7th Generation
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Born in 1832 in Cuckfield, Sussex.

Occupation: Tailor.

In 1850 when Henry was 18, he married Maria, in Cuckfield, Sussex.

Maria was born in 1838 in Brighton, Sussex.

They had the following children:

B13 George (1851 Cuckfield -)

Frank (1856 Brighton-) Occupation: Tailor

Harry (1862 Brighton -) Occupation: Tailor

Henry is recorded in the 1881 Census living at 12 Market Street, Brighton, aged 69 with wife Maria, 62 and sons Frank, 25 and Harry, 19.

B12 Stephen BRIGDEN

Born on 28 October 1837 in Cuckfield, Sussex.

Stephen is recorded as residing at the Railway Lodge, Horley, Surrey in 1861; and at 41 Devonshire Road, Croydon in 1881 and at 44 Devonshire Road in 1901.

Stephen died sometime after 1901, when he would have been 63.

Occupation: Servant, Railway Porter, and Railway Signalman.

The entry on the 1861 Census indicates that Stephen was born in 1837 in Cuckfield, Sussex. There is only one birth entry around that time for a Brigden in Cuckfield. The entry is recorded as an unnamed male child of Charles Brigden and Sarah Norris. Civil Registration only started on 1 July 1837 and this is entry 56 in the Cuckfield register. It is highly probable that this is the birth registration of Stephen Brigden.

Stephen is not recorded as being with his parents in the 1841 Census - he may have been away from home on the day of the census. He is also not at his parents address in 1851 when he would have been 14. He had probably left home to go into service.

On 29 July 1857 when Stephen was 19, he married Emma CHARLWOOD, in Horley, Surrey.

Emma was the daughter of Henry CHARLWOOD (~1820-~1881) and Susanna (1826-~1880), She was born in 1838 in Horley, Surrey and christened on 21 October 1838 in Horley, Surrey.

Occupation: Servant.

They had the following children:

B14 Henry (1857 Horley-<1918 Croydon)

John (1860 Horley -)

Occupation: Railway Signalman.

In 1881 still living with parents, aged 20.

 

B15 George Thomas (1861 Horley -)

 

William (1862 Horley -)

Occupation: Labourer.

In 1881 still living with parents aged 18.

 

Mary A (1865 Croydon -)

Occupation: District Nurse.

In 1881 Census living with parents at the age of 14.

 

Charles (1870 Croydon -)

In 1881 Census living with parents at the age of 11.

 

Arthur (1877 Croydon -)

In 1881 Census living with parents at the age of 4.

 

Emma (1886 Selhurst -)

Stephen started work for the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway, as a Railway Porter at Horley Station on 14 May 1858, at a wage of ten shillings a week. He was recommended for the post by George Stansall, the station master. He is recorded in the 1861 Census living at Railway Lodge, Horley as a Railway Porter, aged 23 with wife Emma, aged 23 and sons John, 2 and Henry 11 months.

The first station building was erected in 1840, while the present one dates back to 1905. Its introduction removed the need for the two level crossings, which were once a feature of the town. In July 1837, Parliament approved the building of a railway line to run from Norwood to Brighton via Redhill. The London and Brighton Railway constructed it and it took some 600 workmen nearly 3 years to complete. One of the biggest problems to overcome when building the London to Brighton Railway, was the route through the North Downs. When work started on the tunnel, the ground was found to be riddled with disused mine galleries. When completed, the tunnel walls were whitewashed and gas lamps hung to make passengers feel safer in the dark. This didn't last long however, as engine smoke blackened the walls and the draught from the trains blew out the gas lamps!

The records of the railway company show that Stephen was later promoted to the position of Railway Signalman on a wage of 25 shillings a week (equivalent to £63.73 at 2001 rates).

From around 1868 to 1871 he was a Relieving Signalman based a London Bridge Number 1 District.

In 1877 he was working as a signalman at West Croydon station and was still there in 1891.

He is recorded in the 1881 Census living at 41 Devonshire Road, Croydon with wife Emma, 43 and children Henry, 22, John, 20, William, 18, Mary A 14, Charles, 11 and Arthur, 4.  

In 1901 Census the address appears as 44 Devonshire Road (probably a mistake) where he is 64 living with Emma 63 and son William 38.

Born in 1850 in Cuckfield. Mary Ann died at the age of 71 on 17 June 1921 at Church Twitten.

On 18 November 1871 at the age of 21 she married Albert HALL in Cuckfield.

Albert HALL (son of William HALL) was born 1849, Cuckfield. He was a Fly Driver.

They had the following children

Mary Ann is recorded in the 1881 Census living at High Street, Cuckfield aged 31 with her husband Albert, 33, and children Charles 9 Sarah 7 Emily 5 Albert 3, and the twins Alice and Annie 2months. Also at the address are Mary's brother Albert 40 and George 29.

My Family Tree is a 60 minute documentary that I have made with my digital camcorder and edited into a video production.

This documentary is the story of four families. It is the story of my father's parents, Brigden and Chapman, and my mother's parents, Crowhurst and Plowman.

The video can be purchased for £5 plus £2 postage and packaging. To order a copy click here

If you have additional information to add to this family tree or you would like to contact Mike Baron click here