HENRY OFFEN was born circa 1852 in Heathfield, Sussex
(source : 1871 and 1881 census) or 1885 (source : age at death) . On the 1871 census, Henry, a 19-year-old ag lab,
is a boarder at Nurse Upton's, Heathfield, Sussex, with brother Arnold, with the FARMER family.
He married HAGAR TAYLOR nee TERRY
in 1879 (source : Jeanette Hill). She was born circa 1854 in Hailsham, Sussex (source : 1881 census).
She was the widow of JOHN TAYLOR, who she had married in 1874
and with whom she had two children, CHARLEY and ALBERT (source : Jeanette Hill).
On the 1881 census, Henry, a 29 year-old gardener (domestic), wife Hagar (27), their three children and a visitor,
23-year-old domestic servant EMMA TERRY (Hagar's sister), are all at St Catherine, Catherington, Hampshire.
On the 1891 census, Henry (surname listed as OFFIN) (head, 39, market gardener (employee), born Sussex Heathfield),
his wife Hagar (37, born Sussex Hailsham), their children Ada, Joseph , Harriet, Mabel and Albert
are all listed at Civil Parish: Heathfield, Ecclesiastical Parish: Burwash Weald.
Hagar died, aged 37, in March quarter 1892 (source : Free BMD, district Uckfield, volume 2b, page 115 ).
Within the same year, on 1st August 1892,
Henry, aged 40, father Joseph Offen, "husband previously married", married
ELIZABETH HANNAH
BAKER or BROWN , aged 32, at Eridge Green, Sussex (source : BVRI 2nd edition).
She was born circa 1860 in Hastings, Sussex (source : 1901 census). They had a son, Henry,
in 1894 but their wedded life was to be cut short soon after.
Henry died,aged 44, in September quarter 1896 - his death is registered under Henry OFFIN (source : Free BMD,
district Hailsham, volume 2b, page 55 ).
Elizabeth, aged 41 is head of the household in Heathfield, Sussex, with stepchildren Ada
and Mabel, son Henry and 53-year-old lodger EDMUND PALMER (born Wadhurst, Sussex)
(source : 1901 census index, household needs checking).
The Children of HENRY OFFEN and HAGAR TAYLOR nee TERRY:
CHARLEY OFFEN
was born circa 1877 in Brighton, Sussex (source : 1881 census). He would appear to be the son of Hagar
and her first husband, John Taylor.
On the 1881 census, aged 4, he was with his family at St Catherine, Catherington, Hampshire.
ALBERT OFFEN was born circa 1879 in Hailsham, Sussex
(source : 1881 and 1891 censuses). He would appear to be the son of Hagar
and her first husband, John Taylor.
On the 1881 census, aged 2, listed as ALBERT OFFEN, he was with his family at St Catherine, Catherington, Hampshire.
On the 1891 census, aged 13, he is listed as ALBERT TAYLOR and his relationship is given as "wifson".
ADA CLARA OFFEN was born in 1880 in Hampshire
(source : 1881 and 1891 censuses). Her birth is registered in September quarter 1880
(source : Free BMD, district Catherington, volume 2c, page 140 ).
On the 1881 census, aged 8 months, she was with her
family at St Catherine, Catherington, Hampshire. On the 1891 census,
aged 10, she was with her family in Heathfield, Sussex. On the 1901 census, aged 20 and unmarried,
she is in Heathfield, Sussex, with stepmother Elizabeth and siblings Henry and Mabel
(source : 1901 census index, household needs checking).
JOSEPH ARNOLD OFFEN was born in 1882 in
Walton On Thames, Surrey (source : 1891 census). His birth is registered in June quarter 1882
(source : Free BMD, district Chertsey, volume 2a, page 36 ). On the 1891 census,
aged 8, he was with his family in Heathfield, Sussex. On the 1901 census, 18-year-old Joseph,
birthplace given as Wursham Surrey, is listed in Burwash, Sussex, as a nephew with EMILY & LESTER FARMER,
both aged 61 and presumably the same family members his father was with in the 1871 census
(source : 1901 census index, household needs checking).
HARRIET HAGAR OFFEN was born in 1885 in
Walton On Thames, Surrey (source : 1891 census). Her birth is registered in March quarter 1885
(source : Free BMD, district Chertsey, volume 2a, page 39 ). She was baptised,
to parents HENRY OFFEN and HAGAR, on 24th February 1885 in Hersham, Surrey (source : BVRI 2nd edition).
On the 1891 census, aged 6, she was with her family in Heathfield, Sussex. On the 1901 census, she is
a 16-year-old servant in Hastings, Sussex with the family of WILLIAM H ILES (57)
(source : 1901 census index, household needs checking).
MABEL E OFFEN was born circa 1889 in
Heathfield, Sussex (source : 1891 census).
On the 1891 census, aged 2, she was with her family in Heathfield, Sussex. On the 1901 census, aged 11,
she is in Heathfield, Sussex, with stepmother Elizabeth and siblings Henry and Ada
(source : 1901 census index, household needs checking).
The Children of HENRY OFFEN and ELIZABETH HANNAH BAKER or BROWN:
HENRY OFFEN was born circa 1894 in
Eridge, Sussex (source : 1901 census). On the 1901 census, aged 7,
he is in Heathfield, Sussex, with mother Elizabeth and halfsisters Mabel and Ada
(source : 1901 census index, household needs checking).
Census returns for HENRY OFFEN and HAGAR TAYLOR nee TERRY:
1881 census :
Dwelling St Catherine, Catherington, Hampshire, England
Henry OFFEN Head M Male 29 Sleathfield, Sussex, England Gardener (Dom)
Hagar OFFEN Wife M Female 27 Hailsham, Sussex, England
Emma TERRY Visitor U Female 23 Hailsham, Sussex, England Domes Serv
Charley OFFEN Son Male 4 Brighton, Sussex, England
Albert OFFEN Son Male 2 Hailsham, Sussex, England
Ada OFFEN Daur Female 8 m Hampshire, England