents were Edward Kirby and Mary Hannah Kirby. They lived at 3 Tamar Street. The father was a Merchant Seaman. (A Copy of this Act is found further down.)
   

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   Triposa Kezia Anderson Kirby's Baptism Entry at the Wesleyan-Methodist Chapel of Plymouth, in Devon:
   
   
   
   James Edward Kirby's Baptism Entry at the church of Saint James, Devonport:
   
   
   
   Esther Kirby's Baptism Entry at the church of Saint James, Devonport:
   
   
   
   Tryphena Kerenhapperch Goves Kirby's Baptism Entry at the church of Saint James, Devonport:
   
   
   
   
   

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5. Information from 1871 Census

   We can try to trace Edward Kirby in the 1871 Census. He is at sea, single, 28 years of age, and born in Northampton, Stanford. He is a Private in the Royal Marines. It follows he was born around 1842. (A Copy of this Act is found further down.)
   

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   Edward Kirby's Entry at the 1871 Census (left side of entry):
   
   
   
   Edward Kirby's Entry at the 1871 Census (right side of entry):
   
   
   
   
   

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6. Information from 1851 Census

   We can try to trace Edward Kirby at the 1851 Census but unfortunately not at the 1861 Census. At the 1851 Census, we find two families of Kirbys living next to each other. Both families are in carpentry and building. It is in the second family living at 29 Whithall Street, that we find him. There we find a family of eight, all born in Northampton King's Sutton:

   1. George Kerby, head, married, 43 years old and so born around 1808, Carpenter and builder.
   2. Ann Kerby, wife, married, 40 years old and so born around 1811;
   3. George Kerby, son, 19 years old and so born around 1832, carpenter
   4. Alexander Kerby, son, 15 years old and so born around 1836, carpenter
   5. Elizabeth Kerby, daughter, 13 years old and so born around 1838
   6. Mary Kerby, daughter, 11 years old and so born around 1840, at school
   7. Edward Kerby, son, 9 years old and so born around 1842, at school
   8. Thomas Kerby, 6 years old and so born around 1845, at school.

   It follows from this that Edward Kirby's father was George Kerby, born around 1808, and his mother's Christian name was Ann, born around 1811 in Northampton Kings Sutton.

   (A Copy of this Act is found further down.)
   

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   Edward Kirby's Entry at the 1851 Census:
   
   
   
   
   

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7. Information from Edward Kirby's Baptism Act

   We can try to trace Edward Kirby's Baptism Act in the Parish of King's Sutton in the County of Northampton. It is stated that on March 5th 1843, was solemnized the Baptism of Edward, born January 3rd 1843, son of George and Ann Kerby, of King's Sutton, the father being a carpenter. (A Copy of this Act is found further down.)
   

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   Edward Kirby's Baptism Act:
   
   
   
   
   

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8. Hannah (Mary Ann) Briggs and Edward Kirby's marriage entries in 1875

   Although we do not have a scan of the document itself, Edward Kirby married civily in the third quarter of 1875 Hannah Briggs in the district of Plymouth, Devon England.
   

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9. Information gathered so far

   We gather from all this that 1) the husband of Mary Ann (Hannah) Kirby was Edward Kirby, son of George Kirby, carpenter, and his wife Ann; that he was born in King's Sutton on the 3rd of January 1843 and baptized on March 5th 1843; 2) that they married in the district of Plymouth in the third Quarter of 1875. For the Family of George and Ann Kirby parents of Edward, press HERE. Furthermore, considering that he had to be alive before the last child was born, he must have died around 1888 more or less. So he must have been about 45 years old when he died. All we know is that his last reported job was labourer at Her Majesty's Dockyard of Plymouth. It is a far cry from what his job description was in the Marriage papers of Hetty Esther Kirby where he is said to be "shipowner".

   We know that Mary Ann Kirby was alive at the 1891 Census but dead at the 1901 Census. In fact, she was admitted because of a stomach ulcer at the Royal Albert Hospital on August 7th 1894 and discharged after her recovery on August 11th 1894. She was then 50 years old and living at 3 Tamar Street. She was thus born in 1844. A

   So Edward Kirby had married Mary Ann (Hannah) Briggs in the third quarter of 1875. For the Briggs Family, that of William Briggs Senior and William Briggs Junior, first husband of Mary Hannah (Ann) Goves, press HERE. . Now she was a widow and not her spinster, something which I have yet to show. In fact, she was born Mary Hannah Goves, daughter of Joseph Goves and his wife Mary. For the Family of Joseph and Mary Goves, press HERE.
   

