GEORGE OFFEN was born on 15th April 1880 in Ramsgate, Kent
(source : birth certificate). On the 1881 census, he was living with his parents and family at 9 Bellavesta
Terrace, St Lawrence. On the 1891 census, George (11, scholar) is with his parents and brother Stephen
at 11 Model Cotts, Ramsgate, Kent.
On the 1901 census, George,
a 20-year-old general carman, was with his brother STEPHEN at 11 Montague Road
in St Lawrence (Ramsgate), Kent, just along the road from their mother who was at number 7 (source : 1901
census). The brothers were boarders with the GRIGGS family - Robert (29, general carman - on own account - possibly George's employer?)
and Harriett (29) and their three young sons Robert, Frederick and George (source : 1901 census).
This would appear to be their sister Harriet.
George was in trouble with the long arm of the law in 1901 for not carrying a light!
The East Kent Times, 20 Mar 1901, reports:
"George Offen, 7 Montague Rd, a young carter, in respect of a summons for the breach of the 'Lamps on Vehicles'
byelaw, pleaded guilty - PC Daff started the case - Defendant said he was not aware that it was necessary to
carry a lighted lamp in the town - This being one of the first cases under the new byelaw; defendant was
let off with 8/-. The mayor pointed out that the penalty was one of £5." (source : Janet Todd)
He married EDITH JANE USHER on 21st August 1905 at St Luke’s
Church in Ramsgate (source : wedding certificate). The witnesses were ALBERT EDWARD GRIGGS (possibly
something to do with the GRIGGS family with whom George was lodging in the 1901 census?) and ALICE ROSE USHER.
On their wedding certificate, they both gave their address as 7 Montague Road, Ramsgate.
EDITH JANE USHER was born circa 1887 in Wrotham, Kent (source : 1901 census).
According to her tombstone, she was born on 14th February 1888 in Ramsgate. On the 1901
census, she was living with her parents at 44 St Mary’s Lane, Wrotham, Kent.
GEORGE OFFEN was a carman at the time of the wedding in 1905 (source : wedding certificate) and
later worked as a house painter (source : Hastings cemetery). At his death in 1951,
GEORGE OFFEN’s address was given as 15 Bourne Walk, Hastings (source : obituary).
EDITH JANE OFFEN nee USHER died on 27th June 1945 in Hastings (source : Hastings cemetery).
She was buried in Hastings cemetery (plot LJ 08) on 2nd July 1945 (source : Hastings cemetery). GEORGE OFFEN
died on 3rd February 1951 and was buried with his wife in Hastings cemetery on 9th February 1951
(source : Hastings cemetery). The cremated remains of their daughter
DOROTHY ETHEL DELONNETTE nee OFFEN were scattered on this grave after her death (source : Hastings cemetery).
The Children of GEORGE OFFEN and EDITH JANE USHER:
GEORGE OFFEN was born on 13th September 1906
(source : death register). He married QUEENIE ? and they
had no children. He died, aged 73, on 25th October 1978 in Hastings and his cremated remains were scattered
in the garden of remembrance bed 22 A6 (source : Hastings cemetery).
JOHN RICHARD OFFEN (or JACK) was born on 9th May 1908
and baptised on 31st May 1908 at Holy Trinity, Ramsgate, son of George and Edith Jane, 13 Turner St, carman
(source : baptisms register, courtesy of Janet Todd). His birth was registered in June quarter 1908 (source : Free BMD,
district Thanet, volume 2a, page 1127). He married
MAY WINCH (or MOLLY) (born circa 1907) in 1932 in Hastings
(source : Collette Kendall).
WILLIAM STEPHEN OFFEN was born on 28th April 1909
and baptised on 9th May 1909 at Holy Trinity, Ramsgate, son of George and Edith Jane, 66 Hereson Rd, lab
(source : baptisms register, courtesy of Janet Todd). His birth was registered in June quarter 1909
(source : Free BMD, district Thanet, volume 2a, page 1090 ).He married
FRANCES ETHEL RAY ( or ETHEL) (born circa 1908) in 1931 in Hastings (source : Collette Kendall).
EDITH ELIZABETH SARAH OFFEN (or BET) was born on 16th September 1910
and baptised on 9th October 1910 at Holy Trinity, Ramsgate, daughter of George and Edith Jane, 10 Bellevue Cotts, lab
(source : baptisms register, courtesy of Janet Todd). She married
DENNIS LEE (or DEN).
ALICE LILLIAN OFFEN was born in Ramsgate in 1912
(source : Collette Kendall).
FREDERICK THOMAS OFFEN was born in Ramsgate in 1914 (source : Collette Kendall).
He married
JOYCE MARJORIE THOMAS(born circa 1920) in Bexhill in 1939 (source : Collette Kendall).
DOROTHY ETHEL OFFEN was born on 13th August
1918 in Hastings, Sussex (source : short birth certificate).
Edith Jane Offen nee Usher with her daughter Dorothy (circa 1925)
