Person:Martha Foster (44)

Martha Foster was born 14 June 1808 in Stepney, London, the eldest known child of smith William Foster and his wife Ann. She was baptised 20 August 1809 at St. Dunstan and All Saints Church, Stepney. Martha had at least three younger siblings: Jasper White born in 1816, Sarah Ann born in 1818, and William born in 1819. She also probably had a brother named John Thomas Foster who was born about 1806 in Chigwell Row, Essex.

On 3 September 1829 at St. Dunstan's Church Martha married Henry Ripley. Witnesses to the marriage were John Foster and Sarah White, who were married just a few months later with Henry and Martha as witnesses.

Martha's father and brother William and John Foster were blacksmiths and whitesmiths, and Henry Ripley was also a smith so perhaps the families knew each other through their work. In any case, eleven years after Henry and Martha wed, their siblings Elizabeth Hall Ripley and Jasper White Foster were married in 1841 at St. John at Hackney church. The term whitesmith indicated someone who worked with light-coloured metals such as tin and pewter, making items such as cups, water pitchers, forks, spoons, and candle holders.

Henry and Martha's first known child, also named Henry, was baptised at St. Dunstan's on 2 October 1831, followed by Samuel Edward and George John baptised together in 1836, Maria in 1837, and William in 1840. George John Ripley probably died young as he was not living with the family in the 1841 census, at which point they were living at Lamb Row in Bethnal Green, which was somewhere off Three Colt Lane. Their neighbours on the street included shoemakers, carpenters, silk weavers and other smiths, and around the corner at 29 Three Colt Lane was the Duke of Wellington pub, where it's reasonable to assume Henry Sr. spent some of his time.

Henry and Martha had at least three more children, James born in 1842 who died at the age of two from "hooping cough", Sarah Ann born in 1844 who died at 14 months from inflammation of the lungs, and Robert Ripley, born 11 Jan 1847 at 4 Lamb Row.

In 1851 Henry and Martha were living at 4 Three Colt Lane with their children Samuel (a scenic painter) and Maria, William, and Robert, who were all listed as "scholars", indicating they were attending school. Their eldest son Henry was living and working as a drover in West Ham.

Henry died between 1851 and 1861, when Martha is listed as a widow living at 2A Hollingworth Street with her children Maria (a needlewoman), William (a cabman), Robert, and a cabman boarder named William Jobson. Martha's occupation is given as "formerly a laundress".

Martha has not yet been located in the 1871 census, but in 1881 she was living with her childless daughter and son-in-law Maria and George Webber, and son William Ripley at 8 Prebend Place, St Pancras. Her occupation is listed as "annuitant". She died at the same location on 17 December 1881 due to chronic bronchitis at the age of 74. Her daughter Maria was at her side when she died.

DNA Genealogy

If you are a descendant of Martha Foster and would like to compare autosomal DNA results please contact Jocelyn_K_B (at) yahoo.com for kit numbers

https://familysearch.org/tree/#view=ancestor&person=MG49-CF4

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} Stepney, London, England. Saint Dunstan And All Saints Church Parish Records
   "London, England, Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1812," Martha Foster, bap. 20 Aug 1809.
2. ↑ ^2.0 2.1 Stepney, London, England. Saint Dunstan And All Saints Church Parish Records
   "London and Surrey, England, Marriage Bonds and Allegations, 1597-1921," Henry Ripley applied for a license to marry Martha Foster, 31 Aug 1829.
3. ↑ Stepney, London, England. Saint Dunstan And All Saints Church Parish Records
   "London, England, Marriages and Banns, 1754-1921," Henry Ripley m. Martha Foster, 3 Sep 1829.
4. ↑ ^4.0 4.1 Registrar General. Birth Certificate
   birth certificate for Robert Ripley, born 11 Jan 1847; citing 2/10/197, Jan-Mar quarter 1847, Bethnal Green registration district, Bethnal Green sub-district.
   Robert Ripley birth certificate
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2} Middlesex, England. 1841 Census
   Bethnal Green, folio 15, page 23; citing PRO HO 107/691/8.
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1 6.2} Middlesex, England. 1851 Census
   Bethnal Green, folio 101, page 35; citing PRO HO 107/1541.
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3} Middlesex, England. 1861 Census
   Islington West, folio 63, page 63; citing PRO RG 9/136.
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1 8.2} London, England. 1881 Census
   Kentish Town, folio 45, page 83; citing PRO RG 11/209.
9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1 9.2} General Register Office. England and Wales Civil Registration Death Index. (London, United Kingdom: General Register Office, 1837-Present)
   entry for Martha Ripley, volume 1b, page 131, Oct-Nov-Dec quarter 1881, Pancras (1837-1901) district.
10. ↑ ^10.0 10.1 General Register Office. England & Wales. Certified Copy of an Entry of Death
    death certificate for Martha Ripley, died 17 Dec 1881; citing 1b/131/500, Oct-Dec quarter 1881, Pancras registration district, Kentish Town sub-district.
    Martha Foster Ripley death certificate
11. ↑ General Register Office. England and Wales. Civil Registration Certificates. (London, United Kingdom: General Register Office)
    death certificate for James Ripley, died 17 Feb 1844; citing 2/9/394, Mar quarter 1844, Bethnal Green registration district, Church sub-district.
    James Ripley death certificate
12. ↑ General Register Office. England & Wales. Certified Copy of an Entry of Death
    death certificate for Sarah Ann Ripley, died 2 Dec 1845; citing 2/8/103, Oct-Dec quarter 1845, Bethnal Green registration district, Church sub-district.
    Sarah Ann Ripley death certificate