Author: Linda Martin

Abraham Chennery

Born: c. 1808
Died: 16 January 1876
Buried: 20 January 1876

Abraham Chennery was a Brighton Lodging House Keeper who died in Sussex Lunatic Asylum, Wivelsfield, registered district of Lewes, later know as St. Francis Hospital, on 16 January 1876.

Abraham’s surname Chennery caused some confusion at the beginning of the research as it was recorded with alternative spellings, Chinnery, Chinery being just two.

On his burial record he is noted as Abraham Chinnery age 66, and his abode is given as his son Charles’s residence, 21 Hampton Place, Brighton. On his death certificate he is named as Abraham Chennery age 66 a Lodging House Keeper.

The death record and the census record of 1871 suggests he was born 1810 in Essex, Walter Belchamp, which should be the village of Belchamp Walter.

This village name helped the research immensely as it was recorded on further census returns.

The village sits close to the Suffolk boarder with Sudbury Suffolk being approximately 3 miles to the east. There is an estate in which sits a Queen Ann style red brick house known as Belchamp Hall. Along with a local village hall built in 1872. Both of which are Grade 2 listed.

Abraham’s story

There is a transcribed baptism in Belchamp Walter of an Abraham Chinery. Father also Abraham, mother Frances Chinery, possibly nee Everet. Although its 1808 and not 1810 it is the closest birth found.

In a later census his father Abraham senior is visiting the family, plus two of his sisters had also moved to the Brighton area, giving some support to the transcribed baptism. All the children’s baptisms gave Chinery as the surname.

Siblings found from transcribed Baptisms for Belchamp Walter:

Susan Baptised, 23 April 1804 – 1855
Mary Ann Rose baptised, 9 March 1810 – 1864.
Sarah baptised, 23 September 1810 -1876.
William baptised, 14 May 1815 – 1820 possible death.
Frances baptised, 19 June 1818 – 1829.
Elizabeth baptised, 21 April1821 – 1885.
Margaret / Margaretta baptised, 11 August 1825 – death not found

I am unable to find when Abraham came to be in London. It was possible he came seeking work.
We first find Abraham in 1840 on the occasion of his marriage to Louisa Smith, on 11th November, at St Mary’s Newington.
Louisa is the daughter of Daniel Omer Smith, deceased. Witness her brother Daniel Omer Smith and ? Smith.

There is a possible Transcribed Baptism for Louisa in Deptford, father Daniel and mother Ann. The Baptism date is 22 October 1809 although her name is spelt Louiza. Her brother Daniel Omer Jnr’s. transcribed baptism also records mother as Ann, however, on the actual baptism register the mother is Mary Ann. The book online only goes to 1808 so I was unable to see Louisa’s entry.

In the 1841 census under the name transcribed as Abraham Chinory which I believe is Abraham, a Man Servant at the Manor House, Upper Tooting. Louisa is however not recorded with him. However, living very close by in Upper Tooting a Louisa Smith can be found who is a female servant. Maybe Louisa was under a year contract to her employer which she would have to complete before leaving and to join Charles.

‘Many employers hired servants on yearly contacts ‘
Acknowledgement to this information found in website below.

Abraham and Louisa start a family, their son’s was registered in the first quarter of 1842.
This was to be the only child found to be born to the couple.

Sadly, Abraham’s mother died and was buried in Belchamp Walter on 30 July 1843.

1851 census

It’s hard to decipher the writing however it looks like they are living in rooms over the “stables for the Manor House” in Upper Tooting, Abraham is the Head aged 42 working as a Coachman, from Essex, Belchamp. (The next recorded building is Manor house where I believe Abraham was working in 1841. maybe the stables are adjoining.) With Abraham are, Louisa, 40, Wife from Deptford, Charles, 9 Son, a Scholar. And a visitor Abraham Chinnery 73, Widower, a Gardener from Essex, Foxford? I am assuming Abraham’s father. I cannot find a Foxford in Essex it could be a wrongly recorded place, there is a Foxearth close to Belchamp Walter which is on the North Essex/Suffolk border. A newspaper article from 1841 confirms Abraham senior did herald from Foxearth.

Abraham’s father’s possible death in 1860.

1861 census

Abraham has had a change of occupation and address. He and Louisa are now living at 52 Waterloo Street, Hove, Brighton. He is a Lodging House Keeper. There is also a House Servant, Catherine Fisher, 22, from Gloucestershire, Lodgers, Mary Smith a Widow, 48, Ann Matilda Smith, 10 and Alexander Smith, 18, a Clerk to India Merchant, all from Scotland.

Son Charles is now 19 and a clerk lodging at 48 Bookham Street, Shoreditch, London. Head of home was George Ashdown a Tailor and his wife Ann, along with other lodgers.

The establishment seems to have standing as a Lady Corbett is recorded in the local papers as a frequent visitor in August 1861.

A newspaper cutting tells us that Abraham’s son Charles marries in 1863 at All Saints’ Paddington to Jane Russell daughter of James Russell Esq. . Abraham’s address is given as Lansdown Place Brighton.

Oxford Chronical and Reading gazette 16 January 1864:

Jane’s father James Russell was in 1851 a Tennis Court Keeper but by 1861 he was a Proprietor of Billiard Rooms. On his death in 1866 his will describes him as a Billiard Table Keeper.

On 30 June 1869, Abraham was at Brighton Police Court before the Mayor. However, the summons was dismissed.

