Alfred Eldridge hung for a horrific murder with Alfred Holden Blog 33.
Richard Steed was born on 26th May 1808 in Hoath, Kent, the 5th child of 11 born to James Steed an Agricultural Labourer from Sturry, Kent and Elizabeth Brett from Deal Kent.
They moved to Hoath, Kent and Richard grew up there, becoming a Farm Labourer himself.
He Married Hannah Holness from Herne Kent on 7th Feb 1835 at St Martins in Herne and they settled into family life in Maypole Street Hoath, having 10 children (3 boys, 7 girls) between 1835 - 1851 and only losing their first child Hannah who was born in November 1835 but died in Feb 1836 (Reason unknown as registry only starts in 1837)
Richard had been a Carrier and then became a Corn Dealer.
In 1852, their eldest son George age 16 joined the merchant Navy aboard the Fire Queen
On 19th November 1855, they celebrated his marriage to Eiza Keene age 23 in Herne Kent
On 2nd Dec 1857, they celebrated the marriage of their eldest daughter Julia, age 18 in Hoath Parish church to John Hammond, a Broom Maker from Canterbury, Kent.
Then came the tragedies:
In March 1861, their daughter Eva aged 15 died and was laid to rest on 24 March 1861 at Hoath Parish Church, and then in November, Son George lost his wife Eliza age 29 and she was laid to rest on 17 November at Hoath Parish Church
When the railway line from Herne Bay to Margate was being laid, Richard took the opportunity to supplement his income by running a little shop in a shed, by the cutting at Bogs Hole, between Broomfield and Hillborough in Herne and he sold bread, coffee and other beverages to the “navvies”,
One was a man named Alfred Eldridge.
Alfred Eldridge was born in 1830 in Canterbury Kent. He was the 6th born of 7 children, born to John Eldridge, a Shoemaker from Selling Kent and Ann Horne from Canterbury.
He grew up in Canterbury
He joined the military and served twelve years in the army, first in the 92nd, and afterwards in the 52nd regiments. However, he was discharged “without character” after serving in the Crimean war, from October 1853 – March 1856 and the Indian Rebellion in 1857.
In 1861, at age 32, he married 28-year-old Sarah Ann Webb from Petham Canterbury.
He had been employed by Mr Smith, the proprietor of the Saw Mills, in Old Dover Road, for 12 months, but then in December 1861, he was taken into custody and charged with stealing deal boards and fencing wood, to the value of 10s. the property of his master. He was found guilty and spent three months in St Augustine Gaol for stealing.
Sarah had given birth to their son George Thomas in January 1862, while he was in prison.
On his release and with the Herne Bay to Margate Railway having begun on 13th July 1861, he started work as a Navvie on the line near Herne and that's when he met Richard Steed.
Richard had actually taken him, his wife and his son George into his home, as lodgers until they found permanent lodgings and they had been living in Maypole, in cottages near the Church, for around 4 months.
Early in 1863, Steed had lent Eldridge some money, and when it was not repaid, Steed took out a summons in the County Court.
The next day, Eldridge tried to pay a shilling off the debt, which Steed said he could not accept as the matter was in the hands of the Court. Eldridge was forcibly put out of the house and threatened to “do for” Steed before many weeks.
He was described by the papers, as 5 ft 10 inches tall and strongly built, his features are somewhat sharp and ''there is something sinister in his appearance, though the cast of his countenance was not repulsive”.
On the fatal Saturday on the 3rd of May, at about 3 pm, Richard Steed left his 11-year-old son Albert to set off home with the cart, leaving his father at the railway pay office. He left there at about 6.20 pm and arrived at the “Prince Albert” Inn (now the “Smugglers Inn”) at Herne Street soon after 7 pm. and when he entered and saw Eldridge.
Both men appeared quite sober and greeted each other in a friendly fashion. Steed said, “Are you going home? We will go home together” and they left together.
