RUSSELLs of Cranbrook Kent
Edit-29/10/02

Richard Russell #5540 b. 1767, Cranbrook Kent,⁽¹⁾ occupation labourer, m. Susannah Russell #5541. There is much doubt that he is the father of Thomas [#531] but but he is a start point for searches and confirmation. Susannah: It is my convention to give the married name to female spouses whose family is not known.

I. Thomas Russell #531 b. 8 June 1817, Cranbrook Kent, 16 June 1817, 'recorded in Speldhurst',⁽²⁾ occupation Master Cooper,⁽³⁾ m. Agnes Thomas #1695, b. 26 Oct 1817, Ulcombe Kent,⁽⁴⁾ 15 March 1818, All Saints Ulcombe Kent,⁽⁵⁾ (daughter of Thomas Thomas #1693 and Sarah Thomas #1694). Thomas died 1884. Son William's b.cert BXBZ685216, shows f. as Thomas. 1861 census: Thomas, 42, Cooper Master with wife Agnes , 40,living at 107 Stone St Cranbrook with d. Ann 16, sons Thomas 14,and William 11. See Grave Stone photo of Thomas and Agnes - St Dunstans Cranbrook. Thomas's will is in Cranbrook Museum - dated 7 June 1774 [2.1 RUSS 3442] Leaves 50 pounds in trust for daughter Elizabeth - residue to Jon Thomas Russell

A. Ann Russell #5542 b. 1845, Cranbrook Kent.⁽⁶⁾

B. Elizabeth Russell #5543.

C. Jon Thomas Russell #5544 b. 1848, Cranbrook Kent, occupation cooper, m. 13 Aug 1870, in St Dunstans Cranbrook, Mary Ann Pettet #5545, b. 1850.⁽⁷⁾

1. Victor Russell #5546 b. 1871, Cranbrook Kent.⁽⁸⁾

2. Ernest Russell #5547 b. 1873, Cranbrook Kent.⁽⁹⁾

D. William James Russell #399 b. 19 Sep 1849, Cranbrook Kent B/Cert BXBZ685216,⁽¹⁰⁾ occupation carpenter, m. 19 June 1872, in St Peters Church, Maidestone Kent,⁽¹¹⁾ Louisa Reeves #5318, b. 1851, Headcorn,⁽¹²⁾ (daughter of James Reeves #5316 and Mary Reeves #5317). Census shows birth places for first 4 children as;William born 1873 while family at Lamberhurst Kent; Ben in 1877 at Lamberhurst; Hubert Charles 1879 at Speldhurst; Florence does not show in 1891 census when she would have been 16 and most likely out in service - also explains the quadruple baptism , in Speldhurst, after Charles birth there in 1879 [baptisms 1880] with them moving to Southborough; check 1881 census to confirm. 1891 census - 21 Elm Rd Southborough

1. William James Russell #401 b. 15 Dec 1873, 1891 Census says born in Lamberhurst, 22 Feb 1880, speldhurst Kent, ref: LDS 1469566, occupation 1891 census -errand boy.

2. Florence Mary (Mercy) Russell #402 b. 20 Jul 1875, 22 Feb 1880, speldhurst Kent, ref: LDS 1469566.

3. Benjamin Thomas Russell #312 b. 2 Jul 1877, Reg'n Dist -Ticehurst - Sub -Wadhurst,⁽¹³⁾ 22 02 1880, Speldhurst SRY,⁽¹⁴⁾ occupation Plasterer, m. 20 Sept 1902, in Southborough Kent,⁽¹⁵⁾ Mary Ellen Couling #573, b. 26 July 1877, Kempsford GLS,⁽¹⁶⁾ (daughter of John Little Couling #1642 and Martha Ellen Miller #1678) occupation Dom servant, d. Winnipeg Man. Benjamin died 1957, Toronto ON, buried: Toronto ont. 1891 census shows William Russell,40, & wife Louisa residing at 21 Elm Road Southborough [Tonbridge] , a carpenter of Cranbrook Kent ; Lousia is of Headcorn kent. Son William is 17 a porter, Ben is 13 a porter, Hubert is 11, Charles is 9, Ethel is 6 and Agnes is 3. census 1341217 Mary: Mary Ellen Couling: 25 at marriage in 1902. Living in Tunbridge 'in service', [Cert MX835682]. In 1891 Kempsford GLS census she is missing. At 14 she, may have already gone into service. We do not know how she got to Kent. Family myth has either she or Ben having a connection with 'Speldhurst' the Baden-Powell connection. Ben may have had a trades connection with Speldhurst allowing for the meeting of Ben and Mary Ellen???.

a. Edmund William John Russell #313 b. 11 June 1903, Cert 16 07 03 # 414 Bk 86 Tunbridge Well, 12 06 1903, St Mathews Southborough Kent, occupation Custodian, m. Edith Coombes #1110. Edmund died Jan 1943, Toronto, buried: Died after war service in Newfoundland.

b. Martha Louise Russell #314 b. 10 07 1907, Rotherfield East Sussex, m. 11 April 1931, in Winnipeg Man, Gordon William Andrews #1114, b. 29 Jan 1907, Winipeg Man, (son of Ernest William Andrews #5209 and Gertrude Guest #5210) d. 2 June 1977. Martha died 21 July 1982, Calgary

c. Elsie Elizabeth Russell #8 b. 08 April 1909, Rotherfield East Sussex, m. Charles Read Merredew #7, b. 5 July 1909, Winnipeg,Canada,⁽¹⁷⁾ (son of Charles Ottery Merredew #9 and Edith Mary Read #10) d. 1 Nov.1989, Kenora Ont. Elsie died 1986, Keewatin Ont. Note that Rotherfield is a small town just outside of Crowborough East Sussex ON Birth Cert BXBZ address of mother is shown as Mansfield Villa Beecher Estate Crowborough Sussex

d. Prissy Russell #315 b. England, d. 1922, Winnjipeg. Said to have been a babe in arms when Ben and mary Ellen emigrated to Canada

e. George Russell #316 b. Winnipeg, occupation Manager George, m. Marian Russell #516.

f. Alfred Russell #318 b. Winnipeg, occupation Radiation Surveyor, m. Edith Coombes #1110. Alfred died Deep River Ont.

1. ¹ Mr Addison Little Woods Angley Rd Kempsford - a researcher of St Dunstans

2. ² LDS 14695666 - Parish Record Cranbrook

3. ³ LDS Film 05426511861 Census - 107 Stone St V

4. ⁴ Note 1861 census shows her as age 42 - maybe 3 years were conveniently forgotten?

5. ⁵ Bp Cert #124 - LDS 1473797

6. ⁶ 1861 census shows her as age 16

7. ⁷ Mr Addison see Richard

8. ⁸ Mr Addison - see Richard

9. ⁹ Mr Addison

10. ¹⁰ 6095790 #2

11. ¹¹ Cert # MX 817162

12. ¹² Marriage Cert MX 817162 19 June 1872 shows her as age 21 - father as James

13. ¹³ BIRTH CERT BCAZ 04631

14. ¹⁴ ilm 1469569 Bishop's Transcript LDS film #1469566 1813-1899 shows the baptism of Benjamin Thomas and his 3 siblings on the same day

15. ¹⁵ marriage cert mx835682 shows her as age 25 at marriage in 1902;

16. ¹⁶ BXBZ724226

17. ¹⁷ 00AA