WILKIN OFFEN (or WILKEN/WILLIAM or JOHN WILKINS) was baptised in 1770
in Brede, Sussex (source : Collette Kendall). According to his age on his burial record, he was born circa 1775,
so there may have been two (JOHN) WILKINS, one baptised in 1770 who died young and one born later circa 1775.
He married SUSANNAH DICKENSON on 6th May 1795 in St Lawrence,
Ramsgate, Kent (source : parish records, courtesy of Janet Todd ).
The IGI lists their names as WILKEN OFFEN and
SUSANNE DICKENSON (source : IGI, Batch Number: 9004230 Sheet: 10
Source Call No.: 1553663 Type: Film ). The witnesses were WILLIAM CAISTER and MARTHA KEMBER
(source : marriage record). Susannah was born circa 1778 (source : burials record and 1841 census).
On his daughter Susannah's marriage entry (in 1843, after his death), Wilkin's occupation is given as
coach maker (source : marriage entry).
Wilkin died in 1825 (source : Collette Kendall). He was buried on 30th January 1825 in St Lawrence, Kent,
and his age was given as 49 (source : burials register, courtesy of Janet Todd).
On the 1841 census, Susannah Offen, aged 64, was living in the home of FRANCIS HUGHES (46) in Queen Street, Ramsgate, Kent,
along with GEORGE AMBROSE (30) and SUSAN AMBROSE (20). Francis Hughes is presumably her son-in-law,
married to her daughter Sarah Offen (and after her death, possibly to another of her daughters, Susannah),
but her daughter Sarah is not in the household so she may have died before 1841.
Susannah does not show up in Ramsgate on the 1851 census. She died at Ramsgate Union
(workhouse) aged 82 (source : burials record, courtesy of Janet Todd).
She was buried on 21st April 1860 in St George's,
Ramsgate, Kent, in a 5 and a half foot earth grave, 12ft 8ins from the north wall (source : burial record).
The Children of (JOHN) WILKINS OFFEN and SUSANNAH DICKENSON:
WILLIAM OFFEN was born circa 1795 and died within his
first year in 1795 in Ramsgate, Kent (source : Collette Kendall). No baptism or burial was found for this child in the
Ramsgate/St Lawrence registers, so he may be the same child as WILKIN, who died as an infant in 1805.
SARAH OFFEN was possibly another daughter of WILKIN and SUSANNAH
(source : Janet Todd). She married FRANCIS HUGHES on 24th October 1825
in St Lawrence, Kent (source : marriage register, courtesy of Janet Todd). She was a spinster and he was a bachelor
at the time of the wedding, and they were both of St Lawrence (source : marriage record).
The witnesses were THOMAS ASHENDEN and HENRY PHILPOTT, both church officials who appear as witnesses on many marriages
(source : Janet Todd). Is this the same FRANCIS HUGHES that Sarah's mother was listed with in 1841, and/or the same
FRANCIS HUGHES who later married her sister SUSANNAH in 1843? If so, it would appear that Sarah died before 1841.
There is a death listed for a SARAH HUGHES in September quarter 1837 in the Ramsgate region
which may be her (source : Free BMD, district : Isle of Thanet, volume 5, page 332 ).
HENRY OFFEN was born on 24th March 1797 and
christened on 23rd April 1797 in Saint Lawrence (Thanet), Kent (source : baptisms register, courtesy of Janet Todd).
His parents are given as WILKENS OFFEN and SUSANNAH
(source : IGI, Batch Number: 8501834 Sheet: 02 Source Call No.: 1396006 Type: Film).
He does not show up in Ramsgate on the 1841 census, so must have either moved away from the town or died.
He may be the HENRY OFFEN of St Peter's, Sandwich, Kent, who married ANN SAVEGER (widow) of St Lawrence, Kent in
21st May 1820 (witnesses THOMAS ASHENDEN and HENRY PHILPOTT) (source : marriage register, courtesy of Janet Todd).
Three children were baptised in St Lawrence, Kent, to parents HENRY OFFEN and ANN :
SARAH OFFEN, on 2nd June 1822, WILLIAM OFFEN, on Boxing Day, 26th December 1824, and ANN OFFEN, on
15th October 1826 - the parents were living in Ramsgate, Kent, and this Henry was a blacksmith (source :
baptisms register, courtesy of Janet Todd).
