A'Bear family history 1700 - c1850 - part B

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This section of the family history deals with:

* Descendants of John A'Bear (1677 - 1743) through his second marriage to Ann ? leading to current branches 4, 5, 6, 7 & 8.

For the following related topics click on the appropriate heading:

* The Branches that Died Out - those branches in existence in 1700 which did not perpetuate to present times

* John A'Bear (1677 - 1743) Head of Family.

* Descendants of John A'Bear (1677 - 1743 ) through his first marriage to Grace Gunnell - leading to current branches 1, 2, 3, SA and CA.

Descendants of John’s marriage to Ann

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 9^th Generation

Of John and Ann’s six children their first was Ann A’Bear born in 1707. Ann was baptised at Wargrave but married John Clarke at Waltham St Lawrence on 2^nd October 1737 by licence. (ref “The A’Bear Family of Wargrave” p61 & 62). The IGI reference states 1738. It is unclear why Ann and John chose to marry at Waltham instead of St Mary’s Wargrave, but geographically the former church is conveniently situated, being only about a mile down the road from Hill House.

Francis A’Bear was born and baptised at Wargrave in 1710 and married Jane Druce in 1735 at Ruscombe, Berkshire. Ruscombe is a nearby village between Harehatch and Twyford. Thanks to an e-mail from Jenny Willmott in Perth, we now believe her surname to be Druce and not Drake, and that Jane was the daughter of Henry Druce and his wife Jane Deane who had property in Waltham St Lawrence and Thatcham, but seemed to have lived most of their lives in Ruscombe where Henry owned a malthouse.

They settled at Hurst, about three miles south of Harehatch where their first three children were born, John (1737 - 1738), John (1738 - ?) and Francis (1739 - ?). However their fourth and subsequent children were born in Wargrave, namely Mary (1743 - ?), William (1745 - ?), Ann (1748 - ?) Joshua (1750 – 1755) and Jane (1751 – 1780?). There is some uncertainty as to how many of these children are correctly placed, as another Francis A’Bear (1715 – 1766) was born in Wargrave, and all the children are listed simply as “son of Francis”. However, the progression of births seems correct, and it appears that the other Francis did not marry until 1749.

Upon his father’s death in 1743, it seems as if Francis was disfavoured in his will, being left only twenty shillings compared with his brothers legacies of £150 and £200. But since Francis was his father’s first son (by either marriage) to marry, it may be that his father set him and his bride up with money in lieu of any future inheritance. In that same year, Francis seems to have moved back to Wargrave, so unless it is a complete coincidence, this supports the belief that most if not all of these children were theirs.

Jane’s father Henry died in 1767, and in his will he bequeaths his (substantial) estate to his wife and then his sons. To his three daughters he leaves “the sum of one shilling apiece only, they having been by and otherwise well provided for…”

It is not known when Francis died. Jane died in 1780 at Wargrave.

William A’Bear was born and baptised at Wargrave in 1712, but died a young man in 1729.

Mary A’Bear was born and baptised at Wargrave in 1714 and married John Butler, a yeoman farmer, in 1741 at Wargrave. Mary died in 1750.

Joshua A’Bear was born and baptised at Wargrave in 1715. He inherited £150 in 1743 and married Mary ? in 1746. They had five children, all born in Wargrave, namely John (1747 – 1818), Mary (1753 - ?), William (1755 – 1758), Joshua (1757 – 1791?) and Thomas (1760 – 1833). Joshua died in Wargrave in 1784, and since he did not inherit his father’s land, it may be assumed he set up on his own by way of his inheritance before marrying. Mary may have died in 1782 (burial list).

Caleb A’Bear was born and baptised at Wargrave in 1718. Caleb married Ann Green on 10 Feb1741 at Caversham, Oxfordshire, about five miles west of Wargrave. At this time he was said to be “of Henley”.(Ref: Oxfordshire Marriage Index). Two years later in 1743 when his father died Caleb inherited £200. [His father left all his land “in Wargrave and elsewhere” to his son John by his first marriage]. It is believed that Caleb then lived at Gibstroude Farm, Wargrave, since one of his daughters Mary was recorded by her husband as being born at Gibstroude in 1746.

[Prior to this, according to Pope’s History of Wargrave, Gibstroude, Cockpole, Penny and Worley Farms had all been acquired by Edward Simeon, a schoolmaster who had married into the family and by these acquisitions risen in status to become a ‘gentleman’ by the time of his death in 1728. There is no evidence of any marriage, but in 1730, according to a deed of land, his widow Elizabeth Simeon was clearly still living at Gibstroude Farm (ref - p44 TAFOW). She lived until 1748 and bequeathed Gibstroude Farm to her daughter Mary Sayor.Anthony Hickson, who descends from Caleb’s daughter Mary, was of the opinion that Caleb married Mary Sayor, but this is not thought to be correct.(See Elizabeth Joanes G/gen8). The present farm of that name was, during the 20th Century, an outpost run from the farmhouse now known as Highfield Farm, half a mile away across the fields.

