GEORGE OFFEN was born on 23rd September 1799
and he was baptised on 3rd November 1799 in St Lawrence, Kent
(source : baptism register, courtesy of Janet Todd).
He married JANE SOUTHERDEN by licence on 29th October 1817 in Winchelsea,
Sussex (source : BVRI 2nd edition).
She was born on 11th December 1791 in High Halden, Kent,
to parents SAMUEL SOUTHERDEN and JANE WITTWER (source : Lucille Chestnut) or 26th December 1791 (source : Tony Eames).
According to the 1834 Will of her mother (Jane), Jane was "Jane Offen, of Dover KENT" (source : Tony Eames). Jane"s maiden name was later
used as a middle name.
On the 1841 census,
George and Jane OFFEN were living at Bulwark Street, Dover and he was a coachbuilder
(source : Deborah Offen - http://www.thewaterstone.com/offen_ramsgate.htm). Bagshaw's History,
Gazetteer and Directory of Kent, Volume II (1847) also lists George Offen, coachbuilder, in Bulwark Street,
Dover, Kent.
On 12th January 1839, The Dover Telegraph mentioned George Offen as a member of the paving board (page 8, column 1
- index viewed on internet, newspaper not seen).
The IGI gives the mother's name as ANN as opposed to JANE on certain baptisms.
The Children of GEORGE OFFEN and JANE SOUTHERDEN:
CYRUS SOUTHERDEN OFFEN
was born circa 1818 in Dover (source : 1881 census).
He was baptised at St Mary the Virgin in Dover on 14th June 1819, to parents GEORGE OFFEN and JANE
(source : IGI, Batch No.: C036562 Dates: 1770 - 1826 Source Call No.: 0355633 Type: Film Printout Call No.: 6906439
Type: Film Sheet: 00 ).
DANIEL WITTWER OFFEN was born in Dover
on 9th May 1822 to parents GEORGE OFFEN and JANE
(source : IGI, Batch No.: C036562 Dates: 1770 - 1826 Source Call No.: 0355633
Type: Film Printout Call No.: 6906439 Type: Film Sheet: 00 ). He was baptised on 7th June 1822 at
St Mary the Virgin in Dover, Kent (source : IGI, see above).
He must have died before 1881 since he does not show up on the 1881 census.
JOAN OFFEN was born circa 1826 (source : Collette Kendall).
SAMUEL DANIEL WITTWER OFFEN was baptised at St Mary the Virgin
in Dover on 17th December 1828
(source : IGI, Batch No.: C036563 Dates: 1827 - 1849
Source Call No.: 0355633 Type: Film Printout Call No.: 6906439 Type: Film
Sheet: 00 ). His parents are named as George Offen and Jane (source : IGI). He married
ANNE MITCHELL LEES in 1861 in Kirkwall (source : Collette Kendall).
She was born circa 1841 in Orkney (source : Collette Kendall). They had the following children :
RODERICK OFFEN (born circa 1863 in Campbeltown - the IGI gives his birth date as
2nd June 1862 in Campbeltown, Argyll, Scotland - source : IGI, Batch No.: C115071 Dates: 1855 - 1875
Source Call No.:6035516 REGISTER Type: Film Printout Call No.: NONE Type: Sheet: 00 ),
GEORGINA OFFEN (born circa 1865 in Campbeltown - the IGI gives her birth date as
5th November 1864 in Campbeltown, Argyll, Scotland - source : IGI, Batch No.: C115071 Dates: 1855 - 1875
Source Call No.:6035516 REGISTER Type: Film Printout Call No.: NONE Type: Sheet: 00 ), ADELAIDE ANNE OFFEN
(born circa 1868 in Campbeltown - the IGI gives her birth date as
2nd August 1867 in Campbeltown, Argyll, Scotland - source : IGI, Batch No.: C115071 Dates: 1855 - 1875
Source Call No.:6035516 REGISTER Type: Film Printout Call No.: NONE Type: Sheet: 00 ),
LIZZIE TOMINA OFFEN (born circa 1870 in Kirkwall) (source : Collette Kendall).
On the 1871 census, at 27 New Road, Peterborough, Northamptonshire, we find Samuel D W OFFEN
(head, 40, supervisor Inland Revenue, born Dover Kent),
wife ANNE M L OFFEN (30, born Orkney Scotland) and children RODERICK (8, scholar) , GEORGINA (6, scholar) ,
ADELAIDE (9), LIZZIE (1) (all born Campbeltown, Argyll) and servant MARY MITCHELL.
They may have emigrated since none of the family shows up on the 1881 British census.
DARIUS EDWARD WILLIAM SOUTHERDEN OFFEN was born on 24th August
1833 in Dover, Kent (source : 1881 census and IGI, Batch No.: C036563 Dates: 1827 - 1849
Source Call No.: 0355633 Type: Film Printout Call No.: 6906439 Type: Film
Sheet: 00 ).
He was baptised in Dover in 1833 (source : Collette Kendall). The IGI lists a baptism
on 15th September 1833 at Saint Mary the Virgin in Dover, Kent,
but gives the parents as George Offen and Ann (source : IGI see above).