Grandparents

The paternal grandparents were James Gilbert Hoseason, a master mariner, and his wife, Anne Hardcastle, daughter of David Smith, superintendent of the Surrey Canal. They lived in the Rotherhithe area of the London docklands and were Protestant Dissenters. They possibly had 11 children but we have details for only 6 from a document dated 31 July 1837. The document is a declaration of births of children “received, filed and registered according to the customs in use among Protestant Dissenters, at the Registry of Births kept at Dr Williams’ Library, Red Cross St, Cripplegate, London.” The 6 children were Cordelia Townsend, born on 4 June 1829 at 48 Paradise St, Anne Smith, born on 30 March 1831 at Dock House, Susan, born on 9 June 1832 at Jennings’ Cottage, James Gilbert (Gilbert’s father), born on 17 March 1834, David John, born on 12 June 1835, and Eliza Katherine, born on 30 July 1836. The last three were born at King’s Mill, Rotherhithe.

Parents

James Gilbert Hoseason was born in Rotherhithe on 17 March 1834. In March 1854 he started work for the Great Western Railway, initially in the accounts department at Paddington Station on a salary of £60 per annum. He later moved to the cartage department, his salary gradually rising to £90 until he resigned in March 1866. On 16 August 1856 James married Mary Jane Scarrott at St Saviour’s church, Paddington. He was 23, an accountant, and lived at 3 Honley Place, Maida Hill. Mary was 41, the daughter of Eli Scarrott, a manufacturer, and lived at 28 Blomfield Rd. Mary was born in Birmingham. We found no record of any children although the couple were together for many years. In 1861 they lived in Fulham Place, Paddington, and James was a commercial clerk. By 1871 they had moved to Manchester, living in Woodland St, Cheetham. In 1881 they were at Fair Light, Manley Rd, Withington. James was a commercial clerk in shipping.

We do not know what happened to Mary but by the time of the 1901 census, James was married to his second wife, Caroline, and they were living at 24 Central Rd, Withington. James was retired, aged 67. Caroline, born in Manchester about 1862, was 39 and they had 1 son, Gilbert Bruce, aged 6.

James died on 18 August 1906 and was buried in Southern Cemetery. He left £528 7s 2d. His address at the time of his death was 75 Nicholas Rd, Chorlton-cum-Hardy. About 1908 Caroline married Percy Mardon Lee, born in Clapham, London. The 1911 census records their address as 12 Nell Lane and Percy’s occupation as assistant salesman, straw hats.

Gilbert Bruce

Gilbert was born in Manchester on 1 April 1895 and was baptised at St Clement’s church, Chorlton, on 2 June 1895. The baptism register records their address as 41 Albany Rd, and James’ occupation as cashier. By 1911 Gilbert was still living with his parents and his occupation was assistant salesman, furs. He later became a private in the 1st Battalion of the Cheshire Regiment, service number 316136. He died on 5 November 1918 and was buried at Pont-sur-Sambre Communal Cemetery, Nord, France, grave reference A. 18.

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission website shows his mother as Caroline Hoseason, not Lee, and her address as 59 Lansdowne Rd, West Didsbury.