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The OFFEN Family

WILKIN BLACKWOOD OFFEN was born in 1838 in Ramsgate, Kent (source : 1861 & 1881 censuses). His birth was registered in October Quarter 1838 (source : Free BMD, District: Thanet , Volume: 5 , Page: 417 ). He was born on 7th October 1838 in Ramsgate High Street to father Wilkin, Mother Mary Ann Offen nee Ansell (source : Josi Bee).

On the 1841 census, Wilkin (2), his mother Mary (30, cook), half-brother William Ansell (14) and the GOULDENs (Susannah (20, dressmaker?), Sofinia (4) and Ellen (2) are at High Street, Ramsgate, Kent - his father Wilkin is presumably away at sea, although he may have already died, as on the 1851 census, his mother is listed as a widow.

He married MARY ANN POUND on Christmas Day, 25th December 1859 at St James's Church in the Holy Trinity parish of Kingston Upon Hull, York (source : marriage certificate ). Wilkin was a bachelor, of full age, fisherman, of English Street and his father was listed as Wilkin Offen, mariner (source : marriage certificate ). Mary Ann Pound was a minor, spinster, also giving her address as English Street, father John Frederick Pound, fisherman (source : marriage certificate ). They were married by banns and the witnesses were John Sidwell and Charles Petty (source : marriage certificate ). She was born circa 1840 in London, Middlesex (source : 1881 and 1891 censuses).

On the 1861 census, Wilkin, a 22-year-old fisherman is at 7 Robert Place, Kingston Upon Hull with his 21-year-old wife Mary Ann and their son, 2 week old John Frederick and the nurse, 49-year-old Ann Jewet.

On the 1871 census, Wilkin B Offen, a 32-year-old fisherman, his wife Mary A (31), and their three children are at 3 Emerald Terrace, Holy Trinity, Kingston Upon Hull, Yorkshire.


Emerald Terrace (circa 1940)
(see http://prismdata.hullcc.gov.uk/gallery2/v/hull-though-the-decades-1930s-1980s/Hull/TSP_025/TSP_3_295_28++Emerald+Terrace+Campbell+Street+17_06_1940.jpg.html )



On the 1881 census, Wilkin Blackwood Offen, 46, is the master of the fishing boat "Lincolnshire Lass", in Kingston-upon-Hull, York. His son William Henry Offen, 18, is the deck boy. There are three other crew members (the mate, the third-hand and the cook - including William Morris Baker). Wilkin, William and the lodger/shipmate William Baker seem to be simultaneously listed at home at 53 Staniforth Place, Kingston-upon-Hull, Yorkshire with the rest of the family (as they are the only Offens in Yorkshire, this is presumably the same family). This time Wilkin is listed as William B Offen ( 42, fisherman), his wife Mary A Offen (41, born London), three of their children and the afore-mentioned boarder William Baker.


A view of the east side of Staniforth Place and showing the property Nos.48 to 50
(see http://prismdata.hullcc.gov.uk/gallery2/v/localstudies/370_G.jpg.html )



In 1892, Wilkin was a "skipper and owner", living at 65 Constable street, Hull (source : An Alphabetical Directory of Trades and Professions for Hull, from Bulmer's Gazetteer (1892) ... online at http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/YKS/ERY/Hull/Hull92Alpha/Hull92Alpha15.html).

Some time between 1892 and 1901, Wilkin decided to retire from the dangers of going out to sea and instead opened up a "fried fish shop and coffee house", where his wife and two daughters helped him out as his assistants (source : 1901 census). This description of a 1920's style fried fish shop is probably reminiscent of his establishment : "Fried Fish Shop
This shop is so-called because in the 1920s and 1930s fish and chip shops were called fried fish shops. The building is a replica of a shop still standing in Lower Lichfield Street, Willenhall originally built as a house but like many others converted to a front room shop around 1900. The outbuilding in the yard behind is a scaled down version of the original remaining in Willenhall. The coal fired frying range and interior fittings are from a fish and chip shop at Old Birchills in Walsall and date from the late 1920s, although they are really too small to satisfy today's demands. " (source : Black Country Museum at http://www.bclm.co.uk/map37.htm). This idea of turning the front-room into a fish and chip shop is also evoked here : "Fish and chip shops were originally small family businesses, often run from the 'front room' of the house and were commonplace by the late 19th century." (source : http://www.historic-uk.com/CultureUK/FishandChips.htm). The coffee-house was also a traditional part of Victorian life : "In Victorian England, the temperance movement set up coffeehouses for the working classes, as a place of relaxation free of alcohol, an alternative to the public house (pub)." (source : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coffeehouse#History ).

