To return to the Pickingill Index Page To go to Home Web Page
2nd Generation
Martha Pickingill ( 1829 – ? )
9. MARTHA PICKINGILL was born in Hockley, Essex and christened October 4, 1829 at the church in Hockley. On the baptism record the name is spelled Martha Pittingale.
The entry from the Hockley parish register:
Baptisms 1829 Page No. 55. No. 438.
When Baptized. – Child’s Christian Name. – Parents Names, Christian & Surname – Abode. – Profession. – By whom the ceremony was performed.
1829 Octr 4th / Martha Daughter of / Charles & Susanna / Pittingale / Hockley / Labourer / G. Swayne Vicar.
Father: Charles Pickingill (No.1)
Mother: Susannah Cudmore (also known as Hannah)
In 1841, Martha Pickingill and her younger sister, Catherine, were living in the Rochford Union Workhouse in Rochford, Essex.
From the 1841 Census of Rochford, we find the following:
Name - Age Sex - Profession - Born in County ?
Rochford Union Workhouse
Martha
Pickingill 10 F
Schoolboy
Yes
Cathrine Pickingill 8 F
Do
Yes
There was a Martha Pickingill convicted of “Larceny Servant” in 1850. She was tried in Maidstone, Kent on July 29, 1850 and was to serve a term of imprisonment of 6 weeks.
In the Criminal Registers for Kent, England, we find the following:
Page 122 County of Kent
Return of all Person Committed, or Bailed to appear for Trial, or Indicted at the Assizes held at Maidstone on the 29th day of July 1850, shewing the nature of their Offenses, and the results of the Proceedings.
No. 37
Names. Martha Pickingill
Offenses…. Larceny Servant
Imprisonment: 6 Weeks
By 1854, Martha Pickingill was living in Canvey Island, Pitsea, Essex. This is where Martha’s sister and brother in law, James and Mary Anne Wells, were living since 1848 or earlier.
Martha Pickengale married EDWARD MILLER on May 29, 1854 at the church in Pitsea, Essex.
From the marriage certificate, we have the following information:
Registration
District: Billericay
1854. Marriage solemnized at Pitsea in the
Parish of Pitsea in the County of Essex
No. 39
When Married. May 29th.
Name
and Surname.
Edward Miller
Martha
Pickengale
Age.
Full age
Condition.
Bachelor
Spinster
Rank or Profession.
Labourer
Residence at the time of Marriage. Pitsea
Pitsea
Father’s Name and Surname.
James Miller
Charles
Pickengale
Rank or Profession of Father.
Labourer
Labourer
Married in the Church according to the Rites and Ceremonies of the Established Church, Established Church by me, ( blank )
This
Marriage was solemnized between us,
Edward Miller
Martha Pickengale X her
mark
In
the Presence of us,
Samuel Pumfleet X his mark
Hannah Pumfleet X her mark
Edward Miller was born ca. 1828 a son of James Miller. He was listed as a Labourer.
Edward Miller died at the age of 26 years on September 24, 1854 at Pitsea Canvey Island, Essex. Edward was a Husbandman and he died from Cholera.
The following is from the death certificate:
Registration District: Billericay
1854 Death in the Sub-district of Wickford in the County of Essex
No. 449
When
and where died
Twenty fourth September 1854 Pitsea Canvey Island
Name and surname
Edward
Miller
Sex
Male
Age
26 Years
Occupation
Husband man
Cause of death
Cholera Certified
Signature, description and residence of informant
X
The Mark of James Wells Present at Death Pitsea Canvey Island
When registered
Twenty fourth September 1854
Signature of registrar
John Simpson Registrar
The informant was James Wells the husband of Martha Miller’s sister Mary.
From a book “Vagaries of Sanitary Science” by Frederick L. Dibble, M.D., page 301, we find the followings:
“In 1854 the epidemic … Cholera …. caused a little over 20,000…deaths”
“….parts of Essex and Cambridge suffered in 1854….”
Martha Miller was already with William Smith in 1856. She was listed as “Martha Smith” when she was present at the marriage of her brother, George Pickingill and Sarah Ann Bateman on May 19, 1856 at Saint George, Gravesend, Kent, England.
By 1859, Martha Miller and William Smith were living in Rochford, Essex.
Martha Miller then married WILLIAM SMITH on September 17, 1859 at the church in Rochford, Essex.
From the marriage certificate, we have the following information:
Registration District: Rochford
1859. Marriage solemnized at the Church in the Parish of Rochford in the County of Essex
No. 182
When Married. Sepr 17th
Name
and Surname.
William Smith
Martha
Miller
Age.
Both of full age
Condition.
Bachelor
Widow
Rank or Profession.
