ESSEX OFFEN was born in 1770 in Smarden, Kent
(source : Collette Kendall). He was baptised on 25th February 1770 in
Smarden, Kent (source : LDS site, Ancestral File AFN:1QGX-18N and John Gibson )
He married SARAH (SARY) FARLEY in 1799
in Maidstone, Kent (source : Collette Kendall). She was born circa 1781 (source : Collette Kendall). The IGI
lists a marriage for ESSEX OFFEN on 20th April 1799 at the
Parish Church in Maidstone, Kent (source : IGI, no source information available).
Essex was a yeoman (source : tombstone). He farmed Marley Farm in Smarden, Kent, which had been farmed by his father
in the late 1700's and on his death in 1833, this was handed down to son Benjamin.
In turn, on his death, Benjamin's son Edwin took over the farm so it
stayed in the family until 1906, in all for over a century (source : Christine Waterstone). The modern day address for this farm is
Marley Farm, Headcorn Road, Smarden and it appears to house a variety of warehouses aswell as a sanctuary for wild cats
and dog kennels (source : google search online).
Christine Waterstone tells the following anecdote : "In 1820 Essex and Sary Offen lost a son aged 17, they had a
tiff with the rector of Smarden and buried him in the Chapel ground. One year later, they re-interred his remains in a
small piece of land which they enclosed. For many years, members of the Offen family were buried there and the gravestones
can be seen to this day.
(The tiff may have been because they wished their children to be buried on Christmas Day.)"
Essex died on 8th February 1833,aged 62 and Sarah died some twenty years later, on 5th January 1860, aged 79
(source :tombstone). They were buried in the private Offen burial ground in Smarden
and their headstone reads : "In memory of ESSEX OFFEN of this parish Yeoman, who died 8th February 1833
aged 62 years. Also SARAH his wife who died 5th January 1860 aged 79 years.
Left issue 8 children (viz) ESSEX, BENJAMIN, WILLIAM, MARGARET, THOMAS, JAMES, WILKINS and EDWIN.
Farewell my wife & children dear,
I must be gone, and leave you here, Here I lie, free from all pain, Till Christ, shall raise me up again.
Essex wrote a will (ref PRC17/109/129) in 1832, a year before he died (source : http://www.kentarchaeology.
ac/ekwills_a/series/adci/adc_n.htm)
The Children of ESSEX OFFEN and SARAH (SARY) FARLEY:
BENJAMIN OFFEN was born circa 1799 in Smarden, Kent
(source : 1871 census).
He married SARAH BARMAN (born circa 1815 in New Romney, Kent)
(source : Collette Kendall and 1871 census). He was mentioned on his parents' 1833/1860 headstone (source : Smarden MIs online).
He took over Marley Farm, Smarden, from his father (see above).
On the 1871 census, Benjamin (70, farmer), his wife Sarah (56), their son EDWIN (24, unmarried, farmers' son, born Smarden Kent)
and a number of servants are all listed at Marley Farm, Smarden, Kent.
He died in 1875 (source : Collette Kendall). Sarah, 66, widowed, annuitant, born New Romney, Kent, shows up, alone, on the 1881 census
at Vane Cottage, Smarden, Kent. They had three children : EDWIN OFFEN
(born in 1844 in Smarden, Kent) ,
ALFRED OFFEN (born circa 1846, died in 1850), and
ESTHER OFFEN BARMAN (born circa 1850 in Smarden, Kent, married
WILLIAM THOMAS BEAN (born circa 1837 in Bethersden, Kent) in
1868 in Smarden, Kent) (source : Collette Kendall).
ESSEX OFFEN was born circa 1800
(source : Collette Kendall). There is a marriage listed for ESSEX OFFEN and ELIZABETH SMITH on 9th November 1830 in
Chatham, Kent, and since his sister Margaret had married in Chatham three years earlier, it would seem likely that this was him
(source : BVRI 2nd edition). Elizabeth was born in 1803 and died in 1841 (source : Simon Bridgeland).
