Descendants of William Kirby

First Generation

1. William Kirby died in 1766.

General Notes: It has not yet been possible to trace William's forebears (2005). However, it seems likely that despite leaving some property in Warwickshire, William's roots where in Northamptonshire, moreover, the fact that he and Ann were married at Blakesley seems to indicate that Ann, and perhaps he himself, were brought up in that village.

The Kirby family seems to have had some connections with the village of Wootton in Northamptonshire and transcripts of the parish register for that parish do show that there were two William Kerbys buried there between 1707 & 1771 (the parish records prior to 1707 were destroyed at sometime) — W^m Kerby senior on January 29 1735/36 & W^m son of W^m Kerby on July 5, 1739. It may be that William of Blakesley was connected with these Kirbys but there are other Kirby families to be found in Northamptonshire so any connection is a matter of conjecture.

Be that as it may, William settled in Blakesley and acquired a small amount of property in the parish, possibly through his marriage to Ann, which he left to his sons in a Will that, to the benefit of later generations, not only named all his surviving offspring (see the Will) but also started a family habit of making Wills that persisted through later generations even when the estate in question was very small.

Whether or not William was the first of the Kirbys to be a Yeoman¹ is not known but nearly all of his descendants that prospered did so by having some land or property of their own as well as by farming as tenants; in William's case, he seems to have made a reasonable living without being a tenant farmer.

NOTE
¹ Someone who was a small freeholder.¹

Some things about his life were:

• Will signed: 29 Oct 1763, Blakesley, Northants. ² This is what William's Will said:

IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN I William Kirby of Blakesley in the County of Northampton Yeoman being of perfect mind and memory and calling to Mind and duly considering the uncertainty of human Life, Do make this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following. First, and Principally, I commit my soul unto the Hands of my Blessed Maker trusting in his Mercies, and in the mercy of my dear Redeemer for the redemption of all my Sins. My Body I commit to the Earth to be decently interred at the Discretion of my Executrix hereinafter named. As to my Temporal Estate, I bequeath and dispose of it in the following manner.............
First, I give and bequeath unto a my loving Wife, Ann Kirby, all and every my Lands, Tenements, and Hereditaments, situate and lying in the Parish of Napton on the Hill in the County of Warwick for and during her Natural Life and after her decease to devolve to my Son, Edmund Kirby, his heirs and assigns for ever. Likewise I give and bequeath unto my said loving Wife two Messuages or Tenements situate in the Parish of Blakesley in the County of Northampton, Now in the occupation of William Banks and Joseph Barnes, with the orchard and all the other appurtenances thereto belonging, together with three Closes in the new Inclosure of Blakesley aforesaid known by the names of the Upper Close, the middle and the meadow Close for and during the Term of her Natural Life, provided nevertheless that my said Wife to pay to each of my four sons, Viz. Jeremiah Kirby, James Kirby, Martin Kirby, and Francis Kirby, the sum of Fifty Pounds of lawful Money of Great Britain when they arrive to the age of twenty three years. And after the Decease of my said Wife, my Will is that the said Lands and Tenements in the Parish of Blakesley aforesaid, shall be equally divided between my five sons, Viz. William Kirby, Jeremiah Kirby, James Kirby, Martin Kirby and Francis Kirby, and the survivors of them.

Lastly, I give and bequeath to my said loving Wife, all the Rest, Residue, and Remainder of my Money in the House at my decease, all my Rents and Debts due to me, with all my Goods, Chattels and Estate whatsoever to her Use and Behoof. And I do hereby nominate and appoint my said loving Wife whole and sole Executrix of this my last Will and Testament, requiring her to pay all my just Debts and Legacies before mentioned.
In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my Hand and Seal the twenty ninth Day of October in the Year of our Lord,1763.

Signed, sealed, published
and declared by the said William
Kirby to be his last Will, and
Testament, in the presence of us. W^m Kirby
Thomas Boreman
Mary Cowper
her mark
The mark of
Ann Webb

• Probate Granted: 28 Jun 1766, Archdeaconry of Northampton. ³ On the 28th June 1766 Ann Kirby the Sole Executrix named in the above and within Will was then at the petition of Smith her Proctor sworn well & faithfully to perform the same - before me - John Watkin, Surrogate.

William married Anne Griffen on 5 Oct 1729 in St Mary's Church, Blakesley, Northants.⁴ Anne was buried on 16 Jun 1782 in St Mary's Church, Blakesley, Northants.^⁵

Children from this marriage were:

+ 2 M i. Edmund Kirby was born in 1730, was baptised on 16 Aug 1730 in St Mary's Church, Blakesley, Northants,^⁶ died in 1808 at age 78, and was buried on 6 Jul 1808 in St Mary's Church, Blakesley, Northants.^⁷

+ 3 M ii. William Kirby ¹⁰ was baptised on 21 Jan 1732/33 in St Mary's Church, Blakesley, Northants,^¹¹ died on 28 Feb 1815 ^¹² at age 82, and was buried on 5 Mar 1815 in St Mary's Churchyard, Lillingstone Lovell, Bucks.^¹³

4 M iii. Jeremiah Kirby ¹⁰ was baptised on 23 Feb 1734/35 in St Mary's Church, Blakesley, Northants ^¹⁵ and was buried on 7 Oct 1741 in St Mary's Church, Blakesley, Northants.^¹⁶

5 M iv. Jeremiah Kirby ¹⁰ was baptised on 22 Jun 1742 in St Mary's Church, Blakesley, Northants ^¹⁷ and was buried on 21 Oct 1773 in St Mary's Church, Blakesley, Northants.

6 M v. Martin Kirby ¹⁰ was baptised on 4 Apr 1744 in St Mary's Church, Blakesley, Northants ^¹⁸ and was buried on 22 Apr 1744 in St Mary's Church, Blakesley, Northants.^¹⁰

7 F vi. Sarah Kirby ¹⁰ was baptised on 16 Feb 1744/45 in St Mary's Church, Blakesley, Northants ^¹⁰ and was buried on 21 Feb 1744/45 in St Mary's Church, Blakesley, Northants.^¹⁰

+ 8 M vii. James Kirby ¹⁰ was baptised on 5 Apr 1746 in St Mary's Church, Blakesley, Northants ^¹⁰ and was buried on 15 Nov 1826 in Greens Norton, Northants.^¹⁹

+ 9 M viii. Martin Kirby ¹⁰ was baptised on 26 Mar 1748 in St Mary's Church, Blakesley, Northants,^¹⁰ died in Apr 1810 ^²¹ at age 62, and was buried on 26 Apr 1810 in St Mary's Church, Blakesley, Northants.^²²

10 M ix. Francis Kirby ¹⁰ was baptised on 18 May 1750 in St Mary's Church, Blakesley, Northants ^¹⁰ and was buried on 26 Jan 1774 in St Mary's Church, Blakesley, Northants.^²³

Francis married Jane Shepheard ¹⁰ on 23 Feb 1773 in St Mary's Church, Blakesley, Northants.²⁴

Second Generation

2. Edmund Kirby was born in 1730, was baptised on 16 Aug 1730 in St Mary's Church, Blakesley, Northants,^⁶ died in 1808 at age 78, and was buried on 6 Jul 1808 in St Mary's Church, Blakesley, Northants.^⁷

General Notes: Like his father, Edmund seems to have only farmed his own land in and around the parish of Blakesley and this and no doubt the rents that he received from other property made up his income. He also benefited from his first marriage as Mary Malsbury was the heiress of her father's Will by which Edmund probably acquired, amongst other things, the bakery in Blakesley that he eventually left to his second wife. As a consequence, he was able to leave his surviving wife, Mary, reasonably comfortably off when he died and was also able to pay some significant legacies to his children.

Interestingly enough, his is the only Kirby Will that specifically mentions the matter of a family pew in the local church, whether or not this an indication of his standing in the parish is unclear.

Some things about his life were:

• Will signed: 14 Jan 1804, Northamptonshire. ²⁵ Edmund left a detailed Will covering six sheets. In summary, he left pecuniary legacies to his wife Mary and to the children of his first marriage, including his grandchildren; these amounted to £1770. He left his house and its various buildings, including the contents, to his wife Mary with the house & buildings to go to his eldest son by her, Henry, on her death. He also left Mary an interest in several pieces of land in and around Blakesley some with houses & other buildings on them that were let at that time — this land amounted to about 61 acres — and, just as important, his pew in St Mary's Church, Blakesley, which was number 8. Mary's two sons, Henry and William, were to inherit these properties on their reaching the age of 21 years, at which time Mary was to receive an annuity of £30 from Henry's land & £10 from William's. As will be seen, Henry got what amounted to about threequarters of his father's real estate but William did get some compensation as he was to receive £250 on the death of his mother and the Kirby pew.

At first Edmund appointed his wife, his son John who was a solicitor, his brother Martin, and his friends, Henry Spencer & Bennet Stokes as joint executors of his Will. However, sometime before July 1808 Bennet Stokes must have died because on the 1st of that month Edmund executed a codicil adding his son Thomas and another friend William Edwards to the list of executors. He took the opportunity in this codicil to note that he already given his daughter Sophia Dunkley £100 so only £250 remained due to her under his Will.

In the event, so many executors were not really needed as Mary survived many years after Edmund's death see her two children reach their majorities.

Much later, in December 1836, after all the nominated executors had died, Edmund's two grandsons Edmund & Malsbury, sons of Thomas, were granted limited administration in connection with a property in Rugby that Edmund (senior) had acquired.

• Probate Granted: 29 Nov 1808, Northampton, Northampton. ²⁶ Effects: under £2000

Edmund married Mary Malsbury,¹⁰ ^,27 daughter of Richard Malsbury and Mary ———, on 28 Dec 1757 in St Mary's Church, Blakesley, Northants.⁸ Mary was born in 1737, was baptised on 19 Jun 1737 in Maidford Church, Maidford, Northants,^²⁸ died in 1796 ^²¹ at age 59, and was buried on 8 Nov 1796 in St Mary's Church, Blakesley, Northants.^²⁹

General Notes: When Mary's father Richard, who was a baker in Blakesley, made his last Will Mary was probably about 16 or 17 years of age and she was the sole beneficiary of it and also his Executrix. This leads one to think that Mary was the sole surviving child of his marriage. ³⁰

Children from this marriage were:

11 M i. James Kirby ¹⁰ was baptised on 24 Nov 1757 in St Mary's Church, Blakesley, Northants,^³¹ died on 20 Mar 1758,^¹⁰ and was buried on 26 Mar 1758 in St Mary's Church, Blakesley, Northants.^¹⁰

+ 12 M ii. Thomas Kirby ²⁷ ^,32 was baptised on 4 Jun 1759 in St Mary's Church, Blakesley, Northants,^¹⁰ died on 14 Apr 1834 in Moor End, Yardley Gobion, Northants ^³² at age 74, and was buried on 21 Apr 1834 in St Nicholas's Church, Potterspury, Northants.^{³³^,34^,35}

+ 13 M iii. John Malsbury Kirby ²⁷ ^,37 was born in 1762, was baptised on 7 Feb 1762 in St Mary's Church, Blakesley, Northants,^¹⁰ died on 21 Jun 1824 in The Golden Lion, St John Street, London ^{³⁷^,38} at age 62, and was buried on 30 Jun 1824 in St Lawrence's Church, Towcester, Northants.^{³⁹^,40}

+ 14 M iv. Edmund Kirby ¹⁰ ^,27 was baptised on 8 Feb 1764 in St Mary's Church, Blakesley, Northants,^¹⁰ died in Aug 1803 in Rugby, Warwickshire at age 39, and was buried on 26 Aug 1803 in St. Andrews, Rugby, Warwickshire.^⁴³

+ 15 F v. Mary Kirby ¹⁰ ^,27 was baptised on 21 Sep 1767 in St Mary's Church, Blakesley, Northants ^¹⁰ and died in 1847 in Rugby, Warwickshire at age 80.

16 M vi. Richard Kirby ¹⁰ was baptised on 25 Sep 1768 in St Mary's Church, Blakesley, Northants ^¹⁰ and was buried on 1 May 1770 in St Mary's Church, Blakesley, Northants.^¹⁰

+ 17 M vii. Richard Malsbury Kirby ¹⁰ ^,27 was baptised on 23 Sep 1770 in St Mary's Church, Blakesley, Northants,^¹⁰ died in Whittlebury, Northants,^⁴⁵ and was buried on 14 Sep 1840 in Whittlebury Churchyard, Northants.^⁴⁶

18 M viii. William Kirby ¹⁰ was baptised on 31 Jan 1773 in St Mary's Church, Blakesley, Northants ^¹⁰ and was buried on 25 Jun 1773 in St Mary's Church, Blakesley, Northants.^⁴⁷

+ 19 F ix. Sophia Kirby ¹⁰ ^,27 was born <1774>, was baptised on 1 Apr 1775 in St Mary's Church, Blakesley, Northants,^¹⁰ and died in 1861 in Northampton, Northampton ^⁴⁸ at age 87.

+ 20 F x. Charlotte Kirby ¹⁰ was baptised on 21 Sep 1777 in St Mary's Church, Blakesley, Northants ^¹⁰ and died on 31 Dec 1872 in Towcester, Northants at age 95.

Edmund next married Mary Ansell on 15 Jan 1798 in St. Philip's Cathedral, Birmingham.⁹ Mary died in 1824 in Blakesley, Northants.

Some things about her life were:

• Grant of Administration: 30 Nov 1824, Northampton, Northampton. ⁵¹ Effects: under £300

Mary died intestate and her two sons Henry and William, together with another yeoman of Blakesley, Thomas Hyman, applied for administration of her effects.

Children from this marriage were:

+ 21 M i. Henry Kirby was born <Dec 1798> and died on 29 Dec 1871 in Glapthorn, Northampton ^⁵² at age 73.

+ 22 M ii. William Kirby was born <1800>, was baptised on 13 Apr 1800 in St Mary's Church, Blakesley, Northants, and died in 1868 in Victoria, Australia ^⁵³ at age 68.

3. William Kirby ¹⁰ was baptised on 21 Jan 1732/33 in St Mary's Church, Blakesley, Northants,^⁵⁵ died on 28 Feb 1815 ^¹² at age 82, and was buried on 5 Mar 1815 in St Mary's Churchyard, Lillingstone Lovell, Bucks.^¹³

General Notes: William must have been a successful tenant farmer for he left a sizeable estate and erected a palatial tomb for himself and his wife in the churchyard of St Mary's close to the church. No record has yet been found of where he actually farmed in Livingston Lovell but the parish only boasted two farmers at the time of the 1841 Census & three in 1851; these farmed The Hall estate, Kaye's farm & a farm based in the village, so perhaps William farmed one of these.

Some things about his life were:

• Will signed: 20 Dec 1814, Lillingstone Lovell. William made an extensive Will running to five sheets of paper with many pecuniary bequests amounting to over £5,000. There are too many legacies to list here but, suffice it to say, William remembered all his nieces and nephews as well as many of their children. He also left his three servants generous legacies and £10 to be divided amongst the deserving poor of the parish of Lillingstone Lovell.

The main beneficiary of his Will, however, was Thomas Kirby, son of his brother Edmund. To Thomas he left all his real estate and the residue of his estate after all debts & legacies had been paid; the residue included all his goods and chattels, furniture, &c. (bar some furniture and other items that he left to his housekeeper) and his "stock of cattle", which shows that, despite being 80 years of age, he was farming right up to the end of his life, though doubtless with some help.

William's real estate seems to have come to him through his marriage to Sarah who was the only daughter and heiress of Daniel Cockerill who left her some property in Collingtree, on the outskirts of Northampton. At the time William drew up his Will, two women Frances Ridge & Bridget Eaton, who were possibly related to his wife, stood to acquire an interest in this property on his death and William proposed that they should be "bought out" for the sum of £600 each. In it event this turned out to be a controversial issue which took Thomas Kirby a considerable time to resolve and which, for one reason and another, landed him with a court case. In the end, Thomas did secure this property which was duly left to his three sons.

• Probate Granted: 26 Aug 1815, London. Thomas Kirby duly obtained probate having appeared personally to swear an affidavit that he had found William's Will "in a box in a closet" after having made a search amongst William's "papers of moment".

William married Sarah Cockerill,¹⁰ daughter of Daniel Cockerill, on 13 Jun 1763 in St Mary's Church, Blakesley, Northants.⁵⁶ Sarah was born <1742>, died on 12 Jul 1803 ^{⁵⁷^,58} at age 61, and was buried on 14 Jul 1803 in St Mary's Churchyard, Lillingstone Lovell, Bucks.^⁵⁹

Marriage Notes: Only two children have been found for William and Sarah. It may be that they lived in some other area for a while before moving to Lillingstone Lovell and that some other children were born there; certainly, there is a gap of about 9 years between their marriage and the birth of their first child at Lillingstone Lovell and, unless Sarah had difficulty conceiving, it seems very likely that children were born to them during that period. However, once at Lillingstone Lovell they seem to have only had the two daughters both of whom they named, Sarah, and both of whom died in childhood.

William and Sarah lived in Lillingstone Lovell for the rest of their lives, which in Williams case was to the age of 82, and one might have expected that one of their children (particularly, if they had other daughters) would have been married there. However, there is no record of any such marriages and there is no mention in William's Will of any surviving children so it may be that the two Sarahs born in Livingston Lovell were their only offsprings.

Children from this marriage were:

23 F i. Sarah Kirby ⁶⁰ was baptised on 15 Sep 1772 in St Mary's Church, Lillingstone Lovell, Bucks,^⁶¹ died on 20 Feb 1776 in St Mary's Church, Lillingstone Lovell, Bucks ^⁶² at age 3, and was buried on 23 Feb 1776 in St Mary's Churchyard, Lillingstone Lovell, Bucks.^⁶³

24 F ii. Sarah Kirby ⁶⁴ was born in Mar 1776 in St Mary's Church, Lillingstone Lovell, Bucks,^⁶⁵ was baptised on 4 Jul 1776 in St Mary's Church, Lillingstone Lovell, Bucks,^⁶⁶ died on 17 Jan 1784 in St Mary's Church, Lillingstone Lovell, Bucks ^⁶⁷ at age 7, and was buried on 21 Jan 1784 in St Mary's Churchyard, Lillingstone Lovell, Bucks.^⁶⁸

8. James Kirby ¹⁰ was baptised on 5 Apr 1746 in St Mary's Church, Blakesley, Northants ^¹⁰ and was buried on 15 Nov 1826 in Greens Norton, Northants.^¹⁹

General Notes: Within two years of their marriage James & Sarah had settled in the parish of Maidford. Here James acquired a small farm of probably about 50 or 60 acres, which he worked together with rather more land that he rented nearby; they remained in Maidford at least until Sarah died in 1806.

The farmhouse that Sarah & James lived in still survives to this day (known as Ivy Bank in 2003) but most of its old farm buildings have been replaced with a modern development. The farmhouse and the land that went with it was on the left-hand side of the Blakesley to Maidford road as one approaches the village; the house stood on the opposite side of the road to the Rectory and its land was adjacent to that of the rectory farm. Its propinquity to the Rectory caused James considerable problems in the early 1780s when the Rev Michael O' Clare was rector.

The Rev Michael O'Clare was the incumbent at Maidford between 1772 & 1798 so he arrived in Maidford about the same time as James and Sarah. For some years relationships between them were friendly and in about 1877 O'Clare suggested that James should take over the rectory farm which was adjacent to James's property, however, they could not agree upon a mutually acceptable rent. O'Clare raised the matter again a couple of years later and still they could not agree terms; who was to blame for this failure is not known but clearly O'Clare believed it to be James's fault for he became much more distant & cooler towards him.

Not long after the failure of their second round of negotiations about the farm, O'Clare imposed a penalty of £5 on a farmer called Coates for keeping a greyhound; Coates may well have been farming the rectory farm at that time because a William Coates did so some years later. Coates either could not or would not pay the fine so O'Clare forced him to sell a wagon under a Warrant of Distress; James bought this wagon and returned it to his friend, an action which much annoyed O'Clare who thereafter, so it is said by James, took every opportunity to to be rude to him.

Relationships between James & O'Clare deteriorated further when in the spring of 1872 O'Clare took to coming on to James's property to shoot the rooks that nested there and to destroy their nests. Presumably, O'Clare objected to the rookery for one reason or another and, because of his annoyance with James, he took a very cavalier attitude about entering his property and, worse still as far as James was concerned, about closing the farm gates; his failure to do so had James's stock straying all over the parish.

The following spring, over a period of several days, O'Clare set about the rooks and their nests once again but this time assisted by his son Richard and his servant. Both James and his wife remonstrated with him about his behaviour on several occasions but to no avail and simply received hail of abuse in return with O'Clare becoming angrier and more violent on each encounter - doubtless, everyone was getting more heated as the days went by. Finally, when James had remonstrated with him for the umpteenth time, O'Clare flew into a great temper and struck out at James as hard as he could with the muzzle of his loaded gun. James shielded his head and took the blow on his hands then quickly made his escape to the house. Not satisfied with what he had achieved on that occasion, O'Clare returned shortly afterwards with his son and servant, the former two brandishing guns, and again threatened James when he remonstrated with them giving him much verbal abuse to the point that he feared for his life and fled once again to the safety of his house.

