Welcome to our genealogy pages, we sincerely hope that you find something within these pages to assist you in your research.

Can you help with this photograph?

This group photograph was taken in the 1920's, outside of The Brewers Arms public house in Brook Street, Northumberland Heath, Erith, Kent. The landlord and his wife are pictured standing in the doorway, their names were Ethel and Bill Crutchington, they had the pub for 44 years. It may be a long shot, but is there anybody who can provide any information on this picture, if so please contact us.

News of Thomas Hate.

Plumstead.

Fatal Accident- On Thursday last, an elderly man named Thomas Hate, residing at Northumberland Heath, was driving home, having been engaged during the day in his ordinary occupation of selling vegetables through the streets of Woolwich, when he stopped by the Red Lion public house at Plumstead Village, to take up a truss of hay. While standing in the cart, and assisting to lift the truss of hay, he overbalanced himself and fell to the ground head foremost. He was taken up senseless and died in a few minutes. Dr. Allinson was soon in attendance, but his services were of no avail, life being extinct before his arrival. The deceased was 64 years of age, and a very old member of the Manchester Unity of Odd Fellows, in consequence of which his funeral will be conducted by the Bexley Lodge to which he belonged, and will probably be on a grand scale.- (Link to photograph of Red Lion public house).

This newspaper report is from the Kentish Independent. Week Ending 25th November 1859. Thomas Hate died on the 17th November 1859. The news item was extracted by Barbara Foot, April 2004. For more about Thomas Hate:

It's items like the newspaper report above, on the accidental death of poor Thomas Hate in 1859, that puts the meat on the dry bones of the names and dates we collect whilst carrying out research into our family history. We sincerely hope that you are able to find some bones and perhaps a little meat to go with them, while you browse these pages.

History and Photographs

For history and photographs of Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich and Lewisham , have you tried the Idea Homes site. There is actually a picture of the the Red Lion public house, outside which Thomas Hate had his fatal accident.

A letter

There is an interesting letter sent by Edward P. Hackett, from 201 Snyder Avenue, Brooklyn, New York, U.S.A. to Kitty in Erith, Kent, England. It is dated 1919 and was found in the archive of John C. W. Appleton, it is historically very interesting and has the title:

"Letter From America"

If you wish to read it click on the link above.

Please note!

The "What's New" link above only shows what's new in the genealogy section, not what's in Family Matters.

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