Edward James Austin (1889 - 1956)

Born 1889 in Boughton Aluph, Kent, England, United Kingdom

Husband of Susan (Underdown) Austen — married 7 Dec 1912 in West Ashford, Kent, England

Descendants

Died 5 Sep 1956 at about age 67 in Ashford, Kent, England, United Kingdom

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Diane Baker [send private message]

Biography

Edward James Austen aka Austin was born in 1889 in Boughton Aluph, Kent, England to Daniel Austen and Mary Ann (Godden AKA Hills) Austen. His birth was registered in East Ashford, Kent in the third quarter of the year, with mother's maiden name Hills.^[1]

• Note regarding mother's maiden name: Edward's mother was born out of wedlock, and while her birth and marriage had the surname Godden (her mother's maiden name), she used Hills on census records and on the birth registrations of some of her children (presumably her father or stepfather's surname).

Edward James Austen, son of Daniel & Mary, was christened on 12 Sep 1889 in Boughton Aluph.^[2]

In 1891 Edward Austen (age 1) lived at The Lees in Boughton Aluph with his father Daniel (39, Shepherd), mother Mary A (36), and six siblings: John (15, Farm Servant), Daniel (14, House Boy), Joseph (12, Scholar), George (10, Scholar), Rose (9, Scholar), and William (4).^[3]

In 1901 Edward Austen (age 10) lived at Sandhurst Lane in Westwell, Kent with his father Daniel (47, Farm Labourer), mother Mary (46), and seven siblings: Joseph (22, Engine Labourer), Rose (18), William (14, Bird Boy), Cred (9), Alice (7), Kate (5), and May (3).^[4]

In 1911 James Austen (age 21, Waggoner Mate on Farm) lived at Sandyhurst Lane in Westwell with his father Daniel (57, Farm Labourer), mother Mary Ann (56), and four siblings: Rose (28), Frederick (19, Farm Servant Labourer), Alice (17), and May (13, School).^[5]

Edward James Austen (age 23, Bachelor, Labourer, residing at Sandyhurst Lane Westwell, son of Daniel Austen, Labourer) and Susan Underdown (age 23, Spinster, residing at 7 Regents Place Ashford, daughter of William Underdown, deceased) were married on 7 Dec 1912 at the Congregational Church in Ashford - the witnesses were Edward Thomas Barham & Rose Harriet Austen.^[6] The marriage was registered in West Ashford in the last quarter of the year.^[7]

• Susan Underdown AKA Susan Bellchambers - her mother was married to William Underdown, but her father was actually the widower William Bellchambers (her mother was his housekeeper). Three of Edward & Susan's children were registered with mother's maiden name Underdown, and one with Bellchambers.

Susan had a son out of wedlock, and it seems that Edward was his father (at least he was listed as the father on his marriage records):

1. Percy Robert Bellchambers AKA Austin (1910-1984)

Edward and Susan had four more children after they married:

1. Edward James Austin (1913-)
2. Frederick George Austin (1915-)
3. Herbert Thomas James Austin (1918-1998)
4. Florence Iris (Austin) White (1920-2011)

In 1939 Edward J Austin (born in 1889) lived at 9 Forge Lane in Ashford with his wife Susan (1889) and daughter Florence I (1920).^[8]

Edward J Austen passed away on 5 Sep 1956, aged 67 years. His death was registered in Ashford in the third quarter of the year.^[9]

"AUSTEN Edward James of 17 Forge-lane Ashford Kent died 5 September 1956 Administration London 13 March [1957] to Susan Austen widow. Effects £452 2s. 2d."^[10]

His wife died two years later:

• "AUSTEN Susan of 17 Forge Lane Ashford Kent widow died 16 October 1958 Administration Lewes 5 November to Edward James Austen engine fitter. Effects £438 6s. 4d."^[11]

Research Notes

He was previously thought to be the Edward James Austen who passed away in Strood, Kent on 6 Mar 1956, aged 67 years. However, the probate record for that Edward has Arthur Donald Austen as the Executor - Arthur Donald Austen was the son of a different Edward James Austen and his wife Elsie Clara Tester. The death of the Edward J Austen who died on 6 Mar was registered in the first quarter of the year in Chatham, Kent and the age at death was 81 years.

• "AUSTEN Edward James of 182 Rede Court-road Strood Kent died 6 March 1956 Probate London 23 April to Arthur Donald Austen school teacher. Effects £772 8s. 8d."^[12]

Sources

1. ↑ "England and Wales Birth Registration Index, 1837-2008," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2XT6-LP5 : 1 October 2014), Edward James Austen, 1889; from "England & Wales Births, 1837-2006," database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing Birth Registration, East Ashford, Kent, England, citing General Register Office, Southport, England. [mother's maiden name included on the GRO Index (https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificates/indexes_search.asp)]
2. ↑ "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NNRW-L52 : 20 March 2020), Edward James Austen, 1889.
3. ↑ "England and Wales Census, 1891," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QKC3-4W2 : 22 February 2021), Edward Austen in household of Daniel Austen, Boughton Aluph, Kent, England, United Kingdom; from "1891 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO RG 12, Kent county, subdistrict, The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey. [additional details from the same record on findmypast (paid account needed): https://www.findmypast.com/transcript?id=GBC/1891/0005715035]
4. ↑ "England and Wales Census, 1901," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X9FC-BYP : 20 May 2019), Edward Austen in household of Daniel Austen, Westwell, Kent, England, United Kingdom; from "1901 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing Calehill subdistrict, PRO RG 13, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey. [additional details from the same record on findmypast (paid account needed): https://www.findmypast.com/transcript?id=GBC/1901/0005445851]
5. ↑ "England and Wales Census, 1911," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XWDB-S2C : 28 June 2019), James Austen in household of Daniel Austen, Westwell, Kent, England, United Kingdom; from "1911 England and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO RG 14, The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey. [additional details from the same record on findmypast (paid account needed): https://www.findmypast.com/transcript?id=GBC/1911/RG14/04253/0155/4]
6. ↑ Marriage details from the record image which is attached to this profile.
7. ↑ "England and Wales Marriage Registration Index, 1837-2005," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:26HX-JJ3 : 22 May 2014), Edward J Austen and null, 1912; from "England & Wales Marriages, 1837-2005," database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing 1912, quarter 4, vol. 2A, p. 2053, West Ashford, Kent, England, General Register Office, Southport, England.
8. ↑ "1939 UK Register" on findmypast (https://search.findmypast.com/search-world-records/1939-register) Entry for Edward J Austin: https://www.findmypast.com/transcript/preview?id=TNA/R39/1682/1682A/017/24 [change the last number from 24 to 25 for his wife and to 26 for his daughter (includes her future married name of White)]
9. ↑ "England and Wales Death Registration Index 1837-2007," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVCD-RPQB : 4 September 2014), Edward J Austen, 1956; from "England & Wales Deaths, 1837-2006," database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing Death, Ashford, Kent, England, General Register Office, Southport, England.
10. ↑ "UK Wills & Probate, 1858-1996" (https://probatesearch.service.gov.uk/) Austen, 1957.
11. ↑ "UK Wills & Probate, 1858-1996" (https://probatesearch.service.gov.uk/) Austen, 1958.
12. ↑ "UK Wills & Probate, 1858-1996" (https://probatesearch.service.gov.uk/) Austen, 1956.