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10. Extra Information

    There exists three more references to Edward Kirby, the first refering certainly to him, the others, perhaps to him, perhaps to someone of the same name.

    Indeed he appears on the 1885 Voters' List. There is mentioned that he is a the voters' list because of his house, on 3 Tamar Street, the house he lived in. He was thus a homeowner in 1885. (A Copy of the relevant page of this Voter's List is found further down.)

    The other two references are of a very different nature. Someone of this same was twice fined 1 shilling for an "Offence against Elementary Conduct", once during the "1889 Easter and Midsummer" Period and once during the "1889 Midsummer to Michaelmas". Both times the fines were paid to the Borough's Treasurer. (Copies of the relevant entries of this digest of offences for the borough are found further down.)

    If this Edward Kirby is the same man, we can say that he was alive in early Autumn of 1889 and still in Plymouth.

    
    

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    Edward Kirby's Entry on the 1885 Voters List for the Property of 3 Tamar Street:
    
    
    
    
    

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    A Edward Kirby's Entry (line 105) for an "Offence against Elementary Conduct" during the Easter to Midsummer Terms of 1889:
    
    
    
    
    

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    A Edward Kirby's Entry (line 106) for an "Offence against Elementary Conduct" during the Midsummer to Michaelmas Terms of 1889:
    
    
    
    

TO SUM UP: The children of Edward Kirby

All this said and done, we have to find out what we can about what happened to the children of Edward Kirby. We can sum up the list of his children thus, using the 1881, 1891 and 1901 Censuses already examined, as well as the various Baptism Entries:

1. Isabella Robinson Kirby, born in the third Quarter of 1876, and whose mother's maiden name was Goves. She married in the district of Stoke Damerel in Devon in the fourth quarter of 1896 Thomas William Noel. She is not found in the 1911 Census for Devon.
2. Triposa Kezia Anderson Kirby, born on February 22nd 1879 and baptized on December 9th 1881. (A Copy of this Act is available earlier on this page.) She is not found in the 1911 Census for Devon.
3. Mary Elizabeth Kirby, born around 1882. At the 1901 Census, she was living at 16 Newport Street, East Stonehouse, Devon, with her three younger siblings. (A Copy of this Act is available earlier on this page.) She married in East Stonehouse in the third quarter of 1902 Frederick Charles Parsons. She is not found in the 1911 Census for Devon.
4. James Edward Kirby, born on April 29th 1884 and baptized on May 8th 1884. (A Copy of this Act is available earlier on this page.) At the 1901 Census, he was living at 16 Newport Street, East Stonehouse, Devon. (A Copy of this Act is available earlier on this page.) He is not found on the 1911 Census for Devon.
5. Hettie Esther Kirby, born on 28th August 1886 and baptized on 23rd September 1886. (A Copy of this Act is available earlier on this page.) At the 1901 Census, she was living at 16 Newport Street, East Stonehouse, Devon. (A Copy of this Act is available earlier on this page.) She married Benjamin Nadin Junior on the 6th of May 1909 in Plymouth. For the Family of Benjamin Nadin Junior and Hetty Esther Kirby, press HERE. .
6. Tryphena Kerenhappuch Goves Kirby, born on February 3th 1888 and baptized on February 1th 1888. (A Copy of this Act is available earlier on this page.) At the 1901 Census, she was living at 16 Newport Street, East Stonehouse, Devon. (A Copy of this Act is available earlier on this page.) She married in the 4th quarter of 1901 in Plymouth, Devon, John Joseph Rosevear. They are not found on the 1911 Census for Devon.

Edward Kirby and his wife Mary Hannah Goves gave to some of their children what I would consider rather exotic names. We have Isabella Robinson Kirby, Triposa Kezia Anderson Kirby, Mary Elizabeth Kirby, James Edward Kirby, Hettie Esther Kirby and Tryphena Karenhappuch Goves Kirby.

Hettie is said to be the diminutive of Henrietta; Esther is a common name, and so are Isabella, Mary, Elizabeth, James and Edward. But that cannot certainly be said of Triposa, Kezia, Tryphena and Karenhappuch. Now Kezia and Karenhappuch are the names of two of the three daughters of Job after his trials.

We also find three family names: Robinson, Anderson and Goves. It is possible that they are appended to the christian name that comes just before, it which case there would be reference to three individuals: Isabella Robinson, Kezia Anderson and Karenhappuch Goves.

In one case, there is a Kezia Anderson, so we will find out who she was and if she could have been referred to. There is only one Kezia Anderson that could be found in England. A Kezia Bowles married a James Samuel Anderson in July 1880 and so became a Kezia Anderson. For more on Kezia Anderson, press HERE. .