Susan & Thomas Gray

William Scott left two children, Alfred aged 17 and his younger sister Susan, born in1864, so she was four years old when her parents died. 

William’s sister, also a Susan, had moved to London and in 1856 married Thomas Gray in Lambeth. He was the son of Thomas Gray, a gentleman. In 1871 Susan and Thomas are living at Birchington Hall in Kent where they gave a home to Alfred and Susan.

Birchington Hall has twelve bedrooms and two lodges for the gardener and coachman. The house was the focus of many local celebrations and charitable hospitality. Thomas Gray and his wife Susan played a prominent part in village and Church life, holding teas and Christmas celebrations in the house and grounds for the oldest and youngest members of the community. During the summertime, they had summer fetes and children’s sports and teas in the grounds. After Mr Gray died his wife was cared for by her niece. 

After her husband’s death, Mrs Gray became a most generous benefactor to the village, providing teas and lunches for both children and pensioners at various times. She also bought the Primitive Methodist Chapel in Albion Road in 1892 and promptly leased it to the Vicar for 1 shilling (5p) a year, to be used as an Infant School. Birchington Hall no longer exists, it was demolished in 1970, a housing estate now occupies the site.

Thomas Gray was fondly remembered as a benefactor for many causes as shown in his obituary in the Birchington Gazette which also mentions that he gave stained glass windows in memory of his family to the village Church. He also gave a new lifeboat named after his wife to Margate town council.

Sadly, William Scott's son Alfred only lives until 1872 as he joins the Navy but dies of Dengue Fever whilst in Burma and that is where he is buried. Daughter Susan lives with her Aunt at Birchington Hall, although for a brief spell after the death of Thomas Gray in 1879, they are all living in London but by 1891 are back at the Hall.

Susan married in 1892. Her husband is Rev Thomas Everard Healey, a schoolmaster and in 1901 they are living in Sutton Coldfield and in 1911 the family are living near Blackpool.

They had two children – Beatrice Susan Healey b 1895 and Frank Gray Healey born 1893. Beatrice never married but Frank married Marjorie Earp in 1917 and they had two sons Peter born 1932 and Everard who was born in 1918 but died in 1943. 

Rev Thomas Everard Healey died in 1933. Thomas was a schoolmaster and son of Thomas Everard Healey, a schoolmaster, he was a clerk in Holy Orders. 

Susan, his wife, was bequeathed a share of about £90,000 (shared with another niece), from her aunt, Mrs Susan Gray, of Birchington Hall, Kent. 

Susan Healey nee Scott moved to Hastings and can be found on the 1939 register living with her daughter Beatrice. Susan died in 1945 aged 82. Beatrice died in 1982 and her brother Frank Gray Healy died in 1969.

William Scott’s sister, Susan Gray also helped their other sister Mary (born 1821 in King’s Lynn) in time of hardship. Mary had moved to London and had a number of daughters with Joseph Charles Peacock who died in 1866. I suspect the couple never married, and it is in 1867 that all four daughters are baptised despite being born between 1850 – 1858. By 1881 the four girls  have been taken in by their Aunt Susan Gray. One of the daughters, Louisa Peacock, who cared for her Aunt after being widowed, and shared in the bequest with her cousin Susan Healey, married a Dr Oscar Worthington in 1908 and used a bit of artistic licence when registering the marriage and stating her now deceased father occupation. Instead of him being  a painter she gives his occupation as a gentleman. 

William Scott         Bone Mill Workers          Birchington Hall 

George and William Gibson

We think George worked at the bone mill, as an article in The Norwich Mercury on 21/12/1859 shows he was committed for trial and another article on 14/01/1860 shows he was charged with stealing 28 lbs (12.7kg) of brass and 36 lbs (16.3kg) of lead from the mill, as well as two pairs of boots from a shop in Pentney. His brother William is also charged with stealing boots. George was sentenced to 6 months hard labour and William four months hard labour, see the Norwich Mercury newspaper article and Criminal Registration entries.

In 1861 George is working for a farmer in Walpole St Andrew and by 1871 he’s married and living down in London in Bethnal Green, married to Elizabeth from Cambridgeshire as shown in the Census records.

Bone Mill Employees        Bone Grinding & Boiling 

Robert Jenkinson was born circa 1816 at Hindolveston, Norfolk but by 1851 his occupation as a Maltster journeyman has brought him to the area, presumably to work at the Maltings in Narborough. He is living in Pentney where he is  lodging at Lloyds Cottage with Blacksmith, Henry Hall. 

In 1858 he married Susan Leggett. Their wedding certificate states they are both single and Robert’s occupation is still a Maltster. 

In 1861 Robert and Susan are living at Mill Cottage Pentney, along with their daughter Emma and a number of Susan’s children.  Robert is now working as an agricultural labourer.

By  1871  Robert is employed at the Bone Mill working as a manure labourer and Susan is a dressmaker. Also living with them at Baileys Buildings in Pentney is their daughter Emma, aged 10 and also Susan’s son William aged 22 who works as a labourer. 

Ten years on in 1881  Robert is still employed at the Bone Mill, now working as a Coprolite Grinder. Daughter  Emma  aged 19 is still living at home with her parents at Baileys Cottages Pentney. 

Robert died in 1888 and was buried at Pentney in December 1888.

Bone Mill Employees        Bone Grinding & Boiling      The Maltings    

George Garrett bapt 27/3/1831 in Pentney.

George Garrett was baptised on 27/3/1831 in Pentney, son of Robert who was a Farm Labourer born in Hilgay, and Sarah born Holme Hale. George’s Father Robert dies in 1863 aged 79 in Pentney.

In 1841 George's parents lived in Doles Cottage, Pentney, but George age 10 and brother Robert, 19 are both on census records living and working on a farm in Pentney as agricultural labourers.

10 years later George is living at Doles cottage with his parents, but on census records no occupation is listed. Also living there is a lodger, John who was a Shepherd, born in Pentney. Living in the previous property on the census list is James Waters, Bone Boiler, living at Doles End Green, presumably next door. 

On 29 July 1854 George aged 23 married Catherine Holland aged 19 at West Bilney where Catherine was from, on their marriage certificate they were living at West Bilney, George was a labourer.

In 1861 they live in Crisps Cottages, Pentney with daughter Ann Maria age 3 and Sarah Elizabeth aged 1, both born in Pentney. George now works as an Agricultural Labourer.

10 years on in 1871 George age 39 is living in Crisps Building, Pentney with wife Catherine and 5 children. George is now working as a bone boiler, presumably at the bone mill. Daughter Ann Maria is living and working aged 13 as a general servant for a Draper and Grocer in Pentney.

The map below shows that Crisps Cottages, off Low Road (pictures below) is only two fields from the bone mill, so George probably walked to work over the fields.

In 1881 George is back working as an agricultural labourer. The couple now have 2 more children and are living in Hastings Cottages, Pentney.

Daughter Sarah Elizabeth, known as Elizabeth, is listed as a Cook/domestic servant, but unemployed at that time. Son Walter aged 18, John 16, and daughter Mary aged 13 are all listed as agricultural labourers.

George dies in 1883 aged 52, buried at St Mary Magdelaine Church, Pentney, see picture of gravestone which is just inside the Churchyard on the left. George's death certificate states that an inquest was held and he was working as a sawyer, see death certificate and transcript. A newspaper report gives details of what happened at his death, see image of article.

His widow Catherine remarried in 1893 to Robert English, a Groom born in Boughton. They lived in Tilney All Saints in 1901 and she passed away in 1923 aged 87.

Bone Mill Employees        Bone Grinding & Boiling