Labourer
Residence at the time of Marriage. Rochford
Rochford
Father’s Name and Surname.
William Smith
Charles
Pikingill
Rank or Profession of Father.
Labourer
Labourer
Married in the Parish Church according to the Rites and Ceremonies of the Established Church, & after Banns by me, J Williams
This
Marriage was solemnized between us,
William Smith his mark X
Martha Miller
In
the Presence of us,
George Cocks his mark X Cathrine Cocks her mark X
The witnesses, George and Catherine Cocks were the sister and brother in law of Martha.
William Smith was born ca. 1837 - 1843 in Rochford, Essex and was a son of William Smith. William’s age varies widely in the different censuses. From being one year older than his wife to being 13 years younger than his wife. But one thing is for sure, he was several years younger than his wife.
In 1861, William and Martha Smith were living in Great Stambridge, Essex. William Smith was a Farm Labourer.
From the 1861 Census of Great Stambridge, we have the following:
Name - Relationship to Head - Married or Single - Age - Sex – Occupation - Birthplace
William
Smith Head mar
23 M Farm
Labourer Essex Rochford
Martha Do Wife mar
26 F
Do Hockley
In 1871, William and Martha Smith were living at 13 Elder Walk in South Shoebury, Essex. William Smith was an Agricultural Laborer.
From the 1871 Census of South Shoebury, we find the following:
Name - Relationship to Head - Married or Single - Age - Sex – Occupation - Birthplace
13 Elder Walk
William
Smith Head [blank] 34
M Ag. Lab.
Essex Rochford
Martha D Wife [blank] 33 F
Do Hockly
at 22 Elder Walk is the home of George and Catherine Cocks. Catherine Cocks is Martha Smith’s sister.
In 1873, William and Martha Smith immigrated from England to Canada. They settled in Fitzroy, Ontario Province, Canada.
The following year, 1874, George and Catherine Cocks and their children also immigrated from England to Canada. They also settled in Fitzroy.
In 1881, William and Martha Smith were living in Fitzroy, Carlton County, Ontario Province, Canada. William Smith was a Brick maker. They were living next door to George and Catherine Cocks.
From the 1881 Census of Fitzroy, we have the following:
Name - Marital Status - Gender - Ethnic Origin - Age - Birthplace - Occupation - Religion
William
Smith M Male English 38 England
Brick Maker Church of
England
Martha Smith M Female English
40 England
Church of England
In 1891, William and Martha Smith were living in Fitzroy, Ontario Province, Canada. William Smith was a Brick Maker. They were living next door to William Cocks and his family. William was a son of George and Catherine Cocks.
William and Martha Smith had adopted a son, Richard Bambridge.
From the 1891 Census of Fitzroy, we have the following:
Name - Sex - Age - Marital Status - Relationship to Head - Birthplace - Birthplace of Father - Birthplace of Mother - Religion - Occupation - Number of Employees - Can Read - Can Write
W 1 1/2/4 22 Enumerated on the 8th day of April 1891.
Smith William
M
50 M
-
England England England C E Brick
Maker 4
- -
“
Martha
F 60 M W
“
“
“ “ “
/ /
Bambridge Richard M 18
- adopted son “
“
“ “ “
/ / M.R.
From the above, William Smith is the only one that can’t read or write.
In 1901, William H. and Martha Smith were living in Fitzroy, Lanark North, Ontario Province, Canada. William Smith was a Brick maker. Living next door was their adopted son Richard Bainbridge.
Name - Sex - Race - Relationship to Head - Marital Status - Birthdate - Age - Birthplace - Year of Immigration - Race - Nationality - Religion - Occupation
Enumerated on April 17th, 1901
36/36
Smith
William H M
W Head M 12
May 1843 58
England 1873 English Canadian
Ch England Brickmaker
“
Martha F W
Wife M 8 Dec 1830 71
“
1873 “
“
“
Additional information for William H Smith - Living on own means - Employer - Working on own account - Can read - Can write
Additional information for Martha Smith - Can read - Can write
Name - Sex - Race - Relationship to Head - Marital Status - Birthdate - Age - Birthplace - Year of Immigration - Race - Nationality - Religion - Occupation
37/37
Bainbridge Richard M W Head S 26 M 1873 28 England 1882 English Canadian Ch England Brickmaker
Additional information for Richard Bainbridge - Employed - Can read - Can write
There was a Martha Smith that was buried in Canewdon, Essex. It could be her. That would mean she came back home from Canada.
But more investigating is needed to verify if this is the same Martha Smith.
The following is the burial entry from the Canewdon parish register:
Burials 1906 - Page 58 No. 460
Name. – Abode. – When Buried. – Age. – By whom the ceremony was performed.