James, as a result of all these violent encounters, came to live in fear that O'Clare would do him or his property more injury. Indeed, O'Clare did, subsequently, have three or four trenches dug across a private road in order to prevent James using it to reach some land that he rented on the other side of the rectory farm; James had to make other arrangements.

All these attacks eventually persuaded James to bring a prosecution against O'Clare for assault. Bringing such a case against one's rector was a brave step for James because, apart from being the parish's spiritual leader at a time when Christian belief and practice still held strong, the rector was also very often the second most important person socially in the community. James's action demonstrates how independently minded yeoman had become by that time; others, given those circumstances, might well have let matters lie. As there were independent witnesses to O'Clare's actions, it is also possible that the rector was not very popular in the parish.

Happily for James, the jury at the 1784 Lent Assizes in Northampton found against O'Clare, in absentia, because by that time he had fled the parish, and no doubt, the county. What action the court ever took against O'Clare is unclear but he remained absent from the parish for about two years. O'Clare was not without his troubles elsewhere because another court record exists which shows that he defaulted on certain loans in London and a warrant for his arrest was issued to the Sheriff of Northamptonshire in June 1788.

James & O'Clare continued to be near neighbours for another 15 years or so but though O'Clare duly baptised and buried some of James & Sarah's offspring, doubtless, matters remained strained between them. ⁶⁹ ^,70

Some things about his life were:

• Will signed: 6 Nov 1824. ⁷¹ James instructed his executors (his nephews Thomas Kirby and William Kirby and his great nephew John Malsbury Kirby) to liquidate all his assets and then after paying a bequest of £15 to his housekeeper and £10 a piece to his executors, to distribute 1/5 of the monies between the children of his late son James Kirby, give 1/5 to his granddaughter Cecilia Dunkley and to invest the remaining 3/5 in government securities and to pay a third of the income from those securities to each of his surviving children, William, Cecilia and Phebe who was married to James Watts. On the death of any of these three children the capital sum producing their income (ie 1/3 of the amount invested in government securities) was to be shared equally between their surviving children.

• Probate Granted: 23 May 1827, London. ⁷² James's Will was proved by his nephew Thomas Kirby, Thomas's son John Malsbury Kirby and William Kirby who was also a nephew.

James married Sarah Shepheard ¹⁰ on 9 Oct 1770 in St Mary's Church, Blakesley, Northants.⁷³ Sarah was born <1749> ^⁷⁴ and was buried on 22 May 1806 in Maidford Churchyard, Maidford, Northants.^⁷⁵

Marriage Notes: No baptismal records have been found for James and Sarah's children Edmund and Matilda and our knowledge of their existence comes from their burial records. In Matilda's case the record states that she was the daughter of "James Kirby" but though the Parish Register makes no mention of Edmund's parents, the Bishop's Transcript of the Register says that he was the son of "James Kirby, Farmer". As there was only one James Kirby farming in Maidford at the time of their deaths, it is probably safe to assume that they were both children of James and Sarah.

Neither of James & Sarah's surviving sons, William & James, seem to have made anything of their careers; William probably worked on his father's farm as a young man and later is reported to have been been a dealer and later still a farm labourer; James activities are unrecorded but in all likelihood he was a farm labourer as well. As a result, this line of the Kirby family went into social decline in the 19th century. In addition, James & Sarah had a very wayward daughter in Cecilia who, as will be seen, produced a string of illegitimate children; a lifestyle that was emulated by their granddaughter Sarah. ⁷⁶

Children from this marriage were:

25 F i. Jane Kirby ¹⁰ was baptised on 7 Apr 1771 in St Mary's Church, Blakesley, Northants ^¹⁰ and was buried on 1 Apr 1777 in St Mary's Church, Blakesley, Northants.^¹⁰

26 F ii. Sarah Kirby ⁷⁷ was baptised on 10 Jun 1772 in Maidford Church, Maidford, Northants ^⁷⁸ and died between 1814 and 1824 about age 42.

General Notes: It may well be the case that Sarah married a Dunkley because her father's Will leaves a specific bequest for a granddaughter Cecilia Dunkley and Sarah seems to be the only daughter who might have married and produced such a child. She was certainly alive at the time that her uncle William Kirby drew up his Will in December 1814, in which she is referred to as Saley [sic] daughter of his brother James and bequeathed £50; however, she is not mentioned in her father's Will of November 1824 and, very probably, she died between those dates. To date (2006) no record has been found of her marriage, her burial or of the baptism of a Cecilia Dunkley.

27 F iii. Ann Kirby ⁷⁷ was baptised on 10 May 1773 in Maidford Church, Maidford, Northants ^⁷⁹ and was buried on 2 Jan 1774 in Maidford Churchyard, Maidford, Northants.^⁸⁰

+ 28 M iv. William Kirby ⁷⁷ was baptised on 10 Apr 1774 in Maidford Church, Maidford, Northants,^⁸¹ died on 16 Nov 1832 at age 58, and was buried on 20 Nov 1832 in Moreton Pinkney, Northants.^⁸²

29 M v. Jeremiah Kirby ⁸⁵ was baptised on 17 Mar 1775 in Maidford Church, Maidford, Northants ^⁸⁶ and was buried on 2 Jun 1775 in Maidford Churchyard, Maidford, Northants.^⁸⁷

30 F vi. Lucy Kirby ⁷⁷ was baptised on 29 Mar 1776 in Maidford Church, Maidford, Northants ^⁸⁸ and was buried on 26 Apr 1777 in Maidford Churchyard, Maidford, Northants.^⁸⁹

31 M vii. John Kirby ⁶⁹ was baptised on 22 Feb 1778 in Maidford Church, Maidford, Northants ^⁹⁰ and was buried on 5 Aug 1786 in Maidford Churchyard, Maidford, Northants.^⁹¹

+ 32 M viii. James Kirby ⁹² was born in 1779 ^⁹³ and was buried on 5 Nov 1824 in Maidford Churchyard, Maidford, Northants.^⁹⁴

33 F ix. Francis Kirby ⁶⁹ was baptised on 14 Sep 1780 in Maidford Church, Maidford, Northants ^⁹⁶ and was buried on 14 Jan 1781 in Maidford Churchyard, Maidford, Northants.^⁹⁷

34 M x. Edmund Kirby ⁹⁸ was buried on 7 Oct 1781 in Maidford Churchyard, Maidford, Northants.^{⁹⁸^,99}

General Notes: Edmund died in childhood

+ 35 F xi. Cecilia Kirby was baptised on 6 Apr 1783 in Maidford Church, Maidford, Northants,^¹⁰⁰ died on 26 Apr 1832 ^¹⁰¹ at age 49, and was buried on 29 Apr 1832 in Maidford Church, Maidford, Northants.^¹⁰²

36 M xii. Jeremiah Kirby ⁸⁵ was baptised on 14 Nov 1784 in Maidford Church, Maidford, Northants ^¹⁰³ and was buried on 16 Mar 1785 in Maidford Church, Maidford, Northants.^¹⁰⁴

37 M xiii. Francis Kirby ¹⁰⁵ was baptised on 2 Jul 1786 in Maidford Church, Maidford, Northants ^¹⁰⁶ and was buried on 9 Nov 1786 in Maidford Churchyard, Maidford, Northants.^¹⁰⁵

+ 38 F xiv. Phœbe Kirby ⁷⁶ was baptised on 5 Jul 1789 in Maidford Church, Maidford, Northants ^⁷⁶ and died before 1841.

39 F xv. Matilda Kirby ⁶⁹ was buried on 20 Mar 1791 in Maidford Churchyard, Maidford, Northants.^¹⁰⁸

9. Martin Kirby ¹⁰ was baptised on 26 Mar 1748 in St Mary's Church, Blakesley, Northants,^¹⁰ died in Apr 1810 ^²¹ at age 62, and was buried on 26 Apr 1810 in St Mary's Church, Blakesley, Northants.^²²

Some things about his life were:

• Will: 19 Apr 1810, Blakesley, Northants. ¹⁰⁹ Martin made this Will shortly before he died. It was proved on October 19th 1810 — in all likelihood by his wife Ann who he had appointed his sole Executrix — and his effects were declared to be under £2000.

This is the last Will and Testament of me Martin Kirby of Blakesley in the County of Northampton Yeoman as follows (that is to say) I give and devise all and every of my messuages cottages closes lands tenements hereditaments and real Estate whatsoever situate in Blakesley aforesaid and elsewhere with their and every of their rights members and appurtenances unto my sons Jeremiah Kirby and William Kirby and my nephews Thomas Kirby and Richard Kirby their executors administrators and assigns for ever during and unto the full end and time of two thousand years to commence from the day of my death and from and after the end expiration or other sooner determination of the said term and in the mean time subject and liable thereto, I give and devise all my said messuages cottages closes lands tenements hereditaments and Real Estate unto my wife Ann Kirby and her assigns for and during the term of her natural life, and from and after her decease I give and devise the same unto and to the use of all my sons and daughter the said Jeremiah Kirby, John Kirby, William Kirby, James Kirby, Thomas Kirby, and Ann Kirby and to their several and respective heirs and assigns for ever as tenants in common but I do hereby charge and make chargeable to the part or share of my said son John with the payment of such debts or debts or sum or sums of money as he shall owe to me at the time of my decease….. and I do hereby declare that the said term of two thousand years so limited to and vested in the said Jeremiah Kirby, William Kirby, Thomas Kirby, and Richard Kirby, their executors administrators and assigns is so given to them upon Trust that they do and shall by mortgage or mortgages sale or sales of my said real Estate or any part thereof for all in any part of the said term levy and raise the sum of one thousand pounds to pay off and discharge the mortgage by and made upon my said real Estate and also such sum and sums of money as shall be necessary to pay or make up the legacies by me hereafter given, as the same shall become due and also such further sum and sums of money as shall be necessary to pay the expenses of raising and making security for the same, and do and shall pay and apply the same accordingly, and my wish and will is that when the said sum or sums of money which shall be raised shall be discharged by the person or persons who shall be entitled to my said estate the said term shall cease and be end - I give and bequeath to my sons James and Thomas Kirby the sum of four hundred pounds each or a piece, to my said son William Kirby and the sum of one hundred pounds and to my daughter Ann Kirby the sum of two hundred pounds which said legacies I direct to be paid to my said children when and as they respectively attain the age of twenty five years. All the interest of my money and the ???? use and employment of my goods chattels cattle stock effects and other personal estate I give unto my said wife for her life subject as to aforesaid and to the payment of all my just debts (except the said mortgage) funeral expenses and other expenses of proving this my Will and from and after her decease I give and bequeath the same Personal estate unto and equally between all my said sons and daughter to and for his her and their own use and benefit and I do charge the part or share of my said son John therein with the payment of the debt or debts sum or sums of money which he shall owe me at the time of my death and with the interest to grow due thereon from that time, and I do hereby appointed my said wife Ann Kirby sole Executrix of this my last Will and Testament and also guardian to my said son Thomas during his minority and do hereby revoke all other Wills by me made. In Witness whereof I have hereto set my hand and seal this nineteenth day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & ten.

Signed sealed published and
declared by the testator Martin
Kirby as and for his last Will [signed] Martin Kirby
and Testament in the presence
of us, who at his request in
his presence and the
presence of each other
have here unto subscribed
our names as witnesses:
J. M. Kirby
William Bliss
James Jones

• Grant of Administration: 27 Nov 1811, Archdeaconry of Northampton. ¹¹⁰ Effects: under £100

Martin made his wife Ann his sole Executrix and she survived long enough to prove his Will on October 19th, 1810, however, she died shortly afterwards and Martin's eldest son Jeremiah and Jeremiah's brothers, William and John, had to apply for administration of his estate.

Martin's Will instructed his trustees (his sons, Jeremiah and William, and his nephews Thomas and Richard Kirby) to mortgage or sell off any of his real estate to raise the sum of £1000 to discharge an existing mortgage on his estate and to pay legacies of £1100 to his children as and when they reached the age of 25. When his Will was proved his effects were recorded as being under £2000 but by the time Admon was granted it was declared that his estate was worth under £100; presumably the majority of legacies had been paid by then.

Martin married Ann King on 4 Apr 1774 in Wappenham, Northampton. Ann died in Dec 1810 ^²¹ and was buried on 10 Dec 1810 in St Mary's Church, Blakesley, Northants.^¹¹¹

Children from this marriage were:

40 M i. Jeremiah Kirby was born <1776>,^²¹ died in Aug 1813 ^²¹ at age 37, and was buried on 16 Aug 1813 in St Mary's Church, Blakesley, Northants.^¹¹²

Jeremiah married Mary Shepheard,¹¹⁴ daughter of William Shepheard and Alice ———, on 10 Mar 1803 in St Mary's Church, Blakesley, Northants.¹¹³ Mary was born <1778> and was buried on 8 Mar 1854 in St Mary's Church, Blakesley, Northants.^¹¹⁵

Some things about her life were:

• Probate Granted: 28 Jul 1854, London. ¹¹⁶ Mary's Will was proved by her brother, William, and her nephew, William Shepheard the younger.

41 M ii. Martin Kirby ¹¹⁷ was born <1778> and was buried on 17 Oct 1805 in St Nicholas's Churchyard, Lillingstone Dayrell, Bucks.^¹¹⁸

Some things about his life were:

• Grant of Administration: 8 Jan 1806, Buckinghamshire. ¹¹⁹ Martin died intestate and his wife Mary applied for administration which she duly obtained having first sworn that his estate was under £1000.

Martin married Mary Jeffery, daughter of John Jeffery and Hannah ———, on 10 Mar 1803 in St Mary's Church, Lillingstone Lovell, Bucks.¹²⁰ Mary was baptised on 3 Sep 1782 in St Mary's Church, Lillingstone Lovell, Bucks.^¹²¹

+ 42 M iii. John Kirby ¹⁰ was baptised on 24 Jun 1781 in St Mary's Church, Blakesley, Northants ^¹⁰ and died after 1810.

+ 43 M iv. William Kirby was born <1784>, died in May 1818 ^²¹ at age 34, and was buried on 4 Jun 1818 in St Mary's Church, Blakesley, Northants.^¹²³

44 M v. James Kirby ¹⁰ was baptised on 30 Sep 1787 in St Mary's Church, Blakesley, Northants ^¹⁰ and died after 1810.

45 F vi. Ann Kirby ¹⁰ was baptised on 23 Sep 1788 in St Mary's Church, Blakesley, Northants ^¹⁰ and died after 1810.

+ 46 M vii. Thomas Kirby ¹⁰ was baptised on 30 Sep 1792 in St Mary's Church, Blakesley, Northants,^¹⁰ died in Jul 1840 ^¹²⁵ at age 47, and was buried on 29 Jul 1840 in St Mary's Church, Blakesley, Northants.^¹²⁶

Third Generation

12. Thomas Kirby ²⁷ ^,32 was baptised on 4 Jun 1759 in St Mary's Church, Blakesley, Northants,^¹⁰ died on 14 Apr 1834 in Moor End, Yardley Gobion, Northants ^³² at age 74, and was buried on 21 Apr 1834 in St Nicholas's Church, Potterspury, Northants.^{³⁴^,35^,128}

General Notes: Thomas and his brother John, the solicitor in Towcester, were, in their different ways, by far the most successful of Edmund & Mary's children. Thomas farmed all his working life but found time to become involved in a variety of other business matters and must have been highly regarded as he was an executor of several family Wills.

Initially when they were first married, Thomas and Amelia lived in the small parish of Hardmead in Buckinghamshire and that is where their three sons were born, but it is not known exactly where Thomas farmed at Hardmead or, for that matter, if he was ever the tenant of one of the very few farms in the parish; he may simply have worked on one of them.

In about 1795 Thomas took on the tenancy of Lord's Fields farm near Whittlebury on the Duke of Grafton's estate; it was about 220 acres and was possibly the largest farm in the parish at that time. The farm still exists to this day (2005) but with a considerably reduced acreage and the farmhouse that Thomas and his family lived in was rebuilt in the 1860s and, so it's present owners believe, it now bears little resemblance to the older dwelling. Thomas remained here till about 1810.

Within a year or two of taking on the tenancy of Lord's Fields farm, Thomas was appointed Headborough of Whittlebury parish and was a member of the Jury of the court-leet¹ for the manor of Whittlebury with Paulerspury, Church End & Heathencote. Exactly what being a headborough in the parish of Whittlebury involved in those times is unclear; modern definitions suggest someone who acted as a petty constable or the person who was responsible for tithing in the parish. As there was also a constable appointed for this Manor, Thomas probably acted as his deputy in the parish of Whittlebury and, perhaps, also collected certain rents and may be tithes as well. Indeed, there is there is a note in a court-leet record, in one of the years that he held the office, authorising Thomas to collect dues from persons who grazed their stock on certain common ground.

Thomas was appointed Headborough in 1797 and still held that office in 1801 and probably continued to do so until he moved to Moor End but the court-leet records have not survived after 1802. Thomas's brother John was appointed Steward of the Honor of Grafton in 1801 and when Thomas attended the court-leet that year at Greens Norton, his brother was in charge of the proceedings.

Thomas must have prospered at Lord's Fields to the extent of building up enough capital to finance others, for two promissory notes to him have survived for loans he made to an Edward Amos (they were found in an old chest of drawers), one is dated 26th March, 1811, the other 16th April, 1811, both for £100 at "lawful interest" and they were probably not the only loans that Thomas made at that time. "Lawful interest", of course, meant that the rate would not be usurious and, if some individual receipts for the interest, which have survived from the latter part of the loan period, are any guide, Edward Amos was paying 5%. These loans ran for many years because the last records show interest payments as late as 1838. Edward Amos seems to have kept up his payments very reliably but he appears to have died in 1819 and thereafter a William Amos², probably his son, paid the interest, whether or not the capital amount was ever repaid, is not known.

Moor End Farm 2004.

Why Thomas gave up his tenancy at Lord's Fields farm is unclear; the farm that he took at Moor End (More End), just outside Yardley Gobion, was no bigger and, viewed in modern times, the quality of the land looks about the same on both properties. Perhaps, Thomas was attracted by the farmhouse and buildings, which might have been superior in those days. Be that as it may, Thomas took the tenancy of Moor End, again of from the Duke of Grafton's estate, and he and Amelia lived there until they died; latterly the farm was probably managed by Edmund, possibly with the help of Thomas, Malsbury having gone off on his own by then.

Not to be outdone by his brother John, Thomas arranged for the family to have a vault in St Nicholas's Church, Potterspury (Yardley Gobion was then in the parish of Potterspury) where he, Amelia, Thomas & Malsbury are buried and the family had erected a handsome tablet close to the vault commemorating their lives in a similar style to the one that Thomas's brother John had erected for his family in St Lawrence's Church, Towcester.

NOTES:

1. A court of record held once a year, in a particular hundred, lordship, or manor, before the steward of the leet. Blackstone.

2. This William Amos might have been the one who years later farmed over 400 acres at Abthorpe and lived in Charlock House in that village; he was a native of Silverstone, the next-door parish to Whittlebury, and would have been about 24 or 25 years of age in 1819, unfortunately, his father has not yet been discovered (2005).

Some things about his life were:

• Will signed: 25 Mar 1833, Yardley Gobion, Northants. ¹²⁹ Thomas's Will was quite a simple document; perhaps, his experience of dealing with other more lengthy family Wills had influenced him. In fact, it would have been simpler still had not a good quarter of it been devoted to giving his brother Richard extensive powers to obtain his annuity (see below) in the event of it not being paid.

He left his housekeeper Mary White £10, his brother Richard of Whittlebury an annuity of £10 and his son Edmund two cottages in Fenny Stratford which were let out.

The property that he had acquired in Weedon Beck and also some inherited at Collingtree from his uncle William, he left to his three sons, as tenants in common, with the proviso that Malsbury paid the other two £600 each from his share. Presumably, Malsbury owed his father's estate £1200 and this was away of ensuring that Thomas & Edmund received their share of that sum.

Finally, Thomas appointed his sons Edmund & Malsbury as his executors and he also expressed the desire that Edmund should "succeed me as Tenant to his Grace the Duke of Grafton" at Moor End.

It is interesting to note that Thomas, junior, who was the eldest son, was not well favoured in this Will, being neither appointed an executor, nor recommended to succeed his father as tenant, nor being bequeathed the cottages in Fenny Stratford.

• Probate Granted: 24 Oct 1834, London. Edmund & Malsbury were duly granted probate.

Thomas married Amelia Allen,³² ^,130 daughter of Richard Allen and Elizabeth Caporn, on 8 Apr 1790 in St James the Great, Paulerspury, Northants.³⁶ Amelia was baptised on 20 Apr 1759 in St James the Great, Paulerspury, Northants,^¹³¹ died on 1 Feb 1833 in Moor End, Yardley Gobion, Northants ^³² at age 73, and was buried on 6 Feb 1833 in St Nicholas's Church, Potterspury, Northants.^{¹³²^,133^,134}

General Notes: Amelia's father Richard, and later her brother Thomas, farmed one of the Duke of Grafton's farms in the hamlet of Heathencote which were later "exchanged" by the Duke, at the time of the Paulerspury enclosures, for some other land belonging to the Earl of Pomfret elsewhere.