Soon after 8 pm, George Turk of Maypole, set off across the fields on a spring evening, to walk his lady friend, a widow named Naomi Connor, back towards her home at Herne Bay. About a quarter of a mile along the path, as they passed a copse called Moat Wood
They heard groans and found a man lying in a ditch, terribly battered about the face and unrecognisable.
Mrs Connor became upset, and Turk took her back out of sight of the man and then returned to him.
He recognised it was Richard Steed by his clothing, and lifted him out of the ditch and then he sent Mrs Connor back to Maypole, who found a neighbour, William Petts, to go and look after Richard and went on himself to tell Steed’s family.
Young Albert took his mother and George Turk in the cart to bring his father home, where he died before the arrival of Dr W. Jameson of Sturry just after 10 o’clock.
Superintendent Walker and Sergeant W. H. Gower of the Kent County Constabulary arrived with a constable to examine the body and visit the scene of the crime.
In the ditch was a mess of blood and brains, lying in a depression “as if a man’s head had been pummelled into the ground”. There was also the mark of a boot heel in the ground, but no other signs of a struggle there; the soil was dry, and not even the prints of those who had removed the body could be seen.
By the “bush telegraph” of a rural area, they learned of a sighting by Mr Pooley, of the two men passing his garden, and he also identified Eldridge, as the probable second man.
By 10 o’clock they were at Eldridge's cottage back at Hoath, demanding to see the clothes and boots he had been wearing the day before. Eldridge was then wearing shoes and clean socks. He eventually produced the boots from a cupboard but was evasive about the socks. The coat he produced was patched in the way Mr Pooley had described. His boots had been washed and dried but still bore brownish stains and traces of mud with hairs embedded in them. His trousers were marked with reddish spots.
When invited to describe his movements on the previous evening, he said he had walked with Steed to the junction of the paths and had then taken the left-hand, longer way, while Steed set off across the fields, by the track where he was later found.
The Superintendent got Eldridge to take them back along the route he had described. They were led along an even more circuitous way than they expected, towards Herne and did not pass Mr Pooley’s garden at all. Perhaps it is significant that he took them across fields where no track existed, which suggests that he was not averse to the sort of shortcut, which might have taken him from where Steed was found, across to the other track.
Eldridge displayed no physical signs of a struggle or fight and he said he had heard from a neighbour when he got home, that Steed had had an accident and he had told his informant where they had parted.
Sergeant Gower asked about his relationship with the dead man, and he said they had not been on good terms for the last four months and that Steed had once served him a dirty trick.
Supt. Walker then charged him with the wilful murder of Richard Steed and took him into custody.
On the morning of Monday 5th May, Aldridge appeared at the Magistrates' Clerk's Office, Watling Street, before William Delmar, Esq., Captain Slarke, George Neanie, Esq., and William. Plummer, Esq,
A host of witnesses assembled to tell their stories of the events of Saturday.
George Turk, an engine driver, deposed:
''On Saturday night I was going from Maypole to Herne Street. started from Maypole at about eight o'clock. I went by the footpath and had proceeded from a quarter to half a mile when I saw a man lying in the dyke, by the side of the footpath. He was then alive but frightfully cut and disfigured about the head and face. The wounds appeared to have been recently inflicted and seemed to be cut. There was a woman, Mrs Connor, with me. I passed on a little way, but directly she saw the body she set up a scream. I took her a little way down the road and then returned, and identified the body, as that of Richard Steed, a man who lived at Maypole. I could only identify him by his clothes. I endeavoured to get him up, but his head fell over one side and laid him on the bank. and Mrs. Connor then went back and called a man named Petts, and told him the state Steed was in. I afterwards went to inform Mrs Steed and the family, and they went with me to the place. Steed, who was then alive, was removed back to his home but died soon after. Medical aid was sent for, but it was of no avail. I did not see any weapon of any kind lying near the body in the dyke''.
In reply to Mr Wightwick, ''The witness said there was both blood and brains on the ground, and blood was flowing from the wounds. The field was a pasture, but there were no marks of any struggling''.
Mrs Connor, who was with George Turk, corroborated his evidence.
Hannah, the widow of the Richard Steed, was next to be examined. She appeared very much affected and was accommodated with a seat while giving her evidence.