Caleb and Ann had nine children, all of whom were born and died in Wargrave. They were: John (1744 – 1746), Ann (1745 – 1745), Mary (1746 – 1781), Rebecca (1748 – 1750), William (1751 – 1751), Diana (1752 – 1832), Caleb (1753 – 1754), Martha (1755 – 1771) and Joshua (1757 – 1800). The life span of several of these children is short, so it seems their married life together must have been filled with grief. Caleb died in 1771. It is thought Ann may have died in 1797 as there is an “Anne” recorded in the Wargrave Burials records for this year.

10^th Generation

Francis A’Bear (1710 - ?) and Jane had, it is believed, eight children, none of whom bore children themselves to continue the family name:

John A’Bear was born in 1737 at Hurst. He died in infancy in 1738.

John A’Bear was born in 1738 at Hurst. He married Hannah Nickolls in 1759 at Wargrave.

Francis A’Bear was born in 1739 at Hurst.

Mary A’Bear was born in 1743 and baptised at Wargrave. She married Thomas Watts in 1774 at Wargrave. Thomas was declared 'of this parish'.

William A’Bear was born in1745 and baptised at Wargrave.

Ann A’Bear was born in 1748 and baptised at Wargrave.

Joshua A’Bear was born in 1750 and baptised at Wargrave in 1754. He was also buried at Wargrave in 1755.

Jane A’Bear was born in 1751, baptised at Wargrave and married Anthony Griffin in 1776 at St Mary Le Strand, Westminster, London.

Joshua A’Bear (1715 – 1784) and Mary had five children, all born at Wargrave:

John A’Bear born in 1747 who married Mary Sharp in 1764 at Wargrave. Mary was declared 'of this parish'. They had five children all born at Wargrave, namely Sarah (1765), John (June 1767 - ?), Francis (1769 – 1794), and twins William (1776 – 1847) and Ann (1776 - ?). John died in Wargrave in 1818. Mary may have died in 1782 (burial list).

Mary A’Bear (1753 - 1828) who died at Wargrave. It is possible she was born in 1751 as she was aged 77 years in the burial list. Otherwise the age may be incorrect.

William A’Bear born in 1755 who died aged three years at Wargrave.

Joshua A’Bear born 1757 who died at Wargrave probably in 1791.

Thomas A’Bear born in 1760. Thomas married Mary Beckett in 1782 and was declared ‘of this parish’. They had twelve children : John (1781 – 1782), John (1784 – 1843), Edward (1785 - ?), Martha (1786 - ?), Mary (1788 - ?), William (1790 – 1854), Sarah (1793 - ?), George (1795 - ?), Betty (1796 - ?), Ann (1798 - ?), James (1802 – 1877) and Susannah (1804 - ?). Their first seven children were born in Wargrave, but in about 1794 the family may have moved twenty miles north to Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire. Why they may have moved is uncertain, but perhaps Mary Beckett came from there and had an elderly parent in need of care, or other family living there. The last four children were certainly all born and baptised in Aylesbury, in 1810 their daughter Martha married there, in 1825 their daughter Mary married at Langley Marish, Buckinghamshire and in 1833 their illegitimate grandson John was born in Buckinghamshire. But it seems as though strong links were maintained with Wargrave. In 1808 their son John married and settled in Wargrave, from 1817 their son William’s children were born there, in 1829 their daughter Ann married there and in 1838 their son James also married there. It may be that by the time the last four children were born the family was already so big it was simply more practical for Mary to give birth elsewhere, though they retained their house in Wargrave and the family largely grew up there.

In 1833 Thomas died. He was then 72 years old and occupied as a gardener (ref – his daughter Susannah’s marriage certificate which states that he was working in Croydon where his daughter married. It seems more likely he was working in Aylesbury or Wargrave). He was buried back at Wargrave. Mary lived another twenty years, and then passed away in 1853 aged 92 years at High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. Her name has continued as a forename through one of her grandsons and thence branch 5 of the family to this very day.

Caleb and Ann had nine children. All were born at Wargrave, probably on Gibstrude (Gibstrode, Gibstroude) Farm:

John A’Bear was born in 1744 and died as a young child in 1746.

Ann A’Bear was born in 1745 and died in infancy.

Mary A’Bear was apparently born at Gibstrode Farm in 1746. She married Francis Christopher Augustus Berg. The story of Mary’s short and sad family life came to light in March 2003 when the author was contacted via the internet by Anthony Hickson, a descendant of Francis and Mary, who had been researching his own family history.