From the Brighton Guardian dated 7 June 1869:

1871 census

Abraham has moved to a new address 84 North Street Brighton. He is aged 61 from Belchamp Walter Essex, Louisa his wife is aged 60 is from Deptford. There is also Emily Copperwheat aged 15, a domestic from London.

North Street in Brighton in the 1870s

Decline in Health

On 2 January 1874 Abraham is admitted to Sussex Asylum (St Francis) and he remained there until his death two years later on 16 January 1876.

Abraham’s death certificate shows he died at Sussex Lunatic Asylum, Wivelsfield. Registered on 26 January by S W D Williams MD. Superintendent at the Asylum.

Abraham is described as having died of Chronic Softening of the brain. This could have been Encephalomalacia which is a localised softening of the brain caused by inflammation of bleeding caused by a few factors but the most common causes could be a stroke or bleed on the brain. His burial was in the asylum cemetery on 20 January 1876, the address of 21 Hampton Place, Brighton was the address of his son Charles.

Unfortunately, we do not have any admission or medical records so unable to say how much Abraham was affected by his brain damage or how he spent his time in the Asylum.

Abraham’s Family

Louisa his widow lived on, and in the 1881 census she is recorded aged 71 visiting Issac Jacob aged 72 , a widower and a retired minister with his family from Suffolk living at 24 Tintern Street, Lambeth.

Louisa death is registered in the 1st quarter 1891. Age 81. Her burial in Hanwell cemetery records her address as 31 Lavender Sweep, Battersea. This is the address of her son Charles and wife Jane.

Charles and Jane

After his father’s death Charles and Jane moved to 3 Cologne Road in Battersea. Charles aged 38 a Commercial Clerk, his wife Jane aged 36. There was a nephew William Ravenscroft aged 8 from London who is the son of Jane’s sister Isabel.

In the 1891 census Charles and Jane are living at 31 Lavender Sweep. Battersea Charles is a Commercial Traveller aged 46 and Jane his wife aged 45. Isabel Ravenscroft Jane’s sister is also living there. She is widowed and living off her own means. Her son William Ravenscroft continues to live with his uncle and Aunt. He is recorded as bring 17 years old and a Commercial Clerk. A niece Emily Russell aged 16 from Wantage in Berkshire and a “son” Henry V Elvan aged 39 a “retired Officer”. After researching Henry I found he had no previous connection with the family. He was a divorced man, the son of an Army Officer from Redcar. I would presume he was a lodger. He died in 1898.

Jane died on 3 February 1900.

Details from Jane’s death certificate below. Her age is not correct though it changes on her records.

In 1901 Charles is living with his in laws and is now an Assistant Accounts Clerk living at 3 Kathleen Street, Battersea. Jane’s sister Isabel Kay is a lodging house keeper and brother Frank Russell a Printers Traveller. All are widowed.

Sadly the 1911 census reveals Charles is in the Workhouse at Lavender Hill, Tooting.

Charles died in the Wandsworth & Clapham Union Workhouse on 10th June 1915, age 73. His entry in the Register of Deaths tells us that he died from Senile Decay and Syncope (fainting, probably caused by cardiovascular problems) and that he was “Buried by Friends.”

I could not find any children born to Charles and Jane.

Abraham’s siblings

Susan remained in Belchamp Walters and married James Sanford/ Sandford who was an agricultural worker in 1832. I believe he was a widow as some children in a later census are born well before their marriage and Susan would only be 12 when the first child was born. He was 10 years her senior and a family tree on ancestry record him married to a Charlotte Martin who died in 1830. In 1841 the family are living next to sister Elizabeth and family. Susan died in 1855.

Mary Ann Rose, 55, single, was working as a cook in Devonshire Place Balham in the 1861 census she died in 1864. Burial in Hanwell cemetery on 9 May.

Sarah married James Thomas Hornsby on 2 December 1849 in St James, Picadilly, Westminster. James was a Cheesemonger, who died in 1856. No children can be found born to the couple. Sarah never remarried.
In 1871 census Sarah is living with her younger sister Margaret at 18 Waterloo Street, Hove, head of house, her occupation was a lodging house keeper. Sarah died in 1873 and was buried on 23 February at St Andrews, Hove, Sussex.

Sadly, I believe William and Frances died young. William aged 5 and Frances aged 11.

Elizabeth stayed in Belchamp Walter. she married William Stammers an agricultural worker in 1839.
The 1841 census shows Elizabeth and her family were living in between her parents Abraham and Frances and sister Susan. She died aged 64 and buried in Belchamp Walter on 3 December 1885.

Margaretta or Margaret, cannot be found after 1871 and the death of her sister Sarah.

In the 1851 census she is living with her sister Mary Ann at 73 Basinghall Street, Bassishaw, London, Mary Ann is head of house a housekeeper. By the 1861 census at the same address Margaretta is now head of the house, described as a housekeeper. Mary Ann had moved on and was now a cook in Devonshire Place Balham. By 1871 as I already mentioned she was living with her sister Sarah.

---

Author’s Thoughts

Abraham came from a rural background and like so many he travelled to London for work presumably for better wages and possibly a better life. It seems as if some of his siblings followed suit. Abraham did not stay in the city and possibly sought some clean air and different opportunities on the south coast. He had a complete change of occupation and became a Lodging House Keeper with his wife and son in what was fashionable Brighton. It seems he ran a fairly upmarket lodging house in the 1860’s if the clientele who visited are anything to go by. Other addresses given in Brighton were good areas it suggests he did reasonably well for himself.

Unfortunately, he became victim to an illness that affected his brain and it appears he was so unwell that he needed care at the Sussex Asylum which is where he sadly died.