Peter Hunnisett

Caleb & Naomi Elphick of Westham

Caleb Elphick, second son of David and Mary, was born in Westham and christened in Lewes on 3 June 1827. At the age of 23 he was living with his parents in Red Dyke House, Westham.

Naomi Douch, daughter of Jonathan and Mary, was born in Westham in 1836. She was living-in as a servant with a Mr Bown in Eastbourne in 1851.

On 3 June 1854 Caleb married Naomi in Westham parish church and they are known to have had eleven children:

In 1861 Caleb and Naomi lived on Willingdon Drove and Caleb was a Carter. By 1871 they had moved to Friday Street where they were again in 1881, 1891, 1901 and 1911 and Caleb was usually described as an agricultural labourer. The 1899 Kelly's Directory describes him as a bailiff in Friday Street.

Caleb died on 5 April 1911 aged 83. Naomi died on 21 October 1913 aged 76. Both were buried in Westham churchyard and their headstone also mentions Flora May Elphick who died on 26 September 1872, aged 1 year and 4 months.

In Memory Of
My
Loving Husband
CALEB ELPHICK
Who Died April 15th 1911
In His 85th Year
Also Of His Daughter
FLORA MAY
Who Died Sept 26th 1872
Aged 1 Year & 4 Months
Gone but not forgotten
Also NAOMI
The Beloved Wife Of The Above
Who Died October 21st 1913
Aged 76 years
R.I.P.

Probate following Naomi's death was handled by their son, David. 

Of their children:

• Elizabeth, their eldest child often known as Mary, married Peter Pelling in Westham on 1 July 1876 when she was 19. The marriage was witnessed by Sarah Ann Elphick and William Hunnisett. In 1881 they were at 3 Alfrey Cottages, just off Seaside with children Albert and Elizabeth. Peter was a bricklayer. In 1891 they were at 1 Myrtle Road with two more children, Mabel and (William) George who died in 1895, aged 11 (MI in Willingdon). In 1901 Peter was boarding in Hanover Road, Eastbourne, and Mary was visiting Caroline and Fanny Ellis in Hailsham. In 1911 Mary was in Sevenoaks working as a laundress and appears to have split up with Peter. Eastbourne police made a census return showing that Peter Pelling was found in a stable at the Alexandra Arms! Peter died in 1928 and Mary died in 1938 (reg. in Malling).
• Sarah Ann married William Hunnisett in Westham on 1 June 1878 and the marriage was witnessed by Peter Pelling and Esther Hunnisett. They lived in Westham for some years and later in Eastbourne. Sarah died in 1944. (see page for William and Sarah).

• David was a bricklayer lodging in Croydon in 1881 where the following year he married Rhoda Jones and where they lived with their six children:

  Walter

  1882

  William

  1883

  Frederick Arthur

  Q3 1885

  Daisy Maud

  Q1 1887

  George

  1888

  Sydney Harold

  Q3 1894

  David died on 25 July 1940 and Rhoda in 1946.

• Rosa Ellen married George Howell in Westham on 3 May 1884. George was a policeman in Eastbourne and they do not appear to have had any children. George died in 1927 and Rosa in 1941.

• Jonathan became a groom and married Louisa Stevens in 1887 and they had at least five children, mostly baptised in Willingdon:

  Fritz William

  19 May 1889

  Willingdon

  Mabel Louisa

  7 May 1891

  Willingdon

  Ernest Allan

  9 July 1893

  Willingdon

  Doris May

  bapt. 2 Mar 1897

  bur. 8 March aged 6 weeks, Westham

  Frank

  1 Apr 1900

  Willingdon

  The family lived at Horn House North Lodge, Westham, where Jonathan worked as a groom and coachman, until at least 1901. In 1911 they were living in Bexhill. Louisa died on 10 March 1932 aged 70. Jonathan lived to be 96 and died on 17 November 1960. Their headstone is in Westham churchyard.

  

  In Loving Memory
  of
  FRITZ WILLIAM
  ELPHICK
  who fell asleep
  July 3rd 1910
  Aged 21 Years
  Jesus Called Him

  

  In Ever Loving Memory
  of
  LOUISA ELPHICK
  who died 10th March 1932
  Aged 70 Years
  At Rest
  also of her dearly loved husband
  JONATHAN ELPHICK
  who died 17th November 1960
  Aged 96 Years
  Re-united

• Naomi, who as an adult was always known as Phillis, married Edwin Kempshall in Westham in 1892. They had 4 children; Edwin (1893), Kathleen (1994), Arthur (1896) and Herbert (1902). By 1911 they were living in Hulme, Lancashire.
• Joyce married Solomon Geering, a blacksmith, in 1892 and they lived in Westham with their daughter Bernice (1892). Solomon died in 1925 and Joyce in 1929.
• Charlotte married Havelock Thomas Holland, a gas stoker, in Westham on 16 May 1896 and in 1901 they were living at Blacknest with two children, Dorothy and Frederick. In 1911 they were at Friday Street and had another son, Gilbert (1906). Havelock died in 1948 and Charlotte in 1957.
• Annie married Frank Barnard, a farm labourer, in Westham on 25 April 1896. In 1901 they were in Herstmonceux with two children, Ruby and Lilian, staying with Frank's parents. An elder daughter, Loris, was not with them in 1901 but was in 1911 along with a fourth child, Hubert (1903). Frank died in 1954 and Annie in 1966.

• Caleb married Annie Savage in Westham on 2 September 1899 and in 1901 they were living in Friday Street and Caleb worked as a navvy. By 1911 he was shown in the census as a stockman. During the 1930's he was living in Rose Cottage, Westham. This was probably in Friday Street. They are known to have had five children, four baptised in Westham:

  Arthur Caleb

  Q3 1901

  Winifred Marguerite

  28 Feb 1904

  Leslie Christopher

  29 July 1906

  born 22 June

  Caleb Victor

  27 July 1913

  Ernest Frank

  26 Nov 1916