Children from this marriage were:

47 M i. Thomas Kirby ³² was baptised on 18 Aug 1791 in St Mary's Church, Hardmead, Bucks,^¹³⁵ died on 25 May 1846 in Paulerspury, Northampton ^³² at age 54, and was buried on 30 May 1846 in St Nicholas's Church, Potterspury, Northants.^{¹³⁴^,136^,137}

General Notes: Despite being Thomas and Amelia's eldest son, Thomas, junior, does not seem to have taken a very active role in the affairs of the family though, doubtless, he worked on the family's farm when a young man. His father specifically requested in his Will that Thomas's younger brother, Edmund, took on Moor End farm after he had gone and both Thomas, senior, and Thomas's younger brother, Malsbury, passed over Thomas in choosing executors/trustees for their respective Wills. This rather suggests that Thomas was not regarded by the family as the most competent farmer or businessman, indeed, in his Will (1846) he describes himself as a Gentleman; however, the same Will does mention some land in Weedon Beck that he had recently acquired, so he was not entirely inactive.

Furthermore, Thomas had a house in the village of Paulerspury which is recorded in the 1820 Paulerspury Property Map and which is also recorded in the Land Tax records of 1827-1832 as being let out and which probably continued to be let out until Thomas, who had been living with his brother Edmund at Moor End when they were both bachelors, left the farm to return to Paulerspury when Edmund got married. Interestingly enough, when Thomas left Moor End he took with him Sarah Sturges who had been looking after him and Edmund — it may be that Sarah felt that she would be happier in service with Thomas than under the new regime at Moor End — whatever the case, Thomas left her nineteen guineas in his Will for her loyalty.

Rather surprisingly, Thomas's house in Paulerspury is not specifically mentioned in his Will despite the fact that he died whilst living in the parish; perhaps it was only a leasehold property. ¹³⁸

Some things about his life were:

• Will signed: 11 May 1846, Northamptonshire. ¹³⁸ Thomas died a bachelor and it is not surprising, therefore, that the beneficiaries of his Will were, principally, his nieces and nephews — the only other beneficiary being his servant Sarah Sturges to whom he left the rather odd sum of 19 guineas.

He bequeathed to his eldest nephew, John Malsbury Kirby, some land in Weedon Beck and the rest of his property in Weedon Beck, which incidentally he had inherited from his father, he left to his brother Edmund during the latter's lifetime and then that too was to pass to his eldest nephew. The rest of his estate was to be held in trust and to be divided equally between his remaining nephew and nieces, Edmund, Amelia, Catherine and Mary on their each attaining the age of twenty one years. Thomas appointed his brother Edmund and a friend in Paulerspury, Edward Grimsdick, as his executors and trustees.

• Probate Granted: 9 Feb 1847, Archdeaconry of Northampton. ¹³⁹ Personal Estate: less than £1500

48 M ii. Edmund Kirby ³² was baptised on 5 Aug 1792 in St Mary's Church, Hardmead, Bucks,^¹⁴⁰ died on 24 Jan 1864 in Yardley Gobion, Northants. ^{³²^,141^,142} at age 71, and was buried on 30 Jan 1864 in St Nicholas's Cemetery, Potterspury, Northants.^{¹⁴³^,144}

General Notes: Edmund spent all his life farming; first, at Lord's Fields near Whittlebury and then circa 1810 onwards, at Moor End (or More End) just outside Yardley Gobion. At that time, both Lord's Fields farm and the one at Moor End were part of the Duke of Grafton's estate in Northamptonshire. Some time after 1841 Edmund gave up the house that went with Moor End farm and, having acquired a property in the Yardley Gobion, moved into the village but he still seems to have continued to farm the land at Moor End to the end of his life, he was helped in this by his young nephew Edmund Kirby who lived with him and Mary and acted as his farm manager.

Along with his brothers, Edmund inherited a third share in some land and buildings at Weedon Beck and Collingtree from his father's estate; his brother Thomas, when he died in 1847, left him a life interest in his third share of the same properties so in later years he would have had two thirds of the income that arose from those properties.

Some things about his life were:

• Will signed: 16 May 1863, Northamptonshire. ¹⁴⁵ Edmund left his wife Mary a life interest in the property that he had in Yardley Gobion where he and she had lived. He also left Mary all the household consumables, linen, china and glass but only a life interest in his furniture, plate, books, pictures, etc., which he wanted to go to his nephews John & Edmund Kirby, junior, on Mary's death. Edmund was obviously concerned about her disposing of any of these items because he required his Executors to make an inventory of everything as soon as possible after his death which had to be signed and agreed by Mary. John's entitlement to these items was confined to those in the "best bed room" and the inventory mentioned above was required to specify these clearly; did it to contain all the family heirlooms, one wonders.

Edmund owned some land with buildings at Weedon Beck, about 150 acres in all, which had come to him from his father and which he left to Mary during her lifetime and then to his nephew Edmund; his nephew later moved to Weedon Beck to farm it. Edmund also had a share in some land and buildings in Collingtree (just outside Northampton) which he left to all his surviving nephews and nieces, the children of his brother Malsbury. Apart from these bequests, he left £500 to his nephew Edmund (obviously, he had become quite attached to him whilst he lived with them in Yardley Gobion) and the rest of his estate he instructed his Executors to liquidate and to invest the proceeds in government stock or other good securities to be held in trust; the income from these investments was to be paid to Mary and on her death, after a special payment of £300 to his nephew John, the capital was to be equally divided between his surviving nephews and nieces.

Edmund appointed his wife Mary, his friend John Roper of Grafton Regis and his nephew John as his Executors and Trustees.

• Probate Granted: 26 Apr 1864, Northampton, Northampton. ¹⁴⁶ Effects under £4000

Edmund married Mary Kirby,¹⁴⁸ daughter of Richard Malsbury Kirby and Ann ———, in 1841 in Potterspury, Northants.¹⁴⁷ Mary was baptised on 10 Apr 1798 in St Mary's Church, Blakesley, Northants,^¹⁴⁹ died on 7 Oct 1865 in Yardley Gobion, Northants. ^{¹⁴⁸^,150} at age 67, and was buried on 12 Oct 1865 in St Nicholas's Cemetery, Potterspury, Northants.^¹⁵¹

Marriage Notes: Edmund and Mary were fairly middle-aged by the time they married; Edmund being forty nine and Mary forty three. Mary's father Richard died in the autumn of 1840 and is very likely that Mary looked after him in his old age and so found herself on her own when he died (her mother having predeceased him). On his death, Mary probably went to be housekeeper for her cousins Edmund and Thomas at Moor End Farm, as she is to be found there at the time of the 1841 census. Later that year she and Edmund were married so, unless Mary had been carrying a torch for him for a long time, the relationship must have blossomed after she came to Moor End.

Edmund and Mary were first cousins and it is said that they had a daughter who died in infancy but there is no evidence of this in the registers of St Nicholas's Church, Potterspury, where one might have expected such a child to have been baptised and buried. In the light of this evidence and the fact that Mary was in her forties when she married, it seems unlikely that they had any children.

+ 49 M iii. John Malsbury Kirby ³² was baptised on 25 Aug 1793 in St Mary's Church, Hardmead, Bucks,^¹⁵² died on 3 Jan 1837 in Paulerspury, Northampton ^³² at age 43, and was buried on 7 Jan 1837 in St Nicholas's Church, Potterspury, Northants.^{³⁴^,153^,154}

13. John Malsbury Kirby ²⁷ ^,37 was born in 1762, was baptised on 7 Feb 1762 in St Mary's Church, Blakesley, Northants,^¹⁰ died on 21 Jun 1824 in The Golden Lion, St John Street, London ^{³⁷^,38} at age 62, and was buried on 30 Jun 1824 in St Lawrence's Church, Towcester, Northants.^{⁴⁰^,156}

General Notes: Sometime attorney & solicitor in Towcester and also Steward to the Duke of Grafton for the Honor of Grafton. Up until the time of his death, John acted for most of the Kirby family, and those connected to it, in legal matters and his signature has survived on many documents.

Some things about his life were:

• Will signed: 9 May 1822, Towcester, Northants. ¹⁵⁷ For a solicitor, John made a remarkably short, simple and rather touching Will. He left his wife Catherine all his household effects and an annuity of £300; he bequeathed a legacy to Ann Elliott Roper (the daughter of Catherine's daughter Frances), who he says had been brought up by Catherine and him, to be held by his wife Catherine and paid over to Ann on Catherine's death and left everything else to his only surviving daughter Catherine who was married to Henry Elliott. In connection with the legacy to Ann Roper he says it is "... as a token of my great regard for her and as my daughter will not be much affected by it I must and do give her the sum of two hundred pounds...".

John appointed as trustees his brother Thomas Kirby, his brother-in-law William Cleaver and his son-in-law Henry Elliott and instructed them to sell sufficient of his real estate to secure, after the payment of his debts, funeral expenses and soforth, the £300 pa for his wife by way of investment income or a government annuity; any surplus from the above sale and the rest of his real estate he bequeathed to his daughter. As he left it to his wife to decide whether or not to choose to take her £300 pa from investment income or a government annuity, he was worried that, if she chose the investment income route, there might not be sufficient income at some stage from the investments set aside for that purpose and so he gave her power to obtain her full entitlement by calling upon any income from his daughter's portion saying "... but this shall be left to her own sole discretion being fully satisfied that she will do everything in her power to aid and assist our dear children her own dear son and my dear daughter who I trust and indeed do not doubt will be the same disposed to her to make the remainder of her days as comfortable and happy as may be...". We do not know which way Catherine chose to obtain her annuity; it is to be hoped that it was not by way of a government annuity as she only survived about another 11 months after John died.

Catharine and the above trustees were executrix and executors of this Will.

• Probate Granted: 1 Oct 1824, London. ¹⁵⁷ William Cleaver and Henry Elliott obtained probate.

John married Jane Cleaver,³⁷ daughter of William Cleaver and Mary ———, on 13 Sep 1783 in St Bartholomew's Church, Greens Norton, Northants.⁴¹ Jane was baptised on 31 Mar 1758 in St Bartholomew's Church, Greens Norton, Northants,^¹⁵⁸ died on 24 Mar 1805 ^³⁷ at age 46, and was buried on 1 Apr 1805 in St Lawrence's Church, Towcester, Northants.^{¹⁵⁹^,160}

Children from this marriage were:

50 M i. John Kirby ¹⁶¹ was buried on 18 Sep 1784 in St Lawrence's Church, Towcester, Northants.^¹⁶²

51 F ii. Sarah Kirby ³⁷ was born in 1787,^³⁷ was baptised on 13 May 1787 in St Lawrence's Church, Towcester, Northants,^¹⁶³ died on 31 Aug 1803 ^³⁷ at age 16, and was buried on 7 Sep 1803 in St Lawrence's Church, Towcester, Northants.^{¹⁶⁴^,165}

52 F iii. Jane Kirby ³⁷ was born in Aug 1788,^³⁷ was baptised on 25 Aug 1788 in St Lawrence's Church, Towcester, Northants,^{¹⁶³^,166} died on 23 Apr 1807 ^³⁷ at age 18, and was buried on 1 May 1807 in St Lawrence's Church, Towcester, Northants.^{¹⁶⁷^,168}

53 F iv. Elizabeth Kirby ³⁷ was born in 1794,^³⁷ was baptised on 3 Oct 1794 in St Lawrence's Church, Towcester, Northants,^{¹⁶³^,169} died on 21 Nov 1815 ^³⁷ at age 21, and was buried in St Lawrence's Church, Towcester, Northants.^¹⁷⁰

54 F v. Mary Kirby ³⁷ was born in 1797,^³⁷ was baptised on 6 Sep 1797 in St Lawrence's Church, Towcester, Northants,^{¹⁶³^,171} died on 23 Mar 1813 ^³⁷ at age 16, and was buried in St Lawrence's Church, Towcester, Northants.^¹⁷²

+ 55 F vi. Catherine Kirby ¹⁶³ was born on 19 Jan 1800 in Towcester, Northants,^{¹⁶³^,173} was baptised on 24 Jul 1800 in St Lawrence's Church, Towcester, Northants,^{¹⁶³^,174} died on 1 Nov 1879 in Towcester, Northants ^{¹⁷⁵^,176} at age 79, and was buried on 7 Nov 1879 in Greens Norton, Northants.^¹⁷⁷

John next married Catherine Flesher,¹⁷⁹ daughter of Gilbert Flesher and Sarah Bagshaw, on 26 Apr 1806 in St Lawrence's Church, Towcester, Northants.⁴² Catherine was baptised on 26 Oct 1761 in St Lawrence's Church, Towcester, Northants,^¹⁸⁰ died on 5 Jun 1825 in Towcester, Northants ^{¹⁸¹^,182} at age 63, and was buried on 13 Jun 1825 in St Lawrence's Church, Towcester, Northants.^¹⁷⁹

Marriage Notes: William Elliott, Catherine's first husband, was John Kirby's partner in a firm of solicitors in Towcester. Consequently, the Elliott & Kirby families must have known each other very well and John must have spent a good deal of time helping Catherine with her affairs after William died in 1800. It is perhaps not surprising, therefore, that John and Catherine married pretty well a year to the day after John's first wife died, thus bringing the families even closer together and many years later, John's surviving daughter Catherine was to marry Henry Elliott and John was to take William Gilbert Elliott into his law firm.

General Notes: Catherine's father was a successful merchant in Towcester to judge by his epitaph that once graced the the centre aisle of the chancel in the St Lawrence's Church there:
To the Memory of Gilbert Flesher
Late Draper and Woolstapler of this town Whose affection gained him the Love of his Family: Whose Industry acquired him A handsome Fortune: And whose Affability won him The Esteem of a numerous and Respectable Aquaintance.
Reader go thou and do likewise.

Some things about her life were:

• Will signed: 31 May 1825, Towcester, Northants. Catherine left her house in Park Lane, Towcester, to her son William, probably with the expectation that William would sell it, because £400 was to be raised from it as a legacy for her daughter Frances Roper. It may well be, however, that William kept the house because in 1841 he is to be found living in one called Park View in the town.

It appears that Catherine had made a settlement of £800 sometime during her marriage to William Elliott for the benefit of what she called "the younger branches of my dear children"; this on her death, was to be divided equally between her children Henry, William & Frances. For some reason or other her son John did not benefit from this arrangement or from any other bequest in her Will, perhaps there had been another settlement from which he had benefited earlier. It also appeared that her son Henry owed her £200 plus interest and the total of this debt she now gave to him.

Catherine gave her three daughters in law, Sarah the wife of John, Catherine (née Kirby) the wife of Henry & Eliza (née Sutton) the wife of William, £20 each. She also gave "my respected and justly esteemed son-in-law" William Roper £200 to be held in trust for her granddaughter Ann Elliott Roper¹ with any interest arising from being applied to Ann's education. She also left £5 each to the parishes of Towcester & Greens Norton to promote Sunday Schools and one guinea each to two residents of Greens Norton called James Bevis & Ann Garlick but there is no explanation of her connection with these two persons but they may have been her servants at some time.

Finally, she left Frances all her clothes, jewellery, &c., and Frances & William were to share her household goods, furniture, plate, linen, china, &c.

¹ This may have been the £200 bequeathed to Ann by Catherine's husband John Kirby (see his Will) which was being held by Catherine on her behalf. If it was not, then a Catherine was being rather unfair to her other grandchildren by Frances, particularly Catherine Roper who had been named after her.

14. Edmund Kirby ¹⁰ ^,27 was baptised on 8 Feb 1764 in St Mary's Church, Blakesley, Northants,^¹⁰ died in Aug 1803 in Rugby, Warwickshire at age 39, and was buried on 26 Aug 1803 in St. Andrews, Rugby, Warwickshire.^⁴³

General Notes: Sometime Grocer, Tallow Chandler & Ironmonger in the town of Rugby.

Some things about his life were:

• Will signed: 15 Dec 1802, Rugby, Warwickshire. Edmund appointed as his executrix, executors and trustees, his wife Elizabeth, his father-in-law William Wise, his brother-in-law John Wise, his brother John Malsbury Kirby (an attorney in Towcester) and his brother-in-law Thomas Cooke. Elizabeth was to cease to be an executrix or trustee if she remarried.

Edmund left everything in trust for his children with a life interest for his wife; the trustees were instructed to sell up everything that he had, settle his debts and funeral expenses, etc., and then invest the proceeds securely at interest for the benefit of his wife's maintenance and clothing and his children's maintenance, education and upbringing. As his children reached their majority they were to receive an equal share of the trust fund after £600 had been set aside to provide an income for Elizabeth for as long as she remained his unmarried widow. On Elizabeth's death or remarriage the £600 was to be divided equally between his children.

The Will provided that, if the trustees thought it advantageous, it was permissible for Elizabeth and his children to carry on all or any of his trades.

Edward's Will was proved in London on May 14, 1804 by Elizabeth, John Wise, John Malsbury Kirby & Thomas Cooke.

Edmund married Elizabeth Wise,¹⁸³ daughter of William Wise, <1784>. Elizabeth was born in Litchborough, Northants.

Children from this marriage were:

56 F i. Betsy Kirby ¹⁸³ ^,184 was baptised on 19 Aug 1785 in St. Andrews, Rugby, Warwickshire ^¹⁸⁵ and was buried on 17 Oct 1786 in St. Andrews, Rugby, Warwickshire.^¹⁸⁶

57 F ii. Alice Kirby ¹⁸³ ^,187 was baptised on 19 Aug 1787 in St. Andrews, Rugby, Warwickshire.^¹⁸⁸

58 F iii. Harriet Kirby ¹⁸³ was born <1788> in Rugby, Warwickshire and died in 1873 in Towcester, Northants ^¹⁸⁹ at age 85.

59 M iv. William Kirby ¹⁸³ ^,187 was baptised on 25 Dec 1789 in St. Andrews, Rugby, Warwickshire.^¹⁹⁰

General Notes: It is perhaps rather surprising that William, as the eldest son, is not listed as having attended Rugby School as a pupil like his brothers. It may be that it was not considered suitable for him for one reason or another, possibly he was rather a frail, sensitive child (the School was notoriously rough in those days) or that it was felt his musical interest was better served elsewhere. Be that as it may, William grew up to compose, probably amongst other things, a number of songs of which copies of nine have survived as sheet music and form part of the Levy Sheet Music Collection at John Hopkins University, Baltimore. One of these songs is described on its front sheet as being "Written, composed and affectionately inscribed to the Rev. John Malsbury Kirby by his Brother W. Kirby". Though much of this sheet music was published in America, some of it has references to English publishers, so no conclusions can be drawn safely on where it was written. There are no references to William in any of the early English censuses but this might be because he did not survive until 1841 rather than because he had emigrated.

60 M v. Edmund Kirby ¹⁸³ ^,187 was born on 11 Oct 1791 in Rugby, Warwickshire ^¹⁹¹ and was baptised on 6 Jul 1795 in St. Andrews, Rugby, Warwickshire.^¹⁹²

61 F vi. Elizabeth Kirby ¹⁸³ ^,187 was baptised on 8 Oct 1793 in St. Andrews, Rugby, Warwickshire ^¹⁸⁷ and was buried on 18 Oct 1793 in St. Andrews, Rugby, Warwickshire.^¹⁹³

+ 62 M vii. Revd John Malsbury Kirby ¹⁸³ was born in Feb 1795 in Rugby, Warwickshire,^¹⁹⁴ was baptised on 6 Jul 1795 in St. Andrews, Rugby, Warwickshire,^¹⁹⁵ and died on 1 Dec 1840 in Hagley, Worcestershire ^¹⁹⁶ at age 45.

63 F viii. Charlotte Kirby ¹⁸³ ^,187 was baptised on 18 Jul 1800 in St. Andrews, Rugby, Warwickshire ^{¹⁸⁷^,198} and died on 15 Jan 1802 in St. Andrews, Rugby, Warwickshire at age 1.

64 F ix. Maria Kirby ¹⁸³ ^,187 was born <1802>, was baptised on 26 Aug 1803 in Rugby, Warwickshire,^²⁰⁰ and died in 1874 in Towcester, Northants at age 72.

15. Mary Kirby ¹⁰ ^,27 was baptised on 21 Sep 1767 in St Mary's Church, Blakesley, Northants ^¹⁰ and died in 1847 in Rugby, Warwickshire at age 80.

Mary married William Sutton ¹⁰ on 21 Sep 1790 in St Mary's Church, Blakesley, Northants.²⁰¹ William died before 1841.

Children from this marriage were:

65 M i. Revd William Sutton ²⁰² was baptised on 29 Nov 1791 in St Andrew, Rugby, Warwickshire ^²⁰² and died in 1876 in Rugby, Warwickshire at age 85.

