JOHN OFFEN was born in 1792 in Boughton Malherbe, Kent (source :
MI online). He was baptised in 1793 in Smarden, Kent (source : Collette Kendall).
He married HARRIET ? (source : Collette Kendall). She was born circa 1793
(source : MI online).
John was mentioned, along with his brother William, on his parents tombstone in Smarden graveyard.
Their tombstones (a pair of Coffin shaped stones) in Smarden graveyard read :
"Sacred to the memory of RICHARD OFFEN, yeoman, of this Parish, who departed this life June 28th 1843,
aged 74 years. Also MARY, Wife of the above who departed this life June 21st 1846, aged 79 years.
Left issue 2 sons, viz., John and William" (source : Smarden monumental inscriptions, online at
http://www.kentarchaeology.org.uk/Research/Libr/MIs/MIsSmarden/01.htm ).
Harriet died, aged 56, on September 7th 1849 and was buried in Boughton Malherbe, Kent, next to her daughter
Sarah Ann's grave (source : : MI at http://www.kentarchaeology.org.uk/Research/Libr/MIs/MIsBoughtonMalherbe/01.htm).
On the 1871 census, John (79, widower, retired farmer) is listed with his son James and
his family at Thornden House in Boughton Malherbe, Kent.
John died just after the census, on May 29th 1871, aged 79, and was buried with his wife in Boughton Malherbe, Kent (source : MI online).
Their tombstone reads : "Harriett wife of John OFFEN of this Parish who died September 7th 1849 aged 56 years.
Also the above John Offen who died May 29 1871 aged 79. Left issue 9 sons and 4 daughters viz Charles,
Thomas, Frederick, Henry, John, Alfred, Mary Ann, Sarah Anne, Elizabeth Ann, Jemima, Richard, George and James"
(source : MI online).
The Children of JOHN OFFEN and HARRIET ?:
CHARLES OFFEN was baptised in 1812
in Smarden, Kent (source : Collette Kendall). He married JANE PEARSON
(born circa 1813 in Smarden, Kent) in 1833 in Smarden, Kent (source : Collette Kendall). She died in 1889
(source : Collette Kendall). They had four children,
MARY OFFEN (baptised in 1833 in Smarden, Kent),
ELIZA OFFEN (baptised in 1836 in Egerton),
JANE OFFEN (baptised in 1841 in Egerton), and
ANN OFFEN (baptised in 1850 in Egerton) (source : Collette Kendall).
Charles died before 1871, because Jane is a widow on the 1871 census.
On the 1871 census, Jane (head, 57, widow, land owner farmer of 42 acres employing 2 labourers, born Smarden Kent
) is with her daughter ANN (25, unmarried, farmer's daughter, born Egerton Kent) at Hewland(?) Green, Egerton, Kent.
Jane shows up all alone on the 1881 census as Jane OFFEN, head, widow, 67, born Smarden Kent,
retired farmer, at Victor Cottage in Egerton, Kent.
WILLIAM OFFEN was baptised in 1814
in Smarden, Kent (source : Collette Kendall). He died in 1815 (source : Collette Kendall).
THOMAS OFFEN was baptised in 1816 in Smarden, Kent
(source : Collette Kendall).
He married AMELIA (BUSS?) (born circa 1826 in Egerton)
(source : Collette Kendall). There is a marriage registered for THOMAS OFFEN, possibly to AMELIA BUSS,
in June quarter 1849 (source : Free BMD, district W Ashford, volume 5, page 31 ).
They had six children,
SARAH ANN OFFEN (born circa 1850 in Bethersden),
HARRIET OFFEN (baptised in 1854 in Bethersden),
LIZZIE JULIA OFFEN (baptised in 1857 in Bethersden, a 24-year-old unmarried
milliner, assistant, born Bethersden, Kent on the 1881 census, at the home of CHARLES J CHAPLIN, grocer and draper, at
High Street, Headcorn, Kent, married
EDWIN DADSWELL (born circa 1863) in 1895 in Ashford, Kent),
KATE AMELIA OFFEN (born circa 1859 in Bethersden, died in 1882),
CAROLINE OFFEN (baptised in 1862 in Bethersden), and
GEORGE WILLIAM OFFEN (baptised in 1865 in Bethersden, married
LAURA ELEANOR VICKERS (born circa 1867) in 1897 in Elham)
(source : Collette Kendall). Thomas' gravestone in Bethersden states "Thomas OFFEN of this parish, died 30th March 1870,
aged 53. Left surviving by Amelia his wife, 6 children: Sarah Ann, Harriett, Lizzy Julia, Kate Amelia,
Caroline and George William." There is also a gravestone for "Kate Amelia, daughter of Thomas OFFEN, died 1st November 1882,
aged 23" (source : Bethersden MI's - http://www.kentarchaeology.org.uk/Research/Libr/MIs/MIsBethersden/MIsBethersden.htm).
On the 1871 census, Amelia (head, 43, widow, farmer of 267 acres employing 8 men and 3 boys ),
her six children and a servant are at "North side of village, Field Farm", Bethersden, Kent.
On the 1881 census, Amelia (head, widow, 55, born Egerton Kent , annuitant), along with four of her children -
Sarah A. OFFEN (Unmarried, 30 , born Bethersden Kent, Dressmaker ),
Kate A. OFFEN (Unmarried, 21, born Bethersden Kent, Dressmaker )
Caroline OFFEN (Unmarried, 18, born Bethersden Kent, Milliner ) and
George W. OFFEN ( 15, born Bethersden Kent, Carpenter ) are all at 33 Somerset Road, Ashford, Kent.
