Family
 Albert Lee Overbury 1) 2)Son of John Overbury and Mary Ann Lee. Born 12 Sep 1834 Clapham, Surrey, England 3) 4) 1) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9) 10) 11) Baptised 23 Dec 1834 Clapham, Surrey, England 7) Died 7 Dec 1898 73 Salisbury Road, Croydon, Surrey, England, 64 years 5) 11) Buried Chatham Maidstone Road Cemetery, Chatham, Kent, England 11) Occupations: 5 Nov 1856 Hartlepool, Durham, England; Master on King Philip, a foreign going vessel 8), between 7 Nov 1856 and 1875 Hartlepool, Durham, England; Master Mariner 8) 12) 13) 14) 2), between 1881 and 1887 12 Magpie Hall Lane, Luton, Chatham, Kent, England; Grocer / Shopkeeper 1) 15), 1891 12 Magpie Hall Lane, Luton, Chatham, Kent, England; Grocer + Writer in the Backyard 3), 1898; Writer 11) Residences: 1841 2 Devonshire Place, Streatham, Surrey, England 4), between 1881 and 1891 12 Magpie Hall Lane, Luton, Chatham, Kent, England 1) 3) 15), 1874 24 Newnham Street, Chatham, Kent, England 16), 23 Feb 1868 94 Murray Street, Hoxton, Middlesex, England 13), before 1898 The Laurels, 30 Elsinore Road, Lewisham, Kent, England 17) 18) Military service: Transferred from HMS Bellerophon to HMS Amphitrite 7 Nov 1850 19) Military service: HMS Bellerophon; Naval Cadet, then Midshipman between 7 Oct 1847 and 6 Nov 1850 8) Military service: HMS Impregnable; Midshipman between 7 Nov and 28 Dec 1850 8) Military service: Received tuition 22 Jun 1851 19) Military service: Transferred from HMS Amphitrite to 1st List of Commissioned Officers, Military Barracks No 9 11 Oct 1853 19) Military service: Received commision as Mate on HMS Amphitrite 19 Jul 1854 20) Military service: Royal Navy: Dismissed the service for violent conduct and being addicted to drinking; see letter from Rear Admiral Bruce, of 14 September 1855. 31 Oct 1855 21) Military service: HMS Amphitrite; Midshipman then Acting Mate. Served on HMS Amphitrite with a brief interlude for examinations between 29 Dec 1850 and 25 Aug 1855 8) 22) Arrival: Age: 29. 2nd mate on the Sirocco, travelling from the Port of London to Sydney 3 Oct 1864 Sydney, New South Wales, Australia 10) Notes: Albert Lee Overbury was born to John Overbury and Mary Ann (née Lee) in Battersea, the 12 September 1834. His parents were residents of 37 Doughty Street, London. (note: i) He may however have spent a large part of his early years in Cheltenham where his father and grandfather owned properties. He would state his place of birth as Cheltenham on the 1881 census and on some of his Royal Navy records. In 1841, he was recorded as living at 2 Devonshire Place, Streatham but by the age of fourteen, Albert was already a naval cadet. In 1847 he was posted, as a cadet, to HMS Bellerophon: Naval Cadets - ...Albert L. Overbury and Francis S. Thompson, to Bellerophon. (note: ii) Albert would remain on the Bellerophon for a relatively short period of time. Just after his sixteenth birthday, on the 7 November 1850, he would transfer to HMS Amphitrite having left Bellerophon on the sixth. He was described as On leave from Impregnable on the ships muster roll so it is possible that he had originally been assigned for the Impregnable. He had achieved promotion sometime between 1847 and 1850 to midshipman. The rank of midshipman was generally held by aspiring individuals desiring higher ranks. He received tuition from the 22 January 1851 and clearly did aspire to higher ranks. He had provisionally passed for Lieutenant, 12 April 1853 and was transferred to Military Barracks No. 9 on the 11 October 1853 to take further examinations. (note: iii) He passed in seamanship and so was promoted to the rank of lieutenant. (note: iv) Subsequently he would return to HMS Amphitrite. The 19 July 1854, he would achieve his next significant promotion, when he received a commission and became acting Mate on the Amphitrite. (note: v) Nonetheless, that would also be his last promotion in the Royal Navy. His service with the Royal Navy ended just over a year later: "31 October 1855, dismissed the service for violent