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HEAD Family History © Pat Lunnon, Mark Head, and Jerry England, 1999

web pages © Jerry England, 1999 - 2005

Stephen 6 Head was born in Plumstead, Kent 29 JUL 1817; baptized in St. Nicolas, Plumstead, Kent, 24 AUG 1817. He married Margaret WILKIE in St. Nicolas, Plumstead, Kent, 9 DEC 1844; died 28 DEC 1881 in Plumstead, Kent, at 64 years of age.

The children of Stephen Head and Margaret (Wilkie) Head are:

i. Mary HEAD was born 29 NOV 1845; baptized in St Mary Magdalene, Woolwich, Kent, 25 DEC 1845. I believe she died before 1851 because she is not on that census.

ii. Margaret HEAD was born 14 APR 1848; baptized in St. Nicolas, Plumstead, Kent, 1 OCT 1854; married George MORRIS in St. Margaret's, Plumstead, 31 DEC 1871. [George Morris b. about 1845 at Kingston on Thames, Surrey, England.]

(left to right) Margaret Head nee Wilkie, Maria Cummin nee Head, Thomas Cummin Jr, and Winnie Cummin about 1905.

iii. Maria HEAD was born 29 MAY 1850; baptized in St. Nicolas, Plumstead, Kent, 1 OCT 1854; m. Thomas CUMMIN 1868 in Woolwich, Kent. [Thomas Cummin b. about 1849 in Chatham (aka Medway), Kent, England; d. 1886 in Woolwich; occupation carpenter; s/o Thos Cummins b about 1817 Stockton, Durham and Agnes b about 1824]

Maria Cummin nee HEAD. Thanks to Ron Foster for the photo.

Children of Thomas and Maria Cummin:
Margaret Cummin about 1870
Thomas Cummin about 1872
Roseina M. Cummin about 1875
Stephen G. Cummin about 1877
Amelia W. Cummin about 1879
Nellie E Cummin about 1882 Plumstead
Harold W Cummin about 1885 Plumstead

+iv. Stephen John 7 HEAD [Jerry's Line] was born 16 APR 1853; baptized in St. Nicolas, Plumstead, Kent, 1 OCT 1854; married Susannah AVERY in St. Mary's, Lewisham, Kent, 4 MAY 1876.

Stephen John Head and Susannah Head nee Avery in Plumstead about 1910.

Children:
Ethel M. Head (Dressmaker) b. 1877 Plumstead
Florence S. Head b. 1878 Plumstead; m: Henry Clements WALKEM or WALKEN 1908 Woolwich
Constance M.A. Head about 1880 Plumstead; m. HARRIS, Unknown about 1902
Lillian M. Head b. 1882 Plumstead; m. Frederick CRAWFORD 1908 Woolwich
Annie Leighton Head b. 1884 Plumstead
Edith M. Head b. 1887 Plumstead; m. William H. DUMBRILL about 1908
Stephen W Head about 1889 Plumstead emigrated to USA about 1910
Herbert H Head about 1893 Plumstead emigrated to USA before 1913

v. Matthew Charles 7 HEAD [Mark Head's Line] was born 7 FEB 1856; baptized in St. Nicolas, Plumstead, Kent, 23 MAR 1856; married Esther GILBERT in St. James, Plumstead, 26 DEC 1881.

Children:
Esther Head about 1882 Plumstead
Matthew C Head about 1883 Woolwich
Anie A Head about 1887 Plumstead
George Head about 1888 Plumstead
Thomas W Head about 1892 Plumstead
John Head about 1894 Plumstead
Elizabeth Head about 1895 Plumstead
Ethel M Head about 1896 Plumstead
James F Head about 1898 Plumstead
Walter E Head about 1899 Plumstead

vi. Fanny Sophia HEAD was born 15 JUN 1856; baptized in St. Nicolas, Plumstead, Kent, 4 JUL 1858; m. Alexander George POPE 22 JUN 1887. [Alexander G Pope b. about 1865 in Plumstead, Kent, England.]