On the 1901 census, Wilkin, a 62-year-old "shop keeper fried fish shop/coffee house" living on his own account, his wife Mary (61), and his daughters ADA (22) and CLARA (19) are all listed in 4 rooms at 32 Walcott Street in Holy Trinity, Kingston Upon Hull, Yorkshire. Both daughters and Mary Ann were listed as assistants in the fried fish shop/coffee house.

Mary died, aged 61, on 2nd November 1901 in Hull and her death record gives her address as 13 Walcott Street, Hessle Road (source : Death Notices in Yorkshire Newspapers http://homepage.ntlworld.com/jeffery.knaggs/YDO.html).


Walcott Street (circa 1946)
(see http://prismdata.hullcc.gov.uk/gallery2/v/hull-though-the-decades-1930s-1980s/Hull/TSP_100/ TSP_3_596_9++Walcott+Street++31_10_1946.jpg.html )



Wilkin died, aged 70, in September quarter 1909 (source : Free BMD, district Sculcoates (Yorkshire) , volume 9d, page 80).

The Children of WILKIN BLACKWOOD OFFEN and MARY ANN POUND:

1. JOHN FREDERICK OFFEN was born in 1861 in Kingston upon Hull, York (source : 1861 census). On the 1861 census, he is only two weeks old and is with his parents and nurse at 7 Robert Place, Kingston Upon Hull. On the 1871 census, John Fred, aged 10, was at 3 Emerald Terrace, Kingston Upon Hull, Yorkshire with his family. He worked as a fisherman and was killed in a tragic accident on 13th July 1882, aged 21. The sea fishing trade report decsribes his death as follows : "Jumping on to taffrail, and fell backwards into the sea". He was on the smack "Polyhymmia" (source : Hull Fishermen killed at sea, 1878 to 1881 ... online at http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/YKS/Misc/Transcriptions/ERY/HullFishermen.html). He is listed on the "Lost Trawlermen of Hull" website : "OFFEN,John.(21),25 Constable st,Hull.[3rd/Hand] Lost overboard,f.s.POLYTHYMNIA H1315 In the North Sea,13thJULY,1882." (source : http://www.arcticcorsair.f9.co.uk/corsair/lost_trawlermen.htm)
   
   
2. WILLIAM HENRY OFFEN was born in 1863 in Hull, York (source : 1881 census) or Kingston-Upon-Hull, Yorkshire (source : 1891 census). On the 1871 census, William H, aged 8, was at 3 Emerald Terrace, Kingston Upon Hull, Yorkshire with his family. He died in 1904 in Grimsby (source : Collette Kendall). On the 1881 census, age 18 and unmarried, he was the deck boy on his father's fishing boat "Lincolnshire Lass", in Kingston-upon-Hull, York. He is also listed at home at 53 Staniforth Place, Kingston-upon-Hull, Yorkshire. He married HARRIET ANN FREEMAN in 1885 in Hull, York (source : Collette Kendall). She was born circa 1867 in Goole, Yorkshire (source : 1891 census). On the 1891 census, William (28, fisherman), his wife Harriet (23) and their three children MATILDA OFFEN (5, scholar, born Kingston Upon Hull, Yorkshire), WILLIAM H OFFEN (3, born Kingston Upon Hull, Yorkshire), and an as-yet-unnamed 1-week-old daughter, were all at 5 Lucy's Road, Kingston Upon Hull, Yorkshire (4 rooms occupied). They had two other children:
   CHARLES HERBERT OFFEN (born in 1893 in Hull, York, married SARAH ANN SMITH in 1914 in Hull, York, died in 1969 in Hull, York) , and
   HAROLD OFFEN (born in 1895 in Myton, Hull, York, married MARY KILCARR in 1914 in Kingston upon Hull, York, died in 1958 in Hull, York (source : Collette Kendall). The 1901 census lists WILLIE OFFEN (12, born Hull Yorks), CHARLES OFFEN (7, born Hull Yorks) and HAROLD OFFEN (5, born Hull Yorks - presumably their brother) in Holy Trinity and St Mary, Kingston upon Hull (source : 1901 census index, household still needs checking).
   