Francis or Franz was born in 1748 in Friedrichstadt in the Duchy of Schlesvig Holstein, Denmark, and later in his life became a teacher of English. He came to England and married Mary in 1778 in London. His records state that Mary was born at Gibstrude Farm. In that year a son was born named Augustus. The following year Mary fell pregnant again, but miscarried twin boys aged seven months due to a sudden fright. Then in 1780 another son was born, named John William. Sadly Mary's health fell into decline through improper medical care. She was overtaken by consumption and, after much anxiety and expense, died the following year. Then in 1783 John William died, aged just 2 years and 4 months. Francis promptly left London for Hamburg, Germany, where he was naturalised and married again, all in the same year. His second wife was named Catherina Susanna Jiesche, a widow. Catherina died in 1796, and Francis lived until 1817. Much of the above information was recorded by Franz himself, and among the notes it is particularly interesting to read that Mary's surname was, more properly, "de la Bear”. Mary A'Bear used the surname De la Bere at her marriage, no doubt hoping it would improve her social standing. Anthony’s website contains relevant information regarding our family (ref: http://www.hicksons.org/ABear/FranzBerg2.html).

Rebecca A’Bear was born in 1748 but died a young child in 1750.

William A’Bear was born in 1751 but died in infancy.

Diana A’Bear was born in 1752. Amongst Anthony Hickson’s papers were the following paragraphs which appeared under "Notes of Papers relating to the A'Bear connection in possession of Miss Augusta A Mills. (April 1911)”:

1806 Oct 3rd Receipt so dated "to a pair of Grave stones to the Memory of Joshua ABear put up in Wargrave Church Yard", also the engraving etc.

Mutilated copy of the Inscription:-

Sacred to the Memory of Joshua ABear who departed this Life Feby. the 15th 1800 Aged 43 years.

For whatsoever had affliction ...For Virtues trial or for p.....Let's bear it calmly the la...And still adore the Hand...

* * * *

The first part tells us that the grave at St Mary's, Wargrave originally thought to be that of a Joshua Beard is indeed that of Joshua A'Bear. This Joshua was probably her younger brother, since after his death Diana was the only surviving member of that branch of the family, therefore only she could take care of his funeral arrangements.

The second part refers to a Mrs Diana A'Bear. If this title is correct it suggests she married a cousin in the family, but there is no record of a marriage. At the time of Joshua’s death, Diana was the only child of Caleb still living, and her only link with close family would have been her nephew Augustus Berg(h), Mary's son, who would have emigrated to Germany with his father Franz. No wonder Diana kept in touch until her death in 1832. Until then it seems Diana kept working as a farmeress, possibly still living at Gibstrude Farm where she and her family grew up.

Also amongst these artefacts was a letter written by John Burton A'Bear in 1908 to

F. R. Bergh who was researching our family at that time. In it he writes:

I thought it might interest you to know that Mr.F.Rose was here on Sunday, he is the present tenant of Gibstrode Farm. The Farm House is turned into a Cottage for one of the men, but if at any time you would like to look over the place you are very welcome to do so. Mr.Rose told me that there is a very old painting on one of the panels of the inner door of an old gentleman which he thought very curious. . .

Investigations have revealed that the door with the painting was kept, and is still somewhere on the premises - probably in the loft. The painting is of a man with staring eyes draped with a snake and the men refused to go into that area of the farm to work when the door was open because they were scared of it! It was studied by an art expert, and deemed to be early 19th century. Evidently it has been used as a dartboard at some time. Pope (in 1929) wrote: "On a door in the farmhouse there is a painting with a local reputation for age, but I think it unlikely the painting is 50 years old or the door 100 years old".

The date reference is interesting, because it coincides with the time when Diana A'Bear may have still been living there. So did she paint it, or commission the painting of it? Sadly we may never know.

Caleb A’Bear was born in 1753 and died in 1754.

Martha A’Bear was born in 1755 and died aged only 15 years in 1771.

Joshua A’Bear was born in 1757 and, it seems, died in 1800, for it is thought that the tombstone of Joshua A’Bear that stands on the north side of St Mary’s Church away from the other known A’Bear graves marks this man’s grave, having been placed there by his only surviving sibling Diana in 1806. (Grave Photo 10)

At the time of writing, part of the inscription on the tombstone remains just legible and agrees well with the lines on his sister Diana’s receipt. After some detective work, the rest of the inscription is considered almost certainly to be the continuation of these lines, taken from "Verses to his Friend under Affliction" from "Poems upon Several Occasions" (1724) by John Pomfret (1667 - 1703) an English poet. They read:

 Then, to whatever End Affliction's sent, To try our Virtues, or for Punishment, We bear it calmly, tho' a pond'rous Woe, And still adore the Hand that gives the Blow.

These apt words serve well as an epitaph to virtually the whole of this branch of the family.

11^th Generation

 John A’Bear (1747 – 1818) and Mary had five children:

 Sarah A’Bear was born in 1765 at Wargrave. She married John Rogers at Oxford, St Michael on 14^th October 1791. (Ref :Oxfordshire Marriage Index)

John A’Bear was born in June 1767 and married Elizabeth Kent in 1800 at Wargrave. Elizabeth was declared 'of this parish'. There is confusion between this John and John A’Bear born in February 1767 at Wargrave (see “The Branches that Died Out”), and it remains possible they should be interchanged.