MARTHA LADD OFFEN was born on Boxing Day, 26th December, 1798
and christened on 17th February 1799 in Saint Lawrence (Thanet), Kent
(source : baptisms register, courtesy of Janet Todd).
Her parents are given as WILKENS OFFEN and SUSANNAH (source : IGI, Batch Number: 8501834 Sheet: 02
Source Call No.: 1396006 Type: Film). She died in 1799 within her first year of life of smallpox
and was buried on 1st August 1799 in St Lawrence, Kent (source : burials register, courtesy of Janet Todd).
Her parents were given as WILKEN and SUSANNAH on the burials register.
ROBERT OFFEN was born on 13th March 1800 and
christened on 20th April 1800 in Saint Lawrence (Thanet), Kent (source : baptisms register, courtesy of Janet Todd).
His parents are given as WILKEN OFFEN and SUSANNAH (source : IGI, Batch Number: 8501834
Sheet: 02 Source Call No.: 1396006 Type: Film). He married
ANN GIBBS on 19th March 1826 at St Lawrence, Kent (source :
marriage register, courtesy of Janet Todd).
The witnesses were THOMAS ASHENDEN and HENRY PHILPOTT (source : marriage register).
She was born circa 1799 in Preston, Kent (source : 1851 census).
They had a daughter, ANN E OFFEN , who was born circa 1832
(source : 1851 census). On the 1841 census, Robert (43, mariner), his wife Ann (40) and daughter Ann (9) are listed,
along with JOHN WINCOTT (2) and ELIZA DORMES (41) at Camden Place, Ramsgate, Kent. On the 1851 census, Robert (52,
mariner/boatman, born Ramsgate), his wife Ann (52, mariner's wife, born Preston Kent) and daughter Ann E (18,
unmarried, milliner, born Preston Kent) are listed at 1 Ivy Cottages, Ramsgate, Kent. Robert was buried on
16th August 1854 in St George's, Ramsgate, Kent - his grave was 4ft 6 ins, letter H, 36(?) ft 6 ins from S wall
(source : burials register, courtesy of Janet Todd).
His wife and daughter do not show up in Ramsgate in 1861 (source : Janet Todd).
SETH KIMBER OFFEN was born on 21st February 1802
(source : baptisms register, courtesy of Janet Todd).
He was christened, (as SETH KEMBER OFFEN) along with his brothers WILLIAM WILKENS OFFEN and RICHARD SWAIN OFFEN,
on 15th January 1804 in Saint Laurence (Thanet), Kent (source : baptisms register, courtesy of Janet Todd).
His parents are given as WILKENS OFFEN and SUSANNAH
(source : IGI, Batch Number: 8501834 Sheet: 02 Source Call No.: 1396006 Type: Film).
He died, aged 16, in 1818 in Ramsgate, Kent and was buried in St Lawrence on 7th May 1818 (source : burials
register, courtesy of Janet Todd).
WILLIAM WILKENS OFFEN ,
Richard Swain's twin, was born on 13th November 1804 in Ramsgate, Kent
(source : baptisms register, courtesy of Janet Todd). He was christened, along with his brothers
RICHARD SWAIN OFFEN and SETH KIMBER OFFEN,
on 15th January 1804 in Saint Laurence (Thanet), Kent (source : baptisms register). His
parents are given as WILKENS OFFEN and SUSANNAH
(source : IGI, Batch Number: 8501834 Sheet: 02 Source Call No.: 1396006 Type: Film).
RICHARD SWAIN OFFEN , William Wilken's twin,
was born on 13th November 1804 in Ramsgate, Kent (source : baptisms register, courtesy of Janet Todd). He was christened,
along with his brothers WILLIAM WILKENS OFFEN and SETH KIMBER OFFEN, on 15th January 1804 in Saint Laurence (Thanet), Kent
(source : baptisms register). His parents are given as WILKENS OFFEN and SUSANNAH
(source : IGI, Batch Number: 8501834 Sheet: 02 Source Call No.: 1396006 Type: Film).
He died of smallpox, aged 4, in 1808 and was buried in St Lawrence on 9th January 1808 (source : burials register,
courtesy of Janet Todd).