Martha Smith / Canewdon / Jan 4 1906 / 76 yrs / C.R.W. Hardy Vicar
According to the register, she was 76 years old.
I asked Douglas Cox who is a descendant of the Cox family in Powassan, Ontario if there were any stories that was passed down the family from England and from the email from Doug dated May 16, 2009 Saturday 3:21 AM, we have the following:
“the only story's about the family that have been passed down that my dad and grand dad recalled were how we were Brick Makers for several years even in Powassan for a time, and that ''the Cox's were deported from England for multiple horse theft ''well whether that story is true or not I’m not sure, I will one day pass it on to my kids as well!”
This would apply to the Smith family too since William and Martha Smith went to Fitzroy, Ontario, Canada in 1873 and then George and Catherine Cocks went to Fitzroy in 1874. Both families were Brick Makers too.
From
a website constructed by Scott Bisseker for Bill Liddell, 2006, www.pickingill.com
Old George Pickingill and the History of Modern Witchcraft, we have the following:
"George Pickingill was an itinerant horse dealer who accompanied his Rom kinsmen to Horse Fairs. He was renowned as a Gypsy sorcerer and met a number of his nine female leaders when travelling with the Rom. The Gypsies have always known the favoured haunts of the traditional witches. They had no trouble locating Pickingill covens.
One wonders if George Pickingill got a supply of horses to sell at the Horse Fairs from George Cocks and William Smith. George Pickingill was their brother-in-law.
Research notes:
In light of the information from the Cox family in Powassan, Canada stating that they left England because of multiple horse theft, I did some checking of the England & Wales, Criminal Registers, 1791-1892, on Ancestry.com
This set of records does not contain all the crimes that were committed in Essex, there were obviously other different paths were people indicted were treated, so I would say this is only a partial record of what is available to check (but the only set of records at this time available online).
I didn’t find any relevant listings for George Cocks/Cock/Cox in this set of records.
But concerning William Smith there were two entries that are of interest:
1. 1868
Original Page No. 199
Liberty of Havering Atte Bower in Essex
Return of all Persons Committed, or Bailed to appear for Trail, or Indicted at any Session of the Peace, held during the Year 1868, within the Jurisdiction of the Liberty of Havering Atte Bower shewing the nature of their Offense, and the result of the Proceedings.
No.
5 James Day Sheepstealing Felony
3 April 1868
No. 6 William Smith Ditto
Do
same Session
No. 7 Edward Baker Ditto
Do
same Session
No. 8 Charles Baker Ditto
Do
same Session
James Day and William Smith - five years Penal Servitude
Edward Baker - Imprisonment - two years hard labor
Charles Baker - acquitted
2. 1872
Original Page No. 165
County of Essex
Return of all Persons Committed, or Bail to appear for Trail, or Indicted at the General Quarter Session held at Chelmsford on the 31st. day of December 1872, shewing the nature of their Offenses, and the result of the Proceedings.
No. 5 William Gates Horsestealing Imprisonment - 12 months
No. 6 William Smith Horsestealing after former conviction for felony
Penal Servitude - 7 years
I read that most of these type of sentencing are usually the prisoner is sent to farms to work (probably at no pay?). Which provides means for escaping. If this was our William Smith then it looks as he escaped his place of forced-work, met up with his wife and then went to Canada so he doesn’t have to spent 7 years working at farms in Essex (with no pay?).
Also I do notice that in the 1861 census, George Cocks’ father, William Cocks, was a shepherd and you do see that this William Smith was convicted of sheep stealing in 1868.
BUT OF COURSE - we need to prove that this is the same William Smith because of the common name of Smith. So further criminal records need to be checked, perhaps the Quarter Sessions?
CHILDREN OF WILLIAM AND MARTHA (PICKINGILL) SMITH:
24. RICHARD BAINBRIDGE was adopted by William and Martha Smith in the period between 1881 and 1891. Richard was born in 1873 in England. He was a son of a Thomas Bainbridge/Brambridge.
Richard Brambridge married BERTHA JANE LEAKE on December 24, 1901.
From a webpage concerning Lanark County in 1901, the following marriage entry is found:
010387-01 Richard BRAMBRIDGE, 28, brick maker, England, Fitzroy, s/o Thomas BRAMBRIDGE and not given, married Bertha Jane DUNN, 30, widow, Co. Renfrew, Almonte, d/o George LEAKE and Elizabeth not given, witn: William SMITH of Fitzroy and Mary LEAKE of Almonte, 24 Dec 1901 at Pakenham
Bertha was a widow, she was married to a Mr. Dunn . She was born ca. 1871 a daughter of George and Elizabeth Leake.
William Smith was one of the witnesses.