Francis A’Bear was born in 1769 at Wargrave and died there in 1794 as a young man.

William A’Bear was born in either 1774 or 1776. His baptism record shows 1774 but his death certificate dated 1847 states he was then 71 years old, making his year of birth 1776. If the latter is true he was almost certainly twinned with Ann.

The Public Records Office shows that William served in the 4^th Foot Regiment of the 2^nd Royal Veteran Battalion between 1800 and 1814 from which he was discharged aged 41 years. This would make the earlier date more likely. The record shows he was born at “Walgose, Buckinghamshire”, details assumed to be incorrectly transcribed. He married Sarah ? , possibly in 1800 before joining the army, as it is believed they had a son named John who was baptised in 1801 at Wargrave. In later years William was occupied as a labourer.

It is possible that William lived with his cousin James at The Holt, Harehatch in his later years. N.B. This reference almost certainly relates to William’s first cousin William (1790 – 1854) who was also a brother of James.

William died of old age and general debility at Wokingham (according to this war record). He was buried at Wargrave. [Ref: http://catalogue.pro.gov.uk/ and search under William A’Bear].

Ann A’Bear was born in 1776 at Wargrave and could be twinned with William but this seems unlikely.

 Thomas A’Bear (1760 – 1833) and Mary had twelve children:

 John A’Bear was born in 1781 at Wargrave but died there aged thirteen months in 1782.

John A’Bear was born in 1784 at Wargrave. In about 1794 though, his large family may have moved to Aylesbury where another four children were born. But in 1808 John married Mary ? at Wargrave. They had five children: Charles (1808/1812/13), Sarah (Sally) (1809), Magdalene (1811), Ezekiel (1813) and Eliza (1817). The 1861 census states that Charles was born at Iver, Buckinghamshire, about fifteen miles east of Wargrave. Though Ezekiel was born in London, Sarah, Magdalene and Eliza were all baptised at Wargrave, and Sarah married there in 1832. So it seems John and Mary maintained their connection with Wargrave most if not all of their lives. Both in 1811 and 1817 John was declared a labourer. He died at Eton in 1843 followed by Mary in 1845, so it seems they may have moved there in later years, leaving their Iver residence to their son Charles and his family (whose daughter Jane was born their in 1848).

Edward A’Bear was born in 1785 at Wargrave. He married and had a child named Edward in about 1820, but nothing more is known of him.

Martha A’Bear was born in 1786 and married William Hurrell in 1810 at Aylesbury where the family may then have been living or had connections.

Mary A’Bear was born in 1788 at Wargrave. She married Jonathan Eady in 1825 at Langley Marish, Buckinghamshire.

William A’Bear was born in 1790 at Wargrave. He may have moved to Aylesbury in about 1794. He later married Sarah ? and they had four children: twins Hannah and Rebecca (1813) born in the Scilly Isles, Sophia (1817) born at Wargrave and Jane (1819) also born at Wargrave. It is supposed that Sarah delivered her twins in the Scilly Isles because they were born out of wedlock. It seems, therefore, that if William ever moved away to Aylesbury, he and Sarah later moved back to Wargrave. In 1840 William was a labourer working at Hurley, Berkshire, about four miles north of Wargrave. Around this time it seems probable that William lived in a cottage with his younger brother James in The Holt, Harehatch, where he jointly owned land. This information is recorded in the 1840 Tithe Terrier. The 1841 census also records a William A’Bear then aged 60 years (this William was 50 years old) living in a cottage in The Holt with a boy named William aged 8 years. No birth record of this boy has been found, and it is taken to be his grandson William Ogbourne. N.B. It is much less likely that these records relate to William A’Bear (1774 – 1847). William died in 1854.

Sarah A’Bear was born in 1793 at Wargrave. However she may have grown up in Aylesbury. Later Sarah married Stephen Smith in 1831 at Cookham, Berkshire.

George A’Bear was born in 1795, but whether he was born in Wargrave or Aylesbury or elsewhere is unknown. He married in 1820 at Marylebone, London, but his wife’s name is unknown. They had three children: George Augustus (1821) born in Southwark, Elizabeth (1823) and Edward (1827). In 1844 George was working as a labourer, presumably in London.

Elizabeth "Betty" A’Bear was born and christened in 1796 at Aylesbury, and may have grown up there or in Wargrave. In 1816 she was declared a labourer. She later had a daughter Susanna A’Bear (1816) but there is no marriage record.

Ann A’Bear was born and christened in 1798 at Aylesbury and may have grown up there. However in 1829 she married Robert Keeley at Wargrave. It is unclear why she (and her younger brother James) chose to marry at Wargrave unless they lived there at the time, however the marriage record does not state that she was ‘of this parish’.

James A’Bear seems to have been born and christened in 1802 at Aylesbury. However, the 1861 census states his age as 67 years, giving a year of birth of 1793 or 1794. It also declares he was born in Reading, (presumably Wargrave). The year 1802 is calculated from his death certificate.

