GEORGE RICHARD OFFEN was born in March quarter 1850
in Ramsgate, Kent (source : 1881 census and Ancestry England and Wales, Civil Registration Index,
county Kent, volume 5, page 526). He was baptised, to parents George Offen, mariner of Ramsgate,
and Mercy, on 10th February 1850 in St George's, Ramsgate, Kent
(source : baptism register, courtesy of Janet Todd).
On the 1861 census, aged 11, George was with his parents and brothers at 4 Frederick Place, Ramsgate, Kent.
On the 1871 census, George Richard Offen, a 21-year-old unmarried A.B. seaman (= able bodied seaman),
shows up with brother Robert (master) on board the boat named Laurel.
He married ANNIE MARIA BOWYER in June quarter 1871
(source : Ancestry England and Wales, Civil Registration Index,
county Kent, volume 2a, page 1131 ). She was born circa 1851 in Ramsgate, Kent (source : 1881 census).
On the 1881 census, George (31, fishing smack owner) and wife Annie (30) are living at
11 Effingham St in Ramsgate, Kent, with three of their children (6-year-old Henry is at his grandparents'
house), a general domestic servant and three apprentice fishermen.
Annie Maria died on 29th December 1885 in Ramsgate, Kent, aged 34, and was buried on New Year's Day,
1st January 1886, in Ramsgate cemetery, Plot no FB 597, an unconsecrated grave (source : burials register,
courtesy of Janet Todd).
After the death of Annie Maria, George remarried Canadian MARY ADAMS(?)
(before 1891) (source : 1891 census). Their estimated marriage date is given as 1887
on the 1900 US census but George's date of birth is listed as December 1850, which is slightly out, so it's
not totally accurate (source : 1901 census on Familysearch). She was born circa July 1850 in Nova Scotia, Canada
(source : 1900 US census on Familysearch).
On the 1891 census, George Richard (41, fish salesman's clerk, employer, born Ramsgate Kent )
is at Hamilton Terrace in Milford Haven, (civil parish Steynton), Pembrokeshire, Wales
with his new wife MARY ADAMS OFFEN (40, born Nova Scotia) and son Walter (12).
Later that same year, in 1891, the couple emigrated closer to Mary's homeland (source : 1901 census on Familysearch)
and were in Boston city, Suffolk, Massachussetts, USA in the June 1900 US census. On the 1900 census,
George is 49 years old and his occupation is listed as "cares for real estate" (source : 1900 census).
He is said to be "mother" (sic) to 4 children, 3 living,
although this is crossed through so is possibly a mistake ? (source : 1900 census).
Mary had no children of her own (source : 1900 census). George was naturalised and had been in the United
States for 9 years, having emigrated in 1891 (source : 1900 census). They could both read, write and speak English
and they lived in a rented house (source : 1900 census).
The Children of GEORGE RICHARD OFFEN and ANNIE MARY ?:
GEORGE THOMAS OFFEN was born in
December quarter 1872 (source : Ancestry England and Wales, Civil Registration Index,
county Kent, volume 2a, page 819 ). He was baptised on 12th November 1872 at St George's, Ramsgate, Kent,
son of George Richard & Annie Mary, Ramsgate, fisherman (source : baptisms register,
courtesy of Janet Todd). On the 1881 census,
George H (?) Offen is an 8-year-old scholar, living at home with his family at 11 Effingham St, Ramsgate, Kent.
He married ANN SUSANNAH O BATH in
December quarter 1891 (source : Ancestry England and Wales, Civil Registration Index,
county Kent, volume 2a, page 1702 ). On the 1901 census, George (28, fisherman, born Ramsgate), his wife Annie
(29, born Ramsgate Kent) and their two (presumably) daughters ANNIE OFFEN
(8, born Ramsgate Kent) and LOUISE OFFEN (6, born Ramsgate Kent)
are listed in Ramsgate, Kent (source : 1901 census index, household needs checking).
They apparently had at least two other children : LILY MAY OFFEN ,
who was baptised on 14th April 1895, daughter of George Thomas & Alice Susannah (presumably a clerical error),
13 Bellevue Rd, fisherman, and GEORGE ROBERT OFFEN ,
who was born on 28th April 1902 and baptised on 29th June 1902, son of George Thomas & Ann Susannah,
27 Willson's Rd, seaman (source : baptisms register, courtesy of Janet Todd).
Kelly's 1903 Directory of Kent lists Geo Thos OFFEN at 27 Wilsons Road, Ramsgate.