66 M ii. Mark Sutton ²⁰² was baptised on 10 May 1795 in St Andrew, Rugby, Warwickshire.^²⁰²

67 F iii. Mary Sutton ²⁰² was baptised on 10 Jan 1798 in St Andrew, Rugby, Warwickshire ^²⁰² and was buried on 10 Nov 1807 in St Andrew, Rugby, Warwickshire.^²⁰²

68 F iv. Elizabeth Sutton ²⁰² was baptised on 17 May 1798 in St Andrew, Rugby, Warwickshire.^²⁰²

69 F v. Julia Sutton ²⁰² was baptised on 2 Jun 1799 in St Andrew, Rugby, Warwickshire.^²⁰²

70 M vi. Thomas Sutton ²⁰² was baptised on 28 Jun 1803 in St Andrew, Rugby, Warwickshire.^²⁰²

71 F vii. Lucy Sutton ²⁰² was baptised on 28 Jun 1803 in St Andrew, Rugby, Warwickshire.^²⁰²

72 M viii. John Sutton ²⁰² was baptised on 3 Jun 1804 in St Andrew, Rugby, Warwickshire ^²⁰² and died before 1808.^²⁰²

73 F ix. Hannah Sutton ²⁰² was baptised on 3 Feb 1807 in St Andrew, Rugby, Warwickshire.^²⁰²

74 M x. John Sutton ²⁰² was baptised on 2 Sep 1808 in St Andrew, Rugby, Warwickshire.^²⁰²

75 F xi. Charlotte Sutton ²⁰² was baptised on 14 Jan 1812 in St Andrew, Rugby, Warwickshire.^²⁰²

17. Richard Malsbury Kirby ¹⁰ ^,27 was baptised on 23 Sep 1770 in St Mary's Church, Blakesley, Northants,^¹⁰ died in Whittlebury, Northants,^⁴⁵ and was buried on 14 Sep 1840 in Whittlebury Churchyard, Northants.^⁴⁶

Richard married Ann ———. Ann was born <1760> ^²⁰³ and was buried on 26 Apr 1838 in Whittlebury Churchyard, Northants.^²⁰⁴

Children from this marriage were:

76 F i. Mary Kirby ¹⁴⁸ was baptised on 10 Apr 1798 in St Mary's Church, Blakesley, Northants,^¹⁴⁹ died on 7 Oct 1865 in Yardley Gobion, Northants. ^{¹⁴⁸^,150} at age 67, and was buried on 12 Oct 1865 in St Nicholas's Cemetery, Potterspury, Northants.^²⁰⁵

Mary married Edmund Kirby,³² son of Thomas Kirby and Amelia Allen, in 1841 in Potterspury, Northants.¹⁴⁷ Edmund was baptised on 5 Aug 1792 in St Mary's Church, Hardmead, Bucks,^¹⁴⁰ died on 24 Jan 1864 in Yardley Gobion, Northants. ^{³²^,141^,142} at age 71, and was buried on 30 Jan 1864 in St Nicholas's Cemetery, Potterspury, Northants.^{¹⁴⁴^,206}

Some things about his life were:

• Probate Granted: 26 Apr 1864, Northampton, Northampton. ²⁰⁷ Effects under £4000

77 M ii. Edmund Kirby ²⁰⁸ was baptised on 11 Feb 1801 in St Mary's Church, Blakesley, Northants.^²⁰⁹

19. Sophia Kirby ¹⁰ ^,27 was born <1774>, was baptised on 1 Apr 1775 in St Mary's Church, Blakesley, Northants,^¹⁰ and died in 1861 in Northampton, Northampton ^⁴⁸ at age 87.

Sophia married James Dunkley ¹⁰ on 1 Jul 1798 in St Mary's Church, Blakesley, Northants.²¹⁰ James died <1831>.

Some things about his life were:

• Will signed: 22 Jun 1830, Northampton, Northampton. ²¹¹ James left his two unmarried daughters, Sophia & Sarah, £500 apiece and gave his wife a life interest in all his household effects which were to be equally shared between Sophia & Sarah on her death. All the rest of his real estate was left in trust with his wife having a life interest in the income from it.

On his wife's death, the trustees who were John Malsbury Cooke of Towcester, a solicitor, and John Malsbury Kirby of Paulerspury, a Yeoman, were instructed to sell the properties in the trust and divide the proceeds into three equal shares paying one share to his daughter Sophia, another to his daughter Sarah and the final share was to be held in trust and the income paid to his married daughter Mary, wife of William Brown Manning who was a farmer in Towcester. On Mary's death the income was to be used for the maintenance and support of Mary's child or children (in the event there was only one that survived also called Mary) and the capital was to be paid over to each child on their attaining the age of 21.

James appointed the two trustees mentioned above and his wife Sophia joint executors and executrix of this Will.

It would seem that his daughter Mary Manning did not do very well out of this Will but it is quite likely that James made a settlement for her on her marriage to William. Interestingly enough, Mary did not outlive her father by many years and William later married her sister Sarah.

• Probate Granted: 4 Jun 1831, London. John Malsbury Cook, John Malsbury Kirby and Sophia Dunkley the widow were granted administration of James's Will.

Children from this marriage were:

+ 78 F i. Mary Dunkley died before 1838.

79 F ii. Sophia Dunkley ²¹² was born <1803> in Northampton, Northampton ^²¹² and died in 1874 in Northampton, Northampton at age 71.

+ 80 F iii. Sarah Dunkley was born <1811> and died in 1888 in Towcester, Northants at age 77.

20. Charlotte Kirby ¹⁰ was baptised on 21 Sep 1777 in St Mary's Church, Blakesley, Northants ^¹⁰ and died on 31 Dec 1872 in Towcester, Northants at age 95.

Some things about her life were:

• Grant of Administration: 13 Feb 1873, Northampton, Northampton. ²¹³ Effects under £2000

Charlotte married Thomas Cooke ¹⁰ on 28 Apr 1796 in St Mary's Church, Blakesley, Northants.²¹⁴ Thomas died before 1841.

Children from this marriage were:

81 M i. Thomas Herbert Cooke was born in Heathencote, Northamptonshire, was baptised on 13 Jun 1798 in St James the Great, Paulerspury, Northants, and died in 1851 at age 53.

Thomas married Elizabeth Franklin on 10 May 1821 in Radford Semele, Warwickshire.²¹⁵ Elizabeth was born <1801> in Radford, Warwickshire.

82 M ii. John Malsbury Cooke was born in Heathencote, Northamptonshire, was baptised on 12 Aug 1799 in St James the Great, Paulerspury, Northants, and died on 21 Dec 1871 in Whittlebury, Northants at age 72.

General Notes: John practice as an attorney and solicitor in Towcester for most of his life and he and John Gilbert Elliott (the successor to the Elliott & Kirby firm of solicitors in Towcester) seem to have handled much of the Kirby's and related families' affairs during those years.

Some things about his life were:

• Probate Granted: 9 Feb 1872, London. ²¹⁶ Effects under £16,000

83 F iii. Sarah Kirby Cooke ²¹⁷ was born in Heathencote, Northamptonshire, was baptised on 11 Aug 1801 in St James the Great, Paulerspury, Northants, and died in 1889 in Whittlebury, Northants at age 88.

84 M iv. Edmund Herbert Cooke was born in Heathencote, Northamptonshire, was baptised on 12 Mar 1803 in St James the Great, Paulerspury, Northants, and died in 1852 in Birmingham, Warwickshire at age 49.

Edmund married Olivia ——— <1830>. Olivia was born <1810> in Wick, Worcestershire.

85 F v. Mary Agnes Cooke was born <1807> in Heathencote, Northamptonshire and died in 1877 in Northampton, Northampton at age 70.

Mary married Edwin Greville, son of Revd Robert Greville and Dorothy Chaloner, on 1 Jun 1829 in Northampton, St Sepulchre. Edwin was born <1802> in Bonsall, Derbyshire and died in 1854 in Northamptonshire at age 52.

General Notes: Sometime Chemist & Drugist in Northampton

86 F vi. Anne Cooke was born <1813> in Whittlebury, Northants.

Anne married Henry Methold Greville, son of Revd Robert Greville and Dorothy Chaloner, on 1 Jul 1833 in St Giles's Church, Northampton. Henry was born in 1797 in Bonsall, Derbyshire, was baptised on 15 Aug 1797 in St James Church, Edlaston-with-Wyaston, Derbyshire,^²¹⁸ and died in 1861 in Northampton, Northampton at age 64.

General Notes: Sometime Chemist & Drugist in Northampton

87 F vii. Eliza Cooke was born in Whittlebury, Northants, was baptised on 14 May 1816 in Whittlebury Church, Northants, and died in 1895 in Towcester, Northants at age 79.

Eliza married Thomas Collier M.R.C.S. <1834>. Thomas was born <1805> in Brackley, Northampton and died between 1861 and 1871 about age 56.

88 F viii. Catherine Kirby Cooke was born in Whittlebury, Northants, was baptised on 14 May 1816 in Whittlebury Church, Northants, and died in 1869 in Castle Ashby, Northampton at age 53.

Catherine married George Scriven in 1837 in Northampton, Northampton.²¹⁹ George was born <1811> and died in 1895 in London at age 84.

21. Henry Kirby was born <Dec 1798> and died on 29 Dec 1871 in Glapthorn, Northampton ^⁵² at age 73.

General Notes: Henry grew up in Blakesley and, presumably, from an early age helped his mother run the family's small holding there. He inherited the larger part of this on attaining the age of 21 and, four years later when his mother died, he also got possession of the house where she had lived. Meantime, he had got married to Hannah and continued to live in Blakesley until about 1829/30 when, it is to be supposed, he obtained the tenancy of a large farm (about 570 acres) at Glapthorn, near Oundle. Here he and Hannah lived for the rest of their lives; the farm being taken on by their surviving sons.

Some things about his life were:

• Grant of Administration: 4 Mar 1872, Peterborough. ²²⁰ Effects: under £3000

Henry married Hannah ———. Hannah was born <1800> in Floore, Northampton and died on 8 May 1880 in Glapthorn, Northampton ^²²¹ at age 80.

Children from this marriage were:

89 F i. Elizabeth Kirby ²²² was baptised on 29 Apr 1824 in St Mary's Church, Blakesley, Northants.^²²³

General Notes: The last trace that can be found of Elizabeth is in the 1841 Census; there is no record of her having got married or having died.

Elizabeth married George Rawlinson Berridge in Jul 1853 in St Peter's Church, Melbourne.²²⁴ George was born on 26 Apr 1820 in Warmington, Northampton.

90 M ii. Henry Kirby ²²² was baptised on 12 Dec 1825 in St Mary's Church, Blakesley, Northants ^²²⁵ and was buried on 28 Apr 1828 in St Mary's Church, Blakesley, Northants.^²²⁶

91 F iii. Charlotte Kirby ²²² was baptised on 7 Apr 1828 in St Mary's Church, Blakesley, Northants ^²²⁷ and died in 1855 in Glapthorn, Northampton ^²²⁸ at age 27.

92 F iv. Sophia Kirby was baptised on 20 Aug 1830 in St Leonard's Church, Glapthorn, Northamptonshire ^²²⁹ and died <1851> at age 21.

General Notes: Like her sister Elizabeth, no trace of Sophia can be found after the 1851 Census. However, there is a record of a Sophia Kirby dying in the district of Uppingham (not too far from where she lived) in 1851 and it may be that this refers to her.

93 F v. Ann Kirby was baptised on 11 Mar 1831 in St Leonard's Church, Glapthorn, Northamptonshire.^²³⁰

+ 94 M vi. Charles Henry Kirby was baptised on 31 Jul 1833 in St Leonard's Church, Glapthorn, Northamptonshire and died on 2 Mar 1907 in Glapthorn, Northampton at age 73.

95 F vii. Caroline Kirby was baptised on 27 Sep 1835 in St Leonard's Church, Glapthorn, Northamptonshire and was buried on 11 Jun 1836 in St Leonard's Church, Glapthorn, Northamptonshire.^²³⁵

General Notes: There is no trace of Caroline after the 1841 Census and to date (Oct 2006) no records have been found to indicate that she died or married.

96 F viii. Caroline Kirby was baptised on 13 Jun 1837 in St Leonard's Church, Glapthorn, Northamptonshire.^²³⁶

+ 97 F ix. Emma Maria Kirby was baptised on 22 Sep 1839 in St Leonard's Church, Glapthorn, Northamptonshire ^²³⁷ and died in 1871 in Peterborough ^²³⁸ at age 32.

+ 98 M x. Alfred William Kirby was baptised in May 1841 in St Leonard's Church, Glapthorn, Northamptonshire ^²⁴⁰ and died in 1921 in Glapthorn, Northampton ^²⁴¹ at age 80.

22. William Kirby was born <1800>, was baptised on 13 Apr 1800 in St Mary's Church, Blakesley, Northants, and died in 1868 in Victoria, Australia ^⁵³ at age 68.

General Notes: Though William's father left the family bakehouse to William's brother Henry, William seems to have been the one that took it on and in his early married life in Blakesley he was a baker and a maltster (having also, on the death of his mother in 1824, coming into possession of the malting that had belonged to his father). However, by the time of the birth of his son Thomas in 1836 he was describing himself as a Yeoman.

Some time in 1839 he decided to emigrate to Australia and in March 1840 he and Emma and their seven surviving children arrived in Melbourne on the China as unassisted immigrants. What prompted this bold move is not known. Perhaps, the prospects in Blakesley were not rosy and William, who was approaching 40 years of age, felt the need to make a new life elsewhere while he and Emma still had health and energy. As far as has been discovered, William and Emma were the first of this line of Kirbys to emigrate.

Up to 1839, all William's children were baptised in Blakesley church and the baptismal record for Reuben, the youngest, notes that the family was living in the hamlet of Woodend in Blakesley parish. In view of this it is rather doubtful that he ever farmed at Fawsley Park in Northamptonshire (about 6 miles northwest of Blakesley), though this is what he let be known when he arrived in Australia and acquired 1640 acres to farm on the Merri Creek, near Woodstock, about 25 miles north of Melbourne; nevertheless, he called his new property Fausley.

William farmed in Merri Creek for the rest of his life until shortly before he died. ⁵³

William married Emma Wilmer, daughter of Richard Wilmer and Mary Goodman, on 30 May 1822 in Loughton, Buckinghamshire.⁵⁴ Emma was born in 1796 in Broughton, Buckinghamshire, was baptised on 8 Feb 1796, and died in 1854 in Victoria, Australia at age 58.

Children from this marriage were:

99 F i. Mary Kirby ²²² was baptised on 12 Jan 1824 in St Mary's Church, Blakesley, Northants.^²⁴³

Mary married Alexander MacKinlay ⁵³ circa 1845. Alexander died in 1848 in Portland, Victoria, Australia.^⁵³ The cause of his death was drowning.

General Notes: "... a none too successful auctioneer at Portland" and later a public housekeeper there. ⁵³

100 M ii. Edmund Kirby ²²² was baptised on 11 Jan 1825 in St Mary's Church, Blakesley, Northants ^²⁴⁴ and died in Mar 1890 ^⁵³ at age 65.

General Notes: A full account of Edmund's life is given in S M Ingram's book: Enterprising Migrants (An Irish Family in Australia) published in Melbourne in 1975. ⁵³

Edmund married Mary Finn ⁵³ on 8 Jan 1852 in Portland, Victoria, Australia.⁵³ Mary was born <1822> in Kerry, Ireland ^⁵³ and died on 15 Aug 1913 in Melbourne ^⁵³ at age 91.

101 M iii. William Kirby ²²² was baptised on 8 Jan 1827 in St Mary's Church, Blakesley, Northants.^²⁴⁵

102 M iv. James Kirby ⁵³ was born in 1827 in Blakesley, Northants ^⁵³ and died in Sep 1904 in 160 Cotham Road, Kew, Melbourne ^⁵³ at age 77.

General Notes: A full account of James's life is given in S M Ingram's book: Enterprising Migrants (An Irish Family in Australia) published in Melbourne in 1975. ⁵³

James married Ellen Finn ⁵³ on 7 Aug 1849 in Portland, Victoria, Australia. Ellen died in Oct 1903 in Melbourne.^⁵³

103 M v. Henry Kirby ²²² was baptised on 2 Oct 1830 in St Mary's Church, Blakesley, Northants.^²⁴⁶

104 F vi. Emma Kirby ²²² was baptised on 15 Apr 1832 in St Mary's Church, Blakesley, Northants ^²⁴⁷ and was buried on 10 May 1832 in St Mary's Church, Blakesley, Northants.^²⁴⁸

105 F vii. Emma Wilmer Kirby ²²² was baptised on 7 Dec 1833 in St Mary's Church, Blakesley, Northants.^²⁴⁹

106 M viii. Thomas Kirby ²²² was baptised on 12 Jan 1836 in St Mary's Church, Blakesley, Northants.^²⁵⁰

107 M ix. Benjamin Kirby was born in 1837.

108 M x. Reuben H Kirby ²²² was baptised on 6 Oct 1839 in St Mary's Church, Blakesley, Northants.^²⁵¹

28. William Kirby ⁷⁷ was baptised on 10 Apr 1774 in Maidford Church, Maidford, Northants,^²⁵² died on 16 Nov 1832 at age 58, and was buried on 20 Nov 1832 in Moreton Pinkney, Northants.^⁸²

Some things about his life were:

• Will signed: 15 Nov 1832, Northamptonshire. William left this Will:

This is the last Will and Testament of me William Kirby of Moreton Pinkney in the County of Northampton Labourer as follows (that is to say)... I give and bequeath unto my dear wife Ann Kirby her executors administrators and assigns all and every my household goods and furniture plate linen and china and all this my personal estate and effects whatsoever and wheresoever and of what nature kind or quality soever that I shall die possessed of or interested in or in any way entitled to (after payment of all my just debts funeral expenses and the expense of proving and carrying into execution of this my Will) to her and for her own use and benefit... and I do hereby constitute and appoint my said wife Ann Kirby sole executrix of this to my last Will and Testament.... In Witness whereof I the said William Kirby the testator have hereunto set and affixed my hand and seal this fifteenth day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two. William Kirby [written very shakily]

Signed Sealed Published and Declared by the above the Testator William Kirby as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us and at his request in his presence and in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as witnesses thereto:... Sam^l Elliott, John Hemmings

• Probate Granted: 1 Jan 1833, Northamptonshire. On the first day of January 1833 Ann Kirby of Moreton Pinkney Widow the sole Executrix mentioned in the above Will was then sworn well and faithfully to perform the same and that the deceased at the time of his death (which happened on the 16th day of November 1832) was not possessed of goods chattels and credits to the value of two hundred pounds.
before me Gowen Evans, Surrogate

William married Ann Hinks on 12 Sep 1802 in Moreton Pinkney, Northants ⁸³.^,84 Ann was born <1780> in Morton Pinkney, Northants and was buried on 28 May 1852 in Moreton Pinkney, Northants.^²⁵³

General Notes: It is sad to record that despite surviving independently for many years after William died, Ann died a pauper having, no doubt, exhausted all the money that William left her. In her last years she lived with her daughter, Mary Harris and her husband.

Children from this marriage were:

109 F i. Mary Anne Kirby ²⁵⁴ was baptised on 14 Nov 1802 in Moreton Pinkney, Northants ^²⁵⁴ and died before 1816.

+ 110 M ii. William Kirby ²⁵⁵ was baptised on 23 Feb 1806 in Moreton Pinkney, Northants ^²⁵⁵ and died in 1873 in Sheppey, Kent ^²⁵⁶ at age 67.

111 F iii. Sarah Kirby ²⁵⁸ was baptised on 23 Jun 1809 in Moreton Pinkney, Northants,^²⁵⁸ died on 18 Nov 1832 at age 23, and was buried on 20 Nov 1832 in Moreton Pinkney, Northants.^²⁵⁹

Some things about her life were:

• Grant of Administration: 1 Jan 1833, Northamptonshire. ²⁶⁰ Sarah died intestate and administration was granted to Ann Kirby, mother, and James Watts of Maidford, a framework knitter, and John Hemmings of Towcester.

The value of Sarah's effects are not recorded but they must have been significant enough for her mother to apply for administration. The fact that Sarah had anything to administer is rather surprising considering her young age & the general financial situation & status of the family.

112 F iv. Elizabeth Kirby ²⁶¹ was baptised on 23 Feb 1812 in Moreton Pinkney, Northants ^²⁶¹ and was buried on 27 Dec 1831 in Moreton Pinkney, Northants.

113 M v. James Kirby ²⁶² was baptised on 4 Dec 1814 in Moreton Pinkney, Northants ^²⁶³ and was buried on 3 Mar 1816 in Moreton Pinkney, Northants.^²⁶⁴

+ 114 F vi. Mary Kirby ²⁶² was baptised on 17 Nov 1816 in Moreton Pinkney, Northants.^²⁶⁵

115 F vii. Ann Kirby ²⁶² was baptised on 25 Dec 1819 in Moreton Pinkney, Northants ^²⁶⁷ and was buried on 16 Jul 1820 in Moreton Pinkney, Northants.^²⁶⁸

116 F viii. Ann Kirby ²⁶² was baptised on 19 Aug 1821 in Moreton Pinkney, Northants ^²⁶⁹ and was buried on 26 Nov 1831 in Moreton Pinkney, Northants.

+ 117 M ix. Edmund Kirby ²⁶² was baptised on 29 May 1825 in Moreton Pinkney, Northants ^²⁷⁰ and died in 1904 in Moreton Pinkney, Northants at age 79.

32. James Kirby ⁹² was born in 1779 ^⁹³ and was buried on 5 Nov 1824 in Maidford Churchyard, Maidford, Northants.^²⁷²

James married Mary Taylor on 1 May 1800 in Maidford Church, Maidford, Northants.⁹⁵ Mary was buried on 14 Dec 1806 in Maidford Churchyard, Maidford, Northants.^²⁷³ The cause of her death was probably the result of childbirth.

