RICHARD SWAIN OFFEN was born circa 1815 in Ramsgate, Kent
(source : 1851 and 1861 censuses). He was baptised on 5th March 1815 in Saint Lawrence, Kent
(source : baptism register, courtesy of Janet Todd).
He married JANE PHILPOTT on 6th September 1836
in St Lawrence, Thanet, Kent (source : marriage register, courtesy of Janet Todd). The witnesses were RICHARD OCLEE and
ROBERT NEWING (source : marriage register).
She was born circa 1816 in Durham, Sunderland (source : 1851 and 1861 censuses).
On the 1841 census, Richard, a 25-year-old ag lab, his wife Jane (25) and their two children
Elizabeth (3) and Charlotte (7 months) were at 5 Government Road, Ramsgate, Kent, along with WILLIAM OCLEE (25), JANE OCLEE (25)
and ALFRED OCLEE (2). On the 1851 census, Richard (36 ag lab), Jane (35, born Sunderland) and five children
were at 15 Newcastle Hill, Ramsgate, Kent. On the 1861 census, Richard, Jane and six children were still at 15
Newcastle Hill, Ramsgate, Kent
and Richard was a 45-year-old labourer. On the 1871 census, they were just along the road
at 2 Newcastle Hill, Ramsgate, Kent -
Richard (58, labourer, born Ramsgate Kent), Jane (59 charwoman, born Sunderland) and two daughters
Catherine (16) and Harriett A (14).
Jane died in Ramsgate, Kent, aged 64, on 31st October 1876 and was buried in plot number CB381 of Ramsgate
cemetery on 3rd November 1876 (source : Janet Todd).
There is a death listed for 68-year-old RICHARD SWAIN OFFEN in Thanet in September quarter 1877,
which is him with the age a few years out (Free BMD : district Thanet, volume 2a, page 460). Ramsgate
cemetery lists RICHARD SWAIN OFFEN, bathing man, who died in Ramsgate on 28th July 1877, aged 68,
and who was buried on 31st July 1877 in plot number CB381 (source : Janet Todd).
The Children of RICHARD SWAIN OFFEN and JANE PHILPOT :
ALICE OFFEN was baptised on 6th November
1836 in St George's Church, Ramsgate, Kent (source : baptism register, courtesy of Janet Todd). She died, aged 1, in
Ramsgate and was buried on 8th April 1838 at St George's, Ramsgate, Kent (source : burials register, courtesy of Janet Todd).
Her grave was 3ft 6 ins, number M83, and it was a parish burial
which cost 4/- (source : burials register). Her death is registered
in June quarter 1838
(source : Free BMD, district Isle of Thanet, volume 5, page 345).
ELIZABETH MARY OFFEN was born circa 1838 (source : 1841 census).
She was baptised on 21st October 1838 in St George's Church, Ramsgate, Kent (source : baptism register, courtesy of Janet Todd).
On the 1841 census, she was aged 3 and with her parents at 5 Government Row, Ramsgate, Kent.
On the 1851 census, she was aged 12 and with her parents and siblings at 15 Newcastle Hill, Ramsgate, Kent.
On the 1861 census, she was aged 20, a seamstress, and with her parents and siblings at 15 Newcastle Hill, Ramsgate, Kent.
CHARLOTTE CATHERINE OFFEN was born circa 1840 (source : 1841 census).
She was baptised on 29th November 1840 in St George's Church, Ramsgate, Kent (source : baptism register, courtesy of Janet Todd ).
On the 1841 census, she was aged 7 months and with her parents at 5 Government Row, Ramsgate, Kent.
She died, aged 1, and was buried on 25th November 1841 in St George's,
Ramsgate, Kent (source : burials register, courtesy of Janet Todd). The grave was 3ft 6 ins, number BB10, and it was
a parish burial which cost 5/- (source : burials register). Her death is registered in December quarter 1841 (source : Free BMD, district Isle of Thanet, volume 5, page 321).
RICHARD SWAIN OFFEN
was born circa 1843 in Ramsgate, Kent (source : 1881 census).
JOHN OFFEN
was born circa 1848 in Ramsgate, Kent (source : 1881 census).
There is a birth listed on Free BMD for a JOHN OFFEN in March quarter 1848 ( district Isle of Thanet
(covers Ramsgate) volume 5 page 522.) He was baptised in 1848 in Ramsgate (source : Collette Kendall).
GEORGE HENRY OFFEN
was baptised in 1848 in Ramsgate, Kent (source : Collette Kendall).
CHARLES FREDERIC OFFEN was born in 1850 in Ramsgate
(source : 1851 census). He was baptised on 25th April
1850 in St George's Church, Ramsgate, Kent (source : baptism register, courtesy of Janet Todd ). On the 1851 census,
he was aged 1 and with his parents and siblings at 15 Newcastle Hill, Ramsgate, Kent.