conduct and being addicted to drinking; see letter from Rear Admiral Bruce of 14 September 1855". The letter no longer exists in the Admiralty correspondence but it seems likely that it would describe his addiction to drinking as prolonged. His entries in HMS Amphitrites log become noticeably sparser and poorly written for a period of at least six months before that date. His last entry was written on the 14 July 1855 which suggests his duties were severely diminished between the July and October, considering he remained on board the ship. During his five years of service with HMS Amphitrite, Albert visited a diverse variety of places. It would tour the Pacific Ocean taking in islands like Hawaii, Tahiti, the Pitcairns and Southern ports like Valparaiso in Chile. Throughout the period the only conflict was that against Russia. 11 May - 7 Sep 1854, when news of the war being declared against the Russians was received the British force on the China and Japan station consisted of the President, Pique, Amphitrite, Trincomalee, Virago and the French the Forte, Eurydice, Artemise, and Obligado. A number of operations appear to have been carried out, none of which were carried through to a satisfactory conclusion. (note: vi) Examples of typical log book entries written by Albert are hugely varied and represent his role and responsibilities on board the ship: (note: vii) Navigational bearings 7 December 1854: NW L ½ W 9 January 1855: Shortened sail and came to with Pique Sightings of other ships 19 November 1854: French Frigate Forte, off the entrance of Bay Training; often mundane and repetitive 14 November 1854: Mustered by divisions 7 December 1854: 5_15 Mustered at quarters Night watch Engagements/interactions with other ships 16 November 1854: Supplied the Pique with cartridges General operation of a ship Employed preparing stores for survey and white-washing holds. Invalided Lieut. Haniforthe discharged. His departure from the Royal Navy was not, however, the end of his seafaring career. He would instead switch to the merchant navy. In 1857 he obtained his Master Ordinary certificate in Sunderland. (note: viii) The certificate qualified him to be a ships master. He would remain on the merchant navy lists until 1864, (note: ix) but his wifes census entry in 1871, where she is described as master mariners wife suggests that his career continued for a considerably longer period. Whilst in the merchant navy it seems he served on a variety of ships. He appears on a passenger list for the Sirocco ship (built in 1856) as 2nd mate, aged 29. The Sirocco had arrived in Sydney, New South Wales, from London on the 3rd of October 1864. The ship had been transporting c.300 emmigrants to Australia. Further evidence for Albert having remained in the merchant navy until at least 1873 appears in the Index to the Captains Registers of Lloyds of London".(note: x) There he is described as having submitted voyages in 1857, 1863-1864 and 1868-1873. (note: xi) It can, with reasonable certainty, be concluded that Albert was no longer at sea by around 1874. In 1874 he was a resident of 24 Newnham Street, Chatham, and described as a grocer or tea dealer. (note: xii) In the 1881 census he is a resident of 12 Magpie Hall Lane (which is adjacent to Newnham Street), Chatham and working in a grocers shop with his wife. It certainly was an unusual change of career. It might have been the result of having married Mary Ann Coppen in 1866. Mary Ann was born in East Farleigh, Kent, not too far from Chatham so maybe Albert desired to spend time with his young children; the oldest, John, was born in 1868. Chatham was also the site of important Royal Navy and merchant docks. Albert would presumably have been familiar with the area. The family remained at 12 Magpie Hall Lane until past 1891. The grocery shop also continued until past 1891 though Albert interestingly described his occupation as grocer and writer in 1891. It remains to be identified what Albert wrote. Albert Lee's son, Albert described Albert Lee as a master