EDWIN OFFEN was born in 1844 in Smarden, Kent
(source : Collette Kendall) or 1846 (source : IGI, no source information available and 1881 and 1901 censuses).
There is a birth registered in March quarter 1844, which may be him
(source : Free BMD, district W Ashford, volume 5, page 20).
He married ELIZABETH BATT in 1873 in Smarden, Kent
(source : Collette Kendall). The IGI gives their wedding date as 12th February 1873
(source : IGI, no source information available). This wedding was registered in March quarter 1873 (source : Ancestry England
and Wales, Civil Registration Index, county Kent, volume 2a, page 815).
She was born circa 1854 in Smarden, Kent (source : 1881 census).
On the 1881 census, Edwin, a 35-year-old Farmer Of 76 Acres Employing 2 Labs & 1 Boy, his wife Elizabeth (27),
their four children, three servants and his sister-in-law JULIA BATT are all listed at Marley in Smarden,
Kent. He is referred to as the restorer of a charity document in 1884 : " SMARDEN; PARISH RECORDS
Catalogue Ref. p339
Creator(s):
Church of England, Smarden Parish, Kent
CHARITY AND SCHOOLS
FILE [no title] - ref. p339/25/A/1/3 - date: 1712-1857
[from Scope and Content] Turner charity account book [with the following inscription at the front:
"This book was for several years lost sight of by Robert Bridge, one of the Trustees of the Turner charity,
and on October 16, 1884 at a public auction sale of the effects of James Pearson of Sladmans Place Farm,
Smarden, it was discovered among a lot of old books and papers, and taken away and restored to the present
Trustees by me Edwin Offen, Marley Farm, Smarden, October 16 1884" (source : A2A website).
On the 1891 census, still at Marley Farm, are Edwin (45, farmer), wife Elizabeth (36), five children and a servant
FREDERICK ARNOLD. Next door at Monks is uncle THOMAS OFFEN and his family.
On the 1901 census, Edwin, a 55-year-old farmer, his wife Elisabeth (48), their children Ebenezer and Janet, and
JOHN OFFEN (59, farmer, born in Smarden, Kent), EMILY OFFEN (44, born in Smarden, Kent) and
ERNEST OFFEN (14, born in Biddenden, Kent) (still need identifying)
are all in Smarden, Kent (source : 1901 census index, household needs checking).
Edwin died in 1906 (source : Collette Kendall).
The Children of EDWIN OFFEN and ELIZABETH BATT:
BEN OFFEN was baptised in 1874 in Smarden, Kent
(source : Collette Kendall). There is a birth registered in March quarter 1874 (source : Ancestry England
and Wales, Civil Registration Index, county Kent, volume 2a, page 691).
On the 1881 census, Ben, a 7-year-old scholar, is listed with his parents and family at Marley in Smarden, Kent.
On the 1891 census, Ben, a 17-year-old farmer's son, is listed with his parents and family at Marley in Smarden, Kent.
He married
MARGARET DALRYMPLE SMITH (born circa 1874) in 1899 in Smarden , Kent
(source : Collette Kendall). This marriage is registered in December quarter 1899 (source : Ancestry England
and Wales, Civil Registration Index, county Kent, volume 2a, page 1791). They had a daughter, VERA ALEXANDRA OFFEN ,
who was baptised in 1901 in Smarden, Kent (source : Collette Kendall).
On the 1901 census, Ben (27, born Smarden Kent, farm bailiff), his wife Margaret (25, born Scotland Kent) and daughter
MARGARET (11 months old, born Sandwich Kent) are all in Boxley, Kent (source : 1901 census index,
household needs checking).
CHARLES OFFEN
was born circa 1876 in Smarden, Kent (source : Collette Kendall). On the 1881 census, Charles, a 5-year-old scholar,
is listed with his parents and family at Marley in Smarden, Kent. On the 1891 census, 15-year-old Charlie Offen,
a grocer's assistant, is listed as a servant at Providence House, Smarden, home of baker
WILLIAM JUDGE.
On the 1901 census, Charles, a 25-year-old grocer,
is listed in Frinsbury Intra, Kent (source : 1901 census index, household needs checking).
LINDA OFFEN was born circa 1879 in Smarden, Kent (source : Collette Kendall).
On the 1881 census, Linda, aged 2, is listed with her parents and family at Marley in Smarden, Kent.
On the 1891 census, Linda, a 12-year-old scholar, is listed with her parents and family at Marley in Smarden, Kent.
There is a marriage listed for LINDA OFFEN to JAMES HOSMER
in March quarter 1899 (source : Ancestry England
and Wales, Civil Registration Index, county Kent, volume 2a, page 1089). The 1901 census lists LINDA HOSMER
(22, born Smarden Kent), her husband JAMES HOSMER (35, farmer, born Smarden Kent), and their (presumably) children
BESSIE HOSMER (1, born Kent Smarden) and
JAMES HOSMER (4 months, born Kent Smarden) at Smarden, Kent (source :
1901 census index, household needs checking).
