This is the sixth installment of our multipart series on the tw-generation study of the Charles Hall Shearn family and the family of his father, Mark Hall Shearn. If you like, you can also read the previous installments:
- Two Generations Son / Father
- Short Marriage Short Life
- Building a Life Together
- Long and Prosperous Marriage
- Career and Will
Charles Hall Shearn had five children Charles James Hall Shearn, James Parfitt Shearn, Robert Austin Shearn, Lilian Shearn, and Albert Henry Shearn. He had three wives Matilda, Arabella, and Eliza. He outlived all of his wives.
Charles James Hall Shearn
Charles James Hall Shearn was Charles’ oldest son. His mother was Matilda Hart. He married Georgina Cusden in Hanover Square in late 1887.[1] He worked as a clerk in the House of Commons and may have held other positions there. He died at a village on the sea, East Preston, West Sussex, on 14 February 1933 at 74 years old.[2] He left a will in the amount of £1953 11 shillings and 1 penny.[3] The will was written 10 February 1890.[4] The will was probated 25 April 1933. He lived at Woodville, Eton Road, Worthing, Sussex when he died. Worthing is on the sea just a few miles to the east of East Preston. Before that, and when the will was written, he lived at 33 South Audley Street, Grovsner Square, Middlesex. His widow Georgina Shearn was the sole beneficiary and executrix. No specific property and no children are mentioned in the will.
James Parfitt Shearn
James Parfitt Shearn the second son of Charles Hall Shearn and Matilda Hart, died at the age of 15 in 1877.[5] He died in Axbridge, Somerset.
Robert Austin Shearn
Robert Austin Shearn was the only child of Charles Hall Shearn and Arabella Cowley. He was born at St George, Hanover Square in 1877.[6] Marriage, census, and death records were search, but no record was found. Records were found, but based on known information at the time, none was determined to be the Robert Austin Shearn in question. However, based on his father’s will and codicil, it was possible that some of the found records were the correct Robert Austin Shearn. Some of the found records indicated a criminal history including a mug shot photograph as well as passage to Australia. If Robert Austin had committed a crime, that might have been sufficient reason for Charles to remove him from his will. There also remained the question of possible animosity that Charles may have harbored against Robert because Robert’s mother Arabella died due to an infection which was a result of giving birth to Robert. Currently no records have been uncovered that support the notion. In fact, Robert Austin was in the original will as recipient of three sixths part of his father’s trust which was more than his older brother Charles had been allotted and one portion less that his younger brother. In order to determine what came of Robert Austin, United Kingdom military, court, prison, and emigration should be searched. Australian and New Zealand censuses, court, immigration, and other records should also be searched.
Daughter Lilian died at the age of 6 years
Lilian Shearn
Lilian was only six years old when she died in 1887 in the March quarter in Hanover Square.[7]
Albert Henry Shearn
Albert Henry Shearn was the youngest child of Charles Hall Shearn.[8] Albert’s mother was Eliza Smith. Albert was born in July 1882.[9] In the 1891 and 1901 census records Albert was with his parents. Albert was married in April 1907.[10] He married Gladys Ethel Adalone Newman at Lewisham, London. Gladys was from Brockley, Kent.[11] By 1911 the pair had a son, Douglas Hall Shearn. The family lived at 16 Market Street, Mayfair. Albert was a stationer. He was also an employer, so he had people working for him. He was 28 years old. Gladys was 24 years old and assisting in the business. Douglas was 14 weeks old. Other household members included Linda Newman, Albert’s sister-in-law. She was 23 years old and single. She was also from Brockley, Kent and assisting in the business. Lastly, Lily Brewer, Albert’s cousin, was in the home and assisting in the business. She was 16 years old and single. She was from Lapford, Devon. Lapford is quite near Morchard Bishop, Crediton where Eliza Smith, Albert’s mother, was born.
A search of the city directory produced a 1910 Electoral Register. The record put Albert Henry Shearn living at 16 Market-street, St George, Hanover Square, Westminster. Given his date of birth and the situation in Europe during Albert’s lifetime, a search of military records was completed. Albert served in the 1st Royal Fusiliers.[12] He entered service on 9 September 1914. He was 32 years and 2 months old. He was a newsagent. He lived at 18 Margaret Street, Mayfair. He was married. He was to serve a term of three years. Albert’s death date is unknown. Probate and death record collections were searched. Records of probate and death were found for an Albert Henry Shearn in Nottinghamshire, but the spouse and other named relatives in the records were not Gladys, her family, or Albert’s family. No conclusive record of probate or Albert’s death was found.
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Sources
[1] "FreeBMD Entry Information," index database with digital images (https://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/information.pl?r=79660854:8588&d=bmd_1588661647 : accessed 15 May 2020), marriage entry for Charles James H Shearn, volume 1a, page 707, document 20.
[2] "FreeBMD Entry Information," index database with digital images (https://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/information.pl?r=167152954:1993&d=bmd_1588661647 : accessed 15 May 2020), death entry for Charles J.H. Shearn, March, 1933, E. Preston, volume 2b, page 686, document 21.
[3] "England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1995," database, Ancestry (ancestry.com : 1 June 2020), Charles James Hall Shearn, document 52.
[4] The Principal Registry of the Family Division (London, England), Grant of Probate for the estate of Charles James Hall Shearn dated 25 April 1933 with annexed will (copy) for Charles James Hall Shearn dated 10 February 1890, document 58.
[5] "FreeBMD Entry Information," index database with digital images (https://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/information.pl?r=59914801:3366&d=bmd_1588661647 : accessed 15 May 2020), death entry for James Parfitt Shearn, June, 1877, Axbridge, volume 5c, page 406, document 26.
[6] "FreeBMD Entry Information," index database with digital images (https://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/information.pl?r=59758130:5714&d=bmd_1588661647 : accessed 15 May 2020), birth entry for Robert Austin Shearn, June, 1877, Hanover Square, volume 1a, page 350, document 29.
[7] "FreeBMD Entry Information," index database with digital images (https://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/information.pl?r=78121456:7926&d=bmd_1588661647 : accessed 15 May 2020), death entry for Lilian Shearn, March, 1887, Hanover Square, volume 1a, page 307, document 28.
[8] "FreeBMD Entry Information," index database with digital images (https://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/information.pl?r=69442866:3376&d=bmd_1588661647 : accessed 15 May 2020), birth entry for Albert Henry Shearn, September, 1882, Hanover Square, volume 1a, page 399, document 17.
[9] "British Army WWI Pension Records 1914-1920," Ancestry (www.ancestry.com : accessed 6 July 2020), Albert Henry Shearn, 1st Regiment Fusiliers, 1914, Regimental Number 480, WO364, piece 3665, document 90.
[10] "England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1837-1915," index database with digital images, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/ : accessed 20 June 2020), marriage entry for Albert Henry Shearn and Gladys Adalone Newman, volume 1d, page 1623, document 63.
[11] 1911 census of England, St George, Hanover Square, Mayfair and Knights Bridge, Enumeration District 06, piece 420, Albert Henry Shearn; imaged, “1911 England Census,” database, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 6 July 2020); citing class RG14, piece 420, 1911 Census Returns of England and Wales, The National Archives of England, Kew, document 89.
[12] "British Army WWI Pension Records 1914-1920," Ancestry (www.ancestry.com : accessed 6 July 2020), Albert Henry Shearn, 1st Regiment Fusiliers, 1914, Regimental Number 480, WO364, piece 3665, document 90.