She deposed that her husband was brought home in an unconscious state shortly after eight Saturday night. She then said:
''I did not examine my husbands clothes, but George Turk did. About three months ago Alfred Eldridge owed my husband a little money and said he would pay it when he got his money. My husband afterwards asked him for it and said if he did not pay would summon him to the County Court. My husband did summon him, and soon after the prisoner came to the bakehouse door and offered him a shilling. husband said he could not take it as the case was then in Court. He refused to leave, on which, my husband pushed him out. Then he said ''Oh, you bastard, I'll do for you before many weeks." That was nearly three months ago.
Eldridge then asked: ''The evening when I came to the bakehouse door, did I not give the little girl that opened the door a shilling?''
Mrs. Steed: ''You gave the girl a shilling, the second time you came, and told her to give it to her father, who sent her with it, to give it back''.
Capt. Ruxton: ''I would like to ask this witness, what is the colour of your husband's hair?''
Mrs Steed: ''It has been black, but it was turning grey''.
Mr. Delmar: ''Is that material? It seems that the identification of the deceased is established''.
Capt. Ruxton: ''It is not a question of identity, but as to the weapon with which the man was killed. The prisoner's boot had hairs of that colour adhering to it''.
Albert Steed, son of the deceased, was next sworn:
''I shall be twelve years of age next birthday. I was with my father at Boggs Hole, between Herne and Reculver, on Saturday. He was selling coffee and small beers to the men employed on the railway works. About 3 o'clock my father went towards the pay office, and I went home with the cart. My father had then 9s. 9d. in his possession. He counted it before he left me. and put the silver in his right-hand breeches pocket and the copper in the left. I went home with the cart and did not again see my father alive. I know the prisoner, who has been at work the railway at Boggs Hole, but I did not see him there Saturday. I went with the cart Saturday evening and fetched Father home. I was present when his clothes were examined, and 1s. 8d. was taken out of his pockets. 6d in silver and fourteen pence copper''.
Next Jesse Holness deposed:
''I live at Herne Street and I am a woodman. knew the deceased and the prisoner. I saw them together, at the public house called "Prince Albert," at Herne Street, between 7 and 8 o'clock. Steed said ''Holloa Canterbury," which is the nickname for the prisoner, and the prisoner said ''Holloa Dick." Steed then said ''Are you going home, Canterbury?' and the prisoner said he was. Steed said ''Then we will home together." I left the room and returned in about half an hour. Eldridge and Steed were then gone. There were two or three other persons in the room. I know the prisoner lives at Hoath''.
In reply to Mr Plummer: ''If they were going home they would both go towards Maypole''.
Next was George Stannard, a labourer, was examined:
''I work on the line. I saw Richard Steed on the line on Saturday. I was at Herne Street after seven o'clock Saturday evening and saw Steed and Canterbury (the prisoner) going towards home together. They were just going out of the street in the direction of Maypole. I did not speak to them. They appeared to be going along very friendly together''.
Next was Isaac Pulley, a labourer, he deposed:
''I live near Ridgway Farm, and the house is about five minutes walk from Herne Street. I saw Richard Steed and another man walking in the direction of Maypole about half-past seven o'clock on Saturday night. The man who was with Steed had a dark brown coat on. I said ''It's very cold tonight," and one of them replied that it was. They seemed to be ''talking like" when I saw them. I bid them good night, and Steed said good night. They were going towards the place where Steed's body was afterwards found. The coat produced is similar to the one which the man with Steed had on. He was a little taller than Steed''.
