BURCHETT Family History
Page 4
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
On 6 July 1868, at Cade Street, Heathfield, she illegitimately gave birth to my great grandfather, Mark William . On Mark William's birth certificate her residence was given as Heathfield. She signed the birth certificate with her mark. The father's name is not shown on the certificate. However, Mark William was baptised on 4 October 1868 as William Mark Ticehurst Burchett. The significance of the name "Ticehurst" will be seen later. In nearly all documents after his baptism he is known as William Mark, rather than Mark William.
In the 1871 census Lucy Ann was living at home with her parents and William Mark. In the 1881 census she was living with William at 12 Church Street in Heathfield and her occupation was given as a char-woman. William's age is given as 12.
She married Jabez Kemp at the Parish Church, Crowhurst on 10 June 1882. She gave her age as 30 although she was born in 1847! Her marriage certificate shows her residence at the time of her marriage as Bexhill. The witnesses were William Burton and Sarah Hutchinson. She signed her name on the marriage certificate, Jabez signed with his mark.
In the 1891 and 1901 censuses, Lucy Ann and Jabez were living in the Punnets Town area of Heathfield, without William.
Lucy Ann died on 28 December 1905 at Square House, Heathfield. She died of "morbus cordes" - heart disease, and sclerosis of the liver "for two years". She is buried in a double grave in the churchyard of All Saints church, Heathfield (Plot B Row 4 No18). She is buried with an Alexander Walter Shiell.
I have been unable to find Jabez Kemp's date of death.
William Mark always took the Burchett name, and this is what appears on his birth certificate, with no information about his father. Later in life he became a poultry rearer and farmer in the Heathfield area.
However, there is great significance in the fact that William was baptised William Mark Ticehurst Burchett and his name was transposed from his birth names of Mark William.
Family rumour has it that the father of Lucy Ann's child was a young man by the name of Ticehurst. When it was discovered that Lucy Ann was pregnant, it is said that his family shipped him off to America or Canada, from where he returned at a later date and may have settled somewhere in Kent.
I WOULD LIKE TO FIND OUT:
WHO WAS WILLIAM MARK BURCHETT'S FATHER?
WHEN DID JABEZ KEMP DIE?
WHY WAS ALEXANDER SHIELL BURIED IN THE SAME GRAVE AS LUCY ANN BURCHETT?
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