St. Mary's Parish Church, Lambeth c. 1865.

The Parish of St. Mary, Rotherhithe, comprised the Surrey Commercial Docks, with dry docks, wharfes and warehouses, together with chemical metal processing and other works on the Southern bank of the river Thames. The terraced housing was set in narrow streets with small shops, and the sight of tall masts could be seen above the high dock walls. The Surrey Docks were for years the centre of London's timber trade. In the early eighteenth-century Randall and Brent's was Rotherhithe's largest shipbuilding yard, second only to the Blackwall yard East of the Isle of Dogs. Their headquarters was at the Nelson Dock House, the only eighteenth-century house still standing in Rotherhithe Street. The introduction of iron hulls saw the decline of the London yards, which by 1838 had begun to be used for breaking ships as well as building them. Other industries dependent on shipping grew up around the yards. Ships chandlers, mast and oar, pump and block makers. Ropes and sails were made in Limehouse, Shadwell and Bermondsey, where the fibres were laid out and twisted together in the long covered 'walks'. Southwark was an important centre for glass making, using sand shipped in from Norfolk and the Isle of Wight. Weaving had been established from the earliest times, with the wool coming by sea from East Anglia. Southwark was also the source of London Gin, which was distilled there and other riverside locations. In Bermondsey beer barrels came from the cooperages close to the riverside breweries, also casks for wine, herrings, tobacco and salt. Of the riverside industries leather tanning was the most noxious. Ample supplies of water were needed for leather processing, so it was essential to be near the river, as well as being convenient for shipping hides and whole carcasses from all over the world. Animal skins and furs were also used in the manufacture of hats, another industry that settled there. Vinegar was also a long-established product with a factory being established near the tanneries. The London to Grenwich railway line from London Bridge station was built in 1833-1836, with the extension towards Charing Cross being opened in 1864.

Children of William and Sarah Henry

William Henry 1829-

William was born June 19, 1829 in Marigold Street, Bermondsey, Surrey, and Baptised July 12, 1829 at the Parish Church of St. Mary's, Rotherhithe. He married Sarah Ann Moore June 4, 1849 at the Parish Church of St. Mary's, Newington, Surrey. He was 21 years old and working as a boat builder. Sarah was 22 years old, the daughter of John Moore, a boat builder. At the time of the marriage their address is given as Clarence Street, Rotherhithe. Witnesses were James (?) and Ann Pritchard Hills. They had (up to 1855) 2 children. Elizabeth Sarah was born March 11, 1850 at 45, Adam Street, Rotherhithe. In March 1851 (Census) they were living at 39, Adam Street, Rotherhithe. Sarah Ann was born May 18,1856 at 3, Dean Street, Shadwell and died September 4, 1862 at 26, Northey Street, Stepney, Limehouse age 7. Cause of death was Scarlatina Maligna (Scarlet Fever). Her mother was present at the death. Elizabeth Sarah married George William Lougford September 6, 1868 at the Parish Church of St. Mary's Lambeth. She was 18 years old and George 'of full age', the son of John William Lougford, a lighthouseman. George was working as a labourer. Elizabeth's father, William was deceased. (No details of death yet known). At the time of the marriage their address is given as Pratt Street. Witnesses were Robert L. Moore and Matilda Moore. No known history of the family after that.