WILKIN OFFEN died of decay as an infant and
was buried in St Lawrence on 12th May 1805 (source : burials register,
courtesy of Janet Todd). His parents are given as WILKEN OFFEN and SUSANNAH
(source : burials register).
EDWARD OFFEN was born on 4th March 1806
and was christened on 20th April 1806 in Saint Laurence (Thanet), Kent (source : baptism register,
courtesy of Janet Todd).
His parents are given as WILKENS OFFEN and SUSANNAH (source : IGI, Batch Number: 8501834 Sheet: 02
Source Call No.: 1396006 Type: Film). He married
MARY ? (source : Collette Kendall).
She was born circa 1813 in Dover, Kent (source : Collette Kendall).
They had a son,
HENRY WILKIN OFFEN , who was baptised on 22nd May 1829 at St Mary the Virgin
in Dover, Kent (source : IGI, Batch No.:C036563 Dates: 1827 - 1849 Source Call No.:0355633 Type: Film
Printout Call No.: 6906439 Type: Film Sheet: 00 ) and who died in December quarter 1851 (source : Free BMD,
district Dover, volume 5, page 53). Edward remarried
MARY MECROW in Hougham in 1840
(source : Collette Kendall). He died before 1861 (source : Collette Kendall). There is a will, dated 7th March 1856,
for Edward Offen, Painter of Borough of Dover , Kent, which is probably his (source : www.documentsonline.pro.gov.uk
ref PROB 11/2229).
MARY DICKENSON OFFEN was born on New Year's Day, 1st January
1808 and was christened on 14th February 1808 in Saint Laurence (Thanet), Kent (source : baptism register,
courtesy of Janet Todd). Her parents are given as WILKEN OFFEN and SUSANNAH
(source : IGI, Batch Number: 8501834 Sheet: 02 Source Call No.: 1396006 Type: Film).
RICHARD SWAIN OFFEN died of decline as an infant and
was buried in St Lawrence on 30th September 1809 (source : burials register,
courtesy of Janet Todd). His parents are given as WILKEN OFFEN and SUSANNAH (source : burials register). His namesake
and elder brother had died, aged 4, just a year before in January 1808, so this child must have been born after that date.
SUSANNAH OFFEN , infant, died of decline and was buried on
25th May 1810 in St Lawrence, Kent (source : burials register, courtesy of Janet Todd).
MARTHA LADD OFFEN , an infant, died in Ramsgate, Kent,
in 1814 and was buried on 14th October 1814 in St Lawrence, Kent (source : burials register, courtesy of Janet Todd).
Her parents' names were not given, but as Susannah and Wilken had a previous child of this name,
who died within her first year in 1799, this is presumably their child too.
WILKIN OFFEN married
MARY ANN ANSELL in St George's, Ramsgate, Kent on 17th October 1837
(source : marriage register, courtesy of Janet Todd). Wilkin was a bachelor, of full age, mariner, of Ramsgate Kent,
father Wilkin Offen coachpainter, Mary was a spinster, of full age, of Ramsgate, father Isaac Ansel labourer and the
witnesses were RICHARD HERRIDGE and JW CULL (source : marriage register). This marriage is registered in
December quarter 1837 (source : Free BMD, district Isle of Thanet, volume 5, page 575). Mary Ann was the
daughter of Isaac ANSELL and his wife Elizabeth née TERRY, and was born between 1807 and 1811 - siblings were baptised in
August 1806 and February 1812, the former at St Peter's & the latter at St Lawrence, and it may be that Mary Ann's
baptism was somehow overlooked when the family relocated (source : Barry White). Mary Ann ANSELL baptised an illegitimate
son, WILLIAM OFFEN ANSELL , at St Lawrence on the 1st October 1826, and with
OFFEN as a middle name, it would appear that Wilkin was the father (source : Barry White). (William ANSELL married on
the 3rd September 1849, not naming a father. He had four children, one named James Blackwood ANSELL - source : Barry White)
They had a son after their wedding,
WILKIN BLACKWOOD OFFEN in
1838 (source : Collette Kendall), who was baptised on 15th January 1839 in St George's,
Ramsgate, Kent (source : baptisms register, courtesy of Janet Todd). On the 1841 census, Mary (30, cook) and son Wilkin (2)
are at High Street, Ramsgate, Kent, along with WILLIAM ANSELL (14 - presumably Mary's illegitimate son) and three GOULDEN/
GOULDER females - Wilkin is presumably away at sea. In Bagshaw's 1847 directory, Mary OFFEN is listed as a greengrocer in
Portland Place, Ramsgate, but she isn't listed under Ramsgate in Kelly's
1851 or 1867 directories (source : Barry White). Wilkin had died before 1851, because Mary (40,
born Doddington Kent) shows up as a widow - she is listed as a cook to the BAKER family at Glanmire House, Vale, Ramsgate, Kent.