Children from this marriage were:

+ 118 F i. Sarah Kirby ²⁷⁴ was baptised on 14 Aug 1803 in Maidford Church, Maidford, Northants.^²⁷⁵

119 M ii. William Kirby ²⁷⁶ was baptised on 7 Dec 1806 in Maidford Church, Maidford, Northants ^²⁷⁷ and was buried on 25 Dec 1806 in Maidford Churchyard, Maidford, Northants.^²⁷⁸

35. Cecilia Kirby was baptised on 6 Apr 1783 in Maidford Church, Maidford, Northants,^¹⁰⁰ died on 26 Apr 1832 ^¹⁰¹ at age 49, and was buried on 29 Apr 1832 in Maidford Church, Maidford, Northants.^¹⁰²

Some things about her life were:

• Grant of Administration: 4 Sep 1832. ²⁷⁹ Personal Effects: under £100

Cecilia had one or more relationships with unknown men

Their children were:

120 M i. Anthony Kirby ²⁸⁰ was baptised on 15 Nov 1812 in Maidford Church, Maidford, Northants.^²⁸¹ (Illegitimate)

General Notes: Anthony is recorded as an agricultural labourer in the census of 1851. By that time, he is married to Alice but after that date they completely disappear from the census & births, deaths and marriages records. It must be supposed therefore that they emigrated to the colonies.

Anthony married Alice ——— between 1841 and 1851. Alice was born <1812> in Astcote, Northamptonshire.

121 M ii. Mathias Kirby ²⁸² was baptised on 12 May 1816 in Maidford Church, Maidford, Northants.^²⁸³ (Illegitimate)

122 F iii. Matilda Kirby ²⁸² was baptised on 23 May 1819 in Maidford Church, Maidford, Northants.^²⁸⁴ (Illegitimate)

Cecilia had a relationship with ——— Wrighten.

Their child was:

123 F i. Sarah Wrighten ²⁸⁰ was baptised on 12 Mar 1809 in Maidford Church, Maidford, Northants.^²⁸⁵ (Illegitimate)

38. Phœbe Kirby ⁷⁶ was baptised on 5 Jul 1789 in Maidford Church, Maidford, Northants ^⁷⁶ and died before 1841.

Phœbe married James Watts ²⁸⁶ on 9 Aug 1813 in Maidford Church, Maidford, Northants.¹⁰⁷ James was born <1786> in Northamptonshire and died in 1849 in Maidford, Northamptonshire at age 63.

General Notes: According to some Bonds for Grants of Administration which he was involved with in 1832 & 1833, James was a "framework knitter" but at the time of the 1841 Census he described himself as a "stocking maker" which he, presumably, knitted on a frame. ²⁸⁷

Children from this marriage were:

124 M i. Robert Watts ²⁸⁸ was baptised on 21 Nov 1814 in Maidford Church, Maidford, Northants.^²⁸⁸

125 F ii. Ally Moore Watts ²⁸⁹ was baptised on 4 Feb 1827 in Maidford Church, Maidford, Northants.^²⁸⁹

Ally married John Francis Swan, son of Sarah ———, in 1847 in Maidford, Northants. John was born <1825> in Maidford, Northants.

42. John Kirby ¹⁰ was baptised on 24 Jun 1781 in St Mary's Church, Blakesley, Northants ^¹⁰ and died after 1810.

John married Elizabeth Higham,²⁹⁰ daughter of Thomas Higham, on 24 Jan 1804 in St Mary's Church, Blakesley, Northants.¹²²

Children from this marriage were:

126 M i. Thomas Kirby ²⁹¹ was baptised on 6 May 1804 in St Mary's Church, Blakesley, Northants ^²⁹² and died on 1 Jan 1869 at age 64.

Thomas married Rebecca Garner on 23 Feb 1843 in Towcester, Northants. Rebecca was born <1809> in Towcester, Northants and died on 21 Jun 1879 at age 70.

127 M ii. Edmund Kirby ²⁹³ was baptised on 12 May 1807 in Ashendon, Bucks.^²⁹³

43. William Kirby was born <1784>, died in May 1818 ^²¹ at age 34, and was buried on 4 Jun 1818 in St Mary's Church, Blakesley, Northants.^¹²³

General Notes: Died in all probability at Woolston, Bucks

William married Mary ———.¹¹⁷ Mary was born <1782> and was buried on 7 Dec 1809 in St Nicholas's Churchyard, Lillingstone Dayrell, Bucks.^²⁹⁴

Marriage Notes: No children of William's & Mary's marriage have been found.

William next married Sarah Scott,²⁹⁵ daughter of John Scott and Ann Mason, on 9 Jul 1812 in St Edmund's Church, Maids Moreton, Bucks.¹²⁴ Sarah died before 1836.

General Notes: There were quite a large family of Scotts living in the parish of Maids Moreton at the time Sarah married William.

Children from this marriage were:

128 F i. Mary Kirby ²⁹⁶ was born <1813>, died in Aug 1836 ^²⁹⁷ at age 23, and was buried on 6 Sep 1836 in St Mary's Church, Blakesley, Northants.^²⁹⁸

Some things about her life were:

• Will signed: 26 May 1836. ⁷¹ Mary left most of her possessions and property more or less equally split between her sister Ann and her half sister Sarah Dickins. However, she had inherited from her grandfather, John Scott, two cottages in Padbury which she instructed her executors to sell and after making a small bequest to her aunt Ann, who was the wife of her late uncle Richard Scott, rather surprisingly, left the remainder of the proceeds of these cottages to her "friend" James Buckingham who, it appears, was the servant of a Mrs Ann Smithson in Maids Morton and who was a witness with Mary at her sister Ann's wedding in March 1836; perhaps Mary and James were romantically attached.

• Probate Granted: 11 Oct 1836, London. ²⁹⁹ Mary had appointed two solicitors Thomas Hearn and George Nelson practising in Buckingham to be her joint executors. They were granted administration of her estate in October 1836

+ 129 F ii. Ann Kirby ³⁰⁰ was born <1815> in Northamptonshire.

46. Thomas Kirby ¹⁰ was baptised on 30 Sep 1792 in St Mary's Church, Blakesley, Northants,^¹⁰ died in Jul 1840 ^¹²⁵ at age 47, and was buried on 29 Jul 1840 in St Mary's Church, Blakesley, Northants.^³⁰²

General Notes: After his marriage to Elizabeth, Thomas farmed in the parish of Litchborough (a neighbouring parish to Blakesley) possibly in conjunction with some of Elizabeth's family. About 1820, his cousin Thomas Kirby left to Lord's Fields farm in the parish of Whittlebury and Thomas took over the tenancy there. It was a farm belonging to the Grafton Estate.

Some things about his life were:

• Will: 6 Jun 1840, Towcester, Northants. ³⁰³ Thomas left his wife Elizabeth all his household goods, furniture, &c., but the remainder of his personal estate he put into a trust. The trustees were to use £500 to obtain an income for Elizabeth during her lifetime and on her death the £500 was to be split between the survivors of his eight children.

The Trustees were also directed to pay legacies to his eight children: His eldest son William - £60, the other children £100 each. The Trustees were then directed to divide any residue equally between all his children.

NOTE: It is not clear why William only received £60 when all the other children got £100 each. As the eldest son, one might have expected William to have received more or at least be left some additional property but this was not the case. Perhaps, William had upset his father in one way or another or was due to inherit something from his mother's side of the family.

• Probate Granted: 10 Mar 1841, Archdeaconry of Northampton. ³⁰⁴ Personal Effects: under £1500

Thomas married Elizabeth Wait, daughter of Robert Wait and Ann ———, on 12 Mar 1812 in Litchborough Church, Northants.¹²⁷ Elizabeth was baptised on 12 Nov 1788 in Litchborough Church, Northants.^³⁰⁵

Children from this marriage were:

130 M i. William Kirby ³⁰⁶ was born <1813> in Litchborough, Northants ^³⁰⁷ and was baptised on 8 Jun 1813 in Litchborough Church, Northants.^³⁰⁸

131 M ii. Jeremiah Kirby ³⁰⁹ was born in May 1815 in Litchborough, Northants,^³⁰⁹ was baptised on 4 Jun 1815 in Litchborough Church, Northants,^³¹⁰ and was buried on 13 Jun 1815 in Litchborough Church, Northants.^³¹¹

132 F iii. Ann Kirby ³⁰⁶ was born <1817> in Litchborough, Northants,^³¹² was baptised on 20 Jul 1817 in Litchborough Church, Northants,^³¹³ and died in 1900 in Greens Norton, Northants at age 83.

General Notes: At the time of the 1881 Census, Ann was living, with her sister Henrietta & brother-in-law John Ratledge in Greens Norton. She described herself as an unemployed domestic servant. ³¹²

+ 133 M iv. Thomas Kirby ³⁰⁶ was born in 1820 in Whittlebury, Northants,^³¹⁴ was baptised on 16 Dec 1821 in Whittlebury Church, Northants,^³¹⁵ and died between 1881 and 1891 about age 61.

134 M v. Martin Kirby ³⁰⁶ ^,317 was born <1823> in Whittlebury, Northants ^³¹⁷ and was baptised on 26 Jan 1823 in Whittlebury Church, Northants.^³¹⁸

135 F vi. Elizabeth Kirby ³⁰⁶ was born <1824> in Whittlebury, Northants ^³¹⁹ and was baptised on 31 Oct 1824 in Whittlebury Church, Northants.^³²⁰

General Notes: The time of the 1881 Census, Elizabeth was working as the housekeeper to a young (32 year-old) bachelor called Henry Cooper who farmed a farm called Gullet in Adstone, Northants.

On the day of the Census she was being visited by her young niece, Elizabeth Ratledge (daughter of her sister Henrietta) and a friend of her niece from Greens Norton. ³¹⁹

136 F vii. Charlotte Kirby ³⁰⁶ was born <1826> in Whittlebury, Northants and was baptised on 31 Dec 1826 in Whittlebury Church, Northants.^³²¹

+ 137 F viii. Sarah Kirby ³⁰⁶ was born <1829> in Whittlebury, Northants,^³²² was baptised on 15 Jan 1829 in Whittlebury Church, Northants,^³²³ and died in 1888 in Northampton, Northampton at age 59.

+ 138 F ix. Henrietta Kirby ³⁰⁶ was born <1833> in Whittlebury, Northants ^³¹² and was baptised on 21 Apr 1833 in Whittlebury Church, Northants.^³²⁴

Fourth Generation

49. John Malsbury Kirby ³² was baptised on 25 Aug 1793 in St Mary's Church, Hardmead, Bucks,^¹⁵² died on 3 Jan 1837 in Paulerspury, Northampton ^³² at age 43, and was buried on 7 Jan 1837 in St Nicholas's Church, Potterspury, Northants.^{³⁴^,154^,326}

General Notes: Malsbury was a farmer who for most of his adult life farmed land belonging to the Earl of Pomfret's estate in the parish of Paulerspury in Northamptonshire where he lived and died and where all his children were born and baptised.

The 1820 Paulerspury Property Map shows Malsbury owning a house with a garden amounting to 1 rood & 28 poles (a bit under ½ an acre); the house and outbuildings are still there (2005). The Land Tax Assessment (LTA) records for Paulerspury parish from 1825 to 1832 — the records do not extend beyond 1832 — show that, in addition to the one he occupied himself, he at one time owned another house in the parish that he let; the records also show that he was paying £131 per annum for the land that he was farming. Given an average rental cost of £1.15 per acre, which appears to have been about the going rate in the district at that time, his acreage would have been about 115, about half the size of his father's farm at Moor End. Later, of course, after his father died in 1834, he inherited some buildings and land in the parishes of Weedon Beck & Collingtree but it is doubtful that he farmed those himself.

There is a family story that Malsbury and Ann lived for a time at Pury Lodge (otherwise Potterspury Lodge) and there is another family story that seems to corroborate the Pury Lodge one. This involves one of Ann Kirby's brothers-in-law, William Worley, who, so the story goes, rode a new hunter up the staircase there in order to show it off to her when she was unwell and unable to come downstairs; the broad, oak staircase there would have allowed such a feat of horsemanship and Pury Lodge is, probably, one of the few houses in the district with such a staircase.

Pury Lodge during Malsbury and Ann's married life was owned by the Mordaunt family of Walton Hall, Warwickshire; it is situated in the parish of Potterspury, hence its alternative name of Potterspury Lodge. As far as has been discovered from the LTA records from 1825 to 1832 for Potterspury parish and from other sources, the Pury Lodge farm was let to a John Kendall who is recorded in the LTA records as being in occupation during that period and who is to be found living there at the time of the 1841 Census; it is to be supposed, therefore, that he and his family had lived in the house since taking on the farm in the 1820s. In view of this and the fact that all six of the Kirby children were born in Paulerspury between 1826 and 1836 it seems improbable that the Kirbys ever lived at Pury Lodge. Moreover, Malsbury described himself as a Yeoman of Paulerspury in his Will of July 1835 and his burial entry in the parish register of Potterspury gave his abode as "Paulerspury", which places him very firmly in Paulerspury towards the end of his life; that he was buried at Potterspury is because the Kirby family vault was in the church there.

It would be interesting to know who originated the stories about Pury Lodge. Richard James Green (1880-1978) who passed them down knew his grandmother Amelia Green (née Kirby) as she was alive during the first twenty three years of his life. She was just ten years old when her father Malsbury died but she would have been quite old enough to know where the family had lived and possibly about William Worley's escapade, so it may be that she, or perhaps her son Eli (Richard's father), was tempted to be a little creative in telling them. There is no doubt that Richard Green accepted the stories absolutely when they were told to him; indeed, so convinced was he of the truth of them that he paid a special visit to Pury Lodge in 1936 in the hope of being able to see round the house and view the staircase; the owner George Beale was happy to oblige. ³²⁷ ^,328 ^,329 ^,330 ^,331

Some things about his life were:

• Will signed: 29 Jul 1835, Northamptonshire. ³³² Malsbury left his wife an annuity of £30 per annum and an interest in all his household goods, furniture, chattels, etc., during her lifetime provided she did not remarry. The annuity was to be charged on the rents that he received from the property that he had inherited from his father in Weedon Beck & in Collingtree. All his other assets were to be liquidated and the proceeds invested in government or other secure stock and held in a trust for the benefit of his children.

Malsbury appointed his brother Edmund, his brother-in-law Eli Kirby and his cousin John Malsbury Cooke, who was an attorney in Towcester, as executors and trustees of his Will & as guardians for his children during their minorities.

• Probate Granted: 23 Feb 1837, Northamptonshire. ³³³ Probate was granted to Edmund Kirby, Eli Elkins & John Malsbury Cooke who swore that Malsbury's estate was not more than £1500.

Malsbury married Ann Elkins,³³⁴ ^,335 daughter of Joseph Elkins and Mary Kilpin, on 27 Jan 1825 in St Andrew's Church, Great Linford, Bucks..¹⁵⁵ Ann was born on 21 Jun 1805,^³³⁴ was baptised on 27 Jun 1805 in Great Meeting Chapel (Independent), Newport-Pagnell, Bucks,^³³⁵ died on 15 Oct 1874 in Towcester, Northants ^{³³⁶^,337} at age 69, and was buried on 19 Oct 1874 in St Nicholas's Cemetery, Potterspury, Northants.^³³⁸

Some things about her life were:

• Grant of Administration: 12 Nov 1874, Northampton, Northampton. ³³⁹ Effects under £200

Children from this marriage were:

+ 139 F i. Ann Amelia Kirby was born <1826> in Paulerspury, Northampton, was baptised on 13 Jan 1826 in St James the Great, Paulerspury, Northants,^³⁴⁰ and died in 1883 in Edgbaston, Warwickshire ^³⁴¹ at age 57.

+ 140 F ii. Amelia Catherine Kirby was born on 20 Nov 1826 in Paulerspury, Northampton,^³⁴³ was baptised on 13 Jan 1831 in St James the Great, Paulerspury, Northants,^³⁴⁴ and died on 9 Apr 1901 in 17 Prince's Street, Northampton ^³⁴⁵ at age 74.

141 F iii. Leah Sophia Kirby ³⁴⁷ was born on 11 Nov 1828 in Paulerspury, Northampton,^³⁴⁷ was baptised on 13 Jan 1831 in St James the Great, Paulerspury, Northants,^³⁴⁸ and was buried on 5 Jan 1843 in St Lawrence's Church, Towcester, Northants.^³⁴⁹

+ 142 M iv. John Malsbury Kirby ³⁵⁰ was born on 19 Jul 1830 in Paulerspury, Northampton,^³⁵⁰ was baptised on 13 Jan 1831 in St James the Great, Paulerspury, Northants,^³⁵¹ and died in 1917 in Henley in Arden, Warwickshire ^³⁵² at age 87.

143 F v. Mary Elkins Kirby ³⁵⁵ was born <1833> in Paulerspury, Northampton, was baptised on 9 May 1833 in St James the Great, Paulerspury, Northants,^³⁵⁶ died on 7 Jul 1890 in Towcester, Northants ^¹⁴⁸ at age 57, and was buried on 10 Jul 1890 in St Nicholas's Cemetery, Potterspury, Northants.^³⁵⁷

Some things about her life were:

• Probate Granted: 22 Jul 1890, Northampton, Northampton. ³⁵⁸ Personal Estate: £1066 15s 7d

+ 144 M vi. Edmund Thomas Eli Kirby was born <1836> in Paulerspury, Northampton.^³⁵⁹

55. Catherine Kirby ¹⁶³ was born on 19 Jan 1800 in Towcester, Northants,^{¹⁶³^,173} was baptised on 24 Jul 1800 in St Lawrence's Church, Towcester, Northants,^{¹⁶³^,174} died on 1 Nov 1879 in Towcester, Northants ^{¹⁷⁵^,176} at age 79, and was buried on 7 Nov 1879 in Greens Norton, Northants.^¹⁷⁷

Some things about her life were:

• Probate Granted: 22 Nov 1879, Northampton, Northampton. ³⁶¹ Personal Estate under £12,000

Catherine married Henry Elliott, son of William Elliott and Catherine Flesher, on 14 Oct 1819 in St Lawrence's Church, Towcester, Northants.¹⁷⁸ Henry was baptised on 22 May 1794 in St Bartholomew's Church, Greens Norton, Northants,^³⁶² died in Feb 1842 in Heathencote, Northants ^¹⁷⁵ at age 47, and was buried on 28 Feb 1842 in Greens Norton, Northants.^³⁶³

General Notes: Henry was a well-to-do farmer who, in his younger days, farmed Potcote in the parish of Greens Norton and who later had a sizable farm in the hamlet of Heathencote in the parish of Paulerspury. His wealth is well demonstrated in his Will and by the fact that, though not resident in the parish of Towcester, he gave the church of St Lawrence £50 for the beautification and improvement of its altarpiece, possibly encouraged by his mother who worshipped there.

Some things about his life were:

• Will signed: Towcester, Northants. Henry's carefully drawn Will noted that he had made £2000 available to his daughter Catherine Cleaver through her marriage settlement with Samuel Perkins. He also noted that he had provided for his two surviving sons John Malsbury Kirby Elliott & Henry Elliott by conveying to them, with the assistance of his wife, various freeholds including one in Adstone which had been left to his wife by her father.

Henry left his two unmarried daughters, Frances and Mary, £2000 each in trust the interest of which was to be paid to them on their attaining the age of 21 years or their marriage, with the capital be divided at their respective deaths amongst any surviving children they might have when those children attained the age of 21 years.

The rest of his estate he left to his wife Catherine whom he made his sole executrix having appointed his brother John Elliott, his son John Malsbury Kirby Elliott & his nephew John William Roper trustees.

Children from this marriage were:

145 F i. Catherine Cleaver Elliott ³⁶⁴ was born on 20 Aug 1821 in Potcote, Northants,^³⁶⁴ was baptised on 10 Oct 1821 in St Bartholomew's Church, Greens Norton, Northants,^³⁶⁵ and died in 1848 in Potterspury, Northants ^³⁶⁶ at age 27.

Catherine married Samuel Perkins, son of Samuel Perkins and Sarah ———, in 1841 in Potterspury, Northants.³⁶⁷ Samuel was born <1816> in Towcester, Northants.

Marriage Notes: Samuel and Catherine had three children before Catherine died; one son, Henry Elliott born in 1842 and two daughters, Catherine Sarah born 44 & Mary born 1847.

146 M ii. John Malsbury Kirby Elliott ³⁶⁴ was baptised on 31 May 1823 in St Bartholomew's Church, Greens Norton, Northants ^³⁶⁸ and died in 1905 in Leamington Priors, Warwickshire ^³⁶⁹ at age 82.

General Notes: After his father died, John seems to have taken over the running of the farm at Heathencote (and probably the tenancy also) because we find him and his new bride, Ellen, there in the 1851 Census. He was still there in 1868 when his son, Gilbert Malsbury Elliott, was buried at Greens Norton. However, by the 1881 Census we find him and his family living at Lillingstone Hall in Buckinghamshire where he is said to be "Farmer occupying 1160 acres Employing 28 men 10 Boys".