Alfred Henry 1833 - 1917

Alfred was born February 10, 1833 in Russell Street, in the Parish of St. Mary, Rotherhithe, Surrey, and Baptised April 7, 1833 at the Parish Church of St. Mary, Rotherhithe. Russell Street was close to No.1 Commercial Dock and the bonding yards on the river Thames in the area of the Limehouse Reach. These bonded warehouses contained goods that were the subject of custom duties. He married Emma Hearn November 9, 1852, in the Parish Church of St. Mary's,Church Street, Lambeth, Surrey. He was 19 years old and working as a mast maker. Emma was 18 and was born in Bermondsey, the daughter of Charles Hearn whose occupation was a cooper. There is no record of a Baptism for Emma. The Registers of the Parish Churches within the District of Bermondsey have been searched for the period 1833-1835. They comprise; St. Mary Magdalen, St. John Horselydown, St. George the Martyr, St. Mary, Newington, St. George in the East, St. Botolph without Algate, St. Olaves, St. Thomas, St. John of Wapping and St. Saviour. At the time of the marriage their address is given as Pratt Street, Lambeth, which was close to the Parish Church and Lambeth Palace, and the proposed site of Lambeth Bridge which was opened in November, 1861. The London and SW Eastern Railway into Waterloo station ran close by. Witnesses were (?) Powell and Elizabeth Powell. They had 10 children. In 1854 they were living at 77, Great Guildford Street, Southwark, Surrey in the Parish of St. Saviour, where Charlotte Sarah was born January 27, 1854. She died October 26, 1855 age 21 months at 118, Great Guildford Street, cause of death was Pertussis (Whooping Cough) and Convulsions. Her mother was present at the death. Emma Eugenie was born here February 24, 1856. Alfred William was born May 13, 1858 at 2, Queen Street, in the Parish of St. Olave's, Southwark. By 1860 they had moved across river and were living at 3, Ingleheim Terrace, Poplar, Middlesex, where Frederick Henry was born June 25, 1860. In April 1861 (Census) the family were living at 7, Anns Terrace, Stepney, in the Parish of St. Ann's, Limehouse, Middlesex on the north bank of the Thames, close to the Limehouse Cut, with the Regents Canal and the London and Blackwall railway line nearby. Charlotte was born at 2, Ann's Terrace, August 12, 1862 as was Alice, October 3, 1864. Alfred William had died there February 3, 1863 age 4 years. Cause of death was Scarlatina Hydross (Scarlet Fever). Arthur Wellesley was born at 20, Walker Street, Stepney November 3, 1866. In April 1871 (Census) they had moved to 1, Frederick Street, Stepney West Side, where Edwin Percy was born December 9, 1870 and Maud Constance April 15, 1873. Frederick Henry died January 17, 1877 at 22, St. Thomas' Road, Mild End Old Town age 17. Cause of death was Phthisis (Consumption). He had been working as a mast maker's apprentice. Beatrice Sophia was born February 26, 1879 at 21, Henry Street, Stepney. In April 1881 (Census) they were living at 35, Endive Street, Stepney. Alfred was working as a mast and block maker. Charlotte was 18 and Arthur, who had a job in an 'oil shop', was 14. Edwin and Maud were both at school, the nearest being St. Ann's School for Boys, Girls and Infants in Dixon Street off Locksley Street, close to the Vulcan Iron Works and the Standard Saw Mills factory. Beatrice was 2 years old. Alice does not appear at this address. In April 1891 (Census) the family were living in two rooms at 15, Burgess Street, Stepney in the Parish of St, Pauls. Alice was working as a dresmaker and Maud as a tailoress. Beatrice was still at school. Emma died June 4, 1900 age 67 at 20, Burgess Street, Stepney. Cause of death was Bronchitis, Valvular Disease and Exhaustion. Her daughter, Maud was present at the death. In March 1901 (Census) Alfred, with his daughters Alice and Maud, were still living at 20, Burgess Street, together with Frederick Henry, the 8 year old illegitimate son of Charlotte. Beatrice was living at 35, Lexham Gardens, Kensington, where she was working as a house/kitchen maid in the household of Linsesay Farrington a retired Army General. Also working there as a housemaid was an Edith Dowsett age 24. She was the daughter of William and Louisa Dowsett and born in Boreham, Essex. It is not known if these Dowsett's are related. Alfred died May 14, 1917 age 84 at 80, Clemence Street, Stepney. Cause of death was Senile Decay and Bronchitis. His married daughter, Alice Kennard was present. Alfred and Emma were married for 48 years.