Next Superintendent Walker gave his evidence:
''From information received yesterday, I proceeded to Maypole, to the house of the deceased, where I examined the body. I then proceeded with Sergeant Gower to the place where the murder had been committed, which is about midway between Maypole Street and Ridgway Farm. I saw, in a ditch, by the side of the footpath, a hole with a large quantity of blood and brains. There was a round indent on the ground, about two or three inches deep as if a man's head had been pummelled into the ground. There was another mark as if the heel of a boot had been struck into the ground. There were no marks of struggle having taken place. I then saw a man named Pulley, and from the information I received from him, I went in search of a man answering a certain description. From further information received I went in search of the prisoner, who lives in a row of cottages near the Church at Hoath. The prisoner, who was then outside, was called into the house and I ordered him to pull off his clothes and told Sergeant Gower to examine and take possession of them. When the prisoner was stripping himself upstairs, l asked him to show the boots that he had on the previous evening. He said they were downstairs in a cupboard. I went downstairs and his wife gave me the boots now produced from a cupboard. I told him that the body of Richard Steed had been found murdered and that he was seen with him on his way home from Herne Street on the previous evening, and asked him if he would show me the way he came home. He said he would, and after he had put on some clothes again he went out and took me in the direction of Maypole Street, near Mr. Larkin's forge. said he left the deceased not far from the wood, and he then took the road he was showing me, coming out at Mr Larkin's forge which took us across a field where there was no footpath, in a circuitous direction towards Herne street. He did not take me near the place where he was seen by the witness Pulley in the company with Steed. His proper way home from Maypole Street is led by Ridgway Farm and by the place where the murder was committed. I then told him that I was apprehending him on a charge of murdering Steed and he said he was not guilty.
Mr Walker then showed the prisoner's boots to the Court. They were both very much marked with blood, and one of them had grey and black hair adhering to it. He said that, in his opinion, the hair was that of a human being.
Police Sergeant Gower, who was the next witness examined, corroborated the evidence of Superintended
Mr Walker then produced a pair of trousers which the prisoner had on when apprehended. There were several marks of blood on the legs, especially the left leg. There were also marks of blood on the prisoner's vest, but not the coat.
When at the prisoner's house he asked where the stockings were that he had on the previous night, He said those were the stockings he had on. Gower said they were quite clean. Eldridge then said the stockings from the previous night would be found somewhere in the room. Gower, however, searched for them, but without success. When the prisoner left the house kissed his wife, and told her to keep up her spirits, as he had told her he expected they would be after him from Canterbury about what had taken place.
In reply to a question by Eldridge: ''I heard the prisoner say there had been a footpath across the fields, the way we came''
In reply to questioning from the Chief Constable: ''I asked the prisoner if there was any animosity between him and Steed, and he said they had not been on good terms for four months, Steed had served him a dirty trick once.
Next was Mr Henry Jameson, a Surgeon, of Sturry, deposed:
''I was called to attend Maypole Saturday night. I got there about ten o'clock and saw a body in the front room of the deceased's house. I examined the body and found an extensive fracture of the skull. My first impression was that the fracture had been caused by some heavy instrument. The face was smashed in. The wounds might have been produced stamping the face with a pair of boots like those produced. The cheekbones and upper jaws were smashed in, and the face had been violently stamped on. There were small indents on the face which might have been made by the nails of a pair of boots.
In reply to a question by Mr Plummer: ''I should say it is utterly impossible, for a person to inflict on himself such injuries as had been suffered by the deceased.
In reply to a question from Eldridge: ''I do not know that the great force used would necessarily cause your clothes to be in a worse state than they are at present.''
During the hearing, a letter from Larkin, the blacksmith, to the Police was read, and the Court adjourned until 4 o’clock so that Larkin could appear in person and they could obtain additional evidence.
At Four o'clock the prisoner was again placed at the bar. The magistrates on the bench were Mr. Delmar, Mr. Neame, and Mr. Plummer. The Court was again crowded, and there were some hundreds of people in the street, unable to obtain admission.
Richard Larkin was then called and examined.
When he arrived he produced a Plowshare which he had found near the place where the body had lain, and drew attention to marks on it which Dr Jameson agreed was blood; he also agreed that this share could have caused the original injuries before, as he put it, “the boot went to work”.
He deposed:
''I am a smith, and live at Maypole, in the parish of Hoath. Yesterday afternoon my wife told me there was a Plowshare some distance in the field, and as Mr. Jameson said the murder had been committed by some powerful instrument, it struck me that such an instrument as the point of a Plowshare might have been used. therefore went to get it this morning and there appeared to be stains of blood on it. The plough was about 150 yards from the place where the murder was committed, and the prisoner must have passed it.