It is unclear to what extent he grew up in Aylesbury or Wargrave. He married Eliza Astell Hearn at Wargrave probably in 1838 (there is a reference for August 1839), but finally settled in Isleworth where he and Eliza’s ten children grew up: John (1838), Thomas (1840), James (1842), Eliza (1843), Mary (1846), James (1849), William (1851), Sophia (1854), George (1857) and Henry (1860). Eliza may have come from Wallingford, about thirteen miles north-west of Wargrave as her third child James was born there. The 1840 Tithe Terrier shows a James and William occupying a cottage (now a house called La Chaumier) next door to the Queen Victoria public house along the little private road in The Holt, Harehatch. Since no other James is known to be living at the time, it may be assumed this man was living there and working on the land prior to 1840 with, quite probably, his older brother William [or otherwise his first cousin William ( 1774 – 1847)]. In fact according to IGI their second son Thomas was baptised at Wargrave, supporting the notion that they maintained links with Wargrave for a while after they married. But soon after this James was employed as a railway worker and labourer at Isleworth. He probably moved there looking for work on the then rapidly expanding railway network out of London. He died at Brentford in 1877, and the 1881 census report records Eliza still living at London Road Smith Cottage, Isleworth. She died in 1891.

Susannah A’Bear was born and christened in 1804 at Aylesbury, and may have grown up there or in Wargrave. She married James Butler in 1852 at Croydon.

12^th Generation

William (1774 – 1847) and Sarah had one child: 

John A’Bear was baptised in 1801 at Wargrave, so was presumably born there that year. His father joined the army the previous year and served until 1814, so John may have been brought up primarily by his mother. He died at Wargrave still only a young man in 1820, aged twenty years according to the burial list..

John (1784 – 1843) and Mary had five children:

Charles A’Bear was born either in 1808, the same year as his parents married at Wargrave, or 1812/13. The 1861 census gives his birthplace as Iver, Buckinghamshire, about fifteen miles east of Wargrave.

It is thought he married Mary ? in about 1832 as they had a daughter Sarah who was baptised (and stated ‘illegitimate’) in Wargrave in 1831. Later in 1845 Charles married Ann Church at Eton, five miles southwest of Iver. Ann’s maiden name was Dorsett, so this was her second marriage, and she came from Hedgerley Dean, Buckinghamshire. They seem to have settled at Iver or Eton, as their two daughters Mary Ann and Jane were born at Eton, and Charles is also recorded as being occupied as a labourer at this location at this time. Mary Ann’s name is a combination of Charles’s two wives’ names. No date has been found for Mary’s death, but this naming might suggest that Mary died before Charles remarried.

The 1861 census states that Charles and Ann had by then moved to Harefield Row, Uxbridge, ten miles north-east of Eton and ten miles north of Iver. Charles was then employed as an agricultural labourer. Also listed in the census is a boy named John Hok – nephew, aged 10 years, born Hillingdon. So perhaps Hok was Ann’s sister’s married name.

Ann died at Uxbridge in 1869, (although their daughter Jane married at Eton that same year). Their daughter Mary Ann married at Uxbridge in 1872 and Charles died there in 1876.

Sarah/Sally A’Bear was born in 1809 at Wargrave and married Nathaneal Stocker there in 1832. Nathaneal was declared to be 'of this parish'. Sarah's name is questionable as different sources quote alternative names, but she is believed to be the same person. Nothing more is known of her. Records suggest Nathaniel died in June 1843 at Wokingham.

Magdalene A’Bear was born in 1811/12 at Wargrave and baptised there. She seems to have grown up there too. To Magdalene and John Piggott (who is recorded as dying in about 1865) a son was born named John A’Bear in 1833 in Buckinghamshire. No marriage certificate has been discovered, so it appears this son was illegitimate. This pregnancy may, of course, have been contrived with the intent to perpetuate the family name. However, Magdalene also had three daughters, Eliza (c1842), Elizabeth (1845 – c1846) and Elizabeth (1847). Eliza’s marriage certificate of 1866 names her father as John A’Bear, Engineer (deceased). The first Elizabeth’s father is uncertain as no name was given on her birth certificate or christening record making it appear that she was illegitimate. For there to be two Elizabeths, this Elizabeth must have died in infancy. The second Elizabeth’s birth certificate also gives no name for her father, suggesting she too was born out of wedlock. However, her marriage certificate of 1873 named her father as William A’Bear. There is no record of Magdalene ever marrying, and the reader may be tempted to draw hasty conclusions about Magdalene from these facts. The issue to resolve, however, is which John A’Bear and which William A’Bear fathered her two daughters. Given that the family tree and associated information is correct, there are few choices. There are only two John A’Bears living around 1840 who were deceased before 1866, namely John A’Bear (1775 – 1845) of Ipsden (hardly an ‘engineer’) and Magdalene’s own father John A’Bear (1784 – 1843). Likewise, there are only two William A’Bears known to be living in 1847, namely William A’Bear (1776 – 1847) and William A’Bear (1790 – 1854). Both were deceased in 1873 when the name was recorded, a fact not disclosed on Elizabeth’s marriage certificate, but the latter William was recorded as living with a James A’Bear virtually adjacent to Magdalene in 1841 - the census report of that year records Magdalene (aged 30 years) lodging in the Queen Victoria Beer House at The Holt in Harehatch, Wargrave, with son John (8 years old) and Eliza (8 months). The ages of the children here do not quite tie up, but the record at least supports the notion that by this time she may have separated from John Piggott and begun a new life back in her home village. Certainly in 1834 she was a labourer, and later in 1846 a farmer according to baptism records). In the light of the available candidates for Eliza and Elizabeth’s fathers, it is hardly credible that those named were not the actual fathers, but acted as fathers to the children, for they all died whilst the children were very young. Few other options seem to exist, and the matter remains unresolved.

