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This is the first of four charts that gives details of other branches of our family. This chart deals with the descendants of Mary Cuckow, the younger sister of Thomas (b 1744), mentioned in chart 2.
The story of this branch of the family continues on the next chart.
Mary gave birth to an illegitimate son, William, in 1777: the father of whom was acknowledged to be William Hodges. She may be the Mary, described as of Wateringbury, who married James Obey at Mereworth on 15 Aug 1790.
John Honey was a witness at the marriage, and if this is the husband of her sister Elizabeth it would confirm a relationship. Mary Obey was buried at Mereworth on the 6 Aug 1815.
Young Cuckoo as he came to be called was in receipt of Parish Relief at the
rate of 2/- a week from a very early age, at least 1 Sep 1788. In 1794 he
was apprenticed to Richard Grover of Mereworth, the memorandum being recorded
on the inside cover of the Overseers accounts:
"27 Jan 1794 Agreed by the parish of Offham with Richard Grover of Mereworth,
cordwainer, to take William Cuccow for two years to learn him the said business
for £3.3.0 at the expense of the parish of Offham and to support him
one year at his expense.
In the accounts themselves we have the following entries:
24 Mar 1794 Paid Mr Grover at Mereworth, shoemaker, two pounds two shillings
on account of young William Cuccow who is by the said Richard Grover to learn
the trade of shoemaker.
24 Nov 1794 Paid for clothes for young Cuccow………..10/4
13 Apr 1795 Paid Mr Grover shoemaker at Mereworth one guinea due to him on
a former agreement and on account of learning young Cuccow ye shoemakers
business.
27 July 1795 Paid for clothes for young Cuccow………..£1.7.6
17 Jan 1796 Paid young Cuccow 3 weeks and 3 days pay which is the time that
his indenture expires………7/-
25 Jan 1796 Gave to William Cuckow to find him some working
tools…..10/6.
He married Mary Cripps at West Peckham on the 17 Jan 1809 and there were three children born to them there and they had apparently settled in that parish.
They then again must have fallen on hard times and become dependent on the parish because on the 2 Aug 1813 a settlement certificate was raised to convey the family to Offham. In the event they remained in West Peckham but Offham provided poor relief and this continued at least until 1821.
William was buried at West Peckham on the 29 Dec 1839 and Mary was buried there on the 21 Jan 1855.