Edgar Albert Larkin deposed to seeing the prisoner pass his house on Saturday evening, about nine o'clock.
Mr Jameson, surgeon, then carefully examined the share produced, and expressed his decided opinion that the marks upon it were blood marks. He also added that he believed that the deceased's skull was broken by the share, and then the boot was put to work.
Having been duly cautioned, and asked if he had anything to say in answer to the charge, the prisoner said :
''I can only say what I told the Superintendent. You say I am charged with having wilfully murdered Richard Steed. That is a fearful crime, and one l am not guilty of. I started with Richard Steed from Herne Street. We went along the footpath towards Hoath, about 300 yards, then I changed my direction and took the left road, Steed going over the stile and along the hedge and the footpath, to the right of the one I was on. I kept in my direction till I came out at the forge. I went to the shop for some bread and then went straight home, and did not come out after, except into the yard. When there my neighbour said Steed had met with an accident. I told him where I left Steed. I did not hear of his death till between eight and nine on Sunday morning.
The Chairman: ''It is our duty to commit you for a jury to decide whether you are guilty or not''.
Eldridge replied: ''I do hope that something will be found out to clear me of the charge of murder, or at all events to lighten my crime. I have not seen the deceased since we parted after leaving Herne Street''.
He was then committed by the magistrates for trial at the Summer Assizes at Canterbury.
Eldridge was then removed and conveyed to St. Augustine's Gaol.
On that Monday afternoon the Coroner Mr T. T. Delasaux, opened an inquest at the Admiral Rodney public house in Hoath to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of Richard Steed. The jury, which was said to be a very respectable one, assembled, but all the witnesses were in Canterbury attending the examination before the magistrates, so the proceedings were merely formal. After the jury had been sworn in, they went to view the body, which presented a shocking scene for them. The evidence was called to prove the identity of the deceased, to enable the coroner to give a certificate for burial. The inquest was then adjourned till Friday 9th May
When it was resumed, the witnesses repeated their stories in the same words, and the jury returned a verdict of the wilful murder against Alfred Eldridge.
The final case was heard at Maidstone, on Thursday, July 30th before His Lordship, Baron Channell and a Jury.
Dr Jameson announced that he had now examined the supposed bloodstains with a microscope, which confirmed his earlier opinion. He had also compared the hairs found in the mud on the boots with clippings from the dead man’s hair and beard, and they matched.
Two other medical expert witnesses, Doctor Taylor and Pavey, were then called and explained at length their methods of forensic examination of the trousers, boots and hairs, as well as of fibre samples in the mud, which matched the cotton threads in a red “comforter” or scarf worn by the victim. They concluded that the boots had been washed, which had altered the consistency of the blood, but not thoroughly enough to remove all the blood, or the mud and hair adhering to them.
Dr Pavey said he had been occupied with the trousers alone from June 4 to 20. The crude simple methods then available could distinguish blood from vegetable staining by dripping ammonia on the spots, but would only allow the assumption that it was human rather than animal, and thus the inference that it was Steed’s blood. The identity of the hair and cotton samples was thus crucial to the case against the owner of the boots.
What had been the sensation of the trial, however, was the evidence arising from the rail journey from Canterbury to Maidstone, when the prisoners were being brought up for the Assizes.
Two warders were in a compartment with Eldridge and they reported conversations overheard between him and other prisoners when he appeared to admit to the murder, that he had ''kicked Steed’s brains out'' because of an old grudge, that he had been drunk at the time, it had only taken about a minute, but that he did not know Steed had died until the next day.
In court, Eldridge had pleaded Not Guilty, but had not retained a defence counsel; the Court appointed a Mr. Barrow to defend him.
Mr. Barrow found he had very little to base a defence on, and had to content himself mainly with trying to discredit the expert witnesses and the Police, but without convincing success.