It is interesting to find him farming in Lillingstone Lovell. Some of his Kirby forebears also farmed in that area and it may well be that he inherited some land there from that side of the family. When he retired from farming he and Ellen went to live in Leamington Prior (later Leamington Spa). ³⁷⁰

John married Ellen Roper,³⁷² daughter of Bennet Roper and Caroline ———, in 1851 in Towcester, Northants.³⁷¹ Ellen was born <1828> in Bilsworth, Northants.^³⁷²

147 F iii. Frances Elliott ³⁶⁴ was baptised on 26 Jun 1825 in St Bartholomew's Church, Greens Norton, Northants ^³⁷³ and died in 1859 in Towcester, Northants ^³⁷⁴ at age 34.

Frances married Daniel Addington Cobbett in 1846 in Potterspury, Northants.³⁷⁵ Daniel was born <1818> in Edmonton, Middlesex and died in 1875 in Ongar, Essex ^³⁷⁶ at age 57.

General Notes: Sometime architect, surveyor & land agent

148 M iv. Henry Elliott ³⁶⁴ was baptised on 9 Mar 1827 in St Bartholomew's Church, Greens Norton, Northants ^³⁷⁷ and died in 1875 in Towcester, Northants ^³⁷⁸ at age 48.

Henry married Ann Hill Gibbes in 1855 in Northampton, Northampton.³⁷⁹ Ann was born <1822> in Towcester, Northants and died in 1887 in Towcester, Northants ^³⁸⁰ at age 65.

149 F v. Mary Elliott ³⁶⁴ was baptised on 5 Nov 1828 in St Bartholomew's Church, Greens Norton, Northants.^³⁸¹

150 M vi. William Elliott ³⁸² was buried on 24 Mar 1832 in Greens Norton, Northants.^³⁸²

62. Revd John Malsbury Kirby ¹⁸³ was born in Feb 1795 in Rugby, Warwickshire,^¹⁹⁴ was baptised on 6 Jul 1795 in St. Andrews, Rugby, Warwickshire,^¹⁹⁵ and died on 1 Dec 1840 in Hagley, Worcestershire ^¹⁹⁶ at age 45.

General Notes: The Alumni Cantabrigienses has this record of John:
Adm. sizar at QUEENS', Mar. 27, 1822; a 'Ten-year man'^†. Of Warwickshire. [S. of Edmund. School, Rugby.] Matric. Easter, 1822; B.D. (Stat. Eliz.) 1832. Second Master of the Stourbridge Free Grammar School, and Chaplain of Stourbridge Union. Died Dec. 1, 1840, at Hagley, aged 45. (Rugby Sch. Reg.; Clergy List; G. Mag., 1841, I. 102 ('Malsby').)

^† A mature student; an `undergraduate, who had entered the University after having attained the age of twenty-four, and professed to have entirely devoted himself to the study of theology, was permitted, if he had performed the statutory exercises and ten years had elapsed since the date of his first admission, to graduate as a Bachelor of Divinity without having taken a previous degree.' (Winstanley 1940, p. 153). ³⁸³

John married Elizabeth Peell,¹⁸³ daughter of Abraham Peell and Sarah Ferguson, on 6 Jun 1823 in St Thomas, Winchester, Hampshire.¹⁹⁷ Elizabeth was baptised on 29 Nov 1795 in St Giles Cripplegate, London and died in 1868 in Wiltshire ^³⁸⁴ at age 73.

General Notes: After John died, Elizabeth seems to have worked for a short while as a governess at her husband's old school, the Grammar School in Stourbridge, but by 1847 she and at least one of her sons Alfred, had moved down to near Hungerford in Wiltshire where she was fortunate to obtain an apartment with an annuity in the Somerset Froxfield College or Hospital, a charitable establishment setup by the Duchess of Somerset for clergy and lay widows (see note below).
It seems unlikely that any of her sons were able to live with her at Froxfield — teenage boys cannot have been allowed in this all-female establishment — so, no doubt, Albert was in lodgings nearby when he died in 1847.

Elizabeth herself seems to have died some distance from the hospital as the registration of her death is not in Hungerford (the registration district for Froxfield) but in Devizes. However, there may be reasons other than the place of her death that dictated where it was registered.

The Somerset Hospital in 2006. Photograph by Brian Robert Marshall and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

NOTE:
The Somerset Hospital was founded in 1686 by Sarah, Duchess of Somerset, for the housing and maintenance of 30 poor widows. She was an outstanding 17th century benefactress helping both schools and apprentices and providing scholarships at Oxford and Cambridge. The original building, erected in 1694, provided 30 apartments and 20 more were added in 1771-73 so in Elizabeth's time 50 widows and their attendant daughters or maids could be accommodated. Of these 19 were widows of clergyman, the remainder being widows of laymen. There was also an apartment for a steward or warden though this also seems to have been occupied by another widow during Elizabeth's time there; perhaps she doubled as the warden.

The hospital's original chapel was replaced by a stone one in 1813 and there has always been a chaplain appointed to take services in it. The hospital is still operating (2009) and in 1986 a total care home for 40 people was built behind the hospital where priority is given to hospital residents who can no longer look after themselves.³⁸⁵

[This information about the Somerset Hospital is taken from a short piece about it posted on the Internet by the Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre]

Children from this marriage were:

151 F i. Sarah Clarissa Kirby ¹⁸³ ^,386 was born on 24 May 1824,^³⁸⁶ was baptised on 2 Jul 1824 in St Thomas, Heaton Norris, Lancashire,^³⁸⁶ and died in 1840 in Stourbridge, Staffordshire ^³⁸⁷ at age 16.

152 M ii. John Malsbury Kirby ¹⁸³ was baptised on 12 Jul 1827 in St. Thomas, Heaton Norris, Lancashire.^³⁸⁶

+ 153 M iii. George Edmund Kirby ¹⁸³ was born on 10 Jun 1828 in Heaton Norris, Lancashire,^³⁸⁶ was baptised on 9 Oct 1831 in St Thomas, Heaton Norris, Lancashire,^³⁸⁶ and died in 1911 in Exeter ^³⁸⁸ at age 83.

154 M iv. Alfred Peell Kirby ¹⁸³ was born on 3 Feb 1830 in Heaton Norris, Lancashire,^³⁸⁶ was baptised on 9 Oct 1831 in St. Thomas, Heaton Norris, Lancashire,^³⁸⁶ and died in 1847 in Hungerford, Wiltshire ^³⁹⁰ at age 17.

155 M v. Francis Kirby ¹⁸³ ^,391 was born on 4 Jun 1832 ^³⁹¹ and was baptised on 23 Oct 1832 in Old Swinford, Worcestershire.^³⁹¹

General Notes: Francis's early trade was as a rule maker in London for which he served an apprenticeship. Sadly, after the 1861 census no trace can be found of him again, which suggests that he may have gone abroad. Interestingly enough, a death is recorded in 1891 of a Francis Kirby in Thanet, who appears to have been born in the same year as this Francis; as there are relatively few deaths recorded for Kirbys named Francis, it might well be that this is a record of this Francis's death but nothing has been found to corroborate this.

156 M vi. Henry Ash Kirby ¹⁸³ was born on 6 Feb 1834 ^³⁹¹ and was baptised on 23 Apr 1834 in Old Swinford, Worcestershire.^³⁹¹

General Notes: At the time of his marriage 1863 Henry said he was a Commercial Clerk, earlier he had worked as a clerk in the Bute Dock in Cardiff which is where he met his wife.

After their marriage Henry & Ann disappear; there is no record of them in following censuses nor is there any record of Henry's death in the index to the general register. Perhaps they emigrated.

Henry married Ann Milne ¹⁸³ on 9 Dec 1863 in Strand Register Office, London ¹⁸³.^,392 Ann was born in 1830 in Scotland.

Marriage Notes: Henry & Ann must have met when he went to Cardiff to work as a clerk at the Bute Docks because the 1861 census shows Ann working as Henry's housekeeper at 49 Bute St.

+ 157 M vii. Edward Charles Kirby ¹⁸³ was born on 24 Jun 1836 in Old Swinford, Worcestershire,^³⁹³ was baptised on 7 Jul 1836 in Old Swinford, Worcestershire,^³⁹¹ and died in Dec 1883 in Japan ^¹⁸³ at age 47.

158 F viii. Isabella Elizabeth Kirby ¹⁸³ ^,391 was born on 10 May 1838,^{³⁹¹^,394} was baptised on 12 Nov 1838 in Old Swinford, Worcestershire,^³⁹¹ and died on 24 Nov 1840 ^{³⁹¹^,395} at age 2.

78. Mary Dunkley died before 1838.

Mary married William Brown Manning, son of Isaac Manning and Susanna Brown. William was born <1807> in Wickham, Essex and died in 1859 in Towcester, Northants ^³⁹⁶ at age 52.

General Notes: William farmed about 250 acres in and around Towcester and lived In the High Street there.

The child from this marriage was:

159 F i. Mary Manning was born <1830> in Heathencote, Northamptonshire.

80. Sarah Dunkley was born <1811> and died in 1888 in Towcester, Northants at age 77.

Sarah married William Brown Manning, son of Isaac Manning and Susanna Brown, circa 1839. William was born <1807> in Wickham, Essex and died in 1859 in Towcester, Northants ^³⁹⁶ at age 52.

General Notes: William farmed about 250 acres in and around Towcester and lived In the High Street there.

Children from this marriage were:

160 M i. William Brown Manning was born in 1840 in Towcester, Northants.^³⁹⁷

161 F ii. Sophia Lumley Manning was born in 1841 in Towcester, Northants ^³⁹⁸ and died in 1858 in Towcester, Northants ^³⁹⁹ at age 17.

162 F iii. Sarah Dunkley Manning ⁴⁰⁰ was born <1842> in Towcester, Northants.^⁴⁰⁰

163 M iv. Charles Manning ⁴⁰⁰ was born <1844> in Towcester, Northants.^⁴⁰⁰

Charles married Mary Louise Sheppard in 1869 in Towcester, Northants.⁴⁰¹ Mary was born <1840> in Towcester, Northants and died in 1880 in Potterspury, Northants at age 40.

164 M v. John Lumley Manning was born in 1845 in Towcester, Northants.^⁴⁰²

165 M vi. Isaac Henry Manning ⁴⁰⁰ was born <1850> in Towcester, Northants.^⁴⁰⁰

94. Charles Henry Kirby was baptised on 31 Jul 1833 in St Leonard's Church, Glapthorn, Northamptonshire and died on 2 Mar 1907 in Glapthorn, Northampton at age 73.

Some things about his life were:

• Probate Granted: 14 Aug 1907, London. ⁴⁰³ Effects: £2133 6s 3d

Charles married Gertrude De Wilde Cater, daughter of William Charles Cater and Gertrude Antonia De Wilde, in 1873 in St George's Hanover Square.²³² Gertrude was born in 1842 in Pimlico, Middlesex and died in 1874 in Glapthorn, Northampton ^⁴⁰⁴ at age 32. The cause of her death was childbirth.

The child from this marriage was:

166 F i. Gertrude Hannah de Wilde Kirby was born in 1874 in Glapthorn, Northampton.

Charles next married Caroline Hancock, daughter of John Hancock and Elizabeth ———, in 1876 in Pancras, London.²³³ Caroline was born in 1839 in Glapthorn, Northampton.

Children from this marriage were:

167 F i. Caroline Maud Kirby was born in 1877 in Glapthorn, Northampton.

168 M ii. Henry Augustus Kirby was born in 1878 in Glapthorn, Northampton and died on 18 Jun 1917 in Ypres, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium ^⁴⁰⁵ at age 39.

Some things about his life were:

• Probate Granted: 15 Oct 1917, London. ⁴⁰⁶ Effects: £4122 8s 6d

169 F iii. Violet Adelaide Kirby was born in 1879 in Glapthorn, Northampton.

170 M iv. Charles William Kirby was born <1882> in Glapthorn, Northampton.

171 F v. Margaret Annie Kirby was born in 1884 in Glapthorn, Northampton.

97. Emma Maria Kirby was baptised on 22 Sep 1839 in St Leonard's Church, Glapthorn, Northamptonshire ^²³⁷ and died in 1871 in Peterborough ^²³⁸ at age 32. The cause of her death was childbirth.

Emma married William Beaver, son of Thomas Beaver and Harriet Frisby, in 1869 in Glapthorn, Northampton.²³⁹ William was born <1841> in Peterborough.

The child from this marriage was:

172 M i. William Alfred Henry Kirby Beaver was born in Jan 1871 in Peterborough.^⁴⁰⁷

98. Alfred William Kirby was baptised in May 1841 in St Leonard's Church, Glapthorn, Northamptonshire ^²⁴⁰ and died in 1921 in Glapthorn, Northampton ^²⁴¹ at age 80.

Alfred married Mary Ann Beaver, daughter of Thomas Beaver and Harriet Frisby, in 1881 in Peterborough.²⁴² Mary was born in 1847 in Peterborough ^⁴⁰⁸ and died in 1919 in Glapthorn, Northampton ^⁴⁰⁹ at age 72.

Children from this marriage were:

173 M i. Alfred Bertram Kirby was born in 1883 in Glapthorn, Northampton ^⁴¹⁰ and died in 1894 in Glapthorn, Northampton ^⁴¹¹ at age 11.

174 M ii. Cyril Foers Kirby was born in 1884 in Glapthorn, Northampton,^⁴¹² died on 2 Mar 1916 in Loos, Pas de Calais, France ^⁴¹³ at age 32, and was buried in Dud Corner Cemetery, Loos, Pas de Calais, France.

175 F iii. Harriet Hannah Kirby was born in 1886 in Glapthorn, Northampton.^⁴¹⁴

176 M iv. Reginald Marriott Kirby was born in 1889 in Glapthorn, Northampton.^⁴¹⁵

110. William Kirby ²⁵⁵ was baptised on 23 Feb 1806 in Moreton Pinkney, Northants ^²⁵⁵ and died in 1873 in Sheppey, Kent ^²⁵⁶ at age 67.

William married Maria Westbrook on 14 Apr 1833 in St Mary, Newington, Surrey.²⁵⁷ Maria was born <1811> in Rotherhithe, Surrey and died in 1879 in Sheppey, Kent ^⁴¹⁶ at age 68.

Children from this marriage were:

177 F i. Ann Elizabeth Kirby ⁴¹⁷ was born <1835> in Stepney, Middlesex.^⁴¹⁷

Ann married James Flyne Westbrook in 1861 in Bermondsey, London.⁴¹⁸ James was born <1836> in Rotherhithe, Surrey.^⁴¹⁹

178 F ii. Mary Ann Kirby ⁴¹⁷ was born in 1838 in Ratcliffe, Middlesex.^{⁴¹⁷^,420}

Mary married in 1861 in Bermondsey, London.⁴²¹

179 F iii. Eliza Ann Kirby ⁴¹⁷ was born in 1843 in Ratcliffe, Middlesex.^{⁴¹⁷^,422}

180 F iv. Harriet Ann Kirby ⁴¹⁷ was born in 1846 in Christ Church, Southwark, Surrey.^⁴¹⁷

181 M v. William Henry Kirby ⁴¹⁷ was born in 1850 in Lambeth, Surrey.^{⁴¹⁷^,423}

William married Agnes Richards in 1875 in Medway.⁴²⁴ Agnes was born <1854> in Pembroke, Wales.

114. Mary Kirby ²⁶² was baptised on 17 Nov 1816 in Moreton Pinkney, Northants.^⁴²⁵

Mary married George Harris, son of William Harris, on 22 Feb 1838 in Moreton Pinkney, Northants.²⁶⁶ George was born <1813> in Morton Pinkney, Northamptonshire.

General Notes: Farm labourer

The child from this marriage was:

182 F i. Sarah Harris was born <1849> in Morton Pinkney, Northamptonshire.

117. Edmund Kirby ²⁶² was baptised on 29 May 1825 in Moreton Pinkney, Northants ^⁴²⁶ and died in 1904 in Moreton Pinkney, Northants at age 79.

Medical Notes: Walter Kirby 32 Northampton Moreton Pinkney Northampton Kingsthorpe Foreman Shoe Room

Edmund married Mary Linnell ⁴²⁷ in 1840 in Moreton Pinkney, Northants.²⁷¹ Mary was born <1828> in Grimscote, Northants ^⁴²⁷ and died in 1898 in Brackley, Northampton at age 70.

Children from this marriage were:

183 F i. Mary Ann Kirby ⁴²⁷ was born <1848> in Cold Higham, Northants ^⁴²⁷ and died in 1860 in Moreton Pinkney, Northants at age 12.

184 F ii. Sarah Kirby ⁴²⁷ was born <1850> in Moreton Pinkney, Northants.^⁴²⁷

185 M iii. William Kirby ⁴²⁸ was born <1852> in Moreton Pinkney, Northants.^⁴²⁸

186 M iv. John Kirby ⁴²⁸ was born <1855> in Moreton Pinkney, Northants.^⁴²⁸

187 M v. George Kirby ⁴²⁸ was born <1859> in Moreton Pinkney, Northants.^⁴²⁸

188 M vi. James Kirby ⁴²⁹ was born <1862> in Moreton Pinkney, Northants.^⁴²⁹

189 F vii. Anne Kirby ⁴²⁹ was born <1867> in Moreton Pinkney, Northants.^⁴²⁹

+ 190 M viii. Walter Kirby ⁴²⁹ was born <1869> in Moreton Pinkney, Northants.^⁴²⁹

118. Sarah Kirby ²⁷⁴ was baptised on 14 Aug 1803 in Maidford Church, Maidford, Northants.^²⁷⁵

Sarah had a relationship with an unknown man

The child was:

191 M i. James Kirby ⁴³¹ was baptised on 29 Dec 1832 in Maidford Church, Maidford, Northants.^⁴³¹ (Illegitimate)

129. Ann Kirby ³⁰⁰ was born <1815> in Northamptonshire.

Ann married John Poynter ³⁰⁰ on 24 Mar 1836 in St Edmund's Church, Maids Moreton, Bucks.³⁰¹ John was born <1815> in Paulerspury, Northampton.

General Notes: John was a journeyman wheelwright at the time of the 1841 Census and he & his family were living in Potterspury with his wife's stepsister Sarah Dickins. After that time no record of John or Ann can be found in any of the subsequent censuses so it must be presumed that they moved out of England sometime in the 1840s; Sarah Dickins is to be found working as a cook to a butcher's family in Blakesley at the time of the 1851 Census and there are also possible "sightings" of John & Ann's two daughters Mary & Jane in the 1851 & 1861 Censuses.

It is not known for certain who John's parents were but there was a family of Poynters in the adjoining parish of Paulerspury, the parish where John was said to come from, who were all wheelwrights and it is, therefore, quite likely that his parents were Nathan & Mary of Paulerspury. ⁴³²

Children from this marriage were:

192 F i. Mary Ann Poynter ⁴³³ was baptised on 12 Mar 1837 in St Nicholas's Church, Potterspury, Northants.

193 F ii. Jane Poynter was baptised on 30 Jun 1839 in St Nicholas's Church, Potterspury, Northants.^⁴³⁴

194 M iii. William Poynter was born in Dec 1840 in Potterspury, Northants and was baptised on 3 Jan 1841 in St Nicholas's Church, Potterspury, Northants.^⁴³⁵

195 M iv. Richard Poynter was baptised on 27 Mar 1842 in St Nicholas's Church, Potterspury, Northants.^⁴³⁶

133. Thomas Kirby ³⁰⁶ was born in 1820 in Whittlebury, Northants,^³¹⁴ was baptised on 16 Dec 1821 in Whittlebury Church, Northants,^⁴³⁷ and died between 1881 and 1891 about age 61.

Some things about his life were:

• Baptism: privately, 17 Sep 1820. ³¹⁴

Thomas married Jane Ellum, daughter of Charles Ellum and Elizabeth Sherring, in 1852 in Worksop, Nottingham.³¹⁶ Jane was born <1827> in Worksop, Nottingham and was baptised on 5 Feb 1827 in Worksop, Nottingham.^⁴³⁸

Children from this marriage were:

+ 196 M i. Martin Edward Kirby ⁴³⁹ was born in 1852 in Eddisbury, Cheshire ^{⁴³⁹^,440} and died in 1929 in Southport, Lancashire at age 77.

197 F ii. Ann Elizabeth Kirby ⁴⁴² was born in Eddisbury, Cheshire ^⁴⁴² and was baptised on 29 Jan 1854 in Delamere, Cheshire.^⁴⁴³

Ann married James Latham in 1874 in Nantwich.⁴⁴⁴

198 F iii. Charlotte Eliza Kirby ⁴³⁹ was born <1855> in Eddisbury, Cheshire ^⁴³⁹ and was baptised on 24 Jun 1855 in Delamere, Cheshire.^⁴⁴³

199 M iv. Thomas Kirby ⁴³⁹ was born <1857> in Walmersley, Lancashire.^⁴³⁹

200 M v. Charles Ellum Kirby ⁴³⁹ was born in 1859 in Walmersley, Lancashire.^{⁴³⁹^,445}

201 M vi. Henry Marcus Kirby ⁴³⁹ was born in Nov 1860 in Walmersley, Lancashire.^{⁴³⁹^,446}

137. Sarah Kirby ³⁰⁶ was born <1829> in Whittlebury, Northants,^³²² was baptised on 15 Jan 1829 in Whittlebury Church, Northants,^³²³ and died in 1888 in Northampton, Northampton at age 59.