mariner in 1896 but it seems unlikely he was referring to his occupation in 1896 given the above evidence. Albert would die at the end of 1898 whilst still a resident of Chatham. His wife Mary Ann would then move in with their son, Algernon Overbury, with whom she would live until 1938. --- Notes: i Register of Births and Baptisms at the Independent Dissenting Meeting House in the Parish of Clapham, Surrey from 1808 to 1837. ii A. Pollock, United Service Magazine, Volume 55, (H. Colburn, 1847), p. 472. iii Amphitrite Ships Muster, The National Archives, (ADM 38/7519, 1850-1856). iv The Navy List, (The Admiralty, 1855). v Ibid. vi W. Clowes, The royal navy, a history from the earliest times to present, (Marston, 1897), p. 429. vii All examples obtained from log book of HMS Amphitrite. Amphitrite Ships Log, The National Archives, (ADM 53/5018.ADM 53/5019, 1855). viii Master Ordinary: Certificate no 1090, OC, 1856, Sunderland quoted from The Mercantile Navy List and Annual Appendage to the Commercial Code of Signals for All Nations, (Google Books, 1857). ix The Navy List, (The Admiralty, 1858.1860.1861.1864). x Index to the Captains Registers of Lloyds of London, (Guildhall Library Ms 18567, varied). xi "OVERBURY, Albert Lee b. Surrey 1834 C1090 Sunderland 1856, vol.11 1857, 1863-1864, 1868-1873; vol.23 no voyages listed" quoted from Ibid. xii Kellys Directory, (Ancestry.co.uk, 1874). Married 14 Oct 1866 St Dunstan and All Saints, Stepney, Middlesex, England 23) 24) 12) (32 years married) to:  Mary Ann Coppen 1) 2) 13)Daughter of William Coppen and Mary Ann Everhurst. Born 9 Dec 1845 East Farleigh, Kent, England 3) 1) 25) 14) 26) 27) 28) 29) 30) 31) 32) Baptised 11 Jan 1846 East Farleigh, Kent, England 31) Died 13 Jan 1938 22 Silverdale, Sydenham, Kent, England, 92 years 26) 32) Buried 21 Jan 1938 Chatham Maidstone Road Cemetery, Chatham, Kent, England 32) Occupations: between 1851 and 1861 Bridge House, East Farleigh, Kent, England; Scholar 25) 29), 1891 12 Magpie Hall Lane, Luton, Chatham, Kent, England; Grocer's Assistant 3) Residences: between 1851 and 1861 Bridge House, East Farleigh, Kent, England 25) 29), between 1881 and 1891 12 Magpie Hall Lane, Luton, Chatham, Kent, England 1) 3) 15), 1871 108 Dartford Road, Dartford, Kent, England 14), 1901 73 Brewery Road, Plumstead, London, England 28), 2 Apr 1911 63 Hurstbourne Road, Lewisham Forest Hill, London, England 30), between 1899 and 1922 The Laurels, 30 Elsinore Road, Lewisham, Kent, England 33) 33) 33) 33) 17) 18), between 1930 and 1935 207 Devonshire Road, Lewisham, Kent, England 34) 35) 35) 35) 35) 35), 1921 Lewisham, Kent, England 36) Children: 1. John Everest OverburyBorn ± 1868 London, England 2. Albert OverburyBorn 1869 Hoxton, Middlesex, England Died 1951, 81 or 82 years 3. Herbert OverburyBorn 1870 Swanscombe, Kent, England 4. Millicent OverburyBorn 1872 Dartford, Kent, England Died 1911, 38 or 39 years 5. William Howard Overbury 37) 38) 39)Born 12 Aug 1875 Chatham, Kent, England 40) 41) 42) 43) 37) 44) 39) Baptised 26 Sep 1875 Chatham, Kent, England 2) Died 6 Jul 1925 Sole Street, Rochester, Kent, England, 49 years, death cause: Suicide 45) 44) 46) Occupations: Accountant 47), 1881; Scholar 40), 1891; Drapers Apprentice 42), 1901; Draper's House Steward 41), 21 Aug 1904; Draper 38), 2 Apr 1911; Hotel Clerk 37), 1921; Accountant with HM Army at Military Hospital 39) Residences: 1881 12 Magpie Hall Lane, Luton, Chatham, Kent, England 40), between 1901 and 1902 150 Bennerley Road, Battersea, Surrey, England 41) 48) 49), 1891 10, 12, 14 Blackheath Hill, Greenwich, Kent, England 42), between 2 Apr 1911 and 1913 2 Ethelbert Crescent, Cliftonville, Margate, Kent, England 37) 50), between 1903 and 1904 Eton Villa, 26 Frant Road, Thornton Heath, Surrey, England 38) 51), 1905 36 Alexandra Road, Addiscombe, Surrey, England 52), 1921 Westgate on Sea, Kent, England 39) Military service: Artificer Quarter Master Sergeant between 1914 and 1920 France 53) 54) 55) Notes: William entered service in France on the 15th November 