In his closing address, however, he drew attention to the lack of definite motive or intention at the time of the murder, whatever might have happened on the evening in question, and pleaded, that the various uncertainties made it unsafe to condemn the accused on the evidence. As for the alleged remarks in the train, Counsel suggested that the accused was not admitting what he had done, but only telling his fellow prisoners what the Law was saying he had done.
The judge, Baron Channell, began his careful summing up just before 6 pm, going thoroughly into the nature of “circumstantial” rather than “direct” evidence.
He advised the jury to consider first, what evidence there was apart from the scientific witnesses or the alleged admissions. He pointed out, that it was known that Steed had suggested they walk home together, whereas Eldridge claimed, that they had separated very soon after starting and he contrasted Mr Pulley’s evidence of seeing them together, with Eldridge’s demonstration to the Police of his roundabout way home alone.
The Judge was also clearly not impressed with the Defence’s understanding of the train conversations.
The jury retired at 7.30 pm for about 15 minutes and returned with a verdict of “Guilty”
Eldridge had nothing to say, so the Judge put on the black cap and addressed him in stern words about his dreadful deed, advising him to avail himself of the spiritual counsels which would be offered him, for there was no hope of mercy for him this side of the grave. The sentence of death was then passed upon Alfred Eldridge.
A few days later it was announced that Eldridge had confessed to the murder but he said he had received great provocation.
On the way home, Steed had accused him of owing “some halfpence”, and pushed and hustled him about. Eldridge warned him that if he did that again, he would serve him out. Steed pushed him a third time into the road, it was then that Eldridge knocked him down and being excited by his passion and remembering past grievance, he stamped on him and kicked him, but without any intention of ''killing him”.
After that confession, he said he felt happier than he had done since his boyhood.
With another condemned man (Alfred Holden) he listened to the admonitions of the prison chaplain and received Holy Communion.
On the Monday before the execution date, their photographs were taken, to be given to their wives.
Mrs Eldridge was unable to travel to visit him for health reasons, (she had in fact given birth to his daughter, whether he was aware of this remains unknown) but his brother Charles went to see him and accepted the picture for her.
On Thursday, August 20, Eldridge and Alfred Holden, were taken out to the scaffold in front of Maidstone Gaol at noon, before a large crowd, which included members of his family.
Eldridge said, “I don’t know how it is, but I never felt so happy in all my life”. When the nooses were placed around their necks, and the hoods over their heads, the hangman Calcraft shook their hands, withdrew the bolt from the drop and the men were ''launched into eternity”.
The account of the execution adds that the scaffold was surrounded by black cloth so that the spectators lost sight of the bodies as they fell; only the tops of their white caps could be seen.
The bodies hung for the usual time, then they were cut down, and the crowd dispersed”.
Life After
Eldridge Family.
After Alfred Eldridge was imprisoned Sarah Ann had moved to London and gave birth to their daughter Charlotte Ann. in July 1863
In 1871, Son George was with her sister Charlotte in Milton Kent, Charlotte Ann was a boarder with Mr & Mrs Cork in Canterbury. they then all moved to Windsor Berkshire.
In 1881 George age 19 had joined the Militia and was living at "Brigade Depot Barracks No 41" Oxford Rd Tilehurst Berkshire
Sarah Ann died on 12th March 1886 aged 53 and her son George living at Jennings Yard Thames Street Windsor got her personal estate worth £96 17s 3d
Charlotte married in 1886 in Windsor to Robert McCormick from Paisley, Renfrewshire Scotland. She moved to Scotland and they had 4 children 3 boys, and 1 girl She died at age 79 on 7 September 1942 in West Wemyss Fife Scotland
George In April 1891 he was living with a widow with 5 children named Elizabeth Jane (Bessie) Geddes Nee Street. Her husband was a Sergeant who had died from Bronchitis & Syncope in August 1890, her youngest Charles was 1 month old
In 1895, aged 33, George Married and had two children together Alfred born in 1896 and May in 1898. He had become a Forman at a Brewery.