Sarah married James Winckles,³²² son of George Winckles and Priscilla ———, between 1861 and 1863. James was born <1832> in Whittlebury, Northants.^³²²

General Notes: James described himself as a builder in the 1881 Census. ³²²

Children from this marriage were:

202 M i. James Winckles ³²² was born <1864> in Northampton, Northampton.^³²²

203 M ii. George Winckles was born <1866> in Northampton, Northampton.

204 F iii. Sarah Winckles was born in 1867 in Northampton, Northampton.^³²²

138. Henrietta Kirby ³⁰⁶ was born <1833> in Whittlebury, Northants ^³¹² and was baptised on 21 Apr 1833 in Whittlebury Church, Northants.^³²⁴

Henrietta married John Ratledge,³¹² son of Nathan Ratledge and Charlotte ———, in 1859 in Towcester, Northants.³²⁵ John was born <1836> in Greens Norton, Northants.^³¹²

General Notes: John is described as a Bricklayer & Builder in the 1881 Census.³¹²

Children from this marriage were:

+ 205 M i. John Kirby Ratledge ³¹² was born in 1861 in Greens Norton, Northants ^{³⁶⁴^,447} and was baptised on 1 Dec 1861 in St Bartholomew's Church, Greens Norton, Northants.^⁴⁴⁸

206 F ii. Elizabeth Wait Ratledge ³¹⁹ was born in 1865 in Greens Norton, Northants ^{³¹⁹^,364} and was baptised on 17 Sep 1865 in St Bartholomew's Church, Greens Norton, Northants.^⁴⁵⁰

207 F iii. Millicent Ratledge ³¹² was born in 1866 in Greens Norton, Northants ^{³¹²^,364} and was baptised on 9 Dec 1866 in St Bartholomew's Church, Greens Norton, Northants.^⁴⁵¹

208 F iv. Gertrude Helena Ratledge ³¹² was born in 1869 in Greens Norton, Northants.^³¹²

Fifth Generation

139. Ann Amelia Kirby was born <1826> in Paulerspury, Northampton, was baptised on 13 Jan 1826 in St James the Great, Paulerspury, Northants,^³⁴⁰ and died in 1883 in Edgbaston, Warwickshire ^³⁴¹ at age 57.

Ann married George Henson,⁴⁵² ^,453 son of George Henson and Ann Cryer, in 1847 in Towcester, Northants.³⁴² George was born <1822> in Towcester, Northants ^⁴⁵³ and died in 1913 in Christchurch, Hants. at age 91.

General Notes: George's father was a baker & shopkeeper in Towcester. Initially, George started off his married life as a grocer & assurance agent in Towcester, possibly working with his father, but when he and Ann moved to Birmingham he became a full-time insurance agent there and gradually worked his way up to become Branch Manager of an insurance company in that city. ⁴⁵³

Children from this marriage were:

209 F i. Ann Elizabeth Henson ⁴⁵⁴ was born in 1850 in Towcester, Northants ^⁴⁵⁴ and died in 1860 in Birmingham, Warwickshire at age 10.

210 F ii. Fanny Amelia Henson was born in 1852 in Towcester, Northants and died in 1860 in Birmingham, Warwickshire at age 8.

211 F iii. Emma Kirby Henson ⁴⁵⁵ was born <1859> in Birmingham, Warwickshire.^⁴⁵⁵

Emma married Francis Henry Fitter in 1875 in Edgbaston, Warwickshire.⁴⁵⁶ Francis was born <1855> in Birmingham, Warwickshire.

General Notes: At the time of the 1881 Census, Francis was a gold chain manufacturer.

212 F iv. Elizabeth Amelia Ellen Henson ⁴⁵³ was born in Aug 1860 in Birmingham, Warwickshire.^⁴⁵³

213 F v. Fanny Elkins Henson ⁴⁵³ was born in 1863 in Birmingham, Warwickshire.^{⁴⁵³^,457}

214 F vi. Mary Jane Henson ⁴⁵³ was born in 1865 in Edgbaston, Warwickshire.^{⁴⁵³^,458}

215 M vii. George A Henson ⁴⁵³ was born <1868> in Birmingham, Warwickshire.^⁴⁵³

140. Amelia Catherine Kirby was born on 20 Nov 1826 in Paulerspury, Northampton,^³⁴³ was baptised on 13 Jan 1831 in St James the Great, Paulerspury, Northants,^⁴⁵⁹ and died on 9 Apr 1901 in 17 Prince's Street, Northampton ^³⁴⁵ at age 74.

Some things about her life were:

• Grant of Administration: 26 Apr 1901, London, England. ⁴⁶⁰ Effects: £360

Amelia married Joseph Coghlan Green,⁴⁶¹ son of George Washington Green and Mary Coghlan, on 26 Mar 1849 in Independent Chapel, Towcester, Northamptonshire.³⁴⁶ Joseph was born on 17 Apr 1807 in Youghal, Cork, Ireland and died on 6 Nov 1875 in 17 Prince's Street, Northampton ^⁴⁶² at age 68.

Marriage Notes: At the time of their marriage, both Joseph and Amelia were living in Towcester. They were married at the newish (built in 1845) Independent Chapel in Meeting Lane, which was later to become the Roman Catholic Church in the town.

Joseph gave his profession as "surgeon" and his age as 31; this was 10 years less than his actual age in March 1849, which was 41. In the subsequent Censuses of 1851, 1861 and 1871, he continued to be inaccurate about his age, reporting it as 10 years [or in 1861, 13 years] less than it actually was at those dates.

It may be that Joseph felt that Amelia would be unhappy about marrying a man who was nearly 20 years her senior and so reduced the gap but having been untruthful about his age at the time of his wedding, when the 1851 Census was carried out two years later, he found himself in the position of having to keep up the deception. Clearly, Amelia discovered his true age later on in their marriage as his gravestone shows him as having been born in the correct year, 1807. ⁴⁶¹ ^,463

Some things about his life were:

• Education: 1825, London, England. According to his grandson's, Richard Green's, account, Joseph trained as a surgeon in London at St Thomas's Hospital and at the North London School of Medicine. St Thomas's Hospital has no record of Joseph being a student there and there is no evidence of there ever having been a North London School of Medicine. There was a North London Hospital which opened in 1834 that had a School of Medicine but it was renamed University College Hospital in 1837. 1834 seems rather too late a date for Joseph to still be training, normally, surgeons trained for only two years.

• Occupation: 1847 to 1848, Towcester, Northants. ⁴⁶⁴ A local directory lists Joseph as a surgeon. Joseph is not mentioned as an insurance agent at this time.

• Occupation: 1851, Towcester, Northants. ⁴⁶⁵ In the 1851 Census Joseph described his occupation as "General Practitioner"

• Residence: 1851, Towcester, Northants. ⁴⁶⁵ ^,466 At the time of the 1851 Census Joseph and Amelia were living in the High Street in Towcester. Unfortunately, the Census return does not give house names or numbers so it is difficult to establish exactly where they lived in the High Street from that source but Richard Green in his account says of his grandmother, Amelia, "..... married Joseph Green and went to live in the large house opposite the Ponfret Arms on the main road in Towcester."

In 1851 they had a Wm. Eales living with them who appears to have been a servant but whose occupation is described as an Agric. Labourer.

All their children except Emma were born there.

1997 Note:
The Pomfret Arms has become the Pomfret Hotel but the house opposite it is of more recent origin; the original probably having been knocked down when the road to Northampton was re-routed.

• Occupation: 1854, Towcester, Northants. ⁴⁶⁷ A directory of this year lists Joseph under the category "Gentry" but also has the following entry under "Traders" :- "Green Joseph Coghlan, surgeon, agent to Norwich Union fire & life, General Hailstorm, National Live Stock insurances offices, & local hon. sec. for the Art Union of London."

• Residence: 1856/57-1875, 17 Prince's Street, Northampton. Joseph and the family lived at this house for many years and Amelia, Edmund [until he died in 1882] and Emma continued to live there after Joseph's death in 1875 atleast until 1901 when Amelia died.

Richard Green was born there in 1881. Presumably, his parents and brother were staying with his grandmother on their return to Northampton from Oxford before setting up home in Abington Street.

The family does not appeared to have employed any 'living-in' servants but one William Hewitt is recorded in the Census as lodging with them in the 1861 and 1871. By 1871 William was the Chief Clerk at the Union Bank in Northampton.

Prince's Street became very shabby in the late 1960s and the remaining buildings were pulled down in the 1970s to make way for Northampton's new town centre.

• Occupation: 1858, Northampton, Northampton. ⁴⁶⁸ A directory for that year lists Joseph under the category "Gentry, Professional Men and Partners in Firms" and reports him as living at 17, Prince's Street. He eems to have given up practicing medicine by then as he is not mentioned in the list of surgeons and this may have been due to the Medical Act (1858) which came in to effect that year.

This Act which had been long sought by the qualified section of the profession did not prohibit unqualified practice in medicine. The most it did in this direction was to provide a fine of £20 on any person who falsely represented himself as a qualified practitioner, and to lay down that only those whose names were on the Register could take up a medical appointment under the Crown. In fact the Act limited itself to the prohibition mentioned above and the creation of a General Council of Medical Education [later to become the General Medical Council] whose function was to:-

1) Obtain from licencing bodies [the colleges of medicine and surgery] information in regard to their courses of study and education;

2) Establish a Medical Register; and

3) Prepare a National Pharmacopoeia.

However, the Act did make it much more difficult for unqualified persons to continue to practice and presumably this was the case for Joseph who was perhaps not the most assiduous practitioner having other interests as he did.

Prior to the Act, according to the 1841 Census, there were some 33,339 persons practising one or more branches of medicine. The medical directories for London and the Provinces in 1853 listed only 11,808 qualified practitioners [licenced by a college] , so approximately two thirds were unqualified. Most of the latter called themselves surgeons and had received their training through an two year apprenticeship attached to a surgeon at a teaching hospital; Joseph trained in this way.

• Occupation: 1861, Northampton, Northampton. ⁴⁶⁹ In the 1861 Census Joseph described his occupation as "General Agent"

• Occupation: 1864, Northampton, Northampton. ⁴⁷⁰ Two directories for this year list Joseph as an insurance agent for Imperial Fire & Life.

• Occupation: 1871, Northampton, Northampton. ⁴⁷¹ In the 1871 Census Joseph described his occupation as "Dispenser of Medicine". The Enumerator has added the word "Chemist" to this entry.

• Will: 1875, Northampton, Northampton. ⁴⁶⁶ Joseph does not seem to have made a Will, atleast none was lodged with the Probate Court. This may be because he had no property to leave and such personal belongings as he had passed directly to his wife and family.

The house where he lived at the time of his death was, in the custom of the times, rented and judging by the occupations he had in his later years and those of his children after his death, the family's finances were in a poor state.

In part this was due to his relationship with his father, who is said to have been a prosperous farmer in Youghal, Ireland, but who had not bequeathed anything to him in his Will when he died in 1871, because he and Joseph had fallen out on account of Joseph's wild life style before his marriage in 1849.

Joseph's grandson, Richard Green, summarised the position with these words:-

"His son, Joseph, so displeased him by his wild extravagances that he left him nothing in his Will. If George had known what a good grandson he had in E.T. E. Green he would not have acted so, but for the last forty odd years of George's life I do not think that he and Joseph either heard from or saw one another.

I believe it was all Joseph's fault although when he outgrew his youth, he settled down and having the good fortune to marry a woman of strong character, who was also able and virtuous, he became a good husband and father and practised his profession with diligence.

I have always felt so sorry that George never knew his daughter-in-law, Amelia, or her son E. T. E. Green; it would have been a meeting of three good people and made George so happy.

George and Mary's daughter, Theresa, was devoted to her parents and even after marriage with young Foley, she was always a good daughter could be.

My father, E. T. E. Green, told me that all he heard of George's Will was "I have left my properties and monies to those who cared for me in my lifetime"."

Children from this marriage were:

216 M i. John Malsbury Kirby Green ⁴⁷² was born in Jan 1850 in High Street, Towcester ^⁴⁷² and died on 27 Nov 1850 in High Street, Towcester.^⁴⁷³

217 M ii. Eli Thomas Elkins Green was born on 24 Jun 1851 in High Street, Towcester,^⁴⁷⁴ died on 21 Apr 1906 in 3 Grange Terrace, Sunderland, Co. Durham ^⁴⁷^⁵ at age 54, and was buried in Bishopwearmouth Cemetery, Chester Road, Sunderland. The cause of his death was heart failure - prostatic hypertrophy (enlargement) - Ascites.

Medical Notes: Whist living in Worcester Eli's health deteriorated and he was advised to leave the enervating climate of the Severn river; he choose to go to Sunderland, Co. Durham.

The term "Ascites" in the list of Eli's "causes of death" refers to an abnormal collection of fluid within the abdomen. ⁴⁷⁶

Some things about his life were:

• Education: 1858-1867, Northampton, Northampton. ⁴⁶⁶ Went to Rev. West's Prep School and then to Rev. Kingston's school.

• Education: 1867-1870, Northampton, Northampton. Eli was apprenticed to a Mr Henry Haygate Goddard of 23 Gold Street, Northampton for three years for a fee of 100 guineas. Mr Goddard was considered one of the most successsful dentists in Northampton and was, possibly, a distant cousin of Eli's mother.

• Education: 1870-1871, University College, London. ⁴⁶⁶ Eli is reputed to have studied dentistry at University College prior to going into practice but no record of him having been a student at University College London or University College Hospital has been traced.

• Occupation: Bet 1871 and 1906 Eli practiced as a Dental Surgeon iin various places ending up in Sunderland.

• Obituary: 23 Apr 1906, Sunderland, Co. Durham. ⁴⁷⁹

DEATH OF MR ELKINS-GREEN.

We regret to announce the death of Mr Eli Thomas Elkins-Green, dental surgeon, which took place at half-past nine on Saturday night at his residence, 3, Grange Terrace.
Mr Elkins-Green was taken ill on Easter Monday. The symptoms did not appear dangerous, and the family were quite unprepared for the end. An active and vigorous out-door life during his earlier years and a studious life during more recent years had, however, left Mr Elkins-Green's heart affected. The deceased gentleman was in his fifty-fifth year and came to Sunderland 16 years ago. He was the son of Mr Joseph Coghlan Green, surgeon, of Northampton, and a direct descendant of an old English family, the Greens of Green's Norton.

He was a well-known member of the Wearside Golf Club. Although a staunch Conservative, he did not take any active part in politics or municipal affairs. When a young man cricket was his favourite pastime, and he was a prominent member of the Northamptonshire Cricket Club. He was a man of retiring nature, and was known to his friends as kindly and clever. The funeral will take place at the Bishopwearmouth Cemetery tomorrow.

Mr Elkins-Green leaves a widow and two sons and one daughter.

Eli married Alice Maud Rebecca James,⁴⁸¹ ^,482 daughter of John James and Rebecca Hunt, on 6 Feb 1877 in Chapel of St Thomas, Ryde, IOW.⁴⁸⁰ Alice was born on 6 May 1855 in Newchurch, IOW,^{⁴⁸¹^,482} was baptised on 3 Jun 1855 in St Peters, Haven Street, IOW,^⁴⁸³ died on 25 Feb 1947 in St Mary's Hospital, Portsmouth ^⁴⁸⁴ at age 91, and was buried on 22 Mar 1947 in Bishopwearmouth Cemetery, Chester Road, Sunderland.

Marriage Notes: At the time of Eli's and Alice's wedding, Eli was living in Northampton ( parish of St Sepulchre) and Alice in Ryde.

Richard Green wrote of his mother, sometime after his father's death:-

"My mother, Alice, has a dauntless spirit. I have the greatest admiration for her. She was a splendid wife and mother and had a feeling of sympathy and understanding with her neighbours so that they called upon her strength and kindness when they needed help. No tradesmen's errand boy ever left her door hungry or poorly clad. She was a terrific worker and always worked with her maids; she left nothing undone. I do not remember a single instance when Alice was afraid or showed nervousness. She was passionately warm hearted and most gentle but no terror could have turned her from her course. She loved my father with all the strength that belonged to her great spirit and she to he was the only woman in his life. He told me so.

As children we were very happy in our home. It has been remarked upon to me by old friends that it was noticeably so but naturally we accepted the goodness and sweet kindness of our parents as being quite usual." ⁴⁶¹ ^,463

• Grant of Administration: 2 Dec 1947, London, England. ⁴⁸⁵ Alice left an estate worth £10357 17s 2d to her daughter, Norah. This included 3, Grange Terrace, Sunderland where her son, Richard, lived and practiced. As a result Richard became a tenant of Norah's. This and the fact that his sister was the sole beneficiary of his mother's Will was the cause of much pain to Richard.

218 M iii. Edmund Kirby Green was born on 9 Jul 1852 in High Street, Towcester and died on 10 Jun 1882 in 17 Prince's Street, Northampton ^⁴⁸⁶ at age 29.

General Notes: Like Eli, Edmund began a dental apprenticeship with Mr Goddard in Northampton but for some reason or other gave up after a while and went to work in the shoe trade for which Northampton was then well known. By 1881 he was a "clicker".

A "clicker" was a person who worked in the shoe trade cutting out the uppers and was also the person who made the shoelace holes.

219 M iv. Oliver Cromwell Green was born in 1853 in High Street, Towcester and died in 1853 in High Street, Towcester.

220 F v. Emma Amelia Kate Green was born on 24 Oct 1857 in 17 Prince's Street, Northampton and died on 18 Jan 1922 at age 64.

142. John Malsbury Kirby ³⁵⁰ was born on 19 Jul 1830 in Paulerspury, Northampton,^³⁵⁰ was baptised on 13 Jan 1831 in St James the Great, Paulerspury, Northants,^⁴⁸⁷ and died in 1917 in Henley in Arden, Warwickshire ^³⁵² at age 87.

General Notes: Sometime grocer and provision dealer in Northamptonshire & Warwickshire ⁴⁸⁸

John married Emma Sibley,⁴⁵² daughter of James Sibley and Elizabeth Whitehead, on 18 Feb 1855 in All Saints Church, Northampton.³⁵³ Emma was baptised on 26 Feb 1837 in Waterside, Chesham Bois, Bucks,^¹⁸⁷ died in Mar 1868 in Little Missenden, Bucks. ^¹⁴⁸ at age 31, and was buried on 12 Mar 1868 in St Nicholas's Church, Potterspury, Northants.^⁴⁸⁹

Children from this marriage were:

+ 221 F i. Emma Louisa Kirby ⁴⁸⁸ was born in 1856 in All Saints, Northampton ^{⁴⁸⁸^,490} and died in 1934 in Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire at age 78.

222 M ii. John Malsbury Kirby was born <1858> in Northampton, Northampton.

+ 223 F iii. Gertrude Annie Kirby ⁴⁸⁸ was born in 1860 in St Giles, Northampton.^{⁴⁸⁸^,492}

+ 224 M iv. Edmund Thomas Harry Kirby ⁴⁸⁸ was born in 1862 in St Giles, Northampton ^⁴⁸⁸ and died in 1929 in Seaton, Devonshire ^⁴⁹⁴ at age 67.

John next married Charlotte Woodward,⁴⁵² daughter of James Richard William John Pollard Woodward and Charlotte Richardson, in 1871 in Northampton, Northampton.³⁵⁴ Charlotte was born in 1841 in Stamford, Lincolnshire ^{⁴⁸⁸^,496} and died in 1911 in Stratford, Warwickshire ^⁴⁹⁷ at age 70.

General Notes: Charlotte first husband was Henry Chafer who described himself as a cattle dealer at the time of the 1861 Census; he died in Northampton in 1870 having been married to Charlotte barely four years. How Charlotte met Henry, who came from near Hull, is a bit of a mystery; perhaps Henry travelled a lot in his cattle dealing and had got to know the Woodward family through Charlotte's father.

Charlotte's father, James, was an auctioneer and some time innkeeper (as indeed was Charlotte's maternal grandfather William Richardson) and she, herself, kept an inn called the Woolpack in Northampton prior to her marriage to John Kirby; it may well be that she kept the Woolpack during the time she was married Henry and that could be the reason why Henry moved from Yorkshire to settle in Northampton.

Before she was married, Charlotte and her sister Mary Ann had taught music when they were living at home with their father.

Children from this marriage were:

225 F i. Eleanor Charlotte Kirby ⁴⁸⁸ was born in 1872 in Yardley Gobion, Northants..^{⁴⁸⁸^,498}

Eleanor married Henry Francis Hands in 1923 in Northampton, Northampton.⁴⁹⁹ Henry was born in 1865 in Rugby, Warwickshire.

+ 226 F ii. Eveyln Maude Kirby ⁴⁸⁸ was born <1875> in Yardley Gobion, Northants..^⁴⁸⁸

227 F iii. Flora Ethel Sibley Kirby ⁵⁰¹ was baptised on 14 Oct 1878 in St Nicholas's Church, Potterspury, Northants.^{⁵⁰¹^,502}

Flora married William C Mann in 1926 in Huddersfield.⁵⁰³

228 F iv. Winifred Lilian Kirby ⁴⁸⁸ was born in 1880 in Yardley Gobion, Northants..^{⁴⁸⁸^,504}

Winifred married Frank Edwin Allin in 1907 in Stratford, Warwickshire.⁵⁰⁵ Frank was born <1861> in Handsworth, Staffordshire.