Children:
Alexandrina Pope about 1889 Plumstead
Mabel Pope about 1892 Plumstead
Morris Pope about 1896 Plumstead

vii. Emma HEAD was born 21 NOV 1860; baptized in St. Nicolas, Plumstead, Kent, 13 JAN 1861; m. George William BROWN in St. Margaret's, Plumstead, Kent 26 MAR 1883. [George W Brown b. about 1861 in Plumstead, Kent, England.]

Children:

George S Brown about 1884
William B Brown about 1887
Frank E Brown about 1889
Emma F Brown about 1891
Edith M Brown about 1893
Arthur H Brown about 1895
Florence A Brown about 1897

viii. Thomas HEAD was born 23 APR 1863; baptized in St. Margaret's, Plumstead, 17 MAY 1863, m. Fanny ASHDOWN 1885 in Woolwich, Kent. [b. about 1863 in Charlton, Kent, England.]

Children:

Thomas E Head about 1887
Nellie M Head about 1889
Albert W Head about 1891
Arthur S Head about 1894

ix. Ann HEAD was born 6 DEC 1866; baptized in St. Margaret's, Plumstead, 3 MAR 1867; m. Walter Edward BARLING in St. Margaret's, Plumstead 23 FEB 1889. [Walter Barling b. about 1865 in Chatham, Kent, England.]

Children:

Walter Barling about 1890 Plumstead

x. Alice HEAD was born in Landport, Hampshire, England 18 NOV 1869 at 98 Surrey Street, Landport , Portsea Island (say Portsmouth), Hampshire, England; baptized in St. Margaret's, Plumstead, 31 MAR 1872; m. William Henry FRENCH in Holy Trinity Church, Woolwich 25 DEC 1898. [William H French b. about 1874 in Woolwich, Kent, England.]

Children:

Alice E E French about 1900 Plumstead

Information collected and © 1999 by Pat Lunnon as part of her research into the Head family Tree.

Notes for Stephen Head:

Stephen married Margaret Wilkie, the daughter of Thomas Wilkie, a Warrant Officer (probably with the Royal Artillery or in the Royal Arsenal in Woolwich). Magaret was only 18 whilst Stephen was already 27. They Married, like their parents before, at St. Nicolas, Plumstead, in the presence of Eliza Bates and William Manning. Both Stephen and Margaret made their marks, and so were probably illiterate.
The vicar was Revd. H. J. Shackleton.

By the time their third daughter, Maria, was born, Stephen and Margaret Head were living in 3, Sprays Buildings, Plumstead, according to the 1851 census. Their eldest daughter, Mary, does not appear and presumably died, as she would have been only 5 years old at the census date. (30th March, 1851)

Stephen is recorded as being a Boiler Maker.

Their first son, Stephen John, was born on 16th April 1853. it was only on 1st Oct. 1854 that all three remaining children were baptised; margaret was 6 and Maria 4. Stephen's occupation was shown on the baptism record as being 'labourer' although this description could mean many things.

When Matthew Charles was baptised on 23rd March 1856 Stephen was back to being identified as a 'Boiler Maker'.

St. Nicolas:

see also notes under John Head.

Up until 1859 St. Nicolas Church was the Parish church of Plumstead. On 25th April 1859 the newly constructed St. Margaret's Church was consecrated and became joint parish church as baptisms and marriages took place in both buildings until Nov. 1860. St. Margaret's officially took over as Parish church in1864, with St. Margaret's as a district church only.

By 1878 Stephen and Margaret had moved to 20, Station Road. In May 1878 Stephen made his Will.

By 31st. Mar 1881 Stephen and Margaret had moved again, to 19 Maxey Road, Plumstead. The census of that date indicates that their children living with them were thus:

Matthew Charles, 26 unmarried Foundry Labourer
Fanny 23 unmarried Formerly cook
Thomas 17 unmarried Foundry Labourer
Ann 14 unmarried
Alice 11 unmarried scholar

Stephen was described as a Fitters Labourer and Margaret as Wife only (no trade)

Staying in the house also were unrelated lodgers;
David Stevenson 26 Iron Moulder Born Scotland
Louisa Stevenson 27 Needlewoman Born Woolwich, Kent.