1915. Between 1914 and 1920 he volunteered with the Army Cyclist Corps (part of the 14th Defence Corps), from 1914-1915, as Colour Serjeant (8675 - first format regimental number), the Labour Corps (240928) and finally the Corps of Military Accountants (7733032). William was transferred to the Labour Corps (probably the Agricultural Corps) and he was issued a second format regmimental number (240928) before then transferring to the Corps of Military Accountants. He received a medal for his service. He first served in France and entered there on the 15th November 1915. William Howard was recorded as at a military hospital in 1921, and committed suicide four years later. Elsie Nora Kensley employed as domestic servant for the family in 1921. 6. Ernest Edward OverburyBorn 1878 Chatham, Kent, England Died 1953, 74 or 75 years 7. Algernon Percy OverburyBorn 1883 Chatham, Kent, England Died 1970, 86 or 87 years | |||
Sources
1) Source: 1881 England Census Record for Albert Overbury. Reference: Database online. Class: RG11; Piece: 896; Folio: 25; Page: 10; GSU roll: 1341213. (Data from direct source)2) Source: Medway Parish Registers. Reference: Luton, Christ Church: Baptisms [including many birth dates] Date: 1875 - 1887 (Data from direct source)
3) Source: 1891 England Census Record for Albert L Overbury. Reference: Database online. Class: RG12; Piece: 665; Folio 53; Page 8; GSU roll: 6095775. (Data from secondary evidence)
4) Source: 1841 England Census Record for Albert Lee Overbury. Reference: Database online. Class: HO107; Piece 1068; Book: 1; Civil Parish: Streatham; County: Surrey; Enumeration District: 2; Folio: 23; Page: 11; Line: 3; GSU roll: 474659. (Data from secondary evidence)
5) Source: England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1837-1915 Record for Albert Lee Overbury. Reference: Database online. (Questionable reliability of evidence)
6) Source: General Register Office: Birth Certificates from the Presbyterian, Independent and Baptist Registry and from the Wesleyan Methodist Metropolitan Registry Record for Albert Lee Overbury. Reference: RG 5/134 (Data from direct source)
7) Source: General Register Office: Registers of Births, Marriages and Deaths surrendered to the Non-parochial Registers Commissions of 1837 and 1857 Record for Roger Lee. Reference: RG 4/3100 (Data from direct source)
8) Source: Great Britain, Masters and Mates Certificates. Reference: Certificate Number 1090 (Data from direct source)
9) Source: General Register Office: Registers of Births, Marriages and Deaths surrendered to the Non-parochial Registers Commissions of 1837 and 1857 Record for Albert Lee Overbury. Reference: RG 4/4674 - Dr Williams´ Library, Index to Birth Certificates, 1828-1837 (Data from direct source)
10) Source: New South Wales, Australia, Unassisted Immigrant Passenger Lists, 1826-1922 Record for Albert Lee Overbury: 2nd mate on the Sirocco, travelling from the Port of London to Sydney. External Link
http://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=NSWunassisted&h=1824522&indiv=try (Data from secondary evidence)
11) Source: UK and Ireland, Find A Grave Index, 1300s-Current "Age: 64, Sex: M, Rank or Profession: Writer, Died at: 73 Salisbury Road, Removed From: St Paul, C/U: C, Death date listed may be the interment date". External Link
https://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=60526&h=194492987&indiv=try. Reference: Record for Albert Lee Overbury (Unreliable evidence or estimated data)
12) Source: London, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1754-1921 Record for Mary Ann Coppen. Reference: Database online. (Data from direct source)
13) Source: London, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1906 Record for John Everest Overbury. Reference: Database online. (Data from direct source)
14) Source: 1871 England Census Record for Mary A Overbury. Reference: Database online. Class: RG10; Piece: 884; Folio: 72; Page: 22; GSU roll: 823479. (Data from direct source)
15) Source: London, England, City Directories, 1736-1943 Record for Albert Overbury. External Link