+ 229 F v. Nora Kathleen Kirby was born in 1885 in Billesdon, Leicestershire.^⁵⁰⁶

144. Edmund Thomas Eli Kirby was born <1836> in Paulerspury, Northampton.^³⁵⁹

General Notes: Edmund & his family's whereabouts after 1881 is a complete mystery. He, Harriet and all the children disappear from Northamptonshire and, as far as can be ascertained, from England, sometime in the 1880s. One of Edmund's nieces (a daughter of J. M. Kirby) writing to her cousin, Kate Green, in 1908 says that Edmund died sometime around 1890 but she does not say where. No evidence has been found of his death in the General Register of Deaths in England between 1881 & 1910 or of any Will that he made, so perhaps, he died overseas after having emigrated to somewhere like Australia, Canada or New Zealand.

Edmund married Harriet Jane Sanders,⁵⁰¹ daughter of William Wilkins Sanders and Martha Elizabeth Bliss, in 1865 in Potterspury, Northants.³⁶⁰ Harriet was born in 1843 in Yardley Gobion, Northants..^{³⁵⁹^,508}

Children from this marriage were:

230 F i. Helen Kirby ⁵⁰¹ was baptised on 4 Nov 1866 in St Nicholas's Church, Potterspury, Northants.^⁵⁰¹

231 F ii. Kate Kirby ³⁵⁹ was born <1866> in Ryde, IOW.^³⁵⁹

232 F iii. Ethel Kirby ³⁵⁹ was born <1868> in Weedon, Northants.^³⁵⁹

233 M iv. Edmund Kirby ³⁵⁹ was born <1870> in Weedon, Northants.^³⁵⁹

234 M v. Herbert Kirby ³⁵⁹ was born <Oct 1870> in Weedon, Northants.^³⁵⁹

235 M vi. Arthur Kirby ³⁵⁹ was born <1872> in Weedon, Northants.^³⁵⁹

236 M vii. Ernest Kirby ³⁵⁹ was born <1874> in Weedon, Northants.^³⁵⁹

237 M viii. Percy Kirby ³⁵⁹ was born <1875> in Weedon, Northants.^³⁵⁹

238 M ix. Douglas Kirby ³⁵⁹ was born <1876> in Weedon, Northants.^³⁵⁹

239 F x. Ella Kirby ³⁵⁹ was born <1877> in Weedon, Northants.^³⁵⁹

240 F xi. Clair Kirby ³⁵⁹ was born <1879> in Weedon, Northants.^³⁵⁹

153. George Edmund Kirby ¹⁸³ was born on 10 Jun 1828 in Heaton Norris, Lancashire,^³⁸⁶ was baptised on 9 Oct 1831 in St Thomas, Heaton Norris, Lancashire,^³⁸⁶ and died in 1911 in Exeter ^³⁸⁸ at age 83.

General Notes: Though we find him working as a fireman in the town of Hertford at the time of the 1851 census, George seems to have gone on to become a civil engineer. After that census no mention is found of him until 1901 when he describes himself as retired.

He was obviously in England in the latter part of 1861 in order to father Clara who was born the following year but after that he seems to have gone abroad. Both his sons both are reported to have worked in India (see later), and it may well be that he went out to that country to work sometime in the early 1860s. It is interesting to speculate, in view of the absence of Kitty and the children from the 1871 census, that the whole family moved out there for a while and that Alfred and John remained out there with their father having taken employment there; it is reported, for instance, that Alfred worked as an engineer on a paddleboat on the Indus his early in his career and that John spent 33 years in India from the age of nine, which would place the family's arrival there circa 1864.

By the time of the 1881 census Kitty was once again living in England and her daughter of 18 years had just been married to a lithographer called Charles Speller. Neither Alfred or John seemed to have returned to live in England during George & Kitty's lifetime but Alfred's daughter Mary Kawatani, then aged nineteen, can be found staying in Exeter with her grandparents at the time of the 1901 census. ¹⁸³^,509^,510

George married Kate Jordan,¹⁸³ daughter of William Jordan, in 1854 in Shoreditch, Middlesex.³⁸⁹ Kitty was born <1829> in Chilton Foliat, Wiltshire and died in 1919 in Devon ^⁵¹¹ at age 90.

Marriage Notes: George & Kitty lived together for some years before they decided to get married. Given that their contemporaries were imbued with a greater sense of moral rectitude than exists today (2009), it is surprising that they chose to have two children before doing so, particularly as there seems to have been no reason why they could not have got married. No doubt Kitty called herself Mrs Kirby (the George & Kitty's entry in the 1851 census records as much) so, perhaps, there was no real problem except in the baptism and the civil registration of their first two children where, normally a child born without the benefit to wedlock, is recorded with their mother's maiden name.

Kitty seems to have spent many years apart from George after she returned from India sometime before 1881 and it is interesting to speculate why she and Clara came home when they did. Perhaps, Kitty was unhappy in India or, maybe George and she thought that Clara's education and chances of marriage would be better in England. ⁵¹²

General Notes: Kitty's father was a tailor in Chilton Foliat in Wiltshire.

Children from this marriage were:

241 F i. Alice Kirby ¹⁸³ was born in Jul 1850 in Shoreditch, Middlesex and died between 1851 and 1861.

242 M ii. Alfred Kirby ¹⁸³ was born in 1852 in Stratford, Essex ^⁵¹³ and died in 1940 in Kobe, Japan ^¹⁸³ at age 88.

General Notes: It is very likely that Alfred went out to India with his mother and siblings circa 1864 (see his father's notes). It is said that he worked for a while as an engineer in Karachi working on paddle boats on the Indus before going to Japan in about 1878 to work for his uncle Edward, who was one of the founders and later the owner of the Kobe Iron Works, which eventually grew to become the Kobe Engineering and Ship Building Works there.

Asa Kawatani with her daughter Mary Kirby - November 1891.
Photograph by S. Ichida, Japan. NLA Manuscript Collection MS6681-1-4x

A year or two later, while he was in the town of Otsu on Lake Biwa, where he had been sent by his uncle to assemble two ferry boats for the Lake, he met Asa Kawatani in the Licensed Quarter there - she, very likely, was a courtesan at the time - and became romantically involved with her. They never married but lived together for many years and Asa bore him two daughters Mary in 1882 & Amy in 1885.

When his uncle committed suicide in 1883, the Works were in considerable financial difficulties and Albert, who was now in charge of Edward's affairs, tried to carry on for a short while but the company's bankers forced a sale and the business was bought by the Japanese government and came to form part of the Imperial Japanese Naval Dockyards.

Alfred continued to work in the business as General Foreman and Superintendent until the Naval Yard moved to Kure - all Europeans being dismissed at that point. Several years later he got a position as a marine surveyor for the French Bureau Veritas with whom he stayed until he eventually retired to lead a comfortable expatriate life in Kobe, looked after by his daughter Mary¹, where he was an habitué of the local Masonic club.

¹Amy was blinded at a young age and was severely disabled and, after her mother's death, it fell to Mary to look after the family and, as a consequence, she never married. ⁵¹⁰

Alfred had a common-law marriage with Asa Kawatani.⁵¹⁰

Marriage Notes: Had issue: 2 daughters, Mary & Amy Kirby also known as Ume & Emi Kawatani. Mary died in 1955 and Amy in 1963, both lived out their lives in Kobe. ⁵¹⁰

+ 243 M iii. John Edmund Kirby ¹⁸³ was born in 1855 in Shoreditch, Middlesex ^⁵¹⁴ and died in 1906 ^¹⁸³ at age 51.

244 F iv. Clara Kirby ¹⁸³ was born in 1862 in Shoreditch, Middlesex.^⁵¹⁵

Clara married Charles William Speller ¹⁸³ in 1881 in Hackney, Kent.⁵¹⁶ Charles was born in 1854 in Dalston, London.

Marriage Notes: Had issue: 3 sons & 1 daughter ⁵¹²

Edward Charles Kirby.
Photograph by Arcade Photographic Co., Exeter, England. NLA Manuscript Collection MS6681-1-2x

157. Edward Charles Kirby ¹⁸³ was born on 24 Jun 1836 in Old Swinford, Worcestershire,^³⁹³ was baptised on 7 Jul 1836 in Old Swinford, Worcestershire,^³⁹¹ and died in Dec 1883 in Japan ^¹⁸³ at age 47. The cause of his death was a gunshot wound.

General Notes: Edward is the only one of John and Elizabeth's children about whose education we have any knowledge but it is probable that after Elizabeth had to give up her role as governess at her husband's former school that the younger of her children had to be educated under some charitable arrangement. Edward, and possibly some of his brothers, was accepted by the Clergy Orphan School for Boys, in St John's Wood Road (besides Lord's cricket ground), London, and we find him there in 1851 aged 14. Interestingly enough, the boys part of this school moved to Canterbury in the following year, leaving only the girls in St John's Wood Road but Edward may have left by then.

It is said, that after leaving school Edward was apprenticed to an apothecary, in London, though no evidence has been found to corroborate this. Whether or not Edward completed his apprenticeship is not known but circa 1856 he is said to have gone to Australia, possibly attracted by the excitement of the goldrush and from there moved on to China. By 1862 he was manager of a chemist's dispensary in Shanghai and from there he moved south to the inland port of Ningpo^†, now Ningbo, where he started trading as a merchant and ships chandler. It was here that he formed a romantic relationship with Dal Un Qua, an orphan whose parents were said to have been beheaded in one of the several Chinese revolts of the 19th century, possibly in the Peasant Revolt of 1840-1849. They never married but Dal bore him three daughters, Annie, Clara and Emily.

From China he moved with Dal to Yokohama in Japan in about 1865. Here he laid the foundations of a remarkable commercial career opening various businesses including an early departmental type of store selling a variety of imported products, and a bakery, also he is said to have had some business in Nagasaki. He next extended this small business empire to Kobe by starting another retail shop in the foreign settlement there selling imported goods to expatriates, an act which damned him forever in the eyes of the snobbish Kobe Club members who blackballed him from that club's membership on account of him being a shopkeeper.

His next enterprise was to invest heavily in the Kobe Iron Works and to follow that investment through by courting the Japanese Navy with the objective of getting them to invest in more modern technology by placing orders for ironclad warships; the first of which was delivered in 1883. From then on the business expanded considerably with several orders from the Imperial Navy but this rapid expansion had to be financed by loans and it seems likely that Edward overextended himself and his bankers, The Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank, took fright and threatened to withdraw their support. Edward's tragic response to this threat was to commit suicide being unable to face the ignominy of financial ruin and, in a country where a person's public persona was so important, the loss of face that he and his family would have had to endure.

It was fortunate for Edward's family that some years earlier he had taken on his nephew, Alfred Kirby, to help him in the shipping business and it fell to Alfred to run that business and sort out Edward's affairs (see Alfred's notes). Unfortunately, the shipping business was in such financial difficulties that, within a year, The Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank forced it to be put up for sale and it was purchased by the Japanese government in order to safeguard their interests (they were contracted to the firm for another warship) and was renamed the Imperial Japanese Onahama Naval Yard. Alfred was retained for a year or so as General Foreman & Superintendent until the Naval Yard moved to Kure.

Despite being heavily in debt, Edward somehow was able to leave much of his personal estate to his wife, which is quite surprising as it is unlikely that his business liabilities were in any way limited as they might be today with an enterprise of that size. His estate included at least four large and valuable properties in the foreign settlement (built on concession plots that had been made available to Edward on a perpetual lease), several in Kobe City proper, and a large stock holding in the Tor Hotel.

This estate, particularly the properties on the concession plots, presented some difficulty for Dal as she was still officially a Chinese national, having never been formally married to Edward, and Chinese nationals were in the main excluded from owning property in the foreign settlement in Kobe. She decided, therefore, to set up a trust making over the perpetual lease to her three daughters. One of the original trustees did not survive long and by 1886 Alfred was in sole charge of managing and maintaining these properties, a task with which he occupied himself, presumably, until all the girls had come of age or married and the trust could be wound up; this would have been about 1907 assuming the girls were entitled to their share of the trust on reaching the age of 25 or being married. Doubtless, it was the rents from the properties that provided the income for Dal and her daughters to live on in the England.

^†Ningpo or Ning-Po was one of five Chinese ports that were thrown open to foreign trade following the treaty of Nanking in 1842; the peace treaty between the British and the Chinese following the end of the First Opium War (1839-42). It is situated at the confluence of two rivers, the Fenghua and Yongjing but has never been quite so successful as a port when compared with Shanghai but in Edward's day it was one of China's most important ports for foreign trade and, consequently, there must have been considerable opportunities for an English & Chinese speaking entrepreneur such as he was. ⁵¹⁰.

Edward had a common-law marriage with Dal Un-Qua.¹⁸³ Dal was born in 1840 in China. Another name for Dal was Dali Unqua.

Marriage Notes: After Edward's death Dal and the three girls left Japan and went to England, partly, one supposes, to complete the girls' education and partly to establish British nationality for them and acquire Western husbands. Whether or not Dal stayed in England or, indeed, survived very long in the Country is unclear, certainly there is no evidence in the UK censuses that she did stay but, on the other hand, there is no record of her death in England.. ⁵¹⁰

Children from this marriage were:

245 F i. Annie Kirby ¹⁸³ was born <1868> in Kobe, Japan.^¹⁸³

Annie married Harry Tunwell Bretton in 1889 in Eastbourne, Sussex.⁵¹⁷ Harry was born in 1868 in Eastbourne, Sussex.

Marriage Notes: Had issue: 2 sons & 3 daughters (1 daughter died aged c. 7 & one son was killed in WW I) ¹⁸³

Emily Kirby aged c.19.
Photograph by Browning, Exeter, England. NLA Manuscript Collection MS 6681-1-3x

246 F ii. Emily Kirby ¹⁸³ was born <1882> in Kobe, Japan.^{¹⁸³^,518}

Emily married Leo John Crowther ¹⁸³ on 29 Sep 1907 in Manhattan, New York.⁵¹⁹ Leo was born in 1882.^¹⁸³

Marriage Notes: Had issue: 1 son called Richard who was probably born in New York. ¹⁸³

247 F iii. Clara Kirby was born <1878> in Kobe, Japan.

190. Walter Kirby ⁴²⁹ was born <1869> in Moreton Pinkney, Northants.^⁴²⁹

Walter married Mary Ann Betts,⁵²⁰ daughter of John Betts and Sarah Elston, in 1894 in Northampton, Northampton.⁴³⁰ Mary was born in 1867 in Woodford, Northants.^{⁵²⁰^,521}

Children from this marriage were:

248 M i. Willie Kirby ⁵²⁰ ^,522 was born <1896> in Kingsthorpe, Northants.^{⁵²⁰^,522}

249 M ii. Bertie Kirby was born <1897> in Kingsthorpe, Northants.

250 F iii. Doris Kirby ⁵²⁰ ^,522 was born <1899> in Kingsthorpe, Northants.^{⁵²⁰^,522}

196. Martin Edward Kirby ⁴³⁹ was born in 1852 in Eddisbury, Cheshire ^{⁴³⁹^,440} and died in 1929 in Southport, Lancashire at age 77.

General Notes: Sometime stationmaster in Lancashire.

Martin married Elizabeth Milne Booth in 1882 in Bury, Lancashire.⁴⁴¹ Elizabeth was born in 1859 in Bury, Lancashire and died in 1929 in Southport, Lancashire at age 70.

The child from this marriage was:

251 F i. Edith Booth Kirby was born <1884> in Bury, Lancashire.

205. John Kirby Ratledge ³¹² was born in 1861 in Greens Norton, Northants ^{³⁶⁴^,447} and was baptised on 1 Dec 1861 in St Bartholomew's Church, Greens Norton, Northants.^⁴⁴⁸

John married Mary Ann Pargiter,⁵²⁰ ^,522 daughter of George Pargiter and Catherine Russell, in 1884 in Greens Norton, Northants.⁴⁴⁹ Mary was born <1865> in Greens Norton, Northants.^{⁵²⁰^,522}

Children from this marriage were:

252 M i. Henry Ratledge ⁵²⁰ ^,522 was born <1885> in Greens Norton, Northants.^{⁵²⁰^,522}

253 M ii. Martin Ratledge ⁵²⁰ ^,522 was born <1893> in Greens Norton, Northants.^{⁵²⁰^,522}

254 M iii. Maurice Ratledge ⁵²⁰ ^,522 was born <1900> in Greens Norton, Northants.^{⁵²⁰^,522}

Sixth Generation

221. Emma Louisa Kirby ⁴⁸⁸ was born in 1856 in All Saints, Northampton ^{⁴⁸⁸^,490} and died in 1934 in Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire at age 78.

Emma married Frederick William Dickens in 1881 in Potterspury, Northants.⁴⁹¹ Frederick was born <1859> in Rushden, Northampton and died in 1927 in Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire at age 68.

General Notes: As far as can be discovered Frederick's grandfather, Daniel Dickens, only had two sons, Samuel & Daniel. Samuel was married in 1845 and does not appear in any Census after that date and Daniel, junior, was probably too young to father Frederick being only about 14 years of age when Frederick was born; consequently there is a suspicion that Frederick was the child of one of Daniel Dickens's daughters, possibly Hannah or Jane, and was brought up by his grandparents whilst they earned their living, as they did as servants on other farms. A look at the parish register for Rushden might clarify the matter as Frederick was born in that parish.

Children from this marriage were:

255 F i. Jane Emma Gertrude Dickens was born in 1882 in Thrapston, Northampton.^⁵²³

256 F ii. Catherine Maud Dickens was born in 1884 in Rushden, Northampton.^⁵²⁴

257 M iii. John Robert Daniels Dickens was born in 1886 in Cheddington, Buckinghamshire.^⁵²⁵

258 F iv. Dorothy Mabel G Dickens was born in 1888 in Cheddington, Buckinghamshire.^⁵²⁶

259 M v. Albert Bailey Dickens was born in 1889 in Cheddington, Buckinghamshire.^⁵²⁷

260 F vi. Annie Louise Dickens was born in 1891 in Cheddington, Buckinghamshire.^⁵²⁸

261 F vii. Eleanor Charlotte M Dickens was born in 1892 in Ashley Green, Bucks.^⁵²⁹

223. Gertrude Annie Kirby ⁴⁸⁸ was born in 1860 in St Giles, Northampton.^{⁴⁸⁸^,492}

Gertrude married William Charles Barnes in 1885 in Northampton, Northampton.⁴⁹³ William was born <1862> in Northampton, Northampton.

General Notes: At the time of the 1891 Census, William was a Boot Manufacturer in Northampton, later he became a leather merchant.

Children from this marriage were:

262 F i. Sybil Gertrude Barnes was born in 1886 in Northampton, Northampton.^⁵³⁰

263 F ii. Mary Annie Sibley Barnes was born in 1891 in Northampton, Northampton.^⁵³¹

224. Edmund Thomas Harry Kirby ⁴⁸⁸ was born in 1862 in St Giles, Northampton ^⁴⁸⁸ and died in 1929 in Seaton, Devonshire ^⁴⁹⁴ at age 67.

General Notes: Sometime Grocer in Seaton, Devon

Thomas married Ida Bailey, daughter of Edward Bailey and Mary ———, in 1892 in Axminster, Devonshire.⁴⁹⁵ Ida was born in 1855 in Northington, Hampshire.

Children from this marriage were:

264 F i. Doris Vivienne Kirby was born in 1894 in Seaton, Devonshire.^⁵³²

265 F ii. Kathleen Maulsbury Kirby was born in 1896 in Seaton, Devonshire.^⁵³³

226. Eveyln Maude Kirby ⁴⁸⁸ was born <1875> in Yardley Gobion, Northants..^⁴⁸⁸

Eveyln married Edward Claude Edwards, son of James Edwards and Dinah ———, in 1903 in Stratford, Warwickshire.⁵⁰⁰ Edward was born in 1878 in Colchester, Essex.

Children from this marriage were:

266 M i. Gerald Claude Francis Edwards was born in 1904 in Chester-le-Street, Co. Durham.

267 F ii. Evelyn M Edwards was born in 1913 in Dewsbury, Yorkshire.

229. Nora Kathleen Kirby was born in 1885 in Billesdon, Leicestershire.^⁵⁰⁶

Nora married John Squire Friend in 1912 in Stratford, Warwickshire.⁵⁰⁷

The child from this marriage was:

268 M i. John Squire Friend was born in 1913 in Stratford, Warwickshire.

243. John Edmund Kirby ¹⁸³ was born in 1855 in Shoreditch, Middlesex ^⁵¹⁴ and died in 1906 ^¹⁸³ at age 51.

John married Harroo Yello.¹⁸³

The child from this marriage was:

269 F i. Jessie Elizabeth Kirby ¹⁸³ was born in 1894 ^¹⁸³ and died in 1965 in Chelmsford, Essex ^{¹⁸³^,534} at age 71.

Jessie married Harry Edgar Henderson.¹⁸³ Harry was born in 1864 ^¹⁸³ and died in 1947 ^¹⁸³ at age 83.

Marriage Notes: Had issue: 5 sons & 4 girls

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