Magdalene appears in the 1861 census, then living and working at Lucas Hospital, Hornes Green, in the district of Wokingham. She was employed as a cook and stated to be unmarried. She died later at Hackney in 1880, so may have moved in later years to London either with all her children or to be nearer her son John’s family living at Islington in London. Her two daughters married in London in 1866 and 1873, so it does seems more likely she moved there with all three children prior to 1866.

Ezekiel Thomas A’Bear was born in 1813 at St Pancras, London, but was baptised at Wargrave. Ezekiel heads Branch 4 of the family. See Branch 4.

Eliza A’Bear was born in 1817 at Wargrave, but died in 1818.

Edward A’Bear (1785 - ?) and his wife had a son Edward:

Edward A’Bear was born in about 1820. Where he was born and grew up are unknown, but he married Margaret Kelly in 1848 at Marylebone when his occupation was recorded as a labourer. They had three children all born in Maryebone: twins Edward and Margaret (1850) and Martha (1851) of which only Margaret survived. Nothing more is known of Edward and Margaret.

William A’Bear (1790 – 1854) and Sarah had four children:

Twins Hannah A’Bear and Rebecca A’Bear were born and christened (sixteen days later) in 1814 in the Scilly Isles. How this came about is not known for certain, but they may have been born out of wedlock and therefore the family wanted their births to be discrete.

Thanks to information from Ken Hogburn, we now know that Hannah married James Ogburn at Wargrave in 1828 when she was only fourteen years old, and where they had a family of eleven children. James (born 1806) was an agricultural labourer who was baptised in Wargrave and grew up there; in fact the marriage record states both to be ‘of this parish’.

Their first child Mary Ann was born in 1829 when Hannah was only fifteen years old, and their subsequent children were named Sarah (1831), William (1833), Sophia Jane (1836 - >1901), Henry (1838), George (1840), Fanny (1844), Elizabeth Rachel (1847), James John (1850 – 1886), Emily Hannah (1854) and William (1858). All had the Ogburn surname. The first five children were all baptised at Hurley, Berkshire, about four miles north of Wargrave, where Hannah’s father worked as a labourer. But from 1838 the Ogbourne children were baptised at Wargrave. It is possible they moved from Hurley to Wargrave at this time. The year coincides with the marriage of her uncle James A’Bear (1802 – 1877) who seems to have been living at The Holt with Hannah’s father, but moved away to start a family in Isleworth.

According to the 1851 census, the family then lived at Kiln Green, Wargrave. This is the area immediately to the east of the Holt on the A4 - it has no real centre, but is more of an entity than the Holt. By 1871 their address is given as The Holt, but it is thought that as early as 1841 the family were living at one and the same property, now named La Chaumiere. This early census records the Ogbourne family, and with them William A’Bear aged 60 years and William A’Bear aged 8 years. The elder William is taken to be Hannah’s father (actually aged 50 years). The younger William was almost certainly their son William Ogbourne born in 1833 and aged 8 years, for he is not listed with their other five children. See also “The Holt”.

Of Hannah and James’s children, only information concerning Sophia is known. She appears in the 1861 census aged 24 years, unmarried and working as a housemaid at 7 Andrews Place, St Pancras, Middlesex, for James and Sarah Comerford. Sophia married John Carroll in December 1862 at Marylebone, but in the 1881 census she is declared a widow, working for Julia Doyle in Bray (near Maidenhead) as a nurse and domestic. In 1883 she married Matthew Shepherd of Twyford at Wokingham. By 1891 she and Matthew were running a grocer’s shop in Netley Street, Farnborough and living there with Matthew’s children by his first marriage. This business was apparently previously owned by Matthew’s father, but it seems from the wording of the census of that year that she was considered the head of the family. By 1901 they had retired and were living at Oxford Villa, Southampton Street, Farnborough, when Matthew is named as the head of family.

James died in 1874, and in the 1881 census Hannah is declared a widow, still living at The Holt. Hannah died in December 1886 at Hartley Witney (north-west of Farnborough) attended by her son-in-law Matthew Shepherd.