http://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=61265&h=12675867&indiv=try. Reference: London Metropolitan Archives; London, England; London City Directories - Post Office Directory, 1887 (Data from direct source)
16) Source: U.K., City and County Directories, 1600s-1900s Record for Albert Lee Overbury. Reference: Database online. (Data from direct source)
17) Source: London, England, Electoral Registers, 1832-1965 Record for Albert Overbury. Reference: Database online. (Data from secondary evidence)
18) Source: London, England, Electoral Registers, 1832-1965 Record for Albeit Overbury. Reference: Database online. (Data from secondary evidence)
19) Source: Admiralty: Ships' Musters (Series III) Muster for HMS Amphitrite, 1850-1856. Reference: ADM 38/7519 (Data from direct source)
20) Source: Navy Lists Record for Albert Overbury. Reference: 1855 List (Data from direct source)
21) Source: Admiralty: Officers' Service Records (Series III) Record for Albert Lee Overbury. Reference: ADM 196/37 (Data from direct source)
22) Source: Admiralty, and Ministry of Defence, Navy Department: Ships' Logs HMS Amphitrite Log Books. Reference: ADM 53/5018, ADM 53/5019, ADM 53/5020 etc. (Data from direct source)
23) Source: England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1837-1915 Record for Mary A Coppen. External Link
http://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=freebmdmarriage&h=6346910&indiv=try
24) Source: England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1837-1915 Record for Albert L Overbury. External Link
http://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=freebmdmarriage&h=21492940&indiv=try
25) Source: 1851 England Census Record for Mary Ann Coppen. Reference: Database online. Class: HO107; Piece: 1616; Folio: 490; Page: 11; GSU roll: 193517. (Data from secondary evidence)
26) Source: England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007 Record for Mary A Overbury. Reference: Database online. (Questionable reliability of evidence)
27) Source: England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915 Record for Mary Ann Coppen. Reference: Database online. (Questionable reliability of evidence)
28) Source: 1901 England Census Record for Mary A Overbury. Reference: Database online. Class: RG13; Piece: 573; Folio: 150; Page: 3. (Data from secondary evidence)
29) Source: 1861 England Census Record for Margaret Coppen. Reference: Database online. Class: RG9; Piece: 499; Folio: 106; Page: 15; GSU roll: 542650. (Data from secondary evidence)
30) Source: 1911 England Census Record for Mary Ann Overbury. Reference: Database online. (Data from secondary evidence)
31) Source: Kent, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials, 1538-1914 Record for Mary Anne Coppen. External Link
https://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=61746&h=397743&indiv=try. Reference: Kent Archives Office; Maidstone, Kent, England; England, Kent, Parish Registers, 1538-1911 (Questionable reliability of evidence)
32) Source: UK and Ireland, Find A Grave Index, 1300s-Current Age: 92, Sex: F, Died at: 22 Silverdale, Sydenham S.E. 26, C/U: C, Death date listed may be the interment date. External Link
https://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=60526&h=194492989&indiv=try. Reference: Record for Mary Ann Overbury (Unreliable evidence or estimated data)
33) Source: London, England, Electoral Registers, 1832-1965 Record for Mary Ann Overbury. Reference: Database online. (Data from direct source)
34) Source: London, England, Electoral Registers, 1832-1965 Record for Mary Overbury. Reference: Database online. (Data from direct source)
35) Source: London, England, Electoral Registers, 1832-1965 Record for Mary Anne Overbury. Reference: Database online. (Data from direct source)
36) Source: 1921 England Census. Reference: Record for Mary Ann Overbery (Data from secondary evidence)
37) Source: 1911 England Census Record for Eric Bertram Overbury. Reference: Database online. (Data from direct source)