Stephen died on 28th Dec. 1881, 2 days after the marriage of his son, Matthew Charles Head (Mark's g.g.f) to Esther Gilbert. His funeral took place in Plumstead Cemetery on 7th Jan 1882. Stephen's Will was proved in London on 20th Feb 1882, leaving all his possessions to Margaret.

Margaret continued for many years, seeing many children married and many grandchildren born.

She died on 5th Sep 1910 in the Infirmary, aged 84. Her funeral took place on 10 Sep 1910 in Plumstead Churchyard. Mourners at her funeral were her eldest son and his wife, Stephen John Head and Suzannah Avery Head, her daughters and sons-in-law Margaret and George Morris, Fanny Pope, Emma and George Brown, Annie and Walter Barling and Alice and Will French. Latterly, Margaret had been living at 32 Ennis Road, Plumstead, until her deterioration and committal to the Infirmary.

The Kentish Independent Newspaper published an account of the funeral, and was more like an obituary. Margaret was greatly loved and respected in the locality. The account is as follows:

The funeral took place on September 10th at Plumstead Churchyard, of Mrs Margaret Head, widow of the late Mr. Stephen Head, (at one time a foreman at Woolwich Dockyard) who died aged 84 years. The deceased, who was a well known resident of Plumstead, had been ailing for some considerable time. She was born at the Fort of Signal Hill, Newfoundland, in 1826, her father being the Armourer-Sergeant at the Fort. She is believed to be the first English child at the Fort, and almost to the last was happy telling anecdotes of what took place at the Fort. She was taken, as a child, to England and returned to Newfoundland in the old sailing ship days (there were no steamers in those times) when ships often had to be battened down because of storms. Her husband (who pre-deceased her in 1881) was a man well-known and respected in his time: he was born on Plumstead common in the old house that adjoins St. Margaret's Church, he and his father before him being gardeners to the owners of Vicarage Park, which , at one time, extended for some distance round about.

Mourners at the funeral on Saturday were : Mr. Stephen (John) Head (eldest son) and Mrs. (Susannah) Head, Mrs. Margaret Morris (eldest daughter) and Mr. Morris, Mrs. Fanny Pope (daughter), Mrs. Emma Brown (daughter) and Mr. Brown, Mrs. Annie Barling (daughter) and Mr. Barling, Mrs. Alice French (daughter) and Mr. French.

The wreaths were numerous and beautiful, among them being tributes from:-" Stephen and family", " Margaret and George", " Fanny and children", "Annie and Walter and son", "Matthew and Ester", "Alice and Will", "Eva and Dot".

The funeral was conducted by Messrs. Messent & Sons.

Rev. 6-26-05

© Jerry England 1989 - 2005

Stephen John Head 1853

© Jerry England 1999

Stephen John 7 HEAD was born 16 APR 1853 in Plumstead, Kent, England. He married Susannah AVERY at St. Mary's church in the parish of Lewisham, Kent, England, 4 May 1876.

Stephen John HEAD and Susannah (AVERY) HEAD

Stephen John HEAD retired from the RG&CF (Woolwich Arsenal) as its Assist. Foreman of the RCD in NOV 1917 after 42 years of service.

The children of Stephen John Head and Susannah (Avery) Head are:

i. Ethel Mary HEAD was born in Woolwich, England Mar 1877. She was a dress maker.

ii. Florence Susannah HEAD was born in Woolwich, England Jun 1878; m. Henry Clements WALKEM(N) - Qrt Jun 1908 - District: Woolwich - Vol: 1d - Pg: 2013. Henry was born about 1882 in Plumstead, London, England.

iii. Constance May A. "Connie" HEAD was born in Woolwich, England Sep 1880; m. HARRIS, Unknown about 1902.

iv. Lilian Mabel HEAD was born in Plumstead, England Sep 1882; m. Frederick Crawford - Qrt Sep 1908 - District: Woolwich - Vol: 1d - Pg: 2272. Frederick was born about 1887 in Chatham, Kent, England.

v. Annie Leighton "Nance" HEAD was born in Plumstead, England Dec 1884.

vi. Edith Maria HEAD was born in Plumstead, England Jun 1887; m. William H Dumbrill 1911.