Rebecca presumably grew up in Wargrave too, for she married James Stevens there in 1829 whilst only fifteen years of age. She was declared ‘of this parish’ in her marriage record, as was James. Thanks to Angela Sherry, a descendant of Rebecca and James, we know a little about them. James was born in about 1806 at Lime Prestel ? in Kent. He was a bricklayer by trade, and they seem to have moved to Dorney, Buckinghamshire, as their eldest son was baptised there. Rebecca also sadly died there of consumption in 1841 aged only 27 years.

James and Rebecca had four children named William (c1830), James (c1834), Mary Ann (c1837) and John (1839). All carried the Stevens surname, and Angela descends from William Stevens’s marriage to Mary Hartstone.

Following Rebecca’s death, James married Hannah Richards in 1842.

Sophia A’Bear was born and christened in 1817 at Wargrave. She married Elias Woodward in 1840 at Cookham, Berkshire. Elias was a shoemaker working at Hurley, Berkshire, where Sophia’s father was working as a labourer. Cookham is about five miles north-east of Hurley, and possibly the village where Elias grew up.

Jane A’Bear was born at Wargrave in 1819. She married Ezekiel A’Bear (her first cousin) in 1853 and heads Branch 4 of the family. See Branch 4.

George A’Bear (1795 - ?) and his wife had three children: 

George Augustus A’Bear was born in Southwark in 1821 and married Lucy Jones in 1844. George and Lucy head branch 8 of the family. See Branch 8.

Elizabeth A’Bear was born in 1823, presumably in London. She married at Marylebone in about 1842. Nothing else is known of her.

Edward A’Bear was born in 1827, presumably in London. He married Margaret ? in 1849. Edward died in 1852 and no record of any issue has been found.

Betty A’Bear had a daughter Susanna:

Susanna A’Bear who was born in 1816. Nothing more is known of her.

James A’Bear (1802 – 1877) and Eliza had ten children:

John A’Bear was born in 1838 at Isleworth. John married Fanny Johnson in 1863 also at Isleworth, although Fanny was born in Aylesbury. They had two children both born in the Brentford district, namely Elizabeth (1863) and John (1868 - 1880). The 1881 census report states that John was occupied as a coachman at this time and living at Retreat Cottage, Brickfield Yard, Isleworth. In 1882 Fanny died, and John remarried two years later. His second wife was Caroline Cloke. They had a son named John Ernest A’Bear in 1887 who was born in Brentford. John died there in 1891. There is a recorded death of a Caroline A’Bear at Romford in 1936, aged 85 years.

Thomas Beckett A’Bear was born in 1840 at Isleworth and married Mary Charlotte Baigent at Kensington in 1861. Thomas and Mary head Branch 5 of the family. See Branch 5.

James A’Bear was born in 1842 at Woodcott, Wallingford, about 13 miles north-west of Wargrave. This location is out of keeping with her other nine children, and it may be that Eliza’s parents lived there. It seems James did not survive as their next son was also named James.

Eliza A’Bear was born in 1843 at Brentford, and married William Ilbrey there in 1864. Eliza heads Branch 6 of the family. See Branch 6.

Mary Ann A’Bear was born in 1846 at Brentford, but died in 1847.

James A’Bear was born in 1849 at Brentford and married Caroline Smith there in 1884. At this time he was a platelayer working in the locality. It seems they had no children. Caroline died in 1900 at Brentford and James died there in 1911.

William A’Bear was born in 1851 at Brentford and died at Marylebone as a young child in 1854.

Sophia A’Bear was born in 1854 at Brentford. In 1875 she had a son named John Henry A’Bear (born at West Bromwich, Staffordshire) before marrying George Whawell Roy in 1878 at Brentford. Sophia died the same year she married. George died at Kensington in 1903.

George A’Bear was born in 1857 at Brentford. The 1881 census report records George as a labourer at a soap factory together with his younger brother Henry, and living with his widowed mother Eliza at London Road, Smith Cottage, Isleworth. George did not marry and died at Brentford in 1904.

Henry A’Bear was born in 1860 at Brentford and married Emily Elizabeth Winn there in 1886. Henry and Emily head branch 7 of the family. See Branch 7.

13^th & 14^th Generations

Charles A’Bear had a daughter Sarah A’Bear before his first marriage to Mary, and two daughters Mary Ann and Jane by his second marriage to Ann Church:

Sarah A’Bear was baptised in 1831 at Wargrave, so presumably born there. Her baptism record declares her ‘illegitimate’. Nothing more is known of her.

Mary Ann A’Bear was born at Eton (probably Iver, five miles north-east of Eton) in 1845, the same year that her parents married there, but seems to have moved to Harefield near Uxbridge with her parents and sister at some time during her childhood. The 1861 census records her as working as a servant for the Hookins family in St Pancras, London, where she was known as “Annie”. Perhaps her uncle Ezekiel found her work there as he was living in Lambeth at the time. Mary Ann bore an illegitimate daughter in 1871 at Scarborough, Yorkshire, named Ethel Louisa A’Bear. She then married Richard Rawlings in 1872 at Uxbridge. Mary died in Kensington in 1891.