They eventually moved to Buckinghamshire and he died on 17th March 1927 aged 65. His wife gained his estate of £892 17s 4d
Steed Family
The family remained at Maypole and Hannah became a carrier
Son George became a Farmer and Dealer and met Isabella Howard and they lived together as man and wife in Broadoak Sturry Kent and had 2 daughters. He also adopted a cousin Charles Thomas Fordred, in 1863 after his mother had died. He was the son of Thomas Fordred who was hung for the murder of Mary Ann Bridger in 1876 (Blog 39) He died on 6 October 1908 at Chartham Asylum aged 47
George died on 2 May 1902 in Hoath.age 65. His wife Isabella got his assets worth £328 12s 6d
Eldest Daughter Julia and her husband James had 8 children 2 boys and 6 girls and in 1971, they were back living with her mother, with 6 children. Her husband died in July 1875, age 41 and was buried in Hoath Parish Church on 15 July 1875
She remarried in 1880 to John Clackett a farmer from Selling Kent
She died age 61, on 26 November 1900 in Maypole and was buried in the Hoath Parish Church on 1st December. Her husband got her estate worth £233 10s
Son Henry had moved to Herne Bay by 1861, age 20, working as a Waggoner mate, so wasn't living at home when his father was killed. and married on 24 Oct 1868 at Herne, Kent to Sarah Thunder, moving back to Hoath to become a Railway labourer. They had 3 boys and he died on 12th April 1905 in Hoath aged 64 and was buried in Herne Bay
Son William also worked on the railways as a platelayer and then later a foreman.
In 1864, at age 22, he married his cousin Anne Maria Steed. They had 7 children 3 boys & 4 girls and also adopted Wilfred Ethel Hare and lived in Chislet Kent
He died on 30 May 1923 in Reculver Kent aged 81.
He knew the story in great detail, of course, and would take his children on regular walks to the scenes associated with the crime in a ritual fashion, to impress the facts on their minds.
His son Frank, born in 1897, carried on the tradition, and in turn, took his children to see the site of the quarrel and told the legend of his grandfather’s murder in the hollow in the ground, a hollow which obstinately refused to be levelled up.
Daughter Ann Grace, who was 19 when her father was killed, married in Blean Kent in 1864 to James Spratt an Agricultural Labourer and they had 3 children 2 boys, and a girl she died on 29th November 1931 at age 87, at Calcott House Sturry Kent
Daughter Sophia was 15 and living at home when her father was killed. On 10 Oct 1869 at age 22,ishe married William Stannard a labourer, in Hoath Parish church eventually. They had 7 children 3 boys and 4 girls and William eventually became a market Gardener.
She died on 27 Jan 1933 in Monkton, Kent at age 85
Daughter Hannah was 14, living at home, when her father was killed. She died at age 20 in November 1869 and was buried on 14th November at Hoath Parish Church
The youngest son Albert Peter was 11 when his father was killed and helped carry him home, having to give evidence at the inquest and trial. He became a Broom Maker, working with his sister Julia's husband and on 1 Aug 1872 at the age of 20 he married Emily Elizabeth Holbourn at Weslyan Chapel Seasalter. Kent
In 1881, he moved to Folkestone with his wife and was working as an Agricultural engine driver.
In 1891, he moved to Broad Oak in Sturry and became a Beer retailer at the Royal Oak Inn for over 20 years.
He died on 18th June 1939 in Thanet, Kent, at the age of 87 and was buried in Reculver Kent
SOURCES
Canterbury Journal - Saturday 14 December 1861 "Canterbury Police Court" pg 3
Dover Express - Saturday 09 May 1863 ''Brutal murder in the Parish of Herne'' pg 4
Pictures and historical info from Wikipedia https://www.wikipedia.org/
Archive, T.B.N. (no date) History’s colourful stories in black and white, Home | Search the archive | British Newspaper Archive. Available at: https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/
General Register Office (no date) General Register Office - Online Ordering Service - Login. Available at: https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificates
Bring your backstory to lifeTM (no date) Ancestry® | Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History Records. Available at: https://www.ancestry.co.uk/
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