Kelly's 1913 Directory of Kent lists G T OFFEN, smack owner, at 25 Albert Street, Ramsgate, so it would seem likely that,
as the eldest son, he took over his father's boat (or bought his own).
HENRY ARTHUR OFFEN was born in September quarter 1875 (source :
Ancestry England and Wales, Civil Registration Index, county Kent, volume 2a, page 832 ). He was baptised on
9th November 1875 at St George's, Ramsgate, son of George Richard & Annie Maria, Ramsgate, fisherman
(source : baptisms register, courtesy of Janet Todd). On the 1881 census, he was a 5-year-old scholar,
listed at his grandparents' house at 13 Addington Street, Ramsgate ( Henry CLAPP Head M Male 62
Exeter, Devon, England Net Maker, Mary Ann Elth. CLAPP Wife M Female 64 Dover, Kent, England
Household Work ). He married ALICE MAUDE ANSLEY
in 1897 in Ramsgate, Kent (source : Collette Kendall). This marriage was registered in
December quarter 1897 (source : Ancestry England and Wales, Civil Registration Index, county Kent, volume 2a, page 1945 ).
She was born circa 1877 (source : Collette Kendall). They had three children :
ANNIE JANE OFFEN was born in 1899 in
Ramsgate, Kent (source : Collette Kendall). She was baptised at St Luke's, Ramsgate, on 17th April 1901,
daughter of Hy Arthur & Alice Maud, fisherman, 30 Alma Rd (source : baptisms register, courtesy of Janet Todd).
She married REGINALD JOHN PHILPOTT in Ramsgate
in 1921 (source : Collette Kendall). Reginald John Philpott was born on 18th August 1899 and baptised on 24th September 1899
at St Lawrence, son of Harry & Alice, 4 St Lawrence Terrace, gas fitter (source : baptisms register, courtesy of Janet Todd). HENRY EDWARD OFFEN was born in 1901 in
Ramsgate, Kent (source : Collette Kendall).
ALICE EMILY OFFEN was baptised at St Luke's, Ramsgate, on 14th April 1906,
daughter of Hy Arthur & Alice Maud, fisherman, 2 Gloster Villas (source : baptisms register, courtesy of Janet Todd).
On the 1901 census, Henry, a 25-year-old fisherman, his wife Alice (23) and daughter Annie (2) are all
listed in St Lawrence, Kent (source : 1901 census index, household needs checking).
WALTER STANLEY OFFEN was baptised on 11th March 1879 at
St George's, Ramsgate, son of George Richard & Annie, Ramsgate, fisherman
(source : baptisms register, courtesy of Janet Todd). On the 1881 census,
Walter is 2 years old and living at home with his family at 11 Effingham St, Ramsgate, Kent.
On the 1891 census,
Walter Stanley is 12 years old and living with his father and stepmother
at Hamilton Terrace in Milford Haven, (civil parish Steynton), Pembrokeshire, Wales.
ANNIE BLANCHE OFFEN was baptised on 15th March 1881 at St George's,
Ramsgate, daughter of George Richard & Annie Maria, 11 Effingham St, fisherman
(source : baptisms register, courtesy of Janet Todd). On the 1881 census,
Annie Offen is 4 months old and living at home with her family at 11 Effingham St, Ramsgate, Kent.
Annie married (possibly WILLIAM HENRY PUTTICK) in March quarter 1907 (source :
Free BMD, district Sheppey, volume 2a, page 1537).
Census entries for GEORGE RICHARD OFFEN and ANNIE MARY ?:
1881 census :
Dwelling : 11 Effingham St, Ramsgate, Kent
George R. OFFEN Head M Male 31 Ramsgate, Kent, England Fishing Smack Owner
Annie M. OFFEN Wife M Female 30 Ramsgate, Kent, England
George H. OFFEN Son Male 8 Ramsgate, Kent, England Scholar
Walter S. OFFEN Son Male 2 Ramsgate, Kent, England
Annie B. OFFEN Daur Female 4 m Ramsgate, Kent, England
Annie LILLEY Serv U Female 15 Whitstable, Kent, England General Servant Domestic
Robert F. COOK Apprentice U Male 19 Ramsgate, Kent, England Fisherman
Charles GIFFORD Apprentice U Male 22 Preston, Kent, England Fisherman
John P. POTTER Apprentice U Male 18 Ramsgate, Kent, England Fisherman