The 1861 census lists a Mary A Offen (54, cook, born Ramsgate Kent) at Cumberland Cottages, Ramsgate, Kent, along with MERCY
PACKER (23 laundress), her late husband's niece, and ESTHER LANE (65 laundress). There was a burial for a
Mary Ann Offen, who died in Minster, Kent, on 3rd August 1884, aged 78, and was buried on 6th August 1884, which may be her
(source : burials register, courtesy of Janet Todd).
GEORGE OFFEN
was born circa 1817 in Ramsgate, Kent (source : Collette Kendall). No baptism was found for this child in the
Ramsgate/St Lawrence register (source : Janet Todd).
THOMAS OFFEN was baptised on 13th February
1820 in St Lawrence, Thanet, Kent (source : baptism register, courtesy of Janet Todd). His parents are given as WILKENS OFFEN
and SUSANNE (source : IGI, Batch Number: 9004145
Sheet: 01 Source Call No.: 1553627 Type: Film ). He died in Ramsgate a year later
and was buried in St Lawrence, Kent, aged 1, on 7th March 1821 (source : burials register, courtesy of Janet Todd).
SUSANNAH DICKENSON OFFEN was born in 1822 in Thanet
(source : Collette Kendall and 1851 census). She was baptised on 28th July 1822 in St Lawrence, Kent
(source : baptism register, courtesy of Janet Todd). The record gives her parents as WILKIN and MARY,
but this would appear to be a clerical error (source : baptisms register).
She married FRANCIS HUGHES , son of FRANCIS HUGHES, pilot,
on 17th July 1843 at St George's in Ramsgate, Kent (source : marriage register, courtesy of Janet Todd).
This marriage was registered in September quarter 1843 (source : Free BMD, district I Thanet, volume 5, page 509).
He was of full age, a rope maker, and a widower, so it is probable that he is the
same Francis Hughes who was formerly married to her sister Sarah (source : marriage record).
The witnesses were ANN OFFEN and J W CULL (a church official) and Susannah's father
Wilkin gave his occupation as coach maker(source : marriage record). On the 1851 census, Susannah,
listed as SUSAN HUGHES, 28, rope maker's wife, is a lodger with WILLIAM and ANN SUTTON at 3 Portland Court,
Ramsgate, Kent, but Francis is not with her. There is a FRANCIS HUGHES (married, 54, coal porter, born Ramsgate)
listed with sons ROBERT HUGHES (12, mariner)
and EDWARD HUGHES (7, scholar) at Newcastle Hill, Ramsgate,
next door to RICHARD and JANE OFFEN, which is presumably
RICHARD SWAIN OFFEN .
There is a christening listed, to parents FRANCIS HUGHES and AGNES, for FRANCIS ATHERDEN HUGHES on
8th February 1801 in Saint Laurence (Thanet), Kent (source : IGI, Batch Number: 8501834
Sheet: 02 Source Call No.: 1396006 Type: Film ). The 1881 census lists a 47-year-old ROBERT HUGHES,
(born Ramsgate, licensed victualler) with his wife ANNIE (45, born Ramsgate) and their five children
ANNIE (17, born Ramsgate, barmaid), ROBERT (16, born Ramsgate, furniture maker), HENRY (15, born Ramsgate),
ARTHUR (11, born Ramsgate, scholar) and CAROLINE (8, born Ramsgate, scholar) at 66 A Harbour St (Royal Oak Tap)
(next door to the Royal Oak Hotel) in Ramsgate, Kent.