On the 1901 census, Amelia (74, born Kent Bethersden, living on own means) and her daughters
Sarah (50, unmarried, born Kent Bethersden) and Caroline (38, unmarried, born Kent Bethersden) are in Ashford, Kent
(source : 1901 census index, household needs checking). Amelia died, aged 78, in March quarter 1904 (source : Free BMD, district
W. Ashford, volume 2a, page 577 ).
FREDERICK OFFEN died after 1871 (source : parents' tombstone).
HENRY OFFEN died after 1871 (source : parents' tombstone).
JOHN OFFEN was born circa 1818
in Smarden, Kent
(source : Collette Kendall).
ALFRED OFFEN was baptised in 1820
in Smarden, Kent
(source : Collette Kendall).
MARY ANN OFFEN was baptised in 1822
in Boughton Malherbe (source : Collette Kendall).
She married EDWARD TASSELL (born in 1817 in Headcorn)
in 1840 (source : Collette Kendall). They had sixteen children (source : Jo Watson). On the 1881 census, Mary Ann
(wife, 58, born Boughton Kent), her husband Edward (63, born Headcorn Kent, Farmer 430 Acres Emp 10 Men And 3 Boys ),
four sons, two daughters, two granddaughters (all born in Ulcombe Kent, except for one granddaughter born in
Meopham, Kent) and a servant, WILLIAM OFFEN (unmarried, 19, born Boughton Kent, Farm Servant Indoor ) are at
Knowle Hill Farm, Ulcombe, Kent.
For further generations of TASSELLs, please contact me for Collette Kendall's contact details.
SARAH ANN OFFEN was born in 1824
in Boughton Malherbe, Kent (source : MI at http://www.kentarchaeology.org.uk/Research/Libr/MIs/MIsBoughtonMalherbe/01.htm).
She married JOSEPH CHAMPION
(source : MI online). They had two children,
HARRIET CHAMPION and
AMY CHAMPION (source : MI online). Sarah died on
September 10th 1856, aged 32, and was buried in
Boughton Malherbe, Kent (source : MI online). Her tombstone, which appears to be next to those of her mother and husband,
reads : "In memory of Sarah Ann, wife of Joseph CHAMPION and second daughter
of John and Harriett OFFEN, who departed this life September 10th 1856, aged 32 years. Leaving 2 children viz
Harriett and Amy. Weep not for me my children dear,
I’m only gone one stage before And when the Lord doth call his race, I hope in Heaven to see your face" (source : MI online).
Her husband died thirty years later, and his tombstone in Boughton Malherbe, Kent, reads : "Joseph CHAMPION of this
parish died November 7 1887, aged 70" (source : MI online). Kelly's 1891 Directory of Kent, Surrey & Sussex lists
JOSEPH CHAMPION, farmer, in Boughton Malherbe, Kent, (along with two brothers-in-law) but this information seems to
be a few years out of date since he had passed away in 1887 (unless they aloso had a son called JOSEPH CHAMPION???).
ELIZABETH ANN OFFEN was baptised in 1826
in Boughton Malherbe, Kent (source : Collette Kendall). She married
EDWARD HOMEWOOD in 1847 in Boughton Malherbe
(source : Collette Kendall). On the 1871 census, Elizabeth Ann Homewood (45, wife),
husband Edward (48), seven children, a servant JOHN OFFEN (18, born Boughton Kent) are all in Smarden, Kent.
For further generations of HOMEWOODs, please contact me for Collette Kendall's contact details.
JEMIMA OFFEN died after 1871 (source : parents' tombstone).
RICHARD OFFEN was baptised in 1828
in Boughton Malherbe, Kent (source : Collette Kendall). He married
CECILIA CHRISTIAN (born circa 1831)
in 1851 in Smarden, Kent (source : Collette Kendall). She died two years later in 1853 (source : Collette Kendall).
Richard remarried AMY ? (born circa 1826 in Boughton Malherbe)
before 1871
(source : 1871 census). On the 1871 census, Richard (43, farmer of 254 acres, employing 7 men, 4 boys
and 2 women ), wife AMY (45), niece Harriet (19, housemaid - domestic servant) and four farm servants
are at Cole Bridge, Boughton Malherbe, Kent,
next door to brother George. Richard remarried ANN ? (born circa 1828 in Boughton Malherbe)
before 1881 (source : 1881 census).
On the 1881 census, Richard (52, Farmer Of 384 Acres Employing 10 Men & 4 Boys ), his wife Ann (53),
and four servants Steel ELSE, William ETHELL, William COFFINS and Rachel CHESSON, are all listed at Colebridge Farm in
Boughton Malherbe, Kent. Kelly's 1891 Directory of Kent, Surrey & Sussex lists RICHARD OFFEN, farmer, in Boughton
Malherbe, Kent, (along with two brothers-in-law) and gives the following information on the village : "The soil is loam, clay and ragstone ;
subsoil, various. The chief crops are hops, fruit and corn. The population in 1881 was 445". There is a death listed for
75-year-old RICHARD OFFEN in March quarter 1904, which could be him (source : Free BMD, district Hollingbourn, volume
2a, page 555).
GEORGE OFFEN
was born circa 1830 in Boughton Malherbe, Kent (source : Collette Kendall).
JAMES OFFEN
was born circa 1838 in Boughton Malherbe, Kent (source : Collette Kendall).