Sources:
1. Parish registers for Hockley, Essex, England. FHL British Film 1593600 Items 14 - 31. Christenings: 1829 Martha Pittingale. Searched and Extracted March 18, 2008 Tuesday.
2. 1841 Census of England, Essex, Rochford, District Rochford Union Workhouse, Image No. 3, Ancestry.com. Public Record Office reference: HO 107 / 337 / 17, Page No. 6, Stamped No. 51, Martha and Cathrine Pickingill in the Workhouse. March 2, 2008 Sunday 3:54 PM.
3. Court, Land & Probate, England & Wales, Criminal Registers, 1791-1892, England, Kent, 1850, Image No. 31, Ancestry.com. Original Page No. 122, Martha Pickingill. August 14, 2009 Friday 7:34 PM.
4. 1854 Marriage Certificate of Edward Miller and Martha Pickengale. From the General Register Office, Southport, Merseyside, England. Received September 25, 2009 Friday about 11 AM.
5. 1854 Death Certificate of Edward Miller. From the General Register Office, Southport, Merseyside, England. Received November 6, 2009 Friday 10:30 AM.
6. About the 1854 Cholera epidemic in Essex. Page 301, Vagaries of Sanitary Science, by Frederick L. Dibble, M.D. Published in 1893, J. B. Lippincott Company, Philadelphia. Google Books online. November 8, 2009 Sunday 6:10 PM.
7. 1856 Marriage Certificate of George Pickingill and Sarah Ann Bateman. Martha Smith was one of the witnesses. From the General Register Office, Southport, Merseyside, England. Ordered March 13, 2008 8:45 PM.
8. 1859 Marriage Certificate of Martha Miller and William Smith. From the General Register Office, Southport, Merseyside, England. Received November 7, 2009 Saturday 10:50 AM.
9. 1861 Census of England, Essex, Great Stambridge, District 5, Image No. 5, Ancestry.com. Public Record Office reference: R.G. 9 1085, Original Page No. 5, Stamped Page No. 72, No. of Schedule 30, Household of William Smith. December 11, 2008 Thursday 6:36 PM.
10. 1871 Census of England, Essex, South Shoebury, District 5, Image No. 31, Ancestry.com. Public Record Office reference: R.G. 10 1670, Original Page No. 31, Stamped Page No. 71, No. of Schedule 168, Household of William Smith. December 11, 2008 Thursday 6:47 PM.
11. 1881 Census of Canada, Ontario, Carleton, Fitzroy. From online Familysearch.org database. Original source: FML Film 1375867, NA Film No. C-13231, District 108, Sub-District I, Division 1, Page No. 39, Household Number 159. Household of William Smith. April 8, 2009 Wednesday 3:05 PM.
12. 1891 Census of Canada, Ontario, Lanark North, Fitzroy, Image No. 18, Ancestry.com. Original Page No. 6, Lines 15-17, Household of William Smith. April 15, 2009 Wednesday 3:08 PM.
13. 1901 Census of Canada, Ontario, Lanark (North/Nord), Fitzroy, Image No. 17, Ancestry.com. Original Page No. 4, Lines 29-30, Household of William H Smith, also Line 31, Household of Richard Bainbridge. April 16, 2009 Thursday 2:58 PM.
14. 1901 Marriage of Richard Brambridge and Bertha Jane Dunn. From a webpage about Lanark Co. in 1901. http://homepages.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~maryc/lanark01.htm. April 16, 2009 Thursday 7:59 PM.
15. Parish Registers of Canewdon, Essex, England. Burials: Page 58 No. 460, 1906 Martha Smith. Searched and extracted December 16, 2008 Tuesday.
16. Email from Douglas Cox. About the Cox family being Brickmakers and about
Horse thefts. Email dated May 16, 2009
Saturday 3:21 AM.
17. England & Wales, Criminal Registers, 1791-1892, England, Essex, Ancestry.com. 1868, Image No. 12, Original page no. 199 - William Smith; 1872, Image No. 23 Original page no. 165 - William Smith. September 6, 2009 Sunday 2:38 PM
18. 1861 census of England, Essex, Great Wakering, District 3, Image No. 1, Ancestry.com. Public Record Office reference R.G. 9 1086, Original Page No. 1, Stamped Page No. 67, No. of Schedule 2, Household of William Cock. January 17, 2010 Sunday 6:32 PM.
Last updated February 19, 2010 Friday 3:28 PM
Researched and Compiled by William Wallworth
Deadfamilies.com
Email: Root-Quest@deadfamilies.com
Website: Deadfamilies.com
Postal Address:
31 Centuries
PO Box 24768 San Jose, CA 95154-4768 USA
© 2005 - 2010 Deadfamilies.com All rights reserved