   
3. ALICE EVA OFFEN was born in 1865 in Hull, York (source : Collette Kendall and 1881 census). On the 1871 census, Alice E, aged 5, was at 3 Emerald Terrace, Kingston Upon Hull, Yorkshire with her family. On the 1881 census, she is a 15-year-old domestic servant, living at 53 Staniforth Place, Kingston-upon-Hull, Yorkshire, with her family. She married THOMAS WILLIAM BROWN in 1885 in Hull, York (source : Collette Kendall). He was born circa 1864 (source : Collette Kendall).
   
   
4. HANNAH OFFEN was born in 1867 in Hull, York (source : Collette Kendall). She died in 1868 in Hull, York (source : Collette Kendall).
   
   
5. ALBERT OFFEN was born in 1869 in Hull, York (source : Collette Kendall). He died in 1870 in Hull, York (source : Collette Kendall).
   
   
6. ALBERT OFFEN was born in 1871 in Hull, York (source : Collette Kendall). He died in 1872 in Hull, York (source : Collette Kendall).
   
   
7. MARY ANN OFFEN was born in 1873 in Hull, York (source : Collette Kendall). She died in 1877 in Hull, York (source : Collette Kendall).
   
   
8. EMMA OFFEN was born in 1875 in Hull, York (source : Collette Kendall). She died in 1875 in Hull, York (source : Collette Kendall).
   
   
9. ADA OFFEN was born in 1879 in Hull, Yorkshire (source : Collette Kendall). On the 1881 census,she is 2 years old and living at 53 Staniforth Place, Kingston-upon-Hull, Yorkshire, with her family. On the 1901 census, Ada, 22, working as a shop assistant in her father's fried fish shop/coffee house, is listed in Holy Trinity, Kingston Upon Hull with her family.
   
   
10. CLARA OFFEN was born in 1881 in Hull, Yorkshire (source : Collette Kendall). On the 1901 census, Clara, 19, working as a shop assistant in her father's fried fish shop/coffee house, is listed in Holy Trinity, Kingston Upon Hull with her family.
    
    

Census returns for WILKIN BLACKWOOD OFFEN and MARY ANN POUND:

1881 census :
Vessel : "Lincolnshire Lass"
Census Place : Kingston-upon-Hull, York, England

Wilkin Blackwood OFFEN Other M Male 46 Ramsgate, Kent, England Master (Fisherman)
James ANSON Other M Male 29 Hull, York, England Mate (Fisherman)
Joseph PARSON Other M Male 28 Portsmouth, Hampshire, England Third Hand (Fisherman)
William Henry OFFEN Other U Male 18 Hull, York, England Deck Boy (Fisherman)
William Morris BAKER Other U Male 16 Hull, York, England Cook

1881 census :
Dwelling : 53 Staniforth Pl, Kingston-upon-Hull, York, England

William B. OFFEN Head M Male 42 Ramsgate, Kent, England Fisherman
Mary A. OFFEN Wife M Female 41 London, London, Middlesex, England
William H. OFFEN Son U Male 18 Hull, York, England Fisherman
Alice E. OFFEN Daur Female 15 Hull, York, England Servant Domestic
Ada OFFEN Daur Female 2 Hull, York, England
William BAKER Boarder U Male 16 Hull, York, England Fisherman


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