Jane A’Bear was born at Iver, Buckinghamshire near Eton in 1848. But by the time of the 1861 census when she was twelve years old she was living with her parents at Harefield Row, Harefield near Uxbridge, ten miles north of Iver. She married John Snape at Eton in 1869. No death records have been found for either person, so it is possible they emigrated.

Magdalene A’Bear had a son John A’Bear and three daughters named Eliza, Elizabeth and another Elizabeth:

John A’Bear was born in 1833 in Buckinghamshire, although his mother Magdalene seems to have grown up in Wargrave. This may be explained by the fact that the family still had strong links with Buckinghamshire, since Magdalene’s grandmother Mary A’Bear (nee Beckett) was still living at the time and is believed to have come from this county.

John’s father is named as John Piggott, but there is no record of his mother ever marrying, and given the circumstances of John’s birth and his sister’s births, and the fact that his surname was A’Bear and not Piggott, it seems very likely his birth was illegitimate.

John seems to have been brought up primarily by his mother. In 1841 the census report records John (8 years old) and his half sister Eliza (8 months lodging in the Queen Victoria Beer House at The Holt in Harehatch, Wargrave. His three half sisters were all born in the district of Wokingham, the last in 1847, so John must have grown up in or near Wargrave. But in 1865 he married Anne Austin (who came from Bognor Regis, Sussex) at Marylebone, at which time he was occupied as a railway clerk at Stoke Newington, also in London. Their two children Magdalene Anne Mary A’Bear (1866) and John Adolphus A’Bear (1869) who died an infant in 1870 were both born in Islington, only a short distance from Stoke Newington, so they clearly settled here for work reasons.

Later in life, and almost certainly before 1894, John and Anne moved to St Mary in the Castle, Hastings, in Sussex. They are recorded in the census report of 1901 as living there, but their daughter Magdalene married Ernest Bruce Millar at Hastings in 1894. John died at Battle, East Sussex in 1902. Six years later Anne died at Epsom, Surrey.

Eliza A’Bear was born in 1842 at Wokingham and christened at Wargrave. At least some of her childhood must have been spent at Wargrave, for her younger sisters were born in the locality.

She married Edward Francis Curley in 1866 at St James, London, and her marriage certificate names her father as "John A’Bear, Engineer (deceased)". She was aged 22 when she married on 29th Nov 1866, which would make her year of birth 1844. However, the baptism record at Wargrave is for 1842. There could, therefore, be some confusion here between two different people named Eliza A’Bear. To confuse this issue still further, the 1841 census report names Eliza as aged 8 months, making her year of birth likely to be 1840.

The fact that both her and her sister Elizabeth married in London does suggest that they were living in that area with their mother Magdalene (and possibly their father) prior to 1866.

Elizabeth A’Bear was born in 1845 and christened at Wargrave. It is uncertain who the father was as no name was given on her birth certificate making it appear that she was illegitimate. The father may have been the John A’Bear who her mother possibly married a little later. Elizabeth must have died in infancy soon after her birth, as in 1847 Magdalene’s next daughter was given the same name.

Elizabeth A’Bear, born in 1847, was also born in the district of Wokingham, so must have started life in or near Wargrave. Her birth certificate also gives no name for her father, suggesting she too was born out of wedlock. However, when she married William Shufflebotham in 1873 at St George, Hanover Square, Middlesex, her marriage certificate named her father as William A’Bear. The fact that she and Eliza married in London supports the notion that she and her family moved away from Wargrave before they had grown up.

Edward and Margaret had three children:

Edward A’Bear was twinned with Margaret A’Bear (1850). They were born at Marylebone, but Edward died a young child in 1852. Margaret married John Owens in 1878 at Kensington.

Martha A’Bear was born in 1851 at Marylebone but did not survive.

John A’Bear had two children, Elizabeth and John, by his first marriage to Fanny Johnson, and a son John Ernest by his second marriage to Caroline Cloke:

Elizabeth A’Bear was born at Brentford in 1863. She is recorded in the 1881 census report as being occupied as a dressmaker and still living with her parents at Retreat Cottage, Brickfield Yard, Isleworth.

John William S A’Bear was born in 1868 at Brentford. He died in his childhood in 1880 at Brentford.

John Ernest A’Bear was born in 1887 at Brentford. He is recorded in the 1901 census report as aged fourteen and living in Ilford, about twenty miles across London from Brentford, where he was working as a gas fitter. John is not believed to have married, and died in 1953 at Nuneaton, Warwickshire.

Sophia A’Bear had a son named John Henry A’Bear:

John Henry A’Bear was born illegitimately at West Bromwich, Staffordshire in 1875, though his mother grew up in Brentford and married George Roy there three years later. John’s mother Sophia died that same year when John, assuming he survived, would have been only three years old. It is unknown whether his stepfather then brought him up, or he was taken into care, or he grew up within the family.

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