Page 62 - ‘A Blaker Family History’ The family history of Joseph Blaker (1916-2007; ‘Joe’)

© The Blaker Society
© The Blaker Society

In 1930, John died at Black Dog Cottage, leaving Harriett as a widow.
Harriett survived her husband by some 3 years, before she died aged 82
years.

6.21.2 Ann Blaker (1854-1903)
Born: 10 July 1854, Worth, Sussex
Christened: 6 August 1854, All Saints, Crawley Down, Sussex
Married: 22 February 1879, aged 24 years, married John Beal; St. Mary,
Balcombe, Sussex
Died: 4 February 1903, aged 48 years, Elm Cottages, Newtimber,
Hurstpierpoint, Sussex

Ann was the youngest of three children born to William and Caroline
Blaker.

Ann was recorded in the 1861 Census as a 6 year-old girl living with her
parents and siblings in Balcombe Lane, Balcombe. By 1871, Ann was
working as a ‘General Servant’ still living with her parents in Balcombe
Lane, Balcombe.

Eight years later, Ann married Henry Beal.

6.21.2.1 Henry John Beal (1848- )
Born: 1848, Buxted, Sussex
Married: 22 February 1879, aged 30 years, married Ann Blaker; St. Mary,
Balcombe, Sussex
Died: ?

Henry was one of at least five children born to John (1808- ) and Mary
Ann Beal (1814- ). John was an ‘Agricultural Labourer’, who originated
from Mayfield, Sussex. John’s parents were of modest means, and lived for
some years in an Arms House in Hog House Lane, Buxted, Sussex.

6.21.2.2 Ann Blaker and Henry Beal
Ann had two children before she was married to Henry:
• Clara Jane: b. 1 March 1873, Balcombe, Sussex
• Sarah Anne: b. 27 March 1876, Balcombe, Sussex

Their respective birth certificates show no name for their father(s). At the
time of her first child, Ann was only 19 years of age. Ann must have been
regarded as a very promiscuous girl in the rural community of Balcombe.
Indeed, since Ann’s sister, Harriett must have been heavily pregnant at
the time of her marriage, it is evident that William and Caroline’s
daughters were not well versed in the morality of their time!

It appears that neither Ann or Henry could write their own name, since
their marriage certificate simply has their ‘X’ marks.