THOMAS OFFEN was born circa 1811 in Smarden, Kent
(source : 1871 census).
He married MARY ANN BRANGER in 1837 in Smarden, Kent
(source : Collette Kendall).
She was born circa 1816 in Tenterden, Kent (source : 1871 census).
Thomas came into possession of Munk Farm, Smarden through his maternal grandfather Thomas Farley.
This farm was reputedly used for smuggling (source : Christine Waterstone).
On the 1871 census, Thomas Offen, a 59-year-old farmer, his wife Mary Ann (55), four children,
two servants and a granddaughter ZARA(?) OFFEN (3, born Sissinghurst Kent)
are all at Monk Farm, Smarden, Kent, just next door to Marley Farm, home of Benjamin, Thomas's
brother. On the 1881 census, Thomas, a 69-year-old Farmer Of 156 Acres Employing 6 Men & 1 Boy , his wife Mary (65),
three children, two grandchildren and two servants are all listed at Mun Rd in Smarden, Kent.
On the 1891 census, Thomas (79, farmer), his wife Mary Ann (75), two unmarried children
John Thos (50) and Emily (34), grandchildren Celia B (13 )
and Ernest I (4) (both children of their son Ira) and three servants
are all listed at Monks, Smarden, Kent.
Thomas and Mary both died in 1898 (source : Collette Kendall).
The Children of THOMAS OFFEN and MARY ANN BRANGER:
JOHN THOMAS OFFEN
was baptised in 1841 in Smarden, Kent (source : Collette Kendall). On the 1871 census,
a 30-year-old unmarried farmer's son, he is at Monk Farm, Smarden, Kent with his parents and family.
On the 1881 census, John, a 40-year-old married Farmer Of 40 Acres is listed with his parents
at Mun Rd in Smarden, Kent. The two grandchildren (Thom, 13, and Jack, 11) may be his children.
However, on the 1891 census, John Thos is listed as an UNMARRIED 50-year-old farmer,
at his parents' home Monks in Smarden, Kent.
GEORGE OFFEN
was baptised in 1844 in Smarden, Kent (source : Collette Kendall).
ANN OFFEN
was born in 1847 in Smarden, Kent (source : Collette Kendall). There is a birth registered in June quarter 1847,
which may be her (source : Ancestry England and Wales, Civil Registration Index, county Kent, volume 5, page 19).
She married
ELI COOPER (born circa 1847) in 1869 in Smarden, Kent
(source : Collette Kendall). A marriage for Ann Offen is registered in June quarter 1869
(source : Ancestry England and Wales, Civil Registration Index, county Kent, volume 2a, page 937).
IRA OFFEN
was born circa 1850 in Smarden, Kent (source : 1871 census). On the 1871 census,
a 20-year-old unmarried farmer's son, he is at Monk Farm, Smarden, Kent with his parents and family.
THOMAS FARLEY OFFEN
was baptised in 1853 in Smarden, Kent (source : Collette Kendall). On the 1871 census,
a 17-year-old unmarried farmer's son, he is at Monk Farm, Smarden, Kent with his parents and family.
On the 1881 census,
Thomas (listed as Thomas J), a 27-year-old unmarried Farmer Of 9 Acres is listed with his parents
at Mun Rd in Smarden, Kent. He married
SARAH ANN JENKINS (born circa 1857) in
1885 in Smarden, Kent (source : Collette Kendall). Thomas died before 1924 (source : Collette Kendall).
They had thre children,
EVA ANNIE OFFEN (baptised in 1886 in Smarden, Kent, married either
GEORGE CHARLES CUTHBERT or JAMES PALMER in December quarter 1909 - source : Free BMD,
district W. Ashford, volume 2a, page 1735 ),
ETHEL JESSIE OFFEN (born circa 1893 in Smarden, Kent ), and
FRANK FARLEY STEWARD OFFEN (born in 1898 in Smarden, Kent, died in 1977)
(source : Collette Kendall).
On the 1901 census, Thomas (45, farmer, born Smarden, Kent), his wife Sarah (41, born not known - England, county
not stated), and their children Eva (14), Ethel (8) and Frank (2) are all in Smarden, Kent (source : 1901
census index, household needs checking).
EMILY OFFEN
was born circa 1856 in Smarden, Kent (source : 1871 and 1881 censuses). On the 1871 census,
a 14-year-old unmarried farmer's daughter, she is at Monk Farm, Smarden, Kent with her
parents and family. On the 1881 census, Emily, unmarried and aged 24, is listed with her parents
at Mun Rd in Smarden, Kent. On the 1891 census, Emily, unmarried and aged 34, is listed with her parents
at Monks in Smarden, Kent.
Census entries for THOMAS OFFEN and MARY ANN BRANGER:
1881 census:
Dwelling : Mun Rd, Smarden, Kent
Thomas OFFEN Head M Male 69 Smarden, Kent, England Farmer Of 156 Acres Employing 6 Men & 1 Boy
Mary A. OFFEN Wife M Female 65 Tenterden, Kent, England
John T. OFFEN Son M Male 40 Smarden, Kent, England Farmer Of 40 Acres
Thomas J. OFFEN Son U Male 27 Smarden, Kent, England Farmer Of 9 Acres
Emily OFFEN Daur U Female 24 Smarden, Kent, England
Thom OFFEN Grand Son Male 13 Cranbrook, Kent, England Scholar
Jack OFFEN Grand Son Male 11 Lenham, Kent, England Scholar
George WEYBOURNE Serv U Male 18 Aldington, Kent, England Farm Servant (Indoor)
Julia RUSSELL Serv U Female 14 Biddenden, Kent, England Farm Servant (Indoor)
1891 census:
Dwelling : Monks, Smarden, Kent
OFFEN Thomas head m m 79 Farmer r Ken Smarden
OFFEN Mary Ann wife m f 75 Ken Tenterden
OFFEN John Thos son s m 50 Farmer r Ken Smarden
OFFEN Emily dau s f 34 Ken Smarden
OFFEN Celia B grndau - f 13 Scholar Ken Biddenden
OFFEN Ernest I grnson - m 4 Ken Biddenden
POTTER Emily servnt s f 16 General Servant Domestic Ken Smarden
JAMES Edward Wm servnt s m 32 Farm Servant e Ken Newenden
SMITH Arthur servnt s m 17 Farm Servant e Ken Headcorn