He was mentioned on his parents' 1833/1860 headstone (source : Smarden MIs online). They had a daughter
ELIZABETH ANN OFFEN (born 1826, died 1897, married
EDWARD HOMEWOOD in in 1847) (source : Simon Bridgeland).
Essex died in 1862 (source : Collette Kendall).
JOHN OFFEN was born circa 1803 (source : tombstone).
He died, aged 17, on 11th July 1820 (source : tombstone). He was initially buried in the Chapel ground in Smarden, but, following a tiff with the rector of Smarden, his parents
had him reninterred in the private Offen burial ground near Smarden graveyard (source : Christine Waterstone). His tombstone reads : "To the memory of John son of ESSEX and SARAH OFFEN of this parish who died July the 11th
1820 aged 17 years. Man that is born of a woman is of few days and full of trouble He cometh forth
like a flower and is cut down, he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.
Job Chap. 14th Verses 1 & 2. Also J.T. WETHERDEN died 19 January 1830 aged 2... years" (source : Smarden MIs online at
http://www.kentarchaeology.org.uk/Research/Libr/MIs/MIsSmarden/01.htm ).
WILLIAM OFFEN
was born circa 1808 (source : Collette Kendall).
MARGARET OFFEN was born circa 1809 (source : Collette Kendall).
She married WILLIAM MORPHAT WITHERDEN (born circa 1801)
in Chatham, Kent on 29th May 1827 (source : BVRI 2nd edition). She was mentioned on her parents' 1833/1860
headstone (source : Smarden MIs online). William died in 1878 (source : Collette Kendall).
They had six children :
J T WETHERDEN (born circa 1828, died on 19th January 1830,
buried with uncle John Offen in the private Offen burial ground in Smarden - see above) ,
WILLIAM WITHERDEN (baptised in 1830 in Headcorn),
BENJAMIN OFFEN WITHERDEN (baptised in 1830 in Headcorn, died on February 1st
1831, aged 3 months, brother William Offen Witherden was later buried with him - see below),
EDWIN OFFEN WITHERDEN (baptised in 1833 in Headcorn),
JANE OFFEN WITHERDEN (baptised in 1833 in Headcorn),and
WILLIAM OFFEN WITHERDEN (baptised in 1833 in Headcorn, died in 1851,
his headstone in the private Offen burial ground at Smarden reads : "In memory of WILLIAM OFFEN WITHERDEN who died
December 10th 1851 aged 23 years. When blooming youth & health is mostly brave, Death plucks up and plants us
in the grave Take care young men your precious time to spend Your lives are short and quickly at an end.
Also BENJAMIN OFFEN WITHERDEN who died February 1st 1831 aged 3 months. - source Smarden MIs online)
(source : Collette Kendall).
THOMAS OFFEN
was born circa 1811 (source : Collette Kendall).
JAMES OFFIN was born circa 1813 (source : Collette Kendall).
He married ANN ? (born circa 1820 in Goudhurst, Kent)
(source : Collette Kendall). There is a marriage registered in March quarter 1842 for JAMES OFFEN and
ANN BRIDGHAND, which is probably them (source : Ancestry England and Wales, Civil Registration Index, county
Kent, volume 5, page 25). He was mentioned on his parents' 1833/1860 headstone (source : Smarden MIs online).
There is a death listed for 51-year-old JAMES OFFEN in March quarter 1866 (source : Free BMD, district Maidstone, volume
2a, page 362).
WILKINS OFFEN was born circa 1816 in Smarden, Kent
(source : Collette Kendall). He was mentioned on his parents' 1833/1860 headstone (source : Smarden MIs online).
He died in 1867 in Cranbrook, Kent (source : Collette Kendall). His death was recorded in June quarter 1867 and his age as
49 (source : Free BMD, district Cranbrook, volume 2a, page 337 ).
EDWIN OFFEN was born circa 1821 (source : Collette Kendall).
He married CAROLINE BETTS in 1843 in Smarden, Kent
(source : Collette Kendall). He was mentioned on his parents' 1833/1860 headstone (source : Smarden MIs online).