 

Retirement watch presented to my great grandfather in 1917

vii. Stephen William 8 HEAD was born 20 MAY 1889, in Plumstead; m. Annie McNEIL 1913 in Detroit, MI, USA

viii. Herbert Henry HEAD was born 11 APR 1893, in Plumstead, Kent, England. He married Amy Daisy GLIDE in 1915. They had 3 children Harold Fredrick, John Henry and Wilfred James and 12 grandchildren.

Susannah AVERY Head

d/o William AVERY (b. about 1818 Hastings, Sussex, England)

Notes:

Family legend has it that Stephen John HEAD died about 1918 as a result of injuries from a WWI German Zeppelin raid over Plumstead. He was a Civil Defence Warden and got everyone in a shelter except himself. He survived the air raid, but died sometime later from his injuries.

1881 Census living at 39 Walmer Road, Plumstead, England
1891 Census living at 116 Orchard Road, Plumstead, England
1901 Census living at 25417 Manthorpe Road, Plumstead, England
1920 Ship Manifest living at 36 Admaston Road, Plumstead, England

At time of their marriage both bride and groom were residents at Exchequer Place, Lewisham.

Stephen's death certificate information: died 14 OCT 1918 at 36 Admaston R; Stephen John Head; 65years; assistant foreman RCD Arsenal; cause: mitral incompetence,anasarca 6 months 'no pm'; informant: F Crawford, son-in-law in attendance of 37 Shooter's Hill Gardens, Eltham.

Susannah's death certificate reveals that she died 5 MAR 1921 at 8 Porthall Place, Preston, Brighton Susannah Head 70 years, widow of Stephen John Head,foreman coppersmith. Cause of death: cerebral haemorrhage, informant: Ethel M Head, daughter present at the death and of the same address.

obituary for Stephen John Head

© Jerry England 1989 - 2005

Stephen William 8 Head 1889

© Jerry England 1999

Stephen William HEAD was born in Plumstead, Kent, England 20 MAY 1889; married Annie Margaret "Anna" MC NEIL in Detroit, Wayne Co., MI, March 24, 1913; died October 25, 1942 in Santa Monica, Los Angeles Co., CA, at 53 years of age.

Stephen William Head and Annie (McNeil) Head about 1914


The children of Stephen William Head and Annie (McNeil) Head are:

(left to right) Leonard, Anna, Helen, Stephen, Robert, and Herbert Head

i. Leonard John HEAD was born 22 JUN 1914 in Detroit, Wayne Co., MI; he died 31 DEC 1998 in Thousand Oaks, CA at age 84.

ii. Herbert William HEAD was born 5 MAR 1917 in Detroit, Wayne Co., MI. He married Ann Lixvar. He died 15 MAY 1972.

iii. Helen Avery HEAD was born 30 SEP 1918 in Detroit, Wayne Co., MI. She married Fred Arthur MORGAN, Helen died 6 OCT 1970 in Evanston, WY.

iv. Robert J. HEAD was born 3 JUN 1925; d. 20 NOV 1999 in Porterville, CA.

Notes:

Annie McNeil was born in Detroit, Wayne Co., MI November 8, 1892. She was the daughter of Allan MC NEIL and Adaline PROCTOR. Annie died December 31, 1964 in Santa Monica, Los Angeles Co., Calif., at 72 years of age.

Stephen emigrated to the US in 1910. In 1920 he went back to England to visit his mother. (Source: ships manifest "Imperator" from Southampton, 11 JUL 1920).

On 1930 census living at 13117 Cloverlawn, Detroit, MI.

obituary for Stephen Wm and Anna Head

© Jerry England 1989 - 2005

WARWOOD & WORWOOD in Kent & London & all HISEMAN & ISEMAN in Kent and anywhere else

I am researching the families that descended from Richard ISEMONGER (born 1766 Caterham Surrey) and his wife Sarah FULBROOK) who moved to Kent with their children in about 1815.