38) Source: Surrey, England, Baptisms, 1813-1912 Record for Eric Bertram Overbury. Reference: 7406/1/7 (Data from direct source)
39) Source: 1921 England Census. Reference: Record for William Howard Overbury, and family (Data from direct source)
40) Source: 1881 England Census Record for William H. Overbury. Reference: Database online. Class: RG11; Piece: 896; Folio: 25; Page: 10; GSU roll: 1341213. (Data from secondary evidence)
41) Source: 1901 England Census Record for William Overbary. Reference: Database online. Class: RG13; Piece: 459; Folio: 88; Page: 15. (Data from secondary evidence)
42) Source: 1891 England Census Record for Wm Overbury. Reference: Database online. Class: RG12; Piece: 509; Folio 145; Page 9; GSU roll: 6095619. (Data from secondary evidence)
43) Source: England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915 Record for William Howard Overbury. Reference: Database online. (Questionable reliability of evidence)
44) Source: England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007 Record for William H Overbury. Reference: Database online. (Questionable reliability of evidence)
45) Source: UK, Army Registers of Soldiers' Effects, 1901-1929 Record for William Howard Overbury. "Will sent to Widow Mrs F E Overbury 3, Atherton Mansions, Sydenham Rd, North Croydon". External Link
http://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=UKArmyRegistersEffects&h=563290&indiv=try. Reference: National Army Museum; Chelsea, London, England; Soldiers' Effects Records, 1901-60; NAM Accession Number: 1991-02-333; Record Number Ranges: 994001-995500; Reference: 614 (Data from direct source)
46) Source: Lancashire Evening Post "A verdict of "Suicide while of unsound mind" was returned at an inquest on Quarter-master-Seargeant William Howard Overbury, Corps of Military Accountants, attached to the R.M.A., Woolwich, whose body was found decapitated on the railway at Sole-street, near Rochester.". Reference: 10 July 1925 (Data from direct source)
47) Source: Sutton, Surrey, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1754-1940 Record for Gwendoline Dorothy Overbury. Reference: Cheam, St Dunstans (Data from secondary evidence)
48) Source: London, England, Electoral Registers, 1847-1965. Reference: 1901 (Data from direct source)
49) Source: London, England, Electoral Registers, 1832-1965 Record for William Overbury. External Link
http://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=LMAelectoralreg&h=22876643&indiv=try (Data from direct source)
50) Source: UK, City and County Directories, 1766 - 1946 Record for William Overbury. Reference: 1913 Kelly's Directory: Kent (Data from direct source)
51) Source: London, England, City Directories, 1736-1943 Record for William Howard Overbury. External Link
http://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=61265&h=7914229&indiv=try. Reference: London Metropolitan Archives; London, England; London City Directories - Croydon Commercial and General Directory, 1903 (Data from direct source)
52) Source: London, England, City Directories, 1736-1943 Record for Wm. Howard Overbury. External Link
http://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=61265&h=5251138&indiv=try. Reference: London Metropolitan Archives; London, England; London City Directories - Croydon, South Norwood Directory, 1905 (Data from direct source)
53) Source: UK, WWI Service Medal and Award Rolls, 1914-1920 Record for William Howard Overbury. External Link
http://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=IWOServiceMedalAwardRolls&h=1074474&indiv=try (Data from direct source)
54) Source: British Army WWI Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920 Record for William H Overbury. Reference: Database online. (Data from direct source)
55) Source: UK, WWI Service Medal and Award Rolls, 1914-1920 Record for William Howard Overbury. External Link
http://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=IWOServiceMedalAwardRolls&h=3517973&indiv=try (Data from direct source)