He was buried on 16th August 1854 in St George's, Ramsgate, Kent (source : burials register, courtesy of Janet Todd).
His grave was 3ft 6 ins, number 7 in the 7th row from the south wall, lower end of N.G.,
and it was a parish burial (source : burials register).
MARTHA MATILDA OFFEN was baptised on 11th June 1852 in
St George's Church, Ramsgate, Kent (source : baptism register, courtesy of Janet Todd ). She died, an infant, and was buried on
7th January 1853 in St George's, Ramsgate, Kent (source : burials register, courtesy of Janet Todd). Her grave was
3ft 6 ins, letter M, 9ft 3 ins from south wall, and it was a
parish burial (source : burials register). Her death was registered in March quarter 1853 (source : Free BMD, district Strood (transcription error - this district
didn't even exist at this date), volume 2a, page 407 ).
CATHERINE JANE OFFEN was baptised on 1st October 1854 in
St George's Church, Ramsgate, Kent (source : baptism register, courtesy of Janet Todd). On the 1861 census,
she was aged 6, a scholar and with her parents and siblings at 15 Newcastle Hill, Ramsgate, Kent.
On the 1871 census, she was aged 16 and with her parents and siblings at 2 Newcastle Hill, Ramsgate, Kent.
She married JOHN WILLIAM SMITH
(born circa 1855 in Ramsgate) on 18th November 1877 in Holy Trinity Church, St Lawrence, Kent
(source : marriage register, courtesy of Janet Todd). This marriage was registered in December quarter 1877
(source : Free BMD : district Thanet volume 2a page 1511). At the time of the marriage, John was a bachelor, aged 22,
a shipwright, son of JOHN SMITH shipwright, and Catherine gave her father as RICHARD SWAIN OFFEN, gen dealer
(source : marriage register). They both gave their address as 4 Trinity Place, Ramsgate, Kent and the witnesses were
G PACKER and THOMAS A SPRATLING (source : marriage register).
They had two children :
JESSIE W SMITH (born circa 1879 in Ramsgate, Kent) and
JOHN W SMITH (born circa 1881 in Ramsgate, Kent) (source : 1881 census). On
the 1881 census, Cathrine (26, wife), John (26, shipwright), Jessie (2) and John (2 months) are all living at
3 Artillery Rd in Ramsgate, Kent.
HARRIET AMELIA OFFEN was baptised on 27th September 1857 in
St George's Church, Ramsgate, Kent (source : baptism register, courtesy of Janet Todd).
On the 1861 census, she was aged 3 and with her parents and siblings at 15 Newcastle Hill, Ramsgate, Kent.
On the 1871 census, she was aged 14 and with her parents and siblings at 2 Newcastle Hill, Ramsgate, Kent.
Census entries for RICHARD SWAIN OFFEN and JANE PHILPOT :
1841 census: (source : Janet Todd)
Dwelling : 5 Government Row, Ramsgate, Kent
Richard OFFEN, 25, ag lab
Jane OFFEN, 25
Elizabeth OFFEN, 3
Charlotte OFFEN, 7 months
1851 census: (source : Janet Todd)
Dwelling : 15 Newcastle Hill, Ramsgate, Kent
Richard OFFEN, head, 36, ag lab, born Ramsgate Kent
Jane OFFEN, wife, 35, born Sunderland
Elizabeth OFFEN, dau, 12, born Ramsgate Kent
Richard OFFEN, son, 8, born Ramsgate Kent
George OFFEN, son, 6, born Ramsgate Kent
John OFFEN, son, 3, born Ramsgate Kent
Charles OFFEN, son, 1, born Ramsgate Kent
1861 census: (source : Janet Todd)
Dwelling : 15 Newcastle Hill, Ramsgate, Kent
Richard OFFEN, head, 45, lab, born Ramsgate Kent
Jane OFFEN, wife, 43, lab wife, born Durham Sunderland
Elizabeth M OFFEN, dau, 20, seamstress, born Ramsgate Kent
Richard S OFFEN, son, 17, lab, born Ramsgate Kent
George H OFFEN, son, 14, scholar, born Ramsgate Kent
John OFFEN, son, 12, scholar, born Ramsgate Kent
Catherine J OFFEN, dau, 6, scholar, born Ramsgate Kent
Harriet OFFEN, dau, 3, born Ramsgate Kent
1871 census: (source : Janet Todd)
Dwelling : 2 Newcastle Hill, Ramsgate, Kent
Richard OFFEN, head, 58, lab, born Ramsgate Kent
Jane OFFEN, wife, 59, charwoman, born Durham Sunderland
Catherine OFFEN, dau, 16, born Ramsgate Kent
HarrietA OFFEN, dau, 14, born Ramsgate Kent