ESTHER OFFEN
was born on 27th March 1881 in Smarden, Kent (source : http://www.qsoft.u-net.com/html/d0000/g0000038.html#I9).
On the 1881 census, Esther, aged 7 months, is listed with her parents and family at Marley in Smarden, Kent.
On the 1891 census, Esther, a 10-year-old scholar, is listed with her parents and family at Marley in Smarden, Kent.
She married EDWARD JOSEPH CHANTLER (born circa 1878) on 27th February
1900 in Smarden , Kent (source : http://www.qsoft.u-net.com/html/d0000/g0000038.html#I9).
This marriage is registered in March quarter 1900 (source : Ancestry
England and Wales, Civil Registration Index , county Kent, volume 2a, page 1105).
They had a daughter, AMY ELIZABETH CHANTLER ,
who was baptised in 1901 in Smarden, Kent (source : Collette Kendall). They had ten children in all
(source : http://www.qsoft.u-net.com/html/d0000/g0000038.html#I9).
Esther died on 7th December 1953 in Sussex
(source : http://www.qsoft.u-net.com/html/d0000/g0000038.html#I9).
EBENEZER OFFEN
was born circa 1883 in Smarden, Kent (source : Collette Kendall). His birth was registered in
March quarter 1883 (source : Ancestry England and Wales, Civil Registration Index , county Kent, volume
2a, page 792).
On the 1891 census, Ebenezer, listed as Evan, an 8-year-old scholar, is
with his parents and family at Marley in Smarden, Kent. On the 1901 census, Ebenezer, an
18-year-old farmer's assistant, is at home with his parents in Smarden, Kent (source : 1901 census index,
household needs checking). He married
AUGUSTA JULIA MILLER (born circa 1884) in 1908 in Smarden , Kent
(source : Collette Kendall). This marriage (with the bride's name recorded as MILLEN) is registered
in December quarter 1908 (source : Free BMD, district W Ashford, volume 2a, page 1803).
Augusta died in 1945 in Canterbury, Kent, and Ebenezer died in 1953
(source : Collette Kendall). They had two children,
EDWIN MARLEY OFFEN ( born in 1909 in West Farleigh (source : Collette Kendall),
birth registered in June quarter 1909 (source : Free BMD, district Maidstone, volume 2a, page 894),
served as Sergeant (Air Gnr.) in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 90 Sqdn. (Service No: 1252002 )
and was shot down in the skies over Denmark on 21st April 1943, laid to rest in Svino churchyard, grave 33
(source : commonwealth war graves website). He is listed on the Crundale war memorial which can be seen here :
http://www.roll-of-honour.com/Kent/Crundale.html ), and
EDNA ALICE OFFEN ( born in 1910 in West Farleigh)
(source : Collette Kendall).
JANET OFFEN
was born circa 1885 in Smarden, Kent (source : Collette Kendall). On the 1891 census, Janet, a 6-year-old scholar,
is listed with her parents and family at Marley in Smarden, Kent. On the 1901 census, Janet, a
16-year-old household help, is at home with her parents in Smarden, Kent (source : 1901 census index,
household needs checking). She married
JOHN WALTER DAY (born circa 1869) in 1907 in Smarden , Kent
(source : Collette Kendall). There is a marriage registered for JANET OFFEN in December quarter 1907
(source : Free BMD, district W. Ashford, volume 2a, page 182_ ).
Census entries for EDWIN OFFEN and ELIZABETH BATT:
1881 census :
Dwelling : Marley, Smarden, Kent
Edwin OFFEN Head M Male 35 Smarden, Kent, England Farmer Of 76 Acres Employing 2 Labs & 1 Boy
Elizabeth OFFEN Wife M Female 27 Smarden, Kent, England
Ben OFFEN Son Male 7 Smarden, Kent, England Scholar
Charles OFFEN Son Male 5 Smarden, Kent, England Scholar
Linda OFFEN Daur Female 2 Smarden, Kent, England
Esther OFFEN Daur Female 7 m Smarden, Kent, England
George SMITH Serv U Male 26 Smarden, Kent, England Farm Servant (Indoor)
Charles SMITH Serv Male 17 Frittenden, Kent, England Farm Servant (Indoor)
Emma SMITH Serv Female 17 Smarden, Kent, England Dairy Maid (Ag)
Alice SMITH Serv Female 14 Smarden, Kent, England Domestic Servant
Julia BATT Sister In Law U Female 22 Smarden, Kent, England Midwife
1891 census :
Dwelling : Marley, Smarden, Kent
OFFEN Edwin head m m 45 Farmer r Ken Smarden
OFFEN Elizabeth wife m f 36 Ken Smarden
OFFEN Ben son s m 17 Farmers Son e Ken Smarden
OFFEN Linda dau s f 12 Scholar Ken Smarden
OFFEN Esther dau - f 10 Scholar Ken Smarden
OFFEN Evan son - m 8 Scholar Ken Smarden
OFFEN Janet dau - f 6 Scholar Ken Smarden
ARNOLD Fredk servnt s m